Trust In Jesus

We are very blessed by Brandon in the things that God is doing in his ministry, I was a youth pastor, I got started in youth ministry as the pastor for over a decade. And a lot of my aspirations and things I wanted to see is, in fact, what's starting to happen in our youth ministry where we have a blended group of individuals who have don't go to church and don't know Jesus in coming and being introduced to Jesus and community and mixed with the melting pot of kids that grew up in church, and God is on the move, and our youth and God is on the move, and West Side, Costa Mesa. And so we're just excited to be a part of what God's doing here and just want to welcome you to canopy. We are a church that's learning to live free. And we believe that God's best for us is a life filled with the presence and power of Jesus. And so can we thank our worship team for leading us so powerfully this morning. We are blessed with the worship team. And you know, I've said it time and time again, every time Sophie leads worship for us, but she is gifted and leading us into open spaces in the power and presence of Jesus for Jesus to do the work that he wants to do in our individual lives. Right. And worship sounded really good today, not just because the band was singing, but because you all were worshiping. And so God is forming a pretty powerful culture here, in part because of our prayer and fasting that we do every week. And our seek first and God's is doing some powerful stuff. So I want to say that say you are in the right place this morning. If you're here and you feel like you're hungry for more of God, or you're here and you're feeling like God wants to God wants to use you have something to pour out. You're in the right place this morning. And so as Brandon said, my name is Mike, I have the privilege to be one of the pastors here. We have a team in Tanzania. If you were here last week, we sent a team out to Tanzania to join in with graceful Warrior Project Kelly, who goes to the church leads this phenomenal organization that's on the frontlines of rescuing girls from sex trafficking, and violence in Tanzania and Congo and other places around the world. So there's a team out there encouraging visiting a school, they had church this morning. And so I'm hoping by next Sunday, we'll have a video interview, an update from our team in Tanzania. So if you think about it, please be praying for them, that God uses them, and that we continue to see the gospel, reach further and further in every nook and cranny around the world. So let me start with prayer. We're jumping into Acts. We are in Acts chapter 25. This morning, and I went back and did the counting. We are just over a year and a half in to Acts. Are you guys ready to act this conversation? dad joke for you? No, of course you're not let's pray together will be Lord Jesus, thank You for Your word. Thank You that Your Word is living and active. And it's relevant to us today. And so we just pray, Father that, that your words become alive in us that we wouldn't just be heroes of your word. But we would be doers of your word as well. It's in Jesus name we pray. Amen. Amen. Amen. Well, the reason we've been taking our time through the book of Acts has to do with the primary primarily purpose that we seek to be this kind of church, right, the X church was the very first church and when we have been rootin, working our way through Acts, we can't help but notice that there's core convictions that were really laid in the foundation of this church. It's not that these core these, these these core convictions. That's what made this church unique. It was actually that they were unified with these core convictions. And so for us, that is such an integral part of what we see happening acts, they were unified in their core convictions. And it was through that unity, that the power of the Holy Spirit falls on this church, and the Gospel goes out. And it's the church is being spread all around the region. And so we're picking up in Acts chapter 25, today, and really what we're going to kind of be seen as we're talking about the life of Paul, I mean, picking up where Josh left off last week, if you didn't hear His message, go back and listen to it. It was phenomenal. And we're going to be picking up and we're going to be talking about and looking at Paul. He's on trial now. Because of his core conviction of the resurrection. It's really important. Paul is on trial, because of his core conviction of the resurrected Jesus. And what we're going to see throughout the chapter 25, and even continuing into next week in chapter 26, is that the resurrection of Jesus dictated the kind of faith Paul would live out. Are you tracking with me? Everything Paul is doing has to do with the resurrected Jesus in this ought to be by the way, the same for followers of Jesus today, right? Like we ought to be people who are motivated, who are passionate who live with x. expectancy because of the resurrection of Jesus. In fact, I would say that the resurrection of Jesus ought to dictate the kind of faith you live out today. And so we're going to dive in. And we're going to be doing quite a bit of reading, we've been committed to reading the