WEBVTT 00:00:02.160 --> 00:00:05.120 Welcome to the Celebration Church Orlando podcast. 00:00:05.200 --> 00:00:06.879 Thank you so much for listening today. 00:00:07.040 --> 00:00:09.439 We hope it encourages you and inspires you. 00:00:09.679 --> 00:00:11.039 Here's today's message. 00:00:11.439 --> 00:00:16.160 Church, I gotta I gotta tell you, I am really, really excited about uh today's message. 00:00:16.239 --> 00:00:28.320 And I and I realize that I say that um all the time, but but this is one of those ones that it it really it's really marked me in the early stages of my faith and my hope and my belief is that it can serve as some inspiration for you as well. 00:00:28.399 --> 00:00:33.280 So if you have your Bibles, I want to invite you to join me in Exodus chapter three. 00:00:33.520 --> 00:00:36.399 We're gonna land in Exodus chapter three is where we're gonna spend some time. 00:00:36.560 --> 00:00:40.960 While you're turning there, I want to I just want to remind us of where we've kind of been so far this year. 00:00:41.039 --> 00:00:48.159 We've been up to this point talking about this idea of resetting some things, like this is a season where God wants to reset some things. 00:00:48.240 --> 00:00:52.159 And to reset simply means to set again, to set a fresh start, so to be. 00:01:11.760 --> 00:01:22.079 And what we believe is that in this season of prayer and fasting, it's how we posture ourselves and cleanse the palate, so to speak, so that we can recognize and see what God wants to do in and through us. 00:01:22.239 --> 00:01:22.959 That's our belief. 00:01:23.040 --> 00:01:34.400 And so I believe that as we continue to reset some things in regards to worship and fasting and praying, I also believe that it's the word that serves as the instruction manual that gives us hope during that season of reset. 00:01:34.719 --> 00:01:41.439 As you find yourself in Exodus chapter number three, I want to give you uh a real brief context as to what's happening up to this point. 00:01:41.599 --> 00:01:49.680 We all are probably familiar with some degree of Moses, and Moses is an incredible leader and man who followed God and did some incredible things on his behalf. 00:01:49.760 --> 00:01:57.840 And sometimes we highlight some of those powerful stories and and and such, but I think there's other moments where we can be lose sight of the fact that Moses is a man just like us. 00:01:58.000 --> 00:02:05.920 He's made mistakes just like us, and so there's this moment where Moses makes a mistake, he he kind of drifts off into obscurity and he goes off into the promised land. 00:02:06.239 --> 00:02:08.639 He's literally on the run for 40 years. 00:02:08.719 --> 00:02:13.919 He's kind of gotten comfortable with being out in the wilderness, so to speak, but God isn't done with him. 00:02:14.000 --> 00:02:23.120 In fact, God has an assignment for him that God wants to use him to go back to the very environment that he was running from in order for him to bring healing and restoration. 00:02:23.280 --> 00:02:29.280 Isn't it interesting how sometimes we try to escape some things, but that seems to be our mission field that God wants to send us back to? 00:02:29.439 --> 00:02:31.120 This is where Moses finds himself. 00:02:31.199 --> 00:02:45.360 And so as God approaches Moses in this powerful burning bush moment, there's a passage of scripture here that I think is so strong that can be so encouraging for us that if we can lean into it for us in this season, I think it can give us some inspiration. 00:02:45.520 --> 00:02:52.639 It says here at verse number six, as Moses is now being made aware that he is in the presence of God, that it says this at verse number six. 00:02:52.719 --> 00:02:54.719 It says, Then he continued, This is God. 00:02:55.039 --> 00:03:01.280 I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 00:03:01.520 --> 00:03:05.919 Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God. 00:03:06.400 --> 00:03:18.159 What we have here is Moses, who's who's very familiar with his history, with his background, with his hang-ups in life, and now God has stepped into his presence, so to speak, and Moses feels very uncomfortable, so he hides his face. 00:03:18.319 --> 00:03:22.719 It's after this passage that God then instructs Moses what he is called to do. 00:03:22.960 --> 00:03:29.280 Moses is thinking of the fact that he killed a man, he's thinking about some things in his life, he's thinking about his speech impediment, even. 00:03:29.439 --> 00:03:34.719 How can I go and speak on God's behalf when I have a stutter? 00:03:34.960 --> 00:03:40.800 Moses is thinking of everything that would disqualify him from being the right man for the job, but yet God chose him anyway. 00:03:40.879 --> 00:04:00.800 So skipping down to verse number 13 and looking at 13 and 14, after Moses kind of has this moment of trying to argue back and forth with God on why he's not the right person, verse 13, Moses then says to God, If I go to the Israelites and say to them, The God of your ancestors has sent me to you, and they ask me, What is his name? 00:04:01.039 --> 00:04:02.400 What should I tell them? 00:04:02.719 --> 00:04:06.080 And God replied to Moses, I am who I am. 00:04:06.319 --> 00:04:08.400 That's that's that's a phrase that's really powerful. 00:04:08.479 --> 00:04:10.159 It's something that we may see in scripture. 00:04:10.240 --> 00:04:19.040 What you will see that then transliterated too, is when we ever see the word Lord in all caps, that's that's ultimately saying Jehovah from that point forward. 00:04:19.199 --> 00:04:21.279 The most sacred name, it would be Yahweh. 00:04:21.360 --> 00:04:27.279 So that's God literally providing for the first time in scripture his personal name to his creation. 00:04:27.439 --> 00:04:29.439 In the same way that my first name is Keith. 00:04:29.519 --> 00:04:33.839 This is God's way of saying, if you want to know my name, my name is Yahweh. 00:04:33.920 --> 00:04:37.040 And what Yahweh means is I will be what you need me to be. 00:04:37.199 --> 00:04:39.600 I am who I am, I will do what you need me to do. 00:04:39.680 --> 00:04:42.639 In fact, what's connected to God's name is what he does. 00:04:42.800 --> 00:04:46.000 He says, if you need me to be your healer, then I will be your healer. 00:04:46.160 --> 00:04:48.720 If you need me to be your deliverer, then I will be your deliverer. 