New Life Covenant - HP Campus | 10:30am Service

Say if he [music] always say if he robbed you from the grave. If he broke [music] up, I want to hear all God's people say amen. Amen. Hallelujah. Amen. [music] Amen. Amen. Hallelujah. Amen. Amen. [music] Amen. Amen. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. >> There it is right there. [cheering] >> I don't know if you're excited tonight, but I came to all of the miracles, signs, and wonders that I've encountered throughout this year. So, come on. Let's celebrate tonight. Let's put our hands together. The >> [music] >> What would they [music]

[music] joy? So [music] restraades. [music] >> [music] >> I cannot [music] choice but can you [music] sing a song [music] bitterness. You can just keep it moving.

No, you ain't here. From now till I walk the streets of gold, I'll sing of how [music] you save my soul. This wayward. [singing] [music] You pick me up. You turn me around. You my >> [music] >> on solit. >> [music] [music] >> Heat. Heat. [music] Heat. Heat. [music] Heat.

[music] Heat. [music] Heat. Heat. [music] >> [music] [music] >> Good morning. Good morning, [music] church. Let's go ahead and stand up to our feet. Happy Father's Day. Are we ready to praise the Lord this morning?

[music] Let's do it. The altar is open. Let's do it. [music] Clap your hands just like this. Simple [music] song. [music] Wondering through the night. Wanting [music] a place to hide this weary soul, this [music] bag of walls. And I try [music] with all my mind, but I just fight. I'm slowly [music] drifting back. Can we sing this [music] part? And just when I ran out the road, I made I didn't [music] know. And he told me that I was not.

Oh, you [music] pick me up and turn me around [singing] and place my feet on [music] a solid ground. I pastor, I savior. [music] You heal my heart and you change my name. Forever free. I'm not the [music] same. I master. I live the same. Oh, I thank God. Oh, I [music] have no choice but to believe. My burning like ashes in [music] the way. I want to say to my old friends [music] I'm burning heaven and you can't just keep me moving [singing] [music] all you ain't welcome here. Come on let's sing it out in one voice from down to [music and singing] streets of gold I sing on how you see my soul.

>> [music] >> Can we make a shout of praise all across the room and say because he picked me up [music] my feet I [music] save you my heart [music] my free I [music] thank >> [music] >> We thank you. [music] >> Come on. Do I have any free people in the church to say lost [music] another one? >> Come on. Can you lift your voice? Come on men's [music] choir. >> Say another one. >> Come on. This [music] is our testimony. This is our song. I am free. >> And tell us another one. I [music] am free. >> I am free.

>> Come on. I don't know. There needs to be a sound [music] in the room. >> There are men here testifying that they've been [music] set free by the blood of the lamb. This is a glimpse of men's retreat, church. [singing] When men freely lift their voices, [music] freely lift a shout of praise. Tell us another word. And I am free. [music] There another way. [music] [music] Oh, you pick me up and turn me around. [music] I take the master. I savior. [music] You my heart change my [music] heart master. I [music] savior.

[music] [music] Come on. Jesus said, "Lazarus, come out of that grave." Amen. >> So have the power of the Holy Spirit this morning. [music] Get out of that grave. Can we say this part? Get up. [music] Get up. Get up. Get up out of that grave. Get up. Get up. Decree and declare it tonight. [music] Get up. Get up. Get up. Get up out of that grave. Get up. Get up. Get up. Get up out of that grave. You say, "Get [music] up. Get up. Get him out of that grave. Get him. Get him. Get him. Get him out of that grave. Get [music] him. Get him out of [music] Get him out of Christ. Come on, shut it up. Say [music] the sun sets free. [music] >> [music] [music] >> I don't know, but there's some free people in the church today that can testify and [music] say when they've encountered the Lord, this is their testimony. He picked them up and turned them around and placed

their feet [music] on solid ground. We thank the master and we thank the [music] savior because he healed our hearts and changed our [music and singing] name forever free. We're not the same. I thank the master. I thank the savior. I thank [music and singing] God. God, we receive that this morning [music] with a spirit of gratitude. all across the room, would you lift your hands? There's just something in this place about a response to what God has done. [music] So, we lift up our hands as we say, [music] "There is no way until you made one. Grace upon [music and singing] grace." Hallelu. Even though [music] I don't deserve it, you did [singing] it.

[music] Even though I couldn't earn it, you give it. Come on, in one voice, let's declare. Say, who am [music and singing] I? >> That you keep me on your mind. God, I'm just grateful for you. God, [music] I'm just grateful for you. All [singing] my life is right here [music] by my side. God, [singing] I'm just grateful for you. [music] I'm just grateful for you. Oh, holy, [music] holy. There's only one way. I give you [music] glory for all that you've done. [music] Even though I don't deserve it, you did it. Even [music] though I couldn't earn it, you gful.

[music] [music] God, I'm so grateful. God, I'm so grateful. [music] You been right here by my side. >> [music] >> walking in this morning and you will [music] keep me on your mindful just kind of just grateful. [music] Can you lift your hands and say all [music] my life you've been by my side? [music] God, I'm [singing] just thankful for you. And God, I'm just [music] thankful for you. Come on. In spite of what you're going through right now, would you lift your hands all across this room? If you're grateful for what God has done [music] on the cross, that's more than enough. So in unity, [music] we sing this out and say, "Amen. [singing] >> [music] >> I'm lifting [singing] both of my hands cuz you gave [music] me chance after chance after. Come on, help me say [music] I'm giving all I [singing] am. [music] You gave me chance after

chance. >> [music] >> I lift you up inside [music] and I give [music] it all I am cuz you gave me chance. Come on church. Not even [music] my [music] grateful say [music] all my [music] test [music] that you're [music] just in all my life. [music and singing] I see your hand. I see your handful so [music] I want to sing.

I need [music] to testify for you. >> I'm so grateful. I'm so grateful [music] for you. >> And I'm all right. I'm all [music] right. >> And if they say I'm out of my mind, God, I'm just grateful [music] for you. >> And God, I'm just grateful for you. Come on. Can you release a worship all across this room? I don't know about you, but when I was at MY LOWEST PLACE, I KNOW THAT THE father encountered me there. [music] Grace upon grace, mercy upon mercy has washed me every SINGLE TIME. SO ALL I can do [music] is when I have nothing left is lift my hands and just scream out of worship to the Lord and [music] say, >> [music] >> I'm lifting both of my with [music] I'm It all [music] change.

[music] I'm lifting up. Come on. Can you join us church and say after chance after chance [music] I'm [music] giving all that I am you gave me chance [music] after you gave me chance after chance. You gave me [music] chance after chance after chance after chance after chance. Grace upon [music] grace, mercy upon mercies. The mercies I see, Lord, [music] cuz it's grace upon grace. Grace upon grace. Your mercies overflowing [music] for me. Your forgiveness is every morning. >> [music] >> So who am I [music] that you keep [singing] me on your mind? God, I'm just grateful [music] for just [music] all my life. [singing] You've been right there by my side. Just grateful for you. [music] Come on. Let that soak in this morning.

>> That all my life and all [singing] my [music] life you've been right. >> God, [music] I'm just grateful for you. [singing] >> I'm just grateful for you. >> And all my [music] life. And all [singing] my life. You been right [music] here by my >> Thank you for the promise, Jesus. [singing] We receiving it. grateful for you. [music] Cuz God, I'm just grateful for you. And God, I'm just grateful [music] for you. And God, I'm just grateful for you. >> And God, [music] I'm just grateful for you. >> And God, I'm just grateful for Come on, man. Say, >> God, I'm just [music] grateful >> for the valleys and lows. God, >> God, I'm just grateful >> for the victories that I've seen. >> And God, I'm just grateful >> for your grateful [music] hand, for your mercy. Jesus, I'm sitting in the overflow. [music] >> The good and the bad. Jesus, you giving me a spirit. [music] Just grateful for you. God, I'm just grateful [music] for you. One more time. Say, God, I'm just grateful. [music] >> [applause] >> the anatomy of a father. It isn't built from a birth certificate.

It doesn't start with DNA. I wouldn't even say it's from the day a child is born. Because fathers aren't created in a moment. They're made over time through sacrifices made, prayers offered up, the many yeses or I'll be there. A father is made with equal parts of strength and tenderness. Strong enough to carry the weight, yet tender enough to console a wounded heart. A father is made through the long nights and early mornings with callous hands and open arms, through the wisdom gained from mistakes and grace learned through experience. A father is made from sacrifice. The kind no one applauds, but the kind that quietly says, "Your future matters more than my comfort."

