Sermon
Keep It Narrow with Pastor Marcus Criner
Publisher transcript
Transcript
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I don't know about you, but I came to be changed today.
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I came to be changed and I'm just gonna get real honest, you
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can be really vocal this morning.
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You should talk back. You should say Amen.
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If something resonates in your spirit you can run around this
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room. Don't get weird.
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Okay. But if God is resonating
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something in you, the church should not be quiet.
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We are not sitting in a church and some man is telling us the
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Oracles of God, you got the spirit of God in you and it can
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relay things and it can shine things in your life.
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So it's very okay. This jump and shout and dance
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It's okay to be vocal. The church is where we come
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together and get encouraged. So you can go out and fulfill
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your assignment. And I felt the Lord, just say
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Let My Words speak because there was enough word in his in this
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in this book, there's enough, does anybody still believe in
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this book? There was enough word in this
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book to change your entire situation, it can raise the
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Dead. I grew up in church all my life
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and I still believe it has the power to raise the dead.
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I Still Believe We Lay hands on the sick and they will recover.
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I still believe we can cast out demons and they will leave We're
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not preaching a weak man's message.
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Jesus wasn't a weak, man. He wasn't a sissy man.
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He was a man's man. You want to know why?
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Because he did the will of his father, and the manliest thing
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you can do is, do God's will for your life and all the women
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said, amen. The most sexiest thing for your
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marriage is a man of God, they don't need a paycheck, they
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don't need a six-figure income, they need a man of God who hears
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God and follows God because that will bring you everything you
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need. If I can get a little more, that
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would be awesome if not. Hallelujah, come on, come on,
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come on. I'm came to be changed, man.
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Let the word of God speak. Let him speak.
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Let him speak. All right.
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Matthew 7, we're going to go back.
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I need to read this. I just felt we needed to set the
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ground to read this, but it says, come on say say God I give
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you permission. It's very important.
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You say that because if you don't allow God to change your
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he won't You can say God, I don't know everything, help me,
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change me. Mold me.
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Make me more like you, I Repent, I Repent.
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So you gotta give God permission.
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God's not gonna find it, you know, step inside your business.
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You have to yield your business to him, right?
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So give him permission this morning and I want you to know
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everything. I preach you this morning, I'm
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preaching to myself and I hope it can fix you because it can
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fix me. And I believe we should come to
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church and be convicted not feel good.
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And I'm thankful for our pastors, who preach a message,
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they don't care how you feel, because the word of God doesn't
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care how you feel, but the word of God will bring you life if
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you apply it. It's too many preachers
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preaching. What you, I don't care.
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If this is not a message for likes and comments, this is a
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message if you would apply to change your life.
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So we're in a good house or pastors have set the ground so
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if I offend you it's nothing personal.
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It's the word. Can I just say this, your life
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should bring offense to people not that you're trying to be
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offensive and haughty and arrogant and don't be a jerk.
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Okay? But when you live the Bible, It
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doesn't blend with the cultures of this world and there's a lot
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going on in the cultures of this world.
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I won't get into it, but just look on your Facebook feeds.
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Of all the things but they're blind.
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The Bible calls them. So we're not mad, run an angry,
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we pray, we pray. All right.
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Matthew 7, are you there? Come on it says enter by the
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narrow gate. This is kind of an old-school
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verse but I still believe it has much.
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Revelant relevance, thank you for today, enter by the narrow
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gate for wide is the gate and Broad is the way that leads to
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destruction. I'm going to walk all over the
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stage because I can't come off. Okay, so just and it says, broad
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is the way in that leads to destruction.
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And there are many who go by in a say many, because narrow is
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the gate and difficult is the way, which leads to life.
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And there are few who find And it the in OT verse and says this
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it says you can you can enter God's kingdom only through the
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narrow gate. You can enter God's kingdom only
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through the narrow gate. So here's the big question.
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Why is the gate and narrow? Why does the Bible say,
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difficult is the way in few who find it was?
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Jesus, Come on. Talk to me, was he trying to be
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hard to get? Was he trying to be hard to
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find? Was he trying to be confusing?
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Was he trying to say, hey, come follow me, psych know he was,
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what was, what was he trying to mislead?
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People know? We know that he said, oh come to
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me all who are weary and I will give you rest.
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We know that he said, I am the way, the truth and the life,
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right? We know this.
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He said, if you seek me you will what?
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So we know he wants to be found. So why is the gate and narrow
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Jesus? What are you doing?
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You want to know why the Gate of the kingdom is narrow.
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The Gated to the kingdom is narrow because the only thing
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that'll fit through the gate is you the only thing that'll fit
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through the gate is you and other words.
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Jesus was saying, if you want to enter the kingdom, you can't
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bring your past. He says, if you want to enter
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the kingdom of God, listen, you can't bring your future.
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You can't bring your ideas. You can't bring her.
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Agendas you can't bring your options.
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You can't bring your culture. You can't bring your family.
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You can't bring your plans. He said, if you want to come to
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the kingdom, you gotta enter by the narrow gate.
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The only thing that will fit through the gate is you The only
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thing that's why you see the arrow, the only thing that'll
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fit through the gate, your plans won't fit through the gate.
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Your family culture won't fit through the gate.
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Your 401k your savings, you'll put your career.
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It won't fit through the gate. What will fit through the gate
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is a hard saying, Lord, not that will, but your will be done.
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That's the only thing, that'll fit the narrow gate and in fact
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to get to the gate, you must actually die.
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I was speaking with Josh, that's good to have some iron
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sharpening iron right? I got to give him credit is, he
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told me this. Okay.
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So but if you're gonna eat it is true.
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If you enter the kingdom with, you're gonna go through the
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gate. You must enter as a dead man.
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Say dead, man. Because God is not trying to
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just wash you and make you something better.
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He's trying to completely make you new.
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You don't have to go there but I'll just give it to you.
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Second Corinthians 5:17 says therefore If any man be in
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Christ he is a new creation. He's new.
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He's new he's not fixed. God is not trying to fix you.
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He's trying to make you new and if you come to the gate of the
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Kingdom, God's not gonna say, oh that's cute.
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Lemon make you better. And it doesn't say you're gonna
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have to die. I'm gonna resurrect you become
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something completely, new behold, all things have become
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new. Paul said, I have been crucified
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with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but
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the life I live. I live in Christ.
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So if you're gonna come to the gate of the Kingdom, you have to
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die. Not physically guns, not trying
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to kill you. He's on a mean God.
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But he says, if you want to come to this Kingdom, you got to give
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me all your plans. All your agendas, all your
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future thinking. That's why it's difficult
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church. That's why it's narrow because
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not everyone wants to die to self.
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But Paul said, I Crucify My Flesh that I may Die.
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Daily. Come on.
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Is God. Speaking this morning, That's
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why it's difficult today. I want to talk to you about
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keeping, it narrow said, keep it narrow.
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For those of you who like to title your messages, you can
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write keep it narrow. You gotta keep it narrow, man.
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You gotta keep it narrow. You gotta keep it narrow.
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Because in the world we live in. There are way too many options.
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Everything is begging for your attention.
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Everything is begging for your likes.
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Everything is begging for your subscription ring, the bell to
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hit the Bell you know, subscribe subscribe there were so many
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voices. So many options, but Jesus and
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go God in Jesus. Made a really narrow So many
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options, that's we know why. That's why I'm thankful for
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Kingdom, Revelation, not the revelation of Christianity.
