I’m Not There Yet I Robert Madu I Social Dallas

Summary

Social Dallas Podcast – Episode Summary

Episode: "I’m Not There Yet" | Robert Madu | Social Dallas
Date: January 18, 2026
Host: Social Dallas Church (Robert & Taylor Madu)

Overview of the Episode’s Theme

This episode, led by Pastor Robert Madu, centers on the powerful theme of growing in trust through suffering and uncertainty, inspired by Job 13:15: “Though he slay me, yet will I trust him.” Pastor Madu challenges listeners to move beyond “formula faith” (the expectation that right actions always produce desirable outcomes) and to anchor their trust in God's unchanging character, even when life does not make sense. The message is both brutally honest and deeply encouraging for anyone facing disappointment, grief, or confusion in their walk with God.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trust and the Character of God

• Trust flows from character: “Trust is always connected to the consistency of a person’s character. You don’t just trust people because you like them…You should trust people to the degree that you actually know them.” (Pastor, 08:06)
• Knowing God personally is the only way to develop unwavering trust. “The more you know him, the more you should be able to trust Him.” (Robert, 09:09)
• Illustration: Would you pass a basketball to your pastor or Steph Curry with 5 seconds left? Most pick Curry because “you’ve seen his consistency.” Even if Curry misses, you trust him because of his record. But with God, He never misses a shot, even when it feels otherwise. (10:44 – 12:00)

2. When God “Misses” the Shot — Wrestling with Suffering

• Experiencing unanswered prayers or suffering can feel like God missed His chance. Pastor empathizes with those enduring disappointment, grief, or chronic uncertainty, paralleling it with the story of Job.
• Job is the Bible’s book of questions, not answers. There are over 330 questions in Job, illustrating that faithful people do wrestle with God honestly. (15:04)

3. Job: Walking with Integrity and Blessing — and Then Loss

• Job’s resume: Blameless, upright, “loves God and shuns evil”—but also wealthy and successful (7,000 camels, 3,000 sheep). His integrity is highlighted before his wealth to show “Job has some stuff, but stuff doesn’t have Job.” (18:45)
• God’s sovereignty: God brings Job’s name up to Satan, not the other way around, leading to Job’s testing. (22:52)

4. The Hedge of Protection

• The enemy is aware of a spiritual “hedge of protection” around Job and dislikes it:

  “Satan, how you know there’s a hedge of protection… That should tell you, I tried to get in your house, but I didn’t know that you had a hedge of protection around you.” (25:47)

• The "hedge" keeps not only predators out, but also keeps us (the sheep) from wandering into danger. “I need a hedge. I need a good hedge with sharp bushes...” (28:54)

5. The Enemy’s Accusation: Formula Faith

• Satan’s accusation: Job doesn’t really love God—he loves what God does for him.

  “Job is doing it for the right consequence. He wants the blessing, he wants the raise…” (34:11)

• Formula faith defined: “A + B = C.” (Action + Behavior = Desired Consequence). Pastor exposes that many Christians fall into this mindset.
• Satan’s challenge: “Break the formula, God… and watch how quickly he curses you.” (35:22)
• Even Job’s friends believe the formula: if something went wrong, Job must have sinned.

6. God Breaks the Formula (But Not Job)

• The Book of Job demonstrates you can be righteous and still suffer. Pain is not always the result of wrongdoing.

  “I’m going to break the formula to show you that you can be doing right and loving me and still be going through suffering. And that does not mean I’m not with you.” (36:59)

7. Learning to Worship and Grieve Honestly

• Job’s initial response is not cliché faith.

  “Job didn’t get there until chapter 13… Job’s initial reaction was not, ‘though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.’ Away with this Christianity that doesn’t allow me to go through grief.” (40:28)

• Job tears his robe (grief), shaves his head (vulnerability), then worships.

  “I can be real with how I feel… I can still be going through hell and saying hallelujah.” (41:27 – 42:17)

• True worship can coexist with grief and loss.

8. From Formula to Gospel

• Ultimate trust isn’t in outcomes, but the cross:

  “You don’t start with your actions and your behavior and then look at the outcome to determine whether God loves me… I start with the consequence of the cross.” (46:04)

• The cross, not current circumstances, is the greatest proof of God’s love.
• “If you trusted and the outcome you wanted didn’t come to pass and you walked away, your trust wasn’t in God. It was in the outcome.” (47:14)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Knowing God’s Character

“Trust is always connected to the consistency of a person’s character… You should trust people to the degree that you actually know them.”
— Pastor, 08:06

On Honest Worship

“I can still be going through hell and saying hallelujah. I can still have a heart that's broken and still be giving Him glory. I ain’t gotta hide my emotions. I ain’t gotta pretend like it's cool that I'm going through this.”
— Robert, 41:27

On Formula Faith

“Are you walking by faith or are you walking by formula? Because sometimes it’s hard to tell if you’re trusting God because you love Him or you’re trusting God for the outcome you want.”
— Pastor, 32:59

On Pain and God’s Sovereignty

“God goes, okay, Satan, this is how much you can touch… It was not God’s idea to inflict the pain. It was Satan’s idea… I need to know that I can trust the character of God.”
— Pastor, 38:10