A father is made from consistency. Even when he's tired, even when he's uncertain, even when he feels like he's falling short, because fatherhood has never been about being perfect. It's about being present. A father is built from courage. The courage to lead. The courage to apologize. The courage to stand firm when culture shifts. The courage to kneel in prayer when nobody else is watching. A father is made from faith. A faith that believes God's promises over present circumstances. Faith that covers a family when fear comes to the door. faith that teaches children not just how to live but who to trust. And maybe that's why God reveals himself to us as father. Because a father protects, a father provides. A father guides. A father loves.

Not because we are, but because that's who he is. And every earthly father that has ever loved well, every father who stayed, every father who prayed, every father who sacrificed, every father who chose faithfulness has reflected a glimpse of the heart of our heavenly father. So today we celebrate the men who taught us, the men who raised us, the men who mentored us, [music] the men who stood in the gap before us, not because they were perfect, but because they kept showing up. And that that is what is embedded within the anatomy of a father. love, steadiness, faithfulness, sacrificial love. The kind our heavenly father showed us first. The kind that continues to shape generations. That's the anatomy of the father.

[music] with every hand lifted in this place. God, we thank you [music] so much for your love, your never ending love as a father to us, Jesus. Oh, my words fall short. [music] I got nothing new. How could I express all my gratitude? I could sing these songs as I [music] often do. Every song [singing and music] was and you never do. >> [music] >> So I throw up my hands and praise you again and again.

Cuz all that I [music] have is a heart [singing] [music] and heart. [singing] And I know it's not much, but I have nothing [music] else before [singing] my king except [music] for a hearty. [singing] [music] I've [music] got one star. I've [music] got just one. >> With my arms stretched wide, >> with my arms [singing] stretched wide. Oh, >> I will worship [music] you. >> So I >> So I [music and singing] praise you again. >> Praise you again and again. [music] >> I [singing] might.

Hallelujah. >> [music] >> And I know it's not good. I jo nothing else [music] before you except for a heart. Hallelujah. [music] [music] Oh hallelujah. We thank [music] you Jesus. Come on if you know the words and sing it out and say so come on my soul. Oh don't [music] you get shy [singing] on me and lift up your soul. Yeah. [music] Get up and praise the [music] Lord. [singing] Sing my soul. My soul. Oh, [music] don't you get sh [music] Heat. Heat. [music] [music] >> [music]

[music] [music] >> Heat. Heat. [music] Heat. Heat. [music] Heat. Heat. [music] [music] Heat. Heat. [music] [music] Heat. Heat. [music] Yeah. Heat.

[music] >> [music] >> Heat. Heat. [music] Heat. Heat. [music] [music] [music] Even when I'm not perfect. Even when I'm not perfect, [music] you're perfect [singing] way. Cuz [music] you are perfect in all of your ways. You are perfect in all of your ways. [music] You are perfect in all [singing] of your ways. [music] to us. >> One of those things that when we think about the perfect will of the Lord, it's hard for us to fathom that even in [music] that perfect design, we might face some trials and some circumstances in our lives. And to be [music] transparent, Father's Day is so hard for me. But when I think about God's [music] goodness and his

grace and his mercy, even though I don't have an earthly father, he's perfect in all his ways because [music] he covers me. He sustains me, he picks me up, he turns me around. Grace upon [music] grace that we're walking in. So when I think about the perfect nature of who he is, when I think about his goodness and his plan for me, [music] when I think about it time and time and time again, when I want to give up or when times get rough, he is perfect [music] in all of his ways. He is perfect in [music] all of his ways. Cuz you are perfect in all of your ways [music] to worship. Come on. Can you join me and say that you are perfect in all? >> Come on, speak to your father this morning [music] and say you are perfect in all. >> I won't ever get tired of saying [music] [singing] to us. One [music] more time we say one more time we say you are perfect.

You're perfect. [music and singing] I release the heaviness to Jesus. All to [music] us. It's nothing that you've earned or could have [music] hoped for. His love for you, his plans [music] for you is truly because he loves you. Yes. [singing] [music] So if it's hard for you to receive that, I just want you to close your eyes as we close them and say, [music] "He loves us." Oh, [singing] how he loves us. Come on, [music] church. Say, >> "Oh, how he loves us. Oh, [music] how he loves." >> Come on. Can the church be the choir this [music] morning? Say he loves [singing] loves us. Oh, how he loves us. Oh, [music] [singing] how [music] he loves.

>> Come on, I need you to sing it over the person that next to you that doesn't believe it. Say, "Yes, he loves [music] us." And oh, how he loves [singing] us. Oh, [music] how >> receive it in the name of Jesus. Yes. And oh, how [music] he loves. [singing] >> One more time we say he loves us. Oh, [music and singing] how he loves us. Oh, how [music] he loves [singing] us. Oh, how he loves us. Can you take a moment just to be still receive that love Lord that the spirit of heaviness would be lifted or would be exchanges [music] the love of the father.

Speak forgiveness in the room. I speak forgiveness in the room. by the name of Jesus, [music] I pray that our hearts would turn, >> we would pivot back to your heart and that we would be carriers of your love and embrace. So Lord, we thank you for this [music] time of worship. Thank you for reminding us how good you've been to us. Even in spite of what we see and what we go through, you are still good. You are still perfect. Your ways are higher. your thoughts for us are better. [music] So God, we thank you. We thank you Lord. In Jesus mighty name we say amen and [music] amen. Can you lift up a shout of praise church? Thank you so much for joining us here this morning. We want to wish our fathers a happy Father's Day. Thank you all for joining us. Can we give it up to the men's choir for joining us this morning?

Just something happens when [music] a group of men worship the Lord in spirit and truth. Can you greet your neighbor? Say, "Welcome to the house of the Lord." And you may be seated right after that. Take a look at this video. What do you call him? Dad, Poppy, what do you call him? >> Robert. >> Okay. What does Boppy do for work? Um, he works. He always teaches me and put me back to bed. He gave me flowers for my birthday. He talks to phone calls. He lets me go one time and he and he made me a Batman, but I was wet. He does captain. He he um he helps people and he's and he's um a nurse I think. >> Um he does people with gas.

>> Um he promotes people so their jobs can grow. >> I have no idea. >> Yeah, he leaves the house but I don't know what he do. >> If you had to guess what your dad's job was. What it what would it be? >> I only know that he put the money in the banks. >> He works >> work for God. What my dad does for work is that he works in Humble Park. >> What is something that you love to do with Poppy? >> I love to work with him, but I never do that. But sometimes, but only one time, I go to him. I love playing with him. And I love sleeping with him because I love my daddy. He makes me um a squishy thing and a lot of things play. go on good together, >> play soccer. >> Um, I like playing um I like playing with him and I like playing baseball with him. >> Probably go eat breakfast and do fun activities. >> Um, videos. Um, monster trucks and Legos. >> And do you love Poppy?

>> Yes, I do. Happy [music] Father's Day. I love you. >> Happy Father's Day. I love you, Poy. >> Happy Father's Day, Dad. I love you. Happy Father's Day. I love you. >> Happy Father's Day, Dad. I love you. >> Happy Father's Day. I love you, Poppy. >> I love you, Poppy. Happy Father's Day. I love you. >> Happy Father. I love you. >> Happy Father's Day. I love you. >> What's the funniest thing your dad has told you? >> Says 67. Anyway, 67. >> Yeah. Kids are the best, aren't they? They're so funny. We're glad that you're here today. We're want to welcome all the first- timers that are in the building. My name is David, pastor of this church. Glad that you are here. If someone invited you, uh you have good people around you. If this is your first time, can we clap our hands for every person who came alongside? Those that are watching online as well, we're glad that you are tuning in and hanging with us here this morning. This is our second service of the day. Uh, let's go ahead and clap our hands for all the fathers that are in the house. [applause] Happy Father's Day. Do me a favor. If you're a father, would you stand to your feet? Stand to your feet so that we can acknowledge you. Come on, let's give it to them. Stay standing. Stay standing. [applause] Stay standing. You guys are awesome. I know many times it seems like in these

context we get beat up and I don't know why but we're not going to beat you up today. We're going to lift you up. We're going to encourage you. We're glad that again that you came and today somebody's going to walk out with a new grill. How many fathers would like a new grill on their way home? All right. [applause] Thank you women for for shouting and and and excited that that you're going to go home with the new grill. Here's what I want to do and and we're going to eliminate we're going to eliminate people here, but the winner of the grill because some of you are like, "I didn't get a raffle ticket on the way in." Well, we didn't uh raffle any tickets. But what we want to do is that we want to be able to give this grill to the latest father. So, if you are the newest father in the sanctuary, we want to be able to give you this. So, if you've had a child within the last two years, remain standing. For the rest of you, you can sit down. That means you're old. >> In the last two years, you've had a child. Okay, we've got two >> two We got three people. Oh, that he's holding the baby. And that baby looks young. We're going to see here. >> All right. If you have had a child within the last year, I want you to remain standing and the rest of you can sit down. The last year, >> I think we Oh.

