The Hope Hotline - What is Grace and What Grace Is Not
Episode Date: February 4, 2026The Hope Hotline | S04-E07 | 02-04-2026...
Transcript
Discussion (0)
Hello and welcome to the Hope Hotline.
I don't know what I am or who I am.
I don't know my name.
I heard something completely different.
Hope, the Ho Hotline?
Listen, people have accidentally called.
They might have not been calling me by accident a hoe.
Awesome.
But when you order stuff and they're like, what's your name?
And you go, hope.
And you go and you pick up your order and it says hoe.
Well, that's like what we used to do.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
The TikToks, when it would like pick the words, like our subtitle or whatever, the captions, it would say, hey ho.
Every time I was like, hey, ho.
It's like, hey ho.
That's so funny.
That's nice.
I know.
That's pretty.
You know.
So I'm going to tell you, today is the day and why we live in Florida.
Yes.
It's been sheer sheet, ice, cold.
freezing temperatures like when i get in my car and i'm driving in it it tells me to watch out for
ice that's crazy or that i might get snow flurries that's crazy that's what my thing is saying to me
oh like i'll be driving and i'll see my spedometer and it'll pop up that i need to be aware of ice
that's not okay yeah it's too cold then it's too cold i feel like we're living in the end times
That's how cold it is.
That's because we are.
That might be why.
We are.
Oh my gosh.
It's pretty wild, man.
That's pretty crazy.
It's going to be interesting to see the animals that don't make it in the smaller, like, rivers and lakes and because of how cold it's been.
For so long.
Yes.
My brain didn't even go there.
Oh, yes.
Mine did.
Because in Revelation, it talks about in times and that a third.
of the water will not be able to drink.
I always wondered, how would that happen?
And I thought to myself, well, this might be one of the ways it happens.
Not right now, but it might be, it gets worse.
Like the plagues, it's more than that.
Right.
I mean, I don't think any of the water is capable of being drank.
That's crazy.
And the first, I think it's the trumpets, the seals, the bowls.
and it's in the trumpets that that happens if I remember right.
I'll let you know.
I'm two days away from Revelation in my Bible plan.
There you go.
I'll let you know.
Well, thank you.
Thank you very much.
I don't think you'll make it there in time for us to remember.
But all righty then.
Oh, man.
Okay.
You want to do all there.
There we go.
Let's start with this.
Let's start with this.
Okay.
So I was on social media and I always know.
I always know when this is going to hit Facebook just right, all our Facebook people.
So if you're on Facebook, if you haven't done this yet, don't worry, you'll have a chance.
But I saw it and I was like, we got to hop on this trend.
So these are our caricatures, is that how you say it, caricatures based off of your job
and everything that chat GPT knows about you.
So Hope, Norma, and then of course her little buddies, Ariana Grande,
day, Talia.
Oh my gosh.
And Kristen.
And then of course, Talia on the end with her cleaning products, camera and microphone.
But if you checked out Norma's photo, she has three hands to do all the things that Norma needs to do.
That is a skeleton crew right there.
Right.
It is.
In Norma.
Three hands.
Yeah.
Three-handed Norma's.
And if you notice, all of them are very tiny hands.
No, I'm just kidding.
They are very teeny tiny.
They're not.
normal size. I did look at that. And then Hope's the haughty. I'm not. I was like, my face looks
very happy. You look like a televangelist actually. Oh my gosh. You're right. She does.
You're absolutely right. She's about to tell you something about your future. And she has just the right
bottle of water. Oh my teeth are so white. They're so white. Oh gosh. That is too white. I never noticed
those things. Didn't they make Tom and Tommy and Norma look really like the same? No, Tommy,
and Pastor Tom looked like identical.
And Norma looks hot.
Hottie, hotty, hotie.
They gave you a beautiful nose.
I mean, like, Tom and Tommy,
I think all three of them look very similar.
But Tom, like, his beard and everything.
I know.
It's freaky wild.
I thought the same with Tommy.
Yeah.
Crazy.
And then...
Oh, look you here.
Oh.
You added my friend.
Yes.
I literally, I told Tracy, I was like,
I literally, because Clover loves, loves this stuff.
So I sent it to her.
I said, listen, girl.
Jump on the trend.
You got to go to chat.
Got to do it.
But you know, her family, I mean, like, seriously?
I know.
Her family looks just like, that's freaky wild how they were able to do that.
It's a little bit freaky.
Because Jeff looks very similar on Vanessa's.
But Vanessa doesn't exactly look like her forehead isn't that big.
No, but it's that smooth.
Oh my gosh, Jeff in the background.
Jeff looks like real and Vessel looks like a character.
I know.
What's up with that?
I don't know.
I don't know what Chad did.
That's what I was fighting with chat about.
You are.
She sent us like 17 of these.
Oh, my gosh.
Chasie looks like a superhero.
Yeah, Leak Hero.
Hey.
I love house flooding in the background.
I know.
Oh, my gosh.
I never noticed that.
And the plunger, too.
Your cup says bossly.
I was like, chat.
We're going to have to talk about that.
Oh my gosh.
That's a great idea.
Go to the one on the left for me.
Yeah.
So Kristen's in here.
And if nobody knows who Kristen is,
if you watch us on Sunday mornings,
you'll see Norma on the left.
And then Kristen is the blonde.
They're besties.
And she and Kristen sing together a lot of times,
especially for Christmas Eve service.
But she came in.
this came in and saw what we were doing. So she did it really fast. That's what it came up
with her really fast. But yeah, that's what you have to type in. Yeah, if you want to do this,
if you've never used chat GPT before, well, this can be your first time. So it probably won't
do anything good for you. But if you're a chat GPT person, this is going to be fun. So
you can also just write what you want to. That's true. Because it asked me because it didn't know a lot
about me. Oh, really? I had to do that with Norma. It didn't know hardly anything about her because I used it
for on mine.
Oh,
and I said,
this is what she likes.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Okay.
Perfect.
That's okay.
I was a little nervous because me and chat.
Me too.
We be having conversation.
Me too.
So you didn't know what it was going to say.
I had no idea what was going to happen.
That's scary.
That's scary.
Thankfully,
chat did not do me dirty.
But yeah,
so you write in create a character.
Just,
okay,
if you don't know how to do this,
if you take a screenshot,
if you're watching on your phone right now,
if you take a screenshot,
this photo will pop up in your photos.
And then you can,
go and actually like drag your like um finger over it and it will copy and paste that font
the actual words and then you can paste it into chat that's one easy way to do it or you can
write it down and then do it but if you do one and you post it on social media you can send it or
you can email it or whatever and we would love to see what chat made for you guys or yeah yeah if you
post it tag us yeah um but if you like don't want to post it i would love to see it it'd be fun to see
Apparently,
Gen Xers are big time into this
from what I'm being told.
I didn't even know about it.
A.I.
That's because Facebook is GenXER.
Have you seen my husband?
He, an AI.
It needs to stop.
