Unashamed - Pastor Dave Divine

- Good morning, men and women. Such an honor to be able to come to you again from Light Fellowship Church here in McKinney, Texas, onto your tablet and whatever facility that you're at across the country. It's our honor and privilege and it's really a blessing to be able to speak into your life. My name's Logan Williams. My TDC number was 149-0218. I have four numbers after that. Round and round in the system. Couldn't get off drugs, couldn't stop getting busted, couldn't stop going to jail and to prison. And man, I just had a radical experience with Jesus. And he just snatched me out of that. It's just like the Psalms say, "It pulled me from the myery clay "and set my feet on a rock." Now, I had to do a lot of work to get there and stay there. But he did the heavy lifting. He's just looking for our yes. And if you can give him your yes, anything is possible. And I really, really want you to believe that. Hey, listen, we want you to tell your friends and family to download the same Pando app that on their phone that you have. Y'all can watch the same messages, the same teachings. You can talk about it together and you can do this walk together. Even though you're behind the wire and they're in the free,

you can still walk with your family. It can still speak into their lives. You can still pray for them. You can still, hey, what did you get out of that sermon? The same one I watched. These are really, really, really good conversations to have with your spouse and your children. So please don't buy the lie that you can't lead your family because you're incarcerated. That's just not true. It's just not true. All right, be sure and subscribe to our channel so you don't miss anything. Also, I wanted to mention the inmate mail that we receive. We absolutely want you to send us letters. We absolutely want to walk alongside you. We have a team of volunteers that responds and is mentors and this type of thing. We have women for women and we have men for men. Okay, we're not ever going to have a woman respond to a man and we're never, ever going to have a man respond to a woman. So if you're writing the women here, the worship team, the other pastors or anybody that you see or happen to write, maybe a speaker that you really liked, what they said, it's fruitless because we've just had too much trouble with opposite sex, engaging.

And if there's a policy at our church now, it's men on men, women on women. I just wanted to let you know that in case you were thinking about doing something like that, just don't even bother because they're not going to get the letter. Okay, it's got to be a man to a man, woman to a woman. And we want to walk alongside you and we absolutely want to answer your questions, pray for you and respond and let you have that mentorship where you're at. It just has to be the right heart and the right motives. All right. Man, this morning I was reading in John chapter two and you know, it begins with Jesus' first miracle. And I just kind of read through that miracle story and got a few downloads that I'd like to share with you, some things that I hadn't really noticed. I'm just going to read the verses first and then we can kind of go through them really quickly because I know you're ready for the message and we want you to have the message. It's a really good message this week. So first one says, the next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Canaan in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. The wine supply ran out during the festivals

and Jesus' mother told him they have no more wine. Dear woman, that's not our problem. Jesus replied, my time has not yet come. But his mother told the servants, do whatever he tells you. Standing nearby there were six stone water jars used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold 20 to 30 gallons. Jesus told the servants, fill the jars with water. When the jars had been filled, he said, now dip some out and take it to the master of ceremonies. So the servants followed his instructions. When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from, though of course the servants knew, he called the bridegroom over. A host always serves the best wine. expensive one. But you have kept the best until now." This miraculous sign that came in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory and his disciples believed in him. His disciples believed in him. There's a lot here. It doesn't seem like a lot, but there really is. I got a lot of downloads. The first one, verse 2, Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. It just shows that Jesus likes to participate in ordinary human celebrations. He wants a relationship with us and he wants to participate with you. He wants you to talk to him about the winds.

He wants you to talk about the losses, but he wants you to talk about the winds too. He wants a relationship with you. He wants to participate in that, verse 3, "The wind supply ran out during the festive." So Jesus' mother told him they have no more wine. Back in the day in this culture, running out of wine at a wedding was a big, big, like epic fail for the wedding. Weddings were a big deal. They probably spent more time and effort planning weddings back then that they even do now. Well, some people have crazy weddings, but running out of wine was a serious social failure. It would bring shame. It would bring embarrassment on the family for years to come. Like everyone would remember someone's wedding that remember they ran out of wine. Oh my God, that's so bad. They would be gossiping. But I noticed something here, Mary, his mother, she just simply reports the need to Jesus without making a demand. She just says, "They have no more wine. They have no more wine." She didn't suggest how he solved that problem. She didn't give him outcomes. She just simply reported the need. How do you pray? When do you pray to God? Do you report the need or do you prescribe a solution? Are you sitting there in county jail going, "Oh God, man, I'm really sorry that I did this thing. Now I have this charge and it's hanging over my head and I'm really worried about it." God, send me a lawyer. Send me a good judge that's going to have favor on me.

Give me favor with the jury. Are we like trying to tell them how to solve our problem? Are we just simply reporting the problem? Because a lot of times Jesus will answer prayers, but he'll do it in ways you'll never, ever, ever, would think of. Sometimes he wants to do a work in us through that first. I want to challenge you to not necessarily prescribe the solution, just bring your needs to Jesus. That's what Mary did. It's a posture of faith, simply bringing what we cannot fix to the one who can fix it, to the one who's omnipotent, who actually has the power to do something about it. Verse 4 says, "Dear woman, that's not our problem," Jesus replied, "My time has not yet come." Our has not yet come. Another translation says that Greek word is horror, H-O-R-A, and what it means is a certain indefinite time or season, fixed by natural law, returning with the revolving year or the revolving season. It's talking about a season of time. It's a term that John uses, also referring to the cross and the glorification, this hour. That's not -- my hour has not yet come. It's talking about -- it is not my time in the season, okay? But what it does is when you understand that meaning, it smashes home, that Jesus operates on the Father's timetable, and not His timetable, and definitely not our timetable. And His timetable is better than ours. His ways are higher than our ways. His thoughts are higher than our thoughts, and we need to trust that. It's funny, I had a crazy charge when I was incarcerated in 2009. It was a high-speed chase through a bunch of counties that I wrecked, and I'll get arrested, And I thought, man, I'm just going to have an evading arrest, but the DA looked at that and said,

