Thank you. Thanks unto the Lord for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. Anybody grateful to be back into the house of the Lord? I say it all the time, and I'm going to keep saying it from week to week.
Anything can happen. but we praise God for seeing us through another week for being our provision and our protection and everything that we need for the last time we've seen each other to now so if we're physically able why don't we just stand to our feet We welcome our internet audience. And we're just here to lift up Jesus. Our response to his goodness is our praise.
Our response to his goodness is our worship. Anybody can lift your hands this morning. say beyond a shadow of a doubt, God has been good to me.
God has been good to me. So I owe him my very best prayers. So come on, clap your hands with us. We're so grateful, Jesus. Hallelujah.
Real simple song. You make me happy. You make me whole. You take the pain away. So we love you.
You make me happy. You make me whole. You take the pain away.
I'm so in love with you. Can we sing to Jesus? You make me happy. You make me whole.
You take the pain away. I'm so in love. Sing to the Father, tell him you make me happy.
Yes, Jesus, you make me whole. You take the pain away. I'm so in love with you. Say it again, say you make me happy.
It's all about you, Jesus. You take the pain away. I'm so in love with you. Sing it again, tell him you, Jesus, you make me whole.
You take the pain away. I'm so in love with you. Everything about you is right. Covers all my wrongs.
All I know, my wrongs. Hey! I choose right.
Everything about you is right. Covers all my wrongs. All I know, my wrongs. With you, with you.
Hallelujah, yes it's Jesus. Can we sing together? Tell him you make me happy. You make me happy. Come on sing to the Father.
You make me whole. You take the pain away. You take the pain away. I'm so in love with you.
I'm so in love with you. Sing to the Father. Father, you make me whole.
You take the pain away. I'm so in love with you. Say it again, say you. It's all about, all about you.
You take the pain away. It is the right covers, it covers, it covers all my wrongs. Your lies, your lies, they my lies.
That's why I can't say everything about you. Everything about you is the right covers all my wrongs. Covers all my wrongs. Your life saved my life. Somebody say it again.
Everything about you is right. Everything about you is right. It covers all my wrongs.
It covers all my wrongs. Your life saved my life. The reason why I'm standing.
Everything about you, Jesus. It's the right, over is all my wrong, over is all my wrong, your love, your life, my life, and with you, with you is where I belong, I belong to you Jesus, I belong to you. I belong to you, Jesus.
I belong to you, Jesus. I love this part. I'm so in love with you. Can't make it without you.
I live to worship you. Forever me. me and you. Tell her, I'm so in love with you and make it without you.
I live to worship you. Forever me and you. Tell her, I'm so in love with you, Jesus. Can't make it.
So I live my life forever. Tell her again, I'm so in love with you. Can't make it. Make it without you.
So I live. Listen, it's a declaration that we make through this song. How many of you love Jesus?
You love Jesus. Well, let me say this. You can never out love him. He'll always out love you.
And that's why I believe the writer says, I'm so in love with you. I can't make it without you. you and so I live and I breathe and I do what I do to worship you so God let it be forever me and you so many times we like to include other things and other people but how do you know you can't live without Jesus We try to do things without him a lot of times, but can you just lift your hands and not because I asked you, but just look to heaven and tell the Father, I can't live without you. Jesus, I can't live without you.
And I lift my hands in worship right here in this moment, God, and I declare that you are my life, you are my health, you are my strength, you're everything so in love. I'm so in love with you I'll make it without you, I'll live the way I love you, forever, forever and ever, forever and ever, forever me and you, let it be forever me and you, forever me and you, forever me and you, yes God, forever me and you. You are everything to me.
Can we declare that? You are everything to me. That's it. Lift your voice and tell them. Father, you are everything to me.
Yes, you are. You are everything to me. Hey!
You are more than life. Yes you are more than life to me, Yeah, everything I sing, you're my everything, everything, hey! The song I sing, the song I sing, the song I sing, hey! So I live, forever me and you.
I'm so in love with you. So I live, forever me and you. It's right here, come on.
A response should always be gratitude and praise. When you think of everything God has done for you in your life, when you think of all God is doing for your life, when you think of your future and know that you're... The future is secure, so I live forever me and you.
I'm so in love with you, I can't make it, so I live my life forever. One more time. So in love, so in love with you.
Can't make it without you. I live. I want to love you.
I live right now. Forever me. I'm so in love with you. I'm living this scary moment forever. Forever.
Forever. I love you that much. I love you so much. Let it be forever. Let it be forever.
Forever me. Forever me. Who loves Jesus again? Who loves him?
Who loves him? And how many of you know that anybody you're in love with, you go to extreme measures. It doesn't matter. Nothing is too enough.
Nothing is too little. Nothing is too great. You just go to extreme measures.