Well, he needs an intervention.
He needs some serious therapy.
You're right.
I don't know.
I enjoy all of them.
The transitions that he puts on his videos.
But I'm getting them in texts.
Oh, gosh.
You won't even let you miss it.
Oh, you get personal ones?
You guys were away, and he's sending me ones.
Oh, my gosh.
Of just of you guys.
Like, he said, he's created.
I'm like, okay, now we're no longer just on social media.
He's communicating to me through text with AI.
And I'm like, dude, at least on social media, I get the option of seeing or not saying.
Right. You can avoid.
But through texts, no, I know.
I'm forced.
Listen.
If you want to be friends with Jeff, you have to sign up for this.
That's true.
That's what you get.
Norma.
Can I unsign up?
No.
Unsubscribe.
No.
Once you're in, you're in.
That's it.
That's it.
Sorry.
Lifetime commitment.
That's right.
Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
Uh-huh.
Yeah.
So that was our fun.
That was yesterday.
Yeah.
And Vanessa made it like it was her job to create this thing.
Every time I looked in our text chat, I was like,
There's another one.
Oh, my gosh.
You needed help.
I know.
I talk about Jeff.
I'm just as bad.
Get on that train and she ain't coming off.
Yes.
I have this thing where I hyper fixate and it's a problem.
It's true.
No comment.
No comment.
It's facts.
It's facts.
Do your thing, girl.
Okay.
All right. So if you're watching on Facebook, hello to you, you could either be on the Hope Hotline or Foundation Church. So if you are and you want to actually like chit-chat with us, we are over in Rumble. If you want to stay on Facebook, it's fine. But we have like a bigger conversation going on on Rumble. So head over there. If you're watching on YouTube, hello. You can obviously chat in there as well too. But again, over at Rumble is where the party's at. And later on there will be an audio podcast available. So please.
head over there if you would like to do that. I just got news from Natalie, but I haven't had a chance
to update this, but she will be here at the end of the month on Wednesday. So that will be fun.
So if you do have any questions in regards to anything we've talked about in the past,
especially the last episode or anything you're seeing on social media that might be questionable,
but maybe possibly has some truth to it in the medical field. Send it along. It's the same email
we've had, ask hope and hope hotline.com. Or you can DM us on Instagram,
or anything like that.
I'll probably see it.
Or you can even put it in the chat today.
I'll get it saved for you.
And then we've got our TikToks.
So we're all over there.
If you want to come hang out with us,
we are writing the crazy algorithm of TikTok.
And, yeah, TikTok.
And it's what it is.
It's a love, hate.
It's a love.
It is a love hate.
I've had a little bit of hope recently with some of our,
I haven't updated our thing,
but some of our last, I don't even think I, oh, it's on the other one.
Where is it?
Our whole potline one has had some views.
We almost like 10,000 views on the last one.
There is like, I'm just telling you, there is absolutely no rhyme or reason with this stuff.
Like why?
Because like that one, like it was about the contract versus covenant.
So everybody had something to say about it.
But we had, let me see if I can even pull it up.
We had like 200 people save it.
That's awesome.
I know.
Like tons of comments, tons of likes.
But a few of them have done from our mini clips that we've been putting out.
So yeah, we're just riding the wave, guys.
We're just riding the wave.
And so is Pastor Tom.
So we've got him on his preaching one.
And then we've got the TLP clip.
So obviously, if you don't know, he has a podcast Monday through Friday.
And he talks about the world events going on right now.
I've seen he's been answering some questions, which is fun.
So, yeah, if you haven't watched him, check him out,
especially with just the stuff.
going on in the world right now. It's so easy to be manipulated based off of what outlet you're
listening to. So Pastor Tom obviously has a biblical perspective. So you definitely, definitely want to
check it out. If there's anything that's really complicated, he's always talking about the newest stuff
that's out. And of course, we have our worship team on TikTok as well. So we've been posting those
videos and getting that out there. And of course, everybody loves music. So it's been really,
really great. And then we do have our dare to bes coming up in February 20th. That's on a Friday
from 7 to 930 p.m. That's for ladies only, obviously, because it says ladies night. And so you can't
identify. You can't be a man. So please invite all of your lady friends. This is a great opportunity
to come. We do worship. There's a word and prayer and all kinds of stuff. So definitely,
definitely come to this. And a great opportunity for somebody that seems interested in church,
but isn't maybe ready to come on a Sunday or whatever they just have like whatever weird church.
This is a great opportunity to bring them in. So it's just women. It's just us. And we have a really
good time. So make sure you come for that. And I think that's pretty much it. Again, if you miss this,
our little chat GPT prompt, if you're coming on now, this is the prompt that you can use. And again,
if you screenshot it, it will go to your photos and you could just copy and paste it and make it so much
easier for you. And I think that's it. That is. That's it. Sounds good. We're going to do our
sponsors really quick and then we're going to move into our topic for today, which I'm very excited
about. Perfect. Gosh, man, I cut my bangs and Tom's get my hair cut tomorrow and I cut my
bangs and Tom said to me. Okay, because he doesn't like bangs. Oh, what? He doesn't like
bangs. Interesting. But I've had bangs for forever. Yeah. Literally.
Forever. Because if I don't, I have a very wrinkly forehead. And I didn't know. I think I've
told this story, but I had no idea I had wrinkly forehead because I've had bangs for forever.
Oh my gosh. Until I was like in my 40s. And for some reason I pull my hair back or something.
Yeah. And I was in a mirror. And I was like, where did those come from? I was like, oh my gosh,
what happened to my forehead? Oh my gosh. And then I was like, Tom, look. And he's like, yeah, I know.
And I'm like, oh my gosh.
You knew and you didn't tell me?
He's like, it's your face.
So how do you not know?
I'm like, I had no idea.
I was like, well, the bangs are definitely staying.
But normally I have them really long.
But I cut them kind of short or than I normally do.
So he says to me, last week he goes, did you cut your bangs?
And I said, yeah.
And he's like, they're short.
And I'm like, yeah, I know.
Because I got tired of having to cut.
them so often. He's like, well, I mean, I love you. But I don't love the bangs that short.
Oh my gosh. But I love you is what he said. But I do love you.
Knows what he likes. I guess. Yeah, that's it. I'm getting a message. I get the message.
So are they short right now? Is that what you're considered short to him? I don't consider him short.
I've had, I'm like, dude, like, dude, bangs usually don't go below the eyebrow.
I actually like them like that.
Same here.
I think that you look like hope.
Like, I don't think, I would, I wouldn't even notice you cut them.
Like, they look like hope.
Yeah.
Like, what is up?
I know.
With that, sorry people, but like, I'm not a pro.
I'm me.
You be you.
Okay, so Norma's saying that her father told her about them.
What did he say?
Really?
She was talking to him in the office.
Yeah, please do.
Thank you.
Let's hear it.
I'm just curious.
I have my finger stuck on the appraisal thing, so I'm holding it.
