Why This Storm? | 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. All right, I'm reading this morning from Mark chapter 6. Mark chapter 6 and verse 45.

0:41 If you are looking at a Bible, you know that right up above is one of the great stories of the Bible, the feeding of the 5,000. It had just happened the same day. and now verse 45 picks up the story immediately. Jesus, he made his disciples. The King James says he constrained them. It's a very different word. Some, if you look it up in translations, one of them says it is very near, could have been he even laid hands on them because apparently they did not want to go. The word constrain is used several times. This is a story in the Bible over and over that's told by different writers.

1:35 Constrain them. He made his disciples get in the boat and go before him to the other side to Bethsaida. While he sent the multitude away and when he had sent them away, he departed to the mountain to pray. Now, when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea and he was alone on the land and he saw them straining at rowing for the wind was against them. Now, about the fourth watch of the night, he came to them walking on the sea and would have passed them by. And when they saw him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost and cried out for they all saw him and were troubled. But immediately he talked with them and said to them, be of good cheer. It is I do not be afraid. Then he went up into the boat to them and the wind ceased and they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure and marveled. And I'm going to, I'm going to preach this morning from this text about the storms of life. Specifically, why do they come? Why does God allow storms to come? Because all of us go through storms. Everybody goes through storms. Sometimes it's a storm that hits your family. Sometimes it's a storm that hits your marriage. Sometimes it's a storm that hits you financially, hits your business. It's a storm that hits you with one of your children or some special, and you know, when you get in the storm, you feel like what in the world is going on and God, how much more can I take? And everything is against me.

3:28 And I'm in the middle of this and I don't see any way out and I don't know what I'm going to do. You're not unique. The Bible said in this, in this world, we will have tribulation. Jesus himself said that you will have tribulation. You will face storms. The reason that God allows storms is what I'm going to share with you this morning. Why this storm? Why? That's kind of the first question we go to is why? Why is this happening? And it's a good question to ask. And specifically, I want to tell you and teach you today that there are two kinds of storms. When I think of storms, I think of the two biggest storms in the Bible, in my mind, the most probably noted storms in the Bible, one in the old Testament, one in the new, the storm of Jonah, when he goes in rebellion against God's will. And then the story of the storm in the new Testament that we just read about with Jesus and his disciples, when he said, go over to the other side. So there are two kinds of storms. One we see in the old Testament, one we see in the new, and here's the whole lesson that I'm going to drive home this morning.

4:53 Number one, there are storms of correction. Jonah's storm was a storm of correction. The disciple storm was a storm of perfection. God was doing a mighty work in them while they were in the perfect will of God. Jonah was completely out of the will of God and he went through a storm of correction. The others were in the will of God in the new Testament, the disciples, but it was not one to their destruction. It was a storm of perfection. God is committed to seeing you become what he's called you to be and be ready for eternity. And he will allow you to go through storms to perfect that which he has put in you. And so the two kinds of storms, I want to break it down. Number one, there are storms of correction that God allows to come.

5:56 We see it in the book of Jonah. When Jonah was told by God clearly, go to Nineveh and tell them to repent or they will perish. And he refused it. He knew the will of God. He knew the voice of God. He knew God was speaking to him. He refused to do the will of God. And God loved him so much that he said, I can't just let you go and do what you want to do. you go do what you want to do but sometimes God really I'm just going to go on and say it if you know the Lord and you know the Bible and you know and you got people praying for you and you've been raised in this stuff and you know what's right and what's wrong and you know deep in your heart you're not doing right not living right you came to the wrong service because I'm going to tell you there's a storm of correction coming in your future. Nobody gets by with nothing down here, whether you're a believer or you're not a believer, you don't get by with nothing.

