The Boiling Point: Why Effort Alone Cannot Save

The sermon offers a compelling call to spiritual diligence and perseverance, utilizing vivid illustrations to encourage the congregation to push beyond their comfort zones. However, the homiletical approach relies heavily on human willpower and moral effort ('turning up the heat') without adequately anchoring these duties in the finished work of Christ or the supernatural enablement of the Holy Spirit. This creates a risk of moralism, where the burden of spiritual progress falls on the believer's shoulders rather than resting on God's grace.

🟠
Theological Status: COMPROMISED (Worldly/Sloppy) Biblical Parallel(Archetype): Pergamum
❓ What do these grades mean?
🔍 Biblical Discernment: The 7 Church Parallels
The Faithful Parallels Smyrna • Philadelphia
Teaching that parallels the churches that endure suffering with true spiritual riches (Rev 2:9) and keep the Word of Christ without denial despite having "little strength" (Rev 3:8).
The Cold Orthodox Parallel Ephesus
Teaching that upholds doctrinal precision yet parallels the loss of the "first love"—the vital, motivating power of the Gospel (Rev 2:4).
The Compromised Parallel Pergamum
Teaching that parallels churches tolerating the "doctrine of Balaam" through cultural accommodation (Rev 2:14), characterized by weak boundaries, sloppy theology, and worldly compromise.
The Corrupted & Dead Parallels Thyatira • Sardis • Laodicea
Teaching that parallels churches with active heresy, synergism, therapeutic deism, or dead orthodoxy (Rev 2:20, Rev 3:1, Rev 3:17). These represent systemic, fundamental errors that corrupt the Gospel.
Why strictly "Mark & Avoid"?
We do not issue this rating to attack the speaker, but to protect the listener. This ministry's overall teaching trend consistently deviates from sound doctrine. As per Romans 16:17, we identify these patterns so believers can guard their hearts.
Date: 2025-11-30 | Church: The Alter | Speaker: Jacob Hedrick

🧐 Overview

Theological Verdict & Summary

Sermon Summary: A passionate call to increase spiritual intensity and commitment, using the metaphor of water reaching its boiling point to illustrate the need for greater effort in faith.

Pastoral Analysis: The sermon offers a compelling call to spiritual diligence and perseverance, utilizing vivid illustrations to encourage the congregation to push beyond their comfort zones. However, the homiletical approach relies heavily on human willpower and moral effort ('turning up the heat') without adequately anchoring these duties in the finished work of Christ or the supernatural enablement of the Holy Spirit. This creates a risk of moralism, where the burden of spiritual progress falls on the believer's shoulders rather than resting on God's grace.

Biblical Parallel (Archetype): Pergamum — The sermon exhibits homiletical compromise by substituting the Gospel's power with human moral effort. While the doctrinal content is not heretical, the preaching relies on 'turning up the heat' of human willpower rather than the Holy Spirit's enablement, resulting in a compromised witness that prioritizes performance over grace.

Big Idea: Believers must turn up the heat of their spiritual effort and desire by just one degree to reach 'boiling point' (212 degrees), transforming ordinary faith into powerful, miraculous outcomes through small, consistent acts of commitment, conscience, care, and consumption by God. 00:01:28 ▶️ 📄


📖 How they Handle Scripture & Jesus

  • Primary Text: Isaiah 64:1-4
  • Usage Classification: Thematic
  • Text-to-Talk Ratio: Moderate
  • Pulpit Decorum: ✅ PASS - No coarse language or pejoratives detected.

✝️ Christological Focus: Moralistic/Imitative

"Christ is presented primarily as the object of commitment and the standard for effort, rather than the source of power for the believer's transformation."

