Wa wa wa wa wa wa. Good morning, church.
How about before I say anything, you just give that loud or better applause for Jesus today, for all that he’s done.
Come on. Come on. Raise the roof.
Give him thanks. Come on, celebrate his goodness in your life today.
Anybody shout, “He’s good to me.” Come on, just say, “God’s good to me.” God’s good to me.
In the valley, in the valley, on the mountain, on the mountain, in the summer, in the summer, in the winter, in the winter, God is good to me.
God is good to me. Yes, I am home. I’m excited to be back.
For those of you who don’t know, I appeared on the screen every week, but I was actually nowhere close to here. And
uh Sheila and I have had some time away, and we celebrated uh our 100th anniversary.
How’d you like that? That was a quick cover up because I don’t really remember which one it is. It’s like no honestly I do because I got in
trouble for not knowing and she preached at me. So 45 year anniversary we celebrated
and she said she’s going to keep me for a little while longer. So that’s the good news.
Hey, before we are seated and I get into the message today, I just want to look back at the summer and celebrate a
little bit. Sometimes we forecast good things, but when they happen, we don’t pause long enough to really give thanks
and celebrate what has happened. And I want to I want to just over the summer just hit a few highlights. uh our summer camps for uh our summer camps for kids.
This year for youth this year we had 520 youth that attended our summer camp.
We had 70 youth in our en enrolled in our summer intern program. 70 youth hung
out here with us during the summer. We had 344 kids attended kids conference.
We hosted I’ll let you clap at the end.
Hang on. We hosted 150 different churches from 30 states at our team church conference. 150 different
churches, not people. 150 different churches and teams were here from 30
states and seven nations. So from around the world, they came to be with us in the first week of August.
Of course, at the Movies was another great highlight for the summer. We had several hundred guests that came into
the doors of our church and hopefully some of you that came in August are are back to stay and being called to be a
part of our church family. Uh this weekend we had our second annual man camp and I want to say thanks to all the guys who helped make that happen.
We have some of the best men in the world at Champion Center. Uh they serve, they give, they love, they do. They are not just hearers of the word, they are
doers of the word. Um and they’re they’re they’re they’re real men and they are awesome men and they get along.
uh no matter what, you know, I mean, I know we’re we’re real, but I just want to tell you, I’m always amazed that age, you know, there’s age gaps and they
still love each other and there’s racial differences and they still love each other and and and men who are really on
point, you know, doing God’s will for their life. And so, uh, we we just had a great great great great summer. We’ve
had a great summer and looking ahead into the fall, we’re excited about the rooted Bible studies beginning today and
our leadex uh I think I forget how many we have enrolled but leadex and then leadership development programs that
start tomorrow night. Uh next weekend it’s back to school weekend for our for
our students that are part of of Champion Center. We’re going to pray prayers of blessing on all of our students next week. It’s really going to
be a great weekend. Uh we have a a young man that I watched grow up. He’s from Florida and he’s becoming quite a
preacher today. His name is Charlie Hughes and he’s going to be speaking. He’s 24 years old, single um
in touch and just an awesome I started preaching when I was 19 and and he was somewhere in that vicinity when he started preaching. He’s going to be here
next week. And by the way, all you adults and all you are older, that is not a that is not to say, well, this is for the youth. Uh this is your chance to
come and really see and be encouraged by young voices and young people who are also going to be encouraging the youth and the young adults of our church.
That’s next weekend. So anyway, the good things continue. And uh I’m going to ask
you right now if you would just to say with me, “My heart’s open.” My heart’s open. And my mind’s ready. Make me better, God. Make me better, God.
By your word. by your word. I receive it. I receive it. And I believe it. I believe it. I receive it. I receive it.
And I believe it. And I believe it. And I won’t be the same again. In Jesus name. In Jesus name.
Amen. You may be seated.
Today we’re going to begin a new series of messages on the topic of good pharma.
Good pharma. And today’s message is titled Don’t Hold Back. Everybody say, “Don’t hold back.” Don’t hold back.
Say it again. Don’t hold back. Don’t hold back.
If uh the the word good fararma sounds familiar, it’s because uh I I spoke on this like 10 years ago. I think 2012,
2014, somewhere in that time frame. Uh I started speaking on this and it’s just become one of those phrases that is part of our culture here at Champion Center.
