Gratitude is not just a seasonal feeling or a polite response—it is the very key that opens the door to God’s presence and unlocks the fullness of our relationship with Him. Psalm 100 teaches us that we are to “enter His gates with thanksgiving,” and this is not just a suggestion, but a spiritual principle. When we live in gratitude, we remember who God is: our Creator, our Shepherd, and the One who calls us His own. Life’s circumstances, disappointments, and hardships often try to convince us otherwise, but gratitude keeps us anchored in the truth of God’s love and faithfulness. Gratitude is also a spiritual cleanser. Paul, more than any other biblical writer, ties thanksgiving to the purification of our hearts and speech. It is gratitude that replaces bitterness, envy, and resentment, making room for God’s inheritance in our lives. The measure of our gratitude often determines the measure of blessing and glory we can receive. God is not interested in filling a life cluttered with the residue of old hurts, entitlement, or comparison. Like a table that must be wiped clean before a new meal is served, our hearts must be cleared by gratitude to receive what God has prepared. Maturity in Christ is marked by a willingness to continually remove the residue of the past, not out of duty or fear, but out of joyful expectation for what God will do next. Gratitude brings the past into perspective, helps us trust for the future, and keeps us from believing lies about the Giver. It is not the forced “thank you” of a disappointed child, but the overflow of a heart that remembers God’s faithfulness and expects His goodness. In a world that feeds us entitlement and despair, we must intentionally build lives rooted in gratitude, so that God’s glory can rest on us and His inheritance can flow through us. Key Takeaways 1. Gratitude is the doorway to God’s presence Gratitude is not just a feeling but the spiritual key that brings us into closeness with God. Without it, we remain outside, unable to fully communicate or receive from Him. Thanksgiving is the posture that allows us to remember who God is and who we are in Him, especially when circumstances try to convince us otherwise. [02:50] 2. Gratitude cleanses the residue of the past Our lives accumulate bitterness, envy, and disappointment, much like a table collects residue from previous meals. Gratitude is the tool that wipes the slate clean, making room for God’s new blessings. Without this cleansing, the gifts and inheritance God wants to give us can be tainted or even ruined by what lingers from before. [36:48] 3. The measure of gratitude determines the measure of blessing God is a God of measurement—He fills what we prepare for Him. The more we cultivate gratitude, the greater the capacity we have to receive His glory and inheritance. Maturity is shown by our willingness to create space for God through gratitude, rather than expecting Him to simply override our immaturity or entitlement. [14:07] 4. Gratitude transforms hardship into trust and expectation When we face disappointment or lack, gratitude keeps us from believing lies about God’s character. It brings to mind His past faithfulness and stirs hope for the future, allowing us to trade bitterness for joy and anxiety for peace. This transformation is not forced, but flows from a heart that truly remembers and trusts. [24:49] 5. Gratitude is the foundation for spiritual maturity True spiritual growth is marked by a life that joyfully removes the old to make room for the new. Gratitude is not about exerting willpower over our circumstances, but about recognizing and responding to God’s undeserved love. This posture makes sanctification a joy rather than a burden, and positions us to receive all that God has for us. [28:41] Youtube Chapters [00:00] - Welcome [00:30] - Thanksgiving and Frozen Turkeys [01:40] - Introduction to Gratitude [02:50] - Entering God’s Presence with Thanksgiving [06:16] - Jonah’s Gratitude in the Whale [09:50] - Paul’s Teaching on Thanksgiving [14:07] - Gratitude as a Measure for Blessing [18:28] - Overflow and the Duty of Gratitude [21:08] - The Socks and Xbox Story [24:49] - Gratitude Brings Remembrance and Trust [27:28] - Gratitude Transforms Loss and Hardship [28:41] - Gratitude Makes Sanctification Joyful [30:24] - Reasons for Gratitude [32:52] - Shaping Your World with Gratitude [34:34] - The Table, Residue, and Preparation [36:48] - Cleaning the Table: Removing the Old [38:35] - New Wine and the Residue of Ruin [40:06] - Gratitude Holds God’s Glory [42:37] - Prayer for a Grateful Heart

