The Year of Harvest - Stephanie Ike Okafor
Transcript
00:00 (Music)
00:16 (Applause)
00:18 Family, while you're standing, let us pray.
00:21 Heavenly Father, we thank you.
00:24 We worship you, Lord, for who you are.
00:29 We thank you, Lord God, that we are positioned on the winning team.
00:35 You won't fail. You've never failed.
00:38 And this is not a time to exercise that.
00:42 And so, Heavenly Father, we thank you that we recognize that in all things,
00:47 you get the victory.
00:49 In all things.
00:51 In the confusion.
00:53 In the pain.
00:54 In the turmoil.
00:55 In all things, Lord God.
00:58 You know how to work it all for our good.
01:03 You don't fail.
01:05 You don't fail.
01:07 What the enemy meant for evil, you know how to also turn that for good.
01:11 You don't fail, Lord.
01:13 You don't fail.
01:14 I thank you, Jesus.
01:17 That even for those that have questioned if it was worth it.
01:21 Was it worth the tears? Was it worth the sacrifice?
01:24 Was it worth it?
01:26 Lord God, they will testify that Lord, rain came and wind blew.
01:33 But they recognized what it meant to stand on you.
01:37 And so, Lord, we worship you. Have your way.
01:40 Holy Spirit, glorify Jesus through everything that we do in this house.
01:45 And through this word, in Jesus' mighty name.
01:49 Amen, amen.
01:51 Welcome, family.
01:55 I wanted to have you standing, but you could sit, actually.
02:00 We're going to go on an interesting journey here.
02:03 You know, I have been burdened for months now.
02:12 Concerning this season that we are in.
02:16 And especially as we have entered 2024.
02:21 And, you know, it's the first Sunday of the year.
02:24 And there are so many things.
02:26 Like I was sitting with the Lord, and I'm like, "Oh, let's share this."
02:30 And I just have to, if you let me, I want to just invite you into conversations I've been having with the Lord.
02:39 About this season that we're in.
02:42 And how we can, the things that we ought to watch for.
02:46 How we can be equipped in this time.
02:50 You know, during New Year's Eve service, if you were not here, you haven't watched it, I encourage you to watch every message that was preached that day.
02:57 But one of the things I shared was how this season is going to be marked by two things.
03:04 There is going to be great judgment and great favor.
03:09 It's almost like, you know, as we were worshiping and we were talking, you know, we were worshiping about waiting on the Lord.
03:16 And then we talked about, you know, "They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength.
03:22 They shall walk and not grow weary.
03:25 They shall run and not faint."
03:28 The natural outcome when you're walking for a certain period of time is to grow weary.
03:33 Right? If you're running for a certain period of time, I mean, you have to grow faint. Right?
03:38 So there is a supernatural edge, a supernatural advantage that happens in the waiting room.
03:47 That in that place of waiting on the Lord, it's not just about what you're waiting for, but who you are becoming in the process.
03:56 That all of a sudden, there is an advantage you have over those that were just looking for speed immediately to attain things.
04:06 You see, there are things that even as kids, God will put in your heart about who you are.
04:12 You would know and recognize that there is a bigness to you, but you may feel like you don't have expression for it.
04:20 And what the enemy likes to do is that when you have not yet met you,
04:26 then in your humanity, he begins to present things that are connected to the real you, but it comes with compromise.
04:37 He begins to present things, and so in your lack of understanding of who you really are,
04:45 the authority, you see, you have to know that there are certain rooms that God is not calling you to be in the room as a participant.
04:53 He's calling you to be in the room as a leader.
04:58 He's calling you to have authority in the room.
05:01 But when all you have an insight of is, "I know I belong in this room,"
05:07 but you haven't discerned what your position is, now the enemy strikes.
05:14 He says, "Hey, I can give you a seat on the table."
05:18 You don't recognize you're supposed to own the table.
05:21 He says, "Hey, I can give you a seat on the table, but I just need you to bow down to me a little bit."
05:28 And he doesn't make it as obvious as you think.
05:31 You see, sometimes we think that worshiping the enemy means we turn away from our devotion from God.
05:38 No, no, no. He knows that you've seen too much, that you know too much to deny the God you serve.
05:45 So he says, "How can I get in the mix?"
05:48 It's interesting, you see, when Jesus was in the wilderness, right?
05:52 When he was fasting, he was in the place of waiting on the Lord.
05:57 Forty days, forty nights before the start of his ministry.
06:01 This is Jesus in his humanity.
06:04 We know that he is God, but as he walked the earth, he did it as man.
06:10 To show us the example, and to model to us what is possible when you are dependent on the Holy Spirit.
06:18 So in his humanity, he was a candidate for weakness.
06:24 So when he's in the wilderness, and everyone must go through this.
06:29 He's in the wilderness, he's led to the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tempted after his waiting period.
06:36 So, he's waiting on the Lord.
06:39 After forty days, forty nights, Satan comes to him.
06:43 And it's interesting, one of the temptations, the enemy tells him,
06:48 "Look, I could give you authority over all the kingdoms.
06:55 All you have to do is bow to me."
06:58 He says, "You're here to rule and all that stuff, great.
