Jesus already paid for our freedom! He is the only source of true healing and eternal hope. When we lean on Him; we get to walk in victory! | TBN Prayer Line: 714-731-1000
#Christian;Talk Show
#Freedom
#Complete in Christ
#Season
#Choices
#Challenges
#Faith
#Strength
#Joy
#Victoria Osteen
#Lisa Bevere
#Chrystal Evans Hurst
#Hosanna Wong
#Laurie Crouch
#James 1:2-8
Closed captions
Show Timecode
Better Together | Better Together - Episode 515 | January 7, 2022
- (video beeps)
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- - Jesus already paid for our freedom.
- 00:00:00.557 --> 00:00:02.992
- He empowers us to walk in victory.
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- Today, we're learning how to keep our eyes
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- on our only source of hope and healing.
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- Come on, join us.
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- (gentle music) ♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪
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- ♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪
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- ♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪
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- ♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh ♪
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- - So I remember being in this season
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- of desperation in my life where I was like,
- 00:00:40.463 --> 00:00:42.532
- "God, I'm out of control.
- 00:00:42.532 --> 00:00:44.334
- I'm a hot mess.
- 00:00:44.334 --> 00:00:45.401
- I have had all of these babies
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- and my husband's traveling full time.
- 00:00:47.804 --> 00:00:50.340
- and I'm just, like every day is just this journey of,
- 00:00:50.340 --> 00:00:54.210
- I just hope I don't scream at my kids,
- 00:00:54.210 --> 00:00:55.712
- I hope I don't flip out."
- 00:00:55.712 --> 00:00:56.946
- And I remembered hearing about this minister
- 00:00:56.946 --> 00:01:00.216
- that had come to Lakeland, Florida,
- 00:01:00.216 --> 00:01:03.419
- and he was having this meetings where everybody was laughing
- 00:01:03.419 --> 00:01:07.557
- and people were getting slain in the spirit,
- 00:01:07.557 --> 00:01:09.225
- and I thought, "I need to go." (group chuckles)
- 00:01:09.225 --> 00:01:11.127
- I don't care if I go make a complete fool out of myself,
- 00:01:11.127 --> 00:01:15.465
- I don't care if I'm on the ground
- 00:01:15.465 --> 00:01:16.699
- with my skirt over my head, I do not care,
- 00:01:16.699 --> 00:01:19.002
- I just want to be free. (group chuckles)
- 00:01:19.002 --> 00:01:20.770
- And so John came home from a trip and I said,
- 00:01:20.770 --> 00:01:23.206
- "Listen, I've got it all planned out,
- 00:01:23.206 --> 00:01:25.408
- we got a babysitter tomorrow night,
- 00:01:25.408 --> 00:01:27.177
- we are going to go to this big meeting.
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- We're gonna drive a couple hours,
- 00:01:29.546 --> 00:01:30.980
- we're gonna go to this meeting and I'm gonna get free.
- 00:01:30.980 --> 00:01:32.415
- I'm going to get free.
- 00:01:32.415 --> 00:01:33.683
- I don't know what's going on in my life,
- 00:01:33.683 --> 00:01:34.617
- but I know I need some freedom."
- 00:01:34.617 --> 00:01:36.085
- And John was like, "I really wanted to stay at home."
- 00:01:36.085 --> 00:01:37.520
- I'm like, "No, this is not about you,
- 00:01:37.520 --> 00:01:39.122
- this is about me. (group chuckling)
- 00:01:39.122 --> 00:01:40.657
- I don't care what you want, you're just going with me."
- 00:01:40.657 --> 00:01:42.859
- And so we drive down there and we're sitting,
- 00:01:42.859 --> 00:01:45.295
- and the meeting starts and all I remember,
- 00:01:45.295 --> 00:01:48.731
- was there was this beautiful presence of God,
- 00:01:48.731 --> 00:01:52.068
- it shot down the row, hit John, jumped over me,
- 00:01:52.068 --> 00:01:55.438
- went down the rest of the row (group chuckles)
- 00:01:55.438 --> 00:01:57.407
- and I'm like, "What just happened?
- 00:01:57.407 --> 00:02:00.143
- What just happened?"
- 00:02:00.143 --> 00:02:01.511
- And John was, I was like,
- 00:02:01.511 --> 00:02:02.779
- "You stole my blessing, you stole my blessing!"
- 00:02:02.779 --> 00:02:05.114
- I had to drive John Bevere home,
- 00:02:05.114 --> 00:02:07.217
- because he was drunk in the spirit.
- 00:02:07.217 --> 00:02:08.718
- I'm like, "I don't wanna hear it,
- 00:02:08.718 --> 00:02:10.220
- I don't wanna hear about your experience with God.
- 00:02:10.220 --> 00:02:12.522
- You (chuckles) stole,
- 00:02:12.522 --> 00:02:13.756
- I'm the one that needed refreshing.
- 00:02:13.756 --> 00:02:15.358
- I'm the one that's home with four kids.
- 00:02:15.358 --> 00:02:17.126
- Not you!"
- 00:02:17.126 --> 00:02:18.194
- I can't even, I was like,
- 00:02:18.194 --> 00:02:19.662
- "Stop it, stop it, I'm so mad at you right now."
- 00:02:19.662 --> 00:02:21.197
- And I got up the next morning
- 00:02:21.197 --> 00:02:23.299
- and I was writing in my journal, I was like,
- 00:02:23.299 --> 00:02:25.235
- "God, you know I needed that!
- 00:02:25.235 --> 00:02:27.804
- You know that I needed somebody
- 00:02:27.804 --> 00:02:30.173
- to read this big sign over my head.
- 00:02:30.173 --> 00:02:31.841
- Like if you just cross this out,
- 00:02:31.841 --> 00:02:33.610
- and fix this thing, everything will be okay."
- 00:02:33.610 --> 00:02:35.878
- And I remember him saying to me,
- 00:02:35.878 --> 00:02:38.147
- "Manner and manifestations are always
- 00:02:38.147 --> 00:02:41.651
- going to leave you hungry for something more."
- 00:02:41.651 --> 00:02:45.188
- He said, "You're looking for something outside of me."
- 00:02:45.188 --> 00:02:49.392
- And then he was very blunt with me.
- 00:02:49.392 --> 00:02:51.894
- I gave the life of my Son completely,
- 00:02:51.894 --> 00:02:55.164
- that you would be completely free.
- 00:02:55.164 --> 00:02:57.433
- What is it you think I've left undone?
- 00:02:57.433 --> 00:02:59.636
- And He started to take me to Isaiah 52:1-2,
- 00:02:59.636 --> 00:03:02.605
- where it's like, "Awake, awake, oh, Zion,
- 00:03:02.605 --> 00:03:05.608
- clothe yourself with strength
- 00:03:05.608 --> 00:03:07.210
- and put on your garments of splendor."
- 00:03:07.210 --> 00:03:08.945
- And ends up with, "Free yourself,
- 00:03:08.945 --> 00:03:11.114
- from the chains on your neck, oh, captive daughter of Zion."
- 00:03:11.114 --> 00:03:14.217
- - Free yourself. - I'm like, free myself?
- 00:03:14.217 --> 00:03:16.886
- (chuckles) If I could free myself,
- 00:03:16.886 --> 00:03:18.688
- I wouldn't be saying to you, "Set me free,
- 00:03:18.688 --> 00:03:19.922
- set me free, set me free."
- 00:03:19.922 --> 00:03:21.524
- And I think there comes that moment,
- 00:03:21.524 --> 00:03:23.826
- where we look to this person or this teaching or this,
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- and none of those things are bad in and of themselves,
- 00:03:26.429 --> 00:03:29.599
- but our true freedom, is found in Christ.
- 00:03:29.599 --> 00:03:32.402
- Galatians 5:1, - Wow.
