in church. I'm going to read this out of the
passion translation, Luke chapter 12, verse 51.
And this is what it says. This is Jesus talking.
He says, don't think for a moment that I came
to grant peace and harmony to everyone. No. for
my coming will change everything and create hostility
among you. And when you first start reading this,
you would think that, well, God don't want us
to get together. He's coming to, Jesus is coming
to set up hostilities and things are not gonna
be harmonious. But as we read, we're going to
look at why he is making this statement. He says,
from now on, every family member will be divided
over me. That's really important. He said they
will be divided over me Not the stuff that we
divide each other over not the things that we
see that causes us to be pulled apart He said
but people will be divided over me and choose
sides against one another Fathers will be split
off against sons and sons against fathers. Mothers
will be against daughters and daughters against
mothers. Mothers in -laws will be against brides
and brides against mothers in -laws. He said,
all because of me. Now what Jesus is speaking
about, he's telling us that when you come into
the kingdom of God, your thinking shifts. Your
mind shifts as you began to look into the Word
of God and understand what God is speaking to
you, how God is telling us how we should look,
what God has planned for our lives, what God
has predestined for our lives. He said there
will be a shift. from the norm, a shift from
people who are not born again because now we
have another idea, we have another look, we see
things from God's perspective now, we have another
perception of how life is supposed to be lived
in general, we learn that the grace of God is
available to us, we learn that the favor of God
is available to us, so it changes how we look
at things now because I'm looking at it through
the lens of the word of God, I'm no longer looking
through the lens of what the world thinks or
what the majority thinks. It doesn't matter to
me what the majority thinks because I am following
the pattern of Jesus Christ. We talk about in
the Word of God that we have the mind of Christ
and we all know that Jesus had some people that...
did not like him because of the things that he
was saying, because of the words that he was
speaking, because of how he interpreted scriptures,
how he looked at his life. People naturally divided
over those things. It talks about in the Bible
a lot of accounts where Jesus was speaking. You'd
have people that would follow and people who
would not follow. He said, so there is a division
that happens when you become born again. And
he's talking about this vision being so obvious.
He says that what will happen is another translation
said there'll be a sword. He said, there is a
severing of how you think and how I think now.
how I do things and how you do things now. And
he says that when we choose that, we got to understand
that we've made a decision that the faith that
we have in Jesus Christ is above earthly relationships.
I'm not just going to hang out with you just
to be with you. And as a matter of fact, more
of people will depart from you. Have any of you
had people when you got born again and decided
you were going to get saved and I'm going to
do it God's way that people kind of departed
from you because you're thinking differently,
you're speaking differently, you're acting differently.
You just don't see it the way they see it anymore.
And so they, you know, they like, so what happened
to you? What happened to you, you know, why aren't
you, you know in with the in crowd? Well, I'm
in with another crowd now called the body of
Christ and so I can remember when that happened
to me and I'd gone to church as long as I could
remember but then when I started to understand
the Word of God when I start to look at the Word
of God and then just accept you know, everything's
going to be good by and by. And I started having
faith in God, trusting Him to do what He said
to do. My language changed. How I saw things
change. I was interested in knowing how to understand
the scriptures more than just showing up for
church. And so as I began to gain knowledge in
the Word of God, I can remember there's a divide
that happened between me and my mom. because
I'm understanding scriptures now and I'm not
moved by all of the hype. I'm not moved by the
preaching. I'm not moved by the feelings anymore,
but I truly want to understand what God is saying
and then having a knowledge that I could, that
it was possible, that God wanted me to understand
exactly what this word was saying to me. And
so I can remember just talking to her and she
asked me about a scripture and of course I...
had studied it, so I knew what it meant. So I
tell her what it means, and she says, oh, so
you know everything now. I'm like, I don't know
everything, but I do know what this scripture
says. But then that became a division amongst
us. Now, the division didn't cause me not to
associate with my mom. A lot of people took it
like that early on. They're like, I just can't
talk to anybody who don't go to my church. I
can't talk to anybody. And God wasn't saying
to do that. But he was saying that the division
comes because you now believe differently. You
now understand what I'm saying in the Word of
God. You now understand what grace is. You now
understand what faith is, and you're not hoping
and applying and climbing up rough sides of mountains.
You're not, you know, begging God to do anything,
but you have trust in what he has already done.
And so my language changed. my posture changed,
my attitude changed. I became confident in what
God was saying to me, which caused a division
amongst people who didn't believe the way I believed.
My sister -in -law, when she first moved to Tampa,
she's a hairstylist, so she was doing my hair,
and she was constantly saying things that were
so negative that I corrected her probably like
every five minutes. And she said, why do you
keep saying that? I said, because I don't believe
what you're saying, and you wanted me to agree
with something that I believe is a lie, and I
can't do that, because I know more now. than
I knew before. And sooner or later, she said,
you know what? I want to talk like y 'all. I
said, y 'all who? She said, the people at your
church. I want to talk like you. And then once
she started learning and studying the word, when
she went back home to a family reunion, they
looked at her and say, you different. Because
when you get when you come in the body of Christ
there is a transformation that takes place That
is what Romans chapter 12 is all about He said
you want to be transformed by the renewing of
your mind And so as we renew our minds then different
words start to come out of our mouths and we're
speaking to some people a totally different language
They they're like, you know, what is all of this
and what they want to know is why are you so
confident now? Why is it that you can you're
speaking like you are speaking with authority
now? And that's because they hadn't explored
the scriptures that say that you have the mind
of Christ Well, I have ability to think another
thought. I don't have to go along with everybody
else I don't have to go along with the majority.
