Fight The Battle, Hold Up The Hands - September 13, 2026

Turn your Bibles to the book of Exodus, chapter number 17.

Uh, and who's here during the uh first service?

Who's here during the first service?

Can you give a show of hands, okay?

Uh, for those who were here, um, I'm actually gonna start off uh with the same passage that uh that Deacon Gene preached through, which is uh Exodus chapter number 17.

And he had brother Tim Rusk.

Uh, for those who don't know this story, uh it was the story of Moses holding up his uh hands, his arms up with a rod, and he had Tim Rusk hold up his arms throughout the whole service.

So I told Tim to be prepared, but I don't see him right now, although I see him over there.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

And don't worry, I won't do that to him.

Uh that would be I'm not that mean.

So, Exodus chapter number 17.

And uh just uh very grateful for Pastor Brown and giving me the opportunity to preach.

Uh many of you guys uh who have been to this church, you guys all have personal stories of how Pastor Brown was a blessing to you, whether through counseling, whether through uh his preaching, whether through just uh spending time with him, or maybe he uh let you use uh one of the vacation rental, uh vacation rental that he had, or whatever the case may be.

You know, he's been a big blessing to us.

So I just kind of wanted to cover a little bit of um how much our we appreciate our pastor as Pastor Appreciation Sunday comes up.

And uh let's look through that in the lens of Exodus chapter number 17.

I'm going to read through this chapter, and I want you guys to uh think about a few things before I read through this.

Um, this is in Exodus, you have the nation, the the nation of Israel, they were slaves in Egypt for quite a long time.

And while they were there as slaves, they prayed to God, they asked the Lord, God, will you please deliver us from the hands of the Egyptians?

And God sends Moses, right?

Uh Moses was born, and then uh he ends up uh through the basket, uh being uh there, uh being raised in Pharaoh's family.

And eventually Moses sees uh that one of his Israelites are uh was was being beaten, and so he kills a man, and then he runs away, and then eventually he comes back because God told him that he wants him to lead the nation of Israel out of bondage.

So uh Moses kind of reluctantly, he's like, Okay, God, I'll I'm not I'm not that great of a speaker, but I will do what you want me to do.

And so there you have the famous uh plagues that uh goes on with the frogs and many other stuff.

And you would think that the nation of Israel, they would be oh, man, Moses, you're our savior, you're awesome, we love you, but that's not the response that he got, right?

He got a lot of uh grumbling people, a lot of people would say, Hey, we'd rather stay here.

We don't want you, Moses.

Who are you?

And so Moses' life, you know, it wasn't that easy.

Uh so we have eventually they uh they go out, uh Pharaoh finally lets them leave after the the death of the firstborn, and uh, you have the parting of the Red Sea, but you know, life hasn't been as easy as the Israelites expected.

They thought that once they were out of Egypt, life would be great, everything would be hunky-dory, and that they just be able to live their life and have fun, eat, drink, and be merry.

But that wasn't the case.

And we know this as Christians, right?

Uh you know, uh people think that Christianity, oh, you just think everything's okay, but we understand as born-again believers that life is not so easy.

That life sometimes is uh very, very uh uh very tumultuous to go through.

So let's look at where we find ourselves here in this passage.

Uh so let's notice, I want you guys as I read through this, notice the attitudes of the Israelites.

I want you guys to notice what happens during the battle and notice what happens at the end of this passage.

So Exodus chapter number 17, and the Bible says in verse number one, and all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of sin after their journeys according to the commandment of the Lord.

And pigeon reflect and there was no water for the people to drink.

Wherefore the people did chide with Moses and said, Give us water that we may drink.

And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me?

Wherefore do you tempt the Lord?

And the people thirsted there for water, and the people murmured against Moses and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt to kill us and our children and their cattle with thirst?

And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, What shall I do unto this people?

They be almost ready to stone me.

And the Lord said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take thee of the elders of Israel and thy rod, wherewith thou smoatest the river, take in thy hand and go.

Behold, I will stand before uh thee there upon the rock in Hereb, and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come uh water out of it, and the people may drink.

And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

And he called the name of the place uh Messah and Miraba, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, because they tempted the Lord, saying, Is the Lord among us or not?

Then came Amalek and fought with Israel and Repharim.

And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men and go out, fight with Amalek, and for tomorrow I will stand at the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.

