Why God Uses Fire, Waiting, and Crushing Seasons // Pastor Matt Cruz

((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) >> Come on, how many of us are thankful that we are free this morning for ((music playing)) what he has done on that cross for our sins? Come on, somebody ((music playing)) give them a shout. >> ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) [singing] ((music playing)) ((music playing)) [singing] [music and singing] ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) [singing] ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) [singing] ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) >> I'm never going back to the way I was. I SAID, I'M NEVER ((music playing)) GOING BACK to the way I was.

I'm never going back cuz if the cross is before ((music playing)) me, then nothing can stand against me, no. And I begin to decree right now that every ((music playing)) weapon formed against you this morning shall not >> ((music playing)) >> prosper. Come on, somebody give them a break. >> ((music playing)) ((music playing)) >> We give ((music playing)) you praise. >> ((music playing)) [snorts] >> Yes, we are.

We are here for you. You and only ((music playing)) you. Let your breath come from heaven. Fill our hearts with your life. We are here for We are ((music playing)) here for you. To you our ((music playing)) hearts are open. >> [singing] >> Nothing here is hidden >> ((music playing)) >> our one desire. You alone ((music playing)) are holy.

Only you are worthy, God. Let your fire >> [music and singing] ((music playing)) >> Let our shout be our anthem. Your renown ((music playing)) come fill the skies. We ((music playing)) are here for you. >> ((music playing)) >> We are here for you. Let your word move in power. >> ((music playing)) >> Let what's dead come on, speak it now come to life.

We ((music playing)) are here for you. We are ((music playing)) here for you. To you our hearts ((music playing)) are open. >> [singing] >> Nothing here is hidden >> ((music playing)) >> our one desire. >> ((music playing)) >> You alone are holy. Only you are worthy, ((music playing)) God. Let your fire fall. [singing] >> ((music playing)) >> Nothing here is hidden Say nothing here is hidden >> ((music playing)) >> our one desire. >> [singing] ((music playing)) >> For you alone are holy.

Only >> ((music playing)) >> you are worthy, God. Let your fire fall. >> ((music playing)) ((music playing)) >> Let your fire fall. >> ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) [music and singing] ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) [music and singing] [music and singing] [music and singing] ((music playing)) [music and singing] ((music playing)) ((music playing)) [music and singing] ((music playing)) ((music playing)) [singing] [music and singing] ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) [singing] ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) [music and singing] ((music playing)) ((music playing)) [singing] ((music playing)) [music and singing] ((music playing)) [singing] ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) [singing] ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) [music and singing] ((music playing)) ((music playing)) [singing] [music and singing] ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) [singing] ((music playing)) ((music playing)) [singing] ((music playing)) [music and singing] [music and singing] ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) [singing] ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) >> Come on, how many of us believe that Jesus is the center of every situation in our lives? Come on, we give him all the glory and all the praise. >> ((music playing)) >> Jesus ((music playing)) be the center of >> [singing] >> it all. >> ((music playing)) >> Jesus be the center [singing] of it all. >> ((music playing)) >> From beginning to the end, he will always be.

It's always been you, >> ((music playing)) >> Jesus. Jesus. >> ((music playing)) >> Jesus be the center of >> [singing] >> it all. >> ((music playing)) >> Jesus be the the [music and singing] center of it all. >> ((music playing)) >> From beginning to the end, it will always ((music playing)) be It's always been you, Jesus. Oh, my Jesus, ((music playing)) nothing else matters.

Nothing in this world will do. Jesus, you're >> ((music playing)) >> the center. Everything ((music playing)) revolves around you. Jesus, ((music playing)) you Jesus, ((music playing)) be the center of my life. Jesus, be the center [music and singing] of my life. From beginning to the end, it will always ((music playing)) be It's always been you, Jesus. Oh, my Jesus. >> ((music playing)) >> Nothing [singing] else matters. >> ((music playing)) >> Nothing [singing] in this world will do.

Yeah. >> ((music playing)) >> Cuz Jesus, you're the center. >> ((music playing)) >> Everything revolves [singing] around you. >> ((music playing)) >> Jesus, you're everything. >> ((music playing)) >> matters. Nothing ((music playing)) in this world will do. Jesus, ((music playing)) you're the center. >> [singing] >> Everything ((music playing)) revolves [singing] around you. Jesus, >> ((music playing)) >> you From my heart to the [singing] heavens, ((music playing)) Jesus, be the center.

[singing] It's >> ((music playing)) >> all about you. Yes, it's all >> ((music playing)) >> about you. From my heart to the heavens, ((music playing)) Jesus, be the center. [singing] It's all about ((music playing)) you. Yes, it's [singing] all about you. From my heart >> ((music playing)) >> to the heavens, Jesus, be the center. >> ((music playing)) >> It's all about you.

Yes, [singing] it's all >> ((music playing)) >> about you. From my heart to the heavens, Jesus, be ((music playing)) the center. It's all about you. >> ((music playing)) >> Yes, it's all about you. my Jesus >> ((music playing)) >> Jesus, be the center [singing] of your church. Jesus, be ((music playing)) the center [singing] of your church. And every ((music playing)) knee will bow, and every tongue shall confess you, Jesus. >> ((music playing)) >> Jesus Come on, his name is Jesus >> ((music playing)) >> Your name is Jesus The name above all names Jesus Oh, my Jesus From my heart ((music playing)) From my heart to the heavens, Jesus, ((music playing)) be the center.

It's all >> [singing] >> about you. Yes, it's ((music playing)) all about you. From my heart to the heavens, >> ((music playing)) >> Jesus, be the center. It's all >> ((music playing)) >> about you. Yes, it's all about you. From my heart to the heavens, ((music playing)) Jesus, be the center. It's all about ((music playing)) you. Yes, it's all about you.

From my heart >> ((music playing)) >> to the heavens, Jesus, be [singing] the >> ((music playing)) >> center. It's all about you. Yes, ((music playing)) yes, it's all about all [singing] about you. From my heart to the heavens, Jesus, be ((music playing)) the center. It's all >> [singing] >> about you. Yes, it's all >> ((music playing)) >> about you. From my heart to the heavens, Jesus, be the center.

