December 4, 2023 • 40 mins
Embrace the holiday spirit as we unravel the true essence of peace and how it can transform your festive season. This episode is a heartfelt journey into finding serenity in God's presence, despite the challenges that life may throw at us. I'm here to walk with you through the wisdom of Isaiah 26:3, illuminating the path to perfect peace by keeping our focus steadfast on the promises of the Almighty rather than the turmoil around us.
Join me in a profound reflection on the internal battle we all face between truth and falsehood, a struggle that often determines our state of peace. We'll uncover how our mental posture, the direction of our attention, plays a crucial role in experiencing divine tranquility. Moreover, this episode extends an open-hearted invitation to accept the transformative power of faith, welcoming Jesus into our lives, and discovering the peace that comes with it. Together, we'll navigate through a prayer of salvation, celebrating the journey towards eternal peace and gratitude for the blessings that bind our Community Church family.
Finally, get ready to create unforgettable memories with our "Christmas at the movies" series, where magic and joy come to life for all ages. I'm excited to share the enchanting world of "Polar Express," waiting to whisk you and your loved ones away on a wondrous adventure. This experience promises not only to be a festive delight but also a cherished moment that echoes the message of peace we hold dear. So, tune in, be moved, and may this season fill your heart with a peace that surpasses all understanding.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
What's up family?
What's up everybody?
It's Dr A Nathan Young withCommunity Church.
Listen, stop.
Yes, you are in the right place.
It's at the right time.
It's not a mistake.
You are tuned in to CommunityChurch's weekly worship service.
(00:22):
Don't move, don't change thedial.
If you will, don't scroll overto another page.
Stay right where you are,because God has a word for you
this morning.
As a matter of fact, now wouldbe a great time for you to hit
that share button, because notonly do I believe that God is
(00:44):
going to speak to you, I believethat God wants to use you and
the fact that you are willing toshare this message, whether
it's on Facebook or YouTube,where you send somebody that
link, however you do it, Ibelieve that God wants to use
you to bless somebody else andgive a word from him to somebody
(01:04):
else by sharing this message.
I also want to welcome those ofyou who are joining us for the
first time.
This is not a mistake.
This is a God-ordainedappointment.
You are not here byhappenstance.
God-ordained that you weretuned in to this message.
(01:25):
So sit tight, be still, prepareyour heart and your mind and
your ears for what God is aboutto say to you and, by the way,
while you're doing that, there'sa link in the description.
If you're worshiping with usfor the first time, go ahead and
let us know.
Let us know that you're here byclicking on that link or
(01:50):
scanning the QR code.
Let us know that you'reworshiping with us for the first
time.
We love people who check us outfor the first time and we love
to reach back out to you and sayhello Right now.
The reason why this looksdifferent is because in person,
(02:10):
we are having Christmas at themovies, and it's where we take
popular Christmas movies and wepreach a message from those
movies.
Well, we can't do it onlinebecause of copyright issues, and
so we have to switch it up alittle bit to make sure that you
get a worship experience.
(02:30):
But let me tell you, what youwant to do is make plans to join
us next week in person for oneof our three services, because
we have giveaways for yourchildren.
This morning, snoopy is at allof our campuses.
Next Sunday, the conductor fromPolar Express is going to be
(02:51):
giving out golden tickets to allof the children.
We're going to let you eatpopcorn in the service.
I'm telling you you want tomake your way to one of our
campuses next week for Christmasat the movies.
But while you are here right now, in this place, at this time, I
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believe that God has somethingthat he wants to say to you.
So come on and bow your headswith me, unless you're driving.
Bow your heads with me andlet's pray, and then we'll dive
in and see what God has to say.
Father, we love you, thank youfor who you are, thank you for
your word and Lord, we just praythat you would transform us.
(03:32):
We know that it's powerful,that it's quick, that it's
active.
Lord, it's living, and we praythat you would use your word to
cause us to live the life thatyou want us to live.
It's in Jesus' name that wepray.
Amen and amen.
I know if you're anything likemyself, man, you might say that
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there has been a Christmasseason or maybe it's this
Christmas season for you whereyou don't feel very festive, you
don't feel happy.
I mean, you want to enjoy theholidays, by no stretch of the
imagination, or you're a Grinch.
(04:17):
But I'm a living witness thatsometimes you're just not
feeling it.
Sometimes it's just not there.
You look around and you seeeverybody else having this grand
old, good old time.
You see everybody else enjoyingthemselves.
But I don't know if you've beenin this place and if you have
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just put that's me in thecomments, really put that's me.
I don't know if you've been inthis place, but I've been in a
place where, man, I just can'tget with the Christmas vibe.
I just I can't get with theholiday vibe and in those
seasons where I felt like that,I couldn't really pinpoint what
(05:03):
was wrong.
I know that I'm supposed to bethankful and I know that I'm
supposed to be excited and I'msupposed to be anticipating.
I see people, you know they'reputting up the lights and then
it's moved and they're listeningto Christmas music and looking
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forward to the holiday.
And I've had seasons where Ijust was not feeling it.
I did not feel the way I wassupposed to feel during the
holiday season.
And if you're not careful,you'll arrive at the conclusion
(05:45):
that there must be somethingwrong with you, because it's not
that you're a Grinch.
In fact, like me, I loveChristmas.
I like the gifts and thedecorations and the trees.
I enjoy that season in my lifewhere we would take our children
and go pick out a tree and Ilove to see the anticipation and
(06:10):
excitement upon their faces,and I like to see it with my, my
grandkids now.
But sometimes none of thosethings help you with how you
feel.
Come on somebody, and some ofyou are identifying with what
I'm saying, even right now,because the truth is right now
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you're in the middle of aholiday season and you would say
to me, pastor, I'm just notfeeling it, it's just not there.
I would submit to you that thething that you're on, or search
for, and the thing that'sescaping you is the exact same
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thing.
That is the reason why wecelebrate this season.
I would submit to you that it'swhat you're looking for and
what so many are looking for,not just during the holiday
season, but at all times.
But so many people are lookingfor this thing in life and don't
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even realize it.
It's something called peace.
Peace, listen to me, peace issomething that so many people
want in life pieces, somethingthat so many people need in life
.
And listen, I'm not talkingabout the kind of peace that we
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oftentimes get from ourCircumstances lining up the way
we want them to line up.
I'm talking about the kind ofpeace that the world can't
understand.
It's the kind of peace that youcan only get from God.
Money in the bank won't giveyou this kind of peace.
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Being married to the person ofyour dreams won't even give you
this kind of peace.
No measure of worldly successwill give you the kind of peace
that I'm talking about and thatwe are often On a search for and
don't even realize it.
You listen, you can besuccessful on the outside and
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Empty on the inside.
How many of you know?
You can be married to theperson of your dreams and yet be
living a Nightmare at home, anda lot of people look to those
kinds of things to give themwhat they don't even realize
they're looking for.
