The Fence

I'm going to go to job chapter 1 for my scripture reading today and want to launch out from there, and hopefully I can draw this back around the way I feel like it's in my mind I don't speak to us today about the fence. The fence job 1:8 says then the Lord said unto Satan have you considered my servant job that there is none like him on Earth Earth a blameless and upright man one. Who fears God and shuns evil so Satan answered the Lord and said does job fear God for nothing have you not made a hedge around him some translations say fence around his household around all that he has on every side you have blessed the work. Of his hands and his possessions and have increased in the land my very first sermon I ever preached many many many many years years ago back in the old youth room which is the old U youth which is where the youth room is now.

I preached my I still have a copy of my handwritten notes the very first sermon do you give God the right to brag, and I use the same passage of scripture in a little different way. Then but interesting note there did you notice that God describes how job is and Satan in a roundabout way has to agree with him he doesn't like it he begins to explain all the reasons. Why that he is an upright man but the devil can't disagree with God I think it's really important for somebody to hang on to, and this is just a little nugget before I get into my sermon you need to quit listening to what the enemy. Says about you and start tuning in to what God says about you because what God says even the enemy has to agree with man I could just say. Amen right now and we go home because I just preached the whole message right there, and I just want to let you know that was way better than my first sermon ever was I don't even know.

If my mom liked my first sermon when's the last time you stopped and were thankful for the small things in life. When was it when was it when was the last time that you were just thankful for breathing right it's usually the only time your mindful of it is when your nostril gets clogged. And then when it clears up how many people like oh thank God I can breathe. Again, yeah or how many of you it's been a while since you thanked him for the ability to walk yeah when's the last time that you just said God. Thank you that I can walk usually you don't think about that until it's been taken away from you right yeah. Now, some of you have reached That season of life where every morning you get up like okay Lord.

Thank you it still moves all right let's go yeah I I'm getting there I get up every morning, and sounds like rash Krispy Treats a lot of snap crackling. When pop goes on I think it's important because in a world that we live in that is so focused on all the things you don't have it's always reminding you of the next thing that's going to benefit. And make your life better what happens is we often get into a different mindset than what we really should be in which is a mindset of thankfulness we should live in a constant state of God. Thank you for today God thank you that I'm alive thank you that I slept in a bed last night. Thank you Lord that I rode in a car today it may not be the car you want. But it was a car I don't think anybody came in on horse I didn't.

See, one donkey tied up outside all right so we all can stop and be thankful for what God has done for us we see in this passage a little bit of insight in the how God operates that he puts Hedges. Or fences around us you ever you ever stop and really think much about offence. Now, many of you know that I have two English pointers that live at our house we didn't intend to have two English pointers we went to get a English pointer, and when we left we had two I know that happen sometimes in life we started. Out because we wanted to have a puppy we had a puppy early on in our married life in fact it was one of the single biggest regrets we ever had if I've ever had a night buyer remorse it was the night we brought our first.

Dog home and then you know it was probably some 18 20 years later we decided. Let's try it again this time let's do it twice let's buy two so we got them in, and if you know anything about pointers they are rambunctious and they got a lot of energy they got a lot of energy they have a lot of energy. They are energetic they are a lot a lot they are energetic did I say that, and we realized real quickly that our acre lot was just not enough space for them and they wanted to run. So we needed to do something to contain them and we didn't want to put up a fence in our front yard, and all the things that you would naturally do for dogs. So they have invented this wonderful thing called the underground fence anybody know what I'm talking about, and what it is they have a system of wires they come out and they do a little small small little trench in your yard they go around the whole.

Perimeter of your yard or wherever you want it to be and they set it up there, and then the dogs wear these collars and then the dog can only go. So far if it gets up to where the fence is if you buy a good one you can buy some cheap ones. But if you buy if you buy the good one when the dog gets up to where the fence is there's there's a little warning that goes off for the dog, and if your dog is smart it knows. Because of experience that if I go any further I'm going to get shocked now. When the guy was installing the fence I was asking him I'm like like how. How how much do you guarantee that this is going to work he said well you got sporting dogs he goes sporting dogs are really smart said usually only takes once or twice, and he goes they learn they know they understand they figured out really.

