GOD+ | Pastor Travis Greene | Forward City Church

Hey family, thank you so much for tuning in to this week's message here at Forward City Church. We're in a series that we're calling God Plus. Man, we are going into some deep waters. But I want you to stick it out. I know some things are going to be said that may not appease your flesh, but your spirit will rejoice in hearing God's truth, God's heart for us to have relationship with him and worship.

This is a war of worship. And so, tune in. Do me a favor. Like, subscribe, share, and tell other people about this week's message. Hopefully, it will do something in their hearts as well. I love you. See you at the end. Here we go. LET'S DO IT. THIS IS MY REVIVAL YEAR. >> THIS IS MY REVIVAL. >> Everything is about to shift. >> I prophesy. >> I prophesy >> to the north. >> To the north, >> south, east, >> and west, >> fresh wind >> is blowing >> on every dead >> and dry place.

Dad dreams >> live again. Dad gifts live again. That faith live again. Come on. LORD >> BREATHE ON MY MIND, my heart, MY HEALTH, MY FAMILY, my anointing, my church, my city, my relationships, and my finances. This is my year for divine alignment. WHAT WAS SCATTERED MUST COME BACK TOGETHER.

What was broken will be restored. Heaven's version of me is ready to rise. I WOULD NOT FIGHT AGAINST THE WIND. Wherever it blows, I will go. Use me. Come on. Use me to do whatever, however, whenever. This is MY YEAR. COME ON. THIS IS MY YEAR to pray MORE PASSIONATELY, FAST MORE FERVENTLY, and be more devoted daily.

I renounce every lie. I rebuke every idol. And I repent for doing things my way. You know what you're doing. Take everything and give me you. My worship is my strongest place. And your response to surrender is revival. Here we go. I receive I receive I receive the winds of revival in every area of my life. in Jesus name.

Amen. Shout like you believe it. Glory to God. Glory to God. All right, we're in a brand new series. Grab your Bibles. Turn to Exodus. We're going to read this really quickly. It is biblical tradition to stand for the reading of God's word. Ezra read the Bible to the people of God and they stood from sun up to sun down. >> One day we going to have service for 12 hours >> and staying the whole time.

Y'all ain't ready for that. We going to get there. We starting with 6 hours to build up our appetite. GOOD FRIDAY WE HAVING ANOTHER 6 HOURS PRAYER SERVICE. I'm >> excited about that. >> 7 HOURS. 7 HOURS. >> Exodus 19. Exodus 19. Please come out this Wednesday if you're able.

We are starting uh what we call equip nights. and want to make sure you know the Bible, the Bible teaches in Ephesians that is the responsibility of the church to make sure that the saints of God are equipped and that you're growing in maturity uh with God. And so that is our responsibility.

We want to help you with that. We're going to teach you the word of God, teach you um some some biblical truths and give you something to fight with. I had someone send me a message on Instagram and he said, "PT, I got saved and I felt like I wasn't equipped for the warfare that broke out in my life." >> He literally he literally sent me this.

I'mma forward you guys a message uh team, but he said he said, "Man, I I've had easier battles in prison and in the street >> than what I've had after I got saved." >> And I said, "You know what, man? Thank you. Thank you for this message." I rarely even get to the messages cuz I don't I don't be on social like that.

But I felt like I was supposed to check these messages. And this was one of the one I caught. And I said, "Man, thank you for telling me that." And I said, "You'll be glad to know that we're starting equip nights this Wednesday for that very purpose. So that make sure that you don't come in here and just have a good time, but that you're equipped with the word of God and with the armor of God so that you can stand against the attacks of the evil one."

Exodus 19. We're going to do a good bit of reading cuz some of y'all didn't read your Bible enough this week. You ready? >> 19:3. THEN MOSES WENT UP TO GOD. I can stop right there. >> God is calling you higher, saints. Moses went up to God. And the Lord called him from the mountain and said, "This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob.

What you are to tell the people of Israel. You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt." Yeah, >> man. You saw it. And I'll carried you on eagle's wings and brought you to myself. Now, if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all the nations, you will be my treasured possession.

Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites. So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak.

The people all responded together. Watch this. WE WILL DO EVERYTHING. It's amazing how you get so courageous in corporate settings. >> You like, I'll do anything, God. He'd be like, all right, bet. We'll do everything the Lord has said. Moses thought he t he brought the answer back to God.

The Lord said to Moses, "I am going to come to you in a dense cloud so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you." Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said. Jump down to verse 16 very quickly.

On the morning of the third day, there was thunder and lightning with a thick cloud over the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. It's powerful. Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God. And they stood at the foot of the mountain.

Mount Si was covered with smoke because the Lord descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace and the whole mountain trembled violently. As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him.

Now jump down to chapter 20. read just a couple verses and we're done. And God spoke all these words. I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD WHO BROUGHT YOU out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. >> You shall have no other gods before me.

IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT VERSE, one of the most important verses in the Bible. Because what he's saying here is not that you shall have no other god above me. That's impossible. >> He's not even saying you should have no other god ahead of me. He is saying YOU CANNOT HAVE ANY OTHER gods around me.

HE IS TALKING TO THE PEOPLE OF God and he's telling them that I don't share space with idols. brand new series we're starting today. And I wrestled with God over this one cuz honestly, I didn't even want to I didn't want to go here. And God said, "I'm not done speaking about idols.

There's something I want to say." >> This series is simply entitled God Plus. >> God Plus. Do me a favor before I even jump into it. Would you do me a favor and just connect with someone around you and just about 30 seconds? Would you just pray and intercede for those in this room and those watching online?

