Unity in Christ: Navigating Division with Love

In today's gathering, I expressed my deep gratitude for the community that has formed within our church. It is truly a miracle and a blessing to see each of you here, choosing to be part of this family, and witnessing the transformative work God is doing in your lives. As we transition into a deeper part of worship, I am reminded of the importance of casting our cares upon the Lord, trusting in His faithfulness and presence to meet all our needs. In His presence, we find love, joy, and peace, and I encourage you to focus on Him, letting go of the worries of the past and future.

As we approach election day, I felt it necessary to address the anxiety and division that often accompany such times. Regardless of political outcomes, our identity as Christians should remain unchanged. We are called to live lives worthy of our calling, marked by humility, gentleness, patience, and love, as outlined in Ephesians 4. Our unity in Christ transcends political affiliations, and it is through this unity that the world will know Jesus and the love of God.

The enemy seeks to sow division, but we are called to be peacemakers, maintaining unity in our diversity. Our testimony and commitment to Christ should not waver, even as political landscapes shift. We must prioritize people over policies and let our words and actions reflect the love and grace of Jesus. As we navigate this season, we are reminded to pray, listen, and lean into God's wisdom, allowing His Word to guide our decisions.

In closing, I prayed for each of you, asking for wisdom, peace, and strength to walk in love and unity. I also expressed gratitude for God's faithfulness and the opportunity to give from a heart of gratefulness. As we continue to move forward, let us remember that our primary identity is as children of God, called to share His peace, unity, and love in a divided world.

**Key Takeaways:**

- **Gratitude and Community:** The presence of each individual in our church is a miracle and a blessing. We are grateful for the stories of transformation and the privilege of being part of this community. Our unity and love for one another are a testament to God's work among us. [25:09]

- **Casting Cares on God:** In times of difficulty, we are reminded to cast our worries and anxieties on God, trusting in His faithfulness. In His presence, we find everything we need—love, joy, and peace. This requires intentional focus on Him, letting go of past and future concerns. [26:32]

- **Unity in Diversity:** As Christians, our primary identity is in Christ, not in political affiliations. We are called to maintain unity in our diversity, reflecting the love and grace of Jesus. Our testimony and commitment to Christ should remain steadfast, regardless of political outcomes. [49:36]

- **Peacemakers in a Divided World:** In a world that promotes division, we are called to be peacemakers, maintaining unity through our shared faith in Christ. Our words and actions should reflect the love of God, prioritizing people over policies and letting our testimony shine. [55:35]

- **Guided by God's Word:** In navigating challenging decisions, we are called to pray, listen, and lean into God's wisdom. His Word is our foundation, guiding us in truth and righteousness. Our actions and beliefs should be rooted in biblical principles, not shifting societal norms. [01:13:38]

**Youtube Chapters:**

- [0:00] - Welcome
- [25:09] - Gratitude for Community
- [26:32] - Casting Cares on God
- [27:34] - Presence of God
- [43:20] - Limitless Lunch Invitation
- [45:16] - Anointed Word
- [46:42] - Election Season Reflections
- [47:43] - Christian Identity
- [49:36] - Unity in Diversity
- [53:35] - Called to be Peacemakers
- [55:35] - Unity and Testimony
- [57:34] - Unity in Diversity
- [58:38] - Words and Actions Matter
- [01:01:18] - Grieving the Holy Spirit
- [01:13:38] - Guided by God's Word
- [01:17:45] - Personal Calling and Unity
- [01:21:17] - Jesus' Response to Division
- [01:23:24] - Identity in Christ
- [01:25:12] - Closing Prayer and Offering
- [01:36:43] - Farewell to Adriana
- [01:39:19] - Blessing for Adriana
- [01:40:46] - Invitation for Prayer and Commitment

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Ephesians 4:1-6
2. Matthew 5:9
3. John 17:20-23

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#### Observation Questions
1. According to Ephesians 4:1-6, what characteristics are believers encouraged to embody in their walk with Christ? How does this relate to the sermon’s emphasis on unity? [49:36]
2. In the sermon, the pastor mentioned the importance of casting our cares on God. What specific benefits are found in God's presence according to the sermon? [26:32]
3. How does the sermon describe the role of Christians as peacemakers in a divided world? What biblical reference supports this calling? [55:35]

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#### Interpretation Questions
1. The sermon highlights the importance of unity in diversity. How does Ephesians 4:1-6 guide believers in maintaining unity despite differences? [49:36]
2. Reflect on the pastor’s statement about prioritizing people over policies. How does this align with the biblical call to be peacemakers in Matthew 5:9? [58:38]
3. The sermon discusses the potential for division during election seasons. How does John 17:20-23 emphasize the significance of unity among believers? [01:08:18]

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#### Application Questions
1. The sermon encourages believers to cast their cares on God. What specific worries or anxieties do you need to release to God this week? How can you intentionally focus on His presence? [26:32]
2. In what ways can you actively promote unity within your church community, especially during politically charged times? Consider practical steps you can take to be a peacemaker. [55:35]
3. Reflect on your conversations and social media interactions. How can you ensure that your words and actions reflect the love and grace of Jesus, as emphasized in the sermon? [58:38]
4. The sermon calls for believers to be guided by God's Word in decision-making. How can you incorporate more of God’s wisdom into your daily choices? What specific steps will you take to engage with Scripture this week? [01:13:38]
5. Think about a recent situation where you felt divided from someone due to differing opinions. How can you apply the principles of Ephesians 4:1-6 to bridge that gap and foster understanding? [49:36]
6. The pastor mentioned the importance of gratitude and community. How can you express gratitude for your church community this week? What actions can you take to strengthen those relationships? [25:09]
7. Consider the sermon’s message about identity in Christ. How can you remind yourself of your primary identity as a child of God in your daily life, especially when faced with societal pressures? [47:43]