Then, that is the kind of peacethat only God can give.
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And and as opposed to peace, weend up oftentimes, on our
search for it, with what weabsolutely do not want.
We don't end up with peace inour homes, we end up with
division, we end up fighting, weend up with hurt feelings, we
end up with what we sometimescall Irreconcilable differences,
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as opposed to ending up withpeace.
Sometimes, success tends tobring stress along with it, and
we end up with anxiety.
Isaiah, the prophet in the OldTestament, says In Isaiah 26 and
one.
He says in that way, everyonein the land of Judah will sing
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this song.
Our city is strong.
We are surrounded by the wallsof God's salvation.
In verse 2 he says open thegates to all who are righteous
and allow the faithful to enter.
He says you in verse 3.
I love this.
He says and you will keep in.
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Come on, I want you to readthat with me.
In what kind of peace?
Perfect peace.
Come on, he says, and you willkeep in.
What kind of peace?
Type it in the comments.
Put perfect peace in thecomments.
He says any.
You will keep in.
Perfect peace.
All who trust in you, all Whosethoughts are fixed on you.
(10:15):
We're gonna come back to thatlate.
In verse 4.
He says trust in the Lord.
Always.
Somebody say always trust inthe Lord, always for the Lord.
God is the eternal, eternalrock.
Notice what kind of peace.
In verse 3.
He says God will keep us in.
It's not just any kind of peace.
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He says that God will keep usin Perfect peace.
I think it's hard sometimes forus to even imagine what perfect
peace feels like.
Why, pastor?
Because we're so used toinconsistent peace, we're so
used to interrupted peace, we'reso used to conditional peace.
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We're used to having peace onemoment and then the kids show up
.
Come on, somebody.
You know what I'm talking about.
We're used to having peace onemoment and then that you ever
had peace.
And then that person shows up.
You know what person I'mtalking about.
I I'm not gonna say any namesbecause you might be sitting
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with them and listen.
If you sit with them, don'tlook at them, stay up here, look
up here, look up here, look uphere.
Don't, don't look at, don'tlook at them.
But you know what I'm talkingabout that person that just
disturbs your peace.
Sometimes you hear a messageabout things like this, a
message about peace, and.
And the pastor says listen you,in order for you to have peace,
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you got to give what'sbothering you to the Lord.
And you make a commitment thatday.
You know what I'm giving all ofmy troubles, I'm giving all of
my stress, I'm giving all of myanxiety, I'm giving the things
that I'm worrying about.
I'm casting it at Jesus's feet.
I'm gonna pray and I'm givingwhat's robbing me of my peace
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over to the Lord and I cast mycares at his feet.
And then God takes too long todo something about him and and,
and you go back to the Lord andyou like now, lord you taking
too long, it's already been tenminutes.
It's already been ten minutes.
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Lord you, what?
Where?
Where are you?
What you doing?
Yeah, yeah, I get after you ten.
Why hadn't you fixed it yet?
I gave it to you ten minutesago.
Peace gone.
Hello anxiety, hello stress,hello fear, hello worry, peace
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gone.
He says listen, I'm gonna giveyou more than peace.
What the prophet was saying itwas.
He was saying I'm.
I'm not just gonna give youpeace, I'm gonna give you
perfect peace.
What do you mean by that, pastor?
Well, if you ever been aroundJewish people, you've heard them
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use this word shalom, shalom.
And what shalom means is itdoesn't just mean peace, but it
means peace in its fullness.
It's a word that's not justpeace in one area of your life,
but it means peace in every way,in every area.
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It's peace in everything in mylife.
Watch this.
It's peace with God and peacewith people.
It's peace with whatever I didin my past and peace about
what's gonna happen in my future.
It's peace when things aregoing like I want them to go,
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and Peace when my world has beenturned upside down and when you
look it up in the original text, that word shalom is not just
there once, but it's there twice.
So it's as if God is saying notonly am I gonna give you peace
in its fullness, but he's sayingI'm gonna give you a double
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portion.
Lord, help us.
I'm gonna give you a doubleportion of peace in its fullness
.
He says I'll give you Not justwhat you need, but what I'm
gonna give you is more thanenough.
That says what I want to do foryou.
I want you to be in peace, andnot just peace, but I want you
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to have a double portion ofPerfect peace.
I want you to have a doubleportion of the fullness of peace
, such that you can't evenimagine with, with human
understanding.
Man, pastor, that all soundsgood.
I mean shucks, I'll take it,sign me up.
The question is, pastor, how dowe get it?
Well, first of all, you got tounderstand that the presence of
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peace doesn't mean the absenceof trouble, that the presence of
peace doesn't mean that youwon't have problems.
It doesn't mean that nothing'sever gonna break.
It doesn't mean that you andyour wife won't have any more
heated Fellowship and I'm nottalking about the kind of heated
fellowship you like either, ifyou know what I mean.
It doesn't mean that your kidswon't get in trouble.
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Peace doesn't mean you won'thave any difficulty.
Perfect peace isn't found.
You got to hear me when I saythis.
Perfect peace isn't found inthe absence of problems.
Perfect peace is found in thepresence of God.
Man.
I'm gonna say that again.
Perfect peace is not found inthe absence of your problems.
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Perfect peace is found in thepresence of God.
Listen, peace is having God'spresence while you're in your
problems.
I get peace when I could see myproblems from God's perspective
.
I get peace when I have theassurance of the Lord in the
midst of my troubles.
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Peace comes from knowing who Iam and whose I am, even when
life is life in, even when lifeis not what I wanted to be.
Pastor, I hear you, but myquestion is how is that possible
, pastor?
How in the world is thatpossible when I'm going through
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what I'm going through in mymarriage?
How is that kind of peace Evenpossible when, right now, I'm
dealing with the illness thatcould, quite frankly, pass to
take me out of here?
Pastor?
How is that kind of peacepossible when, when I lost a
loved one this year.
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How is that kind of peacepossible when I'm struggling
because my Relationships are notwhat they should be, pastor,
you got to tell me.
How is that kind of peacepossible when Christmas is
around the corner andfinancially I Just don't have it
?
How is it possible when I'mafraid of what's gonna happen in
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my life, when I'm afraid ofwhat's gonna happen with my life
and Listen, I hear what you'resaying but, pastor, I have every
good reason to be scared about.
How do you experience ShalomShalom when everything around
you is trouble?
Trouble.
It's all in your head.
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I'm going to say it again.
It's all in your head.
Listen to me, it starts righthere.
It's all in your mind.
See, listen to me.
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Whether you realize it or not,there's a war going on in your
mind.
It's a war between what's trueand what's not true.
It's a war between what you sayand what God says.
It's a war between what Satansays about your life and what
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God says about your life.
That's why you can know whatGod says and your mind can still
be distracted by what's nottrue.
