Michael Todd - How to Pick a Partner
All right, today we are starting week two of a series we’re calling Kingdom Couples, and the tagline is probably the most important part. I need everybody to understand this is not just about having a Beyoncé and Jay-Z-like marriage relationship; this is not for a stunt or a flex. This is not so that people can think you’re good. This is about doing Kingdom business with Kingdom partners, and the truth of the matter is most of us do not reach our purpose—not because we don’t have it, but because we don’t pick the right partners. I feel a burden for everybody to understand that you need to learn how to pick partners for purpose—on purpose. Say it with me: for purpose, on purpose—with your chest! For purpose, why? On purpose! The truth is most of our deep relationships came about because of proximity; they were not our picks. Today, I need us to evaluate everything to see how to do it the King’s way: finding partners for purpose on purpose.
I have to stop and say this because I’m a pastor of a local church. The truth is there are so many people in our church who have decided to be partners for purpose—transformation in Christ—on purpose here at Transformation Church. This week we had a volunteer rally where over 230 people came, and y’all can clap better than that! We had over 79 B-groups sign up for this season. Come on, y’all! These are people who have decided, «I want to be connected to something bigger than me.» Here’s a key to life: you will never feel fully fulfilled if you’re not connected to something bigger than you. Oh God, it’s how He made us! He made us to start over here but be connected to something we can never do by ourselves. Many of you are not seeing the color of your life because everything in your life is right, but it just doesn’t move outside of you—body, bad friend group, fly housing, sleep mode—you’ve got everything. So why does it still feel empty? Because all of that means nothing if it’s not connected to something outside of you.
So, Church, what I’m trying to tell you is that in the Kingdom, the currency is relationship, connection, partnership. If you are not partnering to do something bigger than what you can do alone, I might suggest to you that your vision is too small. I’m going to say this because I know a lot of people are just trying to maintain, but may I suggest to you that God’s plan for you is not to maintain? The word «maintain» bothers me because it literally means to nurse something to death. That word maintain means I’m going to keep it going as long as I can, but deep down, I know it’s going down. And God is saying, «I don’t want you to maintain. I don’t want you to just survive; I want you to thrive.» But it has to be connected to the right people.
So, I want you to go to our anchor scripture for this entire series: Ecclesiastes 4:9. «Two people are better than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm, but how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated. But two can stand back to back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.» Last week, we decided we need a partner. How many people know that there are more people in their life who can help reach the purpose that God has given them?
Okay, so we’ve decided we need a partner, but I don’t want us to just have a partner; I want us to have a partner with power. A partner with no power is a weight. Okay, let me start over here. If I’m dragging you along, and if you don’t have the ability to add anything to this, if you’re not helping us move this thing forward, you have become a weight, and you’re actually slowing me down. So, you have the title of partner, but you’re putting on pounds—there’s no power with what you’re doing. We have to not be okay with that. We have to literally change the thought process in our relationships because we’re going to do it the King’s way. There have to be people who help us move forward, which means they need to have some power.
Today, I’m going to teach you how to pick a partner, but this is what I want you to understand: the path to powerful partnership is in the pick. Okay, I’m going to say it one more time, and I’m going to put it on the screen: the path to powerful partnership. When we link up, things change! When we come together, watch out! When I step in with them—have you ever walked into a room and didn’t know anybody, making you feel timid? But did you walk in with the person throwing the party? It’s a whole different vibe! You sit down differently!
But the power is not just in having a partner. Watch this: it’s in the pick. I’m going to take everybody to a maybe traumatic situation in your childhood, or maybe you never really experienced it, but have you ever been in line to be picked for a game, and they line everybody up against the wall? You just stand there rocking as they say, «Jim.» And it’s like, «Oh yeah, I would have picked Jim too!» Then they say, «Sally,» and you’re just standing there. It’s one of a child’s greatest fears to stand in that line and not be picked. But on the other side of it, the captains know that the difference between a loss and a win is in who they pick.
Some of us have been picking people who can’t play the game of purpose we’re in, but you feel bad for them because they’re still on the wall. And they’re sitting there like, «You’re not going to pick me? We’ve been friends since sixth grade!» But you haven’t developed since sixth grade; you stopped reading then. You’re still emotionally at sixth grade. You get mad at me when I can’t come; I’ve got four kids! Okay, let me stop. That sounded personal.