Day 1: The Miracle of Community
In the heart of every thriving community lies a tapestry of individual stories, each woven together by shared experiences and divine purpose. The presence of each person in a church community is not merely coincidental but a testament to the transformative power of God at work. This unity is a living miracle, a blessing that reflects the love and grace of God. As members of this community, there is a call to recognize and celebrate the stories of transformation that unfold within, acknowledging the privilege of being part of such a family. The unity and love shared among members serve as a powerful testament to God's work, inviting others to witness and partake in this divine fellowship. [25:09]

"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." (1 Thessalonians 5:11, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your community can you reach out to today to express gratitude for their presence and share in their journey of transformation?


Day 2: Trusting God with Our Worries
In times of difficulty and uncertainty, the call to cast our cares upon God becomes a lifeline. Trusting in His faithfulness means releasing the burdens of past regrets and future anxieties, allowing His presence to fill our lives with love, joy, and peace. This act of surrender requires intentional focus, a conscious decision to let go and let God. In His presence, we find everything we need, and it is here that true transformation begins. By focusing on God, we are reminded that He is more than capable of meeting all our needs, providing a peace that surpasses all understanding. [26:32]

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:6-7, ESV)

Reflection: What specific worry or anxiety can you intentionally cast upon God today, trusting in His faithfulness to provide peace and resolution?


Day 3: Unity Beyond Differences
As Christians, our primary identity is rooted in Christ, transcending any political or social affiliations. In a world often marked by division, believers are called to maintain unity in diversity, reflecting the love and grace of Jesus. This unity is not about uniformity but about embracing differences while remaining steadfast in our commitment to Christ. Our testimony should be unwavering, a beacon of hope and love that shines brightly regardless of the shifting political landscapes. By prioritizing people over policies, we demonstrate the transformative power of God's love, inviting others to experience the unity found in Christ. [49:36]

"There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." (Ephesians 4:4-6, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively promote unity in your community today, especially among those with differing views or backgrounds?


Day 4: Being Peacemakers in a Divided World
In a world that often promotes division and discord, Christians are called to be peacemakers, maintaining unity through their shared faith in Christ. This calling requires intentionality, a commitment to let words and actions reflect the love of God. By prioritizing people over policies, believers can let their testimony shine, demonstrating the grace and love of Jesus in tangible ways. As peacemakers, there is a responsibility to bridge gaps, foster understanding, and promote reconciliation, allowing the world to see the transformative power of God's love at work. [55:35]

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." (Matthew 5:9, ESV)

Reflection: What practical steps can you take today to be a peacemaker in your community, fostering understanding and reconciliation?


Day 5: Guided by God's Word
In navigating the complexities of life, believers are called to pray, listen, and lean into God's wisdom. His Word serves as a foundation, guiding us in truth and righteousness, providing clarity amidst confusion. By rooting actions and beliefs in biblical principles, Christians can navigate challenging decisions with confidence, knowing that God's wisdom is unchanging and reliable. This requires a commitment to engage with Scripture, allowing it to shape and inform every aspect of life, ensuring that actions align with God's will and purpose. [01:13:38]

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105, ESV)

Reflection: How can you incorporate more of God's Word into your daily routine, allowing it to guide your decisions and actions today?

A lot when I'm talking to my wife and I. It is a miracle that people walk through this door. It is a miracle that people decide to come and be a part of this church, to get up early on a Sunday morning, to walk into a place that they feel comfortable raising their hands, worshiping, and hearing from God. That is a blessing unlike anything else.

And my wife will tell you, there are times when we sit on the front row, still to this day, and we turn around and we see people and we're like, "They came." Four years in, we're still excited. That don't take much for us. We're still excited. They came. Yes, they came.

But we're grateful to hear the stories of the life change, to hear the stories of the transformations, the privilege of baptizing you, the privilege of marrying you, of seeing all the amazing things that God is doing in your life. We are grateful. We are honored that God has given this church and these people to us. And we are just so grateful to call you family, to see your faces Sunday morning.

Oh, I've said this morning, I couldn't wait to get to church. I wasn't here last week. I got the opportunity, my wife and I, to spend some time together and celebrate our anniversary. And I could not wait to get back and see your faces, to see how everybody's doing. It is a blessing and a privilege to stand up here every morning and to lead you guys. We truly love you. We pray for you throughout the week. We're excited. Truly excited to see how God continues to move in every area of your life. So thank you. Thank you. Thank you. We love you.

As we move into a deeper part of worship, I'm just reminded of the gratitude. The gratitude that I have for the Lord. The gratitude that I have for his faithfulness, his consistency in my life and in the lives of our people. It's not easy. Some of our weeks have been hard. Some of us, life has been lifing. And we've been trying to walk through it.

And so I want to challenge you right now to cast your care. To take this intentional moment in worship to cast your worry, your anxiety, and your fear on him. Because he cares for you. Everything we need can be found in the presence of God. Everything that you're looking for. Everything that you're searching for. Those immediate needs that you have a need for. All of those things can be found in the presence of God.

