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Chosen City Church
13925 Erwin Rd.
Charlotte, NC 28273
Chosen City Church Sermons
I Still Wonder | 1 Kings 19:7 | Elder Jamal Murchison
Can wonder and faith truly coexist in the face of life's most challenging moments? Join us as we reflect on the holiday season's dual nature of joy and sorrow, especially when missing those who've passed on. Along the way, we'll celebrate the resilience of our community and embrace the potential for fresh beginnings, even amidst past trials.
Through the compelling narrative of Jesus, we delve into the remarkable synergy between wonder and resilience in overcoming adversity. Discover how these stories teach us to nurture our childlike curiosity and imagination, often dampened by adulthood's pressures. We also examine the powerful biblical story of Elijah, drawing lessons about maintaining faith amid negativity and recognizing divine authority as the true source of transformation and victory.
This sermon also offers a heartfelt call to reconnect with your faith, find hope in prayer, and trust in God's eternal presence and protection. As we navigate personal battles and societal pressures, we're reminded that, despite past hardships, restoration and joy await us. Whether you're seeking a renewed relationship with Jesus or a supportive church community, this sermon encourages you to embrace the wonders yet to come and celebrate the promise of new opportunities through faithful worship.
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Intro and outro created by Joe Anderson Jr. of Truflava Productions
Hallelujah. We greet you with the Lord's love and Jesus joy, whether you're here in the sanctuary or watching via Facebook, youtube or the Chosen City Church app. We're grateful this morning, even in the rain. We're grateful for your commitment to stay connected with this great body of believers that we know to be Chosen City Church. Can we make some noise for our pastor this morning? Pastor Walt, lady Tiffany, jacob, joshua and Jonah, we appreciate you, pastor Walt. If you're watching the stream, you go ahead and turn it off and go back to bed and get some rest. You don't have to watch me this morning, and so we're grateful for them. We're grateful. I'm grateful that he allows me to serve here as your digital campus pastor. So if you're watching online, make sure that you pay attention to serve here as your digital campus pastor. So if you're watching online, make sure that you pay attention to the prompts on the screen, if you desire prayer salvation or if you look to partner. Some people don't know that if you partner with us, that means you're becoming a member of this great body of believers. So follow the prompts and I promise you that we will get connected with you.
Speaker 1:Today there is a word from the Lord as we stand all over the sanctuary. It can be found according to the Old Testament book of 1 Kings. 1 Kings, the 19th chapter. I'm going to read a few verses for you here and, starting at the first verse, 1 Kings, the 19th chapter, shout out to my aunt, my grandmother, my cousin that drove all the way down from Greensboro, north Carolina, this morning Praise God for you, my mom, my dad, my sisters, my nieces Amen, amen. I don't know if y'all want to read together, since Pastor Water here, so let's give it a try. Ready set, read. And the angel of the Lord came back the second time and touched him and said Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you. Amen, blessed is the word of God. Blessed is the word of God For the moments that are ours to spend together. I use for a subject that the Holy Spirit will allow and your prayers. We need all your prayers and amens.
Speaker 1:I still wonder, I still wonder you may take your seats in the presence of God. I still wonder. I still wonder. I believe that one of my assignments in the earth is to be a purpose pusher. So this morning, I believe God has given me this word just for you, if you're here in the sanctuary. My friends don't like to see me calling all of the time because sometimes, if they've told me about the calling that God has for your life, I will make sure I push you in that purpose. Don't tell me any of your business as it relates to God, because I want to make sure that you become all that God has you to be. Because I still wonder, still wonder, as we have left the christmas season.
Speaker 1:It is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, but in reality, as we enter the christmas season, we begin to think about loved ones that we have lost over the course of the year. We begin to think about how tough the year has been for us. We begin to think about those losses, we begin to think about those scenes the year has been for us. We begin to think about those losses, we begin to think about those scenes, and I don't know how they can say that it is the most wonderful time of year, when sometimes it is the most depressing time of year. It is one of the most stressful times of year, but there is hope as we turn the corner and look forward to a new year, as we look forward to New Year's Eve. That gives us a glimpse of hope. It gives us a sense of joy because there is something new on the horizon. There is hope as we stand on the doorstep, on the cusp, on the brink of a new year, and I hear what you're saying Holidays simply aren't the same anymore.
