1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,000 Church, I'm going to invite you at this time. 2 00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:08,000 I know we've been standing and worshiping, making a lot of commotion here today, but 3 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:14,000 amen, it's all been in the right spirit, but we're going to now enter into the Word of God. 4 00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:20,000 I'm going to be reading out of the book of Acts chapter 16 verse 1 through 3. 5 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:27,000 And as you're preparing to go there, I want to preface this message today by telling you that 6 00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:31,000 what I have come to deliver this afternoon is more than a sermon. 7 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:42,000 It's more than a sermon. Why do I say that? Because I really came today with a burden for our families. 8 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:51,000 I came with a burden for the next generation. I came today hopefully not just to inform you of something, 9 00:00:51,000 --> 00:01:04,000 but to impart into your life today a word from God that will challenge and propel you forward 10 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:09,000 into raising the family and the being who God has called you to be. 11 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:16,000 So we're going to have today a bit of a heart to heart. My heart is heavy and I need to get some things off of it today. 12 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:28,000 So Acts chapter 16 verse 1, then he came to Derby and Lystra and behold a certain disciple was there named Timothy, 13 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:35,000 the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. 14 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:41,000 He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium. 15 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:51,000 Paul wanted to have him go with him and he took him, circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region 16 00:01:51,000 --> 00:02:01,000 for they all knew that his father was Greek. My thought today that God has laid on my heart is building up the next generation. 17 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:13,000 Building up the next generation can someone say amen today? You may be seated in the presence of God. 18 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:36,000 In today's world building up young, devoted and courageous Christians amid an increasingly secular and anti-Christian society is no easy task. 19 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:51,000 It's not for the faint of heart. It's not easy. The challenges faced by the younger generation seem daunting when you consider how the world 20 00:02:51,000 --> 00:03:09,000 and the enemy is doing everything they can to contradict to, if I can say it this way, brainwash our children and our young people. 21 00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:24,000 How the school system and the co-conspirator of the culture are pushing their humanistic immoral values. 22 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:36,000 Or when you consider how they are exposed to thousands of advertisements every day. 23 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:44,000 And I'm not talking about billboards on the highways, I'm talking about these. 24 00:03:44,000 --> 00:04:02,000 Phones and tablets on social media aimed at feeding them seductive lies in the most seductive and subtle ways you can imagine. 25 00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:13,000 About everything from human biology, believe it or not we live in a world where it seems that we have to redefine what a man and a woman is. 26 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:23,000 I think it's defined already, can I hear an amen? It's controversial to even say that. 27 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:32,000 Seductive lies about human sexuality and even the very existence of God. 28 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:47,000 And I could go on and on church today about the ills of our sense world and we could be here all day exposing one lie and one problem after another. 29 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:59,000 But the reality that we all must confront is how Satan and the world wants to destroy the next generation. 30 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:14,000 And ultimately cut them off. Our children, our young people, our young adults from the spiritual inheritance that belongs to them as the people of God. 31 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:38,000 But this is where we as a church collectively and as heads of households, as fathers and mothers, and all interested parties today, which I hope is everyone, must be willing to stand up in this hour and to take charge and to do everything within our power. 