Anchored in Purpose
Bishop Henry Fernandez Preached on 9/21/2025Ecclesiastes 3:1
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43:40
Summary
Bishop Henry Fernandez encourages believers to stay anchored in their divine purpose through shifting seasons, using the example of Nehemiah to show that while life may bring destruction, God provides the strength to rebuild and reach our destination.
Key points
- •Seasons of life are designed to mature and grow you, turning bitterness into better character if you remain anchored.
- •Consistency is more important than perfection; even when the 'righteous fall seven times,' the requirement is to get back up every time.
- •Just as Nehemiah wept over Jerusalem's ruins but chose to rebuild, it is okay to mourn your losses as long as you eventually commit to restoration.
- •Distractions from critics (Sanballats and Tobiahs) and emotional traps are designed by the enemy to derail you from your future purpose.
- •Life functions like a GPS: you must set your destination (purpose), hit the start button (action), and follow the Holy Spirit's instructions (obedience).
Scripture
Purpose
Perseverance
Spiritual Growth
Faith
Restoration
Life application
Identify one area of your life that feels like 'ruins' right now. This week, instead of just mourning, take one concrete 'rebuilding' step toward your God-given purpose, even if you are still feeling the pain of the season.
Reflection questions
- What are the 'distractions' or 'Sanballats' in your life currently trying to pull your focus away from your assignment?
- When you face a setback, do you tend to stay down in bitterness or do you have the 'fighter' spirit to get back up?
- In your current season, are you leaning on your own understanding or are you actively listening to the Holy Spirit's GPS directions?
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Full transcript
0:00Amen. Let's pray. Father, we thank you
0:02for your love. We thank you that you
0:05brought us to this place this morning to
0:07hear Rama word.
0:09We truly believe that you're turning
0:11things around for our good. May you
0:14bless
0:16and speak to us in a very profound way
0:20this morning so that when we leave this
0:22place, we can truly say that you are
0:27with us. I believe that you're going to
0:29give answers today. I believe that
0:32you're going to give your people hope
0:34that they're going to continue to trust
0:36you in whatever season they find
0:39themselves in in Jesus name. Amen. Come
0:43on, give the Lord a hand of praise one
0:45more time
0:47and you may be seated in the presence of
0:50the Lord. First of all, Carol and I are
0:53grateful that you have joined us here
0:55this morning uh on campus. And those of
0:58you who are streaming, thank you so much
1:00for being a part of our service on
1:04today. And the Lord bless you. As you
1:06know, we're going to receive our
1:08morning's tithes and offering at the end
1:10of the service or the sermon, I I should
1:12say. And uh if you could just hold on
1:15for a moment once I finish the message
1:18just remain in your seat so that we can
1:20conclude the service together. Amen.
1:23>> All right. So let's begin or continue I
1:27should say the series that I've been on
1:31and the title of it is seasons of
1:35becoming. Seasons of becoming.
1:40And in the series, I've been sharing
1:42with you that every season lends itself,
1:47if you will, to mature you and to grow
1:50you. Every season, the purpose of the
1:54season that you're in and the one that
1:57you just came out of, it is to mature
2:00you. It is to grow you.
2:03And uh each season should make you a
2:06better person,
2:08>> not bitter,
2:11>> that's good.
2:12>> Let me say it again. Each season should
2:16make you a better person, not bitter.
2:20>> And I get it. Sometimes we go through
2:22our personal issues in life and those
2:25issues will cause us sometimes to react
2:29in a negative way. to react in a way
2:33that will make us bitter and not better.
2:37Regardless of what the enemy is trying
2:39to do to you, every season should make
2:41you better. So, let's for a moment talk
2:44about recognizing the shifting seasons
2:50>> because seasons are changing,
2:52>> right? As we continue our series, I want
2:56to remind you that life is full of
3:00seasons
3:02and seasons change. Remember I laid the
3:06foundation in Ecclesiastes chapter 3
3:09verse 1 where it says there is a time
3:13for everything.
3:15Everything. There's a time for
3:16everything and a season for every
3:19activity under the heavens.
3:23So whatever we're dealing with, whatever
3:25that may be, God's not surprised about
3:29what we're experiencing,
3:31>> because his word declares that that
3:34everything has a season under the
3:38heavens. So today you may be in a season
3:42of laughter, joy,
3:45a season of plenty, and that's okay.
