Social Responsibility
Bishop Henry Fernandez Preached on 4/2/2020
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49:56
Summary
Bishop Henry Fernandez teaches that even in times of crisis and social distancing, believers are responsible for their internal responses, the depth of their love for others, and their commitment to serving without complaining.
Key points
- •True maturity is taking charge of your internal responses rather than being controlled by external crises like a pandemic.
- •Social responsibility begins with the commandment to love one another deeply, which includes digging beneath surface emotions to cover the offenses of others.
- •Forgiveness is not a suggestion but a requirement for the believer; our receipt of God's mercy is directly linked to our willingness to forgive those who have wronged us.
- •Hospitality and service should be offered without grumbling or complaining, viewing every interaction as an opportunity to be a faithful steward of God's grace.
- •Believers must use their words and social media platforms to speak life and hope rather than adding to the negative clutter of the world.
Scripture
Love
Forgiveness
Discipleship
Purpose
Stewardship
Life application
This week, identify one person who has offended you and intentionally send them a message of love or kindness. Practice 'grumble-free' service by fulfilling your daily responsibilities at home or work without complaining about the effort required.
Reflection questions
- In what ways have you allowed the 'new norm' of the current season to negatively impact your attitude or relationships?
- Is there a difference between befriending everyone and loving everyone, and how does that distinction help you handle difficult people?
- When you serve others, do you do it out of your own strength or by relying on the strength that God provides?
- How can you use your social media presence this week to be a witness for Christ rather than a source of frustration?
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Full transcript
0:00making your comments your saying thank
0:00you for for sharing god bless you flora
0:01good evening to you Angela you're saying
0:04good evening to everyone Carol and then
0:08we've got so many people and then you're
0:10streaming do me a favor I want you on
0:13social media I want you to hit that
0:15share button right now that's your link
0:17just click on it that way
0:19other people on your feet or we're
0:22following you are able to watch this
0:25service also and then also I'm gonna ask
0:28that to make it a watch party those of
0:30you familiar with the language of social
0:34media just make this a watch party and
0:36let's get as many people as we can to
0:39hear the gospel and to receive a message
0:42of hope and
0:43the rest of you your streaming call a
0:45friend tech somebody open the window
0:48yell to your neighbor do something and
0:50just invite somebody to be a part of
0:53this great service so that they can join
0:56you can we pray father we thank you for
0:59this moment thank you for the
1:01opportunity that we have that in spite
1:05of how we're practicing social distance
1:08in that Lord we're able to communicate
1:11we're able to fellowship via the
1:14internet or social media were able Lord
1:17God to still hear the gospel preached
1:20we're also able Lord to help others be
1:24empowered somebody's watching right now
1:26they're going through something they're
1:28feeling the stress they're feeling
1:30confused they're feeling hopeless thank
1:33you thank you for this opportunity to be
1:36able to share the message of hope with
1:39them would you bless them now father
1:41I declare wherever they are I declare
1:44your healing power I declare that
1:46there's a peace that surpasses all
1:50understanding rest upon them now rest
1:54upon them that they won't lean to their
1:56human understanding but Lord God they
1:58would look to the hills from whence
2:01cometh their help thank you for blessing
2:03them thank you that you've empowered me
2:05to bring hope to so many who are
2:09watching now in Jesus name Amen amen
2:13praise God well let's get straight in
2:17the Word of God again we thank you for
2:20watching we're so glad that you're a
2:22part of this message and this service
2:25keep telling people that they can watch
2:29it just hit the share link and make it a
2:31watch party make your comments please
2:33and I will go back and forth so let's
2:35just make this friendly and nice and
2:37comfort in now for the last five weeks I
2:41have been teaching a series of messages
2:44that brings our attention to how we
2:48should be responsible over every area of
2:52our lives that it's our responsibility
2:56take charge over every area of our lives
2:59I mean not just okay our kids not just
3:04our relationships but it is our
3:07responsibility to make sure that our
3:10faith journey is stronger each and every
3:15day in spite of the obstacles that you
3:17may face in spite of the disappointments
3:20in in spite of the setbacks it is our
3:24responsibility to take charge and to
3:29control the destiny of our lives you
3:33know some people will say well that's
3:35not really our responsibility it's God's
3:37responsibility to chart the destiny of
3:40our lives well well please understand
3:42where I'm going with this
3:43you know God will speak to us and He
3:47will give us clear instructions in his
3:50word for His perfect will for our lives
3:53that's it he wants all of us to be in
3:57His perfect will but it's our
3:59responsibility to find out what that
4:02perfect will is and then act it out
4:05that's not going to act it out for us in
4:09spite of setbacks this coronavirus