Speaker 1:It's not the same since I lost my mother. It's not the same since I've lost my grandmother. Holidays simply don't feel like the holidays anymore. It's not cold enough. I haven't seen snow in 12 years. I don't know how you feel about it. I don't know if you've already paid for your new gym membership in preparation for the new year. I don't know if you have a list of new year's resolutions that you probably aren't going to keep by quitting Friday. I don't know if you bought the new ninja juicer in an effort to be more healthy in the next year.
Speaker 1:But can we give God praise in this moment because we made it to this moment? I say can we give God praise in this moment because we made it to this moment? And I still hear you saying preacher, you don't know what I've been through. You don't know the L's that I took this year. You don't know the money that I've lost this year. You don't know all the things that I had to struggle with. You don't know the obstacles that I had to overcome. Can I call the roll? You've made it through junk in January. You made it through fussing in February. You made it through the mess of March. You've made it through junk in January. You made it through fussing in February. You made it through the mess of March. You've made it through the anguish of April. You made it through mistakes in May. You made it through the junk in June. You made it through jealousy in July. You made it through the anxiety of August. You made it through the stress of September. You made it over obstacles in October. You made it through the noise of November just to get through drama in December.
Speaker 1:And we ought to give God praise that we made it to this moment, give God praise that we made it. And I still hear, I knew that you have gone through so much in this year. You made it through so many ups and downs. But I can only give you Bible, and the Bible says he that have begun a good work in you is faithful to perform it to the day of Jesus Christ. I can only give you Bible where the Bible says I have not seen, ear, have not heard, neither has it entered into the heart of men the things that God has prepared for his people. I only have Bible this morning where it says I can do all things through Christ. That gives me strength. I only got bible where he says all things work together for the good of them who love the Lord and to them who are called according to his purpose. They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They'll matter with wings as eagles. They'll run and not get weary. They'll walk and not faint. It's what the Bible says.
Speaker 1:But, chosen City, I am increasingly concerned that with God, we've developed this what have you done for me lately? Mentality we want God to move when we say move. We want God to jump when we say jump. I'm concerned with that because we've developed that mentality instead of running in wonder. And I wonder if there anybody in here that can stand and say I still wonder, I still wonder, I, you have to wake up every morning asking how am I going to give god glory today? How will god get the glory out of my life today? How am I going to honor god today? I don't know how you feel about it, but isn't God been faithful over the years? God is every morning. His mercies is new. Great is thy faithfulness.
Speaker 1:And I believe that we've allowed society to affect our spiritual walk. We've allowed societal norms to change or kill our ontological imagination. We have allowed those with no kingdom authority to hinder our wonder. As a believer, that's a problem, because if faith is an action word, we have to allow our wonder to drive our faith. It is our faith in God that allows our wonder to run, in anticipation of how God will show up next. Somebody ought to shout. I still wonder, I'm still not convinced, so maybe I can call on a little help from Sister judy hops.
Speaker 1:Judy hops was born and raised in bunnyboro and she dreamed of one day being a bunny cop in zootopia. Some of you may have seen the movie. The only problem is that sister judy hops had the in her community. There had never been a bunny cop, and so as she's walking with her parents after putting on a great production and she's talking about in the play how the predator and prey shall live peacefully together and everybody's like this is, this dream is so unreal. This will never happen. But sister judy had a dream and her parents saw the vigor, her parents saw the life in her and they said Sister, judy, we got something to tell you. Her dad, Stu, asked her the question Judy, have you ever wondered how me and your mom have been so happy over the years? He answered and said he said it's because we gave up on our dreams and settled a long time ago. Because we gave up on our dreams and settled a long time ago, he said that's the beauty of complacency If I don't try anything new, I'll never fail. But Judy didn't let her family or societal norms stop her. She did in fact become one of the top cops in her class, graduated from the top of her class and moved on to zootopia to do great things. Maybe that didn't work for you you hadn't seen the movie zootopia. But let's call on another friend, michael jordan.