Why?
Because there's this war goingon.
That's why you can know whatscripture says and you can fully
believe what scripture says.
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Yet your mind can still doubtthat what scripture says applies
to you and what you've gotgoing on.
Why?
Because there's this strugglethat's going on.
There's a war that's going onin your mind.
It's a constant struggle andit's not going to stop.
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You know how do I win thisbattle?
Look at what Isaiah 26, verse 3,says.
He says you will keep.
He's talking about God when hesays you.
He says Lord, you will keep inperfect peace.
Here it is All whose thoughtsare fixed on you, god.
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I love the way the NIV says it.
He says the same verse says youwill keep in perfect peace.
Those minds who are steadfastWatch this because they trust in
you.
Listen to me.
He doesn't say your minds willbe in perfect peace as long as
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it's fixed on solving yourproblems.
He doesn't say your mind willbe in perfect peace as long as
it's fixed on figuring out yourrelationship struggles.
He doesn't say that your mindwill be in perfect peace as long
as you figure out how to dealwith your financial difficulty.
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He doesn't say that's going tobe.
That's not the key to havingperfect peace.
Why, pastor?
Because after you get oneproblem solved, another one's
coming.
Baby.
You got to hear me when I saythis.
He says the key to having mymind in perfect peace is not the
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resolution of my issues, butit's the resolve of my mind to
fix my thoughts on the problemsolved.
He says perfect peace is goingto happen to the degree that I
fixed my thoughts on God.
That word fixed means to leancompletely.
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It means to rest fully upon it,means when you get to the place
where, instead of fixing yourmind upon your problems, you fix
your minds upon God's promise.
I'm going to say that again.
Perfect peace happens when youget to the place where, instead
of fixing your mind upon yourproblems, you fix your mind upon
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God's promises.
In other words, the reason whyyou're not experiencing peace is
not because of what's wrong inyour life, it's because of
what's wrong in your mind.
I'm going to say that again.
The reason why you're notexperiencing perfect peace is
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not because of what's wrong inyour life, it's because of
what's wrong in your mind.
He says and if you just get tothe place where you fix your
thoughts, listen, the questionis not what's wrong in your life
, the question is what's brokenin your mind.
You have to fix your thoughts.
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You have to the young people weused to say you got to get your
mind right, you got to get yourmind right, you got to get your
mind in the right place.
And if you get your mind in theright place, I'm telling you
peace will follow.
The peace you're looking for.
It's dependent upon fixing yourthoughts on the God, who you
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should be chasing.
The peace that you're lookingfor is dependent upon fixing
your thoughts on the God thatyou should always be chasing.
Question is what is your mindfixed on?
What are you focused on?
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What are your thoughts consumedby?
I love what Paul says inPhilippians 4, 8 and 9.
Look what he says.
And now, dear brothers andsisters, one final thing.
Come on, I want you to readthese next three words with me.
I want, wherever you are.
You're in your car, you're onyour job, you're in your living
room, at your house, you're inthe bed there.
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You went to bedside Baptistthis morning, all right, I hope
you brushed your teeth.
Don't be looking at church withfunky breath.
Come on, I want you to say it,man.
Come on, say these next threewords with me.
He says one final thing andthen he says what.
Come on, put it in the comments.
He says fix your thoughts.
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He says fix your thoughts Noton what you're gonna be able to
buy for Christmas.
He doesn't say fix yourthoughts on who has the best
lights in the neighborhood.
He doesn't say fix yourthoughts on how you're gonna
figure out your financialdifficulties.
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He doesn't say fix yourthoughts on working through you
know your relationship issues.
He doesn't say fix yourthoughts on your diagnosis that
you just got recently.
He doesn't say fix yourthoughts on making sure that you
have the right role in the playor the most important part when
everybody gets together.
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He says fix your thoughts onwhat Paul he says on what is
true, not on what you lost inyour relationship struggles.
He says fix your thoughts.
What does he tell us to fix ourthoughts on?
Come on, read it with me.
He says fix your thoughts onwhat is true and honorable and
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right and pure and lovely andadmirable.
Watch for this.
He literally says think aboutthings.
Oh, I love how practical theBible is.
He says this is what you shouldbe thinking about.
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He said you should fix yourthoughts to think about things
that are excellent and worthy ofpraise and when your mind is
fixed on God, when your mind isfixed on what's true, when your
mind is fixed on what'sadmirable, when you fix your
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mind on what is worthy of praise.
Watch what he says.
He says at the end of verse nine.
He says keep putting it inpractice.
All you learn and receive fromme, everything you heard from me
and saw me doing, there it is.
When you fix your thoughts onthe right stuff, he says, then
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the God of come on somebody, theGod of peace, will be with you.
Wow, what kind of thoughts do Ineed to be repeating to myself,
pastor, in order to have peace?
Thoughts like God is good allthe time and all the time.
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God is good Every time.
That struggle comes to mind thatsays that you're not gonna be
all right.
You ought to fix your thoughtson things like and literally say
to yourself you know what, I'mgonna be fine because my God is
good all the time and all thetime.
My God is good Every time Satanor the enemy or you start
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warring in your mind andsomething comes up and saying
you know what?
God's not gonna do what he toldyou, yes, yes, he is, because
the Bible says that the promisesof God are yes and amen.
I'm fixing my thoughts.
Thoughts like my God never fails.
Thoughts like he's a lamp whenI don't know what to do.
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He's a lamp when I don't knowwhat to do.
He's a lamp to my feet and alight to my path.
Thoughts like when I'm feelingweak.
I fix my thoughts and I tellmyself and I remind myself that
God is my strength and my refuge.
I remind myself that he'llnever leave me, no matter what I
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go through, and he'll neverforsake me.
Thoughts like when I'm lost,he'll give me direction.
When I'm hurting, he's mycomforter.
I fix my thoughts, I focus mythoughts, I think about these
things.
Thoughts like through God aremore than a conqueror, that he's
a provider.
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They're thoughts like, whateverI'm going through right now, my
God is able to handle them.
I fix my thoughts and I tune into what God says about me and
what he says about himself.
I force my mind by repeatingthe truths of God's word over
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and over in my mind.
Every time I have thosenegative thoughts.
I force my mind to think aboutwhat God says, that defeats,
that lie that the enemy istrying to tell me, that defeats,
that fear that I'm facing.
I force my mind to think aboutwhat's good.
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I force my mind to think aboutwhat scripture says, how.
I repeat it over and over andover, until the thoughts that
are robbing my peace go away.
And that's how my mind can bekept in perfect peace.
Come on and bow your heads withme.
So, father, we thank you andtoday we recognize you, and
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today we recognize that you arethe Prince of Peace, and we
confess that many times we getfocused on all of the wrong
things.
We allow all of the wrongthings to rob us of your peace.
