Have you ever been under pressure? Surely you’ve faced a situation where success or failure was up to you. How did you perform? Did you rise to the occasion, or did you falter under the weight of what was going on? How can we even hope to succeed in high-pressure situations? All it takes is one word: Practice. In week 2 of our series Launching In Victory, Pastor Charles teaches us the importance of practice and how it prepares us for our purpose. If you’re looking to grow in your purpose, this message is for you! Make sure you share it with a friend!
hi my name is Bree and I have the
privilege of serving as Chief of Staff
here at Transformation Church at TC our
vision is to represent God to the lost
and found for transformation in Christ
and we just want to say thank you so
much for tuning in from wherever you’re
watching from if you haven’t already be
sure to like And subscribe we believe
that God has a word just for you so
let’s jump into today’s message
I want to officially welcome you to week
two of our series everybody say it with
me launch in Victory
this is week two of our series and I
want to say welcome if you’re just
joining no matter where you’re watching
from uh we’re so glad that you’re here
my name is Charles I get to Service uh
one of our pastors here and it means the
world that you would join us uh no
matter your where you’re joining from
and you need to know we have a Clear
Vision here at Transformation Church if
you’re in the room and you know it I
need you to say it with me we’re gonna
say it on three one two three we are
here to represent God to the lost and
found for transformation in Christ
that’s why we exist that’s why our
church is here to represent God to the
lost and found for transformation in
Christ what does that mean well that
first word represent is we want to show
God in a new way if you’re honest many
of us we have a picture of God or we had
a picture of God that wasn’t absolutely
accurate uh we got pictures from people
we knew people who said they were
Christians but acting like just he just
cut you off flip you off do all the
things above me talking about like
praise God I’ll be praying for you it’s
like one okay
um but we all have a picture of God but
we want to show a true picture of God to
the lost and the found so that means uh
if you grew up in church your whole life
or you’re saying I want nothing to do
with God from anywhere from uh The
Atheist to the person who considers
themselves an ambassador of God wherever
you fall in that Spectrum this is a safe
place for you to belong before you
behave before you believe what we
believe believe you can belong here and
we’re so glad that you’re here and uh
again we’re in a series called launch in
Victory and uh this series is centered
around and uh really exciting because we
about to launch our church live Services
is anybody excited today
we are back on October 2nd October 2nd
it’s been
um I think 300 years now since we’ve
been back in our building and uh man A
lot has happened in these years listen
I’m coming back back with multiple
children you know I’m saying a lot
happened during the pandemic some of
y’all anyways um but and have nothing
else to do they told us to stay inside I
obeyed okay uh but we are so glad uh to
be back gathering together and I said
this last week but the church has always
been built on a growing Community a
giving Community a community that meets
in groups and a community that gathers
and uh we’re excited to be gathering in
the context of having more people
joining together but I want to encourage
you because there’s so many people all
over the world who are part of this
community even if you’re not able to be
at the physical building here when you
gather in your home with your belong
group with your community God’s spirit
is right there in the middle of that
thing and we believe that God is growing
this church around the world it’s not
just something that’s here and it’s not
just a moment that we’re happening but
it is a movement that God is doing so
we’re so grateful but you got to let us
know that you’re coming again there’s
only three thousand seats in here so if
ten thousand y’all show up you’ll be
standing at research talking about like
I want to get in well praise God you’re
gonna have to come back next week crazy
Faith you may just be sitting there
looking crazy and then God will throw
the faith on it two weeks later when we
actually got space anyway ways God bless
[Laughter]
that really be happy to people like I
drove it’s like did you register no not
at all God told me I was getting in well
man ah either God’s wrong or you’re
wrong and so it’s not God so uh
please come though everybody come on
come on uh but launch in Victory is our
series and I’m really excited today I’ve
got a specific word but um last week we
talked about a safe place to start a
safe place to start and if you didn’t
watch I would encourage you to go back
and watch that sermon and what we talked
about is uh the place of prayer many of
us have ideas of what prayer is of what
we’re supposed to be doing in prayer how
we’re supposed to talk to God In Prayer
but prayer is simply a safe place to
start anything
um the idea of launch and victory the
word launch is simply means to start and
there are a lot of things that are
starting in our life some of you your
kids just went back to school and
they’re starting a new grade some of you
uh started a new job some of you are
starting new relationships and what
we’re trying to do in this series is
talk about principles that are necessary
to start so first we talked about prayer
and I’m very excited this week what
we’re going to talk about
um but I want to start off reading a
portion of scripture to you it’s Hebrews
5
um is the scripture and uh could I
actually sorry this is random can I get
some water I was shouting for my kids
and lost my voice Hallelujah
um
I’m going to read this thank you so much
Joe God bless you wow sorry this is just
incredible okay God bless everybody give
it up for Joe everybody thank you for
Joe
sponsored by Fiji no I’m joking not at
all okay um I’m gonna read this
scripture and uh and then uh we will
jump into the word of God this is what
the Amazing Word of God says Hebrews 5
starting in verse 11. we have a lot to
explain about this
but since you have become too lazy to
pay attention
oh man Paul really coming out the gate I
want to tell you a lot
um but you’ve become too lazy to pay
attention
explaining it to you it’s gonna be hard
now you should be teachers
instead you still need someone to teach
you the elementary truths of God’s word
let me just put it you need milk
that’s you just your baby you can’t have
no solid food all those who live on milk
lack the experience to talk about what
is right
they are still babies
however solid food is for mature people
‘s whose minds are trained by practice
to know the difference between Good and
Evil
we about to unwrap this beautiful gift
that God has given us today I’m going to
pray one more time Holy Spirit would you
speak
amen
um okay I have a question I start all my
sermons out with a question there’s no
spoiler alert here I start off with a
very low uh level entry question so that
we’re all on the same page uh here’s the
question raise your hand have you ever
been under pressure raise your hand in
the room online if you’ve ever been
under pressure okay
um
I have a question are you good Under
Pressure are you good Under Pressure
