The Potter’s Call: Moving Beyond the Corral of Comfort

• Intercession and New Assignments 01:06:12 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor lists intercession and new kingdom assignments as key spiritual activities, emphasizing prayer for the young people.
• Transformation and Metamorphosis 01:11:52 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor explains the biblical concept of transformation (metamorphosis) using the analogy of a butterfly, contrasting it with the static nature of idols.
• Idolatry and Identity 01:13:32 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor defines idolatry broadly as anything used for identity, security, or validation apart from God, warning that believers become like what they worship.
• Technology and Social Media 01:15:53 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor identifies social media and modern technology as potential idols that can distort identity and theology if not ruled by the believer.
• Misinformation and Discernment 01:18:12 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor uses the example of UFO misinformation to illustrate how false narratives can infiltrate the church, urging discernment in sourcing doctrine.
• Discernment and Broken Cisterns 01:20:31 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor uses the metaphor of 'broken cisterns' from Jeremiah to describe cultural truths that appear valid but are ultimately stagnant, polluted, and unable to sustain spiritual life.
• Digital Addiction and Dopamine 01:21:38 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor explains how endless scrolling creates a dopamine addiction that robs believers of their ability to hear the Holy Spirit, comparing the abuse of dopamine to alcohol abuse.
• Algorithms and Identity 01:25:30 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor warns that algorithms shape desires and beliefs more than the Holy Spirit or Scripture, leading believers to seek identity and validation in media rather than in Christ.
• Transformation and Beholding 01:27:16 ▶️ 📄
  > Citing 2 Corinthians 3:18, the pastor argues that what a person beholds determines their transformation, contrasting the world's call to 'craft your image' with Jesus' call to 'be transformed into my image.'
• The Potter's House 01:30:31 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor references Jeremiah 18 to illustrate God's sovereign work in reshaping believers, noting that God often requires humility ('going down') to speak His word.
• Divine Sovereignty and Human Action 01:31:28 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor discusses how God sometimes requires specific actions from believers, citing Jesus' command to go to Galilee and Jeremiah's call, to facilitate divine movement.
• Humility and Divine Encounter 01:32:16 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor explains the biblical significance of 'going down' as a necessary posture of humility to hear the Lord, using the potter's house as a metaphor for this descent.
• Brokenness and Restoration 01:32:40 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor addresses the feeling of being 'spoiled' or 'broken' in God's hand, reframing it as a state where God can remake the individual into something beautiful.
• God's Ability to Redeem 01:33:42 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor asserts that nothing in a person's life—whether weakness, past sins, or bad theology—is beyond God's ability to shape, restore, and use.
• Fatherly Love and Persistence 01:34:49 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor uses the analogy of a father who does not discard his children despite their faults, illustrating God's persistent reach toward broken people.
• Personal Counsel and Forgiveness 01:35:12 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor shares a personal story of receiving counsel to treat an adversary like a father would, challenging his desire for retribution.
• Spiritual Sensitivity and Resistance 01:37:42 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor compares the instinctive reaction to God touching tender spiritual wounds to a hurt puppy biting when touched, urging believers to allow God to heal rather than lash out.
• Divine Calling and New Assignments 01:38:34 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor emphasizes that God does not leave people as they are but seeks to shape them for new purposes, referencing the 'corral' story as a call to leave old patterns.
• Discernment and Spiritual Warfare 01:44:35 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor prays for discernment to overcome the lies and temptations of social media algorithms, asking for grace to live above these modern distractions.
• Divine Timing and Purpose 01:44:11 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor declares that God's time has not passed for the listeners and that He has more for them, countering the feeling that their time has passed.
• Deliverance from Social Media and Algorithms 01:44:26 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor prays for deliverance from the lies perpetuated by social media algorithms and asks for grace to overcome this new temptation.
• The Gift of Discernment 01:44:54 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor emphasizes the need for the gift of discernment to distinguish between what is good, right, and righteous versus what is not, and to hear the 'still small voice' of God amidst constant noise.
• Wisdom from God 01:48:35 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor cites James to encourage the congregation to ask God for wisdom, asserting that everyone lacks wisdom in some area and that God is ready to release it to those who ask in faith.
• Intercession 01:49:53 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor calls those feeling called to intercession to raise their hands and prays for the grace and fresh vision needed for this ministry, describing intercessors as 'watchmen on the wall'.

• Sermon Illustration 01:08:08 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor recounts a dream about a golden sword offered by the Lord, which he connects to the Apocryphal story of Jeremiah offering a golden sword to Judas Maccabee to defeat Israel's enemies.
• Sermon Illustration 01:12:02 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor uses the analogy of a butterfly emerging from a caterpillar to explain the biblical concept of metamorphosis and spiritual transformation.
• Sermon Illustration 01:18:12 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor debunks a rumor that the government called pastors into a meeting regarding UFOs, clarifying that it was a private meeting among Christian men to warn against distraction and stay focused on Jesus.
• Sermon Illustration 01:24:30 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor shares a personal anecdote about using AI to manage his household budget, noting that while he hates numbers and gets distracted by details, AI helped him organize his finances efficiently, illustrating that technology can be a useful tool when used correctly.
• Sermon Illustration 01:31:14 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor recounts a personal experience of being frustrated when God asked him to go to the 'potter's house' (Jeremiah 18), highlighting the biblical theme that God often requires action and humility ('going down') before revealing His word.
• Sermon Illustration 01:40:13 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor recounts a personal story from 2019 where God told him to 'get out of the corral,' which he initially interpreted as a call to a new, exciting ministry, but which ultimately led to devastation and a realization that God's plan was different from his expectations.
• Sermon Illustration 01:35:12 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor shares a story about a pastor friend who advised him to treat an adversary like a father would, rather than seeking revenge, which challenged the pastor's desire to 'get his brother' in a dispute.
• Sermon Illustration 01:37:47 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor uses the analogy of a hurt puppy that bites when its tender spot is touched to describe how people often instinctively lash out when God begins to heal their spiritual wounds.
• Sermon Illustration 01:45:47 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor shares a personal anecdote about 'soaking' (lying on the floor to be still before the Lord), noting that while it initially seemed fun, he discovered it was a time to get still internally to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit.

• Pastoral Charge 01:07:16 ▶️ 📄
  > Pray for God to stir the hearts of those indifferent toward young people to care for them.
• Pastoral Charge 01:17:18 ▶️ 📄
  > Pause and self-examine what they are focusing on and how much attention they are giving to potential idols or distractions.
• Pastoral Charge 01:21:34 ▶️ 📄
  > Become people of discernment to hear the Holy Spirit.
• Pastoral Charge 01:27:50 ▶️ 📄
  > Ask oneself what is forming their life, identity, and beliefs.
• Pastoral Charge 01:42:03 ▶️ 📄
  > Stand up if they feel the Holy Spirit speaking to them.
• Pastoral Charge 01:44:59 ▶️ 📄
  > Pray for the gift of discernment to distinguish between good and evil.
• Pastoral Charge 01:48:59 ▶️ 📄
  > Ask God specifically for wisdom in areas of need such as family, business, ministry, or health.
• Pastoral Charge 01:49:53 ▶️ 📄
  > Raise hands to identify oneself as called to intercession.
• Pastoral Charge 01:50:04 ▶️ 📄
  > Lay hands on those who raised their hands for intercession.

