precious name I pray the name above all names
y 'all say with me Jesus amen amen with love
on the person next to him and tell him I'm so
glad to see you in church today listen I am extraordinarily
excited if you didn't get the news we are starting
look at neighbor said we're starting something
new today We are starting a truth new truth collection
today and I am I can say extraordinarily Excited
about this one. I'm stirred up to the full to
till it overflows, right and I'm gonna go ahead
do that piece at the end. There was something
I was going gonna do at the beginning But I'm
gonna go ahead and reserve it for the end of
the message But boy, I got a testimony to tell,
and I'm so excited to tell it. But to this new
Truth Collection, if you didn't know, we do two
things here at Revenue Truth Ministries. We do
sermon series and things we call Truth Collections,
right? And you guys can turn to the book of Ephesians.
And the sermon series are topical, right? So
we talked about new life, new community. But
when we do truth collections, we like to just
pick out a book in the Bible and go line upon
line to see what God is going to do. And so God
was saying, and so I'm excited. And I believe
we should be able to get this book done over
the summer. But we are going to be studying the
Book of Ephesians over the summer. Oh, I'm so
excited about it. And the subject matter is this.
The title of this truth collection is I have
a reason to praise. I have a reason to praise.
Look, your neighbor said I have a reason to praise.
And here's the truth, right? Many believers have
fallen into a dangerous place, which is reactionary
praise, which they're praising based on change
and circumstances. They're praising based upon
things shifting. But truthfully, as believers,
our praise should not be reactionary. It should
be a lifestyle. that we've been called into a
lifestyle of praise. Matter of fact, the Bible
teaches us that praise is important to God because
it fulfills our intended purpose that you were
created to praise, right? That praise is acknowledgement,
it ushers in his presence, God's presence. Psalms
22 and three says, God inhabits the praises of
his. people and so it lets us know that praise
isn't something that we should take casually
but praise is something that we should take to
heart that we should be people who praise the
lord and so the title of um my message today
is let's get loud let's get loud that by the
end of this message, this series, your praise
should go up a few decibels, right? That wherever
you come in at, you should come out a little
louder than the way you came in. And because
here's the truth, right? Truth is when we praise
the Lord, our hearts are drawn away from our
afflictions and are set upon his presence and
his mighty power. That praise draws your attention
away from your. afflictions away from your problems
away from shame guilt and condemnation and it
reminds you of the power of God that the reason
we praise is because we are in remembrance of
the power of God that we understand what what
God can do that's why praise is a lifestyle because
I understand that God can always change what
I think is unchangeable so I don't have to wait
for it to change in order to praise the Lord
I Praise the Lord because I know his power is
available. I'm getting excited, right? But many
believers, their praise is connected to what
is going on around them. that's a grave right
we've been talking about going from graves to
glory right that many believers that their praise
has got to a place where it is connected to what's
going on around them that if a door opens they
praise them that when prayers are answered they
praise them that if situations change they praise
them but here's the truth our praise should be
a lifestyle not a reaction That we don't react
in praise. We live by praise. That we wake up
in the morning, what we praise the Lord. Thank
you for waking me up today. That before you break
bread, you say, God, thank you for this food,
this nourishment to my body. That before you
go to sleep, God, thank you for this day. I'm
ending it with sound mind, with clarity of thought.
And I'm thankful that you're gonna wake me up
tomorrow. And we gonna do it again. But as believers,
we are to praise. God as a lifestyle go ahead
look at him say hey neighbor your praise should
be loud too right because what is happening what
what what happens when a person is struggling
to praise God and I think it's important for
us to realize that when a person is struggling
to praise God it is evidence that your faith
is shifting away from his presence and power
being available. That when you refuse to praise
God, you find it difficult to praise. It's also
indication that you are also losing hope that
God can change you. And so I know sometimes people
see people praising the Lord. They say they doing
too much. No, they are heavily reminded of what
he can do. That praise is evidence that I trust
God. that I still believe in God and my trust
in him has responded in a praise you see. But
it is important for us to realize that if you
see a believer who is hesitant, they just can't
open their mouth. They can't move their feet.
