having begun by the Spirit, are you now being
perfected by the flesh? What does that scripture
remind us of is that we can oftentimes just through
a repetitive motion or just through, we can casually
or without notice begin to transition. how we
are living, that we all know that we were saved
and called by God and that awakening was spiritual.
But somehow, as we begin that journey, we tend
to oscillate between that spiritual awakening
and that spiritual understanding of how we are
to live. And we bounce back between how we once
were. Like we'll start to interweave in together
lifestyles. Those lifestyles being a spiritual
lifestyle and a lifestyle of the flesh. And so
that scripture is given to us to remind us that
it is foolish to ever think that you can finish
what God started in the flesh. That it's I'm
trying to think of a stronger word, but foolish
is actually pretty strong Only other word is
dumb But I think foolish already did that But
it's foolish for me. Are you to ever think that
what God started in the spear? What are you starting
to spray? He called you in the spear that we
can somehow Finish this in our flesh. That's
foolish thinking So go with me to Ephesians chapter
2 verse 1 and I can tell you this message is
filled with a lot of blunt truths but they're
to point you to a clear way of moving forward
and so just telling you say hey neighbor just
survive some of this truth So Paul starts off
he says and you were dead in trespasses and sins
key here word here is were and If you skip the
word you'll find yourself Confused but Paul is
letting you know from the jumpstreet. This is
how you were You were once dead in trespasses
and sin. What does he mean by dead that you?
We're not alive to what is right. That you were
not aware of what was good. That you were dead.
You were separated from that which was good.
You had no, you could not recognize good if it
was standing in front of you. That you had this
present condition that wouldn't allow you to
see good if it was standing in front of you and
labeled, this is good. You wouldn't recognize
it. You couldn't discern it. You wouldn't pick
it out of a lineup. It was impossible. Look,
you never say, hey neighbor. It was impossible
for you to even know what was good. That's how
you were. He says, in which you once walk following
the course of this world, following the Prince
of the power of the air, the spirit that is now
at work in the sons of disobedience. Right? So
as we continue to unpack this, Paul says, you
not only did not recognize good, but you used
to walk a certain way. And he's using the word
walk because he wants you to realize that you
had a lifestyle, a lifestyle that could not recognize
good if it was in front of you. You had a lifestyle
that didn't even know how to please God. That
it wasn't something that was, check this out,
simply decision -based. It was your lifestyle.
And you got to read this this way because oftentimes
we return to a life of the flesh because we think
God saved us to make better decisions. And so
now that I'm smart enough to make better decisions,
I now put down my spiritual walk and pick up
a life of the flesh because I think, I think
that God saved me to make better decisions. That's
not the totality of it. What Paul is letting
you know is, no, God saved you from a lifestyle
that you were trapped in. And it's important
for you to realize that you were trapped in the
lifestyle. That you were, you had no way of even
recognizing good. That you were entrapped, you
were. Dead in sin separated from God and no good
decision could get you to even see God clearly
that you and me were dead in sin that we were
uh We had a nature that wouldn't allow us to
even see good. Say hey neighbor You wasn't even
on the block of good I like to say it like this,
it's important for you to see that you were buried.
Look at me say, hey neighbor, you were buried
in brokenness. And this brokenness wasn't, check
this out, it wasn't defined simply by the decisions
that you made. Your brokenness according to scripture
was divide was is defined by a nature. You didn't
have the ability to escape That it wasn't that
you were making bad decisions It was that you
had a nature that caused you to think the way
you were thinking you had a nature that made
you do the things and say the things that you
were saying, that you thought that God saved
you to make better decisions. No, he snatched
you from one nature and gave you a new one because
the nature you had would not allow you to be
able to make good decisions. Why? Here we go.
That's what Paul unpacks. He says, because you
follow the course of this world. In other words,
that me and you, it wasn't that you were simply
making decisions, you were trained to make decisions.