I'm really believing for a move of God. Just take a moment and pray. Just take a moment and pray. Thank you, Lord. We have to soak this word in prayer. I'm asking even as I deliver it that the intercessors in the room will will pray because it is over the next few weeks we're going to go into territory that many people aren't courageous enough to step into.

Um but the Lord is calling this church um to not just be a house of hype but a house of prayer and somewhere where revival is stewarded. You have to steward revival. You have to fan the flame. So Lord Jesus, we ask in this moment that you speak to our hearts. >> Do a new thing, do a old thing, man.

I decrease, you increase. >> I want to do like Paul did and pour myself out today, God, and be empty. So use me all of you, none of me for your glory in Jesus name. Amen. If you're excited about the word of God, come on, give him a praise.

You can take your seats. God plus I tried to wear that jacket but it was too hot. It was like >> I had it and I was like you know what? Um I want to wear it cuz once the weather change I ain't going to be able to wear it and I thought I could wear it but I got overheated.

So God plus hey the oldest temptation on the mankind is to try to add something to God. We're what we're discussing here is not a question of love. I actually believe you love God. I do believe that. I believe that. I believe you desire a life with him.

I believe that. Um so it's not me questioning your love, but however, I am questioning our loyalty. You can love somebody and still cheat on them. >> You know, the Bible says that he's coming back for a church without spot and without wrinkle. And per my spiritual observations, I've discerned that the Capitol C church is is spotty and wrinkly right now.

That the bride is not prepared for the groom. That if in fact he came back right now, I'm not sure >> if everybody sitting here >> will be caught up to meet him in the air. I'm not sure if with the churches across this beautiful country, America, >> I'm afraid that some of these churches will still be packed. >> It was Jesus who said in John 4, I didn't say this. >> He says that the father is seeking. >> How can Just explain this to me.

How can the sovereign one who sees everything and knows everything have to search for anything? >> What this implies, Melanie, is that worshippers aren't easily found? >> He says, "Those that worship me must worship me in spirit and in >> truth." What would happen if he came back right now mid song?

Send your spirit, please. and he was in the middle of it. And I was like, "Wait, what happened?" My heart is burdened with this because I don't believe we're ready. And I don't believe we're ready because I believe we are distracted. >> And the Lord told me to send a warning to his church, that we have been unfaithful.

We are claiming our allegiance to him and >> idols. him plus our wants. Let's start here. Point number one, write this down. God plus nothing equals God. >> In the beginning, God, Elohim, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, he existed alone. This is what I got to tell you about your God.

He existed in a pre-existing eternity before he decided to create anything. >> Creation and time was his invention. >> This is why he stands outside of time. Good news for you, Abraham. God is not bound by time. So if he give you a word, he's not looking at the clock. >> You old Sarah, but he not. >> He's current.

A man, I I can't get ahead of myself. I got so much. I'm so full. I could go in like 10 different directions right now. I ain't lying. >> He's alpha and he is omega. >> He stands outside of time. He has created everything. The Bible says by him all things were made.

And so everything that you see, ladies and gentlemen, was created by him. Here we go. Let's go deeper. Everything that you can't see was Now, I know we're in a dispensation. We are in a time where we don't like to talk about angology or demonology. We like to just talk about flesh. >> I know we're in a time where we don't like to talk about celestial beings.

We think that they're just mystical. But >> eternity is more real than what you currently see with your eyes. And God, your God, your king, the true God, >> created everything, >> including angels. >> They were created for him, by him, for his pleasure. >> There are three archangels that the Bible mentioned by name.

One of them, his name is Michael. He's the angel of war. When Michael show up, it's about to go >> down. You don't want to play with Michael. He is ride or die. He is no limit angelic soldier. You don't want to play with Michael. Gabriel was the messaging angel is a messaging angel.

Man, the Bible talks about how he would come and bring a word. He brought a word to Daniel. He brought a word to Mary, Elizabeth, Zachariah, Joseph. Gabriel show up and he told Zachchariah, he said, "Yo," and Zachariah was like, "Yo, how can this be that my wife will bear a towel at her old age?"

And I like I like Gabriel clapback. He said, "Come on, >> I stand in the presence of God. He said, "Do you know who you talking to?" >> I like said, "I ain't come in my own authority." >> YOU A WHOLE PRIEST in here doing priestly duties. >> AND THE PERSON YOU PRESENTING ALL THIS INCENSE TO, >> what you can't see, I came from. >> BUT BECAUSE YOU DON'T BELIEVE, I'MMA MUTE YOU.

And I'm going to mute YOU OUT OF MERCY CUZ I DON'T WANT YOU TO TALK YOUR WAY OUT OF THE BLESSINGS GOD'S TRYING TO TALK you into. Okay. Okay. And so the Bible talks about Michael Gabriel. I feel better without a jacket. And it talks about this guy by the name of Lucifer.

NOW IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU UNDERSTAND Lucifer was not a punk. He was very powerful. And you got to know this about demons. And some of y'all be talking junk. I wish a devil would. Hold on now. We at city track. We had some people who joining over there.

They partnering with the church and I'm so amazing. I went in there and I got this habit I do when I walk in the room. I just say, "Holy Ghost." And everybody gets scared. And this one woman literally shook almost to the ground. Poor old lady. She was like, "Oh my god."

And we talking about I wish the devil would. If the devil showed up, some of y'all in church today because the devil showed up. You stood in the mirror like an idiot in 1998 and said Candyman too many times. Your ghetto cousin was like, "Say it." And Candyman showed up.

