Rooted In Grace: I Depend on God - Wednesday Morning Service

I know there is peace within your presence. I speak Jesus. Hallelujah. >> Hallelujah. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. >> Jesus. >> Jesus. Just begin to say his name. Jesus. Jesus. Oh, there's power in your name, Jesus. There's healing in your name, Jesus. There's provision in the name of Jesus. >> There's protection in the name of Jesus. >> There's deliverance in the name of Jesus. >> Hallelujah. >> Thank you, Jesus. >> Hallelujah. >> Thank you, Lord.

Hallelujah. >> Thank you, God. >> Thank you. >> Hallelujah. >> Thank you, Jesus. >> Father, we thank you so much for your presence this morning. We thank you, Lord God, that we have a bloodbought right >> to inject the name of Jesus into any situation, into any circumstance, into any challenge. >> We thank you, Lord, that we have the ability to speak Jesus.

Jesus over our families. Jesus over our children. Jesus over our relationships. Jesus over our jobs. Jesus over our health. Jesus. >> Thank you. We thank you, Lord, that because of what you did >> over 2,000 years ago, it gives us the enablement, the empowerment >> to receive the victory that your name provides >> and we receive it this morning. >> Thank you, Jesus. >> Thank you, Lord God, for this day, this time that we've set aside to get into your word, Lord God.

Thank you, Lord, for your presence being present >> in this moment, Lord God. And we just declare right now in the name of Jesus that the message that goes forth will be spoken with simplicity and understanding, Father. I thank you, Lord, that you will use my vocal cords and you will think through my mind.

Lord God, let me say only what you would have me to say. Nothing more or nothing less. Father, I am a vessel for you this morning to encourage and empower your people. Father, thank you for using me and thank you for their hearts being open to receive exactly what they need to hear.

Father, you know what's going on. You know what's on their heart. You know what's on their mind. You know what's going on in their life, Lord God. So, you know exactly what needs to be spoken, whether in in this building or watching on stream. You know exactly what needs to be heard.

You know exactly what needs to be said. So I thank you Lord God. Our expectation this morning will not be denied. We receive the finished works of Jesus this morning. We thank you in advance for the awesome wonders that we will speak of as a result of hearing and executing your word.

We thank you for it now in Jesus name. All that agreed said >> amen. >> Amen. >> Good morning world changers. >> Amen. You all may be seated. We're going to go ahead and get into the word this morning. Um, in case you don't know, my name is Constance Adams.

I am uh the co-senior youth pastor here at World Changers Church. Uh, and um, I would love to see your young person, uh, 6th through 12th grade. We would love to see them across the street on Sunday mornings. Uh we are excited about this now generation being able to understand the word of God and execute the word of God.

Um so that's my plug this morning. >> Amen. Um this morning we are going to um we are going to be encouraged. So I hope you came ready to be encouraged. Amen. >> Uh before I get started I must must must give honor to our pastors Dr. Dollar and Pastor Taffy.

Um we are so grateful for them. Uh we just came out of the awakening conference and boy did we have a time. >> Um it was it was it was absolutely life-changing. But I want to thank them for giving me the opportunity to stand before you. Um I count it an honor and privilege every time I get in this space.

Um because I know it's only God that I'm here. But I thank them for seeing something in me uh and allowing me to do so. Um, so, uh, a couple of weeks ago, um, I maybe three now, I can't recall, but, uh, I taught a message on the power of prayer, being rooted in grace.

And in that message, what we talked about was just, uh, the power of being rooted, uh, and what that looks like. And so, today in my message this morning, we're going to kind of pull off of that. Uh but I want to recap just in case you did not hear that message.

So uh we talked about the power of prayer being rooted in grace and how we are to be like a tree planted by the rivers of water. There's a scripture over in uh Jeremiah 17 if we could go to Jeremiah 17. And God pretty much tells us how he would like for us to be.

So he says to us that those who are like a tree planted by the rivers of water are able to withstand uh the trials, the challenges, the issues. It says here in Jeremiah 17:7, "But blessed are those empowered to prosper, empowered to succeed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.

They are like trees planted along a riverbank with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worry by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green and they never stop producing fruit. So when I went to this um when I read this scripture uh last time, one of the things I had to do was I had to go and I'm like what is it about being planted by a river?

Because you often hear that you're like a tree planted by the river. Be like a tree planted by the river. What is it with the river? And so I looked up river and I came to understand which I did not know. I came to understand that a river contains a constant flow.

Also, inside of a river contains organic matter, minerals, oxygenated water. All of this is inside of the river water. Okay? So, you have oceans, you have uh seas, you have streams, but it's in the river that all of this uh all of these things are actually found in.

