1 00:00:02,500 --> 00:00:03,900 Thank you for listening to the river. 2 00:00:03,900 --> 00:00:07,700 Bend Church podcast Reverb in church exists to lead all people 3 00:00:07,700 --> 00:00:10,700 to know love and live New Life in Jesus Christ. 4 00:00:11,100 --> 00:00:18,000 We hope that you enjoy this message to get off a teaching 5 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:22,400 series that I believe can set the stage for the best year yet. 6 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:25,400 So what I want to do today is invite you to go on a journey 7 00:00:25,400 --> 00:00:28,100 with me, we start out the beginning of the year, right? 8 00:00:28,100 --> 00:00:30,900 I think if you set their trajectory, And we can head in a 9 00:00:30,900 --> 00:00:34,900 direction took to literally live a best version of ourselves to 10 00:00:34,900 --> 00:00:38,100 be that person and become that person, God wants us to be and 11 00:00:38,100 --> 00:00:40,800 experience, ultimately, the power of God in a way that we 12 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:44,500 have not yet into our lives and so kicking off a new teaching 13 00:00:44,500 --> 00:00:47,500 Series today and it's going to walk us through 21 days of 14 00:00:47,500 --> 00:00:52,500 intentional fasting and prayer. And so we have a mission. 15 00:00:52,500 --> 00:00:55,400 As a church, we want to leave all people all people in our 16 00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:57,800 path. We want to lead people to know 17 00:00:57,800 --> 00:00:59,800 Jesus to love him than to live new. 18 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:02,800 Life. And so before we jump into this 19 00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:04,599 new year because that's ultimately what we're going to 20 00:01:04,607 --> 00:01:07,300 continue to do. I want to look back on what God 21 00:01:07,300 --> 00:01:09,200 did. Because I'm I got such a big gas 22 00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:11,100 pedal, sometimes that I'm like, alright, that years over. 23 00:01:11,100 --> 00:01:11,800 Boom. Let's go. 24 00:01:12,300 --> 00:01:13,800 And you have you like that? Like, what's next? 25 00:01:13,800 --> 00:01:16,400 Let's go to the next thing. There's a few of you like that 26 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:18,600 but for me when I slow down a little bit, I started thinking, 27 00:01:18,600 --> 00:01:22,800 man, let's look back on what God already did because the Lord did 28 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:26,400 some crazy and amazing things part of our mission. 29 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:27,700 We want people to know they matter. 30 00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:31,700 We literally, we want to reach and empower the Next Generation 31 00:01:31,700 --> 00:01:34,100 to lead. Now, we want to let our 32 00:01:34,100 --> 00:01:37,100 community know that they matter by building a better community 33 00:01:37,100 --> 00:01:40,800 in Jesus name and we saw success and people coming to Christ this 34 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:42,500 year. And so I want to give you just a 35 00:01:42,500 --> 00:01:45,200 few of the highlights before we dive into the message today. 36 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:49,400 Things that we saw this past year over both campuses, we saw 37 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:51,600 36 people go public with their faith. 38 00:01:51,600 --> 00:01:54,300 In baptism this year. Can we give the Lord praise for 39 00:01:54,300 --> 00:02:00,500 that? 36 people said yes to Jesus and 40 00:02:00,500 --> 00:02:02,200 went public with their faith through baptism. 41 00:02:02,500 --> 00:02:05,500 We look back, we kind of track a lot of data, not because we like 42 00:02:05,500 --> 00:02:08,699 to boast about numbers but every every every person that lets us 43 00:02:08,699 --> 00:02:11,000 know they're here, if you're new here and you let it you filled 44 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:12,800 out that card this morning to let us know. 45 00:02:13,100 --> 00:02:16,700 We ultimately don't just throw that discard that we pray over 46 00:02:16,700 --> 00:02:19,200 that. We reach out will send you a 47 00:02:19,208 --> 00:02:21,200 gift in the mail if you give us information. 48 00:02:21,700 --> 00:02:25,200 But this year when we counted it all up, we had 500 families 49 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:28,800 between here and Oakwood. 500 families came on This campus for 50 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:30,900 the first time, and then absolutely crazy. 51 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:39,400 Many of you been here, some of you came in in the last year, 52 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:41,900 but those that were here before that we've had a prayer as a 53 00:02:41,900 --> 00:02:44,300 part of our vision to God multiplies. 54 00:02:44,300 --> 00:02:47,200 We begin to pray that multiply. So what we said is instead of us 55 00:02:47,200 --> 00:02:49,600 trying to build out and up here y'all go ahead and fix that so I 56 00:02:49,608 --> 00:02:53,200 won't have to have that thing. Chris you may have to come down 57 00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:56,700 here and fix it but come on down and so we prayed that God would 58 00:02:56,700 --> 00:03:00,200 multiply us as a church and we had no idea that God was going 59 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:01,900 to do it so quickly but we launched. 60 00:03:01,900 --> 00:03:03,800 Oakwood campus. So can you guys give it up so 61 00:03:03,800 --> 00:03:05,500 loud that Oakwood can hear us this morning. 62 00:03:05,700 --> 00:03:13,000 There and Pastor Michael and the staff that is there absolutely 63 00:03:13,300 --> 00:03:16,400 love what God is doing. And so I just found out a couple 64 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:19,300 of weeks ago, they just broke 100 people on that campus for 65 00:03:19,308 --> 00:03:22,100 the first time down there to so praise, the Lord for that. 66 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:27,400 I look back at what God did through your generosity. 67 00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:30,000 Because we are this, this is one of the most generous church. 68 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:32,400 I say it's the most generous church I've ever been a part of, 69 00:03:32,500 --> 00:03:35,100 and I love that you guys not only a generous with your with 70 00:03:35,100 --> 00:03:36,900 your money. But with your time, you believe 71 00:03:36,900 --> 00:03:39,400 in the mission and you've given, but I look back at like what did 72 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:40,900 we actually do with some numbers? 73 00:03:41,100 --> 00:03:43,600 And when I, when I tallied up, we looked at what we did through 74 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:47,200 three days of Hope what we did through project hope this year 75 00:03:47,300 --> 00:03:50,200 and you guys gave above and beyond you gave a hundred 76 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:52,700 thousand dollars to invest in the community this year, is that 77 00:03:52,700 --> 00:03:56,700 crazy or what? And so the tell you a little bit 78 00:03:56,700 --> 00:04:00,200 about what I mean by commute up what project hope if you don't 79 00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:03,900 not familiar with it we support missionaries we do we are a part 80 00:04:03,900 --> 00:04:07,300 of sociation sure that we give money to but we support 12 81 00:04:07,300 --> 00:04:10,100 missionaries and Community Partners on a monthly basis. 