I Will Fear No Evil (Part 2) | Francis Chan

It's really cool to be back with you guys again. Seen a lot of you lately. Um, we had an amazing first service. It was such a it was such a powerful just spiritled time. And you know, sometimes I I almost don't like having a great first service. Um, because you know, I you know, like I've shared the last couple times I've been here, ah, first service just wasn't there.

So, let's pray. And you know, and then we had an amazing time here, you know, then I let off for third service and it's bad again. Um, but but when it uh you know, sometimes when uh God does something so powerful first service uh as a pastor, you you want to recreate that the second time, like, "Okay, God, I want it just like last time."

And so you do everything exactly the same. And it never works, you know? And and you just learn, okay, God, you you you're a creator, okay? You're not a duplicator. you're a creator and there's a different group of people in here. They may need a different word. You may want to do different things.

And it's so important for me to, you know, just even beforehand saying, "God, I don't know what you have for this service." We had an amazing time last week. Um, but that doesn't mean anything. It's right now you're the I am, not I will be or I was.

It's just I am. And what do you currently want to do um in this service? And so my prayer is I I'd love for you even right now just in your own mind recognizing the presence of God is here with us. He's with you. He's in on his on his throne in heaven like we just sang about.

Yet somehow he hears us right now. Even if it's not even you don't even have to audibly say it, but just say, "God, you right now, Lord, speak to me. Do what you want to do right now in my life. Direct Francis's lips to say whatever you want him to say this service.

Don't let him get caught up in a routine or whatever else. This is almighty God. Um who is with us. I I I know in the when we were singing that heaven song, it just brought me back to reality again that this is not about me. This is not about you.

Here's this this God as we were singing about just in this these these brilliant colors, the rainbows, the the angels, the lightning, the thunder, this being who existed way before you were ever created. You're not going to change the world. You're not going to mess up the world.

You know, he's just been in control. And it's just so good to humble ourselves. You know, the world tells you, you know, no, think think big thoughts about yourself and who you are and and and that'll give you confidence. And yet to me, it's like, no, when I when I humble myself and I realize that it's not about me, that's what gives me confidence.

That's what gives me peace because then I realize, okay, that God is my shepherd. Okay? That God is the one who has led me, you know, to these green pastures and still waters and paths of righteousness. that God is the one that's going to restore my soul. Even now, it's like, okay, I can take a deep breath and go, everything's gonna be fine.

My God's in control. I can be confident. And so, I I I I sure hope that this um time in Psalm 23 that I I know we're wrapping it up in a sense, uh but this is such a powerful passage and I don't want you to wrap it up in your life.

I want you to get this and I I pray that it continues and sticks with us. I know for me, every time I quote it, I have more peace. You know, it's one of those those things where the more I hear it, the more I say it, I got to keep reminding myself that's right.

There's what can hurt me? I I can walk through the valley of shadow of death. I'll fear no evil. Yeah. Goodness and mercy, they're going to follow me the rest of my life. Yeah. I'm going to be in the house of the Lord forever and ever. I I don't have to worry.

And every time I say it's like, "Ah, this is good. This is good. This is good." So, I thank God that in his sovereignty, he had me preach this passage and has had me studying it for weeks and had me just quoting it over and over and over to myself because every time I do it, there's there's a power to the word itself.

So, I I would love it if we would just all say it together. Um, and so we're going to put the words on the screen. And could you just stand out of just reverence for the word of God and but let's not just say it. Let's not just say these words.

Let's think about what we're saying and really mean it for ourselves. Let's say these words to each other as a proclamation of this is what we believe. Let's say it as a proclamation to God. But let's let's just say these words. These are inspired words of God. And let's just recite it together.

The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.

For you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Amen. You know, just just look at this right now. I just noticed it this week. But look at how this psalm changes. First, it's just this. He's talking about God. The Lord's my shepherd. I shall not want. You know, here's what he does for me. He makes me lie down in green pastures.

Leads me by still waters. He restores my soul. He makes me walk in these paths of righteousness. All for his name's sake. But but then after that, look what he says. He goes, "Even though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death," he goes, "I'll fear no evil."

And look what he does. He's he he stops just talking about God. And he speaks to him. He goes, "Cuz because you're with me, you know, so first he's just saying, "Our God so good. He he he's my shepherd. He he leads me beside still waters. Haven't you experienced that?

Hasn't hasn't he just led you, you know, and made you lie down these green pastures? He's good, isn't he? And even if I walk in the valley of shadow, then he just kind of looks at God. He goes, I'm going to fear no evil because you're with me.

Your rod, he's just looking at God, your rod, you're you're the all all powerful God. And and and and I feel so protected by you. And he says, and you're the one that you prepare this table before me, you know, in the in in in the presence of my enemies.

