When God Takes the Detour: Trusting the Plan You Didn’t Choose

[00:00:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
This year we're celebrating 20 years of ministry at Elevation Church.
[00:00:05] From our first Sunday in 2006 to worship experiences around the world today, we have seen God move in power again and again.
[00:00:15] Every story, every step,
[00:00:17] Every open door has been the result of His faithfulness.
[00:00:21] As we close the year, I wanted to invite you to be a part of our year-end offering, sowing into what God is doing now and what's still ahead.
[00:00:31] Your generosity helps make ministry possible, not just in buildings, but in hearts and in homes across the world.
[00:00:38] You can give any time through the end of the year at elevationchurch.org.
[00:00:43] Thank you for being a part of this move of God.
[00:00:46] Let's get to the message.

[00:00:49] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
I was looking back on the sermons I preached to you this year, just really trying to put in context what the Lord has spoken and remember some of the things he has shared with us.
[00:01:00] It was just powerful for me to remember the times we've shared together in his presence.
[00:01:05] I did a series called Called.
[00:01:08] I did a series called That's What I Thought.
[00:01:11] I did a series called
[00:01:13] Same Lies, New Loops.
[00:01:19] That must mean the Lord wanted to send you a score update to let you know that no matter how far down you are in the fourth quarter of 2025,
[00:01:41] Touch somebody and say, I feel a comeback.
[00:01:45] Come on, it's the last quarter of the year, but God can do anything.
[00:01:49] Look at your neighbor and say, da-da-da-da-da-da.
[00:01:54] Sometimes you have to tell the devil, da-da-da-da-da-da.
[00:02:00] Philippians chapter 3 verse 10.
[00:02:02] Thank you to all of our campus pastors who preached so beautifully last week.
[00:02:08] Thank you for leading.
[00:02:09] Thank you for shepherding.
[00:02:09] Thank you for caring for the people of God, making sure you're still standing.
[00:02:13] It's good for your circulation.
[00:02:16] Philippians chapter 3 verse 10.
[00:02:21] I can't speak for you, but I want to know Christ.
[00:02:26] I do.
[00:02:28] I want to know Christ yes to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings becoming like him in his death and so somehow love that word it means I'm more focused on the person than the plan I want to know Christ so that somehow however he chooses to do it that's what we're going to talk about today by the way so somehow I can attain to the resurrection from the dead
[00:02:57] Now this part's important.
[00:02:59] Not that I've already obtained all this or have already arrived at my goal.
[00:03:05] Warn your neighbor, I'm not there yet.
[00:03:09] Tell them, I might cuss you out leaving the parking lot today if the Lord doesn't do a work because I'm not there yet.
[00:03:18] I don't want to, but it's possible if the traffic's real bad, if you drive stupid.
[00:03:26] All right, focus.
[00:03:28] I should read the whole verse again.
[00:03:30] I messed it up.
[00:03:30] Not that I have already obtained all this or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
[00:03:42] Beautiful.
[00:03:42] Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it, but one thing I do, forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on
[00:03:55] toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
[00:04:01] Exodus, chapter 13, verse 17 says this.
[00:04:16] When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter.
[00:04:25] For God said, if they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.
[00:04:32] So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea.
[00:04:40] The Israelites went up out of Egypt, ready for battle.
[00:04:44] Now, I want you to sit down in this order, okay?
[00:04:47] If you are at one of our physical locations today, play along.
[00:04:50] If you're online, just raise your hand in the chat or something like that.
[00:04:54] If everything went the way you planned it this year and you are exactly where you intended to be in every area of your life at the end of this year when you started the year you planned it and right now you possess it you may be seated because we want to look at who to hire to be our therapist or our coach or pray for because you're a liar but everybody else that had a plan a
[00:05:23] and then a Plan B. I want you to look at your neighbor and tell them my title because I think the whole church is still standing.
[00:05:31] Tell them, this must be my Plan C. You may be seated.
[00:05:40] Plan C. That's why I'm calling the message, Chris.
[00:05:43] This must be my Plan C. We'll talk a little bit about what that means in just a moment.
[00:05:51] There was an apocalyptic fog in the air as we drove to church today.
[00:05:58] Abby and I were driving into church, and I looked at her and said, This is kind of freaky.
[00:06:05] She said, I know, but it's kind of cool.
[00:06:07] We were listening to a song that we just recorded.
[00:06:09] You don't have it yet.
[00:06:11] You will soon.
[00:06:11] It's called, So Be It.
[00:06:13] As I was saying this to her, the voice of the lead vocalist on our song called So Be It said, Like a thief in the night, he'll return for his bride.
[00:06:21] Even so, Jesus come, Jesus come, split the skies.
[00:06:25] So be it, God.
[00:06:27] I looked at Abby and said, Wouldn't it be wild?
[00:06:30] While we're listening to that, Jesus just came back.
[00:06:33] It's like 6 in the morning.
[00:06:35] She's rolling her eyes at me and stuff.
[00:06:37] I looked at her.
[00:06:37] I'm just messing with her.
[00:06:38] I said, Would you be ready?
[00:06:41] She said, Not really.
[00:06:43] I've got some work to do.
[00:06:45] Just keeping it honest.
[00:06:46] I wouldn't want him to come exactly right now.
[00:06:50] I don't know what's going on in young Abby's life that she needs to repent of.
[00:06:53] Y'all pray for her as well.
[00:06:58] When the Israelites left Egypt, the Bible uses an interesting phrase, and I call your attention to it once again as we bring these two amazing, amazing scriptures together today.
