1 00:00:00,049 --> 00:00:00,950 Marcel Hall: Amen. 2 00:00:01,370 --> 00:00:04,400 You know, today is different 'cause I'm doing a little short 3 00:00:04,400 --> 00:00:08,119 devotional and I'm not rocking a suit, you know what I'm saying? 4 00:00:08,959 --> 00:00:12,290 So usually if you're visiting here, always have the suit on, suited and booted. 5 00:00:12,290 --> 00:00:12,739 All right? 6 00:00:12,979 --> 00:00:14,840 And, uh, so we're not doing that today. 7 00:00:14,840 --> 00:00:19,729 For the past several months, uh, God has been taking our church on a journey, 8 00:00:19,729 --> 00:00:26,189 a jubilee journey, and we started off with talking about the heart of Jubilee. 9 00:00:26,219 --> 00:00:30,569 And, uh, in Leviticus 25, we learned that God had called his 10 00:00:30,569 --> 00:00:32,640 people to honor and celebrate. 11 00:00:33,020 --> 00:00:35,659 What we would be, what would be called the Jubilee. 12 00:00:35,659 --> 00:00:37,699 And you say, well, what was the jubilee? 13 00:00:37,699 --> 00:00:40,790 And so here's what God called his people to do every 50 years he 14 00:00:40,790 --> 00:00:45,709 called them to really trust him and to have a time of complete rest. 15 00:00:45,919 --> 00:00:47,449 Can I get a hallelujah for that? 16 00:00:48,169 --> 00:00:49,429 Don't you want some rest today? 17 00:00:50,234 --> 00:00:52,754 I was talking with my cousin, Charmaine, and she was like, I've been tired. 18 00:00:52,754 --> 00:00:55,154 I've been working all week, and she wants some rest today, but 19 00:00:55,154 --> 00:00:56,594 do not fall asleep right now. 20 00:00:56,594 --> 00:00:57,284 Okay, Charmaine. 21 00:00:57,284 --> 00:00:57,794 There we go. 22 00:00:58,094 --> 00:01:02,804 But every 50 years God called his people to rest, to forgive debts and 23 00:01:02,804 --> 00:01:04,424 also return land to the original. 24 00:01:05,025 --> 00:01:05,594 Families. 25 00:01:05,594 --> 00:01:09,544 And so God intended for this jubilee, not to just be something that's 26 00:01:09,544 --> 00:01:13,715 done on a physical, tangible level, but it was a spiritual component. 27 00:01:13,715 --> 00:01:18,425 It was a spiritual releasing, a spiritual time of trusting, refining of growth, 28 00:01:18,604 --> 00:01:21,334 and really experiencing God's favor. 29 00:01:21,574 --> 00:01:26,644 And so we realized as we studied out that the heart of Jubilee, what God's heart 30 00:01:26,644 --> 00:01:29,705 was, is he wanted his people to have rest. 31 00:01:30,245 --> 00:01:34,505 He wanted his people to have a time to be released or to release others 32 00:01:34,505 --> 00:01:40,354 from debts and also for things to be restored that had been broken or lost. 33 00:01:40,414 --> 00:01:45,674 And then in August, our church, we had an LA Jubilee of with thousands coming. 34 00:01:46,064 --> 00:01:50,294 From all across Southern California and outside of Southern California to 35 00:01:50,414 --> 00:01:55,634 celebrate God and, and to be able to, uh, uh, uh, uh, rejoice in all that he 36 00:01:55,634 --> 00:01:58,334 is and all that he has done in our lives. 37 00:01:58,455 --> 00:02:00,044 And so we realized, you know what? 38 00:02:00,574 --> 00:02:04,864 The Jubilee wasn't an event, it wasn't a conference, it wasn't a weekend, 39 00:02:04,864 --> 00:02:08,913 it was actually a season, and we felt like God was leading us to have our 40 00:02:08,913 --> 00:02:12,994 own biblical inspired Jubilee season. 41 00:02:12,994 --> 00:02:17,174 And so we have now been as what we've called here the last couple of months 42 00:02:17,174 --> 00:02:20,234 here in the season of the Lord's favor. 