1 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:09,600 A couple of small orders of business or just a little 2 00:00:09,600 --> 00:00:13,320 note to the family, we have a couple of changes coming up. I 3 00:00:13,320 --> 00:00:16,720 know you're like, I think we've had enough anyway. But 4 00:00:16,960 --> 00:00:20,320 this one, I think these are a couple of them that I feel are really 5 00:00:20,320 --> 00:00:22,960 good. I shared with you all at some point, at least I think I did. 6 00:00:24,160 --> 00:00:27,920 When my mom was passing and I was in the hospital with her that 7 00:00:27,920 --> 00:00:31,550 week, she was giving me instructions, final 8 00:00:31,550 --> 00:00:35,070 instructions. My mom and my dad pastored and I was 9 00:00:35,070 --> 00:00:37,750 talking to my mom. I had crawled up in bed with her and I said, 10 00:00:37,750 --> 00:00:40,830 mom, tell me, what do you want with your church? How do you wanna do 11 00:00:40,830 --> 00:00:44,470 this? What do you wanna do? And she had two instructions. And those two 12 00:00:44,470 --> 00:00:48,270 instructions were, number one, she said, do not tax the people. And 13 00:00:48,270 --> 00:00:52,070 number two, don't make it harder than it has to be. And that has 14 00:00:52,070 --> 00:00:55,510 just been awakened in my spirit recently. And there are a couple of things I 15 00:00:55,510 --> 00:00:59,020 would like to do that I feel like for fall into those categories. 16 00:00:59,100 --> 00:01:02,780 Number one, we are going to, on August 2nd, move our 17 00:01:02,780 --> 00:01:06,460 gatherings back to. It's not gonna. Well, yeah, it will affect you guys. 18 00:01:06,460 --> 00:01:09,900 You get out earlier anyway. 9 and 10 30, 19 00:01:10,220 --> 00:01:13,500 the meetings will not be. The services will not be 20 00:01:13,500 --> 00:01:17,300 identical. But what you might lose if you're in first gathering 21 00:01:17,300 --> 00:01:21,140 is you might lose one song or something like that. But as far as 22 00:01:21,140 --> 00:01:24,900 the teaching and the worship, we're going to go the same places, but It'll 23 00:01:24,900 --> 00:01:28,620 be a one hour gathering and then we'll start the second 24 00:01:28,620 --> 00:01:32,280 gathering 10:30. That means you get out at 25 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:36,040 noon. And I think that's helpful for people, especially if you got young kids 26 00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:39,480 and it's nap time and it's your nap time. And anyway, 27 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:43,560 so you're. I just. That was something that was in my spirit. The other 28 00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:47,160 thing was to move our services back to 29 00:01:47,160 --> 00:01:51,000 Wednesday night. And the reason that I feel like that's important is 30 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:53,640 because I've had so many families who have 31 00:01:54,680 --> 00:01:58,220 kids that are. Want to be in sports and your family is 32 00:01:58,220 --> 00:02:01,740 involved in that. And that means that you have to make a choice between whether 33 00:02:01,740 --> 00:02:05,140 your kids can be here in youth or whether you can 34 00:02:05,300 --> 00:02:08,860 allow them to pursue things that they are gifted in and that they 35 00:02:08,860 --> 00:02:12,700 enjoy. So the simple solution to that for me is 36 00:02:12,700 --> 00:02:15,780 that we're gonna go back to Wednesday nights. You still get 37 00:02:16,340 --> 00:02:20,060 cafe food from five to six, you still get fed, but it will 38 00:02:20,060 --> 00:02:23,740 be on Wednesday nights from 6 to 7. And we're gonna begin that on 39 00:02:23,740 --> 00:02:27,490 August 5th. So I hope, it would be my hope that that's a 40 00:02:27,490 --> 00:02:31,290 blessing to you that that's something that makes life a little easier 41 00:02:31,290 --> 00:02:35,010 for you and maybe takes away some of the difficulties. I 42 00:02:35,010 --> 00:02:38,770 know because I've talked with some of you, and it's been a difficult choice 43 00:02:38,770 --> 00:02:42,410 for you, and my hope is that you won't have to make that choice now. 44 00:02:42,570 --> 00:02:46,330 So let your kids run. Let them 45 00:02:46,330 --> 00:02:49,810 do what, you know, God gifted that little football player and that little 46 00:02:49,810 --> 00:02:53,570 cheerleader. Let's let them do it and still come and be with their friends 47 00:02:53,570 --> 00:02:57,330 and their family here on Wednesday nights. I guess that was about all I 48 00:02:57,330 --> 00:03:01,050 really wanted to share with y'. All. Maybe not. This has been a 49 00:03:01,050 --> 00:03:04,450 journey, guys. And I don't know if you remember when I first 50 00:03:04,850 --> 00:03:08,010 two weeks ago, I said, I feel like, you know, all the Lord's given me 51 00:03:08,010 --> 00:03:11,090 so far is three weeks. Well, this is week three. Y' all are in so 52 00:03:11,090 --> 00:03:14,850 much trouble. This is week three. But fortunately, 53 00:03:15,330 --> 00:03:18,970 because of the blessing of the Lord, we have other teachers in this house that 54 00:03:18,970 --> 00:03:22,690 God has called. So