Delivered and Delusional: The Danger of Stopping at Salvation

• Moving Forward / Destiny 00:01:53 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor argues that believers must not stop at deliverance but must actively pursue their destiny, using the church's anniversary as a catalyst for this forward movement.
• Delusion vs. Deliverance 00:01:53 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor defines 'delusion' as being comfortable with past salvation ('the life raft') without learning to 'swim' or progress spiritually, warning against stopping at mere survival.
• Forgetting the Past 00:08:50 ▶️ 📄
  > Citing Isaiah 43, the pastor explains that God commands believers to forget past miracles to avoid nostalgia and remain open to future works, contrasting this with human nature to boast about past deeds.
• Faith and Expectation 00:13:14 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor distinguishes between those who have faith expecting God to move and those who are paralyzed by pessimism or past experiences, urging the congregation to believe for greater things.
• Delivered vs. Delusional 00:20:42 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor defines the state of being 'delivered and delusional' as having left a sinful past but failing to adopt new, godly behaviors, resulting in self-sabotage.
• The Wilderness as a Process 00:19:30 ▶️ 📄
  > The wilderness is described not as a destination but as a process God uses to change minds and renew believers before they reach the promise.
• Renewing the Mind 00:26:54 ▶️ 📄
  > Citing Romans 12:2, the pastor emphasizes that spiritual maturity and moving forward require the renewal of the mind through godly values and ethical attitudes.
• Godly Standards 00:28:26 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor argues that God provides specific standards (like the Ten Commandments or practical habits) to help believers measure their progress and hold onto promises.
• The Necessity of Standards 00:37:56 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor argues that sight without a standard leads to sabotage, using the analogy of measuring distance without a tape measure to illustrate how believers self-sabotage when they lack a fixed reference point for behavior.
• The Word of God as the Unchanging Standard 00:39:19 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor identifies the Bible as the only thing that does not change, contrasting it with human opinions and feelings, and asserts that all life decisions (relationships, money, prayer) must be measured against this divine standard.
• Church Standards and Generosity 00:42:01 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor defines the church's identity as a 'church of standards,' specifically highlighting generosity and unconditional love as non-negotiable standards that define the community's character and outreach.
• Future Vision and Transformation 00:44:04 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor uses statistical data of past achievements to project a future vision of exponential growth and transformation, urging the congregation to believe in God's continued work and to commit to the 'great eight' standards.

• Sermon Illustration 00:06:30 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor uses the analogy of a person thrown overboard from a boat who is saved by a life raft; while grateful for the rescue, they must learn to swim to reach the shore, rather than just relaxing on the raft.
• Sermon Illustration 00:09:40 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor shares a personal anecdote about lending $15 to a friend in high school, noting that he reminds them of it because he has no intention of lending them more money in 2026, illustrating how humans cling to past favors to mask a lack of future generosity.
• Sermon Illustration 00:15:28 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor references his own recent experiences, such as walking red carpets, meeting Amazon executives, and interacting with celebrities like Kelly Rowland, to illustrate that these are just the beginning and that greater things are yet to come.
• Sermon Illustration 00:15:28 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor shares personal anecdotes about walking red carpets, meeting Amazon executives, and receiving a sign from God in a mall to illustrate that God's blessings are just beginning ('You ain't seen nothing yet').
• Sermon Illustration 00:29:00 ▶️ 📄
  > An analogy of a measuring cup is used to explain how God's standards provide a fixed reference point for spiritual growth, preventing guesswork and ensuring accuracy in one's walk with God.
• Sermon Illustration 00:37:56 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor uses the analogy of a tape measure versus guessing distance to explain how people make decisions without a standard, leading to inconsistent results in relationships, finances, and parenting.
• Sermon Illustration 00:37:56 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor shares a personal anecdote about measuring 15 feet with a colleague named Charles, illustrating how different 'foot sizes' (perspectives) lead to different outcomes when no standard is used.
• Sermon Illustration 00:41:31 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor references the construction of the church building, noting that every worker used a tape measure to ensure accuracy, drawing a parallel to how the church must use God's standards to build His house.

• Pastoral Charge 00:08:50 ▶️ 📄
  > Read Isaiah 43:15-19 at home.
• Pastoral Charge 00:07:09 ▶️ 📄
  > Look at a neighbor and verbally affirm that God is calling them.
