He Can // Let Them // Pastor Mike Jr

I want to give you an idea and I want to chase that idea while wrapping scripture around that idea cuz I believe what I'm about to release in this message is exactly what you need to become what the Lord is getting ready to call you to be. And so hear me when I say this. Take really good notes. Notes number one. Note number one. God is not limited by what limits you. >> That's heavy out the gate. God is not limited by what limits you. I'm going to let that marinate for a second. I don't

want to move past that statement too fast. God is not limited by what limits you. This is important because we live inside of constraints. That's important because we live inside of constraints. What are the big four constraints or limits that we have in our lives? Here they are. Time limits. Lord, I wish I had more time in a day. Money limits, >> energy limits, >> and emotional limits. So when I tell you that God is not limited by what limits you, what I'm saying is he has no time limits. You got to do it by

Thursday. God can do it exceeding and abundantly right now. You feel like you're late. God's not late. You have money limits. My father is rich in houses and land. We have energy limits and emotional limits. Doors that won't open for you. God can open. People who won't change. God can change. Situations that won't move. The danger is not the limitation. SO, WHAT I'M TRYING TO get you to realize is the danger that many of us are facing is not limitation. The danger is projecting your limits on God. I don't think you heard what I just

said. The real danger is projecting your limits on God. Just because you don't see a way doesn't mean God ran out of options. >> I'mma speak this and three of y'all going to receive this. So many of us are stuck and you pray according to your limits. And God is trying to get you to realize just because they can't don't mean I can't. And I speak over your life that the doors that people couldn't help you open. God says I can make ways out of no ways in your life. This is why Isaiah 55:8 says,

"My thoughts are not your thoughts, saith the Lord, and my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. God does not think within our boundaries. God does not operate inside of our restrictions. God is not handcuffed by our reality. You're saying, "I don't have enough." God is saying, "I am enough." You're saying, "I don't see how." God is saying, "I already know how." And many of us are defeated by the devil. Many

of us aren't defeated by the devil. Catch up. We're defeated by conclusions. >> I'm going to say that again. Many of us aren't defeated by the devil. We are defeated by conclusions. Pastor Mike, please make that sense TO ME. WE'VE ALREADY CONCLUDED that things will never change. >> WE'VE ALREADY CONCLUDED THAT I'LL never recover, that it's too late, that I miss my moment, that I'm disqualified, that there's no coming back from this. But faith refuses to sign off on hopeless verdicts. I'm going to say this, and seven of y'all going to catch it. I SERVE

A GOD THAT SPECIALIZES in working beyond my limitations. >> DID YOU HEAR WHAT I JUST SAID? CAN I PUT SCRIPTURE ON IT? I SERVE A GOD THAT specializes in working beyond my limitations. Why is that important? Luke 1:37, "For nothing will be impossible with God." Amen. Amen. >> And what I'm TRYING TO GET YOU TO REALIZE IS a lot of our faith is dwindling because you are living life and believing God through the lens the lens of your limits. >> What would you dream? I never forget I sat in a meeting and we were talking

about all the things I wanted to do at this church and I wanted these lights and I wanted these cameras and I wanted these type of and I wanted the lobby to look a certain way and I want the children church to look away and the man looked at me and said all of that sounds good all right cool but what's your spending limit >> I said well this all I got he said well we got to bring that vision way down based off of your limit you got all this vision but you got this

much capacity and I had to explain to him I'm not here for a financial lesson. >> You're not a banker. >> You're a designer. I need you to put it together. I AM NOT DREAMING BASED OFF OF WHAT I GOT. MICHAEL, I am dreaming BASED OFF OF WHO GOT ME. I'MMA PREACH TO Y'ALL. THEY SLEEP OVER THERE. I AM NOT DREAMING BASED OFF OF WHAT I HAVE. I AM BELIEVING GOD BASED OFF OF WHO GOT ME. AND SEE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR CIRCLE IS THAT THEY LOOK AT THEIR BANK ACCOUNT AND SAY I

CAN'T. YOU LOOK AT YOURS AND SAY HE CAN'T. I WISH I HAD THREE PEOPLE WHO CAN THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN GOD FOR. AND THAT'S WHY FOLK THINK YOU'RE CRAZY. HOW YOU GOING TO LIVE OUT THERE? YOU SEEN YOUR CREDIT, BUT GOD GOT ME. YOU SEEN YOUR EXPERIENCE. GOD GOT ME. AND WHAT I NEED YOU TO REALIZE IS LUKE 1:37 FOR NOTHING. [clears throat] will be impossible >> with God. >> Nothing [clears throat] >> will be impossible with God. I don't want to start over for nothing >> will be impossible. But how I'M GOING

TO PAY FOR SCHOOL? NOTHING will be imp. BUT MY KID, NOTHING. WHAT PART of nothing >> don't you understand? And this is important. Why is this important, PMJ? This is why you must anchor your life on this truth. Two words that will flip your life if you let it. He can. >> I'm here wrong, church. He can. When you truly understand his capacity, your impossibility start looking temporary. This is good. When you truly understand God's capacity, your impossibilities start looking temporary. So when we say this, here's a good note for you. I need you to

catch this. Many of us don't even realize, this is so good. We don't even realize how God the capacity level that God moves on. And so when I say when you truly understand his capacity, your impossibility starts looking temporary. Many of us limit ourselves based off of our capacity. And so over the next three or four weeks, I'm going to tell you a couple things he can do. Today, I'm going to tell you one thing. He can make a way where there seems to be no way. >> Look at Isaiah 43:19. It's on the screen.

