Gateway Church Live | “Back to the Future” by Joakim Lundqvist | December 27–28

It's a good day to be in the house of ((music playing)) the Lord. Amen. Come on. Let's worship him this morning. He's worthy. Yes, Lord. We welcome you with praise and adoration. ((music playing)) We love you, Lord. Come on. ((music playing)) I have felt the hands that bear the scars. They reach ((music playing)) down to rescue me.

I have known the love of the father's heart. A prodal redeemed from where I was to where ((music playing)) I'm now. Oh, it's overwhelming more ((music playing)) and more. I see you. You're all around me. And I can't ((music playing)) ever praise you. Praise you. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Heat. Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) >> ((music playing)) >> For the blood you spilled to save my life.

The dead ((music playing)) I cannot repay. For the cross you pull these open arms. Salvation they call ((music playing)) my name. From where I was to where I'm now on me. ((music playing)) Heat. Heat. Heat. >> ((music playing)) >> Heat. ((music playing)) Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) I can't help but ((music playing)) got on me. I feel redeemed. Oh, I can't help but ((music playing)) call on the name that bur ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Heat up ((music playing)) here.

((music playing)) ((music playing)) Heat. ((music playing)) Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Praise you. Praise ((music playing)) you, Lord. Come on. Can we praise his name this morning? Worthy are you, Jesus. ((music playing)) You're so worthy of our worship in this place today. Lord, we bring you all ((music playing)) worship. God. Sing with me. ((music playing)) I could know the cross to be my smoking. [singing and music] And with all their grace, I atone from the death.

I'm covered ((music playing)) by the blood [singing] of Jesus. ((music playing)) It's all [singing] under the blood of Jesus. All ((music playing)) sin and shame is washed away. My debt ((music playing)) is paid. When I'm covered by the blood. ((music playing)) Oh, what a mystery. The cross has ((music playing)) >> ((music playing)) >> that I find. Thank you, Jesus. Crucify ((music playing)) with Christ. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Heat.

Heat. ((music playing)) Jesus ((music playing)) is wash away my ((music playing)) pain by the way. ((music playing)) Thank you Jesus. Oh we thank you Jesus. ((music playing)) Can we sing? Let all the saints, oh let ((music playing)) all the saints proclaim his glory. Sing worthy ((music playing)) is the lamb. Sing worthy of the empty ((music playing)) grave I tested. Oh, sing worthy ((music playing)) is the lamb.

Sing worthy. ((music playing)) And all the crazy is ((music playing)) >> ((music playing)) >> The secret ((music playing)) feel worthy. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) >> ((music playing)) >> Heat. ((music playing)) Heat. >> ((music playing)) ((music playing)) >> Heat up here. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Yeah. ((music playing)) Heat. ((music playing)) Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Heat. ((music playing)) >> ((music playing)) ((music playing)) >> Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Heat. Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) by the blood ((music playing)) of Jesus. Oh, it's all under the blood. Thank you, Jesus.

Come on. All sin and shame is washed away. Yes, my debt is pain cuz I'm covered by the blood. Thank you, Lord. So beautiful when we declare that over our life. There's no way that we could ever completely thank God enough for what he did for us when he gave us his son ((music playing)) Jesus.

The price of that blood, the price and the cost of his broken body is something that we could never pay for. But God gave it to us freely. Can you just say with your lips, thank you, God. >> Thank you, God. >> Lord, thank you for your sacrifice.

You know, and as we sing that this morning, it's us reminding our soul once again of how amazing it is that ((music playing)) God provided that for us. Because you and I, we there was a debt in our life that we could not pay. No way we could pay for the sin that we were stricken with.

But God said, "I'll provide a way." And so today, we're going to observe communion. And when we come to the table, it's us reminding oursel once again of what God did for us. And I I you know, it's I was thinking about, you know, this communion ((music playing)) this weekend as we come into this building and we receive communion and we come to the table.

And I just I there was just this overwhelming just uh just ((music playing)) emotion of gratitude that just filled my life because then I started thinking, God, you've done so much for me. I could never repay it. And even the fact that I can come to your table and I could I can have a just the ability to partake of your body and your blood to remind me that you've covered it all.

That's amazing. So, I want you right now just to take the elements. ((music playing)) If if you don't have the cup and the bread, then just raise your hands and our ushers will find their way to where you are and make sure that ((music playing)) you can join us at the table today.

We observe open communion here at Gateway and that means you don't have to be a member. You just need to be a believer when you come to the table. If you're a believer, then we ask you ((music playing)) to join us. I was thinking through this and I you know just the beauty of us declaring it.

It's like the word of God says in Revelation 12:11, it says we overcome by the blood of the lamb, but we also overcome by what? The word of our testimony. And when you speak it, you remind yourself, but you also let the enemy know he has no authority over your life because of the blood of Jesus. >> Hallelujah. >> And I was thinking back over this year, and I love what it says in Lamentations 3, beginning with verse 21.

It says, "But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope. The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies ((music playing)) never come to an end. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness, oh God. Can we just say thank you again to the Lord? So ((music playing)) when we come to the table today, we come with grateful hearts.

I can look back over this year that we just walked through as a church and so many great things have happened for our church. But I can also look in my own personal life and realize there are so many answered prayers, things that I couldn't figure out and things that I couldn't change.

Only God could do it. And God has been faithful. If you're in the same boat as I raise your hand. God has proven himself faithful. Amen. I mean, as far as a church, there's so much to be grateful for. We have a brand new pastor, Pastor Daniel and Pastor Tammy.

