#S071 - Thank God
You're Sheltered (Part 1)
00:00:05.93\00:00:16.61
A couple of places
in the word quickly.
00:00:20.18\00:00:22.22
Deuteronomy
chapter 21 and verse 18.
00:00:23.02\00:00:26.05
And if you don't mind,
put your finger over in Luke
00:00:27.16\00:00:28.39
Chapter 15, Deuteronomy
chapter 21 and verse 18.
00:00:28.42\00:00:33.46
But then just rest your
finger over in Luke, chapter 15.
00:00:34.63\00:00:37.10
I promise you that I will
not be before you long today.
00:00:38.20\00:00:41.07
Deuteronomy 21 and verse 18.
00:00:41.74\00:00:43.84
When you get
there, let me say Amen.
00:00:43.87\00:00:46.54
Deuteronomy 21
00:00:46.57\00:00:48.91
And verse 18, the Bible says,
00:00:48.94\00:00:53.42
If a man has a
stubborn and rebellious son
00:00:54.32\00:00:57.15
who will not obey
the voice of his father
00:00:58.49\00:01:01.09
or the voice of
his mother, and who,
00:01:01.96\00:01:04.63
when they have chastened
him, will not heed them,
00:01:04.66\00:01:07.73
then his father and his
mother shall take hold of him
00:01:08.83\00:01:12.33
and bring him out to
the elders of the city,
00:01:13.34\00:01:15.60
to the gate of the city.
00:01:16.64\00:01:18.91
And they say, I'll say
to the elders of the city,
00:01:18.94\00:01:21.68
this son of ours is
stubborn and rebellious.
00:01:22.68\00:01:25.38
He will not obey our voice.
00:01:26.05\00:01:28.15
He is a glutton and a drunkard.
00:01:28.85\00:01:31.52
Then all the men
of the city shall
00:01:31.55\00:01:34.69
stone him to death
00:01:36.93\00:01:39.69
with stones.
00:01:39.73\00:01:41.36
So you may put away
the evil from among you
00:01:41.40\00:01:44.27
and all Israel
shall here and fear.
00:01:45.13\00:01:48.60
Now, this is not parental
advice today saying this is just
00:01:48.64\00:01:51.57
I'm just telling you what
they used to do back in the day.
00:01:52.74\00:01:54.61
Amen.
00:01:54.64\00:01:56.34
Jesus does not
counsel. I'm just.
00:01:56.38\00:01:59.08
This is information only.
00:01:59.71\00:02:00.85
Come on in statement quickly.
00:02:00.88\00:02:05.15
Luke, chapter 15
00:02:06.32\00:02:08.59
and verse 11, very
familiar story to us.
00:02:08.62\00:02:11.49
Luke 15 In verse 11,
when you get there, you say,
00:02:12.56\00:02:15.33
Pastor, I'm there.
00:02:15.36\00:02:16.10
Luke 15 and verse 11.
00:02:17.70\00:02:19.80
Then he said,
00:02:21.17\00:02:22.97
a certain man had two sons,
00:02:23.64\00:02:25.41
and the younger of them
said to his father, Father,
00:02:26.68\00:02:29.91
give me the portion of
goods that falls to me.
00:02:29.94\00:02:32.78
So he did what
00:02:33.72\00:02:36.18
divided to them, his livelihood.
00:02:36.22\00:02:39.19
And not many days after
the younger son gathered
00:02:40.26\00:02:42.96
all together,
journeyed to a far country,
00:02:42.99\00:02:46.56
and there wasted his possessions
with prodigal living.
00:02:47.66\00:02:50.70
But when he had spent all
00:02:51.43\00:02:53.50
there arose a
severe famine in the land.
00:02:53.54\00:02:55.97
And he began to be in want.
00:02:56.64\00:02:58.64
And he went and joined himself
to a citizen of that country.
00:02:58.67\00:03:02.21
And he sent him into
the fields to feed swine.
00:03:03.18\00:03:05.48
And he would have gladly
filled his stomach with the pods
00:03:06.61\00:03:09.78
that the swine ate and
no one gave him anything.
00:03:09.82\00:03:14.72
But when he came to himself,
00:03:15.59\00:03:18.33
he said, How many of
my fathers hired servants
00:03:19.59\00:03:22.33
have bread enough to spare,
and I perished with hunger.
00:03:22.36\00:03:26.13
I will arise and go to my
father and say to him, Father,
00:03:27.27\00:03:30.74
I have sinned
against heaven and before you
00:03:30.77\00:03:33.41
and I am no longer
worthy to be called your son.
00:03:34.48\00:03:36.81
Make me like one of
your hired servants.
00:03:37.75\00:03:39.48
So he arose and
came to his father.
00:03:40.28\00:03:42.58
But when he was
still a great way off,
00:03:42.62\00:03:45.02
his father saw
him and had compassion
00:03:45.89\00:03:49.69
and ran and fell on
his neck and kissed him.
00:03:50.69\00:03:54.20
And the son said to him, Father,
I have sinned against you
00:03:55.36\00:03:58.13
and Heaven and I'm no longer
worthy to be called your son.