somebody say raise your hand if you do
well under pressure raise your hand you
do well under pressure you clutch Under
Pressure come on where are the clutch
people at Under Pressure come on run in
the jib right here the camera operator
Better Be Good Under Pressure she out
here swinging that thing oh
some of us are good Under Pressure now
raise your hand uh you ain’t clutch
Under Pressure but excuse my uh French
you may be crap Under Pressure anybody
you don’t do well under pressure come on
this feels like pressure that’s why
you’re not raising your hand
I can’t do it if I raise my hand wrong I
don’t know it’s gonna be weird
some of us are better under pressure
than others and I want to use that
question today to talk about how do you
do Under Pressure
now for me if I’m honest uh one space
that I kind of flip-flop and have my
whole life when it comes to pressure
um it’s not something super significant
but it’s basketball we’re not basketball
players that anybody play basketball
watch basketball there we go one person
this will be a great illustration to get
everybody on the same page
um y’all know the story you may not know
the story but in sixth grade I was under
a lot of pressure it was the end of the
game I had two free throws to win the
game I missed both of them bawling my
eyes out and never played organized
basketball again
that’s how I deal with pressure you know
what I’m saying it was to say sixth
grade I didn’t have it in me I was like
you know those ugly cries
and then you just close your mouth
that’s what I did so I just cracked
under the pressure I didn’t do well and
um every time I go to play basketball I
think about that that’s real trauma I’m
like a grown man kids and I’m like
sitting in a free throw line with some
random people like okay man just don’t
blow it okay here we go and um I
actually started playing basketball
again because
um I I’ve been playing golf this is
random you don’t need these details
anyways started playing basketball and
there’s one guy that I play with his
name’s Makaya and Makaya is awesome he’s
like six foot 13 or something really
tall he’s got a wingspan the size of
this room and it’s awesome I love
playing with Makaya because my favorite
part of basketball is not the basketball
part anybody who plays basketball knows
the best part of basketball is not the
basketball
it’s the trash talk
and that’s where my skills come in into
key right there
I may not be able to shoot all the time
but trust me I can talk you into a
little hole and you feel like man I
don’t know what I’m doing out here and
that’s what I resort to when I’m not
playing well I’m like we should go watch
this here we go just mental uh yeah it’s
not good so me and Makai play and one
time we were playing we were getting
ready and I’m like doing all my
stretches because I’m the old guy now so
if I don’t stretch I will genuinely hurt
myself out there and uh this dude walks
in
now I’ve heard of this fool
but I’ve never met him before
all I heard about him was that he is
supposed to be or has had offers to go
play overseas professionally
exactly oh so you heard that she said oh
that’s what I felt I saw him walk in and
I was like okay man just I hope he
doesn’t guard you that’s all we’re
trying to do here I’m literally this I
don’t do well under pressure and I’m
thinking the game is about to start and
he goes all right I’ll guard PC and I
was like
ah like I and I immediately just felt so
much pressure I was like you gotta prove
to all these kids that you still got it
man you got to really go off you gotta
go crazy you get everything you’ve ever
had you better call on God you better
start speaking in tongues this is it man
this is the moment
so we start playing I’m not gonna lie
Makaya is my witness I kind of went off
the first couple shots you know I was
pulling out everything I had like all my
moves in the first three points were
gone I was just like trying to prove my
worth in all of it we come down we’re
going back and forth it gets to the end
of the game
and then we need one point to win we’re
tied and uh I come down I try to shoot
and I miss it just classic like I didn’t
make it but I’m like you know we’ll keep
shoot
now this fool
um
let’s imagine that this is half court
right here where I’m standing
naturally I’m standing back here in a
ready position you know what I’m saying
my coach time I’m ready to shuffle you
know what I’m saying I’m ready
I’m thinking Charles just don’t get
crossed over just like these are all I
have really tough self-talk when it’s in
basketball I’m like just don’t blow it
man
this man I saw it in his eyes
I saw it right when he’s looking at me
he’s looking at me and then out of the
coin he kind of like glanced down like
this like he looked out the bottom I was
like I thought what is he looking at I
don’t know what he’s in this all the
stuff go through in mind he takes his
heels are on half court
and he just goes
and I literally right when he shot it I
went from this I said dang man and I
just walked off the court and he cashed
it like cashed it turned around and
everything just walked off hands up I
was so depressed I went home that night
with Abby I was like babe I’m quit I
can’t do it anymore these kids are too
good why did he make that shot because
he’s somebody who’s clutch under
pressure
now here’s the thing um he was clutch
Under Pressure then
but we about to test
how clutch Under Pressure Makaya and
Aaron are right now Makai I need y’all
come up on the stage we about to do this
right here we about to see how clutch
Under Pressure look how cool they are
they walk like basketball players you
know basketball players got that walk
they they legs are long they can’t bend
their knees they get on the court so
they just walk
they be sore before they play anyways
okay I need them can I get a basketball
thank you okay here’s what we’re gonna
do
oh
be with me okay
we’re gonna see if you can hit that same
shot that you hit my face very
disrespectfully again for all these
people no pressure there’s just about 20
000 people watching and if you miss it
this lives forever on the internet so
it’s just forever that’s pressure Makaya
may God be with you um here’s what we’re
gonna do uh two shots you see how far
that is that looks like a hundred feet
why do we look three feet on this screen
anyways
um okay so we’re all gonna get two shots
and here’s the BET
um which if one of y’all win I’ll cash
up one of y’all a hundred dollars okay
so this is a lot of this money on the
line but if I win
you know if God happens to let that
happen
one of y’all got posts on your Instagram
that I’m better basketball than you I
think that’s a fair bet you know what
I’m saying just you gotta say
this is just for me I’m just like what
are you doing man okay oh man I’m so
nervous okay so here’s the line you get
two you go you go you go we all get two
shots all right Aaron go ahead go first
no pressure oh Jesus oh oh he hyping the
crowd up
[Applause]
oh no oh no
you better pray
oh no oh now they really need to make it
for the illustration to work so
all right y’all start praying for me
[Music]
[Applause]
okay one more shot one more shot
oh my gosh I feel so nauseous
oh
we may have to keep shooting out here
all day
okay now you got to fix that Rim you got
to fix the ring you see how the rim is
all bent up you see that just help me
Joe y’all want to come dunk real quick
to fix that Rim oh you’re gonna look