It's ((music playing)) all about you. Yes, it's all about >> ((music playing)) >> Jesus, be the center of it all. >> ((music playing)) >> Jesus, be the center of it all. [music and singing] Come on, let's raise our hands from the back to the front. From beginning to the end, >> ((music playing)) >> We worship you. >> will always be We thank you, Jesus.

This our declaration. Jesus, be the center of our lives. Jesus, be the center of our families. ((music playing)) Jesus, be the center of our workplaces. Come on. Just right there where you're at, begin to close your eyes, and begin to decree and declare Jesus at the center ((music playing)) of that situation.

Come on, begin to prophesy Jesus in the middle of that sickness. Come on, begin to prophesy Jesus in the middle of that court ((music playing)) case. COME ON, BEGIN TO PROPHESY JESUS IN THE MIDDLE IN THE MIDDLE OF MY SIBLINGS not being saved, of the divorce. JESUS IN THE CENTER OF MY LIFE.

JESUS, ((music playing)) we prophesy. We decree. We declare. Jesus, YOU ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF WHAT SEEMS DARK. You are in the middle of what SEEMS HOPELESS. >> ((music playing)) >> OH. >> [singing] >> BE THE CENTER, JESUS. Come on, all over this room, raise those hands. >> ((music playing)) >> Come on, raise those hands.

Raise those hands. Decree Jesus. >> ((music playing)) >> Oh. >> ((music playing)) ((music playing)) [singing] ((music playing)) ((music playing)) >> Jesus You are the only one. You are the only answer. The world gives many ways. The world gives many truths. >> ((music playing)) >> The world gives many doors. But Jesus, you are the only way, the only truth, and the life.

And so today ((music playing)) on this Sunday morning, we decree. We declare. We prophesy Jesus ((music playing)) in every aspect and SPHERE OF OUR LIVES. JESUS IN OUR FAMILIES. JESUS in our workplaces. >> ((music playing)) >> Jesus in our marriage. JESUS IN MY SCHOOL. JESUS IN MY FINANCES. JESUS IN MY HEALTH. IF YOU BELIEVE IT, SHOUT HALLELUJAH. >> [screaming] ((music playing)) >> AMEN.

Jesus at the center of our families is the only way ((music playing)) that we can see hope and we can see light in our families. The Bible doesn't say it would be nice. ((music playing)) The Bible doesn't give a suggestion. The Bible gives a promise that me and my family we will serve the Lord.

I know it's 9:00 a.m., but I said me and my family. It wasn't a suggestion. It was a declaration. It was a promise. It was a prophecy over your life. Me and my family, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD. You know, in ((music playing)) our youth ministry, I think it's been a few weeks already on Sunday morning where we get ((music playing)) text messages of students saying, "My family is coming with me to church."

Every single Sunday, we've been seeing testimony after testimony. We've been hearing story after story. "My friend's coming with me to church. My family's coming with me to church. My coworkers coming with me to church. My son is ((music playing)) coming with me to church. My parents are coming with me to church."

I want to let you know that us putting names up on here on these sheets is not just something to ((music playing)) look cool. It's a declaration. It's a promise. We are like Esther in the Bible. Before I go to the king, I'm going to fast and pray. I'm going to put the king's name in the heavenly realm before I go in the physical realm.

And when I go to the physical realm, there's going to be favor. When you pray for the loved one, when you ((music playing)) pray for the friend, when you pray for your parents, YOU FIRST DON'T INVITE, YOU PUT THEM IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM AND SAY, "GOD, THEY WILL SERVE YOU.

THEY WILL COME TO KNOW YOU." >> ((music playing)) >> NOW, I get uh I get reminded just as we were worshipping, my brother is in the back room there doing ((music playing)) switcher for the cameras so that, you know, you can see my beautiful face up there on the screens and your beautiful faces and but for 7 to 9 years, my brother struggled on drugs.

And though we didn't put my dad didn't put a my brother's name David ((music playing)) on this sheet, he had it on his heart. And every night at 2:00 a.m. when I needed to go to the bathroom, I'm scared by my dad because I saw him walking in the pitch dark praying, "My son will be saved.

My son will not be a drug addict. My son will get ((music playing)) out of jail." Come on, I wish somebody has some faith in this ROOM FOR YOUR SON, FOR YOUR MARRIAGE, >> ((music playing)) >> FOR YOUR PARENTS, FOR YOUR FRIEND, FOR YOUR COWORKER. AND TODAY HE'S A YOUNG ADULTS connect group leader.

((music playing)) He's prophesying, he's preaching, he's serving God. I'm telling you, NOBODY IS TOO FAR GOD FOR THE HAND OF GOD TO BE ABLE to reach. HIS EAR IS NOT DEAF to hear. Nobody, AND I'VE BEEN NOBODY IS TOO FAR FROM GOD. AND SO, I WANT ((music playing)) US TO DO SOMETHING.

WE HAVE PRAYER sheets on the sides. I want you to get out of your seat. I want you to go there to those sheets and and write a name. And as you're writing that name, you prophesy, "They will be saved in the name of Jesus. They will come to know Jesus."

And And then I want to invite you as well, if you don't have a name there, to put lay your hands here in the front, stretch your hands, and Justin's going to lead us in prayer. And let's believe that the lost will be saved. Our families will come to Jesus. >> Yes, Lord.

We prophesy over every name that is written in these sheets, Lord, that they will be saved in the name of Jesus Christ, Lord. Father, we pray for every name, Lord, for Anthony, for Isaac, for Michael, Lord, for Vanessa, for every name on every single one of these sheets, Lord.

And we say, "Turn their hearts back to you, God. Father, turn their hearts back to you in the name of Jesus." Lord, for the drug addicts, Lord, for the people that HAVE REJECTED YOU, LORD, FOR THE PEOPLE that have never placed their TRUST IN YOU, LORD, FOR THE PEOPLE in our homes, ((music playing)) for the people in our households, for our husbands, for our wives, Lord, for our kids in the name of Jesus, Lord.

