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What If Being Unshakable Means Letting Go?

Kevin M. Tucker, Chloris Underwood Preached on 11/6/2025Psalm 46:10, Deuteronomy 31:6

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Summary

Pastors Kevin Tucker and Chloris Underwood teach that being 'unshakable' isn't about personal toughness, but about the total surrender of our will, plans, and weaknesses to God's sovereign authority. Using the life of Paul and the example of Jesus in Gethsemane, they demonstrate that true victory in life's storms comes when we stop trying to fix things ourselves and instead anchor our identity in Christ.

Key points
  • Unshakable faith is not the absence of a storm, but the presence of surrender in the middle of it. God uses trials as strategic tools to shape believers for a higher purpose and deeper ministry.
  • Kingdom culture approaches trouble differently than the world; while the world panics, citizens of the kingdom find stability by anchoring themselves in God's authority and constant presence.
  • True spiritual strength is found in acknowledging human weakness. When we stop trying to control outcomes through personal 'grit' or 'grind,' we allow the power of Christ to rest upon us.
  • Spiritual readiness requires wearing the 'armor of God' (Ephesians 6) at all times, specifically using the Word of God as a shield and sword to protect the mind from the enemy's false narratives.
  • Success in the kingdom often involves 'failing forward.' Failure is not a final destination but a process that deepens roots and builds the bravery necessary to fulfill one's divine assignment.
Scripture
Faith
Spiritual Growth
Surrender
Trials
Authority
Life application

This week, identify one area of your life where you are struggling for control (such as a timeline, a relationship, or a project) and consciously pray, 'Not my will, but Yours be done,' as an act of total surrender to God's authority.

Reflection questions
  1. What 'thorns' or storms in your life right now might God be using to build your spiritual authority and strength?
  2. In what areas of your life are you relying on your own 'grit' rather than surrendering the outcome to God?
  3. The sermon mentions that Jesus 'died in the garden' before he died on the cross. What do you need to let die in your own 'garden' of prayer so that God’s plan can move forward?
  4. How deep are your roots? When the winds of life blow, do you find yourself swaying with peace or falling over in panic?
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Full transcript
0:00Listen, I always love when we get to
0:02come into God's house and ex experience
0:04the presence of God. I'm going to invite
0:07you again to share the link with a
0:09friend or a family member or a colleague
0:12because I truly believe that tonight God
0:15has
0:17ordained this night to really empower
0:19you with knowledge, wisdom,
0:22understanding, and revelation.
0:25And so I have a I'm really excited
0:28because one of our very own
0:32y'all
0:33[Applause]
0:36[Music]
0:37[Applause]
0:47[Music]
0:49[Applause]
0:52listen, I I'm really excited because our
0:54very own minister Shaloris Underwood
0:58is
0:59[Applause]
1:01yeah
1:04she's joining me to teach tonight and if
1:07you have not heard her she is a dynamic
1:12teacher of the word of God.
1:16So
1:17we're going to get straight into what
1:20we're going to talk about tonight. And
1:23again, I want you to take notes or put,
1:26you know, you take them in your cell
1:27phone if you're writing, just jot them
1:28down. Um, I encourage you anytime you
1:31come to service,
1:33any service, take the opportunity
1:37to jot down the information.
1:41Because where the enemy comes
1:43is immediately after any service or any
1:46moment of empowerment that you get, he's
1:49coming to steal the seed of the word.
1:51Amen.
1:52>> And if he can steal the seed of the
1:54word, Miss Underwood, if he can steal
1:56the seed of the word, then we know
1:59that's a different shift in that battle
2:01that you're fighting. So, as we continue
2:04our series tonight, our series of
2:07unshakable. How many of you enjoying the
2:08series that just kicked off?
2:11>> Yeah. And so, tonight, we're not just
2:14talking about a theme. We're going to
2:16step into a kingdom reality.
2:19>> Amen. Um, we're grounding our faith in
2:23the truth that helps us stand firm and
2:26anchor. Somebody say anchors.
2:28>> Anchor
2:28>> anchors us when life tries to shake
2:31everything around us. And so when life
2:35tries to shake us, faith doesn't promise
2:38calm weather,
2:41but it does promise a steady and
2:43unshakable foundation.
2:46It does not suggest that everything will
2:48always be great and easy. But hopefully
2:52after tonight, you're going to walk out
2:54these doors knowing without a shadow of
2:56a doubt that you are firm and you're
2:59rooted and you're grounded and
3:01unshakable.
3:02>> And so this is not about your
3:04personality. It's not about your natural
3:06strength. It's not about the grit, the
3:08grind. It's not even about you
3:10pretending that you got it all together.
3:13The world says be strong,
3:16but then God says surrender.
3:20>> The world says hold it all together. And
3:23what does God says? Give it all to me.
3:27>> And so we really want to make sure that
3:30you understand tonight that unshakable
3:33faith is not the absence of a storm,
3:37but it is the presence of surrender in
3:40the middle of it. And so tonight, we're
3:42going we really going to take a moment
3:44in these next few minutes to really take
3:46a deep dive into talking about three
3:50fundamental keys or truth that will help
3:53you stay grounded when you face any
3:56storm. Cuz how many believe and know a
4:00storm is coming?
4:02>> You're going to face a storm. So our
4:04focus tonight is very very strategic
4:07um and simple. Unshakable faith
4:11unshakable isn't about your own strength
4:15but is about surrender completely to the
4:18one who never fails.
4:21>> That's what this whole conversation and
4:22this teaching is going to be about
4:24tonight. Helping you to understand that
4:27it's all about surrendering to the one
4:30who would never fail you. So before we
4:33talk about anything else tonight, I
4:35think we got to settle this truth in our
4:38spirit and in our hearts that storms
4:41will come. Bishop talked about this
4:44Sunday in his sermon, but Shalores, I
4:47want to take a moment just to kind of
4:49like expand upon what Bishop started and
4:52because I think before we can get to
4:54these key points, we got to set a
4:56foundation right?
