WEBVTT 00:00:01.100 --> 00:00:04.599 Verse number one I want to continue along the 00:00:04.599 --> 00:00:10.599 lines of this thought happy now year Happy now 00:00:10.599 --> 00:00:16.339 year first John 3 beginning at verse number one 00:00:16.339 --> 00:00:19.920 So thankful for the two that were baptized in 00:00:19.920 --> 00:00:23.859 Jesus name last Sunday That's pretty awesome 00:00:23.859 --> 00:00:28.039 But do you know we haven't had one person baptized 00:00:28.039 --> 00:00:31.370 this year I mean, the whole year, not one person 00:00:31.370 --> 00:00:33.789 has been baptized. So here's what we did today. 00:00:34.310 --> 00:00:37.109 We turned on the heater in the baptismal tank, 00:00:37.570 --> 00:00:41.189 and we got the robes all pressed and ready, and 00:00:41.189 --> 00:00:44.350 we've got clean towels so that if you want to 00:00:44.350 --> 00:00:48.009 be baptized in Jesus' name, we're ready today. 00:00:48.530 --> 00:00:51.950 In fact... We flew in one of our chief elders, 00:00:52.170 --> 00:00:55.770 Brother Ray Byfield. He cut his holiday plan 00:00:55.770 --> 00:00:59.429 short to come back today to baptize somebody 00:00:59.429 --> 00:01:03.969 in Jesus' name. He is ready. He is ready. Now 00:01:03.969 --> 00:01:07.030 I know baptism is not just because we're ready. 00:01:07.090 --> 00:01:09.959 You gotta be ready. How do you know you're ready? 00:01:10.079 --> 00:01:12.980 Well, if you know that Jesus Christ is your Savior, 00:01:13.359 --> 00:01:16.340 but you have never been immersed in water in 00:01:16.340 --> 00:01:20.319 His name, you're ready to be baptized in Jesus' 00:01:20.500 --> 00:01:22.849 name. You say, well, I don't think I'm even a 00:01:22.849 --> 00:01:24.950 member of this church. It's not about church 00:01:24.950 --> 00:01:28.069 membership. It's about faith in Jesus Christ. 00:01:28.109 --> 00:01:31.870 So I urge you, as we come to the end of this 00:01:31.870 --> 00:01:34.549 message, and everybody comes to the altar, you 00:01:34.549 --> 00:01:36.890 head right over here, my left, your right, and 00:01:36.890 --> 00:01:39.750 just tell Brother Byfield, I want to be baptized 00:01:39.750 --> 00:01:42.870 right now in Jesus' name. Now, if you've got 00:01:42.870 --> 00:01:45.590 plans and you think I'm preaching too long, you 00:01:45.590 --> 00:01:47.909 interrupt the message and go right to him and 00:01:47.909 --> 00:01:51.859 say, let's get this party started. gotta be baptized 00:01:51.859 --> 00:01:56.560 in Jesus' name. It really is a very important 00:01:56.560 --> 00:01:59.799 part of your walk with the Lord and certainly 00:01:59.799 --> 00:02:02.620 those initial steps of letting him be the Lord 00:02:02.620 --> 00:02:07.000 of your life. First John three, verse one. Behold 00:02:07.000 --> 00:02:11.520 what manner of love the Father has bestowed on 00:02:11.520 --> 00:02:17.000 us that we should be called children of God. 00:02:17.360 --> 00:02:19.860 Would you turn to the person immediately beside 00:02:19.860 --> 00:02:21.560 you and just say, you know, you're a child of 00:02:21.560 --> 00:02:25.219 God. And just like pat him on the back like, 00:02:25.259 --> 00:02:27.639 that's pretty cool. I get to sit next to a child 00:02:27.639 --> 00:02:30.460 of God. Turn to the person on the other side 00:02:30.460 --> 00:02:32.979 of you. Oh my goodness, I'm surrounded by children 00:02:32.979 --> 00:02:40.539 of God. Amen. It's only the love of God that 00:02:40.539 --> 00:02:44.740 gives us opportunity to be called children of 00:02:44.740 --> 00:02:49.030 God. Therefore, the world does not know us because 00:02:49.030 --> 00:02:52.610 it did not know him. How many of you have a coworker, 00:02:52.610 --> 00:02:55.270 don't even act like you're a child of God? You 00:02:55.270 --> 00:02:57.770 don't have to raise your hand. How many got a 00:02:57.770 --> 00:02:59.150 relative right there in your house, they don't 00:02:59.150 --> 00:03:02.710 even act like, no. But there's some people ain't 00:03:02.710 --> 00:03:05.349 gonna figure out you're a child of God. They 00:03:05.349 --> 00:03:08.229 didn't know he was the son of God. So why would 00:03:08.229 --> 00:03:11.569 they think you're anything special when you're 00:03:11.569 --> 00:03:16.849 just one of his children? And it says here, Beloved 00:03:16.849 --> 00:03:22.009 now, beloved now, we are children of God. Now 00:03:22.009 --> 00:03:26.810 we are children of God. Happy now year, we are 00:03:26.810 --> 00:03:30.930 children of God now. And it has not yet been 00:03:30.930 --> 00:03:34.409 revealed what we shall be, but we know that when 00:03:34.409 --> 00:03:38.569 he is revealed, we shall be like him, for we 00:03:38.569 --> 00:03:42.949 shall see him as he is. And everyone who has 00:03:42.949 --> 00:03:47.469 this hope, What hope that when I see him I'm 00:03:47.469 --> 00:03:50.889 gonna become like But in the meantime because 00:03:50.889 --> 00:03:55.050 of this hope everyone that has this hope in him 00:03:55.050 --> 00:04:01.569 purifies himself Just as he is pure in order 00:04:01.569 --> 00:04:03.889 for me to be a child of God in order for you 00:04:03.889 --> 00:04:06.750 to be a child of God Jesus Christ had to do something 00:04:06.750 --> 00:04:11.330 so spectacular and so Supernatural that he could 00:04:11.330 --> 00:04:15.780 make me righteous right with God, purify me. 00:04:16.240 --> 00:04:19.800 But he promises that the work is not done. He's 00:04:19.800 --> 00:04:23.339 gonna keep working on me every day. But then 00:04:23.339 --> 00:04:27.579 when I see him, he's gonna finish the job. I'm 00:04:27.579 --> 00:04:30.360 gonna be like him. And that motivates us, doesn't 00:04:30.360 --> 00:04:34.980 it? I might as well just keep on, keep on keeping 00:04:34.980 --> 00:04:39.810 on. He's made me righteous. I wanna move forward 00:04:39.810 --> 00:04:43.329 in that righteousness. He has purified me. I'm 00:04:43.329 --> 00:04:47.089 gonna keep myself pure. I'm gonna keep moving 00:04:47.089 --> 00:04:51.069 into his presence. My goodness, happy now year. 00:04:51.129 --> 00:04:54.170 Would you ask the Lord to speak to you? I gotta 00:04:54.170 --> 00:04:58.189 be used of God today. Pray for me. Lord Jesus, 00:04:58.250 --> 00:05:01.810 help me to be what you want me to be. Now pray 00:05:01.810 --> 00:05:05.410 for you. Jesus, help me to receive the word with 00:05:05.410 --> 00:05:09.120 a heart that is like good soil. Now pray for 00:05:09.120 --> 00:05:11.360 everybody else here in the sanctuary and online. 