entire book of acts out loud together in church. And so this is what we do here. You're at church, we're reading through the Bible, does that sound good? So if you get comfortable, I'm going to be breaking this up in three different sections. So it'll help us kind of try to catch all that's happening at the end of chapter 25. And or at the end of chapter 25 into 26. And so, if you want to jump right over to Acts chapter 25, verse 13, we're picking up where we left off last week. If you don't have a Bible, it'll be on the screen. And here we go. A few days later, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived accessory to pay their respects to Festus. Since they were spending many days there Festus discuss Paul's case with the king. He said there is a man here whom Felix has left a prisoner. When I went to Jerusalem, the chief priests in the elders of the Jews brought charges against him and asked that he be condemned. I told them this is not the Roman custom to hand over anyone before they have faced their accusers, and have had an opportunity to defend themselves against the charges. When they came here with me, I did not delay the case, but convened the court and the next day and ordered the man to be brought in. When his accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any of his crimes I had expected. Instead, they had some points to dispute with him about their own religion, and about a den a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive. I was at a loss to investigate such matters, so I asked if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial on these charges. But when Paul made his appeal to the end, and to be held over for the Emperor's decision, I ordered him until he could send him to Caesar. Then Agrippa said to Festus, I would like to hear this man myself. He replied, tomorrow you will hear him the next day. Agrippa and Bernice came with great Thompson entered the audience room with high ranking military officers in the prominent men of the city. And the command of Festus, Paul was brought in and Festus said, Kim King Agrippa, all who are present with us, you see this man, the whole Jewish community has petitioned to me, about him in Jerusalem, and here in censorious, shouting that he not to live any longer, I found he had done nothing deserving of death. But because he made his appeal to the Emperor, I decided to send him to Rome. But I have nothing definite to write about His Majesty about him. Therefore, I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that as a result of this investigation, I may have something to write for, I think it is unreasonable to send a prisoner onto Rome without specifying the charges against him. So we have some heavy hitters here mentioned at the very beginning of this passage, we have Herod Agrippa, who was the king of Judea, which is primarily over the Jewish community. And then we have Festus, who was the governor of Judea representing Roman citizens. And then we're told about a woman named Bernice, do you guys know who Bernice is? Ever heard of Bernice had one theologian. He was she was hair to grip his sister. But in the day, she was much more than a sister was one theologian who actually equated her get this to the Marilyn Monroe of our time. So she was a celebrity. She's beautiful, she had influence. And so right off the bat, what we're seeing here is that these are highly powerful, highly popular people, during this time have gotten to know who Paul is, and what Paul was about. So Paul, simply put, what we've seen here, has developed a reputation. Paul had developed a reputation within Jerusalem, throughout Rome and Judea, for preaching the resurrected Christ, to like not to those that don't know, but also to the highest forms of power, and influence, and celebrity. And so the Jewish community is getting an uproar from the message that Paul is proclaiming the Jews are trying to control Paul as a fellow Jew, and they can't control him. Paul is almost sees himself as a new create itself, right? He's no longer under and no longer operates under the law of the Jewish traditions, because he's a Christian now, do you see? And so the Jewish faith community, the Jewish leaders still identify with who Paul was as a Jewish Pharisee as a leader in the Jewish tradition, and now Paul is doing everything that basically undermine what Paul was about in the beginning. So what What we have happening here is Paul, essentially, since he's become a follower of Jesus, a Christian is just doing what he's been doing all along, isn't he? He isn't backing down, because he saw the resurrected Christ with his own eyes. And for him, this is dictating his entire life. It's dictating every single decision that he makes. Ever since that moment, he has given his whole life to telling as many people as he can, about what he saw. And he has done so with his message of repentance, this turn from your old ways, right? Turn towards Jesus, who brings salvation for your souls. This is what has got Paul in trouble, that message. This is why he's on trial. This is why he's in chains. This is why people are vowing to kill him. Because he's just saying what he saw in Jesus. My point one in this, we'll