Does Following Jesus Require Sacrifice? | JJ Vasquez

Now you may think that your boy is a first time host. Don't call her to come back. I've been here for years. It's your boy, Uncle Ben, Ben, Vida's Ben. It's been a while, it's been a while. They might not have seen me, so I have to reintroduce myself. My name is Ben, I'm on one today, I'm so sorry. Welcome, we're so excited to have you here with us today as we go into a time of worshiping God. As I said, my name is Ben, and I get to serve alongside. - Sasha. - Let's go. - If I haven't had the pleasure of meeting you yet, my name is Sasha. And it's also been a minute for me, but that's okay. Last time I was here with, it was the J-Wings. - Oh, the J-Wings, that's right. That's where I earned the name Vida's Ben at that time. Go back and look for it, you know? But we're so excited you're here. Who are you? Let us know where you're joining us from this morning. I'm so excited. There was an amazing, incredible thing to happen this weekend. You might want to share with them. - It was her night, we had it on Friday. - Her night, ladies in the chat, shout out. - Let us know in the chat if you went to her night and how it went for you as well. But it was truly honorable because it was over 1,000 women. Worshiping the Lord, we had the one thing in common

was we were there to receive God's word. And it was truly amazing, like Erika crushed it. But one thing that, right, but my favorite part truly was building that community. So Erika towards the end of her sermon, you know? She asked us, you know, get with a group of women three to four and pray over each other. And so like, there was a female that I didn't even know. And so I was able to build that friendship from that prayer, you know? And it was truly powerful, it was sacred, very intimate, and I think it was very honorable, like to be able to do that and come with women together and get to know them where they're coming from. Some of them didn't even go to Journey Church. - Wow, praise God. - It's truly amazing. - Well, they came that day, which is amazing. A thousand women, that's so incredible. And it just makes me think because we've been in a series called Can You See It? And we're celebrating the 10th year of Journey Church. Journey Church started with like 15 people on a porch, 10 years ago, and could they see a day where there was just a thousand women in a room worshiping, honoring God. And so it's been an exciting time as we celebrate. Can you see it? Last week was Pledge Sunday. So in Pledge Sunday, we're talking about sewing

into what God's gonna do for the next 10. We honor what God did these last 10. But what is he gonna do through Journey in the next 10? So if you wanted to participate in that, there will be a link in the chat. But I wanted to ask you, as we look forward to what Journey can do in the next 10, what are you excited about seeing what's gonna happen in next 10? Not just that Journey, but in your life. - Right, yeah, so again, it's been for 10 years, right? And I've been able to see others be like, I've been here for 10 years. They got to see the first 10. And I've only been to Journey Church for a year, just a little bit over a year. And I'm truly honored to be like, okay, now I wanna be part of this next 10. What is God gonna do? Not just only like you said in Journey Church, but in my personal life. And I just recently got married. - Let's go, Shadda Samuel. (laughing) - Amen, the myth, the legend. (laughing) - Right, and so, - You're Samuel Sasha. - Right. (laughing) So I truly wanna see what the Lord is gonna reveal to us

in our marriage and how we can better serve His kingdom through our marriage in those 10 years. And if God blesses us with a family, generations to come within those 10 years. And you know, building that local church. And I'm really looking forward to that to see how God is gonna move. And in our hearts and transform our hearts throughout these 10 years. - Right, no, that's amazing. And you mentioned, you know, starting a family and through your marriage, what God's gonna do. And I think about, you know, I do have my family and my daughter is eight years old. Shadda Samuel, baby girl, I love you. - I love you, too. - But in the next 10, what do I see? She loves Jay kids. She loves the kids ministry. And then I've already told Pastor James, who is our youth leader, director of the youth. And I said, hey, you can't leave until she's in youth. You know what I mean? Like I want you to be her pastor. - Right. - But you know, in 10 years, she'll be 18. - Yeah. - Which is wild and crazy. And I can't think about too much 'cause I'm gonna get emotional.

- Right. - But the next gen, what God's gonna do in the next generation over these next 10 years and continue to grow that ministry. And as we grow in campuses and everything like that. So I'm so excited. Let us know in the chat. What are you excited about what God is gonna do in this next 10 years? And you see it. What do you see for your life and what God will do through here at Journey? So I'm encouraged because today is vision offering Sunday. So we get to give the first gift. So again, it's not too late to partner with us, to join us in this mission that God has given us, to continue to make Jesus accessible, not just to anyone, but for generations. So right now, I want us to take time to pray as we prepare our hearts and minds for a time of worship. Father, we thank you so much. We honor you, we glorify you. We're so thankful that we get to be a part of what you're doing, Lord God. It's not about journey, Lord, it's about the kingdom. And we just get to be a part of what you're doing in the kingdom. So I just pray now, as we go into a time of worship, that you would prepare our hearts, our minds,

our spirits to hear from you, Lord, as we turn our praise and our focus to you, Lord God, that you will begin to minister to your people in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen. Let's worship. (upbeat music) Welcome home, turning turns. Come on, how many of you know that He is worthy of our praise? And no matter what you walked in with today, He is so worthy. He gets the glory. Come on. (upbeat music) ♪ I have built the hands of better scars ♪ ♪ Reach down and rest with me ♪ ♪ I have no love of the Father's heart ♪ ♪ A prodigal now redeemed ♪ ♪ From where I was to where I'm now ♪ ♪ It's overwhelming ♪ ♪ The more and more ♪ ♪ I see you move all around me ♪ ♪ Oh, I can't help but rest ♪ ♪ Rest in the Lord ♪ ♪ Oh, I can't help but listen ♪ ♪ Shouse of joy ♪ ♪ When I think of how good you've been ♪ ♪ Made from now till the end ♪ ♪ I can't help but raise you ♪

♪ Raise you Lord ♪ ♪ Try to suck hands together ♪ ♪ For the blood you spill to save my life ♪ ♪ The dead I cannot repay you ♪ ♪ For the frost you wore with open arms ♪ ♪ Salvation that call my name ♪ ♪ From where I was to where I'm now ♪ ♪ Oh, it's overwhelming ♪ ♪ The more and more ♪ ♪ I see you move all around me ♪ ♪ And I can't help but rest ♪ ♪ You raise you Lord ♪ ♪ And I can't help but listen ♪ ♪ Shouse of joy ♪ ♪ When I think of how good you've been ♪ ♪ Oh, made from now till the end ♪ ♪ Oh, I can't help but raise you ♪ ♪ Raise you Lord ♪ ♪ Oh, I can't help but rest 'cause I'm free ♪ ♪ Got no chains on me ♪ ♪ I'm here there in thee ♪ ♪ I can't help but it call all the names ♪ ♪ That bear in my shape ♪ ♪ Open my head ♪ ♪ I can't help but rest 'cause I'm free ♪ ♪ Got no chains on me ♪ ♪ I'm here there in thee ♪ ♪ Oh, I can't help but raise you ♪ ♪ Oh, I can't call your name ♪ ♪ That bear in the shape ♪

♪ Open my head ♪ ♪ Oh, I can't help but raise you ♪ ♪ Raise you Lord ♪ ♪ Oh, I can't help but me ♪ ♪ I can't help but raise you ♪ ♪ I can't help but I can't help but rest 'cause I'm free ♪ ♪ Oh, I can't help but rest 'cause I'm free ♪ ♪ Oh, I can't help but raise you ♪ ♪ Raise you Lord ♪ ♪ Oh, I can't help but raise you ♪ ♪ Come on, lift your arms ♪ ♪ Oh, I can't help but raise you ♪ ♪ Raise you Lord ♪ ♪ I can't help but raise you Lord ♪ ♪ Come on, trust lift your voice ♪ ♪ He is worthy He is worthy of our praise ♪ ♪ We love you, Jesus ♪ ♪ We thank you, come on, if you feel comfortable ♪ ♪ Just lift your hands when you are ♪ ♪ We love you, Jesus ♪ ♪ Thank you ♪ ♪ We thank you for waiting for something ♪ Lord, our lower worship right now to be an offering unto you. Remove any obstacles, anything that is coming in the way of trying closer to the ground. We dwell right now in our presence. Thank you, Jesus. You're the Creator, so I know it will be you. You're the Author, so my future is unknown. You're the part of your soul. I'm clear within your hands, my life's surrender to your will and to your will.