And then he looks back at the he goes, "Man, I know. I know goodness and mercy are going to follow me all the rest days of my life and I'm going to dwell in the house of the Lord forever." But I I I noticed that pause in the middle though where he speaks to him and and I thought, you know, we can sit in this room and talk about him all day and forget that he's right here and we have access to him.

And for me to tell you, you know what? Our God is good. Our God is good. but to take pauses and just go, "And God, you are so good to us. You're the one that brought all these people in this room. You know every single thing about every single person.

There are people here where this was the hardest week of their life. And you know what, God, and I want you to just just to bless them, for you to speak to them in a way that I can't because you are in this room. You are the creator.

You're sitting on your throne with all those angels and somehow you're stooping over and you you see what goes on in this room. And I'm just asking you, God, for this service, for those in Ventura, you see them. You're looking at them right now, God. Just bless us.

Bless us with your presence. Bless us with your spirit just moving in us. Bless us as we read your word. May it just fill us like you intended, God, because you've already taken us through so much. You are so good. You are so good. We can't imagine life without you.

How miserable we would be, God, if your son Jesus did not die for us and all of us were just in this room just awaiting your judgment. But God, your grace, your mercy, you saved us when we deserve the punishment. You you put your son on a cross for us.

And when we doubt, you you raised him from the dead. He resurrected so that we have nothing to fear because of what you have done and we have gathered here for you God because you are our shepherd and we love you in Jesus name. Amen. >> Would you guys have a seat?

You know, we had such a cool time. last week uh last Sunday a great experience you know here in this room hopefully it's true in Ventura as well especially during this service um but how did it affect you the rest of the week I mean honestly was your week different last week was there a courage about you throughout the week because that's that's what matters to me It's like, okay, that's good.

We had a good time here. That that's good. We we we we studied the word of God. Great time of worship. But then what what changed? Because a lot of times, you know, in in our gatherings, we pray, okay, God, do something here. But when you look in scripture, it was more about God, do something out there, okay?

And take us from here and do amazing things. And they were in awe of what God did all week long, not about this one little gathering. And so when you thought through Psalm 23, did you think through Psalm 23 the rest of the week? Because I I for me it was great for me.

I I was like, "Wow, this is so good." All week long I had just this new fearlessness. I loved it. The this new courage. I mean, this last week was different for me. I walked around all week just going, you know, thinking about what we talked about last Sunday and thinking about that Philippians 1 about how the world's going to know when we are fearless.

It's when when when we're not afraid of anything, then they're going to know that we're right about this Jesus. We're right about this God. We're right about this king who's going to come back and judge. And so my fearlessness, my courage, my not being afraid of anything is very important.

And Satan wants to take that away from me. And so all week long, everything that came my way, I just kept going, "Okay, no, I'm not going to be afraid of that. I'm not afraid of that. I'm not afraid of anything. Nothing scares me." Well, you know, someone's going to kill me.

You know, don't kill me. I don't want to go to heaven. You know, it's just it's it's just there's nothing. There's nothing. That's that's what this psalm is about. It's like, God, your rod, your stuff, and so whatever comes my way. And so, it really caused me to live differently this week.

It really caused me to go, "Okay, God, I'm not going to be afraid of this." You know what? Sometimes, okay, I'm supposed to talk to that person about Jesus. You know, I'd start to feel those nervous feelings. I go, "No, I'm not afraid. The God of the universe is with me."

You know, I I, you know, I was out here, you know, by the beach the other day and just just looking at the mountains, everything going, man, I I know him. I know that God. I'm flying in an airplane, just looking at the clouds and going, man, I know the God who created all of this.

And just this fearlessness of whatever God was calling me to do. See, that's the point of us getting in the word here is that it would cause you to live a life where I don't want to be afraid. I don't want to be afraid ever again. It just felt so good to be unafraid this week of anything God would throw in my way.

And it's not just about these enemies that it's talking about here in Psalm 23. It's just anything. In fact, on Monday, I mean, the Lord took me in a whole different direction and and opened my eyes to things. On Monday, I flew out to Nashville to film this TV show that was um raising awareness of of all the orphans around the world and uh that there's over 140 million orphans in the world right now. 140 million.

Okay. And then the Bible says that true religion is when we his followers would care for those widows and orphans. and and and then then then we talked about how even just here in the US there are half a million kids half a million in the foster care system and right now about 120,000 of them have nowhere to go no one will take them in and I'm going that doesn't make sense if there's supposedly millions of Christians in this country and he says here's true religion care for the orphans and so as I'm teaching this stuff and and you know it it was a bunch of Christian organizations getting together.