- 00:03:32.402 --> 00:03:33.836
- - It is for freedom,
- 00:03:33.836 --> 00:03:35.471
- - Amen. - that Christ has set us free.
- 00:03:35.471 --> 00:03:38.174
- No longer to be entangled again in that yoke of slavery.
- 00:03:38.174 --> 00:03:42.712
- Because when I make it about something,
- 00:03:42.712 --> 00:03:45.248
- or someone outside of Him,
- 00:03:45.248 --> 00:03:47.450
- I can get entangled again, whether it's religion,
- 00:03:47.450 --> 00:03:50.620
- I'm gonna do these works, I'm gonna do this,
- 00:03:50.620 --> 00:03:52.655
- whatever it is, when I make it more,
- 00:03:52.655 --> 00:03:55.658
- than what He has done for me,
- 00:03:55.658 --> 00:03:57.427
- I am setting myself up for disappointment and bondage.
- 00:03:57.427 --> 00:04:00.196
- I don't know, have any of you ever found that disappointment
- 00:04:00.196 --> 00:04:02.732
- where you're like, "I'm gonna go,
- 00:04:02.732 --> 00:04:04.067
- if I do this, if I do A, B and C,
- 00:04:04.067 --> 00:04:06.235
- then I'm gonna be totally free."
- 00:04:06.235 --> 00:04:07.937
- - I was single thinking,
- 00:04:07.937 --> 00:04:09.405
- "This is what's gonna happen when I get married,
- 00:04:09.405 --> 00:04:11.140
- this is where I'll be free."
- 00:04:11.140 --> 00:04:12.608
- - Mm-mm. - And marriage is great,
- 00:04:12.608 --> 00:04:15.044
- but it comes with its own set of challenges.
- 00:04:15.044 --> 00:04:17.180
- - Sure. - If I get more money,
- 00:04:17.180 --> 00:04:18.715
- - Right. - then I'll be more free.
- 00:04:18.715 --> 00:04:20.383
- - Yeah. - If I have more time.
- 00:04:20.383 --> 00:04:22.118
- I was talking to a friend of mine the other day,
- 00:04:22.118 --> 00:04:23.820
- and she was talking about,
- 00:04:23.820 --> 00:04:25.321
- "I'm finally retired, and I don't know what to do
- 00:04:25.321 --> 00:04:26.823
- with my time." - Yeah, see.
- 00:04:26.823 --> 00:04:28.324
- - Like the freedom just indicates another season.
- 00:04:28.324 --> 00:04:30.493
- - Yeah. - So, in the summer,
- 00:04:30.493 --> 00:04:32.295
- I'm free to wear shorts and a T-shirt,
- 00:04:32.295 --> 00:04:34.430
- but that doesn't necessarily (chuckles) mean
- 00:04:34.430 --> 00:04:36.632
- that I wanna be in a hundred degree weather, in Texas.
- 00:04:36.632 --> 00:04:39.135
- - No. - So it brings one freedom,
- 00:04:39.135 --> 00:04:41.771
- level of freedom, with another set of circumstances,
- 00:04:41.771 --> 00:04:44.941
- you know, and so,
- 00:04:44.941 --> 00:04:46.409
- I think that if you're always looking for freedom
- 00:04:46.409 --> 00:04:50.146
- in even itself, - Yeah.
- 00:04:50.146 --> 00:04:51.681
- - to give you this gift, - Yeah.
- 00:04:51.681 --> 00:04:53.950
- - then you're discounting the reality,
- 00:04:53.950 --> 00:04:56.486
- that every season requires you to lean on God,
- 00:04:56.486 --> 00:05:00.623
- 'cause there's something in that season,
- 00:05:00.623 --> 00:05:03.493
- that will disappoint you because it's not 100%.
- 00:05:03.493 --> 00:05:07.263
- That's not the way the world works.
- 00:05:07.263 --> 00:05:08.865
- That's not the way, it's even like if I can,
- 00:05:08.865 --> 00:05:11.834
- memorize the Bible. (chuckles)
- 00:05:11.834 --> 00:05:14.036
- I have a friend who told me,
- 00:05:14.036 --> 00:05:15.505
- she set out to memorize a couple of books of the Bible,
- 00:05:15.505 --> 00:05:17.206
- 'cause she just said, "If I hid God's Word in my heart,
- 00:05:17.206 --> 00:05:19.842
- then it would just make life so much easier.
- 00:05:19.842 --> 00:05:22.044
- When life is hard, then that allows God
- 00:05:22.044 --> 00:05:26.115
- to be stronger in you. - Mm.
- 00:05:26.115 --> 00:05:27.650
- - It doesn't necessarily make it easier.
- 00:05:27.650 --> 00:05:29.452
- So I think for freedom, for freedom's sake is not the goal.
- 00:05:29.452 --> 00:05:31.888
- That's the bottom.
- 00:05:31.888 --> 00:05:33.356
- - What we're really saying freedom is when the red carpet
- 00:05:33.356 --> 00:05:35.425
- is rolled out for me and I don't have a care in the world.
- 00:05:35.425 --> 00:05:37.760
- - Right.
- 00:05:37.760 --> 00:05:38.728
- - When everything is easy?
- 00:05:38.728 --> 00:05:40.363
- - Mm-mm.
- 00:05:40.363 --> 00:05:41.998
- - Is that freedom?
- 00:05:41.998 --> 00:05:43.232
- - That's make-believe. (Victoria chuckles)
- 00:05:43.232 --> 00:05:44.400
- - That's me. - Is that fairytale?
- 00:05:44.400 --> 00:05:46.068
- - That's the best that we think it is.
- 00:05:46.068 --> 00:05:47.570
- - That's fairytale, but that's never gonna happen.
- 00:05:47.570 --> 00:05:49.639
- - It's never gonna happen.
- 00:05:49.639 --> 00:05:51.140
- - There's always things, there's always challenges,
- 00:05:51.140 --> 00:05:53.242
- until we get to heaven,
- 00:05:53.242 --> 00:05:54.410
- we're never gonna receive that perfection,
- 00:05:54.410 --> 00:05:56.446
- because really that's perfection.
- 00:05:56.446 --> 00:05:57.914
- - Mm, right. - You know?
- 00:05:57.914 --> 00:05:59.081
- - But I think freedom is about choice.
- 00:05:59.081 --> 00:06:00.850
- I have the freedom because in Christ, I have choices.
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- Whereas, I just had reactions in the years before,
- 00:06:07.123 --> 00:06:09.759
- and I just think that we forget that freedom
- 00:06:09.759 --> 00:06:13.663
- doesn't mean there's no (chuckles) challenges.
- 00:06:13.663 --> 00:06:15.531
- - Mm-mm. - Yeah.
- 00:06:15.531 --> 00:06:17.033
- - Freedom, actually means there's more responsibility.
- 00:06:17.033 --> 00:06:18.301
- - Mm-mm. - It's about who you are
- 00:06:18.301 --> 00:06:19.869
- when life is happening, - Right.
- 00:06:19.869 --> 00:06:21.370
- - and not about what is happening in life to you.
- 00:06:21.370 --> 00:06:24.106
- - Right. - You're talking about,
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- who you are on the inside, - Yeah.
- 00:06:25.842 --> 00:06:28.010
- - and not what's happening around you
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- and that's the problem.
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- We think freedom is something
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- that's supposed to be happening.
- 00:06:31.814 --> 00:06:33.049
- - It's not an outside thing.
- 00:06:33.049 --> 00:06:35.451
- - It reminds me of when Jeremiah spoke to the people
- 00:06:33.983 --> 00:06:37.253
- and they were gonna be in bondage for 70 more years,
- 00:06:37.253 --> 00:06:40.923
- in captivity. - Yeah.
- 00:06:40.923 --> 00:06:42.258
- - And he said, "Build your houses,
- 00:06:42.258 --> 00:06:43.626
- - Mm-mm. - have your family,
- 00:06:43.626 --> 00:06:45.361
- plant your vineyards.
