Turning Obstacles Into Opportunities - Scotty Gibbons

Jesus came so lost people could be saved. This church is not a cruise ship where we lay by the pool. This is a battleship and for 23 years we've been on mission for Jesus. For 23 years we've been worshipping Jesus, preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, reaching lost people, baptizing people, helping people know God and grow in God, discover a purpose and make a difference. We've been on the mission of Jesus. For one reason, to see more changed lives. Good morning family, welcome to People's Church. Will you stand to your feet with us if you can? To our sisters at Mabel Bassett, welcome family. Come on, put those hands together. Let's give God some praise in this place today. Aren't you glad you could just take a minute's work today? It's a narrow road that leads to life, but I want to be on it. It's a narrow road, but the mercy's wide, cause you're good on your promise. I'll take you at your word. If you said it, I'll believe it. I've seen how good it works. If you start it, you'll complete it. I'll take you at your word. Thank you Lord. God we believe it. Views flow, and the chaos fell in line. I know, cause I've seen it in my life. It's a narrow road that leads to life, but I want to be on it. It's a narrow road, but the tide is high, but you're part of the water. I'll take you at your word. If you said it, I'll believe it. I've seen how good it works. If you start it, you'll complete it. I'll take you at your word. If you said it, I'll believe it. I've seen how good it works.

If you start it, you'll complete it. I'll take you at your word. Come on, do you believe? Thank you Lord. Cause you're good on your promise. Oh. Come on, sing this out. You said your love would never give up. You said your grace is always enough. You said your heart would never forget or forsake me. Thank you Lord. You said I'm saved, you call me yours. You said my future's full of your hope. You never fail, so I know that you'll never fail me. Oh. You said your love would never give up. You said your grace is always enough. You said your heart would never forget or forsake me. Oh, you said. You said I'm saved, you call me yours. You said my future's full of your hope. You never fail, so I know that you'll never fail me. I'll take you at your word. If you said it. ♪ If you said it, I'll believe it ♪ ♪ I've seen how good it works ♪ ♪ If you start it, you'll complete it ♪ ♪ I'll take you at your word ♪ ♪ If you said it, I'll believe it ♪ ♪ I've seen how good, how good it works ♪

♪ If you start it, you'll complete it ♪ ♪ I'll take you at your word, His word, I'll believe it ♪ Hallelujah. Thank you, Lord. Oh, hallelujah. ♪ I'll take you at your word, His word, I'll believe it ♪ ♪ Days may be darkest, but your light is greater ♪ ♪ You light our way, God, you light our way ♪ ♪ When evil is rising, you're rising higher ♪ ♪ With power to save, with power to save ♪ Come on, we sing, sing. ♪ You keep hope alive, you keep hope alive ♪ ♪ From the beginning to end, your word never fails ♪ ♪ You keep hope alive because you are alive, Jesus, you are alive ♪ Come on, hey. ♪ Step out of stronghold, when your life was stronger ♪ ♪ Rose from the grave, rose up from the grave ♪ Yeah, thank you, Jesus. ♪ When evil is rising, you're rising higher ♪ ♪ With power to save, with power to save, yeah, sing ♪ ♪ You keep hope alive, you keep hope alive ♪ ♪ From the beginning to end, your word never fails ♪ ♪ You keep hope alive because you are alive, Jesus, you are alive ♪ ♪ Because you are alive, Jesus, you are alive ♪ ♪ There's hope in the morning, hope in the evening ♪ ♪ Hope because you're living, hope because you're breathing ♪ ♪ There's hope in the breaking, hope in the sorrow ♪ ♪ Hope for this moment, my hope for tomorrow ♪ ♪ There's hope in the morning, there's hope in the evening ♪ ♪ There's hope because you're living, there's hope because you're breathing ♪

♪ There's hope in the breaking, there's hope in the sorrow ♪ ♪ There's hope for this moment, my hope for tomorrow ♪ ♪ You keep hope alive, you keep hope alive ♪ ♪ From the beginning to end, your word never fails ♪ ♪ You keep hope alive because you are alive, Jesus, you are alive ♪ ♪ You keep hope alive, you keep hope alive, Jesus, you are alive ♪ Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. Hallelujah. Oh, thank you, Lord. Thank you that you are our hope, Lord. Thank you, Father. Thank you, Lord. ♪ I was rich, I remember who I was ♪ ♪ I was lost, I was blind, I was running out of time ♪ ♪ Sin separated, the breach was far too wide ♪ ♪ But from the far side of the chasm, you had me in your sight ♪ ♪ So you made a way across the great divide ♪ ♪ Left behind heaven's throne to build it here inside ♪ Thank you, Lord. ♪ And there at the cross you paid the debt I owe ♪ ♪ Broke my chains and freed my soul ♪ ♪ For the first time I had hope ♪ ♪ Thank you Jesus for the blood applied ♪ ♪ Thank you Jesus you have washed me clean ♪ ♪ And made me white ♪ ♪ Thank you Jesus you have saved my life ♪ ♪ Brought me from the darkness into glorious light ♪ ♪ You took my place laid inside my tomb of sin ♪ ♪ You were buried for three days ♪

