Lot's Losses

I'm going to preach towards families today because I believe a strong church is made of strong families. And we need strong families in this day and age when the world is going crazy. We need men and women that are going to stand upon the word of God. Amen. Genesis 13 10- 11 says, "And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan that it was well watered everywhere." Look to your neighbors. Say, "Everywhere." Now this is before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. It was like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go towards Zora. Isn't it interesting that Lot from a distance described this land Sodom and Gomorrah that it was like the garden of E Eden? Before doing research for himself if this is a good place for he and his family to live, Lot said, "Oh, it looks good enough and so I guess it must be good enough." Verse 11, Lot chose for himself. Look to your neighbor and say, he chose for himself. He didn't choose for his wife. He didn't choose for his kids. He chose for himself all the plain of Jordan. And Lot journeyed east. And there they Abraham and Lot. Abraham is his nephew. Abraham's his uncle. They separated from each other. For the next few moments, so honored to be here at Centerpoint. I'm going to preach from Lot's losses because we need to consider what Lot lost and we need to make sure today we make up our mind to count the cost that no matter what it takes, we want our family saved.

If you want to be saved, if you want your family saved, one more time, why don't you clap your hands unto God. Amen. You may be seated. You may be seated to Bishop Sister Dri. Thank you so much for building and growing this apostolic church in this community. Why don't we give it up for our bishop and their family. We honor you so very much. Thank you for your Sunday school lesson that touched me and helped prepare me for North American Youth Congress. And I genuinely mean that. I might have to give you a shout out when we get there. Don't you hate when you lose things? How many of y'all lose things pretty regularly? Y'all ever been in Walmart or if you're a little bit bougie or Target parking lot and you forget which part of the parking lot you parked your car. If you're like me, my Nissan Sentra, the key fob is dead and so I'm looking for the Chick-fil-A cup I left from the day before. Don't get in the wrong car. What about guys when you lose that matching pair of socks? It's just one. It's never both. It's always just one. And so in your drawer, most of you have three or four socks that don't have the other pair to it cuz it's just lost. Someone say lost. It's my dear friend Joel Johns. He's youth pastor at Atlanta West Pentecostal Church where I'm from.

His daughter [name redacted] at the time was about three years old and she started getting into playing hideand go seek. And if you have young kids, you know that hideand go seek is a pretty easy game to play with them. It normally goes, I'm going to go hide in the closet, then you come find me. or you go hide in the bathtub and then I'll come find you. But this time [name redacted] was playing hide and go seek and she didn't tell her mom that this was a game. And to [name redacted], it wasn't even that much of a game because she was trying to be the best hider and seeker in the entire world. The house got quiet and parents, you know, when the house gets quiet, it's dangerous. When the house gets quiet and the kids stop talking or the kids stop playing, something bad is going on. So, she starts calling out her name. [name redacted], [name redacted], where are you at, [name redacted]? And there's no noise. She continues to call out her name and still nothing. So, she goes downstairs and realizes that the basement door is unlocked. And so, she starts to worry a little bit. She goes outside and sees if [name redacted]'s outside playing, but [name redacted] is nowhere to be found. She comes back inside and she's saying her whole name at this time and still nothing is being done. No noise is being made.

Sister Allen, she calls her husband, Brother Joel, and says, "I need you to come home now. Call the FBI, the CIA, call everybody you can think of. Every alphabet, Lmento o pqr suv. Call everybody because [name redacted] is missing." Around that time, Pastor Allan, she looks over to the corner and underneath the curtains, she sees some little toes wiggling. She pulls the curtain back and as her teeth are not separating from each other. [name redacted], don't you ever do that to me again. A day in your life. Oh, I love you. I just want to beat you up. Don't do it again. Someone say lost. What about when you're hanging out in your living room and you see that cockroach scurry across the floor? So, you go to your kitchen, it's under the right side of the sink and you get that red bottle of Raid. You come back to kill the cockroach, but the cockroach is lost. It's gone. Just burn the whole house down. Build new. Start over. This is my wedding just about 8 years ago where me and my groomsman were hanging out. We stayed up most of the night being dumb and having a good time. And that next morning, the photographer comes in the room and says, "Put your jackets on, tighten up your ties. It's time to take a picture." So, I did. And I looked down and I realized I don't have any shoes on.

