Louie Giglio - What God Does When We Let Go
We’re celebrating today generosity, and likely above and beyond what we did a few weeks ago. Now we’re moving on into a whole new zone called open house. Grant, Brad, and Aaron started us down that journey last Sunday. One of the texts we were looking at at one of the locations was Matthew chapter five, the words of Jesus: «You are the light of the world; you are a city on a hill.»
In the Message version of that incredible text from Eugene Peterson, Matthew 5:13–16 says, «Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand, shine! Keep open house. Be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.» Isn’t that beautiful? Keep open house; be generous with your lives! Why? Because as we open up to others, we give them the opportunity to open up to God. That’s what this above and beyond season has been all about, and that’s what moving into the Open House season has been all about. But I don’t want us to forget that God is doing a miracle through above and beyond, and I want to share some of that with you today.
The scripture says it’s better to give than to receive. I know we always say that, but a lot of us don’t fully believe it yet. It’s better, the scripture says, to give than to receive. In the past five days, we’ve been able to do some extraordinary giving all across Atlanta and with organizations around the world. We’ve been able to share your above and beyond giving, and it’s been incredible. I didn’t personally get to connect with any of the partners, but I’ve seen the videos, and I wanted all of us to share in the celebration of the miracle of above and beyond. We’re going to watch a little bit of that today, and you’ll get to celebrate some of it. In fact, throughout the gathering today, there will be plenty of celebration points. I hope you’re ready for it and that you won’t get tired of celebrating the miracle of what God has done. So let’s pop into this first video; you’ll get to see a couple of the organizations that you’ve been a part of through your generosity in the past few weeks. Let’s take a look and celebrate together.
Well, hey, Passion City Church! I’m here with some of the team from God Behind Bars, and I’m here on behalf of Passion City Church to give you a gift today of a hundred thousand dollars. Wow! Oh my God, seriously? Thanks! That’s huge! We, out of faith, have said yes to doubling our impact this year across the country and bringing the gospel behind bars to reach those whom the world calls the least of these. Over 98,000 men and women have decided to follow Jesus through this initiative. It’s amazing! I’m shook! Thank you so much, Passion City!
Well, hey, Church! We’re coming to you from Clarkston, Georgia, just ten miles away from our 515 location at Ethne Health. We are so excited to partner with you guys, and on behalf of the people of Passion City Church, I’m thrilled to give you a gift of two hundred thousand dollars!
Hey, Passion City Church! We are here at Maynard Jackson High School with the Elevate Atlanta team, and they are involved day by day in this high school, investing in the lives of students. On behalf of the people of Passion City Church, I have a gift for you guys of fifty thousand dollars! Wow! Thank you!
We’re here at Faith Bridge Foster Care in Alpharetta. The reason Passion City Church wants to partner with you is because you believe the local church is the solution to this crisis. Coming around foster families and foster kids through the vehicle of the local church is right up our alley! So on behalf of the people of Passion City Church, we have a gift through our above and beyond funds of one hundred thousand dollars for you! We want to activate your dreams and vision and see more kids impacted. Most of the children that come through Faith Bridge have never met Jesus, and of those 1,900 kids that we’ve served in our first 15 years, there have been 650,000 nights that those children have lived in loving Christian homes. Those 650,000 nights of praying to Jesus would have never happened if it weren’t for the church wrapping a community of care. I’ll never be able to say thank you enough for this—it’s just the beginning.
Today, some of you are asking why the amounts are different for some of the organizations. There are a couple of reasons: several of our partners that we are partnering with through above and beyond we’ve already been partnering with throughout the year, so this isn’t the only gift we’re giving to those organizations this year. We’ve assessed what their current needs are, what their capacities are, and what their needs are in terms of ongoing projects. We’re trying to give gifts that match their capacities and the projects they’re working on. There’s no preference given to one organization over another; it’s just about stewarding the funds in the right way with each of our partners. What a privilege to do that!
If you’re part of that, I just want to say thank you. I know above and beyond is a season that’s going to continue, but I’m happy to say to you and share with you today that as of this moment, our house has given to above and beyond over four million dollars! No one gave a million dollars; no one gave half a million dollars. The largest gift was $250,000. It’s a lot of us just saying yes to Jesus and saying, «This is what God is asking me to do.» There are very few in our house who could do all the gifts we’re going to celebrate today, but together we can accomplish all the gifts we’re going to celebrate today. That’s the power of above and beyond.
