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Why don't you compliment your neighbor real quick? Tell your neighbor you look good. Tell your neighbor you smell good. I like your shoes, I like your hair. I didn't keep using that. Thank you. I would say somebody bought it for me, but I bought it for myself. Like Brother Frank told me this morning, you gotta buy yourself something every now and then, right? Um Romans. Um this is kind of a part two to last week. And um, you'll see what I mean by that as we go through it. But Romans 12, 2, we're gonna stick on this transforming, and um got something stirring in my heart for Resurrection Weekend that I believe is gonna tie in with what we've been talking about. But I am I keep praying for me. I'm I'm praying through that kind of that thought and praying through that that um that study right now. Um but we're gonna stick here with our transforming topic and idea. Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think, and you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. I'm gonna show you our other verse today. And this verse I have for you in a few translations. So let's go to Colossians 1 and write down Colossians 1, and we're gonna go to verse 11. We're gonna read a few verses, but I'm gonna highlight one specific verse, and um you'll see it here in a moment. We also pray, this is Paul, that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power, so you will have the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father that he has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people who live in the light. Verse 13. That's kind of our main text for today. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his dear son. Say amen to that. Who in verse 14, his dear son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins. So verse 13, he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his dear son. The King James Version says it like this, who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear son. And the NIV says it like this for he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves. Um I'm gonna break this down here in a minute. I think where are we at? Part nine? Is it part nine? Yeah, we're in part nine. Let's pray, Father, thank you for your word. According Acts 242, your word is received gladly, according to Acts 19.20, your word will prevail. You use these lips of clay to speak your word without error with excellence according to your desire. For we gather to hear the truth of your word, not the opinion of man. So I pray now, according to John 3.30, I will decrease, you'll increase, Lord. I pray now, Father God, according to Acts 242, your word is received gladly, and according to Acts 19.20, your word will prevail. I thank you now for all that you have to say. I pray now, Lord, that it is received on good soil, on good ground, the seed of your word take root in the soul of our hearts, and we shall see the fruit of it in our lives. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Um when I see these words of that God transferred us or translated us or brought us into the kingdom, how he had to rescue us from one kingdom and bring us into another kingdom, because as we talked about last week, there's there's two kingdoms the kingdom of hell, the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of Satan, the kingdom of God. And God had the rescue mission in place to bring us, rescue us from that kingdom of darkness and bring us into the kingdom of light. And I tell you today that that God, when He rescued us, He never intended to pull us out of Satan's kingdom and hear me, to pull us out and then just wander alone. It wasn't this thought of let me get them out of that kingdom and just let them go figure out the rest and just wander. And and this that that can't be the case anyway, because as I told you last week, there's two kingdoms, and you're under the authority of one kingdom or the other, you're under the rulership of one or the other, you're under the control of one or the other. If you didn't hear it, go back to last week and and and hear it again. That unfortunately it is true that you can be under the power of Satan, you can be under the control of Satan. And God said, We need to rescue them, we need to rescue them out of that kingdom, out of that control, rescue them, and we need to bring them, translate them, or transfer them into a new kingdom, which is the kingdom of God, his kingdom. And I tell you today, church, that again, you weren't rescued just to wander alone. You and I were rescued so that we could have the blessing and privilege to be in the kingdom of God because it is a blessing and privilege to be in God's kingdom. How many are grateful that you're in God's kingdom now? Amen. That that's a blessing, and that's a privilege. So you were pulled out of one kingdom and brought into another kingdom and put on the board. So our lives were rescued, not so we could just be pulled out, but we were rescued, hear me, so that we could be brought in. I was brought out, but now I was rescued so that I can be brought in. Why is this important to understand? Well, because I want all of us to realize once you're in the kingdom of God, you're now part of something. You're not a part, you're part of. You're not apart or separated from the kingdom of God, you are part of the kingdom of God. And Colossians tells us in three different versions that you've been transferred into his kingdom, you're part, you've been translated into his kingdom, or you've been brought into his kingdom. So no longer in one kingdom, but another. Not wandering alone, you were not brought out just to wander, you were brought