Seize The Moment!- Jamie Loya. MUST WATCH

Good morning, men and women, such an honor and a blessing to be able to speak to you through a tablet in the institutions that you're at from right here in McKinney, Texas at Life Fellowship Church. We want you to know that you're a part of our church family. We mean that. If you're anywhere near the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex on a Sunday, we ask you to please come by and introduce yourself to us. We want to meet you. We want to pray with you. We want to get you a coffee. We want to encourage you and walk with you because we just love you so much. My name is Logan Williams and my TDC number is 1490218. I've got four numbers after that. I totally get and understand everything that comes with being incarcerated, being in a situation where, dang, man, am I ever going to get out of here? Dang, man, am I ever going to change? Golly, this hand that life has dealt me kind of sucks right now. Is there any way that I can still have a life? All these things that I know you guys are going through, that I know you guys are thinking about, man, I know, and I just want to encourage you to just hang in there. Just hang in there. Just keep your eyes focused on him. If you're watching this video right now, it's because God is after you. You didn't just click on this by accident. God is drawing you. He's wooing you. He loves you. He wants a relationship with you. He's not mad at you. He just wants you to turn around and say yes to him.

We just want to encourage you that we're praying for you. We love you. I just want to remind you that your friends and family can download the same Pando app on their phone. You guys can watch the same messages, the same teachings, the same pursuit nights. When you see each other in visitation or when you talk on the phone, you can talk about it. Hey, what did the Holy Spirit speak to you guys through this? You can still have that connection with your family, even though you're incarcerated. I don't ever want you guys to believe the lie that you can't lead your family spiritually because you're locked up. You can't lead your kids because you're locked up. You absolutely can, and we want to encourage you guys to do that. Hey, listen, we want you guys to send mail into us. We have a team of people that respond to mail that walk alongside you guys. There's just a few rules that I just want to let you know of that I probably hadn't said in a while. Our policy on that is if you're a male, you're going to get a letter back from a male. That's how we're going to do the mentorship, the spiritual guidance through the mail, and it's a beautiful thing. We've got some guys that have been writing back and forth with some of our volunteers for years, four, five, six years. It's a beautiful thing. It's very encouraging on both sides, but if you're writing one of the female worship leaders, they're not going to get that letter. If you're writing because you want us to put some money on your books or reach out to a lawyer for you because you're innocent and you're in there and you didn't do what you said they said that you did, we're just here for spiritual guidance. We're here for spirituality. We're not going to get you a female pen pal.

We're not going to put money on your books. We're not going to go and hunt down your baby mama because you haven't heard from her in a while. None of that stuff is going to happen. It's just going to be walking with you, praying with you, questions about the Bible. Just mentorship. That's what it is. But we want to do that. We want to do that. But we've just been getting so many letters lately that are just not within the bounds of the policy. And so I just wanted to remind you guys, we're here for you. We love you, but it has to be a certain way. Let's see. Man, I was reading Isaiah this morning and this one that stood out to me is chapter 55, verse number six and seven. This is for you guys. This is for anybody, really. And it just says, seek the Lord while he can be found. Call on him while he is near. Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Then let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God for he will forgive generously. And the thing, every time I read that that sticks out to me is it says, seek the Lord while he may be found. I know that you guys, in the situation that you're at, you think, gosh, man, this is like the worst thing that could have happened to me. I used to think that, but I got out in 2020 for the last time, and I can look back now

on all those times, and I can see that God was really putting me over here in prison because he was preserving me. He wanted to work on me. He wanted to save me. He had a plan for me. I've got a lot of friends that didn't make it. I got a lot of friends that are in the ground that didn't get that opportunity. And if you're there, right, and if you're still fogging a mirror, God has a plan for you. But he says right here in Isaiah to seek him while he can still be found, which implies that there may come a time when he can't be found. I mean, that's what the word says. So I want you guys to have some urgency. God is near and he's available, but we shouldn't just assume, right, that we'll always have the same opportunity. I'll do it next week. I'll stop doing this thing next week. I'm gonna lay this down at some point, but I'm not gonna lay it down now. That was my story when I was in prison. I went to church, I wanted to follow Jesus, but I'm in prison, man, and this is uncomfortable. So I'm gonna do these things. I'm gonna do the hustling. I'm gonna do the alcohol, the drug, whatever, the gambling, the pictures, the flicks,

all that stuff that I knew in my heart, grieved the heart of God. I knew in my heart that God didn't want me partaking in those things, but I just said to myself, hey, when I get out, that's when I'll lay all that down. But while I'm here, I just gotta get through this. And I want to encourage you, man, to lay it down now. Seek him while he can be found, because it never worked out for me. Every time I hit that gate, all four times, I was never able to walk it out. Even this last time, I was always deceived. I didn't have the spiritual development in me to fight against the enemy, and I was just easy prey, and I don't want that to happen to you guys. And then it says to let the wicked change their ways. They're talking about repentance, repentance right there. That's just to turn around and go another direction. And it's saying to not only forsake their ways, but to forsake their thoughts. We gotta look at the thoughts that we're entertaining. There's another scripture in Corinthians that says to take every thought captive and bring it into obedience to Christ. Turning away from old patterns and turning towards God. What I have found in my spiritual walk is that as I'm walking and I'm engaging in something that I know is not right, that I know I need to repent from, man, if I can stop and just turn around,

