>>> SO FATHER, WE THANK YOU THAT
WE CAN COME NO MOMENTS LIKE THIS
AND SAY THAT OUR WORLD AROUND US
CAN BE VERY SHAKABLE, IN THE
MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC, WE CAN
KNOW HOUR WORD.
I PRAY YOUR WORD WILL DO NOW
WHAT YOUR RECORD DOES.
TEACH US GOD WHAT IS MY OPINION,
BUT GRAB WHAT IS TRUTH.
WE PLAY THIS IN YOUR NAME.
AMEN.
YOU CAN HAVE A SEATS.
I KNOW WE HAVE THE OVERFLOW AND
STUDENTS WATCHING ALL OVER
CAMPUS THAT COULDN'T GET A
TICKET.
IT'S HEARTBREAKING WE CANNOT BE
IN ONE PLACE.
EVERY GAY WHEN I DRIVE ON CAMPUS
I LOOK AT THE VINES CENTER AND
THANKFUL FOR THE PROGRESS THAT
IS GOING ON THERE.
THANKFUL FOR THAT.
EVEN WHEN THAT IS DONE, WITH
1,213,000, WITH SOCIAL
DISTANCING, HE WE'LL PROBABLY
END UP STAYING HERE AS LONG AS
THE WEATHER ALLOWS ANYWAY AND
MAYBE WE'LL HAVE THAT AS A LIVE
OVERFLOW WITH WORSHIP.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY WHEN
WE CAN ALL BE TOGETHER IN ONE
BODY LIKE WE HAVE HAD FOR SO
MANY YEARS AT CAMPUS COMMUNITY.
BEFORE WE GET ANY FURTHER.
THERE ARE JUST PEOPLE THAT SHOW
UP HERE BEGINNING YESTERDAY AND
BEGAN TO SET UP CHAIRS FOR US,
BEGAN TO SET YOUR STAGING FOR
US.
THEY JUST SERVE.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> I'M SO THANKFUL FOR THEM.
I'M GOING TO START A NEW SERIES
TONIGHT.
I'M GOING TO START THIS
BRAND-NEW YEAR BY USING MY
DAUGHTER WHO IS A BRAND-NEW
FRESHMAN COMING IN HERE AS AN
ILLUSTRATION.
HER NAME IS GRACE.
SHE LIVES IN COMMONS TWO.
I PROMISED MY SON AND HER MOM.
MY SON RUDY AND HIS WIFE IS
WATCHING AND MY GRANDBABY ARE
WATCHING, COME ON.
[ CHEERING ]
>> AND I PROMISED THE WHOLE
FAMILY THAT I WOULD LIMIT HOW
MANY ILLUSTRATIONS I WOULD USE
ABOUT GRACE DURING HER TIME HERE
AS AN UNDER GLAD.
I'M PROBABLY ALLOWED LIKE THREE
IN ALL THE FOUR YEARS SHE'LL BE
HERE AT LIBERTY UNIVERSITY.
I'LL USE ONE RIGHT OFF THE BAT.
LET ME SHOW YOU A PICTURE OF MY
DAUGHTER GRACE.
THIS IS GRACE, NOT NOW, BUT WHEN
SHE WAS ABOUT 2-1/2 YEARS OLD
THIS IS IN SEASIDE, FLORIDA.
IS THERE ANOTHER ONE?
THAT IS GRACE'S BEST FRIEND
SLASH COUSIN.
SHE LIVES ON THE HILL.
SHE'S A FRESHMAN AS WELL.
CAN WE GIVE HER A HAND.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> IS THERE ANYMORE?  THERE SHE
IS.
THERE IS MY DAUGHTER.
WHEN SHE WAS ABOUT THAT OLD,
2-1/2, I'LL NEVER FORGET ONE
TIME GOING WITH HER TO THE
ATLANTIC AAQUARIUM.
HAS ANYBODY BEEN THERE?
[ CHEERING ]
>> THEY SAY IT'S NOT THE LARGEST
ONE.
THE LARGEST IS IN ASIA.
WHEN IT WAS BUILT, ATLANTA WAS
THE LARGEST IN THE WORLD.
IT'S STILL IF MOST VARIETY
DRIVEN, STILL THE NUMBER ONE
AQUARIUM IN THE WORLD.
WHEN YOU GO TO ATLANTA YOU GO
DOWNSTAIRS, THE WORLDWIDE
COCA-COLA IS THERE, CNN IS THERE
DOWNTOWN.
IF YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN YOU HAVE
TO GO.
WHEN SHE WAS TWO YEARS OLD I
TOOK HER WITH OUR ENTIRE FAMILY
TO THE AQUARIUM.
I'LL NEVER FORGET WALKING INTO
THE ENTRANCE.
THEY GIVE YOU A BEAT OF A TEASER
WALKING IN WITH THIS FIVE-STORY
GLASS AQUARIUM AS A PART OF THE
ENTRANCE.
AS YOU GO FURTHER IN THERE ARE
ALL KINDS OF THINGS DIVIDED INTO
DIFFERENT NAUTICAL LIFE.
RIGHT OFF IF BATTED THERE IS
THIS MASSIVE, BLUE WALL THAT HAS
AN ARRAY OF ABOUT EVERYTHING
YOUR IMAGINATION CAN WRAP YOUR
HEAD AROUND.
I WAS HOLDING HER HAND.
I THINK SHE HAD THESE SHOES
EVERY TIME YOU STEPPED THE SHOES
GLOWED.
SHE WAS MORE OCCUPIED WITH
THAT.
THEN SHE LOOKED UP AND SHE SAW
THIS WALL.
I GRABBED HER AND PULLED HER UP,
HELD HER, WE WENT UP TO THE
WALL.
LIKE ALL THESE OTHER PEOPLE,
EVERYBODY WAS IN A -- AWE.
I WAS WATCHING THE FISH, BUT I
WAS MORE WATCHING MY DAUGHTER
WATCH THE FISH.
IT'S A CRAZY MOMENT.
SHE'S LIKE LOOK, DADDY, THAT IS
BLUE.
THAT IS ORANGE.
THAT ONE IS NEMO.
WE'RE JUST HAVING FUN, LOOKING
AT ALL THESE DIFFERENT FISH.
THERE IS JUST THIS INSANE AMOUNT
OF VARIETY THAT IS FLOATING IN
FRONTS OF YOU.
NOT ALL WERE FISH, NOT ALL WERE
SMALL.
I ASKED OUR TEAM TO LOOK UP
THINGS YOU NORMALLY SEE IN AN
AQUARIUM.
NORMALLY THEY'RE IN THE DEPTHS
OF THE OCEAN.
IN THE BEGINNING THEY PUT THEM
ALL IN THIS ONE BIG TANK TO GET
YOU STARTED.
I WANT TO SHOW YOU THE THINGS
THAT ARE IN THERE.
AT ABOUT 160 FEET IN THE OCEAN,
BUT THERE IS IN THAT AQUARIUM,
YOU'LL SEE THE LEVY SEA DRAGON.
THIS THING RIGHT HERE TYPICALLY
LIVES A FULL LIFE.
ACTUALLY DRINKS EVERYTHING, EATS
EVERYTHING.
GETS ALL ITS CONSUMPTION FROM
ITS LONG STRAW LIKE NOSE.
IN THE OCEAN YOU GO ABOUT 4,000
FEET DEEPER IN THE ACTUAL OCEAN
AND YOU CAN RUN INTO THE
JAPANESE SPIDER CRAB THAT IS IN
THERE.
THIS IS MASSIVE.
THIS THING IS 42 POUNDS, COMING
IN ABOUT 16 FEET WIDE WHEN IT'S
ALL SPREAD OUT.
THAT IS A LOT OF CRAB LEGS,
Y'ALL.
WHEN YOU WALK IN THERE YOU SEE
THAT AND YOU'RE IN AWE.
ANOTHER ONE, ABOUT 4,000 FEET
EVEN DEEPER, THE FREESTYLED
SHARK.
THEY WERE TELLING ME THIS IS THE
ANACONDA OF THE OCEAN.
IT WRAPS ITS ARMS AROUND THE
PREY BEFORE IT BEGINS TO CHOMP
DOWN.
1600 FEET DEEPER THAN THAT
YOU'LL SEE THE ANGLER FISH.
THAT NEVER SEES DAYLIGHT.