4:11pandemic is is plagued in not only the
4:14United States but everywhere around the
4:17world we cannot allow this pandemic to
4:21stop us from being responsible of
4:24Chardon our destiny well I understand
4:28the season that we're living in but
4:30remember we have a destination to reach
4:32we have a purpose to fulfill and
4:35therefore it is our responsibility to
4:38make sure we don't get distracted we
4:41don't panic we don't be fearful and
4:44parked our lives at a place of going
4:48nowhere and forgetting that God wants us
4:51to reach a perfect place in him so the
4:56truth is even if we're in the midst of
4:58crisis we are required to take control
5:02of how we respond in the crisis you know
5:08let's just deal with that for a
5:10how how are we responding to the crisis
5:15that develops in our lives each and
5:17every day each and every season how do
5:19we handle conflict how do we handle
5:22disappointments how do we handle chaotic
5:26moments how do we handle chaos on the
5:28job how do we handle disagreements with
5:31siblings and family members and how do
5:35we handle disagreements even in ministry
5:37how do we end handle disagreements with
5:40theological differences and of opinions
5:44and so for how do we really do that we
5:46have to answer that question because it
5:48is our responsibility to make sure that
5:51we properly function in the midst of
5:54crisis what happens when you lose your
5:56money what happened is when you lose the
5:59norm you know how do you handle that
6:01because I can tell you for me as a
6:04pastor this is not the norm this is not
6:08the norm
6:08I'm used to doing this when I'm kind of
6:12doing my TV stand-up when I record my
6:15programs for television I'm normally in
6:18the studio or in the send to Airy
6:20and the cameras are positioned to me and
6:22it's only my workers in the building and
6:24I would record and then they'll edit it
6:27and they'll send it out to the stations
6:29and and there it is the message will go
6:31out well this has become a new norm for
6:32me you know literally preaching normally
6:36on a Wednesday and a Sunday to this
6:38amazing building I just wish they could
6:40show one of the cameras and show the
6:42empty auditorium maybe they can turn to
6:44one of the cameras turn one of the
6:46cameras to the audience I don't know if
6:48they can do that I'm speaking to people
6:50in the control room but I'm just kind of
6:52getting outside the box here for a
6:53moment
6:54I'm not used to this you know and and
6:58there it is it's it's this is odd there
7:02it is I'm standing there and I'm talking
7:04and this is not the norm all over the
7:08world this is exactly what's happening
7:11so the question then is how do you
7:14handle things when God just changed the
7:20order of things when things are not
7:22when they're not ordinary we're living
7:25in you know to me extraordinary times
7:28you know how do you handle that you know
7:31I could get depressed over this empty
7:34auditorium I could say Lord I'm losing
7:38my church so hard I'm I'm loose you know
7:41I could come up with all kinds of
7:44thoughts but I'm responsible for control
7:48and how I think I'm responsible for
7:51telling myself that this too shall pass
7:53that maybe there's a lesson in all of
7:56this maybe God's trying to teach me
7:59something hey I know you've been
8:01dependent on the crowd for years but
8:03what happens when I pull your comfort
8:06zone away from you I pull the crowd away
8:08from you and you can't feed off them
8:10anymore will you still be passionate
8:13about preaching the gospel to a world
8:16that you may never see are you willing
8:19to do that I mean all of this is
8:22changing our norm you know most of you
8:25are at home and you're confined to an
8:28area you know and and that's it you know
8:31you're stuck you know you can't go
8:33anywhere and you're saying how long am I
8:36going to be confined to this area you
8:39know and you're getting depressed now
8:41you're about fighting maybe you fighting
8:42your spouse you're about to choke the
8:45dog you're about to kill the cat I mean
8:47all kinds of stuff is going on in your
8:49head and you're saying Lord what am I
8:51gonna do you're responsible for how you
8:54act the amazing thing about it is God's
8:59not gonna hold the world and the people
9:03who are coming against us or the system
9:06that's challenging us accountable for
9:09our actions no he's gonna hold us
9:13responsible for how we react to things
9:16so I want to talk to people all over the
9:19world right now
9:20how are you reacting to this drama I
9:23call the drama how are you reacting to
9:25it
9:26what's your response are you taking
9:28responsibility over the fact that this
9:30is not normal however you know what God
9:34I try
9:35you got I believe that you're doing
9:37something I believe no matter the
9:40outcome or how this thing originated I
9:44just believe that God you're going to
9:47make away for me I just believe that
9:50somehow I'm coming out better on the
9:53other side I mean you're responsible for
9:55that or you can choose to get depress
9:58and defeated and you know and said lord
10:00I don't know what I'm going to do you
10:03see failure to take responsibility over
10:07all errors of your life will result in
10:12you missing the many God moments that
10:16are afforded you the many God
10:18opportunities that are afforded you you
10:22have to take responsibility over every
10:25area of your life for the last five
10:28weeks I've been teaching about
10:30responsibility about several things
10:32responsibility last week we did
10:34responsibility over your finances you
10:36know responsibility over your health