Anybody feel like giving God an extreme praise this morning? Anybody feel like giving an extreme glory this morning? Anybody giving him an extreme thank you this morning? I'm so in love with you.
So I live without you. Father, I'm so in love. So in love with you. Can't make it without you. I live to worship you.
Forever me and you. You are who I need. You are who I need. Every day of my life, Jesus.
Every day of my life, Jesus. Every day of my life, Jesus. Let it be forever me.
Forever me and you. Everything about you is right. Everything about Jesus is right. He's the giver of life.
He releases new mercy every morning. Every morning. I woke up this morning, there was new mercy released on our lives. Anybody grateful for new mercy?
Because the mercy that carried us yesterday will never be enough for today. Come on, anybody just grateful to a God that releases new mercy? Woo!
You are everything to me. You are everything to me, Lord. You are everything to me.
You are everything to me Forever me and Forever be and you. Can somebody say forever? Forever be and you. Forever be and you.
Forever be and you. Tell them forever. Forever be and you.
Somebody shout unto God and tell him how grateful you are. Come on. Come on, let your hallelujah resound in the place.
Hallelujah. Come on, let your hallelujah resound in this house. Oh, don't you know God deserves it?
every time you say hallelujah you echo heaven somebody shout hallelujah come on shout and shout hallelujah hallelujah belongs to you I can't do it enough, God, but my hallelujah belongs to you. That means if your neighbor says it or not, you gotta make it personal. Say, my hallelujah. You've done so much for me, so my, that's it church, come on, everybody lift your voice and say my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hallelujah, my hall Jesus, with my hands lifted, God, my heart extended, my hallelujah, in all.
No music, let your voice be the channel, come on! My hallelujah belongs to you. Come on, lift your hands, it's the sound of heaven, say my hallelujah!
My hallelujah belongs to you. Come on! We're in worship to the Father, to a holy God! My hallelujah! I will lift up mine eyes to the hills from whence cometh my help, my help cometh from the Lord.
the Lord which made heaven and earth. And He said He would not suffer thy foot, thy foot to be moved. The Lord that keepeth thee He will not slumber nor sleep For the Lord is thy keeper The Lord is thy shade Upon thy right hand Upon thy right hand And no, the sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night, but he shall preserve thy soul even forevermore.
And my head... Yes, my head, all of my health, it cometh from the Lord. Anybody grateful that your help comes from Jesus, I will, I will lift up my eyes to the hills from whence cometh my hand. We're singing the Word of God.
By help coming from the Lord. The Lord which made heaven and he made earth. And he said he would not suffer thy foot. He's the Lord that keepeth Anybody grateful the Lord is keeping you He will not slumber For the Lord is our keeper The Lord is our keeper The sun, the sun shall not strike me I preserve my soul I can stand in the cloud Trump! Trump!
It's coming! Receive your help! All of it comes from the Lord!
Woo! So I will lift up mine eyes, I will lift them unto the hills, for all of my help is coming, is coming, is coming, yes, save my health! Somebody needs help!
Let you be encouraged! Your help is coming! All of my help!
I'm telling you, Jesus! Yes, He does! It's coming right now!
It's coming! He's releasing it! He's releasing His help! How many know all of our help comes from the Lord? My help and your help, our help, comes from the Lord.
He has to be the one who helps us. Somebody say help. How many of you know that the Bible says he is a present help? In the time of trouble. Anybody know that to be a fact?
My help. My help. My help comes.
I said my help comes. comes from the Lord and he is the creator of heaven and earth and God can do anything except fail that's the only thing he can't do my help comes Anybody know that to be true for you? Well, we are excited to be back at our final Bible study of the summer, and we are excited about what we've been studying, The Circle Maker. I hope you have been getting into this book.
It is phenomenal. It is praying circles around your biggest dreams and greatest fears. And today we are going to we're going to try to finish up and if we have a little time left we'll do a few question and answers because I want us to be a church that has expectations. Can you say expectation?
the Bible says, according to your and my faith, be it unto us. And we have to realize that when you pray, Mary 11 says, when you pray, at the same time you pray. you've got to also apply something to your prayer you have to apply something called belief when you pray mark says believe and mark says your belief is so powerful until you can say to a mountain be thou removed i feel the spirit here and be tossed into the sea and do not doubt he says it shall be done unto you look at your neighbor and say do it just do it just I said just do it oh yeah just do it let's let's take a moment and pray welcome to our NBC Anywhere Church family, we're excited that you were tuning in. Let's pray.
Father, thank you again for the opportunity that we do have. Oh, God, you're such an awesome and magnificent God. We don't know what we would do without you. God, as a matter of fact, we know that we're not alone.
Without you and apart from you, we can do nothing. And so God, we just take these moments and just say, thank you. Thank you for how good you've been to this point in our lives.