00:03:58.17\00:04:02.10
But the father said to his
servant, Bring out the best robe
00:04:03.27\00:04:05.77
and put it on him
00:04:06.27\00:04:07.88
and put a ring on his
hands and sandals on his feet
00:04:07.91\00:04:11.71
and bring the fatted
calf here and kill it
00:04:12.68\00:04:14.98
and let us eat
and be merry for this.
00:04:15.85\00:04:19.32
My son was dead
and is alive again.
00:04:19.35\00:04:23.86
He was lost and is found.
00:04:24.69\00:04:27.23
And they began
to be married today.
00:04:28.03\00:04:31.80
Saints, for just a few
moments, I want to talk to
00:04:31.83\00:04:33.84
you under the
subject. Sheltered.
00:04:33.87\00:04:36.44
Sheltered.
00:04:37.61\00:04:38.47
Matter of fact, I
want to change the title
00:04:38.51\00:04:39.84
of that sermon in real time.
00:04:39.87\00:04:41.64
Title of this sermon is
Thank God You Were Sheltered.
00:04:41.68\00:04:45.15
Let's pray together.
00:04:46.41\00:04:48.68
Father,
00:04:48.72\00:04:51.19
in this limited amount of time,
00:04:51.22\00:04:54.29
would you please communicate
00:04:55.76\00:04:57.63
an eternal truth?
00:04:57.66\00:05:00.93
Lord, as these high schoolers
00:05:00.96\00:05:04.57
listen to their final sermon,
00:05:05.67\00:05:07.87
while under the
guise of parents,
00:05:08.70\00:05:10.61
would you cement
something permanently in them?
00:05:11.64\00:05:15.34
So would you
allow your spirit, Lord,
00:05:16.51\00:05:19.25
to do a sealing
work in all who hear?
00:05:19.28\00:05:22.85
Lord, hide me in
the shadows of the cross
00:05:23.82\00:05:26.32
that Jesus alone might be seen.
00:05:26.35\00:05:28.82
That Christ
alone would be heard.
00:05:28.86\00:05:31.13
And at the end of our
time together, let Jesus alone
00:05:31.16\00:05:33.93
be praised.
00:05:33.96\00:05:35.16
Let us do this.
00:05:35.20\00:05:36.30
And we pray in the wonderful
name of Jesus, our Lord,
00:05:36.33\00:05:38.03
that those who
believe, say together, amen.
00:05:38.97\00:05:40.94
And a man.
00:05:40.97\00:05:42.00
You may be seated in
the House of the Lord today
00:05:42.04\00:05:43.87
again talking to
you under the subject.
00:05:46.47\00:05:48.04
Thank God
00:05:48.08\00:05:49.84
you were sheltered.
00:05:50.38\00:05:52.85
Church by show of hands.
00:05:53.85\00:05:55.75
How many of us at some
point played sports growing up?
00:05:55.78\00:05:59.22
Maybe you were
on the school team.
00:06:00.12\00:06:01.79
Maybe you did church league.
00:06:01.82\00:06:03.56
Maybe you were in intramurals.
00:06:03.59\00:06:05.53
If you played
sports, raise your hand.
00:06:05.56\00:06:08.50
And so if you played sports,
00:06:08.53\00:06:10.80
you know that before
the start of the game,
00:06:10.83\00:06:13.60
there's usually a 20
minute period called warm ups.
00:06:14.74\00:06:18.47
And during warm ups you practice
00:06:19.64\00:06:21.74
lay ups and free
throws and jump shots.
00:06:21.78\00:06:25.25
During the warm ups,
you practice your sets or
00:06:25.28\00:06:29.08
striking the ball or your
game playing during the day.
00:06:29.12\00:06:33.42
And it is during the
warm ups that your body
00:06:34.42\00:06:37.09
prepares itself
for the actual game.
00:06:37.13\00:06:39.96
And one of the things
00:06:40.73\00:06:41.73
you will notice
00:06:41.76\00:06:42.96
is that they never keep record
of what you do in warm ups.
00:06:43.00\00:06:46.87
Nobody counts how many
shots you make in warm ups.
00:06:47.97\00:06:51.17
Nobody records how
well you are sharp.
00:06:52.01\00:06:55.18
You are in warm ups.
00:06:55.71\00:06:57.31
Warm ups never make
the paper or the news reel.
00:06:57.35\00:07:01.32
In fact, warm ups are
necessary for the game,
00:07:02.28\00:07:04.95
but they don't start keeping
count until the game begins.
00:07:06.15\00:07:08.99
So it doesn't matter if you
make all the shots in warm ups
00:07:10.16\00:07:13.23
if you miss them
once the game starts.
00:07:13.26\00:07:15.63
It doesn't matter how
sharp you are in warm ups
00:07:16.70\00:07:19.37
if you are sloppy.
00:07:19.40\00:07:20.47
Once the game begins
because once the game starts,
00:07:20.50\00:07:25.04
what you did in warmups
is immediately forgotten
00:07:26.04\00:07:29.81
and last of 24, let me announce
00:07:30.51\00:07:33.05
that we are excited about
where God has brought you.
