Michael Todd - Capital C Sunday
As I begin to think about what I was going to share today, God had me reflect on our vision of representing Him to the lost and found. For one reason, what is it? Transformation in Christ. God wants everybody’s life to be transformed, but the thing that has to happen is we have to be aware of what God wants to do in our lives. As I began to pray, I came out to this field earlier this week and walked this entire area where you’re sitting. I began to pray, «God, what do You want to share with Your people?» The only thing God said was, «Go study Juneteenth.»
I looked up all the videos, read books, and began to explore the story of a people group that, because of the color of their skin, was labeled as slaves. We know the story has been rehearsed many times, but just in case you don’t: The reason we celebrate Juneteenth is that the Emancipation Proclamation occurred in 1863, where slaves were freed on paper. However, the news did not reach Texas until two and a half years later, on June 19, 1865. God began to speak to me, saying, «Michael, the worst thing in the world is to be free and yet bound.» The worst thing, I want you to think about, is to actually be free but not experience that freedom and remain bound. Those people were «freebound.»
The crazy thing about it is we think about 1865, where joy began to rise because, for two and a half years, people were free yet bound. But the reality is that there are thousands of people under the sound of my voice right now who are still experiencing this same dichotomy of being «freebound.» Oh, I’m going to get in your business today. See, the thing that people have to understand is that most of us have the opportunity to be financially free and produce wealth, but we’re bound by a poverty mentality. I’m coming for you! Some of you relationally have the chance to be free and move on from that person, but you’re bound by cycles. Y’all keep getting caught up every Saturday night! You’re free to do something else, but you’re bound. Some of us, even in this room right now, are emotionally free to forgive that person, but we’re bound by bitterness—freebound! Everybody say «freebound!»
Some of us are currently experiencing what we’ve been discussing at Transformation Church: this idea of being «freebound» is a paradox. Many of us wake up «freebound,» go to sleep «freebound,» talk to our neighbors «freebound,» do business «freebound.» The worst place to be is free yet bound spiritually. Many of us are free to live in our purpose but are bound by a place of devastation. Today, I want to talk and, hopefully, by the grace of God, help somebody who has been living «freebound.» For some of you, you’re feeling tense right now, and some of you are tightening up, while others are clenching because if we came to your situation and discussed how you want to advocate for these people but are angry at those people, you’re «freebound.»
How can you speak love to a group of people you like but express hate for a group of people you don’t know? «Freebound.» God says in His word, «Whom the Son sets free is free indeed.» Today, I want to address the root of being «freebound,» which is devastation. Anytime something traumatic happens in our lives, we mark that place, and there is a certain level of devastation that tries to keep us bound. When I look at the land we are on right now, this is a place of devastation. Black Wall Street was once the most affluent, self-sufficient, and richest area in the U.S. at one time but was burned to the ground due to racial injustices, and nothing was ever done about it—this is a place of devastation. Where you sit or stand, they’re still finding bodies.
You’re saying, «Pastor Mike, I didn’t come for all of this.» I didn’t come to tell you I’m taking you somewhere, but I need you to understand that a hundred years ago, this area was devastated. This is the community I live in; this is the community our church was birthed out of—and it was, everybody say, «devastated.» But I need to help you understand that devastation is not foreign to God. Devastation is all through the Bible.
I want you to think about it: What was that moment of devastation for Abraham when he waited 25 years for a promise of a son, and then God said to him, «Take that same boy and put him on an altar and sacrifice him»? That was a place of devastation. Think about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—when they obeyed God and didn’t bow down, didn’t they end up in a furnace? That was a place of devastation. Think about Daniel when King Darius made a decree that no one should pray to any other god. Daniel was like, «I don’t care what you say; I have to serve my God,» and they threw him into the lion’s den. I bet when he was down there with the lions, he thought, «This is a place of devastation.»
