REWIND
The podcast "REWIND" features a collection of past sermons from Organic Church. Each episode takes listeners on a journey through the teachings and messages delivered during previous worship services. The content is a retrospective look at the spiritual guidance and insights shared by Pastor Michael and visiting guests!
Listeners can expect to revisit powerful sermons, meaningful scriptures, and impactful messages that have been shared in the past. The podcast aims to provide a convenient and accessible way for the church community and new audiences to engage with the timeless wisdom and spiritual teachings presented during earlier sermons.
Whether it's a reflection on a particular theme, a series of teachings, or a selection of sermons covering various topics, "REWIND" offers an opportunity for individuals to deepen their understanding of the faith and find inspiration in the timeless messages.
The podcast may also include commentary or reflections on the historical context of each sermon and how it continues to resonate with the present-day congregation.
REWIND
Truth in a Confused World (September 21, 2025)
When did opinion become truth? In a world where confusion reigns and moral relativism has become the default position, Pastor Michael delivers a bold wake-up call that challenges both the church and culture.
This message cuts through the noise of our information-saturated society to address a critical question: How do believers maintain clarity when everyone claims to have "their truth"? Drawing from Scripture and personal experience, Pastor Michael establishes that truth isn't subjective—it's embodied in the person of Jesus Christ.
"If it is not in line with the Word of God, it is not the truth," he declares, establishing a firm foundation for believers struggling to navigate an increasingly hostile cultural landscape. With references to Isaiah 5:20, he highlights how our society has flipped moral understanding upside down: "What sorrow for those who say evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light and light is dark."
The message balances compassion with conviction, explaining how believers can love sinners without accepting sin. "We can embrace the sinner, but the idea is that when the sinner comes to the church, the sinner changes, not the church." This principle offers a refreshing alternative to both harsh judgment and moral compromise.
Pastor Michael doesn't shy away from addressing prosperity gospel teachings that promise wealth simply for proclaiming Jesus' name. Instead, he reminds listeners that true riches come from building treasures in heaven, not accumulating possessions on earth. With candor and occasional humor, he challenges believers to examine whether they're spiritually fit or merely focused on external appearances.
The message culminates in a powerful call to speak truth in love—not through argumentative tactics or condescension, but with genuine humility. Drawing from Acts 4:31, Pastor Michael encourages boldness in proclaiming Christ, reminding us that until the gospel reaches every corner of the world, Christ's return awaits.
Whether you're feeling confused by cultural shifts, uncertain about standing firm in your faith, or simply seeking clarity in chaotic times, this message offers biblical wisdom that transcends the noise of our age. Listen now and discover how to anchor your life on the unchanging truth of God's Word.
Be seated Now while the kids are leaving. I wanted to share a couple of things, and I want to start with this. This morning when I woke up I saw on my phone that there was motion in the church, that somebody was in the church, and I looked at the camera and I saw Pastor Holly coming in the building at like 6 am and I was like that's not good. So I sent her a text hey, what are you doing up so early? And she texted me back and she said Jane might have the baby today. Dave and I may not be there Now.
Speaker 1:With everything that I could muster I tried to maintain composure, because Pastor Roger wasn't supposed to be here this morning because he was at a wedding this weekend. Pastor Holly wasn't going to be here. I didn't have a sound technician and Tina Newman, who's normally running the cafe, was not going to be here and I thought it's a one-man show. So I got here at about 10 minutes to seven and I started making coffee and putting donuts out and getting all of the tech stuff ready, because I was like I'm not gonna have time to do it all once everybody gets here, amen. And then Pastor Holly sends me a text and says, hey, no, baby yet we'll see you. In a little bit Big sigh of relief, right, because you guys understand, pastor Holly runs the prayer room, I can't be there, but I can't do it all. So I was relieved. And then I was back in the gym working and here comes Pastor Roger walking through the door and I was like, oh, thank you Jesus, thank you Jesus. But I realized that I wasn't trusting God to do what God was going to do. Amen, right, that's easy to do and that was something simple. But I realized it in that moment. But the other thing that I wanted to share was when Pastor Holly told me she might not be here. I was really disappointed and here's why I learned a fun fact yesterday and I felt like I had to share it. But I was only going to share it if Pastor Holly was here. You guys, ready Fun fact. This is a fact about animals. It's important. So remember this. Did you know that koi fish swim in groups of four? Did you know that? Here's the reason If they're attacked koi? A, I think I got it. I think I got it. She'll text me this evening and be like that was a pretty good joke. I read that yesterday and I said I can only tell that if I'm going to get to tell it in front of Pastor Holly Like that was that was the mark for that joke. That was a good one, wasn't it? That was like that was pretty clever.
Speaker 1:Anyhow, I felt like I needed to follow up on last week's message, mainly because I know that there was some confusion and some frustration with last week's message. For those of you who weren't here and maybe didn't hear it, go back and listen to the podcast. This is going to enlighten you just a little bit more. But the title that I gave this message and this was not my message for today All of the men who are at my house on Thursday night will attest that this is not the message I'd planned to preach. The title for today's message is the Truth in an Age of Confusion Truth in an Age of Confusion, and here's what I want to highlight.
