The 3 Lies David Refused to Believe

Christian and I are good friends. We're also founding members. This is not a flex, but founding members of the Passion Run Club. It's not a flex. Is what it is. Some of the speakers and bands that come to Passion just like to sleep and be lazy all the time. Christian and I just started to agitate. We try and get some of these musicians and speakers out for runs before we do Passion Conferences. We go on a lot of runs and it usually ends in the sauna, which is where the best conversations happen. And by the way, Christian survived the cold plunge with flying stars last night. Flying colors. It was a little colder than the Louisiana one, right? There were flying stars. He said he saw flying stars. He's like, I might be hallucinating and having an out of body experience. It was definitely an experience for sure. So Christian, we're really excited to have you here. One of the reasons this whole moment happened is because, and I'm just really grateful how God knits stuff together, because you and I were at Passion Conference and we were chatting this year in January. And you brought up, because I was like, what's up, bro? How you doing, man? And you were like, bro. I remember you grabbed me and you were like, have you seen House of David? And I was working on this series at that time. And it was just such a wild thing because you grabbed me and you were like, with tears in your eyes, telling me the impact this show has had on your life. So I thought we could just start there. What did God do in stirring you when you were watching the show? Let's do it. Yeah, I know. I shared the first service and I shared it with like 20 people and I think you were slightly offended because you thought you were the only one. I said, bro, remember that moment? He's like, yeah, I had that moment with like 19 other people. And I was like, well, was mine the best? That was not what I said. Yeah, you were definitely the best. It hurt my feelings because I thought you were like being vulnerable with me. It turns out you were just like, have a nice flight, have a nice flight, have a nice flight.

I was making my rounds. But yeah, I know the show had such a profound impact on my life and it was nothing, you know, nothing in like a salvific way, but in a way of, man, just seeing, watching the show stirred something in me for just to want to read the scriptures, you know, like this whole series you're talking about, is that in the Bible? It made me want to go actually read the Bible more and pull from first and second Samuel and read the Psalms and coupled with what was David actually, you know, where was his headspace at in these big moments of life? And I think that was what the show was so cool was that it truly did humanize David in these moments of like, what's the real and raw emotion that he's going through when he's experiencing this? And just the way he handled his, you know, suffering and the way he handled these moments in his life that he went through, for me, it just was so profound and so impactful. And I just became obsessed with the show and gleaning from the life of David and how he carried out his anointing that God had anointed him with. And, you know, leading up to fight Goliath after fighting Goliath on the run from his father-in-law and just how he handled that and how he stayed so strong in his faith. And then the show just made me just become obsessed with thinking about all these other extra biblical things in his life about, you know, these random hypotheticals that he, you know, even like, yeah, like the cheese tray. Did anyone ever wonder what happened to the cheese tray after he... I'm like... Explain that. Okay, well, so Jesse... Someone's like, charcuterie? What's going on here? Well, basically it was a charcuterie where it was cheese and bread. So David's father, Jesse, sent him out to go check on his brothers to the battlefield. So David delivers, you know, cheese and bread. He's immediately met with hatred from his brother. And then he goes and kills Goliath. Then I was like, do you think he ever ate the cheese? It's like, do you think he has Goliath's head in one hand and he's just eating some, you know, some sharp cheddar? This I have never wondered. Really? But I'm about to... I think about it often. Yeah. So he's got... He thinks about it often. It's crazy. Not like a daily thing. No, but you know, nothing works up an appetite like a good decapitation. Is that what you're saying? Yeah. Yeah. Well, he did it and he's like, where's the food that I brought earlier? Yeah. No, I'd be thinking that. Yeah. I do think it's crazy that he, because the chronology is he gets anointed to be the next king and

