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>>EXPERIENCE LIFE, HOW ARE WE? [APPLAUSE] >>GOOD
TO SEE YOU HERE AT OUR SOUTHWEST CAMPUS. I WANT TO
WELCOME ALL YOU WATCHING VIA VIDEO AT OUR DOWNTOWN
CAMPUS. GLAD YOU GUYS ARE HERE TODAY. AMARILLO
CAMPUS, CHURCH ONLINE, ONE OF OUR NETWORK CHURCHES
THROUGHOUT WEST TEXAS, JUST WANT TO WELCOME ALL OF
YOU. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY. THIS IS PART
TWO, SERIES WE STARTED LAST WEEKEND CALLED WHEN LIFE
FALLS APART. AND BASICALLY WHAT WE DID
LAST WEEKEND WAS I SAID I WANT TO DO THIS SERIES
WHERE I JUST SHARE WITH YOU SOME OF WHAT HAPPENED TO
ME THIS SUMMER. IF YOU WEREN'T HERE LAST WEEKEND,
AGAIN, YOU CAN CHECK OUT THE MESSAGE ONLINE. BUT I
SHARED THAT STORY OF GETTING THE CYST ON THE BACK OF
MY THROAT AND THE SURGERY AND JUST THE RECOVERY
PROCESS AND ALL OF THAT. SO I WANTED TO SHARE THAT
WITH YOU, AND THEN ALSO SHARE WITH YOU SOME OF THE
THINGS THAT THE LORD TAUGHT US DURING THIS TIME OF
SUFFERING FOR OUR FAMILY, ME SPECIFICALLY. BUT IT
WAS DEFINITELY A ROUGH, MISERABLE SUMMER FOR SURE.
WON'T GO INTO ALL THE DETAILS OF THE STORY. AGAIN,
YOU CAN PICK THOSE UP ONLINE IF YOU MISSED THE
MESSAGE. BUT LAST WEEKEND, WE JUST SPENT SOME TIME
TALKING ABOUT SUFFERING BECAUSE WE ALL GO THROUGH
THAT. WE ALL HAVE TIMES IN OUR LIFE WHEN WE FEEL
LIKE OUR LIVES ARE FALLING APART, AND ONE OF THE
KIND OF BIG IDEAS WAS SIMPLY THIS. THAT SUFFERING
DRAWS YOU CLOSER TO JESUS THAN YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN
WITHOUT IT. LIKE WHEN YOUR LIFE FALLS APART, THAT
CAN DRAW YOU CLOSER TO JESUS THAN YOU WOULD HAVE
BEEN HAD THAT NOT HAPPENED. SO THAT'S WHY
PETER SAID IN THE TEXT WE LOOKED AT LAST WEEKEND,
FIRST PETER, CHAPTER FOUR, HE SAID, SO YOU CAN BE
VERY GLAD WHEN THESE TRIALS COME BECAUSE OF WHAT IT
DOES FOR YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND HOW IT CAN
DRAW YOU SO CLOSE. SO THAT'S KIND OF A SUMMARY OF
WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT LAST WEEKEND. BUT I JUST WANT
TO CONTINUE WITH THAT THIS WEEKEND, AND BASICALLY
START OFF BY SAYING THIS. ONE OF THE GREATEST
TEMPTATIONS WHEN WE BEGIN TO SUFFER OR GO THROUGH
DIFFICULT TIMES, WHEN WE FEEL LIKE OUR LIFE IS
FALLING APART, ONE OF THE GREATEST TEMPTATIONS WE
FACE IS TO BEGIN TO FEAR. RIGHT? TO BECOME AFRAID.
IT'S A TEMPTATION WHEN YOU ARE SUFFERING TO START
FEARING WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT. SO THIS LOOKS
DIFFERENT FOR EVERYBODY. BUT SAY YOU WERE IN A
RELATIONSHIP FOR A LONG TIME AND ENDED UP IN A BIG
BREAK-UP. AND MAYBE YOU WERE AFRAID THAT YOU WOULD
GET INTO A GOOD RELATIONSHIP -- WHETHER OR NOT YOU'D
BE ABLE TO GET IN A GOOD RELATIONSHIP THAT WOULD,
YOU KNOW, LEAD TO MARRIAGE AND ULTIMATELY BE
SOMEBODY YOU COULD SPEND THE REST OF YOUR LIFE WITH.
YOU JUST GOT AFRAID BECAUSE YOU WENT
THROUGH THIS BIG BREAK-UP. OR MAYBE YOU WERE
MARRIED AND YOU GOT A DIVORCE AND YOU WERE AFRAID OF
BEING ALONE. YOU REALLY FEARED THAT. YOU DIDN'T
KNOW HOW THAT WAS GOING TO LOOK. MAYBE YOU LOST
YOUR JOB AND YOU BECAME AFRAID THAT YOU MIGHT NOT
FIND ANOTHER ONE. OR YOU STARTED STRUGGLING TO PAY
THE BILLS AND YOU BEGAN TO FEAR THAT YOU MIGHT NOT
BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR YOUR FAMILY AND KEEP A ROOF
OVER YOUR HEADS. MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING WITH YOUR
HEALTH. YOUR HEALTH JUST WENT -- YOU KNOW, SPIRALED
DOWNWARD, AND YOU JUST STARTED TO FEAR, HEY, WHAT'S
THE PROGNOSIS GOING TO BE? WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN
TO ME? AM I GOING TO MAKE IT? DO I HAVE SOME
INCURABLE DISEASE? WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME? AND YOU
BEGAN TO BECOME AFRAID. THAT'S JUST A
TEMPTATION THAT WE ALL FACE WHEN OUR LIVES START TO
FALL APART. WE START TO BECOME AFRAID. NOW I WANT
YOU TO THINK ABOUT SOMETHING, AND THEN I'M GOING TO
LAUNCH INTO THIS TEXT HERE THAT I THINK IS SO
POWERFUL. I THINK I COULD EASILY ARGUE THAT WE ARE
ALL AFRAID OF SOMETHING. QUESTION FOR YOU TODAY,
AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY IT OUT LOUD, BUT JUST IN
YOUR OWN HEART, I WANT TO ASK YOU, WHAT ARE YOU
AFRAID OF? WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF? I'M NOT TALKING
ABOUT LIKE SNAKES OR SPIDERS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I GET THAT. I HATE SNAKES. I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT
THAT. I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT YOU
FACE ON A REGULAR BASIS. HOPEFULLY, YOU DON'T HAVE
SNAKES CHASING YOU AROUND ON A REGULAR BASIS. BUT,
HONESTLY, WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF? THINK ABOUT IT.
WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF? I WANT TO SPEND A MINUTE
ALLOWING GOD'S WORD TO ARGUE WITH US ABOUT OUR
FEARS. THIS IS A POWERFUL TEXT OF SCRIPTURE I WANT
YOU TO TURN TO IN ISAIAH, CHAPTER FORTY-ONE. ISAIAH
FORTY-ONE. IF YOU ARE IN THE BLUE ONES,
YOU'LL BE LOOKING ALL DAY LONG BECAUSE THIS IS THE
NEW TESTAMENT, AND ISAIAH IS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.
YOU'RE LIKE, ISAIAH. THAT'S A COOL NAME. THAT'S A
BOOK OF THE BIBLE. IT'S IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, NOT
THE NEW TESTAMENT. SO IF YOU GOT ONE OF THESE, THEN
JUST SET IT DOWN, I GUESS. AND PULL OUT YOUR SMART
PHONE, IF YOU'VE GOT A SMART PHONE AS OPPOSED TO A
DUMB PHONE, I GUESS, OR WHATEVER THE OPPOSITE OF
THAT IS. LIKE ONE THAT HAS APPS, ALL RIGHT? YOU
CAN GET A BIBLE ON THERE AND GO TO THE OLD
TESTAMENT. ISAIAH. BUT IF YOU WANT A NEW
TESTAMENT, EASY-TO-UNDERSTAND TRANSLATION, WE PASS
THESE OUT AT ALL OF OUR CAMPUSES. YOU ARE WELCOME
TO PICK ONE UP ON YOUR WAY OUT. ISAIAH FORTY-ONE.
GOD'S PEOPLE -- GOD IS TALKING TO HIS PEOPLE,
ISRAELITES. AND AT THIS TIME, THEY ARE AFRAID. AND
SO GOD HAS SOMETHING HE WANTS TO SAY TO THEM. MANY
OF THEM COULD SAY, HEY, GOD, WE FEEL LIKE OUR LIVES
ARE FALLING APART, AND AS A RESULT, WE ARE STARTING
TO FEAR. AND THEN GOD SPEAKS INTO THIS SITUATION.
I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THIS TEXT OF SCRIPTURE
HAS TOTALLY CHANGED THE WAY I VIEW DIFFICULT
CIRCUMSTANCES IN MY LIFE. AND IF YOU ARE
GOING THROUGH A DIFFICULT TIME RIGHT NOW, THIS TEXT
OF SCRIPTURE COULD TOTALLY SET YOU FREE. IT'S SO
POWERFUL AND SO REASSURING. ISAIAH, CHAPTER
FORTY-ONE, VERSE TEN. YOU'LL HAVE IT MEMORIZED
BEFORE YOU LEAVE HERE BECAUSE IT'S NOT VERY HARD.
AND I'M GOING TO BREAK IT DOWN INTO A COUPLE OF
PARTS HERE. BUT THIS WHAT IT SAYS. GOD IS SPEAKING
TO HIS PEOPLE THAT ARE AFRAID, SO YOU CAN IMAGINE US
BEING IN THE SAME SITUATION. WE ARE AFRAID, GOING
THROUGH SOMETHING TOUGH IN OUR LIVES. THIS IS WHAT
HE SAYS. DON'T BE WHAT? AFRAID. DON'T BE AFRAID.
NOW, YOUR TRANSLATION MIGHT SAY, FEAR NOT; THOU
SHALT NOT FEAR, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING ALONG THOSE
LINES. DON'T FEAR; DON'T BE AFRAID. DID YOU KNOW
-- WATCH THIS -- THIS IS THE MOST FREQUENTLY
REPEATED COMMAND IN ALL OF THE BIBLE. DID YOU KNOW
THAT? OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER
AGAIN, HUNDREDS OF TIMES, GOD SAYS WHAT? DON'T BE
AFRAID. WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS? BECAUSE WE HAVE
A TENDENCY TO BE WHAT? AFRAID. WE HAVE A TENDENCY
TO FEAR. SO GOD, OVER AND OVER AGAIN,
SAYS, HERE'S THE THING; HERE'S THE THING. IF YOU
ARE A FOLLOWER OF ME, YOU DON'T NEED TO BE AFRAID.