So minerals, oxygenated water, uh the organic matter, these are all things that even as human beings, we can sustain ourselves off of. Like if I was like stuck somewhere, I'll never be in Jesus name, but if I was stuck somewhere and I was near a river, I would be able to drink from the river. >> Amen.

Amen. And so when I got to thinking about that, I also understood that trees that are planted by the river, their roots, it said that their roots expand confidently. >> And the reason why their roots expand confidently is because the soil near the river always stays moist. So no matter what season it is in the world or it like the atmosphere could be experiencing a drought, but the tree does not have to be concerned about the drought because it's planted by the river. >> And so anytime it needs anything, it's planted right by the source and it can pull from the source exactly what it needs.

So if there is a drought, if there is excessive heat, all the tree has to do is allow its roots to pull from the source, which is the river. Are y'all tracking? Yeah. >> So when the Lord tells us to be planted by a be like a tree planted by the river of water, he's encouraging our roots to be anchored in the word in such a way that no matter what situation we are going in, we know how to pull from the source. >> We know that no matter what our life is doing in this journey, right?

No matter what the situation, no matter what the circumstances, I know how to pull from the source. >> Amen. >> And then it said in that scripture also, their leaves stay green and they never stop producing fruit. >> Amen. >> So that means even if there's a drought going on, I don't look like what I've been through. >> Say that. >> You're not going to see me looking beat down, broken down. >> Amen. because I'm going to stay connected, rooted like a tree planted by the river. >> So that way it's constantly flowing.

It said that for a river, the flow of water never dries out. There are there are different bodies of water where it might dry out, but for a river, it's a constant flow of water. And I was reminded that as a born again believer, we are to be confident in the fact that everything we need, no matter what it looks like around the world, and Dr.

Dollar even spoke of this about three years ago. He talked about how, you know, the financial situation was about to change and all of that, but he encouraged us to be focused on depending on God because he is our source. >> Yes. Amen. >> And he has the supply that never runs dry. >> Amen. >> And we're not just talking about finances.

You tell me what your need is, and I'll tell you that the source has an infinite supply of exactly what you need. >> Amen. I think the challenge is that as human beings sometimes when we get in our flow and you see you feel the success of God and you know he doing his big one you like oh thank you Lord I'm feeling it I like the way this feel okay this the way it's supposed to be I'm living in the overflow and then you get wrapped up in your own self so now we've moved away from the source And now we feel like we've got it in and of ourselves.

So when that dries out now it's woe is me, God, what did I do to deserve this? When he's saying, I want you to stay plugged in to your source. >> Amen. >> Say, God, >> God, >> I'm going to stay plugged in. >> I'm going to stay plugged in. >> I'mma remain >> I'm remain >> connected >> connected >> to my source. >> All right.

So, another thing that we talked about last time, and I'm just recapping again because we're going to move on from this message. One of the things that we talked about in being rooted because being rooted is simply me allowing the word of God to be planted into my heart and then making a decision that no matter what it looks like, I'm not moving off of what the word says.

I make a decision to stay here until I see what he says. Does that make sense? So when I'm saying rooted, that means I'm not going to allow life's situations, life's happenings to cause me to drift, to shift, to pivot, or anything like that. I'm simply going to lock in and I'm going to stay there until I see what God says.

Because he's not a man that he should lie, neither the son of man to repent. He says, "When I say a thing, you will see it. It will come to pass." Not, "It may. It will." So, it's not a matter of if he's going to do it for us.

It's just a matter of when. And the win is what causes us to kind of waver. And God is saying, "Be anchored." So, we talked about it's not a matter of us having to do more. Oh, God, I got to pray more. I don't have to pray more.

I need to believe deeper. I need to believe deeper. Something about my belief has to get me to the point where no matter what it looks like, I'm focused. I'm just I'm crazy enough to believe that God is going to do exactly what he said. >> I don't know if you've ever been there, but I can definitely attest to it.

My family and I have been in a couple of situations where I've had to really trust and believe God and I have seen the word of God manifested. >> Amen. >> I've told the story over and over again and I'mma tell it until kingdom comes because it's my story >> and I get to do that. >> My husband and I uh when we first got married uh we lived in a townhouse.

Well, it was his townhouse. Uh so we ended up later as our family began to expand and we got married pretty young in our early 20s. Um so we bought a house and we stayed in that house for 10 years raising our four plus more kids and then somewhere around year uh 8 n 8ish uh the mortgage became a little heavy and um and our finances just wasn't cutting it.

And so we were in a position where we were preparing to lose our house. And this is the house we had raised our kids in. I mean, they had tow it up real good. Um, but nevertheless, it was ours and they could do that. Um, but we have raised our kids in this house and we had so many memories.

Uh, some I don't care to remember. Uh, but we had so many reme uh, memories in this house, but it was our house. And so as we were looking at these mortgage people sending us these harassing letters telling us about how we need to pay them x amount of dollars or else our house is going on the steps.

We had to believe God. And this is at a point where in my life um I had gotten to the point by this time Anthony and I had been going through so much. So, I have really gotten to a point where I'm like, "God, I believe you going to take care of me."

Cuz if you done got me through all of this mess we done been through, God tell you, the first seven years was something else. I probably could make a whole movie on it. But if you got me through the first seven years, then me facing this in year eight is nothing to me.

So, I dare to be convinced that God, you're going to get us out of here. So, Anthony, he's a hustler, you know, he he doing his big ones. He's trying at least trying to get up the money. And so, we had gotten to the point where we were um I don't know, 10,000 or so um behind.

You say, "How did you get 10,000?" Because you know, for those of you who are experienced getting behind on your mortgage, if you don't give them exactly what they want, they won't accept anything. So, it's like, give me this amount or don't give me nothing. And we just was trying to piece it together like, Lord, just take take the take the 1,200 I got.

Take the 1,500. They was like, nope, if you can't give us I think it started out as like 3,800 and that grew, right? And so at that time 3,800 just really seemed far-fetched for us. It just really it wasn't it wasn't there. So anyhow, it started to grow.

And so here we are trying to get them all of this money and and they wouldn't accept it. And um so now they're saying, "Hey, this is what you owe." And then they said, "Well, you know what? We'll work out a deal with you. We'll work out a deal because we're calling."

I'm like, "Listen, I I'm calling in good faith. We really just want to keep our house. We What What can we do? Let's Let's be a team. Come on. You don't want the house. I want the house. You want your money. I'm trying to give you money. Let's work something out."

So, they said, "Okay, we'll work out a deal with you." Now, mind you, before this all went down, our mortgage payment at the time was probably somewhere around 10.98. We had a four bedroomedroom house. It was somewhere around 1098 and then it moved up. It was like inching up.

This is when they had those balloon payments. So, it just kept going up up up. Uh so, by this time it probably was like 1,200 that we were having a hard time each month paying. And um so anyhow, they say, "Let's work out something. Here's the plan we have.

We've worked out a plan for you. This is what we would like for you to pay every month to get back on track and then we will be in good standing." We said, "Okay, let's see what you got." They want us to pay $3,000. Please get Where's your supervisor?

Make this math make sense. I couldn't pay 10 $1,98. I couldn't pay you $1,200. Let me know what math you was mathing that told you I could pay 3,000 >> for the next six months. I I I don't know. I don't see it. It's okay. Whatever. We said you know what we can't do it.

Okay we can't do it. Now what they said okay well unfortunately since you are unable to fulfill the options that we have provided you will then we will begin the process of foreclosure on your home. My heart broke emotionally. My heart broke because I'm like, man, this is this is what our kids our kids are going to miss this house.

We've we've learned how to be adults and we have faced divorce a couple times in this house and and overcome and we have had so many family barbecues and parties in this house. And so now this is about to not be the place where those memories are held.

So we're preparing for that. And so um it was It was around Christmas time and uh Anthony kept uh trying to figure it out and we had went to family. Anthony went to his dad and his dad told us um yeah no son. He had helped us a couple times before but this time he said yeah no son it uh it sounds like this is a perfect opportunity for you to believe God. >> And Anthony came back.

He was upset y'all. He was mad at his daddy. He said, "You won't believe what dad said." I told him his grandchildren are going to be put out. And he said, "This is a perfect time for us to believe God." And so I said, "Well, babe, here we are and I'm okay.

I'm okay if we lose the house. I'm okay if I need to pack up. I'm okay if we need to go stay in an apartment. I'm okay if we need to go get a mobile home. I'm okay. So, if you're feeling stressed and pressed because you feel like you failed me, don't because I'm okay.

World changers, in my mind, I had set it up so that God, if you're not going to save this house, then obviously you have something else. >> I was anchored. I had gotten to the point where, you know what? I'm not gonna work my emotions, my stress. I'm not gonna get depressed over something I cannot control, God.

If it's not this, it must be something else. And so, I release this in order to receive what you have for me. And think about it. If I was to try to keep hold on it, just think about it. If if if I have if I'm if I I'm gonna use this.

If my hands are tied up cuz I have a stronghold on this, we're going to imagine this is a older house. If my hands were tied up because I have a stronghold on what I am trying to hold on to, right? >> Then I'm not in position to receive what God wants to get from me, get to me. >> Does that make sense?

Yes. >> So in an effort to be in position because we say it's the finished works of Jesus. It's the finished works of Jesus. So what is our job? Our job is to walk it out and get in position. Okay. So I had to release the old home. >> In order for him to show up and then us walk out what was coming next.

And I've talked about it before, but at that time we went from this 2800 square foot, which we love, our four bedroomedroom, two and a half bath, to seven bedrooms and four bathrooms, >> threecar garage. Like all of my children had their own bedroom. >> See, in the old house, all three of my boys, they stayed in a bunk bed, which I mean, they tore it up, but that was great fun at that time.

It was great fun. They made they made the best out of it. Hey, if we're going to be in here together, it's a party. But once we released that, God was able to bless us with more. Now, was it scary? Absolutely. Like I said, it was around Christmas time, so it was December.

The process of them foreclosing our house took all of 28 or so days where we were facing foreclosure literally had the date of them putting it up on the steps. So from the time we got that letter up until the date that it was supposed to go to, I want you to know that God not only blessed us with the other house, but he also got our house not to be foreclosed, but to be sold.

And then the person who bought the house, we ended up getting a check from the from the seller from the seller from the transaction. >> How I don't ask any questions. I just say you I don't know what y'all was doing over there, but it went from going on the steps to being in somebody else was able to benefit off of it and it didn't have to be a foreclosure on our record.

Does that make sense? But that came as a result of of us being anchored in the word of God of me saying us both saying, "God, we trust you with everything that we have. We trust you. Even when we can't see how this is going to pan out, I trust you."

And so as we were talking about being planted like a tree by the rivers of water, I'm saying that that's what it's like that God in the moment I didn't understand. But when I pulled from the source, he just calmed my confused mind to just be okay. >> Did I have to get the one, two, three?

I wanted it. I didn't get it. But the ease that God gave me during the process soothed my weary mind to be able to just hold on. God, I don't I'm just I'm just going with the flow. >> I'm going with the flow. And I'm expecting for you to come through some way somehow.

Does that make sense? >> And I told that whole story again. I didn't mean to, but that was for somebody. So, be encouraged. Amen. So, let me go ahead cuz I'm eating up my time and I want to go ahead and get into today. So, we're moving from being planted like a tree by the river of water who always who constantly bears fruit no matter what the season to now today.

What I want to say is we've got to live a life dependent on God. Say this with me. Say, I >> I >> depend >> depend >> on God. >> on God. >> Every day >> everything >> about everything >> about everything. >> God >> God, >> I need you. >> I need you. >> I depend on you. >> I depend on you. >> Now, when you think of a dependent, we just came out of tax season.

Well, we still in it. Praise God. Y'all file your taxes. Amen. And one of the things I remember is being a dependent under my parents meant that they claim me. >> They claim me. They claim responsibility. And the responsibility that they're claiming is I fed, I clothed, I took care of, I put up, I took them to school.

You know, they try to itemize it. I bought her clothes. I fed her about x amount of dollars worth. Right? So, I am a dependent or I used to be. I'm not anymore. I was a dependent with my parents because my parents cared for me. >> They took responsibility for me. >> What my needs were, my parents provided.

So therefore, when it came time to answer for it, they said, "She's my dependent. She falls under me." Wayne and Katherine Jones. >> So I thought about that. I'm a dependent of God. >> I am a dependent of God. He is my caretaker. So when he claims dependence over us, he's saying, "I'm taking care of you.

I provide your shelter. I provide your food. I take care of your needs, your wants, and your desires. >> You are my dependent. >> But see, a lot of us want to claim independence. We want to what's the what's the thing you do when you you still a child, but you >> what's it called? emancipated.

You want to emancipate yourself. >> You're trying to emancipate yourself, but you don't have what it requires to fully take care of yourself the way that you need to. >> Then you get all stressed out and hellbound like, "Oh my gosh, why are you making me pay? I'm your dependent >> or you're my dependent.

I am who you depend on. because in me is everything that you need. Like I said, we are to be like that tree planted by the river. And he said, you're to be like that because in the river is everything that you need. In the river is all of the organic minerals, the the the the the moisture that no matter what season it's in that it's going to have a constant flow of resources.

That's when you're planted by the river. He says when you depend on me, it's a constant flow of resources. And no matter what season you're going in, you won't look like the season that you're in. >> When you're depending on me when I am your source, when you allow me to claim you as my dependence. >> But see, he's not forceful.

So if you choose to go your own way, he says, "I love you. Go your own way. I guess I'll just walk with you while you do your own thing >> as I wait for you to allow me to claim you as my dependent." So, we are dependent of God.

Now, I looked up the word dependence because I was like, I I just want to understand it a little more. And the word dependence is defined as the state of relying on or being controlled by someone or something. Now, when I read that, I ain't going to lie.

When I heard being controlled by, it kind of vexed me a little bit. I was like, "Oh, man. Being controlled by." So, I had to go and get understanding. Let's define control. Control is defined as the power to influence or direct a person's behavior or the course of events.

And when I heard that, I'm like, "Oh, yeah. That's exactly what I I want. I need you to influence my thoughts. I need you to influence my behavior because when things are going on in my life, my demeanor, my thoughts, they're stressing me out, causing hypertension, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, anxiety, all of the things. my thoughts, the way I'm handling the situation, the course of action that I'm taking is stressful and it's unsuccessful and unproductive.

So, yes, I want control over my thoughts and my life and my direction. Yes, Lord, you have the free reign to be able to control me in the way that you want to. The reason why I I felt some type of way because I'm like if I feel controlled when I hear control, I feel like my my my feelings and my my emotions, my me, I'm being tossed to the side.

That don't even make sense because that's not even our God. He's going to lead, guide, and direct and consider all of the things. But it's when we allow other things, when we allow other people to control that we get disregarded or that we get discarded. But we take that same thought process and we apply it to God.

Like, God, I don't want you to do it. I don't want, you know, I'll just jump in when I need to. Mostly when it's an emergency and I don't have anything left, then I'll come to you and I'll let you take it. But God says, "I want you to get me on the front end >> because if you get me on the front end, then I can influence your thoughts and I can influence your course of action to get you exactly where you need to be so that when you arrive, you arrive to receive the win that I have placed and set up for you." >> That's the goal. >> Because as my dependent, I've already laid it up for you.

Now, I just need you to hear me, listen to me so you can get there because you don't know where it is. But I am alpha and the omega. I'm the one that sees the end from the beginning while being in the middle of it with you. That's me.

You can't see that. You don't understand that. So when you allow me, when you depend on me, when you trust me, then we can flow together and trust me. I'm going to consider all of the things. I'm going to consider the relationships. I'm going to consider the brokenness.

I'm going to consider all of the things. And guess what? While we're walking it out, I'm going to address those things because I want to heal you from that brokenness. I want to address that strain relationship. I want to deal with your inappropriate relationship with finances. We're going to deal with that all while you're trusting, relying, and depending on me.

I can do it all at the same time. >> Y'all tracking? So now I want to give you just a few expressions of what it looks like to depend on God. So if you're saying, "Hey, I wonder if I'm I'm one who depends on God. Do I live a life dependent on God?"

We we're about to see. Number one, those who depend on God. Prayer is their first response, not the last, not the emergency response. Although all of that is good and well, I'm not telling you. I don't want you to feel bad in an emergency. You calling God. That's what you supposed to do.

But he wants you to call him first. So at the top, does that make sense? So dependence is revealed by how quickly we turn to God. It doesn't have to be a bad situation. It could be something good. I just He's my best friend. I want I want to include him on everything.

Somebody said, "Well, he sees everything. Why do I got to tell him everything?" Just because you know what? My dad when I was living in his house, he knew a lot about me, but it hit different when I come tell him about what's going on with me. Even though he knows he observes certain things about his child but it hit different when your child comes to you and say dad can we talk dad I want to share something with you does that make sense that's what he wants he wants us to come to him first if we go to first Thessalonians 5:17 1 Thessalonians 5:17 17 it's telling us that we should always pray and to pray without ceasing.

Never stop praying. And Dr. Dollarer talked about this a few years ago and in the message he was saying like it's not like I should be praying right now while I'm giving the message. I'm I'm supposed to pray without ceasing. There should be no breaks. But it's about maintaining an unbroken pattern of relying on God.

It's a constant me never stop praying is I'm I'm con I have a constant God consciousness. I'm constantly aware of God in all things in every part of my day. I'm constantly aware of God. That don't that don't mean I gota Excuse me. I'll be right. I can't live like that.

That's that's ridiculous. That's not what never stop praying. Never break your pattern of being aware of God in every situation. Does that make sense? >> Okay, let's keep going. Number two, dependence on God looks like trusting God beyond beyond my own understanding. I just gave you a whole story about how I had to trust him beyond my own understanding.

I didn't know how we were going to get to the next thing. As far as I was concerned, I was prepared to live in a hotel, in a mobile home, in a apartment. me and all my four kids and my husband. We didn't have a dog at that time, so we would have been good.

We were I was prepared to do what needed to be done until the goodness of God had manifested the way I was expecting. And even when I did not understand, I trusted his word that God, you have already provided. So, we just have to walk it out. It's uncomfortable, but we're going to walk it out until we get to it.

Does that make sense? >> So, trust in God beyond my own understanding. Dependence, uh, dependence is trusting God even when I don't understand. Let's take a look real quick at Proverbs 3 and5 through 6. Proverbs 3 and5 through6 is telling us to trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge him and he shall direct your path. In all your ways. It sounds like a very common scripture, but are in all your ways. So, yes, acknowledge him about that job offer even though they're paying you a a handsome amount. Yes, acknowledge him about that relationship even though she presents herself to be top tier A1 Proverbs 31 woman.

Yes, acknowledge him. Acknowledge him. So you want to get a house and you in an apartment, but acknowledge him in all your ways because is this the time for you to even be getting a house right now? Yes. Acknowledge him because yes, you want to refinance that house, but is this the season that he wants you to refinance the house?

Yes, acknowledge him because you've been wondering how you're going to provide and God, they're about to lay me off for my job and I don't know what to do. I need a new job. But when you acknowledge him, he may say, "Hey, there's a business I put on the inside of you.

Let's This is the season for that." >> Acknowledge him in all of your ways and he will direct you exactly where you need to go. So dependence looks like trusting him even uh when you don't understand. Obedience without delay is an expression of dependence on God. I remember growing up I grew up in the church.

I remember growing up they they say delayed obedience is disobedience. Obey quickly. Delayed obedience is disobedience. Delayed obedience exposes divided dependence. >> So when I when I'm not so quick to trust in what God says and to do what he told me to do, then I'm rationalizing with my own thoughts.

Remember, it's my ways that got me in this place in in this position in the first place. >> But for some reason, we keep trusting our own selves even though we know that we don't have the answer. But it just feels comforting to know that I considered my own ways.

Especially when we're told to, you know, look within. Now, when when you're looking within, it's not because you got the goods. When you're looking within, you're looking within to the source who is inside of you. Does that make sense? >> Amen. >> So, when you're looking within, it's not so you can lean onto your own understanding.

We just heard the scripture say to not lean on your own own understanding and to not acknowledge him in all of your ways. So when he tells you to do something that quick obedience, it it says something. It says, "God, I trust you." It says, "God, I I I I'm taking you at your word.

I don't even want to think about it. I'm just going to do I depend on you to sustain me, to keep me. No matter what it looks like after once I obey, I just know I'm going to be in position to hear the next word that you have because I depend on you.

I depend on you. Every word, every step, every move I make, I depend on you for your direction, for your guidance. I'm not taking a step without you giving me the okay. That kind of dependence. >> God, you can't do nothing by yourself. I can't do nothing by myself.

Everything that I do must be filtered, directed, instructed by God. Number four, remaining connected, abiding. Let's go to John 15 5-8 in the New Living Translation. Remaining connected. That goes back to being like that tree planted. John 15 says, "Yes, I am the vine. You are the branches.

Those who remain in me and I in them will produce much fruit." Say, "Much fruit." >> Much fruit. >> For apart from me, you can do >> okay. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.

But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for >> you may ask for >> you want and it will be granted. >> When you produce much fruit, say much fruit. >> You are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my father.

Can we read that in the message version? I think this is the one I wanted to go and hear it in the message. It says, "I am the vine. You are the branches. When you're joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic." That's what you're going for right there.

The connection that's intimate and organic. The harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can't produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is dead wood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me, and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon.

This is how my father shows who he is. When you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples. So he's saying stay connected to me because it's through you that my father gets the glory. >> It's through you. He wants to show his greatness through you. He wants to show how good he is through you.

You are the conduit to be the expression of his amazingness, of his glory, of his goodness, of his faithfulness. He needs you to do that. So he's saying stay connected with me so that I can express myself through you. That's what he wants to do. Now sure he can use a tree, a pig, a horse.

He could use whatever he wants to use, but he's saying I want it to go to my children. >> Think about it. If you have if you have any children, if you don't have any children, niece, nephews, you know, uh play play daughters and sons, you think about it.

Anything that you have that's good, any inheritance that you have as we grow, as we age, you think legacy. And you think in my legacy, I want to make sure that I said, I want my kids and their kids to be well. >> I want them to live good.

I want them to do the legacy justice. So, I want to be able to everything that I have, I want to be able to bless them with it. >> I want to pass it down. >> That's what God is saying. All of the goodness that I have, I want to pass it down. >> I have no use for it.

It's all for you. >> I want to pass it down. I want to make sure you are the ones that express my goodness. So then others are seeing it and they want to be a part of the family. You are the expression of God's goodness. Say, I am >> I am >> the expression >> of God's goodness. >> So I've got to >> stay connected. >> Okay.

I've got just a couple more minutes. I'm not going to finish all of these. So we'll have to pick back up whenever I get another opportunity to come up here. The next one, sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. God desires for us to be able to work along with the Holy Spirit.

When Jesus died over 2,000 years ago, he went to go sit on the right hand of the father and he says, "I'm going to leave with you a helper, a comforter, the Holy Spirit." So, he's the one that's working with you. He's the one that's speaking and helping and navigating and he's the one that you're consulting with.

When you're living a life sensitive to the Holy Spirit, I like to believe that in that situation, in that scenario, when my husband was stressed out and he had got cornered because his dad didn't give him the money, his hustling, and I'm telling you, my husband is a hustler.

He could sell a pile of poop if he wanted to. I mean, he got the goods now. He got it. But at that time, he was hitting a wall. We're talking about the same person who when he didn't have no job because he was a felon, he would go out and sell CDs.

He was going out and he turned our garage into a candy store. Candy wasn't all he was selling, but praise God for deliverance. We're talking about one who who was very well-versed in making a way. God had gifted him with the ability to be able to make it happen.

In that situation, it wasn't working. So, he felt tapped. He felt strapped. And at that point, my prayer relationship had gotten so good just because we had been through so much. And I'm just like, Lord, I need you to survive. >> So then when I begin to pray sometimes just in the Holy Ghost cuz I didn't know what to say.

I like to believe that the Holy Spirit is who led me to even share that with my husband because he needed to be at ease. He needed to know that I'm not failing my family. That at the end of the day, we're just going to do what we have to do until we can get where we need to get.

Does that make sense? >> Being sensitive to the Holy Spirit is a life depending on God. So, I'm going to stop right there because I am out of time, but I'mma go over really quick just the the five that we went over today. So dependence on God looks like prayer being your first response.

Dependence on God looks like trusting God beyond your own understanding. Depending on God looks like obedience without delay. Depending on God looks like remaining connected, abiding with God, consistent connection. And then five, dependence on God looks like sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. I'm reminded of a story in the Bible and Pastor Taffy talked about it um some time ago.

Uh it was Hagar and Ishmamail when Hagar had uh she was the handmaiden to Sarah and uh Sarah initially couldn't have a baby and so Hagar was given to Abraham to be able to have the baby and they had Ishmael so it it became a thing and she ended up having to leave the city right her and her son and as she was leaving It was a moment of God, I I thought I was just doing what I was supposed to do and now I got put out and it got so overwhelming to the point where she thought her and her son were about to die in the middle of nowhere, right? and she put her baby in the bushes and she said like, "God, I'm I'm not about to sit up here and watch my baby die.

I I let me just let me put him over here." And as the baby begin to cry and and Hagar was on her face, it said God saw her crying baby and Hagar. So in my heart I said, "Man, God, it really doesn't matter what position you're in, what situation you're in.

There is a God who sees and he is concerned about each and every one of us. No matter where you are, no one is more important than the other. We are all God's children and he's concerned about all of us equally. So I want to encourage you with that story of Hagar and Ishmael that no matter where you are, sometimes you feel like you got to be out in the open and nobody sees me.

I don't have a platform and God I can't speak to nobody to tell them about what's going on with me. Well, it doesn't matter where you are in your life. No matter what's going on, there's a God who sees. And there's a God who was concerned about you and he wants your dependence on him.

And I promise you that there is a way of escape for you. No matter what situation you're in, no matter what it looks like, no matter what someone has told you, God sees you. God loves you. And there is victory for you. >> Amen. >> Amen. Now, as we prepare to close this message, I want to give us an opportunity to to give.

And we use this moment as a moment of worship. There's a scripture, it's a message translation that tells us that that God wants us to present all of what we do to him, presented to him as a sacrifice, as worship. He says, "And you're eating and you're sleeping and you're going to work.

All of it presented to me as a sacrifice." Lord, I worship you in all that I am, in all that I do, and everything about my living. You gave me breath this morning. Therefore, my life I present to you. Everything that I have, Lord, it's yours. Use it as you please because I trust you.

I depend on you. All of the resources that I have, I trust you with it. I depend on you. So in this moment as we worship you with our offering, we depend on you to tell us what to give so that we could be an expression of your goodness across this world.

So I ask that you speak to us now and we will obey quickly as an expression of our dependence on you, God. If you're out there and you need an offering envelope, uh you can raise your hands. The ushers are coming around. If you're watching online and you would like to give, we have a few ways that you can.

You can text World Changers plus the amount to 74483 or you can call the 866 number. You can also mail it. The address is on the screen. You can go to the website worldchangers.org or you can scan the QR code on your screen as well. But father, we thank you right now for this moment to be able to give.

We thank you that we are able to obey quickly. We thank you that we depend on you. Every time we give, we depend on you. We thank you, Lord, for those who are giving. Even for those who have a desire to give and didn't physically have it to be able to give, we thank you Lord that you are the God who seized.

So you see even the intent of their heart. So I thank you Lord that they depend on you and they will obey so that you can get them in position to receive what you have laid up for them. We love you, God. We honor you with our life and we honor you in this moment with our gift, our offering in Jesus name.

All that agree said amen. >> And we don't want to leave this place without giving you guys an opportunity. If you're out there, if you're watching and you have never made Jesus Christ the Lord over your life, we want to give you that opportunity. Depending on God is a good life.

It's a good life because I don't I don't have to stress about coming up with anything because I'm just going to turn it over to God. Say, "Turn it over to Jesus. I'll stop worrying about it. I gave it over to the Lord and he worked it out."

Y'all supposed to say, "Oh yeah, living a life dependent on God. I give it over to the Lord." He works it out every time. I told y'all about one time some years ago, but I can tell you right now, and I'm going to declare this because at some point I'll come back around to tell you what it is.

But in this moment right now, my family and I are standing on the word of God. I refuse to lose. >> And I know God's going to work it out. >> And I'mma tell you what men say, it could get pretty ugly. But when I tell you me and my husband are determined to trust God in every step of this process, >> and I'm telling you now, >> mark my word, world changers, I will come back to give you the testimony of God's goodness being fulfilled in our lives.

Cuz we depend on God. Our children depend on God. >> That's just the life that we live. And I'm sharing that because I don't want you to think that just because we up here teaching that we are not still living this thing out. And I told you the story about 15 years ago now.

But I'm telling you, I'm still working it 15 years later. >> I still got to stand and be rooted in the word of God and believe that I I will see the goodness of God. Me and my children >> will see the will of God, the goodness of God in the land of the living.

I'll come back and tell you the testimony >> and we can all shout about it. >> But if you're out there and you haven't made a decision to depend on God by making him your Lord and Savior, I want to give you that opportunity right now. The Bible says if we confess with our mouth and believe in our heart that Jesus died for our sins, that we will be saved.

Made it very simple. He says, "Just believe on me and I got you from there." So if you have not done that, I want to give you that opportunity. If you would pray this prayer with me, say, "Heavenly Father, I acknowledge and I admit that I am a sinner in need of a savior.

I ask you to come into my heart. Be my Lord. Be my Savior. Be my God. Teach me your ways so that I can be an expression of you and your goodness in this earth in Jesus name. Amen. >> If you said that prayer for the first time, world changers, let's celebrate with them.

We want to welcome you to the family. The best family to be a part of. And as a gift on the decision that you just made, I would like for you to text I'm saved or you can scan the QR code on the screen. You can text I'm saved all one word to 74483 to get that.

Excuse me, 51555. Text I'm saved all one word to 51555 to get the free book to understand the decision that you just made. And as a child of God, he's got some stuff he wants to pass down. He's got some goodness he wants to pass down. He's got healing he wants to pass down.

He's got provision that's just for you. Amen. >> All right. Did y'all learn something today? >> Are you encouraged today? I myself have encouraged my own self. That's how the Holy Spirit work. I'm encouraging you and encouraging my own self because God is just good like that. Um, and I want to thank um the team right now.

Even as we were um as I was teaching, the team ministry team was in one of the middle schools talking to a room full of angry boys and angry girls. They gave us all their angry boys in one of the middle schools in Clayton County and and their angry girls and they said come do something with them. >> So right now while I'm encouraging you guys, Pastor Anthony, Pastor Lisa, and another a couple of partners of ours are talking to over hundred angry teens >> about the goodness of God.

Amen. That's what you get to support and connect to for changing lives. Even when you can't see it, even when you need to be encouraged, you still get to be a part of changing the world. Amen. All right, you guys can stand up so we can be dismissed.

I'm completely out of time. So, Father, we thank you so much for this time. We thank you for your Holy Spirit being so faithful. faithful to perform, faithful to provide, faithful to come through, faithful. You're just faithful, Lord God. We thank you for every person under the sound of my voice in this building and on stream.

And we just declare that we choose to depend on you. We allow the confidence that we have in in your word, in your promises to ring louder than any thought, any idea, any suggestion that we could ever come up with. Father, we trust you. We depend on you.

We live a life depending on you. With everything that we have, with everything that we are, we depend on you, Jesus. Repeat this after me. Say, "Let the words of my mouth >> Let the words of my mouth >> and the meditation of my heart >> The meditation of my heart >> be acceptable >> be acceptable >> in your sight >> in your sight. >> Oh my God. >> Oh my God. >> My strength. >> My strength >> and my redeemer. >> and my redeemer. >> In Jesus name. >> in Jesus name. >> Amen. >> Amen. >> Be blessed.

World changes. We'll see you tonight. >> Hallelujah. I'm a world changer changing the world everywhere I go. You know I'm a world changer anointed with the power of the Holy Ghost. I'm a world changer telling the world of God's saving grace. You know I'm a world changer and we're making the moment that can't be erased.

I'm a world changer. I'm a world changer. I'm a world changer. I'm a world I'm a world changer.