00:04:48.800 --> 00:04:51.759 That the name of God itself contains exactly what you need. 00:04:51.920 --> 00:04:53.680 He says, I am who I am. 00:04:53.920 --> 00:04:55.759 Yahweh is who I am. 00:04:56.079 --> 00:05:00.160 Tell them that I am has sent me to you. 00:05:00.639 --> 00:05:03.839 From there, he continues on looking at verse number 15. 00:05:03.920 --> 00:05:09.439 And what he says is, let them know that I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob. 00:05:09.600 --> 00:05:15.920 That is who I am, that is who is being sent to bring deliverance to God's people. 00:05:16.560 --> 00:05:22.879 God introduces himself as I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob. 00:05:23.040 --> 00:05:24.480 That is who I am. 00:05:24.800 --> 00:05:27.360 And I believe that are some things that God wants to speak to us today. 00:05:27.439 --> 00:05:31.839 If you're taking notes, and I pray that you are, because we're about to get into some things here today. 00:05:32.000 --> 00:05:36.079 I want you to write this message title down, God's credit score. 00:05:36.879 --> 00:05:38.240 God's credit score. 00:05:38.480 --> 00:05:41.839 Let's evaluate what God's credit score is as a family right now. 00:05:42.160 --> 00:05:43.120 Father, we thank you. 00:05:43.279 --> 00:05:48.399 We thank you for moments where we can gather in your name, Lord, and have community in such a time as this. 00:05:48.560 --> 00:05:57.040 So, Father, I just pray over the next few moments that you give us open eyes to see you, open ears to hear you, and open hearts to receive everything that you have for us. 00:05:57.199 --> 00:06:01.680 It's in Jesus' name that we pray with expectation that you're gonna speak to us today. 00:06:02.000 --> 00:06:02.639 Amen. 00:06:03.600 --> 00:06:04.240 Amen. 00:06:04.800 --> 00:06:07.360 I'm in a I'm in a very interesting season. 00:06:07.519 --> 00:06:17.519 Now that I'm kind of like in my mid-40s, I'm recognizing that I want to be a lot more um retrospective about the way that I interact with with people in my family. 00:06:17.680 --> 00:06:21.199 You know, because life is life is filled with with so many lessons. 00:06:21.279 --> 00:06:27.759 There's all these moments and opportunities of nuggets of wisdom to be transferred, specifically, I think about to the people that I mentor. 00:06:27.920 --> 00:06:37.519 I think about moments when I'm I'm preaching to our community, or and even when I'm spending time with my family, I'm making sure that I don't want to miss an opportunity to teach my family or somebody something. 00:06:37.600 --> 00:06:39.519 I'm not missing an opportunity to even learn something. 00:06:39.600 --> 00:06:48.399 So life is filled with opportunities for us to learn and to grow, but there's a tension that we have to manage, and I've learned this more and more spending time with my family. 00:06:48.480 --> 00:07:00.639 The tension that we often have to manage is making sure that whatever that principle, whatever that object lesson is that we're trying to, whatever it's trying to transfer to someone, that it doesn't get into that space of I told you so. 00:07:00.879 --> 00:07:07.600 Because we know the difference between the I told you so person versus the person who wants to share wisdom through experience. 00:07:07.839 --> 00:07:19.759 So for me, with my children specifically, I I do my best that whenever we're having conversations, to be the person that's one that's sharing wisdom that can help them move forward, not sharing the I told you so to keep them from moving forward. 00:07:20.000 --> 00:07:22.879 Here's the biggest distinction between the two, if case you were wondering. 00:07:23.040 --> 00:07:26.000 The I told you so person, they're exalting what they know. 00:07:26.319 --> 00:07:27.360 I told you so. 00:07:27.439 --> 00:07:29.839 You should have listened to me, I know everything. 00:07:30.240 --> 00:07:31.600 Make an altar to me. 00:07:31.920 --> 00:07:36.959 But wisdom to move people forward is we're learning from this experience, so how do we move forward from it? 00:07:37.120 --> 00:07:44.720 And it's easy to slip into the I told you so person, as my son so brilliantly said to me just yesterday when I told him, like, hey man, make sure you do the dishes. 00:07:44.800 --> 00:07:46.240 And he's like, Oh, I didn't get a chance to get to it. 00:07:46.319 --> 00:07:48.399 I thought I told you, he's like, but I thought you're not a I told you so person. 00:07:48.480 --> 00:07:49.600 I said, shut up and go to your room. 00:07:49.839 --> 00:07:58.480 It's just it's just an example how quickly we can slip into it, but we have a responsibility of trying to move people forward with the wisdom and experiences that God has given us. 00:07:58.720 --> 00:08:08.720 That being said, my conversations with my family lately have been centered around finances and managing and stewarding credit and all those things that are so important in order to help us to move forward. 00:08:08.800 --> 00:08:19.519 I really take a lot of pride in trying to prepare my children for those moments because I remember when I was younger, when I was their age, when I was just graduating from high school, all the letters that I would get in the mail. 00:08:19.680 --> 00:08:26.240 And you know that there's nothing that will inflate a teenager's ego than a letter that they get in the mail that says that you are pre-approved. 00:08:26.399 --> 00:08:31.439 So I remember filling out these applications when I was much younger and I was getting credit cards left and right. 00:08:31.600 --> 00:08:36.320 Had no idea about the implications of it, but every time I went out with my friends, swipe it. 00:08:36.399 --> 00:08:36.799 Let's go. 00:08:36.960 --> 00:08:38.879 I remember I went to Sears and Roebuck. 00:08:38.960 --> 00:08:39.360 Come on, somebody. 00:08:39.440 --> 00:08:41.360 Anybody remember back when we used to go to stores in person? 00:08:41.440 --> 00:08:49.039 I went to Sears and Roebuck and actually bought some rims and got my windows tinted for$728. 00:08:50.000 --> 00:08:51.360 That was my vibe back then. 00:08:51.440 --> 00:08:56.960 I had I put some I put some rims on, I put some spinners on my Hyundai scoop. 00:08:57.919 --> 00:08:59.440 You couldn't tell me nothing. 00:08:59.679 --> 00:09:02.480 Windows tinted, man, I was lean back, it was a good vibe. 00:09:02.639 --> 00:09:11.440 I remember swiping it, and life was going good, and then after I couldn't keep up with the payments, I recognized that what should have been$700, I ended up paying double with interest. 