And so I would challenge you in this moment to lay aside last week, to lay aside the upcoming week, to lay aside what's happening later today and just focus on him. Because what happens is when we refocus on him and his goodness and his faithfulness, all the other things fade away.

Heavenly Father, I pray for those who are under the sound of my voice and those who are watching online right now. I pray that we would take this next opportunity to lean into you, to acknowledge you for who you are. God, we understand that in your presence is everything that we need. In your presence is love. In your presence is joy. In your presence is peace everlasting. Everything we need can be found in you.

So we invite your presence to continue moving in this place. We invite your presence to move up and down every aisle, every corner of this property. Lord, would you saturate us with your burden-removing, yoke-destroying power, God. We need your presence. Would you move over us right now, God? We thank you for your faithfulness. We thank you for being here with us. This is your house. This is your house. Have your way. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Hey, New Limitless family. I want to have the opportunity to have lunch with you. That's right, if you've been here within the past three months and you said, "Hey, I would love to get to know more about this church. I would love to know more about the vision, the mission, and why they do the things that they do and what is coming up, and possibly tell a story," make a decision to be a part of the church in a bigger way, then this is for you.

It is called the Limitless Lunch. This is where you'll have an opportunity to meet with the pastors, our staff, the leaders here, and hear all about what Limitless Church is all about. We would love the opportunity. Please sign up at the QR code on the seat pocket in front of you or anywhere around or at the connection table. Come and have lunch with us.

Hey, Limitless, I have a great opportunity that I wanted to bring to you. We are partnering with the YOLO Food Bank on November 12th through the 15th. Limitless Loves Woodland is the outreach arm of Limitless Church, and we have an opportunity on the 12th, the 13th, the 14th, and the 15th to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Whether it's packing groceries, making holiday packages, or handing out food, we want to invite you to be a part of the YOLO Food Bank. So please do me a favor, sign up at the connection table. We have slots that are available, and we would love for you to join us showing the city of Woodland that Limitless Loves Woodland.

Well, good morning. Good morning, everyone. How are you this morning? Good, good, good. It is good to see each and every one of you this morning. I am excited to dive into the Word. Since they've given me five minutes, I'm going to take the five minutes they gave me.

And I wanted to just quickly highlight the Limitless Lunch. And raise your hand if you made a decision to make Limitless Church your home within the past three months. Could you raise your hand for me? Just raise it high. Put your hand down, Sarah. Everyone else, raise your hand high if you've made Limitless Church home in the past three months.

Okay, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. Okay. All right, 13. Okay. So we have something called the Limitless Lunch. And basically what that is, is if you're new here, we want to have lunch with you. Whenever you come to a new church, you want to hear about the vision of the church. You want to hear about the story of the church, their mission, and what God has called them to do.

And so we want to have lunch with you and give you an opportunity to hear that, to hear our story and to hear your story. I know what it is like to walk into a church for the first time and then trying to figure out all of the things, but the opportunity that we have, this is an opportunity that we want to have to allow you to do that. We like to eat, so we want to feed you. As you could tell by the cookies that they gave us.

But we want to also share the opportunity with you to hear your story, to hear about how you found out about our church. Maybe you have some questions about some things you heard or some things that are happening, and we want to be able to present that to you. And that is our Limitless Lunch.

Okay. Let's dive in. Heavenly Father, thank you for your word. Thank you for the opportunity to hear from you, God. Your word is anointed. It has already been anointed. It has been anointed. So we would pray today, God, that you would anoint our ears to hear your word. You would anoint our heart to receive your word. Today, we would leave here not just being hearers of your word, but doers of your word as well. We honor you. We thank you. Speak today, God. Amen.

Amen. So I wanted to take a break away, a very small and quick break away from our series because I recognize that we are 10 days away from election day. And as we're 10 days away from election day, there are some things that I'd like to address, talk about what's happening, how it affects us, and how we as believers are to respond.

So it is rare that I will bring something that's happening in the world to the pulpit unless it directly affects our church. This particular thing affects our church, affects our family, affects our community. And so I wanted to take a second so that you would be able to hear from me and hear from the word on this topic.

There is a lot of anxiety around who's going to be the next president of the United States. Regardless of who wins or who loses, who we are should not change. Who we are should not change. The world is more divided now than it has ever been. And confusion is everywhere you turn.

People would say, "Hey, you know, I just wish, I wish pastor would tell us who to vote for. I wish pastor would lean in on this or talk about this." Please understand that under no circumstances will I get in this pulpit that the Lord has given me and tell you who to vote for.

Okay. Who you vote for is not my concern. But what I am concerned about is regardless of who you vote for, making sure that if you call yourself a follower of Christ, that your actions, your conversations, and how you treat one another line up with that profession of faith. That is what I am concerned with. That is my concern.

We are all different in this church. I absolutely love Limitless. If you look around, you can see anybody and everybody is here and it's fully represented in this house. It is a privilege and it is a blessing that we have here. This diversity here is to be celebrated. Diverse backgrounds. We have diverse upbringings. We have different gifts that God has given us. We have different perspectives. And all of these things are a gift from God.

But if we are not careful, we can forget that the main identity of who we are, the main identity of who we are is not Republican, is not Democrat, is not independent. It is Christian, right? We are a Christian. And that word Christian doesn't have a prefix in front of it. Christian, okay?

