It’s Bigger Than You

Name: It’s Bigger Than You
Uploaded: 2025-09-14
Channel: Bishop Henry Fernandez
Description: Bishop Henry Fernandez explores the 'Seasons of Becoming,' urging believers to move beyond a self-centered faith and embrace a life dedicated to God's bigger pu

Bishop Henry Fernandez Preached on 9/14/2025Matthew 28:19-20

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34:51

Summary

Bishop Henry Fernandez explores the 'Seasons of Becoming,' urging believers to move beyond a self-centered faith and embrace a life dedicated to God's bigger purpose, even amidst trials and human imperfection.

Key points

•A self-focused faith is dangerous because it leads to bitterness and disappointment when God does not meet our personal expectations or comfort.
•Seasons are temporary and purposeful; whether in a season of laughter or a season of tears, believers must recognize that 'this too shall pass' and trust God's sovereignty.
•Jesus modeled a 'bigger picture' faith by focusing on the Great Commission rather than settling scores with the disciples who abandoned or doubted Him during His crucifixion.
•God uses imperfect people to carry out His perfect mission; being a messenger of the Gospel does not require personal perfection, but rather obedience to the call.
•The ultimate goal of the Christian journey is the glory of God and the making of disciples, not the pursuit of personal ambition or earthly success.

Scripture

Spiritual Growth

Purpose

Perseverance

Grace

Discipleship

Life application

This week, when you encounter a person who has offended or disappointed you, consciously choose to focus on the 'bigger picture' of God's grace toward you both, rather than seeking to defend your ego or settle a score.

Reflection questions

In what ways have you been treating your faith as a tool for personal comfort rather than a commitment to God's glory?
Looking at the 11 disciples who both worshiped and doubted, can you identify areas where you are following God while still struggling with 'stuff' or imperfections?
How does the reality that 'seasons change' provide you with hope in your current trial or humility in your current success?
Who are the 'Judases' or 'doubting Thomases' in your life that God might be calling you to show grace toward for the sake of the mission?

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Full transcript

0:00I began a series last week

0:05and the title

0:07is seasons of becoming.

0:12Seasons of becoming.

0:18I talked about how every season

0:22is preparing us

0:25to become

0:27a better person, to become the better

0:30version of ourselves, and that every

0:34season should produce the will of God in

0:39our lives.

0:42And so

0:44today I'd like to continue that series

0:48with a subtitle.

0:50It is bigger than you.

0:55What is bigger than you? Your faith

0:58journey.

1:00Your journey as a Christian is bigger

1:05than selfish ambitions.

1:09All of us in this room, no matter what

1:12age, no matter what background, no

1:15matter what race, we all have our own

1:19pursuits in life, we all want to become

1:23whatever we're dreaming of.

1:26But I hope everything that we do on this

1:30planet that at the end of the day we

1:34recognize

1:35that it's all for the glory of God.

1:41>> Because there's a danger in self focused

1:46faith.

1:48When your faith is just focusing on you,

1:53it's very dangerous

1:56because whenever you make your faith

1:59journey about all about everything about

2:02you, what you think, what you deserve,

2:06the comfort you expect,

2:08you know, when you make it uh uh just

2:12just about your trials, when you make it

2:15about, you know, the disappointments

2:17that you've had, bad. When you make it

2:19about the attacks that's coming against

2:21you, when your faith journey is all

2:24about that, I'm telling you, you're

2:26going to end up disappointed.

2:29Not only disappointed, but you're going

2:31to end up being angry at God, frustrated

2:34at God. You're going to end up argued

2:37with God, being bitter as a Christian

2:40walking around this planet. Because I

2:42got to tell you, there's nowhere in the

2:45Bible it tells you as a child of God

2:49that you are not going to be tested.

2:53>> Nowhere in the Bible it tells you

2:55because you're a believer, you're not

2:57going to be tried and you're not going

2:59to go through trials.

3:02>> Doesn't say that faith was never

3:05designed for you to be selfish.

3:11According to Hebrews 11:6, it tells us

3:14that without faith, it is impossible to

3:16please God. Notice, it doesn't say

3:20without faith, it's impossible to please

3:23yourself.

3:27>> Don't ever take your faith journey as

3:30something about pleasing yourself.

3:33C.