82 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:14,800 We also give to Gainesville City, Hall County schools and 83 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:16,500 you guys invested not only money. 84 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:19,100 Many of you went and served sports teams meals. 85 00:04:19,300 --> 00:04:21,100 Are you? You did you know you took care 86 00:04:21,100 --> 00:04:24,100 of needs that were in those sports teams around the 87 00:04:24,400 --> 00:04:26,500 Community this year so I just want to look back. 88 00:04:26,500 --> 00:04:29,000 That's it. That's a huge Mark of indicating 89 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:31,800 that you believe in the mission of going out and reaching people 90 00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:34,800 and not only putting your money into it but your feet into it as 91 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:37,700 well. And so we put a high value on 92 00:04:37,700 --> 00:04:39,600 Next Generation. So I wanted to look back and see 93 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:41,900 where we were and this one, I literally have like a little 94 00:04:41,900 --> 00:04:44,700 shouting fit in my office. When I ran these numbers, when I 95 00:04:44,700 --> 00:04:48,000 came to RiverBend, almost five years ago on a Sunday morning, 96 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:52,100 we had for River kids as fifth grade and down we had for this 97 00:04:52,100 --> 00:04:56,600 year in 2022. We saw 146 River kids and 80 98 00:04:56,600 --> 00:04:58,700 students, check in at our Gainesville Campus. 99 00:04:59,100 --> 00:05:04,000 Is that crazy? Julie, Julie, who are river kids 100 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:06,600 director, Julie, she actually told me that that number is low. 101 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:08,400 And I said, well, that's okay. I want to be as accurate as I 102 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:10,800 can't said, numbers low because there's some we didn't include 103 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:15,600 at Oakwood. Oakwood had really want since we 104 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:18,700 launched, they've had kids, but they've had 26 kids, checking 105 00:05:18,700 --> 00:05:21,300 our fifth grade and down check in at Oakwood since we launched 106 00:05:21,300 --> 00:05:23,900 in October just a few weeks ago there too as well. 107 00:05:23,900 --> 00:05:27,400 So, Can we just celebrate all the things that God has done? 108 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:35,000 Love it. And so I'm so blessed to be your 109 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:36,900 pastor. I'm honored to be a part of the 110 00:05:36,900 --> 00:05:40,300 mission with you in the church and in our community. 111 00:05:40,300 --> 00:05:43,200 But here's what I want to say to you, I love celebrating and I 112 00:05:43,207 --> 00:05:46,100 didn't want to take time to not at least point out a few things 113 00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:48,600 not to boast of it. Just to say like we did see some 114 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:50,700 success, but here's where I'm going to go. 115 00:05:50,900 --> 00:05:54,400 The best days are ahead. The best days are ahead for you? 116 00:05:54,400 --> 00:05:57,500 Personally, I believe that and I'm going to describe best, you 117 00:05:57,500 --> 00:05:59,400 gotta get to go with you. What is best, what does it mean 118 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:01,300 that my best days are ahead? We're going to talk about that 119 00:06:01,300 --> 00:06:03,200 in a moment. But here's the thing, the These 120 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:06,100 are ahead for the church to it was a it was a message that God 121 00:06:06,100 --> 00:06:08,800 put on my heart, on your one, reminding the church, the people 122 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:11,700 of the church in year 15 years ago, the best days are ahead. 123 00:06:11,700 --> 00:06:14,100 The best days are her head with some of you were there, and you 124 00:06:14,108 --> 00:06:15,900 were crazy enough to believe it and you said, let's do it. 125 00:06:15,900 --> 00:06:18,800 What does it look like? And now we've seen God do 126 00:06:18,900 --> 00:06:21,400 incredible things. And so as we look to the Future 127 00:06:21,400 --> 00:06:24,300 though, I want to press the gas pedal down and say let's go. 128 00:06:24,500 --> 00:06:26,100 God bless, go Reveal Your Kingdom. 129 00:06:26,100 --> 00:06:29,500 And so that's why we're going to seek God with 21 days of fasting 130 00:06:29,500 --> 00:06:30,800 and prayer. And so, when you see this your 131 00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:32,700 will not mine. That's actually our guide 132 00:06:32,700 --> 00:06:34,100 thread. Through fasting and prayer. 133 00:06:34,300 --> 00:06:36,300 And so today, I want to give us a brief overview. 134 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:39,900 And so what is this season? What is 21 days of prayer? 135 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:41,200 Why are we doing this? And why? 136 00:06:41,200 --> 00:06:44,100 I'm asking, I'm asking you to consider, like, giving up 137 00:06:44,100 --> 00:06:47,400 something fasting to pray and seek the Lord with us together. 138 00:06:47,500 --> 00:06:48,700 And then, how are we going to do that? 139 00:06:48,700 --> 00:06:51,000 What does it look like tangibly? How do we do that? 140 00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:54,800 But here's the question, I hope that I can kind of grab your 141 00:06:54,800 --> 00:06:58,700 heart with for a minute here. Do you want 20:23 to be your 142 00:06:58,700 --> 00:07:02,100 best year yet? Rhetorically speaking. 143 00:07:02,100 --> 00:07:05,400 Yes, we You Joe? But the bigger question behind 144 00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:08,900 the question is, are you willing to do whatever it takes to see 145 00:07:08,900 --> 00:07:12,700 2023? Be your best year, yet the best 146 00:07:12,700 --> 00:07:16,800 year yet, 2022 was great for a lot of us, but God has more in 147 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:19,100 2023. You know what, how many of you 148 00:07:19,100 --> 00:07:21,300 would just say? 2022 was a struggle. 149 00:07:21,400 --> 00:07:23,100 Anybody? You just be willing to admit 150 00:07:23,100 --> 00:07:27,000 Oakwood 2022, was it a struggle? When it's God, had more and 151 00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:30,500 better for you in 2023. Do you want more for yourself 152 00:07:30,500 --> 00:07:32,400 and more for your family? Here's what I really believe I 153 00:07:32,407 --> 00:07:34,000 have. I started praying about this 154 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:37,700 series back in June of this year started praying about God kind 155 00:07:37,700 --> 00:07:40,700 of gave this to me as I was reading through the story that 156 00:07:40,700 --> 00:07:43,500 I'll share a little bit of today and God gave me this and so I 157 00:07:43,500 --> 00:07:46,800 thought I'm supposed to tell you God has more for you. 158 00:07:47,300 --> 00:07:50,100 I think the best days are ahead and it seems counter into the 159 00:07:50,100 --> 00:07:51,800 answer, seems counterintuitive as a. 160 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:53,500 How do we step into the best days? 161 00:07:53,900 --> 00:07:56,400 Do you know what is not the answer if you want your best 162 00:07:56,400 --> 00:07:57,900 days ahead? Do you know what is not the 163 00:07:57,900 --> 00:08:00,100 answer to go to the gym and eat salad? 