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God's Answer to Fear, Worry and Anxiety

A New Beginning / Greg Laurie
The Cross Radio
July 26, 2019 7:33 pm

God's Answer to Fear, Worry and Anxiety

A New Beginning / Greg Laurie

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July 26, 2019 7:33 pm

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Harvest messages are brought to you by harvest partners to receive free email daily devotions or to become a harvest partners, please visit us online@harvest.org John 14 Matthew 14.

The title of my message is God's answer to fear, worry and anxiety before I start I want to make from talking to the right people. How many of you deal with fear, anxiety and worry razor handball good. How many of you don't you don't have any issues or just always common because your liars of your art or your mentally disturbed or I don't know what you are but you're not normal outsourcer.

Why is it 3 o'clock in the morning is the moment that many of us wake up.

At least it is for me. 3 o'clock in the morning of the a magic number and all of a sudden I'm awakened by a dream or something or some fearsome anxiety. Some worry sort of trip me and then you start playing that what gets came in on and talking about. Oh no, what if this happens in the world. If that happens and all of a sudden you find yourself filled with deep fear intense worry and crippling anxiety.

That's what I want to talk about in this little series I wanted to on God's answer to fear, worry and anxiety in a wanted child is afraid of the dark and need someone to reassure them.

The best thing to do is turn on the lights so they know there's actually not a monster under the bed that there is no bogeyman. There is no threat to them.

They need the reassuring words of an adult that can help them get a proper perspective will, in the same way like little children more frightened and were scared.

We need the reassuring words of our heavenly father to help us in times of anxiety and you know we all deal with fear when I am amazed by his cell. If there's not enough to be afraid of. We pay money to be frying right of the new scary movie oats really scary. And then the scariest scene of the scariest movie comes on what we do we cover our eyes, how many of you seen the film Jaws jobs been around forever anyway. I read it's hard for you to believe now, but back in that movie came out.

People were freaking out in movie theaters. No one wanted to go on the Waterfield and the want to take baths after they saw Jaws and there's just one scene where the captain of the little boat is swallowed alive by the shark know when you look at a notice so fake looking that the config is shark ever, but somehow when I saw that scene for the first ever sleep well. It's horrifying. You know the other scary movies. And then there's amusement parks and these crazy roller coasters. People can get on I just decided a while ago.

I'm not going on another roller coaster.

I don't know if I ever enjoyed it, even when I was a kid I went to Disneyland not long ago with my son Jonathan and Levi Lesko and I we brought along some of the little kids. Levi brought his daughter Daisy and Jonathan brought Allie and Christopher and so were talking about rights is going to be decided they wanted to go on the new guardians of the galaxy right over California adventure nine. I've been on the writer used to be called the twilight zone Tower of terror that I hated it because I hate to drop quickly, so I'd already done it. I said I'm not gone so Christopher and Levi, and of all people, gummy sees me, Jonathan, Levi and Christopher, little Christopher went on this ride and I took the little girls over to Mader's junkyard jamboree, and even that nauseated me a little bit there was a lot of swing in their a lot of hearing leaders voicing tiered gator right. By the way, the guy that is the voice of Mader Larry the cable guys a Christian who is listen for a radio broadcast all the time so anyway so I decided I'm tired of paying money to be sick to my stomach and to be scared but then there are things that really are frightening the life or destroy the hitchhiker mounted a pickup stop form and the hitchhiker jump in the back and as it turns out the man driving the truck had a coffin in the back that he was delivering so the hitchhiker was sitting there and it started to rain and even want to get wet so he climbed in the coffin and the hum of the engine caused him to fall asleep boat. Unbeknownst to him, the truck driver stopped and picked up two more hitchhikers so they climbed in the back of the truck and the cruise along and then the rain stopped and the guide fallen asleep opened up the top of the coffin and set up the other guys jumped out.