So Joshua did as the Lord had said unto him, and fought with uh Amalek, and Moses and Aaron and Ur went to the top of the hill.

And it came to pass when Moses held up his hand, and uh that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed.

But Moses' hands were heavy, and they took the stone and put it under him, and he sat thereon, and Aaron and Ur uh stayed up his hands, and one on one side, and uh the other on the other side, and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword, and the Lord said unto Moses, Write this for memorable in the book, um, in the book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua, for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.

And Moses built an altar and called the name of it uh Jehovah Nisi.

For he said, Because the Lord hath sworn that the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.

Let's pray.

God, so grateful for the opportunity to be able to preach your word.

I pray, God, that this message would be a help, it would be a blessing, Father, that you would use it to help us to know how great of a God that you are and to support each other, God, in this life that you've given to us.

I pray all of this in Jesus' name.

Amen.

Let's look back at that verse in um in verse number eight.

It says, Then came Amalek and fought with Israel in Rephedim.

So here we have the nation of Israel, you know, they're they're angry, they're upset.

Hey, Moses, where's our water?

You're trying to kill us, you're trying to kill our children, uh, you're trying to kill our cattle.

What's your problem, Moses?

I don't like you.

I want to go back to Egypt.

And then, you know, Moses, he gets a rod, smites the rock, right?

Provides them water, and then we have Amalek, right?

There is no rest for them.

They're already tired, they're already already weary, but the battle came.

And that might be you here this morning, where you're tired, you're fighting the battles.

You're fighting the battles with your parents, with your children, you're fighting the battles with the school, with your job, you're fighting the battles of trying to keep your family together, of your spouse trying to keep them back in the marriage.

You might be going through battles today.

And all of a sudden, something else comes your way.

All of a sudden, when you thought that things were supposed to be easier, when you thought that life just couldn't get any worse, Amalek comes.

How do you deal with this battle?

How do you deal with when you're already tired, when you've already given it all?

How do you deal with another battle that is coming your way?

Number one, I want you guys to notice this morning that we have to recognize that there is an enemy.

I wish I had a better way of saying it, but recognize that there is an enemy, right?

It's this battle you couldn't you cannot ignore.

The battle is coming, they're not coming to have a conversation, they're not coming to you know give you a foot rub, right?

No, they are coming to kill you, they are coming to destroy you.

And the truth of the matter is this that the Bible tells us that Satan is coming for you and I.

He, as the Bible describes, as a roaring lion walking about seeking whom he may devour.

Satan doesn't care if you're tired.

Satan doesn't care if you haven't been reading your Bible and you're not prepared.

Satan doesn't care that you haven't been going to church or you're not spiritually uh fed up in order to defend against him.

He wants you to be unprepared.

He wants you to be not ready, he wants to be wants you to be worn down.

There is an enemy.

The Bible describes in um in uh Ephesians 5, 15 to 16, see then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time because the days are evil.

Man, there was so much going on in that verse.

The Bible tells us to walk circumspectly.

Hey, are you guys aware of the spiritual battle that's going on in your home?

Hey, when you go to a job site for the first time and you get hired, are you aware of the battle that's going on?

Hey, when you send your children out to go to school, whatever the case may be, hey, are you aware of the battle that is going on?

The Bible describes you walk circumspectly.

How is it that you and I, what are we doing to protect our family?

What are we doing to protect ourselves?

Are we looking at things that we shouldn't be looking at?

Are we allowing or are we around other people that we shouldn't be around because they're just filled with bitterness and anger and just uh just just uh evil speaking?

Are you walking circumspectly and the Bible says uh not to be as fools but as wise, redeeming the time because the days are evil?

When you understand that there's a battle, that a battle is coming, you get prepared.

When you understand that the enemy is real, you get prepared.

Do we understand that there is a spiritual battle going on in Ephesians 6 12 through 13?

The Bible describes, for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Wherefore, take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, having done all to stand.

Your problem is not against your spouse, it's not against your children, it is against the wickedness that is going on all around us.

It is against Satan and his devices and him desiring to tempt you and to seek you and to destroy you.

And notice that it says, in the evil day.

The day is going to come, the day is already here.

So what do we have to do?

We have to make sure that our eyes are spiritually open.

Don't just let anyone come into your house.

Hey, don't just let anyone become your best friend.

