A Labor of Love and Lilly Work by Joumeel Mclaurine April 7, 2024 ยท Centerpointe Apostolic Church (Murfreesboro, TN) Kind: sermon Scripture: Hebrews 6:9-10, 1 Kings 7:21, Revelation 5:8, 1 Kings 7:21, Psalms 141:2, 1 Thessalonians 4:11, Genesis 49:22 Source: https://acts238.life/repository/sermons/joumeel-mclaurine--a-labor-of-love-and-lilly-work Published by Acts 2:38 Life from the sermon transcript on that page. Free to copy and share with attribution. ------------------------------------------------------------ Today I want you to open up your bibles if you would to Hebrews 6 and9. But before I jump into the word I do have to say this I want to welcome one of the guests that's with us today I didn't know this. But my Dad's cousin who is his best cousin don't tell anybody, but it's his favorite cousin his name is Rufus and I didn't know this. But when I was asked to come preach here at Murphy's Boro this weekend we had a lot of logistics to work out I just felt like I needed to be here, and then we found out I found out that I didn't realize this. But my Uncle Rufus actually lives in Murphysboro and he's here with us today would you just honor my uncle would you help me honor my uncle, and we're so thankful for him and I got to say this Wesley Stevens has been a dear friend. He's a national trusted voice in our organization of ministers and he's had opportunities all over the world. But every time I talk to him he just talks about how much he loves Center Point, and I'm so thankful for the man of God and his wife that love the church and the church loves them I'm so thankful for their Ministry brother Allan. Your reputation precedes you so honored to be here today thank you for having me, and to the depri family I got a very interesting connection sister de priest told me a story last night about a little girl 30 years ago whose father was in the military. And the church came together to support the mother and her daughter while the father was being deployed, and she told me this story tearfully. Because that little girl is now a minister and her husband or Minister and wife at our church up in Detroit, and matter of fact this last Wednesday while I was out preaching at a conference that woman was preaching one of the most anointed messages. She taught one of the most anointing anointed Bible studies our church has heard in a long time, and it was a result 30 years ago of a church that loved on a little girl. And I just wanted say thank you to this amazing church cuz all the way up in Detroit we're being blessed by the history. Come on by the history and the love of centero Hebrews 6:10 6 and9 says beloved we are confident of better things concerning you yes things accompany salvation though we speak in this manner my key verse here today which Pastor in the teaching last night. Stole from me it says this for God is Not unjust to forget your work and labor of love. Everybody say labor of love which you have shown towards his name and that you have ministered to the Saints, and do Minister First Kings chapter 7 verse 21 my only other verse and I'll have you be seated says this. And he set up pillars in the porch of the temple and he set up the right pillar, and called the name thereof jacin and he set up the left pillar and called the name therefor of Boaz. And upon the top of the pillar was l work so was the work of the pillars finished I want to talk to you today about a message I've entitled a labor of love. And of Lily work and I'm excited to share what the Lord's put in my heart. Because I just feel like there's somebody under the sound of my voice that needs to be reminded that God has seen every unseen prayer every unseen sacrifice every Kingdom invested has never gone wasted. And I feel a word in my spirit for this church to remind you that you've got a father in Heaven. Who seen every single moment of it would you lift up your hands towards heaven would you open up your mouth and let's ask the father. Come on to enter into this room father we thank you for your spirit we thank you for your power we thank you for your anointing we ask you in Jesus name that you would speak with Clarity unction. And hide this simple preacher behind the shout of your cross in the name of Jesus we pray, and come on everybody clap your hands one more time and say. Amen all right high five three people around you and you may be seated I've got a start today introducing my family to you I brought a picture. If they could put that up cuz I need to tell you about my oldest son I don't this is my family there's my son on the left Judah there's Lily Ellie and then my oldest son. Who is named after one of those pillars I just read about his name is jacen, and yes we did have four children and the span of six years Church planners are crazy y'all. Come on somebody we just we lost our ever loveing mine matter of fact our church we started our church, and our team had about one or two kids on it seven years ago we started our church. And this last Sunday that same team that started our church we have 15 kids represented on that team, and last Sunday in our six-year-old church we had on Easter Sunday about 60 to 65 kids under the age of 10 at church which God be the glory. U but I I'll just tell you church planning will make you a little bit crazy and we just started having babies. Come on somebody right you know my oldest son has selective memory I would say selective photographic memory. Because when he wants something and you mention it to him even in the slightest that goes in the deepest recesses of his mind to never be forgotten once