YOU SEE THAT LITTLE LIKE FISHING
POLE COMING OUT OF ITS NOSE AND
IT HAS THAT GLOWY LURE?
IT USES THAT, THEY CALL IT A
GROWING GROWTH, HE USES THAT TO
BRING THINGS NEAR IT.
AS THEY ARE DRAWN TO IT USES ITS
FAKES TO CHOMP DOWN.
IT IT'S TWICE ITS ACTUAL SIZE.
THE NEXT ONE, YOU GO 10,000 FEET
DEEPER AND YOU RUN INTO WHAT IS
CALLED A FANG TO THE.
THAT IS 3 MILES DEEP IN THE
OCEAN.
16,400 FEET DEEP.
THIS IS A NIGHTMARE ISSUE FANG
TO THE.
ONE OF THE DEEPEST DISCOVERED
FISH IN MANKIND'S HISTORY.
LARGEST TO THE TO BODY RATIO OF
ANY FISH IN THE SEA.
I WANTED TO SHOW YOU THESE
THINGS BECAUSE YOU'RE THERE AND
YOU'RE WATCHING THIS PLAY OUT IN
FRONT OF YOU AND AS THEY'RE
PLAYING OUT IN FRONT OF YOU,
YOU'RE SEEING THINGS YOU DIDN'T
EVEN KNOW EXISTED.
YOU'RE SEEING FISH WITH
FLASHLIGHTS CREATED BY GOD,
LURES CREATED BY GOD, ROWS AND
ROWS OF TEETH.
ALL OF THESE AMAZING THINGS THAT
THE CREATOR HAS CREATED.
I WAS WATCHING MY DAUGHTER, SHE
WAS ASKING ME ABOUT THIS, ASKING
ME ABOUT THAT.
I'LL NEVER FORGET THIS.
THIS IS ONE OF THE GREATEST
MOMENTS WE EVER HAD.
SHE GOES OHHH.
SHE JUST HAD INHALED -- SHE WAS
IN SHOCK.
WHAT IS SHE LOOKING AT.
I COULD TELL HER EYES WERE
FOLLOWING SOMETHING.
AS THIS CREATOR CAME AROUND AND
GOT IN FRONT OF HER, SHE LOOKED
AT IT AND SCHEDULE I DIDN'T KNOW
GOD MADE THAT COLOR.
AND I THOUGHT WOW.
WHAT AN INCREDIBLE THOUGHT FROM
THE MIND OF A CHILD.
THAT I AM DISCOVERING THINGS
THAT I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT GOD.
I KNEW THAT GOD WAS CRAZY,
AMAZING, CREATIVE, BUT I DIDN'T
KNOW THAT GOD COULD MAKE THAT
COLOR.
I WANT TO ASK YOU A QUESTION.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME THAT YOU
FELT THE SAME WAY?
NOT JUST WITH CHILDLESS WONDER,
BUT REALLY WHEN WAS THE LAST
TIME THAT YOU IN YOUR LIFE
WALKED INTO THE OCEAN GOD AND
DISCOVERED NEW THINGS ABOUT GOD
THAT MADE YOU TAKE YOUR BREATH
AWAY AND YOU SAID, OHH, I DIDN'T
KNOW GOD HAD THAT KIND OF
PATIENCE.
I DIDN'T KNOW GOD COULD LOVE
PEOPLE THAT RIDICULOUSLY.
I DIDN'T KNOW GOD WOULD BE THAT
AMAZINGLY POWERFUL.
I DIDN'T KNOW GOD'S TIMING COULD
BE THAT.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME THAT GOD
TOOK YOUR BREATH AWAY AND YOU
THOUGHT, I THOUGHT I'D SEEN IT
ALL, FELT IT ALL, BEEN AROUND
THE BLOCK TO SEE EVERYTHING, BUT
ALL OF A SUDDEN, GOD SHOWS YOU
SOMETHING COMPLETELY NEW ABOUT
HIMSELF AND YOU GO, WOW, I
DIDN'T KNOW GOD DIDN'T MAKE THAT
COLOR.
ISN'T THERE A GREAT ANALOGY
ABOUT GOD?
ISN'T THAT AN AMAZING TRUTH
THAT, GOD, IF HE WAS AN OCEAN IN
THIS ILLUSTRATION, IS A GOD THAT
IS CALLING YOU AND I TO CLOUD
COVER BEYOND THE SHALLOW SHORE.
I WAS WRITING THIS DOWN THIS
AFTERNOON JUST IN MY NOTES
PREPARING FOR THIS.
THE THOUGHT THAT CAME TO ME IS
YOU KNOW, IT IS SO TRUE, THAT
SOME OF US ARE IN THE TOWS IN
THE WATER MODE IN OUR WALK AS A
CHRISTIAN.
MAYBE SOMEONE IS HERE TONIGHT
THAT NEVER EVEN STEPPED INTO THE
OCEAN WITH GOD.
THE BEACH IS NO FUN IF YOU'LL
YOU'RE GOING THROUGH THE SUNBURN
AND THE SAND, BUT YOU'RE NEVER
GETTING IN.
I WANT TO WELCOME YOU INTO THIS
INVITATION TO GIVE YOUR LIFE TO
CHRIST IF YOU NEVER HAVE.
IF YOU NEVER HAVE YOU'RE
EXPLORING EVERYTHING AND YOU'RE
SEEING FINS COME ABOVE THE AREA,
ENJOYING WHAT IS HAPPENING IN
THE OCEAN, I WANT TO WELCOME YOU
TO COME TASTE AND SEE, COME TO
THE REREFRESHMENT, COME TO THE
LIVING WATER, JESUS CHRIST IS
INVITING YOU IN.
I KNOW ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT, THE
MAJORITY OF YOU ARE ALREADY
BELIEVERS.
AS A BELIEVER ALREADY IN, LET ME
ASK YOU, ARE YOUR A TOWS IN THE
WATER WHO IS KIND OF STUCK
AROUND, SOMETIMES DURING YOUTH
CAMPUS, GET A LITTLE FURTHER IN,
MAYBE EVEN COVER ALL YOUR FEET.
THEN AS SOON AS CAMPUS IS DONE,
JUST GOES BACK OUT.
TIE -- HIGH TIDE, LOW TIDE.
YOU JUST HANG OUT IN THE SHALLOW
WATER.
IS IT TRUE REALLY YOU'VE BEEN
HERE AND YOU'VE BEEN A
CHRISTIANITY FOR 10 YEARS, BUT
IT'S NOT YOU'RE A 10-YEAR-OLD
CHRISTIAN.
YOU'VE BEEN A CHRISTIAN FOR 10
YEARS, BUT YOU'RE 10 YEARS BEING
A ONE-YEAR-OLD CHRISTIAN OVER
AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER
AGAIN.
FOR 10 YEARS IN YOUR WALK WITH
GOD YOU'VE NEVER GONE DEEPER.
MAYBE YOU'RE JUST A LITTLE BIT
DEEPER WITH THE TOWS IN THE
WATER, MAYBE YOU'VE KIND OF GONE
IN, YOU'VE ACTUALLY HELD YOUR
BREADTH AND GONE DOWN FOR A
LITTLE WHILE, OR MAYBE EVEN YOU
GOT SOME NEW YORK YOU WILL
GEAR.
SOMETHING THAT, GOD, YOU A
LITTLE DEEPER.
-- YOU GOT SOME SNORKEL GEAR.
YOU BEGAN TO GO DEEPER IN.
MAYBE, JUST MAYBE YOU'RE LOOKING
AT THIS AND GOING IF GOD IS AN
OCEAN -- BY THE WAY, THE GOD
THAT CREATED ALL THE OCEANS IS
SAYING THAT IS A PALE COMPARISON
TO LIFE, BUT IF GOD IS AN OCEAN
COULD IT BE THAT GOD IS CALLING
YOU AND I COULD BE DIVING GEAR
AND TO GO AND CLOUD COVER IN HIS
DEPTHS, SCORE ONE DUST THINGS WE
NEVER EVEN NOW ABOUT HIM.
IN PSALM 42:  7, DEEP CALLS TO
DEEP AND THE ROAR OF YOUR WATER
FALWELL.
I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT THE
FIRST TIME I HEARD THAT.
DEEP CALLS TO DEEP.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN.
SOMEONE IN GIVINGGOER HELPED ME
UNDERSTAND WHAT IT WAS.
