NORTH WIND | PASTOR TRAVIS GREENE | FORWARD CITY CHURCH

Hey, good morning YouTube family. Thank you for coming across Forward City. We believe that God has a special word for you. Today was the very first installment of Windsor Revival, our series. And PT broke down the Northwind. We're going to go north,southeast, west. Today was the North Wind, which symbolizes repentance.

And repentance is the cost we pay for revival. So I want you to grab your notebooks, grab your pen, your Bible. Let's lean in together and let's really ask the Lord, am I broken enough to be used? That's the question for today. >> Hey, our word for the year is winds of revival.

Um, and so the Lord gave us some prophetic declarations. Um, grab your Bibles, turn to Ezekiel 37, and we're going to read through these prophetic declarations together. If you're able to stand, would you join me on your feet just for the next couple moments? Um, we stand here to honor God's word.

We stand for presidents that we like and we don't. >> We stand for the pledge of allegiance. We stand for God's word here at Forest City. Amen. Um, but we have these prophetic declarations. I want you to repeat after me. They'll put them on the screen, but repeat after me.

Say, "This is my revival year." >> This is my revival. >> Let me teach you, let me teach you something about operating a prophetic cuz I believe when you have the Holy Spirit in you, everyone say has a prophetic edge. I believe in prophetic posture and I also believe in a prophetic tone. >> Now, I know you can whisper some stuff and it happen, >> but that's different.

Be like, "Be healed. and be like, "Be healed." You felt that it's different. So when you on your prophetic tone, you got to shout that thing. You ready? I'm trying to train you, right? This is my revival year. >> This is my revival year. >> Everything is about to shift. >> Everything is about >> That's it.

I prophesy >> to the north. >> To the north, >> the south, >> the east, >> and the west >> and the west. >> Fresh wind >> is blowing >> blowing >> on every dead >> on every >> and dry place and dry place. Dad dreams live again.

Dad gifts live again. Hold on real quick. >> Some of us got some gifts >> that we've been sitting on, >> some dormant gifts that you know God is. The Bible says, "Stir up the gifts." There are some things in you that the Lord is requiring and waiting on.

SO SHOUT THAT AGAIN. DEAD GIFTS. >> Dead gifts >> live again. >> Y'all sound like an army. I LIKE THIS. DEAD FAITH. AMEN. >> LIVE AGAIN. >> Live again. >> LORD, >> LORD, >> BREATHE ON MY MIND. >> Breathe on my mind. >> My heart. >> My heart. >> My health. >> My health. >> My anointing. >> My heart. >> My church. >> My church. >> My city. >> My city. >> My relationships. >> My relationship. >> And my finances. >> This is my year. >> This is my year. >> For divine alignment. >> For divine alignment. >> What was scattered >> What was scattered >> must come back together.

Come on, SHOUT IT. WHAT WAS BROKEN >> WHAT WAS BROKEN >> WILL BE RESTORED. Heaven's version of me >> is ready to rise. >> is ready to rise. >> This time, >> this time >> I WILL NOT FIGHT THE WIND. >> Wherever it blows, >> I will go. >> I FEEL THAT.

WHEREVER it blows, >> wherever it blows, >> I will go. >> I will. >> Use me >> to do whatever >> however, >> however, >> whenever. >> This is my year. >> This is my year >> to pray more passionately. >> More passionately, >> fast more fervently. and be more devoted daily. >> I renounce every lie. >> I renounce every lie. >> Rebuke every idol. >> Rebuke every >> And repent for trying to do things my way. >> You know what you're doing. >> Take everything. >> And give me you. >> Give me. >> My worship. >> My worship >> is my strongest place. >> Your response. >> My response >> to surrender. >> To surrender >> is revival. >> is revival. >> I receive. >> I receive.

Come on, shout it. I receive I receive the winds of revival in every area of my life in Jesus name. Amen. A 10second praise right there. I feel that everything is about to shift. Everything is about to shift. Everything you're going to have to reintroduce yourself. Everything is about to shift.

I feel a shift. I feel a breaking. This is my revival year. My revival year. That means dead things aren't allowed to remain dead around me. >> When you show up, revival show up. >> Grab your Bibles. Ezekiel 37. I feel something in this service. I'm not going to lie to you.

Santos. >> There you go. Say it again. Cruz. >> Santos. Man, y'all stop cuz I might not preach. I feel like running. I'm trying my best to maintain. I feel like somebody's been waiting for this chair. You've been waiting for the shift. Heaven version of you is ready to rise up.

I'm telling you, this is your year to be EVERYTHING THAT GOD CALLED YOU to be. He said, "I sustained you. I preserved you. I delivered you. And I called you on purpose. And now it's ready. It's time to rise." Do me a favor. Look at somebody and tell them, "It time to rise.

It's time to rise. It's time to rise in Jesus name." Ezekiel 37. >> I'm going to tell you what I just saw, baby. I just saw this in the spirit. I just saw that there's coming a day where healings aren't just going to happen up here at the altar.

