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  • 6 days ago
Transcript
00:00I want to talk to you today about trusting in the dark.
00:04The book of Genesis starts off telling how God created everything.
00:09It says the evening and the morning were the first day.
00:13You would think it would be reverse.
00:16The morning and the evening were the first day.
00:19But God starts the day in the dark.
00:22At 12 a.m., nothing looks any different.
00:25If you didn't have a watch, you would know you've entered a new day.
00:29Still dark outside.
00:31Looks the same as it did at 9 o'clock, 10 o'clock, 11 o'clock.
00:35There's no sign that something has changed.
00:38But when the clock strikes midnight in that one second,
00:42with nothing look any different, it goes from p.m. to a.m.
00:47It's still dark, but it's a new day.
00:50It wouldn't make more sense if God started the day in the light.
00:54When the sun came up 6 or 7 in the morning,
00:57when the dawn breaks, the light comes,
01:01then it's obvious we would know it's a new day.
01:04We can see it.
01:06Things have changed.
01:07We hear the birds start chirping.
01:09The sun comes over the horizon.
01:11We have all this evidence that we've entered a new day.
01:15But God, on purpose, chose to start the day in the dark.
01:20It's symbolic of how He does things in our lives.
01:23He gives us a promise.
01:25He says we're coming into a new day.
01:28He's restoring health back to us.
01:30We're going to lend and not borrow.
01:32Our child is going to get back on course.
01:35We believe.
01:36We stand on that promise.
01:38But nothing is changing.
01:40Nothing looks any different.
01:42Nothing feels any different.
01:43It's still dark outside.
01:45Joe, my back is still hurting.
01:47My business hasn't grown.
01:49My health hasn't improved.
01:50This is what faith is all about.
01:53You can't see it, but you have to know you passed midnight.
01:58You've gone from p.m. to a.m.
02:00Yes, it's still dark outside.
02:02Nothing has changed, but the sun is on its way up.
02:07Healing is on the horizon.
02:09The promotion, freedom, the right people.
02:12It's just a matter of time before you see the light come breaking forth.
02:17Don't get discouraged by the dark.
02:19The dark doesn't mean nothing has changed.
02:22The dark is not a sign that God is not working, that he didn't hear your prayer.
02:28Thoughts will tell you, well, you would have seen something by now.
02:31You would feel a little bit better.
02:34One of those companies would have called back.
02:36That addiction wouldn't still be this strong.
02:39You have to walk by faith and not by sight.
02:42If you walk by sight, you talk yourself out of it.
02:45Because 1130 at night doesn't look any different than midnight.
02:50Everything you can see, feel, touch, smell looks just the same.
02:55There's no evidence that it's a new day.
02:58But the psalmist said, the moment you pray, the tide of the battle turns.
03:04You can't see it, but when you prayed, you left the p.m.
03:07And you came into the a.m.
03:09It's a new day.
03:11You may not see any sign of it yet.
03:13That's okay.
03:14Victory begins in the dark.
03:17You see, we all go through these dark times where we don't think it's going to work out.
03:22Seasons where nothing is changing.
03:24We're being our best, but the business is not growing.
03:28Standing in faith, but our health is not improving.
03:32It's tempting to think that God has forgotten about us.
03:35We're always going to have this obstacle.
03:38The fact is, light is on the way.
03:41What God promised is en route.
03:44You may have struggled in an area a long time.
03:47You've been believing for things to change in your marriage and your finances with an addiction.
03:53Seems permanent, like it's never going to improve.
03:56God is saying, you've already entered a new day.
04:00You've already passed midnight.
04:02You can't see it yet, but victory is on the way.
04:06Now, instead of complaining about the dark, have a new perspective.
04:11The dark means the sun is on the way up.
04:14The promise is about to come forth.
04:16Who can stop the sun from rising each morning?
04:20Who can keep the light from breaking forth over the horizon?
