“More than Just Directions” by Pastor Daniel Floyd

Welcome to Gateway Churches Podcast.

Wherever you're tuning in from, we hope you're encouraged by today's message.

Alright, let's put our hands together for Jesus one more time.

Come on, every campus you can do.

So glad you're in church.

As you just saw a minute ago, or just a second ago, uh Summer Bash is coming up in just a few weeks.

And uh I know I don't know if you have little kids like we do, uh, we you know have teenagers and little ones, and uh we were spending time on the back porch while the while I hear the the sun isn't as bad and it's gonna get there, but uh we were taking all the outdoor time we could, and Tammy and I were working through June and July.

Like, all right, what camp are they going to?

And cheer camp this and soccer camp and all the camps, and uh right in the middle of it though, Summerbash, everybody.

And if you're wondering what Summerbash is, it's it's our version of VBS.

And uh, can I just say this to all the parents, as I am one, that you're gonna invest dollars into a whole lot of things, but there's nothing that's gonna get you an eternal return on investment like having your children in Summerbash, having fun, getting the word of God, in the presence of God.

So if you haven't signed them up or you plan something else, cancel it and uh get signed up for that.

We want to make sure that you have a spot at every campus.

It's gonna be a powerful time.

Having you thankful for all of our kids team, Gateway Kids.

Come on, that are pouring into our children.

What a great group.

And then next Sunday is water baptism, everyone.

And if you've never taken the step, you've placed your faith in Jesus, but you've never taken the step after that of being water baptized, then uh make sure you're here.

We're gonna talk about that next Sunday and just open up what does God's Word say about it, and then give you the opportunity to take that step uh next Sunday, and we'll have everything that you need.

And so you show up, it's gonna be a powerful day together.

Now, today we're beginning a brand new series, though, called Road Trip, all about this journey of faith.

And some of you will be on road trips this summer.

Um, I hate road trips, just get that out there.

If it's more than six hours, looking for an airport.

Just don't like being in a car that long.

Um, but if you are on a road trip, make sure you tune in online and be a part of this.

But how many of you know the journey of faith is like a road trip?

It's a journey we're on that God's taking us, and there's mile markers along the way and things that we need along the way to make the trip great, and that's what we're gonna be talking about in this series.

Today we're gonna begin in John chapter 16, if you have the Bible with you.

John 16 · chapter mention

If you're not, it'll be here on the TV.

Let's look at it.

John chapter 16.

John 16 · chapter mention

Jesus is speaking to his disciples, he's, you know, kind of winding down his ministry, giving them some important thoughts, and he says this he says, I have much more to say to you.

I have a lot more that I want to tell you, more than you can now bear.

But when he, the spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.

So the Holy Spirit is coming.

He is the Spirit of truth, and he's a matter of fact, he's gonna lead you to truth, and he will not speak on his own.

He will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

He will glorify me, because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.

So all that belongs to the Father is mine, and this is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.

Now, there's a whole lot in that text.

We're gonna unpack it together, because if you're like, he'll make known what and who and when and how, we're gonna get all that cleared up by the time we get finished today, all right?

Uh so if you're the note-taking type, I wonder if you write this title down.

If not, write it down anyways.

Here's the title More Than Just Directions.

From God, you need more than just directions.

Let's pray together.

Father, our hearts and minds are open to you.

So, Holy Spirit, would you speak to us and would you do what your word says?

Would you guide us to truth today?

We need to hear from you.

We believe our lives will never be the same because of the power of your word.

We pray this in Jesus' name.

Everybody said amen.

Amen.

So about 18 months ago, ish, I was in New Orleans.

Some of you are like, you need to repent.

I was just there to eat, relax.

I was just there to get some food, and I had a meeting.

And uh so uh a buddy of mine and I happened to be there at the same time.

Our flights lined up.

We were in New Orleans at the same time, so we text each other and said, Hey, where are you?

And he's like, Where are you?

And I said, I don't really know where I am, honestly.

I'm somewhere in downtown near the New Orleans, and uh he said, he goes, Well, I'll drop a pen and then we can meet up and we can get some beignets.

And everybody said, Amen, right?

I mean we get some beignets, and so we went to Cafe Dumont.