They can't clap their hands, whatever your expression
is But when that there is a difficulty or withholding
and I'm not saying this as a person who hasn't
been there before You know, I was the type of
person that I was the one that said it doesn't
take all that it just doesn't take all that but
truthfully if I was being honest that that was
me that was me trying to convince myself Of what
wasn't necessary But the Bible tells us that
our God is worthy to be praised I'm not saying
you have to mimic somebody else I'm saying but
over time you find how your praise is to go to
God that Somehow some way he shapes a unique
way that you praise him for what he has done
But the thing I really want to say the thought
that it doesn't take all that has to go away
Because truth is our praise is not born out of
a changed place, but a revealed position. That's
what I'm saying, that the book of Ephesians finished
show us how, no, no, no, you have a reason to
praise. Because it's not about a change in position.
It's a change in place. It's about a revealed
position. I see who I am in Christ. Praising
what I know about who I am in Christ I'm responding
to who I am But in Ephesians 1 to 1 Paul writes
this book While he is in prison That Paul is
writing this book about praise while he is in
a prison that his environment looks like a grave,
but the revelation he has still brings praise
out of him. Why you saying this is because that
shows this evidence that our praise shouldn't
be controlled or governed by our environment,
but our environment should be governed. By our
praise What are you saying that truth it is is
not the place that should govern our praise but
our praise that should govern the place We see
this all the time any of you guys ever been out
shopping somewhere and you was there right about
when they closed and Then they turned the music
off And it's listen you was it's like you was
having a shopping experience The music turns
off and it's like everything shifted you ever
felt that before it happens at many places But
when the music turns off, it's like it's over
like it's done. The atmosphere is gone What what
are you saying that? No, this is a reality That
sound shapes atmospheres that sound sets the
tone of how you embrace where you are That the
sound matters where you are that when there's
no sound there's often it's hard to maintain
good atmosphere I'm gonna say it again that where
there is no sound. It's hard to maintain a good
atmosphere because sound governs atmospheres
Sound can set the tone of an atmosphere Sound
can let you know whether or not I should stay
or go gunshots leave Violence, stay. Why am I
saying this? I'm saying because a lot of times
we walk into places as if they govern, as this
place has authority over how it feels. No, you
have authority through your praise. to shape
and govern every environment you walk into. That
sound shapes the environment. You walk in there.
OK. I'm getting ahead of myself. But just to
give you guys some understanding that the context,
the emphasis, right? This is who Ephesians is
written to. It's a wealthy city. It's a spiritual
marketplace. It's a place. full of competing
identities and false gods. And so Paul opens
up this letter, right? He opens up this letter,
letting know that the life of faith is not founded
upon the pursuit of better behavior, but upon
the unveiling of who you are in Christ. And so
he begins that conversation to get them to move
away from what their environment is and start
to praise God as a result of what he has done
by reminding them that your faith is not founded
upon the pursuit of better behavior, but upon
the unveiling of who you are. That the foundation
of your faith isn't better behavior, it's understanding
who you. are when you forget that the foundation
of your faith is who you are in Christ, you allow
your behavior to shift how you feel about the
state of your salvation. But when you realize
that the foundation of your salvation isn't about
your behavior, but what God has done, you have
a reason to praise. Y 'all already ready look
at them say we already ready Pastor stop pumping
the prime priming the pump. Whatever way you
go. I Just want y 'all to know why we talking
about this right now Because a lot of you guys
are allowing circumstances to change dictate
See y 'all ready? It says Paul, an apostle, starting
in verse one, Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus
by the will of God to the saints who are in Ephesus
and are faithful in Christ Jesus. He says, grace
to you and peace from God our Father and the
Lord Jesus. Christ, that already right here in
these first two verses, Paul is laying the foundation
of why they have a reason to praise. And it starts
with the labeling of to the saints of Ephesus.
He's letting them know that I'm calling you according
to who you are, not where you are right now.
He says, to the saints. Look at your neighbor
say, hey neighbor, you are a saint. A saint is
a holy one, one set apart and consecrated by
God, that he's giving them their identity even
in the midst of their confusion, that he's letting
them know, I know that y 'all are. Serving false
gods y 'all are doing things that God does not
approve of but to get your attention Let me remind
you of who you are. You are a saint a holy one
set apart Consecrated by God that God chose you
he knows you he selected you he picked you and
he's calling you a saint What are you saying
that he's not saying to the successful ones to
the perfect ones the ones who have it all together
He is saying to the saints Now I'm gonna have
you say this to yourself say I am a saint a holy
one set apart consecrated by God Because truth
is God doesn't name you according to your condition
he names you according to his calling What are
you saying, Pastor Brian? That they were in Ephesus'
location, but they were in Christ, their identity.