"Man, because your car was going excessive speeds, "she put a finding on there of a deadly weapon, "a deadly weapon finding on this," which cranks up the felony and cranks up the time that I could get and makes it aggravated. It's just that one little finding makes this tremendously different. From a state jail felony that you could do up to two years, it was a two to 20 and making it aggravated, which means you'll do half of it before you even come up. It was huge. And then I prayed and prayed and prayed and prayed forever. I finally bonded out after two years and then it was like four more years before I actually went to court on that thing, aside for probation, but the deadly weapon finding was on there, meaning if I violate my probation, I'm guilty and I'm getting the aggravated time and I've violated the probation. And now here I am back in jail for it again and I'm still praying and I'm still praying. Over a total of about six or seven years, I never prayed for anything more than I prayed for this. Can you please God somehow get this aggravated off me? Get this deadly weapon finding off me, please. And I'll give you all the praise and glory. I'll tell everyone that you did it. So I'm actually making good on that promise right now as I'm telling it to you. And as it was getting closer to time,

that was it was getting to a point to where it looked like, man, we're gonna have to go deal with this. I had violated probation in other counties as well and got time and been to TDC and was getting bench-worned back and bench-worned back. And it was my time to now go to this county and I'm still praying very consistently, very hard about this and COVID happened. All of a sudden the officers start coming to the jail with masks on, we're like, whoa, whoa, what's happening? COVID happens, everything gets shut down. People get so scared to even bring people into their county jails at that time that you basically had to have a murder charge to even go to jail. They would cite you and they would come get you later, but they were so scared to have me come in there that they just, my lawyer said, look, he signed for eight years in this other county and they just wanted to see proof that I'd signed for something and was actually gonna go to prison. And they just dismissed the case because they didn't want me to come in. Like, I'm not saying he created COVID to answer my prayers, but he definitely used COVID to answer my prayers. He fixed that situation in a way that I would never guessed. I would have, if you gave me 100,000 guesses, I would have never guessed, well, there's gonna be a pandemic and they're gonna be scared and they're just gonna dismiss the case

because they don't want me to be in the jail. I'm telling you guys, prayer works in mysterious ways. First five, but his mother told the servants, do whatever he tells you. Interestingly, this was Mary's last spoken word in John's gospel. She points people towards Jesus and models complete surrender. She simply says, do what he says. And I know we all wanna be advice givers when our friends are going through stuff. And I know we all wanna try to fix and we all wanna try to make people feel better, but I'm telling you the best thing we can do is just say, do what he says. Pray, listen. And then do what he says. Do what he says. Verse six, standing there by our six stone water jars used for juriscellimonial washing, each could hold 20 to 30 gallons. So six times 30 is 180 gallons. There's 180 gallons, way more wine than anybody could possibly drink, okay? Far more than what was needed. And this is just an example I think of the God that we serve, right? This grace that's poured out on us, this generosity, right? This expression of love, right? It's overabundant.

It's almost wasteful in the generosity. He loves us so much. He just pours and pours and pours on us. Verse seven, Jesus told the servants, fill the jars with water. When the jars have been filled, he said, now dip some out and take it to the master of ceremonies, okay? He told them to fill these giant stone jars, which were probably super heavy with water. It was probably a hassle. They're probably thinking, man, what does this have to do with this problem that we have? We're out of wine and you want us to fill What is that? Sometimes he's going to ask us to do things that don't make sense. When I came in, man, he saved me out of a hotel room. I have a radical experience with him hopelessly addicted to drugs. I gave away enough dope to keep me high for a long time, walked out of there, and he immediately asked me to lay down sexual sin. And I'm thinking, man, what does that have to do with me staying clean? Like, come on, man, I just gave away all that dope. Can we just deal with one thing at a time? And Jesus was like, I don't want 90% of you, I want all of you. And then he backdoors it with, imagine what your life could be like if you just got all the way in. So he asked us to do things that at times don't make sense, at times seem like a big hassle, and what is this going to actually do? But this is how he is, and it's laid out in the scriptures right here. And then they went and took this, took, dipped it out and presented it to the ceremony master. He's asking them to do something that could cause them, it exposes them to risk and ridicule.

Like, if I go and present water to this master of servants, not only are we going to be a laughing star for running out of wine, but you just gave me a cup of water. Like, what is wrong with you? Like, he's exposing the risk, presenting that water to the master as if it was wine. Like, that was risky. That was risky. He's going to ask us to do risky things. He's going to ask us to do things that put us out there. Maybe you want to heal somebody. Maybe you want to, God's place a gift of healing on you. Okay? And then you see someone sick or injured and you go over them and say, "Be healed in Jesus name." Well, what if they're not healed? What if I'm made out to look like a fool? What if you have a prophetic word for someone? But you're scared to say it to them because what if it's totally off? What if it's wrong? What if he asks us to get out there and trust him? He asks us to have faith in him. He asks us to do hard things. And that's what I want you guys to get down in your heart, man, down in your spirit. This walk is not going to be easy, but this walk is so good. It's simple but not easy. It's difficult but it's so rewarding because I'm telling you, there's nothing that touches being used by God, verse 9. When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where did it come from, he called the brother groom over, the host always serves the best wine first.

And then when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine, but you've kept the best until last. This is a profound statement. It's a theological statement. It describes the entire gospel story, right? The world offers its best first. It offers pleasure. It offers achievement. It offers money, success, the things of the flesh. But they're always a disappointment in the end. They never fulfill, although they always promise to fulfill. Sexual sin and pornography and all that. You just think that you're going to be so fulfilled if I can just get this one thing, this one person, this one little set of circumstances. And then it never is. It never is. And then you want more. You want more extreme. It's just a vicious cycle. That's the world. But Jesus brings the best last. The kingdom's wine gets better and better and better. It always fulfills and it always satisfies. So that's just a few nuggets that I got out of John chapter 2. Verse 1 through 13. Jesus is first miracle. Guys, you can be His next miracle. You can be His next miracle right now. You can surrender. You can get all in.

You can lay down that thing that He's been telling you to lay down, but you've been ignoring it. Because what does it really matter? I mean, I'm going to church. I'm reading my Bible, but I don't want to fight against that sin. I don't want to wage organs that sin. I don't want to strive to live a righteous life. I want to say to you what He said to me. Imagine what your life could be like if you just got all the way in. One time. Father, we love you. And we thank you. We praise you, Lord, for all that you've done. All that you've done in our lives. All that you're doing. And all the people who are watching. We just love you so much. And God, I'm just praying a blessing over everyone who's watching. I'm praying exceedingly and abundantly above all they can think or ask over whoever's watching. You gotta pray for a convicting spirit of it. What do they need to lay down? What do they need to do? You're always calling us higher. You're always calling us to more. And God, if there's anyone there that doesn't know you that's watching, God, I pray that they would just call upon the name of Jesus. It says in Romans, anyone who calls upon his name

will be saved. If you've never done that, it's just that simple. Can just cry out to him. Can just say, Jesus, I'm calling on your name. Because your word says that anyone that calls on your name will be saved. And I might not understand it and I might not can explain it. I might not even believe it, but I'm holding you to your word. And you say in your word that anyone who calls on your name is saved. So I'm saying, I'm a sinner and I need you, Jesus. God, I pray that those people that wanna, they're thinking about saying that prayer could realize what a powerful prayer that that is. That yes, you turned water into wine and that was an amazing miracle, but you can do even more and more impactful, amazing miracles. And it can be right now with the next person that calls upon your name. And so we thank you and we love you. And we just invite you into our lives to do what only you can do. In Jesus name, amen. Who's house? God's house. Let's give some praise. (gentle music)

