“A Party isn’t a Party” – DeVon Franklin
[Music]
it is a blessing to be alive and it is a
blessing to be here tonight god bless
all of you that are standing amen
I’m here to tell you there are very few
places in the world that on a Wednesday
night people showing up for Bible study
you know what I’m say in Los Angeles
California in Hollywood California we
here for Bible study so I need you to
know that the hunger you brought into
this place God is going to honor it he
is going to honor it as I was preparing
Lord what do you want your people to
know one of the things that that dawned
on me and we’ll get into our text in a
moment was that too often we don’t
operate in the unique gifting in which
we were created because we are obsessing
over the gifts of others asking God why
not me
I’m gonna talk to this side okay right
now if I had a chance to talk to you
there’s a level of frustration that’s in
your spirit because you aren’t quite
where you want to be and you’re not
quite doing what you want to do and
instead of finding out why you are
outsourcing the work that you need to do
now and you’re masking it as frustration
because you’re looking at somebody
else’s gift saying Lord why aren’t you
doing that with my gift anybody have
enough courage to say yep you’re right
come on come on be honest be honest wait
listen put us to work we got to be
honest all right this is about
transparency so you can change a man so
I can change when we come in the house
we keep it real so here’s what’s so
fascinating as God was talking to me
about where we needed to be and what
need to have with our gifting he brought
two moments to my memory that I want to
share with you I need you to understand
the difference between where you are and
what you’re called to do
and your commitment to doing it no
matter what is life or death is life or
death if I don’t put it in those terms
you may never take what he’s calling you
to do seriously enough to commit to the
process that’s going to be required to
harness what’s in you just earlier I was
doing a Facebook live chat and somebody
asked me why does it have to be so hard
anybody asked that question why does it
have to be so hard to do what I’m called
to do I gave an analogy I said that if
you had an image of what you want to
look like you know have you ever put an
image on your mirror of okay I want
those six-pack ABS Who am I talking to
y’all don’t don’t get all churchy on me
all right anybody ever took a picture
say that I want to have just like that
Who am I talking to okay all right now
yeah yeah you know like yeah I want
those ABS look really good you know so
if I told you you can get that image but
all you have to do is just show up at
the gym and it’s going to happen I would
be lying to you am i right why because
to get the ABS is going to require
discipline you have to get in the gym
and you have to feel something you’re
going to have to go through something do
you know that you will not physically
change until you put your body under
stress the way that your muscles grow is
they go under stress they tear and as a
result they grow might I submit for your
consideration the way that you grow is
you go through stress you hair you get a
breakthrough and as a result of your
breakthrough you come out of it stronger
not weaker so what you’re going through
now is like a holy gym trying to get you
strong enough to handle the gift within
you because let me tell you God put
something incredibly powerful within you
and if it came out right now some of you
may not have the strength to harness to
get that you’re carrying
it’s life or death it’s life or death I
want to just take you back in my story
over 10 years ago and at the time I
thought that I was in relatively good
health even though I never went to the
gym I didn’t do much running but just
because I look in the mirror and thought
that I was healthy I just said well I
got enough health to get by so I’m good
might I submit for your consideration
just because you have the talent doesn’t
mean that your talent is going to get
you by and cover your lack of
preparation I’m sorry when I got talent
I got to combine that talent with some
discipline with some hard work in order
for that thing to manifest so there I
was thinking that just because I looked
healthy I was healthy stay in your notes
Devon stay in your notes
here’s what I know we put too much of a
premium and what we see we judge things
by these eyes not by what God is telling
us sometimes in order to discern a
situation or a person you got to close
your eyes and say God don’t let my eyes
manipulate what it is you’re trying to
deliver to my spirit I don’t want to
look at a person like this I want to
look at a person like this God where are
you what am i sensing what are you
telling me right now because our eyes
will deceive us even about who we are
what we’re called to do so there I was
thinking I was relatively in a good
amount of health and next thing you know
because I was not eating the right foods
I was just eating whatever I saw and
said if it’s good to my eye it must be
good oh my lord to my body oh man
everything that looks good is not good
everything that looks good is not good
that’s why the Bible says you know a man
looketh on the outward appearance but
God looks on the heart so here I was
thinking I could just eat whatever I
wanted my metabolism you know is high
enough to handle it right next thing I
know I find myself in cedars-sinai
hospital
right down the street having to prepare
for emergency surgery
why because I did not have enough fiber
in my system and my digestion was all
messed up and the only way that it could
be fixed was to go under the knife and I
ended up undergoing a surgery that was
incredibly painful and took a process
for me to heal from and as I’m sitting
there in the hospital bed at
cedars-sinai I asked myself how did I
get here
have you taken time to ask yourself how