For I am about to do something new. >> See, I have already begun. Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. God speaks to Israel in exile. So, I want to give you context. Israel is in exile. They feel stuck and defeated. And instead of God repeating the Red Sea miracle, God announces to them, put 43:19 on the screen, I'm about to do something new. You missed it. I'm going to say it again. They're stuck. They don't know what's about to happen. They're

crying out to God. They feel like it's they're defeated. And God says, "Hey y'all, I am not about to recycle a miracle." Verse 19, "For I am about preach Mike to do something new." Half of y'all frustrated now cuz you keep expecting God to show up the way he showed up last time. And God is saying, "I am not going to show up the way I showed up life last time in this season of your life. I'm getting ready to do something new." Then he says, "See, I have already begun." >> Do you NOT SEE

IT? THAT CAN PREACH THE THREE of us. Cuz a lot of us KEEP FEELING LIKE GOD AIN'T MOVING WHEN YOU DON'T REALIZE THAT BY THE TIME YOU SEE GOD MOVING, HE'S ALREADY MOVED. >> I said I want to get loud today. I'm trying to stay calm. Hear me when I say this. Why is this important, Pastor Mike? Because God creates solutions, not just exits. >> God creates solutions, >> not just exits. >> The children of Israel are saying, "I need you to get me out of this." And God is saying, "Why would I give you

a way of escape when I could give you a strategy? Thank you. Why would I give you a way of an escape when I can give you a strategy? Most people pray for escape. God often answers with strategy. >> I like that. >> That's all we pray for. A lot of us pray for escape. God often answers with strategy. Can we stop being fake for a minute? When you pray, cuz your prayers don't be deep. We don't really pray deep. A lot of times we say, "Lord, I just need you to fix it." You know,

like, "Lord, I just need you, God. I just need you." What you're really saying subconsciously is, "I'm in debt, God. Get me out of this. I'm on a job I don't like. Get me out of this. My relationship is broken. Fix it. Let me escape either the debt, the pain, the heartache, the indecision, the doubt, the suffering. Can I free you real quickly? An exit removes you while a strategy will transform you." God is saying, "Why would I remove you from something I COULD DEVELOP YOU IN?" >> Y'all don't HEAR ME. THAT GOD IS SAYING,

"NO, NO. ALL YOU WANT ME TO DO IS GET YOU out of. I am more concerned about what I can pull out of you than pulling you out of it." Am I talking to anybody today? What we must understand is that if I'm going fast, just holler at me. What we must understand is that some solutions come disguised as process. >> That's good, mama. Some some solutions come disguised as process. I would pray to God and say, "Fix something." He would take me through something. And I would sit there and say, "Hey, I think we

got a misunderstanding." [laughter] I would say, "God, fix my money. You tell me to tithe. I cannot tithe from something I don't have." And God is saying, "That's the point. >> SINCE YOU AIN'T GOT IT, is it a seat? If it don't meet a need, it must be a seed." [cheering] SO, HE TAKES ME THROUGH A PRO I HAVE A NEED. HE TAKES ME THROUGH A PROCESS TO DEVELOP MY faith >> because even if he pulled you OUT OF IT, IT TAKES FAITH TO TAKE THE EXIT. >> Y'all don't like me today. So hear ME

WHEN I SAY THIS. While these two sound familiar, there's a difference. Put this in your notes. Is this on the screen? >> I added this in between service. Strategy is the why and the what. Oh my god. Good job team. Strategy is the why and the what. Process is the how. I was preaching at the early service today and I said it and I was like, I need to explain that more. We say things in church, but then we don't really explain it. So, so when I say strategy, I need you to catch this. Strategy

is the why and the what. Process is the how. Strategy is about direction and decisions. Simply put, strategy is about the choice you're about to make. So when I tell you God won't pull you out of some things, he gives you strategy. I want you to hear this. All right? So instead of God pulling you pulling you out of it or removing you from it, God says, "How about I just give you direction so you can make clear decisions so you can make better choices?" Cuz a lot of us keep getting delivered from bad choices.

I'mma say that again cuz I think you slept on what I just said. Half of the stuff you need God to deliver you from ain't the devil. It's bad decisions and bad choices. The devil didn't make you date them. You picked them. They drove YOU CRAZY. NOW YOU HAVE CRAZY. NOW YOU SAYING, "GOD, GIVE ME MY mind back." And you saying, "The devil's PICKING ON ME." THAT'S NOT THE DEVIL. THAT'S detr >> [cheering and applause] >> That's Tanya. NO. STRATEGY IS ABOUT DIRECTION AND DECISIONS. SIMPLY PUT, STRATEGY IS ABOUT A CHOICE. And strategy sets direction,