Speaker 1:Can we agree as a church that we're living in a very confused time, that the world doesn't know right from wrong and wrong from right? Amen. So I was thinking about it and I was realizing that part of what's happening to us is that we're starting to get information in every angle of our lives, right. You wake up in the morning and you grab your phone. No matter what you open on your phone, if it's social media or a news app, you're getting news. Right. If something is coming at you, whether it's good, bad or indifferent. Those of us who follow celebrities online that is not me, but some of us do they're giving you their opinion all the time. Right. If you follow politics, you're always getting somebody's opinion, good, bad or indifferent. Amen.
Speaker 1:Tv podcasts, it doesn't really matter what you're listening to, everybody's got an opinion. The trouble is, everyone claims that their opinion is the truth, right? So the more the world talks, the more confused the world becomes. Amen, and you see this every day, where today this is acceptable and tomorrow, if somebody else is doing it, it's no longer acceptable, right? And I just I think about the church as a whole and how quickly we become confused.
Speaker 1:And I want to tell you something. I don't always know the exact answer, right? All I know is what the word of God says, and I believe that this is the truth. And so when I preach that, I believe that that is the truth. I'm not saying that I am always right on everything that I say, but if it is in the word of God, I believe that it is the truth, because if this book is written by people who are anointed through the Holy Spirit, then there is no reason for me to doubt what I'm reading. Amen, and so I want to. Just, I want to elaborate on that today, because I think what's happened is we have become so confused about what is acceptable and what's not acceptable that the church has lost focus on what it means to just be nice and be kind and be polite to one another. Amen, because we can't agree with one another, and so we get angry and then we start to say hateful things to one another Maybe not to one another, but about one another. Right, because sometimes we're not brave enough to say it to the person, but we'll say it to somebody else, right?
Speaker 1:So I want to start with this John 8, 31 and 32. It says Jesus said to the people who believed in him you are truly my disciples If you remain faithful to my teachings, and if you remain faithful to my teachings and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. Now go back to that first slide for me. Jesus said to the people who believed in him, you are truly my disciples. If you remain faithful to my teachings, all right. Here's the thing. It's important to understand that the truth is not just an opinion, it's a person. Jesus is the truth. It doesn't matter what you think. If it is not the word of God, then it is not the truth. Amen. If it is not the word of God, then it is not the truth. Amen. If it is not the word of God, then it is not the truth.
Speaker 1:And I think we have become so accustomed to our opinion being louder and being stronger. Can I just tell you something that I've learned over the years? Social media has this thing called an algorithm, right? Do we know what algorithms are? Do we understand algorithms? Because I don't, but here's what I know If you watch clips from CNN, fox, abc, it doesn't matter you will see more of those things, right, and so if you tend to be tend to believe one set of values and that's the videos that you watch and the things that you see you will see more of that, and what you see less of is conflicting opinion, right, and so then you live in your truth, whether it is the truth in the word of God or not Amen. And then you're convinced that, because it's all I see on social media or it's all I hear in the news, that I have to be right. But let me tell you, if it is not in line with the word of God, it is not the truth. Amen, it is not the truth. Amen, it is not the truth.
Speaker 1:We have to understand that the church cannot be lost. Look, I was in a group text with the podcast group and they were talking about a topic that they want to cover and I said this to them now is the time for the church to be bold. Right, we can no longer be sheepish and sit on our hands and pretend like, oh well, we can just love the world. We have to love the world, right, but we don't have to accept the sins of the world. Right, we can embrace the sinner, but the idea is that when the sinner comes to the church, the sinner changes, not the church. The church cannot change for the world. The world has to become accustomed to who Jesus Christ truly is. Amen. Listen, I have never known Jesus to lie. I've never known Jesus to lie when Jesus speaks. Listen, pastor Holly came up to me during worship and she leaned in and she said she was telling me about. Can you just tell me again what you said? It was specific Birth of the spirit of truth. Okay, okay. And then I turn my tablet to her and I have her.
Speaker 1:Look at the title the Truth in an Age of Confusion. Today is a day for us to be set free in the truth of God, amen. It is not a day for us to hold on to the world. So if you're sitting there with your arms crossed and you're angry and you're like I'm already not listening to this guy because I think he's gonna get political, I promise you this I'm not gonna get political on you, that's not what I do, but I am going to encourage you to not be political and be spiritual. I am going to convince you today to let go of the flesh and take a hold of your spirit. Man Right, because that's what we should be living in. Because when we live in the flesh, we only live for the flesh. And when we live for the flesh, we do stupid stuff, we treat people poorly, we act ignorant, we don't really know who it is or what it is to live in Christ Jesus. And today I want to set the church free from that. Amen. Today I want to set the church free from that.
