- 
        
00:00:01
        - There is a sacrifice
that everyone can make,
       
    
      - 
        
00:00:03
        but too many people miss it.
       
    
      - 
        
00:00:06
        Today, we're exploring
the sacrifice of gratitude
       
    
      - 
        
00:00:09
        and how it stops us
from chasing things
       
    
      - 
        
00:00:11
        and instead gives
us the ability to reflect,
       
    
      - 
        
00:00:14
        come to a new
realization and rely on God.
       
    
      - 
        
00:00:17
        Hey, I'm Hannah and
welcome to Crossroads.
       
    
      - 
        
00:00:19
        Today we're exploring
what is perhaps
       
    
      - 
        
00:00:21
        one of the angriest songs
ever written, maybe, probably.
       
    
      - 
        
00:00:26
        Man, the writer
had all of the feels,
       
    
      - 
        
00:00:30
        and there's a song that
gives me all the feels
       
    
      - 
        
00:00:33
        no matter when I listen to it.
       
    
      - 
        
00:00:34
        And it's a song from the
'90s all about chasing.
       
    
      - 
        
00:00:39
        [singing] Don't go
chasing waterfalls
       
    
      - 
        
00:00:43
        Just stick to the
rivers and the lakes
       
    
      - 
        
00:00:46
        that you're used to
       
    
      - 
        
00:00:48
        I know that you're
gonna have your way
       
    
      - 
        
00:00:52
        or nothing at all, but I
think you're moving too fast.
       
    
      - 
        
00:01:06
        [paste in from last week♪♪]
       
    
      - 
        
00:02:26
        - Believe in yourself,
the rest is up to you.
       
    
      - 
        
00:02:28
        Oh, sorry. Sorry, y'all.
       
    
      - 
        
00:02:30
        Anyway, there's a
reason that universally
       
    
      - 
        
00:02:33
        everyone understands
Don't Go Chasing Waterfalls;
       
    
      - 
        
00:02:37
        it turns out that they might
not be what they seem.
       
    
      - 
        
00:02:40
        And today, as we
explore Psalm 50 together,
       
    
      - 
        
00:02:42
        we're going to see that
       
    
      - 
        
00:02:43
        it's not all it's cracked
up to be either.
       
    
      - 
        
00:02:45
        All this talk about waterfalls
has me remembering
       
    
      - 
        
00:02:48
        the time that I got to stand on
       
    
      - 
        
00:02:49
        one of the natural wonders
of the world: Victoria Falls.
       
    
      - 
        
00:02:54
        This waterfall isn't a
hidden gem. It's mainstream.
       
    
      - 
        
00:02:58
        See what I did there?
       
    
      - 
        
00:03:00
        Come on, you can
laugh. It was funny.
       
    
      - 
        
00:03:02
        See, around here,
       
    
      - 
        
00:03:03
        we talk about guiding
people spiritually.
       
    
      - 
        
00:03:06
        We talk about leading them
on their spiritual adventure.
       
    
      - 
        
00:03:08
        And I will tell you,
       
    
      - 
        
00:03:09
        this was an adventure
that was unmatched.
       
    
      - 
        
00:03:13
        I fell in love with this
waterfall pretty rapidly.
       
    
      - 
        
00:03:16
        And as you can see, I
was just gushing with joy.
       
    
      - 
        
00:03:19
        Okay. Okay. I'm done
with the waterfall humor.
       
    
      - 
        
00:03:21
        But, hey, sometimes you've
just got to go with the flow.
       
    
      - 
        
00:03:24
        Okay, now I'm done
with the waterfall humor.
       
    
      - 
        
00:03:27
        Today we're talking
about Psalms 50,
       
    
      - 
        
00:03:28
        and among all the other Psalms
       
    
      - 
        
00:03:29
        that we've talked about to date
       
    
      - 
        
00:03:31
        that have a very heavy emotion
       
    
      - 
        
00:03:33
        and almost lyrically
lament and praise God,
       
    
      - 
        
00:03:36
        sometimes in the
same Psalms even,
       
    
      - 
        
00:03:38
        this Psalm really
helps us see why
       
    
      - 
        
00:03:40
        this series is
called All the Feels,
       
    
      - 
        
00:03:43
        because the writer is angry,
       
    
      - 
        
00:03:45
        like the little red
character from inside out.
       
    
      - 
        
00:03:48
        Oh, and by the way,
if a moment ago,
       
    
      - 
        
00:03:50
        when I said all the
Series of Psalms,
       
    
      - 
        
00:03:52
        if you got kind of freaked out,
       
    
      - 
        
00:03:54
        there are more episodes
of Psalms, actually,
       
    
      - 
        
00:03:56
        and we'd love for
you to see them.
       
    
      - 
        
00:03:57
        You can go to Crossroads.net
to find out more.
       
    
      - 
        
00:04:00
        But today we're talking
about Psalm 150,
       
    
      - 
        
00:04:02
        and the writer is
just straight up mad.
       
    
      - 
        
00:04:05
        And he's angrily
talking about a subject
       
    
      - 
        
00:04:07
        that most of us avoid
like the plague: sacrifice.
       
    
      - 
        
00:04:12
        No, seriously, it's a sucky
idea to sacrifice anything.
       
    
      - 
        
00:04:16
        And just like the
writer, many of us
       
    
      - 
        
00:04:18
        probably identify
with what he's doing,
       
    
      - 
        
00:04:21
        which is being angry.
       
