Blessed Days | Pastor Jelani Lewis

(upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) We'll give morning gateway church. It is a good day to be in the house to board. Come on, let's praise Him together. (upbeat music) I walk by faith and not by sight. I'm pressing on, I'm running short, the bright. I will not fear what I can't see. No matter what may come, I'll still believe. 'Cause I know, I know that you're with me, yeah. The time and time again, I've seen your faithfulness. God, you're good and all your promises, you are. You raised me from the grave, call me for my name. You sent me free, now I'm on my way to my best day. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. I hope this lives on nothing less than on your blood and in your righteousness. I have a purpose, you've got a plan. You're always working, you're not finishing. And I know, I know that you're with me, yes I know. The time and time again, I've seen your faithfulness. God, you're good and all your promises. You raised me from the grave, call me for my name. You sent me free, now I'm on my way to my best day. I know how good you are. I've seen what you can do, you make. The water is part, the mountains move out here.

You call my name and I'm on my way, yes. I will not fear the fire, I won't cry through the flame. You're here, you're by my side, I'm not afraid, I'm here. You call my name and I'm on my way, yes. The time and time again, I've seen your faithfulness. God, you're good and all your promises. Come on, do we believe it? You raised me from the grave, you called me for my name. You sent me free, now I'm on my way. The time and time again, I've seen your faithfulness. God, you're good and all your promises. You raised me from the grave, call me for my name. You sent me free, now I'm on my way to my best day. The time and time again, I've seen your faithfulness. ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ You played you high ♪ ♪ Come on church, isn't it good to be in the house of the Lord ♪ ♪ Are you ready to worship to exalt Him ♪ ♪ Come on, can you just say Jesus ♪ ♪ We love you, we are ready to worship you ♪ ♪ To lift your name on high ♪ ♪ There is no one like you ♪ ♪ No one like you Jesus ♪ ♪ Then it was my cross you wore ♪ ♪ So I could live in the freedom you died for ♪ ♪ And now my life is yours ♪ ♪ And I will see of your goodness ♪ ♪ Forevermore ♪ Come on, we sing worthy. ♪ And worthy is your name ♪

♪ Jesus, for you deserve the praise ♪ ♪ Worthy is your name ♪ ♪ Worthy is your name ♪ ♪ Jesus, for you deserve the praise ♪ ♪ As worthy is your name ♪ ♪ You're your name ♪ ♪ I'm feeling love ♪ ♪ And now my shame is gone ♪ ♪ I stand amazed in your love undeniable ♪ ♪ And your grace goes on and on ♪ ♪ And I will sing of your goodness ♪ ♪ Forevermore ♪ ♪ And worthy is your name ♪ ♪ Jesus, for you deserve the praise ♪ ♪ Worthy is your name ♪ ♪ Worthy is your name ♪ ♪ Jesus, for you deserve the praise ♪ ♪ And worthy is your name ♪ ♪ And worthy is your name ♪ ♪ Jesus, for you deserve the praise ♪ ♪ Worthy is your name ♪ ♪ Worthy is your name ♪ ♪ Jesus, for you deserve the praise ♪ ♪ Worthy is your name ♪ ♪ Worthy is your name ♪ ♪ We sing the name of Jesus ♪ ♪ Call there his power in his name ♪ ♪ The name of Jesus ♪ ♪ So be exalted now in the heavens ♪ ♪ As your glory fills this place ♪

♪ You alone, oh, come on ♪ ♪ You're the name above all names ♪ ♪ Be exalted now in the heavens ♪ ♪ As your glory fills this place ♪ ♪ You alone deserve our praise ♪ ♪ You're the name above all names ♪ ♪ Be exalted now in the heavens ♪ ♪ As your glory fills this place ♪ ♪ You alone, oh, come on ♪ ♪ You're the name above all names ♪ ♪ Be exalted now in the heavens ♪ ♪ As your glory fills this place ♪ ♪ You alone deserve our praise ♪ ♪ You're the name above all names ♪ ♪ In the heavens ♪ ♪ You alone deserve our praise ♪ ♪ As your glory fills this place ♪ ♪ You alone, oh, come on ♪ ♪ You're the name above all names ♪ ♪ Be exalted now in the heavens ♪ ♪ As your glory fills this place ♪ ♪ You alone deserve our praise ♪ ♪ You're the name above all names ♪ ♪ Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh ♪ ♪ The way Jesus is ♪ ♪ Long with the name of Jesus ♪ ♪ Oh oh oh oh oh oh ♪ (upbeat rock music) You saw me, saw me, who I am To live the years you met

Jesus You deserve the praise I love it as you gave I love it as you made To live the glory of Jesus You deserve the praise The glory is your name The glory is your name Jesus You deserve the praise The glory is your name The glory is your name Jesus ♪ We're the hands of the Christ ♪ ♪ Word is Your name ♪ ♪ We're the hands of the name of Jesus ♪ ♪ Word is Your name ♪ ♪ Word is Your name ♪ ♪ We're the hands of the name of Jesus ♪ ♪ Nothing like You, Jesus ♪ ♪ Word is the name of Jesus ♪ ♪ Jesus, Jesus ♪ ♪ Word is Your name, God ♪ ♪ The name of Jesus ♪ ♪ The name of Jesus ♪ Come on, there is power when we speak His name. When His name comes off of your lips, every entity has to vow. So come on, can we just stir up our faith in this room? Can we say the name of Jesus?

