LET THE LIGHT IN | PASTOR JAMAL HEGWOOD | FORWARD CITY CHURCH

What's up, Forward City family? It is Pastor Jamal and I am so excited for you to hear this message from today. Listen, I am exhausted cuz we went for broke and I pray that the same glory that showed up in the room shows up at your home as well.

Today, I preached a message entitled Let the Light In where we talked about darkness and the remedy to it. And I think it's a worthy message with all that's going on in our world, but even all that may be going on personally. We have to know how to deal with darkness and this message is going to help you do just that.

Grab a notebook, grab a pen because notetakers are history makers. Sit down and I want you to get everything you can out of this message. Let's go ahead and jump in. This year we have deemed it the winds of revival. Has anybody been experiencing winds of revival this year?

Listen, we're about to say our declaration for this year. Before we do so, can you help me give it up for our pastors, Dr. Travis and Dr. Jackie Green, two of my favorite people on this side of heaven. I am grateful and honored that they are my pastors and you should be grateful and honored as well that they are yours. uh PT uh and a team was in Dominica.

It's an island. Um and they were doing a gospel fest last night. They are on their way back almost back here to the States. And tonight they'll be at Colonial Life Arena >> for Joyfest here in Columbia, South Carolina. So if you're free and would love to support them, you can go out to that.

But let's keep them in prayer as they've been in travel and around the world. Um, the beauty for me is I I take pride in that because God trusts our house enough to send us to the nations. And what's beautiful to me is that God can send a team and our church still show up. >> Um, and and that's a beautiful, beautiful testimony.

If you don't know me, my name is Jamal. I have the honor of serving as the campus pastor here at Forward City. And today, yeah, I love y'all. Today I'm excited because God is going to do something amazing in our home invasion series. But before we do that, let's do our declaration.

Remember, you cannot whisper or just say this declaration. You got to what? >> You got to shout it. All right. Repeat after me. This is my revival year. >> This is my revival year. >> Everything is about to shift. >> Everything is about to shift. >> I prophesy. >> I prophesy >> to the north. >> To the north, >> south, >> south, >> east, >> east, >> and west.

Fresh wind is blowing on every dead and dry place. >> Dead dreams live again. Dead gifts live again. Dead faith live again. 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 will not fight against the wind. Wherever it blows, I will go. Use me. Use me. Use me to do whatever, however, WHENEVER. 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. COME ON. I RECEIVE. I RECEIVE. I receive THE WINDS OF REVIVAL IN EVERY AREA OF MY LIFE in Jesus name.

Amen. Come on, LIFT UP A SHOUT OF PRAISE. Come on. If you receive the wind, I receive THE WIND IN MY FINANCES, IN MY RELATIONSHIPS, IN MY MIND. BLOW, WIND, BLOW. I receive THE WIND. I RECEIVE THE WIND. Wherever you lead, I'll go. WHATEVER YOU SAY, I'LL DO.

I receive. Hallelujah. While you're standing, Exodus 10. Exodus 10. That that declaration is dangerous. >> Cuz there's something about his wind. It brings an ease to things. >> Exodus. >> What was difficult last year will be easy this year because you're doing it with his win. There's there's something about his win.

All right. Exodus 10. Exodus 10. Exodus 10. Start at the 20th verse. We only got a couple verses to read. But the Lord, somebody say the Lord. >> The Lord >> hardened Pharaoh's heart, >> and he did not let the people of Israel go. Then the Lord said to Moses, "Stretch out your hands toward heaven that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness to be felt."

So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was pitch darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days. But all the people of Israel had light where they lived. Father, I pray that you preach this word better than I ever could in Jesus name.

Amen. You may take your seats. You may take your seats. You may take your seats. There's a beauty um to looking back at your life and remembering things from your childhood. Uh things you've forgotten, things you want to forget, things that shaped you, things that molded you. Um, I can't help but look back and be tickled by a reality that I think most of us in this room share.

I was just thinking through some different things. I had my family in town last week. You know, anytime you get around family, you just start to remember things and stories get told. And I was remembering some things. Um, and one thing that I remembered is that there is always a remedy for whatever life may bring.

