Well… welcome to Embrace…
at all of our campuses…
and wherever you’re joining us from…
we’re so excited that you’re here.
My name is Adam… I’m one of the pastors here…
and as always…we are truly thrilled…
that you are with us... today.
And I just have a few quick things to share… before getting started…
First off… if you haven’t done so yet… go to itunes…
and download the new Embrace Worship song… called You Hold It all.
It releases today… and it is seriously amazing…
I’ve been listening to it in my car for the last 2 weeks…
Air drumming to it… and it’s great…
so seriously… go… do that…
That’s first… and then secondly… this past summer…
our friend James Barnett filled in for me...
And James is the founder of a non-profit…
called Clothe Your Neighbor as Yourself.
And he’s been a friend of Embrace’s… for 7 years now.
And for those 7 years… we’ve always joked around with him…
about coming on staff here…
And well… starting this January… he will be.
James will be coming alongside of myself… as a teaching pastor here.
Preaching 12 times next year.
And I just have to say… that there are few people…
that I respect and trust more… than James.
And so James will be on staff… and also… hear this:
CY-NY… will actually become… Embrace’s.
James will be the director… of it.
but it will fully be a part of what we do.
And we just see this… as an amazing opportunity…
to be the hands and feet of Jesus… to the world…
in a more specific way…
and we’re so excited about it!
And how crazy is that?
And so that’s the second thing to share…
and then the last thing… is a simple challenge.
It’s hard to believe…
but starting next week… it is Christmas season.
And if you’ve already starting listening to Christmas music…
I forgive you… and Jesus… he might forgive you.
But on December 4th…
we’ll be starting up our new series… called Good News…
a series talking about the best news…
that’s ever been told.
And just between… ugly Christmas sweaters…
And camels and sheep…
and the kids singing…
and the candlelight services…
It’s truly… the best possible time…
to invite a friend or coworker to join us.
And I know… I don’t have to say this…
But there are so many people in our lives… right now…
who are broken and hurting…
and empty… and overwhelmed.
people who are just trying to survive…
And it’s crazy to think…
that God can use us… and a simple invite to change someone’s life.
But He can… and so I pray… that all of us…
would invite like never before the next few weeks.
And seriously… I pray… that we wouldn’t just think about it…
but instead that we’d actually do it…
just inviting people… like crazy…
and then we would watch God move.
But once more though…
we’re truly... thrilled and honored…
that each of you are with us today.
Now… last week…
I started out by talking about my kids…
and about how I love them…
and they’re great… and adorable…
And I love being their dad… some days…
I mean… most of the time…
But I also shared… that I never cease to be amazed…
by how much… they think… they know…
about pretty much… everything.
I mean… seriously…
my kids are self-proclaimed geniuses…
and they seem to know everything… about everything.
Like they think they know what’s best for them…
and what’s good for them…
and they wanna make all the decisions…
And they think they know… even about random stuff…
Like the other day…
after the Bengals lost… the football game.
One of my kids… said:
Dad, I don’t think the Bengals are very good… this season…
And all I could think back was…
get behind me Satan.
No but really… they truly think…
that they know what will make them happy…
when the truth is… they don’t have a clue.
Like they are clueless…
and at times… they don’t seem to know anything at all.
*This week… I decided to email…
some of the parents on our staff here…
And I just said… what are some things…
that you’ve said to your kids.
that you never… thought you’d ever have to say.
And the responses were great…
Listen to this… one parent said… don’t eat.
Don’t eat… your boogers…. your sister’s food
The dirt, grass, rocks, grasshoppers, worms, or ladybugs
And don’t touch… he said.
Don’t touch the stove…
Don’t touch your siblings eye… and don’t touch the inside of the toilet.
And one parent said…
Hey, hey, hey…. poop is not… body soap.
And another said…
I promise… if you go to school naked… you will regret it.
And maybe some of us…
wish someone would have told us that in college right?
One of my favorites though… one person said…
Mom is not a bad word… but if you say it again… you will be in trouble.