So, father, I just pray foreverybody who's tuned in right
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now.
I pray for that person who,right now, father, is not
looking forward to the holidaysbecause they're struggling with
the loss of a loved one.
Lord, fix their thoughts.
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Give them comfort from yourword, lord, by the power of your
word.
Remind them that you're therewith them, lord.
Focus their minds on thingsthat'll make them smile, things
that'll bring joy to their heart.
I pray for that person, lord,who right now is struggling
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financially and looking forwardto the holidays and saying it's
not going to be a good one.
Fix their thoughts, father,lord.
Help them.
Remind them that you're aprovider.
Remind them that the key totheir joy and the key to an
amazing holiday is not what youhave in your hand, but what you
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have in your heart.
Father, I pray for that personwho's having relational
struggles right now.
Fix their thoughts.
Remind them, father, that youare loved, lord, and that you're
capable of cultivating lovebetween them and their family
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and their loved ones.
Fix their thoughts.
I pray that you would bringscripture, even right now, to
every heart and every mind, lord, that's struggling.
Father, every heart and everymind whose peace is disturbed.
Thank you for how you're movingright now.
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Thank you for what you'respeaking right now.
Thank you for the chains thatare being broken right now.
Thank you, father, for therelationships that are being
restored even right now, for thehearts and the minds that are
being fixed even right now.
Lord, I know your spirit ismoving.
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Thank you If you're here withus today and you say man, I've
never had that kind of peace.
I'm not connected to God likethat Pastor, but I want to be.
I need to be.
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I realize now that what I'mlooking for is peace and, pastor
, I've tried a lot of things,but I hadn't tried a connection
to Jesus.
Listen, the only way for you tohave peace and the kind of
peace that I'm talking about isto be connected to Jesus Christ.
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Pastor, how do I get connected?
Well, let's talk about how yougot disconnected.
First, you were borndisconnected from God.
The Bible says that, because ofwhat Adam did in the Garden of
Eden, all of us were borndisconnected from God.
But it also says that, becauseof what Jesus Christ did on the
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cross, that all of us have theopportunity to get reconnected
to God through him.
And the way that you getreconnected to God is by
accepting Jesus Christ as yourLord and Savior.
Well, pastor, how do I acceptJesus Christ as my Lord and
Savior?
The Bible says if you confesswith your mouth that he's Lord
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and believe in your heart thatGod raised him from the dead,
you will be saved.
In other words, he'll becomeyour Lord and Savior.
He'll give you eternal life.
Listen, don't tune out, don'tlog off, don't move on.
Without accepting Jesus Christas Lord and Savior.
He'll give you peace, he'llgive you an eternal home with
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him.
He'll give you joy such thatyou can't even understand Right
where you are.
If you say to me that's what Iwant, pastor, I want a
relationship with him.
I know the Holy Spirit istugging on your heart right now.
He's saying to you you need arelationship with me.
You need to get connected withGod right where you are.
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If you're driving, don't bowyour heads, but right where you
are, just talk to God.
And this is what you're goingto tell him.
Repeat after me, dear God, Iknow that I was born
disconnected from you,disconnected from you.
And because I was borndisconnected from you, I know
(34:23):
that I'm a sinner.
Tell him, but I also believethat you died on the cross for
my sins and that you rose again.
And today I'm asking you tobecome my Lord and Savior.
Today I'm accepting JesusChrist as my Lord and Savior.
(34:49):
Tell him come into my heart.
Please forgive me for the sin,for my sins.
In the name of Jesus Christ,save me today.
Fill me with your spirit.
Tell him thank you for savingme.
(35:13):
Send Jesus' name that we pray,amen and amen.
Listen, some of you justreceived eternal life.
You just gained access to apeace such that you can't even
(35:36):
understand.
That's reason to celebrate.
We want to tell you more aboutthe decision that you've made.
Even bigger than that.
We want to pray with you.
We want to pray for you.
We want to lift your cares andconcerns up to the Lord.
(35:58):
So do me a favor Click the linkthat they're putting in the
comments right now.
You'll see it.
Click that link or you can scanthat QR code.
Let us help you on your newjourney.
Now, for those of you who areconnected to members of, or you
(36:21):
just say you know what man?
I'm being blessed by what Godis doing at Community Church.
God is really using past.
The God is using CommunityChurch.
In my life I've been blessed.
I'm growing from it.
God has spoken to me.
Listen to me.
(36:42):
You got to hear me.
The reason why we're able tocome to you in this way is
because people invest in whatGod is doing and yes, I'm
talking about financially,because the Bible says that when
you are taught the word, youshould share with the teacher.
The Bible says that you shouldso into what God is doing, and
(37:07):
that's where the harvest comesfrom.
I want to invite you, I want toencourage you, I want to ask
you, I want to ask you, I wantto employ you to show into some
good ground, some ground wherepeople are getting saved, some
ground where you're beingblessed some ground where
(37:31):
children are being taught theword of God and the things of
God.
I want to invite you to so intocommit what God is doing at
Community Church.
I want to invite you to sofinancially into the kingdom of
God by investing in what God'sdoing at Community Church.
(37:52):
I'm telling you that if you do,god's going to pour it back
into your life.
I know it because I've seen itand I still am seeing it, even
right now, today.
What I invest in God's kingdom,he always pours it back into my
life with good measure, presseddown, running together and
(38:13):
running over Pastor Howe, how doI invest in Community Church?
We have four ways, four ways togive.
You can go to communitychcom.
There's also a link right belowin the comments section.
In the comments section you canclick on that link.
(38:33):
You can stop by and handdeliver what you want to give to
one of our offices.
Or you can text the word giveto 985-260-8411.
I want to thank all of you andlisten.
Don't wait.
Go ahead and do it right now,because if you wait you're going
(38:57):
to forget, you're going to getdistracted.
Do it right now so that youmake sure that you get it taken
care of.
I want to thank all of you forjoining us.
I want to thank each and everyone of you for hanging out with
me this morning.
Listen, then, don't forgetthere's an experience going on
right now in person that I wouldlove for you to be a part of.
(39:22):
That your children would love,and I'm telling you that you'll
love as well.
Make sure you make plans fornext Sunday to join us in person
for Christmas, at the movies atone of our campuses.
Bring the whole family.
Pass the I don't have kids.
Bring your grandkids, bringyour neighbors kids.
Bring your friends.
(39:43):
Bring the whole family and joinus.
Next Sunday we're going to bedoing Polar Express.
We're going to meet theconductor.
He's going to be giving outgolden tickets and they're going
to win a bell that your kidsare absolutely going to love and
that's going to drive you crazy.
Lord's will.
I'll see you tomorrow forJumpstart Live.
(40:04):
Thanks for hanging out with methis morning.
Hit that share button.
Send somebody that link.
If you haven't subscribed tothe YouTube channel, dr A Nathan
Young, listen, go ahead and dothat right now.
