1 00:00:11,440 --> 00:00:14,960 So I'm going to talk to you today about Born to Be. 2 00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:20,360 OK, We'll find out because you could finish that statement a 3 00:00:20,360 --> 00:00:23,600 few different ways, but we want to talk about the Kingdom birth. 4 00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:25,840 Now. Look at Job chapter 3, Job 5 00:00:25,920 --> 00:00:28,320 chapter 3 verses 1/3. I'm going to start this way. 6 00:00:28,840 --> 00:00:31,440 This, this. I get the mood of the service. 7 00:00:31,560 --> 00:00:33,960 All right. It said afterward, Job opened 8 00:00:33,960 --> 00:00:36,280 his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. 9 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:41,560 And Job said, let the day perish on which I, I was to be born. 10 00:00:41,720 --> 00:00:46,520 And the night which said a boy is conceived, Doctor Miles 11 00:00:46,520 --> 00:00:49,040 Monroe said this. He said it's not enough to know 12 00:00:49,320 --> 00:00:52,240 you were born, but why you were born. 13 00:00:52,240 --> 00:00:55,800 I'm going to say that again. It's not enough to know you were 14 00:00:55,800 --> 00:01:01,440 born, but why you were born. I could go further and say why 15 00:01:01,440 --> 00:01:06,280 you were born now, because you could have been back in the 16 00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:10,520 1800's, the 1600's, the 1400's, the 8 hundreds. 17 00:01:10,600 --> 00:01:15,720 You could have been prior to Christ, but God chose to wait to 18 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:18,240 drop your spirit in the earth now. 19 00:01:19,320 --> 00:01:22,240 So it's not enough to know that you were born, but why you were 20 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:27,720 born and why you were born now. He goes on to say if one does 21 00:01:27,720 --> 00:01:31,600 not know why they are born, abuses are inevitable. 22 00:01:32,640 --> 00:01:36,000 Abuses are inevitable and many of you can say Amen to that. 23 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:37,880 I've been it through a lot of abuse. 24 00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:40,480 Now, I'm not talking about people abusing you, although 25 00:01:40,480 --> 00:01:44,320 that may have happened. I'm saying that sometimes it's 26 00:01:44,320 --> 00:01:48,520 self abuse because we experiment with ourselves, because we're 27 00:01:48,520 --> 00:01:52,360 trying to figure out who we are, why we're here, what we're 28 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:54,560 doing. And we will, you know, do all 29 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:59,200 kinds of things to ourselves and through ourselves to try to 30 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:01,160 discover ourselves where they're going. 31 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:02,520 Well, I'm going to go find myself. 32 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:05,000 Well, if you if you don't know who you are when you left, 33 00:02:05,400 --> 00:02:07,760 you're not, you're not going to get to someone because whoever 34 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:09,840 you are when you left, just who you going to be when you get 35 00:02:09,840 --> 00:02:12,880 there, right. And you know, no other culture 36 00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:16,040 is going to teach you this. No other religion is going to 37 00:02:16,040 --> 00:02:18,360 teach you this. There's only one who has a right 38 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:20,040 to talk to you about who you are. 39 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:25,480 And his name is the creator. So Jeremiah 15 says it this way. 40 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:32,600 He said before I was formed in in the womb I knew you and 41 00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:35,320 before you were born I consecrated you. 42 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:37,520 I have appointed you a prophet to the nation. 43 00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:43,440 So the Lord speaks to Jeremiah and says, before I formed you in 44 00:02:43,440 --> 00:02:46,960 the womb, I knew you, which is really powerful because before 45 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:51,800 Jeremiah was even in the womb of his mother, God knew who he was. 46 00:02:55,040 --> 00:03:00,600 And God already knew the reason why he is to exist. 47 00:03:01,280 --> 00:03:03,720 And that's before he's in the womb. 48 00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:10,880 So before he's in the womb, he's known by God. 49 00:03:11,480 --> 00:03:13,640 And you know what? God's not a respecter of person, 50 00:03:14,040 --> 00:03:18,040 which means Brian, He knew you before you were in your mother's 51 00:03:18,040 --> 00:03:19,920 womb. In fact, He knew you before the 52 00:03:19,920 --> 00:03:27,080 foundations of the world and He waited until now to put you in 53 00:03:27,080 --> 00:03:32,760 this planet. Wow, how amazing is this that 54 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:35,680 you are such a forethought of God. 55 00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:39,280 You are not an afterthought. God does not wake up and go, Oh 56 00:03:39,280 --> 00:03:42,760 my gosh, Brandon Hicks is in the planet, Huh. 57 00:03:43,360 --> 00:03:45,960 I guess he was born last night. Didn't realize his parents were 58 00:03:45,960 --> 00:03:50,480 going to call him that. Why is he in Kentucky anyway? 59 00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:52,480 I thought we were going to have him in Oklahoma. 60 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:55,920 You understand what I'm saying? God's not surprised by you. 61 00:03:57,240 --> 00:04:02,160 God's not surprised no matter how you come, how you get in a 62 00:04:02,160 --> 00:04:04,640 womb. God's not surprised, and He's 63 00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:08,200 not limited to produce what He wants out of you. 64 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:12,280 No matter how you got here. Doesn't matter whether it's 65 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:15,200 through horrific circumstances or through the best 66 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:19,360 circumstances, God has a plan for your life. 67 00:04:19,839 --> 00:04:24,320 Oh my gosh, are you hearing me? Look what it says here in Psalms 68 00:04:24,320 --> 00:04:29,560 139 verses 13 to 17. He says this for you, for my 69 00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:32,400 inward parts. You wove me and my mother's 70 00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:34,880 womb. I give thanks to you, for I am 71 00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:38,520 fearfully and wonderfully made. You understand there's no child 72 00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:45,640 in a womb that God's like. That's a piece of trash that's 73 00:04:45,640 --> 00:04:47,360 not coming from the voice of God. 74 00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:52,720 I would I wish this child was not here. 75 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:57,400 That child should never be born. That is never coming from the 76 00:04:57,400 --> 00:04:59,840 voice of God. The voice of God says