The Power Of Spiritual Wisdom (4 GEMS)
Bishop Henry Fernandez Preached on 12/12/2025Isaiah 30:18-21
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51:48
Summary
Bishop Henry Fernandez presents spiritual 'gems' to help believers make bold faith moves, emphasizing that true growth requires aligning one's heart with God's Word and surrounding oneself with wise, faith-filled company.
Key points
- •Spiritual growth is often a lonely process because God must isolate you to remove old habits and negative influences.
- •God provides a 'plum line' (His Word) to measure the straightness of our lives, motives, and decisions.
- •The size of your faith moves is limited by your mindset; you cannot make big kingdom moves with a small, fearful mentality.
- •There is no such thing as a neutral conversation; people either ignite your faith or drain your courage.
Scripture
Wisdom
Faith
Community
Purpose
Discipleship
Life application
Review your inner circle this week and identify one relationship that drains your spiritual energy. Intentionally seek out a 'wise' mentor or peer who can sharpen your faith and push you toward your God-given goals.
Reflection questions
- Are the people you spend the most time with walking in the same direction you want your life to go?
- When you hold your current motives up to the 'plum line' of Scripture, where do you see yourself leaning or out of alignment?
- What 'big move' have you been hesitating to make out of fear, and how does faith change your perspective on it?
- In what ways have you been following your heart instead of following God's Word?
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Full transcript
0:00I think the word will take more effect
0:02when you study it and you don't get too
0:05emotional over it. Some people get
0:07emotional over it, which is fine, but
0:10the only way you're going to grow is if
0:12you really take time out to listen and
0:17um not base the effectiveness of the
0:21word on your emotions. The word is
0:24potent within itself. It can do the work
0:28without you have to add anything to it.
0:31Are you hearing me? All right. So, we're
0:33going to go into it tonight. One of the
0:34things I'm going to do tonight is I'm
0:36going to call it a night of spiritual
0:38gems, right? Spiritual gems. Uh because
0:42in in my heart, I firmly believe that
0:47all of us are going to begin to have
0:49this big heart after God. And with that
0:52big heart, we're going to make big
0:53moves.
0:54>> Amen. So let me lay the foundation here
0:57tonight. How many of you seriously I
1:00mean listen to the question now.
1:02Seriously
1:04you are ready to make some big faith
1:07moves.
1:10>> Yeah.
1:11>> I like that. I mean serious moves
1:15>> that that that it's going to scare you.
1:18>> Come on now. Like big big radical moves.
1:22Come on now. H how many of
1:23[clears throat] you just tired of
1:25playing it safe?
1:27>> Yes.
1:28>> Cuz if God be for us,
1:31>> so we gonna make some big moves, right?
1:33Because time is winding down. You only
1:36have one opportunity at doing life.
1:39>> Yes, sir.
1:40>> And if you miss it this time, then
1:42you're going to miss it, right? So, uh,
1:45tonight is not just another service,
1:48right? I want you to think of about it
1:50this way as a spiritual master class. In
1:54this session, you're going to walk
1:56through a few spiritual gems that I
2:00think can radically transform your life
2:02and push you uh to make big faithfilled
2:06moves as we close out this year, right?
2:10Um believe it or not, um we're in the
2:12middle of December.
2:15>> I mean, December was just Yes. I mean,
2:17the 1 of December was just yesterday, if
2:20if you know what I'm saying, right? And
2:22we're in the middle of the month. And I
2:24believe that we can make some big moves
2:27before the 31st.
2:29>> Amen.
2:30>> I also believe that God can do his thing
2:34in our lives before the 31st.
2:37>> Right? So, let's go to our first
2:39scripture. They're going to put it up,
2:40and I want all of us to read it. We're
2:42going to have engagement here tonight
2:44and you're going to love the way I'm
2:45going to close out the study tonight.
2:47You're going to really love it. Right.
2:49Um Isaiah 30
2:5218- 21. Good to see um um Pastor Johnson
2:57here with us tonight. Thank you so much,
2:59Pastor Ryan. God bless you. All right.
3:02Are you ready? Now, I want everybody
3:04again. We It's engagement now, right? So
3:07we want to read uh from the uh CEB
3:10translation Isaiah 30 from verse 18- 21.
3:15All right, let's read it out loud.
3:17Please read.
3:20>> The Lord is waiting to be merciful to
3:22you and will show you compassion. The
3:26Lord is a God of justice. Happy are all
3:29who wait for him. People in Zion who
3:33live in Jerusalem, you will no longer
3:37certainly be merciful to you. Hearing
3:40the sound of your outry, God will answer
3:43you.
3:50>> Your teacher will no longer hide, but
3:53you will see your teacher.
3:55>> If you stray to the right or the left,
3:58you will hear a word that comes behind
4:01you. This is the way to walk in it.
4:04>> Okay. Now, I want you to understand what
4:07the prophet is saying here that the Lord
4:11is waiting to be gracious to you.
4:15>> Think about that.
4:17The Lord is waiting. Waiting. Everybody
4:22say waiting.
4:23>> Waiting.
4:25>> Why is God waiting?
4:27>> That's good, sir.
4:29Good.
4:30>> Think about that.
4:32>> God is waiting. Wait a minute. And the
4:36wait has to do with the blessing
4:39that is coming to us.