then immediately goes back to the sheepfold where I'd be like, how you like me now? Like strutting around the house a little bit, like in my flesh. David's not that way, obviously. And then his dad sends him to the battlefield, not to fight, not to take the tent at the VIP palace, but to bring, like how demeaning. He's like almost like a pizza delivery boy to his dad. brothers who got picked to be soldiers in Saul's army when David did not. Yeah. So even the fact that he was willing to go, like, doesn't that challenge you? It does challenge me, yeah, and it's because, you know, you know, also, he also had, um, like, he was ministering for Saul between that time period, too, like, between the anointing and then between, you know, that moment, like, he was back and forth between, between Jerusalem and, yeah, his, like, like, his headspace of, like, what is he thinking when, you know, he's, he's in the palace and then he goes back to the private moments. I was thinking about that from, like, like, it's, it's so cool, right? It's, like, God chose him because of his heart and, and, and what he was doing out in the wilderness and, and God sees how he shepherded his sheep and he, you know, he said he'll make a good, a good shepherd of people, and I think... You should quote that because that's a, that, that exact thing, that, what you're saying, that's, that's, like, a direct excerpt from scripture. You should, you should pull, we should put that up on screen for people. I don't know if I have that one. No, yeah, it's where God says his heart's good, right? Oh, yeah, yeah, but I was talking about the, yeah, the shepherding part, but... Oh, yeah, yeah. Well, we do have, we do have 1 Samuel 13. I'll read, I'll read that. We should read that. Yeah, yeah, let's read that one. Yeah. But now your kingdom shall not continue, this is Samuel to Saul. The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people because you have not kept what the Lord

commanded you. So that's what, that's what Samuel told to Saul in 1 Samuel 13. The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and, and I love thinking about that, too, you know, kind of zooming out. It's, like, David, at this point, is a teenager, so he's, he's, he's doing something out in the wilderness, tending sheep as a teenager, that God sees, and he's, he's saying, that's the guy. So it's, like, what was he doing out in the wilderness that caught God's attention? And he was, he, he was, he was using him as a shepherd to shepherd people, but he was also using him with the lion and the bear to, to be a skilled warrior, and I think that's the thing. It's, like, so many of us, we might look at, at something we have, and it might seem inadequate, which is what Eliab says. He sees, you know, we'll get there later, says, who did you leave the few sheep with? So it's, like, he might not have even had a lot, but it's, like, what are you doing with, with, with the small things that God's seeing how you, how you handle it to where he, he, before he elevates you to something bigger? And I think if David would have despised the, the small shepherding, then he would have never been, he would have never been chosen to be, to be a prince and to be a king. And I think that speaks to me because it's, like, what is something I'm doing that seems, you know, small, that seems, that seems insignificant, and God's saying that's the, that's the thing I'm watching how you do before I call you to more. Amazing. So good. And, and you specifically honed in on his heart. Yeah. His heart's so good. Yeah. His body may or may not have looked like much because we know he's rejected, like, Goliath says, like, what'd you send the youth group out to fight me, right? And, and, and his, his, his, the prophet Samuel doesn't pick him, right? So, so what God does like is he has a heart. Yeah. Yeah. Well, then you, then you have an axe, and it's to where Paul is writing, and he says, or, or Luke, but he says, um, you

know, here's David, a man who will do all, all I will, all my will. And that's the thing, too. It's, like, something about David as a teenager, I'm looking around, there's a lot of young people in here, too. It's, like, God can see something in you now that he can see how you're going to be in the future. Right. And I love that God saw what David was doing with the sheep as a teenager, and he says, that is a man who's going to do all I ask him to do. Okay, so God likes David's heart. Okay, so let's leave David there for a second, if you don't mind. Let's do it. We're going to come back to him. I, um, remember vividly when Jenny and I had you and Sadie on our podcast, and we were hearing your faith journey and story, and both you were sharing, and you talked about how you came to Christ in a way that maybe some people have, who have heard that pod, uh, digested it, maybe they haven't. Could you share that testimony, just of your salvation story? Yeah, that's great. Yeah, so my story, I feel like it's, uh, it's one that I, you know, even 10 years later, I'm still, I still am trying to exactly figure out what God was doing in my life. But I grew up in church. I have two amazing parents. They're here today. Right here in the front, in the front. They're awesome. They, they love, they love the Lord a lot. Um, and I think for me, I really struggled with, like, faith for myself, but also just this, the distinguish, the, the, the distinguishing between relationship and religion. And I think I focused so much on just, just the religiosity aspect of things, and like, I just didn't know what a relationship with God truly looked like, and what conviction looked like in the Holy Spirit, and repentance. I thought that was a one-time thing, not a daily thing. You know, I joked about last night, it had to happen at Safeway. Um, like, there's day, there's, there's daily repentance. And I feel like, I feel like I just