you are 77 00:04:59,840 --> 00:05:04,440 fearfully and wonderfully made wonderful are your works and my 78 00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:08,160 soul knows it well. He goes on to say my frame was 79 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:11,440 hidden from you. I was in I was made in secret 80 00:05:11,440 --> 00:05:13,240 and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth. 81 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:18,000 My eyes have your eyes have seen my unformed substance, and in 82 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:24,400 your book were all written the days that will ordain for me, 83 00:05:24,640 --> 00:05:31,920 when as yet not one of them. So before you even came into 84 00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:39,880 existence, God has a plan for you, knows you by name, and 85 00:05:39,880 --> 00:05:44,760 there's nothing that can stop God's plan for your life except 86 00:05:44,760 --> 00:05:47,680 you stopping God's plan for your life. 87 00:05:49,720 --> 00:05:55,000 So if you've taken a few years to get here, good news we can 88 00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:58,920 get in the book that was ordained for you before you ever 89 00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:04,080 left the womb. And let's start walking out that 90 00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:08,280 life now. Cuz let me say something to you, 91 00:06:08,760 --> 00:06:16,200 God can't even redeem the time. Don't say oh man I've just 92 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:20,200 wasted so much of my life. God is a Redeemer of time. 93 00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:23,360 Every person you should touch, everything you should do for 94 00:06:23,360 --> 00:06:31,080 him, He can redeem the time. He can cause people that you 95 00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:40,600 cursed, cut, disregarded, come back into your life where you 96 00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:45,840 can be a blessing, a hope and bring them to Christ. 97 00:06:46,160 --> 00:06:50,680 I remember one time some, you know, my friends in high school, 98 00:06:50,680 --> 00:06:52,760 you know, 'cause we didn't know what friends were, we just, 99 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:55,360 everybody was called friends. But you know, now that I know 100 00:06:55,360 --> 00:06:56,720 the Bible, I know what a friend is. 101 00:06:57,440 --> 00:07:00,560 But anyway, my friends in high school, you know, I acted a 102 00:07:00,560 --> 00:07:02,880 particular way. I was born again at a young age, 103 00:07:03,080 --> 00:07:06,600 but I didn't live for the Lord and I didn't go to church that 104 00:07:06,600 --> 00:07:10,000 challenged me to live for God. Just that you know where you're 105 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:12,720 going to go and you die and live a good life, you know, and 106 00:07:12,720 --> 00:07:15,480 living a good life is subject, you know, because there's a way 107 00:07:15,480 --> 00:07:18,320 that seems right to a man. And if you're not a study of the 108 00:07:18,320 --> 00:07:20,480 word, then you're going to conclude that your ways are 109 00:07:20,480 --> 00:07:22,080 right, even though they can be wrong. 110 00:07:22,360 --> 00:07:25,440 Now, you know, I backslid enough that I realized what I was doing 111 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:27,720 was wrong, although I wasn't stopping it. 112 00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:29,800 But I have been ingrained that, well, you're going to go to 113 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:32,560 heaven when you die anyway. Oh Jesus. 114 00:07:33,400 --> 00:07:38,840 So anyway, I didn't, you know, really I compared to the Bible 115 00:07:38,840 --> 00:07:41,320 was not great at all. I was horrible. 116 00:07:41,800 --> 00:07:44,800 So when I see that in light of the word, I ended up getting a 117 00:07:44,800 --> 00:07:48,680 call from a schoolmate who was having a challenge with a 118 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:52,400 sibling and ended up asking me advice, found out that I was in 119 00:07:52,400 --> 00:07:54,280 ministry. So I was communicating to them. 120 00:07:54,280 --> 00:07:56,440 And I remember when at the end of the phone call, I said, Hey, 121 00:07:57,240 --> 00:08:01,040 I need to ask you to forgive me. And they're like, why? 122 00:08:01,400 --> 00:08:07,360 I said because I wasn't good when I was in school and I sure 123 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:10,880 didn't represent Jesus, right? They're like, no world. 124 00:08:10,880 --> 00:08:14,800 You were you were a great guy. I said not according to the word 125 00:08:14,800 --> 00:08:16,840 standard. I was not. 126 00:08:17,520 --> 00:08:20,760 And I need you to forgive me. Are you hearing me? 127 00:08:21,920 --> 00:08:27,480 I remember another female that I was really bad too. 128 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:31,680 And you know, after I got born again, I mean, after I started 129 00:08:31,680 --> 00:08:33,559 living for the Lord and going I'm like the Lord. 130 00:08:33,559 --> 00:08:36,320 If there's every day that I could have an opportunity, I 131 00:08:36,320 --> 00:08:40,840 want to say I'm sorry. And that day came with that 132 00:08:40,840 --> 00:08:43,159 person. I don't remember whether it was 133 00:08:43,159 --> 00:08:45,280 a phone call or text. I can't remember how it went 134 00:08:45,280 --> 00:08:48,920 down because it's so long ago. But I remember saying to them, 135 00:08:49,640 --> 00:08:53,600 probably from a social media, I'm sorry for the things that I 136 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:56,520 did. Will you forgive me? 137 00:08:56,920 --> 00:09:00,120 Good news is they did and they were living for the Lord 138 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:02,760 themselves, you know, got married, had kids. 139 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:06,600 But you know what? God redeemed these relationships 140 00:09:06,600 --> 00:09:10,040 that I can look back on and say I didn't represent God right 141 00:09:10,600 --> 00:09:12,160 now. Has God allowed me to do it to 142 00:09:12,160 --> 00:09:13,920 everyone of them? No, not at all. 143 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:18,400 However, however, and I don't know that I needed to, but 144 00:09:18,400 --> 00:09:22,240 there's ones that I did that God gave me the ability and it 145 00:09:22,240 --> 00:09:23,720 didn't matter that I hadn't been around. 146 00:09:23,720 --> 00:09:27,240 I hadn't seen them if the fact is God is a Redeemer of time. 147 00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:30,960 So verse 17 he says how precious also are your thoughts to me. 148 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:34,920 Oh God, how vast is the sum of them? 149 00:09:35,640 --> 00:09:40,000 Now that's amazing because most of us have such low self esteem 150 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:43,440 anyway that we don't understand that God's light. 