The reality is, if you do nothing else for us, you have been a good God. But God, in the spirit in which we have been studying, we ask for you to increase our faith. When you told the disciples what it meant to be a disciple, the first thing they said is increase. faith and then you corrected them you said it's not the amount but it's the focus of our faith because you said if you have faith the size of the grain of a mustard seed that's that's not a big seed but if that faith is unwavering there's nothing you will not do for us so that you might be glorified and so these next few moments that we have together father would you speak to us there are many that came and many are viewing that have various needs would you meet those needs would you bring healing and restoration you God, would you bring anticipation and exaltation? God, would you do things that we can only imagine through you being done for us?
And God, we won't be presumptuous, but we'll take moments to give your name the praise, the glory, and the honor. And all of the people of God together said, amen. Before you sit down, just greet two, three people. Just tell them it's good to see you. Amen.
Thank you all. We started last week on our final. lesson and we didn't get through it all the way and so uh we want to we're not going to even review we're just going to jump right in we're talking about goals however you know when we're 10 10 steps to goal setting in our prayers i think our prayers should we should have goals and we talked about the first one start start with prayer we have to check our motives why are we praying if we pray according to first john chapter chapter Chapter five, if we pray anything according to his will, he hears us, not our will.
Now, here's here's the distinction. How do you know his will from your will? Here it is. Matthew says six to thirty three says seek first the kingdom of God.
And if you're seeking his kingdom first and its righteousness, all of these other things that we pray for will be added unto us. And so the reality of it is God wants to do things. but he wants us to do it according to his will.
And so today we want to pick up number three, is think in categories. Think in categories. Now, watch this.
It's hard to pull life's goals out of thin air. Look at the life goal list of others, and don't cut and paste someone else's goals, but it's a great way of getting your own ideals before God. All of your goals.
goals and my goals should be a spiritual dimension to them. Any goal that cultivates physical discipline will cultivate spiritual discipline as well. Now, I don't have time to unpack that except to say that the Bible says it's first natural, then spiritual. We can often tell how our spiritual life is coming by how our natural life looks. Oh God, I don't mean to go here, but just let me, okay, go home and look at your bedroom.
they'll tell you how you're doing spiritually look at your house and if everything's all over every place that's kind of how your spiritual life is it's first natural then spiritual you look you see the manifestation of what's going on the inside of you and me spiritually by what's what we're looking like naturally Order is God's, order is God's conduit that he uses to accomplish his will. Like he says, let all things, Paul says, be done decently and in order. If you want to see God order your life, matter of fact, the good books, you can get them if you want.
want to, but they will bless you. Gordon McDonald has a book entitled Ordering Your Private World. And really, all of us could benefit from ordering things in our private world to get our spiritual world a place to flow.
God does not flow in chaos. Matter of fact, the Bible says wherever there is chaos, there is confusion in every evil work. Oh God, y'all not ready for this.
See, because prayers kind of help us categorize our lives. And then Pastor Batterson says divide our goals into five categories. Family, okay. influential what do you what do you want to be influenced by and who do you want to influence experiential what do you want to experience and he gave if you read the book he gives you a whole list of things that he's done physical amen to and and and travel how many we know that god don't mind us uh traveling matter of fact i i contend the reason that some of us are so narrow we haven't been anywhere Go somewhere. Amen.
You'd be surprised at the amount of people who hadn't been out of their city, out of their state. Listen, you ain't got to get on a plane to go somewhere. You can travel by car. Just go somewhere.
Find out how people live and what... have you, it opens you up so we won't be as narrow a man as we are. And so he, in the book you saw, he had all this huge list of various things in these categories.
Okay. So then having said that, that the next thing is be specific so let me just say this just like our prayers our goals need to be specifics when we our goals in prayer need to be specific so how do you know if God is answering if there's no specificity how do we know do we really know that he's answering these prayers if we don't okay so we get ready to do a singles conference how many singles in the house okay look look around how many singles all right now We can already do a singles competition. I'm going to be talking about biblical dating. That's one, that's, that's, that's, that's, I believe that's what God has anointed me to teach.
Years ago, I traveled across the country teaching singles how to date biblically. But I'm surprised, and you would be too, that as I'm interacting with singles, how many of them, two things, it's two extremes. I just want somebody. Well, then go downtown and under the bridge and pick you up a man. There has to be specificity.
But also, many times, here it is, we're praying about things. The first thing I recommend we pray, Lord, is this your will for my life? Because I can do bad all by myself. I don't need to pray myself up into some chaos and confusion. All right, but the other extreme is we got so many, so many checkoffs on our list until he got to be about Jesus or she got to be about Mary, Virgin Mary.