LIKE THERE'S NOTHING TO BE AFRAID OF. ONE OF THE
WAYS YOU KNOW, THOUGH, YOU'RE BECOMING AFRAID,
YOU'RE STRUGGLING WITH FEAR, IS YOU START TO ASK A
QUESTION. IT'S A VERY DESTRUCTIVE QUESTION. IT'S A
DANGEROUS QUESTION. LET ME SHOW YOU THE QUESTION
YOU START TO ASK WHEN YOU BECOME AFRAID. YOU ARE
FAMILIAR THIS QUESTION, RIGHT? ANYBODY BESIDES ME
EVER ASK THIS QUESTION BEFORE? WHAT IF? LIKE, WHAT
IF -- GOD, WHAT IF I DON'T FIND THE ONE? GOD, WHAT
IF I CAN'T PAY MY BILLS? GOD, WHAT IF -- BECAUSE OF
MY HEALTH, WHAT IF I DON'T MAKE IT? WHAT IF I DON'T
HAVE MUCH TIME TO LIVE? GOD, WHAT IF THINGS JUST
CONTINUE TO GO BAD FOR ME? LIKE, GOD, WHAT IF; WHAT
IF; WHAT IF? IT'S A QUESTION THAT'S ROOTED IN AND
BASED ON FEAR. BEING AFRAID. AND I MEAN, I HAVE TO
BE HONEST WITH YOU. THIS SUMMER WHEN I FELT LIKE,
LIKE I TOLD YOU, I WAS CHOKING TO DEATH, I WAS
AFRAID AND I ASKED SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS. I'M
LIKE, WHAT IF? GOD, WHAT IF? I'M THINKING THIS TO
MYSELF. IT STRESSES YOU OUT. WHAT IF I CHOKE TO
DEATH? GOD, WHAT IF THEY DO SURGERY AND THE SURGERY
DOESN'T WORK OUT ALL THAT WELL? LIKE WHAT IF I HAVE
TROUBLE SPEAKING AGAIN? LIKE, WHAT IF
THIS CYST THAT THEY TAKE OUT AND THEY SEND TO
PATHOLOGY, WHAT IF IT'S CANCEROUS? LIKE WHAT IF,
GOD? WHAT IF? I STRUGGLE WITH THAT. I'VE ASKED
THOSE QUESTIONS. AND SEEMS LIKE IF YOU ASK ONE,
YOU'RE GOING TO ASK TWO. AND IF YOU ASK TWO, YOU'RE
GOING TO ASK THREE AND FOUR, AND IT KEEPS ON GOING
AND GOING AND GOING. YOU KNOW WHAT THIS QUESTION
LEADS TO THAT'S ROOTED IN FEAR? LET ME SHOW YOU
WHAT IT LEADS TO. YOU KNOW THIS. RIGHT? STRESS,
ANXIETY, DEPRESSION. THINK MAYBE THAT'S WHY GOD
SAYS TO HIS KIDS, DON'T BE AFRAID? BECAUSE IT LEADS
SOMEPLACE HE KNOWS WE DON'T WANT TO END UP AND HE
DOESN'T WANT US TO END UP. FEARING, ASKING THIS
QUESTION ALL THE TIME, ENDING UP STRESSED OUT,
ANXIOUS, AND MAYBE EVEN DEPRESSED. THAT'S WHY HE
SAYS, DON'T BE AFRAID. SEE, THIS QUESTION, WHAT IF,
AND THE FEARS, AS THEY KEEP BUILDING ON EACH OTHER,
THEY DON'T LEAD ANYWHERE GOOD. THEY LEAD TO STRESS,
MORE STRESS, MORE ANXIETY, MORE DEPRESSION.
I GUARANTEE I FELT ALL OF THESE IN SOME
MEASURE THIS SUMMER JUST BECAUSE OF THE DIFFICULTIES
WE WERE GOING THROUGH. BUT A LOT OF IT WAS BECAUSE
I JUST KEPT SAYING, WHAT IF THIS; WHAT IF THAT; WHAT
IF THIS; WHAT IF THAT? LEADS NOWHERE YOU WANT TO
GO. THAT'S WHY GOD SAID, DON'T BE AFRAID. LIKE,
I'M GOD. DON'T BE AFRAID. LOOK AT THIS. I LIKE
HOW THE PASTOR -- THIS PASTOR I WAS READING ONE TIME
DEFINED THAT FEAR. TAKE A LOOK AT THIS. HE SAID
THIS. YOU CAN WRITE THIS DOWN. HE SAID, FEAR
EQUALS VISION WITHOUT HOPE. I LIKE THAT. IT'S
LIKE, FEAR EQUALS -- LIKE, I CAN SEE THE FUTURE.
LIKE, I GOT A VISION FOR MY FUTURE, BUT HERE'S THE
PROBLEM. IT'S HOPELESS. THAT'S WHAT FEAR SAYS, IS
I CAN SEE WHAT'S COMING AHEAD. IT'S JUST NOT
LOOKING VERY GOOD. THAT'S WHAT FEAR SAYS. IT'S
VISION WITHOUT HOPE. NOW, JUST -- I WANT TO TAKE A
POLL, ALL RIGHT? TAKE A POLL AND SEE IF ANYBODY IS
LIKE ME. HOW MANY OF YOU GUYS WOULD ADMIT YOU'RE
GREAT IN ANY -- YOU KNOW, IN ANY GIVEN SITUATION IN
YOUR LIFE, AT COMING UP WITH ALL THE POSSIBLE WORST
CASE SCENARIOS? ANYBODY BESIDES ME? COME ON. BE
HONEST, ALL OF OUR CAMPUSES, ALL OF OUR -- WORST
CASE SCENARIOS? I'M THE KING OF WORST CASE
SCENARIOS, ALL RIGHT? SO IF YOU'RE GOING THROUGH A
DIFFICULT TIME AND YOU COME TO ME AND YOU ASK ME,
HEY, PASTOR, WOULD YOU TELL ME MY WORST CASE
SCENARIOS? I'M A BAD PERSON TO ASK, BECAUSE WE
COULD TALK ALL DAY. I COULD THINK ABOUT ALL KINDS
OF DIFFERENT WORST -- BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I DO IN MY
OWN LIFE, YOU KNOW? THINK OF WORST CASE
SCENARIOS. THAT'S WHAT -- THAT'S WHAT FEAR DOES.