I was thinking about this over the last few weeks, obviously watching the Artemis try to get off the launch pad, which it didn’t, but I was contemplating rockets. Shane, our resident former astronaut, was at Trillith earlier today, and I checked my math with him. There’s something you would celebrate during a shuttle launch called MECO, or Main Engine Cut Off. This happens eight minutes and thirty seconds into flight. At that point, the booster rockets and the thrust of their power have done the sufficient work needed to set the capsule on its flight into orbit. It’s escaped the power of gravity and is now on its way into the above and beyond.
As we stepped into this week and began to share the stories of our partners, I want to congratulate you today because whatever you invested into above and beyond is now in the above and beyond! We’ve hit main engine cut off, and your gift is now outside the bounds of gravity and on its journey into eternity. Out of the four plus million dollars given to date—a number that’s going to grow significantly in the months to come—we’ve funded 100% of the gifts we wanted to give to our 21 partners. As of today, two million dollars has left Passion City Church and is in the above and beyond! This is amazing! In just a few short weeks, two million dollars is now outside the bounds of gravity and in the above and beyond of eternity, and it will never be stopped by the powers of Earth. It will do more than any of us could ever dream or imagine.
Let’s take a look at a couple more stories, then we have a few of our partners in the room here at Cumberland today, and we’ll be able to make a few more gifts!
Hey, Passion City Church! We’re here with Friends of Refugees, which serves in Clarkston, Georgia. Thank you so much for your work and for each of you as teachers. We want you to know that you’re seen and loved by us. So on behalf of Passion City Church, we want to give you guys a gift today of fifty thousand dollars! To which they replied, «Yes!» It’s our pleasure! Wow, thank you!
Oh my goodness, just thank you! In eight different languages, I’m so grateful for you, and I’m honored to tell you that the people of Passion City Church want to support what you and so many others are doing to help these organizations in our city. We’d like to give you a gift today of two hundred thousand dollars to the Beloved Benefit. This event is an opportunity for us to bring all of Atlanta together. It emanates from Dr. King’s notion of the Beloved Community, which was a place without differences where everyone lifted each other up and understood that we’re all God’s children. Thank you for being part of the Beloved Community and for your leadership!
Hey, Passion City Church! I have the privilege of being at the First Care Women’s Clinic, part of COP Pregnancy Services, with some amazing people—nurses, volunteers, consultants. On behalf of the people of Passion City Church, we’re bringing you a gift today of fifty thousand dollars.
Right now, we’re at one of our above and beyond partners, City of Refuge. Their main campus is just across the street from where I’m standing, serving individuals and families experiencing crisis. We are so blessed to stand in the Beyond of City of Refuge today as they dedicate their newest facility. Every day, they serve so many hurting people, and you guys are a refuge. On behalf of the people of Passion City Church, it’s my honor to present this check for one hundred thousand dollars to you guys today!
Wow, so great! Grant is here with a few of our partners at our Cumberland location to share joy in what they’re doing as well. I love this! This is such a fun day at church! My friend Anna Eso is here! Will you stand up? She’s part of the Mother’s Advocacy Project, along with her son and daughter. This organization supports single moms and children who have been through trauma. Anna Eso was telling me that a few years ago, she went through this program and did so well that they ended up hiring her—which is amazing! She’s part of our Cumberland family! In the not-too-distant future, Anna Eso and her children will be getting baptized at Passion City Church, which is pretty awesome! It’s an honor and joy, on behalf of the people of Passion City Church, to give you this gift of fifty thousand dollars!
This is my friend Andrew Scott; he leads Operation Mobilization, an amazing missions organization—one of the largest in the world. I love that Andrew is part of our house. We love what you’re doing. I love thinking that as we give to Operation Mobilization, the funds from our house will go to help people all over the world who haven’t been reached with the gospel. That’s what Andrew and his team do—they do an amazing job! We believe in the mission God has given you; it’s our honor to support you today. On behalf of the people of Passion City Church, I’m excited to offer you a gift of one hundred thousand dollars!
And this is Benjamin Wills, who leads Peace Preparatory Academy in the English Avenue area, an amazing school. It’s incredible what’s happening there in the community! I love what they’re trying to do. They’ll have their first graduating class in 2028! Right now, they have seventh graders, which is awesome! They’re a bright beacon of light shining from the West side, educating whole children, supporting whole families, and strengthening entire communities. On behalf of Passion City Church, Benjamin, I’m excited to offer you a gift of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars!