And I just believe the reality of it is it's almost 7 billion people in the world, I should say. And I don't, you know, because we get stuck on stuff like, you know, I'm looking for my soulmate. First of all, oh, God, I want to kill demons. Anybody you so tight with is your soulmate. We'll be talking about that in biblical dating, but here's what I want you to hear.
God looks at, okay, how are we praying? Are we showing specificity? And more importantly, are we praying your will be done?
And when we do that, there's no way that God won't answer. So we should have measurable things, okay? So, okay, so let's say you want to run a marathon.
So the measurable things are, I want to start running a marathon by October of this year. So then my measurables would be that I need to start training and running X amount of miles per day up until this time. Those are measurable things. That's how our prayer should be.
Okay, so number five, he says, write it down. The shortest pencil is longer than the longest memory. Pastor Pastorterson says that, and I totally agree.
I just keep my name. notes open on my phone and I'm constantly putting stuff down because that's that's it's just hard to remember I think I have a decent memory but it's just here it is here's a stat most people forget 70 to 85 percent of what we hear after 72 hours 48 to 72 hours so we think we got good memories but it's just just write it down you know I don't I don't write a lot. I use my smart device.
But make sure you put that so you go back to it and recall it. Something powerful happens when you verbalize a goal, rather in a conversation or in a journal. Then it's more than a good idea.
It's a God idea. Record the vision. Remember what he says in Habakkuk. Record the vision and inscribe it and make it what? Plain.
So he or she who sees it. we'll be able to run with it. Amen.
So then number six is, and I'm going through this quickly, you all, because I'm trying to leave a little time for question and answer. Include others. okay replace your personal goals with shared goals now this is really this is really a principle i've learned over the years nothing cements a relationship like a shared goal goals are relational glue god's set the standard with the great commission he told us to go in into all the world and make disciples if you want to grow closer to god go after the god-sized goal he set nearly 2 000 years ago when you go after a goal with another person it doubles your joy in other words here it is i i he says it this way let me say it the way i i feel it whatever you're trying to see happen in your life if if you make it happen for somebody else God makes it happen for you okay Jesus said if you want to be first be last see the kingdom in the kingdom works different y'all than we then we understand Jesus says that the first shall be last and the last shall be first the kingdom works differently If you want to if you want to go up Start going down serve be when you want God to do something for you Become a servant for somebody else's goal I've learned this principle over the years and let me just share it with you.
This principle accelerates your goal and your desire. Whatever you want to see happen. I travel across the country teaching churches and pastors and one of the things that I do that because I don't have a lot of time, but I purposefully said, God, I want to invest in pastors, leaders and churches.
And then I'm a trusting you going to take care of us. Gordon Samaritan. It's the principle of reciprocity.
Okay, whatever you sow, whatever you sow, you're going to reap. Y'all don't hear me today. I'm not shouting with his handkerchief and hold my air, but this is true. Let me share this with you.
This principle, probably out of all these goals, when we, I said this years ago. Relationships is the currency of the kingdom. When you understand that, you will begin to invest in people around you. Don't have people around you that are not worthy of your time.
I just said a whole lot. Because people have two primary purposes to be in your life. For you to invest in them. to grow because watch this um any book you read on prosperity the millionaire next door all of these other books it will tell you you can always tell where your life is going by your five closest That's why you want to be discriminating.
But if they are in your life, bring them up to where you are so that when you begin to dream, they're not saying, oh, well, I don't know. They're like, go for it. I've seen God do that for you. I believe that's going to happen.
You bring them up so that as you begin to go higher, watch this, they can become, they can rise. eyes with you don't have people in your life to just that that so so some people are in your life so that so that you can invest in them bring them higher but also other people are in your life so that they can invest in you it's a it's a constant investment Paul invested in Timothyothy Timothyothy invested in the churches. It's, it's, it's, you got to get this.
People who are close to you are going to determine your future. Don't get mad at pastor. Well, I, pastor, I don't, listen. I quoted this before, but it bears quoting again.
Susan Taylor, former chief editor of Essence, said this, that everybody does not deserve a front row seat in your life. And you have to get this. Some people belong there, but they belong in row Z. Okay, y'all, y'all, y'all don't get it. It's not that they don't belong there, but they belong way back there.
So you wave at them, hey, how you doing? Because people who are up close to you are helping to determine your future. Jesus chose 12 y'all.
He invested in this 12, even though one of them was a demon, he knew it, but he knew it because it was a fulfillment of prophecy. But the 12 became, watch this, because of his investment, they changed the world. Notice he didn't bring everybody real close.
He had the three, Peter, James, and John. He brought them closer than the 12. He invested in them. Remember the Mount of Transfiguration? Y'all remember that? You remember who was there.
He let Peter work out his issues. Watch this. In the confines of this small group.
