I Can’t Believe They Played Me

0:00 Brace yourself and buckle up. You are about to hear a life-changing, history-making, world-defining message from the New Birth Podcast. Tell everybody you know, things will never be the same. Next Sunday, we're beginning a new series called Make It Make Sense. Make It Make Sense. Look at the person beside you. Tell them, you got to make it make sense to me.

0:31 It is amazing how the church has become so derelict in financial literacy from a biblical perspective. What is amazing is Jesus talks more about money than he does about singing, more about money than he does about clapping and how it is that we need to be stewards of what it is that God has entrusted us with. The words of Dr. King, we've got some dark and difficult days ahead of us financially. We've got to figure out how it is that we're going to plot and plan our economic future in terms of investments, in terms of saving, in terms of delayed gratification. Amen. And so over the next six weeks, I'm going to be walking you through that incredible series. I want you to be a part of it. I need your family to be a part of it.

1:25 How many of you need God to multiply what you have? How many of you need God to multiply what it is that you have? If you have your Bibles, would you join me in Matthew 26? I was just letting you sit down for a minute. Amen. The lady's got heels on. I was trying to give you a break. Amen. Amen. Matthew 26. Matthew 26.

1:58 Verse 21 and 22, Matthew 26, verse 21 and 22. Once you have found it, once you say, I got it. Amen. Let's read it together with uplifted voices. And while they were eating, he said, truly I tell you, one of you will betray me. Verse 22, they were very sad. Amen. Let's go back to verse 21. Media, if you'll rewind it for me. Verse 21, Matthew 26, verse 21. Let's read it aloud together. And while they were eating, He said, truly I tell you, why you will betray me.

2:57 Amen. You may be seated in the presence of the Lord. While they were eating, Jesus said to the disciples, one of y'all are going to betray me. I want to preach today using as a subject, I can't believe they tried to play me.

3:22 look at the person beside to tell him i can preach this sermon i can i can't believe They tried to play me. Amen. The Roman emperor and philosopher Marcus Aurelius is considered one of the five best rulers of his time. And he was betrayed by his most trusted general. It all went down in 175 A.D. at the hand of a gentleman by the name of Avidius Cassius. Once he was uncovered, the Senate demanded revenge and urged the emperor, Marcus Aurelius, to eliminate his betrayer's entire family.

4:28 Erase his name and leave nothing for his legacy. Aurelius shocked them all when he stood before the Roman Senate and said, the best revenge, hear this new birth, the best revenge is to not become like your enemy. No rage, no venom, just self-discipline and focus. We all should aspire to reside in such a mindset, but I got to be honest with you, it's hard not wanting to get your lick back. Betrayal is beyond a bitter pill. It's more like a colonoscopy.

5:28 Because it pulls everything out of you. From trust to self-confidence. Betrayal assaults expectations and deals a blow without ever using a fist. Betrayal is hyperactive because it doesn't stay in one space Betrayal floats from friendships To romantic partnerships To employment environments To family dynamics To even sanctuary small groups I don't care who you are being betrayed will affect your emotional and mental well-being y'all sitting there looking at me like you ain't never been betrayed before because of betrayal you'll lose sleep because of betrayal it's hard to eat when you've been betrayed you rehearse conversation trying to figure out where did i miss the signs you ever been betrayed you're reviewing text messages you analyzing subliminal posts on social media you bounce the facts off of the remaining friends you got left y'all better keep it 100 if you've been betrayed you will plot revenge in your head and then try to figure out whether you're gonna get caught or not.

7:09 if you really save if you really save there's only 12 people in the room if you really say you've after you've been betrayed you pray People who don't understand the damage of betrayal never knew the value of loyalty. You can be deceived by a stranger, but betrayal is reserved for those who have the benefit of the intimacy of proximity.

7:54 If you were to make a list of Hall of Fame betrayers, Judas would be on the top of the list. He wasn't merely a disciple, but he held the only office amongst the group of the disciples. He was the treasurer and they never had an election. He oversaw the resources, held the donations, managed the money. In other words, Judas had a corporate disciples credit card. he was a signature on the checks at the bank held the key to the lock box and still had the nerve to sell out his master for money when he was holding all of it he was giving everything so why steal it wasn't out of need it was out of greed betrayal hurts because the person who betrayed you didn't even have to.

9:08 You are laying next to me and in sleep with somebody else. if you insist you laying next to me sleeping with somebody else I trained you and now you trying to replace me I confided my secrets to you and you shared them with those who are using it against me. I loaned you my car and now I need a ride. You used to turn to me and now you're trying to turn people against me. It is not a slap in my face.

