How to Trust God - JJ Vasquez

- Happy Sunday, journey. - Hey everybody, happy baptism Sunday. - Happy baptism Sunday. - That's right everybody, it is here. - Yes, it's such an amazing day. - It's waiting for it, it's here, I'm so excited. Well, welcome into the space. If you are joining us with the first time, my name is Josanne, and I get the honor and privilege of being your host today. - And my name is Jorge, and I also have the honor and privilege of being host here as well. - He knows I'm incredibly proud of him, but I love the way he says his name. He's just like, what a, like a telenovela. Anyways, welcome in, right? - Welcome everybody to the show, right? - Yes, so excited today. I have been waiting for Sunday because of baptism, like it's super excited for it, but how was your weekend? I just want to check in with you. - That's right, we don't want to go in hot, right? We don't want to go in too hot, so we'll start nice and easy. My weekend was really good, productive, which is good, blessing to be productive, but I also got a chance to spend some time with my son. So that's always a blessing. - I definitely love that.

My weekend was just mainly helping out a friend. Like I organized her apartment, helped her clean, did some adulting things, you know. - Adulting's important, very important. - I honestly miss being a kid sometimes when my only problem was chores and homework, but it's fine. - That's right, I was an adult now, you're just like, let me hit that reverse card. - Right. - Shout out to Uno. - Uno. - Shout out to Uno. - Uno no mercy. If you haven't played that way, you should play that one. - That's right. - Well, let us know in the chat where you're watching us from, how your weekend was, we would love to know and just kind of celebrate with you. Something exciting happened. Maybe you have a praise report that you want to share from this weekend. Drop it in the chat so that we can chow you out and celebrate with you. - Yes, if something amazing happens to you or you had a really good day, just put it in the chat, just engage with some communication with everybody also. Let us know where you're coming in from, right?

Let's know if you're in Canada, New York, wherever you're tuning in from. Let's just put the flag, put the flag in the bottom where you're tuning in from. - Oh yes, the flag, we'll love that. I wish I could draw a picture of that flag in there. - That's a regular city. (laughing) - Yes, but I'm so excited for baptism, but before we go into that, I want to talk about the new series that we're in. Can you see it? This is going to be such an incredible next six weeks and I'm excited to see what God's going to do in Journey, but also in our lives. As we walk alongside Pastor JJ and Pastor Liz in their vision for Can You See It, I'm really excited to see what he's going to do in each and every one of our lives. If there's something maybe that you're praying about and hoping for a vision or just a re-ignition of your purpose and calling and passion, drop it in the chat, let us know how we can be praying with you alongside you as we go through this journey together. But I want to hear from my friend Jorge, what'd you think about the message from last week? - I was about to say, let's talk about it for a minute here, so it was good. So last week's message was so eye-opening

because it was the story of Abram or Abraham, whichever way you'd like to say it. And after a finished battle, he was in the tent and he was like, God, thank you, but what's next? Like, what's left? I've been praying for a child and I don't have a child yet, but he was inside his tent. God called him out of his tent to then have him look at the stars and said, your descendants will be as numerous as the stars in heaven. - So amazing. - Our vision is only 2020. God's vision is not limited. So do not limit yourself to God's blessings. - Honestly, yeah, I've learned that in my life. I cannot put limits on God. Like, I have allowed fear and insecurity and a lot of those things to get in the way of seeing what God has for us and seeing his vision for my life. So I wanna encourage you as we go through this next six weeks of can you see it, don't put limits on God. Trust him, put your faith completely in him and know that he's in control. I want you to let go of what you thought your life should look like and what your dream should look like and just trust that God knows what he's doing. He's the author and finisher of your life. - Well, before we talk more about this, I wanna transition to our friend Manny in a century

who's preparing us for a time of worship. - All right, all right, this is mainly, I'm being the sanctuary and the super excited day. It is baptism Sunday, we are pumped. Let me tell you, there were some folks in the first service here that went ahead and baptized and think about baptized didn't even expect to. They just came in, they heard the word, they got up. So we encourage you if you're near one of our campuses and you can make it, come join us, come join us today. And let me share with you that this baptism is actually a burial. It is not something that's a nice moment to take a picture. It is a burial, your old you, it's being buried. Like Roman says, we're burying so we can now walk in the newness of Christ. And when we say walk, we don't mean walk tomorrow, we say walk right now. This is a key and part of coming closer to God. So let me tell you, I got baptized many, many years ago before the internet, so that's a little bit. So let me tell you the closer, the closer you get to the word, the further away of dying, the worse it has been. So let me tell you from decades of experience, this is an absolute game changer. Baptism is a fantastic step in the right direction because you are surrendering. You're saying, you know what, I'm gonna let go and let God and take that step that I need to take. It's absolutely a powerful thing.

And let me also share with you that once you make this step, that's just the beginning of the journey, and it's gonna get better each and every day. And when you do that this, when you make that decision, you are following the word. You are getting closer to what God tells you. So I'm gonna say a quick prayer. If anyone out there is just on the fence, God, help them take that step forward, that leap and say, "I surrender to you." And I ask you this in the name of Jesus. And now we're gonna posture our hearts and get ready for this fantastic worship. Listen to the words, the songs are amazing. So get ready now and get ready also to hear the great word of the pastor. And right now, we're gonna go over to our fantastic worship. - Good morning, and welcome home to any church. We worship with God who raises the debt to life. Let's put those hands together and we give them all the glory and honor this morning. We love you, Lord. (upbeat music) ♪ 'Cause I was headed for hell until you rescued me ♪ ♪ And I was stuck in the same ♪ ♪ And then I made the break down ♪ ♪ 'Cause I was headed for hell until you rescued me ♪ ♪ I was stuck in the same ♪ ♪ But now I see ♪ ♪ I was headed for hell until you rescued me ♪

♪ I was stuck in the same ♪ ♪ But now I'm dead right now ♪ ♪ I was headed for hell until you rescued me ♪ ♪ I was stuck in the same ♪ ♪ But now I see ♪ ♪ I believe in Jesus' name ♪ ♪ I believe in He died to see ♪ ♪ On the cross He cleaned my day ♪ ♪ Into that amazing grace ♪ ♪ I believe on that birthday ♪ ♪ And He walked right out of the grave ♪ ♪ So the life was in my face ♪ ♪ Into that amazing ♪ ♪ And I was headed for hell until you rescued me ♪ ♪ I was stuck in my shame ♪ ♪ But now I'm dead right now ♪ ♪ Heaven's my hope for all eternity ♪ ♪ I once was mine but now I see ♪ ♪ I believe in Jesus' name ♪ ♪ I believe in dying to see ♪ ♪ On the cross you clean my name ♪ ♪ Isn't that amazing grace ♪ ♪ Isn't that amazing grace ♪ ♪ Isn't that amazing grace ♪ ♪ Isn't that amazing grace ♪ ♪ Isn't that amazing ♪ ♪ I'm little into man on the middle cross ♪ ♪ 'Cause he did it on the dead but he paid it off ♪ ♪ And he rolled away the soul out and get it up ♪ ♪ I'm getting up, I'm getting up ♪

