I Can’t Lay Back Down // Judah Smith

hey first of all thanks so much for tuning in today and you're about to watch a message that obviously I'm really hoping helps you and encourages you what's the point of preaching if it doesn't help people so again thanks for taking time to tune in if you haven't heard we've just announced that we have started church home college we've had a training program now for years in fact I graduated from it and just recently we have given it a brand new name church home college and I'm super passionate about empowering people to live the life that Jesus has called you to live ultimately we're all called to live as storytellers telling the story of Jesus his goodness and His grace so if you'd like to grow more in your relationship with Jesus and learn more about the teachings of Scripture that's what church on college is all about so actually there's a link here you can click on right now as you're watching this to find out more information about church home college but for now we'll go right into the message thanks so much for watching recently I shared a prayer request with some people in the community and it went something like this I said hey would you join me in prayer I've literally posted it online and said would you join me in prayer because of of almost all the people I'm meeting in our community every single one seems to kind of conclude our coffee or conclude our conversation our phone call our FaceTime with I feel like I'm in a battle right now I just feel like I'm just kind of in it and I don't know why and eventually like as a leader you go oh really okay I'll be praying for you oh really okay I'll be praying for you okay okay I see a theme here that's going on in our community so I'd like to be I'd like to be a pastor tonight like most nights and really speak into the heart of what I think a lot of you are going through right now and I think it's a little more spiritual than probably any of us are willing to maybe admit or consider I think that there is some challenge right now now the the the risk I run is immediately you are like you've got to be kidding me this is the night my friend came to our church for the first time and Judah is gonna talk about spiritual warfare you know we won't use that term but I actually think it's it's a pretty cool opportunity if you if you are guests tonight you're not a visitor you're a guest and you belong here and we love you so much I think it's a cool opportunity for those that maybe don't follow Jesus or consider following Jesus to listen in on what a life following Jesus looks like and I think tonight you'll find out a little bit of a gritty side that might be beneficial I think a lot of people think and maybe a lot of Christians think I'm gonna follow Jesus because he's gonna be like like my magic dust that's gonna make my life so awesome like my skin is just gonna be radiant I'm gonna lose finally the pounds I've been trying to I'm gonna marry the most beautiful human and I and I'm going to have multiple streams of income and that's why I've accepted Jesus and the truth is sometimes following Jesus things seem to get worse and I'll try to explain a little bit about that tonight so I'd like to title this message and I dedicate this to the most amazing community in the whole wide world that's you and thank you each and every one of you for trusting God even in the midst of difficult times and difficult seasons and challenging obstacles so I dedicate this to you yes you me yes you this sermon is for you but title this message I can't lay back down I can't lay back down 1st Peter chapter 4 and verse 12 this will be kind of the verse of scripture that will we'll jump off of are you ready everybody's good okay by the way if we're gonna get through difficult times we're gonna have to laugh a lot so just feel free to loosen up a little bit alright Samia some of you look like you're in a battle okay first Peter 4:12 says beloved beloved it's a good thing to stop on right there how many know you be loved Belov it okay Duke do not be surprised do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you maybe that's exactly how you feel tonight man I I feel like something has come upon me to test me as though something strange were happening to you I want to underscore two words in this verse surprised and strange surprised and strange it is amazing how many Jesus followers well frankly just human beings find it surprising when challenging times happen and then start to think something this is strange something's not right I got to change something I got to fix something and maybe that is exactly where you find yourself tonight emotionally spiritually and internally and so I again dedicate this message to you title again is I can't lay back down will you join me in prayer Jesus thank you for giving me this message tonight and I know there are so many people in this room who feel like they're in the midst of challenging fiery tests and trials I pray we would find comfort in your beauty and your reality and your majesty thank you so much for your grace and your goodness Lord my team is going to Detroit this Sunday please help us beat Detroit and thank you that the Denver Nuggets are for now in Jesus name and all God's