    
      - 
        
00:04:22
        And I know I do.
       
    
      - 
        
00:04:23
        I don't want to speak for you,
       
    
      - 
        
00:04:24
        but they say it's a
secondary emotion.
       
    
      - 
        
00:04:26
        But I will tell
you, I'll be honest,
       
    
      - 
        
00:04:28
        it's my first response.
       
    
      - 
        
00:04:30
        Like, anytime I see
anything I don't like
       
    
      - 
        
00:04:32
        or somebody does something,
I just responded in anger.
       
    
      - 
        
00:04:35
        It is not secondary for me
       
    
      - 
        
00:04:36
        But there's a difference
between my kind of anger
       
    
      - 
        
00:04:39
        and the anger
that's in this Psalm.
       
    
      - 
        
00:04:41
        See the writer,
his name is Assaf,
       
    
      - 
        
00:04:43
        and Assaf was a
chosen worship leader
       
    
      - 
        
00:04:46
        for the people of Israel.
       
    
      - 
        
00:04:47
        See his anger in this
moment, it's righteous.
       
    
      - 
        
00:04:50
        What? What does that mean?
       
    
      - 
        
00:04:52
        Well, Assaf was a chosen
worship leader, like I said,
       
    
      - 
        
00:04:55
        appointed by King
David over ancient Israel.
       
    
      - 
        
00:04:58
        And what's so cool about him
is not only was he a leader,
       
    
      - 
        
00:05:01
        but he was actually
by his bloodline,
       
    
      - 
        
00:05:04
        considered to be a priest.
       
    
      - 
        
00:05:05
        Now, all that means is
that King David saw him,
       
    
      - 
        
00:05:08
        saw that he would
have some potential.
       
    
      - 
        
00:05:10
        And it means that him
and God, they were tight.
       
    
      - 
        
00:05:12
        They were like this.
       
    
      - 
        
00:05:13
        And so when he's
writing this Psalm,
       
    
      - 
        
00:05:15
        you can see that he's
addressing the people of Israel.
       
    
      - 
        
00:05:17
        But quickly, it goes from
third person to first person
       
    
      - 
        
00:05:20
        because he starts to write down
       
    
      - 
        
00:05:21
        what God is saying to him
and he starts to say stuff
       
    
      - 
        
00:05:24
        to the children of Israel.
       
    
      - 
        
00:05:25
        Now, I've been
doing all talking.
       
    
      - 
        
00:05:26
        I'm sure you're really
rushing and wanting to know
       
    
      - 
        
00:05:29
        what that Scripture
said, so I'll hush
       
    
      - 
        
00:05:31
        and read from the
Scripture. The writer says:
       
    
      - 
        
00:06:09
        Insert dramatic
music, I mean, for real,
       
    
      - 
        
00:06:13
        it feels like the big
monster is just coming
       
    
      - 
        
00:06:15
        to get us and eat us
alive because we failed.
       
    
      - 
        
00:06:18
        Now, there's a lot to unpack
       
    
      - 
        
00:06:19
        in the beginning
of this Scripture,
       
    
      - 
        
00:06:21
        and even more so as
we'll see a little bit later on.
       
    
      - 
        
00:06:23
        But what we can clearly see is
       
    
      - 
        
00:06:25
        that Assaf is just
setting the stage.
       
    
      - 
        
00:06:27
        He's letting us know that God,
       
    
      - 
        
00:06:29
        even though it
sounds a little bit scary,
       
    
      - 
        
00:06:31
        He's not coming
as the big bad wolf,
       
    
      - 
        
00:06:33
        He's coming as the Almighty
God, the one who judged.
       
    
      - 
        
00:06:35
        Not for fun, but because
His judgment is righteous,
       
    
      - 
        
00:06:38
        His judgment is perfect,
       
    
      - 
        
00:06:40
        and He does it in a
way that's full of mercy
       
    
      - 
        
00:06:42
        and full of second,
third and fourth chances.
       
    
      - 
        
00:06:45
        And that's good news for us.
       
    
      - 
        
00:06:47
        The scripture goes on and says:
       
    
      - 
        
00:07:12
        Now, there it is, the word
that we've been waiting for,
       
    
      - 
        
00:07:15
        the one that's reserved
for special people,
       
    
      - 
        
00:07:17
        the ones that are
disciplined: sacrifice.
       
    
      - 
        
00:07:20
        It's a word that,
if we're honest,
       
    
      - 
        
00:07:21
        makes most of us shudder
       
    
      - 
        
00:07:23
        because it's actually
not easy to do.
       
    
      - 
        
00:07:25
        If it was easy,
everyone would do it.
       
    
      - 
        
00:07:28
        If we're honest, I'm not
going to speak for ya'll,
       
    
      - 
        
00:07:30
        I'm gonna speak for me,
       
    
      - 
        
00:07:31
        I don't like sacrificing all
the time because it's hard.
       
    
      - 
        
00:07:34
        I don't like the idea
of giving up something
       
    
      - 
        
00:07:36
        in the short term just
to have long term gain.
       
    
      - 
        
00:07:39
        And don't even get
me started on sacrificing
       
    
      - 
        
00:07:41
        for other people because I
really don't want to do that
       
    
      - 
        
00:07:44
        because it's actually an
inconvenience to myself.
       
    
      - 
        
00:07:47
        Now, maybe I'm not alone.
       
    
      - 
        
00:07:49
        Maybe you're out
there and you're like,
       
    
      - 
        
00:07:50
        "Yeah, Hannah, I'm like you.
       