3:49However, tomorrow that season might
3:52shift to one of sorrow, discomfort,
3:57or maybe a season of waiting.
4:00Sometimes we don't want to talk about
4:02the seasons of waiting that you got to
4:05wait for something.
4:09>> Come on now. Let's just be honest. We
4:11don't like to wait. We want God to give
4:13it microwave style. Just stick it in for
4:16about 60 seconds. Bam. It's hot.
4:20Bam. I got it. I receive it. Cuz we want
4:23to pray. You know, we want to go to God
4:25and we pray and some of us really get
4:27fancy. You know, I'm going to go on a
4:29one-day fast because God, I'm expecting
4:32you to do this for me. So, you go fast
4:34for one day and bam, in 24 hours, God,
4:37you better give it to me.
4:40>> And when you don't get it, you're upset.
4:44But no matter the season, God's purpose
4:47for your life remains unshaken.
4:52>> Why do you allow your faith journey to
4:56become this yo-yo experience where one
4:59minute you're up, the next minute you're
5:00down? All because you get kind of in an
5:04attitude when you don't get what you
5:06want when you want it.
5:07>> Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Yes, sir.
5:10>> Come on now. But no matter the season,
5:13God's purpose for your life remains
5:16unshaken. If God says he's going to
5:18bless you, if God says, "I promised you
5:20some things." I'm telling you, no season
5:24can change that.
5:30>> No season can change that. If you can
5:32put that in your mind, then the enemy
5:35won't mess you up when you're kind of in
5:37a difficult season.
5:40You see, our challenge is to stay
5:43anchored. And that's why I want to talk
5:46to you this morning about anchored in
5:49purpose.
5:50[Music]
5:52>> Anchored in purpose. What is your
5:55purpose?
5:57>> What is your calling?
5:59Why do you still exist on the planet?
6:04Why did God kept you alive in this
6:06season? Are you anchored in your purpose
6:09or are you going to abort your purpose
6:12just because of temporary discomfort?
6:18>> You got to be anchored in your purpose.
6:20Got to be so determined that you are not
6:23going to let the circumstances of life
6:25change you. You got to be steadfast. You
6:28got to be faithful even when the winds
6:31of life try to toss you around.
6:35>> Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Got to stay anchor
6:37anchored I should say in your purpose
6:39staying steadfast through the changing
6:42seasons. Let's look at what Galatians
6:456:9 says and encourages us. It says
6:50let's not get tired of doing good
6:56>> because in time we will have what?
7:01>> We will have what?
7:03>> I can't hear you. will have what? A
7:06>> harvest.
7:06>> A harvest.
7:08You'll get the end result if you don't
7:12give up.
7:14>> Wow.
7:14>> If you don't give up. Now, I get it. We
7:17all get tired.
7:19We all get frustrated. We all get
7:22discouraged. But Paul says, "Let's not
7:25get to the place where we get tired,
7:28watch this now, of doing good."
7:32>> Amen.
7:34He never said, you know, don't get tired
7:37of doing bad
7:40>> cuz we're not supposed to do bad.
7:43>> And I get it. Many of you are watching,
7:45you're in this room today. You
7:48constantly do good. But watch this. The
7:50enemy wants you to think that you're not
7:53going to get rewarded for your good.
7:56>> Wow.
7:58>> We were in Bible study Wednesday, and by
8:00the way, it was just awesome Wednesday
8:02night.
8:04And I asked a question. I think it was,
8:07you know, what are you most frustrated
8:09about in life? And one lady responded
8:13and she said something like this. The
8:16struggle I have is is is when you watch
8:20other people
8:22do bad,
8:24do things contrary to the word of God
8:27and it looks like they're prospering.
8:30They're getting by. And you who are
8:33trying to live by the book,
8:36>> come on now, is struggling. That was a
8:39real response on Wednesday night. I get
8:42it. Sometimes when you're trying your
8:45best to do good, it seems as if it's not
8:48paying off. But when you look over the
8:50fence at your neighbor and you see that
8:52your neighbor don't pray, they don't go
8:54to church, they cuss, they swear, they
8:56do all kinds of ungodly things on the
8:58job, and you're trying to play it right
9:01and you're not rewarded. Sometimes
9:04you're up in God's face. Hey God, what's
9:07up?
9:12>> Help me out.
