What Are you Doing Here?

First Kings, chapter 19, verse number nine says these words. Then Elijah went to a cave and spent the night. The word of the Lord came to him. What are you doing here, Elijah? He replied, I've been zealous with the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites rejected your covenant, torn your altars down, put your prophets to death with the sword. I'm the only one left, and now they want to kill me too. The Lord said, go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord's about to pass by. Then a great powerful wind tore the mountains apart, shattered the rocks before the Lord. The Lord was not in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire. The Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. Your version may say, silence. And when Elijah heard the silence, he pulled his mantle over his face, went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. The Lord said to him, what are you doing here, Elijah? He said, I've been zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites rejected your covenant, tore your altars down, put your prophets to death with the sword. Ward, I'm the only one left. And now they want to kill me too. The Lord said, go back the way you came. Go to the desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazel the king over Aram. I want to wrestle with the question God asked Elijah and asked that question to you today. In verse number 13, the voice said to him, what are you doing here? And put a tag on this text and wrestle with that topic. What are you doing here? You may be seated even in the presence of the Lord. What are you doing here? Dwight hall, in his newsletter have a Good Day, tells a story of a young man returning home from his first day at school. The teacher had asked all the kids to bring their birth certificates to school so the school can have an accurate record of everybody who was at the school. This young boy, the word certificate was a pretty big word for him in the the language and the vocabulary of the teacher was a lot for him to handle, but he got the idea. He ran home with this important message, and when he got home, he immediately told his mom, mom, tomorrow I need to bring my excuse for being born. Dwight hall said, that's a very interesting way to look at life, an excuse for living. Everybody ought to have one. What's your excuse to live? Anyone can be noble, free, useful, or your life can be slovenly, vile and wasted. It depends on Your choices. We can reach for the highest goals and reach it, or we can aim for nothing and hit that too. So as we walk into this sermon, as we meander this harmonic conversation, I want you to take a moment to think about for you today. What is your excuse to live? As we look at the world, look at inflation and murders of black and brown bodies, governmental issues, people issues, work issues, there's so many reasons for us to find ways to give up. We can find excuses to give up. We can find excuses to quit our jobs. We can find excuses to run away from our purposes. But my question to you today is what is your excuse to live? See, dreams are not what you see when you're asleep. Dreams are what keep you awake. What's your excuse? When you participate in the world around you, you become a part of the solution that heals the plague of apathy in our country. You're the ones that God has anointed to seek for the liberation of people, the betterment of others. The issue comes down to one thing. Do you know your excuse to keep on living? And what this sermon attacks today is not just the what others tell us we ought to do. Because a lot of the reasons some of us are not living into the calls that God's put on our lives is because we're living into the calls that others are telling us we ought to live in too. I want you to find today, I want you to discern today. I want you to grab a hold today. What is your excuse to live? That was what God was doing with Elijah in First Kings, chapter 19. When life hit Elijah, God was trying to pull out of Elijah his excuse to keep on living. That's what we find in First Kings chapter 19, verse number nine. Elijah, the Bible says, is sitting on Mount Horeb in a cave. But in order to understand First Kings chapter 19, we got to go back for a quick second and grab. First Kings chapter 17. If you remember the beginning of Elijah's life, God called him and prop to go prophesied that there would be a drought in the country. And Elijah prophesied and there was a drought. Ahab did not like that there was a drought in the country. So Elijah went down to ravine, he went to the brook and he was fed by a raven. And he stayed at that brook for one and a half years. And until the brook dried up. The text says after the brook dried up, Elijah got hadn't, couldn't get comfortable at the brook any longer. So the text says he travels down to a widow woman's house. At the widow woman's house, he asked her to make him a cake. And they eat that cake. A year later, while he's hanging out at the widow woman's house, the boy dies. Elijah lays on the boy three times, and he's revived. God sends him back to Samaria. And when he gets to Samaria, in First Kings, Kings, chapter 18, he affirms a brother named Obadiah. You know Obadiah, there's a whole book of Obadiah's prophecies in our scriptures. He affirms Obadiah sends Obadiah away from Ahab because Obadiah and Ahab had gotten into it. And so after Obadiah leaves, Elijah goes and confronts King Ahab. And that's where we get the story, the showdown on Mount Carmel where Elijah calls down fire onto this water. Now, remember, the power of this fire on the water was that the people were in such a severe drought that Elijah said, get some water. But they were calling on the God baal. Baal, lowercase G. God was the rain God, this God that was supposed to send rain in the middle of a drought. So they were praying to Baal, they were praying to Baal. 800 prophets were outside praying to a false God. And Elijah sets up an altar of 12 stones. And when he said sets up an altar, he calls down God. And God soaks up the water in the middle of a drought. And then Elijah looks at Ahab and tells Ahab, God's going to end the drought, not because of your prophets, but because that is the word of the Lord. And now Ahab is frustrated with Elijah. Jezebel, who is Ahab's wife, is frustrated with Elijah. And Elijah has the greatest moment of his ministry where he stays right there and he goes out and hear me. He kills 800 prophets of Baal, and God ends the drought. And this made Ahab and Jezebel so frustrated. It's amazing to me. The word Jezebel often used in church spaces is to describe the sultriness of women in church. You know, we use Jezebel when someone trying to steal your man. That ain't what Jezebel was in Scripture. We. We find a reason. Like, for some reason, we are so preoccupied with somebody else's sex life. I'm just gonna make it very clear. Jezebel has nothing to do with the sultiness of all this. We are so preoccupied with female sexual autonomy that we miss what Jezebel actually means in Scripture. The issue with Jezebel is that Jezebel was trying to convert people not to follow God, but to follow Jezebel. She had power, and she put herself in direct opposition of God. She had influence. She worshiped baal and she's known for looking in the mirror because she was so consumed with herself, because her goal was to convert northern Israel to follow Jezebel. It had nothing to do whether or not she got a big behind. Everything about Jezebel had to do with that. Jezebel put herself in direct opposition of God. She was aggressive. Some of y' all mad at me, but I'm just trying to help you read Scripture. She was aggressive as she could be. That's why some of y' all mad at some folk. Is she a Jezebel? No, she ain't. She aggressive as she could be. And Elijah stood firm on the word of God. And as soon as he got up and said the drought was over, Jezebel.