THE FIRST DEEP IS GOD IS GOD.
THE SECOND IS YOU THE BELIEVER.
THE DEEP GOD IS CALLING ME.
ACTUALLY NOT JUST ME, HE'S
CALLING THE DEEPEST PARTS OF ME.
CALLING YOU TO THE DEEPEST PARTS
OF HIM.
THINK ABOUT THAT.
YOU AND I ARE LAYERED, AREN'T
WE?
YOU AND I HAVE SHALLOW EDGES AND
WE HAVE DEEP PARTS IN US.
THE IDEA THAT THE POMMIST IS
PUTTING OUT THERE, THE DEEPEST
INNER MOST PARTS OF ME LONGS FOR
NOT THE SHALLOWEST PARTS OF GOD
I WATCHED A BEST FRIEND STAND
THERE AND TALKED ABOUT HER
FRIEND, A FRIEND WHO WAS
MOURNING HER FRIEND AT HER
FUNERAL ON HER 50th BIRTHDAY.
THIS WOMAN WHO IS GONE WAY TOO
SOON.
ON ON HER 50th BIRTHDAY RATHER
THAN HAVING A BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR
THIS LADY, THEY ARE HAVING A
MEMORIAL SERVICE.
HER BEST FRIEND WAS TELLING
STORIES ABOUT HER.
THERE WAS LAYERS TO IT.
WE WERE YOUNG, WE GOT MARRIED,
GOD GAVE US THE FIRST KID, THE
SECOND KID, THE THIRD KID, SHE
TOLD THE STORY OF HOW THEY WENT
DEEPER AND DEEPER AND DEEPER
INTO THE STORY.
AS SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT THIS
YOU FELT HOW DEEP THE WOUND AND
THE LONGING AND THE MISSING WAS
GOING TO BE FOR THIS BEST FRIEND
JULIE.
BECAUSE HER FRIEND HAD BEEN
ALLOWED IN AT THE DEEPEST LEVEL
OF HER SOUL.
ANYBODY WANT A FRIEND LIKE
THAT?
YOU WANT A DEEP FRIEND?
HOW DO YOU GET A DEEP FRIEND
LIKE THAT?
WHEN YOU LET YOUR DEEPEST PARTS
BECOME AVAILABLE TO SOMEONE
ELSE'S DEEPEST PARTS.
YOU GO, DEEP CALLS TO WHAT?
DEEP.
THE DEEPEST PARTS OF ME
TYPICALLY LONG FOR THE DEEPEST
PARTS OF THE PEOPLE THAT I WANT
TO TRUST AT THE GREATEST SENSE.
SHALLOW PEOPLE, SOMETIMES I'M
THAT WAY, WANT SHALLOW
RELATIONSHIPS.
SHALLOW PEOPLE WANT SHALLOW
RELATIONSHIPS BEFORE HAVE YOU
EVER MET A MAN, LADIES, WHO IS
KIND OF SHALLOW?
I'LL TELL YOU THIS, SHALLOW MEN
WANT SHALLOW MEN.
SHALLOW WOMEN WANT SHALLOW MEN.
IF YOU EVER WANT TO GO DEEP
YOU'LL BE FRUSTRATED.
ALL HE HAS IS SHALLOW.
THE REASON THAT SOME PEOPLE WANT
SHALLOW RELATIONSHIPS IS BECAUSE
MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, NOT THAT
THEY'RE SHALLOW, BUT MAYBE, JUST
MAYBE THEY LET SOMEONE IN TO THE
DEEPEST PART.
SOMEONE WHO CAME IN BETRAYED
THAT LEVEL OF TRUST.
SO THE ENEMY IS AT WORK IN ALL
KINDS OF WAYS.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
I THINK SHALLOW MEN CAN PROBABLY
FIND SOME SHALLOW WOMEN AND
SHALLOW FRIENDS CAN FIND OTHER
SHALLOW FRIENDS.
WHAT IS NOT IS NOT AVAILABLE ISS
THING, WHERE SHALLOW PEOPLE FIND
A SHALLOW GOD.
NOT THE ONE TRUE GOD.
SO WE HAVE A DEEP GOD WHO IS
CALLING HIS PEOPLE TO A DEEP
RELATIONSHIP.
SO WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT
WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
FIRST OF ALL, LET'S JUST STOP
AND REALIZE THAT THE GOD OF THIS
UNIVERSE WANTS TO LET US IN.
WOW.
IF I WANTED TO GET TO KNOW
MICHAEL JORDAN DEEPER I DON'T
THINK HE'D HAVE TIME FOR ME.
IF I WANTED TO GET TO KNOW A
CELEBRITY, THEY WOULD NOT LET ME
IN THE GREEN ROOM.
THE GREATEST CELEBRITY OF ALL
TIMES, THE GOD THAT WAS AND IS
AND IS TO COME HAS DECIDED IN
THE VERY BEGINNING OF THIS THAT
I WANT TO KNOW YOU AND YOU WANT
YOU TO KNOW ME.
THIS IS CRAZY.
I DON'T KNOW WHO THE MOST FAMOUS
PERSON IS THAT YOU HAVE THE CELL
PHONE NUMBER FOR, BUT IMAGINE
DIALING UP GOD.
GOD.
AND HE ANSWERS.
JEREMIAH 33:  33 SAYS CALL TO ME
AND I WILL ANSWER YOU.
ISN'T THAT AMAZING?
THAT YOU'RE CALLING GOD AND GOD
DOESN'T LOOK AND GO, IT'S
ANNOYING DAVID NASSER, STRAIGHT
TO SMALL.
THE DAY I GAVE HIM ACCESS TO MY
NUMBER, THE DAY I LET HIM INTO
THE KINGDOM WAS AN EXHAUSTING
DAY THAT EVER HAPPENED.
EVERY TIME HE CALLS ME HE'S
EXPLAINING.
-- COMPLAINING.
EVERY TIME HE CALLS ME THERE'S A
NEED.
EVERY TIME I CALL GOD, I HAVE
MORE NEED TO BRING TO HIM THAN
HE BRINGS TO US.
GOD SAYS TO US CALL TO ME AND I
WILL ANSWER YOU AND REVEAL TO
YOU GREAT AND HIDDEN THINGS THAT
YOU HAVE NOT KNOWN.
GREAT AND HIDDEN THINGS THAT
MAKE US GO AHH, I DIDN'T KNOW
GOD MADE THAT COLOR, I DIDN'T
KNOW GOD WAS LIKE THAT.
I ALWAYS KNEW JUST THE ALL CAPS
SHOUTING THINGS.
I NEED THE FOAM AND THE WAVES,
BUT I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS IN
THE OCEAN, DUDE.
DEEP IS CALLING ME TO DEEP.
GOD WANTS THAT FOR YOU AND HE
WANTS THAT FOR ME.
SO HOW DO WE DO IT?
HERE IS THE SECRET.
THIS IS GOING TO BE A FIVE-WEEK
SERIES OF US STUDYING SPIRIT
FORMATION, OF US STUDYING
SPIRALUAL DISCIPLINES AS
DIVINGGOER, AS A MEANS TO AN
END.
SPIRITUALLY DISCIPLINES ARE
SIMPLY DIVING GEARS GIFTED TO US
BY GOD -- SORRY, GIFTED TO US BY
A GOD WHO IS INVITING US TO
EXPERIENCE THE BEAUTY AND DEPTH
OF AN ABUNDANT LIFE.
GOD ISN'T PLAYING HIDE AND SEEK
WITH US.
GOD SAYS WELCOME.
AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS, GOD
SAYS WELCOME.
AT THE FOOT OF THE OCEAN GOD
SAYS WELCOME.
WHEN GOD ALLOWS US TO ENTER IN A
PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM,
AT THAT MOMENT, GOD SAYS
WELCOME, COME AND DISCOVER WHO I
REALLY AM.
NOT JUST THAT.
NOT JUST DISCOVER WHO I REALLY
AM, BUT ALSO IN THIS GREAT
DISCOVERY, DISCOVER WHO YOU
REALLY ARE, AND ME.