And as a Christian, the bar is set high for being a believer. It is set high. It is very important. And it is very much so outlined in the word of God. Ephesians chapter four, verse one through six. If we haven't said this already, welcome online family. Put your seatbelt on.

All right. Ephesians chapter four, verse one says, "I therefore, a prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, one spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and father of all who is over all through all and in all."

Paul's talking to the church in Ephesus because he's written this letter because there's some stuff that's been going on. There have been divisions in the church. There have been false teachings in the church. There has been craziness that has happened. And Paul is writing this letter to the church in Ephesus.

And the first thing he says, he says, "I urge you." I urge you. When someone is urging you, it means that they're trying their best to appeal to you or to persuade you. Another version says, "I beg of you." Which means that if somebody is begging, if they say, "I'm begging you," whatever they say after that is important. That's probably something that you want to lean into.

He says, "I am begging you to live a life that aligns with who you have claimed to be as a Christian." I'm begging you to live a life that aligns with who you have claimed to be as a Christian. I'm begging you to live a life that then he describes in detail what that life looks like.

Now why would he need to describe what that life looks like? Well, because Paul wanted to make sure that there was no ambiguity, that there was no gray area, there was no way that you could be like, "Oh, he said that, but what did he really mean?" No, he wanted to describe in detail what it meant to live a life worthy and to be called a Christian.

This scripture, along with many others in the Bible, gives us a clear indication and an outline of what our lives should look like. This whole series about home improvement has been about making sure that our lives have been built on a firm foundation, have been built on the word of God, making sure that every area of our life aligns with the word of God and the word of God alone.

And in this climate, in this season, in this election, guess what? The same thing applies. The same thing applies. How do I find out how to be a better parent? Go to the word. How do I find out how to be a better husband or a better wife? Go to the word. How do I find out how I'm supposed to store my finances? Go to the word.

Well, I understand all of that, pastor, but this is different. We didn't know that this was happening. Now, every four years it happens, but we didn't know that this was happening. So, pastor, how do we figure out how we are supposed to respond in the election season? Go to the word. This is our foundation.

You don't build a foundation under the kitchen and then not have a foundation under the bathroom. The foundation is for every area of the house. This word is the foundation for every area of your life. This is what we are called to live our life out of, and this scripture outlines it.

We are called to be peacemakers. The Beatitudes, Matthew 5:9 says, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God." When we look at what we say, the words that come out of our mouth, when we look at what we post or repost on social media, when we look at how we handle a brother or a sister who doesn't have the same opinion as us, are we eagerly maintaining the unity in the bond of peace, or have we attached ourselves to another identity that has superseded our identity as a Christian?

In a world that fuels and promotes division, Jesus says the way that people will know who we are is, guess what, not by our political party. The way that people will know who we are is not by our position on laws. He didn't say, "Oh, they're going to know you by your ability." He didn't say, "Oh, they're going to know you by your ability to pick the right candidate." That is not what he said.

He says the way that they will know us, he says those that will be called the children of God are those that are peacemakers. And that word, when you look that up, that word means those that make and maintain peace. The key to peace is unity. United we stand.

The way that we see peace happen, the way that we maintain peace is through our unity. Now, not unity in what we do, not unity in how we think or how we move. It's unity within our diversity. There is something that causes us to be one in the midst of our differences.

And that thing that causes us to be one in the midst of our differences is the word of God. This is where the foundation is. We are united under the fact that we believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God. We are united in the fact that we believe that he died and that he rose on the third day. We are united in the fact that we believe that all power and authority in heaven and on earth was given to him.

We are united and we believe in the fact that salvation is through grace by faith. We are united in the fact that we believe that we have been called and commissioned to tell people of the good news and the gospel of Jesus Christ. That is where our unity is. That is where we are united. That's where unity comes in.

Unity. Unity. Unity. Unity. Unity. Unity of our diversity. Unity isn't agreement in our opinions. Unity in the body is submission to the will and to the word of God.

Listen, the person in the White House will change, but your testimony cannot. Your testimony. Your testimony cannot. The position that you hold on a law or a bill might change based off of the understanding that you have and the knowledge that you gain as it pertains to that. But our commitment to Jesus should not change. It should not change.

For far too long, we have favored our ideology and our opinion over God's word. We prioritize our party. We prioritize our policies instead of prioritizing people. And then we accept division as a necessary evil just so we can be right.

So it's okay for me to be rude and mean because I'm standing up for what's right. It's okay for me to call you everything but a child of God because I'm defending Christianity. God forbid. That's not the type of people we want defending Jesus. God forbid.

Here is what Ephesians chapter 4 says. Yeah, chapter 4, verse 29. "Do not let unwholesome." Now, let me tell you why. I love to amplify it because we like to skate around this. We like to be very ambiguous and be like, "You know, oh, no, no, this isn't this. It's not that. It's not this. It's not that."

So let me cover what this scripture means because some of y'all, excuse me, some of us, not in this, in first service, not in this service, will be like, "Pastor, it's okay. You know, I just say a couple words every now and then. It's good. It's, you know, it's just, you know, when I feel passionate, you know, when I'm very strong about something or I'm just cussing them out in jest."

No, okay, let me just, let me just read it, okay? And then it's like, "Oh, well, what is curse words?" Okay, all right. "Do not let unwholesome, foul, profane, worthless, vulgar." We got all the synonyms you need. We got all of them.