(upbeat music) (upbeat music) - Good morning, life fellowship church. We are so glad that you guys are here with us today. Let's all sit up on our feet. It is a good morning to praise the Lord. Come on, let's get our hands up. (upbeat music) Come on, babe. (upbeat music) ♪ The river that's flowing inside ♪ ♪ It's full of life, it's heavy blood ♪ ♪ God, a fire and it's always lit ♪ ♪ It won't go out, it's always good ♪ ♪ You give it me joy ♪ ♪ It's a spindle of joy ♪ ♪ I think I am all a little ♪ ♪ I've got the joy of the Lord ♪ ♪ Come on, give it up ♪ ♪ I've got a river that's flowing inside ♪ ♪ It's full of life, it's heavy blood ♪ ♪ It's heavy blood, it's heavy blood ♪ ♪ It's always lit ♪ ♪ It won't go out, it's always good ♪ ♪ I've got a river, it's heavy blood ♪ ♪ It's full of life, it's heavy blood ♪ ♪ It's circle growing, I've got a fire ♪ ♪ It's full of life, it's always good ♪ ♪ It's always good, it's always good ♪ ♪ You give it me joy ♪

♪ It's a spindle of joy ♪ ♪ I think I am all a little ♪ ♪ I think I am all a little ♪ ♪ I've got the joy of the Lord ♪ ♪ One day, hey, it's my heart ♪ ♪ Deep down in my soul ♪ ♪ I could say no more, it's a table ♪ ♪ I've got the joy of the Lord ♪ ♪ Whoa ♪ ♪ I've got joy on the inside ♪ ♪ 'Cause I bark and keep it in ♪ ♪ I keep crazy in the bed ♪ ♪ I can show you the road is my strength ♪ ♪ Come on, sing, I've got joy ♪ ♪ I've got joy on the inside ♪ ♪ It feels like bark and keep it in ♪ ♪ I keep crazy in the bed ♪ ♪ 'Cause the joy of the Lord is my strength ♪ ♪ Oh, I've got joy ♪ ♪ I've got joy on the inside ♪ ♪ It feels like bark and keep it in ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ ♪ I keep crazy in the bed ♪ ♪ I'm the joy of the Lord's strength ♪ ♪ Oh, I've got joy on the inside ♪ ♪ I can show you the road is my strength ♪ ♪ But I can keep it in ♪ ♪ I keep crazy in the bed ♪ ♪ The joy of the Lord is my strength ♪ ♪ The joy of the Lord is my strength ♪

♪ The joy of the Lord is my strength ♪ ♪ It is me joy ♪ ♪ It's the people of joy ♪ ♪ I deny the Lord ♪ ♪ It's played over ♪ ♪ I'm my joy ♪ ♪ The sound is my heart ♪ ♪ I'm my heart ♪ ♪ It's the sound of the Lord ♪ ♪ The joy of the Lord ♪ ♪ I contain of all ♪ ♪ It's the tale of all I've got ♪ ♪ I've got the joy on the inside ♪ ♪ It's like a fire can keep it in ♪ ♪ And I keep praising the men ♪ ♪ I'm the joy of the Lord ♪ ♪ And I keep praising you ♪ ♪ I've got the joy on the inside ♪ ♪ It's like a fire can keep it in ♪ ♪ And I keep praising the men ♪ ♪ I'm the joy of the Lord ♪ ♪ It's my heart ♪ ♪ It's my heart ♪ ♪ It's the joy of the Lord ♪ ♪ It's my strength ♪ ♪ The joy of the Lord ♪ ♪ It's my strength ♪ ♪ The joy of the Lord ♪ ♪ It's my strength ♪ ♪ The joy of the Lord ♪

♪ It's my strength ♪ ♪ Oh, I've got joy ♪ ♪ I've got joy ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Come on, let's sing this part together ♪ ♪ I'm trading my sorrow ♪ ♪ I'm trading my share ♪ ♪ And I'm laying it down ♪ ♪ For the joy of the Lord ♪ ♪ Come on, we're still graduating the road ♪ ♪ And I'm trading my sickness ♪ ♪ I'm trading my faith ♪ ♪ I'm laying it down ♪ ♪ For the joy of the Lord ♪ ♪ Come on, we're straining ♪ ♪ There's sorrow this morning ♪ ♪ Oh, I'm trading my sorrow ♪ ♪ And I'm trading my share ♪ ♪ Oh, I'm laying it down ♪ ♪ For the joy of the Lord ♪ ♪ Come on, I'm trading my sickness ♪ ♪ And I'm trading my sickness ♪ ♪ And I'm trading my faith ♪ ♪ I'm laying it down ♪ ♪ For the joy of the Lord ♪ ♪ Oh, I've got joy on the inside ♪ ♪ It feels like far I can't keep it in ♪ ♪ Oh, I keep braving in the midnight ♪ ♪ The joy of the Lord is my strength ♪ ♪ Oh, I'm going to die on the inside ♪

♪ It feels like far I can't keep it in ♪ ♪ Oh, I keep braving in the midnight ♪ ♪ The joy of the Lord is my strength ♪ ♪ The joy of the Lord is my strength ♪ ♪ The joy of the Lord is my strength ♪ ♪ The joy of the Lord is my strength ♪ ♪ The joy of the Lord is my strength ♪ ♪ Yes, Lord ♪ (dramatic music) ♪ The deepest part to this are long ♪ ♪ And our spirit cried for one thing ♪ ♪ Eternal life is just to know ♪ ♪ Should we want to know more and more ♪ ♪ Holy Spirit, we built Jesus to rise ♪ ♪ Holy Spirit, we built Jesus to rise ♪ ♪ Holy Spirit, we built Jesus to rise ♪ ♪ Holy Spirit, we built Jesus to rise ♪ (dramatic music) ♪ You said that in the song we'd find you ♪ ♪ Promise the pure and harm we'll see ♪ ♪ We were created for to know you ♪ ♪ We will know you more and more ♪ ♪ Yes, we wanna know you more and more ♪ ♪ We love you ♪ ♪ Holy Spirit, we build Jesus, you are ♪ ♪ Holy Spirit, we build Jesus, you are ♪ ♪ And when we are our sins and know the power ♪ ♪ Your faith and God are so bright ♪ ♪ It's composed by Holy Spirit ♪ ♪ And Holy Spirit, we build Jesus, you are ♪

