Equipped for the Middle - 9.28.2025 - 9AM (Pastor Terrance Richmond)

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Love Quest International

Church Podcast where we seek to love all nations, equip the

church, mobilize the equipped, and serve all.

We're super glad you're joining us from whenever and wherever

you're at in the world. Welcome to the family to get

your Bibles ready, get some water, get some coffee, maybe

some tea, and get ready to receive.

It's go time. Let's get into it.

How you guys doing? Good?

Few. Few people doing good.

Some people don't know I'm good. I'm just gathering myself is up

this morning at well, I went to bed about 10:30, got up at 3:00

and then flew here and just walked through those doors a few

minutes ago. So I am just yeah, praise God,

it's OK, but I was praying with you this morning.

For those that was praying, you can go and sit down PDL you just

like looking at what I'm about to preach.

Like the old Saint used to say, I am glad to be in the House of

the Lord one more time. That's funny how y'all heard me

say repeat after me but I didn't say that.

I said like the old Saints used to say.

But Amen. I am glad to be in the House of

the Lord one more time. No I did not say repeat after

me. What are y'all hearing?

Forget it last few weeks I won't even say in America, I'm going

to say the world and I'm I don't even want to say the last few

weeks. I want to say ever since the

fall, the world has been crazy. We are in crazier times than

ever because how news gets to us and how we receive.

We are the most overwhelmed generation in history, the most

traumatized. Like before you would have to

actually have to go walk and get a newspaper if you want to read

a newspaper right now. You wake up to bad news every

day, then you double down by people sharing and tagging it.

And depending on that algorithm of ours, it's what feeds us.

And then we have the audacity to feed it by talking about it.

And we do find ourselves talking about culture, the world,

current events way more than we talk about the Kingdom of God.

We are for sure more educated on what's happening in the world,

politics, injustices than we are the just God.

And I am going to be continue to always be vulnerable.

You just pray for me because I've been tossing and turning

all week. I'm not I'm not, I'm not going

to. I've been in a tug of war.

I understood a part of my gift and mantle is I lead through

vulnerability and you see Paul leading that way.

Paul brought us in the prison. He didn't just give us

instruction, he let us know where he was writing it.

He let us know how he was feeling.

We would not be able to connect with Paul without him giving us

insight to his struggles, his pains, his shackles, his his

frustrations, his confusions. When I want to do good, evil is

always right. Paul is vulnerable with us.

And so throughout the week after preaching last Sunday, a lot of

people don't understand what it takes to actually deliver what

God says preach. It's a lot easier to deliver

what you think people want to hear.

It's hard to preach. It's not hard.

There's just backlash. So when you see these guys

praying for me immediately or the team praying we're we're

coming against backlash and because the enemy can't get me

in a whole lot of ways he was able to.

He was used to he just tries to wear at my mind right.

And so immediately after last week, I feel like instead of

people being excited that I want to, I want I want to help a few

of you. Last week the gospel of the

Kingdom was preached and the love of God was preached.

Any response out outside of a man speaks to the other stuff.

We were talking about political and religious expression, right?

And if anybody got questions, you could always come and ask

me. But if you walked out of here

hearing anything other than the gospel, you were wrestling with

that spirit. If you didn't walk out of here

and talk about men. I thank God that our pastor

didn't take any size. I praise God he kept us focused

on the gospel. If thank you, thank you, thank

you, because every pastor across the world has to sit in front of

people that get it and people that judge and critique and will

go and have side talks and and discuss.

And by the time you do all that, the word is stolen, right, It's

stolen. You missed it.

And probably the reason you talked afterwards is because you

was already Phil Enduring, right?

And so you it's not just coming to deliver a message.

It is warfare up here at all times.

There's so much stuff I want to say that the Holy Spirit they

don't say, right? Don't say.

So as I'm going up here between my Invisalign and all the stuff

I'm thinking, you hear me stuttering or something.

It's it's, it's because it it within me.

The Kingdom is at work and this vessel is yielded to the Holy

Spirit, but my humanity is still in there.

My flesh is still in there. Old tea is still in there.

You get what I'm saying? So there's a lot of history I'm

fighting against, a lot of old ways I'm fighting against to get

to you what God is saying, OK. And so just bear a little bit

with me before I give you the title of this morning's message,

I want to read, read a few things.

The Jews were astonished. They said, how is it that this

man, don't worry about bringing it up?

How is it that this man talking about Jesus has learning it?

How is it that this man has learning?

He is so versed in the sacred scriptures and in theology when

he has never studied. See, it's so crazy because there

are people in the church that don't see themselves struggling

with the same spirit the the Pharisees struggle with, right?

If you're not careful, you could persecute the very deliverer of

your salvation. You can hurt somebody that is

trying to bring you to freedom, right?

And let's look at our Savior struggle.

See understanding Jesus went through some of the same things

brings me comfort. And that's the way it should be

for you in your life. Jesus answered them by saying my

teaching is not my own, but he is who sent me.

I don't know about you, but I'm a sent one right.

I just walked through a border 30 minutes ago and he like, Oh,

you, I don't I don't know what line to go through.

I live here. It's a how many days you here?

I put 365. I'll answer you at the window

and then I go to the window. I'm like I got American

passport, but I but I I live here, been here for 10 years

sent God. I'm on an assignment.

I don't know what you own, but I'm on an assignment and I can't

compromise like every my whole family's life is pending on my

obedience. Right, watch this.

If any man desires to do his will, God's pleasure, he will

know and have the needed illumination to recognize and

can tell for himself whether the teaching is from God or whether

I am speaking from myself and of my own accord and on my own

authority. Obedience knows obedience.

