Okay, I want to introduce the teacher for tonight. Alex and Bree Cruz have been with us for many years. And Alex and Bree are youth pastors. Alex is on staff full time just investing in middle school and high school students.
And we've known the Cruz's for a very long time. We actually at one point tried to hire them when we were working out another ministry in Colorado. And they said, yeah, we're moving. And then the same was two weeks before their wedding.
And they said, yeah, we're going to move and we're going to go to Colorado. And then we just rug pulled them. And we decided we weren't going to stay in Colorado. And we were in Minnesota.
And so it was kind of like always a match. We were always supposed to work together. It just took a little time. It just took maybe ten years later.
It took a whole decade later that now we're working together. And we brought Alex and Bree on a couple years ago. Yeah, 2020. So, man, one thing that I love about Alex is that he is a great commission type of leader.
When I think about Alex, I think of someone that goes, I want to win people to Jesus. I want people that are lost in their brokenness to find Jesus. But I don't just want them to find Jesus. I want them to find family.
I want them to get raised up. I want them to grow closer to Jesus. I want them to get developed into who they are. And we are so grateful to have not only an inspiring leader investing in all of our middle school and high school students, but a humble leader as well.
And that is what you want in a leader in the Kingdom of Heaven. And so let's stand in honor. Alex, please, give a great hand. Thank you.
Thank you so much. Love these guys. Can't believe it's been a decade, but it wasn't match made in heaven. Yeah, if I haven't met you yet, I'd love to.
Like you said, me and Brie have the privilege of leading our youth ministry. And the thing I love about it is everything that's happening here is exactly what we're doing with high school and middle school students. And we're seeing it come to life in young people. We're talking about empowering everyday students and how it's the end of spectator Christianity.
And we're actually seeing it happen where youth students are going into their schools, they're with their friends. And I'm like, you're 12 and you did what with your friend? And now they are following Jesus. Like it's no longer are the days where it's like, let's get everybody to the youth pastor.
Let's get everybody to that youth tonight. It's like these are students that are on mission. Like Josh said, like that is deep within my heart. I'm like, we've got the good news and people need it.
Like, let's do this thing. And our young people are taking that. Like the love that they've encountered in Jesus and they're bringing it to their friends. And it's just been the best thing to see.
Because I'm not always in this room on Sundays, we have Bible studies happening. And on Wednesday nights, we obviously have youth. Well, prayer room is happening here. I wanted to share a quick story right up front.
Just kind of talk to you about like give you a glimpse into what it looks like. Like, Gen Z has taken this thing and running for it. There's this 13 year old girl in our youth ministry. And it was a couple months ago that she felt invited by God to lead a Bible study in her public elementary school.
And I didn't know this at the time. We had a spring retreat and we were just getting stories from the spring retreat. We're talking about it. We're hanging with just the middle schoolers at one point.
And she kind of just subtly like raised her hand and tells us the story of how she's like, yeah, I felt God invited me to lead this Bible study. And at spring retreat, I felt like he gave me the boldness. And like, I'm just going to step into this thing. And so she comes back from spring retreat invites like her whole class to a Bible study at her house and has 20 to 30 students showing up at her house.
13 year old girl, right? And if you're anything like me or just as we can be like as adults, it's like, man, if I'm leading a Bible study, like I'm picking the food that I have, I'm trying to have the right drinks, like I got to make sure that my house is clean or whatever. She told me this summer, like as they're continuing to do this, she just sent out a Google form to her whole class. She's like, whether you know Jesus or don't know Jesus yet, just fill this out.
I'm like, go ahead, girl. Just like do it your way. I love that. Gen Z is like breaking the rules in like the best ways.
It's like the church has left the building. She's like, I got you on a Google form. Like come to my house. Okay?
Also, do you want to be an admin for me? Um, so excited to preach. And I felt like what God put in my heart is joy. And specifically, I want to talk about joy amidst our difficulty and amidst the trials that we face.
