God's Plan for Family: Raising Kids in His Truth

Well, I appreciate you being here tonight. , it's it's fun to celebrate and invite people to a special service. And there were a few people that asked at different occasions, well, what what is a baby dedication or what is what should I expect and what should it be ? And and the bottom line is in its most natural practical form, it's ceremony. And there's no power in ceremony. The power is in God's word. The power is in his presence. The power is the pro proclamation of his word that we receive in our heart. But there is significance in ceremony. There is significance in se ceremony. So that everybody hopefully you would remember the day that you gave your life to the Lord or you got saved or maybe you remember the day you were water baptized. Well, today will be a day that you remember that this baby, this child, this family, we we dedicated ourselves to the Lord and to honoring the Lord with our life. And so there is significance and that's what tonight is about. And and I want you to understand something that the family is God's idea. This is not something that we're trying to construct, something we're trying to manufacture. I've said it many times before. If you're new to the church in here, you may have this will sound new to you. But God creates everything. He's the creator of all things. He has no rival. He has no equal. He is the one true living God from whom all life comes from. Life comes from life. And he created the family design. He created the family idea. But everything that God has created, the enemy corrupts. And so the enemy wants to corrupt the family. He wants to break up families. He wants there to be division. And let me help you with something. As long as we live in this broken system that we call the world, not the beauty of creation, but the brokenness of the world mentality, man, there's going to be resistance. There's going to be challenge. I have a great marriage and a great family. And and there are days when it's hard. It was a full-blown zoo at my house today, but we're here doing ministry. It was fantastic. And that's life sometimes, man. You got new babies. Those those little jokers cry in the night. and they explode their bridges and things happen, , it's just and and because there's this resistance, but it's the design that God has for family. And so, if we go all the way back to the beginning, God created man. He created them male and female. And he said to be fruitful and multiply. And we see that that is the the the the structure for family that men we have a responsibility to lead and have provide righteous leadership. That's what we provide. Man, ladies bring this this this this this calm so many times. They bring this nurturing element to the family dynamic. And look, not one is more valuable than the other. This is not a ranking system. It's a structure that God's designed. And so the value, we all have equal value in God's sight, but there is a design and he tells us to be fruitful and to multiply. And so I want you to understand that we are all here striving to be the very best that we can be to honor God with how we live our life to discover the word and the truth in our life and to apply it to maximize our time on this earth. That's what we're all here trying to do. And so there's no condemnation in this house, man. Nobody's going to condemn you for where you're at or where you're going through or what. I don't care. We want you to come into the room, be in the room, and start learning and growing and getting better because everybody else in the room is doing the same thing. And one of the biggest deceptions that keeps people from coming in is the fact that, well, we got to get some things in order, or I don't really need that. I'm doing fine without it. All those deceptions. And listen, I'm telling you, when you get in here and the light of God's word comes on, it illuminates things. And that area that was dark, that was confusing, that was frustrating, all of a sudden gets illuminated. And there's this element, this touch, this taste of healing in that area. It's , ah, I didn't know it could be that. Oh, I didn't know I didn't know what it was to live in the light. Have you guys ever lived in a in a maybe not lived in it, but you've been in a dark room? It's frustrating. It's difficult. We stub our toes a lot. We we we can't see to do things, and we're surviving, right? We're just existing in the dark. We can't really see anything. We surely can't create and extend ourselves and and and think ahead because we can't see. We're just trying to find where stuff is. We're trying not to hurt ourselves. We're trying not to get break. and we live our life surviving. But let me tell you something. God flipped the light on our life so that not only can we be safer, that we're not stubbing our toes on everything, but that we can also begin to create and imagine and build and invite folks and say, "Man, look, look what we can accomplish here, share meals together. We can do all that in the light." It's hard to do that in the pitch black dark. It's hard to say, "Hey, come on in." And they're , "Ah, I can't really see anything in there." Right? So, there's a there's a value to living in light. is what God wants for us to do. And when we read