If anything, I believe he wants us to know how precious life is. Like, I just see, like, neon signs everywhere, like how precious life is. Look what Jesus went through. I don't know how many times I've heard John 10:10 this week. Like, everywhere I turn, John 10:10. And it's, for those that don't know, it talks about how the enemy's come. He's the one. He's the one that kills, steals, and destroys. Not God. It's not God that is out there trying to, you know, ruin life. But if you read that entire verse, it says, But God, he actually came to give us life. And a more abundant life. And if you look into the amplified version and you really dig into that, it's like a life filled with joy.
[01:23:33]
There's this balance that we hold in tension, like, constantly. And so, we do, we mourn with those that are affected by the shooting at Evergreen High School with Charlie Kirk's beautiful wife and his children. And we could go on and on. The pastor in Pakistan that lost...everything in the floods his wife his children his home...boy the tension the tension so much jump in anytime so much yeah like amazing things are happening and then there's the sorrowful things there's the hard things...last week there was such a it was a supernatural like waterfall that was happening here and we even heard a testimony last night of somebody standing in that that river and just God knocking off they described it like a piece of wood something that didn't belong there like knocking it off God is at work continuously.
[01:25:50]
God is so good to show up and say I see you I love you I'm with you you're not alone the tension the tension is real.
[01:30:46]
We're all called to multiplication we're all called to what make make make disciples that make disciples that make disciples god's kingdom is a kingdom of multiplication and how many know that can't be done if there isn't this thing of standing up for truth right how can we how can we spread the good news if we don't open our mouths if we don't look around and see those around us the way that jesus sees them just like that waiter last night and and step out it's not always the most comfortable thing you know to ask a stranger if they want prayer but i don't i don't know i've read through the bible many many times i read through it every year and i've never seen anything about that it's about our comfort in there right never been walking within 37 plus years and i know without a shadow of a doubt it's not about my comfort and what i'm comfortable doing or not doing but it's about hearing and obeying it's about hearing and obeying and sometimes that's really uncomfortable.
[01:44:36]
With the thing of tension what we see in the natural that's only a piece right that's a piece of what's happening a piece of the story only a part of the story but the true battle is spiritual like steve was just saying and like many across the world are you know the light bulbs coming on and they're realizing there is a spiritual battle and our battle's not against flesh and blood the true battle is spiritual and here's the good part if you are in union with him if you have been washed by his blood if you're a born again believer he has given you authority we have authority to fight the battle with we are not sitting ducks amen but we actually we've been talking for I don't know a long time now about our identity in Christ and knowing the love of the father why have we been doing that for times that we need to stand up and take our authority know who we are and what we possess because of everything that he did and everything that he went through we are not we are not we are not sitting ducks. We are not the ones that are defeated. Satan, the very enemy of our soul, he is the defeated one. That should excite somebody. It excites me.
[01:46:27]
We don't live according to the circumstances we see with our natural eyes, but we live according to the word of God. That is our true north. What does his word say, right? Whatever his word says about us and our circumstances, that is truth.
[01:48:48]
Because what the world needs today, what the church needs today, what everybody needs today, are people that are going to partner with Holy Spirit in prayer. And prayer is not just making our request known to God. That is a piece of prayer. But as we've said many times, it's also listening to what God is saying. A relationship is two ways. It's not just one way. So many of you know, but I spend more time in worship and then listening than I do talking. And how many know it doesn't end there? But then there's that obedience. If you're hearing what he's saying, then there's always that step of what did he say to do? Where did he say to go?
[01:49:12]
You can't, I don't know, you can't be a Christian and not pray. Because it's all about a relationship with God. But if that's all you ever do, if you're in a room 24-7 all the time and you never step out of that room to share the good news, that's not God's plan. I'm sorry, but it's not. But we are to pray as we go and not just be shut in a room and pray. We're not to just be here in this room, reading scripture and giving testimony and never take it out of this room. Amen?
[01:50:42]
We live the way we do because that's the way we see ourselves. I know my walk has looked a little different depending on how I saw myself in a certain season. Anybody relate to that? There's been some hard seasons and I have, I allowed in those hard seasons, open doors to begin to think of just to allow unworthiness and shame and condemnation. And that was not a fruitful season. You know, you look at those and you're like, how many people did I lead to the Lord in that season, believing those lies? It's not good. It's not good. But when you see yourself the way that God sees you, that you're redeemed. I mean, he puts his robe of righteousness on us, not so that we can have, not just so that we can live eternity with him, but it's this thing of identity that then we get to share with others. Once you see how you really are in Christ, it's going to change the way you live.
[01:51:38]
When you spend time with him, it's going to change the way you look at yourself, you look at others, the way you interact with others.
[01:53:03]
Prayer keeps us in tune with God. We have to take time to hear from him so that we can actually continue in him and continue to love him and continue to love ourselves and love others. Without that, hate's going to rise up with us, within us, and bitterness is going to rise up within us, and confusion, and despair, and you know, you name it. Everything that the enemy just wants to come in like a flood and put on us. But prayer keeps us from all of that. Prayer is precious and powerful. Prayer is not dull.