They're going to happen in the back row. And the reason it's going to happen is because there's going to be anointed prophets all over the building that don't need a microphone to be active. You going to see somebody sick around you and you're going to tell them get up.

You're going to see somebody in a wheelchair. You going to tell them to rise up. You're going to see somebody sick and tell them it's your season to be healed. I need you to grab somebody and tell them I'm anointed. I'm anointed. I'm anointed. And it's time for heaven version of me to rise in Jesus name.

Ezekiel 37. Do me a favor. >> I need you to prophesy to the person next to him. Say, "Hey, my friend. >> I got something to tell you. >> I got something to tell you. >> You're not going to like it. You're >> not going to like it, >> but you need to hear this.

God >> God >> had to take you through it. >> had to take you through it >> so that he can get you >> right where he wanted you. >> Tell him you are right here >> on purpose. And what the enemy meant for evil good God almighty.

God meant it for your good. You got 15 seconds. You had to go through it. Y though I walk through the valley. YOU HAD TO go through it, BUT IT COULDN'T TAKE YOU OUT. You Hey, you had to go through it just so God can GET YOU WHERE HE WANTED YOU.

But now that you're here, it's time. It's time to rise. It's time to be all that God created you to. You had to go through it. You had to go through it. >> But it didn't kill you, baby. It just made you stronger. It just made you more anointed and the devil going to regret it.

But God said, "I was with you the whole time." Yeah. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will not fear because he's with me. His rod and his staff, they comfort me. He prepared a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

He anoints my hands with oil. My cup runth over. Surely goodness and mercy, SURELY GOODNESS AND MERCY SHALL FOLLOW ME ALL THE DAYS of my life AND I WILL DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF the Lord forever. I had to go through it. And so Ezekiel says in chapter 37, >> "The hand of the Lord was on me."

I don't know who needs to hear this. And you don't have to be expressive outwardly to receive this word, but I want you to hear me. Just because you're in a valley does not mean that he's not with you. David said, "I walk through the valley, >> but he's with me." >> Ezekiel said, "The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle >> of a valley. >> It's bad theology."

Hear me. To think just because you're in a low place >> is punishment. If I had time, I'll talk about how Jesus was baptized. The sky was open. Father said, "This my son who I'm well pleased, Holy Spirit descend like a dove." And the Bible says immediately Jesus was taken. >> Not to the palace. >> He was LED BY THE SPIRIT INTO the wilderness. >> Ah, >> I had to learn this in my 20s.

The Lord had to break this concept, this doctrine >> that the blessings of God only looks a certain way. >> You can be broke and more blessed than somebody who's rich. I know you don't know that. I know they don't teach you that. I know they don't teach you that. >> But Ezekiel said, >> I'm in the valley.

I DIDN'T PUT MYSELF THERE. The hand of the Lord put me there. It was full of bones. HE LED ME BACK AND FORTH AMONG THEM. And I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were VERY DRY. HE ASKED ME, "SON of man, can these bones live?" >> Said, "Sover Lord, you alone know."

Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones." >> God took you through it to place you in it. Hear me. Hear me. Hear me. Hear me. Hear me. to say something. >> The season is wasted if you never speak. >> I can go home. >> You're there to say something. >> He planted you in that family to say something. >> He planted you on that job. to say something. >> He said, "PROPHESY TO THESE BONES AND SAY TO THEM, DRY BONES, hear the word of the Lord.

This is what the sovereign Lord says to these bones. I will make breath enter you and you will come to life." >> I I'm really feeling very prophetic in this moment. Is there anybody who works in the school system anywhere? You work in a school system, education system, wave at me.

I want to know who you are. I just heard the Lord say this. You are there to prophesy. >> Now hear me. That don't mean you got to sprinkle praying oil on the kids when they walk in. I'm not Don't come to me talking about PT, you got me fired.

I'm not telling you to go in the library and stand on. Don't. No. But you can prophesy over those kids. You could drive that bus. >> And that I'm talking about the bad one. You know that one boy that's real bad. >> Listen, it's dry bones waiting for you to prophesy. >> And you could look him in the eyes and say, "Baby, you got a future.

You going to be somebody. I know you came from that, but that's not where you going to stay. God has a plan for your life, baby girl. God has a plan for your life. I know you don't feel like I remember being your age. God has a plan for your life."

God said, "I planted you there to say something." Good God. WOULD YOU SHOUT THAT? SAY SOMETHING. >> I will attach tendons to you, >> make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin. I will put breath in you >> and you will come to life. >> Then you will know that I am the Lord.

SO I PROPHESIED AS I WAS COMMANDED. And as I was prophesying, I love this part. There was a noise. This encouraged me CUZ IT TELLS ME ALL I GOT TO DO IS START SPEAKING AND STUFF will start happening. >> Z say I was even done talking and I heard something. >> I'mma leave that alone cuz I feel like running just off of that. >> As I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound.

The bones came together bone to bone. I looked and tendons and flesh appeared on them. Skin covered them, but there was no breath in them. What good is it if stuff come together and God don't breathe on it. >> Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath."