did I get here some of you are going
from trauma to trauma accident –
accident relationship – relationship and
you have not taken enough time to ask
yourself how did I get here and is it
possible that maybe I’m making decisions
that are contributing to where I am in
order for this word to resonate it has
to be wrapped in accountability not
everything that happens to us is a trick
of the enemy oh boy oh boy oh boy oh boy
oh boy oh boy not everything that
happens to us is the trick of the enemy
some things that happen to us are a
result of our own decision-making so
here I am I’m in cedars-sinai recovering
from emergency surgery as a result of my
decision not because the enemy was after
me I was the one that chose not to eat
according to what I knew I was the one
that was making the choices to put in my
system things that would not edify my
body or my spirit and Here I am paying
the price and when I got out of it I
said God if you have given me a body if
you have given me a mind I will no
longer be foul
the temple I will no longer disregard
the vessel you’ve given me because I
only got one body and I no longer will
take for granted the body you have given
me because maybe my destiny could get
cut short not because the spirit is weak
but the temple is crumbling I’m talking
to somebody right now in order for you
to use your gifting you have to have a
strong temple by which your gift can
dwell so I’ve made a commitment coming
out of that I’m going to eat right and
I’m going to work out as much as I can
why because I’m that committed to the
gift
now here’s what was crazy once you
commit to something get what happens you
go to extremes right listen I got out
that hospital I was doing my Beachbody
p90x okay let me tell you something I
didn’t look very healthy alright I got
down to like 160 okay I was looking
terrible all right but then I balanced
it out right but what God was telling me
through this experience was the gift and
the talent are going to require us to be
in physical shape as well as spiritual
shape maybe maybe you’re not where you
want to be not because you don’t have
the talent not because I don’t have a
talent but maybe I’m just out of
spiritual shame oh oh oh and the church
it’s quiet
ha ha ha oh my goodness y’all let me try
to stick to my notes because God has
given me some stuff check this out I
like what I say after talent and
discipline I’m trying to say discipline
watch this and we’ll get to our
scripture in a minute what does it mean
to be in shape it’s a it’s a excuse me
it’s a state of being in good health
good condition but also being in a state
of readiness
Oh Oh
so so I know what shape I’m in based
upon how ready I am at any given moment
to do what God has called me to do Oh
Oh Bishop Jake’s you know his famous
thing is what are you ready are you
ready are you ready those you know
Bishop takes everything are you ready
ready ready are you ready
so I’m gonna steal it are you ready are
you ready are you ready I can do that I
can remix it I’ve owned like your credit
to the author right are you ready
because here’s what I know so much of
your preparation time is being
squandered in frustration such that if
you were to receive what you’ve been
praying for God to deliver right now
you may not be ready for it because
you’re out of spirits are saying can I
say that can I say it
right now what is the thing you’re
praying about I want you to put it on
your mind what are you praying for what
are you praying for
will you pray for everybody know it okay
if it happens right now what do you do
who’s ready wait I love it I love it
good some of y’all like God I want to be
ready but I’m not quite yet part of
getting ready part of being in shape is
working on your talent and gift as often
and frequently as you can okay work on
it work on it Romans 12 chapter Romans
12 verse 4 through 8 is our text Paul is
saying this for just as each of us has
one body with many members and these
members do not all have the same
function if I turn to my foot if the arm
and the foot have a conversation and
arms us to the foot why can’t you walk
would you look at the armor said what is
your problem why because the arm was
created with a different function than
the foot and in order for the body to be
healthy every part has to operate in the
area in which they are gifted and if the
arm is obsessing all day about being a
foot no matter how much it obsesses it
will never become a foot so why do you
find yourselves in moments where you are
scrolling and you are obsessing over
being something that you were not
created to be instead of owning the
power of what already lies within you
you you don’t need to be a foot you
might be a great arm do you know how
much an arm can do you may not need to
be an arm you could be a great foot do
you know what a foot can do the body of
Christ is only as healthy as the members
that operate in their assignment how
close are you to operating in your
assignment right now part of your shape
depends on am i operating in the area of
my gifting or am i wishing I was a
different part a bit let me Lord help me
Jesus I have spent more days than I care
to really admit wishing I was a
different part I have spent so many days
because for some people I’m too
spiritual you know my day job is I
produce films and television I here in
Hollywood and and for some people in
Hollywood you know Devon you’re great
butcher you’re just so spiritual do you
have to use the word safe I am NOT
playing I was on a conference call
well this God has to be in it you know
do you think we can still do it without
God in it you know I mean we know that
your faith is important to you but this
may not sell if it has faith in it and I
said well god bless your heart you must
not know who you are talking to part of
my faith is what makes me a good arm
trying to be no foot I ain’t trying to
be no toe I will be the arm of the Lord