That he says follow the course of this world,
you have to understand that this world has a
pattern that it wants you to follow. And when
you're not alive to God, you don't know how to
break free of that pattern. And so by nature,
you follow the pattern set before you. And so
you were in this life, not because you chose
it, but because you don't even know what else
to choose. You didn't have the ability to discern
anything different other than what was already
told to you. Y 'all rocking with me. And he says
check this out you were following the prince
of the power of the air in other words that there
are things that are floating in the air and there
is a Principality that it rules the air his name
is Satan and So what he does is is he throws
suggestions in the air? and then what happens
is we hear these things and because we have no
recognition or reckon, we cannot discern what
is good, you follow the air. What does that sound
like? This is just what I feel like doing. This
is, my heart is drawing me that way. These are
all, look at them say, things. full of air and
he's wanting you to realize that you didn't have
a choice because you couldn't even recognize
good so if i can't recognize good or i can't
discern what's god then i am subject to whatever
is floating in the air not only am i subject
to what's flowing in the air satan controls there
he's the principality that governs the air Come
on y 'all rock with me. I love remember this
remember this it start off with were This is
everything you were I See something y 'all losing
it wait wait a minute pastor So because it's
important for you to risk the beef I'm not gonna
preach too soon He said the spirit that is what
now at work in the sons of disobedience wait,
hold up That is something we must wrestle with
right because Paul didn't say it's gone. He just
said it moved So you and me I'm assuming that
you're saved like I'm safe we were once subject
to This nature what a nature that follows what's
in the air a nature that's subjected to our passions,
our flesh, that we were subjected to it without
the ability to even know something different
to choose. And so when Christ saved us, he brought
us into the light. So now both me and you, assuming
that you're saved, we know, ha, that's not God.
This is God he wants you to know that that Recognition
wasn't something you worked for it was a nature
given to you Y 'all just rock with me that that
now I have looking every say a new nature This
new nature gives me the ability to actually see
the old nature when you were when you are subjected
to the old nature, you don't even know you have
a bad nature. Y 'all gotta rock with me. This
is gonna help y 'all if y 'all stick with me.
And so in Christ's victory on the cross, you
know what happened? Through Christ, we got the
victory over that power that exists, but it's
important for us to realize that the power still
does exist. It exists in the sons of disobedience.
Well, who are the sons of disobedience? Those
are the people. Check this out. It's not behavior
based. These are the people who are denying Christ.
Because you got to remember by grace you were
saved so behavior didn't get you in and behavior
can't kick you out We talked about that last
week that you are sealed right and so he's saying
listen you you got to realize what's happening
around you that there are sons of disobedience
they by nature can't do right and You can talk
yo behind off But they are by nature at odds
with God You are trying to get them to make different
decisions When you have to realize the decisions
they are making are shaped by a nature. They
haven't been saved from You can recognize that
they are submerged, submitted to, and buried
in it because you have a new nature that can
now discern what is godly. I'm saying this because
we have to realize many of us have stopped being
passionate about seeing people saved. You want
to know why we stop being passionate about it?
Because we've numbed the truth of what this is
saying. And we simply think that God saved us
to make better decisions. No, he snatched you
from one nature to a new nature so that you can
discern what is good. Because if he didn't switch
your nature, you would still be doing what you
were doing. And so you keep thinking that you
can talk people out of what they're doing. You
can't talk them. You got to minister salvation.
Because as long as they are unsaved, they can't
even do what's good. Why? Because they can't
See what's good. And you were once like that
too. You weren't just doing bad things. You were
submerged in a lifestyle. You had a nature that
didn't even, if it was good in front of you,
you wouldn't pick it. Why? Because all you had
was flesh. All you had was your passion. All
you had was your feelings. There was no spirit
on the inside of you was saying, no, crucify
that flesh. Crucify that passion. Crucify that
feeling. That feeling don't line up with the
word of God. You didn't have that. You now have
that. And so it's important for us to see this
because it'll get us stirred up again about actually
saving souls. Because how could you expect your
whole family to change if all of them remain
sons of disobedience? I want my family to be
better. Well, it starts by going on a soul winning
crusade. You keep fighting flesh and blood when
you already been told we don't even fight flesh
and blood like that is useless We fight spiritual
warfare. What are you warring over? I'm warring
over your soul Salvation because until you were
saved you won't not only will you not be able
to pick was good But you can't even stay good.
You don't even know what's good I could be talking
good and you don't even know is good talking
to you We have to realize the actual plight of
an unsaved person. And so that we can understand
the glory of a saved one. Because until I decide
to realize the actual nature of a broken person,
I don't appreciate the salvation I actually have.