00:05:11.480 --> 00:05:15.860 Lord Jesus, now we are your children and we wanna 00:05:15.860 --> 00:05:20.220 live like it, God. We want to receive every benefit 00:05:20.220 --> 00:05:25.519 and blessing of it, Lord. In the name of the 00:05:25.519 --> 00:05:29.319 Lord Jesus Christ. Can you say in Jesus' name? 00:05:30.450 --> 00:05:32.269 You may be seated, I'm gonna ask you two quick 00:05:32.269 --> 00:05:34.350 questions I'd like for you to give a quick amen. 00:05:34.589 --> 00:05:37.069 You may be seated. First question is this. How 00:05:37.069 --> 00:05:42.189 many of you love Christmas? Amen. That was good, 00:05:42.290 --> 00:05:44.990 the clapping was good too. Who clapped? Oh, well 00:05:44.990 --> 00:05:46.850 thank you. Let's all clap if you love Christmas. 00:05:46.949 --> 00:05:56.970 That's even better than an amen. It's a real 00:05:56.970 --> 00:05:58.930 important part of the whole message. So I got 00:05:58.930 --> 00:06:01.370 I think it was worth a few moments there How 00:06:01.370 --> 00:06:03.829 many of you love the idea of the birth of Jesus 00:06:03.829 --> 00:06:10.449 Christ? How many of you are glad he's not still 00:06:10.449 --> 00:06:15.269 in the manger That's important There was an old 00:06:15.269 --> 00:06:17.509 song that said he's not in a manger anymore. 00:06:17.509 --> 00:06:21.769 He's the Messiah He's the Savior and I'm glad 00:06:21.769 --> 00:06:24.160 about it And in fact, if you look at the life 00:06:24.160 --> 00:06:27.839 of Jesus as a man, son of man, because he was 00:06:27.839 --> 00:06:30.160 born of the Virgin Mary, son of God, because 00:06:30.160 --> 00:06:33.600 we know he is completely God. The Holy Spirit 00:06:33.600 --> 00:06:36.660 overshadowed the Virgin. That's how Jesus came 00:06:36.660 --> 00:06:39.720 to be, completely man. He was already and is 00:06:39.720 --> 00:06:44.620 completely God. But as a man, starting as a baby, 00:06:45.339 --> 00:06:49.160 he had to grow. He had to grow. In Luke chapter 00:06:49.160 --> 00:06:52.240 two it says of Jesus in verse number 40, and 00:06:52.240 --> 00:06:58.120 the child grew and became strong in spirit, filled 00:06:58.120 --> 00:07:02.720 with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him. 00:07:03.420 --> 00:07:06.300 How many of you remember when you had small children? 00:07:06.779 --> 00:07:10.100 And here's just one example. I remember as an 00:07:10.100 --> 00:07:13.420 adult with small children, I would talk on the 00:07:13.420 --> 00:07:17.860 phone, right? And. as I watched my children, 00:07:17.920 --> 00:07:21.040 even when they were small, they would grab a 00:07:21.040 --> 00:07:24.420 little toy and they would act like they were 00:07:24.420 --> 00:07:27.860 talking on the phone. Nobody else experienced 00:07:27.860 --> 00:07:31.779 that? Sure. I found out that my children from 00:07:31.779 --> 00:07:33.620 when they were really small, they got a little 00:07:33.620 --> 00:07:35.759 bit older, they stopped immediately. But when 00:07:35.759 --> 00:07:37.579 they were really small, they tried to imitate 00:07:37.579 --> 00:07:41.220 me. Tried to imitate their mother. They were 00:07:41.220 --> 00:07:44.740 going through the motions of trying to be like. 00:07:44.800 --> 00:07:48.199 their parents, right? And so I think it's important 00:07:48.199 --> 00:07:51.300 to make this little distinction here at the start 00:07:51.300 --> 00:07:54.480 of this message that there is something about 00:07:54.480 --> 00:07:58.600 being a child of God that we try to imitate him. 00:07:59.660 --> 00:08:02.439 In fact, the scripture says, be followers of 00:08:02.439 --> 00:08:06.300 me, Paul said, as I am of Christ, imitate me. 00:08:06.639 --> 00:08:10.259 I'm trying to imitate him. And so I'm gonna come 00:08:10.259 --> 00:08:12.879 back to that in a minute, but I want you to know 00:08:12.879 --> 00:08:17.860 as excited as we are that the baby Jesus is no 00:08:17.860 --> 00:08:22.319 longer the baby Jesus. We are equally excited 00:08:22.319 --> 00:08:26.579 that when we are born again and Jesus Christ 00:08:26.579 --> 00:08:32.799 is born in us, he don't stay a baby, but he grows. 00:08:32.840 --> 00:08:37.059 And as he grows, we grow. How do we grow? We 00:08:37.059 --> 00:08:41.200 grow just like Jesus. We become strong in the 00:08:41.200 --> 00:08:45.240 Spirit. We become filled with wisdom and the 00:08:45.240 --> 00:08:50.120 grace of God is upon us. And so when I say beloved, 00:08:50.220 --> 00:08:55.460 now we are the children of God. It is more than 00:08:55.460 --> 00:08:58.980 just us being in the manger or still being in 00:08:58.980 --> 00:09:04.340 the state of spiritual infancy. We can rejoice 00:09:04.340 --> 00:09:10.590 that We are growing to become more like Jesus 00:09:10.590 --> 00:09:15.669 every day. If you have a child whose parents 00:09:15.669 --> 00:09:18.789 are maybe the dad, it could be the mom, I'm not 00:09:18.789 --> 00:09:23.049 trying to put anybody in a box here, but the 00:09:23.049 --> 00:09:26.330 dad might be someone that in their profession, 00:09:26.789 --> 00:09:30.429 they're always swinging a hammer. Well, you're 00:09:30.429 --> 00:09:33.870 gonna see that little boy as the smallest child, 00:09:34.090 --> 00:09:36.710 even the little one, the girl, whatever. They're 00:09:36.710 --> 00:09:40.169 gonna be swinging anything that looks like a 00:09:40.169 --> 00:09:44.610 hammer. Right? Because as a child, they are imitating 00:09:44.610 --> 00:09:48.710 that parent. Now the thing about it is, as that 00:09:48.710 --> 00:09:53.450 child grows, in some cases, they are no longer 00:09:53.450 --> 00:09:57.830 imitating that dad with the hammer. They are 00:09:57.830 --> 00:10:01.889 becoming that dad by growing up in that skill. 