I want to leave this room more in love with you.
And Father God, we pray that as we open up the
word today that you begin to root us and ground
us in your truth and set a pace, set a path for
us that only you can. We are thankful that you
called us out of darkness and to this marvelous
light that you've given us so many precious promises.
We thank you that you didn't do it because we
are good, but because Jesus was enough. And we
thank you for your son, Jesus, dying and inviting
us into this incredible family. We are partakers
because of his sacrifice and we are thankful
this morning. In your precious name, I pray the
name above all names, Jesus, y 'all say with
me, amen, amen. Well, go ahead, love on the person
next to you one more time. It's amazing. You
know, I know I was only not here for one week,
but it feels like forever I don't know why it
feels like forever, but here we are right We're
in our sermon series. I have a reason to praise
and Man just thankful for our brothers last week
our pastors Greg and pastors damage and You know
as I was watching them I was thinking man We
should do this more often and so then I called
them up and I asked did you enjoy yourselves?
And they say yes, I said well then that that's
implications. You just agreed to do this more
I Said if I would have led with that question,
I don't know if you would have responded the
same way So I just snuck it in there But yes,
we are going to take another step right today
we are going to do something incredible say hey
neighbor we are going to do all of ephesians
chapter three the whole thing whole thing it's
best served on one platter and so um i am excited
about what god is going to speak to us um through
this today, but the subject is simple, right?
I'm seeing if y 'all haven't grown tired of talking
to your neighbor yet. We'll do it one more time.
Let's just try it out one more time, see if we
still get participation. But say, hey, neighbor.
Don't lose heart. Don't lose heart. And... You
know, we went through last well a couple weeks
ago we went through and I showed you that there's
there's only certain spaces in our spiritual
order and how we live that there's opportunities
for Satan to get in and one of those places was
our heart and So today's message is designed
to help us all Stay rooted and grounded Although
our heart does play a role in how we do what
God says You know the Bible of course tells us
that guard your heart above all else because
out of it flows the issues of life and you know
Your heart will make issues of life. Your heart
will make issues with life and you know, it will
absolutely derail anything that's even of God
in your life. And so we cannot act as though
it's something we have to guard it, in other
words, but we want it to be one that is full
of life. One of the things that we'll read here
in Ephesians is Paul's prayer for the believer
is that their heart become full and flooded with
Christ himself. that our objective is for our
heart to be consumed by Christ, and for him to
be, everything within our heart to be full and
flooded with Christ himself. We'll do it one
more time. Say, hey neighbor, you should be full
of something. That something is Christ. A lot
of us are full of some things. And Ephesians
3 It really Deals with and if y 'all just allow
me to do this it'll help us go through this movie
as we go We're gonna do the whole chapter, right?
So just making sure that we are all on the same
page here I'm because we're gonna be using a
word that I don't want you to hear and run from
because one of the places and specifically in
Ephesians chapter three, Paul is helping us guard
our heart in seasons of suffering. And I say
that because many believers don't want to hear
that word or don't want to know that there may
be something that They may have to suffer through,
but you know, right? That Jesus told us, be of
good cheer. I have overcome this world. In this
world, you will suffer persecution, but be of
what? Good cheer, because I have overcome the
world. So it's not that our lives won't end in
suffering, but many times our lives, we go through
suffering. And if your heart isn't grounded,
You won't survive that season, or thrive in that
season, or better yet, check this out church,
grow through that season. Because truthfully,
the only reason suffering will hit your door
is because glory is available. That suffering
is evidence that glory is pending. Go ahead,
tell your neighbor that. Say, hey neighbor, suffering
is evidence. that glory is pending. That right
there should give, I'll be trying to give y 'all
reasons to praise and y 'all be missing the praise
points. So we'll try that again. Neighbor, suffering
is evidence that glory is pending. Let's see
how far we in here right now. So, so neighbor,
I say this with courage and confidence. Don't
lose heart. Why, why, why? Because suffering
is evidence that glory is pending. But check
this out, right? when we speak of suffering,
it's a physical, emotional, or spiritual pain
experienced in a fallen world. That is why we
will all suffer persecution. I know a lot of
times people think of persecution from their
personal choices, but we got to realize when
the Bible speaks about suffering, it's speaking
about the results of living in a fallen world.
Because we live in a fallen world, there will
be persecution. There will be things that are
physically, emotionally, and spiritually experienced
that don't agree with your heart, that don't
agree with what God is doing, that you will see
things, tragedy will occur, right? And you will
say, that just doesn't agree with what I believe
is good. And some people fail there, because
they'll be like, how could that even be God if
it's not good? Like, why would God allow something
like that? And when you can't reconcile those
things, your heart gets troubled. Like, many
of us have faced things in life that is like,
how is God so full of grace, so full of truth,
so full of mercy, so full of forgiveness, yet
I still feel this? Right? And... We need to appropriate
that because if you don't appropriate that, you'll
start to lose heart. You'll start to realize
that God is not only a God of grace, mercy, and
truth, but check this out. He's also a God of
promise and order. He's both. He's all of that.