07:03 I can give the kingdoms to you.
07:06 Just bow to me."
07:08 And his response reveals a lot.
07:11 Because when he responds, he tells him that we can only worship God alone.
07:20 It was not about turn away your devotion from God.
07:24 He said, "No, you can put me in the mix.
07:27 Do what you came here to do when you were sent by your father.
07:32 But how you attain it will be through me."
07:37 You understand what I'm saying?
07:38 You are on an assignment to do what God spoke to you about.
07:43 But because you don't recognize the authority that God wants to entrust in you about that assignment,
07:49 Satan shows up and says, "You can do what God called you to do, but do it through me."
07:56 And what we don't realize is that he's after your real authority where it matters.
08:01 Because if Jesus bowed to Satan, then he will have no authority over the kingdom of darkness.
08:11 So he can walk around, do whatever he's doing, but he will not have authority where it matters.
08:18 It would be like it's likened to what the people,
08:21 there was a time when the people wanted to make him king.
08:23 He didn't come here for a limited reign.
08:27 So what the enemy was offering him was a limited package.
08:32 You can reign on the earth, you can have authority over all the kingdoms while you're here.
08:38 But what was connected to him was eternal.
08:42 You see, oftentimes, the very area you are called to have authority in,
08:49 the very area you are called to dominate is where you are tempted.
08:56 And how you respond is what matters.
09:00 And when you don't know who you truly are, you get excited about what's beneath you.
09:07 When you don't know who you truly are, you tend to give in to what the Bible calls Babylon.
09:17 It is a system of the Antichrist.
09:20 Its agenda is to pull you away from the principles and the ways of God for gain.
09:28 You see, I was sharing a story earlier with the 9am service, I had never shared that publicly.
09:34 But it was interesting, when I was in college,
09:37 so I used to do like concerts, and I mean, how that journey started was interesting,
09:44 because there was a time I was at my brother's place,
09:47 and I was like sitting on the floor, and I heard the Lord say to me,
09:50 I want you to do an HIV and AIDS awareness concert.
09:53 And then I tried to figure it out in my own strength.
09:56 Some of the people I did that with actually go here.
09:59 But I was like, I got up, I told my brother, I said,
10:02 wow, God just told me we need to do an HIV and AIDS awareness concert.
10:07 I said, you know who would be perfect for that?
10:09 I said, Trey Songz.
10:12 I said, so the people listening to the music can become aware.
10:19 I'm sorry, I'm trying to take you somewhere.
10:23 So, I was like, yep, that's who we're going to do it with.
10:27 And we made it happen.
10:28 The concert was amazing.
10:29 All kinds of people came, performed for free.
10:31 It was incredible.
10:32 So after that, now I had a reputation.
10:34 They were like, oh, yeah, she makes things happen.
10:37 I was 17.
10:39 And then I started running clubs.
10:42 Your pastor was the one that would call and say, hey, man, can you save me a table?
10:48 I said, I got you.
10:51 I'll let security know that you are on the way.
10:58 It was amazing.
10:59 I mean, a lot of people don't know this side of my story.
11:04 So there was a whole reputation.
11:06 People were like, man, if you want something done, a party, reach out to Stephanie.
11:11 I had a name for myself back then, Miss Royalty.
11:17 Some people in this room know that.
11:21 But back then, everybody used to call me Miss Royalty.
11:23 Nnamdi is very much aware.
11:26 They're like, Miss Royalty, we need this event.
11:29 I said, got you.
11:31 So I'm going somewhere, right?
11:34 But then someone hits me up, a friend I've known for many years hits me up and says, bro, there is something, change your life.
11:43 Someone that was very prominent, still is in the political space.
11:47 And they wanted to have this huge event in a different country.
11:52 And they were like, can you -- these are the people that won the event and X, Y, and Z.
11:57 These are A-list people.
11:59 And I was like, oh, this is going to cost a lot.
12:02 If I start making phone calls and whatnot, I'm sure they'll need deposits.
12:06 And they were like, oh, money is not an issue.
12:08 Whatever the price, just give us a number, put your fee on top.
12:11 I was -- I called my mom.
12:14 I said, well, I'm about to be a millionaire.
12:16 [ Laughter ]
12:19 I got so excited.
12:20 I'm like, oh, this is incredible.
12:22 Look at me over here doing parties for politicians, you know?
12:27 And then -- back then we had like the Blackberry, right?
12:31 You know, you had your BB pen and all that.
12:34 So then, you know, they connect me with this individual.
12:39 And then this conversation starts about, you know, I hope you know what kind of party this is.
12:46 I said, yeah, it's a party.
12:49 Do you need somebody to sing?
12:51 Some of them are singers.
12:53 They can sing a note or two.
12:55 And they said, no, no, no, no, no.
12:58 I said, I hope you know what kind of party this is.
13:00 I said, what kind of party is it?
13:04 Because the events I do are very, you know, public.
13:08 What is happening is known to the public, right?
13:11 And so it's like he got frustrated or whatever.
13:14 Then my friend hits me up.
13:16 He was like, man, Steph, you should know what kind of party this is.
