by Hope City Church on Oct 21, 2024
In today's gathering, we explored the theme of "Don't Sell Yourself Short," a message that encourages us to rise above mediocrity and embrace the fullness of our God-given potential. We delved into the story of Gideon from Judges 6, a man who initially saw himself as weak and insignificant, yet was called by God to lead and deliver Israel. This narrative serves as a powerful reminder that God often sees more in us than we see in ourselves. Despite Gideon's self-doubt and the overwhelming circumstances he faced, God assured him of His presence and strength, urging him to act in faith and courage.
We discussed the importance of overcoming self-doubt and pushing beyond our limitations. In today's world, mediocrity often becomes the norm, but we are called to strive for greatness, not by our own might, but through the strength and guidance of God. The story of Gideon teaches us that our circumstances do not define us; rather, it is God's purpose and vision for our lives that truly matter. We are encouraged to see ourselves through God's eyes, recognizing our inherent value and potential.
Moreover, we emphasized the necessity of stepping out of our comfort zones. Growth often requires discomfort, and God sometimes allows us to face challenges to stretch and mature us. Just as a mother eagle stirs the nest to encourage her young to fly, God may unsettle our lives to propel us toward our destiny. We are reminded that our past mistakes should serve as building blocks, not barriers, to our future success.
Finally, we are called to recognize our value and not let our circumstances dictate our worth. Like a diamond in the mud, our value remains intact despite the challenges we face. We are encouraged to trust in God's plan, knowing that all things work together for the good of those who love Him.
**Key Takeaways:**
- **Overcoming Self-Doubt:** Gideon's story reminds us that God sees potential in us that we may not see in ourselves. Despite our self-doubt and perceived weaknesses, God calls us to act in faith, assuring us of His presence and strength. We must learn to trust in His vision for our lives, even when our circumstances seem overwhelming. [45:35]
- **Pushing Beyond Comfort Zones:** Growth often requires stepping out of our comfort zones. God may allow discomfort in our lives to stretch and mature us, much like a mother eagle encourages her young to fly. Embracing discomfort for the sake of progress is essential for reaching our full potential. [01:02:58]
- **Recognizing Our Value:** Our worth is not determined by our circumstances or past mistakes. Like a diamond in the mud, our value remains intact despite challenges. We must see ourselves through God's eyes, recognizing our inherent value and potential. [01:07:25]
- **Using Past Mistakes as Building Blocks:** Our past mistakes should serve as building blocks, not barriers, to our future success. God's grace is sufficient, and His power is made perfect in our weakness. We are encouraged to learn from our past and use it to propel us forward. [01:19:30]
- **Trusting in God's Plan:** All things work together for the good of those who love God. We are called to trust in His plan, knowing that He is with us in every circumstance. Our faith in His purpose and presence will guide us through life's challenges. [01:17:09]
**Youtube Chapters:**
- [0:00] - Welcome
- [01:00] - Announcements and Civic Engagement
- [05:00] - Importance of Community Feedback
- [10:00] - Addressing Volunteer Challenges
- [15:00] - Introduction to "Own Your Life Now" Series
- [20:00] - Don't Sell Yourself Short
- [25:00] - Overcoming Self-Doubt
- [30:00] - Gideon's Story and God's Assurance
- [35:00] - Seeing Through God's Eyes
- [40:00] - Pushing Beyond Comfort Zones
- [45:00] - Recognizing Your Value
- [50:00] - Using Past Mistakes as Building Blocks
- [55:00] - Trusting in God's Plan
- [01:00:00] - Invitation to Salvation and Church Membership
- [01:05:00] - Closing Prayer and Celebration
**Bible Study Discussion Guide: "Don't Sell Yourself Short"**
**Bible Reading:**
- Judges 6:11-16
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**Observation Questions:**
1. What was Gideon doing when the angel of the Lord appeared to him, and what was the angel's greeting? How did Gideon initially respond to this greeting? [49:44]
2. How did Gideon perceive his own abilities and status when God called him to save Israel? What reasons did he give for his self-doubt? [49:44]
3. What was God's response to Gideon's concerns about his weaknesses and the challenges he faced? [49:44]
4. How does the story of Gideon illustrate the theme of overcoming self-doubt and recognizing one's potential through God's perspective? [49:44]
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**Interpretation Questions:**
1. In what ways does Gideon's story challenge the common belief that our circumstances define our potential? How does this relate to the idea of seeing ourselves through God's eyes? [56:03]
2. How does the concept of stepping out of one's comfort zone apply to Gideon's journey, and what can this teach us about personal growth and faith? [01:02:58]
3. What does the interaction between Gideon and God reveal about the nature of God's calling and assurance, even when we feel inadequate? [49:44]
4. How can Gideon's story encourage individuals to use their past mistakes as building blocks rather than barriers to future success? [01:19:30]
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**Application Questions:**
1. Reflect on a time when you felt inadequate or doubted your abilities. How can Gideon's story inspire you to trust in God's vision for your life despite your self-doubt? [49:44]
2. Identify an area in your life where you feel God is calling you to step out of your comfort zone. What practical steps can you take to embrace this challenge and grow in faith? [01:02:58]
3. Consider a past mistake that you have allowed to define you. How can you begin to view this mistake as a building block for future growth and success? [01:19:30]
4. How can you practice seeing yourself through God's eyes this week, especially in situations where you feel undervalued or overlooked? [56:03]
5. Think of a current challenge you are facing. How can you apply the lesson of trusting in God's plan, knowing that all things work together for good? [01:17:09]
6. What specific action can you take this week to recognize and affirm your inherent value, regardless of your circumstances or past experiences? [01:07:25]
7. How can you encourage someone else who may be struggling with self-doubt or feeling stuck in their circumstances? What words or actions might help them see their potential through God's perspective? [49:44]
Day 1: Seeing Potential Beyond Self-Doubt
In the story of Gideon, we find a man who initially views himself as weak and insignificant. Despite his self-doubt, God calls him to lead and deliver Israel, seeing potential in him that Gideon himself does not recognize. This narrative reminds us that God often sees more in us than we see in ourselves. We are encouraged to trust in His vision for our lives, even when our circumstances seem overwhelming. God assures us of His presence and strength, urging us to act in faith and courage. [45:35]
Judges 6:14-16 (ESV): "And the Lord turned to him and said, 'Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?' And he said to him, 'Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.' And the Lord said to him, 'But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.'"