10:39responsibility over your mind over what
10:41you think people can't force thoughts
10:44into your mind you have to open your
10:48heart to the thoughts and you've got to
10:51embrace them and you you're gonna be the
10:53one to say will I receive that or will I
10:56reject it right it's it's all up to you
10:59you've got you're gonna have to take
11:01responsibility over the direction of
11:03your relationships because some
11:06relationships you just need to shut it
11:08down and then some relationships you
11:12need to cultivate it but you have to
11:14take responsibility over that so I want
11:18to focus the rest of the teaching
11:20tonight on the subject of social
11:23responsibility it's amazing that all of
11:28these subjects were planned months ago
11:31months ago and it's amazing that given
11:35the climate that we're in that I find
11:38myself now teaching on social
11:41responsibility as we live in a world now
11:44that is practicing social distancing
11:48you know it's amazing God has a real
11:51good sense of humor I think I mean here
11:55it is we're practicing social distancing
11:58and now how do we take responsibility
12:02over social interaction with people how
12:06do we really do that I want to lay a
12:08foundation here with one passage of
12:10Scripture or one thought from first
12:13Peter chapter 4 if you have your Bible
12:16you're at home so let's just get into
12:20the Word of God let's get into the word
12:21I'm loving this right it says in 1st
12:24Peter chapter 4 beginning at verse 8
12:27there several things at least four
12:30things I want to point out in this
12:33scripture that will help you and I to
12:38see the kind of responsibility that is
12:43given to us on a daily basis he says
12:47here above all that's after everything
12:49has been said and done after you've come
12:51up with your own thoughts our own ideas
12:53at the end of the day let's put it in
12:56our modern term at the end of the day
13:02love each other deeply then he says
13:07because love covers over a multitude of
13:12sins offer hospitality to one another
13:16without grumbling each of you should use
13:20whatever gifts you have received to
13:22serve others as faithful stewards of
13:26God's grace in its various forms if
13:30anyone speaks they should do so as one
13:35who speaks the very words of God if
13:39anyone serves they should do so with the
13:43strength of God or the strength God
13:45provides so that in all things god may
13:49be praised through jesus christ to him
13:54be glory and the power forever and
13:59ever so social responsibility the first
14:03thing God is telling us here that we
14:05need to do is that we need to love one
14:08another that is our duty
14:11we have to love one another this morning
14:14I went on Facebook and Instagram and
14:16like I'm doing every day now between 9
14:19a.m. and 9:30 I go live and I call it
14:23spiritual nuggets you know I just impart
14:25that to people and try to encourage them
14:27and so forth and today I dealt with the
14:30subject of forgiveness forgiveness it's
14:33a huge subject it's a it's a topic that
14:36a lot of people don't like to deal with
14:38because there's so much bitterness in
14:40our hearts unforgiveness you know people
14:43have heard us offended us and and the
14:46Word of God taught us that that in
14:49Matthew that unless we are willing to
14:52forgive those who trespass against us
14:55our heavenly father will not forgive us
14:57and when I read that for a moment it
15:02just hit me that our forgiveness from
15:05God hangs on our willingness to forgive
15:08the offender the one who has offended us
15:12so we can ignore the fact that we are
15:16not forgiving people and walk around
15:19bragging I'm a Christian I know God I
15:22love God and I'm on my way to heaven
15:23when that scripture really nullifies
15:26that thought that unless you're willing
15:29to forgive the person who has offended
15:31you God's mercy is not extended to you
15:35why am I saying this I'm saying it
15:39because a lot of people find the love
15:43language a struggle because of the
15:47condition of their hearts anytime you
15:50harbor unforgiveness it breeds
15:53bitterness strife Envy and to the point
16:01malice grudge I mean all kinds of works
16:05of darkness and whenever that sets in
16:09it's hard to love it's hard to love and
16:11some of you were saying you know there's
16:13just some people I am NOT going to love
16:16you know here's the door and I said this
16:19to the church so many times years ago
16:21years ago the Lord spoke to me and he
16:23said look I've never commanded you to
16:26befriend everybody but I've commanded
16:31you to love everybody there's a
16:33difference and I said wow what a
16:37revelation that God is not pushing me
16:41and forcing me and making it a strict
16:44commandment for me to befriend everybody
16:47that you've got to be in my space you
16:49got to be in my circle you got to be in
16:51my life that I gotta put up with you no
16:56that's not what the word is saying he's
16:59commanding us to love everybody loving
17:01you doesn't mean I have to be a friend
17:04see loving you is loving you to the
17:08point where the God love that has been
17:11extended to me I'll extend it to you
17:14that I love you in spite of how you've
17:16offended me that I would love you it's
17:19my responsibility talking about
17:21responsibility here Peter is telling us
17:23he says above all love each other but
17:27don't do it on the surface well you know
17:31I love you until that's not deep love
17:36you know listen I love you but boy if
17:39you rub me the wrong way can't do that
17:42he says love deeply that means you got
17:45to dig deep deep into your heart deep
