Embracing High Road Living: Cultivating Peace and Worship

### Bible Reading
1. **Matthew 5:9** - "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God."
2. **Philippians 4:6-7** - "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
3. **Psalm 150:1-6** - "Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord."

### Observation Questions
1. What does Matthew 5:9 say about the role and identity of peacemakers?
2. According to Philippians 4:6-7, what should we do instead of being anxious, and what is promised as a result?
3. In Psalm 150, what are the various ways mentioned to praise the Lord? [25:44]
4. How did the sermon describe the difference between being at peace with God and having the peace of God? [01:00:14]

### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus emphasized peacemaking in Matthew 5:9? How does this align with the overall message of the Beatitudes?
2. How can presenting our requests to God with thanksgiving, as mentioned in Philippians 4:6-7, help us achieve the peace of God in our daily lives?
3. The sermon mentioned that worship is an act of surrender and connection to God. How does this perspective change the way we approach worship? [24:56]
4. What practical steps can we take to regain peace before resolving problems, as suggested in the sermon? [01:05:58]

### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current worship practices. How can you make your worship more authentic and an act of surrender to God? [24:56]
2. Think of a recent conflict you were involved in. How could you have approached it differently to be a peacemaker, as described in Matthew 5:9? [52:30]
3. Are there areas in your life where you are at peace with God but lack the peace of God? What steps can you take to trust Him more in those situations? [01:00:14]
4. When faced with a problem, do you tend to rush to resolve it or take time to regain your peace first? How can you practice regaining peace before addressing issues? [01:05:58]
5. How can you start seeing others through God's eyes, especially those you find difficult to deal with? What practical steps can you take to extend grace and peace to them? [01:13:48]
6. Identify one situation in your life where you need to regain peace. What specific actions will you take this week to present your requests to God with thanksgiving and trust Him for peace? [01:03:13]
7. How can you be a peacemaker in your community or workplace this week? What specific actions will you take to bring peace into a chaotic situation? [52:30]

1. "Just act like the king just showed up in your situation. Whatever your pain, your struggle, your mountain, your valley may be, there's nobody else but God." [24:00]


2. "My praise is not about them, my praise is unto you. Praise him for his mighty acts. Praise him according to his excellent greatness." [25:44]


3. "We are commanded to give and we don't want to make it so casual as if we shouldn't be giving back to the Lord." [49:31]


4. "The temptation to go low, to go negative is always around us. I want to encourage us as a church to find a way to live high." [50:49]


5. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God. We need some peace over the next 100 days." [53:22]


6. "You can do the right thing and say the right thing the wrong way. It's managing the way that we do it." [52:30]


7. "When a problem causes you to lose your peace, don't hurry to resolve the problem in hopes of regaining peace. First regain peace and then see what can be done about the problem." [01:05:58]


8. "Some storms, some problems come just for God to change you, to change us. We need to learn how to extend peace through our lives." [01:10:38]


9. "We are never more like God than when we take the wholeness and completeness we have into a world that desperately needs it." [58:16]


10. "Be the peace you wish to see in the world. Whatever kind of peace you want to see, then guess what? You first start being that peace." [01:19:21]

Day 1: Authentic Worship as a Path to God's Presence
Worship is a powerful way to draw closer to God. It’s not about being comfortable but about expressing our devotion and gratitude to God, regardless of our personal preferences or discomforts. Worship should be an act of surrender and connection, acknowledging God's presence in our lives. Authentic worship involves engaging deeply in praise, not just as a ritual but as a heartfelt expression of our love and reverence for God. When we worship authentically, we open ourselves up to experiencing God's holiness and power in a profound way. This kind of worship can transform our hearts and minds, drawing us closer to God and aligning our lives with His will. [24:56]

Psalm 95:6-7 (ESV): "Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand."

Reflection: How can you make your worship more authentic and heartfelt today? What specific steps can you take to ensure that your worship is a true expression of your love and reverence for God?


Day 2: Embracing the Role of a Peacemaker
Jesus calls us to be peacemakers, which involves more than just avoiding conflict. It means actively bringing peace into situations, speaking truth with love, and managing how we address issues. Being a peacemaker reflects the character of God and brings His presence into our world. This role requires wisdom, patience, and a deep understanding of God's love and justice. As peacemakers, we are called to bridge gaps, heal wounds, and foster reconciliation in our relationships and communities. This is not an easy task, but it is a vital part of living out our faith and embodying the teachings of Jesus. [52:30]

James 3:17-18 (ESV): "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace."

Reflection: Think of a recent conflict or tension in your life. How can you actively bring peace into that situation today? What steps can you take to speak truth with love and foster reconciliation?


Day 3: Understanding the Peace of God
Many believers are at peace with God, knowing they are saved, but lack the peace of God in their daily lives. Achieving the peace of God involves trusting Him in every situation, not being anxious, and presenting our requests to Him with thanksgiving. This peace transcends our understanding and guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. It is a deep, abiding sense of calm and assurance that comes from knowing that God is in control and that He cares for us. To experience this peace, we must cultivate a habit of prayer, gratitude, and trust in God's promises. [01:00:14]

Isaiah 26:3 (ESV): "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to trust God fully? How can you present your concerns to Him with thanksgiving and cultivate a deeper sense of His peace today?


Day 4: Regaining Peace Before Resolving Problems
When faced with problems, it’s crucial to first regain your peace before attempting to resolve the issue. This ensures that you approach the problem with a clear and calm mind, allowing God’s peace to guide your actions and decisions. Taking time to pray, reflect, and seek God's guidance can help you regain your peace and approach challenges with a sense of calm and clarity. This practice not only helps you make better decisions but also reflects your trust in God's wisdom and timing. [01:05:58]

Colossians 3:15 (ESV): "And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful."