But the difference between a win and a loss is the pick. So, the title of today’s sermon is «How to Pick a Partner.» It doesn’t matter if we know we need one because some of our pickers are broken. Uh-oh, your picker is broken… that sounds provocative! I don’t know what’s wrong with your broken picker, but the truth is, how do we keep getting in business with the wrong types of people? They’re always shady; they’re always shy. I’m on my fourth marriage, and it’s always them. Ain’t no man serious; no man really wants to be a man. But you have a very distinct type, and there were three guys who came at you that don’t fit your type but would treat you like a queen, and you’ve allowed your preference to erode your pick.
I’m treading lightly here, but I need you to know how to pick a partner. Ladies, I’m about to tell you how to pick your man. Help you. I’m about to help! She said, «Help me, Pastor!» Fellas, I’m about to tell you how to pick your wife. Entrepreneurs, I’m about to give you the keys to picking the right business partners. College students, I’m going to help you pick lifelong friendships.
Okay, I can feel the hate coming right now. No, I can’t because some of y’all are sitting next to a bad pick, and it’s the truth anyhow! She’s like, «Jim, is that me?» And he’s like, «No, no, it’s not.» What I’m saying to you is this is important because, watch this: Jesus picked His partners. Think about it. Everybody thinks the disciples just came out of nowhere and were riding with Jesus. But how different would the gospel be right now all over the world if Jesus had picked the wrong partners? Write it down, because I don’t think y’all have ever seen this like this. Jesus picked His partners.
There’s this stigma in church that it’s all about coming as you are. Yes, but then you have to continue to transform. Many times what I’ve found, being the CEO and pastor of a church, is that there’s the church business side where people get jobs and get paid, and then there’s the ministry part. We confuse the fact that just because I’m here at the church and want to serve means I should work in the church business. You might not be good. Uh-oh. I need to watch out. What I’m saying to you is that this idea that everybody gets a cloak of grace because it’s about God… I’m trying to see the haters watching right now. They’ve got their pen and they’re ready.
I’m trying to say it gently. Can I be humble, open, and transparent today? Okay. You can love God and not be a good pick. You can work in the church and not be a good pick. You can do Bible study every day and not be a good pick. You can be a pastor and not be a good pick. Okay? So, that means we need to be picky with our picks. Who gets the level of access to you? Who gets to see you hurt? Who gets to see you vulnerable?
I know some of y’all are saying, «That’s why I show nobody nothing!» You’re damaged. Let me be very clear: you went to the other extreme. Nobody even knows your birthday, and then you’re mad at everybody. «Nobody said anything about my birthday!» We didn’t know! We had no idea! You didn’t even post on Instagram like, «Another year around the sun!» We don’t know! You’re mean and closed off! We want to be your friend!
But y’all know those people… I see two of them looking at me like this right now: «I got you.» I just want everyone to think about it. Jesus healed a lot of people, traveled with a lot of people, but He picked only a few partners.
I’m going to show you in Luke 6:12: «One day soon after, Jesus went up to the mountain to pray.» So, He’s coming out of prayer, okay? Watch this! «And He prayed to God all night.» He knew this was a big decision right here. His partner pick was preceded by prayer! It’s not even a point at Daybreak. He called together all of His disciples, and watch this: He chose 12 of them to be apostles. Here are their names: watch this—tons of disciples! He picked the apostles. He picked His partners. He picked the ones He would put His name next to tons of disciples. Tons of Facebook followers. Tons of fans. Tons of all the crowd! But He said, «My name is only going to be associated with a few people. I’m not going to let somebody pawn them off on me. I’m going to pick them.» Somebody say, «I’ve got to pick them!»
