Gateway Church Live | “Who Are My People?” by Pastor Tammie Floyd | February 14–15

All right, Gay, are you ready to worship ((music playing)) today? Well, we just enthroned you on our praise. But this is all about you, Jesus. Thank you, ((music playing)) Jesus. Oh, we worship your ((music playing)) Jesus. ((music playing)) There's a song that never ceases. Day and night it never ends. The elders ((music playing)) and the living creatures lay their crowns before the lamb.

There's a sound of ((music playing)) worship rising to the king of majesty. [singing] A resounding ((music playing)) declaration. Hear your children ((music playing)) sing. Be magnified. The praises rise. ((music playing)) Praises rise in high ((music playing)) here in our lives. Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) If the ((music playing)) rocks cry out in worship, we won't hold back anything. ((music playing)) We have to shout of adoration to exalt the ((music playing)) king.

Be magnified. Let praises rise. Praises ((music playing)) rise. Build it high ((music playing)) here in our lives. in our lives. We magnify ((music playing)) [singing] ((music playing)) your way. So, worthy ((music playing)) is the lamb who was slain. The alpha [singing] omega, the ancient of days. Awesome in power and hold on [singing and music] our praise. Now and forever we'll sing. Worthy, worthy is ((music playing)) the lamb who was slain.

The alpha male, the ancient of days. Awesome in power. It holds [music and singing] on praise. Now and forever will sing without ((music playing)) the praises. Praises ((music playing)) here in ((music playing)) our lives. Heat. Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) >> ((music playing)) ((music playing)) >> Yes, Lord, we do. God, we just magnify your name, Lord. Be glorified, but in this ((music playing)) place, we just thank you for your faithfulness, God.

We thank you for your goodness, Lord. You're worthy ((music playing)) in this place. Holy is the Lord. ((music playing)) Holy is the Lord. Seated ((music playing)) on the throne. The train of his throne. It fills the temple. We ((music playing)) sing. Worthy is your name. So worthy. Worthy ((music playing)) is your name. Let the heavens rejoice. ((music playing)) Let the earth be glad. among ((music playing)) the nations.

((music playing)) Our God reigns. ((music playing)) Our [singing] God ((music playing)) forever. Your kingom reign ((music playing)) is your ((music playing)) [singing] God ((music playing)) forever. Your kingom reigns. ((music playing)) Worship and adore. Oh Jesus, Jesus we adore. ((music playing)) The perfect lamb was save. ((music playing)) Hallelujah. Hallelujah. ((music playing)) You ((music playing)) are your king. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Heat. [music and singing] Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) He ((music playing)) reigns. He reigns. He reigns over all ((music playing)) the earth. He reigns.

He reigns. The only ((music playing)) one true God, the only one who [singing] saves forever. He will ((music playing)) reign. He reigns. He reigns. over all the [music and singing] earth. He reigns. He reigns. The only one true God. The ((music playing)) only one who [singing] s forever. He will reign. ((music playing)) He reigns. He reigns over all the earth.

He reigns. He reigns. ((music playing)) The only one. The only one who stay ((music playing)) forever. ((music playing)) The only one true to ((music playing)) God. The only one who saves forever. Jesus ((music playing)) is your Lord. ((music playing)) You find us ((music playing)) on our knees. Have ((music playing)) mercy on us, please. Our ((music playing)) hope is [singing] in you. We believe it's true that God can save a nation.

((music playing)) Find us on our knees. Have ((music playing)) mercy on us, please. Our hope is in [music and singing] you. We believe it's true ((music playing)) that God can save the nations. Oh, ((music playing)) our hope is in you, Jesus. Our hope is in you, Jesus. Oh ((music playing)) my Jesus. You're my only hope. ((music playing)) Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) forever. Your king ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Heat.

((music playing)) Heat. ((music playing)) Heat. ((music playing)) Heat. ((music playing)) Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Heat. Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Yeah. Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Heat. Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) Only one forever ((music playing)) Jesus. Oh forever Jesus. ((music playing)) Yes you Lord. Forever Jesus reigns. ((music playing)) He reigns. ((music playing)) He reigns. He reigns. over all the earth. He reigns. He reigns. The only one true God, the only one who saves ((music playing)) forever.

Jesus reigns. Come on, ((music playing)) church. I'd love for us to stay in this attitude of worship at this time. And uh right at this time I want to invite some friends up to the platform because what we are getting ready to do and what we are getting ready to participate in is truly an act of worship.

See these families coming up. We're getting ready to go into our child ((music playing)) dedication. And this isn't about baptism or salvation. But what this is about, it's about every single one of these families making a decision with their family in front of their church family that they're going to make a commitment to raise their child unto the Lord, to dedicate their child unto the Lord.

And I don't know about you, church, but I think that's a pretty beautiful, powerful thing, [music and applause] friends. I just want to say we are so proud of you. I I love the the verse in Psalms where it talks about those who are planted in the house of the Lord will flourish.

So here's the deal. Here's our commitment to you is that we as a church don't want to just pray for you. We want to stand with you and walk alongside of you. We want to continue to create atmospheres here at Gateway Church where you can experience the presence of God, where you and your family can grow in your faith, so you can make a difference in the world.

And so that's our commitment to you. And the challenge that I have for you is stay connected, stay plugged ((music playing)) in, keep coming back, continue to stay planted in the house of God, and watch your family flourish. So, church, here's what we're going to do. We're going to pray for these families.

And so, if you feel comfortable, I'm going to ask for you to extend your hand as we pray for these individual families. God, I thank you so much for every single one of these families, for these kids, God, every single one of these children, that they are a gift from you.

God, I thank you that they were created by a holy God on purpose and for a purpose. God, we pray right now that no weapon formed against them shall prosper. God, we pray as they get older, God, and as the world tries to tell them who they are and who they're not, God, I pray that you remind them ((music playing)) of their identity, and their identity is found in you and in you alone.