Needless to say, now that's scary. That scared but so there's a place for rational fear that we actually want to have that fairly gummy in their heads above of a cliff. It's good to have fear and step back a little bit. I'm not talking about rational fear. I'm talking about irrational fear that gnaws at us over time. The fear of the unknown, the fear of losing something we have the fear of losing control the fear of the future and there's a lot of things this process out in one of the reasons is because we get our information on demand now so quickly. There's threats of war. We opened up the newspaper will very few people read newspapers anymore. You go to your favorite music side in your newsfeed on your phone or on twitter and your reading the headline just scrolling through and oh wow we might have a conflict with Iran. Oh there's a terrorism threat over here. Another terrorist attack in another place in all those things.

And then there's the personal things we worry about losing our health losing our job, even worse, losing a member of our family and this is not limited to older people when you're young you worry all the time you worry about your future. You wonder will I ever get married. I'm so will I like 20 and I'm not married yet or American appeal my call instead.

Or am I going to have a career. What will it be like to be an adult and then when you're an adult you look back in your childhood and state.

Man I wish I was young again, those were the good old days. I didn't have a worry in the world right now actually read the other day that millennial's are the most stressed generation ever.

That's interesting. The most stressed generation ever.

They said there even more stressed than what is called the greatest generation. That's the generation that came through World War II and I think there's a two word answer to why millennial's are stressed avocado toast. You know there's something in it is messing with your mind says stop by actually read headline a millionaire gave advice to millennial's, he said stop buying avocado toast if you ever want to buy a house right know seriously that the stresses caused clearly by these things that we all have.

How many of you have a cell phone every most of your young family be don't have a cell phone you might be the smart one to know because the only flashlights on about the jet but do you know we carry these things around and I was very excited when this technology came to be because I'm old enough to remember when the first cell phones came out and they were very large they were called the brick and they were made by Motorola and they really were like a brick. They were massive better battery life of like eight minutes, but yet we were so excited to be able to carry a phone around but now these phones are causing so much stress. They've said that the most stressed people are called constant checkers. These are people who are attached to these devices just flipping from one screen to another.

You've seen people do this, you might even be one of these people you come to light you reach impulsively for your cell phone and you just start flipping flipping flipping Instagram you know when looking at what's going on over and twitter your newsfeed checking your emails or whatever it is and they say that these constant checkers report feeling isolated because of technology.

Even when there with their families. It's been said that millennial's are the loneliest generation of all and I saw an interesting trending term. Right now it's hashtag social media didn't exist. Excuse me if social media didn't exist. Interesting question. What if there was no social medias.

Of course we go to social media to talk about what it would be like if there was no social media term anywhere. People wrote one person wrote of social media didn't exist everyone would be so much happier and I think there's some truth to that is I remember what it was like to not have it in there with you. We had things called answering machines. And when you got home you turn it on and you'd hear all of the messages for the day with the rest of the time.

In some ways, ignorance could be bless another person said what we would have a lot more productive people. Another person said we would have to make friends the old-fashioned way: Veronica said if social media didn't exist. People wouldn't be constantly comparing themselves to guys or girls they see in their feed, which the majority of time are people who would been photoshopped. That's very true.

I would think you look like. Then you say they don't even look like that. You see, sort of illusion. Another person said I have social media didn't exist but up to drag my cat from door-to-door to show people the funny stuff you guys are the Leica, what is with all these videos and pictures of cats. I don't understand it, so I had to jump into the fray and I wrote of social media didn't exist, they would have more time to be more productive but at the same time, I would not be able to offer hope from a relationship with God through Jesus Christ and many that really need it. That's what I try to do with my social media platform notes become lethal.

We have death by selfies I just don't like an hour ago about a young university student 22 years old, fell off a mountain after she stepped over a retaining wall to take Sophie a daredevil and trying it was filming himself hanging off the side of the building had a camera set up at a distance and fell 62 stories are young lady who like to take selfies over self and snow-covered mountains in her bikini. Continue to do so until she fell to her death, and so some of yours and you know I did see was very happy after that time of worship, but you so stress me out with everything you've said, look, stresses a serious problem which is connected to worry and anxiety. Because the national Institute of mental health reports a significant increase in the number of Americans who fears have moved into full-blown anxiety disorders and phobias. Now we've all heard of claustrophobia, the fear of small spaces, but there's other phobias, and these are real.

