SPEAKER_02: Well, the sun is out, the barbecue grills are going.
SPEAKER_02: It is summertime, and that means it is summer at impact.
SPEAKER_02: A collection of messages that are designed to encourage you, to stir you up, and to get your faith focused on the fact that God's got an amazing future for you.
SPEAKER_02: So today's word is going to be tremendous because it's going to launch you into the next phase of what God is trying to do in your life.
SPEAKER_02: But before we get into the word today, let me remind you it is open enrollment at Impact Christian Academy, our pre-K through 12th grade school.
SPEAKER_02: It just might be the right fit for your beautiful child or your beautiful grandchild.
SPEAKER_02: For more information, go to iCAJAX.com and we'd love to see you be a part of this great community.
SPEAKER_02: Now let's dive into this rich word today.
SPEAKER_00: How's everybody doing this morning?
SPEAKER_00: You all kind of bear with me as I get situated up here.
SPEAKER_00: You know, Pastor Blue and asked a uh a great question this morning.
SPEAKER_00: He asked that question that Bishop, if you've been around here long enough, he comes out here and he says, Are you ready for the word?
SPEAKER_00: Okay, well, I'll give you all a do-over in just a moment.
SPEAKER_00: My name is Deb Jordan.
SPEAKER_00: I'm a part of this amazing ministerial team here at Impact.
SPEAKER_00: And have been here for a couple of decades.
SPEAKER_00: And, you know, I don't get to see you all or get up in front of you all, but I always count it an honor and a privilege to be able to be here.
SPEAKER_00: For those of you who came out to uh hear from our man of God, he's coming back.
SPEAKER_00: He's getting some much needed rest, but he'll be back.
SPEAKER_00: But the father is here today, right?
SPEAKER_00: So let's try this again.
SPEAKER_00: You know, I love uh I'm more of an athletic fan now that my youngest is in athletics.
SPEAKER_00: So one of the things that takes place in an arena, you know, when you hear certain music and uh they start telling you we're getting ready for the shirt toss.
SPEAKER_00: So what happens is those of us who are sitting in the bleachers and so forth, we get excited.
SPEAKER_00: Why?
SPEAKER_00: Because we want what?
SPEAKER_00: We want a shirt.
SPEAKER_00: Here at uh Impact Church, Dr.
SPEAKER_00: Gonzalez sometimes doing the magic conversation, she'll put things under the seat and she'll say, look under your seat.
SPEAKER_00: And I promise you, you are like sitting as quiet as you're doing now.
SPEAKER_00: You're tearing that seat up to look because there's something under the seat.
SPEAKER_00: In other words, you have an expectation of what she just told you to do.
SPEAKER_00: Same thing with the shirt toss.
SPEAKER_00: And for those of you who are in the room, and I can say this in church, who like to play the lottery.
SPEAKER_00: Come on now, this morning.
SPEAKER_00: When you get that scratch off, or from my understanding, I saw where there's another big uh jackpot, you're scratching off and you're looking intensely at that ticket.
SPEAKER_00: Why?
SPEAKER_00: Because you have an expectation.
SPEAKER_00: Come on, stay with me today.
SPEAKER_00: Well, what I'm getting ready to share with you is the word of God.
SPEAKER_00: You don't have to have the right number.
SPEAKER_00: You don't have to sit in the right seat.
SPEAKER_00: Come on now.
SPEAKER_00: All you have to do is position yourself.
SPEAKER_00: We have to position ourselves and say, Father, yes.
SPEAKER_00: Give us everything that you have for us today.
SPEAKER_00: So I'm gonna ask you one more time.
SPEAKER_00: Are you ready for the word this morning?
SPEAKER_00: Oh, that's more like it.
SPEAKER_00: That is more like it.
SPEAKER_00: Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus, I just pray today that the eyes of our understanding will be enlightened as we hear your word today.
SPEAKER_00: We thank you in advance for it.
SPEAKER_00: In Jesus' name, amen.
SPEAKER_00: Come on, let's get down to the Father's business.
SPEAKER_00: You came here for him today.
SPEAKER_00: And so today I want to talk to you about the missing link.
SPEAKER_00: If you have your Bibles, you'll be able to uh go to the scriptures.
SPEAKER_00: If you don't, you have your cell phone, you can look on our app, the Impact App, right?
SPEAKER_00: All of you have that.
SPEAKER_00: You can go to the app or just go to UVersion to follow along with me.
SPEAKER_00: Uh, I want to share with you, as I'm sharing with you about the word of God, I want you to hear it as this could possibly be the link that I'm missing in my life.
SPEAKER_00: Okay, so let's jump right into this in Luke chapter 8, verse 4.
SPEAKER_00: It says that Jesus is talking about the parable of the sore.
SPEAKER_00: People kept coming to Jesus from one town after another.
SPEAKER_00: And when a great crowd gathered, Jesus told this parable.
