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We're gonna hop right to this. Uh, we're gonna go to Romans 12 where we've been going. We're continuing our talk on transformation. Uh, I'm gonna read Romans 12 to you. I've read it sometimes in six translations, three translations, four or five. Today I'm only gonna give you one translation of this verse, and that's gonna be the New King James Version. And it says, Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God. We're still talking about this part of renewing your mind. We've been talking about transformation in the first like 10 weeks, the need for it, what it looked like, how we go, how we uh how how we uh how our lives never stop transforming. And now we're getting into this thought of renewing the mind, which will produce transformation. Renewing the mind that is changing the way you think, changing the thought pattern, changing the way you believe, changing your perspective that's just changing the thoughts. Why? Because thoughts produce actions, actions produce habits, and habits produce a lifestyle. I'll say it again because thoughts produce actions, actions produce habits, and habits produce a lifestyle. It all begins with a thought. So if we want to see transformation in our life, we need to address our mind where we think, where we hold our thoughts, where we ponder on our thoughts, our mind, where the thoughts collide, and we battle thoughts even and try to decide and make those decisions based on how we are thinking. And we are talking about the past few weeks that in order to address our thinking, in order to address the renewing of the mind, the necessity of renewing the mind, in order to accomplish that, we must have the word of God. We have to have the Bible, we have to have scriptures so that our mind can be renewed, so that our changing can, so that our thinking can change. How many know that there's always thoughts that need to be worked on in your life? Raise your hand if you could use change in your life today. If you didn't raise your hand, you're lying and you need to change, all right? We always, always need to be considering, Lord, what are you working on? What are you trying to address in my life? David said it beautifully. He said, Search my heart, oh God. Search me, Lord, like search me, like everything, search me from the inside out. Why would David tell God to search him? God knows him well. Why would David tell God, search me and point out the things that need help? Why point out the things that need to change? Why would David tell that to God? What new information could God possibly get from searching David? God knows everything. God wasn't there thinking, well, I don't know, David, let me search you because I'm a little unfamiliar with some things, and you're like, no, God knew everything about David. David told God to search him, not so that God could get to know him better, but so that David could get to know himself better. So that God could reveal to David, David, this is what's going on and this is what's happening. So before we go any further, I just want to give you a side note. How often, look at me, how often do we all come before God and say, God search me? How often do we come before God and say, God, check my heart and tell me what's going on in there? And I pray today you take that little thought with you and run with it in your prayer life. Run with it when you come before God to make that a habit in your life. God, search me. And you know what I've learned about God? When he searches you and finds things, he's not shy about it. He points out things sometimes. And I'm like, God, do we really need to address that now? Like, do we really need to confront this now? I have other issues and other problems, but I've learned to be more grateful, not when God changes my problems, I've learned to be more grateful when God changes me. And one way God changes us is gonna be through the way we think, through our thought pattern. That's the transformation that's gonna take place. And we make that happen through the scriptures. Go to uh last week we touched on it, and this week we'll we'll touch on it again as far as 2 Timothy reads. And um before we kind of um dive into that, we started last week on the passage of 2 Timothy 3.16, and go ahead and put that on the board. And we talked on this thought of all scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, for rebuke, for correcting, for training and righteousness. We really hit on these thoughts of teaching, rebuking, correcting, training and righteousness, why that's necessary, why all scripture is beneficial, why all scripture is useful, how it produces these things. And today we're gonna go a little further, and I'm gonna wanna show you verse 17. And the NIV, verse 17 says, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. So all scriptures God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. Now go to the New King James Version, and this is the one I kind of want to kind of camp out at here. All scriptures give my inspiration of God, is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. See the highlighted section with me before we pray. So that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. I think we're on part 19, if I'm not mistaken. I think you go back a slide or tell you we're on part 19. So let's go ahead and get ready for part 19. Father, we pray, Lord, that your word is received gladly today, Coronax 242, coronax 19.20, your word will prevail. I pray now, Father, that the soil of our hearts will receive the seed of your word, and we shall see the fruit of it in our lives. I ask you now, Father God, that everything spoken out of my mouth is directed by you. Use these lips of clay to speak your word without error and with excellence, according to your desire. For we gather to hear the truth of your word, not the opinion of man. So I