God Can Do More Than You Can Do | Pastor Dave Kinney

All right, how are we doing, United City?

I want to take this moment and welcome all of those who are joining with us at each of the correctional facilities that we get to bring this service to.

Church, help me welcome all those who are joining with us.

We love you.

We're with you.

We're so grateful for you, as well as all of the first-time guests in this room right now.

Church, come on, welcome everybody who's with us for the first time.

We are grateful to have you in church with us today.

I want to give a special shout out to all of the humble high school football team who's sitting right over here.

Y'all welcome this team over here.

Coach Murphy, we are we are big fans of you.

We're here for you, and we're grateful for uh your leadership in the schools, and we're just on we honor you today, and we're really grateful for you.

Come on, church.

Let's show our appreciation right there.

If you have your Bible, I'm gonna ask you to open it up to Joshua chapter 10.

Joshua 10 · chapter mention

Joshua chapter 10 is where we're gonna be this morning.

Joshua 10 · chapter mention

We all have that friend or that family member who loves to share that one story.

You guys know that one story, the one story that they share constantly over and over and over again, no matter how many times you've heard it, no matter how many times they've shared it, it is their go-to story.

And there's some parts of the story that you'll notice change over time.

They kind of start to embellish a little bit of the story, and you you think it's not like you're gonna say it because then they're gonna dwell on the story even longer and you're ready to move past it, but you think in your head, there's no way that that's actually true.

There's no way that it actually went down like that.

Like that one friend that you have who came back from uh a day fishing and he said, Man, I'll tell you what, I caught this 27-pound largemouth bass, and as soon as I got it into the boat, it just flopped out.

I had my camera, oh, I didn't get a picture of it, but it was in it.

Like, dude, you fish in Lake Houston, like that does not exist in Lake Houston.

You guys have that friend where she she swears she could have been a legitimate contestant on American Idol, but instead she decided to go to college because she thought it would be better for her future.

And you've sat in front of her before at church and heard her sing, and it's unique.

It's uh it's its own genre a little bit.

Uh, you guys have have that friend who who never closed the high school year book.

Right?

Here's what I mean.

Uh the guy who talks about how many records he broke and how athletic that he was when he was in high school.

He could run a 4-340 and even carries it over to his life now.

He talks about how he can still dunk, but his knee, you know, has been acting up on him for a few weeks, and so he would do it, but all that kind of stuff.

Meanwhile, he's got the physique of a melting ice cream Sunday.

Like, come on, dude.

That mom of six kids who's the PTA parent, she meal preps for every last one of them, cooks seven nights a week.

She leads a book club and she's training for an ultramarathon.

She never gets behind on laundry and she has a hundred different hobbies.

We all know people who say stuff that just isn't true, right?

Joshua chapter 10, as we read this this morning, you are going to be tempted to think there's no way this actually happened.

Joshua 10 · chapter mention

I want to be very, very intentional, though, in setting this story up because this isn't just a story with characters.

This is a very real historic event that actually happened.

It actually took place.

And before we get there, I want to give a little bit of context, okay?

So Israel, they're making their way through the land that God had promised to them, and on their way, they encounter a lot of people that are trying to take them out, but God is consistently and continuously giving them victory over their enemies.

There's these people called the Gibeonites.

The Gibeonites uh have an alliance with these five other kings and kingdoms, but then they hear about how God is giving Israel uh every victory that they come in contact with.

And so they kind of break their alliance with these guys without telling them, and in a very sneaky way, kind of align themselves with the people of Israel.

And then those five kings and kingdoms, they find out about what the Gibeonites did, and they think we gotta do something about that.

Like we gotta, we gotta attack, we gotta demolish, we gotta destroy those double-crossing Gibeonites, as well as the enemy that is Israel.

And so that's where we pick up the story today.

And these five kingdoms, they come together all as one, and they think, well, God is giving them victory, the nation of Israel victory when it's one-on-one.

But we got five on one.

There is no way that they will be able to beat us.

Joshua chapter 10, starting in verse six.

Joshua 10 · chapter mention

It says, And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal, saying, Do not relax your hand from your servants.

Come up to us quickly and save us and help us.

For all the kings of the Amorites who dwell in the hill country are gathered against us.

So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor.

And the Lord said to Joshua, Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands.

Not a man of them shall stand before you.