151 00:09:43,440 --> 00:09:47,040 I don't know why you're thinking about yourself that way because 152 00:09:47,040 --> 00:09:49,120 if you actually had a conversation about what God 153 00:09:49,120 --> 00:09:53,280 thought about you. Now when I say that, I'm not 154 00:09:53,280 --> 00:09:58,480 saying that he's saying that about your current state or even 155 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:02,920 current responses, because he could say, don't behave that 156 00:10:02,920 --> 00:10:05,000 way. You're better than that. 157 00:10:05,200 --> 00:10:08,240 You're a child of God. Now you have the Holy Ghost in 158 00:10:08,240 --> 00:10:10,040 you. You don't have to behave that 159 00:10:10,040 --> 00:10:11,800 way, respond that way, act that way. 160 00:10:11,960 --> 00:10:14,800 Now he can say that, but what we'll say he says, why? 161 00:10:14,880 --> 00:10:16,480 Because this is what I know about you. 162 00:10:16,560 --> 00:10:18,400 You're the righteousness of God in Christ. 163 00:10:18,520 --> 00:10:21,240 And you know what your identity is now in Christ and you know 164 00:10:21,240 --> 00:10:25,280 you have the power to function and act a totally different way. 165 00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:29,360 And and it's easy for you now because your nature is like my 166 00:10:29,360 --> 00:10:31,240 nature and my spirit lives in you. 167 00:10:31,400 --> 00:10:34,120 And you know what, I see you that if you just continue to 168 00:10:34,120 --> 00:10:37,920 obey me and follow me and love me with all your heart, all your 169 00:10:37,920 --> 00:10:40,200 soul, all your mind and all your strength, there are so many 170 00:10:40,200 --> 00:10:42,640 things we're going to do together, so many people's lives 171 00:10:42,640 --> 00:10:45,040 we're going to touch, so many things you're going to overcome 172 00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:46,160 in life. And people are going to be in 173 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:48,480 awe with the life of God that you have. 174 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:50,840 I mean, he's going to talk to you like that because he 175 00:10:50,840 --> 00:10:56,720 believes in you so much. God is amazing and if I get away 176 00:10:56,720 --> 00:11:01,120 from myself, as John said, I must decrease, He must increase 177 00:11:01,120 --> 00:11:03,280 man. When I do that, then I begin to 178 00:11:03,280 --> 00:11:09,080 discover who I am, who the Creator who made me and listen, 179 00:11:09,080 --> 00:11:13,000 when He made me, He never made me to be with him alone. 180 00:11:13,120 --> 00:11:16,960 He made me to be with him and the rest of his family. 181 00:11:17,120 --> 00:11:20,800 Not only does God want to bless me, but I He wants me to be a 182 00:11:20,800 --> 00:11:22,800 blessing to him through my obedience. 183 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:25,600 But then He wants me to be a blessing to my brethren because 184 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:28,960 I live with my brothers and sisters in love, and we walk 185 00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:32,640 together and we serve God together and we hold each other 186 00:11:32,640 --> 00:11:36,800 up in holy unity. It's amazing life to live when 187 00:11:36,800 --> 00:11:39,800 you're born of God. It really is. 188 00:11:40,080 --> 00:11:43,520 And I was glad that through the years, as I started to hunger 189 00:11:43,520 --> 00:11:46,480 for God, he ended up putting me around different ministries that 190 00:11:46,480 --> 00:11:49,040 would get out another truth about who I was and another 191 00:11:49,040 --> 00:11:52,600 truth about who I could be with God and and what God had done 192 00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:55,000 for me and how I could just act normal. 193 00:11:55,120 --> 00:11:58,880 It was normal for me to be holy. It was normal for me to obey. 194 00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:02,120 It was normal for me to believe because it's the nature that God 195 00:12:02,120 --> 00:12:05,040 made me. And when I discovered that, then 196 00:12:05,040 --> 00:12:08,680 I realized, wow, God really is thinking about me and caring 197 00:12:08,680 --> 00:12:10,640 about me and, and wants me. You know what? 198 00:12:10,640 --> 00:12:18,400 There's a reason why I'm here. It's a reason. 199 00:12:19,800 --> 00:12:24,240 And you know what? Whatever that reason is, it's 200 00:12:24,240 --> 00:12:26,920 not predicated on how many people see it. 201 00:12:27,680 --> 00:12:32,120 What's predicated on me doing what He thinks, what He knows I 202 00:12:32,120 --> 00:12:35,120 should be doing? And if I do that, that's 203 00:12:35,120 --> 00:12:39,400 amazing. It cannot get greater than 204 00:12:39,400 --> 00:12:45,160 pleasing, my heavenly Father. Wow. 205 00:12:46,440 --> 00:12:52,200 And so, you know, you have to know why you were born. 206 00:12:53,240 --> 00:12:55,720 Isaiah Chapter 9, verse six and seven. 207 00:12:55,720 --> 00:12:58,960 Jesus gives us the example that is not enough to know you're 208 00:12:58,960 --> 00:13:02,560 born, but you got to know why. And you know this verse, we've 209 00:13:02,560 --> 00:13:04,880 said it so many times, but it bears repeating, and we'll 210 00:13:04,880 --> 00:13:07,400 repeat it probably another million times before Jesus 211 00:13:07,400 --> 00:13:11,920 comes, unless he comes tomorrow. He says this for a child will be 212 00:13:11,920 --> 00:13:15,920 what born to us. A son will be given to us, and 213 00:13:15,920 --> 00:13:18,160 the government will rest on his shoulders and his name will be 214 00:13:18,160 --> 00:13:20,640 called Wonderful counselor, mighty God, eternal Father, 215 00:13:20,640 --> 00:13:23,200 Prince of Peace, verse 7. There will be no end to the 216 00:13:23,200 --> 00:13:25,800 increase of his government or peace on the throne of David or 217 00:13:25,800 --> 00:13:28,920 over his Kingdom to establish it, to uphold it with justice 218 00:13:28,920 --> 00:13:31,400 and righteousness from then on and forevermore. 219 00:13:31,400 --> 00:13:34,080 The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this. 220 00:13:34,760 --> 00:13:38,840 So a child is being born. There's a reason why a son is 221 00:13:38,840 --> 00:13:40,560 given. Notice a son is not born. 222 00:13:40,560 --> 00:13:42,680 He is given because the Son always existed. 223 00:13:42,920 --> 00:13:47,520 It is God, the second part of the Godhead, the Son of God. 224 00:13:47,520 --> 00:13:51,000 We know his name is Jesus when he jumped into the flesh. 225 00:13:51,320 --> 00:13:54,680 And so you understand Jesus is born of the Virgin Mary. 226 00:13:54,800 --> 00:14:00,360 And you know, Mary told him this, communicated this, she 227 00:14:00,360 --> 00:14:03,480 said it, you know, and once he learned about the birds and the 228 00:14:03,480 --> 00:14:05,720 bees, he could have said, how's this possible? 229 00:14:06,880 --> 00:14:12,320 However, she says, I, I, me and your dad, we're not together, 230 00:14:12,320 --> 00:14:16,480 never been with a man. The Holy Ghost put you in me. 231 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:24,560 Because she knew when they took him to the temple and it was 232 00:14:24,560 --> 00:14:28,520 spoken over them that he was the one, the Messiah, the Christ, 233 00:14:29,200 --> 00:14:34,400 they knew He's the anointed 1. And God had no problem bringing 234 00:14:34,400 --> 00:14:36,160 an anointed one through controversy. 235 00:14:36,960 --> 00:14:39,920 Because you understand Joseph, you think everybody in town was 236 00:14:39,920 --> 00:14:42,960 like Mary got pregnant without Joseph. 237 00:14:45,720 --> 00:14:48,000 Never had a man toucher. That's amazing. 