This is what we're doing all all month, all year. Prophesy, son of man, and say to it, "This is what the sovereign Lord says. Come breath from the four winds and breathe into these slain that they may live." So I prophesied as you commanded me, and breath entered them.

They came to life and stood up on their feet. Look around. A vast army. >> A vast army. He said he was commanded to prophesy to the four winds. >> The four winds, north, south, east, and west. Today, I want to preach a word called north wind. Listen, you don't want to miss a week cuz then you going to be left behind.

No saint left behind this month. >> You picked a good week to come. >> North wind. North wind. North wind. Lord Jesus, breathe on your word. >> We're here for you. Thank you that your presence is already here. Amen. It's a consuming fire. >> Thank you for teaching us to wait on the altar.

God, I thank you >> that this is your church. >> We don't try to control you. >> We don't try to tell you what to do. You move how you want to. I I thank you in Jesus name that healing has already happened in this room. >> I thank you that the person who walked in depressed, they already received their joy because you're here.

The Bible says, "Where the presence of the Lord is, there is fullness of joy." >> Father, I thank you that you'll breathe on every dry bone. As you'll breathe on this word, do a new thing, do an old thing. I decrease you increase. I'm humble. I'm open before you.

I'm desperate for you. >> Move like never before in Jesus name. Amen. Amen. >> Somebody shout, "Blow, wind, blow." >> Blow blow. >> North wind. North wind. North wind. The north wind. But I'm going to move through this quickly cuz y'all had a long praise break. And it don't matter if you're hungry cuz we're fasting anyway.

So we Northwind. Somebody somebody going Do not take no communions home with you y'all. That ain't what we doing. Y'all like I don't need some of these. I believe that each wind represents something. And as I was studying, I found this revelation that I believe the north wind represents repentance.

Now, I think this is so important. It's so important because I believe this is a starting point for revival. It was Jeremiah who wrote in Jeremiah 3:12, he says, "Go and proclaim these words towards the north and say, "Return, faithless Israel, declares the Lord." toward the north. North went return.

This word repent literally means to turn or return. This is what it means in the Hebrew to turn or return. In the Greek, this word repent means a change of mind. >> I think this is so powerful, y'all, because it starts with an internal change that moves into an external or outward expression, a changed life. >> I know you're repentant when transformation happens.

I'mma slow down because I want you to get this. >> I know you have a repentant heart when transformation happens. >> And I think especially if you're over church like me, you've been taught to believe that repent means sorrow >> or that repent means regret. >> That's not the biblical interpretation of repent. >> It does not mean regret.

It means redirection. Right? >> What good is it to say, "I'm sorry, but I keep going the same way." >> I was a youth pastor once and I had this one uh one of my uh student ministry leaders came to me one day. I'll never forget on a Wednesday night and she came to me shaking and crying.

He said, "Oh my God, pray for me. I messed up again." I stayed WITH HIM LAST NIGHT. I'M SO SORRY, LORD. I'm so sorry. Pray for me. I never forget. I looked at her. I said, "Don't go back over there." Amen. >> She said, "Huh? That's it. >> I'm not about to get on this floor and do all this hollering and shouting with you."

And no, >> it's a decision. >> Hear me. Hear me. I'm not saying it's easy, >> but I am saying it's simple. >> See, y'all don't like this. Y'all want us to just be all deep. I'mma get deep, but I want to be practical with you first >> to repent.

And it is the Lord, it is the Lord who convicts you to a place of repentance. >> And this conviction then says, man, God, you are worth. Do you know that's what worship is? >> Worship is not your favorite song. >> Worship is not them playing this music and you get chill bumps.

That's not worship. As a matter of fact, the first time worship is mentioned in the Bible is in Genesis 22 when the Lord commands Abraham to come and sacrifice his son. Guess what? There wasn't any of instruments. >> So God don't need your music to receive your worship. >> Worship is a demonstration of his worth. >> So when I turn, I'm saying, "God, you are worth this."

And I'm not saying it's easy. >> Cuz your mind is telling you no. >> Come on, Robert. To turn. Shout that with me. Turn. >> Turn. >> Turn. Turn. Turn. Where there is no turning, there is no repentance. >> Turn. Turn. Turn what? Turn the notifications off. >> I don't know what to do.

I just You block them. >> No, no, no. Let's do it. Let's do it. Let's do it. We just hanging out. We done shouted. Y'all done ran. DON'T LEAVE ME NOW. WHERE YOU AT NOW? WHERE THEY ENERGY AT NOW? I just don't know. You don't want me to counsel you.

I am very practical. There ain't going to be no tears. >> I just don't know what to do. budget. Yeah. >> Block them. Delete the number. Change your number. >> That's what kind of church this is. >> Well, I don't know what to do. We share the same car.

How I'm going TO GET TO WORK? I'd rather Uber and go to heaven. >> Come on. Come on. Where y'all at? Where my runners at? Where my runners at? I'll run for myself. Y'all lame. I'll run. I run by myself. I'd rather Uber my way to heaven. >> Turn. >> Turn. >> Turn. >> The opposite of repentance is resistance. >> And there's so many of us.