So Joshua came upon them suddenly, having marched up all night from Gilgal, and the Lord threw them into a panic before Israel, who struck them with a great blow at Gibeon, and chased them by the way of the ascent of Beth Haron, and struck them as far as Azekah and Mekeda.

And as they fled before Israel, while they were going down the ascent of Beth Haran, the Lord threw down large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died.

There were more who died because of the hailstones than the sons of Israel killed with the sword.

At that time Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord gave the Amorites over to the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sons stand still at Gibeon, and moon in the valley of Ajilon, and the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation took vengeance on their enemies.

Is this not written in the book of Jeshar?

The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day.

There has been no day like it before or since when the Lord heeded the voice of a man, for the Lord fought for Israel.

If you have your journals today, what I want you to write down on the top of them, or if you've got a piece of paper or your phone, I want you to write this down.

Leaders pray big prayers.

Leaders pray big prayers.

See, I believe that Joshua chapter 10 reveals important and practical truths about how our understanding of God should lead us to and maybe even require us to pray big prayers.

Joshua 10 · chapter mention

But praying big God-sized prayers, it's it's not just that, it's also vital to our knowledge of and our relationship with God.

It's my goal today that you would walk away with conviction as a leader to pray big prayers.

The Bible is very clear to us on our prayer life.

It says, You did not chose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide.

And whatever you ask in the Father's name, he will give to you.

Ask, and it will be given to you.

Seek and you will find.

Knock, and the door will be opened to you.

For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and the one who knocks, it will be open.

First Thessalonians, pray without ceasing.

Philippians, do not worry about anything.

Instead, pray about everything.

Tell God what you need and thank him for what he has done.

Luke chapter 18.

Luke 18 · chapter mention

Jesus taught his disciples, he told them a story how they should always pray and never give up.

And yeah, that all sounds really good, Dave.

But how can I actually do that?

I've been in church, I know all the churchy answers.

I know that God is a big God and He's capable of doing all sorts of things.

But if I was honest with you, you could look at my life, you could look at my prayer life, and that would not reflect that I actually believe that God is capable of doing all things.

Joshua chapter 10 gives us three things that can change our perspective and call us to pray prayers that are big enough to honor God.

Joshua 10 · chapter mention

Ready?

Three things that can change our perspective and lead us to praying big prayers in a way that honors God.

So, number one, I want you to write this down in your journal, on your phone, whatever you've got.

Write this down.

God can do more than you can do.

I went to seminary to get that line, alright?

It's pretty.

God can do more than you can do.

And what I want you to do is I want you to circle you can do.

I want you to circle that right there.

Verse 9 in our text today says that Joshua that they marched up all night long.

Now, this is no small thing.

Gilgal, the the road from Gilgal to Gibeon is 25 miles long.

In other words, if you just pass by this verse, you just read it, you would just think they got up and went over to Gibeon, but it was 25 miles away.

They marched fervently through the night without resting.

They were carrying all of their provisions with them.

This this route has an ascent of 4,000 feet in the mountainous Middle Eastern terrain.

This is not an easy walk.

This is something they had to do all night long, knowing that once they got there, there was a war waiting for them against five powerful kings and kingdoms.

But you know what?

Joshua, uh he realized that even though he had the promise of God in verse eight, you guys remember what God promised him?

I will be with you.

You will have victory.

Not one of them will stand before you.

Joshua realized even though he has the promise of verse eight, he still has to do the work in verse nine.

The problem, though, is oftentimes we want the promise.

We want the blessing, we want the provision.

We want the peace that surpasses all understanding.

We want the joy.

We want the sun stand still moment, but we aren't willing to do the work.

One of my favorite memories of this summer is our family did a bonfire.

And I love a good bonfire.

Raise your hand if you'd like a good bonfire.

Yeah, all you guys.

There's nothing, there's nothing like uh uh when you get into the fall season and you do it.

Let me explain what fall is real fast.

So fall is a time when summer stops and then it gets a little bit cooler.

Uh, my favorite joke since moving to Houston, by the way, is this one.

Uh, fall is the greatest day of the year.

It's just awesome, all right?

I love it.

There's something about the crisp fall air, a nice breeze going on.

You got football on, you want to go outside and you want to gather your family and your friends around a bonfire, and you're gonna make s'mores, you're gonna have a good time, you're gonna talk.