10:04 It's like you are spitting in my face. But I feel bad for all of the people that betrayed you because what they don't understand, God don't play about me. You better be careful how you treat me. Can I go a step further? You better be careful how you use my name. You better be careful what you say about me. You better be careful about spreading rumors you know ain't true. God got a label written across my chest. Touch not my anointed and do my servant no harm. I think sometimes there is an advantage on popular opinion. There may be an advantage to being stabbed in the back.

11:06 The advantage of being stabbed in the back is I don't have to see who did it. to be stabbed in the chest is more painful because I saw you coming, but I never recognized the weapon that was in your hand. Some of y'all ain't never been betrayed by your own sister, by your own former best friend. Y'all ain't saying nothing. For somebody who you would have given your whole life to and they took the breath out of your chest, You had to sit down for a minute. Your whole body was shaking. You were trying to figure out, do I blow up that whole spot? Do I kick tables over? Do I keep it to myself? I was seizing mad.

11:57 I don't know how Jesus was able to keep it together at the dinner table. He's sitting at dinner with his whole staff. There's 12 of them. while they're in the first course of the meal, Jesus does an unseemly icebreaker and says, one of y'all is going to betray me.

12:23 Being omniscient, he already knew who it was and was trying to give him a chance to turn himself in. Come on, y'all. Your discernment is high. and sometimes we turn our discernment off when the Holy Ghost shows us who's jealous, who's insecure, who's threatened but we keep them at our table anyway even when God tried to show us signs. He says it to the 12 of them. He says, one of y'all are going to betray me. And what is both disheartening and unsettling, watch this. He says it to the 12 of them. And what is disheartening and unsettling is none of the 12 said, I wouldn't do it.

13:20 The 12 of them said, is it me? because all 12 of them knew they carried the recessive gene of betrayal. Come on, I can't hear nobody in here. This is the season of your life. You got to inspect who's in your circle. Watch the people in your circle who don't know how to celebrate your good news. Look out. that as soon as you talk about what's happening in your life, they're going to try to up their story over your, be careful of the people who go quiet when you're talking about the doors that are opening and the assignment that God has given to your life. The Bible says rejoice with those that rejoice.

14:17 Look at the person beside you and tell them this is going to be the best month this year. God gonna do for me what eyes haven't seen what ears haven't heard this is the month I'm gonna be the head and not the tail I'm gonna be above and not beneath I'm gonna be the lender and not the bar now if they don't shout on your testimony you better watch them they are a betrayer because they are not equipped for your next level And Jesus, in that moment, doesn't pull out his whip, doesn't even kick over the dinner table.

15:05 He stays there and finishes the meal. My wife gets mad at me all the time and asks, how you still speak to them? why you haven't blocked them yet why do you respond to their texts and i thought about it and it came to me i don't know how god hadn't blocked me yet I can't hear, I don't know why God's still speaking to me. I don't pray like I should. I don't fast like I should. I'm not in the word like I should. I'm not tithing like I should. But every time I turn around, he keeps on making a way for me. I know you sitting there acting like you deserve to be blessed.

16:05 But if there's anybody that knows, he looks beyond all of my fault. Hallelujah. Be seated. If you were not you, if you were not you, if you were not you, you wouldn't like you either. People look at all of the grimy, low-down, trifling stuff you've done, and you still got favor on your life and you can't even explain why God keeps blessing you the way that he does, favor ain't fair, baby. Get over it. I am one of God's favorites and he keeps on blessing me.

16:59 What Jesus does next is a master class. He knows that one of them are getting ready to betray him. If it was me, it's me. I'm going to die for you in three days. If it was me, right there on the spot, those of y'all from the hood on sight it's going down i'm telling you on sight judas would have got 40 lashes right there but i want you to see what jesus does he does not issue 40 lashes watch what jesus does Jesus washes his feet.

17:58 Don't forget Matthew 10 and 14. It says, when you go somewhere and they don't receive you, shake the dust off of your feet. and keep moving. In Asian culture, in Asian culture, when you go to somebody's house, you immediately take your shoes off. It is a sign of respect and you are not tracking what you walked through into their space.