I don't care what the majority thing I only care
what God has to say. I only care what God has
in mind for me I only care about the plans that
God has for me, which then at one time said you're
a cult now Now y 'all in a cult because y 'all
over there y 'all, you know talking funny y 'all
declaring some stuff and so they started throwing
out all kinds of name you'd blab it and grab
it and you know confess it and what all whatever
the things they were saying that were negative
not knowing that these things were truths in
the word of god and so it caused a divide in
denomination they called the divide in households
but god says or jesus said this is the thing
that would happen he said but it's because of
me And so therefore, all this other division
God's not with, you know, you upset with the
person on the other row because they sat in your
seat. He says, no, that didn't cause a divide.
It's what you're thinking. And we're going to
get into how God wants us to think as a community,
as a body of believers. But again, he says, yes,
there will be a division and there will be distinguishing
marks that show that I am not like you. The Bible
tells us that we should not act like mere men.
I found that to be very interesting. I'm like,
what do you mean, God, don't act like mere men?
He says, you don't talk like everybody, every
other man, because you are a new man in Christ
Jesus. Everything has become new. He tells us
that you're now united with me. It's my thoughts
that are going to start to infiltrate your thoughts.
It's my thoughts that are going to cause you
to start to operate it differently. But it's
a good thing that we're doing so he says this
divide is so strong that it will divide even
Relationships family relationships because you
think differently, but there's a good thing about
us thinking differently Amen, and some of the
things that we learn will save their lives When
Jesus talks about healing he didn't say I'm just
gonna heal the saved How many of you know that
Jesus went about doing good and healing all those
who were, you know, being terrorized? Another
translation said they've been, and I like to
use this, they said you're being terrorized by
the devil. When anything is happening, not like
God intends for it to be, he calls it tyranny.
So, you got the ability, according to God, to
pray for the sick and they be healed. So although
they may not agree, They will agree with how
you're starting to handle your life One day you
may have to pray for them and they be healed
and so they get the benefit of your being different
But god wants us to know there's a community
of believers that believe the same thing Aren't
you happy you found a group of people that believe
the same way you believe Believe the same way
you believe glory to god because we're able to
help each other. We're able to strengthen one
another so god has a community the body of christ
and he looks for things in the body of christ
so we're going to look at some of those things
the things that we need to reflect as a result
of being born again so we'll start in ephesians
ephesians chapter four and we'll start at verse
one and this is paul speaking of course and he
says i therefore the prisoner of the lord beseech
you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith
you are called. So Paul here is talking about
I am a prisoner of God and I find that just so
awesome. He means I am sold out. Nothing is changing
my mind. And if you read about the life of Paul,
you'll find out that people chased him down.
They chased him from one city to another city
to make him stop saying what he was saying. But
he said, I'm a prisoner. He said, I'm captured
by God. I can't do anything. I will not pull
back. I will not draw back. I am going to save
what God has said. I don't care what you do to
me. I will not change my mind. I will not change
my speech. I will not change the direction that
I'm going in. I count myself as a prisoner of
Christ. Therefore, I have been captured by Him.
Glory to God. He says, I beseech you that you
walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are
called with all lowliness and meekness with long
suffering for bearing one another in love, endeavoring
to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of
peace. There is one body. There is one Spirit,
even as ye all are called in one hope of your
calling. So he's letting us know there's a oneness
amongst us. We're not supposed to be divided
because there is only one Lord. There's only
one God. There's one Holy Spirit. And I've talked
to people sometimes, and when you come together
on something, people are like... That's just
what God was sharing with me. I can't believe
that you're saying the same thing. I was just
praying that this morning. You'll turn on some
broadcast and be listening to a preacher, and
he's saying the same thing God led you to. You
were reading the same scripture. Why is that?
Because we are one. There's one Holy Spirit.
There's one God concerning our community as the
body of Christ. We don't have many leaders. We
have God. We have Jesus. We have the Holy Spirit.
So he says, there is one body and one spirit
even as you are called into one hope of your
calling. We all have the same hope. We all have
a confident expectation of good to come through
our lives. No matter what we're challenged with,
I have an expectation, and it's called hope.
And hope is a confident expectation of good from
God, regardless of the situation that I am in,
because that's how our community think. That's
how we roll. That's how we look at it. We see
challenges coming in your life, but we also know
what the Word of God has to say, and that's different
than the world. He said, we have the ability
to think heavenly thoughts. We are the people
who say whatsoever is done in heaven, let it
be done on earth in my life. I'm expecting to
see what heaven has cooked up for me, not what
the world is stirring up. He said, there is one
body, there's one spirit, even as you are called
into one hope of your calling. There's one Lord.
We determined there is one Lord. There's one
faith. One baptism, one God and father of all
who is above all and through all and in you all."
He said, this is how we believe. We don't believe
in many gods. We don't believe in worship or
anything higher than God. And what am I talking
about? I put nothing in front of what God has
said and what God has determined. I don't worship
my situations and my problems. A lot of you say,
I don't do that. Yes, you do. The more you give
voice to it, that's a worship. The more you talk
about it, that is praise and obedience to the
thing. When you talk without a victory in your
voice, you may be sharing it, but you need to
share it with a victory in your voice. I have
a pastor friend, he said, you might talk about
the problem, but you better put a but at the
end of it. And a lot of you say, but God. Sometimes
you need to say, but God what? Because, you know,
we call those things that be not as though they
are. This may be happening. This is what I see
with my eyes. This is what I sense with my senses,
but God. Hallelujah. He said, that's how our
community operates. We believe in one God and
one Lord. In Ephesians chapter four and verse
15, I want to read that to you out of the easy
reading version, ESV. He tells us, as a body
of believers. Speak the truth in love. Speak
the truth in love so we can grow up to Him. Now
look, believers don't have no business lying
to each other. There is no cause. Isn't that
interesting that he's telling believers don't
lie? But that's what he's talking about. He's
what he's speaking about. Speak the truth. Speak
the truth because the Bible says, Jesus said,
it's the truth that makes you free, the truth
that sets you free. What truth are we talking
about? We're talking about the truth about who
we are. We're talking about the truth that we
have favor. We're talking about the truth that
we have grace upon our life. We're talking about
the truth. concerning God he says that we don't
need to be lying about it we need to tell the
truth look at somebody say tell the truth you
know i think they have uh they should tell the
kids tell the truth shame the devil But we need
to tell the truth, guys, concerning every situation.