yeah that’s good keep it right there for
me if you could that would be
see you done broke the rim okay raise it
back up in the name of Jesus
[Applause]
oh Jesus everybody give it up for Makaya
I’m cash Avenue 100 Jesus
oh
I literally feel nauseous
um
go some are you thinking like why are
they playing basketball up there um
here’s the thing what makes people good
under pressure is different for
everybody
the reason I brought them up here and to
be honest with you if we kept shooting
those shots the rest day I promise you
they would hit
exponentially more shots than I would
it’s like it would just be ridiculous we
could go like how close I got on that
last one that’s about as good as it’s
gonna get for me from that this like
it’s just
but here’s what I realized um you should
only expect to perform under pressure
if you practice
the reason it wasn’t unreasonable for
him to step across half court and pull
up he wasn’t hoping maybe magically
something will happen and I’ve never
shot this shot before I’ve never tried
this before but this time some miracle
is going to happen and I’ll perform
under pressure
I want to ask you today do you expect
to hit shots in your faith
that you ain’t never practiced
we make following Jesus sometimes so
spiritual that you expect
you just go all of a sudden one day have
kindness in your heart
you just all of a sudden expect that
you’re gonna have the ability to show
love to people that maybe you don’t like
that you’re going to have the ability to
do but you actually if you’re honest
have you ever practiced the shot
today I want to talk very practically
around this topic practice makes purpose
I gotta talk to you about your practice
today
because some of us are in this room
just like the people in Hebrews
and God is saying um there’s stuff I
want to tell you
and you you should be a teacher by now
but the honest truth is the scripture
says it this way your mind has not been
trained
not by prayer
prayer is important we talked about
prayer last week but he doesn’t say you
need to pray more
he doesn’t say you need to praise more
he says you haven’t practiced
and some of y’all I see you looking at
me because like what are you talking
about I just think sometimes it’s funny
how we would have no uh ill expectation
to expect somebody the only reason you
would shoot that shot the only reason
you would expect to perform under
pressure is you’ve clearly practiced
that
but some of us walk through all of our
life having never practiced faith
and then you get under pressure talking
about God if you could just this one
time maybe
but you haven’t have you practiced it
how do you perform under
pressure
now maybe it’s not the pressure of a
game maybe it’s not the pressure of
shooting a shot on stage but maybe it’s
the pressure of your finances
and trusting God with your finances
maybe it’s the pressure of your marriage
and trusting God that he actually can do
something special in your marriage that
seems like it’s broken that seems like
there’s no hope for for it how do you
perform under pressure
and I want to talk about this because
many of us If we’re honest there are
different excuses that we have for
people who just seemingly perform better
under pressure
like even when it comes to sports like
if I like for some reason when I think
about like even why they perform and
literally it was like I was praying so
many prayers that air missed that shot
that’s why he missed it now I’m joking
he he consistently performs under
pressure and I used to think people
who’ve performed under pressure the
reason they did that well is because
like for them their example they just in
a prime you know what I’m saying it’s
like you play basketball it’s just a
matter of timing you just if I was young
I would have hit that shot but I’m not
young no more you know what I’m saying
that’s what it’s a matter of them being
in their Prime some people we say you
know people who perform Under Pressure
are people who are Pros they’re just
like that’s just what they do some
people pressure is just a piece of cake
but what I’ve realized
is the only way you perform under
pressure is if you practice
and I know this is very
Elementary today
but I’m following the framework of
Hebrews 5. where he says I want to tell
you super deep stuff
I want to talk to you in the context of
Hebrews 5. he’s explaining how God is
the ultimate high priest and Jesus is a
high priest in the order of Melchizedek
all these different things but he’s
saying I can’t really talk to you about
that right now
looks at what he says in the scripture
this is so powerful he says um you
become too lazy to pay attention
you should be teachers instead you still
need someone to teach you the elementary
truths you still need milk however solid
food is for mature people whose Minds
have been trained by practice
if you expect to see the fruit of the
spirit in your life when’s the last time
you practiced
the Fruit of the Spirit
like I know you was like love joy peace
patient when’s the last time you
practiced patience
like when’s that you consciously I am
because we say things and this is I want
to get very again very practical today
because
we say things and if you’re around
Christianity or faith for any amount of
time you’re he’ll think of you should
have spiritual practices like there’s
prayer is a spiritual practice reading
of God’s word is a spiritual practice
Warfare is a spiritual practice silence
and Solitude is a spiritual practice
gathering in church is a spiritual
practice but do you think of those
things as actual practice
do you think
when you’re sitting in traffic late for
your meeting
as an opportunity
to practice patience
no but you expect to be patient with
your wife
and you’d be mad at God where I’m I’ve
been praying God I’ve been but you’ve
never practiced
you’ve never practiced being patient
you think when you get married you’re
gonna all of a sudden stop looking at
porn
you ain’t practiced purity
you never practice this so why in the
world would it just all of a sudden
magically and we’d be like you got to
pray that away no some stuff you got to
practice
you don’t just get the price stuff away
you ain’t never practiced before
you haven’t practiced Integrity so why
all of a sudden when your business get a
lot of money and blow up would you start
all the sudden living in Integrity you
never practiced it in the small business
when you were stealing food from the
chicken nuggets when you was working
[Applause]
that’s not that big of a deal okay
it’s not that big of a deal until now
you got more money more business and
what happens what do they say practice
not makes perfect practice makes
permanent
so practice whatever you want to right
now but do not expect to have a
different result under pressure for
something you have never practiced
[Applause]
you cannot here we go I’m going to say
it in a point my first point how you
perform under pressure is predicated on
your practice
how you perform under pressure is
predicated on your practice now here’s
the thing
um you need to know this you do not
and I’m going to actually show it to you
biblically because some of y’all think
this is just an idea that I made up and
actually practice is a Biblical
principle all throughout scripture but
you just overlooked it because you found
all the scriptures about prayer
you don’t reach purpose without practice
you don’t
reach purpose without practice
don’t believe me okay first Samuel 17.