And so if we major on the grace, the mercy and
the forgiveness while minimizing the order and
the promise, we won't be able to manage seasons
well. Y 'all alright? Y 'all want me to go back
on my road trip? But just to give you some more,
right? That there are suffering, right? There's
suffering due to personal bad choices. There's
suffering that's just persecution because of
you are following God's way. We've been talking
about that the last few weeks that there are
people who are not spiritually alive. So by nature,
they are not going to respond well to things
God is doing. And so you suffer persecution,
although you are obeying God. Right that people
will talk about you because they don't understand
what you were talking about Then also this persecution
because we live in a broken world, right? This
is believers that that oftentimes you're wondering
why am I dealing with this sickness? Why am I
dealing with this pain? Why am I carrying and
Paul's word? Why do I have this thorn? Right.
I have this thing that I can't pray away and
it won't go away And if you don't have proper
perspective, our fathers would say like this,
how you see the problem is the problem. It was
amazing on this little road trip that we were
having, I was teaching Amber an valuable lesson.
But my baby has gotten to what they call squishy
trading, which apparently is like, you know,
I mirrored it too in my day how you used to trade.
Cards, you know, you used to go to school and
you would trade cards with people. You bring
your good cards and you trade cards with somebody
to see, man, you got some good cards. I got some
good cards, but we didn't have the internet.
So you ain't know until you got home and did
some research that you made a bad trade. And
so the next day you come back to school with
vengeance in your eyes. Like, bro, you gonna,
you gonna give me my stuff back. Everything needs
to be restored back to normal. You give me mine
back, I give you yours back. And you know, Amber
unfortunately got caught up in some bad squishy
trading. And she looked at me, she looked at
Rashida, she was like, I need y 'all to call
that girl's mama up and tell her to give me my
stuff back. And I said, well, you're here in
this world, you will suffer persecution. I said,
sometimes the lesson is learning that you cannot
operate this way. If it meant so much to you,
you should have kept it. I said, this is a lesson.
I said, but um, I said, she, I mean, she, she,
she, she, she, she didn't stop there. If you
know Amber, boy, Amber, Amber actually somehow,
some way, you know, got in contact with the,
with the, hopefully she not listening to this.
If this, you understand all this is true. Your
daughter did it, but Amber somehow. Got in contact
and the mama was like don't worry about I talked
to my daughter and she's gonna give her all her
squishies back I'm like don't give her back.
I Don't want her to get her squishies back I
want her to realize that you cannot walk around
in this world with rose -colored glasses on You
have to realize that not everybody is going to
do right by you. That if something is of value,
it's important that you treat it like it's valuable.
More important than her getting her squishies
back is the life lesson she's learning in this
moment. She's only going to become better as
a result of going through this. She's crying
now, but she will praise this principle later.
I hope you all hear what I'm saying to you, because
many of y 'all are crying. now, but you're gonna
praise the principle you learn later. I understand
it's not what you wanted, it's not what you picked,
it's not what you chose. You couldn't have made
a different decision. You would still have ended
up in the same place, but you serve a good God.
Look at your neighbor say, but you serve a good
God. And he's working all things together for
your good. If suffering is the season, it's because
glory is pending. We don't run from it. Listen,
you learn from it. You grow from it. You mature
from it. Whoo! Well, I'm preaching the whole
thing before we get to it, but... I'm gonna share
this point because it actually fits perfectly
here. But you have to realize this, that truth
is no amount of self effort can free you from
a burden God is using to produce something new
in you. No amount of self effort can free you
from what God is using to grow you. You can work
as hard as you want. as much as you want, but
if God is using it, it shall remain. What does
that mean? I mean, I have to change my mind.
But let's get into this. Y 'all ready? He said
Paul says first one for this reason I Paul a
prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles
Look at this. It's amazing to me that that that
Paul takes a term that has negative connotations
and Uses it to associate himself with his righteous
founding I'm not a prisoner of Them. I'm a prisoner
of Christ Paul. You made that up Know we read
it as though it's now you're a prisoner for Christ.
You gotta realize Paul originated the term prisoner
of Christ There's no such thing as a good prisoner
and Paul's like yes there is I Don't know what
you call these chains, but I'm in these chains
for Christ Y 'all call it suffering I call it
assignment how you see the problem He said, assuming
that you have heard of the stewardship of God's
grace that was given to me for you, look at these
words. Man, assuming that you have heard of the
stewardship of God's grace that was given to
me, what is Paul starting to plant in them? He's
actually starting to deal with them thinking
that he's less than he is because of where he
is. And so it says, assuming that you've heard
of this, you gotta know some things. You gotta
know some things. How do I survive and thrive
in seasons of suffering? You have to know some
things. You have to be grounded in some things.
