WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.399 Welcome to Gateway Church's podcast. 00:00:02.560 --> 00:00:06.959 Wherever you're tuning in from, we hope you're encouraged by today's message. 00:00:08.240 --> 00:00:09.279 Oh gosh. 00:00:09.519 --> 00:00:11.599 Well, welcome, Gateway Church. 00:00:11.679 --> 00:00:12.720 How are we doing today? 00:00:13.679 --> 00:00:14.640 Come on. 00:00:15.439 --> 00:00:19.120 Hey, what a powerful video, a powerful testimony. 00:00:19.199 --> 00:00:23.359 It is MLK weekend and and and church. 00:00:23.519 --> 00:00:36.320 Um before we go into this week, I just want us to remind ourselves of the person that MLK was, what he stood for, what he fought for. 00:00:36.479 --> 00:00:47.280 That he was somebody who stood up for injustice, who fought for unity, so that we as brothers and sisters in Christ can see the divine image of God in our brothers and sisters. 00:00:47.520 --> 00:00:57.359 So, church, my prayer as we go into this week is that we can be a church that doesn't just pray for unity, but we can be a church in a body that fights for unity. 00:00:57.439 --> 00:00:58.000 Amen. 00:00:58.880 --> 00:00:59.200 Amen. 00:00:59.359 --> 00:01:07.280 Well, listen, a big hello to all of our campuses, those that are joining us online, our gatherings, our gateway gatherings, and our brothers at our prison campuses. 00:01:07.439 --> 00:01:10.000 We are so glad that you're here today. 00:01:10.239 --> 00:01:16.319 Hey, if you're new here, or if we haven't gotten the chance to meet yet, my name is Matthew, and I'm one of the pastors here. 00:01:16.480 --> 00:01:21.359 And I get the honor of sharing today, and that we get to open up God's word together. 00:01:21.519 --> 00:01:26.319 We get to open up God's uh scriptures together and hear from the word together. 00:01:26.560 --> 00:01:30.799 I've called Gateway Church my home church now for the past 10 years. 00:01:31.040 --> 00:01:44.159 And Gateway, what I want to tell you is this is I am so excited that we serve a God who is living, breathing, and active in his church today, but we serve a God who is living, breathing, and active in this church today. 00:01:44.239 --> 00:01:45.280 Do you believe that? 00:01:47.519 --> 00:02:01.280 I have enjoyed every season of calling this church my home, but what I'm experiencing and seeing with my very own eyes is a freedom like never before to watch the hunger for the presence of God like never before. 00:02:01.359 --> 00:02:05.920 And I can't wait to see what God continues to do through his church. 00:02:07.200 --> 00:02:14.639 Well, if you um have your Bibles, uh, we're gonna go ahead and we're gonna be in the book of Acts, chapter three. 00:02:14.960 --> 00:02:16.800 The book of Acts, chapter three. 00:02:16.960 --> 00:02:26.639 And if you are like me and you like titles for your message, the title for today's message is this Where is your gate? 00:02:27.280 --> 00:02:30.479 Where is your gate? 00:02:30.800 --> 00:02:37.680 We're in week four, I believe, of our This Is the Way series following the book of Acts. 00:02:37.919 --> 00:02:39.039 Um, the early church. 00:02:39.120 --> 00:02:42.000 And what I love is the book of Acts has three main themes. 00:02:42.080 --> 00:02:42.960 I just said one of them. 00:02:43.039 --> 00:02:49.439 One is the Holy Spirit, two, the early church, and three, it's the spread of the gospel. 00:02:49.680 --> 00:02:56.000 Last week, Pastor Jelani delivered a really powerful message titled, Why Are We Here? 00:02:56.159 --> 00:03:00.560 If you haven't got a chance to hear that yet, I encourage you, go back and watch that message. 00:03:00.639 --> 00:03:03.520 Let it challenge you and let it encourage you. 00:03:03.759 --> 00:03:08.000 But he talked about the four reasons why the church is here, why we gather. 00:03:08.159 --> 00:03:19.520 He said this the church is here for one, exaltation, two, edification, three, evangelism, and four, expansion. 00:03:19.840 --> 00:03:27.199 Last week, Pastor Gelani brought us the four E's, and today I want us to give us, I want to give us the three outs. 00:03:27.680 --> 00:03:37.599 And my hope in prayer is that this can just simply feel like a part two of Pastor Gelani's message as we um continue on with our This Is the Way series. 00:03:37.759 --> 00:03:43.199 But before we get into that, before we open up God's word together, church, can we just pray for a moment? 00:03:44.319 --> 00:03:46.800 Let's bow our heads and close our eyes. 00:03:47.199 --> 00:03:48.479 God, I thank you. 00:03:48.719 --> 00:03:52.080 God, I thank you that your presence is here in this place. 00:03:52.560 --> 00:04:01.120 God, as we as a church, as we go into this week, let us remember Martin Luther King Jr., let us remember what he stood for and what he fought for. 00:04:01.280 --> 00:04:12.319 God, help us challenge us, be a church that doesn't just pray for unity, but a body that fights for unity so we can see your divine image in our brothers and sisters. 00:04:12.560 --> 00:04:16.000 God, we have come a long way as a country and we have a long ways to go. 00:04:16.160 --> 00:04:20.160 But by the power of your Holy Spirit, God, we can accomplish much. 00:04:20.959 --> 00:04:25.680 God, I pray that you take these ordinary words that I'm about to speak in the next few moments. 00:04:25.759 --> 00:04:29.839 And Holy Spirit, I beg you that you breathe your life onto them. 00:04:30.079 --> 00:04:33.120 And it's in your holy name we pray. 00:04:33.519 --> 00:04:34.160 Amen. 00:04:38.319 --> 00:04:44.879 I have called it Texas home now for the past 14 years, but before that I lived in California. 00:04:45.040 --> 00:04:46.879 Don't hold that against me. 00:04:47.279 --> 00:04:50.319 But I have called uh California home. 00:04:50.399 --> 00:04:51.199 I grew up in California. 