SPEAKER_00: Once there was a man who went out to sow grain, as he scattered the seed in the field, some of it fell along the path where it was stepped on, and the birds ate it up.
SPEAKER_00: Some of it fell on rocky ground, and when the plants sprouted, they dried up because the soil had no moisture.
SPEAKER_00: Some of the seed fell among thorn bushes, which grew up with the plants and choked them.
SPEAKER_00: And some seeds fell in good soil.
SPEAKER_00: The plants grew and bore grain, 100 grains each.
SPEAKER_00: And Jesus concluded by saying this statement listen then, if you have ears to hear.
SPEAKER_00: Jesus is saying this.
SPEAKER_00: If you look back in the Old Testament in Isaiah, around Isaiah chapter 6, God is letting him know that the children of Israel, even though they are God is speaking to them, they had turned and started doing their own thing.
SPEAKER_00: In other words, they no longer heard him.
SPEAKER_00: And the word also goes on this not only if you have ears to hear, but if you have eyes to see.
SPEAKER_00: And so what I want you to consider today is sometimes we are physically present, but our hearts are closed.
SPEAKER_00: We're unable to receive the truth of the word that's coming forth.
SPEAKER_00: In other words, we are hearing audibly, but are we listening?
SPEAKER_00: Because those are two different things.
SPEAKER_00: We can hear, but are we listening to what's being said?
SPEAKER_00: So Jesus goes further down in uh Luke 8, verse 11, and he explains this particular parable.
SPEAKER_00: And I want to pause because I don't want to just assume as I'm talking about this parable.
SPEAKER_00: You know, last week we had at the movie Rerhyme.
SPEAKER_00: And if you're around here, if that was your first experience, or you come to our at the movies, it's where uh Jesus, uh Bishop, will take a modern day story, but then he'll give you biblical principles out of it right here in the Word, because Jesus is what, our example.
SPEAKER_00: Let's look at how Jesus expounds on this.
SPEAKER_00: In verse 11, it says, This is what the parable means.
SPEAKER_00: The seed is the word of God.
SPEAKER_00: The seeds that fell along the path stand for those who hear, but the devil comes and takes the message away from their hearts in order to keep them from believing and being saved.
SPEAKER_00: The seeds that fell on rocky ground stand for those who hear the message and receive it gladly, but it does not sink deep into them.
SPEAKER_00: They believe only for a while, but when the time of testing comes, they fall away.
SPEAKER_00: The seeds that fell among thorn bushes stand for those who hear, but the worries and riches and pleasures of this life crowd in and choke them, and their fruit never ripens.
SPEAKER_00: The seed that fell in good ground stand for those who hear the message and retain it in a good and obedient heart, and they persist until they bear fruit.
SPEAKER_00: Now notice here the seed is the word.
SPEAKER_00: Jesus has said that.
SPEAKER_00: And I want you to think about a farmer.
SPEAKER_00: When that farmer goes out to plant the seeds, do you think that he just throws some seeds at one time without an expectation on a harvest coming back?
SPEAKER_00: So, in other words, I'm gonna toss some seeds over here, but I really don't think anything's gonna happen.
SPEAKER_00: In other words, I'm gonna waste this seed.
SPEAKER_00: I'll sprinkle some here because I'm expecting in this section, middle section, I'm gonna get a harvest here.
SPEAKER_00: Then I'm gonna go over on this other side here and I'm gonna sprinkle some, but oh, I don't know.
SPEAKER_00: They they it seems like there's some growth.
SPEAKER_00: But then when I look again, there's something choking out my harvest.
SPEAKER_00: And then as the right side here, I'm gonna go ahead and give it to you all.
SPEAKER_00: Good soul over here, you're bringing forth the harvest.
SPEAKER_00: Please hear today, it's the same principle with the word of God.
SPEAKER_00: And as we're thinking and considering that, there's a promise in the word of God that says God's word will never return void.
SPEAKER_00: In other words, it always produces fruit.
SPEAKER_00: Okay, so as we get into this today about the missing link, could the word be what's missing?
SPEAKER_00: And later on, as we get into this, I'm gonna give you a very simple definition of this word link, but I want to bring you in, and I'm gonna go as far as not assume that everybody understands what I'm talking about as I'm talking about the word.
SPEAKER_00: Let's go back to the word, right?
SPEAKER_00: Let's go get some foundation here in John chapter one.
SPEAKER_00: We're gonna begin at uh verse one.
SPEAKER_00: This is Salada word, but hey, we're here for the word, right?
SPEAKER_00: Okay, in the beginning, the word already existed.
SPEAKER_00: The word was with God, and the word was God.
SPEAKER_00: From the very beginning, the word was with God.
SPEAKER_00: Through him, God made all things, not one thing in all creation was made without him.
SPEAKER_00: The word was the source of life, and this life brought light to people.