Okay, here we go! I love this! Then He says their names. They weren’t silent partners. They weren’t partners that would not be mentioned and held accountable. Many of us have partnerships with people in secret, in the dark, and nobody even knows we’re that close. And God is saying for the partners that are going to do Kingdom work, they have to be named—visible and associated with you! If you can’t post them on your Instagram, if you can’t take them to your mama’s house, if your boss can’t see you out with them, He says, «My partners are Simon, who was named Peter, Andrew, Peter’s brother. He was being specific—there’s a bunch of Andrews, a bunch of people who do graphics, a bunch of people who live on the North side. Like he was being specific. Andrew, Peter’s brother, no—not Damon’s brother, Peter’s brother! James! John! Philip! Bartholomew! Matthew! Thomas! James! No, no, no, you know, um… Alisdair? Simon! Y’all know they call him the Zealot? Yeah, Judas, son of James, down at the corner store! That’s his son! And Judas Iscariot, who would later betray him.»
But oh, see, this is going to mess some of y’all theology up! Was Judas a bad pick? See, some of y’all read and thought, «Forgive Judas.» But hold on! Jesus picked Judas because He knew that at some point, Judas would flip on him, and he would be the catalyst to Jesus fulfilling His purpose. Cameraman, look at me, I could go home now! Because some of us have gotten hung up because we made a wrong pick. Everybody has told us we made a wrong pick. Can we be honest? How many people have made a wrong relational pick before? Just go, «Oh, we’re in the right place!» Okay, this is my encouragement to you: write this down. God can redeem the wrong pick for purpose. God can redeem the wrong pick and make it turn around for purpose! He can change this whole thing! And that’s why I’m glad that Jesus—He didn’t pick perfect partners. He didn’t pick prolific partners. He didn’t pick positioned partners, but He picked partners for purpose. Somebody say, «I’m going to pick! I’m going to pick partners for purpose!» Say it again, «I’m going to pick! I’m going to pick partners for purpose!» Partners!
Okay, so I’m going to give you three things that I found to actually be a guide on how to choose powerful partners in your life. Powerful partners have mastered the art of encouragement. If you want to be a good partner, you need to be a great encourager. Have you ever met those people who, when you’re having a bad day, come in and say, «Dang, you look good! Is that new skin care?» They just have a way of entering an atmosphere and calling out the greatness in you. The truth is, the church should be a billboard for encouragement, but instead, we often become the poster child for discouragement. If you make a mistake in front of church people, they can rip you to shreds and then blame Jesus. In 1 Thessalonians, it says, «Many times, all that does is identify they’re not my partner; they can’t go where I’m going.» If you’re going to find a partner who will rock with you, they need to have mastered encouragement.
Let me give you scripture, because some of you are sitting here feeling discouraged—not because you don’t think you can do it, but because there aren’t enough people telling you that you can. Statistics show that it takes 17 positive affirmations to cancel out every negative word. Think about all the words spoken over you in your life, and consider the ones you speak over yourself. Could there ever be too much encouragement? No! You need people around you who tell you that you can do it every day. You need people who send texts saying, «You are mighty, and God’s hand is on your life! Be strong and courageous. If it falls apart, I’ll be here. I’m here for you!»
It’s not until you find yourself in a pit that you discover who actually has your back, as many people go silent during difficult times. A lot of people didn’t say bad things; they did worse—they said nothing. How can you stand with me on the mountaintop but abandon me in the valley? It’s not that you have bad things to say, but you’re waiting to see what’s popular to figure out where you stand. You’re not my partner! I need people who can find me in the dumps and speak life over me even when I don’t believe it.
My wife can say something that makes me do something I dislike because she has the power of encouragement. The other day, I was walking by carrying some bags, and she said, «You look strong!» I replied, «Girl, I will bust you and give you 50 right now.» I wasn’t ready for that last comment, but a real partner who has mastered encouragement can make you do what you think you can’t do; they instill courage in you. I fear that many of us are looking for these partners but aren’t willing to be them. Everyone’s eager for encouragement but when was the last time you sent someone a random text message? It may feel awkward, but you might feel led to lift them up. Do they have to be saved to encourage? No! Part of the reason we have no entrance into people’s lives to shift their perspective is because we avoid engaging. The surefire way to connect with anyone is to keep encouraging them!