people said I I knew football wasn't for me at my very first football practice in high school and I know that might be shocking to you that I played football but I had an arm to play QB and shut up and so my sophomore year like my dad played quarterback in high school it was his dream that his son would follow in his footsteps and so I said dad I'm going out for the football team and I remember at the first practice I had not yet received my red jersey which all quarterbacks receive red jerseys during practice so that nobody will touch you that was my favorite part of being a quarterback nobody can hurt the QBs okay but at this point I'm still like I'm just one of the skinny sophomores in line and the coach would ask what position do you want to go out for and I remember when I said quarterback he looked at me like we already got quarterbacks okay so we started I don't know why we started at the very first practice with hitting drills this was the late 90s okay it's a different day and so we lined up and it you know for those of you that haven't played football and you know I'll share this you like the group of guys get it's just horrible but the group of guys it's the worst and we're all it's like hot and we're sweaty and I'm wearing a helmet that definitely is like passed down through the generations of football players and I'm like I'm gonna have acne like that's what I'm thinking about at the first practice I'm like this smells this practice Jersey smells do they clean these okay needless to say I I was on the tennis team and I forego the tennis team to play on the football team for one year so the guys were circled around and coaches he was a classic football coach really big and mean and he's like all right line up one by one I don't know why in football you're always called by your last name Smith and on my helmet was like just like a piece of tape and it said Smith he's like Smith get on the line like like I'm right here we don't yell in tennis you know this is not okay my tennis coach was like a big fish and Grateful Dead fan he had big dreads and he like never talked above a hush he'd be like great served you know I think that that's what I was coming from you know that's my man back over there with the dreads and this guy's just go behind Smith no mic all right all right then look over he's like all right this is called hitting practice or whatever I get her what he said swinging that one this is called tackle drills hitting practice and he's like he's like Smith you're gonna you're gonna hit Jones I don't remember the kids name and so I'm like lined up and like I don't I don't even know like I'm like no I just it wasn't made for this okay and he's like alright when I blow the whistle you guys engage or something that's what you said it like tackle each other so I'm like I'm looking around like you know I'm thinking it's not like we're gonna hurt each other like same team kind of thing this is day one and so I I kind of just line up and you know I'm thinking like he's gonna blow the whistle we're gonna go all right all right good talk but this kid over here he's like he's like into football and so I'm literally looking at the tennis courts and oh my god man I wish you know it gets to hell this is a true story and he and he's like all right let's go any and then he goes and he blows the whistle and I kind of go in like this and all the sudden I mean he hammers me and I and I just fall back and in the winds knocked out of you which feels like you're dying you ever had that you're like I'm gonna die on my back on a football field I hate this right and I'm laying there I'll never forget and I'm just like I'm just so frustrated and so the coach comes he stays like Smith what's wrong with you and I go he hit me so hard he hit me so hard and he says this yes Smith it's called football oh so that's what we do we like hit each other and his point was what are you doing out here you're laying on your back on a football field I'm sorry were you surprised that you got tackled it's called tackle football like that's what and that was the beginning of the end for me obviously I played third string never got in and I was fine with that okay I really was I was like ah great game guys it's awesome and might and majeure Z stayed clean so that's cool but it's kind of ridiculous isn't it like bro you're you're shocked that you got tackled yeah I came out to like because I just like I think the uniforms look cool and the helmets are kind of cool and stuff I didn't I didn't want to get hit oh you you probably shouldn't play football then you definitely should go back to the Grateful Dead tennis team like you need to go back to the tip this is called football and I think sometimes for those of us who accept the forgiveness of Jesus the transformation of Jesus sometimes we fail to recognize that we are also accepting the lifestyle of Jesus and you need to understand something if you are considering Jesus and His forgiveness that I am NOT just a proponent of Jesus making sure you get into quote/unquote pearly gates someday in eternity so you can pluck your heart with chubby babies I actually believe that that accepting Jesus is more than just eternity in the meantime we are to walk in his footsteps that