Thank God for them. So, when we were thinking through this, my wife and I were talking. I said, Jody, we could just spend all morning just saying, God, we're grateful for this, for that, for, you know, so many things, but I want you just to close your eyes as you hold this in your hand.

And I want you to reflect just for a moment on this past year, and I want you to think of one major thing and just focus on that and just say, "Lord, I thank you for whatever it is." Maybe there's healing in your body. Maybe it's an answered prayer for resource.

Maybe it's an answered prayer over a loved one that you've been uh wanting to come back into the church and that prodigal came home. Whatever it is, I just want you just to think for a moment. God, we're grateful this morning. ((music playing)) Lord, we're so grateful for what you did for us at the cross.

Lord, we're grateful that we can come to the table. And Lord, when we come to your table, you provide all that we need. Your blood covers us. Your broken body is sufficient for us. Your sacrifice is enough. I want you just to open right now the bread and take the bread and just hold it in your hand.

Lord, we thank you for your body that was broken for us. And Lord, right now we take your body and we know that it is all sufficient. We are healed. We are made whole because ((music playing)) of your broken body. Let's take the bread. Now, I want you to open the cup.

I want you to be careful as you do this, but I like to hold it over my head just to remind me that everything is under the blood of Jesus. Every sin, every failure in my life, all the guilt, all the shame, it's under the blood. Can you say amen to that? >> So today, we are washed whiter than ((music playing)) snow.

We are made new because of the blood of Jesus. Jesus, thank you for your blood. Your perfect ((music playing)) blood, your spotless blood, Lord, that cleanses us, that washes us, that makes us new. ((music playing)) We are covered by your blood today and we testify to that. Let's take the cup. Amen.

Amen. ((music playing)) Once again, can you just say, "Thank you, Jesus." Come on, say it again. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. ((music playing)) Come on, let's go back into worship. How we love you, ((music playing)) Jesus. We're so grateful for who you are in our lives, Lord. I ((music playing)) could sing your [singing] name for all my life and ((music playing)) still find more to love [singing] each time.

Jesus be the name ever on my lips. ((music playing)) It's sweeter ((music playing)) every [singing] time that I call on. There's just something about your name. There's just something ((music playing)) about your name. There's just something about your name that makes [music and singing] me cry. Holy. There is no other name. There is [singing] no other name. ((music playing)) There is no other name.

Jesus, ((music playing)) [singing] you're worthy. You have ((music playing)) been the friend who never [music and singing] left. And I won't forget your [music and singing] faithfulness. Jesus be the name ever on my house. It's sweeter ((music playing)) every time that I call. There's just something about your [singing] name. There's just ((music playing)) something about your name. There's just something about your name that makes me cry ((music playing)) holy.

Oh, there is no other name. There ((music playing)) is no other name. There is no other [singing] name. Jesus, you're ((music playing)) worthy. There's just something about your name, ((music playing)) my love. There's just something about your name. There's something about your ((music playing)) name that makes me cry. Oh, there is no other day. There ((music playing)) is no other day.

There is [singing] no other day. Jesus, ((music playing)) you're worth. ((music playing)) How many of you grateful today? There's no higher name than the name of Jesus. There's no ((music playing)) greater name than his name. We lift his name today. ((music playing)) Jesus, your name is like the morning light. ((music playing)) The [singing] one the darkest can tonight. The resurrection ((music playing)) [singing] and the life.

Jesus. Jesus your name. ((music playing)) His name can your name make the strongest still. You never fail. You never will. Jesus Jesus the life ((music playing)) for us worthy ((music playing)) Jesus. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Yeah. Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Heat. ((music playing)) Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Heat. ((music playing)) Yeah. Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) >> ((music playing)) >> Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Yeah. Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Heat. ((music playing)) Heat. ((music playing)) We can all the glory.

((music playing)) Oh Jesus be the name. Lift your voice. Jesus be the name. Jesus be the name [singing] that cast the glor ((music playing)) in our lives. Lord Jesus be the name. Oh Jesus [singing] be the ((music playing)) name. Jesus be the name that gets all the [singing] glory. Lord Jesus, for you are [singing] worthy of it all. >> Yes. >> So worthy, Lord.

You are worthy of it all. For from you are all things, and to you [singing] are all things. You deserve the glory. Yes, you do, Lord. You're worthy. You are worthy of it all. Lift your voice, church. You are [singing] worthy of it all, my Lord. For from you are all things, and to you are all things.

You deserve the glory. ((music playing)) Thank you, Jesus. And there was a moment when the lights went out. When death claimed its victory. Oh, the king of love had g up his life. of the darkest day in history. There on ((music playing)) a cross they made for [singing] s for every curse his blood atone.

Thank you Lord. Oh final breath and it was finished. Come on. This is good news right here. But not the end we could have known. For the earth ((music playing)) began to shake. Yeah. And the veil busted. Thank you, Lord. What a sacrifice was made ((music playing)) as the heavens ro. We sing all hell in ((music playing)) all hell.

King Jesus in all hell. ((music playing)) The Lord, [singing] all hell king ((music playing)) Jesus. Oh hell, the savior ((music playing)) of the world. >> ((music playing)) >> Oh, Jesus. ((music playing)) It was only when the ((music playing)) sky lit up the flash ((music playing)) of light breaking through. When all was lost ((music playing)) across eternity for the key life was on the moon for the I ((music playing)) call you ((music playing)) Heat.