00:07:33.08\00:07:36.72
We are grateful
that God has brought you
00:07:36.75\00:07:39.49
to this place in your life.
00:07:40.16\00:07:41.62
But can I announce to you
today that your high school
00:07:41.66\00:07:45.73
career hadn't been
nothing but warm ups
00:07:45.76\00:07:48.76
in other words, this
has just been a dress
00:07:49.73\00:07:52.90
rehearsal for the
remainder of your life.
00:07:52.93\00:07:56.14
And it's crazy
because this week folks
00:07:56.97\00:07:58.67
been talking
00:07:58.71\00:07:59.77
about what you've accomplished
and what you've done
00:07:59.81\00:08:02.64
to this point.
00:08:02.68\00:08:03.81
But the truth is that all
you've done thus far is warm up.
00:08:03.85\00:08:08.55
Are y'all hearing me today?
00:08:08.58\00:08:10.12
In fact, tomorrow afternoon,
you ought to take that
00:08:10.15\00:08:13.19
diploma and hand it to
your mama and your daddy.
00:08:13.22\00:08:16.32
Because
00:08:16.76\00:08:17.93
graduating from high school
is not about what you have done.
00:08:17.96\00:08:21.16
It is about what
they have required.
00:08:22.03\00:08:24.10
Y'all hear me today?
00:08:24.63\00:08:25.70
And see, I need
you to get this friends
00:08:25.73\00:08:27.87
because it doesn't matter
what you've done in warm ups.
00:08:27.90\00:08:31.44
What matters is what
you do from this point over.
00:08:31.47\00:08:35.08
See, it doesn't matter if you're
a valedictorian in this level.
00:08:36.31\00:08:39.31
If you lose focus
on the next level,
00:08:40.12\00:08:42.05
it doesn't matter if
you're a spiritual leader.
00:08:43.12\00:08:44.95
Now, if you're about
to turn up as an adult,
00:08:44.99\00:08:48.09
it doesn't matter if
you're on top in this season
00:08:49.12\00:08:51.83
if you lose
00:08:52.23\00:08:53.36
hold of what you're supposed
to be in the next season.
00:08:53.40\00:08:55.80
It doesn't matter if
you're a star athlete now
00:08:56.83\00:08:59.13
because in 40 years nobody's
talking about what they did
00:09:00.40\00:09:03.77
in high school
00:09:03.81\00:09:05.04
except those that peaked
when they're in high school
00:09:05.07\00:09:08.14
and see, I need you to
know that this is the point
00:09:09.24\00:09:11.41
where the records
are about to be kept.
00:09:12.35\00:09:14.48
In other words, a
potential grad school
00:09:15.68\00:09:18.42
is not going to look at
your high school transcript.
00:09:19.49\00:09:21.72
They're going to look at
your college transcripts.
00:09:22.82\00:09:24.09
A potential
employer is not going to
00:09:24.96\00:09:27.23
look at your high
schools social media polls,
00:09:27.30\00:09:30.20
but they'll look at
your adult social media post.
00:09:31.20\00:09:33.64
In other words,
your juvenile record
00:09:34.50\00:09:36.07
will be sealed at around
16, but the stuff you do as
00:09:36.10\00:09:40.51
an adult is going to follow
you for the rest of your life.
00:09:40.54\00:09:43.85
And the good news
for somebody today
00:09:44.71\00:09:46.38
is that they don't
keep record during warm ups.
00:09:47.42\00:09:49.55
Now, y'all, he missed that.
00:09:49.58\00:09:51.15
You see, some of us have
been kind of sloppy in warm ups.
00:09:51.19\00:09:54.29
Some of us have had a
slow start in warm ups.
00:09:55.29\00:09:57.26
Some of us have not developed
identity or found our boys
00:09:58.46\00:10:01.23
or develop our work ethic.
00:10:01.86\00:10:03.20
But the good news
00:10:03.23\00:10:04.40
is that we don't keep record
of who you are in warm ups.
00:10:04.43\00:10:08.17
You still got time to
develop a strong work ethic
00:10:09.27\00:10:12.14
and to develop your purpose.
00:10:12.81\00:10:14.14
And so even if
you're only a 2.0 now,
00:10:14.18\00:10:17.61
there is still room for you
00:10:18.28\00:10:19.28
to become who God has
ordained you to become.
00:10:19.31\00:10:22.18
Because what you're
going to find out soon
00:10:23.15\00:10:24.75
is that those that lead in high
00:10:25.45\00:10:27.02
school are not always
the one that lead as adults.
00:10:27.06\00:10:30.73
Sometimes those who are
spiritual in high school
00:10:31.73\00:10:34.56
get turned out as
soon as they get older.
00:10:35.46\00:10:37.40
Sometimes those
that are the ones at this
00:10:38.27\00:10:40.54
stage are not the
ones at the next stage.
00:10:40.57\00:10:43.37
And I just want to announce
that somebody that maybe
00:10:44.51\00:10:46.21
has not found their schools
yet, I need you to know that
00:10:47.34\00:10:49.34
the next level can be
better than this level.