4:57>> Yes, we do. And in our foundation, we're
5:00talking about
5:03surrendering
5:04to the one who never fails.
5:07>> How do you surrender to somebody?
5:10How do you really let go of everything
5:13and surrender to the one who never
5:15fails? This is God. How do we surrender
5:19to God? This is comes through revelation
5:22and it comes through relationship.
5:26Today when you came in here, you sat in
5:28them chairs.
5:30>> You didn't check to see if the bolts was
5:31working. You didn't check to see if any
5:34springs was loose. But you surrendered
5:36your body and you sat in that chair.
5:39>> Yes.
5:40>> That's how you're going to have to do
5:42with God.
5:44>> When you get into a relationship with
5:46God and you recognize who God is, when
5:49you know who God is, you can surrender
5:52to God because you know God will never
5:54fail you. He will never leave you. And
5:57if you got God on your side, no matter
6:00what circumstance you're in, you're a
6:02winner.
6:03>> You will come out on top.
6:05>> So tonight, the foundation has to be
6:09surrenderance is not an option.
6:12>> Not an option.
6:13>> It's a mandate.
6:16>> What you want from God is only going to
6:18come through surrenderance. So by the
6:21time we leave here tonight, you going to
6:23be saying, "I surrender. I'm giving it
6:27all to you."
6:28>> And you know, when when you um when just
6:31hearing you saying that God would never
6:33leave you brings me to Deuteronomy
6:3531 and 6 in the NIV version because I
6:38think this scripture right here is is is
6:41important. When you're facing any type
6:43of storm, be strong and courageous.
6:47>> Yes.
6:47>> This is what the scripture telling us.
6:49Be strong and courageous for the Lord
6:51your God goes with you. He will never
6:56somebody say never.
6:57>> Never.
6:58>> He will never leave you nor
7:01>> forsake you.
7:01>> forsake you.
7:02>> Yes.
7:03>> And that's crucial when you're in the
7:05storm because if you don't have that
7:06mindset and understand that revelation
7:10>> Yes.
7:10>> that when the storm come, he's not going
7:12to leave you, it'll be easy to just
7:15sink.
7:16>> Yes.
7:17>> And and fall. But I know you and I
7:19talked about God's authority as we're
7:21coming to know him, understanding his
7:24authority.
7:25>> Yes. When you're understanding God's
7:27authority, then you realize that God has
7:30rule over all.
7:32>> You can you imagine that this is the
7:35person that you're going to surrender
7:36to. He don't control some, he controls
7:41all. He created the entire earth and he
7:45created you. Sometimes we make God human
7:51and we forget that God is God.
7:54We forget that God knows everything
7:56about us in every situation and that God
7:59can't lie cuz whatever he says it shall
8:03be.
8:04>> Amen.
8:04>> Because when he speaks there's life in
8:08his words and as he speak things
8:11transform. The key is you got to hear
8:14God's word and hear what he speaks. When
8:16you know what God says, you can
8:18surrender to him because you know it's
8:19for sure and it's absolutely going to
8:22happen.
8:23>> Man, this is this is already blessing
8:25me.
8:26>> But just we just here we want to set
8:29this foundation because this leads us
8:30into the very first point that we want
8:33to make which is kingdom culture handles
8:37storms differently.
8:40Kingdom culture handles storms
8:43differently. We do not approach storms
8:46in the way that the world approaches as
8:48if we don't know who's finally in
8:50charge.
8:52>> We don't we don't fear when storms come.
8:55We don't panic. I know sometimes we
8:58naturally do. But as citizens of the
9:02kingdom of God, our goal is to grow to a
9:05place where when the storms of life hit
9:08us,
9:09>> even when it's unanticipated
9:12or unexpected, that we don't flunder
9:17>> and just start scattering. So we want to
9:20make sure that you understand that
9:21storms are absolutely inevitable.
9:24>> Yes.
9:25>> So you shouldn't be surprised by them.
9:27>> Yes. They are in I mean literally
9:30somebody's going to walk out of here
9:32tonight facing a storm. Let me see by
9:35the raises of your hand how many of you
9:36right now are in a storm that you
9:38believe.
9:40>> Y'all look around.
9:42That's more than 50% of the room
9:47that's in a storm or at least they
9:49believe they're in a storm right now.
9:51More than 50%. And so we want to make
9:54sure you understand that faith is going
9:56to give you the strength to endure and
9:59overcome. But I think it's important
10:02that you understand that God will use
10:05the storm as a tool.
10:08>> Yes,
10:09>> he's going to use the storm as a tool.
10:12Perhaps the very thing that you might be
10:14running away from or trying to escape
10:18could be the very storm that God may
10:21have divinely ordained and position you
10:25to be in for something greater than what
10:27you can even see right now.
10:30>> Here's the other thing, Pastor Kevin.
10:32When we talking about a storm, sometimes
10:36it's our perspective and our view. Mhm.
10:38>> When we study the word of God, storms
10:41are necessary.
10:44>> Sometimes we run from storms. But storms
10:47are necessary.
10:49When you go through a storm, that storm
10:53will shape you for a higher purpose. It
10:56has shape you for deeper ministry. And
10:59it also causes God's power to rest upon
11:02you.
11:03Sometimes we run from the things God is
11:06trying to use to build us.
11:08>> I want to give you an example. Let's
11:11talk about the thorn in the flesh. When
11:15we talk about the thorn in the flesh in
11:172 Corinthians 2 and 12, this is the
11:21story.
11:23We're very familiar with it. We hear the
11:25story all the time. And sometimes we
11:29don't go back and look at all the
11:31scriptures to support the story. The
11:34main scripture that we always are used
11:36to hearing is my grace is sufficient for
11:39thee for my strength is made perfect.
11:44For my strength is made perfect in
11:47weakness.