Think as long as you think God it saved me so
I can make better decisions You were dumbing
down with salvation is no he changed your nature
So you can begin to recognize that was good that
you can recognize that which is golly that without
salvation You didn't know good. You didn't know
golly. You didn't know right from wrong. You
ain't know nothing You were dead and sin Thank
you You are under control of the prince of the
air Look at yourself you were He says among whom
we all once lived in the passions of our flesh
carrying out the desires of the body and the
mind and we were by nature children of wrath
like the rest of mankind look at him say you
was naughty by nature had to do it had to do
I normally say that for second service but And
so Jesus, God, in his rich mercy, decided to
snatch you out of the wrath, the lifestyle, the
nature. That had nothing but death as an end
and Give you a new nature that now has eternal
life as the reward We'll hear what I'm saying
His first word by God I'm teaching ahead of myself
Being rich in mercy because of the great love
with which he loved us, right? That God being
rich in mercy. It's important for us to realize
that mercy is when I decide not to give you the
punishment you've earned. That you earned punishment.
Mercy is me. deciding not to give you that in
which you've earned. And the Bible describes
God as being rich in mercy, that he's rich in
the ability to move past what you've earned,
what you deserve. And this is why a lot of y
'all trying to figure out, let me just keep it
moving. I wanna say this before we move on, that
mercy always seeks recipients. And so God is
always looking for people in which he can overflow
with mercy. He's always searching to find those
in which he can deposit, bestow upon mercy. This
will really help you understand more about you
and the life you're living, despite some of the
decisions you make. As you have a God who's rich
in mercy, who has made it a part of his expression
of love to perpetually forgive what you actually
have earned. You know, we were talking about
I have a reason to praise and y 'all a lot of
y 'all missed it just right there That God has
an account that only is accessible when you are
in a deficit That yes, he's gracious he has that
yes, he's forgiving he does that but he also
has a reserved called mercy And he continues
to make sure the reserve of mercy is at its full
state. So he never runs dry of mercy. He's rich
in mercy. I think y 'all understand what's happening,
y 'all. That God, imagine this. Now, I'm just
gonna do this as a slight example, right? Imagine
that I'm just gonna say something right. Y 'all
rock with me. Some of y 'all be looking at me
funny because you're like, I don't even want
it. But let's say, let's say that you had an
extravagant amount of wealth. Every wise financial
advisor will tell you what we call having an
emergency fund. They will tell you to have a
maintenance fund. They would tell you that as
you're accumulating riches, it's important that
you put money aside just in case. Well, the thing
is, when you are wealthy, you never have the
thought of using the emergency fund unless there's
an emergency. That's why I need some of y 'all
to think, because some of y 'all think I'd be
tapping in my emergency fund all the time, Pastor.
But imagine that you are so wealthy, that there's
no need to use the fund ever. That what you do
is, as you earn, you continue to supply it. It
literally has done nothing but accumulate over
time. Why are you saying like this? Because we
need to understand that you wouldn't use that
money unless an actual emergency showed up. Otherwise,
it sits there. And so when the Bible describes
God as being rich in mercy God has an account
That is perpetually funded that cannot be depleted
That is available So when you have done something
that deserves You to be punished he goes to the
mercy account and covers the balance. That God
is, look at, he's rich in mercy. Why? Because
what he celebrates isn't that you make better
decisions, he celebrates the nature that you
now have received. He looks down and he sees
you through who you are now Not by decisions
but by nature There's two categories sons of
wrath and sons of obedience To his sons of obedience
they have access to a rich supply of mercy Boy,
I got to keep moving And it says because of the
great love which he loved us even when We were
dead in our trespasses Made us alive together
with Christ by grace you have been saved and
raised us up with him, seated us with him in
the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. What's the
truth, Pastor Brian? Truth is, you have escaped
what used to define you, that what once imprisoned
you no longer has authority over you, that he
took you. gave you a spiritual resurrection.
And although you are physically standing here,
you also have residency spiritually in heaven.
