WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.320 I know sometimes you didn't grow up with people counting on you but I want you to know 2 00:00:03.320 --> 00:00:08.920 your Heavenly Father and your Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, they're counting on you. 3 00:00:08.920 --> 00:00:12.080 They're counting on you to get to the end of the roads. 4 00:00:12.080 --> 00:00:18.040 Jesus and He who doors to the end shall be saved, so endure it's the big deal to Jesus. 5 00:00:18.040 --> 00:00:21.760 He said anybody who puts their hands to the plow and looks back is not fit for the kingdom. 6 00:00:21.760 --> 00:00:26.440 You're not suitable because the kingdom of God is not a kingdom that gives up, amen. 7 00:00:26.440 --> 00:00:31.480 Welcome to the CityLight Church Podcast, thanks for joining us today, as we look into God's 8 00:00:31.480 --> 00:00:35.760 Word and discover the hope and truth that He has for us. 9 00:00:35.760 --> 00:00:41.560 If you want to connect with CityLight Church, feel free to visit us at citylightnyc.com, 10 00:00:41.560 --> 00:00:44.880 that citylightnyc.com. 11 00:00:44.880 --> 00:00:50.080 Pastor Boyan Jansik and his team believe that the power of the Holy Spirit is already 12 00:00:50.080 --> 00:00:52.720 working in our hearts and minds. 13 00:00:52.720 --> 00:00:57.680 As you listen to today's teaching, remember that you are deeply loved by God, that you 14 00:00:57.680 --> 00:01:06.240 are surrounded by His grace, and that He has a real hope and a future for you. 15 00:01:06.240 --> 00:01:10.760 Well, we have a special guest for you today, Pastor Maurice Johnson from Winners Church is 16 00:01:10.760 --> 00:01:14.120 here with us. 17 00:01:14.120 --> 00:01:18.280 It was an amazing first service so you're in for a treat. 18 00:01:18.280 --> 00:01:24.000 This man has been my friend since 2002 when CityLight was about a month old. 19 00:01:24.000 --> 00:01:29.880 We had our first lunch and haven't stopped having lunches since. 20 00:01:29.880 --> 00:01:38.600 I didn't even realize I was going to come out so funny, but now I see the humor in it. 21 00:01:38.600 --> 00:01:43.320 Seems like I planned that joke, because sometimes funny just happens. 22 00:01:43.320 --> 00:01:45.960 I consider him one of my best friends. 23 00:01:45.960 --> 00:01:48.280 He wouldn't say the same. 24 00:01:48.280 --> 00:01:50.800 I even called him my best friend and said, well, you're not my best friend. 25 00:01:50.800 --> 00:01:51.800 I said, who do you have? 26 00:01:51.800 --> 00:01:53.000 He listed a couple of other guys. 27 00:01:53.000 --> 00:01:59.640 I'm not impressed at all, but apparently somehow they're better to him than I am. 28 00:01:59.640 --> 00:02:03.080 But the Lord will deal with him in due time. 29 00:02:03.080 --> 00:02:04.080 But He is. 30 00:02:04.080 --> 00:02:09.120 He's an amazing man and you know, who can you call that close friend? 31 00:02:09.120 --> 00:02:10.520 It takes time, doesn't it? 32 00:02:10.520 --> 00:02:12.560 It takes time. 33 00:02:12.560 --> 00:02:18.640 They had to have seen you at your worst and walked with you through some things, which Pastor 34 00:02:18.640 --> 00:02:19.640 Maurice has. 35 00:02:19.640 --> 00:02:21.640 I love him dearly. 36 00:02:21.640 --> 00:02:25.840 He's a great friend of our family and this church, so won't you welcome Pastor Maurice 37 00:02:25.840 --> 00:02:26.840 Johnson. 38 00:02:26.840 --> 00:02:33.920 He's going to bring the word to the Lord to you this morning. 39 00:02:33.920 --> 00:02:36.280 We're so happy to have you here. 40 00:02:36.280 --> 00:02:39.280 Is that the deliberate, so slow stroll, just a... 41 00:02:39.280 --> 00:02:41.280 Thank you, Pastor. 42 00:02:41.280 --> 00:02:42.280 Oh, okay. 43 00:02:42.280 --> 00:02:43.280 All right. 44 00:02:43.280 --> 00:02:44.280 Praise God. 45 00:02:44.280 --> 00:02:46.280 Good morning, everybody. 46 00:02:46.280 --> 00:02:47.280 Now, we warmed up. 47 00:02:47.280 --> 00:02:48.280 It's the second service. 48 00:02:48.280 --> 00:02:50.280 So we got to get wild up in this one. 49 00:02:50.280 --> 00:02:51.280 All right. 50 00:02:51.280 --> 00:03:02.280 First of all, I just realized I didn't thank Pastor Boyan for the invitation, so thank you. 51 00:03:02.280 --> 00:03:03.280 Pastor Bo. 52 00:03:04.280 --> 00:03:07.680 As y'all know him, I appreciate the invitation. 53 00:03:07.680 --> 00:03:10.080 Thank you for your confidence in me. 54 00:03:10.080 --> 00:03:16.520 And I'm so glad that his wife and his first born is in the house. 55 00:03:16.520 --> 00:03:19.360 This kid is amazing. 56 00:03:19.360 --> 00:03:26.000 He reminds me so much of his mom. 57 00:03:26.000 --> 00:03:31.400 And the princess reminds me so much of her dad. 58 00:03:31.400 --> 00:03:36.400 When Pastor Bo's mom was in the first service, she says, no, she's like me. 59 00:03:36.400 --> 00:03:37.400 Okay. 60 00:03:37.400 --> 00:03:39.400 But she's a boy I just like me. 61 00:03:39.400 --> 00:03:40.400 So she's like him. 62 00:03:40.400 --> 00:03:42.400 I say, yeah, that's it. 63 00:03:42.400 --> 00:03:43.400 Amazing kids. 64 00:03:43.400 --> 00:03:44.400 Amazing kids. 65 00:03:44.400 --> 00:03:45.400 Amazing family. 66 00:03:45.400 --> 00:03:50.200 You really are blessed to have a first family like this. 67 00:03:50.200 --> 00:03:56.400 You really are blessed where what you're seeing in the public is what is happening in the 68 00:03:56.400 --> 00:03:57.400 private. 69 00:03:57.400 --> 00:03:58.400 Amen. 70 00:03:58.400 --> 00:04:04.900 I was telling Pastor Boyan, I didn't mean to say this, but I was at their house one day 71 00:04:04.900 --> 00:04:12.900 and I was hanging out with him and then his wife came in, she got the kids and he said 72 00:04:12.900 --> 00:04:20.240 something to his son and I was just observing and I noticed that his son's physical body 73 00:04:20.240 --> 00:04:24.840 language and response to his father were so positive. 74 00:04:24.840 --> 00:04:30.400 Boyan gave a little slight correction and he gave his dad a hug. 75 00:04:30.400 --> 00:04:32.760 You don't see kids doing that. 76 00:04:32.760 --> 00:04:37.520 So there must be something that this man and this woman is doing with their children to 77 00:04:37.520 --> 00:04:40.640 make the response so positively to their parents. 78 00:04:40.640 --> 00:04:41.640 Amen. 79 00:04:41.640 --> 00:04:46.080 Can we give them a hand as great parents? 80 00:04:46.080 --> 00:04:50.520 And another thing I told Pastor Boyan before that, I said, you can always know what's going 81 00:04:50.520 --> 00:04:53.840 on by looking at the kids. 82 00:04:53.840 --> 00:04:57.400 These kids are so happy, free. 83 00:04:57.400 --> 00:04:59.680 I said, oh, this is amazing. 