That's just a reality. Especially if you're black. Now, a few of us in this room can remember off the top of our head some of these remedies. Uh, this is not spooky. This is not this not deep. Um, but we all know that if you feel something in your stomach, >> don't you call 911. >> Don't you go to urgent care. >> Don't you call that doctor.

The first step is go and get you a nice glass of ginger ale. Yeah. Mhm. Mhm. Mhm. Don't come to me talking about your stomach hurt and you ain't did that first. You do that first. That didn't work. The next level is crackers and lay down. See, y'all don't y'all see this new generation, they just do the ginger ale part.

They don't understand you got to crack us and you got to lay down preferably on the couch. It's different. You lay down on the couch that the healing power is there. >> And then we don't want to talk about the the levels of ginger. Not all ginger is made equally.

Listen, this is a real discussion in most househ. The the healing properties of the ginger ale is based on brand. But then my my grand y'all don't laugh at my grand. My grand has something for any external injuries. I I this is still weird to me to this day.

Um and I thought it was just her until 9:00 a.m. cuz everybody was like that's it. Uh because if you had a cut or a bruise or something was sore, everything could be healed with hydrogen peroxide. I I mean I ain't never stung so bad in my life.

You fell and scraped your knee. Go on in there, get you cotton swab with some hydrogen peroxide, dab it on there. Your elbow is sore, go in there, get you some hydrogen peroxide, roll. And and so there's remedies, but but I remember there's one remedy. Um there's one cure for anytime you weren't feeling the best emotionally, physically, or spiritually.

Maybe you're a little anxious, depressed, or maybe you you're feeling down. I I remember my like I said my mom was in town last week and we were just talking and I just remembering a lot of different things and and I remember being a teenager and for a span of time I was just feeling low.

I mean I I don't know what it was. It was probably girl troubles or friends acting different or you know tests in school and stuff and you know when you're a teenager the whole world is just falling apart like those just just devastating. And I remember I was just down.

The only thing I could muster up the strength and energy to do is go to my room, crawl under my bed and just lay in the dark. And I remember it looking quite like this. And I'm it's just dark and lonely and and just a friend. All I could do is just eat my chips in my bed and watch TV.

And I remember one day my mom, she walked in and she didn't say anything when she first walked in. She just walked to the curtain and she gave a remedy. That's actually the title of the sermon because she walked to the the curtain and she said, "You need to let the light in.

I need you real quick. Can you just Can you just turn to three people and say, "Let the light in. Let the light in. Let the light in. Let the light in. Let the light in. Let the light in. Let the light in." Here here's the reality. Y'all like that?

It's okay. Light doesn't We work very hard on that. Light doesn't just help you see. Acknowledge. Clap. Clap for that. Clap for that cuz we work very hard. Thank you, media team. Light doesn't just help you see, it helps regulate our bodies and our mood, right? Um, in fact, researchers show that light shapes our internal clock, which impacts our sleep and our mood.

That's why there's something called bright light therapy, which is a real treatment that doctors use for seasonal depression because exposure to light matters. And it's not only light. Research also shows that chaotic environments can raise stress and negative emotions. >> So if light can affect your body and mood and chaotic surroundings and environments can raise stress and negative emotions.

That means that your environment is not neutral. >> That means that your environment matters. >> Write this down. What you feel inside points to what you allow outside. >> Let me say that again. What you feel inside points to what you allow outside. And that brings us to our story today in Exodus 10.

Let's watch God do something in Exodus that looks physical, but it actually exposes something spiritual. Now, real quick, I need your permission to be a Bible nerd for just a little bit because Exodus is one of my favorite books. Is that okay? >> All right, buckle up. So, we find ourselves in Exodus 10 with Moses addressing Pharaoh now for the ninth time.

Now, any parents in the room? >> If I got to address something for the ninth, let me You're not making it to the ninth time. Are you still alive? That's my question. By the time we get to nine, the ninth time Moses has come to Pharaoh and he's addressing them and we read the text and it says that Pharaoh's heart is once again hardened.