People may come to you in distress, but you tell
the truth because the truth is the only thing
that breaks that bond. That is what Jesus Christ
says. And he said, it's the truth you keep saying.
So you keep saying it. You keep saying it. When?
Until you see it. You keep speaking it. Sometimes
we don't understand the power of our words. But
we have to understand that God says that you
will have what you say What you keep saying you're
going to see it there is power in agreement.
Amen So that's what we're talking about community
We're talking about you have to get amongst people
who believe the same thing you believe who's
going down the same road that you're going down
And then in first corinthians chapter one and
verse 10 Again, Paul is talking to us about what
community is supposed to look like he says now
I beseech you brethren by the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ that you all speak the same thing
and That there be no divisions amongst you But
that you be perfectly joined together in the
same mind and in the same Judgment he says there
should not be any divisions amongst us. We should
We should remain together in mindset. We should,
and we're not talking about us all looking the
same. We're not talking about all of us doing
the same. We're not mechanical people, but he
is talking about our minds. We're having the
mind of Christ. We have the same thoughts. We
have the same judgment. We all determine. what
is good and what's acceptable by the Lord, or
we accept everything that's good and acceptable
by the Lord. So again, he is talking about us
being single -minded, us all believing the same
thing about what Jesus Christ has done for us,
us all believing the same things concerning who
we are in Christ Jesus. There was a point where
it was written in the Word of God where it says
that, I used to consider you by the flesh. He
said, but I don't do that anymore because we
consider Jesus by the flesh and we were wrong.
We were very wrong. So God is telling us as believers
when people come into the kingdom of God You
accept them as one that who's born again We accept
him as one who has the same privileges and the
rights that we have We accept the fact that God
can speak to them just like he speaks to us We
accept the fact that they he they have favor.
We accept the fact that God is don't have this
this This thing where you escalate so high that
you're so far above everybody else But god says
every believer has the ability to hear from me
As a matter of fact, he says my sheep hear my
voice. That's a definite That's not they don't
come to hear my voice after why when they work
into it, they don't hear my voice But people
sometimes think make you think that there's levels
to getting to things that God has said There
is no level it is as I receive it as I believe
it because it's already true It's not coming
true for you, but it's already true concerning
you every promise is already true concerning
you You don't have to earn it. You don't have
to work for it. It's true for you And God is
telling you just believe it and I thank God he
is so good because how many of you know sometimes
it's hard to believe some stuff that you read
in the Bible it's just like you know what I want
that to happen but I got a little you know something
something going on my head I am so happy that
we're teaching you which is very true that to
every promise there is a path and the thing of
it is if it's not working in your thought life
you just need to talk to the Holy Spirit because
guess what he is God said he was our helper Jesus
said that he would help us. And I don't know
why we limit the help. Because he said help.
And to me, he didn't say help with this, this,
this, and this. He said he is our helper. So
I can't tell you how many things that you may
think ain't spiritual that I ask God help with.
I'm like, God, I want to believe this. But there's
a lot. But negative stuff is speaking loud. Holy
Spirit. Show me the path. Help me to get to this
point of belief in what I know is true. See,
because we know some things are true, but our
belief is kind of off a little bit. Am I the
only one? I didn't think so. That's why I said
it. And that's why I'm talking to you now, because
some of you are struggling with things that the
Holy Spirit will clearly help you with. You trying
to work it out in your own mind? You're trying
to do all these things, and you got all these
mental gymnastics going on in your head, and
the Holy Spirit's sitting there like, anytime
now. Anytime now. We can work through this. But
again, he's telling us that we have the same
thoughts, we have the same goal, we have the
same perspective concerning the kingdom of God.
Now, let's look in Hebrews chapter 10. Hebrews
chapter 10. Again, we're talking about how uh,
the bible is telling us our communities should
look and that it is good and that uh, we get
our Um, we can get our strength based upon us
being in community with one another I want to
read this to you out of the amplified. It is
herews chapter 10 starting at verse 24 And it
says and let us consider and give attentive continuous
care to watching over one another. Let us consider
and give attentive continuous care to watching
over one another. Listen to this, studying how
we may stir up, stimulate, and incite to love
and helpful deeds and noble activities. He's
talking about us intentionally considering one
another. He's telling us to be watchful. He's
telling us to be prayerful He said he want us
to be able to stimulate one another to incite
one another to do good works So you have to be
paying attention to the person who are who's
around you. It's not just me It's not just what
I can get, but it's what I can deliver, what
I can assist, what I can aid another brother,
sister in Christ in. As a matter of fact, I quoted
the scripture last service, but I want to read
it to you out of Isaiah chapter 50 and verse
four. And this is the King James version. Listen
to this. The Lord had given me the tongue of
the learned that I should know how to speak a
word in season to him that is weary. He waketh
morning by morning. He waketh mine ear to hear
as to learn. So in this passage of scripture,
God has said, I woke you up to teach you something.
