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Adam Dragoon Adam Dragoon

Want These? Do THEse!!

In Luke 6:46-49, Jesus draws a clear line between those who merely call Him “Lord” and those who actually do what He says. The difference is not in what they profess, but in the foundation they build their lives upon. Just as a fitness influencer’s results are visible proof of his discipline and methods, so too the fruits of a life built on Christ’s words are evident when storms come. The call is not to a shallow, name-only Christianity, but to a deep, obedient relationship with Jesus—one that stands firm when life’s inevitable storms hit.

Sermon Summary

In Luke 6:46-49, Jesus draws a clear line between those who merely call Him “Lord” and those who actually do what He says. The difference is not in what they profess, but in the foundation they build their lives upon. Just as a fitness influencer’s results are visible proof of his discipline and methods, so too the fruits of a life built on Christ’s words are evident when storms come. The call is not to a shallow, name-only Christianity, but to a deep, obedient relationship with Jesus—one that stands firm when life’s inevitable storms hit.

Our culture is obsessed with redefining words and seeking outcomes that favor personal comfort, often at the expense of truth and responsibility. The concept of “equity” has shifted from fairness to a subjective sense of deservedness, determined by whoever is most vocal. This same attitude can creep into our spiritual lives, tempting us to treat Jesus as a means to an easy life or material gain. But Jesus never promised a storm-free existence; He promised a foundation that would hold when the storms come.

Both the wise and the foolish builders in Jesus’ parable experience the same storms. The difference is not in the severity of their trials, but in the foundation beneath them. Building on sand—on fleeting pleasures, worldly wisdom, or self-centered desires—may seem easier and more immediately gratifying, but it leads to ruin when tested. Building on the rock—on obedience to Christ’s teachings—requires patience, humility, and foresight, but it alone endures.

Obedience to Jesus is not about earning His love, but about aligning our lives with the truth that sets us free. He calls us to love God with all our heart, to love our neighbors and even our enemies, to forgive, to judge ourselves before judging others, to pray persistently, and to lay up treasures in heaven through serving others. The fruits of such a life—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—are the visible evidence of a solid foundation. When others see us standing firm through trials, it becomes a powerful testimony to the reality of Christ in us.

The invitation is open: if you want the fruits of a life anchored in Christ, do what He says. The storms will come, but your life will not collapse, because it is built on the unshakable rock of Jesus.

The call is not to a shallow, name-only Christianity, but to a deep, obedient relationship with Jesus—one that stands firm when life’s inevitable storms hit.
— Pastor Dave

Watch/Listen


Message Study Guide

Youtube chapters

  • [00:00] - Welcome

  • [01:10] - The Fitness Analogy: “Want These? Do These”

  • [03:41] - Jesus’ Call to Obedience in Luke 6

  • [07:12] - Redefining Words in Our Culture

  • [08:21] - The New Meaning of “Equity”

  • [10:08] - Treating Jesus Like a Genie

  • [12:00] - The Parachute Illustration: Why We Need Christ

  • [16:44] - The Storms of Life: What’s Your Foundation?

  • [19:52] - The Fool: Living Without Foresight

  • [22:49] - The Cost of Building on Sand

  • [25:45] - Real-Life Cliffside Houses: Ignoring the Foundation

  • [27:14] - The Metaphor: Your Life as a House

  • [29:51] - Worldly Wisdom vs. God’s Word

  • [30:42] - The Wise Builder: Obedience and Its Fruits

  • [34:59] - The Fruits of the Spirit and Miraculous Signs

  • [36:32] - Miraculous Signs: Context and Application

  • [37:43] - Standing Firm as a Testimony

  • [39:29] - Invitation to Salvation and Prayer

Key Takeaways

  1. Obedience Is the True Foundation
    Merely calling Jesus “Lord” is not enough; the real test is whether His words shape our actions and decisions. Obedience is not a burdensome requirement, but the very foundation that enables us to withstand life’s storms. When we build our lives on Christ’s teachings, we are not promised an easier life, but a life that endures. [03:41]

  2. Cultural Redefinitions Can Distort Spiritual Truths
    Our generation’s tendency to redefine words like “equity” and “privilege” reflects a deeper spiritual danger: the temptation to reshape God’s truth to fit our desires. When we treat Jesus as a means to personal comfort or material gain, we miss the heart of the gospel. True discipleship means submitting to God’s definitions, not our own. [08:21]

  3. Storms Are Inevitable, but Collapse Is Not
    Both the wise and foolish face the same storms—trials, losses, and hardships are part of life for everyone. The difference is not in what we face, but in what we’ve built our lives upon. A foundation of obedience to Christ’s words is the only guarantee that we will stand when everything else is shaken. [16:44]

  4. Foolishness Is Living for the Moment, Wisdom Is Living for Eternity
    The fool is not ignorant, but short-sighted—living only for immediate gratification, whether in finances, relationships, or spiritual life. Wisdom is found in delaying gratification, investing in what lasts, and building with eternity in view. The world’s cliches and self-help mantras cannot sustain us; only the words of Jesus can. [22:49]

  5. The Fruits of the Spirit Are Evidence of a Solid Foundation
    A life built on Christ’s words will bear visible fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and more. These are not self-generated, but the result of abiding in Jesus and doing what He says. When others see us standing firm through adversity, it opens doors for the gospel and points them to the reality of Christ. [34:59]


Bible Reading

  • Luke 6:46-49 NKJV - 46 "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say? 47 "Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 "He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. 49 "But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great."

Observation Questions

  1. In Jesus’ parable, what is the main difference between the two builders and their houses? [03:41]

  2. According to the sermon, do both the wise and foolish builders experience storms? What does this tell us about following Jesus? [16:44]

  3. What are some examples from the sermon of things people might build their lives on instead of Jesus’ words? [27:14]

  4. What visible evidence does the sermon say will show if someone’s life is built on Christ’s foundation? [34:59]

Interpretation Questions

  1. Why does Jesus emphasize doing what He says, not just calling Him “Lord”? What does this reveal about the kind of relationship He wants with us? [03:41]

  2. The sermon talks about our culture redefining words like “equity” and “privilege.” How can this attitude affect the way we approach Jesus and His teachings? [08:21]

  3. The foolish builder is described as someone who lives for the moment and ignores the future. What are some ways Christians might fall into this trap today? [22:49]

  4. The sermon lists the fruits of the Spirit as evidence of a solid foundation. Why do you think these qualities are so important for showing others the reality of Christ in us? [34:59]

Application Questions

  1. Jesus says the wise builder “hears my words and does them.” Is there a specific teaching of Jesus you’ve been hearing but not putting into practice? What’s holding you back? [03:41]

  2. The sermon warns against treating Jesus like a “genie” for comfort or material gain. Have you ever found yourself approaching God mainly for what He can give you? How can you shift your focus to obedience and relationship? [10:08]

  3. Both builders face storms. Think about a recent “storm” in your life. What did you rely on most during that time—your own wisdom, comfort, or Christ’s words? [16:44]

  4. The sermon describes foolishness as living for immediate gratification. Are there areas in your life where you’re tempted to take shortcuts or avoid the hard work of building a strong foundation? What’s one step you can take to choose wisdom instead? [22:49]

  5. The fruits of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—are described as evidence of a life built on Christ. Which of these do you most want to see grow in your life? What’s a practical way you can pursue it this week? [34:59]

  6. The sermon mentions that standing firm through trials can be a powerful testimony to others. Can you think of someone who has noticed your faith during a hard time? How might you use that as an opportunity to share about Jesus? [37:43]

  7. The invitation is open: “If you want the fruits of a life anchored in Christ, do what He says.” What is one area where you sense God inviting you to deeper obedience right now? How can your small group support you in this? [39:29]

  • Luke chapter 6, we're going to look at verses 46 through 49 this morning.

    There's a YouTuber by the name of Broly Gaines. He is a fitfluencer, a fitness influencer. And so he has not only a lot of followers, but he has all the muscles to go along with it, being a fitness influencer.

    We actually have a picture of this guy, if they could pull it up real quick. If you can. Hopefully you all can see that over there. I don't want to... Every time I go to move this thing, I feel like I'm going to knock it over. But hopefully they'll get the photo up of him real soon.

    This guy does mostly calisthenic type of exercises. In other words, he's not a weightlifter. He's not a bodybuilder. He mostly does calisthenic bodyweight exercises. And when he does this, he exhibits these great feats of strength. You know, you're watching him going, oh my goodness. Like, how is he doing that? And so you're looking at him, and it's obvious that whatever this guy is doing, it works.

    Whatever he's doing, you can trust this guy, but it's easy to think that as you look at him, with all his muscles sticking out of places where muscles probably shouldn't be sticking out of, I mean, you're going, okay, yeah, but there's no way that I could ever do that. There's no way that only the most gifted athletes could look like this man. Only people with superior genetics who were born with, you know, the exact right genetics could do these things.

    But this man, Broly Gaines, stresses that what he's done can be replicated. It's not out of the realm of possibility. You and I... can definitely do what he has done, what he's accomplished. Most of his videos start out by him saying, "You need no gym membership," then he'll like flex a certain muscle group, you know, and then he'll say, "You want to have these," and then he'll point to, you know, his abs or some... "You want six-pack abs, you want a chiseled chest, you want a strong back," you know, whatever muscle group he's pointing to that time, then he'll demonstrate an exercise.

    So if it's abs, he'll say, "You want six-pack abs? Do these." Then he'll start doing some exercise, right? And then he'll say, "For 30 seconds to a minute, three to five sets. Make sure you exercise at least four times a week and eat only whole foods. Do these, and it's worked." It may seem like a simple formula, but he's got millions of followers. It might seem like it did.

    They've got a picture of him. Yeah, look at it. If that guy tells me to do something fitness related, I'm gonna do it. He's got the muscles. Oh yeah. Yeah. If I move this thing, I probably... if I break this, I'll buy a new one. Can you see that over there? All right. So he said, "You want these? Do these." I believe him.

    Now, that might just seem like a catchy phrase, you know, in order to get followers—which that's worked also—but I want to look with you at a similar statement made to us by none other than the Lord Jesus himself. And it's found in Luke chapter 6, verses 46 through 49. I'm reading from the New Living Translation.

    He says, "So why do you keep calling me Lord, Lord, when you don't do what I say?" I will show you what it's like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, then follows it. It's like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built.

    But anyone who hears and doesn't obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the flood sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.

    Let's pray together this morning.

    Father in heaven, God, we're coming before you. God, we're asking that you would open up our hearts to what you would speak into our lives. We're so grateful for everything you've done. We're so grateful for our salvation, for the blood of Jesus, God, for your word, your Spirit, your truth.

    This morning, I'm asking you, God, give me the words to speak. I trust not in myself or in my own ability; I trust in you, your Spirit this morning. In Jesus' name, amen.

    I've entitled this sermon "Want These?"

    I want to look firstly with you at no unequal treatment. So there's something going on in our generation. You can actually take his photo down for now so people aren't just staring at him all that.

    There's a—there's a something that's happening in our generation, and it's the redefining of words. Want to ask real quick for you—let's say you, slightly older folks, the boomers, Gen Xers—how many remember you would be talking to a friend and you'd say, like, "Man, I got home and I was just so tired that I just crashed out on the couch." Crashed out meant I went to sleep.

    Gen Z, Gen Alpha—what does "crashed out" mean? It means you get full of rage, right? Totally different. One generation, it means go to sleep; the other, it means turn into the Incredible Hulk.

    Here's another one. How about older generation? We would say, "Hey, I'm not going to be where I normally am. I'm going to be out of pocket tomorrow." That means usually I'm at my workstation, but tomorrow I'm going to be somewhere else. I'll be out of pocket.

    Younger generation—what does "out of pocket" mean? It means I'm going to act inappropriately, right? So this is what has happened. All these different terms have shifted and now mean something else in this generation.

    I'll give you a few more examples. How about gender? Forever, it was understood to mean male and female. But now, there's a spectrum of identities, which could even include animals or made-up creatures.

    How about privilege? Privilege usually referred to special rights or advantages held by a particular group. But now, it means unearned advantages, usually based on race, gender, or socioeconomic status.

    How about "safe space"? It used to mean a place that you would go to be physically safe from danger. Like if a shooter comes in, you go into a safe space. Now, a safe space means a place that's—

    free from ideas and perspectives that I don't like. Usually accompanied by coloring books.

    Well, another one. One of these words that has changed in this generation is the word "equity." Equity should mean the state of something being just, something being equal.

    In real estate, equity means how much your home is worth minus how much you owe on it. So if your home is worth $200,000 but you still owe $180,000, you've got $20,000 in equity.

    But the new definition of equity doesn't have anything to do with equal rights, equal justice, or real estate. In fact, it's not really even formally defined anywhere. Even the White House last year declared that federal agencies need to ensure racial justice and equity in all their policies—whatever that means.

    The social justice crowd sees equity more as a beneficial outcome as long as it favors them. There's a racial activist named DeRay McKeeson who said, "The difference between equity and equality is that equality is everyone getting the same thing, and equity is everyone getting the things they deserve."

    Well, who defines what things they deserve? Your guess is as good as mine. Probably whoever is complaining at the time is the one that defines the things they deserve.

    So if I think that you've got too much wealth, it doesn't matter whether you've worked hard, saved your money, and I didn't. You only got that wealth because you are a—fill in the blank—usually a superficial thing—because you're this race or you're this ethnicity or you're that gender.

    Gender being fluid—I don't know what that means. And because I'm not those things, I deserve your wealth. And you deserve not to have that wealth, and, matter of fact, you deserve something worse than that. You might as well just die. Yay for equity.

    Now, while that may sound ridiculous to us, you'd be surprised how many people treat Jesus like that. Well, I got Jesus. Whenever I need him, so I'm good.

    If you just claim the name of Jesus, life will just be easy. Just like if you cry "inequity," the government should swoop in and make your life easy and make somebody else's life difficult.

    Just think about it—what a huge incentive that is. Just claim Jesus' name and get automatic health and wealth. Who wouldn't do that?

    It's the same thing as what we now call woke-ism. It's just dressed up with Christian religious wording. At its root, it's just materialism. All that matters is what I can get for myself to make my life more comfortable right now.

    Now, let me bring a balance. Is there blessing in living for God? Absolutely there is. But does that mean life becomes easy? Absolutely not.

    If that were true, there would be no such thing as Christian persecution. Nor would there be any such thing as evil rich people.

    In fact, if it were true, it would follow that every Christian in the world would be wealthy and living an easy life, and every unbeliever would be living in squalid conditions and extreme poverty.

    The "Jesus makes your life better" doctrine is a half-truth at best.

    There's an evangelist named Ray Comfort. Love this guy. He's from New Zealand. He often gives the illustration about a parachute. He said, "If you were on a plane, and that plane was at some point going to begin to crash, and somebody came to you with a parachute and they handed it to you and said, 'Hey, put this on; it'll make your life better,' you'd say, 'Okay.'"

    So you put the parachute on, and it kind of makes you sit forward in your seat, and you're like, "Ah, man, this thing's uncomfortable. Supposed to make my life better," but all the other passengers are looking at you funny. "What is that guy wearing—a parachute?" What a weirdo.

    After a while, you take the parachute off because it makes you feel uncomfortable, and you're being laughed at. But if you were to say, "Hey, listen, at some point, this plane's going down, put this parachute on," you're holding on to that parachute for dear life.

    Is life better when you live for God, when your sins are forgiven and your conscience is clean, when you're filled with the hope of heaven? Absolutely. But our text makes it clear that God does not automatically give the believer an easy life with no problems.

    In fact, he is 100% completely equal. In our text, we have two people: one builds his house on a strong foundation, and the other with no foundation. Both of these people have built houses. They're equal.

    In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells this same story with slightly different language. Matthew 7:24. He says, "Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rains come in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won't collapse because it is built on bedrock."

    But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn't obey is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When it rains and the floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.

    So in this version, one builds his house on a rock, the other on sand. It's the same idea: one’s foundation is solid, the other's is non-existent. One builder chooses a good foundation; the other one says, "Foundation? Who needs one of those? This place is as good as any," right here on the edge of this cliff in Malibu overlooking the ocean.

    What could go wrong? Surely it'll never slide down this cliff and into the water. And then what happens next? Both of these house builders—whose houses might look exactly the same, maybe they were on the same block in one of those new housing developments where it's like, "How do you tell which one's yours?"—they look the same, maybe they have the same floor plans, the same square footage, the same color scheme. Or maybe they were different. Maybe one of the ones who built his house on the rock just built a little log cabin compared to the one who built his mansion on a beachside resort in the sand. Or vice versa.

    Yet at the end of the day, they both face the same natural disasters: the rains, the winds, the floodwaters. They come and they begin to beat upon these houses that they built. What's that mean? The storms of life have come.

    We live in a fallen world full of sin. Therefore, Jesus, until he comes back, we are going to see famines, and we are going to see disease, economic crises, natural disasters like hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes. And yes, even personal storms—family drama, accidents, abuse, death.

    These are simply realities of living on earth. And just being a good person, or a religious church attender, or even claiming the name of Jesus, doesn't exempt you from hard times any more than building a mansion instead of a shack guarantees that the rain won't hit your head.

    You will still experience the storms of life. The question is: what kind of foundation have you built your life upon? Is it the shifting, sinking sands of this world—money, career, human relationships, entertainment, addictions—or is it built on the solid rock of the Word of God, the words of Jesus?

    Because the storms are coming. Mark it down. Perhaps you're even going through a storm in your own life right at this very moment. And what are you holding on to? The things that other people have said? The things you've come up with on your own? Or are you holding on to the things that Jesus has said?

    What is your foundation when the storms of life come? I remember being a young man, in 1994, we had an earthquake in Southern California—the Northridge earthquake. That's when FEMA was born. I remember it woke us up at like one, two, or three o'clock in the morning. Earthquakes always seem to strike in the middle of the night for some reason. And I mean, it sounded like somebody back to you know, an 18-wheeler up to our house and just fired up the engine. And all of a sudden, our whole world is shaking.

    Now, in California, there was an old wives' tale that when the earthquake happened, you need to get into a doorway. It's a myth. It's not true. But the reason for that was the Native Americans had built these adobe brick houses, and the only thing that would stand after the earthquake was the doorways because they made them like an arch. So the arch was very sturdy, but the rest of the house would collapse.

    So, "Oh, doorways, they can keep earthquakes away," so get in the doorway. I remember getting out of bed, and my dresser is flying this way, and stuff's flying off my shelves this way, and I'm just trying to get to the doorway. And I finally get there, and it's like, "Ah!" Didn't help at all.

    What are you holding on to?

    I want to look secondly with you at the fool. In our text, Jesus says that the one who built his house on the sand is a fool. Matthew 7:26. "Everyone who hears these sayings of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand."

    What is a fool? One who is deficient in judgment, sense, or understanding. One who acts unwisely on a given occasion. That is to say, I was a fool to have quit my job. Or one who has been tricked or made to appear ridiculous—a dupe. They made a fool out of me.

    It's someone who lacks foresight. No vision for the future. They have an inability to use wisdom to make good future decisions. Because it's all about the here and the now. What can satisfy my carnal, fleshly desires immediately? That's what a fool is.

    If you want to know what someone really thinks about, what they're really into, just look at what they spend their money on. Matthew 6:21. "Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will be also." Your spending habits say it all.

    They say, "Why budget and pay for necessities with cash when I can get whatever I want on this credit card?" The latest iPhone, the latest PS5, designer clothes. Oh, wait, my credit card's maxed out? Here, try this one. Oh, that one's maxed out? Try this one. Try this one.

    They say, "Why save up money and buy a decent used car when this car dealership says I can get zero down financing? Only 72 months, 20% APR. I don't even know what that means." I can drive away with a new car today.

    Okay, but what are the payment terms? What's the APR? What's the length of the loan? I don't know. Who cares? I get a car now. Sure, but the car doesn't belong to you. It still belongs to the bank. And you miss a payment, and what happens? Repo man.

    The repo man will have that car back on the same car lot the same day, and they'll be selling it to another fool. Did you know they do this? They sell the same car to like four or five, you know, snot-nosed sailors that just came out of boot camp. That car dealership's getting paid for the same car by five different people. Fools. They're counting on your foolishness.

    But see, delaying gratification is inconvenient. It requires time. It requires patience, just like building on a solid foundation. It sometimes takes weeks to just lay the foundation for a new construction—to get the foundation poured, make sure it's completely level, get the rebar in there, and get it formed exactly right. Who wants to wait for all that? I want my new house now.

    In February of 2024, down in Southern California, there was a weather event called an atmospheric river. It is what it sounds like—a river of water in the sky. An atmospheric river is a narrow corridor of concentrated water vapor transported into the atmosphere. It's like a river in the sky that can be a thousand miles long.

    On average, atmospheric rivers have about twice the regular flow of the Amazon. When atmospheric rivers run up against mountains—which we have some of in Southern California—they are forced to go higher. And when they go higher, they freeze, and all of a sudden, all that water has got to go somewhere.

    So it comes down. This happened in Orange County, California, especially in a community called Dana Point. A lot of rich folks in Dana Point picked up an article about this. It said, "In at least three coastline homes in Southern Orange County, California, are at risk of falling into the ocean after the cliffside they built on crumbled in a landslide over the weekend."

    According to reports, the collapse of part of the Dana Point cliff followed heavy rains earlier that month, which caused landslides and flooding across the region. We actually have a picture of this. So you could bring that up. It's like it's the Bible in real life. Can you all see that? Who thought this was a good idea? You know where I'm going to build my house, right here?

    Can you imagine, like, "Hey, I'm going to run out in the backyard real quick." Ah! What would cause somebody to think that this is a good idea? Well, it probably came from not listening to a wise master builder—someone who would say, "Hey, you know where you don't want to build your house? Right there." The foundation is, well, there isn't one.

    But this person says, "I don't care. I want it now. Build it." And it doesn't matter how nice the house looks. The rains, the winds, the floods come. And now they're teetering on the edge of a cliff. One more little storm, and it's gone.

    Millions and millions of dollars building that. And it's going to happen. I hate to say it, but it's probably going to happen soon. And then what? You can't just pay your way out of it. Your house is gone. It's slid down the cliff into the Pacific Ocean.

    You can't swipe your credit card enough times to keep the storms away. Or after your foundation crumbles, your house gets swept down the cliff—expect the insurance company to take care of it. Because guess what happened during the atmospheric river? The insurance companies saw it coming, and they started canceling policies. They didn't tell the folks that they were doing it. It was like, "Oh, well, we got insurance." Wait a—

    What an idiot. What a fool. There's no way they can claim ignorance. Well, I just didn't know that I’d need to build my house on a good foundation. That's like home buying 101.

    What kind of foundation does this house have? When we were house shopping years ago, I remember we walked into this place over in the Aragona section of Virginia Beach. It was a—what do they call it? With a crawl space underneath, so the house was elevated just slightly.

    And we get in the kitchen, and it's like, "What happened here? The foundation." It's all shifted. So, "Well, we ain't buying this place." And so we understand that the house Jesus is talking about in our text is a metaphor for our lives.

    Therefore, if you build your life hearing the things that Jesus says but you refuse to do them, to apply his teachings to your life, to take his words into your heart, to believe and obey them, Jesus says you're a fool. You lack foresight. You only care about the here and now, not about eternity, not about heaven—only about the temporary, the carnal, the flesh, what feels good in the moment, the selfish, the self-centered, no concern for other people, and certainly no concern for God—just what I can get for myself now.

    Invoking his name even just to get stuff. James 4:2-3 says, "You want what you don't have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can't get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don't have what you want because you don't ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don't get it because your motives are all wrong. You only want what will give you pleasure."

    So if you don't build your life on the Word of God, the things that Jesus says, what will you build it on? Worldly wisdom? Cliches? When life gives you lemons—"Haste makes waste," "All's fair in love and war." Are you going to build your life on these sayings, these cliches?

    "Every cloud has a silver lining." "Opposites attract." "Time heals all wounds." Really? Will you build on your own conclusions from your own life's experiences?

    "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." I was going to say, hopefully we got no George W. Bushes in here. "Fool me once, fool me twice, can't get fooled again."

    "Get what you pay for." "This too shall pass." When the storms of life come, will the foundation you've built upon be able to keep your house standing? Or will it be like Matthew 7:27? "When the rains and the floods came and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash."

    This view is based in unbelief. Psalm 53:1. "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God.'"

    I want to finally look with you at the wise one. Matthew 7:24. "Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on a solid rock." Though the rains come in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won't collapse because it's built on bedrock.

    Jesus says, "If we listen to what he says, if we listen to what he says and do it, he will consider us wise." But what kinds of things does Jesus teach that we should follow? He says, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength." In other words, love God completely with everything within you—love him with your will, your emotions, your intellect, and your physical body.

    Love your neighbor like yourself. Like the parable of the Good Samaritan—he didn't know the victim personally. As a matter of fact, he'd been taught to hate the victim, but he saw the need, and he stepped up, and he even used his own resources.

    "Love your enemies, bless those who spitefully persecute you, those who speak evil of you. Bless and do not curse them." Oh, what a temptation we have right there—right? To curse our enemies.

    "Forgive those who sin against you," not just once but an unlimited number of times—"seventy times seven," Jesus said. Don't judge and condemn people. Instead, before pointing out the speck of dust in someone else's eye, consider the two-by-four sticking out of your own eye—that you're clotheslining everybody with every turn.

    The same measure we judge people with, God will use to judge us with. He taught us to be humble, meek, merciful. He taught us how to pray, as we looked at in our Sunday school this morning—"to pray without ceasing," to keep asking, seeking, knocking, and to take dominion against the demonic—casting them out, praying, fasting when the situation calls for it, laying hands on the sick to see them recover.

    He taught us to lay up treasures in heaven—eternal treasures—instead of temporary treasures here on earth that we can't take with us when we die.

    How do we do this? How do we lay up treasure for ourselves in heaven? This is by any work that you've done while serving God—whenever you've served other people, putting their needs ahead of your own, you've got treasure in heaven waiting for you.

    There's a song I heard when I was a young Christian—an old Christian song, back when Christian music was Christian music, amen. But here are some of the lyrics:

    "Say a friend to a friend one day, there was a man who passed away. St. Peter met him at the gate. Peter said, 'Walk with me, if you will, I'll take you to the house you built.' The man said, 'I can't wait—past a mansion made of stone.' But with each new house he's shown, they get smaller by degrees.

    He stepped in front of a two-room shack. Peter said, 'I hope you're happy with that.' The man said, 'How can this be?' And Peter said, 'That's all the lumber—that's all the lumber—that's all the lumber you sent. Looks like the builder—he's got your number.' That's all the lumber you sent."

    Jesus said to go into all the world and to preach the gospel and make disciples. Mark chapter 16, verse 15. Do these things, Jesus says, and he will count you as wise.

    John 14:15. "If you love me, obey my commandments," and he'll say to you, "Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into your Lord's rest."

    In other words, if you want your life to bear the fruits of a relationship with Jesus, do what he says.

    What kinds of fruits are we talking about? Galatians 5:22. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such, there is no law."

    You want these? Do these.

    Mark 16, verse 17. "These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe. They will cast out demons in my name. They will speak in new tongues. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won't hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed."

    Now, does this mean that you should go out and grab rattlesnakes by the tail and drink bottles of antifreeze? No. We should not tempt God.

    David Guzik, the Bible teacher, says this promise is to be understood in the context of the dangers inherent in the worldwide spread of the gospel. As later on, the apostle Paul was bitten by a snake and shook it off into the fire.

    Jesus never intended drinking poison or handling snakes to be a specific test or measure of faith.

    Let me ask you, though—are there any miraculous signs that accompany you? Do you want them? Do you want miraculous signs? You want these? Do these.

    Do what he says, and when the storms of life come—and they will—your life won't fall apart because you've built your house upon the solid rock, upon the firm foundation of a relationship with Jesus Christ.

    People will look at you and wonder how you're still standing because what you just went through would have destroyed them, and they know it.

    For a long time? Sure. Surely, you've got something in your life that they want to know more about. And you can use that as a perfect opportunity to share the gospel with that person.

    Want these? Do these.

    Let's bow our heads this morning. I appreciate your patience and your attention this morning.

    As every head's bowed and every eye's closed, and no one looking around—for just a few moments—we just want to take an opportunity to make the invitation that you can know Jesus Christ if you don't know Him already.

    Maybe you're here, and Jesus Christ is not your Lord and Savior as we sit here this morning. And if you would just look in your heart and be honest with yourself for a moment—"Is Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior?"

    If you're here in this place and you would say, "Hey, Pastor Dave, I'm looking at my own life. I'm looking at the fruits of my life. And I got to say, Jesus is not my Savior."

    Well, there's such good news for you this morning. The Bible tells us that if we confess with our mouth, "Lord Jesus," and believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead, we shall be saved.

    In other words, if we believe that Jesus is who He says He is—the Son of the living God—and we speak that out, God will account that to us for faith. And He will say, "Your sins are forgiven."

    Jesus came, and He already paid for them on the cross. He bled and died for you, for your sins, for mine. And maybe you're here in this place, and you've never accepted that before. You've never accepted the forgiveness that Jesus offers as He bled and died for our sins on the cross. And you want to do that this morning.

    The Bible says it's so easy. He's just one prayer away from salvation. Is that you this morning? You want to be saved? You want to be set free from your sins? Jesus already died for you. He's just waiting on you to make that confession.

    Anyone at all? Would you lift up your hand this morning so we can pray with you in this place? We can lead you in a simple prayer if Jesus is not your Lord and Savior.

    Maybe in this place, you strayed. You walked away from God. Maybe you had faith a long time ago, and for whatever reason, you walked away. The Bible tells us that God loves the backslider in heart. He is waiting for you to come back. Will you come back this morning?

    And He will accept you—like the father to the prodigal son—when he ran out, he fell on the neck of his son, and he said, "My son, who was dead, is alive again." Is that you? Would you lift up your hand if you're backslidden, backslidden in your heart?

    Amen. We want to take this opportunity then to open the altar for a time of prayer. Maybe you've got something on your heart that you need to come and speak to God about. We spoke in our Sunday school about just talking to God.

    I want to take the opportunity to open up the altar this morning so that we can come and talk to our God. Let's do that right now. These altars are open. I encourage you to come and pray, lay hold of God this morning. Let's talk to Him. Hallelujah.


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Written with Love by Pastor Adam Dragoon

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Don’t Mourn What God Is Trying to Kill

The story of King David and his son Absalom in 2 Samuel 18 offers a powerful picture of the struggle between our spiritual calling and the persistent pull of our flesh. David, a man after God’s own heart, found himself mourning over a son who had become a threat not only to his throne but to the very kingdom God entrusted to him. Absalom, with his charm, good looks, and influence, represents the part of us that is attractive and appealing, yet rebellious and destructive. The tragedy is that David’s love for Absalom blinded him to the danger his son posed, just as we often cling to attitudes, habits, or relationships that are slowly undermining our spiritual lives.

Sermon Summary

The story of King David and his son Absalom in 2 Samuel 18 offers a powerful picture of the struggle between our spiritual calling and the persistent pull of our flesh. David, a man after God’s own heart, found himself mourning over a son who had become a threat not only to his throne but to the very kingdom God entrusted to him. Absalom, with his charm, good looks, and influence, represents the part of us that is attractive and appealing, yet rebellious and destructive. The tragedy is that David’s love for Absalom blinded him to the danger his son posed, just as we often cling to attitudes, habits, or relationships that are slowly undermining our spiritual lives.

The flesh, like Absalom, wars against the Spirit. It is not something to be coddled or treated gently, but something that must be confronted and crucified. Jesus’ words in Mark 9—if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off—remind us that radical action is sometimes necessary. We cannot negotiate with the flesh or hope it will simply fade away. Whatever we tolerate in our lives, whatever we refuse to judge or surrender, will eventually dominate us.

God, in His mercy, sends the Holy Spirit—our Joab—to confront us, to rebuke us, and to help us put to death the deeds of the body. Conviction is not rejection; it is the loving discipline of a Father who wants to see us free and whole. Sometimes, this means letting go of relationships, habits, or even cherished parts of our identity that are incompatible with God’s purpose for us. The stakes are high—not just for our own souls, but for the people God has called us to influence and serve. Our sanctification is not just about us; it is about the kingdom, about our families, and about the testimony we bear to the world.

Victory over the flesh is possible—not by our own strength, but by the power of the Spirit who raised Christ from the dead. We are called to stop mourning over what needs to die, to surrender our Absaloms, and to step into the fullness of life and purpose God has for us.

Whatever we tolerate in our lives, whatever we refuse to judge or surrender, will eventually dominate us.
— Pastor Adam

Watch/Listen


Message Study Guide

Youtube chapters

  • [00:00] - Welcome

  • [01:06] - The Lord of the Rings and Smeagol: A Parable of Clinging

  • [02:10] - The Ring’s Destruction and Our Attachments

  • [03:24] - David’s Mourning and the Danger of Holding On

  • [06:23] - Absalom: The Allure and Rebellion of the Flesh

  • [13:54] - Jesus’ Radical Call to Crucify the Flesh

  • [17:11] - Aaron’s Sons: When God Says No

  • [18:54] - Joab’s Rebuke and the Work of the Spirit

  • [23:13] - Letting Go of Relationships That Hinder

  • [26:02] - The Spirit’s Confrontation and Conviction

  • [27:27] - The Loving Discipline of God

  • [31:50] - The Bigger Picture: Sanctification for the Kingdom

  • [34:22] - Victory Is Possible: The Spirit Empowers Us

  • [35:35] - Invitation to Repentance and New Life

  • [40:35] - Responding to God’s Call at the Altar

Key Takeaways

  1. The things we cling to—habits, attitudes, relationships—can become spiritual liabilities if they are not surrendered to God. Like David with Absalom, our emotional attachments can blind us to the destructive power of what we refuse to let go. True spiritual growth requires honest self-examination and the courage to release what is holding us back. [06:23]

  2. The flesh is not a minor inconvenience but a real enemy to our spiritual life. Scripture teaches that the flesh and the Spirit are at war, and anything we tolerate in our flesh will eventually dominate us. Crucifying the flesh is not a one-time event but a daily, sometimes painful, process of surrender and obedience. [13:54]

  3. God’s discipline and conviction are signs of His love, not His rejection. When the Holy Spirit confronts us, it is to align us with God’s heart and purpose, not to shame us. Embracing conviction as a gift allows us to experience deeper transformation and freedom. [27:27]

  4. Our sanctification is not just about personal holiness but about the greater kingdom purpose God has for our lives. The choices we make, the things we surrender, and the victories we win have ripple effects on our families, our church, and the world around us. A divided heart cannot lead a united kingdom; our obedience unlocks breakthrough for others. [31:50]

  5. Victory over the flesh is possible through the power of the Holy Spirit. We are not left to fight this battle alone; the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead empowers us to crucify our Absaloms and live in freedom. The call is to stop faltering between two opinions and to decisively choose to serve God with our whole hearts. [34:22]


Bible Reading

  • 2 Samuel 18:5, 14, 18 NKJV - 5 Now the king had commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, "[Deal] gently for my sake with the young man Absalom." And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains orders concerning Absalom. ... 14 Then Joab said, "I cannot linger with you." And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through Absalom's heart, while he was [still] alive in the midst of the terebinth tree. ... 18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up a pillar for himself, which [is] in the King's Valley. For he said, "I have no son to keep my name in remembrance." He called the pillar after his own name. And to this day it is called Absalom's Monument.

