New Life Covenant - HP Campus | 8:30am Service

It's >> everybody clap. You need to look at somebody right now and tell them it's working. It's working. It's working. It's working. Come on. Let's do it again. Come on, everybody say it's working. Just for me, >> it's working out. >> It's working out. >> It's working out >> just for me. >> It's working out. >> Are you ready for me? >> Everybody say, "It's working. >> It's working. >> It's working. >> It's working. >> It's working out.

All of my problems is working out. >> Every situation clap your hands in here. Hey, New Life family. Happy Sunday. My name is Nani >> and I'm Jasmine. >> Here are your announcements. To follow us along, go ahead and tap that digital disc right in front of you. >> If this is your first time here, you are considered a VIP, a very important person. So, please fill out the form online and visit us in the lobby for a free gift. >> Where are all the men at? Woo! Woo! Woo! Woo! Woo! Woo! early bird special for the men's conference October 16th and 17th. You better not miss it. Go ahead and sign up today. Get that early bird special. We want to see you there. There is no midweek connection.

No, there is no midweek connection. There is no midweek connections this week because we are in the middle of our sabbatical month. If you need any more information about what's going on in New Life or what to do, please visit us on our website for more information. calling all parents of little ones and high schoolers. We have a ministry here called Impact. It is such an amazing ministry. It teaches the kids about the word in different ways. My daughter's a part of it. I love it. They get a little vest, a little sash. They get some little badges when they complete things. It's like boy scouts and girl scouts but for church. It's such a beautiful, beautiful ministry. It gives them a way to explore the word of God in different light. So, if you are interested, please visit the lobby and sign up your children today. There is so much happening here at New Life Covenant for the summer and if you blink, I promise you you're going to miss it. So visit us on our website if you want any more information about anything that we discussed today. Now we hope you enjoy service. We'll see you next week. Bye. Heat. Hey, Heat.

Heat. Heat. Heat. God bless you. We like to stand to your feet.

Good morning and welcome to the house of the Lord. Would you lift up a shout of praise this morning? You made it into the house. And God has something supernatural for you this morning. So, can you lift your hands and welcome the Holy Spirit right now? We are breathing in the presence of the Lord right here and right now. SO, WHETHER YOU'RE AT HOME OR IN THE ROOM, I KNOW THAT YOU ARE WASHED AND COVERED IN THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB. SO, WE HAVE THE FREEDOM TO LIFT UP A SHOUT OF PRAISE AND FREE to dance and sing in his presence. Hallelujah. Come on, let's put our hands together. And I'm clean. Sin was stained on me. Shame was running deep, but love was spilled on Calvary. Oh, hallelujah. I'm clean. God, how can it be? I'm ransomed and redeemed.

I'm standing in your victory. You know, hallelujah. I've been washed in the water. Washed in the blood. Come on. Is that your testimony this morning and say, I've been washed in the water. Washed in the blood. All because of you. Oh, hallelujah. Now what I have done for me, >> you paid it all up. Come on, >> say hallelujah. Your love has overcome. Your mercy is supreme. I'm dancing in your Oh, hallelujah. I'll be washed in the water. Washed me in the blood. Oh, hallelujah. I'll be washed in the water. Oh, hallelujah. the water in the shall I say I've been washed in the water in the because of you. If this is your testimony you put your hands together say cuz you took away my shame and you nailed it to the cross. You got me running out the grave.

Hallelujah. Here I come. Come on. In one voice we say cuz you took away my s and you nailed it to the cross. You got me riding on the grave. >> Hallelujah. Come on. You took away my shame. I'm so thankful for it. Jesus already. You got me running. You got me running. Hey, here I go. Thank you Jesus. If you're thankful for the blood that washes you, I've been washed in the water. Washed in the blood. As good as Oh, hallelujah.

I've been washed in the water. washed in the blood. All because of you. Oh hallelujah and oh hallelujah and oh hallelujah and oh hallelujah and oh hal has been washed there. Oh hallelujah. Come on. Can you think about that? Oh >> where would you be? Oh, where would you be? Oh, where would you be? Oh, where would you be without the grace and the mercy of Jesus? Without the grace and the mercy of Jesus. Without the grace and the mercy of Jesus. He sustain. Oh, hallelujah.

Come on. Can you lift up a shout of praise all across this room? Can you just say hallelujah this morning for the blood of Jesus Christ that covers, that sustains, that shapes every part of who you are. So we stand and we thank God. Thank you, Lord. God of Abraham, you're the God of faithful promises. Time to time. You have proven. You do just what you say. Though the storms may come and the winds may go, I'll remain steadfast and let my heart run. When you speak a word, it will come to pass.

Great is faithfulness. Come on, can you lift your hands this morning and receive it? Great is the faithful we from the rising sun. We receive praise your name to be You're walking into your hands and just receive it and say time confis can move. There is nothing you can do. Your faith won't let you. Though the storms may come up in the morning, I need you to say, "I ste Great.

Come on. all across the room, would you lift your hands and begin to open up your mouth and thank him for his faithfulness? Thank him for time and time again holding and to say to you, I don't know, but there is power in the remembering of what God has done for you. I put my faith in Jesus, my anchor to the ground, my hope and firm foundation. You'll never Heat.

Yeah. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Go back to that bridge. My name is your anchor this morning. We're standing on a firm foundation. Yeah. Heat.

Heat. Heat. Heat. My foundation will never let me. >> See, I put my faith in Jesus. Come on, church. Say, >> hope he'll never let me down cuz I'll put my faith in Jes. One more time. I need you to believe that this morning. Say, I put my faith.

Come on, just put it. My anchor to the ground, my hope and firm foundation. He'll never let me down. And he'll never let me down. Great is your faithfulness, too. Great is your faithfulness. From the rising sun to the set, I will praise. >> Come on, can you say it again? From the rising sun to the set, same praise. One more time, lift your voice and say, "From the rising sun to the set, same praise."