7:03 And I'd rather face my correction here in this life than to go into eternity and deal with it for all of eternity. And that's not, that's not a mean God. That's a kind God. It's the kindness of God to, to not allow us to go in the opposite direction. You know, the Bible said Jonah got on a ship and went in the absolute opposite direction of what he absolutely knew was the perfect will of God for his life. It was rebellion. It was turning his back on everything he knew that was right. he went in the opposite direction and the Lord the book of Jonah said sent a wind into the sea a mighty tempest about to break the ship and sink it so here's what I want you to get now when you get in a storm the first question you need to ask is how did I get here you need to ask yourself is this a storm of correction why and how did i get here the sailors on board were terrified the bible tells it in graphic detail they began to panic being experienced sailors they knew the ship was breaking apart and going under and they started throwing everything on the boat off just to keep it afloat and jonah was asleep and some of you been asleep and you've been going in the opposite direction and you think you just having smooth sailing. And he was down in the boat asleep when all of them were panicking and they wake him up.

8:49 And they said, Jonah, if you've ever prayed, that's it's bad when, when, when people have to wake you up to pray, wake the church up to pray. And he said, please pray to your God. And Jonah immediately knew. He said, it's my fault. This storm is happening to all of you because I'm out of the will of God. And instantly he said, throw me into the ocean. And they threw him into the ocean and instantly the storm stopped. And the Bible said in the same moment, God, listen to this, had prepared a fish to swallow him. How long did it take God to prepare that fish? It was a giant whale or something like that, that, that, that was big enough. It had grown years and years and years and years. And when it swallowed him, it had been prepared. God's will is waiting on you to sell. I love the fact that Jonah didn't mess around when he understood. This is a storm of correction.

9:54 This is serious. This is a big deal. He immediately jumped off the boat going in the wrong direction and started going back and instantly God said, I'll swallow you up in my preparations that I've made for you to get you back to what I want you to do with your life. Oh, come on. What a merciful God. The moment you say, I'm not going to step further out of the will of God. The moment you stop in the middle of a storm of correction and some of you are here today and you're in new beginnings, rehabilitation, ministry. You're in Made for More. You're in all the other ones that we, Jericho House or whatever. We have so many that we support. I can't keep up with them. But I'm telling you, and you're watching me by prison all over the place. And I don't have time to you know where you are. And you know what you're in?

10:52 You're in a storm of correction. God wouldn't let you go to hell. God said, I've got your attention. And you know, there's over 5,000 prisoners that have watched us this year. And over 2,000, 3,000 have given their heart to Jesus in a storm of correction. Wow. Wow. A lot of them are here. Look around you. Turn to somebody and say, are you a convict? You look like one. Come on. We don't care. Once you wash, such were some of us. But we've been washed. We've been cleansed. We celebrate you. We believe God has a plan and he's prepared that plan. The moment you repent and get out of the boat that's going in the wrong direction with the wrong people. If you're in the storm of correction, right where you are, not another day this morning, stop.

11:49 Get off that boat and get back to where you're supposed to be. And the moment you make the effort, God will swallow you up in provision and in his purpose. He'll move heaven and earth to get you back. He'll restore you, prodigal son. he'll restore you don't keep going your way everybody shout stop you may be in the middle of the ocean but you can turn around and go god's way and when he started going god's way the preparation of god swallowed him up that's grace that's mercy it'll get you there it'll clean you up It'll restore your joy. It'll restore the years, the canker worm and the locust. You say, well, I've wasted so much time with the wrong stuff and wrong decisions. But the moment you jump out of that boat and say, but I'm swimming in God's grace.

12:46 He's rich in grace. And his grace covers a multitude of sins. And if God be for you, who can be against you? He's a restorer. The storm of correction. but then there's this this second storm that i want to preach about ask the question how did i get here if it's a storm of correction if you're doing things you shouldn't be doing and now you're dealing with the repercussions stop stop separate yourself from that whole going the opposite direction of god's will and say lord I don't want you to have little closet in my life. I give you my whole temple. I give you my body.

13:40 It is the temple of the Holy Spirit, 1 Corinthians 6. And when you do that, he will bless you again. And he has the perfect salvation remedy and plan for your life. Now listen, then when you read of this storm, there is the storm of correction, but there's also storms that believers go through. When we're in the will of God, when we're in the kingdom, when we've been born again, spirit filled, went on the 21 day fast and I'm in the worst storm I've ever been in my life, pastor. Why? Why this storm? It's a storm of perfection. It's a storm like the disciples got in. When the disciples came to Jesus, they came to him.