04:24All the forces of darkness cannot stop what God has ordained for you.
04:29They cannot keep what he promised from coming to pass.
04:33In the face of that darkness, when you don't see any light, get in agreement with God.
04:39Father, thank you that it's a new day in my life.
04:42It may still be dark out, but I don't go by what I see.
04:46I go by what I know.
04:47I know I've passed midnight, that my healing is coming.
04:51My breakthrough is coming.
04:53My abundance is coming.
04:54Victory is coming.
04:56When you realize that God starts with darkness to bring about new things in our life, then you don't get discouraged by the darkness.
05:05You thank him in the midst of the darkness.
05:08You'll praise him despite what's trying to stop you.
05:11Now, this is what Paul and Silas did.
05:15They were put in prison for sharing their faith, and the religious leaders didn't like them.
05:20They accused them of causing a disturbance.
05:23They were in the deepest part of the dungeon to make sure they couldn't escape.
05:28But God won't let you get in a problem that he can't get you out of.
05:32If that difficulty you're facing was going to stop your destiny, God wouldn't have allowed it.
05:39It may seem too big for you.
05:41You could never overcome it, but it's not too big for our God.
05:45He already has the solution.
05:48That trouble can't keep you from your purpose.
05:51That setback in your finances, the anxiety, the depression is not permanent.
05:57It may be dark now.
05:59You've had some bad breaks.
06:00Perhaps you brought the trouble on yourself, and now you think you're stuck.
06:05No, get ready.
06:06God is not through with you.
06:08What he has ordained for your life will come to pass.
06:12That difficulty is a setup for him to show out in your life.
06:17He's going to do something unusual, out of the ordinary, that will thrust you into your purpose.
06:23Something that will suddenly change things in your favor.
06:27Paul and Silas had chains around their feet.
06:30The guards standing outside the prison gates looked like they'd be put away, and we'd never hear from them again.
06:37All the odds were against them.
06:40But people don't have the final say.
06:43What you're up against may be bigger, more powerful, more influential, but you and God are a majority.
06:50Him being for you is more than the world being against you.
06:55There is not an obstacle that he can't move.
06:58There's not a sickness he can't heal.
07:00Not an addiction he can't free you from.
07:04Sitting in that dungeon, falsely accused, they could have been depressed.
07:08God, this is not fair.
07:11Why did it happen?
07:12We were doing what you asked us to do.
07:14But the scripture says, at midnight, they were singing praises and giving thanks to God.
07:21It's interesting that we're told when this happened.
07:25Most of the miracles we read about, we don't have the time.
07:28That detail isn't recorded.
07:30But God had the writer tell us the time, because midnight means it was a new day.
07:37And as they were singing praises, suddenly there was a great earthquake.
07:42The prison doors flung open, the chains fell off their feet, and they walked out as free men.
07:49It's not a coincidence that this all happened at midnight.
07:53They may have been singing at 10 o'clock in the evening.
07:57Nothing happened.
07:58Thanking God at 11 o'clock, nothing happened.
08:01Praising at 11.30, still nothing.
08:04But when they hit midnight, when that new day started, suddenly things changed.
08:10God was showing us, it may be dark all around you.
08:14You don't see a way out.
08:16But when you come to that new day, when you cross from p.m. to a.m., things suddenly shift.
08:24Sometimes you see it all at once.
08:26Like Paul and Silas.
08:28Other times you see it later.
08:30But the moment you pray, things change in your favor.
08:34There may be a period of darkness where it doesn't look like anything is happening.
08:39But if you'll do like them and just keep thanking God that he's fighting your battles and thanking him that he's making ways where you don't see a way,
08:47then you're going to come into these times where God will suddenly show out in your life.
08:52He will make things happen that you couldn't make happen.
08:56You may have areas where it feels dark right now.
08:59Nothing's changing.
09:01That's a test.
09:03Will you praise him in the dark?
09:05Will you thank him that that promise is on the way?
