I'm Not Used to This | Pastor Travis Greene | Forward City Church

My family, listen, I am so grateful that you joined me on another uh YouTube podcast, wherever you're listening or watching from. Uh it's a big deal to me. Today, I preach a message called I'm not used to this. Uh three major points. Beware of the curse of common.

Get through the gates of gratitude and also have the prerogative of praise. And listen, man, this is a message that uh is probably going to be my favorite for a while. Uh because it really is just a reminder to the people of God that the natural response to memory to your memory, to your remembering the goodness of God is your praise and your worship.

Uh and so there's so much to to cover. I'm not even going to give you a full summary. Just make sure you lean in, get your notebooks out, uh take notes, uh share this, tell other people what God is doing here at Forest City Church. And I'll see you at Father.

We thank you for the thousands that will gather in this room. We thank you for the lives that will be changed in this room. Uh we thank you for the families that will be restored and reconciled in this room. Oh kingdom of God come. Will of God be done.

Lord, we are your people and our desire is that your will be done. ((music playing)) Come on. I said you come with a praise today. Do me a favor. Jump on your feet. High five three people and tell them I brought a praise with me. I brought a praise with me.

I brought a praise with me this morning. I had a song in my spirit. I want y'all to sing a little bit of it. What a God. What a God. Come on. Lift it. If the highest place I reach, come on. Come on. Come on. If the highest place I reach is at your feet, then I've done it all.

If the best thing that I see is your glory. >> Come on. Come on. >> And I've seen it all. Your love has changed my life forever. >> Come on. Tell them you are my >> If one word, if one word, come on. If one word is the only thing you speak, then I have it all.

If I feel your heart and never see your hand, >> I still have it. >> I still have it all. >> No treasure. >> No treasure. >> Whatever. >> God, you are. >> One more time. One more time. Take it in. >> If the highest place I reach is your >> Come on, church.

Then I've done it all. And the best thing that I see is your glory. Then I see it all. >> Your love. >> Your love has changed my life forever. God, you are. >> I love this part. And if one word is king, >> one word is the only thing you see, then it all.

((music playing)) >> God, you are you are my >> God. You are my everything. Tell them. Tell them >> you are my everything. >> God, you are. >> You are my everything. >> What a God. What a God. Woo. ((applause)) ((music playing)) >> What a God. What a angels bow before you. >> What a God.

What a God. >> Jesus. What a God. What a God. And >> I want you to take a moment. Would you close your eyes? And I want you just to think about one miracle. One miracle that God did that only he could get the credit for. One miracle.

I can name about 10, but just think of one of them. One of them. One of them. Something it kept from you. something. You survived. Thank you, Lord. You have a miracle working, God. And God, if you did that, we know that you can do this. What a God.

I will look to the heels from which comes my help. >> Knowing that all my help comes from you, God, the maker of heaven and of earth. We give you all ((music playing)) all the >> Jesus we worship. You are you are worthy to be praised. >> Hands lifted. Tell them you are alpha for you are alpha andor may >> and we worship you are you are worthy to be >> we give you all.

We give you all. Come on. Come on. like a big choir. Tell them we give you all ((music playing)) glory. >> That's why we've come. We worship you God. You are worthy to >> I love it. One more time. Come on. Let your spirit sing to him. Let your spirit sing to him.

We give. You are ((music playing)) glor. >> You deserve it all. Thank you, Lord. >> For the way that you've made, for the price that you've paid, for the doors that you've opened, for the times you healed me. Thank you, Lord. >> Miracle worker God. One more time. We give We give you ((music playing)) We worship you. >> That's it.

You're worthy. You are worthy. >> Come on. 9:00. Do it now. >> Worthy. Worthy. >> We have gathered together in his house to concentrate on him. and to worship Christ our Lord. >> Yes, God. >> Come on. Does anybody got a testimony? Do me a favor. High five.

Somebody tell them he's worthy. He's worthy. He's worthy. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. Hey, grab your Bibles. Grab your Bibles. We're going to be in First Chronicles, not Corinthians. Chronicles, Old Testament. >> Woo! God, >> you are worthy to be praised. >> From the rising of the sun, >> to the setting of the same, the name of the Lord is worthy.

He's worthy. He's worthy. He's worthy. He's worthy. >> We're going to be in 1 Chronicles chapter 15. Hey, if you have a problem worshiping on earth, you going to be lost in heaven. These are singing a Baptist church. Chris, this is just a rehearsal. When we get to heaven, we going to really sing.