84 00:04:59.680 --> 00:05:04.420 And Boyan thanked me for this compliment, but you can look at the children and you can 85 00:05:04.420 --> 00:05:05.960 know what's happening in the home. 86 00:05:05.960 --> 00:05:08.320 So this is a blessed and a holy home. 87 00:05:08.320 --> 00:05:09.320 Amen. 88 00:05:09.320 --> 00:05:10.320 Praise God. 89 00:05:10.320 --> 00:05:11.320 Thank God for them. 90 00:05:11.320 --> 00:05:12.320 All right. 91 00:05:12.320 --> 00:05:15.800 Let's get into this word. 92 00:05:15.800 --> 00:05:22.760 I'm going to be teaching you today about overcoming discouragement and the title of my 93 00:05:22.760 --> 00:05:26.720 message is why you can't give up. 94 00:05:26.720 --> 00:05:30.840 At the last service, one young man walked up to me, I don't know who he is. 95 00:05:30.840 --> 00:05:33.560 He said, I was going to give up, but now he's not. 96 00:05:33.560 --> 00:05:34.560 Amen. 97 00:05:34.560 --> 00:05:40.400 And three people give their life to Christ, so when we said it about that, praise God. 98 00:05:40.400 --> 00:05:45.440 And if you're in here, you have an opportunity at the end of the service to say yes to Jesus. 99 00:05:45.440 --> 00:05:52.240 So one of the major weapons, master weapon of the devil against the church against human 100 00:05:52.240 --> 00:05:56.640 beings in general is this thing called discouragement. 101 00:05:56.640 --> 00:05:57.640 We've all faced it. 102 00:05:57.640 --> 00:06:03.240 We've all dealt with it, but I believe that people in the body of Christ need to deal with 103 00:06:03.240 --> 00:06:05.480 it even better now. 104 00:06:05.480 --> 00:06:12.160 Now I know people have chemical imbalances and all that stuff, but there's too much discouragement 105 00:06:12.160 --> 00:06:13.960 in the kingdom. 106 00:06:13.960 --> 00:06:21.280 I hear it in Christians' talk, I hear it in people's pulpits, even some too much negativity. 107 00:06:21.280 --> 00:06:27.000 You know, I put up a post recently that the church is not failing, and any prophet who 108 00:06:27.000 --> 00:06:33.960 says his failing has not heard from heaven, because if the church is failing, Jesus is failing, 109 00:06:33.960 --> 00:06:37.440 because Jesus is the head of the church. 110 00:06:37.440 --> 00:06:39.960 And a lot of people was like, oh yeah, that's awesome. 111 00:06:39.960 --> 00:06:46.480 There's one guy, he's a friend of mine, actually, pastor, who lives in another state, and 112 00:06:46.480 --> 00:06:51.760 he put up this whole thing, what about this scripture, this scripture, and I didn't even 113 00:06:51.760 --> 00:06:52.760 answer. 114 00:06:52.760 --> 00:06:58.440 He's asking me a question, but I know he wants to engage in the argument. 115 00:06:58.440 --> 00:06:59.600 I didn't answer, but guess what? 116 00:06:59.600 --> 00:07:03.840 I went back, he put two more posts up, going nuts. 117 00:07:03.840 --> 00:07:08.840 No, the church is not, the church is failing, what about this? 118 00:07:08.840 --> 00:07:22.160 I was like, I said, I see the grace and positivity is a mirror to your judgment. 119 00:07:22.160 --> 00:07:24.960 People think that grace is just because it's an easy peasy message, no. 120 00:07:24.960 --> 00:07:30.720 It also is a mirror to people who have a heart of judgment. 121 00:07:30.720 --> 00:07:35.800 And if somebody's saying the church is not failing, gets you going crazy, something 122 00:07:35.800 --> 00:07:39.440 is wrong on the inside. 123 00:07:39.440 --> 00:07:45.880 If you are more geared towards negativity than positivity, something is wrong on the inside. 124 00:07:45.880 --> 00:07:51.240 I'm even watching my speech, my thinking, my feelings about things, and I'm correcting 125 00:07:51.240 --> 00:07:56.800 it where it needs to be corrected, because God is calling for us to be positive. 126 00:07:56.800 --> 00:08:03.760 His kingdom is positive, not negative, and negative is noisiering, not only to me but 127 00:08:03.760 --> 00:08:04.760 to the Lord. 128 00:08:04.760 --> 00:08:05.760 Amen? 129 00:08:05.760 --> 00:08:08.040 So we're going to be a positive people, right? 130 00:08:08.040 --> 00:08:10.040 We're going to be encouraged people, right? 131 00:08:10.040 --> 00:08:13.280 Somebody say no more discouragement. 132 00:08:13.280 --> 00:08:20.160 One of the things that devil wants you to give up on is your marriage, your career goals, 133 00:08:20.160 --> 00:08:22.000 you improving your health. 134 00:08:22.000 --> 00:08:29.080 He's trying to do that with me, hey guys, I've lost 20 pounds, so praise the guy. 135 00:08:29.080 --> 00:08:32.800 Pass the boy, pass the boy losing weight, come on, look at him, is that amazing? 136 00:08:32.800 --> 00:08:35.440 Give him a hand, come on. 137 00:08:35.440 --> 00:08:40.080 Once the mall is losing weight, we're all losing weight. 138 00:08:40.080 --> 00:08:42.440 They both try and look like their wives. 139 00:08:42.440 --> 00:08:49.520 Oh wow, I'm not married, so the jokes that are on me, hey man, they've got beautiful 140 00:08:49.520 --> 00:08:54.760 wives and great shape and they're trying to now come in line, glory to God. 141 00:08:54.760 --> 00:08:59.760 Amen, it's my thank you Jesus. 142 00:08:59.760 --> 00:09:07.240 God, my kids in line, not the husband's coming along. 143 00:09:07.240 --> 00:09:11.280 No but there's different things that the devil wants you to give up on relationships, 144 00:09:11.280 --> 00:09:13.200 getting married, whatever. 145 00:09:13.200 --> 00:09:18.600 That's his MO, but we're not going to let him and his demons dictate to us how we live 146 00:09:18.600 --> 00:09:22.240 our lives, how we think, even how we feel. 147 00:09:22.240 --> 00:09:23.240 Amen? 148 00:09:23.240 --> 00:09:33.720 There's a scripture where David is depressed, downcast, and he says this, why are you cast 149 00:09:33.720 --> 00:09:37.800 down on my soul? 150 00:09:37.800 --> 00:09:42.800 Hope in God, King James says, hope that one God. 151 00:09:42.800 --> 00:09:43.800 You know what he did? 152 00:09:43.800 --> 00:09:47.560 He used the power of his words, which you guys have been learning about, pass a bow 153 00:09:47.560 --> 00:09:53.240 teaching on faith, to tell his soul, which is the mind, the will, and the emotions, how 154 00:09:53.240 --> 00:09:55.040 to act. 155 00:09:55.040 --> 00:10:01.800 We have to give back to the spirit man, our born again spirit, telling our soul what to 156 00:10:01.800 --> 00:10:03.200 do. 157 00:10:03.200 --> 00:10:08.480 If David could do it under the old covenant and get out of discouragement, how much 158 00:10:08.480 --> 00:10:12.680 more can you do the other new covenant and get out of discouragement? 