and if faith is what he’s told me to be
about and I’m going to be about it and
we’re going to see how much I can do
with my faith based health I will not
compromise the word I will not
compromise who is created me to be and
guess what
so what if I lose the deal the right
deal will come because I am owning my
assignment
somebody needs to own your assignment oh
you’re so worried about foot
opportunities you ain’t and focus on
your arm opportunity worry about with
God and for you and do it the way he
told you to do it
I’m tired of us obsessing and
compromising just to get what we think
is going to make us happy but let me
tell you something your peace is
dependent on your assignment you want
peace get into your assignment you want
to sleep at night get into your
assignment most of the time the reason
why we have no peace is because we’re
picking over somebody else an assignment
why would God do that why would he do
that and not duel with me I have spent
more time in that emotional state than I
care to admit obsessing and for some in
the spiritual world
I’m too secular now you know we love
Devon but you know he he works in
Hollywood
yes well God’s going to call him out one
day well bless your heart you better
keep praying you know why because when
you look at Daniel Shadrach Meshach and
Abednego where were they in Babylon
every time they honor God did he take
them out of Babylon no he promoted them
gave him more influence more money more
power to influence the world on behalf
of God so I am going to stay in the
industry that God has called me to and I
ask you to say whoever God has called
you to
you cannot shine light in life you gotta
shine some light in some darkness he
wants to raise you up
but you got to get in shape I’m sharing
with you my struggles I’m share with you
my struggles to help you because I’ve
struggled with the part that God was
created in me to fulfill in the body of
Christ struggled because I’m not fully
this and I’m not fully that and I say
God I can’t preach like Bishop Jake’s I
can’t connect like Joel Osteen I can’t
produce like will Packer I can never be
what Overbrook entertainment is and God
says you’re absolutely right you’re
right you’re right I’m so glad you got
the revelation you’re right you cannot
be like anybody else you’re right
you cannot covet anyone else’s anointing
you’re right and the more you’re looking
at their anointing the more you’re
missing the anointing that is try to
knock you upside your head you don’t
even realize how much anointing I’m
pouring on you because you’re obsessing
over being another part God says what
you just own who you are and know that
it is more than enough turning
everything I’m more than enough I’m more
than enough I’m more than enough you you
listen to me please please please please
please stop please stop asking God why
you weren’t created differently he he
didn’t need another hand he needed you
if he needed another hand you’d be a
hand right so whatever part you are
called to fulfill it’s because that’s
where the need is and here’s what I know
here’s what I know
sometimes in the body of Christ okay we
might need to UM can someone you had a
motorcycle out there to get me out of
here about what I’m getting ready to say
I just want to get out quick because
y’all might throw some Rotten Tomatoes
at me okay here’s what I know and this
is one of the reasons why I’m glad
you’re here growing up in the church and
I love the church I want you to know I
love the church I love
going to church I love the music I love
the scripture I mean in all kinds of
church I love it and I was raised in the
church but here’s what happened in the
church the moment that my gifting did
not fit the approved level and list of
gifts who am I talking to you know the
approved list of church gifts at the
moment that my gifting didn’t was not on
the list I found myself in an
environment and that it did not
encourage me to become all that I could
be they encouraged me to sign up for one
of the gifts on the list I said but
that’s not everything God is calling me
to be everything that I need to be and
my gifting does not fit on the list and
instead of being embraced I was
ostracized who am I talking to anybody
ever been ostracized because of your
gift your gif didn’t fit you didn’t fit
but I’m here to tell you thank God you
didn’t fit thank God you didn’t limit
yourself you are made the way he needs
you to be made to do what he’s called
you to do and there is no list that can
handle who you are doesn’t exist it
doesn’t exist and I know that the church
means well but here’s the church that we
have here at this church is like being
who you are that’s why I love one says
you can be who you are it’s an
environment that fosters creativity and
identity and an individuality why is it
important because the more you like who
looks back at you in the mirror the
better you’re going to be in getting in
shape and using your gift the way it
would call to be use amen watch this
watch this for each one of us has one
body with many members and these members
do not all share the same function hmm
oh boy go help me not get ahead of my
notes one of the things about our
gifting is that when you look at it in
the context of an overall body right the
body of Christ has many members many
parts it means in order for the body to
be successful we have to work together
okay let me come and sit right next to
you why are you so concerned about
helping the person next to you as if
help from God is a limited resource
here’s what I need you to know the more
that you help the more generous you are
the more God will give back to you
here’s what I want to see in this
community I want to see more unity I
want to see more teamwork okay I want to
see more help all right I really want to
see it why here’s why here’s why because
you I don’t want you to be so obsessed
about getting put on that you step over
people along the way and you justify it