There's always the guy that brings the guitar, even though no one asked him to.

It's just fun.

Like everybody loves it.

Everybody loves a bonfire, but nobody likes to chop the wood.

Everybody loves a bonfire, but nobody likes to chop the wood.

Everybody loves the blessing of God.

Everybody loves the provision of the Lord, but they aren't willing to be obedient and faithful when it's necessary.

See, I believe that if Joshua was here today, uh he would maybe tell us, he would maybe uh take a look at your life, the circumstances that you find yourself in.

He would he would tell us that Joshua chapter 10 is of course about a big miracle where the sun stands still, but he would also say in the holiest way possible, sometimes you gotta suck it up, neglect your preferences, and get to work.

Joshua 10 · chapter mention

Like that's actually what I believe he would say.

It's doing the work of obedience even when it doesn't make sense or it's scary or it's gonna cost you something.

It's the work of being faithful even when it's tough or you don't feel like it.

It's the work of dealing with your sin, even though nobody knows about it and you're doing a really good job hiding it.

It's the work of letting that sin come into the light and receiving the forgiveness and receiving the peace from God.

It's the work of pursuing your spouse in a way that honors the Lord, even though it feels like things are too far gone, even though it feels like things are slipping away.

It's the work of sharing the gospel, sharing the story of Jesus, even when it feels awkward or scary, or or people are gonna think you weird, or that's not my gifting.

I believe Joshua would say, Hey, your gifting is less important than God's command.

It's time to do the work, the work of bringing your addiction into the light.

It's time to do the work of being honest with yourself, even if that means that people are gonna find some stuff out about you that you would prefer them not to know.

It's gonna mean that it's the work of coming clean in your life.

It's time to get to work because yes, God can do more than you can do, but that doesn't mean that you get to do nothing.

We gotta do something.

Listen to me.

Uh, the Bible is full of really Instagram-worthy and inspiring scriptures.

Scriptures like uh you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's very own possession.

The Lord chose you to be a part of his people and his very own treasured people.

Uh what about this with Jeremiah chapter 29?

Jeremiah 29 · chapter mention

Uh, for I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord.

Plans for welfare and not for evil, uh, to give you a future and a hope.

And all of those things are true.

All of those things are accurate in your life.

But can I just be the guy today that tells you, yes, all those things are true, but also sometimes you have to get to work because the Bible also says, faith without works is dead.

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed.

Let us not grow weary of doing good.

First Timothy, for to this end we toil and we strive and we work because we have our hopes set on a living God.

And just like Joshua, trust in the promises of God to you, but then also saddle up, get to work, and start the all-night hike.

It's time to get to work.

It's time to get to work.

God can do more than you can do, but you gotta do something.

So, point number one God can do more than you can do.

Point number two, I don't encourage you to write this down.

Point number two.

God can do more than you can do.

Yeah.

Three years in seminary, baby.

God can do more than you can do.

And what I want you to do here is I want you to circle God can do.

Because those three words can be followed by an infinite number of things.

There's nothing that God can't do.

The Bible says, Great is our Lord, abundant in power.

His understanding is beyond measure.

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty.

For all that is in the heavens and on the earth is yours.

Yours is the kingdom, O God, and you are exalted above all.

Your right hand, God, is glorious in power.

Your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy.

God can do anything.

Uh my favorite time of the year is Christmas.

Uh there's it's not even a close, uh, there's no close uh second to that.

I just love Christmas time.

Christmas time is my absolute favorite.

Emily and I, we get the kids, we get really into Christmas in our house.

And I remember one time when I was about 10 years old, uh, I had a Christmas list, and I had some things on that list that I really, really wanted.

Like I really wanted these things.

And then I had some things on my Christmas list that I kind of wanted.

And then I had some things on no list nowhere that I never wanted, but you got those weird extended relatives that they're gonna buy you that stuff anyways, and then you gotta plaster on a smile and be like, Thank you.

I love it, it's so great, you know.

And I remember this year I had a lot of things that I really, really wanted.

When you're young, a lot of people consistently ask you, What do you want for Christmas?

What are you asking for for Christmas?

And there's some there's some real strategy into answering this question the right way.

Uh because my sister, if she asks me that question, I'm gonna tell her certain things.