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, come on, say the name of Jesus. There is power in His name. Jesus, Jesus, come on, don't be afraid. Say the name of Jesus. When you say the name of Jesus, fear has to read. And you say the name of Jesus, protection has to break. Change has to break. Jesus, Jesus, there is power in your name, Jesus. There is power in the name of Jesus. The Word is the name of Jesus. The Holy Name of Jesus. And Word is Your name. Jesus, come on. You deserve the praise. The Word is Your name. The Word is the name. Jesus, You deserve the praise. The Word is Your name. Come on, there is Your name. Jesus, You deserve the praise. Come on, everything is Your name. Come on, everything is Your name. Jesus, You deserve the praise. The Word is Your name. The Word is Your name. Jesus, for You deserve the praise. Word is Your name. Come on, tell them. And Word is Your name. Jesus, You deserve the praise.

Word is Your name. Word is Your name. Word is Your name. It's all about You, Jesus. Word is Your name. It's all about You, Jesus. 'Cause it's all about. All about You. All about You. And it's all about. All about You. All about You. And it's all about. All about You. You ♪ And it's all about all about you ♪ ♪ All about you and it's all about you ♪ ♪ It's all about you, all about you ♪ ♪ And it's all about all about you ♪ ♪ All about you, yes, it's all about you, Jesus ♪ ♪ For you and it's all about all about you ♪ ♪ All about you and it's all about all about you ♪ ♪ All about you and it's all about all about you ♪ ♪ All about you and it's all about you ♪ ♪ Jesus, it is all about all about you ♪ ♪ All about you and it's all about all about you ♪ ♪ All about you and it's all about all about you ♪ ♪ All about you and it's all about you ♪ ♪ And not for anything that I could gain ♪ ♪ Just to honor you and bring you praise ♪

♪ Like a parade that's broken on the floor ♪ ♪ May my worship be pure ♪ ♪ And there's no motive, there's no hidden cash ♪ ♪ God hears my all and I don't want it left ♪ ♪ Like a parade that's broken on the floor ♪ ♪ May my worship be pure ♪ ♪ The precious fountain from Calvary's mountain ♪ ♪ Flowing down to you and I ♪ ♪ It washes us clean on one mystery ♪ ♪ That red blood makes me wild ♪ ♪ It isn't in white love ♪ ♪ Doesn't it make you wonder ♪ ♪ Does it make you wonder how something so profound ♪ ♪ Could be so simple ♪ ♪ The blood, the blood, the blood ♪ ♪ All the wonderful blood ♪ ♪ You love, you love, you love ♪ ♪ All the marvelous love ♪ ♪ Enter it in, see the song ♪ ♪ Prises belong to the sun ♪ ♪ With the blood, the blood, the blood ♪ ♪ All the wonderful blood ♪ ♪ My precious Jesus ♪ ♪ Oh, I'm so thankful ♪ ♪ For the day you saved my life ♪ ♪ And as I remember ♪ ♪ My heart grows tender ♪ ♪ To begin to fill my eyes ♪ ♪ It isn't in white love ♪ ♪ Doesn't it make you wonder how something so profound ♪

♪ Could be so simple ♪ ♪ When it's in a while ♪ ♪ It doesn't it make you wonder how something so divine ♪ ♪ Could be so simple ♪ ♪ The blood, the blood, the blood ♪ ♪ All the wonderful blood ♪ ♪ You love, you love, you love ♪ It's the blood, it's the blood, it's the blood, it's the blood of the wonderful blood It's we thank you for the blood, we thank you for the cross Thank you all We were cuteness finished, all of our sins were given, and now we get to live it The wonder of the working fire, the cross was no decision But death was not the ending, she rose and now it is it The wonder of the working fire, the working dead It's finished, all of our sins were given, and now we get to live it The wonder of the working fire, the cross was no decision Thank you all The ending, you rose and now it is it ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪

♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪

♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ The ones who are the working life ♪ ♪ Man of Jesus ♪ no he is worthy he is worthy come on come on we can't praise him and now you know as we were declaring those words I couldn't help but thank oh Lord I am so grateful for the sacrifice that you made so that we could live in freedom we could sing out in this building and stand and declare that there is hope because of what Jesus did through his blood through his sacrifice can you just give him another big praise he's so worthy he is so worthy he does something for us that we could not do and could never afford in giving his life I love this weekend because we have an opportunity to do something that we love to do at Gateway Church and it is child dedication Sunday and so come on and so I would look for the families just to make their way up we've got a large crew to dedicate right now I love child dedication because we're dedicating these children to the Lord but let me say this as a parent I want to make sure that the parents understand this when a parent brings a child up on this platform to say we're dedicating this child what the parent is doing is they're making good commitment as well because what the parent is saying is I'm