YOU START PROCESSING THROUGH AND REHEARSING IN YOUR
MIND ALL THE WORST CASE SCENARIOS BECAUSE YOU GOT
VISION, BUT IT'S WITHOUT HOPE. AN EXAMPLE WOULD BE
YOU GO TO THE DOCTOR FOR YOUR, YOU KNOW, ANNUAL
CHECK-UP OR WHATEVER, AND YOU GET A CALL A WEEK
LATER FROM THE DOCTOR. AND THE DOCTOR LEAVES YOU A
VOICE MAIL AND JUST SAYS TO YOU, HEY, I NEED YOU TO
CALL MY OFFICE IMMEDIATELY. WHAT DO YOU THINK TO
YOURSELF? I GOT TWO WEEKS TO LIVE. I CAN'T EVEN
BELIEVE THIS. [LAUGHTER] I GOT CANCER. THEY FOUND
CANCER AND NOW I'M GOING TO DIE. AND THIS IS -- MY
LIFE IS HORRIBLE. NOW I HAVE TO TELL MY FAMILY. I
WANTED TO GET MARRIED FIRST. AND I'M NOT EVEN READY
FOR THIS. AND GOD, I CAN'T EVEN BELIEVE YOU'D DO
THIS TO ME, WHATEVER. SO YOU CALL HIM BACK AND YOU
ASK HIM, HOW MUCH TIME DO I HAVE? AND THEY'RE LIKE,
CAN I HAVE YOUR ADDRESS? JUST YOUR ADDRESS. AND
YOU'RE LIKE, SEE, WHAT? I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO
DIE AND THEY JUST NEEDED MY ADDRESS. THAT'S WHAT WE
DO, RIGHT? WE JUST GO THROUGH ALL THESE WORST CASE
SCENARIOS THAT DOESN'T HELP ANYTHING. BUT THAT'S
WHAT FEAR CAUSES YOU TO DO BECAUSE YOU ARE THINKING
ABOUT THE FUTURE, BUT YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT HOW
HOPELESS IT COULD BE, BUT PROBABLY WON'T BE IF YOU
ARE REALLY HONEST WITH YOURSELF ABOUT ALL THESE
WORST CASE SCENARIOS. ANOTHER THING FEAR DOES IS IT
CAUSES US TO BECOME FALSE PROPHETS, REALLY, RIGHT?
BECAUSE YOU START PREDICTING FUTURES THAT PROBABLY
AREN'T GOING TO HAPPEN. AND THEN YOU CAUSE YOURSELF
ALL KINDS OF STRESS, ANXIETY, AND CAN SEND YOURSELF
INTO DEPRESSION. BECOME FALSE PROPHETS.
AND I GOT TO BE HONEST. LIKE EVERY
WEEKEND -- LIKE CAN I BE HONEST AND CONFESS MY SIN?
OKAY? IS THAT WHAT -- WE DO THAT HERE. OKAY. SO
EVERY WEEKEND I FEEL LIKE, AT EXPERIENCE LIFE,
BEFORE I GET UP TO TEACH, I'LL DO SOME OF THE
WHAT-IFS. I TRY NOT TO. I RESIST THOSE. I KNOW
THAT'S BASED ON FEAR. I SHOULDN'T ASK THE WHAT-IFS.
BUT I'LL TELL YOU, AT LEAST ONE TIME A WEEKEND,
BECAUSE -- JUST SO YOU KNOW, IN CASE YOU'RE LIKE,
YOU JUST SEEM SO COMFORTABLE UP THERE. RIGHT.
OKAY. I'M AN INTROVERT, ALL RIGHT? SO THIS IS HARD
FOR ME. I GET NERVOUS EVERY WEEK. IT DOESN'T
MATTER HOW MANY TIMES I DO IT, HOW MANY YEARS I DO
IT. I GET NERVOUS. AND SO I'M USUALLY GETTING
READY TO COME UP TO SPEAK, AND I'LL START GOING
THROUGH SOME WHAT-IFS. AND ONE OF THE WHAT-IFS THAT
SEEMS TO COME UP OVER AND OVER AGAIN RIGHT BEFORE I
GET UP TO SPEAK IS THIS. GOD, WHAT IF LIKE I'M
DOING IT -- I'M SO NERVOUS. WHAT IF I GET UP ON
STAGE AND I JUST PASS OUT? [LAUGHTER] >>YOU'RE
LAUGHING. I THINK THAT EVERY WEEKEND. WHAT IF I
PASS OUT AND THEY BRING IN A STRETCHER AND THEY PUT
ME ON THERE? AND THEN WE NEED SOMEBODY TO PREACH.
AND THEN PICK SOMEBODY IN THE AUDIENCE. IT'S YOU.
COME ON UP HERE, YOU KNOW? AND HE STARTS TO PREACH.
AND HERE I AM. I'M ROLLING OUT HERE. I MEAN, I'M
THINKING, GOD, WOULDN'T THAT BE TERRIBLE IF THAT
HAPPENED? JUST PASSED OUT? THAT'S PROBABLY GOING
TO HAPPEN. I CAN'T EVEN BELIEVE THAT. TODAY I'M
GOING TO PASS OUT WHEN I GET UP THERE ON STAGE --
THIS IS GOING TO BE GREAT -- IN FRONT OF EVERYBODY.
THAT'S WHAT WE DO, RIGHT? WE BECOME FALSE PROPHETS.
AND WE PREDICT THESE FUTURES THAT PROBABLY AREN'T
GOING TO HAPPEN. I'M NOT SAYING THAT WON'T EVER
HAPPEN. AND IF I PASS OUT, SOMEBODY COME HELP ME,
PLEASE. [LAUGHTER] >>BUT I MEAN, IT COULD HAPPEN.
BUT YOU JUST START THINKING THROUGH ALL THESE WORST
CASE SCENARIOS, ALL THESE THINGS THAT COULD HAPPEN.
YOU BECOME A FALSE PROPHET. MOST OF IT'S NOT GOING
TO HAPPEN. YOU JUST STRESS YOURSELF OUT, RIGHT?
THAT'S WHAT WE DO. BECOME FALSE PROPHETS.
AND JESUS DECIDES HE'S GOING TO SPEAK INTO ALL OF
THIS -- NEW TESTAMENT -- BECAUSE HE'S DEALING WITH
FOLKS THAT ARE WORRIED AND STRUGGLE WITH FEARS.
