Bethel Church Service | Banning Liebscher Sermon | Worship with Leah Valenzuela, Brady Voss

Hello Bethl online. Great to be together this morning. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. It's Cassie and it's Brad. >> Had to think about my name there for a second. >> No, I didn't. [laughter] >> I'm just kidding. >> I know your name. >> Cassie is one of the smartest people here at Bethl. >> Get out of here. >> She knows my name.

I think she knows my student number from 5 years ago. >> 2156. I'm kidding. I don't know. I really don't know. But guys, we love Brad. Brad's our trib's uh young adult pastor. >> Yeah. I told him if there are young adults online, come find Brad. >> Yeah.

[laughter] Come on. >> You guys come and visit. Come visit Reading, California. Drop into a young not a young adults night. >> Yeah. >> On Thursdays. >> The worship is deep, weighty, glorious. >> It's the It's the best in all of Bethleoom. >> That's what they say. >> Yeah. >> Guys, we're so happy to be with you today.

I was gone last week. I was visiting so many of our family in Ohio. If you uh are from the Ohio area, maybe throw me something in the chat. You can let us know where you're joining in from today. Um it was so beautiful to be with so many of our online family, people who watch in every single week last weekend.

Um and I saw God do some wild things, Brad. I was shocked. I'm from Ohio. I've been uh longing to see revival in Ohio. And being at this church, I was so stunned by the hunger. And then God just started moving um not only encountering people in love um inviting people in to hear his voice, but also um people started getting healed radically.

I was like, "What is going on?" Jesus, it was so cool. I want to share a quick testimony and then I'm going to ask Brad what he is sensing for today or what God's doing. Uh it's just some good news. Um but last week it was so cool.

There was um a younger boy, probably like 17 years old, sitting up against a wall. I felt like I was supposed to pray for him and he had lower back pain and he was testing it and his um pain was starting to decrease in his back and I I felt like I wanted to activate the young people.

I was like let's get the young people up here. Let's ask them to ask God for some words of knowledge. What does God want to heal? And um they he joined me and this little girl she was going to come with me and then her mom came for her but he called out a right wrist.

Anyways, um we start praying for different people and this girl um comes up with a flock of her friends, like four friends and two um um of of like the older women came with them. Not older women. Sorry ladies, you're not older. Older than the older than the teens.

I I we're probably the same age. Oh [laughter] god. Uh anyways, they come up with this teenage girl and she has tendinitis in her right wrist and we start praying and u as she starts to test it out, she's like twisting her wrist and she's like, "Usually it pops when I do this, but it's not popping right now."

I was like, "Well, that's a good sign." Like, "Thank you, Jesus." Anyways, we keep praying and her pain goes all the way down. ended up praying for her and as um we were praying for the young girl who had had the who had had right had past tense the tendinitis um all of her friends around her were crying and they were getting touched by God and I just thought it was such a beautiful thing watching it felt like when um the friends brought in the paralyzed man like they had so much faith to see their friend get healed and then they got radically touched too and um I felt like if there are people out there you're like h >> my friend needs healing or you know my friend needs to be touched or maybe you need to be touched today.

I felt like there was so much faith in that testimony of watching these young girls bring up their friend and say, "Hey, she's contending for this. We want to see this thing get healed." And if that's you, maybe you can write in the chat. You can ask the Lord.

You can come before the father. Um, but I thought it was a great testimony. Whether or not you have tendinitis, whether or not you just are contending for a loved one, I just believe that God is healing people this morning. That he is touching bodies. He's touching hearts.

That he's touching people. And that wow, he's just so moved by our faith. >> Oh, he loves it. >> He loves it. >> He loves it. That's amazing. [laughter] >> He loves our faith. Brad, what's happening? Any other good news that you are sensing that you've been hearing this week? >> Well, I'll just jump onto the Ohio train.

I mean, we going there with my friend Alyssa Morris, who I think's been on. >> We love Alyssa. Yeah, we love Alyssa. Um, and amazing things happened with the young people um with the Next Gen and um through a church called Crossroads. I know that's um they've opened up they've filled up a the I think it's the most beautiful church I've ever seen in my in my life.

It's just stunning and young people just flowing in there. So, if you're in the Ohio region, >> you've got no excuse. God is on the move there. Um, if you've got young kids, you want to be getting them into churches now because God seems to be moving in Ohio and we've got some really good friends there. >> Um, I'm really excited for this morning.

It's going to be a good good word. We've got uh Brady and Leah >> leading us in worship >> and and we've got uh Banning Lupia. >> Yeah. >> Preaching this morning. >> And communion. >> And communion. >> And communion. Cassie is a wonderful leader and she does she needs to let you know if you're going to you want to take communion with us.

We would love it if you actually took it with us. So make sure you get the some elements kind of beforehand. Um so when we get there you can sit there and enjoy straight out of worship. >> My old son Cassie what happened this Thursday I got such a cool story from a young Scottish lad.

Uh he arrived I think a year ago. He said it was almost to the day that he came and spoke to me now on Thursday. Um and he came forward with I think it was his mom was there with him and um it's a longer story but he said uh Brad I don't you didn't realize what was actually going on.

I was engaged with a young man that was sweating shaking and a little bit kind of on air as I was like whoa okay dude I think it it looked like he was getting radically touched by God and you know he's like dude can you pray for me?

I was like, "Absolutely. God's doing something for sure." Turns out he was actually coming down off drugs and he hadn't had drugs for a week and that was his body actually reacting. >> And so he didn't say anything, but we prayed for him as a team. And when we prayed for him, he says that he went home that night and it's the first night that he'd actually slept through. >> That's crazy. >> In years.

It's the most peaceful sleep he he's had in a year or two years, whatever the the It was a long long time. and he he is clean. >> He came and joined the school >> and a year later he came back to to the point of origin. He said, "Hey, that this is the week that changed my life and I've been going around just sharing the people that ministered to me and um wow >> just amazing and his his eyes are bright.

Just an amazing amazing young man." So that was really really cool. >> Come on Brad, why don't you pray? I feel like um I don't know if people I feel like often our online community has um friends, loved ones who've been struggling, who've maybe been in addiction. Maybe they're looking for a testimony like this saying like, "Hey, >> I need that for my uncle.

I need that for my sister. I need that for whoever else." Like the power of God transforms. Like that man has had a radical transformation in a year. Completely different. no longer living the way that he used to, but actually walking for the Lord, walking towards the Lord.

Like, come on. >> It's epic. >> It's crazy. Do it again, Jesus. Why don't you pray? >> Come on. Well, Lord, I'm going to pray that God reminds us that we're part of his plan. >> Yeah. >> Some of those plans >> that we are the one that helped the product, the um men on the road.

What's my story? My Bible story is gone out my head. >> Which one are you saying? >> Samaritan. >> The Samaritan. >> Good Samaritan. [laughter] Uh we're going to pray just um especially off the back of Gab's word last last week. We're going to ask for something a little bit different.

We're not going to ask for results. We're going to ask for purpose. >> Come on. >> So Lord, I just ask Lord that your spirit come upon us this morning, Lord. >> Lord, we thank you Lord that we are not like um beggars with a bowl asking for just a little bit more, Lord.

But I thank you, Lord, that you have saved us and you've delivered us, Lord. And you've put us into a body that is living and that is active. if you've made us hands and eyes and ears and feet. And Lord, I ask, Lord, that a grace would come upon us this week and this morning, that wouldn't just be a good idea, but conviction would come onto our hearts that we are part of the solution, that we are part of the body, that we're part of the call of God.

We're part of someone else's story. And Lord, I ask, Lord, for prophetic happenings to happen this week, that people have insight that I feel like some of you, some people have been waiting for the right moment. And I feel like some of us need to hear that it's the right moment.

And I Lord, I ask for your anointing of your word to come forth, Lord. That as we begin to share in love with people about you, Lord, as we start to put ourselves into people's stories, Lord, that it wouldn't just be a good story, but it would be the power of God revealed in that situation.

We ask for that grace to come on people in Jesus name. Brad, I feel so much anointing and just power being released. Even as people are watching through the screens, whether that's for yourself, whether that's for a loved one, there is something available today. And so God, we just thank you for the testimony that in a moment, >> anything can change. >> Sometimes it's a process and sometimes it's a moment, but God, we just thank you that your power is to set people free.

It's to actually set free the captive >> and to bring freedom for for freedom. We've been set free. What What is the verse? Galatians 5. It's by for freedom. You've been set free. Oh my gosh. I have to look at my Bible. Jesus, help me, Lord. Brad, you pray and say something else.

That's good. While I look [laughter] >> Well, I think we've got like 20 seconds. This is going to be a race of time to see if >> for freedom. Christ has set us free. See? Okay. [laughter] >> Help us, God. Help us, God. Well, guys, we're going to go worship together.

Um, get your communion elements ready. Be prepared because Jesus can do anything in a moment. >> Amen. >> Yeah. Uh we bless you. See you soon. >> Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. Let's stand together. Welcome. Welcome. Welcome. Good to see you. Now, how many of you you actually remembered there was a time change and you changed your clocks?

How many of you you didn't remember, but you have a watch or a clock connected to the satellite and it remembered for you? Yeah. In other words, you are here by the grace of God entirely. Yeah, that's me right there. I totally forgot and I couldn't figure out why my watch was different than my clock.

Anyway, well, welcome. Glad glad that we get to celebrate together. We have uh such a great privilege to be together. And I I want um I want us to start with this theme, this thought. In uh Psalms 80 uh three times it says, "Restore us, oh Lord, God of hosts.

Cause your face to shine and we will be saved." So say, say this with me. Restore us, oh God. >> Restore us, oh God. >> Cause your face to shine. >> Cause your face shine. >> And we will be saved. >> And we will be saved. It's the entire psalm is about restoration.

And all of us have areas of our life where we just need God to restore things that are broken, maybe relationships, maybe uh uh financial things, business, whatever it might be. We've all got uh health issues. And that God is the father who restores all. And I I love the theme in scripture.

In fact, there's one place that says um God be merciful to us and bless us. Cause his face to shine upon us that your way may be known in the earth. Now think about this. Cause your face to shine on us so that people will know what you're like.