18:33 One of the greatest miracles that we omit and overlook is the crossing of the Red Sea. is that we talk about the parting when Moses lifted up his staff. How about what we have forgotten conveniently is the Bible says they walked across on dry ground. Pastor, why is that the miracle? It's the miracle because even if he had pushed the water aside, here it is, the base should have still been muddied. But he made sure that the ground was dry. Why? So that they would not leave footprints from their past when they walked into their future. I can't hear nobody. Look at your neighbor and say, check your shoes. What you getting ready to walk into is not going to remind you of what you walked out of. The devil thought he had me, but I Don't track the dust of past betrayal into present circumstances.

19:45 Y'all didn't hear what I just said. Don't track the dust of past betrayal in the present circumstance. There are still good people in the world. don't punish people for other people's trespasses i came to tell somebody in here whatever your enemies conspired and connived to do if you can hear my voice you have survived it you stepped out of some stuff that would have killed some other people but now you get ready to start with the big dog. You got to let them know that this ain't my first rodeo. Do you know how many people don't like me? Do you know how many people are jealous of me? Do you know how many people have lied on my name? But I'm still here by the grace of God.

20:42 hallelujah you you get ready to step into something that's gonna change your life be seated please i said you get ready to step into something the lord said to joshua every place that the soul of your feet shall tread upon i'm getting ready to give unto you i don't know whether you like your neighbor but you sat there look at your neighbor tell them you get ready to step into something you get ready to step into the biggest business deal so you get ready to step into an opportunity that you didn't even know existed you get ready to step on the stages they tried to block you from you get ready to step into environments that nobody in your family ever occupied hallelujah hallelujah don't don't don't even turn to your neighbor say to yourself i'm getting ready to step into something hallelujah you may be seated hallelujah i feel glory after this i said i'm getting ready to step into something ain't no stopping us now we on the move i'm getting ready to step into something.

22:05 I'm going to step into something that's going to make a better life for my children. Come on, I can't hear nobody. I'm about to step into something. That all the years that I struggle, God is now going to make it up to me in a matter of months. I'm about to step into something. Dr. Jennifer Frey from the University of Utah coined an expression that I wanted you to have. Those of you who are online taking notes, I want you to write it down. It is called betrayal trauma.

22:45 Betrayal trauma, which is what happens when the people or institutions on which you depended on violated your trust. There are people who are sitting amongst you this morning who have been betrayed more times than they can shake a finger at. And somehow or another, it has adversely impacted them. Betrayed as a child.

23:13 Betrayed as a teenager. Betrayed in almost every relationship they've been in. You deal with betrayal trauma, you hear the signs and the echoes of betrayal trauma. All men are dogs. Betrayal trauma. That's why I don't hang out with no women.

23:35 Betrayal trauma. I'm just all by myself and I'm glad about it. Betrayal trauma. Everybody here as of late has gone through some level of betrayal. Nigeria. Nigerians are feeling betrayed because active visas have now been marked invalid and given no reason. Palestinians are being betrayed because the world is standing by as a genocide is happening in broad daylight and children are starving to death and nobody is saying anything. Students are being betrayed because they are being told that slavery is too uncomfortable even to be taught, that it ain't that bad, that we are just exaggerating. Well, if slavery wasn't that bad, y'all tried.

24:29 for 400 years you do it in the back of the bus let us segregate you and make you not be able to drink at a water fountain go in a restaurant apply try on call if it wasn't that bad y'all do it Target has betrayed us because for years they acted like they were friends to diversity. The American people are being betrayed because they were told that the old administration needed to be put out of office because of the price of eggs. And now nobody can afford chicken. It's a critical moment where everybody is dealing with betrayal and the trauma of betrayal that is hard for you to even watch the news, hard for you to even keep up with the algorithm of your social media.

25:29 But one thing that I hope you have convinced yourself of is that I am not going to betray myself. for so long you played yourself cheap and played yourself low and undervalued what you brought to the table that was yesterday but as of today i walk in the room like i own the joint come on i can't hear nobody i am not a spectator i am a resident i am not gonna dummy down nor am i gonna dim my light because you can't handle it. As a matter of fact, because I know you mad, I'm going to put them on high beam. I need some folk that are tired of having to hide your intelligence, your brilliance, your beauty, your savoir faire. Anybody in the room that know anybody who can't handle the full me, build a bridge and get over it because I refuse to betray Bye.

26:34 I can't betray myself. I can't betray myself. Come on, say it to yourself. I cannot betray myself. I got to be my best me at all times. I got to bring my full self into whatever it is that I am. I cannot betray myself. I'm unapologetically brilliant. I am unignorably beautiful. You cannot handle me like plain Jane. I am not running a mill. Only once in a lifetime will you ever encounter somebody as gifted as me. The pleasure is all yours just to be in my space, but I cannot betray myself. Hallelujah.