we are to live like him and and love like him and and look like him and and and and those three else sounds so great we're to live love and look like him live love look like him yes yes yes yes but sometimes those footsteps seem to lead us into painful situations challenging difficult times listen to Peter again he says beloved but that is such a great way to start off a difficult verse beloved hey don't be surprised when you get hit when you go out for football don't be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you as though something strange were happening to you some of you right now your greatest challenge in the midst of this difficult season in this extended time where you're like God why is everything hard right now and somebody know what I'm talking it's like everything is hard it's so crazy sometimes in some seasons it's like driving is hard right now talking is hard right now focusing is hard right now going to work is hard right now trying to rest is hard right now I'm just trying to relax and I can't it's difficult it's challenging I can't find reprieve I can't I feel just unsettled I I feel stretched I feel tired and then but then I wake up tired and I can't get enough I'm just like got what what is going on but sometimes our greatest challenge in the midst of this is we are surprised and we start to think it's strange we're surprised and we start to think it's strange let me read this to you in the message Bible listen to how the message Bible says actually if we could do verses 13 verses 12 and 13 guys instead that'd be awesome but that we're gonna get to that one so thanks for stealing my punchline can and come on it's all on the book it says Fred friends when like the tone here is so like why is it so it's what's this friends when life gets really difficult oh gosh don't jump to conclusions that God isn't on the job instead be glad be glad you're in the thick of what Christ experienced this is a spiritual refining process with glory just around the corner bah-bah-bah Oh awesome let me read it again this is too much fun listen estudian this is like because this is the tone I pick up on it's like really God I was hoping for more like hey friend I know you're in it right now but fight fight fight trust Trust trust but the tone is just like hey hey wife's gonna get difficult don't go jumping to conclusions that God's not on the job instead be glad be glad you're right in the very thick public Christ experienced this it's just a spiritual refining process and I'll tell you what glory is right around the corner I think I need a little more then then this but notice what happens when our emotions in midst of testing in the midst of challenging seasons we start to go wow this is crazy it's not crazy you were warned this is football there's gonna be some hits but what sign what notice what the message Bible says that this emotion of surprised leads to this is strange and this is where things get complicated because in the midst of challenging seasons we start to tell ourselves this is strange and what does the message Bible say we do we jump to conclusions and there's some people in here you're battling the emotion and the mental gymnastics of looking at your surroundings and concluding that maybe God has taken a few days off and you start to jump to conclusions and now bear with me here's what happens we start building theology is your view of God and here's how theology goes bad when we start getting a new view of God not based on God and his eternal story but based on our temper very challenging extended season and we start to say well God must be like this and we we jump to conclusions and when I say jump to conclusions you're like yeah maybe I do let me say it like this we jump to decisions which up to decisions and I'm just telling you as your friendly neighborhood pastor with glory right around the corner I'm just telling you don't make any major decisions right now don't do it I've been a bit I've been I've been doing this for 20 years I've been married as lady for 18 years I've been a parent for 14 years I've been alive for 112 years like you too come on man relax you're 40 now you always reference your age but I've been doing this long enough to know there are some seasons it is not time to make a big decision a big change because oftentimes we jump to decisions that are basically a jump to escape and the reason we're escaping is because we believe truthfully we believe God isn't really working this out so I'm gonna get out or I'm gonna work it out and that's why people wonder like why why this build things for like they're getting worse because instead of like but instead of doing this look at verse 19 how the message Bible same passage first Peter chapter 4 verse 19 look at it listen to tone again it's I can't believe this is the so if you find life difficult because you're doing what God said take it in stride trust him he knows what he's doing he'll keep on doing it I'm like is this real I'm going through hell and this is what I get ya listen to the tone so if you find life difficult cause you doing what God says take it in stride trust him why he knows what he's doing what does that mean he's gonna keep doing it Wow a master class and how to get through tough