Heart & Soul

Mar 01, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: God's plan for you is not defined by your past.

Your history does not have to be your destiny. The circumstances you were born into or the painful events that have happened to you do not have the final say. God has a plan and a purpose for your life that transcends every setback and every moment you were "dropped" by others. He is in the business of redemption and new beginnings, offering a future filled with hope. [06:20]

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV)

Reflection: When you look back at your story, what is one place where you can now see God’s redemptive hand at work, even if it was not clear to you at the time?

Day 2: Your story matters and can stir faith in others.

The experiences you have walked through with God are not meant to be kept private. They are a testament to His faithfulness and power. When you courageously share what God has done in your life, it has the unique ability to awaken something dormant in someone else’s heart. Your testimony can be the very thing that reminds another person that God is still real and active. [06:50]

They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. (Revelation 12:11 NIV)

Reflection: Who in your life might need to hear a part of your story to be encouraged in their own faith journey?

Day 3: Show kindness to those who cannot repay you.

True grace is expressed through intentional, unexpected kindness. It is not offered because someone is worthy or has earned it, but simply because they are a person in need of love. This reflects the heart of God, who extends His kindness to us while we were still far from Him. We are called to actively look for those to whom we can show this same Christ-like kindness. [18:40]

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. (Luke 6:35 ESV)

Reflection: Is there someone in your sphere of influence—perhaps someone overlooked or difficult to love—to whom you could practically show kindness this week?

Day 4: Persistent prayer can move heaven's hand.

Prayer is a powerful force that partners with God’s will to see lives transformed. It is not about eloquence or length, but about a heart that is determined to intercede for others. When you pray faithfully for someone, you are participating in God’s work of drawing them to Himself, often in ways you may never see until eternity. [15:13]

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. (James 5:16 NIV)

Reflection: For which person in your life are you being prompted to commit to a new level of consistent, faithful prayer?

Day 5: Obedience in small things creates divine appointments.

God often works through our simple acts of obedience. You do not need to have all the answers or a dramatic plan; you simply need to be willing to go where He leads and do what He says. When you step out in faith, even in small ways, you position yourself to be used by God in a story much larger than your own. [30:17]

“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’” (Matthew 25:21 ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific, seemingly small step of obedience God is inviting you to take today?

Sermon Summary

A testimony traces a life rescued from brokenness and survival mode into a committed, street-centered ministry that finds people where they are. The ministry operates as a mobile church, showing up behind dumpsters, under bridges, and around abandoned buildings to bring presence, conversation, and simple Gospel invitations. Personal encounters with heaven—an intense visitation and a prophetic "one hundred and fifty days" moment—anchor a conviction that God pursues people even when faith lies dormant. Practical outreach methods include hand-written cards with brief Gospel notes and small McDonald’s gift cards, used as bridges to relationship and as tangible signs of human worth.

Stories illustrate persistent, incarnational ministry: one raincoat left with prayer and anointing later became a catalyst for a man’s conversion; a cross carried through Mardi Gras opened a hardened heart without a single sermonized word; and ongoing presence at Venice Beach stirred a woman’s memory of a childhood decision for Christ. The Bible story of Mesiboteth (a man dropped and crippled, living in Lodebar) frames grace as a kindness extended to the unworthy and forgotten—grace that invites someone to the king’s table regardless of brokenness. The call centers on asking, "Who can I show kindness to?" rather than measuring worthiness or waiting for perfect readiness.

Prayer receives urgent emphasis: concentrated intercession can shift a life, prayer can invite visions, and persistent praying for specific people changes circumstances. Communication of the Gospel focuses less on naming sin and more on compassionate presence, careful listening, and spiritual prescriptions tailored to where a person sits that day. Obedience matters—doing what God asks, even when that feels awkward, positions people for encounters with the Holy Spirit. The closing appeal mobilizes participation: take outreach cards, write a short note, include a small gift, and keep showing up. The overarching conviction insists that ordinary people, by consistent presence and grace-filled action, can draw others from Lodebar to the king’s table.