It says, "Do not let unwholesome, foul, profane, worthless, vulgar words ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good for building up others according to the need and the occasion so that it will be a blessing to those who hear you speak."

So that it will be a blessing to those that hear you, so that it will be a blessing. See, you think that your conversation is about you. You think that the words that come out of your mouth don't matter. The scripture says this is not true. He says, "Why? So that it will be a blessing to those who hear you speak."

Because it's not just about you, it's about those who hear you. And here's the part that I want to encourage you to lean in. If you still offended, upset, and mad, I want to encourage you to lean in right here.

Here is what he said next, and I hadn't seen this or taken this to heart before. And so, I want to challenge you in this. This is what the scripture says. Okay? He says, "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit."

Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God. God, imagine that every time you open your mouth, you grieve the Holy Spirit of God. You trying to find out why I don't hear him? Why I don't hear him? Why isn't he speaking? Why do I not feel like he's moving? What is happening? What is happening? Could it be your mouth is the problem?

Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God. This is what he says. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, but seek to please him, him whom you were sealed and marked and branded as God's own for the day of redemption, the final deliverance from the consequence of sin.

Here we go. Just in case you said that wasn't enough. "Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, perpetual animosity, resentment, strife, fault-finding, and slander be put away from you."

He says, "I'm not done yet. Along with every kind of malice, spitefulness, verbal abuse, and malevolence, please, he says, be kind and helpful to one another. Be tenderhearted. Be compassionate. Be understanding, forgiving one another readily and freely, just as God in Christ also forgave you."

Your words matter. The way you treat people matters. And you know what? I was reading this, and I read this over a couple of times, and I saw that there wasn't a caveat. There wasn't a caveat in there for the political season.

I looked a couple of times, and it wasn't like, "Oh, you know, in parentheses, because in the Amplified, they put the stuff in parentheses." I was looking for the part that said, "Except during political seasons, except during elections, except when you feel passionate, except when you feel that it's justified." That was not in there.

There was no caveat. He says this is how we're called to live as believers. We are called to walk in love. We are called to be generous. We are called to be compassionate. We are called to be understanding. We are called to be kind. We are called to be helpful. We are called to forgive one another, just like Jesus forgave you.

Kindness, love, grace, compassion. These are the qualities that Paul is saying should define us. As we look at this season leading up to Tuesday and even beyond next Tuesday, we have to evaluate ourselves and say, "Am I getting caught up in division? Am I fighting to win? Am I fighting to maintain the unity of peace?"

Because just like every other area, when it comes to being a believer and when it comes to unity, this means everything. Maintaining unity means everything. There is nothing, nothing in this walk that we can just put a pass on and just be like, "It's okay. We're going to be okay."

When it comes to unity, it means everything. It is a big deal. It is not something that should be looked upon in a small way. Unity means everything, which is why the enemy will do everything that he can to make sure that believers are not in unity.

He will bring whoever, whatever, whenever. He will bring whatever kind of black eye. He will bring whatever kind of falsity. He will bring whatever so that the body of Christ will not be unified because he understands more than us what happens when believers come together and are unified.

He understands that there is a terrible power that happens when believers come together and are unified. When they say, "You know what, regardless of how you feel, regardless of your opinion, regardless of, it don't matter. We're going to put that to the side because we have a mission and a goal, and that goal is to get people to Jesus, to tell people about Jesus, to show people the love of God, and we're going to focus on this."

He understands. Listen to this. John chapter 17, verse 20, Jesus is praying. He says, "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray for those who will believe in me through their message." Now he's talking about us. He's talking, Darius praying for us. 2,000 years ago, he is directly praying for us.

He says, "Father, just as you are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me." "I’ve given them the glory that you gave me that they may be as one as we are one. I in them and you in me."

Why? So that they may be brought to complete unity. So that they may be brought to complete unity. Why? Why is it important that they be brought to complete unity? Why is it important that we be one? Then the world will know.

Then the world will know. I am waiting for the day that the world will know, that they will see our love. They will see our generosity. They will see the miracles that are happening in this building. And they, then the world will know.

Then the city of Woodland will know. Then Yolo County will know. Then Sacramento will know. Then California will know. Then the West Coast will know. Then the United States of America will know that you have sent me and that you have loved them even as you have loved me.

Jesus said that through the unity that we show, the world will know. Jesus. Through the unity that we show, the world will know Jesus. Not only will they know Jesus, but they will know that they have a God that loves them just like he loved Jesus. Through our unity.

That is why the enemy tries to bring division because he does not want the world to know. Because he loses. He loses big time. Every time someone comes to the knowledge of Jesus, the enemy loses. Every time we show unity when an opportunity for division has been brought up, the enemy loses.

Every time we show love when we know in our flesh that we, the enemy loses. Yes. And he says, "This is how they will know him." Through our unity, eternity is on the line. Eternity is on the line, but it is not about who our chosen official and elected official claims to represent.

Eternity is on the line and it's about who we claim to represent and the actions and the life that back up that claim. So what do we do? Because we got decisions to make. We got decisions to make. What do we do? How do we move forward?

We want to exercise our right, and I encourage you, please hear me, I want you to exercise your right as a citizen. I definitely 100% want you to do that. But please remember as believers, our decisions, our beliefs, our actions have to be guided by truth, and truth is rooted and founded in the word of God, in the unchanging word of God, not in our personal or our cultural opinions, not in what they say is right today and is wrong tomorrow.