David
he steps he’s stepping into a moment
that we would all perceive as a huge
moment of purpose
he’s going to face Goliath
he comes up to the Army
there’s these two armies one on one Hill
one or the other and there’s this Valley
and there’s a huge guy in the middle
probably the size of Makaya roughly just
really tall
and he’s yelling and defying the armies
of the Living God
and the Israelites are standing on one
side and David walks into this moment
and he’s like yo what are we going to do
about old boy what’s up like the most
gangster this is the most disrespectful
roast in all of scripture and the only
reason I could say it is because it’s in
the Bible he said what are we going to
do about this uncircumcised philistine
I was like dang David let’s go
disrespectful
he comes in
and he starts talking well what are we
going to do and he goes to the King King
Saul and he says let me go out there and
fight it let me go do it and this is
where the Bible shows us that practice
is a principle of reaching purpose look
what the Bible says but David persisted
I’ve been taking care of my father’s
sheeps and goats when a lion or a bear
comes
to steal the lamb from the flock I go
after it with a club and rescue the lamb
from its mouth if an animal turns on me
I catch it by the jaw and Club it to
death I have done this look at this to
both lions
and bears
not one lion and one bear he said I done
I’ve done this before to a bunch of
lions and a bunch of bears and I’ll do
it again
to this Pagan Philistine who has defied
the armies of the Living God the Lord
who rescued me in my practice the Lord
who rescued me from the clothes of the
lion the Lord that was with me in that
field will Rescue Me
from this philistine
Saul says all right go ahead and may the
Lord be with you
your purpose
is depending
on how much you’ve practiced
see you look at the scripture and be
like yeah God gave him the strength to
do to fight Goliath and he defeated
absolutely but this wasn’t the first
time he had tried to fight something
bigger than him
he didn’t walk out just being like I
ain’t never been in no battle I never
thought nothing bigger than me but God’s
just going to show up in a crazy way
absolutely he will but David’s
confidence to step into this moment of
purpose was not just some random gift of
random he literally is saying I’ve done
this to lions
and I’ve done this to bears
so yeah maybe he’s never fought Goliath
before
but the principle
something that seems like in your human
effort you couldn’t do it something
that’s bigger than you something that
feels like it should tear you to pieces
oh I’ve done this before
I wonder
how many seasons you’ve downplayed
and now you’re under pressure in purpose
scared and shaking in your boots just
like all the children of Israel why
because you didn’t practice in a
previous season
foreign
looking at me like I’m crazy
but what if the season that you’re in
right now
is practice
what if the reason you’re having you
feel like I’m facing these same things
lions and bears lions and bears God why
am I stuck in the same he said baby if
you will just wait I promise you can
practice right now
they should be encouraging to some of
y’all because you felt like you’ve stuck
in the same season God when I’m gonna
get to my purpose and here’s the thing
God cares about you so much
that he’s trying to prepare you
he’s trying to prepare you
but here’s the thing um we don’t like
practice
because practice happens in private
and you want to be able to show
everybody your come up
everybody know where you came from
everybody’s seeing you grow and take
over but nobody was there
when David was fighting lions and bears
that whole season of his life fighting
multiple lions and bears is a sentence
in Scripture
I know it feels hard right now
but I promise you some of you the
confidence when you step into your
purpose
you will sum up this whole season of
pressure in a sentence
I beat suicide and depression so there’s
nothing that can stop the Living God
I was having panic attacks and I was
about to make a dumb decision but God
did something miraculous in my life and
baby all that was just practice
[Applause]
I’m trying to give you some confidence
today to step into your next season what
if you stop looking at the season you’re
in as God not being with you and he’s
forsaking you what if he’s trying to
give you some practice so that by the
time you get under pressure it’s not
unreasonable so you think yeah I know
nobody’s done this in my family before
but I’ve practiced stepping out in faith
I went to the college that nobody said I
should go to I stepped out and gave that
car away when nobody said it made sense
and I’m standing here trusting God
because he’s with me and this ain’t the
first time I’ve done this before
this ain’t my first time doing this
you think this is the first time
and many of us
we walk through life
banking betting on God to do some
miraculous crazy miracle and you haven’t
put in one ounce of effort
well that’s all on God he gonna do it
that’s all on God he’s got it yeah he
does got it don’t get it twisted
but why didn’t God use all those men
shaking in their boots
why did he have to use David
because David trusted
and he was able to see in the moment of
pressure
this may be pressure
but God was with me back there
so this ain’t nothing
trying to tell us
practice
is a principle all throughout scripture
it’s all throughout scripture where we
see people stepping into moments
that seemed like well how did you do
that it was all practice when God asked
uh Abraham to step out into his tent and
go look at the stars and it says in
Genesis 12 that he believed God
the moment of stepping out and looking
out to the stars and God saying that’s
how many children you’re going to have
and then holding on to that word
was practice for 24 years later
When God says give me that gift back
how many of us have missed moments of
practice
here’s the thing that happens in this
story
David comes to the children of Israel
and they’re sitting there and they’re in
war and here’s what happens many of us
we don’t like practice because practice
happens in private
but for honest sometimes ourselves
and sometimes those around us we
downplay our practice
you just downplay it listen to how it
happens in scripture in first Samuel 17
28 he’s talking to his brothers because
he’s supposed to just be bringing uh
snacks to him he’s supposed to be doing
a random menial task but his brother
responds he says um what about those few
sheep you supposed to be taken care of
what what aren’t you I know you’re
trying to step into this big moment but
wow where’s your little sheep at
where’s that little that little little
job that you told me you started what
why don’t you go back to work and where
you were working
where’s that little book idea you told
me about where’s that little that little
non-profit that you were talking aren’t
you supposed to be doing that why are
you and many of us
have allowed people in your circle
to downplay your season of God having
you in private and practice
and let me be very well this is how a
lot of people step into leadership too
early
can I tell you I started a church
this is real life experience
I bet we ain’t up here just talking like
oh yeah ethereal at 23 I was like God
it’s time to go
God was trying to give me a season of
practice
before there was real pressure
I literally we were going through the
process of being approved y’all don’t
know this story part of my story me and