Gratitude is not just a seasonal practice, but a foundational command woven throughout Scripture. Psalm 136 reminds us to “give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His mercy endures forever.” This call to thanksgiving is not for God’s benefit, but for ours—it keeps our hearts aligned, protects us from pride, and guards us against spiritual forgetfulness. When we recognize every breath, every breakthrough, and every blessing as a gift from God, gratitude becomes the posture of our hearts. In Luke 17, we see ten lepers healed by Jesus, but only one returns to express gratitude. All ten received a blessing, but only one built a relationship. Outward blessings are wonderful, but it is gratitude that transforms us inwardly. Blessings fill our hands, but thanksgiving fills our hearts. Recognizing God’s hand in our lives—whether in our jobs, families, or even our survival—shifts us from taking His goodness for granted to living in awe of His grace. The enemy doesn’t mind us being blessed; he just doesn’t want us to recognize the One who blesses us. When we do, gratitude rises above every circumstance, deepens our trust, and makes worship a natural response. A thankful heart sees what others overlook and expresses praise, not just in feeling but in action. Silent gratitude is incomplete; it must be expressed, just as the one leper returned with a loud voice to glorify God. Jesus noticed the one who returned and lamented the absence of the other nine. The difference was not that the nine were bad, but that they were busy—content with the blessing but missing the blesser. Many want God’s hand, but few seek His heart. The one who returned received more than healing; he was made whole. Gratitude doesn’t just bring blessing; it brings wholeness, healing the scars and traumas of our past. In every situation, even in the belly of the fish like Jonah, we are called to give thanks. This is not about denying pain or difficulty, but about building a relationship with the One who heals, restores, and makes us whole. When we cultivate a lifestyle of gratitude, we move from simply being blessed to being transformed—no longer defined by our scars, but by the wholeness Christ brings. Key Takeaways 1. Gratitude builds relationship, not just blessing Gratitude is more than acknowledging what God has done; it is the foundation for a deeper relationship with Him. While many receive blessings, only those who return in thanksgiving experience true intimacy with the Giver. This relationship transforms us from the inside out, moving us beyond the surface of blessing into the heart of God. [05:52] 2. Recognition of God’s grace defeats spiritual blindness When we recognize that every good thing—our jobs, families, protection, and healing—is a result of God’s grace, we guard ourselves against pride and forgetfulness. This recognition keeps us humble and aware, ensuring that we do not take God’s goodness for granted, but live in continual awe and dependence on Him. [09:05] 3. Expressed gratitude leads to wholeness Silent gratitude is incomplete; true thankfulness must be expressed. When we return to God with open praise, as the healed leper did, we receive more than just the initial blessing—we are made whole. This wholeness touches not just our bodies, but our minds, emotions, and spirits, healing the lingering effects of past wounds. [15:40] 4. Thanksgiving transforms scars into testimonies Even after healing, the scars of our past may remain, but through gratitude, they lose their power to define or limit us. Like Jesus showing His scars to Thomas, our wounds become reminders of God’s faithfulness, not sources of ongoing pain. Gratitude turns our scars into testimonies of victory and grace. [37:24] 5. In every circumstance, give thanks Thanksgiving is not reserved for moments of obvious blessing, but is a command for every situation—even the hardest ones. When we give thanks in all things, we build a relationship with God that brings peace, healing, and wholeness, no matter what we face. [31:27] Youtube Chapters [00:00] - Welcome [01:00] - The Call to Give Thanks [02:44] - The Story of the Ten Lepers [05:52] - Gratitude Builds Relationship [09:05] - Recognizing God’s Grace [12:24] - Worship Becomes Natural [15:40] - Expressing Gratitude Out Loud [18:53] - Life’s Busyness and Forgetting Thanks [21:34] - Thankfulness Requires a Response [24:21] - Wanting the Blesser, Not Just the Blessing [26:42] - Wholeness Beyond Healing [29:17] - Healing from Trauma and the Past [31:27] - Giving Thanks in Every Situation [33:22] - How to Fight for Wholeness [35:14] - Living with a Grateful Heart [37:24] - Scars as Testimonies [41:52] - A Moment of Thanksgiving [43:05] - Closing and Blessing