That's why life group is so important. because you can work out your stuff so peter don't know what to say but he's a talker on the mount of transfiguration here here all of a sudden they are god is showing up and they look translucent and peter don't know what to say so the first thing that comes out of his mouth is good to be here and then he says let's make a tabernacle because god and on the mount brought elijah back and brought more and and Peter saying let's make three tabernacles he don't know what to say but Jesus knew he was worth investing in because eventually if you go back to Acts Peter is the one that opened the door of the church to the world Acts chapter 2 he was the one that gave the first sermon But it wasn't without investment. Somebody say investment.
Listen, if you're trying to go high, you got to invest it. Here's what you need to discern. Who's supposed to be close? Now, they got these two purposes that they have in your life. Either they're investing in you or you're investing in them.
There's no such thing as just there. We are purposeful people. Believers are purposeful people.
What is your purpose in my life? Why you here? Okay, y'all don't like me. I'm not trying to be difficult or I'm not even trying to be harsh.
I'm trying to show us how we get ahead. Listen, I hang with people purposefully. Because I feel like I'm a lifelong learner. And either I got, I got...
Okay, there's something you got, and here it is, y'all. First of all, being jealous of people is a waste of time. I hang with some people who are bad. I ain't jealous. I'm trying to get close enough to find out what you're doing.
I ain't jealous. I'm celebrating too, but I'm staying close enough so I can find out what you're doing because if God has no respect of persons, if he did it for you, he will do it for me. But you know, why the Holy Ghost got me here, I don't know, but this is a relationship.
Uh, you got to understand this, that there are people who, um, who you got in your circle, who jealous of you kill that spirit. And, and listen, here it is. I, um, I have one person in my life who I, I just, I just, I just feel like I'm supposed to be there up close. And, um, I don't have a problem learning, so just teach me. Talk to me like I'm a fire yell.
Break it all the way down. I don't have those kind of issues because I want to grow. Most of us don't understand prayer provides the avenue for our growth, but other people is who God uses many times to answer our prayers.
Okay, given it shall be given unto you good measure pressed down shaking together and running over shall man Not God shall man Not God shall man pour pour into your bosom man. God will touch man to bless you Okay, let's move y'all I'm sorry, but can I get you to do an inventory of your closest friends, your five closest friends, and determine what purpose they have. Now, you might have to have one of those conversations. Baby, we've gone through a whole lot.
Appreciate you. Love you. But in this season in my life, where I'm going, I'm going to need something different. Still love you, but I'm trying to really get someplace.
Most of us can't have those conversations. Too difficult. Listen, if it's going to be the difference between you excelling and you just existing... Have those conversations. Have those conversations.
Now, celebrate along the way. When you accomplish a goal, celebrate it. When God answers a prayer, throw a party.
Celebrate with the same intensity with which we pray. Remember, we've been talking about over the week. weeks that we've been in this study, we've been talking about travailing in prayer, you know, praying through versus praying for something. So, when God does it, celebrate it and that's why the people in your circle need to be able to celebrate with you and not be looking at you crazy when you telling them what God doing and you're like really oh okay they need to be able to celebrate matter of fact they need to be the ones to say Let's stop and celebrate what God is doing. As a matter of fact, every time God shows up in your life and you know it's God, you need to take time to celebrate it.
Because when you accomplish your God-ordained goal, this is an Ebenezer moment, it's when the Hebrew word Ebenezer means thus far the Lord has helped us. Many times in the scripture you'll see in the Old Testament what God gave. them Ebenezers where he told them to put a stone here.
When they was crossing over the Jordan, he said, put some stones there so that every time you look at that stone, you'll remember what I did, how I caused you to cross over the Jordan into the promised land and how I broke down all of your enemies. Don't forget that. Find ways to celebrate. The more we celebrate family, the more God, and God is inclined to do something else. I love celebrating, and I like, one thing I like, I like celebrating with other people too.
I don't just like to celebrate mine, I like to celebrate yours too. Right? Dream big. Somebody say big. Your life goal list will include goals that are big and small.
You need some God-sized goals that qualify as crazy. Remember he talked about bold, audacious. Big goals turn us into big people. Big goals turn you into big people. When God is answering something so big in your life, it automatically elevates you.
And people start looking at you like, ooh, you got it going on. It's really just you believing God for something that only God could do. It's not you, it's God, but you look big. Okay, y'all remember this, and I gotta go, but y'all remember that when David was getting ready to fight Goliath.
Guess what, y'all? That was a huge goal for this shepherd boy to be trying to defeat a giant, a nine-foot, eight-inch giant. David had no chance, matter of fact people, his family members were laughing at him and they were accusing him of just wanting the spotlight but David knew that God had purpose all over his life. He defeated Goliath and immediately it put him in a category. Paul immediately said bring David come here come here you from now on you're gonna be sitting at my table the same boy the only thing he did is let God accomplish a big goal through his life And then think long.