Scripture Saturation: Verses Read: 4 | Referenced: 10 | Alluded: 8

📖 View 1 Passages Read Aloud
  • Isaiah 64:1-4 00:00:09 ▶️ 📄
    "O that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down to the mountains, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence, as when the melted fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil. To make thy name known to thine adversaries, and the nations may tremble at thy presence. When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains flowed down at thy presence. For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen. O God, besides thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth"

Key References: Hebrews 12:29, Matthew 3:11, Jeremiah 20:9, 1 Timothy 6:10, Matthew 14:17-21, James 5:16, Nehemiah 13:16, Jeremiah 6:28, Matthew 5:40, Matthew 5:41

💧 Liturgy & Sacraments

Altar Call / Invitation Observed: Yes


🎙️ Sermon Content & Delivery

Word Count: 3,399 words

📌 View 8 Key Topics Addressed
  • Spiritual Heat and Boiling Point 00:01:28 ▶️ 📄
    > The pastor uses the metaphor of water reaching 212 degrees to describe the transition from merely being 'hot' to becoming a source of power and breakthrough through increased spiritual intensity.
  • Commitment and Conscience 00:08:11 ▶️ 📄
    > The pastor lists 'Commit' and 'Conscience' as essential steps to 'turn up the heat,' urging believers to stop acting like they are committed and to guard their conscience as the sanctuary of the Holy Ghost.
  • Care and Consumption 00:09:16 ▶️ 📄
    > The pastor emphasizes caring for oneself, God, and the church, and warns against being 'consumed' by worldly things like sports or money rather than God.
  • Small Actions and Breakthrough 00:10:36 ▶️ 📄
    > The pastor argues that small actions, when combined with God's power, can produce miraculous results, citing the feeding of the multitudes and the Indy 500 race as examples of how minimal differences yield massive outcomes.
  • Obedience and Small Steps 00:15:16 ▶️ 📄
    > The pastor uses the biblical account of Jericho to illustrate that every step matters and obedience leads to breakthroughs.
  • 212 Degree Faith 00:16:56 ▶️ 📄
    > The pastor introduces the concept of '212 degree' kindness, belief, focus, and perseverance as a call to go beyond ordinary Christian living.
  • Voluntary Compassion 00:20:03 ▶️ 📄
    > The pastor explains Jesus' teaching on going the extra mile as a voluntary act of compassion that demonstrates agency and value for others.
  • Desire vs. Obligation 00:23:19 ▶️ 📄
    > The pastor distinguishes between effort driven by obligation and effort driven by desire, urging the congregation to choose to serve because they want to, not because they have to.
🖼️ View 7 Illustrations & Stories
  • Sermon Illustration 00:03:56 ▶️ 📄
    > The pastor shares a personal anecdote about struggling to hook a trailer onto a hitch ball on a hill, requiring extra effort and 'heat' to overcome gravity and successfully load it, illustrating the need for extra spiritual effort during difficult seasons.
  • Sermon Illustration 00:10:37 ▶️ 📄
    > The pastor references the biblical story of the boy who donated his lunch (five loaves and two fish) to illustrate how small offerings, when given to God, can result in miraculous provision for multitudes.
  • Sermon Illustration 00:12:26 ▶️ 📄
    > The pastor cites the Indy 500 race, noting that the first-place winner received $1.3 million while the second-place finisher received $621,000, separated by only 1.54 seconds, to demonstrate how a minimal difference in effort or timing can lead to vastly different outcomes.
  • Sermon Illustration 00:13:19 ▶️ 📄
    > The pastor recounts a story of a race where a minimal move of less than two seconds cost the competitors almost six hundred thousand dollars, illustrating how small things add up to mean measurable things in the eyes of God.
  • Sermon Illustration 00:14:47 ▶️ 📄
    > The pastor references the biblical story of the children of Israel marching around Jericho for six days and seven times on the seventh day, noting that the walls fell due to obedience to take every single step.
  • Sermon Illustration 00:16:11 ▶️ 📄
    > The pastor shares that the church passed out over 2,000 invitations during the spring and summer, which led to people visiting the church and asking for prayer, demonstrating how seemingly insignificant efforts produce huge outcomes.
  • Sermon Illustration 00:19:43 ▶️ 📄
    > The pastor references Matthew 5:40, explaining Jesus' teaching that if a Roman soldier forces a person to carry equipment one mile, they should voluntarily carry it for a second mile, illustrating voluntary compassion beyond legal obligation.
🚀 View 11 Calls to Action
  • Pastoral Charge 00:04:51 ▶️ 📄
    > Increase spiritual effort and intensity during difficult seasons.
  • Pastoral Charge 00:08:11 ▶️ 📄
    > Stop pretending to be committed and genuinely commit to God and others.
  • Pastoral Charge 00:08:42 ▶️ 📄
    > Maintain moral sensitivity and treat the body as the sanctuary of the Holy Ghost.
  • Pastoral Charge 00:09:16 ▶️ 📄
    > Prioritize care for self, God, and the church community.
  • Pastoral Charge 00:09:35 ▶️ 📄
    > Reorient priorities to be fully consumed with God rather than sports, money, or other distractions.
  • Pastoral Charge 00:11:34 ▶️ 📄
    > Increase the duration and intensity of fasting and prayer.
  • Pastoral Charge 00:14:18 ▶️ 📄
    > Add a small amount of extra time to prayer and increase passion for living for God.
  • Pastoral Charge 00:13:48 ▶️ 📄
    > The pastor invites the congregation to engage in a final minute of prayer and increase their passion for living for God.
  • Pastoral Charge 00:15:34 ▶️ 📄
    > The pastor commands the congregation to value and execute every small step in their spiritual walk.
  • Pastoral Charge 00:15:44 ▶️ 📄
    > The pastor commands immediate obedience to God's direction without demanding explanation.
  • Pastoral Charge 00:17:41 ▶️ 📄
    > The pastor asks the congregation to adopt a singular focus on making heaven their home.

