Putting God Back at the Center

0:00 One and only all the way from the sunny state of California all the way to the mist and clouds of Grand Rapids, Michigan, I grant you nothing other than Pastor Francis Chan. Thank you. Are we good now? It's going to stay on? Alright. Now it's good to be here with you.

0:45 Man, it's so cool to see unity. Aren't you guys tired of fighting? I'm being dead serious. I am so tired of fighting. Like everywhere you go, it just seems like you don't want to say one word wrong. Or they're going to pounce on you. right you say one thing wrong and they're just after you I mean that's just what's going on in the world everyone's trying to get you to pick sides and then you get to church and it's no different man as a pastor I can't tell you how many times you just pour your heart out to someone and I'm going to make mistakes okay I'm not perfect but you just give your life to someone you make one mistake and they just write you off they go to the church down the street and the things that they'll say for some of you that are in ministry you know exactly what I'm talking about you're like wow I married you guys I was there at your kid's birth I was there at your mom's funeral I was there at your sister's funeral I did this, this, this, this and then boom you're gone and now you're angry and now this and this and this and it just it can get so disheartening and in my lifetime I mean I'm 50 now and I think I've never seen anything like what it's like now where people are so opinionated and so sure of themselves I asked my wife the other night at dinner I'm like was I ever that arrogant?

2:23 okay because I see some young people now I'm like was I ever that arrogant? and she's like I go I was huh But the difference was, back then, there was no social media. So I had no platform to display my ignorance. You know, I could only yell from the street. You know, now it's like, wow, you've got... So that just makes you feel like, yeah, look at all my followers. They're not your followers. You know, it's just... This doesn't mean you're following someone. It's just the whole idea of what's going on in the church. And that's why this is so rare. When we just come together and go, come on. There's something bigger going on. This is the difference between eternity forever in heaven or eternity forever in torture. Okay, doesn't everything else just seem foolish compared to that?

3:25 Can we just put those differences aside and go, man, we've got to get Jesus to the people. I mean, the Bible says, I love that passage in Philippians 1, verse 27. He says, let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ. So that whether I come and see you or I'm absent, I may hear of you. that you are standing firm in one spirit with one mind, striving side by side for the faith of the gospel and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation and that from God. The Bible says when we can be of one mind, when we as believers can get together and go, Okay, enough fighting in here.

4:20 We're family and we strive side by side. This is not afraid of anything. I mean, the thing is, is when we strive side by side, that's when we won't be afraid of anything. You know what I mean? When you've got an army and you're going, no, I believe this as much as you do. Let's go. Let's go after this. And you lay arms and you go side by side for the gospel. Not afraid of it. What can happen to us? Seriously, there's a God who's sitting on his throne right now. Man, everything is under his control. It says he alone is immortal. He determines who walks out of the sanctuary. He determines in every, what do you call it, satellite room. You know, like who's going to live through tonight? It's up to him. and when he is with us and we're marching together he says just have no fear that's what I want I want this army that's united fearless and he goes when that happens it says then the world, the outsiders the opponents of the cross will actually believe in their own destruction Tune-tune!

5:36 and of our salvation. I mean, there's something about our unity, according to scripture, if you believe this book, there's something about that, our being side by side for the gospel, unafraid, that's going to cause people to believe in their own destruction? man who believes in judgment day anymore I mean go out there trying to convince someone who doesn't believe in Jesus that there's going to be a day of judgment it's not an easy task but the Bible says if you were actually united and unafraid according to the Bible they would actually believe that Christ is going to return to judge and they would actually believe that you've been saved by him and loved by him.

6:35 Look, when I read that, it doesn't make perfect sense to me because it doesn't seem like that would do it. But neither does marching around a city seven times seem like that would work. You know what I mean? It's just like, I don't know if that's going to work. You know, that's what this book is about. or for Jesus to say I'm going to die I'm going to rise from the dead I don't know if that's going to work this book is about that doesn't seem like it's going to work and it's about people the ones, the few who actually believe it go no, if we can figure out a way to unite ourselves and quit fighting and strive side by side and go no, there's something bigger going on the Bible says believe me it's going to work.

7:27 They're going to believe. Yeah, amen. As I was coming over here on the airplane, I was like, just praying like, God, what is it? What do you want tonight to be about? And one word came to my mind.

7:52 Humility. I believe that's of the Lord. I doubt it's from Satan. You know, you test the spirits. You think you hear something? Okay, could that be a trick? See, I'm trying to make this humble. You know, it's just...