A person walking in God's will knows a person that's walking in

God's will. A person that's live lives a

life led by the Spirit knows another LED human being, right?

So he said, if you walk this life out like I'm showing you to

walk it out, then you may be able to have the illumination

necessary to see when God is using me versus when me is using

me. Watch what he says.

He who speaks on his own authority seeks to win honor for

himself, and he who teaches originates with himself seeks

his own glory. But he who seeks the glory and

is eager for the honor of him who sent him, he is true, and

there is no unrighteousness or falsehood or deception in him.

Did not Moses give you the law? And yet not one of you keep the

law? If that is the truth, why do you

seek to kill me for not keeping the law?

He say y'all preaching the law but ain't keeping the law.

But the point is, is I'm not on the law, I'm on grace and truth.

But if you going to hold me accountable to the law, there's

a law that you ain't living, and that's called love.

He's pointing to a greater law, which is love.

He say if you're so law based, then follow this one love.

He got on the Pharisee about tithing.

You getting on folks about tithing and all these laws love.

What's the name of this church? Hey, thank you.

So the one thing we going to preach is love.

These last few weeks have been proven that the bride needs to

go back to the elementary school.

We need milk. Our bones are weak, our bones

are dry, our bones are frail. Our immune system has been

compromised by the lies of the enemy, the affairs of the world,

the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes and the pride

of life. We are severely divided in the

body, but in areas that aren't even essential to us being

united, the things that got us divided ain't even essential.

Are y'all with me this morning? OK, milk is not a mere

suggestion in this hour, but it is a vital necessity.

Saints who claim to know Jesus but the spiritual fruit doesn't

say the same. Saints are exhausted in a time

we should be exuberant. Saints are complaining when we

should be compassionate. Saints are retreating when we

should be reviving. Saints are confused when we

should be clear. Saints are political when we

should be priestly. Saints are subdued when we

should be subduing. Saints are running where we

should be rooted. Saints are fickle when we should

be focused. Saints are passive when we

should be pursuing, and Saints are siding when we should be

seizing still. And yet Jesus is on the throne

still. And yet my God is alive still,

and yet the Holy Spirit is still assigned.

First, Peter. 22 says so abandoned every form of evil.

Somebody say every, every form of evil, every form of deceit,

every form of hypocrisy, every form of feelings of jealousy,

and every form of slander. Somebody shout out every form in

the same way that nursing infants cry for milk, you must

intensely crave the pure spiritual milk of God's Word,

for this milk will cause you to grow in maturity, fully

nourished and strong for life. See, when you're not fully

nourished, everything else becomes important or other

things. Have room for your plate.

When your plate is full, you ain't got time for gossip.

When your plate is full, you ain't got time for politics.

When your plate is full, you don't got time for complaining.

When your plate is full, you don't got time to point the

finger. Because my plate is what?

Full? There's no room that there's no

room. And in this hour, I have warned

us, there is no room. There's no room for side

ministries. There's no room for side

conversation. There's no room for double

minded. There's no room to sow discord.

There's no room to sow doubt and unbelief.

There's no room there. There is no room.

All while we surround the fire of the Word, right?

Because a religious spirit will always make sure Jesus is

mentioned. Or I at least make you think

that I have a good heart and my intentions is good.

All the while I am sowing discord, I am sowing seeds into

hearts that are too immature to process in a healthy way.

So what the enemy does is he finds infants and bring them

around. Immature believers who pose to

be mature or who pose to be a mature St. or who is a leader,

just 'cause you a leader don't mean you are mature.

And just 'cause you are a mature about mature about adult things,

don't mean you are mature about Kingdom things.

Just like a professor in college just don't get the right to be a

teacher in church. The teacher in the church is an

anointing. The professor in a college is by

way of diploma and proving and testing.

God can use a murderer of the Saints to teach the Saints

because he's anointed to teach. So just because you're a mature

adult, you pay all your bills, don't mean you are handling the

word right, doesn't mean you are stewarding your peace right.

It doesn't mean that you are stewarding the souls around you

that God brought you in connection with at this church

for one reason, to win souls, make disciples.

This is God's house. This is where he gathers his

children. He says, yeah, so watch this.

It's in the Bible. Somebody says it's in the Bible,

Joshua. 513 don't even turn there.

Don't even turn there. And then this while Joshua?

Was there near Jericho he. Took He looked up and saw right

in front of him a man standing, holding his drawn sword.

Joshua stepped up to him and said.

Whose side? Are you on ours or our enemies?

He said Neither. I'm commander of God's army.

I'm ambassador of Jesus Christ. I.

Am sent man of God, pastor from from California.

I am whatever I am OK watch this.

I've just arrived. Joshua fell face to the ground.

And worship. He asked.

What orders does my master have for his servant, God's army

commander? Order Joshua will take your

sandals off your feet. The place of your standing is

holy. The place where you're standing

is holy. He says I'm not on either side.

I'm on God's side. In this this hour, guess what?

You need to figure out whose side you on.

Let me tell you the best side, not the West side, but God's

side, God's side, God's side. He's undefeated.

It's in the Bible, EJ, when he says that this is an unshakable

Kingdom. Why would we go dabble in the

other Kingdom? Why would we stick our nose in

the other Kingdom? That is shakable, that will be

torn down, that is unsecure, insecure.

It will fail. Why are we over here?

Why not stick right here, right? And these these things want to

draw you in to debates and get opinions and where you stand.

And then one of the thing that has driven the body of Christ

crazy is is someone a martyr or not?

Where if you focus on these things, then guess what, you

miss what God's trying to say in the in the tragedy.