9:14>> Cuz I'm trying to follow the book. I'm
9:16trying to live right. But you ain't
9:19rewarding me. But that kind of slowoot
9:22devil sister on the job and that kind of
9:25lean ankle kind of guy. He's doing some
9:28crazy stuff, but yet you're blessing
9:30him.
9:35>> But Paul says,
9:37>> let's not get tired
9:41>> of doing good. When you are doing good,
9:45God's going to reward you for it.
9:47Because in time, you'll have the
9:49harvest. Oh, glory to God. In time,
9:52you're going to have a harvest. I can't
9:54hear you. In time, you're going to have
9:56a harvest.
10:00>> So, this means that your response to
10:04every season matters.
10:08If you stay consistent
10:11>> even in the hard times,
10:14you will reap what God has promised you.
10:17>> Amen.
10:18>> And I know that's hard for us to
10:19understand.
10:21You cannot n navigate the complexity of
10:24life in your own strength. You cannot.
10:28If you try to do it in your own
10:29strength, I'm telling you, you're not
10:31going to make it.
10:34That is why Paul again said in
10:36Philippians 4:13, he reminds us that I
10:40can do all things. But wait a minute,
10:43he's not talking about you bragging in
10:46your own strength.
10:48>> In this season of your life, you're
10:50never going to make it if you think it's
10:52your education, it's your degree, it's
10:54who you're connected to, and because
10:56you're so brilliant. No. He says, "I can
10:58do all things through him, through
11:01Christ who gives me the strength."
11:07Because you see, the Holy Spirit gives
11:09you the power to endure. Watch this. And
11:11I want you to hear me today. The Holy
11:14Spirit gives you the power to endure
11:18discomfort.
11:20He gives you the power to push through
11:23loneliness. He gives you the power to
11:25stand strong when the enemy attacks your
11:29faith.
11:33>> He gives you the power to stay anchored
11:36in your purpose. Yes.
11:38>> That when you know God has called you to
11:41do something, when he has called you to
11:43fulfill a certain assignment on the
11:45earth, the Holy Spirit gives you the
11:49power to handle the discomfort on the
11:52job, to handle the discomfort with the
11:54family, to give you the power to handle
11:57discomfort when you're struggling
11:59financially, when you're battling a
12:02sickness, when you're battling your own
12:04demons. He gives you the power to handle
12:07it.
12:10>> Gives you the power.
12:13See, the danger of distraction
12:17is is to get you off track. Remember
12:20last week I reminded you not to get
12:23trapped by your emotions.
12:26Don't get trapped trapped by your
12:28emotions. not to let what people say or
12:32do or fail to do
12:35distract you from your God-given
12:38assignment cuz some people are not going
12:40to do.
12:42They're not going to say the right
12:44things. So, you got to make sure you
12:47don't get distracted by those people.
12:49Look at what Hebrews 12 verse two says.
12:53We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus.
12:57>> Amen. The champion who initiates and
13:00perfects our faith.
13:04Who you working for?
13:06>> Who are you living for? Is it people?
13:11>> Who are you living for? To impress
13:12people? Might I might I just remind you
13:15the same people you're killing yourself
13:18to please and to to to make them feel
13:21good about you, those are the same
13:23people who will turn around and crucify
13:26you.
13:27[Applause]
13:30Who are you living for?
13:33>> Is it for God or is it for people?
13:37>> Keep your eye on the prize. Keep your
13:39eye on him. Keep your eye and the
13:42calling that's over your life
13:46>> because the latter part of that same
13:47verse says because the joy who the joy
13:52of waiting he endured the cross. He's
13:55talking about Jesus here. He's saying
13:57Jesus kept his eye on the assignment.
14:02>> The assignment was to redeem man. He
14:05knew his calling. So they though they
14:08criticized him, though they talked bad
14:10about him, though remember last week I
14:12demonstrated it. Though all of his
14:15disciples failed him, they remained
14:17silent during his crucifixion. there
14:20remained silent when the people were
14:22betraying him and the soldiers were were
14:25were arrested him and they were now at
14:27Golther's heel ready to crucify him.
14:30Where were the disciples? Isn't it
14:33strange that when your back is against
14:35the wall, the very people you help are
14:38not there
14:40>> to defend you,
14:43>> but you got in an attitude because they
14:45didn't respond the way they should.
14:49You're getting mad because they're not
14:51there for you when when you thought they
14:53would because you were always there for
14:55them. Remember I demonstrated last week
14:57Jesus walked into the room in Galilee
14:59and he saw all the 11 disciples and he
15:02had every right to argue with them.