I found that Jesus is right there. He's right there. Like, he just wants us to stop and turn around and it says that, it goes on to say, yes, turn to God for he will forgive generously. Like, God's mercy is abundant. Like, it is more than I've ever, I could ever think, ask, or imagine. He will abundantly pardon, it says. His forgiveness is not like reluctant. It's not like limited. It's not like, well, I don't know if I'll forgive this guy. Maybe if he does this, this, this, and this, then I'll love him. That's not the grace of Jesus. The grace, it says that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. While we were still sinners. It's not like he's waiting for a future, better version of ourselves before he will love us. He will meet you right where you're at, guys. In the facility that you're at, in the cell that you're at, in the dorm or the pod or whatever your living situation is, no matter how crazy it is, he will meet you right where you're at with grace and mercy. I remember when I was on a retreat, a men's retreat after I came back and I heard about this Luke 15 God, man,

that ran to me and that met me there and that would walk alongside of me. I still had pig crap all over me and he just walked with me. He wasn't mad at me. He met me right where I was and I was like, man, I've never heard of this God. I've never heard of this grace and mercy. Like it changes you from the inside out and so I want you guys to know that he's not looking for a reason to condemn you. He's looking for a reason to forgive you. He just needs your yes. He needs you to participate and then he'll start using you right where you're at, man. And I can just tell you, there's nothing. better than being used by God. Just having a conversation with someone or pouring into someone or doing something for someone and then afterward thinking, man, God just used me. It's the best, man. And it's something that I want you all to experience because it will change you. It will change you from the inside out. And so I just wanna encourage you guys. I have such a heart for you guys. I just want you guys to have freedom. I want you guys to, you know, I did nine and a half years and he completely changed my life. I want that for you.

It's possible. It can happen. He's just looking for your participation. So let me pray for you guys. Father, I just thank you for the men and women who you're after, who you've left 99 to go after. And they're all the ones that are watching this video. God, we know that no one comes to the Father unless he is drawn. And so with all the options that they have on their tablet, for them to click on this video tells me that you are after them. You are drawing them, that you want a relationship with them so bad, so bad. You just want them to turn around and give you their yes. And so God, I pray that you would just reveal yourself to them, that you would just meet them right where they're at. No matter how crazy the institution is that they happen to be in, the facility that they're at, go ahead and meet them where they're at. Let them know that you're there. Let them know how much you love them, that they were worthy of dying for. Even on their worst day, even in their darkest moment, you still look down and said, that's my beloved. And you still went to that cross for them. God, we thank you. We thank you that you did that. We thank you that you went through that.

We know reading scripture that in your flesh, you did not want to do that. You were sweating drops of blood. You were crying out to the father, is there another way? But you still, nevertheless, your will, but not mine. And you went through that for every single person that's watching. God, I pray that they would have that realization and that revelation in their heart today of the love that you have for them, that love that passes knowledge, that love that changes things. And that they could be used as a mighty weapon in the institutions that they're at right now to enlarge your kingdom and to make much of your name. And so God, we thank you. We thank you that you can use us no matter where we're at. We thank you that your love changes things. God, and I just pray a revelation of your love over every single person that's watching this video. In Jesus name, amen. All right, guys, I just got one more question for you. Who's house? God's house. Let's give him some praise. ♪♪ I grew up in a Christian household. I went to youth group, I attended D-NOW weekends, and I even went on a mission trip to Houston. And I knew who the Lord was,

and I knew that he was important, but I just didn't fully understand him. But I carried a lot of anger toward the Lord. My parents divorced when I was young, and I never truly understood why the Lord chose me for that to happen too. And so I was really confused. And I'm like, all of my friends live in married households. Why don't I? That just really set me back with my faith. And then as I got older, I was in and out of church, but I was never truly consistent with the Lord. Although I grew up in a Christian household, part of my heart felt hurt and confused on why this was happening to me. And if I'm being honest, I really only went to church because I knew it was the right thing to do and because my friends went. And that was just kind of my life throughout high school, middle school, elementary school. And once I was a sophomore in college, I was actually in a relationship that wasn't glorifying the Lord at all. And I was doing things that was separating me from him. I was falling to sin. I was vaping. I wasn't speaking life over others. And I knew that how I was living my life wasn't okay. So there was a moment that I fully realized that the Lord loved me when,

I mean, we all do not have a perfect life. And at the time I did not understand why the Lord chose for that to happen to me during that time. But what I've realized with a reoccurring theme with the Lord is you may not understand now, but you will later. I mean, it says that a lot in the Bible. But I've realized that these hardships have happened for a reason to make me who I am today. I wouldn't change anything in my story because I firmly believe that I would not be here today. For instance, the relationship that I was in. and was not glorifying the Lord whatsoever. I was following sin, was following my flesh, and that was separating me from the Lord. That's all a part of our testimony. And our testimony is just brokenness that we're sharing and how we met the Lord. All of the things that I've added up into my life are the reason why I'm here today. It's not about getting your act together. It's about a savior who meets you where you are. And you've got to ask, am I gonna do it? I don't know. Am I gonna overcome? Can it be?" So we just felt like we just sat at神浣 寺고うところで one hundred percent

fully focus on everyone who took in that testimony from that testimony that moment and this was truly the moment that I realized that I was not alone. I was not alone. I was not alone. Good morning Life Fellowship family. Welcome to the house of the Lord

and welcome to our International Sunday. Bienvenido a nuestro Domingo Internacional. We have gathered here to worship the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Who is ready to do that this morning? Come on. He's worthy to be praised. Alleluia. You get all the praise. We say Alleluia. You get all the praise. Always. Alleluia. You get all the praise. We say Alleluia. You get all the praise. Always. I've got a God who is for me. And he's known for making a way. And he fought the battle so I wouldn't have to. All glory belongs to his name. And I've got a God who's been faithful. Far more than I could explain. And through every season in spite of my weakness he gave me a song I could sing. I came to praise. I came to praise. That's why I woke up today.