09:08Will you talk like it's going to turn around?
09:11Believe that the healing is coming, even though the medical report isn't good?
09:16Don't go by what you feel.
09:18Your feelings don't always tell you the truth.
09:22Your emotions will try to convince you it's never going to work out.
09:25Our mind will tell us all the reasons.
09:28It's not going to happen.
09:29Look how big the obstacles are.
09:31Walk by faith.
09:32Father, thank you that I've come into midnight, that it's a new day.
09:37It still may be dark, but I know you start the day in the dark.
09:42I know this means the light is on the way.
09:45Keep that song of praise in your heart.
09:49Well, Joel, I've been doing this a long time, but I don't know why nothing is changing.
09:55God's timing is not our timing.
09:57Keep doing the right thing.
09:58You're in a new day.
10:00You pass midnight.
10:01It may be three in the morning.
10:04You have a few more hours, so to speak, before the sun comes up.
10:08I've learned the longer it's taking, the better it's going to be.
10:13God is getting you prepared for the blessing he's already prepared for you.
10:19When it's taking a long time, that's because the blessing is bigger than you can handle right now.
10:25He's getting you stronger, more mature, more confident.
10:29He's getting other people that are involved in place.
10:33He's doing a work on them.
10:35Don't be discouraged because it's been dark a long time.
10:39That's a sign that God is about to do something you've never seen.
10:43It's going to be bigger, more rewarding, more fulfilling than you've ever imagined.
10:48Now keep praising him in the dark.
10:51Keep thanking him in the dark.
10:53Being good to others in the dark.
10:55Giving, serving.
10:58When you do that, like Paul and Silas, suddenly doors are going to open.
11:03Suddenly you're going to come into opportunity, the right people, healing, breakthroughs.
11:08It's going to catapult you ahead.
11:10When my mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 1981, she'd been in the hospital for 21 days.
11:19And one Monday, late afternoon, the doctors called my father in and said there was nothing more they could do for her.
11:26They gave her a few weeks to live.
11:28My father drove her home that afternoon in the traffic and felt like the longest drive of their lives.
11:35A very dark time.
11:37My mother could have been depressed, given up on life, but she knew that God is a healer and that he has the final say.
11:46She and my father went to their bedroom and laid on the floor and prayed.
11:51A lot of times in our difficulties, we call our friends, call people, relatives, experts.
12:06That's all fine, but make sure you call out to God.
12:10Ask him to help you.
12:11He created the universe.
12:13He flung stars into space.
12:15He has all power.
12:17You don't have to beg him.
12:19You don't have to plead with him.
12:21He's longing to be good to you.
12:23The scripture says it's the father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
12:28Just ask him in faith for what he's already promised.
12:33One of the most powerful things we can do is take God's word back to him.
12:39Remind him what he said.
12:41Father, you said you would restore health back into me.
12:45I'm asking you, Lord, for your healing.
12:47I'm asking you to do what medicine cannot do.
12:50Take his word and pray bold prayers.
12:53Father, you said my children will be mighty in the land.
12:57I'm asking you to free them from this addiction.
13:00Take away these wrong friends.
13:02Help them to fulfill their destiny.
13:05Oh, Father, you said that I would prosper and be in good health.
13:08That I will lend and not borrow.
13:10That you are Jehovah Jireh, the Lord, my provider.
13:14So, Lord, I'm asking you to supply all my needs.
13:17Make rivers in the desert.
13:19Give me overflow so I can be a bigger blessing.
13:23December 11th, 1981.
13:26My mother and father prayed and asked God to heal her from that cancer and give her more years.
13:33My mother believed that day she received her healing.
13:37That she came in to her midnight.
13:40She went from p.m. to a.m.
13:42But nothing looked any different.
13:45She was still very frail.
13:47Her skin was still yellow.
13:48She only weighed 89 pounds.
13:51I never heard her complain.
13:53She never talked to feet.