I’m going to explain it a little bit to you because we’re going to spend a few weeks on it. The word karma is rooted in the Hindu philosophy and the word karma
means the cause of law or or the cause of it’s the law of cause and effect.
And basically it just means that what you know what goes around comes around.
The Bible teaches a similar principle of life that is called seed time and harvest.
That has to do with our choices and our actions, our words, our habits, and how all of that is like seeds that create a harvest in our life tomorrow.
And so I just got this phrase a few years ago and and uh it’s like let’s
let’s be let’s be good farmas. Let’s do good pharma. Let’s practice good
farmering. And you might think well man come on there might be one or two or five farmers actual farmers in our
rooms right now. U there’s probably a few few more than that. But uh you might say, “I I don’t know nothing about that.” But you actually are a farmer.
You’re a farmer in a spiritual sense, in a life sense. And I’m going to teach you and talk to you a little bit about some of that because I don’t know that there
any more prevalent principle in the Bible than this than this principle. And I also don’t know that there’s anything
affecting and impacting your life more than what I’m going to talk about today. Seed time and harvest.
Are you ready? Say, “I’m ready.” I’m ready.
The first thing that a farmer has to do is that he has to see the future harvest that he wants in his field.
And then based on the harvest that he wants, he chooses what seeds to put in the field.
Okay? So that’s like where it all starts is just thinking about where do you want to be three years from now, five years
from now, 10 years from now, what do you want your life to be like?
And in the same way that a farmer looks at an empty field and chooses and can really change like if if in in his field
he decides, I’m not going to do corn anymore. I’m going to do something else.
Like he can do that. like he looks at the empty field and he can change what what it is that he wants to see in his
field in the future. And that’s really where it all starts for a farmer and it’s where it starts in all of our
lives. It it just knowing what you want in your future.
Knowing what you want in your future.
So, I’m going to assume today that there’s a few things. I’m going to throw out a few things that that I hope are at the top of your priority list. If not,
maybe they should be. Um, and I’m going to put it up on the screen just for examples, okay? That your priorities hopefully would be things like I want to
be a healthy person relationally, emotionally, mentally, physically, spiritually. I I want to be healthy. Any anybody uh want to be healthy? Like you you want to be healthy past today?
Anybody want to stay healthy and be healthy tomorrow? All right. Um the next one like I want to please God. I want to keep him at the center of of my life.
I’m just going to assume that you want that uh you’re here at church today. So, I’m going to assume that I’m going to assume that you want to be planted as a
family uh and have your children growing up in the house of the Lord. Not just growing up in the world way and the and
and worldview, but growing up in the house of the Lord. The Bible says in Psalm 92:13, a bit of pharma, like it’s all over the word once you start seeing
it. You see it everywhere. But Psalm 92:13 says, “Those who are planted in the house of the Lord are going to flourish in the courts of God.” Starts
with what? Being planted like we plant our lives literally in God’s house. And it says our lives as a result of being
planted in the right soil, right place began to flourish. I’m going to assume that you want to prosper, that you want to have increase, that you want to advance, that you you want to move
forward, right? That you want to have progress from where you are today. Some of you are saving money right now. Why?
You want to prosper. Uh, some of you making investments right now. Why? You want to prosper. You’re praying for a new home uh that you can own and stop
renting. Why? Because you want to prosper. I’m just going to assume that you want that, right? Uh I’m going to assume you want to not just be in God’s house. You want to build God’s house.
And and that all starts when we contribute our time and our talent and our treasure to the mission of the church. Our church is today a product
not just of God’s goodness and God’s blessing, but our church is a product of many people who have sown many good
seeds over many years now um into the soil uh called Champion Center into the
soil of our church family. Like we didn’t just happen, right?
Like it does it didn’t just you walk into whatever room you’re in today, it didn’t just happen. like lots of seed sowing
and and lots of people investing and lots of people being faithful. Okay. So, I want to go to the book of Ecclesiastes
11 and I want us to look at what it teaches us and that’s where our principle will be drawn from today. Our
main focus will be drawn from today uh which we’re calling don’t hold back.
Don’t hold back. Ecclesiastes 11, whoever watches the wind will not plant.
Whoever looks at the clouds will not reap. Whoever watches the wind will not plant.
Whoever looks at the clouds will not reap. And then he explains that you don’t know the path of the wind. You don’t know how a body is formed in your mother’s womb. You can’t understand all that God does. The maker of all things.