Come on, let’s hear it for these amazing organizations! Isn’t this powerful? They’re like our family! We prayed, «Lord, what do you want us to do?» and we were able to take this step. But the step you took is being exponentially multiplied by the power of the family of God—that is His church! I love it! This is what church is all аbout: keeping open house and being generous, not just with our finances but with our lives. Thank you all for being here today; we’re so grateful for each one of you and for the mission and vision that inspires you daily to make the sacrifices you make for the kingdom cause of Christ and for families. For Shelly and me in our house, we respect you so much, and we are behind you 100% in what you’re doing here in our city for the women on the West side. In many ways, you shine as one of the brightest lights in our city, and we’re so grateful for you.
There are people throughout our house doing incredible things. I alluded a few weeks ago to an opportunity that was on the horizon for the gospel to be at work in a place where most people would say, «That can’t happen.» Andrew is part of moments like that always. Their organization is working on things he can’t discuss for security reasons, but he’s reminding us today that there are no closed countries to the Spirit of God. No place where God’s Spirit cannot move! To be part of that and to know our giving today is in the above and beyond is so powerful. When we release, we are moving with the kingdom of God. Can I just say that one more time? When we release, we are moving with the kingdom of God. God’s kingdom is a kingdom of release. The earthly kingdom is a kingdom of clutching, holding, and hoarding, but the kingdom of God is the kingdom of releasing.
Even about Jesus, it says that although He was God, He didn’t hold on to being God to the degree that He wasn’t willing to empty Himself and become God in flesh. He showed us what the Kingdom looks like: He showed us Kingdom release. When release happens, provision happens. When release happens, miracles happen. When release happens, deliverance happens. When release happens, salvation happens! If you’re looking for deliverance, if you’re looking for salvation, if you’re looking for provision, or if you are looking for a miracle, then release! Because this is the kingdom of God, and we’re not going to see a miracle by holding on; we’re going to see a miracle by letting go. This is the story I’ve carried in my heart throughout this above and beyond season. It’s the story of Jochebed, Moses' mom.
Moses' mom had a decision to make. Pharaoh had made an edict that all the boys born in Egypt were to be thrown into the Nile because he was afraid of the increasing population of the Israelites. Hebrews 11 tells us that Moses' parents didn’t fear the king’s edict; they did not put their child in the river or allow him to be taken and thrown into the river. They kept their son, and this is the story seen in Exodus 2. A man of the house of Levi married a Levite woman. Why is that important? It’s significant today because the Levites were worshipers—they served in the worship component of the house of God. They were literally, as it says in some places in the Old Testament, door holders in the house of God. Out of their heart of worship and their devotion and faith in God, these two worshipers entered the story.
She became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months. When she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him, coated it with tar and pitch—she waterproofed it. Then she placed the child in it and put the basket among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. His sister, Miriam, stood at a distance to see what would happen. When Pharaoh’s daughter went down to the Nile to bathe and her attendants walked along the riverbank, she saw the basket among the reeds and sent her slave girl to get it. She opened it and saw the baby; he was crying, and she felt sorry for him. «This is one of the Hebrew babies,» she said.
Then his sister Miriam asked Pharaoh’s daughter, «Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?» «Yes, go,» she said. The girl, Miriam, went and got the baby’s mother, Jochebed. Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, «Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.» If you just want to check out right here, this is amazing release! I want to put the baby in a basket in the river, and God’s going to turn the story around. The Pharaoh’s daughter is going to pay me to raise my own kid! This is the above and beyond!
So the woman, Moses' mother Jochebed, took the baby and nursed him. When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She released him for the second time, and the daughter named him Moses, saying, «I drew him out of the water.»
There are three things I want us to see in this story of release from Jochebed. The first is this: our lives—your life—escape the gravitational power of fallen Earth when we release them into the sovereign current of God’s plans. In other words, your life is either going to terminate on Earth or it is going to reach MECO and soar into eternity. The deciding factor in that is your willingness to release your life. The tendency of fallen humanity is to hold on, but the power of the Kingdom is to let go. Jesus said it this way: «Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life or hold on to it will lose it, but whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.»
See how easy it is, especially in this economy right now, where every headline is inflation? Every headline discusses what’s wrong with the economy, and what does that make us do? It makes us fear, and it makes us click on the link and read the article. It makes us nervous, fretful, and hoard what we have. It makes us want to be conservative. Maybe we do need to be fiscally responsible in certain seasons more than others; I’m not saying we don’t. But I’m saying that with all the things coming at us, it’s easy to say, «I’m just going to keep what I’ve got and hold on to what I can.» And God is saying, «Well, you can do that, but at the end of the day, all your stuff is staying on Earth. I want to give you the opportunity to get your stuff into the above and beyond because this is God’s kingdom purpose and plan.»
