Grateful I Made It
Bishop Henry Fernandez Preached on 12/2/2022Romans 8:28
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Summary
Bishop Henry Fernandez encourages believers to embrace a spirit of gratitude by recognizing that despite life's trials and setbacks, they have 'made it' through God's grace. He challenges the church to stop comparing their lives to others and instead find joy in the present moment, trusting that every problem has an expiration date.
Key points
- •Gratitude is a choice to focus on the present moment rather than being consumed by unfulfilled desires or the highlight reels of others.
- •God uses a godly process to produce blessings, which often includes setbacks and difficult situations that act as a setup for your ultimate destination.
- •Authentic success is defined by the absence of sorrow and the presence of peace, not by material markers like expensive cars or handbags that can lead to debt and anxiety.
- •Suffering is temporary and has an expiration date; God uses these seasons to establish, strengthen, and settle His people.
- •A truly blessed person remains steadfast and refuses to quit during trials, maintaining a positive attitude instead of succumbing to toxic complaining.
Scripture
Faith
Blessing
Perseverance
Trials
Purpose
Life application
This Thanksgiving week, identify one area where you have been complaining or comparing your life to others. Intentionally replace those thoughts with a specific 'recounting' of a time God brought you through a storm, and verbally declare 'I made it' as an act of faith.
Reflection questions
- In what ways have you allowed social media or other people's perceived success to steal your gratitude for the moment you are in right now?
- Can you look back at a past 'setback' and see now how God used it to push you toward your purpose?
- Which part of Romans 8:28 or Psalm 23 is hardest for you to believe when you are in the middle of a trial?
- What does it look like for you to 'shut your mouth' and let God handle your adversaries instead of defending yourself?
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Full transcript
0:01yeah
0:03[Music]
0:04praise the Lord
0:06if you don't mind would you all stand as
0:08we enter into
0:11I consider the most important part of
0:14our service this is when God gets to
0:16speak to us
0:18and I hope as we approach Thanksgiving
0:23that our hearts are ready to receive
0:27what we must hear
0:29in order to truly honor him
0:34I want to talk this morning about you
0:38about you
0:41about how
0:43sometimes we fail
0:46to enjoy the moment
0:51we have a tendency that
0:54we hope for greater things
0:58failing
1:00to seize the moment
1:03that right now in this moment
1:07you're blessed
1:10[Music]
1:14I understand you may not have everything
1:16you desire
1:18but we fail to understand
1:21that we're blessed
1:23that we're in the moment of greatness
1:28so many of you have lost your gratitude
1:31because
1:33somehow you're so focused on things yet
1:35to come
1:37but if you keep on living you will gain
1:40those things
1:41but never miss the moment of
1:45Thanksgiving and I hope that this
1:47Thanksgiving will find you showing
1:50gratitude to God
1:52for the moment that you're in
1:54and I want you to understand that you
1:56are in a great moment
1:59so be grateful for it
2:01be grateful for it let's talk about
2:04grateful
2:06I made it
2:13that may not mean a lot to some of you
2:16but for some of us
2:18I made it
2:21just look back just look back
2:24come on just look back
2:27just look back
2:30I don't know who I'm talking to
2:33just look back
2:35if you're grateful that you made it you
2:37ought to praise God right about now
2:41grateful that you made it
2:44[Music]
2:44[Applause]
2:45amen
2:47father we thank you today
2:50so grateful that you are going to speak
2:53to each and every one of us
2:55I'm just your instrument therefore think
2:58with my mind and speak with my vocal
3:00cords
3:03bring truth to your people
3:06so that all of us
3:08can serve you better
3:10in Jesus name we pray and somebody shout
3:13amen okay give him a praise one more
3:16time would you
3:18and God bless you you may take your
3:20seeds in the presence of the Lord
3:24grateful
3:26I made it
3:28I know I am grateful to God
3:32that I have made it through the issues
3:36of life it was the enemy's desire not
3:41for anyone of us to survive
3:44but we made it
3:48I really
3:51have a difficult time
3:55understanding people who are always
3:58declaring how much they want God to
4:01bless them
4:04they want God to bless them but yet they
4:07don't want to do the work
4:12they don't want to do what it takes
4:15to receive those blessings
4:19they are not willing to embrace the
4:22process
4:24that produces
4:26God's blessings
4:28and yes there is a process
4:31there is absolutely a process
4:34to receive in God's blessings
4:38what we all need to realize and
4:40understand is that there is a Godly
4:44process that produces the blessings of
4:47God in our lives
4:50everything you and I have gone through
4:53and may even currently face in are to
4:58ultimately cause us to see The Marvelous
5:03work of God in our lives
5:06everything
5:08in fact there's a scripture that says
5:09all things
5:12work together for our good
