1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:00,560 Foreign. 2 00:00:09,520 --> 00:00:10,640 Y' all ready to get in the word? 3 00:00:10,640 --> 00:00:11,600 Cause it's preaching time. 4 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:14,880 They gave me assignment this morning. 5 00:00:14,880 --> 00:00:17,720 They told me, preach the word of God, and that's what I intend 6 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:18,240 to do. 7 00:00:19,040 --> 00:00:21,120 So let's pray over the sermon really quick. 8 00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:22,520 Father God, thank you. 9 00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:24,080 Thank you for this opportunity to share. 10 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:27,440 Thank you for each and every soul that's represented. 11 00:00:28,180 --> 00:00:31,620 As I get ready to speak, allow me to speak with boldness and authority. 12 00:00:31,620 --> 00:00:34,420 Allow me to speak the words that you want me to speak. 13 00:00:35,860 --> 00:00:38,100 Decrease me, God, right before their eyes. 14 00:00:38,100 --> 00:00:41,900 Decrease me so that you can increase, lessen me and more. 15 00:00:41,900 --> 00:00:45,340 You open up their ears, open up their hearts so they receive what 16 00:00:45,340 --> 00:00:47,300 it is that you want to communicate to them today. 17 00:00:48,260 --> 00:00:49,780 In Jesus name, amen. 18 00:00:51,060 --> 00:00:52,860 So, men of valor, are you in the house today? 19 00:00:52,860 --> 00:00:53,620 Make some noise. 20 00:00:56,340 --> 00:00:57,380 That was all right. 21 00:00:57,460 --> 00:00:58,380 I'm not going to lie to you. 22 00:00:58,380 --> 00:00:59,140 That was just all right. 23 00:00:59,920 --> 00:01:00,560 Service was better. 24 00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:01,840 Men of valor. 25 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:03,040 Come on, make some noise. 26 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:03,600 Men of valor. 27 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:04,400 It's the men in here. 28 00:01:06,160 --> 00:01:06,520 All right. 29 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:08,480 I see the ladies looking at me side eyed. 30 00:01:08,480 --> 00:01:09,720 I haven't forgot about you. 31 00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:10,960 Some of you just got offended. 32 00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:13,840 But it's the free women collective in the house today. 33 00:01:16,240 --> 00:01:17,160 All right, that's enough. 34 00:01:17,160 --> 00:01:17,760 That's enough. 35 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:18,720 Men of Valor. 36 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:21,360 This series is called Men of Valor. 37 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:24,880 So I need y' all to step it up because the free women collector 38 00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:26,160 came in and they showed out. 39 00:01:26,160 --> 00:01:27,440 So I'm gonna give you one more time. 40 00:01:27,870 --> 00:01:30,430 On the count of three, start getting your vocal cords ready, men. 41 00:01:30,830 --> 00:01:31,390 All right. 42 00:01:31,710 --> 00:01:32,670 One, two, three. 43 00:01:32,670 --> 00:01:33,550 Men of valor. 44 00:01:35,550 --> 00:01:36,310 There we go. 45 00:01:36,310 --> 00:01:37,070 There we go. 46 00:01:37,710 --> 00:01:40,390 So a few weeks ago, before Pastor Mike left for his sabbatical, 47 00:01:40,390 --> 00:01:44,510 we hosted our Men of Valor retreat called the Forge. 48 00:01:44,750 --> 00:01:47,590 And some of the men from this house got an opportunity with. 49 00:01:47,590 --> 00:01:52,590 But during that retreat, Pastor Mike spoke on the 25 characteristics 50 00:01:52,590 --> 00:01:53,630 of a father. 51 00:01:54,190 --> 00:01:59,340 And so some of those things, as a father, you may have different 52 00:01:59,340 --> 00:02:03,140 definitions of qualities or characteristics that you may think 53 00:02:03,140 --> 00:02:03,860 a father is. 54 00:02:03,860 --> 00:02:08,660 But by the world's definition, a father is a male who has transferred 55 00:02:08,660 --> 00:02:10,260 his DNA into a child. 56 00:02:11,220 --> 00:02:15,540 And while I do not disagree with that definition, because I have 57 00:02:15,540 --> 00:02:21,140 three I should know about giving my DNA away, I will go on 58 00:02:21,140 --> 00:02:24,740 to say even further that that doesn't make a man a father. 59 00:02:26,230 --> 00:02:30,870 And so I want to talk about today some of those characteristics 60 00:02:31,110 --> 00:02:35,350 that really defines what a godly father and what a true man 61 00:02:35,350 --> 00:02:36,150 of valor is. 62 00:02:36,150 --> 00:02:41,190 So a godly father can be one that's an encourager, that's a leader 63 00:02:41,830 --> 00:02:45,990 like Pastor Evan taught us last week, which was a great sermon 64 00:02:45,990 --> 00:02:46,550 last week. 65 00:02:46,550 --> 00:02:49,470 So shout out to Pastor Evan, you really allowed the Lord to use 66 00:02:49,470 --> 00:02:49,830 you. 67 00:02:49,990 --> 00:02:54,660 But Pastor Evans said that a true man of valor is a protector, 68 00:02:54,660 --> 00:02:57,060 a provider, and a priest within his own home. 69 00:02:57,700 --> 00:03:00,180 So I wanted to talk about today. 70 00:03:00,180 --> 00:03:01,460 A godly father. 71 00:03:01,700 --> 00:03:05,460 And a man of valor is one who shows mercy. 72 00:03:06,100 --> 00:03:10,700 A merciful father displays kindness, compassion, understanding. 73 00:03:10,700 --> 00:03:13,060 But most importantly, he forgives mistakes. 74 00:03:13,380 --> 00:03:15,540 I'm gonna say that again for my note takers. 75 00:03:16,340 --> 00:03:20,500 A man of valor, a godly father, shows mercy, and he forgives 76 00:03:21,140 --> 00:03:21,860 mistakes. 77 00:03:23,100 --> 00:03:25,140 So the ladies in the room, you may have just checked out. 78 00:03:25,140 --> 00:03:27,820 I'm about to reel you back in and tell you lock back in. 79 00:03:27,900 --> 00:03:30,540 Because although I'm talking to the men, and I'm talking about 80 00:03:30,540 --> 00:03:34,660 men of valor and characteristics of a father, in all 81 00:03:34,660 --> 00:03:37,700 actuality, these characteristics can be used by men, 82 00:03:37,700 --> 00:03:40,460 women, or anyone who calls themselves a Christian. 83 00:03:41,420 --> 00:03:44,940 So as we get into the Bible, I want to take a look at one man of 84 00:03:44,940 --> 00:03:45,420 valor. 85 00:03:46,140 --> 00:03:47,900 Last week, we heard about David. 86 00:03:47,900 --> 00:03:49,500 This week, we're going to hear about Paul. 87 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:55,000 So Paul as we know him today was not always Paul that we know. 88 00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:59,520 Paul actually was actually a very terrible guy, if I'm just being 89 00:03:59,520 --> 00:03:59,960 honest. 90 00:04:01,800 --> 00:04:04,760 But Paul was a Pharisee, better known as Saul. 91 00:04:05,240 --> 00:04:09,560 He was on this trip going out persecuting Christians. 92 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:14,840 And he was on this trip on the road of Damascus, and he was actually 93 00:04:14,840 --> 00:04:18,620 headed there to persecute Christians because he heard there 94 00:04:18,620 --> 00:04:20,140 were some Jesus followers out there. 95 00:04:20,140 --> 00:04:23,020 And while he was on this road, he had a holy visitation. 96 00:04:23,420 --> 00:04:27,940 Kind of like today, Pentecost Sunday, he had a holy visitation 97 00:04:27,940 --> 00:04:30,380 where the Lord showed him his glory. 98 00:04:30,700 --> 00:04:34,460 And that really led to the transformation to the Paul that we 99 00:04:34,460 --> 00:04:36,140 see and love today. 