- 00:06:45.361 --> 00:06:47.129
- There's freedom here. - Yes.
- 00:06:47.129 --> 00:06:48.531
- - It doesn't look like there's freedom here,
- 00:06:48.531 --> 00:06:49.765
- - Right. - but there's freedom,
- 00:06:49.765 --> 00:06:51.734
- - Yeah. - to do these things.
- 00:06:51.734 --> 00:06:52.835
- So what we're saying basically,
- 00:06:52.835 --> 00:06:54.237
- is in these choices, is blessing.
- 00:06:54.237 --> 00:06:56.639
- - Mm-mm. - Yeah.
- 00:06:56.639 --> 00:06:58.140
- - There is blessing to move out in the things of God.
- 00:06:58.140 --> 00:06:59.509
- - Mm-mm. - To continue to live,
- 00:06:59.509 --> 00:07:02.178
- knowing that you're free, you're not under captivity,
- 00:07:02.178 --> 00:07:04.714
- but you're free to make choices.
- 00:07:04.714 --> 00:07:06.682
- - Yeah. - You're free to move forward.
- 00:07:06.682 --> 00:07:08.551
- You're free.
- 00:07:08.551 --> 00:07:09.719
- And so I think that's kind of what,
- 00:07:09.719 --> 00:07:11.220
- when I think about freedom, a lot of people are like,
- 00:07:11.220 --> 00:07:13.422
- "I want freedom from this addiction."
- 00:07:13.422 --> 00:07:15.091
- - Mm-mm. - Right.
- 00:07:15.091 --> 00:07:16.292
- - I want freedom from this bad habit.
- 00:07:16.292 --> 00:07:17.393
- - Right. - I want freedom,
- 00:07:17.393 --> 00:07:18.694
- but there's still freedom in that.
- 00:07:18.694 --> 00:07:20.963
- Obviously, if God is saying,
- 00:07:20.963 --> 00:07:23.466
- "You're free, you've been created, I've set you free."
- 00:07:23.466 --> 00:07:26.469
- - Mm-mm. - Mm-mm.
- 00:07:26.469 --> 00:07:27.703
- - For the Christ has set you free.
- 00:07:27.703 --> 00:07:29.038
- So, it's kind of an interesting concept, freedom is,
- 00:07:29.038 --> 00:07:31.374
- 'cause we've heard little bit different definitions here,
- 00:07:31.374 --> 00:07:33.376
- of what is really that freedom.
- 00:07:33.376 --> 00:07:34.577
- - Freedom is not rebellion.
- 00:07:34.577 --> 00:07:36.412
- - It's that freedom to continue to move forward,
- 00:07:36.412 --> 00:07:39.448
- even in any difficult situation,
- 00:07:39.448 --> 00:07:41.617
- that God's given you the ability,
- 00:07:41.617 --> 00:07:43.486
- the freedom to make choices. - Yeah.
- 00:07:43.486 --> 00:07:45.454
- - The freedom to, - Yeah.
- 00:07:45.454 --> 00:07:47.223
- - continue to live, to continue to build,
- 00:07:47.223 --> 00:07:49.125
- to continue to have your family,
- 00:07:49.125 --> 00:07:50.459
- - Yeah. - to continue until
- 00:07:50.459 --> 00:07:51.794
- you may see the manifestation of the fullness,
- 00:07:51.794 --> 00:07:55.264
- of that freedom, whether it's an addiction, a habit,
- 00:07:55.264 --> 00:07:59.068
- something that you feel like is plaguing you.
- 00:07:59.068 --> 00:08:01.971
- - I think it's important for our listeners,
- 00:08:01.971 --> 00:08:04.040
- and people watching the show right now,
- 00:08:04.040 --> 00:08:05.474
- to hear that Jesus wants to set you free
- 00:08:05.474 --> 00:08:07.443
- from anything that holds you back,
- 00:08:07.443 --> 00:08:09.412
- - Mm-mm. - from being the child of God
- 00:08:09.412 --> 00:08:11.514
- you've been created to be.
- 00:08:11.514 --> 00:08:12.748
- Anything that's holding you back.
- 00:08:12.748 --> 00:08:14.116
- And I think- - From Him.
- 00:08:14.116 --> 00:08:15.585
- - Anything that's holding you back from a true,
- 00:08:15.585 --> 00:08:16.752
- real one-on-one relationship with Him,
- 00:08:16.752 --> 00:08:17.987
- and you said something so important.
- 00:08:17.987 --> 00:08:19.822
- So often we think of being set free from bondage,
- 00:08:19.822 --> 00:08:24.093
- as being set free from an addiction.
- 00:08:24.093 --> 00:08:26.028
- And certainly Jesus can set you free from your addictions.
- 00:08:26.028 --> 00:08:28.364
- Set free from a vice, or set free from a bad habit,
- 00:08:28.364 --> 00:08:32.034
- and certainly Jesus can set you free from those things,
- 00:08:32.034 --> 00:08:34.537
- but if we're not finding our freedom in Jesus,
- 00:08:34.537 --> 00:08:37.974
- we can also be in bondage to things
- 00:08:37.974 --> 00:08:39.809
- that look like good things,
- 00:08:39.809 --> 00:08:41.010
- but then they become our God things.
- 00:08:41.010 --> 00:08:42.745
- Like for me, even before I knew Jesus,
- 00:08:42.745 --> 00:08:44.480
- I found my identity and what people thought about me.
- 00:08:44.480 --> 00:08:46.682
- What people's expectations were of me.
- 00:08:46.682 --> 00:08:48.684
- If I was making the mark of what people wanted of me.
- 00:08:48.684 --> 00:08:51.320
- And then when I came to know Jesus,
- 00:08:51.320 --> 00:08:52.888
- I was getting healthier,
- 00:08:52.888 --> 00:08:54.056
- I was being more rooted in God's Word,
- 00:08:54.056 --> 00:08:55.491
- knowing who I am in Christ.
- 00:08:55.491 --> 00:08:56.659
- But then, if I was getting unhealthy again,
- 00:08:56.659 --> 00:08:58.828
- if I was getting out of the Word of God
- 00:08:58.828 --> 00:09:00.596
- and not finding my identity in Christ,
- 00:09:00.596 --> 00:09:02.064
- but now I'm working for God.
- 00:09:02.064 --> 00:09:03.599
- Now I'm serving at my church,
- 00:09:03.599 --> 00:09:05.134
- now I'm volunteering in ministries.
- 00:09:05.134 --> 00:09:06.969
- Now I'm talking about Jesus,
- 00:09:06.969 --> 00:09:09.138
- if we do not find our identity in Christ,
- 00:09:09.138 --> 00:09:13.376
- we will go from one form of bondage to another.
- 00:09:13.376 --> 00:09:16.579
- - Yeah. - That's correct.
- 00:09:16.579 --> 00:09:17.813
- - And the scary thing is some of those things
- 00:09:17.813 --> 00:09:19.348
- that we can become in bondage to, look like good things.
- 00:09:19.348 --> 00:09:22.451
- So you wouldn't know perhaps, how unhealthy I am,
- 00:09:22.451 --> 00:09:26.389
- because it looks like it's a good thing.
- 00:09:26.389 --> 00:09:28.491
- And I remember that verse,
- 00:09:28.491 --> 00:09:31.127
- when we hear that we're no longer slaves,
- 00:09:31.127 --> 00:09:32.895
- but we are God's children.
- 00:09:32.895 --> 00:09:34.697
- I used to know that verse and read that verse,
- 00:09:34.697 --> 00:09:36.866
- hear that verse growing up thinking,
- 00:09:36.866 --> 00:09:38.067
- "How beautiful it is that I've been set free
- 00:09:38.067 --> 00:09:39.635
- from a life of sin and addiction,
- 00:09:39.635 --> 00:09:42.405
- and idolatry of people's opinions."