11:48But let's talk about this in reference
11:50to storms. If I back it up in this
11:53chapter in 2 Corinthians chapter 12, if
11:56I start at verse 7,
11:59it says,
12:03"And least I should be exalted above
12:07measures through the abundance of the
12:10revelations.
12:12There was given me a thorn in my flesh."
12:18How many people know what a thorn really
12:20is?
12:23Sometimes we say it, we talk about it,
12:27but do we really know what it is?
12:30This thorn was given to him.
12:32>> It was allowed to be by God. When you
12:35read this scripture, it says the thorn
12:38was the messenger of Satan
12:42to buffet me,
12:44>> least I shall be exalted above measures.
12:47So God allowed a storm to come.
12:50Sometimes you got a thorn in you and you
12:52running from the thorn but you need the
12:54thorn.
12:56>> And so what you need to understand is as
12:59you go on to study read it says for this
13:03thing I besought the Lord thrice that he
13:07might depart it from me and he said unto
13:10me my grace is sufficient for thee for
13:14my strength is made perfect in weakness.
13:18Most gladly, therefore, will I rather
13:21glory in infirmity, that the power of
13:24Christ may rest upon me.
13:27>> So, when you're in a storm,
13:30>> that storm is to get power from God.
13:33>> So, if you run from it, you're running
13:36from getting the power.
13:37>> Wow.
13:39>> How many of us are asking God, I want
13:41your glory.
13:43>> I want your anointing.
13:45>> He said, well, you got to go through the
13:47storm.
13:48I might got to give you a thorn.
13:51You got to deal with the thorn. You got
13:54to handle the thorn. You got to handle
13:56it. You know what? I feel like I've had
13:59so many thorns in my life.
14:02Like seriously, I feel like I've had so
14:05many thorns in my life. And I know I was
14:07like Paul like God take this thing away
14:10from me. And you see in in that in that
14:12passage where Paul is saying three
14:15different times, God, take it away. Take
14:16it away. taken away. And regardless of
14:19the state of his desperation for that
14:22thorn to be removed,
14:24>> you don't see where God changed his
14:25mind.
14:26>> No.
14:27>> Every time he said it, God responded,
14:30"Paul, my grace is enough." Yes.
14:35>> But if but if but if you're not trusting
14:38>> in the one that has created everything,
14:41if you haven't built the relationship
14:43with him, as we talked about in the
14:45beginning, to really understand who he
14:48is, you're not going to be able to
14:50recognize
14:51>> that this storm is something that God
14:53allowed. But you think it's Satan trying
14:56to destroy you for his own works when
14:57God is saying, "Hold up. I'm about to
14:59let them go through a storm that I
15:01already know I'm going to protect them
15:02in." Amen.
15:04>> And so when you look at verse if you
15:06look at verse the the next part of that
15:08verse says most gladly
15:10>> therefore I would rather glory in my
15:14infirmities.
15:17The power may rest on me. And then we go
15:19down to the 10th verse says, "Therefore
15:22I take pleasure in my infirmities, in
15:25reproaches, in necessities, even in
15:28persecutions,
15:29in distress for Christ's sake. For when
15:34I am for when I am weak, then I am
15:37strong because it is the power of God
15:40that makes you strong."
15:42>> So remember, this is not about your own
15:45natural strength. Amen.
15:47>> The only way that you're going to tap
15:49into this level of power, Minister
15:52Underwood, you have got to surrender
15:54>> 100%. You got to surrender.
15:56>> You have got to surrender and know that
15:58though the storm is coming, you got to
16:00condition your mindset.
16:03>> How do we even condition our mindset
16:06for the storm? You know what? When you
16:09think of this, think of this. God is all
16:12knowing. God knows the end from the
16:14beginning.
16:16So, think of this about a storm.
16:20We live in South Florida in hurricane
16:24season.
16:26We all know hurricane hurricane season
16:28starts in which month?
16:30>> And it ends in November. How many people
16:33prepare for hurricane season?
16:37>> Oh Jesus,
16:39help us Lord.
16:44That's what happens in the storm.
16:46>> Wow.
16:47>> That's what happens in the storm. Now,
16:49the word of God says storms are coming.
16:52>> He already told us storms are coming.
16:55How many of you really prepare for
16:57storms to come?
17:00>> Sometimes it could be a hurricane that
17:02you got time to prepare, but sometimes
17:05it might be a tornado.
17:07>> And if you ain't prepared, you ain't
17:09going to survive.
17:11See, this session tonight
17:14is to get you on the corner of your
17:16seats and realize I need to surrender
17:19cuz I need to be ready for the storms.
17:22>> See, when you're a kingdom mind and you
17:24think kingdom mind, you realize I'm an
17:30overcomer.
17:31>> So, if the storm is coming, I got God
17:34with me. I got the power to win.
17:36>> The storm is not coming to overtake me.
17:40It's coming to bring something out of
17:42me.
17:43>> Because out of every storm that you go
17:45through, it's going to produce a seed.
17:49>> Every storm produces a seed.
17:52>> You need the storm. It helps you to
17:55grow.
17:57>> If if we all look back over our lives
18:00and think about a storm, it was horrible
18:02when you went through it,
18:04>> but when you came out of it,
18:06>> you say, "God, I thank you. I went that
18:08way. Here's the case. I'm sitting on
18:12this stage today cuz I went through some
18:14storms.
18:15>> It wasn't easy to get here. But I got
18:18here.
18:18>> But you got here
18:19>> cuz I went through some storms.
18:22>> And so if you want to conquer your
18:25fears, you got to go through a storm.
18:28That's what tonight is about. Tonight is
18:30you need to leave here knowing I'm a
18:32winner. As long as God is on my side,
18:36>> if he is with me, I can win this storm.
18:40He says the it's the word of God says
18:42the Lord is my shepherd. I shall not
18:45want.
18:46>> There's nothing you should want for when
18:48God is your shepherd.
