2819 Church - KINGDOM CALLINGS | Called & Conflict | Matthew 10:34-39 | Philip Anthony Mitchell

Episode Date: January 4, 2025

In this must-hear and timely message, Pastor Philip A. Mitchell walks us through Matthew 10:34-39. Welcome to the official Youtube channel for 2819 Church. This channel features powerful and life-impacting messages from Philip Anthony Mitchell and guest communicators. As you listen to these sound biblical messages you can expect to be challenged, stirred, matured and inspired in your faith and walk with God. For more information about us visit 2819Church.org.

Anybody glad to be in the great gathering of the Saints? Jesus Christ. Yeah. Shout out to my whole 2819 family, local and abroad. Special shout out to, I hope I remember this right, Valerie from Brooklyn, and my man Brian from the Bronx. Two New Yorkers I met two weeks ago after the gathering. I don't know if y'all in here, but shout out to all my New Yorkers in the building.

Brian, you in here? I don't know if he... Oh, you in here? Shout out, my man Brian. And I don't know if Valerie's in here, but shout out Valerie from Brooklyn. Oh, she in here too? Oh here but shout out Valerie from Brooklyn oh shit here too oh oh a shout out Valerie from Brooklyn shout out everybody from up top and shout out to all of our digital disciples those of you are part of our online family in cities all across America and a few pockets around the world who have no home gathering, you are just as much as a part of our family across this camera. And so we welcome all of our digital disciples who are watching live right now from wherever you are in the United States

and family outside of our shores, we are in a... And shout out to all of the people in the room who are not followers of Christ. I know there are people in here who are not believers yet. And we acknowledge the fact that you're in the room. And we're just thankful that you're here. You could belong before you believe. You could belong before you believe. You can keep coming.

You could be a part. You could jump in a squad. You could jump on a team. You're not going to sing. You're not going to preach, but you could belong on a team you're not gonna sing you're not gonna preach but you could belong before you believe and uh and we're just glad that you're here exploring the claims of christ trying to figure out if this is real we invite you to hang out with us if you're a visitor who are follow of jesus welcome if you're searching for a church home we invite you to just

you know date us for three to six months. Investigate what Jesus is doing here and see if this is where the Lord will have you to be. We are in week six of a teaching series called Kingdom Callings. We are walking through Matthew chapter 10 and 11. If you are not familiar with the word of God, Matthew was an outcast Jew who placed his faith in Christ in the first century A.D. He wrote for us the book that bears his name and is preserved for us in the New Testament of these holy scriptures. It is the most read document in the history of the world. and we are walking through that document together and we'll probably be so maybe two years and we're not in no rush. I like the fact me personally that every week we open the word of God we're listening to the words of Christ to us and not just the opinions of a man.

Can anybody say amen to that? So for all my note takers today, we're going to unpack Matthew chapter 10, verse 34 to 39. And we're going to name this text. We're not doing anything fancy here. It's just titles right from the meat of the word. We're just going to name this message Called in Conflict. Called in Conflict. Yeah. called in conflict called in conflict spirit of the living God I pray you would add revelation to

the preaching of this eternal word that you offered through 40 men I pray spirit of the Living God you would arrest the attention of every person under the sound of my voice I pray spirit of the Living God you would help this wicked earthen vessel communicate the weight of these eternal truths I pray God in this moment and this hour these important words of Christ would come to bear on our hearts and on our souls and that they would see beyond a human vessel they will see beyond a human vessel. They would see beyond a human voice.

They would hear, Lord Jesus, your voice speaking from them through the annals of history and time. Lord, I pray you would shout from the rooftop of the pavilion of glory to these, your sons and daughters, how important is your voice in this text, how important is your voice in this text how timely is your words in this text we don't want sermons we want encounters with your spirit we want to be crushed in our ignorance and crushed in our sin and our rebellion by the weight of these holy scriptures. We don't want to be entertained.

We want to be educated. We want to learn. We want to grow. So draw us closer to yourself as we pair into these eternal truths. Lord, something must shift today. I pray chains fall today. And we take up mantles today. Amen. Spirit of the living God, breathe on the preaching of this word even now.

In the mighty, in the majestic, in the matchless name. Look up those words of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Somebody shout with me, amen. Come on, say amen. Say amen. Amen. Yeah. somebody shout with me amen come on say amen say amen yeah yo before i jump into this would you stay right there for a second i want you to help me honor this man that been playing behind me for a decade would you help me honor my man frank felden come on somebody give it up for Frank.

Frank and I have been ministering to people for over a decade. And we thank God for his life for whatever season that God has sent him here. We thank God for you. Called and conflict. Family, I'm going to be honest. I'm standing here this morning with a heavy heart as I preach this word to you. As I just look across the landscape of our nation and the church right now in this hour. As I was praying this morning over this text,

I had an image in my mind of something that transpired back in like, I think it was 2015 or might have been 2004. I don't remember the exact date. But on December, December of either 2004, the date is hazy, or 2014 or 2015. I don't remember. Somebody else might know. But in December of some time in the past, not that long ago, it was like about eight o'clock in the morning where a magnitude 9.1 earthquake, one of the most strongest earthquakes ever recorded in the history of mankind, struck or occurred about 15 miles under the seafloor of the Indian Ocean. I seen this image in my mind this morning while I was face down in prayers,

like the Holy Spirit brought this new cycle back to my mind. And that earthquake hit about 15 miles beneath the seafloor in the Indian Ocean. And what resulted from that was a tsunami with a hundred foot wall of water the largest tsunami ever recorded in the history of mankind rushing across the Indian Ocean in every direction until it hit the coastal cities of some 14 countries and caught almost a quarter million people off guard. Some 220,000 people died because of that tsunami. And I seen that image this morning as I was praying, like the Holy Spirit brought that back to my attention, like, Lord, why are you reminding me about this?