May their hearts turn back to you, GOD. FATHER, WE PRAY FOR THE ONE THAT has never heard ((music playing)) your name. Lord, may they encounter you. We begin to speak life in Jesus' mighty name. We begin to speak the name of Jesus. Lord, may you encounter every person that is in a false religion, that is in a FALSE DOCTRINE IN THE NAME OF JESUS.

May you show ((music playing)) up in their dreams. May you show up in visions. Lord, may you send laborers in Jesus' name to prophesy, to proclaim your name, Lord, to bring something ((music playing)) that pierces the soul the the heart of their souls, Lord. Lord, and draw some into you. [music and singing] God, we decree and we declare that every name that is written in these boards will be saved in Jesus' mighty name. >> Come on, if you believe that prayer, shout amen. >> ((music playing)) >> Come on, shout amen.

Amen. Amen. Amen. Hungry Generation, good morning. It's good to see you. Hey, why don't you do something? Turn to your neighbor on your left and your right and say, "I'm glad ((music playing)) to see you in the house of God this morning." As we fix our eyes on the screen for a video. >> ((music playing)) >> If you're a guest with us today, welcome.

We're so honored that you're here. We have a gift waiting for you in the lobby at the welcome center, so make sure you stop by and say hello. Hungry Generation exists to lead people to encounter God daily. Because when you encounter God, you will grow. And when you grow, you will change.

You're not meant to do life alone. That's why we have connect groups. Real people, real relationships, growing in faith together. ((music playing)) Find a group at get connected. You can also join the dream team and serve with us. There ((music playing)) is nothing like serving God's purpose together. If you're ready to take a next step, our discipleship track is for ((music playing)) you.

It's where you can become a member, grow in faith, attend Encounter Retreat, and develop your leadership. It's truly life-changing. I know that feels like a lot of information, but it's simple. Just ((music playing)) visit hungrygen.com/info. Good morning, Hungry Generation. How are we doing? Come on. It's a blessing to be in the house of God, amen?

David said just one moment just one moment in your house, amen, than a thousand out of it. Come on, man. I would just rather be one moment in the presence of God, amen? In the presence of God with just one moment, he can change your life. He can change your destiny.

He can restore your marriage and your family. Today we've come to an opportunity of tithes and offerings, and I just want to read a quick scripture here. Comes out of Galatians Galatians chapter 6, uh verse 10. And the word of God says, "Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone, especially those in the family of faith."

As we have the opportunity, let us do good, Paul says. Every time we gather, every time we give, and every time we serve, it's an opportunity to do good unto the Lord, amen? >> ((music playing)) >> Giving is not pressure, it's an opportunity. As you can see, if you need an envelope right now, the ushers are walking down the aisles.

If you need an envelope, go ahead and raise your hand. As we begin to stir up our spirit and ask the Lord, "What would you have me to give today?" I just want to read a few things here that when we bring our tithes and offerings, we are choosing to do good.

We support the preaching of the gospel. We help meet needs in the house. We strengthen the family of faith, and we become a blessing ((music playing)) to our community. Notice that Paul says, "Especially to those that belong to the family of faith." The church should be the most cared for, the most supported, amen?

Your generosity keeps ministry moving. It opens doors for outreaches, and it fuels the mission that we have here at Hungry Generation. It creates impact beyond your reach. Can I be real with you guys? Can I be real with you? Many of us are sitting here today because we believe that our salvation is in Jesus Christ.

We said a prayer, and we believe with all our heart. And anybody can ask us, "Where are you going, heaven or hell?" And you're going to say, "Heaven, because I've accepted ((music playing)) Jesus Christ." You know, the Bible tells us that we should put all our faith in Jesus. But yet many times we struggle.

I struggle as a man, as a man of my house, I struggle with tithes and offerings. Right? It was something that I had to learn. It was something that God had to teach me on. And he told me, "How can you trust me with your eternity, but you can't trust me with your finances?

How can you trust me with healing in your body, but you can't trust me with your finances? You know, finances, they come and go. Money comes and goes, right? But when God heals you, he heals you for eternity. He heals you for good. And when he saves you, he saves you for eternity.

It's not something we have to go and seek again, amen? So, today as you're sitting there, I want you to understand that this is an opportunity that you have as long as I as as well as I do to serve God in this area. To come before him and say, "Lord, you are the Lord of my life.

You are the giver of every great thing. And so, Lord, what would you have me to give back to you?" Again, this isn't out of pressure, it's out of opportunity, amen? And as you guys can see, everything that Hungry Gen is stepping into this season, it is because of the generosity of many people around the world and those that are sitting here before us.

Don't be like many people who say, "Oh, well, I know, you know, brother so-and-so, sister so-and-so, you know, they've got they've got plenty. I'm sure they're you know, they're giving more than enough, so I'll just hold on to my 20 bucks, which is the tithing of my $200 for the week, right?

Come on, nobody makes $200 anymore, right? Come on, 10%. If we can't do anything with with the 90% that he gave us, we can much less do with the 100% that we have in our pocket. Let's trust that with that with 10% that we give unto the Lord that he will stretch that 90 to be more than enough, amen?

And as you place in your heart, we're going to begin to pray. Lord, I just pray right now that you bless every giver today. And for those who are struggling in this area like I did one time, Father God, I pray that you would touch their hearts, that you would meet their needs, Lord, and that they would challenge you just as your word says, "Test me in this, and see that I would not open up the heavens of of the the windows of heaven to pour out so much blessing that you won't even have room to contain it."

Lord, I trust you, and I believe you, and I pray right now that every seed that is sown into this ministry today, Father God, would go, Father God, for the campuses, Father God, would go for the fourplex that we're trying to build that we're going to build, Father, in your name, Father, for the interns to come here to be raised up for this next season.