And the reason why I'm gonna only tell her certain things is because uh she's 12 years old and she has a very limited financial situation, all right?

I'm not gonna tell her all the big things on my Christmas list because she has no way of actually buying those things.

But when Mimi and Grandpa ask, like, it's on.

Like, ah, Mimi and Grandpa, y'all better sit down, buckle up, get your pen ready, alright?

Because we're gonna be here for a while.

I I would never ask my Mimi and Grandpa for socks and candy and new pencils for school or something like that.

All that would just go to my older sister, all right?

She can get me all that kind of stuff.

Why?

Because when you know who you're talking to, it changes what you ask for.

When you know who you're talking to, it can change what you ask for.

And what I want you to understand is that your can and God's can are two very different things.

See, God operates in the supernatural.

And even though that may make you uncomfortable or make you feel a little bit weird, that doesn't make it any less true.

The entirety of the Christian faith rests on the supernatural.

That Jesus, God's only Son, He came down from heaven in a supernatural way.

He lived a supernaturally sinless life.

He died on the cross for the sins of the world, past, present, and future.

And three days later, even though he was buried in a tomb, he rose from the dead in a supernatural way.

If you don't believe in the supernatural taking place, then you cannot be a Christian.

You want to know why, though, the supernatural can make us feel a little bit weird?

You want to know why the supernatural can make us um uncomfortable?

It's because we don't properly recognize or acknowledge who we're praying to.

So why do your prayers say stay small?

Or why do your prayers uh why does it make you uncomfortable for your prayers to go beyond the natural into the supernatural?

It's because you don't properly recognize or acknowledge who you're praying to.

I would ask this question.

I want you to write this down, your answers to this question, and I want you to discuss this in your small group later this week.

Alright?

If you're not in a small group, guess what?

It's time to do the work of trusting that when God says being in biblical community is the best thing for your own heart, even if it makes you uncomfortable and you don't want to go sit around singing kumbaya in a room.

Get to work, get in a small group, all right?

I want you to answer this question.

Where in your life do you need the supernatural power of God to do what you can't do?

Where in your life do you need the supernatural power of God to do what you can't do?

As believers, we are we are built to expect the supernatural from God.

Joshua knew uh that God could make the sun stand still in the sky.

Think about that just for one minute.

Look at what verse 14 says.

It says that there hasn't been a day like it before or since.

It's not like there was precedent for this event taking place.

It's not like it happened all the time and Joshua was like, hey, casually, God, hey, could you do that thing that you've always done?

No, that's not what it is.

And I think what's dangerous for all of us is we can settle into the mindset of I believe God can, but I don't think he will.

How many times have you had that prayer cop out?

Of, I know God can, but I just I just don't think he will.

Let me just warn you against that for your own heart.

That is one of the most dangerous places that you can put yourself because uh essentially when you're doing that, you are answering prayers on God's behalf.

And when you do that, you are asserting yourself under the lordship of you instead of under the lordship of the Almighty God.

And God is very clear that thou shalt have no other gods before me.

It's time to pray big, bold prayers because God can do anything.

So point number one: God can do more than you can do.

Point number two.

God can do more than you can do.

And this brings me to my last point.

I want you to write this down for me.

Uh God can do more than you can do.

And it's staring at us right in the face in the middle here, because oftentimes you can find the more than God in the middle.

Because our God, the God of the Bible, is a more than God.

What does that mean?

Uh well, I don't mean that your big bold prayer for a million dollars is going to be met with a two million dollar check in your mailbox.

That's not what I mean.

What I mean is that is that God has a track record of showing up in ways that exceed expectations.

That God has a track record of showing up in the middle of your life, in the middle of your circumstances, in the middle of your doubt, and he exceeds your expectations.

He is a more than God.

Joshua chapter 10, Joshua and the Israelites, they march through the night, they get to Gibeon, and God meets them there and gives them the instant upper hand.

Joshua 10 · chapter mention

He does this so much so.

That the Amorites, the people of those five kings and kingdoms, they are retreating.

They are running away from the Israelite people.

And what happens next is Joshua knows that if they get too far and if the daylight ends, then we won't be able to find them as they're going to hide in the hill country.

And so Joshua says, Son, stand still.

And I love the fact that Joshua has the boldness to say, Son, stand still.