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Say that again, I'm thankful for Kingdom Revelation, not the
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revelation of Christianity because if you ain't Christ like
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you in a Christian and I don't know about you but I met a lot
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of Christians are like are you sure about that?
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It's not me. Are you sure about that?
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If you know, you know, I'm thankful for the kingdom of the
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Revelation. Why?
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Because it made things really simple and really narrow The
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kingdom made it narrowed, didn't it?
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And made it simple. It took all the, you know, the
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things of religion and all the things that made it really
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simple. It brought Clarity, right?
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It brought like, I see it. So thankful, so even in the
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beginning, let's go to Genesis chapter 2.
Genesis 2 chapter mention
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Are you with me? Don't get quiet on slap you?
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Why can't get off the stage? So I'll just are slap, right?
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Genesis chapter through Genesis chapter 2, even in the
Genesis 2 chapter mention
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beginning, God made it really narrow.
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This is then the Lord God took the man and put him in the
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Garden of Eden to tend and to keep it while we gotta work.
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Yeah. Verse 16 and the Lord, God
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commanded, the man saying of every tree of the garden you may
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freely eat but of the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil,
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you shall not eat for. In the day, you eat it.
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You shall surely die. It's pretty simple.
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You can have all these things. All this stuff is yours, but
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this tree don't touch. It's pretty simple.
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It's not confusing right? And guys not like moving it
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around. That would be pretty, you know,
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here and then Adams like dang, you know, there's really all
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these things you can have but the tree in the middle, Don't
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touch, don't eat those smell it, don't look at it.
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Turn your head, pretty simple, pretty narrow.
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But then confusion comes in chapter 3, Genesis 3 1 through
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6, Now, the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the
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field, which the Lord God had made, and he said to the woman,
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has God, indeed said, You shall not eat of the tree of the
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garden. Come on and the woman said to
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the serpent. We may eat of the fruit of the
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Trees of the garden, but of the fruit of the tree which is in
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the midst of the garden, God has said, You shall not eat it, nor
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shall you? Touch it?
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Lest you die, right? She's keeping it simple.
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So know what, I don't know what you're saying, because God said
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this, then verse for, this is where confusion comes in.
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Then the serpent said to the woman, you will not surely die
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for God knows that in the evil day, you eat of it.
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Your eyes will be opened and you will be like God knowing Good
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and Evil. There are six.
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So when the woman saw listen so when the woman saw that the tree
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was good for food and that it was pleasant to the eyes and it
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was a tree desirable to make one wise.
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She took of its fruit in innate. So the note here is just because
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something is good Pleasant to the eyes.
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Desirable looks good. Make sense doesn't mean it's
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from God. Just because something is good.
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Just because something is Pleasant to your eye.
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Just because something is desirable just because you want,
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it does not mean it's from God just because you can think it
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out mathematically just because that second job works with your
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schedule just because their future spouse works for your
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eyes. The last time I checked, the
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devil doesn't show up in a red Pitchfork in a costume.
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He shows up as a really good opportunity, right?
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Come on. It shows up as an open door, but
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here's my question. Did God really open that door?
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Because I last time, I shit, the devil has hands to.
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He's not an amputee, he can open doors and what people call God
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is. Not God.
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Did God really bring that new business idea to you or is it a
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distraction from your purpose? Talk to me.
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Did God, bring that fine looking man in your life or is it a
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distraction from your purpose? Did God bring that second job in
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your life? Or is it as a distraction from
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the purpose? Just because notice he didn't
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tempted with Matt old nasty fruit.
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It look good. It made sense.
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Everyone accepted it. Everyone be like, yeah, he but
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just because it's good, doesn't mean it's God.
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That's the word for somebody just because it's good, doesn't
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mean it's God. I know this was a really bad
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opportunity. Mast with advancement.
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It was a really bad opportunity, Mast with advancement.
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In other words, he would say, no, if you just eat it, come on
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it, it'll make everything better.
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And is it? The devil saying the same exact
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junk today, That's why you got to keep an arrow say, keep it
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narrow. Okay.
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So that was gone. Let's see what Jesus had to say
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about some things because Jesus also made it really narrow
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Matthew chapter 6. Come on.
Matthew 6 chapter mention
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Here we go. So here we go.
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No one can serve two masters, I'm sorry.
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Matthew 6:24 you there. Boom, no one can serve.
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Two masters for. You will hate one and love.
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The other. You will be devoted to one and
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despise the other. You cannot serve God and being
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slave to money and don't work. Come on, say it don't work.
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It don't work verse 25. That is why I tell you not to
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worry about everyday life. Whether you have enough food or
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drink or close to, where is that your life?
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More than food in your body? More than clothing?
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Look at the birds of the air. They don't plant, they do.
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Harvest. They don't store food in your
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bothers. Yet your heavenly father.
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Feeds them all. And aren't you more valuable
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than they are more valuable than a burden.
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Can all your worries, had a single moment to your life verse
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28. And why do you worry about
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clothing? Don't worry about clothes
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clothing changes all the time. Dear God, you're never going to
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be in style, just know that, okay?
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Because it changes and changes and if God still cares
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wonderfully and while the wonderful wonderfully for the
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wild flowers that are here today and thrown into the end
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tomorrow, he will certainly care for you.
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Why do you have so little faith? In other words, God is saying,
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why are you stressing out about everything that I already
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promised you? Why are you stressing out about
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everything? God already promised you?
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That's it. Come on.
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So don't worry about saying saying, what will we eat, or
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what will we drink? Or what will we wear, listen for
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these things dominate. In other words they consume the
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thoughts of unbelievers, everyone's looking for what to
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wear, what to eat, where to live all the jobs.
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I think he's saying don't seek any of that things.
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Whoo, he said so what will be where they dominate consume the
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thoughts of unbelievers but not us, right?
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I don't know. But your heavenly father already
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knows all your needs worse. Third thing.
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You made a very narrow, very simple, seek.
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The kingdom of God above, every above all else.
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Notice he doesn't say alongside everything else.
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Some of your asking, God to bless your life, you need to ask
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God, to be your life. It's two different things.
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Some of you are asking God to bless your life and God needs to
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be your life. He needs to be the reason you
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wake up. The reason you go to bed, the
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reason you work the job, the reason you're married.
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The reason you do everything, you don't fit the kingdom in
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your life. The kingdom is your life and
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everything else makes sense. Come on, talk to me.
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You don't try to fit the kingdom.
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No, you get stuck at the gate. Not with everything else.
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You don't bring your crap and say, God I'm gonna fall.
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We got so know if you're gonna follow me, abandon all, I have
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to be everything in your life. That's why it's difficult not so
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we can't. Okay, let's keep going seek.
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The kingdom Above All Else, and live righteously.
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So be key, live right before. God Not on Sundays every day and
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he will give you everything and he will give you everything you
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need verse 34. So don't worry about tomorrow
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for tomorrow, bring its own worries.
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In that true. Some of y'all got some problems
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coming, don't worry about, it's coming but what about today and
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today will help you for tomorrow, right?
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Today's trouble is enough for today.
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Here we go. I am very concerned that what is
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dominating. The thoughts of unbelievers are
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also dominated the thoughts of believers.
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I'm very concerned that what is dominating.
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The minds of unbelievers is also dominating.
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The minds of church folk. Jesus made it very narrow.
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He said, if you would make two things you'll priority,
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everything else in life would fall in line.
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He said, if you would make two things your priority, everything
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you need, not want everything you need everything.
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You need will be added to. You, does anybody still believe
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that this first Works? He said if you would make two
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things, what does that mean? Number one, God, I'm seeking
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first. Your kingdom.