No, I was just in his office talking to him, and I can't remember how it got brought up.
I think something about hair, and he goes, yeah, your mom just took some scissors,
like kitchen scissors to her hair, and now it's too short.
I didn't take kitchen scissors.
And he's like, she just cut her bangs way too short.
Don't like, don't ever let her do that again.
Oh.
I was like, all righty-rue.
I was like, I didn't know she did that.
I'm so sorry.
Okay, well, okay.
First of all, they weren't kitchen scissors.
I mean, I'm not above that.
Right.
Wow.
I'm not above it.
He's such a jokester.
He wasn't joking.
He no like.
So silly.
But they're not short.
They're not.
That's what's crazy.
I know.
They're not.
You know those ones that are like really short that like go up here that looks silly.
Oh my gosh.
If I literally.
If I came home with my bang set, can you imagine?
They're called microbang.
I would probably become celibate.
Not divorced.
That would be his final straw.
The final straw, well, he might not be able to look at me.
I can't look at you.
That's like when people have beers.
Until they grow out forever.
And then they shave their beards.
They look like a totally different person.
Yeah, literally.
Yeah.
It's scary.
Yeah.
Thank God I know what Tom looks like, with one and without.
I know.
Have you ever seen him with that one?
Pastor Tom?
Yeah.
Yes.
In pictures?
Yes.
And no, I'm pictures.
And I'm like, who is that?
Who is that guy?
Well, it depends on if he was very heavy and had a fat face.
Yes, that's pretty much the ones I've seen.
Yeah, well, he doesn't look like that when he's thinner.
Right.
He doesn't have the fat face.
His eyes are squinting with the fat face.
So, and his cheeks are quite full.
Yes.
It's totally different than skinny face, not a shave top.
Mm-hmm.
So.
Totally different.
Well, let's go on.
Okay.
Radiant aesthetics and permanent makeup.
Listen, guys, that's not the one.
That one, girl.
You didn't tell me.
You didn't warn me.
I know.
How dare me?
It's more concerned about my hair.
I know, I know.
Listen, facials.
Everybody's got dry faces right now.
Yeah.
From the weather.
Yep.
Wettha.
It's sweater weather.
Sweater weather.
I'm not saying it that fast.
I might say something inappropriate if I said that best.
Sweeter weather.
Listen, people.
Get a facial.
That's what I'm going to say.
Man, my face is so dry and I lotion it up.
Me too.
Twice a day.
You know what I did the other day?
What?
You know, back in the day you would boil some water in a pot and then like hover over it with a towel.
Yes.
That was me the other day.
Did you feel good?
Really good after it?
Oh my gosh.
Like it lubricated all my orifices.
Oh my gosh.
Oh my gosh.
And my face.
Oh, my gosh.
My eyes, my nose, my mouth, everything.
Oh, my gosh.
Oh, my gosh.
That could have been a tech.
Yeah, I know I should have.
It was great because everything was just so like, it was starting to like get.
Cresty.
When you breathe and it hurts because it's so dry.
That's what they're saying right now.
We're not used to it.
So, like, it's so dry outside for us because it's so cold.
Like, all of us are like, when we blow our nose.
Right.
I'm like, what is, like, I'm not congested at all.
Yeah.
But the boogers are coming out of there.
We're not built for this.
Not built for this.
We are not built for this.
So instead of doing what I did, which was the ghetto version of a facial, just treat
yourself treat yourself yeah super nice though it is beautiful that's why we live here right now yeah
yeah well you're with uh tracy you're gonna get dermaplaining nano infusion microneedling
hydrodermabrasion facials brow uh lemon lamination tent permanent makeup i'm having to squint
waxing and more and more and i've done everything on
that list except for permanent makeup. I've done permanent makeup, I think. Isn't that one? Yeah,
I'm actually going back to see her. Yes. Yes. I think I've done everything on that list,
but the permanent makeup. It's pretty great. She has over 20 years experience and you can book
online or give them a call or give her a call. You won't be disappointed. I can tell you that. And here's
another one you won't be disappointed. And if you need an appraisal, contact real estate appraisal
Associates of Southwest Florida. It is owned by Laura Keller. Great human being since 2005 real
estate appraisal associates has delivered some of the most accurate certified home appraisals in
Southwest Florida with clear upfront pricing no-him fees and fast turnaround times. They make the
appraisal process simple and stash free. No more waiting two weeks for results. Your appraisal
is typically completed with two to four days. And I'm telling you right now, I've had to wait for
appraisals. And two to four days is great, especially if you're waiting to put your house on the
market. Why get an appraisal? There are several smart reasons to have a certified valuation done.
When you're selling your home, you ensure that you're not underpricing your property. If you're
inheriting a property, avoid unnecessary estate taxes. Property tax concerns confirm your home
is assessed accurately so you're not overpaying, preparing to list, prevent overpricing, and having
your home linger on the market. Over 10,000 completed appraisals, locally owned and operated for
more than 30 years, state certified, highly experienced appraisal team with a hundred
percent money back guarantee on their appraisal services. That's how confident they are.
Providing residential appraisal services in Charlotte, Sarasota, Manatee, DeSoto, Hillsborough,
Pinellas, and Lee. If you mentioned that you heard about them from the Hope Hotline, you'll get a $50
discount. Give them a call at 941-743-3-3-3700. Hanson automotive services has been serving
self-with Florida since 2017, backed by over 20 years of hands-on automotive experience from
routine oil changes and new tires to AC repair, engine work, and full engine replacements.
They handle it all with excellence and integrity.
They're not only committed to do their best.
They're automotivated to keeping you safely on the road.
Hanson operates with Proverbs 163 at the core of everything to do.
They do, which is commit to the Lord, whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.
Give them, we'll call it 941-4603-962.
Okay.
I am very excited about this topic because I think it is a very misunderstood
when we talk about the word grace,
I think grace is very misunderstood what it is.
And so what we're going to talk about what grace is and what grace is not.
We probably will not get it done today because we are 36 minutes left.
We know how that goes, people.
But what we're going to talk about first is what grace is.
And the number one thing that I really want to convey in what we, when we talk about this subject is, is grace is not the excuse to be able to sin.
And it seems like in today's modern Christian culture, that's really the word that is permitting.
or permissive for sinning.
A lot of churches will use that as a crutch,
the word grace, as a crutch for people to not walk in obedience.
Grace will cover it.
But that's not what the word says at all.
So it's very, very dangerous when you take a word and you use it and you
make it be something that it's actually not defined as.
Grace is God's unearned favor.
Right.
Okay.
You can't, you cannot get, you cannot earn grace through,
you cannot earn grace through human achievement.
Okay.
You are not going to be able to do that.
Only God can provide that for you by what he did on the cross.
So you can't earn it by the things you do.
And a lot of times people,
there's also denominations that teach you that you work for it.
You can't work for it.
You can't earn it.
It is something that is only provided by him.
And it's his favor that is provided to you through it.
Does that make sense?
