Guardians of The Garden | Pastor Travis Greene | Forward City Church Hey family, thank you so much for tuning in to this week's message. Today we continued our series Planted on Purpose Pop. And today I preached a message simply entitled Guardians of the Garden. It came from the story of Nehemiah. And um there's so much that we can learn about the burden that God gave him to rebuild the broken walls. I pray that you get your notebooks out, lean in, man. This is a charged word that's going to restore your faith. is going to also stir up something in you and remind you that you have a great call in your life to be everything God's called you to be. I love you so much. I'll see you at the end of the message. >> Grab your Bibles or your app and turn to the book of Nehemiah. While you're turning there, I'm excited because we're in week two of a series we are calling Planet on Purpose >> Pop. In this series, we're on a mission to expose and debunk the lie that the local church is optional. Hear me? For an effective believer, >> this is something that God established. The Bible says in Psalm 92:13, those who are planted in the house of the Lord >> shall flourish in the courts of our God. >> Come on. There's benefits to being planted in his house, you're planted on purpose. Do me a favor while you turn to Nehemiah. Look at somebody. Tell them, "I need you here. I need you here. >> I need you here. Your survival is not optional. I need you here. Right here. Right here. >> This is the epicenter, ladies and gentlemen. The local church of hope, of alignment, of deployment. It is where we've been gathering since the first century in order to be encouraged and empowered and to be able to walk out the purpose on our life. Hebrews tells us, don't forsake the assembly, the gathering of the believers. And so we come into his house on purpose, for purpose. >> Nehemiah chapter 4. I'm excited about the word of God today, ladies and gentlemen. I feel stirred in my spirit. >> I'm excited. We're going to start at verse seven. If you got a Bible, holl at me. You got a real Bible? One of my real Bible people, y'all special. How many of y'all got a Bible app? >> All right. You special, too. How many of y'all got an Android? Oh god. It be you messing up the group threads. We sick of you rebellious. I rebuke that spirit of rebellion. [laughter] Nehemiah, you just mess up everything. You just Nehemiah chapter 4:7. It'll be on the screen if you don't have either. Thank you for tuning in online all around the world. We are foreign citizens that join us faithfully online and we're grateful for you as well. But when Sam Belacaya, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the people of Ashgot, heard that the repairs to Jerusalem's wall had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed. I love that. >> God has called you to close gaps. >> They were angry. They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. If you want to go unbothered and just sit in a corner and don't walk in purpose, >> but the moment you start building something, you better expect the bullies to show up. >> They all started typing on Instagram. I mean, they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. >> But we pray [laughter] to our God. >> And posted a guard, I love that. >> Day and night to meet this threat. >> Talk about it's only a threat. >> It's only a threat, >> man. It's only a threat. You know, the Bible talks about this man named Goliath. He was a giant about 10 ft tall and for 40 days and 40 nights he just made a threat >> and the Israelites were hiding >> but he didn't make it to day 41 >> and I came to tell you that the days of the threats are coming to an end in Jesus name they plotted the Bible says meanwhile the people of Judah said the strength of our laborers is given out there's so much rubble that we not rebuild the wall. Discouragement may show up, but they can't stay. >> Also, our enemies said, "Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work." They didn't know that they were coming against God. >> Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us 10 times over, "Wherever you turn, they will attack us. Therefore, I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places. >> You know, you can't just read the Bible. >> You got to read the Bible. >> You got to read the Bible. Both of them by families with their swords, spears, and bows. After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, "Hey, man, don't don't be afraid of them. Amen. >> Remember the Lord. LISTEN, YOU WILL become afraid if you don't remember >> who you serve. >> Remember the Lord. And while you're thinking about him, remember that he's great >> and awesome. >> And fight for your families. >> I don't know who need to hear that. >> Oh my god. I felt the anointing. >> I know this addiction feels overwhelming, but fight for your families. I know it's a generational curse, but fight for your families. I know your mama and your grandmama was bound by perversion, but fight for your families. I know you come from the hood, but you ain't got to stay IN THE HOOD. FIGHT for your families. Fight for your futures. Says, fight for your families. >> That's why you had to come to church today. You're fighting >> for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes. Someone's counting on you. Come on, tell somebody else, "I need you here. >> I need you here." >> When our enemies heard that they were aware of their plot, when they heard we were aware of their plot and that God, my God, be careful with this, have frustrated it. >> Came to prophesy to a few people. I'm just going to let it rip today. that God is about to frustrate the plans of the enemy. ((cheering)) >> He thought he won, but God made it fail. The Bible says, "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down users. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, spiritual ((music playing)) wickedness, and high places." God says, "I'm about to frustrate the plans of the enemy CONCERNING YOU. NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST YOU SHALL PROSPER." He didn't he didn't promise ((music playing)) that it wouldn't form, but he did promise that it won't WORK AGAINST YOU. GRAB YOUR NEIGHBOR AND TELL THEM GOD'S ABOUT TO frustrate that thing. The nightmares that's been coming against ((music playing)) you at night, God's about to frustrate it. The plan of the enemy against your children, God's about to frustrate it. The plan of the enemy against your marriage, God's about to FRUSTRATE IT. THE PLAN OF THE ENEMY AGAINST YOUR MONEY AND YOUR MINISTRY, GOD'S ABOUT TO FRUSTRATE IT. SOMEBODY LIFT UP YOUR HEAD AND SAY FRUSTRATED GOD. WHATEVER YOU GOT TO DO FRUSTRATED, KILL WHAT'S BEEN COMING AFTER ME. I REBUKE THAT TORMENTED SPIRIT IN THE NAME OF JESUS. ((music playing)) I REBUKE RECKLESSNESS. I rebuke nightmares. I rebuke IT IN JESUS' NAME. FOR WHATEVER WE BIND ON earth shall be bound in heaven. Whatever we loose on earth shall be loosened. Frustrated with THE BLOOD OF JESUS. FRUSTRATED. I need somebody TO TAKE 10 SECONDS, LIFT YOUR HANDS, AND INTERCESSED. FRUSTRATED. ((music playing)) FRUSTRATED BEFORE THANKSGIVING. FRUSTRATED BEFORE MY FAMILY REUNION. FRUSTRATED. EVERYTHING THE ENEMY MEANT FOR EVIL. GOD IS ABLE TO TURN IT AROUND. For frustrated. Hey. Hey. Frustrated. ((music playing)) FRUSTRATED. I WON'T GIVE UP. FRUSTRATED. I won't give in frustrated. I won't THROW IN THE TOWEL FRUSTRATED. EVERYTHING THAT THE ENEMY HAD PLANNED, everything the ((music playing)) enemy had plotted, every ploy, every witch doctor ((music playing)) frustrated. Every warlock, every potion, frustrated. Hey, hey, hey, hey. Every demon, every demon, ((music playing)) every demon COMING AGAINST MY MIND, COMING AGAINST MY DESTINY, COMING AGAINST MY FAMILY, FRUSTRATED. JESUS, I'm sorry. We about to lose the service. FIND YOURSELF A PRAYING PARTNER AND TELL THEM GOD'S ABOUT TO FRUSTRATE ((music playing)) IT. He's about TO CONFUSE THE ENEMY THAT'S BEEN COMING AGAINST YOU. GOD'S ABOUT TO SET AMBUSHES UP and what the enemy meant for evil. ((music playing)) >> Oh, he should have left you alone. He should have left you alone. HE SHOULD HAVE left you alone. IF ONLY THE DEVIL KNEW WHO YOU WOULD BE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT STORM, WHO YOU WOULD BE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT SCANDAL, who you would be ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT TRIAL, HE WOULD HAVE LEFT YOU ALONE. BUT IT'S TOO LATE NOW, DEVIL. HERE I AM, MORE anointed than I ever been in my ((music playing)) life. Frustrated Jesus. Jesus, YOU GOT 10 SECONDS. LIFT YOUR HANDS. ((music playing)) Be not weary and welloing, for in due season you will reap. If you faint not, ((music playing)) frustrated. I just heard the Lord say, "Don't give up on that child. ((music playing)) Don't give up on that child. I REBUKE EVERY DIAGNOSIS. UH GOD IS ABOUT TO FRUSTRATE. ((music playing)) DON'T GIVE UP ON YOUR FAMILY. GOD IS ABOUT TO FRUSTRATE IT. ((music playing)) DON'T GIVE UP ON YOUR CALLING. GOD IS ABOUT TO FRUSTRATE IT. ((music playing)) Expose it AND FRUSTRATE IT. EXPOSE IT AND FRUSTRATE IT. Expose every Jezebel spirit. Expose every lying demon. Exposed and frustrated. ((music playing)) Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Oh yeah. I'm sorry y'all. I feel the anointing. I'm telling you. SOME OF Y'ALL WALKED IN HERE WITH SOME stuff and by the time you make it back to THAT SAME DOOR, ((music playing)) GOD IS ABOUT TO frustrate you. Everything that THE ENEMY HAS PLANNED against you, ((music playing)) I bind it now. I bind it now. I bind it now. You won't give up. You won't give up. You ((music playing)) won't give in, God. >> ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) >> I'm sorry. I'm just supposed to be reading the scripture, but it's some people up in here sick and tired of being sick and tired. ((cheering)) You tired of the devil keeping you up at night. You tired of all of the mind games. I came to tell you, God is about to frustrate it. I came to prophesy, you about to get your peace back. You about to GET YOUR JOY BACK. YOU ABOUT TO GET YOUR REST BACK. YOU ABOUT TO GET YOUR SWAG BACK. YOU ABOUT TO GET YOUR OPTIMISM BACK. YOU ABOUT TO GET YOUR ENTHUSIASM BACK. ((music playing)) >> Stand still ((applause)) and see the salvation. Help the Lord. I'll be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that my labor is not in vain. I serve a God who can ((music playing)) frustrate it. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. ((cheering)) Verse 15. When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall. Each to our own work. Tell somebody, it's time to get to work. It's time. That's why you can't give up. It's time. IT'S TOO MUCH WORK FOR you to do. >> From that day on, watch the Bible. Half of my men did the work while the other half were equipped with spears, >> shields, >> bow, >> and armor. >> The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah who were building the wall. Those who carried material did their work with one hand >> and held a weapon [laughter] in the other hand. >> I'm talking about being armed >> for building and battles. >> And each of the builders wore his sword by his side. I love that. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other. I got a word from God today for you. I'm going to try to get through it. I don't know what God going to do, but it's simply called Guardians of the Garden. >> Tell somebody, you're anointed to be a guardian. Come on, tell somebody else you're anointed to be a guardian. Lord Jesus, breathe on your word. We're here for you. We give you praise in Jesus name. I thank you for frustrating what the enemy meant for evil. You're alpha and your omega. You have a plan before we have a problem. >> You have a solution >> before we face a situation. >> So God, we look to the heels from where our help comes from. >> Knowing that our help don't come from man. >> Our help don't come from an employer. >> Our help doesn't come from social media. >> Our help comes from the Lord, the maker >> of heaven and earth. Do a new thing. do an old thing in Jesus name. ((music playing)) Amen. If you're excited that God's about to frustrate some stuff in your life, give him one more praise on your way down. Guardians of the garden. >> Guardians of the garden. Ladies and gentlemen, there was a day where gardening was not optional. >> People didn't have the luxury of pulling up to a supermarket. Some of y'all fancy ordering groceries on Instacart. Nah, man. If they they wanted tomatoes, they had to grow it. They wanted okra. Okra, >> some corn. >> They wanted turnups. Y'all ain't country enough. They had to grow that thing. My grandmother used to grow what she wanted to cook. And anybody with a garden would tell you that gardens don't manage it themselves. >> Someone has to fight to keep it alive. >> And if a garden isn't guarded, then weeds will overtake it. If a if a garden isn't guarded, then rabbits will steal your harvest. >> And an unguarded garden isn't even worth planting. >> Ladies and gentlemen, it's the same thing in our lives. God is a God who has planted you on purpose. And the Bible says in John 10:10, "That the thief comes, to steal, kill, and destroy." He says, "But I have come that you may have life, my God, and life more abundantly." Ladies and gentlemen, there is a thief that is after your destiny. >> See, we think it's cute to play with the devil, but he don't play fair. >> He's come to steal, kill, and destroy. So you must guard what God decides to plant. >> If God plants you in a marriage, you must guard the garden. >> If God plants you in a family, you must guard the garden. If God plants you in a school, in a in a city, you must guard the garden. If God plants you in a church, you must guard the garden because you were planted on purpose. There's a reason you are right here right now. Hear me. And no one else can play your part. I love what Paul writes in 1 Corinthians. He writes to the Corinthian church in chapter 12 starting in verse 18. He says, "But our bodies have many parts. And God has put, I love this, each part, watch the Bible, just where he wants it." He says, "How strange a body would be if it all only had one part. >> Be an ugly looking body." >> Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, "I don't need you." >> And the head can never say to the feet, "I don't need you." >> Turn and tell somebody else, "I need you here. >> I need you." Paul explains, ladies and gentlemen, that together we make up, hear me, the body of Christ, a spiritual representation of him. We know that Jesus is seated at the right hand of the father in heaven, but here on earth, we are the hands and feet of Christ. And so, if someone is going to experience the love of God, then they are going to experience it through us, his body. And as the body of Christ, we function properly only when everyone is in their proper place. The story of Nehemiah caught my attention as I was praying for today and the Lord exposed to me. There's so many fascinating things in this story that Nehemiah is burdened. Man, I love when people ask me about Fort City in this church and I tell them, man, I remember being in Atlanta airport, minding my business, being, you know, wanting to have a music career and all of a sudden in 2013, minding my business, there was this holy burden that came on me. And I facetimed my wife and I was like, "Yo, literally in the airport." Said, "You think we'll start a church?" She said, "Yeah, I've always known. I was just waiting on God to tell you." Like, "Dang, I need to pray a little more." So, we moved here in 2015 with nothing. We moved here not knowing many people, but we had a burden. My God, here are the words that coming out of my mouth. The burden God gives you is enough. Nehemiah has this burden to do this extensive project of of building rebuilding the city's wall because without the wall, ladies and gentlemen, the city was exposed was exposed to attacks and broken walls in biblical time represent destroyed cities. It it represents a disgraced people. And so Nehemiah had this holy burden. And I'm thinking about this and I'm thinking about how the Bible describes how this wall has rubbles and there debris everywhere. And I'm thinking about the fact that there had to be thousands of people who walk by this wall every day. And yet it's one man who has a burden and has to do something about it. Now what's unique about Nehemiah, ladies and gentlemen, is out of all of the people who exist, all of the Jews, there is perhaps nobody at this time that's more comfortable than Nehemiah. Nehemiah is a cup bearer for King Artisers in Persia. A cup bearer, ladies and gentlemen. That's like being Jeffrey on Fresh Prince. A CUP BEARER GOT IT MADE. You got trust. You got benefits. You got You got You got influence. The king trusts you. He's protected in the king's courts. And yet, he cannot ignore his conviction. My God, his conviction did not satisfy his conviction. >> See, see, WHEN YOU ARE TRULY CONVICTED, >> my God, I'm stirred, y'all. I have a true conviction. The Lord told me this week, he