What I’m asking is this: I know you post the highlights on Instagram. I know you act like everything’s good in your marriage, and I know you pretend your kids do exactly what you say when you tell them to do it. I know you act like high school is a breeze, but all of us, underneath the surface, have a place of devastation. If I had enough time to talk to each of you, it would come up. Your anger is an indication that somewhere, you were devastated. Your frustration is an indicator. What I came to tell you is that your devastation is never a destination. God never meant for you to stay at the place of devastation, and the enemy would love for us, as a city, as a group of people, to camp out at the place of devastation—camp out at the hate, camp out at the hurt, sit in the unforgiveness, sit in the pain, sit in the loss, sit in regret, stay in shame and fear, and camp out in anxiety and anger. Stay the victim.
What the Holy Spirit said to me was, «Michael, show the people a picture of what the enemy would love to do in their lives for the next decade.» Sit there and dwell, «You know what, they did me wrong, and it feels good. I’m not going to change. I’ll have them come tell me why they did it and how they did it,» and they camp out in the place of devastation until you do something. «I’m right here. I’m mad, I’m upset; I’m not moving.» You’ve decided to stay at the place where that last person left you. You’ve stayed at the spot where your child was diagnosed with autism. Oh, that’s my personal story. See, I had a decision to stay in devastation, and you know what? The enemy almost got me. He had me so much that I said, «If I’m going to sit in this devastation, I might as well get comfortable.» So, you know what? I’m not just going to sit in a chair—oh no, this is too big. I need somebody to help me.
What we try to do is bring people to help us make our devastation comfortable. Yeah, no, y’all my ride-or-dies, come on, I’m going to stay right here. I’m going to stay mad, I’m going to stay frustrated; I’m not going to help be a part of the solution. Yeah, and the enemy the whole time is telling you, «I got snacks for you in your devastation.» Yeah, be comfortable in your devastation, tell people it’s okay to stay in the place of offense. «I need a pillow, can I get some water? Can I please have someone serve me in the place of devastation? All men are dogs.» No, he hurt you. Uh-oh, let me stop, but he wants you to camp out in the place of devastation. «I’m never going to church again; that church was toxic.» Oh, let me stop. «No, no, no, I don’t want to actually touch it; will you please get it for me?» See, we want to be served in the place of devastation.
I’m talking to somebody. This is what all of us look like in some areas of our lives. But because my mom hurt me and my dad wasn’t there, that was devastating. But that is not your destination. I’m going to say it one more time: It was devastating that they didn’t pick you for the job; it was devastating that they overlooked you and abused you; it was devastating that they left you at the altar; it was devastating that they didn’t see your potential. But your devastation is never your destination. Somebody give God some praise!
When I think about the monstrosity of what happened on this land, for a hundred years we have been camped out at devastation. Born and raised in this city, I’ve seen minimal to little change in this area of reconciliation, reparation—any of it—in my entire lifetime. I said, «God, what do we do?» He said, «The first thing you decide is this no longer is a place where we stay.» «I ain’t staying here.» Somebody say it! «I ain’t staying.» I know it’s wrong; she was like, «Susan, that is Ebonics.» I want you to say it out loud—"I ain’t staying!» Some of you need to go back to your apartments and look at that place of devastation and say, «I’m here right now, but I ain’t staying.» Some of you need to go back to that job where you’ll have to clock in tomorrow and say, «I know you have not realized who God has in your mix, but I promise you, I ain’t staying here.»
As a church, I made a decision that as we begin to move in unity and reconciliation, and doors were shut in our faces, God said, «This is not the destination. Decide, 'I ain’t staying here.'» I came to encourage you, wherever you are in your life, whatever your situation is, do not stay at the place of devastation. Why, Pastor Mike? Write this down: Because devastation is always an invitation. Anytime there’s a moment of devastation, you are invited into another layer of living. Even if everything was taken from you, you have a choice. You can either take the lane of despair or take the lane of destiny. You can either take the lane of hate or the lane of hope. You can either take the lane of staying and grieving or the lane of greatness. You can either be bitter or get better. You can either become indifferent or make an impact. You can choose anger or ask God for a fresh anointing. You can either take failure or ensure that you live in faith. The enemy would love for you to stay right here, but somebody say, «I ain’t staying here!»