3:34>> Can I just be honest with you? In your

3:36faith journey, you're not always going

3:38to get what you want.

3:42So when you don't get what you want on

3:43your faith journey, are you going to be

3:46angry at God? Are you going to be angry

3:48at people? Are you going to take it so

3:50personal? Are you going to say, "Well,

3:52you know, God, you know, whatever I'm

3:54going through, there has to be a greater

3:57cause.

3:58>> There has to be because you cannot only

4:02apply faith when God is blessing you."

4:06And this is where most of us are missing

4:08it. We're only applying faith or our

4:12trust in God when everything is right.

4:16When our families are right, when your

4:19love life is okay, when when your

4:21marriage is right, when your children

4:23are doing well, when you've got money

4:25and your business is prospering, and

4:27when your your career is blossoming and

4:30so forth, you know, you you're saying to

4:32yourself, "Well, okay, I trust you,

4:34Lord. I have faith in you, Lord. I just

4:36love you. I'll read the Bible. I'll

4:38pray. I'll go to church, you know, and

4:40because everything is right in my life.

4:43What happens when the devil throws the

4:46sink, the kitchen, the stove, the

4:49refrigerator

4:52>> at you?

4:55What happens when you wake up one day

4:57and for for whatever reason you get a

5:00phone call that's devastating?

5:04What are you going to do when all of a

5:07sudden the person you married change on

5:11you?

5:13What are you going to do when all that

5:17money and that time and that energy you

5:19placed into that relationship,

5:23all of it now is gone.

5:26That spouse has betrayed you. What

5:28happened when you've invested your time

5:30in that person that you say you've loved

5:33and you were hoping that it would end up

5:35in the marriage and you've given them

5:38seven years of your life

5:42only to witness them getting connected

5:45with somebody else

5:48and doing for that person in three

5:50months

5:52what they didn't do for you in seven

5:54years.

5:58What are you going to do?

6:02What are you going to do when you wake

6:03up one day and your money has been

6:06depleted?

6:08You have more bills than you have

6:11income?

6:12What are you going to do then? What are

6:14you going to do when you get to your

6:15workplace

6:17only to find out you don't have a job

6:19anymore?

6:20What are you going to do when the

6:21promotion you thought you would have

6:23gotten, it's no longer there?

6:26What are you going to do? The business

6:28that you have taken out a loan or a home

6:32equity loan on or you've borrowed money

6:34to start that business and now it is

6:37struggling. What are you going to do in

6:40those moments? Are you cursing God? Are

6:43you arguing with God? Are you walking

6:46away from your faith? What are you going

6:48to do when you're wrongfully accused and

6:50the enemy has attacked you and slander

6:53your name? What are you going to do? Are

6:56you going to quit God? Are you going to

6:57quit church? You're going to say, "This

6:59is no longer worth it. Who are you going

7:02to run to? Please tell me. Please tell

7:06Henry Fernandez today." When stuff ain't

7:09working in your life other than God,

7:13who else can you turn to?

7:19>> Who else can you turn to?

7:24Are you going to turn to the system? Are

7:26you going to turn to depression like

7:27David when he hid himself in a cave

7:30under depression?

7:32>> Are you going to with boldness stand

7:35firm and said, "I would look to the

7:37hills from winds cometh my help."

7:41Some trust in chariots and horses, but I

7:44will trust in the name of my God.

7:48Listen, there just something about the

7:50name of Jesus.

7:52Our grandparents over the years have

7:55taught us how to handle battles. When

7:58they were in a dilemma, when they were

8:00in a crisis, they just call on the name

8:03of Jesus. Some of them whispered the

8:05name Jesus. It has the same power that

8:10if you shout it out loud, Jesus. There's

8:13something about when you're in the

8:15darkest moment of your life when you

8:17call on Jesus and say, "Jesus, I don't

8:20know how I'm going to get out of this. I

8:22don't know when I'm going to get out of

8:24this. I don't know what you're going to

8:25do to vindicate me or save me, but

8:29somehow I trust in you that at the end

8:32of the day, you're going to make your

8:35word good in every area of my life.

8:41[Applause]

8:43Are you hearing me?

8:45>> Cuz you see, every season of your life

8:50carries with it a certain amount of

8:53blessings,

8:54>> good or bad.