pray, Father, Corona Isaiah 55, 11, your word shall not return void. And I pray now, Father my God, that as we hear your words, we're saturated with truth. It is helping bring that renewing of the mind so we can see transformation in our lives. And Father, I pray you heal the heart of every Spurs fan this morning in Jesus' name. Amen. See you a little sad, I know. I know. Hold on to faith. I'm not, but you can't. Timothy, 2 Timothy is a letter written by Paul to Timothy. Hence the name, 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy. Paul is addressing Timothy, and Paul is informing Timothy in his letter to Timothy about the need for scripture. And he's letting you know that Timothy, as we said last week, all scripture is produced by the mouth of God, produced by the word of God, produced by the breath of God. All scripture comes from God and it's useful. We learned last week that it's beneficial, it has purpose, it helps fulfill purpose. All scripture is profitable. That is, it gives you an advantage. That means you gain, you gained from it, you receive from it. That's what scripture is. And Paul is letting Timothy know that these things, that the that the Bible is profitable, it is it is useful, that these things will produce what? Doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction, and righteousness. Timothy, you will receive these things through the scriptures. Timothy, these things you will have them put within your heart, within your mind, as you read the scriptures. Timothy, the scriptures do not forget, come from God. The scriptures are useful, profitable, gonna give you doctrine, gonna give you reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness. Timothy, you need to know this. This is the letter from Paul to Timothy. But as we read verse 16, I think to myself, well, what's the angle? Scripture is useful, profitable, advantageous, it is beneficial, helps fulfill purpose. There's gonna be reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness, and doctrine given. What's the angle? Why? How come? What what what scriptures God breathed doing all these things? But why? What's the importance of it? How come? Again, why? What's the end goal? Why the doctrine? Why the reproof? Why the correction? Why the instruction in righteousness? Why is all this so vital? What's the end goal? Why are the scriptures necessary? Why must these scriptures be taken in? Why hear me? Is Paul directing Timothy to the scriptures? Why is Paul adamant as he's penning his final words to Timothy? Don't forget. The scriptures are God breathed. Don't forget this is what they provide for you. Why? What's the Yang go? Why address Timothy about these things? Well, put verse 17 back on the board, please. End New King James Version. Because Timothy, I want you, the man of God, to be complete and thoroughly equipped. Church, hear me. That's the end goal. That's the reason. That's the purpose. That's why it's necessary. That's why it's vital. That's why God breathed the scriptures. That's why God spoke the scriptures. That's why the scriptures are God's words. So that the man of God, so that the woman of God can be complete and thoroughly equipped for every good work. That's the end goal. I submit to you, put on the board, that Paul wants Timothy to be complete and thoroughly equipped. He wants Timothy to be complete and thoroughly equipped. This is why they're necessary. This is why they're vital. This is why Scripture does these things. Timothy, so that you, you can be complete and thoroughly equipped. That's the heart of Paul. That's his desire for Timothy. And I tell you today, put on the board, I would venture to say, Paul would also say that he wants the same for us today. That I want the people of God. I want the church of God. I want the man of God. I want the woman of God. I want them all to be complete and thoroughly equipped. I want you to be complete and thoroughly equipped. It's not just Timothy, it's also you and me who I tell you today need to be complete and thoroughly equipped. What is complete? Well, complete refers to this fun word, maturity. Scripture helps develop a mature Christian. And I've learned a long time ago and I'm still learning today. There's no way you can become a mature Christian without the word of God in your life. If somebody likes to walk around and parade themselves as a mature Christian, maybe when you have a chance in conversation, just ask them, how often do you read God's word? And if they say never, they're lacking maturity, I guarantee you. Can't have it without the word of God. Mature Christian. A Christian who knows how to act, how to behave, how to speak. A Christian who is aware of what it is to look like Christ and is doing their best to look like Christ. Mature Christian, not one always mad, angry, and sad, one producing the fruits of the spirits. Mature Christian is not one, somebody cussing out somebody on Friday and praising God on Sunday. That's not a mature Christian. Mature Christian is not a man or woman that is gossiping and talking about others on Monday and then trying to come lift up their hands on Wednesday. That's not a mature Christian. Maturity is not how you act so much inside the church, it's how you act outside the church. But believe me, your maturity will show in both areas. I've dealt with immature people, I've been an immature person at times in my life. And don't look at me funny, we've all been a little immature in our life at times. Raise your hand if you've been a little immature a little bit at times. And as you raise your hand, say, God help me. We've all been a little immature at times. Holding grudges, getting mad, getting upset, not wanting to forgive, talking about pastors, talking about leaders, talking about our fellow neighbor. Some of you sitting next to somebody you were talking about yesterday. And I do mean your husband and wife. There