Most of us overestimate what we can accomplish in two years, but underestimate what we can accomplish in ten. Bob Bill, who is a church management, a mentor and a church management person, says most of us don't spend time thinking decades. In other words, okay, now, this, I sit in his sessions often. This is what he tells us every time we sit in his session. What are you going to be, what are you going to look like 10 years from now?
That's sobering. What are you going to look like 10 years from now? I'm like, good gracious.
Get me through the year first. But he wants us to paint a picture in our minds because he doesn't want us to let it happen. He wants us to plan and pray for it to happen. So big dreams often translate into long-term goals.
Pray hard. Goal setting begins and ends with prayer. God-ordained goals are conceived into context of prayer.
Prayer is what brings them in full term. Now, when we started New Beginnings, we're celebrating our 25th year. When we started New Beginnings, amen, let's praise God for that.
Some of y'all don't realize this, we started with 12 people. In a rec center, but we have big goals. We had a 25-year plan from day one.
25 years. 25 years. How do you, Pastor, you just exaggerate. No, we sat down with our builder and architect and said, these are the things that we believe God wants us to accomplish over the next 25 years. What my grandmother used to say is, us-ums don't think like that.
Here it is. I knew that God wouldn't start. Why would God want us to start?
a church and not think about its future. So then if that's the case, we need to plan it out. So each each phase we had to play and to the phase we are on point. The pandemic threw us off a couple of years, but the last phase was the worship center. All this has been planned out.
But guess what we did? We prayed hard. All of the intercessors on the intercessory prayer team, please stand. All of the intercessor who are in the intercessory prayer. Okay, so listen, look at these people.
There's not a thing that I do that they don't know about because I'm asking them to, with me, to seek the heart of God. So wherever I go across this nation, even across the world, I'm letting them know. Now, they're not going to tell you.
But everything New Beginnings has done has been birthed in prayer. And if you don't really get how important prayer is. But you should look at these people and pray. First of all, pray for them, but ask them, how did prayer become such a priority in your life? Now, God has gifted them, but it still had to be a priority.
And when you pray, thank you. Give them a hand. All right, we're going to take a couple of questions, and then we're done. Any questions? How many of you enjoyed that teaching?
If you have any questions just use the QR code we're just gonna make it wait a few moments and then if not we just move on any questions in on the floor here we've got mics right here for you if you're here in person and you want to answer ask a question you can there are mics on both sides Okay, so that's a good question because my natural bend is not patience. That's one of the things I have to constantly pray for. I'm not a patient person by nature. The Holy Spirit has developed that in me. I want it done yesterday.
I'm sorry y'all that's a weakness I'm acknowledging that what God has done is he has he has shown me through the years while you're using all this energy trying to manipulate me which is analogous to witchcraft that's too deep for y'all you don't even understand instead of you becoming a warlock Trying to get me to do your will. You've got to learn I'm God, you're my vessel. It may not happen when you see it, but I've got plans, declares the Lord. And you've got to trust my plans, even though you want it to happen now. Now may not be the time.
And so I've learned to accept that, bro. But that's been hard for me. That's one of those hard, because I'm a...
Our virtual vacation Bible school. Okay. Okay, I didn't know if that was an angel or Jesus. I was like, I'm going to go to heaven now.
I didn't know what was going on. I was like, okay, God confirming his word. All right. Okay, but no, no, it was the media up there. Okay, so that's a good point.
I am not by, my natural bent is not a patience. It's a fruit of the spirit. It's a characteristic of the fruit of the spirit. So I've been praying and the spirit has developed that.
better in me but my natural bend is not that I can't I can't stand I won't suck done I like it done who I can't stand stuff undone who stuff undone bothers me but I've learned from a good friend of mine I've learned to step away from it and to give it time and sometimes God will work stuff out if you give him time to do it where you don't have to put all see so because I used to have all this energy towards moving stuff and and really I became this manipulative It wasn't trying to manipulate on purpose. It was, I want to get done. And God was saying, you're not in my rhythm. That's not my rhythm. So you're working against me, which is no different than a witch or a warlock.
So I had to learn how to work with God's rhythm. And the more I've prayed and watched people who do that, because I've learned from watching, I'm more at home with that. So I'm giving you insight into just who I am naturally, but I've learned over the years to give God's timing and his rhythms.
Kind of the central place in it. I saw a question, then we're going to take this and go. How do you know when to give up on an investment?
Oh. So I was talking about investing in people. So I'm assuming you're talking about that.
Okay, so let's think about it in the natural. If you got this plant and you've been watering it and seeding it and it just ain't gonna grow. You've been doing everything it takes for it to grow and it's not growing. I mean you can't make it grow.