as what is required to make it let me
tell you something anything God has
called you to do will not require you to
step on people it will require you to
lift people up along the way
the more people you lift up the higher
you’re going to be the more people you
lift up the higher you’re going to be
the more people you lift up the higher
you’re going to go so more people you
help along the way the more people will
help you
would you please start looking to your
left and right and say what do you need
how can I help
it’s as simple as this we are we live in
a social media obsessed world right
instead of when you scroll getting
jealous of a friend having an
opportunity
why don’t you repost it and say thank
God which puts up with the hands the
praying hands in the high-five hands
come on now why don’t you do that well
oh come on you know what I’m rooting for
you I’m behind you
and I know that if God is doing that in
your life I know what he’s getting ready
to do in my life because the God oh that
is your God is still my god and the same
power that’s all you is absolutely on me
so I don’t mind giving you a hashtag go
get it I don’t mind giving you a hashtag
hallelujah I don’t mind giving you a
hashtag I got your back why because I
noticed that as long as I help you and
do a goddess told me to do then my
opportunity is on the way and I don’t
have time to be jealous I don’t have
time to be envious I don’t have time to
be frustrated when I see the glory fall
on you i’ma go like this
if it fell on my brother my sister but I
know it’s getting ready to follow me and
I will be excited for the glory on them
I will be excited for what God is doing
on them come on somebody stop being so
mad when you see your friend Megan when
you see them trying to get up don’t pull
them down you push them up what do you
need let me play with you before the
audition we go on in for the same horse
let’s get prayer right there in the
parking lot because if you get it we
still gonna win
why should we’re all a part of the same
team we’re all a part of the same body
stop all this backbiting stop it please
stop it
hold your neighbors hand right now grab
it say I want you to be successful
hey I want you to be successful now
watch this watch this as you’re holding
your neighbors hand as you’re holding
your neighbors hand what happens when
you stand up
when you stand up the whole body gets a
why because we’re connected and your
victory is my victory you can’t ride
without me and I can’t ride without you
we are one body with many members and
this is what happens when we work
together we all get the victory oh you
are victorious you are victorious you
are victorious and I’m going to help you
along the way
hold your neighbors hand wave it in the
air there is a victory way hallelujah
somebody hallelujah somebody
hallelujah somebody oh we’re going to
break the spirit of envy and greed we
breaking it tonight it’s getting broke
tonight I want you to succeed I want
your movie to work I want your book to
work alright I want your album to go to
the top of the charts come on somebody
I want your teaching program to be
talking all the schools across the
country I want you to have the deal I
want you to have the case I want you to
succeed because when you succeed we all
succeed somebody oh alright not young
sit down now sit in y’all get me excited
you get me excited you get me excited
mmm
how many feel the spirit of unity right
now how many feel it
it’s so important to be supportive of
other members of the same body that’s
critical to get in shape
second verse verse number five Tempest
well Romans so in Christ though many
form one body and each member belongs to
all the others our success is connected
okay it is connected so the more that I
as a person of faith have success in
Hollywood the more you and somebody in
faith will have success in Hollywood do
you get that the more you have success
in your field the more you’re going to
open the door for others to come behind
you to be successful so I cannot hate on
you I actually want you to go do what
you have to do because that means it’s
actually evidence that God’s going to do
what he needs to do in my life because
we all belong to each other
we have different gifts according to the
grace given to each of us if your gift
is prophesying then prophesy in
accordance with your faith in accordance
to your faith one of the areas where we
are out of shape is in our faith might I
submit for your consideration to just
help this analogy make sense fear lack
of faith is spiritual fat
[Applause]
fear is spiritual fat anybody ever been
there
we’re literally um you know you ate the
cheesecake
you had the cookies you had the pie
right watch this and you went into the
mirror and you were like I’m still
looking pretty good
anybody bend anymore or you like yo okay
I can kind of eat what I want I’m good
and then what happens somebody takes a
picture of you and they post it and then
you get a chance to see how you really
look oh yeah the cheesecake the cookie
and the pie hit the bank a man ha ha ha
ha but you don’t always see it because
you don’t always have the perspective to
realize you’re as out of shape as you
may be or I am as out of shape as I may
be do you realize my cousin got married
and I’ll never forget one of the guys at
church right before the wedding came in
and said Oh Sivan you know you put on
some weight like what you talking about
put on some weight I look good what’d
she mean put on some weight I’m like
yeah whatever you don’t even tell my man
you know why we want to old elders you
just being an old elder you being a
cranky elder right ha ha ha so then I
went to the wedding took the pictures
everything was cool
when I saw the pictures from the wedding
I said my god you’re right I said Lord
in the name of Jesus I rebuke this fat I
rebuke it i rebuked a fat IRA I rebuke
it all out my face my spec come on out