SPEAKER_00: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out.
SPEAKER_00: God sent his messenger, a man named John, John the Baptist, who came to tell the people about the light so that all should hear the message and believe.
SPEAKER_00: He himself was not the light.
SPEAKER_00: He came to tell about the light.
SPEAKER_00: This was the real light, the light that comes into the world and shines on all people.
SPEAKER_00: Somebody say all people.
SPEAKER_00: The word was in the world.
SPEAKER_00: And though God made the world through him, yet the world did not recognize him.
SPEAKER_00: He came to his own country, but his own people did not receive him.
SPEAKER_00: Some, however, did receive him and believed in him, so he gave them the right to become God's children.
SPEAKER_00: They did not become God's children by natural means, that is, by being born as the children of a human father.
SPEAKER_00: God himself was their father.
SPEAKER_00: The word, verse 14, the word became a human being and full of grace and truth, lived among us.
SPEAKER_00: We saw his glory, the glory which he received as the Father's only Son.
SPEAKER_00: Ladies and gentlemen, Jesus is the word that became flesh and dwelt among us.
SPEAKER_00: So have you ever considered that a lot of the things that we choose to deal with, whether we are believers, whether we've accepted him and made him our Lord, savior, Lord and Savior or not, has a lot to do with how this word is received in the soil of our hearts.
SPEAKER_00: When we consider that we hear the seed of the word of God and we feel like something is not working for us, one of the things that we should do is examine the condition of our hearts.
SPEAKER_00: The Bible talks about, you know, this seed being along the path.
SPEAKER_00: One translation even says, along the wayside, and the enemy snatches it.
SPEAKER_00: And so I'll say to the Palmer family today, I know you have heavy hearts today, but don't let the enemy snatch your word.
SPEAKER_00: You could have gone to any other church, but you ended up here at Impact Church.
SPEAKER_00: The Bible talks about rocky ground.
SPEAKER_00: Some translations say stony ground, meaning that tests and trials came and that word did not bring forth fruit.
SPEAKER_00: Ladies and gentlemen, Jesus tells us we will have trials and tribulations, but he says, What?
SPEAKER_00: Be of good cheer, because he's overcome all of that.
SPEAKER_00: What about the thorns here?
SPEAKER_00: I find it very interesting when he talks about he Jesus gives this analogy of thorns.
SPEAKER_00: He says, worries.
SPEAKER_00: We know what worries do, they distract us.
SPEAKER_00: But he goes on and says, Riches.
SPEAKER_00: I'm chasing the bag.
SPEAKER_00: Oh, they got quiet on that one.
SPEAKER_00: And pleasures of life.
SPEAKER_00: These things could cause us not to get the harvest on the word that we received.
SPEAKER_00: But I know everybody in here, this is good soil, right?
SPEAKER_00: And you're making a declaration, I'm gonna make it for you.
SPEAKER_00: You're gonna stand until you see the promises that God gives us in his word.
SPEAKER_00: And somebody said, Amen.
SPEAKER_00: So can again, consider this could be a missing link.
SPEAKER_00: A quick definition for the word link is anything serving to connect one part or thing with another.
SPEAKER_00: Meaning, you may be hearing this word every week.
SPEAKER_00: You come in, but it seems like there's a gap.
SPEAKER_00: I'm going to church, I'm serving, I'm in a small group, I'm doing a lot.
SPEAKER_00: Okay.
SPEAKER_00: So when God sent Jesus into the world, the word, Jesus, had a mission.
SPEAKER_00: So let's look at that.
SPEAKER_00: The mission of the word.
SPEAKER_00: And I love how just our um team today just set this up so amazing.
SPEAKER_00: Because the mission of the word is He came to redeem us.
SPEAKER_00: Let's look in 1 Peter chapter 1, verse 8.
SPEAKER_00: I'm gonna read this from New Living Translation.
SPEAKER_00: It says, For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors.
SPEAKER_00: And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value.
SPEAKER_00: It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.
SPEAKER_00: God chose him as your ransom long before the world began.
SPEAKER_00: But now in these last days, he has been revealed for your sake.
SPEAKER_00: Let's look at Colossians chapter 1, uh, verse 13, and bring this home a little further.
SPEAKER_00: He, meaning Jesus, rescued us from the power of darkness and brought us safe into the kingdom of his dear son, by whom we are set free, that is, our sins are forgiven.
SPEAKER_00: If Jesus rescued us from the power of darkness when he came to this world, you ever stop and think, why is it difficult to believe that he can still rescue you today?
SPEAKER_00: The missing link.
SPEAKER_00: Remember, the word is the light that shines in darkness, and the darkness has never put it out.
SPEAKER_00: So, what area your life feels dark today?
SPEAKER_00: Could it be because you're missing having spent enough time in the word to understand that you've been redeemed and that you are free?