43 00:02:20,234 --> 00:02:25,364 And so this is a time where we can collectively and individually have a time 44 00:02:25,364 --> 00:02:28,034 to have a reset, release and restore. 45 00:02:28,724 --> 00:02:32,054 So as you can see even on the screen, we have some things that we've done 46 00:02:32,054 --> 00:02:36,853 and are doing and will do, and we had a fasting and prayer chain and thank you 47 00:02:36,853 --> 00:02:39,014 to all those who participated in that. 48 00:02:39,284 --> 00:02:43,124 And then, uh, what we're doing today, we're having our release Sunday, we had. 49 00:02:43,289 --> 00:02:44,789 A service project yesterday. 50 00:02:44,789 --> 00:02:45,929 I wanna thank Julie Barber. 51 00:02:45,929 --> 00:02:48,478 That was great to be at and serve yesterday. 52 00:02:48,478 --> 00:02:51,779 And then next month we're gonna have a gratitude wall and also, uh, 53 00:02:51,779 --> 00:02:53,579 some more serving opportunities. 54 00:02:53,609 --> 00:02:56,759 And now we have a current sermon series, which we're in the middle of, 55 00:02:56,759 --> 00:03:00,899 called The Lord's Favor, where we're diving deeper into the concepts of. 56 00:03:01,829 --> 00:03:03,599 Release and restore. 57 00:03:03,599 --> 00:03:06,929 And we began talking about resetting how God wants to have 58 00:03:06,929 --> 00:03:10,978 a reset in our relationship with him and what a blessing that is. 59 00:03:10,978 --> 00:03:15,389 And then his favor also includes a reset in our relationships with other 60 00:03:15,389 --> 00:03:19,589 people and how we can view people the way God wants us to view them. 61 00:03:19,589 --> 00:03:25,469 And then also a reset in what we pursue in pursuing holiness over pursuing happiness. 62 00:03:25,469 --> 00:03:28,709 And now we're here in our time of release. 63 00:03:29,439 --> 00:03:33,999 This is the step where we let go of what may be holding us back from truly 64 00:03:33,999 --> 00:03:37,869 walking fully in the favor of God. 65 00:03:38,228 --> 00:03:40,779 And so we talked about releasing the world's grip. 66 00:03:41,159 --> 00:03:42,959 On our lives and upon our hearts. 67 00:03:42,959 --> 00:03:46,859 And last week Daniel preached a great message about releasing others and 68 00:03:47,069 --> 00:03:51,869 forgiveness and, and being able to be freed ourselves when we release others. 69 00:03:52,228 --> 00:03:55,529 And then we've had over the last, uh, seven days devotionals that 70 00:03:55,529 --> 00:03:57,899 we've had called 10 Days of Release. 71 00:03:57,899 --> 00:04:00,929 And some people thought, well, why'd we have 10 days if we're 72 00:04:00,929 --> 00:04:02,459 only giving it seven days ahead? 73 00:04:02,459 --> 00:04:04,559 Because we actually want this to continue afterward. 74 00:04:04,874 --> 00:04:06,404 And so we have our time today. 75 00:04:06,404 --> 00:04:10,964 We can continue with learning and growing and being able to be released 76 00:04:10,964 --> 00:04:13,304 and also release others as well. 77 00:04:13,304 --> 00:04:17,504 And today, we'll collectively, uh, be releasing many things, sin 78 00:04:17,624 --> 00:04:19,694 burdens, hurt and unforgiveness. 79 00:04:19,694 --> 00:04:24,134 But before we can do that, we must talk about releasing our. 80 00:04:25,934 --> 00:04:27,614 Let's go to the father in prayer. 81 00:04:27,614 --> 00:04:32,924 Father, thank you so much for your word, for the opportunity to grow 82 00:04:33,194 --> 00:04:36,704 the know, to know that we do not have to be shackled down by anything. 