The second thing I want you to notice: relinquishing our treasure to the river of God’s sovereign ways doesn’t cancel our desire to be strategically involved in participating in His plans. It feels like this is the longest point I’ve ever made in a message! Louie, can you simplify that? Yes! We’re not just chunking our coins into the above and beyond giving and saying goodbye. That’s not what Jochebed did. Yes, she took a big step and put her son in the river, but her sister was also in position where she could see the basket. The mom had figured out how the bathing routine worked, and then she was nearby so that when the baby was discovered, and when Pharaoh’s daughter’s heart was moved, Miriam could swoop in and offer to find a Hebrew woman to raise him. The mom wasn’t on vacation—the mom stayed strategically positioned in the flow of the river.
So we’re not just giving to these organizations; we want to stay linked to these organizations. We’re not just saying, «Here’s some money.» We’re saying, «What else do you need?» I hope today, someone will think, «I don’t know much about Peace Prep, but I’ll check out their website and see what they’re doing and what they need. I’m going to start praying for them. I may be led by God to give more or serve them in some way.» Operation Mobilization has slots for people like you with job skills just like yours. Maybe God is putting it on your heart to release and say, «I’m available to go somewhere in the world as a technician or a doctor or a lawyer. God can use me in that way to go through a door I wouldn’t normally enter.» I’m going to see what they’re about and pray for them. I’m not just dropping a dollar into the river; I want to strategically stay available to God’s purpose and plan! Isn’t that beautiful?
The last thing, and this is so powerful: I think everyone knows our heart and knows my heart and isn’t going to freak out thinking we’re putting some kind of prosperity spin on this story today. But I’m just telling you, God is in the business of returning interest on what you release into His Kingdom. We don’t give to get; we give because we’ve received. But God said, «But when we give, we get!» Our motivation isn’t what are we going to get out of this; our motivation is what we’ve already received from God. But trust me, you’re going to get something out of it. You might think, «That doesn’t sound like Jesus!» Well, I think I heard Jesus say, «Lay up for yourself treasures in heaven.» In other words, don’t have the mentality of hoarding all your stuff on Earth where it’s going to be corrupted, stolen, or lost in a catastrophe. When you die, it’s going to be left behind! No! Get your stuff into the above and beyond. I believe this is the third point: when we release, we unleash a Kingdom return on investment, and that will be one of the best and one of the worst things about heaven.
You might think, «Oh, how can that be?» When I release, I unleash a Kingdom return on investment! Does anybody know what ROI is? Some of you might say, «No, I don’t have any money; I’m broke.» When you have some money and invest some, eventually you look at ROI—what is the return on the investment? In other words, if I put this in, what can I expect to get out? Everybody making a fiscal investment decision on Earth is thinking about ROI. I think about it when I give to the Kingdom of God—not in terms of what number am I going to get back, but I know I’m in an exponential part of the story of God working in Earth and in eternity, and that’s going to be the best part about heaven.
You may have lived at a median income your whole life, and then you get to heaven and you’re one of the richest people in eternity, rolling in blessings because you released. Conversely, you could be one of the wealthiest people on Earth but end up as one of the poorest in eternity because you didn’t release anything into the Kingdom of God and left everything on Earth. Heaven is not socialism; everyone doesn’t have an equal bank account. You have what you lay up for yourself, and you will get a return on your investment. You might think, «It’s not like I have a big bank account in heaven,» but I have lives changed, stories I’ve been part of, and miracles I’ve invested in. People will come up to me and say, «Thank you!» for all eternity. Yes, that’s going to be based on our willingness to release.
I’m so grateful to be part of a house that’s releasing! We could have easily said, «Wow, we’ve got four million; here’s all the things we can do for ourselves at Passion City Church!» But for the first half of that, we said, «No! We want to be an agency of the Kingdom to pass through to touch lives and see God begin stories that can’t be stopped on Earth.»
Here are a few last stories, and then I’ll bring us to a close.
Hey, I’m with Joe Sumrall and Faruza, and these two represent an amazing organization, Illuminations, which is working to translate the Bible for all the people in the world who don’t have the Word of God in their heart language. I just want to tell you today that on behalf of the people of Passion City, we’re giving you two hundred thousand dollars to continue the work you’re dedicating your life to. Thank you!