100 00:04:37,100 --> 00:04:41,780 But I would like to say is, as I was thinking about the Saul to 101 00:04:41,780 --> 00:04:45,550 Paul conversion, I was thinking about Genesis 50:20, where 102 00:04:45,550 --> 00:04:49,590 it said, what the devil intended for bad, God used for his 103 00:04:49,590 --> 00:04:49,910 good. 104 00:04:49,990 --> 00:04:51,670 And that's a story of Paul. 105 00:04:51,910 --> 00:04:53,910 So if you have your Bibles, I want you to take a look. 106 00:04:53,910 --> 00:04:54,470 Two look. 107 00:04:54,630 --> 00:04:56,790 I want to look at two passages of scripture. 108 00:04:57,270 --> 00:04:59,910 The first being 2 Corinthians 1 and 3. 109 00:05:00,950 --> 00:05:04,790 And then the second was going to be Matthew 6, 14, 15. 110 00:05:05,270 --> 00:05:07,590 And I'm going to just forewarn you right now. 111 00:05:08,230 --> 00:05:10,950 If you're taking notes, get ready for your pen to run out of 112 00:05:10,950 --> 00:05:11,270 ink. 113 00:05:11,810 --> 00:05:14,450 Get ready to be flipping through your Bible and your phone. 114 00:05:14,610 --> 00:05:16,450 Cause I'm about to have you all over. 115 00:05:17,330 --> 00:05:19,970 So when you ask 2 Corinthians, give me a shout. 116 00:05:19,970 --> 00:05:21,050 Let me know you got it. 117 00:05:21,050 --> 00:05:21,890 Say got it. 118 00:05:22,690 --> 00:05:24,730 And if you don't got it, you're just gonna have to Listen 119 00:05:24,730 --> 00:05:25,490 to me, read it. 120 00:05:26,370 --> 00:05:29,530 So Second Corinthians, it said, blessed be the God and Father 121 00:05:29,530 --> 00:05:34,650 of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all 122 00:05:34,650 --> 00:05:35,410 comfort. 123 00:05:36,610 --> 00:05:40,410 So as we read that, there were two things that stuck out in this 124 00:05:40,410 --> 00:05:40,930 scripture. 125 00:05:40,930 --> 00:05:44,680 First, being the Father of all mercies. 126 00:05:45,080 --> 00:05:47,320 And so when he said mercies, he doesn't say mercy. 127 00:05:47,320 --> 00:05:51,200 He said mercies as in plural, meaning an abundant, available in 128 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:53,800 different ways to meet different needs. 129 00:05:54,040 --> 00:05:58,039 And then next he mentions God of all comfort, meaning the one who 130 00:05:58,039 --> 00:05:59,800 gives comfort and compassion. 131 00:05:59,880 --> 00:06:03,280 So I want you to just take a pin there and just highlight that 132 00:06:03,280 --> 00:06:04,040 and remember that. 133 00:06:04,920 --> 00:06:10,440 So next, before we get over to Matthew, as I was reading that and 134 00:06:10,440 --> 00:06:14,640 thinking about the Father of mercies, God of all comfort, Paul 135 00:06:14,640 --> 00:06:18,960 was really describing the first true man of valor that showed 136 00:06:18,960 --> 00:06:23,680 mercy, which is God, meaning God is the source of our mercy. 137 00:06:24,160 --> 00:06:28,080 See God, mercy flows from the very heart of God, because he's just 138 00:06:28,080 --> 00:06:28,400 not. 139 00:06:28,640 --> 00:06:31,840 He's not just merciful, but he is mercy. 140 00:06:32,080 --> 00:06:33,920 So now let's jump over to Matthew. 141 00:06:33,920 --> 00:06:38,040 It says, for if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly 142 00:06:38,040 --> 00:06:39,680 Father will also forgive you. 143 00:06:40,240 --> 00:06:44,000 But if you do not forgive others of their trespasses, neither 144 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:47,200 will your Father forgive you of your trespasses. 145 00:06:47,440 --> 00:06:49,680 So a little earlier I told you that I'm a father of three. 146 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:53,960 I have a 8 year old named Aria, 5 year old in Harmony, they're 147 00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:56,560 watching right now in Texas, Daddy loves you. 148 00:06:56,720 --> 00:07:01,520 And then just recently I got now 7 week year old baby boy. 149 00:07:01,520 --> 00:07:06,520 And sometimes they want their dad to do the stuff that dad just 150 00:07:06,520 --> 00:07:07,160 don't want to do. 151 00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:10,560 You know, sometimes I just want to chill, have a moment to myself. 152 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:13,880 I get off work even if I am just walking from my office to the 153 00:07:13,880 --> 00:07:15,720 hallway to the living room because I work from home. 154 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:19,680 Sometimes I just want to chill and debrief, but they want me to 155 00:07:19,680 --> 00:07:20,360 do the things to do. 156 00:07:20,360 --> 00:07:24,079 But being a good loving father, you know, a man of valor, 157 00:07:24,560 --> 00:07:27,680 I try to encourage and just say, you know what, I'll do it. 158 00:07:27,760 --> 00:07:30,480 So at our house, we've been watching a lot of TV together. 159 00:07:30,480 --> 00:07:34,810 And so I sit down and I'm probably going to watch something 160 00:07:34,810 --> 00:07:35,650 I don't want to watch. 161 00:07:35,650 --> 00:07:38,570 I probably want to watch the Pacers beat New York like we did 162 00:07:38,570 --> 00:07:39,290 a few weeks ago. 163 00:07:40,330 --> 00:07:43,210 I'm sorry, New York family, I had to get you one time. 164 00:07:44,090 --> 00:07:47,090 But what I do is I grab the remote and I turn on the greatest 165 00:07:47,090 --> 00:07:48,890 invention ever, which is called Disney. 166 00:07:49,370 --> 00:07:50,250 Don't be offended. 167 00:07:50,250 --> 00:07:51,530 That's just my opinion. 168 00:07:51,770 --> 00:07:52,330 All right? 169 00:07:53,050 --> 00:07:55,770 But in our household, there's a lot of bluey being played. 170 00:07:55,850 --> 00:07:59,450 And there's a movie that came out in 2013 called Frozen. 171 00:07:59,820 --> 00:08:01,260 All my parents in the room. 172 00:08:01,500 --> 00:08:02,740 You know what I'm talking about. 173 00:08:02,740 --> 00:08:05,180 Cause your kids are playing it over and over. 174 00:08:05,500 --> 00:08:09,540 But as I'm watching Frozen, it was some gold in there. 175 00:08:09,540 --> 00:08:11,540 I was like, no, this is something I can actually take from 176 00:08:11,540 --> 00:08:13,900 Princess Anna, Elsa and Olaf. 177 00:08:13,900 --> 00:08:17,500 And there's this famous song on the movie, the Parents. 178 00:08:17,500 --> 00:08:20,500 Again, you may know it line by line and your kids do, but it goes 179 00:08:20,500 --> 00:08:21,260 a little bit like this. 180 00:08:21,260 --> 00:08:22,060 Let it go. 181 00:08:22,700 --> 00:08:23,500 Let it go. 182 00:08:24,780 --> 00:08:26,050 All right, all right. 183 00:08:26,050 --> 00:08:26,850 I know my lane. 184 00:08:26,850 --> 00:08:29,010 I'm going to just stay here and lead a singing to ej. 185 00:08:29,970 --> 00:08:31,410 So I'm not going to sing the rest. 186 00:08:31,410 --> 00:08:34,930 But if you're taking notes, the title of my message is called 187 00:08:34,930 --> 00:08:35,730 Let It Go. 188 00:08:37,650 --> 00:08:40,010 So for the next few moments, I want to speak to you about the key 189 00:08:40,010 --> 00:08:42,690 aspect of mercy, which is forgiveness. 190 00:08:43,010 --> 00:08:45,490 And I broke this down in about six points. 191 00:08:45,730 --> 00:08:49,530 And these six points I believe it's not just my opinion. 192 00:08:49,530 --> 00:08:53,000 It's something that God imparted and downloaded to me for 193 00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:54,480 me to download into you. 194 00:08:54,960 --> 00:08:58,640 And it's not ideas, but it's something I believe that God has 195 00:08:58,640 --> 00:09:00,160 called us to live out. 196 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:02,480 So you may be saying, what is mercy? 197 00:09:02,880 --> 00:09:04,760 So point number one, Mercy. 198 00:09:04,760 --> 00:09:05,440 I'm sorry. 