>> Cuz great is your faithfulness. Cuz I sought the Lord and he heard and he answered. I sought the Lord and he heard and he answered. I sought the Lord and he heard and he answered. That's why I trust him. That's why I trust him. I sought the Lord and heard. I don't know, but somebody in this room needs to believe that full of faith that he's never left you. That he will never leave you. From the rising of the sun, faithfulness would flow from the father's throne. Come on, let's lift it up and say, "I saw the Lord and he answered." I saw the Lord and he heard and he answered. Come on. If you believe it, I need you to say, That's why I saw the world and I saw the That's why that's why I answer.

Come on, shout it out and say, "That's why I trusted. That's why I trust in God." Come on, lift up a SHOUT OF PRAISE ALL ACROSS THE ROOM. We thank you, Lord. We receive that this morning. Christ is my firm foundation. He's the rock on which I stand. When everything around me is shaking, I've never been more glad that I put my faith in Jesus cuz he's never let me down. He's faithful through generations.

Yes, he's so joy in I've got peace. I've got peace that makes no sense. So I won't be holy. I got help by my help by my strength. I built my life on Jesus. He's never let me down. He's never let me down. Faithful. for your faithful Jesus. So I would love you.

Yeah. Heat. Heat. Heat. Yeah. Heat. Heat.

Yeah. Heat. Yeah. Heat. You won't go says that even when we're not faithful, he remains faithful because he cannot deny who he is. We serve a faithful God, a God who never fails. Thank you, Jesus. came the wind blew. My house was built on you.

I'm safe with you. I'm going to make it. Came with blue. My house was built on. I'm singing to you. I'm going to make my house. I'm saving you, Jesus. Heat. Heat. My house is built on you.

Christ is my firm foundation. He's the rock on which we stand when everything around me is shaking. Oh, I've never been more glad that I put my faith in Jesus. He's never let me down. He's faithful through generations. >> So why would he fail now? He won't. He won't He won't fail. Oh, I know he won't.

He won't. You won't fail. Rain came when my house was built on you. I'm safe with you. I'm going to make it through. The rain came with blue, but my house was built on you, Jesus. I'm safe with you. I'm going to make it through.

I'm going to make it through. I'm standing strong. I'm going to make it through. Cuz my house was built on. We're standing on a firm found. We're standing on a firm foundation. We want to trust. We want to believe cuz you are faithful and you are faithful now. Let rain come. Let the winds blow cuz I know my God can. I know that my God can overcome the storm.

He can overcome the greatest of all cuz he's a good good father. He's a good good father. And he's a good good savior. And he's a good good father. And he's a good good savior. And he's a good good father. You are Thank you, Lord. Can we go back to that part? Rain came. Rain came. Oh, rain came. Rain came when But my house was built on you.

>> I'm going through. >> Come on, let's sing it one more time to the father. >> My house was built on you. >> Thank you, Lord. I'm safe with you. I'm going to make it through. >> Tell the Lord you're going to make it through. >> We're going to make it through cuz my house. >> Thank you, Jesus. Now, how can I say that you're going to make it through? That I'm going to make it through. The song is saying that Christ is our firm foundation and that our house is built on him and our body, our temple is the house. It's the house of God. Holy Spirit lives in us. And I was thinking as we were singing this song that Jesus is our firm foundation, but scripture also tells us that he is the cornerstone. And anytime you're building a house for all of our construction people in the house, you got to have a cornerstone.

And that cornerstone on the foundation is the stone that every other stone has to align itself to the cornerstone. And so because our house, our body is on a firm foundation and Jesus is our cornerstone, every other aspect of our lives have to line up to Jesus. And when that happens and when the r comes and the floods hit us and the wind comes, we may be shaken, but our foundation is strong. There's no cracks in the foundation because the storms, they are coming. And so we can make it through because not only that he's our foundation, but he is our cornerstone. And every area of our lives must align to him. And that's where our blessed assurance come that we will make it through. Glory to God. So Lord, we thank you for the assurance of a firm foundation. Lord, we thank you that you are our cornerstone. And so God, as your children, we are asking you to continue to help us to build our house that's aligned to you. And God, we'll make it through whatever we're going through this morning. God, we know that we will make it through because of you. And we praise you for that. We honor you. We thank you. We trust you.

In your name, we pray. And the people of God said, "Amen." Amen. We are thanking God for that firm foundation. Before you take your seats, I'm going to ask if you can greet your neighbors. Feel free to go to the next section of the church. There's someone you haven't seen in a while. Greet them. Let them know that it's good to see them in the house of the Lord. Make sure we're greeting our young people if you see them. Hallelu. Thank you, Lord. Bless your name. Bless your name. Glory to God. Well, good morning family. God bless you. Welcome to the house of the Lord. Welcome to our 8:30 service. For those who are watching us online, we say God bless you. Welcome. If this is your first time here at New Life Covenant, we also say welcome family. If you can join me in welcoming our first time visitors, glory to God. My name is Alicia Huleston, one of the associate pastors here at New Life Covenant. And on behalf of our pastors, Pastor David and Pastor Motti, I say greet you, welcome you, bless you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And as we are still in that posture of worship, we're going to take out this time now to just give an offering to the Lord. And so as our

ushers are coming to serve you, we know that at New Life there are multiple ways to give. And so I believe and trust that you've already decided what you are giving to the Lord. And so we are only receiving what you have already determined to give. And so I'm going to pray over the offering. And there may be someone here today that you don't have employment um or you are in danger or fear of losing your job. I'm going to pray a blessing over you that God will continue to provide for you and your family and for those who are giving that we will have a cheerful heart as we give unto the Lord. So spirit of the living God, we thank you this morning for the opportunity to give back to you what rightly belongs to you. And so God, we pray that you will bless it. I pray that no one here will give grudgently or they're giving out of necessity, but they are giving with a cheerful heart. And for those that may be sitting in your presence this morning that they are without a job, there may be a threat of losing their job. God, we pray an abundant blessing. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Lord, we thank you. Receive this as an offering of a sweet aroma to you in Jesus's name. Amen. God bless you. We don't want to miss your presence. I want to be present. I want to be focused. I want to give all of my attention, all of my affection. I want to be hungry. I want to be desperate. May my heart be set on fire. Yahweh my desire. I don't want to move so fast. May you be my first priority.