00:10:02.029 --> 00:10:06.190 And now what started as imitation has become 00:10:06.190 --> 00:10:09.690 incarnation because people say, yeah, his dad 00:10:09.690 --> 00:10:13.409 was a car. and he has become a carpenter. Wouldn't 00:10:13.409 --> 00:10:17.450 it be awesome as the children of God in this 00:10:17.450 --> 00:10:22.190 happy now revelation that beloved now are we 00:10:22.190 --> 00:10:26.009 the children of God that what starts as imitating 00:10:26.009 --> 00:10:29.889 Jesus as we're just new in our relationship with 00:10:29.889 --> 00:10:34.250 God, it leaves the level of imitation and it 00:10:34.250 --> 00:10:38.429 becomes the revelation of incarnation because 00:10:38.429 --> 00:10:42.580 now. people see me and they say, oh my goodness, 00:10:42.899 --> 00:10:47.419 I'm seeing more of Jesus and less of him. How 00:10:47.419 --> 00:10:50.639 many want to raise their hands and say, Jesus, 00:10:51.259 --> 00:10:57.059 let that be me in 2026, an individual living 00:10:57.059 --> 00:11:02.240 with the revelation that now. I am a child of 00:11:02.240 --> 00:11:07.440 God and Jesus is living in me and developing 00:11:07.440 --> 00:11:13.659 in me and as he is I am growing to be more like 00:11:13.659 --> 00:11:19.779 Jesus. That excites me today. Musicians come 00:11:19.779 --> 00:11:26.559 later. Now in Galatians chapter four, the apostle 00:11:26.559 --> 00:11:31.600 Paul, he looks at people like us. people that 00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:35.080 have been known to have put our faith in Jesus. 00:11:35.740 --> 00:11:40.000 We have repented of our sins. We have been baptized 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:43.700 in Jesus' name. We have been filled with the 00:11:43.700 --> 00:11:48.279 Holy Ghost. We are those people, amen? He looks 00:11:48.279 --> 00:11:51.580 at people just like us who have been born again 00:11:51.580 --> 00:11:55.980 and by virtue of that new birth, Christ is in 00:11:55.980 --> 00:12:02.419 them and Christ is in us. And he says this, my 00:12:02.419 --> 00:12:07.980 little children, for whom I labor in birth again 00:12:07.980 --> 00:12:15.159 until Christ is formed in you. It's as though 00:12:15.159 --> 00:12:18.799 the apostle Paul would say in this case to the 00:12:18.799 --> 00:12:21.820 believers and the church in Galatia My goodness, 00:12:21.960 --> 00:12:25.120 I remember coming into this town the first time 00:12:25.120 --> 00:12:27.799 and y 'all were all a bunch of heathen Some of 00:12:27.799 --> 00:12:30.120 y 'all were still serving the God of the Old 00:12:30.120 --> 00:12:32.960 Testament with no revelation that he had come 00:12:32.960 --> 00:12:36.879 into the earth as a baby then grew to be a man 00:12:36.879 --> 00:12:40.899 who lived and died and rose again Some of y 'all 00:12:40.899 --> 00:12:44.259 were just a bunch of heathen Gentiles and my 00:12:44.259 --> 00:12:47.019 goodness, you didn't even have a chance at being 00:12:47.019 --> 00:12:51.259 saved, but I started to preach Jesus, and sure 00:12:51.259 --> 00:12:56.039 enough, Christ was born in you. Now, some of 00:12:56.039 --> 00:12:59.480 you, maybe your start was at heaven view, but 00:12:59.480 --> 00:13:02.919 for others, your start for Jesus was a long time 00:13:02.919 --> 00:13:07.259 ago in a land far away, but Paul would say to 00:13:07.259 --> 00:13:12.340 us, as he said to them, I am so thankful that 00:13:12.340 --> 00:13:17.250 Christ Christ is born in you but all the work 00:13:17.250 --> 00:13:22.169 and all the travail and all the prayer and all 00:13:22.169 --> 00:13:26.529 the Fasting for you to be born again for Christ 00:13:26.529 --> 00:13:30.830 to be born in you It's now being followed up 00:13:30.830 --> 00:13:36.309 with the same intensity of labor pains as I cry 00:13:36.309 --> 00:13:41.450 out to God and say Jesus Don't stay in those 00:13:41.450 --> 00:13:45.409 soul as just a little baby in the manger, but 00:13:45.409 --> 00:13:49.289 help these precious people of God to experience 00:13:49.289 --> 00:13:53.450 the growth of the Spirit of God in our lives 00:13:53.450 --> 00:13:59.809 until we can celebrate Christ is being formed 00:13:59.809 --> 00:14:08.490 in us. Until all of us as little children imitating 00:14:08.490 --> 00:14:14.019 our Heavenly Father. We leave imitation and we 00:14:14.019 --> 00:14:18.639 experience incarnation as all of a sudden it's 00:14:18.639 --> 00:14:22.740 not just me pretending to be like Jesus. He has 00:14:22.740 --> 00:14:28.559 formed in me and now I have become more and more 00:14:28.559 --> 00:14:32.440 like him. I have such a long way to go. Maybe 00:14:32.440 --> 00:14:35.860 some of you can feel that with me, but I predict 00:14:35.860 --> 00:14:39.500 that there are believers here today that will 00:14:39.500 --> 00:14:45.759 live in 2026 with a happy now mentality. Now 00:14:45.759 --> 00:14:50.679 I am a child of God and now I will continue to 00:14:50.679 --> 00:14:55.139 let him be formed in my life. Now I will grow 00:14:55.139 --> 00:14:59.399 to become strong in the spirit. I will be filled. 00:14:59.340 --> 00:15:03.720 with wisdom and the grace of God will be upon 00:15:03.720 --> 00:15:08.919 me. Jesus Christ has been born in me. Jesus Christ 00:15:08.919 --> 00:15:12.879 has been born in you. You are born again, but 00:15:12.879 --> 00:15:15.960 that's more than just a spiritual experience 00:15:15.960 --> 00:15:20.240 at an altar. The spirit of God literally was 00:15:20.240 --> 00:15:24.059 born into your life. That's why inside of your 00:15:24.059 --> 00:15:27.320 soul every now and then there's a yearning, I 00:15:27.320 --> 00:15:31.700 want to be more. like Jesus. It's because inside 00:15:31.700 --> 00:15:36.360 of you is Jesus Christ, the hope of glory. The 00:15:36.360 --> 00:15:40.919 Bible says greater is he that is in you than 00:15:40.919 --> 00:15:45.080 he that is in the world. We all know the devil's 00:15:45.080 --> 00:15:48.519 in the world and every demon, but inside of you, 00:15:48.960 --> 00:15:53.460 inside of me is the spirit of Jesus Christ. He 00:15:53.460 --> 00:15:57.559 has been born in you. Now let him be formed in 00:15:57.559 --> 00:16:02.090 you. not in the sweet by and by, but now we are 00:16:02.090 --> 00:16:06.230 the children of God. And so now we can lean in 00:16:06.230 --> 00:16:09.990 to the presence of God that is within us and 00:16:09.990 --> 00:16:14.409 what was imitation can become incarnation. This 00:16:14.409 --> 00:16:19.470 Christ that is born in us will be formed in us 00:16:19.470 --> 00:16:27.080 every single day. As I begin to contemplate these 00:16:27.080 --> 00:16:31.539 things, I begin to think about the fact that 00:16:31.539 --> 00:16:37.399 my goodness, if we had an example of a true child 00:16:37.399 --> 00:16:41.460 of God, then maybe that would give us a pattern 00:16:41.460 --> 00:16:47.019 to follow so that Christ could be formed in us. 00:16:47.600 --> 00:16:49.879 And it came to me after some thought, it should 00:16:49.879 --> 00:16:53.080 have come to me immediately, but it took a few 00:16:53.080 --> 00:16:55.750 moments. I'm a little bit embarrassed because 00:16:55.750 --> 00:17:00.529 I was really kind of racking my brain. Who can 00:17:00.529 --> 00:17:04.130 be an example for each one of us of a child of 00:17:04.130 --> 00:17:09.269 God so that we can gauge is Christ being formed 00:17:09.269 --> 00:17:12.349 in us? And here is what I came up with. Are you 00:17:12.349 --> 00:17:16.329 ready? The greatest example of a child of God 00:17:16.329 --> 00:17:22.269 is Jesus. That's why he came to earth as a child. 