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel inadequate? How can you invite God to show you the potential He sees in you today?
Day 2: Embracing Discomfort for Growth
Growth often requires stepping out of our comfort zones. Just as a mother eagle stirs the nest to encourage her young to fly, God may allow discomfort in our lives to stretch and mature us. Embracing discomfort for the sake of progress is essential for reaching our full potential. We are called to push beyond our limitations, trusting that God is guiding us through the process. [01:02:58]
Deuteronomy 32:11-12 (ESV): "Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, that flutters over its young, spreading out its wings, catching them, bearing them on its pinions, the Lord alone guided him, no foreign god was with him."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are resisting change or discomfort? How can you embrace this discomfort as an opportunity for growth today?
Day 3: Recognizing Inherent Value
Our worth is not determined by our circumstances or past mistakes. Like a diamond in the mud, our value remains intact despite challenges. We are encouraged to see ourselves through God's eyes, recognizing our inherent value and potential. This perspective allows us to live confidently, knowing that our true worth is found in God's purpose and vision for our lives. [01:07:25]
Isaiah 43:4 (ESV): "Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life."
Reflection: How do you typically measure your worth? What steps can you take today to align your self-view with how God sees you?
Day 4: Building on Past Mistakes
Our past mistakes should serve as building blocks, not barriers, to our future success. God's grace is sufficient, and His power is made perfect in our weakness. We are encouraged to learn from our past and use it to propel us forward. By embracing our imperfections, we can grow and develop into the people God has called us to be. [01:19:30]
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (ESV): "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
Reflection: Reflect on a past mistake that you have struggled to move beyond. How can you use this experience as a stepping stone for growth today?
Day 5: Trusting in God's Plan
All things work together for the good of those who love God. We are called to trust in His plan, knowing that He is with us in every circumstance. Our faith in His purpose and presence will guide us through life's challenges. By surrendering our plans to God, we can find peace and assurance in His divine guidance. [01:17:09]
Jeremiah 29:11-13 (ESV): "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to trust God's plan? How can you actively surrender this area to Him today?
Amen, amen. Well, good morning, Hope City!
All right, I mean that screen acting like it came from Timu today. I'm like, what's up with that? You know, and then what we got that from? Y'all know what I'm talking about if you're laughing, right? Hold on now, what's up with this? Like, we paid too much for this thing to be acting like Timu. Come on now, buying that spirit, whatever you is. I said, nah, there ain't no spirit, that's Timu. That's what we is. We ain't going nowhere.
Oh, MJ, okay, let me get serious and sanctify it for real. A good morning, church! Praise the Lord! Thanks! I said, praise the Lord! Thanks! And y'all play right into it too. Y'all worse than me. OMG.
Now, hey, FYI, we've done, I think our media team and production team has done a great job over the weeks making sure that we create a process that, you know, everything that's going on here at Hope City Church. Can we give a quick round of applause to our media team? Amen!
So, lots of information given out today. Our goal is to make that video available via a weekly email posted on social media as well, so you're pretty aware of everything that's going on here at Hope City Church as we lean into the Christmas holiday season. If this is your first year with us during the Christmas season, I promise you it is a season you do not want to miss. You'll get a chance to experience a real amazing Christmas holiday season here at Hope City those weeks leading up to Christmas.
So, make sure you stay and subscribe to my channel and subscribe to my online community engaged. A few quick announcements I want to give before I jump into the message today. Our middle school students are dismissed at this time to go to their session.
Also, just want to encourage us, our middle school students, those who are in here, most of them may be already out, but just want to encourage us to remind you we're currently here in the state of Georgia. We are in early voting, so I want to encourage you to make sure that we all do our civic duty this election season. Of course, election day is on Tuesday, yes, Tuesday, November the 5th here at Hope City.
We never tell people who to vote for and how to vote. I just want to encourage you that we have been given that responsibility as an opportunity in our country, in our city to vote. So, I just want to encourage everybody here at Hope City Church to engage in the political process this particular season here. It truly will make a difference.
Again, here in the state of Georgia, we are currently in early election. It's November the 5th. It's a difficult day for you. I will highly encourage you to get out and vote now while the lines are short. I heard just as of yesterday, over 1.3 million people have already voted in the state of Georgia. And so, it appears it's going to be a very, and that's record-breaking for the state of Georgia. And so, there does appear there will be a lot of voting going on this year.
And then last but not least, I want to encourage those who have, well, even if you did not sign or fill the form out for the town hall. Next Sunday, we'll be having our town hall here at five o'clock. There will be another survey or another text going out today or tomorrow, just confirming who will be in attendance.
Listen, this is really not a, yes, you got a choice to show up. And I'm asking all of Hope City Church to show up on November the 5th at five o'clock for an open town hall meeting that will be here. That's me giving you insight. A lot of questions were asked over the past few weeks. What's your heartbeat? What's the temperature of Hope City? How has Hope City been a blessing to you in the struggles and the pains you've been experiencing?
Again, as this church continues to grow, the propensity and the opportunity for people to get overlooked, to get lost in the midst of a growing church can happen. And so, we are creating a system, or we have created systems and processes to make sure that no one ever gets overlooked. But again, it can happen. And we do want to know your experience, your feel, what's your heart towards Hope City?
