November 12 2023

You please stand up and let's honor the man of God. We stand up to honor the word of God.

8 minutes and 7 minutes and 28 seconds them.

Siri, come on, so we're just going to pray and we're just going to get right in. Oh, yeah, you can see why we just thank you for what you're doing. We thank you that you have made yourself available in our lives. And that you are present in our lives Lord that you're not distant. You're not far you're ever so close that it was your your decision to want to actually come close to us to bring us back into a relationship with you everything you did in the Bible from the beginning to the end was to have relationship with us Lord. So I just thank you for what you did in the cross that restores our relationship are part of the relationship with you Lord that you dealt with the things inside of us Lord by your son through your spirit that brings us into fellowship with you once again,

It says in Romans that not nor angels nor demons.

Nothing in heaven and nothing in hell can separate us from your love. So I just thank you Lord. A profound love I thank you for your your willingness to want to be in relationship with us for the night.

In Jesus name we pray amen.

Yes, you're an expository expounder.

It was good. You know you want to make sure that you break things out for people to be more palatable and digestible. So it was a big words. It was hard for me to say those but alright, so as I was praying throughout the week and even last night what I thought guy was putting in my heart or was just talked about paying right because even if you're in Christ or if you're haven't been in Christ for a long while you're not currently in Christ pain is something that everyone deals with right in all walks are all walks of life. Right? And in that process right pain is inevitable right people going to deal with it. You can't run away even if those who are in Christ you will deal with pain, right but we're dealing with pain from a purpose. We have a purpose and we endure because of the promise The Inheritance that God has promised us and that's where our faith lies where our trust is in him, right? He will finish what he started that he will save us from beginning all the way to the end as we endure. amen

the quote from Timothy Keller suffering the Spells the illusion that we have strength and competence to rule our own lives and save ourselves people become nothing through suffering so that they can be filled with God and His grace I'll repeat that suffering the Spells the illusion that we have strength and competence to rule our own lives and to save ourselves people become nothing through suffering so that they become they can be filled with God and His grace Pain definition of pain a sense of physical suffering and anguish distress, which has number of causes right scripture indicates as sources of pain as potential spiritual implications and results Affliction is another word. Also using the in the in the Bible are persistent bodily or mental distress. I never see these difficulties suffering trouble. Those are all the other words for as well for pain suffering pain is come through sin right through the Fallen Fallen nature is on the world through Adam and Eve and it's affected from Adam and Eve all the way to Jesus. And then now from Jesus we have victory over sin, right Vicky. We still deal with the pain but through the spirit of God. We overcome that. right Can I get a amen?

So send me a nice way through the original sin in the garden Rebellion against God touches people in many different ways are there are choices and decisions that go against God sin against God and then sometimes our choices sin against other people, right? We affect other people right throughout how we speak to people and our actions towards people we have at some point in time if I could someone through sent or have been affected by someone through their sin. Hey, man, so our choices assistance that go against God God's design affects us and the people closest to us other people's choices and decisions that affect us directly or indirectly. Often the consequences of our sins is would be think attributed to God punishing us when it's really us reaping the consequences for my actions or the concert or the the the send from other people, you know, our family members or loved ones people who love the most and then they don't have an idea of God. You don't have an understanding of God. They don't have enough standing of righteousness of Jesus righteousness righteousness of God. So, what do they walk by they walk by every whim of the flesh? Even as a parent, sometimes you get really upset and sometimes you might say something that just this just comes up and you say it or you do something you don't want to do and it's you sin against your child, right? But because we are saved we haven't brought into the fold with with Jesus. We have a way to to actually make those adjustments right in the end in Proverbs. 3:5 says trust in the Lord in every way and he will make your crooked path straight. Right? So now you're walking into this place where now God is guiding you through these choices you make or the choices that are being made against you and now in that place you're able to overcome and we'll have to talk about prayer is really important prayer does affect people around you and also affects the number one person which is you and your heart Right because when you pray you come with your heart present before God with all the afflictions in the pain, if you have caused you and you buried in front of God and what he what is he doing that moment he pours out his love you speaks the truth into you. So whatever you thought about the individuals of the people, right? He makes peace which has your understanding of it, right? I went through a process where Pastor knows that when I first came to things of God my parents were really resistance against me, right? I had a heart in heart even from things are going to pass that we had dealt with and my heart was so hardened and angry towards my parents but in the process of me saying yes to Jesus and even through the difficulty times, I was like Lord, I choose to forgive her change my mind to see you see them the way that you see that Might because it's so easy to have people affect us when we don't have an understanding of God and then and what he has done to affect them the same way that they affected you and you're doing your stepping into the Flesh vs. Walking in the spirit, right? So when you walk in the spirit, you don't you don't fight with them in Flesh and Blood you fight with them. Why in the things of the spirit? That's what the fight comes. Right and not say sometimes apologizing. Going to Humble Road. Remember, I remember I remember one time I was walking out. I remember leaving I just heard God say go apologize to your parents. Part of my parents. They should apologize to me, you know, but I was like, okay, I went over there were upstairs while I was doing her something La Mom Dad. I just want to say that I'm sorry for anything I've ever done that's affected you lasted cause pain towards you that is disrespectful towards you. I apologize. That's right. I apologize. When you walk in the things of God, you're going to do things that you might not want to do. Right, you might feel like you have the right and be angry day at the have caused you and they might have been unjust things towards you but we respond in a different manner.