♪ But then you walked right out again ♪ ♪ And now death has no sting and life has no end ♪ ♪ For I have been transformed by the blood of the lamb ♪ ♪ Thank you Jesus for the blood applied ♪ ♪ Thank you Jesus you have washed me white ♪ ♪ Thank you Jesus you have saved my life ♪ ♪ Brought me from the darkness into glorious light ♪ ♪ Into glorious light ♪ ♪ There is nothing stronger than the wonder working power of the blood, the blood ♪ ♪ Because of sons and daughters we are ransomed by our father through the blood of the lamb ♪ ♪ The blood, the blood ♪ ♪ So we say there is nothing stronger than the wonder working power of the blood, the blood ♪ ♪ The wonder working power of the blood, the blood ♪ ♪ Because of sons and daughters we are ransomed by our father through the blood of the lamb ♪ ♪ Because of sons and daughters we are ransomed by our father through the blood of the lamb ♪ ♪ The blood, the blood ♪ ♪ Thank you Jesus, thank you Jesus for the wonder working power of the blood, the blood ♪ ♪ Thank you Jesus, thank you Jesus you have washed me white, oh thank you Jesus you have saved my life ♪ ♪ Thank you Jesus, thank you Jesus you have washed me white, oh thank you Jesus you have saved my life ♪ ♪ You brought me from the darkness into glorious light, so glory to His name ♪ ♪ Glory to His name, there to my heart was the blood applied, glory to His name, glory to His name ♪ ♪ Glory to His name, there to my heart was the blood applied, glory to His name, glory to His name ♪ ♪ Glory to His name, glory to His name, glory to His name, glory to His name, glory to His name ♪ ♪ There to my heart was the blood applied, glory to His name, glory to His name, glory to His name ♪ ♪ Glory to His name, glory to His name, glory to His name, glory to His name, glory to His name, glory to His name, glory to His name ♪ Amen, yeah. Come on let's give God a hand clap of praise. You may be seated for a moment but let's continue in this posture of worship. We're getting ready to take communion and worship Jesus together as a church. family so if you're joining us online or at home this would be a great time to go to your pantry and get a slice of bread or a cracker and some juice we'd love to

have you partake in communion with us today if you're here in person and you walked in there should have been communion elements on your seat if you would take those and hold on to them we'll take communion here together in just a moment as a church family you know communion is something that we Christians do that reminds us of the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross for our sin and the Bible tells us to examine our lives and our hearts as we take communion and so as I read this Bible verse let's just take a moment to examine our hearts to see if there's anything between you and God or there's any unconfessed sin the Bible says in John chapter 8 verses 34 through 36 and Jesus replied I tell you the truth everyone who sins is a slave to sin a slave is not a permanent member of the family but a son is part of the family forever so if the Son has set you free you are truly free in this verse we see the very words of Jesus himself saying that sin enslaves us but he came to set us free from sin and so today as we take communion together as a church family can we just take a moment to reflect on what Jesus set us free from and can we rejoice that he set us free and that he set us into a family where we can find belonging and it's a safe place for us to grow in our faith if you would church family grab those communion elements and if you would peel back the top layer of plastic and grab the bread we will pray over this and then receive it together as a family let's pray Heavenly Father we thank you for what this bread represents the broken blood body of Jesus and today father we thank you we are truly grateful for what the broken body of Jesus has brought us the gift of forgiveness and the gift of freedom thank you that we get to walk in your freedom each and every day because of what Jesus did for us in Jesus's name we pray amen you may now partake of the bread in the same way would you now peel back the foil layer of the cup and hold it together we'll pray over it and receive it together father we thank you for what this juice represents the blood of Jesus and God we just thank you for the blood of Jesus that forgives us of our sin that brings us into close relationship with you and gives us eternal hope that you're returning for your church Lord we