Um, focus on the family, family life today. You know, Stephen Curtis Chapman, his foundation, and it's just, let's let's get these kids out of the foster system. Let's love them. Let's let's show true religion. Let's get the kids from overseas. Let's do everything we can as believers. And um, but but what was cool was Monday night, we just had a dinner with all the different people that were involved.

And you saw these families that took in kids from all around the world, some of the special needs kids, all different types of children. You just go, "Wow, this is this is a beautiful, beautiful picture." You know how there's certain people where just by hanging out with them, they're so close to the Lord that you're encouraged and you're also convicted at the same time?

And that's that's the way it was for my wife and I. And uh but but but Monday night, we were talking to this gal, Emily Chapman. Emily is a daughter of Stephen and Curt. Stephen and Curtis. Stephen and Curtis. Mary Beth Chapman. Um, and some of you guys don't know who they are.

He he was like he was like Christian rockstar years ago. I mean, he's still holding on, but it's uh No, no, I love him. I love him. I love him. Um but uh but they they've started this foundation where they're they've been adopting kids from China and and helping other people just raise the funds, you know, to get these kids from China.

And uh but you know where it all started was with Emily, their daughter Emily. She was 11 years old and she talked to her parents and said, "Mom, dad, I really think we're supposed to be adopting kids um from overseas that have no parents. I just think it's biblical."

And her parents were like, you know, it just it just, you know, her mom's telling me the story. She goes, "It just it's not in me. I I just that's that's not me." She goes, "Then her daughter writes them a letter, okay, at 11 years old." And says, and she's like quoting it to him.

She's like, "Mom and dad, it could be that you guys are in sin right now and that listen and that you are resisting the will of God." She, this is what she writes in the letter. There are so many people with needs out there. So many of these kids who don't have parents and look at everything we have.

She goes, I really believe it's the will of God that we start looking into this and take in some of these kids. Then she has her two little brothers sign the letter. They're like seven, you know, like eight and seven, and they sign as witnesses. And so her mom's telling me, she gets this letter from her 11-year-old daughter and shows it, you know, to her husband going, "Oh man, you know, what do we do?"

But that's how this whole thing got started. And so then they took in a little girl and then they had take another little girl and another little girl and then they started just spreading the word and then they started this orphanage out there in China, you know, and just taking in these kids and get helping other people adopt them, you know, these these kids that no one else wants.

And so now they got this thriving ministry. All started from this 11 year old girl. And so we're we're having dinner. We're talking. My wife and I are talking to Emily and who's like 20some now. And uh and and I just said, you know, Lisa and I we're we're totally open to whatever.

I go, you know, we're we we've gone through the foster parenting thing, you know, Mentura County, and we're just, you know, but now we're moving to LA County, and the stuff doesn't transfer. I go, so we can we can just we'll take in whatever, you know. I I go, "In fact, we're going to be in Hong Kong.

We're going to be in China in in a couple of months." And and we're open to overseas, whatever, whatever. And I go, "Can we visit the orphanage out there?" She, "Absolutely." And then she goes, "You know, when I think of you guys, I I already have a little boy in mind there in China."

She goes, "This boy named Isaac. He's he's about two years old." You know, my heart's just getting excited like, "All right." You know, because I I said, we prayed. We were like, "God, if you want, you know, bring someone to us. just have specific kids, you know, just just just make it happen and we'll take them in.

And and so she's like, "Oh, I think this is it. I I I don't know why he just pops into my mind when I think of you guys. You'll love him. He he just he just he has so much life. He just he just got this joy. I think he would just jump right into your family.

He just fit in and everything else." And so my wife and I are like, "Yes, yes, yes, yes." And then she goes, you know, and and he has this thing where uh when he was born, there's something wrong with his spinal cord. And so he he can't walk.

And so he just scoots around on his hands and and uh and she's just going on and that night, you know, after the dinner, I I looked at my wife, we ended up having a long talk. I go, "Did you feel what I felt? Like were you all excited?"

And then when she said he he can't walk, did your heart just sink? and were you just faced with so much selfishness that you you just didn't even know was in there? She was like, yeah. She goes, I just felt sick like, Lord, what in the world? I'm so selfish.

And even in this here I am thinking I'm so loving, so loving. And then he throws that at us and and you just start thinking, wait, that's a real inconvenience. That's going to change the rest of my life. And we just had a long long talk that night and just went for a walk.

And I I said yet at the same time I go I don't feel any peace about saying no now. You know cuz I I mean the Lord didn't adopt us because he looked down says a look at Francis. He's so perfect. He never sins. He just you know I'll take him.

I I I go, how in the world could we, you know, but it was one of those times where you just recognize, you know, how there's times when you think, I'm walking with the Lord. I'm I'm good. I'm good. I'm good. And then God just reveals this ugliness in your heart, you know.