[00:05:17] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:05:17] Good morning, good morning. If you can hear my voice, how about you just wave your hand back over this side.
[00:05:24] It feels like it's been a minute since I've been up here. You know, being a school teacher, it comes with its own perks.
[00:05:34] And last week, Thursday, was my last day for school. Now I like, so I can start the summer.
[00:05:47] But if you hear my voice, how about we stand up to a field this morning.
[00:05:52] And then find one or two people, just give them a high five, just greet them in the name of the Lord.
[00:05:59] and I'm going to open up with prayer this morning.
[00:06:11] Father, we just thank you.
[00:06:16] We thank you for this time, Father, for this morning, for this gathering.
[00:06:20] For this gathering, Lord, that you knew from eternity that for this day, every single person that is going to be in this room, you destined it and you knew it, Father.
[00:06:36] And as we enter into your presence this morning, Father, we just ask that you touch our hearts so we may lift you up, Lord.
[00:06:44] they may touch our minds and we may worship with all our minds may touch our souls that we may love on you help us holy spirit lift up the name of jesus the king of all kings the lord of all
[00:07:00] lords so we enter into your courts father knowing that the blood of jesus is sufficient for the past for the present for the future so we can enter into your presence boldly father for we are fully
[00:07:25] accepted by you so don't let anything hold you back this morning no lie the enemy nothing that has happened this week that can keep you away from his presence so have your way holy spirit

[00:07:50] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_10]
[00:07:50] this morning i invite you just to lift up your hands and say yes lord have your way holy spirit

[00:08:08] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]
[00:08:08] it's an appropriate song to enter into communion this morning let's get our communion cups ready

[00:47:30] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:47:30] i just had a sense this morning that the holy spirit just showed me that there was a lot of people that have a heavy heart um could be family situations uh it could be jobs it could be any of
[00:47:55] stuff could be health um and as we take communion this morning just remember that he is that friend that sticks closer than a brother remember that he experienced everything that the human experience can offer the good the bad the ugly and whatever your situation is that you're sensing this morning
[00:48:30] as we take communion remember that he was broken for us he shed his blood for us he experienced all the rejection and he bore all the sins upon himself and by his wounds we are healed
[00:48:55] so as we partake communion this morning engage the Lord in that place where you feel pain where feel heaviness we need comfort so we shall start with with his body jesus thank you for the blessed
[00:49:35] assurance that we have in you and as we partake your broken body this morning knowing that you are the bread of life let it touch every part of us let it touch every sickness lord let it touch
[00:50:02] every wound lord let it touch every heaviness lord and allow the brokenhearted father this wanted to experience the closeness of Jesus. Thank you for your body, Lord. And as you partake the cup of His blood, the cup
[00:50:32] of His suffering, we know it's by His precious blood that we can enter into the Holy of Holies.
[00:50:43] It's by His precious blood which speaks a greater testimony than the blood of Abel.
[00:50:55] So Jesus, we thank you for your precious blood that was shed for us, that we may receive forgiveness of sins that we may be born anew that we may receive the promise of the father the spirit of adoption
[00:51:24] that we can cry abba father thank you for your blood jesus and while in this place of worship can we just have the ashes come up and we're going to bless the lord with our tithes and
[00:51:57] offerings this morning in this place of his presence father we just thank you that we can give back what you've given to us we know that without your provision father i will not have anything to offer but we thank you that you give us that we can give back to you father
[00:52:22] so as we give your offering and tithes this morning bless them and may they bless your heart as well father amen and if you look in the back of your seats there should be a
[00:52:39] scan code that you can scan and it's a all one-stop shop you can tithe you can fill out newcomers if you're newcomer welcome you can volunteer i don't know what else i put in there
[00:52:59] what else was in there the translation app look at that oh look at that all in one stop shop you don't have to go very far and just kids just hold on i'm not going to dismiss you guys yet just
[00:53:17] hold on while they're collecting the offerings you know i wanted to i felt like there's something that was critical about a nation fabiola you mind coming up here real quick she's gonna give

[00:53:48] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:53:48] a testimony and she want me to translate in english which i'm really bad at it but i will

[00:53:53] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:53:53] do in the name of jesus okay okay information okay it's not testimony i will get to all you my testimony went taught with by the first but today god Okay, God put in my heart today to share with you guys what is going to happen today in Colombia, my country.
[00:54:23] I mean, her country.
[00:54:25] Your country too.
[00:54:26] We are neighbors.
[00:54:27] Okay.

[00:54:39] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:54:39] Okay, today is election day in Colombia, which they have a lot of difficulty in the politics in Colombia for years now.

[00:54:48] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:54:48] So today, hoy tenemos la oportunidad de elegir a continuación del actual Presidente que es, no quiero decirlo, pero es bien difícil.

[00:55:01] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:55:01] Today they're going to reelect the same President.
[00:55:04] She doesn't want to say anything bad about him, but it's a very difficult situation.

[00:55:09] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:55:09] Solamente tenemos tres candidatos. Uno es de la misma área del presidente actual, otro, mucha corrupción, y el otro es independiente.

[00:55:22] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:55:22] Okay, it's three different parties. One is like the, what is it?
[00:55:29] His name is Petro, is the one that is actually right now as a president, and then they have the, I don't remember.
[00:55:36] Oh, it's a letter that is very Corruptive, one of the candidates and the other one Is independent

[00:55:41] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:55:41] So As a body of Christ

[00:55:55] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:55:55] I request you guys today to Come up together and pray for my country Today is the last day or the final decision For that

[00:56:02] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:56:02] Jesus te queremos decir a Jesús que cubiertos con su sangre preciosa podamos entrar a su trono de gracia

[00:56:14] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:56:14] we want to say Jesus please cover us with your pleasure blood and this way we can go to the throne of grace

[00:56:22] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:56:22] pidiéndote por misericordia para nuestro país

[00:56:29] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:56:29] we ask you for mercy for our country

[00:56:31] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:56:31] también pidiendo por Que no haya ninguna situación conflictiva En los centros de votación

[00:56:40] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:56:40] We ask in your life for not to be any conflict In those places where people are going to vote today

[00:56:45] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:56:45] Y que a través de este mensaje La gente Tú toque los corazones de las personas

[00:56:52] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:56:52] And through this message The people's hearts can be touched By our prayers Y puedan decir Y preguntarte Jesús, ¿por quién tú votarías?
[00:57:03] And then they can go to Jesus and ask, who do you have to choose for, Jesus?
[00:57:08] Like, go to him first.

[00:57:11] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:57:11] So, queremos decirte gracias porque tú creaste esa tierra maravillosa y hermosa.

[00:57:17] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:57:17] We want to thank you, Lord, because you created a beautiful and wonderful earth.

[00:57:21] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:57:21] Esas maravillosas personas que tuvimos el honor y el privilegio de haber nacido allí.

[00:57:29] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:57:29] we're going to thank you for all the people that have like me a privilege to be born in that beautiful land

[00:57:36] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:57:36] we know that around the world

[00:57:47] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:57:47] places where people is voting right now and here in Charlotte please Lord touch their heart

[00:57:53] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:57:53] Y que a través del website de River Life or de YouTube, tú toques corazones y los que no quieren votar, que tú los inquietes y vayan a dar su voto como tú lo harías.