So then you go search for the scripture and you like man, what

are you saying to the body? God is trying to equip us to be

a good witness right now because our our our good can't be evilly

spoken of. Watch this.

Have you asked yourself this? Who was the first martyr in the

in the in the Bible? Huh.

OK. It's OK you if you don't know he

just gave you one. You can maybe agree with him.

You don't know that's There you go.

There you go. I don't know Stephen K even if.

You Google it, it says Stephen. So then I ask the question.

Didn't John the Baptist get killed?

So then I'm like, why we didn't? Say he a martyr, why did he get

killed? It wasn't for preaching the

Gospel. I don't.

Agree with y'all marriage. Herod Herodias I don't agree

with y'all marriage. Why did Stephen get killed?

They actually falsely accused him for blasphemy.

Because he was preaching resurrection.

He was preaching Kingdom. Here's what you can't do in

these last days. You can't start getting in

mixing the gospel. This isn't about if someone

deserved if they not no one. It's absolutely I don't got to

say this. Oh, this isn't about that.

That a man being killed is a whole topic by itself.

Now you ask, OK, Lord, what's here?

What are you teaching the living?

What do you teach in your church?

Before we idolize and before we build a theology and and

philosophies and we misdiagnose and we do all these things

because we're grieving what what's really happening.

And when I look at the scriptures, man, he's calling us

to preach the good news. I'm saying I'm going to show you

over these next few weeks, it is very clear what sharing the

gospel looks like. It's very clear what mixing our

faith with other principalities. Remember the What does the Bible

say he wrestling? Out against flesh and blood.

But against what? Rulers and principalities?

Men who run this world? Come on.

He's saying that I am wrestling against you, but I'm going to

mix my faith and take sides with you.

Call it Christian, but what does the Kingdom of God say?

Why did Jesus come? He did not just come to save us,

He came to realign us. Because if Jesus didn't come, we

would have been led by Pharisees, we would have been

led by politics, we would have been led by religious spirit and

never entering into the freedom of Jesus's salvation, ever.

This is why Paul reminds us who was bound in the world, who was

legally killing folks and whatever.

Listen, he warns us. You are free from condemnation.

You are free and. That's why he.

Says you need to go back to milk because you forgot what?

Salvation really is. You forgot what grace really is.

We have. A church that does not

understand grace. We have a church that does not

understand the power of the blood.

First John says I'm telling you all this and in case you do, sin

is cool. I got someone to cover that.

Wait, I'm I'm telling you all this and if you do fall, it's

cool. I got somebody.

Is he a proven sin? No, he's just.

Highlighting and elevating. The power of the blood.

This is what happens when a generation don't understand the

blood. That's why the blood series is

one of the most powerful series this church has ever ever

preached. And we going to go back there.

But that's what he's saying. You got to go back to

righteousness. That's what he said.

You got to go back to talk about righteousness.

What is righteousness? Everybody said right, right.

It's it's about he made us right.

He made us right with God, who made us right with God.

Me not by works. It can't be by grace, but we got

to get the butts out our witness.

Now I get to hold you accountable Saints who should be

winning, who should look like Christ.

We got the mind of Christ, not the world.

And once I walk into the white mind of Christ, I can hold you

at a higher standard. Why?

Because you have a higher price that's been paid.

Whom much is given, much is required.

You got the power in you, You got the blood on you.

You got the Spirit in you. You got the Word, You got glory

around you. You have everything it takes to

be transformed. Watch it today to our man

because I'm in this world, right not of it in the world not of it

that's in the Bible today I. Want to talk from this from this

idea of equipped. For the.

Middle hanging in the tensions of love.

I want y'all to see this. Equipped.

For the middle. What the?

What the church don't know how to do look like Christ in the

middle. We look like the thieves on

either side. We deciding.

Right. Jesus is in the middle of two

thieves. Watch this.

And it was the third hour. What hour?

3rd About 9:00 In the mountain AM AM somebody say AM when they

crucified him. When they crucified him.

And the inscription of the accusation against him was

written above the King of the Jews.

And with him they crucified 2 robbers, with him they crucified

2 robbers, with him they crucified 2 robbers, 1 on his

right side and 1 on his left side.

The left party and the right party, Jesus in the middle.

Somebody say Jesus in the middle.

And the Scripture was fulfilled, which says he was counted among

the transgressors, and those who pass by kept rebelling him and

reproaching him abusively in harsh and insolent language,

wagging their heads and saying, Aha, you who would destroy the

temple and build it in three days, Huh?

Now rescue yourself from death coming down from the cross.

Do you know how deep this deception is?

They're waiting for a savior. Killing them, mocking him.

They read the scrolls, they talked the scrolls.

You see how just being a Christian?

Don't. Automatically get your eyes to

see you. See how getting your daily

devotional don't automatically mean eyes open?

I can see this is their savior. And according to the Bible, it's

not really mistaken identity because he's on the cross

because it was written. It's supposed to happen.

Guess for who you but not but guess what?

Guess for who else? Those that's not saved the whole

world. So also the chief priests with

the scribes made sport of him to one another saying he rescued

others from death himself. He is unable to rescue.

This is theirs. They don't even know they need

this guy right? How many times you you, you, you

run from who God sends you because the enemy has painted a

picture of them because they wasn't packaged how you thought

they was going to be packaged. And the moment you don't think

the package is right, everything coming out they mouth may not be

right. See here anybody, anybody ever

buys something because the packaging was dope me, I'm a

consumer and then you got the product and was like.

This, this, this where we at world.

This is what great deception going to do right?

This. Is why that donkey?