you go. You know what Paul says? Paul's telling Timothy, Timothy, get the immaturity out of here. I need you to be mature, Timothy. Mature Christian. One who is seeking God, one who is desiring to please God, one who is walking in the ways of God, one who is maybe challenged but is ready to answer the call no matter what comes their way. One who may be offended but knows how to handle the offense. One who may be mad but knows how to be careful that they may be angry but still not sin. Paul, we're looking for mature Christians, Timothy, we're looking for mature Christians. And Timothy, the scriptures will help mature you, the scriptures will help complete you. And side note, you know why this is so important? Do you know why maturity is so impactful to the kingdom of God? Because mature believers can successfully lead other believers. Mature believers can help mentor and guide other believers. And let me tell you, it's one last side note. I don't care how long you've been saved, you can still be immature. Just the way an 80-year-old non-saved person, you know, the only thing worse than getting old is getting old and not maturing. An 80-year-old still acting like a 10-year-old. You know, we need, I'll say this, we need mature adults to raise children, right? I want to be a mature adult to raise a child. I know my wife's praying that over my life as we get ready. You know what I mean? God, mature him, Lord. Mature him, Lord. Mature him. Because we do need mature adults to raise children. We need mature adults to raise children. We need mature Christians to help raise other believers in Jesus Christ. Timothy was a pastor. I'll tell you a little more about it in a second. And he is telling so Paul's telling Timothy, be a mature pastor. Be complete. Why? Because other believers are gonna benefit from your maturity. Complete. But then he doesn't stop there. So that the man of God may be complete and thoroughly equipped. What are some cool words? Not just somewhat equipped, not just a little thoroughly equipped. Totally equipped. And this refers to, hear me, completing preparations. And it sounds a little weird. Completing preparations. Hear me. Scriptures prepare us. Scriptures prepare us. Scripture gets us ready. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal. Our fight is not against flesh and blood. Your fight is not with your neighbor, not with your spouse, not with your boss. Our fight is against an enemy who is real. Against demonic forces that are real, against evil spirits that are real. And hear me, church. We need to be prepared every single day. But not just somewhat prepared, thoroughly, completely prepared. There's this thing called boot camp. I've never been, but I've heard about it. There's this thing where I speak to men who are in the military and they get prepared in their training. They get taught in their training. They are put through harsh conditions, tough conditions. I was watching a documentary on Navy SEALs. I have never really watched one. My wife walked in and says, What are you watching? And I said, I don't know, just turn my attention to it. And now I know why. So see, there was a reason for it. You know, like now I know why. Because I'm watching these young men being put through harsh conditions, tough conditions, conditions that I'm gonna be honest with you, I would have cried and left already. They were thrown in the water with hands tied behind their back and weights put on their feet. I would have died. Why? Because they are preparing them. Not a little bit, thoroughly, completely preparing them. Why? Because the day will come where there's going to be a battle, a fight, maybe a war. And we do not want soldiers that are somewhat prepared, a little prepared. We want soldiers who are completely prepared, completely ready, who have been taught, who have learned, who have been guided, who have been instructed, and their preparation is not futile. Their preparation has been strong. Their preparation has been great. And hear me, scripture will thoroughly prepare us. Because no matter the need, scripture will prepare you for it. No matter the challenge, scripture will prepare you for it. No matter what's going on, the season that you're in, scripture will prepare you for it. So, church, hear me. The Christian is completely prepared to what? To live out his faith. No matter what's going on, I am ready to live for God and honor God no matter the environment, no matter who I'm around. I am ready to live out my faith. I am ready to serve God wholeheartedly. Not a part of me, but all of me belongs to the Lord. I serve God with all my heart. I love the Lord God with all my heart, all my soul, all my strength, all my might. Scripture prepares you to love your God in a world that challenges you and pushes you not to love him. Scripture prepares you, it completely prepares you, hear me, to live out the will of God. Just as Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, not my will, but thy will be done. Scripture will remind you, God's will is better, God's will is greater, God's will is more important, God's will is the will we want to fulfill. And hear me, Scripture will prepare you not to fulfill your will, but to fulfill the will of God. And in this world, I'm learning, I don't want to be a little prepared, I want to be completely prepared, ready for any day. Put it on the board. Every day is another day to prepare for. So listen to me. Maybe you prayed yesterday morning, you need to pray this morning. Maybe you read your Bible last night, you need to read your Bible tonight, because yesterday's battle was yesterday's battle, and thank God we're still standing strong. But the Bible's saying, I prepared you for yesterday, but let me prepare you for today as well. You defeated yesterday's demon, but today's demon is gonna have to be defeated also. You got through yesterday's giant, but today's