And I wear a size 13. So, you can't just go to a Dillards, a Macy's, or a J C Penneyy's and find my Sue size. You have to normally order it online. And so, there my groomsman and I were searching around the church and we go back to our hotel and it was lost. But worse than that, pastor, there was one time I lost something that I will never ever forget. My grandmother made me a peanut butter jelly sandwiches. She makes the best peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I'm sitting there at her dinner table and she tells me something I don't remember because I was knocked into a week later. And she told me something that I needed to do. But I was grown. I had three chin hairs. My voice was starting to crack a little bit. And I knew I was an adult. And I don't even know what I said. And to my grandma, it didn't matter because it wasn't yes, ma'am. And as soon as those disrespectful words came out of my mouth, a pink house shoe came flying across my face, she pointed her bony finger at me and said, "You done lost your mind." How many of y'all had a kid that's lost their mind before? How many y'all remember when you lost your mind before? We're going to run away. I'm done. She hit me. We believed in spankings when I was a kid, and we still do now.

We did time out. Time out to whoop your tail. Time out to think about what you've done. Time out to catch your breath cuz another belt's coming. Done. Lost my mind. I looked up here in America some of the things that we lose. Our keys, wallet, phone, remote control, glasses. Kids obviously have a very different list. Hats, mittens, school supplies, jackets, lunch boxes. 71% of Americans say they lose their keys at least once a month. If that's you, why don't you raise your hand? You lose your keys at least once a month. 50% of Americans say that they are regularly late because they're looking for something that they lost. If that's you, why don't you raise your hand? Some of y'all were late today cuz you couldn't find your wallet, your phone, your keys. Oh, come on now. Cafe already closed cuz you lost something. They say that most people lose things on the weekends and they lose it at home because you're not really paying attention. 69% of people say they find one thing as they're looking for something else that they lost. Someone say lost. However, there is hope because scientists say that forgetfulness is a sign of intelligence. Look to your neighbor. Say you're still smart. Now, try to mean it this time. Don't be so sarcastic. Come on, husband. You can try to mean it to your wife. Look at him and say, "You're still smart."

He said, "No." He said, "I'm good. We were late today and we had an argument on the way to church about it." They say, "Because you're not worried about trivial things. When you come home, you just throw your keys somewhere and you're trying to pay attention to greeting your spouse or greeting your kids." When you get home, you don't want to be on your phone. you've been answering emails all day, so you just put it down and you lose it. Scientists say that forgetfulness is a sign of intelligence. However, in the case of Lot, it was the exact opposite because Lot wasn't late for synagogue while he was looking for a camel in Walmart parking lot. Lot didn't have two different kind of sandals on because he lost one pair. Lot lost the most important thing that you and I could ever lose. Lot lost God. His family lost God because of his choices. And I've come to preach today at Centerpoint. You can lose a lot of things. You can be late for work, but God forbid you're late for eternity because you lost the most important thing in the entire world. Don't lose God. Hey, the methods may change. This beautiful LED screen, the service times may change, the lights and the colors may change, but one thing that we can never change is the mission and the message. And 10, 20, 30 years from now, if the Lord carries, we still better be preaching here.

O Israel, the Lord our God is one. Lord, lose your car, but don't lose the oneness of God. In the beginning was the word. The word was with God, and the word was God, and the word became flesh and dwelt among us. Hey, this is what we were built off of. And we're still going to hold it. To the elders that are out there, I know you don't have as much energy as you used to have, but here this young preacher, we still love the oneness of God. For in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily and without controversy. Great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh. We're not going to lose the oneness of God. We're also not going to lose new birth. Someone say new birth. New birth. John told Nicodemus in John chapter 3, "You got to be born again." In John 3:5, he said, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man is born of water." Someone say, "Water." Water. And spirit. Someone say, "Spirit." Spirit. He cannot enter or even see the kingdom of God. Peter and the apostles, Jesus's own mother, echoed these same words on the day of Pentecost. When they heard this, they were cut to their hearts and said to Peter and the rest of the brethren, "What shall we do?" Acts 2:38. Then Peter said unto them, repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Hey, you can be late for church. You can be late for work because you lost your keys. But don't lose that we must be born again. We can have church at 10, 11, or 6, but don't lose that you must be born again. We might have red lights or blue lights, but don't lose. You must be born again. To those out there, centerpoints believes in repentance. Someone say repentance. First John 1:8 and9 says, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us all of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. You don't have to be good enough to get God. You don't have to have the right last name. You don't have to look the right way. All you have to do is confess your sins unto God. And the word of God says that if you repent and change your ways, God will forgive you. At this church, we haven't lost that. I know this is a beautiful building. I know we look nice on a Sunday morning, but we were once sinners, but we've been saved. And if God did it for me, then surely he can do it for you. I don't care what you're bound by. I don't care what you're addicted to. I don't care how broken your life may be.

