Everything - Pastor Ted/August 16

Transcript:

(00:03) [music] Who [music] brings our chaos back into order? [music] Who makes the order a son [singing] and daughter? The king of glory. The king [music] of glory. Who rules the nations with truth and [music] justice. shines like the sun. All of his brilliant. The king of glory, the king [music] of all. This is amazing.

(00:44) [music] This is amazing. [music] >> [music] >> You lay down your life [music] that I would be set free. [music] Oh Jesus, I [music] see all that you've done for me. [music] Worthy is the lamb who [music and singing] slain. Worthy is the king who [singing] conered the grave. Worthy [music] is the lamb who slay. Worthy is [music] a king who conered the grave.

(01:40) Worthy is the lamb who slay. Worthy [music] is the king who conered the grave. Worthy [singing] is the lamb who say worthy. [music] Worthy worthy. This is [music] amazing. This is amazing. [music] THERE [music] you go. [music] [music] Heat. Heat. [music] >> [music]

(02:51) [music] >> Hello. Give him glory. [music] Hallelujah. Praise the Lord. So, so good to see each one of you here today. I'm glad to be here and get to preach. It's been four weeks since I got to preach. And people say, "Well, you got to preach Eth." Yeah, but they weren't my people. Y'all are my people. I I'm just so thrilled to to to get to be here.

(03:23) I I bring you greetings from Ethiopia. They told me many many times to how much they appreciate y'all letting me go over there and and all that. And they have said it many, many times. Now, the uh in the Gambella area that I'm was in, there are dozens and dozens of Nazarene churches. And some of them many of them run over a thousand people and there's a huge huge move of God that's happening there.

(03:47) Uh but uh I want to tell you how they come to church. Uh they come and uh they they're they're they're early and they are praying and anticipating the the Lord to come. Uh they're they're very quiet people. I don't know how many times I go, "What' you say? What' you say?" you know, because they don't speak up very loud.

(04:12) Uh, but when they start singing, THEY SING REALLY LOUD. [laughter] YEAH. I just tell you that. So, you remember that. Okay. And and being able to sing is not a requirement to hold the microphone and sing. I'll just tell you that. So, if you understand what I said, they c some of them can't sing at all, but they still sing. And uh they they had four choirs and I'd asked them I said where where do you where do you get music for your choir you know like you know what you know you buy it from they go they looked at me like we write it they write all their

(04:48) music that they sing. So uh it's it just comes from their heart but they are people who are desperate for a move of God. They're des they live in uh we we cannot imagine what they live with. Um when I was there three years ago, their money was 17 burr is what's called to a dollar. 17 to a dollar.

(05:14) Last year it was 34 to a dollar. So doubled or half of what it was. And this year it was 146 to a dollar. So everything would just imagine everything you buy 10 times more than what it was. Uh but yet they all give in the offering. They all give out of their hearts. It's just amazing to me. I want [music] to uh want to just tell you that, you know, our church has been so blessed to uh uh to have continuity and our staff for a long time, but we're going through some transitions and Pastor Aaron and Victoria are going to be moving. God is leading them to Kansas

(06:01) City and Donna is moving. Donna and Danny are going to be moving to Dowart and she thinks she needs to retire and I just don't think that at all. And uh and Amber's leaving us also. And you know, I know when I was uh uh when I moved as a youth pastor and pastor, I moved four times.

(06:28) And people would say, "Why are you moving? Why are you moving?" There's only one reason that a pastor moves, and that's God's told us to God. God's in it. It's not um we don't um you know just the spirit of God. So we we want to u we just really want to surround our church at this time and pray. You know somebody that could possibly be a secretary for do you know with our sk skills and things that needed and we'd sure love to talk to them.

(07:02) But um most of all, we want to use this time and let our young people and our youth workers know. We are going to be standing with you and we're going to we're just as committed to our young people as we ever have. We are believing that God's got uh the next step for us. And we just want you to be patient with us.

(07:24) And we're going to we're going to But it'd be good for the church. get to know our young people. I believe every young person ought to know five five every young person should be known by five adults. Five people asking about five people checking on him. But um I've asked uh Pastor Eron's going to come and open us in prayer this morning. Would you bow your heads with me? Dear Lord, we come in love.

(08:04) We come in love before you for our students, both kids and teens, young adults and older adults. We come before you in need asking for wisdom and love and truth to be heard and known. Let us not follow our own wills or ideas or even the [music] ideas of leaders that might tear us astray, but let us instead listen to you.