  • Galatians 5:16-25 NKJV - 16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told [you] in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those [who are] Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

  • Mark 9:43-47 NKJV - 43 "If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched-- 44 "where 'Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.' 45 "And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched-- 46 "where 'Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.' 47 "And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire--

Observation Questions

  1. In 2 Samuel 18, what specific instructions did David give to his generals regarding Absalom, and how did Joab respond? [03:24]

  2. According to Galatians 5, what is the relationship between the flesh and the Spirit? How does Paul describe their interaction? [06:23]

  3. What radical action does Jesus command in Mark 9 for dealing with sin, and how does this compare to David’s approach to Absalom? [13:54]

  4. In the sermon, what are some examples given of things we might cling to that can become spiritual liabilities? [23:13]

Interpretation Questions

  1. Why do you think David’s love for Absalom blinded him to the danger his son posed, both to himself and to the kingdom? What does this reveal about the power of emotional attachments? [03:24]

  2. The sermon compares Absalom to the “flesh” in our own lives. In what ways can something attractive or appealing also be destructive to our spiritual health? [06:23]

  3. Pastor said, “Whatever you tolerate will eventually dominate.” How does this principle play out in the story of David and Absalom, and how might it apply to our own lives? [13:54]

  4. The Holy Spirit is compared to Joab, who confronts and rebukes David. How should we respond when the Holy Spirit convicts us about something we need to surrender? [27:27]

Application Questions

  1. Is there an “Absalom” in your life—an attitude, habit, relationship, or desire—that you know is pulling you away from God, but you’re still holding onto it? What makes it hard to let go? [23:13]

  2. The sermon says, “Whatever we tolerate in our lives, whatever we refuse to judge or surrender, will eventually dominate us.” Can you think of a time when something you tolerated ended up controlling you? What would it look like to take radical action, as Jesus describes in Mark 9, to deal with it? [13:54]

  3. Pastor shared about having to let go of old friendships that were dragging him back into his old life. Are there relationships in your life that are hindering your walk with God? What steps could you take this week to set healthy boundaries or even say goodbye if needed? [23:13]

  4. When the Holy Spirit convicts you or says “no” to something in your life, do you tend to see it as rejection or as loving discipline? How can you shift your perspective to embrace conviction as a gift? [27:27]

  5. The sermon emphasized that our sanctification isn’t just about us, but about the people God has called us to influence. Who in your life might be affected by your obedience or disobedience? How does this bigger picture motivate you to pursue holiness? [31:50]

  6. Pastor said, “Stop mourning over what needs to die.” Is there something you’ve been grieving or reluctant to surrender, even though you know it’s holding you back? What would it look like to bring this to God in prayer and trust Him with it this week? [34:22]

  7. Victory over the flesh is possible through the Holy Spirit. What is one practical way you can invite the Holy Spirit to help you “crucify your Absalom” and walk in greater freedom this week? [34:22]

  • All of you this morning, let's open up our Bibles. This message I'm about to preach was inspired in a prayer meeting as I was reading my daily Bible readings. And I just want to give a shout out to the Word of God. I'm telling you, God is good. He's faithful to speak to us in our times of need.

    2 Samuel chapter 18. If you join me there, 2 Samuel chapter 18. We're going to read a story about King David that jumped off of the page—one of those times that the story you've read a hundred times, but for whatever reason connected in a new way.

    In 2 Samuel chapter 18, as we're opening that, how many have seen the saga called The Lord of the Rings? Some of you have seen it more than others. But in that great story by J.R. Tolkien, there is a character named Smeagol. And Smeagol is represented on screen and in the book as a horrible creature. He's bug-eyed and sweaty and naked and eats raw fish. He's a deceiver and he is driven by one thing: taking back the ring of power, which he views as his own, his precious. That's right.

    But what we don't know about Smeagol until later on is that he was not always that way. Smeagol was once a hobbit, just like Sam and Frodo. Many, many years ago, he was something he was telling us was, so. David Ibuilder. And I said, I didn't get a little bit of a lot of their. He said, I'm not really interested in regards to this. I'm now getting involved in his own—I mean, there's some of some people.

    And he was just a normal creature. But once he discovered the ring of power, he murdered his friend in order to capture it. And not only did he get the ring, but according to the story, the ring got him. And over time, it transformed him from a simple creature into something ugly.

    And if you know the end of the story, they're trying to get this ring all the way back to Mount Doom to destroy it. And it is, again, that creature, Smeagol, who finally gets the ring back. As he is falling into the lava of Mount Doom, he could not be happier—that his precious was finally returned to his own ownership as it destroyed him.

    And I was thinking about this message because, similar to Smeagol, unfortunately, there are things that you and I hold onto, even though we know it's dangerous. The ring of power in the story of The Lord of the Rings is a picture. It's been interpreted many different ways ever since it was written. But one of the ways we could interpret that ring of power is through the lens of spirituality—that there are things that we can hold onto, things that make us powerful, things that make us feel certain feelings, but end up doing greater damage and end up, if we don't let go of them, transforming us into shadows of our former self.

    And I want to preach a message about King David. In our scripture we're about to read, we are going to read about David mourning. David mourning. He is mourning over the loss of his son Absalom.

    I want to make the case to you today that Absalom needed to be judged. And in the same way that Smeagol held on to that which was destroying him, David also was holding on to a son which was destroying him and his kingdom. And I believe in this story we can all find something that maybe we're holding on to—something we're mourning over that we need to release.

    Let's read the scripture. Second Samuel chapter 18, verse 5. I'm going to skip around a little bit because of the length of this story, but stick with me. We're going to look at verses 5, 14, and 18.

    The word says:
    "Now the king had commanded Joab and Abishai, these are his mighty men, his generals, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom." Absalom is David's son. And all the people heard when the king gave the captains' orders concerning Absalom.

    Verse 14:
    "Now remember, the king has just given orders to his general Joab to be gentle with Absalom. But here's Joab in verse 14, and it says: I cannot linger with you." He took three spears in his hand and thrust them through Absalom's heart while he was still alive in the midst of the terebinth tree.

    Verse 18:
    "That Absalom, in his lifetime, had taken and set up a pillar for himself, which is in the king's valley—for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance." He called the pillar after his own name, and to this day it is called Absalom's monument.

    Let's pray.
    Father, we come this morning, God, seeking Your will and purpose for our lives. You have called us to be purified, to be sanctified. Lord, the greatest work, the greatest good work that we can be a part of is Your work of sanctifying us, changing us from glory to glory into Your likeness and Your image.

    There are people here today, Lord, that You have called to a deeper level of righteousness and holiness. But God, there are things that hold us back—things of this world that we are grasping onto. And I pray, God, that You give us a heart to let go of those things which are destroying us today so that we can know You more fully and experience Your will for our lives.

    We give You glory in Jesus' mighty name. God's people would say, Amen.

    King David is known as a man after God's own heart. That's not just theologians who give him that description—that is not David himself who gives himself that description, but that is people who write about him. And even God gave him that title: a man after my own heart. And that's a powerful thing.

    Even though we know King David was far from perfect—his life was marked by sin, rebellion, murder—he was a war-torn king. And even through all of that, we get a picture of his heart. If you read the book of Psalms, you will see the heart not only of David but the heart of God and how He feels toward people.

    But what we read about in our scripture is not only David, but we also read about his son. He has a son named Absalom. I want to give you an introduction to this man Absalom for a few moments and make the case to you why I believe the Bible is showing us through the life of Absalom that there are things in our lives that we need to let go of.

    Absalom, I believe, is a spiritual representation of our flesh. You can make a connection between Absalom and the charm of the flesh. What does the Bible say about this son of David? In 2 Samuel chapter 14, verse 25, we receive a description of David's son Absalom:
    "Now in all Israel there was no one praised as much as Absalom for his good looks—from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. There was no blemish in him. And when he cut the hair of his head at the end of every year, he weighed the hair of his head at 200 shekels, according to the king's standard."

    People loved this guy. He was attractive. He had the heart of the nation. Not only that, but he had influence. According to 2 Samuel 15, verse 6:
    "Absalom acted toward all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel." And so, acting in rebellion against his father, the king, the Bible says because he was attractive and because he had the hearts of the people, he began taking the place of the king in front of the people. Instead of taking their cases to the palace, they would go to Absalom. Why? Well, he looks good, he's smart, he's got all this heavy hair on top of his head—obviously, we should go talk to Absalom instead of King David.

    But the Bible also tells us that Absalom had a rebellious heart. I want to make a case to you today: there are some Absaloms in our lives as well. We have what the Bible calls the flesh. We have a part of us that does not want to serve God—a part that looks good but is rebellious.

    The Bible says in Galatians chapter 5:
    "The flesh wars against the spirit, and the spirit wars against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish." Romans 8:7 adds:
    "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be."

    As long as you are alive in this life, there is a part of you like Absalom—that is rebellious against God. That part of you is called the flesh. It’s the part that does not want to serve God. It’s the part of you that didn’t want to be in church this morning. It’s the part that wanted to stay in bed. It’s the part that doesn’t want to be accountable. It’s the part that wants to live in uncleanness.

    Or have we all become angels this morning? Am I the only one that still has a flesh? Our flesh is warring against the Spirit of God every day. And I believe that this story is given in the Word of God as a picture of how we are supposed to treat the flesh.

    In the story of Absalom, he is building his own kingdom. He is rebelling against his father, King David. He is even doing unspeakable things—taking his king’s concubines and engaging in various sexual escapades. But here’s the problem with the relationship between David and his son Absalom: the Bible says, as is natural, that David loves his son. David doesn’t want to see his son destroyed.

    And I believe in that relationship we can get a picture here: David has an emotional attachment to that which is killing him—killing his kingdom, killing his effectiveness. In fact, it gets so bad that Absalom takes the throne for himself and causes David to be cast out as an exile from his own kingdom. To the point where David can no longer sit on the throne of Israel until he deals with Absalom. He cannot be who God made him to be.

    I want to make the case to all of us this morning: there are things in your life—attitudes, ideas, actions, decisions—that like Absalom, we love and hold onto. But if we’re not willing to deal with them, we will never achieve or become the people God wants us to be.

    As disciples, we have to recognize those parts of us that are carnal and causing us to live as rebels. Here’s the point: David was too gentle with what needed to die.

    Now, you feel for David, and I feel for David as I read this story, because Absalom is still his son. He still loves his son. He’s mourning for his son. That’s why, in the scripture, we read he commanded his generals:
    "Deal gently with the boy. Deal gently with him."

    But this is a fatal kindness. What if they would have listened to his command? What if they would have followed his orders? Then Absalom would have remained alive, and David would have remained dethroned.

    And I want to make a point to us today: whatever we tolerate—whatever carnal ideas and appetites that we fail to judge—will become our masters.
    Whatever you tolerate will eventually dominate.
    Whatever you cannot crucify will become your master.

    This is why, when Jesus taught in Mark chapter 9, He said:
    "If your hand causes you to sin, what did He say to do with it?
    Put some lotion on it? Treat it kindly? Massage it?"
    No. "If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. If your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out."
    Better to enter into glory with one hand and one eye than to spend eternity in hell with both hands and both eyes. Is that real enough for you?

    You cannot cast out the flesh; you have to crucify it. We treat our flesh like it’s a demon, but it’s not a demon. The devil knows how to inflame our flesh; he knows how to tempt us. But isn’t it in James where it says that sinful desires are born inside of us—our carnal desires—and the devil simply brings temptation? We must be willing to confront our Absalom.

    His dealings with Absalom teach us about ourselves. Our emotional indulgence can become a spiritual distraction. There’s a story in Leviticus chapter 10 I was reminded of while studying here. It’s the story of Aaron. We spoke about Aaron the priest. The Bible says that, as God was establishing His kingdom among the people of Israel, one of the things the priests were supposed to do was offer fire before the Lord—the fire to consume the sacrifice.

    The Bible says Aaron had two sons, Nadab and Abihu. They brought a profane fire to the Lord. The Bible does not explain exactly what that means, but we know it was not sanctioned by the Lord. In other words, they were bringing fire in a way that brought disgrace to God, and God did not allow that profane fire in His presence.

    Leviticus 10:2 says:
    "Fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord."
    Now, what’s interesting about that is not that they died—if we do something foolish, judgment is natural. What’s interesting is what Moses said to Aaron about the situation. Moses said to Aaron, in verse 6:
    "Do not uncover your heads or tear your clothes, lest you die, and wrath come upon all your people. But let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, be well—the burning which the Lord has kindled."

    In other words, don’t mourn your sons. Don’t weep over them. They died because they were being foolish. And you’re not going to spend time weeping over them, Aaron, because God did the right thing—even though that was painful for you.

    And can I remind you today: there will be times like that in your life when the Lord points at something in your heart—an attitude, a lie you’ve believed since before you were saved. When the Lord points at a piece of flesh, a ring you’re grasping onto, a habit, a lifestyle, a relationship—there are things we count as precious in our lives that God says, "Get it out of here. It’s killing you."

    But we tend to mourn like David did. We tend to be heartbroken, sullen. The Bible says:
    David, treating Absalom gently, with kid gloves. But the Bible also says that David has a man of valor—his mighty men. Men who have followed him in battle, men who have given him good counsel, men who have helped him, strengthened him, encouraged him—men who have been there for him through thick and thin, through the time when Saul was trying to destroy him, through his lowest points, even when he sinned with Bathsheba.

    When it comes to the issue of Absalom, they knew the situation well enough to know: this is one commandment we are not going to follow.

    The Bible speaks about Joab. In 2 Samuel 19, verse 5, it says:
    "Joab came into the house to the king, and he was about to rebuke King David."
    Watch this:
    "Today, king, you have disgraced your servants who have saved your life, the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives and concubines—that you love your enemies and hate your friends."
    That is the issue for many believers: trying to serve God, trying to be disciples, but along the way, we begin to love the things that are actually our enemies—our pride, our ego, our material wealth.

    I say it’s time to say goodbye to Absalom today. The Spirit will execute what we are trying to preserve. And so, what we need to do, as we close, is we must die to our flesh and live according to the Spirit. Because the thing that’s at stake here is not just David and the throne; it’s not just Absalom and his fate. What’s truly at stake is the kingdom.

    There’s a bigger picture: David cannot fulfill his role as king, nor can his generals, nor can the people continue to thrive in the promises of God until he is willing to win back his role. There’s a bigger picture involved than just you. It’s not just about your personal preferences or sanctification.

    Thank God His goal is to sanctify us all into His likeness and image. But why does God sanctify us? Because it’s about others. It’s about your children, your family, who are looking at your testimony. It’s about fellow church members, brothers and sisters in Christ.

    I’m so torn about the situation with Michael Tate—I don’t know if any of you are aware of this. Michael Tate, one of the original members of DC Talk, and for the last 15 years, the lead singer of the Newsboys. Recently, he came out and said he’s had a long-term issue with sexual and drug addiction. It’s been under the surface. He posted a statement on social media that he’s gone to rehab. God is dealing with this in his life.

    And part of me rejoices—thank God he finally made it public, got it right, is on the track to recovery. Thank God. But the other part of me wonders: what about all those people he’s ministered to at his concerts? What about the millions of dollars he’s made selling Christian albums? What about the stain that he brings on the name of Jesus?

    There is grace, there is mercy—thank God. But there’s a bigger picture. The Lord wants to sanctify us because there’s a bigger picture in your life too. Jesus, the reason why Jesus had to be perfect was because that’s the only way His blood would be enough to save you from your sins.

    I’m not saying we will take the place of Jesus, but I am saying that your life reflects the name and the glory of God. Pastor Bill Johnson says:
    "Your obedience unlocks someone else’s breakthrough."
    The reason God saves us and sanctifies us is because we are not islands unto ourselves.

    David had a role to fulfill. So sanctification is simply preparation. A divided heart cannot lead a united kingdom. James 1:8 says:
    "A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways."
    The reason Joab rebuked David was:
    "Stop weeping over your son, because it’s sending a message to the people. It’s saying to everyone else that they’re not worth it."

    Elijah confronted the people of Israel and asked:
    "How long will you falter between two opinions?"
    How long will you say that your struggle is against Elijah? Or that your war between the spirit and the flesh in your life? Listen, it is a war that we are all called to, but I believe you can be victorious. I don’t believe you have to be in defeat. I don’t believe you have to come to church every service with your head hanging low because of all the filth you were involved with last week.

    You don’t have to live that life. You can be victorious over sin. You can take control over the flesh. You can crucify the flesh in Jesus’ name by the power of the Holy Spirit. Hey, you got a Joab on your side, and he is invested in your holiness more than you are.

    So stop limping, faltering between two opinions. Make up your mind who you’re going to serve today. Don’t mourn over what needs to die.

    Jesus made it possible for us to live in victory. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead is alive in you. That’s good news. It means if the Spirit of God can raise a dead body out of the ground, then He can certainly help you to kill your Absalom.

    Let’s bow our heads for a few moments. We’re going to open up this altar for prayer. I believe God is dealing with some people. And thank God that He does deal with us. He deals with us as children because He cares about us and wants the best for us.

    And before we close this service, I simply want to give a gospel invitation. If you’re here today and you’re honest for a moment, you say, "Pastor, I’m not right with God. I’m not living for God. I don’t have a desire to serve God at this moment because my sin is too powerful. My love of the world, my lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes—it's in control in my life."

    And I recognize that my sin is destroying me. I’m grasping onto this world and my desires so tightly that I can see now— I can see it’s destroying me. If you can see it this morning, if you can sense the destruction that comes as a result of following your own desires, and God is opening up your heart right now, He’s helping you understand that sin is not the right way to live.

    If we’re going to be free from sin, it means we’re going to have to turn from that sin. It’s called repentance. Trusting in Jesus as the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

    And if you’re willing to do that today, the Bible says: turn from sin and trust completely in Jesus. Then a miracle can occur in your life. It’s the miracle of salvation. It’s the miracle of being born again—a new life in Christ.

    And if He’s awakening your heart right now and opening up your mind in this moment, I want to pray with you. I want to lead you to salvation. The same salvation I experienced as a confused teenager. God transformed my life. I’m not the way I used to be.

    And there is hope in the good news of the gospel today. If you’ll turn to Him and turn from sin, if you’re honest this morning and say, "Pastor, I need what you’re talking about. I need a new life in Christ. I want my sins to be forgiven." If that’s you this morning, I want to pray with you. Would you lift up your hand quickly? Honest hearts in this place. You’d say, "Pastor, please pray for me. I don’t want to be judged. God would be right to judge me in my sin. But if You’d have mercy on a sinner like me, I want to respond." If that’s you, quickly slip up your hand right now.

    Unsaved, lost, or backslidden in your heart—He’s here to touch you and speak to you and transform you in a moment of time. Is that someone here? Quickly, with an uplifted hand. I’m not talking about getting religious or joining a church. I’m talking about a relationship with the living Savior. If you need that, right now, quickly, just slip up a hand without anybody looking around for a moment.

    Thank you. Is there anyone at all, quickly? God’s speaking. Amen.

    Let me speak to the church then. David was a man described by God as a man after His own heart. David had a lot of good things going for him. But in this instance, he was mourning over—and he was being gentle on—his son Absalom, who was rebelling, causing great problems and division. He was mourning over what was killing him.

    And I, when I read this story, I saw in myself some Absaloms that needed to die—some attitudes, some selfishness, some pride, some ego, some materialism. Maybe this morning you can see the work of Absalom in your life right now. You can see the flesh that remains uncrucified. You can still see that there are things that God is dealing with.

    And I want to tell you, He’s sending Joab right now—His best general—the Holy Spirit. He’s armed and dangerous right now, ready to crucify, to help you, to give up and surrender your life, your flesh, your carnal desires. They need to die at the altar.

    If you don’t deal with it now, it only gets worse later. And I believe, as God is speaking to us, that there is Holy Spirit conviction. There are people who are clinging onto things that God wants you to get rid of—ideas, attitudes, people, relationships.

    Can I make one last call? It’s not just about you and your life. It’s about who God has called you to be. You are supposed to be salt and light in this broken world. You’re supposed to be the hope for someone. And you can’t be that as long as you hold onto that source of carnality.

    Let’s stand up to our feet at this altar right now. I want to encourage you to come. If there is an Absalom in your life and the Holy Spirit is pointing at him today, I want to ask you to come and join me here at this altar. Let’s begin to cry out to God. We’re going to worship Him together. It’s a decision that we need to make.

    Lord, I see the problems that are being caused by this in my life. I need You to change. I need You to transform. I need You to redeem my life, my mind. If that’s you, quickly, why don’t you come? We’re going to pray together at this altar, or you can kneel down right where you are. Let’s begin to cry out to the Lord for a few moments, please. As God is dealing with people, let’s have an attitude of awe and reverence before the Lord. Let’s pray for a few moments.

    Lord, we thank You. Lord, we thank You.


Keep an eye on our Facebook Page for Daily Devotionals based on this message over the next five days.

Written with Love by Pastor Adam Dragoon

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Caterpillars Can’t Migrate

Transformation is at the heart of the Christian journey, just as a caterpillar must become a butterfly to fulfill its purpose. The same DNA exists in both, but only through metamorphosis can the caterpillar achieve what it was created for. In the same way, God has callings and purposes for each of us that are impossible to fulfill unless we are transformed by the Holy Spirit. This transformation is not a superficial change or a new set of behaviors, but a deep, supernatural work that changes us from the inside out, enabling us to live out God’s will in ways we never imagined.

Sermon Summary

Transformation is at the heart of the Christian journey, just as a caterpillar must become a butterfly to fulfill its purpose. The same DNA exists in both, but only through metamorphosis can the caterpillar achieve what it was created for. In the same way, God has callings and purposes for each of us that are impossible to fulfill unless we are transformed by the Holy Spirit. This transformation is not a superficial change or a new set of behaviors, but a deep, supernatural work that changes us from the inside out, enabling us to live out God’s will in ways we never imagined.

The first step in this journey is refusing to be conformed to the world. The world’s morals, entertainment, financial priorities, speech, ambitions, and sense of identity are fundamentally different from those of Christ. To follow Jesus means to stand apart, to resist the pressure to blend in, and to allow God’s standards to shape every area of life. This is not about isolation from the world, but about living in it as salt and light, maintaining a missionary mindset that seeks to influence rather than be influenced.

Transformation happens through the renewing of the mind. Just as the caterpillar’s metamorphosis is a mysterious, internal process, so too is the renewal God works in us. Our thought patterns, attitudes, and perspectives must be changed by God’s truth. This involves recognizing and rejecting old ways of thinking—whether shaped by pain, bitterness, or worldly values—and allowing the Holy Spirit to create new pathways in our minds. As our thinking changes, so do our actions, unlocking new levels of spiritual potential and obedience.

The purpose of this transformation is to know and do the perfect will of God. God’s will is not always spelled out in black and white, but as we are transformed, we become able to discern and walk in the unique calling He has for each of us. This is not a matter of mere duty, but of relationship—knowing God’s heart so intimately that His desires become our own. Ultimately, while we must surrender and respond, it is God who does the transforming work, leading us from glory to glory into the likeness of Christ.

God has callings and purposes for each of us that are impossible to fulfill unless we are transformed by the Holy Spirit.
— Pastor Adam

Watch/Listen


Message Study Guide

Youtube chapters

  • [00:00] - Welcome

  • [00:45] - The Caterpillar and the Butterfly: A Picture of Transformation

  • [02:30] - The Impossibility of Self-Transformation

  • [04:10] - Romans 12:2: The Call to Be Transformed

  • [06:00] - Do Not Be Conformed: What It Means

  • [09:08] - Areas of Temptation: Morals, Entertainment, Finances, Speech

  • [12:30] - Living in the World Without Being of the World

  • [15:00] - The Tension of Christian Nonconformity

  • [16:45] - Metamorphosis: Unlocking New Levels in Christ

  • [18:29] - The Reality of Supernatural Change

  • [19:05] - Outward Change vs. Inward Transformation

  • [22:00] - The Renewal of the Mind: How Transformation Happens

  • [26:18] - Thinking Differently About God’s Provision

  • [28:59] - The Science of Thought Patterns and Spiritual Renewal

  • [31:03] - The Purpose: Proving God’s Perfect Will

  • [33:21] - Discerning and Living Out God’s Will

  • [35:20] - Surrender and Relationship: The Path to Knowing God’s Will

  • [40:34] - The Uniqueness of God’s Will for Each Life

  • [41:48] - The Call to Salvation and Transformation

  • [45:16] - Altar Call: Responding to God’s Invitation

Key Takeaways

  1. Transformation is Essential, Not Optional - Just as a caterpillar cannot fulfill its destiny without becoming a butterfly, we cannot fulfill God’s calling for our lives without a supernatural transformation. Our own efforts, desires, or resolutions are insufficient; only the Holy Spirit can bring about the deep change required to unlock new spiritual capacities and destinies. This transformation is the foundation for everything God wants to do through us. [17:35]

  2. Nonconformity to the World is a Mark of True Discipleship - To follow Christ means to resist the pressure to adopt the world’s values, behaviors, and priorities. Whether in morals, entertainment, finances, speech, or ambition, we are called to be distinct, reflecting the character of Jesus rather than the culture around us. This nonconformity is not about withdrawal, but about living as a visible contrast—salt and light—in a world that desperately needs God’s truth. [09:08]

  3. The Mind is the Battleground for Transformation - God’s process of change begins with the renewal of our minds. Our thought patterns, shaped by past experiences, pain, or worldly influences, must be reformed by God’s Word and Spirit. As we allow God to change the way we think, new behaviors and possibilities emerge, breaking old cycles and enabling us to live in freedom and obedience. [28:59]

  4. Knowing God’s Will Flows from Knowing God’s Heart - Discerning and doing the will of God is not merely about following rules or seeking specific instructions. It is about cultivating a relationship with God so deep that His desires become our own. As we are transformed, we begin to love what He loves, hate what He hates, and naturally walk in the unique purpose He has for us. [33:21]

  5. Transformation is God’s Work, But Requires Our Surrender - While we must be willing vessels, the actual work of transformation is accomplished by God. Our role is to surrender, respond, and cooperate with the Holy Spirit’s leading. True change is not self-generated, but the result of God’s grace working in us, moving us from glory to glory into the image of Christ. [40:34]


Bible Reading

  • Romans 12:2 [NKJV]- “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Observation Questions

  1. According to Romans 12:2, what are the two commands Paul gives to believers regarding the world and transformation?

  2. The sermon compared the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly to the Christian journey. What are some specific differences between a caterpillar and a butterfly that were mentioned, and how do these differences illustrate spiritual transformation? [[16:45]]

  3. What are some areas of life the sermon listed where Christians are tempted to conform to the world? [[09:08]]

  4. In the sermon, what is described as the “battleground” for transformation, and why is this significant? [[28:59]]

Interpretation Questions

  1. Why does Paul say that transformation is necessary to “prove” or “discern” the will of God? What does this mean for someone who wants to know God’s purpose for their life? [[31:03]]

  2. The sermon says that nonconformity to the world is not about isolation, but about being “salt and light.” What does it look like to live in the world without being of the world? [[12:30]]

  3. The pastor mentioned that transformation is not just about outward change, but a deep, supernatural work. Why is it important that transformation happens from the inside out, and not just by changing behaviors? [[19:05]]

  4. According to the sermon, what role does the Holy Spirit play in the process of transformation, and what is our responsibility? [[40:34]]

Application Questions

  1. The sermon gave examples of areas where Christians are tempted to conform: morals, entertainment, finances, speech, ambition, and identity. Which of these areas do you find most challenging to resist conforming to the world, and why? What is one practical step you could take this week to stand apart in that area? [[09:08]]

  2. The pastor said, “If you are still connected to the old life, if you still have the same desires…that’s a problem.” Are there any “old life” patterns or desires that you feel God is prompting you to surrender? What would it look like to invite the Holy Spirit to transform that area? [[19:05]]

  3. The sermon described the renewal of the mind as a process of changing thought patterns, especially those shaped by pain, bitterness, or worldly values. Can you identify a specific thought pattern that needs to be renewed in your life? How might you begin to replace it with God’s truth? [[28:59]]

  4. The pastor said, “God is more interested in having a relationship with you than you just performing a bunch of duties for him.” How does this perspective change the way you approach seeking God’s will? Are there ways you have focused more on “doing” than “knowing” God? [[35:20]]

  5. The sermon emphasized that transformation is God’s work, but requires our surrender. Is there an area where you have been resisting God’s transforming work? What would it look like to surrender that area to Him this week? [[40:34]]

  6. The pastor challenged the church to “be weird” because “normal is going to hell.” In what ways do you feel pressure to “blend in” with the world, and how can you embrace being different for Christ? [[12:30]]

  7. The sermon ended with a call to those who are uncertain about God’s will for their life. If you are in a season of uncertainty, what is one way you can seek to know God’s heart more deeply this week? [[33:21]]

  • Every monarch butterfly begins as a caterpillar, and a caterpillar is, if you think about the DNA, the same as the butterfly. They all have the same DNA, don't they? It is the same creature. It is the same what? But from caterpillar to butterfly, there is a momentous transformation that takes place. We've all seen that video of how the caterpillar wraps itself in a cocoon, and some time goes by, and when it comes out, it is transformed into this amazing creature.

    But here's what I want you to understand, and I want you to think about for a moment: if the caterpillar never becomes the butterfly, can it make that journey even if it wanted to? It could not. I mean, it's pretty miraculous to think about these little bugs flying thousands of miles to Mexico, but what is absolutely impossible is for a caterpillar to get to Mexico. That's not going to happen. A caterpillar cannot even make it to the next tree over to munch on the leaves over there. A caterpillar is a glorified worm. It may have a few stubby little legs and some hair poking out, has no eyes, can't see. I mean, this is wonderful food for all the birds out there. These caterpillars, even if they had a dream in their heart—"I want to go to Mexico one day and reproduce"—if that desire is there, it is impossible.

    What I’m telling you tonight is that in order to make that migration, in order to make that journey, there must be transformation. There must be a change because a caterpillar cannot get there even if he wants to. And I want to make a point to you from the scripture tonight: I believe the Apostle Paul would agree that there are things that God wants you to do that you are unable to do unless you are transformed. There are callings on your life, there is ministry ahead of you, there are jobs that you are called to do, but if you remain as you are, you will not be able to do that. We must experience transformation by the Holy Spirit so that we can do the thing that God called us to do.

    Everybody with me so far? So that's why we're calling this message: Caterpillars can't migrate. Let’s read the scripture: Romans chapter 12, verse 2. Paul says these words: "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

    Let's pray: Lord, we come by the blood of Jesus. Lord, let our hearts be open to the word of God tonight. I’m praying, Lord, for revelation, for understanding—that you would reveal your heart for your people. I pray, God, that you would show us what you are calling us to, and give us the inspiration, God, to understand that your Holy Spirit has been given to us so that we may be transformed by the renewing of our mind. I pray tonight, God, that you would transform someone in this place, and we give you glory in Jesus’ mighty name. People would say, "Amen."

    So, if we are going to experience transformation, step number one in this journey is that we cannot be conformed to this world. Paul’s first statement here in this verse says: "Do not be conformed to this world." Now, remember our context here. What was the very last thing that Paul said before this? He said that our reasonable service is to become living sacrifices for the Lord Jesus, right? To become living stones. God does not want corpses; he wants living sacrifices. And so he is showing us what it means tonight to be a living sacrifice. What does it actually look like?

    Well, to be a living sacrifice—someone whose life is laid down for the Lord Jesus—first of all, it means that we cannot be conformed to this world. The Greek word behind that word "conformed" means to fashion oneself according to, to mold into a pattern. The Amplified Bible says it like this: "Do not be conformed to this world—age fashioned after or adapted to its external superficial customs." In the New Living Translation, it says: "Don't copy the behavior and the customs of this world." Finally, the Message translation says it like this: "Don’t become so well adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking."

    You’ve heard the saying: if it looks like a duck, if it walks like a duck, if it quacks like a duck, if it smells like a duck—then it’s probably a duck, right? And the same thing holds true for people who go to church. If it looks like the world, if it talks like the world, if it acts like the world, if it speaks like the world—then why do we call it a Christian? Because Christians are different from the world. Look at the life of Christ and tell me that he was like the world. Is that true? Jesus was very distinct and a contrast to the rest of the world around him. Both before and since, Jesus stuck out from the world, didn’t he? He made impact, and the world hated him for the life that he lived—a life of perfection.

    So we cannot think to ourselves that I can be a believer, a follower, a disciple of Jesus and still fit in with the rest of the world. That doesn’t fit. That does not compute. That’s why Paul says: "Do not be conformed to this world." There are a few areas I want to point out tonight where Christians are tempted, where believers often falter in this commandment.

    When it comes to moral standards—how many know that the world has a set of morals? Those morals are quite different than the Christian or biblical morals. If we think that we can live according to the world’s morals, if we think that we can determine right and wrong based on what the world says is right and wrong—that’s exactly what we are not called to do. The world has shifting definitions of who you can sleep with, or even what gender you can be, or what constitutes marriage. The world has a thousand different answers to what God’s word says. But God's word has one answer for those things, and we are called to uphold biblical standards.

    We are not called to conform to whatever the latest flavor of the month is in the world of entertainment. We cannot simply give our eyes and ears to everything that the world pukes out on your television screen. Whatever is the latest, most popular Netflix documentary—you listen, you need to have some ability to say, "No, I’m not watching that. I’m not going to." If you’re going through your fridge and find some old produce turning all different colors, you’re not going to say, "Oh, that looks tasty." And yet, this is what many people do when they flip on Netflix. "Oh, what’s the most popular thing today?" I don’t know what it is, but I can tell you it’s probably not biblical.

    When it comes to morals and ethics, you’re probably going to consume or watch or listen to something that violates God’s principles. Finances—how many know the world is driven by greed? Debt and dishonesty and materialism are not according to God’s word. We are called to be biblical stewards, having integrity. Even in the Old Testament, God demanded that scales in monetary transactions be honest. Yet so many today think that the rules can be bent—that I don’t have to be honest about how, where, and when I treat people.

    Our speech, our language—how many know the world is full of profanity, gossip, slander? A world of iniquity is wrapped up in this little tongue, isn’t it? A spark that can cause a forest fire—that’s normal. That’s what everyday people are talking like. But we are not called to conform to that. We are called to tame this little fire and reflect the character of Christ.

    Ambition—do we pursue selfish dreams or status the way the world does? No. Instead, we seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. What is his will for my life? Not what do I want to get out of life or out of others. That’s what the world says. The world is transactional: "What can I get out of this relationship?" The biblical way to treat people is much different.

    Identity and self-worth—the world is obsessed with image, comparison, pride. There’s a commandment from the Ten: "Do not covet your neighbor’s house, your neighbor’s wife, your neighbor’s car." I don’t think that’s in the original, but it’s there. Why are we so drawn to covetousness? Because the world says that I gain identity and value by the things I own. If my neighbor owns something I don’t, or has a better thing than I do, then I don’t have enough value in comparison. But that’s not how the Word of God teaches us. We do not conform to that view of life. We find our identity in Christ, in salvation, in the blood that was shed for us.

    That’s why Paul can say: "Let us not be conformed." No, he didn’t say it like that. He said: "Do not be conformed. Don’t let yourself be shaped and molded by the way that the world thinks, by the way that your unsaved family thinks." Don’t let your mind be swayed by what they say on television, podcasts, Fox News, CNN. We are not led by our thoughts, our perceptions, or the way we see ourselves or God. We have to see him through a different lens—biblical.

    We are called tonight, as Jesus said, to live in the world without being of the world. And there is an inherent tension that comes with that idea. Jesus prayed, right? He prayed for his disciples in the last supper. In John 17, verse 15, he said: "I do not pray that you should take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from the evil one." Can you feel the tension in that prayer? The tension between living in a fallen, broken world, which we all have to do—because you can’t live anywhere else—you can go to heaven, and that tension is gone. But we are called to be in this world, and at the same time, resist the evil one.

    John said in 1 John 2:15: "Do not love the world or the things in the world." Well, that’s hard for us, isn’t it? Because we are in the world. As I’ve said before, it’s okay for the ship to be in the ocean; it’s not okay for the ocean to be in the ship. It is good, it is right, and it is necessary for the church to exist in the world. We are not called to be monks or to hide away in monasteries on a mountain, hoping that sinners never come near us. No, we are supposed to be salt and light—only effective when in contact with darkness and corruption. The power is in the contact, the effectiveness, the fruitfulness.

    So much of the church has lost influence because we think church is supposed to be a hideaway, that Christianity is supposed to remove us from the filth of the world. No. We have a missionary mentality: going into broken places, into the world. We don’t hide behind four walls. We go out to the sinners. Jesus said: "I do not pray to remove them from the world, but Lord, keep them, protect them." And that means living in this world, there will be tension. You will feel it. You will have a tension between being in this world and resisting what the world says.

    We have to be here, but we do not have to conform. That’s why, as Dave preached on Sunday, it’s a spiritual battle every day of your life. AW Tozer said: "The world is not a playground; it is a battleground." And if you don’t win this fight, we’re not even going to talk about being transformed. We have to decide: you know what? I need to be weird. Why? Because normal is going to hell. Normal is broken families, divorce, abuse, selfishness, all ten commandments broken—that’s normal in the world. So I don’t want to be normal. Somebody on YouTube might clip that out, but if normal is going to hell, I don’t want to be normal. I want to be different. Don’t you?

    That’s why he commands: "Do not be conformed." So let’s look at being transformed. In Greek, the word is metamorpho—the same root as our English word "metamorphosis." The thought is: this is not just a coat of paint. When Paul says, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed," we need transformation. From caterpillar to butterfly, the mark that something has been transformed is that new levels have been unlocked.

    Think about when that butterfly pops out of the cocoon. Same creature, right? But the DNA has transformed it into something capable of doing completely new things. All of a sudden, it has wings—the wings are now the prominent feature. It can flap them, it’s colorful, beautiful. It can hop off a branch and fly to the next tree. And not only that, but it can go all the way down to Mexico for a vacation. Praise the Lord! The caterpillar could not do that, even if it wanted to. But the butterfly—new levels have been unlocked.

