The Cost of Following Christ & getting real about surrender. | A City Post Pod w/ Hector

This sermon series like I just that that Bone Thugs just be

playing in my head and all that love listen.

After the last pod, like when you sang that, All right, So

going home, like I played it right, looked it up as you

should. I looked it up and I was going

on like, you know, I've never really paid attention to this

song, but it's been, yeah, it's just been in my mind.

It's kind of funny. Yeah, man, in today's pod, I

kind of want to do a little different, you know?

OK. Yeah.

You know, I want to dive a little deeper into the message

from this past Sunday. And yeah, man, it's kind of want

to pick your brain on some things.

Of course, we're in this episode.

I'm sorry. We're in this sermon series of

For the Love of Money. And this past Sunday we went

into the story of the rich young ruler.

And I don't know, just listening back to that one and then the

one from the week before about stewardship in the book of

Malachi, brother. Like, how do we get from the

book of Malachi to Matthew? Yeah, bro.

So like, I'm just curious of that piece.

Like how how did that come together?

Like just walk us through that thought process if you don't

mind. I don't mind it.

It's, you know, it was wild is so when I saw the story in the,

in the book of Matthew about the rich young ruler, when, when I

first started, when I first read it, it was about somebody that

loved their finances, somebody that loved money more than

Christ. Like he was not willing to give

up his his wealth to inherit the Kingdom of God.

And when I started getting into the scriptures and into the word

and, and kind of like where the Holy Spirit was leading me, it

really wasn't what I, I thought it was going to be to, to be

honest with you. Because like, the more that I

started digging in the scriptures, there were some

things that the Holy Spirit kind of kind of led me to.

And this whole idea of Jesus is the only way.

Jesus is the only way to heaven. And also in the cultural

context, if you're wealthy, if you have a lot of money, people

look at your life and you're blessed.

And just to be honest with you, we have that same thing in our

culture. Thanks.

So like, if you see rich people in the church, I mean, even like

really wealthy pastors, it's you are favored by God, you are

blessed by God, you know, like God is showering his his

blessings on you and all this stuff.

But then it's like, what about everybody else?

You know, And it's like, that's not it.

It's God does bless people with finances because they, you know,

use the first Kingdom and hard work and knowledge.

There's all these other things. But the point of the story is

that this, this rich young ruler was not willing to give up that

idol of money and wealth and success to follow Christ.

And Jesus is like, if you're going to come with to me and you

want eternal life, it's everything.

It's the whole thing, anything you could do.

And I think that's where I ended up.

Like I felt like the Holy Spirit driving it's Jesus is the only

way. Jesus is the only way, hey?

Yeah. So my question is how do we go

from Week 1 Malachite and Tuesday, but that just how does

that make sense in the series and like kind of where you're

building? I think it's, it's just this

whole idea, this whole concept of money being an idol and, and

for a lot of people, money does become that for them, it becomes

what they love. It becomes everything that they

are and and you end up choosing that over following Christ.

That's why I'm saying like, OK, So what if you're not rich?

What if if you're like normal Joe?

Yeah, he Pope, you know, but the truth is 80% of the world lives

on less than $2.00 a day. So if you make about 40,000 a

year, you're in like the top 5% of the world earners, you know,

So you're actually rich, you know, like, I know it's a weird

concept in the United States, but it's this whole idea how it

consumes you, how how the love of money will consume you.

It like if you look at what, what is the most important thing

in the world to you? And some people like, I don't

know, well, look at your bank account that's going to show you

like where you spend your money and your time and efforts.

All that stuff is going to show you what's the most important

thing, you know. So I think that's where where

Jesus is like you have to make a decision, you know, you can

either love money or love me, you know, So you take your pick.

Man. And that was a tough one, man.

Yeah, for sure. Yeah.

And then, like in that, that sentiment, that thought of you

to love money or you love Jesus kind of brings in the the next

question of eternal life, you know, in I don't want to butcher

it, but from Matthew 16, nine is specifically what the young

ruler ask Jesus is what can I do?

What can I do? To inherit eternal life, like

that's right. So kind of a two-part question

on that topic is could you please define eternal life and

what does the Bible say? Yeah.

So when whenever you see eternal life in the Scripture, it is

life with Christ forever for all eternity.

And, and it begins here on earth.

I know a lot of people think when I die, I'll be with him.

No, it's whenever you surrender your life to Jesus and you put

your faith in him, you have the Holy Spirit he walks with, you

know, like you have that relationship with God.