(08:40) So we trust in you. We put our faith in you. And also as this week as there are families in this room that are dealing with and getting ready for the anxiety of school, the difficulties that come with that. Be with these parents and these families this week. Be with these kids as they are be being moved in uh to new classrooms and new schools and new changes.

(09:11) God, bring peace upon their hearts and let them be prepared for what you have for them. And for these teens who are going uh whether it's staying in junior high or moving to high school and facing all these different [music] uh temptations and distractions and busies uh busy schedules [music] and anxieties and stresses and pressures and uh hurts from home and hurts from the uh in their heart and hurts at school.

(09:34) Oh God, we ask for your covering and love to fall down upon them. We trust in you and we look to you, Lord, for you are a good God and you have not and you will not abandon us. So we thank you, we worship you, we love you. and help us live out that love with those around us. We trust you and we thank you.

(10:08) It is in your blessed name we pray. Amen. And now, if y'all would take Pastor Ted's words very seriously, we're going to take a moment of friendship time. And I encourage you if you see a young person, swarm them. Uh but let them know they are loved and greet each other and just let everyone know y'all that y'all are a part of a [music] family here today. Go ahead.

(10:37) >> [music] >> Yes. >> [music]

(11:54) [music] >> All right. So, our next thing is one of our students, Max, is going to lead us in some scripture. So, as you're find [music] uh you can stay standing for this reading. uh back in 2 Corinthians I believe and Max you may take it away. >> 2 Corinthians 5:17 to 21. Therefore if anyone is in Christ the new creation has come. The old has gone the new is here.

(12:40) All this is from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us his the ministry of reconciliation. That God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ not counting people's sins against them. and he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors as though God were making us his appeal through us.

(13:05) We implore you on Christ's behalf on be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Amen. >> Let's worship. >> [music] [music] >> Well, all I see is a battle. You [music] see my victory. >> [music] >> When all I see is about, you see your love. [music] And as I walk in shine, [music] your love surrounds me.

(14:14) [music] There's nothing to fear now for [singing] I will save you. [music] Through it I fight. I'll fight on [singing] my knees with my hands high. Oh God. The battle belongs to you. Every [music] day I lay at your feet. I'll sing through the [music] night. Oh God, the battle belongs to you. [music] And if you are for who can [music] be against me [music] for Jesus impossible [music] when all I see are the ashes. [music]

(15:19) You see the beauty. THANK [music] YOU GOD. [singing] WHEN ALL I see is a cross sky, [music] you see an empty. [singing] So when I fight [music] on my knees with my hands high, oh God, battle belongs to you. Every [music] fear play at your feet I'll sing to the light. Oh God that all belong [music] to you. Glory.

(16:05) Oh mighty. [singing] [music] You go before us. Nothing can [music and singing] stand against the power of our God. You shine in the shadow. [music] You win [singing] every battle. Nothing can stand [music and singing] against the power of my [music] you know [music] shin. [music] >> [music] >> No mighty fortresses.

(16:55) You go [music] before us. The danger [singing] stand against the power of our God. [music] You shine in the shadows. You win every [music] battle. who can stand against [singing] THE POWER OF OUR GOD. [screaming] So it I fight [music] on my knees with my hesit. [music] [singing] Sing to the light.

(17:39) [music and singing] Oh God, the battle belongs to you. Oh God, the battle belongs to you. [music] >> [music] >> How many of you believe that this morning? Amen. >> Amen. [music] >> [music] >> Oh, [music] we trust in you, Jesus. >> [music]

(18:44) >> There's a table [singing] that you prepared for me [music] in the presence of my enemies. It's your body and the [music and singing] bloody shed for me. This is how I find my [music] [music] presence [music] of my [music] body and the blood you shed for me. Heat. Heat. Heat. [music] [singing] [music] Heat. Heat. [music]

(19:53) [music] [singing] [music] Heat. Heat. [music] Heat. Heat. [music and singing] [music] Surely [music] your goodness me [music] [singing] and thanksgiving. This is how [music] [music] >> [music]

(20:56) >> Heat. Heat. [music] [singing] Heat. Heat. [music] [music] >> [music] >> Victory in Jesus name. [music] [music] [bell] [music] Jesus, [music]

(22:00) our victory [singing] is in Jesus. >> Yes, we believe in Jesus. My [music] victory is in Jesus name. [music] My victory in Jesus name. [music] >> [music] >> Heat. [music] Heat. >> [music] [music] >> Heat up here.