199 00:09:05,440 --> 00:09:06,640 What is forgiveness? 200 00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:09,600 So you may be saying, what is forgiveness? 201 00:09:09,600 --> 00:09:14,240 Point one is forgiveness is a choice to reflect God's heart. 202 00:09:14,960 --> 00:09:20,960 See, forgiveness is a complex journey, meaning it's something that 203 00:09:20,960 --> 00:09:25,400 we do not because we think that it's right, but it's a decision 204 00:09:25,640 --> 00:09:28,200 that we make because it is right. 205 00:09:28,840 --> 00:09:32,400 It's out of an act of obedience, of faith that reflects 206 00:09:32,400 --> 00:09:33,640 the heart of our Father. 207 00:09:34,360 --> 00:09:37,320 I wouldn't be truthful if I stood here and told you that forgiveness 208 00:09:37,400 --> 00:09:41,000 and the journey of forgiveness is something easy because just being 209 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:42,040 honest with you, it's not. 210 00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:46,790 We get offended as a human nature, often daily. 211 00:09:46,790 --> 00:09:48,030 It's something that's bound to happen. 212 00:09:48,030 --> 00:09:48,750 We're going to get. 213 00:09:48,750 --> 00:09:49,910 Someone's going to offend us. 214 00:09:50,070 --> 00:09:52,310 I may just offend you about the Disney plus thing. 215 00:09:53,270 --> 00:09:56,750 We are going to get hurt, we're going to get persecuted, and 216 00:09:56,750 --> 00:09:59,830 we may get harmed with someone else's words. 217 00:09:59,830 --> 00:10:00,550 It's bound to happen. 218 00:10:00,550 --> 00:10:02,150 There's nothing that we could do about that. 219 00:10:02,550 --> 00:10:06,790 But the thing that we can do and can control is the willingness 220 00:10:07,030 --> 00:10:10,390 to let go of said offense, resentment, and anger. 221 00:10:12,080 --> 00:10:15,880 It does not necessarily mean forgetting the offense or excusing 222 00:10:15,880 --> 00:10:17,200 the harmful behavior. 223 00:10:17,440 --> 00:10:22,200 But again, it involves a conscious decision to let go of the 224 00:10:22,200 --> 00:10:23,200 emotional Burden. 225 00:10:23,760 --> 00:10:27,600 I would even go a little bit further and say it's making a conscious 226 00:10:27,600 --> 00:10:32,480 decision to not remember the said hurt. 227 00:10:32,640 --> 00:10:38,080 Because if I forgive you, but I still forget, I'm allowing my emotions 228 00:10:38,080 --> 00:10:41,360 to be dictated by the way the wind blows. 229 00:10:41,760 --> 00:10:45,380 So I may wake up and I may feel good and the wind may blow this 230 00:10:45,380 --> 00:10:48,900 way, and then all of a sudden, I remember Sarah, Fitz. 231 00:10:48,900 --> 00:10:51,820 And now I'm back in a state of unforgiveness. 232 00:10:52,300 --> 00:10:58,420 So if I'm choosing to forget and forgive, that's the way we need 233 00:10:58,420 --> 00:10:58,940 to live. 234 00:10:59,420 --> 00:11:03,140 So it means we release the offense into God's hand, allowing 235 00:11:03,140 --> 00:11:07,020 him to trust, allowing us to trust in him, to bring the justice, 236 00:11:07,020 --> 00:11:08,940 to bring the healing and bring the peace. 237 00:11:09,990 --> 00:11:12,710 So when I think about forgiveness, there are five key aspects. 238 00:11:12,950 --> 00:11:15,590 Forgiveness is one, a decision of the will. 239 00:11:16,070 --> 00:11:20,070 It often begins as a choice, as I said, and then not a feeling. 240 00:11:20,550 --> 00:11:24,590 But if we allow our feelings to catch up with the choice that 241 00:11:24,590 --> 00:11:29,350 we have made, this making a decision, which is a powerful act 242 00:11:29,350 --> 00:11:30,870 of will to let go. 243 00:11:31,910 --> 00:11:33,110 Forgiveness is a process. 244 00:11:33,270 --> 00:11:35,350 It takes time, especially for deep wounds. 245 00:11:36,190 --> 00:11:38,830 Forgiveness is a reflection of God's character. 246 00:11:38,830 --> 00:11:42,430 When we forgive, we are actually mirroring the mercy God 247 00:11:42,430 --> 00:11:43,310 has shown us. 248 00:11:44,510 --> 00:11:47,550 Forgiveness is not dependent on the other person's apology. 249 00:11:48,350 --> 00:11:51,150 You can forgive even if the person doesn't ask for it. 250 00:11:52,350 --> 00:11:55,070 And so forgiveness is a gift to yourself. 251 00:11:56,350 --> 00:11:59,310 If you're like me, I like buying things for myself. 252 00:11:59,790 --> 00:12:02,670 My wife hates it, because whatever she thinks she's going to 253 00:12:02,670 --> 00:12:05,230 get me, nine out of 10, I already got it, or I will be buying 254 00:12:05,230 --> 00:12:05,470 it. 255 00:12:06,020 --> 00:12:08,740 So every year for Christmas and my birthday, they're a week apart. 256 00:12:09,060 --> 00:12:11,780 If she goes, look at our bank statement, she knows she's gonna 257 00:12:11,780 --> 00:12:14,740 see a charge, probably from Nike for some shoes that I purchased 258 00:12:14,740 --> 00:12:16,460 for myself for my birthday. 259 00:12:16,460 --> 00:12:18,780 And then the next week after, I'm gonna purchase another one for 260 00:12:18,780 --> 00:12:19,300 Christmas. 261 00:12:19,300 --> 00:12:20,500 So she already knows. 262 00:12:20,820 --> 00:12:25,140 And so essentially the same thing applies to forgiveness. 263 00:12:25,380 --> 00:12:28,180 When it comes to forgiveness, it's a gift that you give yourself, 264 00:12:28,180 --> 00:12:31,620 freeing yourself from the burden of holding on to resentment 265 00:12:31,920 --> 00:12:32,640 and offense. 266 00:12:34,320 --> 00:12:37,720 So as we talked about forgiveness, you may be sitting there 267 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:39,200 thinking, well, I'm good. 268 00:12:39,280 --> 00:12:40,720 I don't need to do this. 269 00:12:40,720 --> 00:12:41,680 I don't need to do that. 270 00:12:41,760 --> 00:12:43,200 I'm a chain breaker. 271 00:12:43,280 --> 00:12:47,240 So often we come into our worship experiences, we say, the 272 00:12:47,240 --> 00:12:50,040 chain breakers in the room break every chain. 273 00:12:50,040 --> 00:12:52,560 While the Lord is sitting there saying, you keep singing about 274 00:12:52,560 --> 00:12:52,880 it. 275 00:12:52,880 --> 00:12:54,560 When are you going to actually do it? 276 00:12:54,800 --> 00:12:59,270 Because you haven't let go of unforgiveness, but you think you're 277 00:12:59,270 --> 00:13:01,950 in the clear, because you let go of whatever that issue is when 278 00:13:01,950 --> 00:13:05,670 the Lord actually calls us to let go, all of it, and operate in 279 00:13:05,670 --> 00:13:06,310 forgiveness. 280 00:13:07,510 --> 00:13:12,630 So I want to read Ephesians 4:32, because as Christians, we have 281 00:13:12,630 --> 00:13:13,110 a calling. 282 00:13:13,110 --> 00:13:18,310 And in Ephesians it says, as believers, be kind to one another, 283 00:13:18,710 --> 00:13:22,790 tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave 284 00:13:22,950 --> 00:13:23,350 you. 285 00:13:25,280 --> 00:13:28,920 Essentially, church, we're being called to forgive as an outward 286 00:13:28,920 --> 00:13:32,800 expression of God's grace and mercy working through us. 287 00:13:33,760 --> 00:13:38,720 And we can't really fully live out our calling if we're bound by 288 00:13:38,720 --> 00:13:40,320 chains of unforgiveness. 289 00:13:41,680 --> 00:13:45,160 Even better, I'm gonna go on and say, don't even try to figure 290 00:13:45,160 --> 00:13:49,240 out your calling if you haven't forgave so many times as 291 00:13:49,240 --> 00:13:52,680 a church and as staff and as pastoral staff, people come to our 292 00:13:52,680 --> 00:13:56,910 offices or on our teams and they want to know, can you help me 293 00:13:56,910 --> 00:13:58,190 figure out what my purpose is? 294 00:13:58,190 --> 00:13:59,150 Can you help me do this? 295 00:13:59,150 --> 00:14:00,310 I just really want to know. 296 00:14:00,710 --> 00:14:02,230 I want to be used by God. 297 00:14:02,390 --> 00:14:05,550 And the plain answer sometimes we say was, have you forgiven? 