I want to talk to the people who've been with God for a while. There's so many of us that have capped out. >> You hit a ceiling >> because you stopped turning. >> You still on a 10-year-old instruction. >> And God being done told you to turn. >> Oh, you didn't know you could be saved and unrepentant.

It means to turn. And this is important. This is very important because revival is not random. It is a response. >> It's God's return on the investment of our worship. True worship. And worship is giving God something demonstrating his worth. There can be no revival without repentance. Right? >> I think this is so important and practical and we got to start this year off right because if you don't change your ways, you'll end this year the same way you ended last year. >> Myself included. >> Repentance prioritizes God's comfort.

Please hear my words. It says, "God, I rather you be comfortable than me be comfortable." It it prioritizes his presence >> over anyone and anything else. >> Whatever you refuse to repent for, you're telling God that thing is more important to you than him. >> Man, how many times do we do we come in here and sing songs, but we don't live out.

Lord, I love you more than anything. He says, "What about Brian? Revival is for those with a repentant heart. >> I just heard I just really feel like I heard the Lord say this. And so many of us are saying, "God, I want you to move. I know you'll move.

We'll wait on you." And I just felt like I heard the Lord say, "I want to move." >> But you got to give me something to move on. >> You You got to You got to give me something to breathe on. Jesus. >> My my my boys my boys, they're so funny.

And they're getting older now. Now they're 11, nine, and six. And And they think they know stuff. Any of you got kids? Any got kids that think they know stuff? >> It's so funny. The funniest thing is when my boys try to teach us something, >> anything, it don't even matter what it is.

It just be funny. My wife say this line, it it tickle me every time. She say, "Boy, I taught you how to spell your name." That's that's a comeback line for everything. I taught you how to spell. How you going to tell me something? How you going to just cuz you learn one little thing in school?

And I was thinking about my boys and now I'm thinking about relationship with God. And I I believe sometimes that's probably how God look at me. Just because I learned one little thing. Learn one little thing about church growth strategy. Learn learn one little have one little successful Easter event.

And now I act like I can tell God what to like I can coach the Holy Ghost on how to control his win. Ladies and gentlemen, God cannot be tamed. He cannot BE TRAINED. HE CANNOT be controlled. He is sovereign. Trying to control God is like a dog trying to walk you on a leash.

AND HERE WE ARE AS BELIEVERS TRYING TO SAY, "GOD, you can move, but only when I feel like it." No, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, GOD IS LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY WHO HAS A REPENTANT and a humble HEART ENOUGH TO SAY, "HOWEVER YOU WANT TO MOVE. WHEREVER THE WIND BLOW, I WILL GO.

IF YOU WANT TO MOVE ON MY JOB, GOD, I'M open for it. If you want to move on my home, I'm open for it. Whatever." Because you are God and you are sovereign. >> He's sovereign. >> Meaning, he can do whatever he want to. But God told me to tell you something.

He said, "Tell them, I will not waste revival >> on those who think they know more than me. And so I I I refuse. I know the Lord has blessed us. My wife is a is a whole doctor of the teeth. She the smartest person in this room by far.

Trust me when I tell you that she knows scientific words you don't even know exist. I promise you. Um I got a PhD. I got multiple degrees. Theology and leadership and business. All this stuff. I refuse to allow my education to puff me up to a place where I come in here and act like I'm smarter than God. >> No, no, no, no, no.

I come here like a child. I say, God, however you want to move. If you want me to preach, I'll preach. If you don't want me to preach, I won't preach. If you don't want me to be f Whatever you want, God, I'M NOT TRYING TO IMPRESS PEOPLE WITH INTELLECT.

I want to be humble and repentant before you because I'd rather you move than me get in the way of your move. The Lord said the enemy can't fight his wind. >> He said, "But my wind won't fight you." >> Meaning, if you're not open enough to get out the way, you can miss it. >> Announcement.

The revival winds are coming. >> The only question is, will you have the posture to receive? >> I looked up a few theologians and I wanted to know what they thought about revival. Charles Finny said this. He said, "Revival is a renewed conviction of sin and repentance." Look at this.

It's powerful. Followed by an intense desire to live in obedience to God. What is revival? Revival is when my desire to be obedience is is intensified. >> Awesome said, "Revival is not a miracle. It is a return to loyalty and love for what we already know." Man, I'm returning to loyalty and love.

Jr. Packer, this is powerful. He says, "Revival is a visitation of God which brings to life Christians, watch this, who have been sleeping >> and restores a deep sense of God's near presence and his holiness." Man, this brings a vivid sense of sin and a profound exercise of heart and repentance, praise, and love with an evangelistic >> outflow.

In other words, I know I'm in revival not only when I rise up, but when I move into mission. It starts here, but it's supposed to flow somewhere. What good is a move of God if it's only caged in these four walls? >> I don't want to get stuck here.