says, Travis, my people don't really understand that I'm actually on my way back. >> And there's a lot of people playing church that ain't going to be ready. That's why this is the hour to expose strange fires. >> This is the hour TO EXPOSE IDOL WORSHIP. This is the idol FOR THE THIS IS THE HOUR NOT FOR THE CHURCH TO shrink back FOR FOR US TO I'M TALKING ABOUT TRUE CONVICTION. COME ON, ASK SOMEBODY, are you convicted? >> See, true conviction makes ME I'D RATHER BE CANCELLED BY man than cancelled in heaven. >> The Bible says if you're ashamed OF ME DOWN THERE, I'LL BE ASHAMED OF YOU HERE. LISTEN, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I HAVE A TRUE CONVICTION. IT WAS TRUE CONVICTION THAT GOT JOHN THE BAPTIST AND JAMES, SON OF ZEBEDEE AND PAUL BEHEADED. I'M TALKING ABOUT TRUE CONVICTION. TRUE CONVICTION GOT STEVEN STONED. TRUE CONVICTION GOT PETER CRUCIFIED upside down. TRUE CONVICTION GOT JESUS MOCKED, BEATEN, AND CRUCIFIED. I'M TALKING ABOUT TRUE CONVICTION. ARE YOU CONVICTED? >> And Nehemiah is so convicted that he exchanged this cup of comfort for his calling. Lord, would you give us true conviction? >> I'm talking about the type of conviction that'll wake us up in intercession. >> I'm talking about the type of conviction that won't allow us to make excuses for premarital sex. >> Come on, don't let me lose you now. >> I'm talking about the type of conviction that will make us engage culture. I'm talking about the the type of convincing I was out I was in Raleigh, North Carolina this weekend at her officiated wedding yesterday and yesterday we did we went and did brunch and I was talking to a young lady named Lindsay. She was at my waitress and when she was talking to me and she she was just so moved and she was grateful for the tip and and true conviction had me in the middle of a restaurant laying hands on someone I never met before and praying healing over her aunt and praying salvation over her AND HER RECEIVING HOPE. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, TRUE CONVICTION. >> TRUE CONVICTION WHERE YOU DON'T SHOW UP TO WORK FOR A CHECK. YOU SHOW UP AS AN AMBASSADOR. >> Come on. Come on. Come on. True conviction. Oh my God. I feel something. MAYBE MAYBE MAYBE you've been praying FOR A BIGGER HOUSE. AND GOD SAYS, "I CAN'T LET YOU LEAVE THIS APARTMENT COMPLEX YET CUZ I SENT YOU THERE FOR REVIVAL, BUT YOU HAVEN'T BEEN CONVICTED ENOUGH." Do you hear the words that are coming out OF MY MOUTH? SOME OF US, I FEEL THIS, ARE STUCK AT OUR LEVEL because conviction graduates you to the NEXT LEVEL. AND GOD SAYS, "I NEED A PEOPLE WHO ARE SO CONVICTED THAT THEY'LL SPEAK UP AGAINST INJUSTICE. THAT THEY'LL SPEAK UP against wickedness in high places. THAT THEY'LL SPEAK I'M TALKING ABOUT THE TYPE OF CONVICTION THAT'LL MAKE YOU SMASH IDOLS. I'M TALKING ABOUT REAL CONVICTION, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. >> And Nehemiah has so much conviction that he can't stand still. Watch this. protected behind the king's walls >> because she's stirred knowing that his loved ones are unprotected behind a broken wall. >> If you want to know why Forward City exists, it's because we can't stay in here and ignore broken walls out there. >> Say, well, you don't know there's some there's some people. >> Yeah, you can have our attention. It's not real, y'all. >> It's part of It's part of the sermon. True conviction. When the alarm start coming on in your soul and you know that it's time for you to do something. I'm talking true conviction. True conviction. When the Holy Ghost uh starts flicking a light in your LIFE AND SAYING, "NO, NO, NO. IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO GET RIGHT." TRUE CONVICTION. THERE IS ALARM THAT GOD SAID, "SOUND THE ALARM." COME ON. THERE'S A TRUMPET THAT'S SOUNDING TRUE CONVICTION. I am convicted. I am persuaded. I am convicted. There are people, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THAT ARE PART OF OUR city team that aren't broke. THEY DRIVE NICE CARS. THEY GOT GOOD INCOME, BUT THEY'RE CONVICTED. AND THEY SAID, "I CAN'T RELAX ON SUNDAYS. I GOT TO GET ACTIVE. I GOT TO I GOT TO BE A PART OF A SOLUTION. I CAN'T JUST SIT AROUND AND DO NOTHING. I AM CALLED to build something. WOO. DO ME A FAVOR. TELL THEM YOU'RE CALLED to build something. Tell somebody you're called to build something. I love the Bible in Nehemiah chapter 2 verse 18. The Bible SAYS THIS. AND I TOLD them I told him of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good. I like this. The hand of God is on me for good. And also the words that the king has spoken to me. And they said they said to each other, "Let us rise up and build." Tell somebody else, "It's time to build." >> So they strengthen their hands for the good work. >> I'm talking about a convicted believer. >> A convict. There's people in this church that drove an hour and a half, two hours, 3 hours to be here cuz they're convicted believers. They strengthen their hands. They woke up this morning and said, "I got to get to the house of God cuz I'm called to build something." Tell somebody else, "I need you here. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THERE IS A GENERATION functioning behind broken walls. Talking about broken walls, I'm talking about no boundaries, >> no limits, no moral compass, no conviction. Where where everyone, IT REMINDS ME OF THE BOOK OF JUSTICE WHERE IT SAYS EVERYONE did what was right in their own eyes. >> Why get married when I can play house? >> Why go to church when I can be my own pastor? Why keep the baby when I can >> have an abortion? >> WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY ACCEPT WHO GOD HAS made when I can change my own gender? I'M I'M DOING WHAT'S RIGHT IN MY OWN EYES. AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I DIDN'T COME TO TALK DOWN TO YOU. BUT WE AREN'T CALLED TO BRING THE BIBLE DOWN TO OUR PREFERENCE. WE'RE CALLED TO BRING OUR LIFESTYLE UP TO THE WORD OF GOD. IT WAS THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND FOREVER. THE BIBLE SAYS, "HEAVEN AND EARTH WILL PASS AWAY, BUT MY WORD WILL LAST FOREVER. AND I'M AFRAID >> WE WON'T BE READY WHEN HE COME BACK. >> HE SAYS, "I'M COMING BACK FOR A CHURCH. I'M COMING BACK FOR A BRIDE WITHOUT SPOT OR WRINKLE." HE'S LOOKING FOR PEOPLE. THE BIBLE SAYS, "BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY." >> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, A LIFE IS NOT OUR OWN. PAUL SAYS, "PRESENT YOUR BODY." HE SAYS, "I'M BEGGING YOU, PRESENT YOUR BODY AS A LIVING SACRIFICE, HOLY AND ACCEPTABLE." >> I'm not telling you you won't have cravings. And I'm NOT TELLING YOU YOU WON'T HAVE TEMPTATIONS. AND I'M NOT EVEN TELLING YOU IT WILL BE EASY. >> But I want to be ready when he comes back. >> One of my uncles was drunk one time and he told my mom is >> they call it chaa. Yeah. Cha cha cha. What if you saving yourself living right? What if you're going through all of this and you die and realize that there ain't no heaven? Nah. She said, "What if you do anything you want to, live how you want to live, >> sleep with who you want to sleep with, smoke what you want to smoke, live recklessly, and you die and realize >> there is a hell." Ladies and gentlemen, I'll take my chances. This ain't EVEN WHAT WE TALKING ABOUT. >> ((applause)) >> I WILL TAKE MY CHANCES. YOU TALKING ABOUT BURNING FOREVER AND YOU'RE PLAYING RUSSIAN ROULETTE FOR WITH ETERNITY. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT IS TIME FOR THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST TO RISE UP AND BUILD SOMETHING. FOR GOD I LIVE. FOR GOD I DIE. IT'S TIME FOR SOMEBODY TO GET ON the wall. It's time for somebody TO RAISE UP A STANDARD. IT'S TIME FOR SOMEBODY TO STAND FOR HOLINESS. EVEN IF IT'S UNPOPULAR. TELL SOMEBODY, "I NEED YOU HERE. We've been so intimidated by this punk. I mean, this guy >> named Samlet. >> It's a spirit. >> It's a spirit of intimidation. >> AND WE JUST GO ALONE TO GET ALONG. And I'm wondering where's Nehemiah? Where are those WHO HAVE SUCH A BURDEN that you'll pick up, watch me, a shovel and a sword? where you say, "Yeah, I'm here to build, but but don't push me." >> Cuz I ain't scared to fight. >> And I understand the war that I'm in. This is spiritual warfare, ladies and gentlemen. This is not a popularity contest. This is not about clicks and likes. This is not about being cancelled by man, bump, man. This is a spiritual warfare, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. WE HAVE A GOD WHO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GIVE AN ACCOUNT TO. God told me to rebuke the taunting spirit of Samuel. The spirit that's trying to tell you, you better you better fit in. >> You better not say nothing. >> You better you better go alone to get alone. And I'm wondering where are the guardians? >> Where are the people who will build walls where they're broken? Even with rubble everywhere, >> even with debris being everywhere, >> even in a time where you can't tell who's saved or not, >> because everyone's got an opinion. >> You notice everybody got a doctrine. Everybody got a podcast, but not everyone has been sent with the king's permission. >> See, this is what I love about Nehemiah. Nehemiah didn't step in his own authority. He was sent by the king. My God. When you're sit by the king, YOU DON'T NEED MAN'S validation when YOU GOT HEAVEN'S AUTHORIZATION. I'VE BEEN SENT BY SOMETHING GREATER IS HE. COME ON HERE. That's in me than he that is in the world. And I notice we're living in a day where THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE THEY GOT TO BE CAREFUL. They're making post, but they haven't been positioned. >> I'm the pastor of Forward City Church, and I came to give you a warning. Please do not listen or read someone's opinion without asking the question, who sent you? ((cheering)) ((applause)) >> There's only two different people. Either you went or you were sent. >> The Bible says in Matthew 7, it's in red, verse 15, he says, "Hey, beware of false prophets. who come >> disguised as harmless sheep, >> but they're really vicious wolves. He says, "This is the way you identify them. You can always identify them by their fruit." Hear me, not the fancy words. I need to see some fruit. >> He says, "You identify them by the way at >> Can you pick grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles?" He says, he says, "A good tree produces good fruit." >> A BAD TREE PRODUCES BAD FRUIT. >> He says, "A good tree CAN'T PRODUCE BAD FRUIT AND A BAD TREE can't produce good fruit." >> See, I'm so glad the Lord delivered me from clapback anointing. >> Cuz it be so many people with opinions and I'd be like, "But where your wife at though? How you know so much? >> You got to be careful of people with big mouths but no self-control. [cheering and applause] >> See, see, I don't care if you're a man of God or not. If you can't keep your pants zipped, >> then maybe you should keep your mouth zipped. Come on here. I'm not scared. I'm not scared. I'm not scared. I'm just saying THE BIBLE. THIS THE BIBLE. AND WE BE FOOLISHNESS. I'M NOT SENT HERE TO JUDGE. THE BIBLE SAYS JUDGE THEM BY THEIR FRUIT. >> HE SAYS EVERY TREE THAT DOES NOT PRODUCE GOOD FRUIT IS CHOPPED DOWN AND THROWN INTO THE FIRE. >> HE SAID, "YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. JUST AS YOU IDENTIFY A TREE BY ITS FRUIT, YOU CAN identify people >> by their actions. >> THIS IS WHY IT'S IMPERATIVE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, TO