Don’t Waste What You’ve Been Through | Jentezen Franklin

0:00 Hello, this is Jensen Franklin, and thank you so much for joining us for this week's podcast. Our goal is to provide you with biblically-based teachings that will challenge, inspire, and equip you to live for Jesus. If you haven't already, I'd love for you to go ahead and subscribe today to this podcast so you can get the latest updates from us and you don't ever have to miss a new message. Let's go right into the service. Record it at Free Chapel. I believe it's going to bless you today. I want to show you a great verse. In the book of Jonah, chapter 1 and verse 17. Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. And then over in Matthew chapter 12 and verse 39, But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign.

1:07 No sign will be given except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights, this is Jesus speaking, in the belly of a great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. And Nineveh will rise up in judgment to this generation and condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah. And indeed, a greater than Jonah is here. I want to talk to you for a few moments on don't waste what you've been through. Don't waste it. And I want to come at this story of famous. If you grew up in church, you know the story of Jonah. We call it Jonah and the whale. It was a great fish. And I believe this story.

2:01 I believe it just like it's told. And Nineveh was a very wicked city. Nineveh was a place that was controlled by the Assyrians. They were brutal. They were cruel. They hated Israel, hated all of the Hebrew people especially. They were famous for their brutality. They were famous for the way that they would behead their enemies. on one of the walls, it's thought that there were up to 30,000 skulls embedded in the walls of the city of Nineveh. They had pyramids that they had built, smaller ones, pyramids and piles and piles of skulls. They were known for specifically inventing, this is brutal what I'm saying, but they would, when particularly they called a prophet that came sent by God to oppose their great idolatry, the worship of idols, they would cut their tongue out and they would skin them alive. And it was a brutal way of torture and then behead them and use their heads as trophies.

3:21 They even had parades that the family remaining family members would have to carry the skull in worship to one of their deities named Dagon. And they would have to carry in that parade the loved ones remains the head. I say that because I want you to understand Nineveh. I want you to understand it was the headquarters for the terrorists of that day. It was as bad of people as you could get. They would brutalize women. They would brutalize children. They would torture. They would mutilate. And God loved them. God loved them so much that he sent prophet after prophet after prophet that they killed and put their heads in the walls as trophies. And so we make Jonah into this big rebel who doesn't want to do the will of God as though he's some half backslid preacher that's lost his way in his calling.

4:31 But that's really not right if you understand the history of the place that God told him to go tell that city to repent in 40 days or they have 40 days or he will destroy the city. he knew what that meant he had heard about the other prophets that had been sent there's no question others had been sent and they had been brutalized cruelly tortured and killed and so he was human i love this and this is kind of a part two of the last message that i preached the other week that god knew what he would do god knows what he's doing god is in complete control and we think God only uses our strengths and we think God only uses us when we've really got ourselves together but God uses our weaknesses. God uses our mess ups, our mistakes and even our rebellion at times against his will.

5:27 He uses the journey we choose to take that we would never normally take. He uses it for his glory and in this story when he was told to do it he fled. Why did he flee? Because he knew it was a death sentence. He knew and he thought in his mind, and here's what I love, God knew that he would run. God knew that he would go down and jump on a ship and get on a ship and head to Tarshish, which was 500 plus miles away to get away from the calling that God had put on him for the city of Nineveh. And so God knew that he wouldn't be like the other prophets and go directly to the place and do it. He knew that he would take a diversion. And so the Bible said that God prepared a storm. That's what it says. It says, your scripture says in Jonah one, God, number one, he prepared a storm. And you need to understand something about God that storms are designed to get you off of your track on the God's track.

6:42 Storms are designed so that you realize and wake up one day to the realization that God is in control even in the storm. God doesn't go on vacation. You don't catch God on vacation during in a storm. You don't catch God by surprise. Nothing surprises him. He prepared the storm and the storm threw this man, Jonah, into confusion. And when a storm comes into your life, it sends you into confusion. And you say, God, why? And what is going on? And where am I? And God, what's taking place?

7:29 And it causes confusion. And then secondly, he gets so into a bad place that he moves from confusion to being consumed by what he's going through. He's consumed completely because they take him, realizing that the only way that the storm can be stopped is to throw him overboard. He was the reason. And he said to them, throw me over. He didn't jump over because he's a picture of Christ. Jesus didn't commit suicide on the cross. He said, I give myself over to you. I could call 12 legions of angels and they would defend me. But I give myself into your hands. Use me as a sacrificial offering. And they threw him off of the ship. And when he hit the ship, from the ship to the water, the scripture said that suddenly he goes from confusion to being consumed because a great fish swallowed him and took him down into the depths of the sea.