Speaker 1:Isaiah warned us in Isaiah 5.20. What sorrow for those who say evil is good and good is evil. That dark is light and light is dark. That bitter is sweet and sweet is evil. That dark is light and light is dark. That bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter. Hear that again. What sorrow for those who say evil, good. Evil is good and good is evil. That's what we're seeing in the world today, amen. Now here's the thing. We may not have all of the answers, right, we may not have it all figured out, but I'll tell you when the word of God tells me that something is not acceptable in the world, then it is not acceptable in the world. Remind you today that the Bible says whatever we allow on earth will be allowed in heaven. Right? I don't want hate in heaven. I want heaven to be the most beautiful place for each and every one of you. But I want heaven to be the most beautiful place for each and every one of you, but I want heaven to be beautiful for me, amen. Listen, we can no longer sit on our hands and hope that the world finds Jesus. We have to take Jesus to the world. It is the only way that the world is going to understand who Jesus truly, truly is. So let me ask you, when we talk about that passage of scripture, what sorrow. What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter. Is that the world we're living in today? I almost tried to drink that with the cap on it. I'd ended up spilling it all over myself. Today, darkness is celebrated and righteousness is mocked, but I have come to tell you today that God's word still stands unchanged. God's word still stands today, unchanged. All right, kobe. The world is confused because it has rejected God's truth. Am I the only one with that revelation? Right now, the world is confused because it has rejected God's truth.
Speaker 1:We live in an age of moral relativism. Like we want to be related, we want to be able to relate more morally to one another, right? So when we look at people's sin, we're like oh well, you know, it's really not that bad. Listen, we're all going to fall short of the glory of God, amen. But do we have to accept it and be okay with it. And so what do we do as a society that changes, that move? We become more like Jesus. The only way for us to take morality into the world is to become more like Jesus, because if we go into the world acting like heathens, what's the world gonna do? Act like heathens even more, and I promise you this the world can do it better than we can do it. Amen.
Speaker 1:We will never out love, the hate that's in this world, but we will try our best. Right, because we have to remember that the enemy controls the environment that we're living in today. But darkness cannot drive out light. Darkness cannot. If we are standing as a beacon for Jesus Christ, any darkness that comes against us cannot overpower our light. Amen, listen, I stand a beacon of light as often as humanly possible, don't get me wrong. Sometimes I put that light under a basket because I want to say or I'm thinking some things right. But when I realize that I am not doing anybody any favors by doing that, I have to lift that basket and I have to let that light shine and I have to be willing to stand on the truth of God.
Speaker 1:We say things like you've got your truth, I've got mine. I don't have my truth. I have God's truth. I have the truth of God, which is far more superior than any truth that I can come up with. Amen. Listen, I can think a lot of things and I can pretend to be right about a lot of things and, trust me, I'm really good at that but if it is not grounded in the word, then I cannot call it truth. Amen, okay, if it is not, or if it contradicts the word of God, then it cannot be true. If it contradicts the word of God, then it cannot be true. If it contradicts the word of God, it cannot be true. Romans 1.25,. It says they traded the truth about God for a lie, so they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise. Amen.
Speaker 1:Leave that up there for just a second. I'm sure some of you have seen this. I love sometimes, when I get on social media, there's this video that'll like really wreck you on the inside. And it was this lady and she was sitting there and somebody asked her if she was afraid of the devil and she takes a sip of her drink and she goes hmm, tell me how you can be afraid of the created, but not fear the creator. Whoa, whoa. Right, you've got to remember.
Speaker 1:Satan was an angel to God. Right, he was created, he was put into this position of power and he chose to abuse that power and when he did it, he was cast out of heaven. Power, and when he did it, he was cast out of heaven. We are afraid of the enemy, we fear what he might do in our lives, but we have no reverence for who God is. Right, we want to fight the devil, we want to chase the devil, but we don't even know who God really is in our lives.
Speaker 1:Can I tell you that if you go into spiritual warfare unprepared, you will not be victorious. Right, you go in thinking oh well, I've got this handled because you know what Pastor Holly told me or I prayed about, and I just know. But you've never practiced reading your Bible or being in relationship with Christ ever. Right, and you think? I'm just going to listen. The devil's a lot stronger than we give him credit for unless you are prepared through the word of God, through relationship with Christ Jesus, amen.
Speaker 1:See, the problem is is we all like to think that we can handle all of the things that come our way, you can handle nothing. You handle absolutely nothing on your own. I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength. I cannot do all things through Michael, right? I don't do all things through a title. I do all things through Christ, and that is the difference maker. See, we go to battle thinking that, well, I'm spiritually prepared. I've been.
Speaker 1:I read a book, but you didn't read the book, right. I picked up a self-help book over in the target book section and it told me that if I just pray, I can do anything. Let me tell you something you need to be in relationship with Jesus. You need to understand the word. The word needs to be etched upon your heart, amen. You need to be able to stand in the truth of who God is before you can do anything victorious. Now God can overcome anything in any situation. And again we go back to the thief on the cross. He's hanging there. He enters into salvation. He enters into paradise with Jesus because he believed who Jesus said he was, amen. So I know that God can do anything, but he was willing to believe.
Speaker 1:Some of us are sitting in our seats today not really sure who Jesus actually is. We know the story. We understand that Jesus was born of a virgin and that, you know, he had this life and this ministry and he did all of these things and then they crucified him. And when they crucified him, they buried him. And when they buried him, he came back to life. And after he came back to life, he ascended into heaven and now he sits at the right hand and we understand the story.