There has to be some things that you are rooted
in, grounded in, that cannot change because you
ain't even set it up. That's what we've been
talking about these last two weeks We have a
reason to praise because God changed everything
without even asking you if you thought it was
a good idea He made you he invited Gentiles into
his precious promises without asking you if it
was a good idea. He just did it He says verse
3 how the mystery was made known to me by revelation
As I have written briefly, what is he speaking
to? He was saying like, listen, I understand
that it takes a grounding of who I am to receive
from who I am. Right. But I also want you to
know that I was this was made known to me by
God, that this wasn't something I thought of.
This is something God gave to me that this mystery,
what was once unknown, has been made known because
God revealed it to me. What are you saying, Pastor
Brian? God is always in the business of transitioning
unknown things to known things. Look in there
and say, hey neighbor, I know you don't know
now, but God is a God who transitions unknown
things into known things. It's what he does.
So it once was a mystery to many people, but
God took what was mysterious to others and through
the spirit of God, he made it known to me. We
got to hear what Paul is saying what we are learning
here is that there are things that are mysterious
to you now You may not know why you are suffering,
but you have a God who is in the business of
transitioning unknown things into known things
Through his spirit that his spirit will in time
take what is unknown to you now and make it known
Revelation so that it can feed your heart So
it's okay not to know Because you are connected
to the source that releases what needs to be
known Sometimes people come to me this like I
prayed I've been praying about what to do about
this and God hasn't said nothing yet I said maybe
because he doesn't see it as a problem I've been
asking God what to do about this issue. He's
been silent maybe because you see it as something
he's never saw that It's hard for me to give
you a solution to a problem. I don't see as a
problem And when you're in that moment, you don't
lose heart you say well in time what is unknown
to me now God will make known by his spirit I
carried the spirit of God that spirit has the
ability to reveal all things necessary for my
life So if it's unknown is also check this out
unnecessary That is, unknown is also unnecessary.
Because if it was necessary for me to know for
where God's taken me, I have the spirit that
makes things unknown known. I have the spirit
that reveals what's necessary for what I'm supposed
to do. So if it's unknown, it's also un... So
I'm not losing heart over what I haven't figured
out yet. I'm not losing heart because I don't
have the plan yet I'm not caving in because I
don't know the way yet when I need to make a
step God will make the step clear I Don't know
God's not trying to make this difficult God is
a God that makes all things Come preach with
me. He makes all things possible not all things
Use whatever word you want to use it's fine with
me fill the blank what you use but God is not
the God that makes life difficult. He's the God
that makes life Use whatever word y 'all want
to use it's fine No Salvation was a confession
in a belief the greatest gift took a confession
and a belief, and then eternal life was granted
to you. Why would he make living a life that's
pleasing more difficult than the decision to
have eternal life with him? It's not difficult.
We often just don't like what we see. And that's
okay. It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. It's okay.
But that's another thing, like, you know, all
right, I'll wait that, see if we get a little
bit more mature today. But you realize something,
it's actually absolutely 100 % okay to say you
don't like something. I don't cancel what God
is doing because I, Communicate to you that I
don't like what's happening I Don't like it Don't
mean I'm about to quit But let's be clear things
must change Because this can't stay like this
this can't stay like this and but I quit But
if you trying to get me to confess that I like
what I don't like you got the wrong one I Was
thinking this husband's and wives go into each
other now, I'm like, you know, I'm just a prisoner
for Jesus right now How you feel about this marriage
I'm just in prison for Jesus I mean I'm a prisoner
of Christ. How did Paul say it? I'm a prisoner
for Christ. You know what? You asked me how I
was doing. There is the truth. I feel like I'm
in prison for Christ. Y 'all want me to move
on, but I'm letting that soak for a minute, because
some of y 'all, that's a full -on confession
right now. You just felt your freedom. You felt
your whole freedom. Is that acceptable to the
same pastor? If it keeps your heart connected,
if it keeps your commitment grounded for you
to carry the right perspective. I'm not doing
this for us no more. I'm here for us. I'm here
for what I believe God is doing with us. I'm
here because I believe what God can do with what's
happening. When you read this you can perceive
my insight into the mystery of Christ which was
not made known to the sons of men and other Generations
as it is has now been revealed to this holy apostle
and the prophets by spirit He's doing a little
homework to let them know. Hey, I know y 'all
heard a lot of things, but it was not revealed
to them It was real to me. It was revealed to
us Right when we were talking about this because
just make sure we went too far away Remember
that paul was telling them that those walls of
that temple had came down. Although the walls
are still there And so even in this moment He's
still having to do work on them things that they've
heard from people and he's letting know those
people did not Have this revelation they did
not know these things and he's making sure that
they're creating check this out proper categories
for things they've heard and as believers we
have to May create proper categories for things
we have heard There are things you have heard
that came from people who did not hear from god
There's things that you told yourself that weren't
things that god said about you and it's important
that you Appropriate that content that those
were things I said when I was not really actually
listening to what god wanted me to do I'm the
only one with my hand up in the church. I'm the
only one that had a moment My heart was losing
I was losing heart getting a little emotional
and I said a few things that I would really like
to scrunch from the record Just a few statements
out there y 'all could just go ahead and scrub
them from the record I said them, even in court,
y 'all ever seen a court case when they'd be
like, look, look, look, look, Judge, stop, stop,
stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop. And
they'd be like, we need to go ahead and just
blank that out from the record. They were not
supposed to, y 'all, when the witness is saying
far more than they were supposed to say, and
they're like, we asked you this question, you
answered all of these things. What we need to
do is every response that didn't fit the exact
question, get rid of that. And we're all gonna
pretend like we did not hear a word they said
about the things they said. Y 'all ever seen
that in court? You ever been in a trial where
they had to do that for you? I was under emotional
distress. I was distressed. They said, my mama,
I said, It was three minutes of blankness. I
don't really know what I did, what I said, where
I went, who I hit, why I hit him. I just know
three minutes later, I woke up in victory. I
don't know, but it went down, right? But as soon
as they said my mama, it just triggered something
in me. But no, he's wanting to make sure that
we are appropriate. You got to say, hey, believer,
appropriate. Tomorrow, you will be in this world
with people who aren't partakers of your promises.