didn't grasp that. After the first service, I was thinking about this verse, and this was my life. It's 1 John 1. First John 1.6, it says, if we say we have fellowship with him, which I said I did, while we walk in darkness, which is what I was doing, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with him. We have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. So that was me. That was the one foot in, one foot out. That was the, you know, if we claim we have fellowship with him, I was, you know, leading Bible studies. I was involved in church, but I was also walking in darkness. And I was, I was caught up in these, in these habitual sin habits that, you know, it didn't lead me to repentance, but it led me to think I need to go get more involved with church. And that was just the religion. Almost like I could fix this. I just need to get some of the red out of my ledger kind of a thing. Yeah. It was almost like the balancing of the scales, right? It was like, if I, if I do more things like this, then surely, you know, the bad things I'm doing aren't like it, it was, it was just a weird feeling. And I, I was in that state for a while, ended up going to college. God had done some things in my life that summer leading up to it. But it was just the parable of the seed. It was, I would go to these youth camps and I would, I would have these, these, these moments, but, and I would receive, you know, I would receive it with joy, but then it was, you know, immediately it would fall away, which is why I love 1 Samuel 17, which is where we're going to get to with, with Eliab. And I would just fall away and I would be like, yeah, you know, maybe, maybe, maybe,

maybe what I'm doing is actually more satisfied, has more satisfaction in it than, than, than following God. And so I went to college, wanted to be involved in church, but also, you know, loved, I say loved and enjoyed the patterns that I, that I was, you know, kind of caught up in and partying, partying, yeah. Girls drinking, you know, all the, all the things. And I had this moment to where it was like, okay, how can I have the best four years of my life, but also be plugged in church? And I didn't think I could have the best four years of my life only in church and not, not, not, not doing all the party stuff. So I joined a fraternity. I was a drive pledge, which basically means you're not going to drink. You're, you're the designated driver basically. And you're a bad DD when, when you're drinking with everyone else. So by definition, why, why actually never, I was never, I never did drive when I was, when I was drinking, just to clarify that. But I was, what I was saying was I was not doing what, what the, the title of what I was saying I was doing. So I'd kind of had these moments leading up to this. People think of you as a Christian guy. Well, my name's Christian. So I think by default, so I think maybe by default probably, but yes. Touche. Yes, yes, yes. You, you let it be known you were a follower of Jesus, right? I was. And I think that's for me, that, that's kind of when the hypocrisy led up to where it was like, I'm saying one thing and I'm doing another. If I'm saying I'm going to, you know, be involved in church, I'm not going to be drinking, but yet you see what I'm doing. You know, there's that's, it, it doesn't correlate there. There's a, there's a, you know, opposition there. And I was at a party and I was just on a, on a port shotgunning beers by myself. And this,

