WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:02.959 Hey, if you have your Bible, I'm going to ask for you to turn to the book of Luke. 00:00:03.120 --> 00:00:04.160 Matthew, Mark, Luke. 00:00:04.240 --> 00:00:05.040 Matthew, Mark, Luke. 00:00:05.200 --> 00:00:08.800 Luke is the third book of the New Testament, or you may have it on your phone or on your iPad. 00:00:08.880 --> 00:00:10.480 Maybe you're watching at another campus. 00:00:10.640 --> 00:00:20.320 I want you to go to the book of Luke because I want to get alongside of the theme and the passion of your church as it relates to loving God and serving people. 00:00:20.399 --> 00:00:29.039 I know you do that all the time, but I'm fired up about this theme and really this lifestyle of reaching out to other people. 00:00:29.359 --> 00:00:30.719 Other, other, other. 00:00:31.359 --> 00:00:33.119 There are others in your life. 00:00:33.359 --> 00:00:36.240 I believe you've not even met yet that you're going to be a blessing to. 00:00:36.399 --> 00:00:41.600 So I want to talk about that a little bit because I believe there's some great opportunities for you internationally. 00:00:41.759 --> 00:00:45.920 When you read that Go magazine, you see all the things that you're doing around the world where you can be a part of it. 00:00:46.000 --> 00:00:48.560 And then locally, all the ministries you could partner up with. 00:00:48.640 --> 00:00:54.000 There's no excuse for each of our lives not to put ourselves in circulation for others. 00:00:54.159 --> 00:00:58.640 There's an article in the Go magazine that I kind of was attracted to, and it's called Hot Dogs and Hope. 00:00:58.719 --> 00:00:59.600 You know what I'm talking about? 00:00:59.679 --> 00:01:00.960 That's my kind of outreach right there. 00:01:01.039 --> 00:01:02.960 Let's eat a hot dog, let's help somebody. 00:01:03.759 --> 00:01:05.280 That's South Louisiana right there. 00:01:05.359 --> 00:01:08.640 When we get together, we love serving tube steak, if you know what I'm talking about. 00:01:08.799 --> 00:01:10.640 Just some good old tube steak to people. 00:01:10.799 --> 00:01:13.200 And so there's all kinds of ways that you can get involved. 00:01:13.359 --> 00:01:16.400 I know next Saturday, you're partnering with City Church International. 00:01:16.480 --> 00:01:24.400 That's always a good first opportunity to reach out and be a part of an outreach in your community, maybe to an area that you normally don't go in or whatever. 00:01:24.560 --> 00:01:26.079 I know all of us have our patterns. 00:01:26.159 --> 00:01:30.480 And I think God likes taking us out of our patterns and getting us involved with other people. 00:01:30.640 --> 00:01:32.799 And so that's what Ready Set Bless is all about. 00:01:32.959 --> 00:01:34.879 So let's talk a little bit about let's go, let's bless. 00:01:34.959 --> 00:01:35.680 Father, we love you. 00:01:35.840 --> 00:01:37.599 Thank you for this amazing church. 00:01:37.760 --> 00:01:40.239 I thank you for Pastor Tom and the leadership team. 00:01:40.480 --> 00:01:41.920 And Lord, we love our pastors. 00:01:42.079 --> 00:01:53.519 Thank you for Pastor Robert and all that he means to delinei our church and so many other hundreds and hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of churches, Lord, that he is helping to lead and encourage. 00:01:53.599 --> 00:01:54.799 So, Lord, we just love you. 00:01:54.879 --> 00:01:55.920 We're glad we're in church. 00:01:56.159 --> 00:01:57.040 We're glad we're here. 00:01:57.200 --> 00:02:03.599 And I believe you want to speak to our heart because, Father, you want to use us to make a difference in somebody else's life. 00:02:03.760 --> 00:02:11.520 Lord, I know that we may have our problem, we may have our challenge, we may have our battle, but the way out of our battle is not to absorb ourselves in our battle. 00:02:11.680 --> 00:02:17.439 So often, the way out of our problem is when we begin to reach out and love somebody else. 00:02:17.680 --> 00:02:21.120 Help us to have a heart for the least and the lonely. 00:02:21.360 --> 00:02:24.960 In Jesus' name, and everybody said a good amen. 00:02:25.120 --> 00:02:29.120 Why don't you turn to the person next to you and say, I'm glad you made it to church today? 