[00:58:06] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:58:06] To you guys, I just say that, Lord, like to put in people's heart the desire to vote for freedom, for what is right.
[00:58:14] Go on the website and listen to the message or just hear what we're doing here right now.
[00:58:18] those people that have the apathy they don't want to vote just let them to participate and come to the throne and vote

[00:58:25] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:58:25] Jesus move with your powerful

[00:58:40] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:58:40] and your mighty name for every person that is involved in this and right now Father just bring the power of your presence in every Colombian citizen, in every place, in every area that has to do with this country.
[00:58:57] In your name, amen.

[00:58:59] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:58:59] Amen. Alright, case may be dismissed. Middle school and all that good stuff, you guys are good to go.
[00:59:06] And Stephanie, come on.
[00:59:13] I'll grab the podium.

[00:59:15] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:59:15] Good morning!
[00:59:17] Okay, we can do way better than that. Good morning!
[00:59:22] Thank you.
[00:59:23] And good morning to people that are watching at home I see you guys I never say hi to them so felt different today I'm just gonna wait for this podium thank you all right so I just got two announcements this morning so I'll
[00:59:41] just be here real quick first things first is the young adults financial stewardship series that's a mouthful it'll be starting Monday June 29th so that's in this upcoming month since it's May 31st It's going to be running Monday evenings from 6.30 to 8 p.m.
[01:00:02] This is for young adults, so 18 to 30 years old.
[01:00:06] I guess 30 is still young.
[01:00:11] Okay, okay, whoa, touched your nerve there.
[01:00:17] So this whole thing is just for building a stronger financial lifestyle.
[01:00:22] If you guys are struggling financially or if you're not and you just need some stewardship, you can definitely come up to this this series um you know thank god that we have a chance to have classes like this where we are able to learn more about our finances so yeah thank you
[01:00:42] lord and if you have any questions you can contact oliver mead i don't see him um he's the tall guy with glasses and if you can't talk to him now then you can just email him oliver at riverlife
[01:00:57] fellowship.com next thing we have vbs whoop whoop whoop okay so registration is now open it's gonna be this theme is rainforest falls exploring the nature of god that sounds really cool so for the youngins that aren't able to come to Camp Morley, which is happening next week, you can do this,
[01:01:21] which is also really great. It'll be happening July 13th through 17th, and if you'd like to volunteer, wink wink, if you'd like to help lead or whatever is needed, you can definitely sign up.
[01:01:35] It's the same link that you register, and the registration, how you register is the QR code in front of you and those little chairs big chairs in the chairs you can just scan that and you can
[01:01:48] register and if you have any questions you can email tori she's the wonderful lady that was singing today she she's so amazing um and you can email her to at tori at riverlifefellowship.com okay those are my announcements come on up byron come on down you gotta come up dude
[01:02:10] I can't just can't leave me hanging all right let's let's raise our hands towards Byron this morning oh Lord Jesus thank you so much that we have the luxury to to be in your presence this
[01:02:31] morning and to be in a community Lord and Lord God I pray that the way that we can just give you our thanks is just to listen to what you have to say this morning. Listen to what Byron's got in
[01:02:44] his heart, Lord. I pray that whatever Byron has to say, that he just speaks it and we just receive it, Lord. Lord, open our hearts and our minds this morning to receive whatever you've got to say to
[01:02:55] us, Lord Jesus. In your name we pray, amen. Wow, she's something else, isn't she? She's a really