15:04Where are you? What's your problem? Why?
15:07Why haven't you been there for me? But
15:09he went right into his mission mode. He
15:13said, "Go and preach the gospel." When
15:16you know your assignment, you don't let
15:19any drama distract you.
15:22[Music]
15:26>> When God placed you on that job, you
15:28don't get caught up with all of the
15:31gossip and the toxicity on the job. If
15:34God placed you on that job, focus on
15:37your assignment.
15:39[Applause]
15:42Are you hearing me this morning?
15:44>> Cuz distractions will come.
15:47>> But you must stay locked in on your
15:50purpose, anchored in your purpose. And
15:54if you allow your emotions, your
15:56bitterness to control you, you will miss
15:59the next season of elevation.
16:04>> Yes, you will.
16:06Cuz this season is going to elevate you
16:08to the next season. But if you sit there
16:10and get all in your emotions,
16:13get all in your feelings and not
16:15anchored in your purpose, why are you
16:18called?
16:20>> If you feel the call to start a
16:22business,
16:24then get stay anchored in that purpose.
16:29>> People are going to discourage you. Your
16:31money's going to start acting funny.
16:34Everything is just going to discourage
16:36you. But you stay anchored in your
16:38purpose. Amen.
16:41>> Cuz there is a spiritual battle for your
16:44future.
16:46>> Maybe you don't even recognize that.
16:50>> You have no idea. There is a spiritual
16:53battle for your future. Satan is doing
16:57everything right now to distract you
17:00from your future. He doesn't want you to
17:06win.
17:08He doesn't want you to win. He doesn't
17:11want you to step into your future.
17:14He doesn't. He sees the purpose and plan
17:18for God that God, I should say, have for
17:21your life and he doesn't want you to
17:22win. He knows that there's something
17:24greater ahead of you. You don't know it.
17:27You're so caught up in the moment.
17:29You're so caught up in this bad season,
17:32what people are doing, what people are
17:33saying, and the lack of your money and
17:35and everything just not working right.
17:37He sees your future. And what you do not
17:40understand, he's trying to distract you
17:42and to slow you down and to stop you
17:45from going into your future cuz he's a
17:47thief. He wants to rob you of your
17:50purpose.
17:54>> And here's the sad thing about it. Can I
17:57just be honest? Those of you streaming
17:58in the building, some of you, it's like
18:00you've lost the fighter in you.
18:06>> You've lost the fighter in you. You just
18:08sit there passively and you just let the
18:11devil just slap you up and the devil
18:14just rob you and steal from you and you
18:17ain't going to do nothing about it.
18:21Yes sir.
18:22>> You mean to tell me you've been through
18:24all the hell you've been through and you
18:27just going to come to this place now to
18:29quit?
18:34>> What's wrong with you?
18:36>> All the battles you have fought
18:38previously. You've come to this point
18:40now where you going to surrender. The
18:42devil is a liar.
18:46>> You going to quit now.
18:49What happened to the fighter in you?
18:54>> Why have you lost the tenacity to fight?
18:59>> To stay anchored in your purpose,
19:03>> to get to the point to say, "I will die
19:07>> for what I'm called to do."
19:10[Applause]
19:14See, he knows there's something
19:17that's coming that's greater than you
19:20because it's bigger.
19:26>> It's bigger than you. It's bigger than
19:29you.
19:31Listen, I if if the enemy I is having a
19:36fit over where you are now, wait until
19:39you get to your future.
19:45Wait until you step into your next
19:48season. Come on now. That's why he's
19:52fighting you. So you need to be
19:55determined, if you will, and have the
19:58determination of Nehemiah,
20:01>> who saw the devastation
20:04>> but refused to quit
20:08>> in Nehemiah chapter 1 verse4. I want to
20:10read this, then I'm going to quickly
20:12demonstrate this to you because this
20:13blew my mind.
20:16>> Then I try to wrap this up, you know,
20:17because you know, they tell me not to
20:19preach long no more and all that kind of
20:20stuff.
20:22But it says, "When I heard this news,"
20:25what news? The devastation of Jerusalem.
20:28Put that picture on the wall. I want to
20:30show them the that first of all,
20:33Jerusalem was a city built, fortified.
20:38It was great,
20:41beautiful.
20:42The homes and the structures in
20:45Jerusalem was really good. Have you been
20:48in a season of your life where
20:50everything is good?