SPEAKER_00: The missing link.
SPEAKER_00: So the assignment of the word was to buy us back.
SPEAKER_00: The word had a mission.
SPEAKER_00: Let's look at John 3.16, because this is why he did it.
SPEAKER_00: You've heard this if you've been in church, I don't know, for one day, for God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He gave, He that He even gave up His only begotten unique Son, so that whoever believes in, trusts in, clings to, relies on Him, shall not perish, come to destruction, be lost, but have eternal, everlasting life.
SPEAKER_00: The word takes away the lie that you are not loved and that you're not valued.
SPEAKER_00: God gave his son for you.
SPEAKER_00: For everyone in this room, whether you know it or not, Jesus came and purchased you back with his blood that will never lose value.
SPEAKER_00: So could the missing link when you're spinning about your identity be because you haven't taken enough time to consider how much God loves you?
SPEAKER_00: Is that why it's complicated in the relationships?
SPEAKER_00: Because I don't understand how much I'm loved, so surely I have nothing to love you with.
SPEAKER_00: The missing link.
SPEAKER_00: Let's talk about the purpose of the word.
SPEAKER_00: In John 10, 10, New Living Translation says, the thief's purpose.
SPEAKER_00: Don't you love that God's not hiding anything for us?
SPEAKER_00: Remember, the light, this is the light for us.
SPEAKER_00: We're not in darkness only if we don't go to the light.
SPEAKER_00: The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.
SPEAKER_00: My purpose, Jesus is saying, is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
SPEAKER_00: The Amplified says it this way: the thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy.
SPEAKER_00: I came that they may have and enjoy life and have it in abundance to the full till it overflows.
SPEAKER_00: And so when you understand that that satisfying life, the rich and satisfying life that God has sent Jesus to give us, it is a blessed life, but it's also a life that's devoted to God.
SPEAKER_00: It's a Zoe kind of life.
SPEAKER_00: The Greek word there is Zoe.
SPEAKER_00: It's devoted to God.
SPEAKER_00: So could the missing link be a more devoted to this than him?
SPEAKER_00: The rich and satisfying life for a believer is when we live out the full purpose of why Jesus came.
SPEAKER_00: So is your life saying you are living out God's purpose or your own?
SPEAKER_00: Could that be why, you know, I'm frustrated?
SPEAKER_00: Because I've been trying to come up with my own way.
SPEAKER_00: Let's look at this wonderful prayer that Jesus prays here in the Word of God in John 17, verse 9.
SPEAKER_00: He says here, my prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me.
SPEAKER_00: He's praying to God, of course, because they belong to you.
SPEAKER_00: All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory.
SPEAKER_00: Now I am departing from the world.
SPEAKER_00: They are staying in the world, but I'm coming to you.
SPEAKER_00: Holy Father, you have given me your name.
SPEAKER_00: Now protect them by the power of your name, so that they will be united just as we are.
SPEAKER_00: During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me.
SPEAKER_00: I guarded them so that not one was lost except the one headed for destruction, as the scriptures foretold, talking about Judas, right?
SPEAKER_00: Now I'm coming to you.
SPEAKER_00: I told them many things while I was with them in this world, so they will be filled with my joy.
SPEAKER_00: I have given them your word, and the world hates them because they do not belong to the world.
SPEAKER_00: Stop trying to be a part of this world.
SPEAKER_00: Just as I do not belong to the world, I'm not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.
SPEAKER_00: They do not belong to this world any more than I do.
SPEAKER_00: Make them holy by your truth, teach them your word, which is truth.
SPEAKER_00: Just as you sent me into the world, I'm sending them into the world.
SPEAKER_00: And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so that they can be made holy by your truth.
SPEAKER_00: Notice Jesus still cares about holiness.
SPEAKER_00: In verse 20, I am praying not only for these disciples, but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.
SPEAKER_00: So if you are right now a follower of Jesus Christ, you are his disciple.
SPEAKER_00: And we've been sent in this world to show the world who he is, to show the world his love.
SPEAKER_00: You know, isn't it interesting that we have so many people now want to be influencers?
SPEAKER_00: And let me let me help you with something.
SPEAKER_00: We are all influencing someone.
SPEAKER_00: The word of God says we are living epistles.
SPEAKER_00: Somebody's always reading your letter, whether you want them to or not.
SPEAKER_00: When you're in the grocery store, they're reading.
SPEAKER_00: With your impact bumper stick on your car, they're reading.
SPEAKER_00: I don't have one on my car.
SPEAKER_00: Y'all know why, because I'm I'm doing some road raids sometimes.
SPEAKER_00: Y'all afraid for me.
SPEAKER_00: But somebody's always looking at your life.
SPEAKER_00: So all this, I want to be an influencer, and it's overwhelming that you could tell people don't know what they're talking about, but they're on social media giving advice.
SPEAKER_00: The word is the truth.