BE PLANTED on purpose. >> Don't take advice from anyone who is unplanted, >> who sent you. >> BEFORE I READ YOUR POST, I WANT TO KNOW WHO YOUR PASTOR IS. >> And then I want TO KNOW IF YOUR PASTOR GOT FRUIT. SEE, it's a lot of people with opinions and no accountability. >> God, >> no covering >> JUST SPREADING FALSE MESSAGES. Just just for more clicks and more likes, not knowing they're going to have to give an account. >> Oh man. SO, BEFORE YOU ACCEPT SOMEONE ELSE'S ARTIFICIAL DOCTRINE, examine their fruit. I want to know about your real life, not your Instagram life. >> And is there anything about your real life that's worth modeling? >> Paul wrote the Corinthian church, he said, "Yo, follow me as I follow Christ." >> That Oh, MAN. THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING. Hear me, ladies and gentlemen. This is not me saying I'm better than anybody else, but I am a man that lives submitted to God. And if I can't tell you to follow me, >> that's right, >> then I need to sit down somewhere. See, I don't have to tell my kids, "Hey, just do as I say, not as I do." >> No, that is the opposite of discipling. >> DISCIPLING SAYS, "WATCH MY FEET. WATCH ME MOVE. WATCH ME PRAY. WATCH ME LIVE SUBMITTED. WATCH ME live surrendered. WATCH ME WORSHIP. WATCH ME SACRIFICE. WATCH ME GIVE." ((applause)) Bible says >> in 2 Timothy 4:3, ladies and gentlemen, I have true conviction. THE BIBLE SAYS, "FOR A TIME IS COMING." I believe we're in that time now when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. It ain't what they going to want. They going to follow their own desires. Ain't it funny? Let me just pause right here. Keep that up. Ain't it funny that whenever you want to be massaged in your sin, you'll find somebody to confirm it? >> I can always tell. the hall. Travis, ((cheering)) >> I can always tell the people who are slipping into a sinful lifestyle when they're uncomfortable around my wife and I. So they'll start getting with other people >> who are also rebellious >> that'll say ain't nothing wrong with staying over there. >> Ain't nothing wrong with you. You need to have you some a say stuff like this. They just they trying to control you and you be like they are trying to control me. They say they say you brainwashed over there. They just want you to be holy roller. you you young, you can have fun. And sometimes it be these stupid people's mama's telling them this stuff. ((cheering)) >> I know what I'm talking about. We don't have people that we telling, WE DISCIPLE, WE MENTORING, SAYING, "BABY, KEEP YOURSELF." AND THAT DUMB MAMA'S over here saying, "Baby, you better sleep with him to keep him." This is this is true, ladies and gentlemen. He he ain't going to leave if you don't let him test your ass. >> And this is what WE DO. THIS IS WHAT WE DO. THIS IS WHAT WE DO. WE THIS IS WHAT WE DO. This is the Bible. THIS AIN'T TRAVIS. WE TRY TO FIND PEOPLE who can soothe us. >> You know the PROBLEM OF BEING MASSAGED? It relax you. >> And before you know it, I'VE NEVER SEEN MY WIFE GET a massage without Before you know it, you're sleep. And the devil wants to rock you >> into a comfortable state TO WHERE YOU'RE UNCONSCIOUS IN YOUR sin >> and you have no conviction AND THERE IS NOTHING ON THE INSIDE OF YOU THAT'S SAYING, "BABY, YOU BETTER THAN THAT. NO, NO, NO, NO. YOU'RE STRONGER THAN THAT." THAT'S WHY YOU GOT TO GET PLANTED, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. THAT'S WHY YOU need to be on a city team and IN A CITY GROUP SO THAT SOMEBODY CAN LOOK YOU IN YOUR EYES AND SAY, "NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO. DON'T GIVE IN TO SIN. I know that's where you came from, but you ain't got to be like YOUR MAMA. YOU AIN'T GOT TO BE LIKE your auntie. You are a CURSE BREAKER. THERE IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT ON THE INSIDE OF YOU AND IT'S TIME TO RISE UP AND BUILD. >> Bible says they'll follow their own desires. They'll look for teachers. They'll follow them on IG on Tik Tok. That word fancy. I don't know what it mean but that sound. Look for teachers who will tell them whatever >> their itching ears >> want to hear. >> God, would you deliver us from itching ears? >> He says, he said, "This is what they going to do." He says, "There's coming a day. They're going to reject the truth." >> Watch the Bible. And chase after myths. blinded. >> He says, "But you, >> you should keep a clear mind." >> Oh my God. Somebody lift your hands. God's about to give you a clear mind. God's about to clear you a clear mind. You were supposed to leave that relationship 6 months ago. God's about to give you a clear mind. You supposed to walk out of that situation a year ago. God's about to give you a clear mind. He says, "But God has not GIVEN YOU THE SPIRIT OF FEAR, BUT OF LOVE, POWER, AND A SOUND MIND." HE SAID, "YOU should keep a clear mind in every situation. Watch this. And don't be afraid >> of suffering >> for the Lord. >> He says, "Work at telling others the good news, and fully, I love this, not partially, not just on Sundays, but fully carry out the ministry God has given you. You've been entrusted, my God, to guard the garden. And I can imagine it would been easier for Nehemiah and the people to be discouraged that David would allow the the threats to uproot them and get them out of position. And the enemy, he only intimidates, ladies and gentlemen, people who are making progress. >> Lord told me to tell you, beware of the bully when you start building. >> Bible says in Nehemiah 4:9, this is powerful. He says, "But we prayed to our God >> and posted a guard day and night >> to meet this threat." When the enemy gets loud, here you go. Pray and post a guard. Pray and post a guard. Pray and post a