WHEN WE GET GOD -- DON'T MISS
THIS, WHEN WE GET GOD, WHEN WE
ARE ALLOWED INTO THE OCEAN, GOD,
ALLOWED TO COME INTO THE KINGDOM
OF GOD, FROM ORPHAN TO AIR, FROM
LOST TO FOUND, FROM DEATH TO
LIFE, ENEMY OF GOSPEL TO A CHILD
OF GOD, WHEN YOU AND I GET BORN
AGAIN, LIKE WE WERE COMPLETELY,
COMPLETELY, NOT JUST FAMILIAR
ISSUED AND THIRSTY AND GOD SAID
COME DRINK OF MY FOUNTAIN, COME
TASTE AND SEE WHEN I AM GOOD.
WHEN THAT HAPPENS AT THAT VERY
MOMENT WE DON'T JUST GET THE
OCEAN.
WE GET ALL THE GOODNESS THAT
COMES WITH IT.
WE DON'T JUST GET GOD AT THE
GOSPEL.
LISTEN, WE ALSO GET GODLINESS AT
THE GOSPEL.
MY SON IS WATCHING.
HE TEXTED ME AWHILE AGO, DAD I'M
PRAYING FOR YOU.
THANKS, BUDDY, I MISS YOU MAN.
I THOUGHT, WOW, WE WERE TALKING
ABOUT HIM THIS MORNING WITH
PASTOR DAVID PLATT, WE WERE
TALKING ABOUT HIM IN THAT MOMENT
WHEN GOD BROUGHT HIM TO OUR
FAMILY.
I WAS STUDYING THIS.
ME AND DAVE WERE GOING GARTH
TALKING ABOUT OUR ADOPTION
STORIES.
IT GAME ME OF WHEN RUDY FIRST
BECAME A NASSER.
WE ADOPTED HIM FROM GUATEMALA.
HE WENT FROM HE WASN'T PART OF
OUR FAMILY TO HE WAS ADOPTED.
THE SECOND HE WAS ADOPTED INTO
THIS FAMILY, GUESS WHAT, HE
DIDN'T JUST GET NATIONER AS A
LAST NAME.
HE GETS EVERYTHING THAT BEING A
NASSER BENEFITS HIM.
ALL MY MONEY BECAME HIS.
ALL OF SUDDEN MY HOUSE WAS HIS
HOUSE, MY COUCH WAS HIS HOW
MUCH.
ALSO CLEANING THE DISHWASHER WAS
HIS BURDEN AS WELL.
SO EVERYTHING ABOUT THE NASSER
HOUSEHOLD WAS AFFORDED TO HIM.
HE DIDN'T JUST GET A NAME.
HE GOT A HOME.
IN THAT HOME HE GOT THE
BENEFITS, THE CONVICTIONS, THE
RESPONSIBILITIES.
WHEN YOU AND I ENTER GOD
RELATIONSHIP, WE DON'T JUST GET
GOD, WE GET GODLINESS.
AND DIVING GEAR, SPIRIT
DISCIPLINES.
ALLOW US TO DISCOVER WHAT WAS
GIVEN TO US, WHEN RUDY CAME INTO
OUR FAMILY HE HAD NO IDEA FROM
GUATEMALA THAT ALL THE THINGS
THAT WERE ALREADY HIS AND HE
JUST WALKED IN AND JUST BEGAN TO
COVER CLOUD COVER A FEW THINGS.
AT FIRST HE WAS JUST A LITTLE
KID, SO HE WAS DISTRACTED BY THE
TOYS THAT WERE WAITING FOR HIM
ON HIS NEW BED.
HE DIDN'T EVEN SPEAK ENGLISH.
I WAS THINKING HOW WOULD IT FEEL
IF DAVID PLATT WAS YOUR DAD,
Y'ALL.
THAT LITTLE BOY IN THAT PART OF
THE WORLD THAT WE'RE NOT ALLOWED
TO STILL YOU IF THEY HADN'T --
WE HADN'T BROUGHT HIM HOME YET,
HE HAS NO IDEA HE DIDN'T GET
ADOPTED BY SOME RANDOM FAMILY.
HE IS DAVID PLATT'S SON.
ONE OF THE GREAT THEOLOGIAN'S
SON.
ONE OF THE BEST AUTHORS OF THIS
GENERATION.
YEARS AND YEARS TO COME YOUR
GRANDKIDS MIGHT READ ONE OF HIS
BOOKS, AND YOU'LL GO, I REMEMBER
DAVID PLATT.
HE HAS NO IDEA WHAT IS ALREADY
HIS AND HE'LL WALK INTO THAT
FAMILY ONE DAY AND DISCOVER AS
HE MA THURSDAY ALL THAT IS HIS.
THE SAME THING IS TRUE.
WE WALK INTO GOD.
WE WALK INTO SEPARATION NO MORE,
ENGAGEMENT WITH GOD, SALVATION.
THE SECOND GOD SAVES US, WE
BEGIN TO CLOUD COVER GOD, NOT
JUST WHO GOD IS, BUT GOD HAS
MADE US.
THE SPIRIT DIVING GEAR OF KISS
PALESTINIANS.
-- DISCIPLINE.
WHAT AN INCREDIBLE THING.
SPIRITUALLY FORMATION ISN'T
ABOUT DOING THE THINGS, SO WE
CAN SAY WE HAVE DONE DEEP THINGS
FOR GOD.
NO, SPIRITUAL FORMATION ISN'T
ABOUT DOING DEEP THINGS, BUT
KNOWING GOD DEEPER.
OY WANTED TO SHOW YOU IN A VERY
PRACTICAL SENSE THE IDEA OF HOW
THAT IS PLAYING OUT.
GOING DEEPER WITH GOD IN
SPILLUAL DISCIPLINES, IN CHRIST
LIKENESS IN KNOWING MORE,
KNOWING GOD EQUIPPED TO BE GODLY
IN EVERY ASPECT OF YOUR LIFE.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER
NOTICED THIS.
JUST LOOKING AT IT THROUGH THE
LENS OF WANTING TO PROOF IT TO
YOU -- PROVE IT TO YOU,
NAVIGATING THROUGH GOD'S WORK.
I WANT TO BRING THREE DIFFERENT
SCENARIOS, THREE DIFFERENT
PROBLEMS TO YOU THAT ARE JUST AS
CURRENT TODAY AS THEY WERE WHEN
PAUL WAS A CHURCH PLANNER ABOUT
2,000 YEARS AGO.
THE FIRST ONE IS TEMPTATION.
ANYBODY EVER DEAL WITH
TEMPTATION?
ALL OF US, RIGHT?
THERE ARE MOMENTS WHEN I
TEMPTED.
SOMETIMES WE TAKE THE BAIT.
IF YOU'VE EVER ACCIDENT WITH
TEMPTATION YOU MIGHT WANT TO
READ COLOSSIANS.
THE CHURCH WAS DEALING WITH AN
OBSTACLE COURSE OF
INTELLIGENCE.
THEY WERE A CHURCH THAT THE
APOSTLE PAUL DEARLY LOVED.
HE WRITES TO THEM A PRESCRIPTION
TO HELP THEM DEAL WITH
TEMPTATION.
IF YOU'RE DEALING WITH
INTELLIGENCE TONIGHT, LOOK AT
THE WAY THAT PAUL ADDRESSES THE
PROBLEM OF INTELLIGENCE FOR THE
CHURCH.
LISTEN TO THIS.
HE SAID:
 YOU FIGHT INTELLIGENCE BY
WALKING INTO THE DEEPER
KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, THE WISDOM AND
UNDERSTANDING OF THE SPIRIT OF
THE HOLY SPIRIT INSTANCE GOOD TO
REVEAL ITSELF TO YOU, SO THAT
YOU MAY LIVE A LIFE WORTHY OF
THE LORD AND PLEASE, HIM IN
EVERY DAY, BEARING FRUITS,
GROWING, NO LONGER BEING CONTENT
WITH BEING MILES WIDE AND INCHES
DEEP, BUT SAY DEEP IS CALLING ME
DEEPER.
GROWING IN KNOWLEDGE OF GOD.
SO INTELLIGENCE, INTELLIGENCE
HAS A CURE.
INTELLIGENCE AND NOT SUCCUMBING
TO IT, FALLING INTO INTELLIGENCE
HAS A CURE.
THE CURE THAT PAUL IS REGION
HERE, THE DESCRIPTION THAT PAUL
IS GIVING THEM AT THIS MOMENT IS
SIMPLY THIS.
GROW IN KNOWLEDGE, GROW IN
UNDERSTANDING.