    And I want to tell you, I believe God has new levels to unlock in your life. The Holy Spirit wants to touch areas of your heart and mind to enable new things—new capabilities, new destiny, new future—things you may have never expected to find yourself doing. Have you ever found yourself, maybe on outreach, knocking on a door, thinking: "Oh my gosh, I never thought I’d be doing something like this"? There are a thousand ways God can unlock your potential.

    Have you ever had God deal with you, to witness to someone? Not in church, not on outreach—maybe just pumping gas, and God speaks to you. "There’s a guy over there. See him?" And you say, "Yeah." And God says, "Go witness to him." And I’m not prideful enough to say I obeyed every time. No, I haven’t. But there have been times I’ve thought, "God, I’m busy." Oh, too busy to rescue someone from hell? Okay. But God, I don’t have any flyers. Oh, so you can’t communicate the gospel without a flyer, preacher? I’ve had God deal with me. And I don’t want to do it. But God has called me to do it because he has enabled me by his Holy Spirit.

    He has created in me a metamorphosis—not just a change of outward appearance, not just a new set of clothes. I am a new person in Christ. He who is in Christ is a new creation. If you are saved, this is necessarily true. But if you are still connected to the old life, if you still have the same desires—I'm not saying we never struggle with sin—but if nothing has changed in your life, that’s a problem. If you’re still a caterpillar trying to act like a butterfly, that’s not going to work very well. If you’re telling yourself, "I want to float to the next tree," you’re still a caterpillar. It’s not going to make it.

    This is like the story of the seven sons of Sceva. They were acting like butterflies, but they were only caterpillars. And the demons called them out: "Jesus I know, Paul I know, but who are you?" This is what happens. The New Living Translation says: "Let God transform you into a new person." The Message says: "Fix your attention on God, and you’ll be changed from the inside out." That’s the point of metamorphosis: it’s not something you can do on your own. It’s such a transformation that, even if you wanted to, you couldn’t. It’s supernatural. It requires the Holy Spirit.

    Here’s the problem: this metamorphosis can get stuck. We can go only so far with God. Consider the children of Israel. They were delivered out of Egypt, weren’t they? They were freed from bondage. Yet, for 40 years, they still had a bad thought process. They were still stuck in the slave mentality. They still desired the food of Egypt, the leeks and onions. They still complained against Moses. They still worshiped golden calves. They were out of Egypt, but Egypt was still in them. I’ve seen people who go to church, call themselves Christians, sometimes wear suits and ties or dresses on Sunday, looking nice. They’re out of Egypt, but something has not been changed. There’s an old mentality still at work.

    That’s why Paul says we still need to be transformed. There’s a problem in the penal system called recidivism. It’s a tragic thing to think about, but it means: when people go to prison, in theory, the reason is to change their lives. They serve their time, they’re reformed, they change, and they can be normal in society. But the statistics tell us otherwise: 70% of released prisoners are rearrested within three years. Why? Because a prison does not reform the heart. It doesn’t change the mind.

    What good is our salvation if our mind remains in bondage? If we are not transformed in our actions and words? James said it like this: "Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." Jesus said in Matthew 7:21: "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven." You ever chew on that scripture? It’s frightening, isn’t it? There are people who say, "Lord, Lord," but they will not enter the kingdom.

    Leonard Ravenhill said: "We have too many who want to be saved but not sanctified." The point is: Jesus needs to be Savior and Lord—it's a package deal. You can’t have one without the other. You can’t say, "Jesus saved me," but he’s not in charge of your life.

    Transformation means Jesus is my Lord. Okay, so how does this transformation happen? If we want to be reformed, if we want to be transformed, what is the process? How do we see that change from caterpillar to butterfly? In the animal world, it’s a cocoon. That cocoon wraps itself up, and some kind of miraculous process takes place—body parts are changed, and it comes out completely transformed.

    I want to tell you, there is a cocoon-type process in your life too. How does God transform you? Paul tells us: the Greek word is anakinosis, translated as "the renewal of your mind." The Amplified says: "Be transformed by the entire renewal of your mind—new ideals and a new attitude." The Message says: "Readily recognize what God wants from you, and quickly respond to it." The New Living Translation: "Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think."

    When’s the last time God did that in your life? When’s the last time you realized: "I am not thinking correctly, and I need to change the way I think"? Maybe you’ve been thinking out of bitterness, unforgiveness, pain, abuse, anguish. And God wants to change the way you think about money and resources. Many of us have a small view of what God can do with our finances. We think: "Oh, the pie is only so big, so I have to have tiny slices." But I want to tell you: God is the owner of everything. God can enlarge the pie in your life.

    I’ve seen God do financial miracles. I’ve seen God heal in our minds, in our bodies. Sometimes we limit God's ability to heal us because we rely on modern medicine. But in third-world countries, they don’t have pills for everything. When they get a headache or sore muscles, they pray, and God heals them. We become so dependent on technology that we forget God. Sometimes we need to think differently, don’t we?

    Jesus was trying to get people to think differently. I challenge you: some time ago, God challenged me to memorize the Sermon on the Mount. I want to get there someday—I’m not there yet—but it’s such a powerful message. One thing Jesus was trying to do was to help people think differently about things. You remember the pattern: he would say, "You have heard it said of old..." and then he would say, "But I say to you..." See, the way you’ve been thinking about that was wrong for generations. And I want to help you see what the real intention was.

    Jesus did not come to do away with the law but to fulfill it. So he says: "You have heard it said of old, ‘Do not commit adultery,’" but he says, "But I say to you, whoever looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery in his heart." Even if he’s never cheated on his wife, if there’s lust in his mind, that’s adultery.

    So you need to think differently. You need to change your pattern of thoughts. People who study the human brain have discovered that thought processes are a series of synapses—electrical currents firing throughout the brain. When you think a thought, those synapses fire, linking one cell to another. That’s how it works physically. The saying "One thing leads to another" is true. Over time, pathways are carved in your mind, so that if I think this, it leads to that, then to that, then to that, and eventually to action.

    Some thoughts lead to regret. Some thoughts the enemy fires at you—he knows if he can get that thought in your mind, it can lead to stress, anxiety, perversion, wickedness. What God wants to do is to transform your mind. If he can change how you think, he can change how you act. Isn’t that true?

    Dallas Willard said: "The renovation of the heart begins with the transformation of the mind." That’s why Paul said in Philippians: "Whatever is true, whatever is lovely, whatever is pure—meditate on these things." Fill your mind with good, godly things. Why? Because that will produce good, godly behaviors.

    Let’s close with the reason why you need to be transformed. There’s a reason your mind needs renewal. There’s a reason we cannot conform to this world: because God needs people to do his will. Let me say it differently: God can do whatever he wants. He’s not limited by your obedience or disobedience. But in his perfect plan, he has chosen to use frail, broken people like you and me. He has chosen to include us in his redemptive plan for the world.

    So, if we are going to fulfill that plan, we have to know it and do it. Paul ends this verse: "That you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Everybody say: perfect will of God. I want to say tonight: first of all, that there is such a thing as a perfect will.

    Now, I don’t think the perfect will of God is that, when you wake up in the morning, God shines through a glorious cloud in your kitchen and says, "Thus saith the Lord, thou shalt eat cornflakes this morning." It’s okay to laugh. The perfect will of God—there are some things he leaves up to our good judgment. But in God's perfect will, there are some things he does call us to.

    We are called to know the will of God, but also to prove it—that you may demonstrate what is good, acceptable, and perfect. Again, the New Living Translation: "Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." The Message says: "Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it."

    Did you know God has a will for your life? He wants to reveal his will for you. We know that God has a general will—things that are absolutely clear. For example, the Bible says it’s God’s will that you remain sexually pure. That’s black and white. We don’t have to pray about that. Lord, do you want me to remain sexually pure? Or do you want me to go fornicate? No, we don’t have to pray that. We know the will.

    But there are some things in life that are not black and white. There are gray areas. I’m not talking about sin versus righteousness. I’m talking about decisions within our walk with God—about your future, your ministry, how you spend your time for Jesus. Not everything is spelled out clearly. We have to learn: God, what is your perfect will for me?

    The will of God for Pastor Adam Dragoon is different than for you. Esther is an example. She didn’t understand that God had put her in a specific time, in a specific place, for a purpose. And thank God she had a godly relative, Mordecai, who reminded her: "Listen, Esther, if you don’t do what you’re supposed to do, God can raise up a deliverer from somewhere else." But she was there for a reason. The reason you are where you are, with what you have, is because God has a purpose for it. Use it.

    We need to know and prove God’s perfect will for our lives. David prayed in Psalm 143:10: "Teach me to do your will, for you are my God." Did you hear that? "Teach me to do your will." That means it’s not automatic. Ephesians 5:17: "Do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is." Colossians 1:9: "Be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding."

    And here’s a little "life hack": some of you are sitting here tonight thinking, "Man, I want to do the will of God. I believe God is transforming me, but I don’t know what that is." For that person, let me give you a hint: I believe that God is more interested in having a relationship with you than just you performing duties. If you want to know God’s will, seek him. Seek his purpose, seek his character. When you become more like him, you’ll start to love what he loves, hate what he hates, hear things the way he hears them, and do things the way he does. Soon, it will become clear what God’s specific, perfect will is for you.

    If you’re in a holding pattern—"Lord, I want to do your will, but I don’t know what it is"—my encouragement is: get to know God more. Know his heart, so you can know his will.

    Let’s close with this: we’re not alone in this. What we’re talking about—transformation, renewal of the mind—is not just something you decide to do. We have a part to play: "I am a willing vessel. Lord, whatever you got for me, I want a part of that." But the actual work of transformation—like the caterpillar—only God can do that. If he were smart enough, the caterpillar could sit with a notepad and say, "I want to fly to Mexico. I want to flap my wings. I want to eat more than just leaves. I want to see something besides being blind all the time." He could write down all his desires, but he cannot bring about that change on his own.

    There have been times in my life when the Holy Spirit has surprised me with transformations. Here’s why: Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. He is preparing his bride. He is ridding you of sin. He puts convictions on your heart—whether to do or not to do things. He is the one at the right time, in the right place. Our job is to respond and say, "Yes, Lord, I’ll follow you." But his job is to lead us into transformation.

    That’s why the Bible says we are to change from glory to glory into his likeness and his image. He is the one working this transformation. But he will not do it without your surrender.

    Pastor Mitchell’s favorite quote—my favorite of his—is: "You’ll never know the will of God until you are surrendered to it." It’s profound.

    Let’s bow our heads and close our eyes for just a moment. As we bring the service to a close tonight, and as we think about the perfect, acceptable will of God for you—His will for your life is unique, like a fingerprint. But if we want to experience that will, we cannot get there without transformation. We cannot get there without our minds being renewed.

    Tonight, I believe God wants to renew somebody’s mind. Before we open this altar for prayer, I want to ask: has someone come into this service tonight and you say, "Pastor, I don’t even know if I’m right with God. I don’t know if my sins are forgiven." My heart is separated from God, and my sins are before me. I struggle with sin. I give in to sin. Sin seems to have power over me. That’s because, without Christ, sin does have power over you. Sin is a cruel taskmaster. It leads you to places you don’t want to go, causes you to do things you don’t want to do.

    But tonight, sin has been defeated. Jesus Christ has made it possible—because of his sacrifice on the cross—that you and I can turn to him in faith, trust in him. When we do that, the Bible says: we turn from our sins, trust in Jesus, and our sins are forgiven. This is the beginning of a new life with Christ. This is called being born again—a new life.

    If you have not received that salvation tonight, if you have not been born again, if you don’t have a new nature, a new life in Christ, I want to pray with you. Is there someone here quickly, saying, "Pastor, please pray for me. I need salvation. I want my sins forgiven." Before we do anything else, lift up a hand right now—say, "Pray for me." I need that. Is that you? Quickly, with an uplifted hand, you need a transformation—a new life in Christ. Old things passing away, all things becoming new. Jesus loves you, cares about you, even though we’ve turned away from him so many times. But there is hope.

    Tonight, if you want to come back like the prodigal son, who was in the far country, and he made up his mind: "Maybe my father will have mercy on me if I just make my way home." That’s what’s on your heart. You want to make your way back to the Father. He’s waiting for you. Is there someone here? Quickly, lift your hand—I want to pray for you. God’s dealing with you. The Spirit of God is moving on your heart. You need that transformation—a new life in Christ, forgiveness of sins. Anyone at all? Quickly tonight.

    Thank you. Thank you tonight.

    Now, speaking to the church—speaking to God’s people. If you didn’t raise your hand for salvation, that means you’re claiming to be a follower of Jesus. And to be a follower of Jesus means a few things: number one, it means you are not conformed to this world.

    I want to open this altar tonight for three different needs. The first is for those who find themselves conforming to the world. You are a spiritual chameleon—you like to blend in wherever you go. But that is not the will of God. The will of God is that we not be conformed to this world. At this altar, you will find the strength necessary to be different, to be unique, to be called out from the world and called together for his will.

    Secondly, tonight, there are people here—you’re saved. Thank God, you’re saved from hell. You’ve got your fire escape, your fire insurance—praise the Lord. You’re on your way to heaven. But there are still things left untransformed. Maybe there’s stubbornness in your heart. Maybe there’s a quenching of the Holy Spirit. Maybe there’s a place where the Lord has tried to change your life, but you’ve put up a hand and said, "No, I need to stay where I am." You’re saved, but you’re stuck—like the children of Israel, delivered from Egypt, but their minds still filled with wickedness. You need a renewed mind tonight.

    Third, I want to make a call for those who are uncertain about the will of God. It’s not that you have difficulty being different or need transformation. Maybe tonight, you’re unsure about God’s will for your life. You don’t know it, but you want to know it. I want to open this altar for those who are uncertain—to find certainty in Christ. It’s not a small thing to seek the will of God. I believe God has a perfect, unique will for your life.

    We’re going to open this altar for those three groups: those who need strength not to conform, those who need transformation tonight by the renewal of their mind, and those who are uncertain about God’s will. Let’s stand to our feet. We’re going to open this altar for prayer. Come on, church. Begin to cry out to the Lord. If God is dealing with you, if you sense the Holy Spirit drawing you, come. Ask God for transformation.

    Lord, would you speak tonight to hearts? Lord, would you speak to minds? There are minds that need to change tonight. Attitudes that need to change. Automatic thoughts that need to be transformed. Oh, Jesus, I pray that you would reform your church, renew her tonight, set the captives free. I pray, Lord, break the chains of bondage right here at this altar.

    I want to encourage you: lift up your voice and begin to cry out to the Lord for a few moments as we pray.


Keep an eye on our Facebook Page for Daily Devotionals based on this message over the next five days.

Written with Love by Pastor Adam Dragoon

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They’re Back: The Daimonia

The reality of spiritual warfare is often dismissed or misunderstood, even among those who profess faith in Christ. Yet Scripture is clear: we have a real adversary, the devil, who is not merely a symbol of evil but a personal being with a kingdom of darkness. He is described as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour, but his tactics are often subtle—convincing many that he and his minions do not exist. This deception is not just prevalent in the world but has infiltrated the church, where a majority now doubt the literal existence of Satan and the demonic realm.

Sermon Summary

The reality of spiritual warfare is often dismissed or misunderstood, even among those who profess faith in Christ. Yet Scripture is clear: we have a real adversary, the devil, who is not merely a symbol of evil but a personal being with a kingdom of darkness. He is described as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour, but his tactics are often subtle, convincing many that he and his minions do not exist. This deception is not just prevalent in the world but has infiltrated the church, where a majority now doubt the literal existence of Satan and the demonic realm.

Throughout history, the devil has worked through his minions—what the Old Testament calls the Shedim and the New Testament calls the daimonia, or demons. These spiritual forces have been repackaged across cultures and generations, appearing as false gods like Baal, Ashtoreth, and Molech. Their influence is not a relic of the past; they have returned in new forms, shaping the moral and spiritual decay of our society. Baal steals worship from God, Ashtoreth blurs the lines of gender and sexuality, and Molech demands the sacrifice of children. These ancient spirits are at work today, manifesting in the breakdown of the family, the confusion of identity, and the destruction of the next generation.

The problems we face—whether personal struggles or societal crises—are fundamentally spiritual. No political solution, technological advance, or social program can address the root issues because they are driven by unseen spiritual forces. The call is to be sober and vigilant, recognizing the true nature of our enemy and refusing to be distracted by surface-level explanations or solutions.

Yet, there is hope and authority for those who are in Christ. Jesus has given His followers power over all the works of the enemy. The demonic realm is subject to the name of Jesus, and every believer, filled with the Holy Spirit, can stand in victory. But this authority is not automatic; it flows from a genuine relationship with Christ. The name of Jesus is not a magic word, but the expression of a living faith. The invitation is to examine our hearts, ensure we are right with God, and walk in the authority and freedom that Christ has secured for us.

The demonic realm is subject to the name of Jesus, and every believer, filled with the Holy Spirit, can stand in victory.
— Pastor Dave

Watch/Listen


Message Study Guide

Youtube chapters

  • [00:00] - Welcome

  • [01:00] - The Heartbeat of World Evangelism

  • [02:33] - The Story of D.L. Moody and John Farwell

  • [06:03] - The Cost of Advancing the Kingdom

  • [07:35] - Women Who Supported Jesus’ Ministry

  • [09:29] - Gratitude as the Root of Generosity

  • [12:47] - Mary Magdalene’s Transformation

  • [13:55] - The Value of Forgiveness and Giving

  • [14:51] - Zacchaeus: Radical Gratitude in Action

  • [24:15] - Earthly Spending vs. Kingdom Investment

  • [26:22] - From Spectator to Participant

  • [29:07] - Givers Shape Global Impact

  • [33:04] - The Widow’s Offering and Jesus’ Commendation

  • [35:16] - Legacy: The Ripple Effect of Generosity

  • [36:53] - The Call to Respond and Give

  • [39:42] - Invitation to Salvation

  • [42:24] - Giving and the Blessing of God

  • [45:20] - Personal Testimony of Generosity

  • [46:22] - Closing and Final Prayer

Key Takeaways

  1. The greatest deception of the enemy is convincing people—even many Christians—that he does not exist. This spiritual blindness leaves individuals and the church vulnerable to his schemes, as we cannot resist an enemy we refuse to acknowledge. Recognizing the reality of spiritual warfare is the first step toward victory. [03:44]

  2. The demonic realm is not a myth or a relic of ancient superstition; it is active and influential in our world today. The same spirits that masqueraded as false gods in ancient cultures have simply been repackaged for modern times, continuing their work of stealing worship, corrupting identity, and destroying lives. Understanding this continuity helps us discern the true nature of the battles we face. [15:56]

  3. Societal and personal problems are fundamentally spiritual in nature. While politics, technology, and social programs have their place, they cannot address the root issues that stem from spiritual forces. True transformation comes only through spiritual means—prayer, repentance, and the authority of Christ. [20:58]

  4. Believers are not powerless against the enemy. Jesus has given authority to His followers to trample on all the power of the enemy, and the demonic realm is subject to the name of Jesus. This authority is exercised not through ritual or formula, but through a living relationship with Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. [24:28]

  5. The authority of Jesus is not a magic formula to be used apart from relationship. Attempting to invoke His name without truly knowing Him leads to defeat and spiritual danger, as seen in the story of the seven sons of Sceva. The call is to genuine faith, repentance, and a personal walk with Christ, which alone grants access to His victory and power. [29:32]


Bible Reading

  • 1 Peter 5:8 - "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."

  • Ephesians 6:12 - "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."

  • Luke 10:19 - "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you."

Observation Questions

  1. According to 1 Peter 5:8, what are believers instructed to do, and why?

  2. In Ephesians 6:12, who or what does Paul say our real struggle is against?

  3. What authority does Jesus say He gives to His followers in Luke 10:19?

  4. The sermon mentions that many Christians today doubt the literal existence of Satan and demons. What statistics or examples did the pastor give to show this trend? [03:44]

Interpretation Questions

  1. Why do you think Peter uses the image of a "roaring lion" to describe the devil? What does this suggest about the enemy’s tactics? [05:04]

  2. The sermon connects ancient false gods like Baal, Ashtoreth, and Molech to modern cultural issues. How does understanding this spiritual continuity help us see current problems differently? [15:56]

  3. If our struggles are not just physical or social but spiritual (Ephesians 6:12), how should that change the way we approach personal or societal problems? [20:58]

  4. The pastor said that the authority of Jesus is not a magic formula, but flows from a real relationship with Him. Why is this distinction important? [29:32]

Application Questions

  1. The sermon says the devil’s greatest trick is convincing people he doesn’t exist. Have you ever found yourself downplaying or ignoring the reality of spiritual warfare? What effect has that had on your life or faith? [03:44]

  2. The pastor described how ancient demonic influences have been “repackaged” in modern culture, especially in areas like family, identity, and the value of children. Where do you see these influences at work in your own environment (work, school, media, etc.)? How do you respond? [15:56]

  3. Ephesians 6:12 says our real battle is not against people, but spiritual forces. Think of a current conflict or problem you’re facing. How might seeing it as a spiritual battle change your response? [20:58]

  4. The sermon calls us to be “sober and vigilant.” What are some practical ways you can stay alert to spiritual dangers in your daily life? [21:47]

  5. Jesus gives authority to His followers over the enemy, but the pastor warned that this authority is only real for those who have a genuine relationship with Christ. How can you deepen your relationship with Jesus this week? [29:32]

  6. The story of the seven sons of Sceva (Acts 19) was used as a warning against using Jesus’ name without knowing Him. Are there areas in your life where you’ve tried to use “Christian” words or actions without real faith or relationship? What needs to change? [29:32]

  7. The pastor invited everyone to examine their hearts and make sure they are right with God. Is there anything you need to repent of or bring before God today to walk in the authority and freedom Jesus offers? [30:11]

  • Amen. If you have your Bibles, 1 Peter, the book of 1 Peter chapter 5. While I do my gymnastics and get ready over here this morning, 1 Peter chapter 5. Good to see everybody. Great to see you all this morning. Beautiful Sunday morning.

    1 Peter chapter 5, verse 8. We're going to look at one verse of Scripture in just a moment. There's a famous quote that shows up in various forms in our culture every few years, every generation or so. The latest version of this I could find was from the movie The Usual Suspects back in 1995. And the quote goes something like this: "The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist." You heard that before, or some variation of that. The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.

    I picked up an article in Columbia Magazine. It's written by somebody styling themselves as La Carmina. This is their pen name. They didn't give their actual name. But they did mention that they are an actual Satanist. They actually wrote a book called The Little Book of Satanism. And in this article in Columbia Magazine... The Little Book of appears, Asia Alec, Asia Alec, Asia Alec, Asia Alec, Asia Alec, Asia Alec, and they said this: "Most Satanists don't actually believe in Satan and don't worship him as either a god or a force of evil. For the most part, Satanists are non-theists and view Satanism as a personal liberation from traditional theistic beliefs. Satan is a metaphor. We believe in the historical idea of Lucifer as a lightbringer, a principled rebel, a rebellious angel willing to stand up against arbitrary rules of authority."

    The Satanic Temple is dedicated to activism around issues like reproductive rights and LGBTQ+ causes. Now, before you say, "Okay, that's just incredibly stupid. Satanists don't believe in Satan? They don't believe in the very being that they're named after?" Before you say that, Pastor, listen to this. A recent survey by the Cultural Research Center found that Americans are more confident about the existence of Satan than they are of God. Overall, 56% contend that Satan is an influential spiritual being, yet almost half are not fully confident that God truly exists.

    Okay, but that's just—Americans in general. What about the church? In another study by the Barna Group, four out of 10 Christians—that's 40%—strongly agreed that Satan is not a living being, but just a symbol of evil. And about another 20% said they somewhat agree with that. So that means 60% of Christians say the devil isn't real. That is worse, if you're keeping track—that's worse than what the world says.

    Church, if a minority of Christians indicated that Satan isn't real, only 8% were not sure what they believe about the existence of Satan. 8% in the church were not sure. If the body of Christ on earth does not think that it has a real enemy, then we're in huge trouble. Can you say amen this morning?

    1 Peter 5:8, one verse of Scripture, says: "Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, the devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."

    I want to pray with you this morning. Why don't we bow our heads quickly and just ask God's help this morning. Father, I'm asking that you would help me this morning. Father, I'm asking for your anointing. God, I have no confidence in my flesh and myself. I'm asking that your Spirit would have right of way to move on every heart and every life in this place. In Jesus' mighty name. We give you praise. Amen.

    This is a sermon I've entitled The Daimonia, and you'll understand why in just a minute. And my brethren from the Kempsville Church, you may have heard me preach something along these lines before. I apologize in advance. I really feel that this is what God would have me to preach today. The Daimonia. I want to look firstly with you at He's real, and so is His kingdom.

    The Bible makes it clear that you and I have a real enemy, not just evil itself as an abstract idea—because evil, quote unquote, especially in our time, can be very loosely defined. If you vote differently than someone else, you might get labeled as evil. Instead, the Bible gives him a name. It is Satan in English, Satan in the ancient Hebrew. It means an opponent, the arch enemy of good. The Word of God actually gives him characteristics. In our text, from 1 Peter, he's called the adversary. He is against you.

    The first time he's mentioned in Scripture by name, we find him opposing Israel. In 1 Chronicles 21:1, "Now Satan stood up against Israel." And you know what? He's still doing that. Jesus said in John 8:44, "He's a murderer and a liar and always has been from the beginning." So even though he's a spiritual being and cannot physically kill us, Jesus says that he's a murderer. He's been killing somebody. This could mean that he's either killed something else—an innocent being, possibly other angels—or that he's inspired people to murder other people, or both.

    Jesus also said he's a thief. John 10:10, "The thief does not come except to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." He's a deceiver, first appearing in the Garden of Eden as the serpent. He deceives Eve. He causes Adam and Eve to sin and plunges the world into darkness. Revelation 12:9 says, "So that great dragon was cast out, the serpent of old, called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world." We also know that he commands an army. Also from Revelation 12:9, "He was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."

    So to think that the devil is not real is to fall for perhaps his greatest deception. As we've already seen, he's already gotten his own followers to fall for it. And he's got the majority of the church to fall for it. Don't you fall for it too.

    In our text, Peter compares the devil to a roaring lion. How many of you know male lions are the king of the jungle? Top of the food chain. The roar of a lion can reach 114 decibels. Now, you may say, "Okay, what does that mean?" Ever hear a gas lawnmower? About 85 decibels. The roar of a lion is 114 decibels—25 times as loud as a gas lawnmower. The roar strikes fear into every other animal. But let's be real—you ever seen a male lion go out and do some hunting? You haven't. They don't do much. It says he walks about like a roaring lion. Male lions don't do a lot of hunting. They leave that for the females, the lionesses, their minions. Once the lionesses have secured the kill, they bring it back to the male lion to feast on. That's why it says he walks about like a roaring lion. He's not chasing you down. He leaves that for his minions.

    You see, Satan has always operated this way. He makes a lot of noise, but he has his minions do his work for him. And who are his minions? In the Old Testament, his minions were referred to as the shedim—false gods, idols, spirits. In the New Testament, the same Greek word is translated daimonia—demons, the demonic realm. It goes without saying—if you don't believe in the devil, why would you believe in demons? But the Bible tells us that Satan has an entire army of these daimonia. He's like a lion, and he sends them out to do his dirty work. They are sent forth, as Jesus said, to steal, to kill, and to destroy. The devil isn't just an idea or a symbol for evil—he's real, and you better come to grips with it sooner rather than later.

    Now, secondly, let's look at all the problems in our world. Do you ever wonder what happened to the ancient gods? Every culture going back to the beginning has had gods they worshipped. Where are Zeus and Poseidon, the Greek pantheon? Where are Jupiter, Mars, Apollo—the Roman gods? Where are Odin and Thor? I know you say he's in Marvel movies now, but where are they? Were they just myths that died out, or did something happen to them? Jesus said in Matthew 12:43, "When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that man is worse than the first." So shall it be with this wicked generation, Jesus says.

    This isn't just something for individuals—this is happening with entire generations. When Jesus comes in, the false gods get kicked out, can you say amen? In generations past, we've had incredible revivals—people repenting of sins, idols being broken. That's what we see in the greatest revivals in history: people bringing things they were bound by to the altar and breaking them—alcohol, drugs, ungodly books, movies, music, maybe even video games. Can anybody say amen? But too often, they bring them to the altar, they break the idol, and that's where it ends. People don't realize—those spirits come back. And when they do, they're coming back harder.

    Remember what happened when Moses confronted Pharaoh and said, "Let my people go." Each of the ten plagues directly confronted a different Egyptian god. So what happened to the old gods? They were cast out, but then they regrouped and came back stronger.

    How do Satan's minions mess with our lives? The Bible identifies four major demons. The first is Baal. Baal is the supreme male god of the Canaanites and Phoenicians. He's always associated with being the Lord of the Earth, worshipped in high places—mountains, hills. Baal's symbol was the thunderbolt. Baal gets repackaged with every new culture that comes along—showing up as Zeus, Jupiter, Thor. What does Baal do? He takes away worship from God. He turns the hearts of men, steals their hearts.

    The Bible also identifies Ashtoreth—the queen of heaven. This is where we get the word star. She is the goddess of sexual pleasure, fertility, and war. She appears repeatedly as Ishtar, Venus, Aphrodite. She's worshipped in prostitute temples. Her symbol is a lioness; sometimes she appears as a horse. She blurs the lines between male and female. Does this sound familiar? She had male priests who dressed as women and danced for children. Some even transitioned themselves. She demanded a special month of worship—her month. The early Christian writer St. Jerome called it Unium, which we now call June.

    Then there's Molech, the destroyer—masquerading as a pagan fertility god, also known as Saturn or Kronos. He has the body of a man and the head of a bull, with fire in his belly and outstretched arms. What did he demand? Child sacrifice. Mostly, innocent children. And what did he do? He steals, kills, and destroys—just as Jesus said. Baal steals hearts away from God, kills through sexualization, pornography, divorce, redefining marriage, male and female. Ashtoreth destroys the next generation through idolatry and sexual perversion. Moloch destroys children through abortion.

    And church, they're back. Just as Jesus said, they've returned with vengeance. They've come back and found our house spiritually empty. As a society, we've been living on the spiritual victories of our ancestors without much for ourselves. Our house was unguarded. So they gathered more, bigger, and worse demons, and they permeated our culture.

    Remember what that Satanist author said—the Satanic Temple is dedicated to activism around reproductive rights (abortion) and LGBTQ+ causes (destroying the family). No longer do you find teachers in schools teaching the Lord's Prayer or our Christian history, flaws and all—including slavery. Instead, there's a focus on anti-Christian, anti-God, pro-demonic propaganda. It began back in the early '60s when the Bible and prayer were taken out of schools. Then came the sexual revolution, birth control, Roe v. Wade, and our culture has been on a demonic death spiral ever since.

    When ancient Israel turned from God, they followed the same path—worshipping Baal and Ashtoreth, sacrificing children to Molech. But in our generation, we've slain many more children than Israel ever did. In the 2019 case Box v. Planned Parenthood, Justice Clarence Thomas noted that in some parts of New York City, black children are more likely to be aborted than born alive—up to eight times more likely than white children in the same area. Is that okay with you? Is that okay with me? It's not okay.

    But this problem isn't just societal. I'm not talking about politics or who you voted for. That's a distraction. The real issues are spiritual. Ephesians 6:12 says, "We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Money problems, relationship issues, anger, addiction—they're all rooted in spiritual forces. We won't solve them by bowing to the new "gods" of science, technology, or money. We can't depend on medication, social media, or government to save us. These are spiritual problems, coming from demonic forces, and they require a spiritual solution.

    Finally, I want to affirm that the devil and daimonia can be defeated. Our main text tells us to be sober and vigilant. That doesn't just mean avoiding drunkenness; it means being calm and alert in spirit. It means watching carefully and paying close attention. Most people today are either anxious—taking medication—or apathetic—they just don't care. But we must be alert, because our enemy has his minions surrounding us, ready to ambush.

    At just the right moment, he'll make a lot of noise, scare us, and try to cause us to run into his trap. But if we stay calm and on guard, this won't happen. James 4:7 says, "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." Think of a lion attacking a giraffe. The lion runs at it, trying to latch onto its legs or neck. But if the giraffe remembers it's a giraffe and uses its powerful neck and legs to shake off the lion, it can send the lion running or even kill it. Use the power you already have.

    Jesus said in Luke 10:19, "Behold, I give you authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you." Don't rejoice in that authority pridefully—rejoice because your names are written in heaven. The spirits are subject to us because Jesus already gave us that power.

    Acts 1:8 says, "You shall receive power after the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to me." Every demonic spirit, no matter how powerful, is subject to the Holy Spirit, which God gives us freely. Baal, Ashtoreth, Molech, Satan—they recognize Jesus Christ as the supreme authority of the universe.

    I remember Pastor Oscar Gaffor, a missionary in India, told a story about a devout Hindu who came into his church. Hindus have over 330 million gods, constantly making new ones. This man said he had a vision while praying to his gods. He saw all these gods in front of him and asked, "Are you the one and only? Are you the most powerful?" Each god said, "No, I am just a spirit." Finally, he saw a bright light, and Jesus stepped forward. All the other gods fled. The man said, "Who are you?" Jesus replied, "I am Jesus." The man believed.

    Philippians 2:9 says, "God has highly exalted Him and given Him a name above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow." We don't have to walk around defeated. We are victorious in Jesus' name. If you have money problems, be obedient in tithes and offerings, and pray for God's protection. If you have relationship issues, illnesses, or addictions, remember Matthew 16:18—"I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." You have authority to bind the devil and his minions.

    The question is: what about you? The earlier study also showed that many in the church are confused about the Holy Spirit. Over half—52%—say the Holy Spirit is not a living entity but merely a symbol of God's power, presence, or purity. Will you be sober, vigilant, and submissive to God? Will you receive the Holy Spirit and exercise the authority given to you in Jesus' name?

    This morning, it's your choice. I ask you to bow your heads with me across this place. The daimonia—the spirits we've discussed—is real, including the authority Jesus gives us to trample on the enemy. But none of this is possible unless you have a relationship with Jesus Christ. It would be foolish to think that just calling on His name in trouble will automatically make all your problems disappear, like a magic word. The men in Acts 19 tried that—seven sons of Sceva—they said, "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, come out." The demon replied, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?" The demon overpowered them, and they fled battered and naked.

    You can't just use Jesus' name as a magic talisman. You need a relationship with Him. John 3:3 says, "Unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Romans 10:9 says, "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."

    What about you? Is Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior? Do you have a relationship with Him? That's what He went to the cross for—paying for our sins so we can be in God's presence again. Do you have that relationship today? If not, would you lift your hand? If you've never confessed Jesus as the Son of God or asked Him to forgive your sins, would you lift your hand this morning? All across this place.

    Jesus is not your Savior if you were to die right now—God forbid. But if you died today, would you wake up in eternity standing before God? Would you make heaven your home? If you cannot honestly say yes, you should lift your hand.

    Are you backslidden? Were you serving God once, but you've walked away? Maybe something happened. If you're not right with God right now, would you lift your hand? We want to pray with you. Not to join a church or sign a membership card—nothing crazy like that. Just to get right with God.

    If you're unsaved or backslidden, lift your hand now. Praise God.

    Church, I want to open the altar this morning. Maybe you have something on your heart you want to bring before God. We always want to end our services with a time of prayer, where you can come to the altar and lay things before Him. Maybe it's something I didn't even mention but is on your mind. The altars are open. I encourage you—come down and pray. Let's all pray together. Let's open the altar now.


Keep an eye on our Facebook Page for Daily Devotionals based on this message over the next five days.

Written with Love by Pastor Adam Dragoon

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Adam Dragoon Adam Dragoon

The Gospel Needs Givers

Giving is what sustains the gospel. Even Jesus, the Son of God, relied on the faithful support of others to carry out His earthly ministry. The partnership between goers and senders is essential; both are equally important in God’s eyes. When we give, we move from being spectators to participants, investing in something that will outlast us. Our resources, when given to the kingdom, become spiritual investments with eternal returns.

Sermon Summary

In this World Evangelism Sunday message, the focus is on the vital role each believer plays in advancing the gospel to the nations. Drawing from personal experience as a former missionary and from the example of our fellowship’s global reach, the call is clear: the mission of God is not just for a select few, but for every member of the body of Christ. The upcoming trip to Cambodia is a tangible opportunity for our congregation to participate in this mission, whether by going or by sending.

The story of D.L. Moody and John Farwell illustrates that while some are called to preach and pioneer, others are called to empower the mission through their resources. Farwell, though never a preacher, used his business and finances to undergird Moody’s ministry, resulting in a legacy that has touched tens of thousands. This mirrors the biblical account in Luke 8, where women like Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna—transformed by Jesus—supported His ministry out of their own means. Their gratitude for what Christ had done in their lives overflowed into generosity, making them essential partners in the work of the kingdom.