So eternal life is life with Christ for all eternity and it

begins at your spiritual birth, you know, and we even see that

Romans 623 you know, for the waitress, sin is dead, but the

gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord,

you know, So eternal life is heaven being with him.

It's a hard, it's not a hard teaching, but I find it

difficult because I would say about 75% of people when you ask

them, if you were to die today and you stand in front of the

Lord and he says, why should I let you in my Kingdom?

75% of people, like 7 out of 10 would say, because I did good, I

didn't kill anybody. I love people, I did the best I

can, you know, So it goes back to what the rich young ruler

said in in verse 16. What can I do?

And then the sad thing is that the Lord's going to look at you,

be like, I have no idea where you are.

That's out of Matthew 7. Jesus says yeah.

And that's so scary. It is man, it's terrifying.

And, and what's sad too is like when I hear conversations of

believers that say things like, well, like the Lord knows their

heart, like all things lead to God and the Bible is so crystal

clear, like, and I think that's God's love for us that he says,

I'm like, I'm going to show you. And you don't even have to earn

it, man. Like nothing you got to do.

Nothing you can do. There's nothing you.

Can do like just put your it's a gift.

All you got to do is accept it. So that that's where, yeah, it's

always a sensitive topic for some people because like, I

mean, how can you say that? You know, like, how can you say

someone's not going to heaven? You know, I was like, well, if

they don't know Jesus, that's what the Bible says.

So it's a tough one. Thanks.

So my mind is kind of just just racing a little bit here, and I

know that we stand on the biblical principles and the

truth found in the Scriptures. What would you say to people

that hearing that biblical truth just doesn't sit right with it?

Yeah, well, that's the gospel is confrontational.

And and the reason it's confrontational is because what

it says is everything that you think, everything that you

believe, everything that you're doing is wrong.

So imagine if if you lived a certain way your whole entire

life, like believing, and then and then this truth hits you.

That's like, hey, you know, Jesus is the way.

You know that it's, it's a hard pill to swallow for some people,

right? But I think it's also extremely

free because if that's the truth, if that's like man, like

God loves me that much, that and there's a way for the

forgiveness of my sins and peace and life.

Yeah. So yes, people are going to feel

a certain way, especially like non believers.

They will it almost comes off as judgmental, but I believe, I

think it's loving. I really do, because it's the

truth, right? You know, I think it's not a

suggestion. It's not like a it's not a it's

not a thought. It's from God.

This I don't know. Something's just been in me on

that topic today, like I don't know, something Holy Spirit just

kind of had me sensitive to. I heard this quote earlier today

and it's like a guy having a conversation with a non believer

and it's like, why don't you believe in Jesus, you know, or

like, what is it about his life that like struggles that you

struggle with? Like, believe me, you know, when

you know, you look back to other historical people, you know, and

you know, you acknowledge their life, their death, and there's

not a fraction of, you know, the, the quote UN quote proof of

their life. And Simply put, people just

don't want to change. That's like that confrontation

piece of like maybe we some people just don't believe in

Jesus because they don't really want to change.

Yeah. And and I think I think some

people don't believe in Jesus because they're their hearts are

hardened. You know, the Bible talks a lot

about like you, you recognize your Father's voice, you know,

so you believe in the lies of the world and you belong to the

father of lies. This is out of first John.

But you know, the sheep knows their shepherd's voice, right?

So I don't know if it's their people don't want to change.

We also have to be careful that we understand that it is the

Holy Spirit who changes hearts and not us.

So I could, I could preach at somebody, I could draw pictures

on a whiteboard. But if the Holy Spirit does not

open their eyes to the gospel, there's, there's nothing I could

do, you know. So really what I do is I

continue to pray for that person I asked the Lord to, to reveal

his truth to them. And and then that that when he

does, they'll make that decision to, to say yes to the gospel.

Yeah. But it's, it's the Spirit of God

that changes people. It's our role as believers to

obey what God has told us it is to share the gospel.

Yeah. So the gospel is not being

shared, then they do not hear. And if they do not hear, it

doesn't give them an opportunity to respond.

And if they don't respond, then they're looking at eternity

separated from a Savior. Yeah.

So. So we have to share.

We have to constantly share the gospel.

Dang, I know we're going a little off Scripture, but it's

something like just in the midst of this conversation and I'll

just be completely transparent. And you know, sometimes I tend

to, I don't know if it's for not one in the ruffle feathers or

like the conflict piece. Like what about the

confrontation that comes with sharing the gospel?

Yeah, I, I honestly, there's there's always going to be a

little bit of a confrontation. Nobody's ever going to be like,

wow, that was great. I'm a Sinner.