LET THE HOLY SPIRIT FILL YOU AND
TAKE YOU DEEPER IN YOUR FAITH.
DON'T BE HIGH WITHOUT BEING
DEEP.
NUB DEAL WITH IMMATURITY IN MY
LIFE?
THERE ARE THINGS IN MY LIFE I'M
VERY IMMATURE ABOUT.
THERE ARE THINGS I'M 60 IN,
THERE ARE THINGS I'M IN 20 IN.
THERE ARE THINGS I'M LIKE 11
IN.
I WILL MEET A YOUNG LADY AT
LIBERTY AND I'LL BEGIN TO
NOTICED SOMEBODY AND THEY JUST
RIGHT OFF THE BAT ARE JUST
POLITE AND HONORABLE, PUT
TOGETHER.
I'LL BE LIKE GOODNESS GRACIOUS,
WHAT IS HER PASTOR.
THEY'RE THEOLOGICALLY 26.
THEY ARE QUOTING SYSTEMATIC
THEOLOGY, THEY ARE WALKING
AROUND, THEY KNOW THE WORD, THEY
KNOW THINGS ABOUT GOD.
I'LL MEET SOMEBODY AND THEY ARE
VERY MATURE WHEN IT COMES TO
BIBLICAL KNOWLEDGE OR SCRIPTURE
MEMORY.
OR EVEN WHEN IT COMES TO LIKE
SOCIAL SKILLS.
BUT THEN THEY HAVE NEVER HAD A
BOYFRIEND AND THE FIRST BOY AT
COLLEGE OLYMPICS THEM, HE, HE,
HE, THEY BECOME 11, LIKE TAYLOR
SWIFT ALL DAY LONG.
I'M MATURE IN SOME THINGS,
IMMATURE IN OTHER THINGS.
ANYBODY ELSE?
IT'S INTEREST IS WHAT PAUL SAYS,
THE CURE FOR IMMATURITY.
THE CHURCH WAS DEALING WITH --
HIS CURE FOR THEM IS BASICALLY
GO DEEPER WITH GOD.
HE HE SAID, BUT WHEN
COMPLETENESS COMES, -- WHEN I
WAS A CHILD I TALKED LIKE A
CHILD, I THOUGHT LIKE A CHILD.
STOP RIGHT THERE.
I REASONED LIKE A CHILD.
STOP RIGHT THERE.
YOU KNOW WHAT HE'S SAYING?
BABY BELIEVERS ACT LIKE BABY
BELIEVERS BECAUSE THEY'RE ACTING
LIKE BABY BELIEVERS BECAUSE
THEY'RE WHAT?
BABY BELIEVERS.
WHEN YOU'RE A BRAND-NEW BELIEVER
NO ONE IS EXPECTING YOU TO BE A
SCHOLAR.
OR EXPECTING YOU TO DO
SOMETHING.
WHEN YOU'RE YOUNG IN YOUR FAITH
PEOPLE ARE EXPECTING YOU TO BE
YOUNG YOUR FAITH.
THE PROBLEM ISN'T WHEN THEY ARE
ACTING LIKE BABY BELIEVERS, IT'S
WHEN THEY HAVE BEEN GROWN UP IN
CHURCH STILL ACTED LIKE THEY ARE
BABY BELIEVERS.
SO HE'S SAYING WHEN I WAS A
CHILD I TALKED LIKE A CHILD.
I REASONED LIKE A CHILD.
I THOUGHT LIKE A CHILD.
BUT THEN I BECAME A MAN.
I PUT THE WAYS OF CHILDHOOD THEN
BEHIND ME.
FOR NOW, WE SEE ONLY A
REFLECTION AS IN A MIRROR.
THEN WE SHALL SEE FACE-TO-FACE.
NOW I KNOW IN PART THAT I SHALL
KNOW FULLY, NOT PARTIALLY, BUT
FULLY EVEN AS I AM FULLY KNOWN.
LOOK AT ME.
THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU
TAKE THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE AT
PRAYER, THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE
OF BIBLE STUDY, SPIRITUAL
DISCIPLINE OF MEDICATION, THE
SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE OF ALL OF A
SUDDEN COMING TO GOD AND
FASTING.
THROUGH THOSE SPIRITUAL
DISCIPLINES YOU SAY GOD, I WANT
YOU TO FULLY KNOW ME AND I WANT
YOU TO FULLY KNOW ME.
ONE MORE.
SO WE SEE THE CHURCH IN
COLOSSIANS, ONE 'NINE AND 10,
AND THEN WE SEE THE CHURCH IN
THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS 4:15 TO
13.
ANYBODY EVER DEAL WITH
DIVISION?
I FEEL THIS IS THE MOST DIVIDED
THIS WORLD HAS EVER BEEN.
MAYBE IT'S FROM MY SEAT BEING IN
THE STANDS OF AMERICA, WE'RE IN
THE MOST DIVISIVE ELECTION CYCLE
THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN AROUND A
LONG, LONG TIME HAVE EVER SEEN.
MARK IS HERE, WE WERE TALKING AT
A LEADERSHIP THING WE HAVE, HE
HAS BEEN THROUGH A LOT OF
ELECTION CYCLES.
HE SAID THESE ARE UNPRECEDENTED
TIMES.
I'VE NEVER SEEN HOW EVERYTHING
SHOULD BECOME POLITICAL.
ABORTION SHOULDN'T BE A
POLITICAL ISSUE.
IT SHOULD BE A RIGHT TO LIFE, A
WOMAN HE -- OR A WOMAN'S
CHOICE.
IT SHOULDN'T BE POLITICAL.
LIKE RACISM.
RACISM SHOULD BE LIKE THAT IS AN
ISSUE, BUT IT'S A POLITICAL
ISSUE.
EVERYTHING HAS BECOME A
POLITICAL ISSUE.
EDUCATION HAS BECOME A POLITICAL
ISSUE.
THIS PANDEMIC IS ONE.
WEARING A MASK IS.
EVERYTHING IS WHAT SIZE ARE YOU
ON, ARE YOU A D OR R, RED OR
BLUE.
SHOWDOWN IS COMING.
SHOWDOWN IS COMING.
WE LIVE IN A WORLD, WHERE SO
MUCH DIVISION, IT'S NOT JUST
THAT IT'S OUT THERE, IT IS
HERE.
WE'RE NOT IMMUNE TO IT IN THIS
VERY MOMENT WE ARE IN, RIGHT?
ANYBODY ELSE THINK WE'RE IN A
DIVISIVE WORLD?
I'M COMING IN WITH THE TRAUMA OF
BEING HOME A LONG, LONG TIME
WITH MY PARENTS, I DIDN'T GET A
PROM, GRADUATION, BUT I AM
SAYING ONE BY ONE BY ONE, THERE
HAS BEEN THE ANXIETY OF COMING
HERE, SOME OF YOU FRESHMAN, I
DON'T KNOW ANYBODY, EVERYBODY
HAS A MASK, I CAN'T EVEN
RECOGNIZE HERE.
EVERYTHING IS UPHILL, UP AGAINST
THE GRAIN.
WITH ALL OF THIS GOING ON IT
DOESN'T TAKE AS MUCH FOR ME TO
GET REALLY, REALLY FRUSTRATED
QUICKLY AND GET DIVIDED IN MY
SPIRIT AGAINST MY ROOMMATE.
ANYBODY ELSE WITH ME RIGHT NOW?
THE DIVISION IS TEED UP, KIDDING
IS SET, A BONFIRE OF DIVISIVE
INSTANCE.
IN THE MIDST OF THAT, IT'S
INTERESTING WHAT PAUL
DESCRIBES.
UNTIL WE ALL REACH UNITY IN THE
FAITH AND IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF
THE SON OF GOD AND BECOME
MATURE, ATTAINING THE WHOLE
MEASURE OF THE FULLNESS OF
CHRIST, THEN WE WILL NO LONGER
BE INFANT TOSSED BACK AND FORTH
BY THE WAVES.
NO LONGER BE IMMOVABLE.
IT WON'T TAKE TINY THINGS TO BE
TRIGGERED OFF EACH OTHER.
BLOWN HERE AND THERE BY EVERY
WIND OF TEACHING:
 SO TODAY WE'RE HAVING DIVISION
ISSUES BECAUSE PAUL HAS COME
IN.