They will say things that you have to appropriate.
And sometimes, you know what? Well, what is going
on here, Jesus? You know it's okay for you to
tell people you were wrong? Well, you just be
skipping over the simple stuff. I was wrong.
I thought, I assumed, I figured, but as it turns
out, I was wrong. Go ahead, expunge that. Because
I'm back listening again. But yesterday I lost
a little heart. I lost a little courage. I got
a little weary. And I said, I don't know if this
is God. That was a bad statement. That was a
bad statement. It was a lot of pressure. I was
under a lot of things. And I was wrong when I
said, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang. Because
some of y 'all suffering because you just won't
say you sorry. just suffering because you just
won't say my bad with an actual conviction. Well,
we got to get through the rest of these 14 verses.
Here we go. The mystery is that the Gentiles
are fellow heirs. Members of the same body and
partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through
the gospel That's the mystery right that we are
co -heirs a part of the same body as those whom
God originally gave his promises to of this gospel
I was made a minister according to the gift of
God's grace Which was given me by working his
power to me through though I am very least of
all the saints this grace was given to preach
to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ
and to bring to light for everyone what is the
plain mystery hidden for all ages in God who
created all things so that through the church,
the manifold wisdom of God might be made known
to the rulers and authorities in heavenly places.
What is Paul saying? He said like, this was all
done so that people could see where wisdom resided.
That that what God was doing is not just about
changing situations, but unseating who thinks
they are actual rulers That that God shifts he
shifted the seed of wisdom He shifted the seed
of wisdom and so God now is using us as representation
of where wisdom now resides You gotta hear what's
happening here, right? That me and you represent
where wisdom resides. Where does the wisdom come
from? Well, it comes from the Spirit of God.
And as we act out things or do things or are
obedient to the things the Spirit of God tells
us, we show this world where wisdom resides.
Like y 'all think y 'all know how but I'm showing
you that there's a spirit that controls all things
you think you control and as I yield to the spirit
within me it shows the world where wisdom truly
resides and so that's why there's times where
I just can't be folding into what y 'all are
saying because I'm being used as an example for
where true wisdom really Resides you think you
know how until you find out that it ain't no
how it's a who you got to know And all of your
hows will one day have to bow down and worship
the who that's living on the inside of me. So
as I live out this Spirit led life, God is systematically
taking systems that people see as this can't
be where you are and who you are at the same
time. And that's what Paul is saying. I know
you see where I am. I'm in prison, but that doesn't
define who I am. I'm full of wisdom. I'm full
of truth. Matter of fact, God has chosen me as
a disciple, as a - minister of grace. I'm in
these chains, but I'm in these chains for Christ.
Can't you see what God is doing? He's using the
things of the world to confound the people of
the world because why is a prisoner so excited
and positive and speaking about who God is and
what God's done? How is he claiming freedom when
he's in our chains? And Paul's like, these are
your chains and I'm not bound by your chains.
I'm bound by the God who says that I am free.
Indeed, and his words will always trump your
reality. I do not live from a physical perspective.
I'm in a prison, literally, but spiritually I'm
seated next to Christ Jesus. And so even though
I'm in a situation where I should be suffering
and downtrodden, I'm still hearing from heaven
for the benefit of God's people. Woo! Can you
see what God is doing? And he's saying, that's
me and you. Do not allow your present Circumstances
to dictate your worth in the kingdom that God
will use the wisdom step by step I know your
situation says that you don't know how to manage
money But there's a power living on the inside
of you that can walk you through how to manage
money wisely and safely and securely and Strategically
and swayed day by day as you yield to that spirit.