00:09:11.600 --> 00:09:25.840 So what ends up happening is you get stretched so thin because of debt and you can't carry it all that that things begin to slip between the cracks, and now you're at a place where now what you've done in the past is hurting you in the present and keeping you from moving into the future. 00:09:26.159 --> 00:09:30.399 I still remember very vividly that moment when I went to go and try to purchase a town home. 00:09:30.480 --> 00:09:32.320 Megan and I were kind of fresh in our relationship. 00:09:32.399 --> 00:09:33.919 We're like, hey, let's go get a townhouse. 00:09:34.000 --> 00:09:36.639 We're looking at getting an apartment, but we like, let's let's look into it. 00:09:36.799 --> 00:09:46.399 But I remember that moment when we put in the application, me not having any concept of how credit worked and the impact that it has on you, and it came back and they said, Hey, um, Megan, you're you're good. 00:09:46.559 --> 00:09:48.799 She was more responsible than me, no surprise there. 00:09:48.960 --> 00:09:50.240 But they said, But for you, Mr. 00:09:50.320 --> 00:09:55.200 Pittman, we we need to do some work to get your score up to a point where you can be approved. 00:09:55.759 --> 00:09:59.279 Man, that was their nice way of saying that I was disqualified. 00:09:59.600 --> 00:10:08.159 That that was the first time that it became real to me that that somehow something that I did in my past was preventing me from moving into the future. 00:10:08.639 --> 00:10:14.559 It was the first time that I considered that there's these moments where you can make mistakes, that they can follow you everywhere. 00:10:14.639 --> 00:10:15.919 So you know what ends up happening? 00:10:16.080 --> 00:10:22.960 Once you get rejected, when you get your hopes up about something and it doesn't work out, it can cause you to stop wanting to move forward altogether. 00:10:23.360 --> 00:10:26.799 In fact, the fear of rejection can paralyze pursuit. 00:10:27.759 --> 00:10:30.159 I see y'all writing that down, so I'm gonna say that again. 00:10:30.559 --> 00:10:33.440 The fear of rejection can paralyze pursuit. 00:10:33.679 --> 00:10:37.120 Once you've been rejected so many times, you stop even pursuing it altogether. 00:10:37.200 --> 00:10:48.480 Once you've been told no so many times, you get tired of hearing no, so you put yourself in positions where you don't have to be vulnerable to be in that place, and then unfortunately, we can find ourselves standing still in environments that God wants us to move forward in. 00:10:48.639 --> 00:10:52.799 Once you're told no that you can't get a promotion, you stop even trying to excel to move forward. 00:10:52.879 --> 00:10:57.919 Once you're told no in pursuing a significant other, you get a little apprehensive about pursuing anyone else. 00:10:58.000 --> 00:11:02.240 It begins to mess with your confidence when you're told no enough times. 00:11:02.480 --> 00:11:08.879 And unfortunately, what I believe happens is that reality begins to work its way into our belief system as it relates to God. 00:11:09.039 --> 00:11:14.799 Because it's almost as if we believe that God is looking at our spiritual credit report, so to speak. 00:11:15.039 --> 00:11:24.799 And every time we come to environments like this and we tell you that, man, there's an opportunity for you to serve, to get involved in our church, there's a moment where you want to try it, but then you think about, man, but I know. 00:11:24.960 --> 00:11:44.559 I know what I did last summer, I know what mistakes I've made, and I'm concerned that the moment that I step out to say yes, I want to get involved in leading a group, the moment that you step out and say, Yes, I want to serve on a team, the moment that you step out to truly get invested in the house that's investing in you, you think that God is looking back at your spiritual credit report, so to speak, and He's like, Hey, you know what? 00:11:44.879 --> 00:11:49.120 I'm glad you submitted your application, but let me tell you why you're not qualified. 00:11:49.279 --> 00:11:51.759 I see here where you got a divorce, so you're not qualified. 00:11:51.919 --> 00:12:00.960 I see here where you've made some mistakes and so you're not qualified, and I see you where you've you've you've you've fallen short and you've even gotten an abortion, so you're definitely not qualified. 00:12:01.039 --> 00:12:09.440 We begin to translate that into our walk with God, and it makes us very apprehensive with moving forward, with anything that God could potentially be trying to do in our lives. 00:12:09.679 --> 00:12:22.159 But I feel like my responsibility here today is to free somebody up because the Bible declares that that sin was often described as being debt, that it would be weighed upon us, and that we never were able to quite pay the price. 00:12:22.399 --> 00:12:37.759 But the Bible that I read says, and in Colossians chapter number two, verse 14, it says that he erased the certificate of debt with its obligation that was against us and that opposed us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. 00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:51.440 Let me explain something to you that no matter what debt you may have felt is on your shoulder, no matter what mistakes you may have made, no matter what your struggles and setbacks are, I'm here to let you know that the blood of Jesus paid the debt in full. 00:12:51.600 --> 00:12:57.279 So that means that the enemy cannot place anything on your shoulders because God has already paid for it. 00:12:57.360 --> 00:12:59.919 If you really believed it, I think we'll be celebrating a little bit more. 00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:04.720 I'm trying to let you know that you don't have to do the work anymore because Jesus did the work for you. 00:13:04.879 --> 00:13:06.240 The debt has been paid. 00:13:06.399 --> 00:13:13.120 I'm not sure if I'm the only one, but I know that there have been moments where you got an overlap where I get a bill that I know has already been paid for. 00:13:13.279 --> 00:13:18.799 I get a little confused initially, but I'm thinking to myself, I thought that this was paid for, so why are they still sending me a bill? 00:13:18.879 --> 00:13:20.000 There must be a mistake here. 00:13:20.159 --> 00:13:22.559 I'm not gonna pay it because I know it's paid in full. 00:13:22.720 --> 00:13:28.720 What I believe happens sometimes is that the enemy shows up to try to bring shame and condemnation to the mistakes that we made. 00:13:28.799 --> 00:13:32.480 But if we can have that mentality, I know that Jesus already paid for this on the cross. 