WEBVTT 00:00:48.120 --> 00:00:50.039 Thank you for this opportunity. 00:00:50.679 --> 00:00:55.160 God, I pray that you give people ears to hear. 00:00:55.320 --> 00:00:59.000 As if I open my mouth, God, I decrease and you increase. 00:00:59.160 --> 00:01:05.400 We trust you, God, that from this moment on our lives will never ever be the same. 00:01:05.719 --> 00:01:08.840 Because we leap into where you are. 00:01:09.000 --> 00:01:11.000 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:01:11.319 --> 00:01:11.959 Amen. 00:01:12.599 --> 00:01:13.239 Amen. 00:01:13.400 --> 00:01:15.000 You may be seated. 00:01:17.000 --> 00:01:19.079 Thank you, Sister Kenya. 00:01:20.519 --> 00:01:23.320 I've known this girl since she was a baby. 00:01:23.799 --> 00:01:28.519 And she's not only my sister girl child, she's my sara. 00:01:29.079 --> 00:01:33.159 And I just tell God, thank you so much for chosen city. 00:01:33.400 --> 00:01:35.719 I am so, can I say this? 00:01:35.879 --> 00:01:37.960 Freaking excited to be here. 00:01:41.000 --> 00:01:42.200 Thank you so much. 00:01:42.359 --> 00:01:44.120 I have enjoyed the worship. 00:01:44.280 --> 00:01:45.560 And you have to forgive me. 00:01:45.640 --> 00:01:48.040 I am not the polished first lady. 00:01:48.280 --> 00:01:51.640 I'm just as ghetto and ghetto fabulous as I can be. 00:01:51.719 --> 00:01:52.439 I'm a comedy. 00:01:53.000 --> 00:01:54.040 I'm all that. 00:01:54.760 --> 00:01:59.560 But the main thing is that I am saved, I'm sanctified, I'm Holy Ghost filled. 00:02:00.040 --> 00:02:03.000 And I know the Lord is on my side. 00:02:03.879 --> 00:02:05.719 First, let me give honor to God. 00:02:05.799 --> 00:02:06.439 You know how we do. 00:02:06.600 --> 00:02:09.000 Giving on to God who is the head of my life, that one. 00:02:09.159 --> 00:02:09.319 Yeah. 00:02:09.479 --> 00:02:12.439 Giving on to God who is really the head of my life. 00:02:12.759 --> 00:02:15.799 I am so thankful to be here. 00:02:16.439 --> 00:02:20.039 Uh, I'm thankful for my bishop, Bishop Anthony L. 00:02:20.199 --> 00:02:23.879 Jimright, for allowing me to come. 00:02:25.159 --> 00:02:28.120 That shows how much he loves Chosen City. 00:02:28.439 --> 00:02:31.719 Because he doesn't release me too much on a Sunday morning. 00:02:32.120 --> 00:02:40.039 But I praise God for your church, but I praise God for that awesome man of God, that Pastor Walter Bowers. 00:02:40.280 --> 00:02:43.000 I need you to give it up for you. 00:02:51.479 --> 00:02:54.840 And I'm happy to be his spiritual mother. 00:02:56.039 --> 00:03:03.080 And if you missed yesterday's leadership conference, you missed Pastor Walter Bowers. 00:03:03.400 --> 00:03:05.800 He was exceptional, phenomenal. 00:03:05.960 --> 00:03:08.759 That man of God blessed that house. 00:03:19.000 --> 00:03:22.920 Coming to America, I remember sitting there and I was looking at the preachers around me. 00:03:23.000 --> 00:03:24.520 I said, That boy did good. 00:03:25.159 --> 00:03:27.879 He was awesome. 00:03:29.000 --> 00:03:35.719 But behind every good man, there has to be a good woman. 00:03:36.840 --> 00:03:43.719 And let us give honor and tribute and homage to my baby. 00:03:52.280 --> 00:03:56.120 Lady Tiffany Bowers is awesome. 00:03:57.319 --> 00:03:57.960 That's right. 00:03:58.120 --> 00:03:59.400 Oh, I like that. 00:04:00.759 --> 00:04:03.319 Thank you, Pastor Jamal, my grandson. 00:04:05.400 --> 00:04:11.479 Um, Pastor Jamal knows that I'm under doctor's care, so I don't know why you're trying to get me all excited. 00:04:11.640 --> 00:04:16.599 You know I can't be doing no whole lot, I can't be moving no lot, come hard and stuff start racing. 00:04:16.680 --> 00:04:17.959 And you tried to mess me up. 00:04:18.120 --> 00:04:21.719 I can't wait till my husband you tried to mess me up before I ever got up. 00:04:22.120 --> 00:04:24.839 But I thank God for him, I thank God for his spirit. 00:04:25.000 --> 00:04:31.159 But I thank God for every tier of leadership at Chosen City Church. 00:04:31.720 --> 00:04:34.759 Your name precedes you because you're chosen. 00:04:34.920 --> 00:04:36.360 You're chosen for the next. 00:04:36.439 --> 00:04:40.839 I don't care who's doing what in the city, y'all got it going on. 00:04:41.800 --> 00:04:43.639 And I praise God for that. 00:04:43.800 --> 00:04:49.399 Okay, I will not be before you long, but I'm thankful for the uh invitation. 00:04:49.560 --> 00:04:57.480 I'm so thankful that Pastor Walter Bowers thought enough of me to come to his church when he wasn't gonna be here. 00:04:57.720 --> 00:05:00.839 Now that says a whole lot about him, although I'm a little mad about that. 00:05:00.920 --> 00:05:03.240 But anyway, that says a whole lot about him. 00:05:03.639 --> 00:05:06.280 That he would release me to his people. 