scripture, I'm just giving a little context here. We got to recognize that most of scripture we read is and I don't I I wish I had better verbiage than what I'm about to say. I should read more books, but it's it's assumed that you he's talking to believers. Most most letters are written to believers. And so, it's assumed that you are committed to serving God. It's assumed that you are you have bought in and you're following Jesus. And so when we read things count it all joy, well, it's not telling us what to do. It's reminding us that because we're saved, because we're right, man, now we can count it all joy. Why? Because patience is having his perfect work. Because we're going to discover a hope that doesn't disappoint. God God's still faithful even when you fall into various trials and tribulations. Be of good cheer. I've already overcome the trials and tribulations you're going to face. It's , wait a minute. It It's good news. It when it says children, obey your parents. Any kids in here tonight? Yep. They just raised their hand. Good behavior. Excellent work. [laughter] That was their chance. But I think they're being scolded already. Okay. It's great because it says children obey your parents. But it's it's I hate the word assumed. Somebody's smarter than me. He's got to give me a better word. But it's assumed that the moms and dads have committed their life to following the Lord. And so children who don't know because they're children follow the leadership and coaching and instruction of your parents. They're leading you in the truth. God's word is the truth. Your parents have discovered the truth. The light is on and they're trying to lead you in that way. But it also tells parents to to how to how to talk to their children. And dads, don't irritate your children. I got to find the reference for that one. I don't ever want to memorize that one, but it says it in there. I guess dads have a way of doing that where we want to aggravate them a little bit. And so there's instruction for us. Not because, listen, not because they're eternal matters. If I aggravate these two, which they can tell you a list of stories, I've probably aggravated them, right? It's not my eternity and and the balance, but it is the quality of the relationship and and their health going forward. It's instruction. It's coaching. It's teaching. And so, understanding that we're all here to get and become our very best. So, when it comes to family, man, there's a lot of different dynamics in here, right? , everybody in here, probably half everybody here's used the term, we put the fun and dysfunctional and all that stuff, right? We we have a lot of weird and interesting dynamics. Here's what I'm here to tell you. God's got his design, but let me tell you something. He had an original design for each of us as individuals. And I may have I may have stiff armed God my whole life, but man, I'm here today. And God's truth is the same today as it was yesterday. And I can start building my life on the truth of God's word. And God brings a restoration to my soul. God can bring a restoration to your family. And let me tell you something, those little babies that we're going to recognize and dedicate these little kids that are in here and you as adults, God has handpicked you and formed you for this moment and for this time and for this season. And God wants you to have structure and family in your life. This church family is a collection of individual families. And what's cray cray is that we're all the family of God. Now listen, we can be real sloppy with that. Let me give you a little distinction. We are all God's creation, but not everybody has embraced the adoption of him as our father. That comes through the faith in Jesus Christ. We're all his creation. My question to you is, have you been grafted into the family? Because let me tell you, there's an intimacy there. The Bible tells us that that by the spirit of God on the inside of us, we cry out, "Aba, Father." That's not just some crazy crazy Hebrew term. There's an intimacy that it actually translate. And man, there's a lot of people that may have had not great dads. So, it's hard to associate with that. But let me tell you something. He's not a man that he should lie. He's not anybody else or any other circumstance that you've experienced here, man. There's an intimacy with the father of lights and life and truth. He's the healer. He's the provider. He's our peace. He's our righteousness. He's our sanctification. He's our everything. He created you. He formed you. He saved you. He rescued you. He redeemed you. He heals you. He restores everything and he's got a plan and a purpose for everyone's life in here. And here's the thing, this is so important to understand. God is never trying to salvage what's left in your life. Never. Cuz he didn't change. He hasn't shifted. He's not He's not moved by your mood today. Your your behavior today did not cause him to pivot or adjust. You either made a a disciplined decision to get in alignment with God and to trust God with your life or you didn't. You stumbled, you fell, or you just flat out rebelled. Whatever the it doesn't matter. This is not a condemnation. I'm just simply saying God doesn't move and pivot and go, "Well, now what am I going to do with Regina? She can't seem