This new nature gives you access to what heaven
has to offer. So that although you are living
on earth, You have an understanding of heaven's
reality. So when you got saved, you were resurrected
in Christ Jesus and seated in heavenly places.
What does that mean? That means now, instead
of you being subject to a nature which could
not recognize what was good are God you are now
seated with God that although I can physically
see you. There is a spiritual reality that you
are now seated with Christ in heavenly places.
Why is that important? That's how I can connect
the dot. Well, how can I now recognize what is
good? I'm still here on earth. No, there's a
flesh part of you that is still here, but you
are spiritually. seated with Christ simultaneously.
So you don't just have one reality that you're
aware of. Not only do you see what's happening
here on earth, but you are aware of what has
been finished in heaven. So as I look at earthly
things, it's important for me to realize what
has spiritually already been finished so I can
act according to what heaven has said and not
what I see. Y 'all rocking with me. Where did
that thought come from? Well, you have to remind
yourself you are seated in heavenly places with
Christ Jesus that there's a part of you that
is fully aware of what heaven has finished and
that part of you is Speaking to the one that
is sitting right here in front of me and looking
at life saying what should I do with this? Well,
if you pause for a second decide to tap into
the spiritual reality concerning your identity
you will find out that heaven has finished everything
in front of you that he made you alive to all
spiritual blessings in what heavenly places that
although you see me physically I actually have
dual citizenship. That I am simultaneously standing
in Tampa, Florida while seated in heaven. Look
at your neighbor say, you are He said so that
in the coming ages verse 7 he might show the
immeasurable riches of his grace and kindness
towards us in Christ Jesus right that that that
that that he did this so that he can make a display
of us of what the reality looks like for someone
to be alive in Christ while living on earth.
Hear what he just said. He said that God wanted
to make a display of what it looks like to be
alive to Christ while living on earth. He wanted
to make it clear that there's a difference between
those who are alive to Christ and on earth and
ones who are not alive to Christ and on earth.
There is a difference. Y 'all are living on the
same planet, but y 'all have two different realities.
And I, God, make sure that the reality is made
plain, that those who are alive to me are subject
to the things that those who are dead to me are.
Y 'all rocking what I'm saying. This is important
that you see this. It's important that you see
this because you'll understand what God is doing.
And it is important that me and you represent
the reality that we live from. That's why he
can't leave you how he found you. Getting ahead
of myself getting ahead of myself Boy, but I
want to do it out God. We got to do it. We got
to do it He says for by grace you have been saved
through faith and it is not of your own doing
it is a gift from God not the results of work
so that no one could boast for Check this out
for before before you are his workmanship Created
in Christ Jesus for good works with God prepared
beforehand that you should walk in him So what
is he saying? I love to say this that you are
his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for many
of us to truly understand that you better for
you to use the term recreated look at him say
neighbor you've been recreated that God at the
point of salvation took everything that concerns
your life put it back on the potter's wheel and
created a new outcome from the same problems
that he took what had happened to you and said,
now, because you are a living representation
of what someone alive to me looks like, I need
to take what happened to you and create a new
outcome because you were headed for death. But
now you're headed for life. He wanted you to
realize that this wasn't even some random plan
that he actually formed you According to what
he had already planned before time You gotta
hear what I'm saying that God already knew when
he was going to switch you from a son of death
to a son of life He already knew the moment He
was gonna snatch you out of darkness and to his
marvelous light that you didn't get saved by
random You were called into salvation given a
new nature and what? What he did is he took that
old you, put you back on the potter's wheel,
and shaped you according to the new plans he
already had. And so he took the same stuff, but
created a new person. Why are you saying this,
Pastor Brad? Because some of us think that I
got saved too late. No, you were saved right
on time. Some of us think sometimes that God
is being slow. No, he's not slow concerning anybody
God is an on time God and I know you feel like
you've been through some things that weren't
do you but you got to understand he takes all
of it and creates new outcomes recreated me something
you got a pause right there in church we have
to wrestle with this what do you mean by that
pastor Brad that you have to fight with this
truth You have to fight with this truth. You
have to allow this truth to reconcile what you
see in front of you. Because truth is, the gospel
didn't simply rescue you from something. It rescued
you for something. I'm gonna read these things
to you. Boy, I wanna keep going. Whoo! It's good,
it's so good. But I'm gonna read this to you.