5:14sometimes we can't see that we can't see
5:17that all things
5:19are working together for our good and
5:21the truth is most of us are afraid to
5:24live our lives the way God ordained us
5:26to live it because it feels too
5:29difficult
5:30to unbearable
5:32God I can't handle this I can't live
5:35this life
5:36and so we spend most of our time
5:40complaining about how life is difficult
5:44complaining about what people are doing
5:47to us how difficult it is on the job I
5:50hate my boss I hate the job I hate the
5:53pay that I'm getting It's never enough I
5:56Hate Everything You Hate I mean it's
5:59it's amazing and we see this in our
6:01society today even on social media 80
6:04percent of what's posted on social media
6:07is a form of attack
6:12it is
6:14it's a form of trying to make a
6:17statement to prove a point
6:20and so we find ourselves living as
6:23ungrateful people we're more attracted
6:27to or influenced by uh the good
6:31lifestyle of others rather than the
6:34lifestyle God designed for us
6:42we're more impressed about what we see
6:44on social media and the life that other
6:47people are projecting than the life that
6:50God has designed for us so many of us
6:52are spending our time watching people
6:55and not watching what the word says
6:58about us
7:00so we want to be famous because other
7:02people are famous
7:04we want to be rich because other people
7:06are rich
7:07we want to wear certain clothes because
7:09other people are wearing it
7:12we want to look like other people
7:14because other people are looking like
7:18what you desire
7:20and so instead of living our authentic
7:23self
7:25where a cheap copy of other people
7:28[Applause]
7:31stay with me here
7:33we get discouraged when others uh people
7:37are when when our lives if you will
7:39don't measure up to what the world
7:42identifies as success
7:46we get discouraged when we look at other
7:48people
7:49and we see a form of success that they
7:53display
7:54and when we don't see it in our own
7:56lives then we get discouraged
8:00it bothers us when we see others live in
8:03the so-called successful life
8:07and we're still struggling
8:09we're still struggling
8:12it bothers us when we see somebody
8:14driving the Mercedes bench down the
8:16street and we still got an old car that
8:19has given us problems every week
8:22it bothers us when we see people living
8:25in certain communities and they have
8:27their own condo or their own house and
8:29and we're still struggling in our
8:31apartment or whatever it may be it
8:33bothers us when we see someone else
8:36carrying a two thousand dollar handbag
8:38and we still carrying a 25 bag you know
8:42the struggle that goes on in our mind
8:44because we look at other people's
8:46successes and we are thinking that
8:49that's that has to be Godly success
8:54can I just be real to a lot of us man
8:58we're going to hurt ourselves if we are
9:01trying to measure up to other people's
9:03success Because by the way can I just be
9:06honest to you most of what you see is
9:09not real success it's a burden
9:12some people cannot truly afford
9:16what they're living
9:19and we don't want to hear the truth
9:22we're stressing ourselves over something
9:25that is really not good for us
9:29because just because you drive a fancy
9:31car you live somewhere good and you're
9:33wearing clothes don't mean you're
9:35blessed
9:36the Bible says listen this is scripture
9:39now the blessings of the Lord it make it
9:41rich in other words the blessings please
9:44do not let anybody kid you and lie to
9:47you and tell you God don't want you rich
9:51the scripture says the blessings of the
9:53Lord it make you rich however don't
9:57forget the last part it adds no sorrow
10:00to it
10:05so the richness of God's blessings is
10:09not going to be a burden
10:12so be careful of how you are looking to
10:16become successful in the eyes of the
10:19world that is not really true success
10:23and failing to understand that you're in
10:25a moment that you're blessed so so so
10:27what's wrong with with with your car
10:32what's wrong with your card that is paid
10:34for
10:36switch your thinking
10:39switch your thinking
10:41every month you don't have to send
10:42Monies to sold some lenders your car is
10:45fully paid for you don't you and I'm not
10:48telling you there Comes A Time in life
10:50when you're going to drive something
10:52nice
10:53because life takes you through stages
10:57so you live in the moment you live in
10:59this moment wherever God has you you
11:02live in that moment and you thank him
11:05for it so if it's a moment where it's a
11:08car it is fully paid for yes you may
11:10have to spend a hundred dollars or so to
11:12get it fixed and sober but it's fully
11:13paid for enjoy the moment be grateful
11:17that you've got a car people are taking
11:20the bus you've got a car be grateful
11:23thank God for it and take your eyes off
11:26sister Sue driving her Mercedes because
11:29sister Sue may be struggling every night
11:33stressed out losing all our hair over
11:36that Mercedes you choose
11:39[Applause]
11:41not enough
11:43come on now
11:45you too sister Sue got her Mercedes but
11:48she ain't got no life insurance
11:52[Applause]
11:58no medical insurance