That as believers, we have to understand that
we'll always have a physical location, but we
have an identity everywhere we go. And our identity
always supersedes our location. Hear what I'm
saying. Your location never speaks to your identity.
Your identity always shapes your location. That's
why it starts with saying, you are a saint, a
holy one, consecrated by God. Take that. into
every environment you see, that you are holy,
consecrated, set apart, and called by God. I
know you are going to a foreclosure, but that
foreclosed atmosphere doesn't change your identity.
Walk in there as a holy one. consecrated, set
apart by God, and watch you, your identity begin
to shape this atmosphere. You responded differently
to this than anybody else. I know, baby, because
this is a blip on the radar. It's not my founding
location. This may be a foreclosure today, but
I know a God that can work things together for
their good. And so although this is my present
location, it hasn't shifted my identity of who
I am. So although I shouldn't be praising because
of where I am, no, I got a reason to praise because
of who I am. Who I am is a reason to praise that
it doesn't, I know I may show up. in some places
have been through some things done some things
said some things but those locations do not determine
who i am to the saints say it one more time i
am a saint because there's the truth truth is
your environment may describe where you are but
jesus defines who you are. And so I see a lot
of believers right now. It's that midway point
of the year. And you're thinking right now, I'm
not where I thought I would be. I came to turn
that devil upside down on his head today. And
so you're thinking, not another year like this.
And where you are is trying to shift your sense
of what God can do. Where you are is trying to
shape who you are now. It's trying to change
it. I thought I'd be further along. I thought
this, I thought this, I thought this. We all
had thoughts. And if we really wanna be transparent,
98 % of us aren't living what we thought It's
okay there's lots of churches in Tampa if you
if this this is the one for the people that I
may not be Where I am, but I know who I am And
I want to take who I am and start to allow it
to shape where I'm about to be though Listen,
listen, listen. But no, like 98, I tell you all
the time, this is just not where I thought I
would be. I just never saw myself facing these
circumstances, and I never saw, and I never saw,
and I never thought, and I never could, and I
never imagined, and I never this, and I never
that. I said, okay. what we not gonna do is allow
that to shape who we are as a great description
of how you got here but that ain't the fuel that's
gonna get you from here no no no no no that's
that's the thing that's gonna keep you here you
keep thinking about that you ain't moving from
here you gonna have to shift how you are in order
to move from this location. I know you can describe
to a T how you got here, but what you need to
understand is how you don't stay here. And let
me tell you, this is how you don't stay here.
You start to remind yourself who you are. the
midst of it make some folks mad start them start
getting loud start get make a man but who does
God say we are says we are chosen we are accepted
we are covered by grace we are his possession
Speak this over yourself. I'm chosen. I'm accepted.
I'm covered by grace. I'm his possession. That's
who I am. That's who I am. And who I am is about
to shape and shift where I am. We've been talking
about new life, new community. And this is where
I want to really help us as a community. Because
we have to help each other live this out. The
truth is we must become a community that calls
out identity before insecurity. We don't remind
people of where they've been. We remind them
of who God says you are. The moment one of your
brothers and sisters start to get on one of them
trains be like, who are you? I ain't ask you
where you are and how you got here. I said, who
are you? No, no, I know the story is a good one
to tell. But if telling the story keeps you in
this chapter, then we got to tell a new story.
Why are you saying this, Pastor Brian? Because
you'll never get up from something you've been
knocked down from until you realize you have
the strength to. Many people are sitting on the
sidelines Because they don't recognize they have
the strength to actually play Why are you saying
pastor Brian because you know how many y 'all
I talked to and You know what God has called
you to do then you start telling me what you
got to do to be qualified for How many y 'all
in this room right now smothered and covered
With what you think you need to do in order to
be qualified for what I actually raise your hand
for a guy called I'm kind of as you call yourselves
out for what God called you to do Y 'all want
here percentage I could I'm nice. Nobody's raised
a hand But from my conversations amongst and
in the community it's 98 % of us We know who
God says we are. We know where God's called us
to be. We're just smothered, covered, and chunked
in the qualifications the world says we need
in order to participate in the thing God said.