a day in his life. If you mention the words we might go get ice cream how many know that's got a young a young kid in the house that means we are going to get ice cream. Come on somebody right it's funny how he can photographically remember those moments, but when it comes to cleaning the room or doing those other things I like I said he's got selective photographic memory. But on one of those trips the other day that we took as a family from one of those kind of guilt trips that the sun gives you when you mention a might. Then it becomes a definite in his Spirit I just I just feel that for somebody somebody's got to just hear a might from the Lord, and say yes in your spirit I'm telling you my son. And he hears a promise from his father and he's hears yes and amen you know. What I'm talking about and my son dragged me almost unwillfully to a trampoline park to go have a good time with the kids, and I'm noticed this moment that the Lord. Just kind of spoke to me in he was surrounded by kids all around the room he was having an incredible time jumping, and going around shooting the basketball's and all of the sudden I saw this moment in my son's eyes where he was having. A fun in this room full of people, but the question came up in his mind is my dad watching, and he turned around and came up to me and grabbed my hand and he and he just said he said Daddy I want you to I want. You to watch me and he continued to go on playing his little games and doing this thing. But it was so interesting to me because as much fun as he was having, and that part particular moment with his friends and with his family there was something in his mind that said this moment. Doesn't matter as significantly unless my father is watching he realized something in that moment that this moment I'm having. Doesn't matter as much because if Dad's not watching it's just doesn't matter in the same way. Everybody else could see it but I need to make sure the Eyes of My Father are on what's happening right. Now, I just felt a word word for Centerpoint as I was coming into town I needed. Somebody to know that you've been serving Faithfully you've been loving you've been doing everything God's called you to do and I just need to remind. Somebody that you've got a father in Heaven who never for one moment has taken the eyes off of your service he's never for one moment taken his eyes off of your investment he's not for one moment forgotten. What you've done and there's something about the eyes of a father that makes a moment matter. So much much more what's interesting is we dig into scripture what's interesting about the verse that I read to you at the outset of my message I just felt it in my spirit for somebody today the Bible says in Hebrews 6 for God is Not. Unjust to forget your work and labor of love everybody say labor of love what you have shown towards his name, and that you've ministered to the Saints and do Minister I just felt for somebody under the sound of my voice to remind you that we don't serve. A god with a memory problem and we don't serve a God the Bible says who will ever be mocked the Bible says God is Not mocked whatever you reap you will sow, and a lot of times people use that as a negative connotation. If you do something bad something bad is going to happen to you, but I just need. Somebody to be reminded today that we don't serve an unjust God who can't remember or see in the hidden places we serve a god who's seen every moment can I just say this the way I feel it had you've never prayed one single wasted. Prayer hey you've never prayed one single wasted prayer one moment of faithfulness you've never wasted your money investing in the Kingdom we have a God in heaven who's seen it all matter of fact the Bible says that in heaven in Revelations 5 and8 that every. Prayer that's ever been prayed by the Saints is stored up in heaven the Bible tells us in remind us that you've never wasted your money. When you invested in the kingdom of God because it says that we can store up our Treasures here on Earth. But it's going to rust it's going to Decay, but everything that's stored up in the kingdom is building us a treasure in heaven the Bible tells us that we have a God. Who sees in secret who will reward you openly and I don't know why, but as I Was preparing, and praying I just I just felt in my spirit of a parent in this room who's been loving. And serving and praying and doing the best you can to raise your kids without as much as a thank you or as much as a outward reward. But I just felt to just encourage somebody who's who's been parenting who's been working with Integrity who's been serving behind the scenes I just felt to encourage. Somebody that we are not doing it for the applies of man, but I just want to encourage you we're doing it for the Applause of those nail scarred hands and my reward. Come on somebody is with the Lord can can you look at your neighbor and say my reward is with the Lord my reward is with the Lord I was hearkened in preparation thinking about this time we have together of my father. Who I mentioned earlier is a great man of God matter of fact I I'll share this my dad we just got to answer to prayer. Because my parents have been assistant pastors at a church are stayed away from us, and today as I'm here our church launched a second service cuz we ran out out of room to God be the glory. But also my dad and mom just moved their belongings to Michigan and this is their first Sunday back home, and I'm so thankful for it, but here's what's. So interesting I was thinking about my dad as I Was preparing