[01:03:03] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[01:03:03] good announcement giver and other things, actually. This is something she just does on the side, give an announcement. She's got a whole other life outside of that. Actually, she's going to school to study psychology, and you don't mind me saying this, but she's going to study
[01:03:20] psychology and eventually become a marriage therapist. Isn't that cool? Yeah, I was telling her the world needs a lot of people like that to help people stay married, keep the devil out of marriages. Amen? Yes, thank you. So anyways, Becky wanted me to let you know that
[01:03:39] she hasn't left the church yet, you know, just, you know, looking for a better, you know, pastor and, you know, that kind of thing.
[01:03:48] Last week she was in a family reunion, today she's preaching over at River Life Chapel Hill, so she just wanted to make sure you knew that she hasn't quit yet.
[01:04:00] Yes and amen.
[01:04:01] Thank you, Lord.
[01:04:03] Well, okay, so, you know, I'm going to tell you actually something, a dream that Becky had a few weeks ago that we really felt like was the Lord, and we were kind of wrestling with the interpretation of it.
[01:04:19] And on the way to River Life Chapel Hill this morning, she texted me what she felt like the Lord showed her, which I believe is right.
[01:04:25] In the dream, she went to this tall building and went to the 63rd floor.
[01:04:33] And on the 63rd floor, there was intercession going on, and there was also some interviews going on.
[01:04:42] And so we felt like it had to do with Psalm 63, which Psalm 63 is really a cool psalm.
[01:04:50] It's about those who thirst for the Lord will be satisfied.
[01:04:54] and so we felt like that was the first thing that the Lord was really trying to reveal that that God really wants to satisfy people's hearts right now and your heart's going to be satisfied
[01:05:06] in relationship with him that he's really trying to draw people into relationship and really look at our relationship with him and each other because you know you know the Bible says how can you say you love God and hate your brother and so we're really in a time where God wants to
[01:05:23] heal relationships, relationships in family, relationships in the body of Christ. It's just really important for, you know, God wants to heal the division that has been, that's in our nation. And it really starts with the people of God. So I just, that's one thing.
[01:05:44] The other thing was the intercession. I appreciate us really praying for Columbia, their elections, because I was sitting there thinking, you know, like, as we pray for them, for that nation, God will raise up people to pray for our nation.
[01:06:00] And we desperately need the Lord to do something in our nation, do much in our nation, which I believe He is.
[01:06:06] I believe God's going to really move and power in the United States and fix a lot of things for us.
[01:06:12] So I think the intercession is another key thing.
[01:06:15] And then the third thing was the interview assignments that I believe the Lord is really, we're in a time where God is looking to give people new assignments in his kingdom.
[01:06:26] Anybody interested in that?
[01:06:28] That would be a cool thing to have, right?
[01:06:30] A new assignment.
[01:06:31] So I believe those are things.
[01:06:33] I'm stealing all of Becky's revelation.
[01:06:35] It don't matter.
[01:06:38] She can come talk about it more later at some point in time.
[01:06:41] I'm sure she will.
[01:06:42] But I just think that's important to declare that.
[01:06:45] is, number one, your relationship with the Lord.
[01:06:48] Okay, draw near to the Lord.
[01:06:51] Number two is intercession.
[01:06:53] You know, your family needs your prayers.
[01:06:55] Your friends need your prayers.
[01:06:57] We need your prayers, each other.
[01:06:59] We need to pray for each other.
[01:07:00] Pray for the young people.
[01:07:02] That's so important right now, the young people.
[01:07:04] You know, the VBS and the Camp Morley and just the young people in general.
[01:07:09] They're really on God's heart right now.
[01:07:11] I believe that.
[01:07:13] I appreciate you saying yes.
[01:07:15] Yes.
[01:07:16] I pray if you're not feeling that about the young people, that God will start stirring your heart towards young people because we're in a critical time right now.
[01:07:27] And then the new assignment thing, which just happens to lead into my message I'm going to give you today.
[01:07:34] I tricked y'all.
[01:07:36] Kind of.
[01:07:37] Not really.
[01:07:38] Well, you know, I shared when we were out at Church in the Park.
[01:07:41] Y'all remember that?
[01:07:42] Gosh, May was just so flew by.
[01:07:44] Can you believe this is the last day of May?
[01:07:47] Gosh, I had so much to do in May.
[01:07:49] It was crazy.
[01:07:51] I went to more graduations and concerts, and it was all great.
[01:07:56] It just all became like a blur to me.
[01:07:58] I'm blurring out here going to these things, but it's really great to get to go to them.
[01:08:04] At the church in the park, I shared a dream I had.
[01:08:08] The Lord speaks through dreams about a golden sword that the Lord was offering us.
[01:08:14] And this sword, it was the word of the Lord.
[01:08:16] The Lord wants to bring a golden word to his people, okay?
[01:08:21] And actually, I found out through Cheryl B.
[01:08:25] that that was actually in the Apocrypha, which is books that are not in our Bible, but they're in Catholic Bibles, the Maccabees, if you've ever heard that term, that there was a golden sword that Jeremiah offered Judas Maccabee,
[01:08:39] a golden sword, to defeat Israel's enemies.
[01:08:43] And I thought, man, that is crazy.
[01:08:46] It kind of puts fear of God in me, you know, about that dream, y'all.
[01:08:52] It really did.
[01:08:53] It really made me realize, you know, this is pretty serious.
[01:08:56] We're in a serious time, and God is really offering people his voice.
[01:09:01] He wants a people that he can speak through.
[01:09:06] But for us, for him to really use us to speak through, he wants to speak to. He wants to speak to us. Those swords work on us first and foremost.
[01:09:18] Anyways, are y'all with me? If you want to listen to that, they actually recorded it. It's on the podcast, I think. Oliver said it was. It is? Yeah. It's just a short little devotional thing, but
[01:09:30] it's really important right now, I believe. But after I had that dream, the week after, I really was just praying about it, and the Lord gave me, impressed on my heart, three phrases, and that's really what I wanted to talk to you about, those three, I felt like they were
[01:09:48] really, the Holy Spirit was really, I just felt life on these phrases for me and for us, and I'm going to read them to you if that's okay, okay, number one, this thing is ringing,
[01:10:00] And I don't know what I'm going to do.
[01:10:05] Yeah, it's fixed now.
[01:10:08] It was not my fault.
[01:10:11] Okay, here's the first phrase.
[01:10:12] And there's three parts to this first phrase, but it's just the way it goes.
[01:10:17] What you worship is what you become.
[01:10:20] What you behold is what you become.
[01:10:23] And what you become is what you release.
[01:10:27] Okay?
[01:10:27] That was the first thing I felt like the Holy Spirit said to me, thinking about that sword.
[01:10:33] All right, the next thing I felt like he showed me was, the Father loves you just the way you are.
[01:10:38] That's a song.
[01:10:39] I love you just the way you are.
[01:10:41] Y'all love that song.
[01:10:43] But he, listen to this.
[01:10:45] The Father loves you just the way you are, but he refuses to let you stay that way because he wants you to become like Jesus.
[01:10:52] He refuses to let you stay the way you are right now because he wants to conform you to the image of Christ.
[01:10:58] And the third one was kind of funny because it might have just been personal, but it may not be in the kingdom you do not retire from purpose you become refired in the father's hands you become refired in his the father's hands so those are the three things
[01:11:17] that the lord spoke to me which i think are all connected to that dream so i wanted to read psalm 115 verse 1 through 8 i'm talking about these i'm talking about us being transformed
[01:11:32] okay God doing something different with us bringing something out in us that's already in us that God wants just like Jesus was transfigured that word transfigured in Matthew 17 the Mount of Transfiguration could have been called
[01:11:52] the Mount of Transformation because it's the same word in the Greek where in the Bible it says be transformed by the renewal of your mind you know it's the butterfly thing right that's what it means
[01:12:02] It means metamorphosis, that we become something.
[01:12:08] It's what we really are.
[01:12:11] You know, we're not caterpillars.
[01:12:12] We're butterflies, and God really wants us for that to come forth in us.
[01:12:16] Are you all following me?