Awesome. No, like it, it, it's, it's

almost like a, a truth like whoa.

But then it's like, This is why it's so important to know and

understand the gospel message because the gospel message is,

it's called the good news for a reason.

So it is man, here's, here's a good news.

Like there's a holy righteous God created that loves us, but

because we have sinned against him, there's a, there's a gap,

there's a chasm in that relationship.

So instead of us having to work and do all these things and set

all these systems that he tells us, he sends Christ, like God

gave Jesus the son of God to take our place to be the the

payment for that relationship to be whole again.

And all we have to do is accept it.

That's great news, man. Like that, That is like, how do

you, how do you hear something so wonderful and be like, no,

that ain't it. And I will say, and I must say

this out of love, I think sometimes people are not

rejecting the gospel, they're rejecting your version of it.

Because you know, Paul's very clear when he talks to the

church in Galatia, he's like, I don't know what y'all are

talking about, but the gospel I received was straight from him.

So I think sometimes people push back because it's not the real

gospel. It's not the truth, man.

It's it's a different version of it.

Jeez, yeah, that's one of them. Them truth bombs you'd be

dropping some time. Yeah, because we have to be

honest with ourselves. It's it's like the gospel is

not, hey, God loves you, or God has a plan for your life, or

there's a deeper purpose for you that that's not the gospel

message. Now, those are outcomes.

The gospel is that Jesus came. He lived a perfect life.

He was crucified, He gave his life, He was died, he was

buried, and he rose again on the third day.

He did all that so that way you could have life and forgiveness

of sin. That's the good news, you know,

So we got to get that right. Sheesh, yeah, that was a a

little tangent that went on on the screen.

No, it's all right. It's true though, like we we

hear. And that's something I'm

learning too. When I talk to people on the

community and, and even like presented to them, I'll hear a

lot of like, I've never heard that before before.

And I was like, how do you never heard this before?

You know, you've been going to whatever church or mass or

whatever for years. Like how have you not heard the

clear message or even read it? You know, it's, and it's, it's a

little bit heartbreaking. You know, it's kind of sad.

It's like man. So how do you respond to people

with in that situation where they've never heard the gospel

explained accurately, it sounds like?

Yeah, no, I mean, I, I, I think we just have grace, you know,

we're like, hey, it's, it's not your fault that somebody hasn't

explained it to you. So let me let let's walk through

it. You know, something we did on on

Saturday at the discipleship Pathways, we learned the one

verse evangelism, how to engage people with the gospel and, and

how to be more like asking questions and, and everything is

in that one verse. You know, like everything you

need is in that one verse. And you could help people

understand it in a very clear like you could write it on a

napkin at a bar. And like it was, it's so easy.

Yeah. So I think when when you engage

people, you explain it, but allow them to talk back, like

allow them to ask questions because they're they want to

know. So unfortunately.

It's all right. There will be more.

Yeah, for sure. But can you share that that?

Scripture, yeah. No, it's it, it goes back to the

Romans 623 the, you know, for the wages of sin is death, but

the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord,

that when you write the scripture down, you just

underline 3 words. So you underline wage sin,

death, and on the other side you put gift God, eternal life and

then you just start walking through it like what's a wage?

Something I earn, I go to work, I expect to get paid.

You're absolutely right. What's a sin?

Something like a lie or I murder somebody, something God doesn't

like, right? What's death?

Most people will say you stop breathing, it's just ends.

Your life ends like you're right.

But the death here is after you leave this world, it's a

separation. You're not going to be from God.

So if you're not with God, where are you?

In hell, right? So it's then you walk it down.

It's like because I sin, what I earn my wages is a separation

from God, right? And then you jump to the other

side. All right, let's talk about it.

What's a gift something free you don't have to pay for it.

You know, like which is good. Some of that that somebody's

gave giving you awesome. Who's God?

Most people like the creator, the one who made us all here.

What's eternal life? Heaven life would so that's what

it's like Eternal life is life with God, right?

So the free gift that all you have to do is accept.

You don't have to pay for from the creator of the universe is

life with him for all eternity. And all you have to do is accept

that gift. So then you, you bring it all

together. So it's like I sin.

So what I earn is separation from God.

But you throw a big butt in the bottom, you know, which is

great. You know, we talked about the

butts in the Bible. But the free gift that the

creator gives us is life with him and all we have to do is

accept it. So then the question is, how do

we accept? And then you end up drawing a

cross. You put your trust in Christ.

That's what the the passage says.