🧭 Biblical Alignment Dashboard

Overall Verdict: Compromised / Weak

CategoryStatusReasoning
Gospel Framework ❌ FAIL The sermon's theological framework is compromised by a thematic and moralistic approach that attributes spiritual progress to human effort, described metaphorically as 'turning up the heat,' rather than acknowledging the monergistic work of theHoly Spirit. Consequently, the core Gospel message of salvation by grace is merely assumed rather than explicitly proclaimed as the essential power for sanctification.
Soteriology ⚠️ WEAK While not explicitly denying justification by faith, the sermon's application of sanctification relies on synergistic human effort, implying that spiritual breakthrough is achieved through increased human intensity rather than divine grace.
Bibliology ✅ PASS Scripture is referenced appropriately, though the hermeneutical application leans towards moralistic interpretation.
Hermeneutic ⚠️ WEAK The hermeneutic prioritizes practical application and moral exhortation over the redemptive-historical context of the text, leading to a moralistic reading.
Theology Proper ✅ PASS No explicit errors regarding the nature of God were detected.
Sacramentology ✅ PASS No sacramental errors detected.
Confessional Depth ❌ SHALLOW The sermon lacks depth in explaining the theological basis for sanctification, focusing instead on behavioral outcomes and human effort.

⚙️ The Core Gospel Framework ⚠️ Incomplete / Compromised

What is the Gospel Framework? This section audits whether the sermon proclaims the essential foundation of the Gospel: Christ's substitutionary sacrifice, humanity's spiritual need, and salvation by sovereign grace alone.

How this is evaluated:
  • Essential Gospel Pillars: The framework is verified intact when the sermon substantively preaches Christ's atonement, declares human inability (articulated through either Total Depravity or the Law's condemnation), and guards salvation by grace alone against works-righteousness.
  • Historic Confessional Depth: Deeper theological distinctives (such as the Active Obedience of Christ) enrich theological depth when expounded, but their absence in a focused topical or expository message is not an error and does not compromise the Gospel Framework.

🏛️ Essential Gospel Pillars

❌ The Cross & Atonement (Penal Substitution): Not observed in the sermon.

❌ Human Inability & Need: Not observed (neither human inability nor divine judgment was contextually proclaimed).

❌ Sola Gratia (Salvation by Grace Alone): Compromised

Soteriological errors detected regarding salvation by grace alone.

📜 Historic Confessional Depth

⚪ Active Obedience of Christ: Not explicitly expounded in this sermon.