12:01one event in life will be a disaster for
12:04her
12:09so be careful
12:11there's no telling the number of times
12:14we have missed our greatest opportunity
12:17to live life with gratitude and without
12:20anxiety
12:22all because we have failed to appreciate
12:24Where We Are
12:26in the moment
12:29where you are in the moment that you are
12:32blessed
12:33you woke up this morning and nobody had
12:36to dress you
12:44you woke up this morning and no doctor
12:47had to walk into your room
12:50with a chart
12:52you woke up this morning and you had
12:55your breakfast you woke up this morning
12:57you got in your car and you drove to
13:00wherever you are you woke up this
13:02morning and glory to God you remembered
13:05your name
13:06uh you better thank God for the moment
13:09look at somebody and tell them thank God
13:11for the moment thank God for the moment
13:14you're in
13:16thank God for the moment
13:19and I submit to you today that no matter
13:22what's happening in your life you are
13:24blessed you're blessed right now
13:27In This Moment
13:29don't overlook it you are blessed in
13:32this moment most people think that
13:34blessings only come out of good and
13:37positive environments but that's not
13:39what the Bible teaches
13:42you got to learn ladies and gentlemen to
13:45extract blessings even from bad
13:48experiences
13:52uh
13:54got to be glad man that God is the god
13:58who will work in those bad moments to
14:00bless your life God will always allow
14:02you to go through a difficult situation
14:04just to get you to a blessed destination
14:10please hear me today
14:12God will allow you to go through a
14:14difficult situation to get you to a
14:17blessed destination
14:19some of you have no idea
14:22that the setbacks that you have had in
14:24the past was a setup to where God has
14:27brought you to
14:31you better be glad they left you you
14:34better be glad they criticized you you
14:36better be glad they didn't believed in
14:38you some of you started businesses
14:40because you got fired and you got laid
14:42off and God pushed you into your purpose
14:45I'm telling you every bad situation God
14:49will always turn it out for your good
14:51who am I talking to
14:58never make your faith Journey
15:01if you will uh attractive in the sense
15:05that with your with your negative Vibes
15:08and your negative attitude and so forth
15:10because anytime your Vibes become
15:13negative anytime you find yourself you
15:16know complaining or not appreciating the
15:18moment then your faith Journey becomes a
15:21struggle
15:23it truly becomes a struggle it's not an
15:26enjoyable experience and that's why many
15:28of you have lost your Zeal with church
15:30and lost your purpose and and don't
15:32fully understand where God has taken you
15:34and can't enjoy that God will take you
15:37through different stages why to give you
15:39a testimony
15:42but what makes your faith Journey
15:44attractive is that after you have
15:46suffered a while
15:49[Applause]
15:53after you have suffered a while
15:56then God will bring you through in
15:59Victory
16:00you will come up out of that suffering
16:04state of mind if you will blast and
16:07praising God
16:09you'll come up out of it not all of you
16:12can agree on this and probably have no
16:15idea what I'm talking about but some of
16:17you know exactly what I'm talking about
16:19have you ever been through a battle
16:23have you ever been through a storm
16:27at first it bothered you at first you
16:31were nervous at first you thought you
16:33were going to die but somehow God
16:36stepped right in
16:39changed the situation
16:42and you came out of it with your hands
16:45up
16:46you came out of it screaming Hallelujah
16:49you came out of it thanking God praising
16:52him that's why when some of us come to
16:54church and you see a shouting and you
16:57see us clapping and you see us getting
16:59up in praise and worship and we're
17:01moving and some of you looking at us and
17:04thinking that we're too emotional and
17:06we're too extra you better leave us
17:09alone you don't know what we have been
17:12through
17:15I don't know who I'm talking to
17:18God bless you if you just want to sit
17:20there and if you just want to be nice
17:23and dignified I am knocking that maybe
17:25that's your personality but for some of
17:28us God's been two good to us
17:36glory to God hallelujah
17:39God's been too good to us man some of
17:43you know exactly what I'm talking about
17:45man before you got Satan used to go to
17:48the nightclub you knew how to get on
17:51that dance floor and everybody in the
17:54club knew that you showed up the time
17:57you did it's the same way when God
17:59converted you he didn't get rid of that
18:02tenacity and that will investor Praise
18:05Him baby let me tell you something
18:07that's why David says when I enter into
18:10its Gates oh I'm gonna thank him I'm
18:14gonna thank him I'm gonna thank him
18:16because I'm alive I'm gonna thank him
18:18because he made a way I'm gonna thank
18:20him because it could have been another
18:22way is there anybody in the house or
18:25streaming know exactly what I'm talking
18:27about he deserves the praise he deserves
18:31the honor he deserves the glory