17:49into your emotions to love and then I
17:53get it please don't think that I'm
17:55standing here as this holy guy who just
17:59loved everybody was so easy to love
18:01listen there's some people I had to fast
18:04for days to love just be honest with you
18:10there are some people I had to have a
18:12conference call with God God this
18:16scripture right here don't pertain to
18:18that one cuz I am lovin them now can we
18:22just be honest I mean just
18:24tell the truth man there's some can I
18:28just be truthful there are some people
18:30you are among right now just don't look
18:33at them just look straight at the
18:34television look straight at the phone
18:37look straight at the computer there are
18:40some people in that room with you right
18:41now you know it takes two Father Son
18:45Holy Ghost grace everything that the
18:47gifts of the Spirit the gift of the
18:50Spirit to love them but you have to it's
18:53your duty it is your responsibility to
18:56love you know you know what our stage
18:59God's stage let's put it that way our
19:02churches are filled with so many fancy
19:05sermons and things that will make people
19:08feel good but sometimes I think what's
19:10missing is the purity of the Word of God
19:13that when we hear it it really
19:15challenges us to do better because the
19:18word should transform us watch this not
19:21excite us any time you get a word that
19:25excites you it is based on what touches
19:30your passion it's based on how you feel
19:33it makes you feel good but what happens
19:37when the word hits you between the eyes
19:40can it change you and I tell you what I
19:43rather a word that will make me say oh
19:46Jesus forgive me
19:50let me change he's saying here love one
19:54another deeply deeply and I think what
19:59we need to do on this journey leading up
20:02to Passover Resurrection Sunday Easter
20:06Sunday that we need to begin to examine
20:09that God wants us to be transformed it
20:12is our duty stop waiting for people to
20:15make peace with you that's it some
20:20people it's the fool thank you Lord some
20:22people say don't worth it they don't
20:26deserve that kind of a attention don't
20:29wait on them for them to pardon
20:34themselves or you pardoning them
20:37you do it it's your responsibility you
20:40said well Henry how do I do that
20:41well oh this is gonna be tough for some
20:44of you now
20:44maybe you just need to pick up the phone
20:46and say look you know what forget it
20:48forget it I'm sorry I heard you I heard
20:55what you just said you just said the
20:57devil is alive I am doing that well it's
21:01your responsibility because you see when
21:05you're transformed by the renewing of
21:07your mind then you act like Christ you
21:11have the nature of Christ you do what is
21:14right you change your attitude so you'll
21:18be you the view be the bigger one and
21:21you take a step of faith and you say you
21:23know what let's be better reach out to
21:25the person whether by text or by email
21:28and just just stop practicing I love you
21:32some people will hate you for it I love
21:34you their parents right now your kids
21:36have done you wrong
21:37go ahead text them I love you
21:40some of you your parents have done you
21:42wrong go ahead text them I love you give
21:45them that important phone call say I
21:48love you right say say that co-worker
21:51that's driving you crazy hey love you
21:55praying for you right don't don't don't
21:57let those evil thoughts get into your
21:59mind right that spouse that's driving
22:02you crazy no I love you I said that
22:05person you're dating I love you I mean
22:08that's our job that's what it is saying
22:10and you know I'm trying to leave this
22:12love thing here but I feel something
22:14pulling on me he says love each other
22:16deeply because love covers over a
22:21multitude of sins you see what what the
22:25Word of God is telling us that when you
22:27don't have love then it's hate it's
22:30bitterness and what it does it exposes
22:33wrong it's constantly bringing up the
22:37wrong and all its doing is sowing seeds
22:40this scored and soin seeds of bitterness
22:43and and malice and so forth and any
22:46definite it doesn't hide the shame it
22:50doesn't hide what is wrong and it is
22:52your responsibility as a believer please
22:55listen to me it doesn't matter where
22:57you're watching from around the world it
23:00is your responsibility to love deeply
23:03and cover the wrong so many of us as
23:10Christians somehow we get excited and we
23:14think it's a deep spiritual act to
23:17always want to expose expose expose
23:19expose and it please don't you ever walk
23:22away and think that this guy tries to
23:24compromise and wants to water the dots
23:27but down awarded things down go go if
23:30you if you really want to be a Christian
23:31look at the life of Christ when he was
23:35on the earth he did everything to point
23:38people the right way
23:39there were many occasions where the
23:41religious people would test him because
23:45they wanted to see how he was going to
23:47react towards what they were the
23:52challenges if you will that they put
23:53before him but Jesus over and over
23:57showed compassion and what if what a
24:00world it would be what a world it would
24:03be like if all of us would just show
24:06compassion can you imagine if all of us
24:11would love people to the point where we
24:15won't throw them under the bus but we
24:18would put them in the bus and transport
24:22them to their destination that's what
24:26happened in the Bible about the parable
24:28of the Good Samaritan to religious
24:31people were so religious and busy that