Then what was confound them? They're gonna figure
out. How did you get? From there to here, it's
not a how, it's a who. Woo! It's a who, it's
a who. This was according to the eternal purpose
that was realized in Christ Jesus, our Lord,
and whom we have boldness and access and confidence
through our faith in him. So I ask you not to
lose heart over what I am suffering for you,
which is your glory. Paul's saying all of this
because he's like, they're trying. To get you
To unseat this revelation because of where I'm
have to speak it from But this isn't suffering
The same way they see suffering they see printed
prison as bondage. I see prison as consecration
They see president as isolation I see it as separation
so I can hear from Him. They see this as it's
slowing me down, but this actually is giving
me a moment to write down everything God is saying.
They see this as stopping the mission, but now
from this place I can send out letters that spread
the gospel. Whoo! Whoo! See how Paul's taking?
He's taking what the world had defined as suffering.
And he's seeing it, and what God can do with
it, and what God's doing with it, and the glory
that will come from it. I'm seeing if this is
hitting y 'all. Because many of y 'all, okay,
keep going. He says, For this reason, I bow my
knees before the Father from whom every family
in heaven and on earth is named. Oh man, that
according to the riches of his glory, he may
grant you to be strengthened with power through
his spirit in your inner being so that Christ
may dwell in your hearts. through faith that
you being rooted and grounded in love may have
strength to comprehend with all the saints what
is the breath and the length and the height and
the depth and to know the love of Christ that
surpasses all knowledge that you may be filled
with the all fullness of God. So what? So what?
So Paul says, listen, listen, listen, all of
this. This is seen as suffering, but the suffering's
being used so that people won't come to or adhere
to the revelation that I hold. And so it's almost
like God put a beautiful thing in an unbeautiful
package. And so the package is a distractions
to those who aren't led by the Spirit But to
those who are governed by the Spirit They know
that God often puts beautiful things and packages
that aren't appealing to this world It isn't
the package that we look at it's the heart that
we look at that's what happened with David Right
that that he's a man at the God's own heart that
he looked past the stature and he said no No,
there's another one. There's another one your
sons and they all look like warriors, but there's
another one who has the heart for the job. And
so we're always in the system of having to realize
that God puts great treasures in fragile clay
vessels. That God is always putting this this
unknown thing to the world in these vessels that
shouldn't even be carrying the greatness of what
they're saying. This is God's way. It's how he
confounds the wisdom of the world. And so Paul
is praying that they don't lose heart in the
revelation of who they are because of where it's
coming, where it's being said is coming from.
Because a lot of times we only take courage and
things that look powerful If we're being honest
our possessions often are the foundation to which
we get courage from My days tell this joking
it's actually true That the happiest day of the
week is payday. You got to ask yourself why I'm
only happy on payday Well because There's still
parts of you that the Spirit of God is working
on He says now what to him Who is able to do
far more abundantly than all that we can ask
or think according to the power at work within
us to him be the glory in the church and in Christ
Jesus throughout all generations forever and
amen. So what is Paul saying? Don't lose hope.
heart, you have a God who's able to do infinitely
more than you could think, ask, or imagine. I
understand you see the suffering, but have you
considered the source of all things? His ability
to do far even above what you have the capacity
to even present That the God Who's full of mercy
and Grace and truth all spiritual blessings Stigs
over something that my mom you see all the time
saying Brian Sometimes we just have to realize
God is not mismanaging our lives. Get in moments
where it's just like you feel like everything
is everywhere and in that moment you have to
realize you're not the manager of you and God
is not mismanaging your life. I'm gonna say these
things and But what we say this pastor Brian
because suffering has a way of challenging our
faith Because we believe that suffering is a
sign of separation from God But here's the truth
truth this is promises don't disappear because
our circumstances become painful Just because
it's become painful doesn't mean his promises
has disappeared So don't lose heart I Love this
Because here Paul is in prison writing to them
and Obviously Paul's matured at this point and
so he's not asking them for sympathy. He's not
asking them for compassion He's actually praying
that they don't lose heart What He's the one
in chains But he's a man in chains with check
this out revelation It's amazing what revelation
will do to your suffering It's amazing what revelation,
how revelation will heal your heart when suffering
tries to hurt it. What we are witnessing here
is the healing power of revelation in any season
of suffering we see. Pastor Brad, how do I not
lose heart? You have to let God reveal what's
happening to you. See, I can tell you that you
are co -heir. I can tell you that you're a part
of this holy temple God is building. I can tell
you that you are a partaker in God's precious
promises. But if I'm being honest, that's like
shopping your Christianity off the rack. And
some of us are in a tailor -made season. You
can't pick up the revelation you need off the
rack. You got to know when No, I'm still losing
heart even knowing who I am Because there's a
big difference between knowing you were a partaker
and knowing your part There's a big difference
when knowing his promises and knowing the ones
that are active for you today And I came here
just to encourage some of you to take your Christianity
and get it tailor -made to you well who's the
tailor pastor Brian the spirit of God the spirit
of God will take that partaker label and show
you your part that you're partaking in. That
revelation is what heals a heart in a suffering
season. That's all Paul can say. Everyone else
in here is in chains, but I have revelation.