I'm going to talk to a donkey. Yep, packaging don't look right,

but boy, we're coming out. That donkey mouth could save

your life. Right, marrying that harlot

don't make no sense, but because God said so, marrying that

harlot is going to bring some salvation to some folk, right?

Wait. Yep, sticking that rod out,

don't it? Don't look to pack me up.

Nope, that looks like death. Red Sea look like death.

I got death on both sides. But when God tells you to go,

it's time to what go? He rescued others himself.

Watch this. Let the Christ, the Messiah, the

King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see

it and trust in and rely on Him and adhere to him.

Those who were crucified with him also reveled and reproached.

Watch this, those who were crucified with him.

So that mean the left party and the right party.

What, what? What was it?

They were being persecuted. I mean, they were being

crucified too, but they got the nerves to get at Jesus right.

They they got the plank in it. They you see what I'm saying?

They both they both up there for that.

We all on the cross. It's like I know you in first

class. Don't look at me all snarly

because I walked past you to coach.

Guess what? We are we on the same plane.

We on the same plane, you just got a bigger seat than me.

You got some Food First. I get it, I get it.

I rolled up there and it is nice.

You get a hot tile. It is different, but but you get

what I'm saying. You start believe in the class,

right And you start siding in your soul, not realizing your

heart beating like everybody on the plane.

You need Jesus, like everybody on the plane, those who were

crucified with him also reveled. And when the 6th hour, say the

6th hour, what about midday? Somebody say about midday, If

you have to put a time to that, what's about midday?

Keep it simple. Noon, noon, there we go.

Noon, 12. OK, OK.

About midday. So So he was crucified at what

time? No 9:00 AM. 9:00 AM Come on.

He was crucified at 9:00 AM. They got some little beef going

on up at the cross now. What time is it?

Noon. It's it's noon.

O'clock. How many hours have passed?

Whoa. Watch this.

Watch this There was darkness over the whole land until the

9th hour about what, 3:00 and after what 9th hour or what time

3:00, Jesus cried with a loud voice.

Watch it. This man is on the cross for six

hours, pushing himself up. They crucified him at 9:00.

He'd taken an emotional beating, and then it got dark.

Six hours later, I heard a man describe this like this is, is,

is, is at 9. You, you, you, you, you

confessing we've been man doing fortnight joy come in you

confess and I'm more than a conqueror. 12:00 you confess and

3:00 come you like Lord, you forsaken me and God let you get

to that point when you got when you start questioning when you

know so long has passed that you say you starting to wonder is

God near? He's nearer.

How do you endure 6 hours after going from courthouse to

courthouse? Not eating, emotionally, being

mocked and persecuted. Thorns on your This is after the

lashes. This is with wounds, flesh open.

This is with a crown on his head, thorns in his skull, blood

coming down his face, and he got to be up there for six hours,

alive, fully aware of the Father, fully aware of the Holy

Ghost within him. Watch this, but don't feel the

need to respond. Equipped for the middle.

You think He may be showing us something aside from just saving

us? You think He might be showing

you what your posture should look like in the valley in the

middle, late in the midnight hour when you don't got no

answers. Do you think he's trying to show

his church? A posture?

What's? This it is 3:00 and at the 9th

hour he cries out with a loud voice.

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

Why have you deserted me? Why have you left me helpless

now? Is anybody in here that have

ever at bare minimum, maybe they can come out your mouth.

But you have thought these questions.

Come on, raise your hand. Don't don't just give me a head

nod. I need hands raised because

people need to look you. You ever thought about Lord?

Are are you? Are you here?

We going out like this guy? Like really You really?

Watch this. Six hours of humiliation.

He's bleeding to death, swollen. Brain.

People mocking. Him now watch.

This the tension, this is how it was this week, right?

Like I, I, I, I've struggled with being misunderstood.

So then my response some, some while back, I would then try to

prove to you that I'm not what you think I am or I didn't do

what you think I did or you get what I'm saying.

So there's this tension in the middle where you.

Immediately after church you got fucked man.

Do you know how many people was blessed by last week?

I wish you could have saw these these first time attendees come

up last week and there was some young people about how blessed

they was. But then there's always another

side, right? So how do you in the middle?

How do you stay in the middle without being lured to either

side? Because according to the word,

that's amazing for you, but I'm still on God's side.

I'm not taking your side because you on my side.

Hopefully I've said something that makes you on God's side.

It's not my side, but God's side.

Somebody say God's side, right? And then can I can?

I can, I can, I, can I somebody, somebody just just pray for me

for five seconds. Just pray for me for five

seconds. I'm I'm gonna pray for you.

It's not, I'm not being selfish. Just pray for me real quick.

Just please pray for me real quick.

I appreciate the prayers. I want to.

I want to I would like. To how do?

You. I don't mean to.

Sound old because I'm not but how do you?

That's OK I'm not going to ask y'all because y'all going to

laugh at me so it's just better off me not saying you didn't

want to help, don't say ah you want to make fun of me so no

that's OK. That's OK, I want to help.

What we have to. Be careful of is understanding.

If you look across this room, guys, there's so many different

sons and daughters that God himself brought to this house.

Right. How many people?

Take just write down their thoughts sometimes.

Anybody. I'm going to just share some

thoughts that I had this week. In this room.

Today we are divided for many reasons versus united for the

one reason. In this.

Room we have people who choose to see the world through a

worldview and with cultural and racial bias.

Your. Worldview can be shaped by

ideas, laws, policies, opinions, trauma, culture, family, news,

and even facts, but none having to do with the life and death of

Jesus. Some in this.