And never be holy like you. Even if it means I'm set upon, make my life to live just like your hand. You're holy, I want to be holy. And I'll sing it out to him. He hid in his knees, I'll set upon, make my life to live just like your hand. If you're holy, you'll want to be holy like you are. Come on, just ask Him that today. And you're my Father, I will stay to look like you. You're the Father, so this fire is for my good. You call me higher, tell me there's a better way. Oh, King Jesus, I am covered by only. I want to be holy like you are. Even if it means I'm set upon, make your life like you Jesus. You're holy, I want to be holy like you are. Even if it means I'm set upon, make my life to live just like you. If you're holy, I want to be holy. If you're holy, I want to be holy like you are. Oh, yes, Jesus, set us apart right now on the road. Let us draw near it to you, Jesus. He want to look like you are. I want to be the oil, I want to be the offering. If it's what you want, you're with me in the fire, with me in the blessed. 'Cause it's who you are, I want to be the oil, I want to be the offering. If it's what you want, you're with me in the fire, with me in the blessed. 'Cause it's who you are, I want to be the oil, I want to be the offering. If it's what you want, you're with me in the fire, with me in the blessed. 'Cause it's who you are, I want to be the oil, I want to be the offering. If it's what you want, you're with me in the fire, with me in the blessed. Yes, Jesus, I want to be the Lord.

'Cause it's who you are, I want to be the offering. It's who you are, I want to look like you're Jesus. 'Cause it's who you are, I want to look like you're Jesus. 'Cause it's who you are, I want to look like you're Jesus. 'Cause it's who you are, I want to look like you're Jesus. 'Cause it's who you are, I want to look like you're Jesus. 'Cause it's who you are, I want to look like you're Jesus. 'Cause it's who you are, I want to look like you're Jesus. 'Cause it's who you are, I want to look like you're Jesus. 'Cause it's who you are, I want to be the oil, I want to be the offering. ♪ If it's what you are ♪ ♪ 'Cause it's who you are ♪ ♪ It's who you are, Jesus ♪ - Amen. - Amen, amen. What a powerful, powerful time of worship. I love worshiping the Lord in song. - Yes, amen. - 'Cause we know worship looks many ways. A lot of times we think it's just the music, but you worship the Lord with your gifts and you worship the Lord in singing, and another way we can worship God is in prayer. It's our way to communicate with God. It's our way to spend time just loving God and calling out who He is to us. And here at Journey, we have a culture of pray first, which means prayers are first response, not our last resort. So with that being said, we're gonna have some prayer requests here on the screen.

We'd love if you would join us as we pray for the needs of our fellow brothers and sisters. Father, we thank you so much, Lord. We thank you because you are the God who sees us, Lord. You are the God who is present. You are the God who is there, Father. And you're also Jehovah Raffa, the healer, Father God. I just pray for these needs on the screen right now, Lord. I pray for those that may be in the chat right now, Lord. And I pray for those unspoken, the healing that is needed both physically, mentally, spiritually, emotionally, Father God. For those that are in hospital beds right now and their families that are right next to them, Lord, that your peace that surpasses all understanding will come upon the families and that your healing hand will come upon those that are sick, that you will restore them to your perfect will. And it is in the mighty matchless name of Jesus we pray. Amen. - Amen. - Amen. And like Ben was saying, during the church, our priority is praying, and we would love to pray for you. If you have any prayer requests, you can go ahead and scan that QR code and submit your prayers. You can also submit them on the Journey Church app, and we just genuinely wanna pray for you. And on the Journey Church app, when someone prays for you, you get a notification that they have prayed for you.

And if you feel called to pray for others, you can go ahead and scan that QR code, and you can see all the prayer requests of your community, and you can pray for them, and we can all join together. - Amen, amen, so good. So we just wanna say welcome back. - Yes. - If you're coming back from the beginning, and if you're just getting here, welcome. You're not late, you're right on time. - Amen. - Come on, God's time right now. - Amen. - So you had a divine appointment to be here with us. - Yes. - Who's us? I'm Ben, Uncle Ben. - Right. - Vida's Ben. I am here to serve as one of your online hosts today. - Yes, and my name is Sasha, and I'm truly honored to be serving here with you guys on this beautiful, beautiful, beautiful Sunday. - Let's go. - And we just wanna welcome our online community. - Shout out! - Oh, so go ahead, wherever you're watching from, let us know, go ahead and put that in the chat, and stay the location, if you're at work, which you probably should be working, but, you know, the Lord comes first. So just let us know where you're watching from, and also we just wanna invite

our beautiful, beautiful community that is watching from our pando. - Pando, shout out. - And those are incarcerated. We just wanna thank you so much for being so intentional and so involved and wanting to get closer to Jesus. So thank you for joining us. - Amen, amen, and then we got another special group of folks here at Journey We Spell VIP. F-T-G's, our F-T-G's. That's our first time guests. If you are a first time guest, go ahead and drop F-T-G in the chat so we can shout you out, we can celebrate you being here, but also scan that QR code because that'll help us connect with you, get to learn a little bit more about you, walk with you, talk with you, and help you figure out your next steps. - And speaking of next steps, if you are new to Journey community, or even if you have been coming for years, if you don't know what you want, God is calling you to do, we have this what's called next steps. And step one is online, and you can take it whenever you like, and it's online, and you get to hear from our lead pastor, Pastor JJ, and Pastor Liz. You get to hear about our mission,

how Journey Church even started, and you get to learn about the different ministries that are available to you and your family. So if you wanna take that next step, go ahead and scan that QR code now. - Amen, and also I wanna encourage you, if you're joining us right now, you might be joining us through YouTube. If you are, make sure you subscribe so you don't miss anything we put out here. It's not just the Sunday services, we have the after talk podcast where Pastor JJ will dig deeper into his message and his word. We also had some really exciting drop this week, and that is the Journey Church documentary, Can You See It? And there you learn about the first 10 years of Journey's history from the people that were there. And so you get to learn a little bit more about what happened these first 10 years, but also where we're going in the next 10 years, so make sure you subscribe to the YouTube page, and then the Journey Church app connects so we can keep the convo going. - Yeah, and speaking of what God is doing, Journey Church sent 18 missionaries to El Salvador. And 24 gave their life to Jesus. - Let's go. - Isn't that so beautiful? - That's amazing. - And they also served orphanages, rehabilitation centers,