8:56Last week I talked to you about the

8:58season of power. Every season has a

9:02power or has power in it, if you will.

9:06It has an opportunity to experience

9:10new opportunities in God. Could it be

9:13that in this season of your life? Though

9:16you think it's bad,

9:18though you think that maybe the devil is

9:22just, you know, having his way in your

9:24life. Could it be that it's a season

9:27that reflects Ecclesiastes 3:1?

9:31For every for every for every. It didn't

9:34say just the good ones.

9:37For every season

9:40or for everything, it it says there is a

9:43season for there's a season to laugh.

9:48And you had those seasons of laughter. I

9:51don't think anybody in this room can

9:53honestly say, and those of you streaming

9:55that from the day you were born,

9:58all of your seasons were season of

10:00tears.

10:02No.

10:05Everything has its season.

10:07>> Who lied to you and told you every day

10:09you going to wake up, bless the Lord, oh

10:11my soul, and all that is within me. Oh,

10:13bless his holy name. Praise the Lord.

10:15Hallelujah.

10:17That's not life.

10:19That is not life.

10:22who lied to you and told you that when

10:25you find that love of your life,

10:30you going to live happily ever after?

10:34That's a lie.

10:40Who told you that every day you're going

10:41to get up with money in your pocket

10:45and lots of money in your bank account

10:48and you're going to be rich forever?

10:51That's a lie. And I know you're looking

10:53at me, Bill. You know, I got more broke

10:56season than I have rich seasons.

10:59But everything has a season. This is why

11:05if you're in a season of laughter,

11:08if you're in a season of plenty and

11:11everything is wonderful, your marriage

11:13is wonderful, your kids are acting

11:16great, you got money, your business is

11:18doing well, and everything is well,

11:20listen honey, enjoy it.

11:25>> Live it out loud.

11:28>> Be happy. Smile

11:31because seasons change.

11:35>> Don't miss the moment. Don't miss the

11:37moment of happiness. And for those of

11:39you maybe you're in a season that's

11:41opposite to what I just said.

11:44Come on now. This is the joy that you

11:46should embrace cuz seasons

11:49>> change.

11:51>> Who who lied to you and told you that

11:53the season that you're in will be that

11:55season forever? Not according to

11:59Ecclesiastes 3. It says, "For everything

12:02there's a season and a time for every

12:04what? Activity under heaven."

12:09If you can muscle up the strength and

12:10realize that, wait a minute, what if I'm

12:12going through? This is just for a

12:14season. This activity that's happening

12:16in my life is for a season. It won't be

12:19here forever. Because if you learn to

12:21apply faith in what God is doing, even

12:24when it's uncomfortable, you won't take

12:28trials personally.

12:32>> The moment you take your trials and your

12:34test personally, that's the moment your

12:38faith walk will become like a yo-yo up

12:41and down. You won't grow in faith each

12:44and every season that you're in. You're

12:47going to doubt God when you're in

12:49difficult season. And when you're in,

12:51you know, season of plenty, you're going

12:53to like, "Oh, praise Jesus. I'm happy.

12:54Thank you, Jesus. I'm great." No. You

12:57got to learn to understand that this

13:00journey that you're on as a believer.

13:02It's not about you. Cuz I'm telling you,

13:06you are going to get hit.

13:11The Bible says the devil is a prowler.

13:13You know what a prowler does? He stands

13:16by and he's waiting for when you are

13:18most vulnerable.

13:21>> And he's going to attack you. It's not

13:23if. It is when.

13:26>> It is when. There's no one in this room,

13:29no one watching can honestly say. The

13:32day you started following Jesus Christ,

13:35you've never been hit by trials.

13:39And if you're in this room, please leave

13:41quickly

13:44cuz we we may mess you up or something

13:47like that. That nobody can testify that.

13:50We've all been through the trials. But

13:52here's the here's here's the real

13:54question. How do we handle

13:57the seasons that are uncomfortable?

14:03That's the real question.

14:05How do we handle the attacks? How do we

14:08handle the pain? How do we handle lack,

14:11insufficiency? How do we handle the

14:16private things that are tearing us from

14:20the inside out?

14:23Do we go off?

14:25Do we get mad?

14:27Do we quit God?