priorities, and tradeoffs. That's what strategy does. It sets direction. God is saying, "I can pull you out of it, but if I pulled you out of it and you didn't learn anything, you just going you're just going to be out of it. But if I give you strategy, it will give you direction. Process then is execution and consistency. So, Pastor Mike, what are you saying? If strategy is the choice, process is the action. This is so good. This is so good. So, I I want to say this better. I said this a minute ago. Some

solutions come disguised as process. You remember I said that? Remember some solutions come disguised as process. Now let's look at my new note. Process is the execution and consistency. It is the actions. Let's go back to my old note. Some solutions come disguised as process. Let's take the word process out. Some solutions come disguised as action. The reason God sometimes doesn't just deliver you is because escape requires nothing from you. >> All my parents give me a what? What? >> All my parents who had a small baby in that little bin in that baby bed

baby bed crying loud doing this. Give me a what what? >> All the parents who picked that baby up out that bed give me a what? What? He hollered and cried and whined till you got tired of hearing it. >> And hear me cuz at first you said, "No, you going to stay in that bed." >> No, you're going to learn how to sleep in your own bed. Then you got tired and what did you do? Picked them up. God is saying, "No, there are certain season where I picked you up because I saw you

weren't going to get the initiative to ask me for strategy, >> but because I KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING, MICHAEL, >> MICHAEL, BECAUSE I KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING. I CAN'T GIVE YOU AN ESCAPE RIGHT NOW. WELL, PASTOR MIKE, the scriptures say there's no temptation that which is coming to man that God won't provide me a way of escape. You're right. He didn't guarantee it. >> HE SAID, "NO, THERE IS NO TEMPTATION THAT IS COMING TO MAN THAT I WON'T PROVIDE A WAY OF ESCAPE. BUT I'M NOT SAYING EVERY TIME I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU THE EXIT.

THERE ARE CERTAIN SEASONS OF YOUR LIFE THAT REQUIRE ACTION. >> PROCESS CREATES STRUCTURE, REPEATABILITY, and clarity. God says, go back, Michael. Some solutions come disguised as process. Now, I'm going to go back forward. Some solutions come disguised as structure, repeatability, and clarity. God says, "I'm going to take you through a process cuz I need you structured." And when the devil show up again, I need you to have the ability to repeat what got you out this time. I need your prayer life so strong, it's repeatable. I NEED YOUR FAITH SO STRONG IT'S REPEATABLE. I NEED

YOU TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK THOSE THINGS THAT ARE NOT AS THOUGH THEY WERE, AND IT'S REPEATABLE. I DON'T WANT YOU TO BE THIS ONE HIT WONDER THAT MADE IT THROUGH JUST CUZ I PULLED YOU OUT. I WANT YOU TO BE UP AT NIGHT SAYING, "FATHER, IN JESUS NAME, I decree and declare THAT GOD, EVEN LIKE THE THREE HEBREW BOYS, EVEN IF YOU DON'T, I KNOW HE CAN." [cheering] >> Am I preaching to anybody? >> This is what we see with Joshua and Jericho. You know this. What's the strategy? Let's take really good notes. Am

I doing okay? >> Okay. What's the notes? Okay, here we go. Joshua, Jericho. What's the strategy? So, in your notes, you can write Joshua Jericho and just and write strategy. We're talking about strategy versus process. Okay, the strategy is God told Israel to march around Jericho once a day for six days. On the se once a day for six days, then seven times on the seventh day, shout and the wall going to fall. That's the strategy God gives him strategy. He says, "This what you going to do? march around the wall once a day for

six days. Shut up while you walking and seven times on the seventh day. And the first time they hear you, you going to be praising God and the wall going to fall. That's the strategy. That's where most of us fail. All we got is the strategy. What's the process? The miracle did not happen on day one. It happened after completing the process. The strategy was the plan. The process was the action. >> So, can I ask YOU A QUESTION? HE SAYS, "WHAT'S THE STRATEGY?" Once a day for 6 days, I need everybody to be quiet

and march around the wall. If on day two, somebody yelled out, "What we doing this for? This don't make no sense." And they stopped walking on day seven if the wall didn't fall, whose fault is it >> then? Why are you blaming God? Cuz you ain't sticking to the strategy, [cheering and applause] Pastor Mike. Why are you talking to me like this? I did not get out my bed for you to talk to me in this manner of voice. You could have talked to me like this on YouTube. Why are you in my face talking

to me like this? Cuz I don't want you blaming God for another year of your life. There are doors that are about to open for you. I told you that in December. Doors that you knock on, doors that you knocked on, and doors that you didn't even knock on. I told you that. And what the Lord is getting me prepared for is Michael, when that door open, DO NOT LET THEM COME BACK TO YOU SAYING, "I did not move." >> I'M GIVING THEM STRATEGY, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SEE THE PROCESS THROUGH. Strategy gave

them direction. Hear me when I say this. Strategy shows you what God will do. process shows God who will stay faithful while he does it. >> Do I need to say that again? >> Strategy shows you what God will do. Process shows God who will stay faithful while he does it. >> Why is that important, PMJ? Because the solution is not always external. Sometimes it's internal. I love my team so much. Leslie rearranged my notes without my permission in between the message. She said, "Pastor Mike, you were preaching so good at the last service. I

