Entertainment
Abandon Ship
In this episode titled 'Abandon Ship,' the speaker explores the significance of purpose in our lives, emphasizing that each individual is designed with intention and has a unique calling. Dr...
Abandon Ship
Entertainment •
0:00 / 0:00
Interactive Transcript
spk_0
What's up family? Super excited that you landed on this YouTube channel and
spk_0
hopefully this channel becomes or is a trusted source of spiritual
spk_0
nourishment for you. You are about to watch a message that I taught at our Atlanta
spk_0
location, our Decap County Atlanta location and this message is called
spk_0
Abandoned Ship. Mark Twain says this, two most important days in your life.
spk_0
Well the day you're born and the day you find out why but in order to go you got to leave.
spk_0
And I hope this message helps you do just that. Enjoy the message. If it blesses you send it to
spk_0
somebody else. Take care. So we're going to be walking through that but this is launch week and I
spk_0
wanted to do a message that spoke to that. So let's go to the book of Luke chapter five verse
spk_0
number 10. We're going to read a couple of verses and this is the 1230 service. So I already know
spk_0
you woke. Right? You slept me and you woke and you ready for God's word. I know you got your
spk_0
eight man's ready. Luke chapter five verse 10 says, and so were James and John the sons of Zebidi
spk_0
Simon's partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, don't be afraid. From now on you will fish for people.
spk_0
So they pulled up their boats up on the shore, left everything and followed him. I want to stop the
spk_0
reading or scripture then talk from this subject and I'll time together family. Abandoned ship.
spk_0
Somebody say get out of that boat. Get out of that boat. I want to leap into today's lesson by
spk_0
informing some and reminding others that your presence on this planet has purpose.
spk_0
I'm simply suggesting that your existence is not the result of some cosmic coincidence nor are
spk_0
you the result of some relational accident that your parents might have been surprised by your arrival
spk_0
but God wouldn't. I can say this with confidence because I eavesdropped on a conversation that God
spk_0
had with a gentleman named Jeremiah in Jeremiah chapter number one and he tells Jeremiah these words
spk_0
before I form you. I thought I was at the 1230. Before I form you in your mother's womb, I knew you.
spk_0
Notice what he says, I form you. Your parents conceive you but I form you. The only thing your
spk_0
parents could do was engage in the activity that potentially would conceive you. After that,
spk_0
everything else was me. Your personality, that's me. Your abilities, that's me. Your talent, that's me.
spk_0
You have been built by design. You have been wired for your work and you have been detailed for
spk_0
your destiny. Therefore resident in latent form on the inside of you is absolutely everything you need
spk_0
to be who God's called you to be and to do what God's called you to do. And the devil wants you to
spk_0
go throughout this phase of life operating as if you've got some deficit but I want you to know
spk_0
that God Almighty strategically and intentionally and methodically place you on a planet with the
spk_0
personality you have and the talent you possess to do everything he's called and created you to do.
spk_0
Somebody shout purpose. Come on say it again, say purpose. Here's what Mark Twain says about purpose.
spk_0
He says the two most important days of your life are the day you were born and the day you found out why
spk_0
when the enemy can't stop you from being born. His next step is to try to stop you from knowing why.
spk_0
He cries when you find your why. I thought I was at the 1230. He starts to cry when you find your
spk_0
why. He fights your why. He's furious about your why because he knows when you get an understanding of
spk_0
your assignment then he becomes a liability. Did you hear what I just said? People who are born aren't
spk_0
threats to his agenda but people who walk in purpose are threats to his agenda. So when he can't
spk_0
stop you and I from being born his next step is to try to stop you and I from figuring out why.
spk_0
Somebody say purpose. Say it again, say purpose. Yeah see purpose, purpose isn't just what you pay to do.
spk_0
It can be purpose is also what you're made to do. Passion is what I like to do but purpose is what
spk_0
I was born to do. Did you hear what I just said? Yeah, Stephen Covey puts it this way. He says passion
spk_0
is what I like to do. Talent is what I can do. Purpose is what I'm supposed to do.