32 00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:50,000 And most of all with the power that we have in God to assure that the next generation is built up strong in the things of God. 33 00:05:50,000 --> 00:06:00,000 And built up strong to withstand the fiery darts of the enemy and to charge ahead into this world being the salt and the light. 34 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:14,000 And to be the generation that God has called and desktem to be. If you are with me in this, then I want you to give God a thunderous round of applause right now. 35 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:20,000 As one church and one body, if you're with me on this, somebody say amen. 36 00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:34,000 We've got to be united in this front church. We've got to be united. When I think about building something, I think about a house. 37 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:53,000 A house has three main components. I know there's a lot of components to a house and I wouldn't dare say I am an expert in construction, but common knowledge would say there's at least three components. 38 00:06:53,000 --> 00:07:05,000 A foundation, walls and a roof. Amen. Simple enough. Foundation, walls and a roof. 39 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:14,000 And I believe that building up the next generation requires the same components as a house. 40 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:43,000 They need a foundation, they need walls and a roof. And our pastor today gives us a picture of who in fact is responsible for these components and how they work together in concert, in unity to accomplish this goal. 41 00:07:43,000 --> 00:08:09,000 So before I delve into that, let me give you some context today. We've been going through the book of Acts and to help us see where exactly these events take place at the beginning of Acts chapter 16, we find the Apostle Paul embarking on his second missionary journey to revisit the churches that he had established in his first journey. 42 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:23,000 He's going back now to pay them a visit. And along the way they came to the town of Lystra where they met this young man. The Bible says he was a disciple named Timothy. 43 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:41,000 And they were so impressed by this young man. When Paul and Barnabas met him there was something about this young man, Timothy, that truly stood out to them. He was remarkable. He was different maybe from his peers. 44 00:08:41,000 --> 00:09:00,000 He was different in his stature, in his conduct, in his mindset. His spirit, there was something about this young man, Timothy, that stood out to Paul, made an impression on him. 45 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:16,000 So much so that when they were ready to leave the small town as they were packing their bags and getting ready to depart, Paul looked at this man and young man, Timothy, probably a teenager. 46 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:43,000 I've got to take him with me. I've got to bring this young man with me. And so he singles him out and he issues that call. Very much like other times in Scripture, for instance, when Elijah called Elisha and threw his mantle on him as he was there driving twelve yoke of oxen in the field 47 00:09:43,000 --> 00:10:03,000 in a very similar fashion, Paul calls him and says, why don't you come with us, Timothy? And from that day forward he took him under his wing and began training him, mentoring him in ways that his parents possibly could not. 48 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:20,000 And this is where the three components of a house come back into focus. For Timothy to realize his God-given potential, he needed foundation, walls, and a roof. 49 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:39,000 And it's the same for every one of us. But with an emphasis today on the next generation, they need those same components to reach their God-given potential. Amen, somebody. 50 00:10:39,000 --> 00:11:07,000 They need those things. So first of all, number one, we need to lay a foundation. Someone say foundation. Let's say that again, foundation. A house's foundation is its bedrock, providing stability and support for everything and all that will be built on top of it. 51 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:24,000 When Paul met Timothy, it's important for you, church friend, to understand that Timothy was already firmly established. He was already founded and grounded. 52 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:37,000 He already had a solid foundation of truth that was laid by his mother, Eunice, and to a lesser degree, his grandmother, Lois. 53 00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:56,000 And these spiritual matriarchs instill a love for God in him. They instill the word of God in his life, in his heart, and they trained him up like Proverbs 22, 6 says, 54 00:11:56,000 --> 00:12:11,000 train up a child in the way he should go. Amen. And when he is old or when he has grown, he will not depart from it. How many of you believe this to be true today? 