Full transcript
0:00The second reason is that we're
0:02continuing continuing in a series
0:04entitled Stuck. And uh if you haven't
0:07been with us for the last few weeks,
0:09it's been powerful. Uh and and my prayer
0:12is that it's been adding value to your
0:13life. And then thirdly, we getting ready
0:15to celebrate my girl Pastor Sonia. Y'all
0:17y'all make some noise for her.
0:21>> I told her, I say, "Hey, listen. You're
0:22going to do praise and worship today.
0:25Uh, you are to sing one song and sit
0:27down.
0:29And here we are 45 minutes later.
0:34She sung several songs. And but but I'm
0:37excited. That's that's her. She got one
0:39gear and that's Go. I feel like uh let
0:42me say this. Let me say this before I
0:44get into the word of God. All right. So,
0:46if y'all hanging there with me today, I
0:47got I do have some ground to kind of
0:49cover uh in this particular message. And
0:52uh my prayer is that it is uh impactful
0:55to you. Uh I just want to give a
0:57disclaimer uh for this message versus
0:59the other messages. I think that this
1:01message is is is
1:04may be more reflective, more
1:07contemplative, more um internal gauging.
1:12And uh so I just say that because we're
1:15a great church here and we love we love
1:17shouting and we love the word. Amen.
1:20>> We love both. We love teaching and we
1:23love uh the presence of God. So do me a
1:26favor. Join me in the book of second
1:29Kings. Second Kings. 2 Kings. 2 Kings
1:33chapter number 7.
1:38When you find 2 Kings chapter number 7,
1:42uh would you do me a favor and honor God
1:44by standing uh to your feet for the
1:47reading of the word?
1:50All of you who know the words of prayer,
1:51would you do me a favor uh in this
1:53moment? Would you pray for the Miami
1:55Dolphins? We need help.
1:56>> This is
1:58this this Hey, y'all laughing a little
2:00bit too hard.
2:03This is a trying season for us.
2:06>> Oh my god. All right. Security.
2:09Security.
2:13Let's go. Let's go. Y'all pray for us in
2:15Jesus name. 2 Kings chapter number 7
2:18verse number three it says this four men
2:22with skin diseases were at the entrance
2:25of the city gate
2:28one of them asked
2:30why are we sitting here waiting to die
2:36Pete Pete Pete the situation here four
2:38men with skin diseases were at the
2:41entrance of the city gate and one of
2:43them asked why are we sitting here
2:46waiting
2:48to die. Why are we sitting here
2:53waiting to die? Why are we
2:58sitting?
3:00Why are we sitting
3:05here?
3:09Why are we sitting here waiting?
3:16Why are we sitting here waiting
3:21to die? I want to put a tag on this text
3:24and teach for a few m moments from this
3:26topic. On the way down to your seat,
3:28nudge your neighbor and say, "Study
3:29long, study wrong."
3:31>> Study long, study wrong.
3:32>> You may have your seats in the house.
3:35Study long.
3:37Stud study Rome
3:39family. For the last few weeks, we've
3:41been talking about what it means to be
3:43stuck.
3:45>> Because one of the things we've discover
3:47is that you could be stuck and not even
3:49know why you are stuck.
3:53You you just know that well, we're not
3:55moving. You know that something isn't
3:59changing. And and we we've been learning
4:02uh one of the things that we've been
4:03learning is that stuck doesn't always
4:04look the same.
4:07Sometimes we're stuck because we're
4:09exhausted. Let the church say,
4:10"Exhausted."
4:11>> Exhausted.
4:11>> Yeah. You're not lazy. You're tired.
4:14>> You've been carrying too much for too
4:16long. And your body and your soul is is
4:19telling you, "I cannot keep doing this
4:23any longer." So sometimes we're stuck
4:25because we're exhausted. We discussed
4:27that. Sometimes uh we're discuss we're
4:30stuck because of evasion
4:34that there's something we know we need
4:36to confront, but instead of confronting
4:37it, we've gotten really good at going
4:39around it. We stay busy. We distract
4:41ourselves. We change environments. We
4:44change jobs. We we change everything
4:46except the thing that keeps following us
4:48everywhere we go. Sometimes we're stuck
4:50because of evasion. We discussed that
4:53last week. We even discussed that
4:55sometimes I told you just stay with me
4:56for a moment. Uh we discussed that
4:58sometimes it's not exhaustion. Sometimes
5:01it's not evasion. Sometimes it's
5:04entrenchment. And what entrenchment is
5:07is that this idea that I've been on or
5:09in something so long that that thing has
5:12gotten into me.
5:15So, so we we discussed that it's
5:17possible to have been lying on a mat so
5:19long that the mat doesn't start to feel
5:22like a limitation anymore. And what
5:24Jesus did is when he entered the man's
5:26life, he didn't Jesus Jesus literally he
5:30got the man off of the mat. That was the
5:32easy part. But he had to get the mat out
5:35of the man, too.
5:37>> Because sometimes we can come out of it,
5:39but it not be out of us. We discussed
5:41that it's possible to be stuck because
5:43of exhaustion. And we discussed that
5:44it's imposs that it's possible to be
5:47stuck because of evasion. Uh we
5:49discussed that it's impos that it's
5:51possible to be stuck because of
5:53entrenchment. And then also I I want to
5:55I I guess I want to pause it for uh your
5:58consideration that sometimes it's
6:00neither of those. And sometimes we're
6:03not stuck because of those. We're stuck
6:06because we need an explanation.
6:10>> Sometimes it's not exhaustion. It's not
6:12evasion. is not entrenchment. Sometimes
6:14we need an explanation. You You need God
6:17to explain himself.
6:20It's when we've been immobilized over a
6:22need for information that we know that
6:25God has but doesn't seem to want to make
6:27privy to us.
6:30God, if I do this, then what?
6:34All right, let me look at y'all.
6:38If if I say yes, then how is this going
6:40to work?
6:42If I apply, will they reject me? If I
6:44trust again, will they hurt me? If I
6:46invest, will I lose it?
6:48>> What if I go and it doesn't work?
6:51>> Sometimes it's not exhaustion. IT'S THAT
6:54WE NEED AN EXPLANATION.
6:57>> WE don't just want God to tell us what
6:59to do. We want God to tell us what is
7:03going to happen after we do it.
7:06>> I thought I would be the only one.
7:10So sometimes we don't just want God to
7:11tell us what to do. Sometimes we want
7:13God to tell us what's going to happen
7:15after we do it. And if God won't explain
7:18the outcome,
7:20I don't know if y'all can handle this.
7:23And sometimes if God won't explain the
7:26outcome, we will delay our obedience.
7:33>> Because we're waiting for certainty.
7:36BUT CERTAINTY IS ONE THING THAT faith
7:39never has promised us.
7:41>> Boy, if you knew how good that was.