00:05:06.839 --> 00:05:14.680 We're gonna get right on into the message because I can stand up here for the next 30 minutes and have a whole comedy act, but I'm not gonna do that because it's Sunday. 00:05:14.839 --> 00:05:23.959 Uh, I did tell Lady Tiffany I was a little upset with y'all because you did not tell me it was you Sunday, and I could wear a pair of jeans and a t-shirt and my sneakers. 00:05:24.040 --> 00:05:26.360 Now I'm a little feeling feeling a little something, something about that. 00:05:26.439 --> 00:05:28.759 But I'm gonna go ahead and do what I came in here to do. 00:05:29.079 --> 00:05:31.399 I praise God for being here. 00:05:32.120 --> 00:05:37.160 If you will, will you turn in your Bibles to Luke 18? 00:05:38.199 --> 00:05:43.480 Chapter 18, and we're gonna look at verses 40 35 through 43. 00:05:48.280 --> 00:05:49.879 This is a familiar text. 00:05:49.959 --> 00:05:52.920 It is about Jesus healing a blind beggar. 00:05:53.079 --> 00:05:57.399 And Jesus approached Jericho, and a blind beggar was sitting beside the road. 00:05:57.560 --> 00:06:02.600 When he heard the noise of a crowd going by, he asked, What's happening? 00:06:02.839 --> 00:06:07.000 They told him that Jesus, the Nazarene, was going back. 00:06:07.480 --> 00:06:13.160 So he shouted, Son of David, son of David, have mercy on me. 00:06:13.560 --> 00:06:22.759 Be quiet, the people yelled at him, but he only shouted louder, Son of David, have mercy on me. 00:06:23.480 --> 00:06:28.759 When Jesus heard him, he stopped and he ordered that the man be brought to him. 00:06:28.920 --> 00:06:32.920 And the man came near, and Jesus asked a question. 00:06:33.399 --> 00:06:36.040 What do you want me to do for you? 00:06:37.319 --> 00:06:39.959 Lord, he said, I want to see. 00:06:40.360 --> 00:06:44.280 And Jesus said, All right, receive your sight. 00:06:44.519 --> 00:06:46.040 Your faith has healed you. 00:06:46.280 --> 00:06:53.560 Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus, praising God for all that God had done. 00:06:54.519 --> 00:06:55.800 You may be seated. 00:06:55.879 --> 00:07:00.120 If you will just allow me a little time, a little brief time of your Sunday. 00:07:00.360 --> 00:07:04.920 I want to speak from this topic in this title. 00:07:05.560 --> 00:07:09.720 I'm not leaving until I get what I came for. 00:07:10.439 --> 00:07:16.439 Look at your neighbor and say, I'm not leaving until I get what I came for. 00:07:18.120 --> 00:07:23.639 The other day I went to see my doctor, and the receptionist asked me one simple question. 00:07:23.800 --> 00:07:25.720 She said, Good morning. 00:07:26.280 --> 00:07:28.920 How can I help you today? 00:07:29.720 --> 00:07:31.480 I didn't have to think twice. 00:07:31.639 --> 00:07:33.240 I went there with a purpose. 00:07:33.399 --> 00:07:35.160 I needed some medicine. 00:07:35.480 --> 00:07:36.680 I needed some help. 00:07:36.839 --> 00:07:44.280 I was in pain, and all I wanted was some answers, but waiting was not an option for me. 00:07:44.439 --> 00:07:47.000 How many of you have ever gone someplace and you're impatient? 00:07:47.079 --> 00:07:47.720 I'm in there. 00:07:47.800 --> 00:07:53.079 That's why I don't like going to emergency rooms because if I come at nine o'clock, I need you to see me about 9:10. 00:07:53.160 --> 00:07:59.800 I'm not standing over there till 4 o'clock, because when you come around there at 4 o'clock, I'm already mad, my blood pressure gone up, and I'm sicker. 00:08:00.680 --> 00:08:04.680 So sometimes I have a tendency to be impatient. 00:08:04.839 --> 00:08:06.360 I know all y'all sanctified folk up in here. 00:08:06.920 --> 00:08:09.160 Y'all don't get impatient, but I do. 00:08:09.879 --> 00:08:15.480 Sometimes prayer feels like God is far away. 00:08:17.160 --> 00:08:22.839 We go to God expecting a right now blessing, but instead it feels like he's taking his time. 00:08:24.280 --> 00:08:32.759 Has there ever been a time in your life when you cried out to him, but it felt like Jesus was not on the main line for you to tell him what you wanted? 00:08:33.720 --> 00:08:36.439 Have you ever prayed and it seemed like heaven was silent? 00:08:36.600 --> 00:08:39.480 Have you ever become weary just from waiting? 00:08:39.720 --> 00:08:45.559 Have you ever thought about giving up because your breakdown breakthrough had not come yet? 00:08:46.839 --> 00:08:48.279 Here is the truth. 