18:34[Applause]
18:37oh yes sir yes ma'am
18:41he deserves the praise
18:43the honor and the glory
18:47the word of the Lord tells us but the
18:49grace
18:50but the God of all Grace
18:53who has called us
18:55unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus
18:58after that we have suffered a while
19:03hmm
19:05make you perfect establish strengthened
19:10settle to you
19:13the God of all Grace all Grace I don't
19:16deserve it
19:18but it's Grace
19:21he called me
19:23he called me
19:25he called you
19:27I don't care what people say about you
19:30you are called
19:32you are anointed
19:34you are appointed
19:37oh they're remembering everything you've
19:39done but God called you
19:41but for his grace
19:44and his Mercy
19:46the Bible says after you've suffered a
19:49while
19:50I don't know what you're going through
19:52today but I'm telling you every problem
19:54has an expiration date
19:57or you ought to shout on that
20:00every problem in your life has an
20:03expiration date I don't care the
20:05struggles you're going through that too
20:08shall pass according to the word of God
20:10the Bible says after you've suffered a
20:13while he will make you perfect he'll
20:16establish you he'll strengthen you and
20:19here's what I love he'll settle you
20:22oh
20:23I'll translate that word settle to God
20:27will make you chill out
20:31let's look at your neighbor and say just
20:32chill
20:34God's Got You God's Got You God's just
20:37chill rest in the Lord rest in the Lord
20:41be of good courage just rest in the Lord
20:45because God is with you
20:48the English Standard translation says
20:50and after you have suffered a little
20:52while the God of all Grace who has
20:55called you to his eternal glory in
20:58Christ will himself
21:01[Applause]
21:02because you can't depend on people to
21:04help you know
21:06but the Lord himself
21:08will restore you it's all about
21:10restaurant
21:12firm and strengthen and establish you so
21:15I want you today just for a moment to
21:18reflect on what God has done for you in
21:21your life for the past 10 months
21:26just think about it
21:28I know there's a lot of stuff you want I
21:30know there's a lot of things that you're
21:32dealing with in the moment
21:35but don't you understand where you have
21:38come from and how far you have come
21:42that God has blessed you the last 10
21:45months
21:47and if he has done anything for you
21:50at all in your life then my brothers and
21:54sisters you owe it all to him to give
21:57him a thanks and gratitude and you need
22:00to worship Him and praise him all the
22:02time for his goodness
22:07you know one of the many reasons
22:09some people will never see themselves
22:12blast is that they focus so much
22:16on what's wrong in their lives
22:19and they focus so much on the lack
22:23what's wrong in your life
22:26I mean just if you've just called some
22:28people and
22:30I mean just the very beginning of the
22:32conversation will turn you off
22:36you know I'm a positive person I'm all
22:38I've always been a positive person
22:41I don't like drama I don't like
22:43toxic
22:45conversations and environment some
22:48people love it
22:50some people love confusion
22:53some people love crazy stuff I don't
22:56like it I I don't like it I just I don't
22:59like it just you come you come in my
23:01environment good morning how you doing I
23:03expect you oh I'm great man I'm
23:05wonderful how are you Henry how fine I'm
23:08doing fine so how was this week and what
23:10do you plan to do this week and so forth
23:11isn't this great man
23:13I'm telling you it's the beginning of a
23:15brand new week man today is what Sunday
23:17it's Monday and so forth man I'm so
23:20grateful outside it's a wonderful day
23:22and so forth I'm I'm so positive for me
23:27some people yeah you know what it's
23:29raining outside you know it's raining
23:30man it's cold it's cold in South Florida
23:33and I wonder how long the Rain's Gonna
23:35Be and man I got to go to work tomorrow
23:37and I think may it may rain on Tuesday
23:40and Wednesday I don't I don't like that
23:43I don't like that I I shy away from
23:46environments like that I shy away from
23:49people who will like yeah you know and
23:51so forth and have you did you hear
23:55did you hear that that Mary this and
23:59John this and so what no I didn't hear
24:01I'm trying to figure myself out I ain't
24:04got time to be worried about Mary and
24:06John
24:08no seriously
24:10I mean some people work for CNN
24:17I just don't like it
24:19so if you're like me I love a positive
24:22environment
24:24and anytime you begin to focus
24:28on what you don't have and the problems
24:31and the issues of life you will never
24:34enjoy the moment and you will never see
24:36how blessed you are in that moment are
24:40you hearing me
24:43so my brothers and sisters
24:46seldom do people take time to consider
24:51and thank God if you will for what they
24:53have already received in their lives and
24:56the good things that are currently
24:57happening in their lives look at what
25:00James chapter 1 verse 12 tells us
25:04and I love this
25:06and hopefully this will minister to you
25:08it says blessed is the man who remains
25:12underline that word highlighted