Speaker 1:Michael jordan tried out for his varsity basketball team in laney high school. Shout out to the 9 910. He didn't make the team because he was deemed too short or too skinny. He didn't fit the mold at the time. He didn't meet expectations with his skill set at the time. They instead elected to call upon his friend, who happened to be six foot seven. But you all know how the story ended began to. He stayed on jv where he was in a developmental process, and he would later on begin to be allowed to be on the varsity team. But even after wanting to give up on himself, he made it. He didn't give up on his dreams. He allowed his wonder to run.
Speaker 1:Maybe that didn't work for you. You hadn't seen Zootopia. You don't even really watch basketball like that. You've seen Michael Jordan. You've heard of Michael Jordan. You're not too enthused about that.
Speaker 1:But let me call on one more witness. There was a man named Jesus that was born in a ghetto called Nazareth. He was born to a teenage mother. There were kings trying to kill him. Odds were stacked against him. Even after growing up, the question was raised Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? His disciple betrayed him. His followers turned on him after crying Hosanna, hosanna. They cried, crucify him, crucifying. Even after wanting to give up. In a garden named Gethsemane, he died and became the savior of the world. Somebody ought to shout. I still wonder, I still wonder, still wonder.
Speaker 1:So today I was wrestling with the text. I was trying to figure out Lord, why would you bring me to a man named Elijah, that seems to be depressed and burnout to help ignite wonder in people he told me. I need you to talk about this because there are some people that don't know that they have lost their wonder, some people that don't know that they have lost their wonder, some people that don't know that they have lost their wonder. I want you to think about it. Think about children.
Speaker 1:As we go through the education system, as we are introduced as infants, we are allowed to roam freely. That may be the only time where you get to hit your mama in the face or do something crazy or wander around the house as an infant. Then we, as we begin to grow as toddlers and enter into the education system, we often hear the question of what do you want to be when you grow up? Your imagination is allowed to run wild. Your imagination is allowed to be free as you get to wonder do I want to be a cop? Do I want to be a doctor? Do I want to be a lawyer? It sure wasn't on my list to be a preacher. What is it that I want to be when I grow up? We allow that freedom until we start entering middle school.
Speaker 1:In middle school, things get a little more tough. We begin to enter puberty, we begin to battle peer pressure and that wonder that we had early on in life seems to be dimming even more and more. And then, when you get into high school, you thought you wanted to be a doctor until you entered organic chemistry. You thought you wanted to be an architect, until you had to battle through calculus. Even when you enter into the guidance counselor office, they might say baby, I don't know if that's what you want to do, but I believe that we built our life so much so on our career that we've forgotten about our purpose in God. We have to get back to what is our purpose in God and then added upon that career. It shall take money to live, but our imaginations and our dreams begin to dwindle in school. You remember that guidance counselor that told you that you would never bele in school. You remember that guidance counselor that told you that you would never be nothing, you told you. Remember that family member that told you you were just like your father. You remember those words that were uttered unto you and it killed your wonder. That's where we find elijah in this text.
Speaker 1:I was trying to figure out, lord, why did you bring me to Elijah after he has prayed and you? He's prayed and you've allowed a drought to hit the land. You've allowed him to go to a cave and you've provided for him there. Elijah has seen so many great things in his life. You've allowed him to go through this. You've allowed him to go through that. You've allowed him to go through that. You've even taken him to a widow's wife where he was able to take the oil and the flour and she was able to be sustained even in a drought and in a famine, even while he was at her house. Her son died, but he went upstairs and laid his body over the young man and the boy lived again. The woman said I see it all now. Elijah, you're a holy man. When God speaks, you speak a true word. Elijah has seen so many great things. He was able to call down fire from heaven and killed the prophets of Baal. Elijah has seen and witnessed so many great things.
