Transcript for:
Engaging Youth in Church Activities

so how are you standing so you okay I'm put my hand in my pocket standing right that's okay no rocking no rocking [Music] okay [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] one good morning my my Zion family my name is Kennedy Hill a senior at R Rossview High School my name is mcka Hampton a junior at National School of the Arts and if you're looking for friends that are involved in the church that are our age I'm personally 17 I know Aila 16 and a little bit younger than that if you're looking for people who's involved in the church and just want to get out there and get involved in your youth today the day to find out if what you want to do is here at this church because I heard that today is youth Sunday I think you might be a little right you might be right okay okay so before we get into all the juicy details about what we've been doing for the past 3 weeks lean up to today let's talk about what we did this summer okay so a little summer recap okay I first went to North Carolina I watched a baseball game with my family it was so fun but one major thing was I went to FCA have you heard FCA no I mean I've heard of it but I don't even really know what it is okay okay okay so FCA is an organization where it has Christian and you have athletes okay this summer I went to FC in Knoxville we had a leadership track you have cheer track you have baseball track you have all that and it's very very fun what did you do the summer okay so I actually looked into a couple colleges cuz you know I'm graduating this year so I looked into a couple colleges and I actually had to fortunate opportunity to be able to work at my church this summer at cam Zion you know what cam is um I never heard of that okay let's tell them what cam Z is so I actually went to that camp when I was younger and basically it's a camp that's for grade it's first through nth grade and it focuses on academics helping you improve your relationship with God all that so I actually think that cam is all that and then some on cam um FCA um you might be a little wrong but I heard something about an end of show production Yeah we actually did an end of show production caught The Little Mermaid according to the gospel and it took hard work dedication and so much time and the kids were amazing so it was definitely a fun experience and I'll definitely be back to do it again this summer wait where can they like sign up at and when can they sign up okay so they can sign up during around April or May when the information comes out and if you want your kids to be involved in that you just look out for the information when it comes out but enough of that let's talk about what we're going to be doing today cuz I cannot contain my excitement gosh y'all I am so excited I know y'all are y'all are so excited we are amazed we have the we've been having workshops every Saturday for the past three weeks three weeks y'all again with the Blood Sweat and Tears we've been working hard so we have the choir who's singing We have the ushers and the dancers what else do they have and I actually heard somebody's on the baritone back there so be looking up for that and not to mention they're going to be leading praise and worship today praise and worship praise and worship I know y'all can't wait to go higher and higher are are you ready I'm so ready oh my go I heard something about student counsel oh yeah so we're on the cures y'all and y'all didn't really hear this for me but student council actually playing this entire thing the youngest person is actually in fourth grade really wa wait I I think I might be a part of that so you see these shirts we got on okay so it says understand we are are unashamed of the Gospel that's this year's theme I know y'all want to get into it so every single month every fourth Sunday right yeah every fourth Sunday we have every fourth Sunday every fourth Sunday we have youth Sunday and not just this month but next month we're also going to have youth Sunday maybe not as big but we're definitely going to be doing something special for y'all every fourth Sunday for the Youth so if you want to get involved in that a way you can get involved is by getting involved in the ushering ministry the dance ministry praise and worship I know me personally I got I started in the choir and worked my way what about you I started ushering but you can email us at student Ministry atmt national.org yes and so many schools popped out to show that they're here to support us and popped out to show that they want to get more involved in the church shout out the schools that they came out today so we have suar County we have Rutherford County we have Williamson and we have Davidson I heard something about Clarksville not too much on Clarksville cuz you know I go to school there we're small but we coming through we coming through what school Ross you high school yes we coming through shout out naal School of the Arts though can't leave them out can't leave them out okay and not like I said if y'all want to get more involved in our church and more involved in our ministry just make sure y'all reach out to those people that's in the ushering ministry the dance ministry Judith generation the dancers like I said the kids have been working so hard so I cannot contain my excitement for today what about you I'm so so so so excited excited I'm ready I'm so ready okay okay the children are going to lift us up higher in worship and I just can't wait to praise with them me either and like I said we have so much planned for y'all today so much planned so if y'all want to get involved like I like she said reach out at student Ministry atmt Zion nashville.org okay okay and like I said we're going to go higher and worship higher and worship we love y'all watch the announc eyes to the [Music] [Music] announcement we've enhanced our text to give option with three simple steps first draft a new text message to 267 MTZ C that's 267 MTZ s e e d second add a giving keyword like tithes offering Vision TV partner or other and third provide the amount for example to tithe $20 type tithes 20 as the message and press in remember to enter only one keyword per text message you can also give online at Mt Zion nashville. onlin giving.org or from the Mount Zion mobile app giving at Mount Zion is easier and more manageable hello everybody the senior Cruise was absolutely amazing we had 140 people in attendance we had 109 seniors God was good today the weather held off everybody really enjoyed the show the food the hospitality keep coming in sh I Ser demons here get back they need to see our serve out then cuz y'all bad y'all got it going on y'all represent this was history today the first time ever in the history of Mount Zion of doing a senior's allwhite day cruise to God be the glory Family and Friends Weekend is just a couple of weeks away and we can't wait to enjoy this special weekend with with you once again Mount Zion is offering a Mass baptism event during our family and Friends Weekend whether you are a current member visitor or exploring your faith we invite you to sign up participating in the mass baptism provides the perfect opportunity for you to make a public Declaration of Faith while enjoying the fellowship and Company of like-minded individuals from the community this year our community baptism event will take place on Saturday September 7th at 300 p.m. at our ohb location for those interested in participating please text salvation to [Music] 78228 the Mount Zion Baptist Church is a word centered Ministry designed to evangelize the lost at any cost equip and empower the people of God and provide holistic Ministry to our community as well as the world seeking to minister to the total person we are multiethnic multiculture Ministry impacting the world in which we live with the uncompromising message of Jesus Christ committed to the spirit of Excellence we are striving to become no wases of hope within the Nashville Community by promoting and providing providing education awareness as well as Financial Independence we believe that God must be worshiped in spirit and Truth we Embrace freedom and worship because the word says where the spirit of the Lord is there is Liberty our foundation is the word of God and we believe it in its entirety we believe we can do what it says we can do be who it says we can be and have what it can [Music] [Applause] so question has anyone ever told you that you weren't good enough for real has it ever been said to you has anyone ever called you ugly stupid lazy or anything that made you feel like you weren't made in the image of God if so then I can understand why at times you become a bit defiant because you feel so insufficient and hated to the point that you become jaded where you don't mind making a statement exclaiming you are the rebel you ain't scared of nobody you understand you got it together when you got it together you get to Stepping you get to repping you get to that place you believe you were destined to be just to see it all crumble when you're told you don't Bel long here I've been there investing everything in your soul and your might and your will you do everything right or so you feel just to see it all crumble still when you are left unable to accomplish what it is you tried to build Romans 1:6 isation but then there comes a moment where every one of us has to understand that God is real and he can heal every scar in your life if you just submit to his will so once again I'm asking you what's the deal although they may have said these things about you I want you to know that you are smart you are strong you are beautiful you are important yeah everything we hear them tell little ones you are smart you are strong you were beautiful you are important you are favored so why would you waver and un or and not understand that God Made You you no matter who you are understand that God Made You So in that you must understand God Made You There is nothing that we can escape other than what God has done in our lives which is make you so you must keep your mind stayed on him and understand that he is the greatest he is the one that makes you understand that everything is able if