Lastly one parent said… no pooping in the front yard… and no peeing on your friends.
Again… kids…. they talk…. like they know everything about everything…
when really… they don’t have a clue…
And as we shared last week….
the only people who are worse…
The only people who are worse…
are all of us… grown adults.
I mean… we so often talk… and act… and live…
and post on Facebook…
like we know everything about everything…
but if we do…
why are we still so broken…
And if we knew…. what was truly best for us…
and what’s good for us…
why are we still longing for something more.
And if we knew… exactly what would make us happy…
because we’re so smart… and enlightened… like that
why is it… that happiness…
is so often absent from our lives…
Because at times…
it seems like we actually know… very little.
Now in the book of psalms…
one of my absolute favorites psalms… is 119.
And 119… is believed to be written by a man named David…
David… the same David… who killed Goliath.
David… the same man… who was a popular king…
And he was also the guy…
who made some mistakes in his life as well.
I mean… at one point… he had an affair…
And then to make matters worse…
he tried to cover it up…
by having a dude killed.
And so David is a guy…
who has truly experienced… the good, bad, and otherwise in life…
and he writes this psalm…
and hear this…
tradition believes… that David used this psalm…
to teach his son Solomon… about life.
He used this psalm… 119…
to teach his son… about how to live…
And as I shared last week…
I just picture this dad… sitting with his kid…
and he’s trying to explain to him…
about… what will bring joy… in life…
and what will bring brokenness…
About what he should do…
and what he should avoid.
And I just picture this dad… saying to his son:
son, I love you… and I care for you…
and I only want what’s best for you…
and so… if you want to live a good… and happy life…
here is how you do it.
Here is how.
Now… if we have a Bible with us today…
I’d encourage us to open it up… to psalm 119.
You can use the Bible on your phone… on your iPad…
No worries… if we don’t have a Bible…
But if you do… open it up.
And so… David starts off this psalm though…
And what’s the very first thing he says?
He basically says…
that those who listen to God…
and follow His instructions… they are truly happy.
The person… who seeks God with… all of their heart…
He says… they’re happy… they’re blessed…
And they’re lives are filled with joy.
And so David says this…
and then throughout the psalm…
David just keeps talking about…
the deep love… that he has for God’s Instructions….
The deep love that he has…
for the things found in God’s word.
the Bible.
He just keeps talking about…
wanting to listen to God…
and wanting to follow His ways…
And he doesn’t have to…
instead… he wants to do… exactly what God says…
and at one point David just says…
God, I love your commandments… more than gold…
And I don’t know… about you…
But I’m just like… more than gold?
I kinda like gold.
Not but again… David’s just talking about… his love for God’s ways…
and then in verse 67…
I feel like David… gets really… raw about things…
and he really just speaks from the heart.
and he just explains…
where this love comes from.
And listen to what he says…
He says: Lord, before I suffered…
(read verse)
Again just listen to his words...
he says… Before I suffered…
Before I was troubled…
I was afflicted…
Before… I was broken…
Why? Because I took the wrong way.
I took the wrong path…
One translation says… I wandered…
and I strayed… from the true path.
Again… before I suffered… and I was broken…
Why? Because… basically…
I did my own thing…
I did what I wanted… to do…
I arrogantly did…
what I felt was right…
Instead of listening to God…
Instead of trusting Him…
Instead of following Him…
I did… exactly what I...
thought would make me happy.
And instead… I found just opposite…
I mean… I suffered… and I was troubled…
And I was broken…
And today… I just gotta ask… does anyone here…
have that same exact story?
Anyone here… ever taken the wrong way?
God’s… made it clear… what was right…
And we didn’t listen.
God said… do it this way…
and we tried to do it… our way?
Instead of listening to God… like a clueless kid…
we thought we knew everything… about everything…
And… we took the wrong path?
Anyone… ever been there before?
I know I have.
And like David…. maybe we didn’t kill anyone…
but for us… maybe it was with our dating life…
And it’s like God… I know what you have to say about sex… and whatever…
but I really like this guy…
and so we do we want…
only to find ourselves… broken…
And with our marriage… God I know you’re old school…
But this is 2016…
and we plan on getting married sometime.
and so… we’re gonna move in together.