Lucifer biblically was in charge. Do white people, y'all ever heard of Candy Man? That just a black thing. You heard of that? All right. That was a big thing in the hood. Candy man was a real Making sure. All right. I be having to check. All right. Lucifer, according to the Bible, was in charge of collecting the worship and presenting it to God.

And one day he gets this dumb idea that the worship of God can be shared. And so he tries to take some glory for himself. >> And the Bible says he was so persuasive that a third of the angels fell with him. >> Ezekiel said he fell like lightning.

The Bible talks about how beautiful he was. all of this beauty and jewels and everything and in a moment he became nasty and cast down AND GOD PROVED TO ALL OF CREATION ON THAT day that he has no rivals. Here's a question I want you to ponder as we go deeper over the next several weeks because we're going somewhere.

I'm telling you right now, your flesh ain't going to like where we going. >> That's your warning. That's the only warning I'm going to give you. >> My flesh didn't like it. The Lord literally showed me this series in a dream and I woke up. This is a true story.

And I said, "For real, God?" He said, "Yeah, write it down. This is where we going. This is where I'm taking you." I said, "They not going to like that, God." He said, "They won't reject you. They'll reject me." >> So, I just want you to know, I'm just saying what he said. >> That's another song we released.

Here's a question. If God would not share heaven with Lucifer, what makes you think he's willing to share your heart with an idol? >> And let's go deeper with this angel thing. The Bible does not say that angels don't have free will. Some people think that. Some people say God created man so that people have a choice.

The Bible does not say that angels don't have free will. I think they actually have a choice. But I just think they smart. Cuz if you see a third fall down, twothirds is like, I'm good. But this throne ROOM THAT THE BIBLE TALKS about in Ezekiel and in Isaiah and in Revelation and over and over throughout scripture, every time it talks ABOUT IT, IT PORTRAYS THIS IMAGE of constant worship, WHICH MAKES ME ASK QUESTIONS.

GOD, WHY IS THERE CONTINUAL worship in heaven? >> I believe there's continual worship specifically in the throne room because his presence demands it. Holy is the only response. >> Bended knee is the only posture. THIS IS WHY WHEN HE DECIDED to descend on Mount Si in this chapter we just read.

The Bible SAYS THE PEOPLE OF GOD TREMBLE. When I read that, I started thinking about when we go over to Africa and sometimes they'll take us on a safari and they tell us they tell us, "Amen, the lion ain't nothing to play with." And they said, "Yo, the lion's roar is as powerful as its strength." and said, "When the lion roars, the animals are paralyzed."

And I thought, "If a lion can paralyze animals, imagine what the lion of the tribe of Judah presence demands." The Bible says the people didn't choose his mere presence descending caused them to tremble. But I like the Bible. It didn't just say that they tremble. It said the mountain tremble.

Because even creation understands when he show up, the creator is here. and they start trembling. Let me tell you something about the presence of God. This is why there's constant throne. This is why there's constant worship in the throne room because he's so powerful. It removes the option.

This is why the Bible says when he does crack the sky that every knee will bow. I like this word every KNEE BECAUSE IT MEANS NOT JUST the knee of the bloodbought believers, the knee of the atheists, the knee of the Buddhists, the knee of the non-believers, THE KNEE OF EVERYBODY.

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO YOU ARE. IF YOU LIKE HIM OR NOT, WHEN HE SHOWS UP, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BOW. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CONFESS, "YEP, you are Lord." Because his presence demands it. Why does his presence demand it? Because when HE SHOWS UP, FLESH HAS TO MOVE out the way.

AND WHEN FLESH MOVES OUT THE WAY, SOMETHING has to respond. Ladies and gentlemen, THIS IS WHY YOUR flesh >> has had the ability to control you >> because he ain't there. And America, here we go. >> Had fallen in love >> with a Sunday God. >> Don't you feel powerful when you come to church?

Just feel like you can run through a wall. Feel like I just I can do anything. >> Yes, Lord. >> That's just a Sunday God. >> God said, I don't just want to be your Sunday God. I want to be your Wednesday God. >> Ah, I want to be the God that has such a place in your heart >> that temptation already know what time it is. >> See, that's where we're headed.

That's where we're headed. That's where we're headed. But in order for that to be true, some things have to be dethroned. He said, "No other gods can be around me." >> There's two major difference between our worship and the worship of angels. It's just a foundation this week.

One of those differences is the wor the angels worship because they see glory. It demands it. We worship because we've experienced mercy. >> Another reason the angels worship because they're covered by glory. We worship because we're covered by blood. And this is good news, ladies and gentlemen. We have a song that the angels can't sing.

We've been washed in the blood of the lamb. The cross was for us, not for angels. They didn't need it. They were already with them. But oh man, can you imagine this though? Angels, angelic beings having to stand there and watch their king be crucified. Now for you that's not a big deal cuz you think about Cupid and Valentine, but I already told you angels don't rock like that.

As a matter of fact, whenever an angel showed up in the Bible, the first thing they said was, "Fear not." >> Cuz them muds is not small and cuddly and cute. >> They big. Bible says Jesus while he's been arrested he says he says man y'all don't even know like you wouldn't do this unless I allowed you to. >> He said I have the ability to call 12 legions of angels. >> Guys, that is equivalent to 60 to 70,000 angels that would have showed up and wiped everything out.

But the fact of the matter is he didn't even need that many of them because the Bible says in 2 Kings chapter 19 that one angel showed up and wiped out an army. You ready for this? Of 185,000. >> You didn't hear what I just said. Let me say it to this side.