00:04:51.279 --> 00:05:00.079 I grew up in a very small town in California to a Hispani in a Hispanic family, which made our household very exciting. 00:05:00.319 --> 00:05:05.519 My mom was born in Juarez, Mexico, and my dad was born in Del Rio, Texas. 00:05:05.600 --> 00:05:20.879 And some of the vivid memories I have, or or or shall I say, some of the memories that are scarred in my brain, is my dad in the morning, I would be getting ready for school, I would be eating my cereal, whatever I was doing, and and my dad would come out of his room. 00:05:21.040 --> 00:05:29.759 This is the image that is scarred in my brain, now maybe scarred in yours, but just a very large Hispanic man in his tidy whities and a white shirt. 00:05:30.399 --> 00:05:36.959 And through his thick mustache, he would say, Good morning, mijo, which means son in Spanish. 00:05:37.120 --> 00:05:40.079 And I would respond back, good morning, dad. 00:05:40.240 --> 00:05:44.000 And then he would say, Mojito, which means little son. 00:05:44.560 --> 00:05:46.399 Some of y'all just thought I said mojito. 00:05:46.720 --> 00:05:50.800 We're in church, calm down, we're Mexican, but relax. 00:05:52.079 --> 00:05:59.040 He would say, Mojito, newspaper, which essentially meant meant, hey, can you go fetch me the newspaper? 00:05:59.279 --> 00:06:14.879 And so I would go and I would get in the newspaper, and I'd watch my dad every single morning take it out of the plastic wrapper that it came in, and he would open it up, he would hand me the comics or what he would call the funnies, and I would read the comics as he read the newspaper. 00:06:15.120 --> 00:06:20.800 As I got older, he would then hand me different articles that he would want me to read as well. 00:06:20.959 --> 00:06:26.160 And so his love for the news and staying up to date, it rubbed off on me as well. 00:06:26.480 --> 00:06:39.839 But what I've experienced now in my 40s, and not necessarily what I experienced as a as a young boy, what I see now, the drastic change, is that our headlines have gotten drastically different. 00:06:40.800 --> 00:06:53.600 You can turn on the news or you can read the newspaper or read on your news app, you can scroll social media, and the headlines feel incredibly heavy and sometimes even hopeless. 00:06:54.160 --> 00:07:04.240 But the response that we have as a church, friends, the response that we have as followers of Jesus, we can be weighed down by it or we can be motivated by it. 00:07:04.720 --> 00:07:10.079 That's why I love in Acts 1, verse 8, you don't have to turn there, it's gonna be here on the screen. 00:07:10.160 --> 00:07:10.720 It says this. 00:07:10.800 --> 00:07:11.920 This is Jesus talking. 00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:25.600 He says, But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and all of Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. 00:07:25.839 --> 00:07:33.199 Not the power to witness, the power to be a witness by the way that we live our life. 00:07:33.759 --> 00:07:45.839 Acts reminds us that it's not just what happens inside these four walls, it's actually about what happened inside the tomb and the resurrection story that we get to take out into the world and to everyone around us. 00:07:46.079 --> 00:07:55.759 That church, if you're in here today and you're a follower of Jesus, the church isn't just for you, but we are the church and we're here for the world. 00:07:56.000 --> 00:08:02.399 We're here to take that resurrection story to our workplaces and to our world that we surround ourselves in. 00:08:02.560 --> 00:08:08.000 That's why I love the book of Acts, because the book of Acts is actually a book of action. 00:08:08.399 --> 00:08:12.079 I love that Jesus, when the disciples ask him, Hey, Jesus, how should we pray? 00:08:12.160 --> 00:08:20.079 He says, When you pray, say this our Father who is in heaven, holy is your name. 00:08:20.480 --> 00:08:28.160 Heaven, the Greek word for heaven there is orenos, which the translation could be sky or air. 00:08:28.800 --> 00:08:33.840 Our father who's in the sky, or our father who's in the air. 00:08:34.080 --> 00:08:40.960 Or as my buddy Brad likes to say, our father who's as close to me as my very next breath. 00:08:42.000 --> 00:08:53.440 Holy is your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 00:08:53.759 --> 00:09:00.480 Let your kingdom come, let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 00:09:00.960 --> 00:09:14.159 See, Jesus didn't just come to make converts of Christianity, He came to make disciples who were serious about advancing the kingdom of God and bringing heaven to earth, showing the world around them what there can look like here. 00:09:15.759 --> 00:09:21.279 That's why I see that in the book of Acts, we see this all throughout the book of Acts. 00:09:21.440 --> 00:09:32.639 The disciples and those Jesus followers, followers of the way as they were referred to, like Pastor Jelani said last week, their whole mission was to show people what there looked like here. 00:09:33.039 --> 00:09:41.200 That's why Acts is a book of action, but I firmly believe that Acts was not just a book written for then, Acts is a book for now. 00:09:41.679 --> 00:09:46.559 In today's day and age, in today's culture, Acts is a book for now. 00:09:47.039 --> 00:09:48.080 Acts is a book for now. 00:09:48.240 --> 00:09:55.840 So in chapter three, verse one, if we can open up God's word together, it says this. 00:09:56.960 --> 00:10:01.759 One day, Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer. 00:10:01.919 --> 00:10:04.000 It was three in the afternoon. 