00:17:22.509 --> 00:17:26.849 so we can learn how to be children of God. In 00:17:26.849 --> 00:17:29.849 fact, in one of the simplest ways that sometimes 00:17:29.849 --> 00:17:33.230 would shock us, the Bible says, you might wanna 00:17:33.230 --> 00:17:35.569 write this down if you're under the age of 20 00:17:35.569 --> 00:17:39.990 and you still live at home. The Bible says that 00:17:39.990 --> 00:17:47.630 Jesus was submitted to his own parents. I didn't 00:17:47.630 --> 00:17:50.450 get one teenager to shout amen. You were clapping 00:17:50.450 --> 00:17:53.609 before. You stopped clapping now. I'm not trying 00:17:53.609 --> 00:17:57.529 to give you a hard time, but I mean, if there 00:17:57.529 --> 00:17:59.750 was anybody that shouldn't have had to be submitted 00:17:59.750 --> 00:18:02.970 to his own parents, it would have been Jesus, 00:18:03.529 --> 00:18:06.069 because while he was their child, he was also 00:18:06.069 --> 00:18:09.400 their heavenly father. But the Bible says he 00:18:09.400 --> 00:18:12.359 was mindful of their leadership and why was he 00:18:12.359 --> 00:18:17.039 because he was the original child of God growing 00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:21.279 in wisdom growing in the spirit growing to become 00:18:21.279 --> 00:18:25.759 a man of God in the flesh so that you and I would 00:18:25.759 --> 00:18:30.039 have a perfect example of how we ought to become 00:18:30.039 --> 00:18:34.720 like him My goodness. Here's another example 00:18:34.720 --> 00:18:40.470 Jesus was literally baptized Why would he have 00:18:40.470 --> 00:18:45.369 to be baptized? It was just a pattern for us. 00:18:45.829 --> 00:18:49.849 And so if you are so thankful, and I am so thankful, 00:18:49.849 --> 00:18:54.269 and I know we all are so thankful that now we 00:18:54.269 --> 00:18:58.470 are the children of God. Let's spin the bulk 00:18:58.470 --> 00:19:02.809 of 2026. We have jobs, we have school, we have 00:19:02.809 --> 00:19:05.109 responsibilities, and you just can't go live 00:19:05.109 --> 00:19:08.369 on the beach somewhere and meditate, hum, oh, 00:19:08.470 --> 00:19:11.269 help me to understand more of who Jesus is. No, 00:19:11.470 --> 00:19:15.839 life is at such a ferocious pace, but car. out 00:19:15.839 --> 00:19:20.599 some time to read the Bible and read specifically 00:19:20.599 --> 00:19:24.960 about the life of Jesus and the habits of Jesus 00:19:24.960 --> 00:19:29.359 and say, Jesus, I know that you're in here. I 00:19:29.359 --> 00:19:32.900 know that I've been born again. I know that right 00:19:32.900 --> 00:19:36.779 now I am a child of God, but I don't want to 00:19:36.779 --> 00:19:39.559 stay in the manger. I don't want to just be a 00:19:39.559 --> 00:19:42.579 rockabye baby. My whole Christian experience, 00:19:42.779 --> 00:19:51.420 I want Christ to be He formed in me. Amen. In 00:19:51.420 --> 00:19:55.859 fact, at the beginning of the year, usually on 00:19:55.859 --> 00:20:00.299 the first Sunday, we emphasize prayer and fasting 00:20:00.299 --> 00:20:05.160 and the word so that each one of us could make 00:20:05.160 --> 00:20:08.640 a personal commitment. A little bit more prayer, 00:20:09.500 --> 00:20:12.140 a little bit more fasting, a little bit more 00:20:12.140 --> 00:20:16.730 of the word. But I pray that when we make that 00:20:16.730 --> 00:20:20.829 commitment today that you won't make that commitment 00:20:20.829 --> 00:20:23.730 just because it's another religious responsibility 00:20:23.730 --> 00:20:27.049 or perhaps you feel like you gained a few pounds 00:20:27.049 --> 00:20:32.710 over the holidays. Maybe you can say wait a minute, 00:20:33.410 --> 00:20:36.390 I'm a child of God right now and the greatest 00:20:36.390 --> 00:20:39.069 example I have a child of God is Jesus Christ 00:20:39.069 --> 00:20:43.329 and I notice as I read about him, that he was 00:20:43.329 --> 00:20:48.869 insistent about stealing away bulks of time to 00:20:48.869 --> 00:20:53.849 pray and fast. Can I tell you why? Because as 00:20:53.849 --> 00:20:58.509 a man, he needed to be in tune to the voice of 00:20:58.509 --> 00:21:03.170 God, to the will of the Father. And he discovered, 00:21:03.470 --> 00:21:07.269 like we have discovered, if I don't get this 00:21:07.269 --> 00:21:10.980 flesh under subjection, There's just no way I'm 00:21:10.980 --> 00:21:15.839 gonna even want to do the will of God. And so 00:21:15.839 --> 00:21:20.880 now we are the children of God. But it is the 00:21:20.880 --> 00:21:25.279 will of God that Christ be formed in us to the 00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:29.990 degree that we live to accomplish his will. So 00:21:29.990 --> 00:21:32.470 we have to lean into a little bit more prayer 00:21:32.470 --> 00:21:35.950 and lean into a little bit more fasting and lean 00:21:35.950 --> 00:21:38.269 into a little bit more time in the word. Why? 00:21:38.509 --> 00:21:42.490 Because I need to get this flesh under subjection. 