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What does that mean? And he's God, I no longer live,
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you live in my life, take my life.
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Take my plans, take my dreams. Take everything I submitted at
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the gate and I say, not as I will, but your will be done.
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Don't make me something better. Make me new, make me new.
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I give you all my aspirations on my plans on my dreams, on my
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Pinterest boards. Oh, my beautiful future
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vacations. All the things that I want to do
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Lord, is that what you? And he said, if you would put
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his kingdom, his plans, his things above everything else,
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and then also stay right with him.
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Which means you are a doer of the word of God and you
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constantly are repenting and saying, okay?
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Because I don't know. Chew, the more we the bottom
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like dang I gotta change, right? Dang, I gotta change.
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He said, if he would seek me first and then just and then do
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the word of God and apply the changes that you need.
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And when I Spirit talks to you, and when your pastor corrects
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you, if you would accept it, that's not a word for man, but a
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word from God. He said, if you would do those
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two things, everything you need will be added to you.
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I'm here to tell you, it works. So many of y'all are running
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after the things and God said, one after me, why are you
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breathing? Why are you breathing?
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You're not breathing to take up space, your breathing to fulfill
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your purpose, your purpose. Why are athletes making millions
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of dollars in actors making millions of dollars in massive
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influence? But yet they're oh, Dean and
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they're stuck on drugs in there. Going from one relationship to
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relationship to all this drama and their take their life.
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It's because they have everything but they don't have
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the one thing you need the kingdom in your life.
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It makes everything really simple.
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I don't work for money, I don't work for opportunities.
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I don't pick my career. I said God, where do you need
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me? Well, they don't pay you enough,
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he ain't pay me the first place. I'm honored pastor but he's not
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my Supply and I'm thankful because he taught me that Either
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one, I did like to hear that. But he's not my Supply.
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I'm here. Not for him.
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I'm here because of God and if you don't pay me, God will find
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a way? I believe it.
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I believe food will show up in your pantry.
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Gas will show up in your car when you serve your purpose.
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When you seek first that your life is not your own but you're
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saying God what do I do with my life?
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What do I do with my life? Okay, I'm seeking that.
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Keep it narrow say it. Here's the thing.
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You don't seek the kingdom for the things because then you're
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already off. I'm not one of those preachers.
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You can follow God, you have a wrote that people have made it
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dumb and made it a success. It's not about having the nicest
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things. It's about having everything you
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need. I stand before you a very
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wealthy man, not because of my bank account, but because of my
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purpose, when you know, your purpose, you can't die.
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I'm talking physical covid, covid 2.0.
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Whatever the new disease that they caught it could come.
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But it can't take me because I have a purpose.
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And I've seen people on their deathbed, get off their deathbed
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because they realize they got purpose.
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You don't need money, you don't need money.
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You need the kingdom. You need to seek the kingdom,
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first. I know this is wild preaching,
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but this is the house we in, and I remember when Pastor go back
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in 312, started laying out. This Foundation, I was like, I
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was sitting on fire 312 You don't have a money problem.
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You gotta seeking problem. You don't have an anxiety, a
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problem. You have a seeking problem, you
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don't have a marriage problem, a family problem, a career
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problem, I whatever problem you have a seeking problem because
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if you would seek first, the kingdom of God, everything you
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need will be added. Is that me?
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We will have opposition. Know, you're gonna have hell
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itself, come against you, but he said be of good cheer for I have
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overcome the world. He said, greater is he?
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That is in you than he that is in the world.
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I don't know about you, but you're gonna have some
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opposition. You're gonna have some haters,
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you're gonna have some people that straight up lie about you
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steal from you. Jesus made it very clear that
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people will come against you. They came against me, but he
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said be of good cheer. That's why your family doesn't
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understand why you're serving God but you guess what?
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You're not living for them? Because I know that, you know,
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that I'm going to stand up from the God one day, that's all,
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that's gonna matter. Whoo.
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So you don't have it. All your problems can be solved.
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If you seek first, the kingdom of God, will you have problems?
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Yeah. Great opportunities.
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The devil came to Jesus three times.
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I mean, it's a pretty big deal, right?
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We brush on the devil, came to Jesus three times.
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What did you say it is written is written.
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And at the very end of this is the devil looked came back for
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an opportune time. He's coming back.
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No we're not like, oh the devil's coming.
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Bring it on, but when I'm in my purpose, if God be for me, God's
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not for a lot of people, it's hard.
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I know. He Loves Us.
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Sure he wants the best for our lives.
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But when I'm serving the kingdom, he's got my back.
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He's got my back and unfortunately most of the church
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has it backwards running after the things and God never told
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you to run after the things. You don't need another job.
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You don't need a better job. What you need to do, is say
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King, where do I work? That is a completely different
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mind shift. I know.
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But you were never leave you and never meant to take care of
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yourself. Let your pride down.
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You were never meant to take care of yourself.
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I'm not saying you should be lazy in a bomb and I do
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anything, but you weren't meant to make.
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All the ends. Meet, you were meant to seek
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first. The kingdom of God, and let him
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add things to you and his timing.
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And the last time I checked God's timing isn't your timing,
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it could it be that the timing is a little delayed because he's
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actually trying to get you to trust in him and not in what you
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can see, not in what you can feel.
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Sometimes a pakka A miracle from God, doesn't come on Friday, but
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what are you gonna do with that moment until it comes?
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He's gonna freak out stress out. Drink yourself out to get rid of
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the pain or you gonna trust him, I'm here to tell you, it works,
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it works, keep it narrow good running after things, you need
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to run after your purpose. This is not a quit, your job
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sermon, but if what you're doing right now, is not what God's
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called you. You need to quit.
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You say what? About a playing the greatest
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plan you can do is say God, I am yours.
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See, this is the life of the adventure in the kingdom and we
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read about And movies really all?
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That's so awesome. But here we have an opportunity.
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I'm not saying be full as I'm saying, step out on a word from
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God. When is it?
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The perfect time. Now is the right time to follow
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God. Now is the right time to seek
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God. Why are young while you're
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healthy? Why you got your strength?
-
And could it be that God is trying to set you up some things
-
for? Now that will actually be a
-
setup for later? Just throwing that out there.
-
When you start seeking first, the kingdom of God, you will
-
never worry about bills again. It is the greatest plan.
-
There is our president can't come up with this, definitely
-
not. Argh of no, no matter if you
-
have the wisest not wise, and what all these plans of men are
-
not better than the Kingdom's plan because in the world to try
-
to go after this and go up. And how many people I graduated
-
Bible school with grew up in church, all my life and I see
-
everyone just running after things and not running after the
-
purpose and they wonder why they're not fulfilled.
-
It's the answer to your depression.
-
Says God is the answer to your anxiety?
-
It's answer to your frustration, it's the answer to everything.
-
The root of everything is you're not seeking him first.
-
And if you would seek him first, he said everything you need will
-
be added I don't know about you but I still believe that verse
-
works. I remember back in 2009, when
-
Pastor Earle started and maybe anybody there, my 2009 folk back
-
in 312 or yeah over here. Now, it's a really weird store.
-
But I remember him preaching the revelation of the Kingdom
-
specifically, in Matthew 6:33 and I was working a job outside
-
the church. At this time, I'm not going to
-
go deep into the story, you know?
-
But I think it's important to bring it up.
-
Is I remember? I was sitting, I was like, I was
-
setting on fire seriously because he was talking about
-
seeking first, the kingdom of God.
