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>>EXPERIENCE LIFE, HOW
ARE WE? [APPLAUSE] >>GOOD TO SEE YOU.
WANT TO WELCOME THOSE OF YOU JOINING US
VIA VIDEO AT OUR DOWNTOWN CAMPUS. DOWNTOWN CAMPUS,
WHAT'S UP? THEY ARE CHEERING. AMARILLO CAMPUS,
GLAD THAT YOU ARE HERE AS WELL. CHURCH ONLINE,
NETWORK CHURCHES THROUGHOUT WEST TEXAS JOINING US
VIA VIDEO FROM WHEREVER, WE ARE SO GLAD THAT YOU ARE
HERE TODAY. IF YOU ARE HOME SICK AND THAT'S WHY YOU
ARE AT CHURCH ONLINE, WE HOPE YOU GET TO FEELING
BETTER. WE'LL BE PRAYING FOR YOU, FOR SURE.
SOUTHWEST CAMPUS, GLAD YOU GUYS ARE HERE AS WELL.
WE'RE CONTINUING A SERIES WE'VE BEEN IN CALLED WHEN
LIFE FALLS APART. LET ME JUST SAY THIS, OKAY? IN
THIS SERIES, I'VE BEEN PREACHING TO ME, ALL RIGHT?
SO IF YOU'VE GOTTEN SOMETHING OUT OF IT, THAT IS
FANTASTIC. BUT FOR SURE, LIKE EVERY WORD OF EVERY
MESSAGE IS, LIKE, TRYING TO CONFRONT MY FEARS AND MY
ISSUES OF THINGS I'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH. I HOPE
THAT AS I PREACH TO MYSELF, YOU'VE GOTTEN SOMETHING
OUT OF IT, THOUGH, AS WELL. IT HAS BEEN GOING FOR A
COUPLE OF WEEKS NOW. WE'RE CONTINUING IT. TODAY,
IN CASE YOU'RE NEW, IT'S KIND OF LIKE, YOU KNOW,
COMING IN THE MIDDLE OF A MOVIE, SO IN CASE YOU'RE
LIKE, WHAT HAVE Y'ALL BEEN TALKING ABOUT, YOU CAN
CHECK OUT THE MESSAGES ON OUR WEBSITE AT
EXPERIENCELIFENOW.COM. BUT BASICALLY IN THIS
SERIES, I'VE JUST BEEN SHARING SOME OF KIND OF WHAT
OUR FAMILY WENT THROUGH THIS SUMMER, SOME OF THE
STRUGGLES I WENT THROUGH. MANY OF YOU KNOW I HAD A
CYST IN THE BACK OF MY THROAT, WAS REALLY BOTHERING
ME. FELT LIKE I COULDN'T BREATHE, SWALLOW. FELT
LIKE I WAS GAGGING AND CHOKING ALL THE TIME. IT WAS
A MISERABLE SUMMER, AND ENDED UP HAVING TO HAVE
SURGERY. AND THEY REMOVED A BUNCH OF STUFF FROM THE
BACK OF MY THROAT. AND THERE WAS A LONG RECOVERY
AND DIDN'T KNOW HOW SOON I'D BE ABLE TO SPEAK AGAIN,
IF I'D BE ABLE TO SPEAK AGAIN WITHOUT HAVING TO SEE
A SPEECH THERAPIST. THERE WERE JUST ALL
KINDS OF DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT REALLY, YOU KNOW,
SCARED ME A LITTLE BIT IN OUR FAMILY, AND FELT LIKE,
FOR SURE, FOR ME, THIS SUMMER, MY LIFE WAS FALLING
APART. I KNOW ALL OF US HAVE BEEN THERE. IF WE
HAVEN'T BEEN THERE, WE WILL BE THERE. WE ALL HAVE
TIMES IN OUR LIFE WHERE WE FEEL LIKE OUR LIVES ARE
FALLING APART. AND SO FOR THIS SUMMER, FOR ME, THAT
WAS A TIME IN MY LIFE WHERE I FELT THAT WAY. BUT
GOD TAUGHT ME A LOT THROUGH IT. HE TEACHES US A LOT
WHEN WE GO THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES. AND SO IN THIS
SERIES, I'VE BEEN SHARING WITH YOU SOME OF THE
THINGS HE'S BEEN TEACHING ME. BRANDON ALSO SPOKE
LAST WEEKEND AND TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF
FAITH WHEN YOUR LIFE FALLS APART. BUT WE'RE JUST
GOING TO CONTINUE WITH THAT TODAY. NOW, THE MOST
POWERFUL BOOK OF THE BIBLE, TO ME, DURING THIS
SUMMER WHEN I WAS GOING THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT TIME,
THE BOOK OF THE BIBLE THAT JUST KEPT SPEAKING TO ME
OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN; I'D WANT TO HEAR FROM
GOD; I JUST FELT LIKE HE WAS SPEAKING THROUGH IT;
ALMOST EVERY DAY, AS I READ THIS BOOK, IS A BOOK IN
THE OLD TESTAMENT RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR BIBLE
CALLED THE BOOK OF PSALMS. HOW MANY OF YOU GUYS AT
ALL OF OUR CAMPUSES, BEFORE YOU CAME IN TODAY, HAD
HEARD OF THE BOOK OF PSALMS? YOU'VE HEARD OF
PSALMS? OKAY? NOW, PSALM, THAT WORD -- THAT'S A
WEIRD WORD. WE DON'T USE THAT IN EVERYDAY
CONVERSATIONS UNLESS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE BIBLE.
IT'S NOT LIKE YOU HEAR A GOOD SONG ON THE RADIO AND
YOU'RE LIKE, TO YOUR FRIEND, HEY, DID YOU HEAR THAT
PSALM ON THE RADIO? THAT WAS AMAZING, WASN'T IT?
WE DON'T USE THE WORD THAT WAY. IF SOMEBODY SAYS,
HEY, I LIKE THAT PSALM, YOU THINK, OH, HE'S A BIBLE
PERSON. HE KNOWS SOMETHING ABOUT THE BIBLE. OKAY.
HERE'S THE REASON WHY. IT'S BECAUSE PSALM
IS NOT REALLY AN ENGLISH WORD. IT'S A GREEK WORD
THEY KIND OF MADE INTO AN ENGLISH WORD. BUT THE
GREEK WORD IS THE WORD, PSALMOS. SO THEY GOT RID OF
THE O, PUT IT TOGETHER, AND YOU GET PSALMS. THEY
DIDN'T TRANSLATE IT. THAT'S CALLED A
TRANSLITERATION, WHERE YOU JUST KIND OF GET A GREEK
WORD AND NOW YOU GOT IT INTO ENGLISH, AND YOU DON'T
REALLY KNOW WHAT IT MEANS. BUT IF YOU WERE TO
TRANSLATE THAT WORD, PSALMOS, OR PSALM, WHAT THE
WORD MEANS IS SONG, S-O-N-G. LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR ON
THE RADIO, LIKE SONG. SO IT'S A BOOK OF SONGS.
THERE'S A HUNDRED FIFTY OF THEM, IN FACT, IN THIS
BOOK. SONGS OF JOY, SONGS OF SADNESS, SONGS OF
DESPERATION, SONGS OF CONFESSION. SONGS ABOUT ALL
KINDS OF DIFFERENT THINGS. AND THE PEOPLE OF
ISRAEL, GOD'S PEOPLE, THEY'D SING THESE TOGETHER. I
MEAN, IT'S KIND OF LIKE THEIR SONG BOOK. THIS IS
WHAT THEY WOULD SING THROUGH. REALLY POWERFUL,
POWERFUL BOOK, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE GOING THROUGH A
DIFFICULT TIME. SO LET ME JUST START OFF WITH THIS.
I'LL GIVE YOU THE CHALLENGE BEFORE WE EVEN GET TO
THE MESSAGE. THIS WILL BE KIND OF FUN. THE
CHALLENGE TODAY IS IF YOU HAVEN'T EVER READ THROUGH
THE BOOK OF PSALMS, START READING THROUGH THE BOOK
OF PSALMS. I THINK YOU'LL REALLY ENJOY IT.
ESPECIALLY IF YOUR LIFE IS FALLING APART, I
GUARANTEE YOU GOD WILL SPEAK TO YOU THROUGH THAT
BOOK. HERE'S WHAT I LIKE ABOUT PSALMS. THE
CHAPTERS IN PSALMS ARE VERY SHORT, OKAY? IT'S LIKE
A HUNDRED FIFTY CHAPTERS. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE
LIKE ME. BUT WHEN I WAS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, I,
FOR SURE, DIDN'T LIKE TO READ. BUT THERE WAS ONE
BOOK IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL -- I THINK THE GUY WROTE A
COUPLE OF THEM -- THAT I REALLY LIKED. NOW, SOME OF
Y'ALL TELL ME IF YOU'VE HEARD OF THIS BOOK. SOME OF
YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO BE LIKE, YOU ARE WAY TOO
YOUNG. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
OTHERS OF YOU ARE GOING TO BE LIKE, YOU ARE SO OLD.