and the local community. But one of the most powerful moments that happened during that time, during a rescue mission, they were sent, the team was sent to reach out to one, but they brought three back to the rehabilitation center, and one of them, his name is Carlos. Carlos, that was the 64th birthday, and they found him lying in the middle of the street under the influence of alcohol. And when they brought him back, he was receiving prayer. During receiving prayer, he got on his knees and gave his life to Jesus. - Praise God. - And when they finished praying, he started reciting scripture. In that story, that beautiful, beautiful story, it just reminds us of Luke 15, when the Good Chef relieves the 99 for the one. - Wow, praise God. Journey, church, stories like this are possible because of your generosity, because of your generosity. We're able to send and sponsor some of these missionaries. We're able to provide materials so we can read them. If you want to partner with us, get in Scanback QR code so you can be a part of what God is doing in the kingdom. So right now, we're gonna prepare our hearts. We're gonna prepare our minds to go back into one more song of worship,

and we'll be here waiting for you after this. - Amen. (gentle music) - At this time, we want to welcome all of our locations into worship. Come on, give it up for all of our locations. Async is sending online all over this room, wherever you're at. Just want to invite you to surrender, have a posture of surrender and to him. God be giving you our lives. If you would be in the middle and priority of everything, or do you make our lives so long, come on, we declare this. (gentle music) God, we love you. (gentle music) Come on, could you lift up a praise to him, let's wait. (gentle music) What we're saying. (gentle music) ♪ Maybe we've made this complicated ♪ ♪ More than it was ever meant to be ♪ (gentle music) ♪ Hasn't it always been about the same thing ♪ ♪ Lord, bring us back to simple things ♪ ♪ If you be the center of it all ♪ ♪ My heart belongs to you ♪ ♪ My Savior, all that you know ♪ ♪ You're the one I hold on to ♪ ♪ For the beauty of your name ♪

♪ My soul will live to say ♪ ♪ Jesus, I love you ♪ Come on, we say. (gentle music) ♪ Teachers to deserve the moment ♪ ♪ When to serve ♪ ♪ And when to sit here at your feet ♪ (gentle music) ♪ Keep us awake to what's important ♪ ♪ Just like me ♪ ♪ Chose a better thing ♪ ♪ And you ♪ ♪ Be the center of it all ♪ ♪ My heart belongs to you ♪ ♪ My Savior, all that you know ♪ ♪ The one I hold on to ♪ ♪ For the beauty of your name ♪ ♪ My soul will live to say ♪ ♪ Jesus, I love you ♪ ♪ Be the center of it all ♪ ♪ When my heart belongs to you ♪ ♪ My Savior, all that you know ♪ ♪ The one I hold on to ♪ ♪ For the beauty of your name ♪ ♪ My soul will live to say ♪ ♪ Jesus, I love you ♪ ♪ Oh, how I love you ♪ ♪ How I love you, God ♪ ♪ Oh, how I love you ♪ ♪ Jesus, I love you ♪

♪ Oh, how I love you ♪ ♪ Oh, how I love you ♪ ♪ In my whole life, for your glory, my whole world ♪ ♪ For you only everything ♪ ♪ For the honor of your name ♪ ♪ In this morning's, tell me something ♪ ♪ In peace ♪ ♪ Come on, every son of daughter we sing ♪ ♪ For the honor of your name ♪ ♪ Life so well for the guy, my whole world ♪ ♪ For the honor of your name ♪ ♪ For the honor of your name ♪ ♪ In this morning's, tell me something ♪ ♪ Let it be ♪ ♪ For the honor of every king ♪ ♪ For the honor of your name ♪ ♪ In my whole life, for your glory, my whole world ♪ ♪ In the arms, tell me something ♪ ♪ In all the arms, tell me something ♪ ♪ In this morning's, tell me something ♪ ♪ Let it be ♪ ♪ For your glory, my whole world ♪ ♪ For everything, for the honor of your name ♪ ♪ Oh, how, oh, how I love you ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Oh, how I love you ♪ ♪ Jesus, I love you ♪ ♪ Oh, how I love you ♪ ♪ How I love you guys ♪ ♪ Oh, how I love you ♪

♪ Jesus, I love you ♪ ♪ In my whole life, for your glory, my whole world ♪ ♪ For your glory, everything ♪ ♪ For the honor of your name ♪ ♪ In this morning's, tell me something ♪ ♪ In this morning's, tell me something ♪ ♪ For everything, for the honor of your name ♪ ♪ In my whole life, for your glory, my whole world ♪ ♪ For your glory, everything ♪ ♪ In all the arms, tell me something ♪ ♪ In this morning's, tell me something ♪ ♪ In this morning's, tell me something ♪ ♪ In this morning's, tell me something ♪ ♪ In this morning's, tell me something ♪ ♪ In this morning's, tell me something ♪ ♪ In this morning's, tell me something ♪ ♪ Oh, how I love you ♪ ♪ Oh, how I love you ♪ ♪ Jesus, I love you ♪ - What is anybody in the room this morning who's in love with Jesus? (audience applauding) - Love is powerful, man. I know that when you're going through hard times, I know that when you're struggling to pay bills, I know that when family issues are heavy, I know when your health is not the best. I know that when you're afraid, love seems like such a far out emotion and unnecessary. I need solutions, I need money, I need a healing, and I get all of that.

But anybody who downplays the power of love has never been hugged. I don't know if you've ever been terrified for your life, and somebody strong, somebody powerful, somebody you know who loves you, wraps their arms around you. And in one sense, nothing has changed. And in the same sense, everything has changed in that moment that you are being wrapped in the arm. I want you to know that that's what it's like when you start to be aware of the love of God over your life. It might seem like something you don't need in this moment, but when he wraps you in his arms, when he lets you, it reminds you that you're cared for. It reminds you of the sacrifice that he made for you. There's a peace that hits your heart. There's a calm, there's a transformation that happens on the inside. Even when things don't change on the outside. Come on, listening this morning, I love you. Oh, how I love you. Oh, how I love you. And something changes. ♪ Oh, how I love you ♪ ♪ Jesus, I love you ♪ ♪ Jesus, I love you ♪ ♪ Oh, how I love you ♪ - Thank you, Jesus, for your love. Thank you for your presence. ♪ Oh, how I love you ♪ - Thank you for your embrace. ♪ Oh, Jesus, I love you ♪

- Thank you, Jesus. ♪ Oh, how I love you ♪ ♪ I love this place with your presence, Lord, God ♪ ♪ Go on hearts with your love ♪ ♪ Oh, how I love you ♪ ♪ Put our minds on you and our eyes on you ♪ ♪ Even though things are not changing on the outside, God, we ♪ ♪ You show up and everything changes ♪ - Father, we step into your presence today with gratitude, with love, letting you know that we know we can never love you as much as you love us, so we try our best, God. We receive your love today. Come on, we'll just stand your hands towards heaven real quick. We receive your love today, Lord. All that you have for us, all that you plan for us, everything that you want to do for us, God, we surrender our lives, we lay it down. Have your way in us today. We love you, Jesus, in your name we pray, amen, and amen. Come on, if you love Jesus, put your hands together. Awesome. Before you take a seat and before we continue on with our service, I want you to find three people as you did not drive to church with today, give it from a high five and brag a little bit. Just tell them, Jesus loves me. Come on, tell them, Jesus loves me. Jesus loves me. Jesus loves me. God, today.

