Reliable Reasons for Rejoicing | Javon Ruff come on let's give him a hand clap of Praise this morning come on if you know it was the blood let's just take about 10 or 15 seconds and lift up our voices and just thank him in your own words come on Lord we thank you for the blood we thank you for your goodness your greatness your loving kindness where would we be without the blood we thank thank you for the blood of Jesus the blood that redeems the blood that reconciles the blood that purges the blood that cleanses the blood that keeps what can wash away our sins nothing but the blood of Jesus what can make us whole again nothing but the blood of Jesus it still reaches to the highest mountain it still flows to the lowest Valley it still soes my soul and calms my fear we're talking about the blood of Jesus the precious blood Lord we thank you today we honor you we glorify you praise God are you thankful for the blood of Jesus today praise God are you excited to be in church this morning I tell you I love being in the house of God worshiping with the people of God come on it's just something about coming together with the family of God you can walk in down you can walk in heavy you can walk in and you you feel like you got nothing but sometimes it's just getting around the family of God come on getting in the house of God that's why it's important that you be here come on sometimes you you don't have it let's just admit but all of a sudden you sit in a service is like this and then sister so and so on your left is praising God and brother so and so is on the right and praising God and by time you get through the second song your hands are up come on you're rejoicing now you come on I just want to go ahead and declare you might have came in heavy but you can leave light you might have came in weak but you can leave strong I'm going to declare you might have came in sick but you can leave healed today there's something about the collective faith of the family of God the scripture said speaking of the paralytic the Bible said Jesus said when he saw their faith the paralyzed guy didn't even have the faith but the ones who were around him had faith and God said when I saw their faith come on I gave him a breakthrough come on you don't know who your praise is working come on somebody your worship is working for your neighbor today your praise I love him today so great to be in church in the house of God and I just want to take this opportunity let's welcome our amazing church family right now come on will you help me welcome our Gwynette campus welcome brazzleton welcome sparenberg the smartur family uh Midtown alfaretta Orange County and let's not forget Whitworth women's correctional institute Hall County correctional institute hay State Prison Metro re-entry prison and come on let's give it a loud shout and praise for our online campus thousands that are watching and joining us such a blessing such an honor praise God well you can be seated this morning in just a moment I want you to open up your Bibles I'm going to go to the book of First Peter this morning 1 Peter chapter 1 First Peter chapter 1 but while you're turning there I just want to remind you of something really quick and um it's amazing to see that we're already in the month of June six months into this year and um if you don't know the we're only a couple weeks out from our annual forward student conference come on um and and we're celebrating come on 20 years 20 years God has been faithful and 20 years God has been good to us and we're excited about it and and seats are filling up in that Arena and what a privilege and what an opportunity that God has blessed us as a Ministry and as a church to be able to Steward these moments down at the gas South Arena and um and I just want to encourage all of you is if you haven't signed up yet my Lord what are you waiting for come on if you're students or parents of students or grandparents if they get them signed up their lives will be forever changed I believe that I believe that with everything that is going into it and then also you know not only can you participate by signing up but you can also you can sponsor a child or you can sponsor multiple students or if you have a business and you like to do sponsorship you can also do that we have information in order to do that uh to be a sponsor but then also you can volunteer at forward student conference um I uh it's not just a annual conference but even today around this building and at all of our campuses seen and unseen or hundreds uh probably say probably thousands of volunteers that help make Free Chapel what it is on a weekly basis and that's exactly what it takes at forward conference and it's because of amazing people like you who there are many will take off of work there many that will set aside the time to be a part of that but you can also volunteer but you do have to register for that and that's at every campus that's not just here at our Gainesville Campus but if you're in any of our other campuses you're more than welcome to join in and be a part of that huge volunteer army great men and women of God that help make forward conference um um a big deal and and a major thing that we do but last but not least I want to say this more than anything pray can we pray and believe God come on how many you know that that's what we got pray let's bathe it in prayer let's cover it in prayer every speaker every session and believe God to do great things and um and um we're excited next Sunday is Father's Day any fathers in here at the 11:00 service all right they slept in this morning but anyway now where all my fathers at next Sunday is Father's day it's going to be an awesome time we're going to have an amazing day plan for you Pastor Franklin will be back here preaching live next Sunday in the pool pit he's out with our Orange County uh family there and he's preaching there live today and it's just amazing to see God what God is doing there on the