giant has to fall too. You're not gonna do that on your own. Prepare yourself with the word of God and see victory in your life, not just yesterday, but every day in the name of Jesus. Because every day is another day to prepare for. You ate yesterday, right? Say amen to that. I did. Twice. Thank you, my brother. We're gonna fix that eventually. I ate yesterday, you did. Did you eat yesterday? Did you eat today? You're eating right now, good. Let this be breakfast, have some dinner later. Right here. Every day is another day to prepare for. And why? Why are the scriptures needed? Why are they vital? Why is Paul imploring Timothy, directing Timothy, telling Timothy, Timothy, the scriptures? God breathe, useful, beneficial, advantageous, profitable. You're gonna gain from them. You're gonna learn, Timothy, that gives you doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction, and righteousness. Why? Timothy. And I really believe Paul, I just truly he said it with a smile. Why? Why the scriptures, Timothy? Why is all this so important? Because Timothy, you're gonna be complete and thoroughly equipped. And Timothy, you need it. I, Paul, need it, I, Emmanuel, need it. Church, we all need to be complete and thoroughly equipped. Say amen to that. We all need it. Something about the about Timothy and why his life. Timothy, and how come these words are spoken to him directly in this letter? A little info about Timothy. Timothy was born in Lystra, which would be called modern-day Turkey, around the that Turkey country today, or Turkey A, if you're part of this new group of people. I I grew up in the 90s, we call it Turkey, okay? Turkey, uh, modern-day Turkey. Very interesting. His father was Greek, but his mother was Jewish. So talk about opposites attracting. And we learn through scripture that from a child, from a child, parents hear me? From a child, from a young age, as a child, he was taught the scriptures. He was taught the word by his mother and by his grandmother. I find it interesting, Paul didn't say nothing about dad. He just said, your mother and your grandmother taught you these scriptures. Timothy, he was aware of it. Paul was aware of it. So just a side note to you, single moms, still teach your kids the scriptures. Still teach it to them. I don't know where Timothy's dad was at, but mom was teaching, grandma was teaching, putting the scriptures into the life of Timothy. And it was around the second missionary journey of Paul where he meets Timothy. And something must have just stood out to Paul about Timothy. His gifting, maybe the way he carried himself, maybe, or just Paul with the spirit's eyes, just saw that there's something about this young man, something special. There's a gifting in his life, a calling in his life. So it was pretty quickly on that Timothy started to travel with Paul on his missionary journeys. Hear me. Timothy, they believe, was probably in his late teens or early 20s as he began missionary work with Paul. And if you don't remember this, every missionary journey was another life risk Paul was taking. And here's Timothy now joining Paul and his journeys to minister the gospel on his missionary journeys. So he starts relatively young. And it's no, it's not weird to say that it looks as though through the scriptures we see that Timothy had a little bout, maybe a little battle with fear in his life and with being scared in his life, or a little timidity in his life. I had one Sunday school teacher put it like this He said, Timothy had a little trouble with timidity. And I was like, Yeah, that's a good way to remember it. Timothy had a little trouble with timidity in his life. That's why you read, you know, do not you have not been given the spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. So so Paul was addressing something within the life of Timothy that that he battled, but but nonetheless, Paul would mentor Timothy. And here, you know what Paul would call Timothy? He he would call Timothy his true son in the faith. Wow, what a title! This is Timothy, my true son in the faith. My heart is his heart, my desires are his desires, my goals are his goals. We have the same mission, the same drive, the same ambition. My true son in the faith. This is Timothy. He would go on to be known as a co-worker with Paul in ministering the gospel. And he grew, he developed, he learned. Timothy would be sent out to struggling churches. Paul would send Timothy out to churches that were having problems and issues. And Timothy would go to these churches to help resolve the issues and resolve the problems and help give them instructions on how to move forward. Timothy all of a sudden, through his maturity and growing, Paul recognized the calling in his life. Eventually, he sends Timothy to Ephesus, and now he has Timothy pastor. He puts him as the pastor of a fast-growing church, a church that's exploding in Ephesus. Timothy, go pastor that church. They need a leader. This is Timothy. This is his life, this is his calling. And according to early church tradition, from what we know, eventually Timothy did become a martyr, dying for his faith simply because he spoke out against a pagan festival, standing in revolt against it, so they kill him. He dies for the cause of Christ. And first and second Timothy are simply the letters that Paul is writing to Timothy, that Paul is instructing Timothy through these letters. And in these letters to Timothy, he's telling Timothy, Timothy, this is how you lead a church. Timothy, this is how you rebuke false teaching and how you handle false doctrine, and pastors and teachers that are ministering falsely. This is what you do. In these letters, he even reminds Timothy, hear me, Timothy, guard your conduct, be a good testimony, set a good example, Timothy. But even within his letters, he's encouraging Timothy, reminding him to fan the flame that's inside of him, reminding