this guy walked out looking at what he was probably hoping was going to be his DD. And he was like, I thought you didn't drink. And I was like, man, I don't drink. And it was this, this instantaneous moment of like, stop saying one thing and living another. And it was this, this, this radical moment for me of like, like, it really was like a prodigal son. It was like, I'm tired of being here. I'm going to go back. And, um, and that was really when my, my, my life kind of radically changed and then started the Bible study and got plugged in. And, but that was the moment for me where it became more about relationship and, and how to actually, you know, walk in step with the spirit and not just how can I just fix this by going back to church? It was like, how can I daily live this out in a, in a relationship with God? Thank you for sharing that. It's beautiful. I love that. I love, I remember when you shared that on the podcast, you were talking like you quoted from James about like seeing yourself in the mirror. You know what I mean? Like you, that moment allowed you, even just his comment to you allowed you to see yourself and like, is this who I really want to be? Is this what I want my life to be like? Yeah. That's what it is. It's like, it's like even the demons believe in shudder. It's like faith without works is dead. So for me, it was like, I had faith. Like that was, that was the James. I claimed to have fellowship with him. Like you said, people knew I was a Christian, but I was walking in darkness and the two, like, that's not, that's not the light that God's called, called us to live. And, um, I would even go as far to say like, you're, you're probably not a Christian. If, if you're saying this and you're living another way, you know, the, the Bible talks all about, you know, bearing fruit. And it's like, if you look at Galatians five acts, the sinful nature, first of the spirit,

Paul's like, what side are you on? And if you, if you looked at my life, I was clearly on the sinful nature side and not the, you know, not the, um, not the, not, not the fruit of the spirit part. And that for me was the moment where I was like, okay, how do I put these things to death? Romans six. It's like, if we, um, what shall we say? Then shall we continue sinning so that grace may increase by no means we who died. The sin, how can we live in it any longer? So that was the baptism moment of putting to death, crucifying this sin, this flesh, being raised to life, and actually pursuing the fruits of the Spirit and not just living in the acts of the sinful nature. OK, so you're walking with Jesus. One of the things that struck me was when we had that conversation about David at Passion, you just talked about how his life of praise intersected with his warrior spirit. And you were saying that was one thing that really seemed to resonate with you. Well, that was the thing. So at Passion, when I was making my rounds talking about the TV show, I was showing everyone this clip. Everyone, anybody, old ladies, little babies, people you didn't know. Well, people that hadn't seen the show. No, I do appreciate that. There's also people on your staff that have not seen the show. Yeah, I know.

They used to be on my staff. Never see him again. I'm just kidding. But no. We were in the backstage, like, tell everybody, tell your favorite clip from House of David. Like, the first two people were like, never seen it. I was like, guys, uh, Et tu, Brute? It's fine. Which I've watched it enough for them. That's nice. Yeah. Yeah. Sorry, what was your question? The warrior spirit. Yes, the warrior, yes. OK, so I was showing everyone, it's season two, episode five. It's the first clip of this episode. But it's David, it's kind of because the show kind of leads up to him not really knowing what he's doing. Jonathan sort of trains him. And then finally, he catches his stride. And so it's like one year after Goliath, the scene unfolds. And he's just in these battle scenes, all these different seasons. And he's quoting Psalms as he's having these victories. And then the scene transitions from that to him, you know, playing the harp on, like, in the temple. And it was something about David reading the Psalms. Should we show them that clip?

Do we have it? Yeah. You guys want to see it? Yeah. Check it out. The righteous will flourish like a palm tree. They will grow like a cedar of Lebanon, planted in the house of the Lord. They will flourish in the courts of our God. By this, I know that you are pleased with me. Because my enemies do not triumph over me. Is that not, like, the coolest scene ever? Welcome to church, everybody. How many times have I watched that? It's like five people just got offended. They all, like, just left the church, you know. That might have been my 31st time watching it. That's so good. It's just, it's incredible. And it's like, because that's the thing. It was David's awareness of God's protection over his life in these battle scenes. And, you know, Psalms 3, this is when he's on the run from his son trying to kill him. I'm not afraid of 10,000 enemies who surround me on every side. And that's not, that's like a legitimate. He wasn't using that as a metaphor. Yeah, that's not allegorical. It's like, no, there's actually 10,000 people