NOT MANY THAT WILL SAY THAT. THIS BOOK,
THOUGH, THAT I REMEMBER FROM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THAT
I LOVE BECAUSE IT HAD SHORT CHAPTERS -- TELL ME IF
YOU REMEMBER IT -- WAS A BOOK CALLED, LIKE, WAYSIDE
SCHOOL STORIES? YEAH. I'M HEARING SOME PEOPLE AT
SOUTHWEST CAMPUS HAVE HEARD OF WAYSIDE. HERE'S WHAT
I LOVED ABOUT THE BOOK. LIKE IN THREE MINUTES, YOU
COULD READ TWENTY CHAPTERS. IT WAS AMAZING. IT WAS
LIKE A COUPLE OF WORDS PER CHAPTER. I'M LIKE, I'M
INTO THIS, BECAUSE YOU FEEL LIKE IN A COUPLE OF
MINUTES YOU ACTUALLY ACCOMPLISHED SOMETHING WITH
YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU'RE READING. AND SO I LOVE THIS
BOOK. SO THAT'S ANOTHER REASON I THINK THE PSALMS
ARE SO GREAT IS, LIKE, YOU CAN READ PSALM ONE IN
LIKE THIRTY SECONDS AND PSALM TWO IN A MINUTE. I
MEAN, IT'S JUST SHORT. AND YOU ARE, LIKE, DUDE, I
JUST READ TWO CHAPTERS OF THE BIBLE. TOOK ME LIKE A
MINUTE, THIRTY SECONDS. THAT'S AMAZING. SO IF
YOU'RE NOT A BIG READER, YOU'D PROBABLY LIKE THE
PSALMS. THEY'RE AWESOME. NOW, HALF OF THEM WERE
WRITTEN BY A GUY NAMED DAVID, KING DAVID, LIKE DAVID
AND GOLIATH DAVID. ALL RIGHT. AND HE WAS A
MUSICIAN. AND SO, HENCE, HE WRITES A LOT OF SONGS.
SO GOT THOSE IN THIS BOOK. AND THE ONE I WANT TO
SHARE WITH YOU TODAY WAS ONE THAT WAS JUST
ESPECIALLY IMPACTFUL TO ME THIS SUMMER. AND IT'S
ONE THAT DAVID WROTE. IT'S A SONG DAVID WROTE.
IT'S SONG, OR PSALM THIRTY-FOUR. IF YOU'VE GOT A
BIBLE, YOU CAN TURN THERE. IT'S OLD TESTAMENT.
SO IT'S NOT IN THE BLUE ONES. THAT'S NEW
TESTAMENT. OLD TESTAMENT. IF YOU GOT A BIG 'OLE
HONKING BIBLE, YOU JUST TURN RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE.
IF YOU'VE GOT OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT, IT'S GOING TO
BE RIGHT THERE, SOMEWHERE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE. BUT
IF YOU WANT A NEW TESTAMENT, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE
NOT -- NOT PREACHING OUT OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
SPECIFICALLY TODAY, YOU'RE WELCOME TO GRAB ONE OF
THESE ON YOUR WAY OUT. WE GIVE THEM OUT FOR FREE.
BUT THIS IS GOING TO BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN A
NORMAL SERMON OR MESSAGE. I'M GOING TO DO SOMETHING
DIFFERENT. INSTEAD OF WHAT I USUALLY DO, WHICH IS
UNPACK A FEW VERSES, CAMP OUT ON A FEW VERSES, I
WANT TO GO THROUGH THE WHOLE SONG. LIKE WE DON'T
WANT TO SING LIKE A COUPLE OF VERSES OF THE SONG
TOGETHER TODAY, ALL RIGHT? WE WANT TO SING THE
WHOLE SONG. NOT REALLY SING. BUT LIKE GO THROUGH
THE -- READ THE SONG, OKAY? SO WE'RE GOING TO DO
THE WHOLE THING. SO IT'S GOING TO MOVE PRETTY
QUICK. AND INSTEAD OF REALLY TEACHING ON IT, I JUST
WANT YOU TO HEAR GOD'S WORD AND LET IT ENCOURAGE YOU
IN WHATEVER YOU ARE GOING THROUGH. BECAUSE I THINK
IN THIS PSALM SPECIFICALLY, IT'S LIKE EVERY VERSE,
GOD JUST SHOUTS. WAS AT ME, FOR SURE. IN
THE SUFFERING, IN THE PAIN, I'M WITH YOU, I'M HERE.
IT'S POWERFUL. SO WE'RE JUST GOING TO WALK THROUGH
TWENTY-SOMETHING VERSES HERE IN JUST A MINUTE. AND
THEN I'LL KIND OF WRAP IT UP. BUT I WANT GOD'S WORD
TO ENCOURAGE YOU TODAY. I'M NOT GOING TO TALK A
WHOLE LOT. I JUST WANT GOD TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO YOU
FROM HIS WORD. SO PSALM THIRTY-FOUR IS WHAT WE ARE
GOING TO DO IN JUST A SECOND. LET ME SET IT UP, SET
UP THE CIRCUMSTANCES AROUND THIS PSALM OR SONG.
THAT'S GREAT, RIGHT? IF YOU HAVE A FAVORITE SONG, I
ALWAYS LIKE TO KNOW THE STORY BEHIND THE SONG
BECAUSE THE SONG IS EVEN BETTER, RIGHT, BECAUSE YOU
KIND OF GET WHY THE PERSON WROTE THE SONG. HERE'S
WHY DAVID WROTE THE SONG. SO DAVID -- AT THIS TIME,
THERE'S A KING IN ISRAEL. HIS NAME IS SAUL. FIRST
KING OF ISRAEL. DAVID IS HIS SERVANT. DAVID IS A
MUSICIAN. HE PLAYS MUSIC FOR THE KING, WRITES SONGS
AND STUFF. DAVID IS ALSO A COMMANDER OF THE KING'S
ARMY. HE BEATS UP GOLIATH AND KILLS HIM. SLING AND
A STONE. HE ENDS UP HAVING VICTORY LIKE OVER ALL
HIS ENEMIES. HE'S LIKE AN AWESOME COMMANDER. AND
PEOPLE START TO LOVE DAVID. AND SAUL GETS CONCERNED
ABOUT THIS BECAUSE HE'S, LIKE, SO HERE'S THE THING.
IF THEY LIKE DAVID MORE THAN THEY LIKE ME, MAYBE
THEY WILL MAKE DAVID KING. AND I WANT TO BE THE
KING. AND SO I DON'T LIKE DAVID, ALL OF A SUDDEN.
SO HE'S JEALOUS OF DAVID. AND SO SAUL DECIDES, I'M
GOING TO KILL DAVID. THAT'S WHAT HE DECIDES. NOW,
HERE'S THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IN THAT DAY. IF A KING
DECIDES HE'S GOING TO KILL YOU, YOU'RE DEAD. I
MEAN, THERE'S NO TWO WAYS ABOUT IT. I MEAN, IF A
KING WANTS TO KILL YOU, IT'S OVER, BECAUSE HE CAN
KILL YOU AND HE ISN'T GOING TO GET IN TROUBLE. HE
ISN'T GOING TO GO TO JAIL. HE'S THE KING. SO IF HE
KILLS DAVID, IT'S JUST LIKE, I KILLED HIM. YOU
KNOW, SEE YOU LATER. THAT'S FINE. SO
DAVID, RIGHTFULLY, WAS SCARED FOR HIS LIFE. SO HE
STARTS RUNNING AWAY FROM SAUL WHEN SAUL IS PURSUING
HIM. WELL, ONE DAY, DAVID ENDS UP IN ENEMY
TERRITORY. IT'S CALLED THE LAND OF THE PHILISTINES.