Got frustrated because she knew that God.

Was at work and Jezebel wasn't at work. And this made her so frustrated. And that's First Kings, chapter 19, verse number two, where Jezebel sends a message to Elijah's servant and says, tell Elijah that God is going to do to him what he just did to all the prophets of all. Jezebel made it her business to kill Elijah because she thought, if I kill Elijah, I'm going to get rid of God. Let me tell you something. Jezebel did what we see in our lives, what Satan does. And, you know, I talk about sin, and so I got to talk about Satan, because there's a heaven and there's a hell, and we can try to dress it up. Heaven, hell, sin is real. So is Satan. There's dark forces. We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but we wrestled against dark forces, right? So Jezebel, Satan does what we see. Jezebel was. I'm not calling Jezebel Satan. But Satan got Jezebel distracted from her authority because if she ever would have used her influence for God, imagine what the Northern Kingdom could have been. Satan gets you distracted because all Satan does. I talk about Satan like this. I think Satan is a lion with no teeth. Like, he's just gonna gum you to death, right? I mean, he just can't do anything. Jezebel accused Elijah and threatened Elijah. She found his weakness, which was his mental health, and exploited his weaknesses. That's all that Satan does. Satan, remember, church, is the accuser of the saints.

Satan.

Jezebel's main purpose was to put herself in God's position. She wanted Power, access and authority. And, and Elijah represented authority, influence and access.

So if I can get rid of.

Elijah, I can get rid of God. So she comes after Elijah and does what Satan does. Satan comes John 10:10 to steal, kill and destroy. Revelations 12 and 10. He's the accuser of the saints. And so I'm trying to help somebody in this building today. Satan only accuses you because you are living on purpose, in purpose.

Satan only accuses you because you are.

Close to God's heart. And if he can get you destroyed.

Distracted from God's heart, he can get.

You connected to his heart.

So for those of us today, I.

Want you to see the how the way that Satan works.

And I want to show you there's.

Four ways that Satan tries to get you. And I promise you the reason God doesn't want the the reason Satan doesn't want this released is because he knows that if you ever knew how Satan works, you can stop Satan at the beginning and not let Satan get to you at the end. Satan knows how to aggravate your flesh. He can't touch your spirit spirit.

He only can get your flesh.

So when you know your temptation, because Satan knows your temptation. If you don't believe me, the beginning of the book of Job, I'm just going to teach this. Beginning of the book of Job. The Bible says that Satan was going to and fro, roaming like a lion. Watch this. Every morning, every night, he went to God and said, who can I get? Does Satan talk to God more than you talk to God?

Like does Satan go.

He's going every morning, he's going every night to see who he can get. Is he talking to God? God every morning and night, Is he talking to God more than we talk to God. Satan was saying, who can I find? And that's where God said, consider Job.

And Satan says something so powerful.

God, there's a fence around Job that's in Job chapter one. You don't believe me, go to Job chapter one. Job, chapter two, There's a fence around Job. God never told Satan there's a fence.

Because Satan wants to get past the protection that God gives us.

Because Satan's goal is to get you.

Focus on your flesh. Because if I can focus on my.