In the midst of a long list of names in 1 Chronicles 4, the story of Jabez stands out—a man whose life was marked by pain from birth, yet who refused to let that pain define him. Named by his mother as a reminder of her suffering, Jabez carried a label that could have limited his vision, his value, and his future. Every time his name was called, he was reminded of the pain he supposedly caused. Yet, rather than accept this as his destiny, Jabez reached a breaking point. He chose to cry out to God, asking for blessing, for expanded territory, for God’s hand to be with him, and for deliverance from the pain and evil that had followed him. Jabez’s prayer is remarkable not just for its boldness, but for its honesty. He acknowledged the destructive process at work in his life—the generational curses, the smallness of spirit, the lack of vision, and the words spoken over him. He didn’t just ask for surface-level change; he asked God to go to the taproot, to uproot the very source of his pain and limitation. Jabez understood that true transformation requires more than just a change in circumstances; it requires a change in identity, a breaking of old patterns, and a willingness to let God’s hand move in the deepest places. God answered Jabez’s prayer. The text doesn’t elaborate on how, but it makes clear that when we ask God to intervene, the possibilities for change increase dramatically. Jabez’s story is a call to refuse the labels and curses that others—or even we ourselves—have placed on us. It’s a call to honor, not as a medal or an external recognition, but as a state of the heart and a quality of spirit. True honor is found in reaching beyond bitterness, beyond disappointment, and beyond the limitations of our past, to take hold of what God has destined for us. We are not defined by our pain, our past, or the words spoken over us. Like Jabez, we are part of the lineage of Judah—the lineage of praise, of promise, and of Jesus Himself. When we choose to honor God by believing what He says about us, by seeking His blessing, and by allowing Him to uproot the deepest sources of pain, we step into the fullness of who we are meant to be. Key Takeaways 1. Refuse to be defined by your past The story of Jabez teaches that the labels and pain of our past do not have to determine our future. Even when generational curses or negative words have shaped our identity, we can choose to seek God for a new name and a new destiny. True honor comes from refusing to let the world, or even our own history, dictate who we are. [07:08] 2. Pray for God to uproot the taproot Jabez didn’t just ask for relief from pain; he asked God to go to the very root of his suffering. Surface-level prayers may bring temporary comfort, but lasting change comes when we invite God to address the deepest sources of our struggles. This kind of prayer requires honesty, vulnerability, and a willingness to let God disrupt what is familiar for the sake of true freedom. [20:23] 3. Honor is a state of the heart Honor is not about external recognition or status, but about the quality of our spirit and the posture of our heart. It is found in those who refuse to be defined by bitterness, disappointment, or the curses of others, and who instead reach for what God has intended. Living with honor means seeking the highest definition of our lives in God, not in the opinions of people. [30:14] 4. Acknowledge before you repent Before true repentance can happen, there must be honest acknowledgment of what is broken or wrong. Jabez’s prayer began with recognizing the destructive patterns in his life. Only then could he turn to God for transformation. Acknowledgment opens the door for God’s hand to move and for repentance to be genuine and effective. [23:03] 5. God answers bold, honest prayers Jabez’s story is a reminder that God responds to those who ask with faith and honesty. When we dare to pray for blessing, for expanded vision, and for deliverance from evil, God is able and willing to answer. The simple act of asking increases the possibility of divine intervention in our lives. [24:17] Youtube Chapters [00:00] - Welcome [00:58] - Introduction to Jabez and Honor [02:17] - The Prayer of Jabez [03:40] - What Honor Means [05:22] - The Weight of a Name [07:08] - Living Under Labels and Pain [08:59] - God Answers Honest Prayers [10:22] - Pushing Back Destructive Patterns [11:54] - The Need for Divine Favor [14:31] - Living Small and Losing Vision [15:22] - Enlarge My Territory: Increasing Value [17:06] - Asking for God’s Hand [19:43] - Praying for Protection from Evil [20:23] - Uprooting the Taproot of Pain [23:03] - The Power of Acknowledgment [24:17] - God Grants the Request [27:19] - The True Meaning of Honor [30:14] - Honor as a State of the Heart [32:46] - Blessing the Congregation [33:21] - Closing and Prayer Invitation