(audience applauds) Come on, I'm excited that you're here. Today is a really special Sunday. Before I get into that really quickly, if we haven't had the opportunity to meet yet, my name is Jay Jay, and alongside my wife Liz, we have the honor and privilege of serving journey church as its lead pastors, and if you didn't know that, that probably means you are a first time guest, and we're so glad that you chose to be with us today. If you're looking for a home church, look no further. We think you found it, not only 'cause you're surrounded by the presence of God, but because you are also surrounded by some of the most amazing, honest, open, and transparent people, it off of Central Florida. Journey Church, will you prove me right? Put your hands together, welcome to all of our first time guest one more time. (audience applauds) Keep it going for Journey Church online. What's up, Journey Church online? (audience applauds) Keep it going for Journey East Orlando, meeting at University High School. What's up, East Orlando? Keep it going for Journey Kissimmee, meeting that gateway high school. What up, Journey Kissimmee? Finally, keep it going for all those who are currently incarcerated,

watching the jails and prisons throughout the United States through the panda lab. We're so glad that you're here. Well, today is a very special Sunday. As I mentioned, today is our Vision Offering Sunday. And for those who are first time guests today, this is enough for you, all right? So you can sit back and you can watch, but for many of us, we've been planning this for six weeks, for some of us in the room, we've been talking about this for six months. And for our staff, we've been talking about today for over a year now. And we are really believing that today is gonna set up the next 10 years of ministry at our church. I would love it if you would consider doing two things today, especially if you're not a first time guest, two things. The first is a pledge card. We have a pledge card. We've been pledging towards the vision. I'll remind you what that vision is in just a moment. And you can pick up one of these pledge cards on their way out. If you haven't gotten them yet, you can take them and fill them out. And it's a three year pledge above and beyond our ties. And it is available for you. We had last Sunday, our pledge Sunday, we had 49% of our church pledge,

which is something that we wanna celebrate. (audience applauding) And somebody asked me, what were you hoping for? And I was like, is it bad to say 100? I don't know, I was kinda hoping, 'cause I don't, we have a financial need, but if we don't hit our financial need, I'm okay. The real goal for me is to see 100% of people stepping out in faith at some level, to trust God, not just with their finances, but with their faith. And so if you haven't pledged anything yet, you can pledge whatever you like. If you get three years to give it, but you can go outside and grab one and fill it out. And the second you should have received on the new way in is a vision offering envelope. And I'll explain this in just a moment. 'Cause in a moment, we're going to give our first gift towards that pledge, and it is towards something we've been calling, can you see it? And it comes from our key pastors that we've been preaching about the last six weeks, if you've been with us at all. Genesis chapter 15, verse five. Then the Lord took Abram outside and sent to him, look up into the sky and count the stars. Say these three words with me. And I wanted to preach that scripture through these six weeks 'cause I wanted you to get this into your heart that I know what you see, but what you see and what God sees are different.

What you see and what God sees are different. And I want you to start believing past what you see and start believing for what God sees. And here at Journey Church, we're asking the question, can you see it? Can you see over the next three years, over the next 10 years, more decisions for Jesus, more mission trips across the world, more children and students introduced to Jesus, more people breaking the cycle in small groups, more Bibles, more Journey Church locations, more disciples, and more of God's presence. We believe that we can do those things together. And we're gonna do that through six major vision projects. The first takes place in the building that this message is being broadcasted from right now to all of our campuses and all across the world, our firm park location. We believe that we're gonna be renovating this location for our next generation. And so we're gonna be completely redoing all of our kids space, our youth space 'cause the next generation matters. That's gonna be done within the next year and a half. We believe all this is gonna be done. We're also believing for our East Orlando location to have a permanent location and go from meeting in the school to meeting in a building that can, listen, do ministry, go from doing ministry one day a week to seven days a week in the community.

We're also believing the same for our Kissimmee location at Gateway right now. The guy would move them out of a school and get them into a permanent location. That's three. And the next three things of our vision project is to see the next three locations of Journey Church coming to hopefully a city and a community near you. We appreciate your drive that you make to firm park. But I think it'd be cool if there was a Journey Church in your city that you could invite people to in Lake Nona, in Sanford, in Pinciana, in St. Cloud, in downtown, somewhere wherever you are where you don't have to go far to invite your personal works of your public, so your YMCA to church. 'Cause you'll drive 40 minutes for a church that you love, but your friend who doesn't know Jesus won't. And so we gotta make that all possible. And I just wanna remind you that what we're doing today, listen, it is not to build buildings. The purpose of this is not projects. The purpose of this is not cement and walls and sheet rock and lights and chairs. That's not why we're giving. We're not giving the projects, we're giving for people. We're giving to see people's lives change. And I told you that the next generation is a big deal. It's a big part of this offering is going to. We're gonna be giving an offering just a moment here, but I wanna share the story of one of those young men,

one of the next generation here at Journey Church, 'cause you see an envelope and you see a building, but you have no idea the connection of the people in between that. So I want you to hear really quickly the story of a young man who comes to our youth group, Journey Youth called Johan. Take a look. - Honestly, I wasn't sure how my life was gonna pan out. As a kid, you go through so much you don't know if you're even meant to be here. Your question to purpose, your question if you were made to be here if you're just in a state. - My dad was, he was a real bad alcoholic in one day. My mom sat me down and told me, would her wanna see your dad again? I'm like, nah, I don't care, you know. And then she held my hand. She told me, my dad passed. At 11 years old that I felt out of breath. Like, the part of me was gone. 'Cause the last thing my dad told me was he wants to change, but he just doesn't know how to he can. And my mom, she would always try her hardest. She'd always put her last dollar towards us and try to keep us happy. My stepdad woke me up at like two in the morning. That night, and just screaming when my mom was on the floor. I walk into the room, my mom was on the ground.

No life, no nothing. In that moment, I didn't run to my grief. I ran in my stepdad to try to come for him. Once he pushed me away, that was when I broke down like, my best friend's gone. Well, I felt towards God I was angry. 'Cause I remember praying that he'd bring my mom back for one more day, and he didn't. So it was hard trying to be faithful and believe that God was real if my prayer wasn't answered. And then after the year of my mom passing, I had to get a emergency surgery 'cause I would just sign a sufficient source, my left eye, I like part of my school. I remember I would pray and like, God, take the pain away, take it away. And he did, but I had to get surgery to get it taken away. Came across a kid from Detroit. He was having the same symptoms as me, but he was taking it to surgery a few hours late. and So I'm like, I was given a second chance at life finding out like a year and a half later that I could have lost my life that day. Made me rethink like, yo, I still have purpose. I'm here for a reason. I just don't know what it is. I think it was my second or third time coming to charity. Pastor Hector came and preached

and he mentioned in the sermon, do it for your father who couldn't do it and do it for your mother who couldn't do it. And that sort of stuck with me 'cause I'm like, okay, God's talking. It was a culture night and a friend from school, she invited me to come and I was like, all right, brought him to the front with us. They told us what fine arts is. Whenever they mentioned like preaching or short sermon, they both looked at me, which I found out like, weird, I'm like, what y'all staring at me for? But I'm like, I'd be interested, you know, if I'd be cool with doing it. I wanted to preach my testimony because I was told by a family and other people with that testimony could change lives. And afterwards, a lot of people can go to me and talk to me about their problems. And I put a close connection with one of the brothers where he talks to me about his father, his stuff, who had recently passed. And he just sat there, he cried with me. I'm just telling him what I wish I would have told me in that moment when I lost my dad. The community I found at Fine Arts has changed my life and I'm honored to be a part of that for other people too. Having a community that was so accountable, I was able to pick you up when you fall in.