4:42>> The Lord is waiting to be gracious to
4:44you.
4:46>> You know why the prophet stated that?
4:49Because listen, everything you do in
4:53your faith walk is based on condition.
4:57>> That's good.
4:59If you do your part, God then will do
5:03his part. So the Lord is waiting to be
5:06gracious to you. He will rise up to show
5:11you mercy. Watch this. The Lord is a God
5:14of justice. Happy are all who wait for
5:17him. Whoa. The Lord is waiting to be
5:21gracious unto you. And then later he's
5:23saying that the Lord will give justice
5:26and make those people who wait on him be
5:30happy. So what the prophet is saying is
5:33that God is waiting for us if we're
5:37willing to wait on him.
5:39>> That's good. That's good.
5:43>> How many of us, if we just be honest,
5:45man, how many of us have made some
5:48decisions ahead of God?
5:50>> Okay. How did that turn out?
5:54>> Think about that, right? We we we we're
5:57you know, we saying, "God, I trust you.
5:58I believe you." But then we get anxious.
6:02>> Yes, sir.
6:02>> And we go out of our way ahead of God
6:06and do things and it doesn't work out
6:08well. But when you wait on the Lord, the
6:11Bible says happy you will be.
6:14>> Think about that.
6:15That's why every one of us should wait
6:18on the Lord because in that wait, God
6:21says, "That's what I've been waiting
6:22for,
6:23>> man. I'm just waiting for you to wait on
6:25me.
6:28>> You're not shouting like I expected you
6:29all to shout, man." So whenever you
6:32embrace spiritual wisdom, God doesn't
6:36just bless your life. He guides your
6:39steps, corrects your [snorts] direction,
6:43and empowers you to make big, bold moves
6:47in alignment with his will. Right? God
6:52will always guide your steps. Watch
6:54this. Not only guide your steps, but a
6:56lot of us as believers, we don't like
6:58this part. He'll correct your direction.
7:02>> Yes, he will.
7:04>> And sometimes, you know, we we get
7:06offended and um kind of hurt when God
7:10will send a word, whether it's through a
7:12pastor or whether you're reading the
7:14Bible and there comes a scripture that
7:16corrects you. How many times have you
7:18opened your Bible and you start reading
7:19a scripture and you're like, "Oh, God.
7:25Okay, God." you know, you know, did did
7:28I have to read that?
7:30>> You know, and you get convicted and
7:32sometimes you think that God is
7:34punishing you when he's actually
7:36correcting you.
7:38>> Why do you correct your children? Is
7:39that you hate them?
7:41>> You want the best for them.
7:44>> A parent who doesn't correct really is
7:46doing a horrible thing to your child.
7:50>> You have to learn you, oh, don't do
7:51that.
7:53No.
7:54and you explain to them the consequences
7:56of their disobedience. All right, so gem
7:59number one, are you ready for this? Now,
8:01this is this is the part that I love.
8:03Now, I'm getting excited about this.
8:04Now, growth feels lonely until you meet
8:08the people walking in the same
8:09direction.
8:10>> Hallelujah.
8:15>> Growth feels lonely. And I am sent
8:19tonight and to those of you on campus
8:21and those of you streaming really to
8:23talk to some people because you've been
8:25feeling lonely lately.
8:29>> Not lonely for a man or lonely for a
8:31woman.
8:33>> The journey that God has you on.
8:35>> Yes, sir.
8:37>> You feel isolated.
8:40>> Very few people to trust.
8:42>> Yes, sir.
8:45>> Come on now.
8:47Right. And and you're wondering why is
8:50this journey of faith? Why is your faith
8:53journey so lonely? It's it's almost
8:56you're in a depression.
8:58You see, spiritual growth often feels
9:02like you are walking alone. Watch this.
9:05Leaving certain habits, circles, and
9:08environments behind.
9:11But God never calls you to grow without,
9:14watch this, preparing kingdom
9:16connections ahead of you. Amen.
9:20>> Some of you, the loneliness that you're
9:23feeling is God had to cut off some
9:26people
9:32>> who you were keeping company with
9:36>> and your reliance was more on them
9:40>> than him.
9:42Amen.
9:44>> So God had to cut certain things and
9:47relationships and certain habits away
9:51from you because of what's coming
9:53because there are more connections in
9:56the future.
9:58>> And as long as you are tied to the old
10:01connections
10:02>> when the new shows up,
10:08>> cuz some of you been crying over some
10:10losses you've had. No, you didn't lose.
10:14>> You didn't lose.
10:16>> Has anybody ever just walk wake up one
10:19day in your house and you just look out
10:21in the living room and look in your
10:23bedroom? You look in the dining room and
10:25you say, "It's time to change these
10:28furniture."
10:31>> Has anybody ever remodeled?
10:33>> And you should listen. If you've been
10:35living in your house for 25 years and
10:38you haven't changed anything,
10:44at least change the mattress.
10:49That's why your back is hurting.
10:52At least change that. [laughter]
10:55Right? We're always looking to remodel.
10:58Then why is it in our personal lives?
11:01Why is it we would live for 20 years,
11:05same habits,
11:07>> same people
11:09>> and no progress
11:12>> and then we blame him.
11:14>> It's your circle.