Reflection: When you face a problem today, take a moment to pause and pray. How can you regain your peace before addressing the issue? What practical steps can you take to ensure that God's peace guides your actions and decisions?


Day 5: Seeing Others Through God's Eyes
Recognizing that every person is made in the image of God helps us to extend grace and peace to others. This perspective allows us to be more compassionate and understanding, fostering a spirit of unity and love in our interactions. When we see others through God's eyes, we are reminded of their inherent worth and dignity, which can transform the way we relate to them. This mindset encourages us to treat others with kindness, respect, and empathy, reflecting God's love in our relationships and communities. [01:13:48]

1 John 4:12 (ESV): "No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us."

Reflection: Think of someone you find difficult to love or understand. How can you begin to see them through God's eyes today? What specific actions can you take to extend grace and peace to them?

You are holy, holy, holy, holy. Hallelujah!

Do you believe that he's a holy God?

I want to read a scripture to you. I want us to go back just for a moment to the right at the top of that song, right at the beginning of it.

And I'm going to ask the whole church—maybe not the first part, whatever part. I'm asking the whole church.

No, you go to the top; I'm speaking to them now. You go to the top. For the rest of you guys, I want us to sing this like God himself is sitting right here on this stage and you ministering this back to him.

So no spectators for the next two or three minutes. Just sing. Just act like the King just showed up in your situation, showed up in your circumstances.

And I don't know what mountain valley you may be in, but just for this moment, just trust me for this moment here. Whatever your thing, whatever your situation, your pain, your struggle, your mountain, your valley may be, there's nobody else but God.

And so let me read this here and then just go right back into that song. And whatever y'all could get in on, I want you to start singing that song as well.

Nobody else. Singing may not be your thing; it's okay. Lifting your hand may not be your thing. But we all going to lift hands. We all going to step to the side.

Whatever your thing, just do something as an expression that, God, I'm getting a little bit near you, a little bit closer to you with my hand, with my feet, with my mind, with my heart.

I'm going to do something physically as an extension of what I want to at least happen on the inside of me. And I want to get a little bit closer to you.

I'm not comfortable lifting my hand, but God, right now, I don't care what they're saying; I'm lifting my hands to you. I'm not comfortable singing, but God, I'm singing to you.

My praise is not about them; my praise is unto you.

Psalm 150 says, "Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in the sanctuary. Praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts. Praise him according to the excellent greatness. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet. Praise him with the psaltery and a harp. Praise him with the tambourine and a dance. Praise him with the string instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals. Praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise ye the Lord."

Come on, give God a praise. Let's worship God in this moment. Thank you, Father. Hallelujah!

Just the instruments right now. Just the instruments. Come on, play it. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord.

You're worthy of our praise, God. You're worthy of our praise. We thank you, God.

I'm going to ask if there's any educators in here that's going back to school this week, any students that's going back to school. I'm going to ask you guys to come to the altar so we can do a special prayer.

I'm going to ask Pastor David and Aria to come forth and just lead us in prayer. And if everybody could just still stand for one moment. I'll let you sit in a second here.

If you could stand for one moment. And let's just, as we did this in the first service, let's do it again here in the second service.

I want to just ask the congregation to extend their hand towards these teachers and these students that will be going back to school here in the next few days. You can get tight here at the altar.

Matter of fact, while I'm, yeah, as they're coming all in, I guess I'll send the other kids in as well.

But I just want to, for those who know, we're getting ready to launch another campus in Pooler. And we changed that launch day to the first Sunday in January.

And officially, Pastor David and his lovely wife is going to be the campus pastor at the Pooler campus. And so, amen, excited about that.

Man, I'm excited about that. You know, just been away for the past few weeks and just watching the services and things like that, even though I already knew it was going to be that way.

But just watching the services and things and just seeing the people's reaction to you guys over the years or so, it's been absolutely amazing.

And me and Patrick T, I'm pretty sure we can say the same thing; you guys are absolutely amazing. You represent well, and I'm just excited to see what God's going to do in the Pooler campus.

They'll still be a part of us here; they're not going anywhere. Even though they're going somewhere, we'll still be tied together here.

We'll get more details on what all that's going to look like in the days and the weeks ahead. Excited about just giving us a little bit more runway instead of doing it in September for just some of the things we're working together with over with New Hapstead School.

And so working with them now, we'll be doing our first outreach with them, I think, next week actually. So looking forward to sharing some of that information with you.

I said before, anybody can go by my wife, and if anybody feels there to go to Pooler, you're welcome to go. I am convinced on the first day of that service it's going to be a packed-out place over there at that school.

And that is what the first week is. I'm sure I can go back to what we were talking about. We're very local; you know your school is a little bit out of place.

And you know we're excited about it making more room here, making room there. We'll make more room here, and I believe that as we plant one here, as we've done.

So thank you for your leadership. Working with the staff here has been absolutely amazing, and looking forward to see what these next few months is going to look like as we roll this thing out.

Because they don't know what's about to hit them yet. They think they know, but they don't know what's about to really come. And it's going to be all good. Amen.

So let's bless these teachers and let's bless these students.

Well, good morning, Host City. It is officially good to be back home after a lot of summer traveling, working, Africa. Literally Africa.

Literally around the world to Africa and back. And God's been faithful. It's been good.

And as always, no matter where I go, it's always good to be back here at Host City Church.

All right, everyone. God, now, if y'all want to say a lot of that, I'll go back where I came from now.

Okay, now. I love Africa now. They want me to come back now. I'm just looking for an excuse to go back.

I'm looking for an excuse to go back to Africa quick and so on. But God's been good. It's been amazing.