put it on the screen screen is that reputation matters in the world. By To sum up, what we just read, is that your reputation matters. In the world. When we talk about reputation, it's important, I know where we go with this. When I think about reputation, there's something in me that kind of comes at the idea of how I want you to perceive me, like I get to dictate what my reputation is right? I put on my good face, my good self, I want you to think about me as this kind, loving, gentle, faithful person, right? There's these exterior qualities. When we talk about your reputation mattering in the world as a follower of Christ as someone whose life and faith is dictated by the resurrection. I'm not talking about appearance, I'm not talking about perception, I'm talking about identity. Your identity in Jesus. So Paul, has developed a reputation in the world, among the Gentiles, among those in the Jewish faith that flows out of who Jesus is, what Jesus said, and what Jesus wants to do in the world. This is Paul's reputation. Do you see the difference about how we in our culture might define reputation? how people perceive me? First, actually, who I am? tracking me nods. Yes, perfect. So when Paul develops this reputation, with a life that's changed by the resurrection of Jesus, the Jewish leaders want none of it, because they're still waiting for their Messiah. Right? Jesus wasn't the Messiah that they wanted. They expected the Messiah to come in political power, they expected that this Messiah would come and elevate the Jews over the Roman government. So if they turn to Jesus, then they must admit that they missed him. They must admit that Jesus, the Messiah was in our presence, and we totally missed him. And Paul is telling them, that's precisely what happened. And you know what's interesting and fascinating about Paul in this moment, he's essentially saying, I missed him too. Right? I didn't even know he was here. We missed him. And it's not too late to turn to Jesus. It's not too late to see the resurrection come to come to reality within yourself resurrection. Paul St. Yes, it's about a day and a time that will happen where the people of God will be raised up to life, everlasting life, but there's also resurrection here and now, turn from your ways. Turn to Jesus, embrace the life that Jesus has for you. So Paul's reputation, I think is what followers of Jesus I know for me is what I would want my reputation to be. I want to be known as someone whose life has been changed by the resurrection of Jesus. What about you? Again, reputation is so much more than how I want people to perceive me and more about who I really am my identity in Jesus. And for any human being that has walked the planet will have a reputation. Do you know that? Whether it's a good reputation, hardly a reputation or like a bad reputation. We all have a reputation and our wealth or reputation, whether we like it or not, comes by the way that you live your life. It comes from the interactions that you have. It comes from the words that you speak. It comes from the ways the things that how you carry yourself on the highest of highs or the lowest of lows. Those every single moment, every single interaction every single day, right? We're developing a reputation with people. And we see in this culture in this context that the Sadducees had a reputation. What was their reputation? They don't believe in the resurrection. If you give a sad You see, that's what you think. Pharisees had a reputation uphold the law. Gentiles had a reputation sinners, no hope for them. Keep them away. They're dirty. Paul had a reputation. Rebel he was rebellious follower of Jesus crazy man, right? Like that's, we're gonna see that's actually the phrase that was put, have you the Paul, have you lost your mind? All of us in this room have a reputation for how we choose to live our lives, or how what we're choosing to live for. And I think Jesus knew this to be true. And Paul is taking his cues from from Jesus and what he's learned about Jesus through the disciples, right? And watching the life of Jesus, like, Jesus knew that his followers were going to develop a reputation in the world. I think when we like, think about that for a second, when Jesus says, You are the light of the world, or you are the salt of the earth, if we look at that, through the lens of reputation, and how our Interactions matter, and how the world actually perceives followers of Jesus, we see that Jesus was on something here, right? He wants the people of God to be seen as light. He wants the people of God to be seen as assault. Because our reputation matters. This is why Paul then later says, Follow me as I follow Christ. That's a bold claim, Paul. Well, his reputation was one that was sold out on the resurrected Christ. So much so that it's leading him into places that nobody would want to go. When Paul gets comfortable, he goes somewhere. You know, Paul, what are you doing? Just doing what Jesus told me to do. So Paul, its reputation had everything to do with his identity in Christ, he wanted to be associated with Jesus. He wanted people to call him a Christian. That was a badge of honor for him. Even if it meant imprisonment, even if it