11:18>> Look at Amos chapter 3 verse three
11:23and it says can two walk together
11:27>> unless they agree. So the question then,
11:30let let me those of you who are dating,
11:33if if you're not embarrassed about you
11:35dating, raise your hand. Unless it's a
11:37secret date, you know, it's a secret
11:39kind of stuff you got going on, you
11:42know, uh that secret stuff, secret
11:45lover.
11:50>> Come on now. How many of y'all dating?
11:51Come on, raise your hand. Don't be
11:52embarrassed about it.
11:54>> All right,
11:56you you Oh. You're so proud. You keep
11:59your hands up. Okay. All right. Well,
12:02listen now. Listen now. How can you have
12:05a healthy relationship with that person
12:08if you're not in agreement?
12:13>> So, you need to think now. Are you in
12:15agreement with that person? How can two
12:19walk to You can walk,
12:23>> but are you walking together?
12:26>> That's good. That's good. That's good.
12:28>> Pastor, would you come here for a
12:29second? Give them your iPad. I want to
12:31demonstrate it here. Right.
12:36Here's what's happening to us in a
12:38society. Please stand right next to me,
12:40pastor. You go on this side. Okay. All
12:43right. What Amos is saying,
12:47for us to be in agreement,
12:50we have to be in sync. So, we have to
12:53walk together. So in your dating life,
12:57the person you're dating, both of you
12:59have to be in agreement. It doesn't mean
13:02that you are alike. You are the same
13:04because he should be a male and you
13:07should be a female.
13:15>> Yes, sir.
13:23>> [laughter]
13:28>> There's some differences.
13:31There will be, but you ought to be in
13:35agreement with where is this
13:36relationship going?
13:40>> Is there destination? Because we're
13:43kingdom citizen. Yes.
13:45>> So, how can two of us walk if it's not
13:49hidden to that destination? What about
13:52money? What about our future? If you're
13:55married, how can two walk? How can a
13:57couple walk together
14:00and not in agreement? Because what's
14:03happening in our world today is this is
14:07how we're living our lives. We're
14:08dating. We're married to people. We're
14:11functioning as a couple. Don't walk next
14:13to me. Yes. Come on. Just walk behind
14:15me. We're functioning as a couple. We're
14:18functioning as dating and we're doing
14:20business, but we're not doing it
14:23together.
14:26>> And what happens is because we're not in
14:29sync. You can go ahead pastor. We're not
14:31in sync. We're functioning and the the
14:35strain is on one.
14:40That's why there are women in this room,
14:42women who are watching, you you are
14:45screaming on the inside. You're hurting
14:48because yeah, you got somebody,
14:53>> but you're not in sync.
14:56>> So, the pressure is on you.
15:00>> So, you're functioning like you are one,
15:04>> but you're not together.
15:08>> Thank you, sir. Come on, give pastor a
15:09hand. So that's what Amos is saying
15:12here.
15:14All right. So growth changes your
15:17agreement. If you listen, if you want to
15:20grow as a person and a person of faith
15:24and as a kingdom citizen, you have to be
15:28serious about saying, "Whoever I'm
15:31walking with,
15:32>> we've got to be in agreement." Amen.
15:35>> Amen.
15:37>> Come on now.
15:38>> Amen.
15:39>> You have to be in [snorts] agreement
15:41because spiritual growth or growth
15:44changes your agreement. This means what
15:47you agree with in your spirit, your
15:50habits, your relationships must be in
15:52alignment with your personal pursuit in
15:56the will of God.
15:59>> So what are your personal pursuits?
16:02And the person that you have in your
16:04circle, whether the person you're dating
16:05in or you're married to or just being
16:08friends, you have to begin to ask
16:10yourself the question, are they in
16:12agreement with your habits?
16:15>> Are they in agreement with you as an
16:18individual in the relationship? Because
16:20you have personal GOALS. YOU CANNOT BE
16:23HUNGRY FOR God and want more of him and
16:26they don't want anything to do with him.
16:28Amen.
16:29>> You can't want to read your Bible, but
16:31they're tired, they're exhausted, or
16:33they don't want to do it. That you
16:34listen, you cannot be passionate to go
16:37to church, but every time they call you
16:40on a Friday night, can we go to the
16:41club?
16:43>> Yes, sir.
16:45>> Yes, sir. Yes, sir.
16:49>> Cuz for some reason, the church is now
16:52becoming more like the world.
16:57And what's what's what's disheartening
16:59about that is like we have no conscience
17:02about it.
17:04>> You know, I grew up at a time where
17:05where they made sure that we as kingdom
17:09citizen, we carried that culture. There
17:12ought to be something different about
17:13you.
17:14>> Amen.
17:16>> But now we're partnering and agreeing
17:18with people doing just about everything.
17:23Don't get quiet on me now.
17:27>> We dress like them.
17:29>> We talk like them. We act like them.
17:32>> And we're at the same place as they go.
17:37>> How can we be the light?
17:42How can you be in agreement with
17:43somebody in the club? You up in the club
17:45the same time with them. But I I ain't
17:48drinking.
17:52Really?
17:55>> I'm just I'm just at the club.
17:58My girlfriend just asked me to go with
17:59her.
18:01>> I'm the driver.
18:02>> I'm the driver.