«Man, you’re on time every day; that’s inspiring! You look shiny!» Someone might think, «You know what? I’m shiny; I put on cocoa butter this morning.» That can change the trajectory of someone’s entire day! Now let me give you scripture: Ephesians 4:29 says, «Don’t use foul or abusive language.» Most people apply this to cursing, but may I suggest that the most foul language is telling the truth without love? You can tear people down even without profanity. You can call me whatever, but I know who I am. When you start talking about me in a way that tears down my essence, that is more abusive than any curse word. I’m not saying to curse, but some of you don’t curse and are harsher with your words.
«If everything you say has to be good and helpful,» it means many of us might conclude, «just be quiet.» Not «shut up» as in silence—be intentional! Your words should encourage those who hear them. Another translation states to build others up. My words should be building blocks in people’s faith journeys to help them pursue what’s hard to do. You’re called, you’re amazing, you’re built for this, and God will equip you! You have the face for it, the voice for it. Faith is speaking those things that are not. A bishop encouraged me to step into leadership even though I wasn’t a good leader or preacher. He would tell me, «Pastor Mike, that was one of the best messages ever!» while I sat there confused because I knew it was horrible. Sometimes, that support kept me from quitting; otherwise, you may never have heard of me!
So, do you have people in your life who know how to encourage? How many of you need more people in your life? This is crucial. When choosing a partner, if everything they say is negative, they won’t help you when times get tough. Jesus was a master of encouragement. He would say, «What’s your name, Simon? No, I can’t call you Simon; I think I’ll call you Peter.» Simon means «reed» or «weak plant by water.» He said, «Your whole life, you’ve been called weak! When they call you Simon, they’re saying „weak.“ But that’s not what I see in you. I see a rock.» Jesus said, «I am a master of pumping you up!»
What I’m telling you is, if you’re going to get the right people in your life, you must choose those who master encouragement. Write this down: encouragement is easy; it just has to be intentional. You walk with me—a cameraman! Come on! This isn’t hard; it’s easy. «Woman of God, you’ve been faithful, and God has seen all your tears. Thank you for being here and for having joy. God is going to use you to touch so many lives. I believe you’ll be a gifted giver. God will reveal people in stores for you to bless, those who have never experienced the love of God. Keep a good heart; God will bless you.» Amen!
It’s easy! What’s your name? Elise? You’re gifted! Whatever you do, do it well. You’ll inspire many—just keep doing what you do. It just has to be intentional. Many of us hold back this superpower God has given us to encourage people because we fear judgment—likely because we don’t believe it about ourselves. Stop looking scared; she’s not even looking at me! Your name? Rashana! You have a spirit of joy and peace. I can sense it just by touching your hand. You make people feel at ease, and they share their stories with you. God will give you the gift to guide them in the right direction.
Thank you for being an encourager! It’s easy! I don’t know these people personally, but I do know that God has put life and death in the power of our words. You can criticize everything, but for each negative comment, you owe a hundred encouragements! Hold yourself to a higher standard! What if the church became the encouragement center of the world? We could go up to people in different communities who don’t believe like us and just say, «Wow, you have a great smile! Your joy is inspiring!» You shine! Don’t hide it! Your smile helps people have a better day. God has anointed you for that!
This week, before speaking negatively, remember that some of you owe thousands of encouragements! If we are to fulfill what God has called us, it’s time for us, as a church, to take our rightful place and let everything we say be encouraging and helpful. Write this down: «Don’t let the sun go down without uplifting someone!» This week, make sure you don’t fall asleep without encouraging someone—a child, a friend, a coworker, or even someone you meet at Chick-fil-A! Kanye, thank you. Close on Sunday, but McDonald’s, wherever y’all go, don’t let the sun go down without pumping somebody up, okay? Do you know one of the most powerful forms of encouragement is prayer? It’s called intercession. You know, you can pump somebody up without their permission.
Do you know the only reason I’m standing here is because of the encouragement of the prayers of my mother and father? The only reason I made it through all the crazy stuff from 2021 to today is because there are people in Transformation Nation who have me on their refrigerator and in their phones: «Pray for Pastor Mike, pray for Pastor Natalie.» We are winning today publicly because of private encouragement. There are children who know you would not be here without the private prayers of your grandmother, mother, or father. It is those prayers that encourage people, and if you want to encourage yourself—can’t talk about it fully today—speak in tongues. You say, «I ain’t got nobody to encourage me.»