So how do I not stay at the place that felt final? The enemy would love for you to put a period or an exclamation mark on a sentence that’s not finished yet. The place of devastation is always followed, in the word of God, by a comma. Let me refer to English class. I know how many people in this room liked English class when you were in school. Okay, two people—um, that’s fine. I didn’t like it; I failed it twice. But there was one thing I learned about punctuation: whenever there was a comma, that meant there was more to come. And for every person, when you find yourself in a place of devastation, know that God always puts a comma after the devastation. Let me help you. When the children of Israel were bound in Egypt and they were slaves, God said, «Comma,» and sent Moses. When the entire country was tormented by the Philistine army, Goliath and his associates, God put a comma and sent David.
At this moment, still a hundred years where innocent blood spilled out in this area, I feel by the Spirit that God has placed a comma, and today He’s about to begin to write a new sentence. Y’all didn’t get it! I said today, God is going to write by faith the rest of the sentence. So let me tell you about your life and where you are right now—don’t put a period where God put a comma. Some of you didn’t get accepted into the school you thought you’d get into—don’t put a period there— that was redirection for what God wants to do in your life. Don’t put a period where God put a comma. I began to think about this moment that we stand in, and the moment that you stand in in your life, and God said, «Michael, tell the people, wherever they’re devastated.»
Can we be hot, humble, open, and transparent real quick? Is there an area in your life where there is devastation—childhood trauma, frustration, something that happened recently? Would you lift your hands all over? Oh, that’s everybody at home—just lift your hand. The Lord told me, and I want you to write this down: Don’t leave the devastation without a revelation. See, revelation, all it means, is revealed truth. And God said, «Out of every devastation, there’s something that I’m trying to reveal to you that will change your destiny forever.»
What we need to understand today, as we are out here, is that we must find the revelation that God wants to give us. After a hundred years of devastation, what do you do after you feel devastated? Most of us grab a half gallon of Cookies and Cream ice cream—Blue Bell. Oh, is that just me? Y’all are fake! We Netflix and chill, trying to drown out the devastation with distraction. But the thing about our devastation is that it always comes back if it’s not healed. Devastation never changes through distraction. It was worth your coming today because some of you are so convinced that another trip will help you; you think, «If I move to New York or L.A. it will help me,» or «If I get a new boot,» baby, those are all distractions. God wants to heal the devastation, so we need a revelation. And how do you get a revelation? You pray to God for that revelation. Look what the Bible says—oh, I love God!
In 2 Corinthians 7:14, it states, «If my people, who are called by my name, would do two very hard things for people in 2021: humble themselves and pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, I will forgive their sins, and this is what we need; I will heal our land.» The revelation we need can only come from God, and the reason why revelation—revealed truth—is so important is because revelation, write this down, is the starting place of transformation. If you want to see your life transformed, you need a revelation from God. Can I tell you that today, as we stand here, the only reason I am here is because of a revelation that one man received—our founding pastor, standing right here at Greenwood and Archer.
As a white man who came to this city to go to college, he began to hear about the horrors that happened here, things nobody had talked about. God woke him up, and his wife helped him receive a revelation that changed the trajectory of his entire life. But not just his life; a revelation from God to one person can change the destiny of another. When he stood on that corner, God told him to start a church and include «Greenwood» in the name to honor the survivors and the victims. As a white man in 1999, that was a big no-no. He stood boldly in the face of adversity and raised up a people to start transforming the city and community because he had a revelation that led to transformation.