24:34they left the man to die and an unlikely
24:38source a Samaritan came and went beyond
24:43the call of duty
24:44he loved deeply that's what he did he
24:49loved deeply let me move on here then it
24:52says off
24:53hospitality to one another without
24:56grumbling so not only should we love one
24:58another but we should be hospitable to
25:01one another that means we ought to be
25:04friendly be welcomed into strangers and
25:07don't complain about it just it's just
25:10cheap listen you know people will say
25:13well this is just my personality god
25:16never gave you a mean personality so
25:19don't say that but well this is just my
25:21personality I just don't like to talk to
25:24people just like to be by myself no
25:26that's one the devil that's not of God
25:29remember loving a person doesn't mean
25:31you have to befriend the person and what
25:34Peter is saying here that we must be
25:36hospitable to people you know I grew up
25:39in a time and and I noticed the culture
25:42has changed right I get that but I grew
25:45up in a time when my parents taught me
25:46you see people especially when they're
25:49adults you don't ever pass an adult and
25:52don't say hi you don't have to know them
25:55and I know some of you you're like
25:57where's this guy from Mars or somewhere
26:00this is a different time because can I
26:04be honest with you even in church God
26:07has afforded me to Pastor a great church
26:09love this church and I see it all the
26:13time I'll be in the lobby or I'll see
26:15people walked up and down the aisles in
26:18the sanctuary and they will just step
26:21past each other and like strangers does
26:25it cost you to us to say hi does it cost
26:29you to say good morning be hospitable
26:32and don't grumble about it that's what
26:36the word says be nice be kind how are
26:39you you know be good true story this
26:43just happened today maybe God allowed it
26:45to happen to be for it to be a part of
26:47my sermon this just happened today
26:49here it is I'm in the driveway or the
26:52drive-through I should say going to this
26:54famous fast-food restaurant like if I
26:59call the name you'll be shocked because
27:00they're known to have some of the
27:03greatest people who will just be
27:07their hospitality is just second to none
27:10they're great put it that way and I'm in
27:12the drive-thru line got up and they took
27:16my order and everything so I went up and
27:19I told the lady I needed extra something
27:21because I and I don't want to give the
27:23company away because I'm not trying to
27:24bash the company and I need extra
27:27so-and-so and for a specific amount I
27:30did ask for a specific amount and you
27:34know I always I learned this now I
27:36always check my bags my stuff my order
27:39because it has happened to me so many
27:41times I get home and they and especially
27:44when you know you're you live quite a
27:47distance away from that restaurant you
27:50go home and then you find that they
27:52didn't put the rice in there they didn't
27:54put this in there
27:55so I always check so I started checking
27:56and when I checked I noticed they didn't
28:00give me enough so I said ma'am that's
28:05not right I needed four more in with an
28:09attitude you know I I said man four more
28:13and she gave me that could I and walked
28:18up and just hand it to me and I'm like
28:21wow I mean I'm supporting you I'm
28:26supporting your company I'm helping you
28:29put food on your table and I wasn't rude
28:34I'm just telling you the order was wrong
28:38just be hospitable hey I apologize sir
28:43here you go
28:45have a great day that's all
28:48unnecessarily I mean this was just
28:50totally unnecessary she went off and I
28:55didn't you see it was my responsibility
28:56to react cuz you know come on now come
29:00on I don't care you are there are times
29:04people will rub you the wrong way and
29:07you about to and you have to remember
29:09I'm saved I'm born again hallelujah
29:12praise the Lord can I just be honest how
29:15many of you you can put it on Facebook
29:17right now you can post it right now tell
29:19me me - Bishop me too me too
29:21I'm guilty how many of you you you are
29:24about to say something and it wasn't
29:28good and you had to catch yourself and
29:31you yeah praise God hallelujah thank you
29:35Jesus that's not what you were gonna say
29:37I mean you did thank you Jesus
29:42hallelujah praise the Lord am I the only
29:45one somebody sent me to hear John said
29:48me to me somebody screaming me I'm do
29:53you know how many times I almost would
29:56go off but I say hey they may know I'm a
30:00pastor they may know who see it's my
30:04responsibility though somebody will
30:06trigger you and and and really tick you
30:10off it's your responsibility to say I'm
30:14gonna be socially nice I'm not gonna let
30:18what you do upset me I'm not gonna get
30:20bitter over it you know and I'm not
30:23gonna complain about it either do you
30:25know how many born-again believers and
30:28even those of you are not born again do
30:30you know how many people live in their
30:31lives every day watch this doing things
30:34and complaining about it that's not
30:37right according to this scripture it
30:39says be hospitable to one another
30:42without grumbling don't complain about
30:46it don't complain about providing for
30:49your family come on brothers don't
30:52complain about well you know I'm
30:53providing for my wife I'm fighting for
30:55my kids I'm providing my provider that's
30:57your duty don't complain about it I said
31:02and ladies don't complain about your man
31:05he's doing this and then oh that's your
31:07husband