IF YOU WERE RAISED IN CHURCH, MAYBE YOU'VE HEARD
THAT WORD. IF YOU HAVEN'T, THAT'S COOL. IT'S JUST
ENEMIES OF ISRAEL, ALL RIGHT? PHILISTINES. AND THE
KING OF THE PHILISTINES FINDS OUT DAVID IS IN HIS
COUNTRY, AND HE DOESN'T LIKE THAT. SO THEY HAD --
YOU KNOW, THEY BRING DAVID BEFORE THE KING. AND
DAVID IS FREAKING OUT NOW, NOT ONLY BECAUSE SAUL IS
CHASING HIM, BUT NOW PROBABLY THIS ENEMY KING IS
FIXING TO KILL HIM IF HE FINDS OUT WHO HE IS. AND
SO THE BIBLE SAYS THAT DAVID, BECAUSE HE WAS SO
SCARED, WHEN HE WAS IN FRONT OF THIS ENEMY KING, HE
PRETENDS TO BE INSANE, TRYING TO GET OUT OF IT. AND
BIBLE SAYS -- YOU ARE LIKE, WHAT DID HE DO? THE
BIBLE SAYS HE STARTED SCRATCHING ON DOORS AND
DROOLING DOWN HIS BEARD, AND PROBABLY MAKING WEIRD
NOISES. AND I'M GOING TO DEMONSTRATE FOR YOU REAL
QUICK ... [LAUGHTER] >>JUST KIDDING.
JUST KIDDING. JUST KIDDING. SO I DON'T
KNOW WHAT NOISE HE WAS MAKING, BUT HE PRETENDED TO
BE INSANE. BUT HERE'S THE CRAZY THING. IT WORKED.
AND THE KING WAS LIKE, THIS ISN'T DAVID THAT'S LIKE
KILLED ALL THESE -- YOU KNOW, DEFEATED ALL THESE
ARMIES. THIS ISN'T DAVID. LET HIM GO. WHO IS THIS
WEIRD, INSANE GUY? AND SO DAVID, THANKFULLY,
ESCAPES AND STARTS RUNNING FOR HIS LIFE AGAIN. AND
THEN HE DECIDES, IN THE CONTEXT OF ALL OF THAT, TO
WRITE A SONG. RIGHT? A SONG WOULD BE APPROPRIATE
THEN. YOU ARE RUNNING FOR YOUR LIFE. YOUR LIFE IS
TOTALLY FALLING APART. YOU THINK, I'M GOING TO
WRITE A SONG ABOUT THAT. I'M GOING TO WRITE A SONG.
NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF SONG THIS IS. I
DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A RAP SONG. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S
A COUNTRY SONG. IT'S PROBABLY A -- IF I HAD TO
GUESS, IT WOULD BE A COUNTRY SONG. [LAUGHTER]
>>ROCK SONG. I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW. I'M JUST
GUESSING. AND Y'ALL CAN, OVER LUNCH LATER, OR
DINNER OR WHATEVER, YOU CAN DEBATE WHAT KIND OF SONG
THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN. BUT THIS WAS A SONG THAT THEY
SUNG TO SOME TUNE, OKAY? AND THAT WAS THE CONTEXT.
SO LET'S GET RIGHT INTO IT. AND LET ME READ YOU HIS
SONG. WE WON'T SING HIS SONG TOGETHER. THAT WOULD
BE HILARIOUS, BUT WE WON'T. IF I SANG THE VERSES TO
YOU, THAT WOULD BE -- THAT WOULD BE WEIRD. PSALM
THIRTY-FOUR, VERSE ONE. HERE -- OKAY. TELL ME, AS
I READ THIS, IF THIS WOULD BE THE FIRST VERSE IN THE
SONG YOU WOULD WRITE IF PEOPLE WERE TRYING TO KILL
YOU AND YOU WERE RUNNING FOR YOUR LIFE. HERE'S HIS
FIRST VERSE. I WILL PRAISE THE LORD AT ALL TIMES.
I WILL CONSTANTLY SPEAK HIS PRAISES. I
DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU. THAT WOULDN'T BE MY FIRST
VERSE. MY FIRST VERSE WOULD BE LIKE, GOD, DON'T LET
THEM KILL ME. I'M 'BOUT TO DIE. GOD, DON'T --
PLEASE SAVE MY LIFE. THAT WOULD BE MY FIRST VERSE.
HE'S GOING -- HERE'S DAVID'S FIRST VERSE. I'M GOING
TO PRAISE THE LORD AT ALL TIMES. EVEN IF MY LIFE --
NOT SOMETIMES. EVEN IF MY LIFE IS FALLING APART.
EVEN IF I'M RUNNING FOR MY LIFE, ALL THESE PEOPLE
TRYING TO KILL ME. HERE'S MY FIRST VERSE, GOD.
HERE'S MY SONG. WHEN WE SING IT, HERE'S WHAT I WANT
PEOPLE TO KNOW. I'M GOING TO PRAISE YOU ALL THE
TIME REGARDLESS, GOD, OF WHAT YOU ALLOW ME TO GO
THROUGH. I WILL CONSTANTLY SPEAK YOUR PRAISES, LIKE
REGARDLESS OF WHAT I GO THROUGH, GOD, I'M GOING TO
KEEP TELLING PEOPLE HOW GREAT YOU ARE. WHAT I LOVE
ABOUT THIS IS THAT DAVID IS ESSENTIALLY SAYING,
HERE'S WHAT I'M GOING TO DO. LIFE IS FALLING APART.
I'M GOING TO WORSHIP MY WAY THROUGH THE PAIN. I'M
GOING TO WORSHIP MY WAY THROUGH THE PAIN. THIS MAY
BE TOUGH. THIS MAY BE DIFFICULT. BUT, GOD, HERE'S
WHAT I WANT YOU TO KNOW. YOU ARE STILL GREAT.
AND YOU ARE ON YOUR THRONE. AND YOU'VE
BEEN GOOD TO ME. AND I TRUST THAT YOU ARE IN
CONTROL. IF IT'S NOT THE FIRST VERSE TO THE SONG WE
WOULD WRITE WHEN OUR LIVES ARE FALLING APART, IT
SHOULD BE. IT SHOULD BE. I'M GOING TO PRAISE GOD
REGARDLESS OF WHAT I GO THROUGH. SO THIS SUMMER,
HERE'S WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU'RE READING OUT -- I WANT
THIS TO BE A DEMONSTRATION. HERE'S WHAT YOU DO WHEN
YOU ARE READING YOUR BIBLE. YOU ARE IN PSALM
THIRTY-FOUR. YOU GET TO THIS VERSE. YOU DON'T JUST
KEEP GOING. IF GOD IS SPEAKING TO YOU THROUGH THAT
-- HE WAS SPEAKING TO ME IN WHAT I WAS GOING
THROUGH -- YOU STOP. PUT ON THE BRAKES. RESPOND TO
THIS. PRAY AND OBEY. PRAY AND OBEY. SO I STOP
RIGHT HERE. I'M READING THIS. I'M GOING THROUGH A
DIFFICULT TIME. MY THROAT IS KILLING ME. I DON'T
KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. I REMEMBER ONE DAY
READING THIS AND STOPPING AT VERSE ONE. JUST
SAYING, GOD, HERE'S THE THING. JUST LIKE DAVID,
HERE'S THE FIRST LINE OF MY SONG, GOD. MY LIFE,
WHAT I'M GOING THROUGH NOW, I'M GOING TO PRAISE YOU
AT ALL TIMES. GOD, I'M JUST GOING TO SPEND SOME
TIME RIGHT NOW TELLING YOU HOW GREAT YOU ARE. AND
THEN I TOOK SOME EARPHONES, STUCK THEM IN MY EARS,
AND STARTED BLASTING WORSHIP MUSIC IN MY EARS.
TRYING TO SING. IT WAS KIND OF HARD WITH
MY THROAT. BUT JUST SAYING, GOD, WHATEVER I GO
THROUGH, I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW, YOU ARE AWESOME.
YOU ARE AWESOME. I TRUST YOU. SEE, YOU PUT ON THE
BRAKES WHEN GOD SPEAKS TO YOU, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
YOU DON'T JUST KEEP GOING BECAUSE GOD SPEAKS THROUGH
HIS WORD. LET'S MOVE ON, GET THROUGH THIS. I WILL
BOAST -- HERE'S THE SECOND VERSE. I WILL BOAST ONLY
IN THE LORD. LET ALL WHO ARE HELPLESS TAKE HEART.
SO HERE'S WHAT DAVID IS SAYING. I WAS HELPLESS.
OBVIOUSLY. ENEMY KING ALMOST KILLED ME. SAUL IS
TRYING TO KILL ME. BUT HERE'S WHAT I'VE LEARNED
WHEN I FEEL HELPLESS. I CAN TAKE HEART, DAVID IS
SAYING. I CAN BE ENCOURAGED. AGAIN, GOD IS
SPEAKING TO ME IN MY SUFFERING. I STOP THERE.