him from a young age he was being taught and groomed because the calling of God was upon his life, and we see the encouragement given to Timothy within the letters. And church, there's great calling on his life, there's great purpose on his life, there's great mission on the life of Timothy. Hear me. There's great calling on his life, great purpose in his life. There's a mission for the life of Timothy. There is something special, a gifting within this young man's life. And because there is all of that, hear me today, and this is where we're going. Because there is all of that, I submit to you calling, purpose, mission, gifting, calling, purpose, mission, gifting, anointing, empowerment. Timothy, it's all inside of you. But what does Paul do? He directs him to the scriptures. Gifted young man, but go to the scriptures. Calling on your life, but Timothy, go to the scriptures. There's purpose in your life, but Timothy, go to the scriptures. There's anointing in your life, Timothy, but Timothy, go to the scriptures. Remember the scriptures. They've been taught to you at a young age. Verse 14, 15, and 16, and 17. Read it for yourself. You've been taught these. Don't let go of them. Don't forget about them. Remind yourself about them. Timothy, you speak well, you need the scriptures. Timothy, you lead well, you need the scriptures. Timothy, you can do great things, but you need the scriptures. Timothy, don't forget the scriptures, the word of God. He directs them to the scriptures. Why? Why? Yes, to be complete and thoroughly equipped. That's the need of Timothy. But I submit to you that there's something going on with Paul as well. And there's a key word that I'm gonna throw out to you for the rest of this sermon for the next 20 minutes. Because there's something else going on with Paul here that we can miss. Go to the scriptures, Timothy. Timothy, you need the scriptures. Timothy, don't forget about the scriptures. Timothy, that was a great sermon. You need the scriptures. Timothy, you did a great job praying, you need the scriptures. Timothy, you're setting a great example, you need the scriptures. Hear me. We're seeing the heart of Paul or an insight to the life of Paul. I submit to you, and it's this. It's not on the board, hear me. Paul has an expectation regarding the scriptures. And it's a key word, and we're gonna build on it. He has an expectation. Paul has an expectation regarding the scriptures. Big word, fun to say. Say it with me. Say expectation on the count of three. One, two, three. Expectation. He has an expectation? Paul has an expectation regarding the scriptures? Hear me. That Paul sees the scriptures and he's like, oh. That's some good stuff right there. He has an expectation. He sees the word, he has an expectation. He knows the scriptures, he has an expectation, expectation. One more time in the count of three, say it. One, two, three. Expectation. Tell your neighbor real quick. Tell your neighbor, expectation. Just tell your neighbor. Expectation. Expectation. Find another neighbor, the one you don't like. You, expectation, expectation. Expectation. Some of y'all did it. That's what's always funny about it. Expectation. Paul has an expectation. Hear me. Paul doesn't believe the scriptures are weak. Paul doesn't believe the scriptures are irrelevant. Paul doesn't believe that the scriptures are outdated. Paul doesn't believe that the scriptures are pointless. Paul is confident and he expects the scriptures to impact the life of Timothy. Paul is confident. He is pointing him to the scriptures because he is confident and he has the highest expectation that Timothy, these scriptures are going to impact your life. You need them, Timothy. He has an expectation. Why? Because Paul sees that there is great purpose in the life of Timothy. And hear me, put it on the board. When there is great purpose, the scriptures are not optional, they are mandatory. Man of God, you have a calling, the scriptures are not optional, they're mandatory. Women of God, you want to do great things for God, the scriptures are not optional, they're mandatory. You want to let's go, this is go more simple. You want to be a great husband, the scriptures are not optional, they are mandatory. You want to be a good wife, the scriptures are not optional, they are mandatory. You want to be a good son, daughter, brother, sister, employee. No matter what you're venturing in life to become great at, the scriptures should not be optional, they should be mandatory. And Paul has a confidence in the scriptures. He sees the scriptures and he says, Timothy, I am fully confident that there are scriptures, that these scriptures are gonna do a great work in your life. So Timothy, hear me. Ready? No matter what's going on, Timothy, search the scriptures. No matter what's taking place in your life, Timothy, don't abandon the scriptures. No matter the season, this is for us, hear me. No matter the season you're in, don't forget what God has said in his words. Timothy, no matter what you're battling, don't forget you need the scriptures. Because no matter the time, no matter the time, the scriptures are going to complete you and thoroughly equip you. Hear me. Paul does not think it'll happen. He does not think completion, equipping. I think it could happen. No, Paul expects it to happen. Read these words, they will complete you and thoroughly equip you. I expect it to happen. Say expect. I expect it to happen. Read the scriptures, Timothy, and you'll see completion and equipping in your life. You think so, Paul? I don't think so. I know so. That's gonna happen when you sincerely read the scriptures. Think on this statement with me. Put it on the board. We should have an expectation when reading the Bible. We should have an expectation when reading the Bible. Expectation when reading scripture. I don't think it's something we think about too often. Like