On the Ultimate Anchor

“You should never ask God, do you love me by what's on my bank account... You should always look at the cross.”
— Robert, 46:10

---

Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:01-04:43 — Opening: ‘Confident Trust’ theme, declaration of Hebrews 10:35-37, and Job 13:15 as core texts.
• 07:22-09:01 — Story: Pastor Madu recounts rejecting a false prophetic word, discussing knowing God’s character.
• 10:44-12:00 — Basketball metaphor: Trusting someone because of proven consistency (God vs. Steph Curry).
• 15:04-16:21 — Job’s book as one of questions (over 330), not answers.
• 18:45-20:27 — Job’s integrity and wealth: "He’s got some stuff, but his stuff doesn’t have him."
• 22:52-23:49 — God brings up Job’s name to Satan.
• 25:47-28:54 — The “hedge” of God’s protection, keeping evil out and us in.
• 32:59-34:11 — Defining and challenging “formula faith.”
• 36:59-37:42 — God breaks the formula, not Job; suffering isn’t always a result of sin.
• 41:08-42:25 — Worship and grief: Job responds with both.
• 44:47-45:09 — “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him”—trust amidst confusion.
• 46:04-47:14 — The cross, not outcomes, is the true anchor.
• 47:14-End — Prayer and challenge: Move from formula faith to anchored trust, even if “not there yet.”

---

Closing & Next Steps

Pastor Madu closes with a call:

• It’s okay not to be “there yet.” Be honest about your pain and doubts.
• God is forming trust in you through hardship. Begin by simply worshiping with what you have.
• Your trust is safe when anchored in God’s character and the cross, not circumstances.

Key Challenge:

“Maybe you’re not at chapter 13 where you say, ‘though He slay me, yet will I trust Him,’ but can you at least start at chapter one and say, even while I’m grieving, I’m still gonna worship?” (47:14)

---

For Listeners Who Haven’t Heard the Episode

This message is a must-listen for anyone wrestling with disappointment, grief, or spiritual doubt. Pastor Robert Madu masterfully tears down the myth that right living always leads to easy living and calls the church to an anchoring trust rooted in knowing God—not just His blessings. The episode is vulnerable, at times humorous, and full of deep biblical wisdom, making it a poignant resource for anyone “not there yet.”

Transcript

[Pastor]

Anybody thankful for the presence of the Lord that is in this place today? We. We have house rules here at Social Dallas. We declare that we are a house of prayer, that we're a house of presence, and we're a house for people. And I love all of those house rules, especially house of presence, because I believe that when you come into God's house, you should encounter his presence, not encounter a worship team, not encounter a preacher, but encounter Him. And I pray you leave here today encountering him because he's here. Amen. Well, you look good. You look like your trust is in the Lord and you don't got shaky trust. How many you got? Confident, trust. Confident, trust. That's our word for the year. Our word for the year comes from the scripture of the year. How many of you got it memorized? Can I see your hand? You gotta remember I. Stop showing off. Come on. Come on. Every Single Sunday of 2026, we will declare this verse. It's Hebrews, chapter 10, verses 35 through 37. So you got a lot of Sundays to get this in your heart and get this in your spirit, but we're going to read it together, collectively, as a family today. But remember, we switched up the flow. Remember, it was last week. You don't go till I say so, all right? So I'm gonna say so here. Y' all ready? So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you. Patient endurance is what you need now so that you will continue to do God's will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. For in just a little while, the coming one will come and not delay. Y' all sound good. Sound real good. And then our text for today, just one verse of Scripture. But don't let the brevity of the verse make you miss the weight of the verse. Job, chapter 13, verse number 15. Job says, though he slay me, yet will I trust him. Though he slay me, yet will I trust him. I don't want to preach before I preach, but the he is not the enemy. It's God. Job says, though he slay me, yet will I trust him. Another version says, if God kills me, yet will I trust him? Y', all, that's a weighty yet. And I just want to preach today, using this as an honest title. I'm not there yet. I'm not there yet. Look at the person next to you. Get in their face. Get in their personal space. Say, neighbor, I know I look saved, but I'm not there yet. Come on, that neighbor was stuck up. They don't want to talk to you. Find another neighbor. Come on. Say other neighbor. God is working on me because I'm not there yet. If you believe God's gonna speak to you today, would you give him some praise, Lord? Have your way. Amen. You may be seated. The presence of the Lord. I'm not there yet. I want to do a quick sermonic survey. That's really helpful for me as a preacher of the gospel and the pastor of this church. How many of you say by a showing of hands that you were primarily raised in church? Can I see your hand if you're raised in church? Oh, Lord, that's everybody at the Not. Damn. How many would say by a showing of hands, you weren't raised in church? As a matter of fact, this is your first time in church. Can I see your hand? Come on.

[Robert]

I see you. I see you.

