Shane Idleman emphasizes the transformative power of vision in resurrecting dead dreams, drawing from Proverbs 29:18 to illustrate that without divine revelation, people become unrestrained and lose hope. He encourages listeners to seek God's will through prayer, humility, and a commitment to His word, asserting that true vision comes from a deep relationship with God. Idleman also highlights the importance of recognizing and confessing personal shortcomings to clear one's vision and align with God's purpose. He reminds the congregation that while dreams may seem lost, faith and perseverance in seeking God's guidance can lead to revival and fulfillment of those dreams. Ultimately, he calls for a return to genuine faith and reliance on God's promises.

The Power of Vision to Resurrect Dead Dreams The Power of Vision to Resurrect Dead Dreams The Power of Vision was initially the message, that's actually up on the aqueduct. But then I added to resurrect dead dreams. And obviously we're in Proverbs, Proverbs 29.18 Where there is no vision, the people perish. Where there is no vision, the people perish. But he that keepeth the law, happy is he. But he that keepeth the law is happy. Happy is he. You know what, let me just stop for a minute. I want to pray for the prodigals. Lord, I'm agreeing with all the parents right now. In this place, who are not happy with where their kids are. They know they've drifted from you. God, the enemy has a stronghold. But we know that hold is no match for the power of the Holy Spirit. So we ask, God, that you would release the hound of heaven. The Holy Spirit on these children. You would draw them back. You would convict them. Lord, to where you get all the glory. All the credit. Begin to move, even now Lord. Convict them. Draw them. Show them that the destiny that they're headed to is not a good one. And they need to turn back. And we ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. Okay, so back to this. Where there is no vision, the people perish. But he that keepeth the law happy is he. I wanted to show you the Amplified version. Because if you look. And how you interpret the Bible is you look at the original language. The word original there, perish. If you can go back, you can find it in. Like in Genesis. I'm sorry, Exodus. When the children of Israel were worshipping the idols. And they were unrestrained. It's the same word there. So actually, the Amplified gives a good definition here. Where there is no vision. Meaning the revelation of God and his word. When people don't have revelation of God and his word. The people are unrestrained. So you see what's happening in our society? Are they not unrestrained? Why? Because they have no revelation of God and who he is. So that's what happens when the enemy begins to take vision from your life. Okay, here's where I'm going. And begins to cloud that vision. And dreams begin to die. We become unrestrained. We begin to cave into the works of the flesh. And the deceitful enticements. So where there is no vision. A God-given revelation for your life. For what he's called you to do. People are unrestrained. But happy and blessed is he who keeps the law of God. And Psalm says this. Remember your word to your servant. You have given me hope. Anybody need that this morning? God, remember what you told me? Remember what you told me? You gave me hope. Remember, God, remember your word. How many of us have prayed that? God, remember what you promised. Remember what you told me. I need that to be revived. I need to see that. I need to have hope. So I'm going to ask this morning. What dream is dead in your life? Your marriage? Hope for reconciliation? Maybe health issues? Maybe I know God called me to do this. And I'm not even there. I'm doing this. I know he wants me to do this. But I've lost all motivation. That dream. I don't know if God's ever given you a God-given vision. Not weird vision. Oh, I see this. But like what he's called you to do. I believe that God has created all of us as believers to do something for him. There's not somebody in here. God's like, you know, Chris. I don't know if there's a Chris in here. But, you know, Chris is just going to exist. He'll use you at work, in your family, in society. A God-given dream. This is what I gifted you to do. And we get a glimpse of that, don't we? We get a hope of that. And then the dream dies. When it doesn't come to fruition. What happened last week is he's given me a vision of that eight years ago. Of what's been happening. And there's been ups and downs. I get defeated. I get discouraged. And just want to throw in the towel sometimes. But God, you promised. You showed me this. And how do we stay on track? Well, I want to give you a quick disclaimer. Because I do differ. My thoughts on this differ from others. Because many will assume that a dream. Meaning what God has called you to do. What you feel sense to do. Will always come to fulfillment. And there's some truth in that. What God began in you, he will complete