Room right now watch me this is this is pastor say pastor say

pastor. Some in this room are non

churched. Some are non believers, some are

new converts, some are wounded, some are confused, some are

Muslims, some are Sikhs, some are new age, some practice of

multiple religions and you you've gotten in the.

Crossfire of a divided, broken bride.

And I'm sorry, we are figuring out who Jesus is.

There's some in this room that are locked in on Jesus.

He is the focus, the gospel of the Kingdom is the focus.

His love is the focus. Unity of the the faith is the

focus. And, and, and you are unified

around the essentials. You give liberty around the non

essentials and you in all things you love.

Some of us are after after last week it was great.

Some of us after last week was confused.

Some of us last week was frustrated.

Some of us, like me last week afterwards was exhausted.

Not because, not out of God's will, exhausted.

Not striving in my own effort, exhausted, but carrying the

assignment, exhausted. Watch this.

We are diverse in this house. Many lives, many stories, many

contexts, and I am humbled that God would use this brother from

Oakland, CA who grew up in a very dominant context to go

across a border and speak to a diverse context.

My family's greatest chance to having success is love.

If I walk the streets of Chicago with my wife in a grocery store

or the footlocker, I get crazy eyes from black women,

uncertainty from black men. Any given day my kids can turn

on the TV and see someone hung or killed that looks like their

dad, but by the hands of someone that looks like their mom or

grandpa. I've had to learn my preference

ain't always first, nor best or even sometimes beneficial.

I've had to learn how to adjust how I talk in order to lower

walls, open doors, and release some women from clutching her

purse. I've had to sit in first class

and be the only one asked can I see your ticket and show it with

a smile. I've had to move to a country

and pastor in a complex city with no identity with 98% of the

globe. Here be one of the only African

American lead pastors leading in the a diversity of people with

80 plus year olds. The to 1st and 2nd generation

Africans, Chinese, East Asia E Indians, former Muslims, former

Buddhist, former new age former Hindu, non save new believers,

super churched, war survivors, people from communist countries,

People with church hurt, parents with gay children, children who

have experienced racism in school, orphans, ex pastors,

divorced, adulterous, suicidal folk hurting folk, dying folk.

Kids separated from their families who are in other parts

of the world and other continents.

I got to talk to. The poor I got to talk to to the

rich. Whose side I'm on?

How do you How do you decide God has?

Entrusted. Me with a multi heart.

So even if I moved here with a bias, a part of my Nets is based

on how I can let him take my biases away and give me his.

Who's going to win Vancouver? What kind of what kind of

leadership needs to be in Vancouver to win Vancouver now?

What kind of leadership You need to gather people that look like

you that grew up in the same economic system as you.

I'm talking about the heart that's writ.

We'll take a risk, right? And this is the beautiful part

about all of God's expressions of his church.

There's, there's one for everybody.

And sometimes the one for you ain't the one you think for you.

But these are realities in the world that God is entrusting his

spirit in us to navigate through in it, but not of it.

If I, if I, if I didn't seem shocked with with with with any

current events. Well, murder is something I grew

up witnessing all the time. I've lost best friends and I've

buried them. I've lost uncles and I've buried

them. I've lost neighbors, teammates.

This has been my reality. So although brutal, shocking and

horrific, when this is your context, the responses are

different. This is what Love Quest is all

about is can we have our differences but let love be the

governor. Jesus view is my first view.

The Kingdom shapes my worldview. Love invites us in to have our

world views and have compassion for each other's experiences.

Here's what the Bible says. The kindness of God brings man

to repentance. So This is why it's not just

religious divide. You also see racial divide with

this. So then you got to sit back and

you got to look at all of it. Why is 1 dominant race seeing it

this way and another race is seeing it this way?

So you got to go to God with all these complexities to come to

what He wants to say to the people.

I say this because for some of you, you have to make a

decision. Is this a church for you based

on who God has sent to lead it? That, that that's what you, you,

you can't. And no matter what church you

go, you can't go trying to take the anointing God placed on

them, the convictions God has given them, the obedience that's

upon them. And then through, through,

through so much. We, we, we, we kill pastors.

And I thank God for the courageous leaders, not just me.

I thank God for the courageous leaders.

Not willing, just not just willing to talk.

We're willing to live the thing out.

If we're going to talk about love, we're going to see love in

every area of our lives. It's so on one breath I ask that

you pray for me and my family. I said this last week and I told

my wife, she said, she said, babe, she said don't you go up

there. You don't say nothing else.

Remember last my love, my wife, she said, remember last week you

said this it I ain't saying nothing else about it.

I said you right, you pray for us because we don't want to be

used. We want to be assigned and

there's a big difference. Many of you want to be used, but

when God gives you the assignment you like, I'm.

I don't want to. Be used for that.

Pray for anybody that's willing to pay the cost, the full cost.

Not ask God for coupons. Full cost, full price because

with the church is where it is not.

Not not being merely because darkness, but we also have

leaders who aren't willing to pay the price of what it really

costs. And we have multiple generations

on the line. Many of us are walking in a sure

season instead of now. Moving back instead of your due

season. Yeah, now some.

Of you read this like that's a certainty.

No, no, no, sure, watch this. There's something God, some

things God have told me that I just kept bombarding him about

and he's like, sure, I hate when people text me back.

Sure, I'm always, I don't know why, but I'm always like, what

does that mean? I get real.

Insecure when you reply? Sure, right.

I'm I'm like yes or no or let's go.

I want some emoji. Sure with with a firecracker or

something, but like I can't just do sure, but watch this.

Sure God does this for his children.

Yoki, if you got kids, one day you will.