00:10:04.480 --> 00:10:17.919 Now a man who was lame from birth, lame simply just means paralyzed, was lame from birth, was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg for those going into the temple courts. 00:10:18.080 --> 00:10:29.440 See, just briefly, the temple had many different entrances, but this temple gate called Beautiful, it was called beautiful because it was made, um, it was made of fine Corinthian brass. 00:10:29.679 --> 00:10:35.039 It stood 70 feet, 75 feet tall and had these incredible double doors. 00:10:35.120 --> 00:10:40.480 And when the sun would reflect it at just the right time, it was beautiful. 00:10:40.879 --> 00:10:46.320 And so they they take him to the temple gate called Beautiful, that were they did every single day so he can beg. 00:10:46.559 --> 00:10:48.159 In verse 3, it says this. 00:10:59.840 --> 00:11:04.000 So the man gave him his attention, expecting to get something from them. 00:11:04.639 --> 00:11:10.399 Then Peter says, This silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have, I give to you. 00:11:10.559 --> 00:11:14.320 In the name of Christ Jesus of Nazareth, walk. 00:11:14.639 --> 00:11:21.279 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. 00:11:21.519 --> 00:11:24.080 He jumped to his feet and he began to walk. 00:11:24.240 --> 00:11:28.559 He went with them through the temple courts, walking and jumping and praising God. 00:11:28.639 --> 00:11:37.519 And when all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful. 00:11:37.600 --> 00:11:42.879 And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. 00:11:43.679 --> 00:11:45.519 A little bit of context for you guys. 00:11:45.600 --> 00:11:48.399 I'm a context guy, and so I enjoy context. 00:11:48.480 --> 00:11:56.080 Is the chapter right before this in Acts chapter 2, we have the Holy Spirit who came just like Jesus had promised. 00:11:56.320 --> 00:12:01.600 He comes in the upper room like a rushing wind, and lives were forever changed in that moment. 00:12:01.759 --> 00:12:06.799 I believe we as a church gather today because of what also took place in that moment. 00:12:07.120 --> 00:12:09.440 So we have the Holy Spirit that comes. 00:12:09.600 --> 00:12:19.039 And then Scripture says right after that, Peter delivers a sermon, and scripture says three thousand people's souls are converted to Christ. 00:12:19.600 --> 00:12:21.840 Three thousand people. 00:12:22.480 --> 00:12:27.600 It goes on to say that more were added to their numbers daily. 00:12:28.720 --> 00:12:30.879 And then that's all in Acts chapter two. 00:12:31.279 --> 00:12:37.600 The very next chapter, Acts chapter three, there's this one guy that gets healed. 00:12:37.840 --> 00:12:49.279 And what I love about this is Luke, the author of the book of Acts, he writes with the same excitement for this one guy as he did for the 3,000 people that got saved. 00:12:49.759 --> 00:12:53.519 Which tells me, church, that he wasn't numbers motivated. 00:12:53.600 --> 00:12:54.960 That's not what encouraged him. 00:12:55.200 --> 00:12:59.519 What encouraged him and motivated him was partnering with the Holy Spirit. 00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:07.919 It wasn't about numbers, it was about partnering with the Holy Spirit to accomplish God's work on this earth. 00:13:09.679 --> 00:13:15.279 And then scripture says this, Peter and John, they directed their eyes to this man. 00:13:15.679 --> 00:13:22.879 If you can just put yourself in this scene and imagine with me, they're there, just the three of them at this gate. 00:13:22.960 --> 00:13:26.799 It's as if at this moment everything dies down. 00:13:26.960 --> 00:13:29.440 The noise, the background noise dies down. 00:13:29.759 --> 00:13:39.519 And it's just Peter, John, and this lame man, this paralyzed man who is reduced to just begging every single day of his life. 00:13:39.679 --> 00:13:42.799 It's just the three of them there in this moment. 00:13:42.960 --> 00:13:46.879 Peter looks at the man, as did John, and they see him. 00:13:47.679 --> 00:13:49.039 They notice him. 00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:59.360 In this moment, their eyes are open, their hearts are open to see that this man was the divine image-bearer of the most high king. 00:14:00.960 --> 00:14:10.799 See, before the miracle even takes place, partnering with the Holy Spirit is what took place first as they notice this man. 00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:14.000 They simply see him. 00:14:14.399 --> 00:14:20.720 Because I'm a firm believer that how you see the creation, it reflects how you see the creator. 00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:24.080 Let me say that again so it sinks in. 00:14:24.240 --> 00:14:29.519 How you see the creation reflects how you see the creator. 00:14:30.320 --> 00:14:32.159 Because, church, let me tell you something. 00:14:32.320 --> 00:14:43.120 There are people, metaphorically speaking, that may be spiritually crippled, laying by the gate called beautiful, every single day of your life as you're walking and going on to your normal routine. 00:14:43.279 --> 00:14:52.559 There are opportunities to the left and to the right of you of God wanting to use you to speak to them, to call out the divine image bearer inside of them. 00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:54.399 But yet we walk right past them. 00:14:54.559 --> 00:15:10.399 I choose to believe it's not because we're intentionally ignoring those at the gate called beautiful, wherever that may be in your life, but oftentimes we walk right by them because we're so busy and distracted that we don't even notice them. 00:15:10.879 --> 00:15:12.720 Corey Tinboom says this. 00:15:12.799 --> 00:15:17.440 She says, if the devil can't make you sin, he'll make you busy. 00:15:19.679 --> 00:15:23.519 If the devil can't make you sin, he'll make you busy. 00:15:23.919 --> 00:15:24.559 Why? 00:15:25.200 --> 00:15:29.840 Because both busyness and sin have the same effect on our life. 00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:32.559 They cut off our connection to God. 00:15:34.159 --> 00:15:38.799 So be very careful the next time you run into that old friend at the grocery store and they say, Hey, how's it going? 