[00:07:10] One is located out of 400 years of slavery where God set his people free, and one is located in a prison cell where an apostle is being held captive for his obedience to God.
[00:07:22] Let me set this up.
[00:07:23] The richness of it is the second scripture I read you, they're coming out
[00:07:28] of captivity.
[00:07:30] The first Scripture I read you, he is still in captivity, but I think there is a thread that will help us evaluate where we are, where we wanted to be, the plan we had, and what God actually did while we were making our plans, which was laugh.
[00:07:52] The Egyptians had held God's people captive to the point that they cried out to God.
[00:07:59] I want to speak this sermon in three different stages today.
[00:08:02] One, I want to talk about the crying, and then I want to talk about the crossing.
[00:08:10] Why aren't you writing down the points?
[00:08:13] What if there's a pop quiz on this?
[00:08:15] What if the Devil tries to beat you up next week and you need to go back and refer to this?
[00:08:19] Write it down.
[00:08:20] The crying, the crossing, and then the covering.
[00:08:26] Those three things that I want to talk to you about today.
[00:08:30] They cried out to God, it says in Exodus 3, verse 7.
[00:08:34] This is not for the screen, but just listen to it real quick.
[00:08:37] When the Lord appeared to Moses, he said, I've come down because I'm concerned about my people.
[00:08:44] I have seen the misery of my people in Egypt.
[00:08:47] I have heard them crying out.
[00:08:51] I have devices all over my house that listen to me.
[00:08:54] I know they listen to me because I talk about a restaurant and it shows up on my phone without being typed in.
[00:09:01] I'm thankful that the Lord listens to me as well and that he puts things in my path in response to the prayers that I pray.
[00:09:10] Have you ever noticed that God will put something in your path in response to the prayer that you prayed?
[00:09:16] God won't always pick you up and carry you where you need to go, but he'll put something in your path.
[00:09:22] I believe for somebody right now, God put this message in your algorithm because he's putting something in your path.
[00:09:28] You almost tripped over this video, didn't you?
[00:09:30] You didn't even want to see a 45-year-old middle-aged man in a black hoodie with a Bible open.
[00:09:34] You were looking for something much more entertaining, but God put something in your path.
[00:09:39] He knows about the things you're going through, and he wanted you to accidentally trip over this video.
[00:09:44] It's not the algorithm.
[00:09:45] It's the anointing of the God who loves you so much and called you from an early age that he would put this message in your path at this time.
[00:09:53] Oh, it's not an accident.
[00:09:54] Don't switch it off.
[00:09:54] Don't mute it.
[00:09:55] Don't scroll past it.
[00:09:56] Don't fast-forward until I really start going good.
[00:09:58] I'm going right now to tell you.
[00:10:00] that often God will answer your prayer by putting something in your path.
[00:10:05] We praise him when he does.
[00:10:06] No, it's not luck.
[00:10:11] It was the Lord.
[00:10:12] The Lord put that in my path.
[00:10:14] It wasn't happenstance.
[00:10:15] It wasn't coincidence.
[00:10:17] Stop blaming coincidence for God's work.
[00:10:20] You see what I'm saying?
[00:10:22] When you call it coincidence, you diminish the divine.
[00:10:24] It was God who put it in your path.
[00:10:27] God puts things in our path in response to our prayers.
[00:10:31] If we are not aware of the things he puts in our path in answer to our prayers, we will trip right over what he put in front of us trying to get to what we think we wanted.
[00:10:41] I said you can trip right in front of what God put
[00:10:45] You can trip over what God put right in front of you trying to get where you think you need to be or trying to get to what you think you wanted.
[00:10:55] Paul said, I want to know Christ.
[00:10:58] I'm clear about the outcome.
[00:10:59] I want to draw closer to him.
[00:11:02] If I have to suffer to get to know him, I would rather suffer and know him than succeed and forget him.
[00:11:09] I would rather go through something hard and have him than to be far from him and everybody else think my life is wonderful.
[00:11:17] I would rather have Christ.
[00:11:19] I would rather have him.
[00:11:20] I don't want to miss him on the way to it.
[00:11:25] It's so important that you understand whatever you're going through in your life that God hears your cries.
[00:11:33] What do we mean when we say that?
[00:11:35] Let me break it down for you.
[00:11:36] I can't exactly
[00:11:38] Explain this to you, but when I describe it the Holy Spirit will help you to know what I'm talking about Sometimes God answers your prayer by putting something in your path that looks like what you prayed for that happens But today I want to talk with you for a little bit about when God sends a problem in answer to a prayer
[00:12:07] Sometimes God will send a problem in answer to a prayer.
[00:12:14] The example I'm thinking about in my life right now is too personal to share with you.
[00:12:21] I just recently prayed about something, and then a problem arose.
[00:12:26] I didn't see the connection between the two at the time, but the Lord then later showed me
[00:12:32] You know that problem you are now praying for me to remove from your life?
[00:12:38] That problem you're praying for me to remove, I sent to answer the last prayer you prayed.
[00:12:47] I don't know if this is clear or not.
[00:12:50] It's like I asked God to do something in my life, and then something happened that did not resemble what I asked God to do.
[00:12:59] And so I'm like, oh God, I gotta get rid of this problem so you can answer this prayer.
[00:13:05] I'm praying about this.
[00:13:06] Here comes the problem.
[00:13:07] I'm like, oh God, take this problem out and answer the prayer.
[00:13:10] And the Lord's like, I just did, but I did it different.
[00:13:16] I did it different.
[00:13:17] And so now the answer doesn't resemble the prayer, so you are too blind to see.