I'm not making any of them up. I don't even know if I'm pronouncing this one right catheters.

The phobia it's the fear of sitting. I hope you don't have that phobia because you're sitting even worse, a blue phobia. The fear of bathing hope you're not sitting next to someone it is that fair this one. I almost understand dental phobia so you can forget that we think that's a fair dentists. I don't like the sound of those drills. I was on my Dennis the other day and they're doing a teeth cleaning it and I don't like it because they're looking for trouble, you know. And then, "we have a little problem here and then she calls Adele here we go.

You know it. And of course it was something that needs to be dealt with but I'm not dealing with it because I have dental phobia know I'll get to it eventually.

I have procrastinate up phobia to a thing.

There's auto Moton phobia. I'm not making this up automaton phobia. The fear of ventriloquist dummy one with this fear be experience exactly I just think of many ventriloquist dummies I come into contact with the hope you don't have this one. Tell the phobia.

It's the fear of baldness and bald people. My favorite is photophobia.

That's the fear of phobia. Here's another one was the phobia. It's the fear of public speaking that is the number one fear number two is death. So basically what you're saying you go to a funeral you'd rather be in the casket been saying a few words about the deceased right so all these things to lead a high levels of stress literally be filled with anxiety and fear can cause you to have ulcers, depression, obesity, nervous breakdowns, even cancer.

One expert said that 80% choosing 90% of all doctor visits in the USA are triggered by stress related illness. Okay, so what's the answer was always the Bible has answers doesn't so it's read some words from Scripture John chapter 14, a very familiar passage, one that I really love Jesus says and let's get the context of who he was saying that to. He said this to his disciples in the upper room of this is after it had become known to them that he was going to be crucified that he was going to be leaving them. So needless to say they were very stressed.

They were filled with fear and deep anxiety so that backdrop Jesus says these words, let not your heart be troubled you believe in God believe also in me.

In my father's house are many mansions never were not so I would've told you.

I go to prepare a place for you if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself.

Therefore, I am you know and you may be there also. Where where I go you know in the way you know. There the word that Jesus uses here for trouble is picturesque word means. Don't let your heart shutter. Ever had your heart shutter just really bad news, something that just was a shock to your nervous system. He says don't let your heart shutter. Jesus did not say worry and get super stressed the mole over your problems. Rather, he said don't be troubled and pay. Life is full of troubles, no matter how much money you make, or where you live or what you do for a living will never be able to create a trouble free life. Job says in chapter 5 or seven people are born for trouble as readily as sparks fly up from a fire.

I hate to break it to you but it's always good to be something it's always going to be something just when you get to that one conflict of that one difficulty that one hardship for that one trial to another one is coming. I don't say that to the press you I say that to prepare you so you understand the troubles may come, and what you need to do when those troubles do come there's big things that seem to overtake us in their small irritating things. But know this, while there are reasons to be trouble. There is a greater reason not to be.

Jesus says in verse 10 from the new living translation trust in God, trust also in me.

In other words, Jesus is a look I am abroad to this far to abandon you now I know what I'm doing. So I'm asking you to believe I'm asking you to trust her.

Something to consider. What I don't understand what is happening fallback in what I do understand. Let me say that again and directed toward you when you don't understand what is happening fallback in what you do understand so what don't you understand what whatever it is you're facing whatever hardship difficulty why why why we house okay fallback in what you do understand what wino well if I'm a Christian.

I know my sin is forgiven right if I'm a Christian. I know that one day I'll go to heaven if I'm a Christian. I know that God is in control of my life.

And if I'm a Christian. I know that God loves me and if I'm a believer. I know that all things work together for good to those who love God. Another called according to his purpose.

So though I don't understand these circumstances, the fallback know what I do understand that I have found the Windows what if questions start rolling through your mind. I like to go back to what I do understand what I know is true, so here's something to consider.

I love this little verse so much packed and the one verse of Scripture.