Dr A Nathan Young CommunityChurch.
God bless you and keep you.
See you tomorrow morning at 7amfor Jumpstart Live.
What's up family?
What's up everybody?
It's Dr A Nathan Young withCommunity Church.
Listen, stop.
Yes, you are in the right place.
It's at the right time.
It's not a mistake.
You are tuned in to CommunityChurch's weekly worship service.
(00:22):
Don't move, don't change thedial.
If you will, don't scroll overto another page.
Stay right where you are,because God has a word for you
this morning.
As a matter of fact, now wouldbe a great time for you to hit
that share button, because notonly do I believe that God is
(00:44):
going to speak to you, I believethat God wants to use you and
the fact that you are willing toshare this message, whether
it's on Facebook or YouTube,where you send somebody that
link, however you do it, Ibelieve that God wants to use
you to bless somebody else andgive a word from him to somebody
(01:04):
else by sharing this message.
I also want to welcome those ofyou who are joining us for the
first time.
This is not a mistake.
This is a God-ordainedappointment.
You are not here byhappenstance.
God-ordained that you weretuned in to this message.
(01:25):
So sit tight, be still, prepareyour heart and your mind and
your ears for what God is aboutto say to you and, by the way,
while you're doing that, there'sa link in the description.
If you're worshiping with usfor the first time, go ahead and
let us know.
Let us know that you're here byclicking on that link or
(01:50):
scanning the QR code.
Let us know that you'reworshiping with us for the first
time.
We love people who check us outfor the first time and we love
to reach back out to you and sayhello Right now.
The reason why this looksdifferent is because in person,
(02:10):
we are having Christmas at themovies, and it's where we take
popular Christmas movies and wepreach a message from those
movies.
Well, we can't do it onlinebecause of copyright issues, and
so we have to switch it up alittle bit to make sure that you
get a worship experience.
(02:30):
But let me tell you, what youwant to do is make plans to join
us next week in person for oneof our three services, because
we have giveaways for yourchildren.
This morning, snoopy is at allof our campuses.
Next Sunday, the conductor fromPolar Express is going to be
(02:51):
giving out golden tickets to allof the children.
We're going to let you eatpopcorn in the service.
I'm telling you you want tomake your way to one of our
campuses next week for Christmasat the movies.
But while you are here right now, in this place, at this time, I
(03:11):
believe that God has somethingthat he wants to say to you.
So come on and bow your headswith me, unless you're driving.
Bow your heads with me andlet's pray, and then we'll dive
in and see what God has to say.
Father, we love you, thank youfor who you are, thank you for
your word and Lord, we just praythat you would transform us.
(03:32):
We know that it's powerful,that it's quick, that it's
active.
Lord, it's living, and we praythat you would use your word to
cause us to live the life thatyou want us to live.
It's in Jesus' name that wepray.
Amen and amen.
I know if you're anything likemyself, man, you might say that
(03:55):
there has been a Christmasseason or maybe it's this
Christmas season for you whereyou don't feel very festive, you
don't feel happy.
I mean, you want to enjoy theholidays, by no stretch of the
imagination, or you're a Grinch.
(04:17):
But I'm a living witness thatsometimes you're just not
feeling it.
Sometimes it's just not there.
You look around and you seeeverybody else having this grand
old, good old time.
You see everybody else enjoyingthemselves.
But I don't know if you've beenin this place and if you have
(04:40):
just put that's me in thecomments, really put that's me.
I don't know if you've been inthis place, but I've been in a
place where, man, I just can'tget with the Christmas vibe.
I just I can't get with theholiday vibe and in those
seasons where I felt like that,I couldn't really pinpoint what
(05:03):
was wrong.
I know that I'm supposed to bethankful and I know that I'm
supposed to be excited and I'msupposed to be anticipating.
I see people, you know they'reputting up the lights and then
it's moved and they're listeningto Christmas music and looking
(05:25):
forward to the holiday.
And I've had seasons where Ijust was not feeling it.
I did not feel the way I wassupposed to feel during the
holiday season.
And if you're not careful,you'll arrive at the conclusion
(05:45):
that there must be somethingwrong with you, because it's not
that you're a Grinch.
In fact, like me, I loveChristmas.
I like the gifts and thedecorations and the trees.
I enjoy that season in my lifewhere we would take our children
and go pick out a tree and Ilove to see the anticipation and
(06:10):
excitement upon their faces,and I like to see it with my, my
grandkids now.
But sometimes none of thosethings help you with how you
feel.
Come on somebody, and some ofyou are identifying with what
I'm saying, even right now,because the truth is right now
(06:30):
you're in the middle of aholiday season and you would say
to me, pastor, I'm just notfeeling it, it's just not there.
I would submit to you that thething that you're on, or search
for, and the thing that'sescaping you is the exact same
(06:52):
thing.
That is the reason why wecelebrate this season.
I would submit to you that it'swhat you're looking for and
what so many are looking for,not just during the holiday
season, but at all times.
But so many people are lookingfor this thing in life and don't
(07:14):
even realize it.
It's something called peace.
Peace, listen to me, peace issomething that so many people
want in life pieces, somethingthat so many people need in life
.
And listen, I'm not talkingabout the kind of peace that we
(07:35):
oftentimes get from ourCircumstances lining up the way
we want them to line up.
I'm talking about the kind ofpeace that the world can't
understand.
It's the kind of peace that youcan only get from God.
Money in the bank won't giveyou this kind of peace.
(07:58):
Being married to the person ofyour dreams won't even give you
this kind of peace.
No measure of worldly successwill give you the kind of peace
that I'm talking about and thatwe are often On a search for and
don't even realize it.
You listen, you can besuccessful on the outside and
(08:21):
Empty on the inside.
How many of you know?
You can be married to theperson of your dreams and yet be
living a Nightmare at home, anda lot of people look to those
kinds of things to give themwhat they don't even realize
they're looking for.
Then, that is the kind of peacethat only God can give.
(08:45):
And and as opposed to peace, weend up oftentimes, on our
search for it, with what weabsolutely do not want.
We don't end up with peace inour homes, we end up with
division, we end up fighting, weend up with hurt feelings, we
end up with what we sometimescall Irreconcilable differences,
(09:07):
as opposed to ending up withpeace.
Sometimes, success tends tobring stress along with it, and
we end up with anxiety.
Isaiah, the prophet in the OldTestament, says In Isaiah 26 and
one.
He says in that way, everyonein the land of Judah will sing
(09:27):
this song.
Our city is strong.
We are surrounded by the wallsof God's salvation.
In verse 2 he says open thegates to all who are righteous
and allow the faithful to enter.
He says you in verse 3.
I love this.
He says and you will keep in.
(09:48):
Come on, I want you to readthat with me.
In what kind of peace?
Perfect peace.
Come on, he says, and you willkeep in.