God had been using Moses to repeatedly ask Pharaoh to let his people go and Pharaoh has repeatedly refused and as a result God began to show his power through multiple plagues that hit Egypt. And these plagues was crazy. These plagues included uh uh turning the Nile into blood, far frogs swarming the land, gnats swarming the land, flies swarming the land, cattle dying, boils breaking out all over people body, a downpour of hell, locust everywhere.

I mean, these plagues were serious. Let me tell you something. Nobody in this room could have handled them plagues. >> The way y'all act when it warm up and them bugs come out the second a fly came in. Uhuh. See, see, and this is what I'm talking about.

And now we're here where God is about to impose a plague of darkness on the land of Egypt. Up until now, Israel has been under Egypt's control and oppression for generations. They've been around and submerged into Egyptian culture. And God is in the middle of rescuing them from this oppression.

And he chooses darkness. He chooses darkness because before he brought them out publicly, he had to expose what's been ruling hearts privately. >> Think about it. God doesn't start with darkness. >> He builds to it. He hits their water, their land, their economy, their livestock, their health, their sky, THEIR FOOD SUPPLY.

PLAGUE AFTER PLAGUE, God is stripping Egypt of every false sense of control. Hold up a second. Let's substitute Egypt for me. >> Maybe you feel like every area in your life has been under attack. Lord, my money under attack. My house under attack. My relationship's under attack. I go to work and I'm irritated.

I come home and I'm irritated. Lord, it's just everything is just under attack. Maybe God is trying to address your false sense of control. And right when it's almost time to pull his people out, he doesn't choose a louder or more flashier plague. He actually chooses a heavier one. >> One that everyone could feel. >> And he's doing this because he isn't only judging Egypt, but God is also trying to teach Israel. >> He's showing them what oppression really does. >> He's showing them what idolatry really does.

He's showing them what darkness really does. when you allow it in a space for too long. The darkness was not random. It was strategic. >> And this darkness actually taught us some things that can help us on our walk with God today. The first thing that it taught us, write this down, is that darkness affects movement, not identity. >> See, see, we've been having the wrong conversation about darkness because we spend all our time trying to figure out who to blame for it. >> Why is this happening?

Who did this to me? What did I do wrong? And let me be honest, I can't give you the answers to those questions today. I'm smart, but not that smart. But here's something you can answer, though. How am I going to respond while I'm in it? >> Because the reality is darkness is real, >> but it's not the final word. >> And the goal ISN'T JUST TO IDENTIFY DARKNESS.

The goal is to decide what you're going to do next. Exodus shows us a kind of darkness that doesn't just affect what you see, but it actually affects how you move. Exodus 10:21. We're going to look at this again in the English Standard Version. It says, "Then the Lord said to Moses, stretch out your hand toward heaven that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness to be felt."

The New Living Translation, I love it. It says it this way. We're going to look at the New Living Translation. It says, "Then the Lord said to Moses, lift your hand toward heaven, and the land of Egypt will be covered with a darkness so thick you can feel it." >> The the these two translations of script of this one scripture reveals something very important to us.

The phrasing of this scripture ties a Hebrew verb meaning to touch or grope around. So the idea in Exodus 10:21 is that the darkness is so overwhelming, so palpable, so consuming that it causes the people in it to have to feel around in order to navigate it. >> Have you ever had to get up >> in the middle of the night, >> half sleep, >> and you got to go to the bathroom?

Here's the crazy part. You're in your room every day. >> You know what your room feels like. You know what your room looks like. You have a picture of the layout of your room in your head. But you can't see a thing. >> So what do you do?

You start filling around, moving, cautious, you crawling, whatever it takes. But but what if I told you that that's how you look >> in your relationship with God? >> When you are trying to navigate darkness on your own instead of just turning the light on. >> That's what we look like when we're surrounded by darkness. >> But but here's the other thing.

What would have taken me 10 seconds in the light >> is now taking me five minutes >> because I'm trying to feel my way around in the dark. >> So trying to navigate in darkness on your own is actually wasted time. >> But here's the beauty because turning the lights on actually give you your time back. >> What took years is now SPED UP BECAUSE I CAN ACTUALLY SEE.