dedicating myself to make sure that I raise my child in a godly home that puts Christ first and so I want to read a scripture Deuteronomy 6 verses 6 and 7 it says this and you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today this is Moses speaking repeat them again and again to your children talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road when you're going to bed and when you're getting up so parents what that's saying to all of us as a parent is that you're making a commitment today as you dedicate your child you're also saying I am dedicated to raising my child in a godly home if you agree with that say amen what a beautiful thing and here's the thing as well as a church because this is being done in front of all of us what we're saying as a church family here at Gateway is we are dedicating ourselves to make sure that we do everything that we can as a church to help these young boys and girls know God personally a man to grow in their faith and to live out the purpose that God has for their lives if you agree with that let me hear you say amen amen I want us to pray I want you to stretch your hands forward over these kids amen so Lord today we bring these young men and women to you these young boys and girls and Lord we just pray as we dedicate them to you and to your kingdom Lord that you would be able to have your will in your way in their life and your purposes over them we pray for Luca we pray for Aaron we pray for Oaks Lord we pray for my El for Elliot for Navy for Zaden, Indy, Verity, Isaac, Adam, Leo, Taya, Deborah, Morgan, Emma, Jackson, Laney, Eila, Noel, and Illaryon Lord we pray over each of these children and God right now as our hands are stretched towards them God we pray protection over them God we pray for for your plans and your purposes to succeed in their life God we pray that they would come to know you as Lord and Savior Lord and Lord as we dedicate them we pray God that you would have your will performed in their life Lord I pray over the moms and dads I pray for strength over these families Lord I pray that they would just feel your wind at their back Lord and I pray God that you would just give these parents the ability to raise them in a godly way and Lord I pray Lord that these families would keep you first in all

things in Jesus name and everybody said together amen come on let's give the Lord a big hand praise God for these what a beautiful sight amen all these young children yes what a wonderful day God bless you guys you can go back to your seat now and as they go back and make their way back to the seats would you do me a favor would you turn around give someone a high-five and say it's good to see you at church this Sunday you (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) - I remember getting up really early that morning because I had a flight. - Listening to music on the way to work. - We had Pee-Wee football practice. - It was a morning just like any other pretty day, sunny outside. - Just jumping, we were looking at obviously a very disturbing life shot there. That is the World Trade Center. - When I heard it, I remember just like everything stopped. - It hit everybody no matter what age, kind of like a gut punch to the nation. - I remember just watching my parents' faces and they just said something bad had happened. - Your mind immediately goes to, is everybody okay in my circle? - I remember hearing reporters saying, I have no words. It was one of the only times I had ever seen my dad cry. - Instantly my mind began just putting myself

where those people were. - It definitely was a turning point, obviously, in our nation's history. - I think it's so interesting, though, when our nation finds itself in trouble, it does always seem to lean into prayer. - This is a difficult moment for America. Of today, we've had a natural tragedy. May God bless the victims, their families, and America. (gentle music) (gentle music) - And now 25 years later, life still brings us moments we never see coming, but even there, God is present, bringing hope, healing, and beauty from ashes. - And in uncertain times, faith drives us to reach for hope, and one another. - So we pray. - We show up. - We love our neighbors, and we care for those who are hurting. - As a church, we live life on mission, and we do that by being the hands and feet of Jesus. - And we serve our communities. - We choose compassion over division. - We carry peace because it's who we are. - We bring hope into places that feel hopeless. - We stay faithful when uncertainty creeps in, and through all of it,

these are the moments that our faith shines the brightest. (gentle music) - Amen. (audience applauding) - If you're a first responder, we want to honor you today. So if you're a fireman, if you serve in law enforcement, if you're an EMT or a 9/11 dispatcher, if you would stand up, we would love to recognize you today. So if you're, if you're first responder, even if I missed your category, we'd love for you to stand up. (audience applauding) We don't want to embarrass you. We want to honor you and thank you. Come on, let's give them thanks, folks. Just remain standing, stand up and remain standing, all across the building. (audience applauding) Would you stretch your hands toward those that are standing that are first responders? We'd love to pray over them. We're so grateful for you showing up and just doing such an amazing job as a responder. Lord, right now we pray over these first responders, Lord, over these law enforcement officials, Lord, over these firemen,

Lord, over these 9/11 dispatchers, Lord, over the EMTs. God, I pray for safety and protection as they go about doing the duties of each of their individual lives, Lord. I pray that you would protect them, and Lord, I pray that you just put a hedge around them, and then God, I pray you'd strengthen them. I pray you would strengthen them, and God, watch over them and their families, and God, thank you for the service that they provide for us at all times, God. Thank you for the fact that they show up, Lord, and that they're so willing, Lord, to do this work that they do, Lord, in such an amazing way. God, thank you for them in Jesus' name, we pray. Amen. Amen. (congregation applauding) I don't know about you, but I have really enjoyed the best day series so far. Have you guys enjoyed it? Man, I think it speaks so much to where we're going. And if you've missed any of those three messages that have already happened, you can go back online and watch them. But we have a special treat today because we have our very own Pastor Jalani Lewis, the campus pastor here at the South Lake campus. And he's going to bring a very special message. I mean, it's a great word.