14:37 They had went out on their first missionary journey without Jesus. He had sent them out two by two. And he told them, don't take any money with you. And don't take an extra coat with you. Just go and preach the gospel and come back. And they came back and they were so fired up. The vibe was enthusiastic and joyful. joyful. And they said, Lord, in your name, we cast out spirits and in your name, it's just like you did it. We healed the sick Lord. We, this is amazing. And Jesus just stole all their thunder. And he said, rejoice, not shut it down. Stop. Rejoice not over what you did for me, but rather rejoice that your name is written in heaven. Rejoice only over what I can do for you because I don't need you. You need me. So, so it starts right there. I'm going to teach you something this morning. It starts right there. Everything's going amazing. And, and it's almost like Jesus killed the vibe, you know, and then they immediately go to the desert with him. And he starts teaching on about the, the, the Beatitudes, a famous sermon and the people sat all day long and listened to him.

15:52 and the scripture said, as when the evening came, this is in the book of Matthew said, when the evening came, the disciples came to him with a tremendous problem. They said, Lord, the people hadn't ate all day. It took hours to get here for them by foot. And they're, they're, they're hungry. You know, just, uh, threw this in the first service. I won't throw that in here. If you're going to go to your leader with a problem, don't just go with the problem. They said, what are you going to do? And he put it back on them. He said, have you got any money? And they said, no, you told us not to take any money. Because he told them, don't take any money. No, you told us. It's like he's blaming them that they don't have any money. and then he said, they said, well, Lord, uh, what are we going to do? Send them home. We don't want the problem. If you're going to bring a problem to a leader, this will help all of you. Don't bring a problem without having the solution that includes you.

17:03 Anybody can be the problem solver. You know, we got this problem over there and you know this over there and that department over there. But when you bring a problem, this is just this is a footnote. Be a problem solver. And that includes your willingness to get involved. to criticize is the smallest size. Get involved. It's getting quiet in this Presbyterian church, right? This is your problem. Feed them Lord. And Jesus never did feed them. He said, what do you have? Watch him shift. The miracles, not in what you don't have the miracles in what do you have? They said, well, there's a lad that's got lunch and he's got five little biscuits and he's got three fish.

18:02 He said, give it to me. And he blessed it and he gave thanks for it and he broke it. He handed it to them, 12 of them, 5,000 men plus women and children. And you got 12 waiters, 12 waitresses here. Imagine having to serve 5,000 men plus women and children and only 12 servers. Because it came from Jesus' hand to the 12. And it had to come from him because it was supernatural. The more they handed it out, the more. So there's 12 waiters for 5,000 men. How tiring would this? And you know, there's always somebody, can I get another glass of tea? You know, can I serve everybody first in your little group right here? But, you know, can you imagine? You know, we read these stories.

18:56 Twelve people had to serve 5,000 men plus children plus women. So that's easily 15, 20,000 people and 12 people. They're worn out. Jesus killed their vibe before they ever got in it. And now they're servants. You know, they went from we cast out devils and now they're servants. You know, they're worn out. They're picking. And then it's really something. Scripture said that he then after they've hours and hours of serving these people.

19:35 They're worn out. They're tired. This is I'm trying to get you to understand. This is how it is. just when you think you can't take any more. Jesus says, pick up all the bread and fish that remain. We don't want to waste any of it. If I'd have been there, I'd have said, why don't you just make some more if we need some more? I mean, if you could do this. But Jesus said, go pick up all the remaining bread that's left over. Go get it. We're going to get some leftover bags going here. 12 of them. you know they were rolling their eyes and they're picking up, it's dark now. They're picking up smelly fish and putting it, that's enough. Well, thank God we finally got it all, Lord. 12 baskets, we took it with that little lad home and they got it pressed down, shaken together and running over.