felt like this should have went here." I said, "Just do it, Leslie." And now that she did it, it just made sense cuz we're talking about strategy and process. The solution is not always external, it's internal. Israel wanted out of Egypt. God agreed. But his greater plan was not relocation. It was reformation. I'm going to say that again. Israel wanted to leave Egypt. God agreed. Let's pause right there. I want to say something because I feel like it needs to be said and you need to hear me say it and I need you to hear

me hear me say it. Okay, here it is. Okay. God agrees with you that you shouldn't be in debt. God agrees that you deserve better. God agrees that you shouldn't have to struggle the way you have. God agrees you should have had both parents loving and and raising you right. GOD AGREES. I I I WANT TO MAKE THIS VERY CLEAR. GOD'S PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE IS THAT YOU PROSPER. >> BUT GOD ALSO KNOWS THAT LIFE HAPPENS. >> And what HE'S SAYING IS, "HEY CHILDREN of Israel, I want y'all to get out of Egypt. I know

Egypt is bondage. I want y'all out of Egypt. But here's my problem. Please listen clearly. Clearly, clearly. Listen to me. I am not concerned with relocation. I'm concerned with reformation. Listen to your pastor when I say this. God is tired of relocating you. Taking you from this bill to this bill. Taking you from this relationship to this relationship. From this problem, relocating you. Because deliverance is relocation. He takes you out of one problem, put you in a solution, but because you didn't stay in that problem long enough to get the lesson, now this solution becomes

a new problem. >> This is why he tells them in Exodus 14:13-14, "But Moses told the people, "Don't be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again." Verse 14 will make me shout, "The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm. Let me free you. They expected a door. God gave them a divided red sea. A solution. What has God giving you in this season? Put this in your notes. A solution that requires faith, movement, and obedience. Sometimes God doesn't open a

door because he's teaching you to walk through impossibilities. >> If God, listen to you, pastor, if God only gave us exits, you would stay dependent. Solutions develop capacity. >> If God only gave us exits, you would stay dependent. Solutions develop capacity. I'm going to say this and I pray three of you can receive it. God wants to increase your capacity. Nobody said, "I receive that." I'm going to say it again. God wants to increase your capacity. You ain't say I receive that. I'mma say it again. God wants to increase your capacity. >> I receive that.

>> So say why, Pastor Mike? >> Cuz he ready to give you more. >> God is looking at you saying, "It's so much more I want to get him, but they ain't got enough patience. So I'mma get him a couple more problems." Why? I need you to catch this. Because most people pray for solutions. God often responds with development. I'm guilty of it. I pray for solutions. God fix this. God handle this. And God is saying, I won't take you out of a storm. I can develop you in because the real goal is rarely the

problem disappearing. All right. Don't leave me hanging. All right. By show hands, I'mma ask a question. Don't Don't leave me hanging, okay? Don't leave me hanging, okay? Who else in here besides me when you pray, you really saying, "God, make this disappear." Like, can can we just can Can we stop playing real quick? I don't even need him to pay the bill. I just need him to stop calling it just go away, [screaming] guy. I I don't care how it happened. Just Lord, make a way. Make a way. And some of us, we got to

grow up. We ain't all the way saved. We be saying like We be thanking God for stuff that might even be illegal. Let you walk out your house and somebody drive by and a bag of money fall off the truck. YOU BE BEHIND THE BRINK TRUCKS LIKE, "GOD, if you love me, come on now. Come on. WE PRAY SOME CRAZY STUFF, DON'T WE? YOU BE AT WORK LIKE, "GOD, let this boss get fired in Jesus name. YOU DON'T KNOW HOW CRAZY WE ARE. WE BE LAYING HANDS on other people's stuff. Lord, that's my house right

there. Like, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH THEM? [applause] NO. You know, I'm going to be the supervisor one day. But, but what I realized IS [laughter] [screaming] LOOK, look at this. Look at this. The real goal, this is what I had to learn. This is what all of 41 taught me. The real goal isn't the problem disappearing. The real goal is me becoming. >> God is saying, God is saying, "Yes, I can fix it, but I rather grow you." >> Why is that important, Pastor Mike? Because problems expose limitations. But solutions build strength.

Problems expose limitations. Whenever problems arise in my life, it exposes my limits. That that's where I'm at. If something happens like what was my reach too small? I just dropped a new song and shameless plug is the best song on the face of the planet already. Day one. I mean it. Day one. I want I want the people who love me to treat me like they used to treat Michael Jackson. Michael Jackson dropped. They didn't even listen to the whole song. They were like, "No, it's a classic." >> Two seconds in. It's a classic. But

but when things don't go right, if I look up Friday and my numbers aren't where they needed to be, and I didn't stream like I thought I would stream. I don't sit back and say, "Man, I can't believe people didn't support me." It just exposed a limit. Was it the style? Was it the song? Did I market? Did I push? Did God just not want this to work? >> I don't think you heard that. >> That's what I've been praying over the last week and a half. I've been talking to the Lord and I clearly

heard a voice and I haven't discerned if it's the Lord yet. But I clearly heard a voice in my spirit say, "I just didn't want that to work." >> And I tal I talked to my dad. I said, "Dad, I just felt like God just didn't want me to win." And and my dad said something to me that messed me up. He said, "Mike, what if God saw beyond the win? >> What if winning that award would have caused you to have to go do this show, which would have put you in this person's radar,