that are trying to kill you. And it's like his fearlessness in that, it's like, man, if I'm afraid of these simple things in my life, it's like, how do I get to a point where David, it's like, there's 10,000 people around me, and I'm going to trust that you're going to deliver me from this. And something about that scene, and just even that idea about this, I know you are well-pleased with me. You know, I think oftentimes we live our lives to please other people. Not that that's necessarily always a bad thing, but it can be is when you please, you try to please people more than you try to please God. And for me, it's like, what am I doing that's pleasing to the Lord? And I want to live my life that's pleasing to Him. And I think that looks like obedience. I think it looks like obedience. I think it looks like trust. And I think it looks like just that continual, I'm going to live my life in a relationship with you, and ask for discernment, and ask for wisdom, and just confess things when I mess up, and ask for repentance, and tell others about you. Christian, that's phenomenal. So good. And that's a daily struggle, right? Yeah. You pointed out a connection I had never seen before.

And I feel terrible about it, because I taught 1 and 2 Samuel for like 50 weeks. And then you said this one thing. I was like, well, there it is. I just never made this connection. And to what God confirmed over David's life, the verse we just read, what did he praise about him? Yeah, the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart. His heart's good, but then you connected it to a comment his brother made. His brother, yeah. So go there. It's 1 Samuel 17, verse 28. It says, now Eliab, his eldest brother, which context, this is the oldest brother of David, which if you look at the chapter before, it was the one that Samuel saw and said, surely this is the Lord's anointed, which is fun to think about. If that was a verbal or if the show made it verbal, some people think it was just a thought. But if he said it verbally, it kind of gives credence maybe to why he's mad at his brother. But, and Eliab's anger was kiddled against David. And he said, why have you come down, and with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness with? I know your presumption and the evil of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle. And it struck me because the thing that he's accusing David of is what God chose him for.

That's the part that I hadn't seen. God said his heart's phenomenal, and Eliab immediately goes, your heart's evil. Which is so the enemy, because it's like if, like, and keep in mind, this has been going on for 40 days, by the way, and his brother hasn't done anything about it. And here David shows up, and it's going to do something about it. But it's like the enemy is going to come after the thing that God's called you for. And it's not a surprise that David has something like this happen the moment he walks up. It's like God chose him for his heart, and the first interaction he has is someone saying, you have a wicked heart. And it's like for so many of us, we would just be defeated or deflated, or we'd play the victim, or we would just feel shame and not do anything about it. And I think that's why this story is so cool, because it's like, yes, David killed Goliath, which is awesome. But it's like David had to kill three other mental giants before he ever killed a physical one. So it's like that is. Explain that. Unpack that. Eliab's one of them. Because for me, Eliab's one of them, the voice of judgment. He doubted his skill set as a shepherd,

and he also said he had a wicked heart. So for us, it's like your brother is judging you. And it's like I just think about myself and my insecurities and my things. It's like I don't know if I would, like, that would have rattled me a little bit. It might not have derailed me from the mission, but it definitely would have provoked some anger or something. But he's like, OK, what have I done now? Here's your lunch. He keeps moving. 1 Samuel 13, verse 33. So if the judgment from a brother wasn't hard enough, you have the doubt from a king now. And Saul said to David, you are not able to go against the Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth. So if the judgment from your brother wasn't enough to kind of get you off track, I think Satan's like, what about the doubt from the king? So pause right there. You are not able. Yeah. Here he is. I'm going to do this for God, and there's the person in authority in his life who should be encouraging it, who also, like Eliab, is not doing anything about this giant.