out and now you're put in. I like to think of it like this put the first one on the board. It's like you've changed teams. Like we've changed teams. And you may think, I never signed up for Satan's team. Well, a lot of things sometimes you don't think. But the bad news is if you're not on God's team, you're automatically on Satan's team. And that's the lie of the enemy to get you think there's nothing wrong with not giving your life to God. No, if you don't give your life to God, you're on the wrong team. Automatic. And his lies, it's no big deal. No, it's a very big deal. You're on the wrong team. You've switched teams. You've been transferred. Uh you're on Team Jesus now. You know? You're on Team Jesus. That's a good team to be on. You know what I mean? Uh you're not, you're, you're, you're, and when you're on a different team, what happens? The strategies change, the plans change. The way you do things changes. The culture will change, even. Like I'm on a different team. This team does things differently than that team. You know, when that person was with the Cowboys, they lost. Now they're with this team and they win. You know what I mean? Like, you know what I'm trying to say, right? Yeah, okay, you know. Um, so it's just you transfer, you're brought into a different team, different culture, a winning team. Yeah, a winning team. Thank you, D'Andre. You're brought in there. You've changed teams. Um when I was about, I think I was 12, and I was grew up played with the same team all the time. Like it was a group of us that just played together through different through different age brackets. We were good. Like we were really good. But I don't remember what, how, I'm not gonna get into that. I don't remember, I don't know. I don't remember why, but I ended up not playing for that team one season. I didn't play with them, and I was on a different team in a different league. And at a this different league, I made the all-star team because that's just how your boy rolls, right? I made the all-star team. And the guys that I used to play with were in a different league, and a bunch of them that I played with made that all-star team from that league. And it just so happens that in a tournament, we ended up meeting each other in a tournament, and Manual was given the ball that night to pitch. And I was about to go up against a lot of guys that I knew. And let me tell you something. I didn't care that I knew them all my life. I was going to beat them. I didn't care. This is 12-year-old competitive manual, 11-year-old competitive manual thinking right now. You're gonna lose. I'm not on your team anymore. I'm on a different team now. And long, long story short, though, I'll save you the formalities. We did win. And Manuel did dominate that night on the mound. Right, Dad? He's somewhere near, he'll tell you, he'll say amen. He rose his hand, he said, Amen. I dominated that night. And I didn't care that I sent some of my old teammates home crying. We won. Because why? Because I was on another team now. I wanted the success of the team I was on. I didn't want the success of my old team. I wanted to win with this team. When you've changed teams, you want to see heaven succeed on earth. You want the kingdom of God to be displayed on earth. You want your fellow brothers and sisters to be winning because if they win, I win because we're all on the same team. I don't want the kingdom of hell to be winning. I don't want hatred and ugly things to be going on and people to be doing like evil acts. I want that to stop. I in fact, I used to be on that team, but now I'm on another team. And with this team, church, thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ, we're gonna win every single day in Jesus' name. And we wanna win, and we're gonna win. I don't want to see hell succeed. I want to see heaven on earth. Say amen to that. So you've changed teams. Uh your allegiance has changed. Your allegiance has changed. Um, growing up in school, you remember this thing called the Pledge of Allegiance? Stand up, we're gonna pledge allegiance. Uh, at the school I went to, we did the United States, we did the Christian flag, and we did the Bible. I don't know if you know there's a pledge of allegiance to the Bible. Um we didn't do Texas, I'm not sure why, but we didn't do Texas, um, which is fine for me if I'm a I'm from Illinois. Whatever. Okay, so, anyways, we uh did those three, and I'll be honest with you, and don't look at me funny, I'm sure a lot of y'all things too. I didn't really know what I was doing at six years old saying the Pledge of Allegiance. It's just like, okay, we put our hand over a heart and this is what we do. But if you look up the words Pledge of Allegiance, what's funny is you kind of see something pretty special. The pledge allegiance is to formally promise loyalty. I am a I am uh I'm establishing an allegiance to a country. That is, I am loyal to a country, I am loyal to the state, I am loyal in the sense of a Christianhood, I'm loyal to Christianity, I'm loyal, I it's a formal loyalty, not just being said, hear me, I'm pledging, I'm promising. I am promising loyalty. In other words, who and what I stand by and support. Who and what I stand by and support. So hear me, I was in the kingdom of darkness, I had to be rescued. At one time, I stood by and I supported the kingdom of hell. And again, you may say, Manny, I wasn't this horrible, I I get it, but again, that's just the lie of the enemy to get you to think it's no big no. It is a big deal. You were you you maybe unknowingly, unwillingly, you uh just not even aware that your support was for the kingdom of hell. But hear me, your support is now for the