times but do you hear the do you hear the tone do you hear the message do you hear in it interesting this is Peter writing to Christians like you and me many of us that are believers in this room who are feeling pressed on every side feeling like following Jesus is all uphill following Jesus is challenging and difficult and what do we do the drama begins to grow the emotions begin to swell the perspective gets warped I'm the only one this is terrible I'm getting out of here I hate this and Peter comes long's like hey is it hard well take it in stride and you're like Peter I need you to feel what I'm feeling and he's like I think I need you to call Mel and you're like take it in stride yeah you hear the message scriptures powerful the message is hey hey hey hey hey hey hey stay where you are listen the message let's keep doing what you're doing but it's it's it's hard so I'm gonna change what I'm doing and that's what a lot of people do and it complicates it two times ten times I'm urging you as a fellow follower of Jesus and your local church pastor to digest the tone hear from Peter so if you find life difficult because you're following Jesus take it in stride like hence keep walking keep walking okay trust him can I get some more than just to us trust him come on you gotta trust him you gotta trust or distrust it use it trust him come on and he knows what he's doing he'll keep on doing it whoa whoa that's amazing to me because that is the exact opposite of what my brain and body wants to do right now now I'm not saying by the tone that I put to these scriptures which I really believe pick up the original language I'm not saying that God is patronizing you or does not empathize with you feel your pain and love you and it's not right there in the middle of it with you but can I be the crazy guy in your life to say this you and I could probably calm down a little bit and trust God a little more we could we could probably just say hey I'm gonna get through today and we'll find something to be like see I like hummingbirds and I saw one this is a good day it's a good day it's a good day it's amazing how much energy being surprised and thinking something is strange takes never somebody ever shocked you know in your heart pound you're like oh man am i journaling who gosh and you like get tired from being surprised oh that's right my kids surprised me all the time it's annoying I don't know why this is there like a walk brother brother oh my god why but then your body is like affected by it takes more energy than you think it does to keep being surprised I God what is going on look at Jesus look at Jesus following his footsteps so I'm reading this today approximately 7:00 p.m. no mic all right god I need a little bit appreciate Peters words and they are inspired by you of course but I need a little bit more I need a little bit more and the story from John chapter 5 came to mind I want to want to go there and we'll put it up on the screen John chapter 5 and I want to show you something and then we will sing together John chapter 5 is a remarkable story one which we talked about a few weeks ago but I want to show you an aspect of the story I've never seen before and I really believe it'll give you strength tonight remembering that my original title was I I can't lay back down I can't lay back down I know it's hard I know it's difficult I don't understand it all it's challenging I want to be surprised and it does feel strange but I can't lay back down so Jesus comes to this pool and there's a bunch of people that are sick and not well and I'll just paraphrase and for some reason he singles out one man who the Bible does not give us his name but we know that he has been at this unusual pool for 38 years but this pool is unusual because in John chapter 5 were told that this pool at times gets stirred by an angelic presence by an angel and whoever gets in the pool first gets healed and everybody else does it it's kind of a lottery pool you know it's like whoever's the fastest the quickest the best the brightest whoever gets there first they get the healing everybody else remains in their illness apparently this man is not he doesn't have a lot of connections because he's never made it there first 38 years he's been paralyzed Jesus walks up to him why him I don't know he chooses who he chooses he walks up and he says do you want to be made well and the man answers Henderson he says well I don't have which is indication of the conditions and circumstances surrounding this unusual pool he says I don't have anybody I'll be real close sometimes but somebody always beats me and he's trying to kind of tell Jesus the reality of his life and circumstances situations what he fails to realize is the man in front of him controls all of that and more so what what the man is telling Jesus if you'll stick around pick me up and put me in the pool I can be healed and Jesus is like bro I am the pool like I made the pool like and so the man never says yeah I want to be me he insinuates he wants to be healed so Jesus says this he says he says get up take up your bed and walk get up take up your bed and walk I'd like to suggest to you that this story there's a portrait and picture of how Jesus saves us this is how he saves