- 00:09:42.405 --> 00:09:44.707
- And I never once thought that I would also be set free
- 00:09:44.707 --> 00:09:47.677
- from bondage to people's opinions,
- 00:09:47.677 --> 00:09:49.979
- living to strive, living to do enough,
- 00:09:49.979 --> 00:09:51.981
- living to be enough, that if we are not careful,
- 00:09:51.981 --> 00:09:54.684
- we will just go from one form of bondage to another.
- 00:09:54.684 --> 00:09:58.454
- So if you're thinking,
- 00:09:58.454 --> 00:09:59.655
- "Man, I am free from all these other things."
- 00:09:59.655 --> 00:10:01.624
- But are you free to rest in God,
- 00:10:01.624 --> 00:10:04.727
- free, that you're safe to take risks for God,
- 00:10:04.727 --> 00:10:07.129
- take a step of faith for God.
- 00:10:07.129 --> 00:10:08.330
- Are you free? Do you know?
- 00:10:08.330 --> 00:10:09.965
- Do you know that you are free to say yes to God,
- 00:10:09.965 --> 00:10:12.968
- and even fumble through it,
- 00:10:12.968 --> 00:10:14.236
- and you're still safe and you're still loved
- 00:10:14.236 --> 00:10:15.438
- and you're still valuable.
- 00:10:15.438 --> 00:10:16.639
- Do you know how free you really are?
- 00:10:16.639 --> 00:10:18.174
- And I wish I would have known that earlier,
- 00:10:18.174 --> 00:10:20.142
- that we're not just talking about freedom from sin,
- 00:10:20.142 --> 00:10:22.712
- we're talking freedom from anything,
- 00:10:22.712 --> 00:10:25.014
- - Yeah. - Mm-mm.
- 00:10:25.014 --> 00:10:26.515
- - that holds you back from being who you are called
- 00:10:26.515 --> 00:10:28.584
- and created to be.
- 00:10:28.584 --> 00:10:30.352
- - Yeah,
- 00:10:30.352 --> 00:10:31.854
- Jesus says, "Whom the Son sets free, is free indeed."
- 00:10:31.854 --> 00:10:34.423
- - Right. - So that's, in my opinion,
- 00:10:34.423 --> 00:10:37.259
- kind of making the great exchange with God.
- 00:10:37.259 --> 00:10:40.062
- We have a sinful nature, from Adam and Eve,
- 00:10:40.062 --> 00:10:42.732
- that whole thing that happened,
- 00:10:42.732 --> 00:10:44.400
- now that we're free, we have a choice,
- 00:10:44.400 --> 00:10:48.170
- that we can make a great exchange with God.
- 00:10:48.170 --> 00:10:50.506
- - Right. - So instead of acting out
- 00:10:50.506 --> 00:10:53.409
- our natural flesh answer back,
- 00:10:53.409 --> 00:10:57.646
- or quick decision or punch somebody,
- 00:10:57.646 --> 00:11:00.649
- we got that minute to that moment
- 00:11:00.649 --> 00:11:03.953
- to make the great exchange with who our real nature is,
- 00:11:03.953 --> 00:11:07.990
- in Christ. - Mm-mm.
- 00:11:07.990 --> 00:11:09.592
- - [Lisa] What I'm hearing you saying is,
- 00:11:09.592 --> 00:11:11.093
- we've got to know the truth, - Yes.
- 00:11:11.093 --> 00:11:13.395
- - to a greater degree of intimacy, than we've known the lie.
- 00:11:13.395 --> 00:11:16.732
- - There you go. - And as you know the truth,
- 00:11:16.732 --> 00:11:19.068
- the truth becomes alive in you.
- 00:11:19.068 --> 00:11:20.803
- - Yeah. - Like we always talk about
- 00:11:20.803 --> 00:11:22.571
- Jesus was the Word made flesh.
- 00:11:22.571 --> 00:11:24.974
- Well, I believe as we read the Word,
- 00:11:24.974 --> 00:11:27.710
- it becomes flesh in us, we can live it out,
- 00:11:27.710 --> 00:11:30.045
- we can respond differently,
- 00:11:30.045 --> 00:11:31.580
- we have a counter intuitive response.
- 00:11:31.580 --> 00:11:34.216
- I'm thinking, as you guys were talking I'm thinking about,
- 00:11:34.216 --> 00:11:36.152
- - So good. - the book of James.
- 00:11:36.152 --> 00:11:37.853
- - Mm-mm. - The book of James,
- 00:11:37.853 --> 00:11:39.054
- we've been talking about all the hardship
- 00:11:39.054 --> 00:11:40.589
- and all the hope and suffering - Yeah.
- 00:11:40.589 --> 00:11:42.858
- - everything about James, Chapter 1,
- 00:11:42.858 --> 00:11:45.261
- does not make sense to me.
- 00:11:45.261 --> 00:11:46.695
- I mean, it opens up with, (group chuckles)
- 00:11:46.695 --> 00:11:48.798
- "Consider it a sheer gift, friends,
- 00:11:48.798 --> 00:11:51.300
- when tests and challenges come at you from all sides."
- 00:11:51.300 --> 00:11:55.437
- I'm like, that's an ambush!
- 00:11:55.437 --> 00:11:57.173
- - Yeah. - That is not a gift.
- 00:11:57.173 --> 00:11:58.841
- But God's like, "No, no, this is a gift."
- 00:11:58.841 --> 00:12:00.843
- 'Cause He goes on to say,
- 00:12:00.843 --> 00:12:01.777
- "You know that under pressure,
- 00:12:01.777 --> 00:12:03.746
- your faith life is forced into the open
- 00:12:03.746 --> 00:12:08.117
- and shows its true colors."
- 00:12:08.117 --> 00:12:10.052
- I feel like we've come through two years,
- 00:12:10.052 --> 00:12:11.887
- - Mm-mm. - where if we had displaced,
- 00:12:11.887 --> 00:12:14.423
- or misplaced faith, that got exposed,
- 00:12:14.423 --> 00:12:17.493
- and He's saying under pressure,
- 00:12:17.493 --> 00:12:19.829
- you have something forced into the open.
- 00:12:19.829 --> 00:12:22.565
- I've lived in Colorado for a long time,
- 00:12:22.565 --> 00:12:24.767
- which means we don't have spring.
- 00:12:24.767 --> 00:12:26.235
- But we have, we have winter, winter, winter, summer,
- 00:12:26.235 --> 00:12:28.537
- and then winter, winter, winter and so,
- 00:12:28.537 --> 00:12:30.339
- I love bulbs, like the daffodils and irises,
- 00:12:30.339 --> 00:12:34.510
- and things like that.
- 00:12:34.510 --> 00:12:35.978
- If I wanna grow them, I have to do something called,
- 00:12:35.978 --> 00:12:38.647
- forcing them,
- 00:12:38.647 --> 00:12:39.849
- which is where I put them in my refrigerator,
- 00:12:39.849 --> 00:12:41.951
- and I lie to them, I say, "You're having a mild winter."
- 00:12:41.951 --> 00:12:45.654
- They're not outside in the sub-zero,
- 00:12:45.654 --> 00:12:47.523
- they're having a mild winter.
- 00:12:47.523 --> 00:12:48.757
- And then when spring is supposed to be there,
- 00:12:48.757 --> 00:12:50.526
- they're still there.
- 00:12:50.526 --> 00:12:51.760
- And then I put 'em on the window,
- 00:12:51.760 --> 00:12:53.128
- so, where they get a little bit of warmth,
- 00:12:53.128 --> 00:12:54.997
- and then for the little bit of summer, they can bloom.