Speaker 1:Even after it was time to pray to God for rain to come, he prayed one time and sent his servant to look for the cloud. He prayed a second time and told his servant to go look for the cloud. He prayed seven times. And then he said I see a cloud and it looks like a hand I believe that it was the hand of God and rain begin to come. If you look at the 18th verse, the very 18th chapter, the very last verse, it even says that Elijah was given supernatural strength. But even after all that Elijah had witnessed, he was still depressed. Can I tell you where his wonder switch went out? It's in the first verse.
Speaker 1:When Ahab got home, he told Jezebel everything Elijah had done, including the way he had killed the prophets of Baal. So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah, including the way he had killed the prophets of Baal. So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah May the gods strike me and even kill me by this time tomorrow if I have not killed you just as you killed them. Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah. He left his servant there. He went on alone in the wilderness, traveling all day long. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. He said I had enough. Lord. He said take my life or I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.
Speaker 1:Elijah has lost his wonder, but there's one thing I need you to know today, even in a season where it seems like you've lost your wonder, after you've lost your imagination, you have to recognize his authority. You have to recognize his authority. As you see in the it says Jezebel made a decree. She said may the God strike me down, even kill me, if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you, just as you killed me.
Speaker 1:But the interesting thing is the movement of verse two. It's in verse three. Verse two it says Elijah had fled to Beersheba and went to a town in Judah. We have to recognize that, the enemy that has made plots against you, the words of the individuals that have been spoken about you, they only have so much power. You see, judah was not in Jezebel's reach. Judah was not in Jezebel's reach. Judah was not in Jezebel's control. Therefore, jezebel had no authority to even reach Elijah in Beersheba. And if we keep reading in the text, it says that he did make it to Beersheba. He left his servant there. But even after making it to a safe place, he was able to travel even further on into the wilderness.
Speaker 1:I don't know what was spoken over your life, but I can't show every word curse that had been spoken over your life, everything that the enemy meant for you will. God will turn it around for your good. No weapon formed against you shall prosper. We can decree and declare this because we know that God has the authority. You have to recognize his authority. Bathsheba had no jurisdiction here. Her words did not matter, it was only the word of God that mattered. You have to recognize God's authority. I don't care what they said about you, their words have no authority. I don't care what they've said about your business and your business ventures, their words have no authority. I don't care what they've spoken over your children, your words have. Somebody ought to give god praise because their words have no authority. If we look at how far elijah was able to travel, it had already been 24 hours, so that decree that had already gone out. Jezebel should have fallen dead because her words have no authority.
Speaker 1:So we continue to look at the movement of the text. We have to see and recognize God's authority and once you come into a place where you realize and recognize that everything in your life is because of God, everything moves by the power of God, you're able to breathe. When you wake up by the power of God, you have the activity of your limbs. That's by the power of God, that's the authority of God. God allows you to wave your hand in worship. God allows the melody to flow from your vocal cords. To wave your hand in worship, god allows the melody to flow from your vocal cords. God allows those things because God has the authority. He has that type of authority and when you acknowledge his authority, you'll submit to that authority and that allows you to move to our next point this morning. You're allowed to. When you realize his authority, then you'll see that you can receive his provision. You can receive his provision.
Speaker 1:What do you talk about, preacher? I'm so glad you asked elijah's depressed he's. He's traveled into the wilderness. He went all alone into the wilderness. He went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down underneath the broom tree. He prayed the prayer I have had enough. Lord said take my life. I'm no better than my ancestors who have already died. Verse five says then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, the angel touched him. Get up and eat. He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water. So he ate, drank and lay down again.
Speaker 1:And I don't know what you've gone through this year or last year, but I promise you that in every test and every trial you could see the hand of God working in your life. If you've had financial difficulties, I promise you were able to eat. If you've had marital issues, I promise you God is able to mend broken pieces. If you had problems with anxiety, if you've had problems with depression, I promise you God is able to regulate your mind. God is the supreme provider in our lives. But until we acknowledge his authority, only then are we able to see his provisions. God makes ways out of no ways. He brings a light into darkness. He is the ultimate miracle worker. Just think about how you're able to make it from paycheck to paycheck. God sustains you in those moments. Just think about how your mother, your father, your grandmother provided for you. God allows those moments in order to provide for you, in order to show that he is the ultimate provider.