VERSE TWO. OKAY. I'M STOPPING, GOD. I FEEL
HELPLESS RIGHT NOW, GOD. I GUARANTEE, AT ALL OF OUR
CAMPUSES, THERE'S SOME OF YOU RIGHT NOW WHO FEEL
HELPLESS. YOU KNOW WHAT DAVID LEARNED? YOU KNOW
WHAT YOU AND I CAN RESPOND TO AS WE HEAR GOD SPEAK
THROUGH DAVID? YOU CAN TAKE HEART IF YOU FEEL
HELPLESS. YOU CAN BE ENCOURAGED IF YOU FEEL
HELPLESS. HE'S WITH YOU. WE TALKED ABOUT THAT A
FEW WEEKS AGO. HE'S WITH YOU. SO I STOPPED. I
RESPONDED. PRAYED THROUGH IT. SAID, GOD, I'M GOING
TO OBEY IT TODAY. EVEN IF I'M HELPLESS, I'M TAKING
HEART TODAY, GOD. I'M GOING TO BE ENCOURAGED TODAY,
GOD, BECAUSE YOU ARE ON YOUR THRONE. LET'S KEEP
GOING. COME, LET US TELL OF THE LORD'S
GREATNESS. LET US EXALT HIS NAME TOGETHER. I LOVE
THIS. WATCH THIS. I PRAYED TO THE LORD AND HE
ANSWERED ME. HE FREED ME FROM ALL MY FEARS. SO
HERE'S DAVID'S TESTIMONY. LIFE FALLING APART. SOME
OF YOU ARE THERE. GOING THROUGH A DIFFICULT TIME.
HERE'S WHAT I WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW. I PRAYED TO
GOD, LIKE WHEN I WAS GOING THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT
TIME. AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW, HE ANSWERED ME. WHEN
YOU GO THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES, AND YOU PRAY, AND
YOU CRY OUT TO GOD, HE'LL ANSWER YOU. AND HE SAID
ON TOP OF THAT, HE SET ME FREE FROM MY FEARS. IF
YOU WERE IN DAVID'S SHOES -- IF I WAS IN DAVID'S
SHOES, WE'D BE SCARED FOR OUR LIVES, OF COURSE. HE
SAID HE TOOK THE FEAR AWAY. I CALLED OUT TO HIM. I
PRAYED. HE ANSWERED ME. TOOK THE FEAR AWAY. SO
WHAT DO I DO, VERSE HERE, THREE AND FOUR? I PUT ON
THE BRAKES. AS I'M SPENDING TIME WITH GOD, READING
THIS, I'M LIKE, GOD, HERE'S THE THING FOR ME. GOING
THROUGH A DIFFICULT TIME, GOD. BUT JUST LIKE YOU
PRAYED AND ANSWERED DAVID IN HIS DIFFICULT TIME, I
BELIEVE TODAY, AS I PRAY RIGHT NOW, YOU ARE GOING TO
ANSWER ME, TOO. AND, GOD, I'M AFRAID. YOU KNOW I
AM. THERE'S FEAR IN MY HEART ABOUT WHEN CAN I SPEAK
AGAIN. AND WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO MY VOICE. AM
I GOING TO HAVE TO DO THIS OR THAT. GOD, THERE'S
FEAR IN MY HEART. BUT TODAY I'M PRAYING. BECAUSE I
HAVE A PRECEDENT HERE OF YOU DOING THIS BEFORE. I'M
PRAYING THAT YOU'D SET ME FREE FROM ALL OF MY FEARS.
HE'LL DO IT. HE'LL DO IT FOR YOU, TOO,
JUST LIKE HE DID FOR DAVID. LET'S KEEP GOING. I
LOVE THIS. THOSE WHO LOOK TO HIM -- LIKE LOOK TO
GOD -- FOR HELP WILL BE RADIANT WITH -- WHAT'S THAT
WORD? DAVID, WHY YOU BRINGING JOY INTO THE
DISCUSSION? LIKE, WHEN YOUR LIFE IS FALLING APART,
THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN HAVE JOY OR BE HAPPY. SURELY
NOT. BECAUSE IT'S A DISASTER ALL AROUND YOU.
DAVID'S SAYING, NO. HERE'S MY EXPERIENCE. I LOOKED
TO GOD FOR HELP WHEN I WAS RUNNING FOR MY LIFE. I
WAS RADIANT WITH JOY. NO SHADOW OF SHAME WILL
DARKEN THEIR FACES. PUT ON THE BRAKES AGAIN. GOD,
HERE'S THE THING FOR ME. I DON'T FEEL LIKE I'M
GOING TO HAVE A JOY-FILLED DAY BECAUSE OF WHAT'S
GOING ON IN MY THROAT. BUT RIGHT HERE, DAVID IS
SAYING BECAUSE HE LOOKED TO YOU, YOU GAVE HIM JOY,
EVEN WHEN HE WAS FLEEING FOR HIS LIFE AND HIS LIFE
WAS FALLING APART. GOD, I TRUST TODAY THAT AS I
LOOK TO YOU, YOU WILL GIVE ME JOY AS WELL. MY
EXPERIENCE THIS SUMMER WAS THAT HE KEEPS THAT
PROMISE, THAT HE WOULD DO THAT FOR YOU. DID IT FOR
ME. DID IT FOR DAVID. WHEN WE ARE GOING THROUGH
DIFFICULT TIMES. THIS IS SO GOOD. JUST KEEP GOING
HERE. I PROBABLY SPENT TWO HOURS ON THIS THE DAY I
READ IT. PSALM THIRTY-FOUR, SIX. IN MY
DESPERATION -- NOT GOING TO ASK FOR A SHOW OF HANDS.
BUT AT ALL OF OUR CAMPUSES, THERE'S SOME OF YOU THAT
ARE LIKE, I'M DESPERATE TODAY. SOMETHING IS UP IN
MY LIFE. I'M DESPERATE. HE WAS, TOO. IN MY
DESPERATION, I PRAYED. THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD DO
WHEN WE ARE DESPERATE. AND HE SAYS IT AGAIN. AND
THE LORD LISTENED. I PRAYED AND HE ANSWERED ME
FIRST. NOW I PRAYED AND HE LISTENED. HE SAVED ME
FROM ALL MY TROUBLES. YOU ARE GOING TO SEE THIS
THEME, THROUGHOUT THIS PSALM, OF RESCUE. YOU PRAY.
GOD ANSWERS. HE COMES TO YOUR RESCUE.
AGAIN, I STOPPED, PRAY AND OBEY. GOD, HE DID THIS
FOR DAVID WHEN HE WAS DESPERATE. I FEEL DESPERATE,
TOO. I'M PRAYING. I BELIEVE YOU ARE LISTENING.
AND YOU ARE GOING TO COME TO MY RESCUE. THIS IS HOW
YOU READ AND RESPOND TO GOD'S WORD. IT'S SO
ENCOURAGING WHEN YOU DO. LET'S KEEP GOING. FOR THE
ANGEL OF THE LORD IS A GUARD. HE SURROUNDS AND
DEFENDS ALL WHO FEAR HIM. TASTE AND SEE THAT THE
LORD IS GOOD. OH, THE WHAT? AGAIN? HE'S GOING TO
GO THERE AGAIN? YOU ARE RUNNING FOR YOUR LIFE,
DAVID. COME ON. OH, THE JOYS OF THOSE WHO TAKE
REFUGE IN HIM. SEE, OUR TENDENCY, WHEN WE GO
THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES -- MINE IS. MAYBE YOURS IS,
AND MAYBE IT ISN'T. BUT MY TENDENCY IS TO TAKE
REFUGE IN THINGS OTHER THAN GOD. A DOCTOR WHO COULD
HELP RELIEVE MY SUFFERING. SOME MEDICINE. NOTHING
WRONG WITH THOSE. SOMEBODY THAT COULD HELP, YOU
KNOW, GET ME OUT OF THE BAD SITUATION I'M IN. WE
TAKE REFUGE AND LOOK TO PROTECTION -- WE LOOK TO
CERTAIN PEOPLE FOR PROTECTION THAT COULD FREE US
FROM OUR SUFFERING, RATHER THAN WHEN WE GO THROUGH A
DIFFICULT TIME, TAKING REFUGE IN GOD. DAVID IS
SAYING IF YOU WANT TO RECEIVE GREAT JOY IN A
DIFFICULT TIME, YOU GO TO GOD. YOU TAKE REFUGE IN
GOD. NOT THAT THE OTHER THINGS, FRIENDS AND DOCTORS
AND ALL THAT, YOU KNOW, AREN'T OKAY; IT'S GREAT.