I didn't want that just for you. I woke you up
so you can pass it on. I woke you up to give
you a word so you can speak to a brother or sister
in Christ and help them out. He says they may
be weary you got the word for him. Look at somebody
say you may have my word He said you got up and
you started praying because you thought it was
all about you and what's happening in your life
You didn't realize the same thing is happening
in another brother and sister's life and it's
not just for you How many of you read something
and you ran across somebody and that word wasn't
just for you, but you realized God gave me that
word, but it wasn't just for me, it was for you
too. And so that's why he says you need to keep
an eye open. You need to study. You need to study
for yourself and you study for other people because
that's how we come together. That's how we grow.
That's how we stay strong. That's how we stay
undivided because I'm looking after you. I'm
not just looking at my own private situation,
but somebody else must be going through the same
situation that I am. I can't tell you how many
times I prayed for marriages because mine was
so horrible. I thought to myself, I can pray
for you. I can really pray for you because I
can connect with what's happening in your house.
So I can pray a fervent prayer. I can pray a
prayer that I'm like, God, I'm not just being
cutesy here. And you know how sometimes the people
say, pray for me. You go, yeah, yeah, yeah, I'll
pray for you. But you ain't really engaged. Y
'all don't know. Pray for me. And then you go,
OK, I'm going to pray for you in three days later.
It's like, oh, that's right. I was supposed to
pray for you. That's why a lot of times you say
pray for me. Let's do it now Let's do it. Let's
do it right. Let's do it right now But again
He's saying you're studying not just for yourself,
you got a body of believers, you got community,
you got people that may be going through the
same thing that you're going through, and you
can pray a more fervent prayer than a person
who cannot face this. I'm not saying that we
can't pray for you and we can pray in faith,
but another person can really get down with God
concerning your situation because of what's happening
with me. And God gave me a word, so I'm giving
you a word. See that I just just crossed my mind.
That's why I wrote that book help. I have children
I'm not trying to tell people how to raise their
kids because everybody's child is different But
I do want you to keep your sanity while you're
raising your key And so I wrote the book to you
so you can be sane. I Mean I had four children
they are not the same But work with one did not
work with the other so It was like, hey, they
kept me near the cross. And as a result of it,
I became a stronger Christian. As a result of
it, I'm able to share things that other people
who don't have children share things. They can't
share it like I can share it. As they say, they
can't tell it like I can tell it. See, it's funny.
I'm watching my children raise their children
and they're like, I don't understand. I'm like,
you did the same thing, singing like you would
understand. What would you tell you? What would
you tell you? Because obviously, I didn't know
what to say, but you was. Y 'all know what I'm
saying. How many people are experiencing their
children raising children? It's funny. It's comical,
isn't it? I don't understand. Let's see. I had
one child to tell me, because their child is
kind of in that place. of I kind of know everything,
because they can do it on, as my mom would say,
the World Wide Web. She had to say it all, the
World Wide Web. I was like, oh yeah, I do recall
talking to you one day and said, you don't know
everything, you're still learning. You know what
their response was? I may not know everything,
but I know a little bit about everything. I said,
hmm. And now that their child is saying it, I'm
just like, hmm. It's amazing how things can come
back to remind you, not bite you, but remind
you. Philippians chapter two. Philippians chapter
two, verse two. We're going to look at it in
the NIV. And this is Jesus speaking and he says,
again, truly I tell you that if to listen to
this good news, again, truly I tell you. that
if two of you on earth agree about anything,
this is the power of community. He says, it's
as little as two. You don't need to call all
the prayer people in the world for everybody
to be praying for you, although that's not a
bad thing. He said, but if two, if two of you,
as little as two of you, agree about anything.
Now, I've heard people say this, let's touch
and agree. I don't have to touch you to agree.
He's talking about agreeing on the same thing.
He's talking about being on the same page. He's
talking about not one person thinking one thing
and another thinking another. He said, but we
are in agreement. We're coming to agreement concerning
this promise of God. We're coming into agreement
concerning the outcome. Jesus says here that
if two will agree about anything they ask for,
it will be done for them. Now you see why the
enemy wants us to be divided. Now you see why
that he wants us to be separated. Now you see
why he wants to want us not to come together.
Now you can see why it is that God says it's
imperative that we get rid of all this senseless
stuff that we do. You sat in my seat and that's
my seat. Why don't you just sit beside him and
agree on something? because some power is going
to be happening because you are agreeing. Not
just because you're touching, but we're agreeing
concerning the same outcome. And Jesus makes
the promise. He said, it will be done for them
by my Father. It will. That's why we have to
be cautious concerning our relationship. That's
why we don't let anything just take us off. That's
why we don't just fuss about stuff that don't
move the needle. We don't get all upset about
the things that the world gets upset about. I
have the power to have another thought. I have
the power to believe what God is saying. I have
the power on the inside of me to think like Jesus
think. And Jesus wasn't, he wasn't concerned
about the petty. He wasn't concerned. Listen,
this is just Deborah thinking. If it's not gonna
take me to heaven or hell, I don't care. I'm
not, you know, I'll voice my opinion about it.
And I've said what I've said. Now I'm done. I
am done. And then only thing I say is one of
us is right. You or me. I don't know. We both
may be wrong. But God, you settle it. But in
the meantime, I'm not going to have any animosity
concerning you because some power is going to
be missing. I may need for you to agree concerning
something. So I don't have time to be mad about
you parked in my parking space. I don't have
time to be upset. You all understand what I'm
saying? We get upset over the wrong things. Then
the power of God, the way He wants it to operate
in community, does not operate in community because
we can't come together because of some senseless
thing that we are thinking. And so that is why
the enemy don't want us assembling together.