Some of our reactionary thoughts aren't praising
God. It's compiling the NIST of who we need to
be in order to do what he said And all I'm saying
is before you create that list Before you start
to pile up a list of things You have to be qualified
in in order to do what God says first remind
yourself I was chosen Accepted covered by grace
For what he's called me to do Verse three, he
says, bless be the God and father of our Lord
Jesus Christ. Look at this, who has blessed us
in Christ with every spiritual blessings in heavenly
places, even as he chose us, what, in him. before
the foundation of the world that we should be
holy and blameless before him in love What are
you saying pastor Brian that he's letting us
know that there are some things you have to realize
that have already been done Before you start
thinking about what needs to be done is that
we live from the identity of what Christ has
already done, that your strength for the race
God has called you to sits on the foundation
of who you are in Christ, not how qualified you
are by this world. That when God speaks a word
to you, he's expecting you to look at what he's
done to get the strength to qualify and see yourself
as qualified for what he said. That he's saying
that when you hear me say, this is for you, child,
your next thought should be, I've been chosen,
set apart, called by God, I've been made blameless,
seen as holy, and given all spiritual blessings
in heavenly places to get it done. I'm gonna
say it again, because some of y 'all missed it.
God says, hey, I understand where you are. But
I told you, you will be a lender and not a borrower.
You say, you know what we say? God, I got a lot
of debt. Wrong foundation. You're starting from
your environment, not your identity. I want you
to open up a restaurant. You know, it takes six
months to get a permit. I got a bill due next
month this time and ain't gonna solve my problems
You're looking at your environment Not your identity
you're starting from a fractured foundation How
should we put practice pastor Brian And this
is really, I just gonna say, make it plain. Because
really it's best when you get loud right in the
midst. That unexpected letter shows up. There's
been a miscalculation. You or us? Right there.
God, you said I'm the head and not the tail.
Above and not beneath. I'm blessed coming in
and I'm blessed coming out. Now my environment
says this, but my identity says I've been chosen,
called, set apart, made holy, seen as blameless
before you and have been given every spiritual
blessing in heavenly places. so that I can experience
every promise you've spoken. Y 'all rocking with
me. And he's saying that's what starts to stir
up our praise. Right in the midst. You hear the
news, you get the report. You get the results.
You see what is being said. But you never forget
what's been said. Because we live from what the
Bible describes as a finished work. We start
our journeys from a finished position. We start
our race from a it's already done position. We
start every journey having already realized I
have everything Necessary for what this journey
is about to be So I'm not going into it seeing
myself as insufficient I'm going into it seeing
myself as full of what's necessary for what's
ahead of me Look at your neighbor one more time.
Say hey neighbor I got what it takes Find somebody
else say hey you you have what it takes It says
you have been blessed not you're going to be
not it's coming not it's on the way not God's
Considering it not possibly not when you not
if this it says you have been blessed with all
spiritual blessings in heavenly places. That
you start with the mindset that I am full, I
am flooded with God in heaven itself. Woo! Woo!
Verse five says he predestined us for adoption
to himself as sons through Jesus Christ according
to the purpose of his will. I love this right
here because it lets us know that God was determined.
God was determined that God had a will. He had
a design for how he wanted to see us exist in
this world. And God was determined to see us
exist. as we were created in this world, that
God had a fixation, a desire to see me and you
operate at our full capacity in the midst of
this world, that God was determined to make sure
me and you started sufficiently full of what
we need in order to be successful, that it was
God's will. You gotta hear what I'm saying. It
ain't your choice. It was God's will. It wasn't
your behavior. It was God's will. It wasn't your
prayer. It's God's will. God was determined to
set you up for victory. It was in his will, his
good pleasure out of his love, from his grace
that you couldn't earn nor deserve that he gave
you all. Spiritual blessings in heavenly places
God was determined for you to wake up every day
and realize I am full and flooded with God himself
So ahead of time before you chose him. He adopted
you. You got to hear what Paul is saying He's
saying you didn't choose this he chose you he
called you out of darkness brought you into this
marvelous light he He flooded you with blessings
in all spiritual places. He then made you righteous,
made you holy, made you blameless, set you apart,
called you a saint, because He was determined
for you to walk in this world, not living based
on what it is, but on who you are. God was determined.
It was His idea. It was His pleasure. It was
His design. You didn't choose you. He chose you.