Okay, some of you know some of y'all need to repent.

You've been there a lot, it sounds like.

I'm kidding, I'm joking, complete joke.

So we went to Cafe Dumont, and uh, and so but he sent me a pen, and if you're not sure what that means, ask your kids.

So he he dropped me a pen and uh and texted over to me, and so we met up, and I went right to where he was parked, and we went and got our beignets and hung out a little bit, and then uh he flew to Tampa and I flew back at that time to DC, and we went on about our day.

But I got on the plane and I was thinking about this.

How great would it be in our life when we need direction if God just dropped a pen?

Like, how wonderful would it be if it was just like God shot you a text and it would be blue?

The bubble would be blue because he does not carry an android.

But he would drop, drop you if it was like, do I date her or do I not date her?

And God was just like, I'll drop a pen and it was over her house, and you were like, Thank you, Jesus, that is the one like I'm supposed to, or how great would it be if it was like, do I take the job or not take the job?

Do I do I make the move or not make the move?

How great would it be if it was as simple as God just dropping a pen, shooting you a text, and you were like, great, I know what to do, and then I can move on from there.

But how many of you know it's not how God works?

God doesn't just work and shooting out directions to us, he wants something a little deeper.

I like to say it this way: He doesn't want to be our direction dispenser.

God, I need directions.

God, I'm in a crisis.

God, I need to know what to do here.

God, I need to, I got a decision to make.

Will you please, real quick, God, will you give me direction on this?

God wants a little something more.

God wants to have connection with us.

God wants to have communion with us.

And the Bible says that in the text we just read, John 16.

He says this.

He goes, listen, he's talking to his disciples, and man, he spent three years with them.

And the Bible, the Bible says that if all the volumes of books couldn't contain all that Jesus did or said.

So you know what we get in the scriptures is the stuff we really need to know, but it's not the full thing of all Jesus said and did.

And he goes, I've got so much more I want to tell you.

I've got so much more I want to say to you, more I want to reveal to you.

There's more I want you to know.

How many of you know that no matter how long you've been walking with Jesus, there's always more?

That none of us have arrived.

There's no finish line in this journey of faith.

There's no, I've been to all the Bible studies, I've read all the books, all the major authors, I've done all of Bethmore's things, studied all of Priscilla's.

I know it all.

Come on, how many of you know that never happens in our journey of faith?

There's always more, God's wanting to show us more.

And how many of you know that no matter how long we do this journey of faith, we need the direction of God.

And here's what we all know to be true: is that as we are younger, the decisions are not as great and the consequences are not as great.

I mean, my seven-year-old, he's just trying to decide.

Are we watching kicking it?

Are we playing with Legos?

I mean, major summer decisions, right?

Like, am I going to Dutch Bros?

That's what my teens are deciding.

Or are we going to Chipotle?

We got big life decisions happening this summer around my house.

Are y'all following me?

Like, but how many of you know you get older and the decisions are bigger and the consequences are greater?

Do I take the job?

Well, if I take it, that could lead me down a road that leads to some great opportunities in my life, but if I take this other job, then it could be a year in and there's a massive layoff, and now where do I stand?

How many of you know the decisions get bigger and the consequences get greater?

Do I go out with her?

Do I not go out with him?

One relationship could be life-giving and healthy, the other could be a little crazy.

It's like the nervous laughter.

It's like, I know who he's talking about.

How many of you know you need the direction of God?

And he says, Hey, I've got so much more to tell you.

There's more in God, more he wants to know.

But here's what I want to propose to you today.

Here's the big idea is that God doesn't want to give you guidance.

He wants to be your guide.

That he just doesn't want to give you guidance.

God, I'm in a crisis, show me what to do.

God, I need to know which to go to this direction.

Lord, do I go for the job, not do I sign the contract, not sign the contract?

Do I apply for that school, not apply for that school?

Great, I got it from here.

Thanks for giving me some guidance, God.

And God goes, no, no, I don't necessarily just want to dispense guidance to you.

I would rather be your guide.

Let me say it this way there's a difference between a travel agent and a guide.

A travel agent will book the thing for you.