God, we declare that over these children right now. So God, in this moment, we lift up to you Eden and Maddox, Micah and Aiden. ((music playing)) God, we lift up Beckett and Amelia, Penelopey, Matteo, Legend, Carson, and Lyanna. God, we thank you for these children. God, we pray right now for the parents.

God, ((music playing)) I pray and I thank you for the for the men and women that they are and for the men and women that you have called them to be. God, I pray in those moments as parents ((music playing)) when they fall short and they will because we all do. I know I have many times.

But I pray in those moments you remind them that your grace is sufficient. ((music playing)) And God, remind them to have grace for themselves. I pray as this family grows and as they flourish, I pray that other people will see how they operate and they will see glimpses of heaven, as they go out and make a difference in the world.

God, we thank you for these families and in your holy name we pray. ((music playing)) Amen. Amen. Come on, keep it going as they make their way back down to their seats. Family, we are so proud of you. That's incredible. And church, let's continue to worship in this house today. >> ((music playing)) ((music playing)) >> Yes, Jesus.

We trust you. >> ((music playing)) >> You know, here in a moment, we're going to sing about what the fact that ((music playing)) Jesus came for us and we're going to join with heaven and earth where that we just sing all praise, all hail King Jesus. So, I just want to encourage you, you know, we're this is something that ((music playing)) that has been done for thousands of years of giving praise to God and we're joining in that moment right now.

So, let's sing together. Let's give God our praise. ((music playing)) There was [singing] a moment when the lights went out. When death had claimed its victory. The ((music playing)) king of love had gi up his life. The ((music playing)) darkest day in history. They're on a cross they made for sers. For every curse his blood atoned.

One final breath and it was finished. But not [singing] the end we could have known. Before the earth began to ((music playing)) shake and the veil was to the sacrifice ((music playing)) was made as the heavens rouses. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) All hell of heaven. ((music playing)) All hail king Jesus. ((music playing)) All hell savior of the world. >> ((music playing)) >> There was a moment when the sky ((music playing)) a flash of light break ((music playing)) all was lost across eternity ((music playing)) and the king of life was Heat.

Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) >> ((music playing)) >> Oh Jesus. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Jesus ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Jesus praise God ((music playing)) Jesus. ((music playing)) Heat. Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Yeah. Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Heat. ((music playing)) Yeah. Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Thank you Jesus. Praise you Jesus. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Let's sing that again. And all hail ((music playing)) King Jesus. [singing] All hail the Lord of heaven [singing] and earth. All hell king Jesus.

All hell the savior of the world. ((music playing)) Oh, come on. Give ((music playing)) Jesus. Oh, Lord. You're worthy of all of our praise. >> ((music playing)) >> all of our adoration. ((music playing)) I was thinking about the verse that says that we lift our eyes to the hills from where our strength comes from. It comes from the maker of heaven and earth.

And you know, what you get your eyes on ((music playing)) matters. I like to say it this way. Um what you focus on, you magnify. What you magnify, you focus on. And the more you focus on it, the more you magnify it. And for some of us, we focus on the worry and then we magnify the worry so it gets our focus.

We focus on ((music playing)) the negative thing happening in our life. So we magnify it so it gets more of our focus. And you can see ((music playing)) the never-ending cycle that happens because of that. You focus on the stress ((music playing)) or the thing that's not going right in your life. And I'm not saying we don't we don't live lives we just live lives ignoring ((music playing)) the reality of life.

I'm just saying there's a better thing to focus on. It doesn't mean you walk around going, "Yeah, everything's great and nothing's wrong in my life." I'm just saying that there's a better thing to get your focus so it gets magnified and that's King Jesus. That we would lift our eyes to the hills from where our strength comes from.

And so I don't know what you walked in with today and what even your week has looked like or even the morning that you look has looked like. But here's what I do know is that if you will fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and the perfector of our faith, if you'll fix your eyes on him, it will not make what's happening go away, but man, it'll get a little bit smaller.

I love the old hymn says that when I ((music playing)) turn my eyes to Jesus in the light of his glory and his grace, all the things around me, all the things I'm worrying about, struggling with, dealing with, they get a little bit smaller, little bit smaller. They look less like the obstacle in front of us.

They begin to look a little bit more like the opportunity for the great King of glory to come and show his miraculous power in our life. Anybody believe that today? ((music playing)) Come on, Austin, will you just lead us and just all hail King Jesus? Come on, if you're comfortable, can we lift our hands across this room? >> Come on, let's fix our eyes on Jesus ((music playing)) today.

Come on. He's worthy. Lord. >> Oh, we love you, Jesus. ((music playing)) [singing] >> We turn our eyes to you. >> We honor you. >> Holy ((music playing)) are you. Worthy are you. The savior ((music playing)) of the world. All [singing] hell ((music playing)) king Jesus. All hail the Lord ((music playing)) of hell and earth. All hail king Jesus.

((music playing)) All hail the savior of ((music playing)) the world. ((music playing)) Oh, can you give him praise to his name? The ((music playing)) Bible says, "Clap your hands all you people. Shout unto ((music playing)) God with the voice of triumph. ((music playing)) Will you pray with me?" Father, we're thankful for your presence in this place and we fix our eyes on you.

We say like the disciples, who else can we go to? You have the words of life. Where else can we turn? And so we look to you. Our eyes, our gaze, our all, our wonder is fixed on you. And I pray for anybody in the place today or joining us online that life has weighed them down this week.

Life has weighed them down this year. Life has weighed them down over years. And they come in carrying heaviness and weight. Your word says your burden is easy and your yoke is light. I pray by your spirit even in this moment. Would they lift their eyes to you?

((music playing)) Would they feel the strength of God come in to their soul, the peace of God? Holy Spirit, minister in a ((music playing)) way that only you can. May you lift burdens ((music playing)) right now. May you touch and heal. Would you walk every aisle into every seat? And do in a moment what our best effort could never accomplish.