7:43Certainty is one thing that faith NEVER
7:45PROMISED US. FAITH DOES NOT MEAN I know
7:48what's going to happen. Faith means I
7:50KNOW WHO GOD IS WHEN I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S
7:53GOING TO HAPPEN.
7:55>> SO, there are some things you'll never
7:56be able to see with your physical eyes
7:58before uh before you have to decide
8:00whether you're going to believe them
8:02with your eyes of faith. This is
8:04extremely important.
8:05We've learned from the man at the pool
8:08of Bethesda last week that movement does
8:11not actually begin with our feet.
8:15Movement begins in our mind.
8:19>> So before you make the decision, your
8:22mind has to stop requiring guarantees
8:24that faith has never designed to give
8:26us.
8:29>> And then there that's actually that's
8:32actually language for some of us. Uh so
8:34there there's there's there's there's
8:36this there's this concept God stay with
8:38me I got so much to give. Uh there's
8:39this concept there's this concept called
8:42uh in psychological circus called regret
8:44aversion. And Pete what regret aversion
8:47is it regret aversion is when the
8:49possibility of regretting a decision
8:52becomes so uncomfortable that we would
8:54rather postpone the decision than risk
8:57making the wrong one.
9:02I'm I'm preaching the text. I'm just
9:04hovering over the text, but I got you.
9:05I'm preaching the text. It it's it's the
9:07possibility of it's regretting a
9:10decision become so uncomfortable that we
9:13would rather postpone making a decision
9:16than risk making the wrong one. In other
9:18words, I'd rather stay where I am than
9:20move somewhere where I might regret.
9:25>> Okay? Because at least I know this. I
9:29MIGHT NOT LIKE THAT.
9:33>> Oh boy.
9:35I I told you this is Yeah. Okay. So So
9:39sometimes the familiar pain feels safer
9:42than an unfamiliar possibility
9:45because the possibility is asking me for
9:47something that I don't have yet. Trust
9:50in SOMETHING I CAN'T SEE YET.
9:54>> So the possibility asks me to move. The
9:56possibility asks me to trust. The
9:58possibility asks me to accept that I
10:00cannot Here goes the word. Uh-oh. The
10:02possibility is asking me to accept that
10:05I cannot control everything that happens
10:09next.
10:12So, so boy. Okay. So, so, so there's
10:16regret aversion. Stay with me. Then,
10:19then, then then there is uh then there
10:21is reassurance seeking. I'm over the
10:24text, y'all. Just roll with me. I'm
10:26hovering over the text. Reassurance
10:28seeking is when we keep looking for
10:31somebody or something to make you feel
10:33certain enough to do what we have
10:35already have enough information to do in
10:37the first place.
10:40I'm just
10:42It's when we keep looking FOR SOMEBODY
10:46OR SOMETHING to make you feel certain
10:49enough to do what we already have enough
10:54information to do in the first place. SO
10:57YOU ASK ONE MORE PERSON, YOU MAKE ONE
11:00MORE PHONE CALL, YOU WATCH ONE MORE
11:02VIDEO, YOU LISTEN TO ONE MORE PODCAST,
11:04YOU READ ONE MORE BOOK, YOU SCHEDULE ONE
11:07MORE MEETING, YOU ASK FOR ONE MORE SIGN.
11:10GOD, JUST GIVE ME ONE MORE PIECE OF
11:13CONFIRMATION.
11:16LORD, IF IT'S REALLY YOU,
11:18LET ME RUN INTO SOMEBODY WITH A RED
11:20JACKET ON. AND THEN I remember
11:26if IT'S YOU ALIGN THE STARS,
11:31MAKE IT SO THAT I SEE YOU,
11:34>> GOD. IF IT'S YOU, SUPERNATURALLY BRING
11:38SOMEBODY IN MY LIFE.
11:40>> THAT WILL BRING UP THE ONE THING I NEVER
11:42TOLD ANYBODY ABOUT.
11:46>> LET THE PROPHET CALL ME OUT.
11:50Come on now.
11:54>> If you really WANT ME TO DO IT, GOD,
11:57>> let this man that I never met before
11:59call me out.
12:00>> Come on.
12:02>> God is like, the word didn't bring you
12:04out.
12:06>> THE WORD DIDN'T CALL YOU OUT.
12:12>> The the word didn't call you out.
12:17>> DO NOT BE CONFORMED TO THIS. WORLD
12:19DIDN'T CALL YOU OUT.
12:24>> Let me get back here. All right. Uh,
12:27let's put that back on the screen.
12:28Reassurance seeking. They got nervous
12:29when that was up there, so let's put it
12:31back.
12:34It's when we keep LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY
12:37OR SOMETHING TO MAKE US FEEL CERTAIN
12:39ENOUGH TO DO WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE ENOUGH
12:43INFORMATION TO DO.
12:46God is like, "How many times do I need
12:49to say the same thing?"
12:53Because some of us, Hold on to your
12:55neighbor's wig. Hold on. Some of us
12:58aren't stuck because we're looking for
13:00wisdom.
13:02We're stuck because we're looking for a
13:04warranty.
13:08>> Some of us are not stuck because we're
13:11looking, we're waiting for wisdom. Some
13:14of us are stuck because we're waiting on
13:17a warranty.
13:20You want God to guarantee that if you
13:22decide one way or the other, nothing
13:24will ever hurt.
13:25>> Jesus,
13:27nothing will fail. Nothing will leave.
13:29No money will be lost, no mistake will
13:31be made, no embarrassment will happen.
13:33You want obedience. Uh-oh. ARE Y'ALL
13:35HERE? IT'S THE FIRST CHURCH IN THE
13:37HOUSE. I JUST NEED TO KNOW.
13:39>> OKAY. WE WANT OBEDIENCE WITH THE RETURN
13:43POLICY.
13:47>> WE WANT APPLE CARE OBEDIENCE.
13:52>> Just in case.
13:54WE WANT COVERAGE FOR THE UNCOMFORTABLE.
13:58>> WE WANT GOD TO GIVE US THE ITINERARY
14:01BEFORE WE AGREE TO TAKE THE TRIP. AND
14:03GOD IS LIKE, I DON'T GIVE THAT MUCH
14:05INFORMATION.
14:07>> I GIVE INFORMATION ON A NEED TO KNOW
14:09BASIS.
14:11AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW, YOU DON'T NEED TO
14:12KNOW.
14:14>> THAT'S BETWEEN ME AND IT.
14:18>> OKAY. GOD SAYS, "FOLLOW ME." THAT'S IT.
14:23WHERE ARE WE GOING? Follow me.
14:26HOW LONG IS THE TRIP? FOLLOW ME.
14:30WHO COMING? FOLLOW ME.
14:34WHO'S GONNA FUND IT? FOLLOW ME.
14:38WHO'S GOING TO SUPPORT ME? FOLLOW ME.