00:10:49.38\00:10:52.21
I love what Ecclesiastes
says, that the end of a thing
00:10:53.38\00:10:56.08
is better than
the start of a thing.
00:10:56.95\00:10:58.35
And so even if you started
slow, how many of us know
00:10:59.42\00:11:02.19
it's not about how you start?
00:11:02.22\00:11:04.23
It's about how you finish.
00:11:05.26\00:11:08.56
And so quickly, friends,
I want to go back to Luke,
00:11:08.60\00:11:10.87
chapter 15,
00:11:10.90\00:11:12.13
because I want to just
show you a little bit of a story
00:11:12.17\00:11:15.20
about a young man who
started out good in warm ups.
00:11:16.34\00:11:19.51
In other words, his
life started out well,
00:11:20.48\00:11:22.94
but it went left at
the same point of life.
00:11:23.91\00:11:26.28
You are in now once he reached
the age of accountability
00:11:27.48\00:11:31.09
and see the first
thing this story teaches
00:11:31.99\00:11:33.66
us, number one,
is that impatience
00:11:33.69\00:11:36.36
leads to incomplete favor.
00:11:36.99\00:11:39.09
You see, the story
of the prodigal son
00:11:40.63\00:11:42.76
is not so much just
a referendum on seeing.
00:11:43.73\00:11:46.23
It is actually young people
a referendum on impatience.
00:11:47.44\00:11:50.61
In fact, friends,
when you read the story,
00:11:51.51\00:11:53.24
we have the text that describes
a young man who audaciously
00:11:54.44\00:11:57.15
goes into his father's
living room and demands
00:11:57.18\00:12:01.08
a portion of the
moneys that belong to him.
00:12:01.12\00:12:04.52
And understand that
what he is demanding
00:12:05.45\00:12:07.49
is the inheritance money
00:12:08.06\00:12:09.72
that which was
reserved by a father
00:12:09.76\00:12:12.39
for the time of
the father's death.
00:12:13.23\00:12:14.83
And I need you to get the
arrogance of this request,
00:12:15.93\00:12:18.43
because essentially claiming
now that was reserved for
00:12:19.60\00:12:22.64
the father's death
00:12:22.67\00:12:24.11
was him saying to the
father, You are dead to me
00:12:24.14\00:12:27.61
that we have no more
business with one another,
00:12:28.68\00:12:30.88
so that when a rebellious
son took the inheritance early,
00:12:32.11\00:12:35.28
he was never supposed
to come back to his daddy's
00:12:35.32\00:12:38.92
house and say,
This is the crazy thing.
00:12:38.95\00:12:42.12
He wants the father's presence,
but he don't want the father's
00:12:43.36\00:12:46.09
presence, okay?
00:12:46.13\00:12:48.40
He wants
00:12:48.43\00:12:49.63
what the father can give him,
but he doesn't want the father.
00:12:49.66\00:12:52.67
And see, this is the problem
with the contemporary church.
00:12:53.90\00:12:55.97
We want the
blessings of the father,
00:12:56.84\00:12:58.94
but we're indifferent to
the presence of the father.
00:13:00.14\00:13:02.34
And what I need
somebody to understand saying
00:13:03.38\00:13:04.88
is that the blessed best thing
about a relationship with God
00:13:06.15\00:13:09.05
is not what God gives.
00:13:09.62\00:13:11.09
The best thing is God did
not hear me today, not know.
00:13:11.12\00:13:14.79
The best thing about serving
God is not what He gives.
00:13:14.82\00:13:18.43
It is the ability to walk
with him and talk with him
00:13:19.56\00:13:22.16
and know him for yourself.
00:13:22.80\00:13:24.30
I need you to not seek
00:13:24.33\00:13:25.97
what is in the hand of God,
but to seek the hand of God.
00:13:26.00\00:13:29.97
Because what's in
His hand is temporary.
00:13:30.91\00:13:33.27
But His hand itself is eternal.
00:13:33.98\00:13:35.74
I would rather have
him on his hand than.
00:13:36.64\00:13:39.51
Than what is in his hand.
00:13:40.15\00:13:41.72
Because what is in his hand
is go lot rest or be replaced.
00:13:41.75\00:13:45.65
But if you hold on
to his unchanging hand,
00:13:46.62\00:13:49.06
his hand is never going to fail.
00:13:50.46\00:13:52.16
You are you hear me today
00:13:52.19\00:13:53.73
and say,
00:13:53.76\00:13:54.83
I need you to understand
something foolish about him
00:13:54.86\00:13:57.13
demanding this
portion of the inheritance.
00:13:57.17\00:14:00.10
Notice what the Bible says.
00:14:00.77\00:14:01.80
The Bible says that
when he demands his portion,
00:14:01.84\00:14:04.74
the Bible says that
the father divides to him.
00:14:05.77\00:14:09.28
His portion.
00:14:09.88\00:14:11.31
You see what
rabbinical law actually required
00:14:11.35\00:14:14.02
is that if a son
tried to get the inheritance
00:14:15.02\00:14:18.02
while the father
was still living,
00:14:18.85\00:14:20.32
he could never get the
whole inherit pittance.