You've done everything that you're supposed to do and it's not growing. Guess what you got to do? Uproot it and put another tree or plant in there.
sometimes if you're investing in people, I'm assuming that's what you're talking about because that's what I was talking about. You're investing in people and you don't see the results of your investment, you might have to uproot that relationship. You're not being mean, but you're being purposeful.
Amen. Give the Lord a hand clap. That's all we can do.
I really want to hear the stories. This is an audible. So as you're getting your circle maker stories, as you're seeing God.
Answer prayers, circle maker prayers. I want you to reach out to the church and let us know. Okay, so we're going to set up, this is an audible, we're going to set up a line or some kind of email site where you can just put your answer, your circle maker answers. Because we need to hear it from each other. what God is doing.
Okay, because to me, we go through these books, and this book, I think, is one of the most dynamic that I've asked us to go through together. I like to hear about the stories of what God is doing because it really increases the faith. Here's what the revelator John says. They overcame by the blood of the Lamb.
and the word of their testimony. Remember I talked about on Sunday, this woman, this Samaritan woman winning her whole town because of her testimony. So people need to hear what God is doing. Let's pray.
Father, that's what we want to see happen. He that hath the near, let him hear what the Spirit is saying. If you're here or you're viewing and you don't have a relationship with Jesus, would you pray this with me in your heart as I pray it out loud? It starts there. Pray this, Father.
I trust you. I want a relationship with you. I've learned more about you.
know I need to walk with you. So would you come into my life, forgive me of my sins, cleanse me, and heal me and make me the person you want me to be. And I will trust you for the rest of my days. Thank you, Lord, for saving me and giving me eternal life.
If you have prayed that prayer and you're in person, just acknowledge it by raising your hand. If not, if you're watching or viewing, you can just follow the directions on your screen, both for giving your life to God, also joining NBC, also rededicating your life. Just follow the instructions on the screen. And now, fathers, we get ready to give.
May we sow seeds into our future as we give unto the Lord. May we believe you for the supernatural manifestation. up your power in Jesus name. Amen.
God bless you family. Let's give unto the Lord. Our virtual vacation Bible school kicks off on Wednesday, July 24th through Friday, July 26th at 7 o'clock p.m. nightly.
The theme is what a mess. And there will be classes for children, youth, and adults. To register or for more information, please email cecouncil at NBCCministries.org or check our social media platforms.
It goes down in the deal, it go down in the deal It goes down in the deal, it go down in the deal I tell ya It goes down in the deal, it go down in the deal Join us for Singles Conference 2024, July 19th and 20th. You don't want to miss it. Scan the QR code on our website or social media platforms to register. Welcome New Beginnings Church family and guests.
Our foundational scripture is found in 2 Corinthians 5 and 17, which states, If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. The old things have passed away. behold all things have become new we hope that you were blessed by today's message you can conveniently let us know your response if you accept christ into your heart simply text save to 980-385-7575 along with your first and last name to join new beginnings text join nbc to 980-385-7575 along with with your first and last name.
To rededicate your life to Christ or for prayer. Text PRAYER to 980-385-7575 along with your first and last name. Or you can email your response or your prayer request to decision at nvccministries.org. The following are the announcements for the remainder of the week.
Today is the final Bible study of the summer. Be sure to join us in September when Bible study is on. study resumes in the fall. Do you have a good driving record and a pleasant personality? We are seeking volunteer van drivers to assist with transporting seniors to our weekly 11 a.m.
service. For additional information about volunteering, please email brotherwaltwright at walter.p.wright at gmail.com. It's Christmas in July! Our Contagious Love team is hosting a Hope Home Wishlist and Baby Toy Drive-Up.
It will be at the Community Life Center on Saturday, July 13th from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Wishlist and baby toy items can be found by using the QR code in the Family Life Center foyer or by visiting the CLC website at NBCLifeCenter.org.
Only new impact. package idols can be acce is annual back to school 11th donated backpacks in school. We're going to ha Supplies can be dropped off on Sundays between services in the blue bins located in the Family Life Center foyer.
Donations can also be dropped off throughout the week in the Ministry Center and Community Life Center. A list of school supplies can be found by scanning the QR code in the Family Life Center foyer between services. The NBC Young at Heart Ministry has new t-shirts for sale.
To pre-order your new tie-dye t-shirt, see a YAH representative in the Family Life Center foyer after the 9 a.m. and the 11 a.m. services on Sunday, July 14th. The Real Life Skills Training and Life Buddy Program will host several July trainings for youth and adults of any age group. For a list of trainings and to register, please log on.