18:50>> You need to ask yourself, is God really
18:51my shepherd
18:53>> or am I shephering on somebody else?
18:56>> Cuz when God is your shepherd, you don't
18:58have no wants.
18:59>> You don't have no wants. And that and
19:01that takes me to John 16:33.
19:04John 16:33 says this, the NIV version.
19:06It says this, "I have told you these
19:10things
19:12so that in me you may have peace."
19:16>> Yes.
19:17>> In this world, you will have trouble.
19:20>> Yes.
19:21>> Like they're letting us know
19:23>> trouble is coming. Is it's they're
19:26giving the scripture is giving us
19:28information. We're being told the things
19:31so that we can properly prepare. But
19:32this is because see when WHEN STORMS
19:34COME, YOU GOT TO KNOW how to manage the
19:37moment. And he says, "But take heart.
19:40>> I have overcome." So when Minister Shal
19:43just said, you're already a winner. You
19:45got to understand
19:48it is totally how you think and you how
19:51you perceive the storm. When you're
19:53talking about being prepared for the
19:55storm,
19:56do anybody know what you supposed to put
19:59on to be ready for a storm?
20:03>> Yes.
20:05>> Supposed to put on your armor.
20:07>> Do y'all know what Ephesians 6 and 10
20:09says?
20:11>> Yes. Come on now.
20:13>> Let me read this.
20:14[Music]
20:16>> Ephesians 6, chapter 6, verse 10 through
20:1918 says, "Finally." Somebody say,
20:21"Finally." Finally.
20:23>> Finally, my brethren, number one, be
20:25strong in the Lord.
20:27>> Yes.
20:27>> And in the power of his might,
20:31>> put on the whole armor of God. Yes.
20:34>> Why? That ye may be able to stand
20:37against the ws of the devil.
20:40>> Yes. For we wrestle not against flesh
20:43and blood, but against principalities,
20:47powers, against the rulers of darkness
20:50of this world, against spiritual
20:52wickedness in high places.
20:56Wherefore take unto you the whole armor
20:59of God, that ye may be able to withstand
21:03in the evil day. Having all, having done
21:08all, what do you do?
21:09>> Stand. Then we go to the next verse. It
21:12says, "Stand therefore having your loins
21:15girth about with truth."
21:17>> Yes.
21:19>> "And having on the breastplate
21:21>> of righteousness,
21:23>> "And your feet shard with the
21:25preparation of the gospel of peace."
21:27>> Yes.
21:27>> And then it says this, "But above all,
21:30>> yes,
21:31>> taking the shield of faith."
21:33>> Yes. wherewith you might be able to
21:35quench every fiery dart of the wicked
21:39one.
21:40>> Yes.
21:41>> And take the helmet
21:42>> of salvation
21:43>> of salvation. This is what's GOING TO
21:44GUARD YOUR THOUGHT LIFE. THIS IS WHAT'S
21:46GOING TO GUARD YOUR MIND. THIS IS WHAT'S
21:48GOING TO GUARD YOUR PERSPECTIVE. SO WHEN
21:50THE STORM COME, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE
21:52SWAYED from the right to the left.
21:53You're going to put on the helmet of
21:55salvation and the sword of the spirit,
21:57which is the word of God.
21:59>> Yes.
21:59>> You said earlier the seed.
22:01>> Yes. the seed.
22:03>> THE WORD OF GOD IS THE SEED. Satan is
22:06coming for the seed of the word.
22:09>> And this is what you do when you're in
22:11the storm,
22:12>> praying always.
22:14>> Yes.
22:15>> With supplication in the spirit and
22:18watching unto with all perseverance
22:22and supplication for all the saints. So
22:25when we're in the storm, we will not be
22:27shaken.
22:28>> Amen.
22:29>> We're not going to be shaken shaken.
22:31You're not going to be shaken by
22:33personal identities. You're not going to
22:35be shaken by your relationships. You're
22:38not going to be shaken by the lack of
22:40money or finances, marital issues.
22:43Nothing should be able to shake you when
22:45you put that armor on. And can I tell
22:47you, you're not supposed to take it off.
22:51>> So, so let me ask this question
22:54>> cuz I like to put it to you so you can
22:56apply it. Who has on the armor?
23:00How many people have on the armor?
23:03How many people know how to put it on?
23:08>> So, here's the thing. When Pastor Kevin
23:11is talking about the different pieces of
23:14the armor, what he's saying is, do you
23:17have enough word to cover you? See,
23:20remember this.
23:21>> That's it.
23:21>> God already told us a storm is coming,
23:25>> but he gave you the tools necessary to
23:27win. But you can't win if you ain't got
23:30it.
23:31>> If you don't have the armor on, you're
23:34not going to win.
23:36>> He gave you the tools necessary.
23:39>> So each and remember this,
23:42the armor of God is protecting you.
23:46>> It's only one piece that you fight the
23:49enemy with. And what is that?
23:51>> With the sword, the word of God.
23:53>> The sword of the spirit.
23:54>> Everything else is fighting you. It's
23:56holding you. So what he's telling you
23:59is, let's flip it around. He's telling
24:02you where the enemy going to fight you
24:03at. He's saying you better put on a
24:06helmet cuz he coming for your mind.
24:09>> So if you don't got that helmet on, he
24:12coming to get your mind. And what does
24:14the word say? So as a man do what?
24:16>> Think it.
24:17>> So is he.
24:19>> The scripture says, so as a man
24:21thinkketh in his own heart, so is he.
24:23Right? So you can only become what you
24:25allow your mind
24:27>> to develop and to think. This is why you
24:30got to guard your thoughts.
24:32>> Yes.
24:32>> Now if it gets in your heart, HE SAYS
24:34FROM THE ABUNDANCE OF THAT same heart,
24:37>> the mouth will begin to speak because
24:39it's so rooted in your heart. But when
24:41it GETS IN YOUR HEART, WHAT'S THE NEXT
24:43THING THAT HAPPENS?