20:33 So let's go to sleep. Is the fire, is anybody, we're ready to go to sleep. No, immediately, Jesus said, Get on the boat. And he constrained them. I believe he had to constrain them, almost lay hands on them. Because they were like, yeah. And I could, and you know, in fairness, Simon, Peter, and others were fishermen. They could tell the Bible said the wind was contrary. They knew the wind. These sailors, we know if we put our sail up, the wind's blowing in the wrong direction. It's never good when the wind's blowing from that direction. A storm is coming. They knew it. and they're trying to tell and Jesus finally constrained them. I said, get in the boat and go and they all reluctantly get in the boat. They can't even put the sail up. That's why the Bible said they're rolling. They're, they're towing the rowing. Why? Because the wind's blowing in the right. If you put your, you know, you understand what I'm saying? This is not, this is stupid.

21:35 Why am I going through this? Why am I weary? Why is this happening to us? And they get in the middle. But I love what the next verse says. And when they had left in obedience. Everybody say they were in the perfect will of God. They were doing everything they knew to do to obey Jesus. And they sail right into a storm. and they were sailing against the wind. The wind is blowing. A storm is coming. They know it. They sense it. They get in it.

22:17 And the first question you need to ask yourself when you get in a storm again, because this time, if you're a believer, it will encourage you. if you are in a storm and it's a storm of correction and you're not in the will of God, it's going to give you a whipping. But if you're in the will of God and you're going through something that just keeps getting more and more serious, one layer on top of the other, here comes another situation. And watch this. The Bible said that Thank you. you ask this question, why am I here? It's not a storm of correction. It's a storm of perfection.

23:09 It encourages you. I'm doing the right thing. I'm going to church. I'm trying my best. Nobody's perfect. We all have fallen short of the perfect will of God. but I'm doing, I'm reading my Bible. I'm doing everything I know to do. I'm tithing. I'm giving. I'm worshiping. I'm taking my family to church. What do you do when you get in a storm, right in the will of God, doing the best you can to serve the Lord in your heart. You love him with all of your heart. It's not a storm of correction. The answer should encourage you. It's a storm of perfection. Once you establish that in the storm, it's not a storm of correction. It's a storm that God is perfecting something in me. And I'm doing the will of God. I'm doing what he told me to do. There are three promises from this story. If you're in a storm of perfection, doing the best you can to obey God. There are three quick things. This is so simple that I'm almost embarrassed to bring it, but here it is. I feel like the Lord gave it to me.

24:24 He said, notice in this story, the first thing that happened when I saw my disciples in a storm of perfection is the scripture said, as soon as they launched out from the bank, Jesus went to a mountain to pray for them. I need to tell somebody listening to me today that's in a storm like you can't believe it's happening to you. But Jesus is praying for you. He's praying for you. The Bible said in Hebrews that we have not a high priest who cannot be touched by our problems, but was tempted in every manner. and he is making intercession for us. Hebrews said he is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God and he always lives to make intercession for them.

25:20 This very moment, if you're in a storm and you've done your best to do God's will and you've worn yourself out doing things that were right and loving and kind and now all hell's attacking, the Lord wants you to know that he is by the Father interceding constantly for his children. And here's what he's praying. He told Peter, he said, Satan has desired to sift you as wheat, but I have prayed for you one thing, not that you don't go through storms, not that you have perfect finances, not that you go through happy days all the time. I prayed one thing for you when Satan comes to sift you and steal from you everything that you've got, that your faith fails not. Hallelujah.

26:16 Because if your faith, if you've got faith, I don't care what you lose, God can give it back and he can give it back and then some. But I just want to go one step further. Don't let your faith stop believing just because you're in a storm. Jesus is praying for you. Oh, hallelujah. he prays for people, his people who are in storms. I prayed for you that your faith fail not. The first thing to remember when you get in a storm is when the accuser of the brother, it's because of this, it's because of that. You did this, you did that. You may even have some of Job's friends who come and remind you and questioned you and say, well, I always thought you were a little off about this, that. I can't stand people who do that when you get in a valley.

