Speaker 1: 0:03

Woo, what a moment. What a moment. Man, girlfriend, I don't know. I'm so thankful, baby, I'm so thankful for your anointed Church family. It's the anointing that makes the difference, like none of us well, you are, but none of the rest of us are skilled enough to replicate what happens in heaven, like God created music through the angels to create an atmosphere in heaven, their only job. They have nothing else to do but to daily sing Holy, holy, holy is the Lamb, worthy is the King, who was and is and is to come. That's their only job.

Speaker 1: 1:32

And when something is your only job, like for us, it takes about 10,000 hours of doing something to become reliable and good at it. I'll never forget when I got a job this is not my sermon, but I just feel compelled to just spend a moment in this presence. One of the jobs I took as a salesman, I felt so good because I was like man, I'm going to crush it, I'm going to be so good at this thing. I was selling pagers, so that will tell you how long ago that was. Some of you are like what's a pager? I mean, you're going to have to Google it, because if you don't know, you just can't know.

Speaker 1: 2:13

And I remember reading a quote the first week I was in the office and you know, sometimes when you're young and you think you know it all and then you learn something new and then you think you could share it with somebody you need to like. Press pause for a second Because I read this quote that said it takes an employee about 36 months to become reliable and productive. I read that quote and I thought, well, surely that's not me. 36 months, that's three years. I don't have three years to become reliable. I need to become reliable on day one. But I told my boss about that and he said well, shoot, he was like you don't have three years to become reliable. What would you even tell me? Then I was like, well, I just read it and I just think. Sometimes we think we know it all, have it all and can be it all. And the reality is, if we would come into a setting, even if you know everything, come into a setting and just say you know what, I'm just going to learn for a second, I'm going to soak in for a second.

Speaker 1: 3:25

I said all that to say the angels have one job in heaven that are around the throne room. They don't do anything else. They don't go fight battles, they don't punch a clock for anything else, they're not responsible for upkeep, they're not laying streets of gold. Their one job is to worship and to sing. And so what's amazing is their one job is to worship and to sing. And so what's amazing is they have to do it because it is their job. We get to do it because it's our choice, and that's why my friend wrote a song a few years ago. The greatest song of all is the song of the redeemed, the one who knows what they were before they met God, the one who knows what they might have become had it not been for the Lord. And there's something that happens when we turn our hearts, the posture of our heart and the thoughts of our mind solely on him. We get to replicate heaven, and you know what it becomes even better because we're getting and choosing to do it. No one's forcing us. And so, listen, we're not going to apologize for the volume turned up, and we're not going to apologize for the expression in the front of this place and our hands lifted and tears streaming down our face, because I can't imagine what life would be out without God on my side. I don't want to think about what it would be like without his hand directing me and his word guiding me and his spirit filling me. So in these moments, I mean it just feels good and thank you, baby, for leading us into that. And, team, well done today. Team, we thank you for that. And really I mean we could be done, we could go home, but I'm ready to preach God's word if you're ready to receive it.

Speaker 1: 5:35

The year was 2012. And we had launched the church in September of 2012. My nephew got married in October of 2012, back in Texas, so we traveled back for that, and then in November they were hosting a wedding reception for all of his family who still lived in Michigan, and so it was a Friday. We got the boys out of school early, which is always a treat for anybody that's ever going to school. To get out early or have to get called out on a Friday, that's like the greatest gift of all, and, parents, your kids are going to be okay if you take them out on a Friday every now and then Do something fun with them. So we got them out. I thought I'd get a better amen from all of. Thank you, noah, thank you for being in it.

Speaker 1: 6:24

So we got them out of school, got in the car and started driving towards Detroit. And you know, the first hour and a half is, you know, getting out of Chicago and then the next 45 minutes is getting through Indiana, and so those are two different worlds. It takes a lot of patience and prayer to get out of there unscathed and still holy. And I'm not saying I ever make it through, I'm just telling you it takes a lot. So if you do it, well done. So we get our way to the state line of Michigan and as you're driving on 94, there's a big sign that says Welcome to Michigan. That's my home state, so it's always a pleasure to see that. And so we see that sign and Urshana just snaps a little photo of the sign welcome to Michigan and sends it on to my sister in Detroit and says hey, we're on our way. And my sister just simply responds for what? And Ursh is like well, for the shower, duh. And my sister responds back duh, it's next week.