What does that mean? That means his countenance changes our countenance. >> Picture a mom, a dad. We just saw beautiful little Isabella just born a few weeks ago. And mom and dad, their faces glow over that child. Well, that's our heavenly father over you. >> His face shines with delight over you with the absolute commitment to restore all.

He is the father who restores all. And I'm glad we get to be together today. We're going to honor the name of the Lord in uh praise and worship. We're going to c celebrate his goodness, but we're also going to celebrate being together. And it's a great treat.

So, you got people around you that are really important to God and they're important to us. Find out who they are. Bless them really good and we will get started. And I >> ((music playing)) >> Yes. Yeah. We come to glorify ((music playing)) you, Lord. Oh, we glorify. We glorify. We glorify you.

Let's sing. ((music playing)) Father, we love you. Father, we love you. We worship and adore you. Glorify your name in all the earth and glorify ((music playing)) your name. We glorify your ((music playing)) name. Oh, glorify [singing] your name in ((music playing)) all the earth. Sing Jesus. In Jesus ((music playing)) we love you. We worship ((music playing)) and adore you.

Glorify ((music playing)) your name in all the earth. ((music playing)) Yes, we glorify ((music playing)) your name. We ((music playing)) glorify your name. ((music playing)) Glorify your ((music playing)) name in all the earth. ((music playing)) See, spirit. Yes. Spirit, ((music playing)) we love you. We worship ((music playing)) and adore. Glorify. Oh, glorify in all the earth. ((music playing)) Glorify. We glorify ((music playing)) your name. Oh, glorify ((music playing)) your name.

Glorify ((music playing)) your name in all the earth. ((music playing)) Glorify. We glorify. ((music playing)) Yes, ((music playing)) we glorify your name. ((music playing)) We glorify your name in all the earth. ((music playing)) Sing glorify and glorify [singing] your ((music playing)) name. Lord, we glorify your [singing] name. Glorify ((music playing)) [singing and chant] your name in all the ((music playing)) earth. Shall we glorify [music and singing] you? In the darkness ((music playing)) we were [singing] waiting without hope and without light.

Till from heaven you came running. [music and singing] There is mercy in your eyes to fulfill the [singing] law and prophets. To a ((music playing)) virgin came the word from a throne of endless [singing] glory to a ((music playing)) cradle in the dirt. ((music playing)) Praise [singing] the father. ((music playing)) Praise the son. Praise ((music playing)) the spirit. Three in one and God ((music playing)) of glory.

Majesty. ((music playing)) Praise [singing] forever to the king ((music playing)) of kings. ((music playing)) to reveal the kingdom coming and to ((music playing)) reconcile [singing] the lost to redeem the whole creation. You did not [music and singing] despise the cross for and even in your suffering you saw to the other ((music playing)) side knowing this was our salvation. Jesus for our sake you ((music playing)) die.

Praise the father. ((music playing)) Praise the son. Praise ((music playing)) the spirit. Three in one. ((music playing)) God of glory. I trust in ((music playing)) praise forever to the king of king. ((music playing)) And the moment that you rose, all of heaven held its breath ((music playing)) till that stone was moved for good. For the lamb conquered death ((music playing)) and the devils from their tombs and the ((music playing)) angels it all the soul would come to the father ((music playing)) and the church of Christ was born and the spirit the ((music playing)) flame and his goel to the ((music playing)) shall not shall not fail by his blood in his name.

In his ((music playing)) free I am free Jesus ((music playing)) Christ. ((music playing)) >> ((music playing)) >> Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) Yeah. Heat. ((music playing)) Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) >> ((music playing)) >> Praise forever to the king. Praise forever ((music playing)) to the king of kings. Praise the [music and singing] Father. Praise the Son. Praise ((music playing)) the Spirit. Three and one in God [music and singing] of glory. Praise forever. >> ((music playing)) >> We've come to join the song sung ((music playing)) long before our lives to raise our voice [music and singing] alone.

Heaven and earth alive. We seen your ((music playing)) faithful hand and your ((music playing)) mercy went out and a ((music playing)) king who blessed in a ((music playing)) God who sacri ((music playing)) be thrown. will be enrolled upon the praises ((music playing)) of a thousand generations. You are worthy Lord and unto you the slave ((music playing)) ris king. We lift our voice with heaven singing worthy ((music playing)) Lord of all.

((music playing)) And all through this life we lead ((music playing)) it on through eternity. ((music playing)) who are in this praise will cry. Yes, Lord Jesus be glorified. ((music playing)) Let's sing that again. All through and all through ((music playing)) this life we lead and on ((music playing)) through [singing] eternity. are in this praise. We ((music playing)) cry. We cry. Jesus be Lord.

I see Jesus. Jesus be glory ((music playing)) ((music playing)) generations. worthy ((music playing)) to ((music playing)) we sing. ((music playing)) So we th ((music playing)) you are worthy. >> ((music playing)) >> And until you s we lift our voice together singing worthy ((music playing)) of [singing] all. ((music playing)) That's who you are. Jesus, ((music playing)) Lord of all, seated in glory. That's who you [music and singing] are, Jesus. ((music playing)) Let's give him our highest praises.

Highest ((music playing)) praisees ((music playing)) Lord of all ((music playing)) we bring highest praisees ((music playing)) Lord of all ((music playing)) highest. Praise ((music playing)) Lord. Oh to you highest ((music playing)) praisees Lord ((music playing)) of all we bring them now highest praisees Lord ((music playing)) Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Heat. ((music playing)) Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Yeah. Heat. ((music playing)) Yeah. ((music playing)) Heat. ((music playing)) Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Heat. Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) Yeah. Heat. ((music playing)) Yeah. ((music playing)) Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Heat >> ((music playing)) >> up here.

((music playing)) ((music playing)) Praise ((music playing)) you my ((music playing)) Yes, you [singing] are worthy, Lord of all. Unto you the [music and singing] slain and risen King. We lift our voice with heaven singing worth. >> Oh, just sing it again. Be enthroned. Be ((music playing)) enthroned upon. ((music playing)) >> Yes, God. to you and unto you ((music playing)) the slave [singing] ris. We lift our voice to heaven.

Lord. ((music playing)) Oh, ((music playing)) I am. ((music playing)) He's seated ((music playing)) in glory. He's seated in glory. He's seated in ((music playing)) glory. I saw the Lord. He is high lifted up. Oh, he is high lifted up. He is seated in glory. ((music playing)) Oh, ((music playing)) if you have a name of my Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) You are given the name that is above ((music playing)) every name that has the name of Jesus.

Every name ((music playing)) confess you are Lord and you are God and you ((music playing)) are good and your mercy end yours forever. Jesus, this is who you are. This is who you ((music playing)) are. Heat. ((music playing)) Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Oh, ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) heat, heat. ((music playing)) Yeah. ((music playing)) Heat. ((music playing)) Yeah. Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) >> ((music playing)) >> You are worthy of the ((music playing)) throne above the praises of a thousand generations.

You are worthy, Lord of all. Then unto you the slain ((music playing)) and risen king. We lift our voice with heaven singing worthy Lord of all. Yes. Lord of all. ((music playing)) You're seated in glory. You are seated in glory. You are seated in glory. Just tell the Lord you're ((music playing)) seated in glory.

You are seated in glory. You reign. seated ((music playing)) in glory. ((music playing)) You are Are you happy? and God our Father, Lord of ((music playing)) all, Our great creator, ((music playing)) you hear my call and God ((music playing)) our healer, God our strength. ((music playing)) Loving [singing] kindness ((music playing)) is your embrace. It's who you are. Oh, oh, ((music playing)) oh. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) And Jesus, friend, above all friends, you [music and singing] lay down your life that I might ((music playing)) live.

Faithful [music and singing] shepher of my soul. ((music playing)) Savior, [singing] you have made ((music playing)) me whole and it's who you are. Oh ((music playing)) woah ((music playing)) woah in ((music playing)) holy spirit comforter. Oh, your eyes are filled with laughter. For you [music and singing] are wisdom. You are alive in my every ((music playing)) need. God, you who ((music playing)) you are. Oh ((music playing)) ((music playing)) yeah, that's who you are.

((music playing)) It's who you are. ((music playing)) Oh, you are holy, ((music playing)) holy. You are ((music playing)) holy, holy. You are ((music playing)) worthy. Yeah. Heat. ((music playing)) Heat. ((music playing)) Heat. ((music playing)) Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) Yeah. ((music playing)) Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) Heat. ((music playing)) Heat. ((music playing)) Heat. ((music playing)) Heat. ((music playing)) Worthy, worthy ((music playing)) Lord. Sing holy, holy. And you are holy, holy, [singing] Lord of. ((music playing)) Yes, you are holy, holy Lord. And he's worthy and worthy.

Worthy. ((music playing)) >> Yes, you are worthy. Worthyord. ((music playing)) >> Oh, just sing it again. He's holy and holy. ((music playing)) And holy, holy, Lord. Worthy, worthy, worthy, worthy Lord. and worthy, worthy Lord of all. Yes, Jesus and holy, holy Lord of all and holy, holy Lord of All you are worthy, worthy, Lord of all.

Yes, you are and worthy. Worthy, Lord of all. You were the word at the beginning, [singing] one with God the Lord [singing and music] most your hidden glory in creation ((music playing)) now revealed in you our ((music playing)) Christ. What a beautiful name it is. What a beautiful name [music and singing] it is. The name of Jesus ((music playing)) Christ my king.

What a beautiful ((music playing)) name [singing] it is. Nothing compares to this. What a beautiful name [singing] it is. The ((music playing)) name of Jesus. You didn't want [music and singing] heaven without us. to Jesus ((music playing)) you brought heaven [singing] down. My sin was great, your love was greater. What could separate [music and singing] us now? What a wonderful name it ((music playing)) is.

What a wonderful name it is. The name ((music playing)) of Jesus [singing] Christ my king. What a wonderful ((music playing)) name it is. Nothing compares to this. What a wonderful name it is. The name of Jesus. What a wonderful name ((music playing)) it is. The name of Jesus. Heat. ((music playing)) Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) >> ((music playing)) ((music playing)) >> Death could not [singing] hold you.