298 00:14:05,550 --> 00:14:06,310 Have you did this? 299 00:14:06,310 --> 00:14:07,110 Have you did that? 300 00:14:07,350 --> 00:14:10,190 Until you do that, that is your calling and your purpose to 301 00:14:10,190 --> 00:14:10,710 forgive. 302 00:14:11,990 --> 00:14:16,670 Because forgiveness is so important that even Jesus became 303 00:14:16,670 --> 00:14:17,990 a model of forgiveness. 304 00:14:17,990 --> 00:14:22,720 When he was hanging on that tree, he sat there and he said, father, 305 00:14:22,720 --> 00:14:24,600 forgive them, for they know not what they do. 306 00:14:24,600 --> 00:14:28,400 He didn't ask for the apology of man, the people that beat him, 307 00:14:28,560 --> 00:14:32,240 that crucified him, that mocked him as he was bleeding and 308 00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:33,760 dying of anguish. 309 00:14:34,000 --> 00:14:37,160 He simply said, father, forgive them, for they know not what 310 00:14:37,160 --> 00:14:37,920 they do. 311 00:14:38,240 --> 00:14:40,000 So, church, who do you need to release today? 312 00:14:40,720 --> 00:14:44,720 Not because they deserve it, but because Christ forgave you. 313 00:14:46,080 --> 00:14:47,200 That was just point one. 314 00:14:48,260 --> 00:14:48,820 Point two. 315 00:14:49,620 --> 00:14:51,620 Mercy lets go of the punishment. 316 00:14:51,700 --> 00:14:53,940 Forgiveness lets go of the pain. 317 00:14:54,500 --> 00:14:58,220 See, when I started this, I talked about one scripture talking 318 00:14:58,220 --> 00:15:01,140 about mercy and another scripture talking about forgiveness. 319 00:15:01,220 --> 00:15:04,100 Because mercy and forgiveness, they're one and the same. 320 00:15:04,420 --> 00:15:07,620 They operate differently, although they're very similar. 321 00:15:08,100 --> 00:15:11,340 And where they are very similar at, they are two sides of 322 00:15:11,340 --> 00:15:14,020 God's love just operating differently. 323 00:15:14,020 --> 00:15:18,630 Mercy withholds punishment the that we deserve, whereas forgiveness 324 00:15:18,630 --> 00:15:21,470 releases the offense and restores the relationship. 325 00:15:21,710 --> 00:15:24,750 And God gives us both, and he calls us to do both. 326 00:15:25,150 --> 00:15:29,630 So if I want to break this down in layman's terms, mercy says, 327 00:15:30,030 --> 00:15:33,350 I won't punish you for what you did to me, what you said to me, 328 00:15:33,350 --> 00:15:35,150 how you hurt me, how you abused me. 329 00:15:35,230 --> 00:15:39,550 Whereas forgiveness says, I won't hold that against you anymore. 330 00:15:40,430 --> 00:15:44,350 So mercy opens the door, whereas forgiveness allows you to 331 00:15:44,350 --> 00:15:49,120 walk through it my Bible people out there. 332 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:50,520 You guys got your Bible, you're doing good. 333 00:15:50,520 --> 00:15:51,920 Taking notes because I'm about to. 334 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:53,720 We about to go on another journey. 335 00:15:53,720 --> 00:15:59,920 So in Luke 6, 36, 38, it says, Be merciful, even as your Father 336 00:15:59,920 --> 00:16:00,880 is merciful. 337 00:16:01,120 --> 00:16:03,080 Judge not and you will not be judged. 338 00:16:03,080 --> 00:16:05,240 Condemn not and you will not be condemned. 339 00:16:05,240 --> 00:16:07,520 Forgive and you will be forgiven. 340 00:16:08,240 --> 00:16:10,080 Give and it will be given to you. 341 00:16:10,240 --> 00:16:13,920 Good measure, pressed down, shake it together, running over, 342 00:16:13,920 --> 00:16:17,200 Will it be put into your lap, for with the measure you use, it 343 00:16:17,500 --> 00:16:18,540 be measured back to you. 344 00:16:19,500 --> 00:16:22,060 I was reading this and preparing for this word and I was 345 00:16:22,060 --> 00:16:23,180 like, wait a minute. 346 00:16:23,500 --> 00:16:26,020 Because in church, all my years of being in church, I thought 347 00:16:26,020 --> 00:16:26,580 I didn't say it earlier. 348 00:16:26,580 --> 00:16:28,780 I've been in church for a very long time. 349 00:16:29,580 --> 00:16:33,020 I always heard this scripture as it related to tithes and offering. 350 00:16:33,020 --> 00:16:36,180 When the person come up to give tithes and offerings, they get 351 00:16:36,180 --> 00:16:39,060 so excited and they talk about it and they say, give and it would 352 00:16:39,060 --> 00:16:39,980 give in good to you. 353 00:16:40,140 --> 00:16:44,580 But as I was reading this, Paul wasn't talking about a tithe 354 00:16:44,580 --> 00:16:45,740 nor an offering. 355 00:16:46,140 --> 00:16:49,610 He was actually talking about mercy and forgiveness. 356 00:16:49,930 --> 00:16:54,850 So how much you give mercy, how much you give forgiveness, it 357 00:16:54,850 --> 00:16:55,690 will be given to you. 358 00:16:55,690 --> 00:16:56,770 How good. 359 00:16:56,770 --> 00:17:01,210 Measure, press down, shake it together, and running over. 360 00:17:02,010 --> 00:17:06,730 So church, I want you to think really quick, with a lot of intentionality, 361 00:17:07,290 --> 00:17:10,330 are you letting go of the punishment, but still holding onto 362 00:17:10,330 --> 00:17:10,890 the pain? 363 00:17:11,770 --> 00:17:17,480 And what would it look like to fully forgive the way God has forgiven 364 00:17:17,480 --> 00:17:17,800 you? 365 00:17:18,200 --> 00:17:19,320 What would that look like? 366 00:17:20,440 --> 00:17:24,280 Point three, unforgiveness doesn't protect you, it destroys 367 00:17:24,280 --> 00:17:24,600 you. 368 00:17:26,760 --> 00:17:29,600 So let's take a hop back over to Second Corinthians. 369 00:17:29,600 --> 00:17:35,480 This time we're going to be in chapter 211 reading in the ESV translation. 370 00:17:36,360 --> 00:17:39,640 Because I believe in this passage of Scripture, the Apostle 371 00:17:39,640 --> 00:17:44,240 Paul actually gave us a clear definition of what the effects of 372 00:17:44,240 --> 00:17:45,400 unforgiveness is. 373 00:17:46,080 --> 00:17:50,160 And it says, anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. 374 00:17:50,480 --> 00:17:52,280 Indeed, what I have forgiven. 375 00:17:52,280 --> 00:17:56,040 If I have forgiven anything, it has been for your sake in the 376 00:17:56,040 --> 00:18:00,720 president of Christ, so that we will not be outwitted by Satan, 377 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:04,240 for we are not ignorant of his designs, his schemes. 378 00:18:05,360 --> 00:18:08,720 Another way to put it is, we all know this, Satan is a liar. 379 00:18:08,880 --> 00:18:11,520 He comes to steal, kill and destroy. 380 00:18:12,080 --> 00:18:17,000 And as a church, we can't fall victim to his gains because he looks 381 00:18:17,000 --> 00:18:20,000 for any crack to let offense sip in. 382 00:18:20,320 --> 00:18:24,680 And so as I'm talking about this, I know there's probably some 383 00:18:24,680 --> 00:18:26,960 people that came to church, they're sitting in church right now 384 00:18:27,440 --> 00:18:28,239 that's offended. 385 00:18:28,720 --> 00:18:30,880 It's some people right there in Brooklyn. 386 00:18:31,120 --> 00:18:34,320 You know, you came in, you was excited, you had a good move. 387 00:18:34,320 --> 00:18:36,800 You saw your friend say, hey girl, how you doing? 388 00:18:37,360 --> 00:18:40,120 Hope you had a good week with so and so so and so. 389 00:18:40,120 --> 00:18:43,200 You went over, got your wild house coffee, you caffeinated now, 390 00:18:43,700 --> 00:18:48,260 and you went up to that second row, that seat you sit in every week 391 00:18:48,260 --> 00:18:50,980 so you can be close to Pastor Eddie and everybody. 392 00:18:51,380 --> 00:18:54,180 And somebody was sitting in your seat this morning. 