What Matters The Most
Bishop Henry Fernandez Preached on 8/17/20261 Corinthians 1:10
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43:30
Summary
Bishop Henry Fernandez challenges the church to reject the spirit of division that plagues society, families, and churches, urging believers to prioritize reconciliation, humility, and the 'weightier matters' of justice and mercy.
Key points
- •Division is the enemy's primary strategy to corrupt what God has created and derail his purpose for our lives.
- •Unity must begin in the household because a divided home cannot stand and eventually leads to divided communities and nations.
- •The Great Commandment requires us to love ourselves correctly so that we can genuinely value and love our neighbors.
- •The true ministry of the church is reconciliation, not religious performance, doctrine, or proving ourselves right at the expense of others.
- •Justice, mercy, and faithfulness are the 'weightier matters' that should define a believer's character over political loyalty or personal status.
Scripture
Discipleship
Community
Love
Spiritual Warfare
Character
Life application
This week, pray Psalm 139:23-24 and ask God to reveal any 'offensive ways' in your heart, specifically looking for areas where you have fanned the flames of division in your family or workplace. Choose to respond to conflict with a spirit of reconciliation rather than the need to be right.
Reflection questions
- In what areas of my life (family, work, or church) am I currently participating in division rather than unity?
- How can I better balance standing for my convictions while still treating those I disagree with with basic human dignity?
- Do my social media posts and private conversations build others up, or do they contribute to a toxic environment?
- What would change in my home if I prioritized the ministry of reconciliation over personal agendas?
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Full transcript
0:00I want to bring to your attention
0:03one passage of scripture taken from 1
0:07Corinthians
0:11um first chapter and the 10th verse.
0:17I hope they'll put it up on the screen.
0:19I want you just read it to yourself
0:22first and then we're going to read it
0:24together.
0:26I want you to absorb this in your
0:28spirit. Paul the Apostle is speaking to
0:33a divided church at Corenth.
0:37>> That's the purpose of the text.
0:40A church that was divided in their
0:42thoughts.
0:45A church
0:47that placed status
0:51over servantthood.
0:54a church that allowed
0:57everything that comes from the kingdom
0:59of darkness to infiltrate their church.
1:04And so Paul was
1:06admonishing
1:09people of faith
1:12to do something important here. So now
1:14that you've read it, we're all going to
1:17read it together. And please as loud as
1:20you can so that you don't need a
1:23microphone to amplify your voice. Are
1:27you ready? Let's read.
1:47Paul says, "I appeal to you,
1:50brothers and sisters, in the name of the
1:52Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree
1:57with one another
2:00in what you say, and that there be no
2:03divisions among you, but that you will
2:07be perfectly ly united
2:10in mind and thought. Father, your word
2:14is powerful.
2:16It is just for us to receive it and
2:20apply it to every area of our lives for
2:24these few moments.
2:27Speak to us.
2:30There are a few of us here who seriously
2:34want to be in alignment with your word.
2:39So transform us in this moment
2:43so that
2:46we can be the best version of ourselves
2:48wherever you have placed us. And we give
2:51you all the praise, the honor, and the
2:53glory for it in Jesus name. Amen. Can we
2:57give the Lord another hand of praise?
3:01and you may be seated in the presence of
3:04the Lord. Just for a few moments, I'd
3:07like to use the subject, what matters
3:10the most.
3:13>> What matters the most?
3:17When we honestly examine the condition
3:21of our world today, it becomes
3:23impossible
3:25to ignore what is happening around us.
3:30I mean it's impossible to ignore what is
3:33happening around us. We see brokenness
3:36in our personal lives. We see confusion
3:41in the dating life, dating
3:44relationships. We do see marriages under
3:49pressure.
3:51Families are divided. Businesses are
3:54struggling with unethical practices
3:58and communities are filled with
4:00hostility.
4:02Even many churches are experiencing
4:06conflict
4:07instead of unity.
4:10We're in a society because of modern
4:13technology, social media.
4:17For some reason, we have magnified the
4:20spirit of division.
4:22How did we get here?
4:25You see, the Bible teaches us that Satan
4:29has always used one primary strategy
4:33against humanity, and that is division.