And I was telling my wife, just being honest and same thing with me, like, wow, here I was thinking, "Wow, look how compassionate I am. I was willing to fly to Nashville and and talk about orphans. I'm even willing to take one in. You know, I'm really godly.

I'm Francis Chan. I wrote Crazy Love. You know, it's just and and God's just going, "Oh, yeah. Yeah. You're just so godly, aren't you?" You know, are there are there limits to your love? as as we met these couples who were taking in kids that they only had like a couple months to live.

Like the kids were just mentally, physically, but they said, "No, we want to take anyone, especially these ones that maybe only have a few months or years left on this earth because we want to give them the greatest life possible. We want to show them the love of God.

We want them to just experience God during their last few days on this earth." And you're with these people and you go, "You know what? That's the love of Christ right there." And um but it was this Psalm 23 of of this you know what even if I walk through the valley of the shadow of death even if my enemies are against me and and and even if Lord you've called me to some difficult things on this life I know you're with me.

I know that that goodness and mercy are going to follow me and to say, God, you know what? You brought this to, you know, at our feet. And so, this is a good thing and this is going to be a great thing. And I've seen what you've done with other families that have opened up their hearts.

And so, thank you for exposing me, but also now, God, make me into the person that can can be a great dad for this kid and any other kids you bring my way. And uh and so, it's like, okay, you guys, let's start the paperwork. Let's see what Let's see what happens.

I just start going and but but I'm not afraid. God, you've done so many good things. This is a great thing. It's a beautiful child. You're a beautiful creation. How could it not be great? You say it's always more blessed to give than to receive. And so, let's let's go for it.

But I I got to tell you, Psalm 23 is not just about this this thing we go through for a few weeks. It's about look, I I don't have to be afraid of anything on this earth. And I certainly don't need to fear the will of God. Even though it may be dangerous, even though it may be painful, even though it may cause may a lot of difficult times on this planet, it's going to be okay.

It's going to be okay. Don't be afraid. You know, I'm going to do something right now that's it's a little um I don't know if it's for me or for you. Um, my little girl, my little girl, my oldest girl, uh, my 14-year-old Rachel. This is crazy. Okay, this this last week, she's been up in uh in in Portland and and she's recording her first album, which was like a random thing like three weeks ago.

We weren't even thinking about it. It wasn't a pursuit. It wasn't anything. It was just God threw it in our hand like what? That's weird. You know, let's I guess let's walk down this path. But on Monday or Tuesday, she eye chatted me. She goes, "Dad, you gotta listen to this song that we just wrote."

And because she's like writing a song every day right now. And uh and when she sang it for me, it was everything we talked about last Sunday. And she wasn't here. She had no clue what was going on. And she had no clue what I was teaching. But this whole thing about courage and not being afraid, I was like, "Honey, that is so good."

So then I was like, "Hey, I want to share it with the church that I'm going to be speaking at on Sunday." I go, "Is there any way you can like video yourself on a little iPhone or something and then shoot it to me?" So last night at midnight, you know, you know, cuz she loves her daddy, you know, she uh so I know, a little narcissistic, but I was so proud of my little girl.

So I But the song, it really did administer to me throughout the week. I'm going, "Wow, that is crazy." as I'm teaching this and God just has this theme in my mind, he inspires you to write this song. And so, it's cool. We're just going to watch her real quick.

Couple minutes. Here's uh her name's Rachel. I I I now call her Chana Montana. >> I hate this. You can edit this? >> Yeah. >> Okay. This totally stinks. Just >> It's cold out. Tell them we're outside. freezing and it's cold and I don't like it. >> Okay, just kidding.

Ready? >> Hey guys. Um, so Mr. Luben and I >> just the guys start. >> Hey. >> Oh my gosh. >> Just kidding. Forget about it. Just be yourself and let's do it one time. Here we go. >> Look at me. I'm crying. You can't record it right now cuz I'm crying. >> Forget about it.

Hold on. You're making your dad You're making your daughter cry. Francis, >> is it still recording? >> Yeah, >> it doesn't matter. >> Okay. Hey everyone, Mr. Luben and I have just written a song called Even here. And um it's talking about how we can have joy no matter where we are and that we don't need to fear anything because Jesus didn't give us a spear spirit of timidity but of power.

So we're going to sing this song. One, two, three. 
((music playing))
 >> And I promise not to leave you. Soon you will see what I can see. Child, keep your eyes on me. You're right where you should be. Don't fear anything cuz I'm here and I can bring you joy.