164 00:08:00,100 --> 00:08:02,500 You're like praise the Lord. The Pastor said I don't have to 165 00:08:02,500 --> 00:08:04,400 go too. Of I don't have to eat salad. 166 00:08:04,400 --> 00:08:07,200 I didn't say that that may be part of your best days, but that 167 00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:10,200 is not the primary goal. The primary goal is not to get 168 00:08:10,200 --> 00:08:11,300 more sleep. We're not going to do that. 169 00:08:11,300 --> 00:08:14,400 Anyway, right, the primary goal is not to read more books, even 170 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:17,600 though we should the primary goal is not to be more generous 171 00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:19,800 this year, spend more time with our family and you're like, man, 172 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:22,600 you just knocked out all my New Year's goals right there. 173 00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:25,400 It's all good. And these can all be a part of 174 00:08:25,400 --> 00:08:27,900 the greater commitment, but can I tell you the greatest 175 00:08:27,900 --> 00:08:30,900 commitment that you and I can make if we want 2023 to be the 176 00:08:30,900 --> 00:08:32,700 best year yet? It's counterintuitive. 177 00:08:32,799 --> 00:08:33,900 Got to go with me. Here it is. 178 00:08:34,600 --> 00:08:39,500 Your will not mine God. Now, this is this, I know this 179 00:08:39,500 --> 00:08:43,600 is crazy because I'm saying that I'm going to have the best year 180 00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:45,600 yet. When I let go, and say, God 181 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:48,400 whatever you want. But I want to prove to you 182 00:08:48,400 --> 00:08:51,600 scripturally this morning. That, that's how how it works. 183 00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:55,100 It is a powerful truth that can transform your life, your family 184 00:08:55,100 --> 00:08:56,900 this year. And I just believe there's some 185 00:08:56,900 --> 00:08:58,800 dad's in the room and you need it this morning. 186 00:08:59,200 --> 00:09:00,900 There's some teenagers in the house this morning. 187 00:09:00,900 --> 00:09:03,000 Listen, there's some River kids, you know, what can we give it up 188 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:04,700 for all our River kids who are in there this morning? 189 00:09:04,700 --> 00:09:06,400 So I see a lot of you sitting around this morning. 190 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:07,700 Awesome. I know it all. 191 00:09:07,800 --> 00:09:10,900 Wait to love, love love. I River kids and we love Miss, 192 00:09:10,900 --> 00:09:13,600 Julie and Miss Abby, and all those that serve in our River 193 00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:16,400 kids areas, but we're glad to have you guys here in the house 194 00:09:16,400 --> 00:09:20,400 this morning with us too and so it can be a life transforming 195 00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:22,600 year, but I want to talk about this, your will not mind. 196 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:23,500 Do you know where that came from? 197 00:09:23,500 --> 00:09:26,500 It wasn't my idea. So actually statement Jesus made 198 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:29,000 the night before Jesus went to the Cross. 199 00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:31,900 He actually went out into the garden to pray with his 200 00:09:31,900 --> 00:09:35,100 disciples and he left the disciples and he went a little 201 00:09:35,100 --> 00:09:38,400 further by himself and here's what it says in Matthew. 26. 202 00:09:38,800 --> 00:09:41,500 He went a little further and bowed down with his face to the 203 00:09:41,508 --> 00:09:43,200 ground. Praying, my father. 204 00:09:43,900 --> 00:09:46,000 If it is possible, let this cup of suffering. 205 00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:48,800 Be taken away from me yet and here it is. 206 00:09:49,100 --> 00:09:52,500 I want your will to be done. Not mine. 207 00:09:53,400 --> 00:09:56,500 Never thought about this. Jesus prayed that he would not 208 00:09:56,500 --> 00:09:58,200 have to go to the cross and suffer. 209 00:09:59,700 --> 00:10:01,100 Reconcile? This in your mind from it, you 210 00:10:01,108 --> 00:10:02,700 ever prayed? God, get me. 211 00:10:02,700 --> 00:10:06,100 Well God don't let my family suffer God, heal my kid and it 212 00:10:06,100 --> 00:10:08,200 didn't seem to work out just like you thought. 213 00:10:08,500 --> 00:10:10,700 Here's a great lesson from scripture, Jesus, pray? 214 00:10:10,800 --> 00:10:12,600 That let me sum up his fear, father. 215 00:10:12,600 --> 00:10:16,100 If I don't have to go to the cross and suffer, take it away. 216 00:10:16,100 --> 00:10:18,900 Lord remove the suffering from my life, I don't want to do it. 217 00:10:18,900 --> 00:10:21,900 That was our savior that prayed that prayer but then he followed 218 00:10:21,900 --> 00:10:26,200 it up with a statement but I want your will to be done, not 219 00:10:26,200 --> 00:10:28,600 mine. And in that Jesus shows us here 220 00:10:28,700 --> 00:10:30,800 that it is good. Ask for what we want. 221 00:10:30,800 --> 00:10:35,600 But is also even better to say, Lord, Whatever you want, your 222 00:10:35,600 --> 00:10:37,500 will be done, not mine. You know what? 223 00:10:37,500 --> 00:10:40,900 What is easy and what is best or not often the same things for 224 00:10:40,900 --> 00:10:43,700 us, everybody in the house wants what's easy? 225 00:10:43,700 --> 00:10:46,100 I do that's why we fall away from Christ. 226 00:10:46,100 --> 00:10:47,800 That's when we fall back into our old ways. 227 00:10:47,800 --> 00:10:50,500 You know why easy? I'm here to look at you and say 228 00:10:50,500 --> 00:10:53,400 2023 will be the best year yet. If you're willing to go on a 229 00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:58,200 very hard journey, God has put the fire in somebody's heart. 230 00:10:58,200 --> 00:11:00,600 I know it in some families and, you know, you need to make start 231 00:11:00,600 --> 00:11:04,200 making hard decisions in 2023. I don't want to just Coast 232 00:11:04,200 --> 00:11:06,600 through this year, I don't want to just, you know, gland where I 233 00:11:06,608 --> 00:11:08,400 land this year. I want to go somewhere on 234 00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:11,200 purpose this year and it won't start a week from now it 235 00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:14,700 literally starts today and it's not even having a goal. 236 00:11:14,800 --> 00:11:17,600 First, and foremost is having a mindset of saying. 237 00:11:17,600 --> 00:11:18,900 I know that it's going to be hard. 238 00:11:18,900 --> 00:11:21,300 I'm going to be disciplined, I'm going to choose it and father 239 00:11:21,300 --> 00:11:22,600 I'm going to start with this idea. 240 00:11:22,600 --> 00:11:25,800 Your will not mine. Look what Jesus said, he taught 241 00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:26,900 this. Listen, this is an idea 242 00:11:26,900 --> 00:11:29,100 throughout the teaching of Jesus, but here's what he said, 243 00:11:29,100 --> 00:11:32,900 he was teaching us to pray. He talking to his disciples, and 244 00:11:32,900 --> 00:11:35,300 he says, Father in Heaven. May your name be kept holy, and 245 00:11:35,300 --> 00:11:37,400 here's this idea. Again, may, your kingdom come 246 00:11:37,400 --> 00:11:38,400 soon. And here it is. 247 00:11:38,700 --> 00:11:42,500 They who your will be done on Earth as it is in heaven. 