Because there's some simple things that God actually
wants you to do with what you heard. and you
can hear all this and overlook the simple thing
he actually wants you to do. Y 'all wanna know
what the first thing God wants us to do with
what you just heard? Live with the present hope.
Because why would he do all of this and ever
give up on you? He wants you to take all of what
you heard and not just have a living hope but
to establish an eternal hope. A hope that cannot
fade. He wants you to take all of this and look
at whatever is trying to trouble you and realize
who already rescued you. He wants you to take
all of this and go to war for your spiritual
awakening. Because the only thing that's troubling
many of us is we can't discern what God is doing.
But you have to understand just because you don't
discern it, it doesn't mean he stopped doing
it. But it's hard to live with the present hope
if I can't discern what God is doing You are
alive to what he's doing. You can see what he's
doing And so the first thing he wants us to do
is Never to relax our hold on hope and to realize
You have been declared to speak life over dead
things, that there is nothing dead. It's just
dormant. What's dormant of? It's dormant of its
spiritual awakening. He's speaking this to them
so that they could prioritize their spiritual
walk. Otherwise you will return to the flesh.
That truth is until we commit to renewing our
minds daily. We will never see his hand clearly
But I need you to hear this just because you
can't see his hand. It doesn't stop his hand
What we are actually missing out on is praising
him while it's working Romans 12 and 2 y 'all
put up on the screen so you can see this and
we got to do this We got to finish y 'all get
ready for second service, you know And he says
put up on the screen Right do not be conformed
to this world Flesh, right? This is mirrors what
we read earlier about how can you begin in the
spirit? And I'll now try to finish in the flesh
right that you were saved from that nature You
were saved from having to conform to the pattern
of this world. What are some of these patterns?
I just want to say some stuff simply that in
order to be successful you need a degree. That's
a pattern. It's not even true amongst people
who are in the world. Now that doesn't mean that
you don't get a degree if God told you to. But
what it does mean is you never allow yourself
to disqualify what God has decided to qualify
out of his mercy You got to you what he's saying
because some of y 'all was supposed to go to
school you didn't But you got to remember God
is rich in mercy Some of y 'all what you you
you were Supposed to make that move and you didn't
but he's rich in mercy Some of y 'all, you did
make the wrong decision, but he's rich in mercy.
You have to realize that yes, many of us, not
only have we made some dumb decisions, we got
some dumb ones coming, but we have a God. who's
rich in mercy. Why is he saying this? So that
you can maintain hope despite the condition of
this world. He understands better than us that
we're living in two different realities. And
you know that there will be times where you will
turn to a thing you've been saved from. But he's
rich in mercy. He already knew. We're surprised
by our dumb decisions. God has already planned
for them. The only person surprised by what you
did is you. And when you understand the reality
of what it means. to be in this world and not
of this world you won't even give yourself the
grace you should be giving yourself because it's
not just that you make bad decisions it's that
you were there was a nature i'm gonna have to
do this just give me a little second Oftentimes,
the emperor will do something. And the first
thing we ask her is, why did you do it? Y 'all
know what we're searching for? Sources that don't
belong are part of your thinking. We're looking
for who's that shouldn't have been involved.
We're looking for places you've been that you
shouldn't have been We're thinking about things
you've seen that you shouldn't have watched that
we're we're we're we're not Searching for her
just to simply say I won't do it again No, baby
girl, you got to understand you're gonna do it
again if we don't disconnect the source that
causes you to do it That's what he means by nature.
That we know that there is always an environment
that cultivates the decisions. And we try to
major on the decisions and neglect the environments.
And God's like, no, I understand this more than
some of y 'all. So I'm rich in mercy. Because
you weren't just saved to make better decisions.
It takes. a holy environment to consistently
make good decisions. And many of us, we're still
trying to get our environments to mirror heaven.
Y 'all got to talk to me. And God, who's rich
in mercy, often understands what we don't even
give credit to. What are you trying to say? He
knows how hard it is to choose that which is
holy in a world that celebrates that which isn't.