Even here I'll bring you joy. There's a reason for everything. In each season I can bring you joy. Even here I'll bring you joy. This narrow road will lead you home. Follow the faithful few who I strong. I can't promise you'll be free from pain until you see my face.

But I'll run the race. So I'm here and I can bring you joy. Even here I'll bring you joy. There's a reason for everything. In each season I can bring you joy. Even here I'll bring you joy. There is no power to separate you from my love. There is no power to keep me from you.

Don't 
((music playing))
 bring joy. Even here I'll bring you joy. There's a reason for everything. I can bring you joy. Even here I'll bring you joy. So don't fear anything cuz I'm here and I can bring you joy. Even here I'll bring you joy. There's a reason for everything. Each season I can bring you joy.

Even here I'll bring you joy. So cool. That's just so fun for me as dad, you know, like, wow, you're you're pretty good. Um, but I, you know, I'm always hesitant like, okay, is she as good as I think she is? Cuz I really like that. And I get scared though because I remember when she was born, I thought she was like this really cute baby and I was like, "Whoa, isn't she cute?

Is she?" And I look at pictures now. She was probably our ugliest. I mean, as No, seriously, as a baby. And I remember just going around, "Wow, look how cute she is. Look how cute." She was not a cute baby. No, my wife and I, we just go, "Wow, remember that?

How embarrassing. We're, you know, we're so proud. No, not embar like embarrassing of us that we thought my brother was the only one that was honest, you know, and and it was when she was like two. He's like, "Wow, she's actually cute now." I go, "What do you mean now?"

He goes, "Wow, she's just so big." And you know, and so then that was when we looked back and we're like, "Wow, he was right." You know, so now I go, "Wow, she's a really good singer, you know, right?" you know, and I'm just scared to even think that because it's like, oh, we're going to hear it 10 years from now and go, "Wow, she wasn't that good."

Um, but she she's good, right? She's good. Okay. All right. All right. Okay. Regardless, I I uh that song, that melody just been ringing in my head, you know. Don't fear anything. Don't fear anything. Don't fear anything. Even here, I'll bring you joy. And just all through the week, it's like as everything came up, I just thought, "No, that's that's Psalm 23.

We got to live this out. Don't fear anything. Don't fear anything." I mean, that's this whole idea of when he says, "Here's the the the in the presence of my enemies there in verse 5 where we're looking at he goes, "You prepare this table before me." And and another thing I was realizing this week, okay, here here David is saying, look, you you prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows. Okay, it's this picture. He switches from this shepherd picture to this picture of a host where where he says, "Hey, come on in." And and uh you know what? I'm going to put the I I'll present a table here.

The food's all ready for you. He anoints his head with oil. And I've looked at this several times. I still don't totally get it. I mean, I understand back then it was something they just did. Um, like that's why Jesus remember when uh the host of that one house was kind of going, man, you know, look at her.

She's on her feet, you know? I mean, on her face, her hair, she's scrubbing your your feet with perfume and and and Jesus looks at the host and goes, "Look, I came in. You didn't even anoint my head with oil, and look what she's doing, and you're you're going to criticize her."

So, there was something normal about this habit of of it was supposedly some soothing. I don't get it. It's like, do you really want me to pour oil on your head when you come to my house? You know, but back then it was just it was a customary.

It was just a respectful It's just what you did for someone. And so, so here's his point is look, God, you're like this amazing host. Even when enemies are pursuing me, it's like you you just go, "Hey, don't worry about them. I I got a table set for you.

Let me anoint your head like like nothing's really happening out there. He goes, "Don't worry about your enemies. I got them taken care of. I got my guards. I got my people. They're not going to get through to you. Here, let me just make you a dinner. Let me let me pour some oil on your head.

Let me, you know, let me let me uh pour you you a cup of wine until it's overflowing." And so, you just picture this person sitting at this table with this feast before him and God almighty serving him, pouring him this drink. And meanwhile, everyone's trying to kill this guy.

And the host is just going, "Don't worry about it. and I got taken care of. You go, "Wow, that is such a an amazing picture. I want to live that way." And and and and the thing I was recognizing is, okay, that first picture, David totally understood because he's a shepherd, right?

So, we understood leading through sheep and everything else. But what I was noticing this week was I thinking, man, preparing, having a table prepared in the presence of enemies. David totally understood that also. This is not I mean, because that seems like this hyperbolic picture. Like, come on, really? you're going to be sitting at a table and and not even worrying about your enemies, just eating.

But David got to experience that. If you remember, remember when Saul was trying to kill him, you remember? And David was running for his life, you know, or so he thought so. He's like, "Oh, Saul's going to kill me. Saul's going to kill me." And remember what happens when when uh when David hides in the in the cave?