Here's the flights, here's the itinerary, here's where you're going next, here's the train between this city and that city, here's the restaurant you're gonna eat at, here's the excursion, this is the thing you're gonna do.

You're gonna visit that museum and go to that thing.

A travel agent will lay out the whole vacation for you.

And sometimes we want God to be our travel agent.

God, will you just show me the next four years?

God, will you show me the next three months?

Just kind of, will you give me the plan, put it in an app so I can just, yeah, I can pull it up when I need to, I can put it away when I need to, but I just want you to kind of show me that.

How many of you know there's a big difference between a travel agent and a guide?

A guide knows the way, has been the way, and then will show you the way.

Anybody ever been on an African safari?

Okay, a few of us.

I've been on about 75.

All at the animal kingdom at Disney.

Some of y'all are like, wow, do you go to Africa that much?

Yeah, Disney.

Been a lot.

No, for real.

I got to go on once.

One time I was preaching in South Africa, and the host was like, We're gonna take you on a real safari.

So we got in the truck.

It was a lot like Animal Kingdom, I gotta be honest.

How many of you know that I'm glad, but they weren't like, here's keys, here's a truck, have fun.

No, in that moment, I wanted to know that I wasn't gonna get eaten by some animal that's bigger than me.

I wanted a guide.

I wanted someone that said, hey, on this side, there's a wildebeest.

Over here running, that's a springbok.

That's honestly the only two names I remember.

But how many of you know when you're walking with the guide of the Holy Spirit?

He has been the way, knows the way, and can show you the way.

You don't need guidance.

You need the helper.

It's what Jesus said in John chapter 14.

John 14 · chapter mention

But the helper, everybody shout helper.

The helper, he's gonna help you.

Who's that?

The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name.

He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said.

You don't need guidance, but what you do need is an intimate relationship with the guide, the Holy Spirit.

He will guide you.

So if he's gonna guide you, then the question is, what is he gonna guide us to?

And I'm gonna give you three things you need to know that he'll guide you to, and then two things that you need to do so that he can be your guide.

If you're with me, say amen.

All right, number one, write this down.

What is he gonna guide us to?

He's gonna guide you to truth.

If the Holy Spirit is speaking, he's always gonna guide you towards truth.

Let me say that again.

If the Holy Spirit is speaking, he's always gonna guide you towards truth.

It's not gonna, he's not gonna guide you to something that doesn't line up with the word of God.

He's always gonna guide you towards truth.

So then you gotta ask the question, well, what is truth?

Well, truth is a person.

And his name is Jesus.

He said, I am the way, the come on, everybody say it together.

I am the way, the I am the truth and the life.

He goes on to say, no one comes to the Father except through him.

But he is the truth.

John chapter 1, verse 1 says, In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God, and the word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

John 1:1

So he is the word in flesh, and if you want to see Jesus, then look at the word.

Does that make sense?

So you look at the word and you find him.

So his word is truth.

So what do I have to?

How do I know truth?

Well, I saturate my life with God's word.

Because the word of God is truth.

That's he said, your word is truth, sanctify them by the truth.

This is what Jesus said.

Your word is truth.

These aren't the words of Daniel, it's the words of Jesus.

So if I want to know the truth, then I have to look at the word, and what is the spirit gonna do?

John 16, we just read it.

The spirit of truth will guide us into all truth.

So if the spirit is speaking, he's leading you to truth.

If anyone is speaking to you about the spirit, I feel like the Holy Spirit wanted me to share this with you.

Well, if it does not truth and does not line up with the word of God, it wasn't the Holy Spirit.

It's an easy thing to figure out and divide.

Are y'all following me?

Let me show you.

The word says this about the word.

For the word of God is living, it's as current as tomorrow's newspaper, everybody.

It's living, it's active, it's sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul, of spirits and joints, and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

So the word has a way of working past all of everything we want to front.

The word has a way of getting past all of our pretension, all of our pretending, all of our religiosity, and getting right in between the marrow.

The word of God is like a laser.

It's like a well-calculated, pointed laser, and it works into the deep parts of us to change us and transform us.

This is what Paul wrote to Timothy in 2 Timothy.

He said, All scripture is breathed out by God, and it's profitable for what?

It's profitable for teaching, reproof, for correction.