In Matthew 16, Jesus asks His disciples a pivotal question: “Who do you say that I am?” The world has many opinions about Jesus, but what truly matters is the revelation we receive and confess about Him ourselves. While others may be divided or confused, God calls us to clarity and conviction. Peter boldly declares, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” not because of human reasoning, but by divine revelation. This moment is a reminder that our identity and stability are rooted not in what others say, but in what God reveals to us and in our willingness to stand out and speak up for truth. We often find ourselves in the shoes of Simon—unstable, unsure, and sometimes even a mouthpiece for negativity or doubt. At other times, we are Peter—the rock, full of faith and revelation. And sometimes, if we’re honest, we even echo the voice of the enemy, speaking fear, discouragement, or resistance to God’s plan. The Christian journey is not a straight line of constant victory; it’s a series of “sometimes.” Sometimes we feel strong, sometimes weak. Sometimes we’re moving forward, sometimes we feel stuck or even regressing. Yet, in all these seasons, God’s love remains constant. The enemy often tries to intimidate us, throwing everything he has our way. But this is not a sign of his strength—it’s a sign of his fear. The devil is threatened by the potential and authority God has placed within us. When we recognize that, we stop running from intimidation and start standing in the authority Christ has given us. Jesus calls us by name, knowing our instability and our strength, and still entrusts us with His kingdom work. No matter if today feels like a Simon day, a Peter day, or even a day when we’re struggling with doubt or failure, God’s love does not waver. He stirs us, calls us forward, and refuses to let us stay stuck in our “sometimes.” The key is not to deny our struggles, but to refuse to remain in them. God’s grace is sufficient, His love is unchanging, and He is always calling us to rise, to move forward, and to become who He has declared us to be. Key Takeaways 1. Identity Is Rooted in Revelation, Not Opinion The world will always have conflicting views about who Jesus is, and likewise, about who we are. True identity comes from the revelation God gives us, not from the shifting opinions of others. When we receive and confess who Christ is, we step into the stability and authority He intends for us. [03:24] 2. God Uses Both Our Weakness and Our Strength Like Simon Peter, we are sometimes unstable and sometimes strong. God is not surprised by our fluctuations; He calls us by both names and uses us in both states. Our moments of weakness do not disqualify us, and our moments of strength are not of our own making—they are both places where God’s grace is at work. [21:06] 3. The Enemy’s Intimidation Reveals His Fear When the enemy throws everything at us—fear, depression, anger—it’s not because he is powerful, but because he is afraid of what God has placed inside us. Recognizing this shifts our perspective from being intimidated to standing firm, knowing that “greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world.” [19:03] 4. Honesty About Our “Sometimes” Is Liberating The Christian life is full of ups and downs, and pretending otherwise only leads to frustration. Being honest about our struggles—our “sometimes”—frees us to receive God’s help and to experience His love in every season. God is not looking for perfection, but for authenticity and a willingness to keep moving forward. [24:22] 5. God’s Love Is Unchanging Through Every Season Whether we are having a Simon day, a Peter day, or even a day when we’re echoing the enemy’s voice, God’s love for us never changes. He continues to stir us, call us, and lead us forward. Our job is not to stay stuck in our “sometimes,” but to respond to His love and keep pressing on. ** [31:18] Youtube Chapters [00:00] - Welcome [00:18] - Introduction to Matthew 16 [01:04] - The Power of “Some Say” [02:29] - Focusing on God’s Opinion [03:24] - Who Do You Say Jesus Is? [05:16] - The Nature of Sin and Grace [07:17] - Jesus: The Anointed One [09:27] - Simon: The Unstable One [10:35] - Peter: The Rock [11:26] - The Courage to Be Different [13:27] - Receiving and Responding to Revelation [15:13] - Lessons from Childhood Football [18:24] - The Enemy’s Intimidation Tactics [21:06] - The Reality of Suffering and Struggle [24:22] - The Honest “Sometimes” of Faith [29:25] - The Stirring to Move Forward [31:18] - God’s Unchanging Love [34:28] - Closing Prayer and Encouragement

Baptism - First Service October 26, 2025 Highest Praise Church

Baptism - Second Service October 26, 2025 Highest Praise Church