00:14:21.36\00:14:23.12
In some cultures,
he only got a third
00:14:24.03\00:14:26.06
or a half of the portion
that the father had laid aside.
00:14:27.20\00:14:30.80
In other words,
because he tried to get it
00:14:31.77\00:14:34.24
early, he couldn't get all of it
00:14:34.27\00:14:36.87
because he was
in a rush to get it.
00:14:38.21\00:14:40.34
He could only get a portion.
00:14:41.01\00:14:42.61
In other words, he had
what they would declare a curse
00:14:42.64\00:14:45.91
inheritance
because he was in a hurry.
00:14:45.95\00:14:48.88
He couldn't get all
that the father had planned.
00:14:49.88\00:14:52.85
He could only get a portion
of what the father had planned.
00:14:52.89\00:14:56.22
And so can I suggest, friends,
00:14:56.93\00:14:58.49
that there are things
that God has planned for you.
00:14:58.53\00:15:01.83
But sometimes
blessings that are planned
00:15:01.86\00:15:05.13
become a curse when you try
to get them ahead of schedule.
00:15:06.37\00:15:08.57
Okay, let me say it again.
00:15:09.64\00:15:11.14
That there are good
things that God has planned, but
00:15:11.17\00:15:14.78
they become a curse when you try
to get them ahead of schedule.
00:15:14.81\00:15:18.18
In other words, I
need you to understand
00:15:19.05\00:15:20.32
that sex is a good thing.
00:15:20.35\00:15:21.88
Say, man, but
it becomes say man,
00:15:21.92\00:15:25.79
but it becomes a curse
if you get it too soon.
00:15:26.76\00:15:29.22
Having kids is a good thing,
00:15:30.19\00:15:32.43
but it's a stress if you
get them ahead of schedule.
00:15:33.56\00:15:35.63
Getting an apartment off
campus might be a blessing,
00:15:36.77\00:15:39.40
but it might be a
stress if you get it too soon.
00:15:40.40\00:15:42.40
Getting married is a blessing.
00:15:43.10\00:15:44.87
But guess what?
00:15:45.31\00:15:46.34
It becomes a curse if
you do it ahead of schedule
00:15:46.37\00:15:48.61
and say, I need you to get that
some of the greatest stresses
00:15:49.84\00:15:52.08
are not the result of
sin is the result of rushing
00:15:53.18\00:15:55.52
and see.
00:15:57.52\00:15:58.62
Some of the greatest sin is
simply because we try to get
00:15:58.65\00:16:01.72
what God had planned before
He planned for us to have it
00:16:02.92\00:16:05.43
and see.
00:16:05.99\00:16:06.46
One of the things
00:16:06.49\00:16:07.13
I want to encourage you to know
00:16:07.20\00:16:08.56
is that your steps
have been ordered by God.
00:16:08.60\00:16:11.20
I need you to know that what
God has for you, it is for you.
00:16:12.40\00:16:14.94
And you don't need to
look in your peripheral vision
00:16:16.07\00:16:17.84
trying to keep up
with what they got
00:16:18.71\00:16:19.94
or to get it when they got it.
00:16:19.97\00:16:21.68
But just stay in the cut
of Providence and let God lead
00:16:21.71\00:16:25.55
you and bless you in
the time he's ordained.
00:16:25.58\00:16:29.42
So how many of us know
that the plans of the father
00:16:30.62\00:16:34.02
for us are bigger than the
plans we have for ourselves?
00:16:34.06\00:16:38.36
Let me say it this way.
00:16:39.46\00:16:40.40
I remember a while back
00:16:40.43\00:16:41.66
when my kids were small
and we were getting ready
00:16:41.70\00:16:43.53
to take them down to
Disney World for the first time.
00:16:43.57\00:16:46.07
And I remember we didn't
tell them where we were going
00:16:47.24\00:16:48.60
because we knew
00:16:49.04\00:16:50.11
they would self destruct
all the way on the highway
00:16:50.14\00:16:52.51
if we told them
where we were going.
00:16:53.38\00:16:54.68
And so all we told them
00:16:54.71\00:16:56.18
when we arrived
00:16:56.21\00:16:57.28
is that we were going to
take them somewhere fine.
00:16:57.31\00:16:59.78
But because they grew
up here in Huntsville,
00:17:00.85\00:17:02.48
kind of the peak for
them at that point was
00:17:03.49\00:17:05.45
Chuckie Cheese and
other words to them.
00:17:06.29\00:17:08.99
In their mind,
there was nothing greater
00:17:09.02\00:17:10.56
than going to Chuckie Cheese
because they grew up here.
00:17:10.59\00:17:13.06
But we were planning to
take them to the Magic Kingdom
00:17:14.20\00:17:16.20
and see.
00:17:16.50\00:17:17.33
The problem is,
when we got ready to go,
00:17:17.37\00:17:18.73
we didn't tell them
where they were going.