4:38>> God,
4:39>> that's his number one tool
4:42to get us to be out of compliance with
4:45the word of God. But Jesus said in John
4:4810:10, "The thief comes only to steal,
4:53kill, and destroy,
4:55but I have come that they might have
4:57life and have it to the full." Now, I
5:02want you to hear me clearly today. The
5:04enemy cannot create anything.
5:08>> He cannot create anything.
5:11The only
5:13thing that the enemy does, he corrupts.
5:16what God creates.
5:19He cannot create human beings.
5:22He cannot create the things that God has
5:26already created.
5:28So what he does, if I can find a human
5:32being on the earth to corrupt that human
5:35being, then I will cause division.
5:41You see, if he cannot stop God's
5:44purpose, then he'll attempt to divide
5:48God's people.
5:51Listen to that. If he cannot stop God's
5:54purpose over your life, every one of
5:56you, under the sound of my voice,
5:59there's a purpose for you on the earth.
6:02God has placed greatness in you and the
6:05best version of yourself will never
6:08manifest
6:10if Satan gets into your spirit and
6:14corrupt you.
6:16>> We see Jesus with 12 disciples and you
6:19know the story.
6:22Satan got into one of them called Judas.
6:27>> The devil knows that he couldn't stop
6:29the plan of God.
6:31But therefore, if I can find one who
6:34belongs to God
6:36>> and corrupt him,
6:39>> then his plans would manifest.
6:44Same thing with your family.
6:47The devil just wants to find one in the
6:50family.
6:52>> If he can corrupt one person in the
6:54family, he can make the whole family's
6:57life live in hell.
7:01He just wants to find one person at the
7:04workplace. Just one
7:07>> to corrupt that one person TO MAKE IT
7:10VERY uncomfortable for you to work there
7:14so that you make bad decisions to quit
7:16the job prematurely so that you come out
7:19of your Christian character trying to
7:21respond to a Judith that you should not
7:25respond to.
7:28And
7:28>> so I want you to know that division has
7:32always been the devil's strategy.
7:36From the Garden of Eden, Satan has
7:39divided humanity from God. He divided
7:44Cain from Abel. He divided Joseph from
7:48his brothers.
7:50It's division.
7:52He divided Cain from Abel.
7:55jealousy among siblings
8:00because he knew that if I could have the
8:03two brothers at odds against each other,
8:06I could get one to kill his brother.
8:12See, that's why you got to be so careful
8:15that you don't open up your heart to
8:17bitterness,
8:20>> anger, and jealousy,
8:22cuz Satan will get into your heart for
8:24you to either physically murder somebody
8:29or spiritually murder them.
8:33You murder them with your mouth.
8:35Misinformation.
8:38See, Satan has divided nations.
8:41Look at the world today.
8:44Nations are at odds against each other.
8:47Fighting to this very day. That's his
8:51goal.
8:54He gets into this country.
8:57Make no mistake about it. WE ARE WHERE
8:59WE ARE today because someone fan the
9:03flame of division.
9:06That's how we got here. And sadly, the
9:10church played a role in the division.
9:16Don't shout me down now.
9:19Not only has he divided nations, but he
9:22has divided marriages.
9:24He's divided churches.
9:27And Jesus exposed this strategy when he
9:32said in Matthew 12:25, watch this. Every
9:36kingdom divided against itself will be
9:40what? Ruined.
9:42And every city or household divided
9:44against itself will not stand. Don't
9:47expect
9:49your house to survive
9:53the schemes of the devil. If you are a
9:56part of the division,
9:59>> sir,
10:00>> don't expect your family to be in love
10:03and unity
10:05and to be one when you're faning the
10:09flame of division.
10:12>> You can't expect your workplace to be a
10:14healthy place to work at when you are
10:17the root cause of division.
10:22Don't expect your church, the church
10:24that you go to on a weekly basis, when
10:27you keep sewing seeds of deceit,
10:33>> giving misinformation
10:36>> and you lack the ability to unite.
10:41>> That's what Jesus was saying. A KINGDOM
10:45DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF. AMERICA will
10:48never stand with this division that is
10:52going on.
10:54We will never stand.
10:57All of our superpower and our greatness
10:59will fall. WE'VE SEEN IT BEFORE. LOOK AT
11:02WHAT HAPPENED TO ENGLAND.