Right now, we got a lot of feedback over the past few weeks. A couple hundred people, if not more than that, did fill out the survey. I'll respond to some of those surveys in real time next Sunday, as well as address a few other things and give updates on just the state of Hope City Church, the future of the great things that God is going to be doing here, the planning of our next campus coming this January.
A lot of stuff. And for those who are not serving, we heard things like reasons why you're not serving. And if you don't mind me just sharing right here, one of the big reasons why we felt compelled, the staff felt compelled to put this survey out, because there seemed to be a lot of people stepping away from serving on our dream team.
And a couple of things that we got, we were like, okay, let's make sure it's nothing that we're doing here as a church-wise to make people not step up. There's too many people here at Hope City not to have the level of volunteers that we should have for over 800 plus people showing up between three services on a Sunday morning.
And one of the things that really not shocked me, but was kind of good to hear that most of the people who stepped back, their issue is not per se something with Hope City, it's that people got a lot of issues going on in their own personal lives. And it's making it difficult for them to serve.
And so, even with that being said, we're creating things to whether, I think I shared on last Sunday, when we had the storm here, we sent out a text, you know, for families in need for food. We ended up giving out about $10,000 plus for families that were in need of food-wise. So things really can help people out.
And we just, again, want to make sure that our church is healthy. It is whole. No one's been left alone. Our motto here is don't do life alone. And so we want to make sure that you are doing life here with those of us that call Hope City Church home.
So join us next Sunday, five o'clock. It'll be an hour, hour 15 at the most, but I think it could be a pivotal moment that we all come together as a church and kind of hear some insight of what's going on here at Hope City as we go into 2025. Amen.
With that being said, let me jump right into the word on today. I started a series a few weeks ago from a book that I wrote called "Own Your Life Now." Have you been enjoying this series thus far? Good, good.
And so part, this is actually part four, right? Part three or four? Part three? Okay, so part three. Oh, right. Next Sunday is part four. Fourth Sunday is part four. Today I want to talk part three about "Don't Sell Yourself Short."
Don't sell yourself short. It's a lot of things going on in the world that we could belittle. We can drop down, lower what God is calling us to do and God is calling us to become. And so I just want to talk about this thought, this idea of don't sell yourself short.
Don't settle for anything less than what God has in store for you. I want to talk about this thought idea of overcoming self-doubt, pushing beyond any limitations you may have, and refusing to settle for mediocrity. You know, today mediocrity is becoming the new standard. It used to be great was the goal. Now the goal is average.
You know, the goal used to be make it. Now the goal is fake it. You know, don't arrive there. Just look like you arrived there. That's the new goal now. And social media makes it that easy that everybody can have the life that or look like they have the life that we all want and never arriving to that place to really have it.
And so I really want to just get us to a place here to see from the Word of God how we don't have to settle for this idea of mediocrity and just focus on realizing your God-given potential and also pushing you to build your faith.
I want to look at a guy by the name of Gideon. Gideon, he became a judge or was a judge, one of the voices that God used during his time. If we look at Judges chapter 6, beginning in verse number 11, I believe that he is one person that was about to sell himself short on what God wanted him to do.
And look what it says here in Judges chapter 6, beginning in verse number 11. It says, "The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Orpham that belonged to Joash the Abzerite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites."
It says, "When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, 'The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.'" In translation, it says, "The Lord is with you, you mighty man of God."
Now, have you ever been there before that your circumstances didn't look like what God was trying to tell you who you are? I mean, it's like he felt anything but a mighty warrior based on what was going on around him.
He said, "Pardon me, my Lord," Gideon replied, "but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Have you ever been there before? That if God is really with me, God really is, God is really for me, well, why am I going through all of this?
Well, why haven't I made it where I thought I should be by now if God is really with me? He said, "But if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, 'Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?'"
It says, "But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of the Midian." Then verse 14, "The Lord turned to him and said, 'Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of the Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?'"
And look at verse 15. He said, "Pardon me, my Lord," Gideon replied, "but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I'm the least in my family."
The Lord answered, "I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive."
Did you notice every time he had something to say, God never talked about the problems that he brought up? It's like God was looking over everything he was saying and saying, "Do what I say do. Just, just, just, I'm not talking about your conditions. I'm not looking at your circumstances. Yes, I know what's going on in your life before you knew what was going on in your life, but I'm not considering your problems and what I'm calling you to do."
And how many know that God is not considering your problems and what he's asking you to do? What is he asking you to do for him? It's as if God is not even focused on the problems, not even focused on the circumstance, not even focused on real issues and problems in Gideon's life.
He said, "Hey, hey, hey, I just need you to go and do what I tell you to do." He's talking about how he's the weakest clan, his family is the weakest, he's the smallest tribe. He's telling God all the reasons why he doesn't qualify to do what God is telling him to do.
Tell him, have you ever been there before? You're bringing God your resume. You're showing him where you were born. You're showing him what you've got in the bank account. You're telling him to believe for a house and you don't even have the money in the bank to believe. But God says, "Go believe for a house."
Gideon is constantly bringing God his weaknesses, bringing God his excuses, and God is overlooking the excuses because God realized when I tell you something to do, I don't consider your problems.
God does not consider your failures or what they know about you and how you fell short and what side of the track you were born. God knew exactly where you were born at. He knows exactly how much money you have in the bank. He knows exactly how old you are and he's asking you to still do that despite your age, despite your ethnicity.
Come on, somebody. Despite the money you got in the bank, despite the life issues going on in your life, God is saying, "I want to use you." And not only do I want to use you, I want to use you in such a significant way.
He said, "I will be with you and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive." So with your weak self, go do what I say do. With your small self, go do. Come on, get the picture. Go do because you think you can only do it when you get big. You think you can only do it when you get stronger.