Do in a moment what years of striving could never produce. ((music playing)) Come by your spirit. administered every heart that is weighed ((music playing)) down, worried, anxious, doubtfilled, questioning. Thank you that you don't run from our pain, but you run to it. You're a friend ((music playing)) that sticks closer than a brother. You're well acquainted with our weaknesses.

We're grateful for that today. And so from our hearts we say all hail King Jesus. ((music playing)) Worthy are you to receive all glory, all honor, all praise, all adoration all of our lives, every day of our life. Worthy are you and we love you. And we're so grateful today to be in the house of God ((music playing)) with the family of God in your presence.

What a gift. And we ask this all ((music playing)) in the mighty name of Jesus. Everybody said a good amen. Amen. Come on. Aren't you glad to be in God's house today? ((music playing)) What a great day. And think about it for a minute. What a gift it really is to be in the house of God that we get together and uh I hope that church is never an event for you.

Miss it in a place where you come watch ministry professionals do ministry. It's not an event, it's a family. It's the overwhelming metaphor in the ((music playing)) New Testament to describe the church that it's a family. And uh so you have family members that you haven't met. You got some that you know they're interesting just like any family, right?

And so when we do these meet and greets, it's not for you just to like say hi to the person you know. It's so you can meet a new family member. All right? ((music playing)) You say, "My name is" and you can learn their name and uh you connect with somebody new.

And so ((music playing)) we never want in a big church like this for you to walk in and feel alone. We want you to be known and ((music playing)) valued and loved and sing. And so take just a few moments and maybe even slip out of your chair or greet someone you don't normally greet and say hello to them this morning before ((music playing)) we get into the word of God.

All right. >> ((music playing)) ((music playing)) >> Hey, well, welcome to church everybody. If you're visiting for the first time, we want to say a special welcome to you. Come on, church. Let's put our hands together and welcome anybody here for the first time. Maybe the first time in a long time.

((music playing)) Maybe you're looking for a home church. You're done looking. Here it is. Welcome to Gateway. We're so glad you're part of the family. Can I get a better amen? Come on. No longer need to look. We're glad you're here. And I do want to say hello to our online family and everyone that's joining us there.

We're grateful ((music playing)) to have you as a part of what God's doing here at Gateway. And want to let everybody know, you don't want to miss this. This week is marriage night, everybody. And if you have not registered yet, make sure you get registered. And I know some of you are thinking, well, we just did this in the fall.

Do I really need it again? Well, your spouse emailed in and said you really do need it. I'm kidding. Didn't happen. But um this will be the only one this year. We're kind of resetting the calendar ((music playing)) to have this land more in the early part of the year.

So, there won't be another one till next year. So, if you're married, engaged, heading towards engagement, and want to get a head start. It's ((music playing)) a great thing to be a part of. So, get registered for that. It's going to be a fantastic night. Um, some good friends of ours, Jimmy and Irene Rollins, are going to be with us, ((music playing)) and they have such a powerful story you don't want to miss.

And, uh, God has taught them a whole lot that I think will help us, ((music playing)) um, just have stronger, more fruitful, more God-honoring marriages. And, uh, so, look forward to seeing there. Tammy and I will be there. And so, it's going to be a great night. And uh today we're continuing the series.

It's complicated. Um has this been helping any these past two weeks? Has it helped in our relationships? Good. Some of you. Some of you are like, "Nah, not really." It's cuz you're not a notetaker. That's the problem. Kidding. Um so today we're in week three of it and I'm so excited because my favorite preacher, my wife, is bringing the word today.

Hey, so will you show some love? Pastor Tammy Floyd as she brings the word of God this week. ((music playing)) Love you. Hi. ((music playing)) Good morning family. You're so kind. You can have a seat. I'm so happy to be with you today. I love the church. There is no better place to gather with other believers and to worship our God.

And I'm grateful for the freedom as a country that we have. I hope that you ((music playing)) too never take it for granted. But we're in this series right now called It's Complicated. And today I have the privilege of talking about relationships when it comes to friendships. Anybody in the house have a friend or two?

Okay, a few of you. Any of you wish you had a friend ((music playing)) or two? Maybe a few more or maybe a friend or two less. Right? We're going to look into God's word and navigate a little bit because God's design is actually community. ((music playing)) In the very beginning, he created man and then he said, you know what?

It's not good for man to be alone. ((music playing)) So, he created a companion for him and we were designed to live in community with one another. So, we're going to look at our theme verse very quickly. It's Colossians 3:12-14. ((music playing)) It'll be on the screen for you. Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, ((music playing)) clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Bear with each other and forgive one another. If any of you has a grievance ((music playing)) against someone else, forgive as the Lord forgave you. and over all these virtues put on love which binds them all together in perfect ((music playing)) unity. So what we're learning is that life is complicated. It's full of ups.

It's full of downs. But God's design is for us to live in unity. And the enemy ((music playing)) would love for nothing else than for us to live in disunityity. So, we're going to talk today about the gift of friendship and how God desires for ((music playing)) it for it in our lives to be healthy and not dysfunctional as long as it depends on us and our abilities.

So, let's pray together really quickly ((music playing)) this morning. God, we love you and we're so grateful for your kindness, for your grace, and for your mercy. ((music playing)) Thank you for the word of God that is a guide book for our lives. Jesus, I pray this morning that the words ((music playing)) of my mouth and the meditations of my heart would be acceptable unto you, my God, my king and my creator and my friend.

May we leave here different today changed ((music playing)) by the power of your word. We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. So, I wanted to start today by sharing a story with you that I found on the internet which totally means it must be true. So the following is from the US government peace corps manual for its volunteers who work in the Amazon jungle.