And really… this relationship is about us… and our love…
not you God.
And then we’re surprised…
when our marriage falls apart…
And God I know I promised to love this person forever…
But she’s not nearly as cute… and nice…
as my coworker…
and so I have to listen to my heart on this.
Ever said that?
And with our finances… God I know I should be more generous…
and you want me to give back…
and put you first…
And I know I should be more wise with my spending…
And then we’re surprised… when our finances are a disaster…
And God I know you want me to forgive others…
But the people in my life… don’t deserve forgiveness…
They’ve hurt me… and I can never forgive them…
And then we’re surprised…
that our heart becomes hard and jaded…
and through and through, we hate the person we’ve become…
And God I know I should put you… before my career…
and then we don’t…
and we’re surprised… when we find ourselves… miserable.
And God I know I should be smart… about who my close friends are…
And then when we’re not… we’re surprised…
when we start making terrible decisions…
And God I know the stuff in my private life is bad…
But it’s not hurting anyone…
And I’m in control…
And then we’re surprised…
when it brings us to our knees…
And God I know what you have to say…
But I’ve convinced myself… that what I’m doing is okay…
Only to find ourselves… speaking David’s word… in the here and now…
Lord, I’m suffering… and I’m troubled… and I’m broken…
because I took the wrong way…
But you see… thankfully…
thankfully… David doesn’t stop here…
And neither should we…
And so today… if we’re here… and there’s an area of our lives…
that we just know isn’t pleasing to God…
And it maybe doesn’t seem like a big deal… at all…
but we just know it isn’t right…
or if we’re here… and we just know…
that we’re playing with fire… right now.
and the plane hasn’t crashed yet…
but we’re flying in mountains…
or maybe we’re here…
we’ve already screwed up…
Or today if we’re here… and we think it’s too late to change…
The truth is… it’s not too late… and it’s never too late…
our God is full of grace… and kindness… and love…
and He’s still crazy about us…
But again… if we’re here…
listen to what David says.
Once more… he says… Before I suffered…
Before I was troubled… Before… I was broken…
and I took the wrong way.
But now…
But now…
Before I did that… and that’s what I used to do…
But now… Lord, I do what you say.
Father…but now… I listen to you.
David’s like… Instead of continuing to take the wrong way…
Instead of continuing to do the same things…
Instead of continuing to do what I want… and what I think is right…
and what I think is okay…
David’s like… Lord, from here on out…
But now… I’m doing what you say.
And looking at myself… and looking at others….
I have to be honest…
this is always the part…
that surprises me about us… humans... the most.
This is where… we are stupid.
I mean… we’ll try our way…
The best way we know how…
And because of it… we’ll find ourselves broken…
and truly suffering…
and then the very next day… what do we do?
we’ll try our way again.
Like with dating… and our marriage…
we’ll try our way… it falls apart…
We’re completely broken… the lowest we’ve ever been…
And then we’ll run into another relationship doing the exact same things.
It’s crazy.
Or we’ll try and find happiness in something…
and we try… and try… and it leaves us empty…
but tomorrow we run back… to the same exact place…
It’s truly insanity… doing the same thing…
over and over… expecting a different result.
And yet here’s David… and he’s just like…
Lord, I’m done… I’m just done… doing my own thing…
Again… before I suffered… and I was broken…
And I took the wrong way…
But now I do what you say…
And then listen to what he says next… verse 68….
He says… And Lord,
(read verse)
Basically… Lord, I used to take the wrong way…
I used to listen to myself…
But now I’m done… and now… I’m doing what you say…
And Lord… you are good… and you do good…
And your ways are so much better…
than I can even understand…
and so please… teach me your ways…
Father you’re good… and do good…
And you know what’s best for me…
and so please… instruct me…
and speak into me Lord…
challenge me…
please teach me your ways…
Because from here on out…
I’m listening… and I’m doing exactly…
what you say.
