I've Got Control Issues // Name Dropping Part. 4 // Dr. Dharius Daniels

We're in a series and I'm not I'm I'm sticking beside it. I'm all I want to talk about is what's on my heart. We're in a series and so on this Friday night change night, we're staying in this series. This series is called named dropping. And uh and um I I want to explore a name of God found in the 23rd Psalm. >> The 23rd Psalm is a psalm of David.

Verse one is the only verse we'll read. It reads like this. The Lord. Is that all caps? >> Let me see if I got a a cl a good class. Is that all caps? >> What's that mean? >> Or >> Okay, good. The Lord is my shepherd. I lack nothing.

That's it. That's all I want to talk from this subject and I want to see on this change night. If you're here for the first time, welcome. I'm glad to have you. We're teaching ministry. I just get excited when I teach. So, >> Amen. The word still excites me.

Um, I'm going to talk from this subject, but I'm going to see if people in Jersey and online are going to be honest tonight. Cuz some people, you can relate to this title. You just don't know it. You're not honest enough to admit it. But here, here's the topic of tonight's teaching.

I'm going to see if you'll be honest. I've got control issues. I see some people on the second row not clapping. And you know this word is for you. Clap everybody. You know this word. I've got control issues. Everybody clap again. I just felt that in my I've I've got control issues.

This passage here in Psalms 23 is a powerful picture of a principle that is found within the pages of one of the most impactful books on my spiritual journey. It's a book written by a man named Jan Hiddinger and it's called Follow Me. And he says in this book that in order for Jesus to save my life, I must allow him to lead my life. >> He argues that the only option Jesus presents to those who are contemplating following him is the option of savior and lord. not savior or lord. >> In other words, he argues what Jesus offers to those that are contemplating and curious about following his leadership and emulating his life. is not the option to be savior or lord. >> But the only singular op offer is to be savior and lord because he can't save your life if you don't let him lead your life.

So, in other words, if my life is a car and I don't want to crash, I must do more than let Jesus ride, I must let Jesus drive. Jesus take the wheel. However, in order, are y'all here? In order for Jesus to put his hands on the wheel, we must be willing to take our hands off the wheel.

And this means releasing and relinquishing something that gives us all a sense of safety, a sense of security, and a sense of stability. It means releasing and relinquishing control >> because control makes me feel safe. >> Control makes me feel secure. Control makes me feel stable >> because my desire for control is often a symptom of trauma >> because I tried trusting others >> and they demonstrated that they were not trustworthy. >> So now the only people I trust is God and me.

But releasing control is not only right. Releasing control is wise. >> Because when you're releasing control, you're actually releasing the illusion of control. >> Yeah. >> Releasing control is accepting reality. Releasing control is accepting reality. Releasing control is ACCEPTING REALITY. THE REALITY OF WHAT, PASTOR? THE REALITY THAT YOU DON'T HAVE IT.

It is an illusion. So, you're feeling safe and we're FEELING STABLE AND WE'RE feeling secure OVER THE ILLUSION OF CONTROL THAT WE DO NOT actually have. Ladies and gentlemen, control is an illusion. We can control our effort. We can control our energy, but we cannot control outcomes. We can teal the ground.

We can buy the field. We can plant the seed. But we cannot make it rain. Control is an illusion. >> I can control how I interview. I can't control if they hire me. >> I can control what I offer. I cannot control what they take. >> I can control if I present myself in the best possible way.

I can't control whether or not you choose to see me as me. Are you hearing what I'm saying, family? Yes. Control is an illusion. I'M NOT SAYING WE DON'T HAVE RESPONSIBILITY. OF COURSE, we have responsibility. But there's a difference between accepting responsibility and trying to take control. God is the only one that actually has control.

And when I try to assume control, then I am trespassing on God's property. And when I try to do God's job, then I am carrying God's weight. >> And I have not been built to carry that kind of weight. And so when I start carrying God weight, my nervous system reminds me, you were not wired for this kind of weight.

