THERE'S SOMETHING UNDER THE HOUSE | PASTOR TRAVIS GREENE | FORWARD CITY CHURCH

Hey family, man. Thank you so much for checking out this week's message. It means the world. To me, um we have been praying, we've been fasting, we've been believing God uh for revival this year. Our theme of the year is winds of revival. And so, we were going to shift into a a different topic, but the Lord gave us a word to stay right here um speaking about revival and what is necessary for revival.

And so, we're in a a series now called uh home invasion. And I pray your hearts are open to receive this word from God for you. Uh but this is the way to get revival. Listen, can't just steward revival in God's house. You also got to steward it in your house.

And so, um I pray your hearts are open. You're ready to receive a word from God. I'll see you at the end. Love you. We're in Joshua chapter 7. We're in a series called Home Invasion. Hidden idols in high places at We House. Listen, to steward God's win in his house, we must first steward it in our own homes.

The Holy Spirit, he wants complete and total access to every area. I want you to hear these words, every area >> of your life. And it's time for us to remove the do not disturb task off of certain rooms and give them access. The Bible says in Revelation, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock."

He's not going to barge in, but he is asking for access. And I believe when you let him in, the joy you've been looking for, >> the peace you've been looking for will come when you open the door and let the Lord in. Revival does not live where God is only a guest. >> He desires habitation, not visitation. >> And God is a jealous God.

He's jealous not because he's insecure, but because he's holy. >> And he knows as the architect of your soul that you have limited capacity. And so in order to house him, it takes all of you for him to move in. We're not just praying for a move because moves can be temporary.

We're praying for him to move in. But in order for God to move in, something has to say it with me. Move out. >> Joshua chapter 7. Are you there? >> We're going to do a good bit of reading today cuz we have to set a groundwork. It's going to be a quick message and then we're going to pray and intercede.

And this is what I believe today. And I need your faith with me in the room. I believe the Lord is turning the page for your finances. >> And I want you, this is what I want you to do. I want you to begin to see yourself blessed. >> Talking about the kind of blessing where you're not stressed over debt.

Talking about the kind of blessing where your nieces and nephews, you can pay for the tuition in full and not even think about it. Talking about the kind of blessings where you could send your grandmama on a cruise and say happy birthday. I'm talking about the kind of blessing where you walk in overflow.

Here we go. Where you can fund the mission of God. That whatever the Lord ask of you, you can do willingly without hesitation because you're that blessed. The Bible says you'll be blessed in a city, blessed in a field, blessed when you come, blessed when you go. The Bible says Abraham was rich and the Lord can make you blessed.

The Bible says in Proverbs that the blessings of the Lord maketh rich and adds no sorrow. So, we're praying for sorrowless increase. Come on. You're not going to have to step on nobody to get this favor. You're not going to have to lose your integrity to get this favor.

You're going to have to You're going to continue to be a person of faithfulness with the favor of God. That's what we're believing. Joshua 7, we're going to read a little bit. Y'all ready? >> When I pause, you shout the word. You ready? So about 3,000 went up, but they were routed by the men of Ai, who killed about 36 of them.

They chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as to the stone quaries and struck them down on the slopes. At this the hearts of the people melted in fear and became like >> water. Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell face down to the ground before the ark of the Lord, remaining there till evening.

The elders of Israel did the same and sprinkled dust on their heads. Jump down to verse 10. We skip around a little bit. The Lord said to Joshua, "Stand up. What are you doing down on your face? Israel has sinned. They have violated my covenant which I commanded them to keep.

They have taken some of the devoted things. They have >> stolen. >> They have >> they have put them with their own possessions. That is why the Israelites cannot >> interesting God tells Joshua to stand up, but then he said the Israelites can't stand. They can't stand against their enemies.

They turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction. Go >> consecrate the people. Tell them consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel says, "There are devoted things among you, Israel.

You cannot stand >> against your enemies until you remove them. That's so powerful. He says until you remove this, you won't even be able to stand in your proper place. Man, ah, until you remove this, you'll still be sitting on your gifts. Until you remove this, you'll be still sitting on potential.

I want you to hear me, people of God. Until you remove this one thing that you feel like you can't live without. God says you'll never be able to stand in your purpose and stand against the enemy. Jump down to verse uh 15. Whoever is caught with the devoted things shall be destroyed by fire along with all that belongs to him.

He has >> violated the covenant of the Lord and has done an outrageous thing in Israel. This word right here, violated in the Hebrew, actually means a a marital adultery. idultery is a form of adultery. >> It is the breaking of a covenant, man. >> And this this word right here, V, is not even used that many times in the Bible, but it literally means to have an affair against God. >> Sin isn't as casual as you think it is.

Verse 19. Then Joshua said to Achen, "My son, give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, and honor him. Tell him what you have done. Do not hide it from me." Achin replied, "Look at Achen. It is true. It's true. I've sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel.

This is what I've done." When I saw the plunder, and the plunder, a beautiful robe from Babylonia, 200 shekels of silver and a bar of gold weighing 50 shekels. That's about $42,000. I coveted them and took them. They were hidden in the ground inside my tent with the silver underneath.