Quick I said well what's like the worst dog he said those little terriers I was like. What do you mean he said you got to make a Believer out of them he said otherwise they'll. See, that white flag and they think it's the flag and they try to attack the flag he said so I have to tell the owner Dr the about look I know your little fify here is only about three PBS of fur. But I'm fixing to shock the snot out of it because if I don't do it right first time it's never going to listen as a pastor I was thinking. How awesome it would be if I could somehow get an underground fence around y'all's life, and could slide a collar around your neck and could go in and set up the parameters for where it is you need to live.

And then if you drift it over Wham and hopefully only once or twice unless I had to make a Believer out of you you'd be like you know I don't go over there I don't know what's on the other side. But it's bad walking over there in fact there's you can YouTube this and I always get a little hesitant. When I say you can YouTube something because I never know how you're going to spell it, and what I mean by that is I'm a terrible speller and there's been times. When I was looking for something innocently and it didn't turn out right I'll tell those stories later. But there there's a video out there that's called a shock collar for husbands it's worth the three minutes to watch it about how it's revolutionized some marriages all of a sudden some ladies are like every day millions of times a day a heart stops.

Beating lungs stop breathing and the fence that divides life and death ceases to be if anyone could figure out a way to go over, and come back and give us a description other side it can maybe make us help better understand all that fully. Awaits us over there now there's been those who have had near-death experiences and we there's some books that have been written about some things that are there. But they're they're really vague they're not they're not overly descriptive and there's there's talks of a light, and seeing a shadow of things to come and they and there there's been some individuals. Who claim to go back and forth on a regular basis, but yet they never bring any substantial evidence back with them that's overwhelmingly convincing that we're like okay. Well, they got the t-shirt on that says I died and came back this is what it's like instead often times I feel like.

When it comes especially to those who they're they're developing a relationship with God that there are many. Who feel like God is just on the other side of the fence almost like. If when I was growing up there was a there was a television show whether you like it or not it was a television show that was there we watched on the picture radio of Tim the Tool Man Taylor. And Tim had a neighbor his name was Wilson W Wilson and he always was on the other side of the fence anybody remember seeing this and anytime Tim needed some advice. Because he got himself into trouble he would go over and talk to Wilson, but he was never face to face with Wilson he was always there was always a fence between him, and Wilson on the other side he was always getting this advice.

And I feel often times that people's relationship with God is a lot like that is they talk to God. But there's always that fence that's there they never really get a full image or a full picture of who God is in their life there's there's always. Just a piece that's there CL it's kept in a bit of a shadow and it's kind of a bit of a cloak they're not fully grasping the full picture that is there as you study this out this. Isn't this isn't just the norm in Christianity or what people often times struggle with even Celtic spirituality speaks of what they term as thin places where the natural and the supernatural worlds. Come together at the narrowest point they talk about the birth of a child as a moment like that or where's Joan Newman you guys move seats a spectacular Sunset.

If you know Joan she likes sunsets or these these moments in nature where where where. Because you're you're so captivated in there it's almost as if Heaven comes to Earth in that moment, and you're just there captivated and inthra what's going on, but is that what the relationship with God is supposed to be like is that is that all. There is to it because to me when you base it off of that proof of what's on the other side of the fence is hard to come by at least. If you end up staying only in your yard death will bring the ultimate answer. But once it does you're not able to tell anybody about what it is you experience one of the things I think is fascinating about the underground fence we have with our dogs tripping Lulu is that when I go out for a walk.

Or go for a jog is they'll go out to the end of the yard, and they go right to the furthest Corner they can go and then they get there and they just sit. And they watch you go down the road and it's like you can tell like I really want to go with you, but I can't I really want to go where it is you're going I want to be with you but I can't. Because this is as far as I can come and I wonder if you and I ever find that same type of feeling. When we're talking with God it's like I God I feel like there's something that's keeping me from where you are like where I'm stuck over here on this side I'm stuck I'm stuck here in this world in this moment even though I know there's. More of you and there's more for me to discover of you and there's more that you have for me, but there's this thing that's keeping me from being there which we know is life the great irony for me is that the smartest Minds the keenest.

Minds in the world spend spend all this time thinking and probing and studying the answer to the one question that they never know for sure yet yet the biggest fool Among Us finds out as soon as they draw their last breath in fact there's. Been times when loved ones have passed quickly our own brother Ed saing passed very quickly. Just a few days ago and I had that thought as I Was preparing for his funer. Well, he knows now he knows he knows what Waits, but they're not able to come back, and tell us so we're stuck here trying to figure it out and for those of us who believe that there is something beyond the fence something beyond the heads. When there are times that we struggle with God where are you at in my life. Because I'm not happy with all that's going on there are times when God can feel.