Flesh, I can get out of my faith. So here's the ways that Satan works to show you. I'm gonna show you number one, the four ways Satan tries to get you distracted. Number one, he wants you to react in your flesh. Why? So we have something to accuse you of that's It. Number two. He wants you to act against your best interests. Why? So when you fall, he can say, look what you did. Look how bad you are. Look how terrible you are. So then what that do? Number three. Satan wants to get you to nurse a negative attitude. Why? So you can begin to be called things that are not what your name is. Folks begin to call you toxic, call you good for nothing. Because here's what that does. Satan is trying to give you a label that's outside the identity that God gave you. Satan is trying to change your name. So you nurse a negative attitude. And now you're called toxic. You're called negative. You're called everything but a child of God. Because all Satan wants to do, number four is to get you to come to his domain. So why don't you go kill yourself? What are you useful for? Why are you at church? Your dreams ain't never gonna come to pass because Satan wants you to look at yourself the way that Satan looks at you. Because if he can get you confused to look at yourself the way the world does, you'll stop living into the way that God speaks about you. That's what Jezebel represented. That's what Jezebel represented for Elijah. She did enough to get Elijah distracted, change his attitude, and go against his best interest to a point where he tells God. Chapter 19, verse 4. God, kill me. Your adversary does not have the authority that you think your adversary has. But there are seasons in all of our lives where this comes to pass. Elijah departs and runs to Mount Horeb. He left his servant in Beersheba. He travels for 40 days and 40 nights. God provides for Elijah. And then we get to our text. In verse number nine. Elijah is sitting in the cave of Mount Horeb where God gave the commandments to. Sorry. He talked to Moses for the first time and showed him his presence. And now he steps out of the very simple question God asks Elijah. Elijah, what are you doing here? And Elijah tells God everything he's done. God, I'm zealous. I care for people. I did this. And people went against your word. They're trying to kill me. I'm the only one left. Remember, this is not true. In chapter 18, Obadiah is still alive preaching the gospel. But Elijah has gotten so convinced to himself that everything is over. Jezebel has won and no one's going to care about him. Elijah displays church a lot of the classic symptoms of depression. First Kings, chapter 19, verse number three. He had. He had fear. He was afraid and ran for his life. Verse number four, he had suicidal tendencies. He prayed that he might die. Verse number five, he had excessive tiredness. Verse number seven, he was isolated. He ran away from his servant. Verse number 10, he had feelings of rejection. And let me tell you something. He had this feeling of rejection and suicidal thinking church for two months. Remember the mountain transfiguration, which. And now Jesus is up there with Peter and John and Moses shows up and Elijah shows up. Elijah, y'. All. God still used Elijah even though he was depressed and suicidal for nearly two months. Elijah is depressed. He's suicidal. And after the greatest sermon of his life on Mount Carmel, this prophet that God chose, this prophet that preached the gospel, this prophet that raised the dead, this prophet that called on fire, it's depressed and suicidal. And it's easy for me to get up here and tell you, turn around and get through it. But let me tell you something. If we don't own the truth, that God is there in your worst moment, in your depressed moment, that no matter.

How far life has taken you, God still sees you right where you are.

That when you're in the places of.

Depression, suicide, anxiety, trauma, healing, all of.

That, God, God is right.

God does not leave you at your.

Worst moment in your mind.

As a matter of fact, at your worst moment, God will hide you. He doesn't embarrass you. He will lead you and he will hold you and he shows Elijah. Elijah, I'm not going to embarrass you.

I'm going to engage with you. What are you doing here? Depression and anxiety are so prevalent in church, especially, especially among anointed people, committed people. It overwhelms the minds of creatives to a point where sometimes you can't make a decision and you have all the lies in your head about what you think about yourself, what is true, what not true trauma will cause you to be. Because we stop growing at the place of our greatest trauma. And trauma will allow you to go back and begin to live like the person who was hurt and abused. Anxiety will overwhelm your mind. And I want to show you something. God does not tell Elijah to go pray about it. God doesn't tell Elijah to get rid of himself. God doesn't reject Elijah. God doesn't get rid of Elijah. God doesn't take oil off Elijah. God doesn't take the mantle away from Elijah. As a matter of fact, the first thing God did to Elijah when Elijah was ready to talk about what was going on in his mind is God gave Elijah his presence. And I want to tell somebody this.

Morning that in the presence of God.

Is fullness of joy.

And God says, I'm going to to be with you in your healing because I want you to be made whole that God does not reject depressed people. God does not reject anxious people. God does not reject suicidal people. God does not reject abused people. God does not reject you. God says, I'm going to give you.

My presence in private. May we be a place in a church that doesn't reject people because they're depressed. May we be a place in a church that doesn't reject people because they're anxious or suicidal.

Because if God can give Elijah his.