So would you welcome Pastor Jalani? Come on up. (audience cheering) (upbeat music) (audience cheering) - How you doing church? Good. Well, happy Labor Day weekend to you. And I do want to take a moment and welcome all of those joining us online. Our gateway gatherings, our prison campuses. And those of you that may be here for the very first time or here for the first time in a long time church. Can we just put our hands together? Welcome everybody connecting with us this weekend. So glad that you're here. And as Pastor Mark said, my name is Jalani Lewis and I have the privilege of serving as the campus pastor here at the South Lake campus. But before I get into the message today, I do want to encourage you to come back next weekend. Next weekend, Pastor Daniel is beginning a brand new series entitled This Is Us. And he's going to take four weeks to talk about who we are as a church and really where we feel like God is leading us in the future. And so make sure you come back for that. Speaking of series, Pastor Mark just mentioned, but best days has been amazing, right?

It's been an incredible series. In fact, I love just the thesis of it because what we're essentially saying is that, yes, God has done some amazing things in the past, but our best days really are ahead. Amen. We believe that God takes us from glory to glory to glory. Amen. And so what we talked about the first weekend was really this idea of our best days are our faith field days. And then the next weekend, we talked about our heal days. And then last weekend, we talked about our best days being our prepared days. Well, today I am concluding the series, but before I give you my title, I want you to go to the book of Ephesians chapter one, Ephesians chapter one. And we're going to look at verse three, really to be a foundational scripture for us this weekend. Ephesians chapter one, verse three, when you're there, say, I'm there. If you're not there, say pray for me. It's kidding, it's kidding. Ephesians chapter one, verse three, scripture says this, praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. I want you to notice just quickly that the word bless or blessing is in that verse two times.

And I know that sometimes in church culture, the word bless is a loaded word, but let me just tell you, it's a biblical word. And it simply speaks of this idea of speaking well of or praising or conferring what's beneficial. So what Paul says is he says that God has conferred or given to us some beneficial things. And he says that these are spiritual blessings. And so today the title of my message is our best days are our blessed days. Our best days are our blessed days. Let's pray. Father, thank you for your word. I pray in these next few moments you'd open our eyes to see wonderful things in your word. In Jesus name, amen. In 2002, in my opinion, one of the greatest spy movies ever created hit the box office by the name of the born identity. How many of you have seen the born identities? Show of hands here. Okay, look at all the real Christians in the house today. How many of you have never seen the born identity? Would you raise your hand up high? We wanna judge you, a lot of judgment going on. Okay, how many of you, be honest, how many of you weren't even born when the born identity came out? Let me see. I feel old, feel very old right now.

If you have not seen the born identity, really the storyline is this. It's about a man who has an accident and therefore is left with amnesia. And he's really on this journey trying to discover his true identity. And in typical Hollywood fashion, while he's on this journey, he is being pursued by assassins, right? Well, I love the movie and there's one particular scene that's probably one of my favorite scenes in the whole movie because it gives really a picture of the entire plot. It's a scene where Jason Bourne, who is the main character, is in a cafe. And he's having a conversation with a lady named Marie. He's not having his best days, if you will. And truthfully, he cannot see better days going forward. And what he says to Marie actually gives us a glimpse of what his struggle is. Here's what he says. He says, "I can tell you the license plate numbers "of all six cars outside. "I can tell you that our waitress is left-handed "and the guy sitting up at the counter weighs 215 pounds "and knows how to handle himself. "I know the best place to look for a gun is the cab "of the great truck outside. "He must have been in Texas. (audience laughing)

"And at this altitude, I can run flat out "for a half mile before my hands start shaking. "Now, why would I know that? "How can I know that and not know who I am?" In other words, I've got ability, but because I don't have identity, I'm in trouble. I've got talent, but I can't tell you my story. I've got resources, but I can't tell you my real name. I've got lots of gifts, but I am lost because I don't know who I am. Have you ever found yourself asking the question, "Who am I?" Have you ever found yourself wrestling with identity? Maybe you lost a job and in losing a job, you didn't know you lost your sense of success and significance. Maybe you lost a loved one and you didn't know that in their passing purpose would pass too. Maybe life has just life and you are dealing with the ups and downs and twists and turns and they have left you disoriented. What do you do when you're wrestling with identity? Paul in the book of Ephesians is writing to a group of believers that are surrounded by a culture that is in moral, sexual and gender chaos. In fact, in Acts chapter 19, we get a glimpse of the people of Ephesus and you read a story where they are absolutely confused and in crisis. And so Paul writes this sixth chapter letter

to the people of Ephesus and he begins this letter with specifically pointing out that you have spiritual blessings and he begins to unpack this thought of who they are in Christ or establishing identity. And here's why. When we understand who we are in Christ, we are anchored in crisis. When we understand who we are in Christ, we are anchored in crisis. And so I wanna give you just three of the spiritual blessings that Paul talks about in Ephesians chapter one. If you're taking notes, write this down. And as Pastor Daniel says, if you're not taking notes, write it down anyway. First Corinthians, excuse me, the first point is this. In Christ, we are chosen. In Christ, we are chosen. This is Ephesians chapter one, verse four, just as Paul just continuing. He says, "Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us. In Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes." He chose us. Do you remember in grade school, in P.E., maybe your P.E. teacher would designate two people in your class to be team captains, like if you were playing sports and activity or something like that. And they would designate two people to be team captains. The last thing you ever wanted was to be the last person picked.