It tells you what to do in case you are attacked by an anaconda. Okay? So here we go. 10 easy steps. I'm going to go through them fast. So just listen. I'm giving you permission for one moment not to take notes. Okay? Just for this minute though. Number one is this.

If an if an anaconda attacks you, do not run. The snake is faster than you are. We don't know each other very well yet, but I'm already in the presence of Jesus before step one because there is no way I'm going to stand there and let a snake come towards me.

Number two, lie flat on the ground. Put your arms tight against your sides, your legs tight against one another. Number three, tuck in your chin. Number four, the snake will come and begin to nudge and climb over your body. Number five, do not panic. Number six, after the snake has examined you, it will begin to swallow you from the feet and always from the end.

Permit the snake to swallow your feet and ankles. Once again, do not panic. Number seven, the snake will now begin to suck your legs into its body. You must lie perfectly still. This will take a long time. Number eight. When the snake has reached your knees, slowly and with as little movement as possible, reach down, take your knife, and very gently slide it into the side of the snake's mouth between the edge of its mouth and your leg. then suddenly rip upwards, severing the snake's head.

Number nine, be sure you have your knife. And number 10, be sure your knife is sharp. Now, I don't know if this is funny or factual, but what I know is this. Whether it's an anaconda or something else in your life, we need to be prepared. And when it comes to relationships, it's going to help our relationships be healthy and go further.

When we prepare in advance, those we're going to allow into our lives. Now, I want you to think about friendships in three different circles. You have your outer circle, you have your inner circle circle, and you have your core, the center. Okay? I like to think of it like this.

You have the living room. That's where many people can fit. These are probably your acquaintances, people you know of but don't necessarily do life with. Then you have your kitchen, your inner circle. You can fit a little less people in there, but you probably do every day with them.

Students, maybe they're in your classes, maybe it's someone that you work with. But then you have your core. And I like to call this my pantry because a pantry is small. And this is the place I want to go inside, bring my people, hide and eat snacks, >> your pantry friends. >> So this morning, we're going to talk about our core friends, our pantry friends.

Maybe for some of you, you'd like to hear it phrased as your golf cart friends. All right? Or your treeand friends. It's a space where it's not very large. It can only fit a few people, but these are the ones that you're going to pull in close and allow to influence your lives.

You know, the Bible is full of stories to help us live this life. It was the kindness of God to give us the gift of the Holy Spirit and also to give us the gift of the written word. So, we can turn to God's word and find truths to help us in our everyday.

So, specifically today, I want to talk about the story of Job. Maybe some of you have heard about him before. The book is found in the Old Testament. It's only 42 chapters, but is a story about a man who finds himself in a pretty terrible position. And he has some friends that show up and they do some really great things and they do some pretty terrible things.

So, I want to start by just explaining a little bit about Job. He was a man who lived in the land of Oz. He was honest, completely devoted to God and hated evil. He had seven sons, three daughters, tons of livestock, camels, donkeys, ox and sheep, and a huge staff of servants.

He was very wealthy and was known as one of the most influential men of the east. So, this gives you an idea of who Job is. If you're taking notes this morning, I want you to write this down. And if you're not taking notes this morning, I want you to write it down.

The title of today's message is who are my people? So let's look into the scriptures. Job 1 6-12. One day when the angels came to report to God, Satan who was the designated accuser and continues to be by the way came along with them. God singled out Satan and said, "What have you been up to?"

And Satan answered God going here and there checking things out on the earth. And God said to Satan, "Have you noticed my friend Job? There's no one quite like him. He's honest and true to his word, totally devoted to God and hating evil." Satan retorted, "So, do you think Job does all that out of the sheer goodness of his heart?

Why no one ever had it so good? You pamper him like a pet. Make sure nothing bad ever happens to him or his family or his possessions. Bless everything he does. He can't lose. But what do you think would happen if you reached down and took away everything that is his?

He'd curse you right to your face. That's what. So God replied, "We'll see. Go ahead. Do what you want with all that is his. Just don't hurt him." Then Satan left the presence of God. I want us to notice first as we dive into Job's story is that God did not do these things to Job.

God allowed Satan to do these things to Job. You see, sometimes there's times in our lives, the Lord will use a test to strengthen our faith. And sometimes it takes a test in our lives, a trial in our life to help strengthen the faith muscles that we have as we place our faith in Jesus and we travel with him.

You know, James 1 says to count it all joy, my brothers, when you face trials of many kinds, many many kinds. There it is. Count it joy when you face a trial because it's the testing of your faith that produces what? Perseverance. steadfastness. You know, a lens that might help you today is that God tests those that he can trust.

So, if you're feeling tested today, maybe it's because God has something he wants to do in your life and he knows that he can trust you in the midst of the hard. Nothing is wasted in the hands of our father. Nothing at all. I don't really go to the gym, but once I did.

There actually was a time in my life I went to the gym pretty frequently. But they have these things in there called weights. And weights are supposed to help you become stronger, right? But you can't become stronger without the weight of a weight. It's the same thought. Sometimes we have to have weight on our lives to help us to become stronger in our faith journey with the Lord in our ability to know that we can trust him.

So let's continue with the story. So Job has lost everything. Satan follows through with what he said he was going to do. The camels, donkeys, oxmen were all stolen. Most of his servants were killed in the attack. The sheep were struck by lightning. A tor a tornado came and flattened the house his sons and daughters were in. and none of them survived.

In a moment, Job had lost it all. But as we continue, we see that Job's response to what he lost was worship. He fell to the ground and he said, "The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord." You know, Job had an understanding that everything that had been given to him was a gift from God himself.

So in the midst of his loss, he found himself praising God for who he still was. I pray as a church that that is the posture we can find ourselves in. That no matter what happens, blessed be the name of the Lord. So again, Satan comes to God and again God says, "Have you considered my servant Job?