20:53>> I mean, everything is right. Your love
20:56life is good. You're dating. You're
21:00married. You got kids. You got money.
21:04You got a job. You got a dog.
21:10Cuz you know when you get a dog, you've
21:11arrived.
21:16Okay.
21:17Oh yeah. When you got a dog walking in
21:19your neighborhood, you've arrived,
21:20buddy.
21:22You have arrived.
21:25You have arrived. You're doing well.
21:28Everything is right.
21:31That was what Nehemiah was experiencing.
21:34The the the people of Israel and
21:37Jerusalem. It was okay. But he got news
21:41just like us. Our season will change all
21:45of a sudden from greatness. Nehemiah
21:48said, "When I heard this news, I sat
21:51down and I wept over what?" The
21:54destruction
21:59>> cuz you wake up one day
22:02and a phone call will change the
22:04beautiful picture in your life.
22:07You'll wake up one day, the person who
22:10you love and the person who said to you,
22:13"I will love you through thick and thin,
22:15I'll always be faithful to you." That
22:18person will let your life look like a
22:23disaster.
22:24>> Wow. The children that you have given
22:27your life for and your money denying
22:30yourself will spit in your faith and
22:34disrespect you, leaving you looking like
22:37that.
22:39>> The job that you have given your life
22:42and years to will get rid of you and you
22:46would look like that.
22:51When he saw it, the Bible says he heard
22:54the news, he sat down, and the Bible
22:58says he wept.
23:01He mourned for days,
23:05fasted, and prayed before God.
23:10Yet,
23:11despite the destruction,
23:14he was willing to rebuild the wall. Wait
23:16a minute. Wait a minute. Wait a minute.
23:17Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Wait a
23:19minute. Wait a minute. Wait a minute.
23:23What Nehemiah is telling us, it's okay
23:27>> to feel hurt.
23:31>> It's okay to weep.
23:34>> When he saw the destruction or heard of
23:36it, he wept. In fact, when you read
23:39Nemiah chapter 1 and chapter 2, he went
23:41to the king that he was working for and
23:43he said to the king, "I tell you what, I
23:45got to go back to Jerusalem to look
23:47about my people. But I know I got to go
23:50through certain areas, certain towns,
23:52certain cities. And the only way I can
23:56get through those places, I got to get a
23:58letter from you, the king. I need
24:01something from you so that when they
24:03stop me, they will know that I have
24:05favor with the king because they gonna
24:07kill me. Cuz you do know, you do know on
24:10your way to recovery, on your way to
24:13fulfilling your purpose, the enemy will
24:15set traps for you.
24:18The enemy will set traps. So Nehemiah
24:20said, "I need a letter from you." Well,
24:22he got the letter and the Bible says as
24:25he was going through the different
24:26places, he would show the letter and
24:29it's the letter that will allow them to
24:31let him through. But wait a minute, as
24:33you kept reading, the Bible said there
24:35were two people, Sambalot and Tobaya.
24:38Two people when they heard that Nehemiah
24:41was willing to go rebuild the wall, they
24:44were angry. Everybody got a Sambalot and
24:47Tobaya to deal with. I don't care who
24:50you be. You are trying to build your
24:52life. You're trying to make something
24:53good of yourself. There are people who
24:55will hate you for no reason. There are
24:58people who rely on you for no reason.
25:01Why? They're after your purpose.
25:05They're after your purpose. Don't let
25:08nobody rob you of your purpose. I get
25:11it. Your life has been messed up, Jack.
25:14But are you willing to rebuild?
25:17[Applause]
25:18>> That's what I really want to know.
25:22Nehemiah, he wept. It's okay to cry.
25:25Don't let nobody tell you you shouldn't
25:27cry. Cry.
25:29>> He mourned. It's okay. And the Bible
25:32says he mourned for what? Days, not
25:34hours.
25:35[Music]
25:36>> He mourned.
25:39>> He was hurting. Yes,
25:41>> even with the Sambalad and Tobaya, all
25:44of these people, even with going through
25:46different cities to go back to Jerusalem
25:48to rebuild the wall,
25:51he kept his eye on his purpose. Because
25:55even with all the destructions, the
25:58Bible says Nei was willing to rebuild.
26:02Here's my question to you today as
26:04you're in this room and you're
26:06streaming. Are you willing to rebuild
26:09your life?