We are not losing repentance. Your whole life can change in a moment in an altar when you lift your hands and confess it to God. God will forgive you. We also believe in Jesus name baptism. And we're not going to lose that. Matthew 28:19, Jesus is talking to his disciples and says, "Go ye therefore into all the world, teaching and baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost." If you're a father, raise your hand. If you're a brother, raise your hand. If you're an uncle, raise your hand. If you're a son, raise your hand. If you know that the South has the greatest food in the entire world, raise your hand. See, I have a lot of different relationships. To my daughter, I'm daddy. To brother Allan, I'm a friend. To you, I'm youth president. I'm evangelist. I'm friend. To my wife, I'm husband. But I have a name. And God forbid if my wife is ever attacked, she can yell out father. A lot of people can answer. She can yell out, "Son," a lot of people can answer. But if she wants to get my attention, she's not gonna say DJ. She's going to call me by my government name. And when I hear my government name come out of her mouth, everything stops. And I'm going to turn her direction. Why? Yes, he's father, son, and holy spirit, but his name is Jesus.

That's why Acts 4:12 says, "Neither is there salvation in any other name. For there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved." Because when you call out to Jesus, you say deliverer. When you call out to Jesus, you're talking to the healer. When you call out to Jesus, you're talking to the savior. Everything you need is in that name. That's why here at Centerpoint, when we baptize, we baptize in Jesus' name. Why? Because when you pray over your food, you say in Jesus name. If you're about to get into a car accident, you don't have to worry about who to pray to. Just call out to Jesus because he's everything you need. He's Jehovah Gyra, Jehovah Ni, Jehovah Madesh, Llelion. Everything you need is in that name. And we're not losing that. We also believe that we need to be filled with the gift of the Holy Ghost. And there's an evidence. There's an initial sign that we begin to speak in an unlearned languages. God gives us the ability. This is found in Acts chapter 2 8 10 1922. But it's not just in the book of Acts. Moses said it in Numbers chapter 14. I would that all God's people would be filled with his spirit. In Joel 2:28, there's a prophecy about it. It's found in Romans 8:9 and 10. I love how Paul wrote it in 1 Corinthians 14:5.

I would that you all would speak with tonesues. In verse 15, he says, I thank God I speak in tonesues more than you all. In verse 39, he says, you better not tell someone that they shouldn't speak with tongues. Why? Because we're not losing that. I know the world may mock it. I know they might not intellectually understand it, but we're not losing that. You might lose a lot of things, but God forbid you lose truth. Proverbs 23:23 says, "Buy the truth and sell it not. All scripture is given by inspiration of God. It's all profitable for doctrine, for reprove, for correction, for instruction and righteousness. His word is a lamp unto my feet, and a it's a light unto my path. Thy word have I hid in my heart." Psalms 119:11. That I might not sin against him. We must make sure we get the word of God deep down in our heart. Why? Because I don't want to lose God. Whatever it takes. I want my family saved. And the word of God demands that we live differently. 1 Peter 1:15-16, "But as it is written, be ye holy and all manner of conduct." It is written, "Be ye holy, for I am holy, sayeth the Lord." Hebrews 12:14, "Follow peace with all men, and holiness without which no man shall see Jesus." 1 Peter 2:9, you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, his special people.