25:16who remains steadfast under trial
25:20for when he has stood the test
25:23he will receive the Crown of Life which
25:26God has promised to those who love him
25:32there are two qualities that Define a
25:36blessed man or woman
25:38you're not blessed because you got a
25:40house you're not blessed because you got
25:42a car you're not blessed because you got
25:44a lot of money you're not blessed
25:45because you're dressed well
25:47the word of the Lord says there are two
25:49things it defines a blessed person it is
25:52a person who remains steadfast
25:57that whether you have it or you don't
25:59have it you still consider yourself
26:00blessed
26:03glory to God man
26:07a blessed person is also a person who
26:10endures trials the tasks
26:15who don't quit and get flustered in the
26:19middle of a test maybe you're going
26:21through a test right now God is testing
26:23you
26:24gotta handle it man
26:26can be a quitter
26:28can't complain all the time
26:30make a declaration today this is your
26:33last day to complain
26:36stop complaining man stop complaining
26:40and I'm not trying to be mean to you
26:42just stop complaining everybody got
26:45problem everybody
26:47foreign
26:50we all have problems you have problems I
26:53have problems they have problems we all
26:55have problems stop complaining
26:58stop walking around the city and
27:01complaining about everything stop
27:03looking at the negative all the time
27:09you have to ask yourself the question
27:11man who are you and why are you here and
27:14what has God done for you and start
27:16thanking him for those things
27:19so let me ask you I want to ask you a
27:23question this morning as it relates to
27:25your life
27:26are you shaken in your belief
27:29that you will you know get everything
27:31that God has for you
27:34are you shaken in that belief
27:37that sooner or later after you suffered
27:40a while
27:41he may not come when you want him
27:45but if you're a child of God you keep
27:47serving him
27:49God's going to show up
27:52you just need to patiently endure the
27:55test and the trials of life knowing that
27:57God will not fail you
28:00and you will not fail
28:02God will not fail you and you will not
28:05fail God will not fail you and you will
28:10not fail so it is my hope today that you
28:13will answer yes to these uh two
28:15questions that yes you're going to
28:17remain steadfast yes you are going to
28:20endure every test in life
28:24you're going to do it
28:26I also hope that as we approach
28:29Thanksgiving that you and I will use
28:32this season to reflect on the goodness
28:34of God to remember just how far he has
28:39brought us from and the fact that you
28:42and I have come through some situations
28:44that were meant to destroy us
28:49we've been through some situations that
28:52were meant to destroy us
28:55you have no idea that Satan didn't want
28:59you to be in this moment
29:05he didn't want you to experience this
29:07moment but God kept you safe from every
29:11issue that the the enemy threw at you
29:14and you came out of it blessed Psalm 23
29:18verse 6 says and I love it surely your
29:21goodness and love will follow me all the
29:24days of my life and I will dwell in the
29:27house of the Lord forever
29:29the blessings that God has placed upon
29:32you the devil can't stop it
29:38now some of you may take this as being
29:40arrogant and so forth but I want to talk
29:42to those of you who believe that you're
29:44blessed no matter what you go through
29:46let me tell you something you better get
29:48up every morning Square your shoulders
29:50get up out of your house and I don't
29:53care what the devil throw at you you
29:56need to hold your head up every day and
29:59recognize that you are blessed and ain't
30:01nothing anybody can do about it
30:07somebody shouted I'm blessed
30:09come on if you believe it shout it again
30:11I am blessed
30:13one more time let the devil hear it I am
30:15blessed
30:17you are blessed I don't care what you're
30:19going through
30:21you get up every day and you tell
30:23yourself that you are blessed and the
30:26favor of God is on your life so you must
30:29understand that God will take you
30:32through season where you feel lost
30:35forsaken even abandoned but the good
30:39news is that you will get through it all
30:42you're going to get through it God's
30:45going to bring you through it because of
30:47your willingness to look at the goodness
30:50of the Lord rather than the attacks of
30:52the enemy look at the goodness of God
30:57focus on the goodness of God and now
31:00what your enemies are doing
31:02I mean some of you seven days a week
31:05you're always promoting your enemies
31:07good morning
31:09I mean you're just exactly what you're
31:11doing they don't like me
31:13the devil is after me what do you expect
31:15the devil to do
31:18to run away from you
31:20his assignment is to attack you
31:25what is your assignment
31:28do what you know you're supposed to do I
31:31Will Bless The Lord at all times his
31:34praise will always be in my mouth
31:37I love what David stated in Psalm 27
31:42beginning at verse 10. I love it it says
31:45for my father and my mother have
31:47forsaken me but the Lord will take me in