for this message. Because I I'll I have a Relic in my office at the church that is the most important possession that I have ever had in my life it's actually an alarm clock that you could actually date back probably to 19 85. And it kind of sits there it's this old alarm clock it looks like a little brick I don't know. What kind of alarm clocks they were making in the ' 80s, but they definitely. Weren't stylist come on somebody I'm just this thing looks a little bit better right. But this alarm clock means the world to me because this alarm clock represents a secret world that my father invested in that now I'm walking in the reaping of because this alarm clock would go off every morning at about 5:30 a.m. I'd hear that loud alarm clock and hear the steps of my father going down those stairs, and my I'm in my 30s I'm already have had more opportunities to preach around the country than my dad has ever had I've I I'm so thankful that God's. Opened doors for me and no nobody really knows my dad's name around the country, and he hasn't had a lot of opportunities. But every day there was a little alarm clock that went off and I heard a man of God go down his stairs, and out the door to the church building. Just to plead with God on behalf of his family I have resonating in my spirit the tears, and the prayers and the sound of a father. Who cried out for God for his son's future crying out to God for his family I've heard him pray for my family members I didn't even know we're here in Murphy's Boro I've heard the sound of a father. Who prayed in a secret place where nobody else ever saw it and he swed those seeds in a place that can never be seen by The Eyes Of Man he'd walk out, and have lunch with you and you'd never know that he'd been with God. That morning pleading on your behalf but I'm walking in this season from a family history of Brokenness, and a family history of divorce and a family history with a name on the back of my jersey represented alcoholism. And represented divorce and represented Brokenness in every way and yet one man changed the story and The Narrative of a family. Because he got a hold of a secret place come on somebody he got a hold of a place with God that nobody else can see, and believe God that there could be a open reward from a secret place you know. Why prayer is so hard is because prayer is a test of faith prayer is a test of faith saying God I'm going to talk to you I'm going to have communion with you even though the results may not be immediate I'm TR trus in that you are who you say. You are and man I just feel this in my spirit for somebody in this room. Who your family is going down a direction that you cannot you you've been looking at how your family's heading and you can't. See, how this thing's going to turn around and you've no longer seeing yourself having the ability to do anything on your own can I tell you the Bible says that Abraham believed God. And it was counted unto him as righteousness can I tell somebody in this room that even. When you don't have the righteous and you don't have the resume and you don't have the history to have the future that you desire can I tell you that one believer with faith can have a righteousness accounted to him that they never earned. Or deserved come on they told me you're going to preach with me at centerp hey Abraham believed God, and it was counted under him his righteousness. Let me just say it to somebody in this room when you have faith enough to go to a secret place with God. When you have faith to go in the Earl in the morning when nobody else is there show up at Monday night prayer. When nobody else in your family's validating you when you can show up and take that 24-hour prayer shift, and you can show up and serve and pray and seek the face of God. When it doesn't seem like anything else you've done in your life could cause a positive outcome can I tell you that somebody with a little bit of faith can move an entire Mountain. Because we've got a God who sees in secret come on if you believe that would you clap your hands. Everybody and say Amen Paul said don't the Hebrew the writer of Hebrews he just says it so plainly we don't have a god who's unjust he doesn't forget your labor of love can I just can I I'm going to keep on going. But I love he says labor of love he says labor of love that be steadfast un movable always abounding in the work of the Lord CU know this that your labor is not in vain. When it's in the Lord can I just tell somebody that what's so beautiful about a church like this, and so beautiful about what I saw last night at the Serb celebration is we got people in this church that aren't doing it for any other. Reason then there's a passion and a love for people and I just felt this we're living in a world right. Now, that nothing matters unless you're outwardly validated for if it didn't happen on Instagram. Come on somebody it never happened you didn't even eat a meal unless it's on Instagram am I lying you didn't even go on vacation unless you got a whole rodex have you sitting with that tea. Come on somebody and we're living in a world with artificial scoreboards that are trying to tell people that and I don't know. Who it is in this room that needs to hear there's somebody in this church that's been here for Generations we celebrated some folks like they said earlier in the service that have been serving in this church for 20 plus years can we just clap. For them one more time ain't that awesome, but I just I just felt in must we're living in a world that increasingly is getting more about the outward