00:15:38.960 --> 00:15:42.240 You say, good, just busy. 00:15:43.840 --> 00:15:50.320 Both busyness and sin have the same effect on our lives. 00:15:51.679 --> 00:16:02.960 The beginning of this miracle is simply Peter and John continuing on in their day, not being rushed, but being sensitive to what the Holy Spirit may want to do at that time, and they notice. 00:16:03.759 --> 00:16:04.559 They see. 00:16:05.200 --> 00:16:10.080 And then they lay out something so practical for us as followers of Jesus. 00:16:10.320 --> 00:16:18.879 If the church isn't just for us and we are the church and we're here for the world, here are three practical steps that we can take the kingdom forward. 00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:25.600 Point number one, if you're taking notes, what Peter and John do, the example they set for before us is this. 00:16:25.840 --> 00:16:26.960 They call out. 00:16:27.919 --> 00:16:29.120 They call out. 00:16:29.840 --> 00:16:31.919 Acts 3, verse 6 says this. 00:16:32.080 --> 00:16:36.960 Then Peter said, Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have, I give to you. 00:16:37.120 --> 00:16:41.120 In the name of Christ Jesus of Nazareth, walk. 00:16:42.159 --> 00:16:42.960 I love this. 00:16:43.039 --> 00:16:48.960 That they don't speak to his current circumstance. 00:16:49.759 --> 00:16:52.960 They actually call out his potential. 00:16:53.919 --> 00:16:57.840 They don't speak to where he's at, they call out what they know he's capable of. 00:16:57.919 --> 00:17:02.240 Or better yet, what they know God is capable of doing through him. 00:17:03.039 --> 00:17:05.839 Where else have we seen this before in Scripture? 00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:09.039 We see it in Mark chapter 2, where Jesus does the same thing. 00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:18.160 Scripture says there's a paralyzed man who's lowered through the roof, and Jesus looks at this man, he looks at his friends, and he says, Because of their faith, your sins are forgiven. 00:17:18.319 --> 00:17:20.400 Take up your mat and walk. 00:17:20.640 --> 00:17:21.839 And the man is healed. 00:17:21.920 --> 00:17:26.400 He takes up his mat and walks, and people are both amazed and offended. 00:17:27.759 --> 00:17:29.440 Jesus speaks to his potential. 00:17:29.599 --> 00:17:30.960 He speaks to what he's capable of. 00:17:31.039 --> 00:17:34.400 He says, I know how my father designed you. 00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:37.440 And so I'm calling out your potential. 00:17:37.599 --> 00:17:45.680 What would it look like for us, Gateway Church, if we walked into the places in our normal everyday routines and we called out the potential in others? 00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:48.000 We spoke life into them. 00:17:48.160 --> 00:17:53.119 We didn't just call them out, but we called them up because we know what our God is capable of. 00:17:53.359 --> 00:18:08.960 What does it look like when we partner with the Holy Spirit and we see the thing that's below the surface, not just your average encouragement, but we partner with the Holy Spirit to see the thing that's beneath the thing and we get to reveal it to those around us. 00:18:09.680 --> 00:18:15.440 See, speaking of someone's potential, calling out and calling up, it does something to them. 00:18:15.680 --> 00:18:22.559 It helps them not just see their circumstance differently, it helps them see themselves differently. 00:18:23.119 --> 00:18:29.200 Because we're calling out what we believe the divine is capable of doing through them. 00:18:30.400 --> 00:18:34.160 Like I said, it's more than just surface level engagement. 00:18:34.559 --> 00:18:49.200 I want to be a church, I want to be a people that calls out greatness in others so that they begin to walk in the full confidence of everything God has called them to be, everything God has wired them to be. 00:18:49.519 --> 00:19:01.039 Can we partner with God and partner with the Holy Spirit to call out the potential in others on our everyday path, on our everyday ordinary path? 00:19:01.200 --> 00:19:03.839 So point number one, they call out. 00:19:04.079 --> 00:19:09.119 Point number two that they have laid out for us so beautifully is this they help out. 00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:15.680 It says this in Acts 3, verse 7, taking him by the right hand, he helps him up. 00:19:15.920 --> 00:19:20.559 And instantly the man's feet and ankles become strong, became strong. 00:19:20.799 --> 00:19:24.240 He jumped to his feet and he began to walk. 00:19:24.480 --> 00:19:32.160 What I love is right before this, Peter says this, hey, silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have, I give to you. 00:19:32.640 --> 00:19:39.359 That no, that that like no, I don't have that, it has to be one of the most liberating no's in scripture. 00:19:39.599 --> 00:19:46.160 And I hope that it's liberating for you because isn't it just like the enemy to make your know your weakness? 00:19:46.400 --> 00:19:48.559 To make your know your excuse. 00:19:49.200 --> 00:19:50.880 No, I can't, I can't help out. 00:19:51.039 --> 00:19:54.319 I don't have that skill set, I don't have that gifting. 