11:04Nobody could tell England in their
11:06heydays that they weren't the empire of
11:09the world.
11:12AND I KNOW WE'RE BRAGGING.
11:14And I know we feel as Americans we're
11:17untouchable, BUT EVERY KINGDOM DIVIDED
11:20against itself, THE BUT JESUS said this
11:24will be ruined.
11:26Every city, not just a city, but a
11:30household divided against itself.
11:34So couples,
11:37if you ever want unity, if you ever want
11:39to see the greatness of what your union
11:42can produce, stop the division.
11:50>> You are one.
11:53the house you live in.
11:56You got to learn
11:58to understand what matters the most is
12:02that you're going to have your
12:03differences,
12:05>> but you are one.
12:06>> Amen.
12:09>> As a people, we have to understand we
12:11are one. I don't care if you're black. I
12:13don't care if you're white. I don't care
12:15if you're Asian, Indian, whoever you
12:18are. We are one.
12:22I understand there's racism around.
12:25I get it.
12:27And I'll be honest with you, this
12:28country has perpetuated racism for
12:31years.
12:34But we who are children of God, we're
12:37the light of the world. We're supposed
12:38to show the world what it means to be
12:42one.
12:44That we don't see color.
12:47We don't SEE CULTURE. WE EMBRACE THE
12:50diversity of our culture. I get it. IN
12:52THIS ROOM STREAMING ARE PEOPLE FROM ALL
12:55OVER THE WORLD. WE HAVE DIFFERENT
12:57BACKGROUNDS. Our cultures are different.
13:00I get that.
13:03I have a culture from the Caribbean,
13:05Jamaica.
13:08I love my culture. You love your
13:10culture. But at the end of the day, ALL
13:14OF US, YOUR BLOOD is red, not yellow,
13:18not black, not pink.
13:25>> Come on now.
13:28>> So, notice that Jesus didn't simply
13:30mention kingdoms in the text. He said
13:34households,
13:36wherever you live,
13:38because division usually begins at home
13:41before it reaches society.
13:45>> When marriages are divided, families
13:47become divided. When families are
13:50divided, communities become divided.
13:52When communities become divided, nations
13:56become divided. Division, watch this, is
13:59never accidental.
14:02It's never accidental.
14:05It's never, oh, you division just No,
14:09division literally is a seed that was
14:13sown.
14:15>> It's actually spiritual warfare.
14:18>> And there's some of you, let me talk to
14:20you. You are fighting so much to keep
14:24unity in your family.
14:27>> You're fighting to keep unity among your
14:30friends. You're fighting to keep unity
14:32among your co-workers. You are doing
14:34everything in your neighborhood. You are
14:37doing everything. You're the peacemaker.
14:40Please don't stop doing that.
14:43God's going to honor you
14:46for fighting for unity. And have you
14:49ever wondered why more people are not
14:51experiencing God's abundant or his
14:54abundant life mentioned in John 10? Have
14:57you ever wondered why that is happening?
15:00It's simply because people don't
15:02understand there's a thief
15:05called Satan.
15:08He does listen. He doesn't want you to
15:11be happy.
15:13He doesn't want you to be happy as a
15:15single person.
15:17So therefore, he put thoughts in your
15:19head. Everybody don't like you. She
15:21don't like you. He doesn't like you.
15:22Everybody's against you. And as a form
15:25of defense,
15:28you live this life hating on people
15:30because you're trying to protect your
15:32territory.
15:34>> Satan doesn't like
15:36relationships, dating relationships that
15:39are leading to marriage. He doesn't like
15:41it. So therefore, he'll go into the
15:44person you're dating and put thoughts in
15:46their head and tell them all kinds of
15:49stuff. and two people who are really
15:51meant to be together.
15:55>> Shayan comes in because listen, it's
15:57more than just the moment that you're
15:59going through. What he sees is that
16:02you're going to step out of the state of
16:05singleness into the honorable estate.
16:09That's what the Bible says. Marriage is
16:12an honorable estate. Is an honorable
16:14institution. So he knows you're going to
16:16step from being a single person into the
16:20institution of marriage. So he says, "If
16:24I can get you at odds against each
16:26other, complaining about just silly,
16:29stupid, simple things and get your ego
16:31in the way, you will never step into
16:34that honorable position.