So the scripture tells us that darkness can be so overwhelming that it can be felt. And some of us are in a season like this right now. And just be honest. Just be honest. Just look straight ahead. Don't just be honest. But but life has been so overwhelming.

If it's not one thing, it's another. I can't seem to get a good rhythm to anything. I fix this and then that started to break. I mean, this is just so stressful that I just want to lay in my bed and cry and binge watch Netflix or Doom Scroll until I fall asleep.

This is so frustrating that that I need a whole bottle of wine to help me go to sleep. Be honest, it's fine. This is so confusing and anxious that I need to roll one up and take the edge off just so I can get through my day. I'm so overwhelmed that the darkness has caused me to do things that I probably wouldn't do if I was in the light.

But the question isn't why is it dark. The question is what am I doing in the dark? >> See, see here's a here's an even better question to ponder. Where am I tolerating darkness? >> Darkness may show up uninvited, but that doesn't mean you should choose to live there. >> Which leads us to the second thing we learn about darkness from our story.

Second thing is this. Write this down. Sometimes darkness isn't your decision. >> Sometimes darkness isn't your decision. Many of us have lived through this. But I want to ask you something. Do you realize that you have been a victim of the reality of how darkness works? >> No, no, no.

I don't mean in your life. I mean right now. >> Have you noticed >> that as I've been talking Slowly the room >> has gotten darker >> and darker. >> Do you realize that not one of you in this room asked to be in the dark? >> Do you realize that you are not in the dark right now because of your rebellion? because you decided it. >> None of you desired to be left in the dark. >> Not one of you asked for me to leave you in the dark.

Watch this. Do you realize that you're in a place that you thought was safe and it's still >> me. Hear me. You being in darkness right now was not a result of your decision. It was a result of you being under my authority. >> So my question to you today is whose authority are you under? >> Because authority affects exposure. >> The entire EXODUS STORY IS GOD CONFRONTING Egyptian authority.

He's attacking their economy. He's attacking their power. He's even attacking their idolatrous gods. The children of Israel, just like you today, didn't ask to be enslaved. They didn't ask to be in bondage. They didn't ask for suffering. And maybe there are some places in your life where you're like, "I didn't ask for this.

I didn't ask to be struggling with this. I didn't ask to be feeling this way. I didn't ask for this." But the problem that we're facing today in the church is not just a whose authority are you under issue. The problem is we don't realize the authority that we have. >> It is a fact that you are in darkness right now >> because you're under my authority.

But it is also a fact that each and every one of you have a solution to the darkness in your pocket right now. >> You got the memo. You got the memo. You got the memo. You got the memo. You got the memo. You got the memo. You got the memo.

You got the memo. You got the memo. You got the memo. And what that tells ME IS THAT I don't have to TOLERATE DARKNESS SIMPLY BECAUSE I was ushered INTO ITS AUTHORITY. BUT I HAVE SOMETHING ON THE INSIDE THAT CAN RID DARKNESS. AND IF THERE'S DARKNESS ON MY JOB, LET ME LET ME TURN MY LIGHT ON.

THERE'S DARKNESS AT MY SCHOOL, LET ME TURN MY LIGHT ON. THERE'S DARKNESS IN MY FAMILY, LET ME TURN MY LIGHT ON. I NEED YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT DOESN'T STOP AT WHOSE AUTHORITY YOU'RE UNDER. BUT THERE'S AUTHORITY IN ME. CAN SOMEBODY SHOUT, "I'VE GOT AUTHORITY." YOU ARE SITTING HERE TOLERATING.

SOME OF YOU STILL ARE SITTING HERE TOLERATING THE DARK. YOU'RE TOLERATING THE DARK BECAUSE SOMEBODY ELSE'S LIGHT IS helping you. But what DOES IT LOOK LIKE FOR YOU YOURSELF TO SAY, "I WON'T TOLERATE DARKNESS. I'M NOT GOING TO LIVE OFF OF YOUR LIGHT, BUT I'VE GOT A LIGHT ON MY TOLERATING DARKNESS FOR FAR TOO LONG.