He said, "No, go do it with your weak self because then you're going to realize it wasn't you that did it. It was the Lord that did it. It wasn't by might nor by power, but by my spirit, says God."
Some of you are waiting for the right things to come together to do what you need to do. God said, "I'm not going to let them come together because then you will get the credit for it. I'm going to let everything be jacked up and messed up so you know it was nobody but the Lord."
Come on, somebody. Nobody but God. Have you ever been there before? You say, "Man, if God don't show up, it can't be done." That's exactly how God wants it to be so that you could know and everybody that's around you could know ain't nobody did that but the Lord.
Come on, somebody. See, some of you need a situation where you could say it was nobody but God. I didn't have the money. I didn't have the education. I didn't have the friends. I didn't have the family, but God showed up and showed out on my behalf.
That's what we need and that's what he was going to do with Gideon. He kept looking over. He kept bypassing every excuse that Gideon was bringing.
As you learn how to own your life now, what excuses are you bringing up why you can't own who you are? What true facts, what true facts in your life, true circumstances are you bringing up in your life that is stopping you from doing what God is telling you to do?
The facts may be real. The facts may be there, but in the face of truth, the facts don't even matter. When God shows you something, tells you something, there may be circumstances and facts that are real, but it doesn't matter when God gives you truth.
I just tell people oftentimes, we oftentimes say, you know, fake it till you make it or we say stuff like, you know, like faith, you know, faith is not denying the facts. I'm going to say it again. Faith is not denying the facts.
Faith is not denying that this hurts. Faith is not denying that I don't like this. Faith is not denying that the bill is due tomorrow and I don't have the money. That's not faith.
Faith says, in the face of the facts, I still believe God. Come on, somebody. In the face of what the doctor has said, I still believe God. I've never seen the righteous forsaken or received begging for it. Come on, somebody.
I know what the doctor's report said, but the word says, "By his stripes." Come on, somebody. So faith is not denying the facts. Faith is not acting like you're not going through what you're really going through.
Yes, it hurts. Yes, you're tired. Yes, you got a headache. Yes, they're getting on your legs. That's a fact. Come on, somebody. It's a fact you're getting on my legs. But by faith, God going to give me a new heart. Come on, somebody.
Somebody say, "It's a fact." It's a fact. Some stuff is truly the real conditions of your life. There are real facts going on in your world. And I want to show you just even through some examples today that we have to learn how to remember that we are still human.
That even Jesus, when he said, "Father, why have thou forsaken me?" That was God. Jesus telling God, "Why have you?" Because he was human. Come on, somebody.
I mean, Jesus was the one that got in Peter's face and said, "Get behind me, Satan." Come on now, you're supposed to be Jesus. Come on now, be nicer than that. No, but he was also, come on, human.
"Father, Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass me by." He was human. He knew what the will was. He knew what the scripture says before the world was framed. He was slain before the foundations of the world. For this cause, I come into the earth.
But he's still saying stuff like, "Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass me by." He knew it was not possible, but his human side—listen, you are human. You are real. You have real pains and you have real problems.
But when we take our circumstances and line them up in the face of God, no matter how bad the circumstances may be, they are no match for what God can do. He said, "The Lord answered, I will be with you. And you will strike down."
Oh, imagine the Lord saying that to some of y'all today. "I'm going to get that new house." I just don't, I don't know how I'm going to get the Lord to say, "Go get the house. I'm going to be with you."
You say, "I'm going to start that new business, but I don't got everything." The Lord said, "I'm going to be with you." You're going to start that new relationship and you just don't know, "I'm going to be with you."
The common denominator or the one key factor that was going to guarantee Gideon victory is the Lord was with him. See, all you need to know is, is the Lord, are you with me? God, are you in this?
Because if you in this, I don't know how to make it come together. But all I know, if you in the equation, you going to make it work out. Come on, somebody.
You know, you hear stuff in the Bible that says, "One should chase a thousand, two should put 10,000 in flight." Well, technically, if one going to do a thousand, if I got two, it should be 2,000, right?
But how many of you know that God's calculator doesn't line up with our calculator down here? When he say, "One should chase a thousand, two going to put 10,000 in flight." He's going to say, "One should chase a thousand, two going to put 10,000 in flight."
The first shall be last and the last shall be. God's ways are not like our ways. His thoughts are not like our thoughts. He's God. He can do what he want to, how he want. Come on, somebody.
And you're still trying to evaluate your life based on your little finite human mind. God said, "Girl, I'm alpha and omega. I'm the beginning and the end. I'm already in your future and I've already worked some stuff out."
You got to start seeing your life through the lenses, your circumstances through the lenses. God, I'm going to give you just a few things here on how we can ensure that we don't sell ourselves short like Gideon was about to do.
Number one, as I said already, see yourself through God's eyes, not your own. See your life through God's eyes, not your own. Because most of the time when we see our lives through our own eyes, it's going to be coupled with a whole lot of our life experiences, where we were born, where we were not born, our hang-ups, our hook-ups, who hurt us, who left us.
It says in Judges 6, verse 12, God calls Gideon a mighty warrior. He didn't even see himself being a warrior in that moment. He had too much going on in his life.
Anybody got any stuff going on in their life? Life and the title that you have don't match with your circumstances? Come on, somebody. It's like my title don't look like what I'm in.
Listen, God's vision of who you are is greater than your own view of yourself. I'm going to say it again. God's vision of who you are is greater than your own view of yourself.
Gideon said, "I am insignificant. I am the weakest of my tribe. I am the smallest." He began to see his life through his circumstances, and you got to see your life through the eyes of God.
What if you measure every decision you make based on your experiences and based on how you see? And God is like, "Man, I sit high and I look low. I can see the beginning and the end. I can see some stuff you cannot see."