248 00:11:42,500 --> 00:11:44,900 There it is again. Father, even in the model, 249 00:11:44,900 --> 00:11:46,300 prayer, Jesus taught us how to pray. 250 00:11:46,300 --> 00:11:48,900 Lord, I'm going to ask you what I want to ask you, and tell you 251 00:11:48,900 --> 00:11:52,400 what I want, but I'm going to first, say, your will be done, 252 00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:55,800 your kingdom come in my life and so not what I want what you 253 00:11:55,800 --> 00:11:57,300 want. And so Riverbend. 254 00:11:57,300 --> 00:12:00,400 Here's the invitation today. I want to invite you on a 255 00:12:00,408 --> 00:12:02,300 journey. This is an introduction to go on 256 00:12:02,300 --> 00:12:05,700 a journey with us. I can tell you that 2023 will be 257 00:12:05,700 --> 00:12:08,200 the best year yet surrendered under the lordship of Jesus. 258 00:12:08,200 --> 00:12:12,000 Literally, your will not mine, we will see the power of God. 259 00:12:12,100 --> 00:12:15,300 We will see Souls saved. We're we have a huge goal for 260 00:12:15,300 --> 00:12:18,200 baptisms this year and we're going to go after it with 261 00:12:18,200 --> 00:12:20,200 everything God. Don't God Alone can say people, 262 00:12:20,200 --> 00:12:22,100 we can't do that, but the gospel still works. 263 00:12:22,300 --> 00:12:24,900 People still need Jesus all around us and so we're going to 264 00:12:24,908 --> 00:12:26,100 go after it. We're going to see lives. 265 00:12:26,300 --> 00:12:28,700 Change and see people know love and live New Life in him. 266 00:12:28,900 --> 00:12:31,200 I think we're going to see some healing and restoration. 267 00:12:31,400 --> 00:12:33,900 There's some marriages and some homes that need restoration. 268 00:12:33,900 --> 00:12:36,700 I'm just asking God to do it. I want to get to be a part of 269 00:12:36,700 --> 00:12:39,900 the story and here when the Lord does it, we will build a better 270 00:12:39,900 --> 00:12:43,800 community in Jesus name our but right here in Oakwood outside 271 00:12:43,800 --> 00:12:45,300 the walls of where you guys live. 272 00:12:45,300 --> 00:12:47,600 Listen, that place is going to be better because the Church of 273 00:12:47,600 --> 00:12:50,400 Jesus is there and, of course, we link arms with every other 274 00:12:50,400 --> 00:12:53,500 Jesus believing Church where all the church but respond, you have 275 00:12:53,500 --> 00:12:57,000 a responsibility to Oakwood to be right who God wants you to be 276 00:12:57,000 --> 00:12:59,300 right there. Listen Gainesville we live all 277 00:12:59,300 --> 00:13:01,400 over the place in this County and outside of this County 278 00:13:01,400 --> 00:13:04,300 outside the walls of our houses, it's going to be better because 279 00:13:04,300 --> 00:13:07,400 we're there are communities will be because literally, Jesus is 280 00:13:07,400 --> 00:13:10,800 represented, is that there? And so we also can become who 281 00:13:10,800 --> 00:13:14,100 were created to be. If we will say your will not my. 282 00:13:14,100 --> 00:13:16,700 Now here it is. The power of your will not mine. 283 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:18,800 I put this in your notes. If you're actually, how do you 284 00:13:18,800 --> 00:13:20,800 don't have notes this morning? That's weird for me, by the way. 285 00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:23,500 I did, we didn't print notes. I gave her staff off this week 286 00:13:23,600 --> 00:13:27,400 and so you can write this down if you want to 20 III will be my 287 00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:30,400 best year yet. If what I live under the 288 00:13:30,400 --> 00:13:34,200 lordship of Jesus, we could have an imitation and go home right 289 00:13:34,200 --> 00:13:36,100 there. I'm thinking about it because 290 00:13:36,100 --> 00:13:39,200 here's the thing. If we get this one statement 291 00:13:39,200 --> 00:13:41,300 right here, I don't have to preach anymore. 292 00:13:41,300 --> 00:13:44,500 Richard, you don't need a patent that I ended up telling you. 293 00:13:44,508 --> 00:13:45,900 I'm not going to preach what. I'm just said. 294 00:13:45,900 --> 00:13:48,500 If the whole church, if everybody said yes and amen. 295 00:13:48,500 --> 00:13:52,500 Lord, the lordship of Jesus, we all want Jesus, the Savior, but 296 00:13:52,500 --> 00:13:56,200 you gotta say, Lord, listen 2023 for me is about putting Lord. 297 00:13:56,400 --> 00:13:57,300 King. Jesus Christ. 298 00:13:57,300 --> 00:13:58,400 Lord. Jesus Christ. 299 00:13:58,400 --> 00:14:00,500 I love the three. We all talk about. 300 00:14:00,500 --> 00:14:02,300 Oh, I love Jesus. And Jesus loves me. 301 00:14:02,300 --> 00:14:03,700 Yes. But I think we have to learn to 302 00:14:03,700 --> 00:14:05,400 say it is my Lord. Jesus Christ. 303 00:14:05,400 --> 00:14:07,900 Not just Jesus Christ, because that's how he's referred to in 304 00:14:07,900 --> 00:14:09,900 scripture. And if he is your boss and you 305 00:14:09,908 --> 00:14:12,400 refer to him like that. What does that mean though to 306 00:14:12,400 --> 00:14:14,300 live under the lordship of Jesus were here? 307 00:14:14,300 --> 00:14:17,100 It is a really simple way for all the river kids in the house. 308 00:14:17,100 --> 00:14:19,200 You know what it means to call Jesus the Lord? 309 00:14:19,900 --> 00:14:21,900 What does it mean to say? Lord, I give you a really easy 310 00:14:21,900 --> 00:14:22,900 answer. That helps me. 311 00:14:22,900 --> 00:14:26,200 Remember this this it's to say boss like Jesus. 312 00:14:26,300 --> 00:14:29,100 You are the boss. I'm going to come underneath, 313 00:14:29,100 --> 00:14:32,300 you don't work for me, like, I don't come to you in my prayers. 314 00:14:32,300 --> 00:14:36,600 As if you work for me, I come to you as your servant, humbled, to 315 00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:39,200 be able to come into the presence of Almighty to pour out 316 00:14:39,200 --> 00:14:41,900 my heart in my prayers. But also coming, knowing that 317 00:14:41,900 --> 00:14:45,700 you are God, and I'm not that you are the boss and I'm not. 318 00:14:45,700 --> 00:14:48,500 So you'll need to dig down. Listen, you want to dig down on 319 00:14:48,500 --> 00:14:50,300 what its gonna take to have the best year yet? 320 00:14:50,400 --> 00:14:52,400 It's about saying Jesus, you're the boss. 321 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:55,200 So what does that mean? I keep asking questions to 322 00:14:55,200 --> 00:14:57,000 myself, what does it Make him the boss. 323 00:14:57,000 --> 00:14:58,200 I want to give you at least two things. 324 00:14:58,200 --> 00:15:01,000 I don't think it's limited to this, but to live, underneath 325 00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:04,000 Jesus lordship. It means two things first to 326 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:07,700 obey his word. We have gotten to a place. 327 00:15:08,100 --> 00:15:10,100 I'm not talking about outside the church. 328 00:15:10,100 --> 00:15:13,200 I mean, in the church, where we don't know what the Bible 329 00:15:13,200 --> 00:15:16,300 actually says anymore. And then, even when we do, we 330 00:15:16,300 --> 00:15:19,000 reckon ourselves out of actually being obedient because we've 331 00:15:19,000 --> 00:15:22,500 been taught that what you feel is, how you should live and 332 00:15:22,500 --> 00:15:25,800 surely God wouldn't let you feel a way about yourself or about 333 00:15:25,800 --> 00:15:28,800 your sin. In about, even if it contradicts 334 00:15:28,800 --> 00:15:30,800 his word, surely God would want you to be happy. 335 00:15:30,800 --> 00:15:32,400 Well, here's the thing to come to him. 336 00:15:32,400 --> 00:15:34,800 As Lord. As to say God, I have sin in my 337 00:15:34,800 --> 00:15:37,000 life. I don't always get it right. 