They might be the best speaker, they might be the most, you know, one like, oh, you're so great, you're so wonderful.

And the Bible tells us in Proverbs, right?

Hey, beware of those who are flattering lips.

Hey, beware of those who just all of a sudden they want to cozy up to you because they might not have the best intentions.

Number one, be aware that there is an enemy.

Number two, here this morning is take your place in the battle.

Take your place in the battle.

I want you to notice in uh verse number nine it says, um, Moses tells him, tells Joshua, choose us out, men, go out, fight with Amalek.

Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine.

So I want you to notice here in this passage that Joshua had a place in the battle, the Israelites had a place in the battle, Moses, Aaron, and Ur, they all had a place in the battle.

Every single one of us, we have a place in this battle that God has given to us.

In fact, every single one of us, the Lord wants us to fight, the Lord wants us to serve Him.

One of the great things about being a church and being part of a church is that the Bible says in uh 1 Corinthians 12, 14, for the body is not one member but many.

I am so grateful that not everything hinges on you.

Not everything hinges on me.

I'm so glad that uh the church needs every single person to help out.

Whether it's a little baby, right?

Whether it's it's an adult, there's a place for every single one of you guys here in the body of Christ.

And guess what?

It doesn't matter what your background is, it doesn't matter if you mess up.

If you can still, you can be able to, you can still use your giftings and your abilities for the Lord.

We ought to take our place in the battle.

Don't just sit on the sidelines.

Don't just say someone else will take care of it.

Imagine if if if if um if uh Moses told Joshua, hey, go lead the people, and Joshua's like, yeah, I'm just gonna can scroll on my phone a little bit, you know.

I I'm not I'm not I'm not I don't want to die.

I'd rather not fight.

You know, I'm still kind of thirsty.

Moses, can you give me a little bit more water?

No, he understood that there was a job, right?

And and the Bible tells us, let me see if I can find this verse over here.

Um it says in I can't find it.

Alright, so it's fine.

Uh the Bible tells us to endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

Guess what?

You're a soldier of God, you're in the Lord's army, and God tells us to put on that whole armor and to be ready for the fight, to be ready for the battle because the battle is already here.

The battle for your family is already here.

So we ought to show up.

That's one of the best things and most basic things we can do.

It's just show up.

Don't check out of your family life.

Hey, don't check out of your friends, hey, don't check out here in church.

Don't just come to church.

Uh, you you're you're singing this.

How many times does this happen to you guys and me?

We sing the worship songs, and we weren't really we were singing with our mouth, but we had no idea what was going on in that song.

Right?

We were just reversing it, we heard it so many times, and yet we did not show up in our heart.

Show up for training.

Hey guys, are you guys in order for you to be prepared for the battle, are you showing up during the training times?

When I think about training times, I'm thinking about just basic stuff, reading your Bible.

Hey, are we showing up and then and devouring God's word and and just allowing it to are you meditating upon his word?

The psalmist said this, uh, thy words have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee.

Hey, David understood the power of scripture.

He understood when Satan was gonna come against him and tell him that he's no good and that he's unworthy, he's useless, he's worthless, he's a terrible leader, he's a terrible father.

He understood he had God's word in his heart, and he can tell him, No, I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

The Lord loves me, I'm a new creature in him, all things are passed away.

Behold, all things become new.

But if you don't have his word in your heart, then oh yeah, maybe I am terrible.

Maybe I am useless.

I did screw up.

I can't be forgiven.

But that is not the heart of God.

Hey, let's show up in our prayer life.

Let's show up and asking God and beseeching the Lord.

The Bible tells us that effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Effectual, fervent prayer.

How is your prayer life?

I'll be honest, hey, I can do way better by prayer life.

Ha ha, how is it in your in your talk and communion with God?

Are you spending time with him?

Are you loving him?

Are you are you cherishing all that he has done for us?

I think about showing up, uh showing up in life groups.

Hey, that is a great training area.

Man, uh, you have uh Mike Mahey over there.

I'm gonna give you some new members over here.

Mike Mahey, right?

Studying the book of Proverbs.

Sorry for Menoli, so uh Menoli, right?

And you have the ladies' group, uh, how to study the Bible.

These are all great opportunities in order to train up to heart the heart, to get yourself disciplined, to say to the Lord, I prioritize your word over my necessary needs.