27:14 I came with a prophetic word. And you don't know, you just talk to somebody and act like you got a word from the Lord. How about pray for people? How about know that everybody goes through storms? But also know, do what Jesus does. Pray for people when they're in storms. We need to pray for one another when we're in storms. Turn to somebody and say, Jesus is praying for you. He knows where you're at. He knows what you're going through. You're going to make it. Hallelujah. You're going to make it. Jesus is praying. The devil is saying, I'm going to kill them. Watch them. They're going to curse God and die when this happens. Watch this. Watch this. But Jesus is saying, she's going to keep praying. He's going to keep praying. They're going to stand their ground. Even if they lose everything, they'll still be praising me and giving me the glory. Watch this.

28:10 Turn to somebody and say, he wants you to make it. Fear not. Jesus is praying for you. Not only is he praying for you. and he's praying you'll keep the faith, but he's praying for you, but then the next thing that happened is when they got halfway and couldn't go any further and were doing nothing but going down, Jesus came to them walking on the sea. The Lord told me to tell you he's praying for you and he's coming for you.

28:57 He will not leave his children. I'll never leave you. I'll never forsake you. I'm Jehovah Shama, the God who is there. I got to preach. The reason that it's a storm of perfection is the Bible said, and we know Romans 8, and we know 828, and we know that all things work together for the good. All things work together for the good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose. All things, all things, all things. Well, I haven't seen that yet. You haven't seen it all yet, but God has, and you don't know what he's doing and even generations down the road.

29:52 If you'll be faithful to God, all things work together. This storm is gonna work together for the good. Hallelujah, I don't get it, but God gets it, and I trust him. Then he said in verse 31, what shall we say to these things? And then he tells us what to say. If God be for us, who can be against us?

30:20 And then he said in verse 37, yea, in all of these things, all of these storms, God's perfecting, he's working in all of these things. We're more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, whatever kind of storm comes, nor height, depth, any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. If that don't make you shout, I don't know what it's going to take.

31:02 Shout, he's praying for me, and I'm going to keep the faith. Shout, he's coming for me. Nothing can separate me from the love of God. This trial, this storm can't separate me from the love of God. it reaches to the lowest valley. It reaches to the highest mountain. And lastly, if you're in a storm and you're a believer and you're doing your best to serve the Lord, he's praying for you. I can't hardly get past that. My best friend is praying for me. He's not only praying for you, that you just keep the faith. Just keep the faith. Just keep the faith.

31:55 Just hold on to it. But He's coming to you. But then there's this amazing insight that John gives us, the same story. And the Bible said, and I don't have time to preach the rest, but there's also the story of Peter walking on the water. We'll skip that and preach that another time. But when they got back to the boat, throw that up. When they got back to the boat, John said they willingly received him. They meaning Peter and Jesus. They willingly received him into the boat and immediately the boat was at land where they were going. When you are in a storm of perfection, God says, by the time you get to heaven, I'm going to let you go through suffering.

32:58 I'm going to let you go through storms. I'm going to let you go through seasons of why, why, why. I'm going to, you're going to be tested. Sometimes you will see miracles. Sometimes you won't. Whatever, you will be so focused on Jesus and His love for you. that you can trust him with things that you don't ever understand on this side of life. You just put it in God's hands. If I hadn't been through all of that, I wouldn't be who I am. and listen to this the last thing is he's going to get you through it because the scripture said immediately they were into port and even the next day that next verse says and on the following day the people who were standing there on the side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there except the one the disciples when you've got Jesus praying for you and you keep the faith, and when you have Jesus coming for you, and when you have Jesus who says, I'm going to get you through.

34:17 you're going to make it through things other people don't make it through. And they're going to wonder, how did they do it? And God's going to get glory out of your storm. He's using it to perfect your faith. And so I say this in conclusion, I'm done preaching. He's praying for you. How many of you in a storm? Be honest. He's praying for you. not only is he praying for you, but he's coming for you.

34:59 And not only is he coming for you, but he's going to carry you through instantly. I don't know if that boat grew wings. I don't know. But instantly it had another whole half of the sea of Galilee to cover, but instantly it was in port. God can turn your thing from a tragedy to a miracle. God can turn it around. But also you also have those times when you have to have that kind of faith like Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Our God's able to deliver. If not, he's still God. I want you to stand to your feet. No one moving, please. And I'm telling you now, I felt the Lord heavy say this, that there would be people in this room and at all of our campuses and online watching me who are in a storm of correction.