- 00:12:54.997 --> 00:12:57.600
- And I think what we don't understand
- 00:12:57.600 --> 00:12:59.768
- is that God has the ability to create environments,
- 00:12:59.768 --> 00:13:02.771
- in our individual lives. - Mm, so good.
- 00:13:02.771 --> 00:13:04.773
- - That force our faith right into the open, so that we see,
- 00:13:04.773 --> 00:13:09.078
- I want to say it's the true colors,
- 00:13:09.078 --> 00:13:10.412
- it's not like even saying something bad,
- 00:13:10.412 --> 00:13:12.348
- it's saying there's beauty in this moment.
- 00:13:12.348 --> 00:13:14.650
- Look at my daughter, look at my son,
- 00:13:14.650 --> 00:13:16.518
- look where they, how they bloomed,
- 00:13:16.518 --> 00:13:18.454
- how they came into this season of hardship
- 00:13:18.454 --> 00:13:20.823
- and found a place of strength. - So good.
- 00:13:20.823 --> 00:13:23.759
- - And so in this season,
- 00:13:23.759 --> 00:13:25.327
- where it feels like there's been loss,
- 00:13:25.327 --> 00:13:27.296
- we've all had, we've lost friends,
- 00:13:27.296 --> 00:13:29.565
- we've seen uncertainties.
- 00:13:29.565 --> 00:13:31.600
- There's just been so much loss,
- 00:13:31.600 --> 00:13:33.035
- but God is saying, "In this season,
- 00:13:33.035 --> 00:13:36.438
- count it pure joy, not mixed with any sorrow."
- 00:13:36.438 --> 00:13:39.875
- Don't mix it up together.
- 00:13:39.875 --> 00:13:41.543
- He said, "I'm doing something, a deep work in you,
- 00:13:41.543 --> 00:13:45.014
- that will not happen in any other things."
- 00:13:45.014 --> 00:13:47.449
- Then it goes on to say,
- 00:13:47.449 --> 00:13:49.051
- so don't try to get out of anything prematurely,
- 00:13:49.051 --> 00:13:51.921
- let it do its work, so you can become mature.
- 00:13:51.921 --> 00:13:55.157
- We were talking about patience - Yeah.
- 00:13:55.157 --> 00:13:56.659
- - Mature, well-developed and not deficient in any way.
- 00:13:56.659 --> 00:14:00.129
- I used to skip tests in college,
- 00:14:00.129 --> 00:14:02.698
- like, "Oh, my gosh, you know,
- 00:14:02.698 --> 00:14:04.233
- I'm so sorry, I had a headache.
- 00:14:04.233 --> 00:14:05.801
- I couldn't come and take my test."
- 00:14:05.801 --> 00:14:07.236
- And some of them be like, (group chuckles)
- 00:14:07.236 --> 00:14:08.470
- "Okay, we'll set up a retest for you."
- 00:14:08.470 --> 00:14:09.972
- And this is what I discovered, the retest is always harder.
- 00:14:09.972 --> 00:14:13.709
- - Yup. - Always harder.
- 00:14:13.709 --> 00:14:15.811
- And in our faith walk, it is the same way.
- 00:14:15.811 --> 00:14:18.514
- It is better to have and done all to stand,
- 00:14:18.514 --> 00:14:20.916
- you just stand.
- 00:14:20.916 --> 00:14:22.418
- John and I are old enough to learn
- 00:14:22.418 --> 00:14:24.353
- there are certain battles in life
- 00:14:24.353 --> 00:14:25.521
- you just outlast the enemy at. - Yeah.
- 00:14:25.521 --> 00:14:27.156
- - You just stand in the faithfulness of God.
- 00:14:27.156 --> 00:14:29.458
- You just stand in who you are in Christ,
- 00:14:29.458 --> 00:14:31.794
- and who Christ is to you,
- 00:14:31.794 --> 00:14:34.263
- and you just have a strength, - Yeah.
- 00:14:34.263 --> 00:14:36.699
- - that nothing else is gonna develop that way.
- 00:14:36.699 --> 00:14:38.767
- - That's beautiful. - Mm.
- 00:14:38.767 --> 00:14:40.202
- - And the purpose of that retest is to not just make sure
- 00:14:40.202 --> 00:14:42.371
- you know the material,
- 00:14:42.371 --> 00:14:45.140
- it's to make sure that you,
- 00:14:45.140 --> 00:14:47.109
- know, - Yeah.
- 00:14:47.109 --> 00:14:48.577
- - and that you really, really know the material.
- 00:14:48.577 --> 00:14:50.913
- - Yeah. - And that's why I just think
- 00:14:50.913 --> 00:14:52.481
- this concept of freedom is so important because,
- 00:14:52.481 --> 00:14:55.651
- we want freedom, we just don't realize
- 00:14:56.752 --> 00:14:58.754
- that the freedom we think we want isn't freedom at all.
- 00:14:58.754 --> 00:15:01.690
- - Yeah. - You know?
- 00:15:01.690 --> 00:15:02.558
- - We want ease.
- 00:15:02.558 --> 00:15:03.826
- We want the red carpet - We want ease, right.
- 00:15:03.826 --> 00:15:04.994
- treatment that Victoria described.
- 00:15:04.994 --> 00:15:06.161
- - Yeah. - And it's not really freedom.
- 00:15:06.161 --> 00:15:07.730
- Freedom is God's ability to show you what you need to know,
- 00:15:07.730 --> 00:15:12.668
- - Mm. - about your world
- 00:15:12.668 --> 00:15:14.169
- and about yourself, so that you're able to operate
- 00:15:14.169 --> 00:15:17.072
- in the power of the Holy Spirit in your life,
- 00:15:17.072 --> 00:15:19.441
- with His power and with His gifting.
- 00:15:19.441 --> 00:15:21.176
- That's freedom. - Mm.
- 00:15:21.176 --> 00:15:22.678
- - Because if you wanna live, even someone else's life,
- 00:15:22.678 --> 00:15:25.314
- I know that sometimes disappointment comes because we think
- 00:15:25.314 --> 00:15:28.317
- when we were free to do it like them,
- 00:15:28.317 --> 00:15:30.419
- - Yeah. - or when we're free
- 00:15:30.419 --> 00:15:31.820
- to have what we admire in their life,
- 00:15:31.820 --> 00:15:34.423
- or when we're free to be able to do what they are
- 00:15:34.423 --> 00:15:37.493
- able to do with ease, that that will bring freedom to us.
- 00:15:37.493 --> 00:15:40.462
- But it's not, if you're not supposed to wear it.
- 00:15:40.462 --> 00:15:42.731
- I mean, David was free to fight,
- 00:15:42.731 --> 00:15:45.401
- but as soon as he had to put on Saul's armor,
- 00:15:45.401 --> 00:15:47.469
- he wasn't free at all. - Yeah.
- 00:15:47.469 --> 00:15:49.104
- - So what looked like freedom and protection,
- 00:15:49.104 --> 00:15:51.740
- and honor and power for one person,
- 00:15:51.740 --> 00:15:55.544
- - Was bondage. - was weight
- 00:15:55.544 --> 00:15:57.279
- and bondage for another. - Mm-mm.
- 00:15:57.279 --> 00:15:58.881
- - So what you don't want is just freedom,
- 00:15:58.881 --> 00:16:01.483
- in general, at all costs,
- 00:16:01.483 --> 00:16:03.719
- you want to be free to do what God has called you to do,
- 00:16:03.719 --> 00:16:06.989
- 'cause anything else is not freedom, it's bondage.
- 00:16:06.989 --> 00:16:10.392
- Anything else will not satisfy.
- 00:16:10.392 --> 00:16:12.394
- - And we all have our own tests.
- 00:16:12.394 --> 00:16:14.930
- - And we all have our own tests, so yeah.
- 00:16:14.930 --> 00:16:16.732
- - And I can see you walk through something,
- 00:16:16.732 --> 00:16:18.901
- - Mm-mm. - but I might have to walk
- 00:16:18.901 --> 00:16:20.702
- through it differently. - Mm-mm.