Luke 1232 Jesus said, fear not, little flock. It is your father's good pleasure to give to you the kingdom. We learn a lot from outburst number one fear not, little flock, so my point is this God is our shepherd and we are a sheet in. I don't know how much you know about sheet or know a lot about them, but I've read some things in held them occasionally, but I'm not real familiar with them, but I know they're basically pretty defenseless creatures. She don't bite sheep can run very fast. She don't even have claws. Honestly, I CAD has more going on in the sheep does, but we have the silk out the water on her neighborhood. I actually like this cat. He's like the exception the cats for me because he just kind of his own little cat and he was standing in the middle of the street who does this is Succumbing to sit here and Everyone go around me just sit there and a dog's Anatomy credit coming toward me just like, bring them, you know that I like that cat.

Cats have more going on then she because Alisa CAD can claw for a cat can climb a tree and run by cheap there just like leg of lamb for the taking data just carry mint sauce around with them like here I am, eat me now and delicious yeah that's with the cheapest I sheep is totally dependent on it. Shepherd wife. Let's be kind and just put it this way delicately. The really stupid. They run in flocks.

They do with the other sheep do their easily frightened or skittish and there been more than one occasion were once she goes off a cliff and the other sheep follow him off the cliff so no one of the Bible says all we like sheep have gone astray big picture your defenseless big picture. You can't really defend yourself ultimately you need the shepherd's care. That's why David was sitting around one day when he probably wrote some 23 and you know he was a musician as well as a warrior and ultimately attain and these may be just, you know Stroman some chords G CD look around is looking at is flock anything to know what these cheaper dependent on me in the Lord. He's my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul he prepares a table for me in the presence of my enemies and my cup runs over and yeah goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life and I'll dwell in the house of the Lord forever. And even though I go through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil because he's with me. That was the picture he was painting for us that just as those sheep need me. I need God. Fear not, little flock, it is your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom of God is our shepherd and we are sheet number two God is our father who loves us and cares for us. Notice he says that your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

So why should I not be afraid because he is my shepherd watching over me, but is also my father caring for me and I can approach him at any time with whatever is troubling me and he will listen, but not everybody can call God father people say today will I believe in the brotherhood of man, a world, children of God sons and daughters of God. Actually that's not true at all. Were not all children of God were all created by God were all made in the image of God were all separated from God by our sin, but the only way to become a child of God is. You must be adopted into the family and the Bible says, for as many as received him, he gave them the power to become sons of God. But once you believe in Jesus you can call God father after Jesus died on the cross and rose again from the dead.

He appeared to Mary Magdalene, Inc. at the garden tomorrow at the empty tomb. I should say something. It is a garden tomb in Israel but the there at the tomb of Jesus speaks to Marion and he says to her don't cling to me some translation supported don't touch me, but I think she was holding onto them so tightly and he says, for I have not yet ascended to my God and be your God in the my father and your father. That was a revelatory statement that I was a radical thing to say to a first century Jewish person and especially a Jewish woman because women were looked down upon that culture you people like to say, Christianity oppresses women, nothing could be further from the truth. Christianity and the Bible elevated women to their proper place made in the image of God. So he says that this woman who was once possessed by many demons.

I'm going to my God and your God.

I'm going to my father and your father Mary. Guess what, he's your father now you can call him father now not just me. We get the fact that Jesus calls God father but now we can because of what she did know calling God father it's us in different ways because a lot of it depends on what kind of an earthly father you had right. I never had a father really growing up so that I thought of God as father, I just had a big blank like I don't even know what that is to have a father. Some of you I had fathers that were cold and distant. Others of you had fathers and maybe left you when you were young. Some of you may be men had fathers who were abusive and hearts with you or maybe uncommunicative but it was not a loving image of a father than others of you had a warm loving hands-on involved dad, how many of you had a really good dad growing up. Will God bless you for that. How many of you did not have that experience is your get the okay so I understand what that's like my wife Kathy are her father, Richard Martin, I just went to be with the Lord. We had the service for him here at church just the other day and he lived to be 95 years old and he was a very very good father, and I think because of that when Kathy and her three sisters and her brother heard the gospel. They were there very quickly embraced God as her father did such a great father figure and so that you this is this family that they lived in the Far East. Richard Martin was very educated, very smart guy, very successful guy and does so there is a very cultured family great manners and then one day Kathy brings me home to meet the parents look like something the draft. The Drug in right. I have long hair, past my shoulders, thick red beard you know and like. Here's my new boyfriend. Dad and I is you didn't take me very well but noted his wife of Pilar, but so finally we decided we wanted to get married and so I I took a walk with him as Sybil Mr. Martin, I want to marry your daughter and I wanted ask for your blessing, and he looked at me and said well know this very is very calm. No, no, and can ask why Mr. Martin he said well you don't have a stable income and and they were concerned about that sin concern for that welfare of her daughter and reassured him a deal can even said no again but so but ultimately when we got married.