And then you just started you just same thing.

It's like, so if you're here and God is here and the relationship

is here, where would would you say you are at today?

Put a little mark on the bridge. You know, and then, you know,

they might put a little mark here and there.

And that's like, so if you're not there all the way, what do

you think you have to do in order to get all the way to this

side? And they'll start saying things.

I'll be good. I have to go to church more.

I have to do this than that, you know, all that.

And then you can even draw like, little bridges, right?

Like, yeah, that'll get you right here.

But I'm going to get to the other side.

That'll get you right here. But is it the only way to get

right here is to put your trust. So you just write out the word

trust, you know, So JESUSTRUST just put your trust in Christ

and you'll be right here. So it's just a simple way to

engage people, walk them through it and have a conversation.

Man, yeah, that's good bro. Head in the way that ties back

into the question that the rich young ruler asked Jesus.

Yeah, what can I do? What must I do to the Kingdom of

Heaven, Teacher? Come on, break that down.

He didn't. He didn't call him.

He didn't identify Jesus as Lord entity.

He's like, this guy's a great teacher.

He must know how to get eternal life.

He must know the way. So I'm gonna go ask.

Maybe he can leave, yeah. Man.

And then like that breakdown of the sermon and like the way the

rich young ruler walked away. Yeah.

And then the way he tied it to Mark and like how Jesus looked

at abroad wasn't ready for that. Like going back and listening to

that. Like I just wasn't ready for it.

Bro Yeah, man. Yeah.

Mark 10, I think it's it's March 1021.

Yeah. I mean, even he was so excited

when she's like, all right, you got to do these commandments.

He's like, I got it. I did it.

And then it said Jesus looked at him and loved him.

You know, like, that's powerful. Yeah.

He's like he, he loved him. Like, So I think the rich young

ruler was really genuine of saying I kept all these

commands. I think I got it.

And then Jesus was like, all right, man.

Well, let me, let me, let me tell you what you need to do.

Jeez. Yeah.

So this is like me kind of just geeking out a little bit and

wanting to learn more about the, like, preparation piece.

Why tie those two together from the point in Mark 19, I'm sorry,

in Matthew 19 and Mark 10? Like, can you walk me through

how you got there in your sermon?

Yeah, because I, I think many of us or many people, that's the

that's the big question. How do I attain eternal life

when I die? How do I get to heaven?

Every every religious, every belief system must answer that

question. What must I do to be good,

become good with my maker And and I truly believe that the

rich young ruler was genuine. He really wanted to know and and

he was very curious. You see, like what's interesting

is when the Pharisees come at Jesus, Jesus turns him away.

Like he pops off and he calls him like a brutal Vipers.

He he's always he always condemns them because they're

trying to use religion improperly.

But here's a ruler of a synagogue who really wants to

know how they take its eternal life.

And and the reason why I brought that verse in because when you

cross reference, that detail sticks out in Mark.

And remember, Mark is like the Snapchat of the Bible.

So, yeah, you know, it gives these picture scenes short

little messages of what it's like you're trying to say

something on Snapchat, but you don't, like give all the

details. You want people to try to guess

or like, be like, oh, what do you mean?

So that's important because Jesus does not send him away.

He, he looks at him, he loves him.

Many people who are searching, you know, we had this idea like

God hates them or God's mad at them for asking questions or

like God's like, I can't stand, you know, God loves you.

Man. Like me, he he looks, he loves

you so much that he sent his son.

It's all out of love, you know, so bring your questions.

He can handle it. You know, don't bring it and

then and and then just get a little deeper with it, please.

John 316 and 17. Jesus says, for I did not come

into the world to condemn it, but to save it.

So he doesn't condemn this young man.

He came to the world to save it, right?

Luke 1910 You know, I came to seek and to save that which was

lost. You know that that's the mission

of Christ. So for this young man, I mean,

Jesus like, I want to give you eternal life and then just

doesn't condemn him. Instead what he does is he gives

them away how to do it. So what does he tell?

Give me everything. Go sell all your stuff and then

come follow me, man. Giving him an opportunity of a

lifetime to come and follow Christ.

Like all his disciples are there.

So there's evidence of people have done it before, right?

Like all he has to do is be like, cool, let's go, right.

Let's let's roll. So Jesus is giving him away,

right? So but he doesn't choose that.

Hey, yeah. And they shout out Peter and

Peter. Peter, always.

Got something to say? For real.

But I don't that was a great point to me too, because, you

know, that's one of one of the people in the Bible I identify a

lot with just like I tend to put my foot in my mouth sometimes,

you know? But he's.