Like you don’t understand how it all works. But but that’s part of this whole revelation
for you is number verse six. Just do what I’m telling you. Sew your seed in the morning. Like you don’t know what
all how it works. And if you watch the wind, if you look at the clouds, like you’re going to get discouraged and
you’re going to have struggles in your life and and you’re going to start questioning this power of this process and the power of this principle. So he
just literally says, “Sow your seed in the morning.” Seowing your seed in the morning is not the same as thinking about sewing your seed.
Come on.
He says, “Sow your seed.” Somebody shout, “Sow your seed.” So sew your seed in the morning and evening. Let your hands not be idle. You
don’t know what’ll succeed. You don’t really know what’ll happen. You don’t really know what’ll come of all of it or the timing of of something this or that
or whether both will uh uh do equally well. Like so. So the two greatest hindrances
to the harvest happen number one, hope you’re taking notes. When people don’t know
what they want most for their future, that that’s the first hindrance is the uncertainty creates hesitation.
It creates lack of commitment and clarity around your priorities.
So that’s a hindrance. That’s a barrier.
And if you look back on your life and you go, “Wow, I don’t know why this happened to me. Why did bad stuff happen
in my field? Why didn’t something good happened in my field?” Let’s just rewind all of that right now and talk about
hindrances to a harvest in your life. It all starts whenever people don’t know
what they want, what they’re praying for, what their f I just gave you a little list, for example, that’s like a laser beam. I gave you four or five
things. And if you don’t know what you want, then you can’t complain about what you get.
Secondly, people there’s a hindrance to the harvest when people get discouraged by conditions and circumstances and stop sewing their seed.
That’s right. That’s a hindrance.
Wow. If you allow negative conditions to stop you from sewing positive seed, your harvest will be hindered.
When you overthink, you underact. Say it again.
You’re welcome. I’m back.
See, your main role is not to read the weather.
Your main role is to sew your seed. Yes,
you might feel things or have things, you know, the the the weather conditions socially might be affecting you sometimes. Like, nobody notices or
appreciates what I do. Nobody says thank you, so I’m just going to quit doing it. Oh, that’s really great.
You see what I’m saying? People People let circumstances change what they’re doing.
If I promise you if if any of us I I’ll speak for for me and Sheila and I if if we just like
if we just would have quit sewing seed toward the vision that we’re in walking in today called ministry champion
center. If we would have just said well people don’t appreciate me so I’m done.
I’m out. It’s over. We’d have been gone a long long time ago. If you let yourself, whether it’s a husband, wife,
relationship, family, church, whatever, you don’t base what you do on what other people are saying or doing.
We we we base what we do on the harvest that we want to see in our future. Wow.
So, we have a lot of people that come to Champion Center and and hesitate on, you know, on just coming into the community and they’ll say things like, “Well, you
know, the last time I got involved in church, this wasn’t a good experience. So, I I’m just like going to keep Oh, great plan.
What’s that field going to look like?
not not not appreciated, not noticed, have your feelings hurt, offended, he who watches the wind will not sow.
And and and whoever is uh trying to be a weatherman is not going to be a farmer. Not a good farmer anyway.
So the scripture is saying if you wait until the wind and the weather just ripe, you’ll never plant anything or harvest anything.
o this is my message for you today. Don’t hold back.
Say this with me. Don’t hold back. Don’t hold back. Say it again. Don’t hold back. Don’t hold back. self.
Self, don’t hold back. Don’t hold back.
Regardless of the conditions, don’t withhold your hand regardless of the circumstances. Don’t stop doing good.
Sew your seed in the morning and in the evening. Don’t let your hand be idle because sewing seed is what puts a
harvest in the field. The farmer’s only hope for a harvest is if he gets seed in the soil.
He can’t let the weather hold him back.
He can’t let a gloomy forecast in the farmer’s almanac hold him back.
He can’t let another farmer who’s discouraged hold him back. He can’t let weariness hold him back.
his role. He has one role in the creative process of the future and that is to get seed in the soil.
He’s part of a process that he cannot make happen himself.
Are you with me? I said he is part of a process. He He doesn’t create the dirt.
He can’t make the seed break open and become something. He has one role.
One role. He can’t control the weather.
He has one role. Get his seed in the ground.
That’s his part in the creative process.
But make no mistake about it. This is where the God man relationship comes together is that without seed in the soil there will be no harvest.