The Bible says that when you begin to work in your heavenly language, it’ll pump you up, and you don’t need anybody else. But these are the types of partners that we need, okay? Last two, and then we’ve got to go home. I’m going to do this next week. Powerful partners have mastered the art of encouragement, number one. And the second thing, do not have a partner that doesn’t live by principles. I know we have a lot of partners who live on opinion, but what God wants us to do is have partners that have—everybody say «principles.» PE, Mike, the foreign principles. This is the M. Alexander version of principles: it’s something outside of you that you’ve given permission to govern you even when you don’t want it to. A principle, I’m going to say it again, is something outside of you that you’ve given permission to govern you even when you don’t want it to.
What are the principles that you live by, and what are the principles that your partners live by? Because you will not fall to the ideas, the level, or the perceptions of people; it’s those principles. Some people believe it’s okay to steal; they think, «I mean, it’s just $5, it’s just candy,» and their principle will show back up, mutated and grown, turning into tax fraud. Principles start out small but they grow the more you feed them. Pastor Mike, give me some principles; I need to wrap my mind around this. Yeah, principles like generosity is one of my principles. I live generously—not because I’m a pastor, but because before I was a pastor, when I had no money, I would give fake shoes away. Y’all going to judge me; I had the Ford Fours, not Jordans, the Forex. You know the man outside the gas station who would say, «$25 and I’ll give you some new Jordans»?
They look almost real, but some of y’all are carrying those fake Louis Vuitton purses in here today. Okay, got this new woo. And what I’m saying is the Gucci has the G’s, different ways, and there are two crescent moons, and that’s «Gucci.» No, baby, it’s a yin-yang sign! What I’m saying is, generosity as a principle—I’ve always given; I always wanted to bless people outside of myself. It’s the way that we live. Have people taken advantage of that generosity? Yes, and it makes you reconsider. Like, «Y’all are selfish, stingy.» All the thoughts that come to my mind are too raw, so I’ma keep moving. Sometimes people will take advantage of you and make you reconsider your purpose because they abused the moment. And what I’m asking everybody to do is to eliminate that—not completely, but it gets cut down when you pick partners with principles.
If generosity is a principle, I have to have a partner who thinks gratitude is a principle, because that way I never get burnt out. You’re actually grateful and you say thank you, or what—do you understand what I’m saying? Like, principles. Forgiveness is a principle, and for many Christians, it’s an option. But the Bible tells us that forgiveness is a principle. So how in the world do we throw away people because they did the worst thing? And how could they? They were a pastor; they were this; they were that. I mean, I understand how you could feel that way, but at some point, you’re going to have to reconcile inside of yourself that you’re no better than anybody else. And maybe yours wasn’t public, but if we all had our stuff put on the big screen, the windows, and the rooms—those you were crawling out of, the deals that were made and not made—come on, y’all!
The church should have a principle of forgiveness. All I’m saying to you is there are tons of them. Where do you find the principles? In the Word of God, not TikTok! Oh my gosh, just because somebody can prove a hack on life does not mean that principle is ironclad to last from generation to generation. The Word of God is the only thing we have that has lasted every war, every pandemic, every uprising, and every downfall. This is the infallible Word of God that God said, «If you will follow the principles inside of this, that’s where your business will be successful.» Tithing is a principle that I live by. It is not something the church makes me do; if God gives me increase, knowing that it was His ability that allowed me to do it, all He said is, «I want to know every time I make you expand, do you still trust me?»
That’s all tithing is: do you still trust me? Even though you’ve got an M in the bank, you’ve got a mil in the bank; you need a mil or you need me? He was like, «Drop off 100,000 so that I know you still honor me.» That’s easy for you, ten M. Oh Jesus, God bless me with ten M; I’mma heal the sick and raise the dead. No, you’re not! Only Jesus can do that. But sometimes we feel like we can because we have what man has deemed successful. I don’t care how far you have gone—1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. I don’t care how far you go to the top, you will always need the God who reigns on top. Oh, somebody, there should be better claps than that right now! I don’t care how big your house is; you still need the one who makes the houses in heaven. I don’t care how many people know your name; you still need the name above every name.