Heat. ((music playing)) Heat. ((music playing)) Heat. ((music playing)) Yeah. Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Yeah. Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Yeah. Heat. ((music playing)) >> ((music playing)) ((music playing)) >> Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) >> ((music playing)) >> Heat. ((music playing)) Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Heat ((music playing)) ((music playing)) up here. ((music playing)) >> ((music playing)) >> Come on, praise him this morning. Thank you, ((music playing)) Jesus. Come on, let's praise him. Yes, Lord. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. ((music playing)) Thank you. Thank you, King Jesus. The lord of heaven and earth, our savior, our father, our friend, the prince of peace. Jesus, we ((music playing)) just come to say we love you this morning to worship, to adore you, to praise and thank you, the most high. ((music playing)) So thank you, Jesus, from the bottom of our hearts, we worship you.

We praise you. Thank you. ((music playing)) Thank you. Thank you. In an agreement, all of his people said with one voice, "Amen." There we ((music playing)) go. Y'all, thank you so much for coming in worshiping and partaking of communion today. Pastor Yokum has an amazing ((music playing)) message for us today. But before we get to that, can we be the a church family today and just be friendly with each other for a little bit and then be seated?

Thank you so ((music playing)) much for worshiping and being here again today. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) >> ((music playing)) >> Wow, man. I love it when God's children come together and we lift our voices and ((music playing)) we declare how amazing our great God is. Amen. Thank you for worshiping today. This is just amazing. Just you can sense and feel the tangible presence of God in this building.

Um, well, this is the last weekend of the year and uh, you know, what a way to wrap this year up. And, um, I love something that Pastor Daniel said, one of his first weeks with us. He said, "God will build his church and all of hell can't stop it." >> Amen.

And we're certainly seeing that firsthand. And, >> ((music playing)) >> uh, I remember about 19 months ago when everything was falling apart and it seemed like there would be no way through. And uh the week um that followed the news that ((music playing)) came out um we were going into student conference and I remember us wondering should we continue the path forward and have student conference?

What are we going to do from here? And we decided to go ahead and have student conference. We did not know if any of the speakers that were scheduled to come to student conference would even show up. And uh so the week came and sure enough one specific ((music playing)) speaker showed up who had been a friend of Gateways for years but he's remained a friend and he's remained so involved.

He and his wife have been such a very ((music playing)) important part of our path forward. And uh so much so that he became our teaching pastor for the last year and a half. And uh Pastor Yookum and Maria we love you guys so much. Yeah. Go ahead. Yeah. ((music playing)) ((applause)) [applause and cheering] ((music playing)) ((applause)) Yes.

((music playing)) ((applause)) So, I want to ask both of you to come up. We want to show our thanks to you. But let me say, I'll never forget that week him being there and when we just we were shaken and he came in with such boldness and confidence, also with such humility and grace and wisdom, ((music playing)) and you really just you were the steady hand that came in and said, "Hey, you guys are going to be okay."

((music playing)) And then you guys were willing to interrupt your life and and ((music playing)) join us in the past year and a half of just making sure that we could make it through. Um, and so we're so grateful for the two of you, the grace that's on your life. Um, we ((music playing)) we know that we know that God assigned you to this.

Um, and that's because he will build his church. And so ((music playing)) I I told you yesterday you were the ram in the thicket, which I think I'm not calling you a ram. You're much better than that. You're so anointed, ((music playing)) so gifted, such a great teacher, but such a great and humble pastor.

And the way that you've loved on our church, the way that you've loved on our congregation and our staff, we could never repay you for that. We just want to say a sincere thank you from the bottom of our heart. And the way that Texans like to say thanks is we like to give people what we think is very important.

So, what ((music playing)) we want to give you, both Maria and you, Pastor Yokam, is we want to give you a gift certificate to get some very good Texas boots. Okay? Because All right. Okay. Because every time you put those boots on, you need to remember there's some Texan in you now.

And you have a home here at Gateway Church. Okay? ((music playing)) So, so on behalf of our elders and Pastor Daniel and Tammy and the whole leadership team and our our staff, we just want to say we love you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. ((cheering)) ((applause)) ((music playing)) And uh so I mean obviously most of the time you've been at our South Lake campus, but all of our campuses wanted to get in ((music playing)) on the party.

So would you turn your attention to the screens because we have prepared a little something for you guys. Pastor Yokim and Maria. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you, Pastor Yokim and Maria.

On behalf of the Dallas campus, we just want to say >> we love to say, >> thank you from the ((music playing)) Grand Prairie campus. >> [cheering and applause] >> Thank you, Pastor Yen ((music playing)) and Maria from Jackson Hall. Thank you for all you've done. >> Thank you, Pastor Yum from Majestic Campus. ((cheering)) >> Thank you, Maria. loves you.

Yeah. >> From the NH campus to Pastor Yoki Maria, we just want to say ((music playing)) ((cheering)) >> thank you Pastor. ((cheering)) >> Thank you. Love you. We love you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Pastor Maria. >> Thank you. >> We love you. >> Thank you guys for the ways you've ((music playing)) served our house.

Important to us, for loving us so well, >> for your heart of service, for all you do for our youth, >> for stepping in at such a hard time, >> for bringing joy and hope again to our Gateway family. We wish you nothing but the best. >> You helped remind us what our church is truly about.

Sweet. Um ((applause)) Maria, we wanted to give you some flowers, too. Thank you for your grace, beauty. Um so you can stand up. ((applause)) I want us to do something. Um, ((music playing)) so across all of our campuses, those of you that are watching online, ((music playing)) ((applause)) ((applause)) ((music playing)) ((applause)) we're so honored that you guys would come and be a part of this past year and a half.