393 00:18:54,500 --> 00:18:59,060 And so you got offended, but you didn't wanna show it, so you 394 00:18:59,060 --> 00:19:00,140 found you another seat. 395 00:19:00,140 --> 00:19:02,660 And you up there worshiping, clapping your hands, which you can't 396 00:19:02,660 --> 00:19:03,300 even worship right. 397 00:19:03,300 --> 00:19:05,860 Cause you side eyeing the person in your seat. 398 00:19:06,100 --> 00:19:07,980 And I just wanna say, let that go. 399 00:19:07,980 --> 00:19:12,330 And Pastor Mike got a whole series on YouTube called the Unoffendable 400 00:19:12,330 --> 00:19:12,730 Heart. 401 00:19:13,210 --> 00:19:15,290 It's a bible reading plan as well. 402 00:19:15,850 --> 00:19:18,650 So if you need to let go of that offense and you want to go deeper, 403 00:19:18,650 --> 00:19:19,930 because I don't got time today. 404 00:19:20,410 --> 00:19:22,130 Go on YouTube, find that series. 405 00:19:22,130 --> 00:19:23,490 It may be it's a good series. 406 00:19:23,490 --> 00:19:25,850 I think that may be one of my favorites. 407 00:19:26,010 --> 00:19:30,090 But I say that because you may think because I'm up here on this 408 00:19:30,090 --> 00:19:33,850 platform with the mic, that I've mastered the art of unforgiveness. 409 00:19:34,170 --> 00:19:37,860 And I want to bust your bubble and say I haven't literally. 410 00:19:37,860 --> 00:19:41,540 As I got the call that I had to speak today and I started preparing 411 00:19:41,540 --> 00:19:45,220 for this message, I literally fell victim to the enemy's plans 412 00:19:45,220 --> 00:19:46,500 and schemes and attacks. 413 00:19:46,740 --> 00:19:49,100 You know, so I'm gonna just kind of tell you a little bit about 414 00:19:49,100 --> 00:19:49,380 it. 415 00:19:49,540 --> 00:19:52,899 Because me and my daughter, we wake up every morning, we get dressed 416 00:19:52,899 --> 00:19:55,180 and we take the dog out, we walk around the neighborhood and 417 00:19:55,180 --> 00:19:57,820 we put her back and we go to take her to the bus stop. 418 00:19:57,820 --> 00:20:00,020 So this morning we did our normal routine. 419 00:20:00,580 --> 00:20:03,140 We're driving to the bus stop, we got the windows down. 420 00:20:03,140 --> 00:20:04,100 Cause it's feeling good. 421 00:20:04,100 --> 00:20:07,220 Because you don't know what you're gonna get here in Indiana. 422 00:20:07,220 --> 00:20:10,300 So if you're coming out here, bring clothes for every season. 423 00:20:11,340 --> 00:20:14,980 So we got the windows down, we blasting our worship music, singing 424 00:20:14,980 --> 00:20:16,140 goodbye Yesterday. 425 00:20:16,220 --> 00:20:18,500 I'm looking out the river mirror so I can see her head nod 426 00:20:18,500 --> 00:20:18,820 like this. 427 00:20:18,820 --> 00:20:20,180 And I'm getting turnt up with it. 428 00:20:20,180 --> 00:20:24,340 And we doing what we do, we pull up to the bus stop. 429 00:20:24,340 --> 00:20:27,260 You know, I'm being that encouraging father, that mighty man 430 00:20:27,260 --> 00:20:27,980 of valor. 431 00:20:28,140 --> 00:20:30,860 And I'm telling her, like, ooh, Aria, you look good today. 432 00:20:30,860 --> 00:20:31,900 You picked that outfit out. 433 00:20:31,900 --> 00:20:33,860 Okay, I'm gonna need you to come help me in my closet. 434 00:20:33,860 --> 00:20:36,550 And you are smart you're gonna have a good day. 435 00:20:36,550 --> 00:20:37,910 And this and that. 436 00:20:37,910 --> 00:20:40,270 Making sure she had everything so I don't have to double back. 437 00:20:40,670 --> 00:20:45,310 And literally the devil in human form pulled up to the side 438 00:20:45,310 --> 00:20:49,470 of my car and literally rolled down the window, was like, you shouldn't 439 00:20:49,470 --> 00:20:51,550 be on this side of the street, and you shouldn't do this and this 440 00:20:51,550 --> 00:20:51,750 that. 441 00:20:51,750 --> 00:20:52,190 You people. 442 00:20:52,190 --> 00:20:53,390 I'm so sick of all these people. 443 00:20:53,390 --> 00:20:54,590 And so what did I do? 444 00:20:54,910 --> 00:20:55,950 She's up here. 445 00:20:56,350 --> 00:20:57,710 I raised up here. 446 00:20:58,110 --> 00:20:58,910 The matcher. 447 00:20:59,070 --> 00:21:01,230 So we literally are arguing back and forth. 448 00:21:01,230 --> 00:21:02,350 I'm in my car shelf. 449 00:21:02,350 --> 00:21:04,750 We argue back and forth and saying this and saying. 450 00:21:04,750 --> 00:21:05,670 And she's like, I'm gonna call. 451 00:21:05,670 --> 00:21:06,790 I'm like, call him. 452 00:21:06,790 --> 00:21:07,670 I'm not scared. 453 00:21:08,710 --> 00:21:13,070 And so all this is going on, and I'm like, I'm determined. 454 00:21:13,070 --> 00:21:14,190 I'm about to win this argument. 455 00:21:14,190 --> 00:21:15,750 Cause she don't know who she messing with. 456 00:21:16,230 --> 00:21:21,110 And then I got the revelation and said, dude, you look like a fool. 457 00:21:21,190 --> 00:21:23,430 No one truly wins in this situation. 458 00:21:24,070 --> 00:21:26,910 So eventually I concede, I leave the bus stop. 459 00:21:26,910 --> 00:21:29,750 But right before I tell Arica, walk around that car, don't worry 460 00:21:29,750 --> 00:21:30,150 about that. 461 00:21:30,540 --> 00:21:31,580 Still have a good day. 462 00:21:32,140 --> 00:21:36,860 And as I'm driving, I realize that offense, bitterness, and anger, 463 00:21:37,260 --> 00:21:39,820 it can transfer from one another. 464 00:21:40,060 --> 00:21:44,060 So because I was in my good place, she was in her bad place, 465 00:21:44,700 --> 00:21:48,220 the way she acted and that resentment transferred over to me. 466 00:21:48,620 --> 00:21:50,300 And so then I'm thinking, I'm good. 467 00:21:50,300 --> 00:21:52,700 And as I'm preparing this message, Aria actually hears me in 468 00:21:52,700 --> 00:21:53,780 other room saying it, saying. 469 00:21:53,780 --> 00:21:56,700 And I hear her in the other room say, yeah, mama, it really happened 470 00:21:56,700 --> 00:21:57,100 like that. 471 00:21:57,320 --> 00:21:58,840 And I don't like that lady either. 472 00:21:59,240 --> 00:22:04,080 And so next thing you know, my offense and bitterness has now transferred 473 00:22:04,080 --> 00:22:07,120 into my 8 year old that shouldn't even know what anger and 474 00:22:07,120 --> 00:22:07,880 offense is. 475 00:22:09,960 --> 00:22:12,880 So, see, sometimes we're willing to show mercy. 476 00:22:12,880 --> 00:22:16,760 So I didn't want to go back and retaliate or seek revenge, but 477 00:22:17,080 --> 00:22:21,560 I did have a deep hatred for this lady because how she treated 478 00:22:21,560 --> 00:22:21,800 me. 479 00:22:22,120 --> 00:22:25,610 So although we don't seek that retaliation, we still carry that 480 00:22:25,610 --> 00:22:26,770 hurt in our hearts. 481 00:22:26,850 --> 00:22:30,690 We say we moved on like I did, but we let the bitterness linger. 482 00:22:30,770 --> 00:22:31,450 So I'm driving. 483 00:22:31,450 --> 00:22:34,370 I'm like, that good, that situation is over. 484 00:22:34,770 --> 00:22:37,090 But all day it bothered me. 485 00:22:37,730 --> 00:22:42,650 In reality, we think by holding on to that bitterness, we're 486 00:22:42,650 --> 00:22:45,010 protecting ourselves from being hurt in that way again. 487 00:22:45,010 --> 00:22:47,970 So I'm like, if this happens again, I won't be hurt by it because 488 00:22:47,970 --> 00:22:49,930 I put my guard up next time. 489 00:22:49,930 --> 00:22:53,890 But in reality, we're actually causing our heart to Grow as hard 490 00:22:53,890 --> 00:22:55,780 as it clay with bitterness. 491 00:22:56,740 --> 00:22:59,980 And when we think it's a defense mechanism actually becomes 492 00:22:59,980 --> 00:23:02,260 a disease that shreds. 493 00:23:03,300 --> 00:23:04,820 That leads me to point number four. 494 00:23:05,460 --> 00:23:08,220 Point number four is forgiveness sets you free. 495 00:23:08,220 --> 00:23:11,940 See, God invites us to go deeper, to release the pain and make 496 00:23:11,940 --> 00:23:13,540 room for healing and restoration. 