When I try to carry God weight, my mind reminds me I was not created to carry this kind of weight. WHEN I TRY TO carry God's weight, my body and the symptoms and the stress and the strain ON MY BODY REMINDS ME YOUR shoulders were not built to carry this weight.

And if I remember my Bible right, there is an apostle named Peter who encouraged all OF US, CAST YOUR CARES. I wish I had a church here upon the Lord because he cares for you. >> So some of my anxiousness and anxiety and overextension is actually a reflection of an issue I need to come face to face with and address.

I gotta address my desire for control. >> What if I told you more peace is on the other side of letting go? What if I told you more productivity is on the other side of letting go? I know the Holy Spirit's talking to you. I can see it all in your FACE RIGHT NOW.

IT'S LIKE I KNOW HE'S TALKING. WHAT IF I TOLD you more more uh purposedriven living is on the other side of releasing control? God, give me the wisdom to discern between what's my part and your part and give me the courage to let go of what doesn't belong to me.

BUT IN ORDER FOR THERE TO be a revolution in our behavior, there has to be a revelation. >> Cuz our behavior is driven by our beliefs. >> As a matter, are y'all okay? >> As a matter of fact, the book of James teaches us that the way you know what you believe is actually by your behavior. >> Did you know James said that?

Did you know that the same James who says faith without works is dead >> is the same James that says, "I will show you my faith." >> Come on here. Am I in the book? >> YEAH. I WILL SHOW YOU MY FAITH BY MY WORKS. >> My behavior is REVEALING TO ME WHAT I believe.

Yeah. >> And if I IGNORE MY BEHAVIOR, >> I'M NOT GOING TO ACCURATELY ASSESS WHAT I BELIEVE. SO, I'M GOING TO THINK MY BELIEF SYSTEM IS BETTER THAN WHAT IT IS. >> BECAUSE I'M NOT ALLOWING MY BEHAVIOR TO BE A MIRROR TO SHOW ME YOU ACTUALLY NEED TO FIX THAT. >> You don't trust them like you say you do.

You don't believe him like you say you do. AND THAT'S NOT TO CONDEMN YOU. IT'S BECAUSE GOD LOVES US ENOUGH TO CORRECT IT. So we need we need a revelation of God. And this whole series has been anchored in this concept called progressive revelation which is this idea that God is so complex and so multi-layered and so multifaceted that he cannot reveal all of himself to us at one time.

So over the course of our lifetime, God arranges and orchestrates situations to give us different revelations of who he is. You get to know him comprehensively long term. Am I making sense here? Yeah. And this particular passage here, my God, David allows us to ease on a revelation that HE GOT ABOUT SOMETHING else that Yahweh is.

Yeah. >> Did you hear what I just said? Yeah. WHEN HE WRITES THIS PASSAGE, HE HAS ALREADY DEFEATED GOLIATH. >> SO, he's met Ni. >> Did you hear what I just said? Yeah. He's met Ni. We can say this with confidence because when he is engaging with Goliath, he is talking spicy.

He is talking heavy. He wasn't surprised by winning. He expected to win. The only ones that were surprised by him winning was though WERE THOSE THAT WERE OBS THAT WERE THAT WAS OBSERVING THE FIGHT. HE TOLD Goliath >> what was getting ready. Y'all not ready for this. See, AND HERE'S SOME OF OUR ISSUE.

YOU LET GOLIATH, WE LET GOLIATH TALK TO US, >> but we won't talk back. WE LET THE GIANT PROBLEM TALK TO US, >> but we won't talk back. >> David said, "You come at me >> with a sword and a spear, but I come at you >> in the name." >> I wish I had a church.

I come at you in the what? In the name of the living God. >> IS THAT WHAT HE SAID? HE SAID, "THE SAME GOD, >> I'm sorry. I feel a little Baptist tonight. >> The same God that delivered me out of the hand of THE LION AND THE BEAR IS THE SAME GOD >> THAT WILL deliver this Philistine into my hands." >> He knew Ni. >> Who else didn't know? >> But in Psalm 23, He's not fighting >> with an enemy >> when he wrote Psalms 23.