So make sure you get partners with principles because watch this: principles are parameters. When I became a pastor, the Holy Spirit gave me some parameters. He said, «Listen to the people around you.» I was like, «Cool!» It’s easy to listen to the people around you when nothing’s happening. Five years in the ministry, stuff blows up, stuff starts going everywhere. I got 1,800 speaking engagement requests for one year; in 200—what was that, 2018? Yeah, 2018. 1,800 people wanted me to come and speak at their church, and they wanted to pay me! The year before, I would have done it for free—y’all be fake; I’m real—I did every single one. They’d say, «Could you come speak to our dogs and cats?» Yes, I will. Lift your paws! I was a hit at the kennel! My mind is going crazy right now. But then God says, «Yeah, two engagements a month.» «God, do you know what that means for my wallet?» «Yeah, two engagements in a month!» «God, do you know what that means for your platform?» He said, «I gave it to you; you don’t need to expand your platform. I’ll give you the platform. I want you to be on two engagements a month.»
I messed up and told my partners because I could have been in prayer by myself, written it down in my journal, and then forgot about it the way many of us do. God gives us words, but because we don’t have any actual partners in our real life that we tell these things to and we’re not accountable to them, when God tries to remind us of it, we’re like, «I don’t know; maybe that was a dream, maybe it was Taco Bell.» But I told my mom, dad, Bri, and my wife. And then they started coming in, and I’m talking about all the conferences and all the places I paid to go to wanted me to come speak. The parameters of two a month, and I ended that year obeying God. Hear what I just said: I ended that year obeying God. I’m just asking you, do you have partners in your life that will help you obey God? If you do, they will be partners that live by—everybody say «principles.» Principles.
Write this last thing down because this is going to encourage you. When you live on principles, you may miss good, but you’ll never miss God. I never missed God because I stayed true to the principles. Last thing: powerful partners have mastered the art of presence. Can I help you? If you’re going to be a good partner, a power partner, you’ve got to show up. You’ve got to show up, and I’m not talking about being there physically, but about being there—like we live in the easiest time to show up because you can literally hit that little FaceTime button. «Hey!» You can show up without even leaving your home! You can show up through a text message. I recently had a friend who went through something very hard, and I wanted to show up, and I wanted to be there, and I wanted to go, and I wasn’t able to show up. I literally felt horrible because part of my relationship with that person is no matter what’s going on, you will have my—watch this—presence.
Even if I can’t fix it, I’ll be there. Even if I can’t change it, we need to sit in this together. And I believe the church has lost the art of presence. There are some of y’all that are watching online right now that what you really needed was not the word; you needed a hug. And I know you didn’t want to get dressed and you didn’t want to get your hair done, and your braids are getting done this Thursday, so you didn’t want to come out in your bonnet! Real excuses that we have, but the truth is this week you needed somebody to pump you up. You needed to join a B group; you needed encouragement. You needed somebody to say, «Are you getting smaller?» And you’re not, but you just look good, and that would have given you enough to go to the gym tomorrow. You needed that! But if you’re going to have power partners, you need their presence.
This was modeled by Jesus. When He was going to the Garden of Gethsemane, He had the disciples who were rolling with Him. He even had the twelve that He chose, but for this specific—very hard season—He was about to go through, He said, «I need y’all three to come with me. I’ve got to do it, but I just need y’all to just stand and watch.» And even though they were so sorry that they fell asleep on Him, I mean, He had to come back a couple of times and be like, «Bro, come on! I’m sweating blood back here; just stay up!»
At least He had somebody that was there with their presence. In the darkest moments of our lives, we need people’s presence, okay? Because watch this: our presence reminds them of His presence. If you’re going to have power partners, they’ve got to master the art of encouragement, pump you up, and they also have to be there with their presence. Why? Because when I see an image bearer, when I see somebody who has their own testimony, when I see somebody who has walked through infertility or been bankrupt, but God has blessed them again—when I see somebody who made it out of divorce; when I see somebody whose children are going crazy but God is still working in them—when I see them, their presence reminds me of His presence. Because sometimes life is dark; sometimes our lives don’t shine bright like this.