I was able to be by your side. We need the most. I found that community here. I'm reminded every day that I'm like there's somebody in the world. This was never about me. But then they hear my story and they see if he can get through what he went through, I can get through what he want. If he can have that much faith, losing parents, being homeless, doing all the struggles of financial arts as a kid, I can overcome what I'm going through. So being a living testimony and then using it for the better and not for myself is the beauty of it. (audience applauds) Come on. (audience applauds) Here, a young man who loses his father, then loses his mother, rejected by his stepfather, ends up homeless, gets invited to Journey Church, picks up a microphone, gives his life to Jesus, preaches his testimony, and now it's helping other young people meet Jesus, that's crazy. (audience applauds) And that's what we're giving too.

On the back of your envelope, there is a spot for three names. You know those names, they're like bad printing, why don't you want me to write my name three times, no. This is actually for you to write the names of three people that you believe this offering is going to reach. People who don't know Jesus yet. I want to let you know, and I want you to fill it out right now, and I want you to know who our next is here at at least at Journey Church, and especially at our firm park location. Here at this table, you see all of the offerings, this is really cool, there are kids in our youth already gave towards this project. (audience applauds) So yeah, we had Journey Kids, and we had Journey Youth filling up, can you see it boxes, and 'cause I mean 70 to 80% of this offering is actually going just to that place, the other is like fixing the stuff here, but it's going to the next gym. We're just believing, I know in our envelope, in our home, we're praying, my cousin's name is on this list, my brother-in-law's name is on our envelope,

and here's what's really cool about these envelopes. After we take the money out of them, praise the Lord, we're going to take the envelopes. Listen, and we're going to hear at firm park, we're going to put those envelopes underneath the stage that I preach on, so that when this whole building looks different, we'll know that the message that is being preached to the people that on the names that you wrote, it's on the names that you wrote, and it's being presented to them by the name on the front of the envelope, who gave the offering to make that message possible, and then the offering envelopes at Kissimmee, when you get into your building, the offering envelopes at East Orlando, when you get into the building, we're going to move those envelopes you collected, we're going to move them into the building with you as a sign and a symbol of faith going, "Hey, we wouldn't be here if it wasn't for that offering, if it wasn't for that sacrifice." So, take a moment right now, fill out the names on the back of that envelope for the people that you're believing for. This vision that we're casting, we have a financial strategy that is going to be able to make this possible, so do all the things that we just mentioned, all six projects.

It's going to be $18,200,000 to be able to do all the things that we just mentioned, all six projects. Launch the campuses, move into permanent, renovate this facility. Of that, because of your giving already and the stewardship of Journey Church, we've already been able to raise and save $2 million already because of that. Praise God. And so, the financial need remaining is $16,200,000. And we have three years to give it, three years to give it, so whatever you pledge to, you can give three years, but today, we're trying to get as much of it. So we need some of it soon and that's what our offering is today. It's our first gift towards that pledge. And something really cool happened. Staff didn't even know about it until this past Wednesday on Thursday. When I came in, but I don't want to, like, this is really cool. On Wednesday, I got a phone call this Wednesday phone call from an organization, someone outside of our church who knew what we were doing. And I'll just go ahead and say it. They've agreed to match $1 million of giving that we collect today. $1 million match today. So I know, I know you pledge over three years, but today was our first, whatever we give today is going to be doubled up to a million dollars, which is insane because we need to get under construction ASAP. Now, that being said, praise God for that, by the way, this isn't someone who's going to give it to us if we don't match it, by the way, either. This is a match for math.

So it's not going to happen if we don't make it happen. But I don't want you to give under pressure. I don't want you to give under compulsion. I want you to give, like St. Corinthians, St. Corinthians 9, 7, each of you should give what you've decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion for God loves a what? A cheerful giver, cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. God wants you to do it, he wants to do it from your heart. He wants you to do it out of generosity, not because you're being forced or manipulated or pressured, something that the Lord taught you out to people all the time. Don't give because I'm telling you, give because of what God is asking you to do. We're not giving the envelopes yet. We're not giving the buckets yet. We're not giving the buckets yet. Yeah, no, it's OK. Yeah, it's all right. You can put the buckets back, bring them back. Yeah. I'll say, I'll say when I hand them out, but I appreciate the energy. And so we're going to put our our vision offering, the QR code on the slide here. And here's what I believe really quickly. I believe that whenever we give to the Lord, here's what it really needs to be. It needs to be worship. Giving is our worship. It's our sacrifice, our worship unto the Lord. And of all the things that this offering can be today, I pray that you would connect it to that worship. Yes, we want to help people. Yes, you want to see locations get launched.

Yes, you want to move into permanent facilities. But really, I love Jesus and Jesus has been so good to me that I want to bless him. And this is my worship unto him. And I want to reconnect our giving to worship. And so I'm going to ask the worship team to help us in just a moment here by singing the song. And in the second, I'm going to ask our host to get in a position. And I'll let you know when to pass the buckets will be in just a second. And while they're singing, no buckets being passed. But while they're singing, this is your time to make your offering. You're either going to fill out your envelope during this song, or you're going to scan the QR code with your phone, and you can give that way. But as you're giving, we want it to be a moment of reflection and worship unto the Lord. Let's go ahead and give what we're saying. Thank you, Jesus. [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] And so let's hold our envelopes out. Let's hold our phones out and forgive.

Additionally, let me pray over you. And what we believe in this offering is going to do, not just sit our lives, not just our churches lives, but the lives of the names of the people on the other side of it. Father God, we thank you. We love you Lord. We know that this is not easy. This is a sacrifice, but I pray that it would not just touch your heart Lord, above all, it would touch your heart. But we pray that it would also touch the lives across the central Florida area. We pray that what we do today would have ramifications and God the repercussions that would span generations and generations. We pray that what we do today, people would be feeling three years from now, 10 years from now, 100 years from now, should the Lord tell me that the offering we collect today would make a shift in the landscape of central Florida Lord God. We thank you, Jesus, because you're good. And there's no one like you. Bless this gift, and bless the giver. In Jesus' name we pray, amen, and amen. Now let's pass the offerings, and let's worship. Come on, because of the heart of our worship. Let's sing. ♪ When it's all about you, Jesus ♪ ♪ So about you, Jesus ♪