13:19 I said, I don't know.
13:21 He said, but you should know.
13:22 I said, can somebody stop speaking in riddles?
13:24 You know, I don't know what you guys think about me because of the events we do, but I really don't know.
13:31 And as they started, you know, the conversation continued.
13:36 It was not the kind of party that I was thinking.
13:40 And I'm like, wait, is this a joke or are you being serious?
13:44 I said, you know, some of these people, first of all, this is absurd.
13:47 But on top of that, some of these people are married.
13:51 I mean, what are you all trying to do here?
13:53 They said, no, no, no, they know.
13:55 You just need to let them know that this is what party it is.
14:00 And I'm like, oh, no.
14:02 Oh, no.
14:04 I'm not trying to be nobody's broker for this kind of weird events.
14:10 And they're like, man, Steph, it's a lot of money on the table.
14:13 I said, not at the cost of my soul.
14:21 So now they're like, no, she doesn't.
14:23 I said, no.
14:24 I said, however you guys were doing it back then, reach out to those people.
14:27 And then I reached out to the gentleman to give him a piece of my gospel mind.
14:31 I still love the Lord with all my party.
14:33 I said, look, this is not of God.
14:38 What you're doing is not holy.
14:40 It's wrong.
14:43 And then it's almost like he just believed anyone could be bought by a price.
14:49 It wasn't even moved to the point that I think he was trying to now make --
14:53 almost like show me that, oh, you could fall for this, too.
14:59 So now from requesting these people, they started requesting me.
15:02 I said, no.
15:04 What is this?
15:05 And then the person calls me.
15:07 I should even not keep saying that person's my friend.
15:09 That person was a foe.
15:11 So the person calls me and is like, oh, you know, they're asking about you.
15:15 I said, who is they?
15:17 I didn't sign up for this.
15:20 I've already shared with them the gospel that this is wrong.
15:24 And they're like, Steph, you don't have to do anything.
15:26 Whatever you want, like whatever you need right now in your account, they will put it.
15:31 And I'm like, nah, I don't.
15:33 This is beneath me.
15:35 I said, I know I'm not at the level yet where, oh, I have this in my account, but I know who I am.
15:43 And there was always something about me that I always knew that God would get the glory out of my life.
15:49 And I don't know exactly where.
15:52 Back then I had no clue about ministry.
15:55 I had no clue about any of that.
15:57 But I knew that if this is what is being presented to me when I'm not doing anything, when I'm actually in the world,
16:06 then who must I be?
16:08 I said, nah, I'm cool on this.
16:10 But you see, what I didn't realize then, when I look back on that moment now,
16:15 is that the enemy was always after my authority.
16:19 That if I took that path, I have no clue where it would lead to.
16:25 But what he was always after was the authority in which I would speak and proclaim the gospel.
16:32 And the way that God called me, I could not have moved in that.
16:37 It would have been a very dark path that I don't know if I would have recovered from.
16:44 So it was an attack on my truth.
16:47 Why I'm sharing this with you is to begin to evaluate what's in front of you.
16:56 Begin to assess what is in front of you.
17:00 Because one of the words that the Lord gave me about this year is harvest.
17:06 And harvest in regards to what you reap, you would sow.
17:11 Whatever you plant, you would get a harvest out of that.
17:15 And there is a harvest that comes out of obedience.
17:18 And there is a harvest that comes out of disobedience.
17:22 Out of obedience, there is great favor that you would receive.
17:26 Out of disobedience, there is judgment that comes with that.
17:31 And this is a season where the harvest will spring up quickly.
17:36 So I'm saying this, don't feel like maybe you're just getting your life together with God today.
17:43 And it counts you out, it doesn't.
17:46 Because when your heart is fully surrendered to the things of God, there is a harvest that will spring up quickly.
17:53 You see, there is a lot of things that are going to shift in this year.
17:58 It's going to be a great, I mean, it's almost like it will look like the world is turning upside down.
18:04 But whenever you see judgment publicly, not hidden,
18:10 then you realize that God already has those in line that he's about to raise up.
18:16 That he's already dealt with them in the hidden place.
18:19 And he's also about to bring them up to the surface publicly.
18:23 You see, when David was anointed king, it didn't change Saul's position.
18:30 It was a hidden thing. It was private.
18:34 David was anointed in the confines of his home.
18:37 Paul was rejected in a private conversation.
18:42 It wasn't known to the people yet.
18:45 The prophet Samuel tells him, "The Lord has rejected you."
18:50 And even in the whispers of the truth, he was still trying to make face to the people like he really is the king.
18:58 But when his judgment became public, it was also because his replacement was about to be announced publicly.
19:07 His replacement was about to be made known publicly.
19:11 So when you see judgment being announced in the land, the one that comes from the Lord,
19:18 you can recognize who's about to be announced.
19:23 I've been in the waiting season with God.
19:27 And unknown to me, I'm not even aware that maybe I'm about to be announced.
19:33 You see, there's a lot of vacancy that's about to open for you to step into.
19:38 That is why how you treat your now is so important.
19:43 Because the vacancy are for those who would have authority.
19:47 And you cannot have authority if you're compromised.