We will respond in the way that God would want us to respond because now in this place our actions or trying to win people over to the god that we serve.

And in that place, I've pray for my parents. My mom. My dad was he was a angry Catholic who didn't even want to go to church cuz he thought all Catholics are hypocrites all Christian to self like that now he listens to mass my so is it he's he's he's gay getting closer. He's listening to two priests talk about God in the word, which is it's a good start right? My mom. She is constantly listening to the Bible. She's also she's open to having me even speak to her life regarding and situations by the house when my mom we should pray for this you should be like this you see this and she's a lot So that's good. That's good. You know, I'm going to do that. Thank you. I never thought of it like that way. So we have a relationship. Imagine if I would have given it to the Flesh and been disrespectful and just been just going back against the right. So even the pain that we have inside that that's been caused by those people that we loved right? God has a process to get that pain out and have for him to heal those things. The restore us to restore our families in a relationships. a man

write another course. Jordan ear infections are not always the punishment of extraordinary sins, but sometimes the trial of extraordinary Graces. Sanctified afflictions Are Spiritual promotions

extraordinary afflictions are not always the punishment of X of extraordinary sins, but sometimes the trials of extraordinary Graces Sanctified afflictions that are spiritual promotions. Matthew Henry, okay. So with that being said is all of this God uses for benefits. All the things all the hearts of the difficulties right that the rejection from I was rejected from my parents at some point in time. It was at that moment where you feel like the black sheep like my parents and love me, you know, they just wanted to control me right all those difficulty all the decisions and I've come so far along in the process that that's been able to speak to me those one time that God said, I love you heart. I'm in prayer. I'm talking to God. He says I love your heart and like thank you. God. Thank you. God is like reminds me of your mom and dad was like, this is me. Excuse me. Nevermind me in my eyes. You have my mom and dad what he's talking about. And he mentioned to me. He said their hearts were in the right place, but they did it out of fear that it out of a different Spirit they did it because they love me and I have a big heart and I love you so much and I was like, it's switch my perspective of my parents and even most recently was that the men who he was when we went that was speak to your mom about my father. My dad didn't have it. Is that was there but that wasn't present connected with him and hope like a kids. Do you know my mom was one out of 14, so they have a lot of kids but it there was a a pride in my grandfather where he was like where shut off very disconnected and I was also been raised not seen matter and same thing with my father growing up. He was very distant. Why and I was so angry at my father because I'm like we could have had so much relationship growing up and I was looking into the past, but God help me to see that he didn't have that.

No one modeled it for him. He only gave me what he got. Right, and now in this self-awareness I'm able to be aware and do something differently and change. My lineage is for my kids from here on out, right? So that's the redeeming power of God and even God has redeemed me and my father's relationship work before I didn't really think I could have a conversation with my own father, you know, Hispanic very hard and serious all the time. And now we have conversations little by little pregnant with my prayers. I don't know about fasting but I'll be honest with you. That's one of my struggles pray for me on that. How fast you to you know, I'll do that food. It's real hard for me. But yes, so the reason why we step into this thing when we step into God or our mindset is being changed regarding how we respond to how people act towards us right causes pain the pain that is causing a heart either when we come to God all the pain that we've already been carrying. All the disappointment are the projections those little small moments that comes in lead to that point in time. From that from that point and from that point forward. He's looking to deal with the things of your heart. Bring those things up to the surface right that he could bring to the surface and you have a self-awareness that you're going through that is often times. We have emotions trauma, whatever that happens as we're going up as children and guess what we do is unresolved pain. Unresolved in that unresolved pain that we carry just like my father carried the guess who guess who gets the all the unresolved Fame the kids and it's a cycle that continues going on continue is going on and we have to take a stand and say I will not pass this unresolved pain to my kids don't want to deal with it with God in the process. You going to pray into it help me God took to see where in my heart that's been hurting where I know and you probably felt that you've been hurting but don't know how to resolve that hurt inside of you write first things first bring it into the light. Mike talked about it. Once you become self aware of it, right and that's bringing God into that process you praying to God. Why is it that I'm so angry in this in this situation? Why is this affect me in this manner you pray into that right? And God God doesn't answer. man, and he so Romans scriptures Mama I'm a tired of saying right scripture is Romans 5:3 verse 325