it. But I also see in the Bible a lot of conditions. If my people do this. If they turn. If they seek. So a God-given dream. To get back on track. You can't just hope it works out many times. We have to fight. We have to contend. I believe that we have to pray according to God's will. I believe that dream has to be according to God's will. Because I remember, God. I thought I was going to be a professional baseball player. Well, those dreams ended a long time ago. And it was not according to God's will. What is best for him. Because sometimes we have dreams. And what we want to do. I want to be this person. I want to succeed in this business. But is it God's will for your life? You have to seek him to find that will. And also, is there besetting sin that keeps knocking us off course? Also, did you acquire the vision or the dream from God. While praying and worshiping and seeking God. And being grounded in his word. Because many times. Well, I think God wants me to do this. But it's based on what the flesh wants. So it's so important to come back to the word of God. And say, okay, God. Plant something fresh in me. Refocus this dream of mine. My calling, if you want to term. Because I think most people are bored or disconnected. Because they're not doing what God's called them to do. What God wants them to do. So here's from the scriptures. The power of vision. Here's how to resurrect dead dreams. Number one, vision comes from keeping the course. He just outlined this in Proverbs. Happy is he who what? Keeps the course. Now, if we had time, we would look at that word keep. That just means. The word keep is if you can picture a ship. That's keeping its course. Does it follow the compass exactly correctly? Or does it. The winds kind of drifted off course. And you blow away from your destination. But the compass puts it back on course. So that's. You have to keep that course. Saying God, here's what you've called me to do. Here's how you've called me to live. I want to keep that course. This is why trust is vital. We have to. And this is. You have to get this deep down in your spirit. Only by reading the word of God. Is you have to completely trust in God. Regardless of the feelings. Regardless of the circumstances. Regarding if. Well, this didn't pan out like I thought. And I've had people saying. I thought God was going to restore my marriage. But he didn't. Or he didn't allow it. We don't know sometimes. But you trust in God. Knowing that he is still in command. He is still in control. So you have to make that commitment to keep the course. And then number two. Vision comes from the prayer closet. During deep devotional times. And what I mean by that. If you want to refocus God's calling on your life. You want to really know what he's called you to do. That's going to require some neology. In addition to theology. I borrowed that from Glenn Shepard who spoke. Never forget that. That is so true. But to get a God. See, many times when I feel God's calling me to plant the church. God's calling me for the Sunday night service. God's calling me to confess. What I confessed last Sunday morning. If you were here. If you didn't. You can go back and watch the archives of the live stream. But it's in the prayer closet. It's as you're seeking God. And he begins to plant thoughts that line up with his word. There becomes to be a burden. There begins to be confirmation. You sit and you pray on it. You chew on it. Does it line up with his will? So if you're not in the prayer closet. It's going to be very hard to get vision for your life. Because what we're led by is what we're feeding on. You see the kids. All these kids now want to be rock stars. Or YouTube people who have five million hits. And that's how I want to make my money. Why? Because they're feeding on the media. I want to be a professional athlete. I will tell you. Something that breaks my heart is this. I didn't see it when I was younger. But it's really catching on is how our kids now are so involved in sports. Whether it's volleyball, soccer, basketball, baseball, mountain biking, gymnastics. Whatever it is. Now this is taking center stage. And church is falling by the wayside. When I talk to the dads at the baseball field. What's the whole point? They want him to be the next Mike Trout. That's dangerous. What does God want? Because we want to live vicariously through our children sometimes. And succeed. Have them succeed where we didn't. But I think God is. No, no. Get in the prayer closet. Get in the prayer closet. Make sure. Make sure you find out what his will is. A person filled with God's spirit. Praying, reading, and obeying. Will have a targeted vision for their life. A targeted prayer life. Like well placed arrows in the heart of the enemy's plans. This was, me and my wife were talking this week. And this really, I don't know what happened at the conference. I heard somebody talking about this. And you know when you know something but it finally clicks? Like yeah, I knew that. But boy did it