83 00:04:37,019 --> 00:04:40,319 In the past, and God, whether it be others, whether it be ourselves, 84 00:04:40,469 --> 00:04:45,329 father, sin, temptation, whatever it is, God, there is freedom in Christ. 85 00:04:45,479 --> 00:04:48,808 And Father, we pray right now, again, open up our hearts so that we can 86 00:04:48,808 --> 00:04:53,759 fully be engaged and immersed in what you are trying to say and what 87 00:04:53,759 --> 00:04:55,859 you are trying to do in our lives. 88 00:04:55,859 --> 00:04:57,149 We pray in Jesus name. 89 00:04:57,389 --> 00:04:58,049 Amen. 90 00:04:59,069 --> 00:05:02,909 I wanna remind us of this principle here, that there is true freedom. 91 00:05:03,929 --> 00:05:08,579 Christ, and that if you want freedom in your life, the only true and complete 92 00:05:08,579 --> 00:05:13,229 freedom that you want to have and that God wants you to experience can 93 00:05:13,229 --> 00:05:16,829 only be found in and through Christ. 94 00:05:17,069 --> 00:05:18,599 We're gonna go over to Luke chapter four. 95 00:05:18,599 --> 00:05:20,039 This has been our theme passage. 96 00:05:20,609 --> 00:05:22,979 For our series the Lord's Favor. 97 00:05:23,279 --> 00:05:27,809 And Jesus, when he announces to the world who he is, he's giving dropping 98 00:05:27,809 --> 00:05:29,819 clues and he's letting people know. 99 00:05:29,819 --> 00:05:33,659 And this time he makes a, a real pronouncement that he is the 100 00:05:33,659 --> 00:05:38,009 Messiah, but also he's connecting himself to this Jubilee principle. 101 00:05:38,584 --> 00:05:42,724 So he actually goes to the scrolls and he picks up the scroll, and he goes to 102 00:05:42,724 --> 00:05:48,154 where Isaiah the prophet, had prophesied many years before about the Messiah 103 00:05:48,183 --> 00:05:52,294 and what the Messiah would do, and he reads this passage, the spirit of the 104 00:05:52,294 --> 00:05:54,574 Lord is on me, Luke four verse 18. 105 00:05:54,844 --> 00:05:59,074 Because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the port he has sent me 106 00:05:59,074 --> 00:06:03,154 to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind. 107 00:06:03,154 --> 00:06:07,294 To set the oppress free to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. 108 00:06:07,769 --> 00:06:09,659 Isaiah prophesied release. 109 00:06:09,719 --> 00:06:11,429 Jesus fulfilled it. 110 00:06:11,999 --> 00:06:17,819 And today we live out that spiritually releasing sin burdens, brokenness 111 00:06:18,119 --> 00:06:19,799 in order to walk in his favor. 112 00:06:19,799 --> 00:06:24,179 And this is part of God's favor in his life, is that we have the opportunity to 113 00:06:24,179 --> 00:06:26,669 be released from things that can chain us. 114 00:06:26,819 --> 00:06:29,999 And the heart and the goal of God is freedom. 115 00:06:30,119 --> 00:06:31,409 It's not bondage. 116 00:06:31,619 --> 00:06:34,949 It's for us to be free from the things that can enslave. 117 00:06:35,564 --> 00:06:37,094 Hold us back. 118 00:06:37,454 --> 00:06:41,234 And you know, there's kind of a three common prisons 119 00:06:41,234 --> 00:06:43,424 that hold our hearts captive. 120 00:06:43,424 --> 00:06:45,674 And so we wanna look at this real quickly here. 121 00:06:45,674 --> 00:06:47,294 What keeps us captive? 122 00:06:47,294 --> 00:06:49,814 Well, number one, we know it's sin. 123 00:06:49,874 --> 00:06:51,254 Sin can control us. 124 00:06:51,254 --> 00:06:52,094 It could be a trap. 125 00:06:52,094 --> 00:06:55,424 It's a snare, not only on our hearts, but in our faith and in 126 00:06:55,424 --> 00:06:57,433 our lives and in our progression. 127 00:06:57,884 --> 00:06:59,879 We also know that resentment and bitterness. 