You, woo, called you out, set you apart, then
set you up. Woo, it was God. Look at you, understand
what I'm saying? It was God. I got this thing,
I was walking around all week saying this and
look what the Lord has done. Woo, look what the
Lord has done. Some of y 'all need to get yourselves
a mirror, look at it and just say, look what
the Lord has done. Look what the Lord has done.
It wasn't me, it wasn't you, it was God himself.
His determination, His choice, His pleasure that
decided to send His Son to die a bloody death
so that you wouldn't be judged by your sin, you
wouldn't be condemned by what you've done, but
that you would see yourself as holy, blameless,
acceptable, and a well -pleasing before Him.
It was His choice. It was His choice. Look at
your neighbor say, I am. Who he says I am What
you gonna do about this I don't know but I am
Who he said I am I'm the head and not to tell
above and not believe bless going in and bless
coming out I'm the lender and not to borrow.
I'm the heal protected my health I'm the peace
of God in every situation that shows up. I'm
righteous. I'm chosen. I'm blameless. I'm holy.
I'm set apart, consecrated, called by name. Whoo!
That's who I am. That's who I am. That's who
you are. Get yourself together. It's already
done. And God wants us to start to see this as
clear, as clear as we see this. from a physical
position. Here's the thing. Amber's last name
is Pope. Did she have a choice? I'll see what
I'm saying. She ain't have a choice in the matter.
And every once in a while, Amber will display
behavior that's not representative of her last
name. And I'll look at her, and I'll say, pose,
don't do that. Now, I want you to realize something.
Even though Shaping her in the character of what
her last name represents Just because she hasn't
achieved The character of what her last name
represents. It doesn't change You got to hear
what I'm saying it doesn't change her last name
It doesn't change her last name. She is a pole
when she act like one and when she doesn't, she
can't change her last name. She is not legally
capable of changing her last name. She don't
have a vote in the matter, a choice in the matter.
If she walked in today and said, Rashida and
Brian, I don't want to be a poll no more. We'll
say, girl, you done lost your mind, but we ain't
changing your last name. You were born a poll
and you will Be a Po until legal situations happen
and there is a process that transitions you,
but guess what? The name don't go nowhere, it
just slides. You came in this world of Po and
you coming out this world of Po. You didn't have
a choice in the matter and I'm trying to tell
you that's the Confidence that God wants you
to walk in recording your name and identity in
him. You don't have a choice I know sometimes
you don't act like it, but it doesn't change
who you are You are not actually capable of changing
it. You didn't wonder one that chose it He chose
you you didn't choose to be holy. He made you
holy you didn't choose to be blameless He made
you blameless. You didn't choose heavenly blesses.
He gave them to you The Bible says he poured
it out upon you in his lavish love and a tip.
I could run right now. I just want to run. Because
when I think about what God has done, you can't
help but praise him. You can't help but praise
him. Look, I got a reason to praise. I'm gonna
stop praying here. But I just came to get y 'all
stirred up this morning. Satan is not taking
this year from us. I know we have all seen and
been through a lot of things thus far. We've
lost some people, but we haven't lost who we
are. We have failed at some things, but we haven't
lost who we are. We haven't been perfect at all
things, but it hasn't changed who we are. We
said some things and done some things, but it
hasn't changed who we are. God is still determined
to complete the work He started in your life,
and He is the one that is faithful to complete
it. God's not done, so we aren't done. in this
book so that we can look at it. He's going from
graves to glory. He's going from graves to glory,
and God's not done yet. For some of y 'all, he
ain't even got started yet. But don't you allow
good doing to cause you to begin to doubt his
power. No, no, let your praise represent your
trust in him. Your praise is a sign that your
faith has not shifted away from what he said
But it is firmly planted in what he said your
praise Will change the atmosphere You've let
what has happened shape it enough. It's time
to let what he's done Shape it now Well, I'm
trying to go I could close everything I got up
here. Woo! Look what the Lord has done. I wanna
show y 'all something. I wanna show y 'all something.
Boy, and I'm telling you. Yo, yo when I refer
to me myself, I'm just just let y 'all know but
um, yo pastor Oh, I got a lot of a lot of persecutors
a lot of people say things and doubt a lot of
things But this is what I know The race isn't
given to the swift The race isn't given to the
strong, but into he that endures to the end.