• Pastoral Charge 00:15:28 ▶️ 📄
  > Verbally declare 'You ain't seen nothing yet' and have it displayed on the screen.
• Pastoral Charge 00:16:13 ▶️ 📄
  > The congregation is asked to verbally affirm their faith in future blessings.
• Pastoral Charge 00:20:42 ▶️ 📄
  > The congregation is instructed to write down the theological point that deliverance does not equate to a lack of delusion.
• Pastoral Charge 00:28:26 ▶️ 📄
  > The congregation is urged to actively engage with scripture and seek accountability rather than passively listening.
• Pastoral Charge 00:42:01 ▶️ 📄
  > Find and join a local church community.
• Pastoral Charge 00:44:44 ▶️ 📄
  > Physically lift hands in worship/prayer.
• Pastoral Charge 00:45:15 ▶️ 📄
  > Accept Jesus and commit to moving forward with God.

[00:00:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:00:00] What's going on family? Today I want to start off by saying happy anniversary!
[00:00:06] This is a special day because we are celebrating 27 years of God's faithfulness of this being a church and 11 years as me and Pastor Natalie have led this awesome church and today there are celebrations going on everywhere and I have a message that God has given me to help you move forward. But I just want to let you know, thank you for being a part of this movement. If you watch, if you share, if you pray, if you give, if you literally hear what God's doing here, join us in prayer, any of that stuff. I want to say you're a part of this. It's a reason to celebrate. God allowed this vision to start so many years ago and we are just getting started.
[00:00:52] You ain't seen nothing yet. So today I hope this message inspires your faith and allows you to dream big thinking about dreaming big y'all i had a dream that one day relationship goals would be a movie and the week has finally come this wednesday february 4th everywhere that you can get on an app and download amazon prime you can go and watch relationship goals the movie this is a huge moment in the kingdom as we are taking a message that God gave us right here.
[00:01:29] He gave it to us right here in this house.
[00:01:31] And now it's going to be on the big screen.
[00:01:33] Over 200 million homes can have access to this message that we're praying leads them to the book, which we're praying leads them to the messages and ultimately leads them to Jesus.
[00:01:45] So will you help us get the word out this Wednesday, February 4th?
[00:01:49] Relationship goals everywhere.
[00:01:51] Pastor Mike, why is this important?
[00:01:53] because we're about to move forward. I want to preach a message to you today that helps you understand that being delivered is not the only thing you need. You need to go forward into your destiny because you can be delivered and still delusional. Enjoy this message. All right, y'all get y'all Bibles out. It's time for the word today. I'm going to do a quick work in this place today, but this is about to be strong because the holy spirit told me um that the anniversary was a line of demarcation i want to put this in your heart in your mind after this sunday everything changes y'all didn't hear what i said because i just came out of a lighthearted like movie moment hear what i'm saying welcome to transformation church today we're going forward the message today changes everything because this year as a church we have decided we are going forward say it again we are going. I called my brother Travis before I announced the word of the year to y'all because the name of their church is Forward City. And I was like, I got to tell you before I tell anybody, brother, we going forward this year. And it's, there's something about making a decision before you get to a place that I'm not staying here. I'm going to say it again. There's something about making a decision before you get to a place that this will not be where I camp out. So some of y'all like, I want to make six figures. Great. But you need to make a decision that six figures will not be the stopping point. It will be a place of praise. It will be a place of celebration. It will be a place of some of y'all be like, I just want to be a better person. Okay. That's great.