Okay, so a season is ending. He's been on staff as an interim teaching ((music playing)) pastor, but he's stepping out of that role, but that it doesn't mean that he will not be back with ((music playing)) us. And when he comes back, he did say, "I do not want to come back as a guest speaker because he's ((music playing)) family."

So, he'll come back. He'll come back as a family speaker. I don't know if that's the right term, but remain family. And so, so, thank you so much. I would love for you to help me with this. And if you're watching online or any of our campuses, I want you just to stretch your arms towards your hands towards Pastor Yoko and Maria.

We want to pray a blessing over them. Lord, thank you so much for ((music playing)) uh Pastor Yokam and Maria and just dear friends of ours, Lord, and the way that they have loved on this church and the way that they have really in in such a humble way, Lord, they've come and they've shown us just such a Christlikkeness, Lord.

They've led by example in the way that they have Lord been there for us, had the conversations, Lord, walked with us through some difficult times. I thank you so much for the the incredible wisdom in in Pastor Yulcom's teaching, how ((music playing)) he's poured into our congregation. Lord, thank you.

You always provide, Lord. We know that you are Jehovah Gyra because we've seen you provide through the gift of them serving here with us. Lord, I pray your blessing. Lord, we join together as we stretch our hands towards them. Lord, we pray blessing, favor, and protection over them, Lord.

And God, I pray that you'd continue to open doors, Lord, and make them just aware of the perfect assignments ((music playing)) that you've called them to do. And Lord, I pray for health and and blessing over them, Lord, as a family, Lord, over all of their family, Lord, and specifically over this precious couple.

Lord, thank you for the gift of Yokum and Maria to Gateway Church. They will always be family. Lord, I pray that they continue in ministry. and Lord that your light would continue to shine brightly through them in Jesus name. And everybody said amen. We love you. ((music playing)) >> Gateway family.

((cheering)) >> Well, what an incredible honor it's been for Maria and myself to walk this road with you, spend these 18 months as your interim teaching pastor. We have in the process fallen head over heels in love with this house and you have just proven to be the most loving and the most appreciative group of people we've ever met in our lives.

So, thank you right back to you right at the end of today's message. Uh I want to bring Maria back up again. We just want to say a few words to you and also pray God's blessing upon this house. And even though like Pastor Mark said, uh, a certain chapter comes to an end, I will be back because because, uh, every time we're not here, we just miss you guys so much.

But just never ever call me a guest speaker. That would be horrible. I want to be a family speaker for life at Gateway Church. That's but you know I was thinking about what to share with you on this last day of our sort of our journey together and I want to do a bit of time traveling.

Actually I found many times in my life that God has inspired me to go back in time and look to what he has done and what he has said in the past in my yesterday to gain direction for my today and for my tomorrow. So, I'm just going to call this message Back to the Future [laughter] because I was a teenager in the 1980s, the decades of amazing movies.

And one of my favorite ones was called Back to the Future. And if you haven't seen this epic piece of cinematic excellence, shame on you. No, just kidding. But if you haven't, it's all about teenage boy Marty McFly whose friend Doc Emmett Brown is building a time machine out of a Delorean sports car.

Now, accidentally, Marty McFly is sent back in time to the 1950s when he meets his mom to be and his dad to be. Now, they're not yet in love with one another. And all of a sudden now Marty's mom to be falls in love with Marty, not knowing that he is actually her son to be.

Now this jeopardizes Marty's entire existence. So he now has to make sure that his mom to be and dad to be fall in love so he will actually exist and then find his way back to the 1980s. It's just amazing. It's so good. It's so good. but actually carries also a spiritual principle because repeatedly throughout the word of God we are told to not forget the great things God has done. >> We are basically told to go back in time and relive and revisit and remind ourselves of the goodness and the faithfulness of God.

And as we do, we build faith that he who was faithful yesterday will be faithful today and will be faithful tomorrow. >> Amen. >> Amen. >> I mean, actually, Paul even writes in Ephesians chapter 2, remember that once you were without God and without hope in this world.

And we might ask ourselves, why would we need to remember such a negative piece of information? Because if you don't remember who you were without Christ, you will not fully appreciate who you are in Christ. And today, I just want to take the opportunity to look back on these 18 months that we have spent together and ask ourselves just what has God what has brought us through?

What has God spoken? What has he done throughout this time? And what is he doing today? And where are we heading tomorrow? Amen. Now, before we get into the word of God, I just have to tell you one more Back to the Future related anecdote. There is no way I can let this one go.

Okay, so last year I took my beautiful wife Maria on a surprise date weekend in New York and we I secretly bought tickets to see Back to the Future the musical on Broadway because we both love the movie so much. So, because I bought the tickets online, all of a sudden the algorithms kicked in and my social media was flooded with all these Back to the Future related stuff.

Now, one of the things that popped up was a commercial for a certain wristwatch. Now, what happened was that Delorean, the company who made the sports car that became iconic through the movie, had decided that they would take the number one Delorean ever made, the first ever sports car of that model, and they would take it apart and they will make wrist watches out of the Delorean.

So all the metal and rubber and everything, all the material from the cars would go into making 456 unique wrist watches to celebrate the design of the Delorean and also also become like a homage to the movie. And call me a nerd, but I absolutely loved it. That was right up my alley.

I thought this is amazing. What a brilliant idea. And I was so excited. And then I saw the price of the watch and I wasn't excited anymore because Maria could tell you I like watches. It's just that I've never bought a watch in my life. I have a few.

