John Gray - Let There Be... - Part 6 (Light Up The Dark)
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Well, if you’re going to praise Him, then do it. Uh, I don’t know; I think that was okay if it was for like a regular God-somebody that can change. But the unchanging, eternal, supernatural, all-sufficient God? If you’re going to praise Him, then do it! If you’re going to praise Him, you might as well do it. I’m reading from Genesis chapter 1; I’m at the 14th verse. For those who are visitors, it is the custom in our church that for the reading of the Word before the sermon, we stand out of respect for God.
I know that we’ve lost respect in most societal settings, but if you were able to walk in, the least you can do is stand up-not for me, y’all know me; I don’t even roll like that. Y’all see me at Target; y’all know to come say hi. See me at Walmart, whatever, you know to come say hi. You about to see me at Costco, okay? They got hot dogs over there for like $2; I heard they’re big and good. Get a whole combo. Don’t do it! You telling me it’s not good to eat hot dogs from Costco, but people here eat chicken from the gas station? Y’all done went in there like, «Let me get 20 on three and a 10-piece.» For those who don’t know, there’s a place called Spinx up here. You can go to Popeyes or you can go to Spinx. At Spinx, you can get some Trident gum, some malt liquor, some chicken, and some lottery tickets from what I heard. Wouldn’t know!
Yo, they traded Anthony Davis for Luka; that’s going to be crazy! I’m courtside already, I’m tripping. Somebody, bloop! Next week-it’s a big week. Next week is a game. The Bible says you shall mount up on wings like an eagle; that’s Bible. But then the Bible says He’s the Chief Cornerstone. Paul was a chief apostle. That’s somebody going to try to be real spiritual. So whoever wins, I knew it; I was in the spirit! A lot of people don’t like Patrick Mahomes 'cause he wins too much. A lot of people aren’t going to like you in 2025 'cause you’re going to win too much. Now, somebody tell all-I do, you know the rest! All I do. Don’t get mad at me 'cause all I do-no matter what, when I’m in the building, every time my hands-was crazy! As they stay there, Angela A was like, «And they stay there.» Hugs are so fun!
I said, I got to read scripture! See, y’all got this new Fango bass player up there next to Troy. Y’all acting up! Stop it! Alright, Genesis! No ma’am, not on the tambourine; don’t go with this. Please stop, thank you. Don’t do the tambourine. It’s no tambourine on this song. What I need you to do is look back like you got something. Just look back at it-don’t tber! Okay, Genesis chapter 1. Genesis! Genesis chapter 1. We interrupt this regularly scheduled service to say that worship has broken out on the left-hand side of the sanctuary. Apparently, there are some people over here that don’t care and there’s someone in the balcony with a light-up tambourine. Jesus, walk in the light, Caroline!
Okay, the next person that plays your check will be a first fruit offering. When I say, «Take yourself back up,» I mean walk with her, Rashad. Walk with her, please. Help her. I see what you’re doing, DJ. Genesis! Genesis chapter 1. Well, if God’s been that good, then what are you waiting on? Do something! Go for it! Y’all see her in them silver pants back there; she just shouting! Ain’t no, «I don’t know what you’re shouting for,» but whatever you’re shouting for, you got your breakthrough, and I need you to know that whoever’s around you just got free too-just because they were around a worshiper. I just need about ten crazy worshipers to worship for everybody in your section, up in the balcony! Let’s go!
Take it up! Take it up! Take it up! Genesis chapter 1; I’m reading from the 14th verse: «Then God said, 'Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night.'» Pastor Mike again-this is the fourth day of creation. Every day God has just been dividing things, so there’s always division before addition. He’s not going to multiply anything out of your life until He divides some things out of your life. This is a season of division. If you’re light, then be the light; if you’re dark, then do that! Stop turning the switch on and off! Hot or cold, baby-we ain’t got time for lukewarm! Either you’re iced tea or hot tea; don’t be room temperature-be one or the other.
«And let them be for signs, seasons, days, and years.» Say that with me: signs, seasons, days, years. Do you start for Greer football? Do you start for them? You don’t? To start? What about next year? You going to try to be a starter? Yeah, I expect that you will-just because I got the authority and the faith to say it. In fact, I declare a growth spurt over you this summer-to grow about another four inches. Watch God do it! You don’t know what God’s going to do; He’s going to open up a scholarship for you. Just be faithful, do your part, watch God do His part! God said you were meant to be a deliverer for your family-to break curses. Yeah, I know greatness when I see it. You come from somebody that prayed, you come from somebody that believes. I’m proud of you, King; you hear me? I’m proud of you! I speak life to you, okay?