♪ Holy Spirit, we build Jesus, you are ♪ ♪ And Holy in our hearts to know the power ♪ ♪ Your risen life, your life, and so bright ♪ Come on, how many of you can get that glory right there? And you just give a glory and say, ♪ Christ, be revealed ♪ ♪ Christ, be revealed in this place ♪ ♪ Oh, Holy Spirit, reveal Jesus to us ♪ ♪ We wanna see Him, we wanna see His face ♪ ♪ We wanna be so close to His heart ♪ ♪ That we can be on His heart ♪ ♪ Oh God, we're so desperate for the presence of your sin ♪ ♪ We wanna see the light, we're fire in His arms ♪ ♪ We wanna know the glory, with patience in His heart ♪ ♪ We wanna see the key, with resurrection life ♪ ♪ We wanna see Jesus, we wanna know Jesus ♪ ♪ We wanna see the bed, with fire in His eyes ♪ ♪ Come on, sing it out ♪ ♪ With fear, sing, sing, His time ♪ ♪ With the resurrected life, we wanna see Jesus ♪ ♪ We wanna know Jesus, we wanna see the bed ♪ ♪ With fire in His eyes, we wanna see the one ♪ ♪ With fear, sing, sing, sing, His time ♪ ♪ We wanna see the key, yeah ♪ ♪ With resurrection life ♪ ♪ We wanna see Jesus, we wanna know Jesus ♪ ♪ We wanna know Jesus, we wanna see Jesus ♪ ♪ We wanna know Jesus, we wanna see Jesus ♪ ♪ We wanna know Jesus, we wanna see Jesus ♪ ♪ We wanna know Jesus, we wanna see Jesus ♪

♪ So hold me spirit, we build Jesus to fly ♪ ♪ Hold me spirit, we build Jesus to fly ♪ ♪ And open our hearts to the power ♪ ♪ Your wisdom lies so bright and bright ♪ ♪ So bright and bright and bright ♪ ♪ So bright and bright and bright ♪ ♪ Oh Christ be glorified ♪ ♪ Christ be glorified ♪ ♪ We give you honor glory ♪ ♪ We give you honor glory ♪ ♪ Christ be glorified ♪ ♪ Christ be magnified ♪ ♪ Christ be glorified ♪ ♪ Christ be magnified ♪ ♪ Christ be glorified ♪ ♪ Christ be magnified ♪ ♪ I don't wanna want you to catch a worship ♪ ♪ And keep a key in the Lord of the Lord ♪ ♪ I can't just see the face of the Father ♪ ♪ The Word will shed a flag for me ♪ ♪ I can't forgive Him ♪ ♪ Give Him the highest praise ♪ ♪ I can't just worship and exalt Him ♪ ♪ The Holy Spirit ♪ ♪ You are worthy, are worthy, are worthy ♪ ♪ We wanna see the land ♪ ♪ It's more here in its heart ♪ ♪ We wanna know the world ♪ ♪ We can't sing to this time ♪ ♪ We wanna see the key ♪

♪ With a redirect to life ♪ ♪ We wanna see how we wanna see Jesus ♪ [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC]

♪ Sweetheart is thrown ♪ ♪ Just closing glory ♪ ♪ Just close and exhausted ground ♪ ♪ And the train ♪ ♪ And the train of his run ♪ ♪ Is filled with simple ♪ ♪ Just closing glory ♪ ♪ And the angels are thrown ♪ ♪ Around the world ♪ ♪ And they cry ♪ ♪ Oh, they cry you ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ I can't know it like this ♪ ♪ I'll share it all with you ♪ ♪ I'll share it all with you ♪ ♪ I'll share it all with you ♪ ♪ I'll share it all with you ♪ ♪ I'll share it all with you ♪ ♪ I'll share it all with you ♪ ♪ I'll share it all with you ♪ ♪ I'll share it all with you ♪ ♪ If you stand alone, it might just be ♪ ♪ Just don't like your Jesus ♪ ♪ Come on, we need to settle this morning ♪ ♪ Oh, Jesus, you're holy Lord ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Oh, Jesus, you're holy Lord ♪ ♪ Oh, Jesus, you're holy Lord ♪ ♪ Oh, Jesus, you're holy Lord ♪ ♪ Oh, Jesus, you're holy Lord ♪

♪ Oh, Jesus, you're holy Lord ♪ ♪ It was me ♪ ♪ I am clean ♪ ♪ And my eyes have seen ♪ ♪ The coming king ♪ ♪ Thank you, Jesus ♪ ♪ Because you're clean as my living soul ♪ ♪ And before I die ♪ ♪ But you saved me in the pillows ♪ ♪ As the angels they cry ♪ ♪ Don't you wanna say that once ♪ ♪ Or it's me ♪ ♪ And whoa is me ♪ ♪ For I am unclean ♪ ♪ Who am I that you're mindful of me Lord ♪ ♪ But my eyes ♪ ♪ Oh you, I've seen you Jesus ♪ ♪ For the coming ♪ ♪ And this is what he did ♪ ♪ Isn't it grand smile ♪ ♪ Run before ♪ ♪ Run before I die ♪ ♪ In the pillowshore ♪ ♪ Yes they did ♪ ♪ As the angels cry ♪ ♪ And whoa is me ♪ ♪ And whoa ♪ ♪ Who am I that you're mindful of me Lord ♪ ♪ My eyes ♪ ♪ I've seen you glory ♪

♪ I've seen you majesty Lord ♪ ♪ And you could slide ♪ ♪ And you could slide ♪ ♪ I tried to like what you did for me ♪ ♪ Whoa ♪ [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] All across this place, in your own onwards, just close your eyes right now. [Music] In your own words, speak to the Father. Say, Father, you are holy. Say, Father, we love you. Father, just like I say, and let us see you. Let us see your face, Father. Let no distraction be in the midst. Let us see you clearly, Father, for who you are. Let us just see the beauty of who you are, Father, and me, not going to be the same anymore.