I don't want to put you last. I just want to give you all I need. So slow me down. I need you, Lord, to Lord. Slow me down. Yeah. So slow me down. We don't want to miss your presence. Feel so you want to be reckless. All things abandoned. I'll be chasing down your presence. Sending praises up to heaven. And I don't want to move so fast. May you be my first priority.

I don't want to put you last. No, I just want to you me. So slow me. So slow me down. Slow me down. Won't you slow me? We don't want to miss your presence. King of glory, slow me down. Lord, I want to yield at the feet of the father. Yeah. Slow me. Slow me down. Slow me down. Just take my eyes off what's around. Your spirit's moving here and now. I don't want to miss your presence. Sh. You got my heart to bring you praise.

Tomorrow's calling, but today I don't want your presence. So slow me down. Slow me down. Your spirit is moving and I don't want And I don't want to miss you. We don't want to miss this moment. If you need that in your life right now where the Holy Spirit will slow you down, I need you to stand to your feet right now and join us as we say. So slow me down. Slow me down. Just take my eyes off what's around. Your spirit's moving here and now. I don't want to miss your praises. I need direction away.

But you find me here at your face. So your spirit and I don't want to miss I don't want to miss your Jesus. You my heart. We only want you, Jesus. And I don't want your And I don't want to miss your praise. I don't want you cuz you don't want to miss his presence. We're trying to on our own. We don't want to miss and I don't want to miss your praise. >> I don't want to miss your praises.

I don't want to miss your presence >> and I don't want to miss your presence. Cuz I'm coming back to the heart of worship. >> And it's all about you. Yes, it's all about you, Jesus. And I'm sorry, Lord, for the things I've made it. And it's all about you. Yes. It's all about you, Jesus. >> Hallelujah. >> Hallelujah. Come on. Let's just be still for a second. Father, we thank you. We love you. We honor you, God. Holy Spirit, we don't want to miss this moment. So, clear our hearts. Open our ears so we could hear what the spirit is saying today.

Father, we're you are so good and we are ready. We believe there's a word today coming from the mouth of God. So humble me God. I decrease so that you be glorified in this place. Father, we thank you. We love you. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. Amen. Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. Let me God is so good. So, let me introduce myself. My name is Ray. I'm one of the ministers here at New Life Covenant Church. Um, if it's your first time, welcome. God bless you. And we're going to have some fun today. We're going to have some fun today. If you ever heard me preach before, you already know we're about to have some fun. We're I'm going to continue the sermon series, Rest and Return. Pastor Rico killed it last week. Um, he he opened up the sermon series. He talked about how when God has a promise for you, he spoke a promise. Even before you guys, even before the disciples went on the boat, there was a promise already waiting for you guys. And today, we're going to talk about sleeping like a king. How do we rest in the midst of a storm? So, I'm I'm really excited. Open up your Bibles with me. We're going to read the word together. Mark chapter 4 verses 35-41. That's our main verses for this sermon series this month.

Amen. On that day when evening had come, he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side." And leaving the crowd, they looked him looked him him with them in the boat just as he was and the other boats were with him. And a great windstorm storm arose and the waves were breaking in the boat so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern asleep on a cushion. And they woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the sea and said to the sea, "Peace, be still." And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?" And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, "Who then is this that even the wind and the sea obey him?" Repeat after me. Your word is written in my mind.

Your word is hidden in my heart. Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light for my path. I will seek you with all my strength. I choose I choose to live my life according to your word. Your word, your word, oh Lord, is eternal. You may take your seat. Praise the living God. So the Sea of Galilee is roughly 680 ft below sea level. If this means immediately um above the water is warm and moist. It's surrounded by mountains and steep hills. And this means that cool and dry air are coming down from those mountains and hills. So when they collide together, the warmth and the coldness, it produces a storm.

The windstorms in the Greek would apply um hurricane like intensity. This was no joke. This storm in their life that they're about to face was no joke. Um, the winds hit the boat so hard that the water started to sink the boat. So, I understand the disciples when they run to Jesus, "Hey man, don't you care? We're about to die." The Sea of Galilee is highly prone for sudden violent storms due to the the region due to the the the mountains and and the the warmness of the water and the coolness of the water. But the Bible says on that day when evening had come, he said, "Let us go to the other side." Who do we have on the boat? We have four fishermen on the boat. One of them, I call him the master fisherman because his name is Peter. He um Jesus found him fishing. And when he told him, he said, "Come and follow me.

You'll be the fisher of men." So we have all these fishermen. You have the master fishermen. And they could have easily said, "Hey, Jesus, I don't think this is a good idea that we go on this boat. You know, we did ministry. We're tired. Let's just be with the crowd. Let's be with the people. What separates you from what separates us from the crowd is our obedience. Our obedience separates us from just the common people that just come to church. You have to understand that the people back then that were not part of the disciplehip only came for Jesus to perform, do a miracle, do a healing, and then they will go their way. For us to be uh true disciples, we need to be known by our obedience. We need to be marked by obedience. When Jesus says, "Come, COME WITH ME ON THIS BOAT. WE'RE GOING TO THE OTHER SIDE." IT WASN'T a suggestion, y'all. That was a command. If you WANT TO FOLLOW ME, YOU NEED to be obedient. Because unfortunately today, we have a we have so many amazing people. Amen. God bless you. But throughout the week, this this would just be a past memory. And throughout the week, instead of putting our trust in God, we go to the horoscopes.