19:52 Because a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand.
19:59 So you cannot have authority and still be functioning under the kingdom of darkness.
20:06 While I was praying with you, the Lord literally showed me there are many,
20:10 whether you're here or you're listening.
20:13 And there's things you have acquired.
20:15 There's wealth you have acquired, but you acquired it by dishonest means.
20:20 There are things you have amassed in your life.
20:23 But if you're truly honest, how you got it, what you did with your body,
20:29 the things you said yes to was dishonest.
20:32 And the Lord began to show me that if you are willing,
20:37 and you and the Lord will figure out how this looks.
20:40 If you are willing to give those things away,
20:43 they are things that are tangible.
20:46 And you hold on to them.
20:49 But how you acquired it, even when you look at it,
20:52 it reminds you of things you regret.
20:56 But you still hold on to it because of the look it gives you.
21:00 And the Lord says if you let it go, if you release this.
21:05 You see, when he started speaking to me about this,
21:08 he gave me a new perspective about the rich young ruler.
21:12 I want you to study this.
21:14 There was a certain rich man who was a rich young ruler,
21:18 and he wanted to follow the Lord.
21:21 And he came to Jesus.
21:22 He's like, "Good teacher, what can I do?
21:25 What is it I can do to just--I've done this, I've done that, I've done X, Y, and Z."
21:31 And he's like, "All right, that's cool."
21:33 He says, "Now sell everything, give it to the poor, and follow me."
21:39 Now I want you to understand that the gospel is not about you being poor.
21:45 No, it's not about that.
21:48 The Lord actually needs you to be wealthy so you can make moves on earth.
21:53 Money is currency.
21:55 It has a weight on earth.
21:57 The gospel is not about being poor.
22:00 But Jesus says to this man--because when the Lord was showing me this,
22:04 I'm like--I started thinking about the rich young ruler.
22:07 He says, "Sell everything you have.
22:11 Give it to the poor and follow me."
22:13 You see, anything you give up for the Lord,
22:15 he would give it back to you in a measure you can't even handle.
22:20 So it wasn't about God trying to take something from him,
22:25 but it was about the chokehold it had on him.
22:30 And I began to wonder, how did he acquire this wealth?
22:35 And the Lord says, "Give it away and follow me.
22:40 Give everything away."
22:42 Because if it was just about--if it was like--maybe there were things that--
22:47 You see, when you walk with Jesus--let me put it this way--
22:49 when you walk with Jesus, there are things that God begins to strip away from your life.
22:55 When you say yes to the Lord, you are also saying yes to pruning.
23:01 You're also saying yes to, "Lord, whatever makes me ineffective,
23:04 whatever baggage I carry that was not of you, take it away from me."
23:09 So when the Lord literally is inviting this man into a pruning season,
23:16 so he says, "Okay, you want to walk with me?
23:19 There's great potential on your life.
23:22 There are amazing things that there's a calling on your life.
23:25 But if we're going to start this journey together,
23:28 here's the first instruction.
23:31 Let go of all the things that has you in bondage.
23:36 Let it go.
23:38 Because you cannot walk with the manifestation of freedom with your bondage."
23:45 So he says, "No, no, no, you can walk with me.
23:48 But you got to deal with this first.
23:51 Because where the presence of the Lord is, there is liberty.
23:55 So I see where you're bound.
23:58 But if you're not willing to address it, then we are only playing games here."
24:04 So he says, "Sell everything.
24:07 I can give it back to you, but I can give it back to you on integrity, on character,
24:13 when you would know how to manage it and it not managing you.
24:18 What is in front of you right now?
24:21 What is being dangled in front of you?
24:24 What are you currently saying yes to while you know deep down you have no peace about?
24:30 Because you're just so excited to be in the room."
24:33 It is true that God gave you a word about that industry.
24:37 It is true that God gave you a word about those people.
24:40 But is it manifest in the way he saw it, is the question.
24:45 And so often we make excuses because there is a word we have, but it's not complete.
24:52 There is a word, but it's lacking strategy.
24:55 It's lacking full insight.
24:58 And so you say yes and bow down to a system that is against the kingdom you're supposed to establish in the rooms.
25:07 You have to be watchful of what you tolerate.
25:11 Because right now victory belongs to the bold.
25:17 You cannot, this is not a season to be timid while asking the Lord to lift you up.
25:26 The Lord is raising a radical people in this time.
25:30 Because he's causing a distinction.
25:34 He's cleaning house.
25:36 This is a season for boldness, so you have to watch what you tolerate.
25:41 And it's so important because you might think that you're just tolerating it for, you know, it's not going to affect me.
25:47 And you don't recognize when you trip.
25:50 You see, I want you to study the story of Abraham and Lot.
25:55 Literally, Abraham and Lot, they reached the time where they had outgrown each other.
25:59 They had too many workers, too many staff around them, kids, families, all types of things.
26:05 So Abraham says to Lot, "Look, we got to work this out. Let's separate."
26:10 "You pick a side and I'll take whatever you don't pick."
26:15 Lot, so interested in that man, should have told Abraham, "No, you pick a side."
26:20 "You took me on this journey with you."