Okay. >> Do we have any winners? Because now I'm gonna ask >> Eddie. >> You. [cheering] >> Oh, Eddie. >> But we got Stand up cuz I I love what I love what you just did here. I love you, Eddie. But we do have a child that's still in the womb. [cheering] >> Eddie, sit down. I love you, brother. You ain't winning this girl today. How many months are you? Eight months. [cheering] >> Oh, I have somebody else over here that's pray. HE WAS ALREADY STANDING. >> How many months? >> Nine months. [cheering] I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY'S GOING TO BE THAT ONE. OH MY GOODNESS. >> YOU'RE WHAT? >> YOU'RE NINE MONTHS, TOO. WE'RE IN TROUBLE. ALL I HAVE IS ONE GRILL. [cheering] >> Here we go.

>> When are you due? >> JULY. >> JULY 22ND. WHEN ARE YOU DUE? >> WE'RE GOING TO GIVE IT TO THE WINNERS HERE. JULY 10TH. COME ON. [applause] CONGRATULATIONS. [applause] DELILA, stand up really quick. Delila's going to wave her hand like she doesn't care. I want you to go ahead and see her right after service and we'll make sure that you walk out with a grill today. Congratulations my brother here, Robert and Leette. Congratulations to you. They just had a second grandchild. Second grandchild just a few days ago. How many grandparents do I have in the house? How many grandparents do I have in the house? I'm not a grandparent, so I can't I can't testify about this, but this is what they tell me. If I would have known how it feels to be a grandparent, I would have had them first. Is that true?

>> I don't know if that's scientifically, logically possible, but we understand the point. >> But we're so glad that you're here today. We're glad that we're able to celebrate. Y'all showed up today. I shared with you just a few weeks ago that Father's Day seems to be one of the most least attended services of the year. But I am so glad that you came to church today that you brought your loved ones. [applause and cheering] >> And we're going to continue to have a good time in the Lord. Amen. Hey, we're about to shift here. We're going to collect our tithes and our offering. Amen. [cheering and applause] >> We know that it's an act of worship. However you're going to give, you can give through the QR code that's on the screen. You can also give through the uh through the tap that's right in front of your chair or the buckets are going to get passed through the aisles here just in a few moments. There is no one that is a greater giver than God himself. >> The Bible says that our father for God so loved the world that he what >> that he gave. I'm grateful that God gave everything. God gave his very best and we are able to benefit because he was so willing to sacrificially give the way that he did. And when we think about giving, that's what it is. It is the heart posture of you offering up yourself. So when we give, Paul teaches about this. We we don't give with pressure. It has to be it with a heart posture of surrender. It has to be with a heart posture. It's almost like a

volunteer. when I volunteer to do something is because I decided that I want to participate in that. The beauty about wor but the beauty about offering is that we know we only don't just give but we also attach it to worship and we know that when we are able to give a tithe to give an offering that it is a blessing to worship. Now we know that God is the owner of all things and in return we want to be able to give back as a worship. Now, God doesn't need our money. How many of you understand that? But it is truly a heart posture. You know, I did some I was reading an article just uh just a couple days ago, and in the article, it says this that the church in in a survey that was done a church, there's only 2% of the congregation that gives faithfully to their tithes. 2%. Think about this for a moment, though. On the flip side, when you think about generosity in totality, not just to the local church, but when you're talking about um organizations and nonforprofits that give to specific needs, that the church, the people who are um who declare followers of Christ, they're the biggest givers. Imagine removing the the the generosity of those who give. I I also read another stat that really shook me a little bit um was

that people on an average weekly basis pay more money in buying coffee a week than they do giving to a church. >> Horrible. >> Some of y'all are like, "Oh my god." >> So, we want to be able to have a hard posture of being what? Faithful to the Lord. How many say amen to that? Amen. >> And if we see it as true. Now for some of us who are here for the first time. You are not obligated to give. I always say this because I want to be true about this that if you are s eyeing even this message, do not give because anytime you give again, you want to do it with a heart posture that is right so that God can receive it as an act of worship. May it be a great fragrance unto the Lord. Amen. We're going to pray. Following our prayer, I'm going to go ahead and have you pay attention to the screen for today's announcements. Father, we bless your name. We thank you, Father, for the time of worship. We thank you for every father that is in this house. We thank you, oh Lord, for a beautiful display of the men that were in the choir and everyone, God, that was just connected, involved as a church singing a song, giving you the glory that you so deserve. Father, we just want to say this. Thank you. Thank you for being faithful to us. Thank you for being a father to us. Thank you for loving us sacrificially. Thank you, oh Lord. And today we want to pay it forward by just being here as a church as you have taught us so that we can give you all the glory. We love you Lord. Receive the tithe. Receive the offering. In Jesus

name we pray. >> Amen. [music] >> God bless you. New life. We want to start off by saying happy father's day to all the fathers in the room. Whether you are a dad, a grandfather, an uncle, a cousin, a friend, however you play a fatherly role in someone's life, we want to acknowledge you today and say happy Father's Day. >> Yes, and we are in full swing with summer at New Life and this [music] is what's upcoming. My name is Maya >> and I'm Nani and these are your announcements. >> We want to encourage you to take out your phone, [music] tap the digital disc, or scan the QR code to follow along with this week's announcements. two. >> If you've been with [music] our church for a while and you're considering you become a member, June 27th, we have our membership classes from 9 to 12. So, we're encouraging you all to join us. Join this crazy family and everything that's happening here. It's just great, right, Maya? >> Yes. >> We encourage [music] you today to register on our website for membership classes. >> Dang, we haven't sent us on a minute.

All right. this guy. [laughter] >> Our favorite Sunday is coming up, Baptism Sunday, June 28th. All three services. [music] If you are ready to show what God has done in your life, please register on our website today. >> Oh, I wish I had like some [music] pom poms, >> right? Where's the beach ball? >> All right. Life Kids Summer Camp is coming up. [music] Parents, register those kids. Don't play. You know, they need something to do. July 13th to the 17th, ages 6 through 11. We're going to be here having a great time. They're going to have fun. They're going to learn things. The cost is $60. For more information, please visit our website. [music] For our next announcement, starting June 29th through July 4th, it will be family focus week. All ministries [music] will be suspended. We encourage you to spend time with your families. Take them to the pool, go to the park. We really want this week to be focused [music] on your families. two. >> In continuation of our family focus week, we're going to be entering into a [music] sbatical season as a church for the month of July. We are asking that everybody go outside the four walls and build communities in ways that might [music] be different for you. Get outside, do something fun, go to a park, meet at [music] a cafe, whatever you have to do. But our building is going to have a time of resting. So, we are [music] encouraging you all get creative. If you need some ideas, we ask you to go on to our website. You'll get some ideas there on what you can do to build community with your family, [music] friends, whatever it may be.

All right, church. You know what time it is. Maya, take it away. >> Join us for Midweek Connection. Yeah, join us for [singing] Midweek Con. Yeah, midweek connections. This week, doors open at 6. We have something for the entire family. We have men's, women's, young adults. >> We also have starting [music] at 7 p.m. our culture youth, our children's Bible study, and our traditional Bible study. Kids Bible study is from the ages of 6 [music] to 11. And our traditional Bible study is going to meet in the hospitality room. We want to see you there. Please join us. If you have any questions about these announcements, please follow us on our website or our social media handles for any updates. My name is Maya >> and I'm Nani. And these [music] are your announcements. BYE. >> [applause] >> IF you're able, could you stand for the reading of God's word? I'm going to read one scripture. Proverbs 12 verse 25.