You know what I'm saying? Because here's what you knew. If you were the last person picked, you weren't really picked. You were simply placed, right? If you weren't selected, you were settled for. And in fact, if you were the last person picked, you knew you had the infamous walk of shame to the team. It was like there was a banner over your head that said, "Nobody really wanted me." Paul, when he writes to the believers in Ephesus, he starts off and he says, "You are chosen." He uses this little Greek word, ech-lego. Ech-lego. That lego, "ec" means out and chose, or "lego" means I say. In other words, this word literally means out, I say. It can also be translated as to be called out, selected, elected, or to personally choose. It carries with it this idea of a group of people or a person selected for a special or specific purpose. It conveys the idea of a great privilege and honor of being chosen. We see an example of this in Luke chapter 6, verse 12, when Jesus chooses his disciples-- let's look at what it says. It says, "One of those days, Jesus went out on a mountainside to pray and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him, and he chose 12 of them, whom he also designated apostles." I want you to notice something. Jesus is very intentional.

He's thoughtful. He's careful. He's prayerful. Why? Because he's about to select the 12 people that he's going to empower to turn the world upside down. He is very specific on who he chooses. And Paul says, that's the word that God uses to describe how he felt about you. In fact, I love the way one theologian says it in talking about this idea of eklego. He says, "God looked out to the horizon of human history, and he saw us. And when he saw us, his voice echoed from heaven and said, out I say, I pick you. I select you. I choose you. And guess what? You weren't my last choice. You were my first choice. Because I actually chose you before I created the world." I love how Charles Spurgeon says it, thinking about that point of being chosen before God created the world. He said, it's a good thing God chose me before I was born. Because he surely wouldn't have afterwards. Church, you're chosen. In Christ, we are chosen. I'm reminded of an eklego moment that I had many years ago.

I was an associate campus pastor at one of the Gateway campuses. And the campus pastor at that time had a quick transition, so he stepped out of the role. And then I was thrust into the campus pastor role. And truthfully, I needed something to anchor me in that season. Because what the enemy would love to have done is to bombard me with thoughts of, well, you know, you weren't really chosen. Like, you were just next in line. They had nobody else. You're here because of default, right? Well, God, in his goodness eight months before, had spoken. You see, the transition happened in August. But back in January, my mother called me. And she said, July, I want to share something with you. My pastor said he felt like he had a word for you. He had a prophetic word for you. Now, let me just explain. When we talk about prophecy, what we're saying is that we believe that God speaks to and through people to encourage us. And specifically, 1 Corinthians 14 talks about how prophecy is for edification, exhortation, and for comfort. And when prophecy goes forth, it's a combination of it can be forthcoming, or foretelling, or foretelling. Fourth telling, or foretelling.

Fourth telling speaks to God speaking right now. Foretelling is about God speaking towards the future. And which, by the way, on October 18, we're going to have a night of worship and prophetic ministry here at this campus, because we believe that God still speaks. Amen? So the word that my mother shared with me from her pastor was a foretelling word. It was speaking to the future. And here's what she said. She said, "Jelana, he told me to tell you this, that you're going to get a promotion this year. And it's going to look like it was by default. But you need to know you were always God's choice." Church, no, no, no. No, you have to understand something. The enemy, the thing he would have brought up was you only got this by default. But God is so good that before that even happened, he looked out and he saw me and he said, "Jelana, out I say. I choose you. I pick you. I've designed you to lead this campus." And I tell you that today, Church, for this reason, there are some of you here today. And you have been thrust into a position. You've got a promotion. You've got a new role in the job. Maybe you've got a new business. And the enemy has been pounding you.

You know you're only doing this because there was nobody else. You know you weren't really picked for this. You know you're only here by default. And I just want to encourage you today. That is a lie from the pits of hell. God actually chose you, called you. He looked at it and he said, "Ek, Lego, I'm calling you to lead in this time." that you watch today. You're like, man, they're dedicating their children. Whoo, may I just tell you, I feel like I've blown it as a parent. But the enemy is bombarding you and saying, you're a failure. That God should have given these kids to someone else. Like somebody else would have done a better job and I just need to encourage you today. The enemy wants you to believe that, but can I just tell you that God was specific in making sure he brought those kids to you and your family and your family dynamic? Why? Because he puts something inside of you that you're supposed to deposit in them and who God places, God graces. So guess what? God has graced you to raise the kids that he's set in your family and greater is he that's in you than he that's in the world. You can do it.

God's called you. I love that God chose us because there are some of us, if we're really honest, we walked into this room today and the truth is we felt unwanted for most of our lives. We felt unseen, we felt like a mistake or an accident. And I just want to encourage you today, you're not an accident. You were appointed by God. You're not an outcast. God has called you out and he speaks over your life. In Christ, you are chosen. We're chosen. Here's point number two. In Christ, we are adopted. In Christ, we are adopted. Ephesians chapter one verse five says in love, he predestined us for adoption. To sonship through Jesus Christ in accordance with his pleasure and his will. Have you ever seen a dog chasing its tail? How many of you seen a dog chasing its tail before? It's fascinating to watch, right? Because you're watching them go around and around in circles and at first you're going like what is the dog doing? Then you realize, oh, this dog is chasing its own tail, right? It's chasing what it already has. In other words, it's pursuing what it already possesses. Now this is important because the reason why Paul