- 00:16:20.702 --> 00:16:22.071
- - But I glean off of everything,
- 00:16:22.071 --> 00:16:24.506
- all the revelation of everything that people have learned,
- 00:16:24.506 --> 00:16:28.677
- and then we walk our own.
- 00:16:28.677 --> 00:16:30.312
- - Yeah, our lives are custom designed.
- 00:16:30.312 --> 00:16:32.381
- - Yeah, for sure.
- 00:16:32.381 --> 00:16:33.615
- - Our tests are custom designed. (chuckles)
- 00:16:33.615 --> 00:16:36.018
- - Yeah. - Our armor is custom designed
- 00:16:36.018 --> 00:16:38.220
- - 'Cause God knows what we can withstand.
- 00:16:38.220 --> 00:16:40.422
- - And He created us,
- 00:16:40.422 --> 00:16:41.790
- - He's never gonna give us - knowing that.
- 00:16:41.790 --> 00:16:43.192
- - more than we withstand. - That's correct.
- 00:16:43.192 --> 00:16:44.259
- - Mm-mm. - Yup, that's right.
- 00:16:44.259 --> 00:16:45.694
- - And so what looks impossible for one person,
- 00:16:45.694 --> 00:16:48.397
- might be impossible for the other.
- 00:16:48.397 --> 00:16:50.065
- - Yeah. - Mm-mm.
- 00:16:50.065 --> 00:16:51.300
- - But God's got it all figured out.
- 00:16:51.300 --> 00:16:52.868
- He's the alpha, the omega, He's the beginning and the end.
- 00:16:52.868 --> 00:16:55.604
- He knows everything in between.
- 00:16:55.604 --> 00:16:57.539
- - Praise God. - Thank God, yeah.
- 00:16:57.539 --> 00:16:59.708
- And true freedom really is knowing you can withstand,
- 00:16:59.708 --> 00:17:02.878
- - That's true. - Yeah.
- 00:17:02.878 --> 00:17:04.079
- - in the grace of God.
- 00:17:04.079 --> 00:17:05.280
- - Yeah. - I feel like there's
- 00:17:05.280 --> 00:17:06.515
- so many people that,
- 00:17:06.515 --> 00:17:07.783
- 'cause they don't know who they are in Christ,
- 00:17:07.783 --> 00:17:09.418
- - Yeah. - because they don't know
- 00:17:09.418 --> 00:17:11.920
- that there is a freedom that's on the inside,
- 00:17:11.920 --> 00:17:14.690
- they're in bondage on the outside.
- 00:17:14.690 --> 00:17:15.858
- - Mm-mm. - Right.
- 00:17:15.858 --> 00:17:17.025
- - And until they have that revelation,
- 00:17:17.025 --> 00:17:19.728
- that the freedom of Christ empowers them
- 00:17:19.728 --> 00:17:22.131
- to say no to ungodliness,
- 00:17:22.131 --> 00:17:23.765
- to say no to drugs, to say no to pornography,
- 00:17:23.765 --> 00:17:25.934
- to say no to being hateful, whatever that is.
- 00:17:25.934 --> 00:17:29.438
- I am empowered in his freedom to be godly,
- 00:17:29.438 --> 00:17:33.509
- not to be ungodly,
- 00:17:33.509 --> 00:17:35.110
- but to have the grace of God
- 00:17:35.110 --> 00:17:37.246
- that helps me walk in godliness.
- 00:17:37.246 --> 00:17:39.715
- - Mm-mm.
- 00:17:39.715 --> 00:17:40.983
- - We're talking a lot about freedom
- 00:17:40.983 --> 00:17:42.684
- to do what God's called us to do,
- 00:17:42.684 --> 00:17:44.786
- and freedom to be who God's called us to be.
- 00:17:44.786 --> 00:17:46.588
- And I'm thinking about the women
- 00:17:46.588 --> 00:17:47.523
- who might be watching saying,
- 00:17:47.523 --> 00:17:48.857
- "How do I know what God calls me to do?"
- 00:17:48.857 --> 00:17:50.926
- - Mm-mm. - I feel like I actually have
- 00:17:50.926 --> 00:17:52.895
- a lot of expectations from a lot of people.
- 00:17:52.895 --> 00:17:55.631
- - Mm-mm. - This isn't just bondage.
- 00:17:55.631 --> 00:17:56.732
- This is my responsibilities.
- 00:17:56.732 --> 00:17:58.333
- I feel like I have a lot of things I have to do,
- 00:17:58.333 --> 00:18:00.235
- a lot of pressures in the weight of the world.
- 00:18:00.235 --> 00:18:02.204
- How do I know which thing I'm free to do?
- 00:18:02.204 --> 00:18:06.608
- How do I know what I'm called to do?
- 00:18:06.608 --> 00:18:09.211
- And I was thinking about this for any woman
- 00:18:09.211 --> 00:18:11.046
- that's starting this new year thinking,
- 00:18:11.046 --> 00:18:13.015
- "I have a million things to do,
- 00:18:13.015 --> 00:18:14.583
- how do I know where to go?
- 00:18:14.583 --> 00:18:15.984
- How do I know who to talk to first?
- 00:18:15.984 --> 00:18:17.419
- Who to help first?
- 00:18:17.419 --> 00:18:18.654
- What do I do when I'm overwhelmed?
- 00:18:18.654 --> 00:18:19.922
- And Jesus actually gives us this awesome example
- 00:18:19.922 --> 00:18:22.658
- in Mark 1.
- 00:18:22.658 --> 00:18:24.193
- Jesus is going around with His friends
- 00:18:24.193 --> 00:18:25.827
- and He's healing a bunch of people,
- 00:18:25.827 --> 00:18:27.396
- going from town to town.
- 00:18:27.396 --> 00:18:28.897
- And then we see Jesus, Mark 1:35,
- 00:18:28.897 --> 00:18:31.567
- In the early morning Jesus got up,
- 00:18:31.567 --> 00:18:34.036
- left the house while it was still dark outside
- 00:18:34.036 --> 00:18:36.338
- and went to a deserted place to pray.
- 00:18:36.338 --> 00:18:38.540
- Simon and the others traveling with Jesus, looked for Him.
- 00:18:38.540 --> 00:18:40.976
- They finally tracked Him down.
- 00:18:40.976 --> 00:18:43.145
- They said, "Everybody wants to know where you are."
- 00:18:43.145 --> 00:18:46.748
- And Jesus said, "It's time we went somewhere else.
- 00:18:46.748 --> 00:18:49.051
- The next village, maybe,
- 00:18:49.051 --> 00:18:50.586
- so I can tell more people the good news
- 00:18:50.586 --> 00:18:52.221
- about the kingdom of God, after all,
- 00:18:52.221 --> 00:18:53.555
- that's the reason I'm here."
- 00:18:53.555 --> 00:18:55.290
- And I'm so encouraged by this verse where we see Jesus,
- 00:18:55.290 --> 00:18:58.327
- letting some people down.
- 00:18:58.327 --> 00:19:01.096
- Their expectations of Jesus,
- 00:19:01.096 --> 00:19:03.165
- were that He would stay there and they needed Him.
- 00:19:03.165 --> 00:19:05.133
- Jesus left a city where some people
- 00:19:05.133 --> 00:19:06.635
- still needed to be healed,
- 00:19:06.635 --> 00:19:07.970
- where some people still were waiting on Him,
- 00:19:07.970 --> 00:19:10.205
- and He went somewhere else.
- 00:19:10.205 --> 00:19:11.506
- So how do we justify that?
- 00:19:11.506 --> 00:19:13.008
- Certainly, we can relate to these people say they need us,
- 00:19:13.008 --> 00:19:15.577
- this person says they need us,
- 00:19:15.577 --> 00:19:16.778
- this person has responsibility.