Touch your hearts, touch your lips. You're going to complete transformer lives if you just touch us this morning. Don't touch us powerfully, Father. Allow us, Father. Allow us just to see you, Father. [Music] And we say, Father, use us, send us, use us, for your glory. In Jesus' name, in Jesus' mighty name, you are holy. You are holy, you are holy, you are holy. We declare, in Jesus' mighty name, that you are holy. And all God's people in the house, come on, say, "Hey, man, let's give it up for Jesus." We praise you, Father, we love you, we love you. You may be seated. Welcome to Life Fellowship Church, we're so glad that you chose to worship with us today. Hey, I want to remind you one very important thing. You're in the right place, at the right time, with the right people. So, not just welcome, but this is your house, this is the house of God and your house. We're so glad that you're here. So, pay attention to this Christ, we have so many great things happening at Life Fellowship, and we have some announcements to you. Good morning, Church, it's so good to have you with us today. Hey, if you're new here, text new to 5 to 10, we'd love to connect with you, answer any questions you have and help you find out the next steps of your Life Fellowship. Life is better when we do it together, and small groups are a great way to find a community here at Life Fellowship. There are groups for different seasons of life, interest, and schedules, so there's a place for you. Find a group, get connected, and don't do life alone. We're excited for what God has for us today. Absolutely, let's get our hearts ready for the message. thankful to be a part of this with you today my wife Cindy is with me so happy about that but we want to welcome everyone welcome to everyone watching

online and those in the correctional facilities we're so glad you're part of our life fellowship family come on everybody let's welcome our church family everyone who's participating today I want to thank everyone for your your participation but not just me being here but also I just want to say something about your giving and I just want to thank everyone who brings a tithe and gives offerings over and above the tithe listen I know you know this but but life fellowship only exists because people bring a tithe and give offerings some of you nod your head like you know that it's I had a college student come up to me last spring in our in we were in the facility in Atlanta in our church building and she came up to me and she said I just have a question I said well what what is it she said she said who pays for all of this and I just looked at her and smiled and said you do and she looked at me like no no who pays for I said well as people bring their tithe which means a tent that brings the first part of their income the tithe and people give offerings that that takes care of this that pays for this she goes yeah but who pays for everything all the rest of it like there like she was saying there's no way people giving could take care of this and the reality is God's plan is for people giving to take care of this and so I just want to thank you that know that and that you trust the Lord with with the tithe there's a tenth and Cindy and I've lived with the by the tithe from I can say I was thinking a moment ago I think from the very first paycheck my dad ever gave me he was in the restaurant business of course I started cutting grass and picking up the gum wrappers out of the the the the places where all the plants are and so and then I was on the dish machine and then I give a tithe from that that paycheck and it just continued and Cindy was raised the same way and it continued to our first paycheck as a married couple and so we've lived now in the blessing of being a tithe there for for many many years so we're so thankful for that and I just want to encourage you that today the tithe is about bringing the first part first and God's blessing is all over that so there's ways to give right here on the screen that's behind me and I want to thank all of you who who are involved with that let me pray for

you Lord thank you for our church family thank you for people who just trust you and test you improve you this way and we just pray you continue to lay it up on our hearts that all of us who put our feet underneath the table would help put the food on the table and we just pray that you would just lead us to do that and just bless your church family bless moms and dads and young adults and kids and those who are just learning the principle of the tithe and offerings and we just praise you for it in Jesus name and everybody said a big amen all right all right all right this this month you've heard some important messages I feel like we're important we started in week one under the theme if God is for us in week one we were in Romans chapter eight verse 31 of course if God is for us then who can be against us and it's a rhetorical question the reality is that no one can be against us we just next question please because we know that if God is for us no one can be against us in week two we talked about if God is for us he will enable us he will enable us with whatever he calls us to do whatever his purpose is he will give us the power and the enablement to accomplish it in week three was next Gen Sunday and Pastor Matt brought a strong word and took it took us to Deuteronomy chapter six and it was so encouraging as he taught us his families and students next Gen Sunday and then last week we talked about if God is for us he will move us past our disappointments and I took you to the story of Elijah and just how Elijah ran because he was disappointed and he was he was frustrated but how God became the lifter of his head and we took you to Psalm three three he's our glory and the lifter of our head he will lift our head high and I trust that you've been living this week with your head lifted high so I want to continue this week as we talk about if God is for us my title is unashamed and if God is for us we must live our life for Christ unashamed we're going to look a lot of scriptures to get your Bible out your your device whatever you're opening your Bible to click it open second Timothy chapter three verse 16 I'll just say as I start that all scripture all scripture

is given by inspiration of God we believe that that this is God's word to us it's his inspired word to us and and Paul was writing a Timothy and he said it's profitable all scripture is profitable for doctrine meaning teaching for reproof meaning conviction for correction for instruction in righteousness so we need the word of God not only that we hear it on Sunday but that we we I call it our chair time sometimes. Just sit in your chair and reading God's life giving word because it's profitable. It's profitable for us today. It's profitable for us this week. And God will guide our hearts as we study His word. Let's click our Bibles open or open them to Hebrews chapter 10 verse 38 as we begin this morning. The Bible says, "The Hebrew writer wrote, "'But my righteous one shall live by faith.'" Somebody say, "Live by faith." I'm gonna invite you to help me preach today. "Live by faith." Last week, I told you that faith is action. Live by faith. Live with the action of what God is directing us to do. Faith is action based upon a belief sustained by confidence. It's the ABCs, action, belief, confidence. That what God's word says is forever settled in heaven. So my righteous one shall live by that. Shall live by faith, that faith, action. And if He shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in Him. But verse 39, we are not of those who shrink back

and are destroyed, but those who have faith and preserve their souls. We are not of those who shrink back. Now to shrink means to make small or make smaller. And so I've got this middle image of shrinking back. It means I'm getting smaller and I'm moving back. But how many of you know that is not the way of the Christian believer? That is not the way the kingdom is advanced. The kingdom is not advanced when we shrink back and become smaller. The kingdom of God is advanced when we become strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. And we move forward by faith with action, not shrinking back, but moving forward to do the will of God. Now I'm sure you've noticed this. And likely you've personally experienced this. So I want to talk about something for a moment that's been stirring in me all week. You know this, that there's an increasing hostility towards Jesus Christ, towards the Bible, towards Christians in our culture. I'm sure that statement does not surprise you, right? And for many people, I think Christianity is now viewed as just one option out of many, that there's many ways to God, many paths to God. And so Christianity is an option. I met with a high school friend for dinner here in North Dallas last week, last Sunday evening, actually. He lives in Denton, and we kind of met halfway.