uses the word adoption is because he wants to understand that as children of God, there is something that we possess that we don't have to pursue. This is what he says. He says you've been predestined for adoption. The word adoption there literally means placing as a son. In this particular culture, adoption conveyed full legal standing, inheritance rights and the family name. So when Paul says that we are adopted into the family of God, it's communicating the idea that we have status, privileges and the responsibilities of God's own children. I love the way some of the early church fathers spoke about this when they said salvation is not only deliverance from sin, but elevation to sonship. That you and I are sons and daughters. A Roman says it like this in Romans 8, 15. It says, so you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you receive God's spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him Abba Father. He says when you receive Jesus, you receive the spirit of God and you no longer have to be afraid because you're a part of the family of God. And in fact, he goes on to say, and you actually get to call God Abba Father. Now, Abba's an interesting word. We don't necessarily go on around calling people Abba, right? Like what's up Abba, how you doing Abba?

Nobody said that in the lobby today, right? Didn't happen. Abba is an Aramaic term for father. It's this idea of a real term of endearment. It's this combination, in fact, in our vernacular we would liken it to saying daddy or papa. It's this combination of warmth and honor and respect and relationship. It's what my 12-year-old daughter uses to get her way with me. She actually looks at me with those big, beautiful brown eyes and she goes, daddy, please. And it breaks me down, church. She gets me every time. But it's this term of endearment. And God says we're so deep in the family that we don't just call him God, we get to call him Abba. He said he is our father. I love as the verse continues though, if we skip past verse 16 and go to verse 17, Paul's not done with this thought. In fact, together with Christ, we are heirs of God's glory. But if we are to share His glory, we must also share His sufferings. Now, I want you to notice the progression here. Paul starts off and he says, we're children of God, so this is who we are. Then he says that we are also heirs, so we have an inheritance.

That means there's something that we have. Then he says, and we share in the glory and the suffering, which means there is something that we do. Now, Paul is intentional about this progression because he wants to change the way in which we think. See, the reality is, is that slaves, fearful slaves think like this. They think in this progression, I do, therefore I have, therefore I am. I do, therefore I have, therefore I am. In other words, I do something, I perform, I produce, and therefore I have money, I have a position, I have finances, I have status, and then it goes on. And because of that, I am significant. I do, therefore I have, therefore I am. But that's not how Paul said it. Paul reversed that because he says, listen, you're not fearful slaves, you're sons and daughters. And here's how sons and daughters think. They think like this, I am, therefore I have, therefore I do. I am a child of God, I am a daughter of the most high, I am a son of the king of kings. And guess what, because of that, I have a family, I have a father, I have an inheritance. And then guess what, because of that, I do the will of my father. I am, therefore I have, therefore I do. Let me just ask you today, how you thinking? Are you living from a place of performance

or living from a place of position? For some of us, in order to rewire the thinking, we need to memorize Romans 8, 14 through 17 because we need to be reminded I'm a child of God. For some of us, it's time to get into a small group. We need to leave isolation and get into community so we can be surrounded by a bunch of brothers and sisters that can help us learn what it's like to be sons and daughters. For some of us, we may need to start praying consistently the Lord's Prayer out of Matthew chapter six, because it begins like this, our father. Our father, reminding me that I'm a son, not a slave. I'm a son, not an orphan. I'm a son, not just a servant. I am God's child. This thought for me was crystallized with an experience with my own son. I'm a son, Jaden, he's 10 years old now, he is remarkable. But when he was five years old, he needed Jesus, church. He needed Jesus. And I remember one day we were leaving one of his soccer games and I was driving and my father was in the passenger seat and my son was sitting in the back seat and as we're leaving his soccer game out of nowhere, he just says, "Dad, I scored a goal today." Now the problem was is that I was at the game and I didn't see him score the goal. So I said, "You scored a goal today, Jaden?" He said, "Yeah, I did." I said, "Well, like, I didn't see it."

And then I looked at my dad and he's like, "He didn't see it either." And so I said, "Okay." I said, "Jaden, are you sure?" I said, "Yeah." I said, "Well, none of the parents came up to me and said, "You scored a goal." He's like, "No, I scored a goal." I said, "Okay, Jaden, let me ask you this one more time." I said, "I want you to tell me truth." I said, "Jaden, did you score a goal today?" And he dropped his head and he said, "No." And so then I said, "Okay, I want to ask you one more question, Jaden." I said, "I want you to tell me why you told me you scored a goal today." And he lifted his head up and he looked at me and he said, "Because I wanted you to be proud of me." And so church, on the outside, I held it together. But on the inside, I was crushed. Because I knew what had happened. I knew he had heard me talk about his older sister and how many goals that she scored. And I knew he had connected that if I want dad to be proud of me, And so I said to him, I said, "Well, let me tell you something. First of all, I am so sorry." And I said, "Secondly, let me just tell you, I am going to be proud of the things that you do, but here's what you need to know, Jaden. I was proud of you before you ever did anything.