338 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:39,000 So what I'm going to do, I'm going to take your word and 339 00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:41,400 whatever it says I'm going to say yes to that. 340 00:15:42,100 --> 00:15:43,500 Now is where the rubber meeting the road. 341 00:15:43,500 --> 00:15:45,900 Do you want 2023 to be the best year, yet? 342 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:48,500 It would have to be the most obedient year you've ever had. 343 00:15:49,300 --> 00:15:52,500 That's the simple answer. Here's the second thing, though, 344 00:15:52,500 --> 00:15:54,900 it's not only obedience to his word and by the way, you have to 345 00:15:54,900 --> 00:15:58,200 know his word. You got to be in the word but 346 00:15:58,200 --> 00:16:02,400 also to submit to the spirit of God, it's not just the word, 347 00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:05,300 it's the spirit word and spirit always go together. 348 00:16:06,800 --> 00:16:09,000 What does it look like to submit to the spirit of God? 349 00:16:09,000 --> 00:16:11,400 Did you know that whenever you surrender your life, to Christ 350 00:16:11,400 --> 00:16:15,600 God, moves into your soul, he literally moves in and makes his 351 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:18,300 home with you. He puts the spirit seal, over 352 00:16:18,300 --> 00:16:19,600 your life into that point forward. 353 00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:21,500 You have a helper, he's going to help her. 354 00:16:21,700 --> 00:16:24,400 He's called an advocate. You know what Jesus said to his 355 00:16:24,400 --> 00:16:27,200 disciples, he said the spirits actually going to bring the word 356 00:16:27,200 --> 00:16:30,700 back to your mind. So when you fill your heart with 357 00:16:30,700 --> 00:16:33,100 the word and you're like, man, I don't even get it because some 358 00:16:33,100 --> 00:16:35,100 days, I read the Bible and I don't even feel like I get 359 00:16:35,100 --> 00:16:36,400 anything. Here's the deal. 360 00:16:36,400 --> 00:16:39,400 Submission to the spirit means that spirit will bring that word 361 00:16:39,400 --> 00:16:43,500 that's been implanted back at just the right time, but not 362 00:16:43,500 --> 00:16:45,400 just Miracle. Submission to the spirit doesn't 363 00:16:45,400 --> 00:16:48,400 just mean like Lord do Miracles through me or in me, submission 364 00:16:48,400 --> 00:16:50,400 means there is a guide that's inside you. 365 00:16:50,700 --> 00:16:53,000 It's bigger than just a conscience because you train 366 00:16:53,000 --> 00:16:56,300 yourself to listen and submit to the spirit, you will find the 367 00:16:56,300 --> 00:16:58,900 power of God flowing through your life. 368 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:01,800 Now, let me give you another question because I was full of 369 00:17:01,800 --> 00:17:03,600 questions as I set the series up. 370 00:17:03,800 --> 00:17:06,500 Why should you submit to Jesus as boss of your life? 371 00:17:06,500 --> 00:17:11,500 Why should you why would we say? God not what I want but what you 372 00:17:11,500 --> 00:17:15,800 want I want to give you 4 real 44 wise of your will not mind. 373 00:17:15,800 --> 00:17:19,200 And here's the first one. God always loves me 374 00:17:19,200 --> 00:17:22,200 unconditionally nobody else in this life does. 375 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:27,099 As much as we want to love our kids, unconditionally we do as 376 00:17:27,099 --> 00:17:30,300 much as humans can love our kids unconditionally, but don't we 377 00:17:30,300 --> 00:17:33,100 all have fall times where we have to apologize, even to our 378 00:17:33,100 --> 00:17:36,400 kids. Even our spouse. 379 00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:39,000 I mean I know you love her and you love him unconditionally but 380 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:41,700 don't aren't there times that we have to apologize. 381 00:17:42,100 --> 00:17:43,500 Some of you like woo. Yeah, every day. 382 00:17:43,600 --> 00:17:46,200 Well maybe you need to right now at the altar call this morning, 383 00:17:46,300 --> 00:17:49,300 maybe that's why God called you to get it right January 1, baby. 384 00:17:49,300 --> 00:17:53,100 Here we go. God always loves me 385 00:17:53,100 --> 00:17:57,300 unconditionally, we know verses like this, John 3:16 God. 386 00:17:57,300 --> 00:17:59,800 So loved the world, he gave his only son, he didn't just give 387 00:17:59,800 --> 00:18:02,500 his son to come live. A fluffy life, he gave his son 388 00:18:02,500 --> 00:18:05,600 to go to a cross for you and that's Ice. 389 00:18:05,600 --> 00:18:08,500 That's love. But this word love Agape. 390 00:18:08,500 --> 00:18:11,300 Love in the Greek word. It's an unconditional love of 391 00:18:11,300 --> 00:18:13,700 choice. Even when I don't feel it, I 392 00:18:13,700 --> 00:18:16,000 choose it. But God actually chose to feel 393 00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:18,000 love for you and he loves you. It's crazy. 394 00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:22,700 Here's what Paul said about this love, maybe sums it up as good 395 00:18:22,700 --> 00:18:26,600 as anyone else in Romans. He said, I'm convinced that 396 00:18:26,600 --> 00:18:29,000 nothing can separate us say this nothing. 397 00:18:29,500 --> 00:18:31,100 Say it With Me, Ghetto. Quit nothing. 398 00:18:31,500 --> 00:18:34,600 Nothing can separate you from God's love even when you come to 399 00:18:34,600 --> 00:18:36,500 Christ, and then Fall back into your addiction. 400 00:18:36,500 --> 00:18:40,400 God does not stop loving you. Even when you completely blown 401 00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:43,300 it in your life the enemy will come and say God doesn't love 402 00:18:43,300 --> 00:18:44,600 you anymore. That doesn't mean there's not 403 00:18:44,600 --> 00:18:48,000 consequences there is nothing either scriptures Ally or it's 404 00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:50,700 not and if it's true he says there is nothing that's going to 405 00:18:50,700 --> 00:18:52,000 separate you from the love of God. 406 00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:54,900 Now here's, here's the truth. Your sin can separate you from 407 00:18:54,900 --> 00:18:58,300 the daily fellowship with God, but nothing can separate you 408 00:18:58,300 --> 00:19:01,700 from the love of God, he will take you back a hundred million 409 00:19:01,700 --> 00:19:04,100 times in this life. He will say, yes, I will take 410 00:19:04,100 --> 00:19:06,300 you back, I forgive you. You because of the Cross. 411 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:08,300 But he says nothing separates us. 412 00:19:08,300 --> 00:19:12,300 Neither life nor death nor life, neither, Angels or demons. 413 00:19:12,400 --> 00:19:15,900 Neither our fears about today, nor our worries about tomorrow, 414 00:19:16,100 --> 00:19:19,900 not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. 415 00:19:19,900 --> 00:19:22,500 No power in the sky above or in the earth below. 416 00:19:22,500 --> 00:19:24,200 Indeed. Nothing in all creation, will 417 00:19:24,200 --> 00:19:26,500 ever be able to separate us from the love of God. 418 00:19:26,500 --> 00:19:27,900 That is revealed in Christ Jesus. 419 00:19:27,900 --> 00:19:30,500 What? Our Lord. 420 00:19:30,500 --> 00:19:32,900 See, I love it. You start reading the Bible many 421 00:19:32,900 --> 00:19:36,100 times when Paul was writing the older he got the more he started 422 00:19:36,100 --> 00:19:39,500 including Lord, Jesus Christ in his statements, he started to 423 00:19:39,500 --> 00:19:40,800 understand, I think more and more. 424 00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:44,500 It's a lord, Jesus Christ. Lord, Jesus Christ, God doesn't 425 00:19:44,500 --> 00:19:48,800 change his mind church. Now, once you believe that, God 426 00:19:48,800 --> 00:19:51,200 loves you, because a lot of us, maybe you need to wrestle that 427 00:19:51,200 --> 00:19:53,300 to the ground. But once you believe that there 428 00:19:53,300 --> 00:19:55,800 is another why that we should say, you will not mind. 429 00:19:55,800 --> 00:19:58,200 And here it is. The second reason is this, God 430 00:19:58,200 --> 00:20:00,200 always knows. What's best for me? 431 00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:05,700 The past few years for me, since 2020 has proven one thing, we do 432 00:20:05,700 --> 00:20:07,700 not know what's going to happen tomorrow. 