497 00:23:14,580 --> 00:23:18,460 So church, who or what are you holding on to that needs to be released 498 00:23:18,460 --> 00:23:18,740 today? 499 00:23:18,740 --> 00:23:19,820 I want you to think about that. 500 00:23:19,820 --> 00:23:29,420 So so far I ask you, who do you need to release today not because 501 00:23:29,420 --> 00:23:31,980 they deserve it, but because Christ forgave you. 502 00:23:32,860 --> 00:23:36,260 I want you to think about, are you letting go of the punishment 503 00:23:36,260 --> 00:23:39,460 but still holding onto the pain and what would it look like 504 00:23:39,460 --> 00:23:44,140 to fully forgive because God has forgiven you and now I want to 505 00:23:44,140 --> 00:23:47,340 ask you, who or what are you holding on to that needs to be released 506 00:23:47,340 --> 00:23:47,580 today? 507 00:24:56,791 --> 00:24:59,431 Number five, radical forgiveness. 508 00:24:59,511 --> 00:25:02,391 See, it takes radical forgiveness to operate in forgiveness 509 00:25:02,391 --> 00:25:03,271 like Jesus. 510 00:25:03,671 --> 00:25:06,991 See, last week Pastor Evans said something so profound when he 511 00:25:06,991 --> 00:25:10,951 said following Jesus isn't a formula, it's a funeral. 512 00:25:11,431 --> 00:25:14,311 And as I was preparing this message, I was thinking forgiveness 513 00:25:14,311 --> 00:25:18,671 is very similar in that same way because it's not a one time occurrence, 514 00:25:18,671 --> 00:25:19,591 it's a process. 515 00:25:19,671 --> 00:25:24,311 It's a daily funeral of dying to yourself to become more like Jesus. 516 00:25:24,391 --> 00:25:29,191 In order to operate like Jesus, it takes doing the hard things, 517 00:25:29,511 --> 00:25:31,351 the things that's going to shock people. 518 00:25:31,511 --> 00:25:32,951 It takes being a wild1. 519 00:25:32,951 --> 00:25:35,791 Here v1 we say we're a house full of wild ones. 520 00:25:35,791 --> 00:25:39,111 It takes being a wild one that says, even though you hurt me, you 521 00:25:39,111 --> 00:25:43,151 hurt you, you abused me, you slandered me, I'm going to pray for 522 00:25:43,151 --> 00:25:46,071 you, I will release you, I'm going to bless you and I will not 523 00:25:46,071 --> 00:25:49,961 harm you with words from my mouth or my actions because that's 524 00:25:49,961 --> 00:25:50,841 what Jesus did. 525 00:25:51,321 --> 00:25:55,761 When you forgive like Jesus, you are essentially becoming a living 526 00:25:55,761 --> 00:25:57,241 witness of the gospel. 527 00:25:57,481 --> 00:26:01,921 You show the world a love that defies all logic and you break the 528 00:26:01,921 --> 00:26:05,401 chain and you truly begin to live a life that Jesus lived. 529 00:26:05,401 --> 00:26:09,081 So when we come into our worship experiences and say the chain 530 00:26:09,081 --> 00:26:12,081 breakers in the room, I got that sword in the mouth, I preach 531 00:26:12,081 --> 00:26:14,841 the gospel and I take the devil out, you're actually doing 532 00:26:14,841 --> 00:26:18,041 that from a point of view of radical forgiveness, because that's 533 00:26:18,041 --> 00:26:22,401 what Jesus would have did, you guys can stand to your feet. 534 00:26:22,401 --> 00:26:23,321 Ben, come on up. 535 00:26:24,361 --> 00:26:31,081 Point number six, and this may be the most impactful point of them 536 00:26:31,081 --> 00:26:31,401 all. 537 00:26:31,961 --> 00:26:36,761 And point number six says we forgive because we are forgiven. 538 00:26:38,361 --> 00:26:41,641 So I know this message wasn't one of these feel good type of messages. 539 00:26:41,641 --> 00:26:44,601 You probably thought Pastor Mike was gone for the summer and 540 00:26:44,601 --> 00:26:46,361 I was going to feel good and leave. 541 00:26:47,321 --> 00:26:50,721 But in all reality, it was a message that needed to be said at 542 00:26:50,721 --> 00:26:51,561 this point in time. 543 00:26:52,041 --> 00:26:55,241 Already this morning I've gotten so many confirmations of this 544 00:26:55,241 --> 00:26:56,441 was a timely message. 545 00:26:57,241 --> 00:27:00,001 But if I'm being honest with you, it was a gut check message, 546 00:27:00,001 --> 00:27:01,921 probably for you, but also for me. 547 00:27:01,921 --> 00:27:04,161 As I've told you, I have to live through this and I have to go 548 00:27:04,161 --> 00:27:05,001 through this myself. 549 00:27:06,681 --> 00:27:09,961 But I know there's some people sitting here in this room and watching 550 00:27:09,961 --> 00:27:15,631 online, watching in Brooklyn, Long Island, New Jersey, Miami, and 551 00:27:15,631 --> 00:27:17,311 in homes all across the world. 552 00:27:18,111 --> 00:27:21,231 And there are some people that you need to release today. 553 00:27:21,231 --> 00:27:22,831 Like I said, who do you need to release? 554 00:27:23,551 --> 00:27:25,071 For some, it may be a friend. 555 00:27:26,031 --> 00:27:29,711 For some it may be an ex, some may be a spouse. 556 00:27:30,111 --> 00:27:32,471 You was probably arguing last night on the way here and you're 557 00:27:32,471 --> 00:27:33,911 thinking about I won. 558 00:27:33,911 --> 00:27:34,671 No, they won. 559 00:27:35,631 --> 00:27:37,271 No one truly wins, as I said. 560 00:27:37,271 --> 00:27:41,461 But you got some bitterness and anger to them. 561 00:27:42,581 --> 00:27:45,661 Some may be a friend to my youth. 562 00:27:45,661 --> 00:27:49,461 And every camp is watching online and may be a parent because 563 00:27:49,781 --> 00:27:52,261 for whatever reason, you may think that they didn't do this, they 564 00:27:52,261 --> 00:27:55,381 didn't do that, but you need to let it go. 565 00:27:56,901 --> 00:28:00,261 But I say that, and I'm not remiss of saying that there are some 566 00:28:00,261 --> 00:28:04,341 wounds and so deep that that hurts more than words can express. 567 00:28:06,481 --> 00:28:11,241 There's wounds that some may be carrying of a missing and absent 568 00:28:11,241 --> 00:28:12,841 father, biological father. 569 00:28:12,841 --> 00:28:18,041 You may not know who that person was or you grew up with the 570 00:28:18,041 --> 00:28:23,201 father and they were there in the present, but they were missing 571 00:28:23,201 --> 00:28:24,041 emotionally. 572 00:28:24,041 --> 00:28:26,081 They were abusive, they were selfish. 573 00:28:26,561 --> 00:28:27,921 I know that pain is real. 574 00:28:28,161 --> 00:28:31,161 I don't know your pain because I have a father, but I know that 575 00:28:31,161 --> 00:28:31,721 pain is real. 576 00:28:31,721 --> 00:28:33,791 When I talk to people, I see I what the pain on their eyes. 577 00:28:34,751 --> 00:28:35,791 I know it's real. 578 00:28:36,831 --> 00:28:40,671 So to the fatherless, I want to tell you, you may have never heard 579 00:28:40,671 --> 00:28:45,351 of your earthly father, but I want to say I love you and I'm proud 580 00:28:45,351 --> 00:28:45,791 of you. 581 00:28:47,391 --> 00:28:50,631 And I'm also here to remind you that your heavenly father has 582 00:28:50,631 --> 00:28:52,031 always been with you. 583 00:28:52,751 --> 00:28:55,151 He's never with you and he's with you right now. 584 00:28:56,431 --> 00:28:59,591 And to the fathers who are carrying guilt, maybe you weren't 585 00:28:59,591 --> 00:28:59,871 there. 586 00:29:00,981 --> 00:29:04,141 Maybe you failed your children because some of your choices, it 587 00:29:04,141 --> 00:29:06,821 has caused damage and affected your children. 588 00:29:08,181 --> 00:29:09,381 I want you to hear this. 589 00:29:10,021 --> 00:29:11,701 There's forgiveness for you, too. 590 00:29:13,541 --> 00:29:16,421 Our heavenly Father is a redeemer of broken legacies. 591 00:29:18,661 --> 00:29:23,861 And then there's another group of fathers, fathers who may have 592 00:29:23,861 --> 00:29:24,341 failed. 