55 00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:26,000 I said, how many of you believe this to be true today? Train up a child, rear them up, train them, mentor them, develop them, construct them. 56 00:12:26,000 --> 00:12:44,000 Later on in their relationship, when Paul writes to Timothy, who at this point in their relationship is already posturing, so this is skipping ahead a few years, but he finds himself writing to Timothy a letter of encouragement. 57 00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:56,000 And in that letter, he reminds Timothy of the foundation that had been laid and poured in his life. And he writes these words to 2 Timothy 1,5. 58 00:12:56,000 --> 00:13:15,000 When I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which first dwelt in your grandmother, Lois, and your mother, Eunice, I am persuaded is in you also. 59 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:29,000 Paul, in encouraging Timothy, tells Timothy possibly Timothy was going through a rough time in his ministry and in his life. I'm sure there were questions that were bothering him. 60 00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:43,000 I'm sure there were trials and tribulations that Timothy was facing. And so Paul, in his letter of encouragement, reminds Timothy, Timothy, let me just remind you of who you are. 61 00:13:43,000 --> 00:14:03,000 Hmm, my God, can I preach like I want to today? Let me just remind you of where you come from. Let me remind you Timothy, let me take you all the way back to your foundation and tell you that you don't just come from anything, Timothy. 62 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:22,000 You're not just anybody, Timothy. You're not just like everybody else in this world who's trying to make something out of themselves. No, Timothy, you come from a solid apostolic foundation that's was given to you by your mother and by your grandmother. 63 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:28,000 Timothy, you've got a steady foundation. 64 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:47,000 And it's in the hard times of life, whether they come in the schools, in the campus, whether they come in the form of physical setbacks, and ailments or financial setbacks and relational hurt, all the different phases and seasons of life that our children, the next generation, 65 00:14:47,000 --> 00:15:06,000 they have got to have a sure foundation to know who they are and better yet, who's they are. They are children of all mighty God. Clap your hands and give the Lord some praise today. Somebody say hallelujah. 66 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:29,000 Let me say that it was not Paul's responsibility. Neither is it the pastor's or the church's responsibility, but the parent's responsibility. And for you parents that are here today, our future parents, amen, it's your responsibility to lay the foundation. 67 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:48,000 I said it's your responsibility to lay the foundation. When Paul showed up, Timothy was already founded. The Bible says he was a disciple. So it's the parents, the fathers, the mothers. It is your responsibility to make a disciple out of your children. 68 00:15:48,000 --> 00:16:07,000 Oh, praise God. I said praise God. It's your responsibility. Every parent must be your child foundation layer. That sounds great pastor. How do I do that? You start off by teaching them. 69 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:31,000 Teaching begins at home. Amen, somebody. I said teaching begins at home. If the only time the next generation gets exposed to truth and has taught the word of God is here at church, we're in trouble. 70 00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:54,000 Because for 30 minutes, once a week is not enough. Amen. You've got to teach them. And the problem that I'm finding is the reason why some are not being taught is because the teachers don't even know for themselves. 71 00:16:54,000 --> 00:17:16,000 Paul said in another point, by now you ought to be teachers, but I'm still having to give you the milk. Hallelujah. When you ought to be consuming meat and the reason why many are growing up spiritually anemic today is because they're not being taught at home. 72 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:38,000 So you do it by teaching someone say teach them. You do it by prayer, praying for them. That's right. Pray, pray for your children. Pray for the next generation. You do it by demonstrating a genuine love for God through your words and through your actions. 73 00:17:38,000 --> 00:17:59,000 You do it by living out your faith consistently. Consistently. I cannot stress to you how important it is for us to be consistent. Consistent. 74 00:17:59,000 --> 00:18:13,000 Consistency at the end of the day is what's going to drive home every principle and every value that we hope to instill in the next generation. Consistency. I'm going to say consistency. 75 00:18:13,000 --> 00:18:32,000 Not just seasons of it, but a lifetime of it. Consistency. Consistent church attendance. Consistent modeling of what a godly life is. Consistence in our behavior. Consistence. 