you just submit to his will so please please submit to his will there comes a moment where we all just have to be real and understand that if we don't submit to his will nothing can ever come to fruition but understand please please please understand God has created you with purpose and everything in your soul is worth it it's perfect you are perfect you are worth it God is perfect so let us all be perfect in spirit and understand that we can do anything through him because he sent us his son Jesus who came to clean us to keep us from seeing the grave he also defeated the grave so that we could all be breathing today so let us all thank who it is we're needing today big go Jesus and His Holy Spirit who lives in us for the his work word tells us that we are not ashamed of the Gospel it is a Salvation of power to everyone be blessed good morning you good [Music] morning prek through fifth grade if you are un understand with the gospel let me hear you make some noise fifth grade through 8th grade if you're unashamed let me hear you make some noise [Applause] now ninth grade through 12th grade y'all got to y'all got to come on if y'all unashamed of the Gospel bab me hear you make some [Applause] [Music] noise this thing can I do it sir can I do it sir we re the Lord truly we straight ahead and we a't trying to hit no man they can't do nothing to me we we we don't like them up D do it we [Music] young out now we see thaty my is but no lazy my dad ain't make me but he gave me peace though thre my chain for me I call let my fre told me to go they got your be I ain't got no way he made me a PR I never away chasing out the pack CH used to put my stack in riches I had a stack exchange I was just a robat but now I do not want the same like a man all I is 116 my king R 116 we brag about him daily cuz he run this thing can I do it it do it it to the one for the only one for this process in front of me got my two eyes after that W like Nintendo Relentless believe I'm a go everybody with that lical mical bial theology without an apology whenever I get up on the microphone I got a repres what they going to do what murder what murder does is send a surge of us to go put churches up ain't no hurting us I'm on that just m when the church go in La C DOD try to charge me try to bom under attack but we got value give mad to record get back the the th the father with a passion voice give me a 16 I'm a brag my Lord all I need is 116 to brag on my Lord Romans 116 we talk about him daily cuz he run this thing can I do it yeah all I need is 116 to break my Lord bre my king matter of fact give me couple more and I do the same thing do the same thing do the same thing even on my best day I couldn't go by gra of the Lord that was G for I for the S and not committed should have paid that price but I didn't cuz the father went and gave the Christ what love is this to send his own to die for sin and take this home got me feeling good forget my feelings when you heard a story about the heroine for the villain kill them with the fast low then I go slow this one here is urgent when it comes to God everybody's got a version some are wearing turb others getting virgins with all of these options we know he's for certain cuz a a Gody like mind you got to admit it yeah I'm falling cuz of sin and yet is Grace it's sufficient beat the grave set it's finished got them unsearchable riches and they deep that's why I'm like let's go I'm on sh all I need is 116 to brag on my is 116 is 116 we talk about him daily cuz he R this thing can I do it can I do it yeah [Applause] [Music] oh bless the Lord on my soul and all that's with Within Me bless his name come on how many glad to be in the house of the Lord One More Time come on if you got breath in your body he said let everything that have breath open up your mouth and begin to give God glory come on if you're excited to be in the house of the Lord one more time Hallelujah come on hallelujah oh bless the name of the Lord oh bless the name of the Lord uh come on do I have anybody that's excited about Jesus come on do I have anybody that that's excited about Jesus Hallelujah the Bible says in Jeremiah 10:6 there is none like you for your name is filled with power so if you believe there is none like you I dare you to put those hands together and give God praise like you know it for yourself [Music] come on put those hands together like this y'all go dance with us this morning come on y'all go dance with us this morning help us give God praise [Music] yeah oh yeah put those hands together right [Music] there yeah simple song yah yah yahe yah holy is your name I don't want to take it in vain come on help me say it say yahe yah yah y say holy holy I don't want to take it in I don't want to take it now now put those hands together right there come on I don't see you clapping for Jesus put those hands together right there yeah yeah yeah come on hey say yahe yah say yah yah holy is is I don't want to take it in say it again your name your name your name is yah y yahe yah holy is your name I don't want to take it in vain cuz there will be no there will be no God come on how many believe that oh there will be no there will be no other God before you yeah there is no one above you is no one no one beside you nobody like you nobody like you there will be no other God say no one no one no one put those hands [Music] together yeah no one come help us say it right here yeah see y way yah say yah yah holy is Holy is I don't want to take it in v i don't want to take your name your name is yahe yah yah yah holy is your name God holy is your name I don't want to take it in v i don't want to take it cuz there will be no there will be no other God before you're the first and the last there will be no yeah there is no one above you no one beside you nobody like you see there will be will say no one no nobody like you no God before you no other God for you yeah come on let's take you to the end I'm going say this who else can lead us lead us to Freedom you say no and who else can heal all our sins and diseases no one no one and who else can walk walk on the water no no one no one who else can answer answer by fire who can bring down the tallest of giants who else can shut the Roar of the lion who else is worthy worthy of Glory who else is Worthy worthy of [Music] praise and who else can do you do you like Jesus who else can do you do you like Jesus who else can move come move the mountain yeah who else can bring you out of the valley yeah can't nobody Can't Nobody Do Me Like J nobody nobody nobody nobody Do Me Like Jesus there will be no other God before you say there will be there will [Music] be oh see there will there will be no other God you everybody believe it there will be say no one no who else can do you do you like Jesus who else can Rock Me Hold Me Like Jesus nobody Do Me Like Jesus Nobody Do Me Like Jesus Ain't Nobody Do Me Like Jesus Nobody Do Me Like Jesus Ain't Nobody Do Me Like Jesus like nobody Do Me Like Jesus nobody Ro Me Like Jesus Me Like Jesus can't nobody Ro Me Like Jesus nobody Me Like Jesus Can't Nobody Hold Me Like Jesus Can't Nobody Hold Me Like Jesus Nobody Hold Me Like Jesus say nobody nobody nobody nobody say nobody nobody nobody nobody nobody nobody nobody nobody nobody nobody nobody cuz there will be no other God before you say there will be will be yeah oh see there will be sh over and I can't find there will other say no one no one no no no come on if you really believe there is nobody like God you ought to be putting those hands together and telling God thank you come on because I tried money I tried people I tried my job I tried everything else but there is nobody like Jesus yes there will be no other God before you come on lift your hands there will be no other God before you [Music] [Music] God we acknowledge that there's nobody like you in this place and just for that God we lift our hands this morning as a sacrifice and we tell you anything God that's not like you take it away anything that's not leading me to you God take it away anything that's not in my life giving you glory take it away [Music] way right so take everything I don't want it I don't need it God so take [Music] everything I don't want it I don't need it God say take take everything I don't want it want it and I don't need it I don't need it's no good anyway take it God [Music] I don't want it I don't want it and I don't need it I don't need said I just want you I just want you I just want you I just you I just want you I just want you I just want you I just want you see we just want you we just want you nothing else will'll do I just want you said I just want you I just want you said I just want you I just come on Hey Soul say take me I'm yours take me take me I'm yours said I just want take me I just want you I just want so say take me take me I'm yours I'm take me take me I'm yours said I just War you said I just War you so oh take me take I'm Yours take me God take I'm yours I just want I just want you oh take me take I'm your to use me to use me to use me I just want [Applause] [Music] you every I don't want I don't need it God come on let me hear you say say take take everything I don't want and I don't need it yeah yeah take it from me God take it from me God take it from me Jesus yeah I don't want it and I don't [Music] don't take I don't want it and I don't need it I don't need it's no good any way take it from me [Music] God yeah and I don't need it [Applause] take everything I don't want it I'm [Applause] I I don't want it don't it and I don't need it come on can we say without the music come on take everything tell them take come on everything come on begin to tell him I don't want it and I don't need it don't need it's been causing me too much pain so you might as well get it Jesus yeah I [Music] don't well is that your testimony today is that your testimony that he could take everything and just give you Jesus well if you believe that would you put those Blessed Hands together and while you're doing that would you help me give God praise for the Judah generation come on it's a great thing to see young people praising the Lord in this place and we thank God for it you may be seated in the presence of