That will consistently change. We lean on biblical principles and biblical mandates, not the shifting sands of society. This is how we are called to make decisions. This is how we are called to act.

And here's the thing, this is why I always say this: you need to read it for who? New people, y'all need to get it together. You need to read this word for yourself. Why? Why? Because anybody will say whatever and twist it and change it and flip it and take it out of context, and you sitting there like, "I didn't even know it said that."

Oh yeah, because it doesn't say that. This is why you have to read it for yourself. This is why you have to know it for yourself. This is why you have to have a relationship with him for yourself so that the Bible says you will be able to discern what is the truth and what is the will of God for yourself.

Because they will tell you anything and you're like, "I didn't even know. I don't even know what said that." And you in emotion, you're like, "Yes, yes, amen." We did a series at my last church and it was like all the things that God did not say.

Growing up, you know, cleanliness is next to godliness. It's not in there, guys. It might be true, but it's not in there. All of these things, this is why you have to know it for yourself. This is why a relationship with him is important.

We have to do things based on the truth and the will of God for ourselves on the word of God. When we as believers have to navigate challenging choices and challenging decisions, this is what we do: we pray, we listen, we lean.

Okay, we pray, we listen, and we lean. We pray to ask for God's wisdom. The Bible says, "He who lacks wisdom, let him ask." We pray to ask God for wisdom. We listen to hear what he is saying. That means you got to close your mouth so that you can listen.

We listen to hear what he is saying, and then we lean into his word and we lean into how he is leading us. We pray, we listen, and we lean. Psalm 119:105 says, "Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path."

The word is not the newspaper, not the news, not what people are saying, not Google, not YouTube. The word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. The word.

Second Timothy 3 says, "All scripture is God-breathed. It is given by divine inspiration and it's profitable." That means it works. That means it's profitable for instruction. It works for conviction of sin, for correction of error and restoration to obedience, for training in righteousness, learning to live what is righteousness, learning to live in conformity to God's will, both publicly and privately.

The word is good for showing you how to do that, behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage. Why? So that the man of God or the woman of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.

So if you want to know what to do, he says the word of God works for any of those things. The word of God works. We have his wisdom, we have his word, and we have his voice. These are the things that are offered to us and given to us as believers.

We have his word, we have his wisdom, we have his voice. God is not quiet. He is not even whispering. He has stated loudly how he has called us to represent him. It is clear in the scripture how he has called us to represent him.

And in this season, it is no different. Politics can get ugly, but God has called us to be beautiful displays of his love, beautiful displays of his grace, beautiful displays of his mercy. He has called us. Hear from him on how he has called you to move.

Hear from him on how he has called you to move. And here's the thing about when God calls you. It don't be on speakerphone. Y'all know some of y'all, when y'all pick up the phone, y'all immediately put it on speakerphone.

Sidebar, we hate that. Let's put that out there. When God calls us, it's not on speakerphone. It's a conversation between you and him. That's it. He didn't invite anybody in. He didn't conference call your family and your friends. He spoke to you.

He spoke to you, and guess what? What he speaks to you and what he speaks to me may be two different things, and that is okay. And so you do what he called you to do, and I'm going to do what he called me to do. That's it. I'm not going to argue about what he called you to do. He wasn't talking to me; he was talking to you.

And here's the thing: he has given you what he called you to do. He's given me what he called me to do, but he says regardless of that, we are able to walk in unity. We are able to walk in unity regardless of it.

Hear him for how he's called you to move. Walk in unity, and let's not get caught up in the trap that the enemy desires to set up. It is a trap, and he is laying in waiting. He said the same trap. He's consistent. Don't fall for the trap.

Mark chapter 12, verse 13 and 17. I bet a lot of you guys didn't know this in scripture. Jesus was actually asked his opinion on a law, on a bill. He was asked about a voting referendum. They asked Jesus on how he was going to vote.

Yeah, that's what I told you. Get in the scripture; it's in there. Everything is in there. You're reading, but I didn't even know that. Mark chapter 12, verse 13, they're asking Jesus. They sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians.

Now let me tell you why this is important. The Pharisees were the religious conservatives; the Herodians were the politicians. So you got religious conservatives and politicians coming together. First red flag, okay? And they're coming together to trap Jesus in his talk.

And they came to him and said, "Teacher, we know that you are true and you do not care about anyone's opinion." They landed on thick. "For you are not swayed by appearances, but you truly teach the way of God."

And here's the setup. "Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" They're asking him about a tax law. "Should we pay them or should we not?" But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, "Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it."

And they brought him one. And he said, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" They said to him, "Caesar's." Then he said to them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's." And they marveled at him.

See, this was a trap because they knew if Jesus said, "Pay the taxes," then Jesus would have been telling them to submit to their oppressor because the Romans were oppressing the Christians. So he would have been telling them to submit to their oppressor.

But if he would have said not to pay the taxes, then he would have been going against Caesar, and they could have had him arrested and killed for inciting a riot at that moment in time. But he knew the setup. And he responded, "Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and give to God the things that are God's."

And I believe if the conversation would have kept going, they would have said, "Hey, well, we see what's Caesar's, but what's God's?" And I believe that Jesus's response in that moment would have been, "Whose inscription and likeness and image is on you?"