238 00:14:48,760 --> 00:14:50,360 You think that's what they said in town? 239 00:14:51,120 --> 00:14:53,480 No, when Mary went by the light, there's that woman. 240 00:14:53,520 --> 00:14:58,720 You know, I wonder who Jesus's father is because you know, the, 241 00:14:59,240 --> 00:15:00,520 the word on the street is Joseph. 242 00:15:00,520 --> 00:15:02,320 What Joseph went around when she got pregnant. 243 00:15:03,080 --> 00:15:05,200 I mean, I can't believe he actually married her. 244 00:15:05,640 --> 00:15:07,200 You know what I heard? I heard he was going to come 245 00:15:07,200 --> 00:15:09,360 back and divorce her, but for some reason he didn't. 246 00:15:09,360 --> 00:15:11,640 And you know, he, that's true. He was going to come to divorce 247 00:15:11,640 --> 00:15:14,920 her, put her away privately. But the, the Angel said, you 248 00:15:15,080 --> 00:15:18,240 stay put. This is of God, the Holy Ghost. 249 00:15:18,240 --> 00:15:20,440 Did this stay with the woman? He's like, all right. 250 00:15:20,680 --> 00:15:22,680 And so, you know, when he's walking by, like, I can't 251 00:15:22,680 --> 00:15:24,960 believe he's raising some other man's child. 252 00:15:25,760 --> 00:15:28,640 Don't even know who it is. His wife's whored around on him. 253 00:15:29,320 --> 00:15:32,720 People are rude. Have y'all experienced any rude 254 00:15:32,720 --> 00:15:35,840 people before? Talk about stuff that they know 255 00:15:35,840 --> 00:15:38,000 nothing about? Yeah, I understand. 256 00:15:38,280 --> 00:15:40,880 So you understand they're living in this culture and Jesus, you 257 00:15:40,880 --> 00:15:44,440 know, when he's about and about people like you think the kids 258 00:15:44,440 --> 00:15:46,640 were like, you're the anointed 1. 259 00:15:48,160 --> 00:15:50,200 You think the children when Jesus showed up in the 260 00:15:50,200 --> 00:15:51,760 playground, they fell down at his feet. 261 00:15:54,480 --> 00:15:57,080 Now listen, he was tempted on all accounts like us. 262 00:15:57,200 --> 00:15:59,520 You understand Jesus showed up to playground like where's your 263 00:15:59,520 --> 00:16:03,000 daddy at? Well, Joseph, you know he's my 264 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:04,400 dad said no, he ain't your daddy. 265 00:16:04,400 --> 00:16:09,320 Go, we heard your Mama. Oh y'all, y'all just need y'all 266 00:16:09,320 --> 00:16:10,760 ain't been to the public school in a while. 267 00:16:10,760 --> 00:16:12,800 Apparently y'all haven't been to schools in a while. 268 00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:14,800 You ain't even been to private schools in a while. 269 00:16:15,800 --> 00:16:19,880 It don't matter what school you go to, kids will talk, run off 270 00:16:19,880 --> 00:16:24,160 at the mouth, cut each other. That's part of sin nature, and 271 00:16:24,160 --> 00:16:27,120 yet Jesus had to learn how to navigate in that. 272 00:16:27,320 --> 00:16:29,520 But this is what we know concerning Jesus. 273 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:34,120 Jesus when he he emptied himself of his glory and he came to the 274 00:16:34,120 --> 00:16:37,520 earth as a man. So Jesus had to discover his 275 00:16:37,520 --> 00:16:38,040 why? That's right. 276 00:16:39,480 --> 00:16:42,760 He knew he was born. He's hearing what Mom said, but 277 00:16:42,760 --> 00:16:45,120 that's not enough to convince Jesus of his. 278 00:16:45,120 --> 00:16:48,120 Why? Jesus had to discover his why? 279 00:16:48,200 --> 00:16:51,320 Why am I here? Why is it that mom saying that? 280 00:16:51,400 --> 00:16:53,800 Why is it that people talk about our family? 281 00:16:53,880 --> 00:16:57,040 Why is it that there's other conflicting reports? 282 00:16:57,160 --> 00:17:00,520 Why is it that I don't think the same way everybody else? 283 00:17:00,720 --> 00:17:03,600 How come I don't? How come it seemed like I'm 284 00:17:03,600 --> 00:17:08,119 always doing the right thing and everybody else is struggling 285 00:17:08,119 --> 00:17:10,119 doing the wrong thing And I'm like, I don't understand what 286 00:17:10,119 --> 00:17:14,000 the problem is. Just don't do, don't disobey. 287 00:17:15,480 --> 00:17:19,720 Because Jesus was, he never knew sin even as a child. 288 00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:24,720 He didn't walk in disobedience. Oh, the perfect one. 289 00:17:24,839 --> 00:17:31,440 Class pet. That's the word I was looking 290 00:17:31,440 --> 00:17:33,840 for. Well, y'all class pet. 291 00:17:33,840 --> 00:17:37,640 That way you're able to say that he's like Isaac last pet, I know 292 00:17:37,640 --> 00:17:39,120 what you're doing. Or did you pick on the class 293 00:17:39,120 --> 00:17:40,680 pet? We'll talk. 294 00:17:40,880 --> 00:17:45,400 We'll talk about it later, OK. But look what it says here in 295 00:17:45,400 --> 00:17:47,240 Hebrews chapter 10, verse 7, it says this. 296 00:17:47,520 --> 00:17:52,800 Then I said, behold, I have come in the scroll of your book. 297 00:17:52,800 --> 00:17:57,080 It is written of me to do your will, O God. 298 00:17:57,440 --> 00:18:00,640 So here it is. God, God, Jesus himself had to 299 00:18:00,640 --> 00:18:03,520 discover himself through Scripture. 300 00:18:04,360 --> 00:18:09,320 If Jesus and we are to be like Christ, had to find His why in 301 00:18:09,320 --> 00:18:13,640 scripture, How can you find your why outside of Scripture? 302 00:18:16,440 --> 00:18:18,520 How can you find your why outside of scripture? 303 00:18:18,640 --> 00:18:21,240 And many of you can today you would testify. 304 00:18:21,440 --> 00:18:23,880 I tried to find my why outside of scripture. 305 00:18:24,040 --> 00:18:27,000 I could not find it. It left me broke, disgusted, 306 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:29,360 beat down, depressed, all kinds of issues. 307 00:18:29,360 --> 00:18:31,920 In essence, a lot of abuse happened in my life because I 308 00:18:31,920 --> 00:18:33,600 was trying to find my why outside. 309 00:18:33,720 --> 00:18:37,120 But once I met Jesus and I started going into the Word, I 310 00:18:37,160 --> 00:18:42,840 began to discover myself, right? Look what Jesus says in Luke 311 00:18:42,840 --> 00:18:45,960 chapter 24 verse 27. It says then he said then 312 00:18:45,960 --> 00:18:49,000 beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, he explained 313 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:54,320 to them things concerning himself in all the Scripture. 314 00:18:54,400 --> 00:18:57,320 So when Jesus started going through the Scripture, like 315 00:18:57,320 --> 00:19:01,840 every boy in the nation of Israel was required to do, when 316 00:19:01,840 --> 00:19:05,640 he reads, he would like the Spirit would say, that's you, 317 00:19:06,640 --> 00:19:10,120 that's you, that's you, that's you. 318 00:19:10,800 --> 00:19:15,240 You're the lamb that was slain. You're the holy and anointed 319 00:19:15,240 --> 00:19:17,160 one. You're the one sent of the 320 00:19:17,160 --> 00:19:19,520 Father. You're the one born of a virgin. 321 00:19:19,640 --> 00:19:22,280 You're the one that's the prophesied king who'll come and 322 00:19:22,280 --> 00:19:24,120 set up his Kingdom and never end. 323 00:19:25,720 --> 00:19:29,040 You're the sacrifice for the rest of the world. 