validation of others and the private worlds are shrinking. And the outer worlds are magnifying time and energy more there's a scoreboard being spent on people being validated outwardly, and here's the thing even this my assistant pastor at my church I love him, but I kind of hate him because we grew up together. Actually brother Wesley and I was an athlete I played football in college I was always, and he was always kind of the you know he was always kind of bigger you know he we were joking yesterday we had lunch together. And we were talking about how me and him used to have to go shop in the Husky section you know. What I'm saying and then he had the audacity now he's my assister assistant pastor he had the audacity last year to lose 100 lb in the same year that the pastor gained 30 lbs. How selfish is that and it's funny because as he as he lost the weight man people oh wow I mean you couldn't go anywhere with them without people. Just celebrating them and oh my goodness that's amazing oh my god oh wow wow. Well, here's the first thing I got to point out about that is that was all celebratory and awesome. But now he feels weird all the time because he shows up and people knew that get to the church. Don't know that he ever wasn't skinny and he's like where's my high five you know. What I'm saying I told him hey you me you need to gain 30 pounds and lose it again every year. Just to keep on getting that pat on the back come on somebody that's what I've been doing I'm telling you Thanksgiving I go up I come down in January CU I need some validation. But you know what's funny we'll compliment somebody's you know weight transfer, but the problem is the most valuable things that we possess as people of God cannot be seen by the eyes of man. Because when's the last time somebody ever came up to you and said you know. What brother I just I just love how Meek you are man I just think you know. What Pastor you just are so content I can just see it all over you I when's the last time you ever got complimented about the Fruit of the Spirit, and the reality is we know as people of God that the things that are most. Valuable the fruit of the spirit the joy of the Lord that is our strength. How many know a smile doesn't necessarily mean Joy there's so many things that we cannot. See, by the eyes of man that are simultaneously the most important things in the eyes of God and I don't know. Why I just felt a message in my spirit to just remind somebody hey that it's okay. If the crowd isn't celebrating you it's okay if you're going through a season where it seems like you're under valid ated underappreciated and overlooked. Because if you are still walking in the ways in the paths of God come on if you still got a secret place. Come on if you're still at the feet of Jesus you've got all the reward you could ever need my son's name is jacen, and my daughter's name is Lily and it didn't really connect with me until I Was preparing for this sermon that this. Sermon must have been in my heart years ago when I was naming my children. Because when you go to the second portion of scripture that I read to you in first Kings chapter 7 it describes the edifice of a building that Solomon had prepared to honor God it was a breathtaking presentation of excellence. And love and admiration towards the Lord this Tabernacle that was being built this place that was being built in First Kings chapter 7 I I'm telling you center it's kind of how I felt. When I walked up to center point I just look at the Lord Has Done. Aren't you thankful for all that God's doing at center point I it and when you'd walk up to the front of this building that was built to just celebrate the god of Israel the Bible tells us that there was these pillars of gold that were at the front. Of this building one was name was jacin which means established by God and the other one's name was Boaz, and you'd walk up and into the eyes of man you would walk up into that building. And you would be so impressed and so taken by the beautiful array of metals, and the Beautiful array of construction and the detail and articulation of what had happened in that space And yet. When you walked up there was something as you were walking past those pillars that no no man's eye would ever. Notice the scripture says in First Kings 7: 21 let's read it again it says he set up the pillars in the porch of the temple, and he set up at the right pillar. And called therefore the name jacen and the left pillar called therefore the name Boaz, and upon the top of the pillars was Lily work. So was the work of the pillars finished there was something that was put on top of these pillars that if you know your history you know the context or know the Biblical context you know that there was these things were 15 feet high they were so high. Up in the air that nobody would ever see, but on top of these pillars was this beautiful array of flowers this beautiful array of lies that were put there as a valuable put there as a beautiful honoring put there to honor God. But here's the thing it was put there and nobody on this Earth would ever. See, it besides the eyes of God and the Bible says that this is when he says the pillars were finished after something was put on top that nobody else could see after something was put there that no other person was ever going to vow. Nobody was going to walk into the Tabernacle nobody was going to walk in there and say. Look, at those beautiful nobody was going to walk and say look at how y'all did that look. How wonderful that is and the most beautiful part of what was