13:54She would go through the house quoting scripture.
13:57I will live and not die and declare the works of the Lord.
14:01It was still dark.
14:03The medical report hadn't changed.
14:05Month after month, no sign of improvement.
14:08All of her senses said, it's not going to work out.
14:11She didn't look good.
14:13She didn't feel well.
14:15Her emotions, her thoughts told her she wasn't going to make it.
14:18But she wasn't moved by that.
14:20She kept thanking God, walking by faith and not by sight.
14:26Sight said, it's dark.
14:27Nothing has changed.
14:29You'll never get well.
14:30But faith said, I've entered a new day.
14:33It's dark now, but light is coming.
14:36It's just a matter of time before the healing breaks through on the horizon.
14:41It didn't happen suddenly like Paul and Silas.
14:45But over time, little by little, she got better and better.
14:49Her skin color came back to normal.
14:52She gained her weight back.
14:54Got her strength.
14:56Today, 44 years later, she's perfectly healthy and whole.
15:00No cancer in her body.
15:02God has the final say.
15:05It may be dark in your life right now, but don't let the dark fool you.
15:11The dark is not a sign that you're never going to get well.
15:14It's not a sign that your child is never going to do right.
15:17It's not a sign that your business is not going to make it.
15:21It may have been meant to stop you.
15:23The enemy sent it to keep you from your destiny.
15:26The good news is God has overruled that scheme.
15:30He is thwarting the plans of the enemy.
15:34That darkness is not going to last.
15:36The depression is not permanent.
15:38The addiction, the trouble at work is not how your story ends.
15:43You've gone from p.m. to a.m.
15:46It's a new day.
15:47The sun is about to break forth.
15:50Healing is in your future.
15:52Abundance is in your future.
15:54Great relationships is in your future.
15:56Victory is in your future.
15:59Instead of complaining about the dark, being discouraged by the dark, have a new perspective.
16:04The dark means light is coming.
16:07Do your part.
16:08Start praising him in the dark.
16:10Start thanking him that things are changing in your favor.
16:14Don't be moved by what you see.
16:171130 at night doesn't look any different than midnight, but midnight is a new day.
16:23God is saying the clock has ticked in your favor.
16:27You pass midnight.
16:28Things may not look any different yet.
16:30Don't worry.
16:31Light is on the way.
16:33The sun has never once not come up in the morning.
16:36God has never once not made good on his promises.
16:41It may not have happened on your timetable.
16:43It may not happen the way we think, but I can assure you the sun is going to come up in your life.
16:50You wouldn't be alive if God didn't have something amazing in your future.
16:56Well, Joel, it sure feels like midnight to me.
17:00Midnight is a good thing.
17:02God always starts in the dark.
17:03That's a sign he's about to burst something new, something big, something unusual.
17:10If he started in the light, it wouldn't take any faith.
17:14If we could see how it was going to happen and we had all the resources, the connections, the solutions, we wouldn't have to depend on him.
17:23The time to show what you're made of is when it's dark.
17:27You don't see anything changing.
17:29Thoughts will tell you, you'll never get out of debt.
17:32Never meet the right person.
17:34Never accomplish that dream.
17:36Instead of getting depressed, the right attitude is, yes, it's still dark.
17:41Yes, I don't see anything changing, but I'm not worried.
17:44I know it's after midnight.
17:47Light is coming.
17:48God is faithful what he promised he's going to bring to pass.
17:54In the scripture, Job went through a dark time and everything was going great in his life.
18:01It was good, but then the bottom fell out.
18:03Lost his health, lost his family, lost his business.
18:08It didn't seem fair.
18:09The scripture says Job was the most righteous man of his day.
18:14You would think he wouldn't have any dark seasons.
18:17He wouldn't have to deal with disappointments, bad breaks, but life happens to us all.
18:23Rain falls on the just and the unjust.