24:44>> You begin to speak it. And the Bible
24:46says life and what? Death is in the
24:49power of your tongue. and you will eat
24:52the fruit thereof. This is why you HAVE
24:54GOT TO PUT YOUR ARMOR ON and guard YOUR
24:57MINDSET TO PROTECT YOUR PERSPECTIVE SO
25:00YOU'RE NOT BLINDED by the enemy.
25:03>> Amen.
25:04>> Listen, I'm just blessing you tonight.
25:06>> So, when you leave here tonight,
25:09make sure you have a scripture for each
25:13piece of armor.
25:15>> Make sure you go back and look at it.
25:18For each piece of armor, you should have
25:20a word of God attached to it. So when
25:23the enemy comes to try you, you got a
25:26word to stand on.
25:28>> Because remember what did Jesus say when
25:30Satan came to him? He say, "It is
25:33written."
25:34>> That's what you need to be saying when
25:36they come. It is written because we
25:39stand on God's word.
25:41>> And you know what? That's what that's
25:42what 1 Corinthians 16:13 says. Be on
25:45guard.
25:46>> Yes. So that means you should already be
25:49anticipating and looking
25:51>> yes for the storm and being on guard
25:55stand firm in faith. And then
25:57Corinthians remind us we don't live by
26:00sight. We live by what?
26:02>> Faith.
26:02>> Yes.
26:03>> And so I want to go into our next point
26:06for tonight. Our next point is and if
26:09you're taking notes this down being
26:12unshakable is not about personal
26:15strength.
26:18Being unshakable
26:20is not about personal strength. I think
26:24the the challenge that we have sometime
26:26is that many Christians think being
26:29strong means having everything under
26:30control.
26:32[Music]
26:34>> This walk with God has absolutely
26:37nothing to do about your own personal
26:40strength. In fact, the scripture tells
26:42us,
26:43>> yes,
26:43>> that we are supposed to die to ourself
26:46so that the power of Christ can live in
26:49us.
26:49>> Yes.
26:50>> So, this life in Christ is not about our
26:53own personal strength, your own personal
26:56knowledge, everything that we're going
26:57to achieve as a follower of Jesus
27:00Christ. It's based on us surrendering
27:03totally totally to him. And so I want to
27:07go to Psalms 61 and you don't have to
27:09put it up, but I just want to read this.
27:11From the ends of the earth I call to
27:13you. I call as my heart grows faint.
27:18Lead me to the rock that is higher than
27:21I.
27:22>> Yes.
27:23>> When you're feeling weak
27:25>> and where you feeling faint,
27:28>> you got to call on Jesus.
27:30>> Yes.
27:31This is not y'all. I wish you really
27:33understand. This is not the time to
27:35pretend like you good.
27:39>> This is not the pretend like nothing is
27:42wrong with you and you got it all
27:43together. Do you know how powerful you
27:46are when you acknowledge that you're
27:48weak?
27:49>> Yes. Yes. See, the world has taught us
27:52to say we weak. Oh, we're not good
27:56enough. you too. Even men,
28:00>> it's hard to say that we're weak cuz we
28:02feel like we got to be strong in
28:04everything.
28:06>> But there's absolutely no way that the
28:09power of God's strength can be shown
28:12when you're trying to be strong in
28:13everything.
28:15>> I've made up my mind, Shalores, that I'm
28:20going to delight in being weak cuz it
28:22took me a minute to get to that to to
28:24get to where Paul was. It took me It
28:26took me years to get to that place where
28:28I can say, "You know what, man? I ain't
28:29tripping over this."
28:31>> Yes.
28:32>> I'm going to ride this wave of storms
28:34out because, as you said, it's about to
28:37bring me something.
28:38>> Yes.
28:38>> And when you understand that you don't
28:41have to do it in your own strength, you
28:44remove the burden to fix it.
28:46>> Yes. The problem is a lot of people are
28:50carrying an unnecessary burden because
28:53you're being strong in the area when God
28:54already told you to let it go.
28:56>> Absolutely.
28:59>> Yes.
29:02>> Holding on to it will break you.
29:05>> It will literally break you. But the
29:08surrender to God will build you.
29:11>> Yes, it will build you.
29:12>> Take your hands off it.
29:16There's somebody that's watching online
29:18and in here tonight and I'm telling you,
29:21God is saying, "Take your hands off it.
29:25Surrender to him and let that thing go."
29:28In fact, this is what I want to do right
29:30here. Uh, Minister Shores, I want to put
29:32a survey up. We got one survey question
29:34that we want to put up tonight.
29:37And I want everybody to scan this
29:39survey, but this question is, "What is
29:41the hardest? What area is hardest for
29:44you to surrender to God?
29:47And we're going to come back in a few
29:48moments to talk about those results. But
29:51again, that question is, what area is
29:55hardest for you to surrender to God?
30:00And I and I know that's going to be an
30:02interesting I'm looking forward to those
30:04results because it's going to show us a
30:06lot about where we really need to grow
30:09in the word of God and use that armor.
30:12>> Yes. and that and that seed.
30:13>> Yes.
30:15While we're while you're doing the
30:16survey, let's talk about some other
30:19challenges.
30:22Sometimes
30:23we get false narratives.
30:27>> And sometimes when we get a false
30:29narratives, it affects our perception
30:32and therefore we make wrong choices.
30:36I'm going to give you an example.
30:40Sometimes we believe,
30:44how many people believe failing is good?
30:49>> Raise your hand high.
30:50>> If you believe failing is good.
30:53>> Okay. All right.
30:54>> How many people think
30:58failing is not so good?
31:01>> Okay.
31:01>> Okay. So, let me say this.
31:06The world teaches us or make us believe
31:10that failure is bad
31:13but failure is necessary.
31:17>> When you fail,
31:20failure gives you an opportunity to
31:22improve.
31:27What happens is we think failure is the
31:30end
31:31>> but failure is a process
31:35>> because I have to fail my way into
31:37success.