meant death. Have you noticed in our day and age and our own specific culture, that being associated with Jesus, for many Jesus followers today, for many people that sit in church today is not a badge of honor. In fact, we do all we can for people to not find out that we're a Christian. Now, I'm not saying that we're out there saying, don't call me a Christian, right? But by the way that we live our lives communicates to the world that we are not sold out to the resurrected Christ, are you tracking with me? And I'm saying that with compassion, I'm saying that because I am with you in that. Like, this is a real life crisis with the church today. Who's with Jesus and who's not? I don't know. By the way, we act by the way that we talk, by the way that we associate with people, how unloving we can be. This is, this is me. This is what I struggle with as well. And in fact, I know people could think of people, friends that I have that claim to be Christians, but their reputation lies somewhere else the reputation might be and how much money they make, or don't make, that could be found in their gifts or their talents or their vocation, as an artist, as a real estate agent, as an athlete, as a sales representative, as a teacher, as a CEO. I was up and I was up north yesterday for a retreat with foster the city whose we partner with as far as eliminating the foster care ministry seeing every kid that doesn't have a loving home placed within a home a loving family, they had a retreat, and I was talking to someone that works in the Silicon Valley up there, and they just started getting invested with. He's a tech guy and fast the city's like, Hey, you could help us with text. So he came on this retreat. And he was telling me that this is the first time he's a new Christian, that I've actually been around other Christians who no one ever asked me what I did. There just wanted to ask about my relationship with Jesus. These are in my world, the only credibility you have is what you can do, what skills you have, how much money you make. And for him to draw a line to say that's not that's not how it is with followers of Jesus. I'm like, amen. Our reputation is more than that. And the issue that we see, that lies in the way for many of us is when our titles become our identity, and our reputation in the world, then begins to birth self centeredness in us in our life becomes all about us. It happens quickly. And it may be happens unintentionally. But don't misunderstand me, our vocation is important, right? Like God gives us vocation. He gives us a vocation as a means to bring the light. He gives us a vocation as a means to bring salt to be the salt of the earth. Paul had a vocation. And this fascinating. Paul had a vacation vocation he was a tentmaker, but not once. Do you ever see him? Hey, what's your name? My name is Palma tentmaker. He read the New Testament. How does Paul introduce himself. I'm a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. I'm Paul never brags about his vocation doesn't matter to him. It's a means to be a servant. And I think the church can be much more effective in the world today, if our reputation came from who we serve. Not from what we do. Our vocation is to be an expression, our vocation is to be an avenue of our faith to be lived out. And Paul understood this. And I think if we're just honest, this really might take complete undoing of our lives, right of the way we think of it, how we spend our time of where we give our money, or what it is the relationships that we have. The same can be said, for those who follow Jesus. So just question here, where does your reputation come from? How do people think about you? Not saying, care about what everybody thinks of you? That's not That's not what I'm saying? Don't misunderstand me. But what is your reputation? How would you introduce yourself to people? What do you want to be known for? For Paul, it's found in his allegiance to Jesus, and the resurrection of Christ. And I hope the same thing for you. I want that for me. Let's keep reading. Shall I just stop there come back next week. Or we're only a third of the way in guys. We're only in chapter 26. Here we go. I'm holding this so closely, because I'm basically blind in one eye. I'm serious. I'm playing basically blind in one eye. If I do this, you're all blurry. If I do this, you're all good. And so I'm like, I'm not here. And I refuse to wear glasses. And I refuse to put context in because I'm admitting I can't see you with me. And I can see just fine. Chapter 26 verse one, we're going to be read into verse 11. Then a grip of said to Paul, you have permission to speak for yourself. So Paul motion with his hand and begin his defense, King Agrippa. I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today is I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, and especially so because you are well acquainted with the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently. The Jewish people all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life, in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. They have known me for a long time and can testify if they're willing, that I conform to the strictest sect of our