Why is he saying this though? So that I could
continue doing wrong? No, we don't take the grace
of God for vain. He's saying this so that you
can maintain your eternal hope. Y 'all rocking
with me, right? It says, do not be conformed
to this world, but be what? Transformed by the
renewal of your mind. I want you to realize that
Romans 12 is mentioning the renewal of your mind.
Romans, I mean, Ephesians 2. Highlighted that
you were making decisions according to a dead
mind Y 'all say word and So it's within the same
atmosphere In which we were once doing dead things
that were supposed to do living things y 'all
gotta hear what I'm saying You got a new spirit
you have the same mind That mind was alive during
the old nature Now this mind has to be renewed
to this new nature. That is a process thought
by thought They say I will not allow The mind
that once had me To be the same thing that now
stops me that I will commit to renewing The only
thing that can stop me check this not stop his
hand but stop your praise while he's doing what
he's doing And he says by the testing you may
discern this is what I love put it back up there
Here comes It's coming I believe It says that
by testing you may discern what is the will of
God what is good and acceptable and perfect.
So, my discernment of what God's doing is connected
to my mind being renewed to see what God is doing.
So if I leave my mind, Does it, I would just,
let's just see if we just learned something today.
I'm gonna say no. If your mind can't see it,
does it mean that God's not doing it? If my mind
can't see it, does it hurt my hope while he's
doing it? Yes. If my mind cannot discern what
God is doing, the result is a hope that's hindered.
I'm gonna do it again. If my mind can't discern
what God is doing, does it stop him from doing
it? If my mind cannot discern what God is doing,
does it hurt my hope while he's doing it? Hope
deferred does what? So anytime I'm hoping for
something that's Extended beyond where I thought
it should happen. What does it do? Y 'all got
listen we we at school today Hope deferred does
what? So if I was hoping for something to happen
in one year And it's now two years, what happens?
Thank y 'all, it's right here in front of you.
That if I thought breakthrough was a year from
now and breakthrough hasn't came and it's two
years from when I thought it was, my heart gets
sick. What happens to a sick heart? Hope depletes.
Well then the question then becomes, how do I
make sure that my hope and my heart stay healthy
while God's doing what he's doing. I have to
have a mind that can see what he's doing. That
as long as my mind can see what he's doing, my
hope remains anchored. So then the question becomes,
how do I keep my mind seeing what he's doing
even while he's doing it? Is this some simple
stuff? I have to commit to the thoughts that
truth gives me. I have to commit to the thoughts
that truth has given me because truth has the
power to change your mind. My spirit is in heavenly
places. I am a co Existing I have two Places
in which I live. I have an earthly reality in
a heavenly reality Everything concerning me is
settled and done But sometimes if we're being
honest we get tired Does our weariness stop God
no But where does our weariness come from? Our
inability to see what God is doing. But what
God is doing is actually living. on the inside
of us well what stops me from even attaching
to what's living on the inside of me a mind that
hasn't been renewed to receive what heaven is
doing so how do i bridge the gap between being
sick because of how long and being start praising
god even though it's been longer than i thought
i have a mind that can see what's happening on
the inside of me well how do i start to clean
my mind up i start to allow truth to change my
mind that i allow Every word that god has spoken
to make subject the thoughts that oppose what
he said This is thought by thought and as I attack
these thoughts, not only do I make satan's remind
him He's under my feet, but I remind my heart
that all is well I'm already way over time. So
I might as well do this Did you put it back up
there because I need you to see this It says
that I got another one after this too. That's
the problem All right, so I'm gonna go ahead
go to the other we'll get back to that Jeremiah
29 11 it says for I know the plans I have for
you. I know. You may be unaware, but I know.
Right now, you may be unaware, but he knows.