Ephesians 2, 8 through 9 says,
God saved you by his grace when you believed.
And you can't take credit for this.
It is a gift from God.
That's why I say you can't get it through human achievement.
You can't work for it.
You can't earn it.
It is something that is only provided to you when you believe in him,
and it's a gift from him.
And you can't take credit for that.
Because I think a lot of times if we as individuals could own a part of our salvation,
then we would go back to thinking it's us.
And there would be pride involved in,
Look what I did.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So, but with him, it's not even possible.
Now, before I go and I, what I did is I pulled some stories in the Bible that I think are, like, exemplify, like, what grace really is and what it looks like when you really make a radical change in your walk.
by understanding what salvation is provided through the grace that was given to us.
But before I do that, you guys want to add anything to what I said?
And then obviously on the different ones, the different people that I bring up,
you're going to want to add to your two cents, I'm sure.
Good.
Yeah, we're good.
All right.
The first example is the thief on the cross.
Yeah.
That's good.
Yeah.
I mean, he was a criminal.
And one received the Lord, one.
And they both, like the one mocked him horrible.
And his friend.
Well, I didn't say they were friends.
They just said they were two criminals.
So maybe they weren't friends.
But they knew each other.
And so one mocked him and one stood up for Jesus.
And the one that stood up for Jesus became saved.
But it says one of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed.
So you're the Messiah, are you?
Prove it by saving yourself and us too while you're...
Prove it by saving yourself and us too while you're at it.
But the other criminal protested, don't you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die?
We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn't done anything wrong.
And then he said, Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.
How powerful is that this human understood who Jesus really was?
Yeah.
The power of that.
Like, how did he know?
I know.
Yeah.
Like, from just being purely in his presence, because it didn't say that he saw all the
miracles that he did, which was proved it, which proved that he was the true and the true Messiah
because it said the Messiah will do all these things.
The Old Testament foretold what the Messiah would look like as far as what he would do
when he walked this earth.
and he fulfilled all those things and one extra thing.
But that doesn't say this criminal even saw that
that Jesus did, he fulfilled the prophecy of who he was,
but somehow he knew.
And how did he know outside of the powerful anointing
that Jesus carried in his presence?
I mean, could it be that?
I would have to say yes.
I know.
Yeah, not enough information.
To say otherwise.
Right.
To say that he knew him that he was for any other reason, right?
Right.
And Jesus replied, I assure you today, you will be with me in paradise.
So let's think about this.
There was no baptism.
Boom.
No baptism.
And there was no restitution.
Mm-hmm.
There was only grace.
Yeah.
He couldn't fulfill, like he couldn't come down off that.
cross get baptized and he couldn't provide restitution like Zacchaeus does for the sins that he had committed
he didn't even say a salvation prayer because it says all we have to do is believe but there are
there are scriptures that say you must confess your sins and it's almost like he did in that moment
because he was like admitted that he knew he was wrong and and Jesus was not right truth yeah yeah
The heart already was professing that they had served.
They had done something.
There was nothing religious about this.
Correct.
They had done something to earn being crucified when he had done nothing, which is your right,
Tracy.
He professed his wrongdoing.
So maybe that was enough.
Maybe that was enough for him confessing his sense.
Right.
Because I think a lot of times we put as believers, we're like, it has to look a certain way.
They have to like repeat.
eat after me and do this like thing and it's like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
But lots of people don't get saved that way.
I mean, lots of people do.
Yeah, right.
Lots of people do.
And that's okay.
But lots of people don't.
Right.
Right.
I mean, it's a wonderful thing when somebody can go in their, what they don't even know is a
prayer closet.
True.
Go in and have a moment alone with the Lord and say, I want to get my life right before you.
Yeah.
You know, save me from myself.
Mm-hmm.
That's a beautiful thing when you can do it that way.
Yeah.
True.
But let's look at Zacchaeus.
And what does Zachius do?
I love this guy.
If you don't know who he is, you need to learn who he is.
Because, man, he was radical.
He was radical.
When he made his conversion, that's why it just floors me when you'll hear people say,
come as you are you know Jesus will take you as you are and that's not true that's not true
that's not true Jesus may take you in the moment when you're giving your life to him he may say
to you okay you know I receive you your sins are forgiven but then there's an expectation of
major change yeah say no more what is that sin no more send no more thank you
That's what he told the woman that was having an adult an adulterist affair.
The woman at the well.
Mm-hmm.
Yep.
Go and send no more.
Yep.
So the lie in the modern day church is you can get saved.
You can say the same way you are or make minor tweaks here and there.
But God is working on you and it's a process.
And that's not true.
It's not because if that's the case,
then Zacchaeus could have stayed the same way he was.
The woman at the well wouldn't have had to go and send no more.
Like, it's not true.
In Luke 198, it says, I will give half of my wealth.
This is what Zacchaeus said.
I will give half of my wealth to the poor.
And then he said, Lord, because he's speaking to Jesus when he's saying this.
I will get half of my wealth to the poor, Lord.
And if I have cheated people on their taxes,
I will give them back four times as much.
I want to talk about a radical change.
Talk about making restitution for your wrongs.
Oh my gosh.
That is powerful.
It is really good.
Like true transformation happens when you make statements
and your actions follow those statements.
A lot of people talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk.
But they don't ever follow through.
Never. Ever.
Now listen, that video that I wanted you to have, what I'm going to do is I am going to kind of use it.
And I'm hoping it'll come together in the manner in which I want it to.
It might not make sense.
But I'm hoping that people will, it will make sense to them.
Okay. We'll make it make sense.
And if it doesn't, well, it doesn't really matter because everything you hear, you can learn something.
A hundred percent.
So if it doesn't come out like I really want it to, it'll be all right.
I'll do it best.
But just know, Tracy, I want to use that thing before we leave.
Okay.
It might follow through here.
So in order for Zacchaeus to prove that he was a transformed human being by receiving the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, he had to take measures to prove that he was a transformed human being by receiving the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
He had to take measures to prove.
that he was a different person.
And in order to do that,
he was going to write his wrongs.
Because when you have to write your wrongs,
first of all, you'll never make them again.
They cost you something a lot of times,
whether it be pride,
having to be humbled,
financially,
which was him.
It probably was a pride thing too,
because, like,
he was no long,
I mean, he was a very wealthy person.
And that wealth was going to,
to be diminished. If you're having to give four times as much as what you took from somebody,
that's going to cost you something, because I can guarantee you he didn't cheat just one person.
He cheated many people. He was a tax collector, if I remember correctly. So, and then people
hated tax collectors. That's one of the reasons why Matthew was so hated, because they stole,
they lied, they cheated. So did the Roman soldiers. They did the same exact thing. And, um,
In order for you to really show that you're saved and you walk in the grace that's been provided to you,
you're going to look different.
And you're going to be, you're going to act different, you're going to look different,
and you're going to talk different, and you're going to be obedient.
All of those things follow a true believer that walks in the grace that's been provided to them.
and you're going to see it in scripture.