[01:12:18] So I want to read this.
[01:12:19] This is kind of the intense part.
[01:12:22] It says, Not to us, Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory because of your mercy, because of your truth.
[01:12:31] why should the nation say where then is their God but our God is is in the heavens he does whatever he pleases their idols are silver and gold the work of human hands they have mouths but they
[01:12:48] cannot speak they have eyes but they cannot see they have ears but they cannot hear they have noses, but they cannot smell. They have hands, but they cannot feel. They have feet, but they cannot walk. They cannot make a sound with their throat. Listen, and this is the part I want to
[01:13:09] really pull in. Those who make them will become like them. Those who make them will become like them. Everyone, everyone who trusts in them. So, you know, of course, this is ancient poetry, three ancient psalms speaking of those kind of physical idols that people made, okay, but it's
[01:13:32] really, it really speaks way beyond just, you know, a carved image, you know, which we wouldn't really relate to, but an idol is anything we turn to for identity. That's the first thing we need to
[01:13:47] really get in our mind. Anything we're trying to get identity from really becomes an idol to us.
[01:13:52] Anything we're trying to get security, validation, purpose, or fulfillment apart from God really becomes an idol in our life, any of those things.
[01:14:00] And I think we could all say there's been times in our life that we've turned to other things apart from the Lord, whether it be your career, your ministry, your success, your possessions, you know any of those things that we're getting these these validations are getting these identity
[01:14:22] from they actually in the in god's eyes become idols to us um and so what the psalm does it contrasts these lifeless idols with the lord you know you know they can't speak but god speaks
[01:14:37] you know anything else that we're trying to get life from it really at the end of the day really can't speak they can't see but god sees they can't hear they can't talk they can't walk
[01:14:46] you know and so that's what the the psalmist is trying to get us to see is we're putting we're putting a trust we're putting something our hearts into something that the end of the day is not going to be good for us because it really can't help us okay and so and the warning
[01:15:05] really is that if we do that that it's going to we're going to turn into like them we're going we're going to lose the ability we're going to lose the ability to see and to hear and and to
[01:15:17] to discern because we we've placed ourselves we become like what it says we become like those idols we may have eyes but we really won't be able to see what the lord is doing we won't no longer
[01:15:28] be able to hear the voice of the lord are y'all it's kind of y'all looking at me kind of kind of dreadfully yeah you know and that's why i feel like the lord was saying you will become what
[01:15:40] you worship you will become what you focus on and one of the particular things i want to just bring out this morning is uh social media and modern technology because in some ways they have become
[01:15:53] those very things uh for us is they have become things that people put a lot of focus in uh especially younger people put get a lot of their identity from social media okay and see there's a
[01:16:09] great danger in that, and it's really kind of slipped in, you know, kind of unnoticed, but now it's become, it's really become a thing, where social media and technology, and so let me just say this about technology. Technology is not evil or good, okay? It's neutral. It's really how we
[01:16:29] use it. Does technology rule you, or do you rule technology? It's meant to serve us, okay? But when it becomes an obsession when it becomes something bigger than it was supposed to be in your life
[01:16:44] it's going to bring destruction in your life okay when we when we well i just want to say this uh well let me read this other scripture i just have to be really careful here
[01:16:57] uh i think everybody needs to to pause in your life sometimes and say really what am i focusing on? How much of my attention am I giving to these things? How much of it am I doing? Because it's
[01:17:18] subtle and it can draw you subtly away and begin to consume you in ways you don't really realize.
[01:17:26] And you begin to be influenced by things and people that you don't even know. That you have no clue who they are. You don't even know if they're a real person. You don't know what their
[01:17:41] everyday life is. You don't know if they love their wife like Christ loves the church. You don't know if they have friends that they are speaking into their life. And we begin to get influence and we
[01:17:53] begin to get theology and doctrine and what we believe is truth from these people. And what we're finding out there's so much misinformation out there it's just absolutely incredible can i give you one example that i've discovered this week that i was pretty astounded by well actually i
[01:18:12] wasn't i suspected it right well a couple weeks ago or maybe a few weeks ago you know the the government is releasing all this information on ufos and right and so there was this thing that
[01:18:24] came out uh where there was this meeting that the government called pastors into did anybody hear about that well let me just say something there was a meeting but the government number one the government did not call pastors into that meeting that was a lie a lie from hell okay and a lot of
[01:18:46] the talk has been to warn people that there was just stuff is going to come out that was going to affect the gospel and they needed the pastors need to warn their congregations and the truth
[01:18:59] was it was just a few pastors that knew each other that met with these guys they were christian guys and you know what the whole point of the meeting was this is what the point of that meeting really
[01:19:10] was it was to tell these pastors listen there's a lot of stuff's going to come out it's going to be a big distraction that's not true and you need to tell your churches you need to stay focused on
[01:19:21] Jesus. That was the real point. And this is coming from the guy, one of the main guys in the meeting.
[01:19:29] So that was like, man, there's just a lot of that going on now. And so we had to be really careful about what we're allowing into our lives and what we're getting our information from or what we get
[01:19:44] in our theology from, what we get in our doctrine from. Are y'all okay? Let me read this verse here.
[01:19:49] I'm still in Becky's revelation again, but actually, I'm not, I gave her this verse years ago, she just don't remember, and then she gets up here and preaches it like she got it, like God gave it to
[01:20:00] her, like Becky, I gave you that verse 10 years ago, you didn't listen, it took you 10 years to get this, listen to this y'all, this is powerful, for my people, y'all remember her little message that
[01:20:12] was really powerful, for my people have committed two evils, they have abandoned me, the fountain of living waters to carve out for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that do not hold water. And so I believe a lot of the things that's happening in our culture today are
[01:20:31] broken cisterns. That's what they are. They don't ultimately hold water. And in biblical times, what they did, these cisterns were, is when it rained, they would gather water in it. And they would have a water supply. But many times, most times, the water would
[01:20:47] go stagnant, and so the water would be stagnated water, and they would have to build fires to boil it to get rid of the stuff on it, and many times the cisterns would leak out. So I think a lot of
[01:21:01] what was happening in our culture is these broken cisterns. There's stagnated water that people are indulging in and drinking, thinking they're telling the truth, thinking that this is true, But it's really not the truth.
[01:21:16] There's truth in it.
[01:21:17] There's water in it.
[01:21:18] But it's stagnated.
[01:21:19] It's polluted water.
[01:21:21] Are y'all with me?
[01:21:23] And so we really have to become people of discernment where we can begin to discern the voice of the Lord and forget and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to us.
[01:21:34] And so here's the thing about the endless scrolling that people do.
[01:21:38] if you allow yourself into that what that is going to do is rob you of the ability to inwardly hear the holy spirit are you hearing me endless scrolling will take away something inside of
[01:21:53] your soul where you're not able to discern the spirit of the lord speaking to you and that's why there's such a danger and when you see people that get really it's like an addiction there's a
[01:22:04] It's like literally a dopamine addiction that happens to people where it feeds this thing called dopamine in their brain, right?