18:07Look like you're talking on yourself
18:08here. I'm just
18:10I'm just messing with you. [laughter]
18:14Think about that. Now, you see, when
18:16your agreement changes, watch this. When
18:18your agreement changes also your company
18:22will change.
18:24>> The moment you say you know what I only
18:26want people in my life and around me who
18:29will push me to grow
18:32>> to walk in the will of God.
18:34>> Then all of a sudden your circle will
18:36change. Watch this. I try it. The moment
18:39you get serious about God, I mean really
18:42serious about God, all of a sudden there
18:45are some people who the enemy has
18:47assigned
18:48>> Come on, sir.
18:49>> to spiritually drain you.
18:52>> Now will turn on you.
18:54>> Who do you think you are?
18:59>> You're acting different.
19:03>> You know, why you so spiritual all of a
19:06sudden? Think think about that. Why are
19:09you so spiritual all of a sudden?
19:12>> Isn't that the goal?
19:15>> To be spiritual.
19:18>> Come on now. Look at Proverbs 13:20.
19:22Are you learning anything tonight?
19:25>> It says, "Walk with the wise and become
19:27what?"
19:28>> But what what happened? Read the latter
19:30part of it.
19:34So when you walk with wise people, the
19:36Bible says you will become what? That's
19:38how you gain wisdom. But if you keep
19:41walking with fools, [snorts]
19:44>> it's going to hurt you. So you have to
19:47ask yourself the question, who's in your
19:50inner circle?
19:53Who are your friends?
19:56>> Because please, I'm just reading the
19:58scripture, so don't be offended when I
20:00say this. Because if you're hanging out
20:03with fools,
20:07you may be you are probably a fool
20:10already.
20:13>> Or you'll eventually become one.
20:17>> What did I tell you? Sunday. Chickens or
20:20eagles don't hang out with what?
20:21Chickens.
20:24>> Come on now.
20:26So what you have to do is make sure that
20:29you're walking. You're walking when that
20:31word walking is that you're daily living
20:33life with wise people.
20:37Wise people.
20:40One of the reasons why God has blessed
20:42me with wisdom and I have the ability
20:46even from in my 20s to do some
20:49incredible things. I started this church
20:51at 27 and I've done some incredible
20:54things in my life. is simply because
20:56true story
20:5899% of the people who were in my inner
21:02circle and even to this day are always
21:04older people than me.
21:08>> I from I was a teenager I never hang
21:12around my age
21:15never.
21:17It was always older people.
21:20I'll be the one to sit, listen to them,
21:23hear them talk. There was a season in my
21:26life it didn't make sense because they
21:27were talking. You know, old people,
21:29especially Caribbean people, it was
21:30always parables.
21:34>> Come on now. You hear them and you're
21:37like, "What? What?" But as you got
21:39older,
21:41>> now you're like, "Okay,
21:46one one cocoa full basket.
21:49What is that?
21:50That's only for the Jamaican people.
21:54>> I didn't understand that till I got
21:56older. Okay. So, who are you hanging
22:00around?
22:03Because I'm telling you, the company you
22:05keep will determine the level of your
22:07success or the level of your failure.
22:13>> See, you you you can pretty it up. I'm a
22:15Christian. You know, you can go through
22:17the motions, speak in tongues, whatever.
22:20And maybe your motives are good, but
22:22your company will destroy you or build
22:25you. You see, growth may feel lonely at
22:30first
22:31because God is transitioning you from
22:35foolish circles to wise circles.
22:38The loneliness, watch this, is not
22:41punishment. Remember I ask you, God's
22:42not punishing you.
22:44The loneliness is not punishment. They
22:47want you to go back to growth feels
22:49lonely. That's what you want. Go back
22:51there for me, please. Growth feel lonely
22:55at first because God is transitioning
22:58you from foolish circles to wise
23:01circles.
23:02Then the foolishness that you feel is
23:06not punishment. It's what? Preparation.
23:11So if you're feeling like God,
23:14why am I in this
23:17isolated state of mind? Could it be that
23:20God is preparing you for something
23:22greater? Look at Hebrews uh 10 two
23:25verses 24 and 25.
23:28It says, "And let us consider how to
23:30what? Stir up one another to love
23:35and what? And good works."
23:37So what Paul is saying, the company you
23:40should be keeping
23:42is the company that will motivate you
23:46and ignite you to love and to good
23:51works.
23:53>> So the people in your circle, are they
23:56really people who love?
23:59And what kind of works what kind of
24:01works are they involved in?
24:04If if they're gossiping,
24:07backbiting,
24:08they're always negative, sneaky,
24:14>> you know, playing the victim.
24:20>> Come on now. Playing the victim and so
24:22forth. You got to be careful now because
24:25[clears throat]
24:26what Paul is saying here that you should
24:29consider, let us consider how to see
24:34when when I get around you, your faith
24:37should ignite my faith and together we
24:40can do great things cuz how can two walk
24:43if we're not in agreement,
24:45>> right? And then verse 25 says what? Read
24:48it. Come on. Verse 25. Put it up. Let's
24:50read it, everybody.
24:53together
24:59as we see
25:02>> the latter part of that verse [snorts]
25:04is talking about the last days
25:07as the last days are drawing near
25:10>> and we see it that's that's something we
25:12don't really talk about too much now in
25:14the church um because everybody's
25:18getting so sophisticated with their
25:20salvation.