What does this have to do with the message? Man, and then I start to think about the times that we're living in right now. That for those of us who have knowledge of the word of God, the prophetic knowledge of the word of God, the ending of the word of God, those of us who have a prayer life and can feel things in our prayer room. Man, those of us who will watch this word aware can see out in the distance another tsunami coming towards the United States. Coming towards mankind at top speed. A spiritual tsunami of the wrath of God.

A spiritual tsunami of the judgment of God. A social tsunami of the judgment of God a social tsunami of persecution a social tsunami of conflict in the earth men rushing towards people and I thought to myself men the same way some quarter million people was caught off guard I'm telling you right now there are people who call themselves Christians I'm telling you right now there are people all across this nation watching me right now that call themselves believers and are living unaware. We have no idea what's coming. We have no idea what the Lord is doing. We're not even paying attention to the fact that the next thing on the

prophetic timetable is the rapture of the church. Like Israel's a nation now. That prophecy came to pass in the 1940s. The next prophetic thing on the timetable is the catching away of the people of God to usher in the rise of the Antichrist. I believe he might be alive right now. And that seven-year peace treaty that he signs with Israel,

because Israel must be in war when he comes. The scripture says the Antichrist signs a seven-year peace treaty with Israel. So we know that whenever the rapture happens, Israel must be in war right before the rapture. I'm trying to. We know that Israel must be in war when the Antichrist comes to power. So anytime that nation is in war, the people of God should be paying attention. You think you got all this time in the world to get right. I'm going to say this again.

The Lord might shock us in a year. Two years. Five years. He might shock you before you get married. We worry about all this other stuff except the things we should be paying attention to. And I'm telling you right now, people are going to get swept over by a tsunami that they're not ready for. When the wrath of God just comes and takes people out for judgment. And as I got that image in my head, I'm thinking to myself, watch. Like, we preaching for what?

And we're preparing Christians for what? And we're preparing Christians for what? And I really start thinking about, man, all of the preaching that's happening right now in our nation, everything that's happening I just wonder, man, are the prophets of God and the shepherds of God, are we doing our job to prepare the people of God to receive the

King of God? Are we preparing them for the times that they're living in? Or are we just skipping along blind not knowing a tsunami is rushing across the prophetic landscape? See, I want the people under my voice,

the people I'm responsible for to be watched, to be aware of what's happening around you both in the natural and in the spiritual realm. That even as I'm talking to you, everybody look, I'm going to say this until I'm blue in the face. As I'm talking to you, everybody look,

I'm going to say this until I'm blue in the face. As I'm preaching to you right now, October 2023, man, we can see in the atmosphere, especially for those who have eyes to see, ears to hear in a prayer life.

It is not a secret that we're living in the fragrance. We can smell the fragrance of Matthew 24. I believe we are living in the fragrance. We can smell the fragrance of Matthew 24. I believe we are living in the last days. I am convinced about what we are living in right now is the atmosphere of the end times. I don't even think we have that much time left.

Nation rising against nation, wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes, pestilence, and famines, children disobedient to parents. The scripture talks about in the last days there'll be an increase of narcissism. See, I believe in self-care, but some of our talks about self-love

is really narcissism. We doing that to an extreme. We so self-love we selfish. Some of that is a guise of demonic influence

and I'm not against self-love but we got self-love everywhere to the point of don't think about nobody else except yourself and the scripture tells us in the end time people will be watch lovers of themselves some of that

self-love is unhealthy they don't that's true that's too real for them I didn't say oh I said watch the word some of that self-love talk is making people all about themselves. In the last days, Paul says, men will be lovers of themselves. Lovers of money. People will have forms of godliness and denying the power thereof. Don't want nothing to do with the Holy Spirit. Don't want nothing to do with the Holy Spirit don't want nothing to do a biblical teaching in the last days there will be a famine for the preaching of the Word of God in the last days there will be famine

for the preaching of the word of God. Why? Because in the last days, people will keep up for themselves, preachers. Because of their itching ears, we just want to keep sitting in rooms and in Zooms and in chat rooms

and in conferences where we like to listen to people that make us feel extra good about ourselves. We want to be told every week we're awesome. We don't want to be confronted about sin. We want to be told that we can have Jesus and licentiousness at the same time. And as long as there are people with itching ears,

there will always be a marketplace for the false prophet. Repeat, Philip Anthony Mitchell. As long as we have a desire to be told we're awesome, there will always be a marketplace for the false prophet. And you know what else is coming in the last days? We see it right now. Conflict. and you know what else is coming in the last days we see it right now conflict vehement hatred against jesus and the people of god don't you not see that brewing right now all around you all around us on social media see how people are being vicious against the word jesus

vicious against the people of god man it seems like I can't make not one post without a gang of trolls coming up on my page. It's like every single week now, it don't matter what I say. And it's only the, thank God for a godly wife. Yo, dap me up. For a godly wife that keep reminding me ignore them they're not worthy of your response

i'm like yo why the hatred the only thing different in my preaching is just it's all jesus now i'm just walking through Matthew not telling people they're gonna be blessed every week not telling them they're gonna get everyone I'm just I'm just I'm just I'm just walking through Matthew and there's haters everywhere why they so mad though, son? It's Jesus that's agitating them. They agitated by the truth of the word of God. So now anybody preaching truth anywhere, they are agitating demons and devils. Man, I had to creep up on social word page the other day they was

talking about different signs and which one is bad I said all 12 of them are bad all 12 sides are demonic I'm coming for the cancer Sagittarius and the Libra every Virgo and Aquarius all of it demonic All of the zodiac signs. Demonic. Horoscopes. Demonic. Who cares what you claim you are. The only sign I'm under is the cross.

From the former Sagittarius. The cross. You know quasars and stars? You know crystals and planets? The universe ain't giving you nothing. The universe was created by a creator. Give a new energy from the universe. What nonsense is that?