Y'all don't know that. Y'all too new school. You might as well practice here, man. >> Yes, sir. >> 1 Chronicles 15. I'm going read a few verses. Thank you, worship team. Y'all are amazing. >> Thank y'all for being saved. I could tell y'all saved. I don't take that for granted.

It's all the unsaved people out here. 1 Chronicles 15 and we're going to start at verse 12. Hey, are you excited to be in the house of God today? >> Thank you for coming to church. Thank you for tuning online. There are literally thousands of people tuned in online.

I got them pulled up on my phone. Y'all let me know where y'all from. people all over the world um joining us all over YouTube and um I'm grateful for y'all so much. 1 Chronicles 15 verse 12. You ready? This is David talking. He said to them, "You are the heads of the Levitical families.

You and your fellow Levites are to consecrate yourselves." I like that. and bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place I have. I like this, too. Prepared for it. Come on. You got to prepare for his presence. It was because you, the Levites, did not bring it up the first time that the Lord our God broke out in anger against us.

We did not inquire of him about how to do it in the prescribed way. >> Do me a favor. Tell somebody, you might want to check with Jesus. So the priests and Levites consecrated themselves in order to bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel.

And the Levites carried the ark of God with the poles on their shoulders as Moses had commanded in accordance with the word of the Lord. Now, you don't have to do it now, but when you get a moment, I want you to jump over to Acts chapter 3.

And I'm just going to share two verses from this. This is Peter and John encountering a lame man at the gate car. Beautiful. In verse 7, it says, "Taking him by the right hand, he helped them up and instantly, man, I can go home right there. Do me a favor.

Tell somebody, expect it instantly. ((music playing)) I mean, I know God could take his time, but I also know that God is able to do some stuff instantly. ((music playing)) He helped him up and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. If God can cause a lame man to stand instantly, then surely he can cancel debt instantly.

Then then surely he can make your marriage start working instantly. Then surely he can regulate your mind. Y'all ain't come to have no church. Instantly he jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts. Walking and jumping and praising God.

Walking, jumping, and praising God. Walking, jumping, and praising God. I got a message from God for you today. The Lord gave it to me on a plane. I was sitting by Pastor Jamal traveling back to town and I said yo the Lord done gave me a whole word for Sunday and it's on the screen.

It's simply called I'm not used to this. Do me a favor. Tell three people I'm not used to this. I'm not I'm not used to this. I'm still not used to this. I'm not used to this. Lord Jesus, we're here for you. Breathe in this room. Do what only you can do.

Saturate our hearts. Allow this time to be fruitful. >> Do a new thing. do an old thing. Prepare me to be a sanctuary, >> pure and holy, tried and true. We give you praise in Jesus name. Amen. I want you to be quiet if you ain't come expecting nothing.

But if you're excited for a word from God, give him a praise. You can take your seat. I'm not used to this. I'm not used to this. Few weeks ago, I preached a message called I'm Carrying a Move. This message has been on my heart. I got to preach it kind of really all over um America over the past few weeks.

I preached it in Sacramento. I I preached it in uh Boston. I preached it in Las Vegas, Save City. And um and and this has been a word that the Lord has been uh ministered to my heart. 2 Samuel 6 and Acts chapter 3. But today I read the passage from 1 Chronicles.

It's is really synoptic. But I want to share some things with you um that the Lord has been speaking to me about. A few weeks ago I introduced um these characters to you. the two brothers called Oza and Aayo. And if you haven't watched the message and please go back and watch it.

Um please watch all the messages so when you come to church you know what's going on. Amen. Um but but what happened was these brothers were were guiding um the ark of covenant on a new cart. They were having a praise parade and all of a sudden did something very ignorant.

Oza decided to help God out and he reached out and touched the ark because the oxen had stumbled. Well, when he touched it, the Lord said, the Bible says that the Lord struck him down for his irreverent act. The ark of the covenant, ladies and gentlemen, this is a holy artifact.

Within it was a jar of mana. Within it was Aaron's rod. Within it were the ten commandments. And on it, the presence of God set in between the cherubam. This was this was the manifest presence of God. It was nothing to play with. And so after this incident, then they said, "You know what?

We can't we can't do this the way we thought we could do this. Let's just park this ark somewhere. And they parked it at a house of a man named Oed Edom. Say Oed Edom. >> Oed. >> Oed Edom. Oed Edom. The the ark was parked at his house for 3 months.

And the Bible says as long as the ark was there that the blessings of the Lord were overshadowing him. It said that everything was blessed. His crops, his family, his money, his bank, everything was blessed because the ark was there. Ladies and gentlemen, you've been chasing the wrong thing.