Presence, surely we can give somebody our presence too. Somebody say amen. I love this. God says, elijah, in your worst moment, you want to give up after all you've done. He doesn't sit there, remind him what he's done. He doesn't remind him and tell him all this. He says, elijah, come out of the cave and he moves in a great wind. He moves in an earthquake, he moves in a fire. But then God does something we've never seen before. He gives him a whisper. It's a new part of God. We've never seen this part of God. In the Old Testament, God was so used to moving in earthquakes and natural events and natural disasters that this time Elijah gets a whisper from God. Because now it shows a matter of. Of relationship that God had with Elijah. He brings Elijah to another level of depth in his heart and shows Elijah, you're not your enemies are not stronger than me. Because I want to give you intimacy with me. Elijah, You've been running for months, Elijah. You've experienced my provision. You've done so much in my name. I've given you my presence. I've given you my glory. I've used you to resurrect the dead. I've used it to encourage others. I've used you to place my name on stages. I've used you to help your children.

I've used to take.

I've used you to encourage pta. I've used you to build a church.

I've used you to do all of this.

And God says I'm going to still give my glory and revelation to depressed, suicidal and anxious people. Because let me tell you this, even when you don't want you, God still wants you. I wish I had a witness in here.

Even when you give up on you.

God and he shows Elijah something. I am not just with you, Elijah, to grow a church. I'm not just with you, Mama. Take your children to school.

I'm not just with you, Daddy, to.

Do the work you have at work. I'm not just with you students to take exams and finals. God says, I'm with you because I love you. When the world wanted to kill you, Jesus said, take my life.

And even when you want to give.

Up on yourself self, God says, I'm not giving up on you. I'm not taking my hand off you. I'm not taking your dreams away from you.

I'm not changing anything.

Because here's what I want to do, Elijah. I want to change the way you see yourself.

Because if you ever were to begin to see yourself the way that I.

See you, you would want to get off the mountain. But I'm not going to force you, Elijah.

I'm going to be with you as.

We heal through the ways that you've harmed yourself. Can I suggest. So often when it comes to time with God, we try to work harder, run more, write more, and we get away from these moments when God says, hold on. Stop trying to prove yourself to me. Because you can't outdo God. So stop trying to be God.

God says, stop trying to prove how.

Gifted you are, Elijah.

Stop trying to prove how anointed you are, Elijah, stop. God says, sit down.

Let's have a conversation. Conversation. Let's go to therapy. I wish I had a witness in here. Let's go to therapy. Let's get your hobbies back. Let's start knitting.

I wish I.

Let's start swimming again. Let's go to the gym. Let's go to the coffee shop. God tells Elijah, Elijah, what are you doing here? Let's move past the need to perform. Move past the need to be seen. Move past the need to be the strong mom. Move past the need to be the strong dad. Move past the need to be the beautiful one. Move past the need to be the popular one.

Let's move beyond all the other your insecurities and get to a place where I can secure your heart with me.

God tells Elijah, you don't need the right words. I just want your body. What are you doing? Church depression in faith. And people of faith with depression doesn't mean you get over it. It means you trust God to remind you of your reasons to live. And he sits with you, he talks with you, he engages with you, and then he walks with you on the journey forward. Because there's something in your worst moment that God can still use. Your fear of the future. The story you have can be a catalyst to change the trajectory. I'm talking to people in the building. You are still ashamed that you got divorced. But God says, what if I used you to help people who've been divorced to heal their vision of relationship.

You.

Y' all don't like me. You're ashamed of the abuse you suffered. And I'm not taking it away from you. It was not right to you, but God can still use you to heal other relationships.

You are ashamed that you attempted suicide, but God can use you like me to be up in a pulpit to.

Tell somebody there's a life on the other side.

And I know we don't like talking about this stuff, but God, all things can work and still use it. God, no matter how ugly it is, because God is still the healer. And he's invested in you. He's entrenched in you. And he's here to remind you, no matter how ugly your life is, I make it beautiful.

On the cross, you are still called.

No matter your worst season that you went through.

How does God show us this? First of all, the first thing God does, God starts where you are. He starts where you. Where you are. That's my first principle. God starts. Look what he did. Elijah was in the cave. He sat in that cave. Let me tell you, there are times where isolation is necessary because isolation with Jesus leads to revelation. That's so good. Y' all gonna get that. When God isolates you, it's because God's trying to reveal something to you. And let me tell you this. God reveals to heal. He doesn't reveal to hurt you. He reveals to heal you. When the word of the Lord begins to be spoken over you, he does. He never puts. He never speaks to you to hurt you. God speaks to you to heal you. And the revelation God has this time was different for Elijah because he was so used to God talking to him and it being for other people. But this time, God was talking to Elijah for Elijah. God, I'm upset, I'm frightened, I'm frustrated. Jezebel wants to kill me. The government has a hit up on me. And God, I've done everything right. And Elijah says, the only thing I can handle God is a cave. And here's what God said. Cool. In the gang, I'mma give you a cave and I'm going to work with you in that cave. I'm going to be with you in that cave. I'm going be right there. I'm not going to tell you to get out of it. I'm not going to tell you to move forward. And when you want to talk, Elijah, I'll call you out of the cave. Because if all you can handle is a cave, God says, great, I'll still work with you in that cave. If all you can handle is a bonnet and some yoga pants, God says, cool, I. I'm going to work with you. And I wish I had a witness in here in your bonnet. If all you can handle is a.