8:14 But it was that thought of humility came to mind. And I want to pray. I think sometimes we can pray with such arrogance. And a lot of that is because we forget who we're speaking to. You know? And this has been my mantra for like 20 years. if we would just take 30 seconds to think about who we were speaking to. you ever had those times when you, maybe it was a boss maybe it was someone famous, maybe it was whatever like you got in their presence and you just stumbled over your words you didn't even know what to say and yet with God we can just casually enter into his presence when you think of one sitting on a throne who shines the other day I was with my friends and we're looking at the sun, I mean not for too long but we're just And I was going, man, think about that.

9:19 I go, look at that. I go, that is 93 million miles away and we can't stare at it. Think about it. It's 93 million miles away and I can't stare at it. And yet the Bible says we have a God who created that sun and shines brighter than the sun. and I'm going, how do I enter the presence of someone like that?

9:49 Certainly not casually. And then in Romans chapter 8, this is a verse I've been thinking about as I've been praying lately. In chapter 8 verse 26, it says, The Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know what to pray for as we ought. But the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And He who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. But He says right there in the beginning, He goes, The Spirit has to help us in our weakness because we do not know. We do not know what to pray for as we ought.

10:47 When you go into prayer, don't you usually go and go, I know what I need to pray for. The Bible says, no, you don't. You don't even know what you're supposed to pray for. You need help even for that. and he says the spirit is the one who will help you pray according to the will of god because if you close your eyes and just start talking you're going to pray according to your own will see this is what humility is about even as i pray remember who i am speaking to first thing I do is say who am I about to talk to and then secondly the Bible itself says you don't know how to pray to him you need the Spirit's help when you pray do you pray humbly do you come before God trembling at who he is I can't believe I'm speaking to you and you say Holy Spirit I don't even know what to say right now help me help me pray according to the will of God you pray with me right now Holy, holy, holy God.

12:42 We depend on you for every breath. You are so good.

13:02 We need your help just to praise you. Father, I pray for words to say tonight. God, I really wanted to be your Holy Spirit. I don't want these words to come from my own mind. but from your spirit for the good of everyone in this room. God, I pray humility for all of us, that you would humble us tonight, because that is such a good place to be.

13:58 You give grace to the humble and you oppose the proud. so God make us humble because we want your grace not your opposition Oh, your grace, your grace, your grace. Your grace is so good. You're so awesome. You're so good. What is man that you're mindful of him? You blow my mind every week. You are so amazing. I can't believe you love me. I can't believe you hear me like you do. and God I believe you're going to do something powerful tonight In Jesus name, Amen Amen.

14:56 Amen. Man, do you guys still just love praying? I tell you, I could just, I would rather just pray the whole time, but they told me to speak. I mean, I just, I'm like addicted lately, where I'll be praying with friends, and I just don't want to stop. And insane things are happening. this week, okay, I'm not exaggerating, this week has already been one of the best weeks of my life okay, like crazy answers to prayer that I can't even tell you some of them because they're secret just between the 10,000 you know, let me it's I just I'm blown away, like yesterday I'm just sitting there going, God, I can't believe it I can't believe it.

15:53 I just, I can't believe it. This is beyond anything I dreamt would happen in my lifetime. I mean, it's just, just, ah. I know you're thinking, oh, what is it? What is it? I'm not going to tell you. I'm just telling you. It's, and I understand, man, some of you who've heard my teaching, you know that God does ridiculous things in my life. And I'm telling you, it just keeps getting better. Man, some of you guys have heard. Okay, like two years ago, this is how ridiculous it is. Two years ago, there was this guy in my ministry, and I'm going, this is the coolest guy I've ever met. You know, this young man. Every time I'd meet with him, I'd come home, and my wife's like, wow, you've got like a man crush on this guy. He's awesome. When he talks about his walk with the Lord, it's like he's in my prayer room with me.

16:50 I've never heard someone talk about their walk with Jesus. You don't read that in a book. This is something. He knows Jesus. He knows Jesus. And I just got to a point where I came before God. I go, God, I don't know if I'm overstepping my bounds. But can you make him fall in love with my daughter?

17:18 I'm seriously afraid that. I go, I mean, just humbly. I go, God. No, I said, look, I am not trying to say I know your plan. I'm just saying, God, can I have him in my family? They don't know each other. Can you have him, me? Whatever. I mean, parents, you know. I mean, I didn't think I'd ever pray something like that. You know? Just like, God, can you have me? Can you have all the love? Can you have him? You know? And I did a little bit on my own too after that prayer. Where he had to borrow a saw one time. I'm like, honey, a guy's coming over to borrow a saw from our garage. Pretend you just woke up, but look good.