SPEAKER_00: So who are you influencing today?
SPEAKER_00: Does your life say you're dependent on Jesus?
SPEAKER_00: Or does your life say you're dependent on your job?
SPEAKER_00: Or here's one.
SPEAKER_00: Does your life say you're dependent on yourself?
SPEAKER_00: If I can't figure it out, it's not gonna work.
SPEAKER_00: If I can't do this, it's not gonna happen.
SPEAKER_00: If I can't, people please, they're not gonna love me.
SPEAKER_00: Has the word caused you to be outward focused?
SPEAKER_00: And what I mean by that, this rich and satisfying life that God came to give us should move us with compassion for others.
SPEAKER_00: To know that we have this treasure and earthen vessels, and God wants us to share that to the world.
SPEAKER_00: Because remember, we have light on the inside of us.
SPEAKER_00: Let's talk about the guidance of the word in John chapter 14.
SPEAKER_00: It says, Jesus told him, I am the way, the truth, and the life.
SPEAKER_00: No one can come to the Father except through me.
SPEAKER_00: No, you're not getting there, no other way.
SPEAKER_00: He is the way to God.
SPEAKER_00: He is the truth of God's promises.
SPEAKER_00: And he is how we have eternal life.
SPEAKER_00: The missing link.
SPEAKER_00: When you're trying to figure it out, you don't have to figure it out.
SPEAKER_00: God knew we were going to need his word.
SPEAKER_00: God knew we were going to need a savior.
SPEAKER_00: That's why he sent Jesus.
SPEAKER_00: In Psalms 119, 105 in the Passion uh commentary, it says this true shining light guides me in my choices and decisions.
SPEAKER_00: The revelation of your word makes my pathway clear.
SPEAKER_00: So if you can tell, I love to ask a lot of questions.
SPEAKER_00: I just want to make you think.
SPEAKER_00: I like the hove and prod, if you will.
SPEAKER_00: Who or what are you turning to to guide your choices and decisions?
SPEAKER_00: Can it be your emotions?
SPEAKER_00: How about that?
SPEAKER_00: Disappointment.
SPEAKER_00: Come on, y'all.
SPEAKER_00: Y'all making me think my mic not on in here.
SPEAKER_00: Let's get so quiet.
SPEAKER_00: Is office guiding your decisions?
SPEAKER_00: You're gonna quit the job.
SPEAKER_00: You're gonna quit the small group.
SPEAKER_00: You're gonna quit the dream team.
SPEAKER_00: But the word tells us how to handle those emotional moments.
SPEAKER_00: Y'all still ready for the word?
SPEAKER_00: What's the loudest voice in your life today?
SPEAKER_00: Is the voice telling you that you don't have all the finances that you need to pay that?
SPEAKER_00: But your God says I'll supply all your need according to my riches and glory.
SPEAKER_00: Are you distracted today because the word of that bill is speaking louder than the word of God?
SPEAKER_00: Just some things to consider.
SPEAKER_00: The word is available to everyone, from the smallest one to the oldest one.
SPEAKER_00: It doesn't discriminate from race, ethnicity, sex.
SPEAKER_00: It does not.
SPEAKER_00: It is so simple.
SPEAKER_00: I'll prove it to you here in Psalm 119, 130.
SPEAKER_00: It says, the teaching of your word gives light so even the simple can understand.
SPEAKER_00: So I choose to believe the word.
SPEAKER_00: And I'll say this maybe you know someone, or you may be that one to say, man, I just don't feel like I can, I can't read these words.
SPEAKER_00: They may be um too difficult for me.
SPEAKER_00: You can listen.
SPEAKER_00: These days, there's no reason why we cannot get this word and keep it before our eyes.
SPEAKER_00: Notice Jesus is the word, he's our example on how we are to live this life in this world.
SPEAKER_00: Remember, he said we're not of this world, right?
SPEAKER_00: But it's according to the kingdom, not this world.
SPEAKER_00: Let's go to uh one of my favorite scriptures in Romans chapter 12, verse 1 through 2.
SPEAKER_00: And this is in the message Bible.
SPEAKER_00: I love what this says.
SPEAKER_00: It says, so here's what I want you to do, God helping you.
SPEAKER_00: You don't even have to do it alone.
SPEAKER_00: Take your everyday, ordinary life, your sleeping, eating, going to work, and walking around life, and place it before God as an offering.
SPEAKER_00: Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for Him.
SPEAKER_00: Don't become so well adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking.
SPEAKER_00: And it's like zombies now.
SPEAKER_00: Oh, you said do this, and you you told me to say this, you told me to take this, you told me to stop taking my medicine, you told me to drink this.
SPEAKER_00: You following me?
SPEAKER_00: Okay, let me find my place back in the word without even thinking.
SPEAKER_00: Instead, fix your attention on God.
SPEAKER_00: You'll be changed from the inside out.