HERE'S WHAT JESUS SAYS. YOU GOT TO SEE THIS. THIS
IS GREAT. THIS IS SO CONVICTING TO ME, BY THE WAY.
JUST SO YOU KNOW, THESE LAST TWO WEEKENDS, I'M
PREACHING TO MYSELF. IF YOU GET ANYTHING OUT OF IT,
THAT'S GREAT, BUT I'M GETTING LOTS OUT OF IT, OKAY?
SO THIS IS FOR ME. MATTHEW SIX, THIRTY-ONE, AND
FOLLOWING. JESUS SAYS TO SOME PEOPLE, LIKE YOU AND
ME STRUGGLING WITH THIS STUFF, SO DON'T WHAT? WORRY
ABOUT THESE THINGS, SAYING WHAT ARE WE GOING TO EAT,
WHAT WILL WE DRINK, WHAT WILL WE WEAR? THESE THINGS
-- WATCH THIS -- THEY DOMINATE THE THOUGHTS OF
UNBELIEVERS, BUT YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER ALREADY KNOWS
ALL YOUR NEEDS. JESUS IS SAYING WORRIES AND FEARS
AND ANXIETIES, IT MAKES SENSE THAT THEY DOMINATE THE
THOUGHTS OF UNBELIEVERS. THAT JUST MAKES SENSE.
BUT IT SHOULDN'T DOMINATE THE THOUGHTS OF YOU AND ME
IF WE'RE BELIEVERS IN JESUS BECAUSE WE HAVE A
HEAVENLY FATHER WHO ALREADY KNOWS ALL OF OUR NEEDS.
AND I READ THAT, AND I'M CONVICTED BECAUSE SOMETIMES
FEARS AND ANXIETIES CAN DOMINATE MY THOUGHTS. HOW
ABOUT YOU? BUT JESUS SAID THIS SHOULDN'T BE THE
CASE. I'M YOUR GOD. I'M HERE. DON'T BE
AFRAID. AND YET, SOMETIMES WE ACT LIKE UNBELIEVERS
BECAUSE WE START FEARING, BECOME AFRAID, SENDS US
INTO ANXIETY AND PANIC AND DEPRESSION, WHEN JESUS IS
SAYING, YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT THE FATHER, HE ALREADY
KNOWS YOUR NEEDS. THERE'S NOTHING TO BE AFRAID OF.
SO GOD SAYS, ISAIAH FORTY-ONE, DON'T BE AFRAID. YOU
ARE LIKE, WELL, HERE'S THE THING, GOD. THAT'S LIKE
EASIER SAID THAN DONE, OKAY? I'VE GOT A LONG LIST
OF REASONS I'M AFRAID, ALL RIGHT? I GOT THIS REASON
AND THIS REASON. AND SO WE ARE THINKING, DON'T BE
AFRAID. LIKE, GOD, IT'S A COMMAND. I GET THAT.
BUT I -- I THINK I SHOULD BE AFRAID. GOD, WITH WHAT
I'M GOING THROUGH, ANYBODY WOULD BE AFRAID. AND
HERE'S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS TEXT, IS HE DOESN'T
STOP THERE. HE DOESN'T JUST SAY, DON'T BE AFRAID;
JUST GOOD LUCK. [LAUGHTER] >>HE SAYS, DON'T BE
AFRAID. AND THEN HE GIVES YOU AND ME A REASON WHY
WE SHOULDN'T BE AFRAID. AND TO ME, THIS IS
POWERFUL. LET THIS SINK IN. HERE'S WHAT HE SAYS.
DON'T BE AFRAID. I'M WITH YOU. LIKE, THERE'S
NOTHING TO BE AFRAID OF, EVEN THOUGH YOU THINK THERE
MAY BE SOMETHING TO BE AFRAID OF, BECAUSE WHAT YOU
ARE FORGETTING IS THAT I'M WITH YOU. I'M GOD, AND
IN WHAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH, I'M GOING TO BE WITH
YOU. ALL THROUGHOUT THE BIBLE, GOD WOULD SAY THIS
TO PEOPLE. THEY WOULD BE AFRAID AND HE
WOULD JUST KEEP REASSURING THEM, YOU DON'T HAVE TO
BE BECAUSE I'M WITH YOU, OVER AND OVER AND OVER
AGAIN. GIVE YOU SOME EXAMPLES. ABRAHAM -- GOD
TELLS ABRAHAM, HEY, YOU GO TO THIS LAND. I'M GOING
TO TELL YOU WHERE YOU'RE GOING LATER. I JUST WANT
YOU TO START GOING. WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT
IN A FEW WEEKS BECAUSE IT'S GREAT FAITH THAT HE EVEN
STARTED GOING. HE WAS PROBABLY AFRAID, AND SO GOD
SHOWS UP TO ABRAHAM AND SAYS, HEY, ABRAHAM, DON'T BE
AFRAID. I'M GOING TO PROTECT YOU. I'LL BE WITH
YOU, AND YOUR REWARD WILL BE GREAT. HIS SON, ISAAC
-- ABRAHAM. ISAAC. ISAAC IS GOING THROUGH SOME
DIFFICULT TIMES. GOD SAYS TO ISAAC, HEY, DON'T BE
AFRAID. I'M WITH YOU. I'M GOING TO BLESS YOU.
ABRAHAM, ISAAC, JACOB, HIS SON. JACOB HAS A
BROTHER, ESAU, WANTS TO KILL HIM. JACOB HAS A DREAM
ONE NIGHT. GOD SAYS TO JACOB, HEY, JACOB, I'M WITH
YOU AND I'M GOING TO PROTECT YOU WHEREVER YOU GO.
WHY DOES GOD SAY THIS OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN?