[Pastor]

That is incredible. I am not in the second group. I would be in the first group with you. I'll lift both hands and one foot. I'm raised in church, y'. All. I'm 42. Turning 42 this year. And most of my life. No, I say all of my life, I have been in church. So much so that I could teach a master's class on how to survive church without slapping anybody. I could teach that class eloquently. And I say that because church people sometimes say some wild things. Y', all, can we be honest today? Sometimes the saints say stupid things. That should be a T shirt. Sometimes the saints say stupid things. Atheists say stupid things, too. But at least atheists don't preface their statements with God told me or God told me to tell you. Oh, at the help and the harm that has come after that statement right there, God told me to tell you. I had a professor once who said something that stuck with me. He said, it's more honest sometimes to say, I believe God said, or what I think I heard God said, rather than claiming a certainty that God never gave you. And most of the times, I let things slide. And I'll laugh it off when people say, God told me to tell you. But there was one moment that I just couldn't. This was years ago. Pastor Taylor was pregnant with our firstborn daughter, Evie. And it was already a delicate season, because if you know Pastor Taylor's testimony, she lost a child before. And if you've ever been in that situation when you're pregnant again, there's always that little quiet voice in the back of your head going, what if it happens Again. So it was already a very delicate time. We were in church, and a man comes up to us and says, I got a word from God. He said, I heard God say miscarriage. He proceeded to keep talking, and then I. Paul said, hey, hey, stop. No, you didn't. He said, no, no, no, no, no. I'm not saying that she's gonna have one. He said, I just heard God say, mister. I said, no, sir, you didn't hear him say that. God didn't say that.

[Robert]

He said, I'm not saying y' all.

[Pastor]

Are gonna have one. He said, I just want to pray. He said, can I pray? And I politely grabbed his hand, but firmly and said, no, we not gonna pray. We good. He said, you're not gonna let me pray for you? I said, no, you should go. And he walked away. And the reason I had the confidence to tell that man God didn't say that is because I know God's character. I know who he is. Hear me today. He said that I came to give life and life more abundantly. So, sir, how you gonna tell me the author of Life bypassed us to tell you to tell us to speak death? Nah, fam, I know who God is. And as we begin to unpack this word, trust, over this year, it is going to be important, no, I'll say imperative, that you begin to get clarity on the nature and on the character of who God is. You have to know who God is if you're gonna put your trust and your faith in Him. Because tr. Trust is always connected to the consistency of a person's character. Y' all gonna make me work hard on this second Sunday of the year. Did you hear what I just said? Trust is always connected to the consistency of a person's character. You don't just trust people because you like them. You don't just trust people because they cute or they're kind. You don't just trust people because they look like they should be trusted. You should trust people to the degree that you actually know them.

[Robert]

And how many of you know?

[Pastor]

That's why you ought to make it your number one priority to say, I want to know know God. I'm going to chase after Him. I want to know His Word and know his ways.

[Robert]

Because the more you know him, the more you should be able to trust Him. That's why I'm thankful for this. 21 days of prayer and fasting.

[Pastor]

How y' all doing?

[Robert]

Y' all still hanging in there because there's something about seeking him that you.

[Pastor]

Begin to know his ways. And you know his character.

[Robert]

And the more you know him, the.

[Pastor]

More you trust him.

[Robert]

That's why the Apostle Paul said, oh.

[Pastor]

That I may know him in the fellowship of his suffering and in the.

[Robert]

Power of his resurrection. I don't have to eat, even know why I'm going through what I'm going through. I just need to know the God who is with me while I'm going through it. Because if I know him, then my.

[Pastor]

Trust will be anchored and secure. Oh, I'm telling you, trust is connected to the character of someone else, the consistent character of that person. Let me make it real plain. Let's imagine we playing basketball. Come on. We playing basketball after service. And you got the ball, and there's five seconds left on the clock. And you down by two points. You're down by by two points, five seconds on the clock. You getting pressed on every side, you got the ball, and all of a sudden you look down the court and your pastor is at the three point line, wide open. And there you are. I'm on the right side at the three point line, wide open. But also on the other side at the three point line, Steph Curry is wide open. I got a question on this Sunday morning. Who you passing the ball to?

[Robert]

Hold up, hold up.

[Pastor]

How many gonna pass the ball to me? How many passing the ball to your pastor? Okay, I saw a few hands.

[Robert]

I saw. No, I saw two.

[Pastor]

You must not watch basketball.

[Robert]

How many of you passing it to Steph? How many passing it to Steph Curry?

[Pastor]

Oh, that's messed up. I'm not. I'm not disrespected. It just shows me you got discernment. You have seen this man's consistent consistency.

[Robert]

Persistent. I mean, throws it up there, don't even wait for it to go in. You've seen his character. You see what he can do. Even if you pass the ball to Steph and he missed it and you.

[Pastor]

Lose the game, you'd be like, that's all right, Steph. You made the last 1000.

[Robert]

You would still be all right with him missing the shot.