I came to praise. We say Alleluia. You get all the praise. We say Alleluia. You get all the praise. Always. I've got a God who is for me. And he's known for making a way. And he fought the battle so I wouldn't have to. All glory belongs to his name. And I've got a God who's been faithful. I came to praise. That's why I woke up today. I came to praise. We say Alleluia. You get all the praise. We say Alleluia. You get all the praise. Always. I'm singing in the morning. I'm singing at night. I'm singing in the battle. That's how I fight. I'm singing in his holy. I'm singing it's twice. I'm singing his holy the rest of my life.

I'm singing. I'm singing in the morning. I'm singing at night. I'm singing in the battle. That's how I fight. I'm singing. I'm singing in his holy. I'm singing it twice. I'm singing his holy the rest of my life. I'm singing. I'm singing his holy the rest of my life. Hale, hale, hallelujah. Te alabaré, siempre. Hale, hale, hallelujah. Te alabaré, siempre. Hale, hale, hallelujah. I'm singing in the morning, I'm singing at night, I'm singing in the battle, that's how I fight, I'm singing He's holy, I'm singing it twice, I'm singing He's holy the rest of my life. Hallelujah, hallelujah, you get all the praise always, I came to pray, I came to pray, devil get out of my way, I came to pray. Oh yes, we come to praise you Lord, oh yes, we come to praise you Lord, oh, just for you, just for you Lord. You give life, you are love, you bring light to the darkness, you give hope, you restore every heart that is broken. How great are you Lord, it's your grace in our lives, so we pour out our praise, we pour out our praise, it's your grace in our lives, so we pour out our praise to you only. You give life, you are love, you bring light to the darkness, you give hope, you restore every heart that is broken. How great are you Lord, it's your grace in our lives, so we pour out our praise, we pour out our praise to you only. You give life, you are love, you bring light to the darkness, you give hope, you restore every heart that is broken. How great are you Lord, it's your grace in our lives, so we pour out our praise, we pour out our praise to you only. How great are you Lord, it's your grace in our lives, so we pour out our praise, we pour out our praise to you only. How great are you Lord, it's your grace in our lives, so we pour out our praise, we pour out our praise to you only. It's your time to shine The sun of our world And it's truly our freedom

Full of love, care and need A spigel model Yah-hey! Mahonav and Mie It's your breath in our lungs So we pour out our praise We pour out our praise It's your breath in our lungs So we pour out our praise to you only It's your breath in our lungs So we pour out our praise We pour out our praise It's your breath in our lungs So we pour out our praise And all the earth will shout your praise Our hearts will cry, these bones will take the blame Come on, he deserves the praise in this room Come on, whatever language, just sing it out And all the earth will shout your praise Our hearts will cry, these bones will take the blame Our heroes Sing it one more time, one more time And all the earth will shout your praise Our hearts will cry, these bones will take the blame Our heroes It's your breath in our lungs So we pour out our praise We pour out our praise It's your breath in our lungs So we pour out our praise to you only

It's your breath in our lungs So we pour out our praise to you only It's your breath in our lungs So we pour out our praise to you only It's your breath in our lungs So we're gonna pray in our native languages We're gonna sing in our native languages So whatever your native language is, whether it's Portuguese, Spanish, Russian, African Whatever it is, I want you to sing it to the top of your lungs Because God is moving And God is doing great things in his people God, as we worship today, God, would you call us back home to you? God, would you remind us that there is a global church That is worshiping at your feet this morning God, call us home, call us back to you God, more than anything, would your spirit break loose And would your spirit set the captives free as we worship you this morning What is this? This is the first time I'm singing in English This is my first love This is my first love to sing in English My name is Benjamin Lord, I thank you for your mercy Lord, an island like a flame God, I pray to you now Lord, nothing is impossible for the people Lord, give me the power to manifest myself on my island Lord, when I find who I am Lord, show me who I am Lord, give me the power, give me the power to rise up on my island

Holy Spirit, we ask you to pour out your spirit over the nations May your Holy Spirit cover the nations And may your glory come with power With power and authority Lord, we know you can do it Lord, we ask you in your name May your name be over all Spirit resides in every single state in the United States of America, God. Unify us as a country, Lord, that we are one nation under your banner, under the banner of Jesus. God, unify us. Jesus, I pray for Brazil. I intercede for my nation. And I declare the sovereignty of God over Brazil. Your love for Brazil. Your peace that exceeds all understanding about Brazil, Lord. And we declare that your kingdom comes. That your will be done. In Brazil, as it is in heaven. In this church, as it is in heaven. We declare your kingdom come. And your will be done. Here as in heaven, Lord. And all the earth will shout your praise. Our hearts will cry. Come on. Come on, God, because there's our praise. Praise. Come on, every hand lifted for Jesus. God, unify us as a church. Right here, right now, as we sing. And all the earth will shout your praise.