    
      - 
        
00:07:52
        I'm like you, I want
to have cake now.
       
    
      - 
        
00:07:54
        I don't want to be on a diet.
       
    
      - 
        
00:07:55
        I don't want to have a
healthy heart later on.
       
    
      - 
        
00:07:57
        I want to do it right now."
       
    
      - 
        
00:07:59
        Now, listen, truthfully,
we're on the same page now
       
    
      - 
        
00:08:02
        because even
sometimes I don't struggle
       
    
      - 
        
00:08:04
        with just worldly sacrifice,
       
    
      - 
        
00:08:05
        I struggle with
spiritual sacrifice.
       
    
      - 
        
00:08:07
        God calls us to give
10% of our income,
       
    
      - 
        
00:08:09
        which is our tithe.
       
    
      - 
        
00:08:10
        And I don't always
want to do that,
       
    
      - 
        
00:08:12
        because even
though it's good for me,
       
    
      - 
        
00:08:14
        I just hate the idea of giving
away my money sometimes.
       
    
      - 
        
00:08:17
        It just sucks.
       
    
      - 
        
00:08:19
        Sacrifice feels out of reach
       
    
      - 
        
00:08:21
        and it really makes
me shift in my seat.
       
    
      - 
        
00:08:23
        And I don't always like
that. It doesn't feel good.
       
    
      - 
        
00:08:28
        "What?
       
    
      - 
        
00:08:29
        Hannah, I thought you said
Jesus wants us to feel great."
       
    
      - 
        
00:08:31
        Okay, I didn't say that,
       
    
      - 
        
00:08:33
        but why would He call
us to something that hurts?
       
    
      - 
        
00:08:35
        Well, it's because sacrifice
is a sign of surrender.
       
    
      - 
        
00:08:38
        See, in ancient Israel,
when Assaf wrote this Psalm,
       
    
      - 
        
00:08:41
        it was customary
for religious leaders
       
    
      - 
        
00:08:43
        and religious people
to often give sacrifices.
       
    
      - 
        
00:08:46
        And not just in the
Hebrew culture, either.
       
    
      - 
        
00:08:49
        Other religions are doing this.
       
    
      - 
        
00:08:51
        They would give sacrifices
for the atonement of sin,
       
    
      - 
        
00:08:53
        for thanksgiving, even in
request, and for supplication.
       
    
      - 
        
00:08:56
        And in verse eight, God
has to clearly say that
       
    
      - 
        
00:08:59
        "I'm not displeased
with your burnt offerings
       
    
      - 
        
00:09:01
        and sacrifices," just because
He doesn't want them.
       
    
      - 
        
00:09:03
        He's saying them because
those things are common
       
    
      - 
        
00:09:06
        and the heart behind
why they're doing it, it's off.
       
    
      - 
        
00:09:09
        See, sacrifices were common
because they brought results.
       
    
      - 
        
00:09:13
        So if they brought results,
why is God so freaking angry?
       
    
      - 
        
00:09:16
        Well, I'll tell you.
Let's get to the point.
       
    
      - 
        
00:09:18
        Hannah, you've talked enough.
       
    
      - 
        
00:09:19
        He's angry because the
heart behind the sacrifice,
       
    
      - 
        
00:09:23
        it's unacceptable.
       
    
      - 
        
00:09:25
        It's what I call a
little waterfall-ish.
       
    
      - 
        
00:09:28
        It just means that what it
seems to be on the surface,
       
    
      - 
        
00:09:31
        like a waterfall, beautiful,
glorious, all worthy.
       
    
      - 
        
00:09:35
        It's actually not all
it's cracked up to be.
       
    
      - 
        
00:09:38
        See, before you get too
confused, let me explain.
       
    
      - 
        
00:09:40
        Waterfalls are made by
soft rock under hard rock.
       
    
      - 
        
00:09:43
        Which just means that
underneath all that water
       
    
      - 
        
00:09:46
        is actually a really
not a full rock,
       
    
      - 
        
00:09:49
        it's actually not
what it seems to be.
       
    
      - 
        
00:09:51
        And that's what the
children of Israel were doing.
       
    
      - 
        
00:09:53
        They were giving
their sacrifices.
       
    
      - 
        
00:09:55
        They were doing the
thing, being traditional,
       
    
      - 
        
00:09:57
        being faithful, doing all
the things that their preacher
       
    
      - 
        
00:10:00
        or priest told them to do.
       
    
      - 
        
00:10:02
        But underneath it, it was empty.
       
    
      - 
        
00:10:06
        Their hearts were empty.
       
    
      - 
        
00:10:08
        I can relate to the children
of Israel in that moment.
       
    
      - 
        
00:10:11
        I can relate because I
know that sometimes
       
    
      - 
        
00:10:14
        I give my tithe just because
I'm supposed to do it.
       
    
      - 
        
00:10:17
        Sometimes I go to
church or watch online
       
    
      - 
        
00:10:19
        because I'm supposed to do it.
       
    
      - 
        
00:10:21
        Sometimes I volunteer in
student ministry because
       
    
      - 
        
00:10:24
        I feel like I'm
supposed to do it.
       
    
      - 
        
00:10:25
        But God's asking
the children of Israel
       
    
      - 
        
00:10:27
        something very
important in this Psalm.
       
    
      - 
        
00:10:29
        He's saying, "Are
you going to give Me
       
    
      - 
        
00:10:31
        waterfall sacrifices, or
are you going to give Me
       
    
      - 
        
00:10:33
        what I actually want,
which is real sacrifice?"
       