spk_0
And the highest watch this, the highest and best use of you is what God has cosmically created you
spk_0
and I to do. And I want you and I to know watch this that purpose is not just a description of what God
spk_0
does through you. It is also a description of what God does for you. That our eternal God is not
spk_0
an explorer. So he doesn't have to deplete you to use you. Did you hear what I just said?
spk_0
He can make you fruitful and form you at the same time. He can use you and evolve you at the same time.
spk_0
He can send blessing through you and blessing to you at the same time. He can use your skills and
spk_0
shape you at the same time. Our eternal God does not have to exploit you.
spk_0
So God's purpose for you is God's present to you. God's purpose for you is God's present to you
spk_0
because God uses purpose not just to do some things through you but to do some things in you.
spk_0
Because purpose puts a demand on your growth like nothing else does. I'm going to say that one more
spk_0
time. Purpose puts a demand on your growth like nothing else does and God will use your ministry
spk_0
as a mirror to reveal to you some things he wants to fix about you. Come on and God will use your
spk_0
calling as a classroom to teach you some things that you would not learn any other way. Your
spk_0
assignment exposes where you and I need an evolution and the scriptures are inundated with examples
spk_0
that prove this point. Moses's purpose exposes anger. Gideon's purpose exposes insecurity.
spk_0
Jonah's purpose exposes prejudice. Paul's purpose exposes pride and Peter's purpose
spk_0
exposes impulsiveness and instability. Look at me if Peter is cutting off people's ears with
spk_0
Jesus. Jesus right there. What would Peter be doing without Jesus? And some of us ought to take
spk_0
17 seconds and just praise God right there because if I'm a mess with Jesus you have no idea where's
spk_0
my real section at.
spk_0
So God's purpose isn't just the description of what he does through us but also description
spk_0
of what he does in us because purpose isn't just the contribution I make. My purpose is also predicated
spk_0
on the person I've become. And when you see purpose as contribution and not confirmation
spk_0
then you exalt gift and you diminish character. Come on here because you can make high contribution
spk_0
with low character. Did you hear what I just said? I said you can make high contribution with low
spk_0
character but when I see, watch this when I see that purpose isn't just about contribution,
spk_0
when I see purpose is about confirmation then I realize and recognize oh this isn't just about
spk_0
what God wants to do through me. This is also about what God wants to do in me because part of my
spk_0
purpose isn't just the activity I engage in part of my purpose is the example I set. Y'all not ready.
spk_0
It's not just my activity. It's my example. Lazarus is one of the most significant characters in
spk_0
the New Testament and you don't know what his skill is. But God may not have used Lazarus' activity
spk_0
the most. He used his example. Did you hear that? He used his example. He says I'm going to use
spk_0
he was dead four days and God says I'm going to use your life as an example that I am capable
spk_0
of creating comebacks when people feel like it's a setback. I don't know how long you've been in
spk_0
a grave but maybe you've got a Lazarus type of assignment and God says I'm going to raise you up
spk_0
to show other people I'm still in the resurrecting business.
spk_0
Some purpose in just the description of what God wants to do through me. It's also a description
spk_0
of what God wants to do in me. It demands that you grow in ways that nothing else will.
spk_0
It causes you to bring a degree of restraint to your life that you would not if purpose didn't
spk_0
demand it. Come on here. It's some places you won't go.
spk_0
Because it's going to cost you the price of your credibility.
spk_0
Am I making sense? No pastors my love for Christ. Yes.
spk_0
Yes. Yes. It is your love for Christ and God's wisdom on how to best shape you.
spk_0
I got to get to my test. Am I making sense? Did not David, I'm sorry, did not David, did not
spk_0
David testify it was good that I was afflicted. He's considering my makeup and my
spk_0
obstinence and how much I told the line even though I'm a man after God's own heart, God knew it
spk_0
took a flixion to bring me to a point of some evolution.
spk_0
Pastor, what are you saying? Here's what I'm saying. The reason that so many people get stuck
spk_0
spiritually is because they don't take their call in seriously.
spk_0
If you are only a spiritual consumer, you're going to hit plateaus in your spiritual journey
spk_0
because being a spiritual contributor demands growth of you in ways nothing else will.