west coast and through our local church there and so um be praying for him that God will um use them mightily today to see Souls saved and lives Chang are you ready to get to the word today First Peter chapter 1 I'll begin reading at verse one it says to the pilgrims of the dispers ver in Pontius galatia capid dohia Asia and bythnia elect according to the four knowledge of God the father in sanctification of the spirit for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ Grace and peace be multiplied to you it says blessed be the god in verse three and father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His abundant Mercy has begotten us again to a Living Hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance Incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away reserved in heaven for you who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time verse 6 says in this you greatly Rejoice though now for a little while if need be you have been grieved by various trials that the genuiness of your faith being much more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire may be found to praise honor and Glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ whom having whom having not seen you whom having not seen you love though now you do not see him yet believing listen you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of Glory receiving the end of your faith the salvation of your souls and I'll stop there for the sake of time this letter is written by the Apostle Peter and it the scripture is showing us and teaching us he's riding them against the backdrop of a time that they're facing tremendous pain and suffering they're in a culture they're in a society during this time where there's apostasy there is a moral decline going on there's just the culture uh there's persecution there's the um the attack of the church in this particular uh uh time adversities and trials that they're facing hardships and struggles and Peter comes to them like a great Shepherd would to his flock and in these times that they're facing and he comes to encourage them he comes to to help underscore um uh the necessity to them that how it's important that they keep an unwavering Faith how they they continue to remain steadfast even in the opposing times that they're facing he comes to them and he said I'm now it's important that you maintain your convictions and resist the temptation to compromise I know a lot is is going on around you but I come to encourage you and to stir you up and to build you up that even though you're facing Times Like These and it looks like it's it's it's just getting worse and worse but I want to encourage you in your faith and he said and I want you to Rejoice despite all that is going on now that's easy to say sometimes when you are not going through things yourself but how is it that Peter would encourage them with these words what he does in this text and what I'm going to show you is that he said I'm going to show you and give you reliable reasons for rejoicing despite the times that you're facing I know it's tough I know it's hard I know it's trying but I want to give you reliable reasons for rejoicing through this letter and through this encouragement the Bible it opens up in in First Peter chapter 1 I want you to understand that I believe that it's God's will to give each of us great victory in our lives however there are times that those victories come only after a season of difficulty how do I cope when Victory seems long in coming how do I stay secure in my faith during the waiting period how do I maintain or remain true to my faith in the difficult times that we Face understand that ultimate Victory comes through Christ it is important to remember that in reality our starting point as Believers is victory victory was won on the cross at Calvary 1 Corinthians 15:57 says thanks be unto God who gives us the victory through Christ Jesus while we still know that it is still true that trials hardships and adversity comes to our way I want to remind you this morning that the gospel is not a gospel of avoidance Believers are not guaranteed a Rose Garden Believers are not guaranteed a Peace Haven we are not promised a painless life a suffering Le life a life that is free of any hardship or struggle indeed I will dare say that sometimes the mark of a Believer is defined by the battles that he's faced the battles that they go they they're up against the battles that they have to deal with in life in this letter Peter spoke listen to this of suffering 16 times six times it referred to Christ 10 times to Believers but also eight times he pointed to Grace and 16 times he pointed to Glory what am I trying to say more the suffering more the grace and more the glory in other words God will never allow suffering to get the upper hand on his grace and His glory listen life is full of test test and normal things oppositions hardships and struggles but Peter said this in the scripture he said it is possible despite all the tests that we F May face and go through it's possible for you to maintain your faith and stand strong during these times and I'm going give you some reliable reasons to rejoice and do so what are they Pastor Javon I'm glad you asked I'm going to give them to you because we need these reliable reasons for rejoicing I don't know about you that every day in my life is not made in the shade everything is not always cool and the truth be told we all F battle a little something something every now and then sometimes it's big sometimes it's small sometimes it's crazy sometimes it's calm but I need to know and I want to rest assur and I want to encourage you that even in the times we Face there are some reliable reasons that we can maintain our joy despite what we're facing number one the scripture said this notice what Peter how he addressed these particular people I love it the scripture said he referred to them as pilgrims in verse one that word pilgrims is