[00:13:22] The thing you're continuing to pray for me to take away is the thing I sent to answer the prayer you were praying to begin with.
[00:13:28] I know it's not very clear.
[00:13:30] Let me try to make it clear from the Bible.
[00:13:32] In Exodus, chapter 13, God's people are coming out of Egyptian slavery.
[00:13:38] God answered their prayer.
[00:13:40] He sent Moses to get them out of slavery.
[00:13:43] But they're not just concerned with coming out of Egypt, because where will they go from Egypt?
[00:13:48] I have to have somewhere to live.
[00:13:49] I have to have some type of soil to cultivate.
[00:13:52] I have to have some type of agriculture by which I can partner with the earth so that our babies can eat.
[00:13:58] I have to have some kind of formation.
[00:14:00] I have to have some sort of government.
[00:14:03] God is always taking you out of something, bringing you into something, taking you out of something, bringing you into something, taking you out of something, and bringing you into something.
[00:14:12] The Bible says something very powerful in Exodus 13, verse 17, when Pharaoh let the people go.
[00:14:23] What's interesting about that?
[00:14:26] God knew
[00:14:27] That although Pharaoh had let his people go with just 10 plagues, his people had still not let Pharaoh go.
[00:14:42] Isn't it amazing?
[00:14:44] It only took God ten plagues to get Pharaoh to let his people go.
[00:14:55] Pharaoh didn't let them go quickly.
[00:14:56] The Enemy will never let you go quickly, not if you're gifted.
[00:15:00] Why would he?
[00:15:02] Why would he let you go quickly?
[00:15:04] Why would he release his grip on you?
[00:15:06] Why would he allow you to forgive without feeling bitterness?
[00:15:10] Why would he give up your services?
[00:15:12] Why would he let you go easily?
[00:15:14] He knows what you're capable of if you ever get liberated.
[00:15:17] Why would he let you go?
[00:15:20] The reason the Devil is squeezing you is because there's something he sees in you that if you ever get free, if you ever get loose, if you ever shake this off of you, if you ever get out of here, if I ever get out of this place, if I ever get out of this mindset, I'm going to do something for God.
[00:15:41] Somebody shout, God has something for me.
[00:15:46] God has something for you.
[00:15:48] That's what the attack means.
[00:15:50] That's what the Enemy is fighting you over.
[00:15:52] God has something for you.
[00:15:56] Isn't it amazing that although it only took 10 plagues for God to get Pharaoh to let his people go, it took 40 years of wilderness wandering for God to get his people to let Pharaoh go?
[00:16:13] Relief is easy.
[00:16:15] Freedom is a process.
[00:16:19] I feel anointed to teach today.
[00:16:21] Let's not worry about all three points.
[00:16:23] Let's just talk about crying real quick.
[00:16:26] What if you are crying about something God is using, that God is trying to use?
[00:16:32] What if you are crying about something right now, and the Lord is saying, Those who sow in tears will reap with joy?
[00:16:38] You think those tears are wasted.
[00:16:40] They're not wasted.
[00:16:40] They're water.
[00:16:41] They are watering a harvest you can't see right now.
[00:16:44] Some of you, God, put something in your life.
[00:16:47] It's a great challenge.
[00:16:48] It's a terrible situation.
[00:16:50] It's a horrible situation.
[00:16:52] It's about as bad as being at a Red Sea.
[00:16:56] Look at this Scripture.
[00:16:58] The Bible says God could have taken them a short way, but he didn't.
[00:17:06] This is really the challenge, right?
[00:17:08] When God could, but he doesn't.
[00:17:10] Look at the Scripture again.
[00:17:12] He led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea.
[00:17:19] The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.
[00:17:26] So now I'm confused.
[00:17:28] Work with me.
[00:17:29] If they were ready for battle, verse 18, then why in verse 17 does God say, if they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt?
[00:17:41] God is the only one who really knows when you're ready.
[00:17:48] God is the only one who really knows what's in you, so God is the only one who can fully determine what to take you through and when, because he's the only one who knows what's really in you.
[00:18:00] There is a powerful thing that happens when I begin to decide in my life that God has me where he wants me.
[00:18:07] Even if it was caused by an attack of the enemy, God has me where he wants me.
[00:18:11] Now, what would it look like if at the end of this year, because I'm trying to help you as you reflect and as you expect and as you accept and you do all the things we have to do at this time of the year, what would it look like for you to have the kind of empathy for yourself and trust in God to realize that even if it's taking you a little longer,
[00:18:32] Then you expected it to take you.
[00:18:34] You're still going to get there.
[00:18:42] Tell your neighbor, you're still going to get there.
[00:18:46] Maybe that's what we'll call the message when we put it online.
[00:18:49] I know you're running a little late.
[00:18:51] I know you got a little bit of a limp.
[00:18:53] I know you're not looking as fresh as you were when you started out the journey.
[00:18:57] I know it's not exactly the right time, but you're still going to get there.
[00:19:02] Tell them again and say it with faith.
[00:19:03] You're still going to get there.
[00:19:06] You're still going to get there.
[00:19:08] It might have some detours along the way.
[00:19:11] It might have some disappointments along the way.
[00:19:14] You might not get there with who you thought was going to be.
[00:19:17] Not everybody who started on the road trip is going to be in the car when you pull up, but you're still there.
[00:19:22] You might not get through it all unscathed and unscarred.
[00:19:29] You might have to show a few of your wounds and your scars along the way to encourage somebody else, but you're still going to get there.
[00:19:38] The tears will not stop you.
[00:19:41] The trials will not stop you.