26:15>> Even when you're hurting,
26:17>> even when you're crying,
26:20>> even when you're in pain,
26:22>> are you willing to get up and go back to
26:26Jerusalem? Go back to your purpose and
26:29say, "I'm going to rebuild my life. Oh,
26:31I messed up my finances, but I'm going
26:34to rebuild my finances." Well, I had a
26:36jacked up relationship. She lied to me.
26:39He lied to me. They treated me bad. But
26:41not everybody in the world is bad. Not
26:44every man is bad. Not every woman is
26:47bad. With 8 billion people on the
26:49planet, there's another man for you.
26:51There's another woman for you. Go
26:53rebuild your life.
26:59[Applause]
27:01Go rebuild.
27:04He was willing
27:07to rebuild his life.
27:10So staying consistent
27:13is the key to your breakthrough.
27:17>> Your journey is not about being perfect.
27:21But he's asking you to be perfect.
27:25>> Who lied to you and told you that?
27:28>> Is it perfection you're going for
27:31>> or fulfillment?
27:35Though your life is imperfect,
27:39>> God's not asking you for that. It's
27:40being consistent.
27:44>> If you fall down,
27:47will you get back up again?
27:50Proverbs 24:16 reminds us, "For though
27:54the righteous falls
27:58>> one time,"
28:01>> see, you're not reading your Bible
28:02because I just said something. You
28:03didn't even correct me.
28:07>> Though the righteous fall one time,
28:24I want that settling in your spirit,
28:26man.
28:28>> Though the righteous fall
28:32>> seven
28:35times.
28:37>> Come here, Minister Jean Ginji. Come
28:39here please.
28:42Bible never said though the righteous
28:44fall one time. Some of you just in your
28:46third fall
28:48and you're ready to quit.
28:51You're ready to quit.
28:54>> Now try to play with me here now cuz
28:56every time I hit you, I want you to
28:57fall.
29:02No, you're not supposed to hit me. I'm
29:04life. I'm life.
29:07I'm life. Oh, you got it wrong. You
29:10trying to beat life. No, you don't beat
29:11life. Life going to beat you down.
29:18>> See that? See, he he's trying to do what
29:20all of us trying to do.
29:24>> It never said being righteous, you won't
29:26get hit.
29:28>> Cuz you're minding your own business.
29:30And though the righteous fall,
29:35>> get back up.
29:38Get back up.
29:40>> Life will throw you something. Get back
29:44up. Don't you ever stay down. That's
29:47just the second one. It says seven
29:50times. Get back up. I don't care how
29:54hard life get back up. Get up.
30:00It will beat you up. Finances. Sometimes
30:04he doesn't even give you a break by the
30:06time you Hey, hey, there you go again.
30:08Get back up.
30:12Every time you get hit,
30:16don't stay. Would you hit three people
30:19and tell them, "Get up. Get up. Get up.
30:22Don't you stay down. Don't you stay
30:25down. Thank you. Don't you stay down.
30:27Don't you stay down. Get up. Get up. You
30:30get hit. Get up. You get hit again. Get
30:33up. You get hit again, get up. He slap
30:36you again, get up. Whatever you do, do
30:38not quit. Get up.
30:41[Music]
30:47That's how you become.
30:49You got to stay anchored in your
30:51purpose.
30:56>> I close it with this.
30:59Life is like a GPS.
31:01It's really like a GPS.
31:04>> Here's three things you must do in life.
31:07And if you're taking notes, write this
31:08down, then I promise you I'll be out of
31:10your way. There are three things life
31:13will teach you because it's like a GPS.
31:15Number one, you got to set your
31:17destination.
31:18>> You got to decide where you want to go a
31:21year from now, two years from now, five
31:23years from now. Just like a GPS, if you
31:26decide you're going to go somewhere, you
31:28have to tell the GPS
31:32where you want to go.
31:34>> You have to put it in.
31:37You have to put the address in.
31:40>> So my question to you, do you know your
31:42purpose?
31:45>> Do you know where you're going? Have you
31:48told yourself
31:50as a man or a woman, I know where I'm
31:53going?
31:55I'm locked into my purpose.
31:58I'm anchored into my purpose. I know
32:00where I want to be a year from now, two
32:02years, three years, five years from now,
32:0410 years from now. Have you done that?
32:06That's life. Number two, you got to
32:08start the directions.