So distant and so far away and yet there's times when he feels so close, and so near that's part of living this life we're in there there's there is much certain at least at least this is how I feel every human that has ever. Lived or still living this is a reality this is the truth you and I are in temporary housing we are in temporary housing there is much more than just this life I'm reaching for somebody today there's something beyond the Hedge there's something beyond the fence. There's something worth knowing everyone is waiting our turn to leave the yard one day a man came, and he was different than anybody else that had ever. Come the way he spoke and the way he talked and how he conducted himself was just different the words he used were so captivating you were just drawn into him the way he spoke about God was so different than anything anyone had ever heard.

There was a comfort around him there was a peace and he came and he gave us a mission Jesus came as a fence jumper or a destroyer of the Hedge. See, I believe that there has been a fundamental misunderstanding about the message of Jesus Christ in our day people have gotten the idea that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is primarily. How to get ready for a life that's beyond this one something that takes place on the other side of the fence. But I want you to know ladies and gentlemen that was only a part of his message that was only a piece there's also the announcement that there is this mysterious someone. Who has broken through the fence and he has entered into our world he has come down to where you, and I live he didn't leave us by ourself he didn't. Just leave us in our despair he didn't just leave us in the Brokenness of humanity, and sin that's in our world yet he left the Splendor of heaven and he came to where we are I remember reading a story about a Sunday school teacher.

Who was trying her best to describe to her kids about the things necessary in order to get to heaven, and she asked her class she said if I sold my house and I sold my car. And I and I gave all the money that I got from that and I gave it, and I gave it to the church would that would that would that be the way I got into heaven the class said no like. Well, okay what if I what if I was really kind to everybody and I helped. Everybody that I could and those that were homeless I took them in and I fed them, and he went through this whole dialogue would that would that be something that guaranteed me to get in heaven class said no she's like. Well, what is it that would get me into heaven and one little boy raised his hand he said you got to be dead got to be dead there you go I don't know about you, but that isn't really encouraging is it what qualifies me see.

Here's the difficulty if you got to be dead then the gospel doesn't have much to do with today. Let that sink in if you got to be dead then the gospel doesn't have really anything to do with right. Now, but right now is when I need God because I'm not dead I'm still living I'm still breathing. Look, at your neighbor right now say we're still living and look I have things going on in my life that don't always work out the way I want them to I need something that helps me with me right. Now, I need it right now God I'm don't need a tomorrow God I'm not in tomorrow I don't even know. If I'm going to get it tomorrow but I have now I have here I have right.

Now, that's when I need God and I'm afraid too often we misunderstand our relationship with him because we feel like he's on the other side of the fence, and then I got to get myself into a certain order. And do some certain things and in order to do that then then when I then when I die that's when all the things. Come to pass but is that what you really draw when you read this book is that what you is that what you take take away. When you read it is it that I it's only when I when I get dead no that's that's not what's there he is simply this he came into our world and is making his presence. And power available to anybody who wants him right now to anybody who wants him right. Now, I don't know about you but I need him right now maybe I'm the only one in the room.

But I doubt it I doubt it's just me I doubt I guarantee you there's three or 4 hundred people around. Who says you know I need him right now too I need him right now in my life I don't want him to be far away or distant or on the other side of the fence I need him in my life right. Now, well I got good news for you he's a right now God he is a right. Now, you don't got to be dead to experience God I know that's not the best English. But that's the way I spelled it out there many people have reduced the Gospel of Jesus Christ to this that when you die there's a bridge over to the other side, and then when you get over there I don't I don't even know. How we got here but this seems to be the majority thinking that St Peter's going to do a pop quiz with you, and if you're able to answer the questions correctly you get in the gates.

And if not down to Hell down there to where harmonicas and accordians and cats live the emails. Just keep on coming just so you know I have a collection of cat things that have been given to me in my office I have a special shelf. Just for cat stuff nowhere in the New Testament does Jesus say now I'm going to give you the minimal requirements that you have to meet in order to get to heaven. Amen nowhere but more often than not the majority of Christianity is living off of a meeting the minimum requirement list, and I've explained this many times s. But I feel it's important to explain it again today when I married my beautiful wife Chassidy, and I stood over there in the chapel that day in July 31st 1999 as Bishop was conducting our service I did not. Look, at her and say I'm going to need to know what it is that is the minimal requirement for you to be happy with me I need to know.