my wife we were in Ministry we were
youth pastors felt like we were supposed
to step out and start a church because
honestly I had a bunch of friends and
none of them wanted to come to the
church that I was at because they’re
like eyes just not relevant to me I just
don’t so I thought okay we’re just going
to create a place where all these people
can feel safe in the presence of God so
we start having once a month Gatherings
our first one there were a couple of
random people who are in the room right
now that were there and the first one we
prepared for like 30 people and 120
people showed up the guy who was running
the venue right before I get up on stage
the preak says you can never come back
here again you lied you said there’s
gonna be 30 people I said brother I
thought there was gonna be 30 people I’m
not lying to you I don’t know where
these people came from
literally I was so confused we go
through the process
literally 10 months uh six months in I
see a guy on Instagram
with rat behind his sermon
preaching the paint off the walls
it was your pastor Pastor Michael Todd
now this before relationship goes this
is before everything happened
and I literally I just dm’d him on some
random like hey man like I don’t know
what I’m doing uh could we maybe just
ask you a couple questions once a month
we go through long story short God
speaks to us 10 months into the process
to shut the church down and go Serve and
Protect pastors Michael and Natalie Todd
in the vision of Transformation Church I
served for six months with no pay get on
staff that was five years ago that’s how
I’m here that whole season
practice
but you know how confusing practice can
feel
God why did I even do all this
why’d I leave my job why do I got people
mad at me I raised up all this money
just to give it away I went through all
these courses just to get to nod I went
through God why would you have me do all
that he said you know what don’t worry
about it all of that 18 months that was
just practice
what if the thing you’re in right now is
God trying to give you a moment to
practice the very thing that you will be
depending on in a future season
but somebody told you that’s not that
big of a deal you still serving
you still doing that
you think yeah maybe I shouldn’t be
serving
maybe I shouldn’t be
you still go to church every Sunday but
you don’t need to do that you just not
that big of a deal just read your Bible
you don’t need to church just read your
Bible
you but what if God
is using a season to give you practice
and some of us
we don’t like practice because it
happens in private we don’t like
practice because it’s something that we
people can’t see we can’t promote some
of us feel like we passed practice
you’ve passed your season of practice I
practiced that already
I served my season
I know everything there is to know oh
so you the Alpha and the Omega the
beginning and the end
Paul’s talking to people who are part of
the early church that knew of Jesus
walked around Jesus and he’s saying yeah
it doesn’t matter how old you are there
are things that I’m trying to show you
that I can’t even start to show you
because you have not trained your mind
by practice
when’s the last time you practiced Grace
you know what you know what Grace is
there people should deserve something
there’s a certain payment that should go
on them and you release them of that
payment when’s the last time
someone did do you wrong
they say I’m going to practice Grace
don’t worry about it
when’s the last time
you were in a moment where you thought
you know what normally when I feel out
of control when I feel anxious when I
feel worried I take control of stuff
because control makes me feel safe
when’s the last time you practice peace
that transcends your need or desire or
want to understand stuff
you know I’m gonna practice the peace of
God and he says his peace will guard my
heart my mind and eyes and my soul so
right now God I thank you that you are
producing peace in me Lord God and I
thank you it’s not even for the season
but what you don’t realize is there’s a
season of head
were you gonna be in a storm
ain’t God’s
trying
to give you peace before you need it
because many of us just want stuff when
we need it
got to give it to me right in the moment
and he will
but you’re going to spend a lot of
effort and energy
and anxiety and fear and worry
unnecessarily if you would have just
practiced in the previous season
practice you can’t reach purpose without
it happens in private here’s the other
thing I’ve learned about practice
practice expands
your palate
practice
expands
your palette
I’m going to walk you through an
illustration in just a moment and I need
everybody to track in with me in the
room I need you to lock eyes online I
need you to listen in
um here’s the thing about practice it is
an opportunity to expand your palette
what do I mean by that let me give you a
little context this sermon today was
actually born out of a talk I did with
our creative staff about five years ago
the name of the talk uh is your paint is
the problem
and we’re going to use the illustration
today that involves paint so just get
ready all my people who’ve been like I’m
not that creative first of all that’s
not true because God Is Creative there’s
no way you his children and you ain’t
got creativity in your DNA so everybody
is co-creator
we’re going to talk about uh this and
here’s the the concept or the idea of
the illustration again here’s the point
uh practice expands your palate so go
with me we’re going to step into art
class right now is everybody good to
step into art class come on raise your
hand if you’re good to go to art class
all right
God wants to use you to paint
a beautiful picture in the Earth
there is a picture that God sees there’s
a beautiful Masterpiece that God sees in
the earth and God wants to partner with
you to paint it here’s the first thing
you need to understand when it comes to
this beautiful piece of art you are not
the artist
this is the thing we have to clarify
first because many of us think we are
the artist of our life the truth is this
guy right here is God
and that little paintbrush is you
you are not the artist God is the artist
and you are the paintbrush I know some
of y’all look confused like is that what
God really looks like yes I prayed and
he said Charles I put an image on Google
Search and that’s what I look like
everybody’s gonna be surprised when we
get to heaven
it’s just keep your attention God is the
artist you are the paintbrush and you’re
and your is the palette of colors God
has to work with
now I’m about to walk you through this
so just stay with me God is the artist
you are the paintbrush and your talent
you’re gifting your skill the tell he’s
hearing about the story in the scripture
where he calls the principle of the
talents he gave one he gave two he gave
five some of you he gave you the gift to
sing he gave you the gift to
administrate and he gave you the gift to
see people who were lonely God gave you
the gift of leadership he gave you a
business mind God has given you gifts so
he is the artist
you are the paintbrush and your skill
Talent OR gifting is the palette he uses
to paint the picture of your life and
practice expands your palate now
I need my two people to help me come do
this will and Don everybody get it up
for Will and Don give it up for Will and
Dawn
and we’re about to go to paint class I
hope you got some shoes that you don’t
care if I paint on oh great expensive
ones perfect okay