next week, Pastor Justin will be bringing 55 00:03:22,690 --> 00:03:26,150 a word on Saturday sacrificial worship. And he'll be talking to you about 56 00:03:26,150 --> 00:03:29,990 Jesus and the price that he paid in his worship. And this one. This one 57 00:03:29,990 --> 00:03:33,710 tickles me, guys, because what I gave Pastor Jonathan was 58 00:03:33,710 --> 00:03:37,190 the title Even More Undignified than this. 59 00:03:37,190 --> 00:03:40,910 He's so happy. Anyway, but about the worship 60 00:03:40,990 --> 00:03:44,670 that David presented to the Lord. So the next two weeks, we have 61 00:03:44,990 --> 00:03:48,590 powerful men of God bringing the Word according 62 00:03:48,670 --> 00:03:52,350 to worship, and we are going to worship anyway, right? But I have 63 00:03:52,350 --> 00:03:55,870 felt like these last three weeks have kind of been our own 64 00:03:56,350 --> 00:04:00,150 Valley of Baca. Our scripture base for 65 00:04:00,150 --> 00:04:03,510 this church is Psalm 84. It's why we're called 66 00:04:03,510 --> 00:04:07,310 Springhouse. It says when they pass through the Valley of Tears, 67 00:04:07,710 --> 00:04:11,470 they make it a place of springs. And the Lord has allowed 68 00:04:11,790 --> 00:04:15,310 this over many years with this body, that when people 69 00:04:15,310 --> 00:04:19,010 pass through the Valley of Tears, they find the springs. 70 00:04:19,250 --> 00:04:22,610 They become the wells and the springs. And I'm excited 71 00:04:22,850 --> 00:04:26,610 that he's given us the opportunity to walk through that valley. 72 00:04:26,610 --> 00:04:30,370 But I also see in my spirit that we are just on the other 73 00:04:30,370 --> 00:04:33,250 side of it. So I'm excited about that as well. 74 00:04:34,530 --> 00:04:36,770 This week, I'm going to talk to you guys about 75 00:04:38,050 --> 00:04:41,410 midnight songs. Midnight songs. 76 00:04:41,970 --> 00:04:44,850 And I would imagine most of you who are biblically 77 00:04:46,350 --> 00:04:49,590 literate and enjoy the Word, you know that I'm gonna talk to you about Paul 78 00:04:49,590 --> 00:04:53,430 and Silas and their midnight songs. And I felt 79 00:04:53,430 --> 00:04:56,470 like when the Lord was just kind of taking me through this, I felt like 80 00:04:56,470 --> 00:04:59,950 that's kind of where we've been you know, that's kind of where we've been. Having 81 00:04:59,950 --> 00:05:03,550 to find a midnight song, having to find the place of worship and 82 00:05:03,550 --> 00:05:06,990 praise that's on the inside of us when our circumstances were not 83 00:05:06,990 --> 00:05:10,550 necessarily what we would have chosen. And this isn't the first 84 00:05:10,550 --> 00:05:14,310 time that any of us have been through a hard place. Right? And it 85 00:05:14,310 --> 00:05:17,890 won't be the last time. So how wonder that 86 00:05:17,890 --> 00:05:21,650 God would teach us how to birth a midnight song in 87 00:05:21,650 --> 00:05:25,370 those places and give us the opportunity to not only learn it for ourselves, 88 00:05:25,690 --> 00:05:29,490 but to teach it and model that for the generation behind 89 00:05:29,490 --> 00:05:33,210 us. This is what you do when you walk through a hard place. This is 90 00:05:33,210 --> 00:05:36,770 what it looks like, this is what it feels like. We're not denying it, but 91 00:05:36,770 --> 00:05:40,450 we're also not gonna live in the valley of tears. We're just not going to. 92 00:05:40,450 --> 00:05:44,260 We're not called to. Scripture says they passed through, they pass through. 93 00:05:44,260 --> 00:05:47,740 So now when we go to Acts 16, if you have your 94 00:05:47,740 --> 00:05:51,500 Bibles, I'm gonna encourage you, man. 95 00:05:51,500 --> 00:05:55,060 Bring your Bible as often as you can. And if you need one, 96 00:05:55,380 --> 00:05:59,059 let me know. We'll get you one, but we're gonna go. 97 00:05:59,059 --> 00:06:02,700 Paul and Silas, let me set this up for you in chapter 98 00:06:02,700 --> 00:06:06,460 16. Paul and Silas are ministering and there is this woman that 99 00:06:06,460 --> 00:06:10,220 keeps following behind them and she is shouting and she's 100 00:06:10,220 --> 00:06:14,030 bothering them and she's interrupting basically what they're doing. And she is 101 00:06:14,030 --> 00:06:17,750 a fortune teller and she's actually a slave. 102 00:06:17,910 --> 00:06:21,710 And she, because of her fortune telling abilities, she 103 00:06:21,710 --> 00:06:25,270 is earning a lot of money for the people who own her. Well, so she's 104 00:06:25,270 --> 00:06:29,110 following Paul and Silas and she's yelling and interrupting and yelling 105 00:06:29,110 --> 00:06:32,870 and interrupting. And finally it says after several days, which tells you how 106 00:06:32,870 --> 00:06:36,470 patient Paul must have been, you know. Cause most of us would have snapped back 107 00:06:36,470 --> 00:06:40,270 like the first time, you know, he's like, you're gonna stop anyway. But 108 00:06:40,270 --> 00:06:43,510 what he does is he turns around and after several days he turns around and 109 00:06:43,510 --> 00:06:47,110 he rebukes the spirit that's in her and tells her to come out. 110 00:06:47,590 --> 00:06:51,270 Come out. And it does. And of 111 