Well, Yeah, right. Yeah, man, but I don't know just

the the way you further drove home that point of like God

didn't even condemn Peter when Peter.

Oh man, he doesn't. Or Jesus didn't even God Jesus,

but you know what I mean, like that loving aspect of man, just

who Jesus is and how loving the Father is to give us Jesus, to

give us, you know, the opportunity to get back in

relationship with him and. And remember, Jesus is the

ultimate disciple Maker, Come on.

Right? Like so he, he think about who's

around him. So when Peter asked that

question of like, well, we're we gave up everything to follow you

and instead of him looking at Peter and saying like Peter, you

come on man again, you know, no, he does.

He takes the opportunity and says, you know, you are right

because I'll do it. So everyone's listening.

He's like, look how that man went away sad and he goes, you

got like the people that follow me.

Your reward is going to be way more then all boys over there

like you going to be ruling over the 12 tribes of Israel like it

eternity like it's crazy the the reward that I have for you you

can't even fathom. But that.

Cost. But the cost, Yes, The cost,

that's right, yeah. And that was one of those like

we got a very visual example in the rich young rulers like bro

walked away like it. Was sad bro.

The Bible says it was sad. Yeah, man.

Yeah. And I'm just going to be, again,

transparent. There's been so many times where

I walked away from the Lord the same way.

Yeah, you know, And you know, for me it was previous

relationships or, you know, just to be real spices.

You know, that I've had, it is like now I just don't want Jesus

right now and walk away and like sometimes sad, like, Dang, I'm

tripping but still doing it or the other side of like I'm just

so far deep into it. Like it doesn't even register.

Yeah. Yeah, cost of following Jesus.

It's the cost and, and also we, we have to recognize that it is

our sin and our sinful nature that puts us there.

But Christ always gives us a way out of it.

So, you know, I, I've started seeing more of like there's a

way out. Like we have the Holy Spirit, we

have his word, we have victory. Like Romans 6 talks about this.

So it's almost like if you let that get get you down, it's

almost like that's, that's up to you because Christ has given us

everything, everything we need in order to live a life free of,

of sin. And also whenever we feel that

way, we have to start remembering, you know, like I

think sometimes we have to preach the gospel to ourselves.

Thanks. Yeah.

Because he's, he's giving us away, man.

He's like, just follow me and you're like, alright.

Because I'll be honest. Like there's there's been

situations in my life where I'm like, what?

And the heck is going on, right? You're like, this makes no

sense. Like it hurts.

I'm in pain. I feel rough right now, like my

mind, like I'm just, but there's always something where I'm like,

I'm I never say Jesus, where are you?

I always say, Jesus, what are you doing?

Right. He's with me.

That's I will never like be like God.

No, I know he's with. But my question is like, Lord,

what are you doing with this? Like what's the purpose?

Is it something I messed up like my sinful nature Did you know,

because I think man, not every storm in life is from Satan or I

think sometimes God sends storms and hard times to shape us like

we talked about this. But but yeah, man, you went away

sad, you know, like he wasn't joyful.

He wasn't like, well, oh, well, that didn't work, right?

You know, You know, it's also sad, too.

We never heard from him again in Scripture, right?

Like that was something that hit me like at the last song, I was,

I was just like, you know, like what?

What happened to him, Right. Nobody ever mentions him.

No historian Josephus never talks about like.

So it's like he's no longer rich.

He's no longer a ruler. He's no longer young.

So everything that he has is hoping for that one moment in

time is is gone. And Jesus was like, I'm offering

you something that will list forever.

Yeah. So you chose a moment in time

over eternity. That's crazy.

Real, real man. No, I'm just here to put that

way. Just kind of put up another

light bulb real quick play. It is irrational different, but

that that's that's good, bro, man.

So in that cost piece, it's like the cost of following G and what

what is following Jesus cost you like?

Man, I think just following Christ has has really I'm not

say cost, but it's caused me to like learn more into him force.

Yeah, like it's it's of course I get it.

It's hard to talk about. I'm 43, right?

Like I got my call like in 2004, like to ministry, like I knew

God was calling me to something bigger.

I gave my life to the Lord when I was 12 and then, you know,

just searching, figuring things out, hanging out with the wrong

people that I was cool and I wasn't.

And finally it looks like the Lord honed in on me and said,

you know, follow me. And, and what that cost me was

everything that I was a part of at the moment.