Y'all looking at me like that's a small number. I said one angel SHOWED UP AND WIPED out 185,000. That's how powerful these beings are, ladies and gentlemen. And God said, "I don't just have one. I could have called 60,000 of them. They would have showed up like that."

Imagine this army of angels watching their king of kings, the one WHO CREATED THEM. IF ONE IS THAT POWERFUL, IMAGINE HOW powerful the king is. And they're WATCHING THEIR KING BE CRUCIFIED BY DUST CREATURES. JUST FOR YOUR IMAGINATION, IMAGINE you allowing a stranger to come in your house >> and beat you up in front of your kids >> and you tell your kids, "Don't do nothing.

Just watch it." >> That's nothing compared to the angels watching their king be whipped, >> humiliated, >> hair torn from him, SPATTER BORN, CROWNS OF THORNS, 39 lashes, nails in his hands and in his feet. And he said, "Stand back. Don't do nothing." And they're thinking, "What is man that you are MINDFUL OF THEM?

LOOK HOW POWERFUL WE ARE. LOOK HOW MIGHTY WE ARE. LOOK HOW GLORIOUS WE ARE. AND YOU'RE DOING ALL OF THAT FOR DUST CREATURES." GOD SAID, "YEAH, BECAUSE I WANT TO LET HELL KNOW I don't need glorious to worship me." He said, "I GET WORSHIP OUT OF EARTHN VESSELS.

I GET WORSHIP OUT OF FLAWED HUMANS. I GET WORSHIP OUT OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T CHOOSE ME." GOD. AND THIS IS THE WAR THAT YOU'RE UNDER. IT IS A WAR OF WORSHIP. >> YOU ARE HATED BY THE DEVIL >> BECAUSE YOU are loved >> by God. >> Not only is the devil punished, but the Bible SAYS JESUS MADE A spectacle of him and he's wondering, "How did I get cast out for being imperfect?

And yet you are willing to die for imperfect. >> My god, >> your very existence, your very survival is confusing to the devil. >> And so he is doing everything that he can to distract you >> and for you to add anything >> to God. But God plus nothing equals God.

He's sufficient. He needs nothing. He wants for nothing. And God can give himself anything he wants except your worship. >> It's the only thing. That's why it's a war of worship. It's the only thing that God can't give himself. He created you, my God, >> to give him what he can't give himself. >> Worship is not a song.

Worship is surrender. The first time the word worship is mentioned in the Bible is in Genesis 22. There was no keyboard. There was no drums. There was no microphone. There was no musical selection. It's mentioned because God tells Abraham, "Sacrifice your only son whom you love." It's the first time love and worship is mentioned in the Bible.

The law first mentions. You want to pay attention when something shows up for the first time and God is trying to show us that love requires worship and worship requires love. They're in the same chapter together. But worship is surrender. Abraham didn't have a tambourine. He didn't have a piano.

But what he had was surrender. It is obedience to God. This is why Paul says, "Present your body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is a reasonable act of worship, service." It is something that you can give to God. So it's more than just your song.

And the devil knows this. And so whenever you don't make a conscious decision to give God your devotion, your undivided attention and affection, the enemy receives it by default. Every no to God is a yes to the devil. >> And so, how does he get this worship from you?

He knows that you're too churchy to ever go to a satanic temple. You wouldn't go there and bow before a shrine. So, he has to operate in deception. So, he clothed idolatry in culture. I got so much to say in this series. >> Please come back. >> That's just an appetizer today.

He makes it culturally acceptable and normal. So before YOU KNOW IT, YOU ARE PERSUADED. >> Here's here's what you're persuaded about. You're persuaded that God doesn't care. Oh, >> it's not an argument. >> If God's against it, you're persuaded that he don't care. >> That he don't care about babies. >> I'm I'mma slow walk this the whole series.

Please come back next week. I'm not going to give you too much today because your flesh ain't going to be able to take it. Culture persuades us that God is indifferent. When the Bible is very CLEAR THAT HE IS HOLY, PLEASE say this with me. God cares. >> God cares. >> See, when you're saved, there's always an initial pause in the presence of idols.

You like, I don't know. >> But when you ignore what you sense, your spiritual sensitivity begins to decrease and your tolerance increases. >> And next thing you know, you normalize something that God hates. Y'all remember during Let's do a commercial break real quick because maybe I'M TOO HEAVY.

Y'ALL REMEMBER DURING CO? Anybody remember CO? Don't it feel like CO was last year? That was six years ago. And how quick the world shifted and everything moved to streaming. There were so many businesses that went out. Businesses that we loved. Red Box. Y'all forgot about Red Box.

Y'all did Red Box wrong. One weekend y'all just like I ain't got to go no more. Blockbuster. Y'all there. Blockbuster. Video warehouse. Here's another one. This going to be so ancient. If you got a child in here, they never even heard this word before. They about to be so confused.

Y'all remember this one? Cable. Y'all going to be like, "What is cable?" But then during co movies and television shows, everything became one click away >> and companies that made millions, billions off of their partnerships with cable had to pivot immediately. And so one guy had a witty idea.

He was in a meeting one day and he said, "You know what? We're going to have to do something to survive. Let's start offering additional features for an additional fee. And we'll call it ESPN Plus. And we'll call it Disney Plus. And we'll call it BET. Ain't none of y'all bought that.

Plus the idea, the idea here, watch this, is that one source is not enough. >> And ain't it funny >> after 50 years of being satisfied, we were content. We didn't know no better >> with a certain station playing a certain show at a certain time. >> Here's another word your child ain't going to know.