How many hugs you need I need I need to know how many gifts I'm going to have to buy I need to know. How many holes I got to dig in the backyard for you to plant things that would have been a handy piece of information to have I didn't stay up there and say. What I need to know the minimal because I'm going to tell you right now she would not have said I do if i' have been like I just need to know like. If I can meet the minimal then we're good and I think everybody in the room understands that right. Because who wants somebody who's supposed to be committing their life to you to say hey I need to know. What the minimum is I just if I long that way I know if I'm meeting the minimum hey I'm good to go.

But I find a lot of people approach the relationship with God that way is I want him, but I don't really want a big impact in my life God I want you I want you to be a part of what I'm doing as long. As you don't interfere with my schedule and my plans God I want you as long as I can continue to be self-focused, and self-centered I want you in my life as long as you continue to give me blessings. But I don't really want to change much about what I'm doing because I'm being honest I kind of like. What I'm doing I like the way I think I like the way I live. But I don't read the Bible and walk away with him saying here's a list of the minimum things you have to do in order to get to heaven in fact.

What I walk away with is him saying like in John 14:15 if you love me you'll keep my Commandments the problem is that so many people want to know. What to do to be saved so that they can do it and get it done with, and move on with life like they're getting a shot I go in just give me the shot that way I know I'm good I'm taken care of I can be I can move. Forward in my life but if you don't get something that changes you from what you used to be that gives you a desire to live a better life. Then you didn't get a full dose of Jesus you may have got something that made you feel better in that moment. Look, here's here's the deal there's a lot of people there's a lot of Pastors in this town.

Who will try their best to preach you happy, but I'm not going to preach you into an emotion. Because that's a Fool's errand because what may make you happy may not make the next person beside you happy, and if all we're doing is chasing our feelings that's never going to be something that we're ever going to be able to complete. But I my goal is to try to preach you the truth of what the word of God says, and he said if you love me you'll keep my Commandments you won't go back to what it is you think is right you won't go back. And say well that doesn't really apply because that was a cultural setting type thing it doesn't apply to me today you won't take the time to try to understand. What was ceremonial and what was civil and what was moral you won't take the time to do that here's the deal I I'll tell you this right.

Now, Church attendance in America is on a decline like never before we're living in an agnostic day in an age in which people. Don't understand if they can even have the ability to believe that there's a God, and here's here's here's something even better with our connectivity to everything is that you can get online and find someone to validate every feeling you have every whim every every. Little inkling that you have you'll find somebody if you want to be something there is somebody out there. Who will affirm you and believe in you that you can be that so if you're just trying to figure out. What makes you happy you can find a whole worldwide web of things that will help you support and validate. How you feel but I will tell you this it departs from here he says if you love me you'll keep my Commandments.

If you love me you'll understand that loving me requires you to be obedient even. If that makes you unhappy in fact his word says obedience is better than sacrifice basically he said if you're not going to be obedient. Then why would you even give in the Bible in Genesis 28 there's a story that's referred to as Jacob's lad it reads this way verse number 10. Now, Jacob went out from BBA and he went towards Haron and he came to a certain place and stayed there all night. Because the sun had set and he took one of the stones of that place, and he put it at his head and he laid down on that place to sleep and then he dreamed. And behold a ladder was set up on Earth and his top reached to heaven, and there were angels of God that were ascending and descending on it and behold the Lord stood above it and said I am the Lord God of Abraham your father.

And the god of Isaac in the land which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. So in this moment he's he's having a dream and he's sleeping with his head on a rock, and he's running away he's running away from bad decision he's running away from bad choices he's running away trying to escape the consequences that he has put. In place and it's in this moment of him trying to escape he has Revelation, and a dream of something that God is wanting to do this vision of their of a life with God here on Earth. And at the beginning of Jesus's Ministry Jesus explains his mission to a man named Nathaniel, and John 1 verse number 51 and he said most assuredly I say to you Hereafter you shall. See, Heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the son of man Jesus is all of a sudden tying himself in his ministry, and his work and what he's trying to do back to that dream that Jacob had that what was up.