This is God's Harvest should be our response now is again, it's not going to be perfect all the time, but it's our response to our suffering Romans chapter 5 verses three to five.

It says not only that but we rejoice in our sufferings knowing that the suffering produces endurance. And endurance produces character and character produces. Hope in the Hope does not put us to shame because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Right. So the the suffering that we deal with it again before Christ again or suffering was was aimlessly because we were being affected by our choices or other people's choices, but we step into the kingdom of God as we come to an understanding of of how he's made everything and how everything is working why we're in a situation where an and the victory that he's given to us from that pointment moment on you have an understanding that are suffering now. It has a purpose right and it's it shapes us that's what says if it produces the character. So in those moments where my parents or whoever it was was afflicted me with rewards through whatever it was when I made choices to to do things God's way, right? It was it was still still pain right there still suffering from that so Afflicted afflictions from however, when I stepped into it now had a purpose it was shaping me to become like who Christ I saw our submarines helps us to step in to be more like in His image. Okay, and he has provided us giving us Provisions over, So he has a new covenant with us right old Covenant was with with Abraham, right and Abraham. He told him that you can have many descendants right you promised them is which is the gland that eventually that he didn't get to walk into but I believe Joshua was able to walk into right and then from that Covenant there was many of those the mosaic laws were Moses brought in these Ten Commandments and then there were also additional laws to help navigate a lot of the crime and stuff like that just to put order into the the country of Israel at that time. And then from there came Jesus. Right when Jesus died on the cross. All right. We have a new covenant with God and God speaks through if you if you look at the Old Testament, I've been going through the Old Testament. I'm going to school currently right now psychology degree and they take classes on like Old Testament and stuff like that. So it's helping me to shape and understand that guy was planning out bringing us back to him every step of the way and it's made me like be more grateful of how God has been always two thousand years ago you was planning for you to come to him. You details? About bringing you back to him to bring you forgiveness to you bringing justification to you. forgiveness of sins through the cross once it for her for all Hebrews

8:12

same and you guys have it?

TV

For 4 I will be merciful towards their iniquities. And I will remember their sins no more.

So when you come to God everything that you have done in the past has been wiped away. My son means it got his wiped away from his mind. That means that it's something that you should release and white boy from real life. That's how powerful is forgivenesses. That's how powerful his blood shed on the cross was for you. That means you send that you might commit two hours from now tomorrow three days from now as soon as it happens, you go back to God and then from that point on it's it's done with you. Don't hold on to a you don't eat God's not I want you to hold on to it so you can punish yourself until you get right. It's his love and his mercy and forgiveness that brings us into repentance. That's was touched by Romance. write Hebrews 9 verses 13 to 14

you should read the book of Hebrews is really good and it brings the correlation between the Old Testament the the they used to sacrifice goats doves. And it brings the the reason why they did that and then into the New Testament what Jesus did for us? He was the ultimate sacrifice. chapter 9 verses 13 to 14

for if the blood of goats and Bulls and the sprinkling of the default persons with ashes of a heifer sanctify for the purification of The Flash how much more will the blood of Christ? Who works through the eternal spirit offered himself without blemish to God purify our conscience from dead Works to serve the Living God.

So that the blood of Jesus. Faiz your conscience. From dead Works meaning Works to make yourself, right? And God to serve the Living God in the way that you're now you no longer counting on your on your Works to make you write with. That's it becomes tiring. You know when you when you're constantly, okay. I'm at the mall do this and God's going to I'm going to be good with God. It's it's not how that works. Oh, I did this this and this this week. I was I'm doing good. You know, I'm doing good with God. That's when you're counting on your Works to make it right with God and when you do that eventually winds up having your own the Heisman you do good and are you on the Lowe's when you don't do good? And that's not how it works. I'm saved here because I've done so good so far and then as soon as I have not done so good and I went on a little tangent now, I'm not safe no longer. You notice how your salvation is fickle.