For those that are watching online, those that are in person. Proverbs 12 verse 25. We're on a sermon series that is called On the Inside. We're focusing on emotions. Last week I spoke to you about anger. Today I'm going to speak to you about anxiety. Proverbs 12:25 says, "And anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad." It was so short. I'm going to read it again. Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad. Today I want to speak to you with a topic called the other side of anxiety. >> I want you to repeat after me. Your word >> is written >> in my mind. >> Your word >> is hidden >> in my heart. >> Your word >> is a lamp >> unto my feet >> and a light >> for my path.

>> I will seek you with all >> my strength. I choose to live my life according to your word. Your word, oh Lord, is eternal. You may be seated. >> Yes. Come on. Come on. Here we go. >> I'm not good enough. >> What? >> I'm not good enough. I'm open. Pass it. Pass it. >> I'm not good enough. >> I'm not good enough. You have to score. >> Anderson. Penalty box. Two minutes. No. >> Grace, are you okay?

I didn't even see her. I'm not good enough. [music] No. No. What did I do? [music] I can fix it. I can fix it. All right. [music] Get it together. Come on, Riley. Get it together. I'm not good enough. You have to score, Riley, or this will all have been anxiety. You're putting too much pressure on her. [music] Anxiety, stop.

[music] You don't get to choose who Riley is. Anxiety. >> [music] >> You need to let her go. [applause] Anxiety. You need to let her go. That was a powerful moment there. I want to be able to talk about anxiety. I want to be able to put a biblical perspective on how you and I can deal in terms of anxiety. I want to put a disclaimer. I want to put this out there because I think it's very important so that we don't think that this is the only way. I want you to know that if there's anyone here that is in therapy or you're in counseling and they're having you take steps towards your healing journey, do not dismiss that because you heard a message today that began to give you some biblical teachings in terms of how we can operate. I also want to say that as a pastor in preparing this sermon, I approached it in a way that wasn't just about you, but it was about us. I've been able to experience anxiety in my life um through my wife in specific to create a narrative on what helped us and

what continues to help us in terms of anxiety. Now we saw a video here with Riley. Riley we know that put a lot of pressure on herself because that's what happens when you have expectations and you don't feel like you've reached those expectation. you go into a panic and we see that she went into a panic and her thoughts begin to convince her otherwise that she's not good enough and in that process she starts shutting down her body starts shutting down and I want you to know that when it comes to anxiety that's what happens it is an overwhelming feeling that you and I experience that wants to shut us down we can't think straight we can't process correctly In life, generally in life, there are always two sides to a coin. Many of us have have done this before where we have flipped a coin, heads or tail. Here's the thing about flipping a coin, heads or tail, is that it's done by chance. You don't know if it's going to land on heads. You don't know if it's going to land on tails. I want to let you KNOW THAT THE BIBLICAL PURSUIT IN WHICH YOU and I can anchor ourselves in is not done by chance. is done by intentionality.

If you and I approach this with intentions of wanting peace, of wanting healing, of wanting straight strength, then you will BE ABLE TO OBTAIN everything that scripture teaches us. WELL, WHY DO I SAY THAT? BECAUSE MY GOD IS NOT MAN THAT he shall lie. >> HE IS A GOD THAT is full of promises and it is for us to obtain the promises of God. Now, we all have heard the saying, there are two sides to every story. Throughout life, WE ARE CONSTANTLY CONFRONTED WITH OPPOSITE ENDS THAT STAND IN DIRECT CONTRAST to one another. For instance, we have light and what's the other side? >> DARKNESS, CONTRAST, OPPOSITE SIDES. YOU HAVE HOPE ON ONE side and on the other side you have despair. You have wisdom and on the other side you have foolishness. Well, let's see. Many of us can probably relate to this. YOU HAVE THE CHICAGO CUBS AND YOU HAVE THE CHICAGO WHITE SOCKS.

>> TOTAL OPPOSITE SIDES. YOU'VE GOT THE LIGHT and you've got the darkness. >> And the church says, "Amen." >> [laughter] >> This pattern, this pattern of contrast is especially evident in Proverbs chapter 12. I was reading through the whole chapter and just in the first three verses, I want to highlight, you can continue to read it on your own, but just in the first three verses, Solomon, he contrasts in verse one knowledge with stupidity. In verse two, favor with condemnation. In verse three, wickedness with righteousness. Now, I want you to shoot down to verse 25, the main verse that we've read today, we encountered another contrast, which was anxiety and gladness.

Anxiety and gladness. Scripture says that anxiety in a man's heart weighs it down, but a good word makes it glad. One weighs a person down, the other lifts them up. One burdens the heart, the other brings encouragement. One drains strength, the other restores it. You see how that works? I WANT YOU TO KNOW HERE TODAY THAT THERE'S ALWAYS ANOTHER SIDE. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT IF YOU'RE ON THE SIDE IN WHICH IT'S WEIGHING YOU DOWN, IT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE that way. EVERY PERSON IN THIS ROOM KNOWS SOMETHING ABOUT BOTH SIDES of this verse. WE KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE HAPPY, STRONG. WE WE KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE AT PEACE OR EVEN FULL OF HOPE. YOU GET UP IN THE MORNING AND YOU HAVE SO MUCH HOPE FOR THE DAY. We also know what it feels like to carry anxiety. What it feels like to have the worry or fear or even getting up in the morning and having so much uncertainty. It is IT IS HORRIBLE TO BE IN A PLACE WHERE YOU HAVE ONLY UNCERTAINTY BUT NO HOPE.

>> It's one THING FOR YOU TO BE UNCERTAIN BUT YET STILL HAVE HOPE. BUT TO BE IN A PLACE OF UNCERTAINTY AND YET NO HOPE IS NOT A PLACE that you shall live in. If there are TWO SIDES TO THE COIN, THEN WHEN ONE SIDE TAKES FROM ME, THE OTHER SIDE HAS THE POWER TO BUILD ME UP. WHICH side do I want? I I don't want THE SIDE THAT TAKES ME DOWN. I I WANT THE SIDE THAT BUILDS ME UP. I WANT THE SIDE THAT CAN STRENGTHEN ME. I I WANT THE SIDE THAT CAN GIVE ME THE OPPOSITE END OF WHAT FEELS LIKE BEING CHOKED. When one SIDE TEARS DOWN, THE OTHER side lifts up. I I wonder what side are you on? And I wonder what side do you play in terms of other people? WHEN ONE SIDE WEIGHS ME DOWN, THE OTHER SIDE CAN RAISE ME UP. even storms. I need you to hear THIS THAT EVEN IN EVERY STORM THAT COMES TO AN END, WHENEVER GOD WANTS TO REMIND OF US HIS PROMISE, YOU KNOW WHAT HE DOES?

HE PLACES A RAINBOW BEFORE US. BECAUSE EVEN WHILE YOU'RE GOING THROUGH A STORM, I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT THERE IS A RAINBOW ON the other side of the storm. THAT THE HEALING IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SURGERY. THE RESCUE IS ON THIS OTHER SIDE OF THE STORM. THE VICTORY IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BATTLE. THE BREAKTHROUGH IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STRUGGLE. THERE IS ANOTHER SIDE TO YOUR SUFFERING. >> THERE IS ANOTHER SIDE TO YOUR ANXIETY. AND ACCORDING TO PROVERBS 12:25, THE REMEDY FOR AN ANXIOUS HEART IS FOUND, WATCH THIS NOW, ON THE OTHER SIDE of the weight. IT IS THE POWER OF A TIMELY WORD, AN ENCOURAGING VOICE, A PROMISE FROM GOD THAT CAN TRANSFORM A HEAVY HEART INTO A GLAD HEART. Which type of heart would you want today? >> Do you want to keep a heavy heart or do you desire to have a glad heart? Anxious or anxiety may weigh a person down, BUT GOD ALWAYS HAS A word that can lift them up. Not not all anxiety is bad. NOT ALL ANXIETY IS BAD. THERE IS A NATURAL ANXIETY THAT YOU AND I experience. I think it's important for us to contrast THE DIFFERENCE BECAUSE FUNDAMENTALLY THERE IS A NATURAL anxiety

as a reaction to protecting US FROM DANGER. NOW WHAT WE CALL THIS is a healthy form of fear that is not deadly to your soul. ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS YOU'RE ABOUT TO TAKE AN EXAM AND YOU'RE NERVOUS. SO WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT YOUR NERVES RISE TO THE level of anxiety. Have you ever been there? You're about to walk into an interview and your nerves rise. YOUR HEART BEATS A LITTLE FASTER. YOUR YOUR THOUGHTS BEGIN RACING AND YOU HAVE TO TAKE A FEW DEEP breaths and collect yourself. You're realizing that you're about to give birth to a real little human being and it is now your responsibility. So you start having this form of anxiety. I've never done this before. Can I do this? See that anxiety is reminding you that what you're about to do matters.