Sometimes it just feels like, «What happened? I thought this was good!» Turn the LED screen off; I thought everything was bright, and I can see remnants of what was there. I know somebody’s moving, but I’m not exactly sure what’s going on. I know there are people here and things there, and I know I started college. But when I show up, and they’re thinking about suicide—full-ride scholarship—but I show up and I’m there to pray for them and just let them know, «God, I thank You for giving my sister Ally everything she needs. God, I thank You that even though she’s walking through a hard season and her boyfriend just broke up with her, I thank You, Father, that You know who she’s supposed to be with. You know who she’s supposed to be with, Father, and You know matter of fact who she is and what You’re doing in her right now.»
What I do is turn on the light for someone who is in darkness. I’m not the light; I point to the light. The presence of God is in every situation, but many times it’s dark. When I show up as a power partner, I remind them of His presence and turn on the light. Remember God. Remember to pray. Remember that God is for you. As a matter of fact, girl, those eyebrows? God did His thing on you! When you head to the office and people are working super hard, they might say, «I don’t want to hear none of your Christian stuff. I don’t want to hear all that 'God is good.' I have work to do.» No, I wasn’t going to tell you God is good; we know that, amen. I was just going to remind you. I see that you’re under a lot of pressure; I just want to let you know that everything you’re going through, I’ve been praying for you. This may seem a little weird, but last night while praying for you, I felt led to tell you that you were built for this. God has a purpose in your future. You don’t have to believe what I believe, but I turned on the light so that you could remember the presence of God.
When you’re starting a fashion company, trying to make God known in areas dominated by other spirits, it gets discouraging sometimes when it’s not selling like you thought it would. Hey, bro, that Lord Primo thing you did? Keep doing it! Matter of fact, I’m going to buy everything you create. I’ll rock it and tell people about it. We need to bring the light down; you need to see it clearly. Is this one of your creations? Hey, show the people that you made this by hand. This isn’t something you printed. Lord Primo, Oklahoma? You actually made this shirt! Hold on; you fitted my suit today and put «Represent» on the back of my jacket. This is what you do; keep doing it! God has His hand on your life. There’s more in you, and there’s more for you.
Turn on the light for somebody. It can happen in the gym; while you’re doing squats, see, in this gym, when people lift weights, a lot of times they do it for vain reasons based on insecurity. But you could walk into that same spot and say, «Let me turn on the light. I see God making you strong physically, but I also see God making you strong in spirit too. You’re going to be a man of God, a man of valor. I heard you’re getting married soon; you’re going to be a faithful man who leads his household.» But I cannot turn on the light if I’m not in their presence. Every artist knows, every creative knows, that one of the things you need more than anything is the right lighting. Some of you are coloring in the dark, and God is telling you, «I need you to go into that creative community where they don’t believe like you believe.» I don’t need you to be the light; I need you to turn on the light and point to the light.
Let me give you a little light. John 1:6-8 tells us that there was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning the light so that through him, all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to Jesus, the light. You are not the source of the light, but you turn on the light with your presence. I need everybody, if you’re going to be a partner going after the Kingdom, to pick someone who will lift you up, encourage you. You need to choose someone who lives by principles and someone who is not stingy with their presence. If you find someone with those three qualities, they may have some other issues, but if they can encourage you in a storm, if they live by the principles of the word of God, and if they can show up when you’re in need and apologize when they can’t, you’ll remind them of His presence. And together, we’ll take dominion wherever God sends us because it’s not just us alone; it’s someone with us.
Last thing I’ll say: Don’t ever forget your part in this partnership. If you become the whole thing, you have lost the art of partnership. It’s never all about you. That’s why I’m so grateful for sabbatical. Every time I get to go away, I feel gratitude because I remember that at Transformation Church, even though God has done so many great things, this isn’t about me; it’s not about my preaching ability. If I walk away from God, He will raise someone up who is ten times better than me. No, Pastor Mike, He has done it every generation. So, if you think you are the grand finale and the only one, please believe God will replace you. But when you approach it with gratitude, knowing you’re part of partnering with God, then you remember to play your role. When you play your role, all we do is point to His power.