I got TO MOVE. WHAT GOOD is it you having power if the only people know is around you right now? >> No, you should be active outside of here. And that's what revival does. It it raises up in you to go outward. Repentance proceeds. Revival. You have to have a present a repentant heart, a heart of of brokenness, of of humility.

I want you to say this with me. I thought about this. To be broken >> to be broken. >> Come on. To be broken >> To be broken >> is to be open. >> is to be open. >> This probably one of my favorite waters. I love Smart Water.

Actually, I'm not I'm not even lying. I'm not even trying to be fun. I'm a little thirsty right now. And how crazy do I look >> standing up here like this? All y'all thinking the same thing. If you're thirsty, >> open it. >> Ain't nothing wrong with the bottle.

It got all the potential in the world. >> It got everything I need. >> That's a whole word by itself. >> Nourishment, provision, it's all right here. But if it's closed, it's not useful. >> So the only way I can actually get anything out of it >> is that I have to break >> the seal over it. >> And perhaps God is taking you through a season of brokenness in order for you to be useful.

I see you. >> Matter of fact, if it's closed, can't nothing come out of it and can't nothing come into it. >> And there's so many believers. >> Oh, >> I'm trying. There's so many believers who are closed. And you may be asking, "How am I closed?" I'm glad you asked.

You closed because you still angry about that thing. Babe, this is a true story. On New Year's Day, I got this text message um from a from a guy. I'm not going to say his name. And I I the last text I had was like years ago. So I I literally I I need to go to Facebook to even see what he looked like.

I I don't even know what the guy looked like. Um but he text me and I put descriptions by people name. Um Danny, where you at? Danny, I saw this is funny. This not you. I'm sorry y'all. I'm sorry y'all. I chase squirrels. I do have a disorder.

I'm not going to claim it, but I do. But I have to say this is funny. My mom was at my house uh the other day and uh this funny. Mom, I'm not trying to embarrass you. Please don't call me and be mad about this. This is really funny though.

We was playing cards at the table and she called you. Remember when my mom called you cuz you was supposed to bring us some ice cream. My mom called you and when she put a phone down, your description it said Danny who brought me gas. My mama had a whole full complete sentence describing your name.

Back to my story. So, I had this guy name in the text message in the description of where I know him from. He sent me this message. It's a voice memo. It's very It was very holy though. It was long. And I I normally don't listen to long voice memos, but my wife taught me that you can make them go fast.

Did y'all know that on your iPhone? Android people, come on. Um, I got to move real fast. So, I took time to message. I listened to the whole thing. It was like three and a half minutes. This is what the guy said. The guy said, "Hey man, years ago I played the bass for you somewhere."

And then he said, "Years after that, you blew up." And he said, "You blew up and I saw you somewhere and he said, "Right before the concert, I I said it was up to you." Gave me a big big big hug. He said, "But right after the show, I was trying to say hey to you and security grabbed you and they had to rush you out cuz you had to make a flight to go somewhere."

And he said, "I'm leaving you this voice note." He said, "Because this is the year the Lord told me I need to rid my heart of all offense." And he said, he said, "I've been offended about this." And he said, "It had nothing to do with you." He said, "I was immature in my own spirituality."

And for some reason, I didn't even appreciate the fact that everything God promised you, he actually did in your life, and you had a busy schedule. You weren't even thinking about it. And that's on me. I was holding it, but I need to completely let it go cuz my pastor, he said, "My pastor just taught about offense."

I text him back and I said, "Man, this is so spiritually mature of you. I'm so proud of you for sending this." And then I told him, I said, "Hey, do you know the funny thing? I have no clue what you're talking about. I don't know the event."

Honestly, I'm going to have to go to Facebook to even find out what you look like. I didn't tell them that, but that's the truth. I don't I have no idea what you're talking about at all. Like, no clue. I said, "But ain't that funny that many times you can hold an offense and the person you harbor an offense, they completely clueless about the thing and you don't KNOW THAT YOUR OFFENSE HAD BUILT A FENCE and now things can't get in and things can't get out AND YOU'RE TOO CLOTHED AND NOT BROKEN ENOUGH TO BE USED BY GOD."

GOD IS SUCH A POTTER. HE'LL BREAK YOU INTO USABILITY. So you got to BE CAREFUL THESE 21 DAYS WITH THE PRAYERS YOU PRAY CUZ GOD answer them. >> WHEN YOU SAY USE ME GOD, YOU'RE REALLY SAYING BREAK ME GOD. >> MAN, >> he'll break pride off of you. >> He'll break offense off of you. >> He'll break He'll break mindsets OFF OF YOU.

HE'LL break motives he didn't give you. >> And this is interesting about the story of Ezekiel. I'm going to speed up. The story of Ezekiel is interested. I've been in the whole book and I encourage you to read the book this month. It is it's a big boy book.

All right, this is this is a big boy. This is a big boy book. And I was in it and I noticed that Ezekiel had to be broken enough to have these type of visions and encounters. >> He was called by God. He had a very significant call.