If he wants a harvest, he has to get into the field. He has to put seed in the ground. He has to be relentless, tenacious.
He’s got to be determined.
He’s got to be He’s got to be faithful at sewing his seed.
And when he does all of that, he can do that with the expectation of a harvest.
So, so I want to encourage you and I want to lead you as men, as couples. I want to lead you as as families, as
students today, not only individually, but collectively as God’s church. I I want to I want to
lead you today into decisions and to be decip decisive and let’s keep doing good.
Let let let’s keep being faithful. Let’s keep being strong.
Let’s keep honoring the Lord. Let’s keep investing in our marriages.
Keep investing in your family and in your children and in the church.
I want to encourage you today. Don’t don’t look too much at the weather.
Don’t worry too much or get caught up in circumstances.
Let let let’s let’s keep on and continue on in doing what we know to do and let’s do it with
all of our heart as unto the Lord. See, because doing good always creates a harvest of good things.
I said doing good always creates a harvest of good things.
Seowing and reaping works for everyone. It’s not a respector of persons.
a 14y old or a 40y old. It it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter your skin color.
It doesn’t matter male or female, new Christian, old Christian, nonChristian.
Seowing and reaping works for everyone.
It works for us individually. And it works for us collectively.
And we are right now sewing seeds for the future of our church.
Shout out to Belleview. Shout out to Yakimal. Some good news on the way today.
Yakamal. End of service. Don’t leave early. You’ll you’ll wish you didn’t.
As for Yakamal, all you guys can hang on and wait.
Deont.
Somebody likes Deont right here in Tacoma.
How we treat one another.
how we talk for real.
Our worship, I’ve noticed in worship, a lot of people like to go to a church that is expressive
and they just stand and stare. But if you talk to them, they’ll say, “I love the life of the church.” But they ain’t got none.
It’s interesting.
There’s there’s always there’s always people going to reach over and grab your harvest, you know.
How how we worship is creating our future, our mindset.
towards serving.
Ask ask yourself, what if everybody in the church had the same attitude and mindset about serving as I do?
But what would happen in the future of our church? We wouldn’t have any people next door in children’s ministry.
We wouldn’t have any people in the worship teams.
Just just start drawing lines through all of it.
There wouldn’t be anybody greeting you today.
Because why? Because we’re all in this process collectively of whatever our church is 5 years from
now depends on the seeds we’re sewing today.
Our giving habits, the investments we make in our children.
Another thing to remember is that seeds always produce after their own kind.
You don’t ever get a cherry tree from an apple tree.
Bad attitudes create bad attitudes. Bad attitude people find bad attitude people.
Pretty soon two, three, four complainers. up.
But on the good side, people who are positive, people who are full of faith, people who say, “I see
the problem, but I know God’s able.” Like like people who stay in that vein of being confident, they attract other confident people.
And those people, you see what I’m saying to you? Seeds always produce after their own kind. Horses don’t produce monkeys.
Gorillas don’t produce giraffes.
That’s a crazy word picture. Sorry about that. Um I I’m trying to get a point across
is that seeds always produce after their own kind. Whatever you’re putting out into your atmosphere of your home, don’t be surprised if your children don’t pick
up on it and don’t start saying it and don’t start doing it.
I see it happen in our in our own home in our own family. Have praise worship music on your kids learn the words they start singing it.
What what are you putting out there? What kind of seeds are you sewing?
What’s happening in the atmosphere consciously, unconsciously? Because everything creates after its own kind.
So good seed always creates a good harvest, right?
And scripture says in Galatians 6:9, “Let us not be weary in doing good.”
Come on. Don’t don’t get tired of doing good. I’ve been going to this church for 10 years. Lord,
listen to that preacher every week. I need a different preacher.
I need a different place. like no, don’t get weary doing good.
Yeah, it’s good.
When you’re faithful, you’re sewing seed.
When when you’re doing like going through the motion, people like, I don’t want to just worship going through the motion. Sometimes you have to.
Sometimes you don’t feel like worshiping, but worship anyway.
That’s what that song was about today before I started teaching. You know, I
I’ll praise you the any way I can or everywhere I can. And and and the words I noticed the words were like, I praise
you on the mountain. I praise you louder in the valley.
Like like do you understand what I’m saying?
Like like we what are we doing? We’re being faithful.