[Pastor]

It wouldn't feel bad about the pass because you've seen the consistency of his character. It was so hard for me to not flip that illustration and preach it real good and say, the difference between Steph and our God is that our God never misses a shot. Oh, Steph has missed some shots, but God ain't never missed a shot. It may look like he missed a shot, but he never misses a shot. And that. That sounds good. That's true. God doesn't miss shots. That sounds real good. It sound even better with a Hammond B3 organ behind me. But when you are going through suffering, when you are going through the unthinkable, when you are going through pain, that was not on your calendar. That's not what it feels like. It actually feels like God missed the shot. Have you ever been there before? Maybe when you were facing disease in your body or watching somebody that you loved die when you prayed for their healing? Or maybe a disaster that you weren't expecting, or even just your own disappointment? Have you ever felt like you were pressed on every side and the clock was running out and you pass the ball to God and he missed the shot and here you are watching the replay going, God, I passed you the ball. How could you miss the shot? Have you ever looked at God and said you had one Job? Well, if you have come with me today to the Book of Job, not the Book of Job, the Book of Job. The Book of Job is not generally a book that most of us as believers run to, do we? Come on. You don't get excited about the Book of Job in your daily Bible reading plan because the Book of Job, some people would say, is one of the most depressing books in the entire Bible. Nobody goes to the Book of Job for inspirational devotional reading. Nobody in here who has a life verse says, oh, yeah, my life verse is in the Book of Job. No, no, no. We typically run away from the Book of Job. And yet it is the Book of Job that is one of the greatest books in the entire Bible that speaks to the pain of human suffering. With honesty, clarity, integrity, depth, and wisdom. The Book of Job is absolutely powerful. If you have ever in your life looked at God and asked him, what? Why am I going through what I'm going through? You need to read the Book of Job. Watch this. Not because the Book of Job will give you answers. The Book of Job is not a book of answers. The Book of Job is actually a book of questions. There are questions in the Book of Job. If you've ever wrestled with questions, go to the Book of Job. As a matter of fact, There are over 330 questions in the Book of Job. I did my homework. I counted them.

[Robert]

330.

[Pastor]

30 questions are in the Book of Job. All kinds of questions are in Job. In Job, Satan is asking God questions and God is asking Satan questions. In the Book of Job, Job is asking God questions and God is asking Job questions. In the Book of Job, his wife is asking him questions and his friends are Asking him questions. As a matter of fact, Job is asking himself questions in the book of Job, y'. All. I reread it this week. I. I am asking questions of Job in the book of Job.

[Robert]

Here's a question.

[Pastor]

Who wrote the book of Job? You ready? We don't know.

[Robert]

Just like the book of Hebrews, we.

[Pastor]

Don'T know who wrote the book of Job.

[Robert]

We are not clear on who wrote.

[Pastor]

The book of Job. Just like we're not clear in our verse of the year that comes out of the book of Hebrews.

[Robert]

We don't know who wrote the book of Hebrews.

[Pastor]

But that actually gave me encouragement this week to actually bless my soul. Soul this week to know that even.

[Robert]

When I feel like life is out of control, even when I feel like.

[Pastor]

I got more questions, that I got.

[Robert]

Answers, I'm so thankful that God is.

[Pastor]

Not just sovereign over my life.

[Robert]

God is sovereign over my story. And even if I don't get to write the story, God is still writing my story. And how many are thankful today that.

[Pastor]

God's pen always has the final say?

[Robert]

Oh, I want to thank God that even when I don't get to write my own story, God has a sovereign pen, and he's gonna make sure that the truth will come out somehow. He's gonna make sure that when somebody's saying one thing and somebody's saying another thing, God says, just give it some time. I'm gonna make sure the real story gets out. Somebody ought to thank God that when other people write you off, God says, I'm still writing you in. Cause they don't get to write your story. I am a sovereign God, and I'll write you.

[Pastor]

Oh, calm down, Robert. God has always had the final stay in the stories of our life. And we don't know who wrote Job's story, but God made sure we got the real story. Can I give you the breakdown? Job starts off the way I like my Netflix series to start off. Yeah. Action. If you don't get me in the first two episodes, I got three kids. I'm trying to pastor a church. You ain't gonna get me. Okay, you better come with it. In the first two episodes of whatever the series is, I don't give you to episode six. Hit me in the first two episodes. And Job. It hits you in the first two episodes. Job lives in the land of Uz u Z. And watch how the Bible gives us his resume. Right. In chapter number one, it says that Job is blameless, that he is upright, that he fears God, and he shuns evil. Ooh, that's a good resume. The Bible says he is blameless. Doesn't mean he's perfect. Doesn't mean he's sinless. But he's sincere. He's blameless, he's upright. He fears God, and he shuns evil. Bible also lets us know that he got 10 kids. Oh, yes. Seven boys and three girls. And then the Bible tells us that Job, y' all ain't ready. Is wealthy. Job is rich. Rich. Homeboy got 7,000 camel, 3,000 sheep. Job is wealthy. He is successful. If you are a hater, and some of you are, Job is the dude that you'll be scrolling on his timeline going, really like, do you really need that many camels? I mean, Job is. Well, the Bible feels the need to tell us. Watch this. That Job walks with the Lord. He's got integrity. He loves God. But don't get it twisted. He's got money in the bank. He is rich. Rich. I love that. The Bible lets us know that. It lets us know that he has integrity and character. And he fears God, and he's rich. The Bible lets us know that he walks with God first before it lets us know the weight of his wealth. Why is that important? Because he's letting you know right now that, yes, Job has some stuff, but stuff doesn't have Job away with this.

[Robert]

Gospel theology that I gotta be broke.

[Pastor]

And poor to give God glory, that.

