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Digging the Family Well | Jentezen Franklin

Jentezen Franklin1:07:50

Transcription

I want to welcome Gwynette and Brazleton, Spartanberg, Midtown, Alpharetta, Orange County, Metro. And you know, they tell me that when we call these prisons out, they scream. Metro Prison, Hay State Prison, Witworth, Hall County, Philip State Prison, Hall County Jail, Lee Arendelle. Give them a big warm welcome. We're so glad you're watching. You're there with us having communion, having times of worship, and all of you around the world, welcome.

Smile at somebody and let them know that uh you prayed over that seat. I hope that they're sitting in in Jesus' name. Just tell them you're in the right seat today. God bless you. Tell our team how much we appreciate them, would you? Great big old choir. They're getting ready for Easter and all the things that we're going to be doing. starting Good Friday. That is going to be awesome next Sunday. And then we're we're in it. Easter is here. And uh it's it is upon us. And what a wonderful time to invite friends and loved ones.

And then immediately the Sunday following, we will begin a series on the coming of the Lord. I'm going to preach prophecy. I'm going to preach the coming of the Lord. I'm going to teach right out of the scriptures what God says is next. And it's very, very, very real to me that we're living in those days. And it ought to make your heart rejoice and it ought to bring you great comfort. The King is coming. How many of you believe that? His name is Jesus.

Well, in just a few moments, we're going to baptize some people. If you're new and you've never been in one of these baptism services, I promise you're in for a great treat. 9:00 was beautiful. And I'm going to preach a shorter message today. And uh and then we will baptize these people. We'll be conscious of your time. We don't waste time. But this is important. This is important. This is biblical what we're about to do. Nowhere in the Bible does it say do it any other way but immersion completely baptized in water. Jesus did it and then he commanded not suggested commanded the disciples to go forth and baptize all that would receive him in his name. And it's a beautiful thing that's going to happen in just a few moments.

Genesis chapter 26. I want to tell you what we're doing while we're baptizing people real quick. Genesis chapter 26 and I'll begin reading with verse 18. And Isaac dug again the wells of water which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham. He called them by the names which his father had named them. I want you to notice that. And then I want you to notice verse 24. And the Lord appeared unto him the same night, the same night that he redug a whale that his father had dug. The Lord appeared unto him and said, "I am the Lord God of your father of Abraham. Do not fear. I am with you. I will bless you, multiply your descendants." Why? He redug a whale. Notice that. "For my servant Abraham's sake." And I'll stop there and then I want to go quickly over.

So you have Abraham whom God recognizes as the well digger and then his son Isaac comes along and redigs the well. If you read the verses before it said he went off and tried to dig his own whales and all he hit was ultimately dirt. So he came back to his father's whale. What a what a sermon in that. And then John chapter 4 verse 6. So it it it started with Abraham. Isaac tried to dig new wells and find water that gives life. He couldn't find it out there anywhere. So he returned and redug his father Abraham's well. So that's two generations Abraham has died. And Isaac tried new stuff, but he came back to that whale. And then now we have the third generation. in Abraham, Isaac. And the same whale is described, 1900 years later when Jesus Christ showed up, God in skin, and went to the well in Samaria. Watch this. Now, Jacob's whale was there. So, there's a third generation. I'm preaching on generational whales. I'm preaching on in redigging a whale or digging a whale for your family. A family whale. It was a family whale. Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore being wearied from his journey sat by the well. And a woman from Samaria came to draw water. And and Jesus said to her, "Give me drink." And I'll cut right down to this 11th verse. The woman said to him, "Sir, you have nothing to draw with." I love this. And the well is deep. Hallelujah. I get happy every time I say that. It is a deep well that we have in Jesus. The well is deep. And Jesus goes on to say in verse 10, and he answered and said, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is is talking to you, you'd say, "Give me drink." You would have asked him, and he would have given you living water. The well is deep.