16:38>> You'll never step into that position."
16:41See, he hates marriages because he knows
16:44it's the honorable position. So, the
16:45enemy will come into your spouse
16:49and cause friction and tension
16:52>> and get you to argue among yourself and
16:55then you start, watch this, you're
16:57living, you're supposed to be one, but
16:59you're living as single individuals.
17:03You got your own bank account. You pay
17:06this bill. I pay this bill. So, we're
17:08literally instead of an honorable
17:11position, we've turned it into a
17:13roommate experience.
17:20>> I noticed that side is very quiet, but I
17:24I I'll come over here for a moment and
17:26talk to this side
17:29cuz that's what he does. He comes into
17:32the marriage and he gets into your
17:36emotions.
17:39gets into your emotions and make you
17:41feel angry about something. And then
17:46please don't don't don't don't don't
17:48look at me weird when I say this over
17:51silly things.
17:55>> Come on.
17:57>> You will throw away your marriage just
18:01to be right.
18:03help people.
18:10>> And you rather give up a foundation that
18:13is already solid
18:16>> that you just need to work through to go
18:19out into
18:23>> the dating world.
18:32That is messy.
18:38>> God, single people, work with me here.
18:42The dating world is
18:57>> See, most of us believe that life is
19:00about becoming famous. It's about having
19:02influence. It's about making more money.
19:04It's about owning more possessions or
19:07proving that you're always right. But
19:10Jesus taught something entirely
19:12different
19:14when he said in Matthew 22, beginning at
19:18verse 37.
19:20He says, "Love the Lord your God with
19:24all of your heart and with all of your
19:26soul and with all of your mind. And the
19:29second is like it.
19:33Love your neighbor as yourself.
19:40Now, let me break this down here for a
19:42minute. According to Jesus, life is not
19:45merely about success.
19:48>> He's saying, "Love the Lord with all
19:51your heart, with all your soul, your
19:52mind, and your strength." One
19:54translation will say, but notice the
19:57latter part of the verse where it says,
20:00"Love your neighbor as yourself." Now, I
20:02want you to pay close attention to this.
20:05He said the second is like it. Love your
20:10neighbor as yourself. But you got to
20:12read the text properly.
20:15The word of God is not telling you not
20:17to love yourself
20:20>> because you cannot love people
20:23>> without first loving yourself.
20:30>> When you love yourself first, then you
20:32appreciate the value of someone else.
20:35The text says, "Love your neighbor as
20:38yourself." So, in other words, you have
20:40to first love yourself. And when you
20:42love yourself, start loving the neighbor
20:46the very same way you love yourself.
20:51>> Are you following me here?
20:54>> But somewhere along the way, many people
20:57have replaced relationships
21:00with religion.
21:05And I want you to know that the gospel
21:07was never
21:09meant to be about religion.
21:13>> Never.
21:15Your religion means absolutely nothing
21:19if you are a toxic individual.
21:22>> Keep perpetuating confusion.
21:30Do you know how many of your family
21:32members you're turning off from the
21:34gospel?
21:37>> Because they see you dress up going to
21:39church.
21:42>> They see you profess to be a Christian.
21:45>> And some of you are very deep
21:47Christians.
21:49They see you get emotional sh
21:53and they see all of that and it's a turn
21:56off to them
21:58>> because they're saying how can you do
22:01all of that
22:04>> and be the one tearing the family up?
22:08>> How could you do all of that and be the
22:12one making the workplace so
22:16uncomfortable?
22:19How could you be that one that you are
22:22born again, you're a follower of Jesus
22:24Christ,
22:26but you're making the church
22:29a toxic environment.
22:33>> Think about that.
22:35You and I need to examine ourselves.
22:37Instead of becoming more loving,
22:41we have become more argumentative.
22:44We argue. Some of us, we just argue,
22:47man. Argue.
22:50I learned this. Some people just don't
22:52don't argue with them. Leave them alone.
22:58>> Leave them alone. They going to believe
22:59what they believe.
23:02>> Instead of becoming more humble, we have
23:04become more prideful.
