He'll get back creative paint my hand. I mean that's his third time. I've heard that bumper and what a great intro to this whole message series and you're going to find that the extraordinary figures of Faith are really just ordinary people who make a lot of mistakes who do a lot of things that are crazy, but they never give up on believing in an extraordinary God. So I want to give you that message today no matter what you've done. I say this all the time but where you've been or maybe you came in today going.

You know, what I've given up on that God's given up on me. I've given up on me. I'm here to tell you that God is not done with you and I don't care what other people have said to you. Maybe they said no you need to go on and you've done some incredibly bad things. He is not done and you're gonna see a guy today.

That if anybody had the right to give up and quit, it's this guy. Because he's a central figure in the Old Testament and his guy that all of you know. He's King David. King David, I mean the guy okay, it's 16 years of age. He killed a bear and a lion while he was protecting the Sheep.

I mean 16, I was afraid of the dark. Okay, he went down in the valley and killed a giant with a sling and a stone. At 30 years of age. He became the king of Israel. And brought the Ark of the Covenant and raised the Lost Ark brought the Covenant back to Jerusalem, and they named the city after him.

I mean they called Jerusalem the city of David. It'd be like calling Hattiesburg the city of Craig, you know or whatever other pastures the city Tyler the city of you know, the city of Wiggins and the reality is this guy did amazing things. until he didn't and some of these things you've never heard before. And I might clean them up a little bit so that you can receive them because when you think of David Matt you think of all the good things but there was a time in his life where David kind of took his eyes off God. He stopped pursuing God.

He stopped, you know doing the things that God had called him to do at 58 years of age get this David seduced a 25 year old married woman and brought her into the palace and she got pregnant and he killed her husband who was off in battle. Take down. You're going you mean David did that King David? King David had all these kids and and he loved them. I'm sure he loved them but there was a time when amnon one of the sons he wanted like to be with his sister.

I know that's crazy Tamar and he assaulted her and the other the other brother Absalom was so angry at his brother that he killed him. And David did nothing. David is writing today from a cave for he is hiding out because Absalom his son has overthrown his kingdom and it's actually in the palace with all of David's wives. And I tell you all that because some of you are going like well, hey I've done this and I've done that and everybody in your family. So you're no good.

There's no hope for you. You can't do this. And God is saying if you will turn to me, if you will call out to me. If you will seek me, you will find me if you seek me with all of your heart. I'm telling you God put this message on my heart and there's a passage I have never seen before.

And a phrase that jumped out at me that will be my life phrase from now on. Psalm chapter 61 David is in a cave. And he begins to shout out and cry out to God because he is looking for a road to Restoration. And no matter how old you are. No, you know if you're 75 years old and man you have made a shambles of your family and if you're marriage and your grandkids won't speak to you.

It is not too late to turn and go to God. Psalm chapter 61 I want you to hear what David says. He cries out to God from this cave now. He's probably in his 60s. Probably 62 63.

And he cries out to God. He says here My Cry o God. Listen to my prayer from the ends of the Earth I call to you. I call as my heart grows faint. Here's the phrase lead me to the rock that is higher than I for you have been my refuge a strong tower against the Foe and I long to dwell in your tent God forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.

For you God have heard my vows. You have given me the heritage of those who fear your name. Increase the days of the King's life his years for many generations. May he be enthroned in God's presence forever a point your love and faithfulness to protect him. Then I will ever sing your praise the Praises of your name and fulfill my vows day after day and you're like well, what is all that mean?

Well, I want to pack it for you because it's really interesting that David is at a place where he begins to have perspective on his life for the very first time. he says God, I want you to lead me to the rock that is higher than me now for giving me that in me anything because we drove up here and we walked in the you know, the shortest route sitting the closest seed and but but in the Old Testament days wherever you walk typically And in Palestine, there's all of these these rocks and these Hills and these caves have been Laden hit out in these caves for a long time, you know that story and so he is saying God I want you to Lead Me. To the rock that is higher than me so I can have perspective. So I can see what is going on in my life. And and I'm giving you a great gift today because for some of you you're right at the point where you're about to make some terrible decisions and you don't realize you're on the precipice and I am challenging you to get perspective on your life.