14:41BUT WHAT IF THEY DON'T LIKE IT? FOLLOW
14:43ME. GOD SAYS, "I GIVE YOU ENOUGH
14:46INFORMATION for you to start, but not
14:47too much information because if I do,
14:49you'll never start. If you knew the
14:50betrayal that was coming after your yes,
14:52you would never say yes. IF YOU KNEW THE
14:54HURT THAT WAS COMING AFTER YOUR
14:56AGREEMENT, YOU WOULD NEVER Y'ALL QUIET
14:58IN HERE."
15:05And we've got to get to the point that
15:07explanation
15:09isn't what God gives us.
15:12Um or let's say like this. Explanation
15:15isn't what God owes us.
15:18Now, hear me clear. Hear me clearly.
15:21Here's what I'm not saying because um
15:24earlier in my pastor, I would have just
15:26left that right there. But I've learned
15:28a few things, been around the block a
15:30little bit. So, I want to give a
15:32pastoral claimer, a disclaimer for what
15:34I to qualify what I just said, if that
15:36makes sense. Here's what I'm not saying.
15:39So, you don't read what I'm not writing.
15:40You don't hear what I'm not saying. I'm
15:42not saying be reckless.
15:45>> As a matter of fact, the Bible doesn't
15:47even teach us to be reckless. Jesus
15:48himself said, "Count up the cost."
15:51>> Scripture celebrates wisdom.
15:53>> Celebrates counsel, celebrates
15:56discernment, celebrates prayer. THIS IS
15:58NOT IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU STUCK JUST
16:01JUMP.
16:05This is think,
16:08pray,
16:09PREPARE,
16:11>> COUNT UP THE COST,
16:13and allow wisdom to decide. Somebody
16:16say, "Study long."
16:17>> Study long.
16:18>> Study wrong.
16:19>> Study.
16:20>> Because there's a point where I'm
16:21praying about it really means I'm afraid
16:23to decide.
16:25There's a point where I'm waiting on God
16:27becomes faithlessness
16:30in disguise.
16:33>> There's a point where I just need more
16:34clarity actually means I really want
16:37more control.
16:40>> So there's a point where if we study too
16:42long,
16:44we start studying wrong.
16:47>> All right, that was all my intro
16:53there. they the um that that saying is
16:57not simply saying that that that you can
17:00think about something so long that you
17:01start thinking and start talking and and
17:03all of a sudden it becomes wrong. That's
17:04not what I'm saying. But when I say
17:05study long study wrong, what I'm saying
17:07is analyze it. Um that it's possible to
17:11analyze it to the degree that you
17:13paralyze it.
17:15It's a degree. It is possible that that
17:18that you can investigate it until you
17:21intimidate yourself out of it.
17:27>> At a certain point, this what they used
17:28to say in the neighborhood I grew up in.
17:30At a certain point, you got to either
17:32dribble or shoot.
17:35>> Yeah. You got you got the ball in your
17:37hand. At a certain point,
17:39>> you got to dribble or shoot.
17:42Uh let me say it again. At a certain
17:43point, YOU GOT TO STOP THINKING ABOUT
17:45what you're going to do.
17:47>> The clock is ticking.
17:49>> Are you GOING TO DRIBBLE THE BALL? ARE
17:50YOU GOING TO SHOOT? ARE YOU GOING TO
17:51MAKE THE THE THE REQUEST OR NOT?
17:55>> ARE YOU GOING TO STEP OUT OR NOT?
17:59I want to send a big shout out. Y'all
18:01don't Well, I'm not going to do that.
18:03I'll do it later. Stay tuned.
18:06AT A CERTAIN POINT, YOU'VE GOT TO
18:08DRIBBLE OR SHOOT. I LOVE Y'ALL. WATCH
18:10THIS. WATCH THIS. WATCH THIS. SAY,
18:12"STUDY LONG."
18:13>> STUDY LONG.
18:13>> STUDY WRONG.
18:14>> STUDY WRONG.
18:15>> WHEN WE STUDY TOO LONG, WE CAN DEVELOP
18:18SOMETHING THAT I'M CALLING AND COINING
18:21SOMEDAY SYNDROME.
18:26>> OH YEAH. SOME OF US ARE SUFFERING WITH
18:29SOMEDAY SYNDROME.
18:31Let me roll up my sleeves in this church
18:34cuz SOMEDAY SYNDROME IS SETTING OUR
18:38MINDS ON someday instead OF TODAY
18:41>> BECAUSE SOMEDAY FEELS SAFER and today
18:43feels scary.
18:49>> Someday syndrome. Someday syndrome. That
18:52that that's when we're setting our minds
18:54on someday instead of today because
18:57someday feels safer and TODAY FEELS
18:59SCARY. SOMEDAY I'LL START.
19:04>> SOMEDAY I'LL WRITE THE BOOK.
19:07SOMEDAY I'LL start the business. Someday
19:09I I I'll I'll launch it. Someday I'll go
19:13back to school and finish the degree.
19:15Someday I I'll have the conversation.
19:18Someday I'll get serious about my
19:20health. Someday I'll get serious ABOUT
19:23MY FAITH. SOMEDAY I'LL STOP DOING THIS.
19:25SOME OF Y'ALL ARE saying some devil stop
19:27smoking.
19:30My last joint right here,
19:35>> someday.
19:38>> But to the lovely, lovely day. Lovely
19:41day.
19:45>> Some of us are saying someday is my last
19:48cup
19:50before my last cup.
19:53before my last cup.
19:57Someday,
19:59someday I'm getting out of this
20:01relationship because he does not value
20:03who I is.
20:07Someday
20:0912 years, a slave
20:13to someday.
20:18SOMEDAY IS ENSLAVING SOME OF US. YEAH,
20:22>> WE STUCK IT IN SOMEDAY. I'M TELL NO, NO.
20:24WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN? I'm going to go
20:24buy the food truck. I'm going get the
20:25food truck and uh and I'm going to get
20:28the food truck. Then I'm going to start
20:28my business and then cuz everybody keep
20:30per you know they keep telling me to do
20:31it and then you know so I'm going to do
20:33it. I'mma do it. I'mma do it.
20:35>> I'mma do it someday.
20:37>> Yeah. No, it's going to happen. It's
20:38going to happen someday.
20:40>> No someday. Some You know what? I'm
20:43going back to school. Listen, I got all
20:45of these credit hours. I already paid
20:47for them. It is what it is at this
20:48point. Might as well finish. So, I'm
20:49going back
20:52>> some some someday. It's quiet. I DON'T
20:58KNOW.
20:59I'M GETTING OUT OF DEBT.
21:05>> I'M
21:07COMING.
21:14I'M COMING. YOU WENT TO CHURCH AND ALL.
21:17I wonder where to know
21:21YOU AT THE ALTAR. GOD, THANK you
21:27for bringing me out of debt.
21:30I declared it.
21:33>> I decreed it. THAT you have no power
21:37here.
21:45So, it's like, "Okay, so let's put
21:46together a plan
21:48>> that God can bless."