Gratitude is the spark that ignites true generosity. When we remember what Christ has done—how He found us in our brokenness, forgave our sins, and gave us new life—our natural response is to ask, “What can I do to bless my Savior?” Giving is not a burden, but a privilege and a joy. The kingdom of God advances not primarily through the wealthy, but through ordinary people who give sacrificially out of love for Christ and His mission.

Giving is what sustains the gospel. Even Jesus, the Son of God, relied on the faithful support of others to carry out His earthly ministry. The partnership between goers and senders is essential; both are equally important in God’s eyes. When we give, we move from being spectators to participants, investing in something that will outlast us. Our resources, when given to the kingdom, become spiritual investments with eternal returns.

The impact of generosity is often unseen in this life, but it is never forgotten by God. Every soul reached, every life changed, becomes part of our legacy. Even the smallest gift, given in faith, can have a ripple effect that touches nations. The greatest use of our lives is to spend them for something that will endure forever—the salvation of souls and the glory of God among the nations.

The impact of generosity is often unseen in this life, but it is never forgotten by God.
— Pastor Adam

Watch/Listen


Message Study Guide

Youtube chapters

  • [00:00] - Welcome

  • [01:00] - The Heartbeat of World Evangelism

  • [02:33] - The Story of D.L. Moody and John Farwell

  • [06:03] - The Cost of Advancing the Kingdom

  • [07:35] - Women Who Supported Jesus’ Ministry

  • [09:29] - Gratitude as the Root of Generosity

  • [12:47] - Mary Magdalene’s Transformation

  • [13:55] - The Value of Forgiveness and Giving

  • [14:51] - Zacchaeus: Radical Gratitude in Action

  • [24:15] - Earthly Spending vs. Kingdom Investment

  • [26:22] - From Spectator to Participant

  • [29:07] - Givers Shape Global Impact

  • [33:04] - The Widow’s Offering and Jesus’ Commendation

  • [35:16] - Legacy: The Ripple Effect of Generosity

  • [36:53] - The Call to Respond and Give

  • [39:42] - Invitation to Salvation

  • [42:24] - Giving and the Blessing of God

  • [45:20] - Personal Testimony of Generosity

  • [46:22] - Closing and Final Prayer

Key Takeaways

  1. Gratitude Fuels Generosity: True generosity is born from a heart that remembers what Christ has done. When we reflect on our own salvation and the transformation Jesus has brought, our giving becomes a joyful response rather than an obligation. Gratitude compels us to ask, “How can I bless the One who has blessed me?” [09:29]

  2. Ordinary People, Extraordinary Impact: God often uses those who seem insignificant in the world’s eyes to accomplish His greatest purposes. The women who supported Jesus’ ministry were not famous, but their faith and giving were essential to the advance of the gospel. Never underestimate what God can do through your faithful, even seemingly small, contribution. [13:55]

  3. Giving Transforms Spectators into Participants: When we invest our resources in God’s mission, we move from the sidelines into the heart of what God is doing. Our giving ties us to every soul saved, every life changed, and every work established. It is through this partnership that we become co-laborers with Christ in the harvest. [26:22]

  4. Faithful Giving Invites God’s Miraculous Provision: God delights in using what we have, no matter how little, to accomplish His purposes. Like the widow who gave her last meal to Elijah or the woman who gave two coins at the temple, God honors sacrificial giving and often responds with supernatural provision. The miracle is not just in the gift, but in the faith that releases it. [33:38]

  5. Our Legacy is Measured by Eternal Impact: The true value of our generosity will be revealed in eternity, when we see the lives touched and transformed because we gave. Every act of giving for the sake of the gospel becomes part of a legacy that outlives us. One day, in heaven, we may meet those whose lives were changed because we chose to invest in God’s mission. [35:16]


Bible Reading

  • Luke 8:1-3 NKJV- Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve [were] with Him, 2 and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities--Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons, 3 and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance.

  • Mark 12:41-44 NKJV- Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many [who were] rich put in much. 42 Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. 43 So He called His disciples to [Himself] and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; 44 "for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood."

  • 1 Corinthians 3:6-9 NKJV- I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, [you are] God's building.

Observation Questions

  1. According to Luke 8:1-3, who were some of the people supporting Jesus’ ministry, and how did they do it?

  2. In Mark 12:41-44, what did Jesus notice about the widow’s offering compared to the others?

  3. In the sermon, what was the connection between gratitude and generosity, especially in the lives of Mary Magdalene and Zacchaeus? ([12:47] / [14:51])

  4. What does 1 Corinthians 3:6-9 say about the roles of different people in God’s work?

Interpretation Questions

  1. Why do you think the Bible specifically mentions the women who supported Jesus financially? What does this tell us about their role in the kingdom? ([07:35])

  2. The widow in Mark 12 gave “all she had to live on.” What does this reveal about the kind of giving that pleases God? How is this different from giving out of abundance? ([33:04])

  3. The sermon says, “Gratitude is what sparks generosity.” How does remembering what Christ has done for us change the way we view giving? ([09:29])

  4. The pastor shared that both “goers” and “senders” are essential in God’s mission. Why is it important to see both roles as equally valuable? ([26:22])

Application Questions

  1. The sermon shared stories of ordinary people—like John Farwell and the women in Luke 8—whose generosity made a huge impact. Do you ever feel like your contribution is too small to matter? How does this message challenge that thinking? ([29:07])

  2. The pastor said, “Gratitude is what sparks generosity.” Take a moment to remember a time when God changed your life. How can you let that gratitude overflow into generosity this week? ([09:29])

  3. The example of Zacchaeus shows radical gratitude in action. Is there an area in your life where God is prompting you to give or serve out of thankfulness? What might that look like? ([14:51])

  4. The sermon mentioned that giving turns us from spectators into participants in God’s mission. In what ways have you been a “spectator” in the past? What is one step you can take to become more of a “participant”? ([26:22])

  5. The widow in Mark 12 gave sacrificially, even when it seemed small. Is there something you feel God is asking you to give—time, money, or something else—that feels like a stretch? What fears or hesitations do you have, and how can you trust God with them? ([33:04])

  6. The pastor talked about the upcoming Cambodia trip and the need for both goers and senders. How can you personally support missions—whether by going, giving, or praying? ([36:53])

  7. The sermon said, “Our legacy is measured by eternal impact.” What kind of legacy do you want to leave? How can your generosity today shape that legacy for the future? ([35:16])

  • We find ourselves here on the last Sunday of the month, which is our World Evangelism Sunday. We have this because my wife and I, we were missionaries. We served four and a half years in Eastern Europe and the nation of Bulgaria. And that means missions work is near and dear to our hearts.

    We also have a fellowship. What you are experiencing here tonight is just a tip of the iceberg. We have 4,000 churches in our organization, and there are 4,000 Sunday night services happening around the world along with us here tonight in different time zones, of course. But it's incredible to think about all that God is doing.

    And one of the main focuses of our fellowship is sending pioneers and workers into nations, into cities, and believing God to raise up indigenous workers in those nations. And so there's one thing from the calendar that I did not tell you about tonight, and that is an upcoming trip that we will be taking to the nation of Cambodia. The plan is to make that trip in the month of August. We've had a sign-up sheet out here for about six months and haven't had any brave takers to be a part of that trip.

    But what we want to do tonight is I want to encourage you. We need finances for this upcoming trip. Now, I know I've been asking for finances. We ask for finances in every single service. But I want to encourage you tonight because this is a separate and a very special gift that we want to give specifically for this one need for the trip to Cambodia.

    We have a couple that is there, Pastor Gilbert and Judy Ong. They've been sent out from the Chandler Church, the same mother church. They've been there for about two years. And the reason that we are going to them, the reason that we want to go and minister in that church, the city is Phnom Penh, and the nation is Cambodia. It's in southeastern Asia.

    And the reason we want to help them is because they are members, they're pastoring, leading that church. That church has been there for about five or six years. They've been there for about two years. And in the two years that they've been there, they have had zero Americans come and visit them. And so we want to be a help to them.

    And what's amazing is that from this church, from the Potter's House in Virginia Beach, you can be a blessing to them. And I want to encourage you tonight. We're gonna take up an offering. I want to encourage you in that way. So I want to open up our Bibles to Luke chapter 8. If you join me there. Luke chapter 8. And we're gonna take that offering as soon as we finish this message.

    So how many here have heard the name Dwight Moody? Anybody here? Dwight Moody, founder of the Moody Institute. And he was a great 19th-century evangelist who preached to millions across the United States and the United Kingdom. The reason that his name is well known is because he was a man of passion, power, and great purpose. His voice across many cities around the world. His sermons stirred many souls, and his legacy moves on. Lives on through churches that he planted and the famous Moody Bible Institute, which continues to train ministers, pastors, and missionaries to this day.

    He's the kind of guy that when you think about somebody who changes the world, he is that kind of guy. Through his ministry, God used him powerfully. But there's a name that very few people know that is responsible for much of what Moody experienced, and that name is John Farwell. Anybody heard the name John Farwell? I didn't before I found this information.

    And John Farwell, the interesting story is that he was no preacher. He never held revival meetings. He never stepped behind a pulpit. He never crossed an ocean on a missions trip. He had a desk, a business, and he had a conviction. And his conviction was, I can use my finances that God has given me to empower the gospel. And in that way, he became just as much part of the mission as the one who was behind the pulpit.

    Whenever Moody needed a place to preach, this man John Farwell rented the hall. When Moody dreamed of training a school for young missionaries, Farwell donated the land. When Moody planned crusades all around Chicago, Farwell rallied other businessmen to back him financially. Eventually, because of the growing ministry, Farwell became the president of the board of trustees at the Moody Bible Institute.

    To this day, that institution has trained over 50,000 ministers and missionaries who have gone on to reach every corner of the globe. We cannot overstate the impact of this man's generosity, the willingness to be used by God in different ways for different purposes. And we recognize that the body of Christ has different members, just like your body has different members. You have hands, you have feet. They look the same, but they do different things. Your body has eyes and ears, different functions for different purposes. And so it is in the kingdom of God.

    There are those like D.L. Moody who preach the gospel and are powerfully used by God in direct ministry to hearts. There's also people like John Farwell, never gaining a spotlight, never even wanting a spotlight, but using the gift that God gave him to enable the kingdom to thrive. And so D.L. Moody shook the world, but it was Farwell who paid the bills.

    And we have to recognize tonight that for the kingdom to go forward, for the gospel to be advanced, there are bills to pay. And when it comes to paying those bills, God calls unique and everyday people like you and me. And I want to read this scripture from Luke chapter 8, where we find that there is also in the scripture a record of those who provided financially for the ministry of Jesus.

    Now, we know Jesus, in the gospels, did many amazing things. He prayed for the sick and they were healed, opened blind eyes and deaf ears. He preached incredible sermons that have never been matched in all of history. He was even raised from the dead. But you know what? I want you to just understand for a second that for three years, Jesus ran a ministry on earth, and that ministry had bills to pay.

    And what's amazing about the Bible record here is that it tells us who paid the bills. And you might never have heard these names before, but here they are recorded for all eternity. Let's read together. Luke chapter 8, verse 1.

    Now it came to pass afterward that he went through every city and village, preaching and bringing glad tidings of the kingdom of God. The 12 disciples, apostles, were with him. And here we go—certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons; and Joanna, the wife of Chusa, Herod's steward; and a third woman, Susanna; and many others who provided for him from their substance.

    Let me pray for a moment. Lord, we are grateful for the opportunity to gather in your house. Lord, we recognize the work that you are doing, the great mission that you have put us on. And I pray on this World Evangelism Sunday that you would touch the hearts of people so that we can provide for the needs of your kingdom. We thank you, Lord, for all that you're going to do. In Jesus' mighty name, God's people would say, amen.

    First, I want to share with you this truth tonight: gratitude is what sparks generosity. When you are grateful—we spoke about gratitude this morning—we spoke about communion, how Jesus said, "Remember me" through this sacrament, through this holy action that we are called to do on a regular basis. As we take the bread, we remember the broken body of Jesus. We drink the cup, the blood, which is the new covenant in Jesus Christ. We thank God for all of the imagery and the meaning, the impact of that act.

    But why do we do that? It's a very compelling picture, isn't it? Of what Christ did for us. And what it should produce in you whenever you eat the bread and drink the cup—hopefully, if your heart is anywhere close to being sensitive to God—it should produce gratitude.

    You know what, Lord? You didn't have to do that. I will do this together. I... you didn't have to go to the cross. You didn't have to shed your blood. You didn't even have to come down from heaven. You didn't have to be publicly mocked and shamed and whipped. You didn't have to wear the crown of thorns. You didn't have to receive the spikes in your hands and feet. You didn't have to do any of that. You owed that to nobody, but Lord, you were willing to do that for me.

    What does that do to you? I don't know about you, but that makes me feel grateful. And when we are grateful, the next logical thing to happen is: what can I do to be a blessing? Is there anything, Lord, that I could possibly do to show and express my profound gratitude for what you have done in my life?

    I remember where Jesus found me. I was broken, lost, confused, angry. A young man, a child of divorced parents. I was about 16 years old. My two grandfathers had died in the previous six months. I was dealing with the reality of the shortness of life for the first time. One of my grandfathers was a righteous man, a Christian, and I know he went to heaven. I was there in the hospital room when he breathed his last, and Jesus was on his lips to the very end. I know where he went, and I know where he is.

    My other grandfather was not a believer. He mocked Christianity. I loved him dearly, but I am very sorry to say that I don't think he's in heaven. He never confessed Christ as his Savior. That reality, as a 16-year-old boy, seeing two of my grandfathers pass into eternity, had an impact on me. In my confusion, in my brokenness, I cried out to God. I said, "God, are you even there?" I didn't know if you are or not.

    And I want to tell you, God answered my prayer. As a confused 16-year-old boy, God spoke to me. God showed me that I was worth something to Him—that He was not going to throw me away. And I will never forget what Christ did for me. He changed my life. And when this life gets hard, when ministry gets hard, when pastoring gets hard, when dealing with difficult people gets hard—you know what? I'm still grateful for how He changed me.

    So, Lord, I'm willing. If you are willing to do that for me, then I'm willing to do a few things for You.

    Look at these women in our scripture. The Bible says, first of all, about Mary Magdalene, that she had been delivered from seven demons. Mary Magdalene was what you would call a woman of the street. She had a history. She had a reputation. If you ask the men of that city, "Do you know Mary Magdalene?" they would all say, "Yes, we know her. We've met her." She was demon-possessed.

    And when Jesus found her, He changed her in a radical way. He changed her so profoundly that even the people who knew her from before said, "She's different." And she began to follow Jesus. And, you know, when you come out of a life like that—I didn't come out from a life like that. I know some people who did come out of addiction, pornography, hatred, sexual addiction. I want to tell you, I bet Mary Magdalene was more than willing to share whatever resources God had put in her life.

    There were others like her who had been healed of diseases, lifted out of shame, and welcomed into the circle of Jesus. These women, as specified in this scripture, remembered what Jesus did for them. They remembered how He had changed their lives. What price can you put on that? Like, when your sins are forgiven, when your name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life, when you have a place in eternity reserved for you—what is that worth? Can you put a price tag on what Christ did for you?

    And so, that's why—when we have a heart of gratitude—we want to be a blessing to our Savior. We want to help Him. We want to follow Him. We want to do His will.

    We see it in Zacchaeus. You know the story of the chief tax collector. As He's passing through, Zacchaeus is a short little guy, and he wants to get a view of Jesus. So he climbs up on a sycamore tree, crawls out on a branch, and he's looking. He's like, "Is this the guy everyone's been talking about?" Jesus sees him hanging from a branch like a monkey, and He calls him by name. "Zacchaeus, come down, for today I must stay at your house." And can you imagine? Out of that whole crowd of people, Zacchaeus is counted as one worthy to receive the Savior into his home.

    Jesus could have gone to anyone's house, but He chose Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus, who had ripped people off, who had a bad reputation, who had turned from his Jewish roots and culture—man, it was a bad position to be in. But with all that reputation, Jesus shows up at his house. Zacchaeus stands up to Jesus and says, "Listen, Jesus, here's what I'm willing to do." In Luke 19, he says, "I'll give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will return fourfold."

    What is so interesting to me about that story is that when Jesus hears the heart of this man, He doesn't say, "Oh, Zacchaeus, I appreciate your offer, but you don't really have to do that. That's above and beyond." No. Jesus didn't say that. In fact, Jesus was encouraged. He said, "Look at this man. Look at his true faith. Behold, a true son of Israel." Jesus encouraged his genuine gratitude, his giving.

    Do you recognize all that Christ has done for you? If you recognize His salvation, His blessing, His calling, then you know—giving is not a burden. It's not a bummer. It's not something we have to do. It's something we get to do for the kingdom. Can you say amen?

    Can I tell you tonight that radical givers are not often rich? You might be here thinking, "Pastor, I appreciate you trying to raise funds for world evangelism, but I've got nothing. I have very little." And what I would say to you tonight is, God very rarely asks large riches from the wealthy. For the most part, the kingdom resources come from average, everyday people like you and me—that's the reality of the kingdom.

    I would take one Mary Magdalene over a dozen tight-fisted Pharisees. I would take one of these women—choose her—and her, instead of a hundred who came out of the temple, full of devils, now full of faith. That is what revival looks like. When it hits your heart, it hits your bank account—not the other way around. If salvation has touched you, it should also touch your wallet.

    It was Amy Carmichael who said, "You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving." Isn't it true? Anything you love in this life, you're more than willing to give toward. If you love your wife, you love to bless her. You love your children. You want to put food in their mouths. You want to give them a good, stable home. It is not a burden; it is a blessing to be able to give to what you love.

    Some of you love video games, sports, hobbies. When you have extra funds, supporting those things isn't a burden—it's a joy. And if we love the kingdom, if we love what God is doing in faraway places, then this is not a burden. This is a privilege. We get to do this, not have to do this.

    The gospel is spread through gratitude that sparks generosity. Secondly tonight, giving is what sustains the gospel. Now, you would think, "Jesus is king of kings and Lord of lords. Jesus, who walks on water, turns water into wine, produces a coin in a fish's mouth—" you know, all these miracles. But when it comes to supporting His ministry, He doesn't automatically produce a pot of gold. He doesn't go "poof" and supply all needs.

    How does He supply? How does He partner with ordinary people to meet those needs? He has them giving. Luke 8, verse 3, says that these women helped support Jesus out of their own means. Yes, even Jesus needed financial support. Did you realize that? Mary Magdalene, and these three women—Chusa's wife, Joanna, and Susanna—probably never have their names on a flyer, never be highlighted. But I wonder, in 2,000 years, how many sermons have been preached about them? Probably very few compared to all the sermons about Jesus and His ministry.

    And yet, His ministry could not go forward without their support. Romans 10 asks, "How can they hear unless someone preaches? And how can they preach unless they are sent?" We find this throughout the gospel: there are goers and there are senders. Both are essential.

    I'm willing to be a goer—like, not everybody can do that. You, this congregation, have enabled me to go and preach in different places around the world. Last year, I was in Hyderabad, India; before that, Bangalore. I’ve been to Mozambique, South Africa. Thank you for giving me that opportunity to share the gospel in these nations.

    And we don't take it lightly. So now, as we face this opportunity in Cambodia, I want you to realize—love—you have a goer. That's me. And if some of you want to be a goer, the opportunity is open. I'd love to take someone with me. Got a passport? Let's go. We need goers and we need senders. Both are critically important. Just because I go doesn't mean I’m more important than you. I could not go without your support.

    So, how can they hear unless someone preaches? And how can they preach unless they are sent? William Carey, the father of modern missions, said to his supporting church, "I will go down into the pit if you will hold the rope." That’s what we’re talking about tonight. We want the gospel to keep going forward. We want to be part of every soul saved on the field.

    Just realize: when you give tonight, when we raise this offering, you are part of that. You are invested in that. Every soul saved, every visitor who hears the gospel—you're part of that as a giver, as a sender.

    Hudson Taylor said, "God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supply." What's amazing is that when we give our hard-earned money—yes, I know how tough it is in this economy—it turns us from spectators into participants. It aligns our hearts with what heaven is doing, not just what earth is doing.

    Your finances can take on a spiritual dimension. When you go to Walmart and spend $200 on groceries, that’s easy. It’s used up, gone. When you buy a Chick-fil-A sandwich, it’s gone in a moment. But when you invest in a missions trip, a building fund, or a kingdom purpose—those funds are not wasted. We use them for God's work. And God keeps good books. Jesus said, "Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal."

    Investing in the kingdom, in souls—that’s an eternal investment. And there is a future return. It’s not like a 401(k) or stock market; it’s a spiritual return. You won’t see it until we all arrive in eternity.

    Charles Spurgeon said, "Every Christian is either a missionary or an imposter." That’s a strong statement. I’ll let that sink in. You might not be the one preaching or going, but every one of us is called to a mission. I’m not getting many amens tonight, Mr. Stephen. But I want to tell you: if Jesus needed support, so do our missionaries. Angels aren’t paying for airfare—I wish they would. I wish they’d sprinkle gold dust on our services tonight. But the reality is, God asks His people to supply His needs.

    I’ve been in the third world. Some of you have been on these missions trips. I’ve seen the faces and smiles of people whose lives are touched and transformed forever. I remember Nigeria—there was a church three hours outside of town, with a tin roof, no windows, dirt floor, outhouse in the back. Right, Amanda? You became very familiar with that outhouse. I want to tell you, in that service, God moved. It was rainy season, and outside the church was a huge pothole—like a swimming pool. The only way in was wading through muddy water, with no idea what was in that water.

    But those people, in their Sunday best, were smiling. They hiked up their dresses, took off their shoes, and went through that muddy water to hear the gospel. That’s real sacrifice. And it’s worth it.

    I want to close with this last thought: Givers can shape global impact. In Luke chapter 8, it mentions Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, and many others. Did you catch that? Many others who provided for Him out of their substance. Only heaven knows their names. We don’t. We have no books with their names. We have Peter, James, John—those we know. But behind the scenes, there were many others working, giving out of their means so that the gospel could go forward.

    I always think of the widow in 1 Kings 17. Elijah was passing through, and God said, "I will provide for you." Elijah was thankful, and he expected a miracle. But God took him to a poor widow’s house. She had only one meal left. She said, "I have one meal left. After I eat this, my son and I will die." And God told Elijah, "Go and stay with her." She gave her last meal in faith. She didn’t go into debt. She didn’t give on a credit card. She simply gave what she had, and God supplied. Her jar of oil and her flour never ran out. Every time she opened it, there was more. That’s divine provision.

    Maybe you feel like that widow today—nothing left, just a little bit of faith. And you think, "Lord, it’s kind of rude for you to ask for my last." But I want to tell you: if God asks, it’s because He’s about to do a miracle. Be sensitive to the Spirit. Ask, "Lord, what would you have me give?"

    In Mark 12, there’s the story of the widow who gave two mites. Jesus watched her drop her offering. He said, "She gave more than all the others." Because she gave everything she had—100%. And Jesus honored that small gift. Others gave large amounts, but she gave all she had in faith.

    Every gift counts. Don’t underestimate what God can do with ordinary people who have extraordinary faith. Every soul we reach is part of your legacy. In 1 Corinthians 3, it says, "One plants, another waters, but God gives the increase." Your giving is tied to every baptism, every life transformed.

    And one day, when we enter heaven, I believe there will be people who come up and say, "Thank you. Because you gave, I am here." I saw a post on WhatsApp from Mary Hungandu, our missionary in Nigeria. She posted a picture of a young man preaching on the street with a bullhorn. The caption said he was saved 12 years ago when Pastor Dragoon and the team from Virginia Beach visited their church. Now, he’s preaching the gospel in the streets. His life was radically changed.

    Your giving—your support—has a ripple effect. It’s part of that miracle. Who knows the eternal impact of your generosity?

    As we close, remember: the greatest use of your life is to spend it on something that outlasts you. That’s why we’re raising this offering tonight. We’re going to bow our heads in a moment. I thank you for your attention and your willingness to hear this.

    We have an upcoming trip to Cambodia. I plan to go myself, and I’d love to take someone with me. If you have a desire to set aside funds or seek sponsorship, we’d love to have a team. The cost is about $2,000 per person—tickets, lodging, food. It’s a worthy expense.

    Before we take the offering, I want to share the gospel with you. It would be a crime to travel around the world and preach the good news and not give you that same opportunity tonight. Maybe you’re here, and your life is broken because of sin. You’re separated from God. The good news is, Jesus came, died, and rose again. You can experience His life-changing power tonight.

    If you’re here and you want that change, I invite you to respond. With courage, lift a hand and say, "Pastor, pray for me. I’m not saved, but I want to be." Is there anyone? Quickly, just lift your hand. I see your hand. Thank you.

    Maybe you’re backslidden, wandering, lost. He’s calling you home tonight. If you turn from sin and trust in Jesus, He will save you. Anyone else? Just lift your hand. Thank you, my brother. God is going to help you.

    Today, could we all stand? If you raised your hand or want to come forward, do so now. We’re going to pray together. Greg, we’re going to pray with you. Thank you. Let’s support him as he turns his life to Jesus.

    Pray with me: "God in heaven, thank you for the blood of Jesus. Save me from my sins. Make me a new creation in Christ. I know I’ve done things that hurt you, others, and myself. I confess them now. Cleanse me by the blood of Jesus. I believe Jesus is your Son, that He died and rose again. I receive salvation by faith. Fill me with your Holy Spirit. Give me strength to live a changed life. In Jesus’ name, amen."

    Let’s give Him praise tonight. Thank you, Lord. Hallelujah. We thank You in this place. We give You honor. Amen.

    Greg, were you sincere when you prayed that? If you died today, where would you go? That’s called faith. That man has just expressed his faith in Jesus Christ. And that’s powerful. This is what God can do in your family, your neighborhood, your workplace—if you’re faithful to preach this gospel.

    This message has been the church’s mission for 2,000 years. It’s simple, yet profound. It can transform lives.

    Thank you for the opportunity to pray with you tonight. We appreciate you all. We’re going to be seated again, and I’ll ask the ushers to come forward. I’ve said a lot about this offering already, so I won’t take more time. If you want to participate, but don’t have funds now, we’re doing a two-week pledge. Between now and June 8th, decide an amount God puts on your heart. Whether it’s $10, $50, $100, or more—respond in obedience.

    You can write your pledge on an envelope, or respond to the church’s text message. We’ll keep track. And I believe God will supply seed to the sower. Let’s pray over this. Exercise your faith. Giving is faith in action.

    I’ve seen the blessing of God follow generous gifts. When my wife and I prepared to go to the mission field, we sold our house at the top of the market in 2008, and gave a large portion. I remember dropping a $10,000 check into the offering—one of the most exciting days of my life. That blessing followed that gift.

    So, whether your gift is small or large, it counts. Let’s give generously tonight. Brother Carlos, would you bless the offering? Amen.

    As we pass the baskets, if you want to make a pledge, write it down or respond to the text. We’ll keep it on record. Amen. Glory to God. We thank you all tonight. What a blessing. God is going to help us. Amen.

    I have to go run to the airport—my wife is on her way. So let’s stand together. We’re grateful for all of you. We look forward to our big picnic tomorrow. Let’s close with a word of prayer that God would supply all our needs. Amen.

    Brother Stephen, would you close us in prayer? Amen. Thank God.


Keep an eye on our Facebook Page for Daily Devotionals based on this message over the next five days.

Written with Love by Pastor Adam Dragoon

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Where Are The Blacksmiths?

We are called to be blacksmiths—disciple makers—who forge and sharpen the next generation for spiritual battle. Too often, the church has become a place of entertainment or passive observation, rather than a forge where lives are shaped, challenged, and equipped.

Sermon Summary

In 1 Samuel 13, we see a sobering moment in Israel’s history: the Philistines, Israel’s perennial enemy, had so thoroughly suppressed God’s people that there were no blacksmiths left in the land. Without blacksmiths, Israel had no swords or spears—no means to defend themselves or advance God’s purposes.

The Philistines’ strategy was simple but devastating: if you can keep your enemy from forging weapons, you don’t have to fight them at all. This is not just a story about ancient warfare; it’s a warning for the church today. The miracle of the USS Wisconsin wasn’t just that the ship survived decades of battle, but that the knowledge of how to run it was passed from one generation to the next. In the same way, the church’s survival depends on passing on spiritual knowledge, wisdom, and discipline to the next generation.

We are called to be blacksmiths—disciple makers—who forge and sharpen the next generation for spiritual battle. Too often, the church has become a place of entertainment or passive observation, rather than a forge where lives are shaped, challenged, and equipped. When we neglect discipleship, we end up spiritually stunted, lacking the tools and maturity to face the battles ahead. Worse, we may find ourselves relying on the world’s wisdom, just as Israel had to go to the Philistines to sharpen their tools—paying their enemies for what should have been their own inheritance.

Mentorship and discipleship are not optional extras; they are essential for the church’s survival and fruitfulness. Paul’s instruction to Timothy was clear: receive the truth, teach it to others, and ensure they can pass it on as well. This is a call for every believer, not just pastors or leaders. Whether as parents, spiritual fathers and mothers, or simply as seasoned saints, we are all called to invest in others, to get our hands dirty, to be present and accountable, and to forge disciples who can stand in the day of battle. The church is not a cruise ship; it’s a boot camp. If we are not discipling, we are disobeying. Let us pick up the hammer, invest our lives, and become the blacksmiths God is seeking.

Mentorship and discipleship are not optional extras; they are essential for the church’s survival and fruitfulness.
— Pastor Adam

Watch/Listen


Message Study Guide

Youtube chapters

  • [00:00] - Welcome

  • [01:00] - USS Wisconsin: A Lesson in Passing Down Knowledge

  • [03:25] - The Old Salts Return: Training the Next Generation

  • [05:26] - The Miracle of Transferred Wisdom

  • [06:28] - The Church’s Ancient Technology

  • [08:00] - The Strategy of Suppression: No Blacksmiths in Israel

  • [11:21] - The Church as a Forge, Not a Museum

  • [13:30] - Substituting the Relying on the Enemy

  • [17:54] - The Shortage of Mentors and the Call to Discipleship

  • [22:29] - The Cost of Failing to Train the Next Generation

  • [25:00] - Paul’s Pattern: Four Generations of Discipleship

  • [28:46] - The Church as Boot Camp: Multiplying Disciples

  • [32:41] - The Power of Spiritual Fathers and Teachers

  • [36:19] - Where Are the Blacksmiths? The Call to Invest

  • [37:11] - The Dirty Work of Discipleship

  • [38:10] - The Call to Salvation and Spiritual Influence

  • [41:43] - Praying for Blacksmiths: A Church That Shapes Lives

Key Takeaways

  1. The Enemy’s Strategy is Suppression, Not Just Confrontation: The Philistines didn’t need to defeat Israel in open battle; they simply removed the blacksmiths, cutting off the means to make weapons. In our spiritual lives, the enemy often works not by direct attack, but by subtly removing the sources of strength, wisdom, and spiritual formation. If we neglect the disciplines and relationships that sharpen us, we become easy prey, powerless to advance or defend the faith. [06:28]

  2. The Church is a Forge, Not a Museum: The church is not meant to be a place where we merely remember past victories or admire spiritual artifacts. It is a living forge, where lives are shaped, challenged, and equipped for the battles of today and tomorrow. If we treat the church as a place of passive consumption, we forfeit the very process that prepares us and the next generation for spiritual warfare. [11:21]

  3. Relying on the World’s Tools Weakens the Church: When Israel had to go to the Philistines to sharpen their tools, they were not only dependent on their enemies, but were funding them. In the same way, when believers look to secular sources for spiritual nourishment or formation, we sacrifice our distinctiveness and power. True spiritual sharpening happens in accountable, Christ-centered relationships, not through distant influencers or worldly wisdom. [17:54]

  4. The Absence of Mentors Leads to Spiritual Infantilism: When seasoned believers are too busy or disengaged to mentor others, the next generation remains untrained and unprepared. The result is a church full of spiritual infants—grown men in diapers, as it was said—unable to handle offense or responsibility. The call is for every believer to both receive and give discipleship, ensuring a living chain of spiritual maturity and multiplication. [22:29]

  5. Discipleship Requires Contact, Accountability, and Sacrifice: Iron sharpens iron only through friction, heat, and contact. Discipleship is not a clean or easy process; it requires getting our hands dirty, being present, and allowing others to speak into our lives. The most lasting spiritual impact comes from those willing to invest deeply, correct lovingly, and model faithfulness—whether in the home, the church, or everyday life. [37:11]


Bible Reading

  • 1 Samuel 13:19-20, 22- “Now there was no blacksmith to be found throughout all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, ‘Lest the Hebrews make swords or spears.’ But every one of the Israelites went down to the Philistines to sharpen his plowshare, his mattock, his axe, or his sickle... So on the day of the battle there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people with Saul and Jonathan; but Saul and Jonathan his son had them.”

  • 2 Timothy 2:1-2- “You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.”

  • Titus 2:1-5 (Paul instructs Titus to teach older men and women to live godly lives and to train the younger generation.)

Observation Questions

  1. According to 1 Samuel 13, what specific strategy did the Philistines use to keep Israel weak? 06:28

  2. In the sermon, what was the significance of the USS Wisconsin story, and how did it relate to the church? 05:26

  3. What does Paul instruct Timothy to do in 2 Timothy 2:1-2, and how many generations of discipleship does he mention? 25:00

  4. In Titus 2, what are older men and women specifically told to do for the next generation? 17:54

Interpretation Questions

  1. Why do you think the Philistines chose to remove blacksmiths instead of fighting Israel directly? What does this reveal about the enemy’s tactics in our spiritual lives? 06:28

  2. The sermon says, “The church is not a cruise ship; it’s a boot camp.” What does this mean for our perspective on the church and our role within it? 28:46

  3. What are the dangers of relying on “the world’s tools” or secular sources for spiritual growth, as described in the sermon? 13:30

  4. How does the absence of mentors and disciple-makers affect the spiritual maturity of the church? 22:29

Application Questions

  1. The Philistines’ strategy was to quietly remove the blacksmiths, not to fight openly. Are there “blacksmiths” (sources of spiritual strength, discipline, or wisdom) in your life that you’ve neglected or lost? What would it look like to restore them? 06:28

  2. The USS Wisconsin survived because knowledge was passed down. Who has passed spiritual knowledge to you, and who are you passing it on to? Is there someone you could intentionally invest in this month? 05:26

  3. The sermon warns against treating the church as a place of entertainment or passive observation. In what ways have you been a “spectator” rather than a “blacksmith”? What is one step you can take to become more active in discipling others? 11:21

  4. When Israel had to go to the Philistines to sharpen their tools, they became dependent on their enemies. Are there areas in your spiritual life where you are relying on “the world’s tools” instead of Christ-centered relationships? What needs to change? 13:30

  5. Paul’s pattern in 2 Timothy 2:2 is to teach others who can teach others. Are you currently being discipled by someone, and are you discipling anyone else? If not, what is holding you back? 25:00

  6. The sermon says, “If you’re not discipling, you’re disobeying.” Does this challenge your current approach to church and faith? What practical changes could you make this week to start investing in someone else’s spiritual growth? 28:46

  7. Discipleship is described as “dirty work” that requires contact, accountability, and sacrifice. What is one uncomfortable or sacrificial step you could take to help someone else grow in their faith? 37:11

  • First Samuel chapter 13. If you join us there tonight again, a message born out of my daily Bible reading. I want to encourage you, as always, to read your Bible. There is wisdom enough to occupy your mind, your heart, your curiosity for the rest of eternity.

    So we're gonna look tonight in First Samuel chapter 13. There is a retired battleship that is parked down there in the Norfolk downtown area. It's called the USS Wisconsin. Anybody here ever taken a tour of the USS Wisconsin?

    Whenever we have visiting pastors coming in to preach for us, I like to take them a few places around town, show them the area, give them a little tour. That's one of my favorite places to take people because it's history.

    Today, that battleship is just a museum, but there is some rich history within that hull. To me, the greatest treasure is not just the metal, the fabrication, or the design of the ship. One of the greatest treasures is the people I meet when I go on that ship—battle-torn sailors who served on that ship in years past. Having some incredible conversations with them.

    The last time I was on this ship for a tour, I got to talking with one of the guides. He's a volunteer, and they basically give people information about the ship as you take a tour. He told me a story I had not heard before about the USS Wisconsin, and it’s been in the back of my mind for a long time.

    This ship was built in 1940, commissioned for World War II—that's a long time ago. It served in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and then in the 70s, it was decommissioned, then recommissioned, and decommissioned again.