593 00:29:24,901 --> 00:29:28,931 You've been there, you've been emotionally, but you may have failed 594 00:29:28,931 --> 00:29:31,011 in some form or some fashion. 595 00:29:31,491 --> 00:29:34,371 I want to tell you the cross is big enough for your mistakes. 596 00:29:35,411 --> 00:29:38,131 Humility, repentance, and a new start is possible. 597 00:29:38,851 --> 00:29:40,771 Even if restoration takes time. 598 00:29:41,651 --> 00:29:43,891 The Heavenly Father is with all of you. 599 00:29:45,811 --> 00:29:49,931 And wouldn't today be a perfect day to break the chain and 600 00:29:49,931 --> 00:29:53,731 the bondage of unforgiveness and take that step into forgiveness 601 00:29:53,731 --> 00:29:57,811 on Pentecost Sunday, one week before Father's Day. 602 00:29:59,171 --> 00:30:03,491 Today will be a perfect time for you to walk out and leave. 603 00:30:03,491 --> 00:30:05,651 Not the same way that you came into this room today. 604 00:30:07,891 --> 00:30:13,851 So those in the room, I invite you to the altar to come lay all 605 00:30:13,851 --> 00:30:17,491 your chains of unforgiveness, of bitterness, resentment, anger, 606 00:30:17,491 --> 00:30:20,971 whatever units that you need to release here at the feet of Jesus, 607 00:30:20,971 --> 00:30:21,771 here at the altar. 608 00:30:21,771 --> 00:30:25,981 Those in Miami, online, you may be watching in your car right 609 00:30:25,981 --> 00:30:26,141 now. 610 00:30:26,141 --> 00:30:28,581 You may be watching in your living room, in a hospital bed. 611 00:30:29,061 --> 00:30:32,621 Make wherever you're watching from an altar before the Lord, it 612 00:30:32,621 --> 00:30:36,061 doesn't take being here in this Indiana campus or in the Brooklyn 613 00:30:36,061 --> 00:30:39,540 building or in our physical buildings, because God is omnipresent. 614 00:30:39,540 --> 00:30:40,261 He's everywhere. 615 00:30:41,301 --> 00:30:42,821 All he need is your willingness. 616 00:30:42,821 --> 00:30:44,101 All he need is your yes. 617 00:30:44,741 --> 00:30:47,621 So make that decision today, prayer team. 618 00:30:48,021 --> 00:30:50,781 I don't want you to come up at all, because I want this to be a 619 00:30:50,781 --> 00:30:54,471 moment between that person and their heavenly Father laying down 620 00:30:54,471 --> 00:30:57,711 and breaking the chains and making that conscious decision to 621 00:30:57,711 --> 00:30:58,391 make a move. 622 00:30:59,191 --> 00:31:01,951 And some of you may be sitting there right now thinking, I don't 623 00:31:01,951 --> 00:31:03,031 need to make that move. 624 00:31:03,271 --> 00:31:04,151 I am good. 625 00:31:04,951 --> 00:31:08,431 And some of you want to make the move, but you had a little enemy 626 00:31:08,431 --> 00:31:10,631 on your shoulder telling you, like Noah, you don't need to go up 627 00:31:10,631 --> 00:31:10,711 there. 628 00:31:10,711 --> 00:31:11,471 You don't even listen to him. 629 00:31:11,471 --> 00:31:13,271 He just told you he's trying to walk through it. 630 00:31:14,311 --> 00:31:18,881 But what you didn't see was before I came up here all this week, 631 00:31:18,881 --> 00:31:21,161 and even this morning when I was back in that room, I said, do 632 00:31:21,161 --> 00:31:24,721 not let me take that platform without me fully giving it to you 633 00:31:24,721 --> 00:31:29,921 this morning, God, so I can be a living, true witness to live out 634 00:31:29,921 --> 00:31:31,441 what I'm talking about this morning. 635 00:31:32,321 --> 00:31:33,201 So make that step. 636 00:31:33,521 --> 00:31:37,041 Because making that step, it requires a level of faith. 637 00:31:37,201 --> 00:31:39,761 See, church faith is not a noun. 638 00:31:39,761 --> 00:31:42,561 It's a verb, meaning it requires action. 639 00:31:43,251 --> 00:31:46,731 And so sometimes it requires you to take that first foot and put 640 00:31:46,731 --> 00:31:47,891 it in front of the other one. 641 00:31:47,971 --> 00:31:50,571 And then you may feel stuck, and all you gotta do is lift the 642 00:31:50,571 --> 00:31:52,971 other one and take that one, and the next thing you know, you're 643 00:31:52,971 --> 00:31:56,011 walking and you're walking, and then before you know it, you 644 00:31:56,011 --> 00:31:59,091 find yourself at the altar laying it down at the feet of Jesus. 645 00:32:00,611 --> 00:32:02,331 So, church, we know we don't do life alone. 646 00:32:02,331 --> 00:32:05,611 So ask your partner, ask your neighbor, ask them, do I? 647 00:32:05,611 --> 00:32:06,931 Do you need some encouragement? 648 00:32:07,731 --> 00:32:09,241 Can I walk with you to the altar? 649 00:32:11,151 --> 00:32:13,071 Because we know we don't do life alone. 650 00:32:24,751 --> 00:32:26,231 I'm proud of those that's coming up. 651 00:32:26,231 --> 00:32:26,991 I'm proud of you. 652 00:32:28,191 --> 00:32:30,031 Use your own mouth, your own words. 653 00:32:32,831 --> 00:32:33,871 Let the Lord know. 654 00:32:43,531 --> 00:32:46,251 See, as I was preparing for this message, God gave me a vision. 655 00:32:46,251 --> 00:32:47,291 And this is what I saw. 656 00:32:48,411 --> 00:32:51,211 I saw this happen here at all the campuses. 657 00:32:55,451 --> 00:32:56,331 I saw it. 658 00:33:00,011 --> 00:33:05,451 It's not by coincidence that all these people came up and we like 659 00:33:05,451 --> 00:33:09,131 to say 99% obedience is 100% disobedience. 660 00:33:09,131 --> 00:33:10,371 So I gotta be obedient. 661 00:33:11,171 --> 00:33:14,371 I didn't do this the first service, but I had it on my heart 662 00:33:14,451 --> 00:33:15,251 all this week. 663 00:33:15,251 --> 00:33:18,811 And I said, know what I had in my own head the way this was supposed 664 00:33:18,811 --> 00:33:19,330 to end. 665 00:33:20,691 --> 00:33:22,531 But the Lord said, there's a few more people. 666 00:33:24,691 --> 00:33:26,851 There's those who carry church hurt. 667 00:33:28,211 --> 00:33:31,691 Many people secretly struggle with wounds caused by people in the 668 00:33:31,691 --> 00:33:37,041 pews, by pastors, leaders on a platform, or even systems that may 669 00:33:37,041 --> 00:33:37,801 have failed them. 670 00:33:39,721 --> 00:33:41,481 I don't know what your situation is. 671 00:33:42,201 --> 00:33:47,401 Maybe it was a pastor, maybe a manita manipulated you, then used 672 00:33:47,401 --> 00:33:49,801 you for your gift and not cared about your soul. 673 00:33:52,201 --> 00:33:53,561 I know what that feels like. 674 00:33:53,801 --> 00:33:55,001 I felt that pain before. 675 00:33:57,161 --> 00:33:59,641 If you would have came to be one about three or four years ago, 676 00:33:59,641 --> 00:34:01,801 you would have saw me all the way in the back or not even coming. 677 00:34:03,831 --> 00:34:09,711 And now today I stand before you on staff at a church, leading 678 00:34:09,711 --> 00:34:13,671 one of the biggest conferences in this nation and preaching before 679 00:34:13,671 --> 00:34:14,151 you today. 680 00:34:15,591 --> 00:34:15,991 Why? 681 00:34:19,031 --> 00:34:21,831 Because I allowed God to take over and allow him to use me. 682 00:34:24,711 --> 00:34:26,031 But there's a simple truth. 683 00:34:26,031 --> 00:34:27,271 The church didn't hurt you. 684 00:34:27,271 --> 00:34:27,911 People did. 685 00:34:29,721 --> 00:34:30,921 God doesn't act like that. 686 00:34:32,281 --> 00:34:34,361 God loves you and he truly cares for you. 687 00:34:36,841 --> 00:34:40,401 And then the last group of people that my heart was longing 688 00:34:40,401 --> 00:34:49,081 for, it's those that need to forgive themselves. 689 00:34:49,961 --> 00:34:53,881 See, oftentimes the hardest person to forgive is actually yourself. 690 00:34:54,951 --> 00:34:58,551 You go through these moments where you're thinking that I should 691 00:34:58,551 --> 00:34:59,831 have been well off by now. 692 00:35:00,071 --> 00:35:00,951 I should have been here. 693 00:35:00,951 --> 00:35:01,591 I should have been there. 