stick. It's when one of the person, people, the speakers explained. If you ask anything according to my will. And you're filled with the spirit of God. I will answer. So if a person's filled with God's spirit. They're praying, they're reading, they're obeying. God places a prayer, a step of prayer in their heart. And they begin to pray for that. They can believe that's gonna come to pass. Because it's God who planted that prayer there. It's God who gives us the faith. It's God who targeted that arrow. So you can pray for your prodigal. If God gives you that. And oh I feel it God. I'm spending time with you. I'm in your word. I'm filled with your spirit. Those are targeted prayers. That gets the heart of God. Because we're praying according to his will. And as you know I read about revivals. And obviously we experienced a lot of what God is doing. And I've noticed that God answers prayer more readily during seasons of revival. During seasons of awakening. But why? The reason is because we are serious about prayer. We're serious about seeking God. And number three, vision comes from humility. I know I make this point often. But to truly get back on track. If you want to resurrect a dead dream. It's gonna begin with humility. And it's going to begin with allowing all of your plans to die. Your schedule to die. Anybody get frustrated like me if things don't go just like I want? And we begin to fight against God. And humility. I had this great thought this week that I want to share with you. When people are asking about what God is doing here. And we have to stay humble. I kind of picture myself sometimes as a water pipe. 24 inch ductile buried 4 feet underground. I'm just the pipe. You're just the pipe. Who's gonna, oh look at the pipe. No it's a... We're just here to transfer the water of the Holy Spirit. The power of the Holy Spirit. The flooding of God's presence. We're just that vessel. We are leaky vessels. We are broken vessels. And then God works through us. And that's what humility looks like. Who but God can get credit for something? So we say God I could have been wrong in this. I don't know what's going on. But I'm humbling myself. And saying oh God we need to hear from you. Have you ever really said that? And I mean really said that? You get home and you say God I need to hear from you. I'm gonna stay here in this prayer closet. Or in my office for an hour or two. I'm not gonna eat. God I need to hear from you. Because we can read that scripture. Oh God search me. Try me. Look within. Is there anything wicked in me? Is there anything wrong in me? Oh God search me. You know what that word means? It means ransack. Anyone prepared to say oh God ransack me? Ransack. If I could show you. I would just flip this pulpit over. I would throw the drums on the floor. I would toss this piano. That's ransack. Oh God would you disrupt my life. And wake me up. Turn everything in me upside down. That is not of you. Take full control. God come in and search me completely. Empty me of self. And create in me a clean heart. A right heart. That I can seek you once again. Remove the dirt and the junk. And the filth that has crept in of my own agenda. We have to stop praying. Listen Lord thy servant speaketh. And start saying speaketh Lord. Thy servant is listening. And humble ourselves. But folks there's too much pride in the church. We have to humble ourselves. And this is why I often say that some of you have truth. But not much love. Your vision's cloudy. It's obscured. And most problems, most issues would be fixed with humility. And humility isn't thinking you're a doormat. Oh woe is me. That's false humility. Humility is saying God I've got some issues. And I need you to. Clean house. So many Christians have their own schedule. Their own agenda. If God even seeks to disrupt that. We have our own plans. Our own financial interests. And God says just humble yourself. And I will give you a vision for your life. Number four. Blurred vision. Anyone have blurred vision? They're not sure what God has called them to do. Is corrected by opening the flood gates. What I mean by that. Let me explain what I mean by that. Did you know even, look this up online. Tears are necessary for good vision. They keep your eyes healthy. They protect them from irritants. They remove irritants. They remove dirt. Tears keep the eyes healthy. Your tears keep your heart healthy. But you can't manufacture tears. This has been one of the biggest revelations I think I've had. I've shared this with you. It's not a surprise. That I was raised in a home where men don't cry. And I don't think I did. 14, 15, 16. Even broke my leg at 15. You don't cry at 18, 19, 20, 20. You didn't cry until the day of my dad's funeral. Then I began to weep. Because I realized there was no relationship. And then you toughen up. And you don't try again. You don't cry. You don't show tears. You don't show emotion. We think it's strong. And it's actually arrogant. Because unless you can feel the sorrow and the pain of others. And