Yeah. I'm not going to do anything, but I'm going to say that you're not able to do it either. Right? Yeah. For 40 days. For 40 days. Come on, coward. Yeah. Well, that's the thing. So that's the thing about David's life, right? He was a shepherd, a musician, a warrior. So God called him because of his heart. God saw his skill set as a shepherd and said he'll be good at shepherding people. And I think God saw his warrior, his fearlessness he had in the wilderness, fending off a lion and a bear. And Saul's like, you can't go fight him. And Saul's doubting his skill set as a warrior. So it's like immediately you're doubted for your calling as a shepherd, and you're doubting your skill set as a warrior. And what's the third challenge? The third voice for me? Yeah. It's Goliath. It's first Samuel. Oh, yeah, him. Yeah. Well, it's like, what's not only, yeah,

it's first Samuel 17, 43 through 44. And the Philistines said to David, am I a dog that you come to me with sticks, which in the Hebrew, it's actually a very more vulgar. Yeah. It's very vulgar. Goliath has a potty mouth. Yeah, very bad potty mouth. I would not tell you to look up what it says, because it's very bad. And the Philistine cursed David. Is it weird that I want to now? No, we can talk about it after. That's a bad word. It's not a good word. And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. And then the Philistine said to David, come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field. So immediately, so now you have the voice of ridicule. He's like, who am I? You come at me, am I a dog that you come at me with sticks? Like he just talked about, he's smaller than Goliath, obviously. So he's ridiculing them for sending out this tiny boy to come fight him. And he's also telling him, I'm about to kill you, and I'll give your body to the. So it's like, you defeat the judgment from your brother, you defeated the doubt from a king,

and then you defeat the ridicule from a giant, and then you still sling the sword. And it's like, how many of us would have stopped after the, it's like, there's, there's three checkpoints and then you got the giant. And it's, I think many of us would have not made it past the first three. And for, for David. I find it so fascinating. All the other voices should be cheering him on and championing him. Yeah. And, and, and so like the actual only thing he should be worried about is Goliath, but he's dealing with all these little fires that shouldn't be there, right? From the people who should be in his corner. Well, that's what I'm thinking. Cause like, cause that, that, that's why the show is so good. Cause I'm like, do you think when David's choosing a stone from the, from the Brook, he's like, oh my brother, he's clueless. You know, like, like what, what, what is he thinking? Like, like ruminating, like we did tend to, you know, he's, he's venting. I think he's praying. You know, you talked about that in one of your other ones, he had to kneel down to get the stone, which was so beautiful. Unless he was crazy mad limber with the hamstrings.

And I don't, I don't believe real world experience tells me probably not. He was doing some Nordic curls. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Sorry. That was an inside joke. But no, I mean, it's that, but that, like, that's the human, the human nature. It's like, what is David thinking about when he's choosing the stones after Saul doubted him and his brother said he had a wicked heart. It's like, I just love pondering those thoughts about what, what was he thinking? And then he goes to, to, to kill Goliath. And then Goliath is cussing him out and cursing him. And he's like, okay, I've, I've, I've, I've killed a lion and a bear and the Lord's got me. I'm anointed. What do you think got him through? I mean, cause he's got all these voices, the Philistine voice, the Saul voice, you're not able ringing in his ears. Right. And then he's also got his brother. Your heart's evil. Like how, how do you, and we're all dealing with our own versions of that. Right.

In the crazy of this world, you deal with that. So what do you think got David through? What can get us through in our, in our difficulties? That's good. Yeah. I think that's the thing. It's like, I don't know if, if, if it was the anointing specifically that got David through that gave him that confidence to know I'm not going to die here because I'm, I'm anointed to be King. Or if it was just his trust in God, regardless of if, if that moment had ever happened. And I think he did have crazy trust in God because he was anointed for his heart. So it's like, you see the traits in that early on. And I think for me, you know, if, if, if you look at all of us, people in the old Testament long for the days that we're in now, you know, if Jesus says in Matthew, something greater than the temple is here and he sent his spirit to dwell inside of us. Now we're the temple. We are the place where the presence of God rests. And in the old Testament, it had to be in the temple. And I think for us, you know, that's where the confidence comes from is that I am indwell with the Holy spirit. David wanted to build a house for God and we get to be that. And I think that confidence comes then we're, you know, just like David was anointed, what was anointed by Samuel.