the Lord and we give God glory and praise for them and don't worry we're going to hear more from them in just one moment but we thank God for all of you who are worshiping with with us right here at the mount if this is your first time worshiping with us on today would you just wave at me if this is your first time worshiping with us come on wow welcome to Mount Zion we thank God for all of you who are worshiping with us on today now as we say we are a phone friendly church so what I need you to do is I need you to pull out your cell phone right now I need you to send us a text message it's okay I need you to send send us a text message right now I want you to text the word guest to 78228 because we've got something special coming right in your direction for worshiping with us today for those of you who are online worshiping with us on today I just want you to put the number one in the chat and watch what happens we thank God for you worshiping with us on today as well well we give God glory and praise for everyone who is worshiping with us from around the world and we have some more special guests there are so many special guests in this place today our student Ministry is going to come in just a moment and recognize them but mount Z we have the omen family all the way from Germany Who Came To Worship with us today would you just wave at us come on let's make them feel welcome all the way from Germany to lift up the name of Jesus with us so we welcome you all in this place and we thank you for worshiping with us on today so many great things happening right here at the mount we are headed into week two we are on a faith journey together so we want to make sure that you are locked into deeper dive Bible study along with your faith Journal this Wednesday don't forget to join us on our YouTube channel because we are discussing the god impact it's going to be absolutely incredible so we invite you to to join us in this journey of faith and fasting let us unite as one body one heart and one mission to honor God and to build up this house and to witness the transformation that comes when God when we trust God completely and as we trust God to build this house simultaneously we believe and we declare over your life that God is going to do it for your house as well and we thank God for that and as always to learn more about the restore of this house Sunday of generosity and the campaign you can text the word restore to 78228 and we thank God for that and on September the 7th y'all know it's no cookout like the Mount Zion cookout it's going down on September the 7 that's going to be absolutely amazing that's going to be a cookout and it's going to be a community baptism it's going to be absolutely phenomenal right here at the OMB location guess what as we prepare to serve all of those who are coming from around this city to join us for our picnic we need you we need volunteers and I tell you what let's make a deal I serve you serve we all serve and we are in need of volunteers right now to help us uh with the community uh with the community baptism as well as family day as a whole and if you are interested in serving if you've never served here at Mount Zion I'm telling you that's a good space right there that's a good opportunity for you to come on and join us in serving all I need you to do is I need you to just text the word I serve to 78228 and sign up to volunteer today and it's going to be a great time serving alongside of you we're almost at our goal we are believing God to baptize 100 souls and we're right there we at 62 we're almost there help me give God praise for those 62 Souls that are going to be baptized and we just believe by faith that we are going to reach that 100 Mark and we thank God for that so whether you are a member or not uh or invited to take part you are invited to take part in this important stamp of Faith you could just be exploring the faith you could be uh a coworker who someone has told you about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and witness to and you can come on in and join us right there and we want you to do that if you would like to get baptized if you want to get baptized rededicate your life to Christ you can do that simply by texting the word salvation to 78228 amen well I tell you what we've got some incredible things coming up today is is youth Sunday and so I'm going to get out of the way I want to welcome at this time our Mount Zion student Ministry youth Council as they come take us further in worship would you help me receive them at this time [Music] well good morning Mount [Music] Zion okay okay so look my ears are not as good as they used to be mine either so I said when I say good morning I need a response back is that cool all right good morning M good morning that's okay that's now it sounds like a whole bunch of people in here well my name is Donovan Brown my name is Trent Kennedy and Trent real quick do you know what today is no no not really so we've been practicing for 3 weeks and you don't know I mean I see all these I see all these students it's just like I don't know why they here though that's what okay well to remind you it is youth Sunday you know what I I remember now I remember all right so that was cute that was that was cute that was cute but just so I can portray my voice so everybody can hear it is youth Sunday okay okay okay okay okay I like it I like I like the vibe I like the vi it's cool it's cool it's cool well we are excited to show you what we've been working on for the past three weeks and um the word that we chose for this youth Sunday was unashamed and the scripture that we chose uh is Romans 1:16 it states for I am not ashamed of the gospel because it's the power of God that brings salvation to everyone so basically that means that you shouldn't be ashamed of who you are you shouldn't have you shouldn't be ashamed of having having a relationship with Jesus Christ it doesn't matter how old you are what what race you are what what uh what you know if you're in middle school high school elementary school prek it don't matter always it's always good to have a relationship with Jesus Christ bro that's that's a word in and of itself but that's all right that's all right you know you know you know I see your brother all right well at this time Mount Zion can you please look your eyes towards the screen [Music] in the heart of Tennessee There's a district just for me working side by side talents identifi sing Brilliance is our way every student every day there's so much to find each School a gold mine every student know a promise that we own there's so much we can be stay patient and you'll see every student know a go we won't let go it's our commitment to see the Brilliance in you there's Brilliance in you there's Brilliance in you there's Brilliance in [Music] you every day a brand new starts what we do could talk the chart never on our own don't try and walk alone don't be shy you got to see all the great things that will be standing side by side got all we need so will shine every student knows a promise that we there's so much we can be stay patient and you'll see every stud a go we won't let go it's our commitment to see the Brilliance in you every suit so much we can be every student know a go we won't let go our commit to see the Brilliance in you there's Brilliance in you [Music] there's Brilliance in you there's bril in you there's Brilliance in you there Brilliance in you it's our dream so you know we got to live this attendance up cuz you know we're independent seeing expectations we're going to do this using what we got to break down all the contradiction reaching to the top and we're never going to stop it Knocking out these goals with the power of our knowledge working hard so you know that we got this every student know the that we RO with it's my dream I do believe I do believe I will acheve with [Music] your it's my dream I do believe oh it's my dream I will ACH me out keep it's my dream oh it's my dream I do believe I will ACH [Applause] [Music] it's my dream I do believe I will achieve your hands [Music] [Music] a promise that we there's so much we can be stay patient and you'll see every student known a go we won't let go it's our commitment to see the you [Applause] well good morning Mount Zion welcome to youth Sunday 2024 my name is Tiffany Norman and I'm one of the children's coordinators here at Mount Zion and we are just so excited to see so many young people here sharing their time their talent and their gifts so to God be the glory for that amen amen so since it is 2024 youth Sunday we have some special presentations we first want to invite up some special schools their executive principles or a representative we will first like to welcome Robert Churchwell Museum magnet school Mr Kenneth Bonner Jr you'll come join us up on the stage thank you so much we also like to invite Wright Middle School Dr sherea Deon we have mckisic in the house we have Mr Jan Davis if you would join us on [Applause] stage we have Brick Church middle in the house Dr Robin beard Tillman and I know I saw Antioch High School represented today Miss nikisha Bernett we also have Kane Ridge High School Dr Deontay Alexander we have John Overton High School Dr Kelby Garner join us on stage please we have Weiss Creek High School Dr Brian mels and last but certainly not least we have Maplewood High School Dr Sonia Brooks and you know what mnps holds a special place in my heart and we would not be who we are without our fearless leader Dr Adrien Bal if you would join us on stage please good morning Mount Zion I am Yolanda Moore and I also serve as a co-coordinator for our children's ministry we would also like to welcome to the stage two of Our Community Partners one of which is dedicated to transform the lives of inner city youth through education and Athletics and the other inspiring and empowering young ladies by building their confidence courage and character to make the world a better place from backfield in motion Mr Thomas Chappelle III and also Dr Campbell if you please join us on this stage from Girl Scouts of America Danielle [Applause] Barnes Mount Zion student Ministry you also know that this team could not be