You stopped your salvation is fickle because it's based on your Works, which are dead. Right? That's why he gives us the Holy Spirit to do work through his Spirit empowered by his but not because we're good. But because he's good and he's made us right. All right, and then a little couple versus up from their versus 22 verse 22 from last name chapter indeed under the law almost everything is purified with blood and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

Hebrews the same 8:28

says so for those who didn't get that that that same chapter 9:28 soak rice having been offered once to Bear the sins of many will appear a second time not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eerily waiting for him.

and then I have all of this I can send it to you guys in a PDF or like an air drop it at some point time. I'll have all the stress. I'm going to run through them four times sake he was 10144 by a single offering he has perfected all of those who are being Sanctified who who has perfected you. Jesus has perfected you right.

Those who are being Sanctified sanctification means that when you come to God, you're not perfect when you walk with God you're not perfect, but you're being perfected, right? So it's not about being the person this most racist person at this moment time, but trusting that God will change your character in the long term. That he will make you the person that he's called you to be and you're just remaining in him. Even when you feel when you don't feel like it and when you see the worst of the worst of yourself, I remember one time I was like God was a scripture in Psalms where Dave is like God search me try me see if there's any evil way Wicked way in me and in lead me to the way of everlasting. I remember praying I pray that week so you got to be careful what you pray for and I remember that week things are just rising up from within me that I just felt like I was like, oh my goodness. This is inside of me. You know me and I felt bad about myself and my dentist like like I need I need to help you and I mean and remember God bringing me to that. He reminded me of the scripture that I pray and he he told me he's like it's not about you don't focus on those things. Those things are and you in is coming out, but I'm dealing with those things, but it's not so you can feel bad about yourself. Right, it's not about so you can feel bad about all look. Look at this. It's more of like a look of what I'm going to be working in your heart. We're facing these things together. Confronting the things in your heart that that are bent towards so right.

a man So he was the lamb slain for all of us if that's the power of his his forgiveness That's The Power of his blood. That's the power of the cross in that came to set you free. Right? So he's forgiven us made us try and he also desires but those same people have caused you so much pain and suffering they have sinned against you and have they also have sinned against God just like you have to also be forgiven just like you haven't forgiven. So you're mine said review is those people that again or maybe against you talk bad about you slander you or maybe they're you know to face whatever the case may be God's heart for those people as for them to come to know God and to be forgiven all those things they've done against you. It's a walk into their true identity for them to be healed saved and delivered in in in Christ. So that's his heart in regards to that. So when you step into situations, that's what your heart should be Lord. Help me to to represent you write help me to tell you even if I don't like this person or that person. You know that rubs me the wrong way help me to to talk to them like you would talk to them help me to respect them. Like you would respect them. Help me to love them. Like you love them. It's not easy is not easy. You going to feel sometimes we going to get back up and you can apologize and then you can go back to Ghana you teach me what a man. Matthew 6:15 But if you do not forgive others and their trespasses neither, will your father forgive your trespasses?

forgiving them freeze us and it is the first step in to Healing moving on from the past. You can't move into the future with your past still being held onto you want Justice For What was done against you?

And it again forgiveness is a process. It's not like you can choose to forgive them and you still might have that feeling of resentment or anger towards them, but God works those things. Little by little goddess Sophia angry Lord. I forgive them help me to see them how you see them Lord. And that's your prayer time with God you eat those things that come up that you don't like that doesn't that doesn't reflect Jesus. Those are the things you bring to him into prayer and he'll give you answers to it. And you're so getting to work because the word of also set you free, right the truth will set you free and the beginning of that scripture says, I'll buy it in my word and the truth will set Free she got her a by to remain in his word to receive it the freedom come as well. Okay, and then John 16:33?

Jesus tells us that we're going to have to differ. Coming to Jesus doesn't void us of difficulties of suffering, right? That's why John 16:33 mentions. I have said these things to you that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation hardships, but take heart for I have overcome the world is aware of your condition. He's here. He hears you he has provided for a way for healing and freedom from your past. God has provided forgiveness for you to to overcome sin the grave and death.

IMovie to some of the scriptures here. So you have an

standing here when when Jesus saw the crowds he had compassion towards them because they were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd.