But I also really like the fact that God shows us in Joshua chapter 10 all of the more than ways that he shows up.

Joshua 10 · chapter mention

Look at verse 10.

When the Israelites initially arrived at Gibeon, God threw the enemy into a panic.

Verse 11, when the Lord threw down large stones from heaven.

And look at what verse 11 says.

I love it.

I love the fact that Joshua has the boldness, the courage, the audacity to stand before God and say, God, make the sun stand still in the sky.

But I also love the fact that God shows up in a more than way all throughout the story.

In between the hike all night, in between the sun standing still at the end of that day, God still shows up in ways that Joshua didn't pray for, but he is the more-than God.

This is the character of our God.

Remember Abraham, the guy who couldn't have kids?

God gives them a more-than promise.

He says, You're going to have as many descendants as there are stars in the sky.

You will be the father to many nations.

What about the Israelite people themselves, whenever they are leaving the captive Egypt where they were slaves, and God delivers them from that, and then they're face to face with the Red Sea, and God makes the Red Sea split into walls of water on both sides of them.

It wasn't just that they pass through, it's that they pass through on dry ground.

He's a more than God.

What about Shadrach, Meshach, and Beni?

Whenever the fake God tells them to kneel down before them, the real God shows up after they've been thrown in the fiery furnace, and he shows up in the furnace with them in the middle, in a more than way, and then they walk out of the fiery furnace, and it's not that they just weren't burnt.

The Bible actually says they didn't even smell like smoke.

He is the more than God.

And the life of Jesus himself in his ministry on this earth.

He's met with a crowd of 5,000 men.

People believe that there was about 15,000 people there that day, and Jesus says, We're gonna feed them.

And what they've got is they've got five loaves of bread and two fish.

And God, the Bible says that God multiplies those things, and there's enough so that all of the people there can eat so much that they get full, and then there was leftovers.

They had more than was necessary.

He is a more than God, he is able.

Joshua chapter 10 itself.

Joshua 10 · chapter mention

Think about this.

It's an amazing thing that Joshua has the boldness in that moment to ask God to make the sun stand still in the sky.

But did you ever think about this?

That Joshua actually praised the wrong prayer.

It's not the right prayer to pray.

Because we know that the sun does stand still.

And it's the earth that rotates on its axis and rotates and orbits around the sun.

So Joshua praised the wrong prayer.

If he really wanted to expand the daylight, he would have said, Earth, stand still.

And that shows me and it should show you.

It should be great encouragement as you as a leader enter into praying big prayers.

God can do more with the wrong prayer with the right intentions.

God can do more with the wrong prayer with the right motives.

God can do more with the wrong prayer with the purposes of him in mind and not just our comfort on this side of heaven.

God can do more with the wrong prayer than you and I could ever do on our own.

He is a more than God.

God can do more than you can do.

What about when Jesus stepped down from heaven and he came to this earth and he was sinless?

He was not to blame for anything.

And when he died on the cross, he was crucified on the cross.

He took our punishment upon himself.

He paid our debt, our mistakes.

We're the reason that he went to the cross.

It's because of our sin.

And he died, and then he was buried in a tomb for three days, and then yes, he came forth defeating death, conquering sin, being the God over all.

And when he defeated death, and when he conquered sin, he did what you and I could never do on our own.

He is the God of more than.

And it's not just that we get forgiven from our sin, it's still more than that.

As if that wasn't enough.

He's got more for us.

He wants to have a personal relationship with you and me.

He wants to have a personal relationship with you and me that lasts for all of eternity in a real place called heaven.

What do you have to do to get it?

It doesn't matter how good of a person you are.

It doesn't matter if your goods in your life outweigh your bads in your life.

The way that you get it is by the free gift of Jesus, confessing with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believing in your heart that God raised him from the dead.

You don't have to do anything.

He's a more than God.

You just have to trust and believe in what he's already done.

God can do more than you can do.

And so today, what do you need God to do in your life?

Because the entirety of the gospel, the entirety of the story of Jesus, is about a more than God who doesn't want us to settle for less than.

So don't for one second hesitate on asking God to make the sun stand still in your life.

Don't hesitate asking God to make the sun stand still in your marriage.

Or the son to stand still in your business.

Or the sun stands still in your community.

He is a more than God.

Y'all don't know this, but uh the guy who is just up here singing about God is more than able.