I wrote a book called Are You Praying for the Wrong Thing? Perhaps you've been chasing the wrong thing. You've been chasing stuff and not the presence of God. When you get God in your home, when you get God in your marriage, when you get God in your mind, when you get God in your business, then when he comes, he brings everything you need because he never comes emptyhanded.

He brings keys that can unlock stuff in your life. Come on, tell somebody, you need the presence of God. You need a presence of God. And then after time goes by, David says, "You know what? I got to go back and get this ark." He noticed they made a mistake the first time.

They made a mistake because they tried to drive the ark instead of carry the ark. And they did this to avoid weight because of convenience. Convenience will get you in trouble. And I noticed that as they were coming back, the Bible says they stopped six steps and sacrifice.

Over the past few weeks, the Lord's been speaking to me. He said, "Travis, do you know why they stopped?" I said, "The sacrifice." He said, "No, boy. That's what you read. It's something else they were doing." I said, "What were they doing, God?" He said, "They were stopping to wait on me."

And he said, "Teach my people, if you wait on me, I'll add weight to you." The reason they were trying to drive it because they didn't wait on him long enough, and there are things crushing you, ladies and gentlemen, because you haven't waited on God. You've been in a rush to get to your next level.

You've been in a rush to get promoted. You've been in a rush to get a ring on your left hand. You've been in a rush to do things. And God says, "You got to learn how to wait on me." For the Bible says, they that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength.

It means that when you wait on them, you get new strength. And this is why they were able now to carry the ark was said to be between 400. Am I moving too fast? >> 400 and 500 pounds. No one wants to carry that for 10 miles. That's why they built a new a new cart to try to drive the art.

But when you wait on the Lord, he'll give you new strength. And I came to preach to 20 people and tell you when you start waiting, expect the weight of God to come on you. And you'll be able to carry stuff that crush other people. Did you hear what I just said? supposed to be like, "Why you still smiling?" "Cuz I've been waiting." "Why you still got joy?" "Cuz I've been waiting." "Why do you got peace that surpass understanding?" "Because I've been waiting.

And as I wait on him, as I host him, when I talk about waiting, ladies and gentlemen, I'm not talking about looking at a clock or a calendar. I'm talking about hosting the presence of God like a waiter. It is my honor to serve you, God. It's my honor to pray to you, God.

It's my honor to fast for you, God. It's my honor to serve the house of God. This is not a favor to you, God. This is the least I can do. The Bible says, "What shall I render unto God for all of his?" The least I can do is praise and worship the God who's done everything for me.

Is there anybody in this Sadi church that say, "I got a praise on the inside of me because I serve a worthy God. Teach me how to wait on you." >> The good news, ladies and gentlemen, is that in the Old Testament, they had to carry the weight on their shoulders.

But in the New Testament, you carry the weight in your spirit. This is why he tells the woman at the well. He says, "Man, you if you knew who was asking you for a drink, you would ask me for a drink." He says this, "And you won't have to come back to the well.

I'll put a well on the inside of you. Out of your belly shall flow rivers of living water." Many of us are walking around. I'm about to offend you thirsty >> because we don't have a source on the inside of us that can provide for us. what we've been searching in relationships, what we've been searching in bottles, what we've been searching for in clubs and in bedrooms.

God says, "I can put something on the a fountain on the inside of you where you'll never thirst again." And now we enter into the new covenant into the New Testament and the move of God is to be carried in our spirit. >> This is why Acts chapter 3 is so important.

Although it seems like it's not a similar story. It kind of is though, >> okay? >> Because in the Old Testament, they try to avoid carrying their art on their shoulders and they try to make shortcuts. But in the New Testament, the Bible says Peter and John are carrying something.

And the reason it's important for you to carry something on the inside because it's only then that you can help be a solution to someone who's stuck carrying their condition. And the Bible says that the lame man is carried to the gate called beautiful. every single day. And this day, Peter and John are going to 3:00 prayer service in the temple.

And they pass by the man and the man said, "Hey, bro, y'all ain't got no money." And Peter says, "Simon, go have I none, but such as I have, I give, such as I carry, my God, I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Lazarus, get up and walk."

He was able to give him some. I asked the book questions. I said, "God, if the man been laying there every day, and I could only assume that Peter and John went to pray every day, why isn't this the first time they saw the man?" God said, "I never told you this was the first time they saw the man.

I just showed you this is their first encounter with the man after Acts chapter 2." Acts chapter 2, ladies and gentlemen, is when 120 people were gathered together upstairs in a room. That must have been a big house. And the Bible says, all of a sudden, there's that word again, instantaneously, instantly it started happening.