Speaker 1: 7:38

So we were driving like do we keep going? Should we just go see him two weeks in a row? And we decided at New Buffalo, we pulled off the highway and parked on the side of the road a second to discuss it. And we had a little discussion how do we do this? How do we? I thought it was this week, I did too. How do we mess it up, I don't know. And then we decided we're not going to go all the way on to Detroit, we're going to go back home to Chicago and Oak Park. And so we turned around and put the car back towards the west. It was a very quiet two-hour drive home. Kids were mad, everybody's mad in that car. Thank God nobody got in our way. They might've got run over.

Speaker 1: 8:26

It was the year I learned that you can have it right in the heart and wrong in the head. Why don't you turn to your neighbor and just say this let's think for a change. And then to your neighbor, you've been ignoring all service just bump up and say let's think like Jesus. Little did I know a few weeks ago when I started this this would turn in just three weeks of the same pursuit of beginning to think like Jesus. But I want you to know it is literally possible for us to have the heart right and the thought process wrong, to know in our heart what we want to do and think it out the wrong way in our head. The Bible says the heart is great, but it also is very deceiving. Is great, but it also is very deceiving, and if we're not careful we can get a heart posture for something, have the thought process wrong and totally miss the mark all the way.

Speaker 1: 9:35

It's why Paul writes for us not to be transformed to the patterns of this world. And when he's talking about patterns he's not just talking about actions Like don't just do what the world. He's not saying, don't do what the world does. Although that could be interpreted and preached that way, you could work that out. He's saying don't be conformed to the thought process or align yourself under the thought process of the world. Don't fall for the philosophies of the world, he's saying there's actually we know scripture says that. God says this my ways are higher than your ways, my thoughts are higher than your thoughts. So if we're merely going to settle ourselves under the philosophies and the thoughts of the world, we're falling far short of the design we've been created to live by. And so we have to, as Paul says, be transformed by the renewing of our mind. And if you remember like, however, many weeks ago, I preached.

Speaker 1: 10:39

The first part of this message, the. That word transform is like metamorphosis it's the caterpillar into the butterfly, and I'm spending far too much time on this. I need to get into today's message so we can finish it, but I need to just remind you that it is the process of literally your mind has to become new. There's no other way to say it, because you cannot be saved and still think like a lost person. You can't be an overcoming Christian and still think like a losing, like we used to lose. It's not in my notes. I should have worked that out a little better. It would have sounded better. But remember we have to be renewed in our thinking and sometimes you just have to talk yourself into thinking better thoughts.

Speaker 1: 11:41

I greeted our team rally today for all the people that serve on Sunday to make this service possible which, by the way, if they don't serve, it's not possible. And there's really no reason why we're here. Like somebody had to come early and open the building up and turn the lights on and make sure the air conditionings were set at the right temperature Seems a little warm to me, but some of you are cold, so I know we're working out just right. It's like a marriage One's hot, one's cold, one talks, one doesn't. So somebody has to show up and open the doors and turn on the lights and get the AC set. Somebody has to show up and tune the sound. And somebody has to show up and open the doors and turn on the lights and get the AC set. Somebody has to show up and tune the sound. And somebody has to get their instruments ready and somebody has to get the kid's space ready. And this doesn't happen without a dream team. So thank God for the team that showed up to serve today.

Speaker 1: 12:40

But I said all that to say. I greeted the dream team today. I was like what's up team? And they were kind of like eh, I was like all right, we're going to have to think our way out of this little ditty. Like we're going to have to, I am alive, I'm awake, I feel great. Like I am alive, I'm awake, I feel great. Like, just say that a few times and you can think your way into a better attitude over what you're looking at. Try it, try it, students, on Monday or Tuesday or Wednesday when you go into class. Try it when you go into the office on Monday morning. That blue Monday doesn't have to be blue any longer if you think differently. So there's where we're at, Isaiah. Let me just remind you what we did. We'll talk about what we did over the last few weeks.

Speaker 1: 13:26

So when I think like Jesus, number one, I know my true identity. I know God's purpose for my life. I'm always aware that God is with me. Last week, we covered these four. I let God help choose my words. Remember how many of you practiced that this week. Hey God, help me. Help me with what I should say and how I should say it. Hey, god, help me, help me with what I should say and how I should say it. The first word might not always be the right word, but if you'll just trust the Lord to help you choose your words better, you'll get to the right spot. You might start cursing, but at least end up blessing Too real when I think, like Jesus, I don't seek the approval of others.