which puts you in this room, which pulls you out of so and so, and God is like, I'd rather he lose and stay in purpose, >> then win and be faced with unnatural problems, y'all." But all we want to do is win. THAT'S WHAT'S WRONG WITH CHRISTIANS. WE JUST WANT TO WIN. WHERE IN THE BIBLE DOES IT SAY ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS WIN? THROUGHOUT THE BIBLE, I SEE PEOPLE WHO WERE FAITHFUL TO GOD SUFFER, >> HEAD GET CUT OFF, CRUCIFIED, LEFT OUTDOORS, ON THE RUN, but we want to comfort Christianity. We believe in

this cosmetic Christianity that we can put makeup ON OUR PROBLEMS AND AS LONG AS WE LOOK LIKE WE WINNING, WE'RE WINNING. I DON'T WANT TO LOOK LIKE I'M WINNING. I WANT TO BE WHAT GOD CALLED ME TO BE. I WISH ABOVE ALL THINGS THAT YOU WILL PROSPER AND BE IN GOOD HEALTH EVEN AS YOUR SOUL PROSPERS. AND SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T PROSPER WITHOUT PROBLEMS. MY GOD, SOMETIMES YOU GOT TO LOSE. SOMETIMES YOU GOT TO HURT. SOMETIMES YOU GOT TO SUFFER. SOMETIMES YOU GOT TO BE TALKED ABOUT. SOMETIMES YOU GOT TO BE LAUGHED AT. BUT I KNOW

THAT GOD CAUSES ALL THINGS. Stop to work together. [cheering] Woo. >> That just hit me. Pastor Mike, that ain't biblical. James 1:2, and 4. Dear brothers and sisters, KING JAMES, COUNT IT ALL JOY. I I don't know who I'm preaching to, but I TRIED TO BE DIGNIFIED. I NEED SEVEN PEOPLE WHO CAN SAY, "YES, I GOT A WHOLE LOT OF PROBLEMS, BUT I'VE LEARNED HOW TO COUNT IT ALL." WOO! I feel God on that. Look at this. Look what it says. Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an

opportunity for great joy. FOR YOU KNOW THAT WHEN YOUR FAITH IS TESTED, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow. But when your endurance is fully developed, [cheering] I got to sit down. Don't do it. Don't do it. Don't do it. Cuz if we start shouting, we're going to miss it. So look at me. Sit down. Sit down. Sit down. Cuz if we start shouting, we may miss it. So, so I need you to look at the scripture. I want you to think cognitively. Okay? Look at the scripture. Go back to the

top verse two. Dear brothers and sisters, good job. Good job. When troubles of any kind come your way. >> This is NLT, but I'm Baptist in my soul. So, I'm going to say the King James, count it all joy. >> Verse three. But look at verse three. For you know that when your faith is tested, >> so I need you to put that in your notes. When your faith is tested, >> your endurance has a chance to grow. >> Okay. So So Oh, God. I want to have good church right here, but I can't because

because I'mma because we going to miss it. And I even believe sometimes good church is demonic >> cuz the cuz the devil know music moves us. >> So I don't even want to shout but we miss the substance. So I need you to really hear me cuz this is important what I'm going to tell you. He says when your faith is tested your endurance [clears throat] has a chance to grow. What is endurance? Your stamina. >> Okay. Okay. Put this in your notes. Okay. No, no. I'm going to keep reading the scripture. Verse four. So,

let it grow. For when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing >> nothing. Okay. Okay. So, I need you to catch this. So, Pastor Mike, he says, "I have to test your faith so your endurance can grow." >> What is endurance? Lack of better terms, stamina. I want you to put this in your notes. Okay. Endurance is long faith. It's long faith. It's long faith. It's long faith. It's long faith. So, Pastor Mike, if endurance is long faith, there must be a >> short faith. All right. So, in your notes,

endurance is what? >> So then what's faith? Just short faith. Sometimes it's JUST SHORT FAITH. IT'S YOU GOT THE FAITH TO JUMP. I don't think you got faith while you're falling. >> So you'll jump out there and apply, but then your faith don't last when you ain't heard back. [cheering] >> MICHAEL, YOU GOT FAITH TO APPLY, but you ain't got faith while you're waiting. YOU GOT FAITH TO love again, but not faith when it gets. >> And what I'm trying TO SHOW YOU IS GOD IS SAYING GOD DOESN'T ALWAYS catch you the moment you jump.

Sometimes he you need endurance cuz he want TO SEE HOW YOU ACT WHILE YOU FALLING. [cheering] >> I believe God can do it. Boom. God. God. GOD. I KNEW I SHOULDN'T HAVE JUMPED out here. And God is like, "Look at your mouth. I'm trying to give you endurance. Look at J. Look at the message version. Consider it a sheer gift. When test and challenges come from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith life is forced into the open and shows its true colors." Verse four. So don't try to get out of everything prematurely.