-
And I've heard that verse on my life, probably like you have.
-
But when he started bring that Revelation, that if he would
-
seek first, the kingdom of God, if he would put his plans, his
-
wheels, his desires, his intentions, his church, his
-
everything above everything of your life, if you would do that
-
and maintain righteousness with him and run, After your purpose,
-
everything you need in life will be added to you and I was like,
-
oh my gosh, I'm seeing it. It was like the lights were
-
going off and I was sitting the night physically could not keep
-
steel because I was in repenting.
-
I was convicting because I knew I was called to work for the
-
ministry full time, but I was working an outside job and I was
-
struggling because I wanted to quit, but I was trying to figure
-
it out financially, how to do it because it wasn't like past year
-
olds like saying here, there's just big paycheck waiting for
-
you. Just quit, that didn't happen.
-
And I'm thankful he didn't leave me that way.
-
You see was leading me to trust in the Kingdom.
-
Not in man's plan. And I was sitting there, I'm
-
going to sit, can I just say I'm going to some but then I'm sad.
-
I was sitting, I was like, on fire and I was like sitting
-
there like this and I'm a setting like this.
-
And remember I wanted to alter gonna wind up on the piano and I
-
couldn't even really physically play.
-
I was just Weeping at the piano because I realized, oh my gosh,
-
I'm sorry, Lord, forgive me. I've been trying to make it work
-
and I and you be good because God have been dealing with me to
-
quit my job. I was working a very corporate
-
cushy job making great money. You know, got a company car and
-
I was a manager, but it wasn't. What I was called to do.
-
It was great for a season, but God was trying to get me out of
-
that. He's saying, get out, man.
-
You got, you got things to do, and this companies trying to tie
-
up your time. They're trying to push you up
-
the ladder and you got and the eight others are struggling
-
with. Well, God, I want to work
-
because I know, but I knew in my spirit, I had to quit, but I
-
wanted to see it work out. I wanted to see an angel say
-
thou shalt us quit and have them money rain down and you know I'm
-
saying, we try to make it all spiritual. but sometimes it's
-
just a I got to do this, right? And I just bought a house
-
because you know, and God was setting things up, you know,
-
because when you work for a great company and you have great
-
income and you have great history and they and you can get
-
her mortgage and all this fun stuff, right?
-
And then, you know, I got a job in a month later, God's dealing
-
me to quit, I'm thinking get behind me.
-
Satan, you know, don't, you know, I've got a wife.
-
And all these things right? And remember going to pasture
-
and I was really hoping to get some great deep Council and it's
-
a pasture feel like I need to quit man arts and I was hoping
-
he would like he's like okay do it.
-
And I was like that's not what I wanted to hear.
-
I want you to like listen, you know, I mean but that's all I
-
needed. Another he's saying just do what
-
you already know you need to do. So that next week I quit, I had
-
no plan B, I had no job opportunity to church.
-
I just knew that season was done and God wanted me to be here,
-
full time doing something. And there was no money,
-
underneath the table rating for me.
-
Remember that same week I went up.
-
I was like I'll just going to set groceries.
-
We looked on 16 and we just bought our house around like a
-
mortgage, you know, all this stuff.
-
You're thinking all these things that we try to.
-
This is real-life stuff, right? Couldn't tell my parents about,
-
it could be like what I mean now you know but in the moment
-
sometimes you got to keep your things to yourself.
-
I just say that. It's about a listen to them.
-
I might not have. I mean, they want the best for
-
me but you know, there's that motherly thing.
-
So I quit that same week, I went and applied for Public's, I was
-
like, I'm gonna be a bagger, I got the job.
-
Yeah, I got how many qualified in all seriousness.
-
I think it was me and, like, a 16 year old kid.
-
You know, I'm like, hey, how you doing?
-
You know, and he's like, what just I'm like, what?
-
I got? The job I'm going home.
-
I was like, babe. I got a job in a me, like I
-
said, what are you doing? I got back in my car, went back
-
and quit the same day. I got hurt.
-
True story. I was like listen I'm sorry it's
-
not working out, you know I just it's not going to work out, you
-
know I just he's I seriously he was like You know, this is I
-
just gave it a long time. It's been 30 minutes but it's
-
just not going to work out. I wouldn't quit, I quit the same
-
day, I got hired. And I remember I was really
-
depressed. Mentally, not depressed.
-
Just joking. I was, you know, trying to
-
figure out my mind and I was sitting at Arby's with my best
-
friend, Mark Brady. We said in her, is probably the
-
last of the Army's thing. God but I was just like I was
-
unemployed but I was just like, you know, it's like Big deal.
-
I remember Pastor roll call me. He said, hey, I just want you to
-
know something came through, we can bring it on full time.
-
There was no conversation before that.
-
Now I'm not telling you, this is how it's going to work for you,
-
but all I'm saying, is that if he would seek first, the kingdom
-
of God, God will move things. Heaven and Earth to get to you
-
when you need it. I remember for That season my
-
wife and I we are believing God to pay our mortgage because, you
-
know, it wasn't there and it got tight, you know?
-
Because when you get a mortgage making this and then you go to
-
making this, you know, when you get when you open it, that, you
-
know, I wish you'd go like five more feet down when you start
-
making that. And the in the phone calls are
-
coming in, mr. Kleiner, the letter start coming
-
in that are color-coded. Anybody been there before?
-
But here's the thing, I was absolutely in the will of God
-
for my life. I'm so thankful for those
-
moments. I'm so thankful for those
-
moments of laying at the piano and just worshipping with my
-
wife and saying, gosh, you're gonna have to figure this out
-
because they're saying, we're going to get foreclosed on, but
-
you told me to be here. Right, I had gone many walks and
-
I'm telling you, I was there and there were times that we would
-
look for the mailbox. He made been there before he
-
thinking, could check the mailbox.
-
I mean, we got a check one time from a family member who I have
-
barely any relationship with They knew nothing about our
-
situation. I talked with the maybe one time
-
of year they never even been here, but we're believing God to
-
pay our bills because we're trying to follow a call.
-
A check in the mail for like four or five hundred dollars and
-
they said we just had extra this year and just felt like giving
-
it to you, there was not an accident.
-
That was a God and it was amazing.
-
The in that season checks begin to show up when we needed a
-
house. A check came, when my wife got
-
pregnant, you know, which was a good thing.
-
And I was a part of that that I didn't feel that I was very much
-
there. All right.
-
Let's pray, father, we thinking I was kidding.
-
I don't know why I said that, but I remember we needed a car
-
because I had a company car. You know, I really, you know,
-
nice company car and I had to sell it, you know, added, you
-
know, become Carlos. And I because I sold my car when
-
I work for the company cuz you got a nice company car every day
-
is great. But, you know, I've got pregnant
-
and were like, we need a car. Checks came in had no idea where
-
that no no conversation. A check came in said I just felt
-
led to so towards this car and then we realize we got pregnant.
-
Again I was there too and We needed a bigger car.
-
And another family member outside of the conversation
-
said, I just feel like I'm supposed to give you this.
-
We saw I mean once I could even pay my FPL bill and I don't say
-
this to be in, but I'm saying I was absolutely the will of God
-
for my life and God was teaching me.
-
Not to be broke but the trust in him and so many times we trust
-
in our American society and we trust in the paychecks of man
-
and we trust in the routines of man.
-
But we are not of this world and Jesus would do crazy stuff.
-
Like send his disciples fishing to get money.