Late night drive, God says, fine, I'll.

Be with you on the late night drive. If all you can handle is a coffee shop and a cigar. I wish somebody talked to me. God says, I'll be right. I wish I had a witness in here. God said, I'll be right there with you.

God says, I'm a start where you are because I'm not giving up on you, because I want to be with you where you are. Because God is too invested in who you are.

So look what he does. Elijah starts walking back to the cave and God stops him at the mouth of the cave. Because God says, once you come out of the cave and you show that you want to be healed, I'm not going to let you go back in.

It because I don't want you to.

Worship the safety of the cave.

I want you to learn how to.

Worship while you're at the cave.

Because too many times we worship the.

Dark place and don't worship the healing.

That comes at the dark place. And God says, I'm not going to let you stay there. I'm going to bring you forward. And he stops him at the cave because there's revelation in your worst moments.

God knows where Elijah is and he stops him. Let me tell you, you were never meant to live in the cave. You were never meant to stay in this season. But God will be with you and give you reasons to live. And that's what Satan hates. Satan. Satan hates your healing.

I said, Satan hates your healing.

Because if you ever were to get.

Awakened to the cave and conquer the cave, you'd go to therapy.

I wish I had a witness.

If you ever want to see that cave, I'm not telling you to get over. I'm telling you to find your hobby.

To hang out with your friends, to.

Stop texting your friends that you're going.

To shut, show up and never show.

Up to be honest about your story, to cry even if somebody judges you.

To show up to church in a.

Jersey, not care what you drive. Because if you ever were awakened to the cave, you would take the step out of the cave and trust God to never make that Cave comfortable again. God says, I want to awaken you.

To vision in your mind. God doesn't let you back in the.

Cave because he wants to show you.

I don't want you to have a cat. Cave mentality. The reason the cave is comfortable is because you've forgotten who you are. And God had to remind Elijah of who he is. Because here's the thing, Elijah, you have the power to kill Jezebel. And the very thing you're afraid of, you've been anointed to destroy the very.

Thing you think you can't handle. And God says, I'm not.

Watch this. Here's what he does. He doesn't send him into battle. He just reminds him of who he is. Because you're better than the cave mentality. Because the cave mentality will tell you you're a loser. And God says, no, you're still a winner. And God loves you so much that he'll keep you from living in the cave. Elijah, what are you doing here? Not only does God start where you are, but secondly, God doesn't run from you when you run from you. God does not run from you when you run from you. God has moved in such a miraculous way. He articulated God. He spoke in a whisper. And God shows this intimate, relational side of God, the whisperer. And then Elijah does something that's so subtle that if you read it too fast, you may miss it. Elijah goes and grabs his mantle. He goes back out and stands in the presence of God and God asks him the same question. Now, this mantle is nothing but a loose fitting piece of clothing. Something is made of sheepskin. The mantle is what separated him. Then watch this. Whenever he walked into a community, people knew the prophet was here. It's a visible representation to others that Elijah was connected to God. And he and God had a great relationship. But this time, ain't no church, ain't nobody. It's by himself. And Elijah goes and grabs his connection back to God without a stage to be on. And one scholar suggested that Elijah's mantle, which made it so powerful when he gave it to Elisha, represented his personality.

You wear the mantle because others have.

To know you're a prophet. So Elijah wears this mantle with no one to prove himself to but to himself.

And he's proving to himself. He's reminding himself that my personality is.

Enough and in the presence of God.

That my mantle is enough. In the presence of God that if I don't have a stage to preach on, my personality is enough. If I don't have people that hold me, my personality is enough. And even when I don't like myself, my personality is good enough in God's presence that when God gets intimate with Elijah, Elijah grabs his personality because he knows his personality is good enough for God. God, can I tell you something? Don't you ever stop on using your personality. I know the world tells you you smile too much. I know the world tells you you email too much. Baby, that's my personality. And God says my personality is enough. And he grabbed his personality in the presence of God. I'm telling you, I'm coming against the emails you've gotten, the things people told you. Why'd you cut your hair?

Because I like the way I look at my haircut.

Why'd you wear that clothes? I look good like I wear when.

I come in here.