He was called to proclaim truth and he was also called to to give judgment to the nation and to multiple nations. And judgment, I need you to catch this. Judgment is not just God's hatred towards something. Judgment is actually his holiness grieving sin. >> And so watch your guy.

Watch your guy Ezekiel. This is very powerful. Especially how many people I don't really want to ask this. Don't lift your hand. But I do want you to ask this in your heart. Those This is for those who feel called to preach one day in your life. You feel like, man, I'm supposed to preach, right?

I want you to hear the words I'm about to say. When God anoints you to preach, many times he forced you to live out the sermons. >> So before Ezekiel could pour out judgment, >> he had to drink it. >> Now, this is good news for those who've had a question mark on why you had to go through the things you had to go through.

I don't have time. >> Perhaps your survival >> has qualified you >> for another level of anointing. >> Did you know the name Moses was given to him by Pharaoh's daughter? It's an Egyptian name that means drawn from water >> because Moses was found by Pharaoh's daughter floating in a basket on a Nile River. >> So she said she she weren't very creative.

She was like, I drew him from water. Moses, that's your name. >> She drew him for water. Watch this. The thing Moses was drawn from was the thing he was anointed to walk other people through. Did you hear what I just said? And perhaps God allowed you to be rescued from that in order for YOU TO WALK SOMEBODY ELSE THROUGH IT.

DO ME A FAVOR. I'M NOT trying to lose the service, but grab YOUR NEIGHBOR BY THE HAND AND TELL THEM, "I'VE BEEN QUALIFIED FOR THIS. I DIDN'T GO THROUGH THAT FOR NOTHING. I DIDN'T GO THROUGH THAT pain for nothing. I didn't go through that abandonment for nothing. I didn't GO THROUGH THAT POVERTY FOR NOTHING.

I DIDN'T GO THROUGH THAT BETRAYAL FOR NOTHING. GOD HAS BEEN ANOINTED me for another level. That the thing he drew me out of and the thing I'm going to march other people through. I'm anointed for this. God will make you live it before you preach it. >> I don't have time. >> Have I had time?

And to talk about how the Israelites were stuck in Egypt for 400 years and the Bible says that they was forced >> to build bricks. >> That was their job. That's all they did. Bricks all day. Bricks for Pharaoh. So maybe this is why Moses was drawn from water and had the anointing to march them through water.

But Joshua, >> come on. >> Joshua, he didn't grow up bougie like Moses. >> He didn't grow up in Pharaoh's house. >> Joshua grew up a slave. >> HE WAS A BRICK MAKER. SO MAYBE THIS is why HE WAS ABLE TO WALK AROUND A wall and SAY THE THING GOD RESCUED ME FROM I have authority over.

I don't know who I came to preach to in this bougie church, BUT I'M TRYING TO TELL YOU GOD HAS BEEN QUALIFYING YOU FOR YOUR next level. Do you UNDERSTAND THE WORD THAT ARE COMING OUT OF MY MOUTH? If you do, take 10 seconds and give your God a big praise.

He brought me through it to plant me on purpose. He brought me through it to plant me on purpose. He brought me through it to plant me on. All right, I'm going leave that alone. So God, Jim, he'll make you live what you preach. And more times than not, >> he'll make you live it before you preach it. >> That that's what the thing that actually makes your words powerful. >> So, I could tell preachers that don't have experience. >> And you got some cool words and cool rhymes and some cool stuff you got from John Maxwell and your leadership books.

But now, I'm looking for somebody who done been through something. I'm looking for somebody that know what it's like to struggle. I need somebody to look me in my face that know what it's like to be in the hospital. I need somebody to look me in the face that know what it's like to be broke.

I need somebody to look me in my face that know what it's like to be an underdog. They say God brought me through it so I can lead you through it. And can I tell you something? Can I tell y'all something? God don't rescued your boy from some stuff.

I'm qualified to stand up here and say what I'm saying because God rescued me from some stuff. And so are you. You are qualified to proclaim the word of the Lord because he rescued you from some stuff. You got to tell we overcome him BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB and the word of our testimony.

Shout like you KNOW YOU'RE QUALIFIED. SHOUT like you know you're called. Shout like you know he brought you through it to plate you on purpose. I'm about to lose the message and I don't want to cuz I need you to hear me. The enemy >> says the opposite of what God says. >> So what the enemy wants to convince you of is that what you survived is the thing that cancels your calling. >> BUT IT'S ACTUALLY THE OPPOSITE. >> MOSES WAS A MURDERER, BUT HE SURVIVED IT.

PETER WAS A LIAR, BUT HE SURVIVED IT. JONAH WAS DEPRESSED, BUT HE SURVIVED IT. JESUS WAS DEAD AND BURIED, BUT HE SURVIVED IT. MY SURVIVAL QUALIFIES ME. RELIGION, we're trying to tell you THAT BECAUSE YOU WENT THROUGH THAT, GOD CAN'T USE YOU. >> Because you had samesex attractions, God can't use you.