26:23 He's like, "Sure."
26:24 So he looks at the land.
26:27 He looks at the place where there was greenery and all this beautiful stuff.
26:31 And he's like, "You know what? I'll pick the side that looks more fruitful and abundant."
26:35 The side he chooses was close to Sodom and Gomorrah.
26:40 The Bible tells us that Lot pitched a tent near Sodom.
26:46 Now I'm sure, you know, even if today is your first time in church,
26:49 everybody's heard about Sodom and Gomorrah.
26:52 He pitched a tent near Sodom.
26:55 Now Sodom and Gomorrah had all kinds of, you know, craziness happening there.
26:59 It was that kind of party, right?
27:01 The kind of party they were trying to have me do.
27:04 It was happening in Sodom and Gomorrah.
27:08 So, the Bible says he pitched a tent near Sodom.
27:16 When all hell breaks loose, and there is judgment on Sodom,
27:21 because of the craziness that is happening there,
27:25 and then the Lord reveals to Abraham, Abraham intercedes for his nephew.
27:30 He's like, "You know what? Get him out of there, right?"
27:33 The angels are set to get Lot and his family out of there.
27:38 When they go, you know where they meet him?
27:41 In the gates.
27:43 He went from being within proximity to now living in Sodom.
27:51 And then all of a sudden, when it's time for them to leave,
27:55 there was an instruction that carried away.
27:57 It says, "Walk away from this and don't turn back."
28:01 Why? Because turning back shows where, what are you longing for?
28:06 If you keep your eyes ahead, then that means you're focused on where God is taking you.
28:12 But you see how the corruption took over him.
28:16 He started near Sodom.
28:19 He's met in Sodom.
28:22 When they're leaving, the wife is looking back.
28:26 What are you looking back for?
28:29 How did we get to you staying near it to in it?
28:34 Now you're longing for it.
28:37 You have to be mindful about what you tolerate.
28:42 And that is why you also have to be mindful about the relationships in your life.
28:48 Because that is the easiest way to lower your standards
28:54 in trying to keep your friendship.
29:00 Be mindful about the people that walk into your life right now.
29:05 Be mindful that, how are you impacting them?
29:10 Because what you tolerate, all of a sudden you will not remember where the lines get blurred.
29:18 How did I go from being near Sodom to living in Sodom?
29:24 To my family longing for Sodom?
29:28 How did I go from being next to it,
29:31 that I lost leadership and stewardship over what God gave me,
29:35 that what I'm supposed to be a steward over is longing for what is against us?
29:41 It is interesting his wife was looking back.
29:45 Where did Lot lose his leadership over his home?
29:50 That the wife is longing for Sodom.
29:56 What are you tolerating in this season?
29:59 Do not think yourself too strong,
30:03 where God has not sent you to show strength in.
30:09 Don't just put yourself in places and say, "Yes, I'm here."
30:16 There was a place, it's so interesting,
30:18 there was a place I got invited to speak to.
30:21 And it was a country that I was like, "Man, this would be so amazing to go to."
30:25 And the Holy Spirit told me, "No."
30:28 I was like, "What does that mean? No, not right now?"
30:33 And the Holy Spirit said, "You're not."
30:36 You have to be humble to hear what the Lord says.
30:39 He says, "You're not ready to deal with what they got going on in that country.
30:44 I'm not sending you there."
30:47 If I go, it would be in my own strength.
30:51 And whatever happens, it would be for me to figure out.
30:57 Be careful what you tolerate in this season.
31:01 Don't be so quick to just say yes to things.
31:05 Don't be so quick to analyze what you believe is good from your perception.
31:11 This is a time where there's something--
31:13 alongside all the New Year resolutions we got--
31:17 this is a time that what you should be pursuing is holiness.
31:22 It will set you apart from the system of corruption.
31:29 Holiness is not a scary word.
31:32 It's not an unattainable thing.
31:35 It's about being whole.
31:38 The Lord says, "Be holy, for I am holy."
31:41 God is one. There's nothing you can add to Him.
31:44 You can't take away from Him.
31:47 That's why His justice is just--
31:50 I mean, you can't even argue against it,
31:52 because He's not swayed by emotions.
31:55 He's not swayed by events.
31:58 You can't do something, He's like,
32:00 "Oh my gosh, let me change my mind concerning your future."
32:03 No.
32:05 He's a just God.
32:07 So when we are pursuing holiness, we're pursuing being whole.
32:13 No longer trying to make excuses because of our brokenness.
32:16 We've all been through things.
32:20 But let me put my broken pieces in the hand of the one who can make me whole.
32:25 Let me put my dependency on Him.
32:29 You see, this is a time where you start to pray,
32:31 "God, what are my voids?
32:35 What are the voids in my life?
32:38 What am I susceptible to fall for because of what I'm longing for?"
32:44 Begin to ask the Lord, "How do you fill this space up?"
32:49 Because a lot of times the things we're running to
32:51 is because we're looking to be satisfied in a way that it can't satisfy us.
32:57 Whether we're running to people for their validation,
33:00 or we're running to vices to feel better.
33:04 How do we bring this to the Lord?