«Signs, seasons, days, years,» and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth. And it was so. Then God made two great lights-the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. You might not know it now, baby, but Tyar- I’m not- you don’t do the Sam Cook version. It’s not «If You Ever Change Your Mind,» this is not that song. You-yeah, yeah, yeah, that’s the wrong song! This is Prince; he’d like to bring it all home to me. No, that’s the wrong song! Y’all, y’all got a silly spirit on y’all this morning; y’all are crazy!
He made the stars also. Look at somebody-look at them like you ain’t never seen them before! You are a star! Tell them; you are a star! You a star! You ain’t got to caress the man’s face-do that at home. Y’all nasty! She’s like, «You a star; you a star!» God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. So, the evening and the morning were the fourth day.
I shared last week; I gave what I believe was a profound point. But as I was preparing for this week, my staff said, «Pastor, I think there’s more to this thing than what you gave,» and they’re right, 'cause I didn’t even really get into the crux of the point. So I’m going to give those to you because some of you still function like you’re from here, as opposed to functioning like you are for here. Put this in the chat feed: I’m not from; I’m for! See, here’s the thing: that’s why a lot of people feel frustrated-because you know that you’ve got a global gift, and you’re like, «But the church doesn’t see me.»
God allowed the church to be blind 'cause you’re not for the church-you’re from the church; you’re for the world! Who wants to be church famous? You got to be real weird to want to be the regional famous person at a church. «I’m an elder over at Third Mount Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church. I’ve been on the macaroni and cheese committee for twelve straight years!» I’d rather have influence with the streets, 'cause the people I text don’t go to church on Sunday 'cause they got a show in an arena on Saturday and they need Jesus too.
And sometimes the further away you look like you are, the more receptive you are when truth is offered. Some of the people that take God most casually are the people that show up every week. Don’t you ever be casual with the living God! So, Father, speak through Your Word; get the glory out of this moment. We, stars, we’re going to light up the dark, in Jesus' name, amen! Be seated. Let me move quick. For those who are taking notes, write these down.
In 1957, a prominent British-American astrophysicist named Margaret Burbage contributed significantly to the understanding of the universe through her origin of the elements research. Now, she did not explicitly publish a paper stating what humans are made of. What she was able to find out brought so much significance to us as human beings and our interconnectedness to everything else in the universe. God didn’t make us from some other thing; He made us from something that has significance for as long as the universe remains.
Now, the key paper-not that you may be interested, but I want you to have some knowledge behind this particular level of what I believe is revelatory information-the paper was released in 1957; it was called «Synthesis of the Elements in Stars.» And so, what Margaret Burbage was able to find out was something that the paper described as nuclear or stellar nucleosynthesis, which explains how elements heavier than hydrogen and helium are formed within stars. Now, hydrogen is about 99% of a star, but that other 1% carries everything in it that makes you and me. When you get this revelation, you’re going to walk out of here with a different level of value on you, and hopefully, you don’t allow anyone to treat you less than what God made you from.
And so, stars-in their makeup-99% hydrogen, but there are other components to stars. So, 99% hydrogen. Now, here’s what’s crazy. I need you to look at your hand. Hydrogen, as you know, is found in water-H2O. Y’all know that, right? The body is made up of between 60% and 70% water. How many people knew that? You knew that, right? The Earth is 70% water-you’re 70% water! There is a synthesis, a parallel-you’re called to the Earth, you’re from the Earth, you’re made from the dust of the Earth. You mirror the same makeup; you have physical substance, but then, you’re also made of water. The Earth has physical places for us to walk on, but then we’re also made of water.
But hydrogen makes up 60% of the human body in organic molecules like carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids like DNA. Hydrogen is critical to that; you find that in stars! It’s real quiet 'cause y’all are like, «I wanted a sermon, not a science lesson!» But you don’t have a dumb God! Yeah, so you don’t need to keep acting and shouting only and nothing change; you need to know what you’re made of so you know what you’re capable of, so you know who you’re allowed to be around and who you should cut off from your life.