Assessed under Confessional Depth diagnostic (SHALLOW). Its absence does not compromise the Gospel Framework.

⚠️ Theological Concerns

🟠 Major Assumed Gospel (Thematic/Moralistic)

Root Cause: Moralistic Therapeutic Deism

The Belief/Behavior: The sermon presents spiritual breakthrough and sanctification as the result of increased human willpower, intensity, and moral effort, rather than the supernatural enablement of the Holy Spirit.

Why It's Dangerous: This creates a burden of performance on the believer, leading to spiritual exhaustion and despair when human effort inevitably fails, as it shifts the ground of hope from Christ's finished work to human grit.

Biblical Correction: Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."

✅ Commendations

Illustration | Vivid Analogies

The use of the trailer hitching and Indy 500 race illustrations effectively communicates the concept of incremental effort and the value of small actions.

Pastoral Tone | Encouraging Perseverance

The sermon successfully encourages the congregation to maintain forward momentum and resist discouragement, which is a vital pastoral need.


📜 Full Sermon Transcript (Audit)

Use the 📄 icons next to quotes above to automatically jump to their location in this raw transcript.

[00:00:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
Looking forward to going to heaven with you?
[00:00:03] Amen.
[00:00:04] Looking forward to seeing Jesus face to face with you?
[00:00:08] Hallelujah.
[00:00:09] Isaiah chapter 64 verses 1 through 4 says this, O that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down to the mountains, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence, as when the melted fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil.
[00:00:30] To make thy name known to thine adversaries, and the nations may tremble at thy presence.
[00:00:36] When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains flowed down at thy presence.
[00:00:43] For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen.
[00:00:51] O God, besides thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth,
[00:01:01] It's powerful and it seems very emotionally attached that the prophet is preaching from and speaking from this particular scripture.
[00:01:11] But I want to point out that fire causes the waters to boil.
[00:01:19] It turned up the heat just a little bit.
[00:01:22] I want to preach today.
[00:01:24] This is not a new thought.
[00:01:26] It's not a new thought to me.
[00:01:28] But I want to preach 212 degrees.
[00:01:31] Does anybody know what that is?
[00:01:33] It's boiling.
[00:01:34] That's boiling point.
[00:01:36] 212 degrees.
[00:01:38] Let's ask the Lord to help us today, shall we?
[00:01:40] Gracious King, we thank you right now for your spirit to continue to stay deep in this place, God.
[00:01:46] Lead our minds, lead our hearts, lead our souls today, God.
[00:01:51] well let's turn it up just a little bit hotter today god it's in jesus righteous name amen you may be seated amen once again so glad to worship with you in a season where we would take a step back and look there's no question about it when it gets cold when people get sick the church services look a little differently but in a season where that may be
[00:02:16] Promoted, and that may be what you see.
[00:02:18] I don't want to let that be the pervading thought in my head.
[00:02:23] This is a church that believes in moving forward.
[00:02:26] This is a church that believes in staying red hot for Jesus, if you will.
[00:02:31] This is a church that believes in staying committed to Him through the thin, all seasons.
[00:02:38] Now every season provides its own value.
[00:02:41] Every season provides its own ups and downs so I recognize that for what it is.
[00:02:50] Amen.
[00:02:51] And I recognize the fact that there will be times where it will feel like we're taking two steps back only to take five steps forward.
[00:03:01] There will be times it will feel like we're taking a step back just to say we're going to take five more steps forward.
[00:03:07] It's going to feel that way but I want you to recognize that all through that time I'm going to be turning up the heat just a little bit more.
[00:03:14] I'm going to be turning up the heat just a tad bit more because I want to get to boiling point.
[00:03:20] Amen.
[00:03:20] The prophet is asking God to turn up the heat that his name
