Bringing Forth: Embracing Faith and Community

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You know God makes us in different shapes and sizes, doesn't he? And that's the beauty of God, the variety, the different nations of the world, the different races, different colors, different languages, right? So God loves variety. If everybody looked like me, it would be boring. [00:29:40]

Without faith, it is impossible to please God. And the Bible said that over and over and over again. And why is that? Because when God repeats anything in scripture, it's for emphasis. So faith, without faith, it is impossible to please God. Faith is critical. [00:45:20]

Bringing forth is not a solo journey. Nurturing the seed of God's word to bring you to that place where you will bring forth, you know, it's not something you do on your own. You know what you need? You need people who I call the enablers of bringing forth. [00:49:36]

Bringing forth requires strength. Have you ever been to the labor world? Have you seen a woman give birth? Even if you haven't been there, have you watched it on TV? Because there are movies that show women giving birth. Can watch a documentary. [00:56:53]

Bringing forth is not easy. Why is bringing forth not easy? Because it takes time. It is not an overnight process. There can be long delay. Am I speaking the truth? Bringing forth is not easy. It's like you're bringing forth between a rock and a hard place. [00:59:33]

Ultimately, then, it's not really about what happens to us. Sit down for a minute as I wrap this up. Ultimately, then, it's not about what happens to us. It's about how we respond to what happens to us. [01:10:33]

The goal of this conference and the goal of this meet of any meeting you can attend is not for you to come and be thrilled and filled for one afternoon or for one day. Many conferences, Christian meetings, that's all they do for most people. [01:10:53]

So when you go home and you go back to be with yourself and your thoughts and your emotions and your bad government and bad taskmasters and your bad family, what are you going to do? What are you going to do then? [01:12:32]

Bringing forth is about productivity. Hallelujah. It's about, and it happens even in the midst of tremendous adversity. Bringing forth happens in prison. Bringing forth happens in slavery. Bringing forth happens after long delay. [01:16:06]

Your daily tests will turn into eternal testimonies. Every day that you get up and you shame and the pain and the disgrace found to slap you in the face again, look at you, your mate, where are you? I reply with grace, mercy, and favor. [01:17:59]

Yes, you may have failed. Yes, you may have sinned. Yes, you missed some great opportunities. Yes, I've done so too. How about you? Yes, I've made mistakes. Yes, you have. Yes, people have mistreated you, abandoned you, rejected you like Joseph. [01:20:02]

You may never be famous. You may never be recognized and applauded. You may never be, you may never have the biggest ministry. You may never, but will you be fruitful in your waiting? Will you be fruitful and bring forth in your obscurity? [01:19:50]

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