>> We'll assert stuff we just got to sit in. It's certain stuff you just got to deal with. There are certain problems God ain't going to take. You need them. >> That's why that talented tent maker from Tarsus, Paul told us that I begged so many times for him to take it away. Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelation was given to me a thorn in my flesh, >> a messenger from Satan to buffet me. AND HE SAID, I KEPT ASKING GOD, get out of me. TAKE IT AWAY. THEN HE SAID OUT OF NOWHERE,

I said, his grace >> is sufficient. >> Why, PMJ, put this in your notes. Am I doing okay? >> Without the tension, there is no expansion. >> This is a good lesson today. >> This will go to Waffle House lesson afterwards right here. You got to go eat somewhere after this and just talk like, "Oh my god, that blessed me." Y'all look, y'all going to look y'all going to kick it after this. Y'all going to go somewhere. That road right there. Y'all going to kick it after this. This a good bless me right here. No,

without without the tension, there is no expansion. Do me a favor. Can Can you do me a favor? Can you lift your hands? Lift your hands. Hey, look at that. Amen. A little higher. Come on, man. A little higher. You got a little bit more. Come on. High. There it is. There you go. Thank Thank y'all so You may be seated. Why you didn't do that the first time? Because within you is a built-in default settle. >> Whether you know it or not, your first inclination naturally will always be to do enough. So I said,

"Lift your hands." And what did you do? You got this much in you. But you just went here. So, can I ask you a question? If God doesn't send tension, how else will he get all of that out of you? >> Some of y'all should be on the prayer team the way you can pray, but you just pray enough. >> You read enough. You don't tithe. You just give enough. You're not nice. You're just nice enough. And without the tension there is no expansion. So when there is tension in my life I feel that is

the Lord's way of saying Michael I am trying to bring expansion to your life. Without the challenge there is no capacity upgrade. Put this in your nose. Immediate rescue can delay long-term growth. >> Miles, go put your shoes on. Yes, sir. 2 seconds later, I can't find them. And you going to leave here with no shoes on. But Dad, I don't care. I'm leaving in two minutes whether you got shoes or not. Mike, go help her. I'm not helping him. Go find your shoes. Go help him. Mike, come on. Wink. We got to go. I

go in the room. Ask him where the shoes at. Right there on the floor. You know what? So the other day he came in there. Dad, I can't find my remote. Don't like you watching TV. Dad, I can't fall asleep in the You ain't going to go to sleep then. Get out of my face, Miles. I'm not playing with you. Why are you talking to him like that? He just nine. Jesus. Well, no. I'm I'm done. He's developing habits I don't like already. >> He the baby of five. Everybody cater to him. He going to

grow up and be sorry if we don't stop some stuff real quick. >> Pastor Mike, you being too deep. This boy 9 years old. No, he he going to drive one of y'all daughters crazy if I don't make him be a man early. So now I was like, "No, GO FIND Y'ALL. YOU YOU KNOW how them boys be. They spoil. They soft. They spoil. They weak. They cry. I'm I'm like, "Miles, go." But dad like, "No." So you know what? No. Go. HE CAME IN THERE. DAD, GUESS WHAT? WHAT? I found my remote. It fell

in between the bed. I moved a mattress and I did so and so. And then what I did was when I move the mattress, I just put the mattress on the floor cuz look now, Dad. Now I can just sleep on the floor. That way if I ever drop the remote again, there's nowhere for it to hide. I go in his room. It ain't no m the mattress ON THE FLOOR. THE BOX SPRING MOVE. I'M LIKE, "HEY, HEY, do your thing. MAKE UP YOUR BED." This this boy made up the mattress on the floor. I

said, "DO YOUR THING, MILES." BUT GUESS WHAT? I saw growth. >> So now I say, "Go find your shoes." I go in there and I may see clothes all over the place, but that tells me he at least moving stuff. Immediate rescue can delay long-term growth. >> If God I got to stop, but I'm I'm think I'm gonna keep going. Like hear me. Hear me. Hear me when I say this. If God, what would David be if that lion showed up to eat his sheep and God said, "I'mma kill the lion. I can't let it

get you." Then the bear showed up and God was like, "I'mma kill this bear cuz I can't let you die." So then when Goliath showed up, what would David have done? God, you get him. >> [snorts] >> David was bold enough to face Goliath cuz God didn't rescue him from other stuff. >> If I can survive a lion, bears, a daddy who don't believe in me, brothers who sleep on me, who is this uncircumcised Philistine? >> [applause] >> Let me say this to you. If God removed every difficulty from you instantly, you would be relieved,

but you would remain unchanged. >> That's crazy, Annie, bro. Like, when you really think about it, if he did it instantly, you would be relieved, but you would be unchanged. That's why Romans 5 3 and 4 says, I'm reading from the NRSV version. It says, "And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance." See, these are scriptures we don't read in church because they don't make you shout. Suffering produces endurance. Endurance produces character and character produces hope. So, let me free you. So, pastor Mike, it's like I ain't

got no hope. Maybe your hope low cuz you don't have character. And maybe they don't have good character because they don't have endurance. And maybe you don't have endurance because you keep running from your sufferings. It's all working. See, cuz when we want God to give us a way of escape, we want God to change our environment, fix people, remove pressure. I'm going to give you four things. Oh my god, I'm out of time. God often changes four things. perspective, >> patience, discipline, resilience. [snorts] So you say, "God, I just need you to fix it."