You're a holy nation. We're called to live separate from the world and separate unto God. And we better not lose it. No matter what it takes, I got to make sure that my life is built on the firm foundation of the word of God. I can look crazy in a Walmart parking lot trying to find my car, but I don't want to lose God. I can have mismatched socks on, but I don't want to lose God. I might be late, but God forbid that we lose the most important thing, God. We can't afford to not allow the truth to get down to the next generation. Because it's really unfortunate to pass on a Bible just for it to get dusty and never get read. It's unfortunate to pass on hobbies instead of holiness or rules instead of a relationship. It's unfortunate to pass on a political preference more than a Pentecostal experience. I am not American first. I'm apostolic first. And what's going on in the world doesn't make me want to prepare to live down here. It's making sure that I'm prepared to live up there. And so regardless of how my daughters vote one day, we might vote differently. But do you abide by the word of God? That's the most important thing that you and I can do. We must make sure to get truth to the next generation. Brother DJ, they taken prayer out of schools.

We've taken prayer out of our homes. We must get the presence of God. Thank you so much for that lesson today. We must get the presence of God back in our homes lest we lose what Lot lost. Let's look at his history to understand about Lot's losses. Lot was Abram or Abraham's nephew. When Lot's dad and grandfather passed away, Abraham became the leader or patriarch, that biblical word of the family. Lot understood that Abraham was blessed, that the favor of God was on Abraham. And so, Lot made up his mind. I also want to be blessed. So, I'm going to make sure that God is the center of my life. In Genesis 12:15, we read that Lot went. Somebody say he went. that Lot went with Abraham as he journeyed to Heron. One verse later after they've already passed through that city, some time has passed and we read that Abraham took Lot. Someone say he took Lot. He took Lot. Why? Because his priorities started to shift. The things that were important are no longer important to Lot. What was a priority, the things of God, the man of God, the house of God, serving in the church is no longer important to Lot. And so he's having to be dragged along and he's about to lose everything. And to make matters worse, Lot's flocks and Abraham's flocks are growing so big there's not enough land to maintain both families.

Their shepherds and hierlings are starting to fight and quarrel over the land and they're stealing from each other and there's causing a lot of problems. So Abraham decides, it's time for you and I to split up. We must go different ways. And so I'm giving you the choice of where you want to live. And this is where we pick up our text in Genesis 13 10 and 11. Lot lifted his eyes and he saw all the plain of Jordan that it was well watered everywhere. From a distance he thought it was approved of God. Verse 11. Then Lot chose for himself. He didn't think about his wife. He didn't think about his kids. He didn't think about the future. He said, "It feels good in the moment, so I'm choosing for myself." Look to your neighbor and say, "It's not about you." Look to someone else and say, "Get over yourself." Don't that feel good? Say it again to somebody. Look to him and say, "It's not about you. Get over yourself." I wish someone would have told that to Lot. Lot, it's not about you. You got a wife and kids that you're responsible for. Get over yourself. I know it may make you feel good, but how does it affect the next generation? But Lot didn't care about anything else. He only cared about how he felt in the moment. See, you and I, we can choose where we work.

We can choose where we live, what we watch, what we listen to, what we wear, the places we go, the friends we have. But what we can't choose is how it affects our families. You and I, when we're choosing our future, in reality, we're choosing the future also of the people that follow after us. But I love Joshua's mindset in Joshua 24:15. As for me and my house, Joshua understood it's not just about him. He said, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." To daddies, to mommies, to young people, we must make up our mind today. Whatever it takes, I must be saved. I got to get into the presence of God daily. I don't want to lose what Lot lost because it's not about you and it's definitely not about me. It's about others and our choices directly affect others futures. So, let's make it extremely practical on a Sunday morning. You and I, we can't watch a bunch of garbage and then wonder why our families are struggling with lust, anger, low self-esteem, or identity issues. Brother Allen, I don't know why they're having nightmares. You're letting them watch horror movies. I don't know why they're struggling with their self-esteem. They're looking at all these filtered girls for hours scrolling. I don't know why they're struggling with anxiety and depression. Read the anxious generation. Why? Because we're allowing anything and everything.

I love my daughters so much there's sometimes I have to say no because I'm trying to protect them. My daughters hate the car seat. Josh with the four kids. My daughters hate the car seats. The youngest one starfishes and she's not trying to get in it. The old one's like, "Ah, my back is hot. Ah." the younger one, the middle one, Ira, she's not talking all the best yet and she's like, "What kind of dad would I be if I just say,"Hey, you can just be free in the car. Do whatever you want." Now, back in the day when cars were made out of metal and not soda cans, maybe you would call the police on me if I'm driving with my kids just in the trunk hanging off the side. What they don't understand is I'm not trying to oppress them. I'm not trying to bind them. I'm not trying to hold them down. I'm trying to keep them safe because I'm trying to get them home. And so the way we live, let me help you young people and be a friend to the parents today. Sometimes when mom and dad says no, it's not about binding you or oppressing you or making you feel weird or keeping you out of things. It's trying to get you home to heaven because they understand what you might not understand. Whatever it takes, we must be saved.