159 00:10:12.680 --> 00:10:13.680 Amen? 160 00:10:14.680 --> 00:10:20.120 Because the feelings will come, but we don't live by feelings, we live by what, faith. 161 00:10:20.120 --> 00:10:25.920 We walk by faith, not by what, sight, or feelings. 162 00:10:25.920 --> 00:10:26.920 Praise God. 163 00:10:26.920 --> 00:10:31.920 So does anybody ever, sometimes you wake up or you walk into your house or you walk into 164 00:10:31.920 --> 00:10:36.840 your day at work, whatever, and you're like, I don't feel good, I don't feel, I feel 165 00:10:36.840 --> 00:10:37.840 sad. 166 00:10:37.840 --> 00:10:40.040 Anybody that's ever happened to them before? 167 00:10:40.040 --> 00:10:42.040 Raise your hand if you've ever happened to you before, it's happened to me. 168 00:10:42.040 --> 00:10:47.160 We have a deal that says, I don't receive it, the Lord dealing with you about something 169 00:10:47.160 --> 00:10:48.160 that's different. 170 00:10:48.160 --> 00:10:53.440 But you notice the outside force, I don't receive you, I reject you, one of the things 171 00:10:53.440 --> 00:10:57.760 that you want to make the devil really mad, anybody want to make the devil really mad? 172 00:10:57.760 --> 00:11:02.440 I mean really mad, like I punch in the face, you can't punch em physically, but you want 173 00:11:02.440 --> 00:11:09.280 to see him be really mad, say these words, I reject you, can you imagine if I say that 174 00:11:09.280 --> 00:11:10.280 to you? 175 00:11:10.280 --> 00:11:18.560 You, you would feel like, oh my God, you say there's a believer with the Holy Ghost power, 176 00:11:18.560 --> 00:11:24.200 the devil and demons they cringe, I reject you, you're nothing, you're a dog, you're 177 00:11:24.200 --> 00:11:31.480 unforgiven, you have lost your place and I'm in God's place. 178 00:11:31.480 --> 00:11:38.840 You're damned and I'm blessed, devil hates that, that's what's called rebuking the devil. 179 00:11:38.840 --> 00:11:43.440 I rebuke you, it's not rebuking the devil, rebuking the devil is assailing him with abusive 180 00:11:43.440 --> 00:11:45.240 words. 181 00:11:45.240 --> 00:11:48.960 So he likes to sell you or you're nothing, you're stupid, you're a loser, no, no, no, 182 00:11:48.960 --> 00:11:55.800 you're the loser, you're the one who's a cherubum that lost your place, dummy, come on, 183 00:11:55.800 --> 00:12:01.560 tell the devil he's a dummy, you're the dummy, you thought when you put Jesus on the cross 184 00:12:01.560 --> 00:12:02.560 you were doing something. 185 00:12:02.560 --> 00:12:11.080 The Bible says, you just ended your reign and God made a show of you openly, you're nothing. 186 00:12:11.080 --> 00:12:13.640 And when you do that, guess what, you're going to feel so good. 187 00:12:13.640 --> 00:12:18.160 So they're giving somebody a piece of your mind, give the devil a piece of your mind. 188 00:12:18.160 --> 00:12:19.480 Amen? 189 00:12:19.480 --> 00:12:27.280 One of my favorite words to him is loser. 190 00:12:27.280 --> 00:12:32.240 So reason number one, why you can't give up your life. 191 00:12:32.240 --> 00:12:38.720 So I say, I'm alive, you're breathing human being. 192 00:12:38.720 --> 00:12:43.120 And that is a main reason why you can't give up. 193 00:12:43.120 --> 00:12:46.160 David said the dead do not praise God. 194 00:12:46.160 --> 00:12:50.040 So the fact that you're alive means that you should be praising God, you should be living 195 00:12:50.040 --> 00:12:52.760 a good life, you should be living your best life now. 196 00:12:52.760 --> 00:12:53.760 Amen. 197 00:12:53.760 --> 00:12:59.560 And you should be living with a sense of hope every single day. 198 00:12:59.560 --> 00:13:05.040 Anybody here you cried or you know people have cried, I'm kind of crying, I'm kind of 199 00:13:05.040 --> 00:13:09.040 being sad, I'm kind of being disbanded and depressed and down. 200 00:13:09.040 --> 00:13:11.120 No, I'm going to be up. 201 00:13:11.120 --> 00:13:14.440 Some of you, you know what you need to do, put some music on your house. 202 00:13:14.440 --> 00:13:19.040 You put on some Michael Jackson, some Jenna Jackson, I'm dating myself, I know there's 203 00:13:19.040 --> 00:13:20.040 new people. 204 00:13:20.040 --> 00:13:27.840 And if you like who's the girl, who's the girl, the one who's really popular, tell us, 205 00:13:27.840 --> 00:13:28.840 tell us with. 206 00:13:28.840 --> 00:13:32.280 Thank you, tell us with, put on some tell us with, I don't listen to tell us with, it 207 00:13:32.280 --> 00:13:35.600 be kind of weird, past my reach 52 years old, black with some tell us with, I don't listen 208 00:13:35.600 --> 00:13:47.040 to tell us with, you know, do something spontaneous, praise God, you know, you know what I did? 209 00:13:47.040 --> 00:13:50.400 You don't know something that I did to show that I'm alive. 210 00:13:50.400 --> 00:13:53.280 I said this is going to be my spontaneous year. 211 00:13:53.280 --> 00:13:57.760 So I'm at it, besides the gym, I had it walking to my regiment. 212 00:13:57.760 --> 00:14:02.280 So I go to Manhattan, Penn station, I walk from Penn station to Barnes and Noble's on 213 00:14:02.280 --> 00:14:04.040 17th Street and then walk back. 214 00:14:04.040 --> 00:14:05.160 That's one of the things that I do. 215 00:14:05.160 --> 00:14:12.280 So one day, this is like a week ago, I went and I saw all these guys selling t-shirts. 216 00:14:12.280 --> 00:14:15.840 And then I saw all these black people rushing into Madison Square Garden. 217 00:14:15.840 --> 00:14:17.840 I was like, what the heck is going on here? 218 00:14:17.840 --> 00:14:22.840 And I looked at t-shirt, I see Mario, Neo and Mary J. Blanche. 219 00:14:22.840 --> 00:14:26.280 I said, oh my goodness, is the Mary J. Blanche concert? 220 00:14:26.280 --> 00:14:28.320 So then I go into my mold. 221 00:14:28.320 --> 00:14:30.440 What should I do? 222 00:14:30.440 --> 00:14:34.400 You know, the hermit, I mean, what should I do? 223 00:14:34.400 --> 00:14:36.200 Should I go to the concert? 224 00:14:36.200 --> 00:14:38.040 What should I do my walk? 225 00:14:38.040 --> 00:14:39.040 Hmm. 226 00:14:39.040 --> 00:14:43.320 So I go, look, and I said, let me see if I can get some good seats, I don't do bad seats. 227 00:14:44.320 --> 00:14:45.720 So I said, can I get some good seats? 228 00:14:45.720 --> 00:14:51.160 And I look good seats for $106. 229 00:14:51.160 --> 00:14:56.960 And they said, this is half off with the tax 138. 230 00:14:56.960 --> 00:14:59.520 So guess what I did on the women? 