being built only God in heaven can see can I tell. Somebody in this room and if you're a guest that's in this room I'm so thankful you're here. But let me tell you this building is beautiful I want me tell you the kids ministry the serve teams are beautiful. But the most beautiful part of this ministry is something that you'll never see with these eyes can I tell you that there's something happening in centerp point point of some people that have sacrificed. And prayed and sought the face of God and honored the Lord when nobody else can see it come on somebody, and the most beautiful part of anything that's built for God is something that's not seen the Bible tells us that there is this thing. There just I love this verse in Psalms 141 that says prayer is set forth for thee as an incense that there's something sweet smelling that God wants to he he's. So honored and something just gets his heart happy for some people that gather to pray, and seek his face and I'm just. So thankful and I just felt a word for somebody I just felt to come encourage. Somebody I know that you prayed for that lost that lost child that wasn't even your child and they came home. But your child didn't come home yet I know that you gave even when you didn't have it to give I know that you served even. When you didn't feel like you had enough energy for what you needed in your own house I know that you came, and you did things that were just there to honor and do it out of labor of love. And you taught that Bible study and they rejected you and you put yourself out there, and they never received and you finally invited. Somebody to church and they never came but can I tell you even if you're rejected by the world and even. If nobody else appreciates it I want you to know when you put that Lily on top of that pillar. When you put that beautiful array on top of that when you put that thing up there that nobody else can see hey they may not. See, it but I just feel this thing in my spirit that God may just be walking up to his Tabernacle, and the most beautiful thing he sees was not the golden pillars. But he looked at that beautiful private worship and said man that makes my heart glad can somebody clap your hands right. Now, to God I I'm I got to go quickly that there's there's this there's this thing that scripture illustrates over, and over again that what some people call Waste God often calls worship the woman with alabaster box came. And she got on her knees and she washed his feet with her tears and dry with her hair, and there was people around that said what a waste you could have done something better with that you could have made a bigger better decision with that why. Would you waste that and yet Jesus looked down and said this isn't a waste this worship present your bodies as a Living Sacrifice holy, and acceptable unto God which is your spiritual worship there's something. So powerful about somebody who's willing to come worship with an extravagance and serve with an extravagance, and give with an extravagance and love with an extravagance the other people may may be looking at you thinking. Well, you could do something better with your time matter of fact I feel this in my spirit there's. Somebody in the this room whose family has rejected you for your willingness and your desire to serve the Lord, and they're looking at all the hours you're spending at the church and saying. Well, what a waste they're looking at all the things you're doing and saying well. Why would you do that you know you could take this job we got people these days that'll take a job in a city that will pay them more. But doesn't have a church that can love and serve their family what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul. But we're living in this day where consistent private service of God it's something that isn't validated by the eyes of man. But I just felt in my spirit to come tell somebody what the Bible even says in 1 Thessalonians 4. When it says that your ambition your aim the thing that you should you should aim to is a quiet life minding your own work, and working with your hands can I tell you whe it's your first year of serving your fifth year of serving. Or your 25th year of serving hey God is honored by what's happening at Center Point would you clap your hands, and thank the Lord would you clap your hands and thank the Lord I just GNA be honest with you I feel in my spirit. And I'm coming quickly to a close I feel in my spirit that there are those under the sound of my voice right. Now, that have prayed that have that have done what you know to do and you've not yet seen the reaping, and there's some people under the sound of my voice that H have been pleading for God to do something they you you've been you've. Got here's the problem you've got a scoreboard set up with God right now and you've established in your mind. If I check the box over here that God's going to do this over here, and you've already you think you got the timing figured out and I'll do this and then God's going to do this. And yet God didn't show up in the way you thought he was supposed to show up, and so now there's hurt and rejection and matter of fact I don't know. Who needs to hear this in this room, but somebody in this room is feeling an anger towards God. Because he didn't come through when you thought he was going to and I just felt a word to tell you today that God is Not mocked. Just because you haven't reaped yet doesn't mean it's not going to happen as somebody in this room has received a not yet as a never, and the devil's trying to tempt you out