8:37 As low as you can go, the confusion doesn't confuse God. He's still in control. And now he's consumed. It swallows him up. And it's bad when you have a problem that swallows you up. And you feel no way out. Because at least when you were in the ship, you could determine you were in control of what direction you were going. But now he's in the belly of a fish and he has no control. And that fish turns and starts a three-day journey. Three days and three nights on a journey that's 500 plus miles in the ocean heading to the city of Nineveh. When you understand that he turned his face toward Jerusalem in that process, he's down in the belly of the fish.

9:31 And I didn't take time to read this scripture, but it says it in that chapter. He turned himself. He turned himself toward Jerusalem. I don't know how he got his direction straight. I don't understand if you're in seaweeds and you're in acids from the fish's stomach and it's eating all the hair off of you and your eyebrows are gone and your hair on your head is gone and you are in down there and you're in the bottom of the sea. But somehow, watch God. God uses the confusion of the storm. God uses the consuming and swallowed up by the problem as a means to get him in alignment with God's plan again. He's turning back toward Jerusalem. He's turning back toward God. He's turning back to the temple where the presence of God and prayers were offered up. He's turning back. And I pray today that somebody's listening to me. And if you're in confusion and if you're in this place of absolutely being consumed by your problem and you're not in control anymore, it is.

10:46 Let that problem cause you to get in alignment with God's assignment for your life. He uses storms. He uses unusual things and problems that swallow us up. That we are no longer in control. Even alcohol may be that whale that swallowed you. or maybe drug addiction or maybe some sin that you just cannot or a financial problem or some depression that you can't. You're no longer in control. God says, turn. Just make a turn toward the right direction. And I'll get you in alignment with my plan and use what the enemy meant to destroy you. I'll let it be a bus to your destiny. Hallelujah.

11:38 You know, God can use problems and trouble that's consuming you as a bus to deliver you right where he wants you to be for his glory. And you never saw it coming. Some of you are in Whale University right now. And you're going to graduate from Whale. Amen. In Jesus' name. He turned his face. That's the problem. I wonder if he hadn't have turned his face during that process if he had made it those three days and three nights. But I guess there were air pockets. Somewhere down there I could see him in my mind as he's barely able to breathe. And he's got seaweed all over him. And he's in a bad, bad place. And after three days of being in the belly of that fish, he spits him out at the port of Joppa, which was right there near the city of Nineveh. And the king had spies and guards who were watching that area like you wouldn't believe.

12:56 And when he spits him out, I want you to see the picture. It's like a fish surfaces, probably a whale. The water is spraying everywhere. And he comes up unusually close to the beach. He opens his mouth and he spits out the prophet. And he comes out. And by now, all of his clothes are gone. All of his hair is gone. He's pale. He's bleached. He looks incredibly scary. He's got seaweed like he's a seaweed creature from the lagoon. He gets out. He's balled up on some rocks and he's shivering and shaking and he's gasping and he can't believe he's still alive. And one of those guards sees this whole thing and thousands of people that are working at the port there see it. They're in shock and he takes off running and he says to the king, king, there's a new prophet in town. They sent another one to get us to repent from our idols. And the king, I could see him in my mind, say, sharpen the knives, get the axes out. This is going to be a good celebration. We'll have a special feast. No, sir, you don't understand. You don't understand this one's different.

14:25 He showed up and a fish brought him. Now, why does that matter? Because the number one deity, this is not a debate. This is not a question. This is a fact. The number one deity that they worshiped was a God called Dagon. He's first introduced to us in 1 Samuel chapter 5 or 6. And it's where they brought the Ark of the Covenant into the temple. And they put the Ark of the Covenant beside a statue of Dagon. And Dagon is a half fish, a half man God. So do you understand this is their God? This is the one who they worship. And they've never listened to a preacher before they cut their tongues out. They've never listened to a prophet before they skinned them alive, cut their head off, and put their head in the wall.

15:22 But this time God said, I'm not going to let him come through a great lineage of genealogy and family that has been serving me and the kids that came up in the school of the prophets. I'm going to send a rebel. I'm going to send a weak man who was scared trying to run from the assignment. but I had a prepared whale or fish that swallowed him up. And so, Mr. King, this one, he came from a fish. Oh, really? Bring him in. The whole nation will hear him. What I'm preaching to you is simply this. You don't know what God's going to do because when they watch him crawl out of the belly of the God that they were worshiping.

16:18 and he said, that is not God. The God that you need to be worshiping is the God who's over your idol, God, and his name is Jehovah Yahweh. God knew that Jonah would run. God knew that Jonah would fear. God knew that Jonah would be in weakness. And God said, I'll take someone who's a failure. I'll take someone who's a rebel. I'll put him in the belly of a fish. And when he runs away and the fish spits him out, they're going to listen to what he's got to say. because of the way that he's been been and the direction that he's had to go and the toughness of where and the depths of the lowness of what he's been through. They wouldn't listen before, but they'll listen to this one because he's crawled out of the belly of their God.