(23:04) [music] >> [music] [music] [music] >> Heat up [music] here. [music] Heat. [music] Heat. [music] This is how I ride my [music] battles.

(24:08) This is how. So, I [music] got to preach last week and I love to preach about worship and I get this little picture in my mind of something that looks like an unfair [music] fight. And that unfair fight looks like the enemy on this end. And here's [music] Gina just like all this energy pouring coming out of me and I'm getting tired out.

(24:39) It's the way that I'm fighting the battle because scripture says that at the name of Jesus, Satan has to flee. Scripture says that at the name of Jesus, Satan has [music] to flee. And I'm like, I'm tired of being tired in a fight because he says that I have all authority through him. And so what it looks like, church, if the church is struggling, if the church [music] is not seeing the miracles that need to happen, if the church is facing opposition, [music] the church needs to worship.

(25:13) >> The church needs to worship. when you put your hands in the air and get ready for [music] it. I say this every single time I grab this mic that heaven is going to be 247 [music] praise and worship to the father. And so this morning, I don't know what it looks [music] like for you. I don't know what you're facing.

(25:35) I don't know the lies that the enemy has came and spoken into your ear. I don't know what your marriages look like. I don't know what your future [music] looks like. But I know a God who can. And so in in the waiting, I choose to worship. [music] In the waiting, I'm going to trust for it. So I I'm I'm we're exercising here.

(25:54) So I want you [music] to lift your hands. Come on. Lift your hands to a holy God that is worthy of your worship. You lift your hands to a holy God that is worthy. Worthy. It may look like [singing and music] I'm surrounded, but I'm surrounded by you. Tell the enemy that it may [music] look like [singing] I'm surrounded, but I'm surrounded by you.

(26:23) [music] It may look [singing] like I'm surrounded, but I'm surrounded [music] by you. And this is how I fight my [singing] battles. Yes, this is [music] how I fight my battles. This is how I fight my [singing] battles. This is how And this is how [music] I find [singing] my balance. This is how I find my balance.

(26:53) This is how [music and singing] I find my b. This is how [music] it may [singing] look like I'm surrounded, but I'm surrounded by you. [music] It may look like I'm [singing] surrounded, but I'm surrounded [music] by you. It may look like [singing] I'm surrounded, but I'm surrounded by [music] you. It [singing] may look like I'm surrounded, but I'm surrounded by you.

(27:29) [music] >> Come on, sing it. My victory is in Jesus name. My victory [music] is in Jesus name. My victory [music and singing] is in Jesus name. My victory is in Jesus [music and singing] name. My [music and singing] victory is in that third day. [music] This is how I fight my [singing] battles. This is how I fight [music] my battles.

(28:10) This is how I fight my battles. [music] This is how [singing] This is how I fight. This is how I [music] fight [singing] my battles. This is how I fight my battles. [music] This is how I [singing] fight my battles. This is how Amen. >> If our ushers will come up. Sorry, we're not ready for ushers. We got to go to the Lord.

(28:54) Father God, we just we are so grateful for your presence. We really want to lift up our [music] schools. Pastor Gina is going to pray specifically for our children who will be going to school this week. We don't know what they will face this year, but we [music] want them to be surrounded by his presence. Amen. We have joined with Pastor Gina as she prays over our children.

(29:28) The Lord is my shepherd and I [music] shall lack in nothing. Father, I just thank you for this year 2026 [music] as we send out our children. Father, I pray your protection, your surrounding, I pray teachers and people ready to minister and disciple them, Lord, that no weapon formed against them shall prosper.

(29:50) Lord, I pray that you align their minds and their hearts with your word. there would there would never be a spirit of confusion or identity. Father, that they would know that you are for them and not against them. I pray for the doors that you are opening up in our children and our teens and our young adults as they go out and make disciples of others.

(30:10) Father, we pray [music] for the parents as well. Lord, may we be a blessing to our children as they leave the home in the mornings and when we pick them up. Lord, may may your word be what we share to them when we don't have words that we can just share your word. Father, we pray that [music] they would be a lamp here in Herford and and the surrounding towns.