Speaker 1: 14:16

I'm living for an audience of one, and sometimes we get caught up in what people think about us, how they think and we do, and how well we perform, and what our Instagram account looks like. I, I just wish one day. I just wish my. This is my only wish One day. I wish the entire social media network would fall and go silent for one day. For one day, just for me to know what it's like to just have a quiet day and not worry about what everybody thinks about me. That's another message that Urs just said. That's old, just called me old.

Speaker 1: 14:56

The next one I depend on God's power. Even Jesus depended on the heavenly father for his power, the Holy Spirit's power within us. And then the last one we talked about last week was I forgive my enemies. And God calls us not to just forgive our enemies, but remember. He calls us to love those that persecute us, do good to those that are spitefully using us, bless those who are against us, and to pray for those who tear us down. That's a standard of not just forgiving. It's like going the extra mile.

Speaker 1: 15:26

So let's wrap it up today and let's close it out. We know that the key passage of scripture for this little series we're doing is this who can know the Lord's thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him? But we this is Paul writing. So Isaiah is who knows the Lord's thoughts and who can understand him? And then Paul writes well, he quotes Isaiah, he quotes the prophet. Who can know the Lord's thoughts and who knows enough to teach them. But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ and sometimes you just have to go mm-hmm. Things that make you go mm-hmm, no-transcript. But you gotta practice it, you gotta put it into practice, you gotta apply it. You can't just fall back into the patterns of what you were, the conformed of the world, but you have to renew your mind daily. So let's roll in, let's close out this series when I think, like Jesus, number eight, I'm willing to sacrifice for others.

Speaker 1: 16:32

We live in a world that's pretty much what have you done for me lately, it's not so much what can I do for you, but it's what have you done for me. We live in a world that is we're self-seeking, self-serving, self-help. I mean, that is the standard of the world. But when we think like Jesus, we think what can I do to sacrifice for others? Think like Jesus. We think what can I do to sacrifice for others? By the way, by the way, when we talk about Jesus dying on a cross for our sins, literally going to the cross and being crucified in the most inhumane way possible, the very worst punishment that our world could know when we think about that as the sacrifice for our sins, it hardly seems like a sacrifice for me to do good for someone or to give up a meal for someone or to let somebody cut in line in front of me. That hardly seems like a sacrifice. But when I think like Jesus, I'm willing to sacrifice for others.

Speaker 1: 17:34

And I read this in John 10, verse 14. Jesus says I'm the good shepherd. I know my sheep, my sheep know me, just as the father knows me. And I know the father. And look what he says. And I laid down my life for the sheep. He knew. He knew he was willing to sacrifice. He was willing to sacrifice and a few weeks ago I read Mark 10, 45 to sacrifice, he was willing to sacrifice.

Speaker 1: 18:03

A few weeks ago I read Mark 10, 45 to you. It says he came to serve and not to be served. Jesus came to serve and not be served. I would tell you in the New Testament. There's two key verbs in the New Testament. It's serving and giving, serving and giving. You read the New Testament and some of you. And giving, serving and giving. You read the New Testament and some of you would say well, love, love is the verb of the New Testament? Well, it is, but it's serving and giving. If you break it down, it's serving and giving and what I know is around church life. Those are two large verbs as well, but I wanna just encourage you.

Speaker 1: 18:36

We're getting ready to go to two services in a couple of weeks. I mean it's going to be here in a heartbeat and we're going to celebrate 13 years of church life and then we're going to go to two services on that Sunday 1, 9 am, 1, 11 am. And I told our team today, like all of us are prepared to sacrifice and serve extra, but I have a desire and a dream to add 50 new people to our team over the next 90 days. And so some of you have been attending. You're worshiping with us, you're giving faithfully, and I just want to encourage you to join the team and serve with us. Help make Sunday possible. So if you have attended Freeway, ever attended Freeway, you can be a part of the team and we can help point you to the right team. If you've never attended freeway today only you can join our team and then we'll do the freeway later, because the vision is not heavy if we all carry it together and we're not here for a big number of church people and the biggest church in the village. We're not here for that. We're here for people to get to know God better and for them to find freedom and for them to discover their purpose and then for them to help us make a difference. That is the vision of our church. We are here to help people know God better and we do that on Sunday and when you serve, you help people take steps to know God better.