17:19 When you wonder why God, why are you putting me through this? Why God? Because when you crawl out of that belly of addiction, other Ninevites are listening and watching and saying, if he got victory over it, I can get victory over it. When you crawl out of the belly of alcoholism, it's not just about you, but it could be about your children and your children's children. And I'm telling you, God says, don't waste what you've been through. You crawled out of the belly, some of you of divorce. And when you hated yourself and you were going through dark days and you cried, some of you have been in the belly of grief. Don't waste what you've been through. Only a person who's been in that belly and crawled out by the grace of God can turn around and say to somebody else, you can get out of it too.

18:16 In Jesus' name. Give them a big praise. Hallelujah. I want some former people who were messed up and addicted and bound, but you crawled out of the belly of that demon God. Hallelujah. And you now serve the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. His name is Jesus.

18:40 Lord, I love you. Hallelujah. And Jonah came out and he said, repent. and instead of pulling the knives out 120,000 people fell in the greatest crusade in human history and I mean I bet he thought man I'm really anointed today no it's just what you've been through he had no idea that God was using the whale as a means what he what he had been then the belly of was the, without it, he would have never reached the whole city and they would have certainly been, they would have perished.

19:22 Can I tell you what Jesus did? Hallelujah. He's our Jonah. He said, just as Jonah, when they came to him and said, preach a sermon and show us a miracle, come on, do a miracle. He said, the only sign I'll show you is the sign of the fish. Hallelujah. As Jonah was in the belly of a fish for three days and three nights, I'm going to go to the cross. I'm going to carry the sins. I'll be the sacrificial death that Jonah was when they threw him over and they had peace on the boat as soon as they threw him over and sacrificed him. As soon as you accept Jesus Christ, your rocking boat will smooth out and God will give you peace. And you're about to hear that up here. people need peace. They need peace in their home, peace in their mind, peace in their relationships, peace in their marriage, peace in their family.

20:22 He's the Prince of Peace. And when you look to Him as your sacrifice, He brings peace that passes all human understanding. you can come out of your failures. You can come out of what swallowed you up. You can come out of your confusion. God used him crawling out of the belly of the fish. You don't have to come from a long line, a blessing. God can use what you crawled out of. Hallelujah. Don't waste what you've been through. if you were abused when you were eight years old. and you somehow by the grace of God have crawled out of that hell, that suicidal tendency, that dark, dark depression, you crawled out of it.

21:24 Just remember there's probably an eight-year-old Ninevite, little girl sitting on a couch going through the same abuse. and when you share your testimony with someone, suddenly life comes to that little precious girl that says there is a God who cares about me and what I've been through. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. God just needs a Jonah.

21:57 And some of you are saying, how could God use this? God, if you love me, why am I going through this? I'm telling you why. You came out of the fish to show somebody else they can come out to. Turn to somebody and say, I came out. of the fish and the depths of sin, and you can too.

22:30 Where's my music? Where's my baptizing people? What are y'all doing? Hallelujah. I did it with one minute to spare. They had no faith in me. None. No faith. They did not. They thought they could go. They could eat a search, and now all the singers have candy in their mouth. we're about to give the devil a black eye. We're about, the devil needs to get his handkerchief out because the only one who's going to cry at the funeral, and that's what it is, it's a burial. When they go down, it's the old person dead, and when they come up, it's a new life, a new beginning, a new soul. Hallelujah. So to God be the glory. What's your name?

23:29 Crystal. Crystal? Yeah. Why are you doing this? Because, Lord, have mercy. Did Jesus save you? Yeah, he did. Did you get saved here? I didn't. On November 17th, I tried to die. I tried to commit suicide. And I called out to God and I asked him, please, Lord, if you just let me live, I'll live for you. And I don't know where I was or what I was doing, but I know I've seen a bright light and a beautiful place. I've never seen before, and I've seen Jesus. Were you religious? I wasn't. I never really knew God. You know, I'm in new beginnings, you know, and this is my... So you were not religious? Were you raised by religious... Like I knew about God, and I knew that there was somebody. You know, when I was 18, I had a stillborn, and I turned from God for 20 years. You know, last year I tried to commit suicide, and it was just the worst time in my life. You know, and I told him, I said, if you just let me live, I swear I'll give my life to you. And he told me it wasn't a dream.