I don't like that.

And training in what?

In righteousness, in right living is another way to think about that.

So this is what the word of God does.

So what will the word do?

It'll guide you into truth about God.

It'll guide you into truth about God.

It'll tell you about his character and his nature, that he's long-suffering, that he's the redeemer, that he's kind, that he's patient.

How many of you are thankful God's patient today?

It's gonna guide you into truth about who he is, his unchanging.

And we learned this a couple weeks ago, his immutability, that his nature and his character does not change.

This is who our God is.

As you open the word of God, the Spirit of God is gonna make real the word of God to you and guide you to see Jesus in a better way.

That he's savior, that he's sustainer, that he's a strong tower that we can run into and find safety, that he's our hope in the middle of trouble, that he is a sure foundation, that he is a solid rock we can build our lives upon.

This is the truth he's gonna guide us into.

He'll guide us into truth about ourselves.

That's not always fun.

The word of God, as you open it up and the Spirit of God, what will he do?

He will begin to reveal things about us that need to change, that need to grow, that need to develop.

Why?

Because he's out to make you into the image of his son.

And so he's gonna reveal things about your things about your attitude, about your choices, about how what comes out of your mouth.

He's gonna reveal things about yourself.

And I would just say this if all if you only ever open the word and it agrees with you, then you've created a God in your own image.

Amen, preacher.

That was good.

Because here's how the word works when the word illuminates something in my life by the Spirit, I don't adjust the word to make me more comfortable.

I adjust my life to fit the word.

And I may not be there yet, I may be in a process.

Are y'all following me?

I may be on the journey of this, but I don't read something in the word about the way I think or the way I act or the way I speak and go, nah, I won't read that anymore.

No, I let the spirit convict me.

If I'm a follower of Jesus, I have the Spirit of God, I let the Spirit convict me and then begin to work with me until I look more like the Word and less like me.

Come on, can I get a better amen right there?

Okay.

And then also the Word, what will guide?

It'll guide you to truth about God, about yourself, and it'll guide you to truth that builds you up.

Let me give you three E's to think about this.

Three E's.

Number one, the Word, the Spirit will guide you to truth, and the truth will encourage you.

If you're ever discouraged, just open up the Word and let the Spirit of God guide you to truth, because the Word of God will encourage you.

The truth will encourage you.

If you feel heavy, it'll lift you.

If you get into truth.

If you feel overwhelmed, it'll lift the burden off of you.

That's why it's so important.

Every day, listen to me, start your day every day with the word.

Start your day with truth.

You know what's happened?

The Holy Spirit is gonna, you're gonna see something you didn't see before.

You're gonna learn something you didn't learn before.

The Spirit of God will begin to reveal.

It'll encourage you, it'll exhort you.

Exhortation is whenever a word motivates you towards action.

Does that make sense?

It's more than encouragement.

Encouragement is like, man, that felt thank God.

That's right.

I need to look at it that way.

Already, already feel lighter, already feel more encouraged.

Exhortation would be another step where it's like, no, the word of God or a word someone gives me, it motivates me to take a step of faith that I needed to take.

I lean much more exhortation than anything else.

If you haven't noticed this, I want to exhort you.

I want you to get off your blessed assurance and go do something with the word.

Go live it out.

Go be Jesus in a community.

Go make a difference in the world around you.

That's exhortation.

That's when the word motivates you to move.

Then there's edification, and he'll guide you to this.

Edification is when you are strengthened on the inside.

It's when you need resilience to fight through something, and someone gives you a word, or the Spirit of God illuminates something as He's guiding you to truth, and that edification strengthens you, and go, you you just get something on the inside that goes, Come hell or high water.

I'm remaining planted.

That's what edification does for you.

Are y'all following me?

I think sometimes we call prophetic what is actually, which I'm I'm all for and believe in, but I think sometimes we we call prophetic what actually is exhortation or edification.

So where someone's given you a word that need that is for you to motivate you towards something, or giving you something that you need to strengthen you because you're walking through something very tough and very difficult.

And he will guide you to truth.

This is what the Spirit of God is gonna do for you.

You need the guide, not just guidance in your life.

You're with me, say amen.

All right, listen faster.