Speaker 1: 20:08

So get your phone real quick if you wanna join the team and open up Renee, that's Slack. For those of you that are like what is it? It's Slack. Go to Slack and text a direct message to Renee. Find Renee, dm Renee. Forward, slash, serve and pick a team. I'll tell you where we need the largest number of teams to make Sunday happen Our kids, our tech team and our host team. Those are the three areas that we really really, really really wanna expand those teams so that the people serving can have a break. And, by the way, now that we have two services, you can serve one and worship one, so you can work, serve and then you can worship, and I wanna encourage you to do that. So forward slash, serve. Our team will reach out to you and we'll get you plugged in on the schedule and get all the good things Because, listen, our greatest fulfillment comes when we get involved in serving.

Speaker 1: 21:11

It's just the reality. Church life is better when we're serving. Church life is better when we're in a small group. Church life is better when we're serving Church life is better when we're in a small group. Church life is better when we're really active and participating in what's happening. It's a lot better. So that was my little pitch for joining the team. But I started that by saying the verbs are serving and giving and that's all wrapped around love.

Speaker 1: 21:36

Everybody, everybody knows John 3.16. In this room, I bet Pretty much John 3.16. Listen, on football, it's in every football stadium. It's at every athletic event. People put it on their eye block, john 3.16. It's everywhere. We know it For God. So yeah, see, you know it. For God. So loved the world, he gave his one and only son, his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him would not perish but have everlasting life. We know it, we learned it. I would contend even some Christians. They know that verse better than we do, sometimes Not better, but they know it. They've heard it so much often they've memorized it. But how many of us know 1 John 3.16?

Speaker 1: 22:21

1 John 3.16 is the passage of scripture. For people who are followers of Jesus that understand there's a response to the love we've been given. Watch this. We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. So the verbs in the New Testament are giving and serving.

Speaker 1: 22:45

And what I know is this you can give and you can serve without loving. You can do it. People, you know what they do. If you break the law, they give you a thing called community service. You don't love serving, but they're gonna force you to serve. Or or you give without loving because you pay your taxes and ain't nobody in this room loves paying taxes. But so you can give and serve without loving, but you cannot love without giving and serving. If you love, you're gonna give and you're gonna serve.

Speaker 1: 23:32

And it's incredible to me when Jesus, when Jesus is sacrificing for us, he does it. He's like I'm willing to do it, I'm willing to lay down my life. And that's the attitude when we think, like Jesus, we're willing to lay down our life. The next one is this let's keep going, number nine, when I think, like Jesus, I will do God's will, so I'm willing to sacrifice, and then I will do God's will. John 6, 38 says this Jesus says this I came down from heaven to do what God wants me to do, not what I want to do.

Speaker 1: 24:14

And I wonder. This passage of scripture got me thinking. I wonder how many of us live in the space of I want this rather than what God wills. So we pray what we want. We pray, you know, god, this is how it's got to go, and like, yeah, jesus, take the wheel, but I'm just going to steer it from this side for a little bit, because this is what I want. And how often do we do what we want now and then we decide we can repent for it later.

Speaker 1: 24:43

But listen, we need to get to a space where we, or Shauna's mom, passed away when she was 13 from cancer, and a few weeks ago somebody shared with us her sister shared with us an old recording of her mother sharing a message to a women's conference and it's really the most that we had heard. Arshana was remarking how it's the most, the longest message and time of speaking that is recorded of her mom, and her mom has been recorded singing in studios and in conferences and a beautiful singer Like now you know where Arshana got it, by the way her mother sings. And recorded singing in studios and in conferences and a beautiful singer, like now you know where Shana got it, by the way her mother sings. But we never heard her speak for so long and so we got to listen to this. But she always prayed this prayer Like heal me of this cancer Do. Like, heal me, I want to live, I want to be around for my kids. But she always closed her prayer.

Speaker 1: 25:36

But whatever your will is so sometimes what we want, we can get sidetracked if we only focus on what we want. But we have to turn our attention to what God wills, and I think about this John 14, 31. John 14, 31,. The world must know that I love the Father, so I do exactly what the Father told me to do. There's a level of obedience there, and I just wanna share it for a couple moments because I think sometimes we get overwhelmed. The situations in our life, they pressure us and perhaps it would just be easier to just pursue what we want instead of surrendering our lives to God's will.