So, let's see, Titus 2.11, which you're going to hear in another spot of this, it says,
the grace of God has been revealed.
It teaches us to say no to ungodly things.
If that's the case, then let's think about this.
And you might want to write this down.
But what I would tell you is this, grace just doesn't forgive.
It transforms a person's life.
And I think the last part is what we're missing so much in the modern day church when people are being saved.
What's happening is people are saying a sinner's prayer in the modern day church,
but they're not becoming disciples.
And that is a way different thing.
He said that we're to win the loss and make disciples.
A disciple is a person that walks and talks and acts like Jesus.
Somebody who's saved, that's why the parable of the sower is so should resound in people's minds and ears because really it shows how many people get saved but how often they really follow through and make it to the very end.
Because narrow is the way and the world will pluck you out if it can or you'll say it, say a sinner's prayer, but you didn't really mean it.
I mean, there's variables like the peril of the sewer that shows that the cares of this life chokes a person out, so they walk away from the Lord.
There's only one real good seed that lands on good ground and it stays.
And those are the ones, the ones that it lands on and stays and stays are the ones that I would consider that would be called disciples.
And that's radical.
So let's see.
what I will say about this
and this is one of the things I wrote about Zacchaeus
is that and then you guys can add to it whatever you want
Jesus didn't tell Zachias
he had to do any of these things
Zachius voluntarily
said and did all these things
and I would ask you
like how many times
like I have counseled people over
and over and over again, and they want me to tell them what to do.
Yeah.
It's not my job to tell you what to do.
I'm going to help lead and guide you, but Zachias didn't have to have the Lord tell
him what to do.
He felt the prompting, whether it be the Holy Spirit or the conviction of knowing right
and wrong, and chose to do it.
What happens is, I think a lot of times people don't want to voluntarily change.
They want somebody else to tell them what has to be changed so that they can hang on
to the things, hopefully you don't know about or won't tell them that they have to. And they'll only do
the things that you do tell them to do because then they can hang on to the things that potentially
they really love. Does that make sense? Yeah, they don't want to radically change. I just want to
bring some good stuff in that might look out on the outside that you know about. Yeah. But I think
that if you've really made a radical change, if you've really gotten saved, then you,
radically want to change.
Yep. Right.
Turn your back.
Like when you have an encounter with like God,
you,
you start looking like,
you start looking inward and like,
get rid of all this stuff.
I am so like unworthy.
Like I just encountered a holy God.
Like my,
this right here is like filthy rags.
Take them away from me.
You know that in Romans,
I think it's Romans 12 verse 2.
I think Paul specifically said for people to evaluate themselves.
I mean, Romans 12 is super powerful.
But in that scripture, he's saying don't compare yourselves to anybody else,
but do a self-evaluation.
Which is exactly what you're saying right there.
David said it too.
He's like, search me, oh God, know my heart, know my anxious thoughts,
see if there's any wicked way in me.
and lead me in the way of everlasting.
Like when you encounter a holy God
and it's not just, you know, lip service,
like you start seeing yourself
through a different lens and you're like,
I don't want to be a part of this world.
Like I don't want anything to do with it.
It should lead you down to like the road of sanctification
and godliness.
Yeah.
Mm-hmm.
Because you don't want to offend
a holy god like he's holy like i don't know like that's just the way i see it like well and i think
that's where andrew walmax like once saved always saved kind of comes in too because he's like
if you really loved god you wouldn't want to sin right which is the ideal you know that is because
salvation that's the ideal thought process here's the thing because for him he doesn't believe
well he does believe but i do see what you're
I understand what he says, and I do agree with you.
Like, he doesn't believe that you would want to do any of those things if you're truly safe.
Right.
Like if it's true salvation.
Right.
But here's the only problem with that.
And you're talking about a big, huge fan of his.
But then he'll go in and say, but if you're living a lifestyle of sin, it separates you, it gives you an en route to the devil.
Right.
He doesn't say it separates you from the Lord, which that's what the word says.
It doesn't.
Well, you are giving an end.
road to the devil because you're separating yourself from God. You got to put you, you got to make both
statements very clear. Because sin and the Lord doesn't coexist. Right. So you are giving an enroad to Satan,
but if you live a lifestyle of sin, you're not saved. No. And he says, the longer you're not,
the longer that you live in that lifestyle, the more you harden your heart, which in turn
will cause you to be turned over to the devil.
that's not what the Bible says.
Right.
But I do agree with you because he honestly believes if you're truly saved, you won't sin.
Right, right, right.
So the question is, is to him, are you truly saved?
Are you truly saved?
Right, exactly.
And you can have an encounter and you can, you know, have that whole moment with the Lord
and then like go about your like normal life and like fall back into sin.
Yep.
You really could.
I've done it.
Right.
Unless you are renewing your mind every single day and you are, I love the four essentials
for this because it's very practical.
Unless you're doing those things, it's very easy to go back to a lifestyle of sin.
Yeah, because we're carnal.
And it starts with that little leaven, like that little decision you made in your mind.
And then you're okay with that little decision.
So then you make another decision and another one.
and it leads to.
And we're so good at forgetting.
Right.
We're so good at forgetting.
I know.
I know.
It's true.
It's true.
It is.
It's very true.
Yeah.
But if people would just understand that grace is not permissive, grace and obedience, they go hand in hand.
Yes.
It's not permission to sin.
It's not permission to sin.
They are like this.
Mm-hmm.
Yep.
And if you think that under the guise,
of grace that you can live a lifestyle of sin, you're literally slapping the blood that was shed
for you on that cross in the face. Not saying, thank you, Lord, that you shed this blood so that
I can still live however I want to. But man, I'm so grateful you died for me. Because that's the
way a lot of people think. Mm-hmm. Yeah. I know. No, they do. No, they absolutely do.
Yeah. Very true. Which is like, it goes back to Titus to
11 and 12. It says for the grace of God has been revealed. It teaches us to say no to ungodly living
and worldly passions. You cannot accept the grace and then live however you want to.
It doesn't go like that. And grace will lead you to being obedient. Or like I said, grace and obedience
are going hand in hand. Whatever you say, I'll say pertains to more of,
saying, but it also says that the Lord looks at the heart.
And out of the abundance of the heart, the mouse speaks.
So the Lord looks at the heart of the individual.
He knows if it's an obedient heart.
Those who love me obey my commandments.
That is true.
Not have grace as a crutch to do whatever the heck they want.
Very dangerous mindset.
Romans 6th, 17, through 18 says you wholeheartedly obeyed.
Now you are free from your slavery to sin.
So you have to obey.
Otherwise, you're a slave to sin.
Scripture is so clear and it is so freeing.
If you use it, apply it and live it.
True.
Yeah.
So I would say if you are obedient, then you are actually showing,
you know how like if you're in, if you were on trial.
if you were on trial and you committed a crime or whatever,
what do they always look at?
They look at the evidence to say whether or not you committed the crime
or whether you're guilty or you're innocent.
