[0:00]Welcome to part one of our brand new series. We are starting a series today called Flip the Script. Don't flip the bird. Don't do anything inappropriate to anybody but flip the script. Um, we live in a natural world and a natural environment and a natural cultural moment where every one of us, whether conscious or not, we're living according to a script. We're living according to a story that we believe. Uh maybe you want to call it a narrative. We all have a world view. We all have ways that we've been brought up and whether consciously or unconsciously, we have adopted a paradigm, we've adopted a worldview. And a lot of the time, it's a healthy, balanced, uh, even accurate worldview. And then there are other times where there are little distortions. Actually, I'm being kind. I think that there are many times where there are big distortions. And so we do live in in a in a world with tensions that go around the the script that we are living according to. And here's part of the challenge, right? Is that the script almost always has elements of truth in it. There will almost always be facts in that script. And what I'm wanting to uh kind of kick the series off with today is not challenging the facts because facts are facts. But I'm wanting us to consider the end. I'm wanting us to think of the facts, yes, and the truth. There is a difference sometimes between the facts of a situation and the whole truth of what is possible with God in and through our lives. In fact, I would imagine that if there's any area that will make the biggest difference in our lives, it'll be the end. It'll be seeing, uh, not denying the facts, not denying the challenges, not denying the pain, not denying the injustice, not not denying whatever it is that we're dealing with, acknowledging it, but looking at the end. God, what is the full truth? What is the whole story in this case? For the ladies that were here on Thursday night, uh, you would have heard some of the following scriptures. I love the way that Sue introduced the testimonies. If you weren't here on Thursday night, I can only say shame. Like, it's a pity, you missed out. I loved it. I loved our ladies night. I was ministered to through our ladies night. If the men didn't serve, shame, you missed out on our ladies night. Sue Sue introduced the testimonies which were incredibly powerful and which I'd encourage you. I think we've got them online, is that right? I would encourage you to go and take a listen. Home like personal raw testimonies from three of our ladies. And I love that they're not all the same. Um in some cases it worked out very differently to in other cases. But Sue introduced the idea of But God. So there's truth but God adds to that reality. Romans 6:23, for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 1 Corinthians 10:13, we do all face temptation, but God is faithful, he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able. Acts 13:29-30 NIV: When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead.
[4:23]Psalm 73:26 NLT: My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.
[4:51]Acts 7:9-10a NLT: These patriarchs were jealous of their brother Joseph, and they sold him to be a slave in Egypt. But God was with him and rescued him from all his troubles.
[5:20]Ephesians 2:1, 4-5 NLT: Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins…But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead.
[5:51]John 16:33 NLT: I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."
[14:38]Romans 12:2 NLT: Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
[16:26]Romans 12:2a NIV: Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
[16:41]Romans 12:2a MSG: Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out.
[18:21]Isaiah 55:9 NLT: For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
[28:57]Romans 8:28 NLT: And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