31:50he's talking about a situation where you
31:54may even go through abandonment by your
31:57family
31:59by your family David is saying I mean
32:01when your father and your mother forsake
32:04you that's bad
32:06the person was giving birth to you the
32:09family blood that you're connected to
32:12when your family abandoned you
32:14when your family is created the hurt and
32:17the chaos in your life that's horrible
32:19so David is is expressing what many of
32:23us are going through he says that when
32:26that happens to you the Lord according
32:30to David will take you in you can find
32:33refuge in him are you hearing me verse
32:3611 teach me your way O Lord and Lead Me
32:40On a level path
32:43because
32:45of my enemies David said God teach me
32:48bring me to a level where I live above
32:52my enemies
32:57that when they go low
33:00we go high
33:02that we're not going to stoop down to
33:05their level
33:06that we're going to square our shoulders
33:08and we're going to walk around and we're
33:10going to let the enemy know that we are
33:12blessed I don't care if you have no food
33:15in the house you leave your house as if
33:17you just had the best meal in your house
33:20I don't care if you think you don't have
33:22enough clothes switch up on the enemy
33:25learn to mix colors and Miss distance
33:28make people think you got a whole lot of
33:31clothes you got to learn the shock the
33:34devil out of the devil
33:35[Applause]
33:38who am I talking to this morning
33:41you know they sitting down the job
33:43saying child please we should get all
33:44that money from they get all the money
33:46from and you're dying with life cause
33:49you know it's the same outfit you were
33:51last year you just changed a skirt to a
33:54different blouse help me here it's the
33:57different bags of different shoes but
33:58they're watching you keep watching baby
34:01keep watching God bless me
34:08glory to God hallelujah verse 12 says
34:12give me not up to the will of my
34:15adversary for false Witnesses have risen
34:18against me and they breathe out violence
34:24these are people who just tell lies
34:28and who come to assassinate your
34:30character
34:32and what David is saying Teach me he
34:35says give me not up don't don't don't
34:37let my enemies eat me up with their
34:40words
34:41because they'll Eat You Alive out there
34:44when they're ready to tell lies on you
34:46and slander your name
34:49one of the things a good friend of mine
34:51years ago told me and I'll never forget
34:53it
34:54he says whenever you're accusing people
34:56are attacking you and saying all kinds
34:58of stuff against you and you know it's
35:01not true now if it's true now
35:07but he said when you know it's not true
35:12he said do what Jesus did
35:14I said what was that
35:19don't say nothing
35:20[Applause]
35:23I said what scripture is that
35:27remember when Jesus went to
35:30pilate or they dragged him to Pilate
35:34and he was in the courts of Pilate
35:36and they're accusing him
35:39but it was twisted truth you said you
35:41are the Son of God the Messiah
35:45you said you were this
35:47and imagine Jesus had all the power
35:52of
35:53the power in his hands
35:57such constraint he had on his
36:00power some of us don't give us no power
36:06can we just be real in this church don't
36:08you stream don't give us no power don't
36:11give us no power
36:14but Jesus was in the moment
36:18before Pilate
36:21and they're accusing him and lying on
36:24him and twisting the truth
36:27and he's the son of God he doesn't have
36:31an army like the military uh Army of
36:34Israel this is God all he had to do is
36:39called for Angels
36:42all he had to do call for angels to fix
36:45pilate and all them Roman soldiers
36:50can I just interject My Flesh into this
36:53a moment just just one moment one moment
36:55that's one moment
36:57that's why God can't give me that kind
36:59of power
37:01no I can't no no don't give me that kind
37:04of power because if I know I have the
37:07power to shut the mouths of my enemy a
37:10whole lot of folks gonna die
37:14am I the only one in here today
37:17a whole lot of people gonna die
37:20in fact I'm gonna go in the undertaking
37:22business I'm gonna have my own funeral
37:25home
37:26because I'm gonna kill a whole lot of
37:28people
37:29[Applause]
37:31but the Bible says he stood there
37:36do you know what it takes
37:40to stand before your adversary
37:43and know you have the power to respond
37:47yet you shut your mouth
37:51only Jesus can do that
37:55and that's exactly what we're commanded
37:58to do
37:59that's what David that's why David is
38:02saying Lord don't give me up to my
38:05address or you know why because David
38:07know
38:09his personality
38:12this is the guy who ripped the Jawbone
38:15of an ass
38:18this is the Hunter
38:21this is a guy who knows how to fight
38:27and all of us we didn't come to Jesus
38:33not knowing what it is to live
38:37a thug life
38:42some of you watching right now in this
38:44room
38:45you know how to fight
38:51some of you don't even have to fight
38:52nobody with your hands your mouth
38:58[Applause]
39:02oh God me
39:04your mouth is good
39:07David said God keep me
39:10keep me above that
39:12don't ever let me Resort back to my old