00:13:32.559 --> 00:13:33.279 I'm set free. 00:13:33.440 --> 00:13:39.919 The Bible says that when you're inside of Christ, that you are a new creation, that old things pass away, and behold, all things become new. 00:13:40.080 --> 00:13:44.720 So I'm not gonna pay the debt or something that Jesus has already paid in full. 00:13:44.960 --> 00:13:46.559 That is what's so important for us. 00:13:46.639 --> 00:13:49.279 But here's the tension that we all have to manage. 00:13:49.519 --> 00:14:04.000 The reality is that even though Jesus has paid the balance for all of us, we actually have to take it and transfer it and deposit it into our spiritual bank account so that it can be then transferred into the currency of faith where we actually begin to walk it out and believe it. 00:14:04.320 --> 00:14:24.240 See, God has given us a book that is filled with so many promises, but if we don't allow those promises to be deposited into our spiritual bank account, it's like a piece of paper that has value, but until you transfer it into a currency that you can actually use in transactions, it's not going to help you to move forward. 00:14:24.480 --> 00:14:33.279 You see, I remember many years ago when I got a settlement from a car accident, and it wasn't a whole significant amount of money, but for that time, it was something that we desperately needed. 00:14:33.360 --> 00:14:37.519 And I got the phone call from my attorney's office at 3.38 p.m. 00:14:37.840 --> 00:14:39.919 You guys can see that I'm very detailed oriented. 00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:40.960 My mind is like a cinema. 00:14:41.039 --> 00:14:42.159 I'm always capturing every moment. 00:14:42.320 --> 00:14:44.720 I got the phone call at 3.38 p.m. 00:14:44.960 --> 00:14:46.720 And when I got the phone call, the lawyer said, Mr. 00:14:46.799 --> 00:14:48.399 Pittman, you can come and collect your check. 00:14:48.480 --> 00:14:50.480 Everything has been everything has been situated. 00:14:50.720 --> 00:14:56.639 My response was to immediately get to the lawyer's office because I knew that the bank closed at 5. 00:14:56.799 --> 00:15:02.799 So this is going back before the days of online banking, the convenience of snapping the picture and having the money in your account, none of that. 00:15:02.879 --> 00:15:04.320 Back in my day, I sound like an old man. 00:15:04.399 --> 00:15:07.039 Back in my day, you had to actually walk inside of a bank and talk to people. 00:15:07.200 --> 00:15:14.960 So I knew that I needed to get to the I needed to get to the lawyer's office and then collect the check and then get to the bank to make the deposit. 00:15:15.120 --> 00:15:18.639 Because while I knew that the money was good, it was a promissory note. 00:15:18.720 --> 00:15:20.320 I knew the value was there. 00:15:20.399 --> 00:15:29.759 But until I took that piece of paper that had all the money that was written on it and deposited it into my account, I wasn't going to be able to handle the transactions that were in front of me. 00:15:29.919 --> 00:15:33.519 Until I deposited it into my account, I had a piece of paper that had value. 00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:37.600 But unfortunately, that piece of paper, I can't take that and make my mortgage payment. 00:15:37.679 --> 00:15:40.159 I can't take that piece of paper and pay the light bill. 00:15:40.240 --> 00:15:48.639 But if I can deposit it into my account and allow it to be transferred into a currency that allows me to now handle the transactions, that's how I can begin to move forward. 00:15:48.720 --> 00:15:59.120 And I'm concerned that there's times when we come to church that we look at the promises in God's word, and it's like a check that is filled with so much value and promises, but we never apply it to our lives. 00:15:59.200 --> 00:16:05.679 And so when we face transactions that require faith and belief, we're trying to pay for it in feelings, we're paying for it with fear. 00:16:05.840 --> 00:16:13.039 But God is saying, Can you take my word and actually deposit it into your spirit and allow it to be transferred into the currency of faith? 00:16:13.200 --> 00:16:23.200 Because then when you allow it to be transferred into the currency of faith, when a transaction shows itself to me that the enemy presents to me, I'm paying for it with faith and not by feelings. 00:16:23.840 --> 00:16:25.840 This is why God's word is so important. 00:16:25.919 --> 00:16:29.120 It's not a collection of thoughts and good ideas to make your life better. 00:16:29.200 --> 00:16:31.600 It's promises from God Himself. 00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:35.919 It's a reflection of God's mind, heart, his will, his desire for his people. 00:16:36.080 --> 00:16:38.960 He wants to let us know that we are a part of his story. 00:16:39.120 --> 00:16:50.000 We have a part to play, but we have to take those words, deposit it into our spirit, and do something with it so that way when we face obstacles, we're standing on God's word and nothing else. 00:16:50.240 --> 00:16:56.399 I remember from my mother, she she was a woman who was strong in her faith, and we had faced many situations and different moments. 00:16:56.480 --> 00:17:04.799 And when my biological father walked out of our life when I was four years old, I remember her trying to figure out a way to provide for my brother and I. 00:17:04.880 --> 00:17:08.720 I still remember moments where I would hear her sing the word of God. 00:17:08.880 --> 00:17:12.400 I still remember moments when I would hear her pray the word of God. 00:17:12.559 --> 00:17:21.920 I'm not sure if you've ever been around somebody who prays the word of God, but it's their way of saying the God that I serve, the God, the Bible that I read says God does not have favorites. 00:17:22.079 --> 00:17:23.599 We have favor, but he doesn't have favor. 00:17:23.839 --> 00:17:30.319 So what scripture tells us is the same God that did it for them, I need to deposit that and believe that he will do it for me. 00:17:30.480 --> 00:17:33.039 So I will see my mother pray prayers like this. 00:17:33.359 --> 00:17:35.759 Lord, I'm in the middle of a tight situation. 