00:08:49.159 --> 00:08:56.119 Sometimes you've got to decide in your spirit that I'm not leaving until I get what I came for. 00:08:56.359 --> 00:08:59.319 Because no, for me, is not an option. 00:09:00.439 --> 00:09:03.719 In Luke 18, we meet a blind beggar, Bonamaeus. 00:09:03.879 --> 00:09:05.719 Most of us are familiar with this story. 00:09:05.799 --> 00:09:09.879 As a child, I was taught about the story of blind Bonamaeus. 00:09:10.199 --> 00:09:15.159 It is amazing that he is known by his condition and not just by his name. 00:09:15.719 --> 00:09:22.199 Many of us know folk like that, and we know them by their conditions and not by their names. 00:09:22.439 --> 00:09:30.039 Case in point, sometimes we describe people that we are speaking of by their condition and their hyphenated name. 00:09:30.279 --> 00:09:31.639 You know what I'm talking about. 00:09:31.879 --> 00:09:36.679 You know that drunk man, uh Bobby down the street, drunk man came before Bobby. 00:09:37.639 --> 00:09:38.519 You know what I'm talking about? 00:09:38.679 --> 00:09:42.519 You know the crippled woman over there, or you know, you know that lady that got evicted. 00:09:42.599 --> 00:09:43.639 Oh, you heard about it? 00:09:43.799 --> 00:09:46.039 You know that man that went to jail. 00:09:46.199 --> 00:09:51.799 Sometimes we know folk by their conditions, and we don't know their names. 00:09:53.239 --> 00:10:01.719 Too often we look at people and we size them up by the condition, but you don't know their hearts, you don't know what they've been through, you don't know why they're there. 00:10:01.799 --> 00:10:09.719 And sometimes we mistakenly think that folk that don't look like us, don't act like us, don't dress like us, don't know who Jesus is. 00:10:12.359 --> 00:10:14.839 Saint Luke 18. 00:10:15.079 --> 00:10:19.079 It tells the story of Jesus healing Bonamias. 00:10:19.639 --> 00:10:26.599 People looked at him just like we look at people on the other side of the road. 00:10:26.839 --> 00:10:32.919 Have y'all ever been driving down the street and you see somebody when you come to a stop sign and they got a sign on out say, help me? 00:10:33.079 --> 00:10:34.679 How many times have we helped them? 00:10:34.759 --> 00:10:38.039 And I know you can't help everybody, because I've seen folk too. 00:10:38.119 --> 00:10:48.679 But if I'm up there and you got weave all down your back and you got your fingernails done and your lips done, and all that kind of stuff, you just need to quit spending your money on stuff that don't make no sense and help yourself. 00:10:48.839 --> 00:10:53.000 But there are some legitimate folk that stand on those corners that need help. 00:10:53.159 --> 00:11:05.159 And how many times have we passed by ministry and kept going because we didn't see it fit or necessary to help them? 00:11:05.399 --> 00:11:08.759 People looked at him just like we look at those people. 00:11:09.000 --> 00:11:15.159 When Bonamius heard that Jesus was in town, he knew the Son of God could heal him. 00:11:15.319 --> 00:11:18.759 He had faith that Jesus could give him sight. 00:11:19.639 --> 00:11:29.239 It is likely, highly likely, that Bonamaeus had heard all about the miracles that Jesus had wrought all over the land. 00:11:29.879 --> 00:11:34.279 Remember, Jesus had a reputation for being the healer and a miracle worker. 00:11:34.359 --> 00:11:39.799 Many people followed him because they wanted to be healed of their various diseases. 00:11:40.039 --> 00:11:45.959 Many people followed Jesus not because he was Jesus, they followed him because they wanted something from him. 00:11:46.199 --> 00:11:47.479 Just like we do sometimes. 00:11:47.639 --> 00:11:51.000 Sometimes our relationship with the Lord is a little distant. 00:11:51.079 --> 00:11:52.599 But how about trouble comes our way? 00:11:52.679 --> 00:11:53.879 How about it's something that we want? 00:11:53.959 --> 00:11:58.119 All of us get real close to God in those moments of our lives. 00:11:58.279 --> 00:12:07.079 I know I'm not the only one that would just enjoy life, but when trouble or something hit my life and I need Jesus, I get to be a super Christian at that point. 00:12:07.239 --> 00:12:13.479 And that is when I began to build my relationship with Jesus. 00:12:14.759 --> 00:12:32.519 Although there were some who tried to stop Bonamias from getting to Jesus, he did not stop screaming the name because he knew Jesus could help him, and he had tenacious faith that he was not going to leave until he got what he came for. 00:12:33.319 --> 00:12:36.439 The name Bonamaeus means son of honor. 00:12:36.759 --> 00:12:40.919 How is it that the son of honor is now deduced to a beggar? 