Freedom is not just a distant hope but a present reality for those who are willing to walk in forgiveness. The story of Abraham and Lot reveals the power of letting go, even when wronged. Abraham, though entitled to the best land, allowed Lot to choose first, demonstrating a heart that trusted God’s provision over personal gain. When Lot later found himself in trouble, Abraham’s response was not bitterness or revenge, but intercession—he prayed for Lot’s rescue. This is the mark of true freedom: the ability to pray for those who have hurt us, knowing our future is not determined by their actions but by God’s promises. Unforgiveness is a trap that keeps us stuck in the past, robbing us of the future God intends. Bitterness masquerades as control, but in reality, it controls us. Forgiveness does not change what happened, but it radically changes what is possible from this day forward. Jesus made it clear that offenses are inevitable, but so is the call to forgive—again and again, not because others deserve it, but because we deserve to walk in freedom. The disciples’ honest cry, “Lord, increase our faith,” reminds us that forgiveness is not merely a decision of the will, but a supernatural act empowered by God. Forgiveness is not about excusing or forgetting the wrongs done to us. It is about choosing to cancel the debt, just as Christ canceled ours on the cross. Remembering what Jesus has done for us is the key to releasing others—and ourselves—from the prison of the past. This is not a call to become a doormat or to remain in unhealthy relationships, but to allow God to separate us from the hold of bitterness and pain. When we forgive, we shut the door to the enemy, refuse to be counseled by bitterness, and open ourselves to the peace, purpose, and joy that God has for us. Key Takeaways 1. Freedom Comes from Letting Go, Not Holding On Abraham’s willingness to release Lot, even at personal cost, shows that true freedom is found in trusting God’s provision rather than clinging to what we think we deserve. When we let go of our right to be repaid or vindicated, we make room for God to work in our lives and bring about blessings that far surpass what we could secure for ourselves. [03:29] 2. Unforgiveness Is a Trap That Stagnates Our Calling Holding onto bitterness and unforgiveness does not change the past, but it does keep us trapped in it. The enemy’s strategy is not always to destroy us outright, but to keep us stuck—unable to move forward into the future God has prepared. Only by releasing unforgiveness can we step into our calling and experience true spiritual progress. [09:22] 3. Forgiveness Requires Supernatural Faith The disciples’ response to Jesus’ command to forgive repeatedly was to ask for increased faith. This reveals that forgiveness is not just a human decision, but a supernatural act that requires God’s help. We must continually ask God to give us the faith to forgive, trusting that He will transform our hearts and empower us to do what we cannot do on our own. [12:08] 4. Remembering Christ’s Forgiveness Fuels Our Own The key to forgiving others is not to minimize our pain or forget what happened, but to remember what Christ has done for us. When we recall the depth of God’s grace and the price Jesus paid to cancel our debt, we are empowered to extend that same grace to others—even when they have not asked for it or do not deserve it. [23:43] 5. Forgiveness Shuts the Door to the Enemy and Opens the Door to Freedom Holding onto anger and bitterness gives the enemy a foothold in our lives, allowing him to counsel us with lies and keep us from hearing God’s voice. Forgiveness is the act of canceling the debt, dismissing every case against others and ourselves, and refusing to let the past dictate our future. In doing so, we step into the freedom, peace, and purpose that God has for us. [19:01] Youtube Chapters [00:00] - Welcome [00:20] - The Battle with Unforgiveness [00:45] - Abraham and Lot: A Story of Release [03:29] - The Maturity of Abraham’s Heart [04:48] - Praying for Those Who Hurt Us [05:36] - The Illusion of Control in Bitterness [06:20] - Forgiveness Shapes Our Future [07:15] - Letting Go to Inherit God’s Promises [08:19] - Offenses Are Inevitable [09:22] - The Trap of Unforgiveness [10:36] - The Call to Radical Forgiveness [11:26] - Faith to Forgive [12:08] - Forgiveness as a Supernatural Act [13:29] - Choosing Future Over Past [14:51] - A Testimony of Forgiveness [16:44] - Forgiveness Is Not Being a Doormat [17:30] - Forgiveness Shuts the Door to the Enemy [20:38] - Striving for Peace and Guarding Against Bitterness [22:45] - The Sword That Cuts the Root [23:43] - Remembering Christ’s Forgiveness [26:16] - Remember and Forgive [27:22] - Canceling the Debt [28:32] - Dismissing Cases Against Others and Ourselves [29:30] - Worship and Prayer for Freedom [30:49] - Prayer for Increased Faith [32:21] - Closing and Invitation for Prayer