they have two pictures
um that God wants to paint in their life
a beautiful uh little palm tree here you
know whatever and let’s say
um Come a Little Closer here because I
don’t want to spill paint let’s say you
are born with the talent and the gifting
of yellow I’m getting paint on the stage
I apologize guys get close buddy I don’t
want to get so this is your gifting your
gift maybe will
um he has a good business mind and from
a young age you can see that man he’s
just strategic and he’s a good this is
the palette he starts with and for Don
come here Don real quick Don uh Don’s
just funny everybody think Don you have
a joke on you right now five seconds one
two three four oh too bad nope okay Don
his natural gifting that God gave is
he’s funny so that’s one of his colors
and usually at a young age your natural
gifting or ability is used very
obviously so this is what happens when
it comes to the painting of their life
um they’re obviously the sun because
that’s what they were gifted to do it
shows up like this people who maybe are
like Don and you just naturally are
funny in class you got Awards like the
class clown
you’re gifting the thing that God kind
of put on you naturally it was just
obvious like oh yeah they’re just always
funny they’re just always joking people
like will maybe Will’s life he had
natural leadership this was the stuff
that God gifted you with that on the
playground when you say hey guys let’s
go do this everybody naturally followed
you why because it was a gift God gave
you
and when he comes to paint in the world
when he says I need a leader he shows up
and he says oh I got one right here I
can use that
when he says I need somebody who can use
a sense of humor to draw people in and
then share truth with them he can come
to Don and say oh you’ve got that then
what happens is maybe you have other
gifting so don maybe uh he’s funny but
then he’s actually really good at
communicating like he has a way of just
talking those kids in class that get
like me I got in trouble for talking all
the time in class but God was you know
just sharpening me uh then uh will over
here he’s got like just the natural
leadership and just like a good business
mind you know he was the kid on the side
of the road that was selling lemonade
that was like I’m making money at six
years old I don’t know why you need that
money for it but
and here’s what happens
again God is the artist
you are the paintbrush and now he is
using the gifting and the palette of
your skill or talent to paint in the
earth so here’s what happens to
immaturity you know obviously how you’re
supposed to use your first gift
but the rest of it you just kind of go
for it
you just kind of start using your gift
wherever you see fit
so maybe you don’t know the context to
have the maturity to know when you
should talk so you just talk all the
time
you don’t have the maturity to know this
isn’t a business idea just chill out and
have fun so you just have ideas going
all the time
and it’s a natural gifting but there
needs to be a season of practice
because this season of practice is going
to expand your power so let’s say Donna
will they go both go into a season of
practice both of y’all go into a season
of practice God bless
and what happens for many of us
is because practice happens in private
people can’t see what’s going on in your
life
you got those friends that you saw maybe
when you were younger and then you get
older and they’ll be like what you’ve
been up to what you’ve been going
through what’s been going on in your
life whenever you guys are done you can
come back on stage and here’s what
happens when you come back
from a season of practice
it becomes very obvious
who has practiced and who hasn’t come
back on stage for me guys
so now God comes back up to you
and he says all right I want to use your
life
I want to paint something in the Earth
okay so you still got
so you still got pink and yellow and
it’s been been 10 years
you still only talk to people that are
look like you
okay okay so you still
you still haven’t learned to trust me
with your finances oh that’s just the
way you are
okay I love you oh you okay so you were
funny and you but you’ve been working on
your ability to communicate
you you’ve asked God God bride and Bride
on my tongue don’t just let me just say
whatever I want to but God let me submit
to your will and in maturity what have
you done you’ve practiced and you have
expanded your palate
so what happens now the picture of his
life
becomes a little bit more clear because
he’s using the giftings and he has honed
in his ability to be used by God
what is this this is David fighting the
first lion
and then fighting the bear
and then fighting another lion and then
fighting a bear this is you saying yeah
God gave you the gift to write but this
is actually going and taking a course on
how do I write well in a way that draws
people in and not just say no God’s just
gonna do it
this is you having the gift of
leadership but learning all the time
ain’t the time for you to be the leader
the best leaders learn how to be
submitted but in immaturity
you just lead all the time
don’t trust people around you to lead
you just lead all the time in your
marriage I’m in charge
on your kids I’m in charge ideas my
ideas
okay yeah it was cool when you were
younger
to go for it and trust your idea but
have you not
practiced
so then God will give you another season
of practice go ahead guys
and here’s the thing that happens
the more you practice the more it
expands
your palate what am I trying to do today
I’m trying to give you the ability
to be considered like job
oh you need somebody to step into the
entertainment industry
you see they practiced purity
so when they get around those people
that they used to look at as objects
and when I promote them I can trust them
in that space because they’ve practiced
submitting to their flesh to my spirit
oh you’re looking for someone that I can
put in charge and them not be prideful I
saw them serve for six years and
practice humility they expand their
power so if you need somebody have you
considered them
but again practice it happens in private
guys you can come back
and for some of you
you have went through season
and seasoned
you still
you’ve been in church how long
and you think God still only loves
certain people
you still won’t invite that one person
to work because you feel like well they
don’t belong here because church is for
good people
you still think that you do all these
religious activities and you’re going to
get into heaven faster than other you
still
I love you
but now
your picture
is misrepresenting
who I am
I I can only now
the picture of your life if it goes
beyond the certain areas that are
obvious it’s no longer a true depiction
of how I feel about people
it’s no longer a true depiction of how I
show Grace it’s no longer a true
depiction of how I show love because you
decided this is who I am this is how I
am and that’s great
but you can either step in purpose or
keep running from practice
but Don
has made a decision to develop his
palette
and here’s the beautiful thing not only
if we can go why please not only is his
picture
representing
what God’s original intention is
but let me give you the part that messes
with me every single time I’ve taught
this talk
the thing that he started out with
that in in maturity he would have
thought was the most important thing
in the grand scheme
of the landscape of his life
is not even that big of a deal anymore