us we are internally spiritually paralyzed we're paralyzed by our air are wrong in our sin we can't go to God we don't find God God chooses us he approaches us he finds us and then he says do you want your life to change do you want your life now we don't understand what God says when he says do you want your life to change so we tell him what we tell him the conditions of our life well I'd like you know but this happened when I was kidding in my family and I don't have a friend and you know I had a job I fired and I didn't think and he's like I meant do you want me to change your life he says get up take up your bed and walk simple words but ridiculous in nature because he's been like if it was that easy he would have done it by now I love Jesus you can go ahead and get up now and take up your bed like oh that oh oh thank you I never thought of that Oh what mazing you're a funny guy a maiden go ahead and get up now I'm paralyzed with something amazing happens look what it says and I think it's verse 9 at once please hear the language at once the man was healed that word heal means he's completely ho please listen just for a moment when jesus heals this man i want you to observe something he does not say you can go ahead and start using your legs nowhere in the story does the paralyzed man start going whoa I never used these before these are a little weak still he's like I know but I've done paralyzed you he didn't unparallel he gave the man joints and ligaments and muscles that would not have been there before atrophy to the maximum would have set in but notice at once this man has normal healthy legs there's no he's not trying that like whoa whoa no he's at once he's just up that's called salvation God God God doesn't just forgive you he also fixes you like you you become whole you become whole this is what he does at once tonight Jesus can save you at once and when you're saved you're wholly safe you're completely safe every joint and ligament is right in your heart and your spirit and I but I never saw this before and it says that once he he took up his bed and walked in that day was the Sabbath all right all right cool cool look at the next verse verse 10 so the Jews said to the man who had been healed hey hey what are you doing watch this what are you doing it's Sabbath hey hey hey stop man hold on where you going hey you can't be carrying your mat these are added customs and laws that these ancient Jews had added they were not in the Torah they said I you can't isn't this interesting what's happening now look what it says in verse 11 he says he said the answer said well the man who healed me that man he's I why you guys never bothered me before why you mad at me that man said take up your bed and what look at verse 12 and they said they said who who who who who you just hold on young man who who said now isn't this interesting a few moments ago they didn't even notice the man laying on his mat a few moments ago nobody was bothered by this guy in fact nobody had been bothered by him for 38 years nobody even cared nobody even took notice but the moment and this is what we do were like all Jesus saved me and what we fail to realize is that might frustrate some people in your life this guy this guy everybody's like he got healed but in the meze instantly in controversy since Jesus came in his life guys I will this is amazing and now he's surrounded by religious policemen hey what do you think you're doing he's a god I do you guys remember me it's just kind of cool you don't see like the change you don't see the trench hello hey you you need to put your mat down you need to lay back hey it's amazing we read these stories and we fail to realize that Jesus you kind of disrupted his life generally positive but now he's got enemies he didn't have before he's got opponents he didn't have before and he's walking around town going why am I getting dirty looks I thought everybody would be happy for me not thought everybody would be excited for me I thought everybody would be so proud of the fact that I accepted Jesus and I'm now forgiven and I'm now loved but now all the sudden I got I got I got people whispering about me don't be I remember I was the guy that you you threw me coins and now you're cornering me it's the life of Jesus well I like aw man I'm so grateful God forgave me and healed me but now he has a life style for you and often times you feel surrounded it's just this poor man has a new body he's just trying to give a test-drive right he's trying to just roll through the streets and now he is surrounded by religious watchdogs and they're like excuse whoa whoa whoa buddy and looking he's like hey come on he just I don't even know the guys name he just told me to take up your bed and walk Jesus later we'll find him and explain to him that it's not the healing of his legs and body that's the most important it's that Jesus can set him free and forgive him of his sins he'll allude to that and we don't have time to go there but but I was reading this tonight and I was like I forgot this part of the story and I don't know why I was I was like man God's gonna heal us he's gonna set us free but then I realized the moment Jesus came into this man's life who a miracle was performed and all