He's fighting with himself. >> Did you hear what I just said? >> Yeah. I said in Psalms 23, he's not fighting with an enemy. >> In Psalms 23, He fighting with the enemy. HE'S FINALLY GOT SOME stability >> after years of instability. Years of unpredictability, years of family tension, years of a jealous boss, Saul trying to take his life.

Finally, >> he's got some stability. Finally, >> he's sitting on the throne >> and he gets this revelation. He puts pen to paper, >> reflects on when he is tending to his father's sheep >> and says, "As I was to the sheep, >> Yahweh is to me. In in this season of his life, he's not fighting to conquer Goliath.

In this season of his life, he's fighting to conquer control. He win it. >> Did you hear what I just said? >> Don't act like some of us hadn't had a little bit of David dynamics, some David dynamics in our life's narrative. We know what it's like to deal with unpredictability and and and and and a lack of stability and a lack of security and people that are unstable and untrustful.

WE KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE, BUT IT'LL BE FINANCIAL insecurity and relational insecurity and mental insecurity and FAMILY INSECURITY. AND YOU FINALLY GET TO A place >> where it feels a little stable. >> And now you want to control >> cuz I want to keep >> what I fought so hard to get. >> Do I have a witness in this church?

I I I I want to fight to keep what I worked so hard to get. >> And David gets a revelation. He says, "Yahweh is my shepherd." He introduces us to a name of God that reveals to us the nature of God. He calls God Jehovah or Yahweh Rohi.

Yeah. >> Yeah. >> He's a He's a shepherd. >> Yeah. >> He's a what? He's a shepherd. He's a what? He's a shepherd. Now, the fact that he calls God shepherd, right here, here's the insinuation here. That declaration is also AN INSINUATION. THE DECLARATION THAT GOD IS A SHEPHERD IS INSINUATION.

I'm a sheep. That's good. >> So he's saying, I see SOME SIMILARITIES BETWEEN ME >> and sheep. >> Sheep need shepherds to feed them. >> Sheep need shepherds to lead them. >> Sheep need shepherds to protect them. And with all OF HIS INFLUENCE, WITH ALL OF HIS AFFLUENCE, WITH ALL OF HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS, he acknowledges, "I need God >> to be my shepherd." >> Did you hear what I just said? >> He He says here, "Boy, if I had time, he he he he says here, the Lord Yahweh >> is my shepherd, NOT A >> CUZ GOD determines if he's a shepherd. >> I got help right over here.

I don't know where else I got help. God determines if he is a shepherd. I determine if he's mine. AND ON THIS CHANGE NIGHT, >> MAYBE GOD IS CHALLENGING us >> as WE SIT IN THE BEGINNING OF THE FIRST MONTH OF A NEW YEAR. MAYBE GOD IS CHALLENGING us to move him from a shepherd to mine.

Maybe what God is asking from you in 2026 is not a habit. It's not an issue. Maybe he's not asking for a different seed. Maybe he's not asking for a different kind of service. Not that any of that is not important, but maybe he's asking you for control.

Did you hear what I just said? I don't know if you enjoying this. I'm having a TIME TEACHING THIS. BOTH OF US CAN'T BE SHEPHERDS. >> You want me to lead over here and you want to lead over there. >> You want me to lead today and then when you don't like where I'm taking you, you want to lead tomorrow. >> You keep giving me the wheel, then kicking me out the car, putting me on the passenger side. cuz he determines if he is a shepherd.

We determine if he's ours. But if we will embrace this attribute of God, Psalms 23 shows us >> five significant shifts >> that will happen in our life. >> If we will make this shift in our mind to see Yahweh can actually be a shepherd. >> Here it is.

Can I give them to you? Yes, sir. >> All right. Here's number one. Here's a shift that will happen in my life if I make a shift in my mind. Watch this. We will shift from scarcity to sufficiency. >> Did you hear what I just said? >> I'mma say it again cuz I meant it.