YOU SEE A DOCTOR. GO TALK TO A FRIEND. BUT,
ULTIMATELY, OUR REFUGE, OUR HOPE SHOULD BE IN GOD.
NOT A MAN OR A THING. SHOULD BE IN GOD. HE SAID HE
TOOK REFUGE IN GOD AND GOD FILLED HIM WITH JOY.
LET'S KEEP GOING. FEAR THE LORD, YOU, HIS GODLY
PEOPLE. FOR THOSE WHO FEAR HIM WILL HAVE ALL THEY
NEED. EVEN STRONG YOUNG LIONS SOMETIMES
GO HUNGRY, BUT THOSE WHO TRUST IN THE LORD WILL LACK
NO GOOD THING. THAT'S A PROMISE. DID YOU HEAR
THAT? THOSE WHO TRUST IN THE LORD -- YOU'RE GOING
THROUGH A DIFFICULT TIME -- YOU ARE NOT GOING TO
LACK ANY GOOD THING FROM GOD. BIBLE SAYS, NEW
TESTAMENT, HE'S GOING TO WORK ALL THINGS TOGETHER
FOR GOOD FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM, ARE CALLED
ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE, ROMANS EIGHT,
TWENTY-EIGHT. NOT GOING TO LACK ANYTHING GOOD.
THAT'S A PROMISE. EVEN IF YOU'RE GOING THROUGH A
DIFFICULT TIME, YOU CAN TRUST HIM. HE'S GOT YOUR
GOOD IN MIND. LET'S KEEP GOING. COME, MY CHILDREN.
LISTEN TO ME. I'LL TEACH YOU TO FEAR THE LORD.
DOES ANYONE WANT TO LIVE A LIFE THAT IS LONG AND
PROSPEROUS? WELL, THEN KEEP YOUR TONGUE FROM
SPEAKING EVIL, YOUR LIPS FROM TELLING LIES. TURN
AWAY FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD. SEARCH FOR PEACE. WORK
TO MAINTAIN IT. THE EYES OF THE LORD WATCH OVER
THOSE WHO DO RIGHT. HIS EARS ARE OPEN TO THEIR
CRIES FOR HELP. BUT THE LORD TURNS HIS FACE AGAINST
THOSE WHO DO EVIL. HE WILL ERASE THEIR MEMORY FROM
THE EARTH. THE LORD HEARS HIS PEOPLE WHEN THEY CALL
TO HIM FOR HELP. WATCH THIS. HE WHAT? IT'S A
THEME. RESCUES THEM FROM ALL OF THEIR TROUBLES.
YOUR GOD, MY GOD, DAVID IS SAYING, HE'S A RESCUER.
HE COMES TO YOUR RESCUE WHEN YOU GO THROUGH TROUBLE,
WHEN YOU GO THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES. IT'S A
PROMISE. HE'S A RESCUER. YOU ARE GOING TO CONTINUE
TO SEE THAT. LET'S KEEP GOING. NOW, THIS VERSE,
THIS IS WORTH -- THIS IS WORTH WRITING DOWN,
MEMORIZING OR SOMETHING. I GO BACK TO
THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THIS IS JUST SUCH A
POWERFUL VERSE. THEY ALL ARE, BUT THIS ONE
ESPECIALLY. SOME OF YOU, THIS IS A WORD FROM GOD
FOR YOU TODAY AT ALL OF OUR CAMPUSES. YOU NEED TO
HEAR THIS TODAY. THE LORD IS CLOSE TO THE
BROKENHEARTED. GOT ANY BROKEN HEARTS AT OUR
CAMPUSES TODAY? I BET WE GOT QUITE A FEW. WORD
FROM GOD FOR YOU TODAY. THE LORD IS CLOSE TO YOU.
HE RESCUES THOSE WHOSE SPIRITS ARE CRUSHED. ANYBODY
GOT A CRUSHED SPIRIT? MAYBE STRUGGLING WITH
DEPRESSION, ANXIETY. SPIRIT IS CRUSHED. GOING
THROUGH A DIFFICULT TIME? BET THERE'S A LOT OF
PEOPLE. HE'S SAYING HE'S YOUR RESCUER. IT'S A
PROMISE. ONE THING TO LEARN ABOUT GOD, IF YOU DON'T
KNOW THIS ALREADY, IS HE KEEPS HIS PROMISES. WE SAY
THAT OVER AND OVER AGAIN HERE. WE SHOULD CLAIM HIS
PROMISES. WE SHOULD TRUST IN HIS PROMISES. PUT OUR
HOPE IN HIS PROMISES BECAUSE GOD DOESN'T LIE. HE
KEEPS HIS PROMISES. THE NEXT VERSE KIND OF SUMS IT
UP. THIS IS WHERE I WAS WANTING TO GO.
THIRTY-FOUR, NINETEEN. THE RIGHTEOUS PERSON. THE
RIGHTEOUS PERSON. OKAY. SO IN OUR CONTEXT,
THINKING, YOU KNOW, NEW TESTAMENT NOW, RIGHTEOUS
PERSON IS MEANING A BELIEVER. SOMEBODY WHO HAS
COMMITTED THEIR LIFE TO CHRIST. SOMEBODY WHO IS
RIGHTEOUS BY FAITH IN JESUS. GOD MAKES US RIGHT
WITH HIM WHEN WE PUT OUR FAITH IN JESUS. SO THIS
PROMISE IS FOR RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE. THAT DOESN'T MEAN
WE ARE PERFECT. IT JUST MEANS WE ARE RIGHTEOUS
BECAUSE WE BELONG TO JESUS, BELIEVERS. THE
RIGHTEOUS PERSON FACES HOW MANY TROUBLES? MANY.
HOW MANY OF YOU GUYS AT ALL OF OUR CAMPUSES KNOW
THAT'S TRUE? THAT YOU GO THROUGH MANY TROUBLES IN
THIS LIFE? SOME OF US KNOW THAT TO BE MORE TRUE
THAN OTHERS BECAUSE SOME OF US HAVE GONE THROUGH A
LOT OF DIFFICULT THINGS. BUT YOU SEE THIS ALL OVER
THE BIBLE. JESUS SAID IT. JAMES SAID IT. DAVID IS
SAYING IT. I MEAN, EVEN IF YOU ARE A RIGHTEOUS
PERSON, LIKE YOU BELONG TO JESUS, YOU STILL GOT
TROUBLE THAT'S GOING TO COME YOUR WAY. PUTTING YOUR
FAITH AND TRUST IN JESUS DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE NOT
GOING TO HAVE TROUBLE IN LIFE ANYMORE. YOU STILL
GOT TRIALS. IT'S THE WORLD WE LIVE IN. SAYING THE
RIGHTEOUS PERSON, THEY'RE GOING TO FACE MANY
TROUBLES. I AM. MY LIFE IS GOING TO FALL APART
MORE TIMES THAN JUST THIS SUMMER PROBABLY. YOURS
WILL TOO. WE GO THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES IN THIS
LIFE. THE RIGHTEOUS PERSON FACES MANY TROUBLES, BUT
PROMISE. WATCH. THE LORD COMES TO THE RESCUE HOW
MANY TIMES? EACH AND EVERY SINGLE TIME.
MAN, YOU GOING THROUGH SOMETHING DIFFICULT
LIKE I WAS THIS SUMMER, YOU READ THAT, AND ALL OF A
SUDDEN, YOU ARE FILLED WITH HOPE. YOU ARE
ENCOURAGED. HE'S GOING TO COME TO MY RESCUE EACH
AND EVERY TIME. I MIGHT HAVE A LOT OF TROUBLES. IN
FACT, HE'S SAYING I'M GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF
TROUBLE. I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH TROUBLES IN THIS
LIFE. BUT EVERY SINGLE TIME, FOR THE RIGHTEOUS
PERSON, FOR THE BELIEVER, HE'S GOING TO COME TO THE
RESCUE. SOME OF YOU GOING THROUGH STUFF RIGHT NOW.