I only, not only do I know what God said, I know
how God said it should look. And you don't, there's
nothing like the confidence and courage you get
when you got both. Only do I know what God said
I know how what God said should look I know what
how God says should sound But I'm so godly proud
of y 'all So godly proud of y 'all as a church,
as a people. This week, what has been a three
year spiritual battle, them walls came crumbling
down. God told us to be absolutely determined
determined not to be peripheral in the lives
of this next generation, but to be integrated
in the lives of this next generation, to not
be no substitute, to not be the other thing,
but to be the thing. And so it looked wild. At
times crazy, even to me. Move a school into this
building. When we gonna start this, I know what
we need to start, but I also know what it needs
to look like when it starts. And I refuse to
see it ever represented less than what it was
supposed to be. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no,
no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no,
no. There should never be an asterisk on God's
work. What's that asterisk? Oh, that's just the
church. Oh, they're just Christians. And so that
asterisk lets the quality go down, the presentation
go down, that we say, you know, it was good for
what the church is doing. Some of y 'all said
that with your own mouths. It was a nice thing
the church did, knowing it pales in comparison
when stacked up against. what the world is doing.
Just reveal the truth, can we just tell the truth?
And I'm sharing this with you that I'm just trying
to be sensitive to people too at the same time,
but I want you to understand sometimes what the
journey looks like when you're doing what God
said. People mad, people upset, people confused,
all the stuff. Some of y 'all seen it too, the
walls is dirty. When we gonna clean the walls
in? Meanwhile, Deacon Frankie doing everything
he can to paint the walls to keep them white.
They came to me, the school came to me. Why can't
we just paint them a different color? I said,
because if it's a different color, we won't see
when they messed up. The key isn't dark walls.
The key is white walls that we keep training
the kids how to keep clean. My dad told me when
you can't do fancy, at least you can do clean.
Clean. is capable clean is achievable for everybody
and many people are asking for excellence while
stepping over cleaning you got to do clean before
you can do excellent can a church say amen I'm
just trying to tell you how to live this word
out I'm trying to tell you how you stand up and
realize oh now that you know who you are your
car shouldn't look like that your house shouldn't
look like that you shouldn't look like that you
should represent who you are I know some y 'all
want to keep this in a spiritual place, but the
spiritual is always there to get our physical
together. Just take this as this. Amber, you
are a poet. I'm telling you right, you are a
saint. You are a saint, a holy one, consecrated,
set apart for the purposes of God. That's who
you are. I'm going to say it again. It just gets
me stirred up every time I hear it. But you are
in the same way I would look at amber and say
you're a pope. I need you to realize this you
are a saint a holy one consecrated Set apart
made blameless made holy made righteous so that
you could serve the purposes of an almighty God
That is who you are That's who you are. No, Pastor
Brian, no, no, no, no. Many of y 'all still trying
to let your environment say who you are. No,
no, no, I'm telling you who you are. And you
start letting that identity shape your environment.
Shake the way you talk, shake the way you walk,
shake the way you keep your house, keep your
clothes, keep your kids, everything, everything,
everything. Your life is flooded and radiating
with this glory. Whoo! So where people see you,
they just notice something different about you.
Yeah, there is. I'm a holy one. The same. Set
apart. Called by God. You know, I have to do
the whole run. consecrated I've been made blameless
and holy I've been forgiven of all my sins yesterday
today and the ones to come I've been I've been
made righteous I've been invited into the courts
of God I have an intimate relationship with the
shaper and creator of the universe he knows me
by name I can't get away from that. I can't get
away from it. Whoo! Let that sit on y 'all for
a minute. Just let it sit on you for a minute.
That's who you are. That's who you are. That's
who you are. That's who you are. That's who you
are. Now say to y 'all, that's who I am. That's
who I am. That's who I am. That's who I am. I'm
a mess with y 'all. I'm not a Democrat. I'm not
a Republican. I'm a holy one. Because y 'all
starting to argue over that again. When you're
not even in that system, you're not even, you're
not even. I'm saying stuff to you. Hear what
I'm saying. They told us church and state can't
coexist. There is a whole state church, state
school in our church. How'd that happen? Well,
I'm a holy one called by God, consecrated, set
apart for the will of Him to be done. He called
me by name. I didn't even choose it. He chose
me and blessed me and set me up. to say things
and do things and to pursue things that would
bring glory to his kingdom and shake this world's
foundations that when the world looks at it they
can only say look what the the lord has done
because how did you get it done how did it happen
this ain't even supposed to happen how did it
happen how did it happen it's not supposed to
happen but it's happening to get to it. Y 'all
put up the photos. Y 'all put up the photos because
we got evidence. Ain't nothing like some evidence.