kingdom of heaven. Your loyalty is now for the kingdom of heaven. You belong to the kingdom of heaven, and to say that I am pledging allegiance is to say I promise my loyalty. So hear me. You've been rescued from one kingdom, brought into another. Now your loyalty is no longer to the kingdom of hell, your loyalty is to the kingdom of God. I stand by the kingdom of God, I support the kingdom of God, I am loyal to the kingdom of God. Uh, my loyalty was in one area before, but that has changed. So, church, I'll put it this way: I've drawn the line in the sand. Hell, you're over there, heaven, you're over here, and I'm forever committed to this side of the line, supporting the kingdom of heaven. Give the Lord a hand clap today and thank him that we can able to support the kingdom of heaven, be loyal to the kingdom of heaven. Now, putting these two together, I'll tell you like this we've been brought into a new kingdom, not just to indulge, but to represent. And this is kind of the heart of where we're going with this morning. Not just to indulge, but to represent. Because I've learned that it can be very easy to indulge in the kingdom of heaven, it can be very easy to get satisfied, satisfy one's need for um uplifting and encouragement, satisfy uh one's desire to feel loved and acceptance. It can be very easy to indulge oneself in the kingdom of God, and I've learned it's a whole nother thing to represent the kingdom of God. Put it in another way, maybe. You know, sometimes people are like, well, you know, I don't think I'm getting fed well enough there. I'll tell you the problem, sometimes you're too fat. You're just indulging. You're not doing any representation. You're just wanting to receive and take in and take in, but yet you don't want to serve in any capacity. And I don't even mean just in the kingdom of God, I mean anywhere you go. You just want to take in and indulge. And yet, I will tell you right now, you're called to take in and go represent. Go be a representative. Get in this thing, get your hands dirty. And again, I'm talking even beyond these four walls. You don't believe me? Well, joke's on you, it's in the Bible. Second Corinthians 5.20. Therefore, we are Christ's representatives. Say amen to that. And through us, God is calling you. We beg you on behalf of Christ to become reunited with God. 1 Peter 2 9, the Phillips Bible. But you are God's chosen generation, his royal priesthood, his holy nation, his peculiar people. All the old titles of God's people now belong to you. It is now for you, it is for you now to demonstrate the goodness of him. Does that sound like representation? It is for you now to demonstrate the goodness of him who has called you out of darkness into his amazing light. He called you out of darkness into his amazing light to demonstrate his goodness? Matthew 5 14, the amplified. A city set on the hill cannot be hidden. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds, and recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Side note, we're not representatives to lift up our name, we're representatives to lift up the name of Jesus. I want to represent him well because I want his name to be lifted up well. Because it's not about me, it's about him. And hear me, I want to be a good representative. I want to do well at this thing. I want to be a good representative of his kingdom. And I've learned that God desires for us to be a good representative. And I know he desires for us to be a good representative because hear me, because he provides help. He provides help for us to be that good representative. And I'm grateful that he provides the help. And with that thought, I tell you today that once we are in his kingdom, we are now in a new kingdom. Hear me. We now have access to all that the kingdom possesses. We have access to all of it. You're in the kingdom of God. You don't just have access to one room, you have access to all the rooms, to every room, to every single part of his kingdom. You and I have access to it. And I'm gonna tell you with a smile today in every kingdom there are powers. And I kind of said it last week, hear me. The powers of the kingdom of God are absolutely amazing. And you and I have access to them. We have access towards the reason, the resources. And today I want us to consider a few more of these powers of the kingdom. But hear me. I want us not to just I want us to see these powers as not just powers that work for us. I don't want us to see these powers as powers that just work for us. Hear me. I want us to see these powers as powers that work in us. Because there's a big difference when power is working for you and when power is working in you. Because the for you part, that's the indulging. It's doing so much for me. My question is, what is happening in you? Because when we read Romans, be transformed by the way you think, that's not outside, that's inside. So before we kick it off, the powers of the kingdom of God are not present to just work for us, rather, their primary purpose is to work in us. And I'm gonna hope to open your eyes today that maybe we can kind of like reset the way we think in regards to the powers of the kingdom of God to kind of reset the way we think on how these powers listen will actually help us represent God's kingdom with excellence because I am not just in his kingdom enjoying myself, I want to be in his kingdom representing him well. Now, real quick, before I get into this, I hope you want to represent God's kingdom well. Like I hope you do. And look at your neighbor and tell your neighbor, if you don't, I'll do it for you then. I know you're committing yourself. I didn't ask for that, Pastor. No, no. If you