324 00:19:29,720 --> 00:19:31,800 You're the one. And he discovered his why? 325 00:19:32,040 --> 00:19:34,720 And he said, This is why you're going to do this, this, this. 326 00:19:34,760 --> 00:19:39,200 And when Jesus is at his greatest moment of having to 327 00:19:39,200 --> 00:19:43,320 answer his why, he said, Father, if there's any other way for 328 00:19:43,320 --> 00:19:47,040 this cup to pass, let it pass, but not my will. 329 00:19:47,040 --> 00:19:53,560 But your will be done because This is why and he answers the 330 00:19:53,560 --> 00:19:57,840 why when he's at the worst time of his life under the greatest 331 00:19:57,840 --> 00:20:01,680 pressure in John chapter 18 verse 37, he's standing before 332 00:20:01,680 --> 00:20:05,240 the governor like we will stand before the governor's wife 333 00:20:05,240 --> 00:20:09,040 tomorrow, standing before the governor pilot and said so you 334 00:20:09,040 --> 00:20:12,960 are a king and Jesus answered, you say correctly that I'm a 335 00:20:12,960 --> 00:20:18,760 king for this I have been born. And for this, I've come into the 336 00:20:18,760 --> 00:20:23,240 world to testify to the truth. Whoever is of the truth hears my 337 00:20:23,240 --> 00:20:26,720 voice. Jesus knew his why. 338 00:20:28,680 --> 00:20:32,440 And Jesus is why motivated his life. 339 00:20:32,800 --> 00:20:37,280 He never did anything in his life away from his why. 340 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:43,400 This is why it's so important for you to discover your why and 341 00:20:43,400 --> 00:20:44,600 listen. Your why. 342 00:20:44,680 --> 00:20:48,240 Your why is not my why. Your why may be business. 343 00:20:48,320 --> 00:20:51,520 Your why may be in the medical field in that sector of society. 344 00:20:51,640 --> 00:20:55,640 Your why may be in government. Your your why may be to the 345 00:20:55,640 --> 00:20:58,960 fivefold ministry, whatever that why is there something God wants 346 00:20:58,960 --> 00:21:02,840 to do through you in that sector of society through that type of 347 00:21:02,840 --> 00:21:06,560 business, whatever it may be. There's so much God wants to do 348 00:21:06,560 --> 00:21:10,560 when you discover it and when you do it, you can't be stopped. 349 00:21:12,840 --> 00:21:16,800 Will you be persecuted? Yes, but can you be stopped? 350 00:21:17,280 --> 00:21:23,080 No, cannot. So Jesus understood his why. 351 00:21:24,280 --> 00:21:29,600 So what's it say in John chapter 3 in John chapter 3 verses 3 352 00:21:29,600 --> 00:21:33,800 through 7, we have to discover a why Jesus answered and said to 353 00:21:33,800 --> 00:21:36,120 Nicodemus about two 3:00 in the morning. 354 00:21:36,120 --> 00:21:38,520 He said truly, truly. I say to you, Unless one is born 355 00:21:38,520 --> 00:21:41,480 again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. 356 00:21:43,200 --> 00:21:46,840 And Nicodemus said to him, How can a man be born when he's old? 357 00:21:46,920 --> 00:21:49,720 He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be 358 00:21:49,720 --> 00:21:54,080 born, can he? Jesus goes on to say, truly. 359 00:21:54,080 --> 00:21:56,240 I say to you, unless one is born of the water and of the Spirit, 360 00:21:56,240 --> 00:21:58,040 he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. 361 00:21:58,360 --> 00:22:01,040 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born 362 00:22:01,040 --> 00:22:03,440 of the spirit of Spirit. Do not be amazed that I say to 363 00:22:03,440 --> 00:22:11,960 you, You must be born March 11th 1970 about 120 something in the 364 00:22:11,960 --> 00:22:16,400 morning Peggy and Glisten married to Enoch Washington. 365 00:22:16,400 --> 00:22:22,720 Glisten gave birth to a son. First name that popped up for 366 00:22:22,720 --> 00:22:27,680 them to call me prior to that day was Steven Paul. 367 00:22:29,840 --> 00:22:35,400 But my dad's brother had a son 1st 18 months earlier and named 368 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:41,880 him Steven Michael. So that came off been kind of 369 00:22:41,880 --> 00:22:45,560 neat to be called Steven Paul, other than both of them were 370 00:22:45,560 --> 00:22:50,280 martyred. And so thank you, Jesus. 371 00:22:51,560 --> 00:22:57,520 All right, Second name was Gregory Frank. 372 00:22:58,280 --> 00:23:01,200 My dad's father's name was Frank Gregory. 373 00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:02,640 I have no idea where that came from. 374 00:23:02,880 --> 00:23:06,720 All right so didn't go there but my dad said this may be my only 375 00:23:06,720 --> 00:23:13,640 son so Enoch Washington but my dad did not like his name. 376 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:19,280 Enoch was a traditional family name on my father's side for 377 00:23:19,280 --> 00:23:23,400 every generation till I was born a dad. 378 00:23:23,400 --> 00:23:26,160 Hated the name. Now, Apostle Enoch be pretty 379 00:23:26,160 --> 00:23:32,520 awesome, especially if I am in the generation that gets caught 380 00:23:32,640 --> 00:23:37,240 up, right? I mean, we had a really good 381 00:23:37,240 --> 00:23:43,040 opportunity here to let me be translated like maybe one of my 382 00:23:43,040 --> 00:23:45,160 relatives. If you take us all the way back, 383 00:23:45,440 --> 00:23:48,400 you understand what I'm saying. But my dad didn't do that. 384 00:23:48,400 --> 00:23:51,840 So he just went with initials and he went with the name he 385 00:23:51,840 --> 00:23:56,600 took on himself, which was Earl. So he said we'll call him Earl 386 00:23:56,600 --> 00:24:01,920 Wayne, and that's my name today. Good news is Earl is nobility, 387 00:24:02,800 --> 00:24:06,360 so it worked out pretty good. Since I lived for the king and I 388 00:24:06,360 --> 00:24:10,000 am of a royal bloodline, I am of nobility. 389 00:24:10,560 --> 00:24:13,640 I believe that, so I'll keep it right. 390 00:24:14,440 --> 00:24:18,080 Got to give me a new name. Anyway, the point is, as that 391 00:24:18,080 --> 00:24:22,480 was the day that I came from my mother's womb into the earth. 392 00:24:22,480 --> 00:24:25,320 And you know what? God knew all the while that he 393 00:24:25,320 --> 00:24:29,000 was going to call me. I struggle most when I was in 394 00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:31,160 high school, right after I graduated from high school 395 00:24:31,320 --> 00:24:34,560 because I didn't know what I would do as far as academics. 396 00:24:34,920 --> 00:24:38,120 Extremely intelligent, graduated top 10% of my class, had a 397 00:24:38,120 --> 00:24:42,160 scholarship to a college. But my dad died 15 days after I 398 00:24:42,160 --> 00:24:44,760 graduated. So to say my life was in a bit 399 00:24:44,760 --> 00:24:46,920 of disarray would be an understatement. 400 00:24:47,760 --> 00:24:52,520 And he died at 51, same age as his father that I heard my 401 00:24:52,520 --> 00:24:57,280 father say 1000 times growing up. 402 00:24:58,200 --> 00:25:01,040 He said it once. He said 1000 times, I'll die the 403 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:03,800 same age as my dad. Wow. 404 00:25:04,960 --> 00:25:06,600 He had no idea the power of his words. 405 00:25:07,040 --> 00:25:09,160 My dad did get born again before he died. 406 00:25:09,160 --> 00:25:13,400 You know, I think about 18 months prior to his death, he 407 00:25:13,400 --> 00:25:16,000 gave his life to the Lord and I know that he is in heaven. 408 00:25:16,680 --> 00:25:19,480 My mom gave her life to the Lord earlier than that and raised my 409 00:25:19,480 --> 00:25:24,560 sister and my brother in church. And so, you know, obviously at 410 00:25:24,560 --> 00:25:26,360 that point I didn't really know what to do. 411 00:25:26,360 --> 00:25:31,080 I was kind of distraught, definitely arguing with my mom. 412 00:25:31,200 --> 00:25:33,680 She was grieving. My brother was way younger. 