of a sudden he got new enemies Jesus what's what's that about just trust me but these guys don't like me anymore just just trust me you're gonna be all right it's this is it's gonna pass just just just trust me and this is where the rubber meets the road because somewhere in this process when Jesus he saves you and you start following him and then you feel cornered and you feel like stuff's getting troubled around you that was fine before you start to go well maybe this isn't worth it maybe I got a dial back my commitment a little bit maybe I got a and that's only natural that's only logical but salvation has to be as real to you as this man's new legs worth to him please hear me for a second please hear me was like because this is the only power that will keep you in the thick of it with Jesus in the thick of it with Jesus and if there is a believer amongst us who's like I have never felt like lessening my commitment you are the second coming of the Christ and the rest of us are normal and and nobody has to know when you lessen your commitment by the way it's just internally it's just a little it's a little it's like a little gauge you're like I'm kind of a little committed they're a little crazy about Jesus sounds like I'll follow him anywhere it's like most places I'm a blend in in this season I'm just gonna be at people like hey is that you know new are those new legs no nope nah man you and me we still you know man come on man and we just start to dial it back what is this guy gonna do I love this conversation hey hey stop him Hey what are you doing what you know who I am this is not a big town folks you get what am i I'm using my legs man and they didn't work and I got some new calves and I like think about it hey you need to go lay back down no this guy doesn't even know it's Jesus but do you notice there is not even a moment of hesitation where he's like hey that's my bed I'm a I'm a gland lay back damn I can't lay back down see and the reason I can't sir as much as you don't like me and as much as flight gets troubling and difficult is before Jesus but yo you think this is hard because now I feel like I'm walking in the fog or I feel like things aren't working out or I'm losing friends and things aren't working out you think that's hard you think that's bad oh you should have met me before Jesus I couldn't move you notice that couldn't move I didn't have legs to use and then he came into my life so did you but he came into my life and now I can walk Jesus changed my life what am I gonna do go back to the pathetic pool and play the lottery of life and trust my broken no there is not even a hesitation in this man though he is surrounded by bullies he's like a III doll I know these are working so I see you guys later there wasn't a moment see that's that's it isn't it we forget how how there's nothing without him without Jesus we we lay on our mats hoping we get lucky hoping things and then one day the stranger walks up and says you you want your life to change and we look up don't know exactly who it is and kind of think it's odd and why did he approach me and but then he speaks and before I know it I'm doing what I've never been able to do in my whole life I feel free I feel forgiven I feel but man I forget that sometimes when I'm surrounded by opponents and I felt troubled and I start going but that's why you've got a the power to stay where you are and to keep moving forward and if you got to find somebody to talk to about this do it it's what community is for hey can we go to coffee and can I tell you my story and it's not because they need to hear it it's because you need to hear it can you do you got 20 minutes yeah yeah yeah yeah you want a Cobra you want you good okay so here's here's what happened I I never told you my story no no I was um it was bad and um you know I moved to LA and I thought for sure this was gonna be it for me and so I started you know grinding and doing my thing and trying to really find my way and then I I just started I got in some stuff and I just I felt so alone and I and all the sudden you go back to your mat for a second and you go oh I don't have any other life I don't come what may you think I you think I'm gonna lay back down there's nothing there from me 38 years of misery no all I got is him all I got if things get go from bad to worse so we I don't have any other options I was blind and now I see I was lost and now I'm found I I don't have any other life but Jesus but Jesus and and and that's why I think Peter has that tone that's what I think he has the tone because he's like let me he wouldn't even suggest cuz you understand what he did that's what people's like just keep doing what you're doing relax you're like I need you to I might quit he's like you're not gonna quit you know I can go back to your bath there's nothing there for you just keep doing what you're doing it hurts I know hurts me too I I've been there yeah just go ahead and keep doing what you're doing well why are you so matter-of-fact Oh cuz you were dead and now you're alive and I know when you're on a mat and nobody took shots at you you were already dead but now you're walking in these streets talking about I'm gonna be a part of the solution and not lay silently and be a