[00:19:43] The trauma will not stop you.
[00:19:45] The traffic will not stop you.
[00:19:47] It will not stop you.
[00:19:49] Your boss will not stop you.
[00:19:51] The economy will not stop you.
[00:19:53] The weather will not stop you.
[00:19:55] That's why I like a day where the fog is out.
[00:19:58] There was somebody who got up and saw the weather was bad in Charlotte but said, I still have to get there.
[00:20:05] I'm looking for a few Rough Riders in the house today.
[00:20:08] who say, Come hell or high water, come wind, come rain, come storm, come setback, come difficulty, come depression, now shove your neighbor and testify.
[00:20:19] Say, I'm still going to get there.
[00:20:22] I'm still going to get there.
[00:20:25] Don't cancel my reservation.
[00:20:27] I'm still gonna get there.
[00:20:29] Don't give my ticket away.
[00:20:31] I'm still gonna get there.
[00:20:33] Don't give away my seat at the table.
[00:20:35] I'm still gonna get there.
[00:20:37] I'm not gonna be on the fast bus, but I'm still gonna get there.
[00:20:42] I'm not the valedictorian, but I intend to graduate.
[00:20:47] I'm still gonna get there.
[00:20:48] I might not do it like she did it, but I'm still gonna get there.
[00:20:53] I might not have the right shoes on, but I'm still gonna get there.
[00:20:58] I might have a story to tell, but I'll tell my story, how I've overcome.
[00:21:06] I find three people say, just get there.
[00:21:09] Just get there.
[00:21:10] Just get there.
[00:21:11] Just get there.
[00:21:12] Wipe your tears and drive.
[00:21:15] Wipe your tears and walk.
[00:21:17] Wipe your tears and lift your hands.

[00:21:20] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
I'm still going to get there.
[00:21:22] I would have despaired had I not believed that I would see like this.

[00:21:31] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
The goodness of the Lord.
[00:21:35] So, Moses, why are we going this way?
[00:21:39] Can't we go the straight way?
[00:21:41] See, there's a difference between the straight way and the right way.
[00:21:52] This is plan A, and this is plan B.
[00:22:00] This is plan C.
[00:22:07] Tell your neighbor, this might be your plan C. Plan C is like this.
[00:22:18] Here's where they were, Egypt.
[00:22:20] Here's where they were going, Canaan.
[00:22:22] That's plan A.
[00:22:24] Then plan B is go back.
[00:22:26] That's what B stands for.
[00:22:28] We're going back to Egypt.
[00:22:31] This is plan C.
[00:22:35] Plan C doesn't make any sense.
[00:22:40] Plan C is, Wait a minute.
[00:22:44] We're going around in a circle.
[00:22:49] Why are you taking us this way?
[00:22:53] Moses must be bad with a map.
[00:23:01] Sometimes the mission
[00:23:04] Doesn't look like the map.
[00:23:06] Now, this is so true for your life.
[00:23:10] I need you to know that you're still going to get there.
[00:23:14] Say it.
[00:23:15] I'm still going to get there.
[00:23:17] I'm still going to get there.
[00:23:18] Graham came to me this weekend.
[00:23:19] He said, something horrible happened.
[00:23:22] We had this speaker lined up to speak Sunday night at the living room, and they can't speak now.
[00:23:26] So, what do I do?
[00:23:27] I said, oh, it's time for Plan C.
[00:23:33] Plan C is cry out to the Lord and then cram the message as fast as you can.
[00:23:49] This is Plan C. I know it's nice when you get to prepare Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, but this is Friday, and you have to speak Sunday.
[00:23:56] This is when you thought you were going to have a week off.
[00:24:02] This is when you thought you were going to retire at age 62, but you have to refire now.
[00:24:08] This is plan C. I'm preaching to somebody.
[00:24:11] I'm setting somebody free just to see this plan C. This is when it could have happened that fast, and you wanted to go back, but God won't let you go back, but you can't go forward, and God is taking you on plan C. Back in rehab, plan C. Back in recovery, plan C.
[00:24:30] Sending the children to their mother's house on the weekends.
[00:24:32] You didn't plan that getting married.
[00:24:34] This is plan C. This is plan C. I didn't want to lose my virginity, but I did, and now I'm asking God, can he help me move past this in a new way?
[00:24:44] This is plan C. It doesn't mean that God left you.
[00:24:48] It just means he's leading me differently.
[00:24:51] This is plan C.
[00:24:57] I feel the testimonies coming back to me even as I preach the word.
[00:25:01] This is going to be one of those words where the reapers overtake the sowers.
[00:25:05] By the time I can even release this word into your heart, you are going to see what God is saying to you.
[00:25:11] You thought you were going here, and then you wanted to go back.
[00:25:15] It's not plan A.
[00:25:17] It's not plan B.
[00:25:18] It's going to be plan C.
[00:25:20] Let's see, because there is something God knows about me that he finds it necessary for this stage of my life to take me not like this and not like this, but like this.
[00:25:34] I'm still going to get there, but I'm going to get there in a circular route.
[00:25:39] Write this down.
[00:25:40] Not every circle is a sin.
[00:25:48] The Israelites spent 40 years in the wilderness because they would not believe, but before they spent 40 years because of their unbelief, God took them on a two-week detour because of his mercy.
[00:26:01] He knew, there's something I need to do in you, so I'm just trying to see.
[00:26:08] Will you let go of plan A, and will you refuse plan B so you can see?
[00:26:18] What God wants to do in your life.
[00:26:21] I could go home right now, but we can keep going if you want to.