00:02:30.560 --> 00:02:37.360 Come on, look at the other person you didn't want to talk to that was your second choice, and tell them, You look like you can use a little church. 00:02:44.080 --> 00:02:46.719 This is one of my favorite windows in scripture. 00:02:47.120 --> 00:02:54.479 I believe there are these windows in the life of Jesus that are incredible, they're intimate, but they're also they give us instruction. 00:02:55.039 --> 00:02:57.840 I believe there are so many things that Jesus wants to teach us. 00:02:58.080 --> 00:03:01.599 He wants to show us the life that he intends for us. 00:03:01.840 --> 00:03:03.680 We read scripture, we discover that. 00:03:03.840 --> 00:03:07.199 This is one of those windows for me in Luke chapter 8. 00:03:07.439 --> 00:03:08.639 Here's what the Bible says. 00:03:08.800 --> 00:03:12.560 One day Jesus said to his disciples, let's go. 00:03:13.280 --> 00:03:14.400 Let's go. 00:03:15.120 --> 00:03:19.360 Let's go over to the other side of the lake. 00:03:19.599 --> 00:03:20.479 Let's go over. 00:03:20.639 --> 00:03:22.400 So the instructions are clear. 00:03:22.639 --> 00:03:23.599 Let's go. 00:03:24.080 --> 00:03:27.039 Let's go over to the other side of this lake. 00:03:27.280 --> 00:03:31.919 So the Bible tells us they're clear, they're accurate, they are simple instructions. 00:03:32.080 --> 00:03:34.560 They got in the boat and then they set out. 00:03:35.039 --> 00:03:39.680 And as they sailed, he fell asleep. 00:03:40.240 --> 00:03:45.199 Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the King of kings and the Lord of Lords. 00:03:45.280 --> 00:03:49.280 When they followed his instructions, they got in the boat, they set out. 00:03:49.439 --> 00:04:02.159 And as they sailed, somewhere between one side or the other, somewhere between the beginning and the end, the start and the finish, somewhere in the middle of the journey, Jesus Christ fell asleep. 00:04:02.319 --> 00:04:03.759 Jesus took a nap. 00:04:04.319 --> 00:04:08.879 Now, what I love about that, number one, is that God blesses the nap. 00:04:09.120 --> 00:04:10.240 Can I have a good amen? 00:04:10.719 --> 00:04:14.800 So you're like, yeah, feeling one coming on me today, my brother. 00:04:15.039 --> 00:04:16.720 I mean, the cowboys are playing. 00:04:16.800 --> 00:04:17.279 Take a nap. 00:04:17.439 --> 00:04:18.480 You're not going to miss anything. 00:04:18.560 --> 00:04:19.279 You never know. 00:04:19.920 --> 00:04:21.920 You know I had to do it. 00:04:22.959 --> 00:04:24.720 I will mess with you. 00:04:25.839 --> 00:04:26.160 Okay? 00:04:27.199 --> 00:04:30.879 So anyway, Jesus falls asleep. 00:04:31.040 --> 00:04:35.439 I don't know about you, but I I love it when a spirit of slumber comes and visits me. 00:04:35.519 --> 00:04:40.240 Just, you know, on a plane, in a car, just sitting chilling. 00:04:42.160 --> 00:04:44.319 Okay, that sneeze woke me up, my brother. 00:04:44.720 --> 00:04:45.439 Just joking. 00:04:46.240 --> 00:04:48.000 You know, he kind of comes on you. 00:04:48.160 --> 00:04:49.600 You just get comfortable. 00:04:50.560 --> 00:04:52.720 Now that I'm older, I fall asleep more. 00:04:52.959 --> 00:04:54.560 I can fall asleep quicker. 00:04:54.879 --> 00:04:56.160 When I was younger, I'm getting old. 00:04:56.240 --> 00:04:58.000 I'm 47 years old. 00:04:59.600 --> 00:05:01.759 I just it's quiet. 00:05:02.639 --> 00:05:05.199 Jesus, just the rocking of the boat. 00:05:05.600 --> 00:05:06.399 Just the wind. 00:05:06.560 --> 00:05:08.079 He just falls asleep. 00:05:09.199 --> 00:05:11.439 My wife will try to talk to me at night in bed. 00:05:11.600 --> 00:05:13.120 That's not a good idea. 00:05:13.759 --> 00:05:15.519 I cannot talk to you with the lights out. 00:05:15.600 --> 00:05:16.399 I'm going to sleep. 00:05:16.560 --> 00:05:18.160 She had to talk to you. 00:05:18.319 --> 00:05:18.959 Let's talk in bed. 00:05:19.040 --> 00:05:20.800 I said, Can I get up and walk around the bedroom? 00:05:20.879 --> 00:05:22.319 Just let me just walk around the bedroom. 00:05:22.480 --> 00:05:23.439 Then you could talk to me. 00:05:23.519 --> 00:05:27.439 I fell asleep a while back when I was counseling a lady in my office. 