Why you acting like that? Because that's the personality God gave me. I look like my daddy. I walk like my mama. Because that's the personality God gave me. And I'm not going to apologize that I look the way I look. I talk the way I talk. I preach the way I preach. I walk the way I walk. Because, baby, God has put himself on me. I'm trying to awaken some of y' all to your personality. There's nothing wrong with you. There's nothing wrong with your smile. There's nothing wrong with your curves. There's nothing wrong with your weave. There's nothing wrong with your wig. There's nothing wrong with your dreams. There's nothing wrong with your suit. There's nothing wrong with your job. There's nothing wrong with how you parent. You are not toxic. You are not negative. You are not too happy. You are not too sad. You are enough. You are somebody. You are called by God. You are selected by God. I want my personality. Somebody lay hands on yourself. Say, I'm enough for me. I wish I had somebody. I'm enough for me. I'm enough for me. I am enough for me. Elijah, you ran away from yourself. But even when you ran away from yourself, Elijah, I didn't run away from you. Even when you gave up on yourself, Elijah, I didn't give up on you because you are enough to God.

Elijah.

And I came to tell somebody. In spite of what you've gone through, you are still a good mama. You're still a good daddy. You're checking. Children don't hate you. Your boss doesn't dislike you because you are enough to God. So I want you to be enough to yourself. I dare somebody touch you. I love me Some me, come on. I wish I had some. I love the way I look. I love the way I talk. I love the way I cook. You ain't gotta eat my food. I love my food. You ain't gotta ride. I love my car. You ain't gotta like my clothes. I love my style. I love how I walk. I love how I talk. Because God has smiled on me and am I talking anybody in the building? I'm enough for me. I dare you to lay hands on yourself and say I'm getting me back. Come on, I'm telling you I'm getting me back. I'm getting me back. I'm getting my joy back. I'm getting my dreams back. I'm getting my hope back. I'm getting my peace back. I'm getting my happiness back. Because I am enough for. Your personality ain't a problem. I wish I had somebody. The problem are the places that want to squeeze your personality out. And that's why God puts you there. He puts you on that job to bring oil to that job. He puts you in that home to bring oil in that home. He puts you in that school to bring oil to that school. They only reject what they can't contain. But I wish I had somebody that could say this is my season where I'm overflow. This is the season where I' ma overflow. Because I am enough. I am enough. I am enough. They say you're too light skinned.

It's all right cause I'm bright.

They say you're too dark skinned. Tupac said the black of the berry. I wish I had somebody the sweet of the juice. Cause I look like my daddy. I walk like my daddy. Because God has smiled. I am enough.

I don't want you to encourage nobody else.

Lay hands on yourself. Say I'm enough for me. Come on, I'm a. I'm trying. I'm enough for me. My dreams are enough for me. My purpose is enough for me. My goals are enough for me. And God doesn't run from you. When you run from you. I am enough. Somebody toss your head back, open up your mouth and thank God for the purpose on your life. Because your purpose is enough. Your dreams are enough. Your goals are enough. Your values are enough. Your body is enough. Your home is enough. Your car is enough. Your business is enough. Your emailing is enough. Your degrees are enough. I am enough. I know you're 76, but you are enough. I know you're 40, Sis, you are enough, bruh. I know everybody else doing their own thing but, bruh, you are enough. Cause God looked at you and said, you look like me. And when he created you, he blew into you his glory. And God says, because I'm in you, you are enough. You are better than good. You are overcomers. You are thrivers. Cause you are enough. I'm enough.

Some of you've been praising God like your mama. Praise God.

But today's the first day you're gonna.

Praise God like you praise God.

For years you've been giving him glory like you saw on YouTube. But today, God says, I want to see what your prayer praise sounds like. I want to see what your dance looks like. I want to see what your holler looks like. Because you are in love. I'm done.

I'm done. I hope I'm helping somebody today. I'm done. I'm trying to make your fear upset. I wish I had somebody.

I'm trying to make worry get uncomfortable. I'm trying to make anger run away from your home. I'm trying to make negative decisions. Fight for your future. Because, baby, I know I got joy on the inside. And this joy that I have, the world didn't give it to me. And the world can't take it away. Is there anybody in this building that knows you are enough? That could open up your mouth and. And thank God for everything inside of you? Cuz I'm enough.

God starts where you are. And God doesn't run from you when you run from you. But thirdly, and finally, I'm finished. I'm a little long. Oh, actually, I'm good timing. I'm good timing today. All right. I'm good on time. I got like six more minutes. Six football minutes. Here it is. God starts where you are. Melvin, you got to sit down because you scaring me right now. You scaring me, cuz. But you're enough. But you're enough. But you're enough. God doesn't run from you when you run from you. Thirdly, and finally, your status does not change your standing. If we get this principle, I pray, promise you it'll tear up. Vallejo. Your status does not change your standing. Someone say status. Somebody say standing. Someone else say status. Someone say standing. Status are the symbols of the world. What I wear, what I have, what I gain, what I'm called, what I look like. Standing is what Jesus says about me. How Jesus sees me, how Jesus loves me. God tells Elijah, go back to Damascus because this. Not because your situation doesn't matter, but because your health is my priority. And I'm reminding you the way that I'm going to heal you is by reminding you not to get so consumed in your status. But I want you to trust your standing. And as you travel on the desert road, Elijah, every step you take is going to heal you. Because I've still anointed you to anoint kings and call Elisha. Because there's nothing that can separate you from the love of God. Watch this. You can't even separate yourself. That's so good you can't run so far that he can't find you.