♪ I'm little into the man on the middle cross ♪ ♪ Nucky did it on the dead but he paid it off ♪ ♪ And he rolled away the soul out and get it up ♪ ♪ I'm getting up, I'm getting up ♪ ♪ I'm little into the man on the middle cross ♪ ♪ And he did it on the dead but he paid it off ♪ ♪ And he rolled away the soul out and get it up ♪ ♪ I'm getting up, I'm getting up ♪ ♪ I'm little into the man on the middle cross ♪ ♪ 'Cause he did it on the dead but he paid it off ♪ ♪ And he rolled away the soul out and get it up ♪ ♪ I'm getting up, I'm getting up ♪ ♪ I was headed for him and so he rescued me ♪ ♪ I'm stuck in the shame and now he's dead free ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Sing it out, I want it, but now I see ♪ ♪ I'm getting up, I'm getting up, I'm getting up ♪ ♪ Sing it out, I'm getting up, I'm getting up ♪ ♪ I'm getting up, I'm getting up, I'm getting up ♪ ♪ I want it, but now I see ♪ ♪ I'm little into the man on the middle cross ♪ ♪ 'Cause he did it on the dead but he paid it off ♪ ♪ And he rolled away the soul out and get it up ♪ ♪ I'm getting up, I'm getting up ♪ ♪ I'm getting up, I'm getting up to the man on the middle cross ♪ ♪ 'Cause he did it on the dead but he paid it off ♪ ♪ And he rolled away the soul out and get it up ♪ ♪ I'm getting up, I'm getting up ♪ ♪ I'm getting up, I'm getting up ♪ ♪ I'm getting up, I'm getting up ♪

♪ Now your name I'm getting up ♪ ♪ I'm getting up, I'm getting up ♪ ♪ I'm getting up ♪ ♪ I'm getting up ♪ ♪ I'm getting up ♪ ♪ I believe in Jesus' name ♪ ♪ I believe He died to save ♪ ♪ On the cross He cleaned my name ♪ ♪ He's an amazing grace ♪ ♪ I believe on that third day ♪ ♪ I want to pray now and pray ♪ ♪ Full of life within my praise ♪ ♪ That I'm amazing ♪ ♪ That I'm amazing ♪ ♪ Don't wanna see anybody thankful ♪ ♪ Thankful for Jesus this morning ♪ ♪ Amen, wherever you're out across the stream ♪ ♪ If you feel comfortable with me ♪ ♪ Would you just lift your hands to heaven ♪ ♪ Father, we surrender ourselves to you ♪ ♪ But I think He furthest dead ♪ ♪ Where we get to see people go into those waters ♪ ♪ One person and out of those waters ♪ ♪ Are alive and crushed, Jesus ♪ ♪ Lord, in this moment we just turn our hearts to a posture ♪ ♪ Lord of gratitude and thankfulness ♪ ♪ For everything that you've done ♪ ♪ When everything you're going to do ♪ ♪ Lord, in just who you are ♪ ♪ We look to you, Lord, we celebrate today ♪

♪ Your goodness ♪ ♪ You're so wonderful ♪ Come on, we sing. ♪ In Jesus, wonderful ♪ ♪ Jesus, beautiful ♪ ♪ Who could I compare to heaven's king ♪ ♪ In Jesus, I will trust ♪ ♪ Jesus, born my love ♪ ♪ Pour it out like oil at your feet ♪ Come on, we sing together. ♪ You are good ♪ ♪ You are good ♪ ♪ Every moment, every time ♪ ♪ Every day of my whole life ♪ ♪ You are good ♪ Come on, sing it to me. ♪ You are good ♪ ♪ And always in every day ♪ ♪ It will be my joy to say ♪ ♪ You are good ♪ Come on, we believe it. ♪ In Jesus, born your stone ♪ ♪ In Jesus, living home ♪ ♪ Faithful, you have been ♪ ♪ You will be ♪ ♪ You hold it ♪ ♪ In holy ♪ ♪ Lamb of God ♪ ♪ Worthy ♪ ♪ Love it all ♪

♪ Every time confessing I ♪ ♪ We'll see you all ♪ ♪ You are good ♪ ♪ You are good ♪ ♪ Every moment, every day ♪ ♪ One with three days of life ♪ ♪ You are good ♪ ♪ We thank you all ♪ ♪ We thank you Jesus ♪ ♪ Every day ♪ ♪ Every day ♪ ♪ It will be my joy to say ♪ ♪ You are good ♪ ♪ You are good ♪ ♪ You are good ♪ ♪ You are good ♪ ♪ You're perfect in every way ♪ ♪ It's who you are ♪ ♪ You never say ♪ ♪ It's who I declare ♪ ♪ You are good ♪ ♪ You are good ♪ ♪ You are perfect in every way ♪ ♪ It's who you are ♪ ♪ It's who you never say ♪ ♪ Who owns your worth ♪ ♪ It's who you every way ♪ ♪ It's who you are ♪ ♪ It's who you never say ♪ ♪ You are God, you are God ♪

♪ I know you're Lord ♪ ♪ Oh, I've seen it ♪ ♪ Oh, I've seen it ♪ ♪ You are God, you are God ♪ ♪ You are God ♪ ♪ Always in every thing ♪ ♪ In the will be my soul to save ♪ ♪ To perfect you everywhere ♪ ♪ To you, you are it ♪ ♪ You never say so ♪ ♪ You are perfect ♪ ♪ You come to play ♪ ♪ You come to glory ♪ ♪ In every thing ♪ ♪ You are God ♪ ♪ You are God ♪ ♪ Every moment every time ♪ ♪ Every day of my whole life ♪ ♪ You are good ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ You are good ♪ ♪ God is so good ♪ ♪ I love the part of the song that says ♪ ♪ You are perfect in every way ♪ ♪ You'll never change ♪ ♪ Like, I love that because we need that reminder ♪ ♪ That God is good ♪ ♪ Even when our circumstance is hard ♪ ♪ He's always good ♪ ♪ And with that same heart posture ♪

♪ I want us to go into a time of prayer together ♪ ♪ For some of our brothers and sisters in Christ ♪ ♪ Who are dealing with some hurt ♪ ♪ Especially a family who is suffering from loss ♪ ♪ So if you feel comfortable ♪ ♪ Raise your hand to the screen ♪ ♪ As we lift them up and prayer ♪ Father God, I pray for this family. I pray that you strengthen their marriage. I pray that you strengthen the relationship between these two brothers. God, I pray that you bring unity, peace, and harmony back into this family. I pray that you will turn their pain into purpose and that you will use what they're going through God to draw them closer to you and to each other. And to everyone dealing with family problems, dealing with pain, depression, anxiety, loss. God, I pray that you will be their comfort, that you will be their strength. God, I pray that you will be their storm, their shield, and this time will storm. I pray that you will cover them, Father God, that you will wrap your loving arms around them and remind them, God, that you are good. In your son's precious name, I pray, amen. - Amen, amen. Now here at Journey Church, we believe in prayer. Prayer is our first response, not a last resort, and it's very powerful.

So if you have any prayer requests that you'd like to submit, scan the QR code below, or go to the Journey Church app where you can do so. And one of our prayer warriors will be there to intercede, which is pray for you, any day of the week, even Wednesday, which we have our prayer service. - Absolutely. - So let's go. Prayer warriors, we're here for you. - Amen. Well, welcome into the space. If you were just joining us, it is baptism Sunday. - That's right, baptism Sunday, y'all. - I'm so excited to have you all here with us today. And if you haven't met me yet, my name is Josanne, and I get the honor and privilege of being your online host today. - And my name is Jorge, and I have the privilege and honor of doing so as well. - Yes, we're so excited to have you here with us. We thank you, and we want to give a special shout out to you. Thank you for joining us and watching with us today. - That's right. I also want to thank you for our online guests, our PANDO app to be more specific, those in correctional facilities everywhere joining us. We are honored that you are here with us, and here with you, man. - Absolutely. We love you, and we thank you for tuning in every week.