14:30Do we start talking,

14:33you know, words that are not faithfilled

14:35words? How do we do that? Well, let me

14:38answer that question because Jesus is

14:40the prime example of what it is to live

14:44for the bigger picture. In Matthew 28,

14:49we know that scripture first at the

14:51beginning of it about the resurrection

14:53of Christ and how Jesus told his

14:55disciples to meet in Galilee and so

14:58forth and and and and he actually

15:00presented himself as the Messiah, the

15:02risen savior. We understand that. Then

15:04we focus on verse 19 and 20, the great

15:08commission, right? The great commission.

15:10He said, "Go ye therefore and preach all

15:13the the the the the gospel to all

15:14nations." We know that.

15:18But here is something we miss in that

15:21chapter.

15:22Matthew 28 verse 16 to 18.

15:27Something struck me. And I want to I

15:30want you to think about this for a

15:32moment. I want to take you back into

15:36time

15:37when

15:39Jesus now was risen from the dead.

15:45He has almost completed

15:49man's redemption. Don't forget, he

15:51didn't come here to prove to anybody

15:53that he's a son of God.

15:57Jesus was not bragging.

16:00If there's anybody who needed to brag

16:03about his power, his ability, and where

16:06he came from was Jesus,

16:09but never one time

16:12in his three and a half years of

16:14ministry

16:17it's recorded where Jesus bragged about

16:19what he did,

16:22his accomplishments,

16:24and how he has all powers. In fact, he

16:28was tempted by the devil one time

16:32and the devil came to him and said, "If

16:34if you are the son of God, why don't you

16:37make all these things happen?"

16:40Cuz you see, you and I need to realize

16:41this. The enemy knows your power. And if

16:45you don't know how to manage your power

16:47and put it under control, he'll come to

16:50you and he'll test you. And just because

16:52you're all about yourself, you'll get in

16:55your feelings trying to prove to the

16:57devil who you are.

16:59>> That's good.

17:02>> Jesus could have got up and said, "Oh

17:04yeah. Oh yeah, devil.

17:06You you you trying to tell I can do

17:08that."

17:10But then if he had responded to the

17:13devil, all Jesus would have done is

17:16given his power over to the devil.

17:22Some of us our problem is our ego is

17:25what's killing us.

17:27>> We're actually giving our ego over to

17:30the temptations

17:32that comes from the devil.

17:37So here's Jesus.

17:40He's in a situation

17:42he called for for his disciples.

17:4611 of them gathered.

17:49Here comes Peter at Galilee.

17:56After Peter, here comes James.

18:01Here comes Andrew, Philillip, Thomas,

18:10Bartholomew,

18:13Matthew,

18:15James,

18:18Simon,

18:21and Thaddius.

18:23Judas, which is not the Judas who

18:28betrayed

18:29Jesus.

18:33Pause for a moment.

18:37After everything that Jesus went

18:39through, remember he was crucified,

18:45buried,

18:47but yeah,

18:49he's now resurrected.

18:52He called for the 11th disciples

18:56to meet with him.

19:00But did he call them to

19:03to settle scores?

19:07Think about that.

19:11In Matthew 6 28:16-18,

19:16you got to live in the moment.

19:19Jesus entered the place in Galilee where

19:22the 11 disciples were.

19:27But he went through a lot.

19:30History shows that even during the

19:33crucifixion,

19:35these disciples were silent.

19:39They were silent.

19:42He handpicked every one of them.

19:48He did.

19:50By the way, all of them came from the

19:53streets. Not one of these boys came from

19:56the temple. Not one of them came from

19:58the church.

20:01He selected 12 of them

20:06and he appointed them as apostles.

20:10And in his most vulnerable moment when

20:12he was on the cross,

20:16the moment when they took his body to

20:18the tomb, in fact on resurrection day,

20:21not one of these boys

20:25went to see him.

20:29>> It was women.

20:33So for those of you who have done

20:35everything for people

20:38>> and the people you expect to be there

20:41for you in your vulnerable moments when

20:44they're not there, you don't read your

20:46Bible.

20:48You're not reading your Bible

20:52because your faith journey is never

20:54about you. Jesus never walked in

20:57himself.

20:59>> Said, "I'm going to settle this."

21:01He didn't call them

21:04in a meeting.

21:07Where were you

21:09when I needed you? Where is Peter?