What's the universe saying? What's Instagram saying? God had to pull them out out of the crowd. You're probably wondering, what's this have to do with resting? Because trust and obedience, they marry each other. And if you're going to TRULY REST WITH TRUST, YOU ALSO HAVE OB have to have obedience to to follow Christ. You can be obedient. If you're taking notes, I need you to write this down. You can be obedient to the Lord's will and still face storms. But God, I GO TO CHURCH AND GOD, I I PRAY AND GOD, I I I'M IN THE MIDWEEK BIBLE STUDIES AND GOD, I DO DISCIPLEHIP. WHY AM I going through this storm? is because you go to church and it's because you pray and because you're midweek BIBLE STUDY THAT GOD ALLOWS storms to come in your life. sto this storm. Y'all, I know we hear preachings. This is a pretty popular preaching, the Jesus on the boat. Most preachers preach it from the perspective this was an attack.

This was spiritual warfare. You could you could preach that. That's not out of out of that area. But this is really this storm was really to develop character. This was not an attack of the devil. This was not to to derail Jesus's purpose. This was allowed by Christ so that the storm could refine us because we can't be like the other crow. We can't be like the crowd. We got to carry our cross. We got to stand apart. We got to be we got to be set apart because what God is about to do, he's about to take you to the other side. Obedience reflects trust in God. It's the physical truth. You believe that he knows what's best for our life. WHEN YOU FOLLOW HIS COMMANDS, even when they don't make logical sense. I don't know if you know my testimony. Probably probably see me for the very first time, but I'm born and raised Chicago. I want to I want to first say that I proclaim Chicago. I love Chicago. But there was a season in my life I had to go to Camden, New Jersey for 10 years. Didn't make sense to me. I'm 24 years old. I'm just getting started in ministry. And you uproot me to go to Camden. 70 bucks in my pocket. No job, no house, no family.

And because of the because of the obedience, let let me tell you something. Obedience produces fruit. When you're obedient, when it doesn't make sense, you're going to see the fruit of God's character. There's no denying his provision over your life because you decided to be obedient. Even when it doesn't make sense, EVEN WHEN IT REQUIRES a sacrifice, telling me to go over there. And at the time, it was one of the worst cities in the nation. I'm not about that life. I'll keep it real. I'm a I'm I'm a shy person. Like the sports, stay in the house. I'm not about going out to the street, evangelizing to people stealing um dealing drugs. And I remember one time there was a six o'clock in the morning. There was a driveby and I fell asleep on the couch. Me and my pastor, we're going to go to the gym and I fell asleep because I don't know why she wants to go to the gym at 6:00 in the morning. That's not normal. And a driveby happened. She runs down the stairs and wakes me up. Demon, did you hear that? They were shooting. You're supposed to be my armor bear. Mei, I'm not about that life. You need to send me back home.

Obedience shows that when YOU TRUST GOD AND HIS PROMISES AND HIS GOODNESS AND HIS LOVE, HE WILL NOT DENY YOU. OBEDIENCE, obedience is connected to trust, which is tied to Jesus's character. This means acknowledging that we have a responsibility to simply obey. I need to say that one more time. We have the responsibility to keep each other accountable. Man, you better you better obey God. Man, I was so nervous to come up here today. I'm not even going to lie. I haven't preached in like four months. And and Pastor David was like, "Yeah, you're going to be preaching on this day. I don't know about that. I don't know. But obedience is better than sacrifice." And I know the Lord gave me a word for you and for me. And so I have to acknowledge, we have to acknowledge that we have to simply obey. At times the will of God will direct us right into a storm. Storms are connected to building our faith, trust, obedience, and character. Jesus is more interested in building up our character, not our platform.

You can leave the platform at home, but God wants to build our character because there's too many pastors out in the world today that they're losing their platform because the character can't hold them up. We're in that time. Storms will strip away worldly reliance and selfish desires and force us to have deeper faith. Storms, let me tell you something. Storms are not meant to break you. They're not meant to punish you. They're not meant to lead you away from the faith. They're meant to refine us and develop a pure trust to follow Christ. BECAUSE WHEN JESUS TOLD THE 5,000 TO FOLLOW ME, they didn't follow him. When Jesus told the rich man to come and follow me, he didn't follow him. So storms are needed if you want to FOLLOW CHRIST. GOD ALLOWS STORMS TO DEVELOP CHARACTER, BUILD longlasting faith, and and cause his followers to be set apart to handle the will of God. You know that there's a will of God on your life.

So, it's pretty sure there's going to be a storm that's coming in your life. Psalms 37:5, "Commit your way to the Lord, trust in him, and he will act." In this script, in these scriptures, we see two aspects of Christ. We see the human nature of Christ and we see the divine nature of Christ. The human nature he WAS EXHAUSTED. IT'S OKAY. WE DON'T HAVE TO BE THE ministry warrior every week. It's okay that WE WE MISS A SUNDAY to rest. When I mean miss, I mean I don't mean stay home. I mean just come and receive. IT'S OKAY THAT WE'RE NOT LEADING BIBLE STUDIES EVERY WEEK. IT'S OKAY THAT WE'RE NOT DOING SOMETHING A WHOLE FEST. It's all right to put down the cape and just be normal and just rest so that you could return stronger. In the response to the disciples when they told him, "Do you not care? We're perishing." Now, word perishing means, "Do you not care?

We're being destroyed. We're about to be we're about to be destroyed." The Bible teaches us that in his human nature, he cares for us. The word of God reminds believers to cast their anxieties on him because he intimately cares. 1 Peter chapter 5, you go ahead and read it at home. THE FACT IS that Jesus Jesus deeply are concerned for our troubles. Don't let the enemy trick you in believing that Jesus doesn't hear you or doesn't know where you're at. He knows where you're at and he loves you. The Bible says, "Where can I go that your presence is not there? For we DO NOT HAVE A HIGH PRIEST WHO IS UNABLE TO sympathize with our weakness. Jesus understands. If no one's around, Jesus is in your boat. Because we look for people, but even though my mother and father forsake me, he will never forsake me. Stop listening to the voices and listen to the voice that matters.