39:14self
39:21he says in verse 13 I believe that I
39:24shall look upon the goodness of the Lord
39:27in the land
39:29of the living in other words David is
39:31saying before I die
39:33goodness gonna follow me
39:36oh you ought to go home with that before
39:39you die you're going to look upon the
39:41goodness of the Lord so I don't care how
39:43long it takes before you die God's
39:46goodness is going to be upon you come on
39:48somebody ought to give him praise here
39:52then he says wait for the Lord be strong
39:56and Let Your Heart Take courage wait on
39:59the Lord
40:01enjoy the moment
40:03and wait on the Lord at the end of the
40:06day the Lord has been good to all of us
40:09and that's why you need to focus on that
40:13you need to focus on that God has been
40:16good to you why because you made it
40:19through the attacks
40:22you made it through the jealousy glory
40:25to God you made it through the criticism
40:28you made it through if you will the
40:30disrespect you made it through the fear
40:34you made it through the uncertainties
40:36you made it through the lack you made it
40:38through the insecurities you made it
40:40through the breakups you made it through
40:43the divorce Come on talk to me here you
40:45made it through the Lost of a loved one
40:47you made it through the layoffs you made
40:50it through the bankruptcy praise God and
40:53guess what you even made it through
40:55kovid God's been good to you is there
40:59anybody here today are watching
41:01understand what I'm trying to tell you
41:03you made it through somebody's shout I
41:06made it through
41:09you made it through
41:12the mercy of God kept us
41:16so today
41:18I just want to encourage you to renew
41:20your mind
41:22and please For Heaven's Sake don't allow
41:24yourself
41:26to become mentally exhausted
41:30over the issues of life
41:34or the desires of your heart that has
41:36yet to be fulfilled don't
41:39fix your eyes on God man
41:42Focus if you will focus on the successes
41:46that you have already achieved and all
41:49the good things that God has already
41:50done for you
41:52this will completely my friends change
41:55your vibe from one that is negative
42:00one that is positive
42:02so if you just
42:05start for a moment thanking God
42:08for where you are now just thank him for
42:11where you are now just thank him for
42:14where you are now
42:15just thank him for where you are now
42:18I got to say it again just thank him for
42:20where you are now
42:21[Music]
42:24thank him
42:25that you're in this moment
42:27thank him that you weathered all the
42:30storms
42:31and you're still standing
42:34I close with Psalm 9 verse 1.
42:38and this is something that you have to
42:40make personal
42:42it says I will give thanks
42:46to the Lord
42:47with my whole heart
42:51not a fraction of it
42:54I'll give thanks to the Lord with my
42:57whole heart my whole heart
43:00and then he says I will recount I will
43:03recount I will recount or I will
43:06remember
43:07I will recount
43:09and I will remember
43:11all of your wonderful Deeds
43:14I'll recount
43:17I'll recount the moment when I was
43:20almost going to die in that car accident
43:23but you kept me
43:25I recount in that moment
43:28when that sickness was about to take me
43:32I recounted that moment when I had covet
43:36and fear
43:39came over my life and I didn't know that
43:42I was going to make it
43:43I recount when I got the phone call
43:46about my child
43:48but God you kept my child covered
43:52I can recount when my back was against
43:55the wall and I didn't have the resources
43:57to pay the rent or the mortgage or to
43:59pay some important bills but God somehow
44:02you stepped in and you made a way
44:06I can recount God
44:08your goodness so in this present moment
44:13I choose to be grateful
44:17I choose to be no complaining
44:20I just choose to thank you
44:24because I just want to thank you
44:27[Music]
44:28because you've been
44:31so
44:32good ah
44:38you've been
44:41so
44:43so good thank you that I acted the fool
44:48and God somehow through your grace and
44:51your mercy you gave me a second chance
44:54God thank you thank you thank you
44:59I just want to thank you when I look
45:02back over my life and see some of the
45:05people I grew up with and went to high
45:07school and college with when I look at
45:09how their lives are all jacked up
45:12and I look at me today thank you
45:15thank you thank you
45:18thank you
45:21[Music]
45:22when my husband walked out on me God and
45:25left me with the children and I didn't
45:27know how I was going to make it God but
45:31I trusted you and look at me today when
45:34my wife walked out on me and left me God
45:38God look at me today
45:42I just want to thank you I don't know
45:44who I'm talking to but I Just Want to
45:47Thank You Lord
45:48stand on your feet everybody
45:52and a lot to thank God for
45:55and you want special prayer
45:58I want you to come down
46:00I love to pray with you I'd love to pray
46:03with you
46:04sing it thank you Lord thank you Lord
46:08God bless you God bless you God bless
46:12you
46:13God bless you come on down come on down
46:16come on down I just Hallelujah
46:23you've been so good you've been so good
46:26to me sing it everybody