often used as pilgrims are strangers and sojourners the script scripture said in in 1 Peter chapter 2 notice it said beloved I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims abstain from fleshly lust which wore against your soul why is that a reliable reason to Rejoice the fact that he called them pilgrims what he was telling them he was saying that you got to understand that we are temporary residents on this Earth he was saying that you're on a journey right now and this world is not your home he was saying I can I say it like this don't get it twisted this is not your place of permanency this is only up come on a dress rehearsal from heaven I'm not going to be here always and sometimes listen we ought to enjoy life and we ought to make the most of life and the scripture said we ought to occupy until Jesus come but even in knowing that you have to remember that though we are in this world we are not of this world our citizenship I know you might be an American citizen but ultimately we have a citizenship in heaven and the kingdom of God is waiting and he said if you want a reason to Rejoice you need to Rejoice because guess what this side of Eternity is temporary that's why Paul would use these words and say things like this light Affliction is but for a moment but it's working for me a more exceeding watch this an eternal weighted Glory he said in light of Eternity this is a light thing this ain't going to be long like eternity and then he said the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared for the glory that shall be revealed I want to remind somebody this morning that there's still a place called heaven and if you're Blood Bought and born again you are citizens of Heaven I still believe that Jesus is going to return one day and he's coming back for his church his pride without spot wrinkle or blemish uh either he's going to call me before he comes or he's going to call me up when he comes I Still Believe come on somebody that the Eastern sky is going to split come on and the oh you don't believe that do you have you forgot that there is a Rapture coming and God's going to take his church up out of here come on somebody cuz the Bible said the Lord shall descend with a shout with the voice of an archangel and the dead in Christ shall arise and All Who Remain will be caught up and meet with him in the air this world is not my home Heaven is my home Jesus Is My Destiny we're just pilgrims passing through the second thing he said there's another reliable reason that you should Rejoice not only that you are a pilgrim but the scripture said this he said you need to understand that you've been chosen he said you need to understand that you you've been called you need to understand that you've been cleansed did you get that he said we were elect according to the forn knowledge of God then he said we were Sanctified by the spirit and then through the sprinkling of the blood what does that mean understand that none of us in this room are an accident or a coincidence none of us in this room are a mistake none of us in this room are an afterthought don't you dare let the devil or anybody tell you oh or diminish your value as a human being the very fact that you are here this morning and listening to me this morning wherever you may be watching it's the fact that God willed you to be here God the Bible said we were chosen in him before the foundations of this world in other words the reason why I am existent because he called me into existence and the fact that you and I are chosen the scripture said we were chosen for good works we are his work mhip that word workmanship means a masterpiece thought that went into creation he didn't just throw something together when he created you and me he put careful thought in it Psalms 139 said I wo you in your womb I put thought in it when I made you and formed you come on somebody we were chosen to do good works you were not chosen and created just to live a low life I'm not being ugly you are not chosen and created to be a victim you're we not chosen and created to just barely struggle through life the Devil is a Lie Jesus Christ died oh my God so that you can be chosen to thrive to Excel and to succeed with God on my side I can do all things through Christ who strengthened me I need to come on if you know that you're chosen this morning give him a shout of Praise I'm chosen you've been chosen to make a comt you've been chosen to make a difference you've been chosen come on somebody to represent Christ be an ambassador for Christ being an instrument you've been chosen for such a time as this if God wanted you to live in another time he would have put you in another time but now that we are here we ought to be taking names taking territory expanding the kingdom winning Souls come on somebody you've been chosen you have a reason to Rejoice you've been chosen Peter said because God and his great Mercy we have been born again to a Living Hope being born again come on is key to Hope another reliable reason for live for for rejoicing is a Living Hope but but he said being born again to a Living Hope in other words being born again is the key to having a Living Hope in John chapter 3 nicked Knight is what I want to call him he came creeping and sneaking to Jesus he didn't want to come in the daytime CU he didn't want to get caught by his homies talking to Jesus but there was something inside of him that says this man is not normal this man is not usual this is not just any Prophet this is not any teacher I got to go check this out and he began to question him about being born again Nicodemus who was very smart he said how is it that a man after he's been born can enter back into the womb and be born again and Jesus said no no no no you're not understanding what I'm saying I'm talking about being born of the spirit and of the water of the spirit and of the water and he said listen Nick I don't care how how smart you think you are Marvel not you must