And we went to high school together. And I haven't spent a lot of time with him over the last 45 years. And then they realized I'm going to be in North Dallas. And I reached out to Gary. I call him Judd. His name's Gary Judd. He calls me Dee. That was my high school nickname. And he said, he leaned over the table as we were eating barbecue. He said, Dee, why are Christians losing to the Muslims? I thought it would get quiet in here when I said that, but I didn't know it'd get that quiet. And I just kind of paused. And I thought, what was he trying to say here? He got my attention. And he went on to say, Dee, it seems to me that Christians have a messaging problem. And we went on to have a very interesting conversation. And I've thought a lot about that this week. And the truth is Christianity really no longer holds the moral high ground, it once did. Or the respect that it once did in the broader culture. I think you would agree with that. And where Christianity and the church were once at the center of the city square. And we were a major voice in the discourse of the day and the culture. It seems we are now increasingly left out of the conversation and moving further and further toward the margins,

even to the edges of the culture. And I'm here to say on this Sunday morning, that ought not to be. It seems like we have kind of shrank back that we've gotten smaller with our message. We've gotten smaller with our maybe even with our faith action. A few years ago, there was a terrible injury on Monday night football. Some of you remember Damar Hamlin when he collapsed. And football players and coaches and everyone gathered around him and rushed out on the field. And the medical people tended to him. But people knelt and prayed out in the middle of that football field on a Monday night. Now remember, the interesting thing to me was how the praying on the field then grabbed the intention of the national media. And some were even surprised that so many people would pray so intentionally and so publicly. Or that they would even kneel down and pray at all. And I'm thinking surprised. Has our Christian culture and influence eroded so badly that it's not surprising that people would pray when there's a crisis or an emergency? I was watching a TV anchor last week, challenging a political candidate. And the candidate who was very articulate emphasized that in America, everyone's

entitled to their own religious beliefs. And how many of that response is absolutely true in America. Our freedom to worship is what we love about our nation. Our freedom to worship is why we gather to do this today freely. I'm thankful for that. But this political candidate went on to say in defense of his own Islamic faith that we should never push our religious views on anyone else. And that sounds nice, but don't believe for a second that that's the message of Jesus. That was not the message of Jesus. It's polar opposite of what Jesus calls the church to do. Why? Because we have the greatest message ever given to this planet. It's the message of the gospel that we are called to go out and share widely and wildly, freely. Listen, the gospel is the only message of hope today. And I'm here to declare unashamedly, unashamedly. It is the only message of eternal salvation. Look what Jesus said in John 14 verse 6. And I proclaim it boldly today. Jesus said, I am the way and the truth and the life. And no one comes to the Father except through me. Life fellowship, there is only one way to the Father and is through the Son Jesus Christ. We have to not only believe it, we have to be willing to declare it and proclaim it. The Apostle Paul writes in Philippians 2 verse 2. He says that at the name of Jesus,

every knee should bow of things in heaven and things of the earth and things under the earth. And every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. That's our mandate. That's our calling. Jesus also told his disciples, Luke chapter 14. And the Master said to the servant, go out into the highways and hedges and do what? Compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. We are to compel people to come into the house of the Lord. He wants the house to be filled, so make no mistake. There is a push that comes with compel. There it just is. You can't compel people without a little bit of a push, without saying, hey, this is what the Bible says. This is what my heart is for you. This is what you need and people need Jesus today. Matthew chapter 28 verse 18. Jesus came and said to them, all authority in heaven on earth has been given to me. Go, go, go, therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son of the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, watch this. You don't have to do it alone. I am with you always to the end of the age. He says, go and tell. And when you do, I am with you.

And so if God is for us, and if God is with us, why? Why life fellowship would we ever shrink back and get smaller and go backwards rather than advancing the kingdom message forward? Why? And I love this for all of those at the correctional facilities. I love the fact that Pastor Logan and the teams go into the correctional facility. And we stream the message to you. I'm so glad that you can hear it today. And you can hear my heart today. It's because of the words of Jesus we do this. We are pushers of hope. We are people that are going to boldly declare the hope that comes through a relationship with Jesus Christ. I guess you could say, we're hope pushers. I said hope, pushers. Hallelujah. The Bible doesn't call us to live our faith quietly, but courageously. We cannot believe the lie that says it's OK to have your own personal faith, but don't share it with anyone else. Of course, we have to be discerning. Of course, we have to be sensitive to the moment. Of course, we have to be sensitive to-- I believe there's a timing that the Holy Spirit has for us as we share things. And he presents opportunities. But what I'm saying to you, we have to go out

and be discerning and insensitive and ready. Ready. Be ready always to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason of the hope that's in you and do it with gentleness and respect. Could that be why the idea that we should not, more and more, that we have a messaging problem? And maybe that's why people are attracted more and more to other religious beliefs that sound appealing or they are becoming more and more popular on TikTok or whatever social media platform you may be on. Yet those messages just I'm telling you today, they have no power to save. They have no power to heal. They have no power to deliver. It might be something that sounds appealing and there's good things happening and there's even good works that's happening and I know there is. But today we're declaring a power. Paul said I'm not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God to them that believed, to the Jew first and also to the Greek and Paul said that in Romans chapter one, verse 16 and 17 and then he said in verse 17, for in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, faith to faith. Almost you could almost say from action to action, believing and confidently believing as it is written, the just or the righteous will live by faith.

That was Paul's message. I was raised in Kansas, so it's ending. So if I could just use my Kansas slang here, Paul didn't give a didly rip about cultural wins, political pressure, or even how anti-Christ attitudes might disagree with his message. Paul was unashamed for Christ and committed to his calling, which was to preach the good news of Jesus. One of the things that I've noticed just coming along with you all the last five weeks and being in the staff meetings and being a part of this incredible life fellowship team is how courageous and bold this team is for Jesus, how they're passionately pursuing him. They're pursuing you in prayer together. You don't get to see this, but in those moments of the team being together in prayer, they are passionate for Jesus. They're going out, they're going out in different places and sharing the love of God. And that just so, so encourages me. But Paul was unashamed for Christ. How could he do that? Because he knew God was for him and with him and that Jesus was alive. And he also knew that he was a brand new person because of Jesus. That's why he could write if any man be in Christ,

he's a new creation. Old things are passed away. Behold, all things become new. Because Paul said, it happened to me. It happened to me. I was once murdering Christians. Now I'm out pushing Christianity. I mean, we're from murder to a hope pusher. I'm saying, Jesus is your hope, he's your answer. So we were now preaching, Christians ran because they thought he was there to murder them. But no, he's there to love them and to bring them into the family as sons and daughters of God. And so Paul was vocal about the church at Rome living unashamed because he knew they were living in a culture of compromise. And to my friend, Judd, I think that's really the answer. Because when we do that, we won't have a messaging problem. And I know we don't necessarily personally take it around the world or take it to all 50 states, but we do take it to where we live. We take it to our place of work and our place of education and school and to our neighbors and friends. And the Bible says that we are the message. Say that with me, we are the message. Touch your neighbor and say, we are the message. Which means I am the message. 2 Corinthians chapter three verse two, Paul writes this.