They were just up there gathered in one accord unity and the breath of God came in and the Bible said fire fell on them individually and God gave them a new language. My God, I know your fruit. Hear me >> by what you carry. >> Not just your Christian knees. >> Oh snap.

Do me a favor. Look at somebody. Tell them, "Do you have power?" >> Do you have power? >> Do you have power? Somebody is waiting on the superhero version of you to show up. You've been going around as Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, >> Peter Parker, >> Clark Kent, when there is something greater on the inside of you that you haven't tapped into.

My God, because the master of distraction has gotten your attention on everything but the things of God. Why is it that you can find any entertainment and be interrupt uninterrupted, but the moment you even try to pray? Come on, holl at your boy. >> All the distraction break loose.

It's because the devil wants you walking around empty. He's not threatened by full churches >> if he could keep the people empty. >> This is why I am I'm really I'm like obsessed right now. I'm just on a te I'm on I'm just on a tangent because I have said God, you know what?

I have to repent because I've been building new carts. I've tried to replace presents for programs. And there has been a season in my life where I was more focused on who was sitting out here than who was sitting in the room. And God, if you don't show up, we're just wasting time.

Is there anybody in here that said, "I didn't come to be impressed by you. I didn't come to be entertained, but I need a move of God. A move. I'm a carrier of the move." Say that. I'm a carrier of the move. Ladies and gentlemen, what's in you is not casual.

You are God's choice. >> Write this scripture down. 1st Chronicles 15:2. This thing blessed me right here. That's David said, "No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God because the Lord two words I need you to get chose one word them to carry two words the ark of the Lord and to minister before him forever."

The Lord chose you to carry. Uh, no, no, no. You didn't hear what I just said. I can tell by the way you're looking at me in that tone of voice. You did not hear what I just said. >> The Lord chose you to carry. >> He picked you out. >> One of my favorite preachers, his name is Stephen Ferdick.

He said this. This the only time I'm going give him credit for this. Next time y'all hear me say it, I'mma act like the Lord told it to me. All right? But I'm not going to plagiarize today. >> This man said he went to a football game and he noticed that the only people who was being chased around was the people carrying something ((applause)) >> and you mad that the devil keeps showing up.

You mad that he's showing up on your job. You mad that he's showing up in your family. God chose you to carry. Tell somebody, "I'm carrying something. I'm carrying something. That's why he's been chasing you. That's why he's been trying to distract you. That's why he's been coming to steal, kill, and destroy.

But no weapon formed against me." I feel like praising God shall prosper. Grab your neighbor. Tell them you're carrying something. You're carrying something. He chose you. I got to move. I got a lot of ground to cover. He chose you to carry his presence. >> Here is a tattoo.

I am one leg. >> God's choice. >> Other leg. I am God's I didn't pick me. ((applause)) I did a demonstration a year ago. I don't know if y'all remember it when I told my phone, "Hey Siri, >> call Travis Green." >> And it wouldn't go through >> and I looked at my phone and it dawned on me it wouldn't go through cuz you can't call yourself.

((applause)) >> Tell somebody, "I didn't ask for this. I am God's choice." Ladies and gentlemen, the calling of life is not accidental. It's not coincidental. I don't know what your parents did for you to get here, but they're not solely responsible for your existence. You are not a mistake.

You are a word sent from God. The Bible says, "No word can return to him void." The Bible says in Jeremiah 1:15, "Before I God is taking credit, before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart." That's that word again, chose you and I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.

You need to know this. This I don't know if you ever heard this, but you were known, set apart, and appointed before you were even formed. >> You and God had an agreement before you had oxygen. >> Look, the smoke just filling the temple. This is why the warfare is so intense on your life.

Y'all just let me know in the back if we really got a fire. If not, I'm going to keep preaching. This is why the warfare is so intense on your life because the devil wants you to avoid you and God's agreement. ((music playing)) >> He wants you to avoid the agreement.

The biggest threat of the call of God on your life, please write this down, is the curse of common. >> The curse of common. The Bible says that the lame man entered the temple walking, jumping, and praising God. I like that. Walking, jumping, and praising God. Out of all the things he could do, he went in walking, jumping, and praising God.

Your response to the goodness of God lets me know if you're used to it or not. walking, jumping, and praising God. The Bible says in Revelation that 24 elders cast their crowns. Four living creatures cry aloud, "Holy, holy, holy." The Bible says, "Day and night." They say, "You are worthy, our God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things."

Ladies and gentlemen, they say this over and over and over and you need to know that their worship is not on autopilot. >> It's not a scratch record. >> It's not like you do on your MP3 player and put repeat. >> It's not on repeat. It is always a genuine expression and response >> to the God they can never get used to.