Listen, your evidence should show obedience.
If you live an obedient lifestyle, the evidence will show that.
And the evidence is what shows whether you're a true believer or a not.
if your evidence is perverse, corrupt, and sinful, you're not saved.
You're not saved.
And you can say grace has saved me all you want to, but you will be judged by the evidence.
Yeah.
And it's such a freeing way to live.
I just heard somebody recently say that like every time like another scandal's coming out,
another thing's coming out, like, oh, you know, YouTubers are like, oh, we're going to drop four new scandals that just popped.
if you know you're living in a scandal right now,
you have to be freaking out.
Wait a minute.
Wait a minute. Go back to this.
Okay.
So what do you mean YouTubers are saying,
besides the Bethel one that's out?
Yeah.
They're saying there's other ones coming out?
Yes.
There's already been other ones.
What are you talking about?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Listen,
I have been so in a cocoon recently
because I've had my nose to the grindstone
to a certain extent
trying to like focus on the beginning of the year
for the church.
Like I am not paying attention to anything social media-wise.
I'm like literally blinders on foundation church.
Yeah.
Yeah.
You're ruining my point right now.
I need you to say exactly.
Exactly.
So there's just, I don't know.
There's a, yeah.
Go ahead.
Tell me.
There's like a Todd White one that came out and the Bethel one came out and all of them.
So there's a specific YouTuber and he actually, you know who he is?
Hope?
No.
Do you remember the video that I posted the comment?
defending Jonathan and you saw it on Instagram.
And it was like, I was like, Jonathan, like, really helped my family in 2012.
And you saw it on Instagram.
And a bunch of people were liking it.
And you're like, I'm so glad you said something about that.
It's that guy.
That's the guy that's putting.
Oh, that went after Jonathan and you defended him?
Yes.
Is it the preachers with sneakers?
No.
No.
That's the guy that's doing this?
Yeah.
So he's the one that did the four-hour one that you think?
Mike.
Yeah.
Mike.
Yeah.
Yeah.
something.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah, so he is putting out stuff every time you find stuff.
Is he, like, got a investigative team or something?
Mike Winger.
I don't know.
I know nothing about him.
I didn't even know he was anybody when I commented that.
I just didn't like that he said something about Jonathan because he was taking the thing out of context, exactly.
He was completely wrong.
But he has, like, apparently a lineup that are going to be coming out.
Yeah.
He's the one that dropped the Bethel and the Todd White one.
Mm-hmm.
So he must have investigative reporters.
Something.
He's got a huge platform.
I had no idea.
I had no idea.
I didn't know who he was until he, like, yeah, started these videos.
Right.
I'm like, what is this?
But apparently, like, he's known.
So, but every time he says something about something coming out, people that are in scandal must be, like, panicking.
Because, like, you, that one text message that drop, that one, you know, person you told the wrong.
Like, you have to always be wondering, always watching your back, wondering if, like, the scandal's coming out on you.
So to live a life.
But here's my thing is, okay, so the Bethel is, was correct.
He was right about, yes.
He was correct about Bethel.
He brings out evidence every time he does these, like very, very, very long.
But he was wrong about Jonathan.
Well, those are like little clips.
These are like four hour, like videos about all the evidence.
Emails, witnesses.
Yeah.
And all these things that people, like Bethel came out and apologized.
I don't know what's going on with Todd White.
but all the ones that he has, there's evidence.
Like, yeah, documentation.
Yeah.
And this guy says he has, what does he go
only after the prosperity preachers or something?
I just learned about him.
Do you know anything else?
It's just whatever, like, whatever church is like,
no.
On YouTube.
Not being honest.
I don't think it matters what preacher.
Yeah.
Really?
Yeah.
I'll look at his thing.
I've never even, I, like, didn't even realize who he was until today.
He did one with a guy that he was very close to.
Oh, really?
That they ended up, yeah.
Okay.
That they ended up getting in an argument.
He's almost a million subscribers on YouTube.
Holy.
And I saw part of it.
I didn't finish any of them.
But his delivery is very much not emotional.
Very much, here's the facts.
This is what's, what the evidence is.
So it doesn't look like he always does this.
He has like Romans verse by verse.
He has the gospel of Mark.
He has how to find Jesus in the Old Testament.
I think he also has a podcast.
Yeah.
Like teaching on scripture and stuff.
Yeah.
But it does look.
He's at something on here.
It says Word of Faith.
New Age and Word of Faith.
So he definitely has Kenneth Copeland's on here.
So he has a problem with.
Yeah.
If he's verse by verse,
he might be like reformed.
That's what I was thinking.
Yeah, but the point of that was to say,
when you are living a very clean life and you do put everything in place,
you make sure, you know, you've done everything.
I mean, I don't know.
I think that's why David also, like another one of his prayers
were created me a clean heart.
Yeah, and remove.
Right.
And, and, and, and, and, and, and created me a clean heart and restore right spirit within me.
He was constantly kind of like, check me, Lord.
Yeah.
Like, check, like, know my heart, see my heart.
Because if you, if you stray too, too far, too long, you get caught up in scandals.
And, and David did get caught up in a scandal.
Right.
He sure did.
Gifts and callings are irrevocable.
So it's real quick.
I mean, it's real easy to be like, well, God's still using me.
Right.
And then out of pool.
Here's my thing.
Okay.
Is how wrong, how wrong is it of this guy to be exposing these truths?
Like, I don't know about the Todd White one really to speak about how scandalous that really is.
Because I don't think with Todd White, it's really about his temperament, correct?
I don't know.
I think it was mostly about his temperament.
I don't know that much about it.
I watched like maybe 30 minutes of it.
I think a lot of it had to do with mismanagement of funds as well.
I heard that too.
Okay, well then that's not good.
But I know that's true.
Yeah.
If that's true, then that's not good.
Yeah.
The other one had to be exposed, in my opinion.
Right.
Because that was bad.
Yeah.
That was really, really bad.
my thing is is like we're not to touch god's anointed correct yeah yeah but these things have to be
exposed right so where does that fall in line like for him to have done what he said about jonathan
he was completely wrong about that yeah yeah it's yeah that's a slippery slope that i would not want to
I don't want to be riding.
I would not be riding that vehicle.
No, no, thank you.
I know.
Because.
But like when you make a ministry out of anything, like who, who, like the deliverance
ministry and the healing.
Like we should just be doing everything, right?
And so the calling out is that a ministry?
Like that's what you do?
That's where I'm like, well, he doesn't, apparently that's not all he does.
This is why I'm kind of like bringing this right up because I was going to call him
out, like, because it appeared as that, it's all I did. But now you're saying,
no, no. Which now we're talking about a whole different thing besides grace, which happens all the time.
But, but, like, we're going to go down this rabbit hole really quick, side. Sorry.
Well, you know, there's very many, there's many tributaries. Oh, I could still see grace in this.
Yep. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah. But, yeah, I get what you're saying, hope. I don't, I don't know.