religion, living as a Pharisee. And now it is to be because of the hope and what God has promised our ancestors, that I am on trial today. This is the promise our 12 tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night, King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me. Why should any of you consider it incredible that God can raise the dead, I too, was convinced that I ought to do all that it was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And that is just what I did in Jerusalem, on the authority of the chief priests, I put many of the Lord's people in prison. And when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. Many a time I went from synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blasphemy. I was so obsessed with persecuting them, that I even hunted them down in foreign cities. So Paul is looking at his past. Paul is using his past, reflecting on his past, to shed light on his present and ultimately dictate his future. He's not ashamed of his past. He's using his past as an opportunity to say, look, what Jesus of Nazareth did to me. Look at how he transforms me. First Timothy 115. He says, I am the worst of them all. And Jesus Christ came to save me. He's identifying he's not running. He's not ashamed of it. He recognizes that that was me before Jesus. And now look at what Jesus has done. And so Paul is drawing a relational tie here with the king. You and you and me are the same. I know what you think I know what you believe. Like we are the same person, but look what Jesus can do in my life. And Paul's allegiance changed. Once he was convinced that Jesus raised from the dead, that completely changed, he had to pretty much walk away from everything. And this is the second point at the resurrection of Jesus changes your whole life doesn't it? Had to stop when I was reading through this passage and seeing this conversion story of Paul on the road to Damascus, he was on his way to go persecute and kill as many Christians as he could. And Jesus stops him. And has this conversion moment. What if Paul never changed? What if Paul has this experience, this spiritual moment, this mountaintop experience that maybe you've had before? And just went on about his life to Damascus, and just did everything he was doing before? Would that be weird? We wouldn't be looking at Paul in the same way, right? Here's my point in saying that, how many times do we do that? How many mountaintop experiences do we need to have to actually see the resurrection of Jesus changed my whole life? How can we how can we encounter the power of the Holy Spirit here today? How can we encounter the love of God and just walk out of here like it didn't even happen? The resurrection of Jesus changes your whole life. Paul is a demonstration of that. He's showing us that if you want to follow Jesus, that means embracing the resurrected Jesus. And by doing that you're signing up for a life of change. Your community should change the way you see yourself should change. The things that you put your faith in, should probably change your worldview, dare I say? Not going to say your worldview should probably change. I was gonna say politics. The resurrected Jesus gives life which looks like hope, joy, peace. And he invites us to do the same thing. So if you've been following Jesus, for any amount of time, I've been following Jesus ever since I could remember I think I became a Christian at like two years old. didn't fully understand the gospel until I was 26. Yeah, I said that, in that wild. I was a pastor already. And I was in therapy, because I was burned out. And my therapist asked me, When was the last time you wept over the gospel, and I said, Never, never wept over the gospel. He said, Write it out until you weep. I was 26 years old, and it took like 42 days. I say that, because it's possible to go to church. It's possible to serve the church. It's possible to lead the church. It's possible to get baptized, it's possible to take communion possible to read your Bible every day. And the resurrection never changes your whole life. It's possible. I love what Sophie said. It's not because God withholds. It's because I do. It's because I want the other stuff. I think I know best. The resurrection gives life to us. So if you've been following Jesus for any amount of time, and you feel like my life is the exact same as it was before, and I would seriously consider and ask you to go take some time with God. So Psalm 139, Search me, O God, know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there's any offensive way in me and lead me into their way of everlasting. Sit with God, allow His presence to transform you. Write the gospel out as much as you have to as long as you have to. Because the resurrection of Jesus changes our whole lives. Let's keep reading verse 12. On one of these journeys, Paul continues on. I was going to Damascus, with the authority and commission of the chief priests, about noon, King Agrippa. And I was on the road and I saw a light from Heaven brighter than the Sun blazing around me and my companions. We all fell to the ground and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It's hard for you to kick against He goes, then I asked, Who