So when you see your life in this world through my lenses, you— See, this is the reason why we want to— When the Scripture says the steps of a good man, good woman are ordered by the Lord.
This is important because the Lord sees all. He knows all. We are limited in our ability to see, to understand, and to process. Even when we want to see, understand, accept, and process, this human being that we are, it got some hiccups in it.
I mean, some hiccups in it. You know, what does—the guy said, "Lord"—I forgot who it was. He said, "Lord, I believe. I believe, but help my unbelief."
He's like, "Lord, I believe, but it's a part of me that don't believe." You ever been there before? I hope, but it's a part of me that—I want to fight, but a part of me don't. I want to run, but a part of me want to walk.
Come on. I want to lose this 50 pounds, but a part of me want to eat these Debbie cakes. Come on, somebody. Come on. And let the church say amen right there.
You know, I want to lose this weight, but I don't feel like going to the gym today. You know, it's the way that seemed right to a man, but the end thereof is death.
Your vision won't come to pass. Your goal won't come to pass. Your dream—see yourself through God's eyes, not your own, not the community you was born in, not the neighborhood you was raised in, not the losses you took as a kid, not because you was raised in a house with an absent father or mother.
See yourself through God's eyes, not your own. Let me give you number two. Push beyond your comfort zone. Push beyond your comfort. I told you last week, most of us, God's not concerned about our comfort. He's concerned about our growth.
Jesus did not die to make you comfortable. He died for you to grow up. See, listen, when you grow up, you can go up. And that's what most people's problem is now. They're not going up because they ain't growing up. They're not maturing. They're not watching. They're not managing what they're doing.
So you're stuck in a place that you really don't want to be in, and all you need to do is grow up. Can somebody shout, "Grow up?" Now, listen, you're not talking to your neighbor. You're talking to yourself. Say, "Grow up."
As a matter of fact, say it with an attitude to girl, boy, man. Grow up. Because watch this. As soon as you grow up, you can go up. Whatever area in your life you're desiring to go higher, to do more, achieve more, you just got to grow up in your mind.
You got to mature in your mind. Think bigger. Think broader. Come on, somebody. You know, move from a victim mindset to a victor's mindset. Move from a scarcity mindset to abundance mindset.
Do you know, poverty, in the most part, unless you're in some third world country, for the most part here where we are in the USA, most poverty, it starts in the mind. And it starts with this scarcity mindset.
You know, I never, whenever I walk into places, I walk in like I belong there. I know some people walk into places like they got to, you know, like they—no, hey, no, no, no. Hey, good. How you doing? Good. And where the food at?
I walk here like I—it's not arrogance. It's, it's, it's, you invited me. I'm here. I belong here. And I'm not going to act less than because I don't have the million dollars to give like everybody else may can give. But you invited me and I'm going to eat like everybody.
Come on. No, we have this nature. I forgot the guy's name now, but he's a motivational speaker. He talks about how some people, you don't have to tell them to go to the back seat of the bus. Their very nature makes them go to the back seat because they haven't raised the level of standard in who they are.
No, I belong here. I belong to the front. Come on. It all starts with this mindset and pushing beyond your comfort zone, challenging yourself, stretching yourself.
I said last week the value of a rubber band would never be realized until it's stretched. Until it is stretched, the value of a rubber band would never be realized.
And I believe just like a balloon, God is trying to expand some of what you are doing. But whoever blew up a balloon before it, and you blew it up as far as you was comfortable, you know there was a little bit more room for a little bit more air, but you was afraid the balloon, if I puff one more time, bah, right?
That's how some of you are right now. God said there's a little bit more room in you to expand, to be stretched, but you are afraid that you're going to pop. You are afraid it's going to blow, and you're not willing to be stretched.
Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens." He strengthens me. Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. You can do all things through Jesus Christ that strengthens you from the inside out.
Somebody say from the inside out. Yeah, God is trying to push us out of our comfort zone. You know when a baby eagle, when the eagles are getting ready to, or when the mother eagle is ready for the baby eagles to learn how to fly, she takes that comfortableness that those eagles have been in and begins to take the load.
She takes the twigs that were in there and begins to stick them up. If the eagles stay in there too much, the little thorn part begins to stick the eagles, and that forces the eagles to move around and find a comfortable place.
And until they, if they get to a point they don't jump out, she'll keep on aggravating the nest, getting it to be as sticky as possible. Why? To make it uncomfortable for them to stay in.
Is it possible? Is it plausible that God is trying to make you uncomfortable? In the comfort zone you are in now? Not to hurt you, but to grow you up. Not to hold something back from you, but to teach you how to fly.
Come on, somebody. There are some eagles, what they also do is, they would take the baby eagle to one of the highest pinnacles of a tree. Take the baby up and drop the baby eagle down.
And just when the baby seems like it is going to fall, she swoops in and picks the bird. Come on. Is it possible that God has dropped you for a moment just to swoop back in?
Listen, you ain't going to fall. You ain't going to drop. God is trying to help you grow up. Somebody say grow up, grow up, grow up, grow up. This thing in your life is all about helping you to grow up.
I can do not some things, not just a few things. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Listen, you grow the most when you're willing to get comfortable, uncomfortable.
Uncomfortable for the sake of progress. For the sake of progress, for the sake of advancement, for the sake of going beyond where you are, whether this emotional, spiritual, financially, whatever the specificity of it may be for you, you grow the most when you're willing to get uncomfortable for the sake of progress.
Anybody want to progress? Anybody want to stay stagnant? Oh, you know, I'm just here today. I didn't want to just stay a little stagnant today. I ain't trying to move forward. I just want to stay right here.
Yeah, because you're comfortable. You're comfortable right there. You don't see more. You don't see the abundance and the availability that God has for you.
Here's a third thing as I hasten this message here. Recognize your value. Recognize your value. Don't let circumstances define you. Gideon said, "Do you know who I am? Do you know I'm of the smallest tribe? My family is weak."