thank you for all that you've done for us in Jesus's name we pray amen you may now partake of the juice thank you Jesus thank you father are you grateful for what Jesus has done for you amen if you would stand up with me all across this room if you feel comfortable lift your hands to heaven and let's just take a moment to show our gratitude to Jesus let's just take a moment to worship him together Thank you Jesus for the blood. God we're so grateful. All my words fall short. I've got nothing new. How could I express all my gratitude? I could sing these songs as I often do. But every song must end. And you never do. So I throw up my hands and praise you again and again. Cause all that I have is a Hallelujah. Hallelujah. And I know it's not much. I'm nothing else but for a King. ♪ Sing hallelujah, hallelujah ♪ ♪ I've got one response, I've got just one move ♪ ♪ With my heart stretched wide, I will win this war ♪ ♪ I worship you, Lord ♪ ♪ So I come with my hands and praise you again and again ♪ ♪ Because all that I have is a hallelujah, hallelujah ♪ ♪ And I know it's not much, but I've nothing left to fear for me ♪ ♪ Step over hearts, sing hallelujah, hallelujah ♪ ♪ We sing hallelujah, God you're worthy of it all ♪ ♪ God you're worthy of it all, thank you Jesus ♪ ♪ Oh come on my soul, oh don't you get shy on me ♪ ♪ Lift up your song, you've got a lion inside of those lungs ♪ ♪ So get up and praise the Lord ♪ ♪ Oh come on my soul, oh don't you get shy on me ♪ ♪ Lift up your song, you've got a lion inside of those lungs ♪ ♪ So get up and praise the Lord ♪ ♪ Oh come on my soul, oh don't you get shy on me ♪ ♪ Lift up your song, you've got a lion inside of those lungs ♪ ♪ So get up and praise the Lord ♪

♪ Oh Jesus, oh praise the Lord, God you're worthy of it all ♪ ♪ God you're worthy, God you're worthy, God you're worthy, God you're worthy of it all ♪ One last time on the cross, just remember to lift your hands towards heaven Come on lift your hands and just sing to him, say So I throw up my hands and praise you again and again Come on sing to him Cause all that I have is Hallelujah Hallelujah And I know it's not much, I know it's not much I'm nothing else fit for a king Except for a heart singing Hallelujah Hallelujah Yeah God we thank you for the gift of forgiveness We thank you God for the gift of freedom Lord we love you Today Father we lift up to you every need of those joining us online or in person God we invite you to move on their behalf Would you touch them? Would you minister to us today? Lord we love you and we thank you In the mighty name of Jesus we pray Amen and Amen Come on can we give him one more hand clap of praise He's so worthy of all of our praise Church family before you're seated We're a friendly church So let's take a moment to connect with two or three people we don't know Let's go right now and get a couple people's names Hello Three

Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine We're here at People's Church, and whether you're joining us online or in person, I want you to know we're family. I wanna take a moment to give a big warm welcome to all of our first-time guests. Come on, can we celebrate them today? We are so glad that you are here. It's so awesome that you're giving and supporting a missions organization called Wycliffe Bible Translators with Tim Hatcher. Together, they are translating the Bible so that people can read the Bible for the very first time. Check out this update. Hello, People's Church. Tim Hatcher with Wycliffe Bible Translators. These girls just received the Bible in their language, Ambonese Malay in Indonesia. 900 languages are still waiting for their first verse of the Bible in their language. Thank you for giving so we can train new Bible translators in Indonesia and Thailand to reach others with the Word of God in their language. Thank you, People's Church, for giving and for helping to end Bible poverty.

Yeah, come on, People's Church. This is why we do what we do. God's Word changes lives. I truly thank God for our church family and your passion to take the gospel to every nation and every tribe. Truly, thank you, thank you, thank you for your faithful generosity. God, we thank you for this incredible ministry and we thank you for the people of Israel who are getting the Bible into hands of people who've never held one. We pray that you would provide and meet their need, Father, as they continue this incredible work of getting the Bible translated so that people can read the Word of God for the very first time. We pray today that you would bless the Hatchers and bless this incredible ministry. And we pray that many, many more lives would be changed through God's Word. In Jesus's name we pray, amen. ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ Welcome to all of our locations, Northwest, Midwest City, Oklahoma City, Edmond, Indianapolis, the Ladies at Mabel Bassett Correctional Facility, and everyone joining us online.

And a huge welcome to all of our first-time guests. I hope you had a great day yesterday celebrating Independence Day. And I thank God for our Back to the Movies series. It was awesome. We saw so many changed lives through that series. Thank you for inviting your friends and family and for your heart to see more changed lives. We are praising God for all He did throughout that incredible evangelistic series. And I'm fired up for next Sunday, July the 12th. I will be kicking off a brand-new teaching series called Holy Thirst, developing a desire for the presence of God. I'm gonna help you grow in experiencing the presence of God. I'm gonna teach you how to be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. This series will strengthen and grow your faith. It's time for the Word of God. I'm excited for our lead pastor, Pastor Scotty Gibbons, to bring a message that will help you grow. Pastor Scotty, we are so, so grateful for your leadership and for your incredible preaching. You're just an incredible leader, incredible pastor, incredible preacher. Will you put your hands together and welcome Pastor Scotty Gibbons as he preaches God's Word to us today. Good morning, People's Church.