- 00:19:16.778 --> 00:19:18.313
- You're telling me I'm free to do what God's called me to do,
- 00:19:18.313 --> 00:19:20.616
- well what happens when everybody needs me
- 00:19:20.616 --> 00:19:22.651
- and everyone I know is hurting
- 00:19:22.651 --> 00:19:24.219
- and some people are still hurting
- 00:19:24.219 --> 00:19:25.554
- and some people still need help?
- 00:19:25.554 --> 00:19:26.989
- We see that Jesus knew what battles to fight,
- 00:19:26.989 --> 00:19:29.324
- because he fought to spend time alone with God.
- 00:19:29.324 --> 00:19:31.193
- - Mm-mm. - Right.
- 00:19:31.193 --> 00:19:32.561
- - And there are a lot of battles to fight,
- 00:19:32.561 --> 00:19:34.062
- but you're not called to fight everyone.
- 00:19:34.062 --> 00:19:35.631
- - Yeah. - And there's a lot of people
- 00:19:35.631 --> 00:19:36.865
- who need help, - Mm.
- 00:19:36.865 --> 00:19:38.367
- - but you're not called to help every single one.
- 00:19:38.367 --> 00:19:39.835
- And you will be distracted from the things and the places
- 00:19:39.835 --> 00:19:44.406
- and the task God is calling you to do,
- 00:19:44.406 --> 00:19:46.908
- by living for the expectations of others.
- 00:19:46.908 --> 00:19:49.845
- There's a lot of things to do,
- 00:19:49.845 --> 00:19:51.113
- but God's not calling you to do all of them.
- 00:19:51.113 --> 00:19:53.348
- You are not called to be the savior of the world,
- 00:19:53.348 --> 00:19:55.817
- that was Jesus's calling, not yours,
- 00:19:55.817 --> 00:19:57.753
- and great news, He already did it.
- 00:19:57.753 --> 00:19:59.288
- And so I'm encouraged by this for anyone who's thinking,
- 00:19:59.288 --> 00:20:01.556
- "What, how do I know what I'm called to do?"
- 00:20:01.556 --> 00:20:03.458
- I want to be free to do what God's called me to do,
- 00:20:03.458 --> 00:20:05.527
- but what is that and I'm just encouraged by this.
- 00:20:05.527 --> 00:20:07.629
- Jesus knew what battles to fight,
- 00:20:07.629 --> 00:20:09.164
- 'cause He fought to spend time alone with God
- 00:20:09.164 --> 00:20:11.566
- and we can know where to go next and what to do next,
- 00:20:11.566 --> 00:20:13.935
- and how we're free to only do what God has called us to do.
- 00:20:13.935 --> 00:20:18.006
- And we can know what that is when we intentionally
- 00:20:18.006 --> 00:20:21.043
- retreat, to spend time alone with God and say,
- 00:20:21.043 --> 00:20:23.245
- "What do you want me to do?
- 00:20:23.245 --> 00:20:25.147
- Where do you want me to go?
- 00:20:25.147 --> 00:20:26.782
- What have you freed me to do specifically in this season?"
- 00:20:26.782 --> 00:20:31.286
- - Mm. - Hosanna, that makes me think
- 00:20:31.286 --> 00:20:32.854
- about what goes on in James.
- 00:20:32.854 --> 00:20:34.556
- Again, the portion that does not make sense to me,
- 00:20:34.556 --> 00:20:36.858
- this actually starts to make sense.
- 00:20:36.858 --> 00:20:38.327
- It says, "If you don't know what you're doing."
- 00:20:38.327 --> 00:20:40.295
- So if you don't know what you're called to do,
- 00:20:40.295 --> 00:20:41.596
- if you don't know what you're doing,
- 00:20:41.596 --> 00:20:42.864
- and how many of us know right now?
- 00:20:42.864 --> 00:20:44.199
- We don't know what we're doing.
- 00:20:44.199 --> 00:20:45.500
- Half the time I don't even know where I am,
- 00:20:45.500 --> 00:20:47.035
- let alone what I am doing. (group chuckles)
- 00:20:47.035 --> 00:20:48.837
- So, I'm like, I just wrote, I didn't write, if,
- 00:20:48.837 --> 00:20:50.906
- I said, since, you don't know what you're doing.
- 00:20:50.906 --> 00:20:53.575
- It says, "Pray to the Father, He loves to help."
- 00:20:53.575 --> 00:20:58.213
- So He's not like, "Lisa, seriously,
- 00:20:58.213 --> 00:21:00.682
- you haven't figured this out yet?"
- 00:21:00.682 --> 00:21:02.451
- He's like, "No, no, Chrystal,
- 00:21:02.451 --> 00:21:04.286
- I love it when you ask for my help."
- 00:21:04.286 --> 00:21:06.521
- He says, loves Him,
- 00:21:06.521 --> 00:21:08.023
- "You'll get His help and won't be condescended to,
- 00:21:08.023 --> 00:21:11.059
- when you ask for it." - Mm.
- 00:21:11.059 --> 00:21:12.494
- - So what God is saying, "Hey, listen,
- 00:21:12.494 --> 00:21:14.596
- I want to be involved in your life.
- 00:21:14.596 --> 00:21:17.265
- I am your strength. I am your freedom.
- 00:21:17.265 --> 00:21:19.835
- So why don't you ask me?"
- 00:21:19.835 --> 00:21:21.370
- And then it says,
- 00:21:21.370 --> 00:21:22.904
- "Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought."
- 00:21:22.904 --> 00:21:27.409
- You know, I remember my husband saying to me,
- 00:21:28.510 --> 00:21:29.878
- "Wow, you are just double-minded on so many things."
- 00:21:29.878 --> 00:21:33.715
- I said, "I am not double-minded, I'm like triple-minded.
- 00:21:33.715 --> 00:21:36.952
- I have so many different thoughts going on in my mind,
- 00:21:36.952 --> 00:21:39.755
- I only share two of 'em with you."
- 00:21:39.755 --> 00:21:41.223
- But there is a moment where we just are like,
- 00:21:41.223 --> 00:21:43.525
- "God, I believe, I don't know what's going on."
- 00:21:43.525 --> 00:21:46.995
- Since we don't know what's going on,
- 00:21:46.995 --> 00:21:48.597
- we don't know what 2022 is gonna hold.
- 00:21:48.597 --> 00:21:51.199
- We're gonna ask boldly. - Yes.
- 00:21:51.199 --> 00:21:52.667
- - We talked about asking those big audacious,
- 00:21:52.667 --> 00:21:55.470
- outrageous prayers, where we say,
- 00:21:55.470 --> 00:21:57.639
- "Okay, God is good. - Yeah.
- 00:21:57.639 --> 00:21:59.608
- - He is building strength in my life, he is my freedom,
- 00:21:59.608 --> 00:22:02.043
- I'm gonna ask boldly.
- 00:22:02.043 --> 00:22:03.378
- I'm going to ask without a second a lie."
- 00:22:03.378 --> 00:22:04.746
- It says, "People who worry their prayers."
- 00:22:04.746 --> 00:22:07.082
- - Mm. - So a lot of people,
- 00:22:07.082 --> 00:22:08.750
- they pray the worried prayer,
- 00:22:08.750 --> 00:22:10.252
- "Oh God, keep my kid safe, let him not go to hell,
- 00:22:10.252 --> 00:22:12.120
- let him..." I mean like,
- 00:22:12.120 --> 00:22:13.822
- they allow culture and circumstance to form their prayers.
- 00:22:13.822 --> 00:22:17.125
- They worry their prayers.
- 00:22:17.125 --> 00:22:18.427
- And it says, "They're like wind-whipped waves.
- 00:22:18.427 --> 00:22:21.530
- Don't think you're gonna get anything from the Master
- 00:22:21.530 --> 00:22:24.332
- that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open."