31:39>> There is no invention that has ever been
31:42made that did not fail several times
31:47before they found the winner. Right.
31:50>> And so that's the same principle we have
31:52to have for ourselves.
31:55You got to transform your mind.
31:58>> So as a man thinkketh, so is he. You got
32:00to believe just because I fail doesn't
32:03mean I'm going to stay down.
32:06>> When I fall, it's going to teach me
32:09something. I need to learn from my
32:13failure so that next time I go a little
32:16bit further.
32:18Sometimes we fall and we don't get up.
32:22>> Sometimes we get we get in a pity party
32:25>> and we feel sorry for ourselves cuz we
32:27have the wrong narrative.
32:29>> The wrong narrative is failure is not
32:32good for you.
32:34When you have failure in the right
32:36perspective
32:38that you learn from the failure, you can
32:41grow from the failure
32:43>> because you progress to winning. Okay.
32:48And so let me give you an example.
32:52I like to read this quote
32:55that Michael Jack Michael Jordan wrote.
32:58He said it.
33:01He said,
33:03"I missed more than 9,000 shots in my
33:07career.
33:09I've lost almost 300 games.
33:1326 times I was trusted to take the
33:17gamewinning shot and missed.
33:20>> I failed over and over again in my life
33:25and that is why I succeeded.
33:28>> Wow.
33:30>> You need to just think about that. Look
33:33at how many times we would consider he
33:35failed, but that's what helped him to
33:37win because each time he got better.
33:42I'm going to read one more quote from
33:45Napoleon Hill and it says, "Every
33:48adversity,
33:50every failure, every heartbreak carries
33:54with it a seed of equal or greater
33:57benefits."
34:00So, you got to remember no matter what
34:03you're going through, there's a seed
34:05that you can grow from.
34:07You know, when a storm comes in life,
34:11if a hurricane comes, if you learn the
34:13anatomy of a tree, when a when a
34:16hurricane comes, the tree roots go
34:19deeper
34:21to try to hold the tree to make sure it
34:24doesn't fall over so that it'll just
34:26move from side to side. You got to ask
34:29yourself, how deep are your roots?
34:31Jesus.
34:33>> Are your roots deep enough to keep you?
34:36>> So when the storm come, you'll just sway
34:39>> or will you fall over?
34:44>> Listen, man. When I tell you and I'm and
34:46I'm I'm sitting here thinking about that
34:48failure piece because this is what I've
34:50learned. There's been moments in my
34:53life, Lord, where I have been completely
34:55discouraged over failure to the point
34:58that I didn't want to try again.
35:01until I realized that failure was proof
35:05of how brave I already was.
35:06>> Yes. Yes. Yes.
35:09>> While many of y'all are being
35:10discouraged over the failure, you're
35:13overlooking the fact that you already
35:15stepped out.
35:16>> Yes. That one moment of failure should
35:21it should pivot you into the next moment
35:24of failure, the next moment of failure,
35:26the next moment of failure, the next
35:28moment of success. That's right.
35:30>> That's how it happened. So when I
35:32started realizing, wait a minute,
35:34>> bro, I'm already brave.
35:38>> I failed, but I was confident enough to
35:40experience failure.
35:42>> And because I got something out of that
35:44moment of failure, it provoked me to try
35:46again.
35:47>> That's right.
35:47>> That's right.
35:48>> And then when I realized that he was
35:51already with me in my moment of failure,
35:54>> when you realize that God is with you,
35:56you will never stop. Come on.
35:58>> You got to know that when you're facing
36:00calamity,
36:02you're facing moments of distress, and
36:04you're facing that storm. It leads me to
36:07point number three.
36:08>> Yes.
36:10>> Unshakable faith comes from complete
36:13surrender.
36:17>> If you truly want to be unshakable,
36:21you have to completely surrender. Now,
36:26when you think about what surrendering
36:27looks like, when Jesus was headed to the
36:30cross, he didn't die on the cross.
36:34He died in the garden.
36:38>> I was talking to my mama. We was talking
36:40about this a few days ago.
36:41>> Yes.
36:43>> And she was like, Kevin, you know, he
36:44died in the garden. We was Yes, he's
36:46died in the garden. How did he die? He
36:49gave up his own will.
36:50>> Yes. He gave up his own will.
36:52>> He gave up his own will in the garden.
36:54By the time he got to the cross, it was
36:56already finished.
36:57>> That's right.
36:59>> See, the storm is the perfect place
37:04to surrender your will to God.
37:06>> Yes. If if you're really going to
37:09experience unshakable faith, then it it
37:11requires complete surrender. That's why
37:15Jesus was able to surrender because he
37:17trusted God. He himself struggled like
37:20we struggle. That's why he says,
37:22"Father, if it be your will,
37:25>> yes,
37:25>> take this cup away from me." Now, when
37:28you read the text, it was really talking
37:30about the cup of suffering.
37:32>> Yes.
37:33>> He was experience experiencing
37:35excruciating pain,
37:38a moment of distress and suffering that
37:40we probably couldn't really identify
37:43with what he experienced. And he said,
37:45"Father, if it be your will." Now, he
37:47knew it wasn't God's will, but that was
37:49just his expression
37:52>> in human form of how challenging it was
37:55in that moment. And he said, "But
37:58nevertheless,
37:59nevertheless,
38:01>> not my will." Why? Because God gives us
38:05free will. Even though God has a plan
38:08FOR YOUR LIFE, IT'S YOUR CHOICE IF
38:10YOU'RE GOING TO SURRENDER.
38:11>> YES. It's your choice.
38:14Just because God will order YOUR STEPS
38:16DON'T MEAN YOU going to follow the
38:17steps.
38:18>> That's right.
38:19>> He said the steps of a good man are
38:21ordered and directed by God. IF I
38:24STARTED WALKING, IT'S UP TO YOU TO WALK
38:26IN THE SAME FOOTPRINT.