32:10See, when you go into your GPS, watch
32:12this. I I've done it so many times. You
32:15can put in the address, but for heaven's
32:18sake, you have to hit go or start.
32:24>> If not, you'll be driving and ain't
32:26nobody giving you no instructions.
32:29You have to not only say where you want
32:31to go, but you got to do something.
32:36>> You got to hit the start button. You got
32:39to say, "I'm going to this destination."
32:43And number three, here's the third thing
32:45you need to make sure that you do. You
32:48have got to follow the instructions.
32:51Even when you think there's a better
32:53route,
32:57you got to trust God's leading. Ignoring
33:00his direction can cost you time, money,
33:06peace, and opportunities.
33:10>> You have to ask the Holy Spirit, just
33:11like that sweet little lady on that GPS,
33:15turn left. When you get to the traffic
33:17light,
33:19>> make a U-turn or whatever it is. Life is
33:23like a GPS.
33:24>> Yes, sir.
33:25>> When you ignore the Holy Spirit's
33:27prompt,
33:29>> then you're going to miss your mark.
33:32>> You're not going to be anchored in your
33:34purpose. You're just going to be tossed
33:36back and forth. You're going to live an
33:38inconsistent
33:40life. I remember I was I was um heading
33:44from from uh uh uh Atlanta back to Fort
33:48Lauderdale. I was driving and and and
33:51this scripture is so relevant to me. And
33:53in Proverbs 3:5 and six it says it says,
33:57you know, trust in the Lord with with
33:58all of your heart. All of your heart.
34:01That means your dependencies got to be
34:02on him. Lean not to your own
34:04understanding because your own
34:06understanding will jack you up. It'll
34:08mess you up. I'm telling you. but in all
34:10of your ways submit to him. In other
34:13words, let him guide you. So, I was I
34:15was driving and and I was by myself and
34:18you know uh um I actually guess guess
34:20what I actually put in the GPS. Now, I
34:22know the route but but it's just a
34:25pattern and I put in the GPS where I'm
34:27going to go in Florida in Fort
34:28Lauderdale and I was driving and I'm
34:30driving listening to music and my
34:33thoughts, you know, I just just love it,
34:35man. I'm I'm thinking and I'm just
34:37sweetly driving. And in fact, in fact,
34:39let me demonstrate this, man. I'm
34:41sitting in my car and and and and and
34:44I'm just jamming jamming. I mean, music
34:46playing.
34:58I mean, I'm I'm I'm I'm jamming, man.
35:01I'm really good.
35:04and the navigation system is talking to
35:07me.
35:10But I was so lost
35:13in my jamming.
35:20I stopped listening
35:23to the lady. If you know Atlanta,
35:27>> when 85 merges into 75,
35:34>> there's a split.
35:36>> Life has a split. Has a
35:40you either turn to the left or you turn
35:42to the right. I am distracted and I turn
35:47on 85 South
35:51>> and I'm driving,
35:54>> ignoring all the signs. All of a sudden,
35:56I noticed I said, "Wait a minute." I
35:59said, "This don't look familiar.
36:03These places don't look familiar." But I
36:05kept ignoring it. Even some of you,
36:08God's been showing you signs.
36:12Got it.
36:15>> And and and you're ignoring the
36:17prompting of the Holy Spirit.
36:20>> And I kept driving. I kept driving. All
36:22of a sudden, I saw this big sign that
36:26says, "Welcome to Mobile, Alabama."
36:33True story.
36:35>> True story.
36:39>> It cost me time.
36:42and money.
36:45>> I was way off track.
36:50I had to pump more gas.
36:53I had to take I 10
36:56a long
36:58long
37:01drive back east
37:05>> to get me back south.
37:09But I got back. Here's the thing.
37:14We all mess up.
37:18>> We all get to the place where we've
37:22ignored the prompting of the Holy Spirit
37:23because we're not anchored in our
37:26purpose.
37:28>> But here's the thing I love about God.
37:30Repent.
37:34>> Repent.
37:36>> Start over.
37:38>> Get on the right track. Oh yes.
37:42>> Cry, mourn,
37:43>> but for heaven's sake, get up.
37:47Stay anchored in this season
37:51>> so that you can make it to the next
37:53season
37:55>> cuz there's so much good in the next
37:57season.
38:02>> There's so much good. Please bow your
38:04head.