Speaker 1:But we don't understand that without him and that story that we are nothing. But we don't understand that without him and that story that we are nothing. See, we can't humble ourselves before him. We want to stand tall above him. We want to pretend like we know what God is doing. Can I tell you something that even today, standing here, I don't know what God's about to do in my life, but I know it's gonna be great, I know it's gonna be big, I know it's going to be big, it's going to be bigger than anything I could have ever imagined. And God is going to do that because I am in relationship with him and I believe him. For those things, amen, amen, okay, so in the world today, we see people who are bowing down to careers. We see people who are giving into money and pleasure, into politics, into identity, and they give into anything but God, amen. See, we get into this mindset where, well, I go to church on Sunday, I go to Wednesday night Bible study, I go to men's group, I help around the church, I do things right and therefore I am good. I need nothing else.
Speaker 1:However, you don't think about the church outside of the times that you are physically in it, right? You don't think about Jesus outside of the physical times that you are. Some people come here and they hear me preach and if I read scripture that I just made up and put them up on the screen, you'd believe me, because you've never read your word, you don't know anything about the Bible, amen. And we sit here and we pretend and we go. You guys would go and tell your friends, right? Oh, my pastor, read this passage of scripture and it was really. It gave me something, but it's not true. Most of you wouldn't know. There's probably a handful that would actually be able to say Pastor Michael, I don't think you got that right. Maybe I'll do that to you one Sunday. That'd be mean, wouldn't it? That'd be mean.
Speaker 1:My point is we get so wrapped up in our careers and in money and in pleasure, and in our identities and in the things around us, that we forget to focus on God, who Jesus is and what he's doing inside of our lives. Amen, because we become so obsessed with all of those other things. And the more that we get obsessed with those other things, the more that we reject who Jesus is in our lives. The more that we reject who Jesus is, the more confused we become in the world. And when we get confused in the world, we start to treat people poorly. We treat ourselves poorly, right? Many of us can't forgive ourselves for things that we've done wrong. Amen, hallelujah, thank you Jesus.
Speaker 1:Any of us ever feeling that way, we get down on ourselves because we can't just let it go. Let me tell you something. Elsa said it best Let it go, let it go. I'm telling you there is no reason to hold on to that because Jesus has forgiven it. So why can't you? You drag yourself, drag yourself into these pits of despair. We pull ourselves into these places where we can't get back out. Jesus has pulled us from the miry clay. Jesus has formed us into who he has called us to be. He has not formed you into the flesh person that you are, but the spiritual person that you are.
Speaker 1:And so often we only focus, some of us go on diets because we want to look better, right? I tried that once and I didn't like it, so I gave up on it and I'm like you know what. You can either die healthy or die happy. I'm going with happy, right, mcdonald's Coke, baby. It ain't good for you, but it's good. Listen, lord, help me, oh Lord help me, oh Lord, help me.
Speaker 1:The problem is, when we become obsessed with the way that our bodies look, or the physical appearance or the fleshly part of our lives, we miss out on the spiritual part of our lives, right? So I don't know if you guys know this, and maybe I'm telling news that I ought not tell, but I learned a while ago that the gym that's over in Macaulay Drive recently bought part of this field. That's right over here next to us, and I said, the minute they build that new gym, you know what I'm going to do. I'm going to put up a billboard that says but are you spiritually fit? And we're going to face it right at that building. Because here's the thing you can be physically fit all day long, but I need to know that you're spiritually fit right.
Speaker 1:Amen, listen, it's not a dig on people who like to go to the gym. Like, listen, blaze, you like to go to the gym? Right, buddy, good for you. Here's the thing I said to my wife. I said to her I said maybe I can go to the gym with Blaze sometime. I said maybe I can get in shape. And then I said no, I'm not going to do that. I might say it, right, like I might say it, but I'm not going to actually do it. Because, well, let's be honest, I eat three or four Little Debbie snack cakes every evening, although I hear you can put away a large pizza by yourself. My wife told me that I was like there ain't no way. But it's apparently true. Jeez, dude eats a large pizza by himself, then just goes to the gym and works it out. I don't know, man. Anyhow, sometimes we get so worked up on the physical that we miss the spiritual.
Speaker 1:2 Timothy, 4, 3 and 4, it says, for a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths. Amen, that is the world we're living in right Now.
Speaker 1:Listen, I love a good conspiracy theory. Right, it's fun, like, I'm still convinced that Elvis is on a UFO with Bigfoot. Right Now, my grandpa fully believes in Bigfoot. Like, has he ever gone to? Like, look for Bigfoot? Yes, she's shaking her head. Yes, my grandpa has gone to hunt Bigfoot. I'm not making fun of anybody that believes in Bigfoot. I wanna be clear. But there is no proof that Bigfoot is real. Right, we have proof that Jesus is real, but we ain't chasing Jesus. Right, we're out here looking for UFOs.