If we will make this shift in our mind, HERE'S A SHIFT that will HAPPEN IN OUR LIFE. We will SHIFT FROM SCARCITY TO SUFFICIENCY. I want you to hear me now cuz everybody, somebody say everybody. Everybody is rich and poor in some area. >> Did you hear what I just said? >> Some people are rich in treasure, but they're poor in time. >> Some people are rich in time, but they're poor in treasure. >> Am I MAKING SENSE?

SOME PEOPLE ARE relationally rich. >> Some people are emotionally rich. But but but but Psalm 1 said 23:1 says, "THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD. I lack nothing." >> I wish I had now I I was just Baptist. Now we Pentecostal. All right. Okay. I wish I had a Pentecostal church that would just raise your voice and say nothing.

No thing. >> I lack no thing because YAHWEH IS MY SHEPHERD. He's going to lead me TO THE THING I LACK. Oh my gosh. Did you hear what I JUST SAID? BECAUSE YAHWEH IS MY SHEPHERD. EVEN IF I DON'T HAVE IT, >> IF I'M FOLLOWING YAHWEH, I'M ON THE WAY TO IT. >> AND I MIGHT NOT HAVE IT TODAY, BUT I'M A STEP CLOSER TODAY THAN I WAS YESTERDAY.

AND I MIGHT NOT HAVE IT TOMORROW, BUT I'M A STEP CLOSER BECAUSE MY BIBLE SAYS THE STEPS OF A GOOD MAN ARE ORDERED BY THE LORD. AND I CAME TO NEW JERSEY TONIGHT TO TELL SOMEBODY, "KEEP WALKING." NOW, IF I HAD A PENTECOSTAL MEMBER, SOMEBODY WOULD HAVE STARTED WALKING NOW.

As a prophetic, just keep walking. And you going to walk right into what you've been lacking. YOU'RE GOING TO WALK RIGHT into what YOU'VE BEEN MISSING. THE LORD is my shepherd. I feel like walking. I feel like walking. I feel like walking. I feel like walking. Tears in my eyes, but I feel like walking.

Confusion in my mind, but I feel like walking. Pain in my heart, but I feel like walking. I'm going to walk and not be weary. I'm going to run and not faint. I want you to see here the three dimensions David speaks from. >> I this is personalized provision lack nothing current provision lack nothing comprehensive provision >> because Yahweh shepherd me.

So if I lack what I need, >> but I've made him my shepherd. >> Even if I currently lack it, he's leading me to it. >> We're about to be Pentecostal for five more seconds, then I'm going to point number two. But I want someone someone to make a prophetic declaration.

And this prophetic declaration is to encourage your own soul. Just shout, "I'm on the way." Yes, sir. Put me right there. I'm on the way. You don't believe it in this section. I said, "Say it like you mean. I'm on the way." That's why I'm shouting like this.

That's why I'm clapping like this. That's why I'm rejoicing like this. That's why I'm not insane in the member. I'm on my way. Yes, sir. Oh, I'm on my way. I got to get to THE SECOND PART. SOMEBODY GIVE HIM A I'M ON MY WAY PRAISE. >> WOO.

Oh yeah. Woohoo. I got four minutes and four points, but I believe four more points. Somebody >> just shifted in your heart. Your heart posture just shifted. You moved emotionally. You moved spiritually. Something shifted and you on your way now. You really on your way. All right. >> Yes. from scarcity to sufficiency.

Cuz if Yahweh is my shepherd, even if I don't have it yet, if I'm following him, >> he taking me there. >> I'm sorry. I just believe what I'm preaching. And sometimes I think about what I just said and my soul bears WITNESS WITH THE WORD OF God and I JUST GET EXCITED.