Because when you realize that you’re more than an accidental conglomeration of cells or you were an accident that busted through the protection of a uver ring or a prophylactic, and you just happen to be an accident, you are not an accident! You cannot sneak into the Earth; you must be spoken into the Earth! Somebody shout, «There are no accidents!» So, be like, «Lord, oh my God! I’m a single mom.» God knew that was going to happen. It’s not that He ordained or desired for it to happen, but you have something called free will, which means you make decisions. You’re grown; you slept with him, you slept with her, and now you got a kid. «I’m not ready to be married, but you ready to sleep with her? Well, let’s just pull our money together and live together for a while.» The devil is a lie! You can’t expect for God to bless it when you’re living cursed!
It’s real quiet; you say, «I ain’t coming back here.» That’s fine; go where they will lie to you and see how that works out for your soul! There are people who need to know that the standard has not changed! The only thing that changed is you got tired of doing it God’s way because you felt He was taking too long. But here’s the thing about God and stars: if you understand the formation of stars, it takes billions of years for a star to be formed and to be made. Oh God, help me! And you mad 'cause God’s taking about eight or nine years? Hush! What He’s doing in you is eternal! This little eight years is nothing compared to what He’s going to produce out of your life.
There’s a 7-second praise break right there! So, from the first time God said, «Let there be light,» hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe. But you know what? You’re not just hydrogen! Stars also have something called carbon. Carbon is the backbone of all organic molecules, including sugars, proteins, fat, and nucleic acids. It’s essential for cellular structure and metabolic processes. Why am I saying this? Pastor, you keep talking about all of this stuff; I didn’t do good in physical sciences. I’m trying to help you understand that what’s in stars is in you! I’mma keep hammering it home until you wake the heck up in here and understand your inestimable value! Right? You are literally the image of God, and He made you from Stardust!
Pop your collar! Hydrogen, carbon, oxygen-you bet you didn’t know that was in stars! But you got to have something for all of that nuclear fusion to be happening in this big ball of gas. You need something: a reactor-oxygen! Watch this-essential for respiration, a key component of water and other organic molecules in the body. It’s critical for generating energy in your cells. Oxygen is formed in the stars during the fusion of carbon and helium, so oxygen was in stars! When stars explode, that dust from stars made it to Earth. I’m trying to help you! I haven’t even gotten to you yet; you’re day six! We on day four, and God’s already thinking about you!
Number four: nitrogen. This is what this woman found in 1957-that stars carry nitrogen. Where is that in the human body? I’m glad you asked! It’s found in your amino acids-the building blocks of proteins, nucleotides-the structure units of DNA and RNA. So nitrogen is produced in stars during the CNO cycle, a process in which carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen catalyze in hydrogen fusion. I’m going deep because I need you to understand that your edges are not just a product of your toothbrush and some gel! The hair on your head was formed from Stardust that God spoke billions of years ago, and now it shows up in the form of a red wig or some purple hair or some blonde braids with some new growth sticking up out those edges, because you are fearfully and wonderfully made-created in the image of God!
And there are no two stars alike, and there are no two humans alike, which means you got to shine like only you can shine! 'Cause nobody else is coming to shine just like you! So, you got to shine because God made you one of a kind. I need you to high five, low five, fist bump, elbow, shoulder shake seven people and tell them, «Shine, baby, shine!» I said seven people; you ain’t even did two yet! I’m not playing with you, Rashad! I didn’t see you tell seven people. Now, I’m sick of it! Matter of fact, go find three more people; tell them, «Shine!» Somebody needs to hear this today! You ever seen somebody in church-everybody else shouting, and you just… they need somebody to tell them, «You need to shine!»
Shine! Arise! Shine, for your light has come. That’s Bible! You need to shine. Get that depression off your shoulders! Shine! Get that sadness off your face! Shine! Get that defeat out of your eyes! Shine! It’s not as bad as the devil is making you think! Shine! You will live past this moment! Shine! You will not die in this season! Shine! You will make it in this moment! Shine! I need you to clap your hands to the God that gave you the power to overcome through the blood of Jesus Christ! I implore you, you online and in this building, shine, baby, shine! Give God a shout of praise from the balcony to the front!
You know what else is in stars, Nia? 'Cause you a star! Calcium! Can you believe calcium is in stars? A lot of people didn’t know that! I’m trying to help y’all know what you’re made from! You made from Stardust! Sprinkle me, baby! Calcium- a major component of bones and teeth. Calcium is also crucial for muscle contractions, nerve function, and blood clotting. All that is in stars, and God let a star explode to get the dust to make you!