33:06 Because what you're playing and tolerating is affecting your authority.
33:11 And it's causing a delay in the places you should be in the time you're in.
33:17 So if there's something you should have a detest for,
33:21 it should be the areas of your life that are not surrendered.
33:26 Not that you keep tripping up, tripping up, tripping up,
33:29 and you're like, "God, you know, we know."
33:32 No, we don't know.
33:34 Because let me tell you, there's a shift.
33:37 See, for many, you've experienced the covenant of your parents and your grandparents.
33:45 The prayers of others has been keeping you.
33:50 It is when there are people that went before you
33:53 that caused the hand of God to be on your life.
33:56 So even in your foolishness, you recognize this hand.
34:00 It is what the Israelites experienced during the plagues.
34:04 That while all of Egypt was going through plagues,
34:07 there was a place called Goshen.
34:10 That the Bible says God set apart.
34:14 Why? Because these were the descendants of Abraham, who he has a covenant with.
34:19 And he made a promise to Abraham about his descendants.
34:24 About he would bring them into the promised land.
34:27 But there was a time when it went from the hand of God setting them apart,
34:32 but to them separating themselves.
34:35 It was the last plague.
34:38 When the Lord says, "Now all the firstborn male children would die."
34:43 But now he said, "But for my people, this is how I would not touch your homes."
34:48 He tells them how to mark their homes with the blood.
34:53 And when that home is marked, when he passes by,
34:57 the angel of death would not come into their home.
35:01 You see the difference between the Lord setting apart Goshen,
35:06 but now the people had to set themselves apart.
35:10 We're not them.
35:13 They had to mark their homes.
35:15 That this is two way. This is not just one way.
35:19 If you truly agree with the Lord who is your deliverer,
35:23 you would mark your home.
35:26 And this is a season where you can no longer just ride on the grace
35:31 of those that have gone before you.
35:34 You have to set yourself apart.
35:37 You have to separate yourself.
35:40 And the mark of your separation would be the pursuit of holiness.
35:46 That you are choosing to live this thing out with integrity,
35:50 with character, so that God will build on you.
35:54 So that the vacancy that is about to happen,
35:57 that the Lord when he is searching the earth, he can find you.
36:02 Family stand with me, we're going to pray.
36:06 Thank you Jesus.
36:09 Thank you Lord.
36:13 You see you cannot rely on how you see things.
36:19 Evil is not always as, you know,
36:24 it's not always made known to you as easy as you think.
36:28 Right?
36:30 As I was studying, I was thinking about Eve in the garden,
36:33 because the tactics are the same.
36:37 I'm telling you, when you study what happened in the garden of Eden,
36:41 with the serpent,
36:43 you study what happened with Jesus in the wilderness with Satan,
36:47 you will see the tactics are all the same.
36:51 In the garden, what was it the enemy was after with Eve?
36:58 For her to focus on what would be good,
37:02 that it would blind her from what is evil.
37:06 The Bible says Eve was deceived, right?
37:09 That means there was something about the truth that was distorted.
37:15 And why was that?
37:17 Because rather than her seeing the tree as forbidden,
37:21 the Bible says Eve looked at the tree,
37:25 and saw that it was good for food.
37:30 It was pleasing to the eyes,
37:34 and to make one wise.
37:37 You see how he works.
37:39 He says, "If I can make you focus on what is good for you,
37:43 it will blind you on how this is actually evil masqueraded."
37:50 That is why you don't rely on your own wisdom.
37:55 You're not so quick to say yes.
37:58 Be able to like assess it,
38:00 "Am I so jumpy because I'm desperate?
38:03 Is that why I'm making a case for why this is good?"
38:09 Could it be that--and desperation is the worst place to make a decision from.
38:16 Anything that needs your yes, if you are desperate, pause.
38:23 Because in the place of desperation,
38:25 you will begin to make a case for why it's good.
38:31 In the place of desperation,
38:34 in the place of weariness, watch it.
38:40 Sometimes that's all it takes for you to lose discernment
38:42 when you get tired, and when you get desperate.
38:48 If you're making a decision because you're like,
38:50 "Man, it's been such a long time. I'm tired."
38:53 Pause.
38:56 It's worth the wait. Your destiny is what is on the line here.
39:01 If you're desperate, pause and assess.
39:06 "God, why do I really want this, and do you want this for me?"
39:13 You gotta watch the moves you make this year.
39:17 You have to be intentional.
39:19 You need to cultivate a true prayer life.
39:23 So you can hear and discern the voice of God.
39:27 Not that you're scrambling for His voice in a time of chaos,
39:30 and in a time where it's like you need to make a decision tomorrow.
39:34 Because you're gonna encounter that.
39:37 You're gonna encounter moments where you need to make a decision now.
39:41 And it was not the will of God for you to now say,
39:44 "Okay, let me go on a seven-day fast."
39:46 And you got 24 hours.
39:49 Or you're like, "Oh, let me do a--
39:52 let me just drink water for the next six hours.
39:54 Lord, please tell me what to do."
39:56 If I see a white car,
39:59 it's a yes before--
40:01 If I see a black car first,
40:03 then you start making the earth your signs.