There was coming down here I'm going to say that again what was up there was coming down here it's important you get your mind around this many people think the only real reason that Jesus came to Earth was to die on a cross. And yes that was that was a big pie of his mission, but his overall mission was to bring the reality of God's presence, and power down here in our world to bring. What had been on the other side of the fence and what had been on the other side of the Hedge down into the reality of the everyday life where you, and I live that it's not something distant it's not something far it's not. Just something for the elite or for the special, but it was for every man woman, and child that every one of us could have a relationship with God there.

Wasn't distant there wasn't far there wasn't like Mr Wilson on the other side of the fence. But it was a personal relationship where we can interact with God seemingly face to face no longer did I have to have a high priest or a veil that separated his presence from where I am, but he decided to step across the span of time. To step across the Hedge to step across the fence and said I'll meet you where you are since you can't cross over I'll cross over to where you are that's our God this was the very news that the angel was telling Joseph. When he informed of his engaged bride Mary was with a child Matthew 1: 21, and she will bring forth a son you shall call his name Jesus and he would save his people from their sins. So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet saying behold the Virgin shall be with child, and bear a son and they shall call his name Emmanuel which is translated God With Us not God.

Over there not God way up there not God on the other side of the Hedge not God on the other side of the fence. But God With Me God With Me in my life God with me in my trial God with me in my circumstances god with me in my broken relationship god with me in my addictions god with me in my spiraling god with me in my depression. God with me in my anxiety god with I'm not by myself I'm not I may not physically have anybody else with me, but my God crossed over the fence he came into my world where I am so that I didn't have to face these. Things by myself he is Emmanuel God With Us and if I want to experience the presence of God I just need to call on his name, and he's with me oh the power that is in the name of Jesus Oh the power that is in the name.

Of Jesus the world treats it like it's nothing special, but I'm telling you there's something special about the name of Jesus it's a name that is above every name it is the name that every knee shall bow. And every tongue shall confess that he is Lord he is savior of all there's something about believing, and Having Faith and Hope in the name of Jesus that makes my circumstances all the more different I may still be dealing with trials. And struggles but I'm not by myself he is with me my God is with me, but not only did he come to be a fence breaker. But he also told the followers that were after him that they were to devote their El to the mission he had Matthew chap 6 verse number n says in this manner therefore pray Our Father in heaven Hallowed Be Your Name Your Kingdom.

Come your will be done on Earth as it is in heaven sometimes I feel like people far often too many times pray a pray a Star Trek prayer Lord beam me up Scotty beam me up God get me out of this beam me out. Of this situation be me out of this trial be me out of this bad relationship be me up out of this addiction. But that's not the instructions we have that's not he says your kingdom come your will be done on Earth as it is in heaven many people think that our job is just to get to the afterlife get what's past this. And I'm just going to have to tread water until he pulls us out of here I don't believe that I don't believe in a God that only wants his kids to tread tread water no I believe that he wants us to be Overcomers.

Now, now now I'm going I'm going go ahead and tell you right now that being an overcomer, and living in his Blessing often times looks way different in his version and our version I'll reference you back to the beginning of this message. When I said how many times have you taken for granted the small things in life. See, a lot of times we all do that every one of us are guilty of this every one of us are guilty of this as we live in the Overflow of his Blessing. And We complain y'all got quiet didn't you some of y'all pulled your toes up put them back out there I'm G to step on them we live in the Overflow of His blessings. Yet we complain We complain we murmur that's King James language right we read through the Bible I don't know. How many of you I read through the Bible usually every year I manage to get through it I get through the Bible, and we'll get on the other side.

But we read about the children of Israel as they is they're leaving Egypt after they cried out. So the story says they're they're enslaved in Egypt and they're having to do all this hard work, and having to build all this stuff from they the Egyptian taskmasters and all this stuff. And they're crying out and God hears their cries he sends Moses in there and there's the 10 there's the 10 plagues and there's this beautiful moment. When he brings them out of Egypt and they're on the other side and they watch their enemy drown in the Red Sea, and they're celebrating and they're singing and they're rejoicing and then we get like a chapter. And a half later and what are they doing I wish we were back in Egypt I wish we back there in Egypt I wish I was eating an onion that's that's in the Bible.