    
      - 
        
00:10:38
        So God goes into
another spiel in this Psalm
       
    
      - 
        
00:10:41
        about how He owns everything.
       
    
      - 
        
00:10:43
        And I always thought
growing up that that just meant,
       
    
      - 
        
00:10:45
        Oh, he owns the cattle
on a thousand hills.
       
    
      - 
        
00:10:47
        He must be rich.
       
    
      - 
        
00:10:48
        And well, I think
if you think about it
       
    
      - 
        
00:10:50
        in natural terms, we would
define that as being rich.
       
    
      - 
        
00:10:54
        But excuse my grammar,
that just ain't what He meant
       
    
      - 
        
00:10:56
        when He was talking about that.
       
    
      - 
        
00:10:58
        What He meant was, "When
I ask you for something,
       
    
      - 
        
00:11:00
        when I ask you to sacrifice
your money or your time,
       
    
      - 
        
00:11:02
        it's not because I need it.
       
    
      - 
        
00:11:03
        It's not because I don't
have enough volunteers.
       
    
      - 
        
00:11:06
        It's not because I don't
have enough money
       
    
      - 
        
00:11:07
        and the lights are
about to go off in heaven.
       
    
      - 
        
00:11:09
        I'm actually asking
you to sacrifice
       
    
      - 
        
00:11:11
        because it invites
surrender into your life,
       
    
      - 
        
00:11:14
        and it's for you."
       
    
      - 
        
00:11:16
        "What? That sounds challenging.
       
    
      - 
        
00:11:18
        Hannah, you're
challenging me right now?"
       
    
      - 
        
00:11:20
        I'm glad. If you're sitting
at the seat of challenge,
       
    
      - 
        
00:11:22
        you're actually right where
you probably need to be.
       
    
      - 
        
00:11:25
        I'm a touch uncomfortable
if I'm being honest,
       
    
      - 
        
00:11:27
        because sacrifice
makes me shift in my seat
       
    
      - 
        
00:11:29
        because God is asking
us all the question:
       
    
      - 
        
00:11:32
        is your heart in it?
       
    
      - 
        
00:11:34
        So the sacrifice
isn't the problem.
       
    
      - 
        
00:11:36
        He loves giving us His time.
       
    
      - 
        
00:11:37
        He wants us to give
our money, all the things.
       
    
      - 
        
00:11:39
        But He wants to know,
is it a waterfall sacrifice?
       
    
      - 
        
00:11:43
        Is it just cute on the
outside or is it in your heart?
       
    
      - 
        
00:11:46
        "So what kind of sacrifice
is God looking for then?
       
    
      - 
        
00:11:49
        Hannah, tell me the answer,
       
    
      - 
        
00:11:50
        since it's not the
ones I'm giving,
       
    
      - 
        
00:11:51
        the ones that seem empty.
       
    
      - 
        
00:11:53
        What should I be doing?"
       
    
      - 
        
00:11:54
        Now all the churchy people
think they know the answer.
       
    
      - 
        
00:11:56
        They think it's Jesus.
That's the perfect sacrifice.
       
    
      - 
        
00:11:59
        You're wrong.
       
    
      - 
        
00:12:01
        But I'm going to tell
you the real answer,
       
    
      - 
        
00:12:03
        so stay with me, I promise.
       
    
      - 
        
00:12:06
        - Hey, guys, I'm Kyle.
- And I'm Andy.
       
    
      - 
        
00:12:07
        - Hope you're
enjoying this message.
       
    
      - 
        
00:12:09
        If you are, we'd love
you to engage with us
       
    
      - 
        
00:12:10
        in even more ways.
- That's right.
       
    
      - 
        
00:12:12
        Around here at
Crossroads, we believe that
       
    
      - 
        
00:12:14
        the act of giving is
a spiritual discipline,
       
    
      - 
        
00:12:15
        meaning that it's not
something God wants from us,
       
    
      - 
        
00:12:17
        but for us.
       
    
      - 
        
00:12:19
        - If giving's something
you want to do,
       
    
      - 
        
00:12:20
        or maybe you want to try out,
       
    
      - 
        
00:12:21
        you can go to
Crossroads.net/give.
       
    
      - 
        
00:12:24
        Let's get back to the message.
       
    
      - 
        
00:12:30
        - So it turns out God
wants a sacrifice,
       
    
      - 
        
00:12:32
        and not just any sacrifice,
       
    
      - 
        
00:12:35
        but a sacrifice of thanksgiving.
       
    
      - 
        
00:12:38
        Hey, growing up I
always thought that
       
    
      - 
        
00:12:39
        I needed some very grand
and elaborate testimony
       
    
      - 
        
00:12:42
        that was going to make
me more interesting,
       
    
      - 
        
00:12:45
        not just to people,
but shockingly, to God.
       
    
      - 
        
00:12:48
        I thought that I really
didn't have a story to tell
       
    
      - 
        
00:12:50
        because for the most
part, I feel a little textbook
       
    
      - 
        
00:12:54
        and what I call like a pew baby,
       
    
      - 
        
00:12:56
        which just means that
I was raised in church,
       
    
      - 
        
00:12:58
        I was always at church.
       
    
      - 
        
00:13:00
        And somewhere along
the line, maybe about 13,
       
    
      - 
        
00:13:03
        thankfully, church
actually got in me.
       