Speaker 1:Listen, there will come a time and I believe we are living in it when people will desire a church who will teach them the prosperity gospel and tell them that all they have to do is proclaim the name of Jesus and they will be millionaires. Do you know who becomes a millionaire? That pastor, right, that pastor. Listen, if I ever get enough money to get a private jet, you should all leave this church. Okay, seriously, like, just bail on me if I ever get a private jet, because that's crazy, right? In what world? In what world Do you think Jesus? I mean, they didn't have jets back then. But do you think Jesus would have had a private jet? No, he would have been spending that money to feed the hungry. He would have been spending that money to take care of the poor, the widows. Amen, amen.
Speaker 1:Listen, I'm not saying there's anything wrong with having money. I'm saying there's a problem with the love of money. And when you start to see that in the church that there's a love of money, and then we have that money, money, money, money, money. Mr Krabs style, you know what I mean Scrooge McDuck swimming in the piles of gold. We have a problem in the church, but the problem is nobody's willing to fight it. Amen.
Speaker 1:Those people who go to those mega churches that have millions and millions of dollars and they just sit on these stacks of cash, they don't ever ask questions. They believe that someday all of that will be theirs Right? Can I promise you something? It ain't gonna be. It ain't gonna be the prosperity gospel. You cannot get rich just because you think you're going to get rich. See, I am rich in the spirit. I am not building up things here on earth.
Speaker 1:I remember Pastor Florence used to say all the time I'm rich, I'm very rich, and I used to. She drove a Lincoln Town car. For those of you who know me, I love Lincoln Town cars, like the old school big, great big ones. She drove that car for years and I loved it and I thought she was really rich rich, like you know what I mean. And one day she said to me it's not about money, it's about my spiritual being. And I thought, well, dang it Right. I was so excited and then, when I finally grew up enough and I matured enough in Christ, I realized that it's not about the money, that it's not about having things. It's not about it's more about where am I at spiritually and am I gaining riches in heaven? Am I building up treasure in heaven? Amen, how many of us are preparing to build up treasure in heaven? How many of us are actively building up treasure in heaven? I am doing that right now. In the mighty name of Jesus. I will give everything I've got in this world because I know that everything that I need is in heaven. Amen, everything that I need is in heaven.
Speaker 1:All right, that time that we just referred to is not coming. It is already here. We're walking in those times. We are walking in times when people will search for people who will just tell them what they want to hear and not what they need to hear. We will chase after myths and we will not chase after truth. In an age of shifting opinions, god's word has got to be your anchor. Amen, god's word has got to be your anchor. Amen, god's word has got to be your anchor. Psalms 119, 105. It says your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. When the world is dark and confusing, we have to use the word to light the way. Amen, the word to light.
Speaker 1:I don't mean set your Bible on fire and hope that it. What I'm saying to you is that you have to read it and understand it, that you have to allow your heart to be prepared to absorb whatever it is that God might give to you, because there are times that I just say you know what? I have a devotion that I do at home, but I'm not gonna open it today because I'm at work. I'm just gonna grab my Bible and I'm just gonna grab a scripture and I'm gonna read on it, I'm gonna meditate on it and I'm gonna let God speak to me and every time he has come back with something I've never once read the word and not walked away with something. But so many of us, when we do read it, we check in the box to say that we've done the thing right. We're not looking for revelation, we're not looking for change, we're looking to just say that we did All right.
Speaker 1:Hebrews 13.8. This is our bedrock, this is our foundation, right. This is what four square stands on. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. Do you know what that means? He's never changed and he's never gonna. If Jesus has never changed, why should the gospel change? See, here's the problem.
Speaker 1:My grandma makes really great fish. My grandpa loves to go out fishing. How old's grandpa? 102? I was kidding 82. I heard what you said. I was kidding 82, and this man will go floating down the Ohio River in a belly boat to catch fish. And I am not kidding you. It used to be that he would take his electric bike, drop it off, chain it to a tree, drive down the road and float back to the bike. Then he'd leave his belly boat. He'd ride the bike back to his truck and float back to the bike. Then he'd leave his belly boat, he'd ride the bike back to his truck, put it in the bed of the truck, drive back and pick up his. That's a lot of work to go fishing, right? You know you can get fish sticks at Walmart, right? I'm just saying they might not be as good, but they're a whole lot easier to catch Anyhow.
Speaker 1:My grandma makes really great fish, so my grandpa catches it, brings it home and my grandma will make fish. Now the problem is she never calls me and tells me when she makes fish. They eat it all and then I just have to hear about it later. But when she does tell me and I get to have fish fresh, it is the best thing in the world to me, right? There are a few things in the world I like better than when my grandma fries fish.
Speaker 1:Now here's the thing. Sometimes she won't tell me she made fish right and she'll bring it to me the next day. Can I tell you that that fish the next day isn't nearly as good as that fish is when it's fresh. Here's the problem. It's not that the fish isn't good, it's that sometimes we just need a fresh batch, right. So listen, it's not that the gospel isn't good, it's just that sometimes we need a fresh batch, right. This doesn't change the fish she cooked was the same fish, but when she ate it on the first day, it was warm and it was crispy and there was something about it that just made you feel good when you ate it. Right? How many of us, when we got saved, we were on fire for Jesus. Right, we were on fire for Jesus and we just shouted and we whooped and we did all the things.