128 00:07:00,644 --> 00:07:04,544 It also serves as a trap and can actually hold us captive. 129 00:07:04,544 --> 00:07:09,254 We think we're holding others captive, but we're actually keeping ourselves bound. 130 00:07:09,464 --> 00:07:12,344 And then the third one is shame and guilt. 131 00:07:13,664 --> 00:07:16,244 Shame and guilt and regret. 132 00:07:16,484 --> 00:07:20,204 Has shame, guilt, or regret ever affected your life? 133 00:07:22,334 --> 00:07:23,174 Every single one of us. 134 00:07:23,549 --> 00:07:27,389 It has gone through a time where we've been shamed or or ashamed of something 135 00:07:27,389 --> 00:07:31,619 or guilty, and we've had so much regret that it affected our lives. 136 00:07:31,619 --> 00:07:36,509 For some of us, the hardest person to forgive is ourselves. 137 00:07:37,859 --> 00:07:43,439 For some of us, we believe, yeah, God forgives us, but we still 138 00:07:43,829 --> 00:07:45,209 live like we're disqualified. 139 00:07:47,819 --> 00:07:51,929 You know, these can be chains that prevent us from experiencing God's 140 00:07:51,929 --> 00:07:57,449 favor of growth and really prevent us from being who he created us to be. 141 00:07:58,739 --> 00:08:03,989 But Jesus came to bring true freedom, not just pieces of freedom. 142 00:08:04,889 --> 00:08:07,589 Jesus doesn't break just some chains. 143 00:08:08,069 --> 00:08:09,749 He breaks every chain. 144 00:08:10,574 --> 00:08:14,414 In John chapter eight, Jesus is having this discussion with a group of people 145 00:08:14,414 --> 00:08:18,194 and the religious leaders, and he talks about how if you're a slave to, 146 00:08:18,194 --> 00:08:20,384 if you, you can be a slave to sin. 147 00:08:20,384 --> 00:08:22,184 And they're like, that doesn't make sense. 148 00:08:22,184 --> 00:08:26,549 And Jesus says this profound statement that I want us to read in John 8 149 00:08:26,549 --> 00:08:33,164 36, he says, so if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 150 00:08:34,453 --> 00:08:37,448 So if the sun sets you free talking about Jesus. 151 00:08:38,594 --> 00:08:45,884 You'll be free indeed, free from sins bondage, but also of guilt and of shame. 152 00:08:47,684 --> 00:08:50,054 Two examples come to mind when I think about this. 153 00:08:50,054 --> 00:08:52,914 I think about I think about Simba from The Lion King. 154 00:08:53,994 --> 00:08:55,884 We're all familiar with Simba from The Lion King. 155 00:08:56,244 --> 00:08:57,624 If you haven't, why not? 156 00:08:58,854 --> 00:09:00,894 What have you been waiting on the last 30 years? 157 00:09:01,584 --> 00:09:03,024 You need to hurry up and watch The Lion King. 158 00:09:03,024 --> 00:09:04,464 It's the best Disney movie there is. 159 00:09:04,464 --> 00:09:04,854 Okay? 160 00:09:05,004 --> 00:09:07,164 I know Toy Story and all that, but nothing beats Lion King. 161 00:09:07,164 --> 00:09:07,374 Sorry. 162 00:09:07,374 --> 00:09:08,904 We can squabble afterwards about that. 163 00:09:08,904 --> 00:09:09,144 All right. 164 00:09:09,834 --> 00:09:12,894 But I think a Simba, remember Simba, right? 165 00:09:12,954 --> 00:09:18,144 His father dies and he, he runs from his past believing his 166 00:09:18,144 --> 00:09:20,244 mistakes have disqualified him. 167 00:09:20,964 --> 00:09:24,024 But when he finally looked into the water, when Rafiki takes him to 168 00:09:24,024 --> 00:09:29,859 the water and he hears his father's voice, say, remember who you are. 169 00:09:31,179 --> 00:09:34,569 Remember who you are. 170 00:09:35,439 --> 00:09:38,889 Remember who you are. 171 00:09:39,969 --> 00:09:42,219 At that moment, something changes for Simba. 