HE SAID IF BEST WAY WE CAN BE
UNITED AGAINST THE ENEMY IS FOR
US TO BE FAMILIAR WITH MATURE
WITH GOD.
WHEN YOU'RE FAMILIAR AND MATURE
WITH THE AUTISTIC GOD WE WON'T
BE SO PRONE TO BUY THE COUNTER
FACILITY.
HOW DO PEOPLE STUDY COUNTERFEIT
BILLS.
THEY DON'T DO THAT.
THE PEOPLE THAT ARE EXPERTS AT
COUNTERFEIT BILLS, THE FBI, THE
CIA, THEY DON'T STUDIY THAT.
THERE ARE A MILLION DIFFERENT
WAYS.
THEY STUDY THE ACTUAL DOLLAR.
THEY KNOW THE ACTUAL DOLLAR, SO
WELL, WHEN THEY SEE A
COUNTERFEIT, IT'S DIFFERENT.
THAT IS LIKE PAUL.
GO DEEP WITH PAUL.
NO GOD, SO WELL.
THE SECOND YOU GET A WHIFF OF
THAT DOCTRINE, THAT IS NOT TRUE
LIFE.
WHETHER IT IS ITEMS, MATURITY,
DIVISION.
OVER AND OVER AGAIN, GOD, IS
REMINDING US, THAT HE'S CALLING
US TO GET OUT OF THE SHALLOW
SHORE TO BE DEEPER, NOT BECAUSE
HE KNOWS US, HE DOESN'T WANT US
TO KNOW HIM AND GET GOD.
HE WANTS US TO GET GODLINESS.
TO BE SAINTS EQUIPPED TO DO HIS
GOOD WORK.
SO IN A PRACTICAL SENSE GOD IS
CALLING YOU AND I TO GROW UP.
TO STOP BEING MILES WIDE AND
INCHES DEEP IN OUR FAITH.
A MESSAGE FOR OF MINE ALWAYS
SAYS HE'S CALLING FOR THE LITTLE
BOY TO SIT DOWN AND THE MAN OF
GOD TO STAND UP.
THE LITTLE GIRL TO SIT DOWN AND
THE WOMAN OF GOD TO STAND UP.
IF YOU HEAR THAT, THAT IS WHERE
I'VE BEEN, BE AFFIRMED.
IF THAT IS NOT, KNOW THAT GOD IS
SAYING INTEREST SO MUCH MORE FOR
YOU.
THAT WOULD YOU SELL FOR A
SHALLOW RELATIONSHIP WHEN YOU
CAN WITH A DEEP ONE WITH ME.
THERE IS WON BOOK WE'LL GO
THROUGH IN THE NEXT FIVE WEEKS
IS THE ONE BOOK I HAVE READ OVER
30 YEARS OF MY LIFE.
I WROTE IT DOWN THIS AFTERNOON.
I THINK IT'S -- LET'S SEE --
HERE IT IS.
SORRY.
IT'S 42 YEARS OLD.
ANYBODY HERE FAMILIAR WITH THE
BOOK "CELEBRATION OF
DISCIPLINES," THIS BOOK RIGHT
HERE, BY RICHARD FOSTER?
ANYBODY KNOW THAT BOOK?
NINE PEOPLE.
POPULAR BOOK.
NO.
IT'S ACTUALLY ONE OF THE GREAT
CLASSICS.
IT WAS ABOUT 10 YEARS OLD, THIS
BOOK, IN PRINT WHEN I BECAME A
CHRISTIAN.
I BECAME A CHRISTIAN ABOUT 10
YEARS INTO THAT.
SOMEONE GAVE ME -- ONE OF THE
VERY FIRST BOOKS AS A CHRISTIAN
I GOT WAS THIS BOOK.
WELCOME TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
LIKE YOU GOT JUSTIFICATION.
YOU'RE SAFE.
IN SANGFICATION, IN CHRIST'S
LIKENESS I WANT TO GIVE YOU
THIS.
THIS IS PROBABLY THE ONLY BOOK I
READ -- I TRY TO READ EVERY SIMS
YEAR.
THERE ARE YEARS I HAVEN'T READ
IT.
I HAVE SEVERAL COPIES OF THIS
BOOK BECAUSE I ONE-ON-ONE
BEEN -- BURN-THROUGH IT.
I TALK TO BOOKS.
I WRITE IN THE MARGINS.
I'LL READ THE BOOK LATER, I READ
MY MARKS, I AGREE.
OY I DON'T AGREE.
I'VE GROWN.
IT'S A CELEBRATION OF
DISCIPLINES AND IT MEANS SO MUCH
TO ME.
THIS BOOK FOCUS ON 12
DISCIPLINES, FOCUSES ON FOUR
INWARD DISCIPLINES AS A MEANS TO
AN END.
IT FOCUSES ON FOUR OUTWARD
DISCIPLINES AND FOUR CORPORATE
DISCIPLINES.
I'LL READ THEM TO YOU REALLY
QUICKLY.
THE DISCIPLINES OF MEDITATION,
PRAYER, FASTING, STUDY,
SIMPLICITY, SOLITUDE,
SUBMISSION, SERVICE, CONFESSION,
OF WORSHIP, OF GUIDANCE AND OF
CELEBRATION.
WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, WE'LL
KEEP GOING AND SEE WHERE GOD
TAKES US, WE'LL FOCUS ON THE
INWARD DISCIPLINES.
NEXT WEEK AND THE NEXT FEW WEEKS
AFTER THAT WE'LL HAVE MESSAGES
AND BEGIN TO CRAFT OPPORTUNITIES
FOR US TO GROW IN THESE
DISCIPLINES OF MEDICATION,
PRAYER, FASTING, AND STUDY.
OUR SHEPHERD TEAM HAS CRAFT FOR
US THESE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES, AT
THE END OF THE SERMON AT
COMMUNITY GROUPS THEY'LL LAUNCH
MEDITATIONS FOR YOU.
THEY'RE LOOKED AND LOADED.
THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
YOU TO GO A WHOLE DAY, WE'LL
GIVE YOU A WHOLE KIT HOW TO
MEDITATE.
WE'LL TEACH YOU HOW THAT
HAPPENS.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT FASTING IN A
FEW WEEKS.
IF YOU WANT TO JOIN US ON A
40-DAY FAST MAYBE THAT WILL END
ON ALL SAINTS DAY.
SOME OF US MINUTE CALLED TO DO A
JUICE FAST OR FAST FROM SOCIAL
MEDIA, BUT WE'RE GOING TO ASK
YOU TO PRAY ABOUT THAT.
DO ALL DAY LONG FASTEST, A DAY
OF FAMINE, EVERYDAY OF
STARVATION, 36,000 PEOPLE, WHEN
WE TALK ABOUT STUDY, WE'RE
ROLLING INTENDS FOR YOU TO GO
DEEPER IN BIBLE STUDY.
SAME WITH PRAYER.
WE'LL HAVE THE TOWER, THE
LIBERTY TOWER, WE'LL MAKE IT A
PRAYER LAB BRYANT.
WE'LL START AT THE BOTTOM AND GO
UP THE TOWER.
WE'LL HAVE THE PRAYER LAB
BRYANT, THE PRAYER WALK, WHERE
YOU'LL GO FROM ONE STATION TO
ANOTHER.
I'LL GO AND PRAY THROUGH THE
STATIONS OF THE CROSS.
PONDER THE ONE DUST CROSS OF
WHAT IS HAPPENING US TO.
WE'LL COME INTO LEARNING MORE
ABOUT PRAYER, MORE ABOUT
MEDITATION, MORE ABOUT BIBLE
STUDY, ALL THESE THINGS THAT GOD
GIVES US.
IT WON'T BE AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST.
IT WILL BE SOME STUDY ON THESE
THINGS.
NOT SO MUCH THAT WE CAN MAKE
MUCH OF THESE GOOGLES AND
SNORKELS AND DIVING TANKS, THE
DIVING GEAR, BUT THAT WE CAN GET
TO KNOW GOD AND GET TO KNOW HIM
DEEPER.
I SELECTED IN MY TIME WITH YOU
BY READING THE VERY FEW WORDS
OUT OF THIS BOOK.
I'LL BE LEADING A GROUP OF
STUDENTS THROUGH THIS WITH MY
WIFE, SHE HAS AGREED, WE'LL HAVE
SOME IN OUR HOME.
WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH THIS
THING.