On this special day of honoring those who have led and shaped our spiritual journey, it’s important to remember the deep truths that have transformed lives—not just through words, but through the lived example of faithfulness and surrender. Looking at the story of Moses in Exodus 3, we see that God’s call is not reserved for a select few; every person has a unique calling and purpose. This calling may not always look like standing on a stage or holding a microphone. It might be in the home, the workplace, or even in the unseen acts of service. The key is to recognize that God has placed something in each of our hands, and He asks us to surrender it back to Him, trusting that He can do far more with it than we ever could on our own. Moses’ journey reminds us that the call of God is often overwhelming, but it is precisely in those moments that we discover the sufficiency of an overwhelming God. When we give God our “yes,” even in the face of our inadequacies and past failures, He meets us with grace, calling us by name and not by our mistakes. God’s invitation is not just to do something for Him, but to know Him deeply. It is in knowing the One who calls us that we find our true identity and the courage to step into our purpose. Holiness, then, is not about perfection but about surrender—taking off the old, letting go of what we’ve been, and allowing God to clothe us for what He’s calling us to do next. God is not a taker but a giver; every time we surrender something, He gives us something better in return. As we say “yes” to God, not just once but daily, we become agents of change in our families, workplaces, and communities. God is looking for people who will move when He calls, who will roll away the stones and unwrap the grave clothes, so that His resurrection power can be seen in the world. The challenge is to not let things remain the same, but to let God do something new in and through us every day. Key Takeaways 1. Everyone Has a Calling God’s call is not limited to pastors or those in visible ministry roles. Every person, regardless of their background or current situation, has a unique calling and purpose. The challenge is to recognize what God has placed in your hand and to surrender it back to Him, trusting that He can use even the ordinary for extraordinary purposes. [03:57] 2. An Overwhelming Call Requires an Overwhelming God If the task before you feels too big, that’s often a sign that it truly is from God. Moses was called to something far beyond his own ability, but God’s presence made all the difference. When we step out in faith, relying not on our own strength but on God’s, we witness His supernatural provision and power at work. [06:31] 3. Knowing God Precedes Knowing Yourself True security and identity are found not in what we do, but in knowing the One who calls us. Moses’ encounter with God at the burning bush was transformative because God revealed both His own character and Moses’ true identity. When we draw near to God, we discover who we really are and what we are meant to do. [11:59] 4. Holiness Is Surrender, Not Perfection God asks us to take off our “shoes”—to let go of old identities, habits, and fears—so He can equip us for new assignments. Holiness is about obedience and surrender, trusting that God is not taking from us but trading up, giving us what we need for the next season. Every act of surrender is met with God’s greater provision. [22:39] 5. God Moves When We Move While we often pray for God to act, He is looking for people who will respond to His call and take action. Just as Jesus asked others to roll away the stone before raising Lazarus, God often requires our participation before He brings breakthrough. For every move of God, there are steps of obedience He asks us to take, and through our “yes,” the world around us is changed. [33:39] Youtube Chapters [00:00] - Welcome [00:16] - Honoring Spiritual Leadership [01:08] - Relational Truths and Exodus 3 [03:09] - God’s Call: Everyone Is Called [05:02] - Surrendering What’s in Your Hand [06:31] - An Overwhelming Call Needs an Overwhelming God [08:39] - Moving to Shalotte: Trusting God’s Leading [10:30] - Encountering God and Knowing the Caller [12:28] - Identity and the Voice of God [14:45] - God Calls Us by Name, Not by Our Sin [17:22] - The Power of Saying Yes [20:35] - Freedom from the Past [22:39] - Holiness as Surrender [26:37] - Becoming a Change Agent [29:52] - God Moves When We Move [34:19] - Applying the Truths to Daily Life [36:22] - Closing Blessing and Prayer