Speaker 1:I show up to the church and I'm going to do this and I want to just give everything to Jesus and about six months in, you're like I might get there this week, I might be able to. Oh, you know what? I don't think I can. Let me tell you something. You need a fresh batch of the Holy Ghost. Because I'm gonna tell you something Jesus didn't change. I had somebody text me and they said I just feel like I'm out of touch with God and I'm just not. I don't know who he is anymore and I don't know what to do with myself. And my answer was this and it's harsh, but my answer was this Then you need to figure that out, because Jesus didn't change. Jesus didn't change. If he is the same yesterday, today and forever, jesus isn't the problem. You are the problem. Your heart, your mind, whatever it may be, you need to focus on that and figure that out, because once you figure that out, that relationship with Jesus will flourish.
Speaker 1:My wife and I well, I, by association have to plant flowers every spring. Okay, I don't particularly care to garden, but my wife loves to garden and she prints dahlias every year. And every year when she plants them, we always start them out in these little tiny cups. Okay, I mean just these little tiny cups. And for anybody who's ever driven past the backside of my house, these dahlias, the bushes are this big at this point, right, huge, right, flowers of every color coming up. We got to the point to where they were growing out into the yard and we had to cut them off, right? But see, when they were tiny, alyssa would always tell me you have to deadhead them. When that first bloom comes up, you have to cut that bloom off so that it can continue to grow new blooms. I thought that was the dumbest thing I ever heard. Why would you cut off a perfectly good flower? Can I tell you that when you cut off that first flower, it gets bigger, and when you cut off that next group of flowers, it gets even bigger, to the point to where it takes over your entire yard. Right, I'm serious.
Speaker 1:Sometimes, as Christians, we have to know when to prune things off. Right, so that we can continue to grow and become greater. Right, how many of us know the things in our lives that we need to prune off today? Because, I'll tell you, god has probably already showed you today, because that's what he does, and you're fighting him, because if you prune it and something bigger grows, accountability starts to take over, and then you have to be accountable to your peers and your friends. There are going to be some people that look at you and go you're not doing that fun thing anymore. Yep, you're right, I'm not, but you know what I am doing Living for Jesus. I am living for Jesus and there is nothing in this world that will give me more joy than living for him. Jesus doesn't change. His word doesn't bend to culture. The truth isn't up for a vote. The truth is eternal because Jesus is the truth Matthew 7, 24 and 25. Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and floodwaters rise, the winds beat up against that house. It won't collapse because it is built on the bedrock. Jesus Christ is the foundation of everything in your life.
Speaker 1:I had somebody ask me the other day do you really talk to your wife about every decision that you make? And I said, yep, I do. I do, because the foundation of our marriage is trust. Right, and if trust is the foundation, that means that Jesus is the foundation, and we cannot do anything without consulting one another and consulting Christ. Right, we have never made a decision haphazardly. That's not entirely true. It's not entirely true.
Speaker 1:The last house that we bought, we opened the door and we went, yep, this is the one. And we both looked at each other and said, yep, this is the one. We didn't pray about it, but we knew that God had called us to that place. Right, we had fought the Holy Spirit. Beth probably told us a hundred times to go look at that house. She kept sending me the link. I'm like Beth, no, she actually said to me at one point come off that moldy money and just buy the house. And I was like I am not moving to Jenatan, alyssa doesn't like that, we're not doing it. And then we walked into the house and my wife immediately fell in love with it. We knew that God had called us to that place, amen.
Speaker 1:Now I tell you that because if we don't believe that Jesus is the truth, if we don't build our houses on solid rock, we will not be successful in life. Right, the world will eventually wash away every bit of Jesus that we have. Right, some of you experience that on the regular. You rebuild the house. It's like living in a hurricane zone. You know what I mean. You rebuild the house just in time for the next hurricane to come and knock it over. Right?
Speaker 1:We feel like, oh, I got it this time, lord, jesus, I've got it this time. Lord, I am focused on you. Lord, I am going to be at every meeting. I'm going to be it. Lord, I just want you to continue to bless me. And then the next thing, you know you're at home on a Sunday morning and you say you know what the Chiefs play this morning. I could have said the Browns, but we all know where that's going to go. I was giving us a little bit of hope, although I guess the Chiefs haven't been much better this season anyway. So I guess I should be careful on how I do this. Anyhow, we find a reason to stay at home in bed. Right, you know what? I'm a week behind on laundry. I better just stay at home. You know what? I haven't been feeling real good this week and you know I might still have a bit of a scratchy throat, so I think I'm just gonna.
Speaker 1:No, I'm telling you, the enemy will work overtime to keep those who are called to the house of God out of the house of God. Amen, he will drag you here late, but you will still get here, amen. Beth knows all about being late, but she still shows up. She has to phone in her order, her coffee order. She's like double espresso today, baby, double espresso. But listen, we have to understand that the enemy will work overtime to keep you out of this place, out of this season of life. Whatever it is that he is doing for you, the enemy, or that God is doing for you, the enemy wants to keep you away from it. Anyone who will listen to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds their house on solid rock. Can I encourage you today that if your house is built on solid rock, then you need to tell people what it is to stand firm in Jesus Christ, amen. When you're in Walmart.