-
Jesus would do things. So you can't fit guys planning
-
to your ideas and you just got to trust him because it really
-
works and I remember calling fpo because I needed to pay a bill
-
and you know how hard it is. I even pay a bill when you got
-
money, right? Calling them, you know, I'm
-
sorry, you know, it's just difficult.
-
Who am I talking to? And I called them.
-
And finally got through to a real person, which was a
-
miracle, it's a mr. Connery bills been paid.
-
I'm like, what do you tell my bills in big?
-
Like it's been paid him. Like I said, I don't know what's
-
a typo but we'll take it. But the point is, is that
-
somebody came to pay my bill. Nobody knew these things.
-
I'm here to tell you that he would seek first.
-
The kingdom of God, if you and we've been running after our
-
purpose, we're not here because we want to be when we want to
-
be. But we're not here because of
-
we're here because this is what the Lord has assigned us.
-
And that means I have no, right, because I've entered the gate
-
sale or not as I will, but your will be done.
-
I don't have a choice to go to this church.
-
I don't have a choice to go work.
-
This shop has opportunities come?
-
Yes, they come, they come. But I have to say, Lord, what do
-
you want me to do? Because the greatest thing I
-
could give my family is my purpose.
-
Anything I can bring home. It's not a comfortable.
-
Paycheck is a man who was following God.
-
And I'm here to tell you man. Nothing will satisfy you until
-
you find your purpose. We were making nothing but was
-
the most exciting fulfilling time in my life.
-
And I was learning to trust in an unseen Kingdom, to learn to
-
really trust that This Thing Really Works.
-
He really will provide when we need it.
-
That, that food will literally show up on our doorstep and you
-
got to let your pride down because your mind was something
-
moon. But man, I should provide the
-
greatest Amalia thing you could do is let the king provide for
-
you. This is not mean you're weak.
-
I mean, we grew up reading the stuff of how ministers would go
-
out and miracles and all these things would come to their
-
doorstep. And why are we living like this?
-
I mean, Paul would do some crazy things and he was absolutely in
-
the will of God for his life. Whoo, Matthew 1017.
-
Are you there? You're not there because I've
-
been told you. But go there.
-
Matthew, 10, 17. Can I get a water?
-
Thank you. Sorry.
-
I'm going to preach my guts out to you because I truly believe
-
in this message. I truly believe in the
-
Revelation that our pastors have laid in this church.
-
I truly believe in the Kingdom message, not in the message of
-
Christianity. But if you would seek first, the
-
kingdom with your life, if you would put it first above
-
everything else, everything else would fall in line?
-
You can keep it narrow. Come on, sing.
-
Keep an arrow. Matthew Mark 10:17 says this.
-
Now, as he, Jesus is Jesus, now, as Jesus is so good, mom say say
-
this is good. Don't get quiet on me now.
-
Don't get quiet on me. Okay, now as he Jesus was going
-
out on the road, one came to him running knelt before him and
-
asked, good teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
-
So Jesus said to him, why do you call me good?
-
No one is good. But the one who is God, you
-
know, the Commandments do not commit adultery do not murder.
-
Do not steal. Do not bear false, witness do
-
not A fraud, but honor your father and your mother and he
-
answered and said unto him teacher, all of these things, I
-
have kept from my youth and other words, he realize he's
-
still missing something. She could religion is what you
-
do until you find the kingdom as Myles.
-
Munroe said, religion will preoccupy you until you find the
-
kingdom. Here's this Rich Young Ruler
-
done everything from a youth. He's got all the things he looks
-
church, he sounds church. He you know has all the church
-
he stuff down but yet he still empty.
-
Then Jesus looking at him, loved him.
-
Him said to him, okay, one thing you lack Go your way, sell
-
whatever you have, give it to the poor and you will have
-
Treasures in Heaven. Come take up the cross and
-
follow me verse 22 but he was sad at this word and went away
-
sorrowful for. He had great possessions.
-
Oh my gosh. This is literally one of the
-
most saddest scriptures in the Bible.
-
Did Jesus want. His money was Jesus, was he
-
wanted him to be? Poor was God, wanted him just to
-
be some destitute man. Who just lives under bridges and
-
is barely getting by No, Jesus was looking for his heart, Jesus
-
was looking for his trust. Jesus was looking for his
-
lordship. Jesus was wanting this young man
-
to put his trust in his words and not in his ability.
-
I must say that again. Jesus was wanting this young man
-
to put his trust in. His words are not in his own
-
ability, and Jesus was wanting this young man to put his
-
identity in him not in his resources.
-
See this young man had it all figured out and some of y'all
-
have it all figured out you guys giving you a way to get wealth
-
in your gifted. But the wealth is not just for
-
you. And your family is for the
-
kingdom and God has gifted you for the kingdom.
-
And you gotta ask God and here's Jesus and he's at the gate This
-
is what I could have this young man become talk to me.
-
What else could have this young man?
-
Become we don't hear anything else about this guy.
-
What stories could have been written about this Rich?
-
Young Ruler? What books could have been
-
written about him? What Ministries could have been
-
started? What could he have done?
-
And here's Jesus. Listen.
-
Jesus man, this young man was stuck at the gate.
-
And Jesus is over here saying, come on.
-
If you want life, you've done it off with this one thing come and
-
follow me. And this young man is stuck at
-
the gate and he's trying to get through.
-
But all his stuff is stopping him and Jesus is saying that
-
come on, come on. I got purpose for you.
-
I got destiny for you. I've got true riches for you.
-
Come follow me let me show you something and he's like, Jesus,
-
I'm trying and he's trying to get through the gate.
-
His resources, his ability, his trust in all that.
-
He's done is stopping him and Jesus is asking the same thing
-
today. He says, will you come through
-
the gate? Will you let me really make you
-
something great? Will you die at the gate and
-
said, Lord not as I will, but your will be done.
-
I put all my aspirations and dreams on the Altar and I say,
-
God not make me something new, but I want to be brand new.
-
I can't bring my things in the kingdom, is that God bless my
-
stuff. No.
-
Like I said before some of you are asking God to bless your
-
life but you gotta ask him to be your life.
-
It's two different things. It's two different things.
-
I don't bring the kingdom with me, or my things with the
-
kingdom. I lay him at the gate and here's
-
this Rich Young Ruler You never hear anything else about him and
-
he was successful. But notice he did nothing. is
-
God speaking this morning, Come on.
-
Say keep it narrow. Jesus wasn't one of his money.
-
Jesus wanted his heart. He realize, okay.
-
I see what you do, but you put your trust in what you can
-
figure out trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not
-
on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge me
-
and I will direct your paths. Do we still believe that that
-
verse works? And how many of us are stuck at
-
the gate stuck at the gate and Jesus says, I have purpose for
-
you, I have dreams for you. I've got books for you, I've got
-
Ministries for you. I've got things for you to do
-
places for you to go. If you would just let go of
-
everything is comfortable in your life.
-
Burn the ships. Do we still believe that it
-
works? This is still the gospel, we
-
make it so soft in America that you can just do what you want to
-
follow. God, that is not the Bible.
-
We read God will allow you to do what you want, but you all every
-
one of us including myself. We're going to stand in front of
-
God, one day, and he's gonna wanna know.
-
One thing is, did you seek my kingdom?
-
But God, I did all this guy says, did you seek my kingdom
-
will Lord. You know, I did this ministry.