00:17:35.920 --> 00:17:44.880 The heat is all around me, similar to Shatrach, Meshach, and Abednego, but I believe that the same God that delivered them is the same God that is able to deliver me. 00:17:45.039 --> 00:17:53.279 I remember hearing my mom pray prayers like this Lord, my son is sick, but I'm reminded of what your word says with Lazarus that this sickness shall not end in death. 00:17:53.440 --> 00:18:01.200 So the same way that you raised up Lazarus is the same way that I'm believing you're gonna raise up my child because I know that if you did it for them, then you're gonna do it for me. 00:18:01.279 --> 00:18:09.039 This is an example of what it looks like when you're looking at what God's word says and you begin to pray it, you begin to sing it, you begin to stand on it, you begin to believe it. 00:18:09.119 --> 00:18:20.319 That's how you transfer this word from a promissory note into standing on the promises of God and knowing I'm gonna deposit this thing into my spirit and I will not move until I see the results that God is talking about. 00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:24.720 That's why our worship experience earlier was about us being sensitive to what God is doing. 00:18:24.799 --> 00:18:30.480 It's about us believing that if I can just get a hold of God, that the things I've been struggling with, I'm not gonna struggle with anymore. 00:18:30.640 --> 00:18:42.400 I'm not sure who I'm talking to, but it's time for us to stop looking at the word of God and leaving it on a shelf and revisiting it a week later, but actually start transferring it into our spirit and allowing it to make the currency of faith. 00:18:42.480 --> 00:18:47.039 So no matter what I face, I'm gonna begin to quote the word of God and not my feelings. 00:18:48.400 --> 00:18:56.880 We have, as a people of God, there are moments where I believe that we we stand on facts, we stand on logic, but we miss out on what God's word says. 00:18:57.119 --> 00:19:03.519 It's God's word that has the ability to radically transfer and transform our lives. 00:19:04.240 --> 00:19:09.920 See, for Moses, he's a man who is very familiar with his spiritual credit report. 00:19:10.160 --> 00:19:13.119 He's very familiar with what his struggles and brokenness is. 00:19:13.359 --> 00:19:26.559 And when God shows up and he says that I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, what he is ultimately communicating to Moses is that Moses, you can check my credit score. 00:19:26.880 --> 00:19:27.920 I am perfect. 00:19:28.160 --> 00:19:38.559 The same way that I fulfilled my promises with Abraham, the same way that I fulfilled my promises with Isaac, the same way I fulfilled my promises with Jacob is the same way that I will fulfill my promises with you. 00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:44.480 Back then, Moses didn't have the ability to have the word of God in the context that we do. 00:19:44.799 --> 00:19:48.559 Back then, you ever think about how they stayed inspired, how they stayed encouraged? 00:19:48.720 --> 00:19:55.920 They didn't have 66 books that they could look at, read books about, look at and listen to podcasts, come to church and listen to messages. 00:19:56.160 --> 00:20:04.799 The only way that they knew that God was active in their lives was listening to the stories and testimonies of what God did through their ancestors. 00:20:04.960 --> 00:20:07.359 And they began to deposit that into their spirits. 00:20:07.440 --> 00:20:11.839 And they said, if God did it for Abraham, then God will do it for me. 00:20:12.160 --> 00:20:14.880 If God did it for Isaac, then God will do it for me. 00:20:15.039 --> 00:20:17.759 If God did it for Jacob, then God will do it for me. 00:20:17.920 --> 00:20:25.599 It was about looking at God's credit history and recognizing that the same God that did it then is the same God that will do it now. 00:20:26.079 --> 00:20:27.839 That's the power of the God that we serve. 00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:35.200 It's the power of the Word of God as it reminds us of who God is and what He's ultimately called us to do. 00:20:35.680 --> 00:20:44.880 And looking at this passage, I believe that there's a couple of things that I want to accentuate that hopefully can be inspiration and encouragement for us as we prepare to conclude today. 00:20:45.119 --> 00:20:49.519 Here's the first thing I want you to write down God is a God of increase. 00:20:50.160 --> 00:20:56.400 See, when he says that I am the God of Abraham, he is communicating that I am the God of increase. 00:20:56.559 --> 00:20:58.160 Let me let me explain what that means. 00:20:58.319 --> 00:21:03.920 See, Abraham, when you're familiar with his story, Abraham was a man that was plucked essentially out of excurity. 00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:07.599 He he wasn't he didn't belong to a strong, spiritually vibrant family. 00:21:07.759 --> 00:21:11.759 In fact, his father began and believed in a very paganistic theology. 00:21:11.920 --> 00:21:26.240 So when God approaches Abraham in Genesis chapter 12, he selects him, he identifies him, he pulls him out of that and says, That I have a calling on your life, and my calling is for you to have such a legacy that generations are going to be blessed as a result of you. 00:21:26.720 --> 00:21:30.480 Understand for a moment that at the time Abraham had no children. 00:21:30.640 --> 00:21:34.960 He's getting up in age, he has absolutely nothing, but yet God chose him. 00:21:35.359 --> 00:21:40.400 And all Abraham had to do, he didn't have to work for it, he didn't have to strive for it. 00:21:40.559 --> 00:21:44.640 What he had to do was deposit it into his spirit and act on it. 00:21:44.799 --> 00:21:50.079 So what scripture says is that Abraham believed God and that was good enough. 00:21:50.480 --> 00:21:51.680 That that was good enough. 00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:59.759 Now, when we look at the life of Abraham, a man who had nothing, but God used him to literally allow the lineage of the Messiah to be birthed through him, it's an example. 00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:04.160 What it means when God adds value, when he adds increase to your life. 00:22:04.319 --> 00:22:09.279 In fact, Abraham's name means exalted father, father of nations. 