Speaker 1:I heard somebody say Jireh, you are enough and I will be content in every circumstance, because I decree and declare that God, you are enough. Is there anybody in the house that can say God, you are enough, come what may come hell or high water, I'll still put my trust in your provision because you've never failed me in the midst of all uncertainty. You've never failed me in the the midst of all that has been spoken over my life. You've never failed me. There's so much uncertainty going into 2025 because we didn't. We found out on election day that it was a boy. There's some things that the incoming president has talked about rolling back and implementing. There's so much uncertainty in the world. There's so much uncertainty overseas, but there's good news that it really doesn't matter who's in the White House, because God is still a provider, god is still a sustainer, god is still a protector, because he has that type of authority. You have to realize who has the authority when we realize that we're able to receive his provision.
Speaker 1:But I like the last point, and I promise we're getting out early. I don't know if you're going to brunch in this rain, but once you realize those things, god is able to restore your wonder. Recognize his authority, receive his provision, restore your wonder, his provision. Restore your wonder. It's found in the text, as we see in verse 5, since he lay down underneath a broom tree, but as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him get up and eat. He looked around and there beside him was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water. So he ate, drank and lay down again. But we see in the seventh verse where it says then the angel, the lord, came again and touched him and said get up and eat some more or the journey of ahead will be too much.
Speaker 1:I want to show you the differences here. In verse six we can look at the original Hebrew words and, as it talks about the stones, is akin to the stones that Isaiah talked about, the coals that Isaiah talked about when he burnt his mouth because he was unworthy. As we look at the jar that is spoken about in verse six, it is akin to the jar that Elisha used, as the woman was had a crucible oil and a little bit of flour in order to sustain her and her son. A little bit of flour in order to sustain her and her son. That's important because before your wonder can be restored, you have to go through a process of purification. There has to be a process before your wonder can be stored so that all impurities, all those things that have been spoken over you, that are still in your mind have to be removed, all those things that you have been going through. You must lay your burdens down at the altar and leave them there, because God has the authority in your life, god has been providing, but you have to go through that purification process in order to get your wonder restored.
Speaker 1:Verse seven it says then the angel of the Lord came again and touched him and said get up and eat some more or the journey ahead will be too much. And as I studied and looked at this, commentators say that, based on Elijah's attitude, god should have been done with him. Based on Elijah's attitude, god could have just moved on to Elisha. But isn't that good news for us this morning? Even when we give up on God, god won't give up on us. Even after we feel like throwing in the towel, god will throw that towel right back at you. Even when we want to go into a cave, even when we want to ball up in the fetal position, god will send an angel, send a message to you, saying get up, because if you do not eat, the journey will be too much for you. So God will provide for you. And as we look at the journey, as you study it, most commentators will tell you that one way God will restore your wonder is giving you a new assignment. Amen, with optimism for your future.
Speaker 1:And I know that's the last thing you want to hear. After all you've been through God, don't give me anymore. It's too much for me as it is. But God says no, no, no, I have the authority. You don't have to worry about what your past said. You don't have to worry about what happened to you in the past. I've been providing for you and sustaining you this whole entire time. But I've got something new for you because I've seen how faithful you were. I've seen how you labored in the venue. I've seen how you've been faithful to me.
Speaker 1:God says I'm going to send you an angel and you gotta get up. Touch your neighbor, say get up. You gotta get up and eat. All the journey will be too much for you. And I decree and declare over this house that god is getting ready to the restore your wonder. God is getting ready to restore your wonder. God is getting ready to restore your wonder. I decree and declare over this house Go ahead and write the book. God is going to restore your wonder. Go ahead and try love again. God is getting ready to restore your wonder.
Speaker 1:I wish I had somebody in the house that would say God, I'm ready. I'm ready for what's next. I've been through so much this year but I'm ready for whatever's next. And I've been through so much this year but I'm ready for whatever's next. And I believe that greater is on the way. I've got to leave you now. I've got to home. I stopped by to tell somebody I have not seen, ear, have not heard, neither has it entered to the heart of me the things that God has prepared for his future. You don't have to worry about the things ahead. All you've got to do is live right and believe in what is said. When you find yourself in a season of depression, when you find yourself battling anxiety when you find yourself battling financial difficulty.