00:05:27.759 --> 00:05:29.519 Oh, I went out like crazy. 00:05:29.759 --> 00:05:30.720 It was after lunch. 00:05:30.800 --> 00:05:31.839 Come on, give me a break. 00:05:32.079 --> 00:05:33.920 I mean, we were sitting in comfortable chairs. 00:05:34.160 --> 00:05:36.240 She's sitting there, I'm sitting here and we're doing a little count. 00:05:36.480 --> 00:05:37.439 She just taught me about some things. 00:05:37.519 --> 00:05:39.600 She's from New Orleans, down in Medtery. 00:05:39.680 --> 00:05:41.360 And when they talk, we call them yet. 00:05:41.519 --> 00:05:42.639 Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:05:42.879 --> 00:05:43.839 Everything sounds like a yeah. 00:05:43.920 --> 00:05:44.720 Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:05:44.879 --> 00:05:46.639 And she was asking me questions and answering. 00:05:46.800 --> 00:05:50.639 You know somebody who can ask you a question before you answer them, they qu uh hey, what you think about? 00:05:50.720 --> 00:05:51.600 Let me tell you what I think about it. 00:05:51.680 --> 00:05:52.480 What's the Bible say about this? 00:05:52.560 --> 00:05:53.199 I tell you what the Bible said. 00:05:54.800 --> 00:06:01.199 And it got so monotone, I felt like I was listening to a sleep machine, like I was in the Brazilian rainforest. 00:06:03.839 --> 00:06:04.800 Rain and wave. 00:06:05.120 --> 00:06:07.439 Felt like there were a Celtic choir standing by me. 00:06:07.600 --> 00:06:09.279 Oh, ooh. 00:06:11.040 --> 00:06:12.879 I just fell asleep. 00:06:15.759 --> 00:06:20.560 And I hear off in a distance, while I'm there in the Celtic rainforest, it's amazing. 00:06:20.720 --> 00:06:25.519 I hear someone yelling, Pastor Dino, Pastor Dino. 00:06:25.920 --> 00:06:30.879 And with my eyes shut, I realize I am asleep while she's telling me her problem. 00:06:32.160 --> 00:06:34.240 I just eased out of it. 00:06:34.879 --> 00:06:35.680 Glory. 00:06:45.199 --> 00:06:47.360 She's like, Pastor, you fell asleep on me. 00:06:47.759 --> 00:06:48.879 You fell asleep on me. 00:06:49.040 --> 00:06:51.839 I said, I was like, Oh no, sister, I was seeking the Lord. 00:06:53.839 --> 00:06:54.879 Here's the funny thing. 00:06:54.959 --> 00:06:55.839 She didn't get offended. 00:06:55.920 --> 00:06:56.800 She didn't get mad at me. 00:06:56.879 --> 00:06:58.240 She's like, You're so crazy. 00:07:00.480 --> 00:07:01.920 Kevin talking. 00:07:04.319 --> 00:07:07.680 Jesus, a sleeping Jesus. 00:07:10.160 --> 00:07:30.399 Bible says that while he is sleeping, that a storm happens, which I believe is so true to any person who decides to move with God, to go with God, to follow God's plan, to live out God's blessed, to live the life that God intends. 00:07:30.720 --> 00:07:36.720 When you decide to get off of ready set, because anybody can do ready set. 00:07:37.279 --> 00:07:52.399 But when you decide to go from ready set to bless, when you decide to go from one thing to another thing in God, anytime you're on a journey, you make a decision, you make a commitment, you decide to give, pray, help somebody serve. 00:07:52.480 --> 00:07:57.600 So when you make that decision to make a difference for the Lord Jesus Christ, guess what? 00:07:57.759 --> 00:08:00.879 There's gonna be a storm that will come against your life. 00:08:01.120 --> 00:08:02.000 Always gonna be that. 00:08:02.240 --> 00:08:03.680 Don't be surprised. 00:08:04.160 --> 00:08:05.199 Don't be surprised. 00:08:05.279 --> 00:08:12.319 It'd be like a boxer going into a ring and getting hit and calling a timeout and saying, hey, somebody hit me. 00:08:13.120 --> 00:08:14.399 You're in a boxing ring. 00:08:14.639 --> 00:08:15.439 That's gonna happen. 00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:21.839 You don't enter into the battle, you don't enter into the fray and then be surprised that there is an obstacle. 00:08:22.000 --> 00:08:31.519 See, anytime you and I make a decision that we're gonna help somebody, we're gonna serve somebody, we're gonna live beyond ourselves, we're gonna, we're gonna out, we're gonna outlive just me, myself, and I. 00:08:31.680 --> 00:08:32.720 I'm gonna help somebody. 