part of the problem and now you're a target you're a target and following Jesus is the best but make no mistake about it you're a target but you know what what an honor what an honor that just just drafting off Jesus the ultimate champion that what a what what what I wouldn't honor what one of the highest honors a human could ever receive is that because you are walking in his footsteps you become a target hey are you what do you think your what an honor what an honor and internally who I must be doing something with my life if the steps I take kicks up some dust what an honor I got I got nowhere else to go people say I don't got any playing beat no like like you like what this is all we got this is all we got you remember I've told you before the prayer my dad used to pray over me as a little baby he said God he would pray to prayers I don't know if I told you the first one he said God makes you too good for nothing else but following you preaching and then make him a really really bad sinner just that guy was like dude what are you doing here you're not good at this and it worked like I I'm not good for anything else I'm with you you are everything to me and so then I'm gonna read the scripture to you listen to this this is so incredible you hear me tonight please Church hear me whatever you do you just stand and see the salvation of your God it's not gonna last forever but right now you're in the thick of it don't be surprised don't think it strange look at second Corinthians chapter 4 let me read this to you in conclusion I'm I'm done listen listen listen to the boldness listen this sounds like a man who was who was lame and then Jesus met him and now he can walk now he's you he says we're not keeping this quiet not on your life just like the old psalmist wrote I believed it so I said it we say that we believe and what we believe is just that the one who raised up the master Jesus will just as certainly raise us up with you alive oh come on church every detail works to your advantage every detail works to your advantage we are following a rabbi a teacher a king who takes what your opponent means to destroy you and he works it together for good we are not jumping to conclusions we're going to stay on pace we're gonna keep the same stride we're gonna keep the same prism we're gonna keep doing what he's doing and what he told us to keep doing not making rash decisions we're not jumping ship we're not moving away this is what he called us to we're gonna stay here and the results are up to him every detail works to your advantage and to God's glory oh I love this verse more and more grace more and more people more and more praise me tell you what the future of our churches it's more and more Grace and it's more and more people and it's more and more parades and what are we gonna do we just got to keep doing what he called us and grace us to do what am I gonna do lay back down he goes on so we're not giving up how could we have this not that there's no other life even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us on the inside where God is making us new not a day goes by without his unfolding grace you can't see the whole story on the outside but even in my difficult days His grace unfolds on the inside these hard times here's the tone again they're small potatoes well just keep your fine small small potatoes they feel huge like from Idaho huge potatoes I got small potatoes compared to the coming good times the lavish celebration prepared for us there's far more here than meets the eye the things we see now are here today gone tomorrow but the things we can't see now will last forever okay Jesus okay Jesus that is the truth about this life and if you connect yourself to that to him I don't know we have not come this far to go back again you hear me God has not brought you out this far to let you turn back and lay back down your life has a mission you know I don't want to cry because it's only my second sermon in my 40s that's the worship taming you can start joining us you have a good Heavenly Father and he only gives good things and seasons like this are hard and I'm not trying to be overdramatic because we picked up on Peters tone and we're supposed to just kind of keep on keepin on but you know like I had a friend that passed away this week of cancer and um it's like hard work and that's not it's not cancer is not from God it's not from God but this planet is subject to futility and so there's pain and there's injustice and there's Wars and there's diseases and God loves you so much and I know it's hard to think about this right now but someday he's gonna make it alright he's gonna make it alright and right now it's not alright in there people in this room that are going through just just stuff they should never go have to go through and you're just going god I I'm following you but it's hard down here and he's and your father just wants you to know he will never leave you and I think hah someone's like dude I know this is your first time he's usually not this unstable I'm so sorry he's getting old and it's like a thing he's doing now it's usually really like you know normal but I think what I feel just before we sing I think I feel I love to thank you someday I wish the person