I THINK THERE ARE SIX STUDENTS
WE'LL OPEN UP OUR HOME FOR.
YOU MIGHT WANT TO DO THE SAME
THING.
WES SHEPHERD ARE GOING TO BE
DOING THIS, AS A BOOK STUDY,
WE'LL GO THROUGH IT, ONE CHAPTER
A WEEK.
HE'LL LAUNCH OUT A BOOK CLUB FOR
YOU AS WELL.
IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD THE BOOK,
WE'LL BUY THE BOOK FOR YOU.
IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD THE BURKE,
GRAB THE BOOK.
WE'LL GET AN EMAIL OUT TO YOU,
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WILL BE
OFFERED.
THIS WILL BE A WAY WE'LL ALSO
LAUNCH OUTS AT A DEEPER LEVEL, A
DEEPER VERSION OF 24/7 PRAYER.
CALL YOU TO THE DEMOCRATS OF
GOD, TO CALL YOU TO GET THERE
BECAUSE SO MUCH OF WHAT WE'RE
FACING, WHETHER IT'S SEXUAL
INTELLIGENCE, OR WHETHER IT'S
TRAUMA AFTER TRAUMA AND THE
ANXIETY THAT WE CAN BAT HE WILL,
GOSSIP OR WHATEVER.
WE WANT TO BEGIN TO MAKE THESE
THINGS AVAILABLE TO YOU.
LET ME JUST END MY TIME BY
READING YOU THIS.
THIS IS LIKE THE FIRST SIX
SENTENCES IN THIS BOOK.
BY THE WAY, IT'S WRITTEN OVER 40
YEARS AGO.
YOU TELL ME FOSTER DOESN'T HAVE
HIS FINGER OTHER THE PULSE OF
2020 JUST AS HE DID BACK THEN.
SUPER FISH I CAN'T TELL IS THE
CURFEWS OF OUR AGE, THE DOCK
PALESTINIAN -- COOK TRINITY OF
INSTANT SATISFACTION IS THE
PRIMARY SPIRITUAL PROBLEM.
INSTANT SATISFACTION, I WANT IT
NOW.
I WANT EVERYTHING HANDED TO ME
NOW.
IN A GOD, WHERE GOD IS SAYING
GIVE ME THIS DAY MY DAILY BREAD
WE'LL SEE GIVE ME THIS DAY MY
YEARLY BREAD.
I WANT TO GO AHEAD AND GET
SECURITY NOW.
GOD IS I'D RATHER YOU BE GUN
ENTER TOMORROW BY NOT GIVING YOU
TOMORROW'S BREAD TODAY.
THE DONE TRICK OF INSTANT
SATISFACTION IS A PRIMARY
SPIRITUAL PROBLEM.
THE DESPERATE NEEDED TO IS NOT
FOR A GREATER NUMBER OF
INTELLIGENT PEOPLE.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT WANTING TO BE
INTELLIGENT.
ABOUT YOU HAVING A HIGH BROW
MIND.
THIS IS ABOUT WHEN YOU HAVE THE
HEART FOR GOD BECAUSE YOU'RE
LONGING TO KNOW GOD, YOU'RE
GOING DEEPER WITH GOD.
WITH THAT COMES THE MIND OF
CHRIST.
YOU'LL KNOW YOU'RE REALLY,
REALLY, REALLY, REALLY
INTELLIGENT IN YOUR FAITH WHEN
IT DOESN'T MAKE YOU MEAN AND
LOOK DOWN ON SOMEONE'S SERMON
BECAUSE YOU DON'T THINK IT'S
DEEP ENOUGH FOR YOU OR YOU DON'T
WANT TO TALK AROUND TELLING
EVERYBODY HOW ROBUST YOU ARE.
I HEARD SOME PEOPLE SAY THE
SERMON WAS SO BORING.
THEY WERE TELLING ME HOW DID YOU
BECOME SO DEEP AND ARROGANT AT
THE SAME TIME.
WHEN YOU'RE HUNGRY FOR GOD, YOU
CAN GO THAT IS NOT WHERE I'M
GETTING MY MAIN NUTRITION.
YOU GO, MAN, I JUST WANT IT NOT
TO BE AN ERROR.
AS LONG AS IT'S NOT AN ERROR
SOMEONE CAN SAY JESUS LOVES ME
THIS I KNOW, FOR THE BIBLE TELLS
ME SO.
I COULD MEDITATE ON THAT FOR
NINE HOURS.
GOD GAVE HIS -- YOU WILL NOT
PARISH, HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.
I CAN THINK ABOUT THAT FOR ABOUT
NINE HOURS.
POSTURE MANAGEMENT.
THE DESPERATE NEEDED TO IS NOT
FOR A GREATER NUMBER OF
INTELLIGENT PEOPLE OR GIFTED
PEOPLE, GIFTED PEOPLE, BUT FOR
DEEP PEOPLE.
THE CLASSIC DISCIPLINES OF THE
SPIRITUAL LIFE CAUTIOUS TO MOVE
BEYOND CIRCUS LIVING INTO THE
DEPTHS.
TO EXPLORE THE INNER CALF EARNS
OF THE -- CAVERNSs OF THE
VIRTUAL REALM.
THE ANSWER TO A HOLLOW WORLD.
SO WHAT DOES IT LOOKS LIKE FOR
YOU AND I TO SAY THAT?
I WANT TO GET TO KNOW GOD IN THE
MOST INTIMATE SETTINGS.
THAT IS WHAT I WANT GOD TO BE TO
ME IN 2020 MORE THAN ANYTHING
ELSE.
LET'S PRAY TOGETHER.
FATHER, I THANK YOU, WHEN WE
CALL OUT TO YOU, WE ANSWER.
WE THANK YOU, LORD, THAT YOU ARE
A GOD WHO WANTS US TO KNOW ABOUT
YOU.
AND TO KNOW YOU MORE.
THANK YOU, LORD, THAT OUR HUNGER
GROWS.
THE MORE WE KNOW, THE MORE WE
REALIZE WE STILL HAVE SO MUCH WE
DON'T KNOW.
GOD, I GUESS IN EVERY OCEAN
THERE HAS TO BE A BOTTOM, BUT
WITH YOU THERE IS NO END, NO
PLACE WHERE WE SAY WE DISCOVERED
IT ALL.
BUT YET, GOD, THAT JUST LURES US
IN EVEN MORE TO SAY NOT THAT
WHEN I'M ON MY DEATH BED, THERE
IS EVERYTHING TO KNOW ABOUT
EVERY EPISODE OF "THE OFFICE" OR
I KNOW EVERYTHING THERE IS TO
KNOW ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA, OR I'M
JUST REALLY, REALLY GOOD AT A
VIDEO GAME, OR I'M ONE OF THE
BEST WHEN IT COMES TO STOCKS AND
BONDS, OR I'VE GOT EVERYTHING
YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT BEGUNs
IN MY MIND AND I CAN TALK ABOUT
JUST A HOBBY, BUT, GOD, THAT I
WOULD HAVE A MIND FILLED, A
HEART FILLED, A SOUL FILLED,
GOD, WITH THINGS I'VE DISCOVERED
ABOUT YOU IN THIS LOVE AFFAIR,
WHERE YOU LET ME IN.
THANK YOU, LORD, FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY, AND TONIGHT, AS WE
COME TO THIS MOMENT OF CONFESS
NOW, I PRAY THAT YOUR PEOPLE
WOULD BE HONEST AND
TRANSPARENT.
AND SO JUST WITH YOUR HEADS
BOWED HERE IS HOW WE'LL END OUR
NIGHT BEFORE DISMISSING AND
GOING INTO OUR COMMUNITY
GROUPS.
IF YOU'RE HERE TONIGHT WHETHER
YOU'RE WATCHING IN THE OVER FLOW
OR HERE IN THE FOOTBALL STADIUM
OR WHETHER YOU'RE WATCHING AS A
FAMILY, MAYBE SOME OF OUR ALUMNI
IS PEEKING IN, OR YOU'RE IN A
BUNCH OF STUDENTS WATCHING ON
THE HILL AS A DORM COMMUNITY
GROUP, RIGHT NOW IF YOU WOULD,
PUT A SPIRIT MORE ROAR IN FRONT
OF YOURSELF AND ASK YOURSELF
THIS QUESTION.
WE CAN ALL GO DEEPER.