00:19:54.400 --> 00:19:55.839 I'm really not outgoing. 00:19:56.000 --> 00:19:59.200 No, I can't do what my neighbor who's sitting right next to me does. 00:19:59.359 --> 00:20:01.200 No, I I just I can't do that. 00:20:01.279 --> 00:20:03.599 You don't know the sin in my I have in my life. 00:20:03.759 --> 00:20:05.599 No, I just can't do that. 00:20:05.759 --> 00:20:11.759 We can let that know hinder us, or we can actually let that know liberate us. 00:20:12.079 --> 00:20:15.680 Because what Peter says is, I don't have this, but here's what I do have. 00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:17.279 What I do have, I give to you. 00:20:17.440 --> 00:20:23.119 So, church, my question to every single one of us today is, what do you have? 00:20:24.880 --> 00:20:27.119 What do you have? 00:20:29.519 --> 00:20:44.640 What's in your hand that you can extend to your neighbor, to those in need, to say, hey, I I may not have this, but God has designed me in a very intricate way, and the skill set that He give me, I can all I can He gives me, I can offer to you. 00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:47.440 Because I'm telling you this right now. 00:20:47.759 --> 00:20:54.559 You may not have this or that or whatever excuse you may have, but whatever you do have is what God has placed inside of you. 00:20:54.640 --> 00:21:00.559 And there's a world outside these walls that desperately needs what God has given you. 00:21:05.920 --> 00:21:10.799 How can you reach out your hand to help someone else in need? 00:21:11.039 --> 00:21:14.880 I'm gonna tell you a story about my friend PJ and his wife, Kelsey. 00:21:15.119 --> 00:21:21.680 PJ and Kelsey have served here at Gateway Church for a very long time, longer than I have been on staff. 00:21:22.640 --> 00:21:27.440 And PJ saw a need and he wanted to fill that need. 00:21:27.599 --> 00:21:42.960 He started an equip class where he teaches next gen how to work on cars because he was burdened that there are oftentimes student-age kids that may not have a parental or father figure in their life to teach them these things. 00:21:43.200 --> 00:21:44.960 So him and his wife taught an equip class. 00:21:45.119 --> 00:21:51.039 Around 20 guys and girls showed up to this class to learn how to change oil in their car. 00:21:52.079 --> 00:21:53.279 I'm 40 years old. 00:21:53.359 --> 00:21:54.240 I still don't know how to do that. 00:21:54.319 --> 00:21:56.960 So, PJ, I'm coming to your next class, man. 00:21:58.000 --> 00:22:01.119 But PJ answered the question, What do I have? 00:22:01.440 --> 00:22:02.880 Here's my skill set. 00:22:03.039 --> 00:22:04.240 Here's what I can do. 00:22:04.400 --> 00:22:11.680 And he used it to partner with the Holy Spirit so he can teach those that do not know how, he can teach them how. 00:22:13.599 --> 00:22:16.880 Because here's what I believe, church. 00:22:19.599 --> 00:22:33.359 That when we, as a church body, as followers of Jesus, when we're generous with our actions and not just with our words, people begin to experience God in a really tangible way. 00:22:34.960 --> 00:22:45.519 I remember I was around eight or nine years old, it was December, and my father had gathered us around the table. 00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:47.680 Not necessarily for a family meeting. 00:22:47.759 --> 00:22:55.759 If you were here and heard um Pastor Abram's message during first conference, which was phenomenal, by the way, he talked about this family meeting they had. 00:22:55.920 --> 00:22:57.359 Well, like we're Mexican. 00:22:57.440 --> 00:22:59.039 We didn't do family meetings. 00:22:59.279 --> 00:23:05.440 The family meetings that took place in our household was to gather around and like share which one of our family members got arrested that week. 00:23:05.680 --> 00:23:06.559 True story. 00:23:06.880 --> 00:23:08.160 True story. 00:23:08.319 --> 00:23:09.599 I kid you not. 00:23:10.319 --> 00:23:13.680 My mom's watching, so embarrassed right now, I'm sure of it. 00:23:14.880 --> 00:23:26.480 But I remember my dad gathering us around the table, and with tears in his eyes and with a heavy heart, he began to share that this year's Christmas was gonna look a little different. 00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:31.599 He shared that we were not doing great financially. 00:23:31.839 --> 00:23:40.079 I didn't grow up in a house with a lot of money, and so I was used to this, but he shared how we were on the verge of losing our house. 00:23:40.319 --> 00:23:44.880 The bank was gonna take our home, which eventually the bank did. 00:23:45.759 --> 00:23:59.119 But he was sharing with our family so full of guilt and shame, I saw it in his eyes as he was sharing with me and my brother that we didn't have money to provide, that he didn't have money to provide Christmas gifts that year. 00:23:59.759 --> 00:24:05.279 And I watched him as he was so heavy-hearted because he felt like he had left, let his family down. 00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:14.960 I was eight or nine years old, so I was I was pretty disappointed, but I saw hope fall from my dad's eyes. 00:24:15.200 --> 00:24:20.880 I remember Christmas came and we woke up every morning, or we woke up that morning like we did every morning. 00:24:21.039 --> 00:24:26.160 This morning was no different, except there was a heaviness in the room. 00:24:26.319 --> 00:24:28.799 I remember going the heaviest in the house. 00:24:28.960 --> 00:24:39.200 I remember going and um eating my cereal, and from where I was at at the kitchen table, I can see directly to the front door, and there was a knock on the door. 00:24:39.519 --> 00:24:44.880 My mom went to go answer it, probably because my dad was still in his underwear and t-shirt. 