This is why people get real uncomfortable when you really start shining, 'cause they don’t understand all of the processes that it took for you to get to this point! 'Cause some of y’all, like me, felt in certain moments you were about to explode, but it wasn’t that you were about to explode; God was about to reveal you! Oh, I know I’m doing good today! I want to throw this mic so bad! This is why you didn’t lose your mind, because you couldn’t lose your mind! Preachers always talk, «I almost lost my mind!» No, no, no! He was making my mind! Do you understand the battle between letting the devil in and keeping him out actually made my mind? I fought to keep my mind!
Who am I talking to? Some of us went to the edge of crazy and thought about it like, «I should kill them,» but I’m not going to do it. «I should hit them with this car,» but I’m not going to do it! «I should set it off! I know where he is, who he’s with,» but I’m not going to! Am I talking to anybody? Is there anybody that made a choice not to go crazy? Somebody ought to thank God! That was God keeping your mind, 'cause He’s about to let you shine, baby, shine! He’s not going to let a bad decision define your entire life! That’s why you didn’t go crazy at the heartbreak! You didn’t go crazy at the betrayal! Because God needed you to keep your mind!
So when you worship, you know why you worship! I don’t need a holy ghost to take me over to worship God! I worship God out of my will! I choose to lift my hands! I choose to spin around! I choose to stomp my feet! I choose to shout! Is there anybody that says, «I know why I’m praising, and you’re not going to stop me today!» I need a couple of people in here and somebody online to open up your mouth and give God the praise that He deserves! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! If God ever captured you, you ought to get out of your seat and tear up this stage!
If God ever saved you from something, I dare you to slap the back of your pew! If God kept you from making a decision that would have ruined the rest of your life, you ought to bless Him right where you stand! I need some people to come out of them seats and give God a praise in this place! Hey, glory! Glory! Glory!
Ah, hydrogen, carbon, oxygen, nitrogen found in the amino acids! If you ever watch Fast and Furious when they hit that nitro button, what happens? Uh -oh! Alright, I’m just going to throw this out here. I’m going to see who catches it! You about to get hit with a nitro anointing! That means God is supernaturally speeding up. Oh, there it is, Elder! Somebody just got hit with nitro! Everybody else is going 80; you going 300! I need somebody in here who knows God can push a button and send you in front of your enemies! He’ll send you to the head of the pack from the back of the pew! Can I help somebody in here?
God is not bound by the laws of physics and nature! He can take dust from a star and make a son of God! I need some folk over here! Y’all still sitting down? Y’all seem to be real cerebral! I need some crazy worshipers in this section! I need about seven nitros to act a fool! Somebody shout, «Nitro!» Yeah! Nitrogen is produced in stars during that CNO cycle of carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen catalyzing in hydrogen fusion. But I’m also made of phosphorus! It’s a vital part of DNA and adenosine triphosphate! You are from Stardust!
We keep saying it to the people in the back who keep looking at their bills like your bills are your destiny! You sitting up in that apartment building, climbing up the second flight of stairs with your groceries, trying to figure out how long it’s gonna be this way? Baby, you a star! The next time you unlock the door to your apartment, you walk in there and say, «Everything in here, get in line with Heaven!» I dare you to walk in that house today-everything in here, get in line with Heaven! Matter of fact, kids, take your old clothes out of the closet! God’s getting ready to give you some new stuff!
We going to give this away. Matter of fact, we need to get some boxes and pack- where we going, mama? We getting ready to get a house! But mama, I didn’t know you had the money. I don’t, but my Father does! And so, I got to start talking star talk! I got to start walking star walk! You want to talk about a walk of fame? Baby, you need to walk the walk of faith! There are some faith walkers that are stars in here! You don’t know M. Davis, but she’s a star baby! She raised Alice Gray, who raised John Gray, who’s raising John Gray and Theory Gray! So from one star, you didn’t know came a star you do know!
And I just want to shout out to the people who are products of prayers from people who ain’t even here no more! Just like stars in the sky, you can see their light, but the star died out millions of years ago. When I’m gone, baby, my light’s still going to shine on the earth! Who am I talking to in here? I need you to find four more people and tell them, «Shine, baby, shine! Shine, baby, shine!» This is good! It’s a different kind of church, ain’t it? We laugh-whoa! Wow!
I’m also made of sulfur found in certain amino acids-methionine, cysteine, vitamins. Sulfur is essential for protein synthesis and enzyme function. Your liver enzyme needs phosphorus; it needs sulfur! If you ever smell sulfur, it smells like a fart! Anybody ever smell sulfur? All you got to do is fart the next time you smell sulfur! I’m going to try that later. Sulfur- Stardust! Beige Stardust! I’m playing! Here’s what’s funny: people are like, «Ooh, sulfur stinks.» But sometimes you need stinky things for greatness to emerge! There are some bad situations that happen in your life, but greatness still was produced out of it!