It's crazy to me because the Bible talks about joy so often. The word joy rejoices happens 438 times in the Bible. And yet it's filled with a lot of calamity and problems and there's a lot of passages about trials and tribulations that you're promised to encounter. And so it's like, okay, there's this tone of, there's this promise of joy and this emphasis of joy.
And yet there's all these problems and things that are also promised. And when I was growing up, I think my parents told me about this verse a lot or would bring it to mind. Also might have been the first one that I memorized. But in James 1 where it says, consider it peer joy, my brothers and sisters.
When you face trials of many kinds, knowing that the testing of your faith develops perseverance, perseverance must finish its work being maturing complete, not lacking anything. And it's saying the same theme of considerate joy. Like what I love about this passage is it's not pulling any punches. It's just like right off the bat, it's like considerate joy because life is hard.
And I'm like, all right, like we're getting real, like this is what I'm here for. Considerate peer joy because when you're facing trials, when you're facing problems, God actually wants to use those to transform you. When you're facing these things, He's making you mature and complete. When you're facing problems, you can have joy because of who God is and what He's up to, right?
But if you're anything like me, there's times where I'm just like, I'm trying to have joy. Like I'm dead in the middle of my problems and I know, like I need to have joy and God is up to something. And just after time, I'm like, I'm trying though and I think in my head, I know it, but in my heart, I'm getting a little bit tired. My family and I were doing family pictures recently.
And if there's any parents, families in here who have tried to do family pictures, you already get it. I mean, we can close right now. It's like we a couple weeks ago, we're getting the kids ready for family pictures, we got to get all the outfits coordinated. And it's no longer like you can just do this.
Like you got to drive to some random field. We drive an hour away to some random field and then we continue to walk to the middle of the field. Because it's not good enough to just be on the outside. It's like we walk to the middle.
Like I'm carrying my four year old boy. I'm like just a little bit longer. It's like, what are we doing? And we get the kids all lined up.
We're like, they go first. We only have a little bit of time. And they're all posed and we're like, all right, smile. And they're like, and I'm like, what is that?
Like, no, like smile. And I'm like, no, that's not your smile. What are you doing right now? And it's just like, I'm trying to do whatever I can.
I'm like asking him questions. We brought candy. We're like throwing candy to him. He's like, can I get another piece of candy?
Yes. I just need a second of like a smile. I need some joy. Like I need something there so we can get a couple pictures and leave this field.
But the funny thing about it is it's like, they don't care. And they don't get it. It's like, what are we doing out here? Like, why?
There's no vision for actually what's coming. We're thinking we want a beautiful family picture that I can put on my phone and put in our house and show everyone. But these are kids are just like, what are we doing? Just get me out of this situation.
Right? And it makes me think of this exact scenario. It's saying consider it pure joy whenever you face problems. And it's like, the bills are piling up.
It's like, I have some joy. It's like, I'm at work and I'm like, the pace seems endless. I feel like I can't keep up anymore. I'm like, I need to have a conversation.
It's like, there's that joy. And we're like trying to have the right mindset. We're trying to have the joy that James is encouraging us to have. And we're just left with like that forced smile, like that facade.
It's like, I'm trying, but it's getting a little bit tiring. Have you ever been in those conversations where you try to say everything that you try to say everything you can without actually saying life's really hard right now? You're like, how's it going? You're like, it's full, you know?
But I know God's got me. It's like, do you need to have a conversation? Or like, I'm not convinced you're okay. You know, like slide in like the Bible versus, you know, he works everything out for good for those that love him.
It's like, okay, like, you're just spitting Bible versus saying random things to people. And they didn't even, they're just like, do you want to talk? Like, should we go get coffee right now? It's like, I don't know if you're like me, but we're in those situations and I'm like, I'm trying to be joyful.
I'm trying to have the right perspective. I know it in my head, but I'm just starting to get a little bit tired in my heart. And it's starting to come out. And I'm like, God, I need some help here.