BUT I'VE COME TO TELL YOU THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO TOLERATE IT ANYMORE. GOD HAS COME TO SHOW YOU THAT YOU ARE A LIGHT. YOU ARE A LIGHT AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO SUCCUMB TO THE AUTHORITY OF THE DARKNESS OVER YOU. ALL YOU'VE GOT TO do is let your light shine.

You've been tolerating darkness for too long. There's a source inside of you cuz God is fighting for us. Pushing back up. Lighting up in the net. Big and we You you walking on that job staying quiet AND THERE'S DARKNESS ALL AROUND YOU. You're at that school staying TIMID AND THERE'S DARKNESS ALL AROUND YOU.

BUT GOD IS FIGHTING FOR US. PUSHING BACK THE DARKNESS, lighting up the kingom that cannot be shen in the name of Jesus. It don't be defeated. We will shout it out. Shout it out. Sit down. Sit down. Sit down. Sit out. sit down. Sit down. But when I was growing up in church, THEY SAID, "THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE, I'm going to let it shine.

I can't HIDE IT. I CAN'T CONTAIN IT. BUT THERE'S TOO MUCH DARKNESS AND I'VE GOT TO SHINE. GOD IS fighting >> the darkness up. Listen, let me I don't know why the Lord wants me to speak to this, but let me say something to the person who still has not turn their light on.

What it exposes is that you are okay. with benefiting off of someone else's light >> because I can see enough but I can't see for myself. >> Each each of these plays that we see in Exodus was a direct attack at an Egyptian god and a system that the Egyptians and Israelites by their proximity put their trust in.

One of the main reasons God moved through the plagues is because he had to address the authority that the Israelites have been living under. >> And if we're being honest, he has to do the same thing with us today. >> Here's a bubble I need to pop for everybody in the room.

Even when you feel like you are in control, you are still under someone else's authority. >> You always have been. The Bible says, your Bible says that pre-salvation, you were a son of wrath. >> But I was a good person. I wasn't mean to people. Yeah. Yeah. And you were still a son of wrath. >> You were under his authority.

We've been living under the authority of fear, under the authority of lust, under the authority of shame, under the authority of control and rejection. And what we're expecting is for God to rescue us without addressing who had authority over us. >> And what we've seen is that just like this room, no one asked for the darkness, but because we were under their authority, it led us into bondage that we never asked for. >> This is why there are some struggles, some sins, some tendencies that you don't even remember when they started. >> You don't even remember.

But it's because you were under the authority of something other than God. >> What we're seeing in Exodus is not simply God freeing the children of Israel from slavery. God is breaking the authority that trained them. And I have a prophetic word for a 100 people in this room today.

God is breaking the authority that trained you. Rejection may have trained you, but he's breaking that authority. Fear may have trained you, but he's breaking that authority. Lust may have trained you, but he's breaking THAT AUTHORITY. CONTROL MAY HAVE TRAINED YOU, BUT HE'S BREAKING THAT AUTHORITY. YOU DON'T HAVE to leave here the same way you came.

Turn the lights back up. Take a seat. Take a seat. Take a seat. We're almost done. We're almost done. This is an important part of the conversation, y'all. I do not want people to hear about darkness or become aware to the darkness around them and become defeated. Darkness does not mean defeat. >> I need you to hear me. >> Darkness does not mean defeat. >> I'm worried that we are missing the point of these conversations about idols and idolatry.

Instead of us responding with repentance and reliance on God, we're responding with misplaced trust. >> What do I mean by this? If I can control it, I'll be okay. If they approve of me, I'll be okay. >> If I stay busy, I won't have to feel. >> And because we do not trust that God can get us out of the darkness, we find things to help us cope while we're in the darkness.

And ladies and gentlemen, that is what idolatry is. Idolatry is when God >> is offering to remove the darkness completely, but you choose to pick up a flashlight and try to find your way through it yourself. And God made a promise to me that I know is for some of you today.

It is time to come out of the dark. No more coping, no more hiding, no more running. It is time to come out of the dark today. We are coming out of of darkness in every area of our life. I'm coming out of darkness in every area of my life.

And you might be like, "Well, PASTOR, HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT SO CONFIDENTLY?" Because I know the third thing that we learn from darkness in our text, which is the remedy is simple. >> This is where I really got to behave myself because I almost lost y'all two seconds ago.