So Joshua sent messengers. They ran to the tent and there it was hidden in his tent with the silver underneath. They took the things from the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites and spread them out before the Lord. Then Joshua together with all Israel took Achen son of Zarah, the silver, the robe, the gold bar, his sons, his daughter, his cattle, donkeys, sheep, his tent, and all that he had to the valley of Achor.

Joshua would said, "Why have you brought this trouble on us? The Lord will be bring trouble on you today." Then all Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned the rest, they burnt them. Got a strong word from the Lord today, ladies and gentlemen. And it's simply called this.

There's something under the house. >> Do me a favor. Turn and tell five people. Five people. Tell them there's something under the house. Turn them. Tell them. Tell them. >> Did you make it to five? There's something under the house. I'm hanging out with y'all today. YouTube, y'all make some noise for all the people watching around the world.

Y'all let me know where y'all watching from. There's something under the house. Something. Ask your neighbor, "What's under your house?" This is important because what's under the house determines what's on the house. >> We walking heavy today. Y'all ready? >> What's under the house determines what's on the house?

There's so much to unpack in this text right here in Joshua 7. How many of y'all ever heard the story of Achim before? Anybody ever heard this story before? Cool. Cool. You're in the right house if you haven't. I'm going to take you on a journey. And here we teach you can't just read the Bible.

You got to >> read the Bible. >> Read the Bible. The Israelites have been in Egyptian captivity for 430 years. That's a long time. 430 years. Which means there are several generations that were born and died into slavery. And they're in this they're in this bondage and they begin to cry out to God.

And the Bible says the Lord hears their cry. And when the Lord hears the cry, he raised up oo a deliverer. I just felt that. Perhaps you are the deliverer that your whole floodline has been crying out to God for. When God hears the cry of a generation, he raised a deliverer.

And he raised up this man named Moses. Moses is an Egyptian name which means drum from water. His name is actually his assignment. What he was drawn from is the very thing he would guide other people through. 80 years later, he will have this encounter and be given an assignment.

He'll follow this assignment and he will walk the children of God, the people of God, the Israelites through the Red Sea on dry land. This is a big deal. Some theologians believe the walls could have been up to 50 feet high, right? And so you got these walls of water with Nemo and Little Mermaid and Ursula and Free Willie and everybody looking at them as they walk through on dry land.

Moses leads the people of God through the Red Sea. And what's supposed to be an 11-day journey into the promised land end up taking 40 years a cycle. What is a cycle, Travis? A cycle is when you find yourself retaking the same test after the same test over and over and over again.

It's a different boo, but they really the same as the last one. Uh, we already getting started cuz it's a cycle. It's a cycle. It's a cycle because it's easier to get out of Egypt than it is to get Egypt out of you. >> And so the Lord takes them on this journey in order to deliver them not from a place, but deliver them from a posture of slavery, from a mentality of slavery.

Because slaves believe, man, that they're still bound even when they're free. Which means you can have freedom from chains on your hands, but still have chains on your mind. And these are the children of Israel. They're still bound. They're still bound. And they walk out of Egypt carrying a few things.

We know in the Bible that the Egyptians loaded them down with gold and silver and possessions. They walk out, but they don't just carry gold. They also carry trauma. And they don't just carry trauma, they also carry fear. And they don't just carry fear, but they carry this imprint.

Watch this. Of idol worship for 440 years, four centuries, they have saw, they have seen, they have watched, they have studied these Egyptians that is in a polytheistic nation serving several gods. Imagine with me if you will. They're just there bound mowing the lawn, but they see Egyptians dancing in the yard to their son god.

They're there bound serving table, serving food at the table, but they see Egyptians praying and saying their grace to the God of agriculture. They have all these multiple gods that they served and that they bow down to. And the Egyptians for 430 years, they just have heard rumors about this god by the name of Yahweh.

They hear about him because their patriarch father, his name is Abra, you know Abraham. Father Abraham had many sons. How many sons have father? Abraham. I was one of them and so are you. So let's just praise the Lord. >> Y'all not churchy enough for me. Come on.

Vacation Bible school. They heard about Abraham's God, but they never saw him because there's a difference between hearing about God and knowing God. >> My God, this proximity is powerful because what's on the Egyptians start getting on the children of God. They see this idol worship. It is ingrained in their life and around them.

But there is a major difference, ladies and gentlemen. Although they heard about Abraham's God, they don't know Abraham God. There comes a time in your life where God has to be more than just a handme-down. There comes a time in your life where it's not good enough for him to be your mama God and your daddy God and your pastor God and your bishop's God and your grandfather's God.

There comes a time when he can't just be the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He can't just be the God of Willie and Charlita. He can't just be the God of Cynthia and Yah. He has to become the God of Travis and Jackie. And when he becomes the God of Travis and Jackie, HE CAN BE THE GOD of Jace, Josh, and Judah.