I’m talking to somebody-it stunk when it happened, but look what it produced! I need help! I need seven people to help me! I know that it wasn’t fair; I know they did you dirty! It was terrible and it stunk, but you needed that sulfur so that you could process some things differently! So that you can trust God differently! You needed some unsavory things, malodorous things in order to give God the proper credit and glory!
There’s another thing you need: iron! You need iron! It’s a key component of hemoglobin, the molecule that carries oxygen in the blood, and these enzymes are essential for metabolism! Pastor, why you keep hammering this thing? It came from stars? Now it’s in you! Of all the things God could have used to create you, dust-the dust of the ground! Adam-red man, ruddy man-man from the clay! He took red clay and made you! That’s right!
Oh God! He took dust from a star, formed it, breathed into it, and made a son and a daughter! He made children! And God didn’t do it because He needed them; He didn’t do it because He was lonely. He did it because He chose to have fellowship with you! He chose to have something different relationally than angels because angels don’t get a chance to disobey. The only creatures that get to disobey and God still fools with them is us! But everything else in creation bows down-including the stars, including principalities, including demons! That’s why in the book of Job, God had a sentence said: everybody- all the sons of God-show up! Everybody line up just like last week when the planets lined up.
It wasn’t the planets lining up! It’s like when a teacher tells all of y’all to get in line-one single-file line! Everyone hold hands! Why? Because I want to see some order! And so the Bible says that all the angels were in order, and here comes Satan, and God says, «You’re the one that’s out of order! Where you been? Where you coming from?» And he said, «I’ve been walking to and fro on the earth, and walking back and forth on it.» And then God says, «Have you considered my star Job?» Some of y’all don’t understand that the trials and challenges of your life are because God whispered your name.
He knew that if your name got called and the enemy came knocking, you would not curse God! Where are the people that still had a praise God in their mouth when all hell broke loose? Where are the people that still said Jesus even when it made no sense? Is there anybody that held on to faith when faith made no sense? I need you to know that that’s what put the devil on his back! That’s what put demons on the run! When you got the unmitigated audacity to give God praise and your prayer didn’t get answered!
When you still lift your hands, and the loved one died anyway! When you still give God praise because your praise to God is not contingent upon what He does for you. It is contingent upon the person of God, the power of God, the presence of God, the preeminence of God, the all-authority of God, the all-sufficiency of God, the self-sustaining of God, the power, the might, the glory, forever and ever and ever, amen! Tell somebody, «You a star!» A star!
Please help me! Please help me, Jesus! Help me, Lord! Are you getting this? Signs, seasons, days, and years-I’m a star! So now my process makes sense! God’s not trying to kill me; He’s trying to reveal me! Is it just me, or did the lights go down? Am I leaving stuff alone? So, some of you are saying, «Well, Pastor, this sounds nice, but I still don’t really get this connection between me and stars!» Well, I’m glad you did say that in your mind, so I’m getting ready to give you the correlations. Write these down, and then we’re going to get into these baptisms.
If you are getting ready to get baptized, put your hair net on; it’ll be a lot of gel in that water! About the 40th baptism, just be activator, ponytails, Bobby pants, just floating in the water! «That’s mine; thank you! Can I have my hair back? Your hair got saved!» You be at the restaurant, right? «Your hair start shining!» «Thank you, thank you, thank you!»
Sorry, Mr. Waiter- my hair got saved today; it got baptized! My hair is filled with the precious Holy Ghost-and there is a symmetry. Somebody say symmetry! Symmetry between human beings and stars! Number one: both are created with purpose and order- super important! God created the stars to serve as signs, seasons, sources of light, establishing order in the universe. Human beings were created with divine purpose- watch this-to rule over the Earth and to reflect God’s image, bringing order to creation!
After God created, the last thing He made was you, because you were designed to keep everything else in order! That’s why your house functions better with order! You sleep better when there’s order! I’m trying to help some-who am I talking to? There are people in this room right now! Y’all are OCD! If there’s one dish in that sink, you’re not going to be able to live! Shoes-if one shoe is off, you’re like, «I can’t do that!» Who am I talking to?