be born again can I preach this morning I want to just declare this morning you must be born again if even if you're down and out or up and in you must be born again I don't care if you're rich or poor you must be born again religious or nonone religious you must be born again moral or immoral you must be born again educated or uneducated Penthouse or prison house powerful or weak regardless of your color regardless of your culture regardless of your background regardless of your status you must be born again you must be born again I'm going to preach if you want eternal life if you want the Abundant Life if you want a peace that surpasses all understanding if you want to be blessed with every spiritual blessing if you want an indescribable Joy forgiveness for your sins deliverance from addiction a life of purpose reach your god-given potential walk with God in a full relationship if you want eternal life you must be born again do I have any Born Again people in Spartanburg do I got any Born Again people online is there anybody born again in Midtown and brasleton and guette I need some Born Again people to give God a praise oh he said a living hope you see hope is not just optimism hope is not just wishful thinking hope is not some lucky thing that uh that we hope that that kind of just happen stance in the future but hope listen to me it's confident expectation that is built on solid certainty I'm going to say it again confident expect ation that is built on solid certainty what are you saying see the object of Hope is God and the grounds of hope is his word and because I've got God and I've got his word I therefore I have hope it's not I hope so it's that I know so because my hope is in God I don't hope so I know so therefore I have hope come on somebody can I preach to you we're living in time that people need hope people are helpless people don't seem to seem that there is no way out and people are falling left and right because of a lack of Hope but I want to preach this morning to tell you the Bible said this that in your Valley of trouble God can still give you a door of hope I don't care how low your Valley is I don't care how much trouble you're in God said I'll give you a Door of Hope right in the midst of that Valley he said a tree that is cut down it shall live again because at the hint of water come on it shall Sprout up again in other words a tree can be cut down it can look like it's dead or gone but if you bring a little water to it and you bring a little nourishment to it it can Sprout up again the last time I checked Believers are likened to trees in the Bible and if you've been cut down you've been knock down let the water of his word let the water of the spirit touch your life this morning and you can get back up again you can Thrive again let me go just another further the Bible said those that are connected to the living have hope in other words if you are alive this morning if there's breath in your lung I don't care what you feel like I don't care what you have or don't have the Bible said if you are alive there is still hope hope for your marriage hope for your children hope for your future hope for your business hope for your call hope for your dreams I know the plans that I have for you plans to prosper you and give you a hope and a ((applause)) future understand your faith has character the character of your faith will be revealed in the trials you face character of your faith will come out by the crisis or challenges you're in you don't know you have the goods until you experience the bad ha you don't know if you really got it until something comes against it it's easy to praise and shout when there's money in the bank it's easy to praise and shout when you're walking in good health it's easy to praise and shout and I'm not minimizing that when everything is good but what happens when life throw you a curveball that's what what he said is to the genuine of your faith Peter was saying is it really real you've been cuz cuz see he he's not talking about singing about it he's not talking about preaching about it he's not talking about writing songs about it he's not just saying you know shouting about it he's saying when life hits you with something can you be about it can you be about it can you walk out what you've been shouting about can you walk out what you've been saying come on that's when the rubber meets the road uh when life hands you something that don't make sense when life hands you a question mark for a brain when something out of left field hits your life and you throw your hands up you have a decision to make to make in that moment either I'm going faith it until I make it but I can't fake it until I make it you got to come on somebody the just shall live by faith we walk by faith and not the gift of faith is free but the life of faith is a fight second Timothy 4:7 said I fought the good fight I finished the race I kept the faith faith enabled him to finish finish to enable him to fight to the Finish I want to tell somebody you got to fight to the Finish I want to tell somebody this morning I wrote it to people that feel like giving up you've gone through hell you've you've gone through hell you faced suffer hurts and pains let downs and setbacks and the enemy would do everything to whisper in your ear to say give up throw in the towel just quit it's not going to be there just accept it the way it is this is just the way it is just back on up Find You Somewhere crawl into a hole and just wait and hope that something changes in the future future but the Devil is a Lie I come to serve notice at every campus this morning uh on every spirit that wants you to quit every mindset that wants you to throw in the towel I come to silence the voice of the accuser to tell you to lay down and roll over and die the Devil is a Lie It's Time come on somebody I asked God In Prayer I said give somebody their fight back today give somebody come on come on I know that hell has