Number two, the spirit's gonna guide you to what's best, he's gonna guide you to what is best in your faith, in your life.

This is what he said.

He said, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

He would tell you what is yet to come.

Now, if you just read that on surface value, you would go, oh, that's like futuristic, maybe even like end of times or like apocalyptic or prophetic, but it's not what he's talking about here.

Remember, he's speaking to his disciples and he's saying, I'm gonna tell you what is yet to come.

Now, here's what we have to understand is the word tell right here, the verb tell, or to make known.

Are you all with me so far?

Okay, I don't want to lose you.

Like I didn't, I wasn't coming for a seminary class.

That that word there, the idea of that is an is an announcement, but it's not an announcement of something new.

It's a reiterative announcement, meaning, meaning the spirit of truth is going to reiterate to you what has been made known in the person of Jesus.

So Jesus came and his life was an announcement of a kingdom being established, the kingdom of God.

Are you all tracking so far?

This is why we get messed up in American church when we try to merge kingdom mentality with American democracy.

We don't elect who's in charge.

Jesus is in charge.

He's king.

We just bow our knee and say, yes, sir, whatever you need.

All right.

Now don't leave and go.

He's not for America.

I love where I live.

I'm grateful.

Thank God for it.

But I serve a king, okay?

There's a it's a different mentality.

And so he was the full expression of the kingdom of God.

But what Jesus is saying is the spirit is gonna help you, is gonna reiterate to you and help you understand what you saw in Jesus as the kingdom is established through the church.

Are y'all following me so far?

Here's the let me give you an example.

Like, whenever you watch a movie that's your favorite, like let's take one of the greatest of all time, Top Gun.

Okay, and Maverick.

Okay, the sequel.

Okay.

You ever watched it for the 15th time?

Just me?

And you were like, wow, I didn't see that last time.

You ever watched a show, or maybe even read a book, and you read the book again, and you're like, I missed that last time.

I didn't see that last time.

What's this is what Jesus is saying.

He's saying the it's not that the partial expression of the kingdom was in Jesus, the full expression of the kingdom was in him.

He wasn't missing anything.

It's us that didn't see it the first time.

But the Holy Spirit is gonna help guide you to understand more and more what was being expressed in the person of Jesus as his kingdom come, his will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Another way to think about this is the Spirit is gonna give you discernment to help you understand what is yet to come.

I just want to say it this way: He's gonna help you know what's best.

Is that tracking everyone?

And how many of you know that you need the guide of the Holy Spirit so that you can discern what is kingdom of God, what is kingdom of darkness?

What is kingdom of God, what is kingdom of darkness.

See, the discernment of the Holy Spirit, it helps you choose between what's best and better.

Let me say it this way.

How many of you ever been at a crossroads where you're like both are good?

I mean, it's easy when it's like bad, good.

Choose good.

Light, evil.

Stay away from evil.

Normal, crazy.

Stay away from crazy.

That was some dating advice.

Cloak.

Okay.

How many of you know it's hard when it's good?

Gooder.

It's not great English, right?

But how many of you know a lot of the crossroads we face in life?

It's like, Lord, I can see both.

I can see this direction and I can see that direction.

I need the discernment of God to know from my life, the leading of the Holy Spirit, what is the kingdom step to take?

What is the Jesus step to take in this situation?

And sometimes it's hard to figure out.

That's why you need the intimacy of the Holy Spirit, your helper.

The Greek word there is parakletes.

It means one of the same quality.

Whenever Jesus left, he said, Hey, I'm gonna send another one.

He said, It's good that I go.

Now, if I'd have been a disciple, I'd been like, It ain't good if you go.

I'd like to have you here.

He goes, No, if I go, then the helper will come.

The paraclites, the one of the same quality, another one of the same kind.

In other words, I won't be here, but someone just like me is coming.

And he's gonna guide you to what's best for your life.

Can I tell you something?

The paraclete, he can walk up in your boardroom with you.

Do I sign it?

Do I not?

In the church world, we use the expression like this: if you're new to church, we'll say, it everything looked good, but I had a check in my spirit.

That's the discernment of the Holy Spirit.

And that's what He's promised to do for you and me.

But if all I want is guidance, then I don't get the guide in that way.