What kind of peace?
Type it in the comments.
Put perfect peace in thecomments.
He says any.
You will keep in.
Perfect peace.
All who trust in you, all Whosethoughts are fixed on you.
(10:15):
We're gonna come back to thatlate.
In verse 4.
He says trust in the Lord.
Always.
Somebody say always trust inthe Lord, always for the Lord.
God is the eternal, eternalrock.
Notice what kind of peace.
In verse 3.
He says God will keep us in.
It's not just any kind of peace.
(10:38):
He says that God will keep usin Perfect peace.
I think it's hard sometimes forus to even imagine what perfect
peace feels like.
Why, pastor?
Because we're so used toinconsistent peace, we're so
used to interrupted peace, we'reso used to conditional peace.
(10:59):
We're used to having peace onemoment and then the kids show up
.
Come on, somebody.
You know what I'm talking about.
We're used to having peace onemoment and then that you ever
had peace.
And then that person shows up.
You know what person I'mtalking about.
I I'm not gonna say any namesbecause you might be sitting
(11:22):
with them and listen.
If you sit with them, don'tlook at them, stay up here, look
up here, look up here, look uphere.
Don't, don't look at, don'tlook at them.
But you know what I'm talkingabout that person that just
disturbs your peace.
Sometimes you hear a messageabout things like this, a
message about peace, and.
And the pastor says listen you,in order for you to have peace,
(11:43):
you got to give what'sbothering you to the Lord.
And you make a commitment thatday.
You know what I'm giving all ofmy troubles, I'm giving all of
my stress, I'm giving all of myanxiety, I'm giving the things
that I'm worrying about.
I'm casting it at Jesus's feet.
I'm gonna pray and I'm givingwhat's robbing me of my peace
(12:08):
over to the Lord and I cast mycares at his feet.
And then God takes too long todo something about him and and,
and you go back to the Lord andyou like now, lord you taking
too long, it's already been tenminutes.
It's already been ten minutes.
(12:32):
Lord you, what?
Where?
Where are you?
What you doing?
Yeah, yeah, I get after you ten.
Why hadn't you fixed it yet?
I gave it to you ten minutesago.
Peace gone.
Hello anxiety, hello stress,hello fear, hello worry, peace
(12:55):
gone.
He says listen, I'm gonna giveyou more than peace.
What the prophet was saying itwas.
He was saying I'm.
I'm not just gonna give youpeace, I'm gonna give you
perfect peace.
What do you mean by that, pastor?
Well, if you ever been aroundJewish people, you've heard them
(13:16):
use this word shalom, shalom.
And what shalom means is itdoesn't just mean peace, but it
means peace in its fullness.
It's a word that's not justpeace in one area of your life,
but it means peace in every way,in every area.
(13:40):
It's peace in everything in mylife.
Watch this.
It's peace with God and peacewith people.
It's peace with whatever I didin my past and peace about
what's gonna happen in my future.
It's peace when things aregoing like I want them to go,
(14:01):
and Peace when my world has beenturned upside down and when you
look it up in the original text, that word shalom is not just
there once, but it's there twice.
So it's as if God is saying notonly am I gonna give you peace
in its fullness, but he's sayingI'm gonna give you a double
(14:25):
portion.
Lord, help us.
I'm gonna give you a doubleportion of peace in its fullness
.
He says I'll give you Not justwhat you need, but what I'm
gonna give you is more thanenough.
That says what I want to do foryou.
I want you to be in peace, andnot just peace, but I want you
(14:45):
to have a double portion ofPerfect peace.
I want you to have a doubleportion of the fullness of peace
, such that you can't evenimagine with, with human
understanding.
Man, pastor, that all soundsgood.
I mean shucks, I'll take it,sign me up.
The question is, pastor, how dowe get it?
Well, first of all, you got tounderstand that the presence of
(15:09):
peace doesn't mean the absenceof trouble, that the presence of
peace doesn't mean that youwon't have problems.
It doesn't mean that nothing'sever gonna break.
It doesn't mean that you andyour wife won't have any more
heated Fellowship and I'm nottalking about the kind of heated
fellowship you like either, ifyou know what I mean.
It doesn't mean that your kidswon't get in trouble.
(15:34):
Peace doesn't mean you won'thave any difficulty.
Perfect peace isn't found.
You got to hear me when I saythis.
Perfect peace isn't found inthe absence of problems.
Perfect peace is found in thepresence of God.
Man.
I'm gonna say that again.
Perfect peace is not found inthe absence of your problems.
(15:58):
Perfect peace is found in thepresence of God.
Listen, peace is having God'spresence while you're in your
problems.
I get peace when I could see myproblems from God's perspective
.
I get peace when I have theassurance of the Lord in the
midst of my troubles.
(16:19):
Peace comes from knowing who Iam and whose I am, even when
life is life in, even when lifeis not what I wanted to be.
Pastor, I hear you, but myquestion is how is that possible
, pastor?
How in the world is thatpossible when I'm going through
(16:42):
what I'm going through in mymarriage?
How is that kind of peace Evenpossible when, right now, I'm
dealing with the illness thatcould, quite frankly, pass to
take me out of here?
Pastor?
How is that kind of peacepossible when, when I lost a
loved one this year.
(17:03):
How is that kind of peacepossible when I'm struggling
because my Relationships are notwhat they should be, pastor,
you got to tell me.
How is that kind of peacepossible when Christmas is
around the corner andfinancially I Just don't have it
?
How is it possible when I'mafraid of what's gonna happen in
(17:27):
my life, when I'm afraid ofwhat's gonna happen with my life
and Listen, I hear what you'resaying but, pastor, I have every
good reason to be scared about.
How do you experience ShalomShalom when everything around
you is trouble?
Trouble.
It's all in your head.
(17:53):
I'm going to say it again.
It's all in your head.
Listen to me, it starts righthere.
It's all in your mind.
See, listen to me.
(18:14):
Whether you realize it or not,there's a war going on in your
mind.
It's a war between what's trueand what's not true.
It's a war between what you sayand what God says.
It's a war between what Satansays about your life and what
(18:35):
God says about your life.
That's why you can know whatGod says and your mind can still
be distracted by what's nottrue.
Why?
Because there's this war goingon.
That's why you can know whatscripture says and you can fully
believe what scripture says.
(18:57):
Yet your mind can still doubtthat what scripture says applies
to you and what you've gotgoing on.
Why?
Because there's this strugglethat's going on.
There's a war that's going onin your mind.
It's a constant struggle andit's not going to stop.
(19:20):
You know how do I win thisbattle?
Look at what Isaiah 26, verse 3,says.
He says you will keep.
He's talking about God when hesays you.
He says Lord, you will keep inperfect peace.
Here it is All whose thoughtsare fixed on you, god.
(19:43):
I love the way the NIV says it.