And for those of you who may have found us accidentally, maybe your friend shared this with you, and it's your first time. We want to celebrate that and honor you. So drop an F-T-G in the chat so that we know who you are or a fire emoji. We just want to celebrate you joining us today. - As well as those that are from anywhere around the world. - Absolutely. - For those that have been your second time, third time, or maybe not so first time first time guests, it's been a minute, but you came back and you're wondering what's next? Well, next steps is for you, and that's where you get to learn about the mission, the vision, and who our lead pastors are. Pastor J.J. - Absolutely. And another way that you can join us in the vision that Pastor J.J. and Pastor Liz has for our church is with the Can You See It series. We just started this last Sunday, and Pastor J.J. introduced the Can You See It. And I want you to join us as part, maybe joining the small group, maybe leading the small group, but I want you to plug in and just see the vision that God has for your life as well. And if you haven't yet, if you weren't here last week and didn't get a chance to get your book,

you can go on the journey app and download the book and just walk through the steps with us. [BLANK_AUDIO] will you believe in passing things forward to the next generation? That being said, Culture Conference is right around the corner, everybody. It's so amazing that we get to share all of these for our teenagers and young adults from middle school, high school, and college. This conference is for you guys, and we have a special guest. Manushka Charles is gonna be here as a special guest for us, and a couple of other special guests, or Charles Weem is gonna be here as a singer, he's gonna be ushering us into our worship through the night, as well as Pastor JJ, and some other special guests. Yes, absolutely, you don't wanna miss it. And if you don't feel old enough to participate, you can always join us by serving if you are in the local area, or I would encourage you to sign up your middle schoolers or anyone through young adults. All right, also, I wanna encourage us in another generosity story that I feel like truly kind of brings together what Journey's Church stands for, what our online family is all about. So about a month ago, we had an online team go to New York

for our missionaries' team, and they helped bring so many people together. They fed over 200 people, and they gave out 2,000 backpacks to those children in need going back to school. What an amazing opportunity. So much so that they were blessed with the Regina Spirit of Service Award, and this is why they received your award. Let me share a little bit of what they say. So in recognition of your outstanding dedication, compassion and commitment to serving our community, your continued support of the Why Not Care United Festival reflects Regina's Spirit of Service, and helps create a stronger, more caring community for children and families. With heart health gratitude, we honor your service and lust, lasting impact. Thank you so much, Journey Church. What a beautiful testimony. - That's right, and all of this can't be possible without your generosity. So if you feel the desire to give, scan the QR card below, go to our Journey Church app where you can do so. - Absolutely, and another way you can give is by sharing this message. You don't know who needs to hear this word that we have today. So I encourage you to share it,

and as we go back into another time of worship, prepare your heart, prepare your space, and we'll see you after. - Bye. - Good one at this time. Can we welcome in our East Orlando and our Kissimmee location, joining us until worship this morning? Father, we look to you this morning. We keep our eyes on you. You are worthy of all of our affection. You are worthy of everything we have, though. So today, Lord, as we lift our worship to you, as we lift our praise to you, Lord, we make you the center of our hearts again. It's your worthy, Jesus. You're worthy. Come on, will you sing it with me? And maybe we've made this complicated. (gentle music) ♪ More than it was ever meant to be ♪ ♪ And as in it always been about the same thing ♪ ♪ So, Lord, bring us back to simple things ♪ ♪ Come on, sing it ♪ ♪ And you ♪ ♪ Be the center of it all ♪ ♪ My heart belongs to you ♪ ♪ My Savior all in ♪ ♪ You're the one I hold on to ♪ ♪ For the beauty of your name ♪

♪ My soul will lift you safe ♪ ♪ Jesus of you ♪ ♪ It won't sing teachers ♪ ♪ To teach us to discern the moment ♪ ♪ When you serve ♪ ♪ And want to sit here like you feel ♪ ♪ We thank you, Jesus ♪ ♪ Keep us awake ♪ ♪ It's what you want ♪ ♪ Oh, just like Mary ♪ ♪ But you chose a better thing ♪ ♪ Come on, will you sing ♪ ♪ And you ♪ ♪ Be the center of it all ♪ ♪ My heart belongs to you ♪ ♪ My Savior all in ♪ ♪ You're the one I hold on to ♪ ♪ For the beauty of your name ♪ ♪ My soul will lift you safe ♪ ♪ Oh for you to be the center of your heart ♪ ♪ My heart belongs to you ♪ ♪ Come on declare this morning ♪ ♪ For the beauty of your name ♪ ♪ For the beauty of your name ♪ ♪ My soul will lift you safe ♪ ♪ Jesus, I love you ♪ ♪ Oh, how I love you ♪ ♪ Oh, how I love you ♪ ♪ Jesus, I love you ♪ ♪ Oh, how I love you ♪

♪ Oh, I really do ♪ ♪ Oh, how I love you ♪ ♪ Jesus, I love you ♪ ♪ In my whole life ♪ ♪ For you could ring my whole world ♪ ♪ For you only everything ♪ ♪ For the honor of your name ♪ ♪ Come on ♪ ♪ And if I taste ♪ ♪ Tell the story that it be ♪ ♪ Of you only everything ♪ ♪ Is for the honor of your name ♪ ♪ Come on ♪ ♪ In my whole life ♪ ♪ For you could ring my whole world ♪ ♪ For you only everything ♪ ♪ For the honor of your name ♪ ♪ And if my taste ♪ ♪ Tell the story that it be ♪ ♪ Of you only everything ♪ ♪ Is for the honor of your name ♪ ♪ In my whole life ♪ ♪ For you could ring my whole world ♪ ♪ For you only everything ♪ ♪ Is for the honor of your name ♪ ♪ And if my taste ♪ ♪ Tell the story that it be ♪ ♪ But you only everything ♪ ♪ Is for the honor of your name ♪ ♪ Oh how I love you ♪

♪ Oh it's the cry of my heartwarming ♪ ♪ I'll sing it to you ♪ ♪ I'll sing it to you ♪ ♪ Oh how I love you ♪ ♪ Oh 'cause it's not like in Jesus ♪ ♪ Oh 'cause it's not like in Jesus ♪ ♪ It's not like in my whole life ♪ ♪ In my whole life ♪ ♪ For you could ring my whole world ♪ ♪ Oh how I love you ♪ ♪ Everything ♪ ♪ Is for the honor of your name ♪ ♪ And if my taste ♪ ♪ Let it be ♪ ♪ 'Cause you only everything ♪ ♪ For the honor of your name ♪ ♪ In my head ♪ ♪ In my whole life ♪ ♪ For you could ring my whole world ♪ ♪ For you only everything ♪ ♪ For the honor of your name ♪ ♪ And if my taste ♪ ♪ Tell the story that you need ♪ ♪ On your own ♪ ♪ Oh everything ♪ ♪ Is for me honor of your name ♪ ♪ Oh sing ♪ ♪ Oh how I love you ♪ ♪ Come on, can you tell me this one ♪ ♪ Oh how I love you ♪

♪ Jesus I love you ♪ ♪ Oh how I love you ♪ ♪ Oh how I love you ♪ ♪ Jesus I love you ♪ Yes. Anybody remember the love of Jesus? ♪ ♪ I think we have to be mindful, careful when we come to church. Because when we come to church, we need to really reflect on the motivation and the mindset of our heart. Because we live in a world where every time we step into an environment, it is usually so that we can get something. If you go to the grocery store, it is so that you can get food. If you go to the movie theater, it is so you can be entertained. If you go on a date, it is so that you can get a kiss. Every time we step into a place, we're stepping into that place for something. And we have to be careful that that consumer mindset does not make its way into this space. Because it's real easy. I've even preached it to come into this place for a miracle, to come into this place for a breakthrough, to come into this place for a healing, to come into this place for deliverance. But we do not come into this place for something. We come into this place for someone. We come into this place because Jesus is real and alive and resurrected and beautiful. And in Christ, we find all those things, but that is not a thing. So if I never get the breakthrough, he's still Jesus, he's still beautiful. If I never get the deliverance, he's still Jesus, he's still beautiful. If I never get the kiss, he's still Jesus, he's still beautiful. I'm not here to take anything, Lord. I'm here to shower you with praise. I'm here to shower you with worship. I'm here to shower you with my love.