I want to give just a couple quick announcements, and then I'm going to jump in the Word. Again, honestly, it is truly good to be back here to see your faces.

No matter where I go, nothing feels better than seeing people you know at the church you worship at and serve at.

And so, as much as you know me, you know me. As much as y'all see me out and going, it's no place like home.

So I love Hope City. Love you guys. Just three quick announcements here.

Number one, just a reminder, this August, from August the 4th through the 10th, is going to be what we call our seven days of prayer.

If you've been here long enough, any time in the past 10 years, you know we normally do a 21 days of prayer and fasting in January, and then 21 days of prayer in August.

So we're switching that, starting now into 2025, where it's going to be seven days of prayer and fasting next year in January.

But starting right now in August, it's going to be seven days of prayer. So it's always fasting and prayer in August, and just prayer, I'm sorry, always fasting and prayer in January, and just prayer in August.

And those that want to add fasting to their August time, you can do that. But I just want to encourage you, from August 4th to the 10th, we'll be doing prayer here.

Of course, the 4th will be that Sunday, so we'll somehow, someway add some prayer elements to the service.

But Monday through Friday, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., we're going to be doing prayer. That will be in-person prayer here at Hope City Church.

I want to encourage you to get here to pray. Only one hour it will be. Worship will take place. It'll be a powerful time for you to connect with God, and us to go before God for one hour of prayer.

And then we'll close it that Saturday from 8 to 9 on that Saturday, okay? So for seven days, we'll have some prayer resources on the website in the lobby starting this upcoming week, and so let's engage in that.

And then we're also moving, starting the first Wednesday in August. I think we announced this last week, but starting the first Wednesday in August, we're going back to our first Wednesday night services.

And so those who've been here long enough, you know that basically means on the first Wednesday of every single month, we just have a full worship service on that Wednesday night.

So I want to encourage you, if you've never attended one before, this will be the best time to just give it a try.

We're also, what was our worship Wednesday night has now been merged. We've merged with the first Wednesday.

So those that normally come to the third Wednesday night worship, that's been moved to first Wednesday night as well. So you'll get both in one.

I promise you, it's Believer's Night. Anything could go. If you like speaking in tongues, running, shouting, and screaming, that will be the time for you to come to Believer's Night on first Wednesday nights.

That's for the believers. And so guests can come, non-believers can come, but it's the time where we don't care. We're going to let it all just go in Jesus' name, amen?

And so if you've never been before, I really would encourage you to come. It really could be a boost in your spiritual, in your personal revival that you may need in your personal life.

And then last but not least, starting next Sunday of next month, as you guys know, our offering is very short. I mean, literally, our offering time could last about a minute.

We don't push offering heavily in our services. Most people, 95, 97% of you guys give online in the middle of the week.

So that's one of the reasons why we don't do a heavy push on giving on Sunday. It's because most people have already given prior to Sunday morning.

However, we are in a little, as folk would say, in a pickle right now, because there's new people, new babes in Christ asking about giving and tithing and offering and do I have to give and things like that.

So we are going to be implementing our offering buckets back in the service starting next Sunday, so that because they want to know, is it an option? Do I have to give? Why?

So we're going to implement a couple of things in our Sunday morning offering time. It would never be this high-pressure giving moment, but we do want to make sure that people do know offering is a part of our worship.

It's not an add-on. It's not something we are suggested to do. We are commanded to give, and we don't want to, as a church, make it so casual as if we shouldn't be giving back to the Lord.

And again, some folk might say, well, the church don't need anything; they're great. No, trust me, we do need. This AC is only working because you did it.

Come on, somebody. If you wasn't giving, this AC would not be fixed on today. So thank you again for your faithfulness and your generosity.

You literally make things happen here at Hope City. So we appreciate that, but do bear with us as we do make sure that we're engaging those new individuals who are walking in their faith and want to know that they're honoring God in their giving. Amen.

Okay. Well, let me jump right on into the word today. I'm going to do what was going to be a two-part message. It may somehow turn into three. My goal is two.

But I want to just do a talk on high road living, high road living with so much craziness and chaos going on in our world today with so many social issues and political issues and things going on in our world.

The tendency or the desire or the temptation to go low, to go negative is going to always be around us. And I want to just encourage us as a church to find a way to live high, that we could live a high road living.

John Maxwell wrote a book called High Road Leadership. And I just decided, you know what? I want to just do a teaching on high road living.

And he talks about in the book that how that's going to be high road leaders, middle road leaders, and low road leaders. And how high road leaders, you know, do things the right way for the right reason.

They put people before their needs and their desires, and how low road leaders are the opposite way. It's all about me, myself, and I, what can I get out of this and here doing trickery and negative things to achieve what they want the low way.

And I want to just take that same mindset and concept for us as believers, as Christians, and show us how we could take the high road the way Jesus, God would want us to take the high road in every area of our life, whether it's our faith, our family, our finances, our health, our visions, our dreams.

I want to just show us how we could live a high road life. And I want to kick it off. That's not my plan. That was yesterday to just talk about peace, peacemakers, how I believe that God is calling us as believers, as Christians to be peacemakers.

And watch us here to take that high road. It doesn't mean you don't speak truth to powers. It's managing how you speak truth to powers.

It's managing how you do the right thing because you can do the right thing and say the right thing the wrong way. So it's not about not saying the right thing and not speaking truth and not combating things that are wrong.

It's managing the way that we do it. Okay. And so look what it says here in Matthew chapter 5. I really want to get just the one verse, but in order to really understand that one verse, I really have to read all of these verses here.

But look what it says here in Matthew chapter 5, beginning in verse number 1. It says, "Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them."