of being in the will of God I don't know. Why when I was praying I even felt somebody in the spirit that there's opportunities being presented to you to pull you out of the alignment of God in your life right. Now, and you've been tempted to be pulled out of the assignment God's got on you because you haven't seen the reward in an Earthly sense the way you thought it was going to happen. But I want you to know that there's going to come a day if you don't see it on this side there's a place over there called Glory there's a place over there the Bible says he prepared a place for us there's a place over there. On the other side that if you don't see that reaping here on Earth I'm telling you somebody you keep sewing you keep investing you keep giving you keep serving and watch. How God will reward openly I don't know why I felt it, but I'm coming to a close y'all I if y'all promise I if y'all promise you won't go anywhere I'll have the musicians. Come now and I'll let you stand up in about a minute and a half no bathroom breaks I feel like the Lord's going to do something very unique he gave me two words words that he's going to do at the end of this service. I felt to share a particular season of my family's history and I want to explain it with a concept that there are four seasons that a Believer goes through. Just like in the natural it happens in the spiritual that we will go through seasons of Summer where all the fruit on our life is so open, and it's and the flowers are blooming. And we're getting the affirmation and we're getting the credit and the boss noticed what we did and everybody's saying. Well, you did such a great job but then there will be seasons in the life of a believer that I'll call for the sake of today the fall where things begin to shrivel. And things begin to die in preparation for another Bloom, but there's a beautiful part there in the fall where the flowers get beautiful and orange. But towards the end of that fall season things that were once beautiful and celebrated, and lovely start to take their root underground the life of a Believer will also go through a winter season where maybe the growth in a winter season the plants. And the vegetation aren't completely dead but all the growth and all the life goes completely underground under validated not seen by anybody, and spring is a season in the life of a Believer where there starts to be a blooming forth. And there starts to be a breaking out of a winter season here's the LIE from the enemy is that when you're going through a winter season. When you're going through a season where it seems like everything you're investing in is not going noticed any parent that's ever parented a child all the way through their adult years knows that, but at the age of 10 you know everything at the age. Of 17 you know nothing and at the age of 21 they think you know more than you ever knew in the first place. Come on somebody right and if you judge the seasons of parenting by the lowest moments you would just think there's never any future. But the Bible says train up a child in the way that she go and when they're old they won't depart from it that there's. Just certain things that take Seasons to take its full bloom I told you a memory I had of my father of that alarm clock that is my greatest worldly possession it's the only gift I've ever asked my father for as I asked him for his alarm. Clock and every day I walk into my office I see that alarm clock and I'm reminded of a legacy that my father paav for me by way of a private relationship with the Lord. And now what used to be a name of divorce and Brokenness is now a name of men, and of God and preachers and my children know nothing of the Brokenness that there is in our history we have amazing people people in the history of our family. I love my grandparents I love it but something happened in my direct line that created, and swed sewed in tears a tapestry of a beautiful life that I'm now reaping. But I was called in my mind and you can be you can stand all across the room I was called in my mind to a particular memory and that wasn't. Just the alarm clock but I recalled in my mind a very early memory of being five or six years old, and my dad was college educated went to Purdue University got a degree in engineering at one of the top engineering schools in all the country. But the job he had in the city I grew up in I grew up in a church very I feel like I'm at home the church I grew up in Indiana was like a center point it was it was just a thriving amazing multigenerational. Church I'm a product of a church like Center Point my dad was in this city, and he lost his job he had this amazing degree that could get him a job anywhere. But he was so directed by God that I needed to grow up in that church that he turned down the job offers that would have paid him twice as much three times as much. And for a season I'll never forget this memory my dad with a college education from one of the top schools in the country in between jobs. Because it was a very Niche community that didn't have a lot of engineering jobs the only job he could for a short season was being a trash guy, and I have this memory of my educated father coming home from work to pay the bills. With dirt on his face and with a kind of very distinct smell and me being so confused. Because I didn't think we were that kind of family and not realizing at that moment that the only reason my father was willing to go through those links is because he saw a future for his child in a church like this that was surrounded. By people that loved