to expect something when I read the Bible. Sometimes I go out of it because out of guilt I haven't read it in forever. Or I go out of it because I can use a little pick-me-up, or I go at it just because there's nothing else to do, or I haven't read in a while, but I need to get back. No, but but hear me, what I'm trying to tell you today is that every time you go to the Word of God, every time you go to the scriptures, there should be an expectation in your life. And hear me, there's nothing wrong with having an expectation. We should have an expectation. These are God's words. I should expect something to happen when God's words are being put into me. You come to church with an expectation, say amen to that. Why? Because it's not even man speaking, it is God speaking to us. There is an expectation that we should have. And I submit to you, hear me. We should not just have the expectation. I'll submit to you this. We need an expectation. We need to have an expectation. Let's have a little fun. I want to show you these three movies. And I'm gonna show them to you, but just kind of show you the poster to them. The first one, put on the board, is Indiana Jones. I submit to you like one of the greatest uh movie songs ever written. It was just awesome. Any Indiana Jones fans here? Indiana Jones people? Those are 80s kids, right? 90s kids, yes. Here's another one. This is one of my favorite movies. Put on the board. E.T. phone. Fun fact who remembers what candy E.T. liked in the movie? Say it, just say it out. Reese's pieces. You know, you you know that when they were getting ready to do the movie, that they actually went to the Mars Candy Company because they wanted to put MMs in the movie, not Reese's pieces. And when they went to the Mars company, they said, no, we don't want it, we don't want our product in your movie. So he said, okay, fine, we'll go somewhere else. So they went to the Reese's company, and Reese's piece, Reese said, yeah, we'll do it. And then after the movie came out, Reese's sales reached an all-time high they ever had in their company. Needless to say, somebody was probably fired from the MM's company. But, anyways, E.T. Love E.T. Uh, one more, put on the board. For all you dinosaur fans, Jurassic Park, the saga. It's not a trilogy anymore, it's a saga now. The Jurassic Park saga. Jurassic Park fans, raise your hand, you know what I mean? Shout out Triceratops, my favorite dinosaur. Triceratops. Uh, you know, all these movies, hear me real quick. Great movies, I think these movies are awesome. Three movies that I think many people consider incredible films. I don't know, I don't think many people push back on them. Good movies. Do you know these three movies all have one thing in common? There's one thing in common with all these three movies. The director. The director is a man by the name of Steven Spielberg. Directed all three films. And hear me, Steven Spielberg, big name in Hollywood. Big name. And he has a history of directing award-winning movies. Won two Academy Awards, the biggest award you can win in film for directing. He uh anytime, have you ever noticed that anytime you see a preview to a movie that Steven Spielberg is involved in, what will you see? Directed by Steven Spielberg, created by Steven Spielberg, written by Steven Spielberg. You're gonna know. If Steven Spielberg was involved, you're gonna hear about it. You're gonna know about it. Steven Spielberg had his hand in this movie. Advertise the movie, make sure Steven's involved in there. Question, why? Why? Why, if he's involved, we're gonna have to put his name on it. Why? Because there's an expectation for the films he's involved in. There's an expectation. Steven Spielberg was in it. Oh man, Steven Spielberg, I it begins to draw people. I said, you know what? The movie looks weird, but Steven Spielberg directed, I'm there. It lures the people in. It brings the people in. Hear me. The expectation excites people. Did you hear about the new Steven Spielberg movie? Did you hear about the new Steven movie? We gotta maybe check it out. It's probably gonna be pretty good. We gotta go see it. The Steven Spielberg movie. It excites people, it draws people, it'll even kind of set a standard. You haven't watched the Steve, the new movies directed by Steven Spielberg. What's wrong with you? You left out of the talk with people. I never seen that movie. You haven't seen this movie? Like you're you're left out. You gotta watch it. You have to watch it. It's a must-watch. What are you talking about? You gotta go see it. There's an expectation, and this expectation, again, does three things it draws people, it excites people, it sets a standard amongst the people. Now, let me say this to you one more time. We should have an expectation when reading the Bible. Why should we have this expectation when reading the Bible? I tell you today with a smile that I have a great expectation when I read the Bible because of who the author is. And the author is not Steven Spielberg, the author is not any famous director here on earth, the director is the creator of heaven and earth. Yahweh El Shaddai, the creator is the one, the the director is the sorry, the author is the one who can do anything, complete anything, fulfill anything. The author is the most powerful, the most amazing, and the one who saved you and me. Church, the author of the word of God is God Himself. And I have an expectation when I read this word. You know what kind of expectation I have? You know what kind of expectation I'm filled with? A great expectation, a high expectation. And this expectation put it on the board. It draws me in. I want to know more about it. I want to read more about him. I want to see more of him in scripture. I'm lured in by the words of God. That sounds good, but I want to hear a little more. That it sounds good, but I want to read a little more. I am drawn