00:06:51,270 --> 00:06:55,110 course her owners are really upset because they lost their 112 00:06:55,110 --> 00:06:58,350 source of income. And so they're furious and they go to the 113 00:06:58,350 --> 00:07:01,990 magistrates and they have Paul and Silas. They convict 114 00:07:01,990 --> 00:07:05,790 Paul and Silas. And it says in verse 22, the crowd 115 00:07:05,790 --> 00:07:09,590 joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to 116 00:07:09,590 --> 00:07:13,040 be stripped, beaten. After they had been 117 00:07:13,040 --> 00:07:16,840 severely flogged, they were thrown into prison and the jailer 118 00:07:16,840 --> 00:07:20,640 was commanded to guard them carefully. Upon receiving such orders, he 119 00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:24,440 put them in the inner cell not the outer cell. There was 120 00:07:24,440 --> 00:07:27,960 no daylight here. And fastened their feet in stocks. 121 00:07:28,040 --> 00:07:31,880 And here's where we're going. About midnight, 122 00:07:32,360 --> 00:07:35,960 Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns. Do you ever wonder what 123 00:07:35,960 --> 00:07:39,810 hymn they were singing? Seriously, 124 00:07:39,810 --> 00:07:43,330 don't think it was Amazing Grace, but what hymns? 125 00:07:43,410 --> 00:07:47,170 See, it could have been a psalm of ascent, because we know 126 00:07:47,170 --> 00:07:50,810 that David had songs of ascent and that the 127 00:07:50,810 --> 00:07:54,610 children of Israel sang songs as they traveled. You don't know 128 00:07:54,610 --> 00:07:58,250 what that is, but that's interesting. About midnight, Paul and 129 00:07:58,250 --> 00:08:01,970 Silas were praying and singing hymns to God. And the other prisoners 130 00:08:01,970 --> 00:08:05,690 were listening to them. Suddenly, there was such a violent earthquake that 131 00:08:05,690 --> 00:08:09,330 the foundations of the prison were shaken. All. All at once, the prison 132 00:08:09,330 --> 00:08:13,090 doors flew open and everybody's chains came loose. 133 00:08:13,410 --> 00:08:16,570 Father, I thank you for your word. I thank you for the truth of your 134 00:08:16,570 --> 00:08:20,370 word. It is where we stand, Lord. It is what 135 00:08:20,450 --> 00:08:24,289 lights our path. It is what shows us which way to go 136 00:08:24,289 --> 00:08:27,930 and which way to turn. So, Father, we thank you for your word and we 137 00:08:27,930 --> 00:08:31,690 thank you for the Holy Spirit. That explains it to us. Over and 138 00:08:31,690 --> 00:08:35,490 over again, I ask, Lord, that my stuff fall in your stand 139 00:08:36,250 --> 00:08:39,850 in Jesus name. Amen. The cool thing 140 00:08:40,170 --> 00:08:43,290 here is that the chains come off. 141 00:08:44,890 --> 00:08:48,490 And when the jailer wakes up and sees that the chains are gone, 142 00:08:48,490 --> 00:08:52,129 he grabs a knife and he's gonna kill himself because he just 143 00:08:52,129 --> 00:08:55,930 assumes that all the prisoners have run out. But they didn't. 144 00:08:56,330 --> 00:09:00,010 They didn't. They did not run out. And Paul tells 145 00:09:00,010 --> 00:09:03,380 him, don't do that. Don't do that. We're all still here. 146 00:09:03,700 --> 00:09:07,460 So here's the thing. Midnight worship is the worship that rises from 147 00:09:07,460 --> 00:09:11,300 prison floors. Midnight worship is that place where you're 148 00:09:11,300 --> 00:09:14,500 like, you know, Paul and Silas, let's see, beaten, 149 00:09:14,740 --> 00:09:17,860 flogged, stripped, beaten with canes, 150 00:09:18,100 --> 00:09:21,620 humiliated. You would think they might have had a reason, 151 00:09:21,700 --> 00:09:25,500 sitting on that prison floor, to begin to complain and to 152 00:09:25,500 --> 00:09:28,820 gripe. I'm probably. I think I would have been crying just a little bit. 153 00:09:29,140 --> 00:09:32,980 I mean, like, did you see? I was just stitching me anyway. But that was 154 00:09:32,980 --> 00:09:36,540 a Paul and Silas, they had a reason to 155 00:09:36,540 --> 00:09:40,380 worship. And that's what came up. Because, see, to Paul and Silas, it was never 156 00:09:40,380 --> 00:09:44,180 about Paul and Silas. It was about a message that they had to 157 00:09:44,180 --> 00:09:47,900 carry. It was about a word of hope that was supposed to be released 158 00:09:47,900 --> 00:09:51,660 to a people. And they had seen it with their own eyes. And they knew. 159 00:09:51,980 --> 00:09:55,780 They knew that message needed to go, and so they just worshiped. They knew that 160 00:09:55,780 --> 00:09:59,460 the situation did not matter. It says about midnight, Paul and 161 00:09:59,460 --> 00:10:02,220 Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, 162 00:10:03,040 --> 00:10:06,720 midnight worship is not a song of understanding, but a song of 163 00:10:06,720 --> 00:10:10,240 anchored trust. Remember when we talked about anchored trust? 