I want every Christian to stop talking like that. The universe don't give you nothing. stop talking like that the universe don't give you nothing stop talking like that you look ignorant you make your ignorant palpable when you talk that way somebody said teach us here you go oh this is what this is what the scripture says oh how many All. How many? All. How many? All. How many? All. All good and perfect gifts comes down from the Father of lights. So if all good gifts comes from God, what has the universe given you? Exactly. That's why you need to know the word of God. Either the Bible is a lie or culture is a lie. If all good things come from God,

the universe has given you nothing. I hear somebody, right? I feel somebody religious in the room right now. Why are you on social work? Why are you on spiritual work? Why are you on social work? Trying to comment about the signs. Why don't you be quiet, Philip?

Be quiet. Why are you in there starting trouble? I thought Jesus gave me an identity to be salt and light. To stick in the gospel wherever I feel led. The purpose of salt in the first century was to keep back decay. I'm trying to keep back culture from rotting. And so what the people of God are feeling right now, look right at me, watch. We're feeling in the atmosphere, Jennifer,

increasing conflict. Beef. Like Biggie said, beef. What's beef when your mama ain't safe up in the street, right? That's what Biggie said, but what's beef now? When your doctrine is not safe in the street, we got beef. Huh? That's beef. When my doctrine is not safe in the street, because the truth, listen, thank you, Holy Spirit. If you get triggered by truth,

that's the area God needs to touch you. I might need to say that one more time. Let me reverse it. Wherever truth triggers you, that's the area God needs to touch you. Post that. Wherever truth triggers you, watch. No, no, no, hold on.

Don't post that. Don't post that. We got to fix that because everybody running around talking about live your truth. That's a demonic lie. There is only one truth. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth. Not a truth, the truth.

You know what the is? A definitive article as in there is no other. The word the in Greek is a definitive article meaning there is no other I am the way the truth there is no your true she truth Philip truth there is only the truth I'm in the book I am the way the truth and only one truth the Lord Jesus Christ and the Word of God so now let me repeat anywhere the truth of God's Word triggers you that's the area you need to be touched by God anywhere the truth of God offends you that's the area you need to be touched by God so now what we feel

listen to me increasing in our atmosphere is conflict against the people of God our Lord and and culture. Enter our text, which is what? The origins or the genesis of the awareness of the conflict, the tension that we're feeling right now in the earth.

You recall Jesus called a group of men the way he calls you, foreshadowing his call of the church you remember that you recall that Jesus calls you to himself before he calls you to anything else you remember that you remember Jesus called those men to see the harvest so he calls us to change the way we see you remember that you remember before he sent them out he gave them instructions where to go and not to go because he guides us in our walk with him. You remember that. You remember then he warns them about persecution. That is, as you live for Christ, some people will not like you. You remember that. Then after that, he tells them, don't be afraid of men. Don't fear people that can only kill

the body. You better fear God more than you fear men you remember that and after his talks about calling instructions persecution fear the Lord now talks about the Genesis the origin of the tension that we're feeling right now in the earth and tension that's going to get worse. Everybody paying attention? Everybody paying attention? Matthew chapter 10, verse 34. Huh? Huh? Huh? Verse 34. Okay. huh huh huh verse 34 okay so after he finished talking to them about not faring man and whoever acknowledges me before the father in heaven i will acknowledge but whoever denies me before the man i will also deny them before my father that he goes right into his next thought in verse 34 and then he says

to Matthew and a group of men what he says to you and I everybody pay attention because these words of Christ are important everybody paying attention verse 34 do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth I have not come to bring peace but a sword Jesus said in the first century here is the origin of the tension we feel right now don't think for one second that I have come to bring peace on the earth I have not come to bring peace but a sword now family there's three things in this verse I'm gonna unpack for you first I want to draw your attention to the words I have come those words are powerful this is powerful language of Jesus watch I have come powerful words of Jesus watch Moses could not say the words I have come

Abraham could not say the words I have come Muhammad born 500 years after Jesus could not say the words I have come I'm going somewhere Confucius could not say the words I have come Joseph Smith could not say the words I have come Joseph Smith could not say the words I have come fill in the blank of your favorite progenitor of any religious practice that could not say I have come why because they all were born of a woman they all have a date of birth that's the only thing they can say they have a date of birth and they're buried somewhere in a box.

But the words I have come is powerful. This is Christology on full display. For all my Bible thumpers, the word I have come is a powerful verse, a powerful verse that points to two things about the identity of the Lord Jesus Christ. The word I have come, Jesus is the only person in human history

that can say I have come. Because the words I have come speak of a person that existed before he was born. Watch. And the words I have come speaks of a person that came to earth with a mission and a purpose so now if i'm a student of the word of god all my bible students now i'm asking myself questions of the text okay if jesus could say i have come then i'm asking the question where did you come from

this is how you study the Bible who sent you watch and why did you come let's answer these questions where did Jesus come from the word of God tells us in John chapter 1 in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God verse 14 of John 1 and the word became a human being the word put on flesh the word put on skin and veins and arteries and blood vessels and water among us. That is for everyone who lived with Jesus. If they touched his arm, if they grabbed his ankle, if they sat in his food, they're eating food staring into eyes of God in a body. So we know he came from heaven.

Who sent him? The father. The father. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. That Jesus' origin was not in the first century. It was not with Mary. He only borrowed a womb because he needed a body because a spirit cannot die and since someone had to pay the price for your sin in mind blood had to be shed as if the

spirit has no blood the pre-existent Jesus needed a body so his birth in the first century is really just an incarnation. He borrowed a womb to go to a tomb. Right? Now, we're not arguing over the historicity of Christ because there's documented evidence for his life

in and outside the word of God. But for all my theologians, all my Bible thumpers, for everybody that serves apologetics, we need to know that Christ was not created. We highlight all my five percenters and all them lying doctrines of devils. Christ was not created. He's greater than Abraham. He's greater than Moses. He's greater than Muhammad. He's greater than Muhammad. Muhammad who was born 570 AD and died in the 600s AD. Christ always existed and is still alive, seated at the father. You can't find his bones in a box. Always existed.