If you didn't know that they complain about not having onions to eat and then we hear this murmuring, and complaining they're living in the blessing they're living in the Overflow no longer were they being beat on their back no longer were they being pushed. Down no longer were they being made fun of no longer being D, but things. Weren't ideal right wasn't they were not ideal according to how they thought things should be, and what they do complain it's kind like the story about I've told you this before, but I think it's appropriate In This Moment about the guy that got on a plane. It was when they first put internet on the airplanes and this flight attendant gets on and says ladies and gentlemen. Just want you to know that we got new technology working with today and in this flight we're going to have the ability for you to be online online technology everybody's like yeah it's excited the guy gets his computer out.

And he plugs on there they get 15 minutes in the flight and the thing breaks we're sorry the internet's down the guy like bunch of junk I can't believe this man. Why would they offer it well you know 20 minutes ago you didn't even know you could do this yeah. How about the fact that you're in a seat 30,000 ft in the air how about that how about you think this hey internet may not work. But long as you land this bad boy we're okay we're okay just cuz I can't get my email or post on my ex or whatever it is they got. Now, out there I'll be all right long as you land it I can post later. How many times have we been living in the blessings and overflow of life and yet we complain I'm going to put both my hands up CU I'm guilty yes I am guilty sorry I am guilty of a complaining.

When he has been good to me he has been good to me and see he come down to where we are he come down to say. Let your he said instruct us let your will be done on Earth as it is in heaven Jesus never told anybody neither his disciples nor us to pray get me out of here we're instructed to pray. Come quickly listen to me I know I'm going to slow on purpose because I need you to absorb. What I'm saying we have no instructions to pray get me out of here say that help us out nothing that says get me out of here his prayer was to make up there. Come down here yes make up there come down here in other words help me be a cond do it into this world what's in that world you've crossed over the fence, and you have filled me with your spirit.

Now, God help me be your hands and feet help me bring up there down here, and too many Christians too many Apostolic Pentecostals are praying Escape prayers and we have no Bible for an escape prayer. But I got Bible I got red letters that says make up there come down here. So God if you can make my life somehow be a witness for you if you can help me be a conduit it in a channel. So that some Heaven gets into some other people that maybe have never experienced you or maybe. Didn't know you maybe they have an opportunity with the life that I live when I stop complaining, and bickering and fussing about how things are not the way I want them to be when I'm really living in the Overflow of your blessing maybe there's. An opportunity for me to be light and for me to be salt for me to be a city set on the hill.

So that people can see that up there has come down here they're not going to see it when I complain they're going to see it when I fuss. When I get offended when things don't go my way, but if I'll start praising, and I'll start rejoicing and I'll start giving you what is your just do because you blessed my life abundantly. Then maybe up there can come down here I wonder how many times you and I you, and I you and I have been guilty of preventing up there from coming down here. Because of my bad attitude because somebody hurt my feelings how many times do you, and I have prevented up there from coming down here. Because I willingly was disobedient because I didn't like it Jesus Jesus told us to pray. So we can bring up there down here first Peter 1:18 knowing that we're not redeemed or corruptible things like silver or gold from your aimless conduct received by the tradition from your followers.

But with the precious blood of Christ as a lamb without blemish and without spot the devil cannot penetrate the blood of Jesus ladies, and gentlemen he can't he can't he can't and I don't know about you, but I am I am a big proponent. I'm a big fan I'm a big believer in pleading the blood of Jesus over things every day I'm alive with very few exceptions I plead the blood of Jesus over my family I plead it over him I plead the blood over my conversations I plead. Him over my mind I plead him over my marriage I plead the blood over I plead the blood over the church I plead the blood over the families of this church I plead the blood over the over over our homes over our health over our joy. Over our finances I do that you know why because there's power in that blood there's power in that blood there's power in the blood of Jesus there's no other blood like that blood it was sinless blood it was shed.

So that you and I have not just forgiveness and Redemption for sin, but we have the ability to live in the Overflow, and the abund Abundant Life that he has for us why. Because of the blood of Jesus that's not all that Jesus did when he died on the cross though. When he when he came into our backyard when he came into our world we became a part, and have an opportunity to enter into a relationship with him a covenant relationship Paul talks about Romans 11 it's an interesting chapter he talks about how the old. Branches were broke off he's speaking specifically to the Gentiles which which I dare say is the vast majority of the congregation here today listening to me we're Gentiles we're not Jews we're Gentiles. But he talks about how the unbelief of the Jews caused him to break their branches off, and he grafted you and I in that grafting that process any you ever watched that my wife is she's the plant lady she got seven GRE green thumbs.