00:08:32.799 --> 00:08:36.000 I'm gonna take what I've learned and I'm gonna be a blessing to somebody else. 00:08:36.080 --> 00:08:37.600 When you decide that, guess what? 00:08:37.759 --> 00:08:39.919 There's gonna be a storm, there's gonna be an obstacle. 00:08:40.080 --> 00:08:41.039 It happens here. 00:08:41.279 --> 00:08:50.799 The Bible says that as they're going across, right there in the middle, that a storm shows up, comes down on the boat, and it begins to be swamped, and they're in great danger. 00:08:51.120 --> 00:08:55.600 The disciples went and woke him up saying, Master, master, we are going to drown. 00:08:55.679 --> 00:08:58.240 We're gonna die here in the middle of this lake. 00:08:58.639 --> 00:09:01.279 Jesus got up, rebuked the wind, the water. 00:09:01.600 --> 00:09:05.440 The storm subsides, and all was calm. 00:09:06.399 --> 00:09:07.840 Where is your faith? 00:09:08.080 --> 00:09:09.440 He asked the disciples. 00:09:09.840 --> 00:09:10.799 Where is your faith? 00:09:11.039 --> 00:09:15.279 One of the most soul-searching statements that Jesus says to the disciples, where is your faith? 00:09:15.440 --> 00:09:19.440 You've seen the miracles, you've seen the healing, you've seen the help. 00:09:19.679 --> 00:09:21.279 Where is your faith now? 00:09:22.080 --> 00:09:28.720 See, the middle is is the middle represents uh that place where we're tested and we're tried. 00:09:29.279 --> 00:09:34.080 You and I make a decision to help somebody, we make a commitment to go and serve somebody. 00:09:34.240 --> 00:09:35.440 There's gonna be a storm. 00:09:35.600 --> 00:09:37.679 Normally, a storm happens in the middle. 00:09:37.840 --> 00:09:39.039 It doesn't happen at the beginning. 00:09:39.200 --> 00:09:41.120 There's excitement at the beginning of anything. 00:09:41.360 --> 00:09:46.720 I love doing premarriage counseling, and always in those pre-marriage counseling, you know, they're so excited about getting. 00:09:50.320 --> 00:09:58.960 I still do pre-marriage counseling, so sometimes I'll sit with that couple, like, I know, I know you're real excited about the wedding, but you know, we need to talk about the marriage. 00:10:00.240 --> 00:10:03.360 It's a whole lot longer than the wedding. 00:10:03.519 --> 00:10:04.240 Okay, great. 00:10:05.519 --> 00:10:07.759 They're not hearing anything I'm saying. 00:10:08.960 --> 00:10:11.840 You know, I remember asking one couple, you know, are you having any problems? 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:14.399 Oh, no, no, not one. 00:10:14.960 --> 00:10:16.240 Okay, wow. 00:10:16.399 --> 00:10:18.720 Um I saw, I said, What how's he doing? 00:10:18.799 --> 00:10:21.200 It's it's I mean, there's no challenges at all. 00:10:21.440 --> 00:10:24.320 She said this, he's perfect. 00:10:24.639 --> 00:10:30.720 And then reached over and held his hand, and they looked at each other, and I began to vomit right there on the spot. 00:10:30.960 --> 00:10:31.440 Whoa. 00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:33.120 Nauseated. 00:10:34.639 --> 00:10:40.159 I was like, okay, y'all come see me in about five months. 00:10:40.559 --> 00:10:41.200 What is it? 00:10:41.279 --> 00:10:42.960 In the beginning, there's never a problem. 00:10:43.120 --> 00:10:46.720 You decide, you get excited, and at the end, there's never a storm. 00:10:46.799 --> 00:10:47.039 Why? 00:10:47.200 --> 00:10:48.480 Because you see the finish line. 00:10:48.639 --> 00:10:54.240 It's in the middle of our decisions and our dedication, our devotion, that there's a storm. 00:10:54.399 --> 00:10:58.399 See, the storm represents tests and trials. 00:10:58.639 --> 00:11:07.440 Here's what the disciples were doing they were doubting in the storm, in the dark, in the middle, what Jesus Christ had said to them in the light. 00:11:07.679 --> 00:11:11.519 Don't doubt in the dark what God Almighty speaks to you in the light. 00:11:11.919 --> 00:11:13.759 Don't do it, don't do it, don't do it. 00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:15.679 If Jesus said it, guess what? 00:11:15.840 --> 00:11:16.879 He meant it. 00:11:17.279 --> 00:11:21.919 He was not worried about them drowning in the middle because Jesus said they were going to the other side. 00:11:22.000 --> 00:11:22.559 And guess what? 00:11:22.720 --> 00:11:24.000 The middle was not the other side. 00:11:24.159 --> 00:11:25.279 Hey boys, look around you. 00:11:25.440 --> 00:11:26.399 This is not the other side. 00:11:26.559 --> 00:11:28.240 This is not where I said we were going. 