I'm about to help you out so much. >> You may not have to read another book on purpose. >> Cuz people like, "What's my purpose?" You want to know your purpose. You don't want to know. You want to know your purpose. This going to help free you. You're not going to have to chat GPT it.

You ain't going to have to ask nobody else. You ain't going to have to pray, "God, what is my purpose?" I'm about to tell you your purpose because you and I have the same purpose. We were made to worship. >> Period. >> Point blank. Creation's one assignment, ladies and gentlemen, is to give God glory.

Man, I found this. The Bible says David returns the ark to the place he prepared for it, and then he writes a new song to the Lord. And I just want to read a little bit of the song that he wrote. And it starts in verse 28. 1st Chronicles 16:28.

He says, "Oh nations of the world, recognize, you better recognize, recognize the Lord. Recognize that the Lord is glorious and strong." The Bible says, "Give to the Lord the glory he deserves. Bring your offering and come into his presence." Look at Look at the wording here. He says, "Ladies and gentlemen, don't approach him casually. >> Worship the Lord and all his holy splendor.

Let all the earth tremble before him." He said, "The world stands firm and cannot be shaken. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice. Tell all the nation the Lord's reign." Now he about to go to Narnia. Look at this. Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise. >> Let the fields and their crops burst.

What would you do if you walked outside and trees was just we sing the praises to our king for he >> can I tell you something? They're actually doing it. You just don't speak their language. He says, "Let the trees," this is the Bible, "and the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for he is coming to judge the earth."

David says here that all of creation was made. The seeds, the crops, the trees, the wind, all made. And so if all of creation understand their assignment but humans, ((applause)) >> we were made to worship God. I am so sorry that some podcast tricked you into thinking that this life belongs to you.

Paul says, "Present your body." This ain't your body. Oh, y'all don't like this. It's my body. I can choose to do what I want. Says, "What Bible?" >> My Bible says, "Present your body unto the Lord as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to him, which is a reasonable act of worship.

You were created to worship and bring glory to the living God. But when the uncommon God becomes common to you, You will withhold from him the very thing you were created for. >> Can we talk for a moment? >> You're a bad boy when you can preach through a fire alarm.

I'm going tell y'all what I need a raise. Who Who responsible for my ark was at Abinadab's house? This is the father of Oza and Aayo for at least theologians believe 40 years. Please lean in. >> Please lean in. I got my Bible scholars right here. Y'all lean in real quick.

They said it was at Abinad's house for at least 40 years because the Philistines took it during Saul's reign. Saul reigned 40 years and now they're bringing him back. So at least 40 years Ladies and gentlemen, I'm 41 years old. That mean I was younger than Kanan. Just trying to think of a baby in the church.

Are he four now? I thought he was like two. Jesus. Who got a one-year-old? Thank you. How was your child age when the ark went to the house? >> No wonder other touched it. because the sacred art had become a common box to him. >> Can we talk? >> Other syndrome is when we get so used to holy things that we start mishandling them. >> Tell your neighbor, "Watch your feet.

Watch your feet. Watch your feet." I'm about to I'm about to start stepping now. David tells the the the Levites, he said, "Yo, consecrate yourself because last time the mistake wasn't just the touch. It was that we handled the holy casually." >> Jesus. Jesus. The opposite of holy, I'm about to help all my religious people, is not sin. >> That's why you don't even have to make a sin list. >> How many of y'all got saved and you made a sin list?

Okay, I'm not going to do this no more. >> Don't worry about the sinless. The opposite of holy is not sin. The opposite of holy is coming. >> So, Pastor Jamal, there are certain things that the Bible don't tell me not to do, >> but because it's too common for this living sacrifice, I can't do.

The Bible don't say, "I can't watch certain movies." But when it feels too common, why do we ignore our spirit? >> Come on. Come on. Come on. I'm preaching good. >> People say, "I don't I don't know." Tell me what the Lord sounds like. He sound the opposite of your flesh.

When your mind is telling you no, >> but your body, >> your body, you see where his body got him. Y'all listen, you've been listening to the wrong people. Now, ((applause)) >> I believe I can fly. I bet you wish you can fly up out of there, y'all. We listen to all kind of foolishness.

The opposite of holy is not sin. It's common. ((music playing)) >> Write this down. When holy becomes common, your convictions bow to convenience. >> Just keep that up there for a second. Media, I need them to marinate on that. When holy becomes common, your convictions will bow to convenience. Here come the toe stepping.