I'm here to shower you with my soul. I'm here to adore you and exalt you and lift your name higher. I'm here to tell you I love you. I'm here to tell you I love you. Come on, somebody pour it out on Jesus. Come on, I came here for someone. Jesus, I love him, but I love you in my whole life. For you're closing my whole world. For you are the every day. It's for the honor of your name. And if my days tell the story that you think of your only every day. It's for the honor of your name in my whole life. For you're closing my whole world. For you are the every day. It's for the honor of your name. And if my days tell the story that you think of your only every day. It's for the honor of your name. Father, we love you. Father, we love you and we repent. Forgive us if we ever came into church like we came into supermarkets. Forgive us if we ever stepped into church like we stepped into theaters. We don't want to be entertained. We're not here for a meal. We're here because you're awesome. We're here because you made us. We're here because you love us. We're here because you died on the cross to show us that there's no one on this earth like you Jesus. Reorient my eyes on you. Recalibrate my heart to your heart. We love you Jesus and we want more and more of you in your name we pray.

Amen. Come on if you love him one more time will you put your hands together? Amen. Well before we continue on with today's service where you find three people that you did not drive to church with today. Give them a high five and why don't you remind them why they came today. Come on tell them Jesus is the reason. Come on Jesus is the reason. Jesus is the reason. Amen. Amen. Well who's excited to be in the house of God today? Me too. It's such a good day because you're here. It's such a good day because Jesus is here. It's such a good day because did you feel the weather outside when you walk up this morning? Come on somebody. We get one perfect day in Florida a year and this is it. You go outside. You go for a walk. You plant something. You better have fun today because it's awesome. Hey if we haven't met yet my name is J. J. J. I love Jesus. I'm talking about Jesus a lot today. Forget about it. I don't wear viral. Pastor Orlando claims he's Jesus. I love Jesus. I happen in my heart. First certificate says J. J. J. and I'm married to a woman named Liz and together. We have the honor and the privilege of serving

this amazing church as the sleep pastors. And if you didn't know that, that probably means you're a first time guest, which you're so glad that we're so glad that you're here. 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, which is who you felt at moment while we were singing, but also because you're surrounded by some of the most amazing, honest, open and transparent people in all of Central Florida, Journey Church, will you prove me right by putting your hands together and welcoming all of our first time guests. Keep it going for Journey Church Online. Keep it going for Journey East Orlando, meaning right now at University High School. Keep it going for Journey Kissimmee, meaning right now in Gateway High School. Finally, help me welcome all of those who are currently incarcerated, watching from jails and prisons throughout the United States through the panel about we love you. And I want to give a special shout out today to two people. First person I want to shout out was my wife and I, we were at dinner this week, and one of our servers, his name was Carl, and he recognized me and he said, "Hey, the pastor of Journey Church, yeah." He said, "Yeah." He goes, "Man, I love your church.

I watch online. I've had been a while since I've been to church. I just can't go 'cause it's so far." And I said, "Where do you live?" He said, "Kissimmee." (audience laughing) Said, "Brother, we got a Kissimmee campus, man." And his eyes got so big when I said that. I don't know if it's 'cause he was excited or because I blew up his one excuse to not come to church. (audience laughing) But I got him, and I invited him, and he's with his 70 year old son today, and he's our Kissimmee campus. Shout out Carl, glad you came to church today. And I also wanted to shout out hope. My wife and I were going to Chick-fil-A drive-through and hope was the manager. And hope came out and deliver our sandwich. She said, "Hey, you look familiar. Are you the pastor of Journey Church?" I said, "Yes." She was, "Man, I would love to go." It's just so far. I said, "Where do you live?" She said, "Kissimmee." (audience laughing) I said, "We got a Kissimmee campus." (audience cheering) And we're able to get her number.

We sent it over to our guest experience director, our campus pastor. They called her, invited her. So shout out hope who is a Kissimmee campus with her family. I'm so glad that you're there. I love that we get to invite people. I personally invite people to church all the time, and I'm so glad that you do that too. I get so excited inviting them 'cause I know when they come, they're gonna meet you, and you're pretty cool. And I also know when they come, they're gonna meet Jesus. And he's pretty cool. And so, this is a safe place to invite friends. I hope you know that. I love when they come in, and get loved on. All right, and if you, this is your first time, you picked a great Sunday to be at church for two reasons. Number one, it is baptism Sunday today. (audience cheering) Pretty special. Off to my right here at our firm part of the location, we've got four baptism pools of water. And if you're new to this whole thing called Christianity, faith, church, Jesus, baptism is a sacrament. It is something that we do.

It's not just a, it's deeper than a tradition. It is holy and special. Jesus did it himself. He went in and out of baptism waters. And it is a picture of our relationship with him. It is a picture of our new life with him. It is not magical in that when you come in and out of the water, you are a different person. It is a statement that I am a different person. Am I going in and I'm coming out of the water? It is the wedding ring of salvation. It tells the whole world, I'm in a relationship with somebody and my life is not the same. It symbolizes my death and it symbolizes my new life. And so I'm excited to announce that this today, just at our firm part location, I haven't even gotten the numbers yet for Kissimmee and East Orlando, but just at our firm part location, we'll have over 200 people registered already, already to get baptized today, today, and all four services. That's wild. I grew up in a church where if eight people got baptized in a year, it was revival. And here, over 200 people got baptized in less than five hours. And so what a God, what a God, and we're grateful. And then there are many more of you who are in the firm part location today

at all of our campuses today, Kissimmee and East Orlando, who are getting baptized and you don't even know it. Don't be afraid, we're not gonna come take you. It's not like we have a lottery and there's a number underneath your chair. And if you get that number, you're getting in the water or anything like that, we've been doing this 10 years now and every time that we talk about baptism, talk about Jesus, someone makes a decision to leave different than when they came. And I want you to know that you might not have had this day circled on your calendar. God has had it circled on those calendar since the beginning of time. And you might not be ready to go in and out of that water, but we are ready for you. And we have got changing clothes, we have got towels, we've got a changing room, we've got all the things that you need. If while I'm preaching at the end of this message, you're listening to me at any of our campuses and you go, you know what, I think God is asking me to do something, to take a next step today. And I wanna encourage you, this is your Sunday. This is your Sunday, get ready, we're ready for you. Come out, we've got clothes for you. The only thing that's gonna get messed up But I would trade messed up makeup and messed up hair for a not messed up life, any day of the week.

Amen? Second reason why today is a special day is because we are in week two of a series called "Can You See It?" "Can You See It?" And so we're going to jump right into today's message. If you have your "Can You See It?" booklets, which you should, you can turn to page 38. And on page 38, we're going to be taking notes today in this message. And if you don't have your booklet, you lost it, and boo-hoo, I'm sorry. There might be somebody out at this location maybe at our other campuses who can help scrounge one up, if you need one, but we don't have the money to print multiple copies, so. All right, well, if you have a Bible, you can turn to Genesis as well, chapter 22. Or you can just follow along with me on the screen. If you're new to this series, that's OK. I like to give a sentence to help summarize all of these sermons, especially when I'm spending a lot of weeks on one topic. And we're going to spend six weeks here. And so here's what "Can You See It?" is about. It's, if we actually believe, what would it look like if we actually believed what God decreed, follow where God leads. Listen, I believe we would see what God sees. And today, I want to really hone in on that word actually,

because how many people know there's a difference between what we say we believe and what we actually believe. There's a big difference. And you're going to see that in the story of Abraham. Now, Abraham, we introduced his story last Sunday. Abraham was a man who followed God, believed in God, trusted God. And he wanted a child. And unfortunately, he's an old man now. He doesn't have one. And now he is 99 years old. God says, you're going to have it. And by 100, God actually gives Abraham his child. I preached the message last week with the tent. And I was saying, we've got to come out of our limits. And Abraham was looking at his life and thinking, I know God is saying he can do all these amazing things. But I just don't think it's possible. And Abraham had to come out of what was possible in his strength and received what God could do in God's strength. And sure enough, at 100 years old, Abraham gets his kid. And now he's got his kid. And so we're going to enter into this story 30 years from that moment. He's got the kid. He's 30 years now. So this is a young man now that he's got. He's had him for a couple of years.