Today, I must take this moment to honor him. Is he here? Bishop, come here! Can we honor God for the man of God who had a revelation? Y’all can do better than that! Bishop, I love you, and I honor you. Oh yeah, we can do better than that, Tulsa! The reason I brought him up here is not for fanfare, but to let you know that in obscurity, when nobody believes in you, a revelation from God can literally and spiritually lead to transformation. And today, Bishop, in front of everybody, we honor you, sir. Can we give God praise for Bishop?
Okay, sit down; I have a little more to say. What I’m asking you to do is pray to God for a revelation so that it can start transformation in your life. When Transformation Church started, I asked God what would make us different from any other church. He said, «You’re actually going to show people who I am and not care what anybody else thinks.» I said, «God, that seems kind of bold,» and He said, «I need somebody who will not be limited by the devastation that occurred, who will pray for a revelation that will start the process of transformation and will be relentless until we see restoration.» Somebody shout at me, «Restoration!»
I’m telling you, and I prophesy that the days of Tulsa being a beacon of hope and a place of transformation are not over. The devastation I feel right now—the devastation that has rained upon this area—is now about to become the biggest platform for God to do exceedingly abundantly above all we can ask or think. You’ll look back at this and witness what I’m saying; this is a season of restoration! When I say «everybody,» just shout at me, «Restoration!» Some of you don’t even believe it; say it with your chest: «Restoration!» That is God’s plan from the very beginning for all of us—to live restored, better than before, brand new.
Some of you have old-school cars; my uncle restores old-school cars. I’ve learned that people who restore cars are meticulous, ensuring that when they put something destroyed back together, they make little tweaks and ads so that it is better than before. God told me to tell you that this is a season of restoration. Every relationship you thought you lost, He will give you ones that are better than before. Every job and every opportunity you thought was gone, God says, «I am not limited by them; I will do it better than before!»
Somebody’s getting it with faith! God told me to tell you out here on the lawn and in your homes that it’s going to be better than before. Somebody say, «Better!» That’s called restoration. But what I found out—write this point down—is that we serve a God of reparations. Uh-oh, buzzword! That’s a term nobody wants to say. I’m about to give you the revelation; this is what I did all of this for—to bring you here. Reparations is not a political word. Reparations is not a word that your left-wing friends or your right-wing friends have coined.
Let me give you the definition of reparations, thank you, Lord: the action of repairing something that was devastated. Reparations means that someone will take up the mantle and actively engage in the process of repairing something that was destroyed. Can I give you Scripture for it? Joel 2:25 states, «And I will restore to you the years the locust has eaten and the canker worm has stolen—my great army, which I sent among you—I will restore.» The problem is we haven’t read the first few words: «And I will.» Who is the «I»? God! God will restore! He said «I,» not government. Oh, He said «I,» not your group. «I,» not your gang, nor your affiliation, not people with good intentions. Somebody shout, «God is a God of reparations!»
And this is the revelation God gave me. He said, «Michael, change starts in the church.» If we are to see a move of God for restoration, it will not come from government or legislation; the change starts in the church. Somebody say, «I’m the church!» You thought I was talking about the organization, but I’m talking about the organism. Somebody say, «I’m the church!»
If God is the God of reparations and restoration, and I’m one of God’s people, then I am responsible for helping restore what has been torn down. Okay, I’m going somewhere. 2 Corinthians 5:18 says, «And all this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself.» And watch this—this is big: «And gave us"—somebody say «us"—"the ministry of reconciliation.» I’m mad, but I have to restore it. I’m frustrated, but I have to put my hand to the plow. You broke it, but now I have to fix it. The problem is, we’ve been looking for someone else to restore what they don’t have the anointing to fix. This was not their job; it’s our job! Somebody say, «Our job!»
And I know this messes with your theology and that rant you did on Facebook yesterday, but I’m coming to give you the Word of God. Reparations are not coming from them; what if there was a church that would rise up, unify, and stand toe-to-toe with every demonic spirit of division, every lie of devastation, and say, «As for me and my house,"—I’m not talking for anybody else’s church but for Transformation Church—"as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!» I began to ask God, «How are we going to serve you?» He said, «You need to understand this: you’ve been given the ministry of reconciliation.»