Like, because here's the thing, like, like with COVID.
Churches needed to be called out.
Yep.
Right.
When you have a public platform like that.
And you're abusing it.
And you're abusing it.
It calls for open rebuke.
Yeah.
It does.
So where is what he's doing wrong?
I don't know if it is.
I don't know if it is.
I really don't know if it is because, and listen, I have respect.
I don't know who Todd Light is,
but obviously I have some element of respect for Bethel.
I don't really know them,
but I don't have a lot of respect because they closed for COVID
when they were big on healing and faith
because it made them look like complete hypocrites.
Right.
But they put out killer music, guys.
I know.
I mean, their music is really good.
Gives and calling.
That's what I say.
That's what I say too.
I'm always like, well, it's irrevocable.
So, of course.
It is.
Yeah.
But,
um,
I know.
But somebody has to like, that man was a wolf in sheep's clothing.
Yes.
And that, the darkness needed to be exposed.
Yeah.
Yep.
So how wrong are people when they actually do it unless their motives are incorrect?
And I guess this guy's, the guy himself and God only knows whether this guy's heart is correct behind everything he's doing.
Right.
You know, that's some bad stuff.
I know.
And people's lives have been hurt by it.
Yeah.
Yep.
People have walked away from the Lord because of it.
With shame on them for allowing a human being.
I know.
I know.
To be their Jesus.
Right.
Exactly.
But when you get saved for the wrong motives or when you get saved and everything
that you place your Christianity on, that's not true discipleship.
True.
And that's, I mean, but a lot of churches, and I'm not saying this about Bethel or Todd White or anybody else, but a lot of churches make a man.
True.
Like the guy in the pulpit, like a god.
The church does it.
The staff do it.
The pastor himself does it or her.
It is a dangerous thing because you are going to cause somebody to potentially fall.
And the word is very clear about that as well.
So make sure you make sure that how things are set up is where it's God focused at all the time, the whole entire time.
That God is the main focus.
Right.
That salvation only comes by one man and it ain't the pastor.
And I've heard you say this before.
Like you don't allow anyone really to like speak a word over you.
No.
And so a lot of people were given words and it was like,
And they took it for like God's words and they've all they altered their entire life because of it.
Made decisions off of it.
I'm very careful who I allow to speak over me.
But it's so funny because like I like Magalas, I'll give me an example.
Magalas doesn't let anybody pro over her or speak over her either.
She does not.
And I didn't know that.
And people in ministry don't realize, like, she's literally had people who wanted to come and speak over her, and she found out about it.
And she has made sure that she left before they were able to.
And these are like people that are, that people would long, like you were saying, that would love for somebody to say something over them.
It doesn't matter if that person has a name or they don't have the name.
Right.
You know, you need to have discernment.
discernment before you let anybody speak over you.
And if you don't know them, be very careful.
Yeah.
Be very, very careful.
And even when you do know that, even though you do know them, like go back to the Lord,
like go back to God.
And make sure it's okay, because she let me.
But she, but she doesn't, she told me I let you, but you need to know.
Like I, not that she was surprised that she, but she's like, I felt compelled for
for me to come up and have you pray over me.
And if you had a word for me, then I would receive it.
Which God did have a word for her and actually came to pass, which, thank you, Jesus.
That's always a great feeling.
Thank you, but the thing is, but you should be careful.
Because even if you know them, doesn't mean you should let them pray over you.
But if you don't know them, it doesn't mean that you shouldn't let them pray over you,
but you should discern whether you should.
I would, like, well, for us here at the church,
church, and I tell people all the time, like, you're not going to speak over Tom and myself.
If I don't know you and you're, the odds are, you're not speaking over us.
It's not happening because words matter.
They take root.
And I don't want to pull up a weed.
So I'm not doing it.
So be very, very, very careful.
I don't know where we're going with that, but it's so true.
Yeah.
It's so, oh, because of that guy was speaking lies over people and destroyed people's lives
because they believed him.
But here's my thing is they can only blame that prophet so much.
They received that word.
They believed that word.
And they really should have asked the Lord.
Lord, is that a word for me?
Right.
Because they would have, if they had a relationship with the Lord, they would have heard him loud and clear say, that's a lie.
Yeah, there would have been a check.
It would have been a complete check.
Literally.
Yep.
Uh-huh.
If it produced bad fruit.
Yep.
Definitely.
Yep.
Yep.
Yeah, so take accountability.
Realize that you were tricked and then don't walk away from God because you didn't check in.
And don't let it happen again.
And don't let it happen again.
Exactly.
Don't let it happen again.
We're going to go.
I'm going to finish up really quick with, yep.
Thank you for that because I was going to say I need that, but you beat me to the punch.
Okay, good.
We're going to finish up on what grace is.
And John 1415, which is what I already said, it says, if you love me, you obey my commandments.
But love shows itself through obedience.
Grace does not cancel out those commands.
And a lot of times people will use grace as a means to slack off in obedience.
That's not what it says.
grace is not your excuse to cancel out the commandment to be obedient.
Matthew 517 says,
I did not come to abolish the law,
but to accomplish their purpose.
So if you think that we don't live under the Ten Commandments, we do.
But and some.
So if you look at everything, the do's and the don'ts that is in the word,
it clearly says if you do these things,
you will not inherit the kingdom of heaven.
Those things are actually in the Ten Commandments.
So then there are some beyond that.
So he not only took the Ten Commandments,
he didn't abolish it, he added to it
of our dues and our don'ts for our protection
and our boundaries that will secure us
and our salvation.
James 217 says faith by itself isn't enough.
Unless it produces good deeds,
it is dead and useless.
So I ask you this question, like your faith.
Your faith is your belief in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Your faith is your walk with the Lord.
Your faith is Christianity.
And I would say to you, what are you producing?
Is it good deeds or is it dead and useless?
Because if you examine your fruit, which is exactly what Vanessa was saying,
and it says it in Romans 12, examine yourself.
You need to examine yourself.
what are you producing?
Be honest about it.
And then if it's not good, then you need to change radically.
Now one of the things, Tracy sent this to me and I was like,
we got to play this today.
One of the things that I think why people don't ever see the things that they ever really want
in their walks with God and in their, I would say they're spiritual and they're carnal
walks. I mean, because we have things of our flesh that God actually wants to bless us with.
And those fleshly things like finances and marriage and all those things are really things
of the flesh that you can intermingle with your spiritual walk.
A lot of times people don't really see what they're wanting is because they quit every single
time. And we talk about this all the time because I hate quitting.
because you automatically fail when you quit.
Yep.
I mean, there's no two ways to say it.
Yep.
Nope, true.
And a lot of times, even with your Christian walk,
a lot of people quit because they think it's either too hard,
they can't have fun,
or it's just not for me,
or I'll do it later when I'm done sewing my wild oats.
There's a variety of reasons why people walk away from their walks with God.
But at the end of the day, you still quit.
And I'm telling you right now, there's a price to pay when you quit.