And not, it might not be as, as grandiose as, as, as it was, but, but the truth is, if we're, if we possess the Holy spirit, we're all anointed, you know, God's called us to go do these things for him. You know, that's what Jesus says, you know, you'll, you'll appear before powers and I'll give you the words to say, and you, you will have something, something greater than the temple is here. And then Jesus says, it's better that I go. Cause I'm going to send the helper. And if you have the Holy spirit, that's what gets you through. That's that, that's that anointing power. That's the Holy spirit inside of you. And I think for us, yeah, it might not look like, it might not look like what David did, but, um, with the way that he was anointed, but I think that's the thing for me. It's like having that realization that there's something inside of me that's dwelling. That's, that's helping me, you know, live this life. That's convicted me for these things that's challenging me in these things. And that is, I had to just believe that that's anointed me, you know, to do these things that I'm doing. Phenomenal Christian. That's so good. Come on. Let's thank you for that. That's great. You said it just quickly in passing a minute ago, but you made reference to like insecurities and vulnerabilities that you deal with, you carry, you know, and obviously from the outside, people look at you like, dude,

you're like ripped and you're, you know, you're being used by God and doing all this stuff and you got to, you know, but, but everybody deals with hardships. Everyone deals with difficulty. And I got to imagine too, you know, you joining a family that's like well-known on TV and, you know, all the pressures and difficulties that no one knows you carry, like what's a way that all of this that we're talking about, the loftiness of David fighting a battle and finding him anchoring his heart in scriptures, like what's a real world, you're a dad, you're a husband, you're a son, like that, that, that, that studying these scriptures has helped you in a day-to-day way that could be actionable for us watching on. Yeah. That's really good. Yeah. I think there is something about the moments in David's life out in the wilderness. And I think, I think you see, that's what Jesus did. Jesus would all, what would oftentimes go away in the wilderness. And I think something about in David's life on the outside, like what Eliab said, it's like something that seems. insignificant. It's like that's the thing that God is watching, how you steward before he calls you to more. So for me in my life, it's like whether it's you know, putting my kids to sleep at night or a conversation with my wife, it's like, I think God is watching how I steward these things before he before he does something else. And it's like, I want to be a man after God's own heart. Do I want to be physically in good shape? Yes. But do I want to be in better shape spiritually? For sure. I don't want someone to look at me physically and be imposed. I want someone to look at me and say there's something inside of

him that that kind of freaks me out. I want that power. I don't want I don't want to just lift a ton of weight. And as long as you promise use it for good enough for evil. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. I wouldn't use it for evil. But I think that I think that's the thing, though. It's like, it's like getting to a point where like, I'm confident, you know, and I'll have insecurities of, you know, even simple things of like, you know, sometimes I'll take my kids to school. And I'll be like, you know, should I be out working or doing something like that? You know, and it's like, I think God's watching how I do something simple and mundane like that. And it's like, if I if I'm constantly wanting more or wanting bigger than I'm missing the more simple moments. And I think that's the thing of like, not wanting to strive for more not wanting to, you know, the bigger stage, the bigger platform. It's like, what are you doing right now with what God's called you to do? Are you being faithful with that? It's like David, the few sheep, what are you doing in the mundane and the ordinary, that God's watching how you steward, and he might never call you to more. And if he doesn't, that's okay. That was the song. It's the highest place that reaches out your feet, you know, they're not done at all. And it's like, are you living your life faithful now? And I think that's the thing for me. It's like that daily intake of, you know, I might not have done a ton of things today, but simple, mundane things. And was I faithful in it? Christian, there might be someone watching or listening today who doesn't have a relationship with Jesus, or is like you said, one foot in the world, one foot out. Take a moment and speak to that person. What would you say to them?