Key Takeaways

1. Grace seeks the dropped ones Grace pursues people who were dropped into life by circumstances beyond their control. Treating dignity as the starting point reframes ministry: kindness precedes judgement, and restoring place at the table trumps evaluating worth. Historical and contemporary examples show restoration often begins when someone simply extends intentional, courageous kindness. [18:20]
2. Presence beats polished words Being where people live and hurt matters more than having perfect arguments or speeches. Persistent presence creates a safe space for God’s Spirit to work, invites trust, and removes the pressure to perform for faith to begin. Many conversions in the account came after repeated faithful showing up, not after theological debates. [32:31]
3. Prayer moves heaven’s hand Focused intercession and intentional spiritual labor unlock change in another life. Extended prayer, anointing, and asking God for visions or encounters carry transformational power that often precedes outward change. The raincoat and long-night praying stories show how prayer prepares someone to meet grace. [14:10]
4. Small gifts open hardened hearts Simple, thoughtful resources—cards, a $5 meal, a coat—function as relational keys to conversations about worth and God’s love. Tangible care lowers defenses, creates credibility, and gives ordinary people a practical way to enter evangelism. Consistent small acts build trust over time and create openings for deeper spiritual work. [09:08]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:06] - Opening greetings and thanks
[01:29] - Mobile church: finding people
[02:22] - Broken home and survival years
[04:01] - Visitation and 150-day prophecy
[05:23] - Returning to the altar
[08:25] - Card ministry origins
[09:08] - Using gift cards in outreach
[13:13] - Raincoat, anointing, and prayer
[16:37] - Mesiboteth: a story of grace
[18:20] - "Is there anybody left?" question
[21:14] - Reaching the unworthy and lost
[27:43] - Obedience: carrying a cross
[32:31] - The priority of presence
[34:15] - Closing invitation and card pickup

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
2 Samuel 9:1-7 (ESV)
And David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?” Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David. And the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “I am your servant.” And the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him?” Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.” The king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “He is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.” Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar. And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, “Mephibosheth!” And he answered, “Behold, I am your servant.” And David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always.”

Observation questions

What question did David ask at the beginning of this passage, and what was he looking for?
Where was Mephibosheth living when David found him, and what was his physical condition? [17:04]
What specific actions did David take to extend kindness to Mephibosheth?
According to the sermon, what does the name "Lo-debar" mean, and what does that tell us about Mephibosheth's situation? [17:04]

Interpretation questions

Why is it significant that David sought to show kindness to someone from the house of his former enemy, Saul?
Mephibosheth came to David afraid, expecting the worst. How does this reaction help us understand what grace feels like to someone who feels unworthy? [20:08]
The kindness shown was not based on Mephibosheth's worthiness, loyalty, or ability, but on a covenant. How does this change our perspective on who we are called to show kindness to? [18:40] [19:06]
David's men had to go get Mephibosheth; he couldn't come on his own. What does this suggest about how we might need to approach those who are "crippled" and living in their own "Lo-debar"?

Application questions

David asked, "Is there anyone left... that I may show kindness to?" Who is one person in your life, workplace, or neighborhood that comes to mind when you ask yourself that same question? [18:20]
Grace often involves practical, tangible acts. What is a simple, small gift (like a card or a coffee) you could use this week to open a door to show someone they are seen and valued? [09:08] [09:45]
Persistent presence often speaks louder than polished words. Is there a relationship where you've given up because you didn't know what to say? What would it look like to simply "keep showing up" without the pressure to perform? [32:31]
The story of the anointed raincoat shows how focused prayer can prepare someone to meet grace. [13:38] Who is one person you feel led to commit to praying for consistently, asking God to give them a personal encounter with His presence?
Obedience often means doing something that feels awkward or outside our comfort zone, like carrying a cross down a street. [27:43] What is one step of obedience God might be asking you to take that feels uncomfortable, trusting that the results are His responsibility?
We can be spiritual cheerleaders, telling people, "This is not your destiny." [26:45] Who needs to hear that message of hope from you, and how could you encourage them this week?
We all have a story of how grace found us. When was the last time you shared your story with someone? What is one part of your journey that could encourage someone who feels they are in a "Lo-debar" season?