I have a question. DO YOU KNOW GOD FOR YOURSELF? You ain't talking to me. Do you know him for yourself? The only way you know him from himself is when you go through a test and get a testimony. What is a testimony? A TESTIMONY IS WHEN GOD PROVES himself to you.

It's when you need a provider and he shows up as Gyra. It's when you need a healer and he shows up as Rafa. You won't you wouldn't even know him if you didn't go through that last struggle. It was in the valley that you learned that the Lord is my shepherd.

IS ANYBODY GRATEFUL THAT GOD TOOK you through some stuff to teach you? HE'LL BE A FATHER to the fatherless. Come here. HE'LL BE A HUSBAND TO the husbandless. HE'LL BE A FRIEND TO THE LONELY. God is a God who will prove himself to you because he had TO BE MORE THAN JUST A GOD you hear about.

GOOD GOD. JOB SAID, "I'VE heard about you, but now my eyes have seen you. It was good that I was afflicted that I may learn your ways. God took me through that so I could learn him in a different way. I heard about the healing power of God.

I heard my mama used to tell the story when I was four years old and she prayed after they pronounced me dead and prayed me back to life after I fell four floors out of A GERMAN WINDOW. I heard the stories of THE MIRACLES BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL MY WIFE WAS ON BED REST FOR TWO MONTHS.

AND IT WASN'T UNTIL JASON WAS IN the NICU for two months AND I LEARNED NO JUST MY MAMA GOD. HE'S MY GOD. MY GOD. I WENT THROUGH THIS SO GOD HAS SHOWED ME THAT I GOT POWER. GOD IS ABLE to do exceedingly abundantly above all. I CAN ASK SOMETHING ACCORDING TO THE POWER THAT WORKS IN ME.

AND YOU DON'T KNOW YOU GOT POWER UNTIL YOU IN TROUBLE. IS THERE ANYBODY IN THIS IN ANY ROOM THAT SAID, "I KNOW HIM FOR MYSELF. I know HIM TO BE BREAD WHEN I'M HUNGRY. I KNOW HIM TO BE CLOTHED WHEN I'M NAKED. I KNOW HIM TO BE PEACE WHEN I'M CONFUSED.

I KNOW HIM FOR MYSELF." And here are these children. They don't know him like that. So God had to introduce himself. >> They only heard about him. >> Moses Moses had the blessing of being nursed by his mom. But after he was weaned, he grew up in Pharaoh's house. >> So Moses knew what the Egyptians believe.

But there was something in him. >> I believe that when his mom used to rock him, she used to sing songs over him. >> There's something there was something in him. That's why he couldn't stay bound. That's why even when he saw a fellow Jew in trouble, he had to INTERCEDE BECAUSE THERE WAS SOMETHING in him that said, and perhaps that's why you haven't been able to get comfortable in the shape you're in because there's something, somebody invested something in you.

Somebody prayed over you when you was a baby. Somebody had you on their mind, took the time to pray for you. And Moses has an idea of the concept of who God is, but he never met him until >> he's minding his business. And there's a bush >> that's on fire, >> but it's not being consumed. >> And Moses, look at the bush. >> I don't have as much of a problem as a bush speaking to Moses as I do with Moses speaking back to it.

I'm going tell you right now, if a bush talked to me, I'm out. And Moses said, "Hey there, Mr. Bush." And he talked to him. He said, "Moses, take your shoes off. You on holy ground." >> Moses said, "Yes, sir. Whatever you say, cuz all I know >> is you not burning up." >> Moses started talking to him and the bush said, "Hey man, what you going to do is you going to go to Pharaoh and you going to tell Pharaoh, let my people go so they can worship me." >> Moses say, "Well, I don't speak that good."

The bush say, "Hush. This is what I need you to do. you going to go tell Pharaoh, let my people go so they can worship me? And then Moses, he wasn't trying to be sarcastic. He wasn't trying to be cute. Moses was curious. Moses, I got a question for you, Mr.

Bush. I'm going to go do what you telling me to do. I'm going to go speak to Pharaoh, but who can I tell them sent me? >> And out of all the ways God could introduce himself to this man, you got to understand before this, he's just the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

The Israelites don't know Yahweh yet. And out of all the ways God could introduce himself, he says, "Who can I tell sent me?" God says, "I got a name for you. Tell them I am." That I am. I am. I am constant. I am I am infinite. I am I am unccreated.

I am I am sovereign. I am. I am all that. A bag of chips and everything you need. I am what the Egyptians been searching for. THEY WORSHIPING TOO MANY GODS. THERE'S ONLY ONE TRUE LIVING GOD. I AM that I am. I love this because he says, hear me.

He says, I don't just do. >> The reason you worship many gods cuz we searching for somebody to do. >> Magicians do. >> PERFORMERS DO. >> GOD SAYS, "I DON'T DO. I AM." WATCH THIS. I DON'T JUST PROVIDE. I AM PROVISION. COME HERE. I DON'T JUST HEAL, I am healing.