And if I haven't got the intimacy on a daily basis, a continual basis, then I won't be able to recognize the voice of the guide when he begins to speak.

How many can testify that you could have avoided some painful moments in life?

And if you just discerned the voice of the Holy Spirit.

Are you getting this?

Here's an example of Jesus doing it in his own life.

He said, now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name.

So they were like, Yay, Jesus, team Jesus.

But Jesus would not entrust himself to them.

He's like, I'm glad you believe in me and follow me.

But I'm not gonna fully trust myself to you.

And here's why, for he knew all people.

He didn't need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.

Your applause looks good, Jesus says.

For all that I'm doing.

But I'm not entrusting myself because I know what's in you.

This is the discernment of the Holy Spirit that you and I need in our life, every day of our life.

Come on, can I get a good amen?

Amen?

Alright, number three.

If it's the Holy Spirit, he's gonna guide you to Jesus.

That's what he said.

Jesus said, He will glorify me, because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.

So, what did Jesus say?

Do you see the order?

Jesus said, why he's on earth, I only do what I see the Father doing.

And then Jesus said, About the Holy Spirit, he's gonna do what he sees me doing.

And he's gonna share with you what I make known to him.

And so if it's the Holy Spirit in your life, it's gonna make you more and more like Jesus.

That may be one of the best tests.

Will this step make me more like Jesus?

If it's not, it's probably not God.

Is this group and engaging with them gonna make me more like Jesus?

Is moving to this neighborhood gonna make me more like Jesus?

It's just a good litmus test, everyone.

It's what Paul told us in 2 Corinthians.

He said, so all of us who have had the veil removed, all of us who have placed our faith in Christ, we can see and reflect the glory of the Lord.

And the Lord, who is the Spirit, here's what he does.

He makes us, everybody read it with me, he makes us more and more like him.

That's what he's doing.

More and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

Because the goal is not to look more and more like Daniel, it's to look more and more like Jesus.

So two action steps for you to take, real quick, and then we'll pray.

Number one, your job is to position yourself near the God.

Just stay close to the guide, and you'll hear the voice of the guide.

Here's what Jesus, or I'm sorry, what James wrote.

He said, come close to God, and God will come close to you.

And then he says some challenging words wash your hands, you sinners.

Remember, this is James 4-1, not Daniel 4-1.

Purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

Here's simply what James is saying is that, hey, you're kind of you're inching closer and closer to the world, so you're starting to adapt customs of the world, thought patterns of the world, ways of thinking around the world.

And so because of that, it creates impurity in your life.

And this happens to all of us.

I don't think we volitionally wake up one day and go, that's it, I'm gonna live for me today.

It's just a little at a time, it's a little turn of a dial, a little step at a time, a little compromise at a time.

And James is just saying, hey, just come close to God, and guess what?

He'll come close to you.

Just come close to him, and he'll come close to you.

Just position yourself near the guide.

And when you're close to the guide, you can get the direction of the guide.

Guidance comes if you're just near the guide.

So we've we've been to Disney a lot.

It works for our family with big kids and little kids.

And especially the little ones like Abigail and Jonas.

Whenever we go into the park and it's like thousands of people, and it's the summer, and you're walking on the wet hot sun called Florida, it's like beating down on you.

What do we say that every parent says?

Take my hand and stay close.

Why?

Because when you're this tall, you don't have the vantage point of everyone else that's this tall.

And if they'll trust me, I'll get them to the safari.

I know where it's at.

And if they'll trust me, I'll get on to Mount Everest.

I know where Mount Everest is.

We'll get on the roller coaster.

If they'll trust me, I know where every popcorn stop is in every part.

I've been to them all.

They'll trust me, I know how to get the Mickey ears.

But they've got to stay close and they gotta hold my hand.

If they'll trust me.

Can I tell you something?

If you'll trust him, he's got good plans for you.

If you'll trust him, he sees the beginning from the end.

If you'll trust him, if you'll just stay close, he's got an adventure he wants to take you on.

And he's even got some surprises along the way because he's a good father.

And he's a great father.

And he wants to do some amazing things in and through your life, but you're gonna miss it because if you don't stay close to the God.