(30:34) We thank you for this school year in Jesus mighty name. It's going to be good. Amen. >> Amen. You may be seated. We on Can you bring me up just a little bit? There we go. Okay. All right. If our ushers will come, we're going to receive our tithes and offerings. And it is such a joy to give to the Lord. Um we God doesn't need my money, but I need to give. You know that.

(31:03) I mean, the God who can multiply fish and loaves, he he doesn't. But you know what? We're the ones who need to give because by giving that's where our joy, that's where our peace, that's where our provision comes. Let us uh pray over the offering. Lord, we give this money not to man but to you, God.

(31:26) And we are just believing, Lord, as we're obedient to you, you will meet our needs in Christ's name. Amen. Amen. Oh, [music] there first world problems. First world problems. Open the eyes [music] of my heart, Lord. Open the eyes of my heart, and I want to

(32:33) see you. I want to see [music] you. Open the eyes [singing] of my Lord. Open the [music] eyes of my heart. I want to see you. I want to see you. See you. [music] Shining in the light of your glory. Pour out [music] your power and love as we sing. Holy, holy, holy. [music] Holy, holy, holy, holy, holy, [music] holy, holy, holy, holy. I want to see you.

(33:26) [music] Open the eyes of my heart, Lord. [music] Open the eyes of my heart. I want to see you. [music] I want to see you. Open the eyes [music] of my heart, Lord. Open the eyes of my heart. I want to see you. I want [music] to see you. See you high. Shine in [music] the light of your glory. Pour out your power and love as we sing.

(34:09) Holy, [singing] holy, holy, [music] holy, holy, holy, [singing] holy, holy, holy, [music] holy, holy, holy. I want to [music] see you. Holy, holy, holy, [singing] [music] holy, holy, holy, holy, holy, holy. [music and singing] I want to see. >> Amen. This morning, I I feel like I want to address um an issue that I I see in the American church.

(35:01) Um the there's much of the Bible in Hebrews and and Paul's letters and and some that uh uh that Peter addresses. He he says, "I'm addressing false teaching." Uh what was that? You can imagine this baby church. They're just getting started. There's no schools. There there's no Bibles. There's no creeds. and and people would start teaching things that were not consistent with the Bible.

(35:31) And so you'll see that many times they'll say he he's addressing a false teaching. Well, there is a false teaching in our country that all you have to do is to pray this prayer and you're in. You know, you you just pray, "God, forgive me my sins. God, come into my life. God, uh, you know, be my Lord. Amen. Get baptized. I'm in.

(35:56) And they think that that's all that God asks of them. Where that's just the beginning. That that is the first step. Yes, th those things are important in our heart that we come to Christ. But that is a false teaching for people to think that that's all God asks of us because the whole Bible is full of 100% commitment.

(36:23) And my question today is what is the price of your salvation? And the answer is everything. Everything. It is a whole commitment. God is wholly committed to you and he asks us to be committed to him. uh that um in Matthew 22 2037 Matthew 22:37 Jesus replied love the Lord your God with what? All your heart. >> All your heart.

(36:52) What's your heart? Your passions, your love, your your your desire. You what you what you dream about, what you want to accomplish in your family, over your over over your finances, over your what do you dream about? What do you want to see happen? That that's your heart. W with all your soul, with all your mind, that means everything you've got.

(37:17) That means your past and your future and your finances and your job and your health. You give it all to God. You lay it at his feet. >> You give it to him. Love the Lord with everything you've got. And that's what he asks of you. 100% commitment. Um Matthew 22:22 and that's my signature verse. So how I I read the whole Bible in context of this verse and it says the kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepares a wedding banquet for his son. Okay, big deal.

(37:58) You say, "Oh, you know, no, it's all about a wedding from Genesis to Revelations. It's all about a wedding you've been invited to and and the kingdom of heaven." Well, that's where we're all going. Okay? That's what that's the uh the kingdom we're all part of. We want to be citizens of his kingdom, right? And it's all about a king.

(38:18) Who's the king? The father. God. And he's got a son. And he is looking for a bride. And the offer God has for salvation is for you to be his bride. That the church be the bride of Christ. And all from Genesis to Revelation, we see him searching and searching for that bride for his son. How many remember the day God was searching for you? >> He searched for you.

(38:52) How many times did you spurn him? But still he came knocking. >> He was so faithful to come, isn't he? >> Aren't you grateful for the Holy Spirit who didn't give up on you? He comes [snorts] that it's all about a wedding. I I I love a wedding when a a couple they've waited. They they stayed true. They long to anticipate the day that they form their home, their family.