24:27 I seen him. He said, if you just live for me, I'll let you. It's not your time. I'll let you live. You just got to honor me. And so I did. And I went to jail and I filled out for my application for New Beginnings. And I got accepted February 17th. I gave my life to God, my first day at New Beginnings. For God be the glory. You're a miracle. I'm touching a miracle. You crawled out of the fish, the belly of the fish. Yes, sir, I did. And I just want anybody to know that, you know, where I was, they don't have to stay there. That they can come out and they can get out of that belly and they can be here. And you got peace. And I have a joy that I have never known. To God be the glory. I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ. Everybody shout with the angels in heaven. That's powerful.

25:19 I know you. Good to see you. You're Carlos. Yes, sir. How are you? Yeah. I met you the other Sunday, about three weeks ago. So you got a bunch of fans out there. I do. I do. Thanks. So what did the Lord, how did you end up here? Tell your brief story. Well, I found God in prison. Well, He found me. I was real into the gangs Drugs Always angry about everything I've lost You know And honestly It almost got me killed But I guess I guess something Something happened Because I was supposed to I got hit in the artery In the throat With gunfire With yeah they stabbed me they stabbed me in prison but um thank god and you know i'm still alive and and honestly i met kendrick and that's how i got connected to you so kendrick is over our prison ministry and so they started coming what what prison was it can you say it was phillips phillips state so they're screaming right now phillips state and i love that it is beautiful You should see, and they're growing.

26:45 The services are growing. It shocks me how many are coming. And you have a unique perspective. So you were there, what, four weeks ago, five weeks ago? How long have you been out? Maybe longer? I don't know. No, no, no. I've been out. I got out December 12th. Okay. I got out December 12th. But you started going in there. In there, in there. And it was like perfect timing because like I needed to hear. and it was crazy. I'm not going to lie to you. Every time I watched you, you spoke of something that I was literally going through. I don't know if Kendrick even remembers me telling him, is somebody calling you, telling you what DVD to bring or something? Because this is crazy, you know? But I just, I don't know. I'm thankful.

27:39 I'm thankful to be alive. I'm thankful to be here with him, with you. and this is the first. Anything else you want to say? What would you say to all the prisoners? I want to say that, you know, I was depressed. I was in the gangs. I was in all of the above. And you just got to give it up. Give it to him. He'll take it away. He'll take the anger away, everything.

28:12 There's nothing wrong with coming to church. There's nothing wrong getting in the water. I just had a friend tell me a good thing. He said, maybe let him know, get out and get in. You know, get out of there and get in the water right here. And so... Lord, I thank you for this miracle, and I baptize him in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. My God, my God, my God, my God. Hallelujah! Praise the mighty name of Jesus. Oh, he's a soldier for the Lord now. Praise God, praise God. What's your name, son? Spencer Green. Spencer Green. Spencer. This is his father's death. Oh, OK. All right.

29:04 So this is so interesting. You want to tell this? Yeah. So I've been in the depths of depression and family violence, child abandonment, child abuse. and child abuse, and I was introduced to a family at the age of six.

29:28 And I was kind of already torn up, but they tried their best to guide me to Christ. They were really the ones who planned the seed of God in me. And I kind of just went downhill after I was entered into the household and ended up going to prison. I've done almost, I guess about 12 or 13 years in prison. And when I got out, my drug addiction spiraled out of control.

29:57 My self-harm spiraled out of control. But God was still guiding me, just working behind the scenes. And I ended up going to a ministry called Made for More Ministries. It's been such a game changer, man. I've been able to become a better father for my daughters. I got four beautiful daughters. and I think my biggest motivation of doing this and giving my surrender my life to Christ was because I wanted to be a better example to them.

30:31 They've seen so much. And yeah, man, let's go Jesus. And the tattoo on this side says dope boy. Are you still the dope boy? No, no, no. I'm a dope disciple though. Come on! Oh! Oh!

30:56 Come on! I'm going to get me a t-shirt. I'm a dope disciple. That's powerful. We didn't plan that. That was quick. You're on it. That's amazing. You might have to dip me twice.

31:16 I hear you. I'll hold you extra long. How about that? You're doing good. And your father, so your father is hearing impaired. Okay, so our team, Dustin Welburn and Daniel, I'm sorry, Daniel, where's Daniel at? See here. Daniel and the team, our team, invented an app that instantly in every language of the world, while real time, while I'm speaking, it translates in any language. And what language? Yeah. So there's his dad. His dad didn't have a church.