[00:03:26] may be known that the nations may tremble at his presence praise God the prophet is asking to turn up the heat for those two things specifically turning up the heat in my connotation today is also turning up the effort a little bit as well I came to this message yesterday when I was trying to load up our trailer I was trying to hook it now I had parked our trailer on a hill
[00:03:56] Like that right there.
[00:03:58] And I backed the vehicle down right underneath where the trailer would come down on top of the ball.
[00:04:05] But just understand that it's got to come perfectly down on top of the ball.
[00:04:10] And so because it was on a hill, I had to kind of adjust it.
[00:04:14] But I was working against the hill.
[00:04:17] I'm pushing it and I just can't get it to fall right.
[00:04:22] I'm fighting against the gravity, I'm fighting against the heel, and I'm fighting against one of my hips.
[00:04:29] And so I said, okay, I'm going to have to give this just a little extra, a little extra effort.
[00:04:36] And so recognizing that there is an extra element to this particular fight, I said, and got it to land on top of the ball.
[00:04:45] Praise God.
[00:04:47] We got the trailer loaded up, but it only took about 20 minutes to do it.
[00:04:51] we should have taken about two minutes but there are extra elements that during certain seasons that you're gonna have to fight against and so during those seasons I dare say it's gonna take some extra effort maybe a little extra heat turn up the heat for your walk with God just a little bit during those times and you'll be surprised how well you come out at 211 degrees the water is hot there's nothing happened it's just kind of sitting
[00:05:22] There's a little bit of movement to it.
[00:05:25] But then as the heat begins to turn up just from 211 to 212, something, and I don't want to say magical, something powerful begins to happen.
[00:05:36] All the electrons begin to bounce, all the electrons begin to go crazy, and the water just at one more degree begins to boil.
[00:05:45] It takes the fire being turned up to cause the water to become a power source.
[00:05:51] Raising the temperature of water by one extra degree makes the difference between something being very hot and something that can generate enough force to power a machine.
[00:06:02] With boiling water, the water becomes steam that can power a locomotive.
[00:06:07] One extra degree makes all the difference in its ability to produce power.
[00:06:12] Folks, I'm talking one degree.
[00:06:15] I'm talking just a little bit extra I'm talking just a just a just a slight more of a push I'm telling you and you got to hear me during the season you might have to push a little bit harder it might take just a little bit effort to get to the house of God I'm not saying that you're sick but I'm just saying the devil's going to try to tell you hey what's the point what's worth it we're taking steps back but I'm going to tell you we're only doing it to take steps forward in the grace of God somebody give him praise
[00:06:44] Somebody give them thanks today.
[00:06:47] Hallelujah.
[00:06:48] It's going to take a little effort during certain seasons.
[00:06:52] Amen.
[00:06:53] And this may be one of those seasons.
[00:06:56] Thank you, Jackson.
[00:06:57] Worked last night.
[00:06:58] Thank you for being in the house of God today.
[00:07:00] Not only in the house of God, but got here in perfect time to practice.
[00:07:05] Thank you, Jackson.
[00:07:06] Most people would be like, man, I can't do it.
[00:07:09] And there's no expectation that says if you work the night before that you stay up and go to church.
[00:07:13] I understand that's a difficult thing, but thank you for taking that extra effort to do that.
[00:07:20] It's a big deal.
[00:07:21] Praise God.
[00:07:22] And so Hebrews 12 and 29 says, Our God is a consuming fire.
[00:07:28] Matthew 3 and 11 says, He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and
[00:07:35] with fire he's saying I've got to turn up the heat in your life just a little bit Jeremiah said it like this it's like fire shut up in my bones hey he's turning up the heat in our lives just a little bit from 211 to 212 degrees that he might help us get through our season this year thank you God let me say some pastoral things here and whoever would hear this is great but
[00:08:04] I had some things that I thought might help you in turning up the heat just a little bit.
[00:08:11] Commit, stop acting like you're committed and truly be committed.
[00:08:16] There's no reason to act like you're committed when you're really not committed.