You're glad to be at God's house today. Come on, put your hands together and thank God for our church. It is a treat for me to be here today preaching the Word of the Lord, but I say thanks be to God for our senior pastor, Pastor Herbert Cooper. You know he's back next week. You don't want to miss next week. He's not just an incredible leader, incredible man of God, but he can preach God's Word. If you're a visitor today, make sure that you come back. Next week, it's gonna be a great, great Sunday. Can we thank the Lord for our pastor today? Come on, put your hands together for Pastor Herbert. Well, happy 4th of July weekend to you. We wanna welcome all of our campuses, whether you're watching on one of our onsite locations or if you're watching online, we welcome you today. So glad that you are here. Why don't you just turn right now to your neighbor and say, I'm so glad you came to church today. Go ahead and tell them that. Come on, all of our campuses. Tell them you're glad to see them. Turn to the person on the other side and say, you look like you need some church today. Go ahead, tell them that. Well, you ready for the word of God today? Come on, you ready for God's word?

I'm excited about this story from scripture that we're gonna be looking at. Before I read the text, let me tell you a quick story. Back in the day, I'm talking about way back in the day when I was in college, I was at Evangel University and I was playing football there and I knew that the call of God was on my life. I knew that God wanted to use me in ministry and have all the details. But in my mind, I figured this is the way it was going to work. He had gifted me with the ability to play sports and he'd given me a heart to tell people about Jesus so I could just see how it was all gonna play out. I was going to use sports as a platform to be able to talk to students. I was gonna be able to use athletics as my way in, as the way that people would come and listen and I would use that story, that testimony to tell people about my relationship with God. Well, my first season, my freshman year in college, I injured my back and I could no longer play football. Now, today this could seem a little silly but I'm telling you, church, at the time, in my limited understanding, I thought there goes my ministry. I thought, how am I gonna get to preach now? Who's ever gonna invite me to speak now? And so I quit playing football and just for a little window of time there,

I was just so confused, so discombobulated, not sure how this was gonna all work out but I got plugged into a local church, started serving on their dream team in the youth ministry, ended up going on staff at that church. Matter of fact, that's the church where I met my wife, Casey, she wasn't my wife at the time but I met her, we got married, started our family and also at that same church as a young youth pastor, that's where I brought in this powerful evangelist, this guy traveling the world, telling people about Jesus. He went by the name of Pastor Herbert Cooper and all could he preach. And I look back at that time and I see how my life has evolved and I can now look over my shoulder with clarity of understanding and realize that while one thing I lost and it appeared to be a setback, was really a set up for what God was doing in my life. I thought that I'd lost football, thus lost my ministry but instead I got to be a part of a growing ministry, a thriving ministry. I got to meet my wife and meet my best friend and I look back and go God, you were in complete control all the while. How many of you are thankful that no matter what happens in your life, you always know that God is in control?

Well, what I saw as an obstacle, God saw as an opportunity. As a matter of fact, everyone listening to this message today without a doubt, you're facing some type of obstacle in your life. Could be health related, could be financial, it could be relational. For some of us today, you'd say yes, yes and yes, it's all of the above. Anybody ever feel like it just comes in waves on you? You're getting hit every which way but loose. But I wanna remind you today that we serve a God who specializes in turning obstacles into opportunities. Can you say a good amen right there? And there's no better model in all of scripture to look at and learn from today when it comes to this subject than the spiritual giant Moses. We know him as a hero. We know him as a great leader who led God's people, over a million people out of the bondage of Egypt and into the promised land. This is Moses who wrote the first five books of the Bible. This is Moses, the man that God chose to give and present the 10 commandments to that would govern and lead all of the people. And yet when we look at this man Moses, who no doubt had all kinds of miraculous moments, all kinds of spiritual highs that we're still talking about today.