EVERYONE HAS AN OPINION, BUT THE WORD OF GOD IS THE ONE truth that matters. Take courage. We see that his divine nature HIS DIVINE NATURE IS UNMISTAKABLY clear that he is God divine. He is man in flesh but he's also godly divine. He's the God man. It he is God because he he's the only one that has such power to tell the storms be still. John 1:1, in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God. This Jesus is THE PERSONAL WORD OF GOD THROUGH WHOM GOD SPOKE ALL THINGS INTO EXISTENCE. THIS IS WHY WE PRAY IN the name of Jesus because it was created for him and through him. And so IF HE HAS DIVINE POWER, YOU BETTER PRAY FOR YOUR MAMA that's sick in the name of Jesus. You better pray for your children that are lost in the name OF JESUS. YOU BETTER PRAY FOR YOUR COWORKER THAT DON'T KNOW JES JESUS in the NAME OF JESUS BECAUSE IN HIM AND THROUGH HIM IS POWER. That's his testimony.

IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD AND THE WORD WAS GOD. Think about it for a second. He could have worried about anything on that boat. Jesus could have worried, but he chose to sleep. Jesus could HAVE WORRIED ABOUT HIS FAMILY THAT HE LEFT BEHIND, BUT HE CHOSE to sleep. He could have worried about the overwhelming crowds needing him, but he chose to sleep. HE COULD HAVE WORRIED ABOUT THE DISCIPLES CRYING FOR HELP, BUT HE chose to sleep. JESUS COULD HAVE WORRIED ABOUT THE FUTURE BECAUSE HE knew he was his destiny. It was the cross, but even he chose to sleep. All these things Jesus could have worried about, but he chose to sleep. So let me ask you, what's keeping you awake at night? What's bothering you tonight? When Jesus COMMAND THE STORM, IT SUDDENLY STOP. I NEED YOU TO HEAR THIS BECAUSE WHENEVER JESUS DOES SOMETHING SUDDENLY IS ALWAYS TIED TO A MIRACLE.

While Peter WAS IN PRISON, BOUND BETWEEN TWO GUARDS, THE ANGEL OF THE LORD CAME AND SET HIM FREE. WHILE PAUL AND SILAS WERE PRAYING IN PRISON AND CHAINED UP, JESUS SENT AN earthquake and THEY WERE FREE. JESUS OFTEN perform miracles and with immediate results. The woman was BLEEDING FOR 12 YEARS, WENT TO THE DOCTOR, WENT TO HER NEIGHBORS, WENT TO THE CHURCH, THEY COULDN'T HELP HER. BUT THE MINUTE JESUS WALKED DOWN HER STREET, she was immediately healed. Everything can change in an instant moment. Everything could change. So when it seems like it's not changing, you keep praying. You keep trusting. YOU KEEP PRAISING. YOU KEEP GOING TO CHURCH. YOU DRAG YOUR FAMILY TO CHURCH BECAUSE I KNOW TODAY THE GOING TO BE THE DAY THAT GOD instantly meets me here. WHATEVER YOU'RE WAITING ON, you're waiting on something today. Be expected. Go home. STAND BY THE WINDOW AND WAIT FOR THE LORD. He's coming your way.

He's going to move and he's going to suddenly change your situation. So the Bible says, "But he, Jesus, was in the stern, asleep in the cushion." The stern is located in the back of the boat. It's the captain's area. It's is for the captain to sleep or is for the captain to direct the boat. I love that. It was for him to rest or for him to direct the boat. God is showing us through through Jesus, he had the ability to rest after working and he had the ability to still have control. He's in an exalted seat. THE WIND DIDN'T WAKE HIM. THE ARGUING OF THE DISCIPLES DIDN'T WAKE HIM. THE WATER SPLASHING OVER THE BOAT DIDN'T WAKE HIM. BUT THE CRY of his disciples instantly woke him. Jesus is like that parent that sleeps through all kinds of racket. So the minute their their children starts crying, there go Jesus. There goes the parent to save the children. The Bible says in Psalms 35-6, I lay down and slept. I woke again for the Lord sustained me. I WILL NOT BE AFRAID OF many thousands of people WHO HAVE SET THEMSELVES against me all around. Hear me. Sleep is the act of trusting God.

sleep. When I when we go TO SLEEP, WHEN WE REST, I'm I'm giving it to you, Lord. While restlessness is the act of pride, just leave it alone. Just go to sleep. Don't be too prideful that I got to stay up because the the bills don't add up or I'm going to take care of my children or how am I going to reconcile with my husband or with a family member. Just let God take care of it. I like the scriptures in Psalm because it reminds me of the prophet Elijah. I just want to say this real quick. In first kings or second kings um there was a situation where the prophet was getting getting some heat from nations and he was sleeping and the servant came and to wake him and to tell him there's a nation that's surrounding you right now. They're about to kill you. Look how look how good God is. The enemy will send you a nation for one man. AND THE PROPHET WAKES UP AND HE TELLS THE SERVANT, "HEY, open your eyes." I was a servant, "Bro, you're the one sleeping. I'm just delivering you a message." But Elisha tells the the servant, "Open your eyes. Look up in the hills. THERE'S AN ARMY THAT'S SURROUNDING MY ENEMY. THERE'S CHARIOTS OF FIRE READY TO GO ON THE ON THE WORD OF GOD THAT WHEN THE ENEMY COMES TOO CLOSE, MAN, heaven's army, go protect THE PROPHET. GO PROTECT my children. I could lay down and I could

sleep. I would not be afraid of many thousands of people. JESUS WAS NOT SHAKEN OR WORRIED ABOUT HIS situation the that most people are worried about because he has confident in the father today. Matthew 11:28 come to me all who labor are heavy laden and I will give you rest. That's a promise y'all. God keeps his promises. God wants us to trust him to the point with where we can surrender our earthly tasks, our worries, our challenges and just rest. SO HOW DO WE REST in the stern with Jesus? We're taking notes one in repentance. Bring our repentance to him. Bring our worries to him. There's too many of us who are coming to church every week with a bold carrying a boulder boulder of guilt, A ROCK OF FEAR. UH UH UH uh displeasure of all kinds of of things that we should not BE CARRYING BECAUSE WHILE WE WERE SINNERS, GOD GAVE HIS SON FOR US TO SET US FREE. BUT YET, WE'RE CARRYING ALL THIS WEIGHT. We're carrying this. I I just want to say this. Most times we create the chaotic situations, not the devil. Devil don't get no glory.