[00:08:21] That's in your relationship with each other and that's in your relationship with God.
[00:08:27] I can't act like something that I'm not.
[00:08:28] If you act like a Christian but yet you're not, you're just playing a game.
[00:08:33] It's fake and it's facade.
[00:08:35] The Lord doesn't love it.
[00:08:37] So commit.
[00:08:39] The second word is conscience.
[00:08:42] Hang on to your conscience.
[00:08:45] Your body is the sanctuary from the Holy Ghost.
[00:08:49] And so treat your body like it's the sanctuary of the Holy Ghost.
[00:08:55] You're woke with God like it's important.
[00:08:58] Conscience.
[00:08:59] Can we still have a conscience or can I just sit by and do something and the Lord not even tug at me anymore?
[00:09:08] Or would I participate in something that I used to know was wrong but now not so much of a big deal?
[00:09:14] Conscience.
[00:09:16] How about care?
[00:09:17] I want you to care about yourself.
[00:09:20] I want you to care about God.
[00:09:22] And I want you to care about the church.
[00:09:24] I want you to make sure and understand that it's utterly important.
[00:09:28] So I've got commit, I've got conscience, I've got care.
[00:09:32] And then the last thing is to be consumed.
[00:09:35] I want to stop being consumed with everything except for the Lord.
[00:09:40] Let me be fully consumed with God and let everything else just fall to the wayside.
[00:09:46] Man, if you're more consumed with sports than God, you need to go to an altar somewhere.
[00:09:52] And I'm not even preaching against sports.
[00:09:53] Praise God.
[00:09:54] If you're more consumed with money than you are for God, and there's nothing wrong with money, except the love of money is the root of all evil.
[00:10:04] Not having money.
[00:10:06] Praise God.
[00:10:06] And so, I want to make sure that I'm not consumed with those things.
[00:10:10] When we talk about moving from 211 to 212 degrees we're saying small things can make a big difference and I say that as passionately as I can I say that with as much depth as I possibly can a lot of very small things can add up to make a huge
[00:10:36] What was it?
[00:10:37] It was a boy that just said I'll donate my lunch.
[00:10:42] A couple fishes, a couple loaves of bread, and what did the Lord do with it?
[00:10:46] He fed multitudes.
[00:10:48] Enough so much that the Lord had leftover to fill up basketfuls.
[00:10:55] It's amazing.
[00:10:56] Small things, when the Lord gets a hold of it, can do miraculous things.
[00:11:02] I want you to remember that.
[00:11:03] Just one step forward can produce something miraculous.
[00:11:06] Just one action forward can produce something miraculous in the eyes of God.
[00:11:13] To get what you've never had, you've got to do some things that you've never done.
[00:11:18] If we plan to press forward and have breakthrough, then I've got to break through some barriers that I've never broken through before.
[00:11:29] And I might have to do some things that I've never done to do that.
[00:11:34] Maybe fast a little longer.
[00:11:36] Maybe pray a little bit longer, a little bit more intense.
[00:11:42] Amen?
[00:11:42] It's the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man that availeth much.
[00:11:49] Praise God.
[00:11:49] And so if my prayer is not described as fervent, then I need to get on that.
[00:11:56] I need to turn up the heat with my prayer life.
[00:11:59] I came across this story and I thought it was extremely interesting.
[00:12:02] Maybe you will as well.
[00:12:04] I'm not much of an Indy 500 fan.
[00:12:07] Never watched one.
[00:12:08] Don't care about it.
[00:12:09] Some of you might be NASCAR fans.
[00:12:11] I'm not.
[00:12:12] We just happen to live in NASCAR country.
[00:12:14] It's just where it is.
[00:12:15] It's just how it is.
[00:12:16] Praise God.
[00:12:17] But the Indy 500, the margin between the first place person
[00:12:26] In the second place finisher was 1.54 seconds.
[00:12:32] Less than two seconds.
[00:12:36] One, two.
[00:12:39] Less than that much of a difference between the first car and the second car.
[00:12:43] You know how much the first car won?
[00:12:44] 1.3 million dollars.
[00:12:50] For winning the race.
[00:12:51] Good for them.
[00:12:53] Maybe they'll tithe on that money after the taxes, I guess, right?
[00:12:57] The second prize, you know how much they won?
[00:13:02] $621,000.
[00:13:03] Still not a bad day.
[00:13:06] Still pretty good.
[00:13:08] But less than half by just two seconds.
[00:13:13] Just a minimal move.