[Robert]

If you got some stuff, you in sin. Explain the book of Job to me because the Bible is clear. He loves God with all of his heart and he's got some money in the bank. Look at the oil order of that. Job says, I got some stuff, but the stuff doesn't have me. Don't get it twisted. I love God. I want to encourage some of you.

[Pastor]

Because some of you want more money. But I don't know if God can trust you with wealth because is the wealth going to draw you closer to him?

[Robert]

Why would God bless you with the thing that's going to pull you away from here? But this is not the case with Job.

[Pastor]

Don't get it twisted. Job loves God, not his money or his stuff. And some of us can't even be trusted with more because God knows if.

[Robert]

I give her more, if I give her. She barely come to church now. If I give her more money, she gonna be on her yacht talking about, well, you know, I'm social, global. I don't. I don't really have time.

[Pastor]

I'm in France.

[Robert]

I don't have time.

[Pastor]

But this ain't Job. Job loves God and he has money. Oh, while I'm on topic, there's nothing scarier than somebody that has a lot of money and doesn't fear God or shun evil. Some of the most wicked evil things come from men especially, who got a whole lot of money, but they don't fear God or fear evil. Oh, I'm scared of a man that has a bunch of money but doesn't fear God. That's when you start buying islands and doing the unthinkable things. That's when you're in hotels with baby oil, when you got a whole lot of money, But you don't fear God and you don't shun evil. I'm fasting. Don't play with me today. I. I got no filter, so don't get it twisted. Job's got money, but money doesn't have him. He's wealthy, and he has integrity. What a combo. And all of a sudden, we're introduced in Job's Prologue to the Counsel of God. And God calls Satan into account. Satan, question from God in the book of Job, where you coming from? That lets me know Satan's position to God. You know what you do? You only ask a kid, where you been? What you been doing? God calls Satan to account, where you coming from? And Satan says, man, you know, I've been going to and fro, just trying to do there, trying to see whose life I'm gonna mess up. And then what God says next? Oh, God, hold on, y'. All. It took me out this week. What God says next? I don't even have the cognitive aptitude to process this. I don't even want to say it. I want to read it. Look at what God says next. He says, yeah. Huh. Then the Lord said to Satan, have you considered my servant Job? That there is no one like him on earth. A blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil.

[Robert]

The Lord said to Satan, have you considered my son? Hold up. Satan didn't bring up Job's name to God.

[Pastor]

God brought up Job's name to Satan.

[Robert]

Hold on, God, you enrolling people on the hit list of Satan? This why I don't fool with the book of Job. What in the. What kind of God? Satan ain't said nothing about me and you bringing up my name to the enemy. I'm sorry.

[Pastor]

I'm sorry.

[Robert]

If I'm Job, this is the part where I'm going, God, keep my name out your mouth. I don't know. I'm good. I got my camels I'm out here living life, I love you and I'm wealthy and you bringing my, you bringing.

[Pastor]

My name up to the devil. Isn't that something? What kind of God is this? And the Bible doesn't even explain to us why he does it. He just does it. And Satan's response to God is, oh, come on, does Job serve God for nothing? He said, God, you have blessed everything he's put his hand to, plus you got a hedge of protection around him. We cannot go quickly by the accusation of Satan because there is revelation in what Satan is saying. He says to God, does Job serve you for nothing? I mean, you done blessed everything he put his hand to, and you got a hedge of protection around him and his entire household. I'm gonna deal with the. Does God, Does Job serve God for nothing? But I first wanna deal with this hedge of protection. Because if you read it, you can tell the devil feels some type of way about this hedge of protection. He feels some type of way about the hedge of. Matter of fact, I had a good shout in my study time over that hedge of protection. See, at first I felt some type of way because like God, don't be putting, don't be putting somebody on Satan's radar. Why in the world would you mention Joe's name? But the hedge. The hedge is what saved it. The hedge is what? Because the enemy feels some type of way about the hedge of protection. Because here's what you got to ask yourself as a thinking person, Satan, how you know there's a hedge of protection around him in his household.

[Robert]

How do you know there is a hedge of protection? If I come up to you one.

[Pastor]

Sunday and I say, you know what I do? I like to rob houses. But then I come up to you one Sunday, I'm like, man, I didn't know you had an electrical fence around your house.

[Robert]

What should that tell you? That should tell you, I tried to.

[Pastor]

Get in your house.

[Robert]

But I didn't know that you had a hedge of protection around you. So I just want to thank God that the enemy has tried some things in my life. Yes, I might be going through something right now, but when was the last time in your pain did you. You stop and thank God for the stuff that didn't happen in your life, for the car wreck that could have happened in your life, but there was a hedge for the thing that could have come your way, but there was a hedge of protection. I want somebody in this place on Social Global. Would you take 10 seconds and praise God for the stuff that could have happened, but it didn't happen because God had a.

[Pastor]

A hedge.

[Robert]

Satan, you telling on yourself how you know there's a hedge because you were.