He fell to before you. You silence the ((music playing)) ghost of sin and race. The heavens are ((music playing)) roaring. Praise of your glory. For you are raised to life ((music playing)) again. And you have no rival. You have no evil ((music playing)) now and forever. For God you reign. Yours is ((music playing)) the kingom. Yours is the glory. is ((music playing)) the name of death could hold you could not hold ((music playing)) you before you s ((music playing)) ((music playing)) for you ((music playing)) Heat.

Heat. ((music playing)) Yeah. ((music playing)) Heat. ((music playing)) Heat. ((music playing)) Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Yeah. ((music playing)) Heat. ((music playing)) Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) Heat. Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) >> ((music playing)) >> What a powerful name. What a powerful name. ((music playing)) The [singing] name of Jesus. ((music playing)) What a powerful [singing] name it is. And nothing can stand against. What a powerful [singing] name it is.

Jesus Christ. Let's just lift ((music playing)) our hands for a moment. Thank you, Lord. The Bible says ((music playing)) we enter his gates with thanksgiving. Our response ((music playing)) to God's actions in our life. And we enter his courts with praise. Our response to God's character in ((music playing)) our life. God, we thank you for the works that you've done in our lives this week today.

And we thank you for the works that you'll ((music playing)) do throughout this week. God, we thank you. We love you, God. We love you, ((music playing)) Jesus. be the center of our lives. Be God, be be right in the middle of everything we do, God. Everything we are. Thank you, Lord.

Thank you, God. If you could all stand. We're going to take communion this morning. If you didn't get the elements, you could just raise your hand. We'll have some ((music playing)) ushers. Uh it's the juice and the cup all the the bread and the cup all together. If you didn't get that, just raise your hand.

Yeah, those ((music playing)) are in front, you can go back to your seats. So beautiful this morning. I had an interesting experience this morning. It's kind of a weird experience. Last night I went to bed ((music playing)) and I put in an earbud. I just sometimes like to listen to worship music and Kathy's next to me and doesn't like to ((music playing)) listen to it at the same time.

Sometimes she wants to sleep instead. And I I just or I listen to my Bible. And last night I was listening to my Bible and at 3:00 in the morning I woke up and took the earbud out, went to the restroom. And then this morning I got up and got ((music playing)) dressed, put some pants on, didn't like them, changed my pants.

Ladies, you ever do that, ladies? Ah, it made me look fat. I don't I don't like that. changed my pants, you know, took the shower, got washed my hair, got all done, got ready to go, and I was walking out of my bedroom and I felt something in my pants and I pulled it out and it was my earbud.

((music playing)) I'm like, how could that happen? I changed my pants already this morning. I shampooed my hair. Couldn't have been in my ear. So, I got my car to come to church this morning and I was thinking like, Lord, that is just weird. ((music playing)) And all of a sudden, I heard the Lord say, "Are you listening to me?

Are you listening to me?" And I was like, "I ((music playing)) I am. You have my full attention at this moment right now." And this morning, we're going to take communion. ((music playing)) I wanted to somehow tie that in so you could do weird with me this morning. And >> ((music playing)) >> uh and Jesus said in [clears throat] John 10, he said, "My sheep know my voice.

((music playing)) They will not follow a stranger for they for they do not know the voice of a stranger. And this morning I just felt that ((music playing)) the Lord wants to just open up our ears. How many you know some people I I've heard people say many times we do these prophetic trainings and just partnering with the Holy Spirit.

((music playing)) And I've heard people say God doesn't speak to me. I'm like how does a guy named Word ((music playing)) not speak to you? He's the word of God. >> How many you understand that you came into relationship with a guy whose first name is word? >> Or second name is word.

And I I just really believe ((music playing)) that the Lord wants to open the ears of his people. >> I believe he wants to open the eyes of his ((music playing)) people. I believe that we're in this big shift right now. The Lord's opening up this new era. And isn't it interesting when the Holy Spirit came in ((music playing)) Acts chapter 2, it's one of the first signs of his outpouring was and they prophesied.

((music playing)) How many know prophecy is I hear God for you. >> And this morning, I just believe that as we take ((music playing)) a cup, in fact, why don't you just do that? Just take your your your cup right there and I'll give you a minute to open it right there.

((music playing)) I want to tell you another miracle I had today is I didn't spill this on me in first service. So, we're hoping for a double miracle. And I want us just to take this bread right here. This ((music playing)) and Jesus said it's broken for you. Would you just take it right now and just break it in half and say, "Jesus, I thank you. >> I thank you >> that you were broken >> to bring me into ((music playing)) communion with you.

Jesus, >> Jesus, >> you didn't just save me. >> You didn't just save me. >> You made me a son or a ((music playing)) daughter. >> And Jesus, right now, >> as I take this bread, >> as I take this, >> I pray that you would open my ears. >> That you would open my eyes. >> Jesus, you're the good shepherd. >> I am a sheep. >> I am a sheep. >> And I know your voice.

Let's take this together. Now we're looking for the second miracle. Let's open this up. The blood of a new covenant. How many you know in the Old Testament ((music playing)) we had some prophets or heard God. But how many you know in the new covenant, everybody say the new covenant, >> we have a relationship with God.

((music playing)) Come on, say, "I have a relationship with God." >> And I'm a sheep. ((music playing)) >> And Jesus, he bled for me. >> To forgive my sins. ((music playing)) >> And sin. Come on, keep going. And sin >> is what separated me >> is what separated me >> from God. >> from God. >> And Jesus, >> thank you.

Thank you >> for forgiving my sins. >> forgiving my s >> and bringing me in >> and bringing me in >> to sunship >> and friendship with you. >> May you open my ears >> May you open my ears >> to hear only your voice >> only your voice >> in Jesus name. >> Let's take the ((music playing)) let's take the cup.

Lord, I thank you for this body. Those who in ((music playing)) inside this building and those who are family that's extended ((music playing)) through the nations right now on Bethl TV and around. Lord, I just pray ((music playing)) your blessing. Lord, may you open the ears of the deaf today. May you open the eyes of the blind today.

((music playing)) Lord, I pray for every person in the sound of my voice that has said or that says, "God just doesn't ((music playing)) talk to me." Lord, I pray that they would have that they would have an aha moment today. An aha moment. I just had this picture right now of little children like in the in this picture I'm having this vision.

And I'm having two-year-olds, three-year-olds saying, "God, talk to me. Mommy, ((music playing)) do God talk to me." You said even our children would know the voice of the Lord. ((music playing)) Lord, I pray that you would open the ears of the infants, the eyes of the infants. Lord, I pray that ((music playing)) from the oldest to the youngest that everybody would would that everybody's ears and eyes would be open.

In Jesus name. And everybody ((music playing)) say, "So be it." >> So be it. >> Let it be done. >> Let it be done >> for my family. >> For my family. >> In Jesus name. In Jesus ((music playing)) name. >> Amen. Can we just give it up for the band, please?

((applause)) Great job. And before you sit down, can you just hug someone? Find someone around you and give them a hug. >> All it's on. >> Thank you. >> Yes. Thank you, Jesus. So good. Good morning, church. If you can turn to the person next to you and say bongia just good morning Portuguese.

Bonia. I know. I know. Okay. If you are one of our junior high students, you can start heading to your class for those left side doors. We're meeting the dining room today as usual. Okay. Uh if this is the first time you're visiting Bethl Church, we would love to see who you are in the room.

Can you please stand for a moment if this is your first time visiting? Wow. Thank you, Jesus. ((applause)) Thank you so much for visiting us. I know some of you come from very far away. If you are around those guests, I challenge you to give them a word today to say hi for us.

Tell them we love them. and our ushers have a little gift for you. I think that's it. Let's watch church news together. ((music playing)) Hi Bethl family. I am Michelle Thompson, one of our ministry leaders, and we are so glad that you're here today. And I am also Michelle Thompson.

Oh, I think I've made that joke before, actually. I'm Jenna Vent. I'm a deacon here at church. >> Why do we even make that joke? >> I don't know. But here is this week's church news. >> Our spring 2026 equip classes will be launching this week starting on Tuesday, March 10th.

As we move forward into the new season that God has for us, these classes are a great opportunity ((music playing)) to receive fresh tools and insight to help step into all that he's calling us to. Explore the full list of classes at bethl.com/equip. ((music playing)) My husband and I actually teach the pre-marriage class.

So, if you're dating or looking, you should join the class because you want to set your marriage up right. During Holy Week from March 29th through April 5th, we will join with the global body of Christ to draw near to the Lord and step into a greater awareness of ((music playing)) the great cost and supernatural work that Jesus paid for on the cross.

We will also be gathering on Friday, April 3rd at the Civic Auditorium for a citywide Good Friday service with churches across Reading. Please check out our website or social media platforms for details on the gathering. We look forward to seeing you there. It's a powerful time. You don't want to miss it.

Baby dedications will be taking place on April 26th at our College View campus. It will be a special moment for families to dedicate their children to the Lord with prayer, blessing, and church family support. Because registration often fills up quickly, we encourage those interested to sign up as soon as possible because we definitely take it seriously around here to be fruitful and multiply.

If you've missed any of these announcements, you can find them at bethl.com/churchnews. I think you should have that memorized by now, right? Like you know where to go. Have a great week, everybody. >> All right, it is offering time. If you'll please stand with me. You know, the scriptures say this.

We love because he first loved us. And and I think that's also it's why we give. We give to him because he gave all. Amen. And so we're going to uh declare offering reading number two together. And as we do it, let's just attach our faith uh to these prayers.

Amen. As we receive today's offering, we are believing you for heaven open, earth invaded, storehouses unlocked, and miracles created. Dreams and visions, angelic visitations, declarations, impartations, and divine manifestations, anointings, giftings and calls, positions and promotions, provisions and resources to go to the nations, souls and more souls from every generation saved and set free carrying kingdom revelation.

Thank you, Father, that as I join my value system to yours, you will shower favor, blessing, and increase upon me, so I have more than enough to co- lababor with heaven and see Jesus get his full reward. Hallelujah. Amen. As the you can be seated as the ushers come forward to take the offering.