We got to take accountability and say, "Man, I messed this up and I need to rest in repentance. I need to go before the Lord and ask God, God, forgive me. Refresh me." Like David Psalm 51, he repented before the Lord. He asked God to give me a new heart. True repentance IS A FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE OF HEART, MIND, and direction. It's not just feeling sorry. is saying, "I'm taking accountability and I'm going to I'm going to walk towards Jesus." The greatest miracle in the church today is when we when we see the Holy Spirit usher people in repentance. That's the greatest miracle. I love it when I see the Dream Center women graduating. That's a miracle that they gave their life. When I see Bridge to Life, the homeless people coming to church, when I see Sunday Love, WHEN I SEE OUR YOUTH, OUR YOUNG ADULTS PRAISING AND WORSHIPING GOD, WHEN THEY COULD BE ON THE street because the WORLD WANTS TO PULL THEM OUT INTO THE STREET, BUT WHEN THEY COME AT THIS ALTAR EVERY SECOND service and they're WORSHIPING GOD BECAUSE THEY KNOW WHO THEIR GOD IS. THAT'S THE GREATEST MIRACLE WHEN WE CAN SEE OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, THE GANGBANGER, THE PROSTITUTE AT THE ALTAR GIVING THEIR LIVES TO CHRIST. LOOK, it when it comes to repentance in life, we're in the pursuit of holiness, not

the pursuit of happiness. I know Will Smith made a great movie, The Pursuit OF HAPPINESS, BUT THAT'S NOT BIBLICAL. WE'RE IN THE PURSUIT OF HOLINESS. If you pursue happiness, you will find your reward here on earth. BUT IF YOU PURSUE HOLINESS, YOU WILL FIND YOUR REWARD in heaven. And that's THE GOAL. NUMBER TWO, HOW DO I REST in his stern in his presence? We grow spiritually. We study the Bible. We we seek the presence of the Lord. Trials force us to rely on God. Rely on God's strength rather than our own. When we grow spiritually in the midst of storms, we learn to end endure, persevere, submit to the father's will so he can make us more like Christ. This is going to be tough. There's no such thing as comfortable disciplehip. It's going to hurt.

And if you if you want to follow Christ, you're going to have to understand this is going to be hard and it's going to be intentional. So, if you're a discipler, I know we have cohorts. And if you're a discipler, you just got to know I'm going to have to have a tough tough conversation with the men and the women, with our young people, and it's not against you. Whatever issues they have, it's not against, it's against the Lord, the Holy Spirit. Number three, God is not hidden. How do I rest in his turn? Know that he's not hidden. He reveals himself. He doesn't play hide-and-seek, y'all. He's there. And the issue we have is, and I'm going to keep it real because I've been keeping it real so far. I'm gonna keep it real. So for some of us, this is the closest thing to a secret place that we have. When we hear the pastor and we hear the preaching, this is our secret place. No, that's wrong. This is should be a fellowship and unity and come into agreement that God is good and testimony. But then when you go home, you have a secret place. And if you have a closet just filled with clutter, empty it out, clean it out. Put a chair, put a pillow, PUT A CUSHION, PUT SOME not don't don't put any candle because you burn down your house. Leave it in the but you know what? Put some scriptures on the wall.

But be intentional because the Bible SAYS IF YOU SEEK ME, you will find me. Not maybe you will find me. No, no. You will find me if you seek me. But it's got to go beyond here. We got to create secret places. We got to grow spiritually during the times of storms. We realize his grace was sufficient. His power was made perfect. My last two points, how do I rest in his storms? I know that God speaks out of the storm. In the middle of the storm with Job, WE KNOW THE STORY OF JOB. HE LOST IT ALL. But he tells Job in 8:21. 8 8 chapter 8 verse 21. He will fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouting. Hear me y'all. In the midst of your hardest SEASON IN YOUR LIFE, IF YOU JUST STAY OBEDIENT, IF YOU KEEP PURSUING GOD, HE WILL FILL YOUR MOUTH WITH JOY, with laughter. PEOPLE ARE GOING TO THINK YOU'RE CRAZY. YOU SHOULD HAVE YOU SHOULD HAVE LOST YOUR MIND. BUT NO, NO, NO. GOD IS STILL SEATED ON THE THRONE. If you look up to THE HILLS, I KNOW WHERE MY HELP COMES FROM. HE WILL fill my mouth with laughter and my lips with praise, with shouting. Jesus keeps his promises. He tells his disciples, "YOU'RE GOING TO THE OTHER SIDE. Don't get distracted by the storm." I know Pastor Rico talked about that last week. That's a reminder. God is doing something. Don't get distracted. Look what Look what the

Bible. This is one of my favorite scriptures. Romans 8:18. For I consider that sufferings of the present TIME ARE NOT WORTH COMPARING WITH THE GLORY THAT IS REVEALED TO US IN THE MIDST OF THE STORM. GOD REVEALS HIS SON and his son reveals JOY IS COMING. HIS SON REVEALS BREAKTHROUGH IS COMING. HIS SON REVEALS HEALING IS COMING. HIS SON REVEALS RESTORATION IS COMING. I'M GOING TO BE FILLED WITH LAUGHTER AND SHOUTING OF PRAISE BECAUSE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, HE'S THE MESSIAH AND THE SAVIOR. HE WAS GOING TO GET YOU THROUGH THE STORM. Jesus is coming, y'all. Get ready. He's going to turn your pain. HE'S GOING TO TURN your weeping into something that makes you smile again. He's going to DO SOMETHING SO UNEXPECTED, SO BEAUTIFUL THAT IT'S GOING TO FILL YOUR HEART WITH GRATITUDE, HEALING, DELIVERANCE, a breakthrough. This kind of JOY THAT'S COMING IS GOING TO REMIND YOU THAT HE NEVER FORGOT ABOUT YOU. But be be warned, be sober minded, be watchful. Today's idol doesn't come in a calf, a golden calf. It comes in our feelings. It comes with a hardened heart. Our feelings have become the idol of this generation.