It says, "He said, blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."

Here's my verse here, verse 9. "Blessed are the peacemakers." Somebody say peacemakers. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God."

I'm going to read the last two. "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me."

He says, "Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

Now, before I go back to the peacemakers, let me just kind of play with verse 11 for just a second here, just in case somebody got something twisted here.

When it says in verse 11, "Blessed are you when people insult you." Anybody been insulted? Anybody ever been persecuted?

Okay. He said, "Blessed are you when you are insulted, persecuted, and falsely say all kinds of evil." He said, "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you."

Watch this here, the key thing, "because of me," not because you did something wrong. If you did something wrong, you are being righteously and rightly persecuted and insulted.

This is talking about when you're representing God and the kingdom and doing things God's way and taking a stance, whatever that may be.

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me." He said, "Rejoice. Rejoice and be glad because great is your reward in heaven for the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

As I said before, now we're moving into a season and in this political season where you got the left and the right who's going to be, without a doubt, fighting one another, trying to say who has what is right and which side is wrong.

And God says to us in the midst of the world that we may be in with the kingdom and the empire, he's saying to us that I want you to be peacemakers.

I'm going to say peacemakers. Again, peacemakers. Peacemakers does not mean that Jesus would not walk up into the temple and flip the tables over because he will.

When things are not being done the right way, even God will walk in your party and turn the party upside down.

Anybody ever had a party going on and somebody came in and messed your party up? I mean, things were just going real good and some nutcase, some fool came in there and just was a total buzzkill on your party.

I can only imagine how they felt that day when Jesus walked into the temple and flipped over the tables.

Now, to understand what was happening, why Jesus flipped over the tables, it wasn't because they were just, quote unquote, selling stuff. It was extortion taking place in the temple.

And because of the extortion that was taking place, the unjust balance of what was going on, they were literally manipulating the balances and charging people more than they should have been.

And because of what God saw, Christ saw, he went into the temple and he flipped the tables over.

There are situations and seasons that I believe that we're called. All of us that have to flip some tables over, go in some places, go in some things that, of course, now that we have a right to go into and speak truth to power.

As he said, "Blessed are the peacemakers." That's what I want to focus on right now. Blessed are the peacemakers.

How many of you know that we're going to need some peace over the next 100 days? We're going to need some peace.

Maybe yours is not because of what's going on in the world. Maybe it's because of what's going on in your personal life, in your job, in your home, your health, your finances.

You're going to need some peace. Look at the word peace. It means shalom in the Hebrew. It is wholeness and completeness, fulfillment, inner rest, living without deficiency or lack.

I like that part where it says inner rest because how many of you know that you could look like peace on the outside but be having a raging war on the inside?

You know, many people literally could look like things are great on the outside. But on the inside, they're not. On the inside, there is no rest. There is no peace.

And so if you want real peace, you must have. It comes with an inner rest.

I like what Jeremiah chapter 6, 14 says. "Peace, peace," they say when there is no peace. In other words, people are saying peace is coming. Peace, peace, peace.

But he said, "You're saying peace, peace, peace, but there is no peace." And some of you are in that position right now.

You're hearing everybody say things are going to be good. Everything is going to be great. It's going to work out. But there is no peace.

You don't see no peace in no sight. You don't see any way out of the darkness that you may be in.

And Jeremiah says that people can prophesy. They can say things they shouldn't say. "Peace, peace, peace," they say when there is no peace.

But Jesus reminds us that if you want peace, it has to start with us as the children of God. And he says, "Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called the children of God."

Watch this here. We are never more like God than when we take the wholeness and completeness, the shalom of God, we have into a world that desperately needs it.

We're never more like God than we who have the peace of God in our heart enter into dark places that don't have that peace.

We are never more like God when we're able to bring peace into environments. We're never more like God when we're able to be the one that brings the peace into a situation.

I can just look in the course of my 20 years, particularly the last 15 years of doing ministry and counseling. People will come into my office and they'll come in, particularly those who are coming in as couples.

They'll come in with a raging war going on in their life. And they'll sometimes bring that into the environment. And I come in and I command peace.

And so in order for us to be able to command peace or bring peace, you got to have peace. And this is what Jesus is saying to us as that he's calling us to be peacemakers.

Those that can bring peace into a situation. We can experience peace in our hearts.

Look what it says here in Romans chapter 5, verse 1 through 2. I love this verse here. He said, "Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us."

Now stop there for a second. He said we have peace. We have been made right with God. Therefore, we have peace.

We have peace with God. Now watch this here. There's a difference than being at peace with God than having the peace of God.

As believers, as a Christian who is on their way to heaven, you are at peace with God. The question is, do I have the peace of God?

Now, how can I make that make sense? It's like two countries that are at war. They're not at peace with one another.

And so what the scripture says here, there was a point that we were alienated from God. We were at war. We were an enemy with God.

But through faith in Jesus Christ, we're no longer enemy. We're no longer at war with God. We now have peace with God.

The question is, now that I am at peace with God, I know where I'm going. Do I have the peace of God?

Now, if the reality be told here, many of you know you're on your way to heaven. You know you have made peace with God, but you don't have the peace of God in your life.

And this is where many believers are right now. They have faith in God. They believe in God. They know he died. They believe he died.

They're repenting of their issues and their sins. They are at peace with God, but they don't have the peace of God.

That's what I want to talk about today. How do we get the peace of God?

I hear people saying, "I'll get heaven when I die." Not me. I just can't wait that long. I just can't wait till I die to experience heaven and peace.

I need some peace. I need some right now. No, there's literally a school of people with a thought of, "I'll get heaven when I get there."

I'm just, okay, cool. I want it there too. But right now, I want to experience heaven on earth.