Borrowed a body for 33 years. Still existing. Alive and well. So I have come speaks of the pre-existence of Christ can I draw your attention to something else in the text now notice what he said he did not come to do this is very important he says I did not come to bring peace on the earth. Pause. If I'm Matthew, when he said this, I'm taking notes, right? I'm a Jew. So if I'm Matthew, when he said this, I'm confused.

You didn't come to bring peace on the earth? Did not the prophets write about the Messiah who would come and bring peace to the earth? Jesus? Yes. Did not the prophet Isaiah 700 years before the birth of Christ write about you and tag you in his post? The prince of peace? Jesus? Yes. Did not Isaiah writing in Isaiah chapter 9 says, man, he called that the increase of your government, they will bring no end. Yes. Did not Isaiah write about you bringing peace to the world and people throwing down their plowshares and the lamb sitting down with the lamb? Didn't they talk about you bringing peace and bringing peace and having peace jesus yes don't you bring peace to the heart of the person that puts their faith in you as you reconcile them to god watch yes then where is the peace you're supposed to bring according to the prophet isaiah where's that peace because all we see right now was war bloodshed death problems and conflict was he a liar no y'all read wrong

the peace that I come to give the whole earth is in my second coming when I make all things new. But between my first coming and my second coming, watch, I did not come to bring peace. We know that's true because even as I'm talking to you, the nation that bears the name of Yahweh is in war. And throughout the centuries since the Lord has been gone, we've seen thousands of war and bloodshed up to our neck of blood so we know the Lord did not come to bring peace on earth didn't the angels sing about that when he was born here but I didn't come to bring that peace yet the peace that's going to cover the earth is in my second coming but in my first coming I did not come to bring peace I came to bring something else in my first coming but what did you come to bring Lord I came to bring a sword now the student of the text should be asking another question what then is your sword well we know Jesus is not advocating for violence

because the gospel does not advance with violence like radical Islam and the call for jihad to try to take over the whole world with violence you need to pay attention i want to say something but i might get in trouble all right can i can i can i detour for just a second in the book of revelation the scripture talks about that god during the tribulation period seven years of suffering is going to raise up 144 000 jewish evangelists they're going to travel the whole world preaching the gospel and the scripture says of their fruit there will be an innumerable amount of people that will be saved during that time whose heads were cut off for the witness of Christ.

Who's cutting off heads now? It's too real. There's only one group of people who love to cut off heads. Radical, Islamic, extremists. The fastest growing false religion in the world the other seed of Abraham Ishmael that baby he was not supposed to have too deep there was two babies fighting from the time they were small Isaac and Ishmael.

One gave birth to the Jewish race. The other gave birth to the Arab race. Them boys were fighting when they were kids. They're still fighting today. It's too deep. We're too ignorant. there's only one group of people that love chopping off heads so the Lord said did not come to bring a sword. He's not advocating for violence. So what does the sword mean? What about when his mother was young and brought him into the temple?

And a prophet saw him who was there for a long time and said, a sword is going to pierce your heart, Mary. What sword is Jesus talking about? Sword here is a metaphor for separation watch it's gonna make sense in a second separation because of salvation and faith in me that is the sword that Jesus said he came is to bring a type of truth that's gonna divide the world in half between believers and non-believers between those who got faith in me and those who hate me between those who follow me and those who despise me i came up first coming watch to harvest only those that belong to me this is deep it's deep watch so anytime i'm in contact with someone that is not in the kingdom the sword of separation is present watch it's gonna make sense in a second it could be in the gym watch on campus in your job on social media wherever we

come in contact with people that are not in christ the sword of separation is right there for some people we tolerate that sort of separation we can still be friends with people that don't believe i got friends who are believers. But there's some people on the other side of that sword who are very angry with the Lord Jesus Christ. You can say Muhammad and not get into a fight. Can't say Christ

and not get into a fight. You post about Jesus on social media, the people on the other side of that sword, they're coming for you. You preach truth on the social media,

the people on the other side of that sword, they're coming for you watch but how what is the what is the potential depth of that sword how far can that sword cut I mean that sword has cut marriages that sword has cut between friendships that sword has cut relationships what is the full extension of that sword? How far can that sword go? How far can that sword bring hurt and pain? He tells you in the very next verse. Verse 35.

For I have come to set a man against his father. Gosh, this is powerful. It's the origins of conflict. And a daughter against her mother. And a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Shoot. That sword's so real, it separates families, siblings, husbands, and wives.

There are people sitting in this room right now, know what it is, to have conflict with people who got your last name because you're a believer. They do not believe what you believe and it's tension at family gatherings tension on social media some of y'all are so bad you got to stay away from them huh watch he said i come to drive my sword right through a family watch that you have four children two of them i'll take for myself to drive my sword right through a family. Watch. That you have four children,

two of them I'll take for myself. Gosh, that's so powerful. You got an unbelieving husband and wife and I saved the wife. Saved the wife. Now the husband is persecuting her for going to church on Sunday and Wednesday and don't understand why she's been radically changed. He thinks she's pious and super religious but he can't see that she's been filled with the Holy

Spirit and now there's a sword in the marriage this used to be my best friend and now they can't understand why I don't get down like that no more a sword and the friendship no this was my boyfriend and my girlfriend and now I feel like I And now they can't understand why I don't get down like that no more. A sword in the friendship. Yo, this was my boyfriend and my girlfriend. And now I feel like I can't rock with you no more. A sword in the relationship. This is my mother and my father who are anti-Christ. But I can't rock with them.