Verse 19 of 2 Corinthians 5 states, «That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the entire world to Himself, not counting their sins against them, and entrusting to us"—somebody say «us"—"the message of reconciliation.» I said, «God, how can our little church impact such a big problem? How do we start reparations right here on this ground?» God said, «Understand this revelation—I need everyone to hear this, because you can apply it to your personal life. This rocked my world. God said, 'The hand that usually tears it down is rarely the hand that builds it back up.' You don’t go to the place of offense to seek confidence. You don’t go back to those who broke you down and say, 'Please build me back up.'»
I’m talking too big for y’all right now! God says that when the wall was torn down and Nehemiah had to rebuild it, he didn’t tear down the wall. He was given the mandate to rebuild it. So today, on behalf of Transformation Church and Transformation Nation, I want to start reparations right here today. God has spoken specifically to our staff and team that if we’re going to see restoration, it’s time for reparations. It’s time for someone to take action and start rebuilding what we didn’t tear down but what we’ve been called by God to restore. Yes, it would be amazing for government and school systems to come on board, but if they never do, will we remain in a place of devastation, or will we declare, «If God be for us!»?
Y’all didn’t come to praise God! I said, «If God is for us!» Somebody say, «Who?» No, say it like you mean it: «Who?» Who can be against us? So I gathered my team and asked, «What could Transformation Church do to be a seed for the reparations that need to come to this community, this city, this state, this nation, and to the survivors?» We picked about eight organizations that today—they don’t even have any idea—they just thought I was bringing them up here. But today, reparations begin! I want to bring out the Crutchers—would you come here please, Dr. Tiffany Crutcher?
Some of you may not know this, but her brother was brutally murdered a few miles from here. Since then, this educated Black woman has devoted her entire life to justice and peace. This won’t bring her brother back, but for us, we want to help you continue the work that God has called you to do. So today, on behalf of Transformation Church, we have a check—with no strings attached—for fifty thousand dollars to tell you to keep doing what God has called you to do! I dare y’all to start praising God; the reparation season is here, and it’s time for restoration! Will somebody give God some praise?!
But somebody say, «But we’re not done!» Then I said, «Who else is doing something as a non-profit in the city of Tulsa?» They may never recognize us as government, but I bet you the church is about to stand up! I heard about an organization called Building Tulsa, which helps build and equip young Black entrepreneurs. The reason this is important is that people’s children and grandchildren in this area would have had legacies and inheritances if the Wall Street massacre hadn’t happened. And so today, this group, with community representation from Brother Charles Wilkes—I love you, bro—is continuing to raise up more Black young men. You’ve got fifty thousand dollars to continue that work! Y’all better help me rejoice; it’s reparation season! We’re building back up what the enemy said he would tear down. But we’re not done yet!
What happened here did not just affect Tulsa. If you study massacres, there are over thirty that happened all over the U.S. that we aren’t taught about in schools. But I found this organization in Atlanta called One Race, led by Josh Clemens—you heard him pray earlier—and Keisha Clemens. Today, we want to present you with a hundred thousand dollar check so you can continue to do the work in Atlanta—not just in Tulsa. We want you to raise up more people in Atlanta, help them understand their value and worth, introduce them to Jesus, and let them know that devastation is not a destination! Somebody give God a shout of praise!
But we’re not done yet! In this city, our founding pastor tells me the story of when they were young; they brought all the survivors of the massacre—there were 13 alive at that time—and one of them became a church member of Greenwood Christian Center. His name was Dad Clark, and Dad Clark used to tell stories of this entire area. One thing he always talked about was how proud he was when they built the Greenwood Cultural Center, which has been a mainstay in our community for many years. And today, I want to bring up this beautiful, wonderful… doesn’t she look good? You’re out here looking great Dr. Wimberly and I just want to say thank you. Thank you for keeping the legacy alive. Thank you for remembering people whom others tried to make us forget. Thank you for hosting events and giving prizes that people can actually afford, and for being a beacon of light in this community.