What what that means is that it it matters to you. The problem is not when anxiety acts AS AN INDICATOR. THE PROBLEM BEGINS WHEN ANXIETY becomes your leader. >> EMOTIONS ARE INDICATORS, BUT NONE OF YOUR EMOTIONS SHOULD EVER BECOME YOUR LEADERS. Are you following ME HERE TODAY? THERE SHOULD ONLY be one leader, AND THAT IS CALLED THE HOLY SPIRIT. YOU SHOULD ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TO LEAD YOU, NOT YOUR ANXIETY. BUT YOUR ANXIETY CAN BECOME AN INDICATOR TO HOW YOU'RE FEELING. SO YOU PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR FEELING, BUT YOU DON'T NEED TO SUBMIT TO YOUR FEELINGS. WHEN ANXIETY BECOMES MORE THAN IT NEEDS TO BE, IT CAN HAVE A STRONG GRIP ON YOUR LIFE. THAT'S WHY JUST LIKE anger can become a dangerous thing if you don't settle it soon. The Bible says, "DO NOT LET THE SUN GO DOWN IN your anger." Or in other words, you you you have a time frame before this anger gets rooted into your heart and it turns into bitterness and other things begin to develop because you just kept it on the inside longer than it should. The sin was not the fact that you were angry. THE SIN WAS THE fact that YOU DID NOT DEAL WITH IT IN A MATTER OF TIME. And out of that started to stem all of these other feelings that became sinful, >> that became hurtful. Not only did it hurt you, but it begins to hurt other people. Anxiety can be the same thing that if you allow anxiety

longer than it needs to be, it would anchor itself into a place of worry. When you have worry, it would turn into depression. What happens with anxiety? It begins to control your thoughts, influence your decisions. It's it starts shaping your life. you you don't feel liberated. You don't feel free. Instead of the emotion pointing you to God, it starts convincing YOU THAT THE PROBLEM IS BIGGER than God. SOLOMON IS DESCRIBING ANXIETY THAT HAS SETTLED INTO THE HEART AND BEGUN WEIGHING a person down. The Hebrew TERM FOR ANXIETY DESCRIBES AN EMOTION rooted in restlessness and worry. SO WHEN YOU ARE SO RESTLESS, YOUR MIND is constantly running, you cannot sleep AT NIGHT, WORRY BEGINS TO DEVELOP. >> Then the anxiety can begin to put you into a stronghold. It it carries the ideal of a person whose thoughts are troubled and whose heart is burdened.

Worry often OPERATES AS FEAR OF WHAT COULD BE RATHER THAN WHAT ACTUALLY IS. IT SPENDS ITS ENERGY AND POSSIBILITIES INSTEAD OF REALITIES. Lean in. ANXIETY HAS A WAY OF PULLING US INTO IRRATIONAL THINKING. IT FILLS MINDS WITH WHAT IF QUESTIONS. I KNOW WE'VE ALL BEEN HERE. WHAT IF I FAIL? BUT WHAT IF THINGS DON'T WORK OUT? WHAT IF THE WORST CASE SCENARIO HAPPENS? LET ME REVERSE THIS FOR A MOMENT HERE. BECAUSE IF WE LIVE IN THE WHAT IF? WHAT IF I FAIL? MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, DID YOU FAIL? YOU ARE DRAWING UP A CONCLUSION IN WHICH IS NOT YOUR REALITY RIGHT NOW. WHAT IF THINGS DON'T WORK OUT? WAIT A MINUTE. ISN'T IT STILL IN THE PROCESS? >> WELL, WHAT IF THE WORST CASE SCENARIO HAPPENS? WAIT A MINUTE. HAS THE WORST CASE SCENARIO HAPPENED? SO WE ALREADY LIVING IN OUR TOMORROW WHICH MEANS THIS WE ARE TRYING TO PREDICT WHAT WE ARE WE DON'T EVEN KNOW.

>> THIS IS WHY WE HAVE GOT TO LEAN INTO GOD BECAUSE IF WE BELIEVE THAT GOD IS ALREADY IN OUR TOMORROW THEN LET'S PUT OUR FAITH IN THE ONE THAT CAN ALREADY HOLD NOT ONLY OUR TODAY BUT IS ALREADY IN OUR TOMORROW. THIS IS WHY THE BIBLE SAYS, "DO NOT worry >> about tomorrow." Because what is that going to give you? Nothing. It's only going to take from you. >> BEFORE LONG, WE FIND OURSELVES FIGHTING BATTLES THAT HAVEN'T EVEN HAPPENED. >> SOLVING PROBLEMS THAT DON'T EXIST AND CARRYING BURDENS WE WERE NEVER MEANT TO BEAR. AND JESUS CONSTANTLY IN SCRIPTURE, HE GIVES US SOLUTIONS BY SAYING, "CAST ALL YOUR CARES UPON THE LORD." >> HE GIVES US SOLUTIONS BY SAYING, "LISTEN, MY YOKE IS LIGHT. I KNOW YOURS IS HEAVY. LET'S MAKE AN EXCHANGE. IT'S NOT A FAIR DEAL, BY THE WAY." BUT GOD IS SAYING, "I CAN HANDLE YOUR WEIGHT. I CAN HANDLE YOUR SUFFERING. I CAN HANDLE YOUR PAIN. I CAN HANDLE YOUR CONCERNS. I KNOW IT'S SCARY. AND I KNOW YOUR EMOTIONS ARE LIVID, BUT ULTIMATELY PUT YOUR FAITH IN ME. >> Give it to me.

>> This is why anxiety impacts both the heart and the mind. Solomon says this, "Anxiety in a man's heart, it weighs IT DOWN. THE HEART BECOMES HEAVY with worry." Watch this now. And the mind becomes crowded with fearful thoughts. ANXIETY DOES NOT SIMPLY AFFECT OUR EMOTION. IT ALSO INFLUENCES OUR PERSPECTIVE. It impacts our life. IT CAN DISTORT OUR VIEW OF OUR CIRCUMSTANCES. IT CAN DISTORT THE VIEW OF OURSELVES. DISTORT THE VIEW EVEN TO THE POINT OF our belief in God. That is WHY ANXIETY IS SO DANGEROUS when it's left unchecked. YOU HAVE BEGAN TO SHIFT YOUR PERSPECTIVE. AND WHEN YOUR PERSPECTIVE HAS BEEN ON THE STORM OR YOUR PERSPECTIVE HAS BEEN ON THE WHAT IF, YOU ARE LOSING SIGHT on God, YOU ARE LOSING SIGHT ON WHO HE IS. And what I KNOW IS THAT MY GOD IS NOT MAN THAT HE SHALL >> HE IS NOT MAN. I KNOW THEY LET YOU DOWN. I KNOW HE LET YOU DOWN. I KNOW SHE LET YOU DOWN. I KNOW I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE LETD DOWNS IN GENERAL. THERE IS REJECTION AND THERE IS FEAR AND THERE IS FAILURES. BUT ULTIMATELY NONE OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH GOD AND WE CANNOT TREAT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THE WAY THAT WE HAVE BEEN TREATED IN A RELATIONSHIP.