And it looks like this. I just don't feel God anymore. I JUST DON'T FEEL GOD LOVES ME. I JUST DON'T FEEL LIKE READING MY BIBLE TODAY. I JUST DON'T FEEL LIKE GOING TO CHURCH. WHAT FOR? What's the purpose? Unfortunately, today all discernment. Excuse me. Told myself I needed to slow down. Unfortunately, today all discernment and decision making is based on our feelings, not scriptures. Let me ask you, are your feelings more true than scriptures? ARE YOUR FEELINGS BETTER THAN GOD'S WORD? Are your feelings more informative on the truth of the Bible? People could quote John 3:16 but never experience the love of God. We twist scriptures to make us feel good. Scriptures are to make us holy. I honor feelings and for a long time we neglected feelings in the church. But if your relationship with Jesus is based on feelings is a supernatural relationship superficial relationship and it's completely on conditions.

If we look to Jesus to serve us in the way we want to be served, welcome to idolatry, not relationship. Let me just let that sit there. We have to choose every day whether you feel it or not. Read your Bible. praise and worship. Go to church, love on people. When we choose Christ over everything, welcome to death to self and a true discipling relationship. Lastly, how do I rest in the stern? While Jesus speaks into the stern, into the storm, he tells the storm, "Be still." And the wind ceased. And there was a great calm. He used words, y'all. It was practical. Now we live in a generation that people carry rocks around thinking that that rock could do a miracle.

We live in a generation where what does the universe say? We have so many different gods, but there's one true God. And when he speaks, divine nature, divine power comes out. He didn't do something irrational. That teaches us today that we could pray and see the results in his power and his glory. We could do practical things like rest, READ OUR BIBLES, FAST, GIVE TITHES, HONOR PEOPLE, forgive your neighbor, love your enemy. His divine power gave his practical words authority. Hear me. That's so good. His divine power gave his words, his divine power gave his practical words authority. With that power, that same power is in you and me. Don't get don't cast your head down because of the storm. But speak to the storm to be still in the name of Jesus. In conclusion, what are you worried about? If you believe in God, this God who could calms the storms, who could do miracles, signs and wonders, who could do breakthrough, if you believe that this God, nothing stands against, NOTHING SHAKES HIM, NOTHING BREAKS HIM. He's always victorious. Why are the people of God still troubled? If you believe in this God that I preach today,

the Bible says that the gates of hell will not prevail over the church. me and you. We're the church. That means he's speaking to us. The enemy can't win against us. We already have victory. Stand with me. We already have victory. I want to share this last scripture and then we're going to end. The Bible says in John 16:33, "I have said these things to you that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulations, but take heart. I overcame the world." This is a promise of God over your life, over my life, that he's overcome the world. So why are you troubled today? What are you fearing? It's time to go to the other side, y'all. It's time to meet God here today.

It's time to put down the boulders, the weight of life, and meet him today. The care team is going to come up. And before the care team comes up, I want to challenge you. I've been sensing in the spirit and prayer that people are living in unforgiveness in the church. And he told me to pray so that the father will forgive you. That you whoever you need to forgive, forgive them so that the father may forgive you. That is that's beautiful. That he's still willing to forgive us. And maybe we lost hope. MAYBE WE'RE IN A storm of unforgiveness tonight today. And it's TIME TO LET IT GO. I'm not asking you to close your eyes or lift your hands. I'm asking that it's time for you to get out of your seat and go to the other side of this and stop allowing the enemy keeping you in a storm in fear when it's meant to build your character. It's meant to pull out the anointing out of this in you. So right now as the worship team comes, as the care team comes, if this is you today and you're saying, "Man, I'm done.

I'm done being so fearful. I want to get to the other side. So God has something good for you. He has something new for you. The Bible says he's doing something. You do you not perceive it? He's making a way out of the wilderness and out of the wasteland. If that's you today, come right now. I want to pray for you. I want the care team to pray for you. We want to lay hands on you. We want to anoint your head. You're going to make it to the other side. Don't let fear you. Don't let fear keep having you carry boulders and weight. When God says, "It is finished." When he died on the cross, he said, "It is finished." I'm going to pray real quick and give the care team an opportunity to pray for people as they come up. Don't worry about the person next to you. You need to make it to the other side. Father, in the name of Jesus, we humbly come before you, God. We thank you for this opportunity to meet you here, God. To meet you where your presence dwells among your people. The Bible says that you enthrone yourself on the praises of your people. So when the PEOPLE DECLARE YOUR GOODNESS, YOU ARE HERE. And I'm believing God that we have created an altar today for your glory to be here so that people may repent and receive salvation.

Come to the altar of repentance so that you receive the gift of salvation today. And as people are being prayed for, I want to challenge the people in this in the chairs. I mentioned that the greatest miracle today is seeing people repent. People right now are receiving prayers. THEY'RE REPENTING. SO, I want you GUYS TO BEGIN TO THANK GOD THAT YOU GET TO WITNESS REPENTANCE IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD TODAY. I KNOW WE WANT TO LEAVE. I KNOW WE WANT TO GET ON OUR PHONES, BUT let's be still and reverence that God just did a miracle. We're watching miracles. These are miracles. THESE ARE NOT PEOPLE. THESE are miracles. So, let's begin to open up OUR MOUTH AND GIVE GOD SOME glory as we come to the altar in the name of Jesus. Nothing I wouldn'tast I wouldn't offer. There's no waste at the altar.