21:51>> Oo, I'm coming. I'm telling you, I told
21:53you it's different from last week. Let's
21:54put together a plan that God can bless.
21:58>> You'll be You'll be surprised how much
22:00God blesses plans
22:03>> with him in mind.
22:07>> Oh, boy.
22:08>> So, now here's what happens. And now
22:10this is what See, I'm learning something
22:12y'all. I'm learning some people have
22:16grown frustrated with the with things
22:17that God never said.
22:20>> So they got upset with church and
22:22leaders
22:23>> because they lied.
22:25>> And they made people feel good about
22:27stuff God never said.
22:31>> God said the borrow Y'all ain't going to
22:33like me.
22:35>> God said the borrower is slaved to the
22:37lender.
22:38>> That's right.
22:43So,
22:45I'm in trouble. Let me stop. I'm going
22:47just leave that alone.
22:48>> Let me get back here.
22:51Just go ahead and move on. Okay. De said
22:53move on. I'm moving on, y'all. I don't
22:56know. Okay. Someday.
22:59So, so, so someday. There we go. All
23:02right. Yeah. All right. Cool. Let's go
23:03back here. OKAY. SO, SOMEDAY. SOMEDAY.
23:06Someday I'll DO IT. SOMEDAY. SOMEDAY.
23:08LETS US FEEL PRODUCTIVE about something
23:09we've never actually started.
23:13>> So, we can talk about it, we can
23:14research it, we can plan for it, we can
23:15pray about it, we can put it on the
23:16vision board, we can save videos about
23:18it, we can have a notes app filled with
23:20ideas about it. And at the bottom of it,
23:22I want all of us to just put someday.
23:27>> That's why Sunday feels someday feels so
23:30safe.
23:32>> That's that's why it feels so safe.
23:34Y'all, this this this next thought kind
23:36of messed me up, at least personally.
23:38Like, the future is the safest place to
23:41put what we're afraid to do in the
23:43present.
23:46>> It's not on the screen. Hit me this
23:48morning.
23:49>> The future is the safest place to put
23:52what we're afraid to do in the present.
23:56>> But the Bible, okay, y'all need Bible.
23:59It's been 10 minutes. I hadn't said
24:00anything about the Bible. THE BIBLE IS
24:03filled with with with this promise and
24:06THIS URGENCY ABOUT NOT JUST SOMEDAY BUT
24:11TODAY. AS A MATTER OF FACT, Hebrews 3:15
24:14says this. Says this. It says this right
24:15here on THE SCREEN SAYS, "TODAY, IF YOU
24:18HEAR MY VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN your heart
24:20as you did IN THE REBELLION."
24:22PSALMS CHAPTER NUMBER 95 VERSE NUMBER 7
24:25SAYS THIS, "COME, LET US BOW DOWN IN
24:26WORSHIP. LET US KNEEL BEFORE THE LORD
24:28OUR MAKER. FOR HE IS OUR GOD AND WE ARE
24:30THE PEOPLE OF HIS PASTURE, THE FLOCK
24:32UNDER HIS CARE. TODAY,
24:37OKAY, you need more Bible. 2 CORINTHIANS
24:39CHAPTER NUMBER 6 VERSE NUMBER TWO SAYS
24:41THIS, "BEHOLD, NOW IS THE FAVORABLE
24:43TIME. BEHOLD, NOW IS THE DAY OF
24:46SALVATION." THERE'S AN URGENCY THAT RUNS
24:48THROUGH SCRIPTURE THAT KEEPS CONFRONTING
24:51OUR TENDENCY TO POSTPONE TO SOMEDAY. BUT
24:55I BELIEVE THAT THE YEARS AND THE DAYS
24:57AND THE MONTHS AND THE TIME OF SOMEDAY
25:00IS NO LONGER. I BELIEVE THAT THERE'S
25:02ABOUT 15 PEOPLE ON THIS SIDE AND 10
25:05PEOPLE ON THIS SIDE AND A FEW OF Y'ALL
25:07ON THIS SIDE THAT'S GOING TO SAY, "IT'S
25:09NO LONGER SOMEDAY FOR ME. IT'S TWO DAY
25:12FOR ME. EYES HAVE NOT SEEN. EARS HAVE
25:15NOT HEARD." LOOK AT SOMEBODY AND SAY,
25:17"TODAY IS THE DAY, BABY. TODAY
25:20>> I'M MOVING. TODAY
25:25>> BECAUSE SOMEDAY ISN'T ACTUALLY ON THE
25:27CALENDAR.
25:29>> MONDAY IS
25:31>> TUESDAY IS
25:36>> Wednesday is
25:39OCTOBER IS ON THE CALENDAR.
25:42>> December is
25:45WHEN YOU GOING BACK SOMEDAY. THAT AIN'T
25:47ON THE CALENDAR. I need a date.
25:51I want you to get a date this week
25:54>> on what you've been putting someday on.
25:56>> That's your homework. GO HOME AND GET A
25:58DATE.
26:02>> STOP MAKING VISION BOARDS WITH NO DATE.
26:11OKAY, LET me get back to
26:14So
26:18sometimes here here's my argument. I got
26:20time. I'm good. Sometimes
26:23the enemy's most successful strategy,
26:27please hear this. The enemy's most
26:30successful strategy isn't influencing us
26:34to do the wrong thing.
26:37>> Sometimes the enemy's most successful
26:40strategy is influencing us to do
26:43nothing.
26:44>> Amen.
26:49>> How long? Please don't hear me. I'm not
26:52fussing at you. I'm pushing you.
26:56>> You get said, "No, pastor. That's that's
26:58that's fussing. THAT'S
27:01I I LOVE Y'ALL. THIS IS NOT FUSSING.
27:06SOMETIMES THE MOST SUCCESSFUL STRATEGY
27:08OF THE ENEMY ISN'T INFLUENCING US TO DO
27:10WRONG. IT'S INFLUENCING US TO DO
27:12NOTHING. HOW LONG ARE WE GOING TO TALK
27:14ABOUT JOINING THE TEAM? HOW LONG ARE WE
27:16GOING TO TALK ABOUT MAKING THE
27:17COMMITMENT? HOW LONG ARE WE GOING TO
27:18TALK ABOUT PROPOSING WHEN I get MY
27:20MONEY? OKAY. HOW LONG ARE WE GOING TO
27:22WAIT ON SAYING YES? HOW LONG ARE WE
27:24GOING TO PROP ARE WE GOING TO POSTPONE
27:25WALKING IN FAITH? HOW LONG ARE WE GOING
27:27TO WAIT ON JOINING A CHURCH FOR REAL?
27:29HOW LONG ARE WE GOING TO CUT OFF TOXIC
27:32PEOPLE? TOUCH SOMEBODY AND SAY, "HOW
27:35LONG?" I'M SORRY. THIS IS THE TEACHER
27:37MESSAGE. How long?