♪ So about you, Jesus ♪ ♪ And slowly I look for the thing I've made ♪ ♪ When it's all about you ♪ ♪ It's all about you, Jesus ♪ ♪ I'm coming back to the heart of our worship ♪ ♪ And it's all about you ♪ ♪ It's all about you, Jesus ♪ ♪ I'm sorry you're full of things I've made ♪ ♪ It's all about you, Jesus ♪ ♪ It's all about you, Jesus ♪ ♪ It's all about you ♪ ♪ It's all about you, Jesus ♪ ♪ Give yourself love, you, Jesus ♪ ♪ It's all about you, Jesus ♪ ♪ I'm coming back to you, Jesus ♪ ♪ It's all about you, Jesus ♪ ♪ Jesus made you be glorified ♪ ♪ I pray that this offering would not glorify the name of journey ♪ ♪ I pray that it would not glorify the name of JJ ♪ ♪ I pray that it would not glorify any brand or any logo ♪ ♪ I pray that the only logo that this would glorify ♪ ♪ Would be the cross, the only name that this offering would glorify ♪ ♪ Would be the name of Jesus ♪ ♪ God, we pray that every gift and every dollar would make you famous ♪ ♪ Because it's not about us, it's all about you ♪ ♪ In Jesus' name we pray, amen, amen ♪ ♪ Come on, let's give Lord a hand, clap of praise ♪ ♪ You may be seated at all our campuses ♪ ♪ You may be seated, amen ♪ All right, well you have the rest of the year to give or make a pledge if you haven't done so yet

and I'm excited to get into the message today. Before we get into the message, I want to just highlight our next sermon series. I'm that excited about it. I'm not going to wait until next week to get into it. I want to already let you know what's coming. Next Sunday we're going to start a brand new six-week series. We've been on these six-week ones. You guys okay with six-week ones? It's like a long, it's like a lot of episodes, I don't know. But we're going to start a series called "The Disciples" next week. And we're going to be doing a study, a study on each of the disciples' life. So there were 12 of them, and each week we're going to be deep diving into the lives of the disciples, which is really cool. And so, I don't want to miss, next Sunday we'll kick that off. All right, well I'm ready to close out our series today. If you have your book, you can open up to page 110. And if you brought your book every week for the last six weeks, there are special gold stars for you in heaven. I know that, I'm joking. But there might be, I wish we had gold stars because that's awesome. We're on week six. And I'm going to read from Book of Romans, chapter 12, verse 1. "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a," will you say these two words with me church? "Living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God." This is your true and proper worship. I want to speak on the topic of sacrifice today. that if I was trying to be strategic, if I was trying to be, I would never,

but if I was trying to be manipulative, I might have saved the offering for after this message. I'm out of preached on sacrifice, and then closed out by asking you to demonstrate your sacrifice by giving your gift. But I waited until after the offering was done to preach on sacrifice, because had I preached on sacrifice and then collected the offering, I feel like I would have communicated a message to you that I did not want to communicate today. And that message is that sacrifice is something you do in a moment. And I didn't wanna communicate that sacrifice is a moment because honestly, I think in our world today, we're really good at sacrificing for a moment. I think the greatest challenge comes in what comes after the moment. We're really good at signing up for the gym in January. We're just not good at showing up in February, or March, or April, or May, or June. People will sacrifice $30,000 for a wedding, but they won't sacrifice their preferences for a marriage. 'Cause it's easy to sacrifice for a moment and then be selfish for a lifetime. People we will sacrifice our self-worth to have sex with a stranger giving up our body for free, but then we won't sacrifice ourself to raise the kid that that sex produced. (audience cheering)

Because it's easy to give it up for a moment, but to give it up for a lifetime. This is where our struggle comes. I wanted to preach this message after your sacrifice, 'cause I wanted to preach the message entitled, "The Sacrifice After The Sacrifice." How many people know that there is a sacrifice that comes after the sacrifice? Revelation is chapter five, verse six. The Apostle John gets a revelation. Hence the book, Revelation. And in chapter five, verse six, he looks up and he sees Jesus, and I want you to see how he describes Jesus, and between the throne and the four living creatures, and among the elders, I saw a lamb standing. Here's what that means. He means he ain't lying. He ain't on the ground. He ain't dead, he's standing. It's a Quillell and John, if that's okay, in church. I'm still standing. He's standing. He's standing, but look at it, though it had been slain. So we have competing metaphors here. We have a picture of Jesus who is still standing, and somehow simultaneously slain. He is not a dead sacrifice. In other words, he is a living sacrifice. This is so important because Jesus embodies the way that you and I ought to live.

Not that he gave his life up one time, and then was selfish for all of eternity, but that he gave his life up 2,000 years ago, and every day since that moment. See, in one sense, Jesus died once for all time, but in another sense, every time we sin, and he chooses to forgive us, he dies again. Every time he chooses to forgive, every time he chooses to extend grace, he's not a one-time sacrifice for all sins, but he's a living sacrifice in heaven right now, standing at the right hand of the Father, interceding for you and for me. Let me make it real simple. He didn't just choose once. He chooses every day for all eternity. For you and for me, that is a living sacrifice. I want to teach you today why it is so important to keep sacrificing. My first point, if you're taking notes, whatever you keep sacrificing for keeps growing. Whatever you keep sacrificing for keeps growing. Galatians chapter six, verse seven, "Do not be deceived, God cannot be mocked. "A man reaps what he sows." My son recently, or a while ago, planted a papaya plant, and he planted it in the planter, a little plastic plant on the side of our house, above ground, and after months of caring for it,

putting in work, planting the seed, nurturing it, the plant began to die. And the reason why the plant began to die was not because he wasn't caring for it, but because the plant had begun to outgrow the planter, then it was in. It could not grow any longer. And so at that point, my son had to make a choice. Or am I gonna do the hard work of uprooting this plant from the planter and replanting it in our garden or our backyard outside on the sidewalk?" And he made the choice to put in the work, to uproot the plant, to go on the side of the house, to dig a hole, to replant the plant. It was a lot of work, but now that plant is growing. Now that plant is thriving. He had to do the work again in order for it to keep growing. And what's crazy is that our neighbors one day will walk past this papaya tree, this plant that is giving all this fruit. And if they don't know the story, they'll look at this tree and they'll go, "Nature did that." They'll look at this tree and go, "That was always here." Nature didn't do that. Sacrifice did that. Oftentimes we walk past the fruit of other people's lives with envy, but if we knew the sacrifice that it took to produce that fruit, we might not envy. We look at the fruit of other people's lives

and go, "I want what they want, will you do what they did?" Every time you see somebody with abs, can I tell you, sacrifice. You know how many times they had to drive by the hot and ready light at Krispy Kreme and rebuking the devil? You know how many times? You know how many pizza commercials they had to sit through, salivating, just Baba coming off the lips, just, "Did you know?" And they didn't pick up and they didn't call little Caesar's, they didn't call Domino's, they didn't call, that was sacrifice. Any time you see someone who has a relationship with Jesus that you envy, a relationship with Jesus that looks intimate, they have, like they spoke to him this morning. If you only knew the sacrifice that it took to have that kind of a relationship with Jesus, the kind of purity it took, the kind of nose that it took, the yeses that it took, the giving that it took, the holiness that it took, the time that it took, you want to wake up at 5 a.m. so you can beat the kids before they start crying to pray. That's the sacrifice that it takes to spend that kind of time with the Lord. Any time you see someone make it 50 years in marriage, you have no idea the sacrifice that it took to be able to make that. In fact, you have to entertain me just a little bit today because today is not just Vision Offering Sunday.