- 00:22:24.332 --> 00:22:28.270
- - Mm. - Oh wow.
- 00:22:28.270 --> 00:22:29.771
- - I think the last two years we found out,
- 00:22:29.771 --> 00:22:32.240
- it's the God option, - Yeah.
- 00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:33.875
- - or it's the no option. - Yeah.
- 00:22:33.875 --> 00:22:35.644
- - And when we have this God of promise,
- 00:22:35.644 --> 00:22:39.481
- that we have all this amazing access to,
- 00:22:39.481 --> 00:22:42.851
- why would we not ask? - Yeah.
- 00:22:42.851 --> 00:22:44.519
- - Why would we not say, "What do you want from me today?"
- 00:22:44.519 --> 00:22:48.323
- We're gonna ask boldly.
- 00:22:48.323 --> 00:22:49.591
- I'm gonna believe that 2022, from my family,
- 00:22:49.591 --> 00:22:52.761
- is gonna be a year of connection.
- 00:22:52.761 --> 00:22:55.464
- It's gonna be a year of clarity and direction,
- 00:22:55.464 --> 00:22:57.799
- that we're going to increase.
- 00:22:57.799 --> 00:22:59.401
- That we're going to be like Isaac,
- 00:22:59.401 --> 00:23:01.203
- who sewed in a season of famine and reaped a hundred-fold.
- 00:23:01.203 --> 00:23:04.806
- That we are not going to be subject to the environment,
- 00:23:04.806 --> 00:23:08.376
- but we're going to be subject to the seeding,
- 00:23:08.376 --> 00:23:10.846
- because we're putting our faith and our trust
- 00:23:10.846 --> 00:23:13.148
- in the one who is our freedom and our strength and our hope.
- 00:23:13.148 --> 00:23:16.117
- - Yeah. - And so if we put our hope
- 00:23:16.117 --> 00:23:17.319
- in Him, He's not going to disappoint us.
- 00:23:17.319 --> 00:23:19.888
- And I love how you talked about
- 00:23:19.888 --> 00:23:21.056
- the Holy Spirit or the knower, - Mm-mm
- 00:23:21.056 --> 00:23:23.024
- - it acts as a referee. - Mm-mm.
- 00:23:23.024 --> 00:23:25.160
- - So like when I had that sensing of go here or go there,
- 00:23:25.160 --> 00:23:29.030
- I believe that God is gonna give us all
- 00:23:29.030 --> 00:23:30.765
- a very clear direction as we honor Him.
- 00:23:30.765 --> 00:23:33.068
- (group chattering)
- 00:23:33.068 --> 00:23:34.536
- - With all the dysfunction that's happening in our world,
- 00:23:34.536 --> 00:23:37.973
- it has not changed God one bit.
- 00:23:37.973 --> 00:23:39.875
- - Nope. - Mm.
- 00:23:39.875 --> 00:23:40.809
- - God is still on the throne.
- 00:23:40.809 --> 00:23:42.344
- And I loved, it was called, the year of our Lord.
- 00:23:42.344 --> 00:23:45.714
- Did you know it's still the year of our Lord? (chuckles)
- 00:23:45.714 --> 00:23:48.817
- 2022.
- 00:23:48.817 --> 00:23:50.252
- It's good news, I love that it is a simple gospel,
- 00:23:50.252 --> 00:23:54.789
- that a child, the innocence of a child,
- 00:23:54.789 --> 00:23:58.460
- you have to come as a child with the innocence
- 00:23:58.460 --> 00:24:01.596
- and the belief of a child to inherit the kingdom of God.
- 00:24:01.596 --> 00:24:06.368
- - Mm. - And it's real
- 00:24:06.368 --> 00:24:07.769
- and it's tangible and we have it,
- 00:24:07.769 --> 00:24:10.105
- and God is still on the throne, He has not changed a day.
- 00:24:10.105 --> 00:24:13.375
- - Amen. - Mm.
- 00:24:13.375 --> 00:24:14.809
- - And it's gonna be a great, a great, great 2022.
- 00:24:14.809 --> 00:24:18.446
- - Amen. - Wow.
- 00:24:18.446 --> 00:24:19.381
- Well, this has been amazing.
- 00:24:19.381 --> 00:24:20.849
- I hope you're hearing what everybody is saying,
- 00:24:20.849 --> 00:24:23.051
- because each and every day, Jesus got before His Father,
- 00:24:23.051 --> 00:24:26.922
- and then He said, "I will only do what I see
- 00:24:26.922 --> 00:24:29.758
- my Father doing."
- 00:24:29.758 --> 00:24:31.293
- A lot of young mommas are like, "I can't do it all."
- 00:24:31.293 --> 00:24:33.395
- No, but you have kids.
- 00:24:33.395 --> 00:24:34.696
- And if you see something in front of you,
- 00:24:34.696 --> 00:24:37.065
- if God's given you a certain thing, just do that.
- 00:24:37.065 --> 00:24:39.668
- Just love your husband well, (gentle music)
- 00:24:39.668 --> 00:24:40.902
- just think about, "This is my season.
- 00:24:40.902 --> 00:24:43.405
- This is what I'm going to do in this time."
- 00:24:43.405 --> 00:24:45.240
- And I just wanna pray for everybody out there
- 00:24:45.240 --> 00:24:47.776
- that is saying, "Set me free, set me free."
- 00:24:47.776 --> 00:24:49.778
- And they don't have a revelation of that Christ in them,
- 00:24:49.778 --> 00:24:53.148
- that they would find that freedom.
- 00:24:53.148 --> 00:24:54.883
- So, heavenly Father, we just come before you,
- 00:24:54.883 --> 00:24:56.885
- and we just thank you that we do have that power of choice.
- 00:24:56.885 --> 00:25:01.489
- That each and every day you set before us choices.
- 00:25:01.489 --> 00:25:04.859
- And Father, we choose to set you on the front of our life,
- 00:25:04.859 --> 00:25:08.630
- that you would be the one that would whisper, where we go,
- 00:25:08.630 --> 00:25:12.167
- what we do, what we say.
- 00:25:12.167 --> 00:25:14.102
- That we would live with a sensitivity to your spirit,
- 00:25:14.102 --> 00:25:17.706
- that we would not look outside of you for our freedom,
- 00:25:17.706 --> 00:25:20.675
- or to people, or organizations,
- 00:25:20.675 --> 00:25:22.777
- but that we would look to Jesus and that you would be our
- 00:25:22.777 --> 00:25:26.314
- ultimate place and source of freedom.
- 00:25:26.314 --> 00:25:28.984
- In Jesus' name,
- 00:25:28.984 --> 00:25:30.418
- - [together] Amen.
- 00:25:30.418 --> 00:25:31.686
- - Yes, amen.
- 00:25:31.686 --> 00:25:33.121
- - [voiceover] Connect with us on social media
- 00:25:34.222 --> 00:25:35.790
- and let us know how our team can pray for you.
- 00:25:35.790 --> 00:25:38.560
- (mellow music)
- 00:25:39.094 --> 00:25:40.562
- Here's what's coming up next on, "Better Together."
- 00:25:40.562 --> 00:25:42.831
- - It's like, okay, now I have to believe that God
- 00:25:42.831 --> 00:25:45.900
- has called me to do this. - Yeah.
- 00:25:45.900 --> 00:25:47.135
- - And so I had to begin to speak
- 00:25:47.135 --> 00:25:48.870
- to all of those negative things,
- 00:25:48.870 --> 00:25:50.472
- so I could be conformed to what God had called me to be.
- 00:25:50.472 --> 00:25:53.775
- - [voiceover] Watch "Better Together,"
- 00:25:53.775 --> 00:25:55.176
- weekdays, on Tuesday nights, right here, on TBN.
- 00:25:55.176 --> 00:25:55.176