And now switching to us… here today…
my hope and prayer for all of us… myself included.
is that today…
we’d begin to speak these same exact words.
Just making it known…
Lord, I used to take the wrong way…
I used to listen to myself…
And I wanted to be in control…
but now I’m listening… and doing… what you say.
and Lord you are good…
and so please teach me your ways…
And so God, when it comes to knowing right… from wrong…
knowing what will make me happy… and what won’t…
instead of just listening to my friends… my buddies… or my coworkers…
Father, teach me your ways.
And when it comes to my private life…
Knowing what’s okay and what’s not…
instead of just listening to the crap I see on TV
Lord, teach me your ways.
And when it comes to my marriage… my dating life...
Like a little kid… I’m clueless…
absolutely clueless… as to what is best for me…
And our culture is as well…
And so… teach me your ways.
And when it comes to my finances…
it’s clear… I don’t know how to use my money.
And instead of just trying to impress whoever… with stuff…
Teach me your ways.
Because… Father… starting today…
this isn’t a negotiation anymore…
I’m not gonna try and convince you I’m right.
instead starting today…
I’m listening… and I’m doing what you say.
And just to be clear… (grab Bible)
how do we know God’s ways? Right here.
How do we know His thoughts? The Bible.
How do we know His opinion? Through His word.
And yet… this is where are human side kicks in… doesn’t it?
and whether we say it or not…
it’s like really? The Bible?
You really listen that old thing?
And you have a degree …
And you still read it?
I mean… all of sudden… even though our ways have never worked…
it’s like we start thinking highly of our intelligence again.
But I know for myself… I’m skeptical… about everything…
And I always have been…
But I’ll never forget… reading through the Bible for the first time…
as a freshman in college.
Being honest… there would be times that I would read…
and it would all sound like gibberish…
but most of the time… I would read…
I would just sit in my dorm room thinking:
what I just read… is the truest thing… I have ever heard.
Like I couldn’t believe it… and all of sudden…
so many things in my life… became more clear…
And I began to understand… why I was so broken…
And why I had this longing inside of me…
that I couldn’t satisfy any place else…
because… I needed Jesus…
and it also became clear… that God’s ways…
are so much better… than mine.
And so again… how do we know… what God has to say?
How do we know His truth? By opening up the Bible!
And I mentioned this last week…
But I just wanna say it again… we have these 30 day reading plans…
And at all of our campuses…
they’re available out in the entryways to grab…They’re free.
And we actually had to print more…
because last week… so many of us took them…
which is awesome
But I’d really encourage all of us…. to get one of these reading plans…
It’s one of the best I’ve ever seen…
And just faithfully go through it the next 30 days…
Just to learn more about Jesus…
And to learn more… about the ways He wants us to live.
We also have New Testaments out there for free… if you don’t have Bible…
But again… I pray we’d all… just begin to open up the Bible.
asking God to teach us… His ways.
Now wrapping things up today…
I know for myself… it feels like the older I get…
the less that I know.
And because of this… I often will call and talk with my dad…
Just to get his thoughts on something…
just to get his advice…
And I basically… go to him… because I love him… and I trust him.
And he’s a good man… and he lives a good life…
And more than that… He knows Jesus….
And I just wanna hear what He has to say…
I just wanna hear his take on things.
And maybe for you… this person is a best friend… your mom…
an older brother…
maybe a loved one… that’s passed away.
But in light of this…
again… with our psalm…
I just love picturing David talking with his son about life…
And on an infinitely greater scale…
than any person…
I just love picturing God… speaking to us…
And us… being able to hear from Him…
Knowing that God… He not only loves us… and wants what’s best for us.
But He created us…
He knit us together…
And He knows us…
better than we know ourselves.
And like David declares… the Lord is good…
and He does good.
But again… it’s truly wonderful to know…
that we can approach… and hear from Him.
And as David remind us…
when we listen to God… and do as He says…
when we pursue Him with our whole heart…
we will be… happy.
Lord, we used to take the wrong way…
But now we do what you say.
Let’s pray.