And now God enters the story here. Genesis 22.1. Sometime later, God tested Abraham. He said to him, Abraham, here I am, he replied. How many people wish they could hear the voice in the God that way? Wouldn't that be cool? Well, if you want to hear God that way, come to church next Sunday because we're going to do a whole sermon on how to hear God. All right? So come next Sunday. That's what the message is going to be about. Genesis chapter 22, verse 2, then God said, take your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac. And go to the region of Moriah, uh-uh. And sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain, I will show you. Now, if I'm Abraham, I'm confused. I'm thinking, Lord, you just gave me him. Why would you give me something and then take it away? Are you being evil? Are you being cruel? Do you just like to mess with me? I wanted to bring you into this situation because it really at the core of it, Abraham is in a situation where God has done something in his life or allowed something to happen in his life that does not make sense. So I wonder if anybody can relate to that point in the story.

Have you ever been in a season of life where God has done something that did not make sense? Let me see your hand. God has done something that did not make sense. Yeah, all of us. And so today's message is for you. I want to speak to you on the topic. I'm trying to trust. I'm trying. Find two people, I'm trying it. I'm trying, man. I'm trying to trust. If you got to understand, if you want to understand God asking, you have to first understand God's giving. How many people know that God gives? God is the most generous being you will ever meet in all of existence. If you really want to think about it, even the son that he is asking Abraham for is the son that God gave him supernaturally. That's just a side note. If you've lost someone that you love recently, God never takes what he first did not give. The only reason you even had that was because of the grace of God. I love God. He loves us so much. He didn't just give Abraham a son. He gave humanity his own son in Jesus Christ. God is a giver.

You have to establish that God is a giver. Because if God is a giver, then you can start wrestling with the fact that God doesn't just give, but God also asks. God will ask things from us from time to time. And you need to know, though, that when God asks, it's not because God needs. God does not live in need. God does not get hungry. He is the bread of life. God does not get thirsty. He is living water. God does not have a light bill in heaven that needs pain. His glory is brighter than his son. And there is nothing in all existence that God wants, other than your heart. from you, it is not because God wants something from you, it's because God wants something for you. If God is asking from you, it is like a painter asking for a canvas, it's because he wants to create. If God is asking something from you, it is like the ground asking for seed he wants to produce. If God is asking from you, he's like a chef asking for a plate he's trying to serve. If God is asking, it's because he wants to do something in your life. And I think in this story, and really most of the time God asks what he's really trying to do. If you take a note, when God asks, he's trying to expose something in you

that you would never have believed about yourself. But he has to show it to you in order for you to believe it, like the difference between what you believe and what you actually believe. I found that out recently that there is a difference. I'm a big Jets fan, and somebody asked me recently New York Jets football, and somebody asked me, do you believe the Jets are gonna make the playoffs? We're one in one, we should be two in all, but we're one in one. And I said, I believe we're gonna make the playoffs. He said, oh yeah, I said, yeah, he said, you want a bet? I said, what do you mean? He said, the Jets odds of making the playoffs right now are 450 to one. I said, what does that mean? I don't bet, that means if you bet $1,000 right now, and they make it to the playoffs, you will win $4,500 plus the $1,000 that you got. So $55,000, I said, if they win a game in the playoffs, he said, no, if they make it. Just if they make it. He said, so you want a bet? I said, no, thank you. (audience laughs) He said, I thought you believed. I said, yeah, but I don't believe, believe. (audience laughs) I don't like, I don't like, actually believe. Listen, ready? Because believing is free, but actually believing costs.

- Yeah, it's so big, come on. - Actually believing requires something. I'll give you another example. Well, one example, my wife, this is a good example of actually believing. Every once in a while, my wife will send me a photo of a random object on one of her errands. I put quotation marks in errands because errands in our house is code for thrifting. So surely the house every once in a while, I'll be like, I'm gonna run some errands. I'm like, you're gonna be at Google, is what that means, and you're gonna be thrifting. So every once in a while, she'll send me a random photo while she's on errands like this. It'll be a photo of a painting. We don't need paintings in our house. But she'll send me the photo. She'll be like, what do you think? Can I buy it? And we do that 'cause we share finances, and so can I buy it? And listen, I don't even question anymore. I give her the money. Go ahead, girl. Get to. (audience laughs) It's so quick, I don't even, why? Because I trust her. I don't trust the Jets.

(audience laughs) But I trust her 'cause I know that she has an eye for value, I know that whatever I put in her hand, so this thing, we bought this for how much, what is it? 20 bucks, this cost, 20 bucks, and look how much it costs. $1,153, she bought it for 20. She been doing this a whole life. How do you think we started the church? (audience laughs) 50, selling stuff. Then she sent me a picture of this, it was a mirror. We got this mirror in our house. In no words, get it. I trust you, get it. She bought this for, what was it? $12, 1199, and it came back at $1,200. So now, whatever she sends me a picture of, get it, girl. (audience laughs) Because she has established a track record with me. Listen, that whatever I put into her hands, I know she's gonna do more with what I put inside of her hands. I know that if she's asking, she's gonna multiply. If she's asking, she's gonna bless. If she's asking, she's gonna do something well. I think that's why Abraham's response to God asking was, are you wanna see it? Look at his response real quick. Genesis 22, verse three. And early the next morning, Abraham, early, if that was me, that Bible verse would have read.

That's the morning after God told them, give up your son. If that was me, that Bible verse would have read and late the next afternoon. (audience laughs) I have trouble getting up early to go to the gym. You think I'm gonna get up early to sacrifice my son? But Abraham was chomping at the bin. He could not wait to get out of bed. Why, do you wanna see his son die? No, but he knew that whatever he put in the hands of God, because he had a track record with God. He could trust God. Then whatever he put in the hands of God, God would do something special with. I need you to know that if you ever find yourself in a situation where God is asking you, Go through something you don't think you can go through. Or at least something that you really want to hold on to. What he's really asking, listen, is do you trust me? Whew, what he's really asking you is, do you trust me? And you need trust, y'all. You need trust with God. If you don't have trust in God, you want to survive this life. I was a lifeguard for summer camp back when I was a teenager. And I don't know why they have 14-year-old lifeguards. But I was one of them. I had people drowned, I would jump in after the same thing. God never happened. But I remember they would always warn me. They said, but be careful.

Because when people are panicking in the water and you go to save them, they will knock you out. And if you're ever drowning and someone needs to save you, he said, just go limp. You got to trust that the person is going to pull you out. You know what he said? He said, if you want to get saved, first you got to surrender. Come on, they're so good. You got to stop fighting. You got to just, wherever you take me, God, wherever you want to leave me, Lord, I'll go, because I know you're going to pull me out of this thing. I love baptism. Baptism is beautiful. Baptism is a picture of new life. Amen. We got a lot of people getting baptized today. But it's not just a picture of new life. It's a picture of the death of your old life. That water is not a bathtub. It's a grave. That's why every bathtub is sundown, just in black. We're here for your funeral. The death of the old Jew. Because God will get you out of the water, amen? But you got to get in. You got to surrender to be saved. So you got to surrender to survive. But not just survive, you also got to surrender to thrive. If you want to do great things for God, live the best life you got to surrender. Honey, people remember this scene from this famous movie.