you can't manufacture this. You have to say, God give me tears. And that's what I'm going to talk about tonight. The pain of the prophet. Tonight briefly. On why this is so important. Here's why it is. Because you literally feel the pain of the other person. You feel the pain of what they're going through. God woke me up at 3.30 in the morning. I don't want to call out names. But I began to pray for many in this room. That they would receive a baptism of love. They're as hard as this pulpit. And God can't move. God break them. Would you break them? I'm thinking I'm going to start a hit list. And write down these names. I've never cried this week. Much in a week than I have all year. And I don't like it to be honest with you. It's not tough. Supposedly. Come on pastor. Keep it together. I'm going to explain tonight. I think what's happening. So if you're here, I'll explain more on that. But you have to feel the pain. You can't manufacture it. And God will do that through service. Yesterday. I think it was yesterday or Friday. We're coming home. My mom's in UCLA hospital. And we're going to eat at a healthy place. Whole Foods. And there's this guy out there. Holding a sign just like this. Homeless. We'll work. You know. I said, hey, can I buy you a sandwich? I said, hey, why don't you come sit with us outside? And begin to hear a story. A Marine. Who lost his job. Divorced. And I feel inside chain. Don't lose it. Don't lose it. Mm-mm. Mm-mm. Mm-mm. I'm like, where is this coming from? But see, that's why I had to talk to him. I felt like just weeping for this guy. Because Lord, wreck me. Wreck me. Wreck me. Break me. Because that's where real ministry comes from. Without that, you'll just try to tell people off. You need the gospel. You're going to hell. Maybe they just need to be listened to. And heard. And then bring the gospel in. And I guess being in church. Being around many. I agree. You can probably agree to this. Those without a soft broken heart don't do very well at evangelizing. They turn people off. They hurt people. They push them away from church. Why is the majority of people, maybe in America, why do they not want to go to church? Because of how other Christians have treated them. Or act. Now, of course, we can't be perfect. I'm sure I pushed away more than all of you combined. With this kind of, you know, with preaching and different things. But, again, the truth will offend them. Our heart shouldn't. And you have to be broken. And God will give you. Because once he says, now they feel my pain. Now they're broken. Now they're contrite. Now they've sacrificed themselves on the altar of brokenness. Now I will begin to give them my vision for their life. How I want them. Because if I send you out to do my will, you'll hurt people. You won't help them. So brokenness and pain has to come in. And then number five. Foggy vision is cleared when you lay everything at the foot of the cross. And you are fully transparent. Fully transparent. And, Carrie, we were so blessed listening to your. I'm going to cry now. But listening to your testimony on Wednesday. I would encourage you to listen to Wednesday night testimonies. Me and Morgan were driving listening to it. We were both just having just unbelievable what God can do with humility. And you have to lay it at the cross. And you say, God, who is perfect in this room? Complete. Would you stand up? I mean, lay it at the cross and say, God, I don't have a God-given vision. I don't have. I want to resurrect that dream and I'm laying it at the foot of the cross. I'm being fully transparent because we put on an image, don't we? We have a Christian image. And we want people to think we're more Christian than we really are. And we have to lay those things at the foot of the cross because at the heart of that is pride. There's a book, a box of books I ordered. I'm going to give it out to those who are serious. The title is Full Surrender by Edwin Orr. He said the penalty of trifling with the Holy Spirit. That means playing games, tricking, you know, as if we could trick the Holy Spirit. Is a breach of fellowship, there is a loss of vision. So anytime we're playing tricks, games with the Holy Spirit, it will deflect you from God's will. Your vision will become cloudy. And again, I don't know why, but I always want to clarify this because people kind of get the wrong impression. I'm not talking about anyone being perfect. Nobody can live up to that standard. But there's a big difference between somebody falling hard after God and getting back up and saying, come hell or high water, I'm going to humble myself, I'm going to follow him. And somebody just continually missing the mark on purpose. That's what God's looking for. The scripture says, I'm looking for a broken and contrite heart. If I'm not mistaken, that doesn't just happen once. That happened once to me in 1999. Then I found myself again a month later, again a month later, again a month later. Humble, broken, contrite. Humble, broken, contrite. Laying