TV guy. Y'all don't know nothing about that, y'all. If you grew up in the '9s, Saturday mornings, it was a race to get to the remote control cuz if whoever had a remote, you own the day. Y'all remember your grandma used to have it printed out, you used to highlight what you wanted to watch.

Ooh, at 5, I'mma watch 227. Man, today about to be bomb. 106 IN PARK. BOY, WE ABOUT TO HAVE A GOOD TIME TODAY. >> TGIF. And that used to be okay until we no longer needed it >> because now we can get anything at any time >> with plus.

And the problem is this overstimulated, never satisfied appetite has found its way into the church. >> And now God's presence alone isn't enough. >> We need God plus success. >> We need God plus blessings. We need God plus platform. We need God plus a boo. We need ah I already lost you.

WE NEED GOD plus lust. We need God plus greed. I'M COMING TO CHURCH NOT FOR HIM BUT FOR THE ADD-ONS. AH. Oh man. Ah man. I'm here expecting something from his hands. His face isn't ENOUGH FOR ME. IT'S GOD PLUS FOR ME. AND IF GOD DON'T DO WHAT I want him to do because I imagine him to be Santa.

AND IF GOD DON'T PERFORM FOR ME THE PLUSES, then he alone is not enough. How do you know that Travis? Because the moment you the moment you are dissatisfied with something or discouraged or disappointed in SOMETHING THAT GOD DO, YOU GO ABSENT. BECAUSE YOU DON'T SERVE him for who he is, you serve him for what he can do for you. >> God plus nothing is God.

Here we go. God plus anything is adultery. >> And God sent me as a messenger to tell you that his tolerance for shared space is running out. Jesus was asked by these philosophers, by these Pharisees. They asked him, they said, "Hey, man, what say ye? What is the greatest commandment?"

They were trying to trap him. Said, "What's what's the greatest commandment?" He was teaching in the synagogue. He said, "That's easy." He replied in Matthew 22:37, "Love the Lord your God." Watch this. With all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind. He said, "This is the first and the greatest commandment above all else."

He says, "All." I like this idea of all. That means you can attempt to love him with half. >> Not a question of love. It's a question of loyalty. >> So God says, "I want exclusive rights." >> Ladies and gentlemen, this is the warfare. The enemy wants to share your heart. >> He wants to share your soul.

Your soul is your your your thoughts. It is your will. It is your emotions, right? It's your patterns. He wants to share that space. He wants to share your mind. >> And so God says the only way that the enemy can show up and share that space is that you have to grant him access. >> You have to permit idols to be around.

And God says his patience for this is running out. He says clearly in Exodus what his expectation is. He says, "Do away with idols. Do away with false gods. Do away with other gods." And this is powerful. I had this thought. If God here is addressing other gods, that means other gods exist. >> My son came to me the other day.

Uh he was working on a project from school and they're going through Greek mythology and he was like, I got to do this whole thing on Zeus. And immediately my religiousness rose up. I started to tell them what they told me in the church I grew up and we don't believe in that stuff.

I like why they teaching y'all that anyway. And now I feel like the Lord corrected me and HE SAYS TRAVIS, THAT'S PART OF THE PROBLEM. MY people don't believe in that stuff. >> We actually think that the devil is fictional. >> You don't know how many people I've spoken to.

You uh I'mma save that. There are theologies built on the premise of hell not existing. >> And this is the problem with us that we don't know that there's A REAL DEVIL. >> NOW, I'M NOT SAYING this to doom and gloom you, but you got to understand that the demons that we're are up against, they are ancient.

They've been around for a long time. >> Later in the series, I'm going to talk about this one thing that happens in the book of Daniel. The Bible says Daniel prays. And when he prays, the Bible says Gabriel, the messenger angel, remember we talked about him. The Bible says he was trying to come.

And for 21 days, he couldn't get to Daniel. So Daniel fasted. And I believe as he was fasting, God saw that he was serious. 21 first day, God sent help. Gabriel finally gets to him. He says, "Bro, from the first day you prayed, God responded with an answer."

He said, "I brought the answer to you, BUT I WAS STUCK UP there fighting against the prince of Persia." >> He says, "I BROUGHT A WORD, BUT I WAS STUCK FIGHTING until Michael came and had to take CARE OF THE BATTLE SO I CAN GET TO YOU." This sounds so foreign because we're so in love with what we see >> that YOU DON'T KNOW THAT RIGHT ABOVE YOU, RIGHT ABOVE YOUR HOUSE, RIGHT ABOVE YOUR MARRIAGE, RIGHT ABOVE YOUR FUTURE, RIGHT ABOVE YOUR CALLING, THERE IS A REAL WAR, there is a real devil that is trying TO STOP GOD'S WORD FROM GETTING TO YOU.

THAT'S TRYING TO STOP HIS PROMISES from being MANIFESTED IN YOUR LIFE. BUT THE DEVIL is a liar. And this is why we have to disr idols. This is how why we have TO GET BACK TO A POSTURE OF FASTING AND PRAYING SO we can win the war of worship. >> Man, >> God says, Travis, teach my people, teach the church what they're dealing with.

Hosea 4 said this. It's very powerful. He says, "My people are destroyed. My people perish for a lack of knowledge. They rejected knowledge." He said, "They rejected knowledge." And this is what I believe. I believe one of our biggest battles is not just rebellion. I've been doing a lot of praying, y'all.