-
Did you do what I ask you to do or did you want me to bless your
-
plan? The end of the story is so crazy
-
because I'm Mark chapter 10. If we keep going the end of it
Mark 10 chapter mention
-
after this big like left him at the gate scene, then Jesus
-
looked around verse 23. Then Jesus looked around to his
-
disciples and he said, how hard is it for those who have riches
-
to enter the kingdom of God? Verse 24, and the disciples were
-
astonished at his words, but Jesus answered again, and said,
-
unto him children, what'd he say?
-
He said children. How hard is it for those who?
-
What trust in the riches to enter the kingdom of God?
-
Do you trust him or not? Do we believe that this thing
-
works, either listening either works or it doesn't.
-
This Thing Really Works or really doesn't.
-
And if this Bible won't do what Jesus said it would do then I
-
want no part of it. See, I'm out.
-
But I'm here to tell you it works.
-
But it says Those Who trust, God is not concerned with your
-
finances. God, just wants to have your
-
finances, this is not a money sermon, give all your money that
-
you're not. You be led by the spirit of God,
-
but and all the things that you acquire you guys must remember,
-
God, these are not mine. These are yours.
-
And only reason, my have them is For Your Glory and for your
-
purpose and for your whatever. Mark 12:30, we're just letting
-
the word speak. Come on, say, let us speak.
-
We doing, okay. My born, you.
-
So helping you. I know that says you're loaded
-
question, what do you say? No.
-
Stupid. but I don't care if you remember my words because his
-
words were truly change, you Hmm, following God is the
-
greatest thing you can ever do in your life.
-
It's not a no. You go to follow gun, you got to
-
get you give up everything, but you actually gain everything
-
because I'm so thankful. I look back at what I wanted to
-
do and I look back at their friends that Iran will come on.
-
Talk to me the plans that I had for myself, the things that I
-
thought was success, I look back at announcing.
-
Thank God that I did not run that route.
-
I'll go back to my high school reunions, thank God we cut ties
-
years ago because you've been doing the same thing for 30
-
years and you're running in the same problems.
-
But if you would just seek first, the kingdom, Oh, man, I'm
-
he'll take you on a hold. That's why he's not just trying
-
to, you know, fix you and make you better know if you die to
-
yourself. He will give you a whole new
-
life and you will look back at your old life.
-
If your old career, you be like, oh my God, thank you.
-
Lord, for getting me out of that.
-
Telling you, I'm telling you. Mark 12:30 great Versa.
-
We grew up he says and you shall love the Lord, your God with all
-
of your heart, come on with all of your soul and with all of
-
your mind and all of your what strength, I'm here to ask you,
-
what are you giving your strengths to, what are you
-
giving you energy to, what are you giving your passion to, what
-
are you giving your gifts to what are you giving the mind
-
that God has given you to is it for his kingdom or is it for
-
you? Love the Lord, your God with all
-
your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind.
-
And with all your strength, what are you giving your strength?
-
As do we see, so many people that are giving their strength
-
not to the kingdom of God, and we wonder why things aren't
-
working out. The reason you are gifted as for
-
the kingdom of God, the reason you can bring in finances.
-
It's for the kingdom of God. The reason you are good with
-
people, it's for the kingdom of God, is more worship.
-
People realize the reason you're gifted, it's for the kingdom of
-
God. The reason you could speak is
-
for the kingdom of God. The reason you could teach this
-
for the kingdom of God, you're gifted for the kingdom.
-
Whew, and here's the thing. Listen, we gotta wake up, we
-
gotta wake up. What are you giving your
-
strength to? Because last time I checked, you
-
ain't guaranteed tomorrow. We Don't Preach like this
-
anymore, this church does, but remember like what if he comes
-
tomorrow? I'm not her Turner burn.
-
Pretty better get it right. Brother guy's gonna kill you
-
again, we're not talking like that, what if you die when you
-
get out here? You know that might not happen.
-
But the truth is the Bible just said that we should be prepared
-
what if he does come as a thief in the night what if he does
-
come tomorrow? What he want to find you seeking
-
the kingdom over, he find you busy with Affairs of your life.
-
What are you giving your straight to your not promised
-
tomorrow? We're not here to scare you but
-
here to help you, I'm not promised tomorrow.
-
What I'm promises today. And could it be that?
-
God is literally trying to set you up for later in life?
-
That's why you got to see God. Now, I'm not saying he can't get
-
things right later in your life. He's a good father, he has Mercy
-
that can do that. But I'm a fool.
-
I fully convinced that if we miss God, he miss Scott and you
-
miss out on things he can reroute.
-
You, my father, got boom, my father-in-law, or my
-
grandfather, got born again on his deathbed and he was like 90
-
years old. Thank God, but that was not
-
God's best for his life. He missed out on a whole life.
-
And God can reroute you. But you will miss.
-
Because if we don't then we can got her got to work it out God
-
or then you can do whatever you want.
-
But if we don't start speaking now you might miss what God
-
needs you to do now. So that when you get older, I'll
-
set you up. I'm not trying to be like death
-
and doom and gloom but your body might not be the same body, 80
-
years old and you're not going to be run how you could run at
-
80 when you're 40. I mean that's just how things
-
work and it could, there be that God is wanting you to get
-
involved with things. Now that could be a set up for
-
later. Come on.
-
Talk to me. That's why the gate is narrow.
-
He's everyone has their agendas their plans, their desires, what
-
they want to do, what they because what would you want to
-
do? Ain't gonna matter unless is
-
what God wants to do. Because you can bring all that
-
to the gate and guys like what else you got?
-
Well, God, I did this. He's like, what else you got?
-
But God, I did all this for you. I did this and I made this and I
-
did that guys. Like I never asked, you do any
-
of that? This should convict this all can
-
fix me. We got to keep an arrow.
-
He said he would put two things above everything else above your
-
family. Because here's the thing.
-
If I would seek first, the kingdom of God, and his
-
righteousness, he will teach me how to lead my family.
-
He'll teach you how to handle all the Affairs of life if you
-
let him. I love my wife and I love my
-
kids but I love my king more and if I love him or he'll teach me
-
how to love them, you know, it's how it works.
-
It falls in line. When we put everything else
-
before King, then things get out of order.
-
You wonder why you're frustrated, you wonder why
-
things are getting messed up, because it's out of order.
-
First is first. It's first, hmm.
-
So you gotta not a self, right? Man, what all could this young
-
man? Become do we trust him or not?
-
Do we trust him or not? Do we trust him or not?
-
Keep it narrow Myles. Munroe said this.
-
The greatest tragedy in life is not death, but life without a
-
purpose. Remember I'm pastor about these
-
words and 312 million cheese. The greatest tragedy in life is
-
not death, but life without a purpose, to get his challenge in
-
life is knowing what to do. The greatest mistake in life is
-
being busy, not effective. And the greatest failure in life
-
is being successful in the wrong assignment.
-
You're saying you can be successful outside of God.
-
Yeah. The Bible says, what good?
-
Is it a man to gain the whole world?
-
Yet forfeit his soul. They were but Jesus made it very
-
clear he said, but apart from me, you can do nothing.
-
So there is Success, you can start businesses, you can get
-
famous, you can get discovered, you can do all these things and
-
the world's eyes have it going on, but that's why he said.
-
Apart from me, you can do nothing because the king looks
-
at it. As It's nothing.
-
Because when you stand in front of God, one day, only thing is
-
he's going to go. He's the only thing that's going
-
to matters. Did you do what I asked you to
-
do? That's it, that's it.
-
Did you do what? I asked you to do?