413 00:25:33,680 --> 00:25:36,400 My sister was already married. So I just thought I'd just go 414 00:25:36,400 --> 00:25:38,360 off into the military. My brother-in-law stopped me 415 00:25:38,360 --> 00:25:40,680 from doing that and said go on the National Guard instead 416 00:25:40,680 --> 00:25:43,840 because if you hate it, it's only one week and a month. 417 00:25:43,840 --> 00:25:46,560 If you love it, you can enlist to go full time. 418 00:25:47,360 --> 00:25:51,840 So I did that and started a military career. 419 00:25:52,520 --> 00:25:55,800 I never really got back into college much. 420 00:25:56,200 --> 00:25:58,160 When I did go to college, probably right out of high 421 00:25:58,160 --> 00:26:02,040 school for the first year, I took precalculus in high school. 422 00:26:02,040 --> 00:26:05,960 I do not even have an algebra credit in college. 423 00:26:06,240 --> 00:26:10,560 I was so bored with the class. And unlike unlike my high 424 00:26:10,560 --> 00:26:12,320 school, college, you could come and go. 425 00:26:12,640 --> 00:26:14,000 My high school was closed campus. 426 00:26:14,000 --> 00:26:18,680 You showed up, you stayed. So I like I'm leaving and so I 427 00:26:18,720 --> 00:26:22,680 make A's on all my tests, but I would not be in class enough so 428 00:26:22,880 --> 00:26:26,720 I would have to withdrawal in order not to get an F for being 429 00:26:26,720 --> 00:26:31,720 there too. Little Long story short, you 430 00:26:31,720 --> 00:26:37,800 know, my life was just a roller coaster in June 1979 when I was 431 00:26:37,800 --> 00:26:39,560 9 year old. Prior to all of that. 432 00:26:39,960 --> 00:26:43,720 I remember on that Sunday morning at Archer Baptist 433 00:26:43,720 --> 00:26:45,200 Church, and I'm going to go film this. 434 00:26:46,560 --> 00:26:48,520 I'm going to go to Archer Baptist Church this year and 435 00:26:48,520 --> 00:26:52,320 film my salvation experience. If you don't know when you were 436 00:26:52,320 --> 00:26:57,280 born again, you need to get born again tonight because you should 437 00:26:57,280 --> 00:27:01,800 know. And I know in June 1979, I'd 438 00:27:01,800 --> 00:27:04,400 have to go back to 79 to determine what the day was. 439 00:27:04,400 --> 00:27:08,640 I don't have that committed to memory, but it was in June 1979. 440 00:27:08,640 --> 00:27:11,200 I was nine years old at Archer Baptist Church. 441 00:27:11,200 --> 00:27:13,320 Church is still there, same stained glass. 442 00:27:14,160 --> 00:27:17,280 I don't even know it may be the same carpet when I go in, but 443 00:27:17,280 --> 00:27:19,280 I'm calling the pastor. I say I want to come. 444 00:27:19,560 --> 00:27:21,080 I was born again there and I was not. 445 00:27:21,080 --> 00:27:24,320 I want to bring my my team and I want to do a little mini 446 00:27:24,320 --> 00:27:27,720 salvation documentary. But I remember I was probably 447 00:27:27,720 --> 00:27:31,240 about 2/3 back because I was a good Baptist and sit further. 448 00:27:32,600 --> 00:27:37,160 And so there's always plenty of roads up front, you know, says I 449 00:27:37,160 --> 00:27:40,240 always filled in the back first, but that's just how it was 450 00:27:40,240 --> 00:27:43,560 traditionally anyway. But I remember it was the big 451 00:27:43,560 --> 00:27:46,840 middle row 2 on the edge. Red pews because the blood of 452 00:27:46,840 --> 00:27:48,520 Jesus. Red carpet because of the blood 453 00:27:48,520 --> 00:27:50,000 of Jesus. The blood will bring you to the 454 00:27:50,000 --> 00:27:53,480 altar, people. Didn't matter that the stained 455 00:27:53,480 --> 00:27:55,720 glass was pink and teal. Didn't matter. 456 00:27:56,080 --> 00:28:00,120 It was red carpet. OK, Piano on one side, organ on 457 00:28:00,120 --> 00:28:01,920 the other side. Choir pit in the back. 458 00:28:02,360 --> 00:28:04,800 Pulpits up front had chairs for the pastor. 459 00:28:04,800 --> 00:28:06,200 Wish we bring those back actually. 460 00:28:06,400 --> 00:28:12,400 Anyway, so with that being said, I don't have, I have no idea 461 00:28:12,400 --> 00:28:20,320 what Pastor Wayne Harvey said that day because I was ready to 462 00:28:20,320 --> 00:28:24,480 be saved. And when he gave that altar 463 00:28:24,480 --> 00:28:28,080 call, I stepped out, went down front. 464 00:28:28,080 --> 00:28:31,240 My mom's crying, you know, he's rejoicing. 465 00:28:31,640 --> 00:28:36,080 He prays with me and I know that I'm born of God. 466 00:28:36,680 --> 00:28:41,280 Unfortunately, you know, there wasn't teaching and then I was 467 00:28:41,280 --> 00:28:43,760 just in it for the tradition at that point, you know, it's just 468 00:28:43,760 --> 00:28:45,360 how it was. I didn't know better. 469 00:28:45,920 --> 00:28:48,960 And I live for God up till my teenage years. 470 00:28:49,440 --> 00:28:52,440 And then puberty hit. Girls started to look different. 471 00:28:53,680 --> 00:28:57,760 And you know, that temptation was a little powerful, you know, 472 00:28:57,760 --> 00:28:59,440 So it put me in a different position. 473 00:29:00,200 --> 00:29:02,640 But I knew I was going to go to heaven when I died. 474 00:29:02,640 --> 00:29:05,360 At least, you know, that was my belief system then. 475 00:29:05,360 --> 00:29:09,160 My dad dies after high school. And then I met my wife on a 476 00:29:09,200 --> 00:29:12,560 blonde date. She would have been previously 477 00:29:12,560 --> 00:29:17,360 married, had a child, and I decided I was going to marry 478 00:29:17,360 --> 00:29:18,600 her. And I'm like, what am I doing? 479 00:29:20,320 --> 00:29:22,680 So I'm like, I got to get my life right because you're not 480 00:29:22,680 --> 00:29:25,200 just marrying a girl, you're becoming a dad right out the 481 00:29:25,200 --> 00:29:30,000 gate. And so I said, you know, I don't 482 00:29:30,000 --> 00:29:31,760 know much. And then I didn't. 483 00:29:32,640 --> 00:29:35,520 I was academically smart, but that doesn't translate into the 484 00:29:35,520 --> 00:29:40,640 workplace all the time. And I was like, my dad taught me 485 00:29:40,640 --> 00:29:42,320 how to work because he had his own business. 486 00:29:43,720 --> 00:29:47,600 My wife's stepfather really knew how to work and told her how to 487 00:29:47,600 --> 00:29:48,920 work. And she was more of a drill 488 00:29:48,920 --> 00:29:51,720 Sergeant than I was. She actually taught me how to 489 00:29:51,720 --> 00:29:55,440 work really well and, and I told her how to love. 490 00:29:58,080 --> 00:30:02,160 And so I said we're going to need to follow God. 491 00:30:02,600 --> 00:30:08,200 And we did. And I would say it was my moving 492 00:30:08,200 --> 00:30:15,640 him from Savior to Lord moment. We're both 21 and we didn't look 493 00:30:15,640 --> 00:30:17,360 back. Now, did we live fleshly? 494 00:30:17,360 --> 00:30:20,120 Some in the first years, Yeah. Because we didn't know better. 