Now your kids don’t have that spirit. They will sleep on hangers, piles of clothes, smell like farts, and corn chips and fish sticks and video games! All teenagers stink a little bit, though! All of you got 13; they stink a little bit! You be like, «Is that your feet? What is that?» And your shoes is on! Jesus! Hey, you a star! Did you hear what I say? You a star!
Hey, up in that balcony, star! Everywhere you go! I like that loud! Stars, too! Here’s what’s crazy: if you can listen to the sounds of the universe, the closer you get to stars or massive black holes, there’s a sound that emanates! You get close enough to the sun; it has a sound! That’s why God wants to hear your praise, 'cause the sound that you make is different from the sound of another star-because He places each one Himself!
Oh my Lord! That’s why I don’t have to worry about what you doing! He placed you where you’re supposed to be! I’m happy to shine where He placed me! That’s why I’m tripped out by insecure pastors! I have not been invited to many places in this wonderful city! They don’t want me to come over there and play with them! One pastor said they’re scared; I’m going to take their members! I said, I can’t take nothing that don’t belong to me!
It’s been nice people that came past: «I just want you to know we leave; we feel like the Lord has called us somewhere else.» Well, Lord bless you! Love you! What am I going to say? «That’s the devil»? No! You’re grown! You’re going to do what you want to do anyway! I guess you thought this was going to be colorable-don’t leave me nothing but death can keep me from you! Why? Because if I know who I am and I understand my gravitational pull!
I’m not pulling for anybody that doesn’t want to be in my orbit! So if you’re single, I dare you to chase somebody! If they don’t want to be in your orbit, that’s their loss! Keep shining! Eventually, that which is supposed to gravitate to you will find its way to you when you stay in your natural position! Uh -huh, seven-second praise break right there! I’m doing good in here now, Meek-I’m not lying!
Alright, hurry; let me do this 'cause we’re getting ready to get in the water! Here’s another thing: a parallel between humans and stars: both human beings and stars were given authority! That’s right! Stars-the sun and moon were given authority to govern the day and the night! Is that what it says? God gave the sun authority! Y’all call it the sunrise; the sun didn’t go nowhere! The sun stays in its fixed position-we’re the ones moving!
It needs to be called an earthrise 'cause the sun didn’t move! Oh, help me, Holy Ghost! When Joshua was saying, «Son, stand still,» and the sun didn’t move, he was talking from the perspective of what he could see! He wasn’t a scientist; he was a leader! He was a prophet! All he knew is that the sun goes up and it goes down! So he said, «Son, stand still!» God said, «I know what you mean! I’m going to make the Earth stand still because I heard what you said, but I know what you meant!»
That’s why I love people who don’t have all the right words when they pray, because God doesn’t need you to hit Him with a speech from English class! Oh, thou heavenly Father; we come before Thee with thy presence and the fruit of thy lips; we want to offer you a most glorious and glorious salutation! No! When I’m in trouble, God help! Jesus! Fix it! I bind you, devil! Loose him!
I wish I had some help in here! Is there anybody that knows because of my position, I don’t have to be articulate? I can just let it out how it comes out! Don’t start with me, Chris! Go sit back over there 'cause don’t get me all hyped up! Don’t get me riled up! I got on a button down and a 7B sweater! I have lost 32 pounds! Today, I’m going to say stars- the sun and moon were given authority to govern the day and the night! Humanity was given dominion over the Earth!
We were given authority! Tell somebody, «I got authority!» No, you didn’t say it like you meant to look at somebody else and tell them! Tell them, kids, I got authority! Don’t ask me nothing, mama! But why? Shut up 'cause I said so! I don’t understand my kids; they’re just different! What do you mean, you said so? What does that mean? It means the next time you won’t even have lips to respond!
Sorry, Dad! Sorry, I didn’t know! Did not know you’d be getting married with no lips! You can’t even kiss your wife! But give me a kiss! Let me tell you something, Fire Marshville! Stop playing; y’all goofy! Tell somebody, «I have authority! I have authority!»
Number three: watch this! Stars and humans were made to reflect God’s glory! Tell somebody, «I’m a star! I reflect God’s glory! I’m a star!» Oh Lord! Psalm 19:1 states, «The heavens declare the glory of God!» The stars shine as a reflection of God’s grandeur! Humans are made in the image of God, and we’re meant to reflect His nature! Lord, stars reflect God’s majesty in the vastness of the universe, and we reflect His image in the personal and relational aspects of the human experience!
So what stars do up here, you do down here! That’s right! Oh wow! Watch this! Here’s another one: stars and humans both illuminate their environment! Did you hear what I said? Stars illuminate the Earth, distinguishing the day from the night! Jesus calls us as human beings to be light! The light of the world! I’m sorry, say it again-world! So you’re supposed to shine!
