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Surprise. Hello. I am glad to be joining with you today.

Pastor um asked that I take care of this for you today. So, um thanks for joining us with Life Group. And uh as you know, we've been going through the Mark Batterson book, Not Safe.

And um tonight, we are starting part four. And I'm actually just going to I've read through all of it and I've highlighted some areas. So, instead of reading my notes, I'm actually going to be reading from the book and uh hitting some high points through here and I'm going to make some comments as well.

So, I hope something that's said today will resonate with you and uh you'll be able to take it home and think about it through the week. But there's so much There's so much that we can learn um and need to be reminded of from time to time. So, hopefully um you'll get something out of this tonight.

First of all, uh Johann Johann Sebastian Bach was to classical music what William Shakespeare was to English literature and Sir Isaac Newton was to physics. His body of work includes 256 cantatas. And um what is interesting is these cantatas weren't initially written as songs, but they were prayers.

And I thought that was so interesting to read uh that actually it was a prayer and then he put music to it. And uh Jesu Juva is JJ was uh written at the top of all of his sheet music. That means Jesus help me.

And if everything we did, we would put a JJ and just be reminded, Jesus, I need your help. What a difference that would make in our lives. Um at the completion of every composition, Bach inscribed three letters in the margin of his music, S D G.

That stood for a Latin phrase, Soli Deo gloria. To the glory of God alone. So these two phrases, Jesus help me, everything I do is for your glory.

What a difference it would make in our lives. Lord, we thank you for this opportunity we have together with people in the different homes tonight in our life groups. And I just ask you, Lord, to touch our hearts and help us to receive the word that's going to be shared to make a difference in our thought process and the lives we live in Jesus' name.

Amen. So no one can glorify God like you do. And nobody can glorify God for you.

Your life is an original score. It's music to our savior's ears. Your prayers, your life is music to his ears.

It's not about what you do, it's about why you do what you do. Ultimately, it's about who you do it for. In God's kingdom, it's our motivations that matter the most.

If you do the right thing for the wrong reason, it doesn't even count. God judges the motives of the heart and he only rewards those who do the right thing for the right reason. We we are living for an audience of one.

And I remember hearing a song about this back in the '70s and um used to be really intimidated to get up and stand and sing in front of others or to speak in front of others, but at some point in my life, a very young teen, I um thought, "Okay, God, I'm not doing this for anybody else to judge me or to talk about me. I'm just doing it for your glory." An audience of one. And if you'll learn to live your life that way, it is so much better than worrying about what anybody's going to think, say, or do.

It's just great to live your life for the applause of nail-scarred hands and nobody else. Keep that in mind anytime you're up front. You're not doing it for those people on the seats or on the pews.

You're doing it for him, the audience of one. Just Jesus. Nothing more, nothing less, nobody else.

Uh we exist for one reason and one reason alone. That is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever. It's not about you at all.

It's all about him. So, what happens to you is to give glory to what he can do to get you through it, to help you through it. Um and I know that I know that he'll be there for you in every situation in life.

He'll be there for you if you'll give him glory. To glorify God, that's what it's all about. That's what makes life make sense.

Soli Deo Gloria. It's all for your glory, God. It's not about the good days and the bad days.

It's not about wealth or poverty. It's not about health or sickness. It's not even about life or death.

It's about glorifying God in whatever circumstances you find yourself in. And goodness gracious, we have been in some circumstances recently. Some of you know, some may not know.

Pastor's been in the ER twice. Once he was taken by ambulance. But you know, through it all, some people have said, "Aren't you scared?

Aren't you worried to death?" No, cuz I know the giver and the taker of life, and I trust him, and it's all in his hands. It's all going to be okay. We've been through some really difficult times with uh circumstance with our daughter, and yet, through it all, even when she feels overwhelmed, we've watched her give God glory, and she's grateful, and she's thankful, and God is with her on this journey.

Her story's not over. Your story's not over. Whatever it is you're going through, your story is not over.

You remember, it's not about you. It's for his glory. If you'll take the focus off yourself and give him glory for whatever test or trial you're going through, you'll see the difference in how you cope, and how those around you feel about what you're going through.

You can be an encouragement to others. So, remember, this life on Earth is not about you and I. It's about him, and what he is doing through us.

Jesus name. Um it's about giving God glory in all circumstances. Anyway, anywhere, anyhow, wherever, whenever, whatever, there is no circumstance in which you cannot glorify God.

As a girl, I heard my mama sing the song, "Hallelujah anyhow, and that's really it. If you'll just learn to get through life singing Hallelujah anyhow, I'll never let my troubles get me down. Though I may lose most everything, I'll lift my head up high and sing, Hallelujah anyhow." He will be there for you.

So, you you take approximately 23,000 breaths a day. But, when was the last time you thanked God for one of them? I'm sure I'm not the only one that said, "Oh God, I don't know that I've thanked you enough for giving me breath." I thank him for this life that I live, but every breath every breath I take is his choice, and he gives it to us.

Thank you, God. We tend to thank God for the things that take our breath away, and that's fine, but maybe we should thank him for every other breath, too. SDG is the why behind every what.

It's the why behind every whatever. Our prayers tend to focus on external circumstances more than internal attitudes, because we had rather have God change our circumstances than to change us. It's a lot easier that way, isn't it?

But we miss the point altogether. It's the worst of circumstances that often bring out the best in us. And again, I can testify to that.