Sermon Clips

32s

#ShowKindnessToAll

“He says, is there anybody left in the house that I can show kindness to? And if I had to leave you with anything this morning, this would be the title of grace. Is there anybody you can show kindness to? Who can you show kindness to? Because you know what? It's easy to look away. It's easy to show kindness to those who speak back to you, those who do something for you. It's easy easy for me to reciprocate that. That's not what he's talking about. He says, is there anyone that could show kindness to?”

32s

#KindnessForTheLeftBehind

“He doesn't ask us, are there anybody worthy? Come on, church. None of us are worthy. He don't ask that question. Is anybody loyal? Come on. There's no loyalty here. He don't ask, does anybody can walk in here on their own two feet? He don't ask that question. He asks, is there anybody left? Man, that's a powerful statement for the church. Is there anybody left on Red Butt Road? Is anybody on 17? There's anybody anywhere that I could show kindness to?”

33s

#PrayerChangesLives

“You can move heaven's hand. You can pray someone into the kingdom. I have a niece many years ago. She was way off the train. My sister would come over, and we sit in that driveway, and when we get in that car, and, ma'am, we we would pray for hours in the car. I mean, I'm sure it was steam on the windows. Today, she's married to a youth pastor preaching the gospel. See, that's the power of prayer, and then see, that's what we're communicating that people can come to know the story of Jesus Christ, the same story that has shaped us, but it takes grace.”

35s

#ObeyAndLetGodWork

“You don't have to have all the words. You have to be where he says be. Do what he says do, And then it's up to the holy spirit to do the work. He said, stand. I stood. He said, go. I went. I didn't know what I was signing up for, but I'm glad I did. Thirty five, thirty six years later, I'm still here preaching the gospel, still loving on people into the kingdom, and you guys are very much part of that. When you participate in these cards, you put in a tool on my hand to say, listen. Your name can be written in the lamb's book of life. Amen?”

26s

#PutHeavenOnNotice

“They said, well, I've never thought about that. I said, so when you lay your head on that trash can at night or behind that dumpster wherever you're at, say, God, if you're real, I wanna know it and see what happens. See, we have to put heaven on notice. See, we don't do that enough. We gotta take our rightful place as believers because now we're actually in a place that we can start interceding and pulling people into that place where they can know the same grace and the same joy that you and I have.”

28s

#PrayForSomeoneToday

“She's telling me the story. She said, she said, Joe, you know that guy you would minister to? He come in and wanted him to pray to him to receive Jesus Christ. He said, well, can we explain it to you? He said, no. He said, every time I put on his coat, the power of god comes all over me. See, when is the last time you spent time praying for someone? Listen. I'm not trying to make you feel bad because you didn't prayed eight hours, but when's the last time you were spent for somebody?”

29s

#GodSpeaksToEveryone

“I found him behind an abandoned Taco Bell. You know if Taco Bell left town, it's not a bad it's a bad part of town because Taco Bell's usually survives those places. And he looked at me. He now he looks he was thrown away now. He looked rough. He said, god don't talk to people like me. I said, who told you that? He said, look at me, man. He said, I know god talks to people like you. God don't talk to people like me. He says, I I was born. This is my lot in life.”

46s

#FromLodabarToKingsTable

“we would be intentional about making the connection with those that we know we can connect with in some way and just encourage them in faith and healing and love when they go through something because Lodebar can be here. It can be in this service. You may have walked in crippled in your spirit this morning, but you can walk out of here at the king's table. Thank you, lord. Thank you for your mercy. Put a fresh hunger in every heart in this house to do the work and the will of Jesus Christ. Amen.”

Ask a question about this sermon

Highest Praise Church This sermon · AI assistant

What does Mephibosheth illustrate about grace

How should Christians respond to people in Lo-debar

What role does prayer play in evangelism