MAYBE IT'S A RELATIONSHIP DIFFICULTY. HE'S YOUR
RESCUER. HE PROMISES TO COME TO YOUR RESCUE. MAYBE
IT'S A HEALTH ISSUE. YOU JUST GOT DIAGNOSED WITH
SOME INCURABLE DISEASE OR SOMETHING. YOU ARE
DESPERATE. HE'S YOUR RESCUER. HE'LL COME TO YOUR
RESCUE. MAYBE IT'S A FINANCIAL ISSUE. CAN'T MAKE
RENT, YOUR MORTGAGE, OR JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TO
PAY YOUR BILLS OR SOME -- SOMETHING. HE'S YOUR
RESCUER. YOU ARE FACING A TROUBLE RIGHT NOW. YOU
FACE A TROUBLE ONE DAY. YOU FACED A TROUBLE IN THE
PAST. HE'S YOUR RESCUER. HE COMES TO THE RESCUE
EVERY SINGLE TIME. THAT'S A PROMISE. WE ARE GOING
TO COME BACK TO THAT. LAST LITTLE PART HERE OF THE
PSALM. FOR THE LORD PROTECTS THE BONES OF THE
RIGHTEOUS. NOT ONE OF THEM IS BROKEN. CALAMITY
WILL SURELY OVERTAKE THE WICKED. AND THOSE WHO HATE
THE RIGHTEOUS WILL BE PUNISHED. BUT THE LORD WILL
REDEEM THOSE WHO SERVE HIM. NO ONE WHO TAKES REFUGE
IN HIM WILL BE CONDEMNED. AND THAT'S THE END OF THE
PSALM. SONG HE WROTE WHEN HE WAS FLEEING FOR HIS
LIFE. HIS LIFE WAS TOTALLY FALLING APART. I'M
GOING TO PRAISE THE LORD AT ALL TIMES. GOD LISTENS
WHEN I PRAY. I'M TAKING REFUGE IN HIM. HE'S MY
RESCUER EVERY SINGLE TIME. THAT'S HIS SONG. THAT'S
HIS SONG WHEN HIS LIFE IS FALLING APART. PRAY IT
WOULD BE MINE. PRAY IT WOULD BE YOURS WHEN WE
EXPERIENCE THE SAME THING. FEEL LIKE OUR LIVES ARE
FALLING APART. NOW, YOU HAVE A QUESTION. SOME OF
YOU DO. I KNOW WHAT THE QUESTION IS. I'M
READING YOUR MIND. HERE IT IS. NOT REALLY. I JUST
HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT IT MIGHT BE. THE QUESTION IS,
OKAY. THAT'S A PROMISE HE'LL COME TO MY RESCUE.
THAT'S GREAT. WELL, I'M GOING THROUGH A DIFFICULT
TIME RIGHT NOW, AND I'M NOT SURE HE'S COMING TO MY
RESCUE. SO WHAT'S THE DEAL? LIKE, IF HE'S A
RESCUER, WHY DON'T I FEEL LIKE HE'S COMING TO MY
RESCUE? OR I'M PRAYING FOR MY MOM. WHY ISN'T HE
COMING TO MY MOM'S RESCUE, OR MY COUSIN? LIKE HOW
DOES GOD COME TO THE RESCUE? IF HE PROMISES TO COME
TO THE RESCUE, HOW DOES HE DO THAT? LET'S TALK
ABOUT IT BECAUSE THERE'S A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS
HE COMES TO OUR RESCUE. IT'S NOT ALL THE SAME. LET
ME SHOW YOU A COUPLE OF THE WAYS HE COMES TO OUR
RESCUE. FIRST WAY HE CAN COME TO YOUR RESCUE WHEN
YOU'RE SUFFERING IS JUST PUT AN END TO IT. HE'S
GOD, RIGHT? HE CAN DO THAT, CAN'T HE? CAN HE DO A
MIRACLE? YOU BETTER BELIEVE HE CAN. PUT AN END TO
IT. LIKE YOU PRAY, HEY, GOD, I JUST GOT DIAGNOSED
WITH CANCER. I NEED YOU TO RESCUE ME. AND
SOMETIMES HE'LL JUST RESCUE AND HEAL YOU. YOU JUST
LOST A JOB. YOU NEED A JOB. HE'LL RESCUE AND JUST
GIVE YOU A JOB THAT WEEK. YOU ARE OUT OF MONEY.
YOU NEED MONEY. AND SOMETHING COMES IN THE MAIL
FROM SOMEBODY THAT'S ANONYMOUS. IN YOUR MIND,
ANONYMOUS EQUALS GOD. ALL RIGHT? AND YOU ARE LIKE,
THAT'S FROM GOD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND HE JUST
COMES TO YOUR RESCUE. JUST LIKE, RIGHT THEN, HE
JUST PUTS AN END TO THE SUFFERING. PUTS AN END TO
PAIN. IT'S JUST OVER. HE COMES TO THE RESCUE LIKE
THAT SOMETIMES. WE SEE THAT QUITE A BIT ACTUALLY AT
THIS CHURCH IN THE CONTEXT OF OUR PRAYER MEETINGS.
THAT'S WHY YOU SHOULD COME TO A PRAYER MEETING. BUT
PRAYER MEETINGS, WE HAVE SUNDAY IN AMARILLO.
MONDAY, SOUTHWEST CAMPUS. TUESDAY, DOWNTOWN. AND
WE HAVE PRAYER TEAMS ON THE WEEKENDS THAT COME UP
HERE TO THE FRONT NEXT TO THE STAGE AT ALL OF OUR
CAMPUSES, AND PRAY WITH PEOPLE. I HEAR STORIES ALL
THE TIME. SOMEBODY COMES UP FOR PRAYER. PRAYER
TEAM THEN PUTS A HAND ON THEIR SHOULDER. PRAYS FOR
THEM TO GET A JOB. THEY GET A JOB THAT WEEK.
SOMEBODY COMES TO MONDAY NIGHT PRAYER, OR TUESDAY
NIGHT PRAYER, OR SUNDAY NIGHT PRAYER, AND PEOPLE
WILL GATHER AROUND THEM AND PRAY FOR THEM BECAUSE
THEY ARE GOING THROUGH A DIFFICULT TIME. AND GOD
LIKE HEALS THEM OF WHATEVER THEY -- IT IS THAT THEY
HAVE. I MEAN, I'VE SEEN THAT TIME AND TIME AND TIME
AGAIN. GOD COMES TO THE RESCUE IN THIS WAY.
SOMETIMES, FOR SURE, HE DOES. YOU KNOW, THIS SUMMER
IN WHAT I WAS GOING THROUGH, THERE WERE A LOT OF
PEOPLE -- MAYBE MANY OF YOU -- PRAYING THAT GOD
WOULD COME TO MY RESCUE IN THIS WAY. AND
PEOPLE WOULD COME OVER TO MY HOUSE, AND GROUPS OF
PEOPLE. AND THEY'D PUT THEIR HANDS ON MY SHOULDER
-- SHOULDERS OR BACK AND PRAY, GOD, HEAL HIM. COME
TO HIS RESCUE. AND IN MY CASE, I GUARANTEE YOU GOD
CAME TO MY RESCUE. BUT IT WAS NOT IN THIS WAY.
SEE, GOD GETS TO DECIDE HOW TO BEST COME TO YOUR
RESCUE. HE'S GOING TO KEEP THE PROMISE, BUT WE GOT
TO TRUST HIM TO KNOW HOW BEST TO COME TO OUR RESCUE.
THERE'S SOME OTHER WAYS HE CAN COME TO YOUR RESCUE.
HERE'S ANOTHER ONE. HE CAN PUT AN END TO IT. OR
SECONDLY, HE CAN GIVE YOU STRENGTH THAT YOU DON'T
HAVE IN THAT MOMENT TO ENDURE THROUGH THE DIFFICULT
TIME. LIKE YOU PRAY FOR RESCUE. AND GOD SAYS, I'M
GIVING YOU STRENGTH. I'M GOING TO ALLOW YOU TO GO
THROUGH THIS RIGHT NOW. IT'S GOING TO DRAW YOU
CLOSE TO ME. YOU ARE NOT GOING TO UNDERSTAND ALL
THE REASONS WHY. I'M GOING TO ALLOW YOU TO GO
THROUGH IT. I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE IT AWAY RIGHT
NOW. BUT I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU STRENGTH. BECAUSE
YOU ARE ASKING ME TO RESCUE, I'M GOING TO COME TO
YOUR RESCUE. THIS IS A RESCUE. AND HE'S SAYING,
I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU STRENGTH. AND THIS IS WHAT
HAPPENED FOR ME THIS SUMMER IS HE DIDN'T TAKE IT
AWAY. BUT HE GAVE ME SO MUCH STRENGTH. I COULDN'T
HAVE MADE IT THROUGH THE SUMMER, I GUARANTEE YOU,
WITHOUT THE STRENGTH THAT HE GAVE ME. IT WAS SO
ENCOURAGING TO KNOW HE'S WITH ME. HE'S GOING TO
GIVE ME ENDURANCE TO MAKE IT THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT
TIME. AND I COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT HIM. I
MEAN, IT WOULD HAVE JUST BEEN SO MUCH WORSE WITHOUT
HIM. SO I'M SO THANKFUL THAT HE CAME TO MY RESCUE
IN THAT WAY. PAUL, NEW TESTAMENT, SAME THING. PAUL
DID MIRACLES. HE SAW GOD DO WAY NUMBER ONE A LOT.