35:58 Please listen to this preacher. this is your wake up call stop get off the boat going away from the will of God if you're if you're wrapped up in with wrong people get out of all of it and say I have I'm gonna have Jesus Lord of my life he's number one he's everything without him I can do nothing You And the Lord had me bring this message to say to people in this room under the, I believe in divine appointments. I believe God knew what I was going to preach before you ever walked out of that parking lot into this building or wherever you're hearing me. and the Lord sent me to tell you it is time to change direction stop and enter in to the preparations of God for your life and they will go in an opposite direction of the way you've been going I'll face the Lord for when I preach that's why I'm strong right now because I know I know I heard him say, tell them, this may be your last altar call. I'm not trying to scare anybody, but I'm just telling you there are moments that are, that all of eternity weighs in.

37:23 And if you're here today and you're back slid or you're running from God and you're going against the will of God, you know, you're living a life that's not right. You know, you know too much and you're in a storm and you know now clearly if you were to ask why this storm in my life now it's God sending correction saying turn around before it's too late if you're in this place every head bowed and every eye closed and you'd say pastor Jensen, you are preaching to me. I know it. I sense it. I feel God's presence and I need to get right with God this morning. I tell you, he's got the preparations. He's been working on your comeback a long time before you walked in here. Pastor, pray for me. That's me. Raise your hand if that's you. If you're in a storm right now and you would say, I know it's a storm.

38:31 that has to do with correction. Raise your hand, unashamed, all over this room. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. Every one of you that have your hand in the balcony on the floor, get out of your seat because when you do, you're jumping out of the boat. Get out of your seat and walk down the aisle. Here they come. Come on, come on, come on, come on. I believe in old-fashioned altar calls. I will until the day I die. Come on, come on, come on, come on, come on, come on. Bless you, bless you, bless you, bless you, bless you. bless you bless you bless you bless you hallelujah hallelujah come on come on come on this is a moment this is a moment it's not you haven't done anything that god calvary can't handle hallelujah the blood of jesus is more powerful than anything the blood of jesus can cleanse us and wash us

39:27 Somebody else needs to come. At every campus, the pastors are coming. But get out of your seat. Get out of your seat and obey the voice of the Lord this morning. Come on. Come on. Come on. Anyone else? Come on in the prisons. I know in your heart you're saying, yes, Lord, to this storm of correction. What the devil meant for your evil, God can turn it for your good. This can be the purpose of God in action. Anyone else? Anyone else? people are still coming down the aisles. This is beautiful.

40:19 This is beautiful. Pastors and altar teams kind of surround these people. Let's pray this prayer. Everybody put your hand on your heart. and say, Jesus, I've heard your call this morning. I'm turning around. I'm getting off the boat, taking me away from your will. I surrender. I give you my life. Wash me. Cleanse me. I need Calvary. I need the blood. I don't want to half live it. I want to live it with all of my heart, mind, soul, and strength. Please wash me. I'm coming home in Jesus' name.

41:15 Throw those hands up and let's worship all over this room. Now I'm not done. I want believers in this room who would be honest and say, Pastor, I'm doing all I know to do, but I'm in a storm. I just want you to be encouraged this morning that Jesus is praying for you, coming for you, and you're going to get through. And that includes all of you down here who just prayed that prayer by faith. Jesus is coming for you. You're going to get through. You're going to live again. You're going to want to live again. And he is praying for you right now. But I just feel this thing down in my soul. If you're in a storm and you'd say, we really need God's help.

42:11 And you can relate to one, you know, all the stuff on the disciples. It was multiple things that kind of breaks you to that point when you're in a storm that says, God, if you don't help me, I don't have any help. If you're in that kind of storm, raise your hand. I want to see it. The devil thinks it's a perfect storm. And he's right. It's a perfect storm for God to make all things work together. Keep your hand up just a moment. Look around you. Lay your hand on somebody's shoulder who's going through it. The Bible said, bear one another's burdens. So take a moment and pray. They're going to sing this song. And we're going to worship just a few moments. But begin to declare that Jesus is praying for you. that he, and this week even, when the storm is raging, it may not stop instantly for you, but just say, Jesus is praying for me and Jesus is coming for me and Jesus is gonna get me through.