00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:55.359 And so my mom goes to answer the door, and I remember I can see her from where I was standing, I can see her side profile as she places her hands in her face and begins to sob. 00:24:56.240 --> 00:25:04.160 Because at the door there were three large garbage bags full of Christmas gifts for me and my brother. 00:25:04.960 --> 00:25:10.240 The church had provided Christmas for me and my family that day. 00:25:10.559 --> 00:25:13.519 I watched the hope come back to my father's eyes. 00:25:13.599 --> 00:25:17.359 I watched his shoulders go back as he walked a little bit taller. 00:25:17.519 --> 00:25:22.160 I don't know who tipped the church off, this church that we weren't really that involved in. 00:25:22.319 --> 00:25:30.160 I don't know who tipped them off, but that morning they decided to be Jesus to our family, and they showed up with Christmas gifts for me and my brother. 00:25:30.319 --> 00:25:33.759 I don't share that story because we got to experience Christmas. 00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:41.599 I share that story because it was that morning that I saw the tangible grace of God as the church decided to be the church. 00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:43.519 And it's one of the reasons. 00:25:46.640 --> 00:25:49.519 It's one of the reasons that I stand here today. 00:25:49.759 --> 00:25:55.519 Because I remember thinking, if this is what the church is all about, then I will give my life to it. 00:25:56.559 --> 00:26:02.400 If that's what it looks like to be the hands and feet of Jesus, then I will give my life to it. 00:26:03.359 --> 00:26:24.640 And I know, church, that there are stories in this room or whatever room you find yourself watching this at, there are stories that are here, there are future stories that'll come forth of lives that were changed, trajectories that were changed, hearts that were turned because of the people of Gateway Church and their actions and how we decided to be Jesus to our communities. 00:26:25.359 --> 00:26:27.759 We're already doing that, church. 00:26:27.920 --> 00:26:28.880 We're doing that right now. 00:26:29.039 --> 00:26:36.400 I want to share with you that in Frisco, at our Frisco campus, they adopted one of the Title I schools in their area. 00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:44.960 And during Thanksgiving, they provided both breakfast and lunch to the faculty and administration there just to simply say, hey, we love you, we're here for you. 00:26:45.200 --> 00:26:49.440 They took it a step further and they provided gift cards for all of the administration for Christmas. 00:26:49.519 --> 00:26:55.920 Again, just to say, we love you, we're here for you, we're praying for you, no strings attached. 00:26:56.160 --> 00:26:59.279 Our North Fort Worth campus, also in November. 00:26:59.440 --> 00:27:04.880 They partnered with World Relief and Sower of Seeds to feed a refugee committee in Fort Worth. 00:27:05.039 --> 00:27:14.160 They had 50 volunteers pack and deliver 200 mealboxes to over 100 refugee families in those apartments. 00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:16.160 Yeah, we can clap for that. 00:27:16.240 --> 00:27:17.440 That's incredible. 00:27:20.319 --> 00:27:32.799 They went back the following week just to throw a blog party, to play with the kids, to spend intentional time with those families, to say, we love you, we're here for you, we're praying for you, no strings attached. 00:27:33.039 --> 00:27:37.039 I was on the phone with Pastor Josh Briscoe yesterday at our Grand Prairie campus. 00:27:37.359 --> 00:27:43.839 Did you know that during COVID, they started this food drive to feed the people in their community? 00:27:44.079 --> 00:27:48.720 And not just feed for the feed them, but also offer prayer to them if they wanted. 00:27:49.039 --> 00:27:55.599 They wanted to meet the needs not just of the physical needs of their community, but also the spiritual needs of their community. 00:27:56.240 --> 00:28:03.200 Last year in 2024, 22,000 people came through that food line. 00:28:04.079 --> 00:28:04.720 Yeah. 00:28:09.519 --> 00:28:16.960 Not because Grand Prairie was saying, hey, we want to invite you to our church just so they can say, we love you, we're here for you, we're praying for you. 00:28:17.279 --> 00:28:19.839 No strings attached. 00:28:21.359 --> 00:28:22.720 Helping out. 00:28:23.440 --> 00:28:25.920 Can I tell you what we've done together, church? 00:28:26.240 --> 00:28:32.000 Last week, Pastor Jelani, when he got up here and spoke, he prayed for the wildfires in California. 00:28:33.279 --> 00:28:38.799 And not only just did we as a church respond in prayer, we responded in action. 00:28:38.880 --> 00:28:51.920 And we were able to give a gift to the Los Angeles Dream Center, an organization that is helping those that are in need, those that families that have lost everything in the fire, and they're meeting the needs of their city. 00:28:52.079 --> 00:28:53.200 We have a video to show you. 00:28:53.279 --> 00:28:54.880 So, church, take a look at this. 00:28:55.200 --> 00:28:56.240 Hello, Gateway Church. 00:28:56.319 --> 00:28:57.920 This is Matthew Barnett for the Dream Center. 00:28:58.000 --> 00:29:00.960 I just want to say thank you so much for your incredible response. 00:29:01.119 --> 00:29:13.680 We are blown away when we saw what your church has done for us and the thousands of people who are coming through this line as we respond right now to the immediate needs of people in the community. 