(39:28) And the day comes and they make a total commitment to each other to care for each other. You know, God made us different for a reason. You know, a a magnets uh if they're if they're like magnets, they uh what? Repel. Okay. That's why you don't you God you you are attracted to a spouse that's the opposite of you.

(39:53) Okay? You know that they say two accountants cannot marry in the same family because there's not enough checkbook. Okay. All right. There's not enough house to clean. You know, you know, you you you have to you you want to be different because that a difference is what makes a home. Your strengths and weaknesses match and that is what God has intended.

(40:19) You know, I'm not a person who really believes that prenups I don't think they're very biblical. You know what a prenup is? Is that when a couple sits down and goes to a lawyer and they plan out their divorce before they get married? I I've never understood that. You know, they kind of figure out, well, you know, we'll give this a try and if it doesn't happen, then we we know what's going to happen, how much it's going to cost me to divorce.

(40:43) God's not like that. God's committed to you. Amen. >> There's no back door. He you are his priority. There there there's there's no agreement. He marriage for better for worse. In Ephesians 5:27, it's a scripture talking about the bride and it says to present her, that's the church, to himself.

(41:13) Okay, you you see you see the wedding here. You see the wedding the the groom's down here and the bride the what what what the father is presenting the bride to to the to the son right to present her as a radiant church. Okay that God's goal is to present you as a radiant church without stain wrinkle or blemish but holy and blameless. Okay.

(41:41) There is a problem with that verse and that is there's none of us that are good enough. There's none of us that are blameless. There's none of us that are pure and spotless. Right? >> It it's called a a a a price, a bride price. Um when I was in Ethiopia, I asked them, "How much is a bride?" And they said, "Well, it's usually about six or seven cows.

(42:05) " Okay, that that and you know the the the um the men the the grooms as young men they don't have that much money and so usually you know people help together the father will get the and pay the bride price you see you and I because of our sin we're in slavery we had a price we had a debt we couldn't pay we could never pay that debt and Our bride price was paid by the blood of Jesus.

(42:37) >> Amen. >> And he set [snorts] us free. >> Praise God. >> There's a a a young man when he was in fifth grade. He's a young adult now, but he when he was in fifth grade, he started an organization called Loose Chains change to loose change. And he would ask people for the change. And it's amazing.

(42:57) This thing's gone worldwide. He's been all kinds of TV shows and all this stuff. And now he's a young adult. He has paid and set thousands of people in slavery free. He's raised the money to pay. There are more people in slavery today than any other time in the world. We would think we'd be past all of that, but it's very prevalent.

(43:20) Human trafficking is atrocious. And just because we don't see it doesn't mean it's not happening. >> We need to pray the the end of that sin happens. It's terrible. But there's a price to be paid. We were in the same way were enslaved. God paid our bride price and he paid that for us. And he made us pure and white.

(43:49) He clothed us in garments of righteousness. When it talks about righteousness, it's not yours or my righteousness. It is robes of righteousness that are bought and purchased by the blood of Jesus. He makes us ready for our wedding day so that we can look forward to be with him. Every Christian should anticipate that day >> when we are with him.

(44:16) Revelation 21:2 it says, "I saw the holy city." Okay, that that that's us. Okay, the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven. Now, can you see with me the bride coming down the aisle? You see coming down the aisle waiting for her husband beautifully as a bride dressed for her husband. That is the picture of the church and salv and and in and the rap and excuse me and uh and the uh the end times of that.

(44:52) He looks forward to that wedding day when we will be together. So what was the cost to God? It cost him everything. For God so loved the world that he gave his son. The price of your salvation was the most valuable thing that God had was his son. He gave his best. He gave it all to you. We we have an altar here up here because the altar in the Old Testament, the altar represented a place of sacrifice where where the animals were taken and placed upon the altar.

(45:32) It's where Abraham sacrif put Isaac on the altar. It is a place where we die out to self. We we die to ourselves here and we put our sins behind us. We the altar is a place of sacrifice. Baptism is that symbol of us of what has happened in our lives to go under representing to be united with Jesus in his death and to his resurrection.

(46:03) They're all symbols of not praying one little prayer, of not saying some little words. It is all symbols of 100% commitment to God. >> There are many parables in the Bible and uh that that I love. But there the two that I think about at this time. One of them is called the pearl of great price. The pearl of great price.