If you’re the light of the world, you only need a light where there is no light! So you should be able to be in non-saved places and still stay saved! Watch this! You’re like, «So you’re telling me I can go to the bar?» Yeah, if you can go and not get drunk! If you can go there and be a listening ear to the people who are trying to find answers at the bottom of a bottle when you got the answers at the top of your heart!
Because you are assigned to something God delivered you from! But if you still struggling with it, you can’t really be no light, now can you? I just want to talk to the people that God delivered from something and now you don’t mind telling people where you used to be! Is there anybody else grateful that you have a testimony? So just as stars bring physical light, humans are meant to bring spiritual light into a world that has been darkened by sin.
Let me finish quickly! Number five: both humans and stars are composed of the same elements! I just went through eight, nine different elements that are in stars that are also in you! The next one: stars and humans mark the passage of time! «Hey, um, where is He who has been born the King of the Jews? We have seen His star in the east and have come to worship Him.» They saw His star shining bright; they followed the star and got to the Savior!
If you are a star in the earth, people should be able to follow you and get to Jesus! That was good, Warren! That was good! Stars regulate time-the marking of seasons, days, and years! Human beings, through wisdom and understanding, are called to discern the times and the seasons! Glory! That’s the sons of Issachar! The sons of Issachar understood the times and knew what to do!
That’s why you should not be worried about what’s happening on the political spectrum! Oh no, they’re rolling back debt! But you got God! And when Grandma didn’t have debt, she still had God! So why are you tripping? God is allowing all this to happen so y’all can just focus on Him! Focus on Him! Oh, I’m talking right!
So just as stars serve as a sign in the heavens to guide time, humans are meant to understand the times and align with God’s will! Jesus could come back at any moment! Anybody who has to fly this week, lift your hands; let me see your hands! You have to fly somewhere this week! Father, keep every plane in the air! Keep every plane in the air!
Listen to me! I was on a plane over the Pacific Ocean; you remember this? You weren’t on that plane with me! Somehow, somehow, I was able to text from the plane! I’m asleep! Now listen, if something goes down on a plane, don’t wake me up! Let me sleep and just wake up and see Jesus! Don’t wake me up-"We going down!» Did you see me sleep?
Huh?! The pilot came over the air and said, «We’re having trouble with our landing gear; we cannot lower our landing gear!» I looked down-it’s a whole ocean! That’s what I said! «Jesus, sharks swimming like, 'Please just please come! ' I love dark meat; come on down here!»
I texted my mama; I texted my mother-in-law! I said, «Y’all pray 'cause the landing gear ain’t going down!» That’s a big plane, and if we got to slide on some grass, but I wasn’t tripping because I’ve been serving God too long! Watch this-not that I’m better than anybody else, but my purpose is so vast, and it was not complete that I believe God put me on that plane to keep it up!
You got to know who you are! Do you understand there are car accidents that didn’t happen 'cause you were in there? How many people fell asleep at the wheel and woke up and don’t know how you got where you got? Do you know your angels took over while you were somewhere asleep for three miles and kept you alive?
Some of y’all are not worshiping the way God has allowed you to be saved! Some of y’all need to stop right now and thank God for every time He’s kept you when you did not deserve it and you did not earn it! I said a prayer. Mama, pray! Mama in-law, pray!
Let me tell you something! When Alice and Bonnie start bombarding Heaven, I don’t know what happened, but some angel went up into the fuselage, shook the wheel, and that sucker came right down! 'Cause there are some people that know their position and they ain’t got to yell 'cause they already in heavenly places! Uh -oh, it’s about to be craziness over here!
I said some people know they got it with God like that! «Daddy, not here! Not now! Not from this! I bind that devil! My baby on that plane! Let that plane land!» In the name of… For those who have said, «Well, what about the people who were believers who were on flights?» I don’t have an answer for you; I don’t understand the sovereign mind of God, and I grieve! I’m just telling you about an experience that I had!
And I had people praying! So now I’m praying that God keeps every plane in the air! Did you hear what I said? God keeps all of you covered! But not just planes-cars! People leave the house every day and don’t come home! Went up the street to get groceries-never came home! You can’t take anything for granted! That’s why you got to love everybody and treat everybody right! 'Cause you just don’t know!