LIKE PUT AN END TO PEOPLE'S SUFFERING. JUST, BOOM.
JUST DO IT. AND IN ONE -- ONE TIME, HE'S GOING
THROUGH A DIFFICULT TIME, AND HE PRAYS TO GOD. AND
HE SAYS, GOD, WOULD YOU PUT AN END TO IT? AND YOU
KNOW WHAT GOD SAYS? NOPE, BUT MY GRACE IS GOING TO
BE SUFFICIENT FOR YOU THROUGH THIS. SO
PAUL DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT ALL. BUT HE THOUGHT,
OKAY. IF HIS GRACE IS GOING TO BE SUFFICIENT FOR
ME, IF HE'S GOING TO GIVE ME STRENGTH, THEN I'M JUST
GOING TO REJOICE THAT I'M GOING THROUGH IT, BECAUSE
I'M GOING TO BELIEVE THAT GOD IS GOING TO DO
SOMETHING AWESOME IN MY LIFE THROUGH THIS. THAT'S
WHAT HE SAID RIGHT AFTER. SAID, I'M GOING TO
REJOICE WHEN TRIALS COME MY WAY AND HARDSHIPS AND
ALL THAT, BECAUSE WHEN I'M WEAK, I'M STRONG BECAUSE
HE GIVES ME STRENGTH. THIS IS A RESCUE. DON'T
THINK IT'S NOT. THIS IS HOW HE CAME TO MY RESCUE.
MAYBE MANY OF YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED HIM COMING TO
YOUR RESCUE IN THIS WAY AS WELL. HERE'S A THIRD
WAY. AND IN THIS WAY, WE ARE ALL GOING TO BE
RESCUED, THOSE OF US THAT HAVE PUT OUR FAITH IN
CHRIST, UNLESS HE COMES BACK, JESUS, BEFORE THEN.
HERE'S THE THIRD WAY GOD IS GOING TO COME TO THE
RESCUE EVENTUALLY OF EVERY BELIEVER UNLESS JESUS
COMES BACK BEFORE THEN. HE'S GOING TO TAKE YOU
HOME. YOU CAN GET TO GO HOME TO HEAVEN AND BE WITH
JESUS. NOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE, WHEN THEY ARE PRAYING
FOR RESCUE, THEY'RE SAYING, GOD, HERE'S THE THING.
I WANT RESCUE IN EVERY WAY BUT THIS ONE, OKAY? SO
FOR ME OR FOR MY FAMILY, HERE'S THE THING. I DON'T
MEAN THAT. WHEN I'M SAYING THAT, GOD, I JUST WANT
TO CLARIFY, I DON'T MEAN -- SINCE WHEN? COME ON.
SINCE WHEN FOR YOU AND ME WAS THIS NOT RESCUE? THIS
IS ULTIMATE RESCUE. TO GET TO GO HOME TO A PLACE
WHERE THERE'S NO MORE SIN, SUFFERING, SICKNESS OR
DEATH? TALK ABOUT RESCUE. PAUL KNEW IT WAS RESCUE
SO MUCH SO THAT HE SAID, I CAN'T WAIT TO GO THERE.
LIKE PHILIPPIANS ONE. I LONG TO BE THERE. I LONG
TO GO AND BE WITH CHRIST. I'M STAYING HERE WITH YOU
GUYS FOR A WHILE TO HELP YOU IN YOUR FAITH. I CAN'T
WAIT TO GO. HE SAID, FOR ME, DYING IS GOING TO BE
GAIN, NOT LOSS. I'M GOING TO GET TO GO AND BE --
PAUL IS SAYING -- WITH JESUS. WHY DON'T WE GET
THAT? I THINK A LOT OF TIMES, BECAUSE WE DON'T GET
THE OTHER THINGS HE WROTE IN PHILIPPIANS. LIKE THE
FACT HE THOUGHT OF HIMSELF AS A CITIZEN OF HEAVEN,
THAT THIS ISN'T HIS HOME. DIDN'T WANT TO GET TOO
ATTACHED TO THIS PLANET. THIS ISN'T HOME. I TOLD
YOU A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO I'M REALLY GOOD WITH WORST
CASE SCENARIOS. SO LET ME JUST GIVE YOU THE WORST
CASE SCENARIO FOR ANY BELIEVER IN ANY SITUATION.
YOU ARE GOING TO SEE IT'S NOT ALL THAT BAD. YOU
KNOW WHAT WORST CASE SCENARIO IS IF YOU GET
DIAGNOSED WITH AN INCURABLE DISEASE, OR A CHRISTIAN
LIVES IN SOME COUNTRY WHERE THERE'S NOT CLEAN WATER,
NOT ENOUGH TO EAT, AND THEY THINK THEY MAY STARVE TO
DEATH OR WHATEVER? YOU KNOW WHAT WORST CASE
SCENARIO IS IN ANY GIVEN SITUATION FOR A BELIEVER?
YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT WORST CASE SCENARIO IS?
YOU DIE AND YOU GO HOME TO BE WITH JESUS.
IT AIN'T THAT BAD. IT AIN'T THAT BAD. IT'S HOME.
THAT'S WHAT WE WERE ULTIMATELY CREATED FOR. TO LIVE
WITH GOD FOR ETERNITY IN A PLACE, HEAVEN, FREE FROM
PAIN, SICKNESS, SUFFERING AND DEATH. SINCE WHEN IS
THIS NOT RESCUE? YOU KNOW, I HAVEN'T HAD TO DO MANY
FUNERALS. PRAISE GOD FOR THAT. BUT THE FEW I'VE
DONE FOR BELIEVERS, I ALWAYS SAID -- SAY THIS TO THE
PEOPLE THAT ARE GATHERED THERE. I SAY, YOU GUYS
PROBABLY THINK THAT YOU PRAYED FOR THIS PERSON TO BE
HEALED, OR YOU PRAYED FOR GOD TO RESCUE THIS PERSON,
AND HE DIDN'T ANSWER YOUR PRAYER. YOU'RE LIKE,
GREAT, GOD. I PRAYED FOR THAT PERSON TO BE HEALED
AND NOW LOOK AT WHERE WE'RE AT. WE'RE AT THEIR
FUNERAL. THANKS FOR ANSWERING THAT PRAYER, GOD.
AND BOTH OF THE FUNERALS WHERE I DID THIS FOR A
BELIEVER, I LOOKED AT EVERYBODY AND SAID, YOU THINK
GOD DIDN'T ANSWER YOUR PRAYER FOR HEALING FOR THIS
PERSON? I GOT NEWS FOR YOU TODAY. YES, HE DID.
YES, HE DID. SINCE WHEN WAS THIS NOT HEALING? THIS
IS HOW HE'S ULTIMATELY GOING TO RESCUE ALL OF US
THAT HAVE PUT OUR FAITH IN CHRIST. THIS IS HOW HE'S
GOING TO ULTIMATELY HEAL ALL OF US THAT HAVE PUT OUR
FAITH IN CHRIST. THEY ARE HOME WITH JESUS. THAT'S
THE ULTIMATE RESCUE. YOU DON'T THINK HE ANSWERED
YOUR PRAYERS? YES, HE DID. MAYBE NOT IN THE WAY
YOU THOUGHT. BUT YES, HE DID. SO TAKE HOPE. TAKE
HEART. BE ENCOURAGED. THEY HAVE BEEN RESCUED.
THEY HAVE BEEN RESCUED. LET ME KIND OF SUM IT UP,
WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY, BY JUST SAYING THIS. GOD
PROMISES TO RESCUE US EVERY TIME OUR LIVES FALL
APART. BUT HE DOESN'T PROMISE TO RESCUE US IN A
CERTAIN WAY. YOU'VE GOT A PROMISE TODAY THAT YOU
CAN CLING TO, AND THAT IS THIS. HE'S GOING TO
RESCUE YOU. IF YOU'RE GOING THROUGH A DIFFICULT
TIME, LIFE IS FALLING APART, HE'S COMING TO YOUR
RESCUE. BUT HE DOESN'T PROMISE TO RESCUE YOU IN A
CERTAIN WAY. HE'S GOING TO RESCUE YOU IN THE WAY HE
KNOWS IS BEST. YOU THINK YOU KNOW WHAT'S BEST. I
DO, TOO, A LOT OF TIMES. AND WE PRAY, GOD, HERE'S
THE THING. YOU RESCUE HIM IN THE WAY I SAY YOU
SHOULD RESCUE HIM BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS BEST. ARE
YOU KIDDING? AM I KIDDING? SINCE WHEN DO WE NOT
TRUST GOD TO KNOW WHAT'S BEST, TO KNOW HOW TO BEST
RESCUE US? HE'S A RESCUER. HE'S GOOD AT
IT. HE'S BEEN DOING IT FOR A LONG TIME. AND YOU
CAN EXPECT TODAY, WALKING OUT OF THIS PLACE, HE'S
GOING TO KEEP THIS PROMISE TO YOU. WHEN YOU GO
THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES, HE'S COMING TO YOUR RESCUE.