He says the same verse says youwill keep in perfect peace.
Those minds who are steadfastWatch this because they trust in
you.
Listen to me.
He doesn't say your minds willbe in perfect peace as long as
(20:08):
it's fixed on solving yourproblems.
He doesn't say your mind willbe in perfect peace as long as
it's fixed on figuring out yourrelationship struggles.
He doesn't say that your mindwill be in perfect peace as long
as you figure out how to dealwith your financial difficulty.
(20:28):
He doesn't say that's going tobe.
That's not the key to havingperfect peace.
Why, pastor?
Because after you get oneproblem solved, another one's
coming.
Baby.
You got to hear me when I saythis.
He says the key to having mymind in perfect peace is not the
(20:51):
resolution of my issues, butit's the resolve of my mind to
fix my thoughts on the problemsolved.
He says perfect peace is goingto happen to the degree that I
fixed my thoughts on God.
That word fixed means to leancompletely.
(21:12):
It means to rest fully upon it,means when you get to the place
where, instead of fixing yourmind upon your problems, you fix
your minds upon God's promise.
I'm going to say that again.
Perfect peace happens when youget to the place where, instead
of fixing your mind upon yourproblems, you fix your mind upon
(21:38):
God's promises.
In other words, the reason whyyou're not experiencing peace is
not because of what's wrong inyour life, it's because of
what's wrong in your mind.
I'm going to say that again.
The reason why you're notexperiencing perfect peace is
(22:01):
not because of what's wrong inyour life, it's because of
what's wrong in your mind.
He says and if you just get tothe place where you fix your
thoughts, listen, the questionis not what's wrong in your life
, the question is what's brokenin your mind.
You have to fix your thoughts.
(22:23):
You have to the young people weused to say you got to get your
mind right, you got to get yourmind right, you got to get your
mind in the right place.
And if you get your mind in theright place, I'm telling you
peace will follow.
The peace you're looking for.
It's dependent upon fixing yourthoughts on the God, who you
(22:50):
should be chasing.
The peace that you're lookingfor is dependent upon fixing
your thoughts on the God thatyou should always be chasing.
Question is what is your mindfixed on?
What are you focused on?
(23:10):
What are your thoughts consumedby?
I love what Paul says inPhilippians 4, 8 and 9.
Look what he says.
And now, dear brothers andsisters, one final thing.
Come on, I want you to readthese next three words with me.
I want, wherever you are.
You're in your car, you're onyour job, you're in your living
room, at your house, you're inthe bed there.
(23:32):
You went to bedside Baptistthis morning, all right, I hope
you brushed your teeth.
Don't be looking at church withfunky breath.
Come on, I want you to say it,man.
Come on, say these next threewords with me.
He says one final thing andthen he says what.
Come on, put it in the comments.
He says fix your thoughts.
(23:55):
He says fix your thoughts Noton what you're gonna be able to
buy for Christmas.
He doesn't say fix yourthoughts on who has the best
lights in the neighborhood.
He doesn't say fix yourthoughts on how you're gonna
figure out your financialdifficulties.
(24:15):
He doesn't say fix yourthoughts on working through you
know your relationship issues.
He doesn't say fix yourthoughts on your diagnosis that
you just got recently.
He doesn't say fix yourthoughts on making sure that you
have the right role in the playor the most important part when
everybody gets together.
(24:35):
He says fix your thoughts onwhat Paul he says on what is
true, not on what you lost inyour relationship struggles.
He says fix your thoughts.
What does he tell us to fix ourthoughts on?
Come on, read it with me.
He says fix your thoughts onwhat is true and honorable and
(25:00):
right and pure and lovely andadmirable.
Watch for this.
He literally says think aboutthings.
Oh, I love how practical theBible is.
He says this is what you shouldbe thinking about.
(25:21):
He said you should fix yourthoughts to think about things
that are excellent and worthy ofpraise and when your mind is
fixed on God, when your mind isfixed on what's true, when your
mind is fixed on what'sadmirable, when you fix your
(25:43):
mind on what is worthy of praise.
Watch what he says.
He says at the end of verse nine.
He says keep putting it inpractice.
All you learn and receive fromme, everything you heard from me
and saw me doing, there it is.
When you fix your thoughts onthe right stuff, he says, then
(26:04):
the God of come on somebody, theGod of peace, will be with you.
Wow, what kind of thoughts do Ineed to be repeating to myself,
pastor, in order to have peace?
Thoughts like God is good allthe time and all the time.
(26:26):
God is good Every time.
That struggle comes to mind thatsays that you're not gonna be
all right.
You ought to fix your thoughtson things like and literally say
to yourself you know what, I'mgonna be fine because my God is
good all the time and all thetime.
My God is good Every time Satanor the enemy or you start
(26:49):
warring in your mind andsomething comes up and saying
you know what?
God's not gonna do what he toldyou, yes, yes, he is, because
the Bible says that the promisesof God are yes and amen.
I'm fixing my thoughts.
Thoughts like my God never fails.
Thoughts like he's a lamp whenI don't know what to do.
(27:12):
He's a lamp when I don't knowwhat to do.
He's a lamp to my feet and alight to my path.
Thoughts like when I'm feelingweak.
I fix my thoughts and I tellmyself and I remind myself that
God is my strength and my refuge.
I remind myself that he'llnever leave me, no matter what I
(27:33):
go through, and he'll neverforsake me.
Thoughts like when I'm lost,he'll give me direction.
When I'm hurting, he's mycomforter.
I fix my thoughts, I focus mythoughts, I think about these
things.
Thoughts like through God aremore than a conqueror, that he's
a provider.
(27:54):
They're thoughts like, whateverI'm going through right now, my
God is able to handle them.
I fix my thoughts and I tune into what God says about me and
what he says about himself.
I force my mind by repeatingthe truths of God's word over
(28:14):
and over in my mind.
Every time I have thosenegative thoughts.
I force my mind to think aboutwhat God says, that defeats,
that lie that the enemy istrying to tell me, that defeats,
that fear that I'm facing.
I force my mind to think aboutwhat's good.
(28:35):
I force my mind to think aboutwhat scripture says, how.
I repeat it over and over andover, until the thoughts that
are robbing my peace go away.
And that's how my mind can bekept in perfect peace.
Come on and bow your heads withme.
So, father, we thank you andtoday we recognize you, and
(29:01):
today we recognize that you arethe Prince of Peace, and we
confess that many times we getfocused on all of the wrong
things.
We allow all of the wrongthings to rob us of your peace.
So, father, I just pray foreverybody who's tuned in right
(29:25):
now.
I pray for that person who,right now, father, is not
looking forward to the holidaysbecause they're struggling with
the loss of a loved one.
Lord, fix their thoughts.
(29:46):
Give them comfort from yourword, lord, by the power of your
word.
Remind them that you're therewith them, lord.