don't, I'll do it for you then. You know why I say this in love? Because hear me. If I have to do it alone, then fine, we'll do it alone. And I don't want to, but hear me. I'm not gonna allow your lack of desire to impact my lack of desire. This is a great, it's great to be part of the kingdom of God, but I've learned that sometimes people have bad thinking and bad habits in the kingdom of God, and I'm not gonna allow that lack of desire to impact my lack of desire. So I say today, if you don't want to, well, then the name of Jesus, I'll do it for both of us. So help me the Lord. Okay. What are these additional powers of the kingdom? What are these additional powers of God's kingdom that we're just simply calling it today? A lot of these are gonna sound familiar, but again, my hope is that we start to kind of notice about these powers not just working for us, but but working in us. One, you have the power of the word of God, and the verse I tell you today is so simple the power of the word of God. Hebrews 4 12 for the word of God is alive and say it power. It's powerful. It's a powerful word. And now I'll be the first to admit, man, I get some great joys out of reading God's word sometimes. When I read things of like the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. When I read things like I'm more than a conqueror, I'm blessed in the city and blessed in the field, the head and not the tail. Man, I can read God's word and I can close that thing feeling so good so often. Say amen to that. The word of God is there for the word of God is to encourage us and to remind us of his promises because there's so many in there. But I'm gonna be honest with you. You know what I've learned? Put on the board that the word of God should not always make us feel good. It shouldn't. If that's what's happening, I'm gonna ask you, like I said, to kind of re-evaluate. Kind of think, how am I indulging in the word? Am I always just feeling good after I read it, which I pray you are? Verse 12, read the read, read the rest of verse 12 with me. That the word of God is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow, it exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. That sounds like a tough read. That sounds like a read that's like, man, this is this is more than just, man, I feel pretty good today. No, the Bible itself is saying that the Bible is reading you. And there I was there should be times of conviction when reading God's word. There should be times where you read the word, that's part of its power, that you read it and you're like, I don't like that. Or I'm challenged all of a sudden. God, no, God, that you could have got you could have left that out. That's part of it. That's that's part of the power of his word. Because hear me, I want God's word to help change things in me before changing things around me. That the that the power of his word is to work inside of me, is to promote change and transformation, to bring conviction. We had a beautiful Bible study on Tuesday where Brother Alfred put so much word and reminded us how important it is, yes, to be reading the word, but hear me, but also applying the word. To understand that if I am battling anger, find a verse on anger that convicts me, that tells me that this isn't right. I shouldn't be having such an anger problem that's causing me to sin. Get that verse. I read it and say, God, I don't want to see that, but God, I need that verse. Get that verse inside of me and start practicing what it says. And in the name of Jesus, before you see change around you, you see change inside of you. You see change taking place in your heart. That's the power of the word. I remember my pastor said one time, man, if you allow the word, it'll cut you up left and right, man. It'll slice you up, it'll dice you up, it'll, it'll leave, he said, it would leave gadni picala out of you, man. Like the ground beef. It'll just leave that ground beef out of you. Like, like all of a sudden you're just mashed up into pieces. But that's not a bad thing. You know why? Because if the word of God exposes the things that are not right in me, it's gonna help me fix those things, and then I can see change around me in my life. Like, cut me up, dice me up. Go ahead when I read the word and I read it and I say, ouch, it's probably a good thing that you're saying, ouch. It's probably a blessing that you're saying, ouch, because it's working in you. I had a friend in Bible college, he would joke and said, Yeah, I didn't like that verse, I just skipped over it. If you read something and you don't like it, you probably need it. It's probably something that needs to get meditated on, put in your heart, and say, Lord, help me put this into practice. I remind you today, hear me. John 5 39, this is Jesus. You search the scriptures because you think they give you eternal life, but the scriptures point to me. The Bible points to Jesus. The Bible reveals Jesus. Hear me. The person who the Bible reveals is the person I should desire to become. The person that the scriptures show me, that that is Jesus in the word, I desire to become like him. Church, that's transformation. I desire transformation in my life. I desire to be more like Jesus. And the word of God provides us with the guidelines and power for our transformation that helps us represent God's kingdom. That when I read the word and I see Jesus in the word, and I want to do like Jesus, I want to be like again, not just indulging. I see what Jesus did for me, but what about the example he set for me? I see how Jesus did so many things that blessed me, but what about the things he did that set the standard for how I'm supposed to live and