25:21>> Yes, sir.
25:22um they're rewriting their own script
25:24and their own destiny. [snorts]
25:26>> So it's it's it's it's about miracles
25:29and power. It's about branding. It's
25:31about personality. It's all about that.
25:33Sometimes I tell you what, God is so
25:36missing in a lot of what we do.
25:40>> No Jesus in it.
25:41>> Jesus.
25:42>> And we forget that there is a day
25:44coming,
25:46the last day. Yes,
25:49>> that day when whether it's death or that
25:53day when we stand before God and have to
25:56give an account. And Paul is saying
26:00first of all, don't neglect coming
26:02together. That's why I applaud you guys
26:04when you come out on Sundays and when
26:06you come out on Wednesdays because he's
26:09saying don't ever neglect this because
26:12you're not going to get this at home.
26:16I promise you, if you stayed home and
26:18didn't stream, you're not going to get
26:20this. You don't have Bible study by
26:22yourself at home.
26:26Think about that. You don't. That's why
26:29when you hear people say, "Well, I don't
26:31need no church. I don't have to go to no
26:33church. I don't need no pastor in my
26:35life." ignorant to the word.
26:40>> And that's how the devil will trick you.
26:43Because Paul is saying, "Don't you ever
26:45forget the assembling of yourself." Why?
26:48Iron sharpens iron. You come here to be
26:51empowered. Because the last days are
26:53coming. And what Satan wants to do is to
26:56get you so isolated,
26:58[snorts]
26:59so connected with the wrong crowd
27:02>> that before you know it, you're
27:04drifting drifting drifting drifting
27:06drifting, drifting that it doesn't
27:09bother your conscience anymore. And all
27:11of a sudden
27:13that day comes
27:16>> and all you hear is depart
27:19>> from me.
27:23>> I don't know you.
27:26Have you ever gone up to somebody and
27:27they say, "Hey, how you doing? You know,
27:29are you you remember me?" And you're
27:31like,
27:33"And can I can I be honest? Can I I know
27:35I'm going to confess my sins right now.
27:38Like, how you doing, Bishop Hernandez?
27:40You remember me? Yeah.
27:43Yeah. Cuz honestly, I don't want him to
27:45feel bad and I need to stop lying on
27:47that. Lord Jesus.
27:50At least I'm telling you the truth.
27:53>> Yes, sir. Yes, sir.
27:54>> Because they they make it sound so
27:56convincing like you're supposed to know
27:58me
27:59>> and I don't.
28:01>> That's exactly how it's going to be on
28:03that last day.
28:07You go to church occasionally.
28:11You read your Bible occasionally.
28:14And you're going to go up to God. God,
28:16you remember me? OH, I WAS SAVED IN
28:181984. Jesus said, "I, you know, I wasn't
28:22so faithful with my tithe, but I I gave
28:25a lot. You know, God, I did all these
28:27things. I work. I dedicate." And he's
28:29going to look at you like, "Um,
28:32>> I don't know you.
28:36That's scripture. The God who created
28:38you and know every human on the earth is
28:42eventually going to say to you,
28:45>> "I don't know you,
28:47>> sir."
28:51Think about that. It's not that he
28:53doesn't KNOW YOU CUZ NOBODY can escape
28:57God.
28:58>> But he's saying, "I don't know you." In
29:00other words, I don't know you as a
29:02kingdom citizen.
29:07>> Are you with me here?
29:10>> So, God eventually connects you to
29:12people who will ignite your faith,
29:14motivate you to love, serve, and make
29:17big moves for him.
29:21If you are not with people who are
29:24igniting your faith to love, I'm telling
29:28you, those of you are watching now, if
29:31the people you're talking is constantly
29:33dogging people out
29:37>> and talking about all kinds of negative
29:39stuff, if you value your salvation, you
29:43need to run.
29:46>> You need to run,
29:49>> right?
29:50Because people should be motivating you
29:52to love.
29:54>> At some point in time, you got to be
29:56tired of gossip.
29:58>> Come on, man. At some point in time in
30:01your life, if you enjoy gossip, I'm
30:04telling you, something is wrong.
30:07>> At some point in time, you got to just I
30:09don't want to hear it no more.
30:12>> I'm at a different level.
30:16I I'm tired of talking negative about
30:19people,
30:20>> especially when you don't know them.
30:26>> And some of you are quick to believe the
30:28negative about people
30:31>> with no information.
30:34>> Hallelujah.
30:35>> Nothing. Your coworker comes to you and
30:38tell you about your uh coworker or
30:40something. You you haven't even
30:41validated it.
30:44Well, you just swallow it up and believe
30:46it.
30:49>> Come on. You don't even know. How many
30:51of you are guilty of believing something
30:54about somebody that you have no
30:56evidence, no facts? You just took it
30:59because they said it.
31:04>> Think about it.
31:06Paul is saying, ignite your faith by
31:09being around people who will motivate
31:11you to love and to serve and make big
31:14moves for God. So, here's the practical
31:16application. You need to ask yourself
31:18this question. Who am I walking with in
31:22this season?
31:24>> Who are you walking with? This is
31:26serious business. Who are you walking
31:29with in this season? Because time is
31:33[clears throat] winding down.