So there's certain things we don't do. We can't gossip in front of our kids. What happens the next time pastor or sister Chassity has a word from God for your kids and all they hear is because of what we talked about on the way home. Man, the temperature of the church, the song this, the service is this, this, this, this, and all we do is complain. We're never part of the solution. What happens when God gives them a word? What we need back in America, in the world, is respect. Regardless of if you like the president, the last one, or the current one, we still need to respect them because of their office. And it shows for through us. So if I want my daughters to respect me, they're looking at how I respect the leaders above me. I'm not saying blindly follow, but when he's using the word of God to direct us, I must make sure to submit my heart to the word of God through the man of God and follow it because my daughters are watching. And if I'm not listening to my spiritual authority, why would they listen to their spiritual authority? We can't only talk about sports, money, movies, and other temporal things. And that's not evil in itself, but they only hear the name of Jesus on Sundays and Wednesdays. If we decide to come to church on midweek, we must make sure to get the word of God back in our homes.

Whatever it takes. I want my family saved. If you're a dad and you want your family saved, why don't you clap your hands unto God? If you're a mom and you want your family saved. If you're single, why don't you clap your hands and say, "No matter what it takes, I want my family saved." But Lot had a lot of losses. Lot's losses all because his choices. He didn't care about others. He only thought of himself. As we continue continue to read the story of Lot, God became extremely frustrated with the city of Sodom and Gomorrah because of the evil that was happening there. So he talked to Abraham and said, "I'm going to destroy the city." Abraham pleaded and interceded with God. If there are 50 righteous people, will you spare the city? There wasn't 50, so he pleaded 45, 40, 30, 20. If there's 10 righteous people, will you spare the city? And there wasn't even 10 righteous people in the city. We know Lot was married. He had two daughters that were married. And then he had at least two other daughters. There was eight in Lot's family. They couldn't even positively influence two other people to live for God. It matters who we allow our kids to be friends with and marry. It directly impacts their futures. And to make matters worse, his son-in-laws didn't even follow him out the city when they were escaping damnation because they didn't take it seriously.

We read that God sent angels into the city to warn Lot and his family. It's time to leave because fire is about to rain down. We're destroying the city. And as he was there, the angels came and evil men from the city came to do wicked things against those angels. And as they're locked up in the house, Lot's priorities are so perverted and twisted. He offers his own daughters trying to protect holy things. God forbid I'm more worried about my reputation than saving my family. That I allow my family to be lost because I want to protect what others think about me. God will protect the holy things. I'm called to lead and serve my family. And so if I come to the altar and I pray, you can judge me if you want. I'm not worried about what you think. I care about my three baby girls and my wife. I just want my family safe. If I have to make some changes after church today, I just want my family saved. Oh, you're self-righteous. You're taking church too seriously. I just want my family saved. And whatever it takes, whatever I have to do, whatever the cost, I don't want lots losses in my life because I want my family saved. But Lot didn't care about them. And Lot lost a lot. As we read this story, they're called to leave the city and don't look back.

But Lot's wife fell in love with the city she should have never experienced. And it wasn't by her choices of her environment. It was her husband choices that set her up for failure. And as they're escaping, she looked back at a city she fell in love with that she should have not lived in except her husband chose it for her and she died. When they got out the city, his two younger daughters also committed evil and wicked sinful acts. And because of their mistakes, the Moabites and the Ammonites lineage was born. Both of these people constantly wared against the children of Israel, God's people. They were the same group of people that would offer their kids alive on a burning altar of Molech because our choices directly affect the decisions and lives of future generations. Either we set our families up for success or we set our families up for failure. And I wonder if we can talk to Lot today. What would he say about our choices? What would Lot say about his losses and about what it means to lose things like God? I bet you he would say it directly matters and you better be aware of what you're doing because it impacts your family. It impacts those around you. So whatever it takes, you have to do it because you need to make sure your family is saved. But Lot didn't care and Lot had a lot of losses.