23:07>> Instead of serving, we begin seeking
23:11recognition.
23:15So the gospel was never intended to
23:17prove that one group is superior over
23:19the other.
23:22>> We must argue. When I say argue, we can
23:26argue from relationships, marriage,
23:28church, the workplace, in the community.
23:32State your point,
23:34but do it in a respectable manner. And
23:37then sometimes we have to agree upon our
23:41disagreement.
23:44>> But don't allow the enemy to come into
23:46you and and and to cause you to burn the
23:50whole house down
23:53just because you want to prove that
23:55you're right.
23:57Quickly, 2 Corinthians 5:18-20
24:01is clear about this. God has given us
24:04the ministry. Listen, this is very
24:06important. I know I know the series that
24:08we're on, the series of one being one
24:12church, one faith, one family. We serve
24:15one God. I know for some of you it's
24:17it's it it's different. I get it. It
24:20gets you to think. It doesn't make you
24:22shout a lot at the preacher. I I get it.
24:25But I want you to understand this that
24:27the church was given the ministry of
24:30reconciliation.
24:33Ask yourself the question when someone
24:36fall
24:38what is the purpose of the church
24:42is to reconcile them to God.
24:45So when we go and we see something and
24:49I've I I tell my leaders this all the
24:51time. When someone makes a complaint
24:54about something you have to begin to ask
24:57yourself what is the purpose of the
24:59complaint?
25:02Is it to solve the problem to bring
25:05resolution? To have the ministry of
25:08reconciliation evident or is it just to
25:11prove that they are right to throw
25:14someone under the bus
25:16to cause chaos? Our job is the minister
25:19of reconciliation, the church.
25:23If people cannot come to the house of
25:25God and be genuine and be real
25:30>> and and and know that when they make
25:33mistake instead of us just coming at
25:37them trying to choke the life out of
25:40them,
25:42our responsibility is to show them that
25:46that there's hope in Jesus Christ. you
25:49fall, you get back up again and you get
25:52into the word and you continue your
25:54faith journey.
25:58Our assignment, our assignment is not to
26:00divide people. Our assignment is to
26:02bring people together through Jesus
26:04Christ. And let me be clear, religion
26:06without love becomes dangerous.
26:12I don't think God is calling this church
26:15or any other church to just have
26:18excellent programs,
26:20excellent systems and processes
26:23and to be so polished and organized that
26:27we don't have love.
26:29What's going to make this church great
26:32and what's going to make this church
26:33effective in evangelism is not how well
26:36the singers sing, the musicians play.
26:39It's not how well we have put a program
26:41together. It's not even how well the
26:44preacher can articulate the word of God.
26:46It is how do you love one another.
26:58People will be drawn to this church not
27:01just because of our singing and
27:02preaching,
27:04but they'll be drawn to this church when
27:06they walk through the doors and people
27:08will love them regardless
27:11of the issues they're dealing with. When
27:14people walk through these doors and come
27:17feeling that they are accepted, watch
27:20this. Just as they are, even if you
27:23disagree with their appearance,
27:27>> that's our job.
27:30Our job was never to clean anybody up.
27:35We We're not God. Our job is to point
27:38them to Christ.
27:41Jesus consistently challenged the
27:44religious people with religious pride.
27:47He rebuked those who honored God with
27:49their lips while their heart were far
27:52from him. Remember in Matthew 23:23,
27:55Jesus reminded the religious leaders
27:57that they had neglected the most
28:00important matters of the law.
28:04BECAUSE MANY CHRISTIANS
28:06ARE CAUGHT UP WITH ALL OF these
28:10doctrinal teachings.
28:14You got to come in a certain way. You
28:16got to act a certain way. And you got to
28:18do this. JUST LIKE THESE PEOPLE
28:21QUESTIONED JESUS.
28:24You know what the law is? JESUS SAID,
28:26"NOW LOOK, IT SAYS WHAT'S WHAT MATTERS
28:29MOST in the law is justice, mercy, and
28:33faithfulness."
28:36Justice.
28:38And some OF US HAVE WALKED AWAY FROM
28:40JUSTICE.
28:42THAT'S WHAT JESUS SAID. IF YOU'RE GOING
28:44TO PRACTICE YOUR FAITH THE biblical way,
28:47then we have to practice justice.