[00:13:19] just went into the pit just a little bit long ran those tires out just a little bit long didn't hit the gas just a little too light and they're just less than two seconds separating them costed them almost six over six hundred thousand dollars in winnings it's amazing now I'm not going around preaching about racing but I am saying that the little things the little things add up to mean
[00:13:48] In measurable things in the eyes of God when I do the small things it's amazing what God begins to do with it it's the little foxes that the Bible says will spoil the vine so I gotta take care of those things and it's amazing how God will take care of it let's give God praise let's give God thanks today I'm turning it up just one more notch just one more degree come on just one more minute of prayer just one more just one more degree of passion and living for God
[00:14:18] Amen I'm telling you I am telling you now that the enemy will tap you on the shoulder and say what is the use what is the purpose look what everybody else is doing look at what the direction this is going you tell you tell that enemy and say hey there's a better day coming there's better moments coming I see the revival on the other side of that I see what can happen on the other side of that I see what can happen
[00:14:47] on the other side of that amen the children of Israel marched around Jericho six days and then seven times on the seventh day then they blew their trumpets and the walls fell y'all learned that in Sunday school I believe that happened largely because of the obedience to take every single
[00:15:16] every single degree what what is the deal god why we gotta march i want you to take every step because every step matters
[00:15:34] Every step you're moving forward and then eventually we're going to get to a point we're going to blow trumpets and this whole entire wall is going to fall down.
[00:15:44] Don't ask why, I just want you to be obedient to it.
[00:15:49] One more step, one more degree and somebody's wall is going to fall down.
[00:15:55] The question is, do we begin to turn the heat back down or do we turn it back up?
[00:16:00] Amen.
[00:16:01] God is asking us to do small, seemingly trivial things to produce huge outcomes.
[00:16:11] This past summer, through the spring and summer, we passed out over 2,000 invitations.
[00:16:16] Thank you for helping out those of you who did.
[00:16:19] Seemingly insignificant, we had people that visited the church because of it.
[00:16:24] Seemingly insignificant, we had people that would ask for prayer because of it.
[00:16:30] I dare say that there's people still looking at the church because of the small efforts that we took planting seeds this past spring and summer.
[00:16:40] Now you might say, oh I don't see anything from it, but the Lord, the Lord sees it.
[00:16:46] The vast province that God is asking for 212 degrees where most are still sitting at 150 degrees.
[00:16:56] I'm not quite willing to go any hotter than where I'm at.
[00:17:01] The Lord is asking us for 212 degree kindness.
[00:17:04] Hey, I want to be kind to somebody.
[00:17:07] Just going a little extra with being kind to somebody.
[00:17:10] The Lord is asking for 212 degree belief.
[00:17:13] Believing fuels enthusiasm and that enthusiasm leads into our passions and our souls will be lifted with our spirit.
[00:17:24] When I believe in something, it propels me to therefore go forward.
[00:17:29] I want to have 212 degree focus.
[00:17:32] I got one mind and one goal in mind.
[00:17:34] I want to stay singularly focused.
[00:17:36] I want to make heaven my home and I want to bring somebody with me.
[00:17:40] Praise God.
[00:17:41] Can I have that focus, that 212 degree focus to say I've got, I'm going to make heaven, I'm going to make heaven my home.
[00:17:51] and then 212 degree perseverance.
[00:17:56] Perseverance is not a long race.
[00:17:59] It's many short races stacked one behind another.
[00:18:04] That's perseverance.
[00:18:07] You know, I've never spoken at a conference for church planters.
[00:18:13] I'm a church planter.
[00:18:15] I've never spoke to church planters.
[00:18:16] But if I had the opportunity to speak, I would say,
[00:18:21] I would say to pace yourself because this is a long-term race we're in this for the long haul this is something that we're going to do from now hopefully till eternity and you're going to have to have perseverance to endure it's not a long race it's little small races in between that make the difference we have to press through the temptation that we just have an ordinary walk with God or just another ordinary church there has to be something