I was proud of you, gently for the fact that you are mine. Can I tell you today, guys, that God is proud of you? Not because of all that you've done, but because you are his child. And he has adopted you into his family." Here's how J.I. Packer sums it up. He says, "Adoption is the highest privilege of the gospel. The traitor is forgiven, brought in for supper, and given the family name. To be right with God the judge is a great thing, but to be loved and cared for by God the Father is greater." In Christ we are adopted. Here's point number three. In Christ we are forgiven. In Christ we are forgiven. This is Ephesians chapter 1 verse 7. It says, "In him we have redemption through his blood." We have been bought back through his blood. The forgiveness of sins in accordance with the riches of God's grace. He says, "We have forgiveness." I was looking up some things on forgiveness and I found a couple of funny quotes. It's interesting to hear how people think about forgiveness. I want to read you two of them. Here's one. It says, "I practice radical forgiveness. I forgive you and then change my number." Here's number two. I forgive people by forgetting they exist. Works 100% of the time. Forgiveness is letting go. It is releasing.

It carries with it this idea of a cancellation of a debt. The reason why I say cancellation of a debt, if you think about it, the way that Jesus even talks about forgiveness, he says in the Lord's prayer, "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors." Or when he gives us the example of the parable in Matthew chapter 18 of the king's settling accounts with his servants, he says he forgave their debt. There's a sense of the cancellation of a debt with forgiveness and here's why that is. When someone wrongs you, it's as if it creates an inequity or an imbalance in your account. There's a disparity created. It's like they took something out of your account. We actually know this intuitively because we say things like this. If somebody wrongs us, we will say, "They owe me an apology." We will say, "If we're vengeful, I'm going to get even." Or we'll say, "I'm going to pay them back." In fact, that is what Joseph's brothers were afraid of. Pastor Daniel talked last week about Joseph and when Joseph's father, Jacob, dies, listen to what the brothers said. This is Genesis chapter 50, verse 15. It says, "But now that their father was dead, Joseph's brothers became fearful. Now Joseph will show his anger and pay us back." For all the wrong we did to him, they said. So they sent this message to Joseph. Before your father died, he instructed us to say to you, "Please forgive your brothers." What are they saying? Cancel the debt, Joseph. We've wronged you. It's created a deficit. Can you cancel the debt? Now here's why I tell you that today. The reality is that the Bible says that we've all sinned.

And because we've sinned, there was a debt. And there was a debt that we could not pay. And so what God did in his goodness is he sent his only son, Jesus Christ, to come to the earth, to live a perfect life, to die, be buried, and resurrected on the third day, so that the debt could be paid and you and I could be forgiven. Colossians chapter 1 verse 13 says it like this, "For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his dear son who purchased our freedom and forgave us." Psalm 103 verses 2 through 3 says this, "Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits, spiritual blessing. And listen to the first one. Who forgives all? But Jelani, Jelani, hold on, that's good to hear, but you don't know what I've done. You don't know my past. You don't know the mistakes that I've made, and you're right, I don't know, but I love how the O' Moody says this. He says, "The voice of sin is loud, "but the voice of forgiveness is louder." He's actually echo in the words of Hebrews chapter 12, verse 24, when the writer says this, he says, "To Jesus the mediator of a new covenant "and to the sprinkle blood that speaks a better word "than the blood of Abel." Now what does he say better word than the blood of Abel? If you remember in Genesis, we have the story of Cain and Abel. Cain kills his brother Abel, and the Bible says that Abel's blood cried out from the ground to God, and it actually cried out for payback and vengeance. And what this scripture says is that Jesus' blood also speaks,

but Jesus' blood speaks a better word. And so instead of saying payback or vengeance, Jesus' blood actually speaks paid for or forgiveness, that his blood declares over you and me today, you are forgiven. I love this thought because guess what? The enemy continues to bombard us, and he whispers lies to us and Jesus always comes back with a better word, that your future is secure in me, that I have a plan for you, that greater is he that's in you, than he that's in the world, that you are more than a conqueror, that you are God's workmanship, that he declares life over you. And so the enemy comes and speaks negative words and Jesus' blood declares I have a better word. You are forgiven. One of the greatest examples in my own personal life of this was shown to me really through my relationship with my wife, Erin. So I like to say like this, my wife was like mother Teresa grown up, okay? She just never did anything wrong. Me on the other hand, I made some very poor choices, and specifically in relationships and in the area of purity. And so when we met and we started dating, the Lord had done a tremendous work in my life, but I felt like, because we knew we were headed down the direction of marriage, I felt like I wanted to share with her everything,

like she needed to know the story. And the truth is, I was afraid, I didn't know how she was gonna respond. Now, I just remember we were sitting in the car, I was in the driver's seat, she was in the passenger's seat, and we were divided by the console, the armrest. And I just begin to tell her my story. And I'll never forget church, as I'm sharing with her, she just burst into tears, because she was heartbroken. And then to be honest with you, I was heartbroken. Because I realized I had hurt her. And so we talked for a few moments and I'll never forget, she took her hand and she reached it across the console and she grabbed my hand and she said to me, I forgive you and I'm not going anywhere. I tell you that, because whether you feel like you've lived like Mother Teresa or maybe you've made some terrible choices, we were all sinners and here's what God did. He refused to be separated from us and so what he did is he sent Jesus Christ to come and to die. And he reached his hand across the chasm or console of sin and he grabbed your hand and he grabbed my hand and he said over us, I forgive you and I will never leave you nor forsake you. I'm going to walk with you and my blood will wash you as white as snow. You are forgiven. And first John chapter one verse nine says, it's actually easy to receive forgiveness.