yelling that we love you would like be my wife [Music] my secret little desire the other day and I'm just gonna risk sounding like I'm wasting more spiritual than I am but the other day I just you know just a lot going on in our church and a lot that we're taking risk is believing for more and more grace more and more people more and more praise and I'm just gonna tell you what I felt I felt like what I needed was like a dad just to like you know my dad used to put his hand on my shoulder or his hand around my neck and I'd be like you know it's just that reaffirming touch and I just felt like God put his hand on my shoulder and just say hey stay steady stay steady and I know you feel like running right now and I know you feel like taking control but I'm telling you your heavenly Father has his hand on your shoulder and he loves you so much it's not always gonna be like this I promise you but in the meantime let's just stay steady let's just keep taking the steps when I go over react we're not gonna jump to conclusions jump to decisions we're gonna be who God has called us to be friend you are loved more than you could ever comprehend there is a God who is so in love with you and he is so invested in you and he is so involved with you whether you feel him or not can I pray for you Jesus I feel your presence in this room right now you're so good and so what I'm asking in these next few minutes got is that you would do what only you are capable of doing you would touch our heart you would continue to unfold your Grace on the inside right now right now or it is the band prepares to play and I'm gonna use music as a platform I I pray unfolding Grace on the inside for every person in this room show them your love show them your mighty mighty arm and protection and provision and the fact that you are orchestrating your plan in their life right now and I just declare there is no shame and there is no condemnation for those who have simply accepted Jesus no shame no condemnation thank you for new beginnings and new days thank you God thank you God if you hear 90 si Judah just with everything bowed eyes closes for a moment you said Judah I'd like to become a follower of Jesus I'd like to accept Jesus I'd like to accept the forgiveness of Jesus the Bible says God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life if you want the forgiveness that only Jesus offers you want the transformation that only Jesus offers you want to go from being spiritually dead to alive through Jesus on the count of three I'm gonna ask you to lift up your hand and put it right back down I often times people say why why the hands I just believe when you respond on the outside through what's happening on the inside it becomes all the more real to you you know who you are you're here on purpose one two three that you shoot your hand up all over the room I believe I received the forgiveness that only Jesus offers thank you thank you thank you God you see these things and I thank you it's the greatest miracle of all you forgive you make us right in relationship with you forever and ever and our air are wrong and our sin is forgiven forever and we are transformed we have a new beginning we are a new person our life is now in line with you we're gonna follow you each and every day by the grace and strength that you give us and we thank you for that in Jesus name secondly just before we sing you say Judah I know that's talking to me tonight man I feel like I have been up under some fiery trials I felt myself getting surprised I've often times thought it was strange I know God is speaking to me I'm gonna stay steady I know it's hand is on my shoulder I'm not going anywhere I'm gonna keep following Jesus and it is my greatest honor in life to suffer while following Jesus because he is my king and he is my God if that shewed he said man God's talking to me would you just lift up your hand in fact can I take it a step further we just stand to your feet that's just a testament and I'm not going anywhere Jesus I'm gonna follow you imma trust you come hell or high water whatever happens I'm with you it's so if you don't mind I like us tonight to sing like people who understand it ain't easy it's difficult it's hard but there is no other life apart from Jesus so let's lift our voice in this place come on church hey thank you so much for taking the time to watch this video we really hope it encouraged you and maybe gave you a little something to think about through the day hey if you want to watch more you can subscribe and please watch the most recent video we love you we believe for great things for your life

Channel: Churchome

Views: 86,598

Rating: 4.9217544 out of 5

Keywords: Churchome, Judah, Judah smith, church, message, anxiety, depression, how to, elevation, Steven, Hillsong, oceans, sermon, the city church, church home, Chelsea smith, bobby Houston, td jakes, pastor, pastor preaching, carl lentz, Jesus, conference, guest speaker, sermon jam, worship, Justin Bieber, la Hillsong, Selena, preaching, Judah message, performance, pain, suicide, quitting, dying, fear, hopeless, escape, freedom, mental health, drowning, sinking, sad, pressure, stress

Id: Jy5_vWCHWD4

Length: 53min 38sec (3218 seconds)

Published: Thu Nov 01 2018