Come here. I DON'T JUST SHOW UP. I AM PRESENT. GOD SAYS, I AM that I am. BUT WHAT I FIND INTERESTING IN here is that THERE IS A BUSH TALKING >> THAT'S UNDENIABLY THE VOICE OF GOD >> speaking to Moses. >> And Moses proceeds to tell the I am who he's not.

And here LIES THE OLDEST PROBLEM IN MANKIND. For some reason, WHENEVER WE FORGET WHO GOD IS, WE TRY TO insert our insufficiencies into the equation. AS IF GOD NEEDS TO KNOW YOUR RESUME. Like God didn't know you couldn't talk right Moses when he called you. >> Like God didn't know you were young Jeremiah when HE CALLED YOU.

LIKE GOD DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE WEAK Gideon when he called you. LIKE GOD DIDN'T KNOW YOUR LIMITATIONS. God says, "I don't have to CALCULATE YOUR LIMITATIONS BECAUSE ANYTHING YOU'RE NOT, I am." GOOD. GOD, DO YOU HEAR THE WORDS that are coming out of my mouth? God says, "I knew your limitations when I CALLED YOU.

I KNEW YOUR BACKGROUND WHEN I CALLED YOU. I KNEW WHAT THEY DID TO YOU WHEN THEY CALLED YOU. AND EVERY VOID YOU HAVE, I AM." SHOUT, "He is." >> He is. He is. He is. He is. He is. But why is it that we feel the need to remind God of who we are and who we not? >> It's been happening from the beginning of the time.

From the beginning of the time. Hey, Adam, if God wanted you to know the difference between good and evil, he would have told you that. >> This gonna help somebody. Moses, God knew you were going to be making the most important announcement >> in the Old Testament. >> And yet, >> he still allowed you >> to be born >> with a speech impediment. >> Cuz God don't need your talent. >> Good God. >> God don't need your qualifications in order to qualify you. >> Good God.

Now watch these people. There are few weeks they come walking out of Egypt and the Bible says in JUST A FEW WEEKS THEY don't even make it a few weeks. In a few weeks they find themselves at the foot of Mount Si worshiping a golden calf. >> I GOT MAD WHEN I READ THIS AND THEN THE LORD TOLD ME SOMETHING for you to write down.

He says, "Idols exist in places you forget that God is enough." >> I'm gonna say it again. Idols exist in places you forget that God is enough. >> I'mma say it again. Idols exist in places you forget >> God is enough. >> Y'all still ain't got it. Idols exist in places you forget >> God is enough. >> SO NOW AFTER 40 YEARS of wandering, Moses and two million Israelites, they die in the wilderness.

God has to raise up a whole new generation. Joshua and this generation. Now, let's talk about the new generation. This new generation, they've seen what rebellion can cost. >> This new generation watched their parents, their grandparents, everybody die in the wilderness. They knew the cost of rebellion. This new generation, they were submitted.

They circumcised at Gilgal. They crossed the Jordan on dry ground. They had their own testimony. They heard about how their parents crossed the Red Sea, but God allowed them to cross the Jordan so he WOULD BE THEIR GOD, TOO. CUZ IT'S one thing to hear about them. It's another thing to know him for yourself.

They marched around Jericho's wall 13 times in the course of seven days and watched this wall fall down to the ground. And after experiencing all that, there was still somebody in the camp >> who forgot >> God was enough. >> Now, before we start judging aching, cuz I know how y'all do. >> You read the Bible and just be pointing a finger. >> Before you judge aching, we all have had aching syndrome before.

And it's not just the fact to me that he stole. That's bad enough >> cuz we all guilty. We stole before. Even if you was at McDonald's, you took a chicken nugget and you didn't ring yourself up. You claim your niece kids on your income tax. Come on.

You did something. Notice notice the Bible. He did more than steal. He violated covenant. >> Here's how he violated covenant. Cuz the Lord said, "I am." He says, "I've given you the city." You please read this when you get home cuz it's powerful. Don't say, "Everywhere you tread your feet upon Joshua is yours."

He says, "See, I've given you the city." I thought this was interesting because the Lord didn't say, "I will give you the city." He says, "I've given past tense because everything God's about to do, he's already done. My God." So God says, "I've given you the city. I've given you the child.

I've given you the business. I've gi Y'all don't y'all not catching what I'm telling you. Everything that I've spoken, I've already given to you. THE PRO YOU'RE NOT WAITING ON GOD TO GIVE YOU SOMETHING. GOD'S waiting on you to possess it. >> This too deep. I got to go somewhere where they can catch what I'm dropping.

YOU NEVER HAVE TO PRAY AGAIN. LORD, PLEASE GIVE IT TO ME. Jesus on the cross said, "It is finished." >> Everything I'm going to do, >> I already did. >> When I learned this, just changed my life. >> Cuz I used to be so churchy. I used to sit around and sing songs like, "I don't mind waiting." >> Then one day I heard the Lord say, "I don't mind waiting."