[01:22:13] And dopamine is not a bad thing.
[01:22:14] It's something that God gave us.
[01:22:16] But the way dopamine works, if you abuse it, it's like abusing alcohol.
[01:22:22] You get addicted to it.
[01:22:24] I hope I'm talking to somebody in this room.
[01:22:26] I really do because this is serious, y'all.
[01:22:29] And if we keep going down this road, we're going to become like that.
[01:22:33] But we will become stagnant waters.
[01:22:36] We will become empty people.
[01:22:40] We will become that way.
[01:22:42] And the Holy Spirit is just, I feel like the Holy Spirit is warning me about it.
[01:22:48] You know, because I can go through things where I don't do anything, but then there's a war that starts up and I get all interested and I want to go deep down the rabbit hole.
[01:22:55] I love those rabbit holes, y'all.
[01:22:58] I love all those conspiracy things, I'll be honest with you.
[01:23:01] Most of them, I found a lot of conspiracy theories to be true.
[01:23:04] Well, okay, some of them are not, but anyways, you know, I don't want to, I want to go down the rabbit hole of the Holy Spirit.
[01:23:12] That's really what I want to do.
[01:23:14] You know, I don't want that to become the thing in my life that motivates me and that consumes my thoughts every waking minute.
[01:23:23] Used to be when we were young, they were fussing at us about watching television too much, you know, but I'm thinking, dang, television is mediocre evil compared to this.
[01:23:32] if we look for identity validation purpose beliefs or fulfillment through media or social platforms we are drinking stagnant water and it will run dry on you it will dry you out it will poison you
[01:23:48] your your your sensitivity your spirit your eyes your ears your mouth so all your hearts will grow dull to things of the lord we don't want that and that's what's really happening with a lot of
[01:24:02] people y'all you know across the body of Christ is our hearts are growing and we wonder why and then when we go home and we sit there and take our phones or things just spend all this time
[01:24:14] reading stuff you know like I say technology's not bad actually me and Becky we decided we were going to play around with AI a little bit and so we got I found a great thing
[01:24:30] the ai can do for you because i hate numbers you know a bunch of you know like budget numbers and categories we created a way for ai does all that for you it puts everything in the right category
[01:24:43] tells you how much you spent how much you got left and it's easy where i would spend hours doing that and finding and all these stupid mistakes because i'm get real distracted with details, and then the AI just did it, and then, and within a couple minutes, I had the budget,
[01:25:00] had everything, know exactly how much money I didn't have anymore, and, you know, so, I mean, like I say, it can serve you, and I think that's what it's really meant for. It's not an evil.
[01:25:14] Here's another thing is algorithms. Y'all know about algorithms, right? This is the thing I think that's really dangerous because, you know, the people who created these things called algorithms, they know exactly what algorithms do. In other words, if you scroll a lot and you read
[01:25:30] certain things, that's what's going to come to you, okay? If you read about the war and, you know, with Iran, you're going to get filled up with stuff about Iran. It's dangerous, okay? It's dangerous, y'all. It's there to keep you hooked. It really is. And they'll tell you that. The people
[01:25:53] who did develop this are very clear we did this on purpose you know because we want people to get into this thing and stay in it so algorithms shapes our desires and beliefs more than can
[01:26:06] shape our desires and beliefs more than the holy spirit and scripture do and i'm telling you i'm seeing that y'all of people algorithms shaping people's beliefs and their hunger level more than want the Holy Spirit that the Bible does. You don't want that. You don't want something shaping
[01:26:24] you like that. You want to be the shaper, not the shapee. And that's why we have to be careful about it. I'm not fussing, y'all. I'm just telling you. I'm just as guilty as any man. We will actually
[01:26:35] begin to desire the stagnant water of the world over the living waters of God. We will actually begin to desire it that'll be the thing we're attracted to versus the beautiful things that god does and says well i hope somebody's in here yeah i think it's really true so let me read this
[01:26:58] i'm gonna i'm shifting a little bit here lord help i love this verse here but we this is second corinthians 3 18 but we all with unveiled face notice it says face y'all get that he's that's
[01:27:16] a personal word. It can become corporate, but it's really to us individually. Beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, or being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. Well, did you know the Holy Spirit's the Lord
[01:27:33] on the earth? That's what it says right there. So here's some practical questions that we need to ask ourselves that come from Psalm 115 and from that. What's forming me? You need to ask yourself that what's forming me at this point in my life what's forming me
[01:27:50] what am i beholding every day what am i putting focus on every day of my life what's getting my attention the most what am i trusting in maybe who am i trusting in what is discipling my emotions my desires my identity my values my beliefs and my thinking
[01:28:15] what's doing that to me.
[01:28:18] And I promise you, if it's not the Holy Spirit and if it's not the Bible, then we're off.
[01:28:25] We're headed down the wrong road and we're going to end up like those idols where we'll have eyes but we can't see.
[01:28:32] We're going to have ears but we can't hear.
[01:28:34] We're going to have a heart but can't understand the things of the Lord.
[01:28:38] That's what will happen to us.
[01:28:43] Y'all are really looking so angry at me.
[01:28:45] because eventually we will resemble what we continually behold.
[01:28:53] That's what the Lord was telling me.
[01:28:54] You're going to turn into this.
[01:28:59] if you continue to do this.
[01:29:01] The world says, craft your image, build a following.
[01:29:05] Jesus says, be transformed into my image and follow me.
[01:29:08] See, that's really our number one thing.
[01:29:11] Again, I'm not saying all these things are bad.
[01:29:13] I'm just saying if they're doing all this to us, They're bad.
[01:29:17] They've become a bad thing in our life.
[01:29:21] One path leads to exhaustion, insecurity, striving, and error.
[01:29:25] The other leads to life, freedom, and peace, and true transformation.
[01:29:30] Let me go back to what I said earlier.
[01:29:31] What you behold is what you become.
[01:29:35] And what you become is what you will release into the world around you.
[01:29:38] What are you releasing into the world around you?
[01:29:40] That will give you a good clue about what you're staying focused on.
[01:29:43] It's what you're giving out, what's coming out of you.
[01:29:46] and there's stuff that's coming out of you that's not healthy and it's not good, then you're focused on the wrong thing.
[01:29:52] It could be that the stuff that comes out of you has nothing to do with God anymore.
[01:30:02] God's not in the conversation hardly.
[01:30:04] He's just a byproduct of the conversation.
[01:30:08] Oh, Lord, help.
[01:30:10] Okay, here's the other two.
[01:30:12] I want to read the other two.
[01:30:14] The Father loves you just the way you are, but He refuses to let you stay that way because He wants you to become like Jesus.
[01:30:21] In the kingdom, you do not retire from purpose.
[01:30:24] You become re-fired.
[01:30:26] Yeah, that's cool, man.
[01:30:28] In the Father's hands.
[01:30:30] I like that.
[01:30:31] So these are some famous scriptures here in Jeremiah 18 called by the potter's house.
[01:30:37] Most of you are really familiar with that.
[01:30:41] You know, it's good to be familiar with those, but it's a little bit challenging when you feel like God has taken you to the potter's house.
[01:30:48] okay and I wanted to read it to you about the potter's house I think this is really important right now it says the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the word that came to Jeremiah from the
[01:31:01] Lord saying arise and go down to the potter's house and there I will announce my words to you isn't that pretty cool how God does things sometimes you know like I just love that it
[01:31:14] frustrates me when it happens to me personally. I like it in the Bible. Like when Jesus was resurrected from the dead, he told somebody, hey, hey, go tell the disciples, this is Jesus, go tell the disciples to go to Galilee and I'll meet them there. I'm thinking, why can't you just
[01:31:28] meet them where they're at right now? Why do they got to travel to Galilee? Sometimes God looks for an action on our part, okay? Like he did with Jeremiah. Jeremiah, this is what I need you to do.