He says, you yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts to be known and read by all. What's he saying? You are the message. And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us written not with ink, but with the spirit of the living God. Come on, somebody, I have the spirit of the living God written on my heart and I take that wherever I go. Not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of human hearts. Basically, Paul says we're to be walking billboards. In the ancient world, people carried written letters of recommendation to prove who they were. Paul is saying we don't need paper credentials to prove who we are because we have transformed lives. And those transformed lives are the public message. It's our changed life. So anyone who looks at us is reading about a message about who Christ is. We are Christ ambassadors. We go and represent Christ to everyone outside of these walls. And that's our assignment this week. Let's go outside these walls and be a representative, be an ambassador. We are Christ ambassadors. I don't know how many of you were in Old Church back in this-- somebody's of God many years ago, but I grew up in the AG and my youth group. The name of my youth group was not cool. It was not a cool name.

And the name of it was Christ ambassadors. And we used CA for short because Christ ambassador was not cool. That was not a cool name. So we were CAs. And so I grew up understanding what Christ ambassadors was all about with a very uncool youth group name. But anyway, so we had such an uncool name we wanted to shrink back. But no, but that's not what Christ ambassadors do. We advance with the message that we have. If you would write this down, Christ followers don't separate from the culture or sync up with the culture. Rather, we do what? We stand firm, unashamed within the culture. Now I'm going to take a minute to let you take a picture of that or write it down. And we're going to say it again because I want you to hear that. I want you to take that with you this week. Christ followers don't separate from the culture or sync up with the culture. Rather, we stand firm, unashamed within the culture. We still live within the culture, but we live unashamed. And that was Paul's life. That was his context. He was writing to the church at Rome and to his protege, Timothy, and they were living in the height of the Roman Empire. I don't know how many of you know a lot about the Roman Empire, but it was the most morally compromised, pluralistic culture to that point in history. Let me describe it for you for just a moment.

This is who Paul was trying to reach. They were very involved with magic, astrology, and sorcery. It was widely practiced. You can find that in Acts 19. The devaluation of human life was prominent. So the killing of unwanted infants was common. It was legal. I won't want the detail of what they did to infants in their execution and how they treated their bodies. Public executions were mainstream, and they used them for entertainment. Widespread slavery was practiced in the Roman Empire. Millions of individuals were held as property with no legal rights. Masters possessed absolute power over their slaves, including sexual access. It was a very perverted culture. Sexual immorality was rampant, including temple prostitution. You may have heard of the temple of Aphrodite in Corinth. When Paul wrote Romans chapter 1 in the latter part of the chapter in verses 21 through 25, he mentions a society exchanging the truth of God for a lie. Basically, he was calling out the Roman Empire saying, you've exchanged the truth of God for all of these lies. And you're worshiping created things rather than the one creator. And he's describing the reality of his own urban audience and context. In fact, if I could keep going here, the radical claim of early Christianity

that there is only one God, because that's what the early Christians, the New Testament Christians were proclaiming and preaching and teaching, and teaching that Jesus Christ is Lord, not Caesar, and that all humans possess equal worth and dignity. And how many of you know this certainly put the early church in direct ideological conflict with the surrounding culture? And in some ways, it seems like we're there again, or at least we're heading that way. I mean, I googled the phrase pure evil. And do you know what popped up? A board game, an arcade game, a clothing line. Get your pure evil hoodie here, a music album, a movie, an art gallery. I mean, that's pretty jacked up if that's what comes up on Google. So we live in a world that's so broken, many people don't even know what pure evil is. And the world even celebrates all of that brokenness. And because of that, watch this. Paul says to Timothy in 2 Timothy chapter one. Therefore, Timothy, Timothy, my son, do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me, his prisoner. Do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord. Man, that's a good phrase to tell your kids on their way out to school. Do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, but share in suffering for the gospel

by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do, speaking of him being in prison. But then he says, but I'm not ashamed. There it is again. I am not ashamed for I know whom I have believed, and I'm persuaded that he will keep that which I've committed unto him against that day. I am not ashamed, and I am committed to live that way. And so here's the apostle Paul. And he starts his load to the Romans and also to this next-generation leader, Timothy. And he starts with, don't be ashamed of the gospel, Timothy. And Timothy, please, don't be ashamed of me. Oh, I know you're liable to be tempted to, because I'm in prison, and I'm suffering for the gospel. And I know you think I'm a radical, crazy man. And that's why I'm in prison, but Timothy, please, son, don't be ashamed of me. And don't be ashamed of your Lord. Don't be ashamed of this gospel message that he's given to us. Even though it's so counter-cultural. And yes, it's offensive. It was offensive to the Romans and it's still offensive today.

It was offensive to the religious Jews and the godless Greeks, big-time offensive to Rome. And today, it's offensive to big tech. It's offensive to the mainstream media and to the WNBA. Don't get me started. And if Paul's letter was written in our day, I could hear Paul saying or writing. And even though you're called out or shut down on YouTube, happening or Twitter or Facebook might ban you for violating their community standards, don't be ashamed of the gospel. For it is the power of God and the salvation. Just lovingly tell people the truth. Can I just say this right here? The gospel is not hate. Don't let anybody lie to you and say that. The gospel is the love of God. It is the love of God. We've got to love people enough to tell them the truth. We've got to love people enough to tell them that God loves them. And he doesn't necessarily-- he loves him just the way they are, but he doesn't want them to say that way. And so the gospel has the power to transform people from the inside out. And that's why we need to be unashamed to share it, because it's the only thing that will take the center and make them a new creature in Christ and forgive them of their sins and give them a hope in the future. It's the only thing.