But right here, y 'all see the smiling faces
on the kids faces on the kids because them ain't
our kids. These are children from the community.
Where they at y 'all? Look what it reads. Look
what it reads. This summer, our Bulldogs have
been enjoying an exciting collaboration with
Revealing Truth Ministries through their Young
Art Big Dream program. Together! We have created
meaningful opportunities for students to explore,
create, and grow through engaging, enriched experiences.
From team building challenges and dance classes
to arts and crafts and interactive games and
creative activities, our students have been building
confidence, developing friendships, and making
unforgettable summer memories in fun, safe, and
faith. Go show the other half. Environment, we're
so grateful for our partnership with Revealing
Truth Ministries and the Young Heart Big Dreams
programs. This incredible collaboration has provided
enriching experiences for our students and we're
excited to continue bringing this same spirit
of creativity, teamwork, and hands -on learning
into the upcoming year. Thank you, Revealing
Truth Ministries. for making this summer so special.
Here's to an amazing school year ahead. That's
not our post, that's their post talking about
what the Lord has done. Listen, the kids were
coming into the building saying, when do we get
to be with the church people? Ooh, y 'all got
to hear what's shifting spiritually. They came
into the building saying, when do we get to be
with the church people? These are summer school
kids. They don't want to be here. But now they
enjoy being here. Generations will speak of what
that means. I just came here to tell y 'all,
y 'all got a reason to praise. Tell y 'all thank
you. Thank you for believing. Thank you for sowing.
They came in, the teachers said, y 'all are giving
them Real paint supplies We said Yes Blown away
Blown away And what I love so much is God set
it up in a way that he cannot be ignored I'm
saying this because we've been going back and
forward for over a year and some change of saying
we need to get with the kids. And I want to be
transparent with y 'all. Can I be transparent
for a moment? I discern by the spirit that they
were trying to use us in a moment to build them
a playground. when what we partnered on was we
was gonna do it together. But we not to be played
with. My editing crew ain't in here right now,
so I'm gonna tell y 'all the real truth, too.
No, no, no, it's cool. I know how to keep it
holy. I'm sharing these things with you, because
I want you to realize what the fight often looks
like. You're talking about a year and a half
later. You're talking about promises made, not
kept. You're talking about people saying stuff
like, where is it? And I'm saying it would be
hard to explain, but we're using it as a bargaining
tool. because we refuse to lay down and do something
that would keep them from actually honoring what
our commitment was. We said from the beginning,
the only reason we're doing this is so that we
can touch those kids. No touch, no playground.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no touch. No,
this is system. All this stuff is just, no. We
got, I'm just part that, what's it gonna say?
Sometimes you gotta talk to people like this
for them to understand. We're sitting down in
the table right there. This is probably three
months ago. And they're saying some things. I
said, you know, y 'all have an interesting way
of negotiating. They said what do you mean? I
says for some reason y 'all choose to pick a
path that continues to make me trust you less
and less They looked up I Said now it's not none
of my business But I wouldn't advise you practice
this type of communication with anybody else
outside this room, but I can tell you this I
Will not return to this room. I'm done talking
my little evidence over there. They was emailing,
calling, saying all types of stuff for three
months. I said, don't y 'all say a word back.
Silence. What we gonna do about this? What we
gonna do about that? We not doing nothing. We
will wait and see what the Lord's gonna do. Where
is this and where is that? Listen, this is what
I do trust if you are if you see what God is
doing and you stay prayed up and stop Stop listening
to people and they stuff you'll see what God
is doing But you can't be called by God and care
about what with the comment section saying And
some of the worst comments come from the people
you care about you got to know that too Y 'all
live this out. But you got to know who you are.