00:21:42.650 --> 00:21:46.829 So I'm not just a child of sin or a child of 00:21:46.829 --> 00:21:51.529 this world or a child of this culture. I am a 00:21:51.529 --> 00:21:54.809 child of God. And furthermore, when I look at 00:21:54.809 --> 00:21:58.369 the template of the first child of God, the son 00:21:58.369 --> 00:22:03.349 of God. I see that God had a specific. Purpose 00:22:03.349 --> 00:22:07.410 for his life for his death for his resurrection 00:22:07.410 --> 00:22:10.089 then it may sound crazy But I'm gonna tell you 00:22:10.089 --> 00:22:13.450 right now I'm not just a child of God in this 00:22:13.450 --> 00:22:16.809 life if the Lord tarries his coming I will die, 00:22:17.069 --> 00:22:20.089 but I will rise again. I'm not gonna die the 00:22:20.089 --> 00:22:23.210 second death I know for a fact that the spirit 00:22:23.210 --> 00:22:26.089 that raised up Christ from the dead Dwells in 00:22:26.089 --> 00:22:29.349 me and so I got a news flash for you his will 00:22:29.349 --> 00:22:32.529 for your life. It's not just to live 50, 60, 00:22:32.809 --> 00:22:36.349 80, 120 years just doing what matters to you, 00:22:36.529 --> 00:22:39.190 just doing what helps you feel like you had a 00:22:39.190 --> 00:22:42.250 good life. God forbid what he wants you to do 00:22:42.250 --> 00:22:45.750 is to lean into his word, lean into his presence, 00:22:46.049 --> 00:22:48.529 and lean into a little bit of prayer, lean into 00:22:48.529 --> 00:22:50.829 a little bit of fasting, lean into a little bit 00:22:50.829 --> 00:22:54.890 of Bible study until you can say, not my will, 00:22:55.170 --> 00:23:02.829 but thine be done. We have a whole generation 00:23:02.829 --> 00:23:08.809 of young people that are so, here's a word to 00:23:08.809 --> 00:23:12.910 look up when you get home, befuddled about what 00:23:12.910 --> 00:23:17.269 they should do with their life. Here's why, are 00:23:17.269 --> 00:23:23.089 you ready? Because remember that analogy I gave 00:23:23.089 --> 00:23:27.309 you a little while ago? That junior sees mom 00:23:27.309 --> 00:23:32.410 and dad so junior. pretends to be mom and dad. 00:23:33.190 --> 00:23:39.890 Junior sees mom or dad. So Junior wants to become 00:23:39.890 --> 00:23:44.750 like mom or dad. And what is imitation becomes 00:23:44.750 --> 00:23:48.529 incarnation. And we say, man, he's a chip off 00:23:48.529 --> 00:23:51.569 the old block, just like his dad. Guess what? 00:23:52.089 --> 00:23:55.009 That doesn't work for this generation. Because 00:23:55.009 --> 00:23:57.569 we have convinced them, our culture has convinced 00:23:57.569 --> 00:24:00.529 them, you are your own person. You don't have 00:24:00.529 --> 00:24:02.970 to follow any of those rules. You don't have 00:24:02.970 --> 00:24:05.670 to be like anybody else. We have convinced them, 00:24:05.750 --> 00:24:08.670 in fact, that if you kind of do things the way 00:24:08.670 --> 00:24:11.990 mom or dad did things, you're missing it. It 00:24:11.990 --> 00:24:14.549 is the biggest deception that has always been, 00:24:14.769 --> 00:24:18.029 but now it is screaming at our students because 00:24:18.029 --> 00:24:21.289 technology has given them access to all kinds 00:24:21.289 --> 00:24:24.329 of examples of people that are convincing them. 00:24:24.490 --> 00:24:26.549 You don't have to be submitted to your parents. 00:24:26.710 --> 00:24:28.789 You don't have to be submitted to your pastor. 00:24:28.950 --> 00:24:31.210 You don't have to be submitted to the policeman. 00:24:31.410 --> 00:24:34.130 You don't have to be submitted to anything. In 00:24:34.130 --> 00:24:37.349 fact, let's be honest, all of life is a joke. 00:24:37.750 --> 00:24:40.490 Every person in authority's a fake. None of it 00:24:40.490 --> 00:24:42.250 really matters. But anyway, and they're just 00:24:42.250 --> 00:24:46.470 so befuddled because they think that they're 00:24:46.470 --> 00:24:50.670 gonna become something without any example of 00:24:50.670 --> 00:24:53.730 how to become what God wants them to become. 00:24:54.670 --> 00:24:57.910 Good luck with that students. Hope it works out 00:24:57.910 --> 00:25:00.769 for you. But you know the students that thrive 00:25:00.769 --> 00:25:04.650 in the kingdom of God or the ones that say now 00:25:04.650 --> 00:25:08.569 I'm a child of God, I'm not gonna follow the 00:25:08.569 --> 00:25:11.630 cadence of the world. I am gonna give myself 00:25:11.630 --> 00:25:14.809 to prayer. I'm gonna give myself to fasting. 00:25:15.049 --> 00:25:18.069 I'm gonna give myself to Bible study and bless 00:25:18.069 --> 00:25:21.109 God. I'm gonna find an example of some kind of 00:25:21.109 --> 00:25:24.430 godly person that's trying to be like Jesus and 00:25:24.430 --> 00:25:28.769 I'm gonna imitate them as they imitate him and 00:25:28.769 --> 00:25:32.630 somehow I'm gonna carve out of my life a destiny 00:25:32.630 --> 00:25:35.950 that is not just about what makes me happy. It's 00:25:35.950 --> 00:25:38.450 about what makes him happy and can I tell you 00:25:38.450 --> 00:25:41.390 what they discover? in the process. My goodness, 00:25:41.589 --> 00:25:44.490 I'm a little bit more like Jesus today than I 00:25:44.490 --> 00:25:46.930 was yesterday. I think I'll just keep walking 00:25:46.930 --> 00:25:49.269 with the Lord. I think I'll just keep submitting 00:25:49.269 --> 00:25:52.269 to his word. I think I'll just keep praying and 00:25:52.269 --> 00:25:55.470 fasting and studying and becoming a little bit 00:25:55.470 --> 00:25:59.349 more like Jesus because right now I am a child 00:25:59.349 --> 00:26:03.269 of God. Right now, I've got Christ in me. Right 00:26:03.269 --> 00:26:06.750 now, he's being formed in me and by the time 00:26:06.750 --> 00:26:09.809 I get to glory, he's gonna... finish the job. 00:26:10.210 --> 00:26:13.450 By the time I get to heaven, he's gonna finish 00:26:13.450 --> 00:26:18.910 the job. I wonder if you would close your eyes. 00:26:19.119 --> 00:26:22.900 and raise your hands and with your voice from 00:26:22.900 --> 00:26:26.519 your heart, you would say, Jesus, help me to 00:26:26.519 --> 00:26:31.039 receive what the Spirit is saying to me today 00:26:31.039 --> 00:26:35.000 because this is not supposed to be just another 00:26:35.000 --> 00:26:39.720 year. This is not just supposed to be a haphazard, 00:26:39.839 --> 00:26:43.740 befuddled attempt to be just religious enough 00:26:43.740 --> 00:26:47.599 to get my family and my church off my back. I've 00:26:47.599 --> 00:26:50.920 got to lean in. to the will of God, because I 00:26:50.920 --> 00:26:54.759 know I remember the day I put my faith in Jesus. 00:26:55.000 --> 00:26:59.140 I remember the day I repented of my sins. I remember 00:26:59.140 --> 00:27:03.180 the day I was baptized in Jesus' name. I remember 00:27:03.180 --> 00:27:06.400 the day He filled me with His Spirit. I know 00:27:06.400 --> 00:27:10.240 I'm born again. I know Jesus has been born in 00:27:10.240 --> 00:27:14.319 me, and I'm crying out to you, God. Be formed 00:27:14.319 --> 00:27:25.430 in me today. Can you say in Jesus' name? Praise 00:27:25.430 --> 00:27:29.789 God. I made it to page three. I only got seven 00:27:29.789 --> 00:27:35.589 more pages to go. Thank God we have two services. 