as the piano player comes up. One of the most sobering scriptures to me is in Hebrews chapter 11 as these great men and women of God are talked about in the great things they did. You know who's mentioned there? Lot. Lot was counted as faithful to God. Lot was faithful, but his family isn't mentioned. His family was lost. So though you might survive in that environment, though you can watch that and still get to heaven, though you can go there and still get to heaven, what is it doing to the people that are following you? I don't want to make it to heaven and risk my family not making it there. Because really, I don't want to be called faithful if I'm not faithful to making sure my family is saved. There's a story of this Missouri wheat farmer that he, his wife, his two sons, and his daughter was getting ready for church. His farmer friend from down the road came and said, "Have you been listening to the weather?" He said, "No, we're getting ready for church because that's what we do every Sunday." He said, "There's a hell storm forming and you're probably not going to be able to save all of your crops, but I would suggest you get your combine out and save as much as you can." The Missouri wheat farmer said, 'Thank you. I appreciate appreciate the news, but we're going to go to church because that's what we do.

So, he packed up his wife, his two kids, and his younger daughter, his two sons, and his younger daughter in the car, and they drove to church. Haley, while they were at church that day, they're distracted as the preacher's preaching, and hail is hitting that tin roof in that little bitty town. Their imagination's wondering, "What is it going to be like when they get home?" They have to stay a little bit after church as they wait for the storm to pass. Eric, finally the storm passed and they're driving home and they see the damage that happens all around. And when they finally get home, they're amazed by what they saw. No, God didn't spare their crop. No, the storm didn't split into like the Red Sea. It was a complete and total loss. Brother Carson, they lost everything that day. It took years for the farmer to gain back financial what he lost that day. Years later, the farmer and the Christian farmer were talking and reminiscing about that crazy storm. And he said, "I bet you wish you would have stayed home that day." He said emphatically, "No, because you see, on that day, I might have lost my wheat crop, but I saved the main crop. My son is a preacher. My other son's a lawyer and still in church. My daughter's a Sunday school teacher. He might have lost some temporal things, but he saved the most important thing that you and I can save.

He saved his family. I've come today with a really clear message. Whatever it takes, you have to make up your mind today to not lose what Lot lost. But instead, you have to make hard choices because the most important thing you can save is your family. So, dads, I'm in the boat with you. Got three young kids, and no matter how many books I read, there's not enough knowledge in the world. Kids are different. They're exhausting. They're hard. You know, you got nine of them, twins at that, eight months old. But, Dad, let's be men in our houses. Let's stop lying to ourselves and saying we're not emotional. Who's better, Michael Jordan or LeBron James? That's emotion right there. Roll Tide. Excort me out the back. That's emotion right there. So, let's not come to the altar. I'm just not emotional. No. Your kids see you screaming at a screen. And that's okay if that's your hobby. They better see us passionate here at an altar. I don't want my daughter to think my hobbies are more important than the house of God. So men, I challenge you. Rise up. Make up your mind. Whatever it takes. Save your family. Lead your family closer to God. On the way home, you might have to have a conversation with him. I know I let you have unrestricted cell phone use. I know I let you watch anything and everything.

But today, it stops. But dad, dad, they get to do it. But dad, they might not understand, but I'm not my daughter's best friends. And though it's inconvenient sometimes, though I would love a screen to raise them, and I can just do my own thing. I'm called to raise and train my family in the fear of the Lord. And so I have to do hard things. And yes, others may get away with it, Kaia, Iron, Allethia. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. And it's not about being self-righteous. It's what I need to do to make sure my family is saved. To the mama bears out there, y'all are amazing. My daughter, my oldest, is starting to go on preaching trips with me alone so we can kind of break up the defense cuz we're in zone defense right now, outnumbered. We was on a flight to Louisiana and one of the airline attendees was super helpful. She was asking what we're doing and I told her, she said, "Man, you're just dad of the year." And I said, "Why am I getting rewarded for something my wife does every single day?" Women, even if your husband is very active in the house, and we should be. We should help with the laundry and clean dishes, we should help do things around the house. Even when we're exhausted coming home from work, we help each other.