myself on the altar daily. Even this morning, laying myself on the altar. God, break me. Let me present my body as a living sacrifice. Something that is holy and pleasing to you. He said, vision is cleared up when Christians begin to confess their sins to one another. He that covereth his sins shall not prosper. But he who confesses them shall have mercy. Proverbs 28, 13. Now I want to clarify here because people get the wrong impression sometimes. You don't have to just go blab everything. You don't have to confess. But it looks like often this. Somebody would say, you know what, I'm just having a mean spirit this week. Please forgive me. And it's kind of the easy way to get out. But when you go to somebody and say, I've treated you wrong. I've belittled you. Or I spoke behind your back. I've gossiped and I need forgiveness. You will watch out because God's spirit is going to fall on you. Because the spirit corrects deficiencies in our own heart. And we like to gloss over things. Yeah, I could have done better. No. Confess. It's very healthy to say, you know, I've had a pride, arrogant, hard heart. I need to expose it. I need to bring that to the surface. Or to say, church has been dry. Church has been boring. It's been dull. And we confess these things. And also, I don't know why, but I put this down here. We have to be careful with anger. Anger knocks vision off course every chance it gets. And I've heard a lot of people say, well, I'm not angry like my dad. Well, remember, anger can involve irritation and impatience. Oh, there we go. Right? Impatience. Irritated. And we have to bring these things to God. So something I want to leave you with because it's rich in application. I found myself there a lot this month. I'm not going to spend a lot of time here. But it's from Habakkuk 2. It's rich in application. Now, many people use this verse that I'm going to get to in a minute. When God says, for the vision is yet for an appointed time. For in the end it will speak and not lie. People can kind of tie it into God giving you a vision. And that's true. But the context is that the Babylonians, Chaldeans, have annihilated Assyrian Egypt. And now they're coming for you, Judah. They're coming for you. But God says, I'm going to judge that wicked nation eventually. For the vision will come to pass. But it's so rich in biblical principles that I want to share it with you. Habakkuk said, he was one of the Old Testament prophets. He said, I will stand my watch and I will set myself on the rampart. And watch to see what he will say to me and what I will answer when I am corrected. Can you imagine going into prayer and saying, Lord, will you correct me? Will you correct me and show me if there's any error in my way? Matthew Henry said this about this first verse. Those that expect to hear from God must withdraw from the world and get above it. Must raise their attention, fix their thought, and study the scriptures. They must continue instant in prayer and thus set themselves upon the tower. We have to set ourselves upon and high up. And he says here, I will stand as a defense. I will wait to see what God is saying to me. So you have to say, okay, I'm going to stand for my family. I'm going to stand for what this dream God has given me. And I'm going to contend for it. Then the Lord answered me and he said, write the vision and make it plain on tablets that he may run who reads it. Now this doesn't necessarily mean he's going to read this vision and go, oh my goodness, I'm going to run, get out of here. You know, there's application there we could talk about at some point. But the thing is, if you look at the first sentence, write the vision and make it plain on tablets, a tablet you would put out for others to see, that they may run, that they may read through it quickly, those who may read through it quickly when they see it. And here's the part I enjoy. For the vision is yet for an appointed time. In other words, God says, I will give you a vision. It's for an appointed time. But at the end, it will speak and it will not lie. Though it tarries. In other words, though what God has said, tarries. Doesn't it? It tarries, I'm waiting. It's in the waiting time that you'll get distracted, Samson. It's in the waiting time that discouragement comes in. It's in the waiting time that we fall back. It's in the waiting time that our flesh is exposed to the works of the devil. It's in that waiting time. So as God says, it will tarry. Though it tarries, wait for it, because it will surely come to pass. It will not tarry. What God says will come to pass. And then verse four, behold the proud. Behold the proud. His soul is not upright in him. Talking about the Babylonians. But the just shall, what? The just shall live by faith. In other words, they see this judgment on the tablet. People are gonna see it. And God says, no matter, it's tearing. Lord, it's taking longer. It's tearing. But I have said it. It will come to pass. That's why you need to get into the word of