172 00:09:42,909 --> 00:09:48,369 He realized he'd been forgiven, but that he was still living like he was guilty. 173 00:09:49,809 --> 00:09:53,469 And we know he goes on to be the Lion King. 174 00:09:53,469 --> 00:09:56,529 And I think God is saying the same thing to some of us today. 175 00:09:56,739 --> 00:09:59,049 Remember who? 176 00:09:59,769 --> 00:10:04,869 You are, remember who you are. 177 00:10:05,559 --> 00:10:09,729 If you're in Christ, you are forgiven and you're free. 178 00:10:11,229 --> 00:10:14,019 I also think of the apostle Paul. 179 00:10:15,279 --> 00:10:20,469 He, before he was Paul, he was saw as many of us know, and as 180 00:10:20,469 --> 00:10:22,659 Saul, he persecuted the church. 181 00:10:22,659 --> 00:10:26,259 He tried to literally imprison those who are becoming Christians. 182 00:10:26,769 --> 00:10:30,969 He was a part of those who would actually kill Christians, but 183 00:10:30,969 --> 00:10:32,859 then he becomes a Christian. 184 00:10:33,009 --> 00:10:34,179 That's pretty incredible. 185 00:10:34,419 --> 00:10:38,139 Not only does he become a Christian, but then he becomes a leader in the church and 186 00:10:38,139 --> 00:10:41,139 he actually dies for his faith as well. 187 00:10:41,619 --> 00:10:45,489 But here's the thing, when Paul first became a Christian, all the 188 00:10:45,489 --> 00:10:49,359 Christians were afraid of him because they were like, if Paul's coming into 189 00:10:49,359 --> 00:10:53,739 town, y'all better run because we've heard what he's done in other cities. 190 00:10:55,359 --> 00:10:58,179 Imagine the first several years as a Christian for Paul. 191 00:10:59,109 --> 00:11:02,589 When you come in, everybody's leery, skeptical. 192 00:11:02,679 --> 00:11:03,489 Is he real? 193 00:11:03,789 --> 00:11:04,449 Is he fake? 194 00:11:04,449 --> 00:11:08,259 Is he just trying to get in so that he can get us? 195 00:11:09,459 --> 00:11:13,659 And you're seeing Paul, you're seeing people that you may be their friends, 196 00:11:13,659 --> 00:11:20,139 maybe family members you helped in prison or maybe even confirm their death. 197 00:11:23,454 --> 00:11:28,794 I'm sure he was tempted with shame, guilt, and regret. 198 00:11:29,484 --> 00:11:31,344 I mean, what a burden to carry. 199 00:11:32,154 --> 00:11:32,364 Man. 200 00:11:32,394 --> 00:11:34,674 I tried to stop all of this. 201 00:11:38,214 --> 00:11:44,574 Some of us are still carrying a burden we can't let go of our past. 202 00:11:45,174 --> 00:11:48,444 And then what happens is we start to develop some stinking thinking. 203 00:11:49,254 --> 00:11:54,534 We're thinking we're, we're too sinful or we're too guilty to get right with God. 204 00:11:55,314 --> 00:11:57,534 Some of us, we, we feel like, you know what? 205 00:11:57,564 --> 00:12:00,144 We've gotten to the point where I don't really wanna try anymore. 206 00:12:00,144 --> 00:12:03,444 I don't wanna give my all because I've tried in the past 207 00:12:03,444 --> 00:12:07,104 and I've failed too many times. 208 00:12:08,484 --> 00:12:09,984 Some of us, we keep 209 00:12:09,984 --> 00:12:13,644 our mistakes on repeat, and we lose hope of 210 00:12:13,644 --> 00:12:16,224 Marcel Hall: growth and hope of change. 211 00:12:17,454 --> 00:12:22,014 Some of us as parents, we can think about the mistakes that we have made 212 00:12:22,014 --> 00:12:27,474 with our children and think where they might be, maybe in their faith or in 213 00:12:27,474 --> 00:12:30,954 life, we, we think it's our faults. 