[00:26:27] Let's talk about the crossing.
[00:26:33] Who should I use for this illustration?
[00:26:35] Volunteer yourself if you dare.
[00:26:41] Somebody that… Now, you don't have to do this, so put your hand down, and I'm going to ask you this question.
[00:26:46] Somebody do it if you want to do it, if you feel called to do it, if you feel led to do it.
[00:26:50] You do not have to expose yourself.
[00:26:52] I wouldn't.
[00:26:53] If Christmas is going to be tight for you this year and you want to use it as a volunteer and you want me to use you… We're going to do this?
[00:27:05] You're committing.
[00:27:06] You don't know what I'm going to do.
[00:27:12] Whatever I want to do for this illustration, you'll do it.
[00:27:15] Yeah?
[00:27:16] All right.
[00:27:17] You have to do exactly what I say.
[00:27:19] Nothing more, nothing less.
[00:27:20] You committed to the illustration?
[00:27:22] Thank you.
[00:27:23] Put your hand out.
[00:27:24] Yeah, open like that.
[00:27:26] Can we see this on the cameras, everybody?
[00:27:28] Let's get our optimal camera angles for this illustration.
[00:27:31] Put them up a little higher.
[00:27:35] Yeah, right there.
[00:27:39] Now, I prayed about whether to do this.
[00:27:43] You know what I'm about to do?
[00:27:46] Anybody else want to volunteer?
[00:27:49] I'm going to just show this real quick.
[00:27:51] It's going to be very simple.
[00:27:54] If I give you this and it says 10 and you take it and then you squeeze it… I mean ball it up and squeeze it.
[00:28:07] Squeeze the other hand, too, just to complete the illustration.
[00:28:10] Squeeze the thumb in there too.
[00:28:14] Put the thumb where you can't get to it for the sake of the illustration.
[00:28:16] There we go.
[00:28:18] She squeezes it so tight until it hurts.
[00:28:25] Then I have one of these, and I say, Okay, I would like to give you this too.
[00:28:31] No, no, no, no, no, no.
[00:28:33] Put the thumb in that hand.
[00:28:36] But what you instinctively did…
[00:28:39] is what you would have to do.
[00:28:42] You would have to release to receive.
[00:28:51] Now, ball it up.
[00:28:53] This is what we do.
[00:28:55] We get real tight when God gives us something.
[00:28:59] But what if God…
[00:29:05] wants to give you something else.
[00:29:07] You're like, I knew he was a prosperity preacher.
[00:29:10] It's a metaphor.
[00:29:12] It's an analogy.
[00:29:15] This is my own personal money.
[00:29:17] I'm giving it away.
[00:29:18] I'm not asking her for money.
[00:29:20] I'm trying to give her something, but if I'm trying to give her something and her grip on what I just gave her is too tight…
[00:29:30] I can try to give her something.
[00:29:33] No, no, no, no, no.
[00:29:35] You're creative.
[00:29:37] Don't mess up my illustration.
[00:29:40] Now, you can receive when you release.
[00:29:48] Ball it up.
[00:29:52] Ball it up until when you hand it to somebody, they wonder, what has she been through?
[00:29:57] Ball it up.
[00:29:59] But if you hold it too tight, there may be more God wants to give you, but he can't… Oh, I hear it like this.
[00:30:06] God said, I can't fill your fists.
[00:30:16] You want one?
[00:30:18] Do it real quick.
[00:30:20] I have plenty of this.
[00:30:21] As long as you have open hands… Oh, now it's getting really good, y'all.
[00:30:27] It's getting better and better and better, but if she wants to hold on to what that was, she can't get what this is.
[00:30:37] But watch what she did, because she has learned by now that this person standing in front of me is a giver.
[00:30:47] Not a taker.
[00:30:51] about God is just absolutely amazing.
[00:30:56] God is like, if you'll open your hands and keep your hands open and keep your heart open and keep your mind open and keep your spirit open and keep your faith high and keep your hope up, I will never stop.

[00:31:20] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Meeting your needs.
[00:31:25] God sees you.
[00:31:39] He sees you.

[00:31:46] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
He sees me, empty-handed.
[00:31:49] He sees me brokenhearted.
[00:31:51] He sees me crying at night.
[00:31:55] He sees me, and he holds me.
[00:32:05] Did you notice that Paul said, I'm striving to take hold of that for which Jesus already took hold of me?
[00:32:15] That means I don't have to grab it.
[00:32:18] because God grabbed me.
[00:32:26] Y'all give her a hand.
[00:32:28] Merry Christmas.
[00:32:30] Everybody hug her real quick.
[00:32:32] Everybody in that section.
[00:32:33] I'm going to give her a hug too.
[00:32:35] Thank you for helping me preach.
[00:32:39] Thank you for helping me show that the secret in this season of your life
[00:32:45] It's not this.

[00:32:57] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
It's this.

[00:32:59] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Because you raised your hand, God filled it.
[00:33:05] I love it.
[00:33:07] I love the Lord.
[00:33:08] He heard my cry.
[00:33:10] He pitied every groan.
[00:33:15] Not only did he lead them through the desert, but he led them through the water.
[00:33:19] That's the crossing.
[00:33:23] Why is God taking me through this?
[00:33:25] Why is God letting it be like this?
[00:33:26] Why is God allowing this season in my life?
[00:33:29] It's the crossing.
[00:33:31] It's the crossing.
[00:33:33] God knew they were too weak for war, so he led them to water.
[00:33:42] He knew they were too weak for war, so he led them to water.