He was singing the same song over me. I wasn't waiting on him. HE WAS WAITING ON ME. THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT God has already released. HE'S ALREADY GIVEN. HE'S WAITING on your faith. Here we go. He's waiting on your lifestyle >> to come in alignment >> so that you can possess what's already yours. >> 31 cities >> they capture.

And all God wanted was the first one. He said, "Give me Jericho. you can have the rest. >> I just want the first fruit. >> I just want the tithe. >> I don't need it. I want it to expose your heart condition. >> But because Achen didn't believe God was enough for tomorrow, >> he tried to get his hands involved >> because you don't believe God actually has a spouse in your future.

You'll get your hands involved cuz you don't really believe that God has a blessing with your name on it. >> You get your HANDS INVOLVED. BUT WHAT REALLY TRIPPED ME UP, JUST GIVE me a few more seconds. Come on, just give me a COUPLE MINUTES. WHAT REALLY TRIPPED ME UP ABOUT THIS story is that GOD GIVES JOSHUA A word to tell the people, "Consecrate yourself." >> Now, this messed me UP CUZ THE WORD CONSECRATE, YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT IT MEAN?

CONSECRATE. >> It means here we go to clean up. >> It means It means get your house in order. >> Y'all remember growing up when somebody gave your mama a heads up that they was coming over? >> That just ruined the whole Saturday. YOU WAS CHILLING WATCHING CARTOONS.

She said, "Oh god, Sister Williams coming over here. You got to go clean up your room. You got YOU AIN'T DUST IN 20 YEARS. YOU got a dust sneezing everywhere. You got a vacuum Windex. Y'all new school. Y'all don't know about that. Pine saw ON THE WOODEN DINING ROOM TABLE.

FABULOSO. The whole house just smell like Ajax. Clean up >> cuz company's coming. >> Clean up >> cuz company's coming. >> Clean up cuz it's a home invasion. >> Clean up >> because God is on the way. >> So he says, "Consecrate yourself." Imagine all of these people going through the purification rituals, consecrating, turning the TV off, turning off Facebook, turning off Instagram, fasting, going through a time of consecration, focusing on God, prayer, meeting, everybody.

Aya, everybody in front of the tent preaching and praying and preparing and all the stuff. He go through consecration. And not only that, Pastor Jim, but then the Bible says they went and had a whole trial. >> THEY HAD THEM LINE UP and here GO JOSHUA. THEY CALLED HIM OUT TRIBE BY TRIBE. >> Clan by clan, >> family by family, >> man by man.

They go through all of this. Your Bible say you got to read it when you get home. Joshua 7. They go through all of this only to find out that it was aching all along. >> Now, I'mma move through this real fast, but what really messed me up about this, y'all, is that if they don't went through consecration Oh, Travis, don't say this. >> I'm trying.

I'm trying. You can sit down and just give me give me a moment. Good Lord. What really what really messed me up about this is that HE WENT THROUGH CONSECRATION WHICH MEANS HE HAD THE FORM OF godliness >> which mean he went to church. >> Oh just look straight. >> He was serving. >> He was a Urser.

They call me US HO. HE DID ALL OF THAT. HE WENT THROUGH THE motion >> knowing the whole time >> he was guilty. >> Now what REALLY MESSED ME UP IS PERHAPS A CONSECRATION WAS AN opportunity >> for repentance. >> And he said, "Nah, that's for other people.

I'm good." Wow. >> THEN THEY GO TRIBE BY TRIBE, CLAN BY CLAN, FAMILY BY FAMILY, MAN BY MAN, AND he still don't say nothing. >> WHICH TELLS ME PERHAPS HE WAS WILLING FOR OTHER PEOPLE TO TAKE THE BLAME. >> WOW. >> Knowing the whole time that there was something under his house. >> AND WHAT MAKES MATTERS EVEN worse is that he did what we all do because sin has a way of making you think you can hide from God.

Don't sin make you feel camouflaged. >> It make you think that just because they don't know, God don't know. >> That just because they can't see, God can't see. Sin has a way of convincing you that God is not everywhere. But it was David who said, "Where can I go from your spirit, man?"

He says, "Where can I go where your presence isn't there?" But sin would tell you that God is not everywhere. And if you believe that God is not everywhere, then you believe that God does not see everything. But you have to remember that what's under the house determines what's on the house.

Do me a favor. Turn to somebody. Tell them, "God sees under." >> God sees under. >> God sees under. Last week we talked about how God sees more and how God sees before. But not only that, God sees under. God sees under the layers. >> Come on. God sees under the cover. >> God sees under the makeup. >> God sees under the scars.

God sees under the hairpiece. >> Come on. A a bonnet can't hide it. God still see it. God sees under the attitude. God sees under the surface. God sees under the motives. God sees under the performance. God sees under the Christian needs. God sees under my God. >> You can't hide from the I am because he's everywhere and he sees everything.

He has a way of seeing the deep deepest parts of you. He sees and he knows. And Achen forgot that God can see under the tent and God can see under the dirt. >> God saw it when you saw it. >> God saw it when you stole it. >> God saw it when you hid it.