214 00:12:33,114 --> 00:12:38,634 Some of us, it's the sin before we became a Christian, or for some of us, it's 215 00:12:38,634 --> 00:12:40,789 the sin after we became a Christian. 216 00:12:42,129 --> 00:12:44,349 We're like, man, I knew I shouldn't have did this. 217 00:12:44,349 --> 00:12:49,929 I knew I knew better, but yet I still made this wicked mistake 218 00:12:51,249 --> 00:12:52,629 and it's holding us back. 219 00:12:53,319 --> 00:12:57,579 Some of us we're still thinking about maybe the abortion, the divorce, 220 00:12:57,579 --> 00:13:01,839 the adultery or the crime that we committed, and it's GNA at us and we 221 00:13:01,839 --> 00:13:04,599 are still enslaved and chained to it. 222 00:13:04,929 --> 00:13:10,959 Again, preventing us from growth and the freedom that Christ offers. 223 00:13:12,024 --> 00:13:12,834 Jesus. 224 00:13:12,924 --> 00:13:16,014 He set Paul free and he didn't set him free. 225 00:13:16,014 --> 00:13:20,934 He set him free indeed, and Paul understood the grace that freed him. 226 00:13:21,024 --> 00:13:24,174 Look at what he says here in one Corinthians Chapter 15, church, 227 00:13:24,174 --> 00:13:25,614 are you still with me this morning? 228 00:13:26,289 --> 00:13:30,744 One, one Corinthians 15, verse 90 says, for I'm the least of the apostles, he's 229 00:13:30,744 --> 00:13:32,844 like, I shouldn't even be an apostle. 230 00:13:32,844 --> 00:13:37,194 This doesn't make any sense and do not deserve to be called an apostle 231 00:13:37,194 --> 00:13:39,469 because I persecuted the Church of God. 232 00:13:40,644 --> 00:13:44,544 But by the grace of God, I am what I am. 233 00:13:45,474 --> 00:13:49,014 And his grace to me was not without effect. 234 00:13:49,314 --> 00:13:53,604 He goes on in a letter he wrote to Timothy, his protege, and he says, even 235 00:13:53,874 --> 00:13:57,984 though in one Timothy one, verse 13, he says, even though I was once a blasphemer, 236 00:13:57,984 --> 00:14:00,234 he said, I did the worst thing ever. 237 00:14:00,234 --> 00:14:02,424 I talked bad about the Messiah. 238 00:14:02,904 --> 00:14:08,184 I said He wasn't the Christ and I, a persecutor and a violent man. 239 00:14:08,574 --> 00:14:09,774 I was shown. 240 00:14:10,314 --> 00:14:11,004 Mercy. 241 00:14:12,024 --> 00:14:14,814 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly. 242 00:14:15,864 --> 00:14:21,174 Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am the worst. 243 00:14:21,624 --> 00:14:25,724 He says, but this my, me being the worst of sinners served as an 244 00:14:25,724 --> 00:14:31,034 example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. 245 00:14:32,414 --> 00:14:34,694 Paul knew what it meant to be released. 246 00:14:35,054 --> 00:14:36,464 Released from his past. 247 00:14:36,869 --> 00:14:42,629 From his guilt, from his shame because Grace didn't just cover his story, it 248 00:14:42,629 --> 00:14:49,889 rewrote his story, and the same applies to us today, that grace, that mercy, that 249 00:14:49,889 --> 00:14:52,649 freedom is available in Jesus Christ. 250 00:14:52,769 --> 00:14:54,029 Can I get an amen? 251 00:14:55,139 --> 00:14:57,239 And this isn't grace that is temporary. 252 00:14:57,389 --> 00:14:59,309 This is grace that is permanent. 253 00:15:02,534 --> 00:15:06,464 Again, I want us to re remember what Jesus said, so if the sun 254 00:15:06,464 --> 00:15:09,044 sets you free, you will be free. 255 00:15:09,044 --> 00:15:15,284 What indeed in Christ burdens can be dropped because you are free, 256 00:15:16,574 --> 00:15:21,734 de free from the bondage of your current sin, free from bitterness and 257 00:15:21,734 --> 00:15:27,404 resentment toward others, free from the past, mistakes, shame or guilt. 