You'll only cheat on your spouse when marriage to you becomes common >> because anything that is common will be mishandled, >> will be disposable, will be replaceable to you. And so you got to fight against familiarity. >> Huh? People abuse children because child birth is common to them. >> When I know people with empty nurseries wishing they could have brought a baby home, >> but because it's common to you, you'll abandon the blessing of God. >> Common is a curse.

My God. And we take so much for granted. Listen, ladies and gentlemen, when you survive depression, you don't take sleep for granted. When when you when you de when you when you survive seasons of no peace, you don't take laughing for granted. There's certain things other people take for granted.

I was with one of the young adults in the church and was taking a trip and he was in a car with me and he said, he said, he said, "This is my first time smiling in years." >> Jesus. See there's so much we take for granted because we think >> that what we have will always be there.

Why the loud pe loudest people at funeral are the people who is around the least. >> We value what was lost more than we value what God has provided. ((applause)) >> Common is a curse. I got to move. Not only is common a curse, common is a cage. >> Here's something else I thought about, Titus.

I thought about this that this lame man, he was so used to his state that he no longer expected a miracle. >> You're in a very dangerous territory when you no longer expect God to be God. >> And I get it. Some of us have been so disappointed that we have no more expectation. >> I know this because a man wasn't even looking for God.

He was solely relying on man. >> That's good. >> If he knew who it was in his company, he would have requested a miracle and not money. That's it. >> I That's a whole I need to just do a Bible study just on that line right there >> cuz you've been praying for stuff that is way beneath God's capability. >> Because you don't know who presence you're in.

My God. Because you don't know whose child you are. My God. And so the gate wasn't the only thing restricting this man. It was also the cage of common. so used to his condition that he did not look for a miracle. That's why that's why I love when David says recognize the Lord. >> Some of us become so used to dysfunction that we don't even see breakthrough when it slap us in the face. >> I like to call trauma addicts. >> Trauma addicts associate abuse with love.

I >> tell you one of the stupidest things I ever heard and I heard this from a young lady one time. This was stupid. She said, "I just couldn't be in a relationship. He was just too good." I said, "What an idiot. ((applause)) >> He was just too nice to me opening doors."

And so love to you is being bopped upside the head. He love me. We got another fight, child. He love me. You are a trauma addict. >> I know. I know. I know. I know. I know. >> For some of us, our prayer needs to be, "God, break the cage of common. >> Don't let me get so used to being broke that I don't budget. that I call booty calls love >> and never give God the offering of celibacy. >> Oh yeah.

That's what kind of church this is right here. Lean in. Lean in. Lean in there. I want to hear everybody. I want to hear the theologians. I want to hear everybody. Common is a curse. Common is a cage. Finally. Common cancels favor. >> Wait for this. Wait for this.

Mama T. Wait for this. I'm about to say something. Wait for this. Wait for this. >> How come the ark was at Abinadab's house for at least 40 years and only at Oed Edom's houseless ((applause)) >> for three months. And the Bible says in multiple passages, 2 Samuel and in 1 Chronicles that Ezra that that Oed Edom's house was blessed, but there's nowhere in the scripture that talks about Abenadab's house being blessed. >> H I'm trying.

I'm trying. How can the same ark be at a place for four decades? ((applause)) Maybe this is why Jesus said a prophet >> is without honor >> but in his hometown. >> God ain't the problem. >> Maybe the problem is that you've made the things of God common. >> This tells me this tells me >> that God can be there and I not be blessed.

((applause)) Your Bible says he could do but a few miracles >> in his hometown. >> That mean we could be serving the same God, >> serving in the same department at church, >> giving the same amount and offering and tithes, both keeping oursel unto the Lord. He dare but one of us blessing, the other one not.

I asked a book questions. I said, "What? What was the difference?" God says, "Common, >> common cancels favor. Dishonor will cost you favor." Once you get over the curse of common, ladies and gentlemen, get ready for the gates of gratitude. The gates of gratitude. I am at a phase in my life right now where the prereck from being around me and being close in my circle is not your skills or your talent.

It's the measure of your gratitude. >> I have little to no tolerance for the spirit of entitlement. >> If I ain't entitled, how you entitled? Entitlement is cancerous. >> I'm talking to business owners. I don't care how good they are, fire the behind. Entitlement is cancerous. It will spread.

It is toxic. And I know when entitlement is present, when convenience overrides commitment. >> This is a book. The antidote for entitlement is gratitude. >> And the quickest cure for ingratitude is loss. >> This is why David said in Psalm 100, "Enter his gates >> with thanksgiving." Because gratitude will get you into gates that entitlement will get you kicked out of.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Lord told me I could be raw and open at church today. >> If y'all don't want the real me, then >> can I give y'all the real me? The Lord told me I could say this. >> My wife nervous. I prayed. ((applause)) >> The Lord told me I could share with y'all that over the past several years, I have opened countless doors with for people.