He saw God sees under. >> Achen thought he could get away until the report came back that 36 men had been killed because of his sin. >> 36 men 36 men 36 men were killed. Watch this. in the battle of Ai, which was supposed to be an easy battle. >> It was Oh man, it was supposed to be so easy.

Watch this. That the spies went Oh, God. >> The spies went and they told him, they told him, they said, "Hey, only you only got to send about two, three, thousand. This ain't the people ain't nothing. It's easy. This easy work." And we thought about the fact that Joshua did something that time that he didn't do the first time. >> He did something with AI he didn't do with Jericho. >> You want to know what preach? >> He didn't pray. >> There's no scripture.

There's no scripture. Jamal, can you hear somebody? There was no there was no scripture that showed him praying before the battle of Ai. >> Ain't that interesting? There's no scripture of showing him fight pray to God before the battle of Ai. And this is where the enemy could trip you up.

The enemy would trip you up into actually thinking that you can do what you want to do without praying to him. >> Here we go. or he'll convince you that just because God did it one way the last time, he's going to do it the same way the next time. >> Oh my God.

Do me a favor. Touch five people and tell them don't stop praying. Here's what I believe. I believe that had he prayed, had he consecrated himself, perhaps God would have told him before y'all go forward, >> let's have a home invasion. >> But because beware, beware of not getting righteous arrogance after God let you win something. >> And now they lose an easy battle.

The Lord told me to say this. When you start losing easy battles, check what's buried. >> Tell somebody. Ask somebody what's under your house. What's under your house? Check what's buried. Cuz sometimes you'll have buried faith. Sometimes you'll have buried obedience. Sometimes you can have buried offense. Sometimes you can have buried generosity.

Sometimes you are burying and tucking things in that the Lord actually wants to deal with. And >> the biggest threat to consistent victory are buried idols. >> Idols. Idols. Idols are anything that God requires but you're willing. You're unwilling to surrender. and perhaps there's something under your house.

And now here's Abra here's Achen and he's burying things under his house that God is requiring. Now here's what here's what messed me up. He's burying stuff under the house but trying to have business as usual above the house. >> This is called a corrupted foundation. >> Come on, turn and ask somebody else what's under your house.

He's trying to have business as usual, knowing that there's something underneath his house. Knowing that there's something dug in the ground, knowing that there's something that he's trying to hide, but he forgot that God sees under. Good God. And now HIS WHOLE HOUSEHOLD, WATCH THIS, HAS TO PAY THE CONSEQUENCES. >> Tell your neighbor, we're going somewhere. >> His whole house has to pay the consequences for his sin.

Oh, I I always I always heard the story and it always bothered me when I read it. And the reason I I prayed about it at first at first I wasn't even going to read the whole text because it is a a little graphic that they get all the kids, the family, the dogs, the cattle, everybody.

They bring them out, stone them, and burn them. I was like, Lord, there might be some kids in here. That's a little much. Maybe I shouldn't read that. And I felt like God said, read it, >> cuz people need to know how serious it is. Yeah. >> And it just bothered me that everybody HAD TO PAY FOR THIS one man consequence. >> Like what what the dog do?

Can you see him? He's just like you, too. All of y'all get out here. Then when I read it again this time, it dawned on me that in order to dig a hole inside of his tent, inside of his home, >> they had to move furniture out the way. >> WHICH TELLS ME THIS, THAT PERHAPS HIS FAMILY WAS AWARE. >> AH, y'all not ready for this? >> He was covering his sin, but his family was covering him.

Oh, >> write this down. Compromise always has casualties. >> Now, see, the enemy don't want you to get this word. That's why. No, we're going to press right through. We're going to press right through. Compromise always has casualties. >> Jesus. What you hide can hurt you. I'm about to say something >> that's going to hit your needs just a little bit.

You ready for this? >> Should I say it, Kyrie? >> What you love can cost you who you love. What you love can cost you who you love. Your battle is never just your battle. Here we go. This is heavyweight. Tell your neighbor move your feet. He coming down the road.

Tell him move your feet. Parents. Parents. Parents. parents, >> you you you think just locking your room >> is keeping your kids out of your business, >> but spirits can travel through locked doors. >> And what you love can cost you who you love. This is what I discovered.

This is heavyweight. Pornography is normally a household battle. Because spirits can travel through closed doors. >> And what you think you're hiding, you actually are giving the spirit realm access. Now, I know we're in a day where we don't like to talk about demonology and we don't like to talk about spirits.

And listen, the more we start digging in this stuff, the more I go ahead and warn you, don't get nervous. The more spirits are even going to start showing up in church. Read your Bible. It's in the book of Acts that this woman kept following Paul in silence and complimented him, but it was actually a distraction and it was actually somebody bound by a wicked spirit.

Ah, see you got to have discernment that every word that sounds like it's for you ain't for you. Every compliment ain't for you. You uh you got to know the difference. You got to have spirit to them who has an ear, let them hear. You got to have spiritual discernment.