38:27>> YES.
38:28>> YOUR STEPS COULD BE ORDERED, BUT IT'S
38:30YOUR CHOICE to surrender to God and
38:33follow the footprint.
38:34>> That's right.
38:35>> If you don't surrender, then there's a
38:36way that seems right unto a man.
38:39>> Yes.
38:39>> But the end thereof is destruction.
38:42SURRENDER WILL PROTECT YOU from being
38:44destroyed.
38:45>> Yes,
38:46>> 100%.
38:47>> Listen, I just felt that thing.
38:49>> Yes, you did. You felt that thing.
38:50>> I just felt that thing.
38:53>> And let and let me say this one thing
38:56in reference to that story that makes
38:59you think about accountability.
39:03>> In the garden, Jesus understood that God
39:07had given him an assignment.
39:10The assignment he had was
39:13transformational for the world. If he
39:16had not died to himself, we wouldn't be
39:19sitting here today.
39:22>> Be because he died to himself,
39:25>> we got a right to the tree of life.
39:29>> Who are you stopping
39:31because you won't deal with the storm?
39:35because you break under pressure
39:37>> and you won't die to yourself. Everybody
39:41is assigned to something and someone.
39:44There's somebody God going to let walk
39:46past you that you got to minister to,
39:49encourage to, and give them a word.
39:51Sometimes people don't make it to the
39:53church house. You're the church out
39:56there.
39:57[Applause]
40:00>> So when they come cross you, you got to
40:02be ready.
40:04So you got to die to yourself so God's
40:06will can be done.
40:08>> When God's will is done, then you can
40:11get to the cross. Cuz understand this,
40:15Jesus greatest glory was in his death.
40:20>> He got resurrection power
40:22>> in his death.
40:23>> In his death.
40:25>> So you need to die so you can get some
40:28power.
40:30As long as you hold on to it,
40:32>> you holding on to yourself power. You
40:35need God's power. You got to die to
40:37yourself so that God can step up in you.
40:42>> So you got to make a decision today.
40:44>> You got to die.
40:46>> Today you can't leave here without
40:48saying, "Lord, let me surrender cuz I
40:50want you and I want your power." Cuz
40:53when you get God's power, let me tell
40:55you, you ain't got to worry about
40:58somebody giving you something poisonous.
41:00Cuz when you got God power, he going to
41:02cover you. You ain't got to worry about
41:05somebody speaking something against you.
41:08Cuz when you got God's power, it covers
41:11you.
41:12>> I'm surrounded.
41:15>> You hear me? You got to be surrounded.
41:19>> That's only when you die.
41:21Only when you surrender your will to
41:24God's will.
41:28>> Listen, surrendering to God's will. Uh
41:31the the survey results are are ready. So
41:34let's take a look at these. Let's let's
41:36take a look at the results and see. All
41:37right. So the question was, what area is
41:40the hardest for you to surrender to God?
41:45So, the hardest area
41:48>> is my plans and my timeline.
41:52>> Next was my emotions. And then almost
41:55close was relationships and people I
41:59care about it. You know what? Most y'all
42:01don't have no problem submitting your
42:02money to God.
42:05[Applause]
42:08>> So, we got a good offering tonight.
42:14That's right.
42:17>> But that's serious when you talk about
42:19the plans because the Bible says in
42:21Jeremiah,
42:22>> for I know
42:25>> Yes.
42:25>> the thoughts and the plans
42:28>> that I have for you. Thoughts that not
42:30are that are not evil,
42:33>> but they are good. And the expectation
42:35is I'm going to give you a future and an
42:38expected end.
42:39>> Yes. Yes.
42:40>> So, I'm going to encourage all of you
42:41that are struggling right now with
42:43submitting your plans to God.
42:45>> The Bible even tells us, Lord, submit
42:47our plans to God, and he will establish
42:49them.
42:50>> Yes.
42:54>> Could it be that some of you guys got
42:55plans that doesn't fall in line with
42:57God's divine will for your life?
42:59>> Yes. Yes.
43:01>> You need to be able to recognize and
43:04discern, is this the plan of God or is
43:06this just my own personal desire? Jesus
43:10>> because you want to be in God's perfect
43:12and divine will.
43:14>> So I I'm encouraging you tonight through
43:16these three key points that we've talked
43:18about. As we close,
43:21I really want you to understand
43:24how serious this is and yet significant
43:27and impactful for what you can
43:30experience in the days, the months, and
43:32years to come if you totally surrendered
43:35to God completely.
43:38This is the moment where we're going to
43:40pray
43:42because I Shal, I don't know about you,
43:44but I can be honest. I just know it took
43:46a long time to get to the place of
43:49surrendering.
43:50>> Yes.
43:50>> In fact, I was mad and frustrated with
43:52God for years.
43:54>> Because I did not agree with what he was
43:56telling me to do.
43:59>> Yes.
44:00>> I didn't like it.
44:02>> I couldn't understand his plan.
44:05>> I couldn't understand the vision. Yes.
44:08>> My thoughts didn't align to his
44:09thoughts.
44:10>> Yes.
44:11>> The way that I do things is not the way
44:12that he does it.
44:14>> Yes.
44:14>> So, I was really struggling because part
44:17of me wanted to obey God.
44:20>> And the other part was like, no, not
44:22today.
44:23>> Yes.
44:24>> I
44:26part of me I I felt THE SPIRIT OF GOD
44:28TUGGING ME, BUT I felt my flesh.
44:30>> Yes. Yes.
44:31>> And I realized the problem was I had not
44:34died to Kevin. Yes, I was still allowing
44:38Kevin to live in too many different
44:40spaces.
44:42>> And because I had not gotten to a point
44:45at that time where I made a conscious
44:46decision to be grounded in the word of
44:49God, I was losing battles that I should
44:52have been winning. Yes.
44:54>> Yes.