[Pastor]

Trying some stuff he was trying, but he didn't know there was a hedge. I'll teach the Bible, Robert. Okay. The biblical metaphor for hedge, the imagery would not have been an electrical fence. It actually would have been what shepherds would have done when they gathered their sheep, and they would have put a hedge of thorny bushes around the sheep. And the thorny hedge served two purposes. To keep predators from getting in, but also to keep the sheep. Because you know sheep, I know you can't say anything bad, but.

[Robert]

Have you noticed sheep like to.

[Pastor]

They like to wander. So I'm thankful for the hedge, not just because it blocks the stuff. This sermon is blessing me.

[Robert]

Not just because it blocks the stuff.

[Pastor]

That'S trying to get in. I'm thankful for the hedge because it.

[Robert]

Stops me from going out. See, some of y' all are too saved to act like you ain't ever tested the hedge and tried to go somewhere you weren't supposed to go and do something you weren't supposed to do. But all of a sudden, you got a little, oh, oh, I better not text them back. You know what? I better stay inside tonight, because is anybody thankful for the grace of God that knows I can't even trust myself? I gotta have a hedge around me. Not just to stop the devil from coming in. I will kill myself and go.

[Pastor]

Thank God for the hedge. Maybe you more spiritual than your pastor. I need a hedge. I. I need a good hedge with sharp bushes that even when I'm thinking.

[Robert]

About, you know what?

[Pastor]

Let me go ahead and. Go ahead and go to praying, fasting tonight. So Satan says, does Job serve God for nothing? What is the enemy attacking? Here's what he's attacking. He's saying to God, job don't love you for you. Job loves you for what you do for him. God, don't get it twisted. You think he's faithful? He ain't faithful. He just figured out the formula. He figured out that when he does right, you bless him. When he's righteous, you reward him. Job doesn't love you. Job loves outcomes. God, you think he loves you? Oh, if I had time. The enemy don't even get new tricks. The same trick he's playing on God against Job he played against Adam and Eve. Oh, you think God loves you? He don't love you. He knows if you eat of that fruit, you'll be just like him. God don't love you. The enemy is always attacking the sincerity of love. He's like, job does not love you. Here's what Job loves. Job is like them fake people that go to church at social Dallas. They love the formula. They love not trusting God. They love transactional trust. Here's my question. Are you walking by faith or are you walking by formula? Because sometimes it's hard to tell if you're trusting God because you love him or you're trusting God for the outcome you want. And you're not walking by faith. You're walking by formula. Let me form. You know what a formula is? Can I go? Bill Nye, the science guy? I mean, there's a difference between walking by faith and walking by formula. Do you know the difference between faith and formula? You know the difference? I did not excel in math. I was real good at English and lunch. Those were the two subjects. I don't want to brag. I just did really good in those subjects. But I do know enough that in math, we had formulas. Remember formulas? Here's one I remember. It was A squared. Look, all the math people plus B squared. Y' all couldn't wait to say that plus B squared equals. I knew that. C squared. This is called Pythagorean's theorem. Yes. You know why? That theorem has lasted centuries. It always works. It always works. A squared plus B plus. Is it. B squared equals C squared. It always works. Hear me. Today, many of us have bought into formula Faith. And it goes something like this. A plus B equals C. That's what we bought into. We bought into actions plus behavior equals consequences. And many of us think when walking by faith, and we're really walking by formula. This is Satan's accusation against Job. Because most of us think, if I got the right actions plus the right behavior, I'll get the right consequences. Because that makes sense, right? Come on. Right actions. If I like the Sunday school song, you say, read your Bible, pray every day and you'll grow, grow. None of y' all went to Sunday school, at least the one I went to. Read your Bible, pray every day and you'll grow, grow, grow that's the song they used to teach us when we were in Sunday school.

[Robert]

Come on.

[Pastor]

Read your Bible, pray every day. Come on.

[Robert]

21 days of prayer and fasting.

[Pastor]

Come on. Right actions, huh? Nothing wrong with any of that. Plus the right behavior. I mean, come on. I could have slapped you. I worshiped. Mm. I had words that came to my head. I used to say them. I don't say Em anymore. God, I've been good. Come on.

[Robert]

I was driving in the parking lot.

[Pastor]

They cut me off. I said.

[Robert]

Praise God.

[Pastor]

So if I got the right actions plus the right behavior, I should have the right consequences. What Satan is attacking is that Job ain't serving you and loving you because he loves you. Job is doing it for the right consequence. He wants the blessing, he wants the raise. He wants the bonus. He wants the Tesla, whatever it is. So here is the enemy's charge to God. Break the formula. Break the formula. God, you think he loves you and trusts you. Break his formula. Let him have the right actions and.

[Robert]

The right behavior and stuff go bad.

[Pastor]

And watch how quickly he curses you.

[Robert]

Break the formula. God, let her pray for her mama to be healed.

[Pastor]

You don't heal her, watch how she stops praying.

[Robert]

God, let him believe you for a job. Trust you actually start tithing this year. And then he never gets the job and loses the one he doesn't even like.

[Pastor]

I bet he stops coming to church and goes to Buffalo Wild Wings.

[Robert]

Break the formula.