spk_0
And when something like purpose is this consequential, you know, in certain things,
spk_0
everything in scripture is important. Everything doesn't have the same kind of implications to your
spk_0
life. So if you don't understand all of the intricacies of something called eschatology, like
spk_0
because Jesus was supposed to come back last Tuesday, it was Tuesday before that last.
spk_0
I mean, what? I mean, the rapture, right? It's supposed to be, I think we all hear, right?
spk_0
Right? Okay.
spk_0
So if I don't understand all of the intricacies of eschatology, it doesn't have the same kind of
spk_0
implications on my life. But one thing I don't want to get wrong about life is what I'm supposed to
spk_0
do with my life. I can't get this wrong. When something like this consequential, we cannot be
spk_0
elementary in our understanding of it. You have a calling, purpose, the reason for the creation
spk_0
of the existence of a thing, calling God's invitation for your participation in the reason for your
spk_0
creation. You got a purpose, but the calling is the email inviting you to say yes to a role.
spk_0
The role is a strategic set of responsibilities God gives you in a certain season. And your willingness
spk_0
to keep saying yes to roles over your lifetime is what determines what not you feel your purpose.
spk_0
Some of you trying to figure out what you're going to do 30 years from now. And God's like,
spk_0
I'm only talking to you about the next 30 days right now.
spk_0
You trying to give me a yes to a question I hadn't asked yet?
spk_0
So there's this invitation that God extends. So you got a calling. Might not be the pastor, but you
spk_0
got a calling. Am I making sense? Said am I making sense? If you did not, once you got saved,
spk_0
you could bring you to heaven. Come on. Does that make sense? All right. But I want to tell you,
spk_0
if you see us about your calling, I need to tell you something. Your calling is going to cost you
spk_0
something. Pastor, what is it going to cost you? Luke told me what is going to cost you. Luke sent me
spk_0
and Luke told me to tell you. He said, PD, I say, what up Luke?
spk_0
Oh, I'm not going to say that. Okay. So,
spk_0
he said, no, no, I'm not. Okay. Here it is. Here it is. This is interesting. Look at me, text message.
spk_0
And Luke told me to tell you, y'all good, I'm almost done. I got 14 minutes and 45 seconds.
spk_0
Y'all good? Here it is. Here it is. Here it is, family. Luke told me to tell you, your calling is
spk_0
going to cost you your boat. Pastor, we told you that Luke told me that. It's right here in the text.
spk_0
See, to understand the essence of what I'm getting ready to articulate, you've got to understand
spk_0
that the gospel, according to Luke, is couched within the context of what's called the subnaptic
spk_0
gospel. So there are four gospels, right? But three of them are called the subnaptic gospels.
spk_0
The subnaptic just means similar. It doesn't mean saying, it means similar. Got me? So Matthew,
spk_0
Mark, and Luke, each tale, the story of Jesus. So if you're reading all the gospels,
spk_0
some things in the gospels will be similar, want it. You'll be like, okay, I saw that story over here.
spk_0
This story over here, this story over here, right? It's similar, but then they're not the same,
spk_0
because there's some stuff one puts in and one leaves out. Because if we all see the same thing,
spk_0
and I ask us to write about it, we're going to write about it from our perspective. So if some things
spk_0
that may be similar, and then there may be some things that are different, am I making sense here?
spk_0
So God wanted us to get a comprehensive picture of the life of the son Jesus. So he didn't just
spk_0
relegate the telling of Jesus's story to one person, because we would only have one perspective.
spk_0
So he assigns responsibility to a few authors so that we get a comprehensive picture. You all
spk_0
ever had a couple of people trying to tell y'all something, and then somebody not telling it right.
spk_0
And he was like, you'll be quiet. You tell me what happened, because you tell me, because they
spk_0
miss it. They leave us stuff out. Tell me what she said first. Well, what you say when she said
spk_0
that, I mean. Am I making sense? So each gospel writer is writing to a different audience,
spk_0
and from their perspective. It's important to note this when it comes to this narrative, because Luke
spk_0
is a physician. So the writer, the individual who wrote Luke's is Luke, Sam and he wrote X. He's a
spk_0
physician. He detailed. He thorough. He put stuff in that other people leave out. And this is
spk_0
important, because as Luke tells this story in Luke 5, this is the only place in the gospels that
spk_0
this story is told. But it is the only place where it's told with this kind of detail. Some other
spk_0
gospel writer said, Jesus was at the sea. Luke said, he was at the sea of Ganesare.