31:36And I'm not telling you to hate anybody,
31:39but I am telling you to separate from
31:42people
31:44>> who are not going to advance you in the
31:47kingdom of God. Gem number two,
31:51>> if you want to know that your motives
31:53are right and that you are heading in
31:55the right direction, you must test your
31:58motives against God's word.
32:04Right? Every one of us must always use
32:06the word to self- evvaluate.
32:09Right? Don't ever get to that place
32:11where you say to yourself, "Well, I'm
32:13good. You know, I'm a great Christian."
32:14No, you use the word to evaluate where
32:17you are. Because we live in a time where
32:20people say, "I follow." Watch this as we
32:22we all say it. I'm following my heart.
32:26But the word never teaches us to follow
32:28our heart.
32:30>> I'm just following what my heart says.
32:32That's dangerous.
32:35>> Because you have to ask yourself the
32:36question, but is your heart right.
32:41>> Come on now. The word teaches us that
32:45the heart can be what? Deceptive
32:48>> if it's not in alignment with God. So
32:50don't ever say, "I'm just following my
32:52heart when I'm dating somebody. I'm
32:54following my heart when I'm married to
32:55somebody. I'm following my heart when I
32:57spend my money. I'm following my heart
32:59when I No, no, no, no. because I don't
33:00know if your heart is right,
33:05but what does the word says? Now, let's
33:07go back to Amos chapter 7 7 and uh 8:es
33:137 and 8.
33:15Now, this one got me. I love this one.
33:19And I'm going to demonstrate something
33:20here in a minute.
33:22It says, "This is what he showed me.
33:27The Lord, again, he's giving you a
33:29revelation of what took place. The Lord
33:31was standing by a wall that had been
33:34built
33:36true to the plum. Plum, I'll explain
33:40that in a minute, with a plum line in
33:42his hand. And the Lord asked me, "What
33:47do you see, Amos?" He's having a
33:49conversation with God, this prophet. And
33:53he said, he replied, he said, um, a plum
33:56line. Then the Lord asked, 'Look, I am
34:01setting a plum line among my people,
34:04Israel. A plum line is a builder's tool
34:08that is used to measure straightness and
34:11alignment. All right, so let me
34:12demonstrate it here. Back in the olden
34:15days, they don't do really do it now.
34:18Now, I remember my dad, he was a
34:19carpenter. And I remember when he was
34:21building, I remember I used to do it. I
34:23used to hold the rope for him. And back
34:26in those days, a builder when they're
34:28building a building, they would drop a
34:31plum line
34:34and it is the plum line that they use to
34:37measure the straightness of the
34:40building,
34:41that the four corners of the building
34:44would be straight. So as they're put in
34:46blocks, this would guide them and so
34:49forth. So Amos is having a visitation
34:53from the Lord and the Lord is saying to
34:56him, I am setting a plum line among my
35:00people Israel. Why? Because the actions
35:04of Israel was not in alignment with
35:07God's word. They were lean.
35:10>> Yeah. Yeah.
35:13He expect them to line up to his word,
35:17to be straight and right with him. And
35:21all of a sudden, when he's looking at
35:22his people, something is off.
35:27Like us today,
35:30>> we're not measuring up to God's word,
35:34>> the plum line.
35:37>> We look like a church.
35:41We're saying we're a church,
35:44>> but are we straight like a church?
35:50>> Oh, I'm Christian, you know, and so
35:52forth. But our deeds, does it line up
35:57>> to the word of God? Because the only
35:59thing that can truly measure whether or
36:02not you're walking in righteousness is
36:04not your good works.
36:07>> It's not your dressing. It's not even
36:09how you talk
36:11>> because some of us are professional
36:13talkers.
36:16>> We we uh we know how to talk. That's why
36:18some of you women get tricked
36:26>> cuz the dude knew how to talk.
36:29That's why some of you men got tricked
36:38>> because she
36:39knows how
36:42to talk.
36:45She get you in that web, you are done.
36:53>> There's a saint I grew up with. Talk is
36:55what?
36:56>> Cheap.
36:59Whatever we do, is it in alignment with
37:02the word of God?
37:04That's the question. God's word is the
37:08plum line that measures, watch this, our
37:11motives,
37:13our decisions,
37:15and our direction.
37:17So, every time
37:20you are going to act on some, what's
37:22your motive?
37:23>> What is your motive? when you going to
37:26talk to that person, what's the motive?
37:30>> So remember, we can't live like the
37:32world.
37:34So young man, when you're going to talk
37:36to that young lady, what's your motive?
37:41Is it really to find a wife or just to
37:45get a good moment?
37:52>> The plum line.
37:54Come on. That's good.
37:56>> Young lady, when you see that gentleman,
37:59are you really looking for a godly man
38:04or are you just looking for
38:06>> a good moment?
38:12>> The plum line.
38:14>> That's it.
38:15>> What's your motive?
38:18>> What's your motive when you're saying
38:19you want to become a friend to that
38:21person?
38:22Is it just to get what you can
38:27>> or is it to serve?