myself out my oh my leg come on
I rebuke a lot why because my choices
caught up with me and they started to
show you think that you can get by with
moments of fear and it doesn’t show your
fear accumulates and you don’t realize
that you’re showing your fear in ways
you never imagined how do I know because
you’re not happy
why aren’t you happy because you’re not
operating in your calling
why aren’t you operating in your calling
good question
why aren’t you operating in your call
what’s stopping you what’s stopping me
my younger brother David is here god
bless his name what’s up – David from
Baltimore Maryland be more in the house
watch this I’ll never forget back in my
early 20s he had come home to Oakland
along with some of his other college
buddies and they were leading out of a
revival in Oakland now I started pretty
soon when I was 15 but because I wanted
to go to Hollywood I didn’t want to have
anything to do with ministry it’s a fact
people say old going to ministry I said
no they said you can run but you can’t
hide I said I’m running fast I’m gonna
real fast right we’re talking about fear
and how it cripples us and prevents us
from operating in our calling so he
comes out to Oakland with his buddies
they do a revival now at the time I’m in
my early 20s they’re in their teenage
years about four when five of them
tearing up the place preaching the roof
down and Here I am sitting in the back
of the church and I’m saying I can
preach no and then God said why aren’t
you usually a gift he said the only
difference between you and them is
obedience
that that’s the obedience scan right
there how obedient are you being with
you again now here’s where we struggle
here’s where we struggle how do I get
started
mm-hmm the how it’s the wrong approach
it’s to do
how I just do so after I got convicted
in that moment what I do I just start
being open I said Lord I’m gonna be open
to however you want to use my preaching
gift as I still pursue my Hollywood
dreams soon thereafter the pastor our
pastor from Oakland called me and said
can you come up once a month to preach
for me now it’s not something I wanted
to do but I just prayed to God I’m going
to be open I’m going to be obedient see
the opportunities to use your gift may
not always align with your feelings but
if you are praising your feelings
instead of being open and obedient you
may miss what God is doing can I say
that to you because I’m here to tell you
the more that we’re obedient the more
that we say you know what feelings I’m
just going to put you to the side and
I’m going to use my give you’re going to
see God do amazing things in your life
so as I just started to being open to
him using my gift and I went once a
month I started preaching try to preach
they started preaching do you know my
Hollywood dream didn’t get diminished it
actually got strengthened why because
the more that I operated in my unique
dynamic gifting the more rare I became
might I tell you something that the more
you focus on your gift the more rare you
will become and we operate in a world
that rewards those that are rare this is
why I can’t have you obsessing over
someone else and their rarity no you’re
just as rare you’re just as powerful
you’re just as dynamic listen God bless
Beyonce’s Ark she’s amazing okay that’s
cool but you know that you got your only
hive okay you know that you got your old
people that God has called you to speak
into so don’t be so obsessed okay and
enamored with somebody else’s obedience
to their gift that you miss out on the
opportunity to be obedient to your gift
what is stopping you well I don’t happen
I don’t have the money god bless your
heart let me tell you something about
money God’s got a lot of it amen the god
you serve has a lot of it alright he
knows what you need he knows how much
you need and he knows when you need it
there are some times he may not release
the funds because
you don’t have the faith to receive it
you’re allowing your fear to eat up your
finances
God wants to release more finances but
you got to have more faith what does
that mean it means start using your gift
right now start using it so using it if
you’re a singer saying if you’re right
or right if you’re a teacher teach if
you’re a coach coach you may listen you
might need to go get your little niece
or nephew all right and say okay I want
you to sit here and I’m going to sing
for you all right ha ha come on now stop
worrying about who it’s for and just
start using it I promise you the more
your obedient with what you have you
will find yourself in situations where
people will want what it is you have to
offer people ask me all the time what
about giving it away do you just give
away your gift for free yes when you’re
in the process of getting started we are
in the process you just need to nity all
right so so you should look at
opportunity as valuable as if it were
money because it really is it’s just
money and hiding the more opportunity I
have to be obedient for my gift the more
money ultimately will be released for me
to do the thing I’m learning how to do
right now so don’t obsess over how much
compensation compensation is more than
just money use it use it use it use it
use it why do we not use our gift
because I think we’re afraid here’s what
we’re afraid of
we’re afraid that we’re gonna fail and
we’re gonna look foolish while we doing
who am I talking to oh my goodness let
me tell you something do you realize how
foolish I’ve looked on my own on my way
to using this gift I mean y’all if you
would have seen some of these early
sermons okay if y’all would have seen
some of the first meetings that I was in
as an executive in his business it’s a
miracle I’m standing before you now okay
like I didn’t know what I was saying I
didn’t all I was just trying to do is be
the best God allowed me to be right and
I said well Lord either I’m going to
fail or I’m going to make it but I got