Luke, he's not supposed to be here right now.

He had a brain tumor just a few weeks ago, and right now, he's supposed to be relearning how to walk if he was ever even, if he was even able to be here.

And he's up proclaiming to you, testifying to you, God is a more than God.

You need have a need for physical healing in your life, God is a more than God.

Do you have a need for a miracle to take place in your family?

He's a more than God.

Do you have a need in your finances?

He's a more than God.

God has a deep-rooted desire to meet you in the middle.

And so this morning, would you meet him there?

I'm gonna ask everyone to just close your eyes right where you are.

No need to pack up.

I'm early, so we're good on time.

To just close your eyes right where you are.

And if you're in this room and you would say, Dave, uh, I need God to show up in my life in a more-than way.

There's a situation going on in my life, and I need the son to stand still.

And I have a big, big, bold prayer request for God that's on my heart right now.

If that's you, would you just lift your hand up for me?

In a moment, I'm just gonna pray for you, and I want to know who I'm praying for.

I see y'all's hands.

You've got something that's just heavy on you.

You need to God, you need God to show up and do what only He can do in your life.

I see you guys.

I see y'all.

I see ya.

Just a moment, I'm gonna pray for y'all.

Thank you, guys.

Y'all can put your hands down.

If you're here today and you would say, in just a moment of honesty, Dave, my prayers they don't reveal that I believe that God can do more than I can do.

And I'm convicted because I don't know if I'm praying big enough prayers.

My prayer life is a little bit more checklist than anything else.

But if you're here and you would be honest enough to just say, Dave, I need to pray bigger prayers in my life.

Would you lift your hand up?

I see y'all.

I see you, man.

I see you guys.

I see all y'all.

Appreciate you guys being honest.

This middle section, I see you guys.

Dave, I just I need to, as a leader, I need to pray bigger prayers.

I see y'all.

This side over here, I see all you guys.

Thank you so much.

Thank you so much.

I'm gonna pray for y'all in just a moment.

Finally, if you're here and and you don't have a personal relationship with Jesus.

A lot like the one that I just described.

You say, Dave, I I know who Jesus is.

I grew up with some religion in my background, my family's background, but but I've never experienced having a personal relationship with him.

But I'd like to.

If half of what you're saying is true, I I want to meet this Jesus.

If that's you today, would you just slip your hand up?

I see you back there, man.

It's awesome.

I see you.

I see you guys.

Anyone else?

I just I want to have a relationship with Jesus.

I see you.

Thank you.

This side over here, your right, my left.

Anyone say, I want to have a relationship with Jesus?

I see you guys, man.

That's awesome.

Y'all are sitting next to each other.

Anyone else over here on this side?

Awesome.

If you just raised your hand and you're interested in giving your life to Christ and having a personal relationship with Him, the biggest, boldest, most important prayer that you could ever pray, I want to lead you through it right now.

And so if that's you, you'd say, Dave, I want to give my life to Jesus.

Just in the stillness of this moment, in your heart, would you pray this?

Would you say, God, I believe in what you've done for me?

I've sinned, I've fallen short.

But right now, in this moment, I give my life to Jesus in the best way that I know how.

Jesus, would you enter my life and change me?

Every head bowed, every eye closed, and I just kind of want to do this.

I'm early.

We got plenty of time.

If you just prayed that prayer, would you just lift your hand up, just subtly lift it up?

I see you.

I see you.

I see you guys back there.

I see you way in the back.

I see you, man.

Thank you guys for being honest.

What about this middle section right here?

I see you.

Thank you for being bold.

You mean that today?

It's awesome.

Praise God.

Anyone in the way back back here?

I see you.

Hey, I see you.

Don't worry about it.

I see you.

This left side over here.

Do you mean that back there?

You mean that?

You guys mean that on the back?

Alright.

Anyone else on this side?

I see you guys.

It's awesome.

I see you, bro.

Hey, if you just raised your hands and indicated that you just gave your life to Jesus, here's what I want you to do now.

Uh I want to point you to verse 12 of Joshua chapter 10.

Joshua 10 · chapter mention

And when Joshua gets before the Lord and he says, Son, stand still, the Bible in every translation that I read said that he did this in the sight of all of the people of Israel.

There's something profound about taking next steps for Jesus in the sight of other people.