00:29:13.839 --> 00:29:15.359 We're just so grateful for you guys. 00:29:15.440 --> 00:29:22.720 We have a great plan going forward all the way to responding and restoring and rebuilding and seeing lives change. 00:29:22.799 --> 00:29:25.119 So thank you for taking that journey with us. 00:29:25.279 --> 00:29:30.400 You gave us the kickstart we need to really go into the lives of people and to make a difference. 00:29:30.559 --> 00:29:32.720 I love you all and thank you so much. 00:29:39.680 --> 00:29:43.359 Los Angeles Dream Center is a place that is really near and dear to my heart. 00:29:43.440 --> 00:29:46.640 I was on staff there for 70 years before moving to Texas. 00:29:46.799 --> 00:29:50.400 That parking lot that you saw, it's where I first laid eyes on Britney, my wife. 00:29:50.559 --> 00:29:52.480 It's where we met, where we got married. 00:29:52.640 --> 00:30:03.119 So this place has a special place in my heart, but I love that the church that I call home has partnered with the church in Los Angeles to meet the needs of those around them. 00:30:03.279 --> 00:30:16.000 If you want more information, or if you want to know how you can still partner and still get involved, you can text Crisis to 71010 and a link will pop up and give you more information on how you can be a part and how you can partner with them as well. 00:30:16.799 --> 00:30:18.240 Back to Scripture. 00:30:18.480 --> 00:30:23.039 As I begin to close, Acts 3, verse 8, Scripture says this. 00:31:07.519 --> 00:31:12.960 Because it's one thing to walk with life, walk through life with people in their joy. 00:31:13.119 --> 00:31:20.400 That is sacred and holy work, but it is also sacred, holy, and heavy work to walk with people in their pain. 00:31:21.440 --> 00:31:27.200 As a pastor, I've had this privilege to be invited in some really sacred spaces. 00:31:27.279 --> 00:31:30.799 I've shared this with the South Lake campus before, but I share it with all of you. 00:31:30.960 --> 00:31:39.359 I have been in hospital rooms with a couple who have welcomed in their brand new baby, and they're so full of joy and full of life. 00:31:39.759 --> 00:31:55.920 I've also been at that same hospital, down that same hallway in a different room, with a couple who were holding their baby saying goodbye because he went with Jesus, went to be with Jesus far sooner than they could have ever expected or wanted. 00:31:56.160 --> 00:31:57.680 And there was sorrow. 00:32:00.640 --> 00:32:10.720 See, as followers of Jesus, I believe God has called us to walk out life with people in the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. 00:32:11.039 --> 00:32:14.640 Church, I don't say that to get a pat on the back like I am some saint. 00:32:14.799 --> 00:32:19.680 As my friend Annie says, I have a hundred percent attendance to every single one of my sins. 00:32:22.000 --> 00:32:30.480 I say that because I've also been on the receiving end of those that have walked out life with me. 00:32:30.880 --> 00:32:33.279 I think of my community that we have surrounded ourselves. 00:32:33.519 --> 00:32:40.319 When times have gotten tough, they've surrounded me and Britney and my wife as they've prayed for our marriage, as they've prayed for my family. 00:32:40.559 --> 00:32:47.839 I've called my friend Johnny time and time again, asking for prayer when I have desperately needed it, and he has always been there. 00:32:48.319 --> 00:32:50.160 There's a pastoral voice in my life. 00:32:50.240 --> 00:32:51.599 His name is uh Toby. 00:32:51.680 --> 00:32:54.000 He has been with me for the past 15 years. 00:32:54.160 --> 00:32:55.839 I know I have disappointed him. 00:32:56.000 --> 00:33:02.799 I hope I have made him proud, but the thing that matters to me is that he has been there with me every single step of the way. 00:33:03.039 --> 00:33:07.680 See, walking out life with people is heavy but holy, holy work. 00:33:07.839 --> 00:33:09.599 Church, I want to ask you a question. 00:33:09.839 --> 00:33:25.279 Is there anybody in your life right now, anybody that's coming to mind right now that God is asking you to take them under your wing, to walk through life with them, not because you're perfect or you have all the answers, but because you can point to a God who does. 00:33:27.599 --> 00:33:33.200 They call out, they help out, and they walk out. 00:33:34.000 --> 00:33:37.759 This is what it's like to be the church. 00:33:38.160 --> 00:33:45.359 Having the ministry of presence and showing up for people and walking out life with them means more than you will ever know. 00:33:46.400 --> 00:33:54.880 Because as you know, and you may have had these moments yourself, we have these moments, these where was God or where is God moments. 00:33:56.000 --> 00:34:06.480 But church, if we are the hands and feet of Jesus, then us showing up and walking out life with people helps people experience God in a whole new way. 00:34:06.720 --> 00:34:12.239 Because we partner with the Holy Spirit and He uses us in the ministry of presence. 00:34:17.440 --> 00:34:22.719 In just a moment, your campus pastors are gonna lead you in a time of response. 00:34:22.960 --> 00:34:32.559 But you may be sitting there and we may be talking about this work, the three outs, calling out, helping out, walking out, and you may say, That sounds very good. 00:34:32.719 --> 00:34:37.039 It's actually very simple, but also holy and hard work to do. 00:34:37.119 --> 00:34:40.239 My soccer coach used to tell me, Matthew, simplicity is genius. 00:34:40.400 --> 00:34:41.920 Just stick to the basics. 00:34:42.239 --> 00:34:48.800 Church, can we just stick to the basics, basics here so that we can bring heaven to earth? 00:34:49.039 --> 00:34:54.880 And you may be in here and you may say, That's good for my neighbor, that's good for the person sitting next to me, this other this person in my family. 