27:40How long? This is how long?
27:44And that's that that that's that that's
27:47real because the enemy's strategy
27:49sometimes isn't always insubordination
27:51or iniquity. Sometimes it's inaction.
27:55Sometimes he wins when we sit still.
28:01>> And and as a matter of fact, in our
28:03text, our text has proved positive of
28:04this principle. By the time of our text,
28:06ladies and gentlemen, finally got to the
28:08text. By the time of our text, Israel is
28:10divided. Samaria has surrounded it. And
28:13uh I'm going to have to do a part two.
28:15Samaria is surrounded. And the people
28:16are starving. Israel divided. Samaria
28:19surrounded them. And the people are
28:21starving. Starving. the king of Aram has
28:24bought his entire army against Samaria.
28:27Okay? A and placed the city under siege.
28:32Now, peak this little bit of context
28:34because this is important. In in the
28:36ancient world, when you sieged a city or
28:39you placed the city under siege and you
28:41wanted to take over that city, uh it was
28:43often times too costly to just run in
28:46all out and try to knock down walls and
28:48get into the city like that. you would
28:50lose too many me too many soldiers and
28:52they weren't willing to willing to risk
28:54it. So one of the uh strategies of war
28:57uh that that Samaria imposed was a siege
29:00and what a siege is is when the troops
29:03surround the city so nothing can get in
29:06the city, nothing can go out.
29:09So what they did is they surrounded the
29:11city and then peep this and let the
29:13people inside of the city starve to
29:16death.
29:19SO THEY THEY SIEGED THE CITY, surrounded
29:22it, didn't let any trade go in. So
29:24whatever food they have, they keep and
29:26then eventually it's running out. And
29:27guess what?
29:29Then they'll go in. So they were siege,
29:31they sieged the city. So second Kings
29:33described what the famine looked like.
29:35So there was a famine because of the
29:37siege. Peep this, right? So, so the the
29:40the famine was so severe, just a little
29:42context, the famine was so severe that
29:44the price of whatever that you a person
29:47could eat actually went up to a
29:49skyrocket price. It's almost like going
29:50to Publix today. But anyway,
29:53it's kind of like that right now. Um uh
29:57Jesus. SO TO IT GOT SO severe that even
30:01uh women that it it even chronicles it
30:03in in 2 Kings. It it tells a story about
30:06how these women, one of their their
30:08child, one woman's child passed away and
30:11she ate the child.
30:16>> That's how severe the famine is.
30:20So, so
30:22they were they were it was severe to the
30:26degree that people WAS LITERALLY DYING
30:28OF STARVATION.
30:31And then by the time of our text, ladies
30:32and gentlemen, we find four lepers.
30:34Lepers, skin disease, leprosy starts
30:37with a red spot on your skin, and then
30:39eventually uh itches to the point to
30:41where you start scratching it. It makes
30:43uh gashes in your skin, and eventually
30:45uh hair on your face falls off, hair on
30:48your head, all of your hair falls off,
30:49and then eventually limbs start to fall
30:51off, and then eventually it would keep
30:53eating at you until you passed away. So
30:56it was HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS. SO THESE four
30:58lepers had to get outcasted from the
31:00city. So here these four lepers are uh
31:02at the entrance of the city where they
31:04have watch this Samaria there the army
31:07of that uh uh Aramians. They're there
31:10and then they have their city THERE
31:13BECAUSE THEY CAN'T BE IN THEIR city
31:15because of the contagious nature of
31:17LEPROSY AND THEY CAN'T GO OUT THERE
31:21because if they go out there THEY MIGHT
31:23DIE.
31:24SO, HERE THEY are sitting at the
31:26entrance of a DECISION TO MAKE.
31:30WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?
31:34That's where we pick up our text in and
31:35uh 2 Kings chapter number uh 7 verse
31:39number three. If you have your Bible,
31:40let's go there. Second Kings, oh, it'll
31:42be right here on the screen as well. The
31:43these lepers show us something. They
31:45show us some major movements. I'm I got
31:48five major movements. I'm not going to
31:49be able to do all of them. Five major
31:50movements though uh that gets us from
31:53inaction to action.
31:56All right, let's let's read what it
31:57says. The Bible says this. 2 Kings
31:59chapter number 7 verse number three. It
32:01says this. Now there were four men with
32:02leprosy at the entrance of the city
32:04gate. They said to each other, why stay
32:07here until we die? So the first thing I
32:10see is they asked an uncomfortable
32:13question.
32:15Not what happens if we move. They ask
32:19what happens if we stay.
32:22>> Yeah,
32:23>> I think that's important because most of
32:25us are really good at calculating the
32:26cost of action,
32:28but sometimes we don't calculate the
32:31cost of inaction.
32:35>> WE WE CALCULATE THE COST OF MOVING, BUT
32:37WE DON'T ALWAYS CALCULATE THE COST OF
32:39REMAINING.
32:40>> WHAT IS STAYING IN GOING TO COST US?
32:46BECAUSE STAYING IN IT IS NOT ALWAYS
32:48SAFE, though it feels like it is.
32:52>> Staying at the job isn't always the
32:54best. Though it feels like it is. At
32:55least I got a check.
32:59Okay.
33:02But family, no decision has
33:04consequences, too.
33:06Sometimes making the wrong decision
33:08costs us something, but sometimes making
33:10no decision costs us years. Yeah.
33:15>> Let me say that again. Sometimes making
33:17the wrong decision costs us something,
33:20but sometimes making no decision cost us
33:22years.
33:25>> Cost us years.
33:26>> And there's only one thing that you can
33:28never get more of.
33:31>> Jesus.
33:33And
33:33>> um sometimes, well, I say like this, at
33:36least when we make a wrong decision, we
33:37can learn from it.
33:40Don't do that anymore. Right? uh we can
33:42adjust, we can recover in many cases and
33:45then we can make a a better decision
33:46next time. BUT THESE BROTHERS EQUATED
33:49DOING NOTHING WITH DEATH. WE CAN'T STAY
33:52HERE.
33:58>> I got TO GET UP AND DO SOMETHING.
34:01Did you know?
34:03Did you know that opportunity is rarely
34:05ever convenient? Right.
34:08>> Did you know that opportunity
34:11>> is is rarely
34:14convenient?
34:15>> DID DO YOU KNOW DID YOU KNOW THAT I'M
34:18GETTING READY TO LOSE THE WHOLE CHURCH?
34:20HOLD ON.
34:21THEY ARE AT THE CITY GATE WITH ALL
34:23THAT'S GOING ON AROUND THEM AND THEY SAW
34:25OPPORTUNITY in front of them. Some of us
34:27ARE THERE.
34:29>> SOME OF US are calling our obstacle
34:31calling opportunity obstacles
34:34>> and they're not THE SAME THING.
34:37SOME OF US AND OTHERS OF US.
34:40Here it goes. This is the part. Jason,
34:42stand in front of the door. This is the
34:43part.