00:27:36.730 --> 00:27:38.650 If I don't finish on the second, I'll just go 00:27:38.650 --> 00:27:42.849 to the third before you know it. They'll let 00:27:42.849 --> 00:27:46.009 me go to a fourth. I might have to speak in a 00:27:46.009 --> 00:27:50.339 different language. But I'll get it done. If 00:27:50.339 --> 00:27:55.160 you are here today and you have a great love 00:27:55.160 --> 00:27:59.339 for Jesus, you know he's your savior. But somehow 00:27:59.339 --> 00:28:03.960 there's this nagging feeling that with all you 00:28:03.960 --> 00:28:08.059 know about Jesus, you really don't have any expectation 00:28:08.059 --> 00:28:14.920 that 2026 is gonna be any different than 2025 00:28:14.920 --> 00:28:18.700 or. however many twenties we've had before then. 00:28:19.680 --> 00:28:24.039 Can I remind you that God demonstrates his love 00:28:24.039 --> 00:28:25.839 towards you, if you'll allow me just to make 00:28:25.839 --> 00:28:29.299 it that personal, that while you were still a 00:28:29.299 --> 00:28:32.799 sinner, Christ died for you. That's Romans five 00:28:32.799 --> 00:28:36.980 and eight. And then verse nine says, much more 00:28:36.980 --> 00:28:42.240 than having now been justified by his blood. 00:28:43.470 --> 00:28:48.670 We shall be saved from wrath through him Right 00:28:48.670 --> 00:28:53.789 now you can live a life where you have been purified 00:28:53.789 --> 00:29:00.329 from every sin justified by the blood of Jesus 00:29:00.329 --> 00:29:07.670 Christ and Romans 8 says there is therefore now 00:29:07.670 --> 00:29:12.990 No condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus 00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:16.259 who do not walk after are according to the flesh, 00:29:17.000 --> 00:29:21.099 but according to the spirit. There is no salvation 00:29:21.099 --> 00:29:25.759 outside of Jesus Christ, and we are in Christ, 00:29:26.279 --> 00:29:31.839 and he is in us right now. And if you are here 00:29:31.839 --> 00:29:35.480 today, and you have never been baptized in Jesus' 00:29:35.819 --> 00:29:39.079 name, I'm talking about the Bible way. where 00:29:39.079 --> 00:29:42.240 you literally go down as if we are burying you 00:29:42.240 --> 00:29:45.200 in water. Why would we do that? Because we're 00:29:45.200 --> 00:29:48.779 identifying with the death, the burial of Jesus 00:29:48.779 --> 00:29:51.960 Christ. The best way you can start this year 00:29:51.960 --> 00:29:56.180 off is to be buried with him in baptism. And 00:29:56.180 --> 00:29:58.619 when you are buried with him, you come out of 00:29:58.619 --> 00:30:01.960 that water, old things are passed away, all things 00:30:01.960 --> 00:30:06.140 are become new, and right now, you are a child 00:30:06.140 --> 00:30:12.730 of God. and to this beautiful, faithful church 00:30:12.730 --> 00:30:17.410 family. Because we know, 1 John 3 again, verse 00:30:17.410 --> 00:30:25.009 two, now we are the children of God. And it has 00:30:25.009 --> 00:30:29.430 not yet been revealed what we shall be. But we 00:30:29.430 --> 00:30:32.990 know that when he is revealed, we shall be like 00:30:32.990 --> 00:30:39.650 him. for we shall see him as he is. That revelation 00:30:39.650 --> 00:30:43.269 needs to be in front of us every single day of 00:30:43.269 --> 00:30:47.289 2026. Put it on your mirror in the bathroom. 00:30:48.130 --> 00:30:50.069 Put it on the mirror of your, what do they call 00:30:50.069 --> 00:30:52.950 it, the rear view mirror of your car. Put it 00:30:52.950 --> 00:30:55.170 somewhere, maybe on the steering wheel, where 00:30:55.170 --> 00:30:59.509 it screams at you every day, right now, I'm a 00:30:59.509 --> 00:31:04.140 child of God. Maybe we could get a real. Where 00:31:04.140 --> 00:31:08.160 I'm screaming right now. You're a child of God 00:31:08.160 --> 00:31:13.519 You could play it 24 -7 I Don't think they're 00:31:13.519 --> 00:31:18.259 gonna do it you want to try ready Tell me when 00:31:18.259 --> 00:31:28.759 right now. You're a child of God You say that's 00:31:28.759 --> 00:31:31.660 crazy, you know, it's crazy living like you're 00:31:31.660 --> 00:31:35.359 not a child of God That's what's crazy So maybe 00:31:35.359 --> 00:31:38.519 it would be crazy to listen to that 24 -7 Maybe 00:31:38.519 --> 00:31:40.720 you think it's crazy to put it on your steering 00:31:40.720 --> 00:31:44.019 wheel, but you need to put it somewhere Where 00:31:44.019 --> 00:31:48.259 you live? Like your job is not the main thing 00:31:48.259 --> 00:31:51.799 Being a child of God is the main thing like your 00:31:51.799 --> 00:31:53.680 little boyfriend or girlfriend is not the main 00:31:53.680 --> 00:31:56.339 thing I know she's pretty I know you've been 00:31:56.339 --> 00:32:02.309 with her a while. I don't want you to leave and 00:32:02.309 --> 00:32:04.650 the gifts of the spirit, right? Where is she? 00:32:05.390 --> 00:32:08.190 I'm just kidding. She'll be back soon. She hadn't 00:32:08.190 --> 00:32:14.990 left. Do you see how easy it is to be distracted 00:32:14.990 --> 00:32:18.890 by so many things that you forget your identity? 00:32:19.869 --> 00:32:22.509 And people that don't know who they are, they 00:32:22.509 --> 00:32:24.450 don't accomplish anything that God wants them 00:32:24.450 --> 00:32:27.609 to accomplish. But the scripture says, now you 00:32:27.609 --> 00:32:31.329 are a child of God. Now you are a child of God. 00:32:31.519 --> 00:32:35.480 Now you are a child of God. Now you are a child 00:32:35.480 --> 00:32:37.240 of God. I'm not even screaming and it actually 00:32:37.240 --> 00:32:39.920 sounds like it's still effective. Now you are 00:32:39.920 --> 00:32:45.259 a child of God. I am a child of God. And if I 00:32:45.259 --> 00:32:49.480 can keep that as my focus with this understanding 00:32:49.480 --> 00:32:55.380 that I am every day becoming a little bit more 00:32:55.380 --> 00:32:59.259 like Jesus, not because I'm trying harder, but 00:32:59.259 --> 00:33:04.250 I'm listening. a little bit better to Christ 00:33:04.250 --> 00:33:09.650 in me, leading me to be what he's called me to 00:33:09.650 --> 00:33:15.250 be. And that moment, when I see him, I will become 00:33:15.250 --> 00:33:19.130 like him. He'll finish the job. But y 'all gonna 00:33:19.130 --> 00:33:23.109 finish the job for people that just started serving 00:33:23.109 --> 00:33:26.390 him and you left him as a little baby in the 00:33:26.390 --> 00:33:29.250 manger in your life. He's never been formed. 