You'll either get the best end result, which is eternal life living in the kingdom of heaven,
or you'll live party hardy dude while you're on this earth.
That's a Gen X term.
Party hardy dude while you're walking this earth.
And you'll reap the consequences of that.
And you might not even be a party hardy dude, but you just don't really want to serve
him quitting will get you nowhere and i don't and i'm telling you right now there's a lot of you go
that may say i fail all the time in my christian walk i do lean on grace and i lean in in the in the wrong
way and so i maybe it's not for me but i would say to you never quit examine yourself never
quit and get it right and live for him because you're the reward that you're going to get if you
don't is one that I don't think anybody has the expectation that they're going to receive.
I mean, I really don't people, I don't think people really understand what Hello's like.
I know.
Yeah, same.
Because if you did, and I remind our youth kids what it is, not down there, partying with your best
friend and hanging out and drinking and smoking.
Like that's not what hell is.
So if that's what you think it is,
you need to go like really, really read
what the scripture say about it.
It's terrible.
It's torture.
Straight up torture.
It's a lifetime.
A lifetime.
And it's not a lifetime as in
like years on earth lifetime.
It's eternal lifetime.
Of sheer and utter torture,
turmoil, violence,
Like the worst of the worst that your mind could possibly conceive, that's what hell is like.
Yeah.
And don't quit in your own.
Don't quit.
Don't give up on being a Christian.
Amen.
Don't give up.
But this is a whole other thing because I feel like people quit on their walks with God all the time.
Don't give up.
It's worth the fight.
And when you go to heaven, you're going to be like.
like thank God because a lot of times people also give up because they don't think they're worthy
you are you are trust me in this but I love this video that you sent me because it's about somebody
who learned not to quit and I love people who are not quitters this could be you in any
this could be you in any part of your walk with God or if you're trying to stay on their straight and arrow with the Lord.
Even though it's not the same, it is the same if you choose to look at it, the same.
Because it's all about not quitting.
And the end result is so profitable.
Go ahead.
I just turned 21.
I made $26,000 last month.
And I want to read you a list of businesses I failed before I had any success making money.
because I failed about nine businesses.
Imagine I stopped at nine and I didn't start my 10th business.
Imagine you stop.
Imagine you stop right now.
You're just on the edge.
You know that picture of the minor?
Keep going, bro.
I'm telling you.
Okay?
I failed at trying to make music and sell my tight beats.
I failed at starting a clothing brand.
I tried Shopify drop shipping, Etsy drop shipping.
I tried to make UGC content for e-commerce brands.
I had a little bit of success with that, but nothing life-changing.
Then I tried to start my own.
e-commerce brands, a few of them actually, spent thousands of dollars on that, didn't go anywhere.
Affiliate marketing I tried to do, clipping.
I failed.
A lot.
I'm a failure.
But I kept going and I stayed consistent and I worked harder than everybody else.
And my 10th business blew up and started making me $5,000 a month, $10,000 a month, $15,000 a month.
At 18 years old, 19 years old, now I'm 21 years old.
So I've been making this type of money for a few years now.
One business is all it takes.
one video you post, just keep posting, keep starting businesses.
I have failed more times than you've even tried.
And that is why I'm successful.
And because of God.
Glory to God.
Work hard, put God first.
That's my best advice for you.
But, I mean, lots of us could say that about our Christian walk.
I mean, I've been doing this church now for 22 years.
And we've had lots of fails.
We've had lots of successes.
But the reason we have those successes is because we don't fail.
And if God's told you to do something, then keep mining it way at it.
Because you will finally reach the end of that tunnel and there's a light there.
Do it.
But if you quit your Christian walk, you are never going to get there.
And people quit all the time to the capacity of what God's called them to do.
I'll take, for example, if you feel like God's called you to be a worship leader,
And your voice isn't the greatest.
But it's good enough.
But you want it now so you quit because you can't have it now.
Instead of going and getting lessons to refine and get your vocals to a place,
but also a lot of times it's not your vocals.
It's breathing.
It's technique.
Like what else, Norma?
Placement.
There are so many different things that make you be a really great singer.
And all you're looking at is where you're at right now,
instead of looking at, okay, God's told you to do this.
He wants you to be a worship leader, and you're not there yet,
so you think, well, I'll never be there.
It's because you don't know what you don't know.
And if you quit, you'll never know it.
And you'll never become it.
So don't quit.
I love that kid is 21 years old and made $26,000 last month.
Why?
Because he didn't look at his failures and allow them to,
define him. He looked at those failures and learned from them and said, you know what? I'm going to
make the most of these situations and I'm going to make myself better from them. And we should
be doing that with our Christian walks. We really should. Instead of allowing grace to be a crutch
and sin to be a compromise, like go after obedience. Those who love me, obey me. And those who seek me.
He says, seek ye the kingdom of heaven and all his righteousness. And all these things will be added
done to you. If you want all the things that he has, they seek him first, never quit,
never give up and watch out. It'll blow your mind. I mean, literally, I'm not going to give away
anything, Tracy, but like the stuff that God's been doing for you is like, yeah. And what if
you guys had ever quit in life? Yeah. And there was times for sure. And I was like,
you're not a quitter. Because I couldn't see anything else for us. Like I didn't.
And then I knew what God told us, and he didn't tell me anything else.
So I'm just like, it's not time.
Like, this isn't how we end.
And actually, it says that 90% of startups fail outright.
So if you've made it past your startup, you're on good ground.
And it says 65% of businesses will shut down by the 10-year mark.
So most people give up.
And we don't.
And so I told God, you can rip it from my hands.
Just take it away and whatever.
Then we're done.
And he hasn't.
That's what happens with this.
church. Well, Tom's tried to quit a few times, but I won't let him. Right. But I'm just saying,
or he's like, well, I wouldn't let him. That's true. But a lot of times it's just talk because you've just,
you're just tired. Fighting and grinding and everything else. But if you don't quit,
right? Like, we wouldn't be sitting in this building. You read the reward. Yep. So the Bible says.
Yeah, right now. I mean, like, I look at the things like, we'll be announcing at a church on Sunday,
but I look at what God is allowing us to do this year,
and I'm just like, what if we quit?
Like hundreds of lives would not be radically either saved or changed,
saved and changed.
Because it's a matter of life and death.
What God is allowing us to be a part of this year is just,
you don't quit.
Don't quit.
Never quit.
Never give up.
Always accept.
If you lose something, accept it.
as a learning lesson and move on from there.
Because it's powerful.
Don't quit your walk with God.
Biggest mistake of your life.
I really feel like it's really important for somebody out there.
You may not be watching right now,
but you may come across this podcast,
and I'm just telling you right now, don't quit.
Keep moving forward.
You're going to be shocked at what God has in store for you
and your life if you don't.
And that's it.
We'll see you Wednesday.
And we're going to learn what grace is not on Wednesday.
Friday.
Friday.
What grace is not.
Bye.
Real talk.