In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen. You can go ahead and touch this the cards behind your seats, or you have the envelopes, and the ushers will be passing with buckets. And please help me welcome Sylvia to the stage. Good morning. Good morning. How's everyone doing? Amazing. Good to hear.

So, we've come to a time of testimony. And testimony is just us continue to glorify God of his goodness, what he is doing, and also to come and expose what the enemy tried to do to create this shame to defeat the shame that he wanted to create. So, also to encourage your faith that God is still alive.

God is still working today and forevermore. So, with that we want to share a testimony with you guys. So, if you guys can please help me welcome our testimony to the stage. >> [applause and music] >> Thank you for being with us. Can you share with us your name and where you're from?

My name is Rachel and I'm from Richland, Washington. Come on. Rachel, can you help Can you share with us what is it that God has done in a season of your life recently? Um well, it started when I was 12 that I had depression and anxiety. And then as a teenager after series of traumas, I was diagnosed with complex PTSD.

And then in my early 20s, I was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, which comes from a lack of safety in childhood. And then ((music playing)) I also had psychotic symptoms at that time and I was suicidal, pretty much having the thoughts every day, but actually trying to hurt myself like once a week.

Yeah, and then Yeah. So, you're dealing with all these disorder Did these disorders Tell us what is the solution? Where do you go to? You're seeking for a solution. You're seeking to get healed from it. Where do you go for this? Well, no medication was helping me and it doesn't help borderline personality disorder specifically.

And nothing else that I tried self-help, nothing like that was helping. And then I was pursuing the Lord. That's the only thing that gave me any type of relief. And then um I ran into Vlad's videos and he drew me to the website and then I saw a deliverance on their page and I had no idea what that was.

And I didn't know exactly how the Lord was going to set me free, but I knew he could do it. So, I went to the prayer line in faith that he would deliver me. Come on. Let's go. So, you have this faith. Again, you don't even know Pastor Vlad is near you.

You have faith. You believe. You sign up and you go. What happens during prayer line? What do you What do you experience during prayer line? Well, I didn't manifest at all, which is not usual, but um it was like nothing happened. And then within the next couple weeks, I was completely free of all of my mental illnesses.

Yeah. Come on. Give God a round of applause for that one. What the doctors and medication said would not be healed, God did it for her. And if God can do it for her, he can do it for you. So, can you share with us a word of advice or something you have for someone who's here today who's maybe came because they saw it on YouTube or coming by faith?

What would you share with them? Well, it really is just our faith that is what is going to make it work, you know? And um for example, like the ministers, they didn't know that I had borderline personality. They didn't know anything I was diagnosed with, but they prayed and God did it all.

He doesn't It doesn't matter like what they say. The Lord He will meet your faith and your pursuit of him and he will free you completely. Come on. So good. >> [applause and music] >> Thank you, Rachel. We believe that this is just the beginning of what God is doing in her life.

And also Rachel just released her connect group. So, now she is leading others. Come on. >> [applause and music] >> She's leading others to bring them to God and her connect group is growing. Her family, all are getting involved. So, if you're in this place today and you're looking for a miracle, you're looking for the healing, you're looking for a breakthrough, whatever it is that you're looking for, God already knows the need.

He already knows your heart. So, come in faith and be ready to receive as also our prayer line's going to be happening next service. Come in faith receive. So, we believe that God will do the same for you. Who believes it? Come on. Now, if you guys can please help me welcome Pastor Matt to the stage. >> [applause and music] >> Praise the Lord, everyone. >> ((music playing)) >> Praise the Lord, church.

Come on. Could you take the next 15 seconds and just give God praise for another day >> ((music playing)) >> to breathe, another day to get it right, another day to represent him. Come on. Won't you lift your hands up to heaven say, "Thank you, Jesus, that your mercy is new today.

Thank you, Jesus, ((music playing)) that this is the day that you have made. And I shall rejoice and be glad unto you." Hallelujah. ((music playing)) Come on. Turn to your neighbor say, "It's great to see you in the house of God today." Turn to your other neighbor say, "Are you ready for a word?"

Are you ready for a word? Amen. It's great to be here, Hungry Gen family. I'm excited to bring a word this morning. There is a fire burning in my spirit. I just got back from Spokane last night or I'm sorry, Idaho. It's like right on the corner of Spokane.

And I got about 3 and 1/2 hours of sleep. So, I I feel the Holy Spirit is I'm running on his fumes right now, but I feel a fresh anointing. I was preaching in a town of only 2,300 people and God was moving in the sanctuary last night.

People were getting saved and getting filled with the Holy Spirit. It was incredible. And I believe this morning God has a word for you. How many believe that? Amen. >> ((applause)) >> Before we go into the scripture, I want to encourage us today that just as a surgeon uses a knife to remove disease, God's word cuts away the sin and the corruption in our lives to make us whole.

There's power in the word of God and how many believe that no other book comes close? No other book in history comes close to its harmony, to its consistency, amen, and to its global impact. And so, we are going to preach the word today and I believe the power that's in this word is going to grip your hearts with truth and you are going to leave stirred.

Come on. On fire for Jesus. Am I the only one? Amen. ((applause)) If you could turn your Bibles with me to 1 Peter chapter 1 verse 7. If you don't have your Bibles, they're going to put it up on the screen. 1 Peter chapter 1 verse 7. Today I want to talk about why God uses fire, waiting, and crushing seasons.

I want to encourage someone today to embrace your season because there's a purpose in every season. And God wants to do something in you and he wants to break something off of you, especially in hard seasons. Let's take a look at 1 Peter chapter 1 verse 7. It says, "These trials will show that your faith is genuine.

It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold, though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So, when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

Holy Spirit, I thank you that you're already here doing what you alone are capable of doing. Have your way today. Speak to us through your word. Strengthen us where we're weak in Jesus' name. Amen. You know, I remember when I was living in Chicago, me and my dad set up a barrel sauna in our yard and a nice cold plunge tank.

And one day as I sat inside this sauna, I started thinking about what happens when you stay in there for some time. And I felt the Lord show me something about how the heat forces your body to sweat and bring impurities to the surface. And the Lord was showing me how fiery trials do the same thing.