31:07I said don't complain the IDS dear
31:11children getting on my last nerve I
31:14don't want to cook for them I don't want
31:15to do nothing I want to pay nothing for
31:17them now don't complain about it think
31:20about don't complain about these things
31:23right don't go to a church and keep
31:27going there every Sunday but yet still
31:29you complain about the church that
31:31doesn't make sense
31:33don't go to a job and everyday you go to
31:36the job
31:37you cut the boss down to everybody why
31:39if you don't like the job quit those
31:43somewhere else don't go to a gas station
31:46pumping gas I'm so sick and tired of
31:49this place I hate this place why do you
31:51pump gas there every time what do you do
31:55that you know I don't like this
31:57boyfriend I don't let his girlfriend
31:59know why are you still with the person
32:00if you don't like them leave save
32:06yourself a lot of headache I don't know
32:08you said oh my goodness I died and come
32:10to the service to hear this it is your
32:12responsibility to make sure you make
32:15peace with yourself you love people and
32:17that you show kindness to people that's
32:19really what the Apostle was really
32:21saying here and then he says let's
32:23continue to read each of you should use
32:26whatever gifts you have receive to serve
32:29others so number three that we should
32:32serve others with our gifts what what's
32:35your gift what is your gift or gifts
32:38those of you watching by social media
32:40even by the internet make your comment
32:42do you identify what your gift is or
32:45your gifts are you know do you know cuz
32:47I had to search for years and said what
32:50I really want to know my gift are my
32:52gifts because that's my niche that's
32:55that's the anointing that I can best
32:58flow in and you will not have a
33:02fulfilled life until you discover your
33:05gifts so he's saying here use your gifts
33:09to serve others so that's what you're
33:12supposed to do I'm using one of my gifts
33:15to serve others I'm preaching to you I'm
33:17empowering you I'm here faithfully
33:21regardless of whatever happens I am
33:23committed to this no it doesn't matter
33:26if my own personal life is falling apart
33:28maybe I'm struggling with sickness or
33:31struggling financially it don't matter
33:32no matter how I feel my gift is to serve
33:36you is to empower you it's to strengthen
33:40you it's to bring life to your dead
33:42situation that's my gift and I'm gonna
33:45walk in it
33:47are you doing the same do you know what
33:49you're called to do use your gift to
33:51serve others especially in a time like
33:53this there's a lot of people who really
33:56are looking for hope
33:58why don't you change the conversation
34:01from negative to the positive with your
34:04words that God I believe you know great
34:07things about to happen god I believe
34:09that that something good is gonna come
34:11out of this don't panic my friends no no
34:13don't don't get frustrated don't don't
34:15get discouraged God's gonna turn it
34:16around you see you see your gifts should
34:20be used to serve others not always
34:24wanting people to serve you use a gift
34:27to serve others and then number four he
34:30says here as faithful stewards of God's
34:33grace in its various forms then he says
34:37if anyone speaks they should do so as
34:40one who speaks the very word of God
34:45so number four speak the word be careful
34:49of what you're speaking be careful be
34:52careful be careful be careful because if
34:54you speak your frustration if you speak
34:56just venting and not the word then
34:59you're not given life life and death or
35:04death and life are in the power of the
35:07tongue it's up to you to speak life to
35:11speak life and say lord I speak your
35:15word because it says if anyone serves
35:17they should do so with the strength God
35:21provides so so you're not serving people
35:26and speaking the Word of God with your
35:29own strength you see the reason why I'm
35:33doing what I do right now is because God
35:35is and he has empowered me to do so this
35:40fragile body is not able to do all of
35:44what I do my strength comes from the
35:47Lord and you should believe that too you
35:51should believe that Lord I trust you you
35:54know that you you have empowered me to
35:59ooh everything that you've put in me
36:02that I'm gonna serve people now it's the
36:06time the world they're panicking they
36:09don't know what to do this is our
36:11greatest moment Church and you can
36:15choose to add to the clutter become a
36:20part of the mess become a part of the
36:22confusion become a part of the
36:24dysfunction oh you can choose to serve
36:28Lord how can I help the seniors how can
36:32I help the church the global church give
36:36a message of hope how can i guide my
36:39heart and my mind and love people
36:41because most people who always find
36:45fault with other people truly struggle
36:49with the issue of love but when you have
36:53love deep on the inside of your heart
36:54when you take on that responsibility
36:56that Lord I will love no matter what
37:00then all of a sudden you see men as
37:05trees meaning you see an ocean or a
37:11field of opportunity and the opportunity
37:15is I got to preach the gospel I got to
37:18give those people hope or at home right
37:21now discouraged don't know what to do
37:23those people who were trusting in the
37:25system that Lord
37:27I got a preach I got to be a messenger I
37:30got to open my mouth and I got to show
37:32them love that I can't be easily ticked
37:36off I have to show love now the Lord I
37:39have to be hospitable after welcome
37:41people I have to show people love now