On behalf of God, Transformation Church, and Transformation Nation, we want to present you with a one hundred thousand dollar check. You better not get tired of praising; it’s reparations season! We love you and we believe in you. Come on, somebody, give God some praise right now! But we ain’t done yet. I’ve lived in this community for eight years, just up the street, and one of the most devastating things is that if I want a fresh apple or a fresh banana, I have to drive five miles away to get to a grocery store with fresh produce. In the hundredth year since over thirty grocery stores were burned to the ground, God has raised up an oasis in the middle of Tulsa. My brothers AJ and Joe went and established our first majority black-owned business. These are minorities right here!
Oh, you all can do better than that! They said, «We’re going to pool our resources together and create an oasis in the middle of a desert!» That means water, that means life, and that means an anointing. You haven’t even been open two months, and today, on behalf of Transformation Church, AJ, Joe, and the whole Hair family, we wanted to do something special for you, but really for the community, as it comes through you. There are boys and girls in North Tulsa who eat only cupcakes, honey buns, and ramen noodles. The devil is a lie if we see a twenty-year life expectancy change within ten miles, much of that is because of food.
So, what we want to do for the North Side community, on behalf of Transformation Church and Transformation Nation, is for that Oasis Grocery Store. There will be two different weekends when we are handing out, no strings attached, free of charge, a thousand one hundred dollar gift cards to be able to go in there and buy fresh groceries. Oasis, this is a hundred thousand dollars, a new black business, and the community is being reached. It’s reparations! You don’t have to do it, but the church will. Can we give God some praise right now? But we’re not done yet! Somebody look at your neighbor and say, «But we’re not done yet!» I told the team, «Find me every living survivor that survived this massacre.» They began to search, and I said the most devastating thing that was stolen from people were their homes.
How in the world do you rebuild when you go to sleep on a Thursday and on Friday, all your memories, all your life savings, everything you’ve built your life for, is in rubble in front of you? You have to go to the fairgrounds and stay on cots, trying to rebuild your life from ashes. I read in the Bible where it said God is the only one who can give beauty for ashes. Today, I don’t care who you are or where you’re at; if you’re watching online, we have two of the three living survivors of the Tulsa Race Massacre. We have all three. They all came! We have all three! Can we give God some praise? Y’all can do better than that! These people survived devastation and are here to tell about it! Thank you, sir, just bring them right here. Right here.
How you doing, ma’am? You okay? I see you out here looking good with that Coach purse. I feel the presence of God right now. Mr. Hughes Van Ellis, a hundred years old—no, no, no, I’m going to try that again. That man is a hundred years old! Mr. Hughes Ben Ellis, a hundred years old! Miss Viola Floyd, fresher at 107 years old! Miss Leslie Randall, 106 years old! I just want to get in a humble position and say thank you. Thank you, thank you for living a life that survived the devastation. Thank you for appearing before Congress. Thank you for standing up. Thank you for being here today, because of you this is able to happen. I’m a young black man who took over a church from a white man who built it in North Tulsa. That couldn’t have happened if you hadn’t survived.
Today, we can’t restore everything that has been stolen from you, but today we can put a seed in the ground. The one thing we know about a seed is when you put a seed in the ground and it looks broken and looks destroyed, that’s the environment where growth happens. In front of this entire crowd, in front of the whole world, I said, «What could we give them?» I looked up the median price of a house in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the number that came up was two hundred thousand. So today, on behalf of Transformation Church, God, and Transformation Nation, each one of you is getting a check for two hundred thousand dollars. I dare you to give God praise! It’s reparations season, and change starts in the church.