433 00:20:08,800 --> 00:20:12,700 I can't tell you in my family, in our, in our community, in our 434 00:20:12,700 --> 00:20:15,600 world, in our country, what's going to happen tomorrow? 435 00:20:15,600 --> 00:20:18,500 I don't know anymore. And I mean, we shouldn't plan 436 00:20:18,500 --> 00:20:21,300 and set goals and, you know, pray and dream. 437 00:20:21,300 --> 00:20:24,700 We should, we must do all those things, we must have Vision, but 438 00:20:24,700 --> 00:20:27,200 here's the thing, we always have to tag this tag line on it. 439 00:20:27,200 --> 00:20:29,200 God, if it's your will, we're going to do something or 440 00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:31,400 another. That's what James said because 441 00:20:31,400 --> 00:20:35,200 why God knows what's best. He always has planned from the 442 00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:37,800 beginning. A, he's always had a plan for us 443 00:20:37,800 --> 00:20:39,700 the best. Or our lives and Ephesians 444 00:20:39,700 --> 00:20:41,300 proves it. Here's what it says. 445 00:20:41,300 --> 00:20:44,900 We are God's Masterpiece. He created us Anew in Christ. 446 00:20:44,900 --> 00:20:47,500 Jesus why? So we can do the good things he 447 00:20:47,500 --> 00:20:51,000 planned for us long ago. How could God plan good things 448 00:20:51,000 --> 00:20:53,400 for you long ago because he knew what was going to be best. 449 00:20:53,400 --> 00:20:56,900 For you long ago, he knew what was going to be good for you and 450 00:20:56,900 --> 00:20:59,300 bless you. So he planned it before you were 451 00:20:59,300 --> 00:21:01,900 you and I were even a thought on the earth, God already knew our 452 00:21:01,900 --> 00:21:04,200 purpose. Now ultimately we can Buck 453 00:21:04,200 --> 00:21:07,600 against his purpose for our life and caused a lot more pain in 454 00:21:07,600 --> 00:21:10,100 our lives or we can Damn it, to his purpose coming. 455 00:21:10,200 --> 00:21:12,700 Your will not mine Lord, I believe that you know what's 456 00:21:12,700 --> 00:21:15,400 best, this will change. How we're going to pray through 457 00:21:15,400 --> 00:21:19,100 21 days of prayer to come to God and say, God I want to pray. 458 00:21:19,100 --> 00:21:21,900 What's on my heart? He welcomes that, but also 459 00:21:21,900 --> 00:21:24,400 Father, I want to pray that your will be done. 460 00:21:24,400 --> 00:21:26,000 You know why he knows what's best? 461 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:30,500 And I don't even know. What's best for me now? 462 00:21:30,500 --> 00:21:32,700 This third one is probably the hardest one, because if you can 463 00:21:32,700 --> 00:21:34,800 understand, okay, God loves me unconditionally. 464 00:21:34,800 --> 00:21:37,700 Whoo God is God. And therefore, he knows what's 465 00:21:37,700 --> 00:21:40,800 best for me and even when I don't know what to do, the third 466 00:21:40,800 --> 00:21:42,900 one is the hardest one for me as your pastor though. 467 00:21:42,900 --> 00:21:44,900 This is the one I'm going to have to wrestle down. 468 00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:48,900 I get it theologically I can unpack it scripturally for you 469 00:21:48,900 --> 00:21:51,700 as the wind true, but it's just heart and mind aligning with 470 00:21:51,700 --> 00:21:53,200 this. But the third reason that we 471 00:21:53,200 --> 00:21:55,400 should align ourselves. God always does. 472 00:21:55,400 --> 00:21:58,900 What's best for me. That was stings a little bit 473 00:21:58,900 --> 00:22:00,000 more done. You know why? 474 00:22:01,600 --> 00:22:05,400 Because I still get sick. Sometimes I still watch people 475 00:22:05,400 --> 00:22:07,300 that I love in the church, suffer with cancer. 476 00:22:07,300 --> 00:22:10,300 Even when we pray, they wouldn't, I watch marriages 477 00:22:10,300 --> 00:22:12,300 split up. Even after we did everything we 478 00:22:12,300 --> 00:22:16,200 could and, you know, and it didn't work out, that believe 479 00:22:16,200 --> 00:22:17,600 me. We've seen many miracles, we've 480 00:22:17,600 --> 00:22:22,200 seen God do all the good things. There's still so much suffering 481 00:22:22,200 --> 00:22:26,600 and pain in this world. And the question is well, why 482 00:22:26,600 --> 00:22:29,100 like if God always does? What's best why? 483 00:22:29,100 --> 00:22:30,600 I don't know the full answer that. 484 00:22:30,600 --> 00:22:32,200 I don't think anybody can give you an answer. 485 00:22:32,600 --> 00:22:34,600 Sometimes I just had to say, I don't know, but I love you. 486 00:22:34,600 --> 00:22:36,500 And I'm here with you through it and that's what people done for 487 00:22:36,500 --> 00:22:38,400 me. Here's what I do know. 488 00:22:38,800 --> 00:22:43,400 God never waste any pain though. When doing what is best for you 489 00:22:43,500 --> 00:22:46,100 hurt, you or seems to hurt you, you have a God that loves you. 490 00:22:46,108 --> 00:22:48,700 Remember, unconditional love? So he would never do anything to 491 00:22:48,700 --> 00:22:51,100 harm. You, he knows what's best. 492 00:22:51,100 --> 00:22:53,700 He's always doing. What's best for his people. 493 00:22:55,100 --> 00:22:57,900 And he never wastes pain even if that does bring pain in life, 494 00:22:57,900 --> 00:22:59,900 now I'm going to give you a thought that maybe you've never 495 00:22:59,900 --> 00:23:01,600 had before think back to the cross. 496 00:23:02,700 --> 00:23:05,500 The night before Jesus went across what did he pray father 497 00:23:05,500 --> 00:23:09,300 take the pain away and then what did God do send him to the 498 00:23:09,308 --> 00:23:13,500 cross? That kind of messes with our 499 00:23:13,500 --> 00:23:15,000 theology a little bit, doesn't it? 500 00:23:15,800 --> 00:23:18,500 Especially that easy believe ISM that you'll just follow Jesus, 501 00:23:18,500 --> 00:23:19,500 all your prayers will be answered. 502 00:23:19,500 --> 00:23:23,000 You wanted to suffer anymore. You know what you need to do? 503 00:23:23,500 --> 00:23:26,000 Find you a senior st. Somebody one of our Legacy 504 00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:28,700 members been following Jesus a long time, ask them how 505 00:23:28,700 --> 00:23:31,300 suffering in the love of God has played out in their life because 506 00:23:31,300 --> 00:23:33,800 what they'll tell you is there's been a lot of suffering, but my 507 00:23:33,800 --> 00:23:35,900 God has been there with me through all of the praise, the 508 00:23:35,900 --> 00:23:38,300 Lord and one day the suffering is going to end. 509 00:23:38,300 --> 00:23:40,400 Praise the Lord because I'm going to be with him and all 510 00:23:40,400 --> 00:23:42,100 sickness will be annihilated and can't. 511 00:23:42,400 --> 00:23:45,100 Will be gone, in tears, will be wiped from my eyes that day is 512 00:23:45,100 --> 00:23:48,900 coming. But Jesus pray father stop the 513 00:23:48,908 --> 00:23:52,500 pain if there's another way for salvation to come stop the pain. 514 00:23:52,500 --> 00:23:56,400 I don't want to have to go to the Cross but nevertheless I 515 00:23:56,400 --> 00:23:58,800 want your will to be done? Not mine. 516 00:23:58,800 --> 00:24:01,900 See pain was actually best for Jesus. 517 00:24:01,900 --> 00:24:03,600 You know why? Cuz that's why he came that was 518 00:24:03,600 --> 00:24:05,400 his purpose. But not only was it best for 519 00:24:05,400 --> 00:24:07,300 him. That pain wasn't wasted. 