Thank you, Passion City Church! I think about the 1,647 languages that haven’t started yet, and we’re going to knock some of those off the list because of this generosity!
Hey, Passion City Church! We’re out here at Cheney Stadium with FCA Atlanta. They’re about to kick off an Urban Soccer League using the vehicle of sports to share the message of Jesus with people. That’s pretty exciting! On behalf of the people of Passion City Church, I’m bringing a gift of fifty thousand dollars to FCA Atlanta!
Hey, Passion City! We are at A Beacon of Hope, an unplanned pregnancy clinic right here in Atlanta. One reason we love A Beacon of Hope is because they’re committed to saving the lives of the unborn. And another reason is that they’re on a mission to lead people into a relationship with Jesus Christ, which is amazing! We are so excited to offer you guys a gift of one hundred thousand dollars.
Oh my gosh! What this will mean for families in the community is tremendous. You’re not just investing in a mom in crisis and her baby, but for generations to come!
Wow! Convoy of Hope, for those of you who don’t know, delivers relief and responds to any crisis or disaster that happens here in the U.S. or around the world. They’re often the first call when crisis strikes. On behalf of the people of Passion City Church, I’m excited to tell you that you guys are getting a gift of one hundred thousand dollars for anything coming up in the future.
Well, Dave, here’s what I will say: on behalf of the 31 million people we were able to impact last year, from Ukraine to Uvalde—that’s what Passion City is impacting! When the tanks rolled into Ukraine, hope rolled in because of the people of Passion City and the relationships we have. The difference you are making will be told in heaven. Let’s give God some praise today for the ability to be a part of all these stories! So incredible! What a privilege!
As we take this last turn home, it’s not just about partners and gifts, although I love the miracle in that, especially in this economy. It’s remarkable! I’m not belittling the fact that some of you feel financial pressure right now. We have great friends in this church feeling enormous financial stress. But in spite of every headline, it’s awesome to see God open hearts and realize what God can do!
I do believe God has a word for you today about release. This fall season, a lot of release happens. Some of you sent your kids off to school for the first time, and now you’re looking around at other parents, thinking, «You didn’t tell me!» I’m trying to act cool, but my kid just walked into that school, and I didn’t get to go in there! Some of you just sent a kid to high school. Are you kidding me? We’ve cared for this child, and now they’re passing through that door!
God is saying to you today, «You did well! Now release them into the current of the river of God.» But Louie, it might not be a straight line for them from here to the end of high school. It wasn’t for you! Amen? God got you here!
Some of you just said goodbye to a son or daughter going off to college. Either you dropped them off and cried on your way home, or they got in the car and drove off and you turned around and cried walking into the house. How is this going to happen? They’ve lived in your house their entire life, and now they’re living in a dorm with other 18-year-olds with little supervision, and they’re not calling! We got two texts! God is saying to you today, «Release! You did good! Let go!» And know they’re not just being plunked in a river; they’ve been placed in a basket in the reeds, and God is at work!
You’ll stay connected. Some of you are doing your very best to watch the basket—you are positioning yourself in their college town. But just release! You’re like, «Louie, it’s scary at college!» I know; think about when you were there! All the crazy things you did! But God got you here; now you’re in the house of God! They’re going to be in the house of God. For some of you, it was a business deal that went sideways. For others, it was a plan you’ve worked on for years. For some, it’s a loved one you’re caring for.
I’m encouraging you today: whatever you’re carrying and whatever you’re concerned for, release it into the current of a sovereign God today! Louie, how can I do that? How can I just let go? You make it sound so easy standing up there! How can I trust God? You can trust God today! I can trust God today because He put His Son in the river. He released so that provision could be made, a miracle could happen, and deliverance could come! You can trust Him! You can trust Him!
We’re going to worship together, and this is about way more than just singing a song. It’s about giving us the opportunity to say, «I believe in You, God. I’m going to leave my basket by the reeds in the river.» It’s amazing that Jochebed came down to the river to save her son. She did everything she could to save him, and she had no idea that God would use her son to save her! The baby in the basket, just one chapter later, is being called on by God to be the agent of deliverance for the whole nation, including Jochebed.
So I’m telling you today that whatever you release is coming back. Whatever you let go of will return in some form or fashion. I want you to know today that you can count on the fact that the form it comes back in may not look exactly like you expect, but it’s going to be better than you expect. It’s going to come when God’s timing is perfect, and it’s going to come in a way that you will say, «I had no idea!»