I have put people on platforms, gave them microphones, gave them checks for nobody else would. I bought people passports, ladies and gentlemen. I put people on albums that no one else wanted to hear. I have opened doors for people that I had to kick down that they didn't even have to knock on.

And can I tell you something? I have come to recognize that most people never say >> thank you. >> I made peace with this. Because if only one leper out of 10 >> came back to tell Jesus thank you, >> then who am I to expect more than 10%.

I've recognized, hear me, I cannot control the people around me, >> but I can choose not to be one of them. >> My God, I need you to high five somebody. Tell them, I'm grateful. I'm not used to this. I'm still grateful. This is why this past week, my wife and I flew to Tulsa.

We didn't fly there to be entertained by a conference. We didn't fly there just to be just be a fly on the wall and be cool. We flew there to say, "Pastor Michael Todd, thank you." Because when no one else wrote us a check, you did. When no one else gave me a place to preach, you did.

And I ain't going to get so familiar that I stop saying thank you. The reason I go to Boston as often as I can, cuz I got to tell my pastor Matthew, thank you. Thank you for covering my wife and I. The reason we sew into our mothers every month is just to say thank you.

The reason I don't wait till Valentine to buy my wife something is because she's not coming and I'm still grateful. Is there anybody in this room that got a thank you in your spirit? We still tithe. >> We still give generously. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Not because we have to, because we get to.

It is a sign of our gratitude. It's a saying, God, we're not used to this. >> I asked him to grab these pictures. Ladies and gentlemen, Elder Curtis sent me this this week. This is our first signage. >> Come on. >> Let me tell you something. Let me tell you something. 10 years ago, it >> my wife and I moved to Columbia, South Carolina >> because God told us to. >> We had I need you to hear this.

About $1,500 in our bank account. >> That's true. >> My mama sent had to put down the earnest money on our house. >> She did. >> If you need a loan, you can see her after church. She is really good at helping you get one foot forward. We had a one-year-old in the car seat >> and about $1,500.

And we said, "God, if you sent us, we'll go." >> We came to this city knowing about eight people. Had never been to a Walmart here, had never been downtown. We didn't know nothing about Colombia. But God said, "Go." >> But we prepared >> a place for his presence. >> It wasn't fancy.

But we built him a house. >> And then fast forward, the Lord said during CO, he gave me a visitation and he says, "Travis, go lay hands on this abandoned Best Buy every day." And for 6 months, I came and laid hands on this building. When Bank said, "No."

For 6 months, I would break into this building and lay on my face before the Lord. Roaches. It's roaches in this church that's more sanctified than some of us. I'm telling you, it was a roach revival. They was coming by me just falling out under the glory. Roaches and rats getting saved.

They all throughout Colombia saved all down two notches cuz what happened in this building, laying on my face seeking God. So, excuse me when I come to this church and I can't be fancy for y'all. Excuse me that I'm not one of the pastors that just come in casual and don't give God the praise cuz I remember this and because the faithfulness of God, this became, give me the next photo.

This and I'm not used to this, ladies and gentlemen. This is not a product of man's work. This is not a product of man's wisdom. This is not a product of new methods or agendas. And so we will rebuke new carts. This is a product of faith. It was built by faith.

It will be sustained by faith. And when nothing else could help. Jehovah Gyra Sept. Do me a favor. Grab your name and tell them I'm not used to this. I'm not you. Forgive us for making this comment. Did you know this year alone, 1900 salvations? >> If you're not clapping, I want to smash your hands with a hammer. 500 baptisms.

God's done more in one year here than he did 20 years at some of the churches we came from. And yet we come in here and act like he's not worthy. Do me a favor. Punch your neighbor. Tell them, "I'm not used to this. I'm not used to this."

I got one more point and I'm done. I got one more point and I'm done. I got one more point and I'm done. >> Once you overcome the curse of coming, Once you get through the gates of gratitude, you're left with the prerogative of praise. >> There's a preacher in 1988 named Bobby Brown that wrote a song said, "My prerogative." >> What it was saying is that what I do is my choice.

Ladies and gentlemen, praise is my choice. It's the only sensible response to the goodness of God. >> This lame man had been stuck at this gate. And the Bible says he goes into the temple walking, jumping, and praising God. I think I think it happened in that order cuz I think at first he was walking >> cuz he was just surprised he could walk. >> Then he said, "Wait a minute.