43:04 Go ahead, Tony, begin to sing. Lord, we praise you. Lift those hands. Sing it with all you got. Play it with all you got. Go. Oh yes Oh yes Oh yes Oh yes Oh yes Lord Thank you Jesus Thank you Jesus Thank you Jesus It's gonna speak peace Peace. Peace.

43:47 Hallelujah. Praise the name of Jesus. Praise the name of Jesus. You know he's so pleased with you this morning. because you said, I'm going to respond. You could have kept going in the direction you were going, but you turned around. He's happy about it. Your name is written in the book of life. Your name is written in the book of life. Your name is written in the book of life. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. Bless him, Lord. Bless him, Lord. Sing it, church.

44:57 Oh, you take me so much better at your way. Oh, hallelujah. So much better at your way. And I tell you on the authority of God's word, you are washed, you are cleansed, you are forgiven. Forgive yourself. You ought to read Romans 8 where he says, he says, and who can condemn us? That's in Romans 8. In that whole text, I kind of skipped around, but there's that one verse that says, and knowing these things, that nothing can separate us from the love of God.

45:53 Who can condemn us? When Jesus, and he goes on to say, died and rose again, and we are forgiven because he's worthy, not us. Who can condemn us now that we're in Christ? Nobody. Satan himself cannot condemn us. You're forgiven. You receive it. You receive it. All right. Preach my sermon back to me. What's the three points? He's praying for you. I'm going to bring crayons next week. he's praying for you he's coming for you hallelujah do you believe the trumpet's gonna sound one of these days no more storms And he's going to get you through it.

46:50 He's going to get you through it. You ready? Raise your hand. Receive this blessing. How many of you appreciate this church? Do you know the only reason this church is here is because people gave tithes, offerings. they sacrificially gave amazingly and all of it's here you can be a part of that kind of miracle. We're not stopping. I've grown a year older since you saw me. I'm 64 now. So I'm serious at this point about finishing strong. We've got many souls to reach for the glory of God. Can you say amen, somebody?

47:43 As a matter of fact, this week in the prisons, help me. Kendrick, Kendrick, where you at Kendrick? I saw that video. Maybe they can show it. Well, I'm fixing to put the blessing on you, but man, he had a baptism service in the prisons and invited, they let people stand on the other side of the fence and watch. And look at that, that he's, he's waving to his baby and his wife. Come on. That's a storm of correction. That is now a storm of perfection. God's got him right where he's going to make him. You know, if he makes it to Heaven is worth it all. And he's going to make it to heaven. Look at that. That was last week. And you know, I couldn't help but think I was pulling out from where I came from. I can't tell nothing now. I got crazy people after me. Amen. But I was coming here this morning from my prayer place or whatever.

48:37 And I saw that brand new van. We bought a brand new church van. And I signed off on it. I'm trying to remember what it was, 80,000, something like that, somewhere in there. I don't know. It's brand new. And you know what we bought it for? So that the teams could go into the prisons on it. And your tithe does, we do things like that all the time. We don't ever say anything about it. But I thought that white van, that beautiful, it's a nice van. It's not like a normal little van. It's nice. And I used to be, I used to have a green, Sharice and I used to have a green minivan. Y'all remember those? We thought we were something because we just hit a button and it would open all by itself, rolling up in there. And it was light green, lime green. I call it puke green. Amen. But, but we've got a van because somebody gave last week. Isn't that amazing? And, And we just do stuff like that all the time.

49:43 I'm not just saying it all the time. For the glory of God, you can be a part. Thanks for doing that. We don't take offerings. You can give online. They're giving stations. Nobody's ever going to treat you different if you don't. But if God speaks to your heart, this is a good ministry support. We do good things for the glory of God. Raise your hand. Receive this gift.