My wife, mama bears, what you guys don't understand maybe is what our kids like to eat, what they like to wear, what their hobbies are, how they think predominantly comes from your nurturing. So fight on behalf of your babies. How many great preachers can say, "Oh, I remember my mama used to pray. I remember waking up hearing my mama's prayer." Mama bear war and fight spiritually for your babies. Fight for them. Love them. Protect them. Make sure whatever it takes. Don't lose your family. Well, I'm from a single parent home. Sin has broken the ideal. I understand that. But Paul wrote to Timothy, "Stir up the gifts that are in you by the laying on of hands of your mother and your grandmother." The man wasn't mentioned. And though that's God's plan, sometimes sin and life happens. Timothy was a great man of God because he has a mom that said, "You know what? It might have ran in my family until it ran into me in an altar." So, single mama, you let your kids hear you pray. Single mama, you rewrite your family story through your kids. Whatever the cost, how inconvenient, do whatever it takes. save your family. Young people, you prayed so amazing at the altar at Tennessee Youth Camp. You need to make sure your family knows, your guardians, your parents know whatever choices you make, I trust you. I want to be saved.

And though I might not understand it because my brain's not fully developed till I'm 25, I'm going to just listen. I'm going to submit. I'm going to follow you. Why? Because I also want to be saved. Well, you've been preaching about families for 35 minutes now. I'm single. I I'm not married. I don't have any kids. Look around you. You're part of the body of Christ. And when you show up and you serve, when you're running a camera, when you're on the guest service team, when you're a Sunday school teacher, when you're doing something in the house of God, you're allowing other people to realize, you know what? If they can do it, then God can also do it through me. Because it's also not about you and it's not about me. It's all about others. So, let's choose love. Let's choose God. Let's choose truth. Let's choose whatever it takes. We must be saved. Can we all stand here today? This world is falling apart and we lose a lot of things. But after this youth camp, after seeing these amazing students pray and intercede and worship, but I felt led to share today to make sure we build strong families because we can lose a lot of things, but let's not lose the most important thing. Lot had a lot of losses. He lost his family because Lot first lost God. So, are you and I practically living out living for God as best as we can?

If you're falling short, today is your day. I invite you to make a commitment in a moment in an altar that can forever alter the future of your kids, that can save them, that could set them up for success. If you're doing right, I pray that today in a moment you come to the altar and you get the strength of God to continue to work good as a parent, continue to love, to continue to discipline, to continue to lead because above all else, I want my family saved. I want my daughters to have a good career. I want them to get married potentially. Boys are weird, but you know, maybe one day. I want my daughters to have a great life, but more than life here, I want my daughters to have life there. If that's you and you want your family saved, why don't you join me in this altar right now? Why don't you step forward? Husbands, why don't you find wives? Parents, why don't you find kids? Friends, why don't you find a brother and sister in Christ? Nobody praying alone. Let's all gather together. elders, why don't you join us at this altar and find a young family and impart faithfulness and encourage them through praying with them that no matter what it takes, we're going to make it. Come on to the young mama. You're so exhausted, feeling like you don't get a lot out of church.

Hey, you're showing your kids that the church is the center of your life. I know they're spilling snacks. I know they're jumping all over the chairs. But hey, thank you for being in the house of God. God's going to reward your faithfulness to his house. Come on, Dad. Why don't you lift up holy hands right now? I challenge men. Why don't we lead right now and make sure that our families hear our prayers? Make sure that our families realize that we're serious about living for God. Come on, man. Come on, man. I challenge you. Just like we do for sports, just like we do for politics, let's get passionate for the things of God. Whatever it takes. I want my family saved. Come on, mama bear. Why don't you fight in the spirit right now? Come on, mama bear. war for the future of your kids right now. I know they may be away from God, but God can bring them home because of your prayers. Come on, young people. Why don't you submit and let your parents hear you cry out that you're serious about living for God? Come on, young married. Let Jesus be the center of your life. You can make it. I know sometimes there's misunderstandings and disagreements, but you can make it being married in 2025. Come on, grandparents. That's awesome. Elders, God, no matter what it takes, help me to have the hard conversation with my family.

If it takes that, I just want my family saved, though I'm exhausted from work. Help me to go home and love my family. Help me to spend time in the word of God with my family. Help my daughters to continue to hear me pray and read your word. God, you're the center of my life.