If you have a a cash or a check gift and need a giving envelope, you can just raise your hand and they'll give that to you. And uh let's just bless this offering. Lord Jesus, it is our delight to give. You gave all and it's it's just our joy to give to you this morning.

Bless this offering, Lord. Let souls and more souls let nations be touched as we give generously. and all of God's people said, >> "Amen." Okay, as they pass the buckets, uh Chris is going to come and introduce our speaker. Thank you. >> Hey guys, so good. Well, Bannon Lee is going to preach this morning ((cheering)) and he's carrying this profound word.

I really believe that God is raising up some prophetic apostolic voices in the nations. And I do believe that Banning's one of the most anointed, prophetic, and apostolic voices in this at for this time. And I feel like he's carrying a word that's shifting this era for us.

So Banning, do not mess this up, bro. Come on, Benny. Let's give it up for Banning. ((applause)) ((cheering)) ((applause)) >> All right. Thank you. Sit down. So good to be with you. Uh so encouraged by all that God's doing. And and I tell you, every time I come back, I just am so overwhelmed by it's been 13 years.

We got sent out 13 years ago. And uh every time I come back, I just so good to be home. So grateful for this house. Wouldn't be who I am without really what God did in our lives here and the leaders here. So so grateful for it. But it's good to be here with you.

Uh we're going to jump in in just a minute. I um uh I had a just to give you a little bit been married 28 years. That's right. To the same woman. And um and I have a a 27year-old daughter. I have a 23-year-old daughter and a 20-year-old son.

So, we're at that stage of life. By the way, can I just say this? It's really funny because I have mentors and fathers in my life and I feel like they were all getting me ready for raising little kids, then raising pre-teens, then raising teenagers. And I'm a little bit irritated right now because I'm looking around going, not one of my whoever mentors, fathers in my life told me about parenting young adults.

[snorts] That's a whole another world. I thought like, hey, 18, we did it. Nope. That's not how that works at all. So, I am a little bit like, why didn't somebody tell me about this? So, we're in that stage of life and uh yeah and um and uh we had a massive life moment happen for us uh because my oldest daughter, my first born uh got married in October.

This a big deal for our family. And uh she she got married on Friday, October. She got married on Friday, Sunday. I I stood up in front of our church. I said, "Guys, my oldest daughter just got married, and uh I am coming to you today and asking if you would join me in a season of prayer and intercession, in prayer and fasting, contending, seeking the Lord, and that you would believe with me that 2026 will be the year of the grandbaby."

And I said, I want you to contend with me that we're going to get a honeymoon pregnancy. I want you to stand with me. I'm here today to recruit you as well that would you be a prayer partner with me. I will send you newsletters. I will send you updates.

But we're believing God that 2026 will be the year of the grandbaby. A lot of people are like, Manny, you can't force your kids to have babies. Don't put pressure on them. I'm like, are you serious? Let me give you a stat. 0 to 18 in California. 0 to 18.

Providing for basic needs cost $500,000. She lived with me till she was 26. I gave her way more than basic needs. I think I probably spent $800,000 on her. And I'm saying, Ellie, I love you, but I spent $800,000. And for $800,000, I want a grandbaby. I want a grandbaby out of this deal.

And this whole thing, I don't know what age you get where you're kind of middle-aged now and you're just like, I don't know what age you get where you're like, all those young people that are like, we're going to get married and we're going to get to know one another and we want to travel a little bit.

I'm like, forget all that. Have babies. Like, I need you like I don't need you to travel and just have a grandbaby for me. All right. $800,000 grandbaby. Not later, sooner. Who's with me in my pray? Who's signing up for prayer partners with me? Who's I'd like to see right now?

Thank you. We'll send you an email. I uh it's you're the grandbaby. Have you seen that t-shirt that says grand kids are God's reward for not killing your children? That's the stage of life I'm at right now. [laughter] The stage of life I'm at. Listen, I didn't kill you.

I need a grandkid. All right. Did you bring There we go. They're like, "Why' you invite him?" Did you bring Did you bring your Bibles today? Get them out. Colossians chapter 1. I'm gonna I'm gonna get you to two places today. All right? And it's going to be really simple, but I I want to get you to God's going after maturity in your life and faith.

If you were to really cut me at my core, what you're going to encounter is a heart that is burning to see revival. When I was 19 years old and I came and uh I was actually going to church here before Bill even came. I came in 93, was part of the youth group.

When Bill came into my world, uh, all of a sudden, what God opened up to me was revival and the concept of an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, God moving, uh, cities and nations being radically impacted, a harvest coming in, the church being awakened with a greater passion for Jesus, and a greater commitment to the cause of Christ on the earth.

Shortly after Bill came into my life, Lou Engle comes into my life. And literally on these steps, 199 uh 1997, I just I'm just laying there on the steps saying, "God, I want to be an intercessor for revival." And God just grabbed a hold of my heart. 1999 grabbed a hold of my heart.

But but so so if you come in my core, I'm burning to see revival. But that passion leads me to a deep commitment and passion for the local church. I believe with all of my heart that the local church is the vehicle through which revival flows into cities and into nations and transforming people's lives.

And I think that I believe right now that we're about to see the greatest harvest the world has ever seen. I I I don't say that to cheerlead for you. I don't say that to I'm telling you right now around the world what what you're seeing. We we we get to work in a lot of different places working with a lot of different churches and pastors.

It's the same testimony every single There's a stirring and a a hunger that's happening in the hearts of people. There is an awakening that's going on in his church and it is unto something and we're going to see God move in profound ways. But I believe that the Lord is asking us to take a fresh look at how we're engaging the church and how we see the church.

I don't how you enga how you see something is very important. If I don't see some because how I see something determines how I engage with it and how I engage with it determines if I'm going to receive what I'm supposed to receive from it. So if I see something improperly or if I see something incorrectly, I'm going to engage with it wrongly and therefore I will not get what is supposed to come through it. >> The illustration I would use is anybody from England in here? >> Okay, I'm about to offend British people, but hang with me for a second.

We love England. I've been going to England for 30 years. We have a pastor's conference over there every year. We're literally planting a church in Cambridge, England. We're going to have a Jesus Culture Cambridge. I'm believing God for England, the UK, for all of Europe. Right. But but but the thing I have a problem with about English people and England is the lack of customer service in that nation.

It's atrocious. It's horrible. Like it everybody watching online, you listen, it's just true. When you go to England, customer service is like you go to a restaurant and it's full on like I'm so sorry for being an inconvenience for being in your restaurant paying you money for you.

Like it's just like it's bad because I'm an American and as an American I believe it's my God-given American right to have good customer service. I think it's in the Bill of Rights somewhere. And so when I go to a restaurant, I want good customer service. I expect it when I show up, right?

So, so when I come to a restaurant, I don't complain or argue, but or throw a fit, but when I show up, I want good customer service. So, I show up and I notice right away. If they don't come over and check on me, if they don't bring some bread, some water, takes a while.

Well, I I don't throw a fit, but I just remember [laughter] if I specifically asked for no tomatoes in my meal because I can theologically, right, esquetology, theologically, I can connect tomatoes to the antichrist. So, I say, "Please, no tomatoes. If they bring tomatoes, I don't throw a fit.

I push them off to the side, but I remember, don't come back, right? I'm in a restaurant. I want good customer service. The problem is is if I see I I see a restaurant, I engage with it that way. If I was to walk into my home, enga thinking it's a restaurant, engaging it like a restaurant, it's going to be very problematic.

Mainly because I'm scared of my wife. Can you imagine if I come home and I walk in, I sit down at my dining room table, a long day at work, I come in, I sit down, I sit patiently waiting at my dining room table for somebody to come and bring me some bread, some water, check on me.

Nobody does. So I'm like, "Excuse me, listen. Is anybody going to come help me out around the house?" No. No. Shut up. Get it yourself. This unbelievable. I cannot believe this is I'm taking my business elsewhere. Can you imagine if my wife brought a meal out that she cooked?

It had tomatoes in it. And I said, "Woman, I specifically asked for no tomatoes in my meal. I'm going to take my business elsewhere. I'm never coming back here again." Like, it would not like I don't engage my house that way >> because it's a house. It's family.

And so I engage it differently because I see it differently. If I And here's the problem. A lot of people in the church, I'm going to get to this thing. A lot of people in the church, even in charismatic present circles, >> because we've been so discipled by culture that we walk into this thing thinking it's a restaurant, not a family. >> We're engaging with it as a consumer, not a family member, and we don't realize it.

What we're missing is the very thing that God wants to release to you through the church. >> We are missing. And you know what it is? Maturity. >> I'm going to tell you right now, what God's going after in your life is maturity. >> He wants you to grow up. >> I say that with love in my heart.

He He wants Listen, God wants to mature you. This is the whole thing. The Apostle Paul, this is Paul. This is the most revelatory. I mean this is Paul third heaven revelation unbelievable theological mind strategic thinker leader plants churches encourages churches like this guy this guy who said there's one thing everything else I count as garbage besides this one thing knowing Christ that guy in Colossians 1:28 writes this I want you to see this he says he is the one we proclaim admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom.

And here's why. He says, "Here's why I'm teaching Christ. Here's why I'm admonishing you. It's for this reason. So that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ." He says, "Here's what I'm going after." But then he makes a statement for me that was just so profound. He's he's about to double down on this in 29.

And he says to this end, what end? That you would be mature in Christ. To this end, I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me. He says, listen, all the energy Christ has put inside of me. I'm pointing at this one thing that you would be mature in Christ. >> The endgame is maturity.

Now, Paul is going to define maturity throughout his letters. You'll see him with this. There's a common theme that Paul's going to define maturity as looking like Jesus and doing the works of Jesus. So Paul would say, "Let me tell you what maturity looks like. It's that your life looks like Jesus >> and that you're doing the works of Jesus."

This is what he's talking about when he says, "Listen, I am laboring. I am laboring for this thing for Christ to be formed in you." He says, "This is what this is what maturity looks like. Christ being formed in your life." We're going to talk about Ephesians 4 with the five-fold, but Ephesians 4 uses the same language.