Would everybody stand all over the room? The truth of the matter is you may be the only partner who can lead someone to His power. I said this earlier, but I want to say it again: Many of you are looking for what you will not become. Pastor Mike, I don’t have a power partner who will pump me up and do all this stuff. Become it! Become someone who encourages. Become someone who lives by principles and shows up with their presence. You will attract what you have sown seeds for. Hands lifted all over this place. I feel like relationships are about to receive a revelation and a revolution. I feel like you’re about to go back and evaluate some things. Even while I was speaking, the Holy Spirit was speaking to you, prompting some things you need to edit, change, or re-evaluate. You’re going to become an ambassador of the Kingdom of God as you pump people up, live by the principles of God, and show up with your presence.
Father, I did the assignment you gave me today. I thank you, Father God, for all of these people who have heard your word and now have actions to put with it. God, for the partners to whom we have been connected that have not been part of our purpose, give us wisdom on how to create new boundaries. This is the prayer right here: Give us wisdom on having conversations to create new normals, Father God, where we let go of connections that were the wrong fit. God, we’re asking you to redeem them; could you turn our ashes into beauty? Could you turn what the enemy meant for evil into good? Father God, show us how to be what we have not experienced, and show us how to live like the light that you are. Today, Father God, I thank you for giving us a new revelation of partnerships. Thank you for calling us your partner. God, thank you for thinking enough of me. I’m grateful, God. Today, Father God, we’re not just valuing this Kingdom principle but making the decision to go out of here and live it out. I pray for every couple, every business partnership, and every friendship, Father God. Let there be a renewal of principles, presence, and encouragement in the uplifting of one another. Father God, may the church—not all of them, but some—revive to be the most encouraging group of people in this city. Let us not be a fad or fake, but let the spirit of encouragement override all doubt, fear, and discouragement. Let Transformation Nation go into their jobs tomorrow and into their homes today, speaking life over their children. Let our words not fall to the ground because you are holding them up. Bless your people; this is our prayer today in Jesus' name. Somebody say, «We agree! Amen!»
If you’re in this room and have never accepted Jesus, let me encourage you—it’s the greatest thing you could ever do. It took me from a liar, a manipulator, someone addicted to pornography, and gave me freedom. Before everyone starts leaving, because you might distract someone from the moment they need, I need everybody to hear me. Wendy’s is going to be there, but someone is battling for their life right now. I need people to pump someone up in prayer right now. Could you start praying? If you know what’s going on, understand that someone at home has been fighting for their life. Someone is in this room, saying, «What I really need is salvation. I need God to be my partner.»
I want to let you know He’s always been there; today we’re just turning on the light. We’re letting you know His presence is here, available for you. Some of you are feeling something in your stomach or chest—that’s the Holy Spirit drawing you to Him, saying, «Come to me. I want to affirm you. I want to speak life over you. I want to change your name.» It hasn’t made me a perfect man, but it put me on the road of progression. Today, I believe many people under the sound of my voice are going to mark a brand new day in your life. I don’t care if you’ve been with God for many years; if that thing has become stale, today is a fresh season for you to walk with your God.
On the count of three, if that’s you in the room and online, I want you to shoot your hand up loud and proud. Be excited because this is the main reason our church exists! One: You’re making the greatest decision of your life. Two: It doesn’t matter who’s around you; this is going to change you, and your name will be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Three: Shoot your hand up in the air if you want to accept Jesus! I see you, my brother! I see you, my sister! Come on, there are more people! I see you! Transformation Church, can we give God praise?
There are people online; God bless you! Hallelujah! Our church exists for everybody who didn’t have the courage to lift their hand at that moment but lifted their heart. We’re about to pray a prayer. I don’t know if you mean it, but you do! If you want to invite Jesus into your heart to be your Lord and Savior, Transformation Church, we’re family—nobody prays alone. So, we’re all about to pray this prayer together, but for some, this is your day of salvation. Can everybody say:
God, thank you for sending Jesus just for me. Today, I give you my life. I make you Lord over my life. I believe you lived, you died, and you rose again just for me. Today, I want to be your partner. Change me. Renew me. Transform me. I’m yours. In Jesus' name, amen.