I can show you the words. Shining, shimmering. And then Aladdin takes Jasmine all over, all over the world. That carpet was going 150 miles an hour there. Paris, there was all over the place. And he showed her this amazing, beautiful, wonderful adventure. But does anybody remember what he said to her right before she got on? Got a lot of Disney fans in the house. I hear it. How come you call Disney better than you call Scripps? Somebody tell me that right now. Suck his hand out. Is that the camera right here? Come here, camera. He said, "Do you trust me?" And Jasmine took his hand and they went on an adventure. He's going to need you to know about the Christian life. Listen, the Christian life stops being an adventure. The moment you stop trusting. It stops being an adventure, the moment you stop trusting. Remember when coming to church used to be fun, an adventure? It's like, "Oh, I love coming to church." Yeah, you, but the guy next to you. Sometimes it stops being fun. You know why? Because it was exciting back when coming to church was a sacrifice. But now what started as a sacrifice has become routine. And so Jesus wants to do more exciting things in your life. But you've got to trust them. That's why the Holy Spirit spoke to you that day at the supermarket

and said, "Go talk to that person." And you were like, "Are you kidding me? They're going to think I'm crazy." They're going to think I'm, "I'm going to call the cops on me if I ask if I have my hair for prayer." And the Holy Spirit's like, "Yeah." But you say you wanted an adventure, didn't you? So I can't take you places if you're not willing to risk your pride. I can't take you places if you're not willing to risk your reputation. I can't take you places if you're not willing to surrender. You're Instagram followers. But if you're willing to surrender, we can go, "I can show you the world. I can show you the world." So I want to trust like Abraham trusted. How did Abraham trust? Hebrews chapter 11 verse 17. We don't have to wonder what was in his head when God asked him what you laid on Isaac. Because in the New Testament, there's a book called Hebrews. And the author of Hebrews was given a supernatural insight by the power of the Holy Spirit to think what Abraham was thinking in that moment. He was given Abraham's mindset. And we get to get a peek behind the curtain of Abraham's brain. And the way he processed this moment of God is asking me to do something big or God is asking me to give up something big, both require trust. Verse 11, verse 19, "And Abraham reasoned, so by faith, and now in verse 19 and Abraham reasoned, that God could even raise the dead." So in a manner of speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death. So how did Abraham muster the trust? This is going to teach you now how to build trust so you can do great things, survive scary things, trusting God, by faith and by reason. Trust is built on faith and reason. Somebody say faith. Now, someone say reason. Trust is built on faith and reason. We're going to break both down and then we're going to baptize some people. Let's talk about faith first.

We don't have to go to the dictionary for the definition of faith. This very chapter gives us the definition of faith. Verse 1, "Before what I just read," verse 1, "and faith shows," this is faith, "shows the reality of what we hope for." It is the evidence, someone say evidence, of the things we cannot see, say what we cannot see. Okay, so faith has two parts. Faith has evidence and what we cannot see. You know, Hebrews 11 and 1, by the way, is one of the most misquoted scriptures in the Bible. Keep this up here. If I were to ask someone who sort of kind of knows the Bible what faith is, they would say something like this. They would go, "Faith is believing in what we cannot see." How many people have heard that before? Faith is believing in what we cannot see. Look at this verse. Do you see believing anywhere there? It says evidence. Because there's a difference between believe and actually believe. And the scripture is defining it. He's going, "Don't tell me what you believe. Faith is what you show me." There's evidence. And it's evidence towards something that we cannot see. Now, this is also misunderstood because we always cannot see. We here cannot see and we think invisible. That makes sense when you're talking about God, because you go, "Well, faith must be believing in someone invisible. God is invisible, so that is faith." But I can't just not see the things that are invisible. You know what I also have trouble seeing? Things that are far away. Things that are far away. So if evidence is a step and the things that I cannot see are far away, then the definition of faith is to take a step towards something that is far away. Why is that important? Because in Genesis 12-1, when Abraham has to do the first act of faith in his life at the age of 75, the Lord said to Abraham, verse 1, "Go from your country, go from your people and your father's household to the land. I will." What? Let me ask you another question. Does he see the land at that moment? He does not see the land. But does he not see the land because the land does not exist? He doesn't see the land because the land is far away. And so what he does is he goes, "Okay, Lord, I'll leave my family. This is really good because Abraham gets not the details, but he gets the direction. And the direction is surrender. Leave your family. Leave your home. And as he walks and walks and walks and walks, he finally ends up in the land that got promised to him before, but he didn't see it back then. He saw it as he stepped closer to it because it existed. It just wasn't there. Why is this mad? I'm going to bring it all home. Let me start preaching. It matters because sometimes God will give you a vision and it is so hard to believe because of where you are now. But it's hard to believe. Listen, not because it is not real. It's hard to believe because it is not yet. The thing that God said that he would do in your life, it's not that it's not real. It's not that it's invisible. It's that it's far. And if you just take one step and one step and one step and one step and one step and you keep stepping in the direction of surrender, then one day you get there, you go, "Oh, this is what God was saying." Yeah. But you couldn't see it back then. Look at Genesis 22. Now you know, then God said, "Take your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the region of Moriah.

If you sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain, I will what?" Where did he hear that before? Where did he hear I will show you before when it came to the land? And so he's confused. He doesn't know what God's going to do, but by this time he's already developed the muscle to walk in the direction of God's Word. He doesn't know what it's going to look like, but he knows that it'll make sense when he gets there. Somebody tell your neighbor to say, "It'll make sense when you get there." And he gets there and there's an angel and there's a ram in the thicket. And Abraham's like, "What? This is crazy." I didn't know how God was going to do it, but I knew he was because he said what he said. So I walked in that direction. That reminds me of this little example here. Do you guys know what this is? This is an eye test. I'm sure it has a better name, but I didn't study it, so it's an eye test. And I remember the first time I got glasses, I went for my eye test. I was like, "You." They were like, "V." I was like, "Lies." (audience laughing) They were like, "You." I was like, "V." They were like, "I was a cat." They said, "Sorry, it's a V." And I thought it was a U. He said, "No, it's a V." And I said, "Okay, I didn't want to argue with the doctor." The moment the doctor left, "Can you not? I got out of my chair." And I'm like, (audience laughing) "It is a V." (audience laughing) It didn't make sense from back there. But as I got closer, I said, "Oh, it is what he said." But I had to get closer to see what he said. At this distance, it didn't make sense. But with every step, after every step,

after every step, the vision got clearer to what God was saying and what he was telling me. This is so important 'cause people were asking me, they asked me last Sunday, they go past, day to day 10 years at Journey Church, did you see it? Multiple campuses reaching thousands of people. Did you see it? And I'm like, "When?" 'Cause I also turned 40 this past week. 'Cause it was a big season of reflection for me. Praise God. (audience cheering) It was a big season of reflection for me. I looked back and go, "Man, I didn't see it." When I was 12 years old, I was at a youth convention and it was a preacher preaching. And he said, "If you want to give your life to Jesus, "raise your hand." And I raised my hand and I surrendered my life to Jesus. It was one step in the direction of surrender. I didn't know what God would do in my life, but after raising my hand, he gave me the gift and the grace of preaching and teaching. He filled me with the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Something shifted in me. I wasn't expecting it. I just took a step. I still couldn't see what God was doing. Then when I went to college,