spk_0
Am I making sense? He's at the sea. He sees some people fishing. He said, come follow me.
spk_0
Luke said, no, no, no. Luke not only tells us what happens. Luke tells us where it happens. Listen
spk_0
to this church. Luke tells us when it happens. Luke places this part of the story after Jesus has
spk_0
demonstrated his authority through teaching exorcisms and healing. Please don't miss this.
spk_0
Some other gospel writers who don't give us much detail place this story much earlier in their
spk_0
writings without giving us insight on what happened before it. But Luke puts this story after Jesus
spk_0
leaves the synagogue in verse in chapter 4. Why is this important? This is important because in
spk_0
Luke chapter 4, give me verses 38 and 39, you will see the Bible says after Jesus leaves the synagogue.
spk_0
When he goes into the synagogue, opens up the scriptures and says, the spirit of the Lord is up on me
spk_0
because he's anointed me to preach. After he closes the book and says, this day this has been fulfilled
spk_0
in your hearing, he leaves the synagogue and he goes to the home of a man named Simon. That's Peter.
spk_0
And the Bible says, Simon's mother-in-law was sick and she had a high fever. And the text says that
spk_0
Jesus rebukes this fever and the woman gets up and becomes well. Why is this important? It's
spk_0
important because chapter 4 come before chapter 5. Y'all still awake? Okay, would you agree
spk_0
that chapter 4 come before chapter 5? So Jesus goes to Simon Peter's house to heal his mother-in-law
spk_0
in chapter 4. Would you agree that chapter 4 come before chapter 5? So in chapter 4, he goes to Simon Peter's
spk_0
mother-in-law's house and heals her, which means when he calls Peter in chapter 5, it's not his first
spk_0
encounter with Peter. Come on. This is Luke selling, guys. So this means metaphorically, this isn't a call
spk_0
to conversion. This isn't an introduction to Jesus for Peter. This is an invitation to a greater level
spk_0
of commitment. He's saying, come on here. He said, you got introduced to me earlier.
spk_0
We know each other, but now I'm asking you for a commitment.
spk_0
And I'm talking to some people today who test them on ears. I know Jesus. And Jesus is like,
spk_0
right, you and your chapter 4. Now I'm turning the page. You and your chapter 5. And just knowing
spk_0
me ain't enough now. I'm telling you, lead that boat and come to a greater level of commitment.
spk_0
I want you more serious about me than you are about those fish because I'm getting ready to give
spk_0
you what those fish can't. It's a call to commitment. I got to go. I got eight minutes. You all
spk_0
right? Here it is. Maybe nine. Here it is. Stand here it is. Here it is. Here it is. It's 1230. Here it is.
spk_0
Here it is. Because the text says, here's what's happening. Jesus is teaching at this lake
spk_0
and a crowd against the call. Jesus is teaching. Jesus is teaching. Jesus is teaching because teaching
spk_0
for the Savior is an act of spiritual warfare. The Bible says my people are destroyed for a lack
spk_0
of knowledge. And then the prophet says, because you rejected knowledge, you rejected me. So,
spk_0
so the issue isn't your exposure to information. The issue is your unwillingness to submit to the
spk_0
information you've been exposed to. So when I am not taught, sound biblical teaching,
spk_0
then the enemy is able to weaponize my ignorance. He is called the Prince of Darkness. And darkness
spk_0
isn't just a metaphor for evil. Darkness is a metaphor for ignorance. When somebody say, I'm in
spk_0
the dark, it means I don't know. And the enemy operates in the arena of the dark. Paul even says,
spk_0
we are not ignorant of saying devices, unless he gets an advantage over us. He wants to exploit
spk_0
your ignorance. But when you get taught, good God amide it. You become steadfast,
spk_0
unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. You're not being tossed to and fro
spk_0
by every wind of doctrine because you got an anchor. Boy, if I had time.