If you look closely, you'll see that he had no shortage of obstacles that he had to overcome. And this is gonna encourage you today. So if you're taking notes, I want you to write down point number one. This is the first lesson that we're learning from his life on how to have obstacles become opportunities. Number one, if you're taking notes, write it down. Your problems are no match for God's plan. Your problems are no match for God's plan. I mean, we're starting with a strong one today, church. This is gonna help somebody. If you'll just get this into your spirit, just this first point, it could change everything for you. Your problems are no match for God's plan. Moses learned from the very beginning that God's plan was way bigger than Moses' problems. From the day that Moses was born, God had a plan to use him. But there was one small problem in Moses' story. And that is before we read about him being born in the first verses of Exodus chapter two, when you're reading through Exodus and you start with chapter one, the very last verses of chapter one, before he's born in chapter two. At the end of chapter one, we see something that, if you didn't know the whole story, you're thinking, man, Moses' great heroic story

is getting cut short before it even starts because the enemy was also trying to enact his plan for Moses. Look at it, Exodus chapter one, verse 22. It says, then Pharaoh, Pharaoh was the leader of Egypt. As a matter of fact, to those people, to the Egyptians, he was seen as deity. He was seen as a god. So whatever Pharaoh said, that's what would happen. It says, then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people. Remember, we're at the end of chapter one. Before Moses is born in chapter two, he says, throw every newborn Hebrew boy into the Nile River, but you may let the girls live. You see, if you're familiar with the story, here in Exodus, you know that Pharaoh had decided that the Israelites had grown too large. They were becoming too powerful, and so he decides that he's going to have every male baby born, he's gonna have them killed. And so it looks like, if you don't know the whole story, if you're diving in, if you're looking carefully, it looks like Moses' story's about to be cut short. It's hard to be a deliverer when you don't even live to see your first birthday. But God's plans are always, somebody say always, God's plans are always bigger than our problems. So it says in chapter two, verse one, about this time, a man and woman

from the tribe of Levi got married. The woman became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She saw that he was a special baby. Can I just remind you who's writing the book of Exodus? How many of y'all think that's a little bit funny? Moses saying, he's special, he was cute too. I mean, Moses is just taking a minute to brag. She saw that he was a special baby and kept him hidden for three months. But when she could no longer hide him, she got a basket made of papyrus reeds and waterproofed it with tar and pitch. She put the baby in the basket and laid it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile River. The baby's sister then stood at a distance, watching to see what would happen to him. Soon Pharaoh's daughters came down to bathe in the river and her attendants walked along the river bank. When the princess saw the basket among the reeds, she sent her maid to get it for her. Look at verse six. When the princess opened it, she saw the baby. The little boy was crying and she felt sorry for him. This must be one of the Hebrew children, she said. Then the baby's sister approached the princess. Should I go and find one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you, she asked. Yes, do, the princess replied. So the girl went and called the baby's mother. Now track with this, are you tracking church family?

Take this baby and nurse him for me, the princess told. Who did she tell? The baby's mother. Look at this. And I will pay you for your help. So the woman took her baby home and nursed him. Later, when the boy was older, his mother brought him. him back to Pharaoh's daughter, who adopted him as her own son. The princess named him Moses, for she explained, I lifted him out of the water. Can somebody shout, but God? Are you tracking with this story? It was an obstacle. God had a plan for Moses' life. I mean, God was going to raise him up to be the deliverer, but the enemy had another plan. He wanted to stop it, and Pharaoh decreed every male baby born is to be thrown into the Nile. Moses placed in the basket. Pharaoh's daughter sees the basket, finds the baby, calls for a Hebrew woman to come. Who does he call? Moses' mom. Moses' mama got paid to raise her own son. Only God. You see, for all of us, we will face obstacles, but God sees opportunities. He was born a slave, but he was raised in a palace. He'd receive an education and learn leadership lessons in the palace that would be invaluable to him and his family as he led them into freedom. And if you follow Moses and his story through scripture, you'll see that it started like that and it continued like that. Anybody ever heard the story of the miracle of the Red Sea? Come on, wave at me.

All the campuses. Even if you hadn't been around church for very long, you've probably heard of Moses and the Red Sea. We won't take time to read the whole story, but you can look it up in Exodus chapter 14. When you finally get to the story to where Moses is leading the Israelites out of Egypt, it says that Pharaoh changed his mind on allowing them to go free, and so all of the Egyptian army started pursuing Moses and the Israelites. With the Red Sea in front of them and the pursuing Egyptian army behind them, Moses had a problem. It wasn't a made-up problem. How many of you know people who just make up problems? Anybody know somebody like that? Everything's a problem. Everything's bad. Everything's negative. You know anybody who just attracts drama? I'm not trying to point at them, but you know anybody who just attracts drama? I mean, everything's going great. They're looking for something to complain about, looking for something to say, oh no, oh me, oh my. Moses is not making this up. He looked up. He saw the Red Sea. He looked back. Here comes the Egyptian army. Moses had to be thinking, man, once I get through one problem, another one pops up. Can anybody else relate to that? But if you know the story, you know what happens, and that God parts the waters. God made a way where there was no way. God delivered them.