00:17:18.77\00:17:20.57
And what happened is we
passed by Chuckie Cheese
00:17:20.60\00:17:23.67
and guess what?
00:17:24.27\00:17:25.24
Their countenance
fell because they were sad.
00:17:25.27\00:17:28.21
They weren't
getting to see Chuckie.
00:17:28.24\00:17:30.15
They were mad because they
weren't getting to see Chuckie.
00:17:30.18\00:17:33.08
But when we pulled up
00:17:33.65\00:17:34.75
to the Magic Kingdom,
their frown turned upside down
00:17:34.78\00:17:39.02
because they
realized what we planned for
00:17:39.99\00:17:42.26
them was better than what
they planned for themselves.
00:17:42.29\00:17:45.19
In other words,
Chuckie had a play house,
00:17:46.16\00:17:48.50
but Mickey had a kingdom.
00:17:49.13\00:17:53.47
And see, the problem is
you want play house blessings
00:17:53.50\00:17:57.57
and God has kingdom blessings.
00:17:58.27\00:18:00.31
See, you want to play education.
00:18:01.11\00:18:03.58
God wants to give
you a kingdom education.
00:18:04.48\00:18:06.51
You want to play play man.
00:18:07.15\00:18:09.05
God wants to give
you a kingdom man.
00:18:09.08\00:18:12.19
You just want to
have a good time.
00:18:12.22\00:18:14.56
But God wants to
give you the kingdom.
00:18:15.46\00:18:16.79
Can you say amen?
00:18:16.83\00:18:18.49
And so you don't just
want to settle for a portion.
00:18:18.53\00:18:20.90
You want all
that God has in store.
00:18:21.70\00:18:23.33
So if you get it too
soon, you'll get half the joy,
00:18:24.43\00:18:26.80
half the peace.
00:18:27.24\00:18:28.80
You'll be walking
around with half of a man.
00:18:28.84\00:18:30.91
You will not hear me today.
00:18:30.94\00:18:34.14
You want to wait? What
God has in store for you?
00:18:34.18\00:18:36.41
Second thing I
want to say quickly
00:18:38.11\00:18:40.62
is this
00:18:41.35\00:18:42.62
Don't complain
about being sheltered
00:18:43.49\00:18:45.59
until you realize
what God was sheltering
00:18:47.22\00:18:49.46
you from.
00:18:49.49\00:18:52.09
Listen,
00:18:56.60\00:18:57.57
I won't take long,
but see, the five is love
00:18:57.60\00:19:00.97
is shown throughout
the entirety of the story.
00:19:02.00\00:19:03.51
Most of us only
see the five as love
00:19:04.37\00:19:06.51
when the father
allows him to come back home.
00:19:07.54\00:19:08.98
But I see the father's love
00:19:09.64\00:19:11.11
when the father allows
him to walk out the door.
00:19:11.15\00:19:13.35
You see,
00:19:15.02\00:19:15.68
I need you to understand that
00:19:15.72\00:19:16.85
the father does not try to
coerce course him into staying.
00:19:16.89\00:19:19.82
The father does not try
to force him into staying.
00:19:19.85\00:19:22.56
The father does not
restrain him into staying.
00:19:22.59\00:19:25.56
What the father simply
does is gives him the portion
00:19:26.70\00:19:29.23
that the law would permit.
00:19:29.86\00:19:31.23
And what he does is he respects
the choice of this adult son.
00:19:31.27\00:19:35.57
Can I pass to say to the
parents of adult children,
00:19:36.60\00:19:39.61
you've got to pray
for them and guide them,
00:19:39.64\00:19:42.51
but don't always clean
up all of their messes,
00:19:43.55\00:19:46.35
don't cover for all
their mistakes, don't cushion
00:19:47.45\00:19:50.22
every one of their falls.
00:19:50.25\00:19:52.05
Don't try to clean it up in
the name of the family name.
00:19:52.09\00:19:55.39
Sometimes, when they
won't listen to instruction,
00:19:56.46\00:19:59.19
you've got to let
experience become their teacher.
00:19:59.23\00:20:04.20
Are you? Hear what I'm saying?
00:20:04.23\00:20:05.87
And it's funny
because this boy is free.
00:20:05.90\00:20:07.34
He is tired of
living a sheltered life.
00:20:07.37\00:20:09.87
He is tired of growing
up in a Christian home.
00:20:09.90\00:20:12.51
He's tired of church, school
00:20:13.17\00:20:14.38
and church services and church
girls and church situations.
00:20:14.41\00:20:18.25
He's tired of a why and see
the problem with him is he's
00:20:19.45\00:20:21.58
confused his
protection with restriction.
00:20:21.62\00:20:27.86
See, see, notice something
because the character of God
00:20:27.89\00:20:30.43
is seen in this moment because
notice what the father does.
00:20:31.66\00:20:33.70
The father says, I
will let you choose.
00:20:34.56\00:20:39.17
The father says, I will
allow you to make the decision
00:20:39.20\00:20:42.90
and see it shows
00:20:43.47\00:20:44.71
the purposes of God as opposed
to the purposes of the enemy.