    By the time the 1980s came around, President Reagan was trying to strengthen our forces. The US Navy made a surprising decision at that time—this is in the mid-80s, when global tensions were rising, conflicts emerging, and the Cold War was at its peak. They decided to recommission the USS Wisconsin again in the 1980s. We're talking about 45 years after it had been built.

    It had been battle-proven, very useful in combat, but there was a problem with recommissioning this ship at that time. You know what the problem was?

    They didn't know how to run it! All of the sailors at that time had been trained on newer ships, with newer technology. When they recommissioned the USS Wisconsin, you know what they had to do? They had to bring in the old dogs—the salts, as they call them.

    They brought in retired sailors who knew how to operate the equipment that the younger sailors had no idea how to handle. Things like analog fire control systems, steam-powered propulsion systems. You know what that means? There are fired engines—fuel being put into steam engines that spin turbines to turn the propellers. They had no idea how to do this.

    Massive 16-inch guns of the USS Wisconsin—this ship was a beast from another era, like a dinosaur. So they brought these veteran Navy men, who had served on battleships back in Korea and Vietnam. Many of them had white hair, weathered hands, beer bellies. They climbed aboard one more time—not for battle, but for training—to show these young sailors how to do what they needed to do to make the ship go and win another battle.

    They remembered how it worked, and they mentored these young men—how to load powder bags, calibrate ancient radar systems, fire weapons that hadn't been used in decades.

    Because of those old salts, this ship not only became combat-ready but went on to play a key role in Operation Desert Storm. I have a few photos to show you of the ship back in action.

    Here you see the barrage—releasing hell on Saddam Hussein. And this is the USS Wisconsin, commissioned in 1940, firing weapons in 1991. Fifty years past its original creation date.

    Next photo. There she is, leading in battle—another ship, a carrier, I forgot which one that was, but it's traveling through the Persian Gulf. And another? That's it? I only thought I had more. That's okay.

    The miracle of this story is not that the ship survived. The miracle is that the knowledge was passed from an older generation to a newer generation. That’s the real miracle.

    And I want to tell you, the church is not much different. How many know we have some ancient technology? We have some 2,000-year-old stories that need to be told. We have information that needs to be passed from one generation to the next.

    Just like the Navy had to bring back some old warriors to prepare the next generation to operate that ship, I believe the church also needs to raise up spiritual trainers, disciple makers, who will equip, train, and prepare the next generation for battle.

    This message I’ve titled: "Where are the blacksmiths?" In our scripture, we’re going to read about the time of Israel under King Saul. They are doing battle with the Philistines as usual. There is a verse that brings great discouragement to my heart—that it could be possible in our day, too.

    Let's read together First Samuel chapter 13. I’ll read verses 19 and 20, and then verse 22.

    It says: "There were no blacksmiths in the land of Israel those days. The Philistines would not allow them, for fear they would make swords and spears for the Hebrews."

    It goes on to tell the prices they paid to sharpen their tools. Then verse 22: "So on the day of the battle, none of the people of Israel had a sword or a spear except for Saul and Jonathan."

    It’s a failure to pass on the next generation.

    Let's pray for a moment.

    Lord, come by the precious blood of Jesus. I’m asking You tonight, give us a vision that there are seasoned saints in this place who have the knowledge, the experience, the ability to be blacksmiths—to shape and form the weapons of the next generation.

    I pray, God, that You’d give us a vision for winning souls, making disciples, and planting churches. It starts with a willingness, Lord, with a necessity of having those people who would be blacksmiths in the church. We desperately need You today. In Jesus’ mighty name, those who agree, say Amen.

    Where are the blacksmiths?

    Let’s first look at the strategy of suppression. Our scripture says tonight that there is a group—an enemy—the Philistines, the perennial enemy of Israel—that would continue to battle against them time after time.

    You know that the Philistines are the ones who produced the giant named Goliath. It was Goliath who challenged the people of Israel to a duel, to a battle. David, thankfully, rose up. But you know what David did not have? He didn't have a sword.

    There was a reason why he was so well trained with the sling and the five smooth stones. Well, because in his day, the Philistines had technological control over blacksmithing, over the ability to create weapons. They had the advantage in that arena.

    They exercised control, and they had the materials that the Israelites did not have. They had the knowledge that the Israelites did not have.

    And whenever you have an edge over your enemy in warfare, this is what gives you the advantage in battle. The reason any war is won is because our weapons are better than theirs. This is what the Philistines understood.

    If Israel is allowed to have the same kind of weapons, they won't remain our slaves forever. So what did they do? The Bible says they suppressed the people of Israel.

    It says in our scripture that the Philistines would not allow blacksmiths in the land of Israel, for fear they would make swords and spears for the Hebrews.

    It's a lot easier to stop the blacksmiths than to defeat them in battle. That’s what they figured out. The Philistines found an advantage—if they could just stop the Israelites from having weapons, they wouldn’t even have to fight.

    If they hold all the swords, all the spears, then the people of Israel wouldn’t even try, wouldn’t even attempt to rise up. That was their strategy.

    And can I tell you, we have an enemy too. Ever wonder why it’s so hard for you to read the Bible? To make time for prayer? Why every distraction seems to fall on you?

    You got a thousand apps on your phone, but the one app you don’t have time for is the Bible app. Why is that?

    Because there’s an enemy trying to suppress you. There’s an enemy trying to suppress the church. There’s an enemy seeking to remove the influence of the weapons of the Word of God.

    John Piper said, "How shall we leave ourselves well-armed if the Philistines have taken all of our blacksmiths?"

    In our world, the Philistines are like demonic strongholds—strategies against us. Satan is doing the same to you and to the church of Jesus Christ. He is removing the influence of blacksmiths—those who teach, disciple, and pass on spiritual weapons.

    He would rather have nobody teaching anybody. He replaces blacksmiths with online influencers, pastors with Instagram, disciple makers with YouTube preachers. No wonder we end up powerless in true spiritual warfare.

    Pastor Mitchell said, "Unless we leave behind workers who understand and are pursuing what God is doing, then we are gone. They’ll just be writing books about us."

    There is a powerful dynamic in passing on the next generation. Listen, this is not a museum. The church is not a place to talk about all the great things that once happened. The church is supposed to be a forge.

    We saw that movie called "The Forge"—a powerful depiction of disciple making. This needs to be active in every believer. Every one of us has a dimension of forging the next generation.

    If you are a parent, you are a disciple maker. See those little noses you’re wiping, those little hands you’re holding? The Bible says they are arrows in the Lord’s hand—future weapons against the enemy.

    If you treat them as burdens instead of blessings, if you just can’t wait for them to get out of your house, you’re giving your weapons away to the enemy.

    Parents, we need to see ourselves as blacksmiths—training and forging weapons for the Lord. This is true in our homes, and it’s true in our church.

    Unfortunately, the church has become a shopping mall in many places. It’s become a center for entertainment. But that was not God’s design.

    We are supposed to be training one another how to do battle against hell. If you don’t smell smoke or feel heat, something’s wrong. The church is supposed to be a forge.

    What we’ve done instead is substitute the source. Verse 20 says that whenever the Israelites needed to sharpen their plowshares, their picks, their axes—farming equipment—they had to go to a Philistine blacksmith.

    They had to go to the enemy, begging and pleading, "Please sharpen my tools." They paid their enemies to stay alive.

    Not only that, they were supplying resources to the very people they would face in battle. They were giving money to their enemies.

    That’s not a good strategy. And yet, the church often does the same when we rely on secular sources for spiritual nourishment.

    When we prefer to go outside the church—Jordan Peterson, Ben Shapiro, influencers online—good information, yes, but they have nothing to do with your life. They cannot correct you, disciple you, or help you.

    They are not your blacksmith.

    The Israelites had to rely on the Philistine blacksmiths for their weapons. If they needed to sharpen their tools, they had to go to the enemy for strength.

    They were sacrificing their own power, their ability to fight. The church is looking for a TED Talk, but what we really need is a pastor, a disciple maker, iron sharpening iron.

    We need spiritual accountability. Instead, we get pop psychology and leadership books.

    God help us. We don’t disciple men by massaging their shoulders.

    You who are in the military—did you get better by everyone affirming you? No. We get better when we’re challenged.

    They’re paying the price now for complacency.

    The scripture goes on to tell us the prices they paid for sharpening each piece of equipment. And what they’re really doing is—they’re unable to move forward in the will of God for their lives.

    God has already given them a mission—to expand the kingdom, to defeat the enemies of God. But instead, they are stuck. Their power has been removed, their weapons are nonexistent.

    They are spiritually stunted. And I see the church often in the same place.

    Lacking forward motion, lacking advancement. They reach a plateau, get comfortable with God, and then just coast—drink some lemonade, take it easy.

    That’s not what God has called us to.

    Here they are paying silver to sharpen their tools—that’s what it costs when we refuse to train men to fight. Later, we pay through compromise and cowardice.

    Let’s look at the shortage of blacksmiths—mentors, coaches, disciple makers.

    The Bible calls it making disciples for the next generation.

    Titus chapter 2. Listen carefully.

    "As for you, Titus, promote the kind of living that reflects wholesome teaching. Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith, be filled with love and patience."

    Similarly, Paul says to Titus, "Teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers. Instead, they should teach what is good."

    "These older women must train—did you see that? Train—the younger women to love their husbands and children, to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the Word of God."

    This is not just about men. It’s about the church at large. Men and women both need discipleship.

    Can you say Amen?

    You need to receive discipleship and give discipleship. You need to be in the process of being trained and mentoring others.

    Then taking someone else under your wing to train and mentor them as well. Men and women alike.

    The church suffers when seasoned believers don’t have time. When those who’ve been through things can’t come back on the ship to train the new guys.

    When you’re so busy that you don’t have time for people.

    You don’t have time to train new converts, to show them how to pray.

    You can’t teach someone to pray if you don’t pray.

    You can’t teach the Word if you don’t know the Word.

    You can’t bring someone to church if you’re not in church.

    That’s why example-ship is so key. You can’t teach what you’re not doing.

    That got heavy all of a sudden. What happened?

    I’m not sure. We need blacksmiths. We need disciple makers to equip believers for spiritual battles.

    When the older generation stops mentoring, the younger stops maturing. The church becomes a spiritual nursery—grown men in diapers, crying over every offense.

    Pastor Mitchell said in his book "Passing the Baton": "The goal is not religious activity. Our goal is transferring God's purpose to the next generation."

    This is not optional. It’s not just a good idea. It’s the church’s survival.

    I know churches that have died. Maybe you do too.

    Say, "But, Pastor, the church of Jesus Christ goes on forever." Yes, you’re right.

    The global church will continue until Jesus comes back to receive His bride. But we’re talking about a local body of believers.

    Did you know that during COVID, when churches shut down—when we did what all the enemies of Christ could not do—because of a virus, many churches never reopened?

    Thirty percent of churches that shut down never came back. What does that tell you?

    It shows they were already on the brink.

    When churches stop reaching the next generation, they die.

    Pretty soon, all the young people are gone, and the church is full of gray heads.

    Thank God that’s not the case here. I’m not saying it’s bad to have old people. I’m saying it’s a failure to pass on the next generation if there are zero young people.

    You pass by some church buildings on a Sunday morning—built for 250, only 20 people inside.

    That’s what happened in times past—revivals where young people failed to receive the discipleship they needed.

    This is not optional. It’s survival.

    If the church of Virginia Beach, the Potter’s House, is going to continue for another 20 years, it’s only because somebody rises up—the next generation of disciples and believers.

    Hosea 4:6 says, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you."

    The priests refused to know God, and their children suffered.

    God laments that His people are being destroyed due to lack of knowledge. They don’t know who God is.

    Whose failure is that? That’s the failure of the priests—they didn’t teach the next generation.

    Imagine stepping onto a battlefield with a powerful weapon you don’t know how to use.

    You’d run the opposite way, retreat.

    God is trying to save another generation.

    I have hope. Sometimes, older preachers and pastors beat up on the younger generation—say they’re lazy, different from us.

    But I have hope. Because it’s all we’ve got. We better invest in them.

    Remind them they’re the future of the church.

    They’ll be pastors, teachers—if not them, then who?

    That’s why we need to train, teach, and set an example.

    You can’t win spiritual warfare with fog machines.

    This is not entertainment.

    We’re talking about the Word of God being passed from one generation to the next.

    Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:1, "Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus."

    He said, "What you have heard from me, entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also."

    Four generations of teaching—did you catch that?

    Paul taught Timothy, Timothy teaches others, and they teach others.

    Some of us need to receive that tonight.

    I need to be reminded—I am still a disciple. I am still learning.

    I am still accountable.

    I have a pastor I call, I talk to, I inform him of what’s happening.

    I have trusted men I can bounce ideas off.

    Do you have someone like that? Or are you totally unaccountable?

    That’s dangerous.

    Paul said to Timothy, "Listen, I need you to hear me so you can teach others."

    That’s what we need—a multiplication of disciples.

    God help us if we become like Saul and Jonathan—only two with swords in the whole nation.

    That’s a recipe for losing.

    God does help them win, but it takes a supernatural miracle.

    We need blacksmiths to equip others for spiritual battles.

    The church is not a cruise ship; it’s a boot camp.

    We train, we duplicate, we multiply.

    Discipleship is not a side ministry; it’s part of Jesus’ mandate.

    Pastor Mitchell said, "Unless you leave behind people who can carry the torch, it’s over when you’re gone."

    I thank God for Pastor Mitchell. He’s not Jesus, but God used him powerfully.

    Our fellowship is still multiplying—over 4,000 churches as of January, with more planted since.

    Disciples are being raised up.

    Thank God for a legacy of disciple making.

    Tonight, I call on the sharpeners—make disciples who can make disciples.

    How are you helping in that process?

    It’s easy to be on the sideline, just watching.

    But every believer is called to be a disciple maker.

    God needs to equip us so we can equip others.

    There’s a scripture—"As iron sharpens iron."

    When we say that, we often think of coffee shops, casual conversations.

    But sharpening iron is a grinding process—friction, metal shavings, a tough process.

    Discipleship is not easy. It’s the hardest thing we’re called to do.

    But it’s also the most important.

    When we say "iron sharpens iron," it means I need you to hold me accountable, and I need permission to do the same for you.

    We must be in contact—iron must touch iron.

    You can’t just wander through the daisy fields hoping to reach Jesus someday.

    Jesus gave us the church to be the place where we are sharpened.

    He does the hard work of saving us from sin—thank God.

    But when we come into the kingdom, we have dull edges that need sharpening.

    We need blacksmiths—those who heat the fire and pound some sense into us.

    It requires a culture—mentorship, coaching, discipline.

    How many had a good teacher in elementary school?

    Someone who poured into your life?

    Thank God for good teachers.

    I had a seventh-grade English teacher who changed my life—taught me a love for stories.

    Another teacher in high school, a government teacher, gave me a love for civics and history.

    And an English teacher who introduced me to music and poetry.

    Their influence echoes into my life 30 years later.

    Can I tell you? I also have a pastor.

    Jesus saved me, and I recognize Him as my Savior.

    But just like Paul said to Timothy, I have a spiritual father—my pastor.

    He taught me things I still carry today.

    I needed Pastor Campbell.

    And I needed Pastor Hector Ortiz—who kicked my butt a few times, told me to write things down, to be on time.

    Thank God someone was looking out for me, holding me accountable.

    And I have other disciples—young men I still have relationships with.

    As we close, think about this:

    Israel without blacksmiths was a nation without weapons—unable to fight the battles they were called to.

    And in the same way, a church without discipleship is ill-equipped to fight the battles God has for us.

    Without discipleship, we just make noise—no fire, no real spiritual fight.

    The bottom line: if you’re not discipling, you’re disobeying.

    Where do we find blacksmiths?

    Waking up their children on time, investing in their lives.

    I’m so discouraged right now. I’m working with some young teenagers, and their parents are absent.

    I have a young man I’ve been working with—won’t say his name—but his parents leave for work before he wakes up for school.

    He’s called me three times in the last couple of weeks for a ride because he woke up late.

    He called me first, not his parents.

    I’ve known him a month. Why is he calling me?

    Because his parents are absent.

    I know they’re busy. I don’t know their situation.

    But I know this: I’m getting a call, not them.

    Why? Because they don’t value it.

    Where are the blacksmiths?

    They’re not on conference stages.

    They’re in prayer closets.

    They’re bringing new converts with them.

    They’re in living rooms, prayer meetings—shaping lives.

    Can you get a vision tonight to be a blacksmith?

    You can’t be a blacksmith without fire.

    You’ve got to heat things up.

    No blacksmith stays clean—it's a dirty job.

    But I tell you, there are few things in the kingdom more useful than getting your hands dirty—washing feet like Jesus, making time for prayer.

    Remember: women teaching women, men teaching men.

    I want to challenge you—forge a disciple.

    Let’s bow our heads and close our eyes for just a moment.

    If you’re here and you think, "Thank God, God has given me influence in somebody’s life," that’s amazing.

    But you’re not finished.

    As long as we have breath and opportunity, we are called to make disciples.

    Jesus said, "I will build My church, but you go make disciples."

    We need to pick up the hammer.

    We need to invest our lives.

    Amen.

    Before we close tonight’s service, you’ve come in here and heard about the life-changing power of Jesus Christ—how He is our Savior.

    He is here tonight by His Spirit to rescue someone who’s lost.

    If you’re here, and you find yourself wandering, broken in sin, bound in unbelief—there is a Savior who cares about you.

    He proved it when He went to the cross.

    Jesus died so that your sins could be forgiven.

    Before we do anything else, this is the most important issue in your life: Are you saved? Are your sins forgiven? Are you right with God?

    If not, you have an opportunity right now to turn from sin and trust in the Savior—the one who shed His blood for you.

    Before we do anything else, I want to give you an opportunity.

    Say, "Pastor, I’m here tonight. God has led me to this moment. And if I’m honest, I’m not right with God. I’m not on my way to heaven. I need a Savior."

    If that’s you, I want to pray with you. I want to believe God that He’s brought you here because He cares.

    He loves you so much that He wants to speak to you again—to draw you by His Spirit.

    If that’s you tonight, can I see your hand?

    Somebody here, say, "Pastor, please pray for me. I’m not right with God."

    Would you just lift your hand so I can see it?

    I want to pray with you this evening.

    God’s dealing with your heart. Is that you?

    Quickly, raise your hand.

    You’ve been wandering in sin, listening to the lies of hell.

    Tonight, it’s time to come home.

    Is that you?

    Quickly, someone here.

    God’s speaking to you.

    Lift up a humble, necessary hand.

    I am in need tonight, and I need Jesus to set me free.

    That’s you—please don’t miss this opportunity.

    You don’t have forever.

    Respond tonight. Is that you?

    Quickly, with an uplifted hand.

    Thank God.

    Church, I want to open this altar for prayer.

    It’s a specific call tonight.

    We don’t often see ourselves this way, but God has called us to make disciples.

    The church has become a place of casual observation—just watching the show, getting a blessing, then leaving.

    But that’s not what we’re called to do.

    We’re called to be involved—either as parents training the next generation, or as spiritual fathers and mothers raising up blacksmiths.

    God would raise up a generation of those who shape, mold, and encourage.

    If your heart is, "Lord, I want to see Your kingdom come. I want Your will to be done," that should be your prayer tonight.

    "Lord, I want to be an influence—good influence—on someone coming behind me."

    Tonight, we’re going to open the altar.

    We’re going to pray together.

    We’re going to hear from God.

    We’re going to receive His instruction.

    And we’re going to believe Him to help us.

    Let’s pray tonight, church.

    This altar is open.

    Begin to cry out to the Lord.

    Say, "Lord, I want to be a blacksmith. I want to do my part. I can’t do everything, but I want to do something."

    Pray, "God, give me somebody I can invest my life in."


Keep an eye on our Facebook Page for Daily Devotionals based on this message over the next five days.

Written with Love by Pastor Adam Dragoon

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The Sin of Catastrophizing: Why Your Worst-Case Thinking Is a Lie from Hell

Pastor Dragoon exposes the mental and spiritual distortion that leads to anxiety, pessimism, and paralysis. But more than that, he points to faith as the cure—a renewed mind and a rock-solid trust in the God who sees the end from the beginning.

Sermon Summary

Catastrophic thinking is a trap that many of us fall into, often without realizing it. It’s the tendency to take a small problem or setback and blow it out of proportion, imagining the worst possible outcome and allowing fear and anxiety to take over.

This mindset can paralyze us, rob us of our faith, and lead us to make decisions based on fear rather than trust in God. The story from Isaiah 30 shows us how God’s people, when faced with trouble, turned to Egypt for help instead of seeking God’s counsel. They trusted in the shadow of Egypt—a symbol of their old bondage and fleshly solutions—rather than in the living God who had delivered them.

This pattern of catastrophizing is not new. The spies in Numbers 13 saw the giants in the land and declared themselves grasshoppers, forgetting God’s promise. Even the apostle Paul, in a moment of weakness, believed his ministry was a failure, though the reality was far different. Catastrophic thinking distorts our perception, making us believe that our problems are insurmountable and that God is absent or uninterested. It can manifest in our relationships, our parenting, our work, and even in our spiritual lives, leading us to overthink, replay past mistakes, and expect disaster at every turn.

At its root, catastrophizing is a lack of faith—a refusal to see our circumstances through God’s eyes. It is a form of rebellion, as Isaiah says, because it seeks counsel apart from God and multiplies sin upon sin. The cure is not to ignore our problems or pretend they don’t exist, but to choose faith over fear. We must renew our minds, as Romans 12:2 instructs, and learn to see our lives from God’s perspective. This means bringing our anxieties to Him in prayer, trusting that He is working all things together for good, and refusing to let fear dictate our actions or our words.

God calls us to take every thought captive, to focus on today rather than worry about tomorrow, and to remember that even in the darkest moments, He is with us. Our faith is our victory. When we trust in God’s character and His promises, we can face any challenge without succumbing to catastrophic thinking. Let us be people who seek God’s counsel, devise plans by His Spirit, and find our strength in Him alone.

This mindset can paralyze us, rob us of our faith, and lead us to make decisions based on fear rather than trust in God.
— Pastor Adam

Watch/Listen


Message Study Guide

Youtube chapters

  • [00:00] - Welcome

  • [01:39] - The Sin of Catastrophizing: A Modern Example

  • [03:28] - Isaiah 30: Trusting in the Shadow of Egypt

  • [05:10] - Defining Catastrophic Thinking

  • [06:45] - Biblical Examples: The Spies and Paul

  • [10:27] - Everyday Catastrophizing: Health, Relationships, and Parenting

  • [12:20] - Perfectionism, Pessimism, and Overthinking

  • [14:46] - The Spiritual Root: Doubt and Rebellion

  • [17:30] - Trusting in the Flesh vs. Trusting in God

  • [20:45] - The Shadow of Egypt: False Security

  • [23:14] - The Cure: Faith Over Fear

  • [25:50] - Gaining God’s Perspective

  • [28:30] - Practical Steps: Renewing the Mind

  • [31:00] - Five Scriptures for Victory

  • [33:45] - Focusing on Today, Trusting for Tomorrow

  • [36:00] - A Call to Faith and Prayer

Key Takeaways

  1. Catastrophic thinking is a distortion that magnifies problems and assumes the worst, often leading to anxiety, paralysis, and poor decisions. It is rooted in a lack of faith and a failure to see situations from God’s perspective, as seen in the example of the Israelites turning to Egypt and the spies in Numbers 13. Instead of trusting God’s promises, we can easily fall into the trap of believing our fears more than His Word. [03:28]

  2. Even spiritual giants like the apostle Paul struggled with catastrophic thinking, feeling abandoned and fruitless when, in reality, God was using him powerfully. Our own assessments of our lives are often clouded by emotion and limited perspective, but God sees the true impact and fruit of our faithfulness. We must learn to trust God’s evaluation over our own, especially in seasons of discouragement. [08:49]

  3. Catastrophic thinking is not just a personal struggle; it can affect our relationships, our parenting, and our community. When we expect the worst from others or from ourselves, we create unnecessary stress and can even speak words that damage faith and unity. Recognizing this pattern allows us to break the cycle and choose words and actions that build up rather than tear down. [11:40]

  4. The root of catastrophizing is often perfectionism, pessimism, and a tendency to dwell on negative outcomes. This mindset is fueled by a spirit of doubt and rebellion, as it seeks solutions apart from God and relies on the flesh. The antidote is to renew our minds, seek God’s counsel, and intentionally shift our focus from problems to the Savior, trusting that He is able to redeem even our failures. [14:46]

  5. Practical victory over catastrophic thinking comes through prayer, meditating on God’s promises, and taking every thought captive. Scriptures like Philippians 4:6-7, Isaiah 41:10, and Romans 8:28 remind us that God is with us, working all things for good, and that we are never alone in our struggles. By anchoring our minds in God’s truth and refusing to let fear dictate our responses, we can walk in peace and confidence, no matter the circumstances. [33:45]


Bible Reading

  • Isaiah 30:1-3:
    “Woe to the rebellious children,” says the Lord,
    “Who take counsel, but not of Me,
    And who devise plans, but not of My Spirit,
    That they may add sin to sin;
    Who walk to go down to Egypt,
    And have not asked My advice,
    To strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh,
    And to trust in the shadow of Egypt!
    Therefore the strength of Pharaoh shall be your shame,
    And trust in the shadow of Egypt
    Shall be your humiliation.”

  • Numbers 13:31-33: But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.” And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”

  • Philippians 4:6-7: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Observation Questions

  1. In Isaiah 30:1-3, what specific actions does God rebuke His people for, and what are the consequences He warns about?

  2. According to Numbers 13:31-33, how did the spies describe themselves compared to the people in the land, and what does this reveal about their mindset?

  3. In Philippians 4:6-7, what does Paul instruct believers to do instead of being anxious, and what is the promised result?

  4. The sermon described “trusting in the shadow of Egypt” as a symbol for what kind of thinking or behavior? ([03:28])

Interpretation Questions

  1. Why does God call seeking counsel apart from Him “rebellion” in Isaiah 30, and how does this relate to catastrophic thinking? ([14:46])

  2. What does the story of the spies in Numbers 13 teach us about how our perspective can distort reality and affect our faith?

  3. The sermon mentioned that even Paul, a spiritual giant, struggled with catastrophic thinking. What does this suggest about the universality of this struggle and how we should respond when we experience it? ([08:49])

  4. According to Philippians 4:6-7, what role does prayer play in overcoming anxiety and catastrophic thinking? How is this different from simply ignoring our problems?

Application Questions

  1. The sermon described how catastrophic thinking can show up in everyday life—like overreacting to small problems, assuming the worst in relationships, or replaying past mistakes. Which of these patterns do you most relate to, and how has it affected your faith or decisions? ([11:40])

  2. When you face a stressful situation, do you tend to “go down to Egypt”—relying on your own solutions or old habits—instead of seeking God’s counsel? Can you share a recent example? ([03:28])

  3. The root of catastrophizing was described as a lack of faith and a spirit of doubt or rebellion. What are some practical ways you can “renew your mind” and shift your focus from problems to God’s promises this week? ([14:46])

  4. The sermon gave five scriptures for victory over catastrophic thinking, including Philippians 4:6-7 and Romans 8:28. Which of these verses speaks to you the most, and how could you use it to combat anxious thoughts in your daily life? ([33:45])

  5. Words have power. The sermon warned that speaking out of catastrophic thinking can damage relationships and faith. Can you think of a time when your words (or someone else’s) made a situation worse? What could you do differently next time? ([11:40])

  6. The sermon challenged us to “take every thought captive” (2 Corinthians 10:5). What is one negative or fearful thought you want to take captive this week, and what truth from God’s Word can you replace it with? ([33:45])

  7. The pastor said, “Our faith is our victory.” What is one area of your life where you need to choose faith over fear right now? How can the group pray for you in this? ([25:50])

  • Hallelujah. This is a message that God put on my heart some time ago. A message that I put together but have not preached to you yet. I'm believing God that He's going to use it tonight, for His glory.

    I want to begin with a scripture from the book of Isaiah, chapter 30. If you join me there. Isaiah chapter 30.

    How many firstborn children are here in this place? All the firstborns? Okay. Well, I'm kind of looking at you tonight, but this is going to be good for everybody. Yeah. But this is certainly a weakness of the firstborns and something that I believe would be helpful. I am one of you, so I know what it's like. So tonight, but this is something that—this is an issue that we can all find ourselves falling into. I want to identify this tonight. I want to call it out by name. I want to ask you to consider with me the sin of catastrophizing.

    There is a story in India, 2019. There was a change in the standard of testing for students and, in 2019, as children or as new university students were entering classes for their first year in college, they had changed the standards of what was required to pass this test. And so all of a sudden, there was a large percentage of these students taking the test that ended up failing—a much larger percentage than those who had taken it before.

    And so, in this year, 2019, about one-third of the students that took this test failed. And that same year, there was a breakout in India of suicides. These students could not handle the failure that previous years did not have to endure. One of the most recent was a 17-year-old girl who took her life after parents say she was feeling depressed after failing a test on her zoology entrance exam.

    After one million students took this test, more than one-third had been notified that they failed. And this prompted a wave of suicides as the students could not handle that failure. How many know that that is a permanent solution to what is a temporary problem? And that is not the right way to handle a failure. It is certainly the wrong reaction to the stress, to the anxiety that that test produced.

    But this is a common problem that some people fall into. And that is overreacting to what, in the long run, are small problems. There's a saying, it goes something like this: making a mountain out of a molehill. And that is the short version of what it means to catastrophize. So to make out of what is nothing into a catastrophe.

    And this is a common mistake. It begins to rob us of our faith, negatively affect our decisions, and ultimately can turn our trust away from God and back to the things of the world. This is what we find in our scripture, Isaiah chapter 30. And God is rebuking His people for making a bad decision. I want you to read it with me tonight.

    Isaiah 30, beginning with verse 1:

    "Woe to the rebellious children, says the Lord. Take counsel, but not of me. Who devise plans, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin. Who walk and go down to Egypt and have not asked my advice, to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt. Therefore, the strength of Pharaoh shall be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt shall be your humiliation."

    Let's pray for a moment.

    Lord, we come by the precious blood. As we consider this idea tonight, the idea of catastrophizing what happens in our lives, I pray, God, that You would give people a clear mind to assess our own hearts. I pray, God, that You would give us the strength that we need to trust You, believe You, Lord. We thank You for all that You're going to do in Jesus' mighty name. God's people would say, Amen. Amen.

    The sin of catastrophizing. And I want to look first of all at catastrophic thinking. I want to bring a definition to this idea to you. I hope that you'll give me a little bit of liberty tonight as I build this idea in our minds.

    Have you ever found yourself paralyzed by inaction and self-defeat, where we begin to second-guess and lack certainty about a decision that you're going to make? Sometimes we begin to say things like, "I'm not good enough," "I will never be good enough," "I don't have the strength to meet this moment." And what this is tonight—this is a cognitive distortion, where each person who falls into this trap begins to assume the worst possible outcome in a situation, begins to exaggerate the severity of an event or its consequences.

    This can lead to irrational thinking, which leads to heightened anxiety, to fear, and even a sense of hopelessness. In the Bible, it can be seen as a lack of trust, even in God's sovereignty or provision. We see several examples of this that I want to share with you before tonight you write this message off as good for somebody else. I want you to consider that it could be something that we all deal with.

    It is possible to inaccurately evaluate ourselves. In Numbers chapter 13, there's an interesting story there as they send in the spies into the Promised Land. Who remembers the story? They send in 12 spies, one from each tribe. And 10 of the spies come back with a bad report, only to give a good report, by the way—that's a pretty good ratio of how many trust God versus how many doubt: 10 to 2.

    And so, it's a righteous minority. How many know when they went into the land of Canaan, all 12 spies saw all the same 12 things? They saw the same walled cities, they saw the same giants, they saw the same fruit of the eyes. But 10 of them came back and this was their statement in Numbers 13:33:

    "We saw giants, and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight."

    That scripture has always entertained me. You know why? Because they were assuming how they appeared in front of the eyes of the giants. They were putting themselves behind the eyes of their enemies. They said, "When they look at us, what do they see? Grasshoppers." That's what I'm looking at tonight. They were making a catastrophe out of something that God had already given them the victory over. They were not evaluating that situation correctly.

    What was the real situation? The real situation was that God said to them, "Everywhere you place your foot, I have given you." So be strong and very courageous. Instead, what did they see? They saw giants, walled cities, and they said, "We are like grasshoppers in their eyes." That is the sin of catastrophizing.

    We see it also in the ministry of Paul. This is an interesting scripture I ran across in 2 Timothy chapter 1, verse 15. This is Paul on his last letter, getting ready to go and die as a martyr for Jesus. And he is in a prison cell. You can't fault the guy for feeling a little bit bad for himself. And it's one of the few places that we see Paul with a weakness. And this is his own testimony about his ministry:

    "All in Asia have turned away from me, among whom are Phagellus and Hermogenes."

    So Paul is thinking about his ministry, his discipleship, his effectiveness, his fruitfulness. And he says, "Oh, Timothy, they all turned away from me. They're all, they all left me high and dry. It's over. I'm done. It's gone. It was useless."

    But what's interesting is what Luke said about the apostle Paul. Luke, of course, the writer of the book of Acts, looked at the ministry of Paul and had a different assessment. We see in Acts 19:26:

    "You see in here that not only in Ephesus, but throughout all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands."

    In other words, what Luke said about Paul was very different than what Paul said about himself. You see what I'm saying? Paul is making a catastrophe out of his life. He's looking and saying, "Oh, I just wasted all my time. All that ministry in Asia, in Ephesus, in Thessalonians, all these places—everybody left me." Do you hear what I'm saying? It's catastrophic thinking.

    What he is saying in that letter is not true. Not everyone has turned away from him. In fact, Luke says many throughout all of Asia, Paul has persuaded and turned away many people from idols. In other words, Paul, your ministry was very fruitful and very effective. You might not be able to see it from your prison cell, but know this: you have been faithful.

    You know, we see some people—ever know someone who is a hypochondriac? You know what that is? You can think yourself into being sick, especially if you don't want to go to work. You say, "I think I'm coming down with something." Let me call my boss. That is a form of catastrophic thinking.

    Or you see, you begin Googling some malady and people go on WebMD and begin to search out all kinds of symptoms that you have, and you say, "Oh no, I think I've got it. Think I've got moochakalaka, whatever it is." And then you set up a doctor's appointment and say, "Doc, I read about it on the internet. It must be true. I've got moochakalaka disease because I have this weird thing in the back of my leg." And the doctor says, "What are you talking about? You're just old." If you're not careful, you can believe yourself into becoming sick.

    People who do this are making a catastrophe out of something which really doesn't mean a whole lot.

    There's also, this happens in relationships. Sometimes you can walk by somebody without giving a look on your face, but they read you as being cold or indifferent. And they look at you funny. They must not like me. They must be out to get me. "Pastor didn't shake my hand." You must be mad at me. "I didn't get a text back. They left me on read." See? See, there ain't no love in this church.

    This is the problem that many suffer with—making a catastrophe in your own mind out of something that nobody's actually worried about. In marriage, it can happen. How many married people got into an argument? And you started arguing, and in the midst of the argument, you forget the original reason why you started arguing. I'm not even married this year. How many times you been married? Well done. I can't believe you are okay.

    But the fact is, that is another perfect example of your personal interest. Thank you.

    In parenting, parenting can be very fatalistic because parenting is a big job, right? And you're holding lives of little people in your hands, and it's very, very stressful sometimes. And parents are getting it wrong a lot more than they're getting it right, unfortunately. And sometimes we can begin thinking, "Oh no, I'm messing this kid up so bad they're gonna be on some therapist's couch for 30 years, talking about all the abuse that I put in." And the truth is, kids are pretty adaptable. They're pretty flexible. You're not gonna mess them up every time you make a mistake, parents. But what it is is a mindset that always jumps to the worst case scenario.

    Moms do this a lot about their kids. "Oh no, he didn't call me. You probably did." Parents, especially moms, are always playing out the worst case scenario in your head. "Oh, they're probably kidnapped. They're probably drugged. They're probably in a white van being dragged off to Mexico or something." And this mindset, always jumping to the worst, always making a catastrophe.

    This fear, what it does, can lead to unnecessary stress. If something goes wrong, always assuming that this next failure is gonna take me out, it's gonna kill my faith, it's gonna ruin my family. And there are some people who are more prone to catastrophic thinking. And I want to just give you a few ideas, if this might be you. So don't raise your hand and don't be elbowing people tonight.

    But it's possible. Those who have a tendency toward perfectionism—everything's always got to be right. I said no elbow-throwing. People who are perfectionists, you know why? Because we have high standards. See? All the people who said it, don't look at them too long—they might be thinking catastrophic thoughts.