That's why. Because He knows the power that we
have. When we start speaking and we start talking
because the Bible says you'll have what you say
So that's why he tells us he says seek for peace
if peace can be found seek for the peace Start
weighing everything in light of eternity Start
weighing in things in light of what you have
the ability to do with that brother or sister
in christ And I'm talking about the power that
comes from it. And I like when God uses the word
power because it means dunamis. It means like
dynamite. You have no idea the damage you can
do in the kingdom with the devil if you will
just agree. Listen, he talks about going to the
elders of the church and praying, having them
to pray for you, coming together, agreeing concerning
my healing. And I'm agreeing concerning my own
healing. You're agreeing concerning my healing.
And the Bible tells us that that person will
be healed, not they might be healed. It said
they will be healed. And then they get amongst
believers who keep saying that to them. Won't
allow them to go down a negative road. Won't
allow them to think anything differently because
I am in agreement with what that person just
prayed for you. Be in agreement with the Word
of God because there is power. Look at somebody
say power. It's power in agreement. You know
there's more power in agreement than submission.
You can submit to something and not agree. Am
I right? So it's better to agree because the
power is now available. Every point I think about
that in someone, you need to think about this.
When someone asks you to pray for something and
you agree on the outcome, you agree on the, sometimes
you might even ask them, what are you standing
on so I can agree with it? What script are you
standing on so I can agree with it? I have told
people that. What script are you standing on?
Well, I'm like, ask the Holy Spirit what script
do you need to stand on so I can agree. So now
it's not just me and you. It's me, you, and the
Holy Spirit agreeing, concerning the same thing.
And when you think about it, that brother or
sister in Christ come to you and say, let me
pray for you, let me pray with you, you need
to think power is about to take place. Power,
ability, strength, might, victory, overcoming.
Those are the words should feel your thoughts,
not, I wonder if it's going to happen. No, brother,
it's going to happen. Why? Because we say so.
Because we have determined. Because we are declaring.
Man, so much we miss out on because we want to
be an island. And God didn't call us to be an
island. He called us to be together. He calls
us to be a force that cannot be reckoned with.
And you have to see those things. And you have
to help your brothers and sisters in Christ who
may be failing a little bit in that area. You
bring them back to their true identity. I got
to remind you of who you are. I got to remind
you of everything that's at your disposal. I
got to remind you. I got to, what did I say?
Stir one another up. That's what he says. Stir
one another up. He said, incite one another.
You know, when I think about incite, I don't
think of whisper. You all understand. I don't,
I'm here to incite you. I'm not up here going,
well, you know, if you would just, just pray
just a little bit more and then if we could just...
I'm like, speak up. What thus saith the Lord,
speak up. Because I know power is brewing. I
know power is brewing. So many things come to
my mind when I think about these things, because
I love to get pictures in my mind concerning
what God is doing. When I think about power brewing
up, you know. uh when you read in genesis and
they're talking about god creating the heavens
and the earth and it talks about the holy spirit
was hovering over the water when I think about
hovering I think uh of um let me see your well
that's my favorite so I can't use my I think
about when it says hovering over the water waiting
for god to speak so he can move I'm thinking
about you know when you pull up I don't do this
when you pull up to a red light And there's a
muscle car on this side. And a muscle car on
that side. And you're revving your engines just
waiting for the light to say green so you can
go. So you can see who outruns the other. When
I think about power of God. When I think about
the Holy Spirit waiting for us to speak and to
talk, that's what I'm thinking about. I'm thinking
he's just waiting for you to say something in
agreement with the Word of God because he's already
revved up to move. And in community, all y 'all
got Harleys. I'm talking about the motorcycle
because I just love how it sounds. I mean, it
has a different... Okay, y 'all can't go with
me on that, maybe. Go ahead and listen to a Harley.
I'm just saying that the power that's available
to us when we walk as one is incredible. It's
supernatural. It moves mountains. It calls a
peace that will surpass all understanding. A
word spoken in season. Look at somebody say,
I probably have a word for you. Look at them
and say, I heard it during my prayer time. Praise
God. Heavenly Father, we just give you praise.
We give you honor. We thank you, Lord God, for
the abilities that you put on the inside of us.
Thank you, Lord God, that they are ignited when
we come together. I thank you, Heavenly Father,
for what you have put and made possible. through
our symphony that comes up to you when we agree
with one another. We thank you, Lord God, that
your word is reliable and it has the power to
change men and women lives. We thank you, Heavenly
Father, for us understanding the importance of
community and us coming together, speaking the
same things, speaking the truth in love. We thank
you, Heavenly Father, that as we... think about
these things as we meet each other throughout
the week. I thank you Father God that we'll see
each other just like you see us as one. Believing
truly, thinking truly, having the same hope and
expectations. And we just give you the praise
and the honor in the name of Jesus. Amen. If
there's anyone here today, and you're not born
again, oh, praise to God. Yes, amen. If you're
not born again, this is an awesome opportunity.
We'd love for you to join our community. And
even at that, it's a body of believers. But then
God has us to have community within community.
And that is so powerful and so God. But if you're
not born again But you want to know God. I'm
so happy that he made it simple He said you don't
have to fix yourself up. You don't have to do
anything additional He says that only thing you
have to do is accept the gift that I have offered
you and that's the gift of forgiveness of all
of your sins and that came through the death
of Jesus Christ and he said if you believe that
if you believe that He said, then you will be
saved. That means that a relationship is now
forged. It's an open door, open access to God.
And if that's you, if you'll raise your hands
wherever you are, and of course those who are
online, if you would just type in the chat, I
want to be born again, I want to be saved, want
to know God, want a relationship. All of those
words will cause us to give you, to contact you,
to help you to understand. the magnitude of the
decision that you have made, and just how much
God loves you. So if there's anyone in the sanctuary
this morning, if you will raise your hands if
that's your designer. Amen. We see a hand in
the back. Praise God. Hallelujah. I just want
to be the first one to say welcome to the family.