21:13Where were you?

21:15You were the one when they saw you in

21:17the crowd and they said, "You are one of

21:19my disciples. What did you do?" Instead

21:23of saying, "Yes, I am." You got angry in

21:26your flesh and you took out a knife and

21:29you were violent. Was

21:32that to defend me or defend your name?

21:40>> And Thomas,

21:42how many miracles have you seen me

21:44performed?

21:48And you still doubted me. I know what

21:50you're thinking. No, there's no way they

21:53doubted him. Well, let's read the verse.

21:56Let's read it. When the 11 came, the

21:58Bible says, going them to the mountain

22:00where Jesus had told them to go. When

22:03they saw him, they worshiped him. You

22:06would think, you would think, you would

22:09think

22:12all 11 cuz remember Judas was gone.

22:19Some of you there's a void in your

22:22there. There are people

22:25who once served a purpose

22:30>> and based on the sovereign will of God,

22:34their space is vacant.

22:38>> Judas had to do what he was called to

22:43do.

22:46You have to see without Judas betraying

22:50Jesus, our salvation would not have

22:53taken place.

22:55[Music]

22:58>> Please get this in your head.

23:02Now, one time Jesus mentioned in the

23:05room, "Where's Judas?"

23:09He knew

23:11Judas serves a purpose.

23:14But the Bible says they worship they.

23:17You would think all 11 worship him. No.

23:21Let's read the rest of the text. They

23:24worship him. But some of them, who is he

23:28talking about? These people.

23:31Some of them doubted him.

23:35These are his disciples.

23:39They walked with him. They talked with

23:41him. They saw the miracles, yet

23:46there were few of them who still doubted

23:49him.

23:52I wonder who's in this room who's

23:54streaming.

23:57You have a history with God.

24:00How many times have he delivered you and

24:05showed up when you needed him the most?

24:09How many times have you fought battles

24:12for you and brought you out yet?

24:18You're going to become a part of those

24:20who

24:22doubt his ability.

24:27For me, that had to be a horrible moment

24:31for Jesus.

24:34Out of all 11, some of you believed in

24:37me.

24:39Yet some of you are doubting me.

24:45Doubting that I am sent

24:48from God to be the savior of the world.

24:52And you're going to doubt me now in this

24:56season of your life.

24:59Why?

25:01After all the miracles, wait a minute.

25:04Don't you see the nail prints in my

25:06hands?

25:08Don't you see the Christ that was

25:11crucified, buried, is standing before

25:14you today? How could you still be

25:16doubting me

25:20when the evidence

25:22of who I am is before you?

25:27How

25:30he never once uttered those words?

25:36Because ministry

25:38was not about his feelings.

25:44The day you let your faith journey

25:47becomes about your feelings,

25:50>> that is when you're going to speak out

25:52of the will of God.

25:55>> That's when you're going to snap at

25:57people.

25:59>> That's when you're going to try to get

26:00even with people.

26:02>> That's when you're going to walk in the

26:04flesh. Jesus stood there and I love what

26:07he did because this is where we miss it

26:09as a church. I love it. He stood with

26:13the boys or sat with the boys

26:16and instead of going off on them

26:21cuz he had every right to do it.

26:24Do we have the right to go off? Yes,

26:29you can go off on your boss.

26:33Cuz

26:38some of you have declared that your boss

26:40was sent from the devil himself.

26:45You can go off on your spouse.

26:50You can go off on people.

26:54You can take matters in your hands

26:57to try to re take revenge

27:02because it was never about him.

27:05Or you can do like what Jesus did in

27:08Matthew 28.

27:10He kept his eye

27:12on the cause.

27:15What was the cause? Check this out. Now

27:18in verse 19, now you're going to see how

27:21from the beginning of the chapter,

27:23everything he went through. Verse 16,

27:27some believed, some doubted.

27:31Now he didn't pay attention to what

27:34happened.

27:35He said,

27:38"All power

27:40is given to me."

27:44He said, "Go

27:46and make

27:48disciples."

27:50Do you understand

27:53the crushing that took place

27:56when maybe these boys were looking for a

27:58moment

28:00for them to defend themselves?

28:04Even with the ones, woo, even with the

28:07ones who were doubting him.

28:11He gave them the commission.