What does God do? Remember, he sends Saul into the cave. But Saul was not looking for David in the cave, right? What was Saul going in the cave to do? >> Go ahead, say it. >> Yes. Poop. So, it's it's a comical picture when you read it. I you know, when you read, you're like, "Wow, that is so weird.

Is that story in the Bible?" So, literally, he goes in this cave and here David is thinking the king is after me and what do I do? He's hiding in a cave and then suddenly oh my gosh is that him you know and then you know he's squatting down and David's just like oh my god it's just this whole picture and you remember the story how David just cuts the edge of the robe off and and so that when Saul leaves you know David wanted to show him look God's with me I wasn't going to hurt you but I could have look at this I I cut the edge of your robe off you know I and and it's it's a it's a it's a crazy story.

Think about this. I I mean, can you imagine that scene of of David coming out of the cave, you know, after Saul's gone and he goes, "Hey, do not go in there." You know, but but look, you know, it's like, can't you see God's God's all over me?

God's watching over me. I I could have done anything, but I wasn't going to hurt the Lord's anointed. And it was it's it's it's a ridiculous story. And that's why David can write this psalm. And he goes, "I don't have anything to be afraid of. I have the king trying to kill me."

Okay, that's a little scary. And yet even then, God says, "Don't worry about it. I'll deliver him in the in the craziest way possible because I'm in charge here." And so he so then you understand why David goes, "You guys trust me. I I was a shepherd and and I know what I did with the sheep.

That's what God's done with me. And he goes, "You don't even have to fear when your enemies are after you. He'll set a table before you. He'll he'll put them in your hands. You don't even have to do anything. I wasn't even after Saul. I wasn't like trying to outmaneuver him or this or that.

God just placed him there. And so I could just eat while my enemies are pursuing me." And I thought, "Wow, what a what a beautiful picture." and he says, "My my cup overflows." See, we're going to have some uh enemies in life. If you don't, then you're probably not really speaking up for the things of God.

And God says, "But you you don't have to worry about them. You just speak up. You live for me, and you do what's right. I'll lead you down these paths of righteousness for my name's sake, and I'll protect you for my name's sake, or I'll bring you home for my name's sake."

You just don't worry about anything. Don't fear anything. And it's very easy in a room like this to talk about this and go, "Okay, yeah, we're not afraid. God is in control." We sing songs about God's sovereignty, how everything's in his hands. He's in control. He is sovereign.

But then when life starts happening, that's that's when uh it's hard to really accept some of these things. I I mean Psalm 139 says that all the days of my life were ordained for me. They were written in your book before even one of them came to be.

Okay. So God knew. Okay. This is what we mean when we say God is sovereign. God is in control. God is omnisient. We mean that God knew that I would be in this room this week. God knew that Britt and Kate, Isaiah, Daisy would be going through all of that.

God knows the outcome of everything. He knew you would be in this room today. God knew everything that was going to happen in my life. And they were all all ordained before even one of them came to be. That's a crazy verse there in in uh in in Psalm 139 that it was all written in his book before even one of them came to be.

So it's it's like this when you go to the when you go to the market and you're going to go buy some milk. Okay. And you go, "Okay, I want 1% lowfat." So you go to 1% low fat and then what do you look for? >> Expiration date.

Yeah. Oh, yeah. Price. Yeah. Oh, maybe I'll just buy a little sip. No, but but expiration date was the right answer. Um, you you look for I forget there's college students in here. Expiration date. You look for the expiration date. And uh why? Because if it's in a few days, you don't buy like, well, that's going to go sour in a couple of days.

It just magically dies that day. And uh but when I read that that psalm Psalm 139 and I come to that verse where it says all my days were ordained for me. They're written in your book before even one of them came to be. See when I read that I go okay so that means when I was born God basically stamped an expiration date on me at that moment.

Like he says this is how long I want Francis Chan on the earth and on this date it's going to be over. He's not going to change that. No one's going to change that. It's just settled. It was done before I was even born, before even one day came to be.

So that means each of us has an expiration date that God set forth. Now, what do you think your actual date is? Just try to think. Try to pick a date. See if you're a prophet. And if you are, you don't get to enjoy it. Um but but see see if uh see if there's that you can't even begin to think right you just go well it could be any day could be today it could be 10 years from now I don't I don't know but just knowing that knowing that it's already set forth there's nothing to fear it's like I'm not going to change that there was a plan it wasn't about me and my little world here but you and your sovereignty before it all happened.

And so David says, even if I walk through the valley of shadow of death, I'm not going to fear. One of my the favorite blessings of being a follower of Jesus is I don't fear death. Isn't it great? Isn't that a great thought? It's like, wow, I'm not scared to die.