We’re continuing to do. So let us not become weary. He says in doing good at proper time you’re going to reap a
harvest if you don’t give up. Like the day comes when your feelings of not feeling like worship you kept worshiping. The day come when when when
all of a sudden like woo yeah like oh yeah you are ready to worship today. Like you are ready to pray. Shout loud.
You’re wondering why everybody else is just like cuz you’re all wound up today, right?
It’s amazing. God restores our soul. God does great things for us as moments in time happen and harvests do come if we
stay faithful and don’t get weary and doing well. So let’s keep doing good when it’s not easy, when it’s not celebrated, when
it’s not notice, when it’s uncomfortable. I’m talking to somebody today.
Let’s keep doing good when there’s resistance. Keep doing good.
Why? Because we will reap a harvest if we don’t give up.
Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow.
Let me let me tell you a couple more things about this today. Doing good is how we overcome evil.
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Now, I have a little bit of a my own theory here is that prayer is part of of victories that God gives.
Prayer, praise, worship are all part of summoning heaven into a circumstance in our life and receiving victory
in our life. But I think some people assume prayer replaces doing good.
Well, we’re just going to pray about it. How about we do something? I meet people like that all the time.
Like and and and they are I just say they’re of they’re they’re they’re so spiritual they are of no earthly value.
Might as well just go on to heaven cuz they ain’t nothing here. God’s been trying to get something out of them, do
something through them, and they just Oh no. They’re like they’re like they’re kind of like those those religious
people that sit on mountain tops and hum spiritualist. You don’t overcome evil by just praying.
We overcome evil by doing good. We overcome evil with good things.
We got to put seed in the ground.
The Apostle Paul said in Hebrews chapter 10, he says, “We don’t belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are
saved.” So, we overcome evil by doing good. I want to acknowledge today that that there’s like a lot of evil going on in our world today.
And I don’t know about you, I just like I get I get ticked off. I have to I have to moderate my diet on news and information.
Uh because there’s so much darkness, like so much conflict, so much silly, goofy, and and and outright evil
that’s finding spaces and places in our world today. The social spiritual climate like it’s bad
and and the economic outlook is not bright. And and there’s wars going on and rumors of wars and 2024 is on the way.
which it appears to be maybe the most combative year politically
that our nation has ever known with the upcoming presidential election.
So all of that stuff is going on and kingdoms are in conflict. Light light and darkness are colliding.
If you’re thinking of this as just something political, you need to wake up.
Like this is not just political. It’s way beyond political.
I mean things like parental authority is being undermined and subverted and schools and libraries are hosting
drag queen store hours for children.
Somebody said stupid. I agree. Stupid.
Children who are too young to buy alcohol or have a driver’s license are being given hormone blockers and sex
change operation. Like this is this is like from another world literally from a world that is evil and dark. And if
you’re listening and watch right now and and and you’re getting upset by what I’m saying um no apology like you have
believed stuff that’s not true. It’s horrible. It’s not right.
you know, the the whole I’ll tell you when freedom of speech issues started coming to the surface and I started realizing cancel culture turned into
literally like laws that were affecting what people were comfortable and confident in saying or having to pay a
penalty for it. And that’s happening straight up all around. As a pastor, I just I I started and and all my pastor
friends that I know started thinking about the reality is that some of you it’s like a freedom of speech. I think maybe they should be able to say what
they want to say. For a pastor and if you’re a Christian, you’re one step away from being able to actually proclaim the gospel.
And and here’s why. because it’s will be called misinformation, that somebody else is deciding what is
and isn’t disinformation, misinformation. It’s like somebody else gets to. So, we’re
we’re like right on the we’re right there in war zone stuff.
And and I know a lot of people wonder like, well, well, what are we going to do? And I feel like this is why
the Lord put this on my heart today to to just tell you that doing good is how we overcome evil.
Doing good is how I hope I hope if anything rather than running to the cave or running away afraid or I hope it summons you out from any kind of hesitation you’ve had.
I hope it summons you out with a courage and a boldness to say, you know, these there there’s people standing up for a
lot more crazy things and are unintimidated to say things that
are obvious non-truths and lies. Why why would I be quiet anymore? Like like why would I hold back now?
Like what?
I hope I hope we invest ourselves in the in the kingdom of God like never before
and realize that doing good is what overcomes evil.