or when I was about to go to college, I had a full right scholarship to the University of South Florida. And I was about to go to college, get it fully paid. And I met this ministry team that was traveling the country and they invited me to come be a part. And but I had to give up the two years of scholarship that I had to guarantee. I remember telling my mom, and she was like, "What are you going to do?" And I was like, "Well, I think God's calling me to do ministry." And she said, "Yeah, but what are you going to do for money?" She's just being a mom, right? Looking out and making sure I go to college. I don't know, but I got to obey the Lord. And I surrendered my full right scholarship for my bachelor's. And today I stand before you with two master's degrees that have been fully paid for, no debt. Right now I'm going after my doctorate, fully paid for, no debt. And then I felt God calling me to be single and not be in relationship. And I was single for years. And I didn't know what God was, why? But I said, okay. And then as a response of my surrender, I met Liz, who I did not see coming, who is better than I could have ever imagined. The most amazing wife, most encouraging,

it was wonderful, beautiful, smart, funny, all those things. And then we got married, and we were finally doing good financially, and God said, "Sell it all, "leave your job, cash out your retirement, start a church." Ten years ago, we surrendered, and we had no idea what God would do, but then in response to that, God gave us a beautiful, wonderful church. And then for the last 10 years, Sunday after Sunday, after Sunday, after Sunday, after Sunday, after Sunday. And now we're here. But I didn't see it back then. I just stepped in the direction of surrender. What if all you got to do, I'm lost, I don't know what God wants to do in my life. Can I help you? This is what you came to church for today. Step in the direction of surrender. And you'll see it. I got to be honest, I got to hit this part quick 'cause time is running, but sometimes you finally get there. You finally get there, and you're like, "Ooh, I'm there." And then you're there, and you're like, "What the heck is he saying?" "What?" Sometimes you get there, and it's confusing. Sometimes you get there, and it still doesn't make sense. I said, "It makes sense what you get there, but I'm gonna be real honest with you." And then sometimes you get there, and it doesn't make sense.

Sometimes you have the kid, and he's sick. Sometimes you get married, and there's trouble. Sometimes you have 10 years as a church, and then that week, right after you turn 10, every devil in demon in Orlando puts his attack on your church. And you start wondering, did I mess up? Did I make a mistake? Here's where I've learned, listen, there is a difference between being in God's will and understanding God's ways. - Wow, I'm so good. - You can be in God's will and still be confused. - Wow. - What are you doing, Lord? And in that moment, what you're missing is not understanding. What you're missing is trusting. This is what I think Abraham did. The Bible says he got up early the next morning to sacrifice his son, but the Bible doesn't tell us what he did the night before. What did he do the night before? Genesis 22. Or Hebrew, sorry, 11, 18. Hebrews 11, 18. Then God said to Abraham, what are you doing? You get there and it still doesn't make sense. Then God said to Abraham, And look at verse 19, "And Abraham reasoned," I'm gonna say, "reason." Then by saying, "Trust is built on faith and reason, that God could even raise the dead." And so in a manner of speaking, he did receive Isaac back from the dead.

Here's what I believe. I believe Abraham took God's word, what God had said, and the Bible says he reasoned. You know what that means? That means he had to think about it. That means he wasn't super excited. "Oh, I'm going to go sacrifice my son some more." No, he had to sit down with God's word, and he's like, "Okay." But he promised me that son. He said that I would have, and he said that it would, he said that it would come through Isaac. So that's what he said. So if it's going to come through Isaac, he's like, "Well, that's what God said. So I'm going to stop asking why I'm going to look back to this camera." And you know that Abraham switched the question. You know how I know Abraham stopped asking why is God, and start asking how is God? Because he came to the conclusion that Isaac was going to resurrect from the dead. Which means that in the thought process, he was like, "Well, God can't break his word." So that must mean he's going to resurrect him. What if that's why he got up early? Because he was like, "God can't break his promises. I know that God's faithful. I'm trying to put the pieces together. I know that he loves me. I know that he cares for me. I know he gave me that son for a reason. I know he told me that he would bless the world through my offspring. I know that he's a good God. He's a loving, generous God. I know it, and I choose to believe it in you. You can trust me."

He's reasoning. If you ever are reading a page of the Bible, you don't understand. I want to encourage you to read between the lines. You can trust me. In the middle of the divorce, you can trust me. In the middle of the doctor's report, that doesn't make sense, you can trust me. In the ruins of the shattered business that you sold everything to start, you can trust me. When you've been married to them for 20 years, and they choose to leave you, you can trust me. I know it doesn't make sense. Why would God give you that son, and then take him away? You can trust me while we've got to give me this platform, and then have me fail. You can trust me while we've got to give me this job, and then I'll let you can trust me. God, I can't hear you. I don't know where you are. I can't see you. I haven't felt your presence in years. Are you here? Do you love me? Have you abandoned me? I know it doesn't make sense, son or daughter, but you can trust me. You can trust God. If you're able to, would you stand in your feet a little over this church? You can trust him. You can trust him when it doesn't make sense. You can trust him when you're questioning life. You can trust him. Hold on to his word.

You can trust him. Every hand but every eye closed. If you're wrestling with trust today, would you hold on to God's word, hold on to his promises, hold on to his life, hold on to that name of Jesus, and take a step in the direction of surrender for everybody going through something. For everybody asking the Lord to help me survive or who caught a vision of a great thing that God wants you to do in your life, I need to remind you it's going to require trust. You can trust me. If you're in this room today, and you're new to church, you're new to Jesus, you're new to faith, you're new to this God thing, can I help you with your next step of surrender? Your next step of surrender is giving him your life today. What does that mean, Pastor JJ? It means to say that I'm no longer behind the steering wheel, that Jesus, I'm giving him control, he's going to decide the rest of my life from this day forward, and his word is what I will live by because I can trust him. If you're in this room today at any of our locations and you're ready to give your life to Jesus, on the count of three, would you raise your right hand high? Again, what does it mean? It means you're putting your trust in Jesus. You're putting your trust in Jesus today. Maybe you've done this when you were a kid. On three, raise your right hand, hide that shoe. One, two, three, would you put your trust in Jesus all over this room? When I see that hand, sir, see that hand, man? When I see that hand, sir, I see that hand, tears going down your face, I see it. He sees it, amen. Whether you raise your hand or not, let's everyone pray this prayer out loud.

Everybody say, "Father God, today I entrust my life to you, my choices to you, my decisions to you, my hearts to you, my ways to you. You are my Lord, you are my Savior. Today I surrender, today I give in to you, be that Jesus in my life." In your name we pray, amen. And amen, would you give it up for all those who make a decision to follow Jesus? (congregation applauding) Hey, if you made that decision, make sure you tap this little card in the seat back pocket in front of you. Now I don't want anybody leaving yet. Listen to me, I preach shorter on the backs of the Sundays 'cause we're going to baptize some people. And when I count to three, all these people who got all in shirts, they're gonna come out and they're gonna make their way to these pools. And if you're in the room right now and you're feeling the tug of the Holy Spirit on your heart saying, "Hey, it's time," that next step of surrender might be to come in and out of these waters. If that's you, we have some signs that are lifted up saying, "I wanna get baptized." All you gotta do is go to them. They'll lead you to the changing rooms. They'll give you that spare clothes. They'll give you all the things so you can get ready

so they've got to do something in your life. So Journey Church, when I count to three, I want you to shout real loud to help me welcome all these people who are gonna come in and out of the water right now. Might be sitting next to you right now. You don't even know it, but we wanna encourage them and let them know they're not alone. All over this room on three, when we cheer them on. One, two, this is your moment. One, two, three, right now, let's go. Come on, come on down if you wanna get baptized. Let's see you, I see you, sir. I see you, sir. Come on down, come on down. (audience applauding) ♪ For you all the everything ♪ ♪ It's for the honor of your name ♪ ♪ It is my taste ♪ ♪ Tell us to be anything ♪ ♪ Love you all the everything ♪ ♪ It's for the honor of your name ♪ ♪ In my whole life ♪ ♪ In my whole life ♪ ♪ For you glory the whole world ♪ ♪ For you all the everything ♪ - Thank you so much for being here to support. If this is your first baptism Sunday, we're almost done, but we're gonna celebrate 10 people altogether. And then when we're done, people will keep getting baptized.