And there is a way for us to experience heaven on earth. Are you with me?

So let's go a little further here. In Philippians chapter four, verse six through seven says, "Do not be anxious about anything."

Anybody ever been anxious? Anxious about the daughter's report, anxious about if you're going to get the new job, anxious about what students you're going to be teaching, anxious about who's going to be the teacher over the students, anxious about if there are going to be any fighting and violence in the school system when you go by.

Is anybody anxious about something? Maybe you just lost your job. You don't know what the next check is going to come from.

And you're anxious about next month. You got X amount of money saved up for next month, for the next 90 days. But what's going to happen after the next 90 days?

Are you anxious about anything? Did you just send your child to college? Or are you about to send your child to college who's used to being home?

Now you're anxious. You're afraid. You're fearful of what's going to happen to them while they are away.

Are you anxious about anything? He said, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your request to God."

Watch us here, "and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ."

I love that there. He's literally saying to us, almost like a centurion soldier who has a shield that when you guard your heart, that when you put that shield up, that the enemy would not be able to penetrate your heart with the anxiety that he's bringing your way to cause you to lose your peace.

Your peace and your confidence in God. Because the question is not, is things going to come that will make you anxious? It's how do you handle those things when they come that's trying to make you anxious?

You know, how do you stand? Do you break? You know, do you give up? Do you throw in the towel?

Some of you are anxious about tomorrow in general because you don't know what the future looks like. Trust me, I understand.

He said, but don't be anxious about anything. Take it to prayer. Which situation? Which things? I'll take the prayer.

He says right here, every situation by prayer and petition and add a little thanksgiving to it. I like that part.

He said, while you're praying, thank me. Just thank me in the process while you're praying about it.

In other words, go ahead and act like it's already done. Stop thanking me in advance for what you believe for me to do.

Too many of us, we can go passively to God in prayer, but if we go in this position and this posture of knowing that we're going to be saved, we're going to be saved.

When we come to him, that he will hear us, that he will answer us, and that he will respond to our prayer and the peace of God, which transcends all.

I like to say the peace of God that makes no sense. You ever find yourself in a situation and a circumstance and you had this kind of peace that you're like, "I don't know why I ain't mad. I ain't upset. I ain't about to lose my mind."

Because it's like something in your heart that's like, "I don't know what's going to happen. I don't know how the money going to get here. I don't."

But it's a witness. It's a witness in my spirit. You know, come on, buddy. It's a witness in my spirit.

Somehow, some way, it's going to be okay. Can we give God a praise for that in advance?

Watch this here. When a problem causes you to lose your peace, don't hurry to resolve the problem in hopes of regaining peace.

But first regain peace and then see what can be done about the problem.

Let me say it. I know it was good. Let me say it one more time. Let me say it. I had it right there.

I'm going to read it out. When a problem causes you to lose your peace—anybody ever lost their peace?

Don't hurry to resolve the problem in hopes of regaining the peace. First regain the peace and then see what can be done about the problem.

Too often, too often we're trying to get the peace back first or trying to fix the problem first. No, get your peace first and then let's get to the problem.

Have you ever had a problem that knocked you out so bad? We say a TKO, a situation where you can't even think straight or see straight and you're trying to—you can't even get no peace because your mind is all jacked up.

No, let's first regain our peace so now you can think straight and see straight. Now let's work on the problem. Are you with me right now?

We got to make sure we are psychologically strong enough to be able to handle the problem when we realize what it really is.

Look what it says here in John 16, 33. He said, "I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble."

In this world, you might have trouble. In this world, it's a possibility you might have trouble. In this world, you never know you might have trouble.

No, it's not what he's saying. He said, "In this world, you will have trouble." And this is not subjective. This is objective.

We got information, facts, and truth. You're going to have some trouble. The old folk used to say you're either in one or three positions.

You just came out of a storm, you are in a storm, or you're about to go through a storm. You ever been there before?

Evident. And then don't find yourself in the kind of storm where you just got out of one storm.

It's almost like the hurricane season and the hurricane was going on for two weeks. It ended and said, "Oh, we just saw another storm on the way."

It's like we just got out of a hurricane. Life can be that way sometimes where you just came out of one storm, one problem, one situation, and another thing shows its ugly head.

But we have confidence and reminder from God that we're not to be anxious about anything. We got reminders from God that in this world, you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer for I have already overcome the world.

In other words, the problems you're going to have, I've already worked them out. You just need to figure it out.

And the only way for you to figure it out is that you need to get with me. So if we go back to my statement here, when a problem causes you to lose your peace, don't hurry to resolve the problem.

In hopes of regaining the peace, but first regain peace and then see what can be done about the problem.

So one of the fastest ways to get your peace back is to go to Jesus, who's the Prince of Peace. Regain the peace back.

So when the storm comes or you see the storm, you now between you and God, you can figure it out. Come on, somebody.

Because he is the wonderful counselor, right? He's the all-knowing, the all-seeing. He's the Alpha and Omega.

He's already as much as he's in your present, he's also in your future. He already sees the outcome.

He already sees what's going to happen. Whether we like it or not, he's already in the future. He already knows what's going to happen.

He's already there. So if I get on the same page with him, even if it's something I don't like in the future, he can give me peace right now to endure whatever that is.

I don't want to even see. You ever found yourself in a situation where you know someone was about to pass away?

You know, you don't know what day or the hour, but you already made up your mind. You knew, you know, they're going to pass away in the next few weeks.

And you say, "God, give me strength to walk this journey. God, give me peace to be able to walk this mile."

You already see what is about to happen. Oftentimes, God sees stuff that is about to happen.

And you just need to make sure the umpire, that the peace of God, that Jesus himself is walking with you through those things.