32:09 He started coming. he gets the app, he sits there, and he's hearing every word that I'm saying right now that he... Oh, come on, somebody. We have in Spartanburg... Listen to this. We have it... Sit down, y'all taking up time. So we have in Spartanburg... Who was telling me this story? How many are in Spartanburg. Come here, run, run, run, Dustin, hurry. Give them, not Dustin, Daniel, give them, tell them about Spartanburg. There's a group of Russian-speaking people in Spartanburg that are now getting it fed to them in real time and hearing the word every day and every Sunday. It's awesome. Was it 200? It's a group, I think, 40 or 50. 40 or 50. I knew I'd heard a number. 40 or 50 that are going to the church and they're sitting there and they're they're hearing me preach in English but they're getting the instant translation right there live just like the live experience and people can get this at home too how about that that's a miracle in every language You ready?

33:26 I'm proud of you. The best is yet to come. I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Bless Him and keep Him. Anoint Him and use Him, God, in Jesus' mighty name. Hallelujah. Praise the Lord. I'm going to put him and the other guy on my personal security. Amen.

33:53 Carlos. God bless you. Are you a gang member? It is. Perteneces a alguna... Oh, I thought she had... I'm sorry. Just skip that. Alguna pandilla. I didn't know if you were a packing grandma or something. You never know. Free chapel is a dicey place. Amen. We're glad you're here. What's your name? Lucy. Lucy, and how did you come to Free Chapel? She's been coming about a year and a half. Did somebody invite you? My daughter invited me to church. And I thank God for having me brought to church. Wonderful. And why are you doing this this morning? and why you are baptized in this morning? Well, one time, in October, he was talking about the spirit of the carpenter and that day I felt that the Holy Spirit came in me and I said, today is the day.

34:56 And I said to my daughter, when we leave here, I have to baptized because I felt the Holy Spirit in me and God called me and I wanted to do it. And that's why I'm doing it. All right. It was back to October. You were preaching about, I think, the spirit of the carpenter. And she felt that the Holy Spirit touched her life, and she decided that that day that she need to be baptized and receive Christ.

35:38 She just wants to be born again in the Spirit, and she wants all the enemies, the enemy attacks on her family to be gone forever. In the name of Jesus, Lord, we thank you for this miracle. Thank you, and I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. And bless her family. Bless her family. Bless her family in Jesus' name. Good morning. What's your name? Gloria. Gloria, we're glad that you're here. What does Jesus mean to you? ¿Qué significa Jesús para ti? Que Jesús es mi salvación. Y yo sé que por él nosotros no somos nada en este mundo. I know that Jesus is my Savior, and without him we are nothing in this world.

36:31 Yes, and how long have you been coming to the church? ¿Por cuánto tiempo estás viniendo aquí a Free Chapel? Hace apenas seis meses. Six months. I hope that you feel loved, cherished and valued here. Espero que te sientas apreciada, amada y valorada aquí en este lugar. Sí, yo vine a la iglesia por medio de una amiga, Lulu, que la quiero como una mi hermana. I've had difficult situations with my children and with my family.

37:30 So many things have been happening in her life. Her parents got sick last year. Her daughter, she is in depression. But she's been the hand of God working in her life and her family life too. Through your messages, always encourage her to keep going because she knows God has miracles in store for her. Gloria, faith can move a mountain.

38:20 Jesus said, if you have faith, you can move those mountains that you're facing. hold on to God, He'll never give up on you. I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Bless the Lord in Jesus' mighty name. Praise the Lord. Hallelujah. Praise the mighty name of Jesus. Praise God. Good morning. Good morning. What's your name? Justin Gatch. Justin, how long have you been coming to the church? Since January. Good. What made you come in January? I met a couple at a Longhorn's. We got in the Word talking about Scripture. This is where they came to church, and I figured I'd give it a try. At Longhorn's? Uh-huh. The restaurant? Yep. Yeah, we got talking about the Word, and they had nothing but good things to say about this place.

39:14 I figured I'd come see what it was about. Well, good. And so why are you being baptized today? What's happened since you've been here? Well, this is an outward representation of what's happened to Edward Lee. I came, I was a lifelong Christian, grew up knowing God, and I had my first encounter with the Holy Spirit in 2010. And things happened quickly. God used me in a lot of ways and, you know, to really walk by the fruits of the Spirit and experience all that. and I backtracked. It started with, you know, hey, come work one night at this club doing security. I turned it into more than 60 bars and clubs and traveling the world with people that I was working for. I got involved in a lot of business that I shouldn't have, around a lot of people that I shouldn't have, you know, and I experienced the worst of things and the best of things. And, you know, even though I took my focus off God, I'm thankful He never took His focus off me.

40:11 And, um, so were you like a bouncer? What were you? Yeah, I was, uh, I was a bouncer doing club security. And then I had about a dozen clients that I was traveling around with doing personal security. And a lot of them were involved in unconventional ways of making money and stuff that I met in the nightlife. And I just got caught up in stuff that I shouldn't have. And thankfully God stayed with me through it all. You know, I've witnessed a lot of things and, And, you know, it's just I had a lot of guilt. And so I dropped it all. You know, just God really weighed heavy on me. I was convicted of a lot of things. And so I quit my job. I left my career. I cut ties with my clients. I got out from under who I needed to get out from under of. And this is the one-year anniversary, my last fight. Quit training, quit working out. Gave all my time to getting in Scripture, getting rooted in the Word and praying and fasting. And I'm never going back to it, you know.