who they are if it wasn't for our fearless lever was none other than Daryl Kate Walker our executive director of family min mines and if he would would you please join us on the [Applause] stage listen it's none other than if we wanted to make sure that you're aware of this this year we are so proud to announce that each school and Community partner will receive a donation of $55,000 totally $55,000 to support all of these School schools and Community Partners in the great work that they do every single day how about you guys stand to your feet give them some love because you know [Applause] what y' come in just and then of course you guys know this is why it all happen you guys this is Bishop y'all know him right yes this is Bishop Walker I forth and if you guys can come in real quickly I'm sorry he's a third I done already promoted your son up to the position bless my little heart please don't fire me George Joseph ivth I will work along with you okay so if nothing else let's go ahead and get us a quick picture everyone say be blessed and be [Music] Breezy now if you will remain standing we would also like to have all administrators as well as teachers to join us on this stage if you are a teacher or staff member in one of our schools please go ahead and come on the [Applause] [Music] stage all ready you guys get them some love everyone you guys give them some love they need your love they need your support and they need this spirit this is so beautiful let me hear it let me hear it I don't hear it from the Raptors all righty and then of course we want to make sure that all students if you would just approach the altar from where you are would you please come forward and I just want you to line okay okay so just make sure everyone in the um sanctuary if you will list just get you to stand if you can and then we will Center in the moment and stretch your hands to this stage as well as to any student that you are in the general appr proximity of and then our own very Bishop will go ahead and bless us for this year thank thank you so much of course um what a wonderful moment this is to cover these administrators and teachers um that the battle for all that you do we got you covered you do a great job and we thank God for all these administrators we appreciate you in your schools and your organizations that make a difference into the students we believe in you we believe in you we believe in you we're here to cover you and support you and tell you that this is a village that has you covered and to the parents we celebrate you for the early mornings and the late nights for what you do and so father we now thank you for this moment as we cover this school year for these amazing young people who have promise on their lives we thank you that every gift in them every purpose you have ordained shall come to fruition we thank you God that these administrators and teachers and these Community Partners are working every single day to make our community a better place where these young people can Thrive we thank you for the parents who pray and many who work sometimes two and three jobs to make it happen we we thank you for their resilience and their faith and today oh God we just pray for each school today put a hedge around every school let this school year be without any violence we come against it in Jesus name we cover every campus in the blood of Jesus we cover every student in the blood of Jesus that they will Thrive they will they will be successful that they will achieve the greatness that's upon their lives and we give you glory that from this moment forth it gets better and better and better I thank you today and we give you glory that it's already done in Jesus name amen now put those hands together come on like you know it's already done come on give God praise God God bless each one of you thank you thank you so much God bless you wow what a blessing and we thank God today woo this is what it's all about and I am so grateful and I welcome you come on one more time that's right give it up there is no Greater Joy than than seeing students and seeing lives being blessed and we're grateful to God and thankful those of you watching around the world we're praying even for your students if you're watching us around the world we welcome all of you if you're watching in the United States if you're watching uh in Europe we thank God for you if you're watching see our friends from Germany good and T we love you we appreciate you we thank God for all of you who watching around the world thank you and today has been such an extraordinary day and a blessed day today today you're going to see and witness this youth ministry music and worship Arts have put together just an extraordin their presentation of kids who gone through Camp musicians and they're playing instruments and they're singing you're going to see so many talented young people today and we we're grateful to God and thankful for all that he is doing I want to again impress upon your heart we are in the midst here at Mount Zion of a 15we Incredible Journey of Faith and generosity and what you see today is just a small part of what we do the last few years Mount Zion has been in a campaign we've had a su of generosity but we raised a million dollars and we gave it all away we blessed $600,000 went the HBCU over 150,000 went to schools and man this year we're on a 15we journey called restore the house and we want to invite you to partner with us and there are cards we have they are affirmation cards and if you would desire one of those information cards before you leave today or let one of our us just know they will get you one but you go and text the word restore to 78228 and it'll send you to a landing page where you can be in touch with what's happening in that area also I would like you today as we prepare to give what we're doing and even you're watching me around the world I want you today to know that our generosity matters not only over this next 15 weeks are we going to raise a million dollars over and above our tithe and offerings over and above I believe we might raise 2 million and give another million away I believe that in Jesus name but our focus is to restore this house and we've asked you to give a specific amount over and above your tithe and offerings over the next 15 weeks and I want you to lock in on our Bible study on YouTube check out our Bible study and uh it's called deeper dive and we're pouring content pouring the word of God into you to beer your faith up this 15 weeks is a faith and financial fast so we are moving away from just crazy spending in focusing on the kingdom and doing what God has asked us to do to take care of his house and he'll take care of our house and to that we are grateful to God for the opportunity to be a blessing to the Lord and so I want you today even as you give a tith in your offering today and even as you give into the area of restore now what you can do simply is the normal way you give on the giving platforms you see at the bottom of the screen you virtually you can text to give and I encourage you when you get to the part of giving to the restore campaign just put restore use the same number you give in the giving right here and just use the word restore and the dollar amount that you're giving and of course we believe God that on the first Sunday of December our church anniversary we'll have a great report that we not only met our goal but we exceeded our goal if you think we're giving now you wait until 2025 we're going to just give to give and give and bless folks socks off we are a generous Ministry y'all and I'm thankful to God we got some stuff some big stuff planned and I'm grateful to God so I thank you and I appreciate you so very very much amen we're going to prepare our hearts right now where are the Blessed people in the house today come on you know you're blessed see prepared to give either an envelope raise your hand encourage you to text to give everybody text to give do that want to welcome you here today today if it's your first time your family now we going to have a great time in Jesus name encourage you to follow me follow me out there on social media at Joseph Walker 3 follow my wife at Dr Steph Walker we want to stay connected follow Mount Z Ministry Mount Z Nashville and you can download our free app it's called Mount Zan Nashville you can take notes the sermon notes will be there you can upload them it's a great tool to keep in touch with all the things that God is doing so let's prepare our hearts right now to worship God in our giving and after that chir this music music Ministry I'm going to get out the way and let them do what they do going to be sharing today uh the final part of this series blessings behind the scenes going to be in Acts chapter 27 and I believe God's going to speak to us powerfully today so father we thank you today we give you glory and praise for the privilege we have to give bless every household thank you that you're blessing the lives of your people generational blessings are in this house and even around the world thank you for the spirit of giving and we pray God that as we serve and as we give that you will give it back to us good measure press down shaken together and running over it's in Jesus name amen [Music] we will fight and we will win we speak Victory to every Tri we are overcome by the of the Lamb [Music] [Applause] no we will fight and we will win we speak Victory to every Tri again [Music] Overcomers by the blood of the Lamb no [Music] longer win no matter what may come our way we all we always win we always win no matter what the circumstance we always win we always win we always win no matter what make come our way we are we always win we always win no matter was the circumstance we [Music] always we will fight we will win we will we will win we will fight we will win we will fight we will win I'm Victorious we will fight we will win I'm Victorious we will fight we will win Victor we will fight we will win Victorious we will fight we will win we will fight we will win I'm a we will we will I'm a we will F We Will We Will We Will will fight we will win we will fight we will we will fight we will win we will fight we will we [Music] we no matter what I'm going through [Music] I know I got the victory yeah yeah I'm more than more than a conquerer through Jesus Christ yeah I got the victory [Applause] yeah oh we [Applause] win oh we win we win we will and because God is the greatest power I will never be defeated he go before me and he talk with me and he walks with it he's giving me victory victory victory in my walk in my walk in my walk in my walk in my in my in my T in my T no matter what I'm going through I wi I win I win I win I win I win can't no devil have what God has God's got it for me and I'm going to get [Music] it I don't have to worry [Music] they [Music] [Music] on [Music] for it is [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] we are not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for God power of salvation [Applause] it is to everyone to everyone that beli oh it is to everyone to everyone that rece we shall everever last [Music] [Music] sing We are not we are not [Music] ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for it God power of [Applause] Sal it is to everyone to everyone that believes it oh it is to everyone to everyone that rece we shall have ever Hallelujah hey we are not ashamed of the Gospel we are not [Music] ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus we are not Lord love you of the and Lord we need you we are not CU you give us everything Lord of The Gospel and we're not ashamed we are not no no no of the Gospel we are not we are not ashamed of the goel we are not ashamed we are Lord we lift up your name cuz we are not ashamed it don't matter what age you are are don't be ashamed to lift up the Lord yet theel cuz we are not as same Lord we are and we'll lift you up Lord the goel we'll tell the whole world that we are not ashamed say we are not ashamed the are you do everything for me Lord of the goel if it wasn't for you we are we would not be right here standing in this place cuz if it wasn't for [Music] you pleas everas [Music] [Applause] Everlasting is to everyone and so God we thank you today we pray oh God that your word will speak to us in this moment at this time we need to hear from you and so God we pray today that this word will save somebody's Soul somebody's life be changed forever because of this word we give you glory and praise in Jesus name amen amen help me thank God for these young people one more time [Applause] Amen in Acts of the Apostle chapter 27 this is the final part of blessings behind the scenes verse 42 says and the solders plan was to kill the prisoners lest any of them should swim away and Escape but the Centurion willing to say Paul kept them from their purpose and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and they should get to land verse 44 says and the rest some on boards some on parts of the ship so that it was that they all Escape safe to landay you may be seated today God's got somebody looking out for you one of the things that should be very obvious to all of us is that God is in control of how our lives play out when you understand that you begin to realize that nothing just happens but everything that happens happens with a purpose a plan to push you to a place of Destiny the destination of the outcome is controlled by God and often the things that we have to navigate through can be confusing complicated at best but the reality is is that God always has somebody who he assigned in our lives at specific Seasons to help push us along the way whatever you go through in the inter room you must recognize that God knows all about it he never has a lapse of memory where the pride of his people are concerned and so therefore God in his providential wisdom he he puts people in our path sometimes we are aware of it and sometimes we are not but these people are ordained by him to counsel us encourage us to give us words of wisdom to assist us to push us along the way these are the blessings behind the Saints as I look over my life I'm aware like many of you that there have been people in my life that in that when it was going on I didn't realize it was happening but as I reflect upon it I realized that these were the people that God sent to bless me along the way maybe it was the fourth grade teacher who told me I didn't need to be the class clown but that I really had something amazing happening in my life that pushed me Beyond being the class clown and pushed me to Excellence maybe it was the custodian in the hallway that told me to slow down pay attention focus pull my pants up maybe it was the lady down the street who told me to be careful told me not to get in that car maybe it was somebody who was looking out for me I thought was getting on my nerves and now I look over my life and I thank God that they were getting on my nerves because had I not listened to them my life would have gone another way that's how God works he will drop people in your life at the right time at the right season to just push you along the way to make sure that you arrive at the place that God intends and that's what we want to talk about today we're going to talk about literally how this occurs that God has somebody always looking out for us in Acts chapter 27 The Marvelous story is told that we see the Apostle Paul on a ship to understand how Paul gets there you must understand a few things about Paul's life Paul who was Saul prior to his name change was a persecutor of Christians he took it upon himself to kill believers who believed in Jesus Christ Saul would have a conversion experience on the Damascus Road in Acts chapter N9 and there his whole life would be turned around it was interesting because he spent a significant part of his life tearing down Jesus killing those Jesus people and now he would spend the remainder of his life lifting thing up the very name that he tore down now the Apostle Paul would now have such strong convictions concerning his Christ that he would become perhaps the most important significant figure post Jesus in the New Testament he would by the third of the New Testament he would build churches he would organize people it was Paul the Apostle and now because of his incredible convictions concerning Christ he had so much in him he was an intellectual he was a lawyer he was a scholar he was a charismatic he Paul just had so much in him that people didn't know what to do with him and so Paul is now arrested he is arrested and he is now subject to death Paul though however understanding that God's hand is upon his life Paul began to realize that he has as a Roman citizen certain Privileges and those privileges entailed that he could actually request to be tried before Caesar now the Emperor of that day was a man named Nero around ad. 54 to ad 68 Nero was uh he was a maniac he hated Believers actually Nero was one who if you go to Rome you will see the coliseums where he would actually bring Christians to the middle of the Coliseum for sport and have Lions tear them apart he hated Believers and so but but he was the emperor of that day and there were various court systems throughout Rome and so as a consequence that was the local court and Paul knew if he's tried by festas there he's tried by Felix in the local Court Paul asserts that because I'm a Roman citizen I need to go to a different level of court and as a consequence they bid him to do so and Paul now goes to What's called the city court which is more of a regional court and yet Paul recognizes that the people in Jerusalem are biased they want him dead now and Paul realizes the providential hand of God is upon his life and all Paul wants to do is literally according to our day and time let go like to the federal court system Paul is like I'm a Roman citizen I need to go to the Supreme Court take me to Rome I want to make my case before Caesar I want to stand before Nero and I want to share my convictions concerning Christ in essence Paul was one of those people who recognized that the gift of God is upon your life the essence of life is fulfilling the thing that God has placed within you in the earth that our lives are to be lived this way that we live full and we die empty that everything that God placed in us should be left in the earth and so then when we come to the end of our days we have emptied ourselves out and left nothing on the table that's why the Apostle Paul could say so eloquently that I uh the time of my departure was at hand I have fought a good fight I have kept the faith I have finished my course and now I'm ready because he lived full and he was ready to die empty it is now an interesting time because Paul is on his way now with other prisoners and when you look at it it becomes quite interesting because he is on a vessel and he is headed now to a place called Rome now on his way there you must understand that while Paul is headed to Rome Paul is going now with about 276 other people as a matter of fact there are 276 people completely on the boat including Paul and Paul makes a reference to this actually in the 37th verse of the 27th chapter Paul puts it this way on the vessel who were with us there were he calls it um 203 score and6 when you begin to understand the Bible and you begin to understand how the Bible uses numbers it'll help you really understand how to interpret things like scores because a score in biblical times was 20 and so what Paul was saying is that on the ship with us there were 200 three scores 60 + 16 that were 276 of us on board here is just the note for you the Bible declares even in Psalm 90 and verse 10 that the days of our Liv lives are as three score 60 and 1070 and if by reason of strength God would give us even more those days would be of great hardship and trial the good news is that if you have crossed over and you are 70 and up you ought to be giving God the glory for the favor of God upon your life the Bible declares to us that down with these 276 people on this particular ship they are now all headed to Rome and prisoners and soldiers alike and the Bible declares something interesting occurred right there they encountered a storm the Bible said that this storm lasted for about two weeks it was sort of a tropical depression that set over them and you have to really understand this when this