For some of you you have fallen off the wagon and you're at a place where David is where where you've got to get perspective and find out exactly what's going on. And David begins to look at his life. And David realizes the mistakes that he's made and how terrible the decisions are that have affected his family now. Listen, that's not a bad thing. That's a good thing.

When you get into place where you can see all the things that you've done and you go hey, I can take responsibility for that. I can take responsibility for that. That's what I did and that caused that man. That's a good place. Because when you get perspective on your life and the decisions that you've made that have hurt you and the people that you love now, you've got a chance.

Now you've got a chance to change the direction of your life. And I say this because so many people they get to this point and they just give up and I've already done this so I'll just keep going. I mean, well, you know if I've already think I'm this way. I'll just keep going this way. No.

No, God's giving you a perspective. That this whole message is for someone here. I mean, so I am speaking directly to you where God is saying you get up a little bit higher and look at your life. See the things that you've done take ownership of the things that you've done so that you can make a man so that you can move forward. Now I tell you all the time.

I've Got Friends in Low Places and I really do years ago. I had a friend of mine and he was sent to a Maximum Security Prison. for trafficking cocaine and you know, I was very interested in his in his story, of course, and and we were talking and I asked him I said well man. How did you To get here. I mean that that is a Terry told me all the stories and all the things that had happened and all the things that he had done and it's kind of slowly slid off, you know into all these things in the wrong people in the wrong time doing the wrong things.

He said well, I was I was sitting on my bunk in this Maximum Security Prison and all this stuff is going on around me and he said, you know, my greatest decisions. My greatest ideas have landed me right here. He said for the first time in my life. I realize that that I I couldn't stop myself from going into the wrong direction. So I got all my knees and I cried out to God I said God if you're there save me.

Save me help me. He said God save me. He said God changed my life. He said for the first time I had peace that I had never had before. Listen, if you want perspective, if you if you're serious about your life and you want to move forward with your life, let me give you four questions that will help you get perspective on your life where you get serious about the quality of your life.

Here's the first question number one, who are the five people you spend the most time with. You are the sum total of the five people that you spend all of your time with. Matter of fact if I could have your friends, you know Therefore your friends and get them in a room and I could ask them a few questions and and ask them kind of what they think and what they do and where they go and and what their beliefs are I can turn around and tell you exactly who you are. You are the sum total of the people you run with. He said no, they're not affecting me.

Now. They're not a fact. Yeah, they are too. Yeah, you show me your friends and I'll show you your future. Here's the second question.

How's your marriage? Well, I don't mean that thing where you come into church and go. Hey y'all doing and y'all been in a fist fight, you know trying to get her into the car to get her. I know how that worked. Coming in on one.

Well, here's a crime and you know the wife's up say it and you're upset and you know, and then you kind of pushing her out the car like it's about get out there get out there and worship to Jesus and then you get to church. Hey y'all. Hi. God's blessing on you no, how you Really your age 41 years in August the 14th and man it has never been this good. I'm telling you.

I'm looking forward to the day when I wake up on a Sunday morning and I tell Alicia I'm not going today and she goes, okay. Don't go. This morning you go. You got to go you preach. Ing, how's your marriage work on your marriage number three What secrets are you keeping?

Your only strong as your secrets. You're only as confident as your secrets. Here's the fourth when this really got me. What are you pretending is not a big deal. That's a big deal.

That's hurting you. See when you get perspective and you have time to think about your life then all of a sudden you see cracks in the armor. You see cracks in the foundation, you know, there's something that's going on that needs to be dealt with if you don't fix this, there's going to be a real problem. So David says, hey don't want you to think this in your mind lead me to the rock that is higher than me. Give me perspective so that I can see what is going on in my life and then find a place where you feel protected.

David said you're my refuge. You're my you're my rock. He said I want you to hide me Beneath Your Wings, you know, why when you begin to confess the things in your life that are shameful and hurtful. You don't need criticism. You need comfort.