164 00:10:10,480 --> 00:10:14,120 That allows us to sink that anchor into the place where we 165 00:10:14,120 --> 00:10:17,680 just trust God, no matter what's happening here or 166 00:10:17,680 --> 00:10:21,440 here or here or here or at home or at work or any 167 00:10:21,440 --> 00:10:24,880 of those things to go. God, I trust you. 168 00:10:25,760 --> 00:10:29,360 That's where your anchor is. Guys, everybody's not gonna like what you 169 00:10:29,360 --> 00:10:32,570 do. Everybody's not gonna agree with what you do. 170 00:10:33,050 --> 00:10:36,170 They're not going to be able to. You know what your assignment is? 171 00:10:36,650 --> 00:10:40,290 Your assignment is to hear from the Holy Spirit and do 172 00:10:40,290 --> 00:10:43,770 what he says to do, because everybody will have an 173 00:10:43,770 --> 00:10:47,570 opinion about what you should or shouldn't do. You need to hear 174 00:10:47,570 --> 00:10:50,970 from the Holy Spirit. If you will hear from the Holy Spirit, 175 00:10:51,290 --> 00:10:55,050 he will direct your path. His word is 176 00:10:55,050 --> 00:10:58,630 a lamp unto my feet. It is a light 177 00:10:58,870 --> 00:11:02,710 unto my path. That's where I'll walk, and 178 00:11:02,710 --> 00:11:05,830 that's where you need to walk every day of your life. 179 00:11:06,550 --> 00:11:09,990 Every day of your life. I asked the Lord, I said, lord, give me examples 180 00:11:09,990 --> 00:11:13,670 of this. And of course, you know which example he would give me. Job. 181 00:11:15,670 --> 00:11:19,350 Job, listen. He had just lost his family. 182 00:11:19,750 --> 00:11:22,960 He lost all of his kids. He lost everything. 183 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:27,760 The things he owned. He lost his cattle. He lost his stock. He lost 184 00:11:27,760 --> 00:11:30,560 his servants. Everything was lost. 185 00:11:31,520 --> 00:11:35,320 Everything was lost. And this is what he said when all of 186 00:11:35,320 --> 00:11:39,000 the news came to him. When everything. When the last bit 187 00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:42,640 of bad news came, he said, at this, Job got up, 188 00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:46,400 he tore his robe and shaved his head. 189 00:11:46,880 --> 00:11:50,320 Then he fell to the ground in worship and said, naked I came 190 00:11:50,640 --> 00:11:53,980 from my mother's womb, and. And naked I will depart. 191 00:11:54,380 --> 00:11:57,420 The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away. 192 00:11:58,060 --> 00:12:01,900 May the name of the Lord be praised. In all this, Job did 193 00:12:01,900 --> 00:12:05,740 not sin. By charging God with wrongdoing. 194 00:12:06,460 --> 00:12:10,140 So often we begin to blame God for things that 195 00:12:10,860 --> 00:12:14,380 God's goodness was in the middle of this. 196 00:12:15,100 --> 00:12:18,380 He just couldn't see it yet. God's goodness 197 00:12:19,150 --> 00:12:22,870 is in the middle of these painful places, if we 198 00:12:22,870 --> 00:12:26,030 will just look for it. Here's what I know. 199 00:12:26,430 --> 00:12:30,190 Job's darkest night gave voice to his deepest worship. His 200 00:12:30,190 --> 00:12:33,550 midnight song. I came to this planet with nothing, 201 00:12:33,710 --> 00:12:37,230 and I will leave this planet with nothing. But I will 202 00:12:37,230 --> 00:12:40,830 praise the name of the Lord every single 203 00:12:40,830 --> 00:12:44,590 day, regardless. Every day, regardless. God 204 00:12:44,590 --> 00:12:48,350 is good and he is. Is faithful. And that's where I 205 00:12:48,350 --> 00:12:52,190 will stand, the next one that he gives me. Of 206 00:12:52,190 --> 00:12:55,870 course you're gonna get a quote from David because David was known for being the 207 00:12:55,870 --> 00:12:59,550 radical worshiper, right? I will bless the 208 00:12:59,550 --> 00:13:03,190 Lord at All times, his praise shall continually be 209 00:13:03,190 --> 00:13:06,790 in my mouth. Do you know, when he wrote that 210 00:13:07,910 --> 00:13:11,750 he was fleeing, he was pretending that he was a crazy 211 00:13:11,750 --> 00:13:15,060 man because of King Asaph. 212 00:13:17,060 --> 00:13:20,900 Saul was chasing him. He'd been hiding in caves. He'd had 213 00:13:20,900 --> 00:13:24,540 to leave his home. He was running for his life. And he 214 00:13:24,540 --> 00:13:28,100 says, as I will bless the Lord at all times, 215 00:13:28,420 --> 00:13:32,260 his praise shall continually be in 216 00:13:32,260 --> 00:13:36,060 my mouth. He was probably in one of his most 217 00:13:36,060 --> 00:13:39,700 difficult seasons, and he chose the midnight 218 00:13:39,700 --> 00:13:42,740 song of I will bless the Lord at all times. 219 00:13:43,980 --> 00:13:47,340 Hmm. But here's the thing. The most powerful 220 00:13:47,340 --> 00:13:50,540 prisons are not the ones around us. They're the ones within us. 221 00:13:55,420 --> 00:13:57,260 Nobody else holds you captive. 