00:22:09.440 --> 00:22:16.559 That means that even when Abraham didn't have anything, God spoke a promise over his word that he was going to add increase to his life. 00:22:16.640 --> 00:22:24.400 That means that as Abraham was getting older and he was feeling that he was getting past his reproductive period, that God said, But I'm still going to add increase to your life. 00:22:24.559 --> 00:22:32.799 So when the Bible says that I am the God of Abraham, what God is ultimately saying to us is I am the God that is able to take nothing and make something out of it. 00:22:32.880 --> 00:22:37.599 That I am the God that is able to look at your lack, but I'm still able to provide provision in spite of it. 00:22:37.759 --> 00:22:44.640 I am the God that if you can just believe me, I can reproduce something powerful inside of you because all I need is just a mustard seed of faith. 00:22:44.720 --> 00:22:50.000 When God says that I am the God of Abraham, I am a God that knows how to add and not take away from your life. 00:22:50.240 --> 00:22:53.359 The question becomes, what are the things that are lacking my life right now? 00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:58.880 Because maybe the message for you right now is to be encouraged and knowing that you serve the God of Abraham. 00:22:59.039 --> 00:23:03.519 That means that you serve the God that knows how to take nothing and make something out of it. 00:23:03.599 --> 00:23:06.720 You serve the God that knows how to take a little and make a mountain out of it. 00:23:06.799 --> 00:23:12.880 You serve the God that knows how to give you more than enough, the God who knows how to give you exceedingly abundantly all that you may ask or think. 00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:27.920 God wants to bring increase to your life, but we got to deposit it into our spirit and metabolize faith so that when the enemy shows up and presents a transaction that says you're not good enough or you don't have enough to move forward, you can say, No, I serve the God of Abraham, which means I serve the God of increase. 00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:37.599 So that means I'm gonna pay for this transaction by stating the same God that did it for Abraham, the same God that chose him, and only my responsibility is to believe it that God's gonna move me forward. 00:23:37.759 --> 00:23:38.880 That's the God that I serve. 00:23:39.039 --> 00:23:43.279 We got to start paying for transactions with the finished work of God instead of our feelings. 00:23:45.599 --> 00:23:48.960 I am the God of Abraham, I am the God that brings increase. 00:23:49.039 --> 00:23:55.440 But then Abraham, who struggled with having his own son, eventually does have a son, and his name is Isaac. 00:23:55.920 --> 00:23:58.640 See, Isaac, that name means joy. 00:23:58.880 --> 00:24:07.519 The second thing I want you to write down is that God is a God of joy, he knows how to bring joy in every situation, no matter what you may find yourself facing. 00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:14.160 See, Abraham, when he he got to the end of himself and God finally gave him his promised son, Isaac was born. 00:24:14.400 --> 00:24:16.400 But Isaac's life wasn't easy. 00:24:16.559 --> 00:24:18.640 It was promised, but it wasn't easy. 00:24:18.880 --> 00:24:28.160 What we know about Isaac is that because Abraham at one point got a little fearful and got away from God, have you ever been there where you're like, okay, I know what God's word says, but maybe God needs a little help. 00:24:28.240 --> 00:24:29.599 Let me do this in my own strength. 00:24:29.759 --> 00:24:30.480 That was Abraham. 00:24:30.559 --> 00:24:36.480 So maybe you're familiar with the story where he steps outside of his marriage and has a child with another woman named Ishmael. 00:24:36.720 --> 00:24:40.799 But Ishmael wasn't the promise of God, that wasn't the way that God had intended it to work. 00:24:40.960 --> 00:24:48.559 So now, as a result of Abraham trying to fulfill the promises of God without God, now he has something that was birthed out of his own strength. 00:24:48.640 --> 00:24:51.839 And so that thing rose up, and his name was Ishmael. 00:24:52.079 --> 00:24:57.440 So when Isaac was finally born, Ishmael had issues with Isaac. 00:24:57.680 --> 00:25:03.759 Ishmael felt some type of way because he's like, technically, I'm the firstborn, so I should be the favorite, but I'm not the promised child. 00:25:03.839 --> 00:25:06.480 I'm in fact, I'm the result of doing things on my own terms. 00:25:06.559 --> 00:25:07.440 So you know what happened? 00:25:07.680 --> 00:25:10.480 Ishmael began to bully Isaac. 00:25:10.720 --> 00:25:13.279 See, there's there's so much in the scriptures if you look at it. 00:25:13.440 --> 00:25:21.359 Ishmael begins to bully Isaac, and so Isaac, whose name means joy, is being bullied by something that was birthed out of doing things outside of the will of God. 00:25:21.440 --> 00:25:34.240 I'm not sure if you ever found yourself being bullied by things that you felt like you've done outside of the will of God, that maybe you're trying your best to pursue the things of God, but it seems as if some things from the past seem to be bullying, mocking it. 00:25:34.400 --> 00:25:38.160 There's even another moment where in Isaac's life where we had another scenario to deal with. 00:25:38.319 --> 00:25:47.119 The scripture tells us about how God began to test Abraham at one moment and tell and tell him to take Isaac to the mountain and offer him as a sacrifice. 00:25:47.599 --> 00:25:55.200 Time doesn't permit me to get into all the symbolism of it, but ultimately the principle was, Abraham, are you willing to give me back the promise? 00:25:55.440 --> 00:26:00.480 Because we certainly know what it feels like to pursue the things that God can do for us more than we're pursuing God. 00:26:00.720 --> 00:26:10.160 So the object lesson that God was trying to make sure that he created for Abraham and Sarah is that now that the promise has been fulfilled, don't make an altar to it, you take it to the altar. 00:26:10.559 --> 00:26:12.079 So now here we are. 00:26:12.240 --> 00:26:17.279 We find that Abraham has to now take the promise that God gave him and sacrifice it. 00:26:17.599 --> 00:26:20.319 Joy seems as if at times it can be sacrificed. 00:26:20.559 --> 00:26:21.920 So let's look at the life of Isaac. 00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:25.279 He's being made fun of by his brother. 