This ain't good enough. Let me jump." Then he said, "Wait a minute. This ain't good enough. Let me pray. I need a few people I'm about to get off this stage that's not used to the goodness of God that said, "My walking ain't good enough. I got to jump and my jumping ain't good enough.

I got to praise when I think of the goodness of Jesus." And I all he done for me. Tell somebody, I'm not used to this. All right, we got to go home. Everybody stand up. Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. Everybody sit down.

Wait. Everybody stand up. Okay. Everybody sit down. Sit up. Sit down. Stand up. Stand back up. ((music playing)) That is only irritating >> to those in this room that's not in a wheelchair. ((applause)) >> And there's so much that you take for common >> that other people would die to have. >> There are people watching me right now in prisons that wish they could trade places.

There are people watching me in nursing homes that wish they could trade places. There's people watching in hospitals that wish they could trade places. I need a few people in this room that says, "I'm not used to the favor of God." And my only response, ((music playing)) my only response, ((applause)) ((music playing)) ((applause)) ((music playing)) praise is proof that you're not used to it.

((music playing)) The Bible says David praised on the way back to the city of David. When he got there, his wife was looking out the window. She said, "He's embarrassing himself." And he said, "Woman, you don't know me like that. I'm not used to this. I will become even more undignified than this."

Hold on. I want to read for you the end of David's song and we're getting out of here. This song he writes when it brings the ark back to the prepared place. 1st Chronicles 16:34. It says, "Give thanks to the Lord for he is good." Don't let me get used to this.

His faithful love endures forever. cry out, "Save us, oh God of our salvation. >> Gather and rescue us from among the nations so we can thank your holy name and rejoice and praise you." Praise the Lord, the God of Israel who lives from everlasting to everlasting. Watch this.

And all the people shouted and praised the Lord. The Bible says David arranged for Asaf and his fellow Levites to serve regularly before the ark of the Lord's covenant, doing whatever needed to be done each day. This group included >> Oed Edom. O bed Edom. The Bible says in 1 Chronicles that he signed up not to just be a gatekeeper, >> but also a harpist. >> What blew my mind is that he didn't have to. >> If indeed the blessings of God did what the Bible claimed in those three months, >> he could have retired.

He could have kicked back and said, "Man, the Lord has blessed me so much. I'm going to leave the serving for the young people. >> The Lord's been so good to me. I my my gift is finances. I'll just pay for stuff. I'm not going to come and serve.

I'm just going to retire and kick back because of the blessings of God." Look at what he's done. make sure when y'all get done over there with the art stuff, y'all come here and take a tour and see all the stuff that God blessed me with. He could have did that, but instead he said, "I'm not I'm not used to this.

I'm not used to being in a house without presents." >> So, sign me up. Hey, King. Sign me up. I'll play the guitar. Sign me up. I'll stand on the door. I'm a millionaire standing on the door. I'm a millionaire parking cars. I'm a millionaire on the host team because it's not about my stuff.

I got to be wherever he is because I'm not used >> to this. He was obsessed with the presence of God and his prerogative. Let's praise. We're going to go home, but for a moment, I want you to I want you to give God a repentant worship. ((music playing)) >> God, I'm sorry that someone has to tell me to lift my hands. >> God, I'm sorry that someone has to tell me to clap.

God, I'm sorry that someone has to instruct me to lift my voice and sing. When I think of your goodness, the only reasonable response to my memory is my praise. Give him a repentant worship. I choose to worship you. It doesn't matter what you give me. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away.

But my heart, my soul will choose to say, "Blessed be the name of the Lord as long as I'm breathing." >> Come on. I will. >> It's my choice. to worship him. >> We're leaving. Lift your hands. As long as I >> As long as I am free, >> I will >> I will. >> It's my choice.

I'm going to give you 30 more seconds. Lift your voice. I am >> and I will not be >> And I will not be s I will worship you. >> You were warned. What a move of God, man. God, I never want to forget. They used to sing a song, Jesus, I'll never forget what you done for me.

I'll never forget how you set me free. And then they would say, how could I forget, man? I don't want to get used to this. And I'm I'm still not used to the goodness of God. Do me a favor. Like, comment, share. let everybody know um about this message if you would and comment below.

Let me know how this touched you. I pray that today you received him as your Lord and your Savior. If you haven't yet, pray this prayer with me. Lord Jesus, come into my heart. Change me from the inside out. I believe you died on the cross for my sins.

And I believe you got up so I don't have to stay down. My life belongs to you now in Jesus name. Amen. Love you so much. We'll see you next week.