[00:33:47] God knew that even though Pharaoh had temporarily let them go, he was coming back to get them.
[00:33:53] For the Bible says that no sooner had they got to that place at the Red Sea than the chariots of Pharaoh began to click-clack behind them.
[00:34:02] As those chariots began to make their sound and the engines of the enemy began to rev, the Bible says in Exodus 14-15 that they cried out to the Lord and to Moses, Why did you bring us out here?
[00:34:16] To die?
[00:34:17] No.
[00:34:19] We're going across.
[00:34:22] We're going across this water because what is against you is more than what's with you.
[00:34:30] If you fight this enemy hand to hand, you will die.
[00:34:35] But God knew something very strategic.
[00:34:37] Now, watch this.
[00:34:37] This is another reason I love God.
[00:34:41] For God, this is the strategic route even if it's not the short route.
[00:34:49] So they're standing at a Red Sea, and this is where it all comes together for me.
[00:34:52] The Red Sea is a problem, but they are praying a prayer.
[00:35:03] So God leads them to a problem in answer to a prayer.
[00:35:13] Is this the best sermon I've preached all year, or am I just caffeinated?
[00:35:20] So I'd be like, God, take me around this.
[00:35:23] What am I going to do with the sea?
[00:35:25] And God says, Oh, you'll see.
[00:35:28] Because I didn't bring you out here because I'm done with you.
[00:35:32] I brought you out here to deal with your enemies and to drown them in this sea.

[00:35:41] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
This is my plan.

[00:35:51] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
The Egyptians you see today, you will see them no more, but you have to let go now.
[00:36:01] You have to let go of what you were holding onto.
[00:36:04] Paul said, forgetting what is behind me and reaching toward what's ahead, I press toward the mark for the prize
[00:36:16] of the High Calling of God in Christ Jesus.
[00:36:22] Paul wrote about the prize from a prison, which goes to show me God has got me right where he wants me, and I'm still going to get there.
[00:36:36] Well, y'all used up all your shout, or you would be shouting about this Red Sea in front of you.
[00:36:41] You would be shouting about your problem if you knew the nature of your God.
[00:36:47] It's that he leads us to impossible situations.
[00:36:50] He leads us to the deep end so that we might learn to depend on him.
[00:36:56] He leads us to the water because he knows we're not ready for war.
[00:37:01] God sees what you're fighting against.
[00:37:04] God sees what you're up against.
[00:37:06] God sees you're outnumbered for it.
[00:37:08] God sees you're too young to do it.
[00:37:11] God sees you're too old to carry it.
[00:37:13] God sees you're too small to do it.
[00:37:15] God sees you're not smart enough to know it.
[00:37:18] He says, I have a sea to deal with that if you will move forward in faith.
[00:37:26] The presence of the Lord is in this place.
[00:37:31] The Spirit of God is in this place.
[00:37:41] It's the most amazing thing.
[00:37:43] If you've never read the story, the Bible says they crossed through on dry ground, and their enemies didn't.
[00:37:51] There are going to be some things you look back on at the end of this year that tried to kill you.
[00:37:57] But what you didn't understand about what you were going through in your situation that wasn't your plan A and it wasn't plan B, it was plan C. It was a crossing.
[00:38:12] After all, none of the disciples signed up to follow Jesus to death.
[00:38:19] None of them signed up for a cross, but he did.
[00:38:23] He said, if there's any other way, plan B, take this cup from me.
[00:38:28] But he went to the cross and he died.
[00:38:30] Why?
[00:38:31] It was his plan C. Paul said, I want to know Christ.
[00:38:36] That's my plan C. Hey, all of y'all that are praying about stuff you can't control, time to go to plan C. God, I can't control this.
[00:38:44] You can.
[00:38:44] I want to know you.
[00:38:47] I want to know you.
[00:38:49] I want to know you more than I want to get her number.
[00:38:52] I want to know you more than I want them to follow me back.
[00:38:55] I want to know you more than I want a like on this post.
[00:38:58] I want to know you.
[00:39:01] What good is knowing what college to go to if you don't take Christ with you when you get there?
[00:39:06] I want to know you.
[00:39:11] God brought you to this water.
[00:39:13] The Devil can't drown you in a crossing God brought you to.
[00:39:17] Paul said, even if I have to suffer, even if I have to stay in this cell, this is not where I'm meant to be.
[00:39:24] One thing the text shows us is that whether you are in captivity or whether you're headed toward freedom, God is with you on this plan C.
[00:39:38] Just all over your life this year, things you don't understand.
[00:39:41] God's not done.
[00:39:43] It's a plan C. When he does his C with your C, it's going to all come full circle, and you are going to understand the goodness of God at a level you have never known before.
[00:40:01] There's crying, and there's crossing, and there's covering.
[00:40:08] There's covering.
[00:40:10] As they went through the sea, the Bible says Moses had one job to do.
[00:40:28] If he did this job, then God would handle every part of the battle he could not handle.
[00:40:36] It's pretty simple.
[00:40:38] But it's kind of hard to do sometimes.
[00:40:42] In Exodus, chapter 14, as the people are standing in front of a Red Sea, up against battles they're not ready to fight, surrounded by enemies they are not strong enough to subdue… If you feel like that, watch what Moses
[00:41:07] He thought the Lord was just going to do something.
[00:41:09] This is so funny.
[00:41:11] In the Bible, sometimes there are little jokes, but you think the Bible is boring, so you don't get them.
[00:41:16] Moses gives a speech to the people.
[00:41:18] He says, Exodus 14, the Lord will fight for you.
[00:41:21] You need only to be still.