spk_0
And when people don't have sound doctrine, the devil uses dilemmas to make them engage in unhealthy
spk_0
deconstruction or to defect from the faith. I know what I'm talking about. If you don't have a sound,
spk_0
if you don't have sound doctrine and you hit a joke season, it'll miss up your theology.
spk_0
You'll start questioning the goodness of the character of God when you go through a job like
spk_0
season for which you have, but because job was anchored in truth. He said, the good Lord give it.
spk_0
I feel a little bit after saying, I'm sorry. And the good Lord take it away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.
spk_0
He's still good. He's still good. He's still good.
spk_0
He's still good. Recares in my eyes. He's still good. Repain in my body. He's still good.
spk_0
With people betraying me. He's still.
spk_0
I got five minutes.
spk_0
So he's teaching and a crowd begins to gather. So he says, I need some elevation. I need to stand
spk_0
on something so that people can see and hear me. So Luke says, he sees two boats by the shore.
spk_0
How many boats? See Luke detail. He says he sees two boats by the shore. How many boats?
spk_0
Okay, so Luke sees two boats by the shore. He says, Jesus goes to one of the two that happen
spk_0
to be Peters. He says, let me stand in this and teach people. Here's what Luke says though.
spk_0
When he sees the two boats, he sees fishermen who wash their nets. This means they're done for the day.
spk_0
Just because you finished don't mean God done. God's about to make somebody pick your net back up.
spk_0
Pick it back up. I'm not through with it.
spk_0
You watching your nets God's like you're about to get them nets right back dirty again.
spk_0
Just because you said you quit. I said you released.
spk_0
So Peter think he think he done. Jesus say, let me get in the boat. Peter like, okay, I've been
spk_0
fishing all night. I'm tired. I caught nothing. I'm frustrated.
spk_0
Because you just hear my mom and chapter four, I can't.
spk_0
All right, Jesus go ahead. So Jesus is in the boat. He's the our teacher. Peter's patiently waiting.
spk_0
Somebody say two boats. Peter probably thinking, why can't you get in the other one?
spk_0
But maybe Peter recognized something. We need to recognize. And that is favor,
spk_0
but then always show up looking like opportunity. Sometimes favor show up feeling like responsibility.
spk_0
You're not talking to me. I say sometimes favor is responsibility. Sometimes favor means you got
spk_0
to stay at the boat when you're ready to go home because many people won't favor, but you don't want
spk_0
work. Y'all come home. I got to go. Y'all. I want favor.
spk_0
Favour me work. Favour me responsibility.
spk_0
You do know harvest thing a harvest is work. See, I can tell some of you hadn't had a garden.
spk_0
Because if you had a garden, you know them. Please don't pick themselves.
spk_0
You know those tomatoes don't pick themselves. And many people saying, God send me a harvest.
spk_0
And when it's in you work.
spk_0
So Peter let him use it. And Jesus looks at Peter when he gets done teaching. He says, uh,
spk_0
let down. Let's go out into the deep and let down your nest for a catch. Peter like, now wait a minute.
spk_0
I'm in fishing all night. So I'm tired. I call nothing. So I'm frustrated. Now I already let you use the boat.
spk_0
Why are you asking the most from me when I feel like I got the least to give you?
spk_0
I don't feel like I got nothing else to give you.
spk_0
But sometimes he makes requests of you to show you what's in you.
spk_0
Did you hear what I just said? See, see some of you, some of you know what it's like if you
spk_0
ever worked out by yourself and you ever worked out by with a trainer. If it's a good trainer,
spk_0
the good trainer makes demands that reveal to you what's in you. You like, I don't have no more.
spk_0
And they like give me three more. And you, you didn't even know you had three more in you until
spk_0
somebody demanded it of you. And Jesus is letting you know you got three more in you. Give me three more.
spk_0
What's me for your mind? Give me three more. What's me open a door? Give me three more.
spk_0
We done. I got to hurry up. Because at the 10th or 30 we, people start running out of here and
spk_0
are almost turning to a bishop. So let me get y'all out of here so I don't have to turn into a bishop.
spk_0
You stay till I've been a dick, shit.
spk_0
Messed, don't miss your blessing.
spk_0
Trying to get a seat on the shuttle, but that will, I'll eat a plate.