A whole lot of praying. fasting. I mean, I've been seeking and the Lord's been giving me clarity and he told me when I said the Lord told me something, I'm not just like gassing you. Like really, the Lord spoke to me. He said, Travis, the what we're up against is not just a rebellious people. >> So, if you talk to them even in a way of telling them that they're like living against me and they wrong, they're not going to hear it because they actually think they're right. >> Because the guys that they've embraced, they love because they're a part of culture.

So he said what we're up against is not rebellion. I want you to hear this in the gentlest way. This is what he told me. He says we're not up against rebellion. We're up against ignorance. >> And I don't mean it in a derogatory sense. I know you don't like for nobody call you ignorant. >> But what I'm saying is we just don't have knowledge. >> We don't know that the things we love, he hates.

We don't know, man. >> We don't know that the things that were handed down >> for my greatgrandparents >> were satanic. >> You just don't know. >> You don't know. >> You're like, "This always been a part of my family." >> You know something? We got to stop saying that this runs through my bloodline. >> We're in agreement with curses, ladies and gentlemen. >> And I want you to hear me because we don't know this that curses have to have permission. >> Wow. >> There's somebody in your family that came in agreement. >> I know you don't like to hear this cuz you think But >> someone SOMEBODY DID IT. >> SOMEBODY CAME IN agreement >> with the evil wicked spirit that gave access >> to that disease. >> We don't like to hear this.

It gave access to that addiction. >> You think it's coincidence that everybody in your family is alcoholic? Ladies and gentlemen, THIS IS SPIRITUAL WARFARE. BUT JUST BECAUSE SOMEBODY AGREED WITH IT DON'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO. You are THE CURSE BREAKER. GOD IS RAISING YOU UP AS AN ARMY AND HE'S GOING TO EQUIP YOU WITH WISDOM AND SPIRITUAL LANGUAGE TO BEGIN TO REBUKE IDOLS.

I need YOU TO TAKE 20 seconds and go INTO INTERCESSION FOR YOUR WE COMING OUT OF THIS. We It ran through my blood until it ran into me. UNTIL IT RAN INTO HIS BLOOD. WE COMING OUT of this. It's a lack of knowledge. I'm almost done. CAN I HAVE A FEW MORE MINUTES?

I'm almost done. IT'S A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. WE ARE UNAWARE THAT THE THINGS THAT WE DON'T CONSIDER A BIG DEAL ARE ACTUALLY PLACED BY THE ENEMY IN OPPOSITION to God. >> They're evil spirits. They're evil spirits. The Lord told me to tell you this. You need to write this down.

You need to write this down. Write this phrase down and put quotes around it. It's not that deep. I want you to put quotes around it. Now, I want you to put a desk and put written by Satan. >> That very phrase, ladies and gentlemen, >> is de Have you ever tried to tell somebody about something spiritual?

And they said, "Ah, it ain't that deep." True story. I was in a barberh shop and I'm sitting there. I looked in the mirror. This just happened. I looked in the mirror and was something satanic on TV. I thought the TV, you know, sometimes TV just go to a channel or something.

I didn't know somebody put on there. I wasn't even trying to be like, you know, they all call me, you know, pastor in there, but I just I'm one of the homies, you know, we talk about the Lakers, Cowboys. Well, let me saw this demonic thing. I WAS LIKE, WHOA.

I SAID, "YO, WE GOT TO CHANGE THAT." >> I said, "We got to change that because spirits travel >> through portals." >> It's through your eye gates. IT'S THROUGH YOUR EAR GATES. And it's through your confession. And so that MIGHT BE CASUAL TO OTHER PEOPLE AND IN CASUAL TO ME.

I GOT TO PRESENT SOMETHING holy to them. I said, "I'm sorry. I know y'all might think I'm a HOLY ROLLER, BUT IT IS THAT DEEP." MY BARBER SAID, "I DON'T WANT NO SPIRITS in here." HE SAID, "Y'ALL NEED TO TURN THAT. I DON'T WANT NO SPIRITS IN HERE.

I SAID YOU GOING TO FIND YOURSELF WRESTLING WITH STUFF AT NIGHT THAT YOU INVITED INTO YOUR IT IS THAT DEEP. All right, let's shift. God cares about what's around him. I'm almost done. I promise. God cares about what's around him. Listen, he cares about what's around him because he has to. >> His mere presence demands a standard.

So he don't have to enforce holiness. His presence does it. Man, he's too holy for anything unholy to remain. >> And so the reason why I believe the heart of God, I really believe, ladies and gentlemen, that what I am preaching and what we are in and under is really the heartbeat of God in this season.

And here's why I believe this. Because the exposure of idols, God is coming after. Because he's saying there's areas in your life. >> Watch this. This is prophetic. Watch this. As we keep going down this road, sick people are going to start getting healed left and right. >> As we keep going down this road, poverty is going to be broken left and right.

As we keep going down this road, addiction is going to be broken left and right. Hear me. Hear me. Hear me. And we're not going to have TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME SPEAKING to it. >> We so churchy that we unbiblical. >> SATAN, I CAST YOU OUT.

I CAST YOU OUT. I CAST YOU OUT. COME OUT. COME OUT. COME OUT. THEY DIDN'T do that. >> PAUL WAS CASUALLY WALKING. HE SAID, "DEMON, come out of her." Jesus said, "Speak to this mountain." >> What is that, ladies and gentlemen? That's power. What is that? That's glory.