231 00:14:59.520 --> 00:15:01.760 And I said, I was, they were like, what? 232 00:15:01.760 --> 00:15:05.360 I went right to that concert having a good time. 233 00:15:05.360 --> 00:15:08.120 Just fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine. 234 00:15:08.120 --> 00:15:12.160 Whoa, fine, fine, fine. 235 00:15:12.200 --> 00:15:13.320 Did they flexors there? 236 00:15:13.320 --> 00:15:14.440 Mary was good. 237 00:15:14.440 --> 00:15:15.160 Neo was good. 238 00:15:15.160 --> 00:15:17.120 Well, I had a blast. 239 00:15:17.120 --> 00:15:17.720 Why? 240 00:15:17.720 --> 00:15:20.560 Because I recognize I'm alive. 241 00:15:20.560 --> 00:15:23.160 I'm single. 242 00:15:23.160 --> 00:15:26.160 And I'm going to live my best life now. 243 00:15:26.160 --> 00:15:30.600 And sometimes that means doing things spontaneously that brings you joy. 244 00:15:30.600 --> 00:15:34.440 So put on some music, go to a concert, and have a good time. 245 00:15:34.440 --> 00:15:35.600 Amen? 246 00:15:35.600 --> 00:15:36.440 Praise God. 247 00:15:36.440 --> 00:15:40.520 You can rejoice about that guy, clap. 248 00:15:40.560 --> 00:15:42.240 But you are alive. 249 00:15:42.240 --> 00:15:46.440 Not only are you physically alive, and he'll hit your scripture, 250 00:15:46.440 --> 00:15:49.880 but for him who is joined to all the living, there is hope. 251 00:15:49.880 --> 00:15:52.960 For a living dog is better than a dead lion. 252 00:15:52.960 --> 00:15:54.400 Very powerful. 253 00:15:54.400 --> 00:15:57.360 But only physically alive, you are spiritually alive. 254 00:15:57.360 --> 00:16:02.080 Roman 6.11 says, likewise, you also wrecking yourself 255 00:16:02.080 --> 00:16:07.680 to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 256 00:16:07.680 --> 00:16:10.400 So being depressed, being down, being discouraged, 257 00:16:10.400 --> 00:16:16.040 wanting to give up is not good seeing that God put his life in you. 258 00:16:16.040 --> 00:16:19.360 The man says, if you have the sun, he has a sun has life. 259 00:16:19.360 --> 00:16:21.480 And he does not have the sun, does not have life. 260 00:16:21.480 --> 00:16:25.680 But you have the life of God, the Zoe, the God kind of life inside of you. 261 00:16:25.680 --> 00:16:27.040 How can I be down? 262 00:16:27.040 --> 00:16:29.080 How can I give up? 263 00:16:29.080 --> 00:16:30.120 Amen. 264 00:16:30.120 --> 00:16:35.000 Somebody say, I have the life of God in me. 265 00:16:35.000 --> 00:16:36.960 Somebody say, I'm alive. 266 00:16:36.960 --> 00:16:39.560 Look at him as a neighbor, I'm alive. 267 00:16:39.560 --> 00:16:41.600 Tell them you're alive. 268 00:16:41.600 --> 00:16:44.160 Now live like it in Jesus' name. 269 00:16:44.160 --> 00:16:46.560 Amen. 270 00:16:46.560 --> 00:16:49.360 Reason number two, why you can't give up. 271 00:16:49.360 --> 00:16:52.400 God is counting on you. 272 00:16:52.400 --> 00:16:54.800 I know sometimes you didn't grow up with people counting on you, 273 00:16:54.800 --> 00:16:57.680 but I want you to know your Heavenly Father and your Savior, 274 00:16:57.680 --> 00:17:00.720 the Lord Jesus Christ, they're counting on you. 275 00:17:00.720 --> 00:17:03.920 They're counting on you to get to the end of the road. 276 00:17:03.920 --> 00:17:06.320 Jesus, and he who doors to the end shall be saved. 277 00:17:06.320 --> 00:17:09.840 So endurance is a big deal to Jesus. 278 00:17:09.840 --> 00:17:12.440 He said, anybody who puts their hands to the plow and looks back 279 00:17:12.440 --> 00:17:13.640 is not fit for the kingdom. 280 00:17:13.640 --> 00:17:18.200 You're not suitable because the kingdom of God is how the kingdom that gives up. 281 00:17:18.200 --> 00:17:20.280 Amen. 282 00:17:20.280 --> 00:17:23.160 The kingdom of God, King James, suffereth. 283 00:17:23.160 --> 00:17:28.000 New King James allows violence and the violent take it by force. 284 00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:33.680 But if you are a give up person, you may take another by force. 285 00:17:33.680 --> 00:17:38.680 If you are a give up person, you're not really making it. 286 00:17:38.680 --> 00:17:40.960 There's a scripture, these scriptures are coming to my spares 287 00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:41.760 I'm talking to you. 288 00:17:41.760 --> 00:17:44.320 And Isaiah 53, it was about the death of Jesus. 289 00:17:44.320 --> 00:17:50.480 I know Pastor Bo has taught a lot on Isaiah 53 and the sacrifice of the Lord. 290 00:17:50.480 --> 00:17:52.520 But there's a scripture that part of the physical, 291 00:17:52.520 --> 00:17:54.360 Isaiah 33 does not really talk about much. 292 00:17:54.360 --> 00:18:00.840 It's also about Jesus dividing the spoil. 293 00:18:00.840 --> 00:18:04.520 This person who's going to be on this cross is going to divide the spoil. 294 00:18:04.520 --> 00:18:08.280 Watch this with the strong. 295 00:18:08.280 --> 00:18:11.640 You are considered strong. 296 00:18:11.640 --> 00:18:13.040 You know why he said strong? 297 00:18:13.040 --> 00:18:14.200 Because let me ask you a question. 298 00:18:14.200 --> 00:18:18.480 If your hand is weak, can you hold anything? 299 00:18:18.480 --> 00:18:20.000 No. 300 00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:22.840 Because what about Paul comes later on, 301 00:18:22.840 --> 00:18:24.920 thousands of years later says, be strong into what? 302 00:18:24.920 --> 00:18:28.800 Lord, and is the power of his might. 303 00:18:28.800 --> 00:18:30.360 So you can hold things. 304 00:18:30.360 --> 00:18:31.760 So you can have possession. 305 00:18:31.760 --> 00:18:34.440 So you can take things by force. 306 00:18:34.440 --> 00:18:39.280 You don't serve a weak God and he doesn't expect to have a weak people, amen? 307 00:18:39.280 --> 00:18:42.080 But I said, let the weak say on what? 308 00:18:42.080 --> 00:18:43.560 Come on. 309 00:18:43.560 --> 00:18:45.840 Come on, let the weak say I'm strong. 310 00:18:45.840 --> 00:18:47.960 If you feel weak, if you don't say I'm strong, 311 00:18:47.960 --> 00:18:49.760 greater it's he who's in me than he was in the world. 312 00:18:49.760 --> 00:18:50.520 I'm going to make it. 313 00:18:50.520 --> 00:18:54.800 I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me, encourage yourself. 314 00:18:54.800 --> 00:18:56.200 Don't wait for encouragement from church. 315 00:18:56.200 --> 00:18:57.600 That's good. 316 00:18:57.600 --> 00:18:59.040 Don't wait for encouragement from YouTube. 317 00:18:59.040 --> 00:19:00.000 That's good. 318 00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:05.880 You have to open your own mouth and say I'm blessed and highly favorite. 319 00:19:05.880 --> 00:19:07.200 I'm going somewhere to happen. 320 00:19:07.200 --> 00:19:11.560 God is counting on me and I will not let him down. 321 00:19:11.560 --> 00:19:12.400 Praise God. 322 00:19:12.400 --> 00:19:13.240 Hallelujah. 