There was an obstacle, but it became an opportunity. Can I tell somebody today, this is the same God. Somebody say, same God. The same God that we're worshiping today. The same God that we're praying to today. The same God that we're trusting in today. The same God who was faithful to Moses will be faithful to you. I want you to know today that your problem is no match for God's power or God's plan in your life. Some of you may be thinking, but I don't even know if I can be a good husband. I don't know if I even can be a good dad. You see obstacles. I don't even know if I can be successful in work. I don't even know if I can get over this physical health issue. I don't even know if I can get out of this. All you see are obstacles, but you're learning from Moses is that your obstacles are no match for God's plan. His power is bigger than your problem. Can you say amen to that? You might look at it and think, but how can I be something that I've never even seen before? I haven't had this model or I can't see a path forward. That's why we need each other. That's why you need the person on your left or on your right, the person seated in front of you, the person seated behind you. You need a church family. You need life givers, life speakers, truth tellers. That's why we encourage so much small groups. Get in a group. Get in a group. Get in a group.

Get in a group. Why are we doing this? Because we want you to be surrounded by voices who when you look at and you go, I don't even know how to do this. You've got a brother. You've got a sister in Christ saying, come with me. I'll share my story. You find a godly couple that you can have to mentor you and speak life or that you can model after and pattern after. You haven't ever seen this before, but you can watch other brothers and sisters in Christ who are raising a godly family. being successful with their management of their finances. That's why you get into a group. Some of you will say, I don't know if I can ever get over this addiction. I don't know if I can ever overcome this problem. Listen, it's never about the size of your problem. It is always about the size of your God. His plan for you is unstoppable. You have destiny inside of you. You have the spirit of God inside of you. All of hell combined is not strong enough to stop God's plan when you follow his will. First John chapter four, verse four says, you dear children are from God and have overcome them because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. God wants you to be blessed. He wants you to walk in victory. He wants you to live in freedom.

His plan is for you to prosper. He wants to give you a future and he doesn't just desire it. He has the power to do it. Psalm 147, verse five says, great is our Lord and mighty in power. His understanding has no limit. He's a big God. He's a strong God. He's in control and his plan is stronger than any obstacle you're facing today. Can we give God thanks and praise? Come on, he's with you today, church. He's with you today. Let me give you the second, but some of y'all, that first one didn't help me. That's okay, here's number two. This one's gonna help you. Number two, your past does not have to keep you from the future that God has for you. See, for some of us, this is where we get hung up. It's something that's happened in the past and it's still a problem and an obstacle today. Now, don't misunderstand me. As we look at Moses' life, there's no doubt about it, Moses was a man of God. Like, I don't know what you've done for Jesus, but I had never led a million people through the Red Sea. I've never taken my staff and like, boom, I've never had that happen before.

He was a man of God, but you know what else? His resume wasn't perfect. I just love how scripture keeps it so real. I love how the word of God includes the flaws, the blemishes, the humanity of people that God chose to use. Look at it in Exodus chapter two. Let's learn a little bit more about Moses. It says in verse 11, many years later, when Moses had grown up, he went out to visit his own people, the Hebrews, and he saw how hard they were forced to work. During his visit, he saw an Egyptian beating one of his fellow Hebrews. After looking in all directions to make sure that no one was watching, Moses killed the Egyptian and hid the body in the sand. Now, I need you to pause long enough to let scripture sink in. Sometimes we read it way too fast. I know Moses was a man of God. I know that he was a great leader. I know that he led the Israelites out, but have you stopped, thought recently about the fact that, and he's also a murderer, have you stopped to think about that just a little bit? You can't sugarcoat it. You can't smooth over it. You can't pretend it didn't happen. It happened and it would haunt him.

He fled to the desert, but his guilt and shame went with him and he was living as a fugitive. I'm not suggesting to you today that our decisions do not have consequences. What I am saying is this, you don't have to allow your past issues to stop you from God's future blessings. Do you hear that today? I'm not saying that Moses didn't have consequences. I'm not saying you and I won't have consequences. What I am saying Moses' life teaches us is that you don't have to allow your past issues to stop you from the future blessings. As a pastor, I'm amazed at how many people are struggling with things today as adults that can be traced back to something that happened 10, 20, 30 years ago. Childhood problems don't have to become adulthood problems. I need to say that again because some of you need to be freed here in this area. Childhood problems don't have to become adulthood problems. I'm not saying that what happened to you didn't happen. I'm just saying that whatever happened to you then does not have to plague you today. Childhood problems don't have to become adulthood. problems. I know this from counseling. I know this from counselors. I know from those who are professionally trained to help people to get healing, that when dealing with hurt and trauma, counselors will often go back to a person's childhood to help them get the healing that they need. I know in a lot of marriages, what couples are fighting about today, if you look