00:11:29.840 --> 00:11:33.440 See, you and I are gonna have to learn how to deal with our middle if we're gonna change the world. 00:11:33.679 --> 00:11:37.120 If we're gonna make a difference to the people around us, make a difference in this city. 00:11:37.279 --> 00:11:40.240 Do you know there are people that woke up this morning without hope? 00:11:40.879 --> 00:11:44.639 There are people that woke up this morning and going to church was not even in their thought. 00:11:44.879 --> 00:11:48.799 There are people that woke up this morning that don't like their life, that are miserable. 00:11:49.039 --> 00:11:54.799 There are people that woke up this morning and they've had the worst week of their entire life. 00:11:56.000 --> 00:11:57.840 They need hope, they need help. 00:11:58.080 --> 00:12:00.960 And if we're gonna make a difference and bless and serve, guess what? 00:12:01.039 --> 00:12:06.240 We're gonna have to learn how to deal with our middle because there are people on the other side of what we're going through. 00:12:06.480 --> 00:12:08.080 We talk in our church a little bit about this. 00:12:08.159 --> 00:12:10.799 I've been teaching on this lately, about deal with your middle. 00:12:11.039 --> 00:12:12.240 Deal with your middle. 00:12:12.399 --> 00:12:17.759 We say that to each other, man, you got to deal when somebody's in the middle of something, middle of a battle, middle of a storm, middle of a rejection. 00:12:17.840 --> 00:12:19.360 We tell them, man, deal with it. 00:12:19.600 --> 00:12:20.960 Deal with your middle. 00:12:21.200 --> 00:12:23.279 Let's break it down, kind of bring a little application. 00:12:23.519 --> 00:12:25.759 D means don't get distracted. 00:12:26.320 --> 00:12:29.759 Never think the middle is defeat. 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:31.120 Make a decision. 00:12:31.279 --> 00:12:35.279 Whatever, because I believe there are people all across watching at the campus, watching online. 00:12:35.519 --> 00:12:38.320 There are people all across that you're in the middle of something. 00:12:38.559 --> 00:12:39.519 Can I encourage you? 00:12:39.679 --> 00:12:40.960 Grow through your middle. 00:12:41.200 --> 00:12:42.720 Learn through your middle. 00:12:43.279 --> 00:12:44.080 Don't get distracted. 00:12:44.240 --> 00:12:48.480 I was growing up, I was a little ADD, had a speech problem, didn't talk until I was three years old. 00:12:48.639 --> 00:12:50.080 Nobody understood me until I was five. 00:12:50.240 --> 00:12:56.240 My first day of school, I got evaluated, was moved out of regular classes into what they called back in those days resource classes. 00:12:56.480 --> 00:13:03.039 And so just by having a speech problem, stuttering, I was very ADD, I was a visual learner, and so I couldn't sit in regular classes. 00:13:03.519 --> 00:13:04.960 I would get distracted easy. 00:13:05.039 --> 00:13:06.320 I mean, it's just, hey, what's going on? 00:13:06.559 --> 00:13:07.440 Oh, there's a butterfly. 00:13:07.519 --> 00:13:08.399 Oh, my goodness gracious. 00:13:08.720 --> 00:13:10.240 So live distracted. 00:13:11.360 --> 00:13:16.720 It's easy to be distracted, even in the middle of a dream, a vision, a purpose. 00:13:16.960 --> 00:13:17.919 Can I encourage you? 00:13:18.000 --> 00:13:19.120 Don't get distracted. 00:13:19.279 --> 00:13:27.440 If God has spoken somebody, if God has burst, if God has given you an idea, a creative idea to make a difference, don't get distracted. 00:13:27.759 --> 00:13:31.919 God has placed, as you've read the Go magazine, as you've looked online, said, God, I want to serve. 00:13:32.000 --> 00:13:32.799 Don't get distracted. 00:13:32.960 --> 00:13:33.519 Stay with it. 00:13:33.600 --> 00:13:37.200 Here's what the E stands for it means eliminate fear. 00:13:38.159 --> 00:13:44.000 See, fear is it's a sneak, it's sneaky, but then fear is a good liar. 00:13:44.480 --> 00:13:50.799 See, fear will bring the lie in your heart and in your marriage and in your future that God is small. 