    So because we have high expectations for ourselves, that means we have a high expectation for everybody else. And when we tend toward perfectionism, the problem is when everything is not perfect—that hurts. There's like pain involved. And so when something goes wrong, the perfectionist tends to take it out on themselves. "I have failed in some way. If I can't do this perfectly, all will fall apart and the world will end."

    People who have catastrophic thinking also tend to be more pessimistic and to see the world as glass half empty—always seeing potential problems and focusing on those things which can go wrong. Also, people who tend to catastrophic thoughts begin to overthink and dwell on the negative outcomes. They tend to replay past mistakes on repeat in their mind, over and over, fixated on negative outcomes. It can be a spiral vortex of "what if" thoughts.

    And this is very bad for you. Allowing this kind of stress and anxiety in your life because when you have these kinds of thoughts that only lead to death and devastation and catastrophe, this actually raises the stress hormones in your body and can make you physically ill. Your brain is not functioning at higher capacity because it is always in fight or flight mode. It's always emotional anxiety.

    So the reason why we fall into this trap of making a catastrophe is really rooted in a spirit of doubt. It's a spirit of lack of faith. It's a faithless reaction to everyday challenges. And this is where our scripture begins to be very helpful.

    Look at what Isaiah says to the people of God in their catastrophic thinking. He says:

    "Woe to the rebellious children, who take counsel but not of me; who devise plans but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin."

    See what this is? It is a multiplication of sinful or rebellious thinking. It has no faith involved. Right where there is faith, fear cannot exist. Do we agree on that? And where there is fear, also, cannot exist. They are polar opposites.

    And so, what this is, if we begin to take counsel but not of God, we begin to take advice from ourselves or from potential outcomes, but it's not from Him, it's not from His Spirit. And this causes a multiplication of rebellious and sinful thoughts. And God has no place in catastrophic thinking. Did you know that?

    When we get into a spiral of "what ifs," it's horrible. It's over. "Oh, am I fruitless? Are all my efforts for nothing? It's all over. Might as well..." You know, there's no God in that equation. There's no faith.

    And that's why God says this is what multiplies sin upon sin. What does it lead to? This is the kind of guilt which leads to death—the sorrow that Paul spoke about, which leads to death. There's no room for God in this kind of thinking.

    What it is, really, is like a demonic faith. It's like I fully expect and believe that bad things are going to happen. And it's completely opposite from how God wants us to think.

    Look at verse 2:

    "Those who walk to go down to Egypt and have not asked my advice, to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh." In other words, this is Abraham. When there's famine in the land, the first thing he does is say, "We're all gonna die. We're going to Egypt." Right? "We're all gonna die." And they go down to Egypt to find some food. And guess what? When they're down there, not only does he make a bunch of stupid mistakes, but he also picks up a servant girl named Hagar, who becomes quite a problem. They came out of Egypt, but they brought Hagar with them. And see, your catastrophic thinking leads you down to the place where there is no faith. And you might be able to survive, but there will be some that don't.

    Think about Lot for a moment—Abraham's nephew. Remember, there was a quarrel between the shepherds, and Lot said, "Look, Abraham, I want to get along, but there's this situation happening." So Abraham says, "Go ahead and choose which way you want to go. I'll go the other way, and we'll split the land." And Lot looks down at Sodom and Gomorrah and says, "Hey, nice infernal down there. I could raise some cattle, I could make some money, I could do some damage." The problem was, Sodom was a wicked city, and they were so wicked that God had to rain down fire and brimstone on that place.

    Here's the point about that story: Lot survived. He made it out of that city. The angels had to grab him by the hand. But you know who didn't make it out? His wife and two daughters. And the two daughters that did come with him—they were infected. You can bring the girl out of Sodom, but Sodom was still in the girls. You read the story and figure out what that means. It ain't good.

    Here's what I'm saying: Lot went down to that place. Why did he choose that place? Because he thought that if he didn't go there, he was going to die. Don't you wish that Lot would have turned to Abraham and said, "Uncle, come on. We can work this out. We can share the land. We don't have to be separated. Let's believe God." But when he didn't believe, he looked at the land of Sodom and said, "There, if I'm gonna live, I gotta go there."

    Think of Ahab for a second—the most wicked king in the Bible, according to the Word of God. Ahab is the king of Israel. He looks out of his window one day, sees a vineyard, and says, "Hey, that would be a nice vineyard for me." The problem was, it was owned by somebody else. So he goes down and asks him. The man's name is Naboth. Naboth says, "Sorry, king, this has been in my family for generations. You can't have it." And this is how Ahab responded, in 1 Kings 21:4:

    "Ahab went into his house, sullen and displeased because of the word which Naboth had spoken, for he said, 'I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.'"

    He laid down on his bed, turned away his face, and he would eat no food. What is he? Four years old? This is the sin of catastrophe. He's the king. He could plant his own vineyard. He could buy wine from other nations. He could do anything he wanted. But because somebody told him no, he says, "All my life is over." He goes to bed, and everybody feels sorry for him.

    And his life got worse after that because Jezebel took authority and control and killed Naboth. The story just goes bad from there. The sting of rejection causes him to shut down emotionally and physically. This is the sin of catastrophe. It is the brain overestimating the situation—that picture of making a mountain out of a molehill, expanding a small problem into a huge crisis.

    This is the worst thing that ever happened to me. And I've seen people in that exact same place. When we repeatedly imagine worst-case scenarios, making catastrophes—what they call your "lizard brain," the amygdala—that's the part of your brain that is like the animal part of you, the base nature. But when we play out those worst-case scenarios, your amygdala treats those thoughts as if they are reality. It is a wicked, demonic kind of faith. I believe that it's always going to be bad and only going to be bad. I don't believe that God could ever move on this situation.

    What kind of God do we serve? We serve a God of the possible or the impossible. People stress hormones flood our body when we catastrophize. We enter into fight or flight. And ultimately, the devil could take advantage.

    Isaiah, in our scripture, is speaking to people who have drifted into rebellion and idolatry. He is saying, because your faith is in Egypt, your faith is in Pharaoh—that you are being dominated by their shadow. Everybody say the word "shadow." Does a shadow have any power over you? No. You have power over the shadow, right? But because the people of God trust in Pharaoh, that shadow of their previous slavery is now dominating their hearts and minds. And it gives them, according to the word of God, first of all, a false security.

    The shadow of Egypt symbolizes the power of that great military might—that maybe Egypt could save them from their enemies. God warned them that they shouldn't trust in Egypt. They shouldn't rely on them. Secondly, it shows that they were trusting in the flesh rather than in God. Egypt is always a picture of flesh—making decisions out of carnal desires. This is throughout biblical history. It's a repeated mistake: every time Israel wants to do something, there's this call from Egypt. "Yeah, but you could have it better down there." In fact, they came out of Egypt, and as soon as they got hungry, they said, "Man, we wish we could go back to Egypt, where at least we had three meals a day." Yeah, they were whipping our backs, yeah, they were killing our children, but at least we weren't hungry. That's the shadow of Egypt dominating over them.

    Listen to Jeremiah 17:5:

    "Thus says the Lord: Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes. But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is in the Lord."

    Let's look at the cure of this sin of catastrophizing. And really, it's very simple tonight: faith over fear. It's choosing to believe God in spite of what you can see. It's going to require gaining God's perspective. You know, that means seeing things the way God sees them, not the way you see them. That's a problem for us sometimes because we see our difficult situations, our broken relationships, our money problems, and we see a lot of bad stuff around us.

    But what faith says is, "I'm not looking at it through my point of view, through my negative, demonic faith view. I want to see it from God's perspective." What is possible if God is truly God? And that's where faith begins to change your mind.

    How do we get God's perspective? Well, we have to get into His Word. We have to spend time with Him in prayer. We can't isolate ourselves and not spend time with other people. And I believe that we should confront the reality: is it possible that I'm making this tiny little problem into a huge catastrophe in my head?

    That is what it means to map out new thought patterns, like it says in Romans 12:2: "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

    So, you perfectionists, you people with high standards and expectations—when it doesn't all work out the way you like, you got to trust God. You need to believe that He knows what He's doing. Your story isn't over. God might even use the bad things that happen for His glory.

    Hard Bunky said this: "Stress and pressure come from looking at the problem. Peace comes from looking at the Savior." What are you looking at tonight? We need to direct our eyes to the Savior.

    Peter, as long as his eyes were on Jesus, was walking on the storm. But when his eyes were diverted, he began to sink. Listen to what the psalmist said in Psalm 61:1:

    "Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You. When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I."

    You know, there is a reality that God's power is outside of your ability to understand. Did you ever consider that? When you can't see the way out, from the end of the earth, David prayed, "God, I think You're still in control." And I'm going to believe that.

    I love David's energy in the song. I love his prayers and his crying out to the Lord because David didn't candy-coat anything. He laid it all out before God: "God, it's bad. It's horrible. My enemies, the king, I'm running. I have to act like a fool. Oh, it's over." And then somewhere in the song, he'll make a switch and say, "Why are you disquieted within me, O my soul?" He begins talking to himself, and he'll say, "Why are you cast down, O my soul?" You know why I love that? Because David is almost having an out-of-body experience. He's looking at himself in this situation, and he's saying, "Dude, you serve God. Why are you so sad, bro?" You gotta have that voice in your head. You gotta be able to get out of the pain of your situation for a moment.

    "Why are you cast down, O my soul? Why are you disquieted within me?" And then he commands himself: "Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him." Yeah, it might feel bad. Yeah, it might look bad. But you know what? God is still in control.

    Can I give you some practical advice to catastrophic thinkers? You're not in Egypt. You're just in the shadow of Egypt. However bad it might feel, you're still saved. You're a child of the Most High God. It's not as bad as you think it is.

    And if that's true tonight, then you need to be careful how you speak, because words have power. Sometimes you'll utter words that have destructive power—that can destroy relationships, destroy blessing, destroy faith. If you can't say anything good, this is Mama's advice: just shut up until you got something good to say. There's some wisdom in that. Maybe you let God speak. Don't you speak.

    Remember we talked about the 12 spies? There were two—two spies that had a different perspective. Remember them? They're famous in the Bible: Caleb and Joshua. They came back, and remember—they saw all the same problems. They saw all the same difficulties. They saw all the same catastrophes. But they came away with a different perspective. They said, "Yeah, we saw the giants. We believe. Yes, that was bigger than all that."

    Smith Wigglesworth said, "I'm not moved by what I see. I'm not moved by what I feel. I am moved by what I believe."

    Catastrophic thinking really is rebellion against God. If we be real specific about it, Joshua and Caleb called out those other spies, and they said, "Do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land. For those people—they are our bread. Their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them."

    I want to tell you tonight: your faith is your victory. You might need to receive that tonight. Your faith is your victory.

    Woe to the rebellious children, it says in our scripture, who take counsel but not of me; who devise plans but not of my spirit; who walk down to Egypt but have not asked my advice. So what is our cure tonight for catastrophic thinking? Let's flip it around. We should take counsel in God. We should devise plans by His Spirit. We should ask His advice. And we should find our strength in God.

    Let me give you a few scriptures as we close, five scriptures you can begin to speak over yourself when you find yourself in that sinking pit of catastrophe. Are you ready?

    First: Philippians 4:6-7:

    "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

    When we are in catastrophic thinking, this fuels our anxiety, adds to our stress—like gasoline on a fire. But this verse teaches that instead of spiraling into fear, we should bring our concerns to God and trust Him.

    Second: Isaiah 41:10:

    "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, and I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

    When we are in catastrophic thinking, we think we're all alone. But this scripture says, "No, you're never alone." Jesus said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." You are not powerless. You are not a victim. God gives you His upholding power.

    Third: 2 Corinthians 10:5:

    "Taking every thought captive, and bringing every thought into obedience to Christ, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God."

    This sin of catastrophizing is a sin of the mind. It all happens in here. It is like a war, and the battle is fought on the battlefield of your mind. The Bible says we have the ability to take our thoughts captive. You don't have to be a slave to your thoughts.

    Fourth: Matthew 6:34:

    "Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

    Often, catastrophic thinking is about next month, next year, five years from now. Jesus said, "Why don't you just worry about today? Why don't you just take care of what you need to do today?" The devil would love for you to be so paralyzed thinking about seven years from now that you don't do the right thing now. Worrying about worst-case scenarios—how they will play out. How about we focus on today and trust God for tomorrow?

    Fifth: Romans 8:28:

    "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose."

    You see, catastrophic thinking is quite the opposite. All things work for evil. All things are going to kill me. Everybody hates me. I'm a loser. I might as well just die. I might as well quit. Might as well give up. That is so opposite to what the scripture tells us—that God is working all things together for good. We think disaster, and God says, "That's going to turn out good. Just wait. I'm cooking something up here." Stir it up. You know, the individual things—you sprinkle a little paprika. If you take a bite of paprika by itself, it doesn't taste good, right? But you sprinkle it on the right thing, at the right place, in the right amount, stir it up—it's going to be great. I'm telling you, even in difficulties, even when it looks bad and feels bad, God is working it for His good. You've got to trust that, church.

    And so, I have found myself caught in this trap. That's why I'm preaching this message tonight. I hope it's helpful for somebody here. Don't make the mistake like the apostle Paul did. I'm grateful that it's in the Bible. It shows me that even Paul had some catastrophic thinking. He said, "They all abandoned me. They all left me for dead. Everybody hates me. I'm useless. All my ministry is worthless. I'm just going to die." And forgive me, but Luke looked at him and said, "Paul, this man has made a powerful impact across the continent." Can we get a different perspective on the difficulties we're going through?

    Let's bow our heads tonight and close our eyes. God is so faithful to help us. Before we close this service, I believe God is speaking to some hearts. God is going to do a work in somebody's life tonight. Before we dismiss, we want to take a moment to speak to someone here who might be caught in sin. The Bible says that sin is a trap, a bondage. Those who sin fall into a trap of sin, but they can get out of that trap in their own strength, in their own ability. The Bible says Jesus died on the cross, rose from the grave, to defeat death, hell, and the grave. He defeated sin at the cross.

    And the Bible says that if we will turn from our sin and trust in Him with all our heart, you don't have to be trapped by sin. Tonight, if you're here and you're being honest with God, honest with yourself, you're saying, "Pastor, I don't know that I'm right with God, but I want to get right. I want to confess my sins and turn from them, and trust that Jesus will save me." In a moment, if that's you, quickly, we want to pray for you. Is there someone here? Unsaved or backslidden in your heart—you need redemption, you need forgiveness. Tonight, would you lift up a hand quickly? This evening, believe in God that He's going to save somebody here. Is that you? Quickly, right now, lift up your hand. I want to pray with someone here.

    God speaking to you, would you respond with an uplifted hand? Unsaved or backslidden in your heart, this is an opportunity you cannot miss. Is there anyone at all? Quickly, one last call: you need the power of salvation. You want to be born again into the family of God as one of His children. Please, don't miss this opportunity. Don't walk away from this service without knowing Christ is your Savior. And God is your Father. Is that you tonight? Quickly, lift up your hand.

    Amen. I don't change this call. We're going to open up this altar. I realize that maybe not everyone has this tendency, not everyone commits this sin. Love you—I have gone through it. I know for sure somebody else has gone through it. If the apostle Paul can look at his life and say, "What a waste of time. Everybody left me, abandoned me in Asia," that wasn't true. He was assessing his own life from a certain point of view that looked like doom and gloom. The reality was much, much better.

    And tonight, maybe you have been counseling from the shadow of Egypt. Maybe you've been thinking the way you used to think in the past. And this sin of catastrophe—there's no room for God in this kind of thinking. And if you've ever found yourself caught in that trap, I want to encourage you tonight: there is a God who is bigger than our thoughts. There is a God who is bigger than our perspective. There is a God who is able to take all things and work them together for His good.

    And I want to encourage you tonight, at this altar, to pray. I need a spirit of faith, Pastor. I want to pray. This is not some Pollyanna, some rose-colored glasses, that we take a pill and pretend everything is good. That's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about a faithful expectation of good things to come, based on the character of who God is. You know that God is good, and that God can work whatever you're going through right now. He can work it for His good.

    If that is your heart tonight, and you want to believe God for that, and you want to cast out the sin of catastrophic thinking, I want to encourage you to come. Let's stand up to our feet. Let's go to this altar together, and let's begin to cry out to God in this place.


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Written with Love by Pastor Adam Dragoon

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Two Are Better than One: biblical Brotherhood

Men, in particular, face challenges in forming deep friendships due to societal expectations, pride, and a survivalist mentality. Yet, the Bible encourages us to seek out and invest in meaningful relationships. The story of David and Jonathan exemplifies the power of brotherhood, demonstrating loyalty, sacrifice, and a lasting legacy.

Sermon Summary

In today's exploration of Ecclesiastes chapter 4, we delve into the profound importance of relationships, particularly focusing on the necessity of brotherhood among men. While this message is tailored for men, it holds valuable insights for everyone. The analogy of basketball serves as a starting point, illustrating that even the most talented individual cannot succeed without a team. Similarly, in the Kingdom of God, we are called to work together, laying down individual goals for the greater good of the community.

Reflecting on childhood friendships, we remember the simplicity and honesty of those early bonds. As adults, however, we often find ourselves isolated and burdened by responsibilities and the demands of life. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 highlights the benefits of companionship: shared labor, support in times of trouble, warmth in cold seasons, and strength in battle. These verses remind us that we are not meant to journey through life alone. The church is likened to a dragnet, a collection of interconnected relationships that work together to fulfill God's purpose on earth. Just as a net is only effective when its threads are tightly woven, so too is the church effective when its members are united in love and purpose.

Men, in particular, face challenges in forming deep friendships due to societal expectations, pride, and a survivalist mentality. Yet, the Bible encourages us to seek out and invest in meaningful relationships. The story of David and Jonathan exemplifies the power of brotherhood, demonstrating loyalty, sacrifice, and a lasting legacy.

As we reflect on our own lives, we are encouraged to foster friendships that will endure into eternity. Relationships are the most precious investment we can make, as they are the only treasures we will carry with us beyond this life. Let us strive to build strong, godly friendships that reflect the love of Christ and strengthen the body of believers.

If you want to go fast, go alone. There’s the road. Off you go! But if you want to go far, we go together.
— Rafiki (The Lion King)

Watch/Listen


Message Study Guide

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Key Takeaways

  1. The Power of Teamwork: Just as a basketball team relies on each player, the kingdom of God thrives on unity and collaboration. We are called to lay down individual goals for the greater good, working together to fulfill God's purpose. [08:15]

  2. The Necessity of Brotherhood: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 emphasizes the importance of companionship in shared labor, support during falls, warmth in cold seasons, and strength in battle. We are not meant to journey through life alone. [27:29]

  3. Overcoming Isolation: Men often struggle with forming deep friendships due to societal expectations and pride. Yet, the Bible encourages us to seek out and invest in meaningful relationships, as they are vital for spiritual growth and support. [40:28]

  4. The Legacy of Friendship: The story of David and Jonathan exemplifies the power of brotherhood, demonstrating loyalty, sacrifice, and a lasting legacy. Every David needs a Jonathan, and every Jonathan needs a David. [45:45]

  5. Eternal Investments: Relationships are the most precious investment we can make, as they are the only treasures we will carry with us beyond this life. Let us strive to build strong, godly friendships that reflect the love of Christ. [50:53]


Bible Reading

  • Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NKJV - 9 Two [are] better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him [who is] alone when he falls, For [he has] no one to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm [alone]? 12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

  • Genesis 2:18 NKJV - 18 And the LORD God said, "[It is] not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him."

  • Proverbs 27:17 NKJV - 17 [As] iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

Observation Questions

  1. According to Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, what are the benefits of companionship mentioned in the passage? How do these benefits relate to the analogy of a basketball team used in the sermon? [08:15]

  2. In the sermon, the pastor mentioned the Jewish tradition of requiring ten committed men to form a synagogue. What does this tradition signify about the importance of male relationships in spiritual communities? [08:15]

  3. How does the analogy of a dragnet, as described in Matthew 13:47, illustrate the role of the church in building relationships and fulfilling God's purpose? [40:28]

  4. What are the four levels of relationships mentioned in the sermon, and how do they differ from one another? [08:15]

Interpretation Questions

  1. Why might men, in particular, struggle with forming deep friendships, according to the sermon? How does societal expectation play a role in this struggle? [40:28]

  2. The sermon highlights the story of David and Jonathan as an example of brotherhood. What qualities of their relationship are emphasized, and why are these qualities important for building lasting friendships? [45:45]

  3. How does the concept of "iron sharpening iron" from Proverbs 27:17 relate to the necessity of male friendships in the church? What does this metaphor suggest about the nature of these relationships? [27:29]

  4. The sermon suggests that relationships are the most precious investment we can make. How does this perspective challenge or affirm your current view of friendships and their importance in your life? [50:53]

Application Questions

  1. Reflect on your current friendships. Are there any relationships that you feel need more investment or attention? What steps can you take this week to strengthen those bonds? [50:53]

  2. The sermon discusses the importance of overcoming isolation. Have you experienced isolation in your life? What practical steps can you take to reach out and build meaningful connections with others? [40:28]

  3. Consider the analogy of the church as a dragnet. How can you contribute to strengthening the "net" of your church community through your relationships? [40:28]

  4. The story of David and Jonathan highlights loyalty and sacrifice. Is there a friendship in your life where you can demonstrate these qualities more intentionally? How might this impact your relationship? [45:45]

  5. The sermon encourages us to build friendships that will endure into eternity. What specific actions can you take to ensure your friendships reflect the love of Christ and have a lasting impact? [50:53]

  6. Think about a time when you fell and needed support. How did having or lacking a supportive friend affect your experience? How can you be that supportive friend for someone else? [27:29]

  7. The sermon mentions the importance of being friendly to have friends. How can you practice being more approachable and open to forming new friendships in your daily interactions? [50:53]

  • Let's open up our Bibles this morning. We want to look into the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 4.

    And today I want to preach a message God put on my heart that is kind of tailored for men, but will be helpful, hopefully, to everyone as well.

    Any basketball fans? We got basketball fans in the house. All right. I like watching basketball. I like playing basketball, even though I'm no good at it. I do like throwing an elbow here and there. Watch out, just in case.

    But one thing that's true about basketball is that in basketball, you can have some outstanding individual players, but if that's all you have, that is not a successful formula. In other words, you could have a great player, but if he is on a bad team, that is not going to win games. You can almost, in fact, predict. There have been many occasions where individual players have big scoring games, like somebody can score over 50 or 60 points. But isn't it amazing that those games, they often end up losing the game?

    Because what happens is a team will end up leaning too much on the talent of one individual and will not spread out the burden among the whole team. I want to say that that's also true about the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is not about individual solo players. We have our king. We have one king. Jesus is our king.

    And in his church, the church that Jesus said, "I will build my church," that church is a team sport. How many believe that? And we will succeed or fail. We will find his blessing or not based on our willingness to play team sports together, to work with one another. The kingdom is a team where we must be willing to lay down our individual goals and begin to put one another above ourselves.

    There's an article that inspired this message written by a guy named Greg Morse. And he speaks to men. And I want to kind of tailor this. I want the men to perk up your ears for a few moments with me this morning. Ladies, you're going to get something out of this too. Don't worry.

    But men, can you remember when we had friends? Can you remember back in our own way and without shame, we would ask one another, "Will you be my friend?" When you were young, when you were on the playground, when you were vulnerable, when you were honest, and you would know that someone would have your back? Back when we didn't have better things to do, back when the grass was worn to dirt through tackle football, back when the garage was dented from alley oops, and when our allowance was spent at the movies.

    Can you remember that far back? The days of little league and basketball at recess and trying to swindle guys into swapping your PBJ sandwich for more chicken nuggets? Can you remember those sleepover days? Those girls have cooties, but we still kind of like them days? The days chasing each other around, stumbling toward manhood, the days when making their joys your joys and their beef your beef.

    Back when playing ball games and riding bikes was a sacred place of joke telling, fear sharing, dream making, when friends became brothers and the fatherless found families. You know, back when we had friends. But now we're grown. We have jobs. We pay bills. We have wives and kids. Text replies take longer, delivered by carrier pigeon sometimes. You need to figure life out on your own. You're a man now. Besides, you're no longer who you were. Jesus found you.

    The friendships worsened. What partnership can light have with darkness? What now? So the author goes on to say, "You are now in the church, and you've met good men to be sure. No denying there are brothers in the most profound sense, brothers in the Lord. But you haven't found brothers in the more functional sense—a friend to spend time with, confide in, and have your back. A man who knows you, a man whose hands you love to strengthen in the Lord, but one you do things with besides studying the Bible. A man who isn't caged into blocks on the calendar. A man you admire, trust, and come to love as your own soul."

    Somebody, one comedian joked that one of Jesus' greatest miracles was that over the age of 30, he had 12 adult male friends. And we hear that and we smile, and then we cringe. Why should relationships like this be so rare? Does God's word give us expectations that we should want to be this kind of friend or pray for this kind of friend, to desire to have these kinds of male friends? I think it does.

    I think we can find in the word of God a great encouragement for men and for women to have thriving, powerful friendships with one another. I'm preaching to men specifically because we have a hard time with this. Women, this comes a little bit more naturally to you. But I want to read the scripture in Ecclesiastes chapter 4 to encourage men and encourage all of us to defeat the self-seeking spirit and to reach out in friendship to others, and especially here within the house of the living God.

    Let's read these wise words written by King Solomon. Ecclesiastes 4, verse 9: "Two are better than one." How many said amen? "Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe—that means danger or lamentations—woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? The one may be overpowered by another; two can withstand. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken."

    Let's pray. Father, we come by the precious blood of Jesus. I'm thanking you, Lord, that because of the blood that was shed, because of the life-giving spirit that you send into the hearts of your people, Lord, you have enabled us to overcome the power of sin, and you, God, have called us into family one toward another. I pray that we would experience that level of family, God, in a new way with a renewed heart toward brothers and sisters in Christ. And I thank you for your spirit this morning, God. Help us to defeat this mentality of me and myself, and I'm praying, God, that you would help us in Jesus' mighty name. Amen.

    Let's give God praise this morning about all that he wants to do. Hallelujah! I believe that God wants us to find value in relationship. I want to talk to you a moment about brotherhood. And so ladies, stick with me too; there's some helpful things here.

    But for the men here, I want to encourage you. Did you know that for a Jewish synagogue to exist, there are Jewish synagogues all around the world? But in order for a synagogue to begin, they will not even begin the process of starting a Jewish synagogue until there are 10 committed men in the community willing to commit one to another. And that doesn't mean that women are not important in the process, but it means that if we don't have at least 10 men like-minded, seeking God's will, to search the scriptures and to do life together, then it's not worth having a synagogue.

    And even now, I know of a synagogue right here in Virginia Beach, right off of Indian River Road. I'm speaking to a man who was one of those 10 men for his synagogue, and he was lamenting to me. He was upset because the synagogue is having to shut down. I said, "Really? They're shutting down? Why?" He says, "We're joining with another synagogue out in Chesapeake." And I said, "What's the reason for that?" He says, "Well, we don't have our 10." We don't have our quorum. They call it a quorum.

    And so with every service that passes by, they are supposed to have at least 10 men in the building together. And they said, "At our location, just changing of times, just different seasons of life, and we don't have our 10." And so we're going to be joining together with our other Jewish brothers out there in Chesapeake so that we have at least our 10. And by that rule of thumb, that's how they determine where a Jewish synagogue must go.

    And I think that there is wisdom—there is wisdom in that. The health of male relationships goes, so does the health of the church. There are four levels, they say, of relationship: acquaintances, casual friends, close friends, and intimate or bonded friends.

    Let's examine those quickly. There are people that you know—acquaintances. People that you know them by name or by face, but you don't share personal life with. Co-workers, for example, that you greet on a daily basis. Neighbors that you wave at as you're driving by. Classmates that you could reach out to or remember from previous times. And the connection you have with acquaintances is superficial. It's small talk. It's situational. "How about that rainstorm we had the other day?" You know, that's the kind of conversation you have with an acquaintance. Emotional closeness is low.

    Second, you have casual friends. These are people that you would enjoy spending time with occasionally, but you never go deep with them. For example, maybe gym buddies or volunteers. This is where many people are with their relationships in their church—casual friends. They're co-volunteers, they're members of the same groups. For example, the connection between these casual friends are shared interests or environments, but fun, but without showing vulnerability.

    Thirdly, we have close friends. These would be trusted companions—people that you confide in and share life with. The examples are friends that you've known for years—people who, when you have trouble, when you have a crisis, they're going to be there for you. Spiritual brothers and sisters, lifelong family friends. The connection we have with close friends is a shared values, emotional support, and deep abiding conversations.

    And lastly, we have intimate or bonded friends. This is what we would know as our inner circle. And who are these people? These are your heart people. For husband or a wife, this should be your spouse. This is the closest friends that you have in life—deep, loyal, life-giving friendships. But it's not limited to marital relationships. You can have intimate and bonded friendships with others, with people that you are very close to—best friends, chosen family. The connection, the marker of this is emotional vulnerability.

    I can share my secrets, my strengths, my weaknesses. And so obviously in life, there's going to be different numbers of these different friend groups for each person.

    Welcome back, y'all. Give y'all a second to get settled. We're talking about friendships here and the different levels of different kinds of friends. Dunbar is a British anthropologist who proposed that humans are able to maintain different levels of these different friend groups. Casual friends, you can maintain about 150 different acquaintances. You can maintain about 50 close friends. You can maintain about 15 very good friends, and only a maximum of about five intimate friendships.

    If you examine your own life, you will probably figure that out pretty quick—that the people that you would consider to be best friends is under the number five, right? The people that are good friends is under the number 15. The people that are casual close acquaintances is under the number 50.

    And so we see this also reflected in the life of Jesus. Think about Jesus. We get some numbers when it comes to the life of Jesus. For example, after Jesus went to heaven, he gave a command to the remaining church. How many were in that group? In the book of Acts, at the beginning, it was 120 that were gathered in the upper room, right? But then when Jesus was beginning his ministry, he sent out his disciples to go and preach to different cities, and in that group, there were 70 people—70 that he counted on to go and preach his message of hope.

    Of course, he had his group of 12, a group of 12 disciples that followed him and went with him all places. Then even within the group of 12, he has an inner circle. He has three—Peter, James, and John—that he takes with him to the top of the mountain. So we see this at work even in the life of Jesus—that he had a couple of best friends, three best friends, and even within the three, there's one who leaned on his shoulder at the last supper—the apostle John. Maybe we could say that he was his best friend out of all three.

    And so it is natural and it is normal for us to have different levels of relationships with different people. That is a good thing. You could not have 25 best friends; that wouldn't be possible. The people that you share your deepest secrets and most personal details with is a small number, and that's okay.

    But the point of this is that I think men specifically, we struggle with friendships, relationships, and there's some reasons for that. Ladies, if you have a husband, you have men in your life, you need to pray for them to have good, stable relationships with other men.

    Why do we struggle with relationships? Well, men, first of all, it's because we value loyalty, right? We value loyalty. And so if you burn me, I'm going to take that personally. The byproduct of the love of loyalty is that if we get hurt, we experience betrayal, we tend to back away from others.

    Guys, can we be honest? Sometimes we're too lazy or we're too busy to have friends. And by the way, those are cousins—too lazy and too busy. They are related. It comes down to an inability to manage our time well. We're constantly juggling the responsibilities of life, and we don't have time to maintain friendships.

    We also have a survivalist mentality. You remember how God made man in the beginning? God put a man in the middle of an outdoor survivalist experience. It was like man versus wild. And isn't it interesting that some of the favorite shows of men are like survival shows where a man has to see how long he can last with no help from anybody else for 20, 30, 40 days? These are among the most popular shows that men watch.

    And this reflects the reality that man's primitive state was that he was alone in the garden. God looked at that man and he said, "That's not good." Can we be honest today and say that man in his own power, in his own strength, a man to be alone, that is not good? Can we be honest about that?

    Genesis 2, verse 19: "The Lord God formed the ground, all the wild animals and the birds of the sky. He brought them to the man, and the man chose a name for each one. He gave names to all the livestock, the birds, the wild animals, but there was no helper right for him. And the Lord God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make him a helper.'"

    This is what Solomon begins to pick up on in our scripture. In Ecclesiastes chapter 4, verse 7, he begins to observe this about men. Watch carefully. "I observe yet another example of something meaningless under the sun. It's the case of the man who is all alone, without child or brother, yet who works hard to gain as much wealth as he can. But then he asks himself, 'Who am I working for? Why am I giving up so much pleasure now? It is all so meaningless and depressing.'"

    See, a man is made to work. We love work. We love finding. In fact, ladies, if you didn't know this, when men get together, do you know what Solomon says? It ends up meaningless and depressing—a man who works hard to gain as much wealth as he can, but he's all alone, without child or brother.

    And because men have ego, because men have pride, there's something attractive to us about being able to handle life on our own. Isn't that weird? There's this little thing about our fallen nature that says, "I don't need anybody. I want to go live in a cabin on top of a mountain somewhere." Right? That's attractive to men. I don't want to have to lean on or depend on or rely on anybody else. We don't like to ask for help. For most men, it's painful to admit that you need help.

    Am I preaching to anybody this morning? So we bring all of this into the church. We bring all of this into our experience now as believers in Jesus. He has touched our lives. He has changed us. He has made us into new people. Now how are we supposed to live? How are men supposed to be part of the church? The world beats up on men, says toxic masculinity, even young people.

    And so we come into the church, and Jesus makes a powerful parallel in Matthew chapter 13. This is something that I picked up from Pastor Ray Ruby. He used this in a sermon that I heard preached in the year 2005, and it has stuck with me ever since that time, and I use this illustration often.

    And I want you to capture this with me from Matthew chapter 13, verse 47: "The kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which when it was full, they drew to the shore and sat down and gathered the good into vessels but threw the bad away. And so it will be at the end of the age. Angels would come forth, separate the wicked from among the just."

    Didn't Jesus say, "Come and follow me, and I will make you what? Fishers of men"? Now we got some fishermen in the house today. Fishing today can be a very solo experience—like just a man and his rod and his reel can go out and catch a few fish. And it can also be a social activity. But that's not how fishing was in the days of Jesus.

    How did they fish in his days? With a net. They used a net. Now there was the kind of net that you throw—like you maybe saw it on The Chosen—and then you pull it back in and you catch many fish at the same time. There's also what Jesus spoke about here, something called a dragnet. Now this is a special kind of net that is woven in a special kind of shape, like a sail, and it's pulled from the top of the boat, and it drags as the boat moves across the surface of the water.

    There's a rope that connects to the net, which is at the bottom of the sea or the lake or whatever it was. And as that net drags across the bottom, it's filling up with whatever it can. Mind you, Jesus uses that net as an illustration of the church. The kingdom of heaven on earth is like a dragnet. We, as a body of believers, are that net dragging through.

    Listen, we're connected to heaven, right? There's a rope between us and the kingdom of God, and God has us down here in this wicked world pulling up all kinds of manner of different stuff, and he's going to bring us up one day. And guess what? It's God's job to sort out the good from the bad. That's not our job; that's his job. But we are supposed to be the net that is collecting as much as is possible.

    Why? This is why we invite people to church. This is why we put it on social media. This is why we publish our calendar. This is why we make announcements. We're doing all of this dragging across this world, trying to pick up as many as we can. Thank God, right?

    But think about that net. A net is nothing more than a collection of individual strands that have been tied together in knots. Is that right? Would it be effective to take a hundred threads or a hundred ropes all disconnected from each other and drag those across the bottom of the lake? That wouldn't do anything, would it? All you would do is pick up snags.

    And so what do they do? The good fisherman, he begins to tie together his threads to tie together his knots. And as the strength of those individual threads, those individual knots—however strong those knots are—means however strong the net is. If you have holes in the net, is it effective? No.

    Here's what I'm telling you: the church is the net. And then our church, every church, is held together by relationships, friendships. The most basic fundamental relationship is, of course, the family—husband and wife, mother and father, and children. That family unit is the basis for all other human institutions. But the church also exists in a gathering—a fellowship, right? A brotherhood.

    And I want to say that if a church is only individual strands, we can't be effective. If a church is full of holes and broken relationships, it cannot do what it's supposed to. Ephesians 4:13: "Till we all come to the unity of the faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ."

    So in our scripture in Ecclesiastes chapter 4, Solomon identifies four reasons why brotherhood is powerful—why we, as men, and not just men, but all people, why we should seek strong and healthy relationships. Are you ready for these?

    Number one: a brother for the work. Ecclesiastes 4, verse 9 said, "Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their toil." The Hebrew word for toil there talks about hard labor, burden-bearing work. Let me ask you, is it better to do a hard job on your own or with others? Many hands make light work, as the saying goes.