Speaker 1:You had that Facebook post yesterday about that person at the gas station, didn't you? Okay, so listen, lauren's in her car, kids are jamming out to some Forrest Frank. Some guy drives by, almost runs her over and tells her to burn in hell. He didn't like that. There was no gasp when I said that. Everybody's like oh yeah, that's the world. Do you see what I'm saying? We have become used to the world treating us like that.
Speaker 1:The only thing that you can do for somebody like that is pray for them, and I mean in that moment, like you ain't got to, like hey, let me reach through the window and pray for you with your hands around their neck, let me lay hands on you. What I'm saying is that we should be praying for them, because the only thing that is going to change that hardened heart is Jesus. It's not your responsibility to change their heart. It is your responsibility to pray for them and believe that God can and will. Amen, to believe that God can and will.
Speaker 1:All right, the truth sets us free. I'm running really late, but we're gonna get done with this, okay. Jesus said you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. My question is free from what? Free from literally everything, free from sin, free from deception, free from fear, free from confusion, which is what we're worried about today, right, being confused by the world. What we're worried about today, right, being confused by the world. John 14, six.
Speaker 1:It says Jesus told him I am the way, the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. What does that mean? If you want to enter into the kingdom of heaven, the only way to get there is through Christ, jesus. Right, you don't get there through good works, you guys? Hey, listen, I love all of you men who show up here to help me on Wednesday nights. You know, poor Bobby I just wanna he and, honestly, poor Andrew too.
Speaker 1:Sometimes I don't know the skillset of the people around me, but when I learn I got work for you, right, I've got, yeah, a little bit of abuse, maybe, maybe. So I've got a project in the gym and I was like the only person that's allowed to do this job besides me is Bobby, because he's proven to me that he understands the vision and what I want and what I expect, and he does it almost better than I do it. Maybe even better, but I don want to admit that right. Thank you, jesus. But here's the thing no one is going to come to the Father except through Jesus. That means that Bobby can come and serve in the church every day if he wants to right. Bobby can be the best at all of the projects in this building, but Bobby cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven of the projects in this building. But Bobby cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven unless he believes in Jesus Christ, unless he forms a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Speaker 1:So if you are sitting here today and you think, well, I showed up at church and I've been going to church most of my life, and so I know that I can get into heaven, let me tell you that if you don't know Jesus, if you don't know Jesus, you're gonna get to heaven and you're gonna say but Lord, I prayed for people in your name, but, lord, I prophesied in your name, and he is going to say depart from me, for I never knew you. Because you can use his name right. Many of us can use it in vain. Many of us cannot use it in truth. Jesus is the only one who can get you into heaven, not your grandma, not your mom, not your uncle, not your sister. Nobody can get you into heaven except for Jesus. Your heart has got to be prepared and focused on Jesus. The world said all paths lead to God, but that is confusion and it's a lie from the pits of hell.
Speaker 1:Amen, not every you know there's a stairway to heaven. You remember that song? It's a stairway, but there's a highway to hell. That highway probably three or four lanes right. There are a lot more people who want to run that direction than listen. If I go to the airport and I have a choice between stairs and an escalator, which one am I taking All day, every day? Right, and when I get up there, I'm going to do the thing like they do on Elf, all the way up Because I'm super mature, super mature, and I don't embarrass my wife when we go out in public ever.
Speaker 1:And my point is is that if there is truly a stairway to heaven and that is how we are to enter in many of us are not going to go because it's going to require physical work on our end. Right, like if we can get to hell on the highway, we're just riding our car, right, I ain't got to walk. Listen, that is not what God has called us to. Amen. He has called us to repentance of our sin. He has called us to the truth, which is Jesus Christ. The church has got to be bold and stand on that truth. We can no longer look at the world and say that the world is acceptable. We can no longer look at the. Listen. I'm not asking you to go fight with the world. I'm saying believe what you believe, stand firm on your convictions and believe that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior, and believe that every person that you encounter is worthy of that same salvation and pray for them. Tell them about Jesus, explain to them what it is to be in relationship with Jesus Christ, amen.
Speaker 1:Okay, Whew, those of you who are visiting today yes, I am always this long-winded, I apologize. Where was I at? What was that? John 14, 6. John 14, 6. John 14, 6. John 14, 6. John 14,. I don't know where I'm at. Okay, there we are. Okay, we're gonna go to Ephesians 6, 14.
Speaker 1:It says stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness. The belt of truth. You know, when we talk about God's armor, many of you may not know exactly what that is. Maybe we'll do a series on that at some point, who knows? But when we talk about the armor of God Holly did it on a Wednesday night when we talk about the armor of God, when we talk about the belt of truth, we have to understand that when we strap that belt on, we only live for Jesus, right, and all of our focus is on the truth and not on the world, not on the lies that we hear. And our hearts should not be able to tell a lie. Do you hear what I'm saying to you? That's a simple lie right Now. Listen, we're not gonna get into all the things, because I know us parents have told some lies to our kids about some things. Like, you know what I'm talking about. We got some kids in here, so we're not gonna talk about it specifically. But you should not be able to look at somebody and say, oh no, it's okay when it's not okay Right.