222 00:13:59,260 --> 00:14:02,980 It's the things that we grab onto in our spirits and convince ourselves that we're 223 00:14:02,980 --> 00:14:06,340 captive because in Christ, it was for 224 00:14:06,340 --> 00:14:09,260 freedom that he has set us free. 225 00:14:10,340 --> 00:14:14,140 He has done that. One of the most powerful images I feel like he gave 226 00:14:14,140 --> 00:14:16,740 me one time was there was this 227 00:14:18,580 --> 00:14:22,380 bar or chain or fence, and there 228 00:14:22,380 --> 00:14:26,100 was a handcuff clipped to that. And 229 00:14:26,100 --> 00:14:29,820 then there was an open part of the handcuff down here, and it was 230 00:14:29,820 --> 00:14:33,620 open, and it was just hanging there. Just hanging there, connected to metal, 231 00:14:33,700 --> 00:14:37,220 Open wide. And I just kept walking back over and putting my arm in it. 232 00:14:38,300 --> 00:14:41,420 I just kept walking back over and putting my arm in it. He's like, when 233 00:14:41,500 --> 00:14:45,300 do you realize that you're free? Or are you so 234 00:14:45,300 --> 00:14:49,100 used to the chain that it has become your most familiar place? 235 00:14:49,980 --> 00:14:53,660 These things that bind us. See, I believe it's significant that they 236 00:14:53,660 --> 00:14:57,180 put Paul and Silas in the innermost prison, 237 00:14:57,420 --> 00:15:01,180 because I believe that's where we struggle is in the innermost prison, 238 00:15:01,500 --> 00:15:05,350 where we have to find a way to praise way out 239 00:15:05,350 --> 00:15:08,750 of it. Here's what I believe. God is looking for people who will trust him 240 00:15:08,750 --> 00:15:12,550 enough to worship. Before the breakthrough, that's what Paul and Silas 241 00:15:12,550 --> 00:15:16,310 were doing. They were trusting God before the breakthrough. 242 00:15:16,390 --> 00:15:20,150 They weren't singing hymns and songs because God had delivered 243 00:15:20,150 --> 00:15:23,870 him. They were singing hymns and songs because they knew the 244 00:15:23,870 --> 00:15:27,670 God who could. They knew the God who 245 00:15:27,670 --> 00:15:27,990 could. 246 00:15:31,660 --> 00:15:35,340 Immediately, all the doors were opened and everyone in 247 00:15:35,340 --> 00:15:38,940 chains were unfastened. What, not just 248 00:15:38,940 --> 00:15:42,220 theirs. Not just theirs. You know, 249 00:15:42,940 --> 00:15:46,220 everybody is affected when you get free, 250 00:15:46,940 --> 00:15:50,540 because everybody's affected when you're bound. Do you really 251 00:15:50,540 --> 00:15:53,340 think your bondage does not affect your family? 252 00:15:54,300 --> 00:15:58,060 Do you really think those places that we carry are just limited 253 00:15:58,060 --> 00:16:01,810 to us? They're not. There's nothing like watching 254 00:16:01,810 --> 00:16:05,650 somebody get free. There's nothing like watching somebody get 255 00:16:05,650 --> 00:16:08,930 free. Nothing watching. And it just sets everything 256 00:16:09,650 --> 00:16:13,410 free. I 257 00:16:13,410 --> 00:16:16,690 was thinking about the Fact that the earthquake could have just gone right there, 258 00:16:17,090 --> 00:16:20,730 could have just gone there to Paul and Silas, could have just loosened 259 00:16:20,730 --> 00:16:24,450 their chains, could have just opened their doors, but it didn't. It went to 260 00:16:24,450 --> 00:16:27,680 everybody. Because it says that everyone was 261 00:16:27,680 --> 00:16:31,520 listening. Everyone was listening. So the 262 00:16:31,520 --> 00:16:35,280 testimony was not, we're gonna worship and we're gonna get free. 263 00:16:35,360 --> 00:16:38,720 The testimony was, we're gonna worship and we're all gonna be free. 264 00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:42,839 We're all gonna get free. I love that even the winds and 265 00:16:42,839 --> 00:16:46,240 waves obey him. The earthquake was not random. It was heaven's 266 00:16:46,240 --> 00:16:49,360 response to a midnight song. Let me explain this 267 00:16:50,160 --> 00:16:53,890 now, guys. This is not Bible. Well, it is kind of, but it's my 268 00:16:53,890 --> 00:16:57,250 interpretation of something. I believe worship affects the 269 00:16:57,250 --> 00:17:00,930 elements. I believe it shifts the room. I believe 270 00:17:00,930 --> 00:17:04,410 that it changes the atmosphere. And I believe that 271 00:17:04,650 --> 00:17:08,409 the earth responds. Scripture tells us that if we don't 272 00:17:08,409 --> 00:17:12,090 cry out, the rocks will cry out. Right? It says that the trees 273 00:17:12,090 --> 00:17:15,850 in the field will clap their hands. We know that 274 00:17:15,850 --> 00:17:19,490 the seas parted at a word. We know that at a command, the 275 00:17:19,490 --> 00:17:22,410 Jordan was split. We know that fire was called 276 00:17:23,050 --> 00:17:26,789 down from heaven. We know that at some point the sun stood 277 00:17:27,029 --> 00:17:30,789 still in the sky. And we know that Jesus commanded the ocean 278 00:17:30,789 --> 00:17:31,589 waves. Right? 279 00:17:37,029 --> 00:17:40,629 Don't tell me worship doesn't shift something. If one word can part a 280 00:17:40,629 --> 00:17:44,429 sea, what do you think a thousand people worshiping him does? What 281 00:17:44,429 --> 00:17:47,909 do you think can happen in a space when everybody 282 00:17:47,989 --> 00:17:51,709 finds a voice of midnight worship and begins to 283 00:17:51,709 --> 00:17:55,509 call on the name of the Lord before the breakthrough and tell him how good 284 00:17:55,509 --> 00:17:59,210 he is? God has stuff for this 285 00:17:59,210 --> 00:18:02,530 house. I want you to know that God has 286 00:18:03,090 --> 00:18:06,690 moves in this house that we have not experienced before. 