37:43more than ever before I have to let
37:45people know I care I have to let people
37:48know that they matter that's really what
37:51this whole teaching is all about so
37:54here's a couple of things I want to
37:56challenge you to do I want you to spend
37:59quality time with your family maybe
38:02you've got a friend there which you
38:04spend quality time you know what this is
38:06a moment I think God is using this also
38:10to to quiet us down
38:12to bring a calmness we've been too busy
38:17too busy running out in doing all kinds
38:21of stuff now we're forced to pick one
38:23place to talk to have quality time to
38:31chill to rest in the Lord some of you
38:35this is a great opportunity for you to
38:37because through the internet and through
38:40YouTube and through social media you're
38:44able now to hear the word because you're
38:47so busy even if we had offered it before
38:49you were too busy you have time for this
38:52right now you depend on it because it's
38:54your only hope you see like me I've
38:57decided I shut the meter off it's it's
38:59just too bad I shut it down because
39:03whatever goes here gets here and affects
39:06all of here
39:08affects all of my body so I train my
39:11mind now I'm gonna get into the word and
39:14focus on things that are good and honest
39:17and of good report and that gets into my
39:20heart and it changes my attitude it
39:23changes my outlook on life I want you to
39:27the exhibit love in all your
39:29interactions exhibit love some of you
39:32it's going to be a test of your faith
39:34stop blaming people shut it down
39:38no no okay I understand they did all of
39:40that but Lord I'm commanded to love them
39:43I have to love them I forgive them and I
39:46love them I love everybody I'm not gonna
39:48be so suspicious of everybody some of
39:51you you need to break that antenna off
39:52the top of your head it's always you see
39:55everybody be bb-bb-bb-bb-bb-bb-bb your
39:57skin in the bbbb baby baby oh that's a
39:59bad one baby baby that's a good one no
40:01stop it just stop it let people prove
40:05who they are but don't judge them before
40:08you know don't have a judge a book by
40:10its cover
40:12give them an opportunity to prove
40:14themselves be present in every
40:18conversation in every conversation be
40:21present what did I mean by that in every
40:24conversation God will give you an
40:26opportunity to share your faith to share
40:30your faith and to share the goodness of
40:33God and to interject the word that will
40:35totally give answers and change the
40:39direction of that conversation I want
40:43you also to have family devotion family
40:46dinner time and then not only that this
40:50is this is something I recommend I tried
40:53my best to do it my kids and I said look
40:56when we around the table we have in
40:58dinner and so forth there's just certain
41:00things put away all of the distractions
41:03this is what social distancing has done
41:06for us there's a lot of things that's
41:08been distracting us it's gone maybe when
41:12you're having dinner with your spouse or
41:14with your children your family your
41:16siblings whatever just put away all the
41:18devices for a moment I'm not telling you
41:20I don't know you're pushing back now Oh
41:21crazy pastor no you know I'm not saying
41:24get rid of it all I'm just saying just
41:28certain times just put it away when
41:31you're having some conversations just
41:33put it away and then finally use your
41:36social media platforms I told you so
41:38you're gonna use it at times you know
41:40user social media platforms as a
41:43witnessing tool it's your responsibility
41:46it is everybody's responsibility not the
41:49pastor alone the evangelists are the
41:51fivefold ministry the teacher the
41:53Prophet no no no it is everybody's
41:55responsibility to share the gospel with
41:58everyone you come in contact with let's
42:02pray Lord you have spoken to us directly
42:06about our responsibility when it comes
42:11to our social interaction would be
42:16and in this time of social distance in
42:21we still have a community of people
42:24among us still a community of people in
42:27our homes wherever we are that we can
42:30communicate with help us to demonstrate
42:34love help us to be kind to them help us
42:39to serve them and help us to share our
42:42faith the gospel with them would you
42:46bless that person do me a favor as
42:48you're watching just by an act of faith
42:50would you stretchy the one hand or both
42:53hands towards that screen now and as I
42:57direct my hands towards that screen I am
43:00praying that the favor of God would rest
43:03upon your life that this will be a
43:06season where you will experience the
43:09love of God in such a way that you would
43:13want to pass it on to others I'd declare
43:16right now that there's a healing that's
43:20taking place in your heart that God has
43:23given your heart transplant that he's
43:26renewing your heart so that you can
43:29forgive that you can love
43:30unconditionally that God is touching
43:33your home and God is touching your
43:35connections and God is touching your way
43:38of life he's touching every area of your
43:40life and father I decree it now that
43:44those hands that are lifted up that they
43:47are blessed
43:48they are instruments for your honor and
43:51for your glory in Jesus mighty name I
43:54pray now father I thank you for those
43:57who are going to sew into the ministry
43:58tonight
43:59thank you for people all over the world
44:02that they're going to understand in this
44:05climate that we're in most people are
44:08not able to come physically to the house