41:06 And so now I'm just going to live every day for God. I'm going to live according to His will and not my own. And, you know, I just want to minister and do good for people, you know, make up for all that lost time. That's truly amazing to me. And he ends up talking about Jesus at Longhorns. And here he is being baptized at church. Only God. God's got His hand on you. And stay hungry. And He'll satisfy you with good things. I bless you in the name of Jesus. and I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Praise the Lord.

41:43 Don't you appreciate men? God is doing something among the men. It's powerful. What's your name? T.J. And how long have you been at the church? 16 years. Good. And why are you doing this now? Thanking God for the trials and tribulations. He brought me and my wife and five kids through and given us miracles. I just want to give it back to him. Praise the Lord. You want to say anything else? No, not really. You said it all. You gave him all the praise and all the glory. And I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Bless him, Lord. Use him, Lord. Bless his family. Praise the Lord. How did y'all find Free Chapel?

42:33 I think it was church. No, my uncle told me about you. And then we started coming 16 years ago. It's been a long time. All of my kids grew up in the children ministry. And so we've been here for a while. And now, you know, we're ready to commit and give our life, you know, to Christ. I've always been raised in a church. So I know His Word. I know His will. And I think that, you know, it's just time for me and my family to do what's right. So are all of you getting baptized here? Amazing. Five of my kids. My Lord.

43:10 I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Bless them, Lord, in Jesus' name. Powerful. How about that? This is awesome. What are you acting like that for? It ain't that cold. It's cold.

43:32 Well, the river's colder. Amen. Now, you were raised in the church, been in the church. Do you know Jesus as your own personal Savior? Yes, sir. What's he mean to you? Everything. I was close to the church. When I got older, I turned away from God and started hanging around with the wrong crowd. And then I realized that God is my everything. And now realizing when I get older and older, God is what I need in my life. And the people, the entertainment, the industry, all of that, it's not worth it. So having Jesus and God in your life is going to keep you going. He's got the plan for your future, too. Yeah, he do. And that's what I realized. Going to church with my grandma, and she's a preacher and everything. And you didn't have a chance.

44:27 Yeah. Yeah, I realized. And then other people telling me, I didn't even know. I thought my grandma was talking to them about my business. But every time pastors would tell them, God got something in your life, you're going to be something different. You got the spirit of David in your life. And I never understood until now. Praise the Lord. there's no doubt about it he's marking you for his purpose God I thank you for this young man thank you for his love for you I baptize you in the name of the Father the Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit bless him Lord praise the Lord I don't know now that's your brother and is it all boys now one sister so four boys and one sister and y'all look close in age What's your... I'm 18. He's 21, and he's 17.

45:19 And why are you doing this? Did you have to do it? Did they make you tell the truth? No. I didn't have to do it. I've just been around the wrong crowd. I lived a lustful life, so I just want to recommit my life to God. Powerful. Thank you for being a witness for the Lord. I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Bless Him and keep Him. Keep Him, Lord, in Jesus' mighty name. Praise the Lord.

45:47 Good morning. So what's it like being in a family that all of them are getting baptized? What are you thinking? It feels great. You're not ashamed? You're not embarrassed? No, not at all. So what's Jesus mean to you? Do you love him? I love him. He means everything to me. Upon your profession of faith, I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Blessed Lord. In Jesus' name. This is awesome. So do you and your brothers ever fight? Sometimes. I just wanted to make sure he's telling the truth. Amen. So what's it like growing up in a family that loves the Lord? It's a good thing, isn't it? Yeah, it's good. You want to say anything else?

46:42 I love God, and I just want to recommit my life to Him. And yeah. You nailed it. You nailed it. I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Shout over these boys. That's all. Suns of thunder in Jesus' name. Suns of thunder. And here comes the queen of the house. What's your name? Amaya. Amaya, this is sweet. So you have to put up with all those boys, but on the other side, if anybody ever messes with you, they're in deep, deep trouble. You feel that protection? Yeah. What does Jesus mean to you? He's like in faith in me. Helps me a lot with my sports. I'm very grateful for him.

47:36 So what sports do you play? I do gymnastics. And so when you are about to do a set or whatever competition, you actually ask the Lord to help you? Yeah. You pray about it. Yeah. So sweet. I love that. I love that. Because He does care. He cares about every detail of your life. And He loves you. And I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Bless our Lord. Jesus name. That's powerful. Y'all need to clap louder for the one daughter. Y'all might need to have three or four more.