to get her head out of her hiny hole. We're gonna have to figure something out, right? We're gonna have to We're gonna have to put this thing together. I've been talking to her. You the hiny hole threw you off. I been pick you up. [laughter] Threw me off too now that you're laughing. , right. It's we got to pick PEOPLE UP. GOD'S GOD'S NOT HE'S NOT SHAKEN by it. While you were still sinners, Christ died for you. Why? As an invitation back to the life of God. And I'm just telling you, the Bible says that he predetermined or predestined is the is the Bible term. And all that means is he's predetermined his plan for your life. What is his plan? Good, perfect, pleasing. God wants to heal. God wants to provide. God wants to bring peace. God wants to restore. God wants there to be a health and a strength and a confidence in your life. God wants there to be a joy and a victory in your life. That's what he's designed for you. That's what he's paid for. And so, I want to talk just for a minute about the family and why we're here tonight. I got three children. All three in here tonight, I guess. And when the first one was born, I guess they are. Lincoln could be outside climbing a tree for all I know. , [laughter] Bubby, you here? I'm watching you, son. All right. , his head popped up that. [laughter] , when Stella was born, I remember being in the in the room. I was in the room and and and and I don't know, everybody's got their own stories. This is my story. And I and I remember people say, "Well, I don't remember what I thought." And I was speechless and all the things. I'm the emotional one and the two. , if one if Nina and I are going to cry, it's going to be me. I'll own that. I'm not afraid of that. Okay. And so, we're in the room and and and and there's six of us in the room and then there's seven. And I just I just remember feeling a flood of thoughts in milliseconds. they're all at the same time, but yet I can remember all of them. Number one is I remember the wonder of creation. I didn't form that baby. That baby was formed in her in her mother's womb. That baby was formed in his mother. God designed it and created it. It's a marvelous miraculous thing. When he said to be fruitful, multiply. The fact that that can happen is amazing. And I saw the wonder of creation. And I felt the the humility. I knew in the moment that that little girl didn't belong to me because I didn't create her. And I just something I knew in my heart. I just knew in my heart she wasn't mine. I I I don't own her. She or me. I don't own them, but I have been entrusted with them. They don't belong to me because I didn't form them, but yet I've been entrusted to raise them. And if I didn't create them, if if I didn't do that, then God did, of course, is what what we know. And God formed them and picked them and put personalities in all these in all of you and all these kids and all these babies. He's put a personality and a gifting and strength and talents. And I knew that I was responsible to lead her in such a way that she fulfills her purpose that God picked for her. I can have my agenda for her, but that's not the agenda I'm supposed to have for her. The agenda I have for all of my children is that I would be the man that follows after God to create a lane and opportunity for them to become everything that God picked them to be for this day and time. So what I understood and felt in the moment was the wonder of creation, the humility that God would trust me with this and the responsibility that came with it. And I remember seeing wedding days and schools. I saw it all. And I knew I was responsible for her education, which is not good for me. But I don't just outsource it to the next person. I don't just I don't just let her marry any old person she wants to marry. There's a role that I play in helping lead her and all of them to becoming who God's called them to be. And listen, not not trying to fix them, but trying to be a vessel that the word and truth of God that that liberates and heals and makes whole is planted into their hearts BECAUSE AFTER THAT, I DON'T CARE WHAT THEY DO. I don't care what town they live in. I don't care what job they pick. I don't care whatever. I care that the truth of the word is planted and rules and reigns in their heart. I care that they know. I remember my mom tell me that. She said, "You three boys is all I can take to heaven with me." She's right. She didn't take any of that trash I had to throw away after she died. She didn't take any of those little cups I had when I was a kid. She didn't take any of that stuff. And the only thing that she has the opportunity to take with her are the three boys that she raised. And that's how we play this game. This is how we live our life. There's a commitment and a dedication that we make to building and training our children to know and live the word of God. Joshua chapter 24 verse 14 and 15. It says, "So fear the Lord." Let me give you a little context. Many of the story. The Israelites have been bondage for 400 years. These are God's chosen people. The Bible says a pharaoh came into power in Egypt that did not remember Joseph, which is why they were there. And he said, "Man, these dudes are multiplying." That's what he said. You can go back and read it for yourselves in Genesis. He's , the Pharaoh says, "These Israelite people are powerful and they're fruitful and they are multiplying and if we don't if we don't suppress them, they're going to take over and take over Egypt." And so he puts them all in slavery and in bondage. And for 400 years, generations, they're in slavery. They've been rescued. They crossed the Red Sea. They are now taking the promised land. And Joshua has led them in after Moses died. And he's talking to the people. And he says this. So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. I want to pause there for just a moment. The first thing it says is fear the Lord. There's a reverence and a respect and a fear that we have to have for him. We are not just playing church here. We are not just attending services. If there is a God and he has no rival and no equal and he could flick me a little booger and get rid of me, then I better have some degree of reverence and respect for his way of doing things because he picked me. There's no way that this system that we have with all this order and all this functionality, the way that it's designed to function, how the earth rotates and the sun and the clouds and the sky and the DNA in your body and the perfect pH in your blood system that WE GIVE NO THOUGHT TO, just functions. And it says in Genesis, it was designed for it to be inhabited. This was designed for us to inhabit it. God designed it for us to live and to govern it. He said, "Have dominion. Take reign and govern what I've created for you." This is how you're made in his image and his likeness is that we govern it. But we have to have a certain reverence and fear so I can follow his leadership. There was a gentleman that got was in ministry and and and got into some trouble basically and he ended up in prison and he was being interviewed by John Bevere who was writing a book called the fear of the lord and he talks about the fear of the lord and he asked the guy he said when did you stop loving the lord and he said John I never stopped loving the lord and John was taken back by it he's offended by it he's what do you mean you never stopped loving the lord I'm talking to you in prison because of your foolish behavior what do you mean you never stopped loving the lord he said I never stopped loving the lord I stopped fearing the Lord. See, there's a huge difference. I can I can love people and not be loyal to people. I can love God and not be submitted to his leadership and have a respect and a reverence when he gives me direction to say, "His way is better than mine. I'm all in. I can love him in the distance." It's easy to love people in the distance, isn't it? It's when we get up close is when it gets a little bit rough. It gets a little bit hard. It gets a little bit scratchy, right? It's easy to do that. We have to have a reverence. So he says, "Fear the Lord and serve him with your whole heart. He cannot be just a portion of our life." And look, I hear me. I'm just challenging and encouraging all of us, okay? Is that we're not we're not we're not compartmentalizing our walk with the Lord. It's not , well, we have our job and we have our fitness and we have our kids and we have and we have our church and we have our activities and our hobbies and all stuff. No, no, no. We have him and everything else you do operates through him, with him, for him, by him. Everything that you have is in him because you exist because of him. He is our all in all. And so when it says serve him wholeheartedly, we can't take this , well, we'll see what happens. Well, when I'm in the mood to go. No, no, no. When we say things this, have you given your life to Jesus? No. No. Think about what you're saying. Have you given your life to Jesus? Have you given your heart to him? Does Jesus live in your heart? Has he become the the king of your heart, your your whole your being? , is he the first priority in your life? And if he's not, then we've got to we've got to address it. We've got to wrestle with it. And let me tell you something. We all we all have days where we're better than other days, okay? But that's not what I'm talking about. My decision is already made. I'm in there. There's no in between for me. I've given my life to the Lord and so everything I'm going to do now, I'm trying to do my very best to honor him and fulfill my purpose on this generation on this earth for his glory. Yes. And so there's got to be a reverence and there's a commitment wholeheartedly. He says this. He says, "Put away forever. Put away forever. Be done with the idols of your ancestors. Be done with old generational thinking. Be done with the old stuff that was so valuable to you when you're a kid. All those things that become nostalgic, right? All my all my G extras with your Nintendos and stuff. Those things that we really there's nostalgic. The 46 Chevys and whatever. I don't know. I'm not a car guy. But whatever it is that I just came to me, okay, it's we we we make them such a big deal. And I'm not saying we worship them. I'm just saying you have to check the priority in your heart about the things that you do on the earth. He's got to be first. He says, "Put away forever the idols of your ancestors." That that old way of thinking that's not in line with the truth. It's not in alignment with the word. When they they