Because watch this here. Some stuff is not going to change. But what will change is you and God giving you peace about the situation.

Come on, somebody. And that's what we need right now. Now is the peace of God about the situation.

I've often come to realize that some problems come our way for God to change us. Come on, y'all don't like that, do you?

Some storms, some problems come just for God to change you, to change us. We need to learn how to extend peace through our lives.

People need peace. The world needs peace. And we, as the peace bearers, need to know how to extend.

The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. Now, let's stop that for a second.

The thief comes only. He ain't coming to hang out. He ain't coming to make sure your party is the best party.

The thief coming for one particular assignment broken down into three things. He coming to steal, kill, and destroy.

He ain't coming to have you live your best life. He coming to steal, to kill, and destroy.

And the moment it looks like your best life, sin, none of us have sin, and like, ooh, I don't like this sin.

We sin and keep sinning because we like what the sin— you ain't got to say, I'm sinning, ooh, I don't like this sin.

No, you sinning and you enjoying that sin. Come on, don't dignify and sanctify.

No, you did yours last night and you was like, you was, come on. We sin because there was something pleasing, something pleasurable about sin.

The thing that we were—the thief comes only but to steal, kill, and destroy. But look at the rest of the verse.

It says, "I came that you may have life and have it to the abundantly." I like the message of the—or one translation says, "I come that you may have life to the full and until it overflows."

Some of you don't have that life because you got an inner war going on. You look like peace on the outside.

Your makeup look good. Girl, you got it going on. That phobia hair. Come on, somebody.

Those extra extensions you may have. Man, your tie look good, bro. Your shirt look great. You look good or not.

You got that—that outside look great, but that it's an inner war going on. You want to snap. You want to quit. You want to throw in the towel. You want to give up.

You look good like me right now. Come on, somebody. Don't play with it. Come on.

You look good on the outside. They got a war going on on the inside. Making sense?

And again, you may not be there now, but maybe one day will come. You're going to need this message here that I don't have a war going on on the inside now, but what do we do when the war shows up?

What do we do when we find ourselves in a war situation? Here's one thing we can do here. See others through God's eyes.

We're going to see some people during this election season through the eyes of God. You know, Pastor Corey, you don't know them like I know them.

You just might say, I see them through the eyes of the devil, but the eyes of God, no, you don't know them like I know them.

We got to see people through the eyes of God. Because what if we saw you through our eyes from what we really know?

What we really know about you and what you really did do? Come on, somebody.

We got to start saying—and let me be clear. This is not always easy to do. It is not easy to see people through the eyes of God.

All I see is what you did last night and what you said to me and how you talked about my mama, how you talked about my daddy and my kids.

Yeah, ain't no God up in this right here at all. Trust you me, I get it.

But he didn't give me no suggestions. His strategy must work somehow. I just—it's not that I like everything that God says.

It isn't that you got to like everything. I mean, how many of you like everything your mama said when you was growing up?

"Be home by nine o'clock." What? "Party don't get started at 11 o'clock." Be home at nine o'clock.

You don't like everything they say, but that's still your mama. That's still your daddy. You honor what they say.

God sits in a position I cannot see. He sits high. He looks low. Not only is he in my present, he's in my future.

He sees stuff I cannot even see. He could make some calls I don't even understand because of his position in my life.

How have you positioned God in your life when it comes to the stuff you have to do?

I mean, I think about the two thieves on the cross. One was cursing him all the way to the end. And one at the end said, "Remember me."

What if Jesus would have said, "No, I ain't going to remember you because all I'm going to do is remember everything you did wrong."

He did. Jesus was even in that moment there, told him he's going to see him in the kingdom.

Because why? He was able to see him through the lenses of God. And we got to get to a point that where we can start, even people who are broken and jacked up, see their potential.

Now, am I? Now, don't twist what I'm saying here. Does that mean you give people access and power to your life? Life in certain parts? No.

No. Like in this voting season right now, vote what you want to vote for. If you don't believe in A or B, you got a right to vote.

But when it comes to your individual personal life, yeah, we're going to choose who will walk up in this life. Come on, somebody.

Who coming and who going? I control this. You control this here.

But at the end of the day, we're called to be peacemakers. It's not what we do. It's how we do it.

It's not what we say. It's how we say. It doesn't mean that you're some weak person and you let people walk over you.

Come on, my DI people. We ain't letting nobody walk over us. Come on.

We'll be nice and kind and loving, but we're not going to let you walk over. Oh, no. You get you a C.

Now, there'll be all. And if you're a C, you need some help, just call me. I got your back.

See others through God's eyes. Look what it says here in Genesis 1:27.

"So, God created mankind in his own image." Why you had to read that?

When we see others through the eyes of God, you can't help but remember he created mankind in his own image, and the image of God created him male and female, created him them.

Humanity is lost. We're all human beings. We're all frail. We all got weaknesses. We all got shortcomings.

But at the end of the day, we're all human. We're all living beings. We got to see each other through the eyes of God, flaws and all.

How can I close this here? We can spread peace by living in peace.

We can spread peace, you and I, as peacemakers. We can spread peace by living at peace.

And first, peace starts with living at peace with yourself. Some of you are trying to bring peace in other people's lives, but you haven't even made peace with yourself.

Some of you are still holding yourself guilty and condemnation for something you did five and ten years.

How can you bring peace into somebody else's life when you have not made peace with your own self?

You need to forgive yourself for what you did and what you didn't do.

Watch this here. Some of you are not at peace with somebody in your life, and this happens to us all.

But the question is, do I ever... We may be not... We may be not at peace, or in this case here, let's say we are at peace, but we don't have peace.