And so here's what I want to encourage you to do.

If you just raise your hand, would you stand up right now and walk forward to the front or to the sides simply because we want to pray with you and hear about what God is doing in your life.

Thank you for your boldness.

I appreciate that.

No one else is looking around.

Y'all come on.

I see you guys.

Thank you.

Yep.

Just make your way out.

I see y'all.

Appreciate you guys.

Thank you for your boldness.

Thank you, man.

I appreciate that.

It's awesome.

That's awesome.

Keep coming.

Y'all keep coming.

Yeah, y'all keep coming.

Any point in the service, y'all come and we just want to talk with you.

We want to pray with you.

For everyone else, you raise your hand because you have a thing in your life that you need God to show up and do it only He can do.

You have a miracle that you need to pray for.

You have a sun standstill moment in your life.

I just want to pray over that right now.

So if that's you, would you just raise a hand so I can just see you and pray over you?

I see you guys.

Lord Jesus, we do come before you right now and we're just humbled at who you are.

God, you are capable of doing more in a moment than we can do in a lifetime.

And so, Jesus, we we call upon the name of the more than God.

And I pray that in all of the situations, with all the hands raised in this room, God, that you would show up in their lives in a meaningful and impactful way.

God, would you make the sun stand still?

God, I ask that you would uh reveal yourself, that you would reveal your glory, you would reveal your holiness to the people of this place.

God, I pray for all of the people who are honest and saying that they pray too small.

God, would you fill them with faith?

Would you help them to see that you are a God who can do more than we can do?

God, would you allow them the opportunity to trust you further for their situation?

God, I pray in the powerful name of Jesus that in these moments, as people are being counseled and prayed with, and as people are wrestling with you at their seats, and as the Holy Spirit is moving in people's lives, God, would you do more than we can do?

God, would you do what only you can do?

We're gonna sing a song.

And as we sing, I would encourage you, if there's something in your life that you need, son, to stand still on, that you would get out of your seat, that you would come forward, that you would pray, that you would go to the sides, that you would pray, that you would turn around at your seat and kneel before God.

And here's the most important part that you would recognize and acknowledge who you're praying to.

Because when you recognize and acknowledge who you're praying to, it can change what you ask for.

God, we give you this time.

Be glorified, be magnified.

God, would you you and your son's name be lifted high?

It's in Jesus' name I pray.

Amen.

Y'all stand.

Let's sing this morning.

I want you to respond to the Lord as he's calling you to.

If you want to give your life to Jesus today, come forward.

If you have a prayer need, come forward.

You can kneel at your feet to the Lord in this moment.

This morning we worship you.

We lift you high.

And God, to cover the people in a way that reveals your glory.

God, would you answer a big bold prayer request?

Would you honor them?

Would you allow your presence to draw near people who have big faith?

God, I pray that you would be worshiped well, that you would be praised well from this place this morning.

It's in Jesus' name that I pray.

Amen.

Amen.

Y'all can be seated.

PC is gonna come and close our services today.

Amen.

Thank you, Dave.

Let's give it up for Dave.

So our appreciation for him.

Church, you gotta know one of the greatest gifts, one of the biggest answer to prayers that I prayed was that God would give me somebody that could walk alongside as we help lead United City Church.

And I'm telling you, he answered that way more than with Dave Kenney.

Dave Kenney not only does an amazing job in his leadership of our staff team, he's a gifted communicator, and I'm telling you, we are so blessed, and God is just moving.

It's a holiday weekend.

And we are slammed packed in our service here at not at 11 o'clock, which is awesome.

Same thing took place at 9 30.

Just be praying for us as we figure out what we're gonna do.

Uh as we move forward, these are great problems to have.

We would take these problems every day because God wants nothing more uh than for you to be able to continue to invite, for you to be able to continue to reach out, for you to be able to see God move not only in your heart and in your life, but through you.

I hope that is the case.

I hope in the midst of this leadership series that you're taking it to heart.

I hope that you've been able to see how God desires to use you as a leader more than you could have ever expected.

I hope that some of you are advancing in opportunities to be able to see how God has strategically placed you in the classrooms, in the businesses, in the neighborhoods, in the sports teams that he has, because he doesn't just want you to be nice, he wants you to be a leader for the kingdom of God.

And he wants to use you in mighty ways.