In fact, to die is gain, scripture says. And and I believe that in my heart. I can't wait for that day. It's like, wow, that can't come soon enough. Wow, there's going to be a time when I I can just because I don't really die. That that's that's just so cool.

I never really die. I, you know, yeah, my body stops working, whatever, but I I I live on and I'm be in the presence of God and suddenly all the pain and every that's such a blessing. I mean, that that's for me anyways, that's like one of my greatest blessings.

I don't have to fear coming before this God and and the judgment by him that that Jesus paid for that. So all I have for the future is is is looking forward to that. So the valley of shadow of death, so what? So what it it's, wow, this is good.

My my whole life is set out before me. And so if God leads me in a dangerous situation, doesn't matter. It's not going to change the the future. It's not going to change whether I die or not. He he's got that all set up. And so let me just live for the kingdom and not fear anything. not fear anything because he's here and and he can bring me this joy, this peace, this confidence.

It's just a good good thing. And so, and he says, you know, and so so surely of of course goodness and mercy. It's it's kind of weird because okay, first he he's speaking to the crowd, right? And kind of it seems like, hey, the Lord's my shepherd, I shall not want.

Then he directs it right to God. He goes, "You lead me through the valley of shadow of death. you prepare this table before my enemies. And then here in verse six, he switches and now he he's he's addressing this this girl named Shirley. And he says, "Surely goodness and mercy."

I'm just kidding. That was stupid. But um everyone's like, "Really? He really thinks that?" No, I don't. Okay. He's just saying but but that word surely is is of course of course. Look at everything he's done. And he goes, "I know. Of course, if you all my life, God, you've led me by bey still waters.

All my life you've protected me from my enemies. I still remember that thing in the cave, you know, just everything is all so good." And he goes, "So, what's the rest of my life going to look like? Is he going to switch now and not be a good shepherd, not be a good He goes, I I know goodness and mercy, they're going to follow me."

And this word follow like it keeps a few steps behind. The word follow here is the word pursue. like like goodness and mercy. They're like chasing me. It's like I can't even get away from God's goodness. And he goes, "Man, the rest of my life is set. The rest of my life is set.

I don't have to worry about the rest of my life. I've seen what he's done. I've seen that he's a good shepherd. I see that he's a good host. So, of course, that's what the word surely mean. Of course, how how can I doubt the future? Goodness and mercy.

They're going to be chasing after me like they've been doing it all all through my life. I didn't ask for this. God just threw his blessing on me. Think about all the greatest things in your life. Think about your your relationship with God. Was it really you that worked it all out and your holiness?

And no, it was God's goodness, his mercy that's been after you all this time. He's been relentless with his love and his pursuit of you to bless you in this way. So he says, "They're going to keep chasing me the rest of my life. I'm good." And then he says, "And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

He goes, "And and then and then it's going to get even crazier." He goes, "Because just like his presence is with me now. Wait till I die." Uh he goes, "Talk about the presence of the Lord." Here he's talking about the temple. It's the house of the Lord.

That's where the presence of God was. And he says, "You know, I'm going to be in that presence of God forever. Forever." And so why fear you guys? We live in a time right now, I mean, how many people do you talk to on the average day who are excited about the future?

Our world has a very bleak look at the future because they're looking at things of the earth and going, "Oh man, there's no recovering from this economy. I mean, this is the first time in my life where I'm going, I don't think there's recovery from this one." You know, we're going down.

Then then you start looking at the terrorists and everything else. You go, we can't squash this thing. It's it's it's going down. Okay. And and for me, I just go, you know what? This is good. There revival can come out of this. And people are start going, "Wow, it's not about this comfort here on this earth.

It's really going to happen." And I got to get serious about the right things. And I go, "Wow, God, if this will bring more people to you and understand this joy that that you have, man, this is great because I'm okay. I'm not afraid of it." You know, and and the world says when we as believers do that, they're going to see.

They're going to go, "Okay, I think these guys are on to something. I mean, they they really are confident. They really are afraid of nothing. And they don't they're not so in love with the things of this earth. What is it?" And we go, "Well, I'm going to dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

This is this is fine with me. It's good with me." I mean, I here's the last that I want to to leave you with because I mean, it's been great being with you the the last three weeks or whatever, but I I don't I don't know what the future is.

I don't know where, you know, what's going to happen. We're going to go overseas for a while, and who knows? I I don't have any plans to ever be back here. And and I just praying, I'm going, "Okay, God, what do you want me to say?" Because it's been so good.

I feel like, wow, it's just been a few weeks, and I already feel at home here. And that's that's what happens when you're with other believers. You you know what I mean? It's just like, you know, this feels right. This already feels like family. I was telling Brit, it's weird.