SPEAKER_00: Readily recognize what he wants from you and quickly respond to it.
SPEAKER_00: Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity.
SPEAKER_00: God brings out the best in you.
SPEAKER_00: God brings out the best in you, develops well for maturity in you.
SPEAKER_00: It does not matter what part of our story feels like there's a gap or it's it's not connected.
SPEAKER_00: The word is the answer because it will always produce fruit.
SPEAKER_00: But we determine how we will protect this word once we receive it.
SPEAKER_00: So again, we're good soiling here today, right?
SPEAKER_00: We're not gonna let the worries, the riches, the pleasures of life, the distractions.
SPEAKER_00: Remember, we just had a series on that.
SPEAKER_00: Still, what God has given to us, we have a choice.
SPEAKER_00: Now I want to read Romans chapter 12, verse 2 from the Amplified to show you how to what we would call in counseling I'm gonna reframe some anxious thoughts today.
SPEAKER_00: How about that?
SPEAKER_00: And let me tell you, the man didn't come up with that, Jesus came up with it.
SPEAKER_00: The word, God puts it in the word.
SPEAKER_00: In Romans chapter 2, 12, verse 2, it says, Do not be conformed to this world, this age, fashioned after and adapted to its external superficial customs, but be transformed, changed by the entire renewal of your mind, by its new ideas and its new attitude, so that you may prove for yourselves what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect in his sight for you.
SPEAKER_00: You want to get rid of that anxiousness?
SPEAKER_00: Go to the word.
SPEAKER_00: I want to talk to you for a moment about the peace of the word.
SPEAKER_00: Notice I didn't say peace in the word.
SPEAKER_00: Peace of the word.
SPEAKER_00: John chapter 14, 27.
SPEAKER_00: This is Jesus, peace I lead with you.
SPEAKER_00: My own peace I now give and bequeath to you.
SPEAKER_00: Not as the world gives, do I give to you.
SPEAKER_00: Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
SPEAKER_00: Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated, disturbed, and do not permit yourselves to be fearful, fearful, and intimidated and cowardly or unsettled.
SPEAKER_00: So I don't know about you all.
SPEAKER_00: That says that I have a choice.
SPEAKER_00: If God is telling me to not allow myself to be agitated, it means that when I feel that feeling coming on, those emotions, what do I need to do?
SPEAKER_00: Go to the word.
SPEAKER_00: And look what happens when we do.
SPEAKER_00: Isaiah 26, verse 3 says, You will keep, the prophet is saying, You will keep in perfect peace.
SPEAKER_00: All who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you.
SPEAKER_00: When we fix our thoughts on God, his word, and meaning on his word, we will always have peace.
SPEAKER_00: We will always have peace.
SPEAKER_00: And do you know that we can grow in this?
SPEAKER_00: So today you may say, Well, I did.
SPEAKER_00: Keep doing it.
SPEAKER_00: Keep doing it, keep doing it.
SPEAKER_00: Because you can grow in this according to 2 Peter chapter 1, verse 2.
SPEAKER_00: It says, May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.
SPEAKER_00: The King James Version says, Grace and peace will be multiplied.
SPEAKER_00: So this lets us know that it's not just we come to church on Sunday and we got it, and then we go out Monday through Saturday and think, oh, we got it.
SPEAKER_00: I don't know about you all, but I have to stick with it.
SPEAKER_00: Here's a quote for you peace is not the absence of chaos, it's knowing that God's grace is in full operation in the chaos.
SPEAKER_00: And the more we know and we grow in this word, it'll anchor us.
SPEAKER_00: It'll anchor us.
SPEAKER_00: Let's talk about the power of the word.
SPEAKER_00: In Ephesians chapter 6, I'm starting at verse 17, but I want to encourage you to go back and read it, starting at like verse 10.
SPEAKER_00: Let's talk about this armor.
SPEAKER_00: God has set us up to win.
SPEAKER_00: Remember, He came to make us free, not to walk around in bondage and in fear.
SPEAKER_00: Verse 17, put on the salvation as your hamlet and take the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God.
SPEAKER_00: For all you fighters out there, put those guns down and open your mouth and use the word.
SPEAKER_00: Because I may be naive, but I believe that the word is more powerful than that.
SPEAKER_00: Put it on, take it, take it.
SPEAKER_00: Hebrews chapter 4, verse 12 says, For the word of God is alive and powerful.
SPEAKER_00: It is alive and powerful, it is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and moral, it exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.
SPEAKER_00: There's a mind shift that takes place when we understand the word's power as believers.
SPEAKER_00: It puts everything in perspective and it helps us to guard our hearts.
SPEAKER_00: It helps us to expose the lies of the enemies.
SPEAKER_00: And I don't know about you all, we all have them.
SPEAKER_00: We all have the enemy whispering.