they did that when they lived beyond the Euphrates rivers in Egypt. That's how they thought then. It's a new day. And he says, "Serve the Lord alone." Verse 15. But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. This is a remarkable thought. If you if you refuse to say, "I'm all in on Jesus." That's okay. You can you have that privilege. You have that right. It's okay. But let me help you with something. You have to choose. You You can't You can't say, "Well, I'm cool with Jesus, but I'm also cool with other stuff." It it it it doesn't work that way. The Bible says that salt water and fresh water can't come from the same place. You you can't be you can't turn left and right at the same time. You can't go up and down at the same time. So if Jesus is Lord of my life, then he's Lord of my life. Period. I'm all in. And he says, "But if you refuse to serve him, then choose today whom you're going to serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served, or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and as for my family and as for my house, we will serve the Lord. And that that that part that says the Lord, that translates the one true living God. That is that translates Jehovah, Yahweh, who introduced himself to us, who chose a man named Abraham to introduce himself through a family line to bring the Messiah to redeem all of mankind back to him. He is the one who created all the heavens and he created the earth. He created every other spiritual force that a portion of lives in rebellion to him now. He created all of it. He's the one that's always existed. He's the one that's eternal. And then as parents, Proverbs 22:6, we have a resolve in our heart that says, "As for me in my house, we're going to serve the Lord." And look, let me just pause on that. I know you're looking at the TV already. You're getting ahead of me. That's okay because it's already up there. But it says this. We we take that verse and we really apply it to men. And that's right. That's very good and very rightfully so. But it's not just applied to men. As an individual, you say, "Look, as for me in my house, we did this at the academy this week, and I said, every kid that's in that academy classroom says, as for me, and the influence that I can have on my dad, I'm going to do it. The influence I can have on my sister for the Lord, I'm going to do it. the the the influence that I'm going to have that in my family that my family is going to serve the Lord that she can make that decision for herself. She's 11 years old. She can make that decision. She can know and she can have that resolve in her own heart. As parents, Proverbs 22:6 says, it says, this is the New Living Translation says, "Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it." Not everybody grew up in this I'll call it a luxury. I don't know that that's in in this reality in this truth, man. Maybe your parents lived serving the other gods. Maybe your parents lived with other false. Maybe Jesus was just a part of their life and you didn't grow up learning the word this or learning to put a premium on God's word this. Or maybe you weren't taught the word with hope and joy in life. Maybe you were taught to hate it because they were telling you how wrong you were all the time and telling you that we're losing and you're a big loser and you're failing and you're going to hell. Let me tell you something. We're accountable for our life in the end, but you're called to win. You've been given the privilege to live in the light. And so, your children and these babies have been handpicked by God to live in the light all the days of their life. And we're going to make a decision tonight that says, man, I'm going to lead them in it. And as a church family, we're going to support these families. We're going to have your back. And this is how we get. This is how we grow. This is how we're strong. This is the power of church family is that man, we're all committed to living our best life for the Lord. The these parents are committed to living their best life for the Lord and being the parents that God's called them to be. And they're choosing for their children to grow up in the word and the truth, the truth of God's word. Direct your children on the right path or train a child is what the New King James says. Train a child the way as you go. Listen, training is more than one lesson. Training is a process. Listen to this definition for training. To develop or form the habits, thoughts or behavior of or by discipline and instruction. There's an accountability. I've created a structure for these kids to be framed in to go the right direction. That the thoughts that they think that they think that God's got his hand on my life. They they know that. They know that God's going to work things together for because that word has been planted in their heart. They know that God's anointed them for great things. They understand that God formed them. They know that it's deepseated in their heart. So, they're not going to just attend services in their life. They're going to plant their life in God's house because they know that this is where the life is. Do you understand the difference? I don't want them to have just an attendance in their life. I want them to know God's word for them in their life. And I