46:29if it's done anything for you sing it
46:33those of you are streaming you've been
46:35so good
46:38Oh Glory
46:43you've been so good
46:49thank you Lord
46:55I just want to thank you
47:04Made A Way
47:08you made a way
47:10you made a way
47:13when I didn't think I was gonna make it
47:16you made it away
47:19you made a way
47:29[Music]
47:34I just want to thank you
47:43thank you Lord thank you
47:58Hallelujah
48:10foreign
48:23listen to me
48:26spend the rest of your life
48:30thanking God for Where You Are
48:34tomorrow we'll take care of itself
48:38be grateful in the moment
48:41and I don't care what you're going
48:42through
48:43I'm not trying to be insensitive to your
48:45need
48:47but no matter what you're going through
48:48man
48:49you're going to get through it
48:51[Music]
48:52you're going to come out blessed
48:54keep that in your mind
48:56but never miss your moment to thank him
48:59[Music]
49:01many people
49:03long time wish you had died or suffered
49:09there people are so evil
49:12they want you to suffer
49:15but let me tell you something as long as
49:18God has put an edge of protection around
49:20you
49:24in fact this is what I tell people they
49:27better be careful when they put their
49:28mouth on you they better be careful when
49:30they bother you because everything they
49:33send your way listen honey that the
49:36anointing that's on your life God will
49:39send it back and multiplied seven times
49:41back in their lives
49:45you're blessed
49:48you're blessed
49:49so thank God for the mountains thank God
49:53for the valleys thank God for the storms
49:56he brought you through
49:57because if you never had a problem
50:00you wouldn't know what faith in God
50:02could do in your life so increase your
50:05faith
50:06and give him the praise and thank him
50:09for the moment I encourage you this
50:12Thanksgiving to maximize the moment and
50:16thank him for where you are right now
50:18because you made it
50:20you're not supposed to be here today
50:22[Music]
50:24you made it those of you are streaming
50:27you made it
50:28you're not supposed to be here
50:31but you made it
50:33because God would not let you die
50:37[Music]
50:40it wouldn't
50:42so let me pray with you lift your hands
50:45again it's your spiritual antennas
50:48father thank you that we made it
50:51you have truly ministered to all of us
50:54in this room and those of us were
50:55streaming
50:57that we made it
50:59and we have an opportunity now in the
51:01moment to be grateful and to thank you
51:04for your goodness to thank you for your
51:07mercy your guidance your protection your
51:10provision
51:11God I pray that we will never miss this
51:14moment
51:15that for the next few days and
51:17especially on Thanksgiving day that we
51:19would really focus on the real purpose
51:21of why we do Thanksgiving it's more than
51:24just the meal it's more than just a
51:27family get-together it is to reflect on
51:30your goodness
51:32so goddess people are standing here
51:34people at home wishing they could be
51:36here they've created their own altar God
51:39In The Name of Jesus in this moment as a
51:43family your body we say thank you
51:48thank you for your forgiveness
51:51thank you for your unfailing love
51:54thank you God that you've watched over
51:57us
51:58and now father we ask that you will give
52:00us the strength
52:01to change our attitude
52:04from one that is negative to one that's
52:06positive to believe more in you to
52:09believe more in the possibility of what
52:11you have yet to do in our lives and we
52:14give you the praise the honor and the
52:16glory I don't know what they're going
52:17through
52:18I don't know what somebody's bleeding on
52:20the inside about right now but in the
52:23name of Jesus let this be an encounter
52:26with you let this be a moment where
52:29you'll reveal yourself to them in a
52:32mighty way I pray and father we give you
52:35all the praise the honor and the glory
52:38for it now in Jesus mighty name we pray
52:42amen amen come on let's put our hands
52:45together thank God for it
52:48amen just stand where you are as I close
52:51the service today listen again I don't
52:54want to repeat myself but I can't get
52:56rid of the phrase you made it
53:01ride on that all week long maybe when
53:05you're around the Thanksgiving table
53:07just tell the people you went to church
53:08Sunday and Pastor said we made it look
53:12at your family look at your friends and
53:15keep telling yourself you made it I hope
53:18you will join the service virtually
53:20tomorrow at 7 pm not 7 30 7 P.M tomorrow
53:25we want you to log on watch the service
53:28and then Wednesday also we'll see you
53:30back here on Sunday those of you are
53:33streaming you didn't get a chance to
53:34give please information will be there
53:37where you can sow your best seed I love
53:41you so much I care about you I'm here to
53:44empower you each and every week it is my
53:47desire that you will have a wonderful
53:48Thanksgiving from my house to your house
53:50Happy Thanksgiving faith in your God
53:53we'll move mountains out of your life
53:56God bless you have a great day everybody
53:58a great Sunday afternoon we love you
54:01nothing
54:03magnified the Lord