He gave his daughter away, but interesting experience happened when Kathy was younger she is the middle daughter is her older sister Mary and then there was Dodi and then there's Kathy and then her younger sister Jackie and then finally your brother Ricky. So what. So she had an uncle. This was the wife choose me, the brother of Richard Martin's wife Pilar and he was not able to have children with his wife and so he came to applaud her sister Wendy and said you know you arty have two daughters 90 of 1/3 one, can we just have your daughter and interesting request and so she'd said let me talk to my husband about it. This shot Kathy like you want to talk to dad about this like this was on the table but fortunately Richard dad said no and but he eventually gave her away to me on our wedding day and I'm thankful for that. But here's the good news. What when you are a child of God. No one is can it take you out of his protective care and were afraid of what a fight lose my salvation award of the devil gets me are you kidding me you're a child of God and Jesus said in John 1029 I will give them eternal life will never perish, and no one can snatch them away from me. God is your shepherd God is your father and finally he is your king because Jesus said turn off little flock, it is your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Notice he says it's his good pleasure.

I think sometimes we think of God is stingy. God doesn't want to give you that God doesn't want to bless you. God wants to hold all the good stuff back just to make your life are nothing could be further from the truth.

It's his pleasure to give to you the kingdom, but also me think of God's kingdom reminds us of the sovereignty and the power of God. So when you're filled with anxiety and fear and worry because of a problem you're facing.

Consider this, God is bigger than your problem and if you have a big God, you have a relatively small problem. If you have a big problem.

Do you realize how big your God actually is. That is when the Lord's prayer, Jesus taught us to pray our father who art in heaven how would be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. And then ultimately we get to the requests. Give us this day our daily bread but effectively Christ is saying when you pray just contemplating awesomeness in the greatness of God before you start firing off your petition.

It's okay to ask God for things you should. It's okay to call out to the Lord for help and remind yourself of the power, majesty and greatness of God, and it puts your problems in perspective. If you ever wondered why when you leave church a lot of times you feel better than when you came in.

The reason is is because of amazing preaching by other pastors here at harvest.

No, I think the preaching place into it, but I don't think it's any person.

I think what is it all about I commit a waterway spent a good part of my doing a ton during magnifying God magnifying God and so's I'm thinking of God's glory in his power and I'm sort of casting my problems aside night. I'm worshiping him.

Then I hear a message. Hopefully, that reminds me of God's love in this sovereignty in his power and all the things I need to be reminded of an eye. I believe and know that I have the same problems leaving that I had coming in, but all of a sudden I don't see them in the same way.

It's all about perspective is in it and so he's your king is in control of your life.

One day Jesus said to his disciples.