tropical depression sets over them the Bible declares that the ship got stuck the four part got stuck and remained unmovable and the violence of the Waves beat against the ship that the ship became full of water and now the ship began to break into pieces and the soldiers the Roman soldiers said kill all the prisoners don't let any of them Escape why because to be a Roman soldier your Chief responsibility was to make certain that you supervis those that you had in your care to let a prisoner escape would mean that your life would also be in danger if you think about that when you go over to Acts chapter 16 when Paul and Silas are in the jail housee situation and they pray and sing praises unto God and when everybody's chains came off there was a Roman soldier who came to the jail and he saw them with their chains off he was watching them and he thought they were about to escape and he was going to kill himself because he'd rather kill himself than experience the persecution he was about to experience from his supervisors and Paul says do yourself no harm because we are all still here now pay attention the Bible says that the prisoners were on the ship and there were soldiers on the ship and the ship is breaking into pieces because of the tropical storm and the soldier said kill them all don't let any of them Escape but then there was one his name was Julius he was a centurion he was one who was overseeing many of those who were holding the prisoners and because of Julius he says do not harm them because of Paul kept them from their purpose and commanded all of those who can swim get out right now and swim The Shore Swim the shore and the rest of you who can't swim grab hold to the broken pieces of the ship and I want you to hold on and just surf on over there until you get to land that's the story what's the Revelation well I need you to understand this today because I believe it's going to bless your life you have to recognize the plot of Satan you must be very clear that whenever there is an assignment on your life the enemy is going to do everything he can to prevent you from getting to your destination make no mistake about it there are plots and schemes at work every single day to try to prevent you and block you from God's best over your life and When Storms Come you must recognize that storms will bring the best and the worst out of people you really don't know who people are until you watch them in the midst of a storm some of you can testify that you really didn't realize who you were until you had gone through a storm you didn't know who the people were around you until you watched them respond to you when you were going through some of the most difficult seasons of your life who are these people watching Paul and the prisoners who are these centurions what do they remind us of they remind us of some of the people in our own lives who are they you have to watch their mind what's in your mind what you think about me really comes out when I'm in a storm you be amazed at everybody smiling in your face and making you think they're accommodating you is really on your side You' be amazed at some of the stuff people really feel about you but you really don't know it until you go through a storm what is your motive uh what will you really do to me when I'm in a storm would you just throw me away would you just give up on me or will you hang in there until I meet my destination I learn a lot about your morality your moral compass is revealed in the midst of a storm but here is something I want you to hear the enemy wants to kill you before you reach your destination but I need you to look at somebody and say too late too late too late he should have killed me then because he let me get here today and if he was going to kill me he would have done it by now the enemy is always trying to take you out the soldiers directive was to kill the prisoners lest any of them should escape and this people of God is why you have to begin to give God glory because even though the enemy has every intention on killing you watch this they're in the midst of storm uh and the ship is breaking into pieces and they want to destroy everybody but what's happening with Paul Paul is still alive uh let me break it down they're in the midst of a storm the storm is tearing the ship apart it's breaking into pieces and the soldiers want to kill them uh but where is Paul he is still alive can I tell you something I need to introduce you to the person you sitting next to I know they may be a stranger to you the person that's watching right now around the world may not know the people sitting in your house today I need to introduce them to you and tell you their first and last name can I do it let me tell you what their name is still here who am I talking to today after all I've been through still after all the attacks after all the setbacks after all the breakups after all the pain after all the loss after all the diagnosis after all the hospital visits after all the times I was broke after all the times they left me I'm just looking for steeve still here today I'm looking for somebody who can declare I'm still here watch s and if I am here watch this I may be in a storm but I'm here I may be experiencing Brokenness but I'm here and as long as I have a pulse something is possible here it is you must recognize God's got a person situated for you the solders directive was to kill the prisoners L all of them swim out an escape Paul kept them from their purpose and Paul represents something to us he shows us in this text that God has somebody situated at the right time at the right place if you just remain faithful and you do what you are assigned to do God will always have somebody assigned to your life and let me bless somebody even your enemy knows you are anointed when the hand of God is on your life people don't see you but they see God upon your life can you imagine what that soldier who cut Jesus's ear off in the Garden of Gethsemane must have thought when Jesus put the ear back on and looked at him and told Peter if you live by the sword you shall die by the sword he must have thought my God this man is Anointed can you imagine what the man that pierced Jesus in the side on C on Calvary must have thought when the moon dripped away in Blood and that was an earthquake and the veil of the temple was rning to and they said surely we killed the wrong man he must have known this man was anointed can you imagine what people must think about you when they look at your resilience and your buoyancy and how you bounce back and they don't even understand it because you don't drink what they drink you don't smoke what they smoke but you have a certain anointed Swagger about yourself and they can't figure you out because they don't know how to interpret anointing people look at you you know when you are anointed when people say about you I don't like them and they friends say why don't you like them I don't know it's just something about them I'll tell you what that something is it's because the anointing on my life irritates the Devils on your life and that's why you can't figure out why I keep on thriving and I keep on Surviving you don't have to like people speak to them or invite them to the party but you cannot deny that they are anointed I need somebody to lay your hand on yourself say I'm God's anointed the Bible says in Psalm 20 and verse six the Lord saves his anointed people of God you got to give God glory that you are anointed and let me bless you watch this this is going to bless you everybody on the ship 275 people are going to make it because passenger number 276 is Anointed The only reason why everybody made it because Paul was on the ship I need you to look down your row and say you ought to thank God I'm on this Pew because everybody on this Pew everybody in this house is going to make it because God's got somebody who is Anointed you ought to give God glory for the anointed people stop hating on people and thank God that the anointing God to make sure your campus makes it because somebody's anointed he'll make sure your business makes it because somebody anointed he'll make sure everything in your life makes it because somebody willing watch this willing to save Paul the only reason why they didn't do it because Paul was on the ship come here be careful who's on your ship your relationship your friend sh in your fellow cuz if you don't have anointed people on your ship it's going to be a hard sh who am I talking to up in here today God will send you help from unlikely places you never know when it's going to come you never know how it's going to come but God will always make certain watch this that he will send you help from unlikely sources God will often use the assistance of a stranger so that's why you got to be careful because the Bible says be careful how you treat strangers because some have entertained angels unaware you can't be mean and get a blessing everybody speaking to you ain't trying to holler at you sometime your meanness can get you out of a blessing God will use strangers to walk up in your life MDC walked up in Abraham's life and blessed him Rahab was a stranger but she helps she help the spies the Good Samaritan in Luke 10 was a stranger and he helped a man along the way God will even use your adversary strategically God will use people who don't even like you and make them Bless you that's why the Bible says he'll make your enemy I wish I had a witness up here God God will make people that's been talking about you who don't like you he'll turn your hater into your elevator God will even use people a sign for your season but you mean God will strategically put people in the right place at the right time have you thought about that for a moment God God is so amazing that God knows the exact place the exact time to put people to bless you God does this he makes everything in line at the right time he'll put the right thing at the right time to be a blessing to you he orders your steps but he also makes certain everybody's in the right place how in the world does Julius the Centurion get this assignment this isn't the only ship going to Rome there are other centurions how does Julius get assigned to