(46:30) It says the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls. And when he found one of them a great price, he went and sold it and bought it. Can you imagine finding one little item, one little pearl, and you're willing to go and everything you own, everything you sell it, you give it just to have the pearl.

(46:57) And when you have the pearl, you have everything. Uh the verse right before it is another parable. It says the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure that you find in a field and you bury it back and you go and you sell everything you have to buy the field so you have the treasure. The kingdom of heaven is very very expensive. It will cost you every single thing you have.

(47:26) >> But when you but the poorest person in the world can afford it. It's everything you have. >> Amen. >> But once you have the treasure, you got it all. >> You got the best deal in the whole world. You bring our rags and we get his riches. We We bring our filthy. We bring our shame. We bring our sin.

(47:52) We bring our our addictions. We bring all of our junk. And he makes something beautiful. out of our lives. >> It's not worth holding on. There's nothing in this world worth missing that pearl, missing that treasure, missing the kingdom of God. It's worth it. I used to sing the song, it will be worth it all when we see Jesus.

(48:22) >> It will be just one glimpse of his face. Heaven's expensive, but everyone can afford it. I uh want to draw on the Exodus story this morning. The Exodus story, the the beautiful it is a historical story. It's true. It it happened. Uh one of the things that I try in Africa is I try to help them understand because they they read the stories, but they don't see the big picture.

(48:54) They don't see how it all fits together because from Genesis Revelation, we have one story and that whole story is about God chasing after you. H how all that fits. But let's just talk about this Exodus story today. Book of Exodus, we find two and a half million people that are all in slavery. What is slavery? Slavery is when you owe nothing.

(49:22) Your time, you work hard for somebody else. You never gain anything. You tomorrow's going to be like today. You work, you have no no gain. You have no future. It it there's nothing that's going to change. And the worst is you know that your children have the same outcome that you have. That is slavery. And the children of Israel are in slavery in Egypt.

(49:52) Now the Egypt almost every time in the Bible represents slavery. Represents bondage. And these two and a half million people are in bondage in Egypt. But what do we find? They cry out to God. God hears the prayers of desperate people. >> Amen. He hears your cry. Maybe not your McDonald's. Uh uh yeah, I'll take a lettuce and hold the hold the special sauce.

(50:24) And you know, that's the way a lot of people pray. You know, we're like we're just making an order. No, he hears the cries of desperate people. >> Amen. >> And he hears their cry and he sends a deliverer >> who is Moses. Moses is a picture of Jesus. Okay? He's a forerunnider, a picture of Jesus. You and I, the Bible calls it, we were in a slavery to sin.

(50:54) We we there's it's it's bondage. It It doesn't change it. It's not It's not going to be good. It's not ever. And And the problem is we're going to pass that on to our children, right? How many times when do we as a generation say, "I'm stopping right here. It's not going on to my kids." You know, I'm not going to let that happen.

(51:19) But in slavery, there's no hope. You You can't get out. You can't. In that slavery to sin, nothing changes. But when you cry out, God will send a deliverer. >> And your deliverer is Jesus. And he hears your prayer. and he has hope. Uh how bad the problem is when Jesus shows up, everything changes. >> There's hope has arrived.

(51:50) God, everything's going to change because God's on the scene. We have hope when we have our Lord Jesus. Then the the picture of Satan is Pharaoh. And Pharaoh's got the people under his control. And there they are in bondage. And Pharaoh has a hold on them. There's only one thing that can break the hold and that is innocent blood.

(52:28) They have 10 different plagues. They have but the n first nine do not affect Pharaoh. His heart is hard and the hold is bro not broken. But on the 10th plague they took a lamb, an innocent lamb, a lamb without spot or deflect, a lamb that was perfect. And they would take the lamb and they would slaughter the lamb, put the blood on the doorpost of their home.

(53:00) And that night the death angel would pass over. And as it would pass over, if there was no blood on the door, the firstborn male would die. But for the ones who had the blood applied, judgment was done. The animal, the innocent blood had taken the punishment for the family, had paid the price, and the death angel would pass over.

(53:34) When you come to Christ, it is not just like you join the Lion's Club. It's not just like, oh, we we're we're going we're going to church. Yeah, we're going to go, you know. No, it's not that at all. It is I have am joined to an eternal family. I am bonded. I am I am in the family of God. And the we are joined together for eternity.