28:50And God knows THERE'S A LOT OF INJUSTICE
28:53TAKING PLACE. Not only in the world, not
28:57only in politics, but sadly in the house
29:01of God.
29:08>> Now, about 25 people clap. So, if you go
29:11if if you if you're going to have to
29:13join them and just even pretend like you
29:16agree, but don't let just 25 people be
29:19clapping.
29:22At least let the preacher know that
29:24you're somewhat in the building.
29:28He said justice, mercy, and
29:29faithfulness.
29:31And these things still matter today.
29:35Look around our culture
29:38today. We see families and that they are
29:41breaking apart because of personal
29:44agendas.
29:46Personal agendas have replaced God
29:48design for family.
29:51Marriages fail because commitment has
29:55been replaced by convenience.
29:59Businesses are often
30:02uh or often I should say business often
30:05value profit more than integrity.
30:10You're running a business. For those of
30:12you are business owners, you're
30:14different. You're not like the world.
30:18You ought to run your business
30:20ethically.
30:22>> You can't be doing shady business.
30:34>> Politics have become so polarized
30:37that people sometimes value party above
30:41basic human dignity.
30:47I'm going to say it again cuz y'all
30:49didn't hear it. Politics has become so
30:52polarized
30:53>> that people sometimes value party
30:55loyalty
30:57over basic human dignity.
31:07>> It is a shame
31:10>> to know we have gotten to this place
31:12even in the church. Yes.
31:16>> Where we have allowed politics and
31:19politicians
31:21to define
31:24which side God is on.
31:32>> That God is this and God is that.
31:35And we have now made God a certain type
31:39of God. And if you vote any other way,
31:43you're out of the will of God.
31:46I don't know what Bible you're reading.
31:50I don't know. And because of that, many
31:53of us are bitter. We're angry. Some of
31:56us hate the political process. And some
31:59of us demonize other people when they
32:02make their choice.
32:05I close with this.
32:08Philippians 2:3 says, "Do nothing out of
32:13self ambition or vain conceit. Rather in
32:18humility,
32:20value others
32:22above yourself."
32:25>> Because we have become more comfortable
32:26saying, watch this. This is how I'm
32:28going to close it. Please stick with me.
32:30Just give me about five minutes.
32:33We have become more comfortable saying
32:35whatever comes to our minds regardless
32:39of whether it hurt others.
32:50We say anything.
32:53And now because we have a social media
32:55platform,
32:58we open our mouths and we say anything.
33:01especially believers
33:04and we say anything,
33:08we have lost
33:10our respect for one another.
33:14We have lost our reverence
33:17for each other
33:20in the house. 10 year old
33:24cursing profanity at their parents.
33:31>> 15year-old are challenging their
33:33parents. I hit me. Hit me and see
33:44the house is in chaos
33:48because your 14year-old will come in at
33:502:00 in the morning and you cannot say
33:55anything.
34:04YOUR SPOUSE CAN DISAPPEAR FOR 4 DAYS.
34:25gone for 4 days
34:28and come right back home and you can't
34:31say
34:33how did we get here?
34:38How did we lose
34:42what matters the most?
34:46How did we get here?
34:50How do we get here as a church?
34:54We can find ourselves hating on each
34:56other,
34:59speaking evil against each other,
35:03plotting against each other.
35:06Small little groups
35:09congregating, speaking against this
35:11group. People plotting in church to
35:14overtake churches,
35:21>> spirit of jealousy,
35:24>> how did we get here?
35:28>> Paul says in Ephesians 4 29,
35:33"Do not let any unh wholesome talk
35:38>> come out of your mouth.
35:42but only what is helpful, watch this,
35:45for the building
35:50others up. The only thing that should
35:52come out of your mouth is to build other
35:54people up.
35:56>> It's not to tear them down.
35:59>> And so
36:01I want to leave you with Psalm 139,
36:05two verses 23 and 24. David prayed this
36:09prayer
36:11and I hope you would pray this prayer
36:13today
36:15whether you're streaming or you're in
36:17this building. He says, "Watch this."
36:19See, cuz we're so quick to point fingers
36:21at people.
36:24Church people is very good at that.
36:27It's not me. God's not talking to me.