00:12:41.159 --> 00:12:44.759 How many of you that our titles have changed our lives? 00:12:44.919 --> 00:12:57.879 We didn't wake up trying to be broke, we didn't wake up being homeless and jobless, but life happened, and when life started happening and life started life, sometimes things go wrong. 00:12:59.639 --> 00:13:08.119 The Bible does not specify the exact cause of Bonamias' blindness. 00:13:08.599 --> 00:13:13.959 It does not state whether he was born blind or whether he lost his sight in later life. 00:13:14.199 --> 00:13:17.959 All we know is his condition and his name. 00:13:18.279 --> 00:13:26.519 All we know is that he has a condition that has put him in a place of becoming a beggar. 00:13:26.839 --> 00:13:30.439 All we know is that his begging could have been his livelihood. 00:13:30.519 --> 00:13:35.639 Even though his sight was impaired, there was nothing wrong with his hearing. 00:13:36.039 --> 00:13:42.119 It has been said that people with sight impairment often have acute hearing. 00:13:42.359 --> 00:13:44.359 This is the case with Mona Maeus. 00:13:44.519 --> 00:13:50.759 As he sat on the side of the road begging, he heard a lot of commotion that drew a lot of attention. 00:13:50.919 --> 00:13:52.679 It even drew his attention. 00:13:52.839 --> 00:13:55.559 He heard a loud crowd of people passing by. 00:13:55.719 --> 00:14:03.879 This was not a normal day, so it was out of the ordinary that a large crowd of people would be passing by at that moment. 00:14:05.479 --> 00:14:07.559 Remember, he can see. 00:14:07.879 --> 00:14:10.199 He can't see, but he can hear. 00:14:10.679 --> 00:14:13.159 There was a lot of excitement in the air. 00:14:13.239 --> 00:14:15.399 And he began to ask, What's going on? 00:14:15.559 --> 00:14:16.439 What's going on? 00:14:16.599 --> 00:14:18.759 And can you imagine how many times he had to ask? 00:14:18.839 --> 00:14:23.719 Because folk walked right past him and paid him no attention and nobody really wanted to answer him. 00:14:23.879 --> 00:14:26.679 But he kept asking, What is going on? 00:14:26.839 --> 00:14:32.839 And someone in the crowd tells him that Jesus of Nazareth is passing by. 00:14:33.079 --> 00:14:35.799 When he heard this, it immediately got his attention. 00:14:35.959 --> 00:14:44.119 Now his attention is not on the noise, it's not even on the people that are around him, but his attention is on the fact that Jesus was passing by. 00:14:44.279 --> 00:14:50.279 You know, Jesus the healer, Jesus the provider, Jesus the way maker, Jesus the miracle worker. 00:14:50.439 --> 00:14:56.199 Then Jesus heard him and he asked for Bonamaeus to come to him. 00:14:57.719 --> 00:15:01.639 This was Bonamaeus's only opportunity. 00:15:01.959 --> 00:15:08.359 And when he saw and heard that Jesus was passing by, he was not about to give up. 00:15:08.519 --> 00:15:11.959 Maybe what was going to be his only opportunity. 00:15:13.000 --> 00:15:15.719 Bonamaeus had heard all about Jesus. 00:15:15.959 --> 00:15:22.439 By then Jesus was already a celebrity, and everyone knew who he was and what he could do for them. 00:15:23.000 --> 00:15:33.799 But the people thought Jesus had little or no time to waste on some little blind bag and sitting on the side of the road screaming like he had lost his mind, disrupting the whole crowd. 00:15:34.119 --> 00:15:38.599 You know, it was almost like when we have celebrities and they come to church. 00:15:38.839 --> 00:15:41.479 And we want everybody to be on their best behavior. 00:15:41.639 --> 00:15:47.559 We don't want you running around in the church with your shoes off and acting crazy and screaming and falling out. 00:15:48.199 --> 00:15:50.679 We want you to act dignified when everybody comes to. 00:15:51.000 --> 00:15:55.000 Well, this is what they thought about Bonamius. 00:15:55.799 --> 00:15:59.319 He's sitting on the side of the road when Jesus comes through Jericho. 00:15:59.399 --> 00:16:04.039 But Bonamias knew that this was his one time and it was his only shot. 00:16:04.199 --> 00:16:07.000 And in his spirit, he knew this was his moment. 00:16:07.239 --> 00:16:15.079 And I think he said in his spirit, this is my moment, this is my opportunity, and I'm not leaving till I get what I came for. 00:16:15.239 --> 00:16:16.279 I ain't being quiet. 00:16:16.359 --> 00:16:21.799 I don't care who tell me to be quiet, because I need what Jesus has. 00:16:23.719 --> 00:16:30.279 When he heard Jesus was passing by, he began to shout, Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me. 00:16:30.439 --> 00:16:35.159 And the quiet, the crowd again began to tell him to shut up. 00:16:35.319 --> 00:16:37.399 That's what they were saying, basically, to shut up. 00:16:37.559 --> 00:16:40.439 And because of his persistence, Jesus stopped. 