Let's cross over to the other side we got the boat made their way across the sea of Galilee, which is actually a massive freshwater lake and then a huge storm came and the waves were beating against her little boat but Jesus was asleep. They woke him up and said master. Don't you care that were perishing, and he arose, and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, peace be still, and the wind stopped and the water was calm and Jesus turned to them and said why are you so afraid. Don't you have any rate, say what they saw was Jesus had the power to stop natures habit if he chose to what he said, peace be still, and sometimes Jesus would come to the midst of your problem. If they stop in at stop and other times he's just with you as you face your problem but I look at it this way. Better to be in a storm with Jesus and anywhere else. Without him, Jesus is on board my boat that I'm okay and by the way, Jesus said, let's cross over to the other side did say let's go out to the middle of the sea of Galilee and all die. He said that I would not of gotten on the boat he said let's go to the other side. He did not promise them smooth sailing, but he did promise them a safe arrival in the same is true for us. He is not promise to smooth sailing in life, but he has promise you a safe arrival you will get to the other side will I want to look at one last story. This is also on the sea of Galilee. This is also about Jesus out there during a storm. But this one's a little different. It was a stormy night and the disciples were on the boat. But Jesus was not on board with them in that particular occasion and then they turned and saw Jesus walking over the tops of those waves and that brings us to Matthew 14 verse 27 you have in turn there yet. Look at that Matthew 14 immediately Jesus spoke to them same. Be of good cheer. It is all I don't be afraid. Peter answered him and said, Lord of it. You command me to come to you on the water. Jesus said, I would Peter come down out of the boat, he walked on the water and when he saw you might underline the stewards he saw the wind was boisterous, he was afraid and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, Lord, save me. There's a why did Peter sink because he was afraid.

Fear makes us sick.

We all know the feeling. Everything's going great and all of a sudden the grip of anxiety and fear and were practically drowning in our doubts. Faith gives way to fear trust to worry. And when faith rains. Fear has no place but when fear rains. Faith is driven away. Why did Peter sink number one because he took his eyes off of Jesus.

Verse 30 he began to sink and he cried out he was doing really well minister him some credit and a people critique Peter because he was soft-spoken and said honestly.

Some pretty crazy things but there's a lot of ink given to Peter. He talked to Jesus and made many statements far more than any of the others in the gospel so get a lot to say always know you stood with Peter and tell. But hey, he's the only guy that had the courage to actually try to walk on water. And Jesus actually said. Carmine came in.

Of course, he began to sink.

He started to sink wife while he took his eyes off of Jesus. Years ago we were in a Hawaii and Jonathan was much younger then and he wanted to learn how to scuba dive sites and okay will let's put you through little course and the way it worked as a retraining for a day and then you would go out for a dive. The next day with a certified instructor so I met the instructor in a sublime certified to Lisa so good you can come in the dive. Tomorrow is a good and so Jonathan went through his whole day of training in the next day came and it was kinda stormy and all the books were pitching out there on the water and I was hoping they'd cancel the dive and no it was on still so weak all got in the boat. Another promise I had not go for quite a long time and I was a little rusty and I get the equipment on and you got the weight belt and you've got the regulator in the masking the tanks and other fins and everything you know and then I'm in here sitting on a boat in the way we were to get it is just fall backwards into the water, which is the last thing you want to do.

We have a much awaited attached to you right and so I was I was a little nervous because I was hoping I would remember everything and I didn't like the way the water was moving around in the Jonathan looked pretty scared.

So I just didn't want to show my was scared to because I'm certified right I'm supposed to be in cool and calm.

So so we go on the water and I were under bitten and it's even worse there and I look over at Jonathan and his eyes were as big as saucers or refugees totally panicking and is looking over at the instructor and the instructor says the Jonathan, look at me. None of them look at me then he says the Jonathan. Remember your training.

I'm looking at the instructor to going to kick it. I don't know if the training was when I'm looking at, so are we live through this, everything was okay but it was pretty good advice. Look at me and remember your training. So what were looking to Jesus. We can do crazy things, wonderful things, faith filled things seemingly impossible things, but will we take our eyes off of Jesus and we allow our minds and hearts to be filled with doubt, fear and anxiety. We can start this thing just like Peter started to sink, but when that happens, here's what you need to do cry out to Jesus. Look at verse 30 beginning to sink he cried out, Lord save me. There's nothing wrong with doing that. What is it that is innocent make for safe while I can. I can fix this I can get through this. I can control this. Actually, maybe you can, and really what you need to do is call out to the lower auto sign of weakness. I actually think it's a sign of intelligence I think it's a sign of stupidity to think you don't need God's help.

11 Jesus said verse 31 and immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him.

Peter is going out.

He catches him pulling him up and he says oh you of little faith, why did you tell interesting thing this word these words little faith is one word in the Greek and there's sort of a tenderness to it all little faith unto us one one word a little faith almost like a nickname or doodle free body.