323 00:19:18.840 --> 00:19:21.240 Romans 11, 29 is the scripture. 324 00:19:21.240 --> 00:19:24.240 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 325 00:19:24.240 --> 00:19:26.800 God will never change his mind about what he called you to do 326 00:19:26.800 --> 00:19:28.800 and about what he gifted you to do. 327 00:19:28.800 --> 00:19:32.280 So it's important that you recognize your calling and I'll tell you about 328 00:19:32.280 --> 00:19:33.120 there's something being preached. 329 00:19:33.120 --> 00:19:35.720 I'm talking about whatever he could be called you to be a lawyer, 330 00:19:35.720 --> 00:19:37.880 called you to be a judge, called you to be a accountant, 331 00:19:37.880 --> 00:19:39.680 whatever it is, called you to be an entrepreneur, 332 00:19:39.680 --> 00:19:42.200 called you to be a preacher, whatever it is he's called you to do, 333 00:19:42.200 --> 00:19:44.680 he could call you to the entertainment world. 334 00:19:44.680 --> 00:19:48.320 Whatever it is he's called you to do, you must do it. 335 00:19:48.320 --> 00:19:50.120 It's not an option. 336 00:19:50.120 --> 00:19:54.000 And the gifts he's giving you equip you to fulfill that call. 337 00:19:54.000 --> 00:19:55.040 It's all kind of gifts. 338 00:19:55.040 --> 00:19:57.880 You know, I had a dream, man, I'm saying everything different 339 00:19:57.880 --> 00:19:59.280 from the first service. 340 00:19:59.280 --> 00:20:00.440 That's how the annoyance works. 341 00:20:00.440 --> 00:20:02.920 I had a dream, I had a gift of writing. 342 00:20:02.920 --> 00:20:04.800 There's no scripture that says a gift of writing, 343 00:20:04.800 --> 00:20:06.240 but I know that's a gift. 344 00:20:06.240 --> 00:20:10.240 So I was laying down on the floor again, 345 00:20:10.240 --> 00:20:14.080 I tell the story I told, and I was sleeping 346 00:20:14.080 --> 00:20:19.080 and this thing, invisible thing came near my head. 347 00:20:20.600 --> 00:20:21.920 I knew it was a gift of giving. 348 00:20:21.920 --> 00:20:23.360 I mean, the gift of writing. 349 00:20:24.360 --> 00:20:26.760 And I knew the question I was being asked, 350 00:20:26.760 --> 00:20:28.360 do you want this gift? 351 00:20:30.240 --> 00:20:31.560 And I know why I was being asked that 352 00:20:31.560 --> 00:20:33.360 because I hadn't been writing or producing. 353 00:20:33.360 --> 00:20:36.640 I've been writing, I haven't been producing books. 354 00:20:36.640 --> 00:20:39.480 And I said, yes. 355 00:20:39.480 --> 00:20:42.320 And that thing that was near my head, 356 00:20:42.320 --> 00:20:46.400 like this is a dream, went into the universe. 357 00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:48.080 And it was like, you know, like a slingshot, 358 00:20:48.080 --> 00:20:52.680 shh, and then pshh, kept on all these colors. 359 00:20:53.840 --> 00:20:57.680 I mean, vast colors, like I was in outer space. 360 00:20:57.680 --> 00:20:59.720 And I knew the load was pleased with my answer. 361 00:21:01.240 --> 00:21:03.720 But he was trying to tell me, get to work. 362 00:21:04.640 --> 00:21:07.920 The last time you produced a book was this time. 363 00:21:07.920 --> 00:21:08.800 And I've been moving slow, 364 00:21:08.800 --> 00:21:11.160 but I am, because even recently, the Lord don't do it again. 365 00:21:11.160 --> 00:21:13.320 Get to work, release when I've given you. 366 00:21:13.320 --> 00:21:14.920 This is the gift I've given you. 367 00:21:14.920 --> 00:21:17.080 You have an amazing thing with words. 368 00:21:17.080 --> 00:21:19.080 Now do it, now do write every Friday. 369 00:21:19.080 --> 00:21:22.200 Every Friday, my church gets an email from me, 370 00:21:22.200 --> 00:21:23.920 and it's amazing, people encourage his bless. 371 00:21:23.920 --> 00:21:26.400 I think we got like three people on the list. 372 00:21:26.400 --> 00:21:31.120 And it's something, and God is looking for your yes. 373 00:21:31.120 --> 00:21:33.200 His yes is over your life. 374 00:21:33.200 --> 00:21:36.560 All those promises are yes and amen in Christ Jesus. 375 00:21:36.560 --> 00:21:39.440 But are you giving him your yes to what he's giving you? 376 00:21:42.400 --> 00:21:44.120 You gave me a gift, Lord. 377 00:21:44.120 --> 00:21:45.880 I say yes. 378 00:21:45.880 --> 00:21:47.320 There's a girl in my church, 379 00:21:47.320 --> 00:21:48.640 who I know she's been called to the ministry. 380 00:21:48.640 --> 00:21:50.280 She's a pastor's daughter, 381 00:21:50.280 --> 00:21:51.200 and the Lord has been dealing with me. 382 00:21:51.200 --> 00:21:52.560 You're going to date her. 383 00:21:52.560 --> 00:21:55.080 I don't date nobody unless the Lord speaks. 384 00:21:55.080 --> 00:21:56.400 And you know why the Lord is speaking? 385 00:21:56.400 --> 00:21:59.400 Because her husband has been encouraging her. 386 00:21:59.400 --> 00:22:01.840 And the end of last year, she said, 387 00:22:01.840 --> 00:22:03.320 I said yes to the Lord. 388 00:22:04.360 --> 00:22:07.400 She's an amazing communicator, an amazing woman 389 00:22:07.400 --> 00:22:08.320 in the corporate world, 390 00:22:08.320 --> 00:22:10.880 but God has a definite call on her life. 391 00:22:10.880 --> 00:22:11.720 And she said yes. 392 00:22:11.720 --> 00:22:15.360 So who's going to say yes to God's gifts and callings? 393 00:22:15.360 --> 00:22:17.280 Sometimes depression is coming in 394 00:22:17.280 --> 00:22:19.480 because you're going against the grain. 395 00:22:19.480 --> 00:22:22.280 But if you flow with the anointing, guess what? 396 00:22:22.280 --> 00:22:24.280 There's all this joy. 397 00:22:24.280 --> 00:22:25.600 Amen. 398 00:22:25.600 --> 00:22:28.320 So flow, whenever you see something's not working, 399 00:22:28.320 --> 00:22:30.480 say, am I flowing with the Lord? 400 00:22:30.480 --> 00:22:32.160 I'm going against the Lord. 401 00:22:33.240 --> 00:22:34.080 Amen. 402 00:22:34.080 --> 00:22:35.640 So you have gifts, you have a calling, 403 00:22:35.640 --> 00:22:38.640 fulfill it, serving your local church. 404 00:22:38.640 --> 00:22:40.800 Join a small group. 405 00:22:40.800 --> 00:22:43.000 Join the ushers and the greeters. 406 00:22:43.000 --> 00:22:45.080 Join the kids church. 407 00:22:45.080 --> 00:22:48.600 And whatever else is happening at City Light Church. 408 00:22:48.600 --> 00:22:49.440 Say, you know what? 409 00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:50.520 I want to be a part. 410 00:22:50.520 --> 00:22:52.440 And I just met Michael. 411 00:22:52.440 --> 00:22:53.400 I know he's not here now. 412 00:22:53.400 --> 00:22:55.080 But he said, yeah, I'm on a worship team. 413 00:22:55.080 --> 00:22:56.840 I said, oh, come on, brother. 