to find out and I can’t have too much
vanity and how
look on the way to doing it that that’s
the vanity scan right there it let me
let me say some of you anybody that’s
going to laugh at your attempt to use
your gift is not worthy to share your
airspace anybody that’s going to make
you feel bad about doing the thing God
told you to do and laugh at you and
ridet you you might I submit for your
consideration they are not worthy to
call you friend or family because those
that love you that care for you are
going to encourage you it’s alright baby
pick yourself up it’s okay let me dust
you off it’s alright I got you don’t
worry about how you look just get in a
position of goo-goo to remember the Nike
campaign just do it just do it just do
it just do it match the person who is
getting convicted right now about really
operating the more obedience who’s
getting convicted who’s getting
convicted because there are ideas in you
that we need there’s ideas that you that
we need but you got to get out of Lord
how and just say okay Lord let me do let
me do because the moment I do I begin to
fight spiritual fat which is fear the
Lord and not give us a spirit of fear
but of power love and a sound mind so
the way that I come back fear is with
faith you got to have more faith with
your gift you got to trust that if God
gave it to you he has a plan for how I
come out into the world
alright he said my word will not return
to me void that means everything he
spoke over to you it’s as good as money
in the bank but you got to have the
faith to believe it here’s what I
realize once you start operating in
faith once you start using your gift
people are going to be attracted to it
one of the key things to keep your gift
in shape is to put yourself in a process
where you understand those that want
your gift and that those that actually
want you
there’s a difference we live in a town
where the line gets blurred people like
to hang and they want to be down with
those they believe will help them get to
where they’re going yes your gift is
very attractive I need you to know your
gift is very attractive it’s not how you
look it’s what’s in you and it’s
interesting it some people can see
what’s in you before sometimes you can
even see it but as you start to use your
gift there’s going to be a temptation
and I must I must warn you there’s going
to be a temptation to want to bask in
the adulation and the praise you receive
from using your gift and here’s what
happens the more that we use our gift to
get applause from people the less our
gift retains its purity in which it was
given
um how do I say this how I said it what
I’m trying to really say is that is that
you and I should be obedient and praise
God if someone says good job but let me
not use my gift as a way to get the
validation let me already believe I’m
validated because God gave it to me I’m
not on a hunt for validation with my
gift
I’m already validated all right and if
one person says you’re amazing or a
million say you’re amazing it doesn’t
affect how I think of myself and how God
thinks of me
because I need you to understand we were
not created to receive praise we were
created to give it this is the problem
with Fame
everybody wants to praise you praise me
and they oh you’re so great and if we
eat up all that praise we don’t know how
to handle it we have to say thank you
but it’s really him looks working
through me that is blessing you I am
just a vessel I am just being obedient
let me deflect the praise because the
more I eat that praise is like eating a
whole tub of ice cream it may taste good
but you want to pay for it later I’m
talking to somebody right now please
stop using your gift to get applause the
only applause doesn’t matter are the
ones that come from a heaven and they
are applauding your obedience right now
okay God why do you want me to say this
Lord that’s a different message God okay
I got to give you a commercial break and
I’ll come right back to our regular
scheduled program I promise I will mmm
because her gift is so attracted to
people there’s a tendency to to see your
social circle grow and you you value you
look at your social circle growing and
saying oh wow I’m finally making it in
this town I have an option of people I
can hang out with on Saturday night I
used to not know have I just not have
anybody to call I’m talking to somebody
right now I’m talking to somebody right
now but but but beware just because you
have more people to hang with not
everybody that wants to party with you
celebrate you
not everybody that wants to go out with
you celebrate you how do you know the
difference a party is as a social
gathering but a celebration is honoring
who you really are a celebration is
respecting the gift that God put in you
if you want to know if somebody just
wants to party or they really celebrate
you say no no I don’t feel like hanging
out tonight but if you want to come over
do Bible study I’m really struggling on
my gift but come on somebody now now
let’s talk about who one get let in
let’s talk about who will get turned up
in no I don’t want to go to one over
tonight no no I want you to come to one
church tonight I want you to come and
get this word are you now let’s see
where the party polygit hmm
see here’s what I know we all are
seeking validation okay what our
validation can be found in using the
gift not in the people that are enamored
by it and just because people want a
party that doesn’t mean they celebrate
you there are some people that just want
to get close to you because they’re
jealous of who you are what you got
Jesus Lord
okay God would see here’s what happens
and and I’m trying to stay on my message
but God’s just wanted me to tell you
this here’s what happens this is what
happens right if I were to ask you what
makes a good party and we were not in
the church you would say you got to have
the right environment you got to have