been saying one 2 3 4 but I hear the Lord saying 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 two get up get up and get your fight back your family is worth the fight your future is worth the fight that business is worth the fight we got to fight we got to fight we got souls to save we got to fight we got come on lives to change we got to fight it's worth the get your fight back Victory is not always scarless the greatest dis voice that Elijah heard that still Small Voice that's calling somebody out of a cave of depression calling somebody of being down and out and saying this is your day to get back ((applause)) up next you want another reliable reason to Rejoice Rejoice is simple in your salvation what do you mean Rejoice the scripture said have joy that you I know that seems simple but but but sometimes I think we take it for granted because see listen to me you don't we don't understand I think sometimes we don't understand how jacked up we were if I can say that you were just not saved you were just not going to church you were just not living for God you were an enemy of God you and I were en enemies the Bible said that we were driven by a spirit of Disobedience we were the children of Wrath the fact that we were not on God's side we set ourselves At War With God that was our condition and our future was hell Eternal separation from him so we were not just existing and you know not bar allall and I don't go no you had set yourself at war with God so that's how we when the scripture said he made peace with us through Christ Jesus because we didn't have peace before Christ we were at War see I love what what what Ephesians says it says that we were dead in our trespasses and sin we once walked according to the course of this world listen we would according to the prince and the power of the air which is Satan the spirit that now works in the sons of Disobedience among whom we were all conducted ourselves and the lust of the flesh fulfilling the desires of the Flesh and and it says and of the mind and were by Nature children of Wrath oh but it didn't stop there verse four said but God who was rich in Mercy because of his great love which he loved us though we were dead in trespasses and sin he has made us alive can I say it like this aren't you glad that God bued in your business come on somebody and he said I know what should have happened I know what could have happened but because I got in the picture it didn't happen but God who was rich and ((applause)) mercy thank God I'm saved not only to remember and rejoice in your salvation but also another reliable reason for rejoicing is don't you forget his promises second Peter said by which we have been getting exceeding great and precious promises that through these you might be partakers of his divine nature having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust he said promises great and precious listen to this the promise proes of God are found in the word of God Hebrews 10:23 says let us hold fast to our confession of Our Hope without wavering for he who promised is faithful I want to tell you today that A promise is only good as his promiser and our promiser is a pretty good promiser the Bible said the promises of God are yes and in him that are amen and I want to remind you the reason why uh I can I can rejoice and I got to reliable reason to Rejoice is because I got promises from God and you got promises from God I want to say this that the Bible said his promises are grounded in Christ his promises are assured his promises are unfailing and his promises are Everlasting and I want to just say sometimes we get caught up and even me we focus more on the problem and we forget about the promise we get so caught up in what we see we forget what God said that's a word from some are you so focused on what you see that you have forgotten what God Said what did God say about your family what did God say about your future what did God say about your children what did God say cuz I want to tell you for every problem you're facing God has a promise that he's given if you have financial problems he said I got a promise my God shall supply all of your needs if you got sickness he got a promise I am the Lord God that heals you and takes sickness from among you if you're in confusion he's got a promise if you trust in me and acknowledge me I'll make your path straight he said if you're dealing with loneliness he said I got a promise I Am With You Always even until the end of time I will never leave you nor nor forsake you and if you have a problem if you've lost some things and going through loss he's got a promise I will restore the years that the canker worm and the Palmer worm and the Locust have ((applause)) eaten reliable reasons to Rejoice I'm a pilgrim I've been chosen cleansed and called I've got new birth salvation Living Hope I've got promises and last but not least he said to this audience don't forget about his power see man's finite ability cannot cope with all that life hands us and we must refuse to live in the limitations of our own power strength and ability what do you mean you see life hands us gaps gaps what do you mean gaps represents the difference between your ability and what needs to happen gaps represent disparity in other words between what you have and what you need gaps represent distance between where you are and where you're going and when life hands you gaps and they will and I don't care how smart you are they'll come gaps I don't care how Anno how how talented you are there's gaps I don't care how much expertise you have there'll come times where there's gaps and those gaps were created for God's power see you know what the Gap means Gap Gap is created for God's grace and Power in other words there's going to be gaps that the only way you're going to make up the difference is God's grace and power the only way that you're going to deal with the disparity is God's grace and power the only way that you're