00:16:40.599 --> 00:16:44.599 This story teaches us how to hold on until the answer comes. 00:16:46.519 --> 00:16:50.519 One thing I want you to know is refuse to be silenced by the crowd. 00:16:50.759 --> 00:16:58.519 All of us have been in crowds that we're believing God for something, and everybody got an opinion about what you believe in God for, and folk don't want you to holler. 00:16:58.679 --> 00:17:05.240 Sometimes when you see people at church and they're crying and they're screaming and they're running out, they're desperate for Jesus. 00:17:05.400 --> 00:17:06.839 They ain't come here to see you. 00:17:07.000 --> 00:17:11.400 Sit your little happy tail down and stop trying to tell everybody what to do. 00:17:11.559 --> 00:17:15.160 When you see folk, you don't know what folk are in need of. 00:17:18.759 --> 00:17:22.440 Those that led the way kept trying to rebuke him, but he kept hollering. 00:17:23.159 --> 00:17:27.960 The very people who could have helped him were the same people to try to hush him. 00:17:28.279 --> 00:17:33.159 Sometimes people aren't evil, they're just blind to what God is about to do in your life. 00:17:33.319 --> 00:17:35.159 Sometimes people don't mean no harm. 00:17:35.240 --> 00:17:37.639 They don't know that your next is almost here. 00:17:37.799 --> 00:17:41.799 They don't know that God is about to do something phenomenal in your life. 00:17:41.960 --> 00:17:43.879 They want you to hush, but they don't know. 00:17:44.039 --> 00:17:46.279 Everything in me got to holler. 00:17:48.440 --> 00:17:54.839 Because there's something that Jesus wants to do in my life. 00:17:56.359 --> 00:18:03.639 If you're drowning and you're out there at Myrtle Beach and you find yourself drowning, what you gonna do? 00:18:03.879 --> 00:18:04.519 Holler. 00:18:05.720 --> 00:18:07.639 When you need help, what you do? 00:18:07.879 --> 00:18:08.519 Holler. 00:18:09.639 --> 00:18:16.359 I've learned that when you are desperate for Jesus, you won't let people's opinions silence you. 00:18:18.279 --> 00:18:22.359 You know the folk that's always got something to say. 00:18:23.240 --> 00:18:25.879 Why you gotta go to church all the time? 00:18:26.279 --> 00:18:29.480 Every time the church doors open, here you go. 00:18:29.720 --> 00:18:31.000 At church. 00:18:32.440 --> 00:18:34.119 Why you always praying? 00:18:34.279 --> 00:18:35.639 You go to 6 a.m. 00:18:35.879 --> 00:18:37.960 prayer, noon prayer, evening prayer. 00:18:38.119 --> 00:18:40.759 Why you always got to be praying? 00:18:41.799 --> 00:18:45.159 Why you always giving your money to that church? 00:18:45.480 --> 00:18:46.839 I don't understand that. 00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:50.039 They got it going up, they don't need your money. 00:18:50.359 --> 00:18:56.519 That's when people dumb and don't know you gotta pay more because you got lights and heat and all that stuff, you gotta run in church. 00:18:57.639 --> 00:19:00.359 Why you always paying your tithes? 00:19:00.919 --> 00:19:03.720 Why you always talking about Pastor Walt? 00:19:04.119 --> 00:19:07.799 Pastor Walt said this, Pastor Walt said that. 00:19:08.039 --> 00:19:11.159 He made this declaration, he gave this profession. 00:19:11.319 --> 00:19:14.359 Why y'all always over there listening to Pastor Walt? 00:19:15.240 --> 00:19:19.399 Because the word that God has for me is in his mouth. 00:19:19.559 --> 00:19:21.399 That's why we listening. 00:19:24.200 --> 00:19:27.079 Don't let people's opinions silence you. 00:19:28.039 --> 00:19:32.039 Whatever it takes to get Jesus' attention, you need to find be found doing that. 00:19:32.200 --> 00:19:36.119 The Bible said Jesus stopped and he ordered the man to be brought to him. 00:19:36.440 --> 00:19:41.480 I don't believe that it was all the screaming that got Jesus' attention. 00:19:41.799 --> 00:19:47.960 I believe that it was Bonamias' faith that got Jesus' attention. 00:19:48.119 --> 00:19:53.639 Sometimes Jesus is not attracted to all our crying and all your much speaking and all your much talking. 00:19:53.799 --> 00:19:57.960 I believe Jesus is attracted to our faith because what does my faith say? 00:19:58.119 --> 00:20:03.799 My faith says, even though I don't say it, I still believe that God is able. 00:20:20.200 --> 00:20:23.399 Jesus just don't pay no attention to all that stupid stuff we be doing. 