18:27The difference with the just, with people like you, people that honor God, is God promises
18:33to take what was meant for harm and turn it for your good.
18:37There may be dark seasons, but if you'll stay in faith and not get bitter, God won't just
18:44bring you out, he'll bring you out better than you were before.
18:47He'll make the enemy pay for bringing that trouble.
18:51God said to Satan, have you seen my servant Job?
18:55There is no one like him in all the land.
18:58He's blameless.
18:59He's a man of integrity.
19:01He has an excellent spirit.
19:02I love the fact that God was bragging on Job.
19:06If you could hear what God is saying about you, you'd be amazed.
19:10We think God is focused on all our faults, our shortcomings, but God sees all the good
19:16things in you.
19:17He sees your heart to help others.
19:19He sees your sincerity, your kindness, your courage.
19:23I can hear him telling the angels, have you seen my son Jim?
19:27He's really amazing.
19:29Have you seen my daughter Rachel?
19:30Rachel, there's no one like her.
19:33God is proud of you.
19:35He made you in his own image.
19:37He calls you a masterpiece.
19:39Just because you're having difficulty doesn't mean you've done something wrong.
19:43We all go through tests, seasons we don't understand.
19:47What I want us to see is the darkness is not permanent.
19:51At some point, you're going to go from p.m. to a.m.
19:54God is going to shift things.
19:56You're going to come out promoted, increased at a new level of your destiny.
20:01When Job lost everything, he was very discouraged.
20:05He sat down among the ashes and put on sackcloth.
20:10He went through phases of being upset, bitter, and frustrated.
20:15God knows we're human.
20:17We feel things.
20:19There may be times you feel those emotions.
20:22That's okay.
20:23Just don't stay there.
20:25Job eventually got up out of the ashes.
20:28Was still dark.
20:29Nothing has changed.
20:31But he made this statement.
20:32I know my Redeemer lives.
20:35He was saying, God is still on the throne.
20:38He has the final say.
20:40I'm not going to drag around sour over what I've lost.
20:44I'm getting ready for the new things God has in store.
20:47In the middle of the difficulty, still dark as ever outside.
20:53Nothing has changed.
20:54But in chapter 10, Job said, God, you have granted me favor.
20:59He was saying, I know I've entered a new day.
21:03I know I've gone from p.m. to a.m.
21:05I know this darkness is not permanent.
21:09Chapter 8, a man came along to encourage him.
21:12He said, Job, God will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.
21:20He was saying to Job what God is saying to us.
21:24Don't let this dark season fool you.
21:27Don't let the sickness, the breakup cause you to live defeated.
21:31You're going to laugh again.
21:33You're going to love again.
21:34You're going to dream again.
21:36You're going to build again.
21:38You're going to lead again.
21:39You're going to flourish again.
21:41Listen, I've heard it said, what if the darkness you're going through is not the darkness of
21:47the tomb, but the darkness of the womb, the darkness that precedes God birthing something
21:53amazing in your life.
21:55You are not in the darkness of the tomb.
21:58Have a new perspective.
21:59You're in the darkness of the womb.
22:02God is about to do something you've never seen.
22:04You're going to discover talent you didn't know you had.
22:07That person that left broke your heart.
22:11They didn't stop your destiny.
22:13You're about to meet someone better than you've imagined.
22:16And that dark time was not wasted.
22:19God is using it to burst something that you could have never experienced without it.
22:25When my father went to be with the Lord, that was a dark time for me.
22:31But I can tell you now, I wasn't in the darkness of the tomb.
22:34I was in the darkness of the womb.
22:37God birthed talent in me that I didn't know was there.
22:41He took what I thought would be my darkest hour and turned it into my brightest hour.
22:47The scripture says God will turn your mourning into dancing.
22:51He will take away your sadness and clothe you with joy.
22:55I believe there's some sadness about to be taken away.
22:59That darkness is about to lift off of you.
23:02You're going to be clothed with joy.