represent the kingdom of God? And I tell you today, I know that it can feel maybe burdensome sometimes because we all have things we're working on and things we're praying on, things we're saying, God, I need help with. But the good news is this, church, look at me today. I love you and I remind you today that God is able to help every single one of us today. That with the Lord's help we can see change and transformation, and with his word working in us, in the name of Jesus, we will see the change around us. But don't just ever see the Bible as some self-help book that will change your way, your lifestyle, or change every listen, it will get there eventually. The first thing the word of God, the power of the word, the first thing that the power of the word of God is going to do is attack the inside of you. And that's not a bad thing. We should thank the Lord. He doesn't want us to remain the same. That he wants to see transformation in us. Side note again if you're not reading the word, then you're missing out on the power altogether. Can I borrow your calculator? I know it looks very fancy, but it's just a cheap plastic cover, okay? I bought it for her, and that's how I roll, right? That what we hold in our hands is so powerful. This changes lives. This saves people. This pulls you out of the horrible pit that you are in and helps establish your feet on the rock that is Jesus. This helps heal the sick, cast out devils, change your family. This helps restore your marriage. This helps do wonders in your life. It is so powerful, but it's only powerful when we allow ourselves, even force ourselves, to begin to partake of it. So please, church, I tell you today, I beseech of you, as Paul would say, do not neglect the power of this word. Cherish it. Take it in. Read it. And before you ask God, I'm gonna read it so everything can change around me. Tell God, Lord, I'm gonna read it. Change whatever you want to change inside of me because it has the power to do that. Give the Lord a hand clap. Let's move on. Thank you, Lord, for the power of the word. I like this one a lot. And I can go weeks with this. But I have to remind you about the power of the Holy Spirit and the power of the Holy Spirit, how precious it is. And that when Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit, he spoke so beautifully. Acts 1.8 tells us, but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. There's power, power that he brings into our lives. And I'm gonna tell you now, I love the Holy Spirit, and I hope you do too. There's a joy in knowing the Holy Spirit is with us as a comforter, as a helper, as a guide. The joys of the Holy Spirit in our lives are so special and amazing. But I'm gonna, like the word, I will remind you, we can really get caught up in just how the Holy Spirit helps us. We can get really caught up in how the Holy Spirit is impacting my life and bringing all these good things in my life. But can I tell you about something that I've realized? We can get caught up with how the Holy Spirit is going to help my desires, but how often do we ask, Holy Spirit, what are your desires? What are your desires? What do you want? Holy Spirit, what is it that that you really desire? Because you're a person, part of the Trinity, God the Spirit. What do you desire? And in Romans 5.8, we start to get some answers. Those who live according to the flesh have their mindset on what the flesh desires. But those who live according to in accordance with the spirit have their mindset on what the spirit desires. I just think I think for myself. If that's your desire, then I want that to be my desire. Hear me. Nobody wants transformation in us more than the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit promotes transformation. Hear me. I know it's gonna sound blows on me away. It's a very simple thought. The Holy Spirit desires transformation in your life even more than blessing. He wants to see Christ-like character in us. I got all that I prayed for! But are you still the same person? What's it worth for a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul? Do you think the Holy Spirit desires for you to lose your soul? I finally got that transferred. Amen. Thank you, Jesus. What change took place in your life as you were praying? Because I've learned that when you pray, it can change the situation or it will change you. And I've learned the bonus is it will change the situation and it'll still change you. You think the Holy Spirit wants to see change in us? Absolutely, he does. And I and I and I'm so grateful for that. This is why I tell you, hear me. This is why relationship with him is vital. It is so important. And I'm gonna be honest with you, real quick. I don't mean so some happy go lucky relationship. I mean a real relationship with him. I'm not just talking about you sitting around with your best friend and shooting some jokes to each other and having a good life. No, I mean good, strong, faithful, raw, real relationship with the Holy Spirit. Where you find yourself arguing with the Holy Spirit, where you're literally like Holy Spirit, I don't want to. And he's like, No, you should, I don't want to, no, you should, I don't want to, no, you should. Fine, you win. I mean relationship with him, that that that he is allowed to point out everything wrong in your life, that he that everything in your life is exposed, that you come to him on a daily basis, frequently, saying, Holy Spirit, what is going on inside of me? And I am serious about it. It is real relationship. I'm not just asking you, Holy Spirit, to comfort me. I'm not asking you just to make me feel better. No, convict me and help me change. Real relationship, strong