He says, "Until we all reach unity in the faith and the knowledge of the son of God and become mature." And then he describes what maturity is. Attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. He says, "I'm trying to get Christ, the fullness of Christ manifesting in your life."

That's maturity, guys. Listen, God looks at you and says, he says, "Listen, I I want maturity out of you. I want you to look like Jesus. I want you to do the works of Jesus." And so, he says, "Here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to fill you with the Holy Spirit."

Do you know the Holy Spirit fills your the Holy Spirit is a seal for our salvation. But the Holy Spirit infills your life for two main reasons. One is this is the concept of sanctification is that one is is is that every day the Bible says he is daily renewing your life >> to look more like Jesus that the Holy Spirit is every day at work in you.

This is the fruit of the spirit. He's every day working in your life so that you'll look more like Jesus. But the Holy Spirit also fills you to empower you to do the works of Jesus. So God comes and says, "Listen, I'm going to fill your life. I want you to look like my son.

I want maturity out of you. This is what I'm going after. So, I'm going to fill you. Then he says in Ephesians 4, then I'm going to give you gifts called the five-fold. I'm going to give you leadership gifts. And they have the exact same purpose. They're going to equip you to the works of ministry so that Ephesians 4, you will be mature so that you will no longer be a child. so that you will grow up into the fullness of him who is the head, Christ.

So God says, I'm going to come and fill you with the Holy Spirit. I'm going to give you leadership. I'm going to give you the five-fold and then he's going to give us disciplehip. And this is a family concept. Disciplehip is not a classroom concept. Disciplehip is not it's not a college concept.

It's a family concept. >> He says, "And then I'm going to give you disciplehip. I'm going to give you other people in your life and they are going to do it." So disciplehip is this. Disciplehip is people partnering with the work of the Holy Spirit in somebody's life to do what?

To look like the teacher and to do what the teacher does. >> That's that's Middle Eastern that's middle eastern Jewish disciplehip is that I'm going to be an apprentice. I want to look like the teacher and I want to do what he's doing. So God says, listen, maturity is this.

It looks like Jesus doing what he's done and I've given you some things to come along that. If you come into the church and see it as anything other than a family that is not there to make my life easier, it's not there to make my life more convenient.

It's not there to serve me. It's there to grow me. >> It's there to mature me. It's there to get me where next year I'd be able to say I look more like Jesus this year than I did last year. >> That's the goal. That's the endgame. That's what he's going after.

But if you approach it as anything other than family, listen to me. you are going to miss the very thing that God's wanting to release to you. This is why we we don't know this, but in Western church in particular, we have been discipled by a consumer-driven culture that says, "When I approach an organization, I am coming as a consumer.

You were there to serve me. You were there to make my life easier. You're there to entertain me." Whatever it might be. And so, so if I don't see it as a family, then I'm approaching it. And I'm going to tell you this right now. Consumerism, I think, is maybe the number one thing that's undermining maturity in the lives of a believer because you're missing the vehicle through which God wants to deliver to you the very thing that he's going to do to grow you.

Family just thinks differently because family has different goals. I I actually I kid you not, I am more and more convinced that church should not be convenient. I think convenience is keeping believers immature >> and we're setting up these worlds like we want your we want prayer to be easier for you and we want community to be easier for you and we don't ever want you to walk through any fire test and we want giving to be easier for you.

And I'm like no I think that just keeps you immature. I think Jesus has no It's amazing how many pastors I work with that were apologetic that hey, we'd love for you to serve and love for you to give and I don't want you to be inconvenience. And I just get up and go, listen guys, I got to be honest with you, Jesus has no problem inconveniencing you at all. >> There's a organization called 3DM and they've done some work.

I'm going to show you this thing. They're a disciplehip organization. They've done some work around where does disciplehip or what I would say maturity really happen and uh and they're they're doing this work and it's very interesting because the I'll show you this. It's they've come up with something called the high invitation high challenge quadrant uh uh chart or whatever matrix because and let me show you this real quick.

I'm going to show you this. This this is what they've worked. So what they're saying is they're saying churches that high invitation, right? That'd be welcoming, loving for all the stuff that we love, all the stuff that we deeply believe in, right? They're saying high invitation. When it's high invitation but low challenge, it creates a consumer culture. >> Really high invitation, not a lot of challenge.

Then you have the low challenge, low invitation, it's a super boring culture, apathetic. I was raised in a pretty legalistic culture before I came to Bethl. That would have been in this right bottom quadrant that was like high challenge, low invitation. man, you could never measure up. Required a lot, not friendly at all.

Right? And that and that leads to that stressful burnout. But the work they've done is they've said, listen, disciplehip or maturity or growth happens in this top right hand corner, which is high challenge, high invitation. Now, the reason I share this is because if you don't see the church as a family, that's going to be confusing to you.

Because in order to really grow, you have to be in an environment that believes in you. But you have to be in an environment that challenges you. >> And businesses don't do that. Never once have I come into a restaurant, sat down, and the waiter comes up and goes, "Hey, listen.

How's your guys' marriage doing? [laughter] You were a little short with your wife there. I saw what's happening there. Is that what you should be doing, brother? Like, you know, it just doesn't happen, right? It's in the context of family, healthy family. Can I say healthy family? Some of you didn't grow up in healthy families.

So, so, but healthy family, this is operating all the time. High invitation, high challenge. >> There's nobody that believes in my kids more than I do, and there's nobody that challenges them more than I do. Now the now here's here's the dangers on the in the church right now is that culture this is the war going on in culture right now is that culture is trying to tell us that the minute invitation the minute challenge comes invitation is canled that you can't actually challenge me and still love meow >> I'm going to tell you this Jesus has something to say about that >> right Jesus was this unbelievable example of you know the woman caught in adultery she shows up and again guys in this culture her secondass citizen.

Somehow the man has no responsibility in this moment. They want to stone and kill her. And Jesus shows up. So unbelievably kind, so gracious, so forgiving. And then he says, "Now don't sin anymore. They can coexist." He's He's on Peter, guys. He's on Peter. Like, get behind me, Satan. what's going on?

But then when Peter fails so spectacularly and denies Jesus, when he sees Jesus on the beach, he was so kind like like just the gentleness of Jesus Peter in that moment is so overwhelming. So Jesus says, "Oh, no, no, no. This is family. Really high invitation, really high challenge."

And this is Mori. If you really if you look at this life of Morai Morai and Esther is a fascinating story because Mori is her adopted father. He's family and he so believes in this girl. He helps her. She gets put into the palace. And while she's in the palace, he's just outside pacing back and forth.

Oh, he just cares about her. He's praying for her. He's covering her. He's just I mean, can you imagine if you're in there and somebody's coming in going Morai's out there? He's checking on you. What? He just hasn't left. Oh, that's that's that's my dad. He's covering me.

Believes in me. That's Morai. And then when when Esther is called to go stand before the king, the very reason why she's there, the very reason why God put her in that spot. They say, "Go stand before the king." You know what her first response is? Not yes.

Her first response is, "Nah, it's not going to happen. If I go stand before the king and he doesn't extend a scepter, I could die. I'm not going to do it." Mori sends word back to her. This is the guy that loves her dearly. This is the guy that's been pacing out front.

This is the guy that's invest. Nobody believes in Esther more than Mori. He sends her word. Esther, if you don't go stand before the king, God will wipe you out. He'll wipe your family out. And he'll raise somebody else up to do it. And then he throws in our bookmark.

But who knows if you're brought in the kingdom for such a time as this. I think we should include the verses before every time we quote that, but that's a different issue, right guys? Many of you in this room, hear me on this, are stunted in your growth and are remaining immature in looking more like Jesus because you don't have challenge happening.

You need people in your life that are like, I believe in you deeply, but if you don't do that, God's going to kill you. No, I'm just kidding. That's just kidding. That's Old Testament. We're New Testament. I'm gonna come in the New Testament. That's Old Testament. I don't believe that.

We're New Testament. And so so real maturity happens in disciplehip which is a family concept which has this high invitation high challenge thing happening. The goal of family listen the goal of family my entire goal is to raise sons and daughters who mature who are m who grow physically mentally emotionally spiritually.

That's it until they become mature enough to be mothers mothers and fathers themselves who do the same. That's it. That's that's the purpose of family. That's the goal of family. I think a lot of people are thrown off by this sometimes. You know this the reason why we have to think like family is because there's some things that only make sense in family.

Give you an example. Big churches in particular, one of the things will happen is is they have a huge parking lot. And so in our heart to serve people, we notice that people have to walk a long distance to get into church. So we're like, you know what?

Let's buy some golf carts. Let's send golf carts out to get them. Now, I understand the heart behind this. Elderly and moms with kids and >> Yeah. people Chris's age, different things. You know what I'm saying? People like Chris, we can't expect them to walk that far. You know what I'm saying?

We got to send them a golf cart. But but but here's the here's the issue that I have is we're we're building a structure that's communicating. We want church to be as easy as possible. We want it to be as convenient as possible. But I would never do that with my kids.

Can I tell you if my son was 14 and he parked 100 yards away and he called me, "Dad to park out here, send a golf cart." I'm like, "What? I don't want to walk. Send a golf cart." Excuse me. Send a golf cart, Dad. Yeah. No. You know what I'd do?

I'd tell him a story about an 85year-old woman in Zambia, Africa who walks 9 hours every Sunday because she understands that meeting with the people of the Lord is so valuable that she would walk 9 hours one way to get to church and that he should understand that the people of God and the family of God are worth some sacrifice.

That they're worth actually being inconvenience. That they're worth walking across the parking lot because you're coming into the house of God with the family of God. like that's what I would do, right? Because I know if I'm constantly sending a golf cart to him, he's going to remain immature, which is what his mom does for him.

But listen, my wife's not here, but I would say this if she was here. Listen to this. I'm like, CJ, you are going to raise a boy who needs a woman to take care of him the rest of life. Let this kid do something. But it's her baby boy, right?