And the more we start dealing with these idols, I'm telling you, by the power of God, the more spirits are going to start exposing themselves. But I'm so glad the Bible says that no weapon formed shall prosper. The Bible says, "You are more than a conqueror." The Bible says, "For thou, oh Lord, art stood for me, the glory and the lifter of MY HEAD."

WHEN GOD IS IN THE ROOM, the enemy can't say, this isn't to shame anyone. I just WON'T TELL YOU THAT. BUT GET READY. Get ready cuz WE'RE GOING DEEPER. WE'RE STEPPING out of carnality into the spirit realm. WE'RE GOING FROM FAITH TO FAITH, glory to glory, FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH.

GOD IS TAKING US SOMEWHERE to another dimension. And the enemy is nervous, >> but he can't stop what God is doing. Be careful Jesus. Be care. Watch this. Watch this. Watch this. Be careful about what spirits you entertain. I need to talk to my adults be-c because you're wondering how your child became like that >> and could it be I'm not saying this for guilt but I want you to have the awareness.

Could it be that you gave entrance access >> to something and now your battle became their battle? >> Come here single mother. You just want some company at night. >> It get a little cold. Need somebody to hold you. >> But you don't understand that. Entertaining that spirit.

It's not just a casual relationship. It's not just a one night stand. It's not just having them stay over from time to time. You are releasing the spirit of lust and rebellion through your home. I know this is heavy, but I need you to hear me. Man of God, I know you say, "Don't touch my special bottle."

But you're releasing anger and you're you're releasing a spirit, the absence of self-control, and you're teaching your kids that they need substance in order to relax. >> I'm not saying this for you to feel guilty or beat yourself up. But I'm saying this so you can have responsibility.

IF YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT FREEDOM, at least care about your children's freedom. >> See, what what I'm so grateful for is that my mother raised us up in the faith. She g she didn't give any of us an excuse to rebel. I watched this woman lose her husband in her 20s, BUT I WATCHED HER STAY FAITHFUL to God.

I watched her serve in church. I watched her pray. I watched her fast. I watched her read her Bible. AND BECAUSE SHE RAISED US UP LIKE THAT, THE BIBLE SAYS, "TRAIN UP A CHILD IN THE WAY THEY SHOULD GO. WHEN THEY'RE OLD, they would not depart." That's why I wanted my sons to come out here and do the revival declarations to show you that my son, my baby was 2 years old when he knew Genesis to Revelation, every book of THE BIBLE.

YOUR CHILDREN AREN'T TOO YOUNG. AND IT'S NOT TOO LATE FOR YOU TO MAKE A PIVOT AND START TRAINING YOUR CHILD up in the faith. WHY DO YOUR CHILD KNOW every Kendrick Lamar lyric but don't know a scripture? Cuz your CHILD GOING TO FACE SOMETHING ONE DAY WHERE A LYRIC AIN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO HELP THEM.

THEY GOING TO HAVE TO KNOW THE WORD OF GOD. BUT HOW CAN THEY KNOW THE WORD OF GOD IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE WORD OF GOD? Achen buried the idols and the sin ended up burying him. And this is the trap. Write this down. What you bury will bury you. >> What you bury will bury you.

I'm done. What you suppress will suffocate you. >> Huh? And the Lord told me there are many of us trying to exist buried alive. >> Your your joy is temporary because you're buried alive. Good Lord. You're searching for purpose and identity and meaning because you're buried alive. So much suppressed.

So much potential. Ah, such an amazing calling. And yet you just keep burying things. And this is why the Bible says in Ezekiel 37, this is so powerful. After this prophetic moment where he tells them to prophesy to north, southsoutheast, and west, he tells them, he said, "Hey, all of this represents this."

He says, "I am about to take Israel out of their grave. Do me a favor. Put your neighbor in the side and tell them, "It's time to come out. >> This is your year." I feel like preaching just a little bit. This is your year of walking out unapologetically.

The Bible said Jesus looked and told Lazarus, he says, "Come, Lazarus, Lazarus, come forth." AND THEN HE TOLD THE people who wrapped him, "Unwrap him." And I don't know what the enemy TRIED TO PUT ON YOU. I don't know what your past trying to wrap you in. I don't know what your trauma try TO WRAP YOU IN.

BUT GOD SAID, "THIS IS YOUR TIME TO COME OUT. And I'm speaking to every demonic force that's been sent against you. Loose them and LET THEM GO. THIS IS YOUR SEASON to walk in freedom. This is your season to walk in power. This is your season to WALK IN PROSPERITY.

THIS IS YOUR SEASON TO WALK IN YOUR ANOINTING. NO APOLOGIES. NO MAKING EXCUSES. AND QUIT REMINDING GOD WHO YOU USED TO BE. FOR WHOM THE SUN SET FREE IS FREE INDEED. GRAB SOMEBODY AND TELL THEM YOU'RE COMING OUT. YOU'RE COMING OUT. YOU'RE COMING OUT. Cuz God is about to change the wind. >> I'm done here. >> I told you they marched out of Egypt with gold.