00:20:44.74\00:20:48.74
Because how many of us know
00:20:49.41\00:20:50.31
that the Lord
will give you a choice?
00:20:50.35\00:20:52.61
What the Devil does is
He confiscates your choice.
00:20:53.72\00:20:57.99
You notice how it's
easy to stop going to church,
00:20:58.02\00:21:00.99
but it's hard to stop drinking.
00:21:01.69\00:21:03.36
It's easy to stop praying.
00:21:04.63\00:21:06.43
But it's hard to
stop being petty.
00:21:06.46\00:21:08.06
The Almighty quiet today is easy
00:21:08.10\00:21:11.30
to stop studying, but
it's hard to stop smoking.
00:21:12.37\00:21:15.17
It's easy for us to stop
being spiritual, but it's hard
00:21:15.20\00:21:19.81
for us to kind of walk away
from the things of this world.
00:21:19.84\00:21:23.31
Because one of the
things that you'll see
00:21:24.28\00:21:25.28
is that the
spirit will rule you,
00:21:25.31\00:21:27.12
the spirit will convict you,
00:21:27.15\00:21:28.88
but the spirit will
never choose for you.
00:21:28.92\00:21:31.09
But understand
00:21:31.52\00:21:32.75
that the vices of the life will
get so ingrained into your soul
00:21:32.79\00:21:36.26
that the power of
choice is taken away.
00:21:37.09\00:21:39.23
And you will declare,
like Paul and Roman seven.
00:21:40.30\00:21:41.86
When I want to do good,
00:21:42.43\00:21:44.90
I can't do it.
00:21:44.93\00:21:46.37
And the evil I hate
doing, I keep on doing.
00:21:46.40\00:21:49.47
Now I need
somebody to deliver me
00:21:50.31\00:21:52.87
from this body of death.
00:21:54.01\00:21:57.31
And I need you to understand
that before see I a lot.
00:21:57.35\00:22:01.48
Because even when you don't
00:22:01.52\00:22:02.38
really grow up in
church, like you all
00:22:02.42\00:22:03.79
have some of the stuff
that I'll complain about.
00:22:03.82\00:22:06.12
Sounds stupid to me
00:22:06.15\00:22:08.99
when you complain about, oh,
00:22:11.43\00:22:12.46
I had to grow up in
church and I grew up in this
00:22:12.49\00:22:14.46
and my life has
been so sheltered now.
00:22:14.50\00:22:16.23
But they don't
complain about being sheltered.
00:22:16.26\00:22:19.57
So you don't rejoice in a
little bit when you realize
00:22:21.27\00:22:23.54
what you've been sheltered from
00:22:23.57\00:22:26.64
brothers.
00:22:30.68\00:22:31.81
Your folks have
kept you sheltered
00:22:32.65\00:22:34.62
from a certain type of woman
00:22:35.28\00:22:38.42
because there is a woman
00:22:40.19\00:22:41.39
who is liberal with her body,
but there is poison in her soul.
00:22:41.42\00:22:46.70
And you can't get
what's in her body
00:22:46.73\00:22:48.90
without coming in conflict
or contact with the toxicity.
00:22:48.93\00:22:52.83
In other words,
there is no condom for
00:22:53.74\00:22:55.94
your spirit. Y'all
might be quiet in here today.
00:22:55.97\00:22:58.17
No, no, no.
00:22:59.51\00:23:00.58
Because you can't
touch one without the other
00:23:00.61\00:23:03.41
sister.
00:23:04.91\00:23:05.85
You better praise
God, because your parents
00:23:05.88\00:23:07.55
have kept you from
a certain type of man,
00:23:08.52\00:23:10.45
because there is a man
whose swag is not church,
00:23:11.52\00:23:14.56
but he's got a demonic
spirit that will change you
00:23:15.66\00:23:18.69
into something
you cannot see coming.
00:23:18.73\00:23:21.26
You are to thank God that you've
been sheltered from thug life.
00:23:22.50\00:23:27.44
Listen, y'all
can run around here
00:23:27.47\00:23:29.64
scowling in your
yearbook picture,
00:23:29.67\00:23:31.91
but a none of you are about
that life, are you are here?
00:23:33.04\00:23:34.88
What I'm saying, like,
listen, there are some cats
00:23:34.91\00:23:39.95
that are filled with
a violence and a rage
00:23:40.85\00:23:44.12
that will kill you for
the shoes on your feet.
00:23:45.15\00:23:49.59
You want to
thank God, that's all.
00:23:49.62\00:23:51.33
Parents will let you
spend the night with everybody.
00:23:51.36\00:23:53.93
Oh, God.
00:23:54.73\00:23:55.36
You thought.
00:23:57.17\00:23:57.83
Oh, they making my life so hard?
00:23:57.87\00:24:00.27
No. Mama and Daddy
were shown that something
00:24:01.27\00:24:03.97
in the milk wine
clean at that house
00:24:04.01\00:24:06.57
and they weren't
keeping you from something
00:24:07.54\00:24:10.18
that was going to disrupt
your purity in voluntarily.