She's like, I love him so much. I just This is a true story, guys. True story. He's 20 years old, but when he was 17, I come home from work and I come upstairs and my wife, he's he my son's playing video games and my wife is cleaning his room and I come and I'm like, where's the husbands that have a wife like this with their son?

Raise your hand. Make this is okay. It's true story, right? So, are you with me on this? So, yeah. Absolutely. So, I walk in and I'm like, this our only boy. He's the youngest. And I walked up and said, "What's going on right now?" She goes, "Lea, his name's Lake."

She said, "We made a deal." I'm like, "Oh, a deal. A deal is this. I give you something and you give me something in return of equal or greater value. And if I'm a good negotiator, I'm going to get something of greater value out of you, right?" So I said, "Oh, what's the deal?"

She said, "I'm not making this up." She goes, "He told me if I clean his room, he'll clean his car. [laughter] Wait, what? Remind me to never have you negotiate anything for us ever. So my wife is not helping my case. But what I'm trying to do is grow a mature man >> and I understand that inconvenience and understanding the importance of sacrifice for something that actually matters to be challenged to grow up to take those air right.

This is just what it is. And here's what I my wife she's not watching right now. I'm fine. Um, trust me on this. Trust me on this. She's not watching. I I'll be fine. Guys, I got to tell you, I I think if you think Jesus is easy to follow, you're not reading the Gospels. >> Jesus is so unbelievably kind.

He's so gracious, guys. Honestly, I'm like, God, I don't even know where I'd be without your patience. I am so overwhelmed by your patience in my life. But if you really study Jesus, he was so hardcore to follow. Go go go go go look at this sometime in the gospels and look at when he gathers a crowd what he does. >> He'd get a 15 20,000 thing and then he'd just get up and fall on rebuke him or he'd say offensive things.

You want to be my disciple, you have to hate your father and mother. Doesn't explain it. Now we have all scripture. We understand, oh, scripture interprets scripture and there's other things and we know it's not. He didn't really right. He just you got to hate your father and mother.

He would get up. He'd have 20,000 on a hillside and then he and Listen, if I had 20,000 on a hillside, can I tell you this? I'd be like, "Fellas, this is it. Fastest growing church in America." Put this on Instagram. Man, this is amazing. I'm actually convinced that Jesus wouldn't be invited to modern-day growth conferences for church.

I actually I legitimately think, I'm not even joking. I don't think he'd be invited to church growth conferences because Jesus would go 20,000 and then he'd get up and say the most offensive thing you could say to a Jewish culture. Hey guys, if you want to have any part of me, you have to drink my blood and eat my flesh.

And he wouldn't explain it. He wouldn't be like, "Guys, I don't mean my physical blood and flesh. I mean like a a little wafer in a juice and it's going to come in a little like cup. It's going to be really hard to open, but that's what I'm referring to.

They'd all leave except for like 12. It's like, "Are you guys leaving too?" I'm telling you, I I almost guarantee they're like, "Seriously, we'd like to cuz this is it's disgusting. It's creeping us out. If I was Peter, I'd be PR guy." I'd be like, "Listen, Jesus, seriously, if you could tone down some of the eat my flesh, drink my blood stuff.

I really think we could keep a crowd around next time, you know?" But but like there it's hard like Jesus challenges us. >> He wants us to grow. >> He wants us to mature. I think this is I I want to tell you what I think God's challenging us on right now in the church.

I think when it comes to high challenge, high invitation is that I think let me let me tell you let me let me show you Luke real quick. Luke chapter nine. Jesus comes and empowers the disciples. And I mean, they've got power now. And they're they're casting out demons.

They're healing the sick. They're around full food multiplying. They come back in chapter 10 and they are just rejoicing. This is amazing, Jesus. Like, this stuff's all happening. And then that's all happening. And then in Luke 14, in the midst of all of that, Jesus tells a story because he's going to say, "Listen, this is really important right now. all of this stuff that's happening, all this power, all this signs and wonders, all this stuff you're doing.

Let me just slip this in. He tells a story about being humble. He says, "Listen, when you get invited, I I know I know you think you're big because all this stuff's going on." And Jesus taught on greatness. They had they loved like they had no problem arguing about who was great.

This is this is Luke. But he goes and he says, "Listen, when you get to a table, sit at the sit at the end, not the top. Be the last, not the first." He says, "Just stay low. Just stay humble." He's given him a key to how to stay in this place of power, right?

Don't let this thing don't get arrogant. Don't get prideful. And then he goes on and then in Luke 17. So if you look at Luke, the disciples asked Jesus kind of two main questions in Luke. One was in Luke 11 when the disciples asked Jesus to teach us to pray.

So the disciples are with Jesus and they are recognizing that the source of his life was a connection with the father in prayer. Luke out of all the gospels um actually tracks and shows this the the prayer life of Jesus, the individual prayer life of Jesus. They be like he he prayed all night long.

The disciples got up in the morning. He was gone praying. And so and then he would invite the disciples. So he the disciples are with Jesus. They're watching him pray and they're they're connecting the dots and they said, "Jesus, will you teach us how to pray? Teach us how to pray like you pray."

That's Luke 11. Luke 14, they are connecting the fact that Jesus is living in faith. Guys, I'm not going to get into this in a sermon, but faith, guys, if faith is, you can't please God apart from it. It's how we live. It's how we see. It's how we walk.

Faith is integral. And so they're watching this and so they ask him this second question. They say, "Jesus, would you increase our faith?" When they ask him this, he tells him what seems like a pretty random story. If you look in Luke 17, he says, "Let me tell you a story about a servant."

He said, "There was a servant that went out in the field, was working all day, labored. When he came home, he didn't first eat or drink, but instead he made sure the master ate and drank." And this is where it gets offensive to me as a words of affirmation guy.

And it says, "And the master didn't even thank him." And the servant said, "Listen, I'm just an unprofitable servant doing my duty." When they asked about faith, when they said increase our faith, Jesus said, "You've got to go at the spirit of entitlement." >> He said, "You cannot let the spirit of entitlement get in."

He said that spirit of entitlement, humility is going to arrogance is going to take you out of that place of power. But but entitlement is going to undermine faith. So he said, you've got you cannot listen, it's very interesting if you look at the if you study the life of David in the Psalms and then and then the children of Israel in the wilderness because God has no problem with your he has no problem with your gut level honesty.

David came raw gut level honesty. God, I'm confused. I'm hurt. I'm in pain. Why are my enemies succeeding? Where have you gone? And God was okay with it. Met him. The children of Israel in the wilderness complained, grumbled, and study it out. He was not okay with it.

And I think the difference is is that this grumbling and complaining that I believe is rooted in ungratefulness was connected to a spirit of entitlement. >> See, entitlement gets in and it creeps in on us, guys. I believe the Lord, you want to talk about high challenge right now.

Here' be the high challenge I would give you. Entitlement has crept in and we begin to approach God as if he owes me something. >> And my frustration, my frustration with God is that I believe I'm owed something that you're not giving me. I believe I'm owed a life of comfort.

I believe I'm owed my dreams and destiny. I believe I'm owed that raise. I'm going believe I'm owed another house. I believe I'm owed not a 1985 Civic I'm driving around. Listen, I I I can give you a whole message on being sons and daughters of God who come to him and receive our inheritance, right?

But but the reality is this is and I say this love of my heart for you. God doesn't owe you a thing. He gave you everything in his son, but he doesn't owe you anything. And I think there has to be something and I I this would be my challenge for you in family that just when I come before the Lord, I cannot come before him as if he owes me something. >> So good. >> Listen guys, I was not the one that left heaven, took on flesh, walked amongst humanity, was beaten, bruised, hung naked and ashamed on the cross, bore my sins, defeated death in the grave, raised again.

I didn't do that. I now have an identity. I now have a security in my eternity. I now know the love of the father because of what he did. I didn't do that for him. He did that for me. He doesn't know me. I owe him everything. I owe him everything.

Guys, that this this entitlement thing, it gets in and it's sneaky. It comes through the back door. This is why family is so important. This is why you need people in your life because this thing comes in and you don't even realize it. I remember a few years ago I was invited to go speak, not speak, but go meet with a group of pastors and this politician in New York and I didn't really want to but my wife told me to.

So I went and so I'm flying from the the event is on Tuesday. I leave Monday from Sacramento, have a layover in Denver. And this is the problem with three four services is I'm like I have not told this story, right? This is the problem when you're three, four services deep.

But anyways, um I land in Denver and when I land in Denver, I have a voicemail. I listen to it. It's the lady that's organizing this event. And she said, "Banning, we're so excited to have you with us next week." Wait, what? And I go get on my computer.

I look at my email. I'm like, "Oh my gosh, I completely got the week the date wrong. It's next week, not this week." So, I go change my flight. I turn around and come right back home. Now the problem is is now when you fly a lot you get status and status allows you to have certain privileges that other people don't have right which means this that I either always get upgraded or I get the exact seat I want every time I have a seat that I want or upgraded right well now I have to buy a ticket last minute I have to get this one flight it's the only flight I can take it's this 5 hour flight or whatever and the only seat that was available was the very last row that doesn't recline against the bathroom.

Very limited leg room, middle seat. And I'm like, this is uh and I'm like, so all week long I'm irritated about this. I I'm just I'm like I I'm irritated about it. So I get to the airport. I'm already like and I want to fly 5 hours with the common folk with Gen Pop.

I'm just that like ah and I remember like and the problem is I still have status so I got on the plane first. So I get on with my group my people status people and they're all taking first class and leg room and I just keep walking. Right.

Just keep walking. And I get to the end of the I sit down in the middle seat just having an absolute pity party and this listen I'm melodramatic but this happened. I'm sitting in the middle seat. I'm just going like I don't want to do this. This is so long.

And I just stopped and thought what am I doing? What am I doing? Why am I so ungrateful for a middle seat? Why do I feel like the Lord owes me a better seat on this plane? And I really began to think this. I began to think like I come from a lineage of faith where there are people that were so committed to the gospel, so willing to sacrifice that they were burned at the stake alive. >> I come from a lineage of faith that people were willing to sacrifice at such a level that they sold themselves into slavery to to reach slaves, sold everything, sent family members.