I know I need to Peter, and I know that means rock in Little Rock sink, but amen you are doing well. You are on a roll. Why did you doubt what did you take your eyes off of me and then he lived some up and they walked back to the boat. Maybe you're sinking right now you're filled with fear and anxiety and worry, you feel defeated. Maybe you're in the grip of some addiction so I can handle it.

I've handled this before and then you fall. You know you fallen off the wagon and you're back in that same state again you never thought you'd be there again, but there you are. Anyone he can I ever get out of this again.

I feel like I'm seeking it.

It's the worst it's ever been.

Or maybe there's somebody that has a marriage that's unraveling you think I don't think there's any hope for my merit further somebody else it's dealing with some other problem, but you need to call out to the Lord and remember that God is in control of your life. I love Romans 828 hour dimension at once like to now mention the bursa policy, a 29 Romans 828 says, for we know that all things work together for good to those that love God, another called according to his purpose. Verse 29 for whom he foreknew he also did predestined to be conformed into the image of his own your center. Here's our work. Something bad happens and we call Romans 828 well, all things would get the roof could so no matter how bad it is. It's going to be good that's not with the bursa it says all things work together for good.

It doesn't even say that God makes all things good because some things are bad. If you lose a loved one that's bad that's sad that's hard will little work together for good. Know God will bring good despite this tremendous loss as other hardships you may be a basic don't try to think that everything is to become good, God will bring good despite some of the bad things he allows in our life but here's another big picture. One day when I get to heaven I may realize that those so-called bad things were maybe actually good things. I don't know that I can understand that this side of heaven. But on the other side of the oh I get it you were using that to conformity into the image of your own dear son you were using that to prepare me for something still in my future and actually my love one that died and I felt so bad about that. They were in pure bliss and happiness.

But I was suffering because I miss them but now I see that you even had a purpose and that there's a lot of mysteries are knocking to figure out this side of heaven. So we just need to trust him until that day. But whatever you're going to can be turned around, read an illustration used by trucks one doll in the book that he wrote about a man that was shipwrecked on an uninhabited island painstakingly built a little hut for protection from the elementary kid keep the few items he had salvaged from the rep for weeks. He lived in this little hot and and he would shelter himself from the storms that would common every day he would scan the horizon prayerfully hoping for someone to come and rescue him and then he would go out for a while and search for food and come back to his little hot.

One day while he was out searching for food.

He came back and was horrified to find this little hot.

Rescue possessions were was in flames know everything that he had was completely gone. He could not believe his bad fortune and he fell asleep that night thinking how badly things are done. Why would this happen and then he awoke to the sound of someone's voice and it was the captain of the boat had just arrived and he said we saw your smoke signal and we came to rescue you. So sometimes we think is the worst disaster as a smoke signal leading to our deliverance.

The worst case scenario can actually be exactly what the Lord is ordered or your life is one final movement in the story and a close as Jesus was walking to them on the water in Mark's version. It says, and he would've walked right past them. I love that detail as I care.

They are freaking out the water. They see Jesus walking and he doesn't want to the beaches, walking by like hey guys how's it going on Jesus and just walk around on the water because when you're God you can do stuff like this. It's amazing there like the Lord, Lord, come on board our boat. We need you here.

You want me to come. Yeah, we want to juncture Erica and I think the reason Jesus did. This is, he won't force his way to anybody's life you of your problems right now. I don't want Jesus. Okay, he won't force his way in your lot go and deal with your troubles in your own way freak out worry, be filled with anxiety, that's talking to help turned to drugs turned to drinking, turn, do whatever it is you think is going to fix it. That's I can help you or you can call out to him but I'm telling you the moment you call out to him, he will hear your prayer and he will answer your prayer. The Bible says whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved in the verse that sums it all up as Revelation 320 were Jesus says behold I stand at the door and I knock it if you cure my voice and open the door, I will come in how easily it is said, I'm God, you're not on kick in the door and to get out of the way by the way, if you ever tried to kick the door in.