I've been given them as presents and stuff, but I've never spent a dollar on a watch. And I wasn't going to start now. So I just thought this was a great idea. And then he said, "Oh, we're actually giving one watch away. So if you're interested, leave your contact details." blah blah blah.

So I did and I forgot all about it. Fast forward a few months, a box is delivered to my doorstep. And initially when the watch showed up, I was like, there must have been a mistake. They've sold me. They've charged my card. Oh, dear Lord. So, I called the company.

So, what do I do? This is wrong. Should I send it back? And they said, "Oh, we didn't inform you. So, sorry. Congratulations. You won the free watch." And at Gateway, I can only interpreted this in one way. God loves me very, very, very much. So, wearing the Back to the Future watch, we're now going into the Back to the Future message.

Would you turn with me in your Bibles to Psalms 84? Psalms 84. We're going to read verse 5-7 for your notes. Psalm 87, sorry, 84. 84. 5-7 says, "Blessed is the man whose strength is in you, whose heart is set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the valley of Baka, they make it a spring.

The rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength. Each one appears before God in Zion. as they pass through the valley of Baka. Baka is Hebrew for weeping or tears. As they walk through the valley of weeping, as they walk through the season of tears.

As I look back on our 18 months, it started out in the valley of Baka. It started out in the valley of weeping, the valley of tears. And I'm sorry to be the bringer of bad news, but there will be new valleys of Baka in your life. There will be individual valleys of Baka you need to pass through.

There will be family related valleys of Baka. Maybe when we lose someone we love. There will be another other church related valleys of Baka. They might be deep, they might be shallow, but they will be there. There is not a single promise in the word of God that we will escape the valleys of Baka of life.

But there are countless promises that as we pass through our valleys of Baka, our seasons of weeping, he will be with us. And actually that his presence will intensify as we go through the valleys of Baka. If you read about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel chapter 3, you see that there were three men cast into the fiery furnace.

And three men came out of the fiery furnace a bit later, but in the flames there were four, and the fourth one looked as though he was the son of God. As you pass through the valley of Baka, as we have together been walking through a valley of Baka, we have invited Jesus and Jesus has walked with us.

Amen. >> Still, many people in life struggle in the valley of Baka. forget that they're called to pass through it, not run through it in denial because that will come back to bite you later, but not stay and build a house in the valley of Baka. Because if you do, chances are the risks are that your grief will grow into bitterness and your disappointment will grow into distrust and your pain will grow into resentment and it will do damage to your soul and affect your future journey through life.

But Psalms speak about people who pass through the Baka Valley in a different way. It says as they these people pass through the valley of Baka, they make it a spring. Other translations say they constantly dig up new wells, which is beautiful because if you make the Valley of Baka spring, that means that not only are you surviving yourself, but you're actually leaving a heritage of refreshment behind you so that future people who will pass through the same valley can be refreshed because we passed through it, too.

And we left the spring behind us to say, "I was here too, but God brought me through and so he will with you." >> And you know what gateway? Mostly, sadly, mostly when churches walk through a valley of Baka season of the magnitude that this church did 18 months ago, most churches disintegrates, fades away, and shuts down or they split up in a number of different fractions.

And I'm sure the devil's mind was to bring death to the church of Gateway. But he forgot that we serve a Lord who is the resurrection and the life. Praise God. And I know in my heart, I know in my heart that our valley of Baka will leave springs behind us.

And that this church and the process we've been through will be a beacon of hope for hundreds and thousands of churches and leaders and pastors who will experience similar things but need to be reminded that this does not mean the end. After death there is resurrection. After ashes there is beauty.

And after night there is a new dawn, a new morning, a new day, a new season, a new chapter. So, as I look back on these 18 months that Maria and I have been been honored to walk with you alongside you through this valley of Baka, what are some elements that God has done that God has said that God has pointed at that has meant so much for us in our journey through this valley of Baka?

I'm glad you asked. I was just coming to that. Three things. Number one, the number one thing I think about as I relive these 18 months is the presence of God. The presence of God. And I want to honor the interim leadership of this church for immediately when news broke and all hell broke loose, expending extending our time in prayer, extending our time in praise, realizing that we cannot figure this out in our minds.

We need the presence of God. We need to invite the genuine true presence of God which is the only thing that can bring us through. I love the passage in Acts chapter 16 verse 25 when Paul and Silas are in jail because of the fact that they have preached Jesus.

And it says in verse 25 of Acts 16 about midnight about midnight right there in the valley of Baka Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God. Friends anyone can worship at about midday but God is looking for the people who will worship and pray at about midnight because that is what's going to make the difference. and says, "Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison was were shaken.

At once all the prison doors flew open and everyone's chains came loose." Can we say everyone's? >> Meaning the freedom that they brought down by inviting the presence of God into their jail cell into their valley of Baka affected not only them. They dug a well in the valley of Baka.

They dug a spring so that every one of the prison doors open and all the chains came loose. Praise God. Next time you walk through your individual valley of Baka, never forget the presence of God is all you need. The presence of God is all you need. I remember the very first time I spoke to this church after everything had at had felt like it was falling down.

I reminded you about the the story in in uh uh Joshua chapter chapter 6 when Joshua is just about to walk up to Jericho and to take on this fortified city and a a commander of the army of the Lord appears before him. And immediately Joshua bursts out and says, "What is the message of the Lord to me?"

And I I recognize myself in that comment. So many times you have all these lists. You have you need to know the one two3s and the ABCs. You have so many problems to solve, so much stuff to figure out. What is the message? What is the solution? What is the path?