So he's aware of your broken. That's your condition. And he does not look down on you. All right, he has he has compassion towards you in your Brokenness. All right, another scripture Psalms. I'll make sure anyone that wants the scriptures. I will air drop it to you. Okay promise. So just take back and just we just hear these words. The Lord is near to the Brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Psalms 10:17. Oh Lord, you hear the desires of The Afflicted and you will strengthen their heart. You are kind your ears. I thought you and your reflection when you're in desperation when you're in need he is inclined to listen to you and look in those times and moments song 2224 for he has not despise. Court the afflictions of The Afflicted and he has not hidden his face from him, but he has heard him he has heard when he cried to him.

So these are scriptures that help us a shape how God sees as in those moments of pain and suffering so, you know his heart for you. Okay, and then he wants to have you coming to a place of rest with him. So Matthew Matthew 11 chapter 11, 28 to 30 come to me all who labor and are heavy laden and he's talking about at this time. These are the Pharisees that works with putting all these rules and regulations on people and they felt the weight of having sex the office law meaning that they tried so hard To be right with God and they just this is how this heaviness of the law nice. So he's talking to them in this instance all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest just take my yoke The Joker has a wooden thing right there was put onto auxins right when they pulled and they I believe they were pulling the the thing. I don't know things called in the back that cuts the that makes a hole in the ground to make plans and stuff like that. I'm not a gardener. You know the plow. There we go. Come on.

Thank you. So he says my yoke upon you so the yolk is with you you have one on you and then with Jesus and says his yoke is easy and light for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls.

Psalms 23 the Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want he makes me lie down in Green Pastures. He leads me beside Still Waters and he restores my soul might send affects us in a way that it affects our soul. So as you step into this right as you walk with the Lord, what is he doing restoring your soul from the the damage of the Centre has been caused Again by either your choices by opening yourself up or even by the choices of people that have Afflicted you right? He leads me in the paths of righteousness for his namesake, even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. I will fear no evil for you are with me and your rod and your staff they comfort me. So we'll stop there and I'll leave at this one last thing. I have come to this place. Where as I ever bite it and it has been Seasons where I didn't feel like wanting to walk with. But I remained in him and I

Holding on this is this is this is the cliff and you see like death down there. You're like Holding On by like this month and you hold on and I realize as I've held on and I would not letting go that I trust him as a leader in my life. I've learned that in the process. That's why I said bye to me right now biting me and you will bear much fruit John 15, right? Because when you remain in him as much as the enemy going to try to shake you out of place with him, he's going to try to get you to walk away. He's going to try to get you to focus on other things. But when you hold on you remaining him regardless of the song was talking about when the weight of the Waves blue my house was built on you you build your house on him you hold on and he is faithful he is true to what he will do in your life. Regardless of whatever you want around you, right? That's all I did. I didn't know I didn't have the strength to continue fighting on certain times during the season. Insidious

You know and then through that process places in my heart has been healed. I'm more free now than I have been in years. I love God more now than I than I have ever loved God because I have come to know him in such a deeper way this when we see somewhere you don't feel him either since I've felt like God you have forsaken me. You know, where are you? I don't feel you, but I can't hear you and then that season passes by and he and them like the back of my call you he points out to every place you was at I was like, okay and then it happens again. I'm like, he does the same thing. He's like I was always here. Hey, man, so will end it there. Greg Laurie, just thank you for this word that you've given to us Lord. I pray that you would bring us to a place of a heart softening towards you.

Now we don't have to try to be anything that we don't have to try to muster anything up to to hear from you or to know you got.

I pray that anything in our hearts that have been hardened through the life through difficulties through through the people that have affected us or even aren't even our own choices God. I pray that you would come in and just lift off any guilt and shame.

If any even unforgiveness towards our self for our choices that we've been so angry other choices we've made in our lives and then we don't let let ourselves go Nord help us in this moment to let ourselves go to give for us to give our self Grace. My life could have been like this my cut. My life could have been like that if I wouldn't have done. Is y and z?

To give away all of that guilt. And all that, what ifs? And then to believe that I'm here in this place right now and this way from here to this place for that. You can do all that. I couldn't even imagine further and greater than all that I could have ever imagined in our lives, So I just thank you. I pray for your power to just rest upon them right now. I pray for peace in their minds and their hearts Lord.

I just pray that they would know you and it was see your hand in their lives or as a just a reassurance. Are there your work?

amen

Go with God you goes with you.

Have a great Sunday.