going to going to f come through the distance is God's grace and power can we dare not forget that it's not by our power nor by our mind but by my spirit says the Lord and let me tell you I don't need God's grace and power just to preach I don't need God's anointing to stand be just to stand behind a pull pit or teach the Bible I need his grace and power to live every day come on somebody I need him to get through today I need him to live life I don't know about you we're fighting real Devils we're fighting real demons and life will hand you stuff that you can't muscle through you can't finagle through you can't smart your way and the only thing that's going to get you through is his grace and his power my God my God I thought about what his grace and power will do you may be smart but it can take you to a whole another level you may be already blessed but his grace and power can take you to a whole another level I was thinking about his grace and power cuz when the hand of God his grace and power comes on you there are things that you do that you didn't know you could do you'll sit in board meetings and say stuff that come out of your mouth and it it blows your mind away and you're like where did that come from come on when his grace and power comes on you there's the favor of God and the blessing of God the Bible said when the hand of the Lord came on Elijah a natural man outran a chariot and a horse I wonder does anybody still believe that God's grace and power can so come on your life that it begins to move you expeditiously in life and what what normally take 10 years will take 10 months uh what would take two months God can do it in two days uh not because you're smart not because you're so good it's because of his grace as you stand to your feet Peter said this he said we are kept by the power of God through faith and the Lord dealt with me about this because we're good at believing God to restore we're good at believing God to redeem and reconcile we're good at believeing God to lift up we're good at believing God for his saving power but what I want to challenge you with do you believe in his keeping power that God can keep you Jude put it like this now unto him that is able to keep me from stumbling and present me faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding Joy what are you saying Javon I believe in a God and a power that can still keep us we don't have to fall into temptation it can keep us we don't have to come on yield to immorality and crazy things that this world's offer because there is a power that can keep us it can keep your marriage together it can keep your children I don't care if they do stray away I don't care if they do try a Wonder there's something on the inside of them it's a keeping powder Power and it's a matter of time before that power snatches him back if you don't believe me ask the prodical son he tried to live in sin he tried to wander away he tried to party and do all but there was a keeping power that had a grip of him and brought him back I'm glad for keeping power ((applause)) ((music playing)) and some of you don't even recognize it it wasn't you it wasn't luck that you didn't die in the accident that was keeping power it wasn't you come on somebody I wish I had three people that will testify of his keeping power you remember the time that you almost broke down you remember the times uh that you cried yourself to sleep you remember times uh that you were laid off for months uh and couldn't find a job uh oh but it was God that kept you it was God that provided it was God that sustained you and that power is here today he's the keeper Jonathan said it earlier I will lift my heel my eyes into the heels where does my help come from my help comes from the Lord and guess what it says look at what it says L who made Heaven and Earth he will not allow your foot to be moved read the next part with me he who keeps you will not Slumber behold he who keeps Israel shall not slumber nor sleep here it is the Lord is your keeper the Lord is your shade and in your right hand the Lord is your keeper he will keep you in the times that we're in and the times that we're facing we have a ((music playing)) keeper we can Rejoice reliable reasons to Rejoice I'm chosen I'm called I've been cleansed I'm a pilgrim I've got promises I have a living hope there's power power power power there's keeping power and there's also saving power with every head bow and every eye closed no one leaving no one moving all of this is predicated and dependent upon a relationship with Jesus Christ remember if you're not saved if you're not in right standing with God you're at war with God and I'm going to tell you right now it's a war you'll never win it's a war that you are for sure to lose not only are you at War but you are an enemy according to scripture but the scripture said his Mercy is abundantly available his grace is sufficient and right now sin in the lives of people that are that are under the sound of my voice has created a gap the Bible said your sins have separated from me from you it's created a gap that we're not in relationship it's created a gap that you're not connected to the source of eternal life but I'm glad that Grace and power came on Calvary to fill that Gap and feel that void because when Jesus Christ hung on the cross he filled the gap between Earth and Heaven between sinless man and holy God and he said I will stand in the Gap cuz the Bible said that he was full of grace and truth and he's able to connect that which normally wouldn't be connected by his grace and by his power and he's here today and he's saying let me fill that Gap let me feel it you tried to fill it with relationships didn't work you tried to fill it with money and stuff and things you tried to fill that Gap with your your strength your ability what you think was right with what you can do you got more money that didn't help you got more cars that didn't help you got more stuff that didn't