38:07And if you don't mind, there's a person
38:09they'd be sitting close to. If they're
38:10not, don't worry about it. Would you
38:12join hands with them? If they're not,
38:15you don't need to stretch yourself
38:19cuz I want to pray for you. I want to
38:20pray for those of you are streaming this
38:22morning
38:25because I think God sent this message to
38:28kind of push you
38:32to not quit, to push you not to have a
38:34pity party over the mistakes that you've
38:37made and how life has gotten you
38:41in a jam. But for you to understand,
38:45don't you look at what you see around
38:47you and let that discourage you. No,
38:52stay anchored in your purpose.
38:54Stay anchored in what God has called you
38:56to do. Father, I thank you this morning.
39:00That there's so many people
39:02who are going to walk away today.
39:03They're going to log off today and
39:05they're going to know you actually spoke
39:09to them.
39:11This was the message they needed.
39:17And so they're going to make a
39:18commitment from this day forward to get
39:21locked into their purpose once again
39:26to accept the fact that the walls have
39:28been ruined. Their lives are not the
39:31perfect picture it was supposed to be.
39:36But yet still like Nehemiah, they're
39:38going to get up.
39:42They're going to do whatever they need
39:43to do to grant to get favor.
39:46to make it on this journey and they're
39:47going to deal with the San Ballad and
39:49Tobaya.
39:51They're going to deal with the
39:53criticism. They're going to deal with
39:55people are plotting against them.
39:57They're going to deal with that,
40:00but they're going to keep their eye on
40:01the prize.
40:04They're going to gather the materials or
40:06whatever they need to do in life to get
40:08them to where they need to be.
40:12I pray that their faith won't fail them
40:14this morning. That they will truly truly
40:17believe this is their greatest hour even
40:20though they're in pain, discomfort,
40:23or perhaps confused about what's going
40:26on.
40:28Would you strengthen them today? I pray.
40:31whoever they are,
40:33let this message be a message of hope
40:37that this week and next week and next
40:39month as they go through the shifting
40:42seasons,
40:43they'll remember this word and live on
40:45it
40:47and know that they are anchored. I pray
40:51especially for those who don't know you
40:53as Lord and Savior
40:55that today they will say yes to you.
40:58Whether they're streaming or in this
40:59room,
41:01but they'll understand that they can do
41:03all things through you. They can't do it
41:06by themselves. They cannot live life
41:08successfully
41:10ignoring you.
41:12You've got to be first.
41:15Seek first the kingdom of God and his
41:17righteousness and then things will be
41:18added up to him. So I pray today they'll
41:21make that decision to say yes to you. If
41:23that's you, you're in the building,
41:25you're streaming.
41:27The Bible simply says the way to receive
41:29Christ in your life, you got to
41:31recognize that you need him. Number one.
41:34Number two, you've got to got to confess
41:37your sins. You don't necessarily have to
41:39confess it for the whole world to hear
41:41it. You can do it privately or you can
41:44do it publicly. The bottom line is you
41:47confess your sins.
41:49You read your Bible every day. You pray.
41:52Then you go to church. A part of your
41:54spiritual development is going to a
41:57local church.
41:59And if you can't go to local church, it
42:01is to find like streaming or whatever
42:03tools you can find to help build you up
42:07in the faith.
42:10So if you're ready to do that today, I
42:12want you to repeat after me. Say, "Lord
42:14Jesus, I'm a sinner. I repent of my
42:18sins. I repent of my embrace the free
42:21gift of salvation.
42:22>> I embrace the free gift of salvation.
42:24>> I declare with my mouth
42:26>> I believe in my heart
42:29>> that I'm born again. I'm born again.
42:31>> Now, Father, I thank you that they have
42:33confessed their sins before you. They're
42:36now a part of your kingdom.
42:39May you bless all of us as we build your
42:41kingdom.
42:42As we give our first fruit, our tithe,
42:45our offerings
42:47to help further this work, I pray every
42:49person, every man, every woman
42:53will give based on the ability that's
42:56been given to them that they will sew
42:58into this ministry to make sure that
43:01every week we reach our financial goal
43:06to take care of our obligations. Thank
43:08you for touching the heart of your
43:10people today. Thank you for those who
43:12will step up and do it not because
43:15they're forced to do it, but because
43:18they know it's the right thing to do.
43:20So, they love their church. That's why
43:23they're going to build their church. We
43:26thank you for their giving this morning
43:28in Jesus' name. Amen. Can we thank God
43:32for the word that you've received today?