495 00:30:20,920 --> 00:30:24,400 And I wasn't taking us to places that helped us crucify the 496 00:30:24,400 --> 00:30:27,080 flesh, the teaching. But you know, when you start 497 00:30:27,080 --> 00:30:29,520 getting hungry for God, God will take you to places that will 498 00:30:29,520 --> 00:30:34,200 teach you things. And so I determined at a young 499 00:30:34,200 --> 00:30:38,800 age, 24 actually, that I would not be constrained to a 500 00:30:38,800 --> 00:30:40,840 denomination. I will only be constrained by 501 00:30:40,840 --> 00:30:45,360 the Bible. And that opened up doors where 502 00:30:45,520 --> 00:30:48,520 teachings made it to me. My wife was baptized in the Holy 503 00:30:48,520 --> 00:30:53,520 Ghost before I was, and it would have been a part of a church 504 00:30:53,520 --> 00:30:57,160 that function that way. We eventually landed in an 505 00:30:57,360 --> 00:30:59,600 assembly God that did that. I got baptized in the Holy Ghost 506 00:30:59,600 --> 00:31:02,480 in 95. Two years later the Lord calls 507 00:31:04,000 --> 00:31:06,840 us to a Bible school. It was 2 years prior to that 508 00:31:06,840 --> 00:31:08,800 though, before I was baptized in the Holy Ghost. 509 00:31:08,800 --> 00:31:13,440 I was called to ministry and we've just followed God ever 510 00:31:13,440 --> 00:31:17,840 since. In 93, if I left after I left 511 00:31:17,840 --> 00:31:20,160 school was in the guard didn't know what I was going to do in 512 00:31:20,160 --> 00:31:23,440 live vacillating here and there did a little drafting and 513 00:31:23,440 --> 00:31:25,360 school. You know, it's going to be a 514 00:31:25,360 --> 00:31:28,240 Warrant Officer, all kinds of stuff, you know, just but 515 00:31:28,560 --> 00:31:33,200 couldn't get a heading move to Atlanta, obeying God and 516 00:31:33,360 --> 00:31:35,440 thinking I'm going to be a computer operator because I was 517 00:31:35,440 --> 00:31:39,440 being destined for that and I'm seeing the financials, what that 518 00:31:39,440 --> 00:31:41,280 looks like and thinking we're arriving. 519 00:31:41,280 --> 00:31:43,600 I'm going to go to the Baptist Church, you know, and be a good 520 00:31:44,920 --> 00:31:49,160 servant of God based upon what I knew, but I'm going to work one 521 00:31:49,160 --> 00:31:51,640 day my windshield disappeared and I saw myself preaching. 522 00:31:53,600 --> 00:31:58,120 It was such a moment in my life that I could I would never shake 523 00:31:58,120 --> 00:31:59,640 that. I'll never shake that moment. 524 00:31:59,640 --> 00:32:01,120 I wasn't baptized in the Holy Ghost. 525 00:32:01,120 --> 00:32:02,640 I didn't know how to be led by the Spirit. 526 00:32:02,920 --> 00:32:07,080 So God had to show me something and I've never turned away. 527 00:32:07,080 --> 00:32:09,320 I've had plenty of opportunities to quit. 528 00:32:09,760 --> 00:32:14,800 I've quit a lot of times in Word, but never in deed and but 529 00:32:14,800 --> 00:32:18,360 God's been faithful because once you know your why. 530 00:32:19,680 --> 00:32:22,320 I remember one time Pastor Hagen said if you can do anything else 531 00:32:22,320 --> 00:32:25,840 other than ministry, do it. And I knew the day he said that 532 00:32:25,840 --> 00:32:31,000 I cannot. It's my destiny. 533 00:32:33,080 --> 00:32:35,480 And like Jeremiah, it's like fire shut up in my bones. 534 00:32:36,360 --> 00:32:40,400 I must preach and I must do more than just preach. 535 00:32:40,400 --> 00:32:45,120 I must live what I preach. I must be that, right? 536 00:32:45,840 --> 00:32:48,960 And so when you know your why. And The thing is, God knew my 537 00:32:48,960 --> 00:32:53,040 why before I knew my why. But here's the thing, my the day 538 00:32:53,040 --> 00:32:58,040 I was born was not enough. It was the day I was born again, 539 00:32:58,040 --> 00:33:01,400 or born from above that gave me access to my why. 540 00:33:03,880 --> 00:33:08,600 Until you're born again, you're not accessing your why. 541 00:33:11,160 --> 00:33:13,680 And but once you're born again, you can make a demand. 542 00:33:13,680 --> 00:33:19,160 Lord, I need to know why. And if you'll seek the why, He 543 00:33:19,160 --> 00:33:23,320 will tell you. Now some people don't seek 544 00:33:23,320 --> 00:33:28,120 because they don't want to know why because they prefer their 545 00:33:28,160 --> 00:33:30,880 options. And parents, you got to watch 546 00:33:30,880 --> 00:33:34,360 yourself because you'll want to be God for your kids. 547 00:33:35,520 --> 00:33:38,120 I can make Randy come up here and give another testimony about 548 00:33:38,120 --> 00:33:40,960 this. You know, he has a company in 549 00:33:40,960 --> 00:33:45,760 Oklahoma and he his whole life, he tells his kids, if y'all call 550 00:33:45,760 --> 00:33:49,920 the ministry, I'll support you until his oldest says I'm going 551 00:33:49,920 --> 00:33:53,000 to go after I graduate to Florida and help pastoral planet 552 00:33:53,000 --> 00:33:59,480 church and his dad's life. No, no, you're not son. 553 00:33:59,480 --> 00:34:02,360 You don't have a plan. You don't know what you're doing 554 00:34:02,600 --> 00:34:04,680 because his thought is no, you're going to stay here and 555 00:34:04,680 --> 00:34:06,840 help me run this business. It's going to be a father some 556 00:34:06,840 --> 00:34:08,320 business. We are going to make a lot of 557 00:34:08,320 --> 00:34:10,520 money and advance the Kingdom of God. 558 00:34:10,560 --> 00:34:15,400 We are business people. And so he calls me and tell 559 00:34:15,400 --> 00:34:18,199 talks to me about this and he said I've given him a year. 560 00:34:18,199 --> 00:34:22,159 He's going to come up with a plan because listen, Randy never 561 00:34:22,159 --> 00:34:23,679 expected him to come up with a plan. 562 00:34:23,679 --> 00:34:25,480 He expected him to get rid of a fad. 563 00:34:26,000 --> 00:34:28,600 If I can just get him away from Pastor Earl for another year 564 00:34:28,600 --> 00:34:30,960 here, forget the man even exists. 565 00:34:32,280 --> 00:34:36,400 A year later, Joshua shows up and says I'm ready to go to 566 00:34:36,400 --> 00:34:39,360 Florida and Randy's beside himself. 567 00:34:39,679 --> 00:34:42,280 You haven't given me a plan. You're not telling me how you're 568 00:34:42,280 --> 00:34:46,080 going to do it because Pastor Josh, all he is like Abraham, 569 00:34:46,080 --> 00:34:47,560 get up and go to the place. I'm going to show you. 570 00:34:47,560 --> 00:34:50,480 And he's like, I'm out of here and his dad's like I'm Moses. 571 00:34:50,560 --> 00:34:55,320 I need to know the deal. He said, well, that's your 572 00:34:55,320 --> 00:34:56,239 problem. You're Moses. 573 00:34:56,239 --> 00:34:57,680 I'm not I'm Abraham, I'm out of here. 574 00:34:57,680 --> 00:35:01,440 But you understand, don't think your children aren't listening 575 00:35:01,440 --> 00:35:03,720 to you because Pastor Josh looked at the dead. 576 00:35:03,720 --> 00:35:08,360 He said, you told me my whole life that if I was called the 577 00:35:08,360 --> 00:35:13,680 ministry, you would support me. I'm called to go help Pastor 578 00:35:13,680 --> 00:35:15,680 Earl start a church, and this is at night. 579 00:35:15,880 --> 00:35:21,840 Well, he knew it at 18. He had to wait a year to leave 580 00:35:21,840 --> 00:35:24,760 at 19. And so Randy calls Cron. 581 00:35:27,440 --> 00:35:29,720 And I said, Randy, what's the worst that can happen? 582 00:35:31,120 --> 00:35:34,160 You're sending him to me. I got it. 583 00:35:34,280 --> 00:35:35,920 And if he fails, I'll send him home. 584 00:35:37,600 --> 00:35:45,720 This is really no problem. Well, what Randy and Melanie 585 00:35:45,720 --> 00:35:50,360 didn't know is that Joseph was coming ahead of the family 586 00:35:53,480 --> 00:35:59,080 because in Randy's worst time in life with cancer, to his own 587 00:35:59,080 --> 00:36:02,120 admission, he would have died in Oklahoma if he had not come to 588 00:36:02,120 --> 00:36:05,800 Florida. But it took a son to leave. 