[00:41:22] Then the Lord said to Moses, Why are you crying out to me?
[00:41:25] Tell the Israelites to move on.
[00:41:29] Crying is no substitute for crossing.
[00:41:35] You can stand there and cry and get killed.
[00:41:38] Or you can move forward in this season with what you have.
[00:41:44] Play LJ.
[00:41:49] The Lord said, Why are you crying out to me?
[00:41:51] Tell the Israelites to move on.
[00:41:53] Raise your staff and stretch out your hand.
[00:42:00] So the Lord says that the key to this is going to be what Paul said in Philippians, chapter 3.
[00:42:09] I am letting go of what's behind me and letting God deal with that.
[00:42:16] I'm reaching toward what's ahead of me.
[00:42:20] If you will do this, God…
[00:42:37] The Bible says they had to go through some raging waters, and you have too.
[00:42:43] Let's just rejoice for a moment in our hearts.
[00:42:45] You don't have to clap or shout or nothing like that, but just in your own heart kind of tell the Lord, like, I know it's amazing what you brought me through, because nobody else really knows what it cost you to get here.
[00:43:00] Nobody knows what it cost you.
[00:43:01] Nobody knows what you cried.
[00:43:03] Nobody really knows how much you're having to let go of.
[00:43:07] Look, there are people in this room today who are having to unlearn their entire upbringing to follow Christ.
[00:43:13] They were not raised in a Christian family.
[00:43:16] They were not shown how to read the Bible.
[00:43:18] They were not taught about Jesus, and God has brought you this far.
[00:43:23] So, as we thank God for that and what you've been through… I mean, if you really just would think about it for one split second of your life, the fear of what's next would look much smaller in the context of all you've been through already.
[00:43:36] I mean, the Devil missed his window to take you out, because there have been some things you have been through that were much bigger than this.
[00:43:49] And as they walked through the waters, I love to get a picture of it, man, because at this point, they've basically already given up faith in their leader because he's taken them the long way, but God was leading them through him.
[00:44:03] And they have no idea what's going to happen next, only that this man is holding up a stick in front of a sea.
[00:44:10] So if you feel like that today, I need you to know that God has you
[00:44:16] The Bible says in verse 16, Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through on dry ground.
[00:44:26] I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them, and I will gain glory through Pharaoh and his army.
[00:44:35] Through his chariots and his horsemen did you notice that everything that was going to kill them was an instrument in the hands of God for a greater glory.
[00:44:46] I prophesy it over your life, what the enemy meant for evil.
[00:44:57] Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel's army, withdrew and went behind them.
[00:45:03] The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel.
[00:45:09] And throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side.
[00:45:14] So neither went near the other all night long.
[00:45:18] Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea.
[00:45:23] All that night the Lord drove the sea back.
[00:45:27] Moses is doing this, and God is doing this.
[00:45:31] Moses is doing this, and God is doing this.
[00:45:36] God has you covered in this season of your life.
[00:45:42] The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.
[00:45:51] The Egyptians pursued them.
[00:45:54] All Pharaoh's horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea.
[00:45:58] During the last watch of the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion, and he jammed the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving.
[00:46:08] And the Egyptians, the enemies, the forces that came to conspire against the people of God, said, Let's get away from the Israelites.
[00:46:16] The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt.
[00:46:21] Then the Lord said to Moses, Watch this.
[00:46:23] Stretch out your hand over the sea, so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.
[00:46:35] Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place.
[00:46:39] The Egyptians were fleeing toward it, and the Lord swept them into the sea.
[00:46:42] The water flowed back and covered the chariots and the horsemen.
[00:46:50] The entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea.
[00:46:56] Not one of them survived.
[00:47:01] But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground.
[00:47:06] Notice how many times it says sea because this is plan C. The Israelites went through the sea.
[00:47:14] They were covered.
[00:47:15] The Egyptians drowned in the sea.
[00:47:18] It covered them.
[00:47:19] God is working all things together for your good.
[00:47:21] God is working all things together for his glory.
[00:47:23] God is working all things together for a purpose.
[00:47:26] God is working all things together for a plan.
[00:47:28] You just keep doing this.
[00:47:33] Verse 30, and I'll finish.
[00:47:36] That day the Lord saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and all Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore.
[00:47:49] I don't have to see it to believe it, because I know God is with me.
[00:47:56] I've been praying about some things in my life like you've been praying about some things in your life.
[00:48:00] I've had some things in my life that didn't quite match up at this point.
[00:48:03] Honestly, I'm going to get real specific with you.
[00:48:06] There are not that many things about my life that I can complain about, but sometimes there are some things about me that I thought would be better by now.
[00:48:18] Y'all are just leaving me up here like I'm the only doggone one.
[00:48:28] Doing like this sometimes.
[00:48:31] But the Lord will bring you to the water for the wars you're not ready for.
[00:48:37] I want to challenge you.
[00:48:38] Y'all, we have a few weeks left, and we'll be saying goodbye yesterday.
[00:48:46] I'm going to tell you, if you take the chariots with you into the Promised Land, you won't be there long.
[00:48:53] There are some things God wants to deal with in your life.
[00:48:57] God might have sent a problem to answer a prayer.
[00:49:00] What was Paul's prayer?
[00:49:02] I want to know Christ.
[00:49:03] So God put him in a prison and said, You'll get to know me here.
[00:49:11] So Paul said, I have a prize in the prison.
[00:49:13] So do you.
[00:49:16] A prize in the prison.
[00:49:22] Father, these are your people.
[00:49:25] I didn't make them.