A sword between my parents. There are people in here who have parents who are not saved. And they persecute you. A sword in your family. Some of us know the real pain of walking with Jesus and having people in our own family who can't stand you. Your anointing agitates them. Say, you think you're good now. You think you're better than us. Why you don't go where we used to go? And why you don't do what we used to do? Is there anybody in this room have ever felt the sword with somebody close to you? Let me see. Let me take a poll. Have you ever felt

hatred or tension with somebody close to you who is not a believer anybody i have i got people in my family right now on the other side of that sword now watch when that conflict comes we only respond in three ways stand in convictions all three c's make concession well I know it's sin but we could do this or we full-blown compromise let me repeat that when that conflict come we only respond with three C's we stand with conviction on our side of the sword we make concessions well you know it's not really Jesus ain't really but we can do that or full-blown compromise i'm a believer but i throw all that out the window when i get in your presence why because the temptation on the other side of the sword watch is to appease people we have an

affinity for watch this word because of. I'm going somewhere with this. And love, we take that to such an extreme, we would even let love compromise our witness. Watch the wisdom of Jesus. But Jesus knew that you would be weakened by love. So because Jesus knew you would be weakened by love so because Jesus knew you would be weakened by love for people on the other side of the sword he raises the bar of discipleship beyond grade to nothing else but black and white give me the next verse look what Jesus says whoever loves his father or mother. He knew you would be weakened by love.

But that's my family. I love them. Let me compromise because I love them. Let me make concession because I love them. Let me bend the truth of God's Word because I love them so because Jesus knew you would be weakened by love he raises the bar of discipleship no grace here black and white only whoever loves and mother more than me watch his words you're not worthy of me watch you talk about you being worthy for him he says you're not even worthy to have me if you love your father your mother or tagline anyone who you let anyone close to you

if you love someone more than me you are not worthy of me and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Everybody watch. This is heat. Let this sit on your heart. Watch this. Anyone you love right now more than Jesus is an idol. They're sitting on the throne of your heart and he's competing for that spot. Watch.

And because you love people more than him, you compromise with them because you can't stand for him. So because Jesus knows you would be weakened by the emotion of love, he raises the bar of discipleship, saying you can't love your wife, your husband, your children,

your best friend, your squad leader. You can't love Philip Anthony Mitchell more than you love me. Any person you put in that spot, you make them an idol. You give me an incentive to touch them. Why did I lose that relationship he was an idol

gosh this is heat why did she walk out of my life I snatched them out of your life cause she was an idol why did I lose that friend I snatched them out of your life cause she was an idol. Why did I lose that friend? I snatched them out of your life because they were an idol. I'm not going to compete.

I will either remove or step away. I ain't going to compete. I either remove or I'll step away. This is why I tell my own children, watch. I sit them down. Malachi, and Josiah and I looked them in the eyes and I said y'all can't I listen we can't even go anywhere without them wanting to go everywhere we go it's like FOMO my home suffers from FOMO we want to be in each other's presence everywhere we go and I sit them down often and I tell them they'll testify you cannot love your mother more than Jesus.

I know she dope. And she our best friend. You can't love her more than Jesus. You're going to make your mom an idol. You cannot love your father. Well, I'm probably not big competition anyway. But you can't love your father. That's true.

I'll be like, when Lena and I get old, they're going to have her in a mansion and stick me in a basement somewhere you know how they be doing fathers right like anyway sending a card to a father on Father's Day we end up in a basement being on not taking care of y'all better take care of me I'm serious don't put me in no basement I've been too good to y'all I done paid my dues I done sowed good seeds I want a good harvest I've been a good father let me help some of y'all don't attach materialism to being a good parent they're not going to remember gifts Let me help some of y'all.

Don't attach materialism to being a good parent. They're not going to remember gifts when they get old. They're going to remember if you love them, if you affirm them, if you taught them the ways of the kingdom of God. Did you model faith for them? Parents? You can't keep them happy in a corner with an iPad.

Little children, they spell love T-I-M-E. They want you. Discipleship don't start with formation. It starts in your house. My children ain't learn about Christ in no children's ministry. They only was reminded of Christ in the children's ministry. So I tell them all the time, you cannot love Lena more than me, more than Jesus. You cannot love your son. I want to be your favorite parent. I'll be having that back rooms like, I'm your favorite parent. You be doing that to me?

You sure? You don't be having them in back rooms Ain't no competition right? I gotta keep my eye on you I've been guilty of this loving spiritual leaders more than Jesus got more faith in human beings than Jesus more confident in the words of men than Jesus, have men that I exalt beyond honor to the point of worship above Jesus. And I know I'm not the

only person that's been there. There's other people in this room who have loved people more than Jesus. Watch. You better make a switch in that apartment. He said, if you love anybody more than me, you're not even worthy to have me. If you love mother and father more than me, you're not worthy. You love son or daughter. If you love anyone close to you more than me, you're not worthy of me.

But watch. This is me. But watch. This is powerful. Everybody watch. This is calling and conflict, right? People, watch out. But he don't stop there. Now, what I'm about to show you, the room gonna get quiet.

And I'm almost done. Two verses. And this is the part of the text that's going to offend you because one day it offended me are you ready he don't stop there he raises the bar of discipleship either see you people like oh i'm follow of christ are you really what he's setting a standard right now for discipleship verse 38 and whoever does not take his cross gosh and follow me Follow me. I'm almost done. It's not worthy of me.

Now, family. Oh, God. Everybody look right at me. Eye contact. Look right at me. Jesus said, look right at me. He's talking to a group of men. First century, right?

Look right at me. It's's gonna make sense in a second he's talking to a group of men in the first century and says if you don't take up your cross and follow me you are not worthy of me now a student of the text should pick up on something. He has not been crucified yet. They have not seen him executed yet. So now I go study culture. Because you need context for the text. What empire is in charge during this time? Rome. What form of capital punishment did they perfect?

Crucifixion. And if you study history, you know what you would see in the days of Rome? You would be walking up the street and see guilty people nailed to crosses on the side of the street. Now watch. But they did not get there with help. and see guilty people nailed to crosses on the side of the street. Now watch.