414 00:22:56.840 --> 00:22:58.280 Got some space people up on there now. 415 00:22:58.280 --> 00:22:59.960 Praise God. 416 00:22:59.960 --> 00:23:00.800 Hallelujah. 417 00:23:00.800 --> 00:23:02.120 He was laugh, we laughed about it. 418 00:23:02.120 --> 00:23:03.320 But it's awesome. 419 00:23:03.320 --> 00:23:05.920 Awesome that he was excited about serving. 420 00:23:05.920 --> 00:23:07.560 You have to be excited about serving your local church. 421 00:23:07.560 --> 00:23:09.000 Anybody excited about serving? 422 00:23:09.000 --> 00:23:10.160 God. 423 00:23:10.160 --> 00:23:12.520 And the way you started by serving in your local church 424 00:23:12.520 --> 00:23:15.400 and then from there, God will tell you other things to do. 425 00:23:15.400 --> 00:23:16.920 Praise God. 426 00:23:16.920 --> 00:23:18.800 Some of you have the gift of giving. 427 00:23:18.800 --> 00:23:20.320 Now, I know you guys are giving us here, 428 00:23:20.320 --> 00:23:21.840 but you're the gift of giving. 429 00:23:21.840 --> 00:23:25.640 And you have a divinability to give beyond your regular ties 430 00:23:25.640 --> 00:23:26.400 and offerings. 431 00:23:26.400 --> 00:23:28.840 And God speaks to you and says, give this and give this 432 00:23:28.840 --> 00:23:30.800 and give this to the local church, 433 00:23:30.800 --> 00:23:32.040 maybe to some of the members. 434 00:23:32.040 --> 00:23:34.800 And you need to release that gift. 435 00:23:34.800 --> 00:23:37.120 Some of you have the gift of mercy. 436 00:23:37.120 --> 00:23:40.200 You're called to have an extreme amount of mercy 437 00:23:40.200 --> 00:23:41.600 to all the crazies in church. 438 00:23:42.280 --> 00:23:46.000 Release that gift, giving that hug. 439 00:23:46.000 --> 00:23:49.640 I know they're little nutty, but give them that hug. 440 00:23:49.640 --> 00:23:51.400 Amen. 441 00:23:51.400 --> 00:23:52.640 Say hi to them. 442 00:23:52.640 --> 00:23:53.480 Praise God. 443 00:24:01.720 --> 00:24:04.160 There's two words how God measures things. 444 00:24:04.160 --> 00:24:06.920 Fruitfulness and faithfulness. 445 00:24:06.920 --> 00:24:07.440 But guess what? 446 00:24:07.440 --> 00:24:09.640 I've got to tell you something else. 447 00:24:09.640 --> 00:24:17.560 If you're not fruitful, you're not really faithful. 448 00:24:17.560 --> 00:24:19.480 Go study it. 449 00:24:19.480 --> 00:24:22.440 Jesus measures your faithfulness by your what? 450 00:24:22.440 --> 00:24:24.800 Fruitfulness. 451 00:24:24.800 --> 00:24:26.960 Are you bearing fruit? 452 00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:28.680 Are you in a prayer team getting prayers answered? 453 00:24:28.680 --> 00:24:29.880 How can people get delivered? 454 00:24:29.880 --> 00:24:31.160 How can we get healed? 455 00:24:31.160 --> 00:24:32.920 What are you doing for the kingdom? 456 00:24:32.920 --> 00:24:35.240 What are you doing for your local church? 457 00:24:35.240 --> 00:24:37.480 If you've been here for some time and you have not, 458 00:24:37.480 --> 00:24:39.480 then anything start doing something. 459 00:24:39.480 --> 00:24:40.280 And God's going to bless you. 460 00:24:40.280 --> 00:24:42.360 The Bible says, the faithful man or woman 461 00:24:42.360 --> 00:24:43.040 shall what? 462 00:24:43.040 --> 00:24:45.600 Abound with blessings. 463 00:24:45.600 --> 00:24:50.440 If you want to be blessed, but they want to do nothing. 464 00:24:50.440 --> 00:24:53.720 You know the scripture, if you will read what you want. 465 00:24:53.720 --> 00:24:55.240 So it's not only money. 466 00:24:55.240 --> 00:24:58.240 It's if you sow yourself, sow your time, 467 00:24:58.240 --> 00:25:01.240 sow your gifts, you're going to read great blessing. 468 00:25:01.240 --> 00:25:02.240 Amen. 469 00:25:02.240 --> 00:25:03.000 All right. 470 00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:07.440 Reason number three, the world needs you. 471 00:25:07.480 --> 00:25:09.880 One of the things you're going to learn as you mature as a believer 472 00:25:09.880 --> 00:25:12.440 is that everything in life is not about you. 473 00:25:12.440 --> 00:25:13.760 There are things that are about you. 474 00:25:13.760 --> 00:25:15.200 You have needs, you have desires, 475 00:25:15.200 --> 00:25:17.120 and God wants to supply all your needs, 476 00:25:17.120 --> 00:25:18.960 and He wants to give you the desires of your heart. 477 00:25:18.960 --> 00:25:21.080 But He also wants you to mature and learn 478 00:25:21.080 --> 00:25:22.760 that everything is not about you. 479 00:25:22.760 --> 00:25:25.800 You're blessed to be a blessing. 480 00:25:25.800 --> 00:25:27.960 Help somebody else, love somebody else. 481 00:25:27.960 --> 00:25:29.040 People need your love. 482 00:25:29.040 --> 00:25:29.960 They need your compassion. 483 00:25:29.960 --> 00:25:30.800 They need your life. 484 00:25:30.800 --> 00:25:31.640 They need your creativity. 485 00:25:31.640 --> 00:25:33.680 They need your wisdom. 486 00:25:33.680 --> 00:25:36.520 I saw a pastor, Mo earlier sent him up the screen. 487 00:25:36.520 --> 00:25:37.360 He said, what are you doing? 488 00:25:37.360 --> 00:25:38.920 He said, yeah, sometimes when we tear down, 489 00:25:38.920 --> 00:25:40.040 we have to set back up. 490 00:25:40.040 --> 00:25:43.240 He's not saying, oh, I'm the social pastor. 491 00:25:43.240 --> 00:25:45.240 I don't need to do that. 492 00:25:45.240 --> 00:25:47.560 He's using his technical gifts to do that. 493 00:25:47.560 --> 00:25:50.080 I don't know how to do that, what he was doing. 494 00:25:50.080 --> 00:25:50.920 A lot of people don't know how to do that, 495 00:25:50.920 --> 00:25:53.720 but he's using his gifts in the church 496 00:25:53.720 --> 00:25:57.160 as is needed, and he's serving. 497 00:25:57.160 --> 00:25:59.320 And if the social pastor can do that, 498 00:25:59.320 --> 00:26:01.240 you surely can do it. 499 00:26:01.240 --> 00:26:02.480 Amen. 500 00:26:02.480 --> 00:26:03.320 Where's Mauricio? 501 00:26:03.320 --> 00:26:04.640 Where's that guy? 502 00:26:04.640 --> 00:26:06.480 Oh, right there, I love this guy. 503 00:26:06.480 --> 00:26:11.600 This guy's on fire, when my people fly church, come. 504 00:26:11.600 --> 00:26:15.120 When they visit, they're like, this guy is incredible. 505 00:26:15.120 --> 00:26:17.800 You are, you stand out. 506 00:26:17.800 --> 00:26:19.840 And he's been here for a long time. 507 00:26:19.840 --> 00:26:21.400 He could say, oh, I need to get this position. 508 00:26:21.400 --> 00:26:22.280 I need to do that. 509 00:26:22.280 --> 00:26:24.120 No, I'm here to serve. 