So glad that you made that decision. And we're
going to have someone to speak with you as we
said. We're going to ask you to Uh, who we're
gonna meet? Miss Patricia, is it you? Okay. If
you will... He's on this side, so if you'll stand
up so he can see that wonderful... all these
wonderful colors that you're wearing so he won't
mistake you. Okay, you're gonna have to come
over this way, Miss Patricia. Keep walking, keep
walking, keep walking, keep walking. There it
is. The person who waved their hand in the back.
There she is. Okay. All righty, then. Oh. Are
we... Oh! Here? Yes! Amen! All right. Well, you've
already seen the wonderful dazzling colors that
Miss Patricia has on. First room to your left
as you exit. Amen. Praise God. Welcome to the
body of Christ. Welcome, welcome, welcome. Amen.
And again, it's important that you... get into,
if you're not already a member here, if you get
into a Bible teaching church. It's so important,
as I said before, that you walk with community.
So, Revealing Truth Ministries is a good place.
I, you know, if you ask me, I would say this
is a good place because we have all these wonderful
people in here who will welcome you. And I just
believe this, that if God laid it on your heart
to join... this church, that you have a gifting,
a talent, an anointing on your life, that's good
for this ministry. And not only that, then this
ministry is going to be good for you, help you
to make spiritual progress. We're all here in
community to make sure that you finish strong.
Amen. So again, if that's you, if you didn't
raise your hands, if you will meet us to... First
room to your left is your exit. There will be
people there to speak with you concerning being
a part of Revealing Truth Ministries. And for
those of you who are online, if you will type
that in the chat, we'll let you know how you
connect with us. Even if you do not live in this
state or in this city, I just want you to all
understand that we do have members that are not
in this city, not even in this state. And they
are very active. in the vision of revealing truth
ministry so if God laid it upon your heart don't
consider distance just be obedient amen amen
amen so uh i believe there is i'm supposed to
turn this over to there she comes miss luana
let's welcome miss luana thank you so much graduates
of class 2026. Can we give it up for them real
quick? Yes. So today we celebrate a remarkable
group of students who have reached an important
milestone in their journey. Graduation marks
the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.
And what a fitting celebration this is because
we're in a new life, new community, sermon series,
right? So because of new life, because new life
isn't just about starting over, it's about stepping
forward. It's about embracing the future God
has prepared, trusting Him with what lies ahead,
and believing that every new season carries new
opportunities, new purpose, and new possibilities.
Today we honor students who have worked hard,
persevered through challenges, grown in character,
and reached a moment with celebrating. worth
celebrating, I'm sorry. Church family, would
you help me celebrate them one more time? Give
them a round of applause, right? So one of the
greatest, one of the greatest joys of having
a church family is watching our young people
grow and not only in knowledge, but in faith,
leadership and purpose. Today we will have the
privilege of hearing from one of our very own
students. She graduated last year. Right, girl,
Jasmine? Yes, yes. She graduated last year, so
she is now an alumni graduate. Let's go. So she's
going to come forth right now and share a few
thoughts for class of 2026. Let's give it up
for Jasmine Jones. Congratulations to this year's
high school graduates, class of 2026. You have
successfully completed not only the last four
years, but the last 13 years of continuous schooling,
late nights, early mornings, extracurriculars,
exam after exam. You've done it all and you've
done it well. Your endurance does not go unnoticed.
You've experienced such So much changed in the
past years from friendship circles to becoming
teenagers and learning who you are. With this
completion comes great recognition and great
responsibility as you embark on this next chapter.
So here's some advice, whether you're going to
college, the workforce, trade school or the military.
I can speak from experience that who you call
a friend really, really matters. Be mindful of
the people you're always around and check for
fruit. How do they talk? How do they spend their
time? Who are they trying to be? Build that community.
Surround yourself with like -minded people. It
makes a huge difference. Don't be afraid to meet
new people. That can be joining clubs, complimenting
someone new, all the things. Don't be afraid
to make the effort. Remember what you've been
taught both at school and at home. Trust people
can tell the difference between People who act
like they've been trained versus the opposite.
That discipline is a gift and it will work for
you if you apply it. Try new things. Figure out
what you like to do long -term and develop new
hobbies. This is the perfect opportunity to explore
and experiment within reason, of course. One
of the quickest things I learned in young adulthood
is that cringe is just a concept. There aren't
people who are extremely invested in every move
that you make, like it was in high school. Everyone
is simply concerned with their own lives and
moving on from your mistakes. So it's okay to
make them without feeling judged. Also, keep
learning. You may not be at a tiny desk with
a little laptop this chapter, but keep learning
new skills and principles that strengthen your
mind, whether it's how you communicate or...
simply baking a sweet treat, learn something
new. Life will always find ways to get serious
over and over again, so be sure to let the small
things go because life goes on. This has helped
me tremendously in the past year. It is important
to discern which things are worth giving your
time and energy to and which are not. A good
rule of thumb is that if it won't matter the
next day or the next week, it might be good to
let it go and move forward. As always, remember
who you are in Christ. You are the redeemed of
the Lord. You are a new creation in Christ Jesus.
You are the righteousness of God through Jesus.
You are the head and not the tail. You are a
chosen generation. Make it your mission and everything
you do to know God a little more, love like Jesus
a little deeper, and follow the Holy Spirit a
little quicker. I am extremely proud of you graduates.
And with that, congratulations. I celebrate you
all. Thank you. Thank you, Jasmine. That was
beautiful. So every graduate story begins somewhere.