But here's the thing, it, it, it wasn't sad like I, I wasn't, I

wasn't like, I wasn't sad that I had to give up my letters from

the fraternity, which I didn't have to, but, but I, I was like,

I'm over it. I wasn't sad that I broke up

with home girl. I wasn't sad that I lost all

these guys that were, they were my friends.

None of that made me sad, bro. Like it actually, it, it was

like, this is great, like this is the greatest decision.

It I changed my major for college, you know, like, I mean,

my whole world was flipped upside down when when I

responded yes to following Jesus and it's been awesome ever

since. So even though relationship

piece and all, I mean, I know that's a, you know, it's a hard,

but I just remember like being so focused on God and being so

excited and like serving him and even Bible studies and just, I

mean, say no to things that I, I would usually say yes to going

to stop going to places that I, I would normally hang out at.

Nah I don't see it as like, Dang, it, that cost me a lot.

I see it as I gained a lot. So the cost I think is, is on

the flip side of ministry where there's a lot of pain.

There's like like watching people run to land mines and

they're not listening to you. And but that's that, that's one

of the pastoral. But I know for some people, man,

they cost their family members. It costs.

They're friends, you know, like you don't get invited to stuff

as much anymore. You don't.

But then the Lord takes that and he replaces it.

So, yeah, I lost these friends, but I gained all this family.

Yeah. So who lost what?

Right. You know, I it was nothing I

actually gained. I'm good.

Yeah. Yeah.

It's fine, right? Yeah.

Alright, man, so on. You know, you said you wouldn't

say it cost you something it cost right.

You know, it's like kind of bars like.

This set out to because. Yeah, man, so to that yeah

segment my pastor got bars y'all, it's on.

My mind, that's how I think of things.

Like it helps me remember, right?

A biologist, You know what I mean?

But yeah, man, the I think it's the bar that went over a lot of

people's heads. But yeah, man, I'm just going to

repeat it because it was it was fire to me, you know, especially

listening back to he's like, man, think about the things that

you do, do to get to do, do to get to God.

Those things are actually Doo Doo without.

Drugs. That's right.

Break that down from one that code from like.

So that that's actually, it was funny because I, I caught myself

saying it like the things that you do do.

Like I was like stuttering. And then I was like, wait a

second, actually do do. Yeah.

So it there's a passage in Isaiah that talks about like how

how God says that your, your righteous acts are nothing but

filthy rags. To me, that term filthy rags, I

mean, think of like tampon, like it's just like toilet paper,

like it is disgusting and God looks at you trying to do all

this stuff for him being like, Nope, that ain't it.

Those are like filthy. That's why I was like, man, it's

like nothing but do to the hand man.

That's like and then I was thinking about what Paul says,

like how everything in this world is rubbish.

So following Christ, that word rubbish means crap, right And

and Greek. So yes, anyway, that's kind of

where it all comes to you. Far as bro, my bachelor got

barred, so we going to keep it moving.

So it was like something I'm glad somebody caught it.

I I didn't catch it in the moment and I was going to be

super, super transparent. And the reason I didn't catch it

in the moment is because I lost sight of like that example, the

things that I do to try to earn quote, UN quote, you know, God,

try to earn like the way I serve, bro.

I was in the creative space trying to find this plug in for

the MacBook so I can start like uploading photos and start like

working on the content piece. And I couldn't find the, the

plug in. And I'm like, you know, sorting

through everything, like digging through everything in the desk

and in the space, I couldn't find it, bro.

And I got, it's like I was set, bro.

And I was like, man, I'm trying to get this done.

Like, so you know, we can get this stuff out quick, like, you

know, with wanting to do it to serve the church and to serve

God. But for I literally got up,

walked out the sermon and probably missed half of it.

And finally, like sat there with the way I was feeling and like

trying to process it. And I was like, man, let me just

turn on this live stream. Like if I'm not physically going

to be in there, like, like, let me hear it, you know, like hear

the word bro. And it is one of those things.

It's like and then I come and it's like the the part of what

we just got to surrender. We got to give it all and it's

like it's something my sister asked me after the service

because she just kind of saw like me mentally chewing on

something his Bros like surrendering even the good

things too. Like that intention was good.

Like what I was trying to do like was to serve the Lord, but

like. It's like the story of Mary

Martha, you know, and, and Jesus is like, I'm here like, like

this is what's important right now.

Everything else can wait. And I'll be honest, like, I

think that's something that I, I felt convicted a little bit too,

even to the point of like getting everybody together and

saying like, hey, yes, it's, it's great to do these things,

but at what cost? The cost should not be missing

God's word, you know, so we, we have to figure out better ways

to like, like, like you said, like stuff can wait, dude.