through habits and through thoughts, man, I tell them they they know this. We were growing up or we were they were they are growing up. They they sometimes they'd say something and I'm , "Where where'd you learn that? Where'd you hear that?" It wouldn't be overly offensive, but I'm , you've I knew you I she doesn't talk that and I had never said that. So, I'm , where'd you learn that from? And it was very clear. It was very evident. I told you before so my point is it's , hey, mom and dad don't talk that. It was easy. And they've it's never been an issue. Mom and dad don't talk that. And they knew that was just how we roll. And even today, they were getting all wound up and it was starting to get a little bit too assertive and too aggressive. , hey, that's enough. It was fun for a minute while we were playing, but now it's starting to get personal. And we don't talk that. We don't treat each other that. We don't tear each other down that. We build one another up. This is who we are as a people, right? if we're framing this this discipline, this habit, but it's my responsibility to catch it. It's my responsibility to help direct it. It's my responsibility to help them catch it because they don't know. Speaking of heads from highs, they don't know. They have no idea. What the heck does an 11-year-old and a 14-year-old and a nineyear-old know? So, I have to and look, I haven't I'm I'm not I don't have it all, but I got a lot. I got more than they got. So, let me help them be on the right track and on the right path. Right? And so, here's another another definition. to make proficient by instruction and practice. Practice patterns, behaviors as in some art, profession, or work. Repetitive behavior that when they're older, they know that this produces good in their life. This isn't a magic show. This isn't hocus pocus. This isn't serendipitous God. This is the one true living God who's eternal, whose word can never return to him void. So let me anchor my soul to the truth of his report before I believe the reports of anybody else in this room. If you're not speaking the truth of God's word in my life, then I'm going to build my life and anchor my life and anchor my heart and anchor my future to the truth of his word before I take your report over his report. I don't mix worldly oneliners in with God's word. It doesn't work that way. It's built on this and that's how we become proficient in it. I want to encourage this and we're going to start to wrap up and I'll have you families come forward, but please understand something and if you've been in church here before, I I don't subscribe to generational blessings and generational curses. And all by that is let me let me explain something to you. I don't I not for a second discount the fact that God is is the same from generation to generation to generation. The blessing of God is available for every generation. But that idea that you take ownership of, well, my family's cursed with this. My mama was cursed with this and my mama had it, so I have it, too. It's a family thing. It's a genetic thing. It's a Listen, I'm not denying any facts about your circumstances growing up. But here's what I am telling you is that there is not a generational blessing or a generational curse that you inherited. You you have a generational thinking. You have a generational behavior that's been framed in your life. You have a generational training that you receive. You receive training. Listen to me. If you've made Jesus the Lord of your life, you are not under a curse in any way. The curse has completely been reversed in your life. And you live in the blessing of God. Now, you live under the commanded blessing of God. So, your expectation should be the life of God. your expectations should be God's word prevailing in your life. That's what has happened and started in my life because I put my faith in Jesus. See, so I don't inherit a curse. I just didn't know Jesus yet. Maybe mom and dad didn't know Jesus yet. And so I wasn't trained to think according to God's word. Let me tell you something. This young man right here has the mind of Christ. That's what the Bible says. You do, too. But this boy right here has the mind of Christ. He thinks through the word. I don't mean thinks through it trying to reason it. his thought life goes through the word. He He's building his future through the word. Everything that you have the opportunity from this night when you leave here is through the word. That's the opportunity you have. These babies handpicked by God, appointed by God, and we're making a resolve and a commitment that they're going to fulfill their purpose of this generation. David. The Bible says about David that he served his purpose to this generation and then he died. Man, let me tell you, if Jesus hadn't come back yet, I hope when I'm done, I can say, "Boy, I put all my effort into serving my purpose, impacting for the kingdom, and I serve my generation, and I'm out." [laughter] That's what I'm trying to accomplish. And let me tell you something, that's what God has picked for these babies. >> Let me tell you something. I don't care how you got here. Meaning, I don't care what the situation was for your parents. I'm here to tell you that you, every person in here is handpicked by God for this day and for