help you thought it was in multiple relationships that still didn't help the Gap is still there because inside of every human being there's a universal built-in void that only God can feel that Gap but he's here today but he only comes where he's invited and all of our campuses right now if you're in this room and you would say Javon I'm ready for God to fill that Gap I no longer want to be separated I no longer want to be backsliding away from him I'm ready to surrender my life to him and let him fill the Gap with his grace and power I need his forgiveness I need to surrender I need to come to to God for real pray for me if that's you when I count to three our campus pastors are coming at all of our campuses right now they're going to help Lead You In This Moment all of our campuses but when I get to three if you mean business right where you're standing I want you to shoot your hand up as quickly as you can unashamedly one if you mean business two if you fill the holy SP Spirit drawing you cuz nobody comes to him unless he's drawn by the spirit and for some of you you felt that drawing even before this moment you felt it even in worship that's God drawing you that's his love for you you're not responding to a preacher or a personality or a person on the stage you're responding to Jesus and three throw your hands up as quickly as you can get it up raise them up I see those hands I see them raise them up high unashamedly Unapologetic yep yep yep there's hands hands hands hands campus pastors they'll lead you at your campus right now but right here in Gainesville all the hands raise them up high unashamedly I see those hands in the balcony what about over here Raise It Up Wait I see those hands yes yes yes I see you back there yes now I want you to do something I want you to trust me every single one of you that raised your hand I'm going to count to three again don't worry about what people think don't worry about what people are going to say when I get to three is quickly as you can slide out of your seat and come down and stand in front of this altar I'm going to personally Lead You In a prayer and when you start moving people are going to start shouting are you ready one 2 3 come on come on come on come from the balcony wherever you raise that hand we'll wait on you come on come on that's it come on come come if you're in the balcony we'll wait on you if you're in the back we'll wait on you this is your moment this is your time let it this is your this is not an Co coincidental moment this is not an accidental moment this is your time this is your moment of transition come on come on come on come on he's going to fill the Gap this morning Hall come on come on that's it that's it come on they're still coming come on come on come on come yes yes yes yes yes our Living Hope come on there's hope this morning there's help this morning there's strength this morning there's a power you don't have to live in your own strength and ability there's promises that are waiting on you come on that's it yes yes yes yes come on thank you Jesus that's it keep coming yes he's our Living Hope come on yes yes yes yes Hallelujah yes that's it come on come on they're still coming thank you Jesus there's a harvest in the house there's a harvest chains are being broken he's Breaking Chains he's lifting burdens he's setting kep us freeus Christ he's our living home yes come on sing it one more time hallelujah thank you Lord cuz they're still coming I rejoice in you Lord oh I Rejoice I Rejoice come on thank you Jesus thank you Jesus yes ((applause)) mying High thank you Lord just throw your hands up in the altar right now just lift them up to him right now that's it that's it just throw your hands up and surrender broken I believe chains can be broken right now Yoles can be destroyed right now captives can be set free one more time I'm going to declare it come on come on Hallelujah I declare Freedom right now I declare freedom I declare Liberty I declare burdens to be lifted captives to be set free prison doors to be open to them that abound in the name of Jesus in the name of Jesus Jesus Christ every one of you down here in this altar ((music playing)) thank you Jesus thank you Lord thank you Jesus every one of you in this altar I want you to repeat these words after me you're about to make the greatest decision in your life I promise ((music playing)) you every one of you EX stand your hands in the audience toward these precious people let's pray this prayer together say Jesus I Surrender my life forgive me of my sins of cleanse me and wash me in your blood I thank you that I am forgiven I and now I'm a new creation old things have passed away and all things have become new I am forgiven I am I thank you that I'm chosen I'm called I'm cleansed I have a Living Hope I've got precious promises I've got great power in you power to keep me power to keep from this day moving forward help me to rejoice in all that I've received and will continue to receive from you Jesus Christus Christ in Jesus name Jesus amen amen and amen come on rejoice ((applause)) Rejoice Rejoice wow listen to me this is very important God bless you my man God bless you God bless you God bless you God bless you God bless you thank you Jesus thank you Lord thank you Jesus thank you Jesus this is this is not a this is not just a normal day for you this is not just a normal moment that you're responding the enemy has tried to take you out and you're not here by accident he tried to kill you he tried to destroy you but God brought you here to this service today to set you free and to give you new life this is not an accident this is not a coincidence but God wants you to know that he loves you and he's for you and there is nothing that has happened in the past that he's holding against you thank you that from this day forward you're going to move in a New Direction in a new dimension and father in the name of Jesus I canceled the assignment of the enemy