He didn't recognize his value. He didn't know the potential that was in him. He didn't know the greatness. He allowed his circumstances to define him.
I think I shared with you guys a couple weeks ago that maybe about six months ago, I began to question why was I in a handicapped school? For those who don't know, I went to a handicapped school in about sixth grade.
I can still right now see many kids in wheelchairs, walking on crutches, and just need assistance to get around the school. And one particular kid I see right now, a white kid, he was burned somehow. His feet were kind of like this. His hands were like this as well. He had a mobile wheelchair.
Now here I am. Imagine walking around a school, seeing disabled people in the school. He recognizing your value and don't let circumstances is my point define who you are.
To this day I don't know why I was in a handicapped school. If I had to guess why, I can inquire of my mom now, but if I had to guess why I was at the handicapped school, because I had a severe speech impediment. I couldn't talk.
David said, "We gonna go to the store," it was that bad. So I'm assuming that's how I ended up in a handicapped school.
Listen, don't let your circumstances define you. That school was supposed to define me, hold me back, tell me I would not be speaking. Come on, somebody.
But you need to know your value in God. Listen, your circumstances don't determine your value. God's purpose for your life determines your value.
You can allow your circumstances to determine your value. Listen, a four-carat diamond can get lost in the mud. But just because that four-carat diamond is lost in the mud don't mean the diamond lost its value.
Come on, somebody. That four-carat diamond is still valuable even in the mud. Who am I talking to right now? You are the four-carat diamond. You are lost in the mud right now.
And just because you're in some mud don't mean you lose your value. Come on, somebody. Don't let your circumstances cause you to devalue who you are.
All the four-carat diamond needs is somebody to find it, to get it out of the mud, to wash it off. Come on, somebody. And the value will be realized.
Again, all some of you need right now is somebody to get you out of the mud, wash you off just a little bit, so that you can see the value, the potential that's locked up. Can somebody give God a praise for that on today?
Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that all things," no, some things, "and we know that a few things, and we know that all things work together."
Been at the handicapped school? I didn't know in the moment. I don't fully know right now, but all things work together for the good of them that love the Lord and who are called according to a purpose.
Listen, circumstances do not determine your value. God's purpose for your life determines your value. Who got some bad circumstances right now, and you thought your circumstances dictate who you are?
Girl, you are still fearfully and wonderfully made. Girl, you are still the head and not the tail. Girl, you are still above and not beneath. Man, you are still the lender and not the borrower.
Brother, you are still blessed in the city, blessed in the field, blessed coming and going at the same time. Do you know who you are? You are valuable. You are God's elect. You are chosen. You are not God's last choice. You are God's first choice.
And don't let your circumstances tell you that you are anything less than God's best. That's right. You were steak. If your life was based on steak, you'd be prime rib. Come on, somebody.
You ain't no pork loin. You prime rib. You a T-bone. Come on, somebody. You ain't no hot dog. Come on, somebody. I don't even like no hot dogs.
Come on, now, I know some of y'all love hot dogs. You don't know Pazza. There's some good hot dogs out there. Eat your hot dogs. I ain't got no problem with that.
Don't email me if I know how to pack. Say it today that hot dogs are cheap. Come on, now, I ain't say that. Keep on eating your hot dogs, okay?
I'm just saying, who will remember when they say, "I never knew this about maybe nine years ago." Used to watch the Jeffersons. And never really understand that part where it says, "Moving on up to the east side."
"We finally got a piece of..." And they're talking about a department, a something, a what? A deluxe apartment in the sky. Ah, ah, we're moving on up. We finally got a piece of the pie.
It's that mindset of now you're now living high on the hog. Now, some of y'all don't even know what that means. But for those that's got some connection to about two or three previous generations, we know what that means.
That meant when black folk, we couldn't eat the best parts of the hog. All we could eat was the squids. Craps that was left over from the master. That's what we call, what we call that, shipments.
Come on, somebody. Pig feet. Pig intestines. Come on, somebody. The hinder parts. But now we're eating high on the hog. Come on, somebody.
We ain't got to eat the hind. Come on, somebody. Now, let me be clear. Air, nine, den. The old nature want a little bit of them pig feet, of them hog mocks, of them chitlins.
Come on, somebody. We ain't going to eat it every day, but air, nine, den. Nine, den, right? Air, nine, den, every nine, den. For those who like a little hot sauce on it.
I mean, I don't need no hot sauce, but my wife like hot sauce on hers, though. Okay, Corey, get back in order. Get back in order. I don't know where I'm at right now, but recognize your value. Recognize your worth.
Recognize that God has made more available to us. Your worth is not tied to your circumstances or past mistakes. I'm going to say it again. Your worth is not tied to your circumstances or past mistakes.
I'm going to say it one more time because somebody need to hear that. That's your deliverance right there. Your worth is not tied to your circumstances or past mistakes.
I'm going to say it one more time. Your worth. Say it with me. My worth is not tied to my circumstances or past mistakes. Now give God a praise. Yeah. It's not. It's not.
One scripture tells us that power, life, and death. Yeah, you are not who they say you are. You are who you say you are.
So when you learn how to talk over yourself, speak over yourself, declare good things about yourself, anything they got to say, what you've been said is going to counteract. Come on, somebody.
It doesn't matter what the school said about me being handicapped. Come on, somebody. I remember I could see myself now at a different school and at that juncture when they were trying to get kids to speak clearer, they had this little phone set, this headset.
Almost like the new headset, the style now that was ugly at one point, but those big old headsets. At one point, y'all, that wasn't style. That was ugly. That was like, no, don't do that. Now it's style.
But I was that kid. I had this big old box or handle on it and inside there, there was some kind of radio system with these big old headsets. I could see myself walking to my class right now, going into that room just to go through my speech therapy wise.