I need the details. But the commander of the army of the Lord instead just says, "Take your sandals off your feet." This is holy ground. Basically saying, "You don't need the one two3s and the ABCs. All you need right now is the presence of God. And by the presence of God, we came through and this church is what it is today.

The second thing that I see God emphasizing and bringing into this journey through this valley of tears has been the element of the new generation. The new generation. I will never ever forget Gateway when I came to to this house that first weekend and and we all were in shock and obviously I was invited to speak months in advance and no no one of us knew where we would be at that point.

But I was invited to speak at the youth conference and then at the weekend services of Gateway that weekend. And I will never ever forget that because obviously in the weekend services there was so many question marks. There were grief. There was pain. There was confusion. And we were just on our face seeking the Lord.

But right before that, there was the youth conference and thousands of young people were jumping up and down, encountering the presence of God, praising at the top of their lungs and just going wild and crazy for Jesus. And that image have stayed with me ever since. gateway. What happened there was God gave this church a prophetic glimpse in the middle of the darkest night on a brand new chapter that would follow this one.

A chapter where he would choose this church and give it a mandate and an anointing to raise up a new generation in a powerful way to include and involve and trust in and encourage and pray for the next generation. And I've seen this this work of the Lord throughout my time with you and it's been absolutely beautiful.

You know what? A few years ago, I did a Bible study on the prophet Elijah. I just wanted to study him in detail and and think about what his life and ministry could could mean to me and could teach me. And as I approached this Bible study, I remember I thought to myself, what would have been the peak moment like the key moment of the ministry of the prophet Elijah?

And spontaneously I thought it must have been Mount Carmel when he was confronting the prophets of Baal and fire came down from heaven and all of Israel fell to to the ground and proclaimed the Lord is God. The Lord is God. But you know what? At the end of my Bible study, I had changed my mind and I realized that the most important, the most crucial moment in the life of the prophet Elijah was not the most spectacular one because many times the most spectacular moments are not necessarily the most important moments.

And I've come to realize that the most important moment was a far less spectacular one. It was one that could have been mistaken for a tiny insignificant detail. And we read it in first kings 19 verse 19. So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shafat.

He was plowing with 12 yolk of oxen and he himself was driving the 12 pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. Just two people present. an older man taking his cloak off and throwing it on the next generation, the new generation. Why would this seemingly insignificant moment be the most important one?

Because here it was secured that whatever was born with Elijah would not die with Elijah, but he would pass on to a new generation who would take it even further. Because when Elijah's time was up and it was time for him to be brought up to heaven, that new generation, the Elisha generation, asks for a double portion of whatever was found in Elijah's generation, and they receive it.

Elijah performs eight miracles in the Bible. Elisha, the next generation, goes on to perform 16 miracles in the Bible. And that's the church I want to see. That's the Christianity I want to build. One where we constantly releases and trusts in and encourages and pray for the next generation.

So that the move of God will not be a roller coaster going up and down, but will be something that goes from glory to glory to glory to glory to glory to glory until he comes back. Sometimes when I make statements like that, I I get very rarely I get people coming up to me, old people like in their 40s, like like myself and and they and they come up to me and they say something like [clears throat] um well, okay, so so now it's all about the young people, is it?

Now they're the only ones that are important, are there? What about me? Am I not important anymore? And I'm always smiling because I'm a pastor as try to be gentle but in my mind I'm thinking you stupid person be honestly that line of thinking is as stupid as if a couple would have their very first baby and then they would look at this baby and think, "Oh, so now we're not important anymore, are we?

Guys, you just became 10 times more important than you ever been in your life >> because now you're not just people, you're parents. And now you have a brand new calling to train and raise and feed and pay for this child and make sure that this child grows up to become everything God has planned.

And it's the same way in church. generations is not about replacements. It's about reinforcements. >> It's not about competing. It's about completing one another and building a multigenerational church. And I pray in Jesus' name that gateway will always be a greenhouse where the new generation can grow strong and secure and powerful and bold in Jesus.

And the third theme I I I've seen throughout these 18 months, one that is actually been strengthened and emphasized even more as Pastor Daniel came in and took the steering wheel of this heart of this church is God's heart for the lost. God's heart for the lost. I love what Jesus says in Luke 15:E4, displaying the heart of God for those who are not in the family of God.

Suppose one of you had a hund sheep and loses one of them. Doesn't he leave the 99 in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? I'm so glad. I've said it many times. I'm so glad this was not a Swedish shepherd because I know exactly how a Swedish shepherd would have thought about the situation.

He would have said, "Well, you lose some and you win some, don't you?" You know, it's 67. It's okay. And u and you know, at least I got 99 and and you know, wouldn't really have cared for that one lost sheep because it's only one out of a hundred.

But this shepherd's heart is different. This shepherd's heart cannot stand the reality that even one single sheep that is his initially is lost. So he leaves the 99 and goes to seek and save that which is lost. You know, one of the most important things you can do as you walk through the valley of Baka is to get your eyes off of yourself for a while because eventually in the end, it's not about what you're going through, it's where you're going to. >> And regardless of the depth of your value of weeping right now, you are going to heaven, my friend. you are on your way to glory.

And and the beauty of that is that even the worst day of your life brought you one step closer to the day where you will see him face to face and start an eternity of beauty and glory and freedom. But there are so many people in this city, so many people in this state, in this country, all over the world that are heading for a different destination right now.

If you believe in Jesus, time is your friend. It's only going to get better because we will end up in heaven. But if you don't believe in Jesus, time is your enemy because every single day brings you one step closer ((music playing)) to an eternity of separation. eternal separation from God.