I'm in these chains for Christ. I'm in these
chains because of what my assignment is. I'm
in these chains because Satan wants to discredit
the messenger due to the posture, discredit the
message due to the posture of the messenger.
Satan's trying to discredit my mission by trying
to keep what people can't see in a container
that they wouldn't readily accept. So I don't
see the prison walls as confinement. I actually
pray that people don't see these prison walls
as who I am. I'm trying to help some of y 'all.
I'm trying to help some of y 'all. Because you're
trying to figure out why all hell is broken loose
and it's because of what God is doing with you.
Paul's prayer wasn't that the hell stop was that
the hell didn't stop them from seeing Paul Come
on now y 'all Paul's prayer wasn't that the trouble
go away He knew why the trouble was there. It
was to keep people from seeing who he was So
he prayed that they wouldn't let the trouble
stop them from seeing who he was The trouble
wasn't there for Paul. The trouble was there
to keep people from seeing what God was doing
through Paul. Y 'all missing the whole thing.
Y 'all missing the whole thing. This should flip
your whole prayer life upside down. This should
flip everything about how you see tomorrow upside
down. You've been complaining about where you
live. You should be praying that where you live
won't stop people from seeing what God is doing
in your life. You keep trying to change this
house. In this world, you will suffer persecution.
Maybe you got a bad interest rate. Maybe you
bought it at the wrong time. Maybe you was supposed
to sell it, but you're still in it. I don't know
what you did, but I know who he is So no matter
what I have done that may be a may be a problem
for people to see who I am I pray That they still
see God Why I could throw this microphone Y 'all
understand how hard I'm gripping it right now.
I pray that they can still see God I pray, you
know, you know, I pray I listen listen. Oh Y
'all see this is me at home This is me at home
when I be thinking about some of the things I
did that didn't turn out the way it was supposed
to and I just Prayed that they can still see
God I'm not worried about problems, I'm not worried
about trouble. When I have a God that can do
exceedingly, abundantly, above all I can think,
ask or imagine, my prayer is that I don't lose
heart because of what I did. I pray that my ministry
still moves forward. I pray that his glory can
still be seen. I know it hurt, but my prayer
is that God's glory still. I know you messed
it up. I pray that his glory is still seen. I
pray that nothing becomes a stumbling block to
who God has called you to be. I pray that your
ignorance doesn't become a stumbling block who
God's called you to be. I pray to all them dumb
decisions, all of them, all of them, all of them,
God uses as a way to show forth his manifold
wisdom that this world doesn't have participation
in. I pray that God uses your situation to show
the world that what they think disqualifies,
oh baby, it don't even begin to hold a candle
to what God can do. God will take the disqualified
and use them to bring glory. God will take the
unqualified and use them to bring forth glory.
God will take my bad credit and get me a new
house. Kiss the glory So his ask is that they
remain Faithful that they allow Christ to dwell
in their hearts. Look at this verse 17. I need
you to see this We don't close out. We don't
do it Because he uses a word for the dwelling
of Christ, what is the word? that Christ dwells
in your hearts through what church? What is faith?
The substance of things hope for the evidence
of things not seen. So I'm literally being instructed
to unseat what I do see with something I can't
see. If Christ is dwelling through faith, that
means that Christ is not dwelling in what is
seen. Christ is dwelling in what is unseen. But
my heart is always fractured by what is seen.
So Paul is saying that you must unseat what is
seen by what is unseen. So y 'all might say,
what is unseen? Go to the tailor. Find out That
Taylor had us a ways of pulling out the curves
If you don't know Taylor's could take almost
10 pounds off your body by how deep When you
buy it off the rack it may be too big it may
be too small and may do some things but if you
go to the Taylor it just it Situates what was
once a problem Y 'all work with me But when you
go to the tailor your one leg may be longer than
the other leg But that's not a problem at the
tailor because the tailor can make sure the left
leg is a quarter inch longer than the right leg
So that the outfit ain't messed up so that you
don't lose the glory If one arm is longer than
the other arm the tail will make sure the shirt
still looks good on you I know the problem is
the problem, but the Spirit can make it look
good on you. He'll make it look good on you.
He'll make it look good on you. Because the danger
wasn't Paul's prison, the danger was the church
allowing Paul's prison to discourage their faith.
truth is faith opens the door for christ to occupy
your heart even when circumstances even when
suffering occupies your circumstances i'm gonna
go ahead get to the end y 'all know i love to
just give you something that can maybe help you
just pause in a moment and so i'm gonna give
you this acronym It's an S, an E, and a C. Second.