The scripture says this, but if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all in righteousness. And as a kid's pastor, I used to teach him this, I would say confess up when you mess up and God will clean you up. The more we focus on who we are in Christ, the less it matters who we were. We are forgiven. In Christ, our best days are our blessed days because we know who we are. And when we understand who we are in Christ, we are anchored in crisis. You are chosen. You are chosen. I want you to bow your heads and close your eyes. You'll notice that every point started with "in Christ." Because these are the spiritual blessings available to those in Christ. And so my question for you today is, are you in Christ? Well, what does that mean, Giuliani? Paul went on to say it in Ephesians chapter 1, verse 13. He said, "You became in Christ when you believed in Christ." Now here's my question for you today. Have you believed in Christ? I'm not asking do you go to church. I'm not asking are you a good person. I'm talking about have you placed your trust in the work of Christ?

Have you admitted that you're a sinner? Have you believed that God paid for your sins and have you chosen to make Jesus the Lord of your life? If you haven't, I want to give you an opportunity to do that today. I'm going to lead everyone in a prayer. But if you've never made that decision, or maybe you made that decision many years ago, but you know you're not walking with the Lord, or maybe you just need a fresh start. I want to pray for you and I want to pray with you. I want to lead you in a prayer of becoming in Christ. And so with every head bow, every eye closed, nobody looking around, if you'd say, Giuliani, include me in that prayer. Today I want to be in Christ. Today I want to recommit my life to Christ. Today I want to fresh start. You don't need to be embarrassed, but I just want to ask you to raise your hand right now, 'cause I want to pray with you. Just raise your hand up high. You don't need to be embarrassed. Best choice you'll ever make. Today I want to be in Christ. I want to give my life to Jesus. Say, man, I see you. I see you. Anybody else, today I'm giving my life to Jesus. Today I want to be adopted into the family of God.

Amen, I see you. I see you, you can put your hands down. Church, I'm going to lead everybody in a prayer, and I want you, the entire church, to pray with me for the benefit of those that raised their hand and said yes to Jesus. Would you just pray this? Just say, God, thank you for sending Jesus to die for my sins so I could have life. I confess I'm a sinner, but I believe you forgave me, and I choose to give you my life. Change me in Jesus' name. Amen, amen. (congregation applauding) Well, what a powerful message. Thank you, Pastor Gelani, such a great message. I really believe that the Lord is speaking to some folks today, and so our prayer team is going to make their way down front in just a moment. If you really feel the Lord speaking to you today, and I just want to remind you, you are forgiven, and everything is paid for because of what Jesus did. Amen. And so whatever you need prayer for, I just invite you to come forward. If you made a decision to follow Christ today or rededicated your life, I would ask you to text Jesus to 7-10-10, so that we know about that. If you'll stand right now, I'd ask for our prayer team to make their way forward.

If you need prayer, like I said, for anything, your movement should be forward. Feel such a sweet presence of the Holy Spirit in this room today. I believe God is really speaking to some people, so respond to that. Also, I want to say this, if you want to follow after salvation into baptism, next weekend, we have water baptism, and we would love for you to join us, and if you've never been baptized, I encourage you to be water baptized next weekend. Our service is also, next weekend, we start a brand new series. This is us, Pastor Daniel's back. It's going to be wonderful. Let me say this, once again, if you've missed any of the messages in the series, the best days, all four of them have been so incredible, you can go back and watch them online, amen. So if you need to come forward, our prayer team is here. If not, we just pray over you that you have a blessed rest of your Labor Day weekend. God bless you, thank you for coming to church. Many blessings. Also, if you're new to church, please text connect to 7-10-10, or you can go by connect central. God bless you. [ Music ], amen. [ Music ], amen. [ Music ], amen. [ Music ], amen.

[ Music ], amen. ♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh ♪ ♪ Faithful, faithful ♪ ♪ All through the ages to joy ♪ ♪ And to sorrow, faithful, faithful ♪ ♪ Grace for the day and love ♪ ♪ For tomorrow ♪ ♪ Great is your faithfulness ♪ ♪ Great is your faithfulness ♪ ♪ Great is your faithfulness ♪ ♪ The great is your faithfulness ♪ (audience cheering) (audience cheering) (audience cheering) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (audience cheering) All right, y'all sing this movie. ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Whoa ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Whoa ♪ ♪ One, two, three, go ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ Whoa ♪ ♪ Whoa ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ I walk by faith and not by sight ♪ ♪ I'm pressing on, I'm running toward the prize ♪ (upbeat music)

♪ I will not feel what I can't see ♪ ♪ No matter what may come, I'll still believe ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ 'Cause I know, I know that you're with me ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Time and time again ♪ ♪ I've seen your faithfulness ♪ ♪ Guide your good, I know your promises ♪ ♪ You raised me from the great you ♪ ♪ Call me by my name ♪ ♪ You sent me free ♪ ♪ And now I'm on my way ♪ [MUSIC PLAYING]