It's when the like, weariness sets in. It's when you start to feel exhausted. And that's when things come in and just try to steal our joy and the whole narrative of what God is up to. It's like that's when fear and shame and insecurities and doubt come in.
And it's hard. It's hard with the questions that we have. It's hard to like walk through it. Like maybe you've come in tonight and you're fearing failure and something that you're putting your hand to your job or the responsibilities that you carry.
And we're like trying to just hold it all together. Because we're like, I don't want the people that I'm doing this for it to be disappointed. Like, I don't want like to actually fail and let other people down. You know, maybe you stepped into a season where you felt like God called you into something, right?
And if you're like me, it's like if God calls me into it and I say yes, here come the blessings. I'm like, oh boy, God, what you got for me? My expectations are high, right? And then sometimes it's like, man, I thought that this was just going to be easy.
Like I thought that just the heavens were going to open and money was just going to start pouring out. I said yes to God. And instead we're just sitting there with expectations going, now we got questions. Like, was this even the right choice?
We feel shame. Like maybe we let our family into something and I'm like, man, like was this the right choice? Was this what God was speaking? Like what's going on here?
Maybe you find yourself on the other side of a broken relationship. It can be the same type of questions. You just have so many questions. And thoughts of I did make some bad decisions along the way.
And it just feels so intense because it's like, like I did mess up. Like will I have another relationship that can actually be healthy? Or is there something like wrong with me? Like what's happening here?
I remember a little while back just having kind of a similar moment in my own life. And I wish that like when shame or these different things come into your life, they would just announce themselves, right? It's like, hey, I'm shame and I'm going to publicly humiliate you for seemingly doing something improper or wrong that you just can never actually fix, right? And I'll be like, shame, leave now.
You know, it's like, that's easy. But it's like when we're tired and weary and we start having these questions, it's hard to even know like what's God? What's my thoughts? Like what is happening in this situation?
I woke up the other morning and I'm driving on the way to the gym and I am just tired. And I remember thinking, man, I got a pretty good night's sleep. There's not a lot in my life right now that is outside of the norm of like what I do, but I'm just feeling exhausted. And I just pulled an audible.
I went to like go just like sit with God. And not because I'm spiritual, but because I was literally feeling so tired. And I remember just sitting down with God and just saying God, like I'm so exhausted. I don't know what's going on.
Like I need your help. And in that moment, I felt like God brought to my mind the verse that says Jesus despised the shame. And I remember just thinking, like we all deal with shame on some level or another. We all deal with fear and these things that I mentioned on some level or another.
But I hadn't really like dialed in to like what shame is. So I'm like Googling, shame. I'm like, what is it? And I'm reading through it.
And I'm like, yup, yes. I'm like, okay, no wonder I'm so tired. Like this thing is like running me right now. Like what in the world?
And in Hebrews 12, too, is where it says that Jesus despised the shame. And so I just started looking into that verse and that's what I want to read for us. Hebrews 12, 1 through 3. It says this, it says, therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, talking about the heroes of faith in the last chapter, let us lay aside every way and sin which clings so closely and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sin and such hostility against himself so that you may not grow weary or faint-hearted. Man, he's the author of Hebrews is right into a people group that's actually facing intense persecution and even like imprisonment going to jail. So this isn't like this cute verse where it's like, hey, like as you're following Jesus, just make sure to never get tired.
He's writing a letter to people who are like, no, you're facing prison. Like the problems are real. And he's going, this is what I have to say to you. Can you imagine if you took a friend to lunch or dinner right now and you told him everything that you were going through right now, like the worst of the worst, the hard thing?
And you're like, man, it's been really difficult. And you're trying to like help them understand, like invite them into the process. You can imagine if they were just like, man, just try not to get tired. It's like, thank you, Captain Obvious.
Like, yeah, that's kind of what I'm trying to say. I'm exhausted. Like I'm weary. Like that's what this feels like right here.