[00:03:40] We want you to progress in that, but that cannot be your stopping point. You have to decide I'm going forward. Even when I reach my goal and most people stop because they dream, they have a vision, they have foresight to a spot and then they go blank and I have seen the church be paralyzed because they get to a certain place and then they stop believing God the way they did before they got to the place that they're at right now but today I want you to know that as a church we're going forward this is not the pinnacle of ministry relationship goals is not my best book oh god I have not impacted the world how I'm going to impact the world me and my wife's marriage is not the best it's ever going to be it's better than it's ever been don't get it twisted but this ain't it we are going some of y'all can't even see it you're just so happy to not be surviving anymore that you have stopped believing for more you're so grateful and I'm glad that you're grateful for being out of Egypt that you haven't seen past the wilderness. Oh God, you have stopped believing that God can take you. Just because he did exceedingly abundantly above all you could ask to think does not mean that's all he can do. Just because he saved you out of that doesn't mean that he wants you to stay in a lukewarm state of just being in this place. This is where you have to decide that I want the full plan of God for my life, not just the saved plan. There's a difference from him saving you and you learning to swim. Okay. If somebody gets in a boat that can't swim, gets thrown over the boat, is drowning, I'm about to die, I'm about to die, and somebody saves you you are grateful for that buoy or that life raft thank you for saving me that does not change your situation every time you get on a boat the only way you are unafraid of water is that you learn and too many believers are now taking the life raft that they got saved with and relaxing on it you but some become so comfortable with it now you don't put your booty and you laying back with a mocktail talking about this is the life. And God said, you still don't know how to swim. You don't, you still don't know how to get to shore. You still don't know how to get to the boat. And today I want all of us to decide in my life, in my marriage, in my spiritual walk, I'm moving, shout it at me. And that's why Philippians 3, 12 said, this is our verse of the year. I don't mean to say this like I've already achieved all these things. I haven't reached perfection. That's how I'm coming at you today. But I press on to possess the perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I'm not trying to act perfect.
[00:07:09] I've not achieved all of this, but I focus on this one thing, forgetting the past and looking, shouted at me forward to what lies ahead. I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God through Christ Jesus is calling us. Look at your neighbor and say, God's calling you. Yeah. Look at your neighbor. You didn't like as much the first time and now tell them God's calling you. That's awkward, ain't it? Okay, here we go. I started to think about the children of Israel and how we get a picture of what God wants to do in all of our lives. When we walk through them, I want you to go through Isaiah verse 43 and read from 15 all the way to 19. But, but, but this is your study at home. Okay. I want you to take this, but let me paraphrase it for you. What's happening is God is reminding the children of Israel. Yo, I'm a big God. I took you out of slavery. I literally parted the seas, had free Willy and everybody going on the sides of y'all while y'all walk through on dry land he said I'm the God that took you out of wilderness I'll make ways out of no ways I move mountains I remember who I am and he's telling them that I'm the one that brought your enemy out and blew him out like a candlestick I took care of all your battle that's who I am and he's telling them this because they're in a moment of forgetting who God is right after he did a huge miracle. Have you ever forgot how God brought you through something right after he just brought you through something?
[00:08:50] Like, like literally it's a part of the Christian walk. So God reminds us in his word, like I'm a big God and I can take care of you. And now he tells them, watch this in verse 18. He said, I did all that but forget all that I did all of that I brought you through that situation I changed your life I brought you out of poverty I'm transformed your mind and your heart yeah I did it but forget all that now why would God tell us to forget all the great things he's done cuz we want everybody to remember all the great things we do just think about it you right now still remind the people that $15 you lent them in high school. You remember when I lent you that $15? Come on.
[00:09:40] It's human nature. For if I do something good, I don't want you to forget that. But usually people like that, the only reason they don't want you to forget is because their plan is never to do anything greater for you. Y'all missed it. The reason I have to keep telling you about that one gift I gave you that one Christmas in 1972 is because I don't plan to buy you nothing in 2026.
[00:10:04] Come on, let's be honest the reason I tell you that that hey you remember that time I invited you because I don't plan on going out with you again But God's saying all the great things that I've done for you. I want you to focus on forgetting it Because it will cloud your ability to see what I'm about to do forward. Oh God I don't have the time to do it like I want to but some of you are being held up watch this in your future because you are committed to nostalgia i'ma have to do a whole message on it but some of y'all right now get more excited when your facebook memories come up everybody's talking about what happened in 2016 like god's not in 2026 you reminisce i was smaller than that's because you just kept eight eating you've been eating since 2016 oh excuse me what what I'm saying what I'm saying is what I'm saying is 2016 or whatever date does not have to be the glory days the glory days is wherever God is now y'all missing it the glory days is wherever the cloud is now and God's calling us forward he's saying come here I got more for you that's for all my super Saints my senior saints that are saying that maybe God's done with me. Your latter, your later years shall be great. What if 50 to 80 was the pinnacle of your life? There's some senior saints in here.