589 00:36:06,600 --> 00:36:09,320 So parents, you understand don't always know that you have 590 00:36:09,320 --> 00:36:13,480 everything for your children. Know that God has everything for 591 00:36:13,480 --> 00:36:16,760 your children and be willing to give them to the Lord. 592 00:36:17,280 --> 00:36:19,920 John chapter one verse 12 to 13 says it this way. 593 00:36:19,920 --> 00:36:24,600 But as many as received him, to them He gave the right to become 594 00:36:24,600 --> 00:36:28,720 children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who 595 00:36:28,720 --> 00:36:33,920 were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor the 596 00:36:33,920 --> 00:36:37,920 will of man, but of God. The greatest thing that I could 597 00:36:37,920 --> 00:36:44,640 ever do for my children was to tell them, Find out why God has 598 00:36:44,680 --> 00:36:48,920 you here, and do it. I never pressured my children in 599 00:36:48,920 --> 00:36:51,640 ministry, never expected them to follow me in ministry. 600 00:36:51,640 --> 00:36:55,840 They do not have to follow me. My children are mine by blood, 601 00:36:57,480 --> 00:37:03,320 but not by and by flesh, but not by the plan and purpose of God. 602 00:37:04,040 --> 00:37:07,800 Because the day they were born again, Sean, I did not see him 603 00:37:07,800 --> 00:37:12,080 in his natural birth, but I was there the day he gave his life 604 00:37:12,080 --> 00:37:14,320 to Jesus. We were going to school in 605 00:37:14,320 --> 00:37:17,600 Georgia and we were talking and he said, I want to make Jesus 606 00:37:17,600 --> 00:37:18,800 Lord. And I led him to Christ. 607 00:37:18,800 --> 00:37:20,200 And that was really amazing for me. 608 00:37:20,200 --> 00:37:21,880 I was thankful that God allowed me to have that. 609 00:37:23,520 --> 00:37:26,280 And then I saw my other two children become born again as 610 00:37:26,280 --> 00:37:28,240 well. And from that point we say, hey, 611 00:37:28,720 --> 00:37:31,720 whatever you do, follow the plan of God for your life. 612 00:37:32,320 --> 00:37:35,520 That's where success is. That's where success is OK. 613 00:37:36,120 --> 00:37:41,800 And so God has given us the ability to become children of 614 00:37:41,800 --> 00:37:44,080 God. And again, we become children of 615 00:37:44,080 --> 00:37:47,680 God not because of a natural day we were born, but because of our 616 00:37:47,680 --> 00:37:50,280 spiritual birth. You should know your spiritual 617 00:37:50,280 --> 00:37:52,200 rebirth. So what I love about talking 618 00:37:52,200 --> 00:37:56,080 about Dave and Mackie, Dave and Mackie can tell me his new birth 619 00:37:56,080 --> 00:37:58,720 age. He'll say I'm this many day, I'm 620 00:37:58,720 --> 00:38:03,040 this many years in the Lord right now. 621 00:38:03,040 --> 00:38:05,160 Again, I would love for others to have told me that. 622 00:38:05,360 --> 00:38:06,800 David just tells me this the most. 623 00:38:06,800 --> 00:38:08,720 That's why I can say that, right? 624 00:38:08,880 --> 00:38:11,800 Do you know your days in the Lord? 625 00:38:12,280 --> 00:38:17,280 Mine was in 79, so it's my birthday, my 56 -, 9, That's how 626 00:38:17,280 --> 00:38:19,360 many days in the Lord I have been. 627 00:38:19,920 --> 00:38:22,200 OK, first Peter 1/3 says it this way. 628 00:38:22,200 --> 00:38:25,920 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who 629 00:38:25,920 --> 00:38:30,800 according to his great mercy has called us to be born again to a 630 00:38:30,800 --> 00:38:34,120 living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ 631 00:38:34,240 --> 00:38:38,600 from the dead. Aren't you glad that Jesus has 632 00:38:38,600 --> 00:38:42,120 said, listen, I knew you before you in your mother's womb, 633 00:38:42,480 --> 00:38:45,960 you're now in the earth. But once you make Jesus Lord of 634 00:38:45,960 --> 00:38:52,440 your life, destiny can be fulfilled and again your destiny 635 00:38:52,640 --> 00:38:56,560 can be fulfilled because God will redeem the time. 636 00:38:59,360 --> 00:39:01,720 Two more scriptures and we'll close first Peter chapter one 637 00:39:01,720 --> 00:39:06,440 verse 23 says this for you have been born again, not of seed, 638 00:39:06,440 --> 00:39:08,680 which is perishable, but imperishable. 639 00:39:08,680 --> 00:39:11,120 That is through the living and enduring word of God. 640 00:39:11,280 --> 00:39:14,640 You know, what gives me the greatest joy is really not the 641 00:39:14,640 --> 00:39:19,000 day, my children, that we celebrate their birthday, but 642 00:39:19,000 --> 00:39:22,800 that I all know that they're born of God and that this time 643 00:39:22,800 --> 00:39:27,360 on the planet that's temporary in this state of living, one day 644 00:39:27,360 --> 00:39:33,320 we'll all be with the Lord in eternity and I'll enjoy those 645 00:39:33,320 --> 00:39:39,360 relationships for eternity. When Chase called or text the 646 00:39:39,360 --> 00:39:45,440 other day in our family text thread, Scout may Jesus the 647 00:39:45,440 --> 00:39:51,400 Lord, she's the last grandchild to make Jesus Lord. 648 00:39:52,480 --> 00:39:56,840 Now I have a couple grand great grands that I want to hear the 649 00:39:56,840 --> 00:40:03,120 day that they make Jesus Lord because that means then now this 650 00:40:03,120 --> 00:40:08,520 family is eternal and I'm not just enjoying this relationship 651 00:40:08,720 --> 00:40:12,400 here and here alone. It's gone beyond our lifetime. 652 00:40:12,840 --> 00:40:16,160 It's gone into forever into eternity. 653 00:40:16,920 --> 00:40:19,840 Are you hearing me? And that's the birth that's the 654 00:40:19,840 --> 00:40:23,000 most powerful parents. There's nothing more, the 655 00:40:23,000 --> 00:40:28,160 nothing better to celebrate than to celebrate the new birth of 656 00:40:28,160 --> 00:40:31,440 your children, the new birth of your grandchildren, the new 657 00:40:31,440 --> 00:40:41,360 birth of, of your, of you know, well, you know, because that new 658 00:40:41,360 --> 00:40:45,320 birth is not a perishable seed. It's forever. 659 00:40:46,320 --> 00:40:48,800 Why is this important? Because in first John 54 said 660 00:40:48,800 --> 00:40:51,200 this. For whatever is born of God 661 00:40:52,280 --> 00:40:54,720 overcomes the world. And this is the victory that 662 00:40:54,720 --> 00:40:59,480 overcomes the world, our faith. Because I'm born of God, I have 663 00:40:59,480 --> 00:41:04,680 now the ability to hear God. My nature will obey God. 664 00:41:04,960 --> 00:41:09,120 It's just out of my nature to obey to, to say, yes, Lord, your 665 00:41:09,120 --> 00:41:11,800 word is supreme, Your word is true. 666 00:41:11,920 --> 00:41:17,280 Your word will come to pass. I believe you at your word and 667 00:41:17,400 --> 00:41:22,800 anything going on in this life, we're going to overcome because 668 00:41:22,800 --> 00:41:25,320 I was destined to be an overcomer. 669 00:41:26,200 --> 00:41:28,040 God has restored me to something. 670 00:41:28,440 --> 00:41:31,520 This salvation that I have is so precious. 671 00:41:32,160 --> 00:41:35,640 It's so powerful. I do not take it for granted. 672 00:41:36,400 --> 00:41:38,480 I do not throw it on the shelf like it's. 673 00:41:38,480 --> 00:41:43,440 I do not live life as if I'm not aware. 674 00:41:43,920 --> 00:41:48,080 I've been born of God and I've been taken out of the things of 675 00:41:48,080 --> 00:41:50,280 this world. I've been transferred out of the 676 00:41:50,280 --> 00:41:54,040 domain of darkness. God has given me the privilege 677 00:41:54,280 --> 00:41:57,080 to be born of Him and that makes me an overcomer.