Like we be saying, give me a second. Just give
me a second. Like give me a second. Like this
just hit me, but just give me a second. Just
give me a second. While I allow the Spirit of
God to tailor make this to who I am. Just give
me a second. Some hits you it starts to do that
thing y 'all know that thing When we start to
lose heart question doubt wonder concern start
staying random stuff Just before that starts
happening for now when you get that be like,
just give me a sec Just give me a second. Let
me go get Talk to my tailor. I Got a idea go
talk to my tailor. I Don't shop off the rack
no mo Well, I don't even know what a TJ Maxx
is, babe. I don't even... Well, I take my things
to the tail. I take everything to the tailor,
you hear me? Oh, wait. Just in case y 'all wondering,
that's not... I'm not talking about... That's
not me. That guy's from Zara. It's right there
on the rack. At the mall. We talking spiritual.
Spiritually, we don't... Boy some y 'all about
to bust the whole pastor said No, he did are
we talking spiritual? Spiritually speaking I
don't shop at the rack In the natural I'd be
looking for the sale rat I Start there cuz if
there's a bargain with my name on ain't no point
of me paying full price Give me a second, right?
First one, shift your perspective. What are you
saying? No more suffering, no more burdens, just
bridges. Because every season of suffering is
just the introduction of a season of glory. I
don't have burdens, I have bridges. This thing
that's hit me to take me across to his glory
I Don't burdens that bridges That's perspective
it's the same way Paul saying these chains for
Christ you you have to look at whatever it is
Say no, it's not a burden it's a bridge bridge
to what his glory Here we go this one's big Two,
end desperate decision -making. You have the
Spirit of God living on the inside of you. The
Spirit of God is precise. The Bible says the
Word of God is sharper than a two -edged sword.
So what does that mean for me? I don't make desperate
decision if desperation shows up in the room.
No decisions will be made today Give me a second
because now you mess with my heart Now you mess
with my heart you trying to get my emotions to
do what the Spirit of God is telling me should
not be done You're trying to get me to yield
to something that I cannot be led by. I can feel
desperation rising. Let me just holler at you.
Give me a second. Give me a second. No. Hey,
neighbor. End. desperate decision making We are
not moved by pressure we are moved by presence
and It's hard for me to fill his presence with
all this pressure So you have to give me a second
but all this calm down It's gonna fall apart
see there you go. It's more that desperation
talk Maybe it's supposed to fall down. I got
to give you I need a second To find out am I
saving what God wants to die? Give me a second
just give me a second And number three, commit
to concentration. Believer, we cannot be afraid
of seasons of isolation. You cannot be afraid
to be alone. A lot of people make fun of me because
I love to drive. I love to just hop in the truck
and just ride. Because at some point, it's like...
problems... just start to lose their value. All
you hear is like... the road underneath you.
Rashida always laughs at me, because I don't
even turn on music. I put down the window and
just let the wind come through. I just ride.
Hours. I know my brother Greg talked about...
Driving for hours in the price of gas He worried
about the wrong things And And that stillness
God begins to speak and I like it because if
it takes six hours to drive to Atlanta Although
I could fly If I fly I'll try to occupy the time
I have once I land But I it's like you get on
that road I got six hours No, I don't turn on
my YouTube and no I don't turn on Music and no,
I definitely don't get the scrolling I just set
an expectation and let God know you got me for
hours. When's the last time you gave God some
hours? I'm talking about like some of our lives.
Hear what I'm saying. You are losing heart. You
are on the edge of caving in. I've never seen
a heart surgery that lasted 30 minutes. Don't
do it if they suggest it. When's the last time
you just consecrated yourself, isolated yourself
for hours? I know what I'm saying. I had all
week to think about whether or not I was going
to say for minutes and God kept saying no hours.
You just sat there. I said, God, not by will.
Your will be done. I'm overwhelmed, and I need
focus. They asked me, how long you gonna be gone,
Brian? I don't know. Turned out it took seven
days. Just driving around. Had my nieces with
me, my daughter with me, my wife with me. You
know, spent more money than I planned on, but
that's that. It's all right. Ma 'am. Jesus showed
me some things about me. Saw further I Started
to understand Some of the suffering I was going
through I Know I know we've been screaming new
life, right and But it's out of that grave to
that glory and On some levels, I've had an unbelievable
year. And in some spaces, my world has really
been rocked. And I was like, God, I don't need
you to solve problems. I need to know what you're
doing. and he started showing me what he was
doing. Why am I sharing this with you? Because
I know this isn't a, you know, a testimony of,
I don't know what y 'all want, more money, new
car, I don't know where it is you want, but this
is a testimony of peace. Just found some rest.
Some of y 'all need some rest. Because no amount
of self effort will end or stop suffering God
is using. Can I pray with y 'all today? Father
God, I pray for your people. I pray that your
word reigns supreme in their life. I pray that
they realize that you're an all -knowing father.
I pray that they rest in the truth, that you're
not trying to keep things unknown for their detriment.
but you are truly fathering them, keeping them,
growing them, maturing them to a glory you have
planned for their lives. Father God, I pray that
they understand that you've heard their prayers.
You know the desires that they have. And I pray
that they trust that you haven't forgotten their
prayers, that you haven't forgotten their desires.