76 00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:52,000 This is what's going to ensure that the foundation that we lay is solid. My God. Children and families are being corrupted and destroyed nowadays. Not because the world is evil. 77 00:18:52,000 --> 00:19:11,000 Not because the devil is bad. Devil's been bad for a long time. But because foundations are in ruin. The words of David ring true. 78 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:25,000 Psalm 113, if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do? It doesn't matter if junior has the potential to be an astronaut. It doesn't matter if she's got the potential to do this and to go there. 79 00:19:25,000 --> 00:19:35,000 All of these things could be great. But if there's no foundation or if those foundations have been destroyed, what can the righteous do? 80 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:44,000 What profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul? 81 00:19:44,000 --> 00:19:58,000 Some would say foundations. We live in a world that is trying to do everything it can. Hear me out today. Everybody needs to hear what I'm saying today. 82 00:19:58,000 --> 00:20:09,000 That is trying to diminish the roles. Hear me. A father's and mother's from shaping the foundation of their children. 83 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:19,000 They don't want you to tell your children who they are. 84 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:39,000 And there are many efforts being made now, more than ever, to silence, to diminish the role of a parent, of an authority from telling a child who they are. 85 00:20:39,000 --> 00:20:50,000 No. We live in a world now where the school system wants to tell them who they are. Where the culture wants to tell them who they are. 86 00:20:50,000 --> 00:21:04,000 And worse off than that, the roles that reverse where instead of parents telling their children who they are, children are telling their parents. This is who I want to be. 87 00:21:04,000 --> 00:21:25,000 So if one day Sam comes home and says I want to be Samantha, one day someone comes home and says I don't want to be a boy, I want to be a girl. 88 00:21:25,000 --> 00:21:33,000 We live in a world now where they want to tell the parent, no, you just let them be who they want to be. 89 00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:41,000 If that little boy wants to dress like a girl, let them dress. Just let their spirit be free. Just let them be who they want to be. 90 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:48,000 The devil is a liar. I said the devil is a liar. The devil is a liar. 91 00:21:48,000 --> 00:22:04,000 It is our responsibility. I don't care what the world says. I don't care what the enemy says. I don't care what society or what secularism says. I don't care how many degrees are on their wall and how many books they write and what they say that we ought to do. 92 00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:14,000 I'm going to tell my child who they are and I'm going to stand by you. Is there anybody else in this house today that is willing to do the same for your children? 93 00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:23,000 Come on and give God some praise here this afternoon. Come on and give God some praise here today. 94 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:37,000 Don't be afraid to tell these young people who they are. You are a child of God. You have been made in the image and in the likeness of God, fearfully and wonderfully made. 95 00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:51,000 You are a royal priesthood. You are a chosen generation. You are who God says you are. You got to tell your son, you're a boy. You got to tell your daughters, you're a girl. 96 00:22:51,000 --> 00:22:56,000 And that's what you're going to stay because that's how God made you. 97 00:22:56,000 --> 00:23:13,000 Somebody say amen. Tell them God's design for the family. That it's God's original design for a family to have one father and one mother. 98 00:23:13,000 --> 00:23:28,000 Oh God, hallelujah. I've been under spiritual attack church. The enemy doesn't want these kinds of messages going forth. I can tell you there was a heaviness in my heart. 99 00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:50,000 I feel the Holy Ghost. There's been a heaviness in my heart and I have concern and I have a burden for this church and for our young people and for our juniors and for our kids and I want to see them become whom God, but we have got to give them a foundation. 100 00:23:50,000 --> 00:23:54,000 An apostolic foundation. 101 00:23:54,000 --> 00:24:01,000 Don't depend solely on the church, the pastor, the teachers to pour that foundation. 