00:33:29.500 --> 00:33:32.640 You've never grown. You don't see evidence that 00:33:32.640 --> 00:33:36.119 you're becoming more like Jesus. He's not gonna 00:33:36.119 --> 00:33:39.740 be able to finish the work he started in us if 00:33:39.740 --> 00:33:42.000 we don't yield ourselves to his purpose. And 00:33:42.000 --> 00:33:46.180 that's why verse three says that everyone that 00:33:46.180 --> 00:33:52.279 has this hope in him purifies himself just as 00:33:52.279 --> 00:33:58.740 he is pure. There's a scandal. in Christianity 00:33:58.740 --> 00:34:03.400 right now, and here it is. We used to say that 00:34:03.400 --> 00:34:09.099 as many people get divorced in the world as in 00:34:09.099 --> 00:34:15.239 the church, but now even people in the church 00:34:15.239 --> 00:34:18.840 are getting divorced more than people in the 00:34:18.840 --> 00:34:21.460 world. It could be because people in the world 00:34:21.460 --> 00:34:24.260 ain't even bothering getting married. That way 00:34:24.260 --> 00:34:28.079 they can keep themselves. for themselves, which 00:34:28.079 --> 00:34:34.739 is just so pathetic. Only 6 % of all Christians 00:34:34.739 --> 00:34:39.820 tithe. You know why? Because it's a me, myself, 00:34:39.900 --> 00:34:45.920 and my mentality. And tithing is one of the basic 00:34:45.920 --> 00:34:49.320 tenets of old -fashioned Bible Christianity. 00:34:50.659 --> 00:34:53.300 Now, I'm sure that number is higher here as far 00:34:53.300 --> 00:34:54.800 as the percentage, but I'm sure there's people 00:34:54.800 --> 00:34:56.929 in here right now. You've been coming to church 00:34:56.929 --> 00:34:59.829 for years, you don't tithe consistently. I'm 00:34:59.829 --> 00:35:03.210 telling you, you may be born again, but you are 00:35:03.210 --> 00:35:07.369 following into the same deception of most of 00:35:07.369 --> 00:35:10.210 the Christian world. That being born again is 00:35:10.210 --> 00:35:13.409 just an experience. When in reality, you're now 00:35:13.409 --> 00:35:15.829 a child of God, but you gotta get them out of 00:35:15.829 --> 00:35:21.449 the manger. And this one is scary. Promiscuity 00:35:21.449 --> 00:35:24.610 is rampant among young people in the church. 00:35:25.099 --> 00:35:28.679 just like it is in the world. So boys and girls 00:35:28.679 --> 00:35:31.219 shack up with each other, boys and girls have 00:35:31.219 --> 00:35:34.079 sexual intimacy with each other, and it's in 00:35:34.079 --> 00:35:37.579 the church. It's in the church. You know why? 00:35:37.880 --> 00:35:40.699 Because I don't really live like I'm a child 00:35:40.699 --> 00:35:44.320 of God, and I don't treat him or her like they're 00:35:44.320 --> 00:35:47.480 a child of God. But we all put our praise on 00:35:47.480 --> 00:35:53.010 Sunday. 20, 20, 26, 20, 20, 20, 26. How many 00:35:53.010 --> 00:35:56.210 of these 26s are we supposed to have? 20, 26. 00:35:57.389 --> 00:36:01.570 I'm a child of God now. I'm a child of God now. 00:36:02.130 --> 00:36:06.130 Jesus is in me now. He's being formed in me now. 00:36:06.670 --> 00:36:09.150 I'm leaning into my relationship with him now. 00:36:09.150 --> 00:36:13.260 Why? Because I want to be more like him. I wanna 00:36:13.260 --> 00:36:16.780 be seeking more of his work in my life. In fact, 00:36:17.000 --> 00:36:19.820 I know one day I'm gonna see him and I'm gonna 00:36:19.820 --> 00:36:22.820 be like him and that motivates me to let him 00:36:22.820 --> 00:36:26.880 purify me every single day away from my own self 00:36:26.880 --> 00:36:29.380 -centered living, away from a life that is not 00:36:29.380 --> 00:36:32.139 submitted to any kind of authority and into an 00:36:32.139 --> 00:36:34.960 idea that you know what, every single day let 00:36:34.960 --> 00:36:38.039 me get into his presence until I'm living according 00:36:38.039 --> 00:36:42.610 to his will. Would you bow your heads with me 00:36:42.610 --> 00:36:45.789 Lord Jesus? I feel like you have given me a word 00:36:45.789 --> 00:36:48.829 for your people I don't believe it's a word of 00:36:48.829 --> 00:36:51.329 condemnation. I don't believe it's a word that 00:36:51.329 --> 00:36:54.469 should cause us to be frustrated I believe that 00:36:54.469 --> 00:36:57.090 in this congregation under the sound of my voice 00:36:57.090 --> 00:36:59.570 and perhaps even those that have worshiped with 00:36:59.570 --> 00:37:02.960 us online There is something inside of so many 00:37:02.960 --> 00:37:06.500 of us, your spirit that is exploding inside of 00:37:06.500 --> 00:37:09.579 each of us and pulling at us that we would not 00:37:09.579 --> 00:37:13.400 live 2026 with blinders on, that we would not 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:17.380 live 2026 with our own agenda, with our own goals, 00:37:17.679 --> 00:37:20.539 with our own desires about what makes us happy. 00:37:20.639 --> 00:37:23.340 And you're just a little tag along in the backseat 00:37:23.340 --> 00:37:25.920 of our life. And if we get in a bind, you're 00:37:25.920 --> 00:37:29.079 supposed to help us out. Oh my God, please don't 00:37:29.079 --> 00:37:32.900 let me live. that way. Let me live like you're 00:37:32.900 --> 00:37:36.000 the Lord of my life. Let me live like my purpose 00:37:36.000 --> 00:37:39.539 in living is to become more like you and allow 00:37:39.539 --> 00:37:44.559 you, Jesus, to live in me. Would you stand and 00:37:44.559 --> 00:37:46.980 would you just receive that in Jesus name? Just 00:37:46.980 --> 00:37:49.420 raise your hands and in your old words. I receive 00:37:49.420 --> 00:37:52.760 it in Jesus name This is my year to be a child 00:37:52.760 --> 00:37:55.679 of God. This is my year to walk in the spirit 00:37:55.679 --> 00:37:58.920 This is my year for prayer and fasting not just 00:37:58.920 --> 00:38:01.719 to be some sort of sideshow That's a part of 00:38:01.719 --> 00:38:04.400 my religious routine Oh, no, it's gonna be front 00:38:04.400 --> 00:38:07.059 and center as I get in the word with a mentality 00:38:07.059 --> 00:38:11.340 that says I want Christ to be formed in me I 00:38:11.340 --> 00:38:19.719 