You ever been there before? We okay. Things are good. It's just the—one scripture says, "Restore unto me the joy of my salvation."

In other words, my joy, his joy wasn't the way I loved God at the beginning. It wasn't there.

He said, "God, restore unto me the joy." I'm at peace with God. I'm still with God, but I ain't got no joy is what he's saying.

You ever been there before? He says, "Restore unto me the joy of my salvation. Restore unto me."

Our world needs joy. Our world needs peace. We need to spread peace by living in peace.

Martin Luther King Jr. says, "Be the peace you wish to see in the world."

Be the peace you—whatever kind of peace you want to see, then guess what? You first start being that peace.

When I go to places, people always want me on the team. If there's a voting going on and it's five over here, five over here, nine out of ten, I'm going to be the one of the first to pick, if not the first person, because people want me on the team.

I bring something to the table. I bring something to the team, and they don't want to pick me at the last minute because at that point there, if the other person get me, they're going to be upset about it.

I'm saying that to say this here. You want to get to a place that there's something about you that people pick you every time because you bring a peace.

You bring a joy. You bring something to the table that would not be there if you were not there, and if they have to make a decision between you and somebody else, they're going to pick you first because they don't want to risk this opportunity of losing you.

When people find real peace and you bring peace in their life, don't just let that go.

Come on. It's like having a good worker or a good person who— a good employee.

You don't just let good—if a good employer tells you, "I'm about to quit," you want to talk and figure out what can I do, what happened, because you don't want to lose a good employee.

But you don't have to—well, for the bosses, whoever had people who worked for them, you ever had people who worked for you, you was glad they were submitting in their resignation and was like, "Thank you, Lord. I need you to get out of here anyway because you ain't bringing no peace into this company."

I hope you're one of those kind of people.

Well, people are like, they're glad you're gone. They're glad you quit. They're glad you're not because you're not a peacemaker.

Be a peacemaker. I think I'm a peacemaker. I'm a peacemaker, and I've got a many doors, so don't let nobody fool you that just because you are a peacemaker, because you are meek, that means you're weak.

Listen, there was nothing weak about—Moses was one of the meekest men in the world. There was nothing weak about him at all.

So you could be a mighty man and be meek, but that doesn't mean you're weak. So don't let that be twisted that they can just get over on you.

No. Because now you also got the wisdom of God, or the mind of God, and you ain't got to get yourself all worked up because you're walking in peace, and you can see what they can't even see.

And you walk in with the element of confidence of, "No, we ain't going to do that today." Why? No, no, no, because I got something in here that's saying no.

And you ain't got to work yourself up. I'm a man. No, no, no, no, no, no, no.

Come on. Real men don't even got to do that. You just show up.

All three of my kids, I'm going to go backwards. Courtney, I ain't never had to hit her. I just look at her and it's like, Maya, yeah, just my look just scared her.

Corey, he got one. I even think it was a beating. I had to get Corey one time.

And it would be, I got my fingers, and I twisted him like this here. And I did a look.

I mean, it was—you got to put—you got to put the fear of the Lord in some people as well.

Yeah. And the whole time he—I don't know where I was going with that story. I just got lost.

Meek, meek. Thank you, ma'am. Thank you. Thank you. At least one person listening to me today.

Don't mean you're weak. Meekness don't mean you're weak. It's power under control.

Somebody need to write that down. Power under control. We need peacemakers right now.

I think the people who take the high road is going to get favor on them in this season. The favor, what's going to get you in the door, it's the favor of God, the hand of God over your life.

Yeah, they may get all the knowledge and all the followers and stuff, but the favor of God is going to be on you.

James 3, 18 says, "And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness."

Don't miss that. "And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness."

Last verse, we can be the evidence of peace to our world. Look what John 17 says here in verse 22 in the message of translation.

"The same glory you gave me, I gave them. So they'll be as unified and together as we are. I in them and you in me. Then they'll be mature in his oneness and give the godless word of God and the world evidence that you sent me and love them in the same way you love me."

You can be—we could be the evidence of God's presence, the evidence of God's power, the evidence of God's realness through our life.

Listen, we are never more like God than when we take the wholeness and completeness we have into a world that desperately needs us.

We're never more like God when we take the wholeness and the completeness of what God has given us, what God wants to give us and take it into a world that desperately needs it.

Can we stand to our feet and let's pray.

Father, we thank you. Thank you for high road living. Thank you for creating high road men, high road women, high road bosses, high road organizations within this church, high road church, high road leaders who will be the difference maker within their spirit of influence.

God, I believe that somebody is in the process now of establishing a new business, a new assignment. And God, almost every mountain of influence need a difference maker.

So whether it's education, business, politics, religion, entertainment, business, whatever area they're about to enter into, let them take this high road living, this high road leader mindset.

And God, I declare it would distinguish them among the others. It will make them stand out. It will become evident that those individuals should buy into whatever they may be selling, that business should partner with them, that bank should give them the loan.

God, whatever they are pursuing in this season, listen, for there is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof is death.

God, thank you for showing us another way. Thank you for showing us to be peacemakers. Thank you for showing us how to get what we desire through you in this season.

Thank you for being an Alpha and Omega. You're already in the future. You already see what we cannot see.

And so God, we want to see our life through the lenses of one that has the ability to have an angle that we don't have.

Father, I pray that that will rest on these people today. Come on, lift your hands all over the building.

And Father, as they lift their hands, I speak power. I speak presence. I speak purpose over every person in this place.

God, whatever they are pursuing, whatever they are after in this season, God, I speak favor over their life, whether it's personal, whether it's business, whether it's a relationship, whatever the specificity of it may be, God, I prophesy greatness over them.