When you're crying out. You need to say just stop crying. you you need comfort you need to be loved and and the reason I think more more times than not that we don't go to people and tell them because we don't feel protected. There's something that happened with me in Alicia, you know a year ago or two years ago or I forgot when it was and it was something going on. I felt real convicted about and God's like you need to tell you why you know, if you she's your wife, you know, she's your she's your best half.

You know, she she is like your best friend. I can think I'm not telling her then I'm not telling that I'm not telling her that I mean, I'm not telling me that's embarrassing not telling her that I tell her that well I sit down all of a sudden my mouth started moving. You ever had that experience and I started, you know confessing stuff and I'm like wait hold. And she put her arm on my shoulder and she said honey. I'm so sorry.

What can I do to help you? I'm gonna tell you this shame just float out of me into the abyss. Have a place where you feel protected. Where you can share your inmost thoughts? See, that's what I've wanted for church.

I won't Church to be a place where where you feel like you can share your heart and you can be loved and you can be cared for not a place where you can just kind of Waltz in and sit in a row and then you're like never tell anybody anything and go out and be the same as you were before you came in. No a place a healing place a place of Miracles. Where you can be in a house church, and you can share your heart you can say I am struggling so well, I don't I don't trust the people in my house church. We'll go tell them. If there's a girl in your house churches Gosling just go say hey, look I really want to share my heart.

But you tell everything that comes into your head it comes out of your mouth. That's a good way to get rid over. Strengthen your house Church. One less hot dog. You got to prepare on Wednesday night.

I mean, I mean at the end of every service we we give you an opportunity man. It is wide open down your we got criticized for 20 years about not having invitation. Now, it's an invitation every week to pray and take the Lord's supper and I was like, I can't believe you let him do that. This ought to be a safe place. Find somebody you trust and go to lunch with them.

Find the counselor that that you believe can help you and go and share every single thing that is inside you that needs to be dealt with. Learn to come apart before you. Come apart. You know who said that first? God top 10 Commandments remember the Sabbath day the day set apart.

And keep it holy. Why because you can't get whole in a hurry? The Brokenness in your life and the challenges in your life. You can't deal with if you're every weekend. You're going to go here.

We got to go there. We've got to go here. We got to go there. There's a ping pong championship in New Jersey for my six year old and we got to travel there. We got to have a new ping pong paddle and we got to go over there.

You don't have time to do with anything. You're exhausted. It's taking a toll on your marriage. It's taking a toll on your children. Listen, you need a safe place where you can push pause.

Where you can be around other people who get you who love you who are willing to expend the time to dig you out of the rubble. The Syrian earthquake that happened a few weeks ago. Do you remember seeing that thousands and thousands were killed man. It broke my heart and there were all these people these Rescuers that were digging through the rubble trying to find people. I'm thinking man you go find nobody under there.

I mean that's you're wasting your time. Then all of a sudden they showed a video up close of this of this rescuer and these people and there aren't covering like an excavation dig and and there were around a little face of a little baby. I bet kidney. I was watching thinking you've got to be kidding me then all of a sudden the baby started crying. And everybody cheered and everybody celebrated.

Because that's what church is to be like. Where you understand that that when you come to know Jesus while I'm on Church. Well now I'm church and what do I do? You're a rescue or you're either the mission of the church or a missionary of the church. And you're finding people that are under the rubble of life.

I have never seen people under more pressure than they are right now. Dying for somebody to just move a rock to just push it aside to just care about them to just listen to them. He said come to me all you who are weary. and burden down and I'll give you rest. You need a place to be protected.

You're home ought to be a safe place. You would have at least one friend that you can tell anything to that that can pray for you and encourage you and love you. You said well, why do I need to do all that because you need to get back on the pursuit. See David had stopped pursuing God. I mean so all kinds of people.

I mean I see this with with people around us in our community where where you know, you've done your time. I kept the nurse you I kept the nursery back in when I did somebody young people's turns. And more importantly if you're young and you've got 10 kids we need some help. Will you begin to pursue God again? He says God I want to be in your tent.