Focus their minds on thingsthat'll make them smile, things
that'll bring joy to their heart.
I pray for that person, lord,who right now is struggling
(30:09):
financially and looking forwardto the holidays and saying it's
not going to be a good one.
Fix their thoughts, father,lord.
Help them.
Remind them that you're aprovider.
Remind them that the key totheir joy and the key to an
amazing holiday is not what youhave in your hand, but what you
(30:31):
have in your heart.
Father, I pray for that personwho's having relational
struggles right now.
Fix their thoughts.
Remind them, father, that youare loved, lord, and that you're
capable of cultivating lovebetween them and their family
(30:52):
and their loved ones.
Fix their thoughts.
I pray that you would bringscripture, even right now, to
every heart and every mind, lord, that's struggling.
Father, every heart and everymind whose peace is disturbed.
Thank you for how you're movingright now.
(31:14):
Thank you for what you'respeaking right now.
Thank you for the chains thatare being broken right now.
Thank you, father, for therelationships that are being
restored even right now, for thehearts and the minds that are
being fixed even right now.
Lord, I know your spirit ismoving.
(31:36):
Thank you If you're here withus today and you say man, I've
never had that kind of peace.
I'm not connected to God likethat Pastor, but I want to be.
I need to be.
(31:57):
I realize now that what I'mlooking for is peace and, pastor
, I've tried a lot of things,but I hadn't tried a connection
to Jesus.
Listen, the only way for you tohave peace and the kind of
peace that I'm talking about isto be connected to Jesus Christ.
(32:21):
Pastor, how do I get connected?
Well, let's talk about how yougot disconnected.
First, you were borndisconnected from God.
The Bible says that, because ofwhat Adam did in the Garden of
Eden, all of us were borndisconnected from God.
But it also says that, becauseof what Jesus Christ did on the
(32:44):
cross, that all of us have theopportunity to get reconnected
to God through him.
And the way that you getreconnected to God is by
accepting Jesus Christ as yourLord and Savior.
Well, pastor, how do I acceptJesus Christ as my Lord and
Savior?
The Bible says if you confesswith your mouth that he's Lord
(33:09):
and believe in your heart thatGod raised him from the dead,
you will be saved.
In other words, he'll becomeyour Lord and Savior.
He'll give you eternal life.
Listen, don't tune out, don'tlog off, don't move on.
Without accepting Jesus Christas Lord and Savior.
He'll give you peace, he'llgive you an eternal home with
(33:32):
him.
He'll give you joy such thatyou can't even understand Right
where you are.
If you say to me that's what Iwant, pastor, I want a
relationship with him.
I know the Holy Spirit istugging on your heart right now.
He's saying to you you need arelationship with me.
You need to get connected withGod right where you are.
(33:59):
If you're driving, don't bowyour heads, but right where you
are, just talk to God.
And this is what you're goingto tell him.
Repeat after me, dear God, Iknow that I was born
disconnected from you,disconnected from you.
And because I was borndisconnected from you, I know
(34:23):
that I'm a sinner.
Tell him, but I also believethat you died on the cross for
my sins and that you rose again.
And today I'm asking you tobecome my Lord and Savior.
Today I'm accepting JesusChrist as my Lord and Savior.
(34:49):
Tell him come into my heart.
Please forgive me for the sin,for my sins.
In the name of Jesus Christ,save me today.
Fill me with your spirit.
Tell him thank you for savingme.
(35:13):
Send Jesus' name that we pray,amen and amen.
Listen, some of you justreceived eternal life.
You just gained access to apeace such that you can't even
(35:36):
understand.
That's reason to celebrate.
We want to tell you more aboutthe decision that you've made.
Even bigger than that.
We want to pray with you.
We want to pray for you.
We want to lift your cares andconcerns up to the Lord.
(35:58):
So do me a favor Click the linkthat they're putting in the
comments right now.
You'll see it.
Click that link or you can scanthat QR code.
Let us help you on your newjourney.
Now, for those of you who areconnected to members of, or you
(36:21):
just say you know what man?
I'm being blessed by what Godis doing at Community Church.
God is really using past.
The God is using CommunityChurch.
In my life I've been blessed.
I'm growing from it.
God has spoken to me.
Listen to me.
(36:42):
You got to hear me.
The reason why we're able tocome to you in this way is
because people invest in whatGod is doing and yes, I'm
talking about financially,because the Bible says that when
you are taught the word, youshould share with the teacher.
The Bible says that you shouldso into what God is doing, and
(37:07):
that's where the harvest comesfrom.
I want to invite you, I want toencourage you, I want to ask
you, I want to ask you, I wantto employ you to show into some
good ground, some ground wherepeople are getting saved, some
ground where you're beingblessed some ground where
(37:31):
children are being taught theword of God and the things of
God.
I want to invite you to so intocommit what God is doing at
Community Church.
I want to invite you to sofinancially into the kingdom of
God by investing in what God'sdoing at Community Church.
(37:52):
I'm telling you that if you do,god's going to pour it back
into your life.
I know it because I've seen itand I still am seeing it, even
right now, today.
What I invest in God's kingdom,he always pours it back into my
life with good measure, presseddown, running together and
(38:13):
running over Pastor Howe, how doI invest in Community Church?
We have four ways, four ways togive.
You can go to communitychcom.
There's also a link right belowin the comments section.
In the comments section you canclick on that link.
(38:33):
You can stop by and handdeliver what you want to give to
one of our offices.
Or you can text the word giveto 985-260-8411.
I want to thank all of you andlisten.
Don't wait.
Go ahead and do it right now,because if you wait you're going
(38:57):
to forget, you're going to getdistracted.
Do it right now so that youmake sure that you get it taken
care of.
I want to thank all of you forjoining us.
I want to thank each and everyone of you for hanging out with
me this morning.
Listen, then, don't forgetthere's an experience going on
right now in person that I wouldlove for you to be a part of.
(39:22):
That your children would love,and I'm telling you that you'll
love as well.
Make sure you make plans fornext Sunday to join us in person
for Christmas, at the movies atone of our campuses.
Bring the whole family.
Pass the I don't have kids.
Bring your grandkids, bringyour neighbors kids.
Bring your friends.
(39:43):
Bring the whole family and joinus.
Next Sunday we're going to bedoing Polar Express.
We're going to meet theconductor.
He's going to be giving outgolden tickets and they're going
to win a bell that your kidsare absolutely going to love and
that's going to drive you crazy.
Lord's will.
I'll see you tomorrow forJumpstart Live.
(40:04):
Thanks for hanging out with methis morning.
Hit that share button.
Send somebody that link.
If you haven't subscribed tothe YouTube channel, dr A Nathan
Young, listen, go ahead and dothat right now.
Dr A Nathan Young CommunityChurch.
God bless you and keep you.
See you tomorrow morning at 7amfor Jumpstart Live.
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