    
      - 
        
00:13:04
        And so I started
to follow Jesus.
       
    
      - 
        
00:13:06
        I started to walk with
Him, learn His ways.
       
    
      - 
        
00:13:08
        And I really even
used to study the Bible
       
    
      - 
        
00:13:11
        on my lunch breaks
in high school,
       
    
      - 
        
00:13:13
        not because I was
trying to be this, like,
       
    
      - 
        
00:13:14
        holier than thou person,
       
    
      - 
        
00:13:16
        but truly the food
was disgusting.
       
    
      - 
        
00:13:17
        I needed something to
do. No, I'm just kidding.
       
    
      - 
        
00:13:19
        But seriously, I did
have some hard days,
       
    
      - 
        
00:13:22
        but I don't ever feel like
       
    
      - 
        
00:13:23
        I had this grand story
of rescue, you know?
       
    
      - 
        
00:13:26
        Like, it wasn't like
my dad, who literally
       
    
      - 
        
00:13:29
        had a spiritual
encounter with God
       
    
      - 
        
00:13:31
        that was like Paul in the Bible.
       
    
      - 
        
00:13:33
        Not me, I was pretty
boring and lame even.
       
    
      - 
        
00:13:36
        I never even had, like, a
backsliding moment in college
       
    
      - 
        
00:13:39
        where I just turned
my back on God
       
    
      - 
        
00:13:41
        and decided He
wasn't for me. Nope.
       
    
      - 
        
00:13:43
        Crazy enough though, this all
pretty much bummed me out,
       
    
      - 
        
00:13:46
        so I started to shy away
and not really tell anybody
       
    
      - 
        
00:13:49
        about what God
was doing in my life
       
    
      - 
        
00:13:50
        because I thought
it was too small.
       
    
      - 
        
00:13:52
        I thought that it
did not measure up
       
    
      - 
        
00:13:54
        to all the things He's
miraculously done
       
    
      - 
        
00:13:56
        for other people
and how they have
       
    
      - 
        
00:13:58
        awesome testimonies of rescue.
       
    
      - 
        
00:14:00
        And so when I would be in church
       
    
      - 
        
00:14:02
        and worship God through music,
       
    
      - 
        
00:14:03
        or even through giving or
even through volunteering,
       
    
      - 
        
00:14:06
        I really was only doing
it because I thought
       
    
      - 
        
00:14:08
        it's what you were
supposed to do.
       
    
      - 
        
00:14:10
        See, I had a lot of
waterfall sacrifices
       
    
      - 
        
00:14:12
        because I thought that if I
just keep doing the thing,
       
    
      - 
        
00:14:14
        keep doing the thing that
looks good on the outside,
       
    
      - 
        
00:14:16
        God's just going to
be pleased with that.
       
    
      - 
        
00:14:18
        It's going to be fine.
       
    
      - 
        
00:14:19
        But, you know, they
looked good on the outside,
       
    
      - 
        
00:14:21
        but they were really
horrible on the inside.
       
    
      - 
        
00:14:23
        They were empty because I missed
       
    
      - 
        
00:14:25
        what God was trying to
say, what He actually wants.
       
    
      - 
        
00:14:27
        Of all the sacrifices
that I could give,
       
    
      - 
        
00:14:29
        He says in verse 14:
       
    
      - 
        
00:14:31
        Offer God a sacrifice
of thanksgiving,
       
    
      - 
        
00:14:34
        and fulfill the promises that
you made to the Most High.
       
    
      - 
        
00:14:37
        "Now wait a second.
       
    
      - 
        
00:14:38
        I thought we were supposed
to serve in Kids' Club.
       
    
      - 
        
00:14:41
        You mean to tell
me that my tithe
       
    
      - 
        
00:14:43
        is not an acceptable sacrifice?
       
    
      - 
        
00:14:44
        What are you talking
about, Hannah?
       
    
      - 
        
00:14:46
        God, what are you saying?
       
    
      - 
        
00:14:47
        Why are you so
angry in this Psalm?"
       
    
      - 
        
00:14:50
        See what I missed in my story
       
    
      - 
        
00:14:52
        and what I'm sort
of missing now is
       
    
      - 
        
00:14:54
        if I don't have thankfulness,
       
    
      - 
        
00:14:55
        not just for the things
that He hasn't done,
       
    
      - 
        
00:14:57
        but for the things
that He is doing.
       
    
      - 
        
00:14:59
        If that's not -- if my
sacrifices aren't flowing
       
    
      - 
        
00:15:02
        out of that gratitude,
then they're empty.
       
    
      - 
        
00:15:06
        See, the only way to cure
those waterfall sacrifices,
       
    
      - 
        
00:15:09
        the ones that just look
good on the outside,
       
    
      - 
        
00:15:12
        is to really be thankful
       
    
      - 
        
00:15:14
        and offer those as a
sacrifice of gratitude,
       
    
      - 
        
00:15:17
        doing those things out
of thankfulness to God.
       
    
      - 
        
00:15:21
        That is what I was missing.
       
    
      - 
        
00:15:23
        See, thankfulness
does something for us;
       
    
      - 
        
00:15:26
        it forces us to do three things:
       
    
      - 
        
00:15:28
        to reflect, to
realize, and to rely.
       
    
      - 
        
00:15:31
        For most of my life,
       
    
      - 
        
00:15:32
        I never shared my story
of God's redemption
       
    
      - 
        
00:15:35
        because I just thought it
was too small, too textbook.
       