[00:11:50] There's some people that are going up in age and grace. What if everything you desire to do, God still did? And he did it in the last 35 years of your life. You would have squandered it in the first 40. You would have tricked it off in the first 40. Y'all come on, be honest. You would have shook something and wasted it. But God said, in my grace, I'm going to give them enough bumps and bruises so that they know that this last 35, somebody shout at me forward. Everything is ahead of you. Travis, everything is ahead. Jared, everything is ahead. I've been saying it every day. I'm not even looking at what's going on right now. Everything in my life, every good thing is ahead. Faith is forward. God is not looking at your past being like, I wish you could get back there. Faith is forward. What building is he going to give us next? What church are we going to buy a building for? Y'all don't hear what I'm saying. Where is God going to pour out next? Because faith is. But that means you're going to have to forget and stop idolizing what he did.
[00:13:14] You have made your last season an idol now. And if God doesn't do it like that, he's not moving anymore. Pastor Mike, why are you telling me this? Because I don't want you to be paralyzed in this season where God wants to take you forward. What he's done is nothing compared to what he's about to do that's all I wanted to tell you today what God has done in this church in your life in this ministry and it is nothing to be compared to what he's going to do and now there's two sets of people in this room when I say that some people that landed on a heart full of faith and people heard that and was like that's what I've been saying God that's what I've been feeling that's what I know God I knew you was gonna do it this year I knew you was gonna do like something and you got an expectation and then there was other people in here but he ain't done it yet and I know I mean he always say that only crazy till it happens it is it don't be happening and then what am I and the bible says according to your faith I just want to put the bible back and forth let it be unto you according to y'all if you if you have the ability to take the ingredients that God gives you and you know how to cook, these ingredients turn into gourmet meals in the right. And God's saying, some of y'all need to get y'all faith up because I'm telling you, this is going to be the year. And you better stop listening to people who have already become pessimistic about the promises of God. You better get around some people with faith that said, this is going to be the year. Which month is it happening? This is going to be the year. Where your husband at? Is this going to be the year? Where is the breakthrough coming from? Where are the people that believe that God can do it. Because everything is ahead of me. My faith is full.
[00:15:18] Okay, let me stop. All right. You ain't seen nothing yet. You ain't seen nothing yet.
[00:15:28] Say it out loud. You ain't seen nothing yet. Put it on the screen. You ain't seen nothing yet. I've been saying it all week. When I've been walking these red carpets and movie premieres and Kelly Rowland asking me for a mint. God said, you thought this was going to happen?
[00:15:51] You ain't seen nothing yet. When I meet the Amazon executives and there's people over here and people asking me about other deals and other stuff, God said, you thought this was a game? You ain't seen nothing yet. When I'm walking through the mall in Atlanta and a lady starts crying because of the deliverance she's experienced and never been here before, but she said, this is a sign from God.
[00:16:13] I needed God to speak to me today and I was going to buy some shoes and God gave her a sign of confirmation and God said you thought that was something you ain't seen nothing because everything is ahead say it with faith everything is ahead I can't wait for tomorrow y'all oh I can't wait for next week I can't wait for next month because you ain't seen you better keep watching this is what God is telling the children of Israel he said I did all of that ain't never been done before will never be done again but if you follow me forward you ain't seen nothing but they didn't have the faith to believe him these these group of people were in wilderness for 400 years they were in slavery for 400 years this means generations they grandmamas and grandfathers and great grandfathers and great grandma they were all bound mentally and I know some of you are first-generation chain breakers yeah I'm talking to a specific group of people in here I know some of y'all are first-generational you're breaking curses and poverty mindsets and bad habits and and it's hard it's a hard fight cuz it's in your DNA it's been in my bloodline to hustle oh come on y'all y'all don't want to have real conversation it's been in my bloodline to have a a backup plan. It's in my bloodline to rely on some type of substance. It's in my bloodline to almost tell the truth. Come on, y'all. It's in my bloodline to have two or three on the side just in case the main one messing up. And these people have seen the hand of God deliver them out of slavery but they stopped moving forward after deliverance hear what I just said you can be delivered and not move forward some of y'all not in the clubs no more but you not following Christ either so you you you're good cuz you not there no more and God said six years ago you stop following me though and the children of Israel I need y'all to hear me I need you to get the picture we talk about the deliverance he's a great deliverer we make songs about it but it is possible watch this write this point down you can be delivered and still delusional come here camera did you hear what I said you can be delivered and still delusional you you can you can literally be out of a situation and act like that was where you were supposed to end up do y'all know that the wilderness was not the destination. It was the process to change their minds. And some of y'all are mad because you're in a process that God's trying to use to change your mind. I hate this job, but you're late. You're always late. So he's trying to get you to stop being late at the piggly wiggly. No, no, no. You're in a process of working at that grocery store or that post office because he's trying to get something out of you that's still in you before he takes you to where he promised you and you were delivered out of the drug game you ain't selling dime bags but you are bagging groceries and you mad and you think God has forgotten about y'all heard what I said and you think God has forgotten about you and he's trying to renew your and now you're mad and you've stopped moving forward because you thought, well, God, I'm not doing this no more.