44:10of God so they can give their offerings
44:14so as we do it electronically whatever
44:18method we use to give our seed I ask you
44:22tonight bless every person around the
44:25world who will keep the light of the guy
44:28spoole burnin in the darkness that's in
44:32the earth in the uncertainty that's in
44:34the earth every Church not just the fate
44:36center every Church Father help pastors
44:39not to panic
44:41about where the resources are coming
44:43from god help them to understand if you
44:46started that church you'll get them out
44:49of this but if that thing was started
44:52because they needed money they were
44:53trying to use your name for their fame
44:56then god they should shut it down they
45:00should walk away and go in their calling
45:02but if you've called them to this thank
45:05you that you're raising of men and women
45:07and they're going to see father out of
45:09the abundance of their hearts they're
45:11not going to allow media or people or
45:14their feelings because you've never
45:15forced anybody to sow a seed it's always
45:20a proposition you said if they give it
45:22shall be given back to them in good
45:25measure so for everyone especially the
45:28fete Center family who will use this
45:30moment now to seed I pray your blessings
45:33upon them now and for those who are
45:35struggling with it lord I pray that they
45:37too one day we'll have a revelation that
45:40is more of a blessing to give than to
45:43receive in Jesus name Amen amen
45:47praise the Lord don't you go anywhere
45:50stay right there I want to give an
45:53opportunity to seed right now there are
45:55several ways you can give your offerings
45:57let me read them out to you and
46:00encourage you right now first option let
46:03me talk about the conventional givers
46:04many of you you could you know you would
46:07normally be here on a Wednesday and you
46:09would give well there's no way we can
46:12get that seed in the ground so what
46:14we're going to ask you to do our offices
46:17are open in fact the lines the phone
46:19lines are open right now I want you to
46:21call that number that's right on the
46:23screen nine five four seven four two
46:25seven eight three two go ahead and call
46:28that number right now if you're given
46:30conventionally meaning you normally give
46:32your checks or you give your credit card
46:35they can take that information right
46:38now and they will process it right now
46:40if you've got your cash offering then
46:42here's what we suggest that you do call
46:44that number and they'll make arrangement
46:47they'll tell you when we're open and if
46:49it's convenient for you you can come by
46:52the business office and you can drop
46:54your seed in the ground remember when
46:57you give your seed no need to complain
46:58no need to grumble or you know complain
47:01about it just give it I'm speaking
47:03directly to those cheerful givers those
47:07people are not turned off by giving
47:09those people understand just like
47:11everything else the church needs
47:13resources to run the ministry and if
47:16you've been blessed by this ministry use
47:18that option by calling that number now
47:20and someone is right there if the lines
47:23are busy just pause for a moment keep
47:25calling will be courteous to you and
47:28we'll make sure you get your seed in the
47:29ground the text to give information is
47:31right there take your phones
47:33those of you on social media the
47:35information is right there I can see it
47:37right now please would you so can you
47:39can if everybody out there do me a favor
47:42I'm gonna challenge you if you don't
47:45have it God's not forcing you
47:47I definitely not forcing you to do that
47:50but if those of you out there and you
47:52say Henry I have it within me I'll never
47:55ask you to give what you don't have but
47:58you have it within you say Henry I want
48:00to help me the budget of the church you
48:02know what I can give a seed of a hundred
48:04dollars or I can give 50 dollars look
48:07I'm not telling you that's what you have
48:09to give I have to repeat myself because
48:12I know sometimes the enemy he takes our
48:14positive words and then he grabs it
48:17because words are life and he will twist
48:20it in the mind so let your mind be
48:23renewed now if you just if you have a
48:25fifty dollar seed or a hundred dollar
48:27seed could you give that with your tithe
48:29you know and if you don't find why am I
48:32asking you for that so that we can take
48:35care of the nest the necessary things
48:37that we need to take care of right here
48:41at the church so you can text to give
48:43you can use the cash app it's right
48:44there or you can go online go to our
48:47website the faith Center int org
48:50and click on the give link and give
48:52right now I'll let them put that up for
48:54a moment while I just make a few
48:56announcements I really want you to give
48:58so don't log off don't just shut down
49:02now just go ahead everybody fakes on a
49:04family we're dependent on you keep us
49:07going keep this ministry going and you
49:11can be a partner with us right you can
49:14be generous you can be kind and we so
49:16appreciate that I want to thank all of
49:19you for joining we'll have a rebroadcast
49:22of this and for those of you we listen
49:24to the rebroadcast you do your part and
49:26the Lord richly bless you
49:28and we'll see you again right here on
49:31the same platform that you use then this
49:34coming Sunday at 10 a.m. and I want to
49:37remind you that faith in your God will
49:42always move mountains out of your life
49:46god bless you they're gonna sing god
49:48bless you keep on giving
49:49[Music]