    
      - 
        
00:15:39
        See, but really, once I
started to get thankful,
       
    
      - 
        
00:15:41
        once I take a second
and actually say,
       
    
      - 
        
00:15:43
        "Man, God, I'm going to be
grateful for just a moment,"
       
    
      - 
        
00:15:46
        my story starts to shape up,
       
    
      - 
        
00:15:47
        starts to look a
little bit different.
       
    
      - 
        
00:15:49
        And I can squint my eyes
and I can see and realize
       
    
      - 
        
00:15:53
        that actually God has been up
to some pretty amazing things.
       
    
      - 
        
00:15:56
        See what He's done for
me physically, for example,
       
    
      - 
        
00:15:59
        I'll just count all the times
I was probably supposed to die.
       
    
      - 
        
00:16:01
        Not even going
to talk about birth.
       
    
      - 
        
00:16:03
        I'll talk about the time that
I got hit by SUV head on.
       
    
      - 
        
00:16:06
        I mean head on, smacked.
       
    
      - 
        
00:16:07
        And I walked away with
nothing but a broken toe.
       
    
      - 
        
00:16:10
        I'll tell you about the
time that I fell asleep
       
    
      - 
        
00:16:12
        with a gas valve on and
the air was full of gas,
       
    
      - 
        
00:16:16
        and I did not die.
       
    
      - 
        
00:16:17
        You guys, I'm not
joking, it's not a joke.
       
    
      - 
        
00:16:19
        I think about the time
I was held at gunpoint.
       
    
      - 
        
00:16:21
        And I would think about the time
       
    
      - 
        
00:16:22
        I was just recently
in two car accidents
       
    
      - 
        
00:16:24
        that probably should
have killed me.
       
    
      - 
        
00:16:27
        See, it's this reflection
when I get thankful,
       
    
      - 
        
00:16:29
        when I say, "Thank you, God,
for doing those things for me,"
       
    
      - 
        
00:16:31
        that it makes me realize,
it realizes in that moment,
       
    
      - 
        
00:16:35
        see that realization,
what it brings me to
       
    
      - 
        
00:16:38
        is the next R reliance.
       
    
      - 
        
00:16:40
        It makes me realize that
actually, no matter what I do,
       
    
      - 
        
00:16:44
        I can't do anything for myself.
       
    
      - 
        
00:16:46
        It makes me realize that
God has more for me.
       
    
      - 
        
00:16:49
        See, I just told you
about the physical times
       
    
      - 
        
00:16:51
        I wanted -- I possibly
could have died.
       
    
      - 
        
00:16:54
        I didn't tell you
about the times that
       
    
      - 
        
00:16:55
        God has actually protecting me
       
    
      - 
        
00:16:57
        from spiritual and
emotional death.
       
    
      - 
        
00:16:59
        Because there have
been times, y'all,
       
    
      - 
        
00:17:00
        and still times where I
just believe I'm worthless
       
    
      - 
        
00:17:03
        or I just believe I
am worth nothing.
       
    
      - 
        
00:17:05
        That this life right here
is actually not worth living.
       
    
      - 
        
00:17:08
        And God has saved me from that.
       
    
      - 
        
00:17:09
        There's been times when
my pride and my anger
       
    
      - 
        
00:17:11
        probably should have destroyed
       
    
      - 
        
00:17:13
        my relationships
that I'm closest to.
       
    
      - 
        
00:17:16
        But God didn't allow that.
       
    
      - 
        
00:17:18
        Let me tell you how I
got to that conclusion.
       
    
      - 
        
00:17:20
        It's when I realized
what He was doing.
       
    
      - 
        
00:17:23
        It's when I stopped
focusing on all the things
       
    
      - 
        
00:17:25
        that my story didn't have,
when I stopped focusing
       
    
      - 
        
00:17:28
        on all the grandiose
that I was looking for
       
    
      - 
        
00:17:30
        in my testimony and started
to realize, "Wait a second.
       
    
      - 
        
00:17:33
        God actually has done
some amazing things."
       
    
      - 
        
00:17:36
        See, but here's the promise:
       
    
      - 
        
00:17:38
        Thankfulness doesn't
just get us to a place
       
    
      - 
        
00:17:39
        where we're like, "Oh, God,
You're so good. Oh, my gosh."
       
    
      - 
        
00:17:42
        Thankfulness has
something for us.
       
    
      - 
        
00:17:44
        It actually is a
sacrifice, y'all,
       
    
      - 
        
00:17:46
        because some
days we have to push
       
    
      - 
        
00:17:48
        and we have to
press to be thankful.
       
    
      - 
        
00:17:50
        Because if you're
anything like me,
       
    
      - 
        
00:17:51
        there are moments when
you just get so much bad news
       
    
      - 
        
00:17:54
        in one week you're like,
       
    
      - 
        
00:17:55
        "God, how can I possibly
be thankful for this?"
       
    
      - 
        
00:17:57
        It's so easy to
chase after the things
       
    
      - 
        
00:18:00
        that I don't have,
to go after waterfalls
       
    
      - 
        
00:18:03
        like the song says,
it's so much easier.
       
    
      - 
        
00:18:06
        But God invites
us into gratitude
       
    
      - 
        
00:18:08
        because it makes us rely on Him.
       
    
      - 
        
00:18:12
        I'm not crazy.
       
    
      - 
        
00:18:13
        I know that life actually
just sucks sometimes.
       