287 00:18:06,930 --> 00:18:10,730 And I believe that there is a contingency. There is a thing that's 288 00:18:10,730 --> 00:18:13,890 gonna happen in our worship that is gonna shift an 289 00:18:13,890 --> 00:18:17,690 atmosphere and change some things. And I'm good 290 00:18:17,690 --> 00:18:21,450 with that. I want what he wants. I believe that 291 00:18:21,450 --> 00:18:25,290 there's gonna be healing. I believe that there's gonna be deliverance. I 292 00:18:25,290 --> 00:18:29,010 believe that there are gonna be chains that fall off of people's 293 00:18:29,010 --> 00:18:32,250 lives. I believe there's gonna be generational blessing 294 00:18:32,490 --> 00:18:36,010 released in this house. The Holy 295 00:18:36,010 --> 00:18:39,690 Spirit does. Anybody else does. 296 00:18:39,850 --> 00:18:43,370 All we want is him to do what he does best. 297 00:18:43,530 --> 00:18:46,890 Amen. Amen. That's what I want. That's where we're going. 298 00:18:47,210 --> 00:18:50,930 Oh, my goodness. The Word says, he has sent me to proclaim 299 00:18:50,930 --> 00:18:54,610 liberty to the captives. Jesus did not just come to forgive 300 00:18:54,610 --> 00:18:58,010 sinners. He came to free prisoners. 301 00:18:58,890 --> 00:19:02,490 You're not supposed to walk bound. You're just 302 00:19:02,490 --> 00:19:06,330 not. You know what's beautiful about this. This is all the 303 00:19:06,330 --> 00:19:10,170 way back in Isaiah, this prophetic voice. In Luke 4, 304 00:19:10,730 --> 00:19:14,330 you see Jesus stand and he reads this passage from 305 00:19:14,330 --> 00:19:18,010 Isaiah. He reads this whole thing. I have set 306 00:19:18,010 --> 00:19:18,410 people. 307 00:19:22,420 --> 00:19:23,060 In the eye. 308 00:19:32,020 --> 00:19:34,500 The power, that word 309 00:19:37,940 --> 00:19:41,780 in your presence. That's the power. And 310 00:19:41,780 --> 00:19:45,620 see, that has been released into this atmosphere, 311 00:19:45,780 --> 00:19:49,380 the atmosphere that we live in today. That has 312 00:19:49,380 --> 00:19:52,180 been released. That God. 313 00:19:52,900 --> 00:19:56,620 That God. Oh, that's the one I want. The earthquake did 314 00:19:56,620 --> 00:19:59,860 not stop at Paul's cell. And that's the power of personal 315 00:19:59,940 --> 00:20:03,300 breakthrough. It becomes corporate freedom. 316 00:20:05,300 --> 00:20:09,020 Personal breakthrough has the potential to 317 00:20:09,020 --> 00:20:12,820 become corporate breakthrough because all of the other prisoners were listening. 318 00:20:13,620 --> 00:20:17,470 All of the other prisoners were listening. And if we'll just 319 00:20:17,470 --> 00:20:21,310 listen, God has breakthrough. Guys, I 320 00:20:21,310 --> 00:20:23,630 meant this. I just believe, 321 00:20:25,630 --> 00:20:29,470 you know, in my own spirit. I look, you know, it's felt a little bit 322 00:20:29,470 --> 00:20:33,230 like crossing the Jordan. These last few weeks have 323 00:20:33,310 --> 00:20:36,910 felt a little bit like that. But in all of it, 324 00:20:37,070 --> 00:20:40,030 I just. I see the other side of the river. 325 00:20:40,830 --> 00:20:44,650 I see the other side of the river. And it's good. It is good 326 00:20:44,650 --> 00:20:48,330 if we will keep our eyes fixed and set on him. 327 00:20:49,210 --> 00:20:52,570 See, here's the thing. We are in the middle of this. I believe every life 328 00:20:52,570 --> 00:20:56,130 leaves a legacy. The only question is whether yours will be one of 329 00:20:56,130 --> 00:20:59,610 bondage or freedom. Your 330 00:20:59,610 --> 00:21:02,010 life will leave a legacy. 331 00:21:03,530 --> 00:21:06,930 My father started out as a pastor. He wound up in 332 00:21:06,930 --> 00:21:10,170 alcoholism. He wound up in different things. And it's like 333 00:21:10,410 --> 00:21:14,190 these things that we leave behind. And I 334 00:21:14,190 --> 00:21:17,910 don't want to leave anything behind that overshadows the 335 00:21:17,910 --> 00:21:21,710 goodness of God in my life. My legacy. I pray. 336 00:21:21,710 --> 00:21:24,470 And, guys, I have failed so many times, 337 00:21:27,030 --> 00:21:30,750 but my prayer would be that my legacy for my children would be to 338 00:21:30,750 --> 00:21:34,550 go. God is good and he is faithful, and you can trust 339 00:21:34,550 --> 00:21:37,990 him. No matter what, no matter what you're facing, 340 00:21:38,310 --> 00:21:41,990 find your midnight song. Because he is worthy of. Of 341 00:21:41,990 --> 00:21:45,550 that song. Will your legacy be one of 342 00:21:45,550 --> 00:21:49,270 grumbling and complaining and fighting and staying bound? Or 343 00:21:49,270 --> 00:21:52,030 will your children see you get free? 344 00:21:56,030 --> 00:21:59,830 If we live chained? Our children learn to survive in prisons. But when 345 00:21:59,830 --> 00:22:03,230 we worship through darkness, they learn that prisons do not have 346 00:22:03,470 --> 00:22:06,590 the final word and freedom is possible. 