>> WE CANNOT EXPECT THAT GOD WILL LEAVE US THE WAY THAT WE WERE LEFT FOR THE BIBLE SAYS THAT I HAVE NOT LEFT YOU NOR >> WE CANNOT USE THE EXCUSE THAT WE DON'T HAVE A FATHER. EVERY SINGLE PERSON FROM THE SOUND OF MY VOICE. THE BIBLE SAYS THAT HE IS THE FATHER TO THE FATHERLESS. YOU AND I, WE HAVE A FATHER. WE MAY HAVE AN EARTHLY FATHER, BUT ALL OF US, WE HAVE A HEAVENLY FATHER. >> LORD, >> YOU ARE NOT LEFT WITHOUT. THAT IS WHY ANXIETY HAS TO BE UNDER CONTROL. IT WEIGHS DOWN THE HEART THAT IT CLOUDS THE MIND. IT STEALS peace >> that God desires his people to experience. You have all the right to experience God's peace in your life. >> It's your right. It's your birthright, your spiritual birthright that all who are in Christ are sons of God. >> WHICH MEANS THAT A FATHER IS SAYING, I WOULD GIVE YOU OF MYSELF. EVERY FATHER RECOGNIZES THAT HERE TODAY THAT YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR LIFE FOR YOUR CHILDREN. YOU RECOGNIZE WHAT YOU WOULD DO AND THE SACRIFICES YOU WOULD MAKE. AND THERE IS NO FATHER THAT WANTS TO SEE THEIR CHILD SUFFERING. AND IF THEY CAN TAKE THAT WEIGHT AWAY. SO YOU KNOW WHAT OUR FATHER

DID? OUR FATHER SAW THAT WE WILL SUFFER UNDERNEATH CONDEMNATION. AND HE SAID, "I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU MY VERY BEST. I AM GOING TO GIVE YOU MY SON TO TAKE ON THE WEIGHT OF YOUR CONDEMNATION. FOR SOME OF US WHO FEEL REJECTED BECAUSE WE DIDN'T GROW UP IN A HOME. WE PROBABLY GREW UP IN THE SYSTEM. CAN I TELL YOU WE ARE ALL ADOPTED. GOD HAS BOUGHT US AND WE ARE IN THE BLOODLINE BECAUSE HE CAME FOR US AND HE MADE A WAY WHERE THERE WAS NO WAY. SO WHATEVER THE DEVIL'S BEEN TRYING TO TELL YOU, CONVINCE YOU OTHERWISE, I'M HERE TO SAY THE DEVIL IS A LIAR AND STOP BELIEVING THE LIE, FOR MY GOD HAS MADE A WAY FOR YOU TO LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE. Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. The spirit of God is in us. So in one way, I'm here to tell you, you keep on fighting. And another way I tell you, you have to learn how to surrender. >> Hallelujah.

>> Do not surrender to your emotions. Surrender to God. >> And in SOME CASES, WE ALL have to give up. But it's how and where you put that context into. I'm not going to give up into my emotions because that's not going to lead me into a pathway of healing. I am going to allow the Holy Spirit to do that work. Let me share three spiritual remedies for our anxiety. Number one is this. The remedy for anxiety is receiving a good word. It's right there in the scripture. Is to receive a good word. Solomon highlights that a good word makes it glad. That same the same heart that was weighed down can be lifted up by a good word. A good WORD BRINGS PERSPECTIVE WHEN ANXIETY has distorted reality. A good word brings hope when anxiety has convinced us that things will never change.

A GOOD WORD BRINGS COMFORT WHEN ANXIETY HAS LEFT US restless and troubled. A GOOD WORD REMINDS US THAT GOD IS STILL PRESENT, THAT GOD IS STILL WORKING, AND THAT GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL. Sometimes I just need to BE REMINDED WITH THE GOOD WORD SO THAT I DON'T LOSE MY PERSPECTIVE AND MY FAITH DOES NOT SHRINK. If there's any GOOD THAT CAN COME OUT OF THIS MESS IS IF MY FAITH GROWS, THEN TO GOD BE THE GLORY. BECAUSE IF I'M GOING TO SUFFER, THEN HERE'S WHAT I KNOW. THEN I WANT PURPOSE TO COME ALONGSIDE OF IT. I DON'T WANT TO SUFFER SO THAT I CAN BE CRUSHED. I WANT SUFFERING TO HAPPEN THAT IS ATTACHED TO A PURPOSE. AND I AM NOT SAYING THAT GOD HAS MADE YOU SUFFER. BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT GOD IS GOING TO BE WITH YOU THROUGH THE SUFFERING. AND IF YOU SUBMIT YOURSELF TO THE LORD, THEN YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TESTIFY AND GIVE A GOOD WORD TO SOMEONE WHO MAY BE SUFFERING THE WAY THAT YOU DID. >> A GOOD WORD REMINDS US THAT GOD IS STILL ACTIVE. And if YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN, HAVE BEEN SO DISTRACTED, HAVE BEEN MORE FOCUSED ON YOUR ANXIETY AND WHAT COMES WITH THAT, LET ME bring you right back INTO ALIGNMENT THAT GOD HEARS your prayers.

God hears your cry. >> THAT GOD PUTS AN EAR TO YOUR VOICE. >> Throughout scripture, God repeatedly ministers to anxious people THROUGH HIS WORD. WITH JOSHUA FACED THE OVERWHELMING TASK OF LEADING ISRAEL, God gave him a word. God told them, "Be strong and courageous, for I, God, am with you." I've come to tell somebody that God is speaking into the heart of someone here today that maybe you have been dismayed. Be strong and courageous for God is with you. You may feel overwhelmed. Be strong and courageous for my God is greater than your anxiety. My God is greater than your worry. My God is greater than YOUR DEPRESSION. WHEN ELIJAH sat discouraged because HE HEARD MURDEROUS THREATS AFTER A GREAT VICTORY, the Bible says that he was so depressed that he sat underneath a tree and God gave him a word that he is with him. A word that gave him the strength to get up again. A word that GAVE HIM THE STRENGTH to continue TO GO. WHEN THE DISCIPLES WERE TERRIFIED IN THE STORM, JESUS GAVE THEM A WORD AND THIS IS WHAT

HE SAID. IT IS I DO NOT BE AFRAID. IN THE MIDST OF THE STORM, GOD SAYS THAT I AM WITH YOU. >> A storm IN WHICH IS RAPID AROUND YOU. HERE'S THE QUESTION THAT WE HAVE GOT TO ASK OURSELVES HERE TODAY. WHO'S IN YOUR BOAT? >> Because there's A THERE'S THERE IS A MOMENT WHERE JESUS IS SLEEPING ON THE BOAT. HE IS RESTING. HE IS RELAXING. HE IS CHILL. HE IS NOT RESTLESS. And the disciples are in panic that they look at Jesus AND THEY SHOOK JESUS AND THEY WOKE UP Jesus and THEY BEGIN TO SAY, "JESUS, DO YOU EVEN CARE?" HAVE YOU EVER FELT LIKE THAT? THAT YOU ARE GOING TO GOD AND YOU'RE SAYING, "GOD, DO YOU EVEN CARE? DO YOU EVEN CARE WHAT I'M GOING THROUGH? DO YOU EVEN CARE WHAT I'M FEELING?" AND THE BIBLE SAYS THAT JESUS RISES UP from the sleep. And he rebukes them for a lack of faith.

He's not speaking to non-believers. He's speaking to believers that have WITNESSED THE MIRACLE OF GOD. And he rebukes THEM FOR THEIR LITTLE FAITH. BUT JESUS IS SO GRACEFUL AND SO MERCIFUL THAT HE THEN PUTS ATTENTION TO THE STORM. And he SPEAKS INTO THE STORM. AND HE TELLS THE STORM TO BE STILL. AND THE STORM LISTENED TO THE VOICE OF GOD. AND THE DISCIPLES WERE ANOTHER WITNESS TO WHAT HAPPENED IN THAT MOMENT THAT THEY LOOKED AT EACH OTHER AND THEY SAID, "EVEN the storms listen to his voice." [cheering] [music] >> Who's in your boat? Are you letting anxiety be in your boat and worry be in your boat? Or are you allowing Jesus to be in your boat? Because let me tell you something. If Jesus is sleeping on your boat, just get right next to him, pull up the pillow, put the blanket over you, and go to bed. Your concern needs to be if that there is a great storm and Jesus is not in your boat.

When anxiety weighs down the heart, one word from God can change everything. The good word may come through a sermon, can come through a scripture, a prayer, a song, or a faithful friend speaking truth into your life. However it comes, God knows how to send the right word at the right time. Many many people give credit to [music] to me, give credit to other people when when you're like, God, thank you, pastor, for that word. It was God's word, >> a timely word that if you would have heard this sermon a year ago, it might have not impact you just as much. Why? Because you're in a different season today than you were a year ago. God knows what you need to hear, when you need to hear it, and how you need to hear it. [music] And however the word comes, God knows how to send the right word. A good word does not always change the situation immediately, BUT IT CAN CHANGE THE PERSON IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SITUATION. >> Don't let the storm change you. Let the word of God change you.