102 00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:11,000 And don't do what some people do 20 years of not pouring any foundation. Then they bring their messed up 18 year old tears and say, you know, fix them. 103 00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:18,000 Oh wow. What am I supposed to do? 104 00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:29,000 No, we've got to do our jobs. Amen. You know what we're here to do? We're here to encourage you. You know what my job as a pastor, let me tell you what my job is. 105 00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:41,000 I know my job description pretty well. My job is to give you the dry mix and the water. Your job is to mix it up and then pour that foundation when you get home. 106 00:24:41,000 --> 00:24:52,000 I've got the dry mix. I've got the water here today. I've got the raw material say, this is what you need. Now go home and put it into practice and pour that foundation. 107 00:24:52,000 --> 00:24:54,000 Amen. 108 00:24:54,000 --> 00:25:07,000 Hey man, somebody say amen. I don't live with you. I don't want to live with you. Trust me, you don't want me to live with you. 109 00:25:07,000 --> 00:25:16,000 Don't laugh too much. Oh, hallelujah. 110 00:25:16,000 --> 00:25:20,000 Number two, we've got to build walls. Someone say walls. 111 00:25:20,000 --> 00:25:26,000 Eunice, not only... Can I take a little extra time today? Is that alright? 112 00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:34,000 Okay. Eunice not only laid us all the foundation for her son, Timothy, but she built sturdy walls around his life. 113 00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:42,000 And this is evidenced by his testimony, the way that he conducted himself and how he interacted within his environment. 114 00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:50,000 And you'll read in verse two, supports this idea. It says that Timothy was well spoken of by the brethren. 115 00:25:50,000 --> 00:26:04,000 So it wasn't like she just built him up in isolation somewhere and then nobody knew that this young man was founded and was walking the right way. 116 00:26:04,000 --> 00:26:12,000 He established for himself a reputation. He was respectful. He was upright and mature for his age. 117 00:26:12,000 --> 00:26:19,000 And I believe this has everything to do with walls. Someone say walls. 118 00:26:19,000 --> 00:26:23,000 See, let me tell you the difference between foundations and walls. 119 00:26:23,000 --> 00:26:28,000 Foundations are about beliefs. Okay? 120 00:26:28,000 --> 00:26:33,000 Foundations are about beliefs. That's the doctrine. That's the faith that we're built upon. 121 00:26:33,000 --> 00:26:37,000 The teachings of the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. Amen. 122 00:26:37,000 --> 00:26:48,000 But boundaries, walls are about boundaries. They are about rules and order and structure. 123 00:26:48,000 --> 00:26:58,000 They're different, but they work together. And it's important for you to understand that the foundations are not built on the walls. 124 00:26:58,000 --> 00:27:04,000 You can't give your kids rules and order without telling them why you're giving them. 125 00:27:04,000 --> 00:27:13,000 My God. Okay. Foundations first. And then on top of the foundation, you start to build up boundaries for your family. 126 00:27:13,000 --> 00:27:21,000 Boundaries for your marriage. Boundaries for your children. And this are the rules, the order and the structure. 127 00:27:21,000 --> 00:27:30,000 Foundations are based on principles. Walls are based on practices. Write that down if you can. 128 00:27:30,000 --> 00:27:40,000 Foundations are based on principles. Walls are based on practices. 129 00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:48,000 Amen. Just as walls are an extension of the foundation, so too are boundaries, extensions of our beliefs. 130 00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:59,000 So every boundary and every wall that we erect in our homes and in our lives is rooted or founded upon a belief system. 131 00:27:59,000 --> 00:28:13,000 Now, I'm going to say this again. I don't care what society or what the secular professionals will tell you. 132 00:28:13,000 --> 00:28:25,000 Children, adolescents, young people, they need walls. 133 00:28:25,000 --> 00:28:37,000 They need them. Walls exist to protect what's inside from outside invasion. 134 00:28:37,000 --> 00:28:51,000 Proverbs 25, 28, whoever has no rule over his spirit, no rule, no governance over his spirit is like a city broken down without walls. 135 00:28:51,000 --> 00:29:04,000 When there are no walls, there is no protective environment in place to shield, to protect that which is inside from that on the outside. 136 00:29:04,000 --> 00:29:20,000 When there are no structures, when there is no rules, when there are no boundaries, it is free reign for the devil to walk straight into your family's life and do whatever he wants. 137 00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:26,000 Oh my God, I feel the anointing today. I know we're not swinging from these chandeliers right now. 138 00:29:26,000 --> 00:29:31,000 I know we're not running any aisles today, but hear me what I'm saying by the word of the Lord. 139 00:29:31,000 --> 00:29:38,000 Don't be afraid to give your children structure they need it. 140 00:29:38,000 --> 00:29:45,000 Amen, somebody. Give them rules. Give them boundaries. 