But they did not get there with help. You would see men walking through the street. I don't even know if I can pick this up. You see men walking through the street, carrying the crossbar of a cross with a bunch of Roman soldiers around them they're walking to the place they're going to be executed now watch in the culture if you seen anyone carrying a cross beam it assumed two things they were guilty watch second thing and they were not coming back from that journey it's gonna make sense in a second if you've seen anyone carrying a cross beam it's gonna make sense in a second it automatically assumed they were guilty there was enough evidence to convict them

and whatever direction they were going in they were not coming back from that place now jesus said unless you take up your cross oh my god your cross is there enough Christian lifestyle in you to convict you of being a true disciple if we saw your heart your life your deeds in the dark could you be could somebody look at your posts your life your marriage your parenting and say this person is guilty this is a true believer here is a true follower of jesus is there enough evidence to convict you of being a disciple or are you only a christian with posts he said take up your cross and follow me that is there must be evidence in your life from the way that you live that you are living a sacrificial life so much so that there's enough

evidence to say she is a real follower of Jesus. He is a real follower of Jesus. We can see you. We can convict you. You are guilty of being a disciple. You're at 2019. Are we making disciples? But are you living as one? See, I told you to be quiet right now, right?

But yeah, but let's go further anyone carrying a cross beam watch was not coming back from their journey put it together that means if you're a real disciple your life is headed in only one direction One direction. There is no going back. There's no going back to what Jesus delivered me from. There is nothing behind me that I am going back to. I'm not going back to what he delivered me from. Delivered me from pornography, not going back to what he delivered me from Delivered me from pornography Not going back Delivered me from sexual identity issues

Not going back Delivered me from fill in the blank Not going back Ain't no turning around There's no 180. Saved, baptized, forward. I'm following the call and the purposes of Christ for my life. Watch this.

You will not see me going backwards. There's only one direction in the kingdom. And it is forward there is something very powerful about a person so sold out for christ watch they say come hell or high water if the devil fights me at the door of my house, I will not walk away from Christ. I will not go back.

This is powerful. You're not going to see me keep dipping in and dipping out. At some point in time, I put 10 toes down in the kingdom ain't no straddling this fence not another day the evidence of discipleship is I got both feet in the kingdom I can be called guilty for being a disciple the direction I'm heading in there is no returning from that direction watch I'm gonna follow, there is no returning from that direction. Watch, I'm going to follow him until I see him. Everybody look at me.

I'm almost done. Watch. Look right at me. I need five minutes. No. No. No. This is serious. Look at me.

Eye contact. This is serious. Because, how do I want to say this? We live in a culture that makes Christianity easy. if Christianity is easy you're not walking in biblical Christianity you're not because you're not feeling the cross beam of carrying your cross the cross beam on your shoulder is the weight of sacrifice it is the weight of holiness it is the weight of lay it down for the glory of Jesus where there is a cross beam there is pressure on my flesh where there is a cross there is pressure on my flesh. So if I'm carrying my cross, that means there is sacrifice in my life. There is holiness that makes me uncomfortable.

Oh, you think this is glory? Now, I know what y'all think. You actually think this platform for me is glory that's what you think you think I'm up here because I like stages and lights and money and fame and people posting you really think I'm up here for glory I I wanted to be an attorney. The Lord closed that door. A cross. I wanted to be an evangelist. The Lord said no.

A cross. The Lord called me to pastor a church. And I said no. I don't want to prepare a sermon every single week of my life. I don't want to be making an oral presentation every single week no matter what's going on in my life. I don't want to be leading meetings every single week of my life. I don't want to be coaching, correcting, and counseling people every single week of my life. I don't want to live in a fishbowl where everybody can see what my family's doing every single day of my life. I don't want to have the pressure of hundreds and thousands of souls weighing down on me at night every single night of my life.

This thing has broken me. Has made me feel more insecure than anything else in my life, has crushed my pride, my arrogance, has kept me on my knees, makes me desperate for Jesus. I feel insecure all the time.

I feel ill-equipped all the time. I did not want to do this. I ran from this call for four years until I was in Bible college at a service and in the back of the room I heard God say to me it's four years now you're gonna obey me or you're gonna do nothing in this kingdom and I remember where I was when I got down on my knees in the back of that service and Lord, I don't want to do that. But if this is what you want me to do, I'll carry that cross. Pastoral ministry for me is sweet slavery.

I'm doing this out of obedience. This is a cross that I carry. It is heavy and weighty and it crushes me. Nothing about this is glory. Or when my wife and I was leaving Bible college, I wanted to go to New York or New Jersey or D.C. where people don't pretend to be Christians. I did not want to come to Atlanta where I don't like heat

and where I sinned a lot in college. I didn't want to come back to the place don't like heat and where I sinned a lot in college I didn't want to come back to the place where I had a lot of stain and yet God sent me here a cross my whole life is a cross ain't none of this for me glory I'm doing this out of obedience to Christ where is your cross what are you carrying what are you fully surrendered to some of you

your cross may be you're a single mom and your baby fathers are far away from God and the Lord says you can't have them you're gonna raise these children alone until I send a Boaz and I'm not gonna tell you when he's coming you might do that for 20 years can you carry that cross some of you you might die single can you carry that cross for some of you you'll never make a certain amount of money can you carry that cross for some of you where's holiness is a cross how

about fast from sin for the last couple months of the year how about that is a cross see you want to clap right how about no more sex for the rest of the year how about that as a cross how? How about no more sex for the rest of the year? How about that as a cross? How about actually live like a disciple for the rest of the year? How about pray? How about fast from sin? How about don't let nobody tap that box for the rest of the year?

How about that for a cross? And don't be fasting for a husband during that time. Idolatry. You ain't see Ruth fasting for no husband. You see Ruth being faithful, and God sent her a husband. You got all these conferences, people fasting for husbands. That's idolatry.