So Bible, the Bible's full of whales and whales were essential. Whales were necessary for survival. The livestock depended, the crops depended. If a person could not find a whale in the holy land that we call it today, they would not last long. It was not just something to have. It was an absolute necessity. And when Isaac split off from his father after his father died, he left a good whale and let it get polluted. The Philistines came and poured pollution in to that well. And he didn't guard it. He didn't maintain it. He didn't keep it clean and open. He he varies off and he started digging new whales and they did not satisfy and he was forced, listen carefully, by circumstances to go back to his father's well and redig them. Sometimes God will force you to go where you need to go and do what you need to do if you don't go voluntarily. Uh, he'll let you go out and dig your little new wells and try a new religion and try something that those oldtimey silly old parents and grandpa and all them, they're crazy. They went to church and all. We don't need that. Dig your new wells. Dig them. And you know what? You're going to come up dry sooner or later. They'll satisfy for a moment, but you're going to come up dry. And when you want to get your life back together, come back to the original whale. and he came back and he started redigging the whale that was already there. We don't have a new gospel. We don't have a new message. We don't have we we package it a little different. This is kind of different, but we preach the same from the same whale of the book of Acts. We believe that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. He doesn't just save, he fills with the Holy Ghost. He doesn't just fill with the Holy Ghost, but it's a deep well. It's a well so deep that you don't have to stop by just getting walking down and getting saved. And I'm not putting that that's not a minor thing, but when you really get saved, it's an unending in unending well, a boundless whale. It it never stops. And it's up to you. If you hunger and thirst, you can go deeper and deeper. Some of you need to get your floaties off. You've been in the shallow pool playing around with your big old grown adult and you still hadn't grown 3 in in Jesus. Come on, somebody. At some point, Jesus says, "Launch out into the deep. You've been stuck over there in that religious rut. And I want you to redig the wells of revival and prayer and and joy and the Holy Spirit and the baptism and the Holy Ghost. redig those wells of revival for your family cuz it's not just about you. If you go dry, the family goes dry.

And so wells have a spiritual significance in scripture. Jacob's well was very revered because of its heritage. They kept it clean. They kept it open. And now we see 1,900 years later, Jesus shows up at a family well that had been kept from generation to generation to generation. And it was still flowing and it still had fresh enough water that people came from everywhere to get their water out of that old old family well. And the well is deep. I tell you the salvation and the Holy Spirit baptism is just the beginning. It's not the end. And in a minute, these people going to get up here and some of them are first generation Christians and others have wells that grandma dug and aunt Susie dug and somebody dug. But they're going to get up and they're going to get in the well and it's starting a family well that will bring living water should the Lord Terry for generations to come. And it's a deep well. The Holy Spirit's well is limitless and deep. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is a deep well that's not ankle deep, knee deep, waist deep. It's water to swim in. It'll satisfy you. I tell you, Jesus said, if you drink of this well, you'll never thirst again. What does that mean? That means nothing the world has that I gave up when I came out of the world, it does not have a hold on me anymore. I can truthfully say I I I'm not up here say thinking, man, I can't wait to get out of this church so I can go get drunk and get high and so I can cheat on my wife. There is nothing in me that wants any of that because I am drinking from something that does not leave me thirsty. That's the problem some of you have. You you got that thirsty look. But when you drink of the living water, it satisfies your soul. Hallelujah. I I'm saved and I'm satisfied. I I don't need anything else but Jesus. I appreciate his blessings, but just the fact that I have eternal life and I'm drinking from the well, I'll be all right. I might go through some things, but I'll be all right. Hallelujah. Shout if you've got a river of living water. Hallelujah. You got to keep it clean. You got to keep it open. You have to keep redigging it. You can't let it become stale and stagnant. There's a river down there, but if you let the whale get clogged up, the river can't flow into that whale. So, they had to take care of the generational well. And when Jesus showed up, it had been maintained. And it had been preserved. It was purposeful. It was a generational whale from generation to generation, 1900 years, and it was still flowing. Today, that well is almost 4,000 years old and it's still in the Holy Land and they take you to it when you go on a tour if you want to go. And it is absolutely historically, no question, it is the well of Abraham from Isaac to Jacob. But now they built a Greek Orthodox uh synagogue church over it. and and uh I can't help but see the symbolism in that we've replaced living water with ritual worship. And I'm not putting down somebody's religion. I there's a return to orthodoxy. People are wanting to return. We That's why I started doing communion a long time ago. The Lord said, "Why do you just do that once a month?" And I said, "Well, that's kind of the tradition." He said, "Forget the tradition and get the get the meal that heals out and let me do a work." And that's why we pray the Lord's prayer. That's why we still we go all the way back to the book of Acts. We still pray in tongues and sing and worship and shout and glorify. We have oldfashioned prayer meetings and as long as I'm alive, we're never going to stop them because that's what the church did. The Bible said they broke bread daily. That that wasn't eating chicken fingers and biscuits. They didn't go out and just sit around and eat meals with other Christians. They would do they would do communion and then they would eat and they would hang out and they had all things common. Meaning that they, you know, it was just a lifestyle. They did life with other Christians. If if you don't have any life with other Christians, it's probably because you're more like the world than you are the Christian. And the word Christian didn't show up in the book until the I don't have time to preach this. This whales deep. Hallelujah. When I I'm trying to tell you, when we take communion, that thing that whale goes all the way back to the upper room when he said, "This is my body and my blood, and it's powerful. It'll run every devil out of your house. You ought to get that meal out and take it as oft. You do it in remembrance of me until I come." Woo! That's the next thing. And this well so deep. It's going to lift us up out of the grave. And it's going to lift us up who are alive and remain and be caught up in the clouds together. It's deep. Turn to somebody say this river is deep and getting deeper. For some of you, you'll be left behind. Wow. And there will be a mark of the beast waiting on you and you can't buy and sell without it. It's deep, but God's in control.