Today is actually the literal day of my wedding anniversary where my wife and I celebrate 18 years married and it's a special day, babe. It's special because it's not just 18 years marriage, 18 years married and 10 years of this church. And I don't know if you remember this when we were dating, but one time during Valentine's, I gave you like four little symbolic gifts that like represented you and what you meant to my life. One was like chocolate because you're sweet. Another was like a Rubik's Cube 'cause I'll forever be trying to figure you out. And this is real, I gave all this. And so I know that I'm preaching right now, but I just, we have four services and I got four different gifts for you on our anniversary. And so that represent what you mean to me and what you mean to our church. And the first little mini gift is just a representation of the fact that you are my rock. And I know that Jesus is my rock. I'm sorry if you're a guest here. You're gonna be gone next week. She's still gonna be here with me. So I got a, you're my rock, you've always been. And I know Jesus is my rock, but I feel like Jesus has been my rock through you. So thank you for being the one I can always count on, the one who is always with me.

And so I got four little symbolic gifts for you. They'll be new every service, it's a different one. So this one is a quartz heart. It's a rock heart because you're my rock. So I love you and happy anniversary. And I've got three more gifts coming. Each one is different. And if you wanna know what they are, keep coming back to service. And you know all the gifts. And then we'll keep it somewhere in the office. 'Cause I know right now you're thinking, "Where am I gonna put that?" And so I'll go in your office somewhere. Yeah. Whatever you sacrifice for, it keeps growing. Also listen, whatever you stop sacrificing for, stop screwing. Wow, come on. Galatians 6.9, let us not become weary and doing good for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest, if what? If we don't give up. But if we give up, recently I went back to school for my doctorate. And so I do would like to be called Pastor Dr. JJ whenever that happens, two years from now. But I did it because I felt like the church had got to a place where I didn't have the tools to lead you anymore.

I feel like I wasn't, I wasn't, I didn't have the ability. I didn't know the things that I needed to lead a church of this size. So I went back to school and I'd say last week I started to feed it. Last week I had a 20 page paper do. Wow, also preaching three different messages. And it was really hard. And as it was happening, I thought, I'm growing. I'm growing. There's this connection between sacrifice and growing. You don't get to, I can't look at this amazing church that we've built and go, "Whoa, I'm here, I've arrived, "and God is built, we're here, I've arrived, it's awesome." If we don't stop growing, this stops growing. Does that make sense? You can't go to the gym, build muscles, right? And then stop going and expect to keep those muscles. But I used to go every day when I was 20. And you're 50 now. What does that even mean? When it comes to your relationship with God, don't be like that. But I grew up in church, but my dad was a pastor, but I sacrificed to him 30 years ago. And no offense, but what are you sacrificing right now? Because what you're sacrificing today is what you're growing. And if you ever get to the point where I have been,

at some points in my relationship with God, where you're going, "I think I'm done sacrificing. "I've sacrificed enough for God. "I've sacrificed enough for church. "I've sacrificed enough for my faith." Fine, but then just reword it, I'm done growing. Just say that 'cause that's what you're saying. I'm done growing. Here's my next point, whatever you sacrifice for, you keep enjoying. Whatever you sacrifice for, you keep enjoying. Hebrews 1211, "Discipline is painful at the time, "but later," somebody say, "but later." Later, later, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace. If you keep going, you keep enjoying. I like to preach on things that I know every once in a while, I dip into things that I don't know, and this is one of those moments. I don't know this, but I've heard this, I've looked this up, this tends to be true. Something called runner's high, it's true. I wouldn't know it 'cause I don't like running. (congregation laughing) But apparently, you run and you're tired at first, but if you keep running, you get these endorphins that kick in and these other things called cannabinoids, which sounds a lot like cannabis, so I was like, maybe it's real, you want to get high for real, cannabinoids and endorphins, and at the end of the run, you have this sense of euphoria.

Here's how it's a brief, it's a feel-good state of calmness, lower pain, anxiety, mild euphoria that happens after long or hard exercise. So then I started thinking about it, I said, maybe it's not that I'm like running, maybe it's just that I haven't ran long enough. Maybe it's 'cause I just kept quitting when it got hard, but I am pushed past the moment of hard to experience the joy on the other side of hard, the peace on the other side of hard, the rest on the other side of hard. The point isn't, the point isn't, the point isn't that sacrifice isn't enjoyable. The point is that the things we're willing to sacrifice for can be some of the most meaningful and rewarding things in our life. When a parent sacrifices sleep and convenience, but then gets to experience the joy of watching their child grow up. When an athlete sacrifices immediate gratification, but then enjoys the strength and the confidence that that training built. When a follower of Jesus sacrifices certain pleasures, but then gets to experience the joy of his presence. There's a joy on the other side of sacrifice. Now on the other hand, listen, whenever you stop sacrificing for, you stop enjoying. - Good, perfect. - In the last two years, well, I'm gonna say this, I've begun washing my car every week now,

almost every week, and that is because of Liz. Pastel Liz has got me washing my car, she's encouraged me, she's inspired me, she's modeled it for me. And in the last two years, both of our cars went to be with Jesus, both of our cars. In the last two years, they didn't make it. Both died, they went to be with the Lord. But when her car died, she was sad. Well, my car died, I was glad. And both of our cars had issues. But she was sad because for the 10 plus years that she had that car, she cared for that car. She washed that car. When me, when my car stopped taking care of me, I was like, well, I'm gonna stop taking care of you. So I was happy to see it go. But she mourned to see it go. Even both of our cars had issues. This is so good, I hope you, you grasses. Most people think that they stop sacrificing for something when they stop enjoying it. But the actual truth is you stop enjoying something when you stop sacrificing for it. I'm about to really preach, are you ready? This is gonna help some married people out today. Some people think it's okay to get a new marriage because the current marriage has run its course. 'Cause the current marriage has run out of gas. 'Cause the current marriage has broken down.

I stopped sacrificing it because I stopped enjoying it. No, no, you stopped enjoying it because you stopped sacrificing for it. You stopped enjoying it because you stopped going on dates. You stopped pursuing it. You stopped being selfless. You stopped compromising. You stopped negotiating. That's when it leaves. I stopped enjoying my career. Maybe you stopped growing in your career. Maybe you stopped challenging yourself in your career. Have you ever noticed that the moment your job stops becoming challenging, it stops becoming enjoying? Have you even noticed that? Like the moment your job gets boring, the moment it stops the entry, it's like it's no longer interesting to you. You've got to go find something else. Because there's something about doing something hard that brings joy. Most people lose their passion for God. And when they lose their passion for God, not most people, but when most people lose their passion for God, they assume they need a new worship experience, a new theology, a new doctrine, a new church, a new group, a new season. No, what you need is to give, again, your attention to the Lord. Give your obedience to the Lord. Give your time to the Lord. You've got to sacrifice again. You've got to sacrifice again. Here's the truth about real passion.

Real passion isn't externally restored. It is internally cultivated. You can't wait for something outside of you to bring your passion to your marriage back, to bring your passion to Jesus back. Can't wait for something outside of you of passages, priests, a better message if the worship team just sang my song. If I had to sing your song for you to worship, it was never worship to begin with. They would just find my favorite song. I could really get into it. Real passion is not, you know what that's called? Emotion. Manipulation. But when it comes from the inside, that's worship. That's authentic. Here's my last one. Listen, whatever you keep sacrificing to God, continues your worship. Continues your worship. Romans 12-1, "Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice." Why? Because this is holy and pleasing to God. And this, this, this, this, this, this, this living sacrifice. This is your true and proper worship. You choose to come to church today. That's amazing. That was a sacrifice. And that was worship.