You want him to change your environment. God, they just won't do right. Fix this person. God is saying, "No, no, no, no, no. Here's what I do. I often change perspective." Let me let me say this. I want to make sure I'm I'm wellrounded. God will give you an escape. God will change your environment. God will help fix people. What I'm trying to get you to realize is I'm afraid that we're becoming dependent on him always having to do it. [clears throat] Is that a fair assessment? So, so what I'm saying is God often changes

perspective, patience, discipline, and resilience. Let's define each and we're going to go home. Perspective. The way you interpret what you're experiencing. God is saying, "I could fix your situation, but I need to fix your perspective." You're not interpreting this situation the right way. Make that make sense, Pastor Mike. God changes how you see the problem before he changes the problem itself. >> Michael, God changes the way you see the problem before he changes the problem itself. So God is saying, I want you to look at what you used to look at as an attack and

see development. I want you to look at what used to feel like delay and now you see preparation. I want I want you to look at what you used to think was rejection and say that's direction. Why does God change your perspective? He wants to get you to a place in your life. Listen to me if you don't hear nothing I say. Why does God want to change your perspective? He's trying to get you to a place in your life where you don't just endure it, you understand it. I understand it now. He wants to

get you to a place where cuz we've mastered enduring it. Who done through enough hell for everybody? >> You mastered that part. And we be bragging about it. Oh, cuz I done been through some stuff and don't understand none of it. Which is why you keep repeating it. >> Can I tell you what perspective will do for you? perspective will make old hell not be hail in your new season. >> Make that make sense, PMJ. I'm going through things currently right now as I speak. I'm going through things currently that the old me would have

thought was a problem. The new me see as a blessing because God changed my perspective. This mo I had so many problems this morning alone. Couldn't find nothing. Couldn't get this. My the guy who cuts my hair, George, I love him. He been cutting my hair for years. Every Sunday he going to come cut my hair. His truck breaks down at the gas pump. I I said, "Where you at?" I'm all the way on. I said, "I'm driving to you at the gas pump." Cuz the way this set up, it ain't going to work. All

right. I drive all the way to George. He literally cut my hair at the g He has like a a sprinter van that he cuts in. It's called a mobile barber shop. We in the mobile barber shop. He cutting my hair while a mechanic working on his car and he furious. Pastor Mike is like always some man. I said George I said man you got so many problems going on right now but I want to free you real quick. I said what? Your mobile barberh shop broke down on a off day. You still got a

physical barbershop. I said George we got problems on levels people can't win on. with tear. He said, he said, "I needed that." Cuz if if we're not careful, we develop this woe, it's me. >> It's like my children just want, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. You mad cuz he's struggling with an honors class. >> But my mama just won't get it. Mama. Mama. Mama. But she's still alive. It >> It's perspective. >> It's It just I ain't trying to be funny, but like everybody THINK I'M WHY Y'ALL THINK I'M RICH? EVERYBODY ALWAYS ASKING.

Maybe they see something in you. >> I I got to go. You You can play play cuz I keep going. It's perspective. But number two, patience. It is the ability to remain steady while God works unseen. Patience is the ability to remain steady while God works unseen. Just because you can't see God does not mean God ain't moving. Am I preaching to anybody? God stretches your capacity to wait without doubt, panic, or forcing outcomes. That's why Isaiah 40 and31 says, "But those who wait on the God, wait upon God, you know, wait upon the Lord,

but look at the messed version. They get fresh strength." I like translation sometimes so it can give me a different perspective. They get fresh strength. You want to know what I hear when I hear fresh strength? None of my millennials, what my millennials may know this. All right? None of my young people, 30s and 20s, you ain't going to get this right here. Okay? You got to be 40 and above to get what I'm going to say right here. Okay? I Hey, everybody 40 and old like me. All right, I want you to finish this.

What do we call it when you super tired? Then you get a burst of energy. >> My second win. Hey, that second win. You'll be dog tied and something hit you. You like, "Oh, I done got my second win." They that wait upon the Lord, >> get that second wind. that that that that that that fire. Thank you. This a mother Jimmy to run on and see what the end going to be. >> They spread their wings and soar like eagles. They run and don't get tired. This is critical. Why Pastor Mike is so critical?

Because patience keeps us steady when we can't see what God up to. Can I say something that's very simple and you receive it? You may not see it, but he's up to something. He up to something. I want you to get like your pastor. When I tell you, if you ever heard me and God talk, you'll be weak. We be talk talking. I like God, I don't know what you up to, but I know you up to something. Cuz I don't see nothing. And if I don't see nothing, that mean you must be doing something.