[Pastor]

The charge is to break the. Job doesn't love you for you. He loves you for the formula. And hear me, that formula is in my heart and is in your heart. Most of us believe this formula. Even Job's friends will come into his life while he is suffering. And because the formula is the only frame of reference when Job is going through pain and loss, they will say, wait a minute, Job, I see the consequences of your life aren't blessing and favor, it's suffering. So there must be something in your behavior we don't know about. And in the season where he needed his friends the most to stand by him, they start accusing him of some type of sin that he did in a moment.

[Robert]

Moment he needed them the most.

[Pastor]

Why?

[Robert]

Because they're stuck on the formula that if you do good, you'll always get good. And this is why I love the book of Job. Because God says, I'm going to break the formula. Not to break you. I'm going to break the formula to show you that you can be doing right and loving me and still be going through suffering. And that does not mean that I'm not with you. And it doesn't mean that it was something you did. It actually means this is an opportunity. Opportunity for me to get the glory out of your life. And I know you wouldn't have picked it for yourself, but if you'll trust me in it, watch how I will still work it for your good. Have you bought into the formula?

[Pastor]

Are you walking by Faith or walking by formula? Do you trust him or are you just trusting God for outcomes? Because the problem with the formula is when the math doesn't math, our trust walks out the door. And we'll say, forget the church and forget God. I tried. Did you try or were you just believing for the formula instead of trusting God? So the enemy says, break the formula. God, I promise he'll curse you to your face, but I need you to hear this. God goes, okay, Satan, this is how much you can touch. I think it's imperative to note the idea to bring the pain and the harm did not come from God. Satan thought of it. God in his sovereignty says, this is as far as you can go. It was not God's idea to inflict the pain. It was Satan's idea. Read it when you get to the crib. That's important because I need to know that I can trust the character of God. I'm grateful to know that God is not up in heaven trying to devise Satan schemes and plans of how to harm his children. That is not the nature and the character of our God.

[Robert]

If anything, he is a sovereign God that'll tell the enemy, this is as far as you can't. You can go. You can't go any further than this. I'm actually giving you boundaries of what you're able to do. I want to thank God, who is a good, good father. He has plans to give me a hope and a future.

[Pastor]

But he tells the enemy, okay, this is as far as you can go. Now watch this. In a day, Job loses everything. Money gone. All 10 of his kids die. Sheep burned up. Business gone. He loses everything in a day. And what is Job's initial response to going through the darkest season of his life? What's the first thing he says, though he slay me, yet will I trust him? That is not the first thing that Job said. And I want to remind somebody, Job didn't get there until chapter 13.

[Robert]

He lost everything in chapter one. And I want to help somebody in here today who thinks you got to be in chapter 13 when you're going through the pain of chapter one. Job's initial reaction was not, though he slay me, yet will I trust him away with this Christianity that doesn't allow me to go through grief, that doesn't allow me to feel pain. That doesn't allow me to be honest with God and say, I don't like this. I didn't want to go through this. That's not what Job said. The Bible says, says that Joel Got up and he tore his robes and he shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground and worshiped.

[Pastor]

Did you see it? Don't miss his reaction to what he went through.

[Robert]

He got up, tore his robe, shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. He got up, tore his robe, shaved his head, and then he fell down in worship.

[Pastor]

What is the Bible showing us?

[Robert]

That I can be real with how I feel. He said, I'm tearing my robe because what I'm going through is tearing me apart. He said, I'm shaving my head. That's a sign that I'm vulnerable right now. I don't feel like I got a covering. And then he worshiped. Don't miss that. He tore his robe, shaved his head, and then he worshiped. I'm not worshiping just so I can get rid of my grief and pretend like it doesn't exist. God says you're able to be worshiping and grieving at the same time. I want to thank God that I can still be going through hell and saying hallelujah. I can still have a heart that's broken and still be giving them glory. I ain't gotta hide my emotions. I ain't gotta pretend like it's cool that I'm going through this.

[Pastor]

He tore his robes, shaved his head, and then he worshiped.

[Robert]

I got a question. I don't think you've worshiped until you've.

[Pastor]

Been worshiping and grieving at the same time. My worship is not to escape my grief. I can hold both at the same time. He says I'm a worship. And then he says this statement. Oh, I gotta hurry. Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away. Way. Blessed be the name of the Lord. So much in there. But before I get to chapter 13, though he slayed me, yet will I trust him? I got to remember chapter one that says everything in my life was a gift from God in the first place. I told you Job had stuff. His stuff didn't have him. Even in unthinkable loss and grief, Job realizes it was never mine. Everything I had and have was on loan from a gracious God. He gave it to me. He's taken it away. Hear me. Job knows I wasn't the owner of anything. I was the steward of everything that he placed in my hand. Would I have picked this? No. But I know who it came from. And so even in my grief, I can worship. And so when people come into my Life. And they try to say the reason you're going through what you're going through is because of some sin or something that you did. That's when he put 10 toes on the ground and says, no, no, no, no. I know who God is and I know how I've stood before him. You're not about to flip this on me. You're not about to reduce my God to a formula. I got something deeper than a formula. I got faith and confident trust in Him.

[Robert]

So even when the math ain't math, it. And I don't understand understanding, though he slay me, yet will I trust him. What does that mean? I don't understand him, but I still trust him. And I don't need understanding to trust because I know the consistent character of my God. He is worth being trusted.