There's going to be some things they asked for.

You going to say you know what, sure, go ahead.

I don't know about you, but I want to be very precise.

I won't do season because short season you can abort a season it

it's sure God gives permission but he also gives the blessing

of the Lord that makes rich and adds no sorrow.

I don't want see this is how you know you're maturing.

You won't settle for manna, and manna needs time to be proven.

We see Ephesians 4. We've read this over and over.

He gave gifts. To nurture and prepare.

How many people remember this scripture we've read over and

over and over again to equip us? He says.

And then having our immaturity and then our immaturity will

end. Someone can can I get a few

people who and I mean can I get a few people who tired of being

immature say Amen, Amen PTI know me there.

I got some immature ways. I got some immature ways and

watch this, I got some immature heart responses.

Some of you, some of you can act mature, but your heart is

immature. Guess what, I'm sorry to help

you, but guess what God looks at right?

So you're mature in making sure your immaturity doesn't come out

of your mouth. So you say you're mature because

you got self-control. No, no, no, no, no.

What you doing is guarding bondage.

And you, you confusing yourself because, because instead of

dealing with it, you, you, you protect it.

And you've just learned how to have a double mind.

Hallelujah. Thank you Jesus, he says.

And we will not be easily shaken by trouble.

What do you say? This is the product of a mature

St. Not shaken by trouble.

See, shaking doesn't mean you crash out.

Shaking can mean something happening.

You start running your mouth. Shaking can mean you You allow

yourself to get confused instead of standing on firm foundation.

Shaking doesn't mean that you just start acting out.

What he's saying is your inner compass.

Your inner man becomes sure and solid.

It says a good. Tree does not produce bad fruit.

Bad tree don't produce good fruit.

I'm trying to help you. All the words say just look at

the fruit. Look at the fruit starting with

our household, right? Look at the fruit starting with

our spouse. Look at the fruit.

Look at the fruit, right? Look at the fruit that's on the

tree, not the fruit from the tree next to the tree.

Lord, the name of Jesus, I thank you that you make us anointed

inspectors watch this. Nor LED astray by novel

teachings, or by the false doctrines of deceivers who teach

clever. Lies.

But instead, we'll remain strong and always sincere in our love,

and we express the truth. All our direction and ministries

will flow from Christ and lead us deeper.

Somebody say, deeper into him, the anointed head of his body,

the church, right? And so we must be built up in

love, in the tensions. In the valleys, in the pits, do

the work. Jesus was able to hang on that

cross for six hours because he was focused on doing the work.

You say what you mean, PT What you mean PT?

I'm going to get to it. The work of the ministry is

simple. It brings this to it keeps us

sound. The work of the ministry keeps

us strengthened, and the work of the ministry keeps us

surrendered. The things that God is asking of

us, it's not just merely for people, but it also works in us,

not just through US. Watch this.

What do you do when your only way out is to watch this work,

Worship and wait? Watch this.

Watch this EJ sometimes we are and we are at fault of this and

this is what we got to teach teach the people some seasons

does not require a principle to get out of work the word so you

like find a word and I'm going to stand on it now you mad it's

taking so long because you're standing on the word and you

asking why the word ain't working no God's working.

And so if he watch this, if you're not coming out, it's

because he desires to come in. All right, Shadrack, Meshach,

and Abednego, you got that right.

No, no, no, You going to go in the fire, You going to go in the

lion's den. But guess who coming in with

you? The 4th man.

And sometimes you are so anxious to get out, you miss out on the

opportunity for God to come in. What do you?

What do you do? Because.

Sometimes it ain't the principle.

Sometimes you got to work, do the work of the ministry, you

got to worship Paul and Silas, and you just got to wait on the

Lord, somebody say. Do the work.

Let's simplify it. The work of the ministry is when

souls make disciples. Ain't it crazy that when Jesus

came back, He told us to do one thing.

Go ye. Therefore, what did He say?

Teach them. He said make disciples.

Who am I holding accountable to the word?

Who? I'm making a disciple.

I am not making the world a disciple.

You don't become a disciple by skipping so one the first step

is preach Jesus. The first step to the world is

good news. That's it.

Then we start carving when you get in the Kingdom because you

now have the tools, you got the word, the world don't got the

word, the world don't got the Holy Ghost, the world don't got

the blood, the world don't have what you have.

All they have is a opportunity to receive Jesus.

Then once you receive Jesus, now we going to start giving you

that Jesus character. Those when?

Souls make disciples. Watch this The work of the

Kingdom is simply when souls make disciples.

Watch this number 2 The ministry of reconciliation.

This is about to blow some of y'all minds.

This is about to blow some of y'all minds.

Watch this scripts Watch this scripts.

Watch this, Watch this, watch this.

Therefore, if any person is engrafted in Christ, he is a

what? Shouted out new come on, new

what? Who's the new creation?

Me. OK, OK y'all so cute but who is

the new creation? Anyone one that is in what

Christ, come on, who's a new creation?

Anyone that is in Christ. So if you ain't in Christ, you

ain't new. So I it's not my job to tell you

to go get new without saying come get Jesus.

The invitation is to the altar. The invitation is not to change.

The invitation is to come to the one that changes you the old

previous. Watch this the old previous more

you got to get into the new to have a old previous.

It's a spiritual condition. It's a condition.

It's A and until we explain this to the loss and the Bible says

watch this. The Bible says that the the the

Jesus list person cannot understand spiritual things.

So if they can't understand what you can understand, why are you

trying to make them understand what only having Jesus?