>> THE STORM MAY BE STILL BE RAGING, BUT A GOOD WORD CAN BRING PEACE. >> THE BATTLE MAY NOT BE OVER, BUT A GOOD WORD CAN BRING COURAGE. THE BURDEN MAY BE PRESENT, BUT A GOOD WORD CAN bring strength. Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a good word lifts it up. Number two, the remedy for anxiety is having a lifestyle of worship. This hits home for me, a lifestyle of worship. You know, one of the greatest remedies for anxiety is worship. >> I'm going to say this, but I'm I but I want you to hear my heart. Worship changes the atmosphere. If you're trying to experience a breakthrough, Mark Anthony is not going to give you that breakthrough. >> Alicia Keys is not going to give you that breakthrough. >> I I need you to hear my heart.

If you want to experience a breakthrough, then you got to create an atmosphere of worship that honors God. Amen. >> You got to create an atmosphere. The worship SHIFTS OUR FOCUS FROM THE SIZE OF OUR PROBLEM TO THE GREATNESS OF OUR GOD. ANXIETY CAUSES [screaming] US TO MAGNIFY OUR FEARS. BUT WORSHIP CAUSES US TO MAGNIFY THE LORD. WHEN WE WORSHIP, OUR EYES MOVE FROM OUR CIRCUMSTANCES TO GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY. OUR ATTENTION MOVES FROM OUR BURDENS TO HIS POWER. OUR HEARTS MOVE FROM PANIC to peace. I REMEMBER WHEN MY WIFE EARLY ON IN OUR MARRIAGE, SHE WENT THROUGH THIS PANIC ATTACK. NEVER DEALT WITH THAT IN HER LIFE. JUST GOT MARRIED AND SHE'S ON HER WAY BACK HOME AND SHE HAS THIS ANXIETY PANIC ATTACK AND SHE HAS NO WATER AND SHE HAD SHE DOESN'T HAVE A PHONE. AND WHEN SHE GETS HOME, SHE BEGINS TO SHARE WITH ME HOW HORRIBLE THE EXPERIENCE WAS. And I don't KNOW HOW MANY TIMES AFTER, BUT FOLLOWING THAT MOMENT, WE WERE GOING TO THE HOSPITAL constant thinking THAT SHE'S HAVING A HEART ATTACK, COLD SWEATS, BODIES CRAMPING, AND I WOULD WAKE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. BUT I WOULD LAY HANDS ON WITH HER. I WILL BEGIN TO GET NEXT TO

HER. I WILL CONSOLE HER. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAD TO DO WAS WE LIKE, BABE, WE'VE GOT TO LEARN THE STRATEGIES of the enemy. SO, WHAT ARE SOME things that WE CAN DO TO COMBAT WHAT IS GOING ON? And can I tell you, we studied what anxiety was. We learned what the symptoms of anxiety was. And then we began to seek God's word. And I remember at night my wife, she will play music, worship music. And that worship music, now mind you, we didn't do this before. And that worship music did something in the atmosphere. It gave a peace in the room. >> And there were times where the music was not on. In the middle of the night, I would hear my wife just lean over and grab the phone and put on worship music. And I knew that she was in a spiritual battle and she was inviting God into the room. >> Worship, it would change the room that you're in.

>> You You cannot always control what enters your mind, but you can choose what catches your attention. >> And Paul understood this when he wrote Philippians 4:6 and 7. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, I need you to shout out everything. But in everything by prayer and supplication, please put up the scripture on the screen. Do not be anxious about anything. But in EVERYTHING BY PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION WITH THANKSGIVING, LET YOUR REQUEST BE KNOWN TO GOD. Here's the promise. AND THE PEACE OF GOD WHICH SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING WILL GUARD YOUR HEART. >> IT WILL GUARD YOUR HEART. YOUR THOUGHTS WOULD BE CHALLENGED. BUT IT DOESN'T mean it it needs TO GET INSIDE OF YOUR HEART. THANKSGIVING IS A WORSHIP. PRAISE IS WORSHIP. PRAYER IS WORSHIP. AND WHEN WORSHIP BECOMES A LIFESTYLE, ANXIETY LOSES MUCH OF HIS INFLUENCE BECAUSE WORSHIP CONTINUALLY REMINDS US WHO REALLY IS IN CONTROL. >> AND I WANT TO SAY THIS CLEAR. SOMETIMES GOD CALMS THE STORM. OTHER TIME HE CALMS HIS CHILD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STORM.

BUT WORSHIP HELPS US EXPERIENCE THAT PEACE AND SOLOMON THE WRITER UNDERSTOOD THIS OR SAUL UNDERSTOOD THIS. SOLOMON IS THE SON OF DAVID. AND WHEN SAUL HAD EVIL SPIRITS, THE BIBLE SAID THAT DAVID WOULD COME AND HE WOULD REQUEST DAVID AND HE WILL BEGIN TO PLAY worship and the spirits will be lifted off of him and he was at peace. Number three, the remedy for anxiety is having a community of people. >> A community of people. God never intended for us to carry life's burdens alone. One of the enemy's greatest strategies and many of us who have dealt with depression and even been tempted to allow the anxiety to get a hold of us is this. Watch this. The strategy is isolation. When you see a person who's depressed, the symptom, the response is isolation.

Anxiety tells us to withdraw. Anxiety tells us to hide. Anxiety tells us to to suffer in silence. But God's design is in community. >> See, the good word in Proverbs 12:25 often comes through people, a friend who calls at the right time. Have you ever had somebody call you at the right time? >> They didn't know what was happening on the other side, and they were just checking in on you, which is something that you and I should take note of. When the Holy Spirit presses upon your heart to reach out to somebody, don't you push it. Don't you delay it. Do it right then and there. Because you never know if the good word is going to come from you to encourage their spirit. >> A good word, a church member who prays with you, a pastor who speaks TRUTH INTO YOUR LIFE, a small group, a life group that WALKS WITH YOU THROUGH DIFFICULT SEASONS. THE BURDENS OF LIFE BECOMES LIGHTER WHEN THEY ARE SHARED WITH GOD'S PEOPLE. SOMETIMES THE REMEDY FOR ANXIETY IS NOT FOUND IN GETTING AWAY FROM PEOPLE. LISTEN TO ME. BUT IN GETTING CLOSER TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE. And I want to be CLEAR WHEN I SAY IT. NOT JUST ANY PEOPLE, BUT TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE. BECAUSE IF YOU GET INVOLVED WITH THE WRONG PEOPLE, THEN THEY CAN LEAD YOU INTO A PLACE THAT WILL CAUSE MORE DESTRUCTION. BUT IF YOU GET AROUND THE RIGHT PEOPLE

THAT LOVE YOU AND LOVE GOD, THEY WILL POINT YOU RIGHT BACK TO THE ONE WHO CAN GIVE YOU WHAT MAN CANNOT GIVE YOU. >> THE GREATEST GIFT THAT YOU CAN GIVE SOMEBODY WHO IS STRUGGLING IS YOUR PRESENCE, IS YOUR LOVE. IT'S YOUR ENCOURAGING WORD, BUT DON'T YOU MISS IT. IT IS YOUR PRAYERS. BECAUSE PRAYERS IS WHAT UNLOCKS HEAVEN. AND IF YOU WANT THY KINGDOM COME TO HAPPEN HERE ON EARTH, THEN YOU NEED TO GET AROUND A BROTHER AND A SISTER THAT HAS NO PROBLEMS IN ROLLING UP THEIR SLEEVE IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR UNDERNEATH AND CRYING OUT AS AN INTERCESSOR FOR YOUR BREAKTHROUGH. >> GOD PLACES PEOPLE IN OUR LIVES TO ENCOURAGE US. GOD PLACES PEOPLE IN OUR LIFE TO STRENGTHEN US AND REMIND US OF HIS PROMISE WHEN struggles when struggles are real. THAT WHEN ANXIETY WEIGHS DOWN YOUR HEART, DON'T CARRY IT ALONE. LEAN into the community God has provided. >> And I'm going to say this, we know our people, our brothers and our sisters. We we know them. We know our friends. Watch their pattern.

see how they move. >> Because if they begin to break their pattern or break [clears throat] their movement, then you ought to look at that as your antennas are going up and say, "Hey, this is not this person's rhythm." If they continue to push you away, if they continue to disconnect, if they stop coming to church, if they stop coming to your life field, if there's other things that are taking priority in which is not a spiritual formation that you know got them to where they are, be the alarm in their life. Be a good friend >> because you never know what's happening on the other side. The three remedies, a good word, a lifestyle of worship, and a community of faith. These are all God's gift to us to lift a heavy heart and make it glad. Would you stand to your feet? Your heart could be made glad.