He says, so that you don't grow weary or faint-hearted. And he says, but I love this scripture because it's packed with like what he actually has to say to these people. He says, for the joy set before Jesus. So it's like he's echoing the same theme that we're talking about.
For the joy set before you, you can endure. And he's saying right now in the middle of it, I'm writing this letter to you in some of your worst fears, in some of your greatest problems. And I'm saying, for the joy set before you, don't grow weary or faint. He's not saying for the joy, like once you get to the other side, right?
It's not a joy, once your circumstances change, or you can like, like that's what I want it to say. I'm like, yes, I will have joy once I get rid of these problems. Then I'll be so happy and joyful. I'll show you.
He's here's something interesting. There's so much advice these days that I catch, whether it's from social media, from books that are popular, from podcasts. And it says, just get rid of those people. Like just quit that job, right?
Like if you can just eliminate that circumstance, you can be well on your way to a great joyful life. And there can be moments where it's like we got to have those conversations and advice that we can heed from that. But overall, this verse isn't about the removal of things. This is about joy in the middle of it.
Like joy when you're actually facing the situation and you're still in the middle of it, it's saying for the joy that's set before him. It was joyful. It's like when we feel that weiriness and we're tired, the best thing to say to that is like, how? If I'm sitting down with a friend, I'm like, how?
If you got the words, how do we do this? And I love what it's saying here. Like I said, this is packed with so much good advice from God. I love that God knows us so well.
Like what he has to say, like just plows right through that facade that we try to put up, that like self like will and strength and determination that we try to do on our own. He's like, don't grow weary. Here's a couple of things that you're going to need on the way. Says this, lay aside every weight and sin which cleans so closely.
Lay aside every weight. Do I have any people in here who love to travel? Specifically, all right, love it. Specifically, the ones that like to get to the airport early.
Like I'm trying to go get, expose yourself, expose yourself right now. Yup, there you are. Yup. Like to get your coffee, I don't know what you do when you get there early.
What are you even doing? Because we all know there's a whole second group, I don't even need to ask you to raise your hands, right? But the thing is, the thing is, no matter who you are, we're both going through TSA, okay? Man, I'm getting there, I'm like, I think I got everything.
I'm just thinking through everything that I could possibly forget. And it's my turn. And there's a canine dog like weaving in front of me. And they're like, move forward at a normal pace.
And I'm like, I'm a little concerned, then I'm about to be attacked. Like I'm going up to the gate agent, making sure that I have my boarding pass and my license. And he's just like, next. I'm like, you've literally only said that to me once.
Like, what is the problem here? You know, we're getting up to the line and it's just like, do you want to shoes today or do you not want to shoes today? Like, can we just make it one way and just make this easier? Like, why am I asking you this question?
I'm like, do I have anything sharp in my bag? I never have anything sharp in my bag. I've checked my pockets five times. Like, I'm like, like, will a gum wrapper set this thing off?
Like, I'm just like, please do not pat me down. All that to say, it's just laying aside the weight. And I was just thinking about this like, yeah, like when I'm walking through this line, I'm just thinking, like, I need to get, I need to lay aside everything that this process requires, right? And the whole thing is for why?
So that you can get to where you're going safely. Like, so that you can actually get to where you're headed safely. And this is what this person makes me think of laying aside the weight. And I think this process with God is like so vital to our journey.
It's so vital to actually having joy because we can't just conjure up the feeling of joy, right? That's what it leads to. We're in this. We actually have to heed, like, what is, how do we actually do this?
And when it comes to God, it's like an exchange is the way that I would put it. It says lay aside the weight, okay? Like, even in that process, the Holy Spirit is so good at helping us realize what we're carrying that isn't for us to carry. And saying, lay aside the weight, then this shame or this, this, like feeling that I'm doing something wrong, I can't make it right, I'm laying it down.
Like this fear, I'm looking into like what's ahead, maybe looking into a season of retirement, but we don't have enough. I'm looking into like a new job, I'm like feeling an imposter syndrome, like I don't have what it takes. It's like we're laying aside these fears, we're laying aside these insecurities and these doubts, and lay them in front of God. And the thing about God is he actually wants to give us something to replace the weight that we are carrying.