Speaker 1:There's good news. There's good news. Be not asmayed. Whatever be tried. God will take care of you Beneath his wings of love, abide.
Speaker 2:God will take care of you. I say God will take care of you. I say God will take care of you. I say God will take care of you. I say God will take care of you. I say God will take care of you. I say God will take care of you. I say god will take care of you. And now, unto him, who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all I said, above all you can think, dream or imagine, to the only one, god be glory, majesty, dominion and power, power, wonder, working Power, power, life giving Power, i-giving power. I wish somebody would tell God thank you for my wonder. Wonder worker, work a wonder, wonder. Worker, work a wonder. Somebody tell cancer my God is bigger. Somebody tell diabetes my God is bigger. Somebody tell depression my God is bigger, he's bigger, he's bigger, he's bigger. And since I know that my God is bigger, ain't no need to worry what the night is gonna bring It'll be all over, it'll be all over, it'll be all over.
Speaker 2:You're looking at me like a preacher. You don't know what I've been through, you don't know the hell and how water I had to travel through, you don't know how hard it's been for me. But grab your neighbor, grab your neighbor and say neighbor, weeping may endure for the night, may endure for the night. But joy, joy, joy, joy, joy, unspeakable joy. Joy is coming in the morning, is coming in the morning, is coming in the morning. Touch somebody and say it's morning time, it's morning time, it's morning time. His mercy is here, his grace is here, his love is here, his wonder is here. He's a wonder in my soul. He's a wonder in my soul. He's a wonder in my soul. When I'm down, he picks me up. When I'm thirsty, he fills my cup. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. He's a wonder in my soul. He's a wonder in my soul. He's a wonder in my soul.
Speaker 2:I can run on and see what the end's gonna be. I can run on in the 2025, knowing that he that has begun to reckon me in me, he's faithful. He's faithful. He's faithful. How long has it been faithful? All my life you have been faithful. All my life You've been so good, so good, so good, so good. Has it been good? Has it been good, so good, so good, so good. Has it been good, has it been good, so good Come on and give God praise.
Speaker 2:I say give God praise. We restored your wonder before the year was out. Give God praise. Can you imagine, with all the faith in the room, what God can do? I promise he's getting ready to blow your mind. But the good news you ain't got to wait Until the battle is over. You can shout now. I said shout now. I said shout now. I said shout now. I said shout now. All the doors he's opened. Shout now All the ways he's made. Shout now. Shout for your wonder. Shout for your peace. Shout for your joy. Shout for your children. Shout for your joy. Shout for your children. Shout for your marriage. Shout for your wonder. Shout now. Thanks be to God who always gives us the victory. Thanks be to God who always calls us to triumph. The enemy men are for evil, but God turned it.
Speaker 3:I said, god turned it.
Speaker 2:God turned it. God turned it. Anybody grateful? He turned it. My mourning into dancing, my sorrows into joy. He turned it. But there's good news if he did it before, if he did it before, he'll do it again right now. Right now, thank God, say yes, yes, give God glory. Give God glory. Come on, you made it. Give God glory. I say you made it. Give him glory, it didn't take you out. Give him glory, they didn't win. Give them glory, it didn't take you out. Give them glory, they didn't win. Give them glory, your business is still standing.
Speaker 3:Give them glory. Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah.
Speaker 1:Just begin to worship him. Hallelujah. ¶¶. Listen, I spoke to Pastor Walt about what the Lord was saying to me and I said, pastor Walt, the Lord said you gotta lay hands on your people, cause your touch is a different touch. I'm not Pastor Walt, but if somewhere down the line your wonder switch went out, I want you to meet me down at the altar. If somewhere down the line your hope was lost, I want you to meet me down at the altar because God is getting ready to give you a new start in this next season. He's going to allow your wonder as we stand all over the sanctuary. He's going to allow your wonder to run wild.
Speaker 1:He's going to restore it. He's going to restore it. He's going to restore it, but our first step today is submitting to his authority. You cannot listen to the voice of people that are not of God whose report will you believe when you?