Seven because that's the Lord's perfect number and you're perfect baby so intriguing to me how they can graph stuff in how they'll take they'll take a stump, and they can make a little slit in there. And they can take a branch off something that's been recently cut and they can put it in there, and they can they can bind it together and eventually it takes hold it becomes apart. Again, Paul he understood this as he's writing to the church at Rome he says look. Don't you get so built up and not misunder understand where you are because you have an opportunity to be broke off too unless you bring yourself into a complete understanding of what it is he's trying to do what I love about that chapter is you read. Into it goes all the way back he takes you back to that in that chapter go all the way back to Abraham he grafted in back to the original stump that was there you know.

Why I love that I love it because when he takes this back there is that I'm tied back in not. Just in the New Testament but also I'm also tied back into the promises and the covenants of the Old Testament which means I can have the strength of Samson which means that I can have the wisdom of Solomon which means I can have the promises. Of Abraham which means I can dance like David danced because I'm a part of the original that was there oh I may not have been born originally into it, but I've been born. Again, I've been born again into something that's special and new I've been born into his kingdom I'm no longer on my own. But he crossed over the fence he cast Over the heads and because that he made me a child I'm a child of the king I got royal blood flowing through my veins.

Now, you may not think I'm special you may not think I'm anything, but when my father looks at me it's a whole different ball game, and what he says about me oh. What he says about me I am his I belong to him no matter my mistakes, and fails he forgives and washes those things away it doesn't matter the labels the world puts on me I am his I am his child sometimes. When you and I understand this we begin to offer our lives up as a vessel as a vessel in the presence, and the work of God I want you to know it's going to cost you something. Now, what I mean by that is you cannot purchase your salvation you cannot earn your salvation as I've said many many times in you cannot behave your way into heaven you can misbehave your way into hell.

But you can't behave your way in it's not about your behavior it's not about you paying a price it's not about you earning it he did that at Calvary for us, but here's the deal. And you've heard me say this so many times, but I don't know if we fully grasp the words that I'm saying. So please listen to me we live in a dispensation of Grace right now and I'm so thankful for the grace of God. So thankful that I have it I need it in my life I need his grace, and mercy every day I need it I need it and I want you to look at your neighbor right. Now, and say you need it too yeah we need his grace, but listen if there's ever been a word that has been abused in our world it is the word Grace it has been it has been pulled.

And shaped and Mal lined in the things it was never intended to be if you want to know. What Grace is the best way I can describe it to you have to look you have to picture in fact do this with me close your eyes right. Now, if you're comfortable with that just close your eyes everybody close your eyes and I want you to picture Jes Jesus on the cross at Calvary can you do that just right there have it just for a second I'm going to keep you here. Long but right now just you see him there on the cross of Calvary whatever that looks like inside your mind I want you to know that's Grace that's Grace. Now, open your eyes and look at me he did it first and then he said if any man's going to come after me if any woman.

If anybody is going to come after me let them deny themselves take up their what cross, and follow me that's what I love about him is he never asked you to do anything he has not done himself that's Grace Grace is a higher law. Than the law ever was because Grace says you got to come up here Grace says you, and I have to be willing to pay whatever price is necessary through our life through obedience. So that up there comes down here the up there comes down here so does that look. What does it look like and I'm getting ready to close fact the musicians can come it can happen, and here's here's where where I really want to spend I'm going to do I'm just a couple minutes. But you got to grab they're going to come, but I want you to not pay attention to them when they walk out.

Listen, to me where we end up missing the boat so many times is the sum total of our relationship with God is simply to get out of hell I just want to I don't want to go to hell I don't want to go to hell. When you don't understand that the relationship with God is where life really begins it's when you really start living, and to fully grasp this and understand the prayer that he prayed. When he says that the make up there come down here is that for me to really feel alive into all that God has for me is I must discover my purpose okay you're not an accident. Look, at your neighbor again say I'm not an accident yeah look at him and say I'm not a mistake no no you were created on purpose. Now, I'm going to come down there to where you are then you listen to me listen to me close he made you the way you are for a reason that's right your abilities your talents your imagination your personality your ticks your quirks all the things.

That make you he gave you for a reason because he wants to use that to further his kingdom. So when you were according to the Bible being knit together in your mother's womb your mom, and dad may not have planned you, but God planned you and as he was forming you and making you he was putting everything in you he wanted to bring. Out one day so that you could to help further his kingdom and when you really become alive, and I can say this as someone who's experienced this in my life. When you finally discover the thing you were created to do and you start doing it I don't know. How to tell you there's no other feeling like it that doesn't mean I don't have bad days I do have bad days I get headaches, and my back hurts sometimes like my back hurts right.