WE CAN ALL GO DEEPER, BUT IN
RELATIONSHIP TO THE YEARS THAT
YOU'VE BEEN BORN AGAIN, IF
YOU'RE BORN AGAIN, THAT YOU'VE
BEEN GIVEN ACCESS TO THE OCEAN,
AS YOU LOOK, COULD IT BE THAT
TONIGHT YOU LOOK AT YOUR LIFE
AND YOU'RE SAYING, MAN, DAVID, I
AM -- [ INDISCERNIBLE ] -- I'VE
BEEN A CHRISTIAN FOR 10 YEARS,
BUT I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN GIVE
YOU ONE BIBLE VERSE BY MEMORY.
I'M VERY CONSISTENT IN WALK
NETTED FLICKS, BUT I DON'T
REALLY SPEND TIME IN MEDITATION
IN GOD'S WORD.
MY PRAYER LIFE IS ANEMIC OUTSIDE
OF A BLESSING BEFORE A FEW
MEALS.
I CAN'T REMEMBER PRAYING ON MY
OWN TIME.
SOMEONE IN FRONT OF SOMEONE IN A
GROUP PRAYER.
NEVER IN MY OWN QUIET TIME, THE
HEART AND FREQUENCY TO GOD,
HAVING LONG CONVERSATIONS WITH
HIM.
I'VE NEVER HAS A BELIEVER TAKEN
THE TIME TO FEAST ON GOD THROUGH
SPIRITUAL CONCENTRATION CALLED
FASTING.
THAT IS A -- I THINK OF THE
DISTRICT FLINT GOD HAS GIVEN
ME.
I'VE BEEN GIVEN THESE THINGS AND
I'VE NEVER UTILIZED THEM.
IF THAT IS YOU, CONVICTION, IF
THAT IS WHERE YOU ARE, WOULD YOU
STAND UP, I'VE BEEN IN THE
KIDDIE POOL AND I'M BEING CALLED
DEEPER.
SOMETHING IN MY SPIRIT IS SAYING
IT'S TIME FOR ME TO GROW UP.
I'M NOT A BABY BELIEVER.
STAND UP.
I WANT TO PRAY FOR YOU WHEREVER
YOU ARE.
LOOK AT MY LIFE.
AND I KNOW A LOT OF INFORMATION
ABOUT THINGS THAT DON'T MATTER.
I AM INTELLIGENT, BUT I'M
TELLING GENT ABOUT THE THINGS
THAT DON'T MATTER.
I KNOW ABOUT MUSIC AND POLITICS,
I KNOW MORE ABOUT ELON MUSK THAN
I KNOW ABOUT PETER.
I KNOW MORE ABOUT A PARTICULAR
FOOTBALL TEAM THAN I KNOW ABOUT
THE DEPTHS OF GOD.
I SPEND MORE TIME CONCENTRATING
ON -- HERE IS SOMETHING THAT
JUST IS SO REAL, I SPEND MORE
TIME THINKING ABOUT MY PRAYER
EVERY DAY THAN I THINK ABOUT
WHAT GOD IS SAYING TO ME IN
SOLITUDE AND REST AND
QUITENESS.
AND GOD IS SAYING NONE OF THOSE
THINGS ARE DAMAGING, NONE OF
THOSE THINGS ARE NECESSARILY
BAD, BUT WHY DO THEY TAKE MORE
INTENTIONALLY THAN YOU.
RISE UP.
I'LL PRAY FOR YOU.
IF YOU'RE HEARING ME IN A FRONT
GROUP RIGHT NOW IN A DORM, RISE
UP.
IF YOU'RE IN OVERFLOW, RISE UP.
I WANT TO PRAY FOR YOU.
I WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING, IF
YOU'RE A CHRISTIAN AND YOU'RE
STANDING UP, GOD IS NOT UPSET
WITH YOU.
I HOPE YOU PAY ATTENTION.
YOU DON'T KNOW ONE BIBLE VERSE?
SHAME ON YOU.
THERE IS NO SHAME ON YOU FOR
THIS.
IF ALL THIS IS, IS GOD IS SAYING
I WANT TO KNOW YOU MORE, GOD IS
SAYING I BROUGHT YOU HERE TO
WAKE YOU UP, THAT THERE'S SO
MUCH MORE, CALL TO ME, I WILL
ANSWER.
I'VE LU YOU JUST THE WAY THAT
YOU ARE.
GOD IS SAYING THAT TO YOU.
I LOVE YOU JUST THE WAY YOU
ARE.
YOU STAND AND RECEIVE, YOUR
POSITION WAS MADE FULLY COMPLETE
IN WHAT CHRIST HAS DONE.
I LOVE YOU JUST THE WAY YOU ARE,
BUT I LOVE YOU TOO MUCH TO LEAVE
YOU THIS WAY.
WHY WOULD YOU STAY TO SHALLOW
SHORE WHEN YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN
AN ENTRANCE TO GO IN.
IF YOU'RE STANDING THERE GOD
WON'T GIVE YOU A BIG SEWER RING
OF BIBLE SERUM.
LORD, IN THE EFFECTIVE WEEKS I'M
COMING POWER WRIST, WILLING, AND
WITH CONFESS.
THIS IS ABOUT ME WANTING TO KNOW
YOU.
I DON'T WANT TO KNOW THINGS
ABOUT YOU, I WANT TO KNOW YOU.
THE REST OF US WILL STAND
TOGETHER.
LET'S PRAY THIS SONG TOGETHER.
>> THANKS FOR BEING A PART OF
THIS.
WE HAVE SO MANY GREAT MEN AND
WOMEN THAT ARE PART OF THIS
TEAM.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW ABOUT THIS.
WHEN THEY WALK AROUND CAMPUS, AT
THE ROCK OR JUST HANGING OUTCOME
AND GET TO KNOW THEM.
THEY REALLY WOULD LOVE TO GET TO
KNOW YOU, LOVE TO BUILD
COMMUNITY OUTSIDE OF THEIR
FELLOW MUSTENS.
IT WOULD BE -- MUSICIANS.
IT WOULD BE A IS PLEASANT --
BLESSING FOR YOU AS WELL AS FOR
THEM.
ONE MORE TIME, CAN WE THANK FOAM
FOR LEADING US?
THEY'RE INCREDIBLE PEOPLE.
WE'RE GOING TO GO AND BUY A LOT
OF THE COPIES OF THAT BOOK, YOU
CAN GRAB THEM AT COST.
FOR ANY STUDENT WHO WANTS TO GO
TO THE BOOK CLUB AND READ IT
TOGETHER, BUT DOESN'T HAVE THE
MONEY, WE DON'T WANT THAT TO
STOP YOU.
NEXT WEEK WE'LL ROLL OUT A PLAN
ABOUT PRAYER RETREATS, PRAYER
VIGILS, WE'LL 59 TO UNPACK
THAT.
WE NEEDED TO KICK OFF THE
SERIES.
NEXT WEEK GOAL GET INTO AND GO
DISCIPLINE AFTER DISCIPLINE
AFTER DISCIPLINE AFTER
DISCIPLINE.
WE LOVE YOU.
IF YOU'RE GOING OUT OF YOUR --
TO YOUR GROUPS TONIGHT, PLEASE
BEGIN THE CONVERSATION WITH
MAKING SURE THAT SOMEONE
ACTUALLY STEPPED INTO CHRIST'S
LIFE.
WE DON'T WANT TO CREATE A
PERFORM-AHOLIC, WHO DOES ALL THE
SPIRIT DISCIPLINES WITHOUT
KNOWING CHRIST.
ALL THAT DOES IS CREATING A A--
PHARISEE.
WE WANT YOU TO HAVE A
RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
YOU NEED GOD.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?
IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE LORD,
DON'T GO IN THERE TONIGHT,
THAT'S WHAT I NEED.
NO, NO, NO, FIRST GET TO KNOW
HIM.
IT ISN'T ABOUT DUTY, IT'S ABOUT
LIFE.
NOT WORK, WORSHIP.
MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU, MAKE HIS
FACE SHINE UPON YOU.
A GREAT JOB WHO LONGS FOR MORE
FROM US.
WE LOVE YOU.
YOU'VE DISMISSED.
PLEASE LEAVE MINDFUL OF SOCIAL
DISTANCING.
SO BUNDLE UP.
WE LOVE YOU.
WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