Thank you for making that choice to come to church today. Wouldn't easy if you didn't get the kids ready. You had to spend gas. We know how expensive gas is right now. You had to give up sleep, all these things. Thank you for your worship. Now listen, and when you leave here, every choice that you make after here continues your worship. Does that make sense? Every time that you see someone and they dress kind of, and your mind begins to wander, and you choose not to let your mind go to that place. You just chose worship. Every month where you choose to give the law the first 10% of your income through your time, that's worship. Every time you choose to humbly ask someone for forgiveness because you hurt them, that's worship. And every time in humility you choose to forgive someone who hurt you, that's worship. Every time you get on the bike or go to the gym and steward the body that God gave you, that's worship. And every time you, all of our dream teamers, you show up Sunday after Sunday, after Sunday to hold the door, to play an instrument, to greet a child, to mentor a young person, that's worship. Every time you do it, that's worship. And on the other side of that, listen, whatever you won't sacrifice to God, you worship. Did you hear me? Whatever you won't sacrifice to God, you worship.

Show me something you won't lay down for God, and I will introduce you to your actual God. Show me something you won't give up for him. And I will show you who really is the God of your life. And there are two applications of that truth. The first is prayer, you need to ask the Lord, and we're going to ask the Lord today, we're going to take a second. Lord, is there anything in my life that I'm holding on too tightly to? Is there anything in my life that I wouldn't give you if you ask for? Is there anything in my life that would fight you for? And let him expose those idols in your heart. And then lay him down. The other application, this is a little suffering hack I've learned. Can I share a suffering hack with you? Something I learn whenever I go through difficult times, I'm going through a whole lot. How many of you have ever heard that joke? Like the God walks into the office, and the boss is like, "You're fired." And then the guy is like, "You can't fire me. I quit." You see that? So there's like a Christian version of that. Anytime the devil tries to take something from me, anytime life tries to take something from me, and I start, Cry over it and I start to stress over it First off and I start to feel like my life is falling apart because I lost it first off That is a great indicator that that object has become really close to becoming an idol in my life If my life is falling apart because I lost it then that means that my life was built on it So first thing is that it exposes it in me That this money this career this job this person this relationship this thing was an idol in my life

If your life is anything, so then when I realized that that was supposed to be an item I don't know who I'm talking to at this point. I gotta get my theology right. I don't know if I'm talking to the devil I don't know if I'm talking to life. I don't know if I'm talking to God I don't know All I know is I look at that thing and I go you can't take it I Give You Can't take it from me I give it to God Maybe you and your spouse have been struggling to have a kid It's been years can't have a kid What if you turn that into worship today you go you know why you can't take it for I'm gonna give that Lord I give you that child today Maybe you're single and you've been waiting for a spouse you've been doing everything you need to do to wait for a spouse You know you can't take that spouse from God. I give you That spouse that I laid down that spouse asked worship. Maybe you lost your job. Maybe you really got fired. You can't fire me I'm gonna lay down this job to my provider because he's the actual provider and I'm gonna give this to God You can't take it. I Give it you can't take it. I give it. You can't take it. I'm gonna make it. I'm gonna turn it into praise I'm gonna turn it into worship I'm gonna turn it into an offering that I get to God to prove to God that none of my life was Built on that thing my life was always built on the Lord Every head God every I close in this room. I told you we would pray it. So I'm gonna ask you to pray it right now Ask the Lord is there anything in my life that I've been holding on too tightly to Anything in my life It's tempted to be my God. It's so Lord pointed out so I can lay it down at your feet. Come on take 10 seconds But what is it in my life? Is there anything in my life? That if you took it from me my life would collapse Lord. I Lay that down today. That is not my God. You are my God You are my God. You are my God

And that same breath if you're in this room today I want you to be a living sacrifice. I want you to give you a life to Jesus. He gave his life for you He was just want your choice today He wants all your choices after this choice You heard me. He wants all your choices after this choice to be aligned with his word aligned with his heart It's time to follow Jesus If you want to make that decision or follow Jesus to choose him not just today But every day after this day on the county would you raise your right hand high and say Jesus. I need you Jesus I love you all over this room. I'm ready to make you my Lord my Savior. I Choose you not just today, but every day that's you on the county raise your right hand over this room one two three Let me see you hit it. That's you right now raise your right hand. I see that hand. I see that hand up top of the balcony I see that hand I see hands up here praise God. Whether you raise your hand or not Let's everybody pray this prayer Allah say father God Today I choose you and not just today, but every day after this day Not just in this moment, but every moment after this moment. I declare you are my Lord You are my Savior that I can't do life without your help. I declare. I'm a sinner. I confess and I need you In my life Leave me Jesus from this day Forward in your name. We pray amen and amen. Come on. Welcome to the family of God all of those who made a decision Amen amen amen well, we're so excited if you gave your life to Jesus today Let us be the first to say welcome welcome to the family of God Not just the journey family, but the global church Family of believers all around the globe you now are part of that family and we would encourage you I would love for you to scan the QR code on the screen so a pastor a pastor can reach out to you and connect with you and just get to know your story and What God has done in your life and help you figure out how to connect you to the next step of your journey of faith What a powerful word. Yes, how for word. What what about it stood out to you? For me was when Pastor Gigi was saying what you sacrifice keeps growing And it just truly reminded me of Genesis 22 when Abraham what the son that he was willing to give up It just it was a promise to the nation. So he he was truly

because it was a promise to the nation. So I think that's what really stood out to me. So just a reminder, like what you sacrifice today, just continue and continue to sacrifice it because sacrificing might just, and it's not just a loss. You know what I mean? It's something that's gonna become something bigger, moving forward to serve his kingdom. - Right, I love that. And then the point I enjoyed was that, well, I enjoyed spoiler alert, whatever you're sacrificing for, you get to keep enjoying. And he mentioned about like the runner's high of, you know, you run and you push past the heart and then you start to enjoy it. And I'm also not a runner. I was not built that way, but I can take it in a creative sense. There's sometimes where, you know, I enjoy writing and things like that. And there's, you kind of hit a wall a little sometimes, but once you get past that difficult part, then it's just off to the races, you're having fun. But also in the sense of, you know, being a parent, you know, yeah, it's, we had sleepless nights, we have like, I'd rather do something else than take you to maybe your piano practice or whatever, but to see your kids enjoying life,

the sacrifice is worth it. And he tied it to the thought of, you know, we did the vision offering before the word because he didn't want it to feel like, sacrifice on talking about giving, one time thing. But there's something exciting about being able to give and sacrifice because it's not about properties about people. And so if you wanted to partner with us in that and really whatever God put in your heart for the vision offering that we're doing today, we'll have the QR code and we'll also have the link in the comments. And I'm just excited to see what God's gonna do, you know? And the sacrifice does not go unseen by God. And I don't know, I'm excited to participate. - Yeah, no, and for me, like when you were speaking about sacrificing like with your child, it just reminded me of my mom, you know, she used to take the bus and like just to go to, you know, work at eight AM, she would have to be there at four AM just to take the bus and that sacrifice. But she, that sacrifice provided for us and I'm able to be where I am, not just only through God, but because of my mom's sacrifices. - Amen, praise God, praise God, shout out Sasha and Hama. Well, if you want to join us again, we thank you for being here with us today. Let's keep this going. I'm excited about the disciple series starting next week. So make sure you connect with us to YouTube and the app

and we will see you next time, bye. [BLANK_AUDIO]