I prioritize your word more than just watching the TV, more than just running errands.

I prioritize what you have because I understand when you when when I have this in my heart, I can defend against the enemy.

I can have the victory.

The Bible says in Acts 2 42, and they continued steadfastly, steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship and breaking of bread and in prayers.

Stephasty doesn't mean just Sunday morning, stefasty doesn't mean they just uh they just uh worship God on Sunday morning and that was it.

They ignored their Bible, they ignored the prayer of life, they ignored the spouse, they ignored their children.

No, it means that they were steadfast in their walk with the Lord.

We ought to show up in our post.

Hey, when we as a church have different ministry areas and that we are responsible for, let's show up.

If we see that there is a gap in the need in the nursery or a need in the kids' class or a need in as a teacher or somewhere else, hey, let's show up.

Let's not just point the finger and say, hey, that person will be really great at it.

Let's not just delegate to someone else, let's say, no, here am I, send me.

I'm ready for the battle.

I might be tired, I might be weary, I might be exhausted, but I'm going to rely on the Lord and go in.

Now I'm not talking about if you're spiritually hurting, you're spiritually uh just you need God's word.

There is a time for rest, right?

The Bible tells us that those who uh rest on the shadow of the Almighty, right, uh, will dwell with the Lord on the high 20 bush of that verse.

But you know, the Bible tells us, hey, we ought to get under the shadow of God.

We ought to spend our time with Him.

Because how can we pour out if we have nothing inside?

But you can still show up.

The Israelites, they had nothing, but they said, I'll go.

I'll fight.

Because if I don't, the alternative is death.

The alternative is my family, my friends, my co-workers.

If I don't tell my co-workers about Christ, then who will?

If I don't tell my family about Christ, then who will?

Let's show up.

Number three is remember that the one helping you fight is fighting too.

Joshua and the Israelites that were down at the battlefield.

But there you had Moses with a rod.

He was carrying not only the burdens of the people, he was also carrying the personal baggage.

Maybe the Lord made a mistake.

Maybe I'm not fit.

God, I told you I didn't want to do this, God.

They're ungrateful.

Lord, I didn't want to be here.

I told you to uh have Eren do it instead, God.

God, they're trying to kill me again.

Can't believe again, Lord.

I I we we we call the plagues and I led them out of Egypt, and they're just so ungrateful.

He was dealing with personal baggage as well.

As we are here in this church, and we're fighting for our families, we're fighting for our life, we're fighting for our walk with God, we're fighting against addiction, we're fighting.

Let's not forget that there is someone who Is helping us fight.

And that is pastor.

Like Gene said in the in the previous verse, not everyone has a great pastor.

Not everyone has an amazing pastor.

You I know pastor mentioned a few weeks ago about the pastor's wife, right?

Or pastor's wife.

Man, can you imagine being a part of that church?

You look at some other churches, man.

Can you imagine being a part of that church?

The Bible says in verse number 11, and it came to pass when Moses held up his hand, and Israel prevailed.

And when he let his hand, let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.

The truth of the matter is that Pastor Jason Brown, he is not God.

Right?

As much as we like to think that Pastor Jason has a lot of energy, and we all understand, he has more than enough energy than you know anyone should ever be.

It should be illegal to, you know, for how much energy he has.

I bet you when he's like 80 years old, he'll probably still be doing backflips and you know doing like massive deadlifts and stuff like that.

But he's still a man.

He still goes through struggles.

He he still uh carries the weight of what is going on.

I just want you guys to kind of picture some of the stuff that goes on, right?

You know, you have a pastor who probably gets uh blown up with text messages.

Well, you know, hey, I can you please pray for me on this?

Can't you can you counsel me on this, right?

He spends hours long praying for people and counseling them and going to Bible clubs and preaching and and uh with with a hurting family that's about to uh just lose everything.

He goes to them and counsels them with with a with a family, with the spouse, the husband and wife who wants to break up, he's going there pouring out onto them.

Man, it it I I'm so glad that I do not have the job that Pastor Jason Brown has.

Because, Pastor, it's not a job, it's a calling.

It's a calling of God.

No one would willingly, unless they're crazy, ever want to have a job like that.

It's a calling from the Lord.

It says in Hebrews chapter 13, verse number 17, obey them that have rule over you and submit yourselves, for they watch for your souls as they must give an account.