relationship, relationship that I am depending on, that I have to have this raw, real openness. And whatever you want to show me, I want to be able to see it in the name of Jesus. I want to know about it. I have to have this real, deep-rooted relationship with you, and not just trying to think to myself, what can I get from this relationship that's gonna bless me? No, no. What in this relationship is going to help change me? Why hear me? What will real relationship with him do? It'll help produce his fruit in your life, it'll help produce the fruit of the spirit in your life, real relationship. Why? Because healthy fruit comes from deep roots, roots that are secure, roots that are settled, roots that aren't going anywhere. It's relationship with him, deeply rooted relationship with you, Holy Spirit, is what I desire. Not so I can just feel better about myself, no, so that I can become more like Jesus Christ. Because hear me, you don't produce fruit on your own. You don't produce fruit on your own. I remind you, it's not your fruit, it's the fruit of the Holy Spirit, it's his fruits. And how does his fruit produce through get produced through your life? It's when you have real relationship with him, it's when you're in good fellowship with him, it's when you're seeking him, when you're desiring more of him, to know him more so that he can expose more in your life. You can't produce fruit on your own. Hear me? It's the power of the Holy Spirit within you that produces his fruit through you. And we think this whole time, like, oh, like, like where are these trees trying to try to push fruit out? I'm trying to push fruit out. No, it's not even you, it's the Holy Spirit inside of you, showing his love, showing his kindness, showing his patience, showing his goodness. May I remind you, you are a temple of the Holy Ghost, He resides within. That's why when somebody says you're such a kind person, you shouldn't even get credit for it. It's all just the Holy Spirit working his power through you, through me, and through all of us. He loves to see the fruit produced in our lives. Why? Because he wants us to produce the fruit of the spirit, because when we produce the fruit of the spirit, hear me, we resemble Jesus Christ. Stay with me. We resemble Jesus Christ. You don't believe me? Matthew 7:20, by their fruit you will recognize them. Remember, the goal of transformation is to become more Christ-like. The Holy Spirit's desire is for us to be Christ-like, to resemble Jesus Christ. John 15, 8, when you bear, produce much fruit, my Father is honored and glorified, and you show and prove yourselves to be true followers of mine. And I begin to see this and I begin to realize, and I think to myself, wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute. This whole time, how how much, how many of us here have gotten the the thought mixed up that, well, the more I pray for people, the more I resemble Jesus, the more I preach, I resemble Jesus, the more I sing, I resemble Jesus. But here's Jesus Himself saying, Hey, you want to resemble me? Produce fruit. Hey, you want to be Christ-like? Produce fruit. It's the fruit of the spirit that'll show people who you represent. And then I start to realize this is why you don't have to be a pastor and be the one to say, I represent Christ. You can be some lady just living by yourself in a village, showing kindness, hope uh peace, joy, goodness. You can be showing faithfulness, self-control. And guess what you're doing? You're resembling Jesus Christ. You just don't resemble him from a pulpit, you just don't resemble him from a stage, you just don't resemble him by leaving Bible study, you don't resemble him by going down and prophesying over people, you don't even resemble him when you cast that spirit when you want to really represent him. Shovel up when it's hard to shovel up. The person is going to help with the Holy Spirit. How about this? Before you go and try to prophesy over somebody, show some self-control that is produced by the Holy Spirit because we have a lot of things that we want to do because it makes us feel good. Oh, that feel good to help. It feels good to serve. That is awesome, and I'm grateful you're doing it. But hear me, the ones who are producing fruits in every season, the ones who are showing the fruit of the spirit. Jesus is looking at those and saying, those are the ones who are representing me, those are the ones who are showing who I am. That is why people will stand before God one day. And what will they say? What will they tell God, Brother Camilo? In your name I casted out demons, in your name I did this. And what is he saying? Depart from me. I never knew you, you worker of iniquity. Why? There was no fruit in their life, they were not producing any fruit in their time here on earth. So look at me. You may think, Pastor, I don't have a lot to offer. I don't read the Bible very well. I can't do a lot of things. I'm not technically smart. I don't know how to work on a computer. Can you produce fruits? By yourself, you can't. But with deep roots that produce good fruit. Child of God, you can represent Christ anywhere you go. In the classroom, the boardroom, the hospital room, the fruit does not stop because you are so planted that everywhere you go, you're gonna show the fruits of the spirit. And it's not, again, it's not even you, boo-boo. It's the power of the Holy Spirit inside of you producing fruits. Give the Lord a handcraft today. I'm here, I gotta be going. If you want to represent the kingdom of heaven well, the power of the Holy Spirit and relationship with him is a must. That's about the Holy Spirit working in you. In you, producing