Before diplomas and graduation caps, there were
first steps, first classrooms, first friendships,
first lessons about God's love. So to share a
few words about our graduates from infancy through
fifth grade. Please welcome Creative Kids Pastor
O 'Neal Delva. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
He didn't help me up the stairs. I feel some
type of way I'm a little hurt. Just messing.
All right, Revealing Truth Church, wow. today
is a good day no it's a great day for a celebration
as we once again celebrate and honor our 2026
graduates let's hear for them once again all
right now my name is pastor o 'neill for those
of you who do not know as mentioned a moment
ago i am over our creative kids uh children's
ministry so i've had the great pleasure of seeing
a lot of these amazing uh individuals grow up
over the years i want to call them kids but they're
not kids they're not children they're young adults
so I've had a chance to see their journey as
they've grown into the person who they are today,
and I'm excited about the person who they will
be in the near future. Now I will say, when they
asked me to speak, they said, you know, you got
three to five minutes, all right? Now for me,
I'm not gonna lie, it could be a little difficult.
For someone who talks a lot, who talks for a
living, three to five minutes. What? I'm just
joking, but we'll get through this together,
we'll get through this together. Now, as I prepared
for what I was going to say today, something
just kind of stuck to me with me the entire week.
It was really something that Pastor Brian said
last week as he talked about adding your own
seasoning, your own flavor to every situation.
Now, when he was talking last week, he was talking
about, you know, making turkey and stuff and
how great of a cook he is and so on. But I'm
not going to lie to you all. Revealing truth,
that's not me. Eyes don't cook, okay? I'm what
you would call a microwave chef, okay? Read the
instructions on the back, beep, beep, start,
three to five minutes, dinner is served. However,
I do understand the importance of seasoning,
right, and how it can potentially just help to
bring something new, changes the meal completely.
So, you know, maybe add a little salt, a little
pepper, make it your own. So I guess I can say
I'm a chef, right? So I know how to do that much.
But now, but as of late, one of the things that
I've been on, I've been loving is kind of this
little bottle right here. It's hot honey, all
right? Hot honey, that's not seasoning. I know
it's not seasoning, but hot honey, you can put
on anything. You can put on pizza, you can put
it on chicken wings, put it on biscuits, and
so on. It brings a whole new different flavor,
whole new different experience, all right? For
graduates, earlier if I saw you, I gave you a
little basket that has some goodies and so on,
and I gave you your own little hot honey bottle.
Now. Now you're probably wondering hot honey
and seasoning what in the world does this have
to do with graduation? Come on pastor. Oh get
to the point right now actually has everything
to do with graduation and where you are in your
journey Psalm 139 verse 14 reminds us that we
are fearfully and wonderfully made, and Ephesians
2 and 10 reminds us that we are God's handiwork,
creating Christ Jesus to do good. So really,
you've already been made unique. You have unique,
you're on the inside of you, right? You are unique,
you have your gifts, you have your personalities,
your experiences, your faith, your perspectives,
all of those things. are your seasoning, right?
So as you leave high school and you get ready
to go into college or trade school, as mentioned
a little bit earlier, military, or even the workforce,
because I know I've talked to some of you already,
you'll be presented with a lot of opportunities
to just blend in and be like everyone else, right?
People will tell you who you should be. Social
media will tell you who you should be. Culture
will tell you who you should be, right? But it's
important for you to remember that God has already
decided who you are, all right? Well, I'm looking
to our seniors or our graduates online as well
as over here. So for you all over here, I'm not
ignoring you. They're just sitting over there.
So I'm looking over there. All right. But it's
important for us to remember that for you to
not blend in with what's already there, for you
to be original and be who God has created you
to be, right? So the world really doesn't need
another carbon copy of somebody else. It needs
you, you to be original, right? The version that
God has created you to be. Jesus also reminds
us that you're the light of this world, so light
we know don't blend in, light stands out. So
it's important for graduates as you encounter
different situations and so on and so forth for
you to just take a moment for you to be that
light in the room, for you to bring your faith
with you, for you to bring your kindness, for
you to bring your integrity, your purpose, bring
your seasoning into the room that you're in.
The word also reminds us that we're in this world,
but we're not of this world. So it's important
for you to remember to be original and for you
to be you, all right? Actually, graduates and
congregations, let me get, look at your neighbor
and just say, just be you. All right, so once
again graduates, congratulations. We are proud
of you. We're praying for you. Remember that
you have a community of people who are excited
about the things that's gonna take place next
in your lives, and we're here to support you.
So before I turn over to the next speaker, back
to Ms. LaWanda, let's hear it once again for
our 2026 high school graduates. Whoop, whoop,
whoop, yeah. Thank you, Pastor O 'Neill. Let's
give it up for Pastor O 'Neill one more time.
Oh, he didn't want the help that time, huh? So
the middle school and high school years are filled
with growth challenges and discoveries and opportunities
to deepen faith. Throughout those years, our
students have been encouraged, discipled, and
supported by incredible leaders. So we would
like for you all to please welcome one of our
UR student minister leaders, Zamari Faison. Done
got the stage all to myself now. Aw, man. So,
for y 'all who don't know, Zamari, one of the
youth leaders in Young Heart Big Dreams Envision
U, and I have the privilege of teaching these
young minds almost every Sunday now. I wanna
start by saying, I'm only 23 years old. I grew
up with most of these kids over here. From when
they was little young babies running around the
church, running around the band room, doing whatever
it is they was doing, just being themselves.
And it has been an absolute privilege to grow
with them, to learn with them, to now teaching
them what faith really is. And I don't take that
lightly because they're not just my friends.
These are now my students. These are now my peers.
They hit that threshold to where, man, now I
gotta start respecting them like they're me.