Do you know why you understand? It's because the Holy Ghost is

in you. Do you know how you got the Holy

Ghost? It's because you received Jesus

first. Behold, the fresh and the new

has come. Why?

Because Jesus has been received. But all.

Things, Watch this. This should crush you.

That all things are from God. All things, all things are from

God, who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself, all

things was reconciled to Himself, brought us into harmony

with Himself, and then gave us the ministry of reconciliation.

That by word and deed we might aim to bring others in the

harmony. His grace saved us.

That we might bring others to the table.

Watch this. It was God personally present in

Christ. Watch this reconciling and

restoring the world to favor with himself.

Who was he restoring the world? This is somebody say this is the

good news. Watch this watch Oh Jesus, I get

excited about the good news because it's what good it's

good. Watch this He Himself through

Christ, restoring the world to favor with himself, not counting

up. And holding against men their

trespasses but cancelling them. That's the good news.

So guess what I should say? If you struggling with

homosexuality, if you struggling with this, if you struggling

with that, guess what? It's been cancelled under the

blood, but you got in order to receive that cancellation, you

got to receive His love. You got to receive Him.

So come look at this is what he did for me.

This is what he did for my family.

I was blind. Now I can see I was lost.

Now I'm found. He's a good, good God.

Come on, man. I've never seen the righteous

forsaken. Or is seed bread for bread?

Man, folks might. Reject you.

But how can you be mad at? Somebody that's saying.

I'm just saying, man, you are loved.

I know you struggle. You ain't got to explain what

that is. You ain't got to explain what

woman is. You ain't got to explain you

that you, you don't even get it. You, you, you don't even, you

haven't even received Jesus in your heart.

So how could you even understand what God intended?

So I am fighting a a a lost cause If I am trying to push

change or make you aware of how jacked up you are before I make

you aware of how great he made you tell me since since winning

put put a knife at the on on the hook and throw it in the ocean

and see how many fish you're going to catch right?

You what? What is a what is a depressed

person want to hear that that they can have peace.

What does a lost person want? They want to be found.

What does a blind person want? They want to see the good news.

What does a poor person want? They want to be financially

free. They don't want you saying, man,

you poor. And you know why you're poor?

Because everybody around you was poor.

I just can't. Go down with my Jesus getting

that rap. I'm an.

Ambassador so I supposed to tell the people what God what my Lord

is. So if somebody who representing

the faith is going to tell you that you this and you that, I'm

going to tell you you have been washed by the blood of the Lamb.

So we are. Crisis Ambassador God making his

appeal, as it were, through US. What do you say we're his?

What? Talk to me.

His what? What does that?

Mean, he says, God making his appeal, as it were, through US.

The. Father who so loved the world,

making his love for the world his appeal through US.

Watch this as Christ's personal representatives beg you for His

sake to lay hold of the divine favor now offered you and be

reconciled to God. For our.

Sake He made Christ virtually to be sin, who knew no sin, so that

in and through him we might become endued with viewed as

being in an examples of the righteousness of God.

What we? Ought to be approved and

acceptable and then right relationship with him by his

goodness. It's going to get real juicy

next experience. But man, life is hard enough.

Preach the gospel. Of the Kingdom, but what I.

Do understand? Is a lot of people don't.

Preach the gospel of the Kingdom effectively because they don't

know Jesus. We.

We. Know law more than we know

Jesus. Watch this out of the abundance

of the. I guess is and we got to.

Be careful and it's so dark we can't mix it.

You're you're a believer. You're you're saved.

You're a Christian. Period.

Point. Period.

I'm a Christian. I'm a born again believer.

Period. Watch this.

I'm not a black Christian. I'm a Christian.

I'm black. I'm of African descent.

Yes, yes, a male. I'm not a male.

Christian. You get what I'm saying?

Like we we saying it like this. Duh.

The Bible warns us of these last days, that many types of

doctrines will be preached. He warns us about mixing the

gospel and mixing our faith. We can't do it, guys.

There's too much on the line, and there's nothing more

important than your brother's and your neighbor's soul.

Nothing more. Important than Vancouver coming

to know Jesus or at least have a chance and we are in one of the

most ungodly cities in the world.

Talk about it, don't need God. And it's.

Crazy what makes this place as Christian as it is, is the

people who migrate here. The people.

Who brought Jesus to this country because they needed them

where they was from? We need to be united.

And we have. The greatest news in the world?

It's a news war. We're saying.

Abounds, grace abounds more. So we got to amp it up.

So when we get back to midweek experience this week, I'm

challenging the whole church to come.

I don't care. You, you work so me too.

Well, you work for the church, man.

I do. Way more than work for the

church. I got kids, I do too.

Well, they big. They was little.

And when they was little, guess where I raised them?

Right here. No, no, no, watch this, watch

this. Some people might be like but

you don't understand, PTI do. I know how much.

Even the little. Ones need to be in God's

presence. I know how much it helps to just

sit in the in the House of God. I can't parent without

gathering. Right.

I saw it. I watched it.

It wasn't. Evil that we was at church all

the time. I wouldn't be.

Here. And hey, ain't this our job?

Bible says compel. And when we saw that scripture.

What happened? He's like, why did Jesus show us

these excuses around the. Invitation.

I got this. To do.

I got that to do, I got this to do.

Awesome, no problem. But the wind is blowing.

And I promise. You what you cannot do or go

without. Is a.

Deep understanding of the Word and Revelation and I get it man,

things come up. But when we stop making effort

and contending for what God has called us to in our local

church, that's the problem. Look, I'll leave it with this.

My son plays at 1:00 where I just left from.

Put the food back tomorrow and guess what I have to say bye to

him in the parking lot and he going to go fly back to Calgary.