fruit. Hear me, through you. I mentioned it earlier, it's it's a story I heard a long time ago. There was this little 90-year-old woman in a village, remote village somewhere. And people would always go to her little hut. They were hungry, they go to her hut. She would have barely anything to offer, but she'd feed them. They sometimes barely they didn't have any clothes. They would bring her little, what's it called, material, and she would sew something together for them, a blanket or something, whatever she could. She would, they would go to, they would, she they said, go to the old lady in the hut. And one day, finally, somebody asked her, Why do you do this? And her answer was, I'm not doing it for me. I do it because it honors the Lord. You can be a 90-year-old woman in a hut in a village. Thank you for the conviction today, Lord. And you can represent Christ better than a pastor preaching from a pulpit. By producing what? The fruit of the Spirit. Rely who you are by the fruit that you produce. You will be known. You know, you know them by their fruit. Lift up a hand. Holy Spirit, help us produce the fruit of the Spirit. Not for our honor and glory. Work through us by first working in us. Convicting us. Convicting us. Transforming us. For we want transformation that will lead to good fruit in Jesus' name. Amen. Good Lord hand clap. I gotta wrap this up. Are you learning something today? Are you alright? Look at your neighbor, tell your neighbor, it's alright. Tell your neighbor, it's alright. Can I just say one last one? Quickly. The power of the resurrection. Did you not know there's a power of the resurrection? There is. And it's so beautiful. Some of you I think might have known that one already and you ruined my sermon, but that's okay. The power of the resurrection. What it says in Philippians. I didn't use translation. All I want, Paul, all I want is to know Christ. And you would think that that's pretty good right there. No, no, and to experience the power of his resurrection. To share in his sufferings and to become like him in his death. Wait a minute. Paul, you mean there's a little bit more to just knowing Christ? You mean there's a little bit more than just relationship with Christ? There's a little bit more than just kind of saying I'm saved. There's a little bit more than just now being brought into his kingdom. There's a little bit more to that. Hear me. The answer is yes. And the resurrection of Jesus, it's not merely just the truth that we believe. Hear me. The resurrection of Jesus is the transforming power to experience. Stay with me. To know Christ personally, put on the board. To know Christ personally, I want to know Christ. To know Christ is to be in relationship with him. But to know the power of his resurrection is to be changed into his likeness. There's a strong difference between the two. And Paul is making it clear. I want to know Christ. I have a passion to know Christ. But I want to also know the power of his resurrection. And hear me. The difference between knowing Christ and knowing the power of his resurrection is the difference between knowing a person and resembling a person. To know him, I can be in relationship with him. But to know the power of his resurrection, I can resemble him. I can look like him. I can be transformed into him. To know Christ is to interact with him personally. But the power of his resurrection is the very power, hear me, that took his dead body and raised it back to life. Does that not sound like transformation? I was transformed from a dead body, and now I'm alive. Church, knowing Christ is about relationship, but resurrection power is about supernatural character growth inside of you. And when Paul says, I want to know him, he's saying, I want to be with him. I want to spend time with him. I want to fellowship with him. I want to indulge in his presence. But when he says, I want to know and experience the power of his resurrection, then Paul is saying, I want to be just like him. I want to be like him. And I submit to you again, there is absolutely a difference between the two. I can know somebody. But it doesn't mean I want to be like them. But I know Christ. But there's such a desire in me that I want to be like him. How does resurrection power help me? Thank you, Lord. There's, would you agree that sometimes it feels like there's these immovable slabs in our life. Like a stone rolled over a tomb. And I think to myself, the power of the resurrection is the same power that hear me raised Jesus to life, but also rolled a stone away. Look at the dead things in your life. Sometimes we have anger problems. How can that anger problem be turned into forgiveness? We have insecurity issues, but how can that insecurity be turned into a confidence first in Jesus and then some self-esteem? We look at uh at ourselves and we realize there's a lot of self-centeredness, self-centeredness. How is that going to be turned into compassion and generosity? There's some pride. How can that be turned into humility? Church, I tell you today, there's a power of the resurrection inside of you given by the kingdom of God that is able to take the dead things of your life and with the power of the resurrection crush the hold they have inside of you. That when you get into fellowship, first I want to know Christ, have fellowship with him, know him more. Suddenly that relationship turns into beyond just knowing him. Now I want to be like you, Jesus. I want to be like you, I want to resemble you. Well, child, let's get rid of these things that are in your life. I don't know if I can. You can't, but there's a power inside of you that can break everything that has a hold of