38:31>> I WANT TO GET MARRIED. I WANT TO GET
38:32MARRIED. WHAT'S YOUR MOTIVE? IS IT JUST
38:34BECAUSE YOU'RE running out of time and
38:36society says by a certain age you're
38:38supposed to be married OR YOUR
38:41BIOLOGICAL CLOCK IS RUNNING out of time
38:43so you don't care what man you get, you
38:45just got to have a baby,
38:56>> am I okay? Is Is this all right for you?
38:58I mean, cuz some of you just looking at
38:59me like you're like
39:04Don't let me come in your row right now.
39:06You know,
39:07>> don't let me come in your row with this
39:09rope right now and ask you to stand and
39:12see if you measure up to this. Don't try
39:14me tonight.
39:20>> Think about that.
39:23Whatever we're doing, is it measuring
39:25up? How do you spend your money?
39:29Think of is it measuring up?
39:32>> If we tell the truth, a lot of us, this
39:34is our this God's word and this we're
39:37like way out here. We're not close.
39:41>> Come on now. Let's tell the truth. Are
39:43you hearing me?
39:45>> All right. Look at Psalm 139
39:4923 and 24. Let's read it together
39:51quickly, please. What it says.
40:00See if there's any offensive way in me
40:04and lead me in the way everlasting.
40:07That's the cry of the psalmist. Search
40:09me. Why? So that my heart will align
40:13itself up with the plum line. That
40:16>> there's nothing wrong. Listen, whenever
40:18the word comes to correct you and you
40:19feel guilty like maybe some of the
40:21teachings now, you know, it it's kind of
40:23in your face, it's a good thing.
40:26Because all it's doing is getting you
40:27closer to the plum line.
40:31>> Don't get so comfortable where when
40:34you're reading the word or hearing a
40:35sermon, nothing corrects you.
40:37>> Wow.
40:37>> It just makes you preach,
40:41>> sir.
40:43>> Cuz just waving your handkerchief and
40:45screaming and cuz some of us we love
40:47that and there's nothing wrong with
40:48that. But is that allowing us to measure
40:51up
40:53>> to God's word or are we just having a
40:55good time?
40:58>> Proverbs uh 16:2 says, "All a person's
41:01ways seem pure to them."
41:07>> But but it's your motive.
41:09All of your motives, God judge that. All
41:13right. There's a way that seems right,
41:15one scripture says, to a man. Gem number
41:18three. Let's go there quickly.
41:20The size of your faith and your mindset
41:24will determine the size of your motives
41:26or your moves, I should say, in every
41:28area of your life. Let me read it again.
41:30The size of your faith and your mindset
41:33will determine the size of your moves in
41:37every area of your life. So you will
41:40never make big kingdom moves with small
41:43fearful mindset.
41:45Hebrews 11:6 says, "Without faith is
41:48impossible to please God because anyone
41:51who comes to him must believe that he
41:54what? That he exists and that he rewards
41:58those who what? Earnestly seek him." So
42:01God will reward you if you seek him.
42:03Seek him mean you pray now. It may not
42:06work now
42:09but you keep seeking till you find him.
42:12>> Come on now. Have you ever put money in
42:14your house and you don't remember where
42:16you placed it?
42:17>> What do you do?
42:19>> You tear the house up.
42:22That's exactly what you do. You tear it
42:24up
42:27>> with your miserable self cussing at
42:28everybody.
42:30Cuz you got to find that money.
42:33>> Come on now. We change when money is
42:34involved. Come on now. Talk to me here
42:36now. Right? Cuz you going to tear that
42:39house up to find it. Why don't we just
42:42tear every part of our lives up
42:45>> until we find God?
42:47>> Yes.
42:50>> Come on now.
42:53Go after him with a passion
42:56because faith pleases God. Faith is the
42:59engine behind your big moves.
43:03If you come to his plum line, I
43:05guarantee you the things that God has
43:08for you, you'll start making big moves
43:12>> because you can't lose now. Cuz as long
43:14as you're straight with God, how could
43:16you make faith moves and it doesn't work
43:20cuz he's been waiting on you. He's been
43:23waiting on you to make those faith
43:25moves.
43:26that job, that career, that business.
43:30He's waiting on you to make the big
43:32moves.
43:35That financial increase you're waiting
43:37for. He's waiting for you to make the
43:38big moves. You hear it all the time,
43:41church. I know I've done it every
43:43Sunday. Challenge you to tithe,
43:45challenge you to give and so forth. But
43:48you will believe everything else. You
43:50will struggle in a service. Uh pastor
43:52asked for $100 and you know, some people
43:54get offended by that. um you know and
43:57you I can't tithe with whatever and you
43:59won't even do it. But I guarantee you
44:01you go home and you pick up your phone
44:03or you see a commercial Macy's is having
44:0550% sale
44:11>> because it's the heart.
44:12>> Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Yes, sir.
44:14>> Good.
44:14>> Where your treasure is,
44:17>> that's where your heart is. Trust me.
44:20Cuz when you want something bad enough,
44:22you going to make it happen.
44:24>> You will. situation.
44:26>> Come on. You see, God empowers us and
44:30his power is unlimited to us,
44:34but our mindset sometimes is just small.
44:38You know, you could have had that house
44:405 years ago.