00:13:52.240 --> 00:13:52.960 It will lie. 00:13:53.679 --> 00:13:54.799 And the devil is a good lie. 00:13:55.039 --> 00:13:59.600 He will tell you a lie that will almost make you believe it, like you don't have anything to offer. 00:13:59.840 --> 00:14:02.080 How can you make a difference on your campus? 00:14:02.559 --> 00:14:05.120 Look at your life, look at your failures, look at your problems. 00:14:05.279 --> 00:14:06.480 How can you ever help anybody? 00:14:06.639 --> 00:14:08.399 You got issues yourself. 00:14:08.799 --> 00:14:10.240 How can you serve anybody? 00:14:10.320 --> 00:14:11.519 You need to be served. 00:14:11.759 --> 00:14:14.080 You're not perfect, you're not ready. 00:14:14.320 --> 00:14:17.600 The enemy loves convincing us of everything we're not. 00:14:17.759 --> 00:14:18.799 We sang about it. 00:14:18.960 --> 00:14:21.279 We are something in Jesus Christ. 00:14:21.519 --> 00:14:22.960 But the enemy will lie to you. 00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:25.440 Eliminate that fear, those lies. 00:14:25.519 --> 00:14:31.679 If you're gonna go the other side, and then the A stands for one of the most important things is acknowledge Jesus. 00:14:32.080 --> 00:14:35.039 I mean, the disciples made a lot of mistakes that day on that trip. 00:14:35.200 --> 00:14:38.639 They were doubting, they had fear, they thought they were gonna drown. 00:14:38.799 --> 00:14:41.840 But you know the amazing thing is at least they didn't jump overboard. 00:14:42.000 --> 00:14:44.159 Then Jesus' like, okay, great, now I've got to save you. 00:14:44.320 --> 00:14:46.080 Okay, okay, they get in the boat. 00:14:46.320 --> 00:14:48.399 At least they stayed in the boat. 00:14:48.799 --> 00:14:50.159 Keep your eyes on Jesus. 00:14:50.240 --> 00:14:56.480 If you're in the middle of something right now, can I encourage you to keep your eyes on Jesus? 00:14:56.799 --> 00:14:57.679 Look to Jesus. 00:14:57.759 --> 00:14:58.080 Why? 00:14:58.240 --> 00:15:00.799 Because he will calm any storm in your life. 00:15:00.960 --> 00:15:02.879 He will get you to the other side. 00:15:04.080 --> 00:15:07.440 And then the L is look around. 00:15:08.399 --> 00:15:12.559 See, the disciples were wondering, where are we going? 00:15:13.759 --> 00:15:16.960 What are we going to see on the other side? 00:15:17.279 --> 00:15:19.759 But it was not what are we going to see? 00:15:20.000 --> 00:15:22.240 It was who are we going to see? 00:15:22.399 --> 00:15:27.600 There was a person on the other side of that storm that was waiting to be free. 00:15:28.080 --> 00:15:45.759 Rest of the story there in Luke chapter 8 tells us that when Jesus gets out of the boat, when he gets to the other side, that as he steps out of the boat, there is an insane, demon-possessed man that is full of evil, full of pain, full of hurt, runs up and meets Jesus. 00:15:45.919 --> 00:15:50.320 And then there's incredible power, transformational encounter. 00:15:50.559 --> 00:15:53.759 Jesus sets him free, and all these things go on. 00:15:53.919 --> 00:15:54.879 It's just an amazing. 00:15:55.279 --> 00:16:01.039 This madman is all of a sudden free in Jesus, and the city comes out, and the town comes out. 00:16:01.200 --> 00:16:09.759 They get all beside themselves because they've lost some pigs and the whole transaction of transformation, and they decide that they don't want Jesus there anymore. 00:16:09.919 --> 00:16:10.720 Jesus, leave us. 00:16:10.879 --> 00:16:11.600 Jesus, leave us. 00:16:11.679 --> 00:16:11.919 Why? 00:16:12.080 --> 00:16:15.679 Because they love their stuff more than they loved a soul. 00:16:15.919 --> 00:16:17.679 Come on, somebody. 00:16:18.159 --> 00:16:20.639 You never put stuff over a soul. 00:16:20.960 --> 00:16:25.519 Jesus valued a soul over any kind of stuff. 00:16:26.399 --> 00:16:28.159 Jesus loves on them. 00:16:28.399 --> 00:16:30.559 And then the man says, I won't go with you, Jesus. 