He wants to give us something back. And this is a part of like what I have to say, I just want you to be able to do this tomorrow. And the next day, like this is an everyday process with God, or a process anytime that it's helpful to you. And you're running into a situation and you're like, I need to lay this aside.
And I'm wondering like what does God have for me? And I do this in my own life in just a really simple way of asking two questions when I'm doing this with God. What do you want me to know and what do you want me to do? You can write those down or remember them, they're not that hard to remember.
But what do you want me to know and what do you want me to do? Because when I lay this down, the reason that I picked any of this up in the first place is because I didn't know what was happening. Or I was forgetting who I was, or I was forgetting who you were for me. So I need something to pick up.
And so we're asking God, what do you want me to know and what do you want me to do? See the thing is, you can't carry the weight and joy set before you at the same exact time. Okay? You look at like this flag up here with the flag on it.
And then this one right here that says 24-7. Alright, look at both flags at the same time, go. You can't do it. And it should feel the same way to us when we think about what we're carrying and the weight that we need to lay aside and being able to have the joy that we are experiencing because of what we see ahead of us.
Sometimes we just let them like remain there and it's like you can't actually carry both at the same time. Like you have to lay this aside to be able to pick up what God is doing. Often when we ask those questions, God speaks identity to us. He reminds us of who He is.
Like what is happening in this exchange is what actually transforms us. This exchange is what produces the joy. Like that's what produces the joy. We're talking about joy, but it's like how it's this exchange that actually produces it.
Being able to hear what God's saying to this. And there's one other group of people that I want to even read these verses for. Because we're talking about problems and trials that we're facing, but it's interesting what Hebrews says in verse 5. I want to read that for us real quick.
It says, my dear child, don't shrug off God's discipline, but don't be crushed by it either. It's the child he loves that he disciplines. The child he embraces, he also corrects. God is educating you.
That's exciting. That's why you must never drop out. He's treating you as dear children. This trouble you're in isn't punishment.
It's training. I think about when the reason I'm sharing this because honestly this could be a whole other message. We could talk about John 15 and Pruneen and how God is actually trying to help you bear more fruit. And their joy will be full.
That's a message. No. But it's like I wanted to say this as well because it's like maybe right now there's nothing fully coming against me. There's nothing that's causing me harm from the outside that I could put the blame on or see.
But I'm feeling that same weirdness and tiredness. But I'm in that same process. And the thing that's so key to this exchange is that God threw it when we're laying these weights down. We're able to actually receive God's love and his joy that he has in us.
That's what it's saying. You do this to your kids that you love. I think about when I'm correcting my kids. And the thing that I'm always helping them understand is as I'm bringing correction and leading them, I'm just like, hey, I just want you to know that I'm proud of you.
And I tell them why I'm proud of them. I tell them why I love them. And I disassociate what's happening in this correction or me training or teaching you something. Because I'm like, I'm trying to help you for what I see in your future.
And that's what's happening in this process. So I'm just saying that because I trust that the Holy Spirit is so good at leading you, that maybe you're facing something that's kind of attacking you or coming at you problems of life. Or maybe God is training you in something. And the Holy Spirit is really good at helping you figure that out.
I love what else this verse encourages us with. It says this. Looking to Jesus. I love that statement.
It's just packed with like the potency of the gospel. Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross. Look to Jesus. I was thinking because it says he endured the cross.
What was the moment right before this? And I'm thinking about Jesus and the Garden of Gethsemane. And I think there's some of these verses or these things that we read in the Bible that we've maybe heard often or we've heard someone else talk about and we can kind of, we just know it. That's what it says.
But I'm thinking about this moment where Jesus actually says to the Father if there's any way that this could pass. Like if there's any other way, but not my will, your will be done. But it just is so interesting to me. It's like I think sometimes we paint Jesus without emotions.