00:24:10.21\00:24:14.42
You ought to thank God
00:24:14.98\00:24:16.08
that you don't know
about certain things.
00:24:16.12\00:24:18.59
TLC said it this way.
00:24:18.62\00:24:20.59
Don't go chasing waterfalls.
00:24:20.62\00:24:23.26
Oh, I know who all
the sinners are right now.
00:24:24.53\00:24:26.43
I can see you
00:24:26.46\00:24:27.66
stick to the
rivers and the lakes
00:24:27.73\00:24:30.17
that you're used to.
00:24:30.20\00:24:33.44
In fact, there's
going to come a time
00:24:33.47\00:24:35.10
where you're going to thank God
for what you didn't know about.
00:24:35.14\00:24:37.24
You ought to say,
Lord, I sent you that.
00:24:38.31\00:24:39.74
I don't know nothing
about baby mama drama.
00:24:39.77\00:24:42.08
You ought to say I
thank you, but I don't know
00:24:43.11\00:24:44.21
nothing about real addiction.
00:24:44.25\00:24:46.18
You ought to thank God
that you don't know nothing
00:24:46.21\00:24:48.32
about growing up in
a single parent house.
00:24:49.28\00:24:50.45
If you got both parents,
you ought to praise God.
00:24:51.45\00:24:52.85
And even if you grew
up with a single parent
00:24:53.79\00:24:55.22
and they loved you,
you ought to praise God.
00:24:56.16\00:24:57.76
Thank God that you
don't know nothing about meth.
00:24:58.86\00:25:00.50
Thank God that you don't
know nothing about crack.
00:25:01.56\00:25:03.00
Thank God that you
don't know nothing about God.
00:25:04.07\00:25:05.57
Thank God that you don't
know nothing about abandonment.
00:25:06.77\00:25:08.47
Thank God that you don't
know nothing about that life.
00:25:09.64\00:25:11.24
Is that a complete
00:25:11.74\00:25:12.87
you got to find shelter if
you want to open your mouth
00:25:12.91\00:25:16.11
and say thank you,
God, that's a sheltered me.
00:25:17.08\00:25:19.28
Thank you. That's a covered me.
00:25:20.12\00:25:22.52
Thank you.
00:25:22.55\00:25:23.42
That I have no
knowledge of certain things.
00:25:23.45\00:25:26.86
I praise God for the shelter
00:25:27.52\00:25:30.23
I got here today.
00:25:32.26\00:25:36.26
Third thing this
teachers real quick
00:25:36.30\00:25:38.43
is that the far country
in this far away as you think
00:25:38.47\00:25:41.24
it is,
00:25:41.27\00:25:44.84
she's crazy because I tell you,
boy, man, you got to see him.
00:25:44.87\00:25:48.04
Your boy is on his own.
00:25:48.08\00:25:49.84
He got a little
money in his pocket
00:25:49.88\00:25:52.48
as soon as he gets free,
00:25:53.05\00:25:54.05
he gets a tattoo on
his wrist and on his neck.
00:25:54.08\00:25:57.05
He's got a gold chain.
00:25:57.62\00:25:59.19
He's got some fresh
white Air Force Ones.
00:25:59.22\00:26:02.02
He's got a little light
skin, honey on his right hand
00:26:03.19\00:26:04.93
and a little Latino
honey on the left hand.
00:26:05.93\00:26:07.56
I mean, literally,
00:26:08.03\00:26:09.03
his life is like a
moving real time rap video.
00:26:09.06\00:26:13.44
He is living his best life
00:26:13.47\00:26:16.30
for a short while.
00:26:17.47\00:26:20.64
Thank you for
joining us for The Breath
00:26:20.68\00:26:22.88
of Life Television Ministries
broadcast with Pastor Debleaire
00:26:22.91\00:26:26.82
Snell.
00:26:27.12\00:26:28.45
We hope and pray
00:26:28.48\00:26:30.52
that you have been blessed
by this powerful message.
00:26:30.55\00:26:33.92
Join us next week for
part two of “Thank God
00:26:34.96\00:26:38.79
You're Sheltered” You
won't want to miss it.
00:26:39.86\00:26:42.36
What's good, everybody?
00:26:43.53\00:26:44.83
The ExcuseLess
revolution is underway
00:26:44.87\00:26:48.04
and lives are
being radically changed.
00:26:48.94\00:26:50.91
There are some of you that
have the hard copy of the book.
00:26:52.07\00:26:54.11
There's some
that have the e-book
00:26:54.91\00:26:56.81
that I want you to know.
00:26:57.38\00:26:58.01
We've heard the call
00:26:58.05\00:26:59.51
and the audio book is
now available on Audible.
00:26:59.55\00:27:03.12
There are some of us
that need to see the work.
00:27:04.15\00:27:05.49
Some of us need to hear it.
00:27:05.52\00:27:07.09
But however you
receive it, God be praised.
00:27:07.12\00:27:09.69
I want to encourage you to go
on to Audible, get your version
00:27:10.89\00:27:13.09
and continue the
journey of becoming ExcuseLess
00:27:14.03\00:27:20.20