DON'T BE AFRAID; I'M WITH YOU. DON'T BE AFRAID; I'M
WITH YOU. DON'T BE AFRAID; I'M WITH YOU. WHY DOES
HE SAY IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN? BECAUSE WE HAVE A
TENDENCY TO FORGET, DON'T WE? AND WE GO THROUGH A
DIFFICULT TIME, YOU KNOW WHAT WE THINK? MAN, GOD
HAS ABANDONED ME. GOD, I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'D DO
THAT. I FEEL LIKE I'VE BEEN ABANDONED BY YOU, GOD.
I FEEL LIKE I'M GOING THROUGH THIS ALONE. I FEEL
LIKE I'M ALL ALONE, GOD, IN THIS DIFFICULT TIME.
WHERE ARE YOU? IF YOU FEEL ABANDONED BY
GOD, I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW, ACCORDING TO HIS WORD,
THAT'S A LIE. THAT'S A LIE BECAUSE ONCE YOU COMMIT
YOUR LIFE TO CHRIST -- HEAR ME SAY THIS -- YOU WILL
NEVER BE ALONE AGAIN. DON'T CLAIM TO EVER BE ALONE,
EVER BE ABANDONED BY GOD. HE'S WITH YOU. HE SAID
IT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. WHY DON'T
I UNDERSTAND THAT? WHY DON'T WE UNDERSTAND THAT?
LET'S KEEP GOING. MOSES, ANOTHER EXAMPLE, IS
SUPPOSED TO GO TO THE PHARAOH, KING OF EGYPT, BRING
GOD'S PEOPLE OUT OF EGYPT, ULTIMATELY LEAD THEM
TOWARD THE PROMISED LAND. AND HE KNOWS MOSES FREAKS
OUT, ARGUES WITH GOD ABOUT EVERYTHING. AND GOD SAYS
TO MOSES, HEY, MOSES, HERE'S THE THING. I KNOW
YOU'RE PROBABLY FREAKING OUT. I'M GOING TO BE WITH
YOU. LIKE, YOU SHOULD GO AND NOT BE AFRAID. HERE'S
WHY, ONLY REASON YOU REALLY NEED. I'M GOING TO BE
WITH YOU. DAVID -- YOU'VE HEARD THIS -- PSALM
TWENTY-THREE -- SAID, EVEN THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE
VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH -- LIKE EVEN THOUGH
I'M GOING THROUGH A HORRIBLE TIME IN MY LIFE RIGHT
NOW -- I WILL FEAR NO EVIL BECAUSE WHY? HE SAID,
YOU ARE WITH ME, GOD. GOING THROUGH THE
VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH. THIS IS HORRIBLE.
BUT GOD, I'M NOT GOING TO BE AFRAID BECAUSE I REALLY
BELIEVE YOU ARE WITH ME. LIKE DAVID IS PROBABLY
THINKING, THINGS MAY NOT BE OKAY, BUT I'M GOING TO
BE OKAY BECAUSE GOD IS WITH ME. SAME IS TRUE FOR
YOU IF YOU ARE A FOLLOWER OF JESUS. THINGS MAY NOT
BE OKAY IN YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW, BUT YOU ARE GOING TO
BE OKAY BECAUSE GOD, HE PROMISES TO BE WITH YOU. IN
JEREMIAH, GOD SAYS TO JEREMIAH, HEY, DON'T BE AFRAID
OF THE PEOPLE. I'M WITH YOU, AND I'M GOING TO
PROTECT YOU. JESUS, NEW TESTAMENT, GREAT
COMMISSION, RIGHT AFTERWARDS, HE'S SAYING, GO MAKE
DISCIPLES AND DO ALL THAT. AND THEN HE SAYS, BE
SURE OF THIS. WHAT DOES HE SAY? I'M GOING TO BE
WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN UNTIL THE END OF THE AGE, OVER
AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. I'M WITH YOU. I'M WITH
YOU. THINK ABOUT THAT. LIKE THE GOD OF THE HEAVENS
AND THE EARTH IS SAYING, I'M GOING TO BE WITH YOU IN
WHAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH. THE GOD WHO CREATED
EVERYTHING, JUST SPOKE AND THINGS CAME INTO
EXISTENCE, HE'S SAYING, HEY, I'M WITH YOU. THE GOD
WHO CREATED MAN FROM THE DUST OF THE GROUND, I'M
WITH YOU. THE GOD WHO PARTED THE RED SEA SO THAT
MOSES AND THE ISRAELITES COULD WALK THROUGH ON DRY
GROUND, THAT GOD, THAT SAME GOD, SAME GOD, SAYING,
I'M WITH YOU. GOD THAT TOLD JOSHUA, HEY,
THIS -- JERICHO, THIS CITY I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU
VICTORY OVER, I JUST WANT YOU TO MARCH AROUND, SHOUT
SOME, BLOW SOME TRUMPETS. YOU DON'T HAVE TO FIGHT.