36:31He's talking to you. He's talking to
36:32you. But David went before the Lord and
36:34he says, "Search me, oh God."
36:39And know my heart.
36:42You know what's sad? What is sad
36:46is when your heart is evil
36:50and you can't admit it.
37:01No, that's that's a dangerous spot to be
37:04in
37:07>> when your heart is not right
37:11>> and you can't admit it. He says, "Search
37:13me, oh God,
37:15>> and know my heart." Watch this. And see
37:19if there is any offensive
37:23way in me.
37:27He didn't say, "God,
37:30search those people who are after me.
37:33Search all these people who have done
37:35all these evil things to me." He said,
37:37"Search me."
37:40Because sometimes
37:43in the back of all of our facade, all of
37:46this pretense,
37:49there's some ungodly stuff.
37:53>> Search my heart. the stuff that I said
37:56that I shouldn't have said about that
37:57person. The lies that I've been
38:00perpetuating in family and workplace and
38:05search me, oh God,
38:07know my heart. I didn't mean to. Cuz
38:09here's a here's a sweet David was saying
38:12some of the stuff I did. Here's a man
38:16who kind of had an anger problem,
38:19lust problem.
38:23David had sex with another man's wife
38:26and had the husband murdered.
38:31>> He was not a clean guy.
38:34He was horrible.
38:36He struggled with pornography. You know
38:38what? He sat on the balcony
38:41looking at a naked woman.
38:46He wasn't clean.
38:50So he said, "I know my heart. Search my
38:53heart." There's something about a person
38:56who's willing TO ADMIT TO GOD, GOD, IF
38:59THERE'S ANYBODY KNOW ME, you know me
39:07and take away
39:09those offensive ways in me. Don't let
39:14anybody tell you
39:16that God hates you. Watch this. When
39:20you're honest,
39:22>> you see religion. Listen, if if God
39:26would
39:28if God would play on these big screen
39:33the stuff that all of us have done,
39:43some of you will be shocked. Oh my god.
39:48Until he start playing yours.
40:01>> So what matters the most
40:04is coming before God
40:07and say, "Lord, I repent.
40:11>> Wash me.
40:15Change my mind, change my heart,
40:18change my ways. Help me,
40:22so that I
40:24can bring the fruit of the spirit
40:28in every environment you place me. Bow
40:31your heads, please.
40:34Lord, I thank you
40:37that you spoke to us today.
40:41For some it wasn't an exciting message,
40:44but it was a soularching message
40:50for us to ask you to search us
40:55and see if there is any wicked ways in
40:57us. Ways that
41:00displease you.
41:02Things we have said, thoughts we have
41:04had,
41:06actions we have taken. Forgive us.
41:09transform those who have heard this
41:12message today so that we become seeds of
41:15light
41:17that we'll watch what we say from this
41:19day forward.
41:21We'll disconnect ourselves from people
41:23who are toxic,
41:26people who always elevate themselves to
41:28be greater,
41:31people who are not humble.
41:34That we'll embrace
41:36humility
41:38and be
41:40the person you have called us to be. As
41:43we go out in the marketplace this week
41:45on the job, our place of business, at
41:49school, Holy Spirit,
41:53guide us. Let us be children of light
41:58to go out there and make a difference
42:02to change the world
42:04so that when people see us, they see the
42:08light of Christ.
42:10>> When our families see us,
42:13they they're going to want to have what
42:16we have.
42:18>> We don't even have to beg them to come
42:20to church. We don't have to beg them to
42:21turn their lives over to you because we
42:24become the sermon.
42:27We're living it before them.
42:30Bless this church, I pray,
42:33to be a church of transformation,
42:37not a church of entertainment, not a
42:39church
42:41that is not supported by you. We want to
42:44be in your perfect will.
42:47We want to be a church that will change
42:52the culture of our society today.
42:56And so would you touch our hearts today?
43:00Those of us who know who we are, God,
43:04we're crying out to you. Change us. Put
43:07the spotlight on us
43:11and let us be different.
43:13change our relationships, our marriages,
43:16our family, our workplace,
43:20and change this church.
43:22In Jesus' name we pray.
43:25>> Amen. Come on, would you stand
43:27everybody?