Whose likeness and image is on you? Render to Caesar what's Caesar, but render to God what is God's. Today, we have to remember the calling and the responsibility that we have been given as followers of Jesus Christ.

We live in a world that thrives on division, yet we are called to be a light in the midst of darkness, to be peacemakers and to be unified in the midst of our diversity. We see how Jesus navigates the complexities of his time with grace and truth, reminding us that our identity is in him.

And that must take precedence over everything else, including our political affiliations. The world is watching. The world is watching. And we must show, and we must tell them that our loyalty to Jesus, our loyalty to Christ is far greater than any earthly allegiance that we could ever have.

Let every word we speak and every action we take be a reflection of the love that Jesus has for us. The world will know us by our love and our unity. We have to step beyond. We have to step beyond the lines of division and show that our primary identity is as children of God.

That is who we are. We are called to share his peace, his unity, and his love in a divided world. We pray, we listen, and we lean. We lean into his wisdom as we engage this world around us. United is how we stand. Unity is what we've been called to. And that unity is in Jesus. Amen.

Heavenly Father, thank you for your word. Thank you for speaking to your people today, God. We honor you and we acknowledge you in this place. Lord, thank you for reminding us that our unity is what you called us to be. That love is what you called us to.

And love not to those that we agree with, because you said even the pagans, those who don't know you do that, but love to those that we don't agree with. Thank you for leading us, for directing us, for guiding us, and giving us wisdom. In Jesus' name, amen.

I pray today that that message resides in your heart. The season that is upon us is a wild season, but the Word of God never changes. And what God has called us to do and how God has called us to live does not change.

It's rough. But can I tell you that your family is worth it? Can I tell you that your relationships are worth it? Can I tell you that it means more? Contrary to popular belief, all of heaven and earth is not waiting for what's going to happen on Tuesday. No.

But how you live, how you love, how generous you are, how kind you are, how unifying you are, that is the thing that lives way past what's going to happen on Tuesday. That is the thing that will minister to lives and that will perhaps change people's lives, that they will come to know and encounter the love and grace of Jesus Christ.

I'm going to close a little different today. I want to pray for you. I want to pray for each and every person that's watching online right now, that's Facebook or YouTube. I want to pray for you that are in here because this next week might get a little wild and you might see some things and you might hear some things.

But I want to pray that God continues to strengthen you, that he continues to encourage you, that he gives you wisdom and discernment as you make the choices that you need to make and that he directs and orders your steps.

Heavenly Father, I pray for everyone under the sound of my voice right now, those in this room and those watching online. I pray for wisdom. I pray for peace in the midst of chaos. I pray for clarity. I pray for discernment.

God, I pray for strength to walk in love. I pray for the strength to be peacemakers, those that make and maintain peace. God, I pray for unity in the midst of our diversity that we might become one now that they will see our unity and that they will know that Jesus is the son of God and that God loves us just as he loves Jesus.

God, I pray that our conversations would be seasoned with grace, that we will be cautious of the things that we say out of our mouth, the things that we post on social media, the things that we entertain.

I pray that we would live a life worthy of the calling to which we have been called. And thank you for giving us the strength to do that and the Holy Spirit to walk with us and show us how. I love you and I thank you in Jesus' name, amen.

I'm going to have our offering team come forward at this time. As always, I'm just truly grateful for God's faithfulness and what he continues to do in the life of this church. Today, I'm just grateful.

Looking back over this year, as we bring this year to a close and all of the things that God has done, I am grateful. I'm grateful for his grace. I'm grateful for his mercy. I'm grateful for his provision.

And so today I challenge you to give from a heart of gratefulness. God, you've been good. So we just want to take this. God, I just got to show you. I want to take an opportunity just to say thank you. God, what can I give you?

The word says he gives seed to the sower. And so we take this opportunity to sow because he is faithful. Because he continues to provide. And he is the only one that can multiply our seed to places that we have no idea that it will go.

And so Father, I pray right now for those that are here. God, I pray for this opportunity that we have to sow seed in the ground. Speak to us on what you would have us to give. God, we give our tithe back to you, God. Amen.

Our offering over and above that, what would you have us to give? That we would be generous, God, the seed that you have given us, what would you have us to sow into vision today, God? Speak right now in Jesus' name.

God, we thank you. We believe that we have heard from you, and right now we make a decision to move out of faith and out of obedience. Thank you for it, in Jesus' name. Amen.

There are three ways for you to give here at Limitless. If you're new, the offering buckets are coming by. We have an envelope on the seat pocket in front of you. You can use the QR code. Just point your phone to the QR code on the screen or on the seat pocket in front of you, or you can text the word.

If you're watching online, you can text the word GIVE to 833-879-0161, or you can give at LimitlessWoodland.com. Do me a favor. Those buckets are passing. Please stand with me. I have one announcement that I would like to make immediately following this, and I'll be right back.

Can I take that hallelujah? Well, before we leave, I had an announcement I wanted to make to you guys. Bittersweet announcement. About two weeks ago, I had a conversation with Adriana, and she let us know that she felt that God was calling her to a new season away from ministry.

And it's sad, but because all that she has done here at this church is amazing. To call her, even being here, the situations surrounding her being here is a God thing. So I am so grateful to God for bringing her to us. I'm grateful for the time. I'm grateful for the time that she served here, and the absolute turnaround that she was able to just serve in our worship department, in our tech department, in our graphics, in our video, in our social media.