27:35 Talking to a friend of mine. Talking to a friend of mine who pastors in another state. And he said the children came to him because their mother has been reported and got complaints that she keeps her shouting on the train. You're scaring the kids.

27:58 Scaring the senior citizen. Because while the train is moving, she just breaks out in a shout. people are backing up, looking at her, trying to figure out how she's screaming like that on the train when it ain't no keyboard, ain't no organ, ain't no Miranda Curtis. Y'all ain't saying nothing.

28:20 And they said, Mama, we need you to stop shouting like that. It's okay at home. It's okay when you come to the church, but don't scream and shout like that while you're at church. And the mother said to her grown children, I got the shout. And they said, why mama? They said, you remember you took me a month ago to the doctor and the doctor told me that I had early onset dementia. And the grown children said, yes, mama, we remember that the doctor said that you had early onset dementia. She said, that means my memory is leaving. She said, that's right. So why are you shouting on the train? She said I'm shouting on the train because I want to shout every time I remember his name I can't hear nobody when I think of the goodness of Jesus and all he's done for me my soul cries out some of y'all ain't shouting cause you don't remember how God snacks you out of the clutches of hell you better remember Hallelujah.

29:38 Be seated please. Oh! Y'all don't remember one day when I was lost, he died on the cross and I know. Oh

30:02 Hallelujah Hallelujah Grab somebody by the hand And tell them I still remember When I almost lost my mind I still remember When nobody would help me I still remember When I had to count pennies just to eat I still remember When my credit card was declined, I still remember when my own family would help me. And so when I think of the goodness of Jesus and all he's done for me, my soul cries hallelujah. Hey, come on, give it to him. Jonathan said it this way.

30:57 With our backs Hello December Oh, man. Oh, man. Oh, man. Oh, man. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. You may be seated. Oh you may be seated what's wrong with y'all you thinking about what you've been through you thinking about how they left you for dead how they kicked you to the curb how you ended up in divorce court come on you ought to give him some glory Don't shout or let somebody play with your money Don't shout or let somebody mess over your heart Thanks Hallelujah You may be seated You may be seated Hallelujah Hallelujah Thine the glory Hallelujah Hallelujah!

32:37 Come on right there. Come on, clap that hand right where you are. Here's what I wanted to show you. You may be seated. What I wanted to show you is that Jesus was betrayed by a friend, but still blessed a stranger.

33:41 he was betrayed by your friend, but still blessed a stranger. While hanging on a cross, he turned to a thief and said, today you'll be with me in paradise. You know you are getting healed from betrayal when you can bless people even after other people tried to break you. come on hallelujah you can make the enemy big mad would you just touch three people around you and say bless you bless you bless you when you're going in bless you when you're coming out bless you when you lay down bless you when you work may your children be blessed may your dreams be blessed may your business be blessed in spite of what they did to me I still wanna see you blessed Give yourself grace And stop holding a grudge against yourself Because of somebody else's betrayal I'm going to say to you because you need to hear it out loud Just so your soul can resonate with it silently There's nothing wrong with you there's something dysfunctional with them how crazy must they be to risk losing such a good person as you come on I can't hear nobody you got a big heart come on I can't hear nobody you are mindful you're conscientious you are in fact a compassionate being You gonna play me I would have given you the shirt off of my back.

35:48 How to let you wear my shoes without ever having to walk a mile of mine. And yet my heart is fixed. My mind is read up. Those of you who are in this room and you've been traumatized by betrayal. from a spouse, from a significant other, from a sibling, from a childhood friend, from a co-worker. Here's a big one. From your own child.

36:25 I want you to lift up that hand. I want the grace of God to cover you so that you don't live in PTSD. I want God to perform open heart surgery. So you'll learn how to trust again. Learn how to love again. I feel a download from the Holy Spirit that I need to announce that you give yourself permission to be happy. you deserve to be loved to be honored to be revered to be respected you don't have to compromise your own dignity and self worth and self respect create in them a clean heart renew their spirit and I'm believing by faith that God is going to send people into the lives of those of you who have lifted hands who will model for you what loyalty looks like.

37:37 somebody who you can trust somebody who you can confide in somebody who you can be yourself around and I believe it to be so in Jesus name somebody clap your hands if you believe it to confirm what has been spoken over your life, wave that hand towards glory.