44:44>> You could have had that house 10 years
44:45ago. I know. I've stood on this stage
44:48for years telling you if you could pay
44:51rent, you can pay a mortgage. I've been
44:54telling you that
44:56>> and 10 years have gone by and you're
44:59still in a rental property
45:02and you're still wondering and arguing
45:04with God why you're struggling so much
45:09because you just don't listen.
45:12You're not listening.
45:15You're allowing your feelings and all
45:17these negative thoughts to come into
45:18your head and the company you keep.
45:22So 10 years have gone by and you're
45:25still struggling and you have the
45:27audacity to to even blame look at other
45:31people being successful and putting your
45:33mouth on them. Rich people don't gossip
45:36>> about poor people.
45:42I have never seen a wealthy person
45:46sit around the table talking about
45:48people and their money and how broke
45:50they are, how rich they are. They're
45:52busy doing life.
45:57>> The people who make the people who the
45:59the the social media influencers,
46:01they're making a whole lot of money. But
46:04when you scroll and listen to the people
46:06who comment
46:08or people who can't pay their rent,
46:11and they pay
46:12>> now. Not everybody now. So before you go
46:15out there and post me on social media,
46:19>> get the point what I'm making.
46:21>> We're using too much energy in the wrong
46:24place.
46:27>> That's it.
46:29God is calling us to say trust him. Make
46:32big moves.
46:36Now it's more difficult for you because
46:3710 years ago before housing the housing
46:40price went up
46:43if you had just step out in faith and
46:46was around the right people.
46:50You could have had that house and have
46:5210 years of equity. And you may say,
46:54"Well, pastor, I didn't come here
46:55tonight to hear that. I just come here
46:57to get the spirit of God in me and I
47:00just want to worship." That's what
47:01Israel did when for 400 years they were
47:05in slavery. Listen to me.
47:09Some I I've learned this and this is
47:11what hurts. Some people love slavery.
47:20>> You know why? They don't have to do
47:22nothing. It's hand out.
47:26Israel for 400 years labored and owned
47:31nothing. And God says, "It's time to
47:34liberate you."
47:36AND THEY GOT SO excited and started
47:39leaving Egypt going, watch this, to the
47:42promised land. The promised land was
47:44never a spiritual thing. It was not a
47:47conference. It was not A TIME OF
47:50SHOUTING. IT WAS NOT A REVIVAL. THE
47:52PROMISED land was a piece of real
47:54estate. and kingdom citizens, we're
47:56missing it.
48:00>> Sir,
48:01>> we're missing this. I'm telling you,
48:03please listen to me. We're missing it.
48:06>> We're placed on the earth to do
48:08business.
48:11>> God said to Israel, "Go get the land.
48:14Land. Land. Property."
48:19because he knew if he gave them the
48:21land, watch this, them owning it,
48:23they'll have generational wealth.
48:27>> Because a good man leaves an inherit. IF
48:30YOU DON'T OWN NOTHING, HOW CAN YOU leave
48:33an inheritance? That's right.
48:35>> How?
48:39>> And so they were clapping and God had to
48:41stop them. Where you going?
48:43>> Where we going to the promised land? He
48:44said, go back.
48:46>> Go get the gold. Yeah.
48:50>> Go back and get the money you labored
48:52for.
48:52>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
48:54>> And take it with you.
48:56>> And the amazing thing, here's the power.
48:58I'm running out of time. Here's the
49:00powerful thing about the story. When
49:02they got the money, the journey that
49:05should have taken about 11 days, the
49:07story says, or so, took them 40 years.
49:10But watch this.
49:12Look at the sustainability of God. While
49:17in the wilderness,
49:20they had money.
49:21>> Yes, sir.
49:22>> But had no need to spend it.
49:25>> How would you like to live in a season?
49:27>> Yes, sir.
49:28>> Where you have it, [clears throat]
49:29but your money working for you
49:32>> and you not working for money.
49:37>> Do you understand? I mean, some of you
49:39maybe it's going over your head, but I
49:41really want you to get this, man.
49:44>> I really want you to get what God is
49:46offering you here.
49:49He's offering you unlimited resources.
49:53But you got to change
49:56>> and the people you hanging out
49:58>> with.
50:02If you go to them and you say, "Well,
50:03you know, I'm trusting God and I'm just
50:05believing God that I'm going to get out
50:07of debt." Child, I don't know how you
50:10run.
50:12>> Cancel that one.
50:14>> Cuz that's negative energy.
50:18>> I can do all things.
50:23>> Final one.
50:25Who you talk
50:28to can either encourage you
50:32or discourage you from making big moves.
50:37There is no such thing as neutral
50:42conversation.
50:45The people you talk to either ignite
50:47your faith or drain your courage.
50:52It's up to you.
50:54Proverbs 27:17 says, "What?" Iron
50:57sharpens
50:58>> iron. One person sharpens another. So
51:02the right people sharpen you. They re
51:05they what? Provoke you to grow, stretch,
51:08and step into faith. That's what they
51:12do. 1 Corinthians 15:33.
51:15Do not be what?
51:17Do not be what? Misled. Is it on the
51:20screen? Come on, work with me quickly.
51:23Do not be what?
51:25>> Because what?
51:28>> Because what?
51:31>> I can't hear you.
51:35>> So, what kind of company you keeping?
51:41Right. Do you have any? Because I mean,
51:44if you want good character, then then
51:46you got to get rid of that bad