    
      - 
        
00:18:17
        See, I know from experience
that there are weeks
       
    
      - 
        
00:18:19
        where you lose your only
grandparent, your cousin,
       
    
      - 
        
00:18:22
        you have friends
lose two babies,
       
    
      - 
        
00:18:23
        you feel like you get
eaten alive by inflation
       
    
      - 
        
00:18:25
        because three of your
siblings just lost their job,
       
    
      - 
        
00:18:28
        You've got two siblings
with high risk pregnancy,
       
    
      - 
        
00:18:30
        oh, and by the way,
       
    
      - 
        
00:18:31
        your mom is in and
out of the hospital.
       
    
      - 
        
00:18:32
        See, it's in those
weeks where it gets
       
    
      - 
        
00:18:34
        really, really hard to
say, "Thank you, Jesus,"
       
    
      - 
        
00:18:37
        because there's
too much going on.
       
    
      - 
        
00:18:39
        And if you have that
question, if you say,
       
    
      - 
        
00:18:41
        "Hannah, how can I be grateful?"
       
    
      - 
        
00:18:42
        I'm right there with you.
       
    
      - 
        
00:18:43
        I'm standing right
there with you
       
    
      - 
        
00:18:45
        because it's a valid question.
       
    
      - 
        
00:18:47
        Why does it actually
hurt to be thankful?
       
    
      - 
        
00:18:51
        And that's why God says
it's an acceptable sacrifice,
       
    
      - 
        
00:18:54
        because that gratitude makes
us reflect on what He's done.
       
    
      - 
        
00:18:57
        It makes us stop chasing
for all the things He hasn't,
       
    
      - 
        
00:19:00
        all the things that
we wish we had.
       
    
      - 
        
00:19:02
        It makes us stop trying
to be like the Joneses
       
    
      - 
        
00:19:04
        and keep up with the Joneses.
       
    
      - 
        
00:19:05
        Gratitude makes us thankful.
       
    
      - 
        
00:19:07
        It makes us
thankful for the place
       
    
      - 
        
00:19:09
        where He's going to take
us, the place that we are.
       
    
      - 
        
00:19:12
        And it makes us rely
on Him to take us there,
       
    
      - 
        
00:19:15
        not our own selves.
       
    
      - 
        
00:19:16
        See, we serve a big God
who loves us so much,
       
    
      - 
        
00:19:19
        so unconditionally that
he sent His son, Jesus,
       
    
      - 
        
00:19:23
        not just to be down
here and walk among us,
       
    
      - 
        
00:19:25
        but He sent Him so
that we could have life
       
    
      - 
        
00:19:28
        and life to the full.
       
    
      - 
        
00:19:29
        And that means life that's
full of ups and downs,
       
    
      - 
        
00:19:32
        life that's full of crazy weeks.
       
    
      - 
        
00:19:33
        And yes, life that's full of
good and wonderful things.
       
    
      - 
        
00:19:37
        See, and maybe I just
gave you one reason
       
    
      - 
        
00:19:40
        right there to be grateful,
       
    
      - 
        
00:19:41
        because Jesus is a
good reason to be grateful,
       
    
      - 
        
00:19:43
        because when we get
that life, we have something
       
    
      - 
        
00:19:46
        that the rest of the world
only wishes they had;
       
    
      - 
        
00:19:48
        we have hope.
       
    
      - 
        
00:19:50
        So whether you have been
following Jesus, awesome,
       
    
      - 
        
00:19:52
        or this is your first
time here today
       
    
      - 
        
00:19:54
        and this is the first
time you're hearing
       
    
      - 
        
00:19:56
        Jesus spoken to you in a
language that you understand.
       
    
      - 
        
00:19:58
        Welcome, and I'm
so glad you're here.
       
    
      - 
        
00:20:00
        And I'm glad you're here
       
    
      - 
        
00:20:01
        because we all have
a chance at hope.
       
    
      - 
        
00:20:04
        And the way that we get
there is through realizing that
       
    
      - 
        
00:20:07
        what Jesus did for us
allows us to be grateful,
       
    
      - 
        
00:20:10
        allows us to be thankful.
       
    
      - 
        
00:20:12
        And when we are, when
we say, "You know what?
       
    
      - 
        
00:20:14
        I'm going to have a
sacrifice of thanksgiving,"
       
    
      - 
        
00:20:17
        it pushes us to a new place.
       
    
      - 
        
00:20:19
        And not only does it
push us to a new place,
       
    
      - 
        
00:20:21
        but we honor God.
       
    
      - 
        
00:20:23
        See, at the very end of
that long rant of Psalm 150
       
    
      - 
        
00:20:26
        and God describing all the ways
       
    
      - 
        
00:20:28
        that waterfall
sacrifices are empty
       
    
      - 
        
00:20:30
        and how they make us empty.
       
    
      - 
        
00:20:32
        In the last verse, He says this:
       
    
      - 
        
00:20:40
        See, our sacrifices need to flow
       
    
      - 
        
00:20:42
        from a heart of thanksgiving.
       
    
      - 
        
00:20:45
        They can't just
come out of formality
       
    
      - 
        
00:20:47
        or they can't even
not happen at all.
       
    
      - 
        
00:20:48
        Maybe you've
never been thankful.
       
    
      - 
        
00:20:50
        God is saying that He wants us
       
    
      - 
        
00:20:54
        to forget about sacrifices
in the form of worship
       
    
      - 
        
00:20:57
        and tithing and volunteering
if they don't actually
       
    
      - 
        
00:20:59
        flow out of a
heart of gratitude.
       