00:26:25.440 --> 00:26:30.000 He's now being offered at the altar, but nonetheless, he was able to survive it. 00:26:30.079 --> 00:26:31.440 Here's what that ultimately means. 00:26:31.599 --> 00:26:38.240 When he says that I am the God of Isaac, he's saying that I am the God that is able to give you joy, even if you are being mocked. 00:26:38.400 --> 00:26:41.839 I am the God that can bring you joy even if you have to sacrifice some things. 00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:50.000 That means that even if you find yourself in a place that should be taking joy away from you, that I am the God that is able to give you joy no matter what you are facing. 00:26:50.160 --> 00:26:54.799 So some of us are facing some situations right now, and it seems as if there's a deficit of joy. 00:26:54.960 --> 00:27:01.519 This is why one of my favorite narratives inside of the Gospels is when Jesus turns water into wine, one of his first miracles. 00:27:01.680 --> 00:27:06.880 One of the things that we know about wine is that there's moments where it symbolically represents joy. 00:27:07.039 --> 00:27:12.319 So imagine the moment when Mary says to her son, Jesus, they ran out of wine. 00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:16.079 Or we can transliterate it to say, Jesus, they ran out of joy. 00:27:16.240 --> 00:27:20.400 And I think that sometimes we show up at church and we're saying, Lord, I am out of joy. 00:27:20.559 --> 00:27:22.559 Lord, I don't have any more joy in my marriage. 00:27:22.720 --> 00:27:24.559 I don't have any more joy in my home. 00:27:24.720 --> 00:27:26.240 I don't have any joy with my kids. 00:27:26.400 --> 00:27:27.599 I don't have any more joy. 00:27:27.680 --> 00:27:33.519 But when he says that I am the God of Isaac, I am the God that gives joy, that means that the joy of the Lord is your strength. 00:27:33.599 --> 00:27:39.200 In the same way that Jesus was able to turn water into wine, he could turn your situation into joy. 00:27:39.359 --> 00:27:44.799 But it's all about taking the promises of God and depositing it and making it into the currency of faith. 00:27:44.880 --> 00:27:50.559 So even when you're facing situations that should be taken joy, you're saying, No, I have joy because I have Jesus. 00:27:50.640 --> 00:27:52.880 And if I have Jesus, then I have more than enough. 00:27:53.039 --> 00:27:57.680 I have the joy that I need because I serve the God that knows how to give me joy. 00:27:58.319 --> 00:28:05.200 We pray and ask God to give us joy in the areas where it seems as if the enemies tried to take it. 00:28:05.359 --> 00:28:10.000 He's the God of Abraham, he's the God of Isaac, but he's also the God of Jacob. 00:28:10.880 --> 00:28:13.119 See, Isaac has two sons. 00:28:14.240 --> 00:28:19.920 And his two sons are birthed, they're twins, and they have a responsibility to carry on the legacy. 00:28:20.000 --> 00:28:21.759 But Esau was born first. 00:28:21.920 --> 00:28:25.279 Esau was supposed to be the promised child, so to speak. 00:28:25.759 --> 00:28:32.559 But Jacob, his younger brother, he tricks him, he deceives him, and he steals the birthright. 00:28:33.599 --> 00:28:40.319 In addition to that, Esau also convinces and tricks his dad that he is Esau. 00:28:40.559 --> 00:28:45.519 Isaac does, I mean um Jacob does, and he steals the promised blessing from him. 00:28:45.839 --> 00:28:56.799 So now we have a man named Jacob who is deceitful, who's a thief, who's who's connived his brother, who's connived his father, and now who's on the run for his life. 00:28:57.440 --> 00:29:05.039 So it seems to me that of all the characters in the Bible, why would God say, I'm the guide of this guy? 00:29:05.359 --> 00:29:07.119 Why would God choose him? 00:29:07.440 --> 00:29:09.039 But now let's take it a step further. 00:29:09.200 --> 00:29:13.839 There is a moment where where Jacob has this encounter with God. 00:29:14.000 --> 00:29:17.759 And when he has this encounter with God, the Bible says that that God changed his name. 00:29:17.839 --> 00:29:21.279 Maybe you're familiar with that story of Jacob wrestling with God. 00:29:21.440 --> 00:29:23.039 That's that moment where he wrestles with God. 00:29:23.200 --> 00:29:25.359 He's wrestling with call and he can't run any further. 00:29:25.599 --> 00:29:27.279 Because sometimes you gotta wrestle through some things. 00:29:27.359 --> 00:29:34.640 Some of us have been wrestling and running from God, but now we're at a point where I've been wrestling for long enough, and now God has finally got me in a position of submission. 00:29:34.880 --> 00:29:39.119 So scripture says that that God literally dislocates his hip. 00:29:39.359 --> 00:29:43.519 I'm telling you, man, who knew that God was into UCF, UFC? 00:29:43.599 --> 00:29:43.920 That's it. 00:29:44.000 --> 00:29:45.119 You can tell I watch it. 00:29:45.839 --> 00:29:51.119 God puts him in a submissive position and dislocates his hip. 00:29:51.599 --> 00:29:53.039 Why would God dislocate his hip? 00:29:53.119 --> 00:29:55.359 Man, I wish I had another 30 minutes to preach this thing. 00:29:55.599 --> 00:29:57.119 He dislocated his hip. 00:29:57.279 --> 00:30:01.359 Because when your hip gets dislocated, it changes the way that you walk. 00:30:01.680 --> 00:30:08.799 So that means that there are times when you have an encounter with God that he may dislocate some things in your life, but it'll change the way that you walk around some things. 00:30:08.880 --> 00:30:12.960 There's times when you have an encounter with God where you begin to walk differently around your marriage. 00:30:13.039 --> 00:30:16.240 You walk differently around your workplace, you walk differently around your family. 00:30:16.319 --> 00:30:18.640 So maybe you're wrestling with some things with God right now. 00:30:18.799 --> 00:30:20.240 Go ahead and go ahead and submit. 00:30:20.319 --> 00:30:24.559 Because maybe God wants to change the way that you walk around that situation, but you gotta be willing to submit. 00:30:24.640 --> 00:30:26.000 But I digress, let's keep it moving. 00:30:26.160 --> 00:30:30.079 So what we find here is that now Jacob is at this place where he wrestles with God. 00:30:30.160 --> 00:30:35.759 God dislocates his hip and then he says, I'm going to change your name to Israel. 00:30:36.400 --> 00:30:40.640 Yes, that Israel that we often hear us talk about in scripture, the 12 tribes of Israel. 00:30:40.720 --> 00:30:47.839 He has 12 sons, and through those sons, that's the lineage of faith and legacy that was promised all the way back with Abraham. 