Speaker 1: 26:27

But look what Jesus did on this toughest night. The soldiers, the Roman soldiers, before Judas pays that terrible price to allow him to be arrested and crucified. And listen, he's about to be whipped, scorned, he's about to be spit at. But look at the prayer he prays in Mark 14, 36. He says Abba, father, everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. That's what Jesus wanted in that moment. Let this cup pass. But then he says but yet I want your will to be done, not mine. And so we always say it was the. It was not the nails that held him to the cross. It was his love for you and me. And I would contend yes, it was not the nails, but it was something more than his love for you and me. It was his obedience and willing to do God's will, what God's will was for us. That held him to the cross. It was the obedience.

Speaker 1: 27:31

And that's not always, that's not always the highest sell to talk about obedience, because we'd rather do what we want and then get God's help after, like, let me do what God wants me to do and then after if it's not right, then God can help me fix it. Will you grab my glasses? I think they're right there on the table, are they right there? I need those for this moment. Liam, you can come so I can start wrapping this up. Listen, this is not in your notes, so you're gonna have to add some notes to yourself for your own response or if you're taking notes. But very early this morning the Holy Spirit woke me up with this when I was thinking about obedience.

Speaker 1: 28:17

In John 14 and 15, jesus says if you love me, obey my commandments. If you love me, obey my commandments. So he's setting up, and that's typically where we stop, and that is if we're gonna preach line upon line. That is the line we preach. We preach if you love me, obey my commandments. So, furthermore, obedience is generated not out of reward or not out of duty. It is generated out of love. So I preach. That preach is pretty good. I love, therefore, I do. But the Holy Spirit prompted me to read it again and so when I read it again this morning, verse 15 says if you love me, obey my commandments. Verse 16 says and I will ask the Father and he will give you another advocate. So the way I feel like the Holy Spirit was leading me this morning to share with you is that a lot of times we think, if I love Jesus, I'll obey him. And it's in that moment that Jesus says and I will send Out of your obedience, I'll obey him. And it's in that moment that Jesus says and I will send out of your obedience, I'll send another helper.

Speaker 1: 29:41

And a lot of times we get into a situation we're not obedient and now we find ourselves in a mess and we're like oh, you got to fix it, holy spirit. Like you can't be unprepared and leave for work 20 minutes late and expect the Holy Spirit to get you to work on time. That's not what the Holy Spirit is relegated to do. But when you're obedient and you're walking in the way of the Lord, the Holy Spirit will be there as an empowerment to you, as an advocate for you. And there's grace for when you don't hit the mark. That's what grace is for, for we all fall short of the glory of God. So there's a grace. I'm not saying you have to be perfect, but there's something that I'm not saying you have to be perfect, but there's something that happens when you're obedient and when the first thing that happens in obedience is it releases the power of the Holy Spirit in your life. So so that that got me thinking this morning.

Speaker 1: 30:51

And then I went to another passage and I got to find it here quickly. Leviticus 26 promises rain in its season, a bountiful harvest and peace for those who obey God's command. Psalm 128 highlights the blessings of eating the fruit of one's labor and experiencing the prosperity and blessings that comes from obedience. Deuteronomy promises blessings through obedience in all areas of life, including blessings in your cities, in your fields, through your children, in their livestock and in your fruit baskets. Like, there is a reward for obedience but we don't. We're not obedient for the reward. We're obedient because we love and then that releases the Holy Spirit in our life and there's bountiful blessings that are poured out for us. And there's bountiful blessings that are poured out for us.

Speaker 1: 31:58

I can only tell you this way when we were in Houston, we knew we were called to plant a church, we knew we were called to start something new and man, so many times Rashaun and I had the discussion of what it looked like and I'm just so thankful we're living in a realization of part of the dream. It's not the full dream. We're still moving, we're still going forward. There's more to be done, there's more to be accomplished, but it was this picture of people loving Jesus from every life age and every life stage, from all the continents of the world coming together, man, to see our students on their knees before the Lord in worship that's stuff we dreamed about. To see young adults pushing into the presence of God. To see families flourishing together and marriages being saved and healthy and whole. To see it multi-generational, like it's not just all young people and it's not just all old people. I've been in a lot of churches where it's all old people, and then I've been in churches where it's all young people, but it's a wonderful blend of all of it. And we knew God called us to do that.