And I know that's gonna mean for some of you that you're gonna have to pray big prayers, and maybe your big prayer is this God, would you use me?

That may just feel overwhelming by itself.

But I would tell you, look at what he does to a football coach.

A football coach, you're able to use not only his leverage and his influence, not only to do an amazing job in our community, but Coach Murphy, being able to bring your team with you.

Man, we we honor you guys.

We honor what God is doing on your team.

It is our prayer that Umble High School, God is the God of Umble High School.

It is our prayer that God moves through you students, through this football team, through you parents, in such a way where we would be able to see him do things that literally we can explain no other way, other than God was faithful and he answered our prayers.

Love you, Coach.

I'm grateful for you.

Let's give it up for Coach Murphy.

We're grateful for your influence.

Hey, real quick, we'll get out of here.

I want to just mention to you uh we've got an event coming up in a couple of weeks.

It's a national event.

It's an event that, of course, has taken place for many, many, many years called See You at the Pole.

It's basically a day that is dedicated for students to be able to gather around their flagpoles and openly pray for God to make a work and a move.

Now we know this takes place all the time.

Uh we hope that that is the case, that you're praying constantly for your schools, for your teachers, but this isn't a strategic day to be able to have a presence there on those campuses.

Right now we have planning uh to be at 34 different elementary schools, seven different middle schools, and eight different high schools.

That's just the ones we've got plans to be at.

But we want to make sure your school is represented and we want to make sure that you're a part of what's going to take place at your school.

So if you go to our website, you can make sure that you can sign up to be a part of See You at the Poll.

This is a student led initiative, but we want to do everything that we can to help our students be in a position to have great influence.

And so maybe if you know, if you're not, if you're wondering whether There's going to be a presence at your school.

Maybe you want to help organize or be a part of that.

Our team has resources that we want to give to you to help equip you and enable you to be able to lead in praying big prayers for your school that day.

You can go online, you can check it out.

We'll be giving you more information in the days and weeks ahead.

But I would just ask that you lead the way, not only on September 27th.

All the schools around us.

Let's pray that God would move in such a way where the teachers don't just feel like they have to live out their faith, but they can be bold about their faith and speak about their faith.

Let's pray that God would continue to raise up coaches.

Do you realize how many coaches that God has allowed us to have in our church, coaches at K Park and New Caney and Porter and West Fork, Kingwood, Atascaseda?

That God would raise up even more.

And He would do even more than we could ever ask or even imagine.

I'm going to pray a blessing over all of us today as we leave here today.

Would you just bow your heads in prayer as we are dismissed?

Father in heaven, we come before you and we thank you.

God, I pray your blessing on each and every person that is here today.

God, I pray that you would go before them.

You would be their strength and you would be their shield.

Father, I pray that they would pray big prayers for whatever God that they need you to show up in.

That you would do more than all that they could ever ask or even imagine.

Father, that you would provide for them.

Father, that you would help them to persevere in the midst of the trial that you are taking them through, to form their character, to show them peace and hope that you want to bring in their life.

Father, I pray that you would use our church in greater ways than we are even thinking right now to be able to impact Northeast Houston.

God, I pray that you would move in the midst of our public schools in ways far beyond that we could ever possibly imagine, Father, that you would allow the gospel to go forward.

I pray for Umble High School and for Coach Robert Murphy.

God, I pray your blessing not on that team, that they would do well in their games, but Father, I pray most importantly, they would do well in life.

God, that you would use this man to be able to bring profound influence in the lives of these teenagers, Father, and that you would allow him to speak wisdom and life and bless him in every way.

Father, we thank you for the ones that he represents as well.

We thank you so much for the way that you've moved in our services and in our lives today.

It's in the name of Jesus that I pray.

Amen.

Y'all have a great Sunday.

Take care.

Wow, what an amazing message we got to hear this morning.

I hope the Lord showed himself to you in a fresh, new way.

Hey, if you made a decision today to follow Jesus or a decision for Christ, we would love to process that with you.

And so text the word next to 55498, and someone from our team will be more than happy to reach out and process that with you.

If you missed the message or you missed a note or two and you want to go back, don't worry.

We've got the option for that as well.

It's going to be available on Spotify as well as Apple Music.

This has been an amazing morning.

We love you guys so much, and we hope to see you next week.

Bye-bye.