Can we give God praise for these amazing people? Who is this to you? This is your grandmother. What was taken from her was taken from you. This isn’t on the schedule, but she’s going to get two hundred thousand dollars, but she’s also going to get a hundred thousand dollars as well. It’s reparations season, and everything the enemy stole he has to give back! You see what happens? That’s a praise that erupts, and if you were smart, you would begin to praise God too. Because it may not be a massacre that devastated you, but God said this season, «I’m restoring, I’m rebuilding.» Change starts in the church! In the matter of ten minutes, we just, as a church, excuse me, the church, the capital «C» church, shout out to Friendship and shout out to Church on the Move and shout out to every person that’s out here.
I hope this generosity is contagious because what was stolen from them and what has been stolen from you—you don’t have to sit in that devastation. God is saying, «Don’t put a period where I put a comma; the story is still being written.» In the hundredth year of this crazy massacre, on behalf of Transformation Church, our generosity in ten minutes was a million dollars giving away! Now, y’all didn’t hear me! Thank you, Transformation Church! A million dollars! And this is not a fake million; this is not a promise—the checks are in the back! You’re walking away with this today! That’s today! That’s how quick God can change your situation! That’s how fast He can turn it around!
Somebody better shout right now! You came in one way, but you’re leaving a completely different way! This is a season of restoration! Somebody shout «restoration» from the front to the back! Somebody shout «restoration!» One more time, with all the faith you got, shout «restoration!» Change starts, somebody say, «in the church!» Not the organization, but the organism—somebody say, «Change starts in me!» You can be reparations for somebody tomorrow. They were torn down relationally, and God says, «Go back in there and rebuild them.» They had a co-worker or a partner leave them and take everything; go in there and serve for free. So, God says, «I’m about to build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail.»
Let me say it like this: God brings restoration from devastation every single time! Hands up! For those who say there’s an area of your life that has been devastated, would you lift your hands in the air just right now? And if you can, lift both hands. God told me the way we’re ending this service—because He’s a God that brings restoration from devastation—is to read Isaiah 61 over you. He said, «Receive the restoration that only comes from God.» The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn and provide for those who grieve in Zion.
To bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, a garment of praise instead of the spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor. They will rebuild, they will rebuild, they will rebuild! Say it with me: They will rebuild! One more time: They will rebuild! They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated. Strangers will shepherd your flocks; foreigners will work your fields and vineyards, and you will be called priests of the Lord. You will be named ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will both!
Somebody needs to receive this right now. Instead of your shame, you will receive a double portion. Lift your hands and get ready for this! Instead of your shame, you will receive a double portion! Instead of disgrace, you will rejoice in your inheritance, and you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours! I said an everlasting joy will be yours! For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing. In my faithfulness, I will reward my people. God will reward His people and make an everlasting covenant with them. Their descendants—somebody lift your hands because this is for you! —will be known among the nations and their offspring among the peoples. All who see us will acknowledge that we are the people of the Lord and that we are blessed!
If you receive it, give God a shout! I said if you receive it, give God a shout! Everybody’s going to call us blessed. If change starts in the church, what we need to ask God is to build His church! Somebody say, «Build your church! Build your church! Build your church! Build your church!» God, she’s shut up, Jesus! Come on! Somebody give God a shout of praise all over this place! Build your church! Build your church! Build it from the ground up! It’s yours! Let’s go! Build your—something’s happening! See, I still think you think we’re talking about an organization when we say, «Build your church!» Somebody say, «Build me, God! Build my character! Build my attitude! Build my ability to hear you!»
Today, by faith, with thousands out here and thousands online, we’re going to declare that in crazy faith. I believe it’s a sign that what’s about to happen is going to transform Tulsa, transform Oklahoma, transform America! But it starts from the ground up, and God is building us anew and afresh through His Son, Jesus Christ. So lift your hands, put your head back, and say, «Build your church! Build your church! Build your church! Build your church!» God, she’s shut up, Jesus! When we—come on! Come on! Somebody give God a shout of praise all over this place! Build your church! Build your church! Build it from the ground! I need to hear you say it! Say, «Build your church! Build your church! Build it from the ground!»