[00:20:42] I'm not as bad as I used to be. God, you, you changed my life, but being delivered does not mean you not delusional. And there are too many people in the body of Christ right now that aren't what they used to be, but are not what God wants them to be. And now you're coming up against aggressive frustration. Your faith is frustrated because you think God has forgotten about you in a wilderness season and the problem is you won't obey him in the wilderness you stop moving forward and today I just got to challenge you that being delivered and being delusional turns into self-sabotage okay let's let's break it down some of y'all are working out now and you still reward yourself with donuts after every workout session that's delivered and delusional. Do y'all see what I'm saying? Some of y'all are excited about relationship goals, the movie coming out, got the book, got the movie, got the t-shirt. And you're still answering late night calls from your ex. And you know Valentine's day is coming. And he just started, what's up big head? Yep. On the first, he going to hit you with the, Hey, Hey, what you doing? He got a plan all the way to the 14th. There's no pressure, no pressure, no pressure. And you still answering them call. That is delivered and a Lulu. You started saving money, yet you leave all of the notifications to your favorite stores up on your phone. God told you, get your money in order, pay off the credit cards, but you don't cut off the notifications. That is, now you done started the savings account got $462,000 in there. See, you couldn't even take the thousand on it. Some of y'all faith said, whoa, whoa, my God, $462,000. I'm trying to take you forward. You thought I was going to say $462,000, and then that thousand came out. You said, no, not me, not me, not me.
[00:23:13] Somebody shouted me forward. I declare that's somebody's real thing in the name of Jesus, that they're going to have more than enough get on my nerves stop doing hard drugs the bad the bad ones but you can't go to sleep without that dark drink delivered but still ain't broke no more made out the hood we ain't going back there but you still hide money under your mattress there's somebody back what what what what ain't nothing i mean 20s and 50s yeah some of y'all it's a shoebox what I'm saying to you is there there is something that followed you out of Egypt that is keeping you out of the promised land I'm gonna say it one more time there is something that followed you out of Egypt that is keeping you out of the promised land and today I want you to know that being delivered from one thing is not the same as being delivered into the promise I'm trying to move you forward today church like like you've stopped lying but you haven't started being transparent so you're delivered from lying but you haven't started offering up information to the people that you're accountable to so they still got to ask you they still got to say bro how you doing with pornography oh well last week instead of saying bro I messed up so you've been delusional get me I'm not a liar no more but I don't I don't willingly bring in accountability it's time for all of us to move say it with me for cuz you can come out of Egypt but Egypt has to come out of you where are you still embracing Egypt in your life where in your life are you still embracing Egypt God delivered you from something but you have not let it go and it's keeping you in the wilderness it's keeping you in wandering it's keeping you going in a cycle when you look at the map of the actual place that they were supposed to go from and to it was an 11-day journey how do you get lost for 40 years but I could ask some of y'all how have you been lost in relationship issues for 40 years how have you been a gossip since sixth grade you're 65 and every circle you've ever been in your mouth is open no wonder god came i'm not saying this is true but what i heard and i'm telling you this so you can be praying you're a you're a nasty soul Do y'all hear what I'm saying? How do you get lost for 40 years? It's because you stop focusing on forgetting and you stop moving. And today I want to save our church from being delusional.
[00:26:54] I don't want to be delivered and delusional. I don't want to think that I don't have blind spots.