258 00:15:28,214 --> 00:15:30,734 So how can we respond to this grace? 259 00:15:31,304 --> 00:15:34,394 Let's walk into to the freedom of Christ today. 260 00:15:35,024 --> 00:15:38,144 Let's experience God's freedom today. 261 00:15:38,654 --> 00:15:42,314 'cause here's the thing, you can't carry guilt and grace at the same time. 262 00:15:43,874 --> 00:15:47,534 You can't get carry guilt and grace at the same time. 263 00:15:47,564 --> 00:15:49,304 And God doesn't want you to try that. 264 00:15:50,414 --> 00:15:53,504 God wants you to carry his grace. 265 00:15:54,719 --> 00:15:55,949 Let's release our burdens. 266 00:15:55,949 --> 00:16:01,139 Let's release the sin and allow God's freedom to reign in our lives. 267 00:16:01,679 --> 00:16:06,810 And so today you'll get to do something physical that reflects something spiritual 268 00:16:06,810 --> 00:16:10,199 and act of release around the room. 269 00:16:10,199 --> 00:16:13,979 As we've mentioned, as you've seen our stations, places to confess, 270 00:16:13,979 --> 00:16:18,509 to forgive, to receive mercy, and to rest in God's presence. 271 00:16:19,049 --> 00:16:21,314 Some of you need to release sin some. 272 00:16:21,960 --> 00:16:23,790 Need to release someone else. 273 00:16:24,029 --> 00:16:27,449 Some of us, the spirit is saying, release yourself. 274 00:16:28,710 --> 00:16:31,589 You don't have to stay stuck in guilt or regrets. 275 00:16:32,099 --> 00:16:34,199 You don't have to be stagnant in your faith. 276 00:16:34,739 --> 00:16:37,290 You don't have to stay bound by unforgiveness because in 277 00:16:37,290 --> 00:16:40,290 Christ, God releases you. 278 00:16:41,939 --> 00:16:45,689 So I wanna give some instruction here for how this is going to work. 279 00:16:45,989 --> 00:16:51,029 And so we have four stations all across here in the, uh, in 280 00:16:51,029 --> 00:16:52,589 the, uh, performing arts center. 281 00:16:52,919 --> 00:16:57,869 We have a, a station of confession and release, a station of for forgiveness. 282 00:16:57,869 --> 00:16:59,889 That's the forgiveness wall right there. 283 00:17:00,509 --> 00:17:02,609 We have another station of mercy. 284 00:17:02,894 --> 00:17:05,473 And another station of prayer and reflection. 285 00:17:05,685 --> 00:17:09,023 And so every one of you should have received a handout as you 286 00:17:09,023 --> 00:17:12,834 were walking in, but there's gonna be a prompt at each station, and 287 00:17:12,834 --> 00:17:17,519 that will guide your reflection and your symbolic form of release. 288 00:17:18,425 --> 00:17:22,535 So you can go to the station and then come back to the seat if you like. 289 00:17:22,535 --> 00:17:26,345 So you can go to one station, come back to your seat, sit about it, reflect upon 290 00:17:26,345 --> 00:17:30,725 it, write down, uh, uh, uh, pray, and then you can go to the next station. 291 00:17:30,725 --> 00:17:32,615 So you can do that or you can decide. 292 00:17:32,825 --> 00:17:35,195 I'm just gonna go to each station, see what's going on. 293 00:17:35,195 --> 00:17:38,794 Then I'm gonna come back to my seat and be able to partake in all of these things. 