-
Success comes by following the purpose that God has for your
-
life. Your family might not understand
-
it, but you're not going to stand in front of them at the
-
throne. And if your friends don't need a
-
four friends, understand it, hears the word from God, get new
-
friends, okay? So deep right.
-
Get new friends. If your friends aren't pushing
-
to your purpose to God, get rid of them.
-
Matthew 10:39, a few more. Can we do a couple more and I
-
missed one? I miss something.
-
I had a word because I was, I was, I was I'm gonna back up
-
because I was studying and God gave me a word.
-
You say God give you a word as your study.
-
Yeah, it says in Matthew 6:33. It says he forcing him to God
-
for. He knows God wanted me to tell
-
some people he knows. two words, he knows he knows what you need,
-
he knows how many times we forget that he knows He knows he
-
knows you need a house. He knows you need a job.
-
He knows you need money. He knows you need all these
-
things, we don't just pay our bills off, you don't cry
-
anymore. It's going to say, well I'm
-
believing God in the Kingdom, they need money.
-
He knows he knows, he knows how many times do we forget that and
-
we try to work it out in our plan.
-
And we try to make it work on our agenda and our own skill,
-
because you can't, and you can make it work, and crunch the
-
numbers and save and save. It's a look at God.
-
But is it, God, he knows. Send me money to be encouraged,
-
he knows. He knows what you need.
-
He knows. Hmm.
-
He knows. Who needed to hear that?
-
Raise your hand people. He knows keep your hand up.
-
I was writing my notes if it's not for you, I'm not trying to
-
get everyone. I just said, God will you know,
-
when you start reading as soon as like boom highlight that he
-
knows, You're believing God for a house.
-
He knows you believing God for a spouse.
-
He knows you believe in God to get debt-free.
-
He knows you believe in God for healing.
-
He knows. He knows those two words to set
-
you free. He knows the king knows.
-
He's like, I know about that. If you would just trust in the
-
Lord with all your heart, lean that quit trying to figure it
-
out, quit trying to do my job. God, says, quit trying to be
-
God. You ain't God.
-
What you got to do? Is believe quit, trying to be
-
God. You're not God do your role.
-
Let God be God. We're trying to figure it out.
-
That's why it's called trust. Because if you could figure it
-
out, you wouldn't need. Him if you could figure it out,
-
you wouldn't need him. But I don't know about you.
-
I need them. I need them.
-
And I want to live a life of constantly needing him.
-
I want to come to the next season.
-
My God, I need you. God I need you.
-
This thing. Don't work out, man.
-
It's all over. I need keep me constantly
-
needing you God. Can we live like that?
-
Should we live like that? He knows that you need.
-
He knows you need a congregation.
-
He knows. You need a building.
-
He knows. You need favor.
-
He knows. And how many times did we get
-
our eyes on the things? And God forgot know about that?
-
The devil's, I'll let you do this when I found out about the
-
devil. He comes to steal kill and
-
destroy the devil's. Not just trying to take your
-
life, he's trying to take your day.
-
Say that again. He's not just trying to take
-
your life, he's trying to take her day, trying to get your mind
-
focused on all the things. You should all the words and how
-
we can do this and stressing yourself out.
-
And guys, like I know, let me be God, you believe in God, to
-
start a business, he knows. Greg, he knows.
-
Where's Chris at realtor? Chris, where is he?
-
He's not here. He's a nautilus.
-
Someone tell him, God knows. Pastor Tim.
-
He knows Bridget you here. Good Lord.
-
That's okay. The servant.
-
God knows. God knows he knows.
-
You might not know, but he knows and you don't got to worry about
-
where it comes from. You don't got to worry, it'll
-
find its way to you. If you stay in faith it'll find
-
it won't get lost in the mail. It'll come at the right time,
-
it'll come at the right late in the Midnight Hour, God's going
-
to turn this thing around. I'm telling you when you are
-
stuck in prison, you feel like there's no way out.
-
God knows, Come on, talk to me. I said, God knows everything you
-
need everything you need. He knows that's why I said just
-
trust me. He knows, I felt really
-
important to stop there because I didn't want to miss past what
-
God wanted to highlight. It says, in Mark chapter,
-
Matthew chapter 10, a few more verses were about to close.
Matthew 10 chapter mention
-
Hallelujah. And he said, he who does not
-
take up his cross, or his purpose, which means says, you
-
know, Jesus who says, when you take up your cross, it does not
-
mean that you literally need to physically get across and rolled
-
around America. Not knocking people to do that.
-
If you feel like that's what you're calling, but that was not
-
the purpose. Jesus was trying to say he was
-
going to say if you would pick up your purpose, purpose, right?
-
He said if you would, he does not take up his cross and follow
-
me is not worthy of me and listen, here we go.
-
And he who finds his life will lose it but he who loses his
-
life for my sake, shall find life.
-
You can find yourself outside of God but it ain't no life at all.
-
Get lost in your purpose, get lost in the reason.
-
You're breathing the frustrations that keep you up at
-
night, the stress. It's in your marriage, the
-
stress that's in your life. It's all because you're seeking
-
after the wrong things. And God said, if you would get
-
busy about your purpose, busy about the reason you're
-
breathing because I don't know about you, but you're only
-
getting older. Not trying to scare you but I'm
-
trying to bring me out of your only getting older.
-
I just turned 40 last week. I'm like what?
-
Now Ford is not open in my mind. I feel like I'm 100 In 10 years,
-
I'm going to be 50 on my God, but it's just, but that's just
-
the enemy. Can I be honest with you?
-
Oh, that's just the enemy. Because he said, with long life,
-
he will satisfy you. And I got a I want to be 100
-
years old. That's my goal.
-
I don't know about you. If you want to die early, go for
-
it. But he don't.
-
He's you in heaven. He's he's, you want to Earth.
-
That's why he needs. That's why I said, let your
-
kingdom come your will be done on earth when you find out your
-
purpose. You can't die, man.
-
No, plane can take you down. No sickness can take you down.
-
No generational curses can keep you out.
-
No bad words. No, no, whatever can keep you
-
away. If you would just stay
-
committed. Committed to your purpose,
-
everything will work itself out. Doubt.
-
Man it works, it works. He knows, come on, he know
-
someone shouts a, he knows, he knows, he knows, it's so clear.
-
Come on, say, keep it. Narrow few more verses were
-
about to close. You guys were just chill out for
-
a minute. Okay, Matthew 7 verse 21.
-
It says not everyone who says that, this is the scriptures
-
really deep, okay? It's really deep.
-
It's really deep. It says Not everyone who says to
-
me, Lord Lord shall enter the kingdom of heaven but he who
-
does the what the will of his father?
-
Many will say to me in that day. Lord Lord, have we not
-
prophesied in your name? Have we sidenote pause?
-
Hold on. He's talking to church people
-
here by the way. And by the way, when I'm saying
-
these words, please understand, it's like I'm sitting on the Pew
-
pointing at myself because these words convict me because this is
-
me, this is us, let's read it again.
-
He said not everyone who says to me, Lord Lord shall enter the
-
kingdom of heaven. But he who, what who does he who
-
does he? Who does the will of himself,
-
know he who finds his own life know, he who has his own plans?
-
Nah, he says, he who does the will of my father, who is in
-
heaven. And he says, here we go.
-
It says many, will say to me, in that day.
-
Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name, have we
-
not cast out demons, in your name?
-
Have we not started businesses in your name, have we not
-
started churches, in your name. Have we done, good things in
-
your name, having written songs in your name.