Come on, lift it up! What if, in the next decade, there was a church that rose from the ashes—that wasn’t under one banner, but was a group of believers in a city that said, «You know what? What was torn down a hundred years ago will be rebuilt by the church!» We brought our faith, our resources, our abilities, our connections, our relationships; some of y’all won’t believe it until we do it! You can stand there and clap or you can be a part of it! I’m telling you there’s a church rising up that doesn’t need a handout. There’s a church that’s rising up that will be the answer to the problem! Somebody declare, «We’re that church!» I said declare it! Somebody say, «We’re that church!»
Just one more time, everybody—Transformation Church, I love you! And I want to say something: Whatever is going on in your life, we serve the God, Adrian, that can take us from devastation to restoration! I don’t care how bad it looks right now; I don’t care if it’s been in ruins for a hundred years—I don’t care if the marriage has the divorce paper signed; I don’t care if they denied you for the loan ten times! We serve a God that can take you from devastation to restoration! Somebody say it as a prophetic sign: from devastation to restoration! Come on! Some of y’all will be in your car this weekend saying, «No, no, no, this is not how the situation is!»
God’s going to take it from devastation to restoration! Come on, in your house, in the tent; we serve a God that takes it from devastation! And the first way God does that is through salvation! See, because the thing you don’t know is you’re lost and dead in your sin. Who I am without God is nasty, horrible, unbelievable! But God made a plan—when Adam and Eve devastated it, He put a comma there, and He said, «No, no, no, no, no, no, no! There’s no period!» The enemy thought he won, but I’m going to send Jesus! And when He sent Jesus, this is the moment, the place, and the space that found me. I was a liar; I was a manipulator; I was addicted to pornography!
Pastor, are you going to say that in front of everybody? I don’t care! Because you weren’t there when God snatched me out of all my stuff! You have no idea how dark my thoughts were! Yesterday, I celebrated eleven years of marriage! If you knew the testimony, but we serve a God that takes you from—Devastation to restoration. If you’re online watching on rebroadcast out here today and you need to make the greatest decision of your life, like I did, give your life to Jesus. Well, I’m an atheist, and I live an alternate lifestyle; I identify as gay and all that. I don’t care about any of that—you are precious to God. He cares about you, and He calls you His child today in front of an open heaven.
If you want to make the greatest decision of your life and give your life to Jesus Christ, on the count of three, I want you to shoot your hand up in the air. This is not about your friends; this is not about who you came with. You will not stand with a group of people before God; you will stand by yourself—not even with your family or your puppy. It will be you and God, and He will say, «Did you make a decision by faith to make Me the Lord of your life?» I would hate for anybody to leave—no matter if you’re a vendor, security, or just someone who came to watch. Today is the day of salvation. On the count of three, at home and here in the field, I want you to just lift your hands. One, this is the greatest decision you could ever make.
If you know how to pray, I need y’all to pray; people’s lives are in the balance right now. Two, I’m so proud of you, but more than that, your name will be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Three, shoot your hand up, whether here in the building or online—tons of hands! Glory to God! So proud of you, so proud of you. Can I tell you what God is about to do? You can put your hand down—He’s going to do this: He’s going to build your life, build your life, build it from the ground up. It’s His life; He’ll build your life; it doesn’t matter where it is. Now is the time—hey, that’s what He’s going to do for you. Hands lifted all over the place, for everybody online and here. I’m so proud of you. At Transformation Church, nobody prays alone; we’re a family. So we’re all going to pray this prayer of salvation for the benefit of those who are coming to Christ right now. Just repeat after me:
God, thank You that my life does not end in devastation. Thank You for sending Jesus, and today I believe that He lived, He died, and He rose again with all power for my restoration. God, change me, renew me, transform me. I’m Yours. In Jesus' name, Amen.