I did once we were living in little house in Riverside and we were locked out and we couldn't get in. And so I thought it would be a great idea to kick the door in and I did after like 25 kicks in, practically dislocating my leg with John Wayne did it with one kick right so it's not so easy to do. He could've kicked his way and he could force his way in to say if you want me in your life. I will come in your life but if you want me in your life. I'll be there. I'll be there and I'll help you know what is there somebody here that sinking of your sinking in addiction your sinking in despair your sinking in loneliness your sinking in anxiety and reality are sinking in sin and your only hope is Jesus.

If you call out to him, he'll reach out and pull you out but you have to ask for his help in calling his name. He died on the cross.

2000 years ago for you. Let me finish the verse I quoted earlier. John 14 where he says the in the way I go you know where I'm going. You know, and Thomas said we don't know the way you're going and we don't know the way.

We don't know he really know what you're talking about visas. I am the way the truth and the life no man comes of the father but by me. So now he's telling us how to come into a relationship with the Father through him and only through him all roads don't lead to God all religions don't pray to the same God is somewhat assert no were calling on the true and living God and the only way to come to him is through Jesus. Why, because only Jesus died on the cross for the sin of the world know Guru did that no profit. So-called did that no other leader did that.

But Jesus died for us and then he rose again from the dead, and he's alive in these with this here right now and outcome of your life and forgive you of your sin but you must ask him to the moment were going to pray. I'm going to extend an opportunity for you to believe in Jesus opportunity for you to ask him to come into your life. If you've not done that yet whether to do it right here right now.

Let's all pray together.

Father, thank you for loving us so much that you send Jesus to die in the cross in our place or Jesus, thank you for coming and lean your life down, then rising again from the dead. Thank you that you're here ready to forgive sins but those that would call on you help those that need you to reach out to you now know it has about in her eyes are closed were praying. How many of you would say that I need Jesus.

I need this relationship with God you been talking about.

I want to know God is my father, I want to be forgiven of my sin. I want to find the meaning and purpose of my life. I'm ready to believe in Jesus.

Now, if that's your desire.

If you want Jesus to come into your life if you want him to forgive you of your sin if you want to know that you will go to heaven when you die what you just raise your hand up right now. Wherever you are. Anybody else you want Christ to come in your life you want to start this relationship with him. You want to go to heaven when you die you know we don't know One Life to live, we may have many years ahead, and we may not have so many years. We don't know what's coming up, and in this crazy world of ours. The Bible says prepare to meet your God because heaven is a prepared place for prepared people. Are you prepared anybody else here. You need Jesus in your life you want him to forgive you of your sin. If you haven't raise your hand yet raise it now let me pray for you sin you want Jesus Christ in your life and what else, should there in the back, she published you. Yes, Naaman ask everyone to be the raise your hand if you would please I want you to stand your feet. Naaman leads you in a prayer stand your feet if you raise your hand saying he wanted Jesus Christ your life even if you did not just stand up, you heard me right.

Stand your feet nominally join this prayer. God bless you, that are standing is a few more that need to stand.

I think stand up and I'll lead you in this prayer of asking Jesus to come into your life. Anybody else stand up now will pray together even if you did not raise your hand but you want him to forgive you of your sins, you want to start this relationship with him stand up, pray together.

I bless you that are standing away one more moment might be a few more if you stand now in the will pray anybody else stand right bless you. Yes I bless you to anybody else. Don't be afraid only believe that's what Jesus said, I love that what you afraid of. He loves you. You should be afraid of that life without him, not a life with your care for you and watch over you, forgive you of your sins and welcome you.

One day in the heaven. Unless you but you must, you must call out to him. The disciples had to call the Jesus and then he came. When you call out to him. This is your moment anybody else stand your feet may lead you in the sperm published you. Anybody else stand now, bless you, and ask everyone to be that stupid. If you would please to pray this prayer out loud after me again as I pray pray this prayer out loud after me just pray these words Lord Jesus, I know I'm a sinner but I know that you're the Savior who died on the cross for my sin and rose again from the dead.

I choose to follow you, Jesus.

From this moment forward is my Savior and Lord is my God in friend in Jesus name I pray. Amen.

God bless you that pray that prayer yes