141 00:29:45,000 --> 00:29:55,000 So why is it so important? You know, why can't we just have no rules and, you know, rules are necessary. 142 00:29:55,000 --> 00:30:04,000 If you give your child beliefs without boundaries, eventually they won't have beliefs anymore either. 143 00:30:04,000 --> 00:30:10,000 That's how the foundations are destroyed. But boundaries gives your family direction. 144 00:30:10,000 --> 00:30:19,000 And if they don't have direction, if they don't have boundaries, what's going to happen? Let me tell you, I'll be just a little bit longer here today, but let me tell you what's going to happen. 145 00:30:19,000 --> 00:30:33,000 Contrary to popular belief, contrary to whatever society and the experts say, they will grow up without boundaries, they will grow up more insecure. 146 00:30:33,000 --> 00:30:41,000 Less secure. Less free. See, the world tells you don't give them boundaries, so they'll be like a free spirit. 147 00:30:41,000 --> 00:30:45,000 They'll be more creative. They'll be, you know, they'll get to experiment with different things in the world. 148 00:30:45,000 --> 00:30:53,000 And I'm telling you, it's the exact opposite. With no boundaries, they grow up less secure in who they are. 149 00:30:53,000 --> 00:31:02,000 They make up their own rules as they go. They wander aimlessly through life, spiritually and emotionally unstable. 150 00:31:02,000 --> 00:31:21,000 A few years ago, a team of architects conducted a simple study to observe any physical and psychological influences of having a fence around a playground. 151 00:31:21,000 --> 00:31:46,000 And how it would impact preschool children. By observing teachers and their students in two different playground settings, one with a fence and one without a fence, the researchers found a striking difference in the child's behavior within each space. 152 00:31:46,000 --> 00:31:59,000 On the playground without a fence, they observed that the children tended to huddle around their teacher and hesitated to venture out. 153 00:31:59,000 --> 00:32:12,000 Conversely, in the fenced-in playground, the children roamed around with freedom and curiosity. 154 00:32:12,000 --> 00:32:26,000 And the researchers concluded that the presence of a boundary fostered a greater sense of confidence and security and actually encouraged the children to explore. 155 00:32:26,000 --> 00:32:48,000 Contrary to what we think, having a boundary in place, rules in place, structure and order in our lives and in our families actually liberates our children and the next generation to explore, to learn, which we want them to do. 156 00:32:48,000 --> 00:32:59,000 To discover the beauty of what God has available for them and be confident. How many of you parents want to raise confident children? 157 00:32:59,000 --> 00:33:08,000 Amen. Confident. Secure. Do you know how you do that? Boundaries. 158 00:33:08,000 --> 00:33:22,000 Hear me? Boundaries. Rules. That's right. Giving your family boundaries is not going to limit their potential. It will unleash their potential. 159 00:33:22,000 --> 00:33:33,000 Because in many ways, it's those rules. And I'm speaking today as a living witness. It's the rules that my father put in place over me. 160 00:33:33,000 --> 00:33:45,000 You know, growing up, I'm just about done. I thought my dad was a little too hard on me sometimes. A little too old school. 161 00:33:45,000 --> 00:33:55,000 He had rules in place. And I thought he was a bit of a disciplinarian. Now, he wasn't overboard about it. 162 00:33:55,000 --> 00:34:06,000 As I got a little older, as I proved myself out and I earned his trust, responsibility, of course, you know what happened? 163 00:34:06,000 --> 00:34:17,000 The fence got expanded. But you know, Brother David, till the day I got married, there was always a fence. 164 00:34:17,000 --> 00:34:30,000 I was like my 20s and I still had a fence. You know, I still had to tell them where I was. Tell them where I'm going. 165 00:34:30,000 --> 00:34:39,000 Tell them what time am I coming back. There's still a fence. And until you can pay for your own fence. 166 00:34:39,000 --> 00:34:48,000 All y'all don't want to hear what I've got to say. There's going to be a fence in this house and you're going to live by them. Why? Because I love you. 167 00:34:48,000 --> 00:34:56,000 Because I want to release you one day to be the very best that God has for your life. 168 00:34:56,000 --> 00:35:03,000 Hey man, somebody. I mean, I got to wrap this thing up. But before I do, and I'll try to wrap this up quickly now. 169 00:35:03,000 --> 00:35:14,000 I know I keep saying it, but hear me. There's also a roof. Someone say the roof. Someone say raise the roof. 170 00:35:14,000 --> 00:35:25,000 You lay the foundation. You build the walls. And then you raise the roof. Wow. How do I raise the roof? This is where Paul comes in. 171 00:35:25,000 --> 00:35:33,000 When Paul steps into the scene of Timothy's life, a young man, Paul didn't have anything to do with his foundation. 172 00:35:33,000 --> 00:35:40,000 The boy was already a disciple, a believer in Jesus, baptized in Jesus' name, filled with the Holy Ghost. 