What is that? That's him being there. And the reason we're not OPERATING IN THE POWER AND THE AUTHORITY we read about is because there are areas in our life THAT WE WANT GOD TO SHARE. >> IDOLS. I got to wrap up. Idols. Idols. Idols is anything that God requires, but we're unwilling or unable to release.

And the reason you can't release it, this is practical, but I need you to understand this for where we're going. The reason you can't release it is because it's been normalized. And the reason it's been normalized is because the enemy wants your worship. He wants your devotion. And you can't release it because it's you're actually not the one in control. >> An idol always appears cute, but it's stronger than what you know.

And so once it gets a grip on you, you need a force that is stronger than it to bring freedom to you. Idols aren't new. It's the same devil, but it's just a new era. And here in this scripture, we're reading about the Israelites who come out of Egypt after 430 years of slavery.

And God frees them. Watch this. God tells Moses, this is very important. He says, "Go and tell Pharaoh, let my people go so they may worship me in the wilderness." I had this thought. I said, "Oh, God, why did you have to free them in order to get their worship?"

And God spoke to me. I never heard this in my life. I literally just prayed this recently. I said, "Why? Why was freedom connected to their worship?" He said, "Because I could not rest in Egypt. There were too many idols." And even after 10 plagues of proving to Pharaoh >> that the guys they were serving weren't powerful, he still wouldn't turn his heart in repentance. >> So God said, "In order for me to establish a sanctuary, a dwelling place, >> in order for me to sit comfortably in your midst, >> I'm going to have to bring you out >> into a place.

Bring you out. Bring you out. bring you out. Bring you out. Ladies and gentlemen, this is salvation. Notice, I love what he says in the verse. He says, he says in verse two, he says this. He says, "I am the LORD YOUR GOD THAT freed you from slavery."

He said, "I brought you out of Egypt and I brought you out of slavery." This is so powerful to me. And I was wondering, I said, "Well, GOD, WHY IS WHY IS IT IN this verse that you chose to talk about slavery?" He says, "I'm talking about slavery in the same context that I'm talking about idolatry because the people don't understand that idol worship is another form of slavery."

He says, "Why would you allow me to deliver you from slavery only for you to be trapped by slavery again?" But I love this. He says, "I'm the one who brought you out. I'm the one who brought you out. I'm the one who brought you out." Notice, there was no law.

There was no uh ten commandments. There was there was no worship that even went up when they got brought out. They were brought out not by even something that they caused because salvation is not based off of works. Salvation is a decision that God made for you. Read your Bible.

And so say I brought you out without your effort. Salvation is free. But the reason they were brought out but couldn't go in is because sanctification is not free. Sanctification cost. >> And idols exist wherever we forget he's enough. So the enemy wants to convince us that we need God plus other things.

And God SAYS, "NOT ONLY DO I WANT TO FREE YOU FROM SOMETHING, but I want to sanctify you. Uh sanctify, sanctify, prepare you for where I'm taking you." Why? BECAUSE THE AH BECAUSE THE BENEFIT, the the beauty, the the the goal OF THE PROMISED LAND WAS NOT just possession.

It wasn't just milk and honey. That's what the people got excited about. God wasn't excited about milk and honey. >> The goal of the PROMISED LAND, THE PRIZE OF THE PROMISED LAND, LADIES and gentlemen, is not stuff. It's presents. >> So, I'm bringing you into a land. I need you to hear this and I'm going to wrap up.

I'm bringing you into a place. This is why God has been tugging you. I'm bringing YOU TO A PLACE WHERE I CAN HAVE EXCLUSIVE rights to you and I can receive your pure worship. But we have to expose and dethrone idols. >> And God says, "I'm going to sanctify you."

I want to read over you 1 Thessalonians. It's so powerful. He told me to read this today. First Thessalonians 4. This is Paul talking. It's so powerful. He said, "It is God's will." Please hear this. It is God's will. This ain't Travis will. It's God's will that you should be sanctified.

You would avoid sexual immorality. That each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not impassionate lust like the pagans. Those are people who don't know God. He said, "And that in this matter, no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister.

The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins." As we told you and warned you before, FOR GOD DID NOT CALL US TO BE IMPURE, BUT TO LIVE, watch this, a holy life. This is the call, guys. Listen, this is the invitation. He said, "Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being, but God, the very God who gives you his holy spirit."

Please, please allow this verse to be written on your heart that it is God's will >> that we are sanctified. >> Hear me. Not just saved. >> If the goal was to get you in heaven, I want you to just think about this logically. If the ultimate goal was just to get you to heaven, the moment you receive salvation, you would die.

So why did you keep breathing after baptism? >> Because the goal is not to get earth to heaven. >> Jesus shared the goal in his prayer. >> Thy kingdom come. >> Is this too much? >> Thy will be done >> on earth as it is in heaven. The goal is not to get you TO HEAVEN.

THE GOAL IS GET HEAVEN HERE THROUGH YOU. BUT THE ONLY WAY THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS IF YOU ARE SANCTIFIED. THE ONLY WAY THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IS IF THRONES OF IDOLS ARE DEMOLISHED. GOD SAYS, "I NEED YOU TO be sanctified." What does this mean, Travis? It means to be transformed.

We're done. It means to be Christlike. >> Last point, you can only be Christlike when you know what Christ likes. Man. So the question is, hear me. The question is, what are you into God? >> The question is, what makes you comfortable? >> The question is, what do you love?

Here we go. And what do you hate? Not what's okay with culture. What What do you want? John 17:17 Jesus is praying for his disciples after the last supper and they walk into the Mount of Olives and he turns and he starts praying for them. Here's one of the prayers.