Our hearts will cry. These bones will say, Great are you, Lord. Come on, we're gonna sing it again. Sing it again. And all the earth will shout your praise. Our hearts will cry. These bones will say, Great are you, Lord. It's your breath in our lungs. So we pour out our praise. It's your breath. So we pour. Come on, sing it again in your own language. Estaniendo en mi ser. Te adoramos a ti, solo a ti. Estaniendo en mi ser. Te adoramos a ti, solo a ti. How great are you, Lord. How great are you, Lord. How great are you, Lord. Worship in Jesus. Worship in Jesus. Falling down in worship. To sing the song of ages to the Lamb. And all have gone before us. And all who will believe. Will sing the song of ages to the Lamb. Your name is the highest. Your name is the greatest.

Your name stands above them all. All thrones and dominions. All powers. Your name stands above them all. And the angels cry. Holy. All creation cry. Holy. Your living heart. Holy. Holy forever. Si te ha perdonado. Y tienes salvación. Cántale al Cordero que venció. Y si te ha libertado. Su nombre ha puesto en ti. Oh, cántale al Cordero que venció. Jnanam padum parishuddham maharajam Parishuddham etam ennekum Parishuddham pavitram niye O Jesus, we lift the name of the Lord We lift up your name All your name goes above Every other name, come on church say We lift up the name of Jesus We lift up your name Come on if you know his name is great Come on say your name Your name is the highest Your name is the greatest Come on say your name

It stands above Above every throne and the many All my world will have a vision Your name stands above Your name is the highest Your name is the greatest Your name is above all We lift up your name All your name goes above Every other name, come on church say We lift up the name of the Lord We lift up your name Come on say your name Your name is the greatest Holy, holy forever Hear your people sing to Jesus For your people are holy in the land Holy in the land Holy in the land Holy, you will always be Holy, holy forever Come on church say you will always be You will always be Holy, holy forever You will always be Holy, holy forever Jesus we love you and we adore you And we honor you What a privilege it is to worship you Jesus In Jesus name we pray

God we thank you We thank you for the fact that we don't have to invite your spirit in because it's already here God we thank you for how you have touched us in a way today How you've spoken directly to our individual hearts But how you've also called your church this morning So God as we continue today God would you continue to call us And God may we hear your voice today We pray this because of Jesus And all God's people said Amen, amen What an incredible morning As you guys are taking your seats I just wanted to say a word of welcome We're really glad you're with us today It's already been a special day and it's going to continue to be special One of the things that my wife and I have been praying for Actually several years ago we were in a season where we were praying For our kids to find a place where they could plug in And they could grow their faith their own faith, but they could also be at a church that was incredibly diverse because we didn't want them to get to heaven and be suddenly surprised by all these other people. And we found Life Fellowship and Life Fellowship has become that place for us and it's one of my most favorite things about us. Not only do we celebrate what God's doing culturally, we actually put our money where our mouth is and we intentionally go to foreign countries where we can serve and partner with local churches. In fact, last year about 69 of us took an international mission trip to places like Brazil or Africa, Peru, Greece, Turkey, Iran, all of these places. Iran, I don't think we went to Iran. I don't know why I said that. That's a whole different, that's just, that's next Sunday. Chris

will get that one next Sunday. But I love that because not only are we partnering with our local brothers and sisters, but we're partnering with our international brothers and sisters and that when you give, you're giving not just to Life Fellowship, you're giving through Life Fellowship. Your gift makes an international impact. And I want to encourage you this week that as you give, I want you to ask the Lord what is it He may be asking you to do with our upcoming mission trips for 2026. We're going to all kinds of places. I know the guy that's going to Brazil, you want to go with him because Brazil is a happening place and the Lord is doing great things in Rio. But if you want to text the word missions to 51010, we'd love for you to take a look at what God's doing through our missionary partners and how you can partner with us this year. As we get ready to hear God's Word today, we have an incredible guest speaker. Pastor Jaime Loya is with us. I've heard the message I think two or three times now. It's really, it has spoken to me at every single service. I want you guys to prepare your hearts as we get ready to receive God's Word. As we do that, I want to take a quick glance at this video just highlighting some of what God has been doing through our missionary partners and our mission trips this past year. Let's watch this together. Amen. Good morning, Life Fellowship. Oh, you guys are still asleep. I say good morning. Amen. There you go. They got it. How many are happy to be in the house of God today? Amen. Amen. Give the Lord a praise. It is so good to see so many of you here today. Thank you so much for being here. I know your pastor and the entire team greatly appreciate it. Can we also give a round of applause to all the people that are joining online and at all the correctional facilities and locations. Welcome, welcome, welcome. Amen. For those of you who don't know me, my name is Jaime Loya. This is my second time and I'm praying today and you can help me pray that there'll be a third. Okay. I am from South Texas. I'm from South Texas from down in the Rio Grande Valley. So people say, oh from San Antonio. I'm like no, keep going, keep going. There's still more Texas down there. And so you'll be hearing a little