40:06 If a bird just flies,
40:09 and you're in an area where there's a lot of birds,
40:12 you know how you adjust the sign to match you?
40:16 You're just like, "You know what, Lord?"
40:18 You're in a cornfield.
40:19 If I just run into a corn,
40:23 then you must want me to do it.
40:25 You're in a cornfield.
40:27 What you talking about?
40:30 But when it is your lifestyle,
40:32 because you can't--
40:34 God--you can't like just put God on call.
40:38 You know, "Beep, beep, I need you right now."
40:42 When it becomes your lifestyle,
40:44 this is how you prepare
40:46 for what is to come.
40:48 When you cultivate a strong prayer life,
40:52 you can hear the voice of the Lord
40:54 concerning even the random things.
40:57 That way when the things that matter show up,
41:01 you can discern His voice.
41:05 And you can say, "Get away."
41:06 You can discern when what's in front of you
41:09 is of Him and when it's not of Him.
41:12 You don't have to run and say, "Oh my gosh, I need a--
41:14 You know what, world? I'll be back.
41:16 Maybe just take a 40-day fast."
41:18 You gotta make a decision next week.
41:24 But if you are reactive,
41:28 then you might miss the time.
41:31 But if you are serious about your walk with God,
41:36 then in the moments where it matters,
41:38 you can speak to Him and hear His voice.
41:40 He can tell you, "No, my daughter, my son, wait.
41:43 That's not what I have for you."
41:46 He can tell you, "Strike."
41:48 He can tell you, "Proceed."
41:50 He can say, "No, take this path."
41:52 But it starts in the secret place.
41:55 It starts in the secret place.
41:58 If you don't have a secret place with the Lord,
42:01 then you cannot place a demand on Him publicly.
42:10 Because what you're placing a demand on,
42:12 you should have seeds in the ground for.
42:16 So if you don't have a secret place,
42:18 and then you're getting mad
42:20 because God didn't give you a sign, that's a joke.
42:25 Cultivate a secret place.
42:28 Alongside everything you want to do this year,
42:31 cultivate a secret place.
42:33 We were worshiping, we said,
42:35 "Even just one word."
42:38 There is one word the Lord can give you
42:40 that at the right time it will change your life.
42:43 That at the right time, one word from God
42:46 would flip the switch.
42:49 But do you know how you get that one word?
42:52 It starts in the secret place.
42:57 Spend time with Him.
43:00 You might just spend some time, pray, worship,
43:03 sit before God.
43:06 Sometimes whether it's just the way
43:08 you have the instruments playing,
43:10 play some instrumental music and just meditate
43:15 on His essence.
43:18 And you will see instructions will begin to flow.
43:21 And as He speaks, move.
43:24 Move on it.
43:25 And then when it matters publicly,
43:30 you would reap from where you sowed.
43:36 And finally I want to pray with you.
43:40 If you're in the house,
43:43 and you're saying, "You know what man,
43:45 I've been riding on the grace of others
43:47 over my life.
43:50 I've been living in this place of compromise.
43:53 I've been bowing down to things
43:55 to achieve what I believe God called me to do.
43:59 But bowing down to the wrong things."
44:02 And this is the moment where you say,
44:04 "But I'm making a turn."
44:06 That's what repentance is about,
44:08 is to turn.
44:09 "I've tolerated things that were not of you
44:12 and all of a sudden I found myself in it."
44:18 "But I'm making a turn, I'm making a turn,
44:21 I'm making a turn."
44:23 If you know I'm speaking to you,
44:24 I want to pray with you.
44:25 I want you to come down to this altar right now.
44:28 Thank you Jesus.
44:31 Thank you Jesus.
44:36 Thank you Lord, thank you Lord.
44:39 Thank you Lord, thank you Lord.
44:43 Thank you Lord.
44:46 There are two other things.
44:49 Thank you Jesus.
44:50 Can we just worship God?
44:53 As the people of God are coming down.
44:56 Thank you Lord, thank you Lord,
44:58 thank you Lord.
45:02 Have your way in this place Lord.
45:05 Have your way in this place.
45:08 Wow.
45:17 The Lord is calling you.
45:20 He's calling you.
45:21 He's been after you for such a long time.
45:27 They're a group of people.
45:31 And you love Jesus man.
45:38 But you have been scared to lay things down.
45:43 Because you're afraid of what being deformed looks like.
45:52 You've built a reputation for yourself.
45:57 You've built a name for yourself.
46:00 But you didn't.
46:05 And what is built on you,
46:09 without the foundation of Christ,
46:12 it would eventually fall.
46:17 But you are, you're scared.
46:19 You're scared of being deformed.
46:22 That's the best way to put it.
46:25 You're scared of like losing yourself.
46:29 For what you cannot see.
46:32 And so you still show up.
46:34 You come to church.
46:36 You read your word.
46:37 All those things.
46:39 But you can't shake, even right now, the Holy Spirit.
46:42 It's causing, it's like your chest is on fire.
46:46 Because God is after you.
46:50 And I want to tell you right now,
46:52 every whisper that told you that if you let these things go,
46:55 you will be a failure.