And I remember one time, one of the teachers, she meant very well. She meant well. And she said to me as I was going through my process of trying to speak clearer, she said, "You know, the day's going to come where you're going to have to get a job and things like that. And even if you don't get a job where you can speak at, there'll be so many opportunities for you. It just, it wouldn't be in the area of speaking."
And again, she meant well. I know she meant well. She was trying to encourage me somehow. But how many of y'all know that good intentions doesn't always equal good results?
What I meant to, what I did, no, good intentions does not always equal good results. And that's why you got to get to a place to remember that it doesn't matter what the circumstances I was in.
It don't matter what she said. I still believe I have the potential to be what I want to be and who God says my purpose. See, the reason why I believe I got out of the stuttering space wise because God's purpose for my life told me I had to speak.
Come on, somebody. So you got a problem in your life. You got to learn how to tell your problems to line up with what God said.
Oh, I got a circumstance. Oh, I got a problem that's conflicted with what God said. Well, you better line up because God ain't changing his mind based on my conditions.
Come on, somebody. God ain't going to change his mind because your conditions are. God said, "Well, the conditions better line up with what I'm saying."
Come on, y'all better get this here today because too many people are devaluing what you can do, what you can achieve. Everybody in my house, we always had an apartment. Nobody ever owned a house. Nobody ever owned land.
So we ain't trying to own no house. We ain't trying to own that land. I bind that spirit in you right now in the name of Jesus. You should be an owner. You're on your own land. You're on your own house. You could possess.
You ain't always got to be a renter. Come on. Your purpose determines or has defined you have to be an owner for your kids to see.
Come on, somebody. See, see, see. Right now, you've got to own a house because your kids need to see they can own a house.
Come on, somebody. I'm going to say it again. Some of y'all made up your mind. I ain't going to never own no house. I'm going to stay in my apartment. I bind. I rebuke that lying spirit. You're going to own a house.
You're going to own a big house. Come on, somebody. With a lot of rooms in it, with a parking garage, a big yard. That's going to be your house. You're going to have it.
I don't care what your credit report said. I see the circumstances. God's going to work all that out for you. Come on, somebody.
You just got to know and believe and trust that God is for you and that God is with you and that God has more for you. Can we give God a praise on the front end for what he's working on, on the back end?
Come on, somebody. Somebody say, "He's working it out. He's working it out. He's putting it together." Come on. You got to believe it.
You just got to believe it. Walk by faith, not by sight. I believe the report of the Lord, not my circumstances. You got to believe. Only believe.
Sit down. Y'all making me nervous. All things, not some things. All things. All things work together. The parts you like, the parts you don't like.
The part that's driving you crazy. All things. What does all mean? It means all. The good parts, the bad parts, the parts I don't like, the parts I do like.
The parts that make sense, the parts that don't make sense. Somehow, all things work together. I don't like how it feels. I don't know. I don't like how it makes me think, but all things.
All things work together for the good of them that love the Lord. Anybody love the Lord? Come on. I love him for real. Not just because he gave you some stuff.
Come on, somebody. Not just because he opened a door for you. Not just because he's paying your bills every month. But just because he's God and God all by himself.
Come on, somebody. Just because he's the joy of your life. He's your joy. He's your strength. He's your key. Come on, somebody.
He's your way out of no way. Your bridge over troubled water. Come on, somebody. When you can't trace him, just trust him.
Come on, somebody. When you can't see him and you can't feel him, like all hell is breaking loose in your life. But God. Come on, somebody.
I don't know how. I don't know when. But I've never seen the righteous forsaken or see. Or pray. Come on, somebody.
The same God that is with me on the mountain is the God that's with you in the valley. So I don't care what you're going through. What you're being through. What you're about to go through.
Lo, I am with you. Always. Even until the ends of the earth. Come on, somebody. Give God a praise.
In your hands of the earth experience. Don't wait for the battle to be over. Shout now for your victory. Shout now for the healing. Shout now for the open door.
Praise him for the breakthrough. Thank you. Thank you, Jesus. Circumstances may be dark. Circumstances may be ugly. But the presence of God.
The peace of God that passes all your understanding shall guard your heart. Shall guard your mind. In all that you're going through. He will keep you in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on him.
Give God a praise. Give God a praise. Give God a praise. Praise him just because he's God. Praise him just because he's good.
Praise him just because he's merciful. Let everything that has breath praise ye the Lord. Hallelujah. Thank you, God. Thank you, God.
I'm not going to finish this. But just stand to your feet. Let me just end it by saying this here. Let me give you number four.
Let me give you number four. I'm going to end it right here. Use past mistakes as building blocks, not barriers.
I'm going to say it one more time. Use past mistakes as building blocks, not barriers. Second Corinthians 12:9 says, "My grace is sufficient for you. For my power is made perfect in weakness."
Come on, take about 30 seconds in your own space and just praise God. Thank God. Speak to the Father in your own way. In your own way.
Come on, 30 seconds. Make it personal. Make it private, make it public. However you want to do it. Come on, 30 seconds.
Come on, come on. Tell them about the problem. Tell them about the promise. Tell them about the pain. Tell them about the victory.
Let them know how great it is. Let them know how good it is. Let them know about the frustration. Whatever it is, come on, 20 more seconds.
We thank you, Father. We thank you, Lord. We thank you, God. We thank you, God. We thank you, God. We thank you, God.
God, we thank you. With every head bowed, every eye closed. With every head bowed, every eye closed.
Maybe someone is saying today, "Pastor Cora, I needed this word today. I know church, but I don't know him. I've shaken your hand, but I've 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 a child of God. Yes, we are all God's creation, but we choose to become a son. We choose to become a daughter after the finished work of Christ, after the gulf that separated us from getting into the presence of God.