    
      - 
        
00:21:02
        He's saying, "Forget about it."
       
    
      - 
        
00:21:03
        See, we aren't
giving anything to God
       
    
      - 
        
00:21:05
        because He needs it.
       
    
      - 
        
00:21:07
        I was reading an article about
       
    
      - 
        
00:21:09
        the making of Waterfalls by TLC.
       
    
      - 
        
00:21:11
        And the ladies, they
say that the song,
       
    
      - 
        
00:21:13
        it sounds like an encouragement
to run from your dreams,
       
    
      - 
        
00:21:16
        just stay to what
you're used to.
       
    
      - 
        
00:21:18
        But what it really is
they're saying, be careful.
       
    
      - 
        
00:21:21
        The song is a warning against
       
    
      - 
        
00:21:23
        self-destructive
behavior and chasing.
       
    
      - 
        
00:21:27
        See, our tendency is to
just do whatever it takes
       
    
      - 
        
00:21:30
        to look normal, to feel normal.
       
    
      - 
        
00:21:32
        But when we sacrifice
in thanksgiving,
       
    
      - 
        
00:21:34
        when we do things out
of a heart of gratitude,
       
    
      - 
        
00:21:37
        that's the best way
not to self-destruct,
       
    
      - 
        
00:21:39
        because it keeps us
from chasing things
       
    
      - 
        
00:21:41
        that God never had for us.
       
    
      - 
        
00:21:42
        It makes us realize
that we actually have
       
    
      - 
        
00:21:45
        a story so powerful that
somebody needs to hear
       
    
      - 
        
00:21:48
        and we need to tell it,
       
    
      - 
        
00:21:49
        and it makes us rely on God.
       
    
      - 
        
00:21:52
        So now is the time
that we're going to get
       
    
      - 
        
00:21:54
        to hear some music
and actually worship,
       
    
      - 
        
00:21:57
        which is just
prayers set to music.
       
    
      - 
        
00:21:59
        And thankfully, this song
that we're about to hear,
       
    
      - 
        
00:22:01
        you probably won't
know it because
       
    
      - 
        
00:22:03
        it's the exact Psalm
that we've been studying.
       
    
      - 
        
00:22:06
        But during this time,
now is the time for action.
       
    
      - 
        
00:22:09
        Maybe I've said something
that stuck with you.
       
    
      - 
        
00:22:11
        Maybe you have more questions.
       
    
      - 
        
00:22:13
        Whatever it is, actually,
here's the main point, y'all:
       
    
      - 
        
00:22:16
        we have to be grateful.
       
    
      - 
        
00:22:18
        So some of us need
to write a list, like me.
       
    
      - 
        
00:22:20
        I write a list of
what I'm thankful for.
       
    
      - 
        
00:22:22
        Some of us need to stop
complaining long enough
       
    
      - 
        
00:22:25
        so that we can realize
what God has done
       
    
      - 
        
00:22:28
        and reflect on His goodness.
       
    
      - 
        
00:22:30
        Some of us just need to take
a pause and take a moment
       
    
      - 
        
00:22:33
        and realize what God
has done in our life.
       
    
      - 
        
00:22:36
        Hey, if that's you now,
       
    
      - 
        
00:22:38
        this song is the
perfect time to do that.
       
    
      - 
        
00:22:40
        It's the perfect time
to soak up the words
       
    
      - 
        
00:22:42
        and let the words soak in
and to decide what it is that
       
    
      - 
        
00:22:46
        you're going to do to offer
a sacrifice of thanksgiving.
       
    
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00:24:42
        - We hope you enjoyed
the message today
       
    
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00:24:44
        and you were able
to get something out of
       
    
      - 
        
00:24:45
        going deeper in
the Book of Psalms.
       
    
      - 
        
00:24:47
        - It doesn't have to
stop here, by the way,
       
    
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00:24:49
        because this series is
connected with the thing
       
    
      - 
        
00:24:51
        we've been doing all year long
called the Bible Challenge.
       
    
      - 
        
00:24:53
        - Yeah, we as a community
are in the Crossroads App
       
    
      - 
        
00:24:55
        all through the week, reading
       
    
      - 
        
00:24:56
        and diving deeper
into Scripture.
       
    
      - 
        
00:24:58
        I'm in there. Kyle's in there.
       
    
      - 
        
00:24:59
        Brian is in there.
You're in there.
       
    
      - 
        
00:25:00
        - We're in there because
it's making our lives better
       
    
      - 
        
00:25:02
        and it's helping
us connect to God.
       
    
      - 
        
00:25:04
        If you want to dive
in, all you have to do
       
    
      - 
        
00:25:06
        is download the
app and you're all set.
       
    
      - 
        
00:25:07
        - Hey, that's all
we've got today.
       
    
      - 
        
00:25:09
        We'll see you next
time on Crossroads.
       
    
      - 
        
00:25:12
        - [singing] I'm
living my best life
       
    
      - 
        
00:25:15
        Wake up with the sunrise
       
    
      - 
        
00:25:18
        Does not look a thing
       
    
      - 
        
00:25:19
        How many people do
you know would say that
       
    
      - 
        
00:25:21
        they're living their
best life? Really?
       
    
      - 
        
00:25:23
        And what about you?
       
    
      - 
        
00:25:24
        I'm going to show you
how to live your best life
       
    
      - 
        
00:25:26
        through an ancient way of living
       
    
      - 
        
00:25:28
        that you can rediscover today.