And I just want to close with a story. How can I not close with a story? Few years ago, the spirit of God actually very specifically told me to study the Titanic disaster in 1912. I did not know why. And and like most in this room, I I knew the basics of the story, but I just felt this urge on the inside.

There was something that the spirit of God wanted to show me in and through this story. So I started doing deep research. I read endless amounts of books, just searching, searching, trying to find my way, praying, asking God, what do you want to say to me? And obviously many of us knows the we know the basics. this big ship set out from Southampton in in ((music playing)) uh the United Kingdom and and aimed for the US then hit an iceberg.

It went down. Hundreds of people perished. But in the process of studying and researching, I found something that I did not know about this disaster. And it had to do with the lifeboats on the Titanic. Now, in between the initial impact with the iceberg and the ship sinking, it it was like three hours.

So there was quite a lot of time to get the lifeboats launched and through the lifeboats on the Titanic, hundreds and hundreds of people were saved. However, as I did my research, I realized that the first lifeboats, actually the first half of all the lifeboats that were that was launched into the water were only half full or less.

They all had a capacity to save 70 people each. 70. But the first lifeboat that was launched only contained 34. The second only contained 36. The third only contained 12 people. Why? Because at that stage, too many people were still in their cabins not understanding the danger that they were in.

They heard the alarm, but they had also been told, "This ship is unsinkable. We're going to be okay. and they were way too late getting out of their cabin and understanding the grave danger that they were in. That meant that when the ship finally went down all across the ocean, there were all these half full lifeboats with the capacity to save so many more out of the hundreds of people that were now struggling in the freezing cold water.

But here's where something happened that would later sometimes be described as the second disaster ((music playing)) of the Titanic. And that was the fact that even though all these lifeboats had seats to spare, instead of turning around and rowing back to the scene of the disaster to rescue as many as possible, almost every single one of them rode away, away from the people in the water.

Now they would have seen them struggling. They would have heard their screams of anguish. They would have heard their cries for help. But somehow the people in the half full lifeboats of the ((music playing)) Titanic thought to themselves, "Well, at least I am saved. At least I'm secure." And they rode away and managed to somehow block their eyes and their ears.

And as I came upon this piece of information, the spirit started speaking to me and he said, "This is one version of end time ((music playing)) Christianity. This is one version of end time Christianity. Believers and churches who would just be confident with the fact that they have it made and couldn't care ((music playing)) less about the people outside who are on their way to destruction. people who would use Jesus as a bellboy to carry their bags as they walk through life, but not as the Lord and Savior who would leave the 99 and go seek for that lost sheep.

And when I heard that voice of the spirit, I was devastated. I was heartbroken. ((music playing)) And I thought to myself, there has to be another there has to be another version in here. There has to be another alternative in this story somehow. And I started looking and finding and re kept researching and and all of a sudden I came across that alternative that true genuine story of how Christianity should all be and I found it in one of the passengers on the on the Titanic.

His name was John Harper. Now, John Harper was a 42year-old pastor ((music playing)) and preacher from Scotland, and he was on the Titanic on his way to Chicago where he would preach for in a crusade to reach lost people with the gospel of Jesus. Sadly, John's wife had passed away a few years before, and now he was traveling with his daughter, the apple of his eye, little Annie Jesse, who was six ((music playing)) years old at this time.

And at the moment of impact in the middle of the night, John woke immediately and he took as his daughter Annie in his arms and he walked outside and and got out on the deck and quickly realized this is this is a serious situation. We're in grave danger.

So he runs up to the first lifeboat he sees and Annie Jesse would later testify that he put her down on the deck, hugged her and held her for a long time and then looked into her eyes and said, "I will see you later one day, darling." ((music playing)) and he lifted his six-year-old daughter into the into the lifeboat, made sure she was ((music playing)) saved, taken care of by the other passengers, and then he turned around and he started running up and down the ship, pounding on cabin doors, calling out at the top of his voice, "Women, children, and people who don't know Jesus, get to the lifeboats now. women, children, and people who don't know Jesus get to the lifeboats now.

((music playing)) He ran for hours and all around him, lifeboats were being launched into the water. He could have gotten into any one of those lifeboats and we would not have blamed him, but he chose not to because his whole mind was focused on one thing. I need to find that lost sheep and I need to find it now.

Because if I die tonight, I know where I'm going. But if you die tonight without the saving grace of God, then you're lost forever. So when the ship finally ((music playing)) went down, John Harper ended up in the water. and looking around him, realizing all the lifeboats were heading away, realizing that we will all perish here tonight in the freezing cold water, he changed his battle cry.

And he started shouting at the top of his voice, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved. Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved." And so many people testified that night, survivors, that above all the cries of anguish and and and pain and and and grief.

There were this voice who constantly ((music playing)) repeated those words. Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved. And God alone only knows how many people heard those words at the very end of their life and gave their heart to Jesus in the very last few minutes. And when I read this story, I have to just take a deep breath and and realize that I just looked into the original version of Christianity.

That shepherd who leaves everything to go and find that lost sheep. And I pray that we all will live the John Harper version of Christianity. And that gateway forever will be a John Harper version of ((music playing)) a church that is all about rescuing one more sheep, one more soul.

And I want to give you an opportunity if you're here today and you haven't yet fully committed your heart to Jesus. There's a lifeboat right ahead of you right now and his name is Jesus. And I want to give you that opportunity. If you're not sure if you're a child of God or not, then I want to invite you to just pray a prayer with me.