[Pastor]

I'm talking to somebody that's going through something that you don't understand. Can you trust them when you don't understand? Can you stop living by the formula and transactional trust? This is not the kingdom of God. The kingdom is not actions plus behavior, consequences. That's not the kingdom of God. We always want to start with our actions and our behavior because we think that life is about us. But that is a horrible way to do math. Can I just offer in closing, a.

[Robert]

Better formula for you?

[Pastor]

Actually, it's not a formula. It is the gospel.

[Robert]

You don't start with your actions and your behavior and then look at the outcome to determine whether God loves me. Look at the outcome to determine whether God is for me.

[Pastor]

I don't start with that.

[Robert]

Do you know what I start with?

[Pastor]

I start with a seed, but it's a different seed.

[Robert]

Yes, it's consequences.

[Pastor]

Consequences.

[Robert]

It's consequences of this right here. Consequences of the cross. I don't start with me. I start with the cross. The consequences of the cross. And here's the consequence of the cross that while I was stuck in my sin, when I wasn't even knowing how to save myself, there was a God who looked down and said, they can't save themselves. So I'm gonna put on human skin and I'm gonna live the life that they were supposed to live and die the death that they were supposed to die. You should never ask God, do you love me by what's on my bank account? By whether there's sickness in my body? You should always look at the cross. And with his arms stretched out wide, he says, this is how much I love you. I'm gonna start with the consequences of the cross. And if I can Believe the consequence of what that cross did. That's what's gonna change my actions, my attitude, my behavior, and absolutely everything in my life. But it starts with the cross.

[Pastor]

I'm not looking at the outcome to determine his love for me. I'm looking at the old rugged cross. And when I believe what has been done for me, I will not allow the enemy to reduce my love and my trust in God to outcomes. If you trusted and the outcome that you wanted didn't come to pass and you walked away, your trust wasn't in God. It was in the outcome. And maybe you're not there yet. Maybe you're not at chapter 13 where you say, though he slay me, yet will I trust him? But I'm wondering, can you at least start at chapter one and say, even while I'm grieving, I'm still gonna worship? It was never mine anyway. Everything I have, everything I am, Lord, it belongs to you. Would you stand to your feet today? I'm gonna ask every head be bowed and eyes be closed. Please honor this moment. I'm not just preaching to you. I'm preaching to me. Heads are bowed, eyes are closed. I told you last week, when God gives us a word, it's because he intends to form that word in us. And maybe you're here today and said, pr, I'm. I'm not there yet. That's okay. Can you worship where you are? Can you start with the understanding that all that you have, it came from God. You might think it was your work and it was your ingenuity, but life starts when you understand everything is a gift from him. I can't promise you everything's going to be great this year. I can tell you that everything that you have is a gift from him. And you have an opportunity to steward it. The Lord gives, the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Heads about, eyes are closed today. But if you be so honest to say, hey, pr, I've fallen into the formula. And hear me, I don't want to minimize the suffering or the pain. But don't you for a moment think that God is not with you. Don't you for a moment think that he is not able to work it for your good, but more importantly, for his glory. Job wasn't even privy to the conversation God was having about him. Look at Job going through pain. And look at God bragging on him to the enemy, saying, he loves me, he trusts me. And his trust isn't predicated on his understanding. He trusts my character. You here today and you say, pr, I've been walking by formula and transactional trust. And today I need to throw away the formula and put my hope back in the consistent character of my God. That's. You would just lift up your hand high enough, long enough to where I can see it. Thank you, Jesus. I see those hands. Yeah, put it right back down. Heads are still bowed, eyes are still closed. If you're here today and you've never surrendered your life to Jesus, hear me, your life is not yours. You were bought with a price. When you surrender to him, you are just giving to him what is already his. And so with heads bowed and eyes closed, today, if you be so honest, say, hey, pr, I've never given Jesus my life, but today day, I'm giving him everything. I can't promise you, if you give your life to Jesus, everything is going to be perfect. No. That's why stories like Job are in the Bible. I'm not serving him for outcome. I'm serving him for him. He is the prize. That's you. Today you say, I need to surrender my life to this wonderful Savior who, while you were a sinner, died for you and loved you. That's you. Would you lift up your hand high enough and long enough to where I can see it? I don't care if it's one person. I promise you're worth it. Saying, today's the day I'm giving Jesus my life. Let me see it. Thank you, Jesus. Yeah, lift it up and put it right back down. Can we pray this prayer as one big family? We're all going to say it, but especially those of you who lift up your hand. I'm talking to somebody even watching right now. Social, global family. Can we pray this prayer? Say Jesus. Come on, declare it. Say Jesus. Jesus, I need you. I cannot do life without you. Lord, thank you for loving me. You don't have to do anything to prove your love for me because you already did it. You lived the life that I was supposed to live. You died the death that I was supposed to die. You took my place. So today I respond. I give you everything. Forgive me of my sin. Make me brand new. From this moment forward, I'm walking with you not by formula, but by faith. Lord, I trust you even when I don't understand. In Jesus name, Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Come on. If you meant what you prayed, would you give Jesus praise today? Oh, come on, you could do better than that. Can we give King Jesus some praise today?