But no, man, a staple that Pastor Bryan has been
saying throughout this sermon series is that
for every promise, there is a path. And I believe
that the Lord has set a promise on each and every
last one of y 'all. And one thing we know about
a path is that in order for you to start that
path, you gotta take a step. You gotta take that
step. You don't get to the destination by standing
still. You don't. That step may be hard. That
step may be difficult. That step may be easy.
Hey, you might even know what you're doing next.
Sometimes you don't know what the heck God got
going on in your life. But one thing you do know
is that the man who built your path the man who
gave you your destination has built this whole
thing and he knows where you are he knows where
you're gonna go man uh proverbs three and five
says trust in the lord with all your heart and
lean out on your own understanding and all your
ways know him and lean on him so in everything
you do whether it's going to trade school whether
it's going back college, whether it's you already
going into the workforce, lean on God. Don't
chase success. Chase the Father because he knows
what you need. And I'm gonna just, I'm gonna
end it right here. Look, I just want to tell
y 'all, man, I love y 'all. I'm proud of y 'all.
Y 'all church is proud of y 'all. Y 'all family
is proud of y 'all. God sees you. He knows where
you at. He knows where you're going. And congratulations,
Class of 2026. Can we give it up one more time
for Mrs. Zamari, Mr. Zamari Faison. And let's
give it up for all of our leaders. Yes. Thank
you. So at this time, I'm going to ask for our
pastors to come up to the stage as well as we
get ready to call each one of our graduates.
onto the stage. So as they're coming, I wanna
say thank you for investing so faithfully into
the lives of our students. Church family, graduation
is not the finish line, it's the launch point.
As these graduates step into college careers,
military services, trade schools, ministry, or
whatever path God has prepared, we believe they
are entering into a season of new life filled
with purpose and possibilities. So as we are
getting ready to call their names, just celebrate
with them, okay? Awesome. So at this time, we
welcome to the stage, Raphael Anderson. Next,
we have Corey Phobbs. Honorable mention, we have
Jarrett Fritz. He is not here at this time. Next,
we have Teagan Gaffney. Next, we have Next we
have Zoe Givens. Next we have Shannon Honors.
Next we have Alana Mitchell. Bye, Mustapha. certificates
for you I know you guys are heavily awarded today
I've seen a lot of tassels a lot of you know
what they represent y 'all want to shout out
your high schools for the last time Cypress Creek
South County Cambridge Christian Sumter High
School summer something I thought I said it right
Both yours says NHS. National, oh Jesus. I told
y 'all I ain't getting no sashes. Boy, I almost
caught myself. That's National Honor Society.
Y 'all saw where I was. I said, man, what school
you went to? I thought we was... Wharton High
School. Academy of Holy Names. Patel High School.
Armwood. Special Fed Academy. Specially Fit Academy.
You look fit too. Proof is in the pudding. And
so we are excited for what God has done, what
he's going to do. And so we're just going to
pray over you guys in the future that he has.
And so we're just excited. So if y 'all could
just stretch your hands towards the graduate.
Father God, we thank you for every student represented
here. We thank you for bringing them this far.
We thank you for the grace that they've operated
in. We pray that it is just maturing, that there's
more and more grace in their future. Father God,
we're praying that your hand be upon their next
journey. We pray that they are surrounded by
people who. Love who they are understand what
God is doing and continue to cover them. What
God is doing father God We pray that doors will
be open and any door that is not where you want
to go It is shut but we pray that they lean on
you through this entire journey and we're just
praying God for just a Testimony that is to be
heard of what you are doing and going to do in
their lives in your precious name. We pray a
man a man And so we do, as a ministry, they have
some gifts for you guys and a reception for you
guys, but also we are going to sow a financial
seed into each one of you guys and just pray
that there is a harvest to come. And we just
know, I'm looking at Greg because I'm thinking
he always saying he ain't got no money, but he
can pay. I think he can pay for dinner today
is what I'm thinking. Also to the church, this
is from the church, this is from everyone sitting
here, we've sold into you, $250, right? And so
you can pick up your check this week, just get,
Ms. LaWanna will email you when they're available
for you to pick up. Also, there is a campaign
still going on. If you go to the app, all the
graduates on stage, we are asking that you continue
to sew, because in August, before they go to
school, we'll be... Dividing that campaign whatever
we raise will go and divide it into all 12 of
them So please now that you got a chance to see
who graduated Please continue to sew into the
app and that'll go to wherever they're going
their college their books or even Continuing
their education. Amen. Amen It pays to do a God's
way that's what we saying but a man and y 'all
want to shout out what you're doing next Now's
the time look I knew something listen I Will
be going to Louisiana State University pursuing
nursing I'll be going to the Midland University
to play for football I'll be going to FAMU to
study pre -med biology It's a lot of pressure,
Gregor. I'm going to Polk State for pilot operations.
No pressure? You want it? Okay. I'm going to
trade school for barbering. You don't know where
you're going yet? But the Lord will be with you.
And the tassels. Just take them with you. Huh?
So Ms. Luana has an announcement to make. Here
we go. Well, just so you guys know that we did
also present them with some cords as well. The
blue cord that they have around the neck are
for those that are here, members, our members,
our very own children. And then the gold cord
is for those who have graduated with honors.
And then the life green cord is for those who
served here in the ministry. So let's give it
up for them, for servanthood. I think that's
it, y 'all. Pictures. They wouldn't do a picture.
He's taking it. That's his mama. We don't have
a shout rule at the church. So this is the moment.
You can shout all you want. I'm down, sis. All
right, awesome. You guys can stand to your feet.
We will be dismissed. Y 'all enjoy church today.
But now unto him who is able to keep you from
falling and to present you faultless before the
presence of his glory with exceeding joy to the
only wise God, our savior, be glory. majesty,
dominion, and power both now and forever. Amen.