They bring hidden impurities to the surface so God can deal with them. Issues such as pride, unforgiveness, sin, doubt, all of this rises to the surface so God can deal with them. And in his mercy, he allows this to happen so that he can purify you and to wash you and make you more like him.

And so, in a very simple way, trials are like the heat of a sauna. They expose what's hidden. And when you sit in there, it opens up your pores. I felt the Lord show me it's the same way in fiery trials. It opens up the pores of your heart and and it causes things that are not of God to come to the surface and everything that doesn't belong, he begins to purify you and to wash you.

But God uses fiery trials. Many people wonder, "God, why are you allowing this to happen? This doesn't feel too good." I tell people we're always in at least one of three seasons of life. We're either in the middle of something, about to be in something, or we just got out of something.

Amen. And that something is usually a difficult season and I don't know who this word is for this morning, but I want to encourage you with this that there is a purpose in every season. And in every season, God wants to teach you valuable lessons. He wants to reveal more of who he is and ultimately, he wants to shape you into his image.

Are you with me? Think about how rings are made. The gold or silver is heated to a very hot temperature until it becomes liquid. And then in order to remove impurities and ensure that this metal is pure, it is heated again another time. So, any remaining contaminants rise to the surface so all of them can be removed.

This is a great comparison to what happens to us spiritually during hard seasons and awaiting seasons and and times where we feel like the heat is rising in our life, in your family, in your marriage. God has a purpose. Some things we we bring upon ourselves. Some things are self-inflicted if we're honest.

And then some things, a lot of them, God allows to deal with our hearts and to get some stuff out of us because he doesn't want those things to hinder our future. There's a purpose in your crushing season. One time I put a sponge in the microwave for 20 seconds because I read that if you do it, it will kill the bacteria.

Anybody else do the same thing? I'm the only one. I felt the Holy Spirit speak to me that the heat did not create the bacteria. The heat just exposed it and then killed it. The bacteria was already there, but it was the heat that began to expose and kill the stuff that wasn't good.

And then I thought about the purpose of a fever. I don't know if you know this, but when a virus enters your body, your body doesn't cool down. It actually heats up. And the reason for this is because your brain gets a signal that something is wrong, and so it raises your body temperature.

And the reason for the fever is because many germs like viruses or bacteria can't survive as well at higher temperatures. So, by heating up your body, what happens is there is healing going on. Your immune system is fighting off this of infection more effectively. And I just want to tell somebody that the heat creates an environment where the virus can't live.

In the fire of God, there are things that are burned up. There are things that are burned off of you. Look at the three Hebrew men in Daniel chapter 3. They went in the furnace bound, but when the king looked down in the fire, they were walking free.

Broken chains. And then he saw a fourth man in the fire. Things break off of you in the fire. And heated conditions lead to liberation. God wants to liberate us. And there are just some stuff that won't be dealt with until you go through some hard times. Anybody with me?

He is the refiner. He is the one who applies the heat, not to harm you, but to transform you. And guess what? He knows the perfect temperature needed to bring out the best in you. He knows the perfect temperature it would take to burn ((music playing)) that stuff out of you.

I don't know what's on the inside of you, but all of a sudden when you go through hard stuff, things come to the surface, things that were hidden for years, and it's because God wants to deal with it. God wants to confront it, and God wants to purify you so that you can be effective in your calling and be all that he's called you to be. >> ((music playing)) ((applause)) >> I remember a year ago I got sick with the flu.

I was locked in my room, isolated for over over a week so that I won't affect anyone else in the house. If I hadn't been isolated when I was sick, I would have spread that that virus to those around me. And I felt like the Lord spoke to me in that room that this is how he refines his people in wilderness and waiting seasons.

That if we are not isolated in certain seasons where God can do a specific work in our hearts, what happens is we risk spreading the wrong things to people around us, which is our immaturity, our unresolved wounds, our unrefined character. All of these things can harm people if we do not allow God to deal with them in these hard seasons.

And then he showed me that when you were infected with something like the flu, what happens is, as I mentioned, your bodies go to war and your your body starts to build antibodies to fight off that sickness and even future infections. And God showed me when you go through different storms in your life, you are building spiritual antibodies.

And now it's causing you to endure future storms. Every battle you go through, every hard season you go through, is building spiritual antibodies. Am I talking to somebody today where God can now strengthen you for what's ahead? You are going through something specific so God can prepare you for what he's prepared for you.

God is getting you ready, and in order to get there, you got to walk through some fire. I truly believe that every anointed man and woman of God has to endure a death process. Everybody. If you really talk to people who are used so mightily by God, you can sit with them and you can just see what God has brought them through.

Sickness in their life, a loss of family members, betrayal. I mean, those who are really used by God at a high level has always had to endure some type of death process to get to where they are. And then they walk with a limp. And see, the limp is evidence that they had been with God.

If you look at Jacob, he wrestled with God, and God touched his hip, the joint that your whole body depends on for movement and support. And so now he walks with the limp, but it was evidence that he had been with God. I don't know who I'm speaking to today, but you've been wrestling with God.

You've been going through a hard season, and God wants to tell you that you will come out of this thing. Come on. Not looking like what you've been through. Just like the three Hebrew men in Daniel 3, you will come out the fire not smelling like smoke. Come on.

Not a hair on your head singed. Not a piece of your clothing scorched. You will come out with a fresh and purified. Somebody say amen. Isaiah 48:10, I have refined you, but not as silver is refined. Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of affliction. This is the word of God.

Another translation says, I have refined you in the furnace of suffering. God uses suffering, and he uses affliction to refine you, but not as silver is refined. But it's for a specific purpose. In the furnace of affliction. Man. There's some stuff you will only learn by going through affliction.

And that's not a popular message to preach. We want to hear about the blessings and the favor. Praise God for that. But see, when you follow Jesus, we're not just promised comfort. There's a cross that we have to carry. There's a cross that we have to bear. And there are some stuff that you will go through in this walk in in this life, but God has a purpose for it.