44:55But the moment that I decide years ago
44:59to surrender, and let me just say this,
45:02surrendering does not mean you're
45:03perfect.
45:05Yes.
45:05>> Surrendering is that you made a
45:07conscious decision
45:09>> in your heart.
45:11>> Yes.
45:12>> To try to give God everything.
45:16>> Yes.
45:18>> You might mess up tomorrow.
45:21>> But you going to start over the next
45:23day.
45:23>> Yes.
45:24>> With giving God everything
45:27and totally surrendering everything. And
45:30I mean when I talk about surrender, I
45:31mean you really got to know it's
45:33surrendering your thoughts to God.
45:35>> Yes.
45:36>> Surrendering your money,
45:38>> your dating relationships, your marriage
45:41issues, your children issues, your
45:44plans, your will, everything that you
45:46can imagine
45:48is complete surrender and let go.
45:53So, by the raising of your hands, we're
45:54not going to ask you to stand, but by
45:56the raising of your hands, if you need
45:58prayer tonight,
46:01just to get that extra boost to totally
46:04surrender to God, you can close your
46:06eyes and we just raise your hands real
46:08quickly.
46:09>> Yes.
46:10>> Thank you, Jesus.
46:12>> Hallelujah.
46:13>> Thank you, Jesus.
46:17>> We're going to pray.
46:18>> Thank you.
46:19>> And we're going to come in agreement.
46:21>> Yes. that
46:24no matter how difficult it is for us to
46:26let our will go.
46:28>> Yes.
46:29>> That we're going to completely surrender
46:30to God.
46:31>> Yes, Jesus.
46:34>> And we're going to experience unshakable
46:38confidence, unshakable faith
46:41in God because we've chosen to
46:43surrender.
46:45>> So, Father, tonight
46:47all the many hands that are lifted, we
46:50thank you. We lift them up before you
46:52right now in the name of Jesus.
46:55And God, I'd ask you to bring them to a
46:57place of stillness. Your word tells us
47:00to be still and know that you are God.
47:03You are God. whatever they're facing
47:06right now, whatever that struggle is,
47:08whatever that area
47:10and that storm that they're facing right
47:12now, God, I thank you that give them the
47:14confidence to remain grounded and
47:17trustworthy in you, God, because you
47:20cannot fail and you will never leave
47:21them.
47:23>> Father, I ask you to give them the
47:25courage for those that are struggling
47:26with fear right now.
47:28>> Yes. because of uncertainty,
47:32not knowing how things are going to work
47:34itself out. Some people that are
47:36watching online and in this auditorium
47:38have been in the storm for a long time.
47:41>> And to some it doesn't seem as if it's
47:43going to end. But Father, we decree and
47:44declare that victory already belongs to
47:47them.
47:48>> That victory
47:49>> in the name of Jesus.
47:51>> God, help them not to be blinded by the
47:54devil. Help them not to be blinded by
47:56the wicked one. God, give them the
47:58spirit of discernment so they can know
48:00right from wrong, good from evil. God,
48:03you told us in your word that your
48:05spirit will bring us into the knowledge
48:06of all truth. YOU WILL SHOW US things to
48:09come, great and mighty things. You will
48:12show us, oh God, even while we're going
48:13through the storm. You would give us
48:16revelation and understanding and insight
48:18to help us UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE TRYING
48:21to achieve IN THE STORM. GOD, HELP US
48:23NOT TO RUN AWAY, BUT stand firm and
48:26grounded in faith.
48:30>> Now, God, give us peace tonight.
48:33Peace that surpasses all understanding.
48:37Help us to rest completely in you. And
48:40we know that rest comes because we're
48:42completely trusting you, God.
48:44>> Yes.
48:46>> I take authority right now.
48:48>> Yes.
48:48>> Over anxiety.
48:51>> Yes.
48:52I take authority over restlessness
48:55because of those that are in the storm.
48:59God, I've asked you to give clear
49:01direction and clarity
49:04>> to those that are seeking answers
49:06tonight
49:08because it's not your will for us to be
49:11ignorant of your plans.
49:13>> You may not give us all the details, but
49:15you will give us direction.
49:17And God, when you give us the direction,
49:20help us to surrender to that way and
49:23align our thoughts. Help us to align our
49:26thoughts with yours so that our thoughts
49:28become agreeable with yours.
49:32Father, I thank you in the name of Jesus
49:36that those that have not surrendered
49:39their plans to you in their timeline,
49:41help them not to be discouraged cuz it
49:43seems like it's not going to happen for
49:44them. Help them to surrender their plans
49:47to you, God. And you order their steps
49:49and direct their path and let them know
49:53that in at the appointed time,
49:57what you've ordained for their life will
50:00be fully manifested.
50:03And so, Father, the last thing that we
50:05pray for tonight is that we're going to
50:08ensure that we guard ourselves with the
50:10armor of God.
50:13So when the evil day comes, we'll be
50:15able to stand. And when the wicked one
50:17comes, we'll be able to stand and quench
50:20every fiery dart of the wicked one with
50:22the word of God and the sword of the
50:24spirit, help us to be grounded in your
50:26word. And as we leave this place
50:29tonight, God, even as we're about to sew
50:32a seed into the kingdom of God, help us
50:36with full confidence and trust in you to
50:38surrender
50:41our finances to you, God, knowing that
50:44there's always seed time and harvest
50:46time.
50:48We plant, we harvest.
50:51And so, Father, I thank you in the name
50:53of Jesus,
50:55for every person that is online and that
50:58is here tonight, God, that as we leave
51:00this service tonight, God, we're going
51:03to leave
51:05resting in you, full of faith and fully
51:08confident,
51:10knowing that when we completely
51:13surrender to you,
51:15all things will be made well in the name
51:18of Jesus. Amen. Amen. Amen.
51:23Somebody give God a praise
51:25in the name of Jesus. Did y'all enjoy
51:27that tonight? Let me see your hand. How
51:30many of y'all learned something