into the word of God. My spirit says, give me more, give me more, give me more. Taste and see that the Lord is good. It draws you in. Church, this scripture that was authored by God excites me. It makes me happy. I get excited when I read the word of God. There's some tough things in there, but you know what I learned? Every part of the word of God is good. It is great. It tastes sweet. It's a little tough sometimes, but it's for my good. It's for your good. I get excited to read James and John and Philippians. I get excited to read Genesis. Why? Because my God wrote this. And if my God wrote it, it's gonna be a good thing in the name of Jesus. This excitement, it helps to set a standard. What's the standard? I gotta read it, man. Just the way I gotta go see that film, I gotta read this thing. And if I sit amongst other Christians, not to pick on you, but I might look at you a little funny. You haven't read the Bible lately? I've been clowned on for not seeing certain movies. I've never seen Back to the Future. Ain't that crazy? I know. I say it to people like, you're an you're an 80s kid? Yeah, I've never seen it. But how many know, like I said earlier, we're all being matured still, right? God's still maturing all of us. And Manuel's had a few immature moments in his life. And it may have been once or twice I look back at those people and I said, Well, what was the last time you read the Bible? And I don't do it, I'll be honest. I have to ask God for forgiveness later because I'm being petty. But hear me. We shouldn't not think of avoiding the scriptures as something as normal. We should not think as avoiding the scriptures as something commonplace. Church, it should impact us, it should convict us because there should be a standard in our life to read his word and know him more. So I pray that you have an expectation in your hearts that will draw you, excite you, and set a standard for you in your life, in my life. And I submit to you, as we get ready to close, put on the board. I submit to this to you confidently that even the author wants you to have an expectation. Even God is like, My child, have an expectation when you read my words. Isaiah 55, 11, put on the board. This is God prophesying through. This is God speaking. Hear me. Rain and snow come from the sky. They do not go back again until they water the earth. They water it, sprout, and grow so that it produces seed for farmers and food for people to eat it. My word, God's word, my word, which comes from my mouth, is like the rain and snow. It will not come back to me without results. My word will accomplish whatever I want and achieve and whatever I send it to do. That's expectation. God said, expect it to happen, expect something. Uh 1 Thessalonians 2.13. Therefore, we never stop thanking God that when you received his message from us, you don't think of our words as mere human ideas. You accepted what we said as the very word of God, which of course it is. And hear me, this word, the word of God, continues to work in you who believe. Hallelujah. It continues to work in me. I read this word, I expect it to work inside of me. I take a vitamin, I expect that vitamin to help me. I take that prescription to get over the cold, I expect that medicine to help me. Church, when I read the word, I expect the word to do something inside of me. I have an expectation, and I tell you today, God wants us to believe that the power of his word will do something special inside of us. And you and I should expect something to happen when we read God's word. In fact, don't expect a small thing, don't expect a little thing, expect the great thing to happen when you read God's word. When you sincerely read God's word, what happens, Pastor? When you sincerely read God's word, it helps you, it builds you, it feeds you, it matures you, it strengthens you, it guides you, it leads you, it sharpens you. God's word will even offend you sometimes and rebuke you sometimes, but that's because God disciplines those he loves. So he may offend you and rebuke you, but you know what? He's gonna help enlighten you, he's gonna strengthen you, he's gonna give you new life, he's gonna make things come alive. When you read his word, wisdom grows, maturity grows, character grows. When you read his words, it helps produce the fruit of the spirit. When you read his words, truth gets put into your heart, and that truth you stand on every single day. No matter what's happening, I know the truth, and the truth has set me free. When I read his word, I'm expecting to save me and my family. When I read his word, I'm expecting to heal me. When I read his word, I'm gonna expect signs, miracles, and wonders to come to pass. When I read his word, something good's happening inside of me that I can't explain. Suddenly joy arises, hope arises, peace arises when I read his word. I'm gonna expect the presence of God to fill that room and maybe an office, and may it be in a closet, and maybe in my car, but wherever the word of God is spoken, I'm gonna expect his presence to take over. Thank you, Lord, for the word of God. An expectation. Have an expectation. Stop saying the word of God is just I think it can do something. No, I'm expect it to do something. That's why my children need it. I'm expected to change my kids. I'm expected to help my kids. That's why our schools need it. Because I'm expect it to change the school, the community. I expect the word of God to even change my environment. Put the scripture on your office wall, put it on your kitchen wall, put it everywhere you are, because wherever that word is, I expect something good to happen in the name of Jesus. But you know what? I really, I really expect I expect this word to change me. Why? Because this word is renewing this mind. In the end, my God, I expect it to change me, God. That's why I gotta have it, Lord. I need to have it. I I I expect it to do