She served in all of these areas and just brought a life to it. And I'm so grateful to God for bringing her to us in this season. You guys know at Limitless, we are family, but we hold people loosely. We don't hold on to them. They're not our precious. They're not our property. We don't do that.

God sends them to us for a season. And we're like a factory because we get to be a part of the process of what God is doing in their life. We get to be a part of that process. And so we are excited to see what God has for her in this next season.

And at the same time, we're sad because we don't want her to go. But I honor God for the year and change that she has been here and served us and got up early in the morning. And she looks at things in a way to where she looks at what's happening next and who affects this and who affects what.

And she has just been a blessing and an asset to this church. So what I would like to do, church, is before we leave, I want to pray a blessing over her. Can you come up here, Adriana? Aunt Ruby, would you come? Miss Jamie, would you come? Anita?

And what I want to do is I want to pray a blessing over her. Church, would you stretch your hands towards Adriana as we pray over her?

Heavenly Father, I thank you for the gift that you have given us in Adriana. I thank you for what you are calling her in this next season away from ministry. God, I pray that you would shower her, that you would wrap your arms around her, that you would give her wisdom, discernment, and peace.

God, whenever we step into a new season, God, it is different. It is different. It is different. It is different. It is different. There's so many questions surrounding how to move and what to do. But I thank you that in your presence is peace. I thank you that you will guide her, that you will lead her, and that you will direct her.

God, I thank you. We pray blessing over her life as she moves forward. We pray a blessing over everything that she puts her hand to, that she would succeed, that you would direct her and guide her. We honor you for the gift that is Adriana. We love you. We thank you. In Jesus' name, amen.

Amen. Amen. And so, please do me a favor as she leaves today. Would you guys, you know, show her some love? It's family. And so, family doesn't stop when you stop ministering on this stage.

And so, please do me a favor. Reach out to her. Love on her. Send her a text. You see her on social media. Pray for her. Lift her up. Because that's what family does. And that's what we are called to. And we're excited for whatever God is going to do in her life. Amen? Amen.

I'm going to call our altar team to the front. If you need prayer for anything at all, we want to pray for you. If you want to commit your life to Jesus, then today we want to make sure you have a chance to do that. Amen.

If you want to recommit your life to Jesus, maybe you have committed to, but you haven't been living like him, and you said, "Today is the day that I want to recommit my life to Jesus," then we want to walk with you in that as well. We want to pray for you.

Or if you're here and you say, "Pastor, I just need some prayer," then we want to pray for you as well. We continue to see God be God, and today will be no different. We would love the opportunity to pray with you, to see and to walk in what God is doing.

If you're new here, today's your first day with us. Please meet me outside at the connection table. I'd love to greet you, to say hello, and to hear your story. God bless you. We love you. And don't forget, live what? Live in faith. God bless. God bless. God bless. God bless. God bless. God bless. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

1. "Everything we need can be found in the presence of God. Everything that you're looking for. Everything that you're searching for. Those immediate needs that you have a need for. All of those things can be found in the presence of God. And so I would challenge you in this moment. to lay aside last week, to lay aside the upcoming week, to lay aside what's happening later today and just focus on him. Because what happens is when we refocus on him and his goodness and his faithfulness, all the other things fade away." [26:32] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


2. "There is a lot of anxiety around who's going to be the next president of the United States. Regardless of who wins or who loses, who we are should not change. Who we are should not change. The world is more divided now than it has ever been. And confusion is everywhere you turn." [46:42] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


3. "But what I am concerned, is regardless of who you vote for, making sure that if you call yourself a follower of Christ, that your actions, your conversations, and how you treat one another line up with that profession of faith. That is what I am concerned with. That is my concern." [47:43] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


4. "The key to peace is unity. United we stand. The way that we see peace happen, the way that we maintain peace is through our unity. Now, not unity in what we do, not unity in how we think or how we move. It's unity within our diversity. There is something that causes us to be one in the midst of our differences. And that thing that causes us to be one in the midst of our differences is the word of God." [55:35] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


5. "Unity in the body is submission to the will and to the word of God. Listen, the person in the White House will change, but your testimony cannot. Your testimony. Your testimony cannot. The position that you hold on a law or a bill might change based off of the understanding that you have and the knowledge that you gain as it pertains to that. But our commitment to Jesus should not change. It should not change." [57:34] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


6. "We have his wisdom, we have his word, and we have his voice. These are the things that are offered to us and given to us as believers. We have his word, we have his wisdom, we have his voice. We have his word, we have his wisdom, we have his word, we have his wisdom, we have his voice. God is not quiet. He is not even whispering. He has stated loudly how he has called us to represent him." [01:13:38] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


7. "Today, we have to remember the calling and the responsibility that we have been given as followers of Jesus Christ. We live in a world that thrives on division, yet we are called to be a light in the midst of darkness, to be peacemakers and to be unified in the midst of our diversity." [01:23:24] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


8. "The world is watching. The world is watching. And we must show, and we must tell them that our loyalty to Jesus, our loyalty to Christ is far greater than any earthly allegiance that we could ever have. Let every word we speak and every action we take be a reflection of the love that Jesus has for us. The world will know us by our love and our unity." [01:24:37] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


9. "Unity is what we've been called to. And that unity is in Jesus." [01:25:12] (7 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)