Speaker 1: 33:26

What we didn't know was where I and so we lived in Houston. We had moved my parents to Houston in 2010. We had moved Urshana's dad and stepmom to Houston in 2010. So when the Lord called us to plant a church in 2011, we were like, well, of course it's got to be Houston, because that's where our whole family lives. And so we told our pastors say we want to plant a church and we think it's Houston. You know, they didn't like it. I mean I don't. I mean Houston's a big city. But they were not. They were like, well, it can't be Houston. We're like, you're sure, different area. No, we're like okay. So we went back and prayed about it Lord, let it be Houston, it's what we wanted. Lord, change our pastor's heart so we can plant in Houston.

Speaker 1: 34:18

Went back to our pastors to talk about it again. What do you think? They were like oh, it's not Houston. I'm like, okay, maybe we're not praying it right. And I remember sitting at a table with my pastor, pastor Brett, and I said I really think it could be Houston, pastor Brett. And he's like I don't think that's where the Lord's calling you, chuck. And I said well, if you say it can't be Houston, then I want to, I want to, I'll go wherever, because I know what God's called us to do.

Speaker 1: 35:08

And in that moment the Holy Spirit reminded me of a prophetic word that was spoken over our lives like five years prior to that, and the prophetic word I remember it word for word, which, by the way, sometimes, when you know it's a real word from God, you'll never forget it. And when it was spoken to us, I was like I don't even know. And the word over our life was because you've sacrificed, you'll receive blessings for anything you do. We sacrificed. For anything you do. We sacrificed we were the second on staff. That was 20 years we had been serving In church life as not the lead pastor, just serving, serving, serving the vision of the house, serving the vision of the house, serving the vision of the house. For 20 years we did that. He said because you sacrificed, you're going to be blessed. Then he said but because you're, you're going to be blessed. Then he said but because you're obedient In your obedience, you'll receive a double blessing. And when I said I think it could be Houston, but wherever you and the Lord say, we're willing to go, because we know it's in our heart to start something new. And when that word hit me in my spirit, it also changed the environment at that table and our pastors helped pave the way for us to come here.

Speaker 1: 36:28

My brother told me you gotta. I was with my brother in July of 2011,. He said you gotta come visit Oak Park. I was like, okay, when we came, my brother in July of 2011. He said you gotta come visit Oak Park. I was like, okay. When we came, we fell in love with it immediately. You've heard that story.

Speaker 1: 36:39

A month later we brought everybody my parents, my aunt and uncle, like my second parents, my siblings, my brother came in. He drove in from South Elgin to walk through the streets and Art was like man, this place is awesome. I was like, well, you told us to come visit. He said, yeah, I've never been here, lived in this area 20 years, never drove through Oak Park. I was like, well, why didn't you tell me that the first time? I would probably look somewhere else. But a double blessing. We launched in a building that they said no, we couldn't launch in. We launched there. We went to a school where they said, no way, not in this school district. You'll never meet in this school district. We went there. We found a building and we're able to buy it in 2020. They say you'll never own property in Oak Park.

Speaker 1: 37:33

I'm just telling you God honors sacrifice, but he will bless obedience. When you think like Jesus, you'll live life to be obedient, not for the blessing, but it is a payoff. And then the last one if you think like like Jesus, you'll have an eternal perspective. The Bible says in Hebrews because of the joy he knew he would, that would be his afterwards. He endured that shameful death on the cross. For us, nobody goes through difficulty. He endured that shameful death on the cross. For us, nobody goes through difficulty with their mindset on how difficult it is. Everyone who goes through difficulty makes it through that difficulty because they think about what's on the other side.

Speaker 1: 38:29

When you're in the gym, it's painful to lift those weights. You're tearing down your muscles every single time, but you're doing it because on the other side you're going to be stronger, healthier, look better. Oh, I don't know about it. I lift so I look better and I need to keep lifting. That's what all of you are saying. Keep lifting, keep lifting PC. That's what all of you are saying. Keep lifting, keep lifting pc.