the right music and and many times when
I’ve talked to people about the party
it’s not really a party unless you have
the right alcohol
you ain’t gotta say man cuz I know you I
know I know you know what I’m talking
about I’m not saying that’s the way it
should be but let’s just be honest
that’s what you would say mix at the
party you can just go ahead and not in
your spirit say anything davon you
talking good I don’t want out myself
watch this watch this watch this watch
this watch this
why is it in order to have a good party
I have to detach myself
from reality with a certain level of
inebriation in order to call the moment
good where does the Bible say that in
order to to really receive the fullness
of your gift in order to really maximize
the moment you must get out of your mind
mentally did I say that in the word do
not fit so into the culture without
thinking look at Romans chapter 12 the
message Bible when you get a chance
right here’s what I’m saying about
partying is that one of your keys to
success in managing your gift is to
manage your sobriety it’s not a word
you’re going to say amen to but I know
it’s a good word because if the Lord and
give me the spirit of fear but of power
love and a sound mind I mean I got to
protect my mind at all cost because
there are some people around you and the
first thing they want to do when you get
to the party what do they do they want
to hand you something am i right you can
say amen to that doesn’t mean yet to
drink it but you know am i right what I
realized there are some people that only
want to see you destroy your gift and
might I submit their consideration that
everybody that brings you something
they’re not there to toast you they know
what happens when you drink and instead
of saying no you shouldn’t really do
this tonight
they encourage you they foster an
environment where you live beneath your
calling and they say are we having a
good time I’m talking to somebody right
now I’m talking to somebody right now
I’m talking to somebody right now in
order to use your gift you got to value
your sobriety I don’t I I don’t believe
in in in in mask off
I told I don’t I told y’all but also
don’t autumn time I say you can google
it afterwards is art the majority of you
caught what I’m saying because I’m like
will you wait a minute wait a minute I
have to pop what in order to deliver my
gift no no I was created already with
the lyrics in my head I already got some
melody in my spirit I already got some
scripts in my body I don’t need anything
to help me get there I’m already there
because that is how I was born God made
me on a spiritual high I don’t need a
drink nothing I don’t need a smoke
nothing I don’t need a pop nothing but
the Word of God that’s the only thing
that can get me where I want to be so
I’m talking to somebody right now I come
against the spirit of alcohol in your
life I come against the spirit of drug
addiction in your life of pill-popping
in your life are we smoking in your life
I come against it why because your gift
can be held captivity by these drugs by
this alcohol and God says Devon speak to
their gift your get this powerful you
don’t need any of that to turn up or
turn on you were born turned up and
turned on I promise you if you would
just allow yourself to get in a moment
where you say I’m not drinking either
tonight I’m not doing nothing to alter
my mind why cuz I want to see I want to
see is this person really my friend when
you keep your mind clear you see like
you never had before try it next part of
you go to don’t do anything and then
watch what you see you want to see
people you thought were friends hitting
on other people that they know they
shouldn’t be hitting on you’re going to
see situations and environments and
you’re going to say wow how is it that I
was calling this a good time bless your
heart sometimes celebration looks like
isolation sometimes celebration
looks like isolation just because you
see parties depend on people alright
when you party it’s about people but
celebration can also be isolation God
can be celebrating you so much that he
decided to isolate you he said I’m going
to take you apart I’m going to set you
away I’m going to perfect you I’m going
to work on your character I’m going to
work on your integrity I’m going to take
you out of the environment everyone else
is in and I
no you might be lonely but God bless
your heart don’t allow your loneliness
to get you to make a choice that works
against your gifting use your loneliness
to know that I’m going to bring you
before great men and women if you were
just but submit your gift to me
sometimes he celebrates you by taking
you apart by moving you away it’s not
because he is trying to give you pain
but he’s trying to protect you he’s
trying to develop you mmm anybody been
feeling lonely stand up right now if you
can feel alone stand up right now stand
up right now stand up right now
stand up right now I want you to know
your loneliness is not a sign that he’s
not with you and I know there have been
moments or even a hill we’re all human
we want connection we want to be liked
we want validation but sometimes when
we’re in the crowd we can’t get the
words on how to use our gift so this
period of loneliness has been because
God wants to whisper in your spirit
things you would not hear if you were
not lonely I want you to know that this
loneliness you’ve been feeling is not a
sign that something’s wrong it’s a sign
that you’re right where you need to be
and he wants to talk to you in the quiet
moments of your heart to let you know I
created you for a plan purpose I have a
plan for your life he wants you to know
the gift I put within you how I’ve made
you is exactly how I’ve intended for you
to be he said I’m taking you away for a
moment to help you heal because you’ve
been going through a whole lot of pain
who am I talking to
Who am I talking to
and and it’s hard it’s hard it’s really