00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:32.559 I don't want to stay with these people that don't want you. 00:16:32.720 --> 00:16:34.480 I don't want to stay with these people that reject you. 00:16:34.639 --> 00:16:36.639 I don't want to stay with these people that don't value you. 00:16:36.799 --> 00:16:38.639 And Jesus says, No, you're going to do that. 00:16:38.799 --> 00:16:40.080 I want you to stay right here. 00:16:40.240 --> 00:16:43.120 You can see it in the latter part of that chapter, the last two verses. 00:16:43.279 --> 00:16:49.840 Jesus tells them, I want you to go home and tell everybody you see how much I have done for you. 00:16:50.159 --> 00:16:54.000 I want you to now be my missionary to all these people. 00:16:54.799 --> 00:16:58.879 It's kind of the story of a madman that turns into a missionary. 00:16:59.120 --> 00:17:00.000 And guess what? 00:17:00.159 --> 00:17:03.840 It would not have happened if they would have stopped in their middle. 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:05.039 Can I encourage you? 00:17:05.279 --> 00:17:06.240 Don't stop. 00:17:06.880 --> 00:17:07.359 Why? 00:17:07.599 --> 00:17:11.759 Because there are people on the other side of what you're going through. 00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:13.119 I thought about this. 00:17:13.359 --> 00:17:20.000 I believe in every person's life, there are people that are lining the shoreline that are asking this of you. 00:17:20.079 --> 00:17:20.720 They're looking. 00:17:20.880 --> 00:17:21.920 Help me, help me. 00:17:22.160 --> 00:17:36.559 What you're walking through right now, where you're at in your life, whatever the suffering, whatever the pain, whatever you've been through as a child, whatever you've walked through as a teenager in Christ, there are people that are waiting on you to get through it so that you can help them. 00:17:36.720 --> 00:17:40.240 I believe there are so many people that are standing saying, Hey, can you get through it? 00:17:40.400 --> 00:17:41.920 Because when you get through it, guess what? 00:17:42.079 --> 00:17:43.359 You're gonna help me get through it. 00:17:43.440 --> 00:17:45.680 When you walk through it, you're gonna help me get through it. 00:17:45.759 --> 00:17:47.039 Get to the other side. 00:17:47.279 --> 00:17:48.559 Get to the other side. 00:17:48.720 --> 00:17:50.240 I'm waiting on you. 00:17:50.480 --> 00:17:51.599 I'm waiting on you. 00:17:51.759 --> 00:17:59.519 I believe there are thousands of people that are lining the shoreline of this metroplex area that is waiting on gateway. 00:18:01.839 --> 00:18:02.880 Because you know what? 00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:04.240 They need help. 00:18:04.559 --> 00:18:06.880 We live in a world today where people need help. 00:18:06.960 --> 00:18:10.000 And sometimes they don't even know that they need help. 00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:12.880 And sometimes it's people that are kind of difficult. 00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:23.759 A while back we did a similar type of expression, Pastor Tom, and said, hey, let's make, let's everyone just decide to reach somebody for a couple weeks. 00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:26.400 We call it a little personal servolution. 00:18:26.640 --> 00:18:28.480 Just let God lay somebody on the heart. 00:18:28.640 --> 00:18:31.039 Just try to figure out a way to bless them, to love them. 00:18:31.119 --> 00:18:37.039 And there was a person that I was at a little store by my house, I'd always get gas there, always go in. 00:18:37.119 --> 00:18:38.559 I just had a burden for him. 00:18:38.720 --> 00:18:41.200 I've met his brother, and his brother was coming to the church. 00:18:41.279 --> 00:18:44.079 I just had a burden for he would not speak to me. 00:18:44.319 --> 00:18:46.960 He knew I was a pastor and a pastor of the church down the street. 00:18:47.039 --> 00:18:49.680 I'd always go in, hey Mark, how you doing? 00:18:53.039 --> 00:18:54.799 No, he would not talk to me. 00:18:55.039 --> 00:18:56.240 You know, I would get my stuff. 00:18:56.640 --> 00:18:57.759 Have a great day. 00:19:02.319 --> 00:19:05.920 So I mean, so one day I'm like, I'm sitting outside, I've got an Easter invite. 00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:07.599 I'm gonna invite him to Easter service. 