[00:18:57] and there are hundreds praise God there's new ones popping up every single day but what has to set this church aside and apart from the rest of the churches is one degree to where I turn this thing up one degree and it begins to boil hey it was sitting at ordinary it was sitting at passive it was sitting at nothing and then all of a sudden something began to happen because of one more degree of efforts one more degree of prayer one more degree of fasting one more degree of of worship
[00:19:27] I feel what I'm saying today, and I think that you do as well.
[00:19:33] Here's what I gathered from Matthew.
[00:19:34] I had to pull it from the NIV because the King James had a little too many of these and thys, and I didn't think that you would get it.
[00:19:43] Matthew 5 and 40, it says this, If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, give them your coat as well.
[00:19:53] He keeps going on.
[00:19:55] If anyone forces you to go one mile, tell them, I'll go two.
[00:20:01] Have you heard that before?
[00:20:03] Jesus taught that when a Roman soldier forced a person to carry their equipment one mile, they should voluntarily carry it for a second mile.
[00:20:16] Two mile people in a one mile world.
[00:20:19] It makes all the difference.
[00:20:23] Jesus said the extra effort with a second mile was a voluntary act of compassion and a choice to go beyond what was legally required of them they were required by Roman law that they had to carry what the Roman soldiers asked them to carry and he said say I'll carry it for you twice as far this extra effort
[00:20:47] by choosing to go the extra mile the person shows that they have their own agency and they value the other person so much so that they are no longer compelled by obligation I'm not obligated to do this I choose to do this man I'm going to choose to turn it up one degree because I want to I'm going to turn it up one degree because God loves me enough to see me through that I'm going to turn it up one degree why because God's been that good to me I don't have to
[00:21:17] but I certainly get two can you say amen well now pastor there's a lot of don'ts that you guys preach yeah there's a lot of don'ts but there's a whole lot more do's I do want to worship him I do want to praise him I do want to serve him and if the Lord says to go one mile let me tell the Lord I'll go too praise God you know most of you don't have to get here early for prayer but you do
[00:21:45] Most of you don't have to come on Saturday mornings to pray, but many of you do.
[00:21:50] That's not because we force you to.
[00:21:51] That's not necessarily out of obligation, but it's because I want to go that extra step that we believe is actually necessary to make a difference in this world.
[00:22:05] The difference between good and great is very small.
[00:22:10] It's very small.
[00:22:12] The difference between here and there is very small.
[00:22:18] In fact, I've had you preach that before.
[00:22:22] The difference between here and there is a cross at the beginning.
[00:22:27] Hallelujah.
[00:22:29] If I put a cross at the very beginning of here, it'll take me to there.
[00:22:34] Let's all stand.
[00:22:41] Knowing, not fully knowing what today would bring, but understanding the kind of day that it is and that it would present to be, the Lord laid this on my heart.
[00:22:53] To challenge us, to challenge the church, not to take a step back whatsoever.
[00:23:03] Even when the temptation is great, even when the opportunity is great, to continue to press towards the mark
[00:23:11] The high calling of the Lord Jesus Christ.
[00:23:15] Let me press.
[00:23:17] Let me press just a little harder.
[00:23:19] I'm not necessarily talking about effort as much as I'm talking about desire.
[00:23:25] Hey, effort is one thing, but desire to do it is a whole other thing.
[00:23:30] Let me be willing to do it.
[00:23:32] I'm not obligated.
[00:23:34] The law doesn't make me do it, but I choose to.
[00:23:37] Jesus.
[00:23:39] Why don't we all come to the front today and just begin to ask God to move on our behalf right now.
[00:23:45] Hey, there's only a one degree difference between 211 and 212 that's boiling.
[00:23:54] Maybe it's just another outstretched hand.
[00:23:56] Maybe it's just another prayer to God.
[00:23:59] Lord, I love you.
[00:24:00] Let's just begin to talk to him right now, shall we?
[00:24:03] Hallelujah, Jesus.