You tried once to destroy him and his integrity remained strong." So Satan responds with, "Let me affect him physically and surely he will curse you." So Satan left the presence of God and afflicted Job with painful soores from the top of his head to the soles of his feet.

Job sat and scraped at his soores while his wife told him to curse God. But Job chose to not curse God and remained faithful to him. You know, I find it kind of interesting that the only thing that wasn't taken from Job was his nagging wife of all the things, you know, to to my ladies in the house that are married.

Remember, I'm your friend. But the book of Proverbs, I'll give you the I'll give you the address so maybe you can highlight it. Chapter 27:E1 15 says, "A nagging wife is like water going drip drip drip from a leaking roof on a rainy day. A nagging wife is like a relentless annoyance."

Now, I'm not saying that this scripture spoke to me personally. I mean, my husband's never experienced such a thing. Okay, maybe I was totally convicted. And husbands, let your wives figure this out. Or gently say, "Hey, remember that scripture we heard on Sunday?" Choose wisely. That's all I can say about that.

Choose wisely. But no matter what his wife told him, Job chose chose to still trust God. I want to take a next the next few minutes this morning and look at some practical ways that we can consider and evaluate the people that we are bringing into our pantry.

Those that we are bringing in close because those that we allow into the core of our lives will influence our decisions. It'll influence our living and it'll will ultimately influence the legacy of our lives. So after all this happens, Job's friends show up. Let's look at Job chapter 2 11-13.

Three of Job's friends heard of all the trouble that had fallen on him. Each traveled from his own country, Elephaz from Taman, Bildad from Shuha, Zofar from Nameoth. And they went together to Job to keep him company and to comfort him. When they first caught sight of him, they couldn't believe what they saw.

They hardly recognized him. They cried out in lament, ripped their robes, and dumped dirt on their heads as a sign of their grief. Then they sat down with him on the ground. Seven days and nights they sat there without saying a word. They could see how rotten he felt and how deeply he was suffering.

As we consider the friends in our pantry, the first thought today is this. Number one, care for your people. Let's look at a few ways that Job's friends cared well for their friend in his deepest pain. Number one, they heard what had happened. They paid attention and they showed up.

I don't know how the means of communication worked back then, but for today, they didn't send a text. They didn't pick up the phone. They got on their donkeys. They made a very long journey. And they showed up for their friend. Number two, they made it a priority.

They stopped whatever it was they were doing and they went to check on him. Number three, they responded with an appropriate response. It was tradition during this time to tear your clothes and put dust and ashes on your head when you were grieving and full of sorrow. And they were empathetic to the situation.

They followed their friend's lead. They didn't show up and try to bake bread or sit down and try to have a conversation. How are you feeling? What's going on? Why do you think this happened? They just showed up and followed the lead of Job. Number four, they sat down with him.

They were still. And number five, they didn't say anything for seven days and seven nights. This is why Job's friends were guys. I mean, there's no way I just there's nothing left to say that I could be silent for seven days and seven nights, right? But they did.

They said nothing. You know, sometimes the very best thing you can do for your friend is to show up and shut up. Just show up. Don't say a word. Show empathy by your actions. Just being there in itself is going to speak louder than words ever could. They were just present.

And you know, there's going to be times in your life when you are going to need your friends. And your friends are going to need you. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says this, "Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help.

But someone who falls alone is in real trouble." You know, if you're not familiar with our family, we have four children. Our oldest, Owen, is 19. Faith is 16, and then we took a long break. same husband. Abigail is 9 years old and Jonas is seven. And um we adopted Jonas at 5 days old.

He came to our doorstep like a stork on a porch, literally in a car seat. And um I always want to take a minute and honor his birth mom for her bravery and for her courage and her willingness to make a very difficult choice to give him a life that she didn't feel like she could give him herself. would you help me honor her today?

We're so grateful for her. ((applause)) And Jonas was a tiny baby. He's like 6 lb 8 o, which is probably average. But we have large children in our house. By we, I mean me. These babies were 10 plus. Our Abigail was 11 lbs at birth. I know. I should have a medal, right?

I feel like it. Thank you. Thank you. But um we knew we weren't finished after Abigail, but I was. So that led us to pray about adoption. And so this is the deal. Big babies, they eat and they sleep, and it's amazing. But tiny babies, they hungry. They cry a lot.

They want to be fed. Jonas wanted to be fed every three hours. And those first few months of his life were a lot on our family. Abigail was barely 2 years old. We were barely making it. My friend Ally called me one day. She knew how tired I was and she said, "I'm coming over so you can take a nap."

I said, "Glory be to God. This is the kind of friend I need in my life." She came to my house. She held baby Jonas. I took a nap. I woke up. My laundry was done. My kitchen was clean. Jonas had been fed and cared for. And this is the type of friendship I'm talking about.

This is the way that we can be friends to those that are closest to us is to just see what's going on, show up, and do all that you know to do to help make it better, right? Not only the ones that you're receiving into your life, but also what you are being into someone else's life.

You know, even Jesus had community. He had his large following of about 70. Then he had the famous 12. But then he also had three, Peter, James, and John. I would call these his pantry friends, his golf cart friends. These were the ones he pulled close. Maybe they needed the most attention.

I don't know. But they were the ones that were with him during the deepest pain of his life on earth. The pantry friends, the community. God's design for our lives is community. Now, unfortunately, Job's friends did speak up after those seven days. And for the next 24 chapters of the book of Job, they went on and on with their comments and their opinions about Job's life and why he was facing what he was facing.

They had wrong facts, reasonings why God would punish him, deciding that it must be because Job had done something wrong, encouraging him to repent so that God would bless him again. It was so bad that God called out these friends towards the end of the book of Job and said,"I am angry with you."

Listen, it is a bad day when God says that he is angry with you. But he did. He said, "I am angry with you because you have not spoken of me what is right." In the midst of trying to care for their friends, their friend Job, they allowed their own opinions and their own feelings to override the truth of who God was.