[00:49:25] I didn't create them.
[00:49:26] I can't lead them through deep waters.
[00:49:28] You can.
[00:49:30] Now, God, we're holding on to so much.
[00:49:34] We've got our fists balled up so tight on a $10 blessing.
[00:49:40] We've got our fists balled up so tight on the way we think about us, on the way we think about others.
[00:49:46] We've got our fists balled up so tight on our plan A.
[00:49:50] Some of us are thinking about going back.
[00:49:52] Plan B.
[00:49:54] But today you told us that Plan C is for us to trust you, give the situation to you, follow you forward.
[00:50:02] I believe, God.
[00:50:03] Yeah, I do.
[00:50:05] I believe that you're going to bring them across this Red Sea they're going through.
[00:50:11] I'm not saying that as a cute metaphor, God.
[00:50:14] I have faith for them.
[00:50:17] Even if they don't believe right now,
[00:50:19] Would you just give them the strength to let go?
[00:50:24] Such a strange thing to pray for.
[00:50:26] We think it's so strong to hold on, but the strength to let go and to go forward.
[00:50:33] It's time for plan C. It's time for you to see what God can do when you trust him with your life.
[00:50:41] Heads bowed, eyes closed.
[00:50:42] There's someone here today.
[00:50:44] The assignment on my life for this message with you is to give you the opportunity to give your life to Jesus Christ.
[00:50:52] To really give him your life.
[00:50:56] Not just to say, I'm religious.
[00:50:57] Not just to say, yeah, I'm going to pray to God and make my life better.
[00:51:00] No.
[00:51:01] To really give him your life.
[00:51:03] Is that you?
[00:51:04] God has brought you to this moment.
[00:51:06] This is a threshold for you.
[00:51:08] You are here today because God has been drawing you and leading you and calling you out of your sin, out of your shame, and into his love.
[00:51:17] The Bible says that if you'll confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
[00:51:25] I believe that this day God wants to save you.
[00:51:28] Right now I'm going to pray a prayer for the benefit of those who are coming to God.
[00:51:32] Listen, if this is you and you feel it in your heart and you're ready to repent of your sin and trust in God and give him your life, I want you to know that the work has already been done.
[00:51:44] Jesus already died the death we should have died.
[00:51:47] He lived a life we could not live.
[00:51:49] He paid a debt he did not owe so that you could be saved.
[00:51:54] The only thing for you to do is to believe.
[00:51:58] So right now, if you're ready for that, to give your life to Christ, I want you to repeat this prayer after me.
[00:52:04] Church family, we're praying it out loud together for all those who are coming to God.
[00:52:08] Repeat after me.
[00:52:09] Heavenly Father, I am a sinner in need of a Savior, and I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of the world.
[00:52:24] Today, I make Jesus
[00:52:27] The Lord of my life.
[00:52:29] I believe he died that I would be forgiven and rose again to give me life.
[00:52:37] I receive this new life.
[00:52:40] This is my new beginning.
[00:52:43] I am a child of God.
[00:52:46] On the count of three, raise your hand if you prayed that.
[00:52:48] One, two, three.
[00:52:54] Let's give the Lord a great hand of praise.
[00:52:59] Come on.
[00:52:59] Everybody can praise God.
[00:53:03] Come on.
[00:53:03] I see a lot of hands.
[00:53:04] Welcome to the family of God.
[00:53:06] Praise the Lord for all those online.
[00:53:09] You can put in the comments, I receive Jesus.
[00:53:13] Come on.
[00:53:14] Clap those hands for what God did in the house today.
[00:53:20] Praise the Lord.
[00:53:22] Hug seven people.
[00:53:23] Tell them, you're still going to get there.
[00:53:26] You're still going to get there.
[00:53:28] Yes, you are.
[00:53:30] You're still going to get there.
[00:53:34] You're going to get there.
[00:53:37] You might be 12 pounds heavier in December.
[00:53:41] You're still going to get there.
[00:53:43] This is Plan C. How many got something out of the Word of God today?
[00:53:52] Campus pastors, you can take it.
[00:53:55] Can I close here?
[00:53:56] Do you have anything important to say?
[00:54:01] We have a big offering next weekend, y'all.
[00:54:04] This envelope right here.
[00:54:07] Open this up.
[00:54:11] Fill it up.
[00:54:12] Bring it back.
[00:54:14] Put it in.
[00:54:15] Expect God to move in a great way in our church.
[00:54:20] What else do you need to tell them?
[00:54:23] I don't want to oversimplify.
[00:54:26] Is that all?
[00:54:53] Who else wants to come?
[00:54:56] Where is my sister that got the blessing today?
[00:54:59] Come on, join us.
[00:55:10] Do your hands like this.
[00:55:13] Repeat after me.
[00:55:13] Now unto him who is able to do immeasurably more than you ask or imagine.
[00:55:23] to him be glory through Christ Jesus in the church now and forever.

[00:55:32] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Say amen.

[00:55:41] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Amen again.
[00:55:41] I'll see you next week.
[00:55:41] This is your husband.

[00:55:44] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
Hey, thank you for watching The Elevation Church YouTube.
[00:55:47] I want you to subscribe.
[00:55:48] That way you can know when we go live and post new content.
[00:55:52] Make sure to leave me a comment.
[00:55:53] Let me know what spoke to you today, where you're watching from, and what we can pray for you about.
[00:55:58] And if you'd like to support the ministry financially, you can click the Give button now and help us continue reaching people around the world for Jesus Christ.
[00:56:06] Thanks again.
[00:56:07] I'll see you next time.