bit about me, but more importantly, you're going to be hearing the word of God today. Amen. I am accompanied by my beautiful bride of almost, almost 33 years, believe it or not, right here in the front row. My special lady, the love of my life, the mother of my four children, my first and only wife, Rosemary Loya. But I do want to say this because they're probably watching. You guys have some of the most amazing pastors, Pastor Chris and Tatum. Can we give them a round of applause? They're probably listening. There you go. That's better. Amen. Because pastors don't really take vacations. I mean, we try as hard as we can, but we can't. And so, but I just want to publicly recognize them and thank them for the opportunity. It's always a privilege to be here with you guys behind this pulpit. I also want to appreciate your team. How many know you have an amazing team of leaders, praise and worship team, parking team, usher team, children's church ministers. Amen. Some of you drop off your kids like here, no check and just take them. I'll pick them up or whatever. And so, but I'm telling it takes an entire team it says it takes teamwork to make the dream work and we just so appreciate each and every one of you i'm going to ask you if you can to please stand on your feet go with me to the book of genesis so so they told me that it's international sunday and since i'm international i run a bilingual ministry i'm a little bilingual i'm going to go bilingual on you today for a little bit is that okay yeah okay did you bring your bible go with me to genesis we're going to be in the 12th chapter and i'm going to preach to you today an important message i'm not going to do that to you guys some of you are already kind of like going cross-eyed you're like no i'm going to go all english amen i only got a little bit a limited amount of time and i got to get there fast amen and so but if you brought your bible genesis in chapter 12 genesis in chapter 12 we're going to be reading the first four verses and very very very important and so i want you to pay close attention starting with verse one i'm reading out of the niv the bible says and the lord said to abram go from your country your people your father's household to the land that i will show you i will make you into a great nation i will bless you i will make

your name great and you will be a blessing i will bless those who bless you whoever curses you i will curse and all peoples on the earth will be blessed through you verse four so abram went as the lord had told them i want you to understand something really quickly before we pray is that as amazing as the promise is that was given to abram whom later was abraham right his name was changed as great and as amazing as awesome as the promise was abram still had to move when god said move abraham listen had to pursue the promise that god gave him his entire life and the future of his family hinged on verse four that says and abram went and he did as the lord told him god is still waiting on some of us believe it or not to get up and to get going you were born for more and you have to believe that with all of your heart and so today i want to speak to you on the subject seize the moment seize the moment don't take those moments for granted don't squander them don't miss them because if you do those moments are in danger of becoming just memories bow your head close your eyes and let us pray heavenly father in jesus name thank you for your goodness thank you for your grace thank you holy spirit for your presence in this place we thank you that even now you're speaking to those who are at home those who are at work those who are incarcerated lord god we pray that this would be a life changing message that your presence would be felt wherever they are we pray this in jesus name and all of god's people said amen and amen you may be seated for the next several moments i want to talk to you on the life of this man by the name of abraham genesis records his name as abram we know that his name was later changed by god himself to abraham and there's a reason for that and i've i'm using as a subject today seize the moment and how important that is because truth be told all of us who are here those who are watching we've all had moments and i'm talking about sacred moments i'm talking about divine encounters with god where god has spoken to us be it through a dream through a vision maybe even through a sermon through a message and it's what you do with those moments believe it or not church that will determine the rest of your life moses for example had a moment his moment came in exodus in chapter three right he was out there he was a fugitive and we don't have the time to talk about all of his history but he was out there in the desert mining his own business and all of a sudden the bible says he saw a burning bush that would not be consumed and as he drew near believe it or not god spoke to him out of that bush and called his name moses moses moses replied and said here am i

That moment, can I submit to you, became a movement where God raised up this man by the name of Moses to go and confront Pharaoh and literally say to his face, thus saith the Lord, let my people go. And God used Moses to deliver millions of people out of captivity. You know who else had a moment? Gideon, Judges chapter six. There was a man by the name of Gideon that the Bible says that he was in the wine press and he was there threshing wheat for fear of the Amalekites. He was hiding out like a coward. But the Bible says that an angel, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him and said these exact words. The Lord is with you, mighty man of valor. Gideon looked over his shoulder to see if anybody else was in the room. He didn't feel like a mighty man of valor. He didn't look like a guy who had a ton of courage. He was hiding in fear, the Bible says. And yet heaven saw him in a different light. God said, you are a mighty man of valor. And God took this same man, Gideon, to raise up an army to lead Israel in one of its greatest eras. There was a woman in the New Testament by the name of Mary, the mother of Jesus. She had a moment.

Believe it or not, in Luke in chapter one, the Bible says that an angel appeared unto her and said, you have found favor with God. And you shall give birth to a son who will be the savior of the world and his name shall be called Jesus. Everyone say Jesus. Jesus. Now Mary being a virgin, she said, but how can this be? Like I know how this works. I know enough to know that you need to be with a man in order to have a baby. She said, I'm still a virgin. How can this be seeing that I know not a man? And I love what the angel said. He says, the Holy Ghost shall come upon you. He said, and the presence and the power of the Almighty shall overshadow you. He said, for nothing is impossible with God. How many know that nothing is impossible with God? And Mary at that moment had an opportunity to respond to God and listen to her response. Be it unto me according to your word. She said, whatever you've spoken, let that happen in my life. She didn't deny him. She didn't doubt God. She allowed him to do whatever it is that he had purpose to do in her life.