Hebrews 13 · chapter mention

I have the privilege of being in uh staff meetings um uh with pastor on Tuesdays, and the amount of times he mentions that verse throughout the years, so many times.

But he he but he doesn't want to do something, but he does it anyways, and he'll quote that verse, he says, I'm going to give an account for the church.

So I'm going to have to make the hard decision that no one else is going to like me for.

But I believe that this is what God has taught me to do, and I'm going to do it.

That's not a man pleaser.

And as you guys know, Pastor Jason Brown, he's not a man pleaser.

He'll do what it is that the Lord has led him to do.

In Acts 20, verse number 28.

Take heed therefore unto yourselves and to and to all the flock over which the Holy Ghost has made you an overseer.

And he buries the weight of knowing that one day he's going to stand before God, and God's going to God is going to say, Hey, what did you do with John Meisinghelter?

Hey, what did you do with Eric Sanchez?

What did he do with Ryan Leonard over here?

What did he do with that person over there?

He carries and buries that he has he has a weight put upon him, and his hands get heavy.

And I also think about many of those in his life where he's poured into, he's loved, but he might not have responded back to his attacks, maybe have made the decision that was good for the church that the person didn't like, and all of a sudden that the the the years of praying for them, the years of counseling them, and they're like, No, I don't want you.

You offending me.

Thinking that he's perfect, thinking that you know he he's he's he's uh he's he's purposely trying to offend them.

Number four is this hold up the hands that hold you up.

As we head into Pastor Appreciation Sunday, how can we help Pastor Jason Brown?

Because guess what?

When we help our pastor, we win.

You've heard him quote all the time a rising tide lifts all ships.

And when we are a blessing to Pastor Brown, he has more to pour out, he has more to give.

He's able to do it uh with joy.

Let me see if I can find that verse.

Um last time I said that I couldn't find it.

Alright, in Hebrews 13, verse number 17, it says, That they may do it with joy, not with grief, for that is unprofitable for you.

Didn't you know that God doesn't want pastors to be miserable when they serve?

Right?

That's that's mind-blowing, right?

God doesn't want them to be miserable.

Hey, he wants Pastor Jason Brown to serve with joy.

And yes, that depends on this walk with God, but that also depends on the people.

Man, Moses was not serving with joy.

He was upset, he was like, Man, what are these people?

He couldn't even get into the promised land because he got so angry and so upset that he struck the rock and when God told him, Mati, hold up the hands that hold you up.

So here's how we can be a blessing to Pastor.

Pray for him.

Pray for him.

When you see him going through a hard time, when you see him um just maybe making decisions where you're not uh quite understanding what's going on, pray for him.

He prays for you, he cares about you.

Are we always whenever we go to Pastor Brown?

Are we going to him just saying, Hey, can you please pray for me?

Can you do all these different things?

He'll gladly do it.

He loves to do it.

Barbie, how many times do you go to Pastor Brown?

Instead of a prayer request, prayer requests you say, Hey, Pastor, how can we pray for you?

What can I do in order to help you?

Number two, uh, number two, uh, the next part is encourage him.

Don't just pray for him, but also encourage him.

Hey, when he preaches this message, hey, that was a great message.

But when when he does something, uh when he uh pours out for uh different events, hey, tell them, hey, what a great job the Bible says in uh Proverbs 16, verse 24.

Proverbs 16:24

Pleasant are their words, are as in honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

Now, does Pastor do it for our praises?

No, he does it to obey God, but how many of you guys like hearing, hey, well done?

I mean, I'm sure none of us when we go to heaven wants to hear God say, terrible job.

Or just, you know, he he uh you're you're standing in the line, you know.

Uh I don't know if this is how it's gonna be.

You're standing in line to meet Jesus, right?

And God's like, God's like, hey, well done, my good and faithful servant.

Enter into the joy of the Lord.

And then he goes to the next person, oh, great job, you know, you you led this person to the Lord.

You know, you know, I'm not saying that salvation going to heaven is works-based.

That's not what I'm saying, okay?

It's by Jesus Christ alone.

But just work with me in this other street, right?

And then you have all of a sudden, right, you're like, oh, what's he gonna say about me?

And so you go up and he's like, you go on, all right, yeah, sure.

You know, we don't want to hear that.