Unless you ain't doing something cuz even when you ain't doing nothing, you doing something. Cuz your nothing is something. But I much rather you do something even though I don't see you doing nothing. Amen. What you up to? >> And God is like just be patient. Number three, discipline. I got to go fast. The willingness to do what is right, not what is easy. God develops consistency, structure, and obedience. Many prayers are not answered by miracles alone. This is a strong statement I'm going to make. Mi many prayers are not answered by miracles alone, but

by habits, boundaries, and stewardship. Make that make sense, Pastor Mike. Okay, y'all ready for this? God wouldn't have to give us a financial miracle if we had better spending habits. >> There are times when we need a financial miracle. Can I get an amen? Amen. >> There are times when I done tithed and I done budgeted. But God, I need you to do something. But then there are also times where I chose to go on a vacation. I chose to do something crazy. I decided I deserved it. And now I just need God to fix

my decision. Hold your hand up and don't leave me hanging right now. You knew you sat there and said, "No, this what I'm going to do. I get paid on." And whenever you say this what I'm going to do, that is dangerous. Do what I'm going to do right here. I get paid on the 14th. The bill ain't due technically. They want it on the first, but technically it ain't due to the next 15th. So, what we going to do is we fa to go to Vegas. We going to go do so and so. I'mma

get the outfit, but then but when I get I'mma do so so so not this check, but that next check going to cover this. And what happened? Every you you you do it the out of nowhere. I think Apple the devil. It's like them Apple them apps YOU FORGOT ABOUT START COMING OUT. You saw a ad that could fix your makeup and you just got that $9.99. Doom. It's something else. Doom. And out of nowhere, it's like, "Lord, Lord, Lord, [cheering] do it, Lord." And what God say? God be like, "Look at them. Look at

them." Hey, do me a favor. You remember they got some just go ahead and send it. Put it in the mail. Bless them. And God come through. And what you do, God, I thank you. >> He got you out of it. He got you out of it. What you do the next two months? So now God says, "And let's let that get turned off. Maybe they need to feel this. Let's let it get turned off. Let them hurt a little while. Let's build their endurance cuz endurance builds repeatability. And so now after you had to

sit in it and he gave you the strategy and you got the process this year, you like I'm good. [laughter] They go to I don't know if other nationalities do this, but all black people. This is the I ain't got no money statement. I got food at the house. Who? Who does? I got food at the house. We good. I got food at the house. I ain't got to go. Uhuh. I got food at the house. It It's because you're developing disciplines. Why is discipline important, PMJ? Here it is. Cuz discipline protects what blessings provide.

You're going to be blessed this year. What I'm saying is if we don't get our disciplines right, >> we can't protect what God's given us. >> You know, look at Hebrews 12:11. No discipline is enjoyable while it's happening. It's painful. I told y'all the Bible got every answer if you read it. No discipline is enjoyable while it's happening. It's painful. But afterwards there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. Discipline guards the harvest. Blessings don't grow wild, they grow tended. That was a heavy statement and you

missed it. Blessings don't grow wild, they grow tended. Okay. Um, I love her hair right there. It's curl. I like your hair right there. Right there. You got the hair. Okay. Boom. People. So, do you just wake up and just do this? Boom. Do you put chemicals in it? Any type of conditioner? Conditioner. You put conditioner. She put conditioner on it. And because she got that good grade, all she got to do is condition. Probably. Why? You probably let the water hit it at that level. I got that. I got that, too. That's how it

was. You let the water hit it, boom. Then you condition, boom, boom, boom. And then it just kind of just whoosh. But then somebody else will sit there and be like, I'mma just get the wild hair. That ain't just wow hair. It's conditioned. It's disciplined. Stop looking at what other people have, >> thinking it just happens. >> Maybe they're walking in their the fruit of their discipline. Last but not least, resilience. Resilience. This is good teaching today. Resilience. Resilience is the ability to recover, adapt, and keep moving after pressure or pain. God is building your

bounceback ability. Your bounceback ability. You're not just surviving hardships, but refusing to be defined by them. This is why Micah 7 and8, I gave you a lot of obscure passages today, scriptures that they don't read in church. Micah 7 and8 he says do not gloat over me my enemies for though I fall I will rise again one of my athletes need to that's when that's your new scripture right there don't gloat over me for though I fall I will rise again though I sit in darkness the Lord will be my light is that important pastor

Mike because sometimes God doesn't remove the pressure he just upgrades the person under it Hey, can I ask you a question? Let's just go home on that word right there. Let me ask you a question. If your phone kept freezing and you took it to the store and they asked you real quickly, we can fix the freeze or we can just give you a brand new upgraded phone. Which one you want? You want the upgrade? Well, if you're anything like me, I don't know none of my passwords. that new phone scare me cuz I'm going

to have to reset every password I got. And so I don't want to be ignorant to deny upgrade cuz I don't want to go through new processes. And what I'm trying to tell you is God is not just bringing you out. He's building you up. Father, I pray I said something today that blessed them. And I pray that they leave here log off saying, "God, you got me." I pray they leave here saying, "God, yes, you can, but if I get myself together, you won't have to always." So, Father, in Jesus' name, give us what

we need to become who you called us to be. It's in Jesus name [music] we pray. And everybody said it. Come on, jump on your feet. Clap your hands right there. Were you blessed today? Come on, tell me the truth. Were you blessed today? Listen, I love you so much. You may be here and you don't know Jesus. You can repeat after me right where you are. You can just say, "Lord, come into my heart. Make me over again. I confess with my mouth. I believe with my heart that you rose from the dead with

all power in your hand. And right now, by [music] faith, I'm saved." Clap your hands right