Rebecca wasn't... It's okay to fast for an open door, but some of y'all turn that into idolatry. Listen to all these false prophets. You turn that into idolatry. I've seen in Africa, a group of women in wedding dresses fast and fly 40 days for a husband.

What kind of idolatrous mess is that? Rachel, Ruth, husbands ran up on them. Eliezer ran up on her. Rebecca got ran up on. We got too much idolatrous practices. Watch. You want Bible? You want Bible?

You want Bible? We're going to come to this. I took you through this text. Seek first. I don't care. You can send me all the emails you want. Seek first the kingdom. And all these other things, I will add them to you.

Keep me first. First. Keep me first. You single, keep me first. You got a job, keep me first. You got a business, keep me first. You got a business? Keep me first. You got friends? Keep me first. You got a spouse? Keep me first.

You got children? Keep me first. You're full of idolatry. Listening to false prophets. You love people because of big platforms and they never open up the scriptures. They just talk for two hours with no Bible. You caught up in following and Instagram size

and people packing our rooms because they're itching ears. I don't care. I ain't care. I'm afraid of nobody. You're not going to muzzle me. Every week, verse by verse, line by line, seek first the kingdom. Now that doesn't mean you can't fast for things you believe in. But some of y'all meant that idolatry. You've been fasting for how long? How long? Can I be honest about something?

Can I be honest? You know what else is idolatry? Wanting your church to be a certain size all the time. So you're doing tricks and stunts and antics to put butts in seats. I remember where I was on the floor where I said, Lord, 2819 is yours. I'm going to be faithful to feed whatever you trust me with. And now we have no room.

The church grew beyond even my control when I stopped thinking about it. I just dropped a gem on you. Sometimes you got to stop. Worshipping it. It's too real. I was late this morning. Because there was a traffic jam to get into the parking lot.

And I'm at the back of the line on a one-way street. I can't get around nobody. And I'm mad because now I'm getting to the gathering late, but I'm thankful. Because I remember a year ago there was no traffic jam.

We had none but space I want to ask everybody a question what cross are you carrying do you feel any pressure from Christianity? Any sacrifice? Where is your flesh being wounded for Christ? If you don't feel no weight on your flesh, you're not carrying no cross. It's not discipleship, it's compromise. The Lord's plan for you is better than your plan for yourself but you got to carry a cross a cross might be you know what that's it that last time you banged this was the last time you banged this that's why there's no pressure to be married

because he got the box anytime he wants why he got to put a ring on it for he don't feel no pressure she don't feel no pressure what if the cross has put the weed down what if the cross has come out from that group that's leading you astray? What if the cross is speak for me what I put in your heart even if they persecute you for it? What if the cross is come to church every Sunday and getting a squad so you can grow in accountability and real discipleship? What if the cross is give me a percentage of your income so I can grow in accountability and real discipleship one of the cross is give me a percentage of your income so I can advance the gospel through 28

19 what cross are you really carrying anyone that does not take up their cross and follow me, no pressure on your flesh, not worthy of me. Yo, pastor, how could you talk to us like that look at me true story I would give up my whole ministry I might even trade in my salvation to make sure nobody in this room is lost I would trade in my salvation to make sure none

of my children burns in hell I'm more concerned about the state of your soul than popularity. And why is this so serious? Because of the last verse. Put it up there. Whoever finds his life, you're going to lose it. And whoever loses his life for my sake, you're going to find it.

You say, well, preacher, I don't understand. You know what the Lord is saying to everyone listening? You got to make a decision. The cost of following me is a cross. I want a life of sacrifice and holiness. Surrender, faithfulness and obedience. You say, man, that costs too much. Okay.

Well, then you got to count the cost of not following if anyone finds his life that means if anyone you do you until you die apart from me in the end your soul is going to be lost but if anyone loses his life that is you surrender your whole life to me just trust what i will do with it watch that is full surrender in christ man you're gonna live a life that you would never imagine you will truly find what it means to have life feeling god praying and talking to your father having visions and clarity and being led by the holy spirit having accountability partners and brothers and sisters having revelation in the holy scriptures feeling the intimacy of your heavenly father you sense him as you're driving to work man it's a beautiful thing

to have life in christ yeah it comes with a crossbar but i'd rather have this crossbar than be without this crossbar so yes the cost of discipleship it is high love me first live a life of sacrifice surrender obedience and holiness that's a high price to pay will count the cost of not following damnation is a much heavier price to pay so here is the choice live for christ now and live dope forever. It's not American preaching. Do you now and be separated from God forever.

The choice is yours. How many preachers is telling you that? And the Lord ain't restrictive to the point where you go like, oh my gosh, if I really surrender, my life is going to be a mess. This, yeah, this, this,

dang it, this crushes me. But it's an honor to serve him in any capacity he deems fit because I know what it is to offend him hurt him abandon him

I know what it is to walk away from him for a season and he gives me a second chance my whole life right now is a second I would rather hold the door for the Lord Jesus than be outside of the kingdom. I want Christ more than I want anything else.

I want to be loved by Christ. I want to feel Christ. I want to loved by Christ. I want to feel Christ. I want to walk with Christ. I want intimacy with Christ. I want to hear, well done, my good and faithful servant. And I don't know if he would ever release me from this work.

It crushes me every week of my life. I leave my prayer room every Sunday in tears, feeling ill-equipped to do this. Yes, I said it. I feel ill-equipped every single week. Every week, I feel ill-equipped. And I get up in here with just my Bible, and I trust God.