I got to behave myself cuz if not, I'mma swing from a chandelier that ain't even in here because the enemy would love for you to hear this message and get overwhelmed. He would love for you to say, "Well, darkness is too overwhelming to overcome." I ain't I didn't say that.

The darkness wasn't even my decision, so I can't decide to leave it. Uh-uh. I didn't say that. Our text in Exodus 10 revealed in a couple ways a very hopeful truth which is that the remedy to darkness is simple. Both the darkness in the world around us and in our souls, the remedy is simple.

I don't know if y'all ready for this because this is a very deep theological concept. I had to study a lot for this. I need you to write this down. You ready for the remedy? >> Ready? It's going to blow your mind. The remedy to darkness is light. >> It blew my mind.

It blew my mind. I'm about to run around this whole church because darkness grows where light is absent. This is why the enemy wants to keep you in darkness. Why he wants to keep you in hiding. Why he wants to keep you in secrecy because he knows that that is where the darkness grows in isolation by yourself.

Darkness grows where light is absent. And I need you to understand this ain't just a spiritual truth. This is a scientific truth. Scientifically, darkness is not an independent physical entity. >> What does that mean? Darkness does not possess a speed of its own. In other words, we cannot create darkness because darkness has no source. >> This is helpful because a lot of us when we watch the news, we think or we look at it as the enemy is stirring a pot of darkness >> and he done just poured it out.

Oh, but no, that's not that's not it. Darkness doesn't advance because it's powerful. It advances when light is removed. Watch this. When a light shuts off, darkness doesn't flood the room like it's chasing you. It feels like that, but that's not what's happening. What's happening is your eyes are just waiting on the last bit of light that was already on its way to you. >> And when the light stops arriving, that's what we call darkness. >> So the real QUESTION IS NOT HOW big is the darkness. >> The real question is where is the light missing?

You're you're watching the news and you're overwhelmed by everything that's going on in the city. >> It's not a matter of how big is the darkness. It's a matter of where's the light missing. >> Oh. Oh, okay. You're you're looking at the government and you're frustrated with what's happening and you oh, it's just so dark.

Well, where's the light missing? >> God is trying to do a work in you so he can send you there and be a light, but you can't even give him that relationship. How can God trust you with policy and he can't even trust you to get rid of people? >> How can God trust you with a business and he can't even trust that you're a tithe? >> How can God trust you with a husband or a wife and you're a terrible friend?

We see darkness and we think that there's some big bad monster doing some dirty work. No, no, no, no. The only reason the enemy even has access is because one of us removed the light. >> And what area of my life have I stopped letting the light in?

And not just that, I stopped letting the light in. And I have found things to help me cope while I'm in the darkness. >> I stumbled across a scripture last night as I was preparing for this that helps us to realize why this is such an important conversation.

Matthew 5, Matthew 5 verse 14, it says you Y'all see that? >> Are the light of the world. >> You >> you >> a city set on a hill cannot be hidden. >> Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, >> but on a stand.

And it gives life, watch this, to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and not give glory to you, but give glory to your father who is in heaven. You are confused at the darkness around you.

And you have not allowed God to address the darkness within you. See, because here's the thing, you're going to shine. It's a matter of how bright. And some of us are okay with having dark areas in our soul >> and we're shining, but we could be shining so much brighter. >> Why do I have to let the light in, Pastor Jamal?

Because God wants to light up your world, >> your family, your job, your city, your school. Applebees, when you go for the two for 25, they went up $5. Wherever it is, he wants for you to light that place up. But you cannot light that place up if you have not allowed him to light your soul. >> Watch this.

And expose any areas >> where things are still dark. Well, Pastor Jamal, how do I do that? How do I let the light in? I'm so glad you asked. The Bible is clear. First John 1 John 1. First John 1. He says, "This is the message we have heard from him and proclaimed to you that God is light and in him is no darkness at all." >> If we say we have fellowship with him while WE WALK IN DARKNESS, this is the Bible, >> we lie and do not practice the truth.