We now make a choice. God so loved the world that whosoever will let him come. The gulf, the thing that separated us from giving us access to God. The veil has been torn.
And when we're in Christ, the scripture says we can come boldly, not to an altar, but boldly before the throne of grace, right into the presence of God.
So today I challenge you to accept the finished work of Christ. Receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Move from just being God's creation to a restored son or daughter.
Salvation is coming. Salvation is yours today. Freely, it has been given unto you. Freely received.
Then secondly, then we'll pray. Maybe you're saying, "Hey, Pastor Corey, I already made that decision. I've already made that commitment to Christ. I'm assured that that day I take my last breath on this side, I will enter into the presence of my creator.
But what I do need is a church home that teaches the word of God in such a way that I can take it and apply it to my life. I believe my faith and my family can grow here.
I believe I can hear the voice of God speak to me in my circumstances about my purpose, about my life, about the seasons that I'm navigating. I believe my family can grow here.
So if you're in this place, I'm not going to call you up. I'm not going to call you up, but right there at your seat. I just want to know who to include in this prayer.
You're saying, "Hey, Pastor Corey, please include me." On the count of three, let me just quickly, quickly see your hand. No pressure, no prime. One, two, three.
Will that be one? Will that be one? I see that one hand. I see that hand as well. I see that hand as well. I see that hand as well. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.
Will there be another? No pressure. No pressure. No pressure. All of the people, if you will, lift your hands towards heaven.
And just repeat this simple prayer with me. If you will say, "Lord God, I believe you sent Jesus Christ to die on the cross for my sins." Amen.
I also believe he rose from the grave with all power in his hands. Say, "God, I ask you now to forgive me of any and every sin that has separated me from your love."
Now, say, "God, I don't fully understand what all this means, but I do believe with your spirit, 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 any man being Christ, he's a new creation. Old things are passed away, and behold, all things are become new.
I pray for those that pray that for the very first time in faith, that were separated from you spiritually, and even those that were physically separated from a local assembly.
I declare everything they lost in that season of separation, prematurely, that they're moving into a season of restoration and recovery.
And I also declare that every yoke, every chain, every stronghold that has been attached to their life, that they're falling off now, and who the Son sets free, they are free indeed.
Come on, if you believe that, let's celebrate with every decision that was made in this place on today.
1. "Don't settle for anything less than what God has in store for you. I want to talk about this thought idea of overcoming self-doubt, pushing beyond any limitations you may have and refusing to settle for mediocrity. You know, today mediocrity is becoming the new standard that it used to be great was the goal. Now the goal is average. You know, the goal used to be make it. Now the goal is fake it. You know, don't arrive there. Just look like you arrived there. That's the new goal now. And social media make it that easy that everybody can have the life that or look like they have the life that we all want. and never arriving to that place to really have it." [45:35] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "God does not consider your failures or what they know about you and how you fell short and what side of the track you were born. God knew exactly where you were born at. He knows exactly how much money you have in the bank. He knows exactly how old you are and he's asking you to still do that despite your age, despite your ethnicity. Come on, somebody. Despite the money you got in the bank, despite the life issues going on in your life, God is saying, I want to use you. And not only do I want to use you, I want to use you in such a significant way." [49:44] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Faith is not denying the facts. Faith is not denying that this hurts. Faith is not denying that I don't like this. Faith is not denying that the money, the bill is due tomorrow and I don't have the money. That's not faith. Faith says, in the face of the facts, I still believe God. Come on, somebody. In the face of what the doctor has said, I still believe God. I've never seen the righteous forsaken or received begging for it. Come on, somebody. I know what the doctor's report said, but the word says, by his stripes. Come on, somebody." [51:42] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Listen, God's vision of who you are is greater than your own view of yourself. I'm going to say it again. God's vision of who you are is greater than your own view of yourself. Gideon said, I am insignificant. I am. I am the weakest of my tribe. I am the smallest. He began to see his life through his circumstances, and you got to see your life through the eyes of God. What if you measure every decision you make based on your experiences and based on how you see? And God is like, man, I sit high and I look low. I can see the beginning and the end. I can see some stuff you cannot see." [56:03] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Push beyond your comfort zone. Push beyond your comfort. I told you last week, most of us, God's not concerned about our comfort. He's concerned about our growth. Jesus did not die to make you comfortable. He died for you to grow up. See, listen, when you grow up, you can go up. And that's what most people's problem is now. They're not going up because they ain't growing up. They're not maturing. They're not watching. They're not managing what they're doing. So you're stuck in a place that you really don't want to be in, and all you need to do is grow up." [58:49] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "Recognize your value. Don't let circumstances define you. Gideon said, do you know who I am? Do you know I'm of the smallest tribe? My family is weak. He didn't recognize his value. He didn't know the potential that was in him. He didn't know the greatness. He allowed his circumstances to define him. I think I shared with you guys a couple weeks ago that maybe about six months ago, I began to question why was I in a handicapped school? For those who don't know, I went to a handicapped school in about sixth grade. I can still right now see many kids in wheelchairs, walking on crutches, and just need. Assistance to get around the school." [01:04:34] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "Your worth is not tied to your circumstances or past mistakes. I'm going to say it again. Your worth is not tied to your circumstances or past mistakes. I'm going to say it one more time because somebody need to hear that. That's your deliverance right there. Your worth is not tied to your circumstances or past mistakes. I'm going to say it one more time. Your worth. Say it with me. My worth is not tied to my circumstances. Or past mistakes. Now give God a praise." [01:11:54] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Use past mistakes. As building blocks. Not barriers. I'm going to say it one more time. Use past mistakes. As building blocks. Building blocks. Not barriers. Second Corinthians 12 9 says. My grace. Is sufficient. For you. For my power. Is made perfect. In weakness." [01:19:30] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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