JUST GET READY FOR IT. AND IT'S GOING TO BE
AWESOME, WHATEVER IT IS. FIRST WAY THAT ALL OF YOU
NEED TO BE RESCUED, IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN ALREADY, IS
FROM THE PENALTY OF YOUR SIN BECAUSE THE BIBLE MAKES
IT CLEAR THAT IF YOU AND I GET WHAT WE DESERVE ONE
DAY, IT'S NOT HEAVEN. SO MANY PEOPLE THESE DAYS
THINK, WELL, IF I GET WHAT I DESERVE ONE DAY, I'VE
BEEN A GOOD PERSON, I'M GOING TO HEAVEN. YEAH.
WELL, THE STANDARD ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE IS
PERFECTION. GOOD LUCK. IT'S TOO HIGH. I'M NOT
PERFECT. I DON'T THINK YOU PROBABLY CLAIM TO BE
PERFECT EITHER. YOU CAN'T GET THERE WITHOUT A
RESCUER. THAT'S WHY JESUS CAME. YOU ARE LIKE, WHY
DID JESUS HAVE TO COME? TO RESCUE YOU AND ME FROM
OUR SINS, FROM THE PENALTY OF OUR SINS. WE DESERVE
TO SPEND ETERNITY SEPARATED FROM GOD IN A PLACE
CALLED HELL. IF YOU GET WHAT YOU DESERVE, IF I GET
WHAT I DESERVE, IT'S THAT. NOT HEAVEN. BUT JESUS
CAME TO RESCUE US FROM WHAT WE DESERVE AND GIVE US
WHAT WE DON'T DESERVE. IT'S THE GREATEST NEWS IN
ALL OF HISTORY. AND IT'S YOURS. HE'LL RESCUE YOU
IF YOU WILL COMMIT YOUR LIFE TO HIM, TO JESUS. IF
YOU WILL TURN FROM YOUR SINS, CALLED REPENTANCE, AND
PUT YOUR FAITH AND TRUST IN JESUS TO SAVE YOU. NOT
YOU TO SAVE YOU. IF YOU WILL ADMIT, I'M A BAD
SAVIOR. IT'S NOT ABOUT BEING GOOD ENOUGH, GOD. I
DIDN'T REALIZE THAT. NOW I KNOW. I NEED A RESCUER.
OKAY. I'M ADMITTING THAT. JESUS, RESCUE ME. HE
WILL. HE PROMISES TO, TODAY. I WANT TO END WITH
THIS. YOU GUYS ALL GOT ONE OF THESE WHEN YOU CAME
IN AT ALL OF OUR CAMPUSES. WOULD YOU GRAB IT REAL
QUICK FOR ME? SAYS, WHEN LIFE FALLS APART, ON THE
FRONT. IT'S OUR SERIES GRAPHIC. AND THEN ON THE
BACK, YOU WILL RECOGNIZE SOME OF THESE VERSES.
THEY ARE FROM THIS SERIES. AND THESE ARE
VERSES THAT WE CAN CLING TO, THAT WE CAN FIND HOPE
IN, THAT WE CAN BELIEVE ARE GOING TO COME TRUE.
PROMISES THAT ARE GOING TO COME TRUE WHEN WE GO
THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES OR WHEN OUR LIVES ARE
FALLING APART. SO WHAT I HOPE YOU WILL DO WITH THIS
IS EITHER HANG ONTO IT IF YOU'RE GOING THROUGH A
DIFFICULT TIME AND REVIEW THIS EVERY DAY. THESE
VERSES, GOD, I BELIEVE THIS. GOD, THIS IS A
PROMISE. I TRUST IN YOU AND YOUR WORD. MAYBE IF
YOU ARE NOT GOING THROUGH THAT DIFFICULT OF A TIME
NOW, WRITE THEM DOWN. MAYBE GIVE IT TO A FRIEND.
YOU GOT A FRIEND. THEIR LIFE IS FALLING APART. YOU
SAY, HEY, WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS SERIES AT OUR
CHURCH. SOME AMAZING PROMISES IN SCRIPTURE THAT I
THINK WILL REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU. HERE, TAKE A LOOK
AT THIS. YOU CAN BELIEVE GOD WILL KEEP HIS PROMISES
TO YOU. BUT DO SOMETHING WITH THIS. WE JUST WANTED
YOU TO HAVE SOMETHING IN YOUR HANDS FROM THIS SERIES
SPECIFICALLY THAT YOU COULD REMEMBER, MEMORIZE, GIVE
TO A FRIEND. LET THESE HELP. LET ME JUST REVIEW
THEM WITH YOU AGAIN. YOU WILL REMEMBER THEM. FIRST
PETER FOUR, NINETEEN. IF YOU ARE SUFFERING IN A
MANNER THAT PLEASE GOD, KEEP ON DOING WHAT IS RIGHT.
TRUST YOUR LIFE TO THE GOD WHO CREATED YOU. FOR HE
WILL NEVER FAIL YOU. REMEMBER THAT? THAT'S
AMAZING. HE'S NOT GOING TO FAIL ME IN ANYTHING I GO
THROUGH. ISAIAH FORTY-ONE, TEN. DON'T BE AFRAID.
I'M WITH YOU. THERE'S NOTHING TO BE AFRAID OF. I'M
GOING TO BE WITH YOU, GOD SAYS. MAN, NEED TO HEAR
THAT WHEN YOU ARE GOING THROUGH A DIFFICULT TIME.
TODAY'S VERSE, PSALM THIRTY-FOUR, NINETEEN. THE
RIGHTEOUS PERSON FACES MANY TROUBLES, BUT THE LORD
COMES TO THE RESCUE EACH TIME. WHEN YOUR LIFE IS
FALLING APART, THESE WILL ENCOURAGE YOU. THE REASON
I KNOW IS BECAUSE THEY ENCOURAGED ME THIS SUMMER
WHEN I FELT LIKE MY LIFE WAS FALLING APART. AND
THERE'S MANY MORE. THERE'S NOT JUST THREE. BUT
THESE ARE THREE OF THE ONES THAT WE'VE BEEN
DISCUSSING IN THIS SERIES THAT I FOUND TO BE
ESPECIALLY POWERFUL FOR ME. AND WHAT YOU GOT TO
KNOW IS THAT THESE ARE PROMISES YOU CAN COUNT ON.
GOD MAKES US PROMISES AND HE KEEPS THEM
BECAUSE HE'S A PROMISE-KEEPING GOD. LET'S PRAY
TOGETHER. LORD, WE LOVE YOU, AND WE JUST THANK YOU
THAT YOU ARE A RESCUER. GOD, WE THANK YOU THAT YOU
COME TO OUR RESCUE. YOU PROMISE US THAT EVEN THOUGH
WE GO THROUGH MANY TROUBLES AND MANY TIMES IN OUR
LIVES WHERE WE FEEL LIKE OUR LIVES ARE FALLING
APART, YOU SAID YOU WILL COME TO THE RESCUE EACH AND
EVERY TIME. THAT'S AMAZING. GOD, THERE'S SOME
PEOPLE HERE TODAY THAT NEED YOU TO COME TO THEIR
RESCUE TODAY. WOULD YOU DO IT TODAY, GOD? WOULD
YOU COME TO THEIR RESCUE AND DO SOMETHING AWESOME IN
THEIR LIVES? YOU'RE A GREAT RESCUER, GOD. THANK
YOU FOR RESCUING US, THOSE OF US THAT HAVE BELIEVED
IN JESUS, FROM THE PENALTY OF OUR SINS. GOD, WE
JUST PRAY AS WE GO THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES THAT YOU
CONTINUE TO DO WHAT YOU PROMISED. WE KNOW THAT YOU
WILL. AND THAT IS TO RESCUE US EVERY SINGLE TIME.
THANKS FOR HOW GREAT YOU ARE. WE ARE GOING TO
PRAISE YOU IN THE STORM. WE ARE GOING TO WORSHIP
YOU EVEN THROUGH
THE PAIN. IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN.