They Didn't Bury You God Planted You | Pastor Travis Greene | Forward City Church

Hey, it's Jamal here from Forward City and I'm so excited for you to hear this amazing word today that Pastor Travis preached in our planted on ((music playing)) purpose series. Today he preached a message entitled They Didn't Bury You, God Planted You. And listen, I can't do it justice. You need to grab your pen, grab your notebook, sit down, and take notes because note takers are history makers. also need for you to send this word to ((music playing)) somebody that you know that will be blessed by it.

Before you jump in, make sure that you subscribe to our YouTube channel so that you can stay up to date on all things forward city church. All right, I am done talking. I need for you ((music playing)) to get ready for your life to be changed by this amazing word. >> Planet on purpose. >> Pop.

We are debunking the lie that local church is optional for an effective believer. >> We need each other. Just going to wait for everybody to stand >> as we read the word. Everybody looking at like, I ain't standing until you say something. Yeah. Rest of y'all weird people jumping up.

It's our tradition to stand for the reading of God's word. I'm going to read a few scriptures and then you can take your seats. I'm so um encouraged by your attendance today. And I pray that you had a great Thanksgiving uh dinner and family reunion and whatever you do on Thanksgiving.

Um I did. And I was I was in Myrtle Beach with my 94 year old grandma, y'all. ((cheering)) And um she she sleeps for for 23 hours of the day, but the one hour [laughter] that she up, she enjoyed everybody. And um I'm just grateful for her life and her legacy.

She had 14 kids, a lot of kids. And um rumor has it by number 10, she didn't even feel them no more. She was just letting them letting them out. And uh I don't know how they did that back then, man. Y'all y'all women y'all was cut different back in the day.

Anything over five kids is a lot. 14 is ridiculous. That is just ridiculous. And uh oh, Genesis. My wife trying to keep me on on task. The Bible says in Psalm 92:13 is our key verse for uh this series and it says that those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.

And so we just believe man I believe in the local church. I'm a product of it and I believe it is powerful. I believe wherever you you get your roots uh deep at wherever you get connected can really change the trajectory of your life. I think think three of the most important decisions you'll make is the God you serve, the person you lay next to and the church you're connected to. >> I think those three decisions can really change uh your life.

I know it did for me. And so, how many of y'all been enjoying this series, Planet on Purpose? ((cheering)) It's been a great series. We're going to keep it going. And um today, like I said, we're going to be in the book of Genesis, a familiar story. We're going to start in chapter 37.

I'm going to read a few verses starting at verse five. Joseph had a dream. When he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. He said to them, "Listen to the dream I had. We were binding sheav of grain out in the field when suddenly, I like that word, my sheath rose, stood upright while your sheep gathered around mine and bowed down to it."

Skip over to verse 23. So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe. The ornate robe he was wearing. Took him and threw him in the sistern. The sistern was empty. Pit was empty. There was no water in it. As they sat down to eat their meal.

Ain't that a mess? How y'all going to throw me in a pit and just have Thanksgiving dinner like ain't nothing just happened? sit down to eat their meal. They looked up, saw a caravan of Israelites coming from Gilead. The camels were loaded with spices, bomb, and merr. And they were on their way to take them down to Egypt.

What are the chances that at Joseph's in the pit, >> a caravan is coming on their way to Egypt? >> They sell them into slavery. We're going to go to chapter 50. This how I watch Netflix, y'all. My wife hate it. I watch the beginning and I need to go straight to the end.

I ain't got time. I'm not about to give this series all my time. I watch the beginning, who the character is, watch the end, who died. It's over. I'm do I'm good. You save yourself so much time. My wife hate it. Let's go to the end of the story.

This is about 40 years later after the death of their father, Jacob. Chapter 50:1 18 his brothers came to him and threw themselves down before him. WE ARE YOUR SLAVES, THEY SAID. But Joseph said to him, "Don't be scared. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me." >> I like this.

But God intended it for good >> to accomplish what is now being done. the saving of many lives. You intended to harm me. >> You meant it for evil. >> But God meant it for good. >> I got a simple message today, ladies and gentlemen. You going to help me preach whether you know it or not. >> I need you to look at your neighbor and tell them this.

Say, "They didn't bury you. >> They didn't bury you. >> God planted you. >> God." >> That's the wrong neighbor. I knew it when you picked them. Find you another neighbor. Say, "Hey neighbor, I should have picked you the first time. My bad. I got good news for you neighbors.

They didn't bury you. God planted you." I need everybody in the room that know you were planted on purpose to give your ((music playing)) God. I feel something. Give your God 10 seconds of a praise that he who has begun a good work is ((music playing)) faithful to perform it. Lord, breathe on your word.

We're here for you. Doing new things, doing old things. We give you glory in Jesus name. Amen. If you're excited for the word of God, would you give them a shout as you're taking your seat? ((cheering)) >> They didn't bury you. God planted >> you. You know, the Lord helped me out about 15 years ago or so.

Maybe you probably remember, but the Lord gave me this phrase that changed my whole life. And the phrase is simply this, control the narrative. control the nar. Jay, will you lift the lights up? I don't know if it's just me, but it look like they is in the pitch black.

Darker the dark dark. It is movie theater dark in here. It is AMC regal dark. Just lift up the audience lights. THERE WE GO. THERE we go. Let the people take notes. The Lord told me, Travis, you can control the narrative. In other words, there are many things that have happened in your life that if you're not careful, you'll give the credit to the enemy. >> And if you give the enemy the credit, >> then it robs you of expectation. >> But if you control the narrative, then the enemy didn't actually steal anything from you. >> Perhaps God placed you in a situation where he allowed you to sew something.

For example, there's one season in my life, my wife would remember this. I was serving at this church, worked there about 40 hours. They barely paid me anything. I was working with another guy who was getting paid more. He felt sorry for me. He got really upset on my behalf cuz I was struggling and I was outworking everybody and he said, "This ain't fair."

Years later, I was on tour for Elevation. Never forget it. went up near Pittsburgh. So my friend came to visit me. He said, "Hey, man. I'm still mad at how they did you back in the day." He said, "I bet they regret it now. Look at you. If only they knew who was sitting in that church. >> You were doing all of that and they was taking advantage of you."

What's in there eating wings? I put my lemon pepper down. Come on, black folks. You know it ain't but one wing now. flat lemon pepper. I put my lemon pepper down. I said, "Hold on, bro. With all due respect, I cannot allow you to control the narrative. When I reflect on this, I don't see it as them taking advantage of me. >> I see it as a season where they couldn't afford me."

And you have to have the discernment to know when you're in a season to earn >> or in a season to learn. >> And for me, I was in a season where I was pulling up to the table and learning something. I wasn't there for a paycheck. I was there to sew seed.

And as long as you look back on your previous season and call it hurt, THAT'S ALL IT'LL EVER BE. As long as you look back on your previous season and call it abuse, that's all it'll ever be. As long I'm not telling you to be in denial. I'm just telling you that God has given you the ability to write your own script.

You can change and control the narrative and say that what the enemy meant for evil. They didn't bury me. God planted me. Perhaps man set back >> was God set up. >> And this is why I love Jojo so much. I love Jojo, ladies and gentlemen, cuz this man, out of all the people in the Bible, he reminds me that every family got drama. >> Joseph family had some real drama.

How many of y'all be getting amnesia about how dramatic your family is until family reunion on Thanksgiving? You be like, "Oh yeah, I forgot you. Y'all all different. Joseph daddy had four baby mamas. >> Two is plenty. Four. >> Four is a lot, y'all. I'm sorry. I We don't judge at this church.

If that's your testimony, good. Four is a lot. That's some Nick Cannon stuff. before is just ridiculous. [laughter] But Jacob, Joseph, daddy, he loved one of the baby mamas more than the rest of them. >> Her name was Rachel. And Rachel couldn't have no kids. But finally, Rachel had Joseph.

And Joseph was Jacob's pride and joy. Jojo could do no wrong in Jacob's eyes. Jacob loved him so much he made him a special coat. His brothers hated the coat and they hated Joseph. And then Joseph had a little problem, ladies and gentlemen. Joseph was a dreamer. His brothers hated a dream and they hated Joseph.

Well, one day Joseph dad said, "Go out to the field and bring me a report." This is in your Bible. The Bible said Joseph went out to the field and came back with a bad report. Joseph didn't understand the scripture that say snitches get snitches. He came back just Joseph had a he just talked too much.

And the Bible says another time the dad sent him out for to get a report. And the Bible says he's out in the field searching for his brothers. And the Bible say they see him a far off. and they start plotting a conspiracy. They said, "I got a good idea.

Let's uh let's kill him." God, that's that's ridiculous. Not beat him up. Kill the man. One of the brothers said, "Bro, that's too much. Let's just throw him in a pit." Like, "That's better." And the Bible says the pit was empty, so it hurt. They threw the man in a pit.

For most of my life, y'all, I thought that certain events had to happen in order for certain outcomes. >> Like, every time I read the scripture, I always thought had they not gone to the pit, then it wouldn't end up in the palace. Matter of fact, I preached that.

I've been preaching since 18. I I know I done preached that. Thank God for the pit. He needed the pit. He needed it. That's what I thought. And I thought that because Aristotle taught this philosophy called cause and effect. What cause and effect says it explains that one moment bursts another moment.

So even in my life as I try to make logic out of even the tragedies I faced, I recall the darkest day of my life was in June of 1989. In June of 1989, my 28-year-old father took his final breath on a Sunday morning, died. He died. He died in Warner Robbins, Georgia.

And I always thought if he didn't die in Warner Robbins, Georgia, there's no way I would have been raised in Georgia. If I wasn't raised in Georgia, I wouldn't have went to Georgia Southern. If I never went to Georgia Southern, I wouldn't have met Jackie. If I didn't meet Jackie, there would be no kids.

There would be no Forward City. There would be no Maway. There would be no nothing. So my conclusion has always been that I CAN BACK EVERYTHING UP in my entire life, ministry, kids, music, all back to the darkest day in 1989 >> because that's cause and effect. AND ALTHOUGH THIS CONCLUSION IS POSSIBLE, THE LORD GAVE ME A GREATER revelation >> that there is an alternative possibility >> and it is called divine providence.

Now divine providence suggests that God's sovereignty IS NOT DEPENDENT ON HUMAN EVENTS. >> But human events are actually held inside the SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD. WHAT THIS MEANS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IS THAT GOD IS SO GOD THAT even if my dad survived that aneurysm, and even if we were stationed in the West Coast as planned, and even if my wife was raised in Ghana as planned, God in his sovereignty is so GOD THAT HE STILL WOULD HAVE ORCHESTRATED A WAY FOR us to meet each other on a cruise ship in the Bahamas.

I don't know. He would have made it happen. BECAUSE WHEN GOD HAS A PLAN, MY GOD, HE don't actually need the devil to help his plan. No, no, no, no. I need to help FREE YOUR MIND. GOD DON'T NEED TRAGEDY IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH DESTINY. GOD DON'T NEED PAIN to produce promise.

He is sovereign all by himself. And ladies and gentlemen, this is why I PRAISE MY GOD. NOT BECAUSE HE need bad things to make good things, because he's so bad all by himself. Cuz he's so God all by himself. He can bring a good thing out of a bad situation.

I PRAISE HIM BECAUSE IN SPITE OF WHAT I GO THROUGH, ((music playing)) he still has a plan. And if God has a plan, ain't no devil in hell can stop it. I need somebody to shout, let you know your God ((music playing)) is still sovereign. >> He's still sovereign. >> Still sovereign. >> God can do what he wants when he wants.

He He is AN IN SPITE OF kind of God. >> I like that about him. That God will raise you up in spite of the lies against you. >> God will call you out in spite of the betrayal you face. God will hook you up with somebody in spite of the last person doing you wrong.

God will promote you in spite of the last boss OVERLOOKING YOU. IN SPITE OF THE ABANDONMENT, IN SPITE OF THE DIAGNOSIS, IN SPITE OF THE CRIMINAL RECORD, IS there anybody in this room that know that you're still standing in spite of your past? God is a God that will promote you without anybody's opinion, in spite of who or what's against you.

If God before you, he is the majority. And Joseph Joseph had everything working against him. Imagine your own flesh and blood trying to kill you. Not talking about you. >> Literally trying to kill you. You show up to Thanksgiving and they put rat poison in the cranberry. My wife would be out of here cuz she ain't eat nobody dressing without cranberry.

She just she don't want dressing with cranberries. Who want cranberry with a salad dressing? [laughter] His his blood brothers tried to take the man life. They sell him into slavery at the age of 17, ship him off to Egypt. And you know, you can't just read the Bible. >> You got to read the Bible.

Got to really dig into it. They sent him off to Egypt. He can't speak that language. There is no dual lingo. There ain't a new AirPods that can interpret. He just short. He out there don't know what's going on. Everybody different. And as as if that's not enough, as a slave, he get promoted.

That preach all by itself. Cuz when favor is on you, >> it don't matter where God plants you, you'll flourish there. >> Did you hear what I just said? And so he's a slave, still get promoted. But Piper's wife is a real wife, real housewife for Egypt. She's a nasty.

She run up on her brother and he said, "Get away from me." That's what I would do. That's right. Get away from me. Get away from me. as running. She grabbed his jacket and she said, "He tried to get me, frame the guy." Have you ever been in a season in your life where it feels like as soon as you could come up for breath, something else just hit you? >> Come on.

I know some of y'all would just y'all y'all ain't never been through nothing. I know you got it made. You just you win the lotto every Friday. But some of us As soon as it feel like I just overcame this one thing, >> as soon as I fix the flat tire, the dog get sick. >> Take the dog to the vet, the oven go out. >> This is Jojo.

Every time he pull one step forward, it feel like something knock him back. But man set back is always God set up. >> So God was always positioning him. I don't know who need to hear this. >> God is always positioning you right where he wants you >> to land right where he wants you >> at the appointed time. >> Now here's Joseph in prison for about three years. and he goes through all of this pain, all of this trial, all of this drama just because the man had a dream.

And at first glance, like you, I always blame his brothers. I don't know if because I'm getting older, Chris, but when I see the Bible now, I just see things different. >> I'll be 42 in January. I'm grown grown now. I ain't got time to >> How many of y'all in your 40s?

Y'all know what I'm saying? Grown. Grown. How many of y'all in your 30s? Y'all still got a ways to come. Y'all just keep keep living. Just keep living. Keep living. I'm grown. Grown. Grown. You still in your 30s? Respect me. My wife still in her 30s. I am her elder.

Respect me. I'm grown. Grown. Now when I'm reading the Bible, I just see stuff different. I always for all these years saw this story of Joseph as if the brothers are just trifling. They are, but I see them a little different now. I don't know if it's because I just got from Thanksgiving, but now I want you to imagine this is how I teach.

I teach you to try to put yourself in the Bible because if you read it from the outside looking in, you'll judge people the wrong way. >> It's very easy on this side of history to judge Joseph Brothers. But just imagine if you would you at Thanksgiving dinner table and right before Big Mama say grace, the youngest siblings speak up and say, "Excuse me everybody.

I have an announcement. All y'all going to bow to me. >> Excuse me. You heard me. All y'all going to bow to me. Or imagine you're a whole CEO and you just minding your business. You're in a boardroom. You're in a meeting with important people and a janitor walk by.

Hey, uh, you gonna be working for me. Slam the door and walk off. What? The idea that this guy would say this is beyond ludicrous, BUT IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE for us in the 21st century context to even comprehend how absurd this actual claim is. Ladies and gentlemen, this boy was speaking up on something that had so much weight connected to it.

This is why they wanted to kill him because he was talking about legacy. >> And to really understand this, you got to understand that his family is perhaps the most important family in human history. >> This is Abraham people we talking about. >> You ever heard of Abraham? >> That's your problem.

You ain't been in vacation Bible school. See, father Abraham had many sons. >> How many sons have Father Abraham, I was one of them and so were you. So let's just praise the Lord. Right on. Father Abraham. Hey, how many sons? If y'all come up with another line dance, I'm so sick of y'all.

Y'ALL BE COCKY, TOO. Just I'm sick of it. They all at my family reunion doing that stupid stuff. Got my uncle. My uncle is 89 out there trying to learn. Let me Sir, your hip can't even hold up. Let Abraham, I'm sick of it now. It is enough.

Three dances isn't enough. Cha cha, electric, slide, and pan. That's it. Sick of it. Abraham was a big deal. This is Joseph great-grandfather. He's such a big deal. God said, "Hey man, follow me to a land I'm going to show you." And the Lord made a covenant with him.

Abraham's a big deal because of out of Abraham's lineage will come Jesus himself. Abraham is a big deal. And God says, "I will be the God of Abraham." Abraham bestows a blessing on Isaac. The God of Isaac. Isaac bestows the blessing on Jacob. They got of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

This is a big deal. This is a sacred lineage. And the brothers are insecure cuz Joseph had a dream. Insecurity is always a result of you underestimating God's sovereignty. >> You'll only be insecure when you think God don't have enough to bless you, too. >> Oh, God. This is why I don't have to be jealous.

Jealous of nobody. >> Jealousy is insulting to God >> because it tells God that he's limited. Did you hear what I just said? Oh my God. You did not hear what I just said. WHEN YOU ARE JEALOUS OF SOMEONE ELSE, YOU'RE SAYING, "GOD, YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH BLESSING TO go around." >> When you're jealous that someone else got a promotion, you're saying, "God, you ain't gy enough to bless me, too."

But when you have an understanding that what GOD HAS FOR YOU IS for you, you can celebrate somebody else's blessing BECAUSE YOU KNOW YOU MIGHT BE NEXT in line for a miracle. THAT WHATEVER GOD HAS FOR YOU IS ONLY FOR YOU. Do me a favor. Hit somebody on the knee.

Tell them it's yours. It's yours. It's yours. IT'S YOURS. YOU AIN'T GOT TO HATE THE PLAYER. IT'S YOURS. IT'S YOURS. IT'S YOURS. WHAT GOD HAS FOR you >> is for you. THERE'S >> SO MUCH GOING ON IN THIS TEXT. They taught us in SEMINARY WHEN YOU EXAMINE THE TEXT, LOOK for parallels.

Look for patterns. And as I was looking at this, I said, "Wait a minute. There's a lot of significance happening here." And perhaps Jacob is reaping what he sowed. >> Now, you would remember Jacob was a trickster. >> Jacob fooled his daddy >> and now his sons are fooling him.

Yeah, >> Jacob put on a coat to go and trick his dad and now the brothers brought the brother's coat to trick him. It was Jacob who ran away from home and now Joseph is being sent away from home. Ladies and gentlemen, these are more than JUST FAMILY PROBLEMS.

THESE ARE family patterns. Some of the things that you are facing are generational. Oh my god. SOME OF THE STUFF YOU'RE FA SOME OF YOUR APPETITE AIN'T EVEN STUFF YOU GAVE YOURSELF. IT'S STUFF YOU WERE BORN WITH CUZ YOUR DADDY AND YOUR granddaddy didn't kill it. But I need 15 people in a 12-year-old that says it stops with me.

I know, I know, I know everybody else dealt with this, but it stops with me. Ladies and gentlemen, I need you to understand that patterns don't magically disappear. >> PATTERNS DON'T VANISH JUST because promise is present. Patterns have to be faced, exposed, confronted. Patterns have to be broken. >> My God.

Maybe maybe this is why you've been feeling the pressure you've been feeling in life. Joseph, I like Jojo because Joseph, he went down with just surviving his father's pattern. >> He said, "You know what? I'll be the one to break it." >> Jacob lived in fear. Joseph lived by faith. >> Jacob expected tragedy.

Joseph expected victory. >> Jacob Jacob put a coat on Joseph. Watch this. And This is what God told me about Joseph. The reason his brothers had to rip it off of him, I don't want to get stuck right here >> is because Joseph would have never taken it off. >> Why is that important, Travis? >> Cuz you can't wear your father's coat and Pharaoh's robe at the same time.

((cheering)) So there are times, Pastor Gerald, >> where God will allow people who you thought were against you >> to disrobe you in order so you can be ready to put on what you was always fit to wear. Did you hear what I just said? There are sometimes in YOUR LIFE WHERE GOD SAYS, "I WILL allow some people to get around you to take stuff off of you."

AND THEY'RE NOT ROBBING YOU. THEY'RE preparing you for something greater. DID YOU HEAR WHAT I JUST SAID? God said, "I had to get that off of you cuz mama put it on you. I had to get that off of you cuz daddy put it on you. I had to put that off of you cuz your grandma put it on you.

But that ain't what you fit to wear IN YOUR FUTURE. SO I WILL ALLOW some people to come around. They not your enemies. They're your escorts. I allow some people to come around you IN ORDER TO RIP OFF FOR YOU WHAT I never wanted you to wear in the first place.

Is it dangerous territories I'm about to walk in >> dangerous territories >> cuz I know how you feel about your family. >> We could talk about each other. Ain't nobody talking about my family. >> But sometimes >> y'all don't want the truth. >> Sometimes your loyalty is a liability.

I was having a conversation with a young man the other day and he said it dawned on me that I'm a lot like my mama. He said my mama don't have no friends. He said um I don't really know how to socialize. He said but then it just dawned on me.

You know what? I don't want what my mama got. in order not to be like her, I'm going to have to do something different. And the problem, especially with black folks, I can speak about y'all cuz I'm one of you. Especially with black folk, >> we be loyal to some foolishness. >> Well, that's the way my mama WAS AND THAT, HUH?

THAT'S THE WAY IT'S ALWAYS GOING. NO. WHAT IF GOD ORCHESTRATED YOUR PATH DIFFERENTLY FOR YOU TO break the pattern? I need you to lean on somebody and tell them you're a pattern breaker. Just because THAT'S WHERE YOU FROM DON'T MEAN THAT'S WHERE YOU GOT TO STAY. JUST BECAUSE THAT'S HOW YOU WERE RAISED don't mean that's HOW YOU GOT TO THINK AS A MAN THINKKETH.

SO IT'S HE. GOD SAYS I UH I rescued you from that. Not so you can be LIKE IT BUT THAT YOU CAN FREE SOME OTHER PEOPLE FROM IT. Put somebody tell them, "Break the pattern." Break the pattern. Break the pattern. Break the pattern. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Break the pattern. It may make you uncomfortable, but break the pattern. They may be uncomfortable with you around, but break the pattern. I'm sorry. It ain't funny no more. I'm breaking a pattern. I'm sorry. It don't taste good no more. I'm breaking a pattern. I'm sorry. It don't feel good no more.

I'm breaking a pattern. I'm sorry. No, I can't go with you over there no more. I'm breaking the pattern. ((music playing)) I know that's what everybody else do. I know that's how everybody else think. I know that's everybody else's limitation. But I'm breaking the pattern. ((music playing)) Just because I'm from it does not mean I have to become it.

((cheering)) ((applause)) >> And just because addiction >> has ran through your bloodline >> doesn't mean >> it must run through you. And just because >> you were raised in a single household >> doesn't mean your child have to. >> And just because you from poverty don't mean you have to stay in poverty.

Come on. Come on. Come on. Come on. Come on. Come on. Come on. Just because no one else graduated don't mean you can't. You are a pattern breaker. And this is why. Come on. I came to preach to you. This is why the pressure has been so intense because it's always intense for the first one to make it out.

But I came to prophesy to you. Yellow, ((music playing)) black, brown, white, I don't care your color, you need this word. God says because you break the pattern, your children won't have to. ((music playing)) If that's your word, I need you to take 10 seconds and give God a praise like you're a pattern breaker.

I'm anointed to break this. ((music playing)) I'm anointed to break this. I'm anointed to break this. Uh I'm the last one who will have that trouble. I'm the last one who will have ((music playing)) that pain. Uh I'm the last one who will have that abuse. Uh I'm the it stops with me.

I am a pattern breaker. ((music playing)) Grab somebody. Tell them break it. Break it. Break it. Break ((music playing)) it. Break it. Break the pattern. Break the pattern. >> Patterns >> are on repeat. >> It's a stronghold that feels like it has jurisdiction. >> Patterns are cocky. >> Good God, JC. The reason patterns are cocky because they don't even have to work to be effective. >> Patterns show up and say, "Well, I done been here." >> I was here with your granddaddy. >> Pattern of lust. >> They don't even have to fight.

It's just >> I was here. And people just tolerate me. >> I'm just chilling. >> The pattern of poverty. I'm just chilling >> cuz they never going to think that they can overcome me. >> So they tolerate me. >> Pattern of insecurity. >> That's the way my mama was. >> The the pattern of depression.

I promise you. I promise you. I promise you. If you battle depression, you can trace it. >> It didn't just show up with you. >> You weren't the first one in your family to be touched inappropriately. >> It's a pattern >> that nobody talk about. So the pattern just been hanging out and show up generation >> after generation. >> And it's comfortable cuz nobody confronted.

It's comfortable cuz that's just the way we are. That's the way the William family is. >> We all drunk. It's a pattern. We all sleep around. >> And you're 12 years old and your uncle teaching you about perversion. Look at this magazine. It's a pattern >> because the pattern had him trapped. >> He's just handing it down to the next generation. >> But in every family, ((cheering)) >> heaven looked down and said, ((music playing)) "That's enough. >> That pattern been on the Haten family for too long.

Gerald, you're coming out. That pattern been on the Harrison TOO LONG. CYNTHIA, YOU'RE COMING OUT. ((music playing)) That pattern been on the Headwood too long. Jamal, you're coming out every now and then. Heaven to look down and grab somebody out of every family line. And ((music playing)) you might just be the Joseph in your family.

I need every pattern breaker to lift your hands and give your ((music playing)) God a shout like it is with you. ((music playing)) The pattern stops here. I feel something. The pattern stops here. The pattern ((music playing)) stops here. The pattern stops here. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but a power, love, and a sound.

The pattern stops here. For the weapons of our warfare are not ((music playing)) carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of every stronghold. The pattern stops here. ((music playing)) Do me a favor. Grab somebody and tell them, "You're anointed for this. You're anointed for this. You're anointed for this. You're anointed ((music playing)) for this.

You're anointed for this. You may have to cry, but don't stop fighting. You may have to cry, but don't stop fighting. ((music playing)) I know it feel like you fighting by yourself. I know your sister and your brother think you crazy. I know your mama think you crazy, but don't ((music playing)) stop fighting cuz I came with good news today.

You're not fighting by yourself. You got the God of heaven armies fighting ((music playing)) on your behalf. And if God be for you, ((music playing)) he's more than the world. Who is this uncircumcised feel inside ((music playing)) there to denounce something? My God, I need somebody to take 10 seconds and praise God ((music playing)) like every pattern is being broken in Jesus name.

((music playing)) I said every pattern is being broken. It stops with me. It stops with me. Divorce stopped with me. Abortions stop with me. ((music playing)) Trump stop with me. Addiction stop with me. It stops right now. Cancer stop with I break the pattern of cancer off my family. I break the ((music playing)) pattern of cancer off my family.

It stops with me. ((music playing)) Somebody shout like you know you're a pattern breaker. ((music playing)) >> ((music playing)) >> It stops with me. >> Free marital sex ((music playing)) starts with me. It stops with me. >> It stops with me. >> It starts with me. >> Keep fighting. ((music playing)) >> It starts with me. >> Keep fighting.

Put your gloves back on. >> It starts with me. ((music playing)) >> Don't you give up. Don't you bow out. >> It's got to praise. It's got to break. It ((music playing)) starts with me. It's got to break. It's got to break. It starts with ((music playing)) me. It's got to break. It's got to break.

It starts with ((music playing)) me. It's got to break. It's got to break. >> I deserve the Lord. This ain't for everybody, but a few people about to get this word. >> God says you about to break the pattern so good, LA. It ain't just GOING TO FREE YOUR CHILDREN.

It's going to free your parents, too. You got 10 seconds to praise God. ((music playing)) Like every pattern, I feel the Holy Ghost. It starts ((music playing)) with me. It starts with me. >> Break the pattern off my grandma. Break the pattern off my auntie. Break the pattern off my daddy. Break the pattern.

Break it. Break it. Break it. Break it. >> It's ((music playing)) going to break. It's going to break. >> It's going to break. It's going to break. ((music playing)) It's going to break. It's going to break. Stop with me. >> Break break break break. ((music playing)) Hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey ((music playing)) break.

((music playing)) >> Don't stop fighting. Don't stop praying. Don't stop fasting. ((music playing)) Don't stop pressing. God is going to BREAK THAT THING. GOD is going to I need you to lift your hands until every ounce of it is broken. ((music playing)) Until every ounce of insection is broken. Break break break. Pushing back is break.

((music playing)) The devil came at me or my family break. >> ((music playing)) >> You are a pattern breaker. >> Here's the question. I know it's hard, but just answer this one question for me. >> If you don't break it, >> who will Somebody, somebody has to stand and say, "My marriage is not perfect, >> but the pattern of divorce has been running in my family too long. >> I'mma stay planted." >> Somebody Somebody had to say, "I know what my body feels and I'm craving something, but if I don't break it, who will?"

And God says, "Joseph, more than a dreamer, you are a pattern breaker. As a matter of fact, the dream is all about >> the pattern being broken. That's what the whole dream is about. >> They thought Joseph was crazy. >> But Joseph didn't see wrong. He just saw early. >> And I came to encourage your heart and tell you, you didn't get it wrong. >> You just see something early. >> ((music playing)) ((applause)) >> hands.

When you're a pattern breaker, God will trust you >> with divine insight. >> And everybody can just see straight ahead, but God will show you stuff around the corner. >> They like, "You you tripping." No, no, no, no, no, no. I see something different. >> I can't explain it, but I see something different. >> I had one of my boys the other day.

I'm done. He was crying after school. I could tell something was bothering him. I said, "Man, what's going on?" He said, "I had a rough day at school." Said, "I was trying to be nice to some of my friends and they thought it was they thought it wasn't cool when I try to be nice to them and they they thought his kindness was lame."

I said, "Man, don't worry about that." I said, "I remember when I was growing up in school and I said, "People pick on me sometimes, too." He was like, "Really?" I like, "Yeah, you." I said, "Man, you see me now and I'm I'm 6'4. I see something different."

I said, "But when I was growing up, man, I was so short and I couldn't talk. I had everything working against me." I said, "But I remember sometimes people would pick on me and I would just talk to myself." I wouldn't say it out loud because I can't fight. >> So, I would just whisper it to myself.

They'll pick on me and I'll walk and I say they have no idea who I am. I just I just talk to myself. I talk to myself and I say one day I'm going to be real successful. I said they still going to be right here. >> I'm going somewhere.

I'm doing something. just talk to myself. >> I didn't have to make a public announcement because pattern breakers don't actually have to announce yourself. You just let your fruit talk for you. And what's what's crazy about my story, not many people know this, my wife knows this. I didn't even start singing until I was in my 20s.

I'm a late bloomer. I'm in my 20s. Nobody at my school knew I did music. They all shocked. They're like, "Where did I come from?" They didn't know that after school, >> I would be at home practicing music >> in the dark. >> Cuz God does his best production >> in the dark.

And maybe maybe you weren't buried after all. Maybe you were planted because God was hiding you beneath the surface >> and forming something in the dark. That's why you got to be careful who you step on >> and who you step over >> because seed is always hidden >> until it blossoms.

And I came to tell you >> that you're about to enter into a season >> where what God's been doing in the dark essence. >> That's what the Lord said. He said it's going to speak for itself. >> Now, WHAT REALLY BLESSED ME ABOUT THIS TEXT, THE BIBLE says in Genesis chapter 37 when he tells his brother this dream, I think it's in verse 7, he tells his brother dream.

He says, "This is what I dream." He said, "We were binding sheav of grain out in the field." When suddenly, I had to underline that word. >> Suddenly, my she rose up. Here's what he was saying. He says, "We were all going through the motion." We were just doing an ordinary family pattern >> and suddenly I broke out >> and the Lord told me to come and preach to pattern breakers.

If you're not a pattern breaker, I'm so sorry. Come back next week. We'll have a word for you. >> The Lord told me to preach specifically to those who are anointed to break patterns >> to let you know >> that a suddenly is about to hit your life.

((applause)) >> Did you hear what I just said? ((music playing)) Your suddenly moment is closer than you think it. What's a suddenly moment? A suddenly moment is when you were headed in one direction and suddenly got shifted. A suddenly moment is when the devil thought he had a plan and suddenly God blocked it.

I need to grab your neighbor and tell them get ready. Get ready for suddenly. Get ready for suddenly. Get ready ((music playing)) for suddenly. Here's what's significant about suddenly. >> Suddenly does not exist in heaven. >> We be out here singing. is going to come all of a sudden. That is only on earth. >> And I love that song. >> We're going to keep singing it. >> But heaven has never had a suddenly >> that whatever happened for you all of a sudden is an ancient thought in the eternal mind of God.

((cheering)) ((applause)) >> [laughter] >> God so Omega you already in heaven. That's too deep. All right, I'm I'mma quit messing with y'all. >> There is no there is no subtly forgot. >> This is scripted. >> Your life is a rerun. This is good news because it means that if God made a promise >> about your church, about your family, about your business, about your future, hear me, he's not guessing.

It's already done. But what happens is eventually our faith collides >> with his plan >> and suddenly >> what was already happening beneath the surface >> starts to blossom. >> This is it. Genesis 50 20. Fast forward to the end of Netflix series. Here's what the Bible says.

Joseph said, "Hey, bro, don't be too hard on yourself." He said, "You intended to harm me, but God intended for good." I had to look this up, pastor. I said, "What is this word intended?" It is actually a Hebrew word have. And what this word means is that God planned, calculated, good God, designed.

Here's what it really means. It means to weave. That thing messed me up. Joseph tells his brothers, "Y'all were trying to hurt me, but God was weaving together my story. This is deep >> because I've often heard it said, >> wrote a song about it. That God can take what the enemy meant for evil and turn it. >> I believe that.

This is even deeper than that. >> To turn it >> means that God is reactive. ((cheering)) >> I'm going home. I'm going home. Did you hear what I just said? FOR GOD TO turn it means that God has to wait and see what's going to happen >> and say, "Okay, I can use that. >> He's too alpha for that."

Joseph said, "God didn't just turn it for my good." He said, "What you meant for evil, God meant it for good." That means that God didn't show up on the other side. God was there even in ((music playing)) the pit weaving my story. They didn't bury you. GOD PLANTED YOU.

HE HAD A PLAN for you all alone. I need everybody in this room that know ((music playing)) that God is sovereign still to give him a great praise like you know he's planted you on purpose. ((music playing)) My wife asked me a few days ago. She said, "What's stirring in your spirit for Sunday?"

I said, "I was just thinking about Joseph." And I was thinking about the fact that Joseph was a seed and a fertile soil for Joseph was in Egypt. And it dawned on me that seed can't plant itself. Wow. >> His brothers weren't enemies. They were escorts. >> They weren't pawbearers.

They were planters. >> And God is so God. >> That he could turn a graveyard into fertile ground. You remember this Jewish guy >> who was raised by another man named Joseph. >> They crucified him. >> Put him in a bar tomb by another man named Joseph. >> The Bible says in three days God raised him from the I like the fact that God raised Jesus in the very place he was buried.

This is your word. God says the reason you got to stay planted cuz I'mma bring a harvest in the very place they left you for dead in the place you were supposed to be destroyed. Oh man, somebody somebody cannot believe you made it right there. Tell your neighbor, "Stay planted.

Stay planted. Stay planted. Stay planted. Stay planted. They planted. God says, "I'm going to make you grow right here. I'm done." And most of us are in a habit of fleeing from famine. The proof that God was God in the life of Joseph and the proof that his power was undeniable to Pharaoh and all of Egypt was the fact that God allowed productivity >> in a famine. >> I don't run from famine.

I know. I know. We're in times of the government shaky and stuff happen and people, oh, I need to move to Ethiopia. I don't know what about to happen. >> I don't have to run from famine. I I know. I know sometimes, man. You like, I know what it's like, y'all.

Let me tell you that. I know what it's like not to know how the next bill is going to get paid. >> But don't run from famine. God says you'll be like a tree planted by the rivers of what? Your leaf would not wither and you'll bear fruit in and out of every season.

I need you to lift your hands for a moment. I got to prophesy to you right here in the middle of it. Do you hear me? Right here in the valley. You won't see wind. You won't see rain. But the drought will end. Everything will change right here in the grave. >> God says, "Watch me resurrect.

Watch me send my wind. WATCH THE WIND FROM HEAVEN BLOW." FATHER, I thank you for your sons and daughters in this room. I thank you that if you are for us, you're more than the world against us. God, I I pray that you would give us staying power that we'll be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.

I pray in Jesus' name for every pattern breaker under the sound of my voice, those watching around the world and those in this room. Father, I pray that you would give us wind. >> For your Bible says that they wait on the Lord. Thank you, Lord. You'll renew our strength. >> We'll mount up on wings as eagles.

We'll run and not be weary. We'll walk and not faint. God, give new strength. Come on, just for one moment. For one moment, would you just worship your God? I feel a new wind coming into your life. The Lord said, "Don't be weary and welloing." Come on, it's a holy moment.

Don't be weary and welloing. For in due season, you'll reap if you faint not. God says, I'm going to cause you to grow right here. Deepen your roots. Strengthen your stakes. Lengthen your cores right here. God says, "I'm going to expand you right here." >> Thank you, Lord.

Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. I want to pray really quickly. We're about to roll. I want to pray really quickly a prayer right where you are. For anyone in this room that that's been feeling weary, like you you know, you know God's for you. You know that, but man, it just feels like there's so much weight on you.

And sometimes it feels like you're the only one who actually care. If that's you right where you are, I want you to lift your hands. I want to pray for you. You just you've been feeling weary. I feel that in the room. You've been feeling weary. Maybe you're a single parent.

Maybe you're a business owner. Maybe you're a student. You just feel weary. You feel like the weight of the family is on your shoulder. You feel like all the responsibility is on your shoulder. The Bible says, "Lay aside every weight and sin that so easily be sad." The B the Bible says you can cast your cares on him for his yoke is easy and his burden is light.

So, Father, I thank you in this moment that you give us a garment of praise where there is a spirit of heaviness. >> Father, I thank you in Jesus name that you're strong enough to handle what's been coming against us. I thank you that you're strong enough to lift the weight, to lift the burden.

I thank you, Holy Spirit, that we won't give up, that we won't bow out. And I thank you that you've empowered us to break patterns. Now, Lord, I pray for new strength. Fresh wine, fresh wind, blow, blow, wind, blow. We are your people and will you give glory for it in Jesus name.

Come on. If you received that, give him a great praise. And last thing, ((applause)) last thing, we're all going to leave together. No one moving just for a moment. President Jamal is going to come up and pray over you. But I want to give you an opportunity if you're in this room and you don't know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior.

Hey, the best thing you can do is just say yes to him. And the oldest lie is that you can fix yourself. [laughter] If it's broken, you got to take it back to the manufacturer. And his name is Jesus. He's the potter. You're the clay. He says, "Man, if you'll just receive me, he could change everything about you."

I'm going to count to three. Hands are going to go up around this room. If you're one of those, I would want you to lift your hand like your life depends on it because it does. And you're saying, you know what? I want to receive Jesus as my Lord and Savior.

You ready? It's your moment. Won't you lift that hand high? One, I need a savior. Two, ((music playing)) change my life. Three, give me Jesus. Lift that hand high. Come on. Real high. Real high. Real high. Real high. Come on. Hands are up everywhere. ((music playing)) Lift it high. Keep it up.

Keep it up. I'm proud of you, baby girl. I'm so proud of you, >> man. I hope you were blessed by that word. Remember, I don't want for you to be stingy. Make sure that you share this word with a friend, a co-orker, a family member that needs to be blessed by it.

And I hope that you took some notes so that you can chew on this word for the rest of the week. Make sure that you subscribe to our YouTube channel so that you stay up to date on all things Forward City Church. And remember, we don't dismiss here, but we make this declaration.

Your past is gone. Your future is ((music playing)) waiting. Move forward. Love you, Forward City. See you next week.