the boat Paul is on because God puts Paul on that ship and puts Julius on that ship because he's orchestrating a moment God will always put you in the right place at the right time to have the right person to connect with you to bless you he'll put the right person in the financial aid office he'll put the right person in the bank he'll put the right person you'll be saying everybody else didn't treat me right but I just thank God that you're here that's because God will have the right person at the right time to help you get what you need some body right now already knows what I'm talking about you got to give God glory for the right person at the right time here's the deal watch this watch this and when God does it you have to receive the providential strategy see God is a strategist Providence means that how God moves providential means how God moves when God moves it is not random it is strategic God knows I have beginning from our end so watch how this works he never does something without strategy so what you're trying to figure out God has already worked it out watch it so the soldiers said now let's kill them all but Julius the Centurion willing to keep them from their purpose because of Paul wanted them to reimagine another possibility see this is the strategy of God reimagine something different watch this see so many people miss their blessing because you're not receptive to what God's strategy is stop listening to what people are saying and start hearing what God is saying he's always speaking that's why You' shown up today you've tuned in today because God is speaking concerning your next move let me tell you God gives directives according to your ability now I have to tell you right now this is like the meat of the message this is the part of the message that the person sitting next to you you might have to watch out because when this Revelation drop they may not sit that looking cute like they're looking right now now let me say it again God gives directives according to our ability what do you mean every leader knows that directives always put people in a position to win that's the sign of a good leader you know how to put people in a position to win so watch this please pay attention Julia said those who could swim swim on in to land now the reason why just at the initial point of hearing that it doesn't register it's because you're thinking about swimming at the Y no no no you listen they in the Mediterranean there is a tropical depression waves are over their head the waves are so violent it has torn the ship apart nature and forces are coming against them so to swim in that represents a certain skill set a certain resilience the spiritual Revelation is that people that can swim like that or people that can confront every force that comes against them and are able to still be successful are able to still have enough spiritual resolve and depth that even when things that should take them under don't because they have enough prayer and they have enough word they have enough faith that they can yet swim against every current of life and every storm that would break everything else see there are some people I'm talking to now that's who they are they have enough Faith they got that kind of prayer life I Marvel at people like that that can get a bad report from the doctor and still show up and still give God glory like it a even happen because they've learned how to swim against the current I Marvel at people that have that kind of word in inside of them that have that kind of faith that they can lose everything but you would never know it but they still show up saying God is still blessing me they can get laid off their job they can go through a divorce they can go through a serious death in their family and still show up and say God you're still on the throne and I still trust you and they learn how to swim and people of God you got to thank God for people like that because they' got a depth of word they've got a demonstration of Faith these are people that give us a great testimony of what it really means to swim and I celebrate you if that true if you that strong you got that level of Faith you have that level of resilience I admire you but I got to be honest there are moments in my life as the bishop that I don't have that kind of Faith there are moments in my life where life hits me in the gut and I wish I could swim it out but what I thank God for is that God doesn't just make Provisions for those who were strong but the Bible says he made Provisions for and the rest those who may not be as strong as those who can swim grab hold to the broken pieces of the ship see I'm talking to somebody right now your prayer life may not be where you want to be your faith may not be what you needed to be but you got to give God glory that God didn't forget about you that God still made Provisions for the I'm looking for the rest today where are the people that's grabbing hold to the broken pieces of the ship listen you see the reason why some people look at us crazy and we grab hold to the Brokenness because we don't know there's a blessing in the Brokenness we don't we don't we don't offer and Associate Brokenness and blessings together because we see Brokenness as a negative thing but please understand God can use what's left and still get a blessing to you you don't think God could use stuff that's broke look at some of you with your smartphone now you done dropped it a zillion time screen all cracked but you still using it still checking your messages still cutting your finger doing it still using apps got visible damage but your phone is still functioning even though the screen is cracked some of you look at your car one of your one of your rearview mirrors is broken but you still can see where you're going still can see what's behind you somebody else one of your eyeglasses is cracked but you got another good lens you can still see out of that way some of you still you're drinking out of a chip cup because somebody gave in this cup it's got sentimental badges everybody like you ought to get better that old cup but the cup still holds tea it still holds coffeee still holds water that's your favorite cup even though it's Chi look at some of you got worn out shoes but you still got your floss and your drip on you know those shoes got a little hole on the side but you just want to floss and drip in them because they still look good on your feet some of you got an iPhone charger look like a dog a cat Fox everything else and chewed on it every rat in the house all kind of cards and wires coming out of it but every time you plug it in it still get power to your phone guess what you sit next to somebody who got a lot of Brokenness in their life they've been the helling back but they are still here telling you I'm still functioning still showing up still praising God still serving still giving still worshiping who am I talking to I may be broken but I am still [Applause] blessed listen and so I want to leave this with you grab hold to it grab hold of what's left and rejoice on the peace you survive because one philosopher said in the breaking of the pieces we find the potential for transformation God is going to use the pieces that are left for your survival some people have the audacity to complain about what you don't have no more we despise the pieces because the Brokenness is fraction of what we used to have but let me tell you something it may not end like you thought you never know how the journey is going to turn out I told you but God controls the outcome you never know how the situation is going to happen it's going to have es and flows but you have to trust God sovereignty to know that God knows what he's doing I'll said a thousand times I'll said a million times until you get it like a broken record the route may change but the destination is still the same I don't know who that was for you had it all planned out but then that was a detour and you're like Lord am I going to make it is this still going to happen but whatever God promised you it's going to come to pass it may not end like your thought but it is going to come out in your favor and the good news is people of God you got to give God glory for this one thing you're going to make it and you're going to get there unscathed the Bible says I don't know who this is for but I'll know in just a minute the Bible say they all in verse 44 made it safe to land I know I know when you get here early and you get the good seats on the bottom I know you want to sit here and act all sophisticated and Upp it cuz you got the floor seats but there's some people up in the back on it today there's some people sitting on that second tier this is for them you going to make it safe to land I need you to look down your row and tell your neighbor everybody going to make it everybody on this road going to make it everybody in my house is going to make it everybody in my job is going to make it everybody now I think somebody woke up down here now look down your row and tell your neighbor everybody going to make it we're not just going to make it but we're going to come through this unscathed we won't even look like we've been through it when we come out of it I tell you something watch this watch this it's interesting I I want to share I'm I'm closing I'm closing listen listen listen I know many of you may not be Surfers I know it um it's an underrated sport but there are moments you go out in the ocean with a device to help you surf and sometimes when you're surfing some things that are designed to hold you sometimes can fall apart and when you find yourself in that situation everything that was designed to hold you falls apart and you fall off of what was designed to hold you because the waves are so violent that was a thing that every Surfer knows the scenario is an amazing thing it's called paddling it's called paddling and when you when you paddle in it means that even though I fell off the surfboard even though the waves are treacherous even though things are rough I'm have the level of resilience to realize that it ain't over yet cuz I may have gone out with an expectation I was going to come back the way I went out but any way I can I'm going