THE WALLS ARE GOING TO FALL DOWN. YOU'RE GOING TO
HAVE VICTORY, AND IT HAPPENED. THAT GOD IS WITH
YOU. THE GOD THAT ENABLED A LITTLE BOY NAMED DAVID
WITH A SLING AND A STONE TO DEFEAT A NINE-FOOT TALL
GIANT THAT EVERYBODY ELSE WAS AFRAID OF, THAT GOD IS
WITH YOU. THE GOD WHO CAME AND DWELT AMONG US, NEW
TESTAMENT, JESUS, RAISED THE DEAD, HEALED THE LAME,
HEALED THE BLIND, CURED THE BLIND, CURED PEOPLE OF
DISEASES, WALKED ON WATER, CALMED RAGING STORMS, HE
HIMSELF WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD, THAT GOD IS WITH
YOU, IS WITH ME. SO GUESS WHAT THAT MEANS? THERE'S
NOTHING TO BE AFRAID OF. THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NOTHING
THAT COULD COME OUR WAY THAT WE SHOULD BE AFRAID OF
IF HE'S PROMISING US, I'M WITH YOU. LIKE HE GETS WE
PROBABLY DON'T FEEL LIKE WE CAN HANDLE THE THINGS
COMING OUR WAY. I CAN'T ALWAYS HANDLE THE STUFF
COMING MY WAY. YOU CAN'T ALWAYS HANDLE THE STUFF
COMING YOUR WAY. BUT GOD IS SAYING, I CAN
HANDLE IT AND I'M WITH YOU. AND YOU KNOW WHAT'S
EVEN COOLER THAN THAT? WHAT'S EVEN COOLER THAN HIM
BEING WITH US, IS YOU GO NEW TESTAMENT -- WE ARE
TALKING OLD TESTAMENT. YOU GO NEW TESTAMENT, IT
DOESN'T JUST SAY HE'S WITH US. THE BIBLE ALSO SAYS
HE'S WHAT? HE'S IN US. BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY
SPIRIT, HE RESIDES IN US TO CONVICT US, LEAD US,
GUIDE US, GIVE US ASSURANCE OF OUR SALVATION, AND SO
ON. HE'S NOT JUST WITH US. HE'S IN US. NOTHING TO
BE AFRAID OF. I TRY TO REMIND MYSELF OF THIS ALL
THE TIME. I WANT TO READ YOU A QUOTE. THIS IS
BROTHER YUN. QUOTED HIM LAST WEEKEND. CHINESE
BELIEVER. PERSECUTED. WENT THROUGH ALL KINDS OF
SUFFERING. TORTURED FOR HIS FAITH, IN CHINA. HE
SAID THIS. THINK ABOUT THAT. THINK ABOUT THIS
COMING FROM SOME GUY THAT'S JUST SUFFERING
TREMENDOUSLY. HE SAYS, IF YOU ARE A FOLLOWER OF
JESUS CHRIST, THEN DON'T BE AFRAID. THE PRINCE OF
PEACE LIVES IN YOUR HEART, AND YOU SHOULD NOT BE
SCARED OF ANYTHING. IF GOD IS FOR YOU, NO ONE AND
NOTHING CAN BE AGAINST YOU. I SWEAR I READ THAT
LIKE THREE TIMES A DAY WHEN I WAS GOING THROUGH
DIFFICULT TIMES THIS SUMMER. I'M JUST GOING TO READ
IT AGAIN JUST SO THAT SINKS IN. IF YOU ARE A
FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST -- PICTURE A GUY IN PRISON
BEING TORTURED WRITING SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
IF YOU'RE A FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST,
DON'T BE AFRAID. HE'S PROBABLY TRYING TO CONVINCE
HIMSELF OF THIS. I DON'T NEED TO BE AFRAID EVEN FOR
WHAT I'M GOING THROUGH. THE PRINCE OF PEACE LIVES
IN YOUR HEART. YOU SHOULD NOT BE SCARED OF
ANYTHING. GOD IS FOR YOU. NO ONE AND NOTHING CAN
BE AGAINST YOU. I WANT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU TO
HEAR THAT TODAY FROM GOD, HIM SAYING TO YOU -- WORD
FROM GOD. IT'S NOT ME SAYING IT. IT'S GOD SAYING
IT. DON'T BE AFRAID IF YOU'RE GOING THROUGH A
RELATIONAL ISSUE. YOU GOT ISSUES IN YOUR MARRIAGE.
SOMETHING JUST HAPPENED. DON'T BE AFRAID, GOD SAID.
I'M WITH YOU. GOING THROUGH A DIFFICULT TIME
FINANCIALLY. GOD IS SAYING TO YOU -- WORD FROM GOD
FOR YOU TODAY -- DON'T BE AFRAID. I'M WITH YOU.
HEALTH ISSUE. YOU ARE GOING THROUGH A HEALTH ISSUE.
DON'T BE AFRAID, GOD SAYS. I'M WITH YOU. I'M WITH
YOU. IF YOU BELIEVE THAT PROMISE, HE WILL OVERWHELM
YOU WITH HIS PEACE. AND ALTHOUGH WHAT YOU ARE GOING
THROUGH, I'M SURE, WILL STILL REMAIN DIFFICULT, YOU
WILL KNOW HE'S WITH YOU TO HELP YOU AND GIVE YOU
ENDURANCE TO MAKE IT THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT TIME,
FLOOD YOU WITH HIS PEACE. NOW, YOU ASK, WELL, WHAT
DOES IT MEAN THAT HE'S WITH ME? OKAY. SO HIS,
LIKE, PRESENCE IS WITH ME? LIKE WHAT -- HOW DOES
ALL THAT LOOK? LET ME JUST KEEP READING IN THE
ISAIAH PASSAGE HERE. I WANT YOU TO SEE THE REST OF
THIS BECAUSE THIS IS SO GOOD. SO DON'T BE AFRAID.
I'M WITH YOU. THEN HE KEEPS GOING. DON'T BE
DISCOURAGED EITHER. FOR I AM YOUR GOD. NOT
SOMEBODY ELSE'S GOD. HE'S TALKING TO HIS PEOPLE.
HE'S SAYING, I'M YOUR GOD. LIKE, WE ARE IN
RELATIONSHIP. I WILL STRENGTHEN YOU AND
HELP YOU. I WILL HOLD YOU UP WITH MY VICTORIOUS
RIGHT HAND. NOW DOWN TO THIRTEEN. FOR I HOLD YOU
BY YOUR RIGHT HAND, AND I, THE LORD YOUR GOD -- I,
THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND I SAY TO YOU, DON'T BE AFRAID
-- WATCH THIS -- I'M HERE TO HELP YOU. LIKE THE
FACT THAT HE'S WITH US MEANS HE CAN WHAT? HELP US.
IT'S NOT JUST THAT HE'S WITH US, WHICH IS GREAT JUST
IN AND OF ITSELF. HIS PRESENCE IS WITH US, IS GOING
TO BE WITH US WHEN WE GO THROUGH A DIFFICULT TIME.