EVEN IF I'M NOT THERE, IF HE IS MY SHEPHERD, HE IS taking me there. All right. We shift from scarcity to sufficiency. Number two, verse two, we shift from wandering to resting. Verse two, he makes me. >> He makes me. >> He doesn't recommend. He doesn't suggest. He doesn't ask.

He makes me. Can anybody resonate WITH WHAT DAVID IS saying here? You can look BACK TO AT YOUR life and you can see seasons where he made you sit down. Sit down. Let me talk to you. Sit down. Let me fix this. Sit down. Let me refocus you.

Sit down. He makes me >> wandering. When I say wandering, I'm not just talking about wandering physically. >> We can be wandering mentally. >> We can be wandering relationally. >> We can be wandering professionally. >> Israel wandered. >> 40 YEARS >> IN THE WILDERNESS, >> EXTENDING ENERGY WITHOUT MAKING PROGRESS, >> RUNNING FAST BUT going nowhere.

You got movement without meaning. >> But God moves us from wandering >> to resting. >> Makes me lay down. >> Sit still. >> Pause. >> Stop. Sabbath. >> Sa chill. Refocus. >> Realign. >> Shake back. Uh-oh. >> This y'all going to help me preach tonight? He helped me shake back.

He he makes he arranges situations and circumstances >> that orchestrate temporary immobility >> so that he can grant us supernatural recovery >> cuz we've been extending energy, >> moving but not progressing. Are y'all all right here? >> He makes me >> to lie down. >> DON'T MISS WHAT WHAT DAVID SAYS, THOUGH. >> HE DIDN'T SAY JUST WHAT God made him do. >> But he also says where. >> He doesn't make you lay down anywhere.

He makes me lay down where Daniels in green pastures. DID YOU HEAR WHAT I JUST SAID? HE SAYS, "I AM STOPPING YOU TO FEED YOU." Y'all didn't hear what I I'm I'm I'm I'M I'M PUTTING A PAUSE BECAUSE I WANT YOU TO GRAZE. I want you to eat.

I want you to be renewed. I want you to replenish cuz you've been eating on the run. >> If you let him be your shepherd, >> he'll not only tell you when to go. >> He'll show you when to stop. >> He'll show you you're doing too much. >> From wondering >> to resting.

I want green pastures. >> This isn't immobility. This is security without striving. >> Your mind needs some rest. >> And he says, "If you let me shepherd you, I give you rest." That's not the only thing I see in the text. Same verse, verse two, green pastures. But he didn't stop talking there.

He also says he leads me. >> Am I in the book >> beside >> what kind of waters? >> Still waters. >> Third shift is we shift from chaos >> to calm. >> All right. Chaos isn't just about noise or business. It's about a fundamental lack of clarity and direction. >> So when I don't know where I'm going, everything feels urgent. >> And when I can't discern what matters most, everything demands my attention. >> When I'm unclear about my assignment, I'm vulnerable to every opportunity, every opinion, and every obligation that comes my way.

That's chaos. Not because my life is inherently chaotic, but because without a shepherd, I'm left to figure this out on my own. So, I'm blessed but chaotic. >> Did you hear what I just said? I'm blessed, but the water's not still. >> I'm blessed, but times are turbulent. >> Have more than I ever had. >> But feel worse than I've ever been. >> Did you hear what I just said? >> BUT NOTICE WHAT THE SHEPHERD SAYS, what the text says.

He leads us besides still waters. See, still waters or quiet waters aren't just the absence of noise. They represent clarity. Watch this. Still water allows you to see your reflection clearly. >> Did you hear what I just said? when waters are calm and clear, >> you get >> And the reason some of us can't discern the difference between an opportunity and a trap is because you can't see yourself.

And the reason some of us are operating without boundaries is because we can't see oursel. And the reason some of us allow people to treat us as less than image bearsers of God is because you can't see yourself. And the reason some of us won't hold a standard is because you can't see yourself.

But whenever you see yourself, >> it shifts the way you allow others to handle you. And now you make decisions with discernment, not decisions out of desperation. >> Now, I don't like to do a lot of this because I don't like to act like church is only here's what charismatics do.