48:23 What's your name? My name's Shannon Ward. And how long you been at the church? I've been coming here about seven months now. I'm a good landing. Oh, great. Yes, yes. We love that ministry. So you got in the program, and has God made a difference in your life? Yes, sir, he has. He's made a big change in my life. I turned my life back over to him. I had a bad car wreck, and he sat me down, pushed my head against the headrest, and cut off my ear, and I heard the word listen. So I've been listening ever since. and you're headed in the right direction now so i hope so you definitely are i love that that's powerful and i baptize you in the name of the father the son jesus christ and the holy spirit bless him lord thank you give him the ears to hear in jesus name amazing Hello.

49:29 Good morning. What's your name? What do you call me? Kathy Delgado. And what would you like to say about what Jesus means to you? What would you like to say about what Jesus means to you? Mucho. He's done a lot in my life. I got sick with COVID and I thought I was going to go with the Lord, but he brought me back. Now I'm healed and I know that I have a purpose in this world. Yes. And how long have you been at the church? Hace cuánto estás viniendo a la iglesia? Hace ocho meses. Eight months. Eight months. And did someone invite you or did you just decide to come? Alguien te invitó o simplemente decidiste venir? Mi hija. Her daughter invited her.

50:22 Okay, wonderful. So you followed your daughter. beautiful I baptize you in the name of the father the son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit bless her Lord Jesus name husband great hello sir what's up bless you what's your name Roberto and how how has Jesus changed your life como Jesús ha cambiado tu vida Everything. Everything. Everything, yes. When you started coming to the church, were you already in church somewhere or did you just start coming here? When you started coming to the church, did you have already visited another church before? Yes. Or was it the first time? Many years ago, I visited the church in my country. Here, in this church.

51:15 So I've been going to the church for a long time. Basically all my life. But here in the United States, the first one, Preachapel. And so every week, do you listen through the headphones? Usas interpretación todas las semanas para escuchar el mensaje aquí? Yes. And so thank you to that ministry of interpreters that make that ministry happen. To God be the glory. This is a life. This is a life. This is what it's all about. And I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Bless this family, Lord. Bless this home in Jesus' mighty name. God bless you. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. I love that. Good morning. Hey. What's your name? Kimberly. Kimberly. And where are you from? New beginnings.

52:07 New beginnings. New beginnings. So how long you been in there? Two months now. Good. And so you've been coming to church with them. and you've been having church with them because you don't have any choice. And I love it. I love every minute of it there. It's been a blessing and I've just literally been spit out of the whale for 10 years. I was captive in addiction of drugs and alcohol and sexual immorality. And prayer does work. My four children, who I haven't seen all together in years or a year to date. So family you haven't seen in years? Yes, all four of them together. So it's blessing. But because addiction devastates families. At some point, people just for their own heart and health say, I cannot. I just cannot.

52:58 I love, but I'll have to love from a distance. And yet there's that God that restores the broken pieces. Every piece of it has been brought back and restoring relationships. And it's a beginning. every, despise not this day of small beginnings, just one reconnection, one phone call. When in the last service, we had a miracle testimony and the person just made a phone call afterwards, after getting saved right here in this altar. And God linked them back up to, I think it was the father or some, after six years of not speaking, God can do miracles in the day that live. We're proud of you. He answers prayers and I'm so thankful. I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Hallelujah. To God be the glory.

53:54 Good morning. Good morning. What's your name? My name's Chase. Chase, why are you doing this? I grew up in the church. My families love Jesus forever. I'm doing this because on the 11th of this year, I was saved from the addiction of drugs and alcohol. And on the 15th, Jesus entered my heart. It's incredible. And you're doing good? Yeah, things are great. Life's so much sweeter with Jesus than without Him.

54:29 And you put it right. It is a better, sweeter life with Jesus. And He makes you love people. He makes you care. Yeah, exactly. I know my grandfather, Granddaddy Bryant, Pastor Dean Bryant's looking down on me right now. I came to your church when I was six years old and turned away from Free Chapel and God and started feeding into sins of the flesh and drugs and addiction in high school. and it's just amazing how he orchestrated my life back to here and put me in Made for More Ministries. My cousin kind of brought me back. Made for more ministries. Yeah, and it's just been amazing to see how he orchestrated everything for me to come back home. My mother would have this prayer that she left me at the foot of the cross every morning. And, you know, even through all of that time, Jesus was still faithful to me and I'll never go another day not being faithful to him until he brings me home beautiful well said I baptize you in the name of the Father the Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit praise the Lord praise the Lord Wow hallelujah to God be the glory give us your name please Melina Palmer and why are you doing this this morning?