Stay firmly planted. I know what he said. You
don't look like something's going on. Why would
I look like it? What type of faith are you? Are
you talking about that we look like what we are
going through? Why would I look like it? Of course
I don't look like it. I walk around like everything
is just how God wants it to be. We think we found
somebody that will understand the vision that
y 'all have. And so we gonna go ahead and do
a rearrangement of the people that you've been
dealing with. We have a whole new set for you
to start dealing with. and they understand everything
y 'all want to do. I said, all right, set up
to meet, walked into the room, same room. Pastor,
I already know everything y 'all want to do.
And the answer is yes. I will work to get it
all. If people change some things around, the
answer was yes, but everybody is saying no, but
as I was talking, I'm just talking to the wrong
person. If the answer is yes and you saying no,
I'm talking to the wrong person. It doesn't mean
I'm doing the wrong thing or I'm pursuing the
wrong thing. It just means either there's a new
person coming or a shift is coming that you don't
know about. to see what God called us to do again
to birth and take root. I'm saying to you because
I'm so proud of y 'all and you may not understand
fully the significance of what you are a part
of and how your contribution and support is changing
a generation. I'm gonna do my best to let you
know without getting us into too much trouble.
Because when they find out, y 'all know there
is a day, and when they find out what is happening
on 5201 North Armenia. so strong and secure in
who we are that we don't change our speech, we
don't change our tone, and we continue to gain
more and more territory for the kingdom of God.
Amen. Y 'all enjoy church today. New life. New
life. So if you're today, you're not saved, or
you're listening online, you're not saved. We
would love to take this opportunity to introduce
you to Jesus. Man, hopefully this message has
shown you that there's so much that he has to
reveal to you about who you are. And so if that's
you today, you want to give your life to Jesus,
submit yourself to his leadership. Man, just
think about your father's business. in the house,
join us in the first room on the left as you
leave, and we'll tell you all about what it means
to be saved, amen. At this time, we'll also receive
today's offering, amen. As you guys know, we
believe in cheerful givers here at Revealing
Truth from Ministries, that as a man, purpose
in his heart, so let him give, not give. are
of necessity because God loves a cheerful giver.
How do we remain cheerful about your giving that
you allow God to communicate what you talk to
you, tell you what to sow and in response and
obedience to what God says to do, you sow. And
so if God, whatever God placed on your heart,
do it and trust that he will never lead you astray.
Some people ask me and I will tell them, I was
like, Because there's so much I don't know why
I don't know why people be so confused And uh,
so some people come and still do we still time
if I said, is that what god told you to do? It's
the same response. What did god tell you to do?
It's not hard and be cheerful about what he tells
you to do Come on but a man I'm just thankful
and appreciative that whatever God has laid on
your heart to do that you do it. It most certainly
gives us the ability to position, the opportunity
to move forward the vision. That's amazing reason
why I'm saying thank you. I asked you guys before,
hey, can you sow into this kingdom offering so
that we can make our camp free, so that we can
do these things for free. And you guys sowed,
that's how we were able to tell those kids that,
no, it doesn't cost anything. that the paint's
free, the food's free, all of it's free because
there are people who love God, who love you.
And so I thank you guys for giving us the ability
to do that. It's what actually made it possible.
And they just have never experienced a level
of generosity like that. They don't know how
to respond to the goodness of God. but I promise
you it's a seed sown every time. Amen. I've already
gone way over time, but it's okay. You know,
we've been also, I know just to remind you guys
that God told us to take this summer to understand
how to function a multi -generational church.
So that's why you see us doing the different
things in worship, and we are saying, God, just
show us how for us to coexist, right? We want
to see the generations that Psalm tells us and
Proverbs tells us, various works from one generation
to the next. We're not trying to build a young
church, and we're not trying to build a seasoned
church. We're trying to build a multi -generational,
His church. And so that means that we have to
master how to do worship and how to do different
things. And God told us to take the summer to
do it. So that's what we've been doing. I thank
you guys for being patient with that, right?
Um, you know, so But uh god god get put a time
frame. He said by august you gotta have it together
So by august we'll have it together But I thank
you guys for your patience as we um pursue new
life and how we reach um this generation with
truth Amen, but if you can stand to your feet,
we will be dismissed Is there anything else I
should be saying announcing? No, it's all good
If it's all good and all hearts and minds are
clear and full of faith, now unto him who is
able to keep you from falling and to present
you faultless for the presence of his glory with
exceeding joy to the only wise God, our savior,
be glory and majesty, man, in power both now
and forever, amen.