and many of you
doubled down early on your gifts
without having the maturity to practice
and expand and see if God could do
something else in your life and you
still using
the it’s the little you can’t even see
it the pink is just the little boat and
the Little Star
but anyway this is who I am
this is how I do it
awesome
that’s great
but could there be
something else that maybe God wants to
use
I hear you I hear you you got the gift
and it’s amazing but how could God
develop you in another season how could
he be using you right now
trying to get you to practice
so that you could expand
your palate
thank you guys
I want to ask you today
have you expected
to perform under pressure
but not yet practiced
I said it earlier um
practice
is actually a Biblical principle and you
do not reach purpose without practice
here is the single
anchoring part of my sermon
to show you
that practice is a Biblical principle
when you talk about purpose
um
there are a lot of different moments of
purpose throughout scripture
we’re going to do anything we can look
at the life of Jesus
one of the greatest moments the greatest
moment of Jesus purpose
would have been the very reason he was
sent here
he was sent here
to live a perfect and sinless life
and he was born
simply to die
that is the purpose of Jesus
the purpose of Jesus was to come to this
earth
to be fully God and fully man
and to live only to die
and his greatest moment of purpose
was for him
to die but here’s the thing about his
purpose for me when I look at the
purpose of Jesus the greatest moment of
purpose if it was to die
um I don’t think it was Jesus up on the
cross
now notice mess with you very silent
hear me out Jesus up on the cross
is not the greatest moment of purpose
for me I would argue the greatest moment
of purpose was him on his knees in the
garden
because that’s the place
where he decides if he’s going to do it
or not
to give you context for scripture Jesus
goes to the Garden to pray before he is
about to be crucified and he prays a
very human prayer for him to be fully
God and fully man he says God if there’s
any other way
there’s any other way
let this cup pass before me
but not my will
yours be done
this is the moment
when Jesus stands up from that prayer
where he has decided to step into
purpose
how do you do that
how do you being
fully God
knowing who you are knowing the
greatness that’s inside of you knowing
the anointing that’s inside of you
knowing the Miracles that are still on
the inside of you keep in mind Jesus is
only 33 years old how do you knowing
that you are God submit to die for
humans how do you go
and lay down your divinity
to step into
your Humanity
you don’t know how
this isn’t the first time
Jesus knowing who he was
submitted his will
12 years old Jesus is in the temple
doing what he knew he was created to do
he’s teaching
says it in Luke Jesus at 12 years old is
standing in the temple
and the Pharisees and the teachers are
amazed by how this young man is
unfolding the word of God why because he
is not talking about something that he
does not know it is who he is he is the
living breathing word of God that is why
he can expand it so well because he’s
telling a story about himself he is 12
years old and he knows I know who I am I
know my purpose I know what I’m supposed
to do
but Mary comes up
and says Jesus
come on let’s go
at 12 years old how do you
but he knows he’s God
he knows that he is here to save
everyone
you want to know what Jesus was doing
from 12 to 30.
practicing
Jesus
does not get to the moment
of submitting his will
to God’s plan
without the practice
of 12 to 30 years old
how are you at practicing
your purpose
could it be
that maybe the season you’re in
is maybe not the big season of purpose
maybe it’s not the one that people will
know you for
could it be that maybe the season you’re
in is simply a season
for you to practice
a season for you to practice Grace the
people who don’t deserve it
a season for you to practice loving
those who seem unlovable
a season for you to practice patience
with your children
a season for you to practice Joy
some of us we know we’re supposed to
practice a jump shot but do you practice
Joy
this is so practical do you practice
being joyful
this is the day the Lord has made I will
you know what that is that’s a
submission statement I will rejoice and
be glad in it but everything’s going
wrong around you yeah but I’m practicing
yeah but they just left you yeah I’m
practicing yeah you don’t get the job
yeah I’m practicing yeah you’re still
single it don’t matter cause I’m
practicing today is the day the Lord has
made and I am practicing
my faith
self-control
are you have you practiced
self control
and many of us we can get so frustrated
because we have an expectation of our
purpose
for something we never
practice
maybe you’re in your marriage and you’re
frustrated because you feel like
it’s not fulfilled or it’s not going how
you thought it was but in the previous
season you didn’t practice
being real with your emotions
and now there’s pressure on your purpose
but you know the beautiful thing
you can start practicing today
you can start practicing today
if Keys could come up I’m going to close
with this um
when I was thinking about
the uh the sermon title
I almost named the sermon
we talking about practice
now some of y’all don’t culturally get
what I just said
Amber’s amberly’s looking at me like
there’s a basketball
and the interviewers are like hey I’ve
heard you haven’t been going to practice
and the whole interview they talk about
practice and literally in this interview
you should look it up after this
he’s sitting there and he just keeps
saying hey literally I think there’s a
counter on one of the videos he says
like 20 times he goes we talking about
practice
practice not the game not the game where
I went practice
and I thought um
you know Allen Iverson is amazing if
you’re watching us what up AI I love you
but
you don’t argue practice and win
championships
I love him
but he you can’t be arguing
about practicing your profession
and see any type he got a lot of
personal orals MVP best player yeah
that’s amazing but you don’t get to
argue
with your coach about practicing
you never heard Kobe argue practice
you never heard MJ in an interview
talking about I really gotta practice
you never hear Steph Curry arguing
practice
because they’ve realized practice
is just a part of it
could you be
let me say it this way I hope our church
is never
the spiritual Allen Iversons
really God prac you want me to practice
loving them
you want me to show kindness to them
you want me to really you want me to
quit this job you want
okay you can argue practice
but what purpose could you be missing
out on
concerned with how uncomfortable
practice is well how much you don’t like
practicing because it happens in private
and nobody’s going to see it and what if
they don’t know but God is saying today
if you would just practice
I promise you your practice is going to
make your purpose
some of you the season that you’re in
right now I want to encourage you so
specifically the season that you’re in
right now is going to allow you to step
into your season of Purpose with an
infinite amount of confidence because
your confidence will not be predicated
on the circumstance
you’ll find yourself I’m telling you the
reason God is asking you to step out in
faith right now the reason God is asking
you to be patient right now the reason
God is asking you to actually learn and