18:06 Trust them, this one. And I pray, right? And nothing happens, but like three months later, I'm praying to God. I'm going, God, I feel a little insecure today. Like, would you just show me some love? And like about an hour or two later, that guy, Justin, comes up to me and says, Hey, can I ask your daughter out? And I just had to just go, I love you, yes.

18:43 So they went out in July and got married in December. That was last December, and then this Christmas Eve I became a grandpa. You know? And I'm just going, like, this is normal for me. It really is. But it's like Paul says in the book of Acts, he goes, you know, when he was defending himself, he goes, why does it surprise you that a man rose from the dead? his defense is why does that surprise you? If you believe God created this world and he made every person why would you be so shocked? Oh, a guy died and rose from the dead. Big deal. Why does that surprise you?

19:38 And in the same way in our prayer life, it's getting to the point where ridiculous things happen and I just go, God that doesn't surprise me. It doesn't surprise me anymore. he says he's going to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all we can ask or imagine it's just a matter of our faith and believing and as I was praying for you this last day I was going, God, even as I was back there praying for you, God I want them to know you, I want them to feel what I feel, like I wish I could just have you taste some of the glory I felt this week in the way that he answers and loves me. Because some of this is so new to me. I've had a fear of God for quite a while.

20:32 I've taken God's command seriously for quite a while. But these last couple years, understanding his love and the depth of relationship and the faith and the excitement and just the pleasure of knowing him, the joy of right now knowing that he's right here with me. There's times, man, like a couple weeks ago, some people came over and just wanted to ask me some questions, and I was like, okay, let's just pray first. I can only have an hour, but let's pray. We ended up praying the whole hour. You know, it was like 11 o'clock, and we prayed till noon, and I was like, I don't want to stop praying. I got stuff to do, but I don't want to stop praying. Let's keep praying. Pretty soon it's 5 o'clock. And I go, you guys done?

21:26 Because I'm not done. Pretty soon it's midnight. And I'm just going, God, I just, I'm just so at peace when I'm with you and with people who want you. Like, I don't want to leave this. and people go, you spent 13 hours in prayer? And I'm like, it's a relationship. I don't look at you and go, you spent 13 hours with your wife?

21:56 Dang, how'd you do that? I'm just concerned because in so many churches and so many believers, I don't hear, we were told when we became Christians, This is about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. But then so often it becomes all these other things in churches. And so there's something we're known for having great outreach or great programs or great kids ministry or great sermons or great music. And, you know, it's this, this, this, this, this. And I'm not hearing people going, I just love him. I love being with him. I love it when no one else is around. and I'm just in this word and I just can't get enough of Him because I'm in love with Him.

22:47 Amen. And we have churches that are known for really knowing this book. Others that are known for their gifts. Others that are known for so many things. But we're supposed to be known as lovers of Jesus. That's the greatest command. To love him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. This book is about people from the beginning. I mean, it's about Adam. It's about Adam. The first man. looking at the could you imagine being Adam seriously like there was never a man before and suddenly out of the dust you appear, you're the first of your kind and imagine what went through Adam's mind try to think about that like what am I I exist now and he's looking at this being who looks at him and says, I made you.

23:52 like what would that feel like to look at someone and realize I exist because you made me You don't shrug your shoulders and go, all right, and walk off in life. You go, you're the only thing that matters then. and then he makes your wife, and the two of you are walking in this perfect garden with the one who made you, who you realize that no one's more powerful than him, and he wants fellowship with me.

24:45 He wants to protect me. Imagine being in that perfect situation going, nothing can go wrong. I'm with him. don't you just for a moment want to be like Adam or Eve in that garden? Man, if you're not jealous for that, then you don't get this book. Because this book is about walking with him. It's about how that was broken, but then he brings people and he starts talking to a human, to Abraham. And it's like, oh, Abraham's a friend of God? and how he was with Joseph and how God just chose him and loved him and everything he did, he prospered. Why? Because God was with a man. And then you get to Moses and Moses is going up on this mountaintop and everyone's looking, you know, they're in Exodus 19 and go, are you kidding?

25:44 You, this little human being, you're going to go up there and talk to him? Man, I was reading that on the plane today and it's blown my mind again where the people are saying, man, we saw you after. You just tell us what he said. I don't want to hear from that being because I'll die. These people are like, I don't want to hear from him. That freaks me out. You go talk to him and tell him what he said because I can't believe you as a human being went into his presence.

26:17 And everyone would gather whenever Moses would go into the tent of being and go, he's going to talk to him right now. He's going to talk to him. Everyone's outside looking. He's talking to God. Man, it's about people. That's why David is like, God, the only thing I ask, this is the one thing I ask. God, can I just dwell in your house every day of my life? Can I just stare at you in your temple every day? David says, even when I'm in a dry and weary land where there's no water, guess what I want? you. I just want you. That's all I long for. It's like a deer pants for streams of water. And so then when John describes it, he's like, we touched him. We saw him with our eyes. We heard him.