and prayed and he had a word from God that says I'm going to get my reward, and on this Sunday where I'm at Center Point and my father's back in my home church we just broke our attendance record last week. We're we're it's and I'm telling you I promise you he's got a grandkid in his hand right. Now, worshiping Jesus who created an entire new Legacy for my particular line of family in the church that his son pastors while his son's got an opportunity to be at another great church like C. And I promise you as we speak my dad is back in my home Church holding the baby thanking God. Because as my brother said at the beginning of this message Jesus it says for the joy that was set before him he endured the cross to despising the shame. But there was something he saw on the other side that was so worth it he said I'm willing to sacrifice. Now, cuz I know there's a reward on the other side without Vision the people perish without Vision that cast off for strength. When you when you get a vision of why you need to S why you need to keep. When you begin to see what God has in store for you I'm telling eyes have not seen ears have not heard neither has it entered in the heart of man the things that God has prepared for the future future of this ministry. And as I Was preparing and I'm done we're going to come pray together as I Was preparing the Lord took me to this scripture in the Old Testament in the Book of Genesis as Jacob was blessing his children. What people don't realize about that particular portion of scripture is he was blessing his sons, and he gave them all names and particular sentences of blessing over their Futures some of them weren't. So great isachar somehow was called a donkey I don't know why, but when it got to Joseph he said Joseph you're a fruitful bow a fruitful bow whose spring is you're you you're you branched over the wall you went over the wall Joseph you went. Above and beyond you served people beyond the borders of your comfortability and that's why Joseph of all the brothers was the only one whose Sons Ephraim, and Manasseh were blessed and anointed on the same level as their uncles. And all the other all the other brothers got their little sentences of blessing, but Joseph got twice as many sentences of blessing over his life, and his sons ephra Manasseh were blessed by the forefather Jacob. Why because Jacob says listen Joseph you went over the wall you served when you didn't have to serve you loved. When you didn't have to love you gave when you didn't have to give you went above and beyond hey you reached. Somebody that didn't look like you prayed for somebody that wasn't part of your family you served. Somebody that was on the other side of the tracks and because of that I'm going to bless your Generations would you close your eyes all across this room I feel the word healing in my spirit that there's. Somebody in this room I don't maybe I came to preach to one person and that's fine. But there's somebody in this room that is going to experience generational healing as you submit yourself to the service of God there's. Somebody in this room that that's going to receive generational healing and wounds and Brokenness in your family are going to be restored, and renewed as you step forward into this season of serving even. When nobody else sees I just feel to tell you God's not unjust and there's going to be healing have you been rejected before so you're jaded, and you don't want to try it again cuz you don't want to be hurt. But I'm telling you God's about to take an open woman wound and turn it into a scar that can testify for Generations as you submit as you submit in obedience to what God is saying I don't know. Why but I just know it in my spirit there's some people in this room that God's already been speaking to you, and there's something that God's been drawing you and been asking you to call out into and your spirit's been resisting to say yes. Cuz you're having a hard time trusting that God's going to come through and I just feeling in my spirit. If you'll say yes to whatever God says hey you may have to say no to the job to say yes to the will of God. But I promise you if you'll say yes to the will of God your family is going to be healed, and strengthened would you join me around this altar I just feel to pray together I just feel would you join me if you feel this. In your spirit somebody in this room that's needs to say yes for the first time. But I just feel this in my heart there's somebody in this room that's been serving, and you haven't seen it come to pass yet the enemy's been tempting you and trying you and telling you that God hasn't heard your prayers mother can I tell. You that God has heard your prayers and your child is not just going to come home. But God's going to use him in the Kingdom God's going to raise him up in this hour to be a testimony of his faithfulness. Come on would you begin to open up your mouth to God would you begin to talk to the father with me right. Now, father we just Embrace God we'll say yes to serving we'll say yes God to praying God we're not going to back off of what you've called us to be or do we say yes in our spirit trusting that God is Not mock we'll. Reap if we faint not come on would you open up your mouth right now father we say yes God we're not going to stop praying we're not going to stop serving. Come on young person I I'm not going to walk away from this thing cuz I know even though I'm young, and I'm not going to see the reward for a while. If I'll serve and I'll love and I'll pray there's a more coming on the other side.