Now, sometimes things don't go the way I want them to go sometimes I have to set in traffic sometimes I get hurt sometimes I have to fight being offended yes I struggle with that just. Because I Pastor the church doesn't mean I'm still a human being I'm no more special than you are we're the same in his eyes. Amen but I can tell you this when I finally got serious about praying God help me be a part of making up this there. Come down here and I started connecting in the way that he created me to connect I am more alive than I've have ever been I get tired I get weary. But there is something about when I lay my head down at night on that pillow that I know I have done. What my Creator made me to do he made me to do and it's not.

Just for me but it's for everyone in this room every one of us every one of us who's listening to me today he has uniquely created you for you're a Ministry your ministry may never be behind a Pulpit that's okay your ministry may never. Be behind a keyboard or a bass or a set of drums or a microphone that's okay your ministry may never be in a classroom. But I promise you there's a Ministry he has for you that's right and when you find it when you start connecting them, and up here up there comes down here Bridget I loved watching you with those p7 clubs I watched I watched you come. Alive as you connected with those students and I seen that God had gifted you, and talented you and gave you things that was just for you that all of a sudden came alive.

And I'm I know I'll put you on the spot, but I feel like it'd be safe to say you felt alive in those moments that God was making up there. Come down here through you that's for every one of you it's for every one of you so as they get ready to close there are some of you who are too far away from God you know. Who you are that's not meant to be anything that condemns you because there was a time in my life. When I was too far away from God too I'm so thankful for his mercy, and for his grace I'm so thankful that there was a man. Who was preaching one day who convicted me through his words and I came down to a place, and God connected me back where I needed to be he grafted me in so for some of you we need to be grafted in and I want.

You to know today is a great day in fact his word says today is the day of salvation. So it's a good day for some of you need to get grafted in today, and there's going to be a moment for that for some of you need to do some aligning you need to you need to restructure some things in your life you need. To be more thankful you need to be more grateful for what you have you need to get yourself to a place where you can be a channel. So that up there can come down here through you so that when someone sees you at groger they may not know. What it is but there's something about you that seems so ease they just start talking to you and you may be like. Why are you talking to me that's because what's in you is drawing them the word of God says that the Holy Ghost his spirit is a comforter they feel comfortable around you, and then you have an opportunity to talk with them and all of a sudden.

Without you even really realize what's going on up there is coming down here through you listen we're I'm going to say this, and I'm going to make the altar call we we're going into what pastors refer to as the Silly Season June. And July people lose their mind for whatever reason they can't wear clothes anymore I don't know. Why that is nobody wear clothes clo nobody wants to see that put clothes on start checking out they got they got all this Freedom this Liberty that's why pastors. Just pray that August comes back go back to school because people all of a sudden. Come back to Jesus then well I just I just feel like we cannot lose our minds I feel like we could stay connected I feel like we could spend the summer of letting up there. Come down here through us you know what I feel like I feel like we can have a summer of Revival where Center Point said I'm going to do what I got to do in my life.

So that I can be a conduit in a channel so that I can help connect my neighbors, and my friends and my families and my co-workers. So as we pray today this altar is open if you need to be closer to him than you've been I invite you to come. If you need to realignment in your life I invite you to come if you need a healing in your body I invite you to come no one's going to force you, but this altar is open. If you're okay I want to ask you to close your eyes I'm going to say this final prayer Jesus God I feel you so strong in this room I pray Lord the drawing power would do what it does best bring us to a realization. And understanding that we need you more desperately than we can imagine God I pray for some courage today for some men, and women to be willing willing to step out from the comfort of their seat to make a declaration that they want to be a channel.

Conduit to bring Heaven to Earth to bring up there down here God I pray you give us the ability to see the hurting, and the broken around us Lord that we could make the changes in our life. So that we don't have obstacles between you and I that we can be obedient in our walk with you that we can let your love work through us God I pray that you feel. Somebody with your spirit today in this place God I pray for a healing in this place today I pray for Faith to grow strong pray for your purpose, and will to be done in Jesus name church it's prayer time I think it'd be good. If we'd find a place to pray today and let God do what God does best.