Speaker 1:go into the doctor's office. Minister Rhonda can attest. We believe the report of the Lord because his report says I'm healed. His report says I'm free. His report, when I look at the file, when I look at the charts, it says victory. But we have to recognize his authority. And when you recognize his authority you'll realize that you've made it this far only because of God, only because of the provision of God. Because of the provision of God, come on, as we get the ministers to come forward, I pray for increase. I pray for increase. Oh, oh, bless me. I told you greater was coming, but greater is going to be unlocked. In your wonder. You thought about opening the salon. Go ahead and open the salon suites. You thought about going back to school, but go ahead and continue on to your masters.
Speaker 1:Whatever it is that you have in your mind that God is calling you to do, if you can see it, it's too small. We dream God-sized dreams here. I'm grateful for a house of people, chosen city. We have educators, we have attorneys, we have doctors. We know that whatever we need is found in the house. We have contractors, we have general contractors, we have barbers, we have hairstylists, we have natural care care specialists. Whatever you need is in the house, but God is getting ready to show you a plan on how to pursue your next. You've got to break through those barriers. You've got to break through those walls.
Speaker 2:So Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary, pure and holy, tried and true, and with thanksgiving I'll be a living sanctuary.
Speaker 3:Sanctuary Lord for you.
Speaker 1:That's the purification process. When you see his provision. Sing Lord, prepare me.
Speaker 2:To be a sanctuary, pure and holy. Trying to, and with thanksgiving. I know you're not, I know you're not. I know you're not. I know you're not. I know you're not, I know you're not. I'll be here for you. I'll be here for you. Take care of you. Take care of you. I'm changing for you. I'm not ready to change. I'm not ready to change. I'm not ready to change. You are all I need. You are all I'm trying to do.
Speaker 1:Oh, what can I do? What can I do? I need, I need. Where could I be? I could be there to love you, there to love you. Hold your heart to tell me what will happen To this day. To love me, to love me. Try to love me and we'll make it. And we'll make it. Try to lose and win this game and win this game. I'll be the king Saint. You're ready, saint Joanne? God bless you. Father, god, in the name of Jesus, we know how great you are. We know how strong you are.
Speaker 1:God, you're omniscient you're omnipresent, you're omnipot, you're omniscient, you're omnipresent, you're omnipotent, you're great, you're mighty. In fact, wonderful is your name. We look to the power in you, we look to the strength in you Because, heavenly Father, sometimes right and wrong look like twins. Heavenly Father, sometimes we fall short of your glory, sometimes we get weak and we cannot stand up on our own. But, heavenly Father, we can declare today that it was you the entire time, holding us, keeping us, because we know that you walk with us, you talk with us and you tell us that we are your own. And we know that if we walk with you, we know that if we stay with you, god, joy shall be our portion, peace shall be our portion, healing shall be our portion.
Speaker 1:Dear father, we know that because you have all power, we decree and declare today that all attacks, every assignment of the enemy is canceled we know as we walk into a new year and as we stand here on the last Sunday of this year, we know that you got it in control.
Speaker 2:You got all power, you got all authority. Dominion belongs to you.
Speaker 1:So, dear Heavenly Father, we lift our hands in worship, because we receive the new thing that you're doing. We receive the greater that you have.
Speaker 2:We know that our wonder has been switched off, but we can shout in victory that you're giving us a new wonder, miracles, signs in victory that you giving us a new wonder. Miracles, signs and wonders shall be our portion. We believe that we will see the hand of god move in our finances. The hand of God will move in our marriages. The hand of God will move in our schools. The hand of God will move in our homes. The hand of God is moving in this country.
Speaker 2:Here comes the glory of the Lord sweeping in the room. There's a holy expectation, there's an anticipation for your glory, but His glory is sweeping through the room. Spirit of the living God fall fresh until our wonder is ignited. Until our wonder is ignited. Spirit of the living God Full pressure Until our strength is renewed. Spirit of the living God Full pressure, full pressure, full pressure, full pressure, full pressure, full pressure, full pressure, full pressure, full pressure for fresh, for fresh, for fresh, for fresh, for fresh, for fresh, for fresh, for fresh. Now, clap your hands if you receive it and give God glory.