God. Get your heart aligned with God and see what God is planting in your heart. Because when God says it, it will come to pass. God says, though it tarries, it will come to pass. No devil in hell can stop my plans. No witches, I see all this stuff on the news. Witches are going to hex Kavanaugh. Witches are going to hex churches. Who cares? They don't have the power of God. I'll sleep. I told my wife that I'll sleep in the desert next to a pagan altar where they've done sacrifices and I will sleep soundly because that has no authority over me or you. That's nothing compared to almighty God. He says, when I speak, when I speak, it will come to pass. Though it tarries, don't view it by what you see. The just shall live by faith. And God loves faith. Oh, God loves faith. When you say, Lord, I don't see it, but I'm trusting you, you're in a good spot. But here's what most people do. I don't see it, I'm getting bitter and resentful at you. That's actually what happened to that homeless guy. He was bitter at God. I said, you need to give your life to God. I can't do more. That will sidetrack you every single chance. I truly believe one of the greatest tactics of the enemy, one of his opportune times is during discouragement. During discouragement, waiting. Waiting for that prodigal. Waiting for that, waiting. Oh, forget it. God's not gonna answer. Forget it. God's not gonna awaken me or bring revival. God's not, God, forget it. If God, and some of you know what I'm talking about. When God plants something in your heart and you know it's God, you better just hold it because it's coming to pass. God says he will do it. I will answer, says the Lord. And he says about the proud, he doesn't even sit up straight, but you, you shall live by faith that what I've spoken, I will bring it to pass. In other words, get on your face today. Get on your face tonight and again seek almighty God. See the death in going your own direction. Do you ever look and see the death in going your own direction, going against God? There's a pastor, Pastor Steve Schell. I've given this analogy a couple years ago. He talked about seeing the death in something and it can really redirect your course. For example, I think he was fasting and gave this analogy. If you see this chocolate cake in the refrigerator, have you ever, you know, not eaten for a while? I mean, after a meal, like, oh, no big deal, but come three, four, five, six, seven hours, the chocolate cake begins to call your name. That's why I don't have stuff in my house because it will knock at 12 midnight. How do you remember it's there? I'm sleeping. Remember those brownies? Remember those brownies? I'm telling you the truth. I have, I have to be out of sight, out of mind because my flesh is sneaky. So you go to, oh, forget it. Ah, and your flesh, once it starts, just one bite. Just one piece. So you bring it out and you turn it and you see the little note there, use caution, this contains rat poison. So this thing you had to have, now you're not gonna have. What changed? You saw the death in it. And you have to see that in your own life. This is not going in a good direction. You see the death in something, it begins to, your vision begins to, to clear up. David Gusick said this about pride. Pride is everywhere and it takes all manner and shapes. Here is the rich man proud of what he has. Here is the poor man proud of his honor and having less. Here is the talented man proud of what he can do. And there is the man of few talents proud of his hard work. Here is the religious man proud of religion. Here is the unbeliever proud of his unbelief. Here is the establishment man proud of his place in society. And there is the countercultural man proud of his outcast status. Here is the learned man proud of his intelligence and learning. And here is the simple man proud of his simplicity. In a nutshell, pride can be especially dangerous among the people of God. So my point this morning was really this. The closing is what God said earlier. But at the end, it will speak and it will not lie. This is how you resurrect dead dreams. You get back on track. You get your focus back on what God says. You spend time in his word and you even ask, Lord, if this is not of you, will you show me? Be ready for the answer though. Remember? Speak, Lord. Speak. Your servant listens. It's what it needs to be. I'm listening, Lord. Speak. So God says, turn and see again where God wants you to be. Wipe the tears away and get up and fight. Put yourself up. Pull yourself up from the ashes of despair and let God rebuild and renew. Also though, God, I want to throw this in. If you don't know Christ, this is going to be pointless. The only way to get a good vision for your life is churn and repent and believe in the gospel. Without that, you're just following all these motivational speakers out there. Oh, give a vision. Just think positive. Put a Lamborghini on your refrigerator and eventually you'll have it. Put this big house on your refrigerator. Eventually you'll