Speaker 1:When we were with the men's group the other night, I said that that was the one thing I probably needed to work on was being more truthful, and all of the men kind of looked at me like what? I don't mean, like I'm lying to you right now. What I'm saying is that when I am disappointed or frustrated, I don't tell you that I'm disappointed or frustrated. Oftentimes I'm just like I'll get over it. But sometimes we need to be able to say to somebody hey, what you did really hurt me. Your inability to take action like you committed to really is harmful to my ministry. Listen, I tell my tech team all the time, if you are not moving in the spirit in your ministry, I don't get to move in the spirit in my ministry. If my prayer music doesn't work, if the things that I have come to expect don't work, then that affects each and every one of you sitting in this house. That's not acceptable.
Speaker 1:We operate in a spirit of excellence. Amen, in all things, we should be operating in a spirit of excellence. Okay, whoo, when Satan whispers you are worthless, you need to tell him that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. And when the world tells you to do whatever feels good, you need to tell them that the Bible says that I should be as holy as Jesus is. And when I fear or I say you can't make it or I can't make it, I have to remind myself that I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength, amen.
Speaker 1:We must live and speak the truth boldly. It is not enough to just know the truth. It is not enough to understand who Jesus is. We have to stand and speak the truth, amen. We have to be willing to stand and tell people what the truth actually is. Again, I'm not asking you to argue with the world, because you won't win, but you need to be willing to stand and proclaim the truth of God, amen. Ephesians 4.15, it says instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. Now leave that up there. I will speak the truth in love.
Speaker 1:I need to explain something to you. I cannot say, with all due respect, and then say something disrespectful. That doesn't work like that. When I speak the truth in love, I have to humble my heart. Like that. When I speak the truth in love, I have to humble my heart right. When I speak the truth in love, this isn't words that I'm saying, this is heart posture that I have right. I have to be able to look at you and I have to be able to say hey, mike, I know that when you and I talked the other day. We talked about this thing and, as I've prayed about it, I just really want you to know that this is what God said to me right, rather than looking at somebody and saying hey, doug, you know, you sent me that text the other day and that was just a really dumb thing for you to say See the difference. See the difference. With all due respect, you don't know what you're talking about. You know I love you, but you're really mean. That's probably not how that works. When I speak in love, I have to make sure that my heart is in posture to truly speak in love.
Speaker 1:The world doesn't need more opinions, it doesn't need more spin. It needs more truth spoken with love and with fire. Amen, because we should be willing to say. It needs more truth spoken with love and with fire. Amen, because we should be willing to say that Jesus Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, that there is no one higher, there is no name greater than the name of Jesus. Amen, acts 4.31,. And then we're gonna wrap up with this.
Speaker 1:After this prayer, the meeting place shook and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness, and that is my call to you today to go into the world and tell the world about who Jesus is, boldly. Go boldly where no man has gone before. Amen. Sid just sent me a link. There's an organization who is working to translate the Bible into every language in the world so that the gospel can be preached anywhere. Amen.
Speaker 1:And can I tell you that we should be excited about that, because until the gospel is preached at every corner of the world, guess what? Jesus won't return. Because that's what the Bible tells us and I believe that that is the truth, because it the gospel is preached at every corner of the world. Guess what? Jesus won't return? Because that's what the Bible tells us and I believe that that is the truth, because it is the word of God. 7,000 languages not in print yet. And we think, because we, you can get. How many versions of the Bible can you get in the United States? You can get an NLT, you can get an ABC, like I don't even know what most of them are anymore, right, but you cannot get it in 7,000 languages in this world. Come Jesus, come, amen. But until we are ready, he is not going to return. Until his bride is made clean. He is not going to return.
Speaker 1:Lord, I just pray right now that, as we move in this place, that you continue to touch our hearts and our lives, lord, that you would allow us to understand the boldness in which you want us to move, lord, lord, that you would just continue to lead us and guide us and direct our words, father, that we may not argue, that we may not sin against your word, father, but that we will uplift and draw people to you with the truth.
Speaker 1:Father, I thank you for the anointing that rests on the lives of the people in this place.
Speaker 1:Father, when we come together, we know that you are present with us and, father, I know that you are pouring in to each of these people who are here today, man, woman and child alike, lord, and I pray that, as their hearts have prepared this word, as they have absorbed it, that they're able to take it and share it with the world, that, as their hearts have prepared this word, as they have absorbed it, that they're able to take it and share it with the world, allow crooked ways to be made straight.
Speaker 1:Today, lord, allow hearts that are lost and broken to be given a new lease on life. Today, lord, allow there to be great forgiveness in the house and Lord, just continue to bless us beyond compare, father, we know we're living in the overflow. We know we're living in the overflow and we thank you for that. Father, guide our footsteps from this place. Allow our lips to proclaim your truth. Allow the confusion of the world to be silenced at a single mention of the name of Jesus. Allow us to go into the workplace and just say Jesus, jesus. And allow us to find favor with those who are in positions of power. Lord, I thank you and I praise you. I give you honor and glory in the mighty name of Jesus.