guard. And so I was praying. I said, "Well, Lord, how do I do both?" He says, "Oh, when you pray, I do the posting. He says, "Travis, when you pray, I'll post the guard." I love this. The Bible says, we're done. Philippians chapter 4 6 says, "Do not be anxious." Another translation said, "Don't worry about a thing." >> Cuz every little thing, >> that ain't what the Bible say. Don't be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication. Watch this. Watch this with Thanksgiving. >> So many people have been checking on me this week like PT I love you. My aunt Mur nephew stand your ground. I love you. People hit me up. I'm like y'all I'm a hype cuz I've presented to God my prayer >> with thanksgiving. >> I said, "God, thank you for persecution. This is amazing. LET YOUR REQUEST BE MADE KNOWN to God. Watch the Bible. And the peace, ((cheering)) >> we going home and the peace. Grab your neighbor by the knee. Tell them. Tell them you about to get peace. You about to get peace. You about to get peace. And the peace. ((cheering)) HE SAYS, "WILL YOU PRAY? I'LL POST the guards. He said, "And the PEACE OF GOD." WATCH THIS. WATCH THIS. WATCH THIS. Which surpasses >> We got to go home. This tells me, Tim, I don't have to understand to have peace. ((cheering)) I've been in situations where my understanding was limited. All I could understand was the doctor's report. Ah, when they told me my son wasn't going to make it, that's all I could understand with my ((music playing)) natural mind. I All I can understand is my bank account. ALL I CAN UNDERSTAND IS MY TRANSCRIPT. COME HERE. ALL I CAN UNDERSTAND IS WHAT THE ENEMY has been doing against me. But God says, "My peace, when you stop understanding, I'll surpass your understanding. ((music playing)) And the peace of God will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus. People like Travis, YOU NOT SAD NOW, DOG. I'm guarded. You not going under? No, I'm guarded. You not scared? No, I'm guarded. FOR IF GOD BEFORE YOU, LET'S HAVE CHURCH. Who can stand against you? GOD, PEACE WILL GUARD YOU WHEN HE PLANTS YOU. NO WEAPON FORMED against you ((music playing)) will prosper. For thou, oh Lord, are a shield for me, the glory and lifter of my head. The Lord is my light ((music playing)) and my salvation. Whom shall I fear, of whom shall I be afraid? I won't be afraid of the terror by night, nor the arrows that fly by day, for I got ((music playing)) a guardian that's FIGHTING ON MY BEHALF. SOMEBODY LIFT your hands and say, "Fight for me. ((music playing)) FIGHT THIS BATTLE FOR ME. WRITE this battle for me. For the battle is not yours. It belongs to the Lord. The Lord ((music playing)) who is undefeated. The Lord who is alpha and omega. The Lord of angels armies. He fights for me. ((music playing)) He fights for me. He fights for me. He fight for me. He said, "You pray and I'll post up." [cheering and applause] >> I'm not being cocky, ladies and gentlemen. >> Not being cocky. I'm human. >> But I am truly unbothered. truly and it surpassed my understanding. >> My phone been blowing UP AND I LOOK BACK LIKE, WELL, am I supposed to be bothered? >> And God said, "My peace doesn't surpass that." ((cheering)) >> NOT ONLY YOUR UNDERSTANDING, BUT WHAT THEY CAN UNDERSTAND. Good God, MY PEACE WOULD SURPASS WHAT THE ENEMY can understand. The enemy SCRATCHING HIS HEAD WONDERING, "WHY AREN'T YOU GOING UNDER? WHY ((music playing)) haven't you given in? WHY YOU NOT DEPRESSED? WHY YOU NOT BITTER? CUZ HIS PEACE will guard my heart and my mind. SOMEBODY GRAB YOUR HAND. GUARD IT, GOD. ((music playing)) Guard my mind. Guard my dreams. Uh guard my vision. Guard the plans that you have ((music playing)) for me. Plans to prosper to me and to give me hope in the future. Guard my heart. Guard ((music playing)) my emotions. Uh guard my emotions. I won't be bitter. I won't be frustrated. I WON'T BE DEPRESSED. ((music playing)) GUARD ME. Fight for me. We got to go home. Fight for me. ((music playing)) Fight for me. God said, "Stand still and watch me. ((music playing)) Fight for me. Stand still and watch me. Watch me. Watch me. Fight for me. ((music playing)) The battle is not yours. You hear me? Cuz Taylor, it ain't your battle. Lift up your head. Oh, ye gangster and be ye. >> LIFT IT UP YE EVERLASTING DOORS AND THE KING OF GLORY. I FEEL THE ANOINTING. SOMEBODY GIVE HIM an undignified praise. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Fight fight fight fight fight fight fight fight fight fight fight fight fight fight fight fight fight fight fight fight fight fight fightight fight fightight fight ((music playing)) fight fight fight fight fight fight fight fight fight fight fight fight fight fight fight fight fight fight fight fight >> YOU GOT 30 SECONDS GET ON YOUR FEET LIFT YOUR hands and let the Lord fight your battle ((music playing)) >> when the enemy comes in like a flood. >> When the enemy comes in like a flood. WHEN THE ENEMY COMES IN like a flood, >> HE WILL LIFT UP A STANDARD. ((music playing)) >> Lift up a standard fight. ((music playing)) >> Lift up a standard fight. ((music playing)) >> Fight for me. >> ((music playing)) >> I don't fight my own battles. >> You hear me? I don't fight my own battle. >> I don't fight my own battles. Now feel this. We got to go home. ((music playing)) >> The Lord said, hear me. Some of you have been trying to fight spiritual battles with natural weapons. >> And that's why you feel defeated, >> natural weapons. Hear me. And I'm not saying there's anything wrong with some natural weapons. >> Therapy is a natural weapon. Use it. Medicine is a natural weapon. Use it. Counseling is a natural weapon. Use it. But after you've done all, to stand. ((cheering)) >> Don't forget your spiritual