00:20:23.559 --> 00:20:28.359 But sometimes when Jesus is ready to do something in your life, he's gonna get your attention. 00:20:28.519 --> 00:20:31.639 And sometimes it's in a good way, and sometimes it's in a bad way. 00:20:31.799 --> 00:20:36.519 How many of y'all ever had to have Jesus get your attention by doing something crazy? 00:20:38.519 --> 00:20:41.559 Because when he told you the first time you didn't listen. 00:20:42.200 --> 00:20:49.399 So there are times Jesus will allow your whole life to be wrecked so he can get your attention. 00:20:50.759 --> 00:20:55.159 If Jesus asks you today, what do you want me to do? 00:20:55.639 --> 00:20:59.319 How many of you could give him a clear, precise answer? 00:21:00.759 --> 00:21:03.480 Faith is specific, it is not vague. 00:21:03.799 --> 00:21:08.839 Bonamas didn't say, Well, Lord, whatever you think is best, that's what I want to see. 00:21:09.159 --> 00:21:11.879 Lord, I I don't know what I really want. 00:21:12.039 --> 00:21:12.279 No. 00:21:12.440 --> 00:21:14.039 When he asked him, what do you want from me? 00:21:14.119 --> 00:21:15.399 He had a specific thing. 00:21:15.559 --> 00:21:16.440 I want to see. 00:21:16.759 --> 00:21:20.359 I've been blind, I've been sitting down here begging all these years. 00:21:20.599 --> 00:21:21.879 I want to see. 00:21:31.079 --> 00:21:33.079 Some of us want a moment, we don't want a miracle. 00:21:33.240 --> 00:21:38.440 Some of us want to feel good for a moment, but we don't want to sacrifice a whole lifetime to serve God. 00:21:38.599 --> 00:21:40.599 That's why we can be in and out. 00:21:40.759 --> 00:21:42.119 Today we here with our hands up. 00:21:42.200 --> 00:21:52.679 By nightfall, we at the club, you know, or we somewhere with boots on the ground doing all that craziness because we don't want to have a lifetime of clear holiness. 00:21:54.359 --> 00:21:59.639 I ain't guessing none of y'all to hell because y'all did boots on the ground, because I learned how to do it too. 00:22:02.039 --> 00:22:05.799 But I promise you, I ain't gonna do it up and here, up and here, up and here. 00:22:07.319 --> 00:22:14.519 Too many people approach God casually with no clear expectation. 00:22:15.159 --> 00:22:19.799 I learned in my life, you'll never get what God has for you if you don't have expectations. 00:22:20.039 --> 00:22:25.799 He anything you got to have expectations of what he you really want before he'll do whatever it is he's gonna do. 00:22:25.879 --> 00:22:32.039 But if you have no expectations of Jesus, he would sit down, y'all get them little penny and a little blessing. 00:22:32.200 --> 00:22:35.319 Well, the Lord blessed me today, he gave me five dollars. 00:22:35.480 --> 00:22:36.279 Okay, that's good. 00:22:36.359 --> 00:22:39.079 But if I need more than five dollars, there ain't no good blessing. 00:22:39.159 --> 00:22:43.799 If my bills are too high and my money is too low, I need to be specific. 00:22:45.000 --> 00:22:53.799 Now thank God for the five dollars, but I need you to give me five thousand two hundred and twenty-six dollars more to be able to do what I need to do. 00:22:58.679 --> 00:23:00.839 Stay until Jesus stops. 00:23:01.559 --> 00:23:03.000 Here's Montamayus. 00:23:03.079 --> 00:23:12.839 You're hearing you're screaming, and the crowd is large, and everybody trying to tell you to share up, but you didn't leave, you ain't shut your mouth until you got Jesus' attention. 00:23:13.399 --> 00:23:19.000 The crowd kept moving, but Jesus stopped for one persistent cry. 00:23:19.639 --> 00:23:24.119 His cry pulled Jesus out of the flow of the crowd into a personal moment. 00:23:24.279 --> 00:23:28.440 How many of you have ever just wanted to have a personal moment with Jesus? 00:23:28.759 --> 00:23:31.240 And I'm not talking about when things are going bad. 00:23:31.480 --> 00:23:35.799 Every now and then you ought to just have you a good shout moment by yourself. 00:23:36.039 --> 00:23:49.079 I was uh riding down the street one day and I started thinking about just how good God is, and I was at a red light, and I got out of the car and I ran around my car and I started dancing right there at the red light. 00:23:49.159 --> 00:23:49.480 What? 00:23:49.639 --> 00:23:50.519 Everybody was looking at me. 00:23:50.679 --> 00:23:51.799 What nothing wrong with me? 00:23:51.879 --> 00:23:57.399 I just knew how good God had been to me. 00:23:58.759 --> 00:24:05.480 Sometimes the answer doesn't come at first, or the first time you cry out. 00:24:05.799 --> 00:24:09.399 But if you keep calling him, he'll stop. 00:24:10.519 --> 00:24:11.399 Understand. 00:24:12.279 --> 00:24:14.200 Delayed don't mean denied. 