Surrender your life. Open up your heart and invite Jesus into your life. Step into that life, folk, and know when you walk out of this building that you're on your way to eternity together with God. Can I have every eye closed, every head bowed for just a a minute?

I don't want to embarrass you in any way, but I want to invite you just like somebody invited me when I was 16 years old to pray this prayer. The only thing I want you to do basically is if you need Jesus or if you need ((music playing)) to reconnect and recommmit to a relationship with him that you once have but do not have anymore and you would say pastor, would ((music playing)) you include me in a prayer?

If that's you, would you just lift up your hand right now all across this auditorium? Just lift up your hand. That will be your silent sign. There are so many hands going up. I see hands in almost every single section right now. Thank you. More importantly, God sees a hand.

And that is your statement saying yes to the offer of salvation. We're going to pray a prayer. Uh you can pray after me. We can all pray this prayer together. But if you pray this prayer for the very first time, pray it from the bottom of your heart and dare to believe ((music playing)) that as you pray, God will listen.

Let's pray. Dear Jesus, thank you for loving me. >> Thank you for loving me. I confess you as my Lord. I'm leaving my old life behind and I choose to follow you. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for forgiving me and for accepting ((music playing)) me for the rest of my life.

I will serve you. I will love you and I will walk with you in Jesus name. Amen. Amen. And can we give it up for all of our new brothers as sisters in the house? ((music playing)) In just a little while, we'll have the prayer prayer team come to the front.

And if you prayed that prayer for the first time, please come down and allow us to pray for you and >> ((music playing)) >> uh and just welcome you into the family of God. But just before we close the service, can I ask my wife Maria to come? >> Isn't she beautiful? >> ((music playing)) >> I so married up and gateway.

Uh we just want to quickly say that we ((music playing)) love you all so much and and walking with you through this season has been a genuine blessing. when we were asked ((music playing)) to step in, it was one of the easiest yeses we've ever said. Um, but we did not expect to just run into this ocean of love.

You have loved us. You have appreciated us throughout the process and we ((music playing)) have felt that love and appreciation every single time we've been with you and we just want to say thank you to you. I want to take this opportunity also to honor the interim leadership of Gateway, the elders, the lead team, the ((music playing)) campus pastors.

((music playing)) Leading through a valley of Bakai is really hard, but they've done a brilliant job. I also want to honor Pastor ((music playing)) Daniel and Tammy and their family uh for leaving the stability and security behind and and coming here to take this the steering wheel. Pastor Daniel is such an amazing man and and this church ((music playing)) is in good hands with him at the steering wheel.

I also want to honor the Gateway staff which is just some of the greatest people I've ever had the honor of working ((music playing)) with. But also you as a church, you are completely amazing. and we've fallen in love with you. And like ((music playing)) the great Arnold once said, we'll be back.

So, uh, we just want to pray a a prayer of blessing upon you if that's okay. So, would you just open up your heart and allow us to speak God's blessing upon you on this special day? >> Thank ((music playing)) you, Jesus. We love you and we stand here in just awe of your steadfast love and your faithfulness.

You're amazing, God. And we're so thankful for what you have done and what what you will do do. Thank you for ((music playing)) being our solid rock. You are the alpha and omega. You are the beginning and the end. And ((music playing)) when we come to the end of this year and we start to ((music playing)) go into this new year, I ask for your blessing on a gateway church.

Lord, >> I ask ((music playing)) Father that every dream and every plan that you have for them will come to pass and flourish. ((music playing)) Father, bless them. Bless them. Bless them, Father. and let them see many people ((music playing)) come to you, get saved, and let them rejoice. Yes, Lord. >> We love you.

We praise you and we give ((music playing)) you all the glory in Jesus' name. Amen. >> Amen. >> Amen. ((music playing)) You know, when I when I spoke my first message in this role in back in August 2024, ((music playing)) I remember saying Gateway the it's going to be a long road. It's going to be a hard road, ((music playing)) but we will come to a point where we will look back and say, "Look what the Lord has done."

And Gateway, ((music playing)) look what the Lord has done. >> We love you. Thank you. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Pastor Yokam and Maria once again, we love you guys so much. you are family and ((music playing)) so I'm sure we will see you many times over the next few years. Thank you so much. What a great word.

Those three points are spoton. We've lived through them. ((music playing)) We see God at work and all of that. So, what a great message. Thank you so much. We love you guys. ((music playing)) Enjoy those boots. I can't wait to see what they look like. Every time you put them on, just remember Texas is ((music playing)) in you and Gateway is a part of you and you're part of us.

Amen. Hold on just ((music playing)) for a moment. If you made a decision um and you raised your hand and you prayed a prayer, then we want to make sure that you make your way forward. Would our prayer team, if you are on a prayer team, would you please move forward right now?

If you made a commitment or if you want prayer for anything, uh please ((music playing)) come forward. Our prayer team would love to be able to pray with you in whatever that need may be. Especially though, if you made a commitment to follow Christ, ((music playing)) what an incredible weekend this has been.

Don't miss next weekend. Pastor Daniel starts a ((music playing)) brand new series called Built Different. And then that following Monday, okay, not not tomorrow, but the next Monday, ((music playing)) we start our churchwide fast for 12 days. So, make sure that you join us next weekend. Uh either Saturday or Sunday. Don't miss it.

God bless you. It's just an honor to be able to serve you. Thank you for coming this weekend. Have a great ((music playing)) rest of your weekend. Enjoy the holidays. God bless you. You're dismissed.