have it. Oh, follow your vision. The danger there is you're following the flesh and that gets you nowhere. So if you don't know him this morning, turn and believe and repent in the gospel. Some of the people who need the gospel the most, this has amazed me, the Chinese Christian who came and was persecuted, talking with her. Do you know this? The Chinese church views America as a mission field. Let that sink in. What are you doing here in America? It's a mission field. Don't we go there? No. Chinese brethren, she said, coming over. America's a big mission field. What? Why is that? Because our freedoms have become a curse if we're not careful. Because people have religion. You hear it all the time. Well, I'm Catholic. I'm Baptist. I asked, oh, my dad was a Christian. Oh, well, good for you. Well, I think I'm a Christian. It's like, you know, you live in India, you're Hindu. You live in the Middle East, you're Muslim. Often you live in America, you're Christian. So there's many people in the church who have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof. And that's why you have to be careful. If you look just like the world, except on Sunday right now, but if you look just like the world, is there any change? If there's no change, there's no difference, have you truly changed? I'm working with a guy right now, I don't want to say too much, or reaching out, I should say. And he just loves this dark and gothic, demonic music. But he's a Christian. He said, well, I like this. I'm not gonna just turn this off. But you don't understand, that shouldn't entertain you. There's something should be grieving, like, oh, I hate that. I hate that. I don't even like the Halloween decorations in Home Depot. I mean, something in our spirit should grieve us. I don't like darkness and death and the demonic, and it shouldn't entertain me, and I find enjoyment with that. Why? You gotta be careful because you might have the wrong spirit in you. Because people say, oh, I like the idea of heaven. Sure, I'll check off Christian. But a Christian is a Christ follower. They have a renewed nature. They've been born again. So they won't look like the world. Now, I'm not talking about a struggle. I mean, we struggle with, but there shouldn't be an appetite for the things of the world. Actually, the Bible's pretty clear. He who loves the world does not have the love of the Father in them. What we love, what we gravitate towards, do heart examination this morning. Do heart examination this morning. Have you truly been converted by the power of the Holy Spirit? Do you truly know God? Can you cry out, Abba, Father? Or do you say, get away from me, Father? Get away from me, church. It's amazing how many, you'll see so many people go to church once a month, and they check it off. They're not hungry for more of God. Take a look at your spiritual appetite. Are you hungry for more of God? I just, I can't wait to be in his presence. I can't wait to be among believers. I can't wait to hear this worship. I'm ready to hear Let It Rain again. I'm ready. I'm telling you. The hunger, and I think, you're baptizing you tonight, too, as well. Praise God. See, I'm ready. Why is it not that time already? You know? Now, as a word of encouragement, you think I go through that every day? No. Mm-mm. Often, when God is working, so is Satan. You don't know spiritual attacks until you've been awakened by the Spirit of God. And that's why trust is so important. Lord, even when I don't feel like it, I will worship you. Here's what happens. Here's what happens. Oh, God, I could spend all, I wish the sermon was on this. But when you begin to just submit your flesh, and, Lord, I don't feel like it, but I'm worshiping you. Lord, I don't feel like praying, but I'm going to pray. I'm going to pray right now for my children. Lord, help me in my unbelief. Help me come against this flesh. And, God, I'm just trusting you. Begin to pray. God, would you fill them with your Spirit? God, would you watch over them? Would you keep them away from the sick and perverted culture? God, would you keep them away from addictions? God, would you fill me with your Spirit? Oh, God, would you? And something begins to break inside of you. The flesh begins to lose its kryptonite grip, and you begin to be filled with the Spirit of God. And you want to put on worship. You want more of God. And something is happening because you are conquering the flesh. And the Spirit of God is saying, I was once grieved. I was once quenched. But because of your faithfulness, because of your trust, because of your faith, I will light that fire again. And I will not only give you a flicker, I will give you a blazing light that whoever you walk in contact with, they will see the power of the Holy Spirit in your life. Church, stop trusting your feelings. Stop trusting your feelings. Because your feelings will often not lead you in the right direction. Your feelings will keep you at home. What does your flesh say sounds better tonight? Netflix? Or neology?