Your heart could be troubled, but it does not mean that it cannot be made [music] glad. Lean in to the good word. You don't have to believe me, but I challenge you to believe him. >> Amen. >> I I challenge you to go home in your car for the next 30 days. No secular music. Is it all bad and numb? I'm not saying that. What I'm trying to tell you is change the atmosphere of your house. Change the atmosphere of the music that you're listening to in your car. Allow the spirit of God to begin to change you and lift up your heart every single day. Get into the presence of God. Stay near the ark. Stay near the presence of God >> because the enemy does not know what to do when you are near to the presence of God. The Bible says, "Draw near to me and I'll draw near to >> you." Don't you draw near to your anxiety. Don't you become friends to your anxiety. Don't allow the symptoms that come from anxiety to have you on a choke cold. You today have the power in Christ Jesus. The Bible says that there is no temptation, none, zero, that can overtake you. that God has always created a way out for you. Lean in to

God. And if you feel trapped and you feel like you're suffocating, I'm here to tell you there is another side to this. [snorts] And you can choose the other side. Your question to me, I know where it's at. Pastor, when is this going to stop? I don't know. Can I give you a Can I give you an answer that I know for sure? When you and I go to heaven, for sure, we will never have to deal with any of this again. But the truth is, as long as we're here on this earth, we will constantly have to confront this. But it's about how you confront this. >> It does not need to control you. >> Get your life back. Get your joy back. And we can get it through God himself. Would you close your eyes, bow your heads? Care team, can you move to the altar? three remedies I've given you. And I'm sure that there are others, but I want to pray for those of you that are in this room right now and you feel like the weight is crushing you. You don't even know what to call it. And maybe you've been going through panic attacks. [music] Maybe your anxiety is at an all-time high.

include God into your emotions. God has given you emotions. There's no question about it. But he's giving you emotions so that it can indicate how you feel, not so that it can lead you into the pathway. Let the Holy Spirit lead you with every eyes closed [music] and head bound. You say, "Pastor D, this word was for me. This word was for me. This word was for us. I don't know what season that you're in. You love Jesus. This is not the question. But it's now about surrendering to [music] Jesus and saying, "God, I need strength in this area." When I count to three, if that is you, just lift up your hands. One, two, three, lift up your hands. If that is you, I see hands that are lifted. >> There is freedom in your surrender. There is freedom. I pray at the moment you lift up your hands, I pray that you would feel the liberation of God's grace on you. Do me a favor. If you for those of you who lift up their hands, get out of your chair, would you make your way up here to the altar? We're going to sing this song and we're going to pray this song over you as we begin to pray.

>> This is where the war ends. There's a peace beyond all understanding. May it ever set my heart at ease. [singing] their anxiety [music] come. I'll remember [singing] that peace is the promise you keep. Peace is a promise [music and singing] to keep. There's a peace far beyond all understanding. [music] May it ever set my heart at [singing] ease. What anxiety [music] fails to remember [singing] is peace is a promise you keep and peace [music] is a promise appear. [singing] Peace to a restless soul. [singing] Peace [music] when my thoughts wage war. [singing] Peace to the anxious heart. [music and singing] That's who you are.

That's who you are. [music] You are peace when my fear [singing] takes hold. [music] And peace when I feeling [singing] close. And peace when [music] I lose control. And that's who you are. [music] That's who you [singing] are. You are peace to a restless soul [music and singing] and peace when my thoughts warm. You are [music] peace when the angels [singing] heart. Cuz that's who you [music] are and that's who you are. >> [music] >> And peace when my fear takes hold. And peace when I feeling close. [singing] Peace [music] when I lose control.

And that's who you are. That's who [music] you are. I found peace far beyond [music and singing] all understanding. Let it flow when my mind's [music] under siege. All anxiety bows in the presence of Jesus, the [music] keeper of peace. This is the promise [music] he keep. He is a promisekeeper [music] >> and God will fulfill his promises over our lives. No matter where you find yourself [music] today, >> I want you to know that there's another side. >> There's the other side of [music] anxiety. And God holds the promises. Draw near to him. So when you walk out of this place, when you walk out, I want you to know that God is with you. And I [music] want you to know that the devil is a liar.

>> Hallelujah. So though we may have emotions and feelings, it is all right. But do not submit to them. Submit to God here today. How many y'all receive that word in Jesus name. [music] Submit to him. I pray that your tears of sadness will turn into tears of joy and that [music] you would testify so new life as we leave this place but not the presence of God. Always remember God can use you for the good word. So as the Holy Spirit leads you, don't delay it. Don't think that you're in your own head. just respond and reach out [music] because I believe that it is the good word that can bring gladness. If you receive it one more time, clap your hands. [music] People are praying and that's all right. We're going to leave um our care team at the altar as well following the service and you're more than welcome to come up here. If you didn't um come, you can do that following again the benediction. Uh just a few things here. I'm about to do the reset verse, which is an Isaiah 43:19. And following the reset verse, I want you to know that in the lobby, we

have a photo area that you can take a picture. We also have a soda, how do you call it? A soda um it's like a root beer float. There's whole different styles that [music] you can have. Uh go ahead and get drunk on sugar. Amen. And we're going to pray that all of that God would take it away in Jesus name. So it's holy sugar. I don't even know if that makes sense. All right. Here we move on. Would you would you go ahead and let's recite the verse of the year. Isaiah 43:19. See, I am doing a new thing. Now it springs up. Do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Palms up. Palms up. I want you to catch the blessing. May the Lord bless you. May the Lord guide you. May the Lord shine his face upon you. May the Lord be gracious unto you. May he give you strength, [music] peace, and anointing throughout this week. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. Love you. New life covenant.

God bless you. I remember [music] how you proided how you held me through the night. And I remember [music] how you sustained me when you stepped in to save my life. If I knew then [music] what I know now, I would be [music and singing] still and let you work it out.

Jesus, [music] I was tossed in the water, but I never went under. You were always on [music and singing] time. And Jesus when I went through the [music] fire, you were right there beside me. And you were always [music and singing] on time. You were always [music] on. And you are [singing] always always [music] on time. >> [music] >> when I couldn't take a step [music] Jesus, I was tossed in water, but I never went [music] under. You were always on [singing] time.

Jesus, when I [music] went through the fire, you were right there beside me. You were always on time. You were always [music] always on time. You were always [music] always on time. [music] You were always always on [music and singing] time. You are always always on. [music] Oh, what a faithful God. Oh, how he's kept me and sustained me. [music] It never see [music and singing] [music] that w a time that you didn't see me through God. So I worship you. [music] There's never been a day,

never been a moment that you never been a time [music] that you didn't see me through God. So I worship you. There's never been a day, never been a minute, never been a moment that you weren't in it. It's never been a time that you didn't see me through my soul. I [music] worshiped you, Jesus. I was in the water, but I never [music] went under. You were always on [music] Jesus. >> [music] >> When I went through the fire, you were right there beside me. You were always [music] on time. You were always [music] always on. You were always You are always always [music] [music] been a day moment that you wipe [music] You never

see me through God. So I worship you. I worship you. I was [music] you always [music] right on time.

Come on. Come on. I'm going turns out Hallelujah. It's the highest praise. Another praise. Hey, come on. Let's go before the battle.

I'm going to ground victory in Jesus. Victory in Jesus. >> Hallelujah. >> Hallelujah. The highest praise >> ever praise the highest praise God be praised. Forever God [music] instead know it again.

>> [music] >> Take it in advance. If you did it before, I know you did it before it again. If we did it before, it's the highest praise. Another hallelujah. Forever God forever be his praise. Another hallelujah beverised.

Now somebody praise him right now. Praise him in advance. Praise him before you see how it turns out. Praise him from the beginning to the end. For all belelujah praise, >> another hallelujah forever be praised. Come [music] on, sing. So my hallelujah. >> It's the highest praise. Another hallelujah.