grow in your ability some of us
literally when it comes to practicing
and the purpose some of you you’re
supposed to write songs that the world
sings
but very practically
you need to practice writing songs
your first one ain’t gonna be the one
some of us need to practice some of you
are called to preach the word of God
but your first one you just wait and
Pastor Charles gonna hand me the
microphone it’s gonna be my moment I
know God Pastor Michaels is going to
tell me he’s gonna call me up in the
middle of conference version one it’s
like come up on the stage God told me
that it’s time to release you maybe
but
is it worth at least practicing
and here’s the thing that God has
challenged me with so much many of us we
try to practice on his people
and they end up as the casualties
because you didn’t hone in your ability
you didn’t practice you don’t think
pastors and teachers let me talk to you
for a second don’t just get up here
wielding this mic willy-nilly off of
some randoms let me just go for it
you think communicating for God is worth
the practice
let me tell you something right now the
first time y’all hear me preach this
message this is about the fifth or sixth
time I’ve done taught this message not
over the last couple years but I’ll get
up in my room you can ask my wife and
I’ll be walking back and forth with the
bedroom clothes talking about all right
we’re gonna go through this transition
and then God I was up here last night
walking through praying to Jesus I’d hit
one of those shots didn’t hit it but at
least I practiced you know somebody
because I feel like my purpose is worth
practice
can I tell you your purpose is so big
it’s worth you practicing it’s worth you
practicing your patience it’s worth you
practicing your instrument it’s worth
you practicing writing the book it’s
worth you practicing stepping into
leadership it’s worth you practicing
saying I’m sorry
your purpose is so big
it at least deserves some practice
and what could God do
with somebody
whose palette had been expanded so
expansively by practice
that God could look across the landscape
of the Earth
and say oh you need somebody
have you considered
my servant
job
have you considered my servant
who has gotten outside of their comfort
zone
who has done
what is in the gospels the story of the
principle of the talents
one person has given one thing to
Steward another person is given to
another person is given five it’s a
story of a master and servants the sir
the master comes back the servant with
one
buried it
serve it with two doubled it and serve
it with five doubled it
and here’s what happens that sometimes
we don’t like to acknowledge
that literally says the principle of the
talents the one that didn’t practice or
Steward or invest or double their talent
biblically you want to know what
happened it was taken from them
and given to the one with ten
if we’re going to preach the Bible we
can’t just pick out pieces that we like
but God wasn’t asking here’s the thing
God wasn’t asking the person with one to
give him back ten
foreign
God they got this also is biblical
grounds that some people start off with
more talents than other people
that messes with people
one got one one got two one got five but
the expectation of ten is different than
the expectation of one
each one of you should use uh should to
use your gifting according to the faith
that has been given to you
all biblical
God is asking you what will you do
with what I have given you
Holy Spirit
thank you
God I pray right now
that this word would not just go into
our ears
but may it enter our heart
may it go down
into the roots and the soil of our soul
and may it produce
tangible fruit in our life
I speak against condemnation
in in a performance mentality that
people may feel inclined to step into
out of this I thank you Lord God that
you would give the power and the desire
to do what pleases you
Lord may we practice in such a way
that when you call upon us we are ready
to step into purpose
every hit’s about every eye still closed
there’s some of you in here and maybe
you just need to step into a season of
practicing I don’t know what that means
for you maybe it’s practical maybe it’s
uh maybe it’s an actual skill or talent
in the sense of an art form or writing
or singing or a gifting maybe it’s just
to practice patience maybe it’s just
practice loving your spouse maybe it’s
practice maybe it’s the fruit of the
spirit whatever it is if you say you
know what I need the holy spirit’s power
to either stay faithful in this season
of practice or to step into a season of
practice I want to ask you right now in
the room and online would you just raise
your hand for just a moment
God you see your children with our hands
lifted and we are asking not in our own
strength not in our own ability but Lord
would you Empower us to step into this
season of practice Lord God to show
ourselves approved ready for what you
have called us to do
every head’s still bowed every eye is
still closed there are some of you in
this room and the first thing you need
to step into is a relationship with
Jesus in this room and watching online
if you’ve never accepted Jesus as your
lord and savior if you’ve never stepped
into a moment where you surrendered your
will or you’ve surrendered your ideas
where you surrendered your plan if you
would like to accept Jesus Christ as
your lord and savior I want to give you
that opportunity I’m going to count to
three and on the count of three I’m
going to ask you in the room and online
wherever you’re watching from to raise
your hand I believe when you raise your
hand on the outside it’s confirming on
the inside what the Holy Spirit has
already began to do this is the moment
where you surrender your will you don’t
have to clean your life up and get back
together you don’t have to act like a
good person if you surrender to God In
This Moment he can transform your life
if you’d like to accept Jesus Christ as
your lord and savior on the count of
three I want you to lift your hand one
two three lift your hand thank you Lord
Jesus thank you Lord Jesus thank you
Lord
[Music]
listen in the room and online we’re
going to pray together around the world
for the benefit of those who are coming
to Jesus for the very first time if
you’re in the room I want you to repeat
after me say it out loud Dear God
thank you for loving me
dear Jesus
thank you
for laying down your life
to save mine
I admit
I’ve made mistakes
save me change me transform me I’m yours
in Jesus name I pray
amen Transformation Church can you make
some noise oh come on people just gave
their life to Jesus today
Hey listen if you made that decision
that’s the best decision you could ever
make we’re so so proud of you and we’d
love to support you in this walk of
following Jesus if you text the number
uh uh eight two eight two eight two if
you text the word save to that we would
love to send you some resources and to
encourage you on this journey of
following Jesus Hey listen uh I told you
before but October 2nd we are back open
and we are so excited is anybody excited
to be back together
Hey listen please please please please
please please please register let us
know you’re coming on that Sunday it’s
going to be an amazing time we’re so
excited to gather with you and listen I
would encourage you in the room and
online stay tuned there’s some super
important stuff at our TC post show but
until then everybody stay with me go out
and live a transformed life we’ll see
you guys bye