spk_0
So Peter said, Lord, I respect you. And I know you, you be doing miracles and stuff.
spk_0
But you're a carpenter. So that's kind of your lane. Fishing is my lane. Let me explain you the way
spk_0
this worked. We've been fishing all night. We can't call nothing. Now you asking us a fish in the
spk_0
day. We don't fish in the day because we use nets. And if we use nets in the day, the fish will
spk_0
go away from the net. So we've been in the same boat. In the same pond with the same net. We call nothing.
spk_0
Now you tell me to get back in the same boat, in the same pond with the same net. And Jesus is
spk_0
like, yeah, cause the problem ain't the boat. And the problem ain't the pond. The problem ain't the net.
spk_0
The problem is timing. And when I tell you to drop that net, I don't care if it's daytime. You drop that net
spk_0
and watch me feel it. And I'm preaching to anybody in the house.
spk_0
Texas, thank you so much fishing that boat. That boat star sinking. When the boat star sinking,
spk_0
they got to figure out how to relieve some of that weight. Let's make a homiletical loop.
spk_0
How many boats that Luke say was at the shore? How many did Jesus get in?
spk_0
So the Bible says when that boat star is sinking, they call for the others.
spk_0
And the other boat would have missed an opportunity to haul fish if they would have left the
spk_0
shore because Jesus didn't get in there. If you willing to watch Jesus feel Peter's boat and not
spk_0
be a hater. Jesus can feel your suit. I can't let anyone in your turn come in. Stay out of the boat.
spk_0
You're too crazy yet. Stay out of the boat. You've been watching everybody else. But if you are faithful.
spk_0
Your turn come. We gotta go. I said your turn's coming. I said your turn is coming. You've been faithful.
spk_0
You've been setbacks. Your turn is coming.
spk_0
We gotta go.
spk_0
They get back to shore with all that fish. And then Jesus tell them leave it.
spk_0
Leave it.
spk_0
Wait a minute. I just started winning. We never had a haul like this at the peak of where they are.
spk_0
Jesus said if you follow me I'ma teach you how to fish for me.
spk_0
The reason you got anxious this Peter about leaving it is because you think because I'm asking you to leave something.
spk_0
I'm not using what I'm asking you to leave. You thought your career was a career, Peter. Your career was just a classroom.
spk_0
I used fish to teach you the patience and the skill that you need to fish for me.
spk_0
I'ma take what you learned in one place and I'm going to use it in another place.
spk_0
And I want to talk to people who are dealing with scripts in your mind that you've had some wasted
spk_0
seasons. I want to talk to some people who feel like I wasted my degree because I'm not using it.
spk_0
And God's like you thought it was a career. It was just a classroom. I was using what you learned
spk_0
over there because I'm getting ready to show you what to do with it over here. Nothing is wasted.
spk_0
Nothing is wasted. Nothing is wasted. Nothing is wasted. Nothing is wasted. Nothing is wasted.
spk_0
All right.
spk_0
And the Bible says they left everything and followed him.
spk_0
Their commitment required holy abandonment. Following Jesus meant they had to leave the boat.
spk_0
Now holy abandonment is the intentional refusal of opportunities, activities, assets,
spk_0
and obligations that dilute your energy and distract you from your spiritual development
spk_0
and destiny. It is the thing God invites you to leave but doesn't remove your access to.
spk_0
Did you hear what I just said? He invites you to leave it but doesn't remove your access to it.
spk_0
And the reason we know he doesn't remove that access to it is when Peter gets disappointed with
spk_0
himself. After he denies Jesus, he goes back to the boat. He says I'm going back fishing.
spk_0
Because you still got access.
spk_0
And the refusal to deny yourself access to what you got access to is a revelation of your commitment
spk_0
to him. You don't know if you committed when you can't. You know you committed when you can and
spk_0
don't. I could but I want if some of your enemies knew that they would be treating you different.
spk_0
I could but I
spk_0
to follow him they had to leave the boat. Let me tell you what your boat is not. I got to say this
spk_0
in 2025 because some people are going to go out here tomorrow and do something and blame it on God.
spk_0
But I'm not saying leave your job. Pass them out. No, that's not what I'm saying.