I pray that they keep faith in a father who's
working it all together for their good. I pray
that you give them the perspective to remain
rooted and grounded in this season. I pray that
you give them courage and give them compassion
to see what you are doing. I pray that they understand
that you're a loving father and that you Wish
them no hurt harm or danger That you have life
and life more abundantly playing for them I Pray
that every lie Satan has set up in this season
To get them to believe that death is their future
that the end is near that they must panic, that
they must move in desperation. I pray that that
enemy that's trying to stir up things that aren't
even a part of who they are, I pray that those
things are casted out and they experience the
freedom that is found in you, the peace that
is found with you. and that they experience rest.
Amen? Amen. Well, I love you guys. I thank God
for you guys. Did you get anything out of the
word today? I'd say if you're here today and
you're not saved and you haven't made Jesus Christ
your Lord and personal savior, I would love to
give you that invitation now. Listen Jesus They
told me to stop saying this but I'm feeling it
right now. He's a bad mamajam It's the best friend
he sticks closer than a brother If you want to
meet Jesus tell you what Let us know if you're
watching online or meet us in the first room
on the left before you leave if you have questions
about what salvation is, what it means, meet
us in those same places, and we'll tell you more
about who our Savior is. Amen. At this time,
we'll also receive today's offering, and amen.
Here at Reveal the Truth, we believe in cheerful
givers. What does that mean? That means that
our heart is connected to our giving. That means
that we are asking heaven, what would you have
for me to sow? And as a result of what is said
and spoken, we sow. And so we do not believe
in people given grudgingly of necessity that
you should not be forced into your given But
you should be inspired to give um that you should
be hearing from heaven and heaven say hey This
is what it is for you to sow in in obedience
to what heaven speaks. We are cheerfully sowing.
Amen Amen. Well, I'll tell you what um pastor
deborah if you could do a communion for me, I
would love that And so as per our tradition on
the first Sundays, we do communion together.
And so Pastor Deborah is gonna come up and do
communion. And I love you guys. Hey, we did chapter
three today. You know what I'm saying? We did
it. We're gonna do chapter four next week. Let's
go. Has everyone been served? If not, if you'll
please raise your hands. We'll make sure that
you get communion. We have people on this side
as well as this side. You know, we don't do this
as a ritual. What we do concerning God, we want
to do it with full knowledge so we can take advantage
of what God has designed for us as believers.
And one of the things I just want you to know,
if you are a believer, if you are a Christian,
you have the right to take communion. I know
that in times past, people talked about you're
not being worthy. Well, gosh, no one is worthy.
But Jesus Christ made us all worthy because of
God. He gave us his righteousness. So there's
no one again that is a believer, no one who is
a Christian who does not have a right. to take
communion because when Jesus died for our sins,
he died for all our sins. And we have to understand
that as believers, we do miss the mark sometimes,
but that's a behavior that does not determine
who we are. God has already determined that we
are children of the Most High God when we get
born again. And that position never changes.
regardless of our behavior. As Pastor Brian said
a couple of weeks ago, you don't get unsaved.
The Bible says that when we got born again, that
we were sealed by the Holy Spirit. There's nothing
we can do to take that sealing away. So again,
I'm encouraging you if you're one of those people
who heard, man, I did something wrong yesterday.
Last week, just a few minutes ago, I had a bad
thought that I cannot take communion. That is
not true. That is not true. Amen So Jesus encouraged
his disciples and for us that to remember some
things To remember what you came into remember
what Jesus Christ has done for us that positioned
us to have Have presence with God all the time
how he paved the way for us that there's nothing
between us and God. So Jesus Christ, he died
on the cross. That's what he came for. I just
remember the scripture where he says, God, not
my will, but your will be done. I want to complete
my assignment, although I know what is going
to happen. I know the suffering that's going
to take place. But the Bible says Jesus said
for the joy that he saw before him, he took all
the shame. He took all of the bruises. He took
all of that just so that we can stand in the
position we are now. So he tells us to remember
what he did with his body. So this represents
his body. He says, you know, remember, remember
all that I did. Amen. So we do this in remembrance
of him. You may eat of it now. And God said that
there is no remission of sin, no forgiveness
of sin. unless there's bloodshed. Thank God that
Jesus Christ was the only one who was able to
give of his body to shed blood for our forgiveness
of sin. So when we take the wine, it represents
the blood of Jesus and all the blood of Jesus
did for us. It's for our forgiveness of sin.
And in that forgiveness of sin, it put us in
a position where we have a right to all the promises
of God. Somebody say amen. All the promises,
we talk about those as a part of what our scripture
is about, that God came to give us an abundance
of peace, prosperity, security, stability, health,
healing, and truth. So because of what Jesus
Christ did forgiveness of sin came and therefore
we can partake of all the promises of God So
just remember that and he says to drink it in
remembrance of me Hey man, hey man, so if you'll
please stand to your feet We're going to be dismissed
if you would repeat after me now unto him that
is able to keep me from falling, and to resent
me, 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 ever. Amen. Enjoy the rest of your
day.