Charismatics often do church like everybody in church is an extrovert. So there's a lack of consideration >> for the diversity of personality >> that's sitting in the pew. >> It's not respect for God's wiring. >> We need to respect how God's wired different people. >> But we all about to be an extrovert for 5 seconds. >> Did you hear what I just said?

I said we all are about to be extrovert for 5 seconds. Just touch somebody and tell them God's about to calm the waters. They don't believe it because they didn't praise. He's about to calm the waters. You're about to see yourself clearly. You're about to see yourself correctly.

You're about to see yourself accurately. All the stuff that's been stopping you from seeing you right now, he's getting ready >> to calm the wise. All right. >> All right. I I got two more, y'all. All right. >> All right. Here it is. Here it is. I hadn't seen you since last month.

Here it is. Here it is. Uh I I read verse three. >> And in verse three, he says, "He refreshes or restores >> my soul." >> We shift from worn down >> to refresh. Here's what he's teaching us. Not just to trust the path of the shepherd. >> He's teaching us, here's where the control issue comes in, also to trust the pace of the shepherd. >> Did you HEAR WHAT I JUST SAID? >> God not only knows the path, >> he knows the pace.

And very often, not all the times, but very often we feel like his pace is extremes. >> It's not extreme, but it feels extreme. >> We feel like in some senses, in some sense, it's taking me too fast. >> This a lot. Jesus, >> let me go to this side.

Where's my right? This a lot. You ever This a lot. And then there are instances where we feel like Come on, Jesus. >> But he knows he knows whether or not your soul is in shape. >> Did you hear what I just said? Yeah. See, sometimes your body is IN SHAPE.

SO YOU GOT PHYSICAL STAMINA, BUT YOUR SOUL IS not in shape. So you don't have spiritual stamina. So stress and strain and PRESSURE AND ADVERSITY AND OBSTACLES WEAR US down >> and it robs us of the very asset we need for evolution and for assignment. Boy, if I had time, Tony, >> it's an asset we don't talk about enough in church, >> but it's an asset even Jesus leveraged to carry out his assignment.

And we don't talk about it enough in church, but at change church, we getting ready to talk about it tonight. >> WHAT'S THE ASSET? The asset I'm referring to is an asset called energy. The devil wants to rob you >> of energy >> cuz loving people that's on your last nerve. >> You know what it take?

Y'all are talking to me. Where is my real church? You know what it take? Energy. Parenting your children. Oh, I got help in the background. You know what that takes? Energy. Managing spiritual warfare at work. >> You know what that take? >> It take energy. you sitting in the car or at the house saying, "I don't feel like this today." >> Now, there's a word used in the Bible that refers to moral excellence, which requires spiritual energy. >> And that word is virtue. >> Am I in the book?

IN MARK CHAPTER 5. I'm almost done, but I hadn't seen you since last year. Stay with me. >> Yes, sir. I didn't come all the way up here to rush now. >> All right. Amen. Here it is. In Mark chapter 5. >> Mark. >> Mark chapter 5. Just found out, I was reading this morning that Mark is the evangelist attributed to the starting of the Coptic Church.

Did y'all know that? >> Messed me up, too. I said, "Go ahead, Mark." >> Yeah. Coptic church that influenced the Ethiopian church that influenced the Ethiopian Bible cuz Christianity was in Africa before Europe. Y'all follow me? >> Mark tells a story of Jesus going to a a a a ruler of the synagogue's house named Jarius. >> Jarius had a 12-year-old daughter that needed supernatural intervention.

And the Bible says >> that Baptist on me tonight. I said, "And the Bible says as he was walking, there was a woman who had an issue of blood. for 12 long years. >> And she said to herself, "Cuz sometimes you got to sit you down >> and have a talk with you." >> She said to herself, "If I could touch >> Uh-huh. >> I need to talk back church tonight.