694 00:35:01,591 --> 00:35:03,071 I should have did this, I should have did that. 695 00:35:03,071 --> 00:35:05,591 And you beat yourself up over and over again. 696 00:35:08,551 --> 00:35:14,071 And you can't truly feel live the life that's worth living because 697 00:35:14,071 --> 00:35:15,591 you haven't forgiven yourself. 698 00:35:17,911 --> 00:35:20,071 I want to let you know that God forgives you. 699 00:35:20,071 --> 00:35:20,671 He loves you. 700 00:35:20,671 --> 00:35:21,311 He cares for you. 701 00:35:21,311 --> 00:35:21,991 He wants you. 702 00:35:22,691 --> 00:35:24,211 He wants a relationship with you. 703 00:35:26,371 --> 00:35:29,211 And you may be wondering, how can God use somebody like me with 704 00:35:29,211 --> 00:35:30,291 the stuff that I've done? 705 00:35:32,771 --> 00:35:37,451 And I want to tell you, God has a amazing history of using unbroken 706 00:35:37,451 --> 00:35:39,011 people, unqualified people. 707 00:35:40,211 --> 00:35:41,491 I think of Moses. 708 00:35:43,571 --> 00:35:44,571 He couldn't speak. 709 00:35:44,571 --> 00:35:46,451 He was stuttering, say, I'm gonna get it out. 710 00:35:46,451 --> 00:35:47,771 God said, don't worry about that. 711 00:35:47,771 --> 00:35:48,771 I am the great I am. 712 00:35:51,521 --> 00:35:53,761 So God can use you today like he's using me. 713 00:35:57,281 --> 00:36:00,921 So if you relate to any of those things, the altar is still 714 00:36:00,921 --> 00:36:02,081 open in every campus. 715 00:36:02,321 --> 00:36:04,001 The altar is open in your home. 716 00:36:05,681 --> 00:36:07,041 Have a moment with Jesus. 717 00:36:08,641 --> 00:36:09,521 Talk to him. 718 00:36:10,321 --> 00:36:11,121 Let it go. 719 00:36:13,361 --> 00:36:16,321 So we can live a life that's really worth living. 720 00:37:05,252 --> 00:37:09,652 So we go from unbrokenness to forgiveness, unforgiveness to forgiveness, 721 00:37:15,892 --> 00:37:18,132 and to truly live like Jesus. 722 00:37:19,012 --> 00:37:20,972 I think of Jesus in his dying moment. 723 00:37:20,972 --> 00:37:26,052 I mentioned it early, earlier, but in his dying moment, in his last 724 00:37:26,052 --> 00:37:32,282 breath, I don't find it a coincidence or ironic that he said, 725 00:37:32,282 --> 00:37:33,682 father, forgive them. 726 00:37:34,882 --> 00:37:38,322 The thing that he mentioned was dealing with the Father and forgiveness. 727 00:37:38,322 --> 00:37:40,482 He hung there and said, father, forgive them. 728 00:37:41,922 --> 00:37:43,362 Father, forgive them. 729 00:37:44,642 --> 00:37:46,162 Father, forgive them. 730 00:37:50,082 --> 00:37:54,002 That's how important it was to forgive us, to enter into forgiveness. 731 00:37:56,892 --> 00:38:00,252 And when I saw this vision of people on their knees at the altar, 732 00:38:02,492 --> 00:38:04,572 something started rising in my spirit. 733 00:38:05,772 --> 00:38:06,852 And I just wanted to declare. 734 00:38:06,852 --> 00:38:09,692 I wanted to prophesy and say that because of our actions today 735 00:38:09,692 --> 00:38:14,292 on Pentecost Sunday, you guys allowing the Holy Spirit to ascend 736 00:38:14,292 --> 00:38:18,492 on you like a dove, I believe that next week that we're going to 737 00:38:18,492 --> 00:38:21,612 have fathers walk into our services with their daughters and 738 00:38:21,612 --> 00:38:23,532 fathers walking in with their sons. 739 00:38:25,332 --> 00:38:30,292 They may not be speaking right now at this very moment, but people 740 00:38:30,292 --> 00:38:34,812 are going to leave here with texts and calls from Father who they 741 00:38:34,812 --> 00:38:36,132 haven't spoken to in years. 742 00:38:38,212 --> 00:38:40,612 And next week we're going to see them coming into our services. 743 00:38:42,532 --> 00:38:43,292 I believe it. 744 00:38:43,292 --> 00:38:44,132 Do you believe it? 745 00:38:45,012 --> 00:38:46,372 Brooklyn, do you believe it? 746 00:38:47,332 --> 00:38:48,052 Long Island. 747 00:38:48,052 --> 00:38:48,932 Do you believe it? 748 00:38:50,232 --> 00:38:50,752 New Jersey? 749 00:38:50,752 --> 00:38:51,672 Do you believe it? 750 00:38:52,552 --> 00:38:54,992 I'm talking to you back there in the last room in Miami. 751 00:38:54,992 --> 00:38:55,832 Do you believe it? 752 00:38:57,592 --> 00:38:58,632 Do you believe it? 753 00:38:58,632 --> 00:39:00,912 All across the world, online revival host. 754 00:39:00,912 --> 00:39:01,832 Do you believe it? 755 00:39:05,272 --> 00:39:08,712 Let me pray for you really quick because I wrote out a special 756 00:39:08,792 --> 00:39:13,312 prayer as I was in my office preparedness because I was thinking 757 00:39:13,312 --> 00:39:14,312 about you, Ethan. 758 00:39:16,322 --> 00:39:17,522 I was thinking about you, Matt. 759 00:39:18,402 --> 00:39:19,002 Renee. 760 00:39:19,002 --> 00:39:19,922 I was thinking of you. 761 00:39:22,482 --> 00:39:25,362 I may not know everyone by name, but the Heavenly Father does. 762 00:39:26,562 --> 00:39:28,082 He's calling your name right now. 763 00:39:28,642 --> 00:39:29,802 Heaven is rejoicing. 764 00:39:29,802 --> 00:39:31,682 Ryan, I was thinking of you, Ryan. 765 00:39:32,962 --> 00:39:34,402 I was thinking of you, Ryan. 766 00:39:35,842 --> 00:39:38,882 But the Heavenly Father in the heavens is rejoicing right now because 767 00:39:38,882 --> 00:39:39,522 of this decision. 768 00:39:48,002 --> 00:39:48,962 And devil, you lost. 769 00:39:49,122 --> 00:39:50,242 You always lose. 770 00:39:50,242 --> 00:39:53,242 You thought these people were going to come in and walk out with 771 00:39:53,242 --> 00:39:55,042 those same chains, but you lost. 772 00:39:55,762 --> 00:39:57,442 We have living proofs right here. 773 00:39:58,722 --> 00:39:59,682 So let us pray. 774 00:39:59,682 --> 00:40:04,242 Father God, thank you for each and every one that has made the decision 775 00:40:04,242 --> 00:40:05,362 to choose forgiveness. 776 00:40:05,362 --> 00:40:10,742 Today we come before you to lay down our burdens of unforgiveness. 777 00:40:12,022 --> 00:40:14,662 Help them to accept the things that they can't change. 778 00:40:15,942 --> 00:40:18,462 Help them to accept what happened, but realize that it's time 779 00:40:18,462 --> 00:40:19,942 to let it go and move forward. 780 00:40:21,622 --> 00:40:22,542 God, cover them. 781 00:40:22,542 --> 00:40:25,462 Remind them that they are not alone. 782 00:40:27,622 --> 00:40:30,502 You are there with them on the good days, on the bad days, on the 783 00:40:30,502 --> 00:40:33,452 days when they feel like giving up, you're there. 784 00:40:34,332 --> 00:40:35,212 You're with them. 785 00:40:36,332 --> 00:40:40,492 Lord, release every grudge, every wound, every ounce of offense 786 00:40:40,652 --> 00:40:41,212 to you. 787 00:40:41,212 --> 00:40:42,332 We release it now. 788 00:40:42,652 --> 00:40:44,332 We lay it down at your feet. 789 00:40:44,492 --> 00:40:47,052 Unforgiveness no longer defines our future. 790 00:40:47,132 --> 00:40:48,691 We forgive, we let go. 791 00:40:48,691 --> 00:40:50,412 And we choose freedom right now. 792 00:40:50,412 --> 00:40:55,132 In the name of Jesus, heal and mend hardened hearts right now. 793 00:40:55,132 --> 00:40:59,252 Help us walk in freedom, not just with our words, but with our 794 00:40:59,252 --> 00:40:59,772 hearts. 795 00:41:00,682 --> 00:41:04,882 We declare that we no longer carry what the cross already paid 796 00:41:04,882 --> 00:41:05,242 for. 797 00:41:06,762 --> 00:41:11,402 And I declare today as we're choosing to walk in for in forgiveness 798 00:41:11,802 --> 00:41:13,402 and we are no longer bound. 799 00:41:13,402 --> 00:41:16,522 In Jesus name, Amen. 800 00:41:18,922 --> 00:41:21,482 Let's continue to stay in this atmosphere of worship. 801 00:41:22,442 --> 00:41:25,082 If you need to have a moment, let that moment go. 802 00:41:27,812 --> 00:41:30,852 But God is here and he wants to meet you. 803 00:41:51,282 --> 00:41:51,522 Sa.