55:54 So let's see. I started coming here when I was in kids' pack, I think, and then I started coming more consistently in 2023, and I feel like I just wanted, I knew people who I could just see like the light of Jesus through, and I was like, I want to be like that, and so I really started focusing on my faith with God and just my perspective on life changed. my perspective on, you know, my brother passed away in 2023, and I just, you know, started talking to God, and it really helped me deal with that, and being able to spread God's Word to other people was just the best feeling, and bringing everyone to church, and so I was like, I just want to do that for the rest of my life, and give my life to God. That is amazing. That is beautiful. What a, What a powerful testimony.

56:47 Anything else? I don't think so. I mean, other than, you know, if you're going through a loss of someone, instead of turning away from God, I think you should turn towards God because He's going to help you through it. And it's just going to be a much better life for you. And living for God is just the best thing. So in my sermon, I specifically wrote the word grief, that you can come out of that belly of grief. And when people see you get out of it, and they're watching right now, somebody's watching right now, and they're bitter, they're bitter. And you don't get an answer always to everything in life. But you don't seem bitter. No, not at all. God's given you the peace. I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

57:45 Praise the Lord. We're going to baptize two more. Two more. One, two, maybe three. Amen. Praise the Lord. God bless you. What's your name? Michaela Jones. How old are you? 18. 18. Why are you doing this? It's a public declaration of what Jesus has done in my life. What's he done? Well, I grew up in church, got saved very young, and it's more of what he's protected me from in my life. I don't have a crazy story of how I was in the belly of a huge beast, but that's my testimony is the godly heritage that he's allowed me to live in. My family has been so blessed, I'm just so thankful. Oh, we need to do a standing ovation on that one. That's the greatest testimony.

58:38 That is the greatest testimony I've ever heard. That's it. Thank you. Sit down. Are your parents here? My family's over there. Where are they at? Wave at me, family. Wow. What a great testimony. Anything else? No, just because you haven't been through a whole lot, that doesn't mean you should compare your testimony to everybody else. That is your testimony. It's an even greater testimony that you serve the Lord in the days of youth. And it'll go well with you. It'll go well with you. You watch. It'll go well with you. I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. I tell you, I love that. That's a good one. That is so, so powerful.

59:33 God bless you. Good morning. What's your name? Tiffany. Why are you doing this? How long have you been in the church? Since December. The Holy Spirit led me here. Good. My mom passed away about two years ago, and I turned to alcohol and drugs. and I'm spiraled out of control and I was at my lowest point in my life. I was sleeping in my car at one time and, you know, I heard God tell me, I said, why am I going through this? And He said, I'm making you stronger. And I never understood it, so I went, got helped in October and I'm over five months sober.

1:00:18 And I won't, anybody, People need to know that if there's so much joy, happiness, and peace, if you accept Jesus Christ, I have never felt the happiness of peace. And I give all the glory to Him. It's not me. It's all Him. You've got to want to. And the fear of coming off of drugs and alcohol seems so large. But let me tell you something. It's nothing. It is absolutely nothing compared to what you can receive from God. And it is so good. and I would never ever want anything else but God now in my life. And I owe him this. And I love him. See, that's salvation. That's real salvation. Jesus is enough. And out of him comes everything. When you get that heart, when you get a heart like you've got for God, then every door opens.

1:01:14 Everything God, not that you don't have problems, not that you don't have challenges, not that you don't go through trials and tribulations and get swallowed up with problems. But when your heart is right, you have a right heart, God will order your steps and he'll bless your life and it'll be greater than you can even imagine. And one more thing, I just want to thank you. I have listened to you. I listened to you ever since I've been out of rehab every single day. The Holy Spirit, I get so much out of your messages And I'm so grateful for this ministry and everybody. And I owe it all to God. Thank you. I love that. Thank you so much. I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.

1:02:05 Thank you, Jesus. Good morning. What's your name? Samantha. Samantha. And are you with New Beginnings? Yes, sir. They're excellent. So what's the Lord done for you since you've been in there? He's brought me from bondage, and He's delivered me, and He set me free. How long have you been in the program? For six months on the 6th. He's doing work, isn't He? Yes, sir. To God be the glory. I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Bless her, Lord. Thank you. Thank you, Jesus. May God be the Lord. I really want to say thank you for joining us this week. If you haven't already, make sure you click on the subscription button and leave us a review. It helps this podcast reach even more people when you comment, when you give us your feedback.

1:03:08 For more messages and inspirational materials, download the Jensen Franklin app. Or you can head over to jensenfranklin.org. I want to thank all of you who give generously to help us produce weekly content like this to reach the world with the message of Jesus. God bless you and we'll see you next time.