this time. If you were supposed to be born with Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, you would have been. If you were supposed to be there with Peter and John in the boat, you would have been. God picked you for this day and for this time. And watch the same word that they anchored their soul to. The same word that this country was founded on with those pioneers, the same word that they anchored is the same word that you anchor your soul to now. And what if we did something that the generations after us were still enjoying the blessing of? What if your great grandchildren are serving God because you created a culture for your children to grow up in that they know the word of God. They taught it to their children and they taught it to their children. And generation after generation is serving God, fulfilling their purpose. That's what's available to us. We're invited to that. I don't have to work for it. I don't have to earn it. I just get to live in it. Jesus already made me right with God. I now have this relationship with God and I know his word. It's illuminated in my heart. And now I can communicate it. I can build my life on it. I can think it. I can talk it. I can I can sharpen each other with it. My kids can bless me with it. It's it's it's this it's this it's this growing together in it. Then we come together on Sunday nights. That's what we're here for is an elevation in our life. Man, you're a believer. You're a believer. You're a believer. You're a believer. You're a believer. You're a believer. YOU'RE A WOO. LET'S GET TOGETHER AND WORSHIP AND CHAMPION JESUS. Let's see what God will do when we get together. Let's see what happens in your heart when the word starts getting preached and slobber starts flying off this microphone. Let's just see what happens, man. WHAT IF WHAT IF you could live the promises of God? What if it was available to you? I'm here to tell you right now, and I'm I'm done. God is not a God who is looking to punish you and send you to hell. God is a God who came and rescued you from life apart from him, a a living hell, and has invited you to the life of God with him. That's it. He wants to heal your heart. He wants to heal your mind. He wants to heal your relationships. He wants to heal your body. It's who he is. He can't not do that. It's who he is. You guys know the story of the lady with the issue blood reaches out and touches the hem of his garment. Jesus was not engaged in that conversation. Jesus is surrounded by a crowd of people and he's just walking through. And this lady is so desperate she crawls on her hands and knees through the crowds of people risking going to jail or prison because she's considered unclean. And so she is breaking the law to get to Jesus because her only hope left is in him. She touches the hymn of his garment. what that hymn represents? It represents the authority that he walks in as a teacher, as a rabbi, as as the Messiah. It represented something. She touched his authority. She she her faith reached out and grabbed a hold of him and she experienced a supernatural result in her life. Why? Because she had enough faith and enough willingness to get to him to touch him and he can't not produce in your life. The word can't not produce in you. The truth when it comes alive can't not bring freedom because those who know the truth, the truth will set you >> free. which means that we must be bound in some way. It can't set me free unless I'm bound. And if you've never knew you were bound, then let me help you. You need truth. There's some degree of it in your life. You might be great over here, but man, we need some truth over here. And that's what the that's what the word does in our life. That's why we sit under the word. That's why we get in the word. There is there is nothing. You got your Bible? There is nothing There is nothing more powerful than this right here. So the question is, where do you find this at? Hopefully you have one in your home. That's great. That's a good start. Where else do you find this at? You find it in music. You find it now in great TV shows and movies. Praise God. We got something to watch. You find it Watch, watch, watch. You find it in people. It's in your It's It's in your heart. It's in It's in Brad's heart. When I get with Brad, the word of God comes out of his mouth and it blesses me. And and the word of God is in my heart. It comes out of my mouth and and that's sharpening one another. And the word is going to produce in our life. So the question is, is this eternal? Is this truth? Is this life? And once you have the truth, it exposes that which is not true. Oh, I to use this example. If I told you this was purple or if you were taught this is purple and I say, "No, no, no. It's brown." You're , "You you are by God, you are defiant with me. It's purple." And I want to say, "No, stupid." But we don't talk that. It's brown. But how can I call you stupid? Because you don't know what you don't know. You were taught that it's purple. So, you've lived your whole life thinking that's purple. And if I can bring you to the truth, there's a lot of liberty in finally knowing what brown is. There's a lot of liberty there. And that's what I want to make available. That's what God's word is in our life. And that's what we build our life