00:24:14.839 --> 00:24:19.240 How many of y'all still waiting on something, something, and God has not happened? 00:24:19.319 --> 00:24:26.919 How many of y'all done sowed a seed on that high five, your neighbor on the left and on the right, ran around church, cut a step, but you still don't see what it is you ask God for? 00:24:27.079 --> 00:24:30.119 Well, denay, they don't mean denied. 00:24:30.279 --> 00:24:33.960 Just because it hadn't happened yet, don't mean God's not gonna do it. 00:24:34.119 --> 00:24:36.440 Sometimes it ain't got nothing to do with you. 00:24:36.599 --> 00:24:47.639 Sometimes God's trying to filter and do the infrastructure around you so you'll be in the place that something has the capacity to hold what God got for you. 00:24:51.399 --> 00:24:57.319 I just came to tell you, don't leave until you get what you came for. 00:24:58.839 --> 00:25:02.200 Jesus said, Receive your sight, your faith has healed you. 00:25:07.639 --> 00:25:10.679 I'm not leaving until I get what I prayed for. 00:25:10.839 --> 00:25:14.279 Stop praying, and in five minutes, if you don't get the answer, you quit praying. 00:25:14.359 --> 00:25:16.039 How many of y'all got still got seeds? 00:25:16.200 --> 00:25:18.119 Me too, still got seeds in the ground. 00:25:18.200 --> 00:25:21.000 I done sold for this and I done sold for that, and I done sold for that. 00:25:21.159 --> 00:25:24.440 Matter of fact, I sold so many seeds, I don't even remember all the seeds I sold. 00:25:24.599 --> 00:25:28.599 But stop putting seed in the ground and not waiting on your harvest. 00:25:28.839 --> 00:25:33.159 Out now, I write down when I sow a seed, I go home and I write it down. 00:25:33.319 --> 00:25:33.559 Why? 00:25:33.720 --> 00:25:41.399 Because it might not happen today, but way down the line, God is going to do just what He said. 00:25:44.440 --> 00:25:47.319 When was the last time you cried out to God? 00:25:47.960 --> 00:25:50.519 I'm not talking about that little cute prayer now, lay me down to sleep. 00:25:50.599 --> 00:25:51.799 I pray the Lord my soul to keep. 00:25:52.039 --> 00:25:54.519 If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul today. 00:25:54.759 --> 00:25:55.639 I ain't talking about that. 00:25:55.720 --> 00:26:01.559 When was the last time you went down and started really, really calling out for God? 00:26:01.720 --> 00:26:06.279 I'm talking about tears running down your face, not coming out of your nose. 00:26:06.440 --> 00:26:07.399 That kind of prayer. 00:26:07.480 --> 00:26:16.440 The kind of prayer that I don't care if I'm cute, the kind of prayer that my wig might fall off, but I'm still gonna get to God. 00:26:17.960 --> 00:26:20.759 But I will say if the wig falls off, y'all put it back on. 00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:28.919 I'm praying for something. 00:26:29.399 --> 00:26:36.919 I'm believing God for something, and I'm not leaving until I get it. 00:26:37.480 --> 00:26:43.720 I don't care if y'all turn the lights out, I'm not leaving until I get it. 00:26:43.879 --> 00:26:51.879 Tell your Urshius to stop trying to fan the spirit out of me, because I'm not leaving until I get it. 00:26:52.039 --> 00:26:55.480 Tell them women with them gray, big old clothes they want to throw all over my legs. 00:26:56.039 --> 00:27:03.159 I appreciate you trying to cover a girl up, but I ain't leaving until I get what I came for. 00:27:03.319 --> 00:27:09.399 How many times have you been so tenacious that I don't care what's going around on around me? 00:27:09.559 --> 00:27:11.480 I ain't going nowhere. 00:27:13.159 --> 00:27:14.919 Until you bless me, Lord. 00:27:18.839 --> 00:27:28.679 I remember years ago, and I'm when I'm talking about I'm not leaving until I get what I came for and know it's not an option. 00:27:28.839 --> 00:27:31.399 I ain't telling y'all that just because I just want to talk. 00:27:31.480 --> 00:27:33.480 I'm telling you because I know what it's like. 00:27:34.440 --> 00:27:44.519 I remember when I pastored my church, I had five women in my church, and all of them kept miscarrying and kept miscarrying, and none of them had children. 00:27:44.679 --> 00:27:52.359 I remember sometimes you got to go before time and you got to set up stuff before God answered you because that's the way God knows you're serious about it. 00:27:52.519 --> 00:27:59.720 And I remember having a baby shower at the church for five women that none of them had gotten pregnant and couldn't get pregnant, so they said. 00:27:59.879 --> 00:28:07.480 But we did a baby shower, and folk brought all kinds of stuff, and I told them, I said, now y'all go home and set up a nursery. 