And he doesn't promise that the road will be easy, but he does promise that you will have his presence, his provision, and his peace in your life. And if that's all you have, then all you have is all you need. But my message this morning, maybe it's for three people.

I don't know. But God has a purpose in your hard season because he wants to mold you and shape you into who he's called you to be, and he wants to burn some stuff out of your life. He wants to mold you. One time I was looking up about a broken horse, of how a horse becomes broken.

I don't know if you've ever heard this before, but a broken horse is a horse that has been trained to accept a rider. It's been trained to accept a saddle and bridle. In other words, it's no longer wild or untrained. It's learned to trust the one who leads it.

An unbroken horse is wild by nature. It's untrained. It resists commands, and it hasn't learned to carry a rider. It resists pressure. It runs when it's afraid. It only trusts what's familiar. A broken horse is a horse that has been broken in, meaning it responds to direction. It stops when told, and it's safe to ride.

So, when someone wants to ride a horse, watch, the horse has to go through a process of training and trust building so it can accept leadership without fear or rebellion. So, historically, breaking a horse often meant to break its will so it stopped resisting. It worked, but at a cost.

And this is powerful. That term saddling is to ease the horse into accepting a saddle and a weight on its back. It's uncomfortable at first when a trainer saddles a horse. It's uncomfortable. They resist, but it's preparing this horse to carry something greater than itself. And and it and it resist, and it feels strange, and it feels heavy, but over time when a trainer works with it, the horse starts to learn.

And now what happens is the horse begins to carry some weight. It can bear a rider. It can pull a load. It can go into battle, and that is exactly how God does things with us in our life, in our walk with him. He doesn't want to break who you are.

He wants to break what's in the way of who you're becoming. He wants to break your will. I know it feels like you've been crushed. Come on. But the word of God says in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, we are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed.

Come on. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Come on. I don't know who this word is for today, but God has a purpose in your season. God has a purpose in your crushing season, and he wants to refine you.

He wants to shape you. He wants you to become like a broken horse. He's preparing you not just to run wild, but to carry his presence, to carry his anointing, to to carry this assignment that he's placed over your life. And watch, before God can trust you with his authority, before God can trust you with influence, he teaches you how to carry weight.

The word of God says in 2 Corinthians 4:17, "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." Psalm 32:9 says, "Don't be like a horse or a mule, which have no understanding, but must be controlled by bit and bridle."

We have to trust God in these seasons. There are some things that God withholds for a specific purpose. You may be in a season right now where you are believing God for a breakthrough, for a miracle. You may be believing God for something specific in your life, and you've been waiting, and you've been eager.

And it seems as though God is withholding this very thing you desire. But can I encourage you this morning with this? That what if God is withholding the thing you desire the most until you truly don't want it anymore? What if he is withholding what you are believing and praying for until your desire begins to shift, and you find something far greater, which is his presence?

And then that desire becomes secondary to your devotion to him. It's not wrong to desire things, but it is wrong to desire those things more than you desire God. Are you with me? So now those desires have its rightful place. A man of God once said that God puts desire in you for what he's desired for you.

The Bible says, "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." That verse doesn't mean that God will give you what you want. It means he'll give you what you want. Are you with me? So in these waiting seasons, in these crushing seasons, God begins to do something on the inside of you, but you have to walk in step with him.

YOU HAVE TO embrace the season, yield your life to him, and say, "God, I'm on your timeline." Friend, it's not so much about the answer to your prayer more than it is about what you learn while waiting for the answer. It's not so much about the destination of where you're headed more than it is about the transformation that happens along the way.

God wants to transform you into who he's called you to be, and ultimately to look like him. But you have to walk with him. You have to walk in step with him. Last year, I remember we were headed up to Seattle for Raised to Deliver conference. When I was driving on the freeway, it was pouring rain that whole week.

Anybody remember? And I was going a little bit too fast, and for a quick second, my car started to slide. And I felt my tires lose grip, and I finally catch traction again. And someone in the backseat said to me, "Bro, that's called hydroplaning." I said, "What is that?"

And he began to share with me what it actually means. And I felt the Lord speak to me that that is what it's like when we try to run ahead of God. That when the road is wet, you can't just move at your own speed. You have to adjust to the conditions.

You have to trust the road. You have to watch your pace. You have to stay submitted to what's happening around you. And in the same way, God has a pace for you. There's a rhythm to his leading. Hear me today. And when you're impatient, when you rush, when you force things, or you move faster than grace is carrying you, you start to lose spiritual traction.

Life begins to slide. You feel those moments where you lose control, not because God left you, but because you got ahead of him. And so when you slow down, and when you yield to him, and you let him set the speed, what happens is now you start to stay in his will.

You're not going to slip. You're not going to drift. Come on. You don't lose control because his pace is the safest ((music playing)) place. His pace is the rhythm that he has for your life. So I don't know who this is for, but just embrace your season and yield to his perfect timing.

Yield to what he desires to do right now in your life. Malachi 3:3, "He will sit like a refiner of silver, burning away the dross. He will purify the Levites, refining them like gold and silver, so that they may once again offer acceptable sacrifices to the Lord." Romans 5:3, "We can rejoice, too, but when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance, and endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation, and this hope will not lead to disappointment."

Going back to the sauna, I find it fascinating when you get out of a sauna and your face glows because all of the stuff came to the surface. God wants you to come out of these seasons shining and reflecting him. It is the same way spiritually. When you come out of the fire, fiery trials does not feel good, but now there's a glow about you.

You don't look like what you've been through. I want to tell you that on the other side is the promise. On the other side of that hard season, God has ((music playing)) a breakthrough waiting for you. If you would just endure through what doesn't feel good now, man, God would do something great with your life.

You ever hear that that verse in Jeremiah 29:11, one of the most famous scriptures, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you, not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." God spoke to me one day in a parking lot.

I was worshiping and crying in this car, and I felt him say to me, "Why?" He says those words, "I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you." Why does he use the word harm you? Why can't he just tell me you have plans to prosper me? "And not to harm you."