And if we're not careful, we will allow our opinions to become idols. And we will begin to forget the truth of who God is. So the friends kept going on and on and Job just had to hear it. The next point I want to see today is this number two.

Clarify your people. We're going to clarify the type of people that are we that we are allowing to be in the core or in the pantry of our lives. Who am I letting into my pantry? And what is the dialogue of the conversations or the interactions that we share together?

Proverbs 13:20 says, "Become wise by walking with the wise. Hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces." Proverbs 22:24-2 says, "Don't hang out with angry people. Don't keep company with hotheads. Bad temper is contagious. Don't get infected." You know, the best way to evaluate your pantry friends is to think about it.

So, I want you to take a minute and think about your two to three, maybe four closest friends. I'm going to ask you a few questions. And I just want you today to evaluate those that you've pulled in close to your life. Are they kind? Do they believe in you?

Do they love Jesus? Do they encourage your walk with God? Or are they negative? Do they start gossip? Do they pressure you into making decisions that you are not comfortable with? Now what about you as you are being a friend to them? Are you kind? Do you believe in others?

Are you encouraging? Do you speak life or do you feed negativity? You know, in case you haven't heard it yet or haven't heard it in a while, you were created on purpose for a great purpose. There is an assignment that God has on your life and you will be influenced by those you allow in.

And this is why it is so crucial that you evaluate the friends that you bring into your pantry. You know, your thinking drives your living, but those you live out your life with, it does drive your destiny. And thank God that the past failures that we have maybe had do not define our future because of Jesus and the cross and the forgiveness of sins.

What we've done in the past doesn't have to be final. You know, we can't alter the past, but we can bring our past to the altar. Receive forgiveness and do better. Do different moving forward. This isn't about being judgmental, though. This is about being intentional. Being intentional about those that you're going to bring in close.

You know, God calls us to be the salt and the light of the earth. I love how Matthew chapter 5 says that you have a God flavor that needs to be in the earth for everything that God has to be accomplished to be accomplished. So because of that, you've got to protect what you're bringing in close to your everyday.

You know, Jesus gave time and attention to all kinds of people, but in order to be in his circle, his close friends, you had to follow him. And students, especially for you today, maybe that's a really good thing for you to think about. For those that you're bringing in close to influence your life, do they follow Jesus?

That's probably and should be the number one thing as you are growing up and you're making really big decisions about your life. And adults, I just want to remind us about that, too. Again, we're the salt and light. Our faith is personal, but it should not be private.

We should be going public with our faith, with the goodness of God, all he's done in our life, our testimony. But when it comes to being influenced, we've got to be really guarded and really careful. So, the friends speak up. They go on and on and Job finally has had enough and he speaks up.

Job chapter 16 1-5. Then Job defended himself. I've had all I can take of you. Okay, I paraphrase that. I've had all I can take of your talk. What a bunch of miserable comforters. Is there no end to your windbag speeches? What's your problem that you go on and on like this?

If you were in my shoes, I could talk just like you. I could put together a terrific tirade and really let you have it, but I'd never do that. I'd console and comfort you, make things better, not worse. The third thought, the third thought today is this. Check your people.

Check your people. In the words of Ice Cube, you better check yourself before you. Okay, my 1900's friends, there you are. If you don't have a clue what I'm talking about, just don't worry about it. I don't know enough of Ice Cubes music that I would encourage you to go listen to it.

So, just check yourself before you wreck yourself because those in your life will affect your decisions, your thinking, all of it. You know, my sister got married a few days ago and um it was beautiful ceremony. I'm so excited for her and her new husband, my new brother-in-law.

And I noticed something when I was at the wedding. I was thinking about the message and I was like, you know, there's people, my sister's name is Hannah. And I thought there's people in Hannah's life that didn't get invited to the wedding. Doesn't mean she didn't like them necessarily, but this was like, you know, the day the one day of her life she's been waiting and praying for for a long time.

So that would be like her outer outer circle. But then there were friends that did get invited and friends that were out on the dance floor and these were the ones that she was comfortable with that maybe some of them knew each other. I would call that her inner circle.

But then she had her bridesmaids and we were the ones helping her out that weekend doing anything that she needed. We were her pantry friends. And you know, my sister was most likely transparent with her dance floor friends, like being honest and being herself and being present, but my sister was very vulnerable with her bridesmaids, letting [snorts] us know the things that she needed, letting us know the things that maybe needed to be fixed.

And I think it's important that we understand the difference between transparency and vulnerability. So transparency is defined as being honest and without anything to hide. But vulnerability is the state of being open to injury or attack. And it is also the gateway to deep connection. The word vulnerability originates from the Latin word wound.

And it when when it comes to checking our people, this is a vulnerable state. a thing that you could say something that could hurt somebody, but it could be to their benefit. Proverbs 27:6 says, "The wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses." You know, an enemy multiplies kisses.

That means that I like kisses from my husband. I've been kissing him for 25 years, 26 years, a long time. That's so nice. It's Valentine's weekend, so I feel like I can talk about that. But I'm going to leave it there. That's the end of the conversation. But it feels good to hear what you want to hear.

It doesn't feel great when your friend calls something out that kind of feels a little like, oh, I don't I didn't really want to hear that from you, or that feels a little bit painful. A wound is painful. It hurts. It doesn't feel great. But a good friend will tell you the truth even if it's painful.

Notice though the scripture says the wound of a friend, not the wound of a social media follower, not the wound of someone else's opinion. The wound of a friend can be trusted. Now, this is not a free pass for you to go around correcting everyone in your path.

All right? This is for someone that is close to you, has equity in your life, someone that you want the best for, and that's someone that wants the best for you. And I want to say for a minute that not every friendship can handle this type of vulnerability.