00:28:07.799 --> 00:28:12.200 And I messed around and found a scripture to say, and none shall miscarry. 00:28:12.519 --> 00:28:14.519 And we began to stand on that word. 00:28:14.919 --> 00:28:21.240 I don't care what the doctor said, I don't care what all y'all other folks said, I don't care what your mama, your daddy, or even your husband said. 00:28:21.399 --> 00:28:24.519 If God said it is so, it is so. 00:28:25.559 --> 00:28:32.759 And I remember we had the baby shower, and people were setting up, they had cribs in the house, and they had everything they needed in the house, but they ain't had no baby. 00:28:34.200 --> 00:28:36.599 But we stood on that word of God. 00:28:37.159 --> 00:28:38.279 We stood on it. 00:28:38.759 --> 00:28:44.279 One Sunday I was in church and a girl came running in church and she was skinny and she started patting her stomach. 00:28:44.359 --> 00:28:45.799 I said, Baby, I got an indigestion. 00:28:45.879 --> 00:28:46.599 What is wrong with you? 00:28:46.679 --> 00:28:47.799 You're patting your stomach. 00:28:47.960 --> 00:28:50.279 No, what it was is you had a baby. 00:28:50.759 --> 00:28:52.599 All five of them had babies. 00:28:52.759 --> 00:28:54.359 Some of them had multiple children. 00:28:54.519 --> 00:28:56.200 One girl asked me, could I pray? 00:28:56.359 --> 00:28:58.279 She stopped having children. 00:29:01.720 --> 00:29:05.559 Sometimes you got to act like you got it before you get it. 00:29:05.720 --> 00:29:09.240 You got to believe God even when you don't see God. 00:29:15.799 --> 00:29:24.119 I remember years ago, I was sitting at home one day and I heard the Lord tell me, pack up everything you own. 00:29:24.759 --> 00:29:26.519 You're about to move. 00:29:27.559 --> 00:29:28.039 Move away. 00:29:29.240 --> 00:29:30.519 I ain't asked for no house. 00:29:30.599 --> 00:29:33.240 I'm I'm in a really nice house and I'm quite comfortable. 00:29:33.399 --> 00:29:34.679 And the house payment is really good. 00:29:34.759 --> 00:29:39.960 And Bishop Abe and I are able to do that without struggle because I can pay that house payment and still go shop a little bit. 00:29:40.039 --> 00:29:41.399 See, all that's important to me. 00:29:41.480 --> 00:29:43.399 I know that ain't important to y'all. 00:29:45.079 --> 00:29:50.359 Now I'm shocked at this word because we had not even talked about moving. 00:29:51.159 --> 00:29:58.440 We were in a nice house in a nice neighborhood, but I heard Jesus say, pack up everything. 00:29:58.679 --> 00:30:02.919 Now I'm kind of one of those people that when I hear the Lord speak, I get to move in. 00:30:03.399 --> 00:30:05.960 See, some of y'all got to wait till you see it before you do it. 00:30:06.039 --> 00:30:07.000 I ain't got to see nothing. 00:30:07.159 --> 00:30:09.639 If the Lord says pack up, I'm packing up. 00:30:09.720 --> 00:30:16.440 So I remember it was January and it was cold outside, but I went to the store and I bought not a few boxes, I bought a whole Lot of boxes. 00:30:16.519 --> 00:30:18.039 And I remember my husband came home. 00:30:18.200 --> 00:30:19.960 He what are you doing? 00:30:20.200 --> 00:30:24.119 And I told him, I heard the Lord say, pack up. 00:30:24.679 --> 00:30:26.759 Bishop didn't ask me not one question. 00:30:26.919 --> 00:30:29.639 That boy grabbed up a box and started packing with me. 00:30:29.799 --> 00:30:31.079 See, that's what you got to do. 00:30:31.240 --> 00:30:40.839 You got to have mates in your house and people in your house that when God, God don't speak to everybody in the house, but when He speaks to somebody, you gotta have somebody to believe God spoke to you. 00:30:42.359 --> 00:30:43.240 So here we go. 00:30:43.319 --> 00:30:45.159 We're on a packing mission. 00:30:45.480 --> 00:30:46.759 It's January. 00:30:47.000 --> 00:30:48.279 We're packing. 00:30:48.679 --> 00:30:50.759 I don't know where we're going. 00:30:51.000 --> 00:30:52.440 We ain't looked at no house. 00:30:52.519 --> 00:30:53.960 We don't know none of that. 00:30:54.200 --> 00:30:57.720 But I heard God say, pack up. 00:30:58.119 --> 00:30:59.159 We packed up everything. 00:30:59.240 --> 00:31:01.480 We eaten out of paper plates and paper cups. 00:31:01.639 --> 00:31:02.839 We got plastic farts. 00:31:03.000 --> 00:31:07.319 We got on it's winter time, so the only clothes I got out of my winter clothes. 00:31:07.480 --> 00:31:09.240 But then I sit there and I listen. 00:31:09.319 --> 00:31:12.679 See, when God gives you instruction, you better follow those instructions. 00:31:12.839 --> 00:31:14.919