hard when you you want to be used and
you have a dream and a vision of God has
given you on how you want your life to
play out and it seems like it’s not
happening I need you to know that the
pain you’ve experienced God has not
allowed that to depress you he’s not
allowed it to destroy he said all things
work together for the good of those that
love him and are called according to his
purpose so in this period of isolation
where you feel lonely I want you to know
you are not lonely look around you look
around look at how many people have
stood up there is strength in numbers
so you’re not going through this by
yourself and there are some things God
is trying to reveal to you in this quiet
time that I want you to ask him more
deliberately God what do I need to hear
because so often when we’re lonely
we immediately react we don’t like the
feeling so we fight it I’m asking you
don’t fight your loneliness embracing it
is not a permanent state it is temporary
it’s not permanent it is temporary
Amen it is temporary it is temporary
there have been moments when I felt so
lonely and I said God why are you doing
this and now when I look back he was
preparing me to be able to help you
because sometimes you can’t help
somebody in something they haven’t that
you have been to yourself I’ve been
lonely
I’ve been isolated I’ve been frustrated
and in those moments I said God show me
what you want me to do and can I tell
you that every time I would cry out in
my loneliness he would say Devon you’re
right where you need to be
you’re right where you need to be so I’m
going to say to you you’re right or
you’re right where you need to be now
part of this lonely journey using your
gift it is hard and we need
encouragement that’s why we come
together to get the word to encourage
you to each other and to keep going if
you need encouragement through prayer
[Music]
come down right now come down come down
right now
you want more strength to resist the
temptation to live beneath your call you
want more strength to operate in the
power of your feet you want more
strength to push through the pain don’t
come on come on come on come on come on
you may have to move up to the aisle it
doesn’t matter just make a move just
make a move you making a move is letting
your spirit know putting everybody on
knows that you’re not gonna say the same
now you’re making a move towards your
strength
[Music]
I need you to know you have what it
takes you have what it takes you have
what it takes
you’ve been questioning yourself am i
good enough Oh bless your heart give
better than good
you’re the best you’ve ever made you are
the best
amen you you you you you here’s one of
the things I want you to do the enemy
his desire is to isolate you because if
you can isolate you then he can co-op
these moments when God wants to use the
loneliness in the moments when you’re
alone to build you up the enemy wants to
use those moments to break you down this
is why it’s so important to keep coming
the more that you come the more that you
have community the more that you have
connection the stronger your going to be
and deal with the lonely period unity so
people say well why do I need to come to
church I can just watch it from home
that may be true but there’s a power
come on am i right am i right so if
you’re in our online community keep
watching but if you’re local please go
and if you’re here and you’re local keep
coming why because every time you come
this moisture lastly I’m gonna stand
we’re going to pray if you could just
see how incredible the rest of this year
is going to be if you can see if you’re
just see if you could just see if you
could see what you’re getting ready to
receive if you could see it you you you
wouldn’t even be able to hold your seat
you’d be running around this place
you’d be knocking people over I’m here
tell you wait till you see what God does
in September October November December
the fourth quarter is when God does his
best work the game is not over
you think Steph Curry got a shot you
think Michael Jordan LeBron wait to see
you’re gone I’ve read the fourth quarter
of your year watch it he’s getting ready
to do it he’s getting ready to do it
every hand raised right now to the
considers to heaven every hand raised to
the ceiling in the name of Jesus I pray
right now I pray right now in the name
of Jesus pray I pray for their gift Lord
I pray Lord for their gift I pray your
God for their gift
we need their gift your heavenly Father
so I’m praying right now as you have
spoken to Lord that were one body of
Christ
many members I’m praying that every
member here their God would become the
best version of who you created them to
be and know that that is more than
enough
I am praying upon for their uniqueness
their distinctiveness their hair color
their Lord their wardrobe choices their
heavenly father just how they look at
the world I’ll bring their gods that
they was not trying to come a cheer I am
a patient on somebody else but they
would all who you create enough to be
and as
opportunity open up doors that have been
closed open to God let the doors by off
the hinges because they are open to what
you have to do not put themselves to the
foster gods but open up the door that
can never be shut you that I pray right
now in the mighty holy master name of
Jesus every hand raised right now I pray
peace I speak peace i I speak to you
please
you will sleep well tonight yes you will
you will have a good night’s rest yes
you will shine will not squander in
frustration I don’t get solution right
now you will not depress yourself out of
curiosity so today will not happen like
me peace to your spirit I speak power
and I speak
brokenness over your dream your gift I
pray divergent that right now and you
would take your get back
well the name of trust reprint and all
gods such a thing
amen amen you’ve got a handbrake you’ve
got an average
[Music]