00:19:07.759 --> 00:19:08.799 I'm like nervous. 00:19:09.039 --> 00:19:12.720 Oh Lord, maybe he's gonna hit me or you know, gonna cuss me out or something. 00:19:12.880 --> 00:19:17.599 Oh, I was all wound up and sweating all abundant my arms and red splotches all over my neck. 00:19:17.680 --> 00:19:19.200 I was just nervous like crazy. 00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:23.519 And I walked out, hey Mark, hey, I just wanted to invite you to Easter. 00:19:28.640 --> 00:19:29.759 Didn't hear anything? 00:19:30.960 --> 00:19:36.319 But 15 months later, we moved into our new facility, and God was doing some cool things. 00:19:36.400 --> 00:19:37.200 I walked in one day. 00:19:37.359 --> 00:19:38.799 I just decided I was just gonna be done. 00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:39.599 I was gonna be done. 00:19:39.680 --> 00:19:42.240 He was my personal project to serve to bless. 00:19:43.519 --> 00:19:52.160 I walked in and uh he said, I was checking out, he said, hey, church was good Sunday. 00:19:54.480 --> 00:19:56.000 I'm stunned. 00:19:56.640 --> 00:19:56.960 Okay? 00:19:58.160 --> 00:20:04.400 I didn't know where to which would be like, okay, never come back. 00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:05.519 You're weird. 00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:08.000 I just kind of okay, I gotta cool it off. 00:20:08.079 --> 00:20:09.119 Okay, what's up, man? 00:20:09.200 --> 00:20:09.839 It's cool, dog. 00:20:10.000 --> 00:20:10.559 What's up, bro? 00:20:14.160 --> 00:20:15.680 She's all you know, tough, man. 00:20:15.759 --> 00:20:16.240 What's up? 00:20:16.400 --> 00:20:18.480 I was like, you were at church Sunday? 00:20:18.960 --> 00:20:19.920 First time. 00:20:20.640 --> 00:20:21.920 I was cool. 00:20:24.720 --> 00:20:26.079 Thanks, Mark. 00:20:26.960 --> 00:20:28.640 I like down to Red Bull real quick. 00:20:30.240 --> 00:20:30.720 Wow. 00:20:32.160 --> 00:20:33.279 I couldn't believe it. 00:20:33.519 --> 00:20:35.519 Tom, I was I was fainting. 00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:38.079 I go the next week. 00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:42.319 Guess who spoke the Pastor Robert Morse? 00:20:43.839 --> 00:20:47.519 For the last two years, he's preached for us after Easter. 00:20:47.920 --> 00:20:56.480 So Pastor Robert preaches on like giving, tithing first, give it all up for Jesus, surrender it all, lay it down. 00:20:56.559 --> 00:21:00.079 Come on, you Cajun, stingy people, lay it down for God. 00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:03.200 I mean, he throws down heavy rev. 00:21:03.759 --> 00:21:07.119 And so I walk in, he's like, oh, is it church Sunday? 00:21:09.920 --> 00:21:11.359 I gave$50. 00:21:12.640 --> 00:21:14.799 He said, My wife got a bonus. 00:21:15.279 --> 00:21:19.039 She actually gave me like a hundred extra dollars this week. 00:21:19.359 --> 00:21:23.519 He's like, you know, that blankety blank blank works. 00:21:25.359 --> 00:21:27.440 Okay, that was R-rated. 00:21:28.079 --> 00:21:30.319 You're like still an R-rated Christian. 00:21:30.559 --> 00:21:32.960 Because I'm like a G-rated for God. 00:21:33.519 --> 00:21:34.160 Holla. 00:21:35.359 --> 00:21:38.799 It's second service with Pastor Robert Boris on giving. 00:21:38.880 --> 00:21:40.400 It's like we loved it. 00:21:40.640 --> 00:21:44.559 I prayed with my kids last night before they went to bed. 00:21:45.200 --> 00:21:47.200 Now he doesn't miss church. 00:21:47.839 --> 00:21:48.160 Why? 00:21:48.559 --> 00:21:56.400 Because you're just deciding that I want to personally make a difference in somebody's life. 00:21:57.359 --> 00:21:59.039 I just want to make a difference. 00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:09.519 I want to take what I've been through, what you've been through, and I want to put it in circulation to reach the lonely and the hurting. 00:22:09.680 --> 00:22:10.160 Guess what? 00:22:10.319 --> 00:22:14.240 There's something that's gone on in your life that can be a blessing to somebody else. 00:22:14.480 --> 00:22:16.480 There's something about your story. 00:22:17.119 --> 00:22:18.240