Speaker 1: 38:57

But if you get caught into looking at the moment, you're going to miss out on what's what the moment's for. Paul said the suffering we face in this world is nothing compared to the eternal glory we'll experience. And if, if you'll think like Jesus, you'll stop focusing on the pain and start recognizing what a beautiful picture that pain is painting for the future, you might look back someday and think man, look how beautiful God made it. And the Bible promises God makes all things beautiful in its time. The difficulty, the hurt, all of it might not be beautiful in the moment, but if you'll just trust God with an eternal perspective, you'll get there, and you've got to think your way through that.

Speaker 1: 39:46

Can you receive that word today? Let's pray. Heavenly Father, thank you for renewing our mind, to give us the mind of Christ so that we can think like him. And when we think like him, not only do we become more like him, but the world has changed through us. I pray for anyone in this room who is experiencing difficulty and is unable to see the joy, the eternal perspective of what you have in store for them.

Speaker 1: 40:28

Lord, even right now, would you open our minds to what's better beyond this current moment, because you're in it. You'll never leave us, you'll never forsake us. There will be something, there is a purpose to the pain we're experiencing, and I just pray right now for anyone who's experiencing that type of pain. I pray strength. I pray strength. I pray peace. I pray that you would move them past the need of understanding and just trust Lord. I think there's those in this room that are really wrestling with your will for their life and I just pray you would make it clear and it becomes clear through the word of God, and I just pray you do that.

Speaker 1: 41:15

If you keep your eyes closed, your head bowed, maybe you've never made a decision to follow Jesus. Today, it'd be my honor to lead you into that moment. You say well, pc, what does that? What does that mean exactly? It just simply means you need a transformation of your mind so that you don't think like you've always thought, but you can think a new thought, and the Bible says this. Well, I told you what John 3, 16 says, for God so loved the world, they that gave his only son. But did you know?

Speaker 1: 41:50

The Bible says in Romans that we're all sinners, every single one of us. There's not one righteous, no, not one of us and that there is actually a penalty for sin. There's a wage, it's a requirement for sin. But you know what? Jesus paid that price for you. So, instead of you having to sit in the judgment and penalty of the sin that you're born into and, by the way, sin is not necessarily something we do, it's really the space or the gap between us and God, and so Jesus paid a price to bridge that gap. You could see that cross as Jesus hangs there. It's like a bridge between you and your heavenly father. He spreads his arm that wide to close that gap for you. And if you'll believe that in your heart, that Jesus paid that price for you and you'll confess it with your mouth, the Bible says you'll be saved. And that will be.

Speaker 1: 42:44

The Bible says this in Corinthians said that the old has passed away and behold all things become new. That is the new mind that you're going to get. Think new thoughts, think higher thoughts, think like Jesus. You've never made that decision. I want to walk you through that right now. What do I do, pc? Listen first, you believe in your heart, then you confess it with your mouth. And if you've never made that decision, it's my honor to lead you there, into that.

Speaker 1: 43:09

Now. It's just through a simple confession, this prayer we pray at the end of every service as we get to know God better. And if that's you, I'm going to count to three. Just raise your hand at three and say that's me, pc. Today I want to begin to follow Jesus. I'm going to confess him as my Savior. Are you ready? One, two, three, let me see your hands all over this room. Thank you for that hand. Thank you for that hand. Thank you for those hands back there. Thank you for those hands. Thank you for that hand.

Speaker 1: 43:32

Let's pray this prayer church. Dear Jesus, thank you for loving me, for paying a price I could not pay to give, a gift I could never earn. I choose to follow you, turn from my own ways and follow after your ways. Renew my thoughts today. Let me think like you. Jesus Be my Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name, amen. Come on church, family. Let's celebrate together. Let's all stand Amen. Well, what a powerful day in his presence. What a great day to be together Next week student takeover.

Speaker 1: 44:07

It's going to be a powerful day as we pray for and bless all the students and faculty and staff members back to school for this school year. It's going to be a great day as our students and children take over and lead us in worship and lead us in ministry. It's going to be a great day. Hey, if you prayed that prayer first time, or first time in a long time, there's a number on the screen for you to text and let us know you made that decision. We have a gift in the lobby for you. If you're a guest, stop by Next Steps area. You made that decision. We have a gift in the lobby for you. If you're a guest, stop by Next Steps area. We have a gift for you. We'd love to connect, get to know you by name and so we can say hey to you again soon. Listen, it's been a great day in God's house. My prayer, the Lord bless you. The Lord keep you. He caused this space to shine upon you. Hey, we'll see you next week. Church Blessings.