Like it, it, it's, it's OK. Like it could wait a day or, you

know, now for it to wait three to four days.

Like that's still like, alright, bro.

Like people will be like, what happened, but it could wait like

an evening, it could wait a day. It could wait, you know, like

your soul is more important than any, any stuff that we do here,

you know, and I, and I feel like that honestly, that lands on me

as a pastor to say, hey, you know, all this stuff is good.

But if it's getting in the way of, of, of you taking in the

word, then we just need to figure out new ways.

We got to figure out ways to not miss out.

Yeah. That's real.

And that's that's the sign of a great leader.

You know, it's like in that situation to take ownership of

it. But I got to be rude with myself

too, bro. Like I was wanting to get this

done, you know, and I got to acknowledge that in myself.

Like that piece, like at what cost?

You know what I'm saying? To, to step out the sermon.

And bro, I missed probably more than half the sermon for a bit.

Yeah, and that that's not worth it, dude, that it's just not

worth it. And it's also like a preparation

issue, you know, so mad like, like just making sure everything

is, is set up like batteries, like you have everything you

need. But but at the same time, too,

it's like it could wait. It really can.

It could wait. Yeah.

So so that just needs to be kind of like, I guess it needs to be

more spoken from me saying, hey, guys, you know, it's, it's OK.

You know, we'll be all right. That's real.

Yeah, yeah, man. Well that ties into to the next

like question is another quote from the sermon is Jesus is the

only one who can satisfy our souls.

That's right. You know, and the the question

to that is what's something that you turn to in the past for

satisfaction And like even in that lane for me, what I do with

this camera, like that's kind of always been something that has

been gratifying to me, you know, so in that moment, that's

something I just lost sight of it.

I was focusing like, let me knock out these photos.

Let me knock out this video and run into that, bro.

I missed out on the word. I missed out on a good word real

like as I went back and listened to it again like Dang.

I was tripping yeah, no. And I, I think for me in the

past, like I've always been a people person.

Like I love, I love being in like crazy environments.

I, I don't mind, you know, like loud packed places.

And, and for me, like I thought that was always like a fun, like

I, I would always start like seek that out, even to the point

of staying out way too late or putting myself in a situation

that I, I shouldn't have been in.

Now my intentions were good. Like I never had the intention

of, of like being part of like whether it's like a fight or

just disorderly. And I never was me, but like me

seeking that, the entertainment, like me seeking that like

environment and stuff it, it actually caused a hindrance to

my witness and, and it just put me in bad positions, you know,

like, like, what are we doing now?

Like what are we doing for what you know?

And then the next day I'm like worthless, like, you know, like

I'm sleeping all day. And but that was, that was kind

of like more. And that was even like after

college, like it wasn't even like when I was young, young,

you know, so, so I would always look for those types of things

to, to try to find like, man, had a stressful week.

Let me go. Just just blow it all out, you

know, like I deserve it. Yeah, and that that never, never

satisfying. Sure, It's never.

Satisfying. I mean, even even like when I

was in college, like I was so busy.

I was part of like all these organizations.

So it was like Wednesday through like Saturday, every single

night I was out, like I could even tell you where right, you

know, And then Sunday came and then Sunday was philanthropies.

So we would be on another college campus trying to like

raise money for some, right. I, I, it took me away from the

church, Like it took me away from a calling.

Like I was always gone and I was always broke.

It's like it was, it was like so dumb, you know, like for what?

Right. Yeah.

Jeez, bro. Well, another quote from the

sermon, and this is like the last point I got is Jesus

requires everything and point blank period breath like that

prayer time at the end of the service.

That's where I came back in 'cause that that's where when I

was watching the stream in the creative space is when you

started that prayer, you know, and inviting people to come

leave it at the altar room, like really surrender.

And in that moment, like, I had to talk to the Lord.

And it was like, brother, my heart's tripping me.

Yeah. You know, like, what is going

on? Like, and I was tough, like,

it's something I was struggling with for real, you know.

So that's, that's one thing I surrendered at the altar on

Sunday. And I'll be real, man, like I

was kind of tripping, getting up and seeing you next to me.

Oh, really? Yeah, bro, like that's just not

something I've seen you from a pastor in, in you know, like,

for lack of a better term, like that quote UN quote altar call

moment in the service, you know, So Oh yeah, man, if it's

something you would like to share on that's that's my last

question is would you surrender? Yeah, I just so there's a few

thoughts that I've I've been having when I feel like there's

there's times like I feel like people want to go and pray.