34:44>> Okay.
34:47Some
34:49others of us are not suffering from the
34:52someday syndrome. We've upgraded.
34:56We're caught in the right time trap.
35:00>> You know what the right time trap is?
35:02Come on.
35:05>> THE RIGHT TIME TRAP IS WHEN WE KEEP
35:08POSTPONING ACTION BECAUSE WE'RE WAITING
35:11FOR THE MOMENT THAT FEELS COMPLETELY
35:13CONVENIENT,
35:14>> completely clear, AND COMPLETELY SAFE.
35:19>> But opportunity
35:21is rarely convenient.
35:24>> I'MMA MARRY HER AT THE RIGHT TIME.
35:33It's quiet in here.
35:36Pastor, I'm just waiting on the right
35:38time.
35:39You seen the market.
35:43I can't purchase right now. I'm waiting
35:46on the right time.
35:50Oh boy.
35:52When I get more free time, then I'll do
35:55it. When my kids graduate, then I'll go
35:58do it.
36:00Your baby is 18 months.
36:06She got to graduate. God dog it. She got
36:10to graduate.
36:14All right.
36:18Oh boy. I'mma go back to school. That
36:20way I can get this promotion. But I'm
36:22just waiting on the person that's in the
36:24position to retire
36:27>> and then I'mma get that position.
36:33>> You're waiting on somebody else to
36:34retire
36:40>> IN SOUTH FLORIDA.
36:42>> JOKERS IS WORKING TILL THEY
36:49OKAY.
36:52OH BOY.
36:54>> TIME IS MOVING AND WE'RE NOT.
36:58>> Here's a question. Don't answer. What
37:00has indecision already cost us?
37:06>> What opportunity has already passed
37:08because we never applied?
37:10>> What ministry never started because we
37:12never volunteered?
37:14>> What Oh, I GOT QUIET THERE. WHAT degree
37:16never happened because we kept saying
37:18next semester?
37:20Someday.
37:24>> When I get the money.
37:28>> Gosh, I just want to
37:33sitting somewhere waiting to die is not
37:34an option.
37:37>> These men were stuck.
37:42>> Okay. And again, I told y'all earlier,
37:45I've been pastoring long enough at this
37:46point to uh I hear my pastor say that
37:48all the time. And he says, "There's some
37:50things I know now that I didn't know
37:52then." So sometimes I know now,
37:53sometimes I can say something and people
37:55can hear something differently. So in my
37:57study, I'm praying like, "God, don't
37:59just tell me what to say." My prayer is
38:02God tell me what they hear when I say
38:04whatever I say
38:07>> so that I can maybe maybe if possible
38:09speak to that. Okay?
38:15WHEN I SAY STUCK,
38:17I'm referring to the people
38:21that have been praying about movement in
38:25whatever area and have BEEN APPLYING
38:28THEMSELVES TO BE prepared to move.
38:32>> Okay?
38:37If I HAVE NOT BEEN PUTTING MYSELF IN
38:40POSITION TO MOVE,
38:42>> I need to move to preparation first
38:47>> BEFORE THERE IS SOME TYPE OF progression
38:50>> because God isn't interested in blessing
38:53us with something that we can't handle,
38:56>> we can't maintain
38:58>> or that will become a burden.
39:00>> Right? So, make sure that we're taking
39:02advantage of the season we're in before
39:05we start praying about the season we're
39:07going.
39:07>> That's right.
39:08>> It's quiet.
39:12>> I just This is something I just feel
39:13like I'm just not growing.
39:17This is something I wouldn't have known
39:18in my first year of pastor. I wouldn't
39:20know. I know now. I don't feel like I'm
39:22growing. I've had conversations with
39:23people. I don't feel like I'm growing
39:25spiritually. I'm like, cool. That's
39:27what's up. All right. So, how how often
39:30do you pray? Oh, no. I ain't got time to
39:32pray.
39:33>> Okay.
39:35Bible study. We have Bible study every
39:36Wednesday. You You in Bible study? You
39:38in Bible study? No. Bible study? I can't
39:41Bible study. I got I got stuff I be
39:43tough to get there Bible study. All
39:44right. Cool. All right. Well, um we got
39:47groups. We know groups or something.
39:49Yeah. Groups.
39:51>> Okay. You you you've been reading about
39:54what like what's what's the reading
39:55schedule? Are you on a reading plan? a
39:57schedule of reading. Yeah. No, I'm not
40:00on a schedule of reading. Okay. So,
40:02you're not praying, you're not in
40:03community, you're not fasting, you're
40:05not with
40:06>> Of course, you're not growing.
40:08>> Don't put that on us.
40:16>> It's like you come home, your mom had a
40:18whole meal there. YOU WALK PAST IT. I'M
40:20HUNGRY.
40:22I've been cooking.
40:26It's quiet.
40:29Mama be like, "Yo, I've been cooking.
40:30You just ain't been eating."
40:33>> It's quiet.
40:34>> Somebody eating.
40:36>> That's right.
40:36>> All right.
40:38>> SO, THAT'S I GOT TO GO. I GOT TO GO. I
40:41GOT TO GO. RIGHT TIME TRAP IS WHEN WE
40:45KEEP POSTPONING action for the right
40:47time. Number two, I'll get to the rest
40:49later. Number two is the is is is not
40:52only uh not only that but we got to
40:54inventory the risk.
40:56>> Right?
40:57>> Second Kings first chapter number 7
40:59Kings 7 verse number four it says this.
41:01This is what they said. Watch this. They
41:03said we can't stay here and die. It says
41:04if we say we'll go into the city the
41:06famine is there and we will die. And if
41:09we stay here we will die. So let's go
41:11over to the camp over to the Arameans
41:14and surrender. If they spare us we'll
41:16live. If they kill us, well then we'll
41:20die.
41:22NOW, NOTICE SOMETHING. THESE BROTHERS
41:25ARE NOT DELUSIONAL.
41:27They are clear
41:30CONCERNING THEIR OPTIONS. THEY DON'T
41:32HAVE THEIR HEADS IN THE CLOUDS. THEY
41:34THEY THEY NOT JUST THEY NOT JUST THEY
41:36THEY THEY DON'T SAY LIKE THEY DON'T SAY
41:38WE'RE PEOPLE OF FAITH, SO NOTHING BAD is
41:41going to happen.
41:42>> I'm not CLAIMING THAT. YOU AIN'T GOT TO
41:44CLAIM IT.
41:50THEY ACKNOWLEDGE, watch this, THE
41:52INVENTORY, THE RISK. They acknowledge
41:54every possibility.
41:57>> IF WE GO BACK, THERE'S A FAMINE. If we
41:59remain here, we die. IF WE MOVE FORWARD,
42:01THEN THE ARAMIANS MIGHT KILL US. UH-OH.
42:07>> There's a possibility.
42:08>> Wait a minute. All I need is a door.