    And we're going to discover that together as we labor on Saturday. Like, I can work for two weeks straight on the church building, but when y'all come together, you can accomplish in three or four hours what I couldn't do in two or three weeks. That's the power of joint labor.

    Why do we need brothers? Men, why do you need relationships with other men? Because you got a lot of work to do, and you can't do it all on your own. The first place we see the blessing of brotherhood is in our labors. It's not just about coffee shop meetings or church meetings. We should be looking at how to live life together, to share a burden.

    Jesus said, "Lay your yoke upon me. Give your burdens to me." He said, "Don't try to do all of that on your own." Now we know that there are spiritual burdens that only Jesus can meet, but among men, among friendships, listen, how many men have I talked to, and even myself, I would choose rather to bear my own burden just because I'm embarrassed to share it with somebody else? How often is that the case with men?

    Many men—the Bible has that famous verse in Proverbs 27, verse 17: "As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend." And I've even seen t-shirts about iron sharpening iron. And you know, the thing about iron sharpening iron is that those two pieces of metal have to be in contact with each other for that process to happen.

    It can't be one piece of iron on this side of the city and another piece of iron on that side of the city. They don't get sharpened just by hanging out in different places, right? Iron has that process of iron sharpening iron through the experience of life, contact. And if we don't experience that, what happens? We become dull because of lack of sharpening.

    Like a knife, a knife is not able to sharpen itself. It needs another piece of hard metal. And this is why male relationships are so important. We want our men to be sharp. How do we get that sharpness? Through contact and relationship.

    The second thing that we find is a brother for the fall. Look at verse 10. It says, "Two are better than one, for if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up."

    Can I be real with guys, with everybody here? There's going to be times that you fall. There's going to be times that I fall. As I mentioned during the Sunday school this morning, this may be surprising to you: I am not a perfect Christian. There are times all of us fall, all of us stumble. And the Bible says, "Woe! Danger! Curse upon the man who is alone when he falls and doesn't have anyone to pick him up."

    The reason why you need brothers, my men, is because you are going to fall. The question is, will you have someone there to help you to get back up? It's sad to me to think about how many churches are filled with Christian men that spiritually are lying on the ground, fallen, and no one to help them.

    This is why relationships are give and take. Sometimes I'm going to be strong; I'm going to have the strength to pick others up. There's going to be other times when I'm weak, and I need others to pick me up. This is the glory of a good marriage relationship, also, by the way. In a marriage relationship, hopefully, you don't have two people at the same time that are falling. You want to have one that keeps the other accountable.

    But this is so true in relationships, in friendships. Good brothers are the hands of God to help us when we fall. They come to us at our lowest. They listen, they offer correction and prayer. Doesn't the Bible say we should confess our sins one to another? That's evidence that we're going to fall and that we need help when we do.

    When life leaves us doubled over, heartbroken, unable to stand, there would be men and Christian brothers and sisters around us to weep with us and to pick us back up again.

    The third one is a brother for the cold. Verse 11 of Ecclesiastes 4 says, "If two lie down together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone?" The idea here is not just staying warm in a snowstorm, although that's true, right? But the idea here is a spiritual fire.

    How many of you have ever found yourself spiritually cold? It's like a campfire. And when a fire falls off—when a log falls off of the fire, rather—the fire keeps going, but that log grows cold, right? And so how do you get that log back on fire? You put it back on the campfire, right?

    And so those logs, as they're together, they're generating that heat. I want to say that that's true among a group of men, among brethren within the church—that when there are two or three, like Jesus said, gathered in my name, I am there among them—that we grow warm when we are working together.

    Even redeemed hearts will grow cold when they're on their own because we are passing through a wintry world. Like in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, when it was always winter but never Christmas—that's kind of like the world we live in. And if we find ourselves alone, without brothers, without sisters, it won't be long until we are chilled or suffering from sin or distraction.

    Room temperature religion leads us to destruction. Jesus said, "Be hot or be cold; don't be lukewarm." So how do we stay hot? How do we stay warm? We put our arms around each other, and we encourage one another, and we stir up the good works, like Paul said to Timothy: "Stir up your faith, young man."

    The wise prophet, the raccoon or Rafiki—what was he, a monkey or something?—he said, "If you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, we go together." Hey, there's some wisdom in Disney movies of gold, right?

    We need some real brothers who burn with real passion for the kingdom. We need them; they need us to warm us on cold and lifeless days so that our hearts and our faith would not freeze.

    Lastly, we need a brother for battle. Verse 12 says, "Two are better than one, though a man might prevail against one who is alone. Two will withstand him, and a threefold cord is not quickly broken."

    I want to tell you, there's battles ahead. There are wars for your soul. There are battles in life. There are spiritual battles. There are just family battles. There are financial battles. I don't know about you, but when I'm going into a battle, I don't want to go in alone. I want to have people that are with me, that believe in me, that trust me, and I trust them—that we can face enemies together in the time of need.

    See, if you are here today and all you're looking out at is a meadow of beautiful flowers, now you don't need any help for that. But if you look out on a battlefield and you see an advancing army, what do you do? Say, "I need some well-trained, battle-seasoned warriors by my side."

    When you have a prayer need, when there is a desperate need in your life, you know what you need? You need more than just your individual prayer. Thank God for that; we can approach the throne of grace each one of us at any time. But when you have a prayer, there's a reason why we have a prayer group—why we take our needs and we put those burdens on people that we trust—because we need brothers for war.

    Proverbs 17:17: "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." Not for days when everything's good, but for adversity. If you have those kinds of men—ladies, if you have those kinds of women—may whatever lies ahead beware.

    Deuteronomy 32, verse 30 says, "How could one chase a thousand and two put ten thousand to flight?" That's God math right there. If one can chase after a thousand, but two can chase after ten thousand, there's a multiplication of our forces joined together.

    So let's close with this. How do we build our brotherhoods? There's an example of an amazing brotherhood in the scripture—that's the relationship between David and Jonathan. The Bible says their hearts were knit together.

    And it's very interesting because Jonathan was the son of King Saul, right? Jonathan was Saul's son. And so that means if Saul dies, Jonathan is the natural one to take that position as king of Israel. But even though Jonathan has this connection to the king, he looks at David. David's the one who's been anointed by God. Saul was the one who was jealous, and so Saul hated David.

    And there was strife there, but Jonathan found in David a friendship. They made a covenant of friendship—a deep bond of loyalty. Even as the destiny of David was unclear, Jonathan offered unwavering support to David, even as his father was increasingly jealous of David, his popularity, and successes.

    There was mutual sacrifice and generosity. Jonathan just demonstrated his friendship by giving David his robe, his sword, and his tunic, even risking his own life to protect David against the threats of his father, King Saul. There was an emotional bond between them. There was loyalty and a lasting legacy.

    You know, long after Jonathan died, David was sitting around as king, and he thought to himself, "You know what? I want to be a blessing to the house of Jonathan." Years after Jonathan had died, he's still thinking about that relationship—that man that helped me, that man that supported me. I want to bless his house.

    "Are there any living members of the house of Jonathan left?" And they went and they found that guy who was lame in his feet. The guy's name was Mephibosheth, and he brought this man, who was a son of Jonathan, and brought him to the king's table and blessed him and helped him.

    This is the mark of a lasting legacy of friendship. Do you have anybody in your life like that? Every David needs a Jonathan, and every Jonathan needs a David. Are we willing to lay down our differences to foster unity? This is why it's hard for many people to become good friends with others—why? Because we're prideful, and we don't like laying down our differences.

    Psalm 133, verse 1: "Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity."

    How do we foster good relationships? Men, can I say this? Show up. Make the effort to spend time with other men. We have men's events; it's worth it. What I tell people is that when we do a men's discipleship meeting, you know, we have a special service just for men. There's a reason why we do that. We want to foster that because men are not good at this naturally.

    And so sometimes the fellowship with other men is better than the message we got out of it. It's just spending time with other men. Proverbs 18, verse 24: "A man who has friends must himself be friendly."

    I'll just let that sink in for a second. If you treat everybody like trash, no wonder you don't have any friends, right? A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

    And finally, today, there are the promise of multiplied rewards. Our scripture ends with this: "A threefold cord is not quickly broken." Now, we normally use that scripture in the context of marriage, right? We have a husband, we have a wife, and we have a third cord, which we believe is God—his power, his spirit influencing.

    But listen, that's true of any human relationship. It's not just about marriage. That between friendships, I'm so grateful that I have, over the years, developed friendships with men that, even if I haven't spoken to them in a year or more, I can call them and have a meaningful relationship, a meaningful conversation with them that I get something out of, they get something.

    Do you have men like that in your life? Ladies, I know it's a little bit easier, but it's not as easy for everyone. This is something that we should foster.

    Let me ask you this as we close. What is the one thing that we have on earth now that will endure in eternity? Okay, what do you got in your house today that a hundred years, a thousand years from now in eternity, you're still going to have? Your iPhone? Is that going to be there? Your house, your cars, your clothes? Any of that stuff going to be there in a thousand years?

    You know what you will have? You'll have your friends—friends in the Lord. You'll have family—brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers. You'll have those. This is why relationships are the most precious thing that we can endure, that we can build, that we can invest in this side of heaven. People are precious.

    What did Jesus die for? He died for people. He died for broken and lost people. And so that's why it is so important this morning that you and I will invest in relationships of great trust. Thank God for his mercy. Thank God for his mercy.

    Jesus died so that he could repair the most important relationship—that's between you and God. After salvation, after that vertical relationship is restored, he also wants us to build the horizontal relationships. You and I, we all need to invest in a few good friendships.

    If you're looking at your life right now and saying, "Wow, I really feel like Solomon. I feel like what he said—laboring, toiling, but it's meaningless because I have nobody to share it with." And this, I would pray for you this morning. This would inspire you to begin investing and being invested in by others.

    Let's bow our heads this morning. We're going to close our eyes for just a moment. We bring this service to a close. There is a bond of brotherhood. This is especially for men because we have an especially hard time with it. But I believe this morning that God would speak to everyone—men and women alike—that we need to invest our lives in relationships.

    It can be hard. You know why? Because people can be hard. People can hurt you. You can get burned. But that doesn't change the reality that we need friends. We need relationships of trust.

    As we bring this service to a close today, and as God is dealing with our hearts, I want to take a moment to speak to you about the most important relationship in your life—that's your relationship with God. Every one of us here, God sent his son Jesus to die on the cross so that he could have a relationship with you.

    The act of sacrificial love that Jesus displayed, giving his own life, his body on the cross—no man took his life; he said, "I freely give it" as a willing sacrifice in your place. You and I, we're the ones who sinned. We're the ones who broke the commandments of God. And yet Jesus offers to take our place. He took our punishment on that cross.

    And if you will trust in him today, the Bible says that your sins can be washed away. Now you can have new life with God. You can have a relationship, even a friendship with God. It might seem impossible; it might seem strange to believe that, but it's true. God did not make you to suffer; he made us to enjoy his presence forever.

    And if you want to enjoy the presence of God, the only way to find that is not through religion. It's not through church attendance. The way that we find that is through trusting in Jesus, the Son of God, the Messiah, the one who fulfilled all the scriptures.

    And he is here by his spirit this morning to touch somebody's heart. You're here today. You say, "Pastor, you're talking about me. I'm not right with God. I'm not living for him. I'm not doing right. But he's caught my attention today. I believe God brought you here for such a time as this. He brought you here with this purpose. He wants to save you. He wants to change your life. You'll be a new creation in Christ."

    If that's you, you're here this morning and you say, "Pastor, please pray for me. I want to receive Christ as my Savior. I want to turn from my sins and trust in Jesus." Then I would love to pray for you. Is that someone here with an uplifted hand? And you'd say, "Pastor, please pray for me. I'm not right with God, but I want to be."

    Please don't miss this opportunity. The spirit of God is moving. Don't allow this moment to pass you by without responding in faith. I believe that Jesus can save me. Is that you? Quickly slip up a hand right now. Don't worry about what others are thinking or saying or doing. Right now is between you and God. Are you right with him? You can get right before you leave.

    Can I see your hand? You just slip it up right now. Say, "Pastor, pray for me. I need salvation. I need healing. I need a new start in life." Amen.

    Somebody's here today, and you're struggling with relationships. This could be a lot of people, but we're going to open up this altar for prayer. Relationships, again, are the most precious thing this side of heaven because they're the only thing that will last in eternity.

    But there's people here today that you struggle with relationships because you've been hurt, because you've been burned, and you build up walls, and you refuse to trust. And there's men in this place who are single warriors. You're solo on the battlefield. You're struggling because you have nobody that you can trust and nobody that trusts you.

    And I want to open up this altar today. We're going to ask God to help us to develop strong relationships—men and women alike. We want to open up this altar for prayer. Would you come right now and say, "Lord, help me. Help me, Lord. I want you to help me to be a friend and to develop good and godly friendships—a brotherhood, a sisterhood."

    This altar is open. This altar is open. This altar is open. This altar is open. Let's stand up to our feet. Let's begin to pray.

    Jesus said, "You will know me. The world will know that you are mine because of the love that you have for one another." If you want to respond right now in faith, will you come to this altar together and pray with us? Will you come and begin to cry out to the Lord and admit your weakness and your brokenness here?

    We're going to pray together. Come on, church, let's lift up our voices in prayer. Let's kneel before the Lord. Let's begin to pour out our hearts. You know a lonely man? Why don't you pray for him this morning? Why don't you pray that God would open up his heart?

    Come on, let's begin to cry out to the Lord together in this place. Lord, we thank you. Oh, we need you, Lord. We thank you. Oh, the spirit of the living God. We need you. Thank you, Lord, for your grace. Thank you for your spirit. Thank you for your mercy.

    Oh God, help us, Lord. We thank you. We praise you. I pray, God, that you would touch men of this congregation. Speak, God, and bring revival to relationships, God, in this place—friendships, a brotherhood of believers. I pray.

    Oh, we need you, Lord. We give you praise. We give you glory. You are on your throne, my God. We give you glory. Worthy of praise and glory today. Thank you for your spirit. Holy God, I give you glory.

    Oh, the spirit of the living God, we need you. Oh God, that you would build your net. Bind together the relationships of trust that we might be fruitful and effective as the net going out into this broken world and picking up what you have called.

    Oh, Jesus, there'd be men in this place who develop strong friendships, I pray. Oh, we give you glory and praise this morning. Thank you for your spirit. Help us, Lord. We need you as we cry out to you together.

    Amen. Can we stand together? We want to worship God in this place. We want to adore him for his power and his grace in our lives. Would you lift up your hands with me and your voice? Let's give God praise this morning.

    God, we thank you. We praise you, God. We magnify your holy name. God, you are worthy of all glory. You are worthy of all praise. Oh, you are worthy of all honor.

    Can I just remind you as we close? Listen, we cannot even get saved without admitting our need—admitting that we need help. The Lord cannot save anybody who doesn't think they need to be saved. And that's a really hard thing for men, by the way, to admit that they need help.

    I find it very amusing that in a service I'm speaking mostly to men, and the altar—there's no men because we're like, "That's not me. That's somebody else. Good, bad, good sermon, pastor. Somebody else." I don't like admitting that I need help here.

    So even though all of you precious ladies and Tyler—Brian, Brian responded. Thank you, brother. I want to pray. I want to believe God. We need to pray because here's what's really happening under the surface: is that men are struggling.

    And you know how you can tell? Is that men get angry. The way that we process emotion is that we get angry. If you show me an angry man, I'll show you a depressed man—a man who is lacking friendships, connection with other people. And we process that in anger.

    And you know somebody who's always, you know, a guy who's always walking around stewing, you know, like a bubbling pot waiting to just over-explode? That's usually a man who's depressed and lonely.

    And so we're going to pray. Maybe that's you, and you were, you know, didn't want to come forward. That's okay. But ladies, I want to pray for you as well. I want to pray for men in your life because there's a lot of them that are not here this morning because of this issue.

    And so let's pray together. Let's lift up our hands. Let's say, "God in heaven, I recognize how needy I am, how broken and lost I am without you. I repent for going my own way and trusting in myself. I admit that I need you today. I need your presence. Without you, Lord, I am nothing. I'm asking you today to connect me with your spirit to other believers, to friends, brothers, and sisters in Christ, that in our church you would build powerful relationships and that together we would become the net that can gather up all the people you have in store.

    Lord, we want to be effective in this lost world, and you said that the world would know us by our love for one another. So Lord, give me a friend. Give me someone I can rely on, someone I can talk to, I can share details with, that I can bear their burdens and they can bear mine. And together, Lord, we can do your will.

    And we give you praise in Jesus' name. Amen. Come on, let's give the Lord praise right now. Father, we thank you.


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Written with Love by Pastor Adam Dragoon

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The Kingdom of Heaven is Like Leaven

Jesus uses leaven as a metaphor for the kingdom of heaven, illustrating how the church is meant to grow and expand. However, this growth must be rooted in genuine spiritual transformation rather than superficial numbers. The church is not merely a community or a building; it is the body of Christ, called to uphold God's truth and reach the lost with the gospel.

Sermon Summary

Pastor Gadsden reflects on his journey from the inner city of Jacksonville, Florida, where a challenging environment influenced him. Despite having a supportive family, he found himself entangled in a lifestyle of crime and rebellion. During this tumultuous period, a persistent Christian witness reached out to him, planting a seed of faith that eventually led him to a transformative encounter with Jesus Christ. This pivotal moment occurred not in a church but in the solitude of his bedroom, where he surrendered his life to Christ, marking the beginning of a new chapter filled with purpose and hope.

The essence of the message is encapsulated in the parable of the leaven from Matthew 13:33. Jesus uses leaven as a metaphor for the kingdom of heaven, illustrating how the church is meant to grow and expand. However, this growth must be rooted in genuine spiritual transformation rather than superficial numbers. The church is not merely a community or a building; it is the body of Christ, called to uphold God's truth and reach the lost with the gospel. Actual church growth is about conversion and discipleship, where individuals are transformed by the gospel and equipped to live out their faith. This involves a commitment to evangelism, discipleship, and church planting, ensuring that the church remains focused on its mission to spread the love and truth of Jesus Christ.

In conclusion, the kingdom of heaven is like leaven, meant to permeate and transform the world through the power of the gospel. Our hope is not in perfect buildings or programs but in the presence of Jesus Christ within us. As we embrace this mission, we are called to love others and share the gospel's transformative power, believing that God can save and change lives just as He did for Pastor Gadsden.

I said, ‘I don’t know everything about God. I don’t really understand religion, but what I do know, what I do believe is that God is real.’ And that night, it wasn’t a church service. It wasn’t anything like that. But in my bedroom that night, I bowed my knees, and I gave my life to Jesus Christ. Amen. That was June 7, 2008. Sixteen years ago, God saved my life. My life has never been the same since.
— Pastor Chris Gadsden

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Key Takeaways

  1. Transformation through Christ: The journey from a life of crime to faith in Jesus highlights the transformative power of the gospel. True change begins with a personal encounter with Christ, leading to a life of purpose and hope. [04:43]

  2. The Church's Mission: The church is called to grow not just in numbers, but in spiritual depth. This growth is rooted in evangelism and discipleship, focusing on reaching the lost and nurturing genuine faith. [09:39]

  3. The Danger of Superficial Growth: Churches must avoid the temptation to grow by attracting members from other congregations. True growth comes from evangelizing the lost and fostering authentic discipleship. [22:36]

  4. The Role of Discipleship: Discipleship is essential for sustaining church growth. It involves teaching and equipping believers to live out their faith, ensuring that the church remains focused on its mission. [37:20]

  5. The Power of Evangelism: Evangelism is the foundation of church growth. By sharing the gospel and leading others to Christ, we fulfill our calling to expand the kingdom of heaven and transform lives. [40:18]


Bible Reading

  • Matthew 13:33 NKJV - Another parable He spoke to them: "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened."

  • Exodus 12:15 NKJV - 'Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses. For whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel.

  • Galatians 5:9 NKJV - A little leaven leavens the whole lump.

Observation Questions

  1. What metaphor does Jesus use in Matthew 13:33 to describe the kingdom of heaven, and what does it signify about the nature of the church? [09:39]

  2. According to the sermon, how did the speaker's personal encounter with Christ differ from previous religious experiences? [04:43]

  3. What are some of the negative connotations of leaven mentioned in the Bible, and how does this contrast with its use in Matthew 13:33? [14:10]

  4. How does the speaker describe the problem with some modern church growth strategies? [25:33]

Interpretation Questions

  1. In what ways does the parable of the leaven challenge the church to focus on genuine spiritual transformation rather than superficial growth? [09:39]

  2. How does the speaker's testimony illustrate the transformative power of the gospel, and what role did persistent Christian witness play in his journey? [04:43]

  3. What does the sermon suggest about the importance of discipleship in sustaining church growth, and how does this relate to the concept of leaven? [37:20]

  4. How does the sermon critique the focus on attracting members from other congregations, and what alternative does it propose for true church growth? [25:33]

Application Questions

  1. Reflect on your own spiritual journey. Have you experienced a transformative encounter with Christ similar to the speaker's testimony? How did it change your life? [04:43]

  2. In what ways can you contribute to the spiritual growth of your church community, focusing on evangelism and discipleship rather than just increasing numbers? [09:39]

  3. Consider the metaphor of leaven. How can you ensure that your influence in your community is positive and transformative, like the leaven in the parable? [14:10]

  4. Are there areas in your church or personal life where you might be focusing on superficial growth rather than genuine spiritual transformation? How can you address this? [25:33]

  5. How can you actively participate in discipleship within your church, helping to equip others to live out their faith? What steps can you take this week to engage in this process? [37:20]

  6. Identify one person in your life who is not yet a believer. How can you share the gospel with them in a way that is genuine and loving, similar to the persistent witness in the speaker's testimony? [04:43]

  7. Reflect on the role of the church as described in the sermon. How can you help your church maintain its focus on its mission to spread the love and truth of Jesus Christ? [22:36]

  • And I told you guys this morning that I would share my testimony this evening, so here it is.

    So like I told you guys this morning, I was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, 1990. I'm a '90s baby. In the inner city of Jacksonville, Florida, some of you guys know Duval County. If you watch football, Jacksonville Jaguars, Duval! That's where I'm from.

    So inner city Jacksonville is notorious for a horrible crime rate, so I was raised in that environment. I wasn't really a bad kid. I had a mother, I had a father. They were not married. They did the best they could, but they tried their best to raise me right. So I wasn't a thug, I wasn't a gangster, but I was under that influence. My friends in the neighborhood, people that I met at school, my cousins, brothers, things of that nature. So I was just a follower. I began to follow the crowd.

    At the age of 15 years old, I found myself smoking weed, going to parties and clubs, drinking alcohol, immoral relationships, so forth and so on. And then it got to the point where I was carrying guns and just involved in all types of crime.

    At the age of 17 years old, I was a senior in high school. Like I said, I wasn't a bad kid, so I had never failed a grade. I had never gone to summer school. I thought I was kind of smart, but some people might think differently. But nevertheless, I was doing the best I could in school, but I still had that street life behind me because I was following the crowd, being involved in the wrong things.

    So at the age of 17 years old, my senior year of high school, I was expelled from all Duval County public schools for having a loaded .357 Magnum with hollow tips in it in a school locker room.

    And for me, I got arrested, and I got out some time after that, and I still didn't change. I still had this hard head, this stubborn mindset that I was refusing to change my lifestyle, so I kept doing the same things. I continued to get incarcerated for drug charges and missing court, different things of that nature.

    But during that process of time, a Christian came and ministered to me, but it was different than every other time I had gone to church or every other time somebody told me about Jesus. Because not only did they lead me to a clear decision to accept Jesus Christ in my heart and my life, but they told me about my sin. And they told me that if I were to die in the state of my sin, I would not make heaven my home. And then they told me about the love of Jesus Christ.

    So religiously, I accepted Jesus because I respected God because I grew up going to church. So I had no real intention of changing. But the other thing about this witness that was different than every other time before was that every time I prayed with somebody in the past, they would just leave and go about their business, and I went about mine. So I didn't mind praying with God because I thought it would be the same situation that he would just leave and go about his life, and my life would continue to go the same.

    But this guy followed up on me. He would go by my house and he would knock on the door. I would be playing a little Bootsy, and I'm like, man, what's that sound? And I look out the window, and he's standing by my front door. He's like, man, how's it going?

    And every time he would go by my house, my situation would get worse. So he would come by and say, "Man, how's things going?" Now, you know, I lost my job, but it's all good. I'm gonna make it. How's things going? You know, I got kicked out of school, but it's all good. I'm gonna make it. How's things going? You know, I got locked up again. I just got out last week, but it's all good. I'm gonna make it.

    And he's like, "Every time I talk to you, your situation is getting worse." And inside, I was broken. I was desperate. I was hurting.

    One night, I looked in the mirror, and at this point, I had gold plates to the top, eight slugs, eight solid gold teeth to the top. I had small dreads. I would grow my dreadlocks out. And I remember one day I looked in the mirror, and I didn't know who I was. I looked at myself and said, "Who are you?"

    And I felt I had no destiny. I felt I had no purpose. I felt that my life didn't amount to anything. But that seed that that young man planted in my heart, planted in my life, began to produce fruit.

    And I said, "You know what? I don't know everything about God. I don't really understand religion, but what I do know, what I do believe is that God is real." And that night, it wasn't a church service. It wasn't anything like that. But in my bedroom that night, I bowed my knees and I gave my life to Jesus Christ. Amen. That was June 7, 2008. Sixteen years ago, God saved my life. My life has never been the same since. Amen.

    So this night, my wife and I, we wanted to do some special music, but I'm going to need your help singing this song, okay? I'm going to need your help. I need your—listen, y'all's song service was live. Pastor Dragoon is making it happen. You guys are lively. I need your help. Let's make it lit tonight, okay?

    So what I'm going to do, when I say "hurting," you say "used to be," all right? When I say "lurking," you say "used to be." There you go. Ramona's catching on. When I say "dirty," you say "used to be." But Christ cleaned me, and you should see.

    Wilding, yeah? Violent, yeah? Dying, yeah? But Christ cleaned me, and you should see. Right, let's go.

    Dying. I used to be. You should see. 'Cause the sin I was cut off like you pulled a tree. I dozed in like a pool living foolishly. I knew that hell was hot, but it was cool with me. Chasing money, fame, and jewelry. Yeah. I couldn't measure up. Sin was drooling me. Yeah. I was hooked. It was luring me. The way that I was doing and the things I was pursuing, it would bring me to my ruin and eventually my eulogy. Jesus rose when he pulled to me. Now I can truly see. Words say I'm with the bride of Christ. That means I'm soon to be. If you like you and blinded out to me, then you should see. He saved me from my lunacy, and now I truly see.

    In the school, I had a gas like a fuel leak. But he pursued and he made me a new of me. Now I'm kicking it with Christ like a Bruce Lee. Full of joy, call it jubilee. Come on, hurt me. I used to be. Lurking. I used to be. Dirty. I used to be.

    Try to clean. Be seated, you guys are awesome. See, listen, how many know when you are in Christ, what you used to be, you no longer are?

    And there's a powerful truth about that because the Bible talks about the church. And how many know the church is not just the temporary building that's about 85 degrees tonight? How many know that the church is not the building that's downstairs that's being reconstructed? Amen.

    And I resonate with what Pastor Dragoon said, that many times we have to go through periods of discomfort in order to see what God wants to do. And that's not only true in the church, but that's true in our personal lives. Amen.

    So I want to minister a sermon this evening. If you could turn in your Bible to Matthew chapter 13, verse 33.

    Matthew chapter 13, verse 33. July 2nd, 1865, the Christian mission, which was later known as the Salvation Army, was founded to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to see souls saved and to help people.

    But the Salvation Army has faced critiques because of mission drift. They've drifted from their original mission. And the organization has become more focused on social services, administrative functions, at the expense of their evangelical mission.

    This organization has grown exponentially since it was founded. But what started as an army of salvation that was all about preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to see souls saved has been reduced to receiving donations through fundraising and doing social work and having a place to go to and get some cheap products, right?

    Listen, God is all about growth, but he wants us and his church to grow the right way and not to lose focus of the mission that he's called us to. Amen.

    This is what our text says. Can you hand me that water, please?

    The Bible says, Matthew chapter 13, verse 33, "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leaven."

    Let's pray. God, we come in the name of Jesus, Lord. We thank you, God, for this congregation. We thank you for this people. God, we thank you for this church, all that you're doing. And God, we know that it's your will to enlarge us. It's your will that your church would grow and that your people would grow. And God, help us to understand how you desire us to grow, that we can accomplish your will for our lives. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

    I want to minister a sermon this evening called "The Kingdom of Heaven is Like Leaven." The powerful illustration that Jesus gave us.

    Can you put that picture of leaven up on the screen, please?

    Okay, so right here, what you see is on the left, you see the leaven. And then on the right, you see this picture of bread. I know you guys on that side probably can't see it too much. But there's a picture of leaven in a jar and there's a picture of bread.

    And what happens is, in order for the bread to rise, you have to mix the leaven in it. And then, you know, they roll the dough and they do all these different things. But that is what causes the bread to rise. And then here's a picture of bread that is leavened. You see, it has risen like bread that we buy from the store. But then you have the picture of the unleavened bread that is flattened because there was no leaven in it.

    So I want to look first at what is leaven. And I want you to lock in with me because I'm going to be using quite a bit of scripture tonight. But we're going to go somewhere, so I want you to lock in with me.

    What is leaven? Leaven is yeast or fermented dough that causes bread to rise. The first mention of leaven in the Bible is when God instructed the Israelites regarding the Passover feast of unleavened bread.

    Exodus 12:15, "Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day, you shall remove leaven from your houses. For whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel."

    So what he's saying is that leaven represented the need to move quickly because when you put leaven in bread, it's going to rise. And you don't have time to—when you put leaven in bread, you have a certain amount of time to use it.

    So when they used leaven, they were not as flexible to do what God wanted them to do. So whenever God wanted them to move, he said, "Don't leaven your bread." He said, "Take unleavened bread with you." When they had to leave Israel, they did not have time for bread to rise.

    The same way when God tells you and I to do something, we don't always have time to process it. We don't always have time to think about the decision. How many know there's times when God tells you to do something and you just have to do it?

    And the second thing that it meant is getting rid of the leaven also represented purity. Because leaven is typically a sign of sin and corruption in the Bible because leaven spreads and it affects the whole. Usually, when the Bible mentions leaven, it is an example of something bad. Usually, leaven is not a good thing.

    Leviticus 2:11, "No grain offering which you bring to the Lord shall be made with leaven, for you shall burn no leaven nor any honey in any offering to the Lord made by fire."

    Offerings were not to have leaven, meaning they were not to be corrupt because it's a picture of sin. Leaven also was referred to as false teaching and hypocrisy.

    Matthew 16:6, "Then Jesus said to them, 'Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.'"

    Matthew 16:12, "Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread but the doctrine of the Pharisees and the Sadducees."

    So he's saying that leaven is false doctrine. How many know it's a lot of people that think that they're preaching truth, but it's false doctrine?

    I remember I was a young convert on outreach, and I saw these people. They had red shirts that said "Jesus is Lord" on their back. And kind of like I said this morning, I didn't have discernment, so I started embracing these people. "Yeah, that's right, Jesus is Lord," and I started talking to them about Jesus.

    And I said, "What church do you go to?" And they said, "We go to the Kingdom Hall." They were Jehovah's Witnesses. They were people that preached false doctrine, and the Bible says that is leaven because false doctrine, if it gets into your lives, it will spread and it would cause corruption, and that's true for the church as well.

    Luke 12:1, "He began to say this to his disciples: 'First of all, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.'"

    Even Paul in Corinthians and Galatians mentions that sin is leaven that will corrupt the entire church.

    Galatians 5:9, "A little leaven leavens the whole lump."

    So he's talking about how sin can creep into our lives and not only affect us, but it can affect the church. That's true for immorality, that's true for hypocrisy, that's true for false doctrine, and many other areas in our lives.

    But in this text that we read this morning, Matthew 13—or this evening, excuse me—Matthew 13:33, Jesus speaks of leaven in a completely different sense.

    So we have to lock in right here. He actually speaks of leaven in a positive manner. He's not speaking of leaven in a negative manner, as sin or corruption, something that we need to avoid. He's saying this is something that we need to embrace.

    He's saying that the church is supposed to expand and enlarge, that the church is designed to spread. You know, you can't make everybody happy. I've met some people, they don't like our church because it's too small. Now many other people, they love our church, like, "Yeah, 'cause I don't like the big churches." I'm like, "Well, what happens if our church gets big?"

    Right? But if we have any revelation, any understanding of the church, we would understand that God desires his church to grow. This is the imagery of expanding tents, tent stakes in the Bible.

    Isaiah 54:2 & 3, "He says, 'Enlarge the place of your tent and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings. Do not spare, lifting your cords and strengthen your stakes, for you shall expand to the right and to the left, and your descendants will inherit the nations and make the desolate cities inhabited.'"

    So he's saying enlarge your tent stakes. So in other words, God desires for you to grow. Enlargement represents preparing for God's blessings. It refers to making room for increased influence, blessings, but also with responsibility.

    How many know you get more stuff, that's more responsibility, right? You get a bigger house, that's more house to clean, that's more mortgage to pay, more rent, right? You get a nicer car, you know, you get a bigger car, that's more gas mileage. There's more responsibility that comes with the blessing. That is God's will for your life, and that is also God's will for the church—enlargement.

    How many believe that the church is not just the building, but the church is God's people? That we are the church? Amen.

    I didn't like that. How many believe that we are the church? Okay, okay, I'm gonna make sure I'm preaching to somebody.

    So God does not just want his building to grow. We thank God for what God has done with you guys, this church, with what God is doing with the building. But God wants you. God wants his people to grow.

    Our text says, "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven." The local church, as in the people, the body of Christ, is the physical manifestation of a kingdom that is spiritual. That's why Jesus told Peter that your revelation of Jesus Christ that people can't see is what God is going to build his church that people can see.

    That's why Jesus told Peter that the revelation that you have that Jesus Christ is Lord is what God is going to build his church off of because it's your understanding that Jesus Christ is God that is what God builds the church.

    How many know the church will have no power if everybody is, "Well, you know, I just like the church, but I hold the Jesus thing."

    But no, it's because we collectively believe and agree together that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that is what makes us the church.

    Matthew 16:18, "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it."

    The kingdom, the church, is established on truth—people that have embraced the revelation that Jesus Christ is Lord. And he said, "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven."

    So he wants his kingdom, his church, his people to be enlarged, or in other words, he wants more people to come into the church that are going to believe upon Jesus Christ. Amen.

    So there are three aspects of the kingdom that directly relate to the church.

    Number one, the kingdom is God's country. Philippians 3:20 says, "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ."

    The second thing is that the kingdom is God's company. Luke 2:49, "He said to them, 'Why do you seek me? Do you not know that I must be about my Father's business?'"

    Listen, God's business is not about making money. I mean, no, the church needs money. We need money, and the church needs money, but it's not just about the money, the dollars and the cents. God's business is about saving people from sin and getting them to heaven.

    And then the third aspect is that the kingdom is God's constitution. Isaiah 33:22, "For the Lord is our judge. The Lord is our lawgiver. The Lord is our king. He will save us."

    I want to talk secondly about the problem with church growth. So we've established that God wants the church to grow. We've established that God wants us to grow because we are the church.

    But how many know there are a lot of people that go to church, they're not even Christians? There's a lot of people that go to church, but whether they're going to heaven is questionable. There are members of churches, but they're not saved. There are leaders in the church, and they're not saved either.

    Or there's leaders in the church, and they're okay with the people in their church not being genuine Christians as long as they're giving money, right? As long as they look good.

    But the whole focus of the church can be bigger numbers, which means more people. But the church is not just a gathering.

    People say this word often, and I get what people mean, but we have to be careful with this. People say, "Well, you know, it's all about community."

    But I want to declare to you this evening that the church is far more than community. The church is the church.

    Because there's countless organizations in the world that you can go to if you just want community. How many know you can join a gym if you just want community? You can join a country club? There's countless organizations that you can be involved in if all you want is community.

    But the church is far more than community. It's far more than just a gathering of people. People misquote Matthew 18:20. It says, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there in the midst of them."

    So people use this scripture to claim that, you know, us just sitting around smoking weed talking about Jesus, we having church right now.

    But church is not just a gathering of people. There is no shortage of secular organizations that offer community.

    Jesus says the church is the body of Christ.

    So again, number one, the church represents God's country. The church provides standards, borders, and boundaries so the people can have safety, protection, and provision.

    Pastor Dragoon is a shepherd. He's not just saying, "Hey, you coming to church tonight?" Because he just wants more numbers. No, he knows that in the church, there's safety. There's freedom.

    The church is God's company. The church is designed to fulfill the mission that God has called its people to. So if we are a part of the church, meaning God's business, God's company, how many know we should be involved in reaching more people? Come on.