are you, Lord, I'm Jesus whom you're persecuting. The Lord replied, now get up and stand on your feet, I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant. And as a witness of what you have seen, and will see of me, underline that in your Bible, not just what you've seen. But what you will see, as we approach Jesus like that. We've seen you, and I know we're going to see you again, can't wait to see what you're going to do today, Jesus can't wait to see you the things you're going to do through me and in me, I will rescue you from your own people, and from the Gentiles, I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn from the darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and place among those who are sanctified by faith in me. So then King Agrippa, I was once disobedient to the vision from heaven, first to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and all of Judea, and then to the Gentiles. I appreciate they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. This is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. But God has helped me to this very day. So I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the Prophet said to Moses would happen, then the Messiah would suffer and as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles. At this point, Festus interrupted, and there's some commentaries that say he's mad. He's mad here at Paul's defense. And he says to Paul, you are out of your mind, Paul, he shouted at him. Your great learning is driving you insane. Paul replied, What I'm saying is true. And reasonable. The King is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice. Because not done in a corner. King Agrippa Do you believe the prophets I know you do that a grip have said to Paul, do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian? Paul replied, short time or long I pray that God, not only but with all who's listened for me today may become what I am, except for these chains. The king rose, and with him, the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. After they left the room, they begin saying to one another, this man is not doing anything that deserves death, or imprisonment. So we're seeing here, Paul, is just doing what ever Jesus has told him to do. That's the third point. We see over and over and over again, that Paul is referring back to that moment with Jesus on the road to Damascus. Why? Because it's in that very moment, Paul had lived a pretty long life up to that point. He did a lot of wild things had a lot of power, a lot of authority, a lot of accomplishments, a lot of friends. And it wasn't until that moment that he discovered who he was. After all the life he lived. After all the studying he had done. The respect he earned in the Jewish community. Paul was still lost. He was still confused about who he was. And in that moment of asking, Who are you Lord? The answer he gets back as I'm Jesus, the one you're persecuting. Let's give Paul. A little credit here, though. Paul was just doing what he was doing. He had no idea. He was lost. And he was confused. And I actually honestly think he thought he was doing the right thing. I'm protecting my tradition. I'm protecting my religion that is 1000s of years old. The same religion, that my parents, my forefathers, my grandparents my ancestors gave their life to. He's preserving a faith. So what shifted in Paul, in that moment, was the mercy and grace of Jesus. After all, that Paul had done, persecution, murder, he receives grace. He receives mercy. And not only that, he was given a calling. I'm going to use you despite your past. Grace, mercy, and a calling to go tell as many people what just happened to him. Isn't this amazing? Like if Jesus can Use Paul. Like, can he use any of us? Like if Jesus forgives Paul on the road as he's on his way to go, persecute and kill people, Christians can he use any of us and Paul has found himself in all these difficult circumstances, imprisonment, floggings, betrayal, and is now standing on trial because Jesus told him that he's no longer a persecutor of Christians. You're now with me. And you now have a calling. And your job is to now be a servant. And now he finds himself on trial. And Paul is devoting his life. And he will continue to do so her preaching of the Gospel to Gentiles, preaching the message of repentance, and to have faith in Jesus alone. There's so much more here, we can unpack. There's so much more that we can say. But all I want to say is what's on the screen. Just do whatever Jesus tells you to do. That is a well life, a life well lived. What is Jesus saying to you? His grace meets you right? where you're at? His mercy meets you right where you're at? He's speaking to you. Are you listening to him? Even if what he's telling you to do, Paul knew this firsthand is in complete contradiction to what you want to do. Or what even is comfortable for you? Or what even a wise friend might say you're nuts. Are you insane? If Jesus is telling you to do something, we as followers of Jesus, if you're Jesus follower in this room, is to just do whatever He tells you to do. You know, what I find interesting is why are we so stubborn with Jesus when He invites us into