42:12>> And I believe God gonna kick it open.
42:14Amen.
42:15>> SO, SO, SO THEIR FAITH HELPED THEM
42:17DECIDE WHAT TO DO WITH THE RISK. Lord
42:20have mercy. SO, THEN GOD, SO THEN
42:22THERE'S A DIFFERENCE. THEY THEY COUNTED
42:24THE COST. THEY INVENTORY THE RISK. SO,
42:26LISTEN TO ME. PLEASE HEAR THE FRAMEWORK.
42:28INVENTORY THE RISK, RIGHT? BECAUSE
42:30THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CARELESS
42:32AND CAREFUL.
42:35>> Careless moves without looking. Careful
42:37looks without losing movement. Amen.
42:42>> Yeah.
42:43>> Um, it's entirely possible to be careful
42:46and faithful.
42:48>> Don't let somebody tell you, "Well, if
42:49you had faith, you would just
42:52>> Well, listen.
42:55Sometimes I GOT TO GO. WE NEED TO DO A
42:58SPIRITUAL SWAT ANALYSIS.
43:03What's a SWAT analysis?
43:06It is a tool used in with companies to
43:10help decide or with an individual to
43:12help decide whether or not they're they
43:14they should operate in this way or
43:16operate in another way. It is a tool
43:18used in the secular realm in the in the
43:20business space say SWAT analysis. You
43:22can Google it later. It's cool. Watch
43:24this. Uh there's there not become. Oh
43:27god. So then I'm going to do this and
43:29then that's it and then you can play. I
43:30promise you you going to play. I'm going
43:33to do this and then that's it. Right.
43:36Okay. Here we go. Spiritual SWAT
43:39analysis. How do I move from inaction to
43:42action? What do I consider? Because some
43:45of us are in a space where we're like
43:47the lepers. We're right there and we
43:49need to make a decision one way or the
43:50other. I want to help you. First thing
43:52is scripture. The S stands FOR
43:55SCRIPTURE. DOES THIS DECISION CONTRADICT
43:58anything God has already made clear?
44:02That's the first thing we got to ask
44:03ourselves. So before we ask, "Do I feel
44:05peace?" We got to ask, "Is it biblical?"
44:09I just feel like, "Uh-uh.
44:12Is it biblical?"
44:15>> Right? Don't ask God to bless what
44:17scripture has already forbidden. Okay.
44:19Number two,
44:22>> not just scripture, wisdom.
44:25Have I thought this through with mature
44:27counsel and honest information?
44:31>> Have I thought this move through? Please
44:33hear me. I know this. I told you at the
44:34front of it. It's not super deep, I
44:36guess. Uh uh we we try to preach Monday
44:39messages. Not just stuff that'll help
44:41you Sunday, but stuff you'll think about
44:42on Monday.
44:43>> YEAH.
44:45>> HAVE I THOUGHT THROUGH THIS WITH MY
44:49FRIENDS?
44:51>> WELL, that could be if they're mature
44:53counsel.
44:54>> Absolutely. Um uh most often when YOU
44:58THINK ABOUT THIS let's let me so
45:00decision-m when you think about have I
45:02thought through this with mature friends
45:03uh mature counselor don't just think
45:05mature spiritually yes think mature
45:07spiritually absolutely but then also
45:09mature in age as well
45:13>> you need somebody who's been around the
45:14block
45:17>> see sometimes we make decisions in close
45:19community with people two years older or
45:21two years younger no I need somebody
45:23that's older THAT'S BEEN THROUGH SOME
45:25STUFF
45:26>> THAT SURVIVED SOME STUFF. HEY, WHAT DO
45:28YOU THINK?
45:31>> All right, let me hurry up. I got to go.
45:33Let me hurry up. Um Um No, faith is not
45:38allergic to facts.
45:41>> Okay, we can hold both of those at the
45:42same time. O, so S is scripture. W is
45:46wisdom. O is opportunity.
45:51What possibility is in front of me if I
45:53move?
45:56Um, what door could be open or closed?
46:01>> What what what could this develop in me?
46:03WHAT COULD THIS HELP? H HOW COULD I GET
46:06UN HOW GETTING UNSTUCK FROM THIS? WHAT
46:08OPPORTUNITY WATCH THIS MIGHT DISAPPEAR
46:11if I keep delaying?
46:14>> Are y'all here?
46:17>> And then lastly, tradeoff.
46:20Lastly, tradeoff.
46:22What will this decision cost me?
46:25And what
46:27will not making it cost me?
46:31I only got the two verses in the story.
46:33We'll get back back next week. I promise
46:35you, cuz there's something that happens
46:37in this story that blows my mind.
46:40Every meaningful decision cost
46:42something.
46:46Every meaningful decision cost
46:47something. These brothers had to decide,
46:50are they going to move forward and go to
46:53the camp?
46:55Are they going to go back there?
46:59Are are are they
47:01what are they going to do?
47:04They had to make a decision. And some of
47:06us are at that point.
47:09And here's my my encouragement to you.
47:12My encouragement is to study long.
47:16Study wrong.
47:19Now again for the fifth time that does
47:21not mean make a rash decision. That does
47:24not mean uh you know do something
47:27without thinking it counting the cost as
47:29scripture says as these individuals did.
47:31What I am saying is this. I'm simply
47:33suggesting
47:38that sometimes God has been clear.
47:43Sometimes God has been clear. Sometimes
47:46God has spoken. Sometime his word is
47:49clear.
47:51And just because it's uncomfortable
47:53doesn't mean that it's not clear.
47:58>> And a lot of times God calls us into
48:00that uncomfortable space. So next week
48:02we'll pick up with what happens in the
48:03story. I hope that this blessed you.
48:05Would you put your hands together if you
48:06receive this word?
48:09Come on y'all.
48:13Listen.
48:15This this uh our prayer our prayer for
48:19this s this series
48:21is to make us the wisest church in the
48:25earth. We want not just wise about
48:28spiritual things. Yes, absolutely.
48:32But then also wise as it relates to our
48:36daily decisions.
48:38I want to pray for you. Come on, let's
48:39pray. Father, I pray in the name of
48:40Jesus that you would continue to speak
48:44to our hearts.
48:46Continue to show us, continue to reveal
48:48to us, continue to expose to us your
48:53plan, your will in your way. God, some
48:56of us are at the point of a of decisions
48:59to make in life. And um some of us are
49:03making professional decisions,
49:06relational decisions.
49:08Some of us just feel stuck.
49:12And God, our prayer is that you would
49:15you would you would guide us in such a
49:17way that one, we would know that it's
49:20you.
49:22and two and that you would never leave
49:25us on the way
49:27and that you would continue to walk with
49:28us and you would continue to assure us
49:30and you would continue to walk and talk
49:32and guide us and counsel us all
49:35throughout the journey. God, don't let
49:38our inaction
49:42paralyze our progression.
49:46God, set us on fire.