The same thing we see here in the life of Abram. He had a moment with God in Genesis in chapter 12. The Bible says that God spoke to him and told him, you need to leave your country, leave your father's household, leave your people to a land that I will show you. And I want you to understand this and listen well, that this was no small ask. This was no small thing. This was hard. God didn't tell Abram, you know what? Why don't you just look for another job or go down to another subdivision? Leave your neighborhood. Listen to the exact wording. God says, I want you to leave your country. I don't know how many of us who are here, and I'm sure some of you have, would leave our country in order to follow God. That's what God was asking of them. God was saying, I want you to leave your country. Leave everything that you know. Leave everything you're familiar with. In essence, get out of your comfort zone and go to a place that I will show you. And then he gives him this promise. And I think it's so important that all of us who are here, listen very well because all of us have a promise from God. All of us who are here have a purpose and a plan. All of us who are here, I said,

again, have a promise from God. And God says, I will make thee a great nation. I will make thy name great. I will bless you. You shall be a blessing and all the people of the earth shall be blessed because of you. God is giving him, and you can write this down. I wanna make three quick points on what a promise is. Number one, a promise is a preview. A promise, church, is a preview of what your life will look like if you fully surrender to God. That's what it is. God's making you and I a promise. He's saying, I will bless you. I will use you. I will do this in your life. A promise is a preview. It's a snapshot. It's God showing you what he desires to do in your life. I don't know how many. who are here go to the movies I go every so often it used to be a sin when I grew up it was everything was a sin and so and I don't know how many notice that that the previews before the movie have gotten like longer and longer and longer and longer you know used to be you know there might be two or three previews now there's like double or triple you're there for like 25 30 minutes by the time the previews are over you've already in your popcorn make it make sense right then you got to get up and go get some more right but you watch all these previews because the producers of those movies want to encourage you to entice you to come and watch that other movie now when you see that preview you're not

seeing the whole movie but you kind of get the gist right you see the narrative and you say oh you know what I need to go see that movie it looks so good because the preview is the highlights of a movie that is about to come out same goes for you same goes for the promise God will show you a preview God will encourage you God is inviting you to step out in faith and begin to walk with him and experience the best life that you could ever have that's what it is it's a preview God doesn't show you the whole movie right he doesn't he doesn't he doesn't show you the entire plan but he will show you a snapshot he will show you a preview he'll show you just enough to make you want to do something for him a promise again is a preview number two you can write this down your promise is always greater than your past that's something important for you and I to know our promise from God is always greater from our than our past notice what God is asking Abraham to do God's asking him to leave everything he's ever known and literally walk into the unknown that's what faith is faith is trusting God every day no matter what faith is leaving whatever you have to in order to gain entry into what God is calling you to your promise I repeat church and listen to me well your promise will always be greater than your past God will never ask us to leave something unless he's willing to give us something better in return God's not trying to rip you off so many of us we don't understand the character and the nature of God when God calls you out it's because he's calling you into something better now Abram could have made a decision to just stay put and stay right where he was at and he would have missed out on everything that God had intended for his life some of us we we live in the past instead of living in the future instead of enjoying the present some of us are constantly looking in the rearview mirror of life looking at our past mistakes feeling guilty over our past sins living with the shame living in depression you know if you were trying to drive your car constantly looking in the rearview mirror mirror it would be just a matter of time before you wreck life is not designed for us to constantly be looking backwards that's why the windshield is so much bigger God wants you to stop living in

your past and start living in the promise that he has given you how many can say amen to that start looking forward to your future God does not consult your history in order to determine your destiny and some of us who are here have actually literally and maybe some who are watching have disqualified ourselves from what God has for us because something because of something that happened in the past and so I repeat and it's so important for you to remember that your promise is always greater than your past doesn't matter what your past looks like doesn't matter where you're from what God has for you is so much better and so much greater than that let me give you point number three your promise must be pursued God gave Abram a promise but guess what church he still had to do something what are you doing with the promises that God has given to you are you sitting on them are you waiting for them to magically happen on their own all of a sudden out of nowhere God just blesses you faith is not magic faith is action the book of James says that our faith without works without action is literally useless the question is not do you have a promise from God the question is what are you doing with the promise you have are you pursuing that promise are you chasing that dream God is looking for people that are ready and willing to go all in with him and again in order for the promise the preview what God has promised you and I to happen you have to pursue it the difference between people who do great things for God and those who don't is the ones who did were willing and courageous enough to obey God some of us are just waiting for the promises of God to happen because we confuse God's ultimate will with God's perfect will for our life or personal will there are some things that are going to happen no matter what that are contained in this book right here called the Bible but there are other things that are going to happen that depend on you Abram was a man just like we are who had a free will who could have told God no I'm not ready I don't want to it's too hard I don't want to leave this guy I don't want to leave this girl I don't want to leave this job I don't want to get out of my comfort zone but Abram the reason he

became known as the father of faith is because because he had enough faith to leave where he was and to inherit what God was offering him so many of us are frustrated in our faith we're conflicted in our Christianity because we scratch our heads and wonder why the great things that God promised us don't seem to be happening because we fail to recognize that you and I we all have a part in the promises of God God says if you will I will many of God's promises believe it or not are what we call conditional if you will I will if you leave this Abraham I'll give you this in its place and Abraham went and did according to what God had told him and that is how Abraham became the father of faith that is how he became known the father faith and so everybody ought to know who Abraham was you know who people often don't know is Abraham's father I'm not gonna ask you to raise your hand but I I wonder how many of us who are here have ever heard of Abraham's father Abraham's father believe it or not his name is Tara you can write that down kind of a weird name but his name was Tara and his story is found in Genesis in chapter 11 just one chapter prior one chapter before now listen to what I'm going to say because this is important and this is key Abraham you can find Abraham throughout the entire Bible from Genesis all the way into the New Testament and all the great things he did for God but you can hardly find any mention of his father terror in all there's only a handful of references to him and in Genesis chapter 11 and I'm gonna read for you starting with verse 31 through 32 this is what it says Tara took Abram his son lot his grandson and Sarah his daughter-in-law his sons Abram's wife and they went forth together from her of the Chaldeans into the land of Canaan but when they came to Haran they settled there in the days of were 205 years old and he died in Haran now you might be asking today but why is that even important who cares who Abraham's dad was you ought to care because Tara represents the majority of believers today if you study if you take the time to study the life of Tara you're going to understand that many scholars many historians agree that God did not call Abraham first God actually called Tara first and I'm gonna prove it to you as quickly as possible because