NBCLifeCenter.org or scan the QR code in the Family Life Center foyer or on our social media platforms. You may also call 980-225-9915 extension 408. Would you like to join New Beginnings or are you thinking about joining? The virtual Connect Institute will be held on Saturday, July 13th from 9 a.m.
until 12 p.m. To register for the Connect Institute, please email connect at nbccministries.org or call the Connect team at 704-405-1431. Our contagious love teams are committed to serving our community. Volunteers serve at a local organization to sort, separate, and hang clothing for needy families. If you would like to assist, volunteers are always needed with our hashtag ContagiousLove projects.
To volunteer, please email love at NBCCministries.org. The ministers on call this week are Minister Timothy Livingston, And Minister LaTanya Cunningham. On behalf of our pastor, Reverend Dr. Michael L. Henderson Sr., our First Lady, Reverend Dr. Twana Henderson, their son, MJ, and the entire New Beginnings family, we want to thank you for joining us today.
And remember always, with every sunrise, there is a new beginning. Amen. Shall we stand as we prepare for communion?
Could our licensed and ordained ministers of New Beginnings please come? Jesus was preparing his disciples for his imminent death and he... Took them to the upper room.
They had what was called the final supper and now we call it the Lord's table, communion, the Eucharist. It was an opportunity for him to symbolically show them exactly what he was going to do for the world. The scripture says when he gathered them around the table, he began to tell them, this is what I must do. I must sacrifice my life for this cause I was born. And this a once and for all sacrifice, unlike the Old Testament sacrificial system, there will be no need for it anymore.
As John told us, behold the Lamb of God who takes away the... in entirety the sins of the world. But Paul picks up this theme in 1 Corinthians chapter 11 and he says, hey, everybody doesn't qualify for this sacred moment. It is a celebratory moment, but it is also a sacred moment because it is the church, as Jesus stated in the upper room, that as often as you do this, do this in remembrance of me. And so this became one of the commandments that Jesus commanded the church to do in regards to the things that he has done for us and and reckoned.
recognizing it as often as we do it here at New Beginnings. We do it once a month. Some churches do it once a week, others on a daily basis.
But however, it is important that we get this moment as sacred. And so there are some disqualifying things. First of all, we cannot partake of this table if we have never connected with the Christ of the table.
So non-believers, unbelievers do not qualify to partake of this table because Jesus said, as often talking to his disciples, as you do this, remember what I've done for you, that's why you do this. But also Paul says that is not the only disqualifier because it is such a sacred moment. And Paul reminds believers that we...
Before we partake, must examine ourselves so that we can prepare our lives for this sacred holy moment. And Paul says, let a man and a woman examine him or herself. And then after self-examination, Paul says, then we are to partake. May I suggest that we never take this table lightly because it is... It is for the Christian that this is the foundation, the crux of who we are and what we believe.
So Paul says, if we do not and we flippantly move forward without self-examination, Paul says we instantly, first of all, symbolically, we crucify him. But then Paul says we bring God's judgment on ourselves. And he says it will be manifested in one or three ways.
He says some of you are weak and not know why, some sick there's no cure, and Paul says some can even die. So it's a pretty holy, sacred moment that we don't ever want to take lightly. So could we just take a few moments?
and bow our heads and close our eyes and ask God to examine us to find that there if there's any unclean sinful things in us this is the time that we give to back to God to ask him to forgive us and to cleanse us all over again and to prepare us for this sacred holy Father, we thank you for this holy righteous moment. We thank you for what this means to us as believers. We thank you that 2,000 plus years ago. You cemented our destiny. You became sin as the scripture says.
So that we could become the righteousness of God. In Christ. He that knew no sin became sin on our behalf. And we want to say thank you.
Anything in our lives unlike you, God, purges, as David said, wash me that I might be whiter than snow. Oh, God, create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit. And now, God, we pray over this holy, sacred moment that you would bless this moment and as...
We have talked about in the past, may the mystery of the Holy Spirit show up in this place. And would you do what you do as you manifest the power of your spirit, bring healing as we partake in this table, bring freedom as we partake in this table, bring deliverance as we partake in this table, that we might experience you in a fresh and meaningful way. that's our prayer and god's people all said amen come on let's give him praise the ushers will come now and uncover the table they will escort you down the middle aisle if you'll come and share in your communion and take it back to your seat we shall all partake together Has everyone who desire to be served been served? If not, would you raise your hand? On the night that Jesus was preparing to be betrayed, the Bible says he held up the bread and break it and said, this is my body that will be broken for you.
Take and eat. Thank you, Lord. Somebody just say thank you. Oh God, thank you. Thank you, Lord.
Oh God, thank you. The scripture says he held up the cup and said this cup is a new covenant that shall be established by the shedding of my blood. Take and drink.
Somebody shout glory. Somebody again shout glory. Somebody again shout hallelujah. Come on, let's give him praise.
Yes, Lord, we thank you. God bless your family and the Bible says they left singing and praising God and may we see God the manifestation of your supernatural power and authority over our lives in Jesus name amen God bless you you're dismissed