347 00:22:07,560 --> 00:22:11,360 And here's the beautiful thing about this one, guys. Your freedom becomes someone 348 00:22:11,360 --> 00:22:15,080 else's theology. Your freedom becomes someone 349 00:22:15,160 --> 00:22:18,880 else's theology. What do I mean? When Israel finally 350 00:22:18,880 --> 00:22:22,200 crossed the Red Sea, the generations forever would remember. Our God 351 00:22:22,200 --> 00:22:25,960 delivers. Our God delivers. What are 352 00:22:25,960 --> 00:22:29,560 you gonna take from this moment in time? God met 353 00:22:29,640 --> 00:22:33,080 us. God met us. He supplied us. 354 00:22:33,160 --> 00:22:36,680 He covered us. He cared for us. He never 355 00:22:36,680 --> 00:22:40,460 left us. He never. He didn't offer sin, forsake us. He 356 00:22:40,460 --> 00:22:44,100 was faithful. He was faithful because 357 00:22:46,980 --> 00:22:50,580 we could get so focused on the earthquake and on 358 00:22:50,980 --> 00:22:54,700 that particular miracle. But you know what the greatest miracle was? The greatest 359 00:22:54,700 --> 00:22:57,700 miracle at that prison wasn't the earthquake. It was the guard's salvation. 360 00:23:03,060 --> 00:23:06,740 It was the guard's salvation. Somebody who was on the brink 361 00:23:07,430 --> 00:23:10,550 of suicide and desperation. 362 00:23:11,270 --> 00:23:14,750 And because someone was faithful enough to sing a midnight 363 00:23:14,750 --> 00:23:17,430 song and then stick around for a little while 364 00:23:19,110 --> 00:23:20,630 to see what God would do. 365 00:23:23,990 --> 00:23:27,430 The purpose of God's power is not merely to amaze people, but to 366 00:23:27,430 --> 00:23:31,150 redeem them. It's to redeem them. God 367 00:23:31,150 --> 00:23:34,790 does the most amazing things. But even parting the sea was 368 00:23:34,790 --> 00:23:35,910 about saving the people. 369 00:23:38,970 --> 00:23:42,810 That's who he is. That's the God. That's 370 00:23:42,810 --> 00:23:46,570 the God. And he is 371 00:23:46,570 --> 00:23:50,250 still out redeeming the people. See, 372 00:23:50,330 --> 00:23:54,090 sometimes God leaves you in a difficult place because someone trapped there needs your song. 373 00:23:58,330 --> 00:24:00,410 Guys, we ought to be singing 374 00:24:03,700 --> 00:24:07,220 and then stay a little longer. I love 375 00:24:07,220 --> 00:24:09,460 that. They could have got up and ran, 376 00:24:11,140 --> 00:24:14,620 but it says they didn't. And because of that, the 377 00:24:14,620 --> 00:24:17,979 jailer was saved. And then that jailer goes and he 378 00:24:17,979 --> 00:24:21,700 washes the wounds of Paul and Silas. 379 00:24:22,180 --> 00:24:25,780 He washes the wounds of Paul and Silas, and then 380 00:24:25,780 --> 00:24:29,420 his whole family gets saved. And you know 381 00:24:29,420 --> 00:24:32,300 what's also really cool in this is that 382 00:24:33,100 --> 00:24:36,940 the next day, the magistrates come and they find out, oh, 383 00:24:36,940 --> 00:24:40,460 wait, Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. And they're like, oh, 384 00:24:40,460 --> 00:24:42,700 man, we could be in big trouble here. 385 00:24:44,059 --> 00:24:46,980 And here's what they do, because this is what we like to do. We like 386 00:24:46,980 --> 00:24:49,180 to just, like, just leave quietly. 387 00:24:50,860 --> 00:24:52,780 You're released. Go ahead and go. 388 00:24:55,890 --> 00:24:59,170 And Paul goes, I don't think so. 389 00:25:01,170 --> 00:25:04,690 I'm a Roman citizen. What you did was illegal. 390 00:25:05,410 --> 00:25:09,130 You can publicly apologize and you can come escort me, and then I will 391 00:25:09,130 --> 00:25:12,970 leave the prison. And that's exactly what they 392 00:25:12,970 --> 00:25:16,810 did. And so they escort him out and they're going, you can 393 00:25:16,810 --> 00:25:20,210 go now. He's like, no, I think I'm going to go visit my friend 394 00:25:20,210 --> 00:25:24,060 Lydia for a little while. And then after we've eaten and had a good 395 00:25:24,060 --> 00:25:27,060 day, then I'll probably head out. But thank you anyway. 396 00:25:29,220 --> 00:25:32,780 Deliverance looks like Deliverance looks. They 397 00:25:32,780 --> 00:25:36,580 stayed. They stayed. And the Lord did what he 398 00:25:36,580 --> 00:25:40,300 did. I love that. Here's the thing, guys. Midnight never 399 00:25:40,300 --> 00:25:43,860 gets the final word. Midnight never gets the 400 00:25:43,860 --> 00:25:47,380 final word. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy 401 00:25:47,620 --> 00:25:50,100 comes in the morning. And you want to know something beautiful? 402 00:25:53,370 --> 00:25:57,210 Look at this. God has never failed to send one 403 00:25:57,370 --> 00:26:01,050 single sunrise. Not one time. Not 404 00:26:01,050 --> 00:26:04,890 one time. And if joy comes in the morning and he's sending the 405 00:26:04,890 --> 00:26:08,410 morning, we are in pretty good company, don't you think? 