And he was without a sin. But he's not without emotions. So he's literally saying if there is any other way, but your will be done. And I wonder, we don't have a recorded in Scripture, but I wonder what that moment would have looked like.
What was God saying back to him? Was he reminding him? Like in just a few days you'll be sitting at my right hand back together again in heaven. Was he?
Because he so often speaks identity in these moments in this exchange that Jesus is doing. I lay down that I don't want to do this. Will you have been reminding him of whosoever receives what you're about to do? John 3 16 that whosoever believes?
Like this is what you were born for. This is why I sent you. It's so that sons and daughters could be connected to me, right relationship and experience kingdom family. Like this is what this is about.
And the reason I say that, the moment of like him saying, there's any other way. But what could have God have said is because then right after he's saying for the joy set before him. Like he saw what was ahead. So what happened in that moment?
It's that same type of exchange that Jesus is doing with a father. And that says he despised the shame. I think about the years leading up where word would have been getting out that this is the Son of God. Like this is a king.
And he's with the person who has say on if he's going to go to this death on the cross or not. And it's being confirmed there once again. He's asking him questions. Is he a king?
He's like, I'm a king from another kingdom. And right there, it's even being said. And then he's sent. Being beaten, being flogged, like heading to the cross.
And people would have been mocking him for the same reason. They did mock him for the same reason that he was sent. If you were the Son of God, you'd be able to save yourself. Mocked for being a king.
And in that moment, shame would have been right at the doorstep. Because it seemingly would have looked that he's done something wrong. You're here to save the world. You can't even save yourself.
And the shame would have been at his doorstep. But he despised the shame for the joy that was set before him. For the joy that was set before him. So we need to look to Jesus.
We can't do this on our own. I want to read a verse from Matthew 11. He says this. When someone realizes they did something wrong, like a four-year-old boy, thinking about my boy.
What happens when he realizes he did something wrong? When shame is on him, his head drops. What happens when fear is what our heart is believing in. That's what we're facing.
Fear paralyzes you. You can't move forward or look forward. You're worried about what's ahead. This verse is encouraging us.
Look to Jesus. For he's the one. Come to me. All who are weary.
I will give you rest. It's in him. We have to look to him. Are you feeling tired?
Are you feeling any bit discouraged in what you're facing? Does it seem overwhelming? Does it seem confusing at all? Because that's what happens when we're in the middle of the trials and the problems and the questions come up.
And it's like what is happening? But he's encouraging us. Look to Jesus. He's the one.
He's the one that in this situation died, rose again, and did what you and I could never do to connect us to the Father. Continue to follow that same thing in what you face in your life right now. Look to Jesus. That's where your strength comes from.
That's where the weariness and the tiredness fades. This exchange that he did with God. It says for the joy that was set before him. It's for the joy that's before you.
You're feeling like you're on the edge of failure and worried about what people around you. Like if you'll be disappointing them, God wants to speak identity to you. And have you walking more freely in who you are than you ever have before, right now in the situation that you face right now. You're feeling like expectations are unmet.
It's become a season of disappointment. Like God has something to speak to you. God has something to, he wants to realign what he's doing and who he is for you. So many of these situations were running into this weariness and this tiredness.
And he's saying for the joy, for the joy that's set before us. When we actually understand what God wants to do for us, we're laying aside the weight. We're looking to Jesus. And now when I think of the brother of Jesus, James, who has pretty good perspective, someone that I'd like to take some notes from, and he says, consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters.
And that rings a little bit differently in my heart now. He would have been saying, oh, I've seen this happen before. You have a problem? Oh, you better get so excited.
I wonder what God's up to. I wonder how he's transforming you. I wonder what he's trying to do in your life. I wonder what he's about to speak to you in this season.
For the joy, you can consider it pure joy with whatever you face. I want to share a story with you. I was spent some time with one of our young people in our church. I knew that he was going through a pretty hard time.