Doing good is what overcomes evil. It’s not a time for us to hold back or wait for better weather. It’s not time to
crawl in a bunker and wait till the wind dies down and the clouds pass over. The the world is never
going to be what it was in 2018 or it’s not going to be the same. The world will
never be the same. We have stepped into a space of tit for tat, eye for eye, tooth for tooth.
It’s a new It’s a new day. What are we going to do?
Don’t hold back.
Don’t hold back. If you’ve been a marginal part of God’s great church, don’t hold back.
We need you. God needs you.
God, guess what? God put you and I here now in this season and in these times.
Not to shrink back, but to step up and to show up and to speak up. We’re not here by accident.
We’re here by divine design. This is our season. Like this is our time.
This is our time.
And you’re where you are because God put you here.
There are places in the world, by the way, where people are dying for their faith in large number like every week.
Like it’s just martyrs. And it’s happening right now. A lot of people don’t know that in America. Like we live these safe, beautiful lives. People are dying literally being drugged out of
their house and being killed and because of their faith like that’s happening in the world right now. You’re not there and you’re probably thankful. But you
are here and we’re here not by accident. We’re here by divine design.
And we have the power.
We have the power to continue to bring heaven to earth through doing good by acts of service.
And last, let me just get to this. Doing good is how we show our faith.
Like, how do you show your faith? James chapter 2 says, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds?
I’m going to show you my faith by my good that I do.
The good that I do. And this isn’t, by the way, just referring to acts, random acts of kindness. I’m glad you bought
the the person behind you in the Starbucks line a drink. Yay, that’s good. That’s really good.
But this is more than that.
It’s habits and lifestyles that are part of being a living a practical Christian life. Right.
Somebody shout, “Do good.” Do good.
Say, “Don’t hold back.” Don’t hold back. Say it again. Do good. Do good.
Say, “Let’s do good.” Let’s do good. Let’s not hold back. Let’s not hold back. Don’t hold back on your tithe.
Oh, you almost said it. I almost got you. I almost got you.
I I want to talk about this one for a minute. Don’t hold back on your tithe.
If this is not your church, then don’t bring your tithe to this church.
Take your tithe where God has placed you.
But if this is your church, bring God or bring him your tithe and bring it here.
If it’s a small amount, don’t hold back. Well, Pastor Kevin, it’s just small.
Like, I don’t make that much. Don’t hold back.
If it’s a big amount, don’t hold back.
Well, Pastor Kevin, I’m praying for you guys. Bring your tithe.
Don’t rationalize this kind of stuff anymore. Yeah, that’s part of what gets got us where we are today in terms of the absence of
good. Think of a field think of a field 30 yard by 30 yards and that’s that just think of it as today like and and that’s
that’s the future. Well, that field is going to be filled with stuff that the world’s going to put in the in the
field. And every space we occupy is our space. It’s kingdom territory by doing good things.
But but if if we don’t occupy it, and this is where we’ve been a lot of lethargy, a lot of leodyian attitudes
and mindsets among Christians over the last 50 years or whatever, and it’s got us into this mindset of of go to church,
listen to the preacher, and and I did my deal for the week. No, no, no, no, no, no. Everywhere where we don’t occupy, the enemy will.
Do do you understand it’s space to occupy?
So this is the time where we shouldn’t be rationalizing simple things like tithing.
Those sort of rationalizations are what people do when they’re holding back.
Amen.
Like like people who their tithe is larger, they hold back because they’re like, “I don’t think that the church really needs this.
Stop it.” Like, it’s not about that.
If God put you in the church, he told you, “Bring your tithe.”
And there’s blessing in it for you as well as for the church.
So stop rationalizing it. Just be obedient.
Just be obedient, pastor. Times are tough. Stop looking at the wind.
The weather conditions are bad. Stop being a weatherman. Don’t hold back.
You know, our staff, our team that works for us knows that one of my favorite things to hear from them when I ask them
to do something is to hear them say, “Done.” Like, I just love it when I send a text and I get back four letters. Done.
That’s my favorite. And they kind of know that. So, I get a lot of done. Done. I ask them to do something. Done.
I love that word. So good. God does too.
He wants to be able to say it and you to say done. Done.
And then someday he’s going to look at you and he’s going to say well done.
Oh, come on somebody.
Well done.
Good and faithful servant.
Good and faithful at doing good.
You didn’t stop when it was easier to stop. You didn’t quit when the opposition and adversity was there.