What cross are you carrying what conflict are you feeling what side of the sword are you on are you on the side of real discipleship or the side of compromise heaven or hell Christ or the devil

it's your choice. Every head bowed, every eye closed. Don't move. I want to pray over you. Father, I pray over all my brothers and sisters, that they would take up their cross in this moment,

turn from sin, they would live a life of real discipleship unto the glory of your name. In our weakness, in our insecurities, in all of the issues in our heart, Lord, draw us now to yourself. Draw us to our own cross. Let us be on the right side of that conflict,

the right side of that sword. I pray for real disciples to rise up in this moment. We are living in the last days. The world is groaning, Father, for the awakening of your sons and daughters. Awaken them right now Lord let crosses hit the backs of hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of people in this room and now

I'm talking to you my brother and my sister no you're not my brother or my sister yet I'm talking to you, friend. Nobody move. This is the most important moment of your life, friend. Here is the truth, friend. I know you think you're a good person.

I know you think you're a good wife, good husband, good father, mother. Friend, you were born in sin. And I was born in sin. And you've committed committed sin and you've broken God's laws friend you're guilty before God friend I just did the funeral of a 27 year old a month ago tomorrow's not promised to you friend and the scripture says if you die in your sin if you end up in a car crash on the way home, if you don't make it to that restaurant, you're going to be eternally separated from God. You say, well, I don't believe that.

Die and find out. There is no coming back from that, friend. But God, in his love for you, not wanting you to perish, sent Christ into the earth. He died a sacrificial death in your place, friend. And then God says, if you would just be honest, acknowledge

that you are a sinner. Turn, place your faith in Christ. Surrender your life. Take up your cross. The Father said, I will forgive you of all your sins. I'll make you my son, my daughter i will commune with you and talk to you and guide you and love on you i see tears in the room i'm talking to

you you already know you feel it in your belly he's saving you right there in your seat i see people crying if i'm talking to you you're saying preacher pray for me i want to see who i'm talking to i see tears on the count of three i see tears on the count of see who I'm talking to. I see tears. On the count of three, I see tears. On the count of three, if I'm talking to you, would you just throw your hand up when I get to three? One, Jesus is calling. I see hands already. One, Jesus is calling you. Hands. Two, this is the day of your salvation. Three, put your hand up in the air. Put it there leave it there put it up put it up one two three i see that hand four five six seven eight i see that hand nine ten eleven twelve thirteen fourteen fifteen i see that hand sixteen seventeen eighteen nineteen twenty twenty one twenty two twenty three i see that hand twenty four twenty five twenty six twenty

seven twenty eight twenty nine thirty thirty one 32. I see that hand. 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39. I see that hand. 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46. I see that hand. 47, 48, 49. I see that. 50 in the corner. 51 in the back corner.

I see that hand. 52, I see that hand. 53, I see that hair 52 I see that head 53 I see that hand what I want to do what should I do from they seat or should they move move from they see move move move all 53 of you come right here right now come on run come on right here right here right now come on run run come on run to Jesus right now run run run run run run run run all 53 you run get close get close get close get close get close get close get close Oh what a Savior Oh what a Savior

With many wonders Come on get close, get close Hallelujah Christ is risen Bow down before him is christ is Christ is risen Oh what a Savior Isn't he wonderful Sing hallelujah

Christ is risen. Oh, what a Savior. Oh, what a Savior. Isn't he wonderful? Sing hallelujah, Christ is risen. Yes, bow down, bow down before Him. For He is Lord of all. Sing hallelujah, Christ is risen. Oh, come to the altar.

The Father's arms are open wide. Forgiveness was bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Oh, come to the altar. The Father's arms are open wide Forgiveness was bought with The precious blood of Jesus Christ Oh come to the altar the Father's arms are open wide forgiveness was bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

Close that door. Nobody move. Everybody at the altar in the aisles, this is more than 50 of y'all. Your heads are bowed, your eyes are closed. Because I don't want you looking at me. I'm just a man. I see tears falling all over this room. That's repentance. Please don you looking at me. I'm just a man. I see tears falling all over this room.

That's repentance. Please don't look at me. This ain't pixie dust. This ain't no magic prayer. This is repentance. He's catching those tears, my sister. There's tears everywhere. He's catching those tears.

I see repentance all over you. I see repentance. Tears. Right there with your own heart, with your own mouth. Just surrender. Tell the Lord Jesus you're sorry for all your sin. Tell him you surrender your life to him.

Tell him today you put your faith and your trust in him completely. He's catching those tears. My sister. I see that. I see repentance all over you. Those are real tears. These are real tears. Men could cry come here come here

y'all fix my microphone see tears all over you fix my microphone it's real tears real repentance real tears real oh i see repentance all over you. Come here. Yes. Father's touching you. Touching you. He's touching you.

Right here. Father, don't look at me. In the name of the holy one i thank you that you sovereignly save i have nothing to do with this you're saving men and women right now filling them with your holy spirit you're writing their names in the lamb's book of life You're washing away all of their sins. All of their past is being washed away. You're transforming them right now into sons and daughters.

We see tears everywhere flooding this platform. I pray, God, something like scales would fall off of their eyes. Chains will break off of their lives prison doors will be flung open right now I pray they will know the peace of reconciliation with you they will know the peace of reconciliation with Christ fill them joy. Let them feel your presence in this moment. Loving them. Tell them they're not condemned another day.

That you love them. And these are your, oh my God. Yes. He's catching those tears. And that this is your daughter. I don't know your name. This is your daughter. It doesn't matter what you've done. You are his daughter and you are his son.

Doesn't matter what you've done. You are his daughter and you are his son. It doesn't matter what you've done. You can't out-sin the grace of Jesus. Jesus met me on the floor of a bathroom. Oh, yes. The scripture says not one tear falls to the floor. He bottles all of them. It's okay. He's catching those tears. Not one of them falls to the floor he bottles all of them it's okay he's catching those tears not one

of them falls to the floor those are liquid prayers of repentance father i thank you for all of these i don't even know how many it is 60 70 i don't know they belong to you now and you said when one sinner repents all of heaven rejoices so So Father, right now we rejoice, we rejoice, we rejoice, we rejoice. We give you praise, God.