23:04Happy, fulfilled, vibrant, fresh vision, fresh passion.
23:10Not just come out okay.
23:12Man, I made it through.
23:14Well, that morning is about to be turned to dancing.
23:16God's going to make up for the sadness.
23:19He's going to pay you back for the sorrow, the hurt, the injustice.
23:23Jesus, get your hopes up.
23:25Like Job, keep thanking him that he's granted you favor.
23:29Keep declaring, my Redeemer lives.
23:33Job went through this dark season, but that's not where he ended.
23:38The scripture says God restored back to Job twice what he had before.
23:43He was more blessed in the second part of his life than he was the first.
23:47Yes, it was dark, but when the sun rose up, he came out with double.
23:54Don't believe those lies that the darkness is permanent.
23:57It's never going to change.
23:59That darkness is a sign that double is coming.
24:02The sun is going to rise in your life again.
24:06You're going to see the goodness of God in ways you've never seen.
24:10He's breathing in your direction right now.
24:13In the unseen realm, things are changing in your favor.
24:17Forces of darkness are being pushed out.
24:20The right brakes are headed your way.
24:22He's going to make things happen you couldn't make happen.
24:26You're going to know it was the hand of God.
24:29When we talk about Job, we think, man, that trial, that dark season must have been 50 years of his life.
24:36That was such a rough time.
24:38But some commentaries believe the difficulty was only a nine-month period.
24:44It wasn't years and years.
24:47What you're dealing with is not going to last as long as it looks.
24:51It's not going to hinder you the rest of your life.
24:53The sun is going to come up sooner than you think.
24:56You've already passed midnight.
24:59Daybreak is about to happen.
25:01Light is about to break forth on the horizon.
25:04Get ready for favor.
25:06Get ready for breakthroughs.
25:07Get ready for double.
25:09You're not in the darkness of the tomb.
25:11You're in the darkness of the womb.
25:14God is about to burst something out that thrusts you to a new level.
25:19My challenge is trust him in the dark.
25:22You may not see anything improving.
25:24That's okay.
25:25Walk by faith and not by sight.
25:28If you'll do this, I believe and declare God's about to turn your mourning into dancing.
25:34Your sadness into joy.
25:35Like Job, you're going to come out promoted, restored, healthy, free, better than you were before in Jesus' name.
25:45And if you receive it, can you say amen today?
25:48Amen.
25:49You received that today.
25:52What a powerful message.
25:54Let me keep this atmosphere of faith and worship just for a moment because anytime we hear a message like that, which I think was extremely profound and relevant to so many people, even that I've talked to this week.
26:05I think one of those messages really require us to take inventory, to not just hear it, but to respond to it.
26:13And so this morning, my encouragement to you is to simply believe and hope and know that God, his miracle, his promises are going to come to pass in your life and to have staying power.
26:28Now, what does that mean to stay?
26:30What does that look like for you right now?
26:33Continuing to worship, continuing to lean in, continuing to be good to people around you, like pastor said.
26:39But I just want to I just want to say that God is doing a deep work in you while we're waiting.
26:44And God is doing something in you to prepare you for what's coming your way.
26:50And so, Father, right now, I just thank you.
26:52And I just want to pray again for people that are in this period where it's all dark around them and they're waiting for a miracle.
26:59They're waiting for a breakthrough.
27:00And I just pray that you would give them staying power, the ability to stay in faith, believing for the miracle to come to pass.
27:09Whether it's believing for a spouse, it's believing for an opportunity in business, whether it's believing for a turnaround in their family.
27:17God, give us staying power today to stay in faith and to continue to believe and to know that you're developing us in the dark.
27:28And that you're getting ready to propel us into something profoundly new in this next chapter of our lives.
27:34In Jesus name.
27:35Amen.
27:36You know, I'd also like to ask, maybe you're here for the first time, maybe you're tuning in online, you're listening by way of radio and you've yet to give your life to Christ.