I already know these guys, but I feel like I can just walk up like, hey, it's my church. Go away, Brit. You know, hey, let me take it. It's just there's just this sense in which it's growing actually with you gone. Okay. So, so it's just this I said there's just like ah this is home.

This is good. You know, wherever the body of Christ is, there's a sense of family. And but I'm I'm praying through this psalm and I'm praying that you guys wouldn't just hear it here and it have do nothing during the week. And I'm thinking, okay, God, what do you what do you want me to say to them?

Um because who knows who knows if we'll see each other on the earth. But here's here's the thought that I just want to present to you. Um if everyone would would just uh look at me right now, stop texting, stop whatever you're doing. Um, and just just look at me just for for for a few minutes.

Um, isn't it a weird thought that some of us say we're looking at each other right now? That some of us I'll be looking at you a hundred years from now. Think about that. You see how we're we're looking at each other right now? It's Yeah. Get used to this.

Just that's an amazing thought to me that those of you who are my brothers and sisters in Christ, like literally 200 years from now, we'll still be laughing like this is reality. I I didn't mean that. And I didn't that just came out. But but you no like the word that that this is like seriously like you're my brother, you're my sister and it is a crazy thought that a hundred years from now we'll be looking at each other a thousand years from now.

Thousand years and we'll still be talking about how great our shepherd is. Like this isn't this isn't for this week or this series. It it's for us just to go, wait, we're going to dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Like, we already know this is going to happen a hundred years from now, a thousand years from now.

So, what am I afraid of right now? We'll be laughing. We'll be talking. We'll actually know each other, you know, and have time for each other and and we'll be going, gosh, remember remember that time when we used to live on, you know, that the earth we used to be a part of?

Remember the that that little room and when you tried to preach Psalm 23 and you were just all over the place. Remember that? And and we can just look back as this memory and go, "Man, it was so worth it, wasn't it?" You remember when we just looked at each other and said, "Okay, let's let's be courageous and let's live the rest of our lives fearless.

Let's let's do this for the Lord." Remember when we said that to each other and we just kind of covenanted and said, "Look, God's been good to us. And now here we are hundred years later and we're still laughing about it and talking about it and a thousand years from now going, man, we were pers we persevered.

We made it through." I mean, think about David right now and what he's doing, okay? where he's for hundreds of years going, man, he understands the Lord being his shepherd better than ever. He understands it all. Probably when he wrote this, he didn't even get it completely. And now he's just going, "Man, trust me, the You want to talk about still waters?

You want to talk about green pastures? You want to talk about dwelling in the house of the Lord? I get it now. And I've gotten it for hundreds and hundreds of years." And for us, just to know that's coming for us, you guys. And the Bible says, "You be faithful even unto death and you'll receive this crown of life."

God's promised this to those who love him. And so that that's that's what I want to part with you guys is to say, look, this is the real thing, okay? This is one moment in time in this current, you know, state of the world that we're in. But what David's talking about is forever.

And that's what gives us peace. That's what gives us joy through the rest of our days on earth. That's what gives us courage because we know what's coming. Surely goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives. And then we're going to dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

And my prayer is that this sticks with you. My prayer is that you remember these words and that I really do see your face again. Um maybe here, maybe maybe in eternity. um whatever that looks like, I just know it'll be good. And so I'm just I'm just going to pray over you.

I mean, we're going to have some time to remember the cross that that allows us to to to have confidence like this. Um and there'll be people here to pray with you afterwards if you need. But before we worship, I just want to pray over you. I want to pray that this sticks because this is not a little lesson.

This is a this is a life. This is this is about courage. And I'm telling you, just experiencing the last few weeks just more and more courage. I just go, God, I don't want to forget this one because I forget so many things. Don't you? It's like, man, I forgot that lesson, that lesson, that lesson.

Okay, this one I don't want to forget because living courageously, being fearless is wonderful. Let's pray. God, we love being your children. We love being your sheep. We love sitting at your table. Even as we take of your table of the body and blood of Jesus, Lord, we're just reminded that there's nothing to fear.

If you didn't spare your only son, what won't you give us? How could we want anything more? Father, thank you for being in control of everything, God. Now, I pray for everyone in this room. God, for those who don't know you, may they just see that this is not just some sort of self-help group.

May they experience you and know that you are real and you're not someone that we're just making up to make ourselves feel better. May they experience you like we have and see that this is not make believe. And God, for those who are believers in this room that are going through the craziest times right now, may they have a peace that the world just does not get.

May they truly be fearless this week, knowing that you are our God, you are our shepherd. Please, Lord, burn in us through your Holy Spirit the teachings of this psalm. May it never leave us. May we live live courageous and fearless lives. Please continue to be with the merics.

May they live fearlessly in Jesus name. Amen.