Because you had a baby before YOU GOT MARRIED, GOD can't use you. Because you HAD AN ABORTION, GOD CAN'T USE YOU. Because you were divorced, God can't use you. Because you rolled up weed, God can't use you. But the devil is a liar. The fact that I survived it is proof that the hand of the Lord was on me.

The whole I need some survival to take 30 seconds and give your God a praise like he who has begun a good work is faithful to perform it. I survived it. Hey, hey, hey. Other didn't make it out, but I survived it. He brought me through it to plant me on purpose.

I survived it. I need you to HELP ME PREACH. FIND THREE people and tell them, "I survived. I survived." You're looking at a survivor. You're looking at a survivor. The devil tried to take my life, but I survived it. The devil tried to take my mind, but I survived it.

The devil tried to take my joy, but I survived it. I'm still here. It is my story that qualifies me. The devil wants to tell you ma cuz that's your past is over for you. >> But God says just the opposite. >> Whenever the enemy >> tells you a lie, >> you should rejoice in the opposite. >> Jezebel told Elijah, "By this time tomorrow, You'll be dead. >> Elijah never died.

Titus >> because the opposite of what the devil say is actually the truth. Oh my god. Do you hear what I'm telling you? And so WHAT THE ENEMY WANTS TO DO is talk you out of the promises of God. >> I know you called not by how fancy your words are.

Not by the degrees you got, >> not by how nice your wheels are. >> I know you called by what you had to survive. >> THIS IS THE HOUR NOT FOR FANCY PEOPLE, BUT for survivors. >> Uh, I got to move off this. Listen, listen, listen. But religion and church systems will try to tell you to be quiet about what you survived >> because preachers like to look like they always been saved >> and they always had it together.

But that actually makes you ineffective. This generation needs somebody >> to walk up to the girl that's checking her kid in by herself and say, "Baby, >> I was a single mama. >> My child graduated college and so will yours." Lift up your head. Don't you walk in this church with shame.

God has a plan for your family. God's hand is on your baby. This generation needs survivors. Hear me. Not to be sophisticated and silent, >> but to actually say something. >> The hand of the Lord was upon me >> and he planted me in a valley. >> I had to be around it. >> And not only did he plant me in it, but he made me walk back and forth.

He said, "I want you to have a full assessment." >> God, why I had to grow up in the ghetto? Cuz I wanted you to have a full assessment. God, why I had to grow up in a broken home? Cuz I wanted you to have a full assessment. >> I'll place you somewhere and expose to you what you're called to prophesy to. >> That's it. >> Hear me, daughter.

Hear me, son. Where we mess up is we think because God exposed it to us then that means it is us. >> God says that was never you. >> You were never like them. I know you're I know they're in your family, but you was never actually like them.

In my sovereignty, I planted you there and allowed you to assess what you're supposed to speak to. But God is a God. I got to get y'all out of here. I'm so sorry. >> But I feel something shaking. I feel your faith stirring. I I feel heaven version of you rising up.

I feel like all the lies of the enemy are beginning to shrink in your mind and you're starting to remember, "Oh yeah, I am called. OH YEAH, I AM a son OF THE KING. OH YEAH, I am qualified for this. I'll break this book down throughout the month, but Ezekiel had to live through some stuff, man. >> Bible says he was charged by God to lay on his left side for 390 days. >> For every year that Israel will be in rebellion and then on his right side for 40 days, he had to shave his head.

He had to shave his beard. The Bible says his wife died and God did not permit him to mourn openly. >> Come on. >> He had to go through some stuff. He had to eat his food in rations and and limited water supplies just because God says everything that I'mma take the Israelites through, I'mma make you live through. >> He had to cook his food over animal dong. >> Can you imagine that?

Not only that, BUT HE WAS PLACED ON MUTE BY GOD. HE WAS ON SILENCE and was only permitted to speak when the Lord opened his mouth to say something. >> Here's why. Here's why. I was reading this and when I was reading, especially the first few chapters, I was so disturbed.

I was like, "God, man, you you took this you took this dude through it. Do I really want to be used?" I was like, "Man, this is tough." The Lord said, "Yeah, yeah, yeah." He said, "I took him through it because I was about to show him more than I ever showed anybody else."

You have to understand Ezekiel had more visions than any other prophet in the Old Testament. >> He wrote more visions than any old than any Old Testament prophet. He saw the most. And the other person who saw as much as he did was in the New Testament. His name was John.

And John was sentenced to exile on the island of Patmas. >> And I was asking, I said, "Why did I have to go through so much?" He says, "Cuz vision cost. >> I need you to lean in." >> So many of us HAVE BEEN PRAYING, "GOD, TAKE ME DEEPER.

Show me more." >> He says, "If I'm going to take you deeper, it's going to require something." >> This is why we're fasting for 21 days. This is why we're praying, coming into the house of God and praying together for 21 days BECAUSE WE'RE SAYING, "GOD, WHATEVER it costs, I want you TO SHOW ME SOMETHING.