It's when the hard times come that we tend to make time for him. We tend to find more time to spend in prayer talking to him when tough times are here. So, if you find yourself going through a difficult season, maybe it's because he just wants you to get closer to him.

Talk to him more. No one in the history of humankind has endured more in less time than Job. He lost everything, his family, his health, and his wealth in a matter of moments.

He endured unbelievable heartache, unimaginable loss. But when his world falls apart, Job falls to the ground in worship. He The scripture says, "Naked I came from my mother's womb and naked I will depart.

The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. May the name of the Lord be praised." This is our example of what to do in difficult times. Jesus.

In God's kingdom, failure is never final. You won't win every spiritual battle, but the war has already been decisively won. The victory has sealed 2,000 years was sealed 2,000 years ago when Jesus broke the seal on his tomb.

It was a death blow to death itself, and we are more than conquerors because of the cry of what Christ accomplished. You never know which seed it will be, but if you plant and you water, scripture guarantees that God himself will give the increase. Never underestimate the ripple effect of one act of obedience.

It will never be all for nothing. God keeps score, and he knows. And I know that I know that he hears and will answer my prayers.

Even if I'm not here to see them answered, somewhere down the line those seeds have been planted. My children, my grandchildren, my great-grandchildren will be used and live for the Lord. God has given me a promise.

Too many people give up on their dreams because they feel like God has given up on them. They call it quits because they feel like it's too little, too late. But the ageless wonder serves as a timeless reminder that it's never too late to be who you might have been.

Moses is a patron saint of second chances, and third, and 10th, and hundredth. Moses was put out to the pasture for 40 years. What seemed like a life sentence to Moses was really parole with a purpose.

God has already put Moses through 40 years of palace 101. Now Moses had to pass wilderness 101. We go through things in life to prepare us for what's ahead.

Every situation we go through has a purpose. God has a plan, and he's trying to accomplish the purpose that he has in our lives. My question for you, are you willing to let him do what he needs to do in you to help you to become who you need to become?

It's not always easy, but it's worth it. Jewish scholars used to debate why God revealed himself to Moses in the middle of nowhere, a burning bush on the backside of the desert. Why not a highly populated, religiously significant place?

Why would God go out of his way? The consensus was that God wanted to show that no place on Earth, not even a thorn bush, is devoid of his presence. God is everywhere to be found.

God is where you want to be. God is where it's at. The theological word is immanence, and it's the com- complement to transcendence.

He is God most high. He is also God most nigh. One of the benedictions we pronounce at the end of our services captures his name and this concept is written by the author.

It says, "When you leave this place, you don't leave God's presence. You take his presence with you wherever you go." We're a temple of the Holy Spirit. So, he is with us wherever we go.

Think about that. [clears throat] You don't just say, "Okay, God, sit over here on my dresser while I go do X, Y, Z." Cuz you probably wouldn't be comfortable there. Well, if he wouldn't be comfortable there, maybe you don't need to go.

>> [laughter] [gasps] >> Okay. Um when you leave Okay, when you leave this place, you don't leave God's presence. You're standing on holy ground.

Sometimes we just want everything to feel just right. Like, this is where God is. If you're filled with his spirit, he's always with you.

You're always on holy ground. The holy ground is not the promised land. It's right here, right now.

Every place on which you set your foot is promised land. When you go all in with God, you never know how or when or where he might show up. But, you can live in holy anticipation knowing that God can invade the reality of your life at any given moment and change everything for your eternity.

When God revealed revealed him his plan to Moses, Moses objected to the almighty. He detailed a litany of excuses ranging from his lack of credentials to his stuttering problem. And you and I are that way.

Sometimes we're asked to do something. Maybe your pastor or somebody at the church has asked you to do something and you just feel inadequate. It's not about your adequacy.

It's about your willingness and God's ability to work through you and help you to become. Moses simply said, "Who am I?" But that's the wrong question. It's not about who you are, it's about whose you are.

And I love the Almighty's answer here. He says, "I am who I am." God answers his question by revealing his name. And he also offers this reassurance, "I will be with you." That's all we need to know, isn't it?

If God is for us, who can be against us? God plus one equals a super majority. His name is a solution to every problem.

His name is the answer to every question. His name calms every fear, seals every prayer, and wins every battle. At his name, angels bow and demons quake.

At his name, our sin is vindicated and our authority is validated. It's not about who you are. God has chosen to accomplish his purposes through ordinary people.

He loves being in commission with his children. So, he invites us into his plans and his purposes. But we've got to throw down our staff and get in the game.

Quit trying to be in control. Let him be in control. Would you pray with me?

Jesus, as human beings, we do have our own will. We have our own way. But help us, Lord, to seek your will, your purpose, and your way in our lives.

Humble us, God. Help us to seek your face and seek to know you more. It's not about us, but it's all about you, Jesus.

I ask you to every individual to help every individual that hears me this evening to just surrender their lives, surrender their will, surrender their plans to your will, your plans, and your purpose. And we give you all the glory and all the honor. Just ordinary people God uses ordinary people.

He uses people just like you and me who are willing to do as he commands. God uses people who will give him all. No matter how small their all may seem to be.

Because little becomes much when you place it in the master's hand. Just give him what you've got and let him multiply and you'll be amazed. Remember the two fish and five loaves of bread?

If they'd have kept it to themselves, not too many would have been fed. But God when it was handed over to him, look what he did. He'll do the same with you if you'll just let him use you.

Lord bless you. I love you all.