spk_0
Some people get ready to leave their spouse. I'm out of you to you. I got comfortable. Don't blame that on me.
spk_0
Have your spouse looking for me tomorrow? Pass the toll me to leave you. No, I did not.
spk_0
Yeah, that's unholy abandonment.
spk_0
But the boat represents three things I'm done. It represents and this what your college going to cost you
spk_0
every time God actually for a deeper level commitment is going to cost you number one your comfort.
spk_0
I mean Peter was this was his livelihood. This was a fishing collective. It was a business and
spk_0
they didn't have like paddle boats. They had like boats. Mark chapter one tells us they actually had
spk_0
hired a man like they had a crew. Am I making sense? It was comfortable. Your calling is going to
spk_0
cost you comfort because what some people call comfort is become their cage.
spk_0
Like God this is uncomfortable. He's like I know. That's the price.
spk_0
A follow me. It's going to cost you number two control.
spk_0
Because when you're a fish, when you got fishing business you control. We're going fishing today. No,
spk_0
I don't feel like it. But now when he followed Jesus, he had to go when Jesus, he had to go where Jesus
spk_0
went. Because control, watch this. When God takes control from you, he's delivering you from the
spk_0
illusion of control. You don't have it. So you got false peace about false control. Did you hear what I
spk_0
just said? You got false peace because you think you're actually more in control than you are.
spk_0
And God's like you've never been in control. You thought you was in control. You never been in
spk_0
control. Is a willingness to say there's nothing I have that I won't give if you ask me for it.
spk_0
I'll use my gifts the way you say. Having a desire for control is an evil.
spk_0
But refusing to surrender control means you've made control in idle.
spk_0
And God's like I'm not going to fight you for the steering wheel now.
spk_0
I'm not going to fight you for the steering wheel. When you get ready to give it over, come back and see me.
spk_0
Your call is going to cost you that. Y'all all right? And number three is going to cost you comparison.
spk_0
You don't get to do what they do. Let me go to this side. Let me say if I ever in the balcony, I'm talking to you.
spk_0
You don't get you don't get to do what they do. Because some of you like Lord, they just get to whatever
spk_0
and ever. And as soon as I do a little bit, you get to spanking me and pulling me. What's up with this?
spk_0
To whomsoever much is given, much is required. I've got something on you that ain't on them.
spk_0
And therefore you can do what they do. You can't go what they go because comparison turns your calling
spk_0
into a competition. And instead of being who God's called you to be, you'll start trying to be what
spk_0
you think works. Your greatest temptation is going to be to emulate what looks like is winning.
spk_0
But am I talking to anybody that believes God can do it another way? Hallelujah. Am I talking to anybody
spk_0
whose testimony is I'm not following playbooks because God's called me to be a blueprint. I got a
spk_0
He calling you to greater commitment. This is why we all in on 180 nice Reggie. You mean I got to
spk_0
come out of the wins that you don't have to? Let's go call you some comfort. No call you some control.
spk_0
No call you some comparison. I got to get in the group. I got to jump on the Zoom. A hour a week. Yeah.
spk_0
It's going to call you some comfort. Who calls you some control. Here's the thing. The boat only give you fish.
spk_0
But Jesus give you fulfillment. And no matter how much fish you have until you get fulfillment,
spk_0
you'll always feel empty. So you know Jesus, but the invitation he's extended. He's calling you
spk_0
to another level of commitment, even though you've been fishing all night. So you're tired
spk_0
and even though you've been throwing it net and you're not catching anything.
spk_0
Because when when he asked Peter to use this boat, he didn't tell him he would feel it, but he feel it.
spk_0
Because he said, if you let me use it, you're going to watch me feel it. Because I feel what I use.
spk_0
We're done. If you're here today. All right. Well, listen, I hope this inspired stretch and even
spk_0
challenge you. And if it did, my one request is that you share this with someone else. We want to
spk_0
reach as many people as possible with a message that is publicly faithful, yet highly practical.
spk_0
And we can do that without your help. So thanks in advance for sharing the message. And for those
spk_0
of you who want to sew back into the field at your harvesting from, you want to be generous
spk_0
to with this teaching ministry ways to do that on the screen. Take care.