00:34:54.960 --> 00:34:58.480 But Matthew, you don't know this sin that I have in my life. 00:34:58.800 --> 00:35:03.119 You don't know this secret that I have kept, you don't know this addiction that I have been carrying. 00:35:03.440 --> 00:35:05.760 God can't use me in that way. 00:35:06.400 --> 00:35:10.400 This whole message was based on a man named Peter. 00:35:10.639 --> 00:35:15.360 Peter, the one who continues to put his foot in mouth in his mouth in scripture. 00:35:15.599 --> 00:35:22.400 Peter, the one in the garden who cuts off the guard's ear, and Jesus is like, not now, Peter, as he heals the guard. 00:35:24.159 --> 00:35:29.599 Peter, the one who denies Jesus three times at his greatest hour in need. 00:35:30.000 --> 00:35:31.119 That Peter. 00:35:35.360 --> 00:35:40.480 But Peter wasn't one who was defined by his mistakes. 00:35:42.320 --> 00:35:46.239 Peter was defined by his identity in Christ. 00:35:48.000 --> 00:35:49.280 That's what defined him. 00:35:50.400 --> 00:35:51.280 That Peter. 00:35:52.159 --> 00:35:56.000 So you may be in here and thinking you're too far gone. 00:35:56.239 --> 00:35:59.199 You're rejected, you're denied, whatever it may be. 00:35:59.360 --> 00:36:06.719 Wouldn't that just be like the enemy to give you a false title to pick up what actually the God of the universe calls you chosen and calls you called? 00:36:07.360 --> 00:36:13.519 Don't let the enemy call you to live beneath a story that God has already written for you. 00:36:15.440 --> 00:36:23.440 So that you can participate in the calling out, in the helping out, and in the walking out. 00:36:24.800 --> 00:36:30.880 Just for a few moments, I'm gonna begin to wrap up right now, but to our prison campuses who may be hearing this right now. 00:36:31.679 --> 00:36:36.079 This message applies to you too. 00:36:36.480 --> 00:36:45.760 That you are not too far gone, that your story is not over, that we believe that you can bring Jesus to your communities right there where you're at. 00:36:45.840 --> 00:36:50.159 So I ask us all as a church, where is your gate? 00:36:51.119 --> 00:36:54.239 Where is God calling you to bring heaven to earth? 00:36:54.400 --> 00:36:57.760 What I love is Peter and John weren't doing anything out of the ordinary. 00:36:57.920 --> 00:37:02.320 They were actually just going to the temple for prayer as was their custom. 00:37:03.519 --> 00:37:08.880 They weren't doing anything out of the ordinary, they were just doing what they've always done in their life. 00:37:10.480 --> 00:37:16.400 But they slowed down, they paid attention, they noticed, and they partnered with the Holy Spirit. 00:37:16.559 --> 00:37:18.719 Gateway Church, where is your gate? 00:37:19.519 --> 00:37:24.000 Our prison campuses, you have a literal gate as you are in this gated community. 00:37:25.199 --> 00:37:28.400 I ran that joke by other people, they said it was okay. 00:37:31.920 --> 00:37:34.880 To our brothers at prison campuses, no one in here knew what to do. 00:37:34.960 --> 00:37:36.960 They didn't know whether to laugh or not. 00:37:39.199 --> 00:37:41.199 Is your gate your workplace? 00:37:41.519 --> 00:37:42.960 Is your gate your boardroom? 00:37:43.119 --> 00:37:56.960 Your kids' soccer practice, your communities, your neighborhood, your grocery stores, your cul-de-sac, where is your gate where God is asking you to partner with the Holy Spirit so you can bring heaven to earth and show people what there looks like here? 00:37:57.119 --> 00:37:59.119 Gateway Church, where is your gate? 00:37:59.280 --> 00:38:02.719 To our brothers in the prison campuses, is it the chow hall where you eat? 00:38:02.880 --> 00:38:05.039 Is it the rec yard where you have your breaks? 00:38:05.360 --> 00:38:07.360 Where is your gate? 00:38:07.519 --> 00:38:16.159 Because there is a lost, hurting, and broken world that desperately needs you to go to the gate so you can share the love of Jesus with those around you. 00:38:17.440 --> 00:38:26.320 Because we believe that we will see God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven, to our prison campuses. 00:38:26.400 --> 00:38:57.840 We believe that in the Coalfield unit, as it is in heaven, in the Michael unit, as it is in heaven, in the Lindsay unit, as it is in heaven, in the Sanders Estes unit, as it is in heaven, the Choice Moore unit as it is in heaven, the Buster Cole unit, as it is in heaven, in the Bridgeport unit, as it is in heaven, that we are believing God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven, in your schools, as it is in heaven, in your neighborhoods, as it is in heaven, in your workplaces, as it is in heaven. 00:38:57.920 --> 00:39:00.239 Gateway church, where is your gate? 00:39:00.320 --> 00:39:08.000 And how can we partner with the Holy Spirit to bring God's hope, love, and mercy into this world? 00:39:08.159 --> 00:39:13.679 I leave you with this as your campus pastors and campus leadership takes it from here. 00:39:15.760 --> 00:39:24.960 May you, Gateway Church, by the power of the Holy Spirit, be a witness with your whole life. 00:39:25.599 --> 00:39:38.559 May you partner with him and participate in this holy and sacred work of calling out, helping out, and walking out to see God's redemptive work in the ongoing creation of the world. 00:39:38.800 --> 00:39:46.079 Gateway Church, may you find your gate called Beautiful, and may you bring heaven to earth. 00:39:46.400 --> 00:39:47.039 Amen. 00:39:48.320 --> 00:39:49.840 Thanks for joining us today. 00:39:50.000 --> 00:39:55.440 If you'd like to connect with us, text Connect to 71010 or visit gatewaypeople.com. 00:39:55.599 --> 00:39:57.599 We hope you have a great week.