But when you're close to him, you can be like, go left, okay, let's go left.

Go right, okay.

Girl across this bridge, okay.

I'm going for the map.

Why?

Because the guide can be trusted.

None of us, whenever we're following Apple Maps or Ways or whatever we use in our car, none of us are going, I don't know about this left turn.

I don't know about this merging.

Why?

Because we trust the source.

And if you'll trust the source and you'll position yourself near the God, he will take you to places you never dream possible.

And so, what do you do when you're close to the God?

You respond when he speaks.

You respond when he speaks.

I love this verse, one of my favorites.

If you love me, you'll do what I say.

Now, depending on your religious filter, depends on how you read that.

Some of you read that and go, Yeah, God just tell me, if you love me, you'll do what I say.

Or you can read it this way if you love me, you'll do what I say.

It'll take care of itself.

Because when you're in love, love makes you do things you otherwise wouldn't do.

Because you're in love.

That's why this isn't about religion.

It's about a relationship with the Heavenly Father who sent the Holy Spirit to be your guide.

And if you'll stay near the guide and you'll listen to the voice of the guide, you'll do what the old hymn says.

Trust and obey.

For there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, except what?

Trust and obey.

And then trust and obey.

And guess what?

You'll look back over your life and say, man, look at all the guidance I got from God.

Because you are intimately connected to the guide, the Holy Spirit.

Do you receive the word of God today?

Is that helpful?

Will you pray with me across all of our locations online if you can, wherever you are?

Just every head bowed, every eye closed.

I want you to take a moment.

Just evaluate in your own life.

How have you been treating the guide?

Have you a travel agent?

Plan it out, give it to you, let you run, or are you wanting intimacy with the guide?

Maybe you're here today.

And you've never taken the most important step in a journey of faith that you could take.

It's really the beginning of the road trip of faith.

And that is to surrender your life to Jesus.

You've never said yes to him.

I'm not asking if you've said yes to a church or said yes to some religious experience.

That's not what we're talking about.

We're talking about a true relationship with Jesus.

Where you've really surrendered your life to him.

Said, God, I'm not calling the shots you are.

I'm giving my life to you.

Do with it what you want.

See, we all have a problem that none of us can solve.

It's called sin.

We're born with it.

It's innate in the human experience.

And so that's why Jesus came.

He came to do the impossible, what we could never do.

He lived the life you and I could never live, the perfect life.

He died the death you and I deserved.

And his death and his resurrection made a way for us to have a right standing with God, a right relationship with God.

You don't have to fix yourself to come to Jesus.

You come to him just like you are.

If you've never taken that step, I want to help you take that today.

And the way you receive this beautiful gift of salvation, of forgiveness, is by faith.

It's simply believing that what Jesus did on the cross was enough to pay the penalty of your sin and my sin.

And so a moment we're going to pray together.

There's nothing special about the way I say it.

It's just me helping you communicate that expression of faith to God.

And if that's you today, before we pray, I just want to know who I'm praying with.

I'm going to count to three in a second.

I'm going to ask you to shoot your hand up in the air.

No one's going to come to you or point you out.

No one's looking around except myself or the pastor at your location.

But if you say, that's me today, I need a fresh start with God.

Maybe there's a day where you were walking with Jesus, but you know you've strayed away.

Then when I count to three, you just shoot your hand up and say, That's me, I need that.

And we're going to pray together.

So on three, all across the room, you shoot up your hand.

One, two, three.

Just shoot it up.

Keep it up high enough long enough.

God bless you.

God bless you.

God bless you.

I see hands all over the room.

God bless you.

God bless you.

It's beautiful.

More importantly, heaven sees you.

Jesus sees you.

You can put it down.

Church, would you pray this out loud together with me for the benefit of those who just lift their hand up and say, Jesus, I need you.

I ask you to forgive me of all my sin.

I believe you died for me.

I believe God raised you from the dead.

Today I make you my Lord and Savior.

Thank you for a brand new beginning.

In Jesus' name.

Everyone said, Amen.

Amen.

Come on, let's put our hands together for those who made that decision.

Thanks for joining us today.

If you'd like to connect with us, text Connect to 71010 or visit gatewaypeople.com.

We hope you have a great week.