520 00:24:07,300 --> 00:24:10,200 That pain was the plan to bring us into salvation. 521 00:24:11,100 --> 00:24:14,800 Sometimes your pain is not just for you, it's to help heal 522 00:24:14,800 --> 00:24:19,000 someone else. This is where trust is required. 523 00:24:20,300 --> 00:24:23,000 Paul said this and I love this verse and I struggle with this 524 00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:26,500 versus the both and look at it, Romans 8:28, we know that God 525 00:24:26,500 --> 00:24:28,300 causes everything to work together. 526 00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:32,300 Everything say that everything everything to work together for 527 00:24:32,300 --> 00:24:34,600 the good of those who love God and are called according to his 528 00:24:34,600 --> 00:24:37,100 purpose. That's a struggle versed in it. 529 00:24:37,400 --> 00:24:39,600 He's working everything. Even the painful things. 530 00:24:39,600 --> 00:24:42,400 He's working them together for our good. 531 00:24:43,100 --> 00:24:44,900 Think about it. There were many prayers that 532 00:24:44,900 --> 00:24:46,600 Jesus did pray and they got answered. 533 00:24:46,600 --> 00:24:49,300 He brought At people back to life, he provided needs. 534 00:24:49,300 --> 00:24:52,400 He provided a meal for thousands of people at one time. 535 00:24:52,400 --> 00:24:54,700 But then, there was a prayer that he prayed, and God did not 536 00:24:54,700 --> 00:24:57,500 answer it, like he originally prayed it Lord, take the pain 537 00:24:57,500 --> 00:24:59,400 away, if there's any way, but God didn't. 538 00:25:00,200 --> 00:25:02,300 See, here's the thing with the Miracles. 539 00:25:02,300 --> 00:25:06,700 We have to accept the pain because that's God's plan to So 540 00:25:06,700 --> 00:25:10,400 then does this make us robots if God loves us and he knows what's 541 00:25:10,400 --> 00:25:12,800 best and he does. What's best are we just robots 542 00:25:12,800 --> 00:25:14,300 then? No I want to give you a reality. 543 00:25:14,300 --> 00:25:17,600 That we can't lose sight of this morning because if so we lose 544 00:25:17,700 --> 00:25:20,800 sight of this than 21 days of prayer would just be why do it. 545 00:25:20,800 --> 00:25:22,200 Here's the fourth one in the last one. 546 00:25:23,000 --> 00:25:25,300 God always wants me to tell him what I want. 547 00:25:25,300 --> 00:25:30,100 Prayer matters. God always wants you and I to 548 00:25:30,100 --> 00:25:33,600 tell him what we want, the Apostle Paul said this in 549 00:25:33,600 --> 00:25:37,000 Philippians, you should tell God what you need and thank him for 550 00:25:37,000 --> 00:25:37,900 all. He's done. 551 00:25:38,600 --> 00:25:42,200 Hebrews says this come boldly before, the throne of grace, to 552 00:25:42,200 --> 00:25:46,400 find Grace, in your time of need to find help in your time of 553 00:25:46,400 --> 00:25:48,000 need. So here's the thing. 554 00:25:49,100 --> 00:25:51,400 Just because God knows best and he's going to do. 555 00:25:51,400 --> 00:25:52,600 What's best that doesn't mean that. 556 00:25:52,600 --> 00:25:54,100 He doesn't want to give us good things. 557 00:25:54,100 --> 00:25:57,000 Where his children, how many times have we prayed? 558 00:25:57,000 --> 00:26:00,000 And God did answer our prayers? How many times did he protect? 559 00:26:00,000 --> 00:26:01,700 How many times did he bring healing? 560 00:26:02,100 --> 00:26:04,600 We forget about that though because we get hung up sometimes 561 00:26:04,600 --> 00:26:08,100 on the pain. But so often we pray exactly 562 00:26:08,100 --> 00:26:11,700 what God knows is best for us. Here's why it's so important to 563 00:26:11,700 --> 00:26:14,500 pray. Prayer is about heart alignment. 564 00:26:15,300 --> 00:26:18,200 Tell God what you need, tell God what you need, tell him, what's 565 00:26:18,200 --> 00:26:20,300 on your heart, let him have it over time though. 566 00:26:20,300 --> 00:26:23,300 If you keep praying, what the Lord will do, is, he'll begin to 567 00:26:23,300 --> 00:26:26,100 align your heart with his heart and then your prayers will 568 00:26:26,100 --> 00:26:29,000 become powerful as you begin to pray. 569 00:26:29,000 --> 00:26:31,900 The will of God, listen. There is no prayer in the will 570 00:26:31,900 --> 00:26:33,300 of God. You will pray that he won't 571 00:26:33,300 --> 00:26:34,600 answer. Think about that. 572 00:26:34,600 --> 00:26:37,600 For a moment. If we as a church in 2023 will 573 00:26:37,600 --> 00:26:39,200 learn how to pray. The will of God. 574 00:26:39,200 --> 00:26:41,800 God, your will be done. Lord, show me how to pray your 575 00:26:41,800 --> 00:26:43,600 will. We will literally walk in 576 00:26:43,600 --> 00:26:46,700 Miracles and walk in anointing and walk and Power. 577 00:26:47,800 --> 00:26:49,200 That's what I'm praying for the church. 578 00:26:49,200 --> 00:26:50,900 This year. Listen, just I just for me, I 579 00:26:50,900 --> 00:26:53,100 need it. Like I said, I'm still wrestling 580 00:26:53,100 --> 00:26:54,500 to the ground. Some of this truth that I've 581 00:26:54,500 --> 00:26:57,100 unpacked from scripture this morning, but I'm gonna tell you 582 00:26:57,108 --> 00:26:59,600 this, I'm with you on this journey, I'm gonna believe it 583 00:26:59,600 --> 00:27:01,600 for you. I won't pray it over you, these 584 00:27:01,600 --> 00:27:03,900 21 days when we start next weekend fasting. 585 00:27:03,900 --> 00:27:05,600 And praying, I'm really praying for the church. 586 00:27:05,600 --> 00:27:09,300 Like, I haven't in a long time. It's many of you by name as I 587 00:27:09,300 --> 00:27:10,900 can. I keep a journal and I'm just 588 00:27:10,900 --> 00:27:13,100 going to pray, and I'm gonna look for God to answer those 589 00:27:13,100 --> 00:27:14,400 prayers Lord. Teach me to pray. 590 00:27:14,400 --> 00:27:16,200 Your will over your people so that I can go. 591 00:27:16,200 --> 00:27:18,700 Yes, look look. What my God is doing in the life 592 00:27:18,700 --> 00:27:21,000 of his church. I want it. 593 00:27:23,100 --> 00:27:26,200 Not only do we learn a little bit from scripts for ball about 594 00:27:26,200 --> 00:27:28,600 tell God what you need. Thanks for what he's done. 595 00:27:28,600 --> 00:27:30,800 James says this, sometimes you don't have things just because 596 00:27:30,800 --> 00:27:34,800 you haven't prayed about it. I wonder how many people prayer 597 00:27:34,800 --> 00:27:37,400 fell away this year and this year will not mind is going to 598 00:27:37,400 --> 00:27:40,300 be God, calling you back to prayer, calling you back to 599 00:27:40,300 --> 00:27:44,200 communion with God Mervyn. I'm inviting you into a journey, 600 00:27:44,200 --> 00:27:47,400 Oakwood here in Gainesville those online that are watching, 601 00:27:47,400 --> 00:27:49,000 maybe you're not here this morning, but you're planning on 602 00:27:49,000 --> 00:27:51,800 jumping back in next week. Listen, I'm inviting you on a 603 00:27:51,800 --> 00:27:56,600 journey and 2023 but it starts today a journey to say this God, 604 00:27:56,700 --> 00:28:01,100 your will not mine. So how are we going to begin 605 00:28:01,900 --> 00:28:03,200 this year? How are we going to learn to 606 00:28:03,200 --> 00:28:06,100 say, your will not mind well, 21 days of intentional prayer. 607 00:28:07,200 --> 00:28:09,900 Do you know what's going to happen as we pray and we fast? 608 00:28:09,900 --> 00:28:12,200 If you'll take this journey, first, God is going to break 609 00:28:12,200 --> 00:28:15,900 down our pride and you're like, ooh, I didn't see that coming. 610 00:28:16,100 --> 00:28:17,700 The Lord's going to have to deal with are proud. 611 00:28:17,700 --> 00:28:21,600 If we really want to align our hearts with his heart, but also 612 00:28:21,600 --> 00:28:23,200 he's going to break some addictions. 