27:12 And they're going, and now we have fellowship with him. He says in 1 John, he goes, the only thing that would make my joy complete is if you could have fellowship with him also. I want, this is what would make my life complete is if you understood this fellowship I had with God and then we could all just have this perfect fellowship.

27:37 And Paul's saying, yeah, you know what, for me to live is Christ. And to die, I can't wait to die because it's more Christ. You understand this book, Cover to Cover, is about people who are consumed with knowing him. And that's why it culminates in Revelation 21, 22 at the end where he says, Hey, there's going to come a time when God is actually going to be with his people again. Like there's going to be no separation. It's going to be beyond the garden. Like he's actually going to be here again. So if you're not a person who knows him and longs for him, I can't wait for that. Man, your religion maybe became something else somewhere along the line. and I'm just praying that you would just recognize like there is nothing like fellowship with him there is nothing like the feeling the feelings I got this week every time God answered another prayer where I go I can't believe this but it doesn't surprise me it's been the trajectory of my life knowing him, knowing him, knowing him is everything you guys have you let something else become more to you have you gotten distracted or are you still just amazed at prayer you're still blown away that you get to know God in Isaiah looking at this verse this morning too Isaiah 57 verse 15 it says this for thus says the one who is high

29:44 and lifted up who inhabits eternity whose name is holy I dwell in the high and holy place and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.

30:13 See what he says? He goes, thus says the one, he's not talking about you, he says there's one who is high and lifted up. Okay, here's what he says. And he says, he's the one who inhabits eternity. Think about that phrase. He inhabits eternity. try to understand that see right now I am barely alive right I'm one breath away and meanwhile I'm right here 2018 9, 12 p.m.

31:09 wherever we are and and I am barely existing right now and somehow the Bible says there is one who is high and lifted up and actually inhabits eternity Who do we think we are? There's one who's high, lifted up. He inhabits eternity. And here's what he says. And whose name is holy. he's just set apart that's what it means, he doesn't have a name like yours he inhabits eternity, his name is holy he says I dwell, he goes I live in a high and holy place, okay you guys are there on earth in that little sanctuary you know in that satellite room that's where you are, he goes meanwhile I'm in this place you can't even imagine. It's so high.

32:09 It's so holy. Meanwhile, I inhabit eternity. My name is holy. That's where I live in this high and holy place. That's where I dwell and also with Him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit. so he goes you know where you want to know where I dwell this high holy place you don't even understand I inhabit eternity you don't understand that but I also dwell with the one who is humble and contrite in spirit why do I want to be humble it's not just that people say oh you're so humble I don't want to be humble just to be humble I want to be humble because God says I'll dwell with you if you're humble you're a fighter you always have to have your way you think you're right God says I'll oppose you be humble I'll give you grace I want God to dwell with me Earlier, two chapters earlier in Isaiah 55 verse 8, he says, my thoughts, they're not your thoughts.

33:38 Neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, so are my thoughts higher than your thoughts. this is the passage I feel like this generation needs maybe more than any other where God says do you understand that the way you think is not the way I think he goes you see the heavens, the stars, everything up there that's you see how much higher the stars are than you that's how much higher my thoughts are than yours so keep on tweeting your brilliant thoughts.

34:22 He goes, I'm just telling you, your thoughts aren't my thoughts. Your ways that you think are so brilliant, they're not. We have a generation of people that read this book and go, I disagree with that. Great. You should, because you're an idiot. I'm an idiot. You understand where my thoughts are? You know, when people give messages, hey, you guys want to know what I think? Who cares what you think? Your thoughts are not his thoughts. Man, why are we not tweeting this? These are the thoughts that are so much higher than ours. His ways are higher than ours. And it's ridiculous how we put the Bible as though we judge it and go, yeah, I don't think he'd really condemn. I don't think he's really going to judge.

35:16 Gosh, yeah, well, I wouldn't do it that way. Great. God already said you wouldn't do it his way. He says, my thoughts, my ways, they're not your ways. You guys, we need to become a humble generation.

35:40 All of our fights, it's because of pride. It really is. You're just so sure your theology is better than mine. You're so sure your ways are better than mine. Look, I've played that game. I've done it, and I ask forgiveness. I've mocked certain belief systems that I now agree with. I used to think anyone that believed in a spiritual gift was just losing it. You know, like you just don't, you're just not smart enough to just use your own mind. And so you depend on, that's the way, I mean, there was so much arrogance. I was just so sure of myself.