28:15He gave them the commission cuz he knew

28:19everyone of them had issues. He chose

28:22them.

28:25Yet, he gave them the real reason of

28:29following him. It's not for the fish and

28:32the bread. It's not to have a

28:34comfortable life. It's not for everybody

28:36to like you. It's not for you to be

28:39popular. He says, "Your assignment, go

28:44>> and make disciples

28:47of all nations.

28:50You go and make them become a follower

28:52just like you. And don't you ever

28:54discriminate.

28:57Cuz when I chose you, you weren't

28:59perfect.

29:02When I chose you, you had issues.

29:06Go and make of all nations, not the

29:09people you like,

29:11not just people in America, Asia,

29:14Africa. Go and people are people

29:18and they need a savior. Go and make

29:21disciples. That means you have to get

29:25down into the trenches

29:29and let people see the Christ in you.

29:32You are not better than anybody.

29:35>> It's only because of the grace that I've

29:37given to you while you are still in this

29:41room talking to the Messiah.

29:43[Music]

29:46Go make disciples of all nations,

29:49baptizing them in the name of the

29:50Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

29:52And then verse 20, he then says, "Teach

29:56them

29:59the new these new disciples how to obey

30:03my commands." Isn't it interesting

30:08that he's asking these boys

30:12to teach the nations of the world

30:17how to obey his commands

30:21when half these boys are not obeying.

30:27So don't you tell me that God won't call

30:30imperfect people

30:33>> who still haven't gotten it right

30:35[Music]

30:37to be his messengers.

30:40[Applause]

30:42Cuz if any one of us in this room

30:45are watching ever dare think

30:51that you are perfect

30:56and

30:58you are the righteous one or you're the

30:59one the only one that God is speaking to

31:02and through. You've missed the mark.

31:07>> The moment you get up and you start

31:09complaining, "Well, she hurt me. He hurt

31:12me. They hurt me.

31:15>> Well, I ain't going to church because of

31:16this. I'm offended. Well, I didn't get

31:19that from God. And this faith stuff

31:20ain't working."

31:22Can you imagine? You've been running

31:24away from God for 20 years.

31:27You haven't lived up to the word of God

31:29for 20 years and you just came to the

31:32Lord in six months and you prayed for

31:34one thing and didn't give it to you. Now

31:35you're ready to quit.

31:40>> No wonder our relationships are jacked

31:42up.

31:44>> Cuz if we don't get what we want when we

31:46want it, we're out.

31:53We have no grace. Even when people

31:55offend us,

31:58>> somebody say something bad about you or

32:00whatever, you're ready to write them off

32:02and speak evil of them. Jesus had every

32:05right. I'm telling you, I want you to

32:07look at these 11 men up here and try to

32:10picture the issues Jesus had with them.

32:16And that's a lesson to me.

32:19when he entered the room,

32:22he could have made he could have made

32:25his mission about getting even.

32:32He could have. But no,

32:36what he did, he didn't even talk about

32:39their flaws.

32:42He pointed them back to the mission.

32:45Go

32:48Peter

32:50go.

32:53Nowhere in the Bible he focused on Peter

32:57and say do you still have the knife?

33:03You ever ask him if he's still cuz you

33:07see as we're walking and following God,

33:10we still carry some stuff.

33:16But keep on going even with the stuff.

33:19Keep on moving. Keep on walk. Cuz you

33:22see, the more you get in the word, the

33:24more God is in your life is the more

33:26those things will gradually fade away.

33:30He never stopped to argue with Thomas

33:32and James and all of them.

33:36He just gave them a commission. Here's

33:38my point to you and I pray with you.

33:43The moment you start

33:46looking at the greater picture, it's the

33:48life that you're called to live.

33:52The moment you start focusing on the

33:55number one reason why you are born

33:57again,

34:00all of a sudden your emotions, your

34:03feelings, your anger, whatever you're

34:06struggling with won't matter anymore

34:10because you will seize the moment in

34:12this season of your life understanding

34:16that there will be a void.

34:19People missing, people coming, people

34:22going.

34:24Understanding

34:25some people are going to believe, some

34:28people are not going to believe.

34:31But at the end of the day, when you die

34:35and you stand before God,

34:38what you're going to hear from him

34:41is, "Well done,

34:44good,

34:46faithful

34:49servant.