a lot of good things, God. But hear me, Lord, hear my prayer, God. I expect it also to chisel some things off my life. To put my feet to the fire a little bit, like the refiner's fire. God, I expect this word to, my pastor would say it like this, to whoop me around a little bit. But you know what? Something good's gonna come after the whooping in the name of Jesus. That's what I expect. Say expectation. God expected to change me for the better by renewing my mind. That is changing the way I think. Hear me. I don't, I don't, I don't think I expect these things to happen. I want these things to happen. In fact, I need these things to happen, God. Why? As we close, because because I want to be complete and thoroughly equipped. I need it in my life, God. Hear me? I may not be Timothy, but I have a calling and I have a purpose. You may not be Timothy, but you have a calling, and you have purpose. And you need to be complete and thoroughly equipped for the calling and the purpose. Pastor, I don't I don't preach behind a pulpit, no, but but you're you're a man who who's leading his home with two kids, a wife, and a dog. God bless the dog too, amen. And you know what? So you know what you need to lead your home? You need to be complete and thoroughly equipped. I'm just I'm just I'm a woman, I'm just even a housewife. I don't even worry, yeah. But you're raising little ones and and and trying to also be a wife who is submitting to her husband, God help you for that and lead you to do that. So you know what you need? You need to be complete and thoroughly equipped. I'm just a construction worker, a single guy. Yeah, but you know what? You're out there amongst people who need the light and who to need to know Christ. You're out there like that light, the city on a hill, you're the hands and feet of Jesus. You're out there, that's your mission field, that's where you're at right now to be a light, to reach people, to pray with people. So you know what you need? You need to be complete and thoroughly equipped. And scriptures will help you and prepare you and get you ready. That's why Timothy, do you see how it all ties together now? Timothy, that was a great sermon. You still need the scriptures, son. Timothy, thank the Lord. We prayed for her and she got healed. My son Timothy, we still need the scriptures, son. Church, thank God for the victories. Say amen to that. I'm gonna give my hand clap for the victories. Thank you, Lord, for the victories. Thank you, Lord. But even with the victories, I still need the scriptures. I close with this. The other day, I was uh the other day I was in a new age bookstore looking at some crystals and some things, and I uh came across this this book of spells and it caught my attention. I started reading it a little bit, and I wanted to actually share with you one of these spells here today that I read. And I got quiet real quick. My wife was like, Where were you? Yeah, some of y'all, I already I heard some of y'all, this sermon took a quick turn. It's just a journal. If there's nothing, it's just a journal. Funny. I just make a reference to I'm about to read something. And what didn't you know? There was a quick expectation over the crowd. He's gonna read that in the church. Does he not know what that's probably gonna do to us? Oh, you have an expectation when I read something evil? And you fail to have an expectation for something that is good? Some of you are ready to run out of here. And you are gonna go home and take a shower and anoint your head and your whole house with oil. You were about to lay hands on every one of your kids and grandchildren and said, I rebuke every word that that pastor just read out of that book. Why? Because you had an expectation that this book of so-called spells was gonna have some kind of impact on your life, that you were willing to go home and do something about it. And I am telling you today that there is a better book than any witch could ever write, a better book than any sorcerer could ever write, a better book than any devil could write, and you need to have an expectation when you read this word, that you bathe in it, you saturate yourself in it. Stop! We are more scared of what is evil, and we are more scared of what is wrong instead of having more faith in what is true, true and right, and having more faith in what is correct, church. Yes, I bind and rebuke every evil spell that could ever come, but I also need to know the promises of God in my life, in my heart, everywhere I go. Because why? Because I have an expectation that something always good will happen when this word of God gets inside of me. Hallelujah to the Lamb of God. Give the Lord a hand clap, I am done. I love you. Say I love you, say it. Some of you are like, He got me, he got me. Admit it, admit it, he got me, he got me. I'll be honest with you, it's a sad thing because nowadays that's not that's not even weird to do something at churches nowadays, to be honest with you. There's things like that happening in churches now. So I don't even blame you for not being surprised. Like he's really gonna do it. But hear me. Isn't that funny, right? We can have such bad expectations. Get some good expectation in your life, man. Man, you you would drag your kids away from this if it was such a thing. Get away over here. Somebody ready to go pull your kids out of the classroom as soon as I said it. Get this into their life and into their hearts. I love you. I could have ended this sermon just by encouraging you. No, but I wanted to end it by challenging you. As much as you want to avoid the evil, dive into the good. In fact, have a bigger desire to dive into the good than to avoid the evil. Have a greater desire to know his word than to run away from this. Church, we need these scriptures. Why? To be complete and thoroughly equipped. Give the Lord a hand clap today. Every head bowed, every eye cloud.