And one of our leaders was saying, like, yeah, he's really going through it. There's a lot happening in his life and in this situation. The things that young people are facing these days is absurd. And he's walking through a broken relationship, but then there's all kinds of other slander.
The stuff that he was facing, I'm like, I would need therapy for years with what you're walking through. And we get together. We go play some basketball as you do. And we sit down afterwards, and we're just talking about it.
I'm asking him how it is. Here's how he's handling this stuff. And we get a little bit away from the conversation. He says, I'm like, yeah, I have something I want to share with you.
I started doing therapy, and my therapist prescribed me pills. And I've been taking way more than I'm supposed to. Because when we're weary and tired, our souls will look for anything to get a break. He said, I'm taking these pills, and we had a really good conversation about how that's not what he needs, and that's not where he's going to get what he's actually looking for.
And we just started talking right there at that table. We started saying this phrase, you're about to get your joy back. It's like, the weight is laid aside. The problems were exposed, but it was still in the middle of what he was going through.
We dapped up and walked out of there. We're facing the same situation. Weeks later, we're at a retreat. And we have a night where we're praying and worshiping, and students are getting prayed over.
He comes up to me at the end of that night, and he's already radiating joy. And he goes, I feel different. He goes, God did something in me tonight. I feel different.
And I could see the joy all around him, in him, everything about it. He was able to lay aside what he was actually walking through. He was able to get his eyes on Jesus and look to Jesus. And now he has that joy in the middle of his situation, because we're still talking about that same situation.
But he has joy. I met up with him a couple months later, saying joy. That's the dude I know. And I just know how many stories, how many students are going to be impacted by what he walked through.
Because he's carrying genuine joy on the inside because of what God did through his life. And I was just thinking about a picture of all of us. When we're doing the same thing, we're laying these things aside and actually exchanging, God, what do you want to say to me? What do you want to give me perspective on?
I need you to speak into this. I need you to show me, I need you there. That's where the transformation happens. It doesn't happen because I have a really good mindset.
And then I'm just going to give life everything I've got and get there. And I just got this picture of all of us walking through our everyday lives, at our offices, at the coffee shops, at the gas station, inviting people into our houses. And just the people that will come across that encounter a genuine joy. It's like what in the world is on the inside of you.
For the ones that are following him that are feeling like, I don't know up from down. Like I don't know what's happening right now. I don't know what God's saying. I'm feeling just disoriented.
But they come across this joy. That's where that forced smile. That's where that facade. That's where that grit and that like striving.
And like it just falls off. Because it's like, what do you have? For the ones that don't know him. For the ones that don't know Jesus.
And I just picture the people who are meeting you in your daily lives. And they're going, we're facing the same type of problems. What is that joy that you have? The same problems.
But what in the world is that joy? And I just see conversations with people. They're leading to salvation. I shared in the other service, I love that Jesus' arrival, him being born, was through the phrase of, I bring you good news of great joy.
And I think about, man, when people meet you, good news of great joy. And it's going to cause that weariness and that heaviness. And that we try to walk around with. That people are walking around with when they don't know him.
And they're going to be able to go, how do I get that joy? I'm excited to hear the stories of salvation. The stories of breakthrough for other believers. Because of the genuine joy that we carry.
Will you stand with me? I want to close this in prayer. I'm going to close this in prayer and then hand it off to Josh. God, I thank you for who you are.
God, let this not be just another message about scriptures that we've heard before. Let this not just be another message that pumps us up for a couple of weeks. But then we find ourselves back in the same weariness before. God, I pray that today we'd be able to have these moments with you.
In the coming days, we'd be able to have these moments with you. Where we actually start to go, Holy Spirit, what do you want to highlight? I want to lay aside any weight that is not meant for me. And to just go, God, what do you want me to know?
And the joy you have for us, the love that you have for us. Causes those burdens, causes that weariness just to fall off. God, I pray that genuine joy would hit people's hearts. Tonight, in the coming days, the way that you give us joy because of our connection to you, is just unbelievable.
Thank you for who you are.