510 00:26:24.120 --> 00:26:25.560 And because he's here to serve, 511 00:26:25.560 --> 00:26:27.200 not only does the pastor recognize it, 512 00:26:27.200 --> 00:26:28.640 not only does the social pastor recognize it, 513 00:26:28.640 --> 00:26:31.280 heaven recognizes it. 514 00:26:31.280 --> 00:26:32.480 And that's what matters. 515 00:26:32.480 --> 00:26:34.280 So be sensible for Jesus. 516 00:26:34.280 --> 00:26:36.560 He's going to be like, here's your reward. 517 00:26:36.560 --> 00:26:39.880 But I was just ushering and greeting and praying. 518 00:26:39.880 --> 00:26:41.120 Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 519 00:26:41.120 --> 00:26:43.360 I know, you all thought it was little, but it was big. 520 00:26:43.360 --> 00:26:43.880 Woo! 521 00:26:45.880 --> 00:26:47.560 You were faithful a little now here. 522 00:26:47.560 --> 00:26:49.600 You're ruler over much. 523 00:26:49.600 --> 00:26:51.160 Come on. 524 00:26:51.160 --> 00:26:52.920 Oh, tell me, you guys, you don't know. 525 00:26:52.920 --> 00:26:53.520 You don't know. 526 00:26:53.520 --> 00:26:55.080 You don't know. 527 00:26:55.080 --> 00:26:56.960 The world needs you. 528 00:26:56.960 --> 00:26:58.080 Make yourself available. 529 00:26:58.080 --> 00:27:00.840 Matthew 5, 14 to 16. 530 00:27:00.840 --> 00:27:02.200 You are the light of the world. 531 00:27:02.200 --> 00:27:04.640 A town built on the hill cannot be hidden. 532 00:27:04.640 --> 00:27:07.800 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. 533 00:27:07.800 --> 00:27:09.480 And instead, they put it on its stand. 534 00:27:09.480 --> 00:27:12.160 And it gives light to everyone in the house. 535 00:27:12.160 --> 00:27:15.440 In the same way, let your light shine before others. 536 00:27:15.440 --> 00:27:17.360 Before who? 537 00:27:17.360 --> 00:27:21.800 That they may see your good deeds and glorify your father 538 00:27:21.800 --> 00:27:22.720 in heaven. 539 00:27:22.720 --> 00:27:25.240 So when you do good, people see it. 540 00:27:25.240 --> 00:27:27.400 God gets the glory. 541 00:27:27.400 --> 00:27:28.240 God, give them God the glory. 542 00:27:28.240 --> 00:27:31.400 God just saying worship songs is living a fruitful 543 00:27:31.400 --> 00:27:34.480 and a faithful life. 544 00:27:34.480 --> 00:27:36.080 And when you're doing that, guess what? 545 00:27:36.080 --> 00:27:38.520 Discouragement can hold on to you. 546 00:27:38.520 --> 00:27:40.920 You're like a slippery slope. 547 00:27:40.920 --> 00:27:42.240 No, no, no, I'm too busy. 548 00:27:42.240 --> 00:27:43.800 I've got time for discouragement. 549 00:27:43.800 --> 00:27:44.760 You know what the problem is? 550 00:27:44.760 --> 00:27:48.120 People have too much time. 551 00:27:48.120 --> 00:27:49.720 When you're busy in the kingdom, you don't have time 552 00:27:49.720 --> 00:27:50.240 for discourage. 553 00:27:50.240 --> 00:27:51.600 I've got time for you. 554 00:27:51.600 --> 00:27:53.960 Bye. 555 00:27:53.960 --> 00:27:55.640 Somebody needs me. 556 00:27:55.640 --> 00:27:56.520 Somebody needs my service. 557 00:27:56.520 --> 00:27:57.880 They needs my gift. 558 00:27:57.880 --> 00:28:01.520 And God, my father's counting on me. 559 00:28:01.520 --> 00:28:02.520 Hallelujah. 560 00:28:02.520 --> 00:28:07.840 Reason number four, turn about why you can't give up. 561 00:28:07.840 --> 00:28:08.880 Here's the big one. 562 00:28:08.880 --> 00:28:11.400 Jesus didn't give up. 563 00:28:11.400 --> 00:28:15.120 The Bible says he left an example that we should follow. 564 00:28:15.120 --> 00:28:16.000 Let's look at the scripture. 565 00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:19.960 Hebrews 12, 2 to 3, looking unto Jesus, 566 00:28:19.960 --> 00:28:23.680 the author and finisher of our faith. 567 00:28:23.680 --> 00:28:26.480 Who for the joy, the what? 568 00:28:26.480 --> 00:28:28.120 You are that joy. 569 00:28:28.120 --> 00:28:29.720 You still are that joy. 570 00:28:29.720 --> 00:28:35.440 That was said before him, endure the cross, despising the same. 571 00:28:35.440 --> 00:28:38.200 You know how shameful it was for the son of God, 572 00:28:38.200 --> 00:28:39.640 the creed of the ends of the earth, 573 00:28:39.640 --> 00:28:43.520 to be on a cross with nails in his hands and nails in his feet, 574 00:28:43.520 --> 00:28:47.040 and the pierced side and throwing a crown on his head, 575 00:28:47.040 --> 00:28:49.200 disgraceful. 576 00:28:49.200 --> 00:28:52.200 And so the angels are like, what? 577 00:28:52.200 --> 00:28:53.840 This is a mystery. 578 00:28:53.840 --> 00:28:57.160 Even Paul said, great is the mystery of Godliness, 579 00:28:57.160 --> 00:29:00.720 that he was seen of angels in a human body. 580 00:29:00.720 --> 00:29:01.520 My God. 581 00:29:04.840 --> 00:29:07.200 And has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 582 00:29:07.200 --> 00:29:11.120 Because it is always reward, always reward. 583 00:29:11.120 --> 00:29:13.080 For consider him, for what? 584 00:29:13.080 --> 00:29:17.320 For consider him who endured such hostility from sinners 585 00:29:17.320 --> 00:29:20.600 against himself, less you become weary. 586 00:29:20.600 --> 00:29:24.240 And what discouraged in your souls? 587 00:29:24.240 --> 00:29:27.960 So the Bible is telling us the key to not giving up, 588 00:29:27.960 --> 00:29:32.360 the key to not being discouraged is look to Jesus. 589 00:29:32.360 --> 00:29:36.320 Not only to strengthen you, look at his example and remind yourself, 590 00:29:36.320 --> 00:29:41.160 if the son of the living God didn't give up, I can't give up. 591 00:29:41.160 --> 00:29:42.840 Amen. 592 00:29:42.840 --> 00:29:44.960 Praise God. 593 00:29:44.960 --> 00:29:49.120 Okay, what it is, don't listen to the whispers of the devil. 594 00:29:49.120 --> 00:29:52.040 Say Satan, you're a liar and the truth is not in you. 595 00:29:52.040 --> 00:29:53.760 I will not give up. 596 00:29:53.760 --> 00:29:55.120 My future is bright. 597 00:29:55.120 --> 00:29:56.600 My kids are going to turn around. 598 00:29:56.600 --> 00:29:58.800 My money is going to turn around. 599 00:29:58.800 --> 00:30:02.080 I'm going to have the spouse of my dreams. 600 00:30:02.080 --> 00:30:03.720 Hallelujah. 601 00:30:03.720 --> 00:30:07.360 And my best days are still ahead of me. 602 00:30:07.360 --> 00:30:09.000 Are you excited about that? 603 00:30:09.000 --> 00:30:10.880 Anybody believe that? 604 00:30:10.880 --> 00:30:13.000 Somebody shout, I believe. 605 00:30:13.000 --> 00:30:14.800 Shout, I believe. 606 00:30:14.800 --> 00:30:16.680 Shout, I believe. 