There's no waste at the altar. at the altar. Bring it all to the father. There's no waste at the altar. There's no waste at the altar. There's no waste at the altar. Bring it all to the father. at the where the tears of the desperate reach the feet of the savior nothing I wouldn't at the alar the hands of the maker Nothing I wouldn't know. There's no at the altar. There's no way at the altar.

It all to the father. There's no way at the altar. Thank you, Jesus. >> There's no waste at the altar. So, lay your broken dreams at the victory at the fear and anxiety cannot live here. There's no waste at the altar. >> The altar is open. Let your heart sing out and tell you. Don't make it perfect. Just let it be honest. He can use anything. Sit back and watch. No way at the end. >> Only your broken dreams at the altar and every victory at the altar. Fear and anxiety cannot live.

There's no way to let your heart sing out until you love. Don't make it perfect. just watch the way that to the father. There's no way that we are no. >> God cares. >> The Lord cares about us. Yes, >> I love how Pastor Ray talked about our relationship with Jesus is not based on feelings. And sometimes you may not feel loved by Jesus. You may feel ignored by him. But the truth of the matter is that he loves you more than you can even imagine. And so we thank God for his faithfulness. And so the enemy can't tell the truth, not one day. And so if the enemy speaks to you, you already know it's a lie.

And so we have to know who our savior is. And the way to know who he is is to be in his word. And he doesn't get tired of you coming to him. We just sang the song. There's no waste at the altar. And the altar is not necessarily just a position, a a a spot, but it's a posture. And you can always go to your father. He will never get tired of you. Glory to God. And so we're going to ask that our care team members will remain after the service. And so if you decided to follow Jesus and you're saying, "What's next for me? How do I begin to have a relationship with him on a day-to-day? How do I get discipled?" if you can scan the QR code and then someone will get in contact with you to help you on this journey. And if you just need prayer, I want to remind you, you can go into our VIP, our care team, and some of them will be there waiting for you. We'll be I want to also talk about our announcements that were projected earlier. And so if you missed the announcements, go to our website. And so our men's conference is coming up, our impact retreat reminder that there is no me midweek connection the month of July.

We're on sbatical. There is a marriage announcement. Look at our website. And then our one accord life group singles group will be having the event this coming Saturday. So those are our announcements that were projected earlier. And so we just thank God. We thank God. We thank God for you, your family coming to the house of the Lord. And so before we close out, I want us to go to our scripture that we've been quoting every Sunday after service. And so if you can project that and then after the scripture, I'll pray a blessing over us. And so Isaiah 43 and 19. And if we can quote it in concert and it says, "See, I am doing a new thing. >> Do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. And so I want to pray a blessing over you family. May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord shine his face upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

And so Lord, we thank you for this time together. God, we pray for your continual blessings in Jesus' name. And the people of God said, "Amen." Amen. God bless you, family. You are dismissed. where I'm still in your presence where all you have something new. So I surrender all to you who you are. My desire is to know you deeper and I will

again my fears. I'm desperate for a touch of the fire in the morning. Cool in the evening. There is noit in your love and affection. It's the sweetest of all my heart. It wants more of you. My heart wants something new. So I surrender all and all I desire is you deeper up again. Throw my fears into the wind.

I open up my heart to you. I do what only you can Jesus have your way in my hearty Open up my heart to hear you. Please have your way in. Now I open up my heart to you.

I open up my heart to you now to do what only me down. Come. You're all I only Jesus.

I want to live within my who are my knowars into the I'm heaven. Just one touch. undone in your presence.

I want to be undone in your presence. overwhelmed by your love. We open up We of Wera. Come on, let it you. Any tonight? Oh my love. Oh my love. Oh my love. You can have it all. Oh my love. Oh my love.

I just need more of you. Oh my heart, all my soul. You can have it all. Oh my soul. Oh, we open up tonight. Oh my love. Oh my love. Oh my love. It will have it all. Oh my heart, oh my soul, all you can have it all. Oh my heart, oh my soul, all my love. Oh my love it. Oh my heart. Oh my soul. You can have it all. Oh my heart. Oh my soul. All you can have it all.

All we want to hear. All we want is being done. My desire is I desperate for Pour myself out again. every curse against my family.

I speak in the name of the Lord. Every cycle of add every voice of condemnation and I speak in the name of the Lord. I speak in the Lord. I'm taking back what the enemy stole from me in the name of Jesus. I'm breaking off every lie that I once believed. The one who lives in me has all authority. The one who lives in me has all authority. every darkness of depression and seal every bondage, every sickness and I speak in the name of the Lord. Oh, I speak in the name of the Lord.

I'm taking back what the enemy stole from me in the name of Jesus. I'm breaking off every lie that I once believed. The one who lives in me has all authority. Oh, yeah. You've given me authority to push back the enemy. fight to push back the enemy to fight from the victory and it's about time I push back the enemy to fight from the victory.

And it's about time I given auth alone. The God of heaven. He's not just upon weakness. I have aior with me.

Shrew boys'll tell They'll tell you in my heart and in my weakness. I have a savior who will abide with me. He lives inside you. He's in the room.

They'll tell you in the room. They'll tell you in the room. They'll tell you If I search the heaven, if I search the earth below, if I made my bed in his pres I the earth below my bed in noatter. where I can run his presence in the deepest room. That's who you are.

Yes, he is. Yes, he is. >> I said he's there. He's there. >> No matter where I go, no matter where I go, my God is no matter where I turn around. When I turn around, no matter where I go, now somebody give God glory for the omnipresent God. Also, Never alone. I'm never alone.

No, I'm never alone. No, I'm never alone.