If I could touch the hem >> of his garment, I shall >> be made whole. >> So So I I I'm NOT GOING TO BOTHER THIS, but the text says SHE HAD TO PRESS HER way >> energy >> through a crowd. That take energy. >> And when she touched Jesus, >> Jesus who was moving, he stopped.

I said he was moving but he stopped. I said he was moving but he stopped. What if I told you there's a way you can touch him that'll not only make him move? But there's a way you can touch him that'll make him stop. Stop over my house.

Stop over my mind. Stop over my school. Stop over my children. Stop over my car. Stop over my job. I want you to hover. I want you to tabernacle. I want you to dwell. I want YOU TO STAY RIGHT HERE. Jesus said, "Who touched me?" They say, "What do you mean?

All these people are touching you." But what does he say? He said, >> he says, "I felt virtue, >> spiritual energy. Go out of me. >> In Matthew 4, after he wrestles with temptation from the devil, the devil leaves him for a season. The text says, and then it says, "Angels came >> and ministered to him >> because the resisting of temptation >> takes It takes energy. >> And David says, "I've been extending energy, >> but if I follow the shepherd, he will restore my soul." >> All right, I'm done.

Verse Num uh uh here it is. Here it is. Num num number five. Here it is. Look at verse four. He says, I'mma quote this King James. >> I'm feeling that on me tonight. I'm quoting this King James. Yay though. Yay though. I walk through >> the valley of the shadow of death. >> It's not death, it's a shadow. >> SO I FEAR NO evil cuz it's a shadow. >> Here's the reason I fear no evil.

Thou >> art >> with me. WAIT A MINUTE. >> THY ROD >> AND THY STAFF, >> it comforts me. >> I'm comforted >> because you have it. >> Y'all better come get me tonight. And I'm comforted cuz I know you're not afraid to use it. So if bandits come, if wolves come, if robbers come, IF THIEVES COME, IF BEARS COME, IF SNAKES COME, I FEAR NO EVIL, >> for thou thou thou >> art with me. >> Uhhuh.

We shift >> from fear >> to faith. >> Watch what he says. I will fear no evil, >> for thou art with me. >> Thou preparest >> a table before me. >> This is double connotation. Thou preparest >> a table >> before >> before me in my presence, >> but you also prepare a table before me. before I get there.

You have already prepared the table. But you prepared the table in the presence of man. Is there anybody here that can testify that you have watched God make your enemy Watch you get blessed. Did you hear what I just said? Thou anointed my head with oil. I called a friend of mine, Pastor Tim Delina, who's a Bible scholar.

I said, "Dr. Tim, I need you to give me some perspective on the anointing on the head. And Dr. Tim told me >> that shepherds would anoint the head of sheep so that when the head was down and they were grazing on the grass, if a snake jumped up to try to get a hold of the sheep, the oil wouldn't let the snake keep his grip.

I need somebody to take about 13 seconds and praise God because of the oil. Because every time the devil trying to get a grip on you, God put the oil on you. And I got a way. I need somebody to tell your neighbor in 2025. The devil tried to KILL ME, BUT I got away.

TRIED TO TAKE MY JOY, but I got away. Tried to take my peace, but I got away. And that is why when I think of the goodness of Jesus and Oh, he's done for me. My soul cries out. Hallelujah. Thank God for saving me. Is there anybody here that's glad you got a shepherd?

He walks with me. He talks with me. I got >> Say yeah. Say it like you mean it. Say yeah. Open your mouth and tell God. Yeah. Now raise your voice and shout with a voice of triumph. Heat. Heat. Jehovah >> Rohi. >> He is a shepherd. >> Lord, >> but he wants to be >> your shepherd. >> It's his way >> of dealing with your control issues.

It's his way of dealing with my control issues. >> Did you hear what I just said? >> This revelation is what actually makes us feel safe enough >> to release the will >> cuz it's unwise to give the will >> to someone who's not safe. But maybe God through this message is whispering to you. >> I'm safe.