He said, "Father, sanctify them." Woo! By your truth. Sanctify. Set them apart by your truth. Make them unique and holy, uncommon by your truth. Watch this. Your word is truth. Not Tik Tok, not CNN plus, >> not Fox Plus. >> His word is truth. Here we go. It's not about your preference.

This is a hurdle we're going to get over together. You going to be free. I'm telling you, you're going to be free in Jesus name. It's not about your desires. It's not about your truth. Another satanic phrase, I'm just living my truth. >> Sanctify them by your truth.

Your word >> is truth. Why would I live by my truth? >> When I can follow the truth? >> Here's a question. Here's a question. How has your truth worked out for you so far? >> Christian walk is not about adding Jesus to everything, ladies and gentlemen. It's about removing everything that competes with him.

God plus nothing equals God. God plus anything is idolatry. I want you to wrestle with this question this week. Is Jesus enough? We sing these songs and I love them. I don't want anyone else. I don't need anything else. Is Jesus enough. And what have you placed around him?

Thou shalt have no other gods around me. Next week, we're going deeper. We're going to expose some of the thrones that we've allowed in God's presence. And every week, we're going deeper and deeper and deep. Here's what I promise. If you keep coming, if you keep an open heart, every week I believe another chain is going to fall off. >> Not just you, but even your family.

This is the will of God that we are all sanctified, that we become Christlike by learning what Christ likes. Would you stand with me for a moment? Open the eyes of my heart, Lord. Open the eyes of my heart, cuz I want to see you. I want to see you.

Open the eyes, my heart, Lord. Open the eyes. >> I want to see. I want to see you to see you highly >> the real God >> the true God pour out >> as we sing >> one more time to see you Shine, >> Lord, pour out. >> And perhaps you're in this room or you're watching around the world and something in you is already starting to turn.

I want to give you an opportunity to receive him today as your Lord and your Savior. It's the best decision you'll ever make. And you can only decide because you've already decided. He's calling you. The only thing you can do is receive or reject the invitation of God to become the king of your life.

I'm a count of three. Your hands are going to go up all over this room and even online as a sign of saying, you know what? I want Jesus. I'm done hiding. I'm done running. And I'm done of trying to do it my way. I don't want to live by my truth.

I want to live by his. I'm going count to three. And if that's you, you want a brand new start with God. Brand new birthday. You want to be ready when he comes. Listen. Listen. This is not a call just out of fear. Fear can't hold you. It'll convict you, but love will keep you.

I want you to understand how valuable you are to God that he would die for you. This is love. This is grace. And I want you to receive it today. If that's you, I'm going to count to three. Hands are going to go up. Make sure you're one of them.

I want to be right with God. I want to give him my heart for the first time and the first time in a long time. You ready? One, two, three. Lift that hand high. Lift it high. Lift it high. Lift it high. I see you. Come on. I see you in the back.

A whole row. Come on. Lift it high. This is your day. Come on. This is your day. I'm so proud of you, man. Come on. Lift it high. This is your day. I see you in the back. I'm so proud of you. This is your day. He loves you so much.

He loves you so much. And do me a big favor. Would you keep that hand up until someone gets to you and place something in your hand? It's so important. We need to give you this because it would explain to you the decision that was made. We got a whole row all the way up top.

Somebody get your cardio in and go to them. What a mighty God. Beautiful God. And I'm going to pray with you if that was you and you lifted your hand. Thank you, Jesus. Hey, let's do something real quick. Let's celebrate what God has done, man. We don't take this for granted.

It's a big deal. It's a big deal. It never gets old. Heaven turns up every time it happens. I'm going pray with you very quickly right where you are. If someone lifted a hand, you know what we do for a city? put a hand on her shoulder and stretch your hand towards him.

Thank you, Lord. Hey, and in this moment, just for a moment, I just feel like the Lord telling me not to rush this moment. If that's you and you made the decision, it's a big deal. Receive his love. Even now, you'll start feeling something happening internally. That is the love of God.

You're going to start feeling anxiety lift off of you. It's the love of God. Some of you, he's breaking the chain of addiction even today. It's the love of God. He says, "With love and kindness have I drawn you." Song writer said, "When nothing else could help, love lifted me."

Thank you, Lord. We receive your power and your love. Beautiful God. I want you to repeat after me very loud. Say, "Lord Jesus, >> Lord Jesus, >> I believe >> you died on the cross >> for my sins. And I believe you got up so I don't have to stay down.

I receive you today as my Lord and my Savior because of you. I'm changed. I'm different. Thank you for dying on the cross. Change me from the inside out in Jesus name. Amen. Come on. Come on. Welcome. Welcome. Hey, listen. After praying that prayer, he said, "If you'll confess with your mouth and believe with your heart, you'll be saved."

Now the journey begins. And this journey is a journey of sanctification. It's where he'll continue to reveal to you, reveal to you how to be closer to him. And that's what this walk is all about. We're all on it together. So, welcome to the journey. Would y'all give God another praise?

Come on, Pastor Jamal. Man, oh man, what a move of God. I pray that something was said or done uh that really uh cause a transformation to begin in your life. Remember that God is not just after your salvation, but also your sanctification. And according to first Thessalonians, it is God's will that we are sanctified, set apart, transformed, being more like him.

But remember, in order to be Christlike, you got to know what Christ likes. All right, I love you. Uh do me a favor. Um subscribe, like, share. Uh also, there are ways below to give, and to be connected to what God is doing here at For City Church.

We'll see you next week for another message here in our series, God Plus.