And so if God is for us, why would we shrink back with this message? If God is for us, who can be against this? Oh, it's a nice verse and a nice slogan, a nice thing to memorize and even put it on a t-shirt. But listen, it is much, much more than that. It is reality for those who believe. Now back to Romans 1. Listen to these same words from the new living translation. Translators said this about translating Paul's words this way. For I am not ashamed of this good news. It's good news about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes for 17. This good news tells us how God makes us right in his sight. And this is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scripture says is through faith that a righteous person has life. I love this. How can we ever be ashamed of the message that makes us right in his sight? From start to finish. In fact, if we so believe this, in fact, we do so believe this here at Life Fellowship that we want to help you grow from start to finish. First, we're to identify with Him and go public with our faith. And so, we believe that when we say yes to Jesus, the first thing and the next thing we do is water baptism. Not just as a ritual that says okay, that's the next thing and I checked the box and I got water baptized.

But we say the next thing is water baptism because now you've got a new identity. And now water baptism says I'm identifying with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who actually died for me so my sins could be forgiven. So now I identify with Him. I go under that water representing His death and I come up representing His resurrection, representing the new life that happened in me that He wants to do for you. And I want the world to know that. Unashamedly, Landro, Danny. Unashamed. We want to live our lives in such a way that Jesus is seen, that the gospel is heard even through the way we live and then from our words. So we don't shrink back. So we've decided that we're going to have water baptism even more frequently here at Life Fellowship because we want to close the gap from the time that people say yes to the time that they actually go public with their faith. And so we're going to have the next one on September 20th, just three weeks from today. We're going to water baptize people and I believe we're going to water baptize a lot of people and even if it's just a few, we're going to water baptize you. And you might say, well, I don't even know if I can wait till September 20th. Okay, let us know, we'll figure it out.

But we want to see water baptized. Logan just brought up a great point last week as he was talking about it. And we just said, you know, we've got to close that gap. We need to celebrate it, but not only celebrate it. It's a faith decision to do that. I'm acting based on what I believe now. And that is I want people to know that Jesus is Lord of my life. And I'm going to live my way, my life differently because of that. Here's my single question I need to sit down. My single question for you today is are you living unashamed or are you ready to live unashamed? Our culture is crying out for us. (sighs) The message, I am the message. You are the message. They need us. You're doing no favors by holding back or shrinking back. The favor is, I've got good news for you. The good news is that God loves you so much. Let me just tell you my story. Boy, it's a great way to get lead into it. My story is this. I was living this way, away from God. The second part of my story is this is how I met Jesus. The third part of my story is this is how it's been different since I found Jesus.

And I just want you to know him too. I want you to experience the transformation that God does in our hearts when we believe. May we say we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but we are those who have faith and preserve their souls. Would you buy your heads with me right now? Lord, thank you for your word today. Your powerful and convicting word. And we thank you, Lord, that you speak through your word. Lord, we just ask that you'll just let our hearts respond to you now in faith in Jesus' name. With your head bowed and your eyes closed. I've mentioned the gospel in the good news several times in this message. Paul says the gospel is the power of God. I want you to listen in just these next few minutes, or next few seconds, this brief presentation of the gospel. God became man in human flesh. He lived the life that we should have lived and died the death that we should have died in our place. Jesus did that for me. On the third day, he rose again, proving that he's the Son of God, and offering the gift of salvation to anyone and everyone who would repent and believe and call upon his name. So with your heads bowed and your eyes closed, if you're here today and you've never,

never made Jesus Christ your Lord by repenting of sin and turning to follow him. And then asking Jesus to be your Lord and Savior and you want to right now. This is your moment. I believe God brought you here for this very moment. Today is the day of salvation. This is the moment to say yes to Jesus from start to finish. And if that's you and you say, "Best day if I'm in," or maybe you prayed a prayer like that a long time ago, but you walked away from it, and today, you want to renew that faith decision. Say, "Jesus, I want you to be Lord, and I want you to forgive me of sin, and I want new life today." On the count of three, one, two, three, shoot your hand all the way up near, all over the room. Lift up your hand, yes, yes. You're watching online, just to say, "Yes, that's me." Yes, sir, I see your hand, yes, I see it, yes, yes. Would you pray this simple prayer with me? Say it after me, "Dear Lord Jesus, I give you my life. I know that I need you. I ask you to forgive me of all sin. Cleanse me and wash me." Would you make me a brand new person on the inside? I choose to follow you, Jesus. I believe you died on the cross for me, and your blood paid the price for my sin.

I believe you rose again on the third day, and you live today. Come and live inside of me. I welcome you, Holy Spirit. Change me from the inside out. Give me a brand new heart, and a brand new start. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen, amen, amen, put your hands together and give God some praise. Let's not be ashamed of the gospel. [applause] Amen, amen. What a powerful, powerful message. It's the Bible, right? The Bible is a powerful message, you know? I mean, God just revealing Himself to us, and His power has power to change. Power to change your heart, power to change your lives. And if you gave your life to Christ today, or you're just recommitting your life to Christ, we'd love to walk with you as one of the pastors of this house. I cannot say how much I'm proud of you. I'm so proud, but I want to walk with you, not just me, but we have a whole pastoral team, life group leaders, people that want to walk alongside you. So please, grab your phone right now and text the word Jesus to 510, and we're going to get connected with you, going to give you some of the next steps that are ahead of you. We know that sometimes it's simple, but not always easy.

So we believe that if you text the word Jesus to 510, we will walk together, and it's going to be a little bit more simple to you. Amen. Speaking about walking alongside, I was reminded about Acts chapter number two, verse 42. It's on the screen, it says this, that they devoted themselves to the apostles' teachings and to the fellowship and to the break of bread and prayer. And this text is referring to the early church. And the early church, you see that the word that Luke uses is the word devoted. So which means, when they were talking about fellowship, it was not something that was accidental or something that they just did when they had time. They understood that fellowship that doing life together was part of who they were. They want to know more about Christ, so they made a point to not just meet in the big gathering, but also meet in homes, in other places, so they can get closer and closer, and learning of God from one another. And that's what life groups is about. You know, Sundays are amazing. You come here, listen to God's word, or get to worship together. We see God manifesting in their midst. But the reality is, if you want to leave a healthy, growing life with God, connect to a life group. Connect to a life group.

And today, we have here in our church in all campuses, both here and North Campus. You can connect to a life group. You can either text the word groups to 510, or go to the lobby, where we have all life group leaders. They will be there to receive you, and to help you to look through the directory, the group that is best, that best goes with your schedule and your interest. Amen? All right, so let's pray together. We're gonna have the prayer team coming forward, and if we have any prayer request, please come forward, we wanna pray with you. You can stand up. Let me pray a blessing over you, and you'll be dismissed for a great Sunday in the presence of God, amen? The Lord may bless you and keep you. May his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. (music) (gentle music)