But if we walk in the light and he is in the light, >> we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus his son cleanses us from all sin. What this is saying is that if you are walking with him, there is no way you can tolerate darkness. >> He is light, >> which means that he is going to expose the areas >> that he wants access to.

But have you allowed him in? >> And today, just for a moment, I want for us to allow God to highlight the areas where it may be a little dim, where it may be a little dark. And you're probably in here like, "Pastor Jar, I've been I've been acting right.

I've been doing good. It's not a whole lot of darkness in there." You may be like, "Well, Pastor Jamal, I don't do the crystals in the stage no more." So, like, >> it ain't a lot of darkness in there. >> Pastor Jamal, I've been saved. I've been saved for a long time.

I pray 60 hours a day. There is no way there's darkness in there. Let me tell you something. This message is for 99.999% of the people in this room, myself included. That only point something percentage is for the cameras and TVs and stuff cuz they ain't got no they ain't got no soul.

But >> it's because watch this. The darkness is anywhere where you refuse to trust God. >> And you got a flashlight trying to find your way through. For some of us, I feel this really heavy in this service. I felt it in the last one. For some of us, that dark area where we're trusting oursel more >> is actually our finances. that job real good. >> I ain't never had to worry >> since I had that job. >> And you've actually become your own gyro. >> It's not I'm not saying it's bad to have a good job, but I'm saying when God start tugging on you and say, "Hey, be generous."

And you start Oh, hold up. Wait. when he has to debate with you. >> Now, now it's exposing something. >> When you feel like you have to hustle to get by and make it. I told this in the last service for me that was a dark area. I went out to to college and and struggle busted.

I mean, bad bad. And I remember when I got my first good job, I said to myself, I >> will never allow myself to get back there. >> And so work and money and always having something became a dark place for me. I didn't want God's opinion. >> Uh-uh.

I got it, God. I got it. And watch this. It was noble. Ah, I got my budget guy. I'm good. I'm showing It's not always spooky. >> Sometimes it's rational. God, I got my budget. Uhuh. I'm good. God, I got my savings. I'm fine. No, I don't need you over here.

Come here, parent. You forgot that that child is loan to you. That child is God's ultimately. >> You're trying to put them in everything you didn't get a chance to do as a kid. >> I'm trying to show you that darkness is sneaky. >> Because watch this. If I turned all the lights off in here and we left them off long enough, your eyes >> would fight and work hard >> to allow you to be able to you wouldn't see the full thing, but you'd be able to see something. >> And for some of us, that something is enough.

So, so, so as we take this moment to worship and hear from God, I don't want you to disqualify yourself because of your good works. I don't want you to God, no, I'm good. I don't have any dark. No, there is somewhere in there where God is saying, "Uh-uh, let me in.

Let the light in." Because if you let me in, the only thing that will happen is you will shine brighter. For a moment, if you could just lift your hands, you can stay seated, but you can just lift your hands. Man, I hope that message blessed you. And listen, maybe you are sitting at home and you feel something happening in your heart.

You feel something happening in your mind and you're wondering or saying, "God, is this a moment that I need to take advantage of?" And if that is you, I want to tell you yes. This is your opportunity to come out of the darkness and into the marvelous light.

And if that's you, I just simply want for you to repeat this prayer with me, making Jesus your Lord and Savior. Not just trying to escape darkness, not just trying to escape hell, but you saying, "God, I want to live with and for you." If that is you today, I want you to repeat this prayer after me.

Say, "Lord Jesus, thank you for this day. I believe that you lived, died, and rose again just for me." And today I repent of my sins and accept you as my Lord and Savior. And I believe that my life will never be the same in Jesus name. Amen.

And amen. Listen, if you prayed that prayer, I am so proud of you. Thank you so much for making that decision. You just made the best decision of your life. You can go ahead and scan the QR code below so that you can get a digital copy of our next steps booklet entitled Let the Journey Begin.

It has a devotional in it. It has next steps in regards to water baptism and information on how you can receive prayer. We also would love to connect with you if you have any questions or would like for someone to pray with you. I love you so much.

Congratulations on that decision and make sure that you send this message to someone that you know. Subscribe to our YouTube page if you have not already done so and we'll catch you next week.