46:57 Nothing good will come out of it.
47:00 It is the fear of the enemy that is whispering.
47:04 It is the voice of the fear of the kingdom of darkness,
47:08 if you would mess around to find out who you really are.
47:14 I see you. I see you.
47:20 There's some other, there's a couple others.
47:24 You know I'm speaking to you, I want you to come down.
47:26 We see you. Can we just praise God?
47:29 Thank you, Jesus.
47:32 Thank you, Jesus.
47:35 Thank you, Lord.
47:37 You're...
47:39 (applause)
47:44 There are things you don't want to let go of because it also makes you look cool.
47:49 There's a lifestyle that God is calling you to.
47:54 I see this so clearly.
47:56 There's a sudden gentleman, and even as I'm speaking,
47:58 there are things that you will catch, and as you catch it in your spirit,
48:01 just take a walk.
48:03 As you're coming down to the altar,
48:05 what you don't recognize is you walking away from that old version of you
48:09 to what God is calling you into.
48:13 But there is a gentleman,
48:17 and what you tolerate is just like sexual immorality.
48:22 That's the best way I could put it.
48:24 You know, you love God.
48:27 But because these are, this is your friend group.
48:31 You know, that's what y'all talk about.
48:34 I see you.
48:35 Come on down.
48:37 (applause)
48:42 Y'all talk about it,
48:44 so you feel like, "Well, if I stop, I'm going to look like a nerd."
48:49 I won't look as cool as I'm supposed to,
48:52 but I want to ask you, who sent those friends to you?
48:59 Because when God wants to bless you,
49:01 they're relationships he uses.
49:04 When the enemy wants to distract you,
49:06 they're relationships he uses.
49:09 Who sent this one to you?
49:12 And maybe when you would rise up in your identity,
49:15 maybe you would be the change agent in their lives.
49:19 (applause)
49:23 But you're afraid because of what they will say.
49:27 And this could apply in other areas,
49:29 but I needed to say this for this particular gentleman.
49:33 So you know that the hand of God is upon you.
49:38 And as you make a decision to live the way God is calling you to,
49:43 that you would see the fruit of his hand upon your life.
49:48 If you're giving your life to Jesus,
49:50 and you're in the building, I just want you to wave your hand.
49:54 And if you're--look at that.
49:56 Thank you, Lord.
49:58 Thank you, Lord.
50:00 Thank you, Jesus.
50:02 Thank you, Jesus.
50:04 Can we just worship God in this place?
50:08 Hallelujah.
50:10 Oh, thank you, Jesus.
50:12 Thank you, Jesus.
50:14 Thank you, Jesus.
50:16 I want us to pray, family.
50:19 Heavenly Father, we worship you.
50:22 If you don't mind, you can just close your eyes.
50:25 We worship you, Lord.
50:28 Thank you for being a good father.
50:31 Can you give me your hand?
50:33 Thank you for being a good father, Lord.
50:37 Thank you, Jesus, for your hand on each and every one of your sons and daughters.
50:43 Thank you, Lord, that you are in this room, and you are in this place,
50:47 and you are touching them even now.
50:49 Holy Spirit, have your way.
50:52 Thank you, Lord.
50:55 Thank you, Jesus.
50:57 Thank you, Jesus.
50:59 Wow.
51:01 I thank you, Lord, that there is such--
51:05 This Sunday is going to mark a great turning point.
51:09 I thank you, Lord, that you're going to begin to give your sons and daughters visions and dreams
51:15 about what you've always known about them.
51:18 That the spirit of shame is being broken off of them.
51:22 That no matter what they did, Lord God, that, Lord, your hand will show up mighty upon their lives.
51:29 And as they say yes to complete surrender in you,
51:36 that, Lord, where people gave up on them,
51:39 your word says that the rejected stone has become the cornerstone.
51:44 The ones that were cast away, Lord God, will be those that you will build upon.
51:51 Thank you, Jesus.
51:53 Thank you, Jesus.
51:55 Now just repeat after me, family.
51:57 Heavenly Father, we thank you.
52:04 Lord Jesus, I recognize that on the cross,
52:11 you put my sins to death.
52:14 You put captivity to death.
52:17 You took everything that could hold me bound,
52:20 and you bound it, oh Lord.
52:23 And when you were raised up, I was raised with you, free and victorious.
52:31 Now, Holy Spirit, come into my life,
52:36 and make this vessel your home.
52:40 My life will glorify Jesus.
52:44 In Jesus' mighty name.
52:46 Family, can we worship God in this place?
52:50 I'm excited for y'all.
52:53 I'm excited for y'all, man.
52:56 God bless you, family.
52:57 Well, I just believe and know that that word ministered to you as they often always do.
53:02 Remember to subscribe so that you can continue to experience this ritual.
53:05 Send you a reminder.
53:07 We are going to sow into this ministry.
53:09 We are reaching people, as you know, all around the world,
53:12 and we need your help and your support to not just bless people spiritually,
53:15 but practically in all the ways that we do.
53:17 The giving instructions are on the screen.
53:19 Sow into this, and may the Lord bless you abundantly in every way.
53:23 God bless you. We'll see you next week.