[00:26:59] I don't want to think that God can't still work on me. I don't want to think that God's not moving me to a place. And so this is how you move forward. The Bible tells us in Romans 12, 2, this is the reason our church was formed and it says and do not be conformed to this world any longer with superficial values and customs this is the amplified version but be transformed and progressively change I love that word as you mature spiritually by the renewing of your mind focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes so that you may prove for yourself not for nobody else what the will of God is that which is good and acceptable and perfect in his plan and his purpose for you this is how we move forward church mature spiritually write it down because you hear it but you're still not going to pick up your bible you hear it but you're still not going to ask for real accountability well they didn't answer the phone that one time I called them, so I ain't calling them no more. What? You got to get desperate to protect what God placed on the inside of you. Focus on godly values. Check your attitude.
[00:28:26] This is what the Bible says right here. Do it for you, and don't compare yourself to anybody else.
[00:28:32] Pastor Mike, why are you saying this? Because I figured out the one thing the children of Israel did. They stopped listening to God's standards. So the reason that they wondered is because they stopped listening to his standards. Everybody say standard. It's hard to do anything without a standard, like without a speed limit on telling us how fast to go. Some of y'all would go three miles an hour and others of y'all will go a hundred miles an hour because without a standard it's left up to how we feel y'all hear what I'm saying so God sets stand the reason Moses went to the mountain was to spend time with God to get the 10 commandments which were could be called the 10 standards of how to live to give to the people so their minds could be renewed before they went into the promised land. Okay. I'm delivering you out of Egypt. I'm giving you standards to transform your mind so that then you'll be able to hold on to the promise when you get it. I'm delivering you out of a bad relationships. I'm going to give you a standard of celibacy, a standard of integrity, a standard of actual accountability so that when you walk into marriage, you can actually sustain and have a healthy marriage. I'm delivering you from gluttony nobody wants to talk about it and I'm giving you a standard of eating healthy of not always let me stop because this is the only reason I could talk about this because this was my real journey I'm giving you a standard of being accountable I'm giving you the standard of working out so that when I call you to be on 27 flights in 30 days to go spread the gospel and do what I called you to do that you could stand up and still preach on Sunday I want you to be able to hold the promise when I call you into it this is a standard do you know what this is it's one court any country you take it to this will be one court any kitchen you go into this will be one court the reason it says one court is because it was made to a specific specification so that people who are using this never had to question what they were using if they measured it against the standard so if somebody says I need two courts without this it's a guess no I mean I know a cup could potentially what three cups minus a little bit could equal I never have to guess because there is a this is a what is it no it's a standard I don't care what you call it but this is a step I can measure and build something based on this how many feet of rope do I need to buy A lot. Can't nobody buy nothing with the standard of a lot. They need something that is consistent to measure it up against. Okay. This is a, you said a tape measure, but it's a standard. Grab that Travis it's a standard so if I need 15 feet by looking at the but if Charles come here but I was like Charles I need you to go 15 feet from here to there I don't know what made him start doing that almost there 15 feet huh hey man did you see how confident he started cuz without anything to measure it up against it looks right if you don't got a standard around that's like that look about 15 feet that's a good 15 what that's what I'm about six feet and if you lay me down twice that would be about 12 minus my head to my neck yeah and this is how people do relationships without a standard this is how people do they money without a standard this is how people try to raise their kids without a let me show you one more this what is it you got it this is a standard this is something to be measured up against how do I know what to do in my marriage the standard Oh God how do I deal with people hating on me how can you not clap back and talk talk talk what am i measuring with how are you dating? How are you handling your money? Them standards getting quiet. Y'all know what I'm saying? How do you forgive? How do you pray? How do you love your enemies? How are you ready to give on any occasion for any need? How do you produce finances that get you wealth? And so many people have chosen uncertified measurements to base their life off of and today all I want you to know is that a good standard stays the same in every situation you hear what I'm saying the thing about that ruler is it don't change that ruler been the same since I've been in kindergarten when I'm in kindergarten and they say one foot I know one two three four five six seven eight nine ten eleven twelve inches equals a foot why because it's a stamp when he went 15 feet if i was to go 15 feet the difference would be we have different foot sizes do y'all hear what i'm saying charles got half my foot hey man it's the truth my foot can't get every shoe his foot every size is available for him so if we start walking from the same place but we start measuring based off of what we think let's go 15 Charles 1 2 3 4 5 look how far I'm ahead of him 8 9 10 I'm gonna be off the stage well 13 14 15 we stopped and we thought we did the same thing we thought we served the same God we thought we prayed the same way we thought we believed the same thing but because there was not a standard we ended up in two different places today all I'm offering you is the chance to not live in delusion actually be delivered from whatever has been holding you, but keep moving forward because you stay focused on the standard. Standing all over this building. Oh my God. Pastor Mike, why are you saying this?