[01:31:38] And if you'll do this, the word of the Lord will come to you.
[01:31:42] And so sometimes God asks us to do things that really like, duh, that doesn't, you know.
[01:31:48] It's like back in the day, people, when there was like a revival in Toronto or Brownsville, people would say, why should I go there?
[01:31:54] Well, that's where God's moving right now.
[01:31:56] So you should get up and go there because that's where God's manifesting himself.
[01:32:01] And it might be a good thing for you to go there.
[01:32:04] And God might speak to you there.
[01:32:06] Yeah, Lord, do that again, right?
[01:32:09] Well, that was just sort of a rising goat.
[01:32:11] So I went down to the potter's house.
[01:32:13] I think another thing is, I love where it says, so I went down.
[01:32:16] Everybody say down.
[01:32:17] You know what down means in the Bible?
[01:32:19] It means down.
[01:32:21] It means, you ain't going up, bud.
[01:32:24] You're going down right now.
[01:32:26] Sometimes we have to humble ourselves to hear the Lord.
[01:32:31] So I went down to the potter's house, and there he was making something on the wheel.
[01:32:36] But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter.
[01:32:40] How many people feel that at times?
[01:32:43] That you feel spoiled in the Lord's hand.
[01:32:45] You feel broken in the Lord's hand.
[01:32:47] You feel sick in the Lord's hand.
[01:32:52] You feel all this stuff.
[01:32:54] You feel too old in the Lord's hand.
[01:32:59] And that's a brokenness.
[01:33:02] You feel like you failed in the Lord's hand.
[01:33:08] You feel like you disqualified yourself in the Lord's hand.
[01:33:16] So he remade it into another vessel as it pleased the potter to make.
[01:33:20] And then the word of the Lord came to me saying, Am I not able, house of Israel, to deal with you as a potter does?
[01:33:27] Declares the Lord, Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so you are in my hand, house of Israel.
[01:33:34] So I look at this like what God was saying there, that the God the Father is our potter, and we're all clay.
[01:33:42] We're all vessels of clay.
[01:33:44] Nothing in your life, let me just say this, is beyond his ability.
[01:33:48] Okay?
[01:33:48] to shape, to restore, to redeem and use.
[01:33:52] Nothing.
[01:33:54] Nothing in your life.
[01:33:57] You're not qualified because of your weakness.
[01:33:59] You're not qualified because of your past.
[01:34:01] You're not disqualified because of your sins even.
[01:34:06] Your brokenness.
[01:34:08] Your bad theology.
[01:34:11] Your bad doctrine.
[01:34:13] None of that is beyond God being able to touch you and reach you and take the broken pieces of your life and put them back into something beautiful.
[01:34:24] He still is placing His hand on ordinary clay.
[01:34:30] He's placing His hands on old clay, on corrupted clay, on clay that other people rejected, on clay that rejected other people.
[01:34:41] God is still putting His hands on that kind of clay.
[01:34:44] And He's trying to restore it.
[01:34:45] He's trying to reform it into something.
[01:34:49] That's really what a father does.
[01:34:51] is a father doesn't kick his kids to the curb even when his kids hurt the father beyond measure.
[01:34:59] He doesn't throw them to the curb.
[01:35:01] He still is always reaching to them.
[01:35:04] I remember years ago, I think I've told you this, I have this list of my all-time best counsel that I've received.
[01:35:12] And one of them is I was having a pretty intense dispute with another Christian person.
[01:35:21] Okay?
[01:35:21] and you know so I went to this pastor friend of mine to get counsel about it and this is what he said to me this was a long time ago y'all but it it always stuck with me and and I gave I presented
[01:35:36] my case to him I presented my side of the story to him and I felt like I had a just case against this guy and I did honestly I had a just case but this is what the guy said to me he said Byron
[01:35:50] he said, this is all I know. He said, one day God will make you into a father. He's called you to be a father. So whatever you do right now is treat a person like a father would. Treat a person like
[01:36:05] a father. And I was so aggravated to that guy because I always wanted him to say, yeah, get him.
[01:36:12] Get your brother. Go punch him in the mouth, you know. I wanted to treat that guy like a brother.
[01:36:18] You know, brothers fight.
[01:36:19] They kick each other.
[01:36:20] They, you know, do what brothers do, pull their, you know.
[01:36:23] They don't usually pull hair.
[01:36:24] That's what my sister would do when I got in fights.
[01:36:26] You know, I had one of my sisters that could fight like you would not believe.
[01:36:32] I got in a fight with her one time, and I had literally crossed my face where she took one.
[01:36:40] She was rough, man.
[01:36:42] I mean, she could punch and kick.
[01:36:45] You know, I didn't, I wasn't fighting you no more.
[01:36:49] Yeah, yeah.
[01:36:50] It was hard because I grew up in a house with three sisters.
[01:36:54] Two of them was older than me, and then one was younger.
[01:36:57] So I was picking on the younger one one day, and the middle one went after me for it.
[01:37:01] So I thought I was going to fight her, and it was a mistake.
[01:37:05] Yeah.
[01:37:13] The Lord helped, right?
[01:37:15] So the Father places his hands upon you today.
[01:37:20] That's what I feel like the Lord's saying.
[01:37:21] He's going to place his hands on some people today.
[01:37:23] And when he touches us, things begin to change in our life.
[01:37:28] and he begins to repair those broken places in us, okay?
[01:37:35] So we had to let him put his hands on us.
[01:37:39] That's what we had to do.
[01:37:40] We had to let him.
[01:37:42] And sometimes he touches tender places on us.
[01:37:47] And I don't know about you, if you've ever had a little puppy that gets hurt, or a little doggy that you're a pet, and you go to touch that spot, it'll bite you by instinct.
[01:37:58] And that's lots of times what we want to do with the Lord.
[01:38:00] We want to lash out when God begins to touch those tender places in our life.
[01:38:07] But I think He's trying to do that for a lot of people right now.
[01:38:11] So here's the question.
[01:38:13] What is the Lord touching in your life right now?
[01:38:17] Ask that question.
[01:38:18] What is He touching in my life right now?
[01:38:21] What areas do I feel like God is trying to shape in my life right now?
[01:38:26] What areas?
[01:38:28] What do I feel like God is wanting to form within me right now?
[01:38:32] What is he doing?
[01:38:34] So when he calls you, he doesn't leave you like you are.
[01:38:39] He's not going to leave you like you are.
[01:38:41] He's really wanting to get his hands on you.
[01:38:44] That's really when he said this, and that's what he was telling me.
[01:38:46] I want to get my hands on you because I don't want to leave you like you are.
[01:38:54] Even though I love you the way you are, I don't want you to stay that way because I've got more for you.
[01:39:00] And when you start believing that way, things start changing in your life.
[01:39:07] so you don't have to be discarded clay you don't have to be retired clay you can be re-fired clay the Bible says we're the masterpiece it says workmanship in Ephesians but it literally means we're his masterpiece
[01:39:27] and the master really wants to put his hands on you so you can really become a better masterpiece a greater masterpiece being formed in the image of the Lord himself so I think that's really what I wanted to say yeah thank you so I had this that ain't all I'm gonna say that's like
[01:39:57] a preacher lie thing well that was the end I did want to tell y'all this one little story this happened to me back in 2019 y'all know what happened in 2020 right we tried to forget it but
[01:40:13] so back in 2019 I started having this this word from the Lord coming to me And I couldn't really figure out what it meant.
[01:40:22] I mean, I could figure out what it meant in my brain, but I couldn't figure out what it meant from a heart, like practically.
[01:40:28] And the word was, it's time for you to get out of the corral.
[01:40:31] And I heard it multiple times.
[01:40:34] I would just be going along, and I would just keep these thoughts of get out of the corral.
[01:40:39] Get out of the corral.
[01:40:40] And, of course, you know what a corral is, right?
[01:40:42] That's where they put horses and train horses.
[01:40:46] And finally, I came to reality that God was telling me that he wanted me out of that crowd, that I had been in a time of training, he wanted me out.
[01:40:58] And which, you know, when I came to that conclusion, I was so rejoicing, you know, because it sounded like such a great thing, okay?
[01:41:07] It really sounded like, oh, I've got something cool in front of me.
[01:41:11] Well, I guess you know what I had in front of me, the same thing you've had in front of you.
[01:41:15] I was just devastated by that.