And so if you're not with the family, if you wanna take pictures and all that, you can do that somewhere over here when we're done. We've got another service and all that coming in, but we don't wanna rush this. We wanna celebrate with people whose lives will never be the same again. And so I'm gonna do a little practice. I need your help. When they come out of the water, I'm gonna say I baptized you in the name of the Father, the Son of the Holy Spirit. And then come up, you need to go crazy, cheer them on. 'Cause we want them to know that they're coming into a family, brothers, sisters in Christ. So let's do a little practice running ready. I baptized you today in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (audience cheering) Awesome. Go ahead and tell everyone your name. - Karim. - What is it? - Karim. - So why did you decide to get baptized today? - Oh, I had a plan for my life, but I feel like I didn't have a purpose. And when I started to walk with Jesus, not only did he reveal a better plan,

but he revealed the purpose for my life, and he has met my life so whole, and I couldn't be more grateful, and just a community and everything that he's brought around me. I feel like this is exactly where I'm supposed to be. - I love it. And if you just started to make Jesus the Lord and Savior of your life. - Yes, sir, I do. - Hold your nose. And it's my privilege to be able to be the ones that baptized you today, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (audience cheering) How you doing? - See you again. - Good day. - Go ahead and tell everyone your name. - I'm Nolan. - Nolan. - I've been with the church for about one year now. I promise God for the one year, when you're a thing that everybody. - Give him one year of your life. - That's why in my life I was born and raised Catholic, didn't understand or the love of God, and I gave him one year of my life and was able to get the glory of community, service, and just understood it all.

- I love it, man. I love it. Have you made Jesus the Lord and Savior of your life? - Glather is on my whole heart. - Hold your nose. And it's my privilege to be able to be the ones that baptized you today, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (audience cheering) - Welcome home, brother. (upbeat music) - Come on, we got three men back to back to back. God is doing something in the man. I love it. Go ahead and tell everyone your name. - And Zoman, as is. - Why did you decide to get baptized today? - I've been walking with Christ for about two years, and I just realized, man, that. Keep my life for him forever. Let's go. Have you made Jesus the lawyer save if your life Yes, hold your nose then it's my privilege They're going to be the ones to baptize you today in the name of the father the son and the Holy Spirit How you doing today go ahead and tell them when your name my name is Lelani Lelani why did you decide to get baptized today um? First I'm gonna start off by saying I wanted to turn around and not do this so many times this morning But I know I don't serve a god of fear. I don't serve a god of anxiety So I know it was just the evening. So I told him to back off if you're I am today Another reason is it's just a fresh start my walk with God So I'm ready to do this your mom you made Jesus the Lord and save if your life Yes, then it's my privilege hold your nose to be able to baptize you today in the name of the father the son and the Holy Spirit

How are you? What's your name? Tori. Tori. Why did you decide to get baptized today? Um, so I decided to get baptized today because I've always had faith in God, but along the along the years I lost my way and quick story. I had a friend about a year and a half ago I provide services and I was gonna cancel on her service And she said I could be upset about it, but instead I'm gonna let God use me and she referred me to Journey Church I came on a Wednesday night prayer night and from that moment. God has been changing my life since I He cleared me after like a year of being at Journey Church. He cleared me from a smoking addiction. I have for 13 years He quit he saved me in a car accident and from there he's continued to do amazing things in my life So for a while now and from today for I'm all Have you made Jesus the Lord has saved me of good life? Yes, I know story then it's my privilege to be the ones to baptize you today in the name of the father the son and the Holy Spirit Go ahead and tell everyone your name Jordan Michaels Jordan, why did you decide to get baptized today? I decided to get baptized today because I feel like for the last couple years of my life after I finished College was an athlete. I feel like kind of lost I feel like my whole identity was in my sport and then I got pregnant with my first daughter and I My postpartum was a little rough. My pregnancy was a little rough I just feel like I feel like after I left that and then starting motherhood in this journey and my postpartum And I just gave birth to my second child my son in a relationship I'm not married But I want my kids to take a different path and I want them to watch me give my life to God and I want I really I want that for them and I want to be the example for them and I'm just ready to Awesome, have you made Jesus the Lord and save me of your life? Yes Hold your nose Jordan that it's my privilege to be able to be the one to baptize you today in the name of the father the son and the Holy Spirit Go ahead and tell everyone your name. My name is Karina Karina. Karina. Why did you decide to give that time today? But the biggest thing is I want to surrender like completely to God. I got baptized in 2019, but I was still living in the world I had a really bad born addiction actually And I thank you so much for sharing your story because it gave me the courage to talk about it and share with other people that

You can be delivered and that God loves you so much. Come on, let's go I love it. Well, thank you for the courage to share your story It always delivers somebody have you made Jesus the Lord and save of your life hold your nose Karina It's my privilege to be able to be the one to baptize you today in the name of the father the son and the Holy Spirit How you doing? Good, good. Go ahead and celebrate when you name Matthew. Matthew. Why did you decide to get baptized today? I was just tired of living a lukewarm lifestyle And lately I just feel like God has been working in my heart. It's been changing my life in ways And I'm just really to fully commit to him. Come on. Matthew. Have you made Jesus the Lord and save you of your life? Yes, why don't you move up a little bit for me? Matthew hold your nose That is my privilege brother to be able to be the one to baptize you today in the name of the father the son and the Holy Spirit [Music] -My name is Kaylee. -Hey, Kaylee, why did you decide to get baptized today? -I feel like I've been walking with God for a while, and it just -- it felt like the right choice for me, you know? -Come on. -I feel like he's been calling me home. -Come on. Have you made Jesus, Lord, and save your life? -I have. -Close your nose, Kaylee, and it's my privilege to be able to be the ones that baptized you today in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. [ Cheers and applause ] -Welcome home, Kaylee. We love you. -Hey, brother, go ahead and tell everyone your name. -Chad. -Chad, why did you decide to get baptized today? -I had a God -- God shaped hold in my heart, and I've been feeling it with prayer, and I finally feel the word God, and I'm happy to return back home.

-Come on. Have you made the decision to follow Jesus, as your Lord of Savior? -Yes, 100%. -Hold your nose, and it's my privilege to be the ones that baptized you today in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. [ Cheers and applause ] -Thank you, brother. -Let's go! -Journey Church. -Journey Church, thank you so much for your generosity. None of this will be possible without you. We love you. See you next Sunday. We're going to baptize a couple more people. If you're taking pictures, please don't block this fire escape. Let's give God some praise. We love you. Thank you, Lord. [ Cheers and applause ] -Wow. So amazing. -That's such an amazing -- amazing morning so far. -I love seeing so many souls get baptized. I absolutely love it. And there's still time for you to join us, if you would love to. But I also want to celebrate those that gave their life to Christ today. If you want to partner us in prayer and supporting those who gave their life to Christ, please cover them in prayer. But also, we want to support you. Scan the QR code below so we can recognize you. And our online director, J. Lee, will reach out and just touch base with you. -Not only that, but we have a YouTube channel that replays all of our services, as well as the after talks. -Yes. -So if you have not done so,

follow us on YouTube, like, share, subscribe, and listen in to a word and see which one speaks to you. -Absolutely. 'Cause we want to make sure that you continue to not just enjoy the word on Sundays, but carry it with you throughout the week. All right. Well, it's been a great service today. We are honored that we got the opportunity to spend Sunday with you. We will see you all next week. -Till next time. -Bye. ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