Because what you feel right now may feel like it's harming you, but it's meant to prosper you. What you feel right now may feel like it's harming you. What what you are experiencing in your marriage, in your finances, in your health, you may feel like, man, this is harming my life.

This is harming me. But God actually wants to use it to prosper you. And God is declaring over you today, "I've got plans to prosper you, not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." Come on. God is not done with you. And I want to encourage someone with this.

Every season has an expiration date. That's a reason to shout right there. Come on. Whatever you're going through, if you would just be obedient to God, that season has an expiration date. It's got to come to an end. It's got to fulfill its purpose in your life. Scripture says, "Let patience have its perfect work in you, so that you do not become deficient in any way, lacking nothing.

That you would become mature and complete. Endure through what doesn't feel good now, so that you can become mature and complete. Amen? God wants us to experience spiritual maturity. The season may feel dark, but God wants to develop you in that very season. Just like a seed planted in the dark, damp soil, has to get the right condition and the right temperature in that dark place, and then at the right time, it sends a shoot up to the surface, up to the light, and it begins to blossom.

I don't know who's in a dark season today. I remember one time someone told me about film photography. And in film photography, when they take images, there's a film that holds a hidden image called a negative. And before it becomes a visible picture, it has to go through a process.

They put this film in a dark room. The film is light sensitive, and it it if it's exposed to light too early, the image is ruined. So it is the developing process that has to happen in the dark first for this image to be clear. It's submerged in these chemical solutions, and these solutions slowly bring out what was captured little by little.

It's not instant, but it's a process, and the timing and the conditions have to be just right. Then it's exposed to light. And only after development is complete, can it really be safely brought into the light. and when it is the image is clear, the image is sharp, and it's ready to be seen.

That's exactly how God develops us in our faith walk. And I want to encourage someone with this today. The dark room is a place of hiddenness. The waiting season, the crushing season, the preparation season is a place where no one sees you, where you feel the weight of that crushing.

And some of you here today, you may be frustrated because you feel hidden, but what you need to know is that God is hiding you to develop you. God is saying that this is a necessary season because of your gift, because of your calling, and because of the influence.

If it's exposed to light too soon, it can destroy what God has been forming in you. He's developing something in you. Come on. That can't be rushed because he is forming something that is meant to last for you to experience longevity. Listen, you may feel unseen, you may feel overlooked, you may feel forgotten, but that is just, friend, the dark room of destiny.

Come on. I want to tell you in that place God shapes your character. In that place God matures your faith. In that place God teaches you how to depend on him, away from the applause, away from the crowd, and into the dark room. God says, "Let me do what I desire to do in this moment so that you can look just like me, so that you can be effective in your calling, and you can experience longevity."

You know, I'm concerned that God He He really cares about you being in this thing for the long haul. I believe all of my 20s I'm in my last year of my 20s. Last few months, actually. And I feel like the majority of my 20s consisted of much crushing.

And I'm like, "Lord, what are you doing?" But now looking back at the young 19-year-old Matt, I can see what he was up to all along. I can see that God has been concerned about longevity, and he wants me to be in this thing for the long haul.

So in order for me to make it and finish my race well, you got to go through this, you got to go through this. And if somebody told me at 19, "You would go through this and you would go through that," I would probably say, "I rather not do this.

I rather not be in ministry. I would rather not pick up this microphone." Come on. But I want to tell you that the foundation of true ministry is not a microphone, it's the altar. And preachers must be addicted to the place of prayer. And it's the place of prayer, the depth of your prayer life, that will determine the depth of your message.

Come on. I don't know who I'm speaking to today, but you got to go through some stuff so that you can walk with the limp, and the limp is evidence that you have been with God. He wants you to have history with him. Cling to him in the season.

Cling to him in the dark room of destiny. He wants to shape your character. Hallelujah. [snorts] I want to pray for you today in just a moment that you would embrace your very season, and you would know that God has a specific plan and a purpose to get you through.

In the book of Matthew, Jesus tells a very powerful parable that changed my life. He says, "Those who hear these words of mine and applies them to their life is like a wise man who has built his house on the rock. But those who hear these words and do nothing with it is like one who has built their house on sand.

So when the winds blow, when the torrent strikes, the house that was built on the rock stays standing, but the one that was built on sand begins to crash to the ground." How you respond to storms depends on your foundation. The winds are going to blow, whether you like it or not.

The torrent is going to strike. THINGS ARE GOING TO BEAT ON YOUR HOUSE. BUT YOU CAN'T TELL THE DIFFERENCE IN THOSE HOMES until the storm begins to hit. Then you can see which one was truly built on the rock and which one was built on sand. And I remember in a hard season in my life, God began to expose that you were building this area of your life on sand, and I need to deal with it.

And I started learning the power of sonship, which broke the grip of so many things off of my life, and I began to build my house on the rock. And I don't know who I'm speaking to this morning, but do not build your house on sand. Build your house on the rock.

Cling to Jesus. Make him the anchor of your faith. Come on. Faith needs something to hold on to, and God allows you to go through seasons. There's a many tests, but two specific tests that I've discovered in hardship is one that God allows you to go through a season to expose your desperate need for an anchor.

He exposes that you don't have an anchor and you need one. And this causes you to seek him and grow. Then he allows you to go through a hard season with the knowledge of him as your anchor. Now you went through this season, and I needed to expose that you were in need of an anchor.

Now let me see how you react and you respond in a season with an anchor. So the first test exposes your need for one, causes you to seek him. The second test, you learn to lean on that anchor. In the second test, you learn to draw strength from your relationship with him.

God has a purpose in every season. And he wants to teach you something. Maybe there's someone in here today where you feel like you're on the verge of giving up. You're tired of the waiting. You're tired of the crushing season. You're tired of the fire. But friend, I want to prophesy to you today, keep holding on.

I want to speak to you today. Continue to endure through what does not feel good so that God can do what he desires to do in you. So when you get out of that season, you can look back and you can say, "Man, I get it now. Now I carry some weight."