There are things heaven knows about you that
you can fight spiritually to see. Heaven's not
trying to hide what it's doing, but you have
to fight to see what it's doing. Why? Because
an unrenewed mind blocks what God is doing. It
can't stop. what God's doing, but it will block
you from seeing what he's doing. So if I want
to know what heaven is planning, I have to fight
to see what it's doing. If I stop fighting, I
stop seeing. Heaven doesn't stop doing, I stop
seeing. But if any season I want to see what
heaven is doing, Can fight to see it? How do
I fight in your mind? That if I wake up in wage
war against my mind as I do it I can see what
heaven is planning He says for I know the plans
I have for you declares the Lord plans to prosper
you and not to harm you Plans to give you a hope
and a future it's important that you realize
this prophecy was given 70 years before it actually
came true We read it as though it was something
that happened the next day they sat with that
for 70 years In heaven loves giving Long -term
hope for difficult times So before we go further
I'll probably guess is why I put on my fatigues
today. The question isn't, is it finished? Oh,
it's finished. The question isn't, does God have
a plan? He does. The question isn't, is heaven
on your side? Heaven is. But there's a grand
opportunity before each one of us to see what
heaven is doing. And I'm saying this because
I know I'm standing in front of many people.
You're fighting to maintain hope, to stay encouraged,
to stay uplifting, to keep doing the right things,
although you haven't seen good results. And the
prince of the power of the air would love for
you to just submit to one of his thoughts that
it's not going to happen. It's dead. It's over.
And I'm standing here with heaven saying, it's
not dead. It's not done. Heaven has been working.
And if you feel yourself in a moment where quitting
feels like the next best thing, where compromise
has been taking over. Put on your whole armor
And begin to fight to see what heaven is doing
You weren't designed to live without hope We
were designed to live with a future and a hope
You weren't designed to fight from discouragement.
You were designed to live from a hope and a future.
Y 'all get anything out of the word today? Father
God we thank you for today. I pray that That
your sheep heard your word today, I pray that
they leave here Ready to step out of that dormant
season And to take hold of their mind commit
to seeing what you are doing. And if there's
anybody here today, they're not saved. They haven't
received Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior.
We want to give the opportunity for you to do
so. The Bible tells if you confess with your
mouth and believe in your heart. that Jesus has
died and rose again, you shall be saved. And
so if that's you today and you want to be saved,
as we say this prayer, just say it along with
this. Father God, I thank you for your son, Jesus.
I believe that he died and he rose again. And
when he rose, rose of my forgiveness, he justified
me. He extended mercy towards me. And I am now
a son, a daughter of the King. Church, can we
get up for people that said that prayer for the
first time? Satan doesn't want you to fight.
He wants you to just give up. And you have to
realize you'll give up if you don't fight. We'll
receive today's offering. I wish there was a
better transition, there's not. But we do believe
in cheerful givers whose heart are in their giving.
And so today, as you give, do so knowing that
it is something that is pleasing to God, something
that God sees as honorable and something that
you should be cheerful about. that God loves
a cheerful giver, someone who's excited about
sowing. And so as you give, give so cheerfully,
amen? Y 'all understand how much I wanna keep
going. Because there's, I'ma just, let me do
this piece for those y 'all who ain't even gonna
come back next week. Because it helps you reconcile.
The fight. That when you get down to Ephesians
2 and 20, Jesus begins to describe himself as
the cornerstone and that there's this whole structure
being built and that each one of us are being
joined into a holy temple of the Lord. And what
is he saying? He's saying that we are what? Living
temples. And in order for you to truly understand
what heaven is doing, you have to understand
what a temple once represented. That a temple
was the seat in which God was experienced. It
was the most magnificent structure that would
be in a city. That temples were set upon a hill.
That temples were lavish. Temples were full of
glory. That they were the epitome of excellence.
And now God now says you're his living temple.
You wanna know what God is doing? He's making
you just as excellent as that temple once stood.
And we often are trying to minimize what God
is trying to maximize. That we are now his temple.
living representations of what once physically
stood before people. So no, God's not done with
you. He has plans greater than you could imagine.
But y 'all stand to your feet. Father God, I
just thank you for today I pray that as your
people go that they take this word and begin
to wrestle with it That they allow the truth
of this word to set up arguments against every
thought that's trying to come against it I pray
that they own who they are in you now that they
realize that they are a new creation Creating
Christ Jesus for good works that God is already
pre -planned that he's not trying to make them
holy they already are holy that he's not trying
to figure things out everything is already figured
out that he's not wondering they're not wondering
but he has a path for them and i pray that they
fight to see what you were doing look you never
said i will fight to see what god is doing I
love y 'all, I thank God for you guys. Now I
want to Him who is able to present you from falling,
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
and majesty, dominion and power both now and
forever. Amen.