That's not why we serve, you know, that's that's not why we do it, but we do it because we understand that the Lord desires for us to walk with him.

And it's great to hear every once in a while that we are doing a good job, that we are uh that we are walking with the Lord.

Um, the next one is protect his rest.

When he's on vacation, he's on vacation right now.

Don't text him, right?

When he's on vacation, let him get his rest.

When he's on his anniversary trip, which he is on, hey, let him get some time away.

Don't just always blow up his phone.

I understand sometimes you don't know that he's on vacation.

But guys, let's protect his rest that he has.

Here's the next one.

Don't talk around him, talk to him.

Right?

Don't talk around him, talk to him.

Hey, Pastor, can I can't uh you you said something that I didn't really quite understand or didn't quite like.

And you uh can I talk to you about it?

Pastor is open to talking, he is open to admitting when he is wrong.

And here's the next part share the load, share the load.

When I think about the story of Moses holding up the rod, the Aaron and the earth didn't come like, come up to Moses and say, Moses, you got this.

I believe in you, Moses.

I'm praying for you, you got it.

They didn't tell him, Moses, you haven't been walking with God.

You have a bad attitude right now.

I see your face while that while that rod is coming down.

Terrible attitude, Moses.

Walk with God, get right with God.

No, they shared the load.

They got him a seat, right?

They they held up his arms, they said, Hey, I'm here to help.

I'm not going to just uh tell you that I'm available, but I am going to be available.

I'm going to see the need, I'm going to take the lead.

And last of all, this morning is rely on God for the victory.

Rely on God for that for the victory.

Let's look back at verse number 15.

It says, and Moses built an altar and called the name of it Jehovah Nisi.

That word means that the Lord is my banner.

When Moses named it, and when he was holding up the rod, he wasn't saying, look at me.

He wasn't saying, I'm amazing, guys, I'm number one, without me you can do nothing.

He was holding up the rod of God.

And he says, the Lord is my banner.

Guys, as much as we love Pastor Jason Brown, he's not our God.

Your spouse is not your God.

That boyfriend and girlfriend, not your God.

That job, not your God.

That finance is not our God.

In my uh psalm live stream I'm doing for a life group, there was a verse there where it says, the Lord is my hope.

Now I was thinking about that verse, and I was thinking that oftentimes, sorry for those who are in my judges and uh psalm life where we're gonna hear this again for the third time, but I was thinking of that verse.

Thinking, when we pray to God and we ask the Lord, will you please fix my finances?

What are we really putting our trust in?

I'm not saying that's wrong to pray.

If you're struggling with finances, pray that.

It's wonderful.

But by praying that, we have to check our heart and ask, is my hope in the finance or is it in the Lord?

God, will you please uh fix my children?

Is our hope in the children or is it in the Lord?

Hey God, will you please remove this trial for me?

Is our hope in God just doing something, solving the problem, or is our hope in the Lord?

Meaning this, if God doesn't do it, are you okay with it?

If God doesn't solve your problems for you, are you able to say, God, your grace is sufficient for me?

Because our hope is not in whether or not God answers our prayer because our hope is in the fact that he's our Alpha, our Omega, our beginning and our end, and he loves us and he cares about us with an everlasting love.

And sometimes that means no.

And sometimes that means you're going to have to endure this hardness, this trial for the rest of your life.

And I'm just going to stand here and I'm going to watch to see if your hope was in me, or if it was in what I can do for you.

Because if it was in what I can do for you, the moment I tell you no, you're going to run to your vices.

You're going to run to alcohol, you're going to run to uh different uh other people, you're going to run to all these different things, the television show, the pornography, whatever the case may be, you're going to run away.

Because all of a sudden I told you no, I didn't answer your prayer request.

Because your hope truly wasn't in me.

But Paul said that your grace is sufficient for me.

For when I am weak, then I'm as wrong.

If you're weak, good.

That's a good place to be.

If you're tired, weary, and you're not ready for the battle, that's good.

Because that shows that was never you, but it was God.

Hey, let's not blame other people for not showing up to the battle.

Let's not blame other people for not showing up to training.

Hey, let's not blame our our our uh our leaders, let's not blame pastor, let's not blame our friends, let's not blame our spouse for never even being present to begin with.

Every man will give an account of himself to God, and when we stand before God, we'll be without excuses.