at it and trace it back, what they're fighting today about as a man, as a woman, as a husband, as a wife, can get traced back to childhood, hear this today, you can experience victory and healing in Jesus' name. What happened to you way back then does not have to plague you today. You don't have to allow childhood problems to become adulthood problems. You can identify that hurt. You can identify that pain, that anger, that unforgiveness. You can identify what it is from then that's still producing hurt today, and you can find healing. You can heal through it. You can grow through it. Can somebody say amen to that? Listen, God wants you to grow. He doesn't want you just to grow physically in stature. Now, according to my birth certificate, according to my birthday, I'm older now. I'm more mature now. No, He wants you to know that you can grow past the hurt that happened way back then that's still trying to grip your life today. You can grow. You can mature. Our theme for this year is to grow. Somebody say grow. Growing can be hard. How many of you remember growing pains when you were growing up? Remember that? I'll talk to my kids like, oh my legs, oh my legs are aching, and I just have to remind them, do you want to stay three foot six your whole life? No. Growing pains are part of it. I know that it hurts, but you know what this indicates? You're stretching. You're growing. You're getting taller. You're not staying stuck where you are. You are growing. How many of you know that when I grow in Christ Jesus, it's going to require some stretch. It's going to require some growing pains, but we lean into that because we want to grow. If you and I want to grow, we've got to be committed to our spiritual habits. If we want to grow, we've got to have those spiritual disciplines in our lives and refuse to allow obstacles to stop you. Guarding your heart takes effort. It'll be easier to give in. Fighting in prayer when you'd rather fight with your spouse. Hello, did I just come too straight, too strong at you right there? Want to fight with your spouse, but God says I want you to fight the devil and fight in prayer. Getting up early and starting your day seeking the face of God when you'd rather stay in bed and get extra sleep. It's hard, but that's how you grow. Being faithful to the house of God rather than sleeping in on a Sunday, taking the day off. It takes commitment. It takes effort. Getting into a small group when you'd rather not make that kind of a commitment. Listen, these are the spiritual habits that will help you to grow so that you don't stay stuck today where you used to be yesterday. When you look at the easy way and don't take the necessary steps to grow, you'll stay stuck behind obstacles that could have otherwise become opportunities. Listen to 1 Corinthians 13 11. When I was a child, I taught like a child. I thought like a child. I reasoned

like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. Question, are you committed to moving past the past? Getting the healing that God has for you? Are you okay to stay stuck behind it and live your whole life thinking that this is your forever reality? Just stuck? Listen, God wants you to grow. You can grow in wisdom. Anybody need some more wisdom? Come on, wave at me. All the campuses if you need some more wisdom. Anybody need to grow in love? Anybody want to grow in your walk with God? 2 Peter 3 18 says, rather you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It's God's will for you to grow. We're always growing so that we don't stay stuck in the past. We want the future that God has for us. We don't want to stay behind the obstacle that we're looking at in front of us. Hear me today, church. Your past doesn't have to keep you from the future that God has for you. For some people, it's past mistakes. Their past sins, their past mistakes have them paralyzed. Hear me today. Your past mistakes can actually build you rather than break you. Do you believe that today? Honestly, in your heart of hearts, can you receive that today? Because the devil wants to lie to a lot of Christians and cause them to believe that what you did yesterday, that mistake, that sin, for Moses, it would have been, you're a murderer. How can you be a deliverer? You killed somebody. How can you lead people into freedom? But the more I grow, the more I realize that my past mistakes can actually build me instead of break me, I can learn about God's grace, I can learn more about myself, I can learn about his love, I can learn about being more forgiving to others, why? Because yesterday's sins don't have to hold you back from today's blessings. Somebody needs to hear this today if you're still wrestling with guilt,

still battling with shame. I'm not saying you didn't do it. I'm not saying it wasn't bad. I'm not saying it wasn't wrong. I just want you to hear Romans chapter five, verse 20, where it says, but where sin increased, grace increased all the more. How many of you are thankful for God's grace today? So thankful for his amazing grace. Proverbs chapter 24, verse 16 says, though the godly may trip seven times, they will get up again. You may have been knocked down, but you don't have to stay down. Get up in Jesus' name and let God's grace work in your life. Let me give you this third and this final piece today. You're turning obstacles into opportunities that will happen when you, number three, realize that your perspective can limit you or it can launch you. Your perspective can limit you or launch you. Depends on how you see it, how you view it, what influence, how you do it. Exodus chapter three, verse one, back to Moses story says, one day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of the bush.

Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it did not burn up. This is amazing, Moses said to himself. Come on, you and I'd be saying the same thing. Why isn't this bush burning up? I must go see it, verse four. When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush. Moses, Moses, do you know why God called his name twice? Me either, it doesn't say in scripture, but here's what we know. Here's what we know, God was getting his attention. Because sometimes when you're so focused on you and God's trying to get your attention off of you and onto him, he might have to say it twice. God ever had to tell you something twice? Moses, Moses, here I am, Moses replied. Verse nine, God said to him, look, the cry of the people of Israel has reached me and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them. Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people, Israel, out of Egypt. Oh, God had a plan. God was calling him, but Moses had some work to do. Because your perspective could either limit you or launch you, you can either see an obstacle or an opportunity, because Moses protested to God. Can you imagine protesting to God? I know you've never done that before. Anytime and every time God's word has ever said anything

to you or about you, you just said yes. Oh, that's right, Lord. Oh, I believe that, God. I trust that, God. But for Moses, he protested to God and he said, who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt? You know what happens? All of us, when we look at us, when we look through the natural eyes, when we look through human understanding, we will always, somebody say always, we will always see our limitations. We will always see our unworthiness. Some of y'all are facing some serious stuff today and in the natural, you look at it and you go, it's a Red Sea. It's a huge mountain. I don't know how I'll ever get over that. I don't know how I'll ever get through that. But Moses could not look at just himself. God answered, verse 12, I will be with you. And somebody needs to hear that today. God says, I am with you. A lot of times, we see it like this. Let me show you this first picture. Let me show you this first picture. That's what we see with a little bear cub and the enemy's trying to come at. We seem like, oh, how will I ever get out?

But God says, your perspective is limited. You're not seeing. Seeing it the way I see it. Oh, you see your obstacle, you see your problem, and your perspective will either limit you or it will launch you because God says, here's how I wish that you could see it. Pull up the second picture. How many of you know if God is for us, who can be against us? Come on, how many of you know if God is on your side, you don't have to worry, you don't have to fear. You may be looking at it and thinking, this is painful. God sees it as profitable. You see a mountain, God sees a miracle. You see a mess, God sees a message. You see something holding you back, God sees something setting you up. Second Timothy 1.7, for God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Can we give Him thanks and praise today? No matter what you're facing, God is faithful. I'm gonna ask you at all of our campuses, if you'll bow your heads and close your eyes. Listen, some of you are facing some stuff today, and it's real. You're facing some type of health crisis, some marriage issue, some financial burden, some emotional struggle, a family pain.

I get it, but God is with you. I know the obstacle is real, but I'm telling you, it's an opportunity for God to show you how powerful He is, how faithful He is. He's using it as an opportunity to reveal the quality of your faith so it can be refined, so that it can grow. So I just wonder at all of our campuses today, by an uplifted hand, how many of you would say, Scotty, I needed to be reminded of that today because I need God to work in my situation. Come on, lift your hands up. All of our campuses, just raise them up. Lord, I pray in the name of Jesus for every hand that was raised, that you would comfort them, that you would remind them that you're standing with them, and that you've got them. And whatever they're facing today, you're faithful as they look to you. With heads still bowed and eyes still closed, I wanna pray one more prayer, and this would be for anybody and everybody who, if you're just gut-level honest, you'd have to acknowledge you're not right with God. Jesus is not the king of your heart. He's not the Lord of your life. I'm gonna pray in just a second. And I'm gonna give you an opportunity to ask Jesus Christ to come into your heart,

to forgive you of your sin. You can leave this place, you can end watching online today by knowing that you know that you know that you're right with God. For God so loved the world that he sent Jesus Christ, his only son. He died for you so that you could live with him. Today is the day for you to come home and quit running. If you say, Scotty, that's me, I'm not right with God, but I wanna be. I wanna commit or recommit my life to Christ. I want you to shoot your hand up right now. Come on, all over this room, all of our campuses watching online, just lift your hand right now and say, that's me. I wanna commit or recommit my life to Christ. If you wanna pray that prayer, mean it with all of your heart, just repeat after me. Say, dear God, thank you for your patience. Thank you for not giving up on me. Today, I ask you to forgive me of my sin, to come into my heart and be Lord of my life. Thank you for saving me. In Jesus' name, we pray it, amen. Can we thank God today? Come on, put our hands together. I turn it over to the campus host.

Come on, let's thank Jesus for all of those who said yes to Jesus today. Come on, put your hands together. Let's thank him. Family, we are family. Let's shout it on three. One, two, three, we're family. See you next Sunday. ♪ So I close my eyes and praise you again and again ♪