weapons. Mama, don't forget YOUR SPIRITUAL WEAPONS. DADDY, DON'T FORGET your spiritual weapons. Husbands, wives, SINGLE PEOPLE, FIGHT FOR YOUR FAMILY. ((music playing)) FIGHT FOR YOUR SONS. FIGHT FOR YOUR DAUGHTERS. FIGHT FOR THEIR FUTURE. DON'T STOP FIGHTING. How do I fight? I don't fight like this. ((music playing)) I fight like this. THIS IS HOW I FIGHT MY BATTLES. IT MAY LOOK LIKE I'M SURROUNDED. IT MAY LOOK LIKE I'M SURROUNDED. ((music playing)) >> This is HOW I FIGHT MY BATTLES. He will fight ((music playing)) for me. >> This is how I fight my battle. ((music playing)) This is how I fight my battle. We got to go. >> This is how ((music playing)) I fight. >> Take your last 20 seconds. Lift your voice and cl ((music playing)) my battle. This ((music playing)) is how I fight my battle. This is how I fight ((music playing)) my battle. Fight. Fight. Fight. >> I got a weapon. Hey, I got a weapon. I got a weapon. I got a weapon. I got a weapon. Ladies and gentlemen, I got a weapon. >> I was four years old. I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WHY I'M NOT SCARED OF THE DEVIL. I WAS FOUR YEARS OLD, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. I FELL FOUR FLOORS OUT OF A WINDOW. THE DOCTORS PRONOUNCED ME DEAD ON THE SPOT. THEY COVERED ME WITH A WHITE SHEET, LITERALLY, and said, "He's dead." But my mama had a shovel in one hand ((cheering)) >> and a sword in another hand. And she came and she PICKED UP MY LIFELESS BODY. She said, "God, I ain't no doctor, but I know how to fight. Jesus. Jesus." ((music playing)) >> And a third time she screaming, "The blood of Jesus. That's how I fight. I fight with the blood of Jesus. Uh I fight with the blood of Jesus. I FIGHT WITH THE BLOOD. The blood. The blood. The blood. The blood. The blood. Blood of Jesus over my mind. Blood of Jesus OVER MY FAMILY. ((music playing)) BLOOD OF JESUS OVER my church. Blood of Jesus OVER MY DESTINY. THE BLOOD. HEY, the blood still working. ((music playing)) The blood still working. The blood still working. She's screaming the blood of Jesus. I started coughing. Pastor Jim, they kept me in the hospital a few days. And as we were leaving, I said, "Mom, I got TO TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENED." I said, "I remember falling out the window." I said, "But I never hit the ground." I said, "Mom, right before I hit the ground," this is a true story, y'all. A man with a big hand caught me. And I said, "Mom," I COULDN'T SEE HIS FACE. IT WAS IT WAS SO BRIGHT. I saw it was CLOUDS AND I HEARD A voice that said, "Do you want to go home with your MOM OR COME WITH ME?" I said, "I want I want my mom." He said, "This time you're going with her and next time you'll be with me." And I said, "Wait." At the age of four, he said, "Wait, excuse me, sir. What is your name? It didn't say my name is Sam Ballot. It didn't say my name is Tobias. It didn't say my name was Buddha. It didn't say my name was Muhammad. He said, "Son, my name is Jesus." ((music playing)) I don't come IN MY OWN STRENGTH. I'VE BEEN SENT BY THE KING. I'M ON ASSIGNMENT. THERE IS A GOD WHO FIGHTS FOR ME. YOU GOT 20 ((music playing)) SECONDS. LIFT YOUR HAND. HEY, lift your voice and let ((music playing)) him fight your battle. Let him fight your battle. Hey, hey, HEY. LET HIM FIGHT YOUR BATTLE. ((music playing)) Fight fight. Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, fight. ((music playing)) Fight. >> I've been sent. Come on, tell somebody else I need you here. You were sent on purpose for a purpose. And the only thing that the bully can do try to stop you from building to God. You gonna make it. You hear me? You're a builder. You're a fighter. But you've been trying to fight. You with the blind hair. You've been trying to fight in your own strength. God says take your hands off of it. Listen. Listen. The only reason anxiety is there is because your hands is on it. And sometimes the involvement of your hands >> gives your addiction to anxiety. >> But God says if you take your hands off of it, I feel the Holy Ghost. We got to go. Watch this. Watch this. And sometimes you even got to take your mouth off of it. That's why this week I got in front of my camera and I only said what the God told me to say. >> I haven't said nothing else. It ain't my battle to fight. >> I don't have to put my mouth on it. >> My words are too powerful to waste >> on battles down here. I rather USE MY WORDS UP here and let God fight for me. We about to go home. But God is about to frustrate what's been frustrating you. You hear me? HE'S ABOUT TO FIGHT YOUR BATTLE FOR I got to go. I know. But I feel the power of God. I feel HIM FIGHTING EVEN NOW. IF I WAS YOU, I'LL TAKE ((music playing)) 20 SECONDS and I lift my hands and say, "God is your battle. God is your marriage. ((music playing)) God is your money. GOD IS YOUR BUSINESS. GOD IS YOUR CHURCH. GOD IS YOUR CALLING. Fight for me. ((music playing)) Fight for me. Fight for me." >> Wow. Wow. Wow. I told you ((music playing)) it was a dynamic word today and a demonstration of his power. I pray that something in you was stirred up and that your faith was restored. The hope in in you was also increased and you were reminded, man, you got a great call in your life to build and to battle to get your sword and to get your shovel. God is waiting on you. More than that, listen, the people of God are waiting on you to be everything that God has called you to be to fight for your family, your sons, your daughters, your wives, your husbands, and your homes. I love you so much. Prayerfully today you received him as your Lord and your Savior. If so, please comment below. Let us know what God did in your heart. I love you so much. Cannot wait to see you next week. God bless you.