[00:37:56] Because sight with no standard leads to sabotage. If you can see the promised land, but you don't obey the standard, you're going to self-sabotage. And I'm seeing so many believers right now self-sabotage because you don't have a standard to bridle your tongue. Somebody pops off on you, guess what? They about to get popped. Y'all know what I'm saying. Excuse me, but I'm going to take off my Christian for a second. This is the moment where your Christian should be showing.
[00:38:35] Before everybody starts moving, I need you to hear me say this. I believe we have an opportunity to dive in to the only thing that doesn't change the word of God. The Bible says it like this. Put the scripture on the screen, the grass withers and the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand for that measurement stays the same forever. So I don't have a choice on what God says about relationship. There's a standard. I don't have a choice of what to do with my money.
[00:39:19] if I'm actually going by the standard the reason I give and I tithe and I do those things is not because some preacher manipulated me to give my no no no no no he's not the standard it's the word of God that's the reason that I pray for my enemies it's not even because I want to y'all so fake you'd be like I just love praying for my knees I want a bunch of them can we be honest but the reason I don't is because I live my life based on next week I want you to come because I'm going to give you the standards of this house Moses came down to give those 10 commandments or the 10 standards and and it was to move them into the promised land next week I don't have 10 God didn't give me that much but I have eight and I call them the great eight and I've labored over this for 11 years what I'm saying is we're about to change as a church because of these eight standards and at the end of next week's service you're going to have an opportunity to be a part of what God is doing why because you can't build a house without you missed it let me just let me just help every construction site I've ever been on every home build I've done all the construction of this place and everything anybody was walking around they walked around with one of these because if you can have a great vision for something but without one of these a standard I don't know what to order I don't know how much wood we need I don't know where to put all the nails nails I don't know where to put the studs I don't know where to and without the standard, you cannot build a house. I'm here to tell you without a standard, you can't build God's house either. And so many churches want everybody to figure out what they do here.
[00:41:31] This church will be a church of standards. No, no, no, no, no. I'm just going to tell you right now. And there are some churches who don't care. And I want you to go find them and show up and be everything God has called you to be there. Matter of fact, I believe in this so much that we have little cards that are called not your cup of tea cards. I realize everybody, this is not your cup of tea. And that don't mean you ain't got to drink tea because you don't like this type of tea.
[00:42:01] So I'm going to help you find your tea. And I literally have tons of churches in the area and around the country on there that we know personally would be great places for you that have different dynamics. And we want you to just get plugged in somewhere where that you can actually get involved them be a part of what God's doing. But here we're going to have a standard. Generosity is a standard. We will never let you come here and you don't feel the hand of God extending to you.
[00:42:38] We're always going to give. We're always going to love people who don't believe.
[00:42:44] Always want atheists in the building. Oh God, there's a church people. I feel your spirit rising well they're gay they're transgender they're they're god's children less claps don't matter who were you before god found you will always be a standard and next week i'm gonna i'm gonna invite you into living in this with me because you ain't seen nothing yet put that big you ain't seen nothing yet on the screen this is what i want you to remember you ain't seen nothing yet did you did you hear the stats that they gave earlier of what God has done in this church. You ain't seen nothing yet. Put those stats, all of them back on the screen. I just want you to think what God has done in the last 11 years.
[00:44:04] That's crazy. 30,680 baptisms, 94.3 million hours viewed on YouTube, 233 million, I don't even know how to say that number, a lot of millions of views, 36,361,501 daughters given away in total generosity that we can record, and 193,820 salvation.