173 00:35:40,000 --> 00:35:48,000 Paul didn't even have much to do with his boundaries because he was already a respectable, respectful young man. 174 00:35:48,000 --> 00:35:55,000 He was submitted to his mother's authority and his father's, even though he was not a believer. He was submitted to that. 175 00:35:55,000 --> 00:36:07,000 But Paul comes in at just the right moment. And if we do this according to this biblical pattern, at the right moment, at the right season, and at the right time, 176 00:36:07,000 --> 00:36:17,000 God will send into your child and your family's life a Paul. It could be a pastor. It could be this pastor. It could be a mentor. 177 00:36:17,000 --> 00:36:24,000 It could be a spiritual leader in the church. But this is what they do. 178 00:36:24,000 --> 00:36:36,000 They take young Timothy under their wing. Oh, hallelujah. They say, you've got a foundation. You've got walls. 179 00:36:36,000 --> 00:36:43,000 Now, let me help you reach your potential. 180 00:36:43,000 --> 00:36:53,000 This is when Eunice, you know what Eunice had to do here? I wonder if Eunice cried when Paul said, you know, I was thinking about taking your son. 181 00:36:53,000 --> 00:36:58,000 What? 182 00:36:58,000 --> 00:37:03,000 I think it was, it had to be hard. 183 00:37:03,000 --> 00:37:17,000 I think it was probably hard when Hannah had to bring Samuel to the temple and give him to Eli. Right? 184 00:37:17,000 --> 00:37:26,000 But there comes a point, this is for everybody, parents, listen up, especially, there comes a point where we have to recognize, 185 00:37:26,000 --> 00:37:33,000 without being their parent, I'm always going to be here to be that foundation, walls if necessary. 186 00:37:33,000 --> 00:37:41,000 But there comes a point in which we have to recognize our limitations and say, for him or her to reach their maximum potential, 187 00:37:41,000 --> 00:37:48,000 I got to allow, I got to surrender and let someone else be a voice in their life. 188 00:37:48,000 --> 00:37:59,000 Oh, Jesus, I got to be willing to let others, let other teachers, men and women of God, to help them, form them. 189 00:37:59,000 --> 00:38:07,000 You see, Eunice did an amazing job with her son. We're not criticizing her, but she had some limitations. 190 00:38:07,000 --> 00:38:15,000 Timothy was destined to be a pastor. She couldn't tell him anything about being a pastor. She had not been a pastor. 191 00:38:15,000 --> 00:38:21,000 Timothy was destined to be a preacher. She couldn't mentor him to be a preacher. 192 00:38:21,000 --> 00:38:30,000 And so there came a point in where she had to say, okay, Paul, I'm willing to release him into your care, 193 00:38:30,000 --> 00:38:38,000 so that you can take him to places that I can't take. I can't go all these places. I can't give him all of these experiences. 194 00:38:38,000 --> 00:38:46,000 I got to stay home. I got my mother Lois here. My life is here. 195 00:38:46,000 --> 00:38:53,000 So in order for his roof to be raised, can you stand with me today? I invite everyone to stand. God bless you. 196 00:38:53,000 --> 00:39:02,000 I might have to come back to this message another time, because I got a lot. But Paul steps in. 197 00:39:02,000 --> 00:39:09,000 This is why you have to bring your children to church. Oh, God. 198 00:39:09,000 --> 00:39:15,000 This is why we have to bring the young people to church. 199 00:39:15,000 --> 00:39:24,000 Because while you're laying the foundation all week long, while you're establishing the boundaries throughout their daily lives, 200 00:39:24,000 --> 00:39:30,000 which I hope you do more than ever, you bring them here on Sundays. 201 00:39:30,000 --> 00:39:35,000 You let them get involved in the church. You let them go to junior camps, youth camps. 202 00:39:35,000 --> 00:39:41,000 I don't care what. As long as it's an apostolic camp, you let them get involved. You let them explore. 203 00:39:41,000 --> 00:39:46,000 You let them get under the right kind of ministry. Why? 204 00:39:46,000 --> 00:39:52,000 So that we can help raise the roof for them. 205 00:39:52,000 --> 00:39:58,000 So that we can take them and not change what you taught them. 206 00:39:58,000 --> 00:40:03,000 Not change the foundation. No, we're here to reaffirm the foundation. 207 00:40:03,000 --> 00:40:10,000 We're here to, my God, hallelujah. We're here to confirm the foundation, somebody. 208 00:40:10,000 --> 00:40:19,000 But also to raise the roof. You know why? Because right here in this church, in City Light Church, 209 00:40:19,000 --> 00:40:26,000 our future preachers, ministers, ministers' wives, missionaries, missionaries' wives. 210 00:40:26,000 --> 00:40:31,000 I wish I had a witness right now. I said I wish I had a witness right now. 211 00:40:31,000 --> 00:40:39,000 Pastors and evangelists. Oh, business owners and you name it. 212 00:40:39,000 --> 00:40:43,000 Great and mighty people. God's going to raise up. 213 00:40:43,000 --> 00:40:53,000 And there are mentors here. There are mentors in the body that if we would just got here. 214 00:40:53,000 --> 00:40:59,000 I pray that you hear my heart today, church. 215 00:40:59,000 --> 00:41:24,000 We need to build up the next generation.