It's a good question. I would say that, you know, I think my life is a testament of that, of thinking you're going to find pleasure in the world. And it might be pleasurable, but it's not, it's not lasting. It's not, it's, it's, it's not, it's temporal. It's, it's not satisfying in the long term. And I think I chased that for so long, because I didn't think I could find it in the scriptures. I didn't think I could find it in Jesus. And when I did, I realized that, man, all those things I chased, it's just vanity. That's what Solomon says in Ecclesiastes. It's vanity. It's fleeting. It's just, you know, it's like a mist. It's a vapor. And I think if you've never truly surrendered your life to Jesus, then you don't fully know what it's like to truly be in that relationship. That was that verse I said, if you claim to have fellowship, yet you walk in the darkness, you lie, do not practice the truth. So my encouragement is, man, it's look at your life. It's like Galatians 5. It's like, can you look at this list or this list and just say, which one marks my life? And if it's the acts of the sinful nature, I want you to ask yourself, are you happy? Like, is that satisfying you? And if it's not, which it's not, then you look at the fruits of the Spirit. You look at the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control. That's what we all long to do. And you can try to mess it up in your own strength, but it's not going to last long. And I think that's when the Holy Spirit comes in to help you, to help you with that. That's the repentance. That's the conviction. That's the, hey, here's how you stay on this track. And I think, yeah, acts of sinful nature, fruits of the Spirit. Where are you at? And if you find yourself searching, if

you find yourself wanting to figure that out, it can only be found in Jesus. He says, I've come to give life and life abundantly. You know, through all his promises are yes and amen. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. So there is a creator of the world who became a man and we killed him on a cross, which is crazy to think about. That the God who created everything that we see, reality, became a man, born of a woman, and walked the earth that he created and we killed him. But God raised him from the dead. And if you believe in that, if you trust in that, if you live your life, honoring the way he lived, trying to live the way he did, then you will see your life radically change. And if you just try to go through the motions, and if you don't fully embrace that, then you're never going to fully live out the calling He's called you to have. And you're never going to experience the fullness of what He truly came to bring you, which is freedom. If we could pray for a moment, I'm so grateful for what God's doing here, the way that He works. When Jesus is exalted, the Bible says God draws people to Himself. And as we honor and exalt you, God, we know that we are telling the story that is your story that has become our story for so many of us. Of Christ who came and humbled Himself, of Christ who was slaughtered, of Christ who rose, of Christ who reigns, of Christ who's seated at the right hand of the Father and is inviting through His Spirit lost sons and daughters who are looking to this thing, to this world to satisfy,

to find living water, eternal life, salvation, and freedom, and hope in the mighty name of Jesus. So that when the casket lid closes on our bodies here on this earth, we will know we are alive with Christ forever. That's the invitation at the table today. Not a religion, a relationship with a God who saves. That's who saved Christian. That's who saved me. That's who's willing to save you if you call upon Him in faith. I'm going to ask my brother to say a prayer in a moment for the benefit of all those who are hearing this today and say, man, I want that life. I want that salvation. I'm one foot in, one foot out. I know enough about God to be dangerous in church and enough about church to be dangerous in the world. But you've never truly surrendered and bowed your knee to God. But today can be that day for you. I'm going to ask you to pray out loud after Christian as he prays. And the church family, we're all going to pray alongside you as we are no better than you. We just got here first. And we invite you in to have a seat at the table and join the family. But this can be your day giving your heart to Christ, saved for eternity because of what Christ did for you on the cross and in rising from the dead.

But be clear, to reject Jesus is to reject life. To end up in hell one day is to have no one to blame but yourself because God is willing to save you. But you must come to Him and call upon Him. No one's too old. No one's too young. If you hear what I'm saying, understand what these words mean, you can call on Christ right now. Pray this prayer as Christian prays. Jesus, reveal yourself to me. Open my eyes. Convict my heart. Show me who you are. Show me who I'm not. And show me who I am. I know that you love me. I know that you died to save me. I want to believe that. I ask you to help me to believe that. In areas where there's unbelief, I ask you to meet me there. I believe you died. I believe you rose. And I believe you're coming back again. And I want to be with you in Jesus' name.