406 00:26:08,970 --> 00:26:12,730 Joy comes in the morning. Paul and Silas did not 407 00:26:12,730 --> 00:26:16,330 sing because they liked where they were, but because they knew who was 408 00:26:16,330 --> 00:26:16,970 with them. 409 00:26:20,090 --> 00:26:23,050 Never confuse the presence of pain with the absence of God. 410 00:26:26,170 --> 00:26:29,290 Never confuse. Just cause it hurts doesn't mean it isn't God. 411 00:26:30,010 --> 00:26:33,650 Just cause you don't like it doesn't mean it isn't God. Never 412 00:26:33,650 --> 00:26:37,410 confuse the presence of pain with the absence of God. And 413 00:26:37,410 --> 00:26:41,210 I just ask you this. What if God is waiting on your midnight song for 414 00:26:41,210 --> 00:26:44,650 you to break free from whatever it is, whatever you're still carrying, 415 00:26:44,810 --> 00:26:48,560 whatever you're still thinking, whatever's still holding you back? What 416 00:26:48,560 --> 00:26:52,320 if all it will cost you is a song? What if I 417 00:26:52,880 --> 00:26:56,360 reach down to center place where this 418 00:26:56,360 --> 00:26:59,840 word or this hurt or this pain has bound you 419 00:27:00,240 --> 00:27:03,760 and find that song? Here's what I believe 420 00:27:05,840 --> 00:27:09,680 your midnight worship declares. These chains will not define me. 421 00:27:10,240 --> 00:27:13,760 This prison will not hold me. This past no longer 422 00:27:13,760 --> 00:27:17,190 owns me. This pain will not take my 423 00:27:17,190 --> 00:27:20,030 voice. Because God has the final word. 424 00:27:20,670 --> 00:27:24,430 God gets the final word. He does. And I'm so grateful 425 00:27:24,990 --> 00:27:28,750 that he does. That's the word that I need. 426 00:27:29,630 --> 00:27:33,190 That's the word that I need. And I was thinking about this. Let me. I 427 00:27:33,190 --> 00:27:36,150 think if I'll grab this. Cause I wanted to read it to you. I was 428 00:27:36,150 --> 00:27:39,870 thinking about when I was thinking about all the elements and how they 429 00:27:40,430 --> 00:27:44,240 move and worship and respond. I 430 00:27:44,240 --> 00:27:45,720 was thinking about these songs. 431 00:27:48,040 --> 00:27:51,240 I was thinking about hard places and people who faced them. 432 00:27:52,520 --> 00:27:54,760 And I thought, if stone walls could sing, 433 00:27:55,640 --> 00:27:59,320 Jericho's song would be Sound the trumpets, 434 00:28:01,720 --> 00:28:05,400 raise your voice like a mighty shout and worship till 435 00:28:05,400 --> 00:28:08,450 the walls fall. Worship 436 00:28:08,930 --> 00:28:10,210 till the walls fall. 437 00:28:13,410 --> 00:28:17,210 If seas could sing, the Red Sea song would be. 438 00:28:17,210 --> 00:28:20,970 All who are fearful, trust him. Your 439 00:28:20,970 --> 00:28:24,690 captivity is behind you. The God 440 00:28:24,690 --> 00:28:28,450 of the breakthrough is before you. Just move. 441 00:28:29,650 --> 00:28:30,370 Just move. 442 00:28:33,660 --> 00:28:37,340 If tombs could sing, there is one 443 00:28:37,340 --> 00:28:41,180 that would cry out. He called my name. He called 444 00:28:41,340 --> 00:28:45,180 my name. The grave clothes fell and I 445 00:28:45,180 --> 00:28:48,820 can breathe again. The 446 00:28:48,820 --> 00:28:52,420 song. And if prison 447 00:28:52,420 --> 00:28:55,500 walls in Philippi could sing, their melody would be 448 00:28:56,140 --> 00:28:58,220 O beaten, bound, 449 00:28:59,830 --> 00:29:03,270 battered, chained and long held captive. 450 00:29:03,750 --> 00:29:06,790 Sing your song at midnight. 451 00:29:07,830 --> 00:29:11,510 Sing your song at midnight. 452 00:29:13,110 --> 00:29:15,990 Sing your song at midnight. 453 00:29:17,430 --> 00:29:20,630 Ah, Jesus. I know we are called 454 00:29:21,350 --> 00:29:25,000 in all of it to worship anyway. To 455 00:29:25,000 --> 00:29:28,400 worship anyway. And so that's what we're getting ready to do. 456 00:29:29,120 --> 00:29:32,920 This is week three. And I believe in my spirit that 457 00:29:32,920 --> 00:29:36,480 this is significant. So I'm gonna come down here with you guys 458 00:29:36,640 --> 00:29:40,000 and I need as many of you that will come. We're getting 459 00:29:40,319 --> 00:29:43,040 ready to sing I'm Free. I'm free. 460 00:29:43,840 --> 00:29:47,600 Thank God. Thank God. We're gonna sing it. And as we 461 00:29:47,600 --> 00:29:50,640 sing it, here's what I want you to imagine in your mind. 462 00:29:51,690 --> 00:29:54,770 Any chains that have held you back, any 463 00:29:54,770 --> 00:29:58,290 disappointment that has broken your heart, any 464 00:29:58,290 --> 00:30:01,690 unforgiveness. You need to release anything 465 00:30:02,170 --> 00:30:05,730 that has bound you, whether it's been for three weeks or three 466 00:30:05,730 --> 00:30:08,890 years or three decades. We're gonna make a 467 00:30:08,890 --> 00:30:12,690 declaration and we're gonna come together and we're gonna worship through. And 468 00:30:12,690 --> 00:30:16,410 I know that it's a new song for you, but it's not a new song 469 00:30:16,410 --> 00:30:20,070 for the ages. Because over and over and over, 470 00:30:20,550 --> 00:30:23,270 people have been set free by this God that we love. 471 00:30:24,150 --> 00:30:24,790 Serve 472 00:30:27,830 --> 00:30:31,550 God. I am free. So, Father, I ask that you would 473 00:30:31,550 --> 00:30:35,310 just meet us. We're going to worship for just a minute. We're going to 474 00:30:35,310 --> 00:30:38,990 tell you it is because of the price that you paid. It is because 475 00:30:38,990 --> 00:30:42,710 of everything that you have done, not because of anything that we have 476 00:30:42,710 --> 00:30:46,420 earned, that we are free. And we are going to give you the glory 477 00:30:46,420 --> 00:30:50,060 for it. Father, in Jesus name. Let's crank it up. 478 00:30:50,060 --> 00:30:50,780 Jonathan.