David got so weary from battling the Philistines, and they had taken over his hometown called Bethlehem, where another great person would be born besides King David, and that would be King Jesus. But he cried out one day, "Oh, in in 2 Samuel 23 and verse 15, he said,"Oh, that I that I that somebody would give me a drink from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate." He knew exactly where it was. And he sent three of his mightiest men and they rushed through the troops of the Philistines for a cup of water and got a cup of water and brought it back. And this is what I want you to see. And then I'm going to move on, but I want you to hear this. David held that cup up and he was so moved and emotional about it that he said, "I can't drink this because when I think of what this well has cost to preserve it from generation to generation so that I could drink from it," he said these words, "Is this not? Is it not this the blood of men that gave up their lives?" He said, "The only reason there's a whale there is there were men who fought and defended that whale and they gave up their lives. They gave up their resources. They they gave up everything they had. And when I thought about that, I couldn't help but think about the the the fact that Free Chapel is a whale that wasn't just dug a day ago. If Jacob had to redig those wells for the next generation, if he didn't, the next generation would pay the price. And he understood that. And when I think about the fact that that every church has spiritual whales that go back to its original source and foundation, some some pastor, somebody, some evangelist, some prayer warrior in their kitchen or somewhere started digging a well in the city. And that's exactly the story of Free Chapel. We're not a fly by night ministry. I I it's not popular. We never started out to be a mega church. We don't see ourselves as a mega church. We see ourselves as a whale. And it's deep. And it's deep enough that the more people come, the more we can serve. Hallelujah. We don't run out. We We got plenty of communion and plenty of wine and plenty of bread and plenty of Jesus. And Jesus is the answer. Hallelujah. Every church has generational whales as the result of prayers and prophecies and revival and fasting and tears and sacrifices and sacrificial giving. I jotted down some names of people who were who were well diggers. HR Pierce put up his house many generations ago and decades ago. He put up his house when the church free chapel couldn't afford to get a bank loan to build. You know, it started in a skating room ring. We