49:49Help us to move in Jesus name.
49:52Amen. Amen. Hey, listen. I want to give
49:55you an opportunity.
49:58I want to give you an opportunity if you
50:00have not accepted Jesus as your Lord and
50:02Savior or maybe you have and um
50:07and you know you want to rededicate your
50:09life to him. I'm telling you now,
50:13the best decision you can make in life
50:15is to give him your is to give him
50:17yours.
50:19is to allow him to love on you to the
50:23degree that you have a peace that
50:25surpasses understanding.
50:28That you have joy that's unspeakable
50:30that you can't even describe
50:32and and and life doesn't have to go like
50:34this and that because you have a
50:36sustaining power of the Holy Spirit that
50:39will indwell you to the degree that
50:41you're just able to man you're able to
50:44take a licking and keep moving. You keep
50:47you know that God is with you. If you've
50:48never accepted Jesus as your Lord and
50:49Savior for the forgiveness of sin, I
50:53want to give you an opportunity to do
50:54that. You can do that by slipping your
50:55hand in the air. I don't want you to do
50:57anything. Uh and we just want to
50:59celebrate that with you if that's you.
51:01You've never accepted him. Or you want
51:03to, you know what, you want to
51:04rededicate your life,
51:06the best decision that you can make, we
51:09always give two ways to do that. That's
51:11one way. You can do that by slipping
51:12your hand in the air. The other way is
51:14by hitting the QR code that's on the
51:16seat back in front of you. you can hit
51:18that next steps button and um one of our
51:21team uh someone on our team will reach
51:24out to you just to love on you, pull you
51:26in, let you know how you can get
51:28connected, how you can build community,
51:31and we just want to love on you a little
51:33bit. Would you would you put your hands
51:34together for those who are going to make
51:35that decision?
51:40At the same time, y'all,
51:42I want to do this. I want to do I want
51:45to do this first
51:48and I need y'all to make some stadium
51:50like noise
51:52because we're celebrating Pastor Sonia's
51:54birthday today y'all.
51:57I said stadium right. HEY Y
52:10Come on y'all.
52:17Listen.
52:19Y'all better give y'all better make some
52:22noise for Pastor Sonia. We love her so
52:24much.
52:27That's it.
52:31>> That's what I'm talking about. Nadia,
52:35>> many of you have been have already been
52:38uh shout I'm sorry, showering her uh
52:41with gifts and things of the sort. We
52:43just wanted to say some kind words over
52:44you uh about how much we love you.
52:46Everyone is going to tell you to to your
52:49face themselves. Uh they're going to let
52:51you know how much they absolutely love,
52:54adore, and celebrate you. So, I hope
52:56you're ready. She's going to be right
52:58here after service. Right here. She's
53:00not going to be there. She's going to be
53:01right here after service. I want y'all
53:04to shower her with love, joy, gifts,
53:07celebration, all of that. You see the uh
53:10the what? If you just want if you want
53:11to be a blessing to her, you want to
53:13honor her in that regard, you can hit
53:14the cash app there. And I promise you,
53:17it's all going to her. She don't let me
53:19spend no money, y'all. And that's my
53:20problem. I need prayer because
53:25so you want to be a blessing to her. Hit
53:27the uh the cash app there. We we uh
53:30greatly appreciate it. I want to I want
53:33to let's do that. So let's take a moment
53:34now. Everybody do something. Everybody
53:36got a dollar. Everybody got something
53:37now. Come on. You got 65 cents. You got
53:43I will.
53:46Yeah. Yeah. That's one of the ways in
53:48which we showed the Bible says that
53:49those who rule well are worthy of double
53:51honor and uh so we believe that she is
53:54worthy of double honor. All right. Amen.
53:57So we're going to keep that up. But we
53:58do have our offering in our tithes,
54:00guys. We make we make opportunity to
54:03worship through giving here. So the ways
54:05to give for offering are are about to
54:07hit the screen. So would you do me a
54:09favor? If you need an offering envelope
54:11or something like that, do me a favor.
54:13slip your hand in the air and we want to
54:15make sure that we get it to you. And uh
54:18those are four ways to give right here
54:20on the screen. That being said, listen,
54:23we're so excited for those who are
54:25giving. We don't believe in guilt
54:27giving. We believe in grace giving. We
54:30believe you give because God has shown
54:32you his grace. We believe we give
54:34because God has just been good. Uh and
54:36then he ties scriptural promises to
54:40those that that give. We believe in
54:42being authentic in terms of giving and
54:44and in terms of all of that. Uh so thank
54:47you all so much. All my tithers, y'all
54:49make some noise in the house. I'm
54:52I'm telling you, man, tithers are
54:54thrivvers. What's happening at Fresh
54:55Church does not happen uh without your
54:58generosity. So, thank you all so much
55:01for giving uh all that you can. So, as
55:04those offering baskets are being passed
55:05around, thank you for your generosity. I
55:07want to let you know something. Welcome
55:09home Sunday is happening October 18th.
55:13Yeah. So, welcome home Sunday is October
55:1518th. Y'all know how we do it. We do it
55:17real big. October 18th, it's going to be
55:20just all types of festivities. It's
55:22going to be amazing. Bring your cousins.
55:24There's going to be excitement. There's
55:25going to be food. There's going to be
55:28all types of things just for you. So, do
55:32me a favor. Make sure you're in the
55:34house October 18th. Make sure you get
55:37here early. Uh yeah. So stay connected
55:41uh stay connected to church, stay
55:42connected to Fresh, stay connected to
55:44the emails, all of that good stuff. So
55:47uh October 18th. Yes, you Oh, October
55:5018th that's happening. And then not only
55:52that, this Wednesday we're praying
55:54again, y'all. If you if you haven't been
55:56here for prayer on Wednesday, I'm
55:58telling you, you absolutely missing a
56:01treat. So, every Wednesday, we're here
56:04right now for prayer uh up until groups
56:06are groups start back. So, we're going
56:09to be here Wednesday 7:30 p.m. 1 hour of
56:12prayer, right? We're going before the
56:14father. That being said, anything I'm
56:15missing? No, that's it. All right, cool.
56:18Uh you you want to come on up? You got
56:20the mic. I think you better lead a song
56:22or so.
56:25Okay. All right. Well, listen. Well,
56:28let's do this. Well, would you all stand
56:30to your feet? Come on. Let's dismiss.
56:32That being said, Father, thank you for
56:33those who are here. Thank you for your
56:34word. Thank you for your vessel that
56:37you're using. And Pastor Sonia, God, we
56:39pray blessings over her. We pray that
56:41you would continue to favor her. Open
56:43doors that no man can shut in the name
56:46of Jesus. God, we call her blessed. We
56:49call her a gift in Jesus name. As we
56:51leave this place, your presence, we pray
56:53for traveling grace in Jesus name. Amen.
56:56Show Jesus.
56:56>> Show Jesus