the Bible says in Genesis chapter 11 that Tara was leaving her where they were from and he was on his way to Canaan for those of you that don't know what Canaan is Canaan is actually the promised land it's the same place that God told Abraham to go to but who did God tell to go to who did God tell first he told Tara to go there first but the problem is this church is that the Bible says that Tara settled in Haran. Haran geographically, Haran is about the halfway point. It literally the name Haran literally means crossroads. It's where he stopped. It's where he settled and I wonder to myself how many of us Christians born-again believers are settling for less than what God has in store for us. Why are we not living in the promised land or the land of promises? Why are we not experiencing and enjoying God's best for our life? Could it be that we have done the same mistake that Tara did and we've settled in Haran? We got halfway and we settled there and we're not pursuing God's promise. I repeat what I said just a moment ago. God is looking for men and women that are willing and ready to go all in all the way with God and this is the sad thing is about Tara's story is not only did he settle in Haran, he died in Haran. Although he intended to go to the promised land, although perhaps according to many he was called and destined to go into the promised land, that was not the case and so was the case with so many Christians. We think well if God said it, it has to happen. A better way to say that if God said it, it can happen if you so choose it to happen. Tara decided to stop and settle instead of going all the way with God. So when Tara died, guess what? Then God spoke to Abram or Abraham and told him now you need to finish what your daddy started. You need to do what your dad was not willing to do and now Abram had the task of picking up and finishing going all the way and taking his family, this is key, this is important, taking his family into the promised land and it's so important for every person especially those of you that are parents to listen to me at this point. You have an opportunity to take your children into the promised land or to leave them in the wilderness and it all depends on us. Abram could have started off in the

promised land, instead he started off at the halfway point because our children will always start where we end. If there's compromise in my life, if I'm not the best example, well then my kids are gonna inherit whatever I give them and I want to share a story before I close. This was way back in the day, so you know I got married at a very young age, my wife and I got married when I was 18 years old. We started what is now Cross Church, a church of over 5,000 people across seven campuses when I was 20 years old. So I've done that for the past 30 plus years and so I remember this was way back in the day when we were still in one of our other buildings that I had a Nigerian pastor friend of mine who was preaching at the church and he was preaching with fire, you know, he was preaching with Holy Ghost fire and he was sweating up a storm. He sat down right next to me, the glory of God was in the house and he looks at me and he says I'm gonna give you a word Jaime. I said go for it. He's like don't take this the wrong way. He said you were not God's first choice. I'm like what kind of word is that? It's like your wife telling you you weren't my first choice. I was kind of taken aback a little bit, he literally said that. Under the anointing of God, with the house of God full of the glory of God, looks at me with sweat running down his face and says God told me to tell you you were not his first choice. I don't know what to do with that word. I said okay brother, amen I guess. Right, what do you say? Amen I guess, like okay I'm here aren't I? And then not even a week later I had another brother from Mexico preaching at my church on another special service. Gets down from the pulpit under the anointing of God, says pastor I need to tell you something and I don't know how to tell you this. He said I don't want you to get offended. I said okay, well I said look I'm unoffendable. No I'm just kidding, just say it. He said you were not God's first choice. within a week span I had two men of God tell me the same thing you were not God's first choice he said but the first man didn't want to do it you know I didn't really know what to do with that word you know sometimes you just take some of those words and you put them in your pocket you know like it doesn't

really make sense maybe later and so and I kept doing what I was doing I kept preaching we kept building built buildings bought property acres and here and there and built massive buildings see thousands of people some years back my dad passed away and on his deathbed he called me said son I need to tell you something that I've never told you before I said okay dad like fine you know started crying he said I never told anybody this he said when I was young he said God called me to be a pastor he's like but I thought about it he was I thought about your mom I thought about you guys you were so small he was I knew that pastors sometimes make a lot of sacrifice and it's a hard life he said and I told God no I never heard that before he's like I thought about going to Bible school he said I felt it God kept calling me calling me calling me he said but I kept putting it off and putting it off and putting it off until life passed me by this is my dad mind you on his deathbed making this confession to his son saying God called me to preach God called me to pastor and I told him no and then he looked at me in the eyes as his son I look at everything that you've done for the Lord and I just want to say thank you for saying yes he was because you did what I should have done a couple of days later he passed to be with the Lord and then all of a sudden those words that I got back from 20 years before came to mind you were not God's first choice but the first person they didn't want to do it that's why I'm bringing you this message today because if you don't take those moments those moments this could be for some of you a moment a moment that you're you're feeling a tug maybe something in your heart is being moved but if you don't do something with these moments you know what these moments become they become nothing more than memories you just remember the mission-stripping you remember the last message and you remember that awesome conference in the last sermon that pastor Chris preached that rocked your world but they're just memories we all have those but no one with a memory ever changed the world you want to know how to take a moment and turn it into a movement as some in the Bible did in order for a moment to turn into a movement you have to move you have to