And even Paul tells Timothy why.

First Timothy. Because you've been justified through Christ. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

And salvation in Christ has made you just.

So what is justification? Justification is not just the way that we cover up sin. Justification is a new identity in Jesus. Elijah was so concerned about Jezebel, Jezebel's power, that God had to remind Elijah. Jezebel has status, Elijah. But you've got the right standings. Because let me tell you this, your status does not change your standing. Because of life and sin, bad decisions, poor choices, the world's outlook, how people see you, what you gain, what you lose, that's your status. But your standing. I've been justified, cleaned, purified by the blood of Jesus. That's never gonna change. The world loves you because of your status. Jesus loves you because of your standing. Yeah, the world wanted to kill Elijah, that's his status. But God told Elijah, you have anointing.

Cuz that's his standing. The devil will tell you you're a.

Nobody, that's your status. God says, but when the world wanted to kill you, I died for you.

That's your standing. And let me tell you, you are.

Not your stand status. But you are your standing.

Your title will change, your money will change, your friends will change. But the reason your life didn't fall.

Apart after the divorce, you got the right standing.

The reason you recovered after the infidelity, you got the right standing. The reason your reputation isn't shot, you got the right standing. The reason your job ain't fired you, you got the right standing. Because my status doesn't change my standing, but my standing can change my status. And God says, if you ever trust your standing, I love you, I care for you, I've smiled on you. Because you are not your status, but you are your standing. So Elijah, I want you to trust your standing. I want you to trust that I died for you. I want you to trust that I care about you. I want you to trust that you still can work in your worst season. Because you have the strength, Elijah. Not because of your status, but because of your standing.

Elijah, go back to the city because you got the right standing.

As you take steps, Elijah, you got the right standing. Don't worry about Jezebel, Elijah, because you.

Got the right standing.

Don't worry about your boss, Elijah, because you got the right standing. Because your depression doesn't stop your anointing. Your anxiety doesn't stop your calling. Your stress doesn't stop your calling. Because God says, I know what your status is, but trust me with your standing, I'm with you always. I walk with you always. I'll be with you always. Because I'm free in Jesus. I'm covered by Jesus. I'm anointed by Jesus. I'm selected by Jesus. I'm here because of Jesus. I live because of Jesus. I move because of Jesus, Because I got the right standing. And I know we don't like this type of preaching, so I'm supposed to give you five steps. Now, let me tell you, when you trust your standing and when God gets you to own your standing, you go back to therapy. Because you know this. I'm not the lies I hear. I'm the truth that Jesus says over me. I'm not the anxiety that overwhelms me. I'm the truth of what Jesus says about me. I'm not the destructive thoughts I tell myself. I'm the truth of coming together what Jesus tells me. I'm not a thug. I'm not toxic. I'm not a failure. I'm not a problem. My dreams are not a lie. My body is not just formed, but I am a new creation in Jesus.

Jesus.

I'm a winner because of Jesus. I'm a great mother. I'm a great father. I'm a great leader. I'm a powerful entrepreneur. I'm a strong grandmama. I'm a wealthy grandfather. I'm a courageous leader because I've got the right standing. And is there anybody in this building that can say, I know my status, but I got my standing. And I'm standing, standing on the word of God. So on Christ the solid rock, I stand. All other ground is sinking sand. I dare not trust the sweetest frame. But go ahead, high five somebody and say, but I'm leaning on Jesus name. Y' all know his name, don't ya? He's a heart fixer. He's a mind regulator. He's a soul restorer. He's a burden bearer. He's a wheel in the middle of a wheel. If you Know his name. Help me close this sermon. Stand on your feet, open up your mouth and shout, jesus. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. Yes, yes, yes. I got the right standing. I've got the right standing. I've got the right standing. The weapon was formed, but it didn't have authority to kill you. Because you've got the right standing. I said it was formed, but it couldn't kill you. You couldn't kill you because you've got the right standing. I said you've got the right standing. Your funeral should have been had a long time ago, but you've got the right standing. I don't know about you, but my status is changing. I said my status is changing. There's no more decline because I've got the right standing. He's gonna change my status. Somebody ought to give God praise over your stand standing.

I wish you.