That's not that's not glamping. That's not glamorous thing or you're out, you know, no when you're in the tent in the Old Testament you were on Mission with God. It's like the children of Israel in the wilderness where where there was a cloud of Fire by night and A Cloud by day and when it moved they moved and when it stopped they stopped. He says I want to pursue you. I want to pursue your plan for my life.

See listen to me say well, I'm 50. That's I'm gonna tell you that's nothing. I'm 90. Well now you about gone. But but here's the thing.

If I'm sorry, that wouldn't right. I wasn't in the notes and I don't know if you're 90. Thank you. for coming to church But if you're not dead God's not done. If you're not dead.

God is not done with you. And I'm here to tell you no matter what you've done or where you've been. God wants you to pursue him. Well, I don't know what I can do. Well, you can pray.

Man, that's everything. I mean you can say a kind word. I mean God has a purpose for your life. Listen, I found my purpose for my life when I was 14 years old. In the midst of a great tragedy in my family.

I began to sense that God had a purpose for my life. He's got a purpose for you. You were made on purpose for a purpose. God has a plan for you say well, I'm over 50. Can I just say if you're over 50 between 1,500 and 20?

Listen? Thank you so much for not stopping fulfilling your purpose here on this Earth. Well, when they bring out those drums, they start playing the drums lad. I'm thinking more cow, but I'm more cowbell. Most people think can you tone it down?

But you're willing week after week to serve to give to help. And if you're here and maybe maybe you have made some terrible mistakes. Listen, your failure is not final. Because God has a plan for you. It's got a purpose for your life.

Ephesians 2:10, I love what Paul says. He says you are God's masterpiece. You are God's workmanship. You are God's poem. That you were created in Christ.

Jesus to do good works that God planned beforehand for you to do. That's got a purpose for your life. I mean listen, if you don't fulfill your purpose listen to me, if you don't have a purpose for your life, you will always imagine immediately. Go to pleasure. You'll say hey, I don't have a purpose.

I'm gonna go to pleasure. And the things that begin to happen in your life. That they just multiply Paul said this he said my life is worth nothing to me. Unless I use it to finish the work. God has given me to do.

And without purpose man. You immediately go to pleasure acts 13:36 when David had served God's purpose. He fell asleep. Even at 62 years of age David had 10 more years. And in that time he brought together the kingdom.

He established Solomon as the leader. He proposed all the the drawings for the temple Solomon wrote three books of the Bible in the last 10 years of David's life. He's not done with you. He's got more for you. And he says take the rock that's higher than you get some perspective get in a safe place for you feel protected.

So you can begin to pursue the purpose that God has given you. Came across this this morning and I told the staff when I find these things at the last minute, they're terrified. But I thought it kind of summed it all up in words that that we understand. I have this thing where I get older but Just never wiser. Midnight's become my afternoons when my depression works the graveyard shift.

And all the people I've ghosted stand there in the room. I should not be left to my own devices. They come with prices and vices and I end up in crisis. I love that kind of rise. Back and forth.

Am I heard that song before? You have one mom has heard that. Okay, it's Tyler Swift. It's me high. I'm the problem.

Well, you mean you're worth a billion dollars Tyler. It's me. At tea time everybody agrees. I'll stare directly at the Sun but never in the mirror. It must be exhausting always rooting for the antihero.

Listen when you understand God has a plan for your life. And you stop looking around for somebody else to do the things that God has called you to do and you get perspective God begins to work in you. In some amazing ways. I'm gonna ask you to buy your head for just a moment. And close your eyes.

I'm going to ask you. I'm going to ask you just emotionally and mentally and spiritually. To go to the rock that is higher than you for just a moment. And get perspective on your life. on your marriage on the things in your life that need to be dealt with and understand that you're in a safe place.

You're in a safe place to struggle. You're in a safe place to know. That God loves you. He's not given up on you. He's got a plan for your life.

father I thank you today that even though we as humans will give up on people and cash them in and throw them away. The father for your children who are willing to repent. You never abandon them. And God I pray today that your Holy Spirit might speak into our hearts. That God you might show us again with Clarity the purpose you have.

For our time here on this Earth. And I pray these things in Jesus name.