    And number three, the church is God's constitution. The church upholds the law. The church is the world's reference point for right and wrong.

    You know, we can point to the world, "Man, this world is so crazy." But, you know, it's really a reflection of the church because the church is responsible for holding God's laws, God's standards.

    So the world should be looking to us believers and saying, "You know what? I know that's wrong because they're not doing it, and I know that's right because they are." We are the ones that should be upholding the law of God.

    The church belongs to Jesus. John 14:6, "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way. I am the truth. I am the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"

    The problem is when the church is focused on growing but not focused on Jesus.

    And when that happens, the method of growing is by proselytizing.

    What proselytizing means, or what a proselyte is, is someone who is converted from another religion, belief, or church. Now, this can happen naturally through salvation. I mean, Muslims can get saved, Catholics can get saved, Hindus can get saved, atheists can get saved. It doesn't matter.

    Or fake Christians, like I was when I was growing up, can get saved as well. So it doesn't matter your religion, your doctrine, nor belief. God can touch your life.

    But the problem is when the goal is to pull on people who already profess to be Christians, and they're already members of other churches.

    So for many churches, this is the mission. The mission is not to reach the lost. The mission is to reach other church people.

    So you have these mega churches, they get planted, and then they're not trying to evangelize the gospel of Jesus Christ and to reach lost souls. They're just trying to get Christians from other churches.

    But that's not the mission of the church. The mission is not to evangelize and to save the lost in that situation. It's to be more attractive and more competing than other churches so people will leave their church and go to what they believe is a better church.

    These type of converts are superficial and harmful to the church. And if sinners do get saved in that process, it's like a bonus.

    They're like, "You know what? Well, we got some people saved." So what happens is it's almost like this false confirmation that they're doing something right because somebody got saved.

    But the problem is when the whole mission behind the church growing is skewed and it does not align with God's method of evangelism and discipleship, you now produce a culture of vain religion and you breed off-based, non-biblical Christians.

    Matthew 23:15, Jesus says, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites." Here it is again. When he says this word, "hypocrites," we need to pay attention.

    And he's talking to these scribes and Pharisees again. He says, "Listen, this is crucial because this is what we're looking at in this day and age that we live in. If someone is claiming to be a mature Christian going to a new church and the leaders of that church accept them with no questions asked, that is a red flag."

    A true pastor, a true shepherd is going to say, "Oh, you come from another church, right? Well, when did you get saved? What brought you here?"

    If there's a red flag, I probably should communicate with your pastor, see what's going on. But if you're a mature Christian and you start going to another church and they just embrace you with no care or concern from where you came from, who your pastor is, that's a red flag.

    The alarm should be blaring when people come into the church like that. And I'm not saying that God can't draw people who come from other churches or other backgrounds, but what I'm saying is that the goal of church growth is to evangelize the lost.

    The goal of church growth is that those who are not saved, sinners outside of the church walls, would get saved and be converted. Amen.

    The problem when the church seeks growth but strays from the mission is that there is no discipleship. If the church does happen to have genuine Christians, they will produce uneducated, untrained, and spiritually immature Christians.

    How many know Harvard University was established with the primary aim of training clergy and promoting Christian education, but it's now one of the most anti-Christ institutions in all of academia?

    They started off as a Christian college to train up Christian leaders, but now what they produce is so anti-Christ. Where they have to rely on now is other areas in excelling, and now they try to excel in academia and make that their main focus because they lost the mission.

    And just because a person is not saved, how many know people aren't stupid nowadays? I mean, just because people aren't saved, you got doctors, lawyers, engineers. There are intelligent people in the world.

    So people have common sense. They might not know God or the Bible, but people can look around the church, and they can know that something's not right.

    So this forces churches to attract people with beautiful buildings, smoking lights, doing worship service, various programs to draw people, but they will refuse to talk about sin. They'll refuse to talk about hell. They'll refuse to have biblical standards and to hold people accountable.

    And what happens is people come into these churches, and again, they might not be religious, they might not know a lot about God in the Bible, but they'll look around and say, "I thought this was a church." I'm like, "It looks good outwardly, but the people don't act like Christians."

    But how many know when people come into our church, they should find, "You know what? These people love them some Jesus. These people, man, they might not have it all together, but one thing is for sure, they love them some Jesus."

    I remember hearing the story about toxic buildings. I met a guy who was in landscape architecture and engineering, things of that nature, and he told this story about how his son had to go to the doctor's office, and they had reconstructed their parking lot.

    So he was driving this big Ford Expedition. He has a bunch of kids, but in front of him, he saw this 25-passenger van. And as it was pulling into the doctor's office, it was going to go around this roundabout, and he's looking, he's like, "This van is way too big to get around that little roundabout."

    So he looked before the van, and he saw that the concrete was all torn up, and there were divots all in the grass from people going over the curb and going into the crack in the grass because the parking lot was just a mess, the way it was constructed, the way it was engineered.

    And he said he saw that van, that 25-passenger van, jump the curb and make the ditch pretty much in the grass even worse. And he's like, "This is insane."

    And he said he went out to the doctor's office, and everybody was so upset because it was so frustrating with how difficult it was to find parking in the parking lot.

    And he said, "This is a picture of what you would call a toxic building."

    That because the building is toxic, people are frustrated, and people are mad when they get inside.

    But the problem is that when the church doesn't have Jesus, we have to rely on our buildings being perfect.

    And we have to rely on all the outward things being right because what's inside the church is not.

    But what I thank God about our churches and our fellowship, we don't rely on having the best buildings. We don't rely on having everything perfect on the outside. What we rely on is that we have Jesus.

    That you might come in frustrated, but you're going to leave full of joy. You might come in with problems and attitudes, but you're going to leave full of the Holy Spirit.

    I have a video from the founder of our fellowship, Pastor Wayman Mitchell. Could you play it, please?

    I don't see it yet.

    All right. You can turn it up, please. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

    Our hope is that we don't have to rely on doing everything right. We don't rely on having the nicest building or social media presence. And I'm not saying those things are wrong because we should seek to have a nice building and do things right.

    But we're not trying to make our worship service go viral. We're not trying to be—we rely on God being who he says he is.

    And you using people like us to build his church. Amen.

    I want to close talking about the leaven. The kingdom of heaven is like leaven.

    How is the church supposed to grow? Number one is evangelism in the local church. Amen.

    This is how the church is supposed to grow, not just mailing church invitations, not by marketing and advertising, social media engagement, not even by feeding the poor.

    It's by preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. How many know every single one of us are called to be preachers?

    And that's how the church is supposed to grow, by us going and preaching the gospel.

    Mark 16:15-16, "He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved.'"

    A true sign of leaven in the kingdom is conversion. When people are being converted, when people are being saved and converted from their sin, that's a true sign of growth in the church.

    Acts 2:40-41, "With many other words, he testified and exhorted them, saying, 'Be saved from this perverse generation.' Then those who gladly received his word were baptized."

    See what conversion does is it lays the foundation for discipleship. You can't even begin with the process of discipleship until there is conversion.

    And how many know God calls us to be disciples? Amen.

    Acts 2:42, "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in prayer."

    So they continued in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, or in other words, they were being discipled. Why? Because they first got saved and converted.

    They were not pulling on Christians from other churches. They preached the gospel to the lost, and when souls were saved and converted, they continued to teach them the way of truth.

    Discipleship in the local church is what sustains growth. This is what is profound about the founder of our fellowship, Pastor Wayman Mitchell, and where he established...in our fellowship, most of the church world and people who claim to be Christians don't understand discipleship.

    If you ask most people who claim to be a Christian if they are a disciple, they will say, "Yes, yes." They'll even make the ugly face. You know, when you're trying to convince somebody that you believe, "Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm a disciple."

    But if you ask them what a disciple is, they'll give you the wrong answer. I'll just flat out tell you, "Well, I'm not really sure, but I know I am one."

    A disciple is not just a Christian or a believer. Discipleship and Christianity are different, even though they are intertwined.

    A disciple is someone who is committed to follow Christ by way of submitting their lives to the pastor that God has placed over them.

    I repeat that. A disciple is someone who is committed to follow Christ by way of submitting their lives to the pastor that God has placed over them.

    Matthew 28:19, "He says, 'Go therefore and make disciples.'"

    The thing about disciples is that they are not born; they are made. He says, "Go make disciples."

    And the process of discipleship happens in the local church. It doesn't happen by just watching live stream or watching your favorite YouTube preacher.

    Discipleship happens in the local church. That is the enlargement.

    Again, we thank God for what God is doing with you guys as a church building. But God wants you. God wants you to be involved in discipleship.

    And that is why the idea that you don't have to go to church to be a Christian is ridiculous.

    Because you may not have to go to church to become a Christian, just like I got saved in my bedroom that night. But you do have to go to church to be a disciple. That's what the church is for.

    Ephesians 4:12, "For the equipping of the saints, for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ."

    2 Timothy 2:2, "And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also."

    In other words, God is saying if we are going to be a part of church growth, we've got to be faithful. We have to be committed.

    The goal of discipleship is that from within the local church, those disciples will be sent out to start new churches.

    And Pastor David Smell said, "Amen." Amen.

    And that those who are sent out will accomplish the same goal of evangelism, discipleship, and church planting.

    And kingdom growth must be sustainable.

    So what I'm trying to say is that the leaven of the kingdom of heaven, as Pastor Greg Mitchell laid out clearly in the Memorial Stone series, I don't know if your church has watched it, but what Pastor Greg Mitchell laid out clearly, evangelism from within the local church, discipleship, church planting, and world evangelism.

    See, again, toxic buildings. Our hope is that not that we have the most immaculate building, the latest and greatest technology, modern programs.

    Our hope is that we have Jesus Christ in our building. Amen.

    Our church back home in St. Mary's, Georgia, our sanctuary is smaller than this. Smaller than this.

    But one thing that is undeniable is that God moves in our church. Amen.

    We, we, we—I can officially say we would have what the world would consider a toxic building. Most of the world, they would look at our building and say, "Psst, what is this? What is this? What is this?"

    My church would eat your church. But our confidence is that Jesus is in our church.

    Matthew 16:18, again, Jesus says, "I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." Amen.

    I heard evangelist Ernie Toppin quote this, and I'm going to quote him. He says, "You can build a church in the desert if you love people."

    That's what church growth is all about. Now, it's about the people of God that love Jesus, loving other people and saying, "You know what? The same way God saved me, he can save you."

    And then when those people get saved, they come into the church, the same way God helped me, he can help you.

    And that's church growth. That's what we are all about—reaching people with the love of Jesus and believing that God can save them and help them just like he helped us.

    The kingdom of heaven is like leaven.

    Can I have every head bowed, every eye closed?

    Listen, this evening, church growth and even personal growth doesn't start until their salvation.

    I remember before I got saved, I wanted so much more in life. I was chasing all the wrong things. I was chasing money. I was chasing the street scene, trying to live this fast life. I was involved in rap music. I was trying to either play sports or be this famous rapper, chasing all the wrong things because I wanted to have this certain lifestyle.

    But the problem is, I was not saved. I was not right with God.

    And real growth in your life starts with being born again, being saved, making Jesus Lord of your life.

    And if you're in this place this evening, you're not a Christian. Maybe you are like me, chasing all the wrong things, involved in sin and wickedness, not saved, not right with God.

    But you want to give your life to Jesus. Listen, God can save you. He can help.


Keep an eye on our Facebook Page for Daily Devotionals based on this message over the next five days.

Written with Love by Pastor Adam Dragoon

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What Happens in the Upper Room Won’t Stay in the Upper Room [Acts 1 & 2]

This message challenges us to find our own "upper room," a place where we can encounter God and be transformed. It calls us to move beyond superficial faith and engage in genuine, obedient, and persistent prayer. The transformation experienced by the early disciples is available to us today if we are willing to seek God with the same fervor and unity. As we labor together in faith, God promises to meet us, fill us with His Spirit, and empower us for His work.

Sermon Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the concept of "stolen valor" and its spiritual counterpart, "stolen spiritual valor." Just as some falsely claim military achievements for personal gain, there are those who claim spiritual depth without genuine commitment. This is a call to authenticity in our faith journey. We delved into the significance of the "upper room" as a place of divine encounter and transformation, drawing from various biblical accounts where the upper room served as a setting for miraculous events and spiritual breakthroughs. From the Old Testament stories of Ehud and Elijah to the New Testament accounts of the Last Supper and Pentecost, the upper room symbolizes a sacred space where God meets His people.

The upper room is not just a physical location but a metaphor for the elevated spiritual place where we meet God. It requires effort, akin to climbing a mountain, as seen in the lives of Moses and Jesus. This effort signifies our willingness to separate ourselves from distractions and seek God earnestly. The early church's experience in the upper room on the day of Pentecost serves as a powerful example of unity, prayer, and perseverance. They gathered in one accord, prayed continuously, and were filled with the Holy Spirit, leading to boldness and transformation.

This message challenges us to find our own "upper room," a place where we can encounter God and be transformed. It calls us to move beyond superficial faith and engage in genuine, obedient, and persistent prayer. The transformation experienced by the early disciples is available to us today if we are willing to seek God with the same fervor and unity. As we labor together in faith, God promises to meet us, fill us with His Spirit, and empower us for His work.

The transformation experienced by the early disciples is available to us today if we are willing to seek God with the same fervor and unity.
— Pastor Adam

Watch/Listen


Message Study Guide

Youtube chapters

  • [00:00] - Welcome

  • [02:00] - Introduction to Stolen Valor

  • [05:30] - Spiritual Stolen Valor

  • [09:04] - The Upper Room in Scripture

  • [13:32] - Moses and the Mountain

  • [17:45] - Jesus and the Mountain

  • [21:00] - The Early Church's Upper Room

  • [25:25] - Unity and Prayer in the Upper Room

  • [28:15] - Transformation of the Disciples

  • [31:30] - The Call to Our Upper Room

  • [33:18] - Invitation to Salvation

  • [36:00] - Closing Prayer and Reflection

Key Takeaways

  1. Authenticity in Faith: Just as stolen valor disrespects true military heroes, claiming spiritual depth without genuine commitment disrespects true faith. We must strive for authenticity in our relationship with God, ensuring our actions align with our claims of faith. [09:04]

  2. The Upper Room as a Sacred Space: The upper room represents a place of divine encounter and transformation. Throughout scripture, it is a setting for miraculous events, symbolizing the need for a dedicated space where we can meet God and experience His power. [13:32]

  3. Effort and Elevation in Seeking God: Like climbing a mountain, seeking God requires effort and a willingness to rise above distractions. This spiritual elevation is necessary for receiving God's revelations and experiencing His presence. [25:25]

  4. Unity and Perseverance in Prayer: The early church's experience in the upper room highlights the importance of unity and continuous prayer. Their perseverance led to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, demonstrating the power of collective, persistent prayer. [31:30]

  5. Transformation Through the Holy Spirit: The transformation of the disciples, from fearful followers to bold proclaimers, illustrates the power of the Holy Spirit. This same transformation is available to us if we seek God earnestly and allow His Spirit to fill and empower us. [33:18]


Bible Reading

  • Act 1:13-14 NKJV - And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James [the son] of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas [the son] of James. 14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers

  • Act 2:1-4 NKJV - When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and [one] sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Observation Questions

  1. What were the disciples doing in the upper room according to Acts 1:13-14? How does this set the stage for what happens in Acts 2? [09:04]

  2. In Acts 2:1-4, what significant event took place in the upper room, and how did it affect those present? [09:04]

  3. The sermon mentioned several Old Testament stories involving the upper room. Can you recall one of these stories and its significance? [09:04]

  4. How does the sermon describe the concept of "stolen spiritual valor," and what are some examples given? [09:04]

Interpretation Questions

  1. Why do you think the upper room is portrayed as a place of divine encounter and transformation in both the Old and New Testaments? [09:04]

  2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of unity and perseverance in prayer. How does this relate to the experience of the early church in the upper room? [31:30]

  3. How does the sermon challenge the idea of superficial faith, and what does it mean to engage in genuine, obedient, and persistent prayer? [31:30]

  4. What does the transformation of the disciples from fearful followers to bold proclaimers teach us about the power of the Holy Spirit? [25:25]

Application Questions

  1. Reflect on your own faith journey. Are there areas where you might be claiming "spiritual depth" without genuine commitment? How can you strive for greater authenticity in your relationship with God? [09:04]

  2. The sermon calls us to find our own "upper room." What steps can you take to create a dedicated space and time for encountering God in your daily life? [31:30]

  3. Consider the distractions in your life that might be hindering your spiritual elevation. What practical steps can you take to rise above these distractions and seek God more earnestly? [13:32]

  4. How can you foster unity and perseverance in prayer within your small group or church community? What role can you play in encouraging collective, persistent prayer? [31:30]

  5. The sermon highlights the transformation available through the Holy Spirit. In what areas of your life do you desire transformation, and how can you actively seek the Holy Spirit's empowerment? [25:25]

  6. Think about a time when you felt spiritually stagnant. What changes can you make to ensure you are continually growing and being transformed in your faith journey? [31:30]

  7. How can you apply the lessons from the early church's experience in the upper room to your own life and community? What specific actions can you take to live out these lessons? [31:30]

  • It's good to be in the house of the Lord this morning. Let's open up our Bibles this morning. We look into the Word of God, Acts chapter 1 and 2. I want to preach this morning a message God put on my heart for this moment in our congregation.

    There's a man named Frank Dux, and he is a martial artist, best known for claiming to have participated in and won a secret underground martial arts tournament called the Kumite, which allegedly inspired a movie from 1988 starring Jean-Claude Van Damme named Bloodsport. I'm not recommending the movie, but it is supposedly a true life story of this man Frank Dux. He claimed that he was a covert military operative having completed secret missions for the United States government, although his service records indicate that he never served in combat. According to his military record, he never left San Diego. He had an injury by falling off a truck when he was told to paint. All of the medals that he presented were mismatched to non-Marine Corps ribbons, and one journalist found that the Kumite trophy that he displayed in his home so proudly was actually made by a local trophy shop in the San Fernando Valley.

    This is one prominent example of some people who participate in something called stolen valor. Anybody ever heard of that? Stolen valor is when someone will falsely claim military service or exaggerate one's rank or achievements, even impersonating a veteran for personal gain. It can include lying about serving in combat, wearing unearned medals or uniforms, or falsely claiming to have been in elite units like the Navy SEALs, Green Beret, or Army Rangers. And I know that some of you who are here as military members, none of you gets your blood boiling worse than people impersonating heroes who are not actually heroes.

    But why is this such a temptation? Because there is a social status and there is a certain respect that we give to people who have served in the military, especially those in elite units or combat roles. And when people falsely claim a military background, they do so to impress others or gain credibility or feel a sense of importance. Also, people like Frank Dux had a whole Hollywood movie adapted according to his story to become famous, gain money, and get jobs that might prioritize veterans. There's also romantic benefits. The opposite sex may look upon people like that and be more attracted to them, being more noble or impressing others in this way. But it's truly offensive. Stolen valor is offensive because it disrespects true veterans and people who have made true sacrifices—people who have fought in foxholes and places around the world that we would not want to be.

    And so these cases of stolen valor, there are groups that work to expose who these people are and reveal inconsistencies in their false claims. I want to tell you this morning there is also a problem in the kingdom of stolen spiritual valor. There are people, there are men and women who claim to be greater than they are, who claim, "I'm a prayer warrior," but haven't seen a prayer room in years. There are people who claim to be Bible scholars and Bible students who never let a scripture touch their heart in years. There are people who claim to be true followers of Jesus, but the followers they're only following when other people are around or when they are accountable to eyes watching them.

    I want to tell you that is one of the most difficult things as a pastor to deal with—people who are stealing the valor of true faith. And I want to preach a message I've titled, "What Happens in the Upper Room Doesn't Stay in the Upper Room." What we don't need this morning is we don't need posers; we don't need imposters. We need God to transform us this morning. Can you say amen?

    I want to read from Acts chapter 1, two verses, and then from Acts chapter 2. Follow with me this morning.

    Acts 1, verse 13: "When they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying."

    Verse 14: "All these continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers."

    Now chapter 2, verse 1: "When the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. There appeared to them divided tongues as of fire, and one sat upon each one of them. And they were all filled—how many were filled? All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance."

    Let's pray for a moment.

    Lord, I thank you for the people gathered in this room today. God, we are grateful for your salvation and for your mercy and your grace. Praying, God, bring anointing to this message and to the ears that would hear it, Lord, that we would be challenged, changed, and transformed as we encounter your presence in this place. We give you glory in Jesus' mighty name. Most people would say amen.

    This message is inspired because guess where we are today? We're in an upper room, aren't we? And I thought—well, my wife helped me think—that what better way to introduce our congregation to a new building than to contemplate what happens in the upper room? What could happen here today if we would do what they did?

    I want to look at the idea of the upper room, seeking God in the upper room. What I was amazed to find is that throughout scripture there is a pattern; there is a consistency when it comes to people meeting in the upper room. The upper room is a place where God reveals his power, where transformation takes place, where destinies can be changed. Both in the Old and in the New Testament, there are sacred spaces that become places for divine encounters.

    I did a study every time the Bible mentioned the words "upper room," and I was amazed to find what kind of results came from that search. In Judges chapter 3, there's a story about Ehud, who is a hero of Israel, and how he secretly assassinates the king of Moab named Eglon. He shows up in this place and secretly takes out the king, the enemy of God's people. It shows us that the upper room is a place where we can gain the victory over Satan. It's a place where we can come against the works of hell.

    There's another story in 1 Kings chapter 17. The prophet Elijah brings the widow's son into an upper room after he had died. Elijah carries him to an upper room, stretches himself on the boy, and prays over him, and that boy is resurrected from the dead. Life and power of God poured out on him—where? In an upper room.

    Also, Elisha in 2 Kings chapter 4, the Shunammite woman has a son, and she had prepared an upper room to host the prophet where she could care for and feed him in his travels. He would often stay there, and later when her son dies, she brings him to that upper room where the prophet Elisha is able to restore that boy again—another miracle in an upper room.

    David, when his son, after the incident with Bathsheba, she gives birth to a son, and that son, the Bible says, God strikes the son and kills him. It's there in an upper room where David surrenders to the Lord. David prays in an upper room. This is in 2 Samuel 18, and it's a lesson in surrender. Our greatest cries can be heard by God in an upper room.

    Daniel chapter 6 also, the Bible says that they passed a law against praying. This is the only way they can accuse the prophet Daniel. When Daniel knew that they signed this law, he went home, he went into an upper room, he opened the windows, knelt down, and three times prayed, gave thanks as a protest against the laws of the land. The upper room—a place of power and victory and standing against the wicked laws of his generation.

    In the New Testament, we see the Last Supper in Luke chapter 22. Jesus tells his disciples, "Go, and you will find an upper room prepared already and waiting for us where we will meet." You know that from John chapter 13 until almost the entire second half of the book of John takes place in an upper room where Jesus is giving his final words and instructions to his disciples.

    Then in the book of Acts chapter 9, there is a disciple, Tabitha, who is raised from the dead. Where? In an upper room. And finally, the subject of our scripture today, the upper room is where the Holy Spirit was given by God to the church to empower her to reach the world for Jesus. All of these things occurred in the upper room.

    And really what it's pointing to, it reflects a reality. It reflects a spiritual reality that to reach God, to reach his power, to take part in what God is doing, there must be a place that we meet with him. It reminded me of Moses. How many times does the Bible mention Moses and mountain climbing? Now, I'm amazed because Moses, when God called Moses at the burning bush, how old was he? Anybody know? He was 80 years old. That was when the journey with God began for Moses.

    And time after time, we see it in Exodus in chapter 3, verse 1, then chapter 19. It says Moses was called by God up the mountain. Have you ever tried to climb a mountain? Ain't nothing easy about climbing a mountain, especially if you are 90 or 100 years old. And when God said, "Come up the mountain, Moses," I wonder what Moses was thinking about.

    Look, I'm 43 years old. I don't want to climb no mountain. Man, it's hard. Just last summer, we climbed the mountain up there, Peaks of Otter, and I almost died. I saw my life flashing before my eyes. And God said to Moses, a 90-plus-year-old man, "Moses, I want you to meet me at the top of the mountain." What is that about? God, can't we just have lunch right here? Is that okay?

    No, there's a spiritual reality about this. This also with the upper room that God is calling us up to a place to meet with him. Exodus 24, verse 12: "The Lord said to Moses, 'Come up to me on the mountain, and I will give you tablets of stone.'" See, God, there's a reality about the kingdom of God and about our relationship with God that God calls us up to an elevated place so that we can receive from him.

    God did not give the Ten Commandments to Moses when he was chilling in his tent at the bottom of the mountain. He said, "You're coming up here. I want to meet with you, Moses. I want you to make space and time for me. I want you to labor to get up there."

    Also, Jesus—we know about Jesus. He was a mountain climber too. He was a little younger than Moses, but God also, we see Jesus climbing mountains. Matthew 5:29, he went up the mountain and sat down there. Matthew 17:1, after six days, Jesus took Peter, James, and John, led them on a high mountain—not just any mountain, a high mountain. John 6:15, Jesus perceived that they were going to come and take him by force. He departed to the mountain by himself alone.

    Why? Why the mountain? Why labor? Why stress? Why exercise your muscles? Why can't we just have a meeting here? There's something about the elevated place. There's something about the upper room that God says, "There, I'll meet with you. There I will prepare you. As you seek me and pray, there will be supernatural encounters. There will be miraculous restoration. There will be commission. There, in the upper room, you will hear from me."

    I want to declare this is our upper room today. As we are laboring for this building, as we are believing God, as we are giving finances, it's not easy. Nothing about this is easy. But I want to tell you there is a reward as we are laboring together, climbing this mountain. God has something for us. Can you say amen? There is transformation for those who will set themselves apart to meet with God.

    So how do we receive this transformation this morning? How can we experience what the book of Acts church did? Can I just remind you that wasn't a separate church; it's one and the same. The church that began in the book of Acts still continues to 2025. We are part of what started there on the day of Pentecost.

    Now, how do we receive the same transformation? I want to tell you those disciples gathered together—a small group of them, not many more than are here this morning. Those people gathered there—what were they doing? Were they sitting around making sandwiches? Were they playing, working, and making a living? What does the Bible say? They were praying. They followed specific steps at the command of Jesus.

    So let's examine them quickly. Chapter 2, verse 1: The Bible says, first of all, they were in one accord. Somebody said maybe they were Mexicans because they all fit in one accord. Just kidding. Or maybe Filipinos, I don't know. But what does that mean? They were in one accord. It means they were together. They were together in spirit, they were together in heart, they were together in purpose, they were together in obedience to the Lord.

    Why were they there in the first place? Because Jesus told them to be there. He said, "We're following the commandment of the Lord." They're without divisions; they're without distractions. And somebody said this is the first miracle of the book of Acts—that the people of God would be united.

    Give us that same spirit of unity, that God would remove divisions and distractions from his body. Oh, how God is able to move when we would set aside our divisions, our pet projects, when we would set aside our hatred and bitterness toward others, and we would be together for the will of God.

    Listen to what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 1:10 to the church that was divided in many ways. He said, "I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, that there be no divisions among you, but that you would be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment."

    You know this to be true in your physical body. If you have a brain that says to your arm, "Arm, go up," but your arm doesn't listen to you, you have a problem. If your body doesn't do what your brain wants it to, you have a medical condition. You would be paralyzed if there is a schism between what your mind wants to do and what your body actually does.

    Now that's a problem, right? Difficult to live like that. It is also true in the body of Christ. When our mind, who is Jesus—He is the head—and when He says go, but the body doesn't follow, that is a paralyzed church—ineffective and unable to complete the tasks that He set before us.

    If we are together, this hand cannot be working against this hand. We have to be united together in purpose and in heart to surrender to our Lord. This church in the book of Acts, they had listened to the commandment of Jesus. They had all watched Him raised from the dead. It was probably not too difficult for them to obey Him at this moment because they had watched Him die and then watched Him raised back to life. And then they're about to watch Him arise back into glory.

    And so when He says, "I want you guys to stay here and wait. I want you to pray," Acts 1:14, then they did exactly what Jesus said. They all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication with the women and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and His brothers.

    Now I want to focus in on one word of that scripture. Can you guess what it is? It wasn't just a day; it wasn't even just a few days. They continued, and the Bible says that it's 10 days that pass between Acts chapter 1 and Acts chapter 2—10 days. 10 days when they were continuing in prayer and in supplication and in faithful obedience to the Lord Jesus.

    How many of us give up on day one? How many of us give up on day two? How many of us get frustrated and say, "Later for this, it's not working," on day three or day four? No, the church of Jesus, they continued. You know that's why the church is still here 2025 years later—because we are a people who continue. Despite everything the world would throw at you, despite all the challenges and difficulties and persecution that might come from your family, your job, from the world, we continue. We are a people who continue.

    How many people pray for five minutes and then quit? No, these people prayed together in one spirit, in one accord, in the upper room for 10 days. Oh, we want to see the fire fall. Oh, how we want the presence of God. Oh, how we long to see the miracles, the signs, and the wonders in the upper room—the place that requires some effort to get to.

    I know y'all climbed some stairs this morning. We're used to just walking in. Are you walking in obedience to what Jesus has said? There are some things that we already know Jesus wants us to do while you're praying, "Lord, give me direction," but disobeying Him where we already know what we're supposed to do.

    I want to close with one last thought this morning, and that is when they went into the upper room, they came out different. They went in faithful followers; they came out bold proclaimers. This, I believe, is what God is aiming for in your life and in mine. Because once the fire fell, nothing was the same.

    Once it happened, the promise of the prophets long ago, the promise that Jesus gave—that once it happened, once the fire came down, once the rushing mighty wind—I want to tell you they were transformed. Acts chapter 2, verse 2: "And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues as of fire, and one sat upon each one of them. And they were all—how many?—all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance."

    I want to tell you that prayer meeting said the whole house—in other words, it wasn't one section that got filled and the other section got left behind. No, they were all—the tongues as of fire sat on each one. You know I love that because it doesn't matter how educated they were or how stupid they were. It didn't matter how tall or short they were or fat or skinny. From the oldest to the youngest that were gathered there in the upper room, they all received a tongue of fire.

    It didn't depend on their actions or their abilities; it depended on their faithfulness and obedience to the word. If they were there in the room, then they received. Can I tell you there were some people that should have been there, that would have been there, that could have been there. There were some people that were followers of Jesus, but for whatever reason—maybe just had a bad day, maybe stayed home, maybe feeling not so good that day—they did not experience the same thing as the rest who were in the room.

    And for all that were there, listen, they were transformed. Think of just the few examples that we know about Peter. Peter, of course, who only weeks before this—this is 40 days after the death and the resurrection of Jesus, right? 40 days have passed. Now it's the day of Pentecost. And when Jesus died on the cross, you remember what happened with Peter, right?

    Peter's the one who denied the Lord three times. Peter, the cowardly. Peter, the failure. Peter, the denier. Peter, the one who was, when he was so confident, "Lord, I'll never betray, nor I'll never deny. Even to the death, Lord, I'll follow you." And not 24 hours later, he's denying the Lord three times, as predicted by Jesus, weeping bitterly. That probably was not fun to deal with, right?

    That Peter had all of that failure, all of that guilt, all of that pain in his past. Only 40 days later, what happens to him when the fire falls? He stands up boldly to proclaim the name of Jesus before the crowd on the day of Pentecost. At his word, at his preaching, empowered by the Holy Spirit, people hear, they are touched, they are cut to the heart, and they are transformed. 3,000 people that day heard the words of Peter and repented from sin, joined the church, and became part of that early movement.

    Peter, the same one who denied, now who's boldly preaching the name of Jesus. Stephen, another one, most likely was there on that day. Stephen, what we know about Stephen is that he was just a faithful helper. He was serving tables. He was taking care of the people that were there. He was the one, you know, you need a refill? Pour out some water? He was the one, he was the usher. You know, you need to sit over here? Everybody good? Okay, that was Stephen's ministry.

    But when Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit, you know what he became? He became a martyr. He stood when the crowd came against him, proclaiming the name of Jesus. They didn't want to hear it, and Stephen became the first martyr for the Lord Jesus Christ. Philip, we know that Philip was a deacon, but then he, as he was filled with the Spirit of God, became an evangelist. God was scooping him up and putting him in places for exact moments of time—the Ethiopian man who's got the scroll open to the book of Isaiah.

    He's an evangelist. Can I tell you the Spirit of God is able to amplify your life? It's able to take our meager efforts and make them powerful. It's like this little box over here in the corner. When I play that guitar, it's not that loud, but when I play it and the signal comes through the cable and it goes into that, it amplifies the sound and makes it sound even better. I don't even play all that well, but it sounds okay when it comes out of that speaker.

    I want to tell you that's a picture of your life. When you are surrendered to the Lord Jesus Christ and you are obedient and you are filled with His Spirit, He is able to use you to do greater things. Jesus predicted greater things. You think what I've done was impressive? Just wait till God fills you with His Holy Spirit and what our lives can be surrendered to Him.

    James was a brother of Jesus, the younger brother of Jesus. I've preached about this before, but it so encourages me because James did not believe Jesus. He was skeptical that Jesus was the Messiah. He was not a disciple during Jesus' ministry on earth. It was only after Jesus died and rose again that finally James was convinced.

    James, no doubt, was there with his mother Mary on the day of Pentecost, and he was filled with the Holy Spirit. And what happened to his life? He became a pillar and a pastor in the church of Jerusalem—the skeptic, the one who had a thousand questions. I know a few people like that. You know how I know? Because I'm one of them. Are you sure? How do you know? That was basically five years of my Christianity—asking every question.

    But James was convinced when he was filled with the Spirit. And Paul—finally, all the power of the life of Paul, who was Saul, the persecutor, Saul, the Christian killer. And when the Spirit of God touched him, oh, I want to tell you, he became a missionary church planter.

    And in the upper room, church, God is still pouring out His fire. God has not stopped in these 2,000 years. God has not failed to pour out His Spirit on His church. You know why? Because the work that He has called us to is bigger than us. It's bigger than me. It's bigger than you. It's bigger than the Potter's House. It's bigger than any institution or organization. The work of God requires a miracle, and that miracle happens in the upper room.

    When you walk in to the—when you make the effort, when you follow the lead of the Lord, you walk in one way and you walk out filled with power, direction, and purpose. Maybe this morning the Lord would speak to you. It's time to stop playing church and time to start fulfilling His calling in your life.

    You can't claim, "Yes, I'm filled with the Spirit," if you're not obeying. Challenge you? Where's your upper room? Where's the place that you are separated unto the will of God? Where you're contending for transformation.

    There's so many today talking about revival, wanting revival, thinking about revival in the past, but never making time in business. There's money to be made. There's houses to be purchased. There's so many things to do. But what about the upper room? Even ministry—ministry is no business. God is waiting for you to meet with you in the upper room.

    Don't we want to see Acts chapter 2 in Virginia Beach? Then first we've got to see Acts chapter 1. And I want to challenge you. Let's do some Acts chapter 1.

    Let's bow our heads. God's going to speak to hearts this morning. We have an altar where we're going to cry out to the living God together in this upper room.

    Before we close this service today, I want to give opportunity to someone who's come into this place, and maybe you'll be honest for a moment. Say, "Pastor, I'm not right with God. I've made my way here, and what I've realized is I'm not living for Him. I'm not right with Him. My heart is far from Him."

    Before you leave this place, you have an opportunity to trust in Jesus, the one who died for your sins, rose from the grave. Because God cares about you, He loves you, He wants to save you, and He's here by His Spirit today, convicting of sin and drawing you closer to Him.

    That tug you feel in your heart, that press that you feel, is, thank God, it's His mercy and His grace calling you to Himself. I'm so grateful that as a confused teenager, God called me into His presence. I didn't understand everything, but I knew this: I was a sinner, and I was lost. I was broken.

    When I cried out to the living God, I said, "Lord, I don't even know if you're there, but if you are, would you save me? Would you set me free?" And He heard that prayer of that confused young man, and He set my life on a different path. I was born again. Old things passed away. Everything became new.

    I'm asking you today, are you on the path? Has your life, has the direction of your life changed? I'm not asking how many times you've been to church. I'm not asking how many scriptures you know or how religious you are. I'm not asking how many times you've been to church. I'm asking about your relationship with the Lord Jesus. Do you have one? Are you right with Him? And if not, I want to pray with you today.

    Would you be courageous enough for just a moment to recognize your desperate need before the Lord and say, "Pastor, please pray for me. I need to be saved before I leave this place." If that's you, I want you to lift up your hand so I can see it. I want to pray with some people.


Keep an eye on our Facebook Page for Daily Devotionals based on this message over the next five days.

Written with Love by Pastor Adam Dragoon

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