The Bible SAYS THE EGYPTIANS JUST KEPT GIVING them stuff. The wealth of the wicked >> stored up for the righteous, >> they gave him stuff. And I just felt this in my spirit. That's why I paused. I believe after all you've been through, the devil owes you back pain. >> I don't know who word that is, but you've suffered.

You've been disciplined. You kept your mouth closed and didn't talk back. YOU WERE SUBMITTED. GOD SAYS BECAUSE OF EVERY AFTER YOU SUFFERED a while, HE WILL ESTABLISH YOU. GOD SAYS BECAUSE YOU WENT THROUGH THAT, YOU ABOUT TO GET BACK PAY. Did you hear what I said? YOU ABOUT TO GET SOME you about to get some some rest back.

You about to get sleep for every sleepless night you had. You about to get a vacation for every TIME YOU STRUGGLE. GOD SAYS THE ENEMY OWES YOU BACK pay for what you had to go through. >> But when he blessed you, Not if, but when he bless you. >> Don't forget to give him glory. >> Travis, how do I give him glory?

Here we go. I give him glory by not forgetting >> who gave it to me. >> Idols exist when I forget >> that God is >> enough. So as you bless me, Lord, please don't let me forget >> where I was. >> Don't let me forget others. >> Don't let me become so selfish and stingy.

That I'm not generous. I just felt this in my spirit. There's some of us, we lack generosity because we made a vow to ourselves. >> And this vow is, I'm never going back to that. >> I came out of that. But I'm never going back to that. I came out the hood.

I ain't I ain't going back to that. I came out of hustling. I ain't going back to that. And so now, watch this. You've become your own God. >> And God says, I brought you out, but don't forget I'm Gyra. >> Hear me. Hear me. This is prophetic.

He says, I'm not just God enough to bring you out. I'm God enough to keep you out. And as I'm praying for you, the Lord told me that some of us have been living under a financial curse. I want you to hear me. Sometimes poverty can be something that's been a generational curse.

And sometimes struggle and debt is something we brought on ourselves. >> How? By burying our treasure. when God's about to change the wind. The story in Matthew 25 where the Bible says he gives talents to three different servants. Two of them invest the talent, >> but one of them >> buries it.

The Lord calls them wicked for burying what God and God told me, you only have two options. When God blesses you, you can sew it or bury it. My God. >> Don't forget that God's enough. >> And don't bury what's supposed to be a blessing. >> My God. >> The enemy wants you to be buried.

He wants your money to be buried. And he wants you to be cursed. And he wants you to fall in the aching trap because what's under the house determines what's on the house. I'm done with this. Matthew 6. We're about to have a an amazing moment here in a second of our big gift.

And we're going to do an orderly fashion. And we're going to have our prayer team come up here and we're going to release you. But before we get there, we're actually going to I want you just to receive this song of the Lord over you. I want you to pray for what will you give.

This is a sacred moment. I want you if you could that no one would leave because this is a holy and a sacred moment. I'm telling you, hear me. Hear me guys. This isn't hype and you don't have to participate if you don't want to. But I believe God is about to turn the page on your finances.

I believe this with my heart. I've been praying for you. I believe that the Lord is going to raise up people in this church who are so financially set that you're able to fund missions. You're able to fund ministries. You're able to provide for your family. And the scripture I'm going to read to you in Matthew 6, verse 19, put it up for me, GUYS.

HE SAID, "DO NOT STORE UP FOR YOURSELF TREASURES on earth where moths and venom destroy, where thieves break in and steal." HE SAYS, "BUT STORE up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and venom do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal." Watch this.

He says, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be." Also hear me. Buried treasure equals buried hearts. If you bury your treasure, you'll find even your faith being buried. Amen. But God says when you open your hands, you open the ground, open your hands, he'll open your heart.

I was praying this week and the Lord told me this. I never heard it before in my life. He said, "Travis, as you continue to lift your hands to me, I'll continue to lift your life. >> I believe you're entering a season of divine elevation >> where God's going to lift you.

With this lift comes influence, not for your own sake, >> but for the sake of the kingdom." And God says, "I can elevate you because I can trust you." >> Man, oh man. I warned you. I warned you. This is a move. Hopefully, you took notes. Hopefully, your heart was open to receive a word from God.

Listen, something stirred your heart and today you're saying, you know what? I want to give my heart to Jesus. I want to pray a prayer with you. Very simple prayer. Repeat after me. Lord Jesus, I believe you died on the cross for my sins and I believe you got up so I don't have to stay down.

Today, I receive you as my Lord and my Savior. Change me. I surrender my life to you. I don't just want to be saved by you. I want to be used by you. And I don't just want to be used by you. I want to be known by you.

So you are my Lord. You are King. Take over in Jesus name. Amen. I love you. Hey, thank you so much. If you need additional prayer, there are links below. If you want to give and sew into what God is doing here at Forward City Church, there are links below as well.

Um and if you're listening to podcast, you can go to forwardcity.com. forwardcity.com to be involved with what God's doing here. I love you. We'll see you soon. God bless you.