27:45Maybe you've gone to church or maybe it's been a while since you've come to church and you want to rededicate your life to Christ.
27:53I have great news.
27:54You can come to Jesus just as you are.
27:56The gospel says that we belong long before we learn to behave, friend.
28:01So you can come to him with all your deficiencies, all your weaknesses and shortcomings.
28:06And he receives us with his love.
28:08He receives us with his grace.
28:10But here's the good news.
28:11He won't leave you the same.
28:13He wants to rearrange your life.
28:15He wants to give you joy, peace and a purpose.
28:19And you can leave this place with a new beginning.
28:21So I'm going to ask you to do something bold here in just a moment.
28:24If you want to give your life to Christ or you want to recommit your life to him, I'm going to ask you to stand to your feet because I want to lead you in a prayer of faith where you can receive Christ, receive his grace and his forgiveness, and you can walk out of here with a fresh, clean slate.
28:40So without hesitation, if you'd be bold, you want to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, or you want to rededicate your heart to him.
28:48Would you take this step of faith and stand right now all over this room or stand where you're at in your living room online?
28:54And we're going to celebrate you as you experience this new beginning by faith.
29:00Come on, church.
29:00Let's put our hands together.
29:02As so many around the house, so many watching online receive Jesus today.
29:08It is the best decision you could possibly make.
29:11Come on, I think there's still some more people who maybe you're wrestling with it.
29:17Wow, so many people today.
29:19Way up top, in the back.
29:23Phenomenal.
29:24Right where you're at, I just want you to repeat this simple prayer of faith after me.
29:28The rest of us, let's repeat it as if it was our first time.
29:31Say, Jesus, I come before you today.
29:34And I ask you to forgive me of all my sins and all my mistakes.
29:40Come into my heart.
29:42Come into my life and wash me clean.
29:46Today I choose to make you my Lord and my Savior.
29:52I want to live my life for you and only you.
29:57In Jesus name.
29:58Amen.
29:59Can we celebrate again all the new beginnings in the house, those who prayed that prayer of faith?
30:05Listen, there's some team members and they may have already come to you and they've given you a resource.
30:10And we've put that together to help you in your walk, to help you in your journey.
30:14If you're watching online, there's a link that you can click to get that as well.
30:18And I want to extend the same thing that Pastor extends to us every single Sunday.
30:22Give a year of your life to following Jesus.
30:25And I promise you a year from now, you'll never be the same.
30:27Can anyone else testify to that promise that following Jesus is the best decision you can make?
30:34Following him is the best way to live.
30:36And I also want to say this.
30:38We've developed a new area here in the church.
30:41It's a new to Lakewood resource area.
30:44It's a resource booth right out here in the second level.
30:47We have team members, staff members that will be there, some leaders that will be there.
30:51If you're new within the last year or so, come into Lakewood for three or six months and you want to get connected.
30:56You want to meet some people.
30:58Maybe you're a businessman and you're wanting to connect to other men.
31:01Maybe you're a student and you're wanting to get connected to our youth ministry.
31:04You want to serve somewhere.
31:05You want to develop and grow in your faith and meet new people.
31:09We are all about that here at Lakewood.
31:12Go right to our new area over here, our new booth.
31:14And we would love to get connected to you and give you as much help as we possibly can.
31:19Cool?
31:19All right.
31:20Can we all stand to our feet and join those who gave their lives to Christ?
31:23Are you leaving here inspired and encouraged?
31:26Come on, let's change our perspective of the season we're in, right?
31:30God is doing something new and he's about to burst something powerful in us.
31:34Let me leave it with a blessing from Numbers chapter six.
31:38May the Lord bless you and keep you.
31:40May the Lord show you his favor and have mercy on you.
31:43And may the Lord watch over you and give you his peace.
31:47We love you.
31:48God bless you.
31:49Thanks for coming to church today.
31:50And we'll see you very, very soon.