I prophesy open doors, Father. I prophesy whatever they need in this moment, God.

As we move and we take on this moment, as we take on this peacemaker mindset, Father, that, God, you're going to give them favor upon favor, not only from you, God, but they'll be in favor with man.

I declare right now in the name of Jesus, God, it is done, it is so. God, I declare that some people will go back a second time or third time to something they were rejected to in the past.

And God, you're going to give them the yes that it's supposed to be. And then, God, there's going to be those that will go back to the past.

They'll go back and they want the answer to change. But, God, the answer is going to be what it's already been.

But, God, you're going to give them peace to walk with that answer, God, and to be able to endure it and to accept it.

And, God, you're going to lead them where they need to be, God. Not just physically need to be, but emotionally and psychologically and spiritually at rest so that they can move forward.

And whatever this thing is about to be, God, and I think it's about to be great, I think it's about to be amazing, and I think it's going to bring them back.

Lord, their mind. You can put your hands down.

With every head bowed, every eye closed, no one's looking around. Maybe you're saying, "Pastor Corey, I needed this word today. I know church, but I don't know him.

I've shaken your hand, but I yet to shake God's hand. I got good religion, but I don't have a personal relationship with this God you're talking about.

I want to know what it means to give my heart to Christ. I want to know what it means to be saved and born again. I don't have that assurance, but I want to take my last breath on this side that I will enter into the presence, the presence of my creator.

I want that assurance today. And then secondly, maybe you're already saying, "I already have that assurance. I know that when that day comes, no matter how far down the road it may be, 50, 80 years from now, 90 years from now, that you will enter into the presence of God.

But what you don't have is a church home that teaches the word of God in such a way that you can take it and apply it to your life, to your faith, your family, whatever those things that means the most, and you'll be transformed by it.

We'll welcome you here today here at Hope City. So if you're standing in one of those two places, it's not going to call you up, not going to call you out, but right there where you're standing, just by the show and the slipping of your hand towards heaven, just want to know if I'm praying for you.

If you're saying, "Hey, Pastor Corey, please include me in on this prayer." And let me just quickly, quickly see your hand on the count of three. One, two, three.

Will there be one? Will there be one? I see that one hand. I see that hand as well. I see that hand. I see that hand.

I see that hand as well. I see that hand as well. God bless you all. God bless you.

And now do me a favor all over the building. Let's all lift our hands towards heaven and just repeat this simple prayer after me, if you will.

Say, "Lord God, thank you for sending Jesus Christ to die on the cross for my sins."

Say, "God, I believe he also rose from the grave with all power in his hand."

Say, "God, I ask you now to forgive me of any and everything that has separated me from your love."

Say, "Now, God, I don't fully understand what all this means, but I do believe with your presence living on the inside of me, I will become the person you desire me to be."

So I ask you now, so I ask you now to fill me with the power and the presence of your Holy Spirit.

Holy Spirit, you are welcome to live in my heart for the rest of my life.

Father God, your word declares in the man being Christ, he's a new creation. Old things are passed away and behold, all things are become new.

Father, I declare right now, anyone that made that decision to make Hope City Church their home physically or a God that made that spiritual decision, God, to make Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior for the very first time, I declare that anything they lost in that season of separation of a spiritual relationship with you or even a physical church home type connection, God, anything they lost in that season of separation, I declare they're moving into a season, God, of restoration and recovery and that they will regain it all back in the name of Jesus.

And Father, I declare that anything that attached itself to them that is sucking away at the quality of their life, every yoke, every chain, every burden that is falling off right now and who the Son sets free, they are free indeed.

In Jesus' name I pray. Can we celebrate with every decision made in this place on today?

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "Just act like the king just showed up in your situation. Showed up in your circumstances. And I don't know what mountain valley you may be in, but just for this moment, just trust me for this moment here. Whatever your thing, whatever your situation, your pain, your struggle, your mountain, your valley may be. There's nobody else but God." [24:00] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)




2. "We are never more like God than when we take the wholeness and completeness, the shalom of God, we have into a world that desperately needs it. We're never more like God than we who have the peace of God in our heart enter into dark places that doesn't have that peace." [58:16] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)




3. "When a problem causes you to lose your peace, don't hurry to resolve the problem in hopes of regaining peace. But first regain peace and then see what can be done about the problem." [01:05:11] (13 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)




4. "In this world, you will have trouble. And this is not subjective. This is objective. We got information, facts, and truth. You're going to have some trouble. The old folk used to say you're either in one or three positions. You just came out of a storm, you are in a storm, or you're about to go through a storm." [01:07:04] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)




5. "Some storms, some problems come just for God to change you, to change us. We need to learn how to extend peace through our lives. People need peace. The world need peace. And we, as the peace bearers, need to know how to extend." [01:10:38] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)




### Quotes for Members

1. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God. I'm going to read the last two. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me." [53:22] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)




2. "The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. Now, let's start that for a second. The thief comes only. He ain't coming to hang out. He ain't coming to make sure your party is the best party. The thief coming for one particular assignment broken down into three things. He coming to steal, kill, and destroy." [01:11:20] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)




3. "Some of you are trying to bring peace in other people's lives, but you haven't even made peace with yourself. Some of you are still holding yourself guilty and condemnation for something you did five and ten years. How can you bring peace into somebody else's life when you have not made peace with your own self?" [01:18:33] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)




4. "We can spread peace by living in peace. We can spread peace, you and I, as peacemakers. We can spread peace by living at peace. And first, peace start with living at peace with yourself." [01:18:33] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)




5. "We are never more like God than when we take the wholeness and the completeness of what God has given us, what God wants to give us and take it into a world that desperately needs it." [01:25:04] (12 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)