to paddle in and the reality is that God has given to somebody a paddle in anointing I don't know what you have been dealing with it I don't know how many storms of Brokenness you came in here with and how deep the water and how treacherous the storms of life but people look at you and when you praise God and look at you when you make this kind of noise and you celebrate and they Wonder does it take all that but they don't know just by you being here today is a testimony that you paddled in I may not have had the support system you had I may not have the money you have I may not have everything you have in your life but I'm giving God glory that I paddled in and when you paddled in you become a Survivor and every Survivor has a sound because a Survivor sound is a sound that reminds everybody who was wondering if they made it that they are still here and I came today to raise a question where are the survivors let the redeem of the Lord say so I'm only talking to folk that paddled in that had to paddle through the pain you had to paddle through the naysayers you had to paddle through what people did to you but you made it I need about 2,000 people to open up your mouth and give God a shout to remind the devil he never should have messed with you but that you going to make it to your destination you shall graduate you shall go to college you shall graduate from college you shall get that career you shall go to the next level can you give God glory in advance where are the people that can open up your mouth and give God [Music] praise I want you listen to me I want you to stand and and please if you don't have to walk because I I really want you to not miss this moment in the anointing of God I want you to hear me loud and clear God sent this message because he used me like Julius to help you along the way because in the midst of your Brokenness in the midst of everything that was going on to tell you that God sent me to tell you you're going to make it there was no random encounter you came here because God wanted you in this place at this time to tune in at this time at this service right now because Jesus is the best thing that could ever happen to you and if you don't know him as your personal savior I I I need you to make it to your destination you can't make it without him maybe you need to renew your relationship with him maybe you say Pastor I need to recommit my life I want to be baptized I want to get my life right again get back on track this is your chance you may be here today and you say Pastor I'm here and I'm looking for a church home where me and my family can grow in the word of God I want you to know I welcome you it doesn't matter what color you are what denomination you come from it's all about you being where God wants you to be you may be here today and you say Pastor I'm here today and I moov to to the city for school I'm in college and I'm in Nashville I'm in this place and I need a covering I need a church home I want you today if I'm talking to you I want you to meet me at this altar today and there people that are going to stand with you because today is going to be the best day of your life there one thing thing I do know on that ship is this listen is that when Julia said those that could swim swim on and those who can't grab hold of the broken pieces everybody had to let go and had to let God I don't care you you got to at some point in your life you got to let go of what you think you can hold on to because what you holding on to is falling apart and you got to trust God and so today I need you to meet me at this altar right now child of God I don't care if you're way up top I'm going to wait on you right now come on right now come on right now right now come on that's it come on soon stop worrying and worrying woring How The Story come on somebody else today come on let go go and I let go I let go come on and let God let God come on come on that's [Music] you Jesus thank you Jesus come on come on CH come on I let go I let go come on go I'm calling serious people now God I couldn't seem to fall asep thank you Jesus there was so much on my mind yes Lord come on searching for the peace come on come on the peace could not come on come on come on Child of God hallelujah I need somebody to be serious with God see this has got to be personal it can't be because my friend is gone it can't be some emotional reaction it's got to be because I want a relationship I want this thing to be personal come on come on come on come on cuz I Hallelujah come on I see you come on stop worrying woo come on worry woring us that's come on come on I let go and I let go I let it come on let go let go come on come on that's when that's when come on I see you I see you come on come on my God my God come on oh and I let God come I see you come on come on let go you know what we say come on let go come on let me hear you let go let go come on let go let go and let and let go come on let me hear you let go let go let go let go let go come on let go let go let go let go let go let go let go let go let go let go and let go let go let go let go and let God let go let go let go let me say this listen listen I've been saying this and come on I hear you I I see you come on listen I want you to hear this I when you see people ministering to you you see people show up around you and they're your counselors and your mentor TOS your teachers you don't know what they had to go through to just get a word of encouragement to you I've been sharing all day at all four Services I've been sharing this testimony the last 14 days or so have been so incredibly heavy as I have watched Friends just pass away like just out of the blue people are just passing away my brother Daryl and I see how hard he works with these young people what he does for this family ministry people on the burden that we both carry watching our big brother our big brother who currently is in a situation where he is dealing with frontal dementia temporal frontal dementia watching our big brother my my hero decline in front of me I can't do anything but just praying you watch the enemy start interrogating you and it's taking the wind out of you and I know PJ Mort I do I know him he's a friend he's and and I know that PJ wrote this song let go and let God and I know that he doesn't mind if if we just kind of switch it up a little because I know it's something about letting go letting God but I got my own verse now based on what I've had to go through and based on what I preached about today and I believe somebody can testify because when you think about what you're going through this is what it sounds like let go let go and paddle in paddle let go and do what somebody going ask you how did you make it you tell them I let go let go and I'm going to paddle in anybody got that testimony I let go I'm paddling in hey it may hurt but I'm letting go but I'm still I'm pushing through my tears I'm pushing through my pain I'm pushing through everything just to get here anybody can testify that you're still paddling in would you touch somebody and tell them paddle in P in PD in any way you can get there as soon as Hallelujah come on stop worrying worrying how wor worrying how the my God I let I let go and I let go let go let go let go his way that's when that's when are looking I let go I Let [Applause] Go I want you to give God glory right now I want you to give him glory all over this place come on come on let me Hallelujah P I want to thank God for all of you that have made your way to this altar today and for whatever reason you have made rededicate your life to commit your life to him we welcome you to give your life to him my baptism a Christian experience to connect with this ministry to rededicate your life or perhaps even by watch care know that we welcome you and thank God for you today today here's what I want you to do if you're part of the student Ministry meaning you are in lower school all the way up to high school I'm going to ask you to stay in the sanctuary if you are out of high school or perhaps not in school and you have come and make this decision because we're going to minister our student Ministry in here the rest of you I want to welcome you and I want you to go down that middle aisle and follow that gentleman right there with that sign we're going to follow up with you now come on mountside help me thank God just let them go right through here come come on come on let's thank God come on that's it that's it go right ahead yes come on we got to we going to share with you now come on let's thank God come on y'all come on give God glory for them come on a't that a blessing come on come on y'all ain't that a blessing is't that a blessing now listen those of you that are in student Ministry you just stay right they're going to get St right here with in this area here we're going to minister you just come right over here amen come on thank God for you we thank God for you is't this a blessing y'all in this a blessing come on yeah our team is going to they're going to minister to you I want to thank God today for all of you that have made your way in this place today thank all of you partners of this ministry those who work in the school system thank God for all of you that do this great work in our community we appreciate you thank you for being what who you are thank God for all of these young people who are amazing help me thank God come on let's [Music] [Applause] so I'm grateful thank you for tuning in today and thank you for supporting us we'll be outside Dr Stephan I'll be outside shaking hands and would love to shake your hand get to know you if you're visiting we just do that every Sunday we do we thank God for you today so we praise God today Father we thank you and um we give you glory all week long we're just going to paddle in giving you glory for what you have done and are doing thank you for your strength your resilience that you've given to us to keep ping in until we meet our destination we thank you that in the Brokenness there's a blessing so we leave for giving you glory and praise for we've experienced now go with us keep us in Jesus name amen that's when start happening when I sto looking at I let go come on team I Let Go