36:28 And then we just start doing this rather than this. Rather than just being the happiest people on earth. Walking out of that tent of meeting with God. Going, I can't believe what he did for me today. I can't believe my time with him. I mean, the Bible says when he's our shepherd, our cups should be overflowing. And so it's just like when we get together. Because we've been filled up with images. It's like we're splashing on each other. We're like, oh my God, I know, we do, we do, we do. Like, that's what the Bible says, that we're supposed to rejoice with a joy inexpressible. Gosh, as I think about that verse right now, that's what I feel right now. That's what I was saying. I wish I could take this and put it inside your head because I can't explain this week.

37:24 I can't explain what it was like in the presence of God. And what if everyone is filled up like that and we get together and we're like, Yeah, let's go. You know, like, because I've been with him and I have nothing to fear and you've been with him and we have nothing to fear. But so often we try to get together and have fellowship with each other when we haven't even had fellowship with him. And there's something, I mean, can you imagine a bunch of Moseses coming off the hill with the lightning, the thunder, the fire? It's like, did you see that? Yeah, I saw that. You know, and it's just like you recognize who you have. Man, is that you? Because this is what the world needs to see, is a bunch of people who are just ecstatic because they know him.

38:17 And I don't know what what's been going on in your life. It's so hard to come to a place like this and go, God, I'm sure there's some of you that come and you smile, you laugh, you nod your head, but you're living a lie. man, I've done it.

38:47 I remember being in rooms like this years ago when there was sin hidden in my life. And every time someone would say, hey, friends, I need to talk to you, your heart kind of jumps because you think, do they know? Man, that's not the way he wants you to live.

39:07 Man, change that tonight. Man, I've been in rooms like this where someone would talk about the love of God and I'd kind of nod my head because I know it in my head. But I wasn't filled with this inexpressible joy because I knew that I was loved by God. That's my prayer for you. This is what I want to do tonight. the Bible talks about how sometimes like a dog will return to its vomit just like a pig after you wash him off he'll go back into the mud the reason why a pig after you wash him off goes back into the mud because he's a pig and you didn't change his nature you just sprayed them off.

40:25 And I feel like in church sometimes it's what we do. We just get the hose out we spray people off and say hey stop drinking, stop sleeping with your girlfriend this, this, this, this. But you didn't really change their nature. Because the Bible says that he wants to change you from the inside out to where you become you were dead in your trespassing sins and you just kept going back to the mud. But then something real happened inside where you from the inside. You can't walk away from Him. It's like you're not a pig anymore. And every time you start to get your feet a little muddy, you're like, I don't really like that feeling anymore. Because your nature changed.

41:08 And I just think for some of you, maybe tonight you're listening to me and you're going, gosh, I don't really love Him like you're talking about. I don't want to go to hell. I agree with that. I know He died on a cross. But this thing about loving him and anticipating his return and being like Paul or David or Moses or anyone in that book or Adam or Revelation 21. I haven't been thinking that. I haven't been longing for him.

41:38 Man, I just want. I believe so much in the power of prayer. And I believe. Okay, I know I've gone over my time, but I just want to say this one last thing. I believe this 2018 has been so stinking amazing for me already. You know why? I believe it's this way. Because in August, when I turned 50, I told my church, I don't want any presents. I don't want to party. Just fast and pray for me.

42:13 And then that night, they had a night of prayer and fasting and laid hands on me. and then my assistant gave me a calendar as a present of the rest of 2017 it was just four months of a calendar and every day there was a name of someone on the church that was going to fast and pray for me all day that is the coolest gift you could ever give someone and so I start off this year like I'm on fire right now I am so close to God like never before because I believe in that prayer. And here's all I want. I know there's prayer team people here. Could you just walk to the front? And there's prayer team in the satellite rooms. If you guys could go to the front.

43:07 We're not going to make a big crazy thing about it. This is a counseling time. This is prayer time. This is power time. I think some of you here are just saying, you're not close to God right now. You're not even sure you know him. I'm going to ask you as Phil leads us in worship. If you just feel like God, I don't hunger for you like that. I don't know you like that. I don't know if I'm like that. just come and tell one of these people just in one or two sentences this is not counseling and they're not going to counsel you they're just going to lay their hands on you and pray in faith and I'm telling you it changes everything I've seen it so many times in my life maybe God's calling you to stand your seat and pray quietly.

44:25 But for the rest of you that go, you know what? I believe this in faith. I'm just going to get up because I just want someone to lay hands on me and pray that I would know him so much more. And if his spirit is not in me, I want his spirit in me to change me from the inside out. So just get up where you are and have someone pray for you.