SPEAKER_00: But the more you learn about God, you learn about his character to know that doesn't sound like him.
SPEAKER_00: That doesn't sound like something God would say to me.
SPEAKER_00: God would never tell you to take your life.
SPEAKER_00: Why would he tell you to take your life?
SPEAKER_00: 2 Corinthians chapter 12, verse 6 through 9, and the good news translation.
SPEAKER_00: I want to show you something here.
SPEAKER_00: Keep in mind what I just said.
SPEAKER_00: The word tells us that God will never leave us or forsake us.
SPEAKER_00: And the word tells us that, you know, Jesus is our healer.
SPEAKER_00: I love one translate, one scripture says he sent his word and healed them.
SPEAKER_00: Okay?
SPEAKER_00: The apostle Paul had this understanding.
SPEAKER_00: He shares this powerful lesson to the church of Corinth in 2 Corinthians chapter 12, verse 6 through 9.
SPEAKER_00: I'm reading this from the Good News Translation.
SPEAKER_00: It says, If I wanted to boast, I would not be a fool because I would be telling the truth.
SPEAKER_00: But I will not boast because I do not want any of you to have a higher opinion of me than you have as a result of what you've seen me do and heard me say.
SPEAKER_00: But to keep me from being puffed up with pride, because of the many wonderful things I saw, I was given a painful physical element, ailment, which acts as Satan's messenger to beat me up and keep me from being proud.
SPEAKER_00: Three times I prayed to the Lord about this and asked him to take it away.
SPEAKER_00: But look at God's answer in verse 9.
SPEAKER_00: But his answer was, My grace is all you need.
SPEAKER_00: For my power is the greatest when you are weak, when you're not trying to do it yourself, and you're not trying to make a way.
SPEAKER_00: I am most, Paul says then, I am most happy then to be proud of my weaknesses in order to feel the protection of God's power over me.
SPEAKER_00: Look at this in the Amplified.
SPEAKER_00: It says, But he said to me, My grace, my favor and loving kindness and mercy is enough for you, sufficient against any danger, and enables you to bear the trouble manfully.
SPEAKER_00: For my strength and power are made perfect, fulfilled and completed, and show themselves most effective in your weaknesses.
SPEAKER_00: Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ, the Messiah, the word, come on, may rest.
SPEAKER_00: Yes, pitch a tent over and dwell upon me.
SPEAKER_00: What Paul is talking about here is in previous chapters, the reason he's talking to the church about Corinthians, he starts off and says about he's not gonna boast because what happened?
SPEAKER_00: They had there were false teachers coming in.
SPEAKER_00: They were coming in, Paul had already preached to them, giving them the word, the truth, right?
SPEAKER_00: So these false apostles come in, but they're talking about their resume.
SPEAKER_00: Stay with me here.
SPEAKER_00: They're coming in, building themselves up.
SPEAKER_00: Paul said, I can boast and go back and read about Paul.
SPEAKER_00: Paul's got a resume.
SPEAKER_00: Paul didn't just talk to talk, Paul walked to walk.
SPEAKER_00: But he's telling them, I don't want you to see me as big.
SPEAKER_00: I want you to know who is big.
SPEAKER_00: You know why?
SPEAKER_00: Because the physical element, which they ailment that they thought scholars believe it was a physical ailment against Paul.
SPEAKER_00: All that Paul knew, and he's out teaching, he's doing the word, he's in purpose, ladies and gentlemen.
SPEAKER_00: But he still had to deal with a trial.
SPEAKER_00: But noticing that, he went back to the word, and God reminded him.
SPEAKER_00: When you feel like you just can't go in.
SPEAKER_00: Anybody been there to say, God, when you gonna change this?
SPEAKER_00: I don't know about you all.
SPEAKER_00: I've been dealing with something about two and a half years.
SPEAKER_00: I'm like, come on, Jesus, is the day today?
SPEAKER_00: But do you know what I've discovered that has been taking place in me?
SPEAKER_00: God was doing a work in me.
SPEAKER_00: God made me refocus on what's important.
SPEAKER_00: He is, ladies and gentlemen.
SPEAKER_00: I feel safe saying this when you are coming in here, whether you're coming in here, bishop, whether you're coming in here, Pastor Tony, whether you're coming in here, anyone, it is not about the speaker.
SPEAKER_00: It's about the word of God, but you need to know what the word of God is.
SPEAKER_00: We can't glory in our what we know.
SPEAKER_00: We can only glory in Him.
SPEAKER_00: So today I want to ask you again: it doesn't matter what life brings to us, the Word is more than enough.
SPEAKER_00: The Word loves you that He came for you.
SPEAKER_00: He loves you that He brought you here today just to remind you that He has not forgotten you.
SPEAKER_00: Palmer Family, I'll say to you again, He brought you here today to let you know about that peace that passes all understanding.