[01:54:06]
Whoever you spend the most time with is going to have the most influence over you. What are you listening to the most? What are you watching the most? And I say, oh my, get in your word. Press in. Press in to listen to Holy Spirit more than any other voice.
[01:57:00]
I'm telling you, God has a lot to say right now in this time. He has a lot to say. So make time. Take time. Listen. Carve out as much time as you can. Actually, he should get the first time. It's not just our finances that should be the first, but our time, our giftings, everything, right? Tithe unto him. Him being our first ministry.
[01:57:41]
When our words align with what Jesus is already praying, he's at the right hand of the Father. The scripture tells us right there, interceding for us. When our words align with his, it is like the spark to ignite that fire, to start that engine, you know, get your motor running. Anybody? Yeah, head out on the highway. Bring them in from the highways and the byways. Like, come on. We have, man, whether it's a tool belt that's full of every tool you need, or the armor, however, whatever analogy you want to use. In Jesus, we have everything we need to bring hope, to bring life. That's where our focus needs to be. That's where our focus needs to be.
[01:59:04]
A lot of times, even in the prophetic, not even in, but you, you might see something, hear something. It's not necessarily life, but in that situation, we are called to then go to Jesus and say, what's your perspective? Because I'm going to speak forth your perspective. Why are you showing me this? You're showing me this so that I come with the opposite spirit of this sin, or this hurt, or this pain, or whatever, and I speak your purposes into it. I speak your life into it. Our words are important. What we decree, what we declare with our mouths, with our tongues.
[02:01:04]
The tension is so real, you guys. But we have warm water right here. If anybody has not been water baptized, today is the day of salvation. Today is the day to get baptized. We have extra clothes. You can see me at the end of service. Why wait? Right? Why wait?
[02:03:28]
So, speak to yourself. Lauren, speak to yourself. Say, Lauren, get ready. Daniel, speak to yourself. Daniel, get ready. Larry, speak to yourself. Get ready. You know, just like we sang this morning, Psalm 103, David was commanding his soul to praise the Lord, right? My soul, we're going to bless the name of the Lord. We are going to praise the Lord. Sometimes you have to speak to your soul. Your spirit's ready. If you're born again, your spirit's ready. It's already been made perfect. It's beautiful, shiny, but it's getting what's in the spirit out to the soul and the body. And so, sometimes you've got to speak to your soul and your body, and you got to say, get ready for the things that God has for you. Because what was impossible is now going to be possible.
[02:05:10]
Every breakthrough, every testimony is to be shouted out, look what God did for me. Only God. I don't know how many times a day I say only God. Like only God. Only God. It's only God I'm standing here today. Only God that I'm not dead or in jail or curled up in a corner full of depression. Only God. Anybody else?
[02:07:11]
But the purpose of prayer, it's not to get our will done in heaven, right? But it's actually to get heaven's will done here on earth. And so when we align our prayers with his word, with his prayers, and the ignition starts, it begins to rumble. You get to step on the gas and blaze a trail for him, right?
[02:08:22]
We've got a job to do because there's still so many people that don't know him. Think of everybody that would go to hell that would not have eternity with him if he came back right now. It's really selfish to just think, rescue me, I've had enough. No. Let's partner with him some more in seeing more lives saved, changed, delivered, walking with him in freedom.
[02:09:49]
Many years ago, Holy Spirit showed me the gift of surrender. And this week, uh, he really showed me more how prayer puts you in that place of surrender. Prayer is, God, I need you to do what only you can do. I need you to show me what my part is. I don't have all the answers, but you do. It puts you in a place of surrender. And that's one of the most powerful places that we could be at.
[02:11:10]
But so much of the time, we don't even ask, seek, or knock. And we just think, hmm, I believe, so it's all good. Let's just, we're autopilot. Autopilot is no fun, you guys. You don't get to step on the gas if you're on, in autopilot, right? I don't know. Does anybody else like to go fast at all? Carla, okay. Autopilot's no fun. Like, put the key in the ignition. It's this thing of prayer. Turn the key. Step on the gas when your words align with his. And go. Go. It's a green light. It's a green light. Years ago, he spoke to me about many things, but he said, you know what? Unless I tell you it's red, it's green. Go.
[02:14:43]
We do have self-control. It's one of the fruits of the Spirit. But we have to live from our identity, and we have to pray from that identity.
[02:16:15]
We don't play, we don't pray from a place of helplessness. Oh God, if it's your will, you know, help, help me. Like he already provided everything that we need. So we pray from a place of authority, knowing the scriptures, knowing his word.
[02:16:47]
Pray and obey is the greatest thing we can do. And let me tell you, it will sober you up. Ever, God, have you had God speak to you in prayer and completely shift your thoughts, your walk, bring such a sobering moment. I'll never forget the day he spoke to me so loud and so clear. And he said, Who do you think you are not to forgive yourself? And he was like, Oh, shoot. I got real sober real quick.
[02:19:20]
We've got to be in prayer so we can hear his voice, so we can be sobered up, so we know the enemy's schemes, and we can partner with God in declaring and decreeing his truth, his will, his purposes. Or we're going to continue to see tragedy after tragedy.
[02:20:18]