613 00:28:24,000 --> 00:28:26,500 There's some folks in the house this morning both here and it 614 00:28:26,500 --> 00:28:28,500 awkward, there's some people in the house in, you're good 615 00:28:28,500 --> 00:28:31,100 people, you trying to follow Jesus but addiction has slipped 616 00:28:31,100 --> 00:28:33,700 back into your life behind the scenes or maybe it slipped back 617 00:28:33,700 --> 00:28:36,600 over that spouse or that kid. That's not here with you anymore 618 00:28:36,600 --> 00:28:38,500 because right now they kind of falling away. 619 00:28:38,500 --> 00:28:41,500 Listen, during this time, what if we saw the Lord break 620 00:28:41,500 --> 00:28:45,500 addiction, bring people back to Christ breaking strongholds. 621 00:28:45,500 --> 00:28:48,500 What if we saw mental health? There's so many mental health 622 00:28:48,500 --> 00:28:50,900 battles and I believe we can get help but there's a certain 623 00:28:50,900 --> 00:28:53,100 amount of mental health that has to come from the spirit of God 624 00:28:53,100 --> 00:28:54,600 in the word of God working in. In US. 625 00:28:55,300 --> 00:28:58,200 Breakthroughs of reset. And re-centering our lives 626 00:28:58,200 --> 00:29:01,200 breakthroughs of knowing god, more breakthroughs of healing 627 00:29:01,200 --> 00:29:04,300 and restoration, breakthroughs of anointing of the Holy Spirit 628 00:29:04,300 --> 00:29:07,100 people knowing that I'm living in the power of the spirit. 629 00:29:07,100 --> 00:29:10,600 Listen, we have a vision to see. 200 people baptized this year, 630 00:29:10,600 --> 00:29:13,900 we're going after it. Listen, I put a number out there 631 00:29:13,900 --> 00:29:15,900 because the Lord just really spoke to me back last summer 632 00:29:15,900 --> 00:29:17,800 when I was praying through it going in the name was an 633 00:29:17,808 --> 00:29:21,700 18-month deal. We're probably 20 people into 634 00:29:21,700 --> 00:29:23,700 that right now, both here, between here and Oakwood and so 635 00:29:23,700 --> 00:29:26,500 we're praying this year, God, we were See that many people say 636 00:29:26,500 --> 00:29:27,800 yes to you. We got some things we're gonna 637 00:29:27,800 --> 00:29:31,000 do to go after. But I'm inviting you into this 638 00:29:31,000 --> 00:29:33,400 21 days of fasting and prayer, and I'm going to come back on 639 00:29:33,400 --> 00:29:35,900 the back side and just a moment, take a little bit more about it, 640 00:29:35,900 --> 00:29:37,900 but let me give you this before we move into this time of 641 00:29:37,908 --> 00:29:40,800 decision, here's what fasting is fasting. 642 00:29:40,800 --> 00:29:45,200 Is when you give up something physically in order to see God 643 00:29:46,300 --> 00:29:49,400 now, biblically, most of the time it was food, people would 644 00:29:49,400 --> 00:29:52,000 either change their diet, or they would give up food 645 00:29:52,000 --> 00:29:55,100 altogether for, for determine season just to pray. 646 00:29:55,300 --> 00:29:57,900 Ray so that every time I hunger pain, hits your body or every 647 00:29:57,900 --> 00:30:00,500 time, you know, there's such thing as the Daniel Fast. 648 00:30:00,500 --> 00:30:03,900 We talked about a minute where you do a specific food diet and 649 00:30:03,900 --> 00:30:05,400 it's not just a diet to lose weight. 650 00:30:05,400 --> 00:30:07,700 It's a diet to say God I'm going to give up some things that I 651 00:30:07,700 --> 00:30:09,500 enjoy. I'm going to give up so that I 652 00:30:09,500 --> 00:30:13,000 can seek you more. It's crazy when you make that 653 00:30:13,000 --> 00:30:16,300 room in that space of your life by fasting, God fills it with 654 00:30:16,300 --> 00:30:20,100 the spirit in his presence. Here's the purpose of fasting. 655 00:30:20,100 --> 00:30:22,500 The simple person purpose of fasting and not to get what we 656 00:30:22,500 --> 00:30:24,500 want. Even though there's often 657 00:30:24,500 --> 00:30:28,300 powerful Sensor during fasting, the purpose of fasting is this, 658 00:30:28,300 --> 00:30:31,200 I'm going to know God more than I ever have before we'll come 659 00:30:31,200 --> 00:30:33,500 out of the backside of 21 days and yes, we're going to see 660 00:30:33,500 --> 00:30:34,600 Miracles. I believe it. 661 00:30:34,600 --> 00:30:36,000 Yes. We're going to see salvations. 662 00:30:36,000 --> 00:30:38,300 We're going to say healings, but here's what I think, we're going 663 00:30:38,300 --> 00:30:41,200 to see even more every person who says, yes to this journey, 664 00:30:41,200 --> 00:30:43,100 you're going to know God more than you did before. 665 00:30:44,900 --> 00:30:48,900 Here's the deal 20:23. Do you want it to be your best 666 00:30:48,900 --> 00:30:50,400 year yet? Do you want it? 667 00:30:50,600 --> 00:30:53,000 You gotta want it. There's any inspiration in your 668 00:30:53,000 --> 00:30:53,800 heart to go? Yes. 669 00:30:53,800 --> 00:30:55,100 Joe, I'm with you. Then you're going to have to 670 00:30:55,300 --> 00:30:56,900 Think about what your commitment will be. 671 00:30:56,900 --> 00:31:00,200 Because here's the truth 20:23 will be the best year yet. 672 00:31:00,800 --> 00:31:07,500 If I live it under the lordship of Jesus Christ, will you bow 673 00:31:07,500 --> 00:31:08,700 with me all over the room this morning? 674 00:31:08,700 --> 00:31:11,100 Listen, Pastor, Michael is going to lead you in a song at Oakwood 675 00:31:11,100 --> 00:31:13,000 and just a moment. Andrew is going to lead us here 676 00:31:13,200 --> 00:31:15,400 but here's what I want you to consider church this morning. 677 00:31:16,300 --> 00:31:20,900 Are you willing to say, I want 2023 to be my best year yet and 678 00:31:20,900 --> 00:31:22,800 if you're willing to say that and here's what I want you to 679 00:31:22,800 --> 00:31:24,400 do, you don't have to come forward if you want to come, 680 00:31:24,400 --> 00:31:26,600 pray this morning. We welcome you here and Adele 681 00:31:26,600 --> 00:31:29,800 quick come on down. But I really want you to reflect 682 00:31:29,800 --> 00:31:32,100 this morning. Am I ready to make Jesus the 683 00:31:32,100 --> 00:31:34,700 Lord over 2023? And maybe you're sitting here 684 00:31:34,700 --> 00:31:37,900 going Joe, I've never made Jesus the Lord to begin with, what a 685 00:31:37,908 --> 00:31:40,200 great day to do it. The first day of the new year, 686 00:31:40,800 --> 00:31:43,000 if you're ready to make Jesus Lord here in at Oakwood. 687 00:31:43,000 --> 00:31:45,200 All you got to do is say Jesus, I believe you. 688 00:31:45,200 --> 00:31:47,900 I'm ready to surrender my life to you as my boss. 689 00:31:48,000 --> 00:31:51,400 Save Me Lord and as you cry out from your heart to him. 690 00:31:51,400 --> 00:31:53,700 Listen, he receives you. And this year you're going to go 691 00:31:53,708 --> 00:31:56,100 on a journey as a child of God for the first time. 692 00:31:58,200 --> 00:32:00,200 But still there's a decision to be made right now. 693 00:32:00,200 --> 00:32:03,600 For all of us across the house. All of us at Oakwood. 694 00:32:03,700 --> 00:32:08,000 Will I really say your will not mine? 695 00:32:08,400 --> 00:32:12,000 Can we take a moment and worship and reflect on this thought, 696 00:32:12,000 --> 00:32:15,000 Lord Jesus. I pray that your spirit even now 697 00:32:16,100 --> 00:32:19,500 Lord would flood our souls and our hearts God that you would 698 00:32:19,500 --> 00:32:23,000 give us the strength this morning to believe that this is 699 00:32:23,000 --> 00:32:25,200 our best yet. But also to take action and say 700 00:32:25,300 --> 00:32:28,000 father your will not mine, help us in Jesus. 701 00:32:28,200 --> 00:32:30,500 Name. Thank you for listening to the 702 00:32:30,500 --> 00:32:32,100 river. Bend Church podcast. 703 00:32:32,200 --> 00:32:34,900 Learn more about who we are as a church and how to connect you 704 00:32:34,908 --> 00:32:37,900 can head over to our website Riverbend Church dot lie.