Well done.
Well done. And your your reward in eternity. Yes.
Is not just based on happen stance or the love
of God or the grace of God. It’s we’re only saved by grace.
But even our reward in heaven, even the well done, good and faithful part, like he’s saying well done about something we did.
Do you understand what I’m saying?
So any justification of a life of you know well I don’t do anything it’s not by you know it’s not by works it’s by
faith and you you better reel that in and get it in balance and just understand that our faithfulness
is something that God rewards and us staying the course in in a storm
in bad weather in struggle sir you might be right right now you might be in a place where just feels like all hell has broke out against you.
And can I just encourage you today?
Don’t look to the left and don’t look to the right.
And don’t waver in the decisions that you’ve made to serve the Lord.
Can I just encourage you, mom, single mom today who might be struggling trying to sort it all out or pay the
bills or raise those children. Can I just encourage you today to keep sewing your seed like don’t hold back.
Don’t rationalize. Don’t don’t wonder, well, you know, where’s my little boy going to get some fathering?
You sew your seed and watch what God does.
We see young men grow up in our church who don’t have a dad. And it’s amazing how those spaces get filled when mom
just keeps sewing good seed. It’s amazing how other men come into their life and big brothers come along and dads come along.
So don’t hold back.
I said don’t hold back. I said don’t hold back. I’m talking to some people today. Don’t hold back. Like God’s got
rewards for you in this life and in the life to come if you will not hold back.
Amen. Let’s give the Lord a great big hand right now, can we? Amen.
Come on. I just uh I think sometimes I want to pray with you today. I’m just going to ask that nobody leave any of the spots where you’re at.
I want to pray with you today. Uh here’s basically let me just pray it in
a way that may be unique and different and let me just tell you that prayer today is that you would not hold back.
My prayer for you today is that you would be obedient and have the courage to not hold back.
And for people who have been held back, I pray for you today and that you would break free
of restraints and hesitations and fear, rationalization, procrastination.
I pray for you today.
that those things that are causing you to miss out on the opportunity that you have,
the questions, the uncertainty. I pray for you today in Jesus name.
in Jesus name that you would understand that starting right now your life is not a product of circumstances and
situations and what other people do and what other people say. It’s not even a product of just what God wants for your future. We know what he wants.
But the most powerful thing that you can do is to not withhold your hand,
to not watch the wind, to not be afraid of what’s happening around you,
but day by day and week by week just to continue to sew your seed.
And I pray right now for people who if something doesn’t change are going to
miss out on the harvest that God has planned for your future. I mean this earnestly today. I pray for you right now.
I pray for you right now. The harvest that you’re sewing into or the lack of sewing into your future is there’s going to be a consequence.
And I pray for you right now that you would be that you would shake yourself out of that and become active, become a doer.
I pray in Jesus name that God would give somebody courage to fully embrace
and step into a life fully committed to God in Jesus name.
Do you receive that today?
I pray you do. I pray for our church family that we would just see the future for us as a church is really bright. We have an opportunity.
Where sin abounds, grace does much more abound.
When the night gets darker, the light gets brighter.
We have opportunity. I hope every young man, every young woman, you will realize I have an opportunity of a lifetime in front of me. I pray every parent will
realize that I I have the power to invest and seow seeds toward my child’s future.
And I’m going to do it for the glory of God. And I will not be weary in doing well. I’m going to stay the course
in Jesus name. With heads still bowed and eyes closed, I want to remind you today that scripture says that we’re all
sinners and that when we confess with our mouth and believe in our heart that Jesus saves us from sin.
That at that moment we are saved. The moment of confessing with our mouth and believing in our heart, a yes in our heart
and a confession on our lips. And I invite anyone and everyone who believes today but is not sure of your salvation.
I’m going to invite you to pray this prayer with me at all of our locations.
I’m just going to ask you right now to just say this out loud. Say, “Lord Jesus, welcome to my world. Welcome to my world.
Come into my life. Forgive me of all my sin. And make me a new person.
My faith is in you. My in my hope is in you my hope is in you and I boldly declare I boldly declare
by your grace by your grace I’m a child of God I’m a child of I’m saved from my sin my s
and I have the hope of eternal life and I have the hope of eternal life and today I want you to know I receive you right now as a pastor of this church I
receive you receives you God bless you welcome to the family of God let’s celebrate salvation ations today. Amen.