Speaker 1:I say clap your hands if you receive it and give God glory if you're here, if you're here at the altar or standing where you are, if you're here with you, here at the altar, standing where you are, if you found yourself outside the ark of safety and you don't know, this wonder that I've spoken of, that wonder is found in God. You're trying to figure out your next move.
Speaker 1:You're anticipating what's next for your life. You've got a great career. You're established right now, but it's not complete until you get in God. Today, we offer you a Jesus that looks a little different. We offer you Jesus that's not mad at you for being burnt out. We offer you a Jesus that's not mad at you for being tired. In fact, he wants to give you strength. He wants to give you peace. He wants to give you love, to give you peace. He wants to give you love.
Speaker 1:Pastor Keith, we have to make a decision because there's power in that decision. Your decision has to be Jesus. If that's you, I want you to raise your hand or come down to the altar. If that's you, maybe you're saying Preacher, I know Jesus. He's been there the entire time, but I've lost my wonder. I've lost my wonder and I've looked for strength in other places. I've looked for strength in other people. I've looked for strength in my habits. I've looked for wonder in all the wrong places.
Speaker 1:There's good news that you can get reconnected today. If that's you, I want you to meet me down at the altar. You don't know Jesus. You want to get reconnected with this Jesus that will give you wonder. Maybe you're saying, preacher, I know Jesus. I'm not that far out of the ark of Satan, but I need a group of people that are like minded, that are just like me, that are striving towards a common goal serving God with their whole heart, seeing their purpose fulfilled in this day.
Speaker 1:There's good news that if you're still here, you still have purpose. You're still here, you still have purpose. Will you join this great body of believers? Will you get reconnected? Our ministers are walking now. Don't let this moment pass you by. You don't have to wait until our New Year's Eve worship. You can do this today. You can get connected today to a God that'll give you strength, to a God that'll give you hope. Will there be one today? Will there be one today? Will there be one today? Will there be one today If you just do me a favor, just nudge your neighbor and say hey, you good, you saved, you know Jesus, you got a church home.
Speaker 1:If they answer no to any of those questions, come on, bring them to the altar. Let them know that you'll walk with them. Let them know that you'll walk with them. Let them know that you'll hold their hand. Let them know that I'll be your wonder partner. We'll be the wonder twins, we offer you Christ today. Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah. Can we give God praise this morning, as we Get ready to go home.
Speaker 3:Hallelujah as we stand over the sanctuary. Hallelujah.
Speaker 1:As we stand all over the sanctuary again, we always appreciate our pastor Anytime I get the opportunity to share the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ, for he is a wonder in my soul. I pray that you are encouraged this morning, whether you're at eight or you're at 10, or watching online. Maybe you're one that wants to get reconnected. Just text 704-727-6444. Salvation prayer. Or to partner, and I promise you we're going to get connected with you today as we go to God in prayer. You got time for brunch. You got time to put a stew on too. I hope my mama cooked. Amen.
Speaker 1:Let us look to God in prayer. God, we're thankful today that we get to leave here and run in wonder. God. We still wonder God. We have so much wonder that we're believing and wondering who will get healed from cancer next? Who will be healed of diabetes next? Who will survive the heart attack next? Who will survive the stroke next? Dear Father, because we know that we can believe your report. Your report says no weapon formed against us shall be able to prosper. God, we believe in your word and stand on your word. We stand on your promises. That's what allows us to leave here and run in wonder. We put away old thoughts. We put away old thoughts, we put away old ideologies. We put away those old things because we are new creatures in Christ Jesus. So then, father, as we leave this place, but never, your presence gives us strength, gives us clarity, gives us the authority to speak those things in honor as though they already were. Greater is coming.
Speaker 1:Greater is here Our wonder is restored Now unto him who is able to keep us from falling To the only wise God. Be glory, majesty, dominion and power. Now, for henceforth and forever. The people of God say amen, amen, amen. You all be blessed and go in peace.
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