38:11 I was betrayed, but I'm still going to bounce back. Wave that hand. All things work together for good to those who love him and are called according to his purpose. Wave that hand and I'm talking to you. They meant it for evil.

38:35 God's getting ready to work it out for your good. I'm waiting for somebody to wake up on here. No weapon formed against you will be able to prosper. Judas' betrayal got him put on the cross, but it was the glory that got him back up again. I speak to every person with lifted hands. God said, September is your month for a bounce back. Come on, I can't hear nobody. I said, September is the month that you bounce back from every betrayal that you have lived through in your life. Before September ends, God is going to show you people that are loyal. for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and those of you who believe that God is going to give you the strength in your legs to bounce back from a bitter betrayal would you give God a shout of relief Thank you.

39:50 Come on, I can't hear anybody. I say give God a shout of relief. Stand to your feet, my time is up. Hallelujah. I want you to know that heaven heard your heart this week. heaven heard your heart he heard your cry he heard your groaning and he knew you needed this message today before you lost it, before you went in, before you crashed out, you needed to know from heaven there's bounce back after the betrayal.

40:47 I don't care what you discovered this week, what was thrown in your face this week, what you unpacked or unraveled this week, what clues came together this week, there's still a bounce back after the betrayal I speak in such Holy Ghost authority that God says I will heal you even if you are standing next to your betrayer God help me in here I say get your head right you deserve the best you deserve uncompromised love you deserve to be valued you deserve to be a priest you are a rare breed a precious diamond you are a limited edition you are one of one if you know I'm talking about you clap your hands even right now I'm going to tell you this because you've got some apprehension, some ambivalence about trusting because of a battery of betrayal, a cycle of betrayal.

42:08 I want to tell you that God will never betray you. I think I'm in good company to know God will keep all your secrets. He'll hold you in the bosom of his heart. Wherever you are in this room, there's some of you who haven't been able to join a church because of church hurt. Because of a ministry that wasn't loyal. But God says, I'm pressing the refresh button. You're getting ready to start your life all over again. You're getting ready to regenerate your heart even in this moment. This is the church where your family will be safe. Where your marriage will be safe. where your gift will be safe. That's who you are. That's where you are. Would you come meet me at this altar? I want to be your pastor. I want to help push your family to their destiny and to their assignment.

43:03 Come on, clap your hands as they're coming. Even if you came by yourself, I need you to come. Your marriage needs a fresh start. Your family needs a different beginning. Wherever it is that you are, clap your hands for those that are coming. I will bless the Lord at all times requires loyalty. Are y'all going to shout for these young people coming? bless his name bless his name i'm grateful for you i want god to bless you with every step you take Y'all don't let me do all of the heavy lifting by myself.

44:12 Come on, put your shoulder in it. bless his name help me help me please would you just do a road check for me I'm waiting for 12 more they got to be getting their way to this altar 12 more need to be at this altar would you ask the people around you are they saved ask them do they have a church home ask them here's the catch do they have a ministry they loyal to Ugh. come on here comes the whole family Come on, ease on down the road. Come on. bless that wonderful name of Jesus hallelujah help me thank God for this young man coming

45:13 is the kingdom hallelujah I'm waiting on five more people come on y'all we got to go hallelujah here come two y'all give God glory for these two I'm waiting on three more to come come on slide your way down that aisle tell them to back up off you you trying to get your life changed your future is on the line hallelujah we waiting on two more waiting on two more that's it I'm waiting on two more I don't know where they are I don't know who you are I'm waiting on two more to come If y'all don't tear the roof off for this black family coming. is the kingdom Hallelujah stretch your right hand to faith stretch your right hand to faith if you coming come on then don't start none won't be none come on bless his name are y'all gonna shout for these teenagers coming Bless the Lord.

46:50 I feel in my bones. I feel in my bones. Another brother needs to be at this altar. Another man needs to be at this altar. Another husband needs to be at this altar. Another son needs to be at this altar. I don't know who he is. I don't know where he is. But if there's a man near you, ask it that man. Is he saved? Come on. Come on.

47:11 Are y'all going to shout for this young father coming? bless the Lord set your right hand to faith set your right hand to faith Repeat after me, you're in the right place at the right time, joining the right church, serving the only God, and I know that's right. If you know them right, give God a shout right there. I hope you are energized that you don't need an energy drink. What you just heard should have you off and running, chasing your dreams, pursuing your purpose and answering your call. If this was a blessing, share it with somebody else. Don't be selfish.

48:05 This is what God gave you so that you can be a blessing to somebody who needs it worse.