I said open up your mouth and give him glory over your standing. Because you've got the right standing. You've got the right standing. You've got the right standing. So come what may, it will not kill you. Come what may, it won't destroy you. Come what may, you will win. Say it. Say it. Yeah. Yeah. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

2000 2012, I attempted suicide for the first time. 2014, I attempted suicide the second time. I cut myself so bad on my leg because I thought I had no purpose. I thought I had no reason to live. And y' all are sitting there saying, hold up, it's 2022. This nigga cut himself in 2014. Yes. Six years ago. Eight years ago. Sorry. Waking up in Vanderbilt Health in Nashville, frustrated. How can I fail twice at killing myself? I was so mad. How did I mess this up twice? I remember telling God at that moment, God, since you keep letting me live, I'm going to choose to live. I'm just going to choose it. I wore long sleeve shirts all through college because if I were to show you my arms, there are cuts all up and down my arms and my legs. I'm not afraid to tell this story, and I don't want you to. Some of you may judge me, but I hope you see this as healing because I've told you before, healed people heal people. I remember this upcoming May. Well, the end of this month. So not the May. June 6th. June 6th. I will have not cut myself for six years. For me, and I know it's a pastor like, oh, my God, you're supposed to be the strong one, y'. All. And I never will forget that moment. I made a Commitment not to cut myself, because I made a commitment to live. And so if you wonder why. Why does this fool preach so hard every Sunday? I made a promise to God, I will do everything you told me to do my interview. Somebody asked me, you're going to move from Rhode island to California. Yes, because the Lord told me to. I will say what he tells me to say because I want to live. And I want to tell this to all of you in this room. I want to be very serious about this. Last Sunday, I asked the question, how many of you have contemplated suicide in the last seven days? About 20 people raised their hand in worship. I want you to hear me. In church, we had people who raised their hands. And so that's why worship is so serious. There are people in cave moments who contemplated or attempted to take their own lives. And I want to tell you, you're enough to live. And the reason it didn't work is because you're enough to live. And even if you feel that you are not enough, Jesus said, take my life so you don't have to take yours. I want to encourage every person in this building who's wrestling with depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, trauma that is waking you up at night, abuse at the hands of others. Your value, the language you said about yourself. I was listening to this song the other day. I was on Spotify and was on Shuffle. And, you know, like, when you go on long drives, some of y' all so holy, y' all listen to gossip music the whole time. I gotta turn on some R and B music. So I was on R and B music and my shuffle came on. And it came to this song by Mary J. Blige that said, good morning, gorgeous. She said, look in the mirror. And I say, good morning, gorgeous. And she listed all these things. When I said, myself, I hate myself. I can't do all. And it's really a challenge, the whole song. It's a challenge to change your language about yourself. The world tells me I'm ugly, but good morning, gorgeous. And so I'm a man listening to this song. This is weird, but you know what it did for me? I'm fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God. Good morning, gorgeous. Good morning, handsome. Good morning, gifted. Good morning, purpose. Because I'm not going to trust the lies about me more than I trust the truth that I know about myself. And what is that truth? You are enough. You are valuable. And Jesus said, your life is worth my life. If you're here today and you're wrestling with that I want you. There's resources we have out back. But if you text the phrase fnbc joined 84576, we'll respond to you this week and try to connect you with a therapist. I believe this is so serious. I believe this is so serious when it comes to mental well being, it's not some faux pas. And go pray harder. The reason Elijah was in this moment is because he kept on praying harder. And God says, I'm gonna pull you away to get you back. I'm a full proponent of therapy. I'm a huge proponent of hobbies and assisting us to live. You have too much to live for. I said you have too much to live for. You have too much to live for. You have too much to live for. I want to pray for you today. I want to pray for you today. And I don't need to know who you are this morning. I don't want to feel. I don't want to feel singled out. But I want you to know that God knows exactly where you are. He'll start where you are. He's not running away from you. And he's going to remind you of your standing. If you're online today, and that's you, I want you to know as well, no matter where you are, God knows where you are. And he's right there with you. And he's going to be with you always. Even when you feel like he's not. He's with you always. He's with you always. And you can't outrun him. You can't out give him because he's with you always. Let me pray for you today, God, in the name of Jesus, get into the intricacies of our minds. For all of the Elijah's in the room today, God, I pray that you find us in our minds, hold us in our minds. God, I pray for my friends today who've had terrible sleep patterns. I pray for my friends today, God, who've, who've thought about harming themselves, thought about giving up on their dreams. Their children have written suicide notes and hid them in their notes on their phone. I pray, God, in the name of Jesus, that you are right there with them. I pray, God, you give them a. Renew their vision of themselves. Renew their vision of themselves. Allow them to see they are who you said they are. They are protected because you said they're protected. And when the enemy, when life comes in like a flood, protect them, hold them, be with them, guide them to be honest in therapy sessions, reveal hobbies that they've forgotten. Reveal love for themselves, God reveal that childlike wonder that they ran away from. And I pray God an anointing of healing over relationships, over trauma, over abuse, over pain, over lies they've heard over assumptions they've heard others say about them and God over the fears they have of their own possibility stripped fears, authority in the name of Jesus and we raise up whatsoever things are lovely, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatsoever things are of good. Report that those are the things that will guard their hearts in Christ Jesus and you will give them the peace that surpasses all understanding. It's in Jesus name we pray. Can you take a moment?