you. And that is the resurrection power of Jesus Christ that can take even the dead areas of your life and bring them back to life again. And church, I tell you today, thank the Lord that the resurrection wasn't just an event, the resurrection was power displayed that now works in us and through us with the help of the Holy Spirit today. I want you to think about all these things, I'm telling you. Why do I want that to take so I can represent his kingdom? Look at me real quick. Let's close this up. I don't want to be walking around like a mad Christian all the time. Oh, I hate this world, I hate this world, I hate people, I don't want to be walking around like an impatient person. Oh, hurry up, it's taking forever. Even in that 10 items or less lane. You know what I mean? You know, I I want to represent his kingdom well. Look at me. What areas of your life that you know, God, I need the resurrection power to work in this area of my life? How can that power begin to stir up fellowship with Christ? Seeking Him, getting to know Him, and then that power stirs inside of you. I don't have to be mad, unforgiving, hateful, bitter. I have been set free by my Jesus Christ. So, church, I tell you today that power is in you, and that power will help you represent the kingdom of God well. Give the Lord a hand clap today. I am done. You know, before I call them up, um, before I call Worship team up, um if you don't know, I've told you before the church, like we want to be a generous church and help others and be a blessing, even all kinds of areas. And uh, we actually are one of a spot, we're one of the sponsors for Floresville Little League this year. We're helping sponsor the Little League and provide help just however that helps them. It's pretty cool. You hear all my baseball stories all the time, so now it's time to pass it on, you know what I mean? And uh, you know, so I actually had the joy of going to their opening day ceremony yesterday in Floresville, and uh it was really cool. I I didn't get so I didn't really get to work all that hard with the men yesterday. My bad, all right. I showed up with the food, so you know, uh, you know, but I you know, so we got to do that yesterday, and and we were kind of like uh I was there and and it brought back a lot of memories as I sat there. And the main reason I went is because they asked me to do the prayer for opening day to kind of kick off the season, say a prayer, and I did, and it was a joy, and and and I had to leave uh to come back and feed the guys before you know they thought I did, you know, before they got mad at me or whatever, to go back and feed them. But I told uh I told Demetrius uh and his wife, I said, I'll I'll be back later. I'm gonna try to come back later. And let me tell you, I went back later on that night. We went we went back and uh and it was fun, it was a good time, you know. I just love seeing kids play, have a good time. I get a little too into the game sometimes, you know what I mean? Like, what are you talking about a part? You know what I mean? Like, like I guess inside, inside, I let it out. You know, but I just like I guess she saw, she knew. I was like, oh, you know, like you know, but here's what I'm trying to get at when we talk about transforming and resembling Christ, sometimes we just need to have a practical outlook on it. And I saw two people today, and I hope they don't mind. I know I was gonna say it's Demetrius and his wife, they run the league. They run the league. You're the president of the little league over there. He's on the board, like like they're running this thing. But you know what? At the ceremony, and I'm not lifting up, I'm going, so I'm not lifting up that they know, they know y'all know my heart. I just heard I just heard Tasha like just throwing in so many little phrases that were kingdom phrases. And she's talking about the teams and the season, just little things she's throwing in. And you could tell there's something different about her. Something different about her. That night I see Demetrius coaching out in the field, and even the way he coaches, I'm like, man, you could tell there's something different about him. The way he's smiling while he's out there, the way he's talking to people. I I can understand there's a competitive part of the sport, I get that. But you can see people, even when there was a little commotion that took place, they have to run over there and they just settle it down. And I see, you know what I see? I see carriers of peace, fruit of the spirit, going and say, hey, let's let's just get this resolved and get this over with. And the game goes on. And I was really blessed by that. And it reminded me, hear me. We're not called to represent within these four walls, we're called to represent outside of them. And maybe it's running a little league, maybe it's being part of a Bible study at your workplace. Maybe you're with a partner at work every day with the same partner. Maybe you're surrounded by the four same co-workers every day. Hear me? Maybe you're a business owner. You have an opportunity to represent the kingdom everywhere you are and everywhere you go. And it should be our heart's desire to represent it well. Not perfect, well. And when people ask you, what's different or what's what you know, why are you always smiling? Please remind them, it's not me. It's Christ inside of me. It's him. You want to know him? Can I pray with you? You have to can you cry about something? What how can I help you? How can I serve you? And church, in the name of Jesus, we're gonna see heaven loaded up with more people by you representing him wherever you go. Give the Lord a hand clap. I need to go.