Two more points, and then we’re going to get into baptism! Here: stars and humans-here’s another parallel! Both are meant to endure and multiply! The universe contains countless stars, and they continue to be formed! And I love this; this is crazy! The Bible says God placed the stars in the sky and knows them all by name! So, it shouldn’t trip you out that God knows you by name!
'Cause He only names stars! Oh, that was good! Boo-boo! Clock it! Clock the T! I’m a star! You better know who you are! Next time you go out, I’m not eating from the kiddie menu! I want a full plate! I want a steak with some drizzle on the side! Ah! You got to know who you are! You’re called to endure and multiply! God commanded humanity to be fruitful and multiply!
Watch this! Stars fill the heavens; we’re called to fill the earth! Oh my God! So here’s my conclusion: the connection between the creation of stars and the creation of mankind reveals God’s order, His authority, and His purpose in the universe! And as stars shine in the vast expanse of the heavens, we as human beings are called to illuminate and give light to the revelation of who God is in the earth!
We are to be wise stewards of the image of God! Because both stars and humans testify to the greatness of their Creator! Which makes stars like us reflections of God’s glory in very different but complementary ways! I got more, but that’s all for today! I’m excited that I’ve got a church full of stars here and around the world! Type it in the chat feed: I’m a star! I’m a star!
I’m correct punctuation! They, there, and their! T-H-E-R-E! T-H-E-I-R! T-H-E-R-E! Yeah, T-H-Y’R-E! You’re standing! I’m praying for you! If you’re getting ready to go get baptized, take your velvet jacket off 'cause I baptize you in no velvet! We got people that drove two hours to get baptized today! You been blessed by the word today? Where do they need to go if they’re getting baptized? Do they need to start heading out? They’re already in here!
Alright, well, let’s help them to get changed! There are some people in here before you leave; you need to make a decision on giving your life to Jesus! You’ve been shining but not as bright as you need to-come let Jesus polish you off real quick! Let’s get you saved; let’s get you reconnected to the house! If you’re in here, you want to be a part of what God is doing at Love Story Church, meet me right here!
You want to be a member of this church or you want to give your life to Jesus? Meet me right now! Come, come straight down! Don’t wait; come straight down! Come straight down! I believe if you clap, somebody will make a move! Amen! Hallelujah! Come here, boy! Anybody else? Yes! Ooh, yes! Welcome! Yes! How old are you, sweetheart? So beautiful! She’s 14! How old are you? I’m 18! 18! How old are you?
I’m joking. I know you; I’m a grown man! 14 years old! Asia, come on over! Stand next to this young lady coming into the kingdom! Anybody else? Anybody else? Alright, can we celebrate the ones who have made a commitment today? Listen here! I want y’all to pray this prayer with me, okay? Super proud of you! Best decision you could make lining up with the things of God! They’re going to pray with you! Somebody else is coming!
Well, let’s walk with her! Let’s celebrate her! Everybody pray this prayer with me! Welcome home! Oh, here comes another one! What an awesome shirt! You got to bring me a shirt! I want a Super Mario shirt! Anybody else? You coming? Come on, baby! Come on down here! Hey, dog! That’s your baby? She getting baptized today? So she is deceived! And then y’all join!
Okay, you’ve been members online, but now you are-SAR! We got another one! Come on, red! Is there anybody else? Alright, here’s what I want you to do! Your family behind you, turn around; they’re going to wave at you! They’re so glad to see you! Look! They waving at you! Some of them people are going to become some of the biggest blessings in your life! They’re going to pray for you! Sometimes, somebody might even give you some gas money, some money for some Spinx chicken!
Papy, we got another one! Quick trip pizza! No ma’am, come on, baby! Welcome! How are you? Who’s this baby? Hey baby, how are you? Uh -oh! Somebody else! She got the Smooth Criminal hat! Annie, are you okay? Quit playing! That’s mama! So the whole family is just joining today! Mama, mama, and grandbaby and husband! That’s your H and that’s your baby and that’s your M! Well, she’s right behind you! Almost- you almost caught her with a left hook! And somebody else just came!
How’d you sneak up? Welcome home! Anybody else? Everybody repeat this prayer: Lord Jesus, it’s me! I confess with my mouth and believe in my heart that Jesus-Lord, thank you for the blood that was shed for me! I receive the free gift of salvation- not through my works, but the finished work of the cross! The blood is enough to pay for all my sins! Now, Holy Spirit, come live inside and teach me how to be more like Jesus each and every day! You are my Savior and my Lord! In Jesus' name, amen! Amen and amen!