-
Haven't we done a mission trips in your name and he said depart
-
from me. I never even knew you Not trying
-
to be scary this morning, but I'm trying to help convince you.
-
That means you can follow God and do the things of God and God
-
not even know who you are. Because they knew about him.
-
You could know a lot about God and not know him.
-
Those are two different things we can grow all these people.
-
All I know about this guy, baseball stats, you know, this
-
guy and you can know everything about the Florida Gators.
-
You can know everything about all these people and stats and,
-
you know, you can quote scriptures and know, everything
-
about God, but not truly know him.
-
There's a difference. When, you know him you'll set it
-
as feet and say, father, talk to me, father, I spend time with
-
you father, help me, direct my steps.
-
Show me what to do, man, this person said this, I want to slap
-
him. I want to punch him but show me
-
what to do. Father.
-
My kids are going crazy. I said at your feet, help me.
-
Father, I have aspirations and dreams and things that I want to
-
do balloon. Is it?
-
Your will Is this what you want me to do?
-
Help me to get rid of these distractions?
-
He said that, if you would do that, then you would truly know
-
God. Coming to church does not mean
-
you know God do you know him? Is he your everything?
-
Does your life revolve around his purpose?
-
This is life. Revolve around your relationship
-
with him. Do you live and move and have
-
his being? Do you do you operate as where
-
you go? God goes or do we just say hey
-
them at church but we don't bring them home.
-
Praise brakes, were never meant to happen in church, a lot of my
-
praise fakes because God said, you can dance in church but if
-
you ain't living it. What did he say?
-
Say you're like you honor me with their lips but your hearts
-
are far from me. I don't want to be churchy.
-
I want to be in the church but I don't want to be churchy.
-
And sound church and act churchy.
-
And then live. This is just my son's age.
-
He's everything he has to be everything.
-
What do you give in your strength to and for those that
-
are seeking his purpose to keep at it?
-
Keep at it. Keep at it, it's the greatest
-
life. There is you'll have trials and
-
tribulations, but welcome buckle up.
-
It's going to be okay gods for you.
-
He's not against you. He'll help you.
-
To part the Red Sea. You'll do things in ways that
-
you can never heal race bills. He'll give you favor.
-
They'll do things that people say how about the?
-
I don't know, but God, but God, I don't know.
-
But God, how did you get out of that debt?
-
I don't know. But God, how did you get healed?
-
I don't know, bug out. How did your marriage can
-
resurrect? That I don't know.
-
But God, how did you get sanity in your mind after those people
-
standing back? But God, he knows.
-
You don't gotta figure it out. You gotta put your trust at the
-
gate and say not time will your will be done.
-
He knows. He knows it's so clear.
-
Tap, come on. We're closing down.
-
Man, I believe God's man, speaking today there's been a
-
lot of things said, as we close couple statements that God said
-
to me, we are trying to get God to bless your life, you have a
-
backwards, he should be your life.
-
He should be your life. Is he your life?
-
I'm not saying, are you? Born is he?
-
Or is he dumb? It's a completely.
-
Please understand. It's completely different.
-
Hehe. When you come to the gate.
-
It's not you bringing your stuff.
-
It's leaving it all there and God gives you a brand-new life.
-
That you might not understand what he can do with your life,
-
but if you would trust him, he is a good father and he can move
-
Miracles, he can move mountains, he can give you favor.
-
Hey, you just got it. You just got to sail or not thy
-
will. Before I give this all to, we're
-
going to have water baptism for those who are getting water,
-
baptism of baptized so that you can go change, prepare yourself
-
and then come back, For the rest of us.
-
We got to take a minute here. I pray that the word is
-
convicted us this morning. I stopped living a long time
-
ago, and it doesn't mean I have to constantly say Lord, I'm
-
sorry, I brought that in. I let that go abroad.
-
We got to renew our mind. We got everything.
-
That's the renewing of our mind with.
-
That's a constant thing. Be transformed, not to the
-
patterns of this world, but right, be transformed by the
-
renewing of your minds, which is the word of God.
-
It's so clear. It says in Proverbs chapter 3,
Proverbs 3 chapter mention
-
it says trust. Verse 5 as his trust in the Lord
-
with all your heart, Lee not interested in knowing him and he
-
shall direct your path. Do not be wise in your own eyes,
-
but fear the lord, it'll be Health to your flesh strength to
-
your bones. You don't have a sickness
-
problem, you have a seeking problem.
-
He says if you would seek the Lord to be Health to your flesh
-
doctors can't figure it out. He knows and maybe you just need
-
to seek him like you never have before, not to get an answer but
-
because he's worthy but because he's the king.
-
Honor the fear, the lord, and depart from Evil honor, the Lord
-
with your possessions and your first fruits and so that your
-
barns will be filled with plenty and your Vats will overflow with
-
the new line when you come into the kingdom.
-
It's a whole new way of thinking a whole new way of living.
-
What do you give in your strength to God is saying this
-
morning? What do you give in your
-
strength? To is what you're doing right
-
now where you're supposed to be or have you just got busy trying
-
to make your own life and God is saying, because here's the
-
thing, God has things for you to do and this is not a message of
-
like, oh, this is cute. And go home and listen to.
-
This is a message that you need to apply.
-
It's kinda like, what? Pastor Earle get the message on
-
Wednesday nights a few weeks ago, about capacity.
-
I don't know about you, but that was like, oh my God.
-
God you just you just I want to be everything that God wants me
-
to be. I'm going to read this scripture
-
and we're closing. Now, what happened is, I went
-
and entered a certain Village and a certain woman named Martha
-
welcomed him into her house and he had a sister called Mary who
-
also said, at the feet of Jesus, and they heard his word, but
-
Martha was what distracted with much serving.
-
This is a good thing. Listen, then she was distracted
-
with what was serving and she approached Jesus and said, Lord,
-
do you not care? That my sister has left me to
-
serve alone. Therefore tell her to help me.
-
You lazy, right? And Jesus answered and said, to
-
her Martha, Martha. You are worried and troubled
-
about many things. But the one thing is needed and
-
Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away
-
from her. The one thing was needed, was
-
not to try to figure everything out.
-
The one thing was needed, just to sit at the feet of Jesus, say
-
talk to me. Can I wanna but help me.
-
How do I approach this? I'm also be honest with you, it
-
will not get better unless he's first.
-
I'm not one of those preachers say, it's all gonna work out
-
brother. God is good.
-
He's good but it will not work out unless he's first.
-
And that's not hate. That's truth.
-
We love you enough. To tell you the truth.
-
The truth shall set you free that, it will not get better
-
unless his kingdom is your number one priority.
-
God is not obligated to bless your life.
-
Your plans, your dream guys? Like, that is nothing.
-
Come and follow me. And I will show you what true
-
life is not in heaven, but on Earth,
-
If you realize man is I'm not seeking him, he's not first, I'm
-
not asking if you're not born again, I'm asking you, is he
-
Lord. Is he Lord is the Lord of your
-
life. Is he Lord of your life?
-
Is he? I'm not trying to get everyone
-
down here, but I'm here to ask you this morning, you know, if
-
he's Lord or not, and I knew when it came to my life, and at
-
one point I was like, he's not, forgive me, forgive me, show me
-
if he's not Lord and you realize I got to make a change.
-
Not for if you if this is you. And you realize that I kind of
-
feel like I'm at the gate and I'm trying to do all these
-
things and I just need to just come If your purpose is not if
-
you're if you're if your heart's desire is not his kingdom and
-
everything else and from that flows your entire life.
-
If that's not where you're at, come to the altar.