And I can't sit in a middle seat for 5 hours on the way to my five-star hotel and steak dinner. Like literally, seriously. And I just thought, where do how does that get in there? >> Like, I'm frustrated because I think God owes me something. God, you know how much I've been working for you?

Do you understand what I've done for you? And you can't I can't even sit down and drink and eat before you do. And God, you didn't even say thank you to me. Sin gets in. And I'll tell you this is why I'm gonna tell you this. I think the discipline in our life right now has to be thankfulness. >> If ungratefulness undermines faith, thankfulness gets you in it, man. >> Thankfulness is the antidote to that spirit of entitlement.

You want to break out of entitlement, you have to and I you got to be vigilant with it and you got to be disciplined with it and you have got to there has got to be thankfulness. I don't think we talk about how to come before God often enough.

We can have the worship team come up wherever they are. I don't think we talk about Do you know Do you know there's a Let me I'm about to tell you a very middle-aged thing. Has anybody seen the John Adams miniseries? Okay. Yeah. Okay. Maybe it's not even middle-aged.

Maybe it's older than that. Dang. So So there's a there's a miniseries on John Adams which is literally the most middle-aged thing I've ever ever said. But but there's a there's a from years ago and there's a scene in the there's a scene in this miniseries where John Adams is going to come before the king of England now as an ambassador for the first time representing the sovereign and free nation of America and he's going to come before the king and there's a scene that right before he goes before the king there's an attendant outside the room that's giving him instructions on how to come before the king.

He's saying, "Listen, there's a way that you do this." He says, "You got to walk in three steps. You take a bow. Look up. Walk in three steps. Take a bow. You know, don't talk until whatever." He just goes through this whole thing with it. The Bible actually instructs us how to come before God.

Says, "When you come before him, I want you to come with thanksgiving. >> And when you come and sing songs, I want them to be songs of gratitude." >> And the Bible says, "When you come before him, I'm going to come with thankfulness. I'm going to come. God, I'm so grateful. >> The the Bible actually in Hebrews 13 says that we receive the kingdom with thankfulness. >> The Bible says that that we can bring our supplications, our requests.

We can bring if we're anxious, bring your supplications, but make sure it is wrapped in thankfulness >> that we're [snorts] to that we're to come before him >> and just say, "God, I'm so grateful. I I try to the best of my ability every time I come before the Lord, worship, prayer, even as I turn my heart to him during the day, I just want to come and just say thank you. >> I I I I this is I almost never come before God with supplication before I first just say thank you. >> I'm so grateful.

Thank you for all that you've done. Listen, guys, you weren't the 99, >> right? You were the one that he left everything for. You were the You didn't find Jesus. Can I tell you this right now? You didn't find Jesus. Jesus wasn't lost. Jesus pursued you. He found you.

While you were yet a sinner, while you were in a pit, while you were in rebellion from God, he came and he found you. He pulled you up. He gave you an identity. He poured out the love of the father on you. He gave you an eternity secure with him.

That's what he did for you. And the older I get, the more I just get before him and I just say, "God, I so I'm so grateful for your faithfulness in my life. I'm so grateful for who you are. man, you have always been my shepherd and you have always been my banner and you have always been my provider and you have always been my protector and you have always been my father and you have always been my peace and there's got to be something guys here's the challenge we got to cut we have to break that spirit of entitlement that creeps in our lives ((music playing)) it will take you out of faith now I don't think that thing gets broken except in the f in except in a family context where a father and mother comes up and goes Hey dude, I don't know what that thing is, but you got like you got to get that out.

And then we just ((music playing)) come and we just say, "Thank you, Jesus. I am going to spend eternity saying thank you. I can never repay what you do. If you want me to sit in a middle ((music playing)) seat the rest of my life, I give you everything. I I I will give you everything I have.

You owe me nothing. I'm so grateful you've given me everything in your son. I'm so grateful that you've given me your kindness and your patience and your faithfulness, but you don't owe me anything. And we're going to come before God. That's why the Bible says in everything, in everything, in every situation.

Yeah. Any of you have that positive friend that's just annoying, they kind of find something positive. We were driving back, our pastor, our lead pastor in San Diego, Zach, super positive guy. We're driving back from the Bay Area one time coming to S. When you come to Sacramento from the Bay Area, you hit traffic in Davis and you just sit there.

There's few things that make me lose my salvation like traffic. I'm just sitting there. It's a long day. I'm so irritated. This is so annoying. There's a group of us guys. And Zach just goes, "Guys, how great is this that we get to spend some more time together?

((cheering)) Shut up, Zach." like, you know, but but but I'm like, "Oh my gosh, that's how that's how I want to live. That's how I want to live." Every test, every fire, the mess of family, God challenging me to ((music playing)) deep level, I just want to say thank you. And I want to look more like you next year than I did this year.

And I want to come before you. You've been so faithful to me, God. You've been so gracious. You don't owe me anything. You don't owe me my destiny. You don't owe me my dreams. I owe you everything. I'll give you my life. But this this high challenge, high invitation, guys, listen.

If you're coming ((music playing)) to church, if it's anything else than a family that's here to grow you up, you're going to miss what God wants to do. You're going to miss the vehicle that God wants to use ((music playing)) to mature you. The spirit of God fills you. The leadership gifts equip you and the family of God disciples you all have the same purpose.

Stand up with me. We have like a chorus we can sing. Can we just come before God just for a minute before we dismiss and can we just can you take just a moment and would you sing a little bit louder than you normally would sing? Would you bring him an offering?

Would you bring him a gift that just says, "Thank you." And and would you come and just say, "God, I ((music playing)) make this commitment. Whatever it takes, mature my life. Whatever it takes, mature my life. Break anything in my head that's somehow approaching church from a consumer mentality ((music playing)) and not a family mentality.

And then, God, I want to grow. I want to grow. I want to mature." >> Yeah. Come on, >> Lord. >> Come on. Can we sing? I want every voice. I give you my ((music playing)) soul. >> Yeah. We're just going to come and bring our offering to the Lord. >> And I live for [music and singing] you alone.

Every breath that I take, every moment [music and singing] I'm away, Lord, have [music and singing] your way. >> Come on, sing this again. And Lord I God we give you ((music playing)) my heart. >> Say thank you Jesus. >> I give you my soul. [singing] >> Come on. Fill us. Transform us. >> I live ((music playing)) for [singing] you alone.

Every breath that I [music and singing] take. Every moment I'm awake. Lord, have [music and singing] your way in me. Lord, I give you my heart and I ((music playing)) give you my soul. Oh, I ((music playing)) live for you alone. [singing] Every breath that I ((music playing)) take and every moment I'm awake. Have your way. Have ((music playing)) your way. Lord, I give and Lord I give you.

I give you my soul. Have ((music playing)) everything. I live for you alone. Every ((music playing)) breath that [singing] I take, every moment I'm awake, oh Lord, have ((music playing)) your way. Have your way. ((music playing)) Oh ((music playing)) Lord, [singing] have your way in me. Have ((music playing)) everything. Every moment of my ((music playing)) life, Lord. Let's sing it again. Lord, I give you and Lord, I need you in my heart.

((music playing)) Heat. Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) Heat. Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) [singing] Yeah. Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Heat. ((music playing)) Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Have your way with me. ((music playing)) Yes, Jesus. Yes, Jesus. Have your way, Jesus. ((music playing)) Have your way in us, Lord God. Have your way, Jesus. ((music playing)) You can just continue to uh be in this place. But before we uh close, we invite ministry team ((music playing)) up.

I just wanted to take a moment if there's anyone in this room that you have not given your heart to Jesus. You don't know the freedom ((music playing)) of having Jesus as your savior. You don't know what it feels like to live free of guilt and ((music playing)) shame because you've been washed in the blood of Jesus that has set you free.

If you're stuck in cycles ((music playing)) that are causing you or your family pain and you don't know what it feels like to have a savior named Jesus, I want to tell you today that you are not lost. that you ((music playing)) have a invitation to be found by God and into a church family.

And so if you've never given your life to the Lord online as ((music playing)) well, you can put in the chat, I need Jesus. But if you're in this room, you're like, I want to give my life to Jesus. ((music playing)) I want to know salvation. I want to know this freedom.

Would you just raise your hand in the room because we would like love to pray for you. Thank you, ((music playing)) Jesus. Okay. or for those online, if there's anyone online, let's just pray this prayer. Lord Jesus, we just declare ((music playing)) today, God, that we need you. That Lord God, you are growing and developing us.

And Lord ((music playing)) Jesus, for anyone watching this now or watching it back or anyone in the room maybe, Lord, who uh has not yet felt the confidence ((music playing)) to to raise their hand, God, we pray this prayer together. Jesus, we recognize that we are sinners, that we have failed, Lord.

We have failed the law. But God, you came as the ((music playing)) perfect sacrifice and you laid down your life, Jesus, so that we could say say we are in need of a savior ((music playing)) and we could be washed in your blood and be set free by your broken body. And so today, Jesus, we declare that it is by no other way but by the way that you have made through your torn flesh that we receive ((music playing)) reconciliation with the father and the promise of eternal life.

And so to Jesus, we say, come into our hearts. Come into our lives. Come and be the Lord and Savior of our lives, Jesus, and wash us clean. Holy Spirit, come and ((music playing)) fill your people. And father, may your heart be known because Jesus came that we would be reconciled to your love.

Father, we receive the gospel of salvation, the gospel of the kingdom of God ((music playing)) today in Jesus name. Amen. Amen. Would you just put your hand on your heart? Oh, you can give a hand. That's great. First, hallelujah. Hallelujah. ((music playing)) You just put your hand on your own heart today.

Yeah. Lord God, today I just think of the man who ((music playing)) desperately desired for their child to be healed and he said, "I believe. Help me in my unbelief." And Lord God, today as a body, we just recognize, Lord, we believe. Help us in our unbelief. ((music playing)) Lord, we help us, Lord, the areas that we desire to grow in, Lord, that we don't know quite how to get through.

The areas that we desire for challenge but we don't quite know yet how to receive it. The areas that we desire for maturity but are still in a journey. Lord Jesus, we we say Lord we say we believe. Help us in our unbelief. Help us Lord. Lord the areas where we want to have faith.

Lord we thank you God that you are the giver of the gift of faith. So we ((music playing)) say help us Lord. Have your way. Would you say that with me? Have your way Lord Jesus. have your way, Lord Jesus. We welcome you, God. We welcome you into our lives, Lord.

Grow us, mature us, develop us. You are the good shepherd and your sheep know your voice. And so we as sheep, we say, good shepherd, come in, have your way. Yeah. In Jesus ((music playing)) name. Amen. Amen. Thank you so much, Banning. Thank you for that word. So powerful ministry team, if you would uh if you would come forward now, we would love if you are approved ministry team, your uh approved students in this room, we'd love to have you forward.

If you want to receive prayer today, if you need healing in your body, you need encouragement, you need uh someone to speak encouragement into your life from uh the father's heart, we would love to do that. And so you're welcome to come forward. Otherwise, if you're headed out, please hug someone.

Bless them. Go to In and Out together or Olive Garden. I'm not sure where we go, but grab someone. Be the church. Go for lunch. Have a good weekend. Online church. We love you. God bless. >> Hello. Hello. >> Wow, that was something. The um welcome back. We uh I think it' be foolish to just step off right now.

I'm just looking at the chat and so many people still engage what God's doing and >> um my assumption is you are sensing what we're sensing right now just a real >> uh come to Jesus this moment I was actually sitting last night thinking I don't know how often it needs to happen in a lifetime but I do believe that these times is when you reenter your life around Christ. >> Yeah. >> And it's not that you your heart died.

It's not that you walked away in that sense, but it's that sense of reentering, refocusing. >> Yeah. >> Remembering >> um telling your spirit remember what Christ has done. >> Yeah. >> And not quite as I find not quite as cerebral, but really >> the Holy Spirit allowing the Holy Spirit to remind you what Christ's done in you and through you and what he's done in your life and how important he is and how important worship and prayer is right now.

So, I wonder if we could just take like another just a minute If you're just sensing God for you just double down, not to move past the stream. >> Yeah. >> And don't move past the preach, but let's stop moving into the fruit of the preach. And I'd just love for us to pray quickly and just take an extra minute. >> That's okay.

Just to pray. >> Lord, I just ask Lord that the fruit of that word would land upon us. And Lord, I ask Lord that it wouldn't just be another thing that we heard, Lord, another preach to go into the to the annals of our history, Lord. But I ask, Lord Jesus, as your anointing is here, Lord, that that each heart now would be good soil, Lord, that my heart would be good soil, Lord.

That the seeds of that word would land in me again, Lord. That you would begin to reorientate me around Jesus at the center. >> Yeah. >> At all things, Lord. And Lord, I ask Lord that that fruit would look like uh thankfulness. >> Yeah. >> Gratitude for what you've done, Lord.

And a desire and to and a conviction, Lord, to be a part of your story, Lord. To be a part of your kingdom, to be a living, active member of your kingdom, Lord. >> Yeah. >> We welcome you, Holy Spirit. We welcome your presence. We welcome your voice.

We just agree with the word that Chris said at the beginning. >> We are listening. >> Yeah. Our hearts are listening to you, God. And I ask that you would just speak, Lord, that those seeds would land in every single heart. >> Come on. Come on. It feels like such a timely word.

It feels like a a reentering back to Jesus. And and you know, that might look different for every single person. You might just spend time just thanking the Lord for what he's done, for who he is, for um the different things that you've experienced from Christ already. It might look like um even just remembering what am I grateful for?

Not just yes, we have an abundant father and yes, he's so good and kind and loving, but also what what can I do to actually look at thanksgiving? I'm honestly reminded of Luke 9. I can't stop thinking about um verse 23, take up your cross and follow Jesus.

And he said to all, if anyone would come after me, this is Jesus red letter in the Bible. If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. >> For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.

For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? >> Wow. >> And God, I pray that you would show us what it looks like to take up our cross every single day, to deny ourselves, and to actually follow you.

Following you is not always the easiest thing. But God, there is grace to follow you. Sometimes we have to um make the hard decisions to follow the narrow way. The narrow way is the one that leads to life. It is not the wide road that everyone else will travel on.

It's not the w the wide road, the popular path that everyone else in this world will traverse on that leads to earthly gain, the pleasures of today, but actually the narrow path, that narrow road. And I feel like some people are crying out like, "God, that's what I want."

I even feel like some of you are refocusing. You're saying, "God, that's what I want to do. I don't know where I started to go down that other path. I don't know when I started to make a new a new way. I I forged a new path away from that narrow way."

But God, would you just center us back? There's no shame or condemnation in this. If you're feeling convicted by the Holy Spirit, then you just repent and you turn around. You start to go back the way that you were going. you repent and you just say, "Jesus, would you forgive me?" >> Yeah. >> I didn't realize I was I was entitled.

I didn't realize I was walking that way. I didn't realize what I was doing, but Jesus, now that I'm recognizing, I I turn away. I repent. Forgive me. I actually want to walk in the other direction. And there's grace in that. >> There's great rejoicing in that. There's joy.

There's freedom in that. >> I even feel like celebration from heaven as they're like, "Ah, they're turning back. It may not be easier, but it is the way. He's the way. the truth and the life. >> Yeah. >> And there's freedom there. >> Yeah. I'm just thinking like maybe you are like um you're feeling like your life is last row middle seat right now >> and I think Banny gave us such an amazing key. >> Yeah. >> The way out of entitlement entitlement is Thanksgiving.

I wonder if we can start spamming the chat. >> Yeah. >> Why don't we just hit something in the chat and just say >> just something you're super grateful at the moment. >> Come on. >> And let's let's let's take that word and let it bear some fruit like right now. >> Come on.

Um, I'm just so thankful for my >> my little family and my my house. I can't believe that I got a house. I uh God gave us a house and I'm so thankful. >> Yeah. Amazing miracle. And I'm just so thankful for the life that I'm surrounded with my my two little girls and uh it puts everything into perspective.

Really puts everything into perspective. >> That's right. >> Anything you What are you grateful for? >> Uh this morning I'm I'm grateful for uh health. I'm grateful for family. I'm grateful for friends. Um, this is gonna sound really silly. >> I spilled my I spilled my coffee on my laptop this morning. >> Oh, >> it if you're watching, I emailed you.

Um, but I can I know this is really silly, but I feel like sometimes when you feel out of control, like, oh no, what do I do? I I'm even thankful I can work from my phone. >> Thank you, God. I know it's it's silly. It's small, but it feels like, oh no, I need these things to do what I always do, and yet there are other ways.

I can borrow things. I can do that. I'm thankful for connection to leaders. I'm thankful for even just the ability to hug the body of Christ. I know some of you are watching online. Maybe there's someone in your living room that you can give a hug. Maybe you're watching with friends.

Maybe you're watching with neighbors. Maybe you can go out and say hi and and and even hug a neighbor today. You can just go say hello. >> Yeah, >> it's great to see you. >> It's awesome. Mount Mountain Mama, thankful for my hubby. >> Hey, we like to hear it.

It's also thankful for God's favor. >> Someone said salvation, mercy. >> Love it. >> Get really specific about the things in your life. Don't get too spiritual on me. You can turn your spiritual frown upside down. >> Come on. >> But just start to open up your eyes what you got.

I'm going to read the other chat. Grateful laughter and joy at work. That's awesome, Tammy. >> Gr to enjoy the input from Bethl via Bethl online. >> Come on. >> I love it. >> Grateful to feel God's presence and know him. Me too. >> Wow. Dodie is thankful for her cat >> and her sister and the neighbors.

Thank you, Jesus. For fellowship, for forgiveness. >> We agree. >> Yeah, >> we agree. I'm thankful for a Bible that I can read. >> Yeah, it's real. >> I'm super thankful. Super thankful. >> I'm grateful for my husband and my family for being able to travel to reading.

It's awesome. >> Come on. So good. I'm grateful for healing. Thank you, Jesus. Oh. >> Oh, here we go. Grateful, Nathan. Thankful for my family, my sister's health. The diagnosis was not cancer. >> Come on. Thank you, Jesus. >> Changing. Thanks, God. >> A thankful for BSSM friends.

Me too. Me too. Thank you, Jesus. >> We love it. >> Um I'm thankful that we can hear the Lord. >> Yeah. I'm thankful we can hear. This is um random, but while we were in worship um this is before or I think it was right before Chris had shared the word about people hearing God, but I felt like some this is going to sound so I don't know if it means nothing to you, it means nothing to you, but if if you're the person this is for, I think it'll mean something to you.

But I felt someone was making um decisions on paint colors and um you've been waiting to hear the Lord. And I felt like there was something significant about making decisions on paint colors and knowing that you can hear hear uh hear God. And so if that's you, um God cares about the little details.

You know, he he is speaking. He He's speaking and he wants you to know that he hears you. And I just felt there was something significant about God hearing you, but you also hearing God. And so I bless you, whoever you are that um is deciding on paint colors.

Um God God's even in those little details. I just bless you in Jesus name. >> And we honor the way to that decision. I'm busy trying to use towels for my shower and it is the hardest thing in the world >> picking colors and towels [laughter] >> cuz it feels permanent forever, you know. >> So permanent. >> It's hilarious.

It's hilarious. Bro, why don't you pray for us before we go? We We love you guys. We're so grateful to to be able to do this with you. But >> love it. >> Yeah. We're just we're grateful. Why don't you pray? >> Yeah. So, while I'm praying, you can just have a big fake smile on your face.

Just get some joy in your life. And Lord, we just thank you, Lord, that you are alive and well and active. And we bless every single person on this chat and on this on this um this line, this online experience. We just ask Lord that your presence would be so tangible and close to them. >> And we just bless this whole week going forward >> in Jesus name. >> Amen. >> Guys, we bless you.

We have ministry rooms. The links will be in the chat. We'd love to pray for you. Our team is here for encouragement. If you need healing in your body, whatever it looks like, we'd love to pray. Bless you guys.