Come on. Now I carry some depth. Now I carry some substance. Now I got a revelation. Now I got fresh insight. Now I see the hand of God clear as day. Now I get it. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Lord, you didn't give me what I prayed for at that time.

Thank you, God, that you were protecting me. Thank you, God, that you were preserving me." Come on. I don't KNOW WHO I'M SPEAKING TO TODAY, BUT IT IS the crushing that produces FRESH OIL IN YOUR LIFE. If you look at how olives uh uh how they are crushed, IT'S TO EXTRACT and preserve the oil, but it has to be crushed first.

I want to tell us today that our hearts must be crushed and if we are uh to be fruitful for the things of God, we have to experience some sort of crushing. >> ((music playing)) >> Accept it, embrace it, and cling to Jesus through it. And be like a broken horse.

He doesn't want to break ((music playing)) who you are. He wants to break what's in the way of who you're becoming. It's all about the becoming. Hallelujah. Spiritual maturity. Somebody told Charles Spurgeon, "Why do you constantly talk about being filled with the Holy Spirit?" And he said, "Because I leak."

We all leak. Life drains us. Responsibilities drain us. Ministry drains us. People drain us. And you have to constantly be filled with the Holy Spirit. And friend, I want to tell you in this season, don't just leak out and not get filled with God's love. Let him fill you till your cup overflows.

Just come under the lordship of Christ. Drink daily from the cup of Jesus. He's a fountain that will never run dry. He's a fountain that will never run ((music playing)) dry. If that's you today, maybe it's not. Maybe you just got out of this season, or maybe you're about to enter the season.

Take what's being told to you today and hide it in your heart. Apply it to your life. Hallelujah. Jesus, he will cause you to see. You may not see it now, but you'll see it later. C.S. Lewis said, "I believe in Christianity like I believe the sun has risen, not because I see it, but because by it I can see ((music playing)) everything else."

Let him remove the ((music playing)) scales off of your life. Let him anoint your ears to hear, and in that season cause his voice to become the loudest one you hear, and the one you are most sensitive to. I want to pray for you in this moment that if that's you and you're in a hard season, or you're going through something, and there's stuff that you know God needs to burn off of your life.

You find yourself in a fiery trial. Could be in your marriage, it could be in your health, it could be in your finances. It could be in any area. Whatever it is, God has a purpose. And if you would look to him and say, "Lord, I'm going to embrace this season, and I'm going to look to you, the hills from which cometh my help."

He says, "I will give perfect peace to those who keeps their eyes fixed on me." God wants to give you perfect peace. If you lost your peace, it's because you've lost your gaze on him. Look to him again. Turn your eyes to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of your faith.

Hebrews 4:12 says, "Let us throw off everything and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith." If that's you, would you ((music playing)) Everyone rise to your feet in this moment.

If that's you in this place, I I want to pray for you for strength to endure. I want to pray that the joy of the Lord will be your strength in this season. And maybe it's for 17 people, I don't know. But I know that God wants to strengthen someone today, and he wants to encourage you today with ((music playing)) this right now word.

There is a purpose in your season. I was working on a message for a month and a half for today, and ((music playing)) 3 days ago God changed my whole message. I said, "Lord, what?" This is the earliest I've ever worked on a sermon, a month and a half ago.

Finished it and everything. And then he changed it last minute. So, it could be for a few people, I don't know. But there is purpose in ((music playing)) your pain. And there is purpose to why you're going through what you're going through. Every hand lifted, Father, I thank you in the name of Jesus for every person here today, ((music playing)) this precious room of people.

I speak, Lord, that you would strengthen them where they're weak. I speak, Lord, that you would lift them up. You are the lifter of our head. I speak, Lord, that your joy would become our strength. And God, things that have been hanging on to them will begin to burn off of them in the fire.

That just like ((music playing)) a sauna, it would bring things to the surface, and you would give them wisdom to recognize this. You would give them wisdom to to ((music playing)) see what you're doing, and that they would just submit to you. They would yield to you. That in this season, Lord, they would understand that this is not forever, that this season has an expiration date.

And Lord, you are for me in all things work together for good to them who love you and to those called according to your purpose. I speak God's strength. I speak the power of the Holy Spirit from the top of their head to the very soles of their feet, God.

I pray for your fire. I pray for fresh courage and hope to be infused on the inside of them. That you would give them confidence to know that you are for them and not against them. And if you are for them, God, who can be against them? That greater is he who lives in them than he who is in the world.

God, strengthen us today >> ((music playing)) >> in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen. If you're here tonight and you've never given your life to him, and you'd like to make him your anchor today, and you'd like to put your faith and your trust in Jesus. He paid a high price for you on the cross.

He knew no sin, but he became sin so that in him you might become the righteousness of God. We are not right with God because of sin, but we become right with him through the precious blood of Jesus that was shed on the cross of Calvary. And today, if you want to put your faith and your trust in Jesus Christ, if you're here or maybe you've gone astray and you want to rededicate, maybe you were brought here to church by a friend, maybe you're watching online, this is your moment today.

I want you to lift your hand high above your head. If that's you, I see those hands. Hallelujah. I see those hands. I want us all to pray this together for the benefit of those saying yes to Jesus and those putting their faith and trust in him today.

Say, "Jesus, I want you to say it like you believe it. Say, "Lord, I confess with my mouth and I believe in my heart that you are who you say you are. I believe that God raised you from the dead with all power to pay for my ((music playing)) sin.

And I repent of all my sins and I receive your forgiveness. So, today, Lord, I commit myself to follow you in Jesus' name. ((music playing)) Amen. Why don't you give God some praise right now? Give him some praise. All of heaven rejoices over even one soul. May the word bless you today.

Take it, apply it to your life. God has a purpose in every season. ((music playing)) In this moment, I believe we're going to close the service. We're doing the benediction. If we can say this together, Matthew 6:33, seek first the kingdom of God and all his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.

God bless you, hungry gen. >> ((music playing)) >> Have a great day.