Want Christ to be formed in me? Those of you 00:38:19.719 --> 00:38:21.739 that have the Holy Spirit inside of you, would 00:38:21.739 --> 00:39:19.000 you pray in the Holy Ghost right now? Praise 00:39:19.000 --> 00:39:20.480 the name of the Lord. We have a prayer list, 00:39:20.500 --> 00:39:22.360 and I'd like for them to bring it right now. 00:39:23.099 --> 00:39:25.019 Prayer list, if we have it, let's bring it right 00:39:25.019 --> 00:39:27.699 now. And if you don't mind, we've got it up here, 00:39:27.699 --> 00:39:30.019 gentlemen. If you'll just stand for just a moment, 00:39:30.099 --> 00:39:33.099 Brother Ray, right in front. We're gonna pray 00:39:33.099 --> 00:39:36.860 in just a moment for this prayer list. And I 00:39:36.860 --> 00:39:39.079 bring the prayer list before you today for this 00:39:39.079 --> 00:39:44.079 reason. You might have heard everything that 00:39:44.079 --> 00:39:47.119 I've said today, and you might have thought, 00:39:49.219 --> 00:39:52.139 Pastor, that's great, but I've been so sick in 00:39:52.139 --> 00:39:56.679 my body. I really need a miracle today. Pastor, 00:39:56.699 --> 00:39:59.460 that's great, but I just got news on my job and 00:39:59.460 --> 00:40:01.940 it's not looking good. I don't even know if I 00:40:01.940 --> 00:40:05.199 have a job after next couple weeks. I get that. 00:40:05.599 --> 00:40:08.159 And I don't want you to look at Jesus like he's 00:40:08.159 --> 00:40:09.800 like, yeah, well, let's see how you do and then 00:40:09.800 --> 00:40:11.519 maybe I'll come through for you. That's not how 00:40:11.519 --> 00:40:15.559 he is. But what I'm preaching to you today is 00:40:15.559 --> 00:40:18.869 far more significant. than even an answer to 00:40:18.869 --> 00:40:20.849 prayer that helps your job or helps your healing 00:40:20.849 --> 00:40:24.289 in your body. He does all that, but he does all 00:40:24.289 --> 00:40:26.909 of that in terms of a bigger picture, which is 00:40:26.909 --> 00:40:31.429 you have a destiny to be like him. But I don't 00:40:31.429 --> 00:40:33.969 want anybody to stay back from the altar because 00:40:33.969 --> 00:40:37.630 you're just like me. I'll never be what God wants 00:40:37.630 --> 00:40:41.650 me to be. No, no, no. You've got Jesus inside 00:40:41.650 --> 00:40:44.650 of you. And if you'll just let him work in you 00:40:44.650 --> 00:40:47.280 every day, if you'll lean into his... presence 00:40:47.280 --> 00:40:51.119 in you. You'll be amazed. And so I'm sure, I 00:40:51.119 --> 00:40:53.280 hope that some will come to the altar and they'll 00:40:53.280 --> 00:40:57.639 apply this message to their life right now. But 00:40:57.639 --> 00:41:00.360 if you're not there yet, if you would come and 00:41:00.360 --> 00:41:02.679 give the Lord your heart, the need that you have, 00:41:03.260 --> 00:41:06.619 he's a prayer answering God. What I prefer is 00:41:06.619 --> 00:41:08.639 that you don't just slip out and not let the 00:41:08.639 --> 00:41:11.420 spirit of God interact with you right now. Not 00:41:11.420 --> 00:41:14.320 pray about something that God is doing in your 00:41:14.320 --> 00:41:17.559 life right now because I think we miss a valuable 00:41:17.559 --> 00:41:21.119 opportunity. It's the spirit and the truth that 00:41:21.119 --> 00:41:24.320 makes it different in our lives. So in just a 00:41:24.320 --> 00:41:26.619 moment, I'm gonna invite everybody to come, and 00:41:26.619 --> 00:41:28.599 I'm not gonna pretend I know why you're coming, 00:41:29.340 --> 00:41:32.320 but I beg you that if you come and you seek the 00:41:32.320 --> 00:41:35.000 Lord, something good is gonna happen in your 00:41:35.000 --> 00:41:37.880 life. And if you've never been baptized in Jesus' 00:41:38.059 --> 00:41:40.019 name, if you'll just make your way over to my 00:41:40.019 --> 00:41:42.659 left, your right, this column right here, somebody 00:41:42.659 --> 00:41:45.159 will meet you there in just a few moments. And 00:41:45.159 --> 00:41:47.460 that's your next step if you've never been baptized 00:41:47.460 --> 00:41:52.380 in Jesus' name. Would you come in the name of 00:41:52.380 --> 00:41:54.940 the Lord Jesus Christ? God, something is happening 00:41:54.940 --> 00:41:58.059 in this place that is supernatural. Some of you 00:41:58.059 --> 00:42:00.920 believers can help us with the prayer list. Others 00:42:00.920 --> 00:42:03.219 can come and seek the Lord for your own list. 00:42:03.880 --> 00:42:05.880 And somebody can come and say, you know what, 00:42:05.880 --> 00:42:08.960 I need the Lord right now because something about 00:42:08.960 --> 00:42:12.219 that message is reminding me. that God has a 00:42:12.219 --> 00:42:14.579 purpose for me that's bigger than me, myself, 00:42:14.639 --> 00:42:17.639 and mine. And it's a new year, and I cannot live 00:42:17.639 --> 00:42:21.500 this new year just about what I want. I cannot 00:42:21.500 --> 00:42:24.800 live this whole new year praying to Jesus about 00:42:24.800 --> 00:42:27.920 what I hope he does for me. Oh, no, no, I want 00:42:27.920 --> 00:42:30.480 you to change me, Jesus. I want you to be formed 00:42:30.480 --> 00:42:34.219 in me. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:42:35.019 --> 00:42:39.639 God, I'm asking you to be formed in me. until 00:42:39.639 --> 00:42:44.440 the ultimate proof that I am a child of God is 00:42:44.440 --> 00:42:46.639 that I treat everybody else like they are the 00:42:46.639 --> 00:42:49.719 children of God. And that together we advance 00:42:49.719 --> 00:42:55.019 the kingdom of God in the earth in 2026. We advance 00:42:55.019 --> 00:42:59.360 the kingdom of God in everything we do, in every 00:42:59.360 --> 00:43:03.320 place we are, that our jobs would become the 00:43:03.320 --> 00:43:07.460 center of the kingdom of God for us to act. as 00:43:07.460 --> 00:43:11.599 a child of God, that our schools would become 00:43:11.599 --> 00:43:16.199 ground zero for a child of God to enter into 00:43:16.199 --> 00:43:20.559 that arena and advance the kingdom of God, that 00:43:20.559 --> 00:43:24.719 our homes would be a holy place where each of 00:43:24.719 --> 00:43:29.280 us together inspire each other to lean into prayer, 00:43:29.800 --> 00:43:33.860 to lean into fasting, to lean into Bible study. 00:43:34.059 --> 00:43:38.329 Why? because we are the children of God, and 00:43:38.329 --> 00:43:39.150 He is working.