Let me take the wheel. >> I know the place you need to get to. I know the path you need to take to get there. And I know the pace. I know the pace you need to move at cuz there's some things coming to you you aren't asking for. >> But he doesn't ask your opinion before he sets your assignment. >> And there's some stuff you're going to walk into that you didn't ask for, >> but you're going to have to steward. >> And when you get there, you're going to be glad that he took you the pace he took you.

I'm so glad that the 10year ago version of me >> doesn't have to steward and carry what this version of me has to carry. >> And so he's asking us >> to allow him to go from being a shepherd to mine. >> Lord, I release control. I release control.

I'm going to take responsibility. >> I'm going to be responsible >> for what I'm responsible for. >> I'm going to be an excellent steward over what I'm responsible for. But I'm going to accept there are some outcomes I can't control. Now, I'm trusting you. >> Yes, sir. Trust in the Lord all >> with all thy heart. >> Lean not to thine own understanding.

In all thy ways acknowledge him. >> He didn't say when he would, >> but he said I will. >> I'll direct your path. You know Elohim, you know Ni, but tonight Jehovah says, "Allow me to reintroduce myself. I'm also Roi. I know where green pastors are. You don't.

You're going to settle for grass. I want you to have green. >> You can get to grass on your own, but you can't get to green pastures without me. >> You know where water is, but I want to lead you to still waters. So today, we're going to leave this gathering underneath the banner of a prayer of surrender.

God is going to grant you and I the grace to give up a little more control. I I'm not saying we won't have any more control issues because some of us like me, we Indian givers. We give God control and then it's like I'm going to take it back today.

You could have it tomorrow. I got it today. But there's also I've been talking to you about progressive revelation. I'm going to mention that word every week in this series. But there's also something and Christians really have to wrap their head around this especially well-meaning Christians. Something called progressive sanctification.

We're not ready for that. It's long obedience in the right direction. And um what if I told you that, watch this, that sometimes deliverance breaks the yoke, but time removes the residue. >> Did you hear what I just said? Did you hear what I just said? Like Like God can break the yolk, >> but then sometimes over time, he progressively removes the residue.

Yep. I broke the yoke so that you can be free, but there's still evidence of bondage on you. And over time, >> I'm going to take that. So, you're going to be less controlling and less controlling and less controlling and less controlling. And you're going to wake up one day and you're going to be fully surrendered >> cuz miracles aren't magic. >> So, I'm getting ready to pray.

I pray I surrender. You can have it. I can't stay up at night anymore because I'm trying to control. I can't keep losing sleep because I'm trying to control. I can't keep resorting to escapism and resorting to substances and relationships and people to to try to calm my nervous system because I'm captured by control.

I surrender. As comfortable as as high as you're comfortable, just lift those hands in his presence. Take my >> conform it. >> Conform >> to yours. >> To yours. To yours, oh Lord. Take my heart and mold it. Take my mind. Transform it. >> Transform it. >> Take my will. >> Take my will. >> Conform it. >> Conform >> to yours. >> To yours.

So, Father, uh for some of us in this room, we recognize we're carrying some trust trauma and it makes it difficult for us to give you what you've actually earned. You've earned the right to lead and to shepherd. >> But our past pain and our past trauma has us projecting our distrust on you.

So I pray first that you would heal those places in our heart that make it hard for us to trust in the name of Jesus. heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds. And I pray, we pray, Father, that you would receive this offering that we give you today of control.

We recognize we're carrying some control issues and we release it today. Father, I surrender. You can have it. And our testimony is the testimony of David. Yahweh is my shepherd. I lack nothing. I thank you for hearing this prayer and honor this petition. Now, may the Lord bless you.

May he keep you. May he cause his face of favor to shine upon you. May he be gracious to you. May he protect you. May he provide for you and may he grant you peace. And now unto him >> that is able to keep us from falling to present us faultless before the presence of his glory.

To the only wise God. Unto him be glory, be honor, be majesty, dominion, and power both now >> and forever more in Jesus name. Amen.