apply you have to take action because nothing happens by chance especially when it's God's will God's inviting you and expecting your response to say yes here I am again I'm gonna close in just a moment and we're gonna pray and I want you to make sure that this message becomes more than just a moment for some of you this is this is a pivotal moment it's for some of you you're gonna give your life to Jesus today for some of you you're gonna find a way to restore your marriage for some of you you're finally gonna go out and start that business for some of you you're gonna go back to college for some of you because you know what you're doing you're doing exactly what many men and women of God have done before you they took a moment and they turned it into a movement they actually did something about it but they didn't sit on it and wait for it to happen and then it became just a memory I'm gonna ask you to stand really quick stand on your feet if you can this message could mean something different for everybody I don't know how many football fans we have here but my son-in-law he's a big Seattle Seahawks fan so he was celebrating when the Seahawks won and you know I wasn't too with the game but I'm gonna tell you what impressed me the most at the end of the game when they handed the trophy to the Head coach of the Seattle Seahawks Mike McDonald. He said something that stuck with me He said the following as he held that trophy in his hands now, I want you to hear his words You can go back and watch it for yourself He says I believe God called me to be a coach Not a preacher not a pastor not a missionary in the third world country. Although there's nothing wrong with that See that's what we confuse with the calling of God we hide from the calling of God Because we think God's gonna call us to do something crazy Remember remember what I said that God will never ask you to do something or give something up if he's not willing to give you something better and I was so impressed with what he said. He says I believe God called me to be a coach and

I listened and Now we are world champions It's as simple as that Whatever God calls you to do. Can I encourage you today? Just listen just listen and your life will be better for it and Remember this before we pray that your promise is not just about you God told Abraham all the people in the earth will be blessed because of you There are people that are waiting for you to say yes There are people that are waiting for you to rise up There are people that are waiting for you to start that business There are people that are waiting for you to write that book There are people that are waiting for you to do what God has called you to do God says I'm gonna bless you So that you can be a blessing Some of you got the first part But you haven't done the second part You've been blessed. Thank God for that But God says I'm gonna bless you So that you can be a blessing Don't take Part of it Don't stop halfway Go all the way with God. I want you to bow your head and close your eyes. I Want you to have your own Moment with God I want you to talk to him. We got about a minute or so left Some of you gonna repent some of you gonna give your life to Jesus Some of you gonna sign up to be baptized Some of you gonna make a decision today to jump on a team and start serving using your gifts and talents There are people in prison right now that are watching that are gonna start a ministry that God is calling Despite your situation your circumstance

Just because you're bound in prison doesn't mean that you have to be bound in your life Your future is not bound the Word of God is not bound for those of you that are at home watching God is speaking to you there as well With every head bowed with every eye closed, let's pray Heavenly Father in Jesus name. We want to thank you right now Lord God, we don't want to neglect. We don't want to ignore and we don't want to squander or miss not one more moment We've we've had too many missed opportunities Some of us were called as teenagers Some of us were called as teenagers some of us had dreams as children Some of us were raised in church, but we haven't done anything with the faith that we've inherited Yes, we go to church. We're good people Lord God, but we are not changing our world Yes, we're blessed But we have not gotten to the point that now we are finding ways to be a blessing to the church and to others and To build your kingdom father in Jesus name Let every moment that we've ever had become a movement that affects others We don't want to live with memories much less regret father So we pray Holy Spirit right now that you would help us take those sacred special moments When we wept at an altar When we gave our life to Jesus When we made a covenant vow to our spouse And that there would be more than just moments That they would become movements That changed the world We pray this in Christ's name and everybody said amen and amen give the Lord a big big round of applause Thank you guys and God bless you Amen Amen What an Incredible word to be reminded today that not only are we called to this moment But God is taking this moment to become a movement, and I don't know all of you I know some of you, but I know we've all come in from different backgrounds different perspectives

We brought different things into the room with us today, and the Lord's inviting you Regardless of what you brought in he's inviting you to begin with him Maybe for the first time before the hundredth time maybe maybe you need prayer. Maybe you need to take a step of faith I want to encourage you to do a couple of things today first if you're new to faith Or you're wondering what it means Be a follower of Christ. I want you to text the word Jesus to 51010. That's a great way for us to meet you, to pray with you, to give you some resources. And then secondly, there may be some of us in here today who we just need a word of encouragement. We just need some prayer. Our prayer team is going to make their way down front. It would be an honor of our lifetime for us to be able to pray with you today, to meet you, to hear more about what the Lord's doing in your life. Amen. Now, this last announcement, I've been threatened within an inch of my life not to forget it, but apparently the youth, the students are headed to Brazil on a mission trip this summer. You missed your cue. After all that, y'all missed your cue. That's all right. I got you. They are selling in the lobby today. They're selling a Brazilian street food called coxinha, which is absolutely delicious. It's cheese. It's chicken. It's fried. It's incredibly healthy. None of it counts today. But if you wanted to sample some great Brazilian food, it's available for purchase in the lobby. It's a great way to support our students as they go out to Brazil this summer. So be sure to do that. As you guys are ready to go, let me pray a blessing over us today. God, thank you for today. Thank you for what you've done in this moment. And God, may this moment continue to be a movement for us in the days ahead. So God, may the Lord bless them and keep you. May the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. And may the Lord turn his face towards you and give you peace. Amen. You guys be blessed and we'll see you next time.