on his life and I cast down every vain imagination and every hot thing that has tried to exalt itself in his mind I bind the tormenting voices that has tried oh God to Rob him of joy and heal and today I declare victory in the name of Jesus I declare freedom in the name of Jesus and I declare that the blood of Jesus washes and cleanses and makes him whole in Jesus ((music playing)) name it doesn't it doesn't it doesn't just stop here it starts here father in the name of Jesus I pray agree with me he just confess I need the chains of alcohol and addiction broken come on this is what church is about father in the name of Jesus I take authority over alcohol and addiction and I command it to loose his grip over him right now in the name of Jesus alcohol go addiction be broken unclean Spirit go in the name of Jesus whom the son of man sets free is free indeed uh I declare from this day forward you will not touch another bottle again uh will not drink again in the name of Jesus uh I declare Liberty and freedom in Jesus mighty name uh I declare the keeping power of God on you it will keep you from falling back it will keep you from backsliding it will keep you from running back to that which you have been set free from in the name of Jesus come on give the Lord a shout of Praise I said give him a shout of praise he's a chain breaker he's a deliverer he's a savior he's a Healer thank you ((music playing)) Jesus let me tell you something that's why it's important it starts here but it doesn't stop and listen to me every one of you because this is what this is what it's important this is why we have we say it's you got to get in community with things likees being shared we got groups we got help we got groups for addiction we got groups for grief groups that are struggling that need counseling that we have those available you hear me we've got Ministries that can help walk you walk you through these things and set you free and our prayer team and they'll tell you about in the connection line but we got you we don't just have you right now we got you and all you got to do is ask our team will help you counseling grief celebrate freedom from men and women victory over darkness and over your minds we got you so if you need that help and you need that support talk to our team they'll tell you how to get signed up they can get you in classes as soon as possible that's what we're here for amen amen doesn't stop here it just starts here but we're praying for you and we believe in you amen and more than important God loves you and God is for you now real quickly before we run out thank you for your generosity thank you for your support because of it that's why we can provide all these classes and all these resources and it creates environments for this right here right here here right here so we can minister to people and love on people and help people that's why I love this ministry it's about souls being saved and lives being changed and everything that you give goes toward that and it's your giving that's going to help us in a couple of weeks to fill that gas South arena with thousands of teenagers come on somebody thousands of teenagers ((music playing)) to encounter the presence of God and we thank you on the behalf of Pastor Franklin thank you for your generosity thank you for your support thank you for your help he loves you and I know you love him and he'll be right back here next Sunday preaching on Father's Day and you don't want to miss it make sure you invite someone and bring someone amen amen now throw up your hand and let me bless you before you go may the Lord bless you here it is I just thought about that and keep you my God may the Lord bless you and keep you the Lord make his face shine upon you be gracious unto you lift his countenance upon you and give you peace God bless you we love you please all of you on the altar talk to our prayer team talk to our prayer leaders there give them they'll help you they got information they got support for you they'd love to talk with you and pray for you so make sure that you touch base with them we love you God bless ((music playing)) you joining for worshiping today that was an amazing word we have reliable reasons to Rejoice trustworthy reasons we have a hope that is not wishful thinking it is not just optimism but it's built on a solid certainty I want to encourage you this week download the free chapel app find the daily devotions our team is begin to write even now so the devotions will be ready all this week based on today's message don't show up next Sunday uh um with malnutrition as a Christian a starving Christian but get full of the word each and every day each and every day yes and if you accepted Jesus as your lord and savior savior I'm sorry if you wanted him want him to fill that Gap like Pastor Javon was saying go ahead and text yes to 510510 we would love to connect with you also if you have a prayer request please know that you don't have to go through any of this on your own we have a community there that is ready to support you in prayer whether it's for your health for your family for your job whatever the case may be you can go ahead and text prayer to 510 510 and you have a whole Community ready to pray with you absolutely one practical thing really quick Pastor Javon mentioned restoration classes you can go to free chapel.org click on the discipleship t uh tab to find celebrate freedom to find upcoming Divorce Care grief share those sort of things some classes will launch soon some are ongoing but hey we want to get you connected we want to get you in A discipleship class hey also we want to thank you really quick for your generosity I want to Echo at pastor Javon said because of your giving we can do forward conference for the 20th year it's going to be amazing get your tickets at forward conference.org but other than that we'll see them next week won't we see you next week yes byebye love you guys ((music playing)) ((music playing))