I need to All I see is what I'm scrolling through. GOD, ALL I SEE IS WHAT'S AROUND ME. I NEED YOU TO SHOW ME SOMETHING DEEPER." SOMEBODY SHOUT, "SHOW ME SOMETHING, GOD." SO, THE LORD IS EXPOSED SOME STUFF to Ezekiel. The Lord, HE SHOWED HIM FOUR LIVING creatures with a wheel in the middle of the wheel.

He showed him the Lord sitting on the throne. The Bible says he looked up and saw the sky open. Ezekiel, the Lord SHOWED HIM A VISION of a scroll that he had to eat because you got to eat the word before you could speak the word. NOT ONLY THAT, HE SAW THE elders secretly meeting and doing idol worship in the temple.

Not only that, BUT EZEKIEL HAD HE SAW THE temple restored and he saw worship being restored. He saw the glory OF GOD LEAVING JERUSALEM. ALL OF THIS WAS VISIONS, Y'ALL. HE HAD ONE VISION OF A RIVER FLOWING FROM THE TEMPLE throughout through the streets. And then in Ezekiel 37, he shares with us this vision of where the Lord places him in a valley of dry bones.

And the Bible says he commanded me to prophesy. As I was prophesying, I heard a rattling noise and bones started coming together. Tendons >> started coming. That that alone is crazy. >> There about 4,000 tendons in your bodies, guys. So all these tendons start coming together. Flesh start covering them, but there was no breath in them.

And then he prophesied. He told me to prophesy to the breath. So I SPOKE TO THE FOUR WINDS, NORTH, SOUTH, EAST, and west. And everything that was there started to revive. Because that's what revival is. >> It's when the Lord begins to revive what was once dry, what was once dormant, what was once dead.

But there is no revival where there is no repentance. It was 400 years before this vision Ezekiel was having where Solomon, David's son, was able to build a temple. And he built this temple and he was so pumped about it. It was beautiful. The Bible talks about uh it it would have been it's estimated to have cost billions on billions of dollars, billions to build God a house.

Not only that, but they had this dedication service and they brought all these livestock. And the estimate of these livestock would have been around $40 million. That was their big gift offering. >> Because remember, worship is saying, "God, you're worth this to me." >> On January 25th, WE'RE GOING TO BRING GOD A BIG GIFT.

THIS IS NOT A Ponzi scheme. >> It's not that the church needs your money. >> It's that God requires your faith. >> I'm telling you, every single year we've been in existence, my wife and I have been faithful to give extravagantly. Every single year. Every single year, we give so much.

And every year, God has been faithful and he made us a promise. He said, "Travis, if you'll open the ground, I'll keep the sky open." >> And so, we're faithful to sew, man. I'd rather trust it in your hands, God, than trust it in my hands. >> And they dedicated this to God and they brought him worship and THEY BROUGHT HIM A BIG GIFT.

The Bible says, "The Lord spoke to Solomon." THIS IS FOUND IN YOUR BIBLE in 2 Chronicles 7. We're going home. Verse 12. The Lord appeared to him at night and said to him, "I have heard your prayer." Ladies and gentlemen, this is good news. >> That right there is preachable. >> That when you pray, you're not speaking to yourself. >> You're speaking to a God who hears.

He says, "I've heard your prayer." >> He said, "I know you're concerned about your daughter. I've heard your prayer. I know you're concerned about your marriage. I've heard your prayer. I know you're concerned about that job. I've heard your prayer." This is the Lord responding. He said, "I've heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices."

The Lord is speaking about something that's going to happen because it's a cycle. It's a pattern in the Old Testament. God delivered, they rebel. God delivered, they rebel. And so, he sent captivity as a tool in order to stir repentance in their heart. And maybe maybe some of the things that you've gone through wasn't spiritual warfare.

Maybe you've been trying to rebuke a consequence. >> Because whatever a man sws that shall he also re listen, I'm not here to build a fan club. I'm here to give you the whole word. I got to stand before God. >> And some of the things that we're be rebuking are things that we asked for, >> that we sold for. >> Wow. >> And so God will use captivity.

God will use some trials in order to get your attention cuz he says if you wouldn't have gone through that, you wouldn't have turned back to me. And there are times when the Lord in his graciousness will bring you to the end of yourself to find the beginning of him. >> And the Lord says when I shut up the heavens there's no rain as I'm talking in 2 Chronicles or command locus to devour the land or send plague among my people. 2 Chronicles 7:14 this is what the Lord says.

He says, "If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray," this is a promise for all of us, "ece seek my face and >> shout it, >> shout it, >> from their wicked ways. Then I will hear from heaven and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

We're going home. >> Ford City, thank you so much for watching this sermon. We pray that it impacted your life and really shifted something. So do us a favor, like, subscribe, and share this message with somebody else who might be impacted by it. Man, we're really believing for revival this year, and your participation helps us move this forward.

Hey, at Ford City, we don't dismiss, but we simply declare, "Your past is gone. Your future's waiting. Move forward.