something like, for me personally, like, I have no problem with doing something that someone else tells me to do something if I know they know more about that thing. Does that make sense? Like the doctor. Like, I go to the doctor, and I believe in trust that the doctor knows more about my anatomy than I do. I don't know what you believe about doctors. But I like tend to trust them. But my doctor is pretty good. So if he tells me to do something, I'm like, okay, yeah, it makes sense, right? My tax guy, the guy, he's my tax person, right? And he just told me to send over his paperwork. He told me to sign here and sign there. I'm like, I trust you. I tried to do my taxes one time and I messed it up to the point of the IRS sent me a nice letter saying I owe them X amount of dollars. never doing that again. I trust my tax guy. He knows more about taxes than I do. Right. I went skydiving, I've been skydiving a couple a couple times. You will have a wonderful picture of me thinking I'm going to die while skydiving I remember in that moment. Well, there's a whole who's been skydiving here before. Right who wants to go skydiving and has ever been lets you guys go skydiving. Oceanside is the way to go. This is an ocean side. And I can remember the work of I was so nervous. I didn't eat like the night before. I didn't eat breakfast. I was literally you're signing papers that you're you could die, right? Like how many times do we do that? Not that often. And there's a whole briefing that you go through and the straps and he actually said to me, this instructor said if something happens to me, this is what you do. If nothing happens to me, this is what you do. And I remember being so nervous on the flight up, I was up with some buddies. I think this was for my 30th birthday. And my I feel my friend kick me and he's like, this guy's just sleeping. Like we're like, I'm like, my stomach is dropping right. Anyways, a whole nother story. But in this picture, I'm doing what he told me to do. He told me to keep my head back and my arms up. Right so he can can stay in control. I'm putting my life in trust of the skydiver. He told me he's jumped like 70,000 times. If I would have if he was like, This is my first time I'm not going with you. I'll come back next week. But I put my faith in him because he's jumped a lot. He's a professional. He's an expert at skydiving. Jesus, here's my point. Why do we have such a hard time trusting Jesus with our lives? Hebrews chapter two verse one, you know that verse. Do you ever see it slipping my mind right now? It's back. I got it. Fix fixed your eyes. Fix your eyes on Jesus. Hebrews 12 Thank you. Hebrews 12 verse one and two Next steps, fix your eyes on Jesus for he's the author. And he's the perfecter of your faith. In other words, when it comes to your life, Jesus knows what he's doing. He knows what he's doing. He's the author of it, when it comes to your faith, Jesus knows what he's doing. He's the author, and the Perfecter. Of your faith. Paul is the ultimate testament of this, right? Like Jesus handled his life, as big as your problems might feel as heavy or as complicated as your life might feel the amount of fear or transitions that you might go into loneliness, depression, addiction, Jesus can handle it. He can handle your life. Do you trust him with it? I think it's in our best interest to listen to what Jesus might have to say to you. Like he knows what he's doing with your life. He knows what he's doing with your marriage. He knows what he's doing with your relationships. He knows what he's doing with your kids or with your family. He knows what he's doing with your career. He knows what he's doing with your struggles. He knows what he's doing with your pain. He knows that he's dealing with your fears. Do I get an amen in this place? How long do I need to go? Thank you. I think it's in our best interest to just listen to him, like right now. What's going on in your life? We had this picture in worship, when we were first starting sorrow, turning to joy. Not because your circumstances changed. But because the presence of Jesus is so real. And he's sustaining you. He's breathing life into you. This is what a relationship with Jesus is like. That's why Paul is sustained on trial by Paul is sustained in imprisonment. He doesn't want to change he asked that I don't want these. If it's possible, take them off. But I do want, I want you to have what I have. And that's hope. That's joy, that's peace, and that's love. So we're gonna go into response on invite the team up. What I want to encourage you to do, we're going to have communion. And so, communion is obviously an opportunity we putting our faith in who Jesus is what Jesus had done on the cross and the hope in the future of the resurrection, but it's also an invitation for life today. Right? The bread represents the the wafer, the cracker, whatever it is in there, represents the body of Jesus. He said the bread of life. Jesus can handle your life. He could handle your physical body, for hope in him. His blood represents the woodshed for our sins on the cross. Jesus can handle your life. And so by doing communion, we're coming up and we're saying I trust you. I trust you Jesus.