607 00:30:16.680 --> 00:30:22.160 I believe my best days are ahead of me. 608 00:30:22.160 --> 00:30:27.440 Reason number five, why you can't give up. 609 00:30:27.440 --> 00:30:31.040 You haven't seen all that should be or all that could be. 610 00:30:35.040 --> 00:30:40.960 Psalm 27 13 says, I would have lost heart unless I had believed 611 00:30:40.960 --> 00:30:45.920 that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. 612 00:30:45.920 --> 00:30:48.040 If you take a note, write this down. 613 00:30:48.040 --> 00:30:55.400 If you give up, what could have been becomes what should have been. 614 00:30:55.400 --> 00:30:57.400 You don't want to be a should have been Christian. 615 00:30:57.400 --> 00:31:00.440 Oh, I should have done this and I should have done that. 616 00:31:00.440 --> 00:31:02.320 I should have married this person. 617 00:31:02.320 --> 00:31:04.040 I should have served in my church. 618 00:31:04.040 --> 00:31:09.360 I should have given this, no, Lord, I did it. 619 00:31:09.360 --> 00:31:12.200 I said, I'm going to be, I did it Christian. 620 00:31:12.200 --> 00:31:13.840 I did it believer. 621 00:31:13.840 --> 00:31:15.360 I made it happen. 622 00:31:15.360 --> 00:31:16.680 Amen. 623 00:31:16.680 --> 00:31:18.920 Are you excited about making things happen? 624 00:31:18.920 --> 00:31:20.120 You know the statement. 625 00:31:20.120 --> 00:31:22.720 There's three kind of people in the planet. 626 00:31:22.720 --> 00:31:26.280 Those who watch things happen. 627 00:31:26.280 --> 00:31:29.600 Those who wonder what happened. 628 00:31:29.600 --> 00:31:32.160 And those who make things happen. 629 00:31:32.160 --> 00:31:35.520 Somebody said, I'm going to be a make things happen person. 630 00:31:35.520 --> 00:31:37.400 Amen. 631 00:31:37.400 --> 00:31:43.440 Last point. 632 00:31:43.440 --> 00:31:45.360 Reason number six. 633 00:31:45.360 --> 00:31:49.160 The most important one on here. 634 00:31:49.160 --> 00:31:52.960 Your story isn't over. 635 00:31:52.960 --> 00:31:54.760 We didn't read the scripture last time, but here's the scripture. 636 00:31:54.760 --> 00:31:57.640 Psalm 139 verse 16. 637 00:31:57.640 --> 00:32:00.880 You saw me, it's an amazing passage, by the way, you should memorize it. 638 00:32:00.880 --> 00:32:02.480 This is from the NLT. 639 00:32:02.480 --> 00:32:04.640 You saw me before I was born. 640 00:32:04.680 --> 00:32:08.840 Every day of my life was recorded in your book. 641 00:32:08.840 --> 00:32:15.400 Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. 642 00:32:15.400 --> 00:32:19.880 Everybody has a story and every story matters. 643 00:32:19.880 --> 00:32:21.720 And your story's not over. 644 00:32:21.720 --> 00:32:24.080 Some of you at the beginning of your story. 645 00:32:24.080 --> 00:32:27.400 Some of you at the middle of your story, like me, the middle age, 646 00:32:27.400 --> 00:32:29.720 and some of you close to the end of your story. 647 00:32:29.720 --> 00:32:32.000 No matter where you're at on that spectrum, 648 00:32:32.000 --> 00:32:34.640 you have a story and it's not over. 649 00:32:34.640 --> 00:32:38.160 It's not over until you close your eyes. 650 00:32:38.160 --> 00:32:42.760 Like Parinobo says, if you're not dead, God's not done. 651 00:32:42.760 --> 00:32:44.440 Amen. 652 00:32:44.440 --> 00:32:47.320 And don't care what your age is, young or old, middle age, 653 00:32:47.320 --> 00:32:50.360 you have a story that's unfolding. 654 00:32:50.360 --> 00:32:53.880 And one of the things you need to do is do what the Apostle Paul did 655 00:32:53.880 --> 00:32:57.520 when he had that counter on the Damascus Road with Jesus. 656 00:32:57.520 --> 00:32:58.720 He said, Lord, who are you? 657 00:32:58.720 --> 00:33:00.600 I am Jesus who you're persecuting. 658 00:33:00.600 --> 00:33:02.040 He told him who he was. 659 00:33:02.040 --> 00:33:07.080 The next thing Paul said, what do you want me to do? 660 00:33:07.080 --> 00:33:11.120 If you are confused or you don't know your destiny, your purpose, 661 00:33:11.120 --> 00:33:13.080 what it would, why you're here? 662 00:33:13.080 --> 00:33:17.400 You can find your why by asking the Lord lots of questions 663 00:33:17.400 --> 00:33:19.000 in every season of your life. 664 00:33:19.000 --> 00:33:20.440 What do you want me to do? 665 00:33:20.440 --> 00:33:22.080 Where do you want me to invest my money? 666 00:33:22.080 --> 00:33:23.920 Who do you want me to marry? 667 00:33:23.920 --> 00:33:26.160 Where do you want me to serve? 668 00:33:26.160 --> 00:33:28.280 Come on, how much do you want me to give? 669 00:33:31.480 --> 00:33:33.480 How often do you want me to pray? 670 00:33:33.480 --> 00:33:41.040 Whatever it is in your life, you're not sure about. 671 00:33:41.040 --> 00:33:41.920 Ask the Lord questions. 672 00:33:41.920 --> 00:33:43.000 You know why? 673 00:33:43.000 --> 00:33:45.480 What happens when you ask the Lord questions? 674 00:33:45.480 --> 00:33:46.520 It's very simple. 675 00:33:46.520 --> 00:33:48.880 You're humbling yourself. 676 00:33:48.880 --> 00:33:50.560 And when you humble yourself, the Bible says he gives you 677 00:33:50.560 --> 00:33:52.200 more grace. 678 00:33:52.200 --> 00:33:55.640 And the grace is there to give you direction. 679 00:33:55.640 --> 00:33:57.400 Here's a scripture that you should memorize. 680 00:33:57.400 --> 00:34:00.120 I think all of us memorize when we're kids. 681 00:34:00.200 --> 00:34:02.640 Trust the Lord with all your heart. 682 00:34:02.640 --> 00:34:04.640 And lean out on your own understanding. 683 00:34:04.640 --> 00:34:06.080 In all your ways, what? 684 00:34:06.080 --> 00:34:07.440 Ignore the chimp. 685 00:34:07.440 --> 00:34:08.600 And he will what? 686 00:34:08.600 --> 00:34:10.400 Direct your paths. 687 00:34:10.400 --> 00:34:14.720 Your story is not over. 688 00:34:14.720 --> 00:34:16.160 In Jesus' name. 689 00:34:16.160 --> 00:34:17.000 Amen. 690 00:34:17.000 --> 00:34:19.600 This is the City Light Church podcast. 691 00:34:19.600 --> 00:34:21.920 If you've missed any part of today's message, 692 00:34:21.920 --> 00:34:23.440 or if you would like to find out more 693 00:34:23.440 --> 00:34:26.360 about Pastor Boyan Jansik in City Light Church, 694 00:34:26.360 --> 00:34:29.240 visit us at citylightnyc.com. 695 00:34:29.240 --> 00:34:33.000 Feel free to visit us online or in person any time. 696 00:34:33.000 --> 00:34:35.200 We would love to connect with you. 697 00:34:35.200 --> 00:34:37.800 We pray that you have been encouraged today. 698 00:34:37.800 --> 00:34:40.800 That you have been reminded how much God loves you. 699 00:34:40.800 --> 00:34:43.800 And that you are surrounded by grace. 700 00:34:43.800 --> 00:34:44.800 Thank you for listening. 701 00:34:44.800 --> 00:34:47.800 Make sure that you subscribe to City Light Church Podcast 702 00:34:47.800 --> 00:34:50.800 wherever you find your favorite podcasts worldwide.