294 00:17:38,854 --> 00:17:41,135 However you wanna do it, you can do it. 295 00:17:41,135 --> 00:17:43,680 You can go in the order in which you think would be best. 296 00:17:44,405 --> 00:17:48,375 And then we also have, this will be the area in which can be available 297 00:17:48,375 --> 00:17:50,804 for prayer and reflection upon this. 298 00:17:50,804 --> 00:17:54,134 And so, uh, you can sit in different seats all across here 299 00:17:54,134 --> 00:17:56,025 by yourself to be able to pray. 300 00:17:56,025 --> 00:17:58,034 You can also pray with others as well. 301 00:17:58,285 --> 00:18:01,405 And then we also, on the handout that you have, you can write down. 302 00:18:01,664 --> 00:18:06,254 Uh, any notes or reflections you have, but there's also information and direction on 303 00:18:06,254 --> 00:18:11,294 there to remind you of what each station is about and what, uh, the activity is. 304 00:18:11,294 --> 00:18:14,915 And so, we do have one station right there in the corner where Craig is for 305 00:18:14,915 --> 00:18:17,135 those who might have some mobility issues. 306 00:18:17,225 --> 00:18:20,060 And so all of the uh, uh, uh, things are right there. 307 00:18:20,120 --> 00:18:22,820 And we're gonna give us about 20 to 25 minutes. 308 00:18:23,140 --> 00:18:26,440 And then we're gonna go ahead and, uh, come back together 309 00:18:26,620 --> 00:18:28,150 for a time of communion. 310 00:18:28,150 --> 00:18:30,370 And so we will, uh, go to all the stations. 311 00:18:30,370 --> 00:18:33,160 I'll give you guys like a two minute warning, and then we'll come 312 00:18:33,160 --> 00:18:35,260 back and take communion together. 313 00:18:35,260 --> 00:18:40,900 I wanna encourage you to really allow the spirit to show up, to not limit yourself. 314 00:18:40,900 --> 00:18:42,100 Do not let insecurity. 315 00:18:42,100 --> 00:18:45,340 And again, I'll encourage you, this isn't something that we wanna do two by two. 316 00:18:46,370 --> 00:18:50,000 This is something you really wanna experience with you and God. 317 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:52,670 And so maybe you need someone to pray with and encourage you for that. 318 00:18:52,880 --> 00:18:56,420 But let's go ahead and let's make sure that we're not using this as opportunities 319 00:18:56,420 --> 00:19:00,770 to engage in a lot of conversation that can veer, but allow us to truly connect 320 00:19:00,770 --> 00:19:03,200 with God and allow him to free us. 321 00:19:03,440 --> 00:19:07,535 And so, God, let's go ahead and let's go to God in prayer and then 322 00:19:07,535 --> 00:19:10,355 we'll have our stations of release. 323 00:19:10,415 --> 00:19:11,045 Let's pray. 324 00:19:12,155 --> 00:19:14,555 God, as we move into this time of release. 325 00:19:15,320 --> 00:19:17,720 I pray that we do not hold back. 326 00:19:18,380 --> 00:19:24,740 Let this morning be a time where change fall and hearts are free, where we 327 00:19:24,740 --> 00:19:30,500 experience the freedom that you came to bring, that we can experience the 328 00:19:30,500 --> 00:19:35,390 release of ourselves, of others, of the past, of situations, of our own 329 00:19:35,390 --> 00:19:41,870 sin and God be reminded that in Christ we did not have pieces of freedom. 330 00:19:42,380 --> 00:19:47,840 We have true and complete freedom and that we are free indeed. 331 00:19:48,110 --> 00:19:52,160 I'm excited to see how your spirit will move in our hearts and in our minds. 332 00:19:52,160 --> 00:19:54,020 God, you've been working on mine even this morning. 333 00:19:54,260 --> 00:19:56,840 I started thinking, man, this is good for my soul. 334 00:19:56,990 --> 00:20:00,350 There's something that that popped up that I didn't realize I need to deal with. 335 00:20:00,350 --> 00:20:03,050 So I thank you in advance for the way you're working. 336 00:20:03,410 --> 00:20:04,910 God, may you be pleased. 337 00:20:04,910 --> 00:20:08,210 May you be glorified and may we receive your spirit in full. 338 00:20:08,420 --> 00:20:10,790 In Jesus' name, amen.