Like people are like, I think that they want people to pray

with, but I think that people are scared and they're nervous

because if somebody of course, like social media, like what if

somebody takes a, a snapshot or a Snapchat of me or so it's a

little, it's a little bit like intimidating.

But also I think we need to lead by example.

I need to lead by example, like how going up for prayer and

going up for response does not mean that you have nothing

together in life or something wrong with you.

I think it's a response to the Lord on how what he's stirring

in your heart and what the Holy Spirit is giving.

I remember like years ago, I was wondering about like why people

were hesitant to worship and really it was, it was just a lot

of people didn't really know. Like this is new.

So the same thing. It's like we need to lead by

example. That's why we sit in the front

because I, I feel like I need to be the example.

So whenever they called for prayer, I was actually going to

go up there anyway, you know, like, so, so I was, you know, I

was just like praying to myself. So when I saw you up there, I

was like, well, I was going to go anyway, you know, So I was

like good timing and, and really just just kneeling down.

And it's something that that I felt like the Lord's been

working on me for like surrendering and for giving up

is this whole idea of boldness. Like I feel like I haven't been

as bold as I should because I'm worried about how people will

respond and because of what happened in the past.

So, so I'm walking on egg shells, honestly, as a pastor

and, and I've, I've, I've felt the Lord be more like, I need

you to say this, like I need you to say this.

I need you to be more, I need, I need you to be more bold in, in

these areas of the church. So Sunday was one of those days

where I just got up there and I was like, OK, Lord, like I'm

ready to kind of move into a new chapter of I'm, I'm going to do

what you tell me. Yeah.

So that's that's where that came.

That's real, bro. Yeah.

And man, that, that closing prayer, like that's what, what

prompted, that's what the Holy Spirit used to like prompt that

man. So like you're, you're leading

and being obedient in that. And I just want to affirm you.

And that was like you were bold in that time and a prayer, you

were bold and like the intensity and how you were teaching God's

word even from the back end of it that I caught, you know what

I mean? So I would venture to say that

your teaching was impactful to everyone that was physically in

the building when you were teaching, man.

So I just want to encourage you, bro.

Like it's something I've said to you before, like you're on a

different level, bro. Like, and I've just how I've

seen you grow and like the time I've known you and heard your

teachings and gone back and watch the Youtubes and like,

bro, God has his hand on you straight up.

Like and you've been put in the working and you've been bold.

Like yeah, man. So you saying that is like, but

God is refining you to get you to another level still.

Yeah. You know what I mean?

I, I feel like there's, there's always like, especially when it

went as a pastor and like, as a, you know, you always like,

you're always worried, not worried.

But it's like, man, what if I say something and then people

think I'm talking to them or they get offended or, you know,

you just have all these little things that run through your

mind. And, and I feel like the last

couple of weeks, the Lord has been really prompting me and,

and pushing me to more boldness and not just boldness and how I

say things, but boldness about his word about holiness,

righteousness about like playing with sin.

And, and I think, you know, where our churches is kind of

lead to is, is that it's like this whole like, like we are

dabbling in our idols and we're dabbling with sin and we're,

we're playing with the world. And Sunday we look one way and

then during the week we look another.

And it's like, hold on a second. And, and I just, I just feel

like the Lord has been really pressing on me, like you need to

be more bold with my word and, and with my, you know, my

commands and my, my statues and stuff.

And of course that starts with me too.

You know, I got to lead by example.

So yeah, that's a whole nother thing too.

Man well that's all I got bro. Don't know if you got any

closing thoughts. Anything you want to share?

Man, I, I just, I, I say this every week, but you know, the

goal is I want people to feel encouraged, not, not

discouraged. So like God's word, yes, it it's

very like in your face, but at the same time too, it's like

man, who am I going to listen to God or grandma, you know, like

it's like, yeah, like like I love them both man, but one

create the universe. What cooks great.

You know, it's like I got I got to listen to the creator of the

the world. So if God's giving us something,

if God is telling us something, if he is, if he is like making

it known, it's for your benefit to obey and follow and imagine

like, and I think about my life when I said yes to him.

I look back at my life, the trajectory like the adventures

that I've been on, the amount of like all the, the mission trips,

the travelling, the denials, the all the, the BSM meeting rage.

All of that did not happen until I said, I'm going to follow you.

I'm telling you, man, there's an adventure and following Christ,

man, it is a great time. Like it's, it's pretty awesome.

So follow him. Hey web, we lay out, we out.

We out see y'all later guys.