And that is why it's really important that you are putting your friends in the right room. Maybe you have some pantry friends that have been in there for a long time, but maybe they need to be moved to the living room. Maybe they need to be moved to the front yard.

You know, I don't I don't know what your story is, but our hope and our prayer is that as you come into God's house every weekend that you are inspired to grow in your rel relationship with Jesus. And when you grow with God and your friend doesn't, over time, you will outgrow your friend.

And it doesn't mean that you're better or that you know it all. Again, we're talking about those friends that we pull in close to influence us. And sometimes we need to re-evaluate who who are those pantry friends, those golf cart friends that maybe I need to put in a different place because listen, as I get older, and I'm sure some of you can agree, like I don't have time.

I don't have a lot of time anymore. I need somebody that I can give quality time to in a short setting because I do not have the quantity of time. Okay? It's not about quantity of time. It's about quality of time because my life is very full. My house is very full.

We're part of this new beautiful ministry. And sometimes those friends in the past, they needed more from me that I'm not able to give. and I still love them, but I have to put them in a different room now because I'm not able to maybe be the friend that they need me to be anymore.

Or maybe they're not the type of friend that I need anymore either. And I want to say like maybe this part is like feels fun for you, which if it does, that's different, but like maybe you like going around checking people and putting them in their place. But it's not just about that.

It's also being willing to be checked yourself. So, a few years ago, we were out to dinner with some friends, my husband and I, and um you know, I was in a spot where I had a relationship, a friendship that had recently not worked out. And there had been enough time, but I was just still wallering in it.

I was like, "Oh my goodness, I felt misunderstood. There wasn't closure. I didn't get to say my side, and now it's over." And I gave all this time to them, and you know, on and on. And I'd been talking about it for quite a while. And my friend looked at me across the table and he looked right in my eyes and he said, "You need to get over it.

I did not like that." [laughter] But he was so right. It was enough. It was done. And I want to say to you today that you are more than one person. There is more to your life than one person. And sometimes we need to move on. And sometimes friendships are seasonal.

And that is okay. You can thank God for all that you shared together and then move forward and hope for the best for them. And from that dinner date on, I did not think about this person again until just now. But but I am I'm over it. But I needed to be willing to let him say to me enough.

You need to be done talking about this. So be willing to check your friends, but also be willing to be checked yourself. Final thought this morning is claim your people. Maybe there's some of you here today and you feel like, you know what, I don't have anyone in my life right now that I would put into a pantry circle situation and you're feeling lonely and you desire that, but you just feel like, I don't know where to get that.

I want you to know that friendship takes effort and friendship ((music playing)) takes time. You know, those in my pantry I've known for decades, and I've had some in my pantry that are now in other rooms, and ((music playing)) that's okay, too. But it takes the effort and the initiative of just taking a ((music playing)) risk and trying, right?

So, my dad was a chaplain in the Air Force for 36 years. So, I moved my ((music playing)) whole life. Before I was 17 years old, we moved seven times. We lived ((music playing)) in five states in two different countries. And my senior year of high school, we moved to Shreveport, Louisiana.

Of course, we did. So that year, I went to a small Christian school and a lot of these kids ((music playing)) had been together since kindergarten and it was really hard to make friends. I got dropped off at school earlier than school started every day. And I was so afraid to put myself out there that ((music playing)) I would go to the bathroom and I would hide in a stall and I would stay in there until classes started.

((music playing)) I wouldn't answer questions in class. I volunteered in the office during lunch. I didn't ((music playing)) make myself available. And you know, I thought about that years later and was kind of, you know, feeling ((music playing)) sad for myself, whatever. And then all of a sudden I was like, "Wait a minute.

Who is going to come in the bathroom, knock ((music playing)) on the door, and say, "Hey, can I be your friend?" Like, I wasn't putting myself out there to ((music playing)) even be available to someone else. Proverbs 18:24 says, "A man who has friends must himself be friendly." In other words, I need to be friendly to ((music playing)) have friends in my life.

You know, I I tell my kids in the mornings, ((music playing)) dropping them off at school, not every day, but as much as I can, notice someone who ((music playing)) may seem lonely today, and go up and introduce yourself because sometimes it takes the ((music playing)) strength of someone else to make you feel brave.

And maybe you feel like, I don't I don't know how to find friends. This is a ((music playing)) really big church and I come every weekend, but it's, you know, shaking a hand isn't Don't worry. Today you can go and you can sign up for a small group and it's how we make a really large church ((music playing)) feel small.

You can get into community. My small group starts on Tuesday. I'm so excited about ((music playing)) it cuz I'm new to Texas and I need some Texas friends. And we've provided an opportunity for you today ((music playing)) that you can go and sign up and you can be put in a room where people are going to believe the best for you.

They're going to want the best for you. ((music playing)) They're going to love the Lord. You're going to have leaders that are going to take time and care for you. And just maybe your pantry friend ((music playing)) is one sign up away. If you go to a group and you feel like, I don't think this is the ((music playing)) right group for me, you know, cuz sometimes not everybody gets along.

And that's okay. Finish out the semester, give it some time, and then maybe try another small group the next semester. But make the effort and ((music playing)) make the time because you will find yourself in life needing community and needing friendship to help navigate all that this life ((music playing)) has in front of us.

Let's finish up really quickly with what happened to Job. After 24 chapters of Job and his friends going ((music playing)) back and forth, God finally speaks up. He honors Job for not wavering in his faith. He ((music playing)) accepts Job's prayer of forgiveness for his friends. And he blesses Job with twice as much as he had before.

((music playing)) And if we allow him to, I want you to know today that God will always use our pain for purpose. If we surrender ((music playing)) our lives to him and say, "God, our life is yours. I don't understand." He will use our pain for purpose when ((music playing)) we let him. And even though God's design is community, ((music playing)) his greatest design for you is to know the love and accept the savior.