SPEAKER_00: He brought you here today to let you know when disappointment happens, he's the restorer.
SPEAKER_00: If he redeemed our lives, you mean to tell me he wouldn't care about the intimate details of it?
SPEAKER_00: He's in a wonderful, amazing, loving, powerful God.
SPEAKER_00: So I want to challenge you today.
SPEAKER_00: Ask God to help you.
SPEAKER_00: God, where have I drifted away?
SPEAKER_00: Would you make a commitment today to re-get recommitted to letting this word be the loudest voice?
SPEAKER_00: And for those of you who are in here today, that maybe you never even heard that Jesus was the word that became flesh.
SPEAKER_00: Or maybe it was a long time ago when you went to church, somebody brought you to church, but you felt like you haven't been back in church because you just felt like I've done something or I said something that he's no longer gonna want me.
SPEAKER_00: His love never changes.
SPEAKER_00: It is as awesome today as it was when Jesus said it is finished.
SPEAKER_00: So when I asked you to do something with me today, if you're in this place today and you have not made Jesus the Lord of your life.
SPEAKER_00: You have not, you didn't have an understanding of how important having the word is in your life.
SPEAKER_00: It's not about going to church, ladies and gentlemen.
SPEAKER_00: It's about a relationship with this word.
SPEAKER_00: Somebody ask everybody to bow their heads.
SPEAKER_00: And if you'd like for me to pray with you, meaning you never made Jesus Christ the Lord of your life, there's a uh say yes to Jesus card in the back seat pocket in front of you.
SPEAKER_00: If you want me to pray for you, I ask everybody to bow their heads.
SPEAKER_00: If you want me to pray for you, just simply raise that card up.
SPEAKER_00: I'm gonna count the three real quick here.
SPEAKER_00: And if you want me to pray for you today about this missing link in your life, I love to do that.
SPEAKER_00: So on the count of three, if you want me to pray for you, just reach in that seat pack seat back pocket and raise that card up.
SPEAKER_00: One, two, three.
SPEAKER_00: I see those hands.
SPEAKER_00: And more importantly, God sees those hands.
SPEAKER_00: Thank you, Lord.
SPEAKER_00: So I'm gonna pray for you and ask you, those of you who raise that your card up, and even if you didn't raise it up, and you know in your heart that you should have just quietly at your seat, repeat this.
SPEAKER_00: God, I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
SPEAKER_00: I believe he died, but you raised him from the dead.
SPEAKER_00: Jesus, come into my life.
SPEAKER_00: Be my Lord and Savior, and according to the Bible, I'm right now born again.
SPEAKER_00: Come on, Impact, let's celebrate with them.
SPEAKER_01: Did you just make a decision for Jesus?
SPEAKER_01: Welcome to the family.
SPEAKER_01: We're so excited.
SPEAKER_01: Trust me, we're clapping for you, and we believe that you've made an important decision today.
SPEAKER_01: We'd like to help you on your journey.
SPEAKER_01: So if you'll follow the directions that are on screen, there is a free book you can download.
SPEAKER_01: It's gonna take you five to ten minutes of your day for the next seven days.
SPEAKER_01: But our pastors have put together some amazing resources that we believe will help you on the journey ahead.
SPEAKER_01: If you don't want it, nobody's going to email you, text you, bother you, anything like that.
SPEAKER_01: We just want to make sure you are successful in your walk with Jesus.
SPEAKER_01: Now, let me tell you, one of the things you should consider is baptism.
SPEAKER_01: And if you're in the Jacksonville area, we do baptism after our first weekend service every month.
SPEAKER_01: And you can just scan the QR code that's on the screen, sign up for that.
SPEAKER_01: I'd love to be a part of that journey with you, um, or any of our ministers would.
SPEAKER_01: If you don't live in town, we do believe you should find a Bible teaching church and at least go get baptized, even if you're still gonna watch our service.
SPEAKER_01: But download that book, it's free.
SPEAKER_01: We're excited for your journey ahead, and we can't wait to be a part of that.
SPEAKER_01: Now, this is a part of the service where we also demonstrate our generosity.
SPEAKER_01: If you're just checking this out today, you don't feel any pressure to give.
SPEAKER_01: But for those of you, this is your church, you know that we are generous is one of our core values.
SPEAKER_01: And so you can give online or you can give through our app, which I really like.
SPEAKER_01: You have the Apple Pay option right on our app.
SPEAKER_01: Just go to your Google store or your Apple store, download the We Are Impact app.
SPEAKER_01: It's also a great way to study notes that um come from the sermons that you watch on here.
SPEAKER_01: And there's a lot of events on there as well.
SPEAKER_01: But you can give through that app.
SPEAKER_01: It's super easy, and we're just grateful that you partner with us week after week.
SPEAKER_01: Well, we're so excited you joined us today.
SPEAKER_01: Hope you have an amazing weekend, and we'll see you next time.