(54:05) And when because we are the people who have the blood applied to our door of our lives and we are the people who look forward to God's coming, you know, we're the people who who who judgment has passed over us >> because our judgment was done by on a cross 2,000 years ago. that we laid our sins upon the cross.

(54:41) And we see now they leave their lives of slavery. Pharaoh says, "Get out of here. It's the blood. He cannot handle it." And they they they leave quickly out of and I want you to see this as a turning in your life from sin. you. If there's no change in a person's life, there's no Jesus. Jesus changes every place he ever goes.

(55:11) He He transforms lives and they walk out in repentance. It they leave the old lives of slavery. I I hate it when people think, "Well, I'm just saved in my sin. I just keep on doing the same things." That's not forgiveness. That's not repentance. It is when I turn from my sin that I receive his forgiveness. >> And then we come to the Red Sea and a an impossible situation and uh the children of Israel are going to face many different problems that are going to come to them and every problem is just a question.

(55:58) Are you going to trust God or not? that that's what a problem is. Am I going to trust me or God? Okay, if I'm going to trust me, I'm going to worry. I'm going to fret. I I I'm going to I'm going to lose a lot of sleep. But when I trust, I get to sleep like a baby. >> How many would like to sleep like a baby? You know, how many like to sleep through those things, through the storm? you'd like to you'd like to have a lot more peace, you know, rather than Freddy and well, they come up on the Red Sea and it is an impossibility.

(56:35) There is no way unless God saves them, they're going to get slaughtered by Pharaoh's army. It is impossible. But that's nothing for God. An impossibility is nothing for my God. >> Amen. He can do anything with God. All things are possible. Waters open, they walk across. It represents baptism because it is those waters come back and there is no going back to Egypt.

(57:14) >> Amen. >> I wish every person who came to the Lord and was baptized would have that same mindset. There is no going back the way you were. What's there to go back to? >> There there's there's no reason to go back. It it is uh there's a phrase uh burn the boats. Anyone ever heard that phrase? Burn the boats? Anybody ever heard that phrase? Um you it's uh it comes from the 1500s.

(57:45) uh a conqueror named Cortez and he was from Spain and he had a small army and he took on the Aztec army in Mexico. Okay, pretty overwhelming. But he Cortez took and he has all of his army and they burned the boats. What did that mean? We are we're we're going to win or die. Nobody is going back on the boats back to Spain. We're going to win.

(58:19) We're going to fight. We are We are totally committed. I I think Christians ought to burn the boats. You probably need to burn some other things. Probably some delete some things off your phone. Get rid of some things in your house. Get some things off your television. You you you need to change. You got to burn the boats.

(58:37) You don't go back to the old stuff. Don't. and and they um but I need do I need to tell you that Cortez won and beat the Aztecs with a small army but they were 100% committed. What would happen in the church if the church was 100% committed? God's got everything. >> God's got everything. He has uh every part of my life.

(59:09) It's a big risk, but they have no backup plan. They remove the safety nets. You know what the safety nets are? You you ever gone to a circus and they're doing all of the stuff in the trapeze and all that stuff and what do you see? OSHA makes them put a big net, right? They got a big net there.

(59:27) So, if something happens, they fall and they're caught in the net. Okay? We don't want anybody to die falling off that. Okay? But with God, he's your safety net. You know, you you you don't have to have an exit plan with God. He's got your back. I I saw a lady yesterday had a big shirt. God's got me. And I go, "Praise God.

(59:54) " You know, he he he's got my every part of my life. He's got my future. He's got my past. He's got my finances. He's got my successes. And he's got my failures. >> Amen. >> You see, total commitment. No turning back. There was no going back to Egypt. I wish every believer believed that. John 15:19. Let's look at a couple verses here. John 15:19.

(1:00:22) If you belong to the world, it would love you as its own, but as uh as it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That's why the world hates you. Okay? We're not like the world. We don't we don't we don't live like the world. We don't go after the things of the world.

(1:00:46) We're to be different from the world. The world's going to hate you. Duh. Hated Jesus, right? Because we're not part of them. We're not part of the world. We have a a different We're a part of another kingdom. In John 17 verse14, I have given them your word. This Jesus talking. I've given them your world and the word has hated.