00:30:48.319 --> 00:30:50.079 What a fulfillment of scripture. 00:30:50.160 --> 00:31:07.279 But but you would think that whenever we're referring to God, you would think that we would say that he's the God of Abraham, God of increase, the God of Jacob, the God who brings joy no matter what situation you find yourself in, and the God of Israel, because Israel means the champion of God. 00:31:07.680 --> 00:31:11.039 By all means, who wouldn't want to make sure that you lead with that name? 00:31:11.119 --> 00:31:12.079 I'm a champion. 00:31:12.640 --> 00:31:16.000 But no, he says, I am the God of Jacob. 00:31:17.200 --> 00:31:19.279 Why would God choose that name? 00:31:19.680 --> 00:31:24.720 Why would God lean on that name instead of the change name that seems to be so much better? 00:31:25.200 --> 00:31:29.839 I think it's because God knew that he was talking to some people that needed to understand some things. 00:31:30.160 --> 00:31:40.400 That even in spite of the fact that Jacob had stolen from his brother, that he had deceived his father, that he had done some some real grimy things in his life, that he is the God of redemption. 00:31:40.720 --> 00:31:42.960 That he is the God of a second chance. 00:31:43.119 --> 00:31:45.039 He is a God of restoration. 00:31:45.279 --> 00:31:54.480 So when we see in scripture where it says the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, that means that he is a God that knows how to redeem and restore. 00:31:54.640 --> 00:31:59.839 And we don't want to get away from that because there's some things in our lives that we face that we need restoration. 00:32:00.000 --> 00:32:03.359 There's some things that we find ourselves encountering that we need redemption in. 00:32:03.440 --> 00:32:11.200 I've even seen instances where it seems as if there's some relationships that are broken, but also connected to that name is he's the God of reconciliation. 00:32:11.279 --> 00:32:17.119 So I'm here to encourage somebody right now that maybe you're sitting here and you're thinking of the things that are broken in your life. 00:32:17.279 --> 00:32:22.400 You're thinking of the mistakes that you've made in your life, or you're thinking of the things that seem to be beyond repair. 00:32:22.559 --> 00:32:28.640 But let me know, let me let you know that you serve the God of Jacob, which means you serve the God of a second chance. 00:32:28.799 --> 00:32:30.400 You serve the God of restoration. 00:32:30.559 --> 00:32:32.480 You serve the God of reconciliation. 00:32:32.640 --> 00:32:37.359 You serve the God who knows how to take the things that are broken, but put them right back into their place. 00:32:37.519 --> 00:32:45.839 Be encouraged right now, my friends, that maybe right now you have a fractured relationship, but you serve the God of Jacob, which means you serve the God of reconciliation. 00:32:46.000 --> 00:32:54.000 Maybe you got some things in your past and you believe it's preventing you from moving into the future, but you serve the God of redemption because Jesus has already paid the price. 00:32:54.160 --> 00:32:57.039 There's no condemnation, there's no guilt, there's no shame. 00:32:57.200 --> 00:33:02.480 The price has already been paid because you serve the God of redemption, the God of Jacob. 00:33:03.119 --> 00:33:04.720 This is the thing that inspires us. 00:33:04.799 --> 00:33:08.640 This is the thing that we do when we come to church and we gather together as a community. 00:33:08.799 --> 00:33:16.240 We're reminded that the God that we serve is a God who is able to give second chances and redemption and restoration. 00:33:17.039 --> 00:33:24.400 I want to close with this and invite the band to come back to join me as we prepare to go back into a time of worship together. 00:33:25.039 --> 00:33:29.039 I want you to know that God's credit score is perfect. 00:33:29.839 --> 00:33:36.240 That if you were to look at the history of the people that God has encountered, it's perfect. 00:33:39.039 --> 00:33:47.519 So if you're wondering what's on God's credit report, perfectionist, here's a couple of passages I want you to write down to encourage yourself. 00:33:47.920 --> 00:33:49.839 Jeremiah 1, 12. 00:33:50.160 --> 00:33:51.599 The Lord has said it to me. 00:33:58.559 --> 00:34:00.640 Isaiah 55, 11. 00:34:00.880 --> 00:34:08.320 So my word that comes out of my mouth will not turn to me empty, but it will accomplish what I pleased for it to prosper and what I sent it to do. 00:34:08.559 --> 00:34:11.679 Another translation says that his word does not come back to him void. 00:34:11.920 --> 00:34:12.880 You know what void means? 00:34:12.960 --> 00:34:14.480 It's like a bounce check. 00:34:14.800 --> 00:34:18.639 But God's saying, my credit score is perfect. 00:34:18.880 --> 00:34:22.159 So if I set it, I'm going to accomplish it. 00:34:22.400 --> 00:34:26.079 I watch over it the same way that I look over my bank account. 00:34:26.159 --> 00:34:32.320 So I'm not sure every time I open up, I wake up in the morning, I pick up my iPhone, it tells me the app that I normally open up the quickest. 00:34:32.480 --> 00:34:33.519 It's typically my bank account. 00:34:33.599 --> 00:34:35.199 It should be the Bible app, but I'm working towards it. 00:34:35.280 --> 00:34:36.719 That's what the season of fasting and praying is. 00:34:36.800 --> 00:34:47.519 But it knows that I'm typically looking at my account because if anybody is about stewardship and managing your money, you want to make sure you keep an eye to know where the transactions are and make sure that anything's not happening to your account while you're asleep. 00:34:47.679 --> 00:34:56.719 Imagine the same tenacious way that you may evaluate your bank account is the same way that God is looking over his word to make sure it accomplishes exactly what he said it's going to do in your life. 00:34:57.039 --> 00:34:58.639 He's watching over it. 00:35:00.079 --> 00:35:11.119 2 Corinthians chapter 1, verse 20, it says, For every one of God's promises in him are yes, and therefore through him we say amen. 00:35:11.679 --> 00:35:15.920 That means that if God said it, he's going to do it. 00:35:16.559 --> 00:35:19.760 His promises are yes and amen. 00:35:20.639 --> 00:35:26.639 This is why we sing the songs that we sing, because we're we're reaffirming what God's word says. 00:35:26.960 --> 00:35:30.159 When we say amen, we're saying so be it. 00:35:30.320 --> 00:35:31.679