[01:41:17] I was absolutely devastated that everything that I was believing that God had was like, this is not what God has for me.
[01:41:30] But really it was because he really called us to be light and truth in this world and not get sucked into all that stuff.
[01:41:44] And it was hard for me not to.
[01:41:48] So sometimes what God does sounds so wonderful in the service, but it don't look wonderful when you're walking out.
[01:41:54] But really, it is wonderful.
[01:41:56] Amen.
[01:41:57] So I wanted to ask anybody in this room if you feel like the Holy Spirit was speaking to you.
[01:42:03] If you would, would you just stand up?
[01:42:05] If you feel like the Holy Spirit, if something specific the Holy Spirit was saying to you.
[01:42:08] Because this is important.
[01:42:10] And I really want the Lord to really have His way with you.
[01:42:13] Okay?
[01:42:15] Because I think God is going to do some things in the earth.
[01:42:19] And it's going to be amazing.
[01:42:20] And God is trying to get a hold of some people.
[01:42:22] He's trying to get some people to hear Him.
[01:42:24] And I just want to say, if you're an old person or an older, I don't believe in old, that's older.
[01:42:32] Older and younger, I don't know where that, she's thinking 30 is the, I'm thinking, I don't know about that 30 thing.
[01:42:40] Yeah, that's pretty good.
[01:42:43] You know, when we were young, the saying was, never trust anybody over 30.
[01:42:49] Because they were like old people.
[01:42:50] Then you get to be 30 and think, I'm still young, man.
[01:42:53] And then you hit 40, you'd hear people, yeah, the black balloon.
[01:42:57] because somebody's turning 40, I'm thinking, are you kidding me?
[01:43:01] 40, it's like you're vibrant still, you know?
[01:43:04] I don't know about 50 and 60 and 70 yet.
[01:43:08] I'll find out one day, I'm sure, but get some revelation.
[01:43:12] I want to pray for you.
[01:43:14] I want to pray for y'all.
[01:43:16] I want to pray the Holy Spirit will start moving on you and start getting a hold of us because I believe he got something for you.
[01:43:24] I believe that thing that Becky said about that 63rd floor where there's interviews going on, that there's assignments waiting for people, new assignments that God has for people, that God wants to give you something.
[01:43:38] That's why He wants to take you to the potter's house is He wants to do some reforming in you and repairing in you so you can do the new assignment.
[01:43:50] Lord, I just ask you right now in Jesus' name for every person standing here, I just thank you for them, Lord.
[01:43:56] I thank you for what you're doing in their life right now.
[01:44:00] And I just thank you that you're at work.
[01:44:01] You're touching us, Lord.
[01:44:03] And I thank you that your hands are on these people, Lord.
[01:44:06] And, Lord, I just pray that some of them may feel their time has passed.
[01:44:11] And I want to declare your time has not passed.
[01:44:13] You are not finished in the Lord.
[01:44:15] The Lord has more for you.
[01:44:18] And I just ask you, Lord, to reveal it to them.
[01:44:20] And I ask you, Father, Holy Spirit, we're asking you to begin to stir in us in a new and a fresh way.
[01:44:26] And, Lord, for those who are trapped in this social media thing and trapped in algorithms, and trapped in the lies that are being perpetuated out there.
[01:44:35] Lord, today, deliver us from that.
[01:44:38] Give us a grace, Lord, to overcome this new temptation, this new thing that has come against us and to be able to live above these things, Lord.
[01:44:48] We ask you to do that.
[01:44:51] Lord, help us to be discerning people.
[01:44:54] I think we need to ask the Lord for the gift of discernment.
[01:44:58] Ask the Lord.
[01:44:59] Lord, say, Lord, I need the gift of discernment.
[01:45:03] I need the gift of discernment, Lord.
[01:45:05] I need to be able to discern what's good and right and righteous versus what's not good and right and righteous.
[01:45:11] I just ask you to release that to me today in Jesus' name.
[01:45:17] We need to be discerning people.
[01:45:19] We need to be people who know how to discern the voice of the Lord over all the other voices out there.
[01:45:26] God has a voice.
[01:45:28] And all these voices that are being screamed at us constantly, in that voice there's a still small voice somewhere and I just pray Lord that we'd be people who could still ourselves long enough to hear that voice years ago we did a lot of soaking
[01:45:47] and you know at first like what is all this you know I mean it was kind of fun we'd go to we'd come here and lay on the floor but you know what I really discovered was it was a time to be
[01:45:59] still before the lord in a time where we could get still on the inside to be able to hear that voice in us and become acquainted with that voice and so i believe the lord really wants to revive
[01:46:15] you don't have to call it soaking it's to revive be still and know that i'm the lord where we can begin to connect into that voice in us because i think that's the important voice for all of us
[01:46:29] right now is that inward voice of the Holy Spirit and be able to live from that voice.
[01:46:36] Lord, we just ask you to do that, to help us, Lord, convict us, Lord, when we are filling our lives with distractions. Just convict us, Lord. Thank you, Lord. Let's just wait a minute on the
[01:46:50] Lord and let the Holy Spirit just work in your heart for a minute. I keep hearing that scripture where in James it says if any of you lack wisdom ask but ask in faith because the Father wants to give wisdom
[01:48:35] and I tell you what I think everybody in this room lacks wisdom in some ways in some area of our life we lack wisdom so Lord I'm asking you for wisdom I'm asking you to give me wisdom
[01:48:50] I believe you're going to give me wisdom and I think you should ask the Lord if you've got a certain area of your life in particular that you feel like you need the Lord's wisdom in,
[01:48:59] just ask Him for that.
[01:49:02] It may be in your family.
[01:49:04] It may be in your business, your ministry, your health.
[01:49:09] God is saying there's a boatload of wisdom being ready to be released into the earth for those who will receive it by faith.
[01:49:53] I would like for the people who feel like they're called to intercession to raise their hand right quick.
[01:49:58] If you feel called to intercession, because that was one of the things that was happening was the intercession.
[01:50:04] Y'all, put your hands on them.
[01:50:07] You see somebody that's got their hands up.
[01:50:09] Let's just release the grace of the Lord on the intercessory people because that's a hard ministry.
[01:50:19] Lord, we just pray right now for the grace of Jesus who is our intercessor.
[01:50:26] Lord, we just release that upon your people, that grace to intercede, Lord.
[01:50:32] Lord, we thank you for the intercessor.
[01:50:33] We thank you for people who are willing to pray, pray for others and pray for our situations and pray for salvation.
[01:50:42] We just pray you'd release that grace on them now, Lord, and refresh them and renew them.
[01:50:46] Lord, these are like the watchmen on the wall, Lord.
[01:50:50] And I just pray for every watchman in this room, whether it be for their family or their business or for the body of Christ, for our nation.
[01:50:59] Lord, these are the true intercessors.
[01:51:02] And we ask you, Lord, to begin to touch them in a real way.
[01:51:08] Just give them a fresh vision for intercession.
[01:51:12] Give them a fresh vision for how you intercede, Lord, and what you intercede about, Lord.
[01:51:18] Lord, we thank you for that, Lord, in Jesus' name.
[01:51:27] Well, we're going to have Marlon come here and close us out.
[01:51:30] I think the Lord really wants to use Marlon.
[01:51:34] I'm going to really put Marlon on the spot here, but it doesn't matter, right?
[01:51:39] It's up to Marlon.
[01:51:41] But I wanted to say, Marlon, we need you.
[01:51:47] I'm through.
[01:51:49] So whatever you can work out with the Lord, I don't have no wisdom for you on that.

[01:52:02] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[01:52:02] Thank you, Byron.
[01:52:04] No pressure, right?
[01:52:10] But, yeah, I don't have anything else to add.
[01:52:13] That was a powerful message.
[01:52:15] You know, so we have the ministry team come up, and if it felt like you need the ministry team to just lay hands on you as the hands of the Lord themselves, just come and avail yourself of that
[01:52:27] and as they come up I just want to pray and release you at the same time Father we just thank you for this morning thank you for how much you poured through Byron you're such a good father
[01:52:42] and you love us deeply thank you Jesus for making this possible that we can hear your word and hear the Father's word and thank you Holy Spirit for opening our hearts and our souls in our minds to receive that which is
[01:52:59] true. So bless every single person. Let them go in your presence, Father, and in your mighty grace. And we all said, Amen.