[00:44:44] On this 11th anniversary, we celebrate that we have been representing God to the lost and found for transformation in christ but now put my other screen up there but you ain't seen nothing yet you check back with me in 10 years and as we get this army we started this vision with 300 people and now there's almost 3 000 in here and countless watching up what could we do if we started building based on the standards of god god's gonna build this church amen and he's gonna to do it with you. Lift your hands all over this house. Father, I thank you for every person under the sound of my voice today. I thank you that their faith was encouraged and they're seeing your need for their full. Yes. Father, I pray that right now that every person that is stuck in a wilderness that right now today, something's happening in their heart. God, I believe that you are not just delivering us, but you're taking us into the promised land. And today, father, God I pray that anybody who has been stuck who has been circling circling in the same foolishness who's been stuck in delusion thank you father today there is a change happening from the youngest to the oldest change us renew us transform us and do it from the inside out let it start in our mind and let it affect our habits today God for all you've done and all you continue to do we say yes there's somebody under the sound of my voice right now with your eyes closed and you just meditating on God you have not said yes to God yet you're literally in this place right now and you have never accepted Jesus or you did a long time ago but you walked away from him today God saying you want to move forward move forward with me I don't care where you came from what happened to you what you did today is the day of salvation and in this moment God's saying to you you ain't seen nothing yet. I want to heal you. I want to deliver you. I want to bring you into freedom, and I want to bring you into promised land. Somebody lost their hope. Somebody stopped dreaming. Somebody stopped believing God, and today God said, I'm resurrecting. I'm resurrecting.
[00:47:17] If you want to accept Jesus or rededicate your life to him, whether you're watching in this room or online, today is the day. On the count of three, as the church begins to pray, because I need you to begin to believe, there's eternity in the balance right now. Somebody's not promised another 10 years but today they're right here and i'm telling you right now your spirit is moving right now that anxiousness you're feeling that's the holy spirit coming to now calm you and say this is the day this is what i've been building everything towards you accepting me right now if you're in this room or you're watching right now online today i want you to receive jesus on the count of three just shoot your hand up saying pastor i want to be included in that prayer one you're making the greatest decision of your life two your name is about to be written in the lamb's book of life three lift your hand if you want to receive jesus in this room i see hands i see hands i see hands i see hands and more than that god sees you come on transformation church let's give god praise you can put your hand down i don't want to embarrass you i'm not going to make you say things out loud because that's where your healing's coming from but as a church we all pray together for the benefit of those coming to christ would everybody just lift your hands and say god thank you for sending Jesus to deliver me today I confess I need you I have sinned but I repent and I turn to you I believe you lived you died and you rose again with all power just for me today here's my life change me renew me transform me I'm yours forever in Jesus name Amen hey can we celebrate all over this y'all gotta come on with me let's celebrate every person that made a decision for Jesus hey listen if you just decided to accept Jesus I want you to text save to eight two eight two eight two and our team wants to send you some information and celebrate with you and listen all over this place. There's thousands of you in here and thousands online. I'm about to come off stage and I want to pray for you. Start putting your prayer requests in the chat. I'm going to pray specifically for you by name, but our altar team is coming up right now. And if you need prayer for anything, for finances, for your family, for your mind, for peace, I don't want you to leave this place without getting agreement. The Bible says that the prayers of the righteous, they work.
[00:49:55] and today you can get prayer I love you church this is our anniversary this is us celebrating all that God has done through our faithfulness and so thank you for honoring this moment if you got any old throwback pictures of what God has done put them up online and let us know some of your favorite moments and don't forget to celebrate because God's church is alive and we're about to build this house. Amen. I said, we're about to build this house. Amen. Remember this Wednesday relationship goals is out everywhere. And I want you to watch it and celebrate with us. And I want you to go out and live a transformed life. Hug three or four people and tell them you love them.
[00:50:39] Amen. My prayer for you is that you don't self-sabotage, that you don't actually have a life that lives outside of the standards of God. I believe you're going to make it to your destiny.
[00:50:53] I believe that God has everything ahead of you. Faith is forward, but you gotta have a standard.
[00:51:00] And for everybody that gave their life to Christ today, I'm so proud of you. Get the Bible and start reading so that you can have the standards of how to live and how to love and how to give and how to share and how to show up. And I'm telling you, anybody that's been walking with God, it's time to renew your standards and allow God to be the thing that defines your life. I'm so proud of you. As a pastor, as you're going on this journey, you know what we believe. This is not about perfection. It's about progression. And you keep showing up and you keep watching and you keep getting accountable. This is what allows you to grow spiritually. This year, we're moving forward. Believe it, say it, stand in it, and walk forward in this moment. Until next week, I want you to go out and live a transformed life.