(1:01:10) The world has hated them for they're not part of the world any more than I'm part of the world. Wrap your mind around that guys. You're not supposed to be any more part of the world than Jesus was part of the world. Wow. Right. Verse 15. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world, but that you protect them from the evil one.

(1:01:35) Okay. Why don't we pray over those kids going to school? We we pray not take them out. We want God's protection over them. >> Not just physical protection, but protection over their minds. They are not of the world even as I'm not of it. And then 2 Corinthians 6:1 17, therefore come out from them and be separate.

(1:02:00) Okay? Come out of Egypt. Come out, be separate. be different says the Lord touch no unclean thing and I will receive you and then they go to Mount Si and Mount Si they said it they get the law two years they're there as a young as a Christian you should never quit sitting at the feet of Jesus >> you you never quit learning You never quit growing.

(1:02:36) You You have a prayer. My words, the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight. You say, "God, you've got me. God, you got my money and successes, my failures, my past, my future, my friends, my health, my time. I belong to God. >> What's the cost of salvation? Everything. It's the pearl of great price.

(1:03:10) It's the treasure of uncarchable riches. But it's worth it. >> Your salvation is worth it. There's nothing to go back to. Would you stand for prayer today? As I was praying, I just kept hearing the word everything. Everything. Everything. Does God have your everything today? I just invite you to come. We've got some people coming and they're going to pray down here.

(1:03:50) If you want someone to pray for you, maybe maybe something you need to let go of, maybe a relationship, maybe some [music] wrong priorities in your life, what whatever it is, maybe it's some addictions, maybe it's part of your past life. I challenge you to burn [music] the boats today. Say, God, I I am all yours. I come to the altar.

(1:04:23) God, I give you myself. God's speaking to you right now. I just [music] encourage you to come. Just begin to come as as Mitch [music] is leading us. Those praying, will you come on forward? return to all my [snorts] creat to bear it alone. I hear your invitation to let it all go. And I see it now

(1:05:28) and it down cuz I [singing] know that I need you. I run to [singing] the [music] father. I fall into grace. I'm done with the hiding. No one wanting to wait. My heart needs a searching. My soul needs a friend. So I run to [singing and music] the father again and again and again [singing] and again. Oh. Oh. [music] Oh.

(1:06:28) >> [snorts] >> There are some burdens [music] that we're not meant to bear, that we're not meant to carry alone, guys. Those burdens, if you want to walk out of here [music] free today, feeling light and free and liberated in [music] the name of Jesus, I just encourage you to let them go right now. To lay them at the feet of Jesus.

(1:06:50) Say, "Father, these burdens are not mine to bear alone. I want to hand them over to you, Jesus, [music] right now. Father, would you silence the noise in my mind? Father, I've never been more peaceful [music] than when I'm gung-ho, sold out to you, Jesus, living for you on fire. I've never experienc what you're doing, God. Bless you, Lord. Father, Amen.

(1:07:18) >> Bless you, Lord. I run to the father forward to grace. [snorts] No reason to wait. The heart needs a search. My soul [music] needs a friend. So unto the father again and again and again [music] and again. Oh. Oh. You You hear the cries of desperate people. We don't want to be in slavery any longer.

(1:08:20) We don't want sin to reign in our lives. And only the blood of Jesus can conquer that. You can break that hold. You can change our hearts. You can put us on a new path. Lord, most of all, you could write our name in the Lamb's Book of Life. And that we have eternal life because of you, Lord. I pray that, Father, over each of our lives today, [music] we consecrate to you, Lord.

(1:08:48) We dedicate to you. We We want to be a faithful bride, looking forward to the day when you return. We want to be robed in the righteousness of [music] Christ that you purchased for us. Come, Lord Jesus. [music] Set us apart, God. Set us apart for your purpose. We are not of the world any more than the than you are of the world.

(1:09:18) Give us new direction and hope in our lives. We bless you, Lord. Bless you, Lord. Just keep praying right now. >> [snorts] >> I run to the father [music] [singing] to grace. [snorts] My heart needs a [music] search. My soul needs a friend. So I run [music] to the father again and again and again [music] and again.

(1:10:06) Well, Lord, thank you [music] that you're here today. You've been so good to us, God. Lord, as we run the [music] race, may we run with excellence. May we run Lord Jesus totally committed to you God not looking back that you be the love of our life. You be the passion in our lives and we give you our heart, our soul and our mind.

(1:10:41) Our whole lives God belongs to you. And everyone said amen.