I miss my son, I miss my family. I could have stayed one more

day. Let EJ or whoever handled the

word no problem. But man the assignment you got

to pick and choose what? It's like, man, I had.

A couple days and it was good. I got some work done and I went

back to Biola University and got to talk some things.

But I got to lay him on the altar too.

God didn't give. Me, my kids to idolize in the

name of taking care of them. So we all got stuff that God is

asking of. So we gave our church two months

or something. No midweek, something like that.

Two months. Let's show up Wednesday night,

let's get equipped, let's get sharpened.

Let's ask questions. Let's receive impartation, let's

worship, let's strengthen one another in love, let's spur one

another on. The hungry and thirsty person

going to say, man, I can't make it every Wednesday, but I am

going to make sure I make it a couple times a month.

That's what we do, the married. Couples going to say you know

what I can't go every every Wednesday, but one of us going

to go we going to alternate and then you going to get some notes

and then I'm going we going to go over them over some breakfast

or something contending we're generational soul prosperity

Father, we thank you, we love you and we honor you.

We thank you that we are rooted, that when you return, Lord

Jesus, you will find us in faith.

Lord, thank you for the remnant that is rising.

Thank. You for those that are hungry

and thirsty, thank you that you will satisfy them.

Thank you that we find peace just in you.

Thank you that you are enough. Thank you, Lord.

I just want to lift up every. Pastor and leader who are truly,

truly on that frontline. No compromise.

Pure hands, pure heart. Or just encourage the ministers

across the world today. Encourage the pastor's the

pastor's wives, the pastor's husbands, the pastor's children.

The clergy. The leaders across the world,

those that want to give up and quit, Lord, I just pray that you

just blow wind in their offices, blow wind in their cars, meet

them right where they are. Lord, that that leader that is

in that hotel room wanting to take their lives.

Lord, I ask right now in the name of Jesus that you put a

stop to it. We bind the spirit of death.

Come on, we we bind the spirit of death.

Lord we. Lift up the children.

Of. Pastors and leaders.

Children. Who feel the cost and the weight

of being a child of a ministry family of pastors kids.

Lord, we lift them up now in the name of Jesus and that you would

put people around them, harvesters around them that can

relate to them, that can reach them, that can talk to them,

that can walk with them. Lord God.

Your word. Says we are in dark, gross

darkness, but you promise that your glory will rest upon your

church. So I thank you for bold,

courageous, locked in, focused, sensitive to the spirit urgency.

Thank you for those who are making their minds up to say I

do. We rebuke the Devourer now in

the name of Jesus. Every word that has been spoken

by you today, that is for us. We receive it.

We guard it, we nurture it, we water it.

And we thank you, Father, that the word that you have planted

in our hearts today will be fruitful in Jesus name, Amen.

If you receive a couple things today, just give God a hand.

Come on, you can do better than that, Elder.

John, I'm I wasn't here, but I'm sure you did a good job.

So thank you. Only compelled today.

If you did one, if you did one all right, you did a good job.

See you guys. In the next experience or

Wednesday, we start back up, is that correct?

Wednesday we start back up. 6. 45 give people some time to get

get here from work with 645 be here.

We will worship, we will share a word, we'll break out in some

groups, ask some questions, pray with each other and have a good

time. So I'm excited about dynasty

Wednesday. It is equipping time and I'm I'm

looking forward to some people being activated and mobilized

and equipped and promoted by the hands of God in this season.

Super looking forward to it. If you guys know some people in

Toronto, we are heading out there to do a concert at El

Macombo and just was told the other day we are also going we

was invited to do worship on the Friday night.

I'll have more info about that but if you got some family and

friends just let them know Love Quest is coming out to the six

and we going to turn up one time.

That's it, into your feet. October. 10th We'll be at

Guilton Co. I can't wait.

Do you know, I saw a Guilton Co video and they were singing a

Kurt Franklin song and I'm like, OK.

OK, I'm not. I'm going.

To be self, I think we kind of we kind of.

Paved the. Way for that to happen I've I

know I've been in them emails working on the heart.

Put your hand on your neighbor's shoulder and say, man, I really

hope you got something today. Just prepare, prepare your

hearts. We will be fasting in October.

We will start a 40 day fast in October.

I was just. Waiting for the swings to get

off of a vacant knowledge plan. I really wouldn't.

I really wouldn't, but I did think about y'all.

But hey, man. We are having a fast from

October 22nd, which is that's the day of me and my wife's 21st

anniversary. So.

We will start off the fast with able to eat steaks and

cheesecake on the first day of the fast.

But Nah, and it'll be 40 days. We, we, we, we, it's time and we

need to do that, so I'm excited. So put in your calendar so it

don't creep up on you and you don't have to not participate

because you say you wasn't ready.

Put that in your calendar. All right, I've prayed.

We've prayed as you go. Go in.

Faith, go in boldness and don't be surprised and caught off

guard when you find yourself witnessing to somebody.

Don't be afraid to catch yourself.

And stop. Your mouth from murmuring and

complaining and gossiping or not giving people the gospel.

OK, give people the good news this week.

Amen. All right, tell your neighbors.

Say go give them the good news because it has saved you.

Now go share in the name of Jesus.

Have a good, good, good day. Thank you so much for tuning in

to this week's sermon. We pray you were challenged,

equipped and encouraged. Make sure to follow us on all

platforms. That's love Quest Intl church.

We out here for real. We're really doing it.

That's Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.

You can find us anywhere you need to find us.

But until next time, you know the drill, you know the motto.

Get your love fixed man and we'll see y'all real soon.