And Jesus is the one who sticks ((music playing)) closer than any friend you'll ever find. He's constant. He's the same yesterday, today, and forever. ((music playing)) And maybe today for you, the best decision you can make is to come into ((music playing)) relationship with Jesus himself. Will you bow your heads this morning and close your eyes with me? just going to say a prayer over you and then I'm going to give you the opportunity to place your faith in Jesus today.

If you ((music playing)) if you've never fully surrendered your life to the Lord, you're going to have an opportunity to do that this morning. But first, I want to pray for you in regards to friendship. God, we love you and we thank you for the gift of ((music playing)) friendship. Father, I pray today for those who may be having feelings of loneliness.

God, I pray that you would give them the strength to be brave. give them the strength to go out and to sign up for a small group today or ((music playing)) to make that phone call and try to connect with someone this week over coffee. And Lord, I pray that you would help them to be courageous ((music playing)) in that.

Lord, I pray that you'd also give them the courage to step out of any toxic relationships ((music playing)) that they are in that are that are not benefiting the call of God on their lives. I pray peace for them today. And if you're here this morning and ((music playing)) you've never placed your faith in Jesus and you would say, "You know what?

I want to surrender my life today to him." I'm going to count to three. And when I do, you can just simply raise your hand up and I'm going to lead you in what we call the ((music playing)) prayer of salvation. And what that means is you're just going to declare today that you want to give your ((music playing)) life to the Lord.

You want to fully surrender your life to him. And no one's going to be looking around. We're actually all going to pray together with you because that's what we do ((music playing)) here because we're a family. So, if you're here today and you would say, "I want to surrender my life today to Jesus."

On the count of three, you go ahead and raise your hand. One, two, three. Go ahead and keep ((music playing)) it up. Keep your hand up. I see your hands. So beautiful. God sees you most ((music playing)) importantly. You can put your hand down. Church, would you ((music playing)) pray this with me for the benefit of those praying this morning as well?

Say, "Dear Jesus, today I declare that you ((music playing)) are Lord. I believe in my heart that God raised you from the dead. Thank you for your forgiveness. I give you my ((music playing)) past and I trust you with my future today. I surrender my life to you in ((music playing)) Jesus name. Amen.

Amen. I love you. ((music playing)) Come on. What an incredibly powerful ((music playing)) word. church. In just a moment, I'm going to have you stand and I'm going to invite our prayer team up to the front because with a powerful message like that on friendships that I know touches every single one of us in this room.

We want to give you an opportunity to respond. The service isn't over. Actually, it's one of our most important parts of the service so you can respond to the message. So, go ahead and stand and I'm going invite our prayer team forward. And if you need prayer for anything at all, if the Holy Spirit was working on your heart during this message and and you want to pray either for the right kind of friends in your life or you want prayer to be the right kind of friend in someone else's life, we would love for you to come forward.

We'd love to pray with you. ((music playing)) I feel like with a message like that, too, I feel like there's people in this room that maybe have been burned by friendships and they've been hurt in community and you've thought, "No more. No more." But the Holy Spirit is working on you right now to take another step, to be ((music playing)) vulnerable, to take the risk, and to jump back into community, to be praying for the right kind of friends in your life.

You know, sometimes the lie that we can tell ourselves is we don't need anybody else. It's just me and God. And I just want to point us back to what Pastor Tammy so beautifully reminded us in scripture ((music playing)) when Adam was alone with the in the with God in the garden and God said, "It's not good for man to be alone."

((music playing)) So, if you need prayer for anything at all, I invite you now. Go ahead and come now at the sound of my voice. We have a prayer team up at the balcony as well. We're going to go into one more worship song. I'm going to ((music playing)) give you one uh last thing that I want you to know about before we dismiss.

But go ahead and come now. You don't need to be a member of Gateway Church to receive prayer, friends. We all need ((music playing)) prayer. All my life you [singing] have been faithful. ((music playing)) And all my life you have been so [singing] so good. With every breath ((music playing)) that I am able, [singing] I will ((music playing)) sing of the goodness of God.

((music playing)) All my life you have been faithful. And all my life you have been [singing] so so good. With ((music playing)) every breath that I am able, I will sing of the goodness ((music playing)) of God. Oh, all my life you have been faithful. ((music playing)) Oh yes, you have. And all my life you have been so so good.

With every breath that I am able, I will sing of the goodness of ((music playing)) God. I will sing of the goodness of God. We're going to allow ministry to continue to happen. And we'll be here for as long as it takes. And maybe you didn't respond to come forward in prayer, but maybe your next response ((music playing)) is to go out and sign up for a group and get in community right outside these doors in Connect Central.

We have an incredible team of people that would love to get you connected, find the right ((music playing)) group for you uh and get you plugged in so you can uh that's another way that we can stay planted in the house of the Lord and that we can flourish. And so maybe that's your next step.

If you accepted Jesus or raised your hand to dedicate your life or rededicate ((music playing)) your life, you can text Jesus to 710 and our team of people would love to reach out to you, answer any questions ((music playing)) you may have, and give you some incredible next steps as well. Uh marriage night is coming up this Friday.

So, if you're married, you're ((music playing)) engaged, you're dating, on your way to marriage, that's going to be an incredible night for you guys to be here. We'd love to see you here. Strengthen your marriage, strengthen your relationship. It's going to be a beautiful time. Pastor Tammy, thank you so much for that incredible message.

We're all better because of that. ((music playing)) Church, let's pray. God, we thank you for what you've done in ((music playing)) our lives today. Thank you for your presence. I thank you that our tomorrow morning will look different because of what you have done in our life today. >> ((music playing)) >> Thank you for the message that you gave Pastor Tammy to speak directly into our hearts to encourage us and to challenge us.

God, be with every single one of us in this room today as we go out as image ((music playing)) bearsers of you. In your holy name we pray. Amen. Gri, we love you so much. We'll see you next week or we'll see you at marriage night.