HE'S SAYING, I'M NOT JUST WITH YOU. THE FACT THAT
I'M WITH YOU MEANS I'M HERE TO HELP YOU IN WHATEVER
YOU ARE GOING THROUGH. I CAN HELP. I'M GOD. I CAN
DO ANYTHING. THAT'S WHY, WHEN WE GO THROUGH
DIFFICULT TIMES, IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE RUN TO
GOD RATHER THAN FROM GOD. GOT AN EMAIL FROM A GUY
THIS LAST WEEK. AND HE SAID, PASTOR, I WAS THERE
LAST WEEKEND, AND I NEEDED TO HEAR THAT MESSAGE. HE
SAID, I WENT THROUGH A TIME OF INTENSE SUFFERING
RECENTLY AND I RAN FROM GOD, THINKING THAT WOULD
HELP. DID HE FIND THAT IT HELPED? HE SAID, IT
DIDN'T HELP. HE THOUGHT IT WOULD HELP. THAT'S WHY
SOMETIMES WE RUN FROM GOD. WE THINK IT'S GOING TO
HELP, RUN FROM GOD. I'M SO MAD AT GOD. CAN'T
BELIEVE GOD WOULD LET THIS HAPPEN. I'M GONNA RUN
FROM GOD, AS IF THERE'S HELP THERE, AS IF THAT'S A
SOLUTION. HE FOUND IT WASN'T. HE SAID, I NEEDED TO
HEAR THAT, HE SAID, BECAUSE I RECOGNIZE IF I NEED
HELP, I NEED TO RUN TO GOD. AND HE SAID,
SO I'M CHOOSING TO GO RUN TO HIM TODAY. WE NEED
HIM. HE'S WITH US. AND WHEN WE GO THROUGH
DIFFICULT TIMES LIKE WHAT I WENT THROUGH THIS
SUMMER, WHAT I LOVED READING AND REMEMBERING IS HIS
PROMISE, THE FACT THAT HE'S WITH ME MEANT THAT HE'D
HELP ME. IT MAY BE HARD, BUT HE'D HELP ME IF I LET
HIM. THERE'S SOME OF YOU HERE TODAY AT ALL OF OUR
CAMPUSES -- YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE; YOU CAN IDENTIFY
WITH THE STORY I JUST SHARED -- YOU ARE RUNNING FROM
GOD. YOU ARE RUNNING, HOPING IT'S GOING TO HELP,
HOPING IT'S GOING TO LEAD TO JOY, OR HAPPINESS, OR
SECURITY, OR WHATEVER IT IS YOU'RE LOOKING FOR. I
JUST GOT A QUESTION FOR YOU. HOW'S THAT WORKING
OUT? BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE I TALK TO WOULD SAY IT
AIN'T WORKING OUT TOO WELL. JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW
THAT REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU'VE CALLED GOD, WHAT
YOU'VE THOUGHT ABOUT GOD, WHAT YOU'VE SAID TO GOD,
HIS ARMS ARE OPEN WIDE. AND HE'S SAYING, I WANT YOU
TO COME HOME. IF YOU ARE RUNNING AWAY FROM ME, I
WANT YOU TO RUN TO ME. I'LL FORGIVE YOU. I'LL
CLEANSE YOU OF YOUR SIN, PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE.
YOU'RE LIKE, WELL, SEE, I WOULD, BUT I'VE ALREADY
RUN SO FAR AWAY, I'VE DONE ALL THESE THINGS. GOD
HATES ME. I CAN'T EVEN BELIEVE THIS, ALL THAT I'VE
DONE. DON'T TELL YOURSELF THAT. IT'S A LIE. HE
LOVES YOU. HE WANTS A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU. HE
WANTS YOU TO COME HOME. STOP RUNNING FROM HIM. RUN
TO HIM. SOME OF YOU HAVE NEVER EVEN RUN
TO HIM FOR THE FIRST TIME FOR SALVATION. TO MAKE IT
TO HEAVEN, YOU'VE THOUGHT, HEY, I'M GOING TO GET TO
HEAVEN ON MY OWN. I'M GOING TO SAVE MYSELF. I'M
GOING TO BE A GOOD PERSON, TRY TO GO TO CHURCH ON
OCCASION, READ MY BIBLE SOME, AND PRAY SOME. THAT'S
GOING TO GET ME INTO HEAVEN. NOT ACCORDING TO THE
BIBLE. NOT ACCORDING TO THIS. WHAT GETS YOU INTO
HEAVEN IS JESUS. PUTTING YOUR TRUST AND FAITH IN
HIM TO SAVE YOU, NOT YOU TO SAVE YOU. SOME OF YOU
TODAY NEED TO RUN TO HIM AND SAY, JESUS, YOU BE MY
SAVIOR. I'M A BAD SAVIOR. I CAN'T SAVE MYSELF.
I'VE BEEN TRYING. I CAN'T. JESUS, WOULD YOU SAVE
ME? AND HE WILL. HE WILL. YOU SAY, BUT YOU DON'T
KNOW WHAT I'VE DONE. YOU KEEP ARGUING WITH ME. I
JUST WANT YOU TO HEAR ME SAY THIS TO YOU TODAY. HE
WANTS YOU. HE WANTS YOU REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU'VE
DONE. HE'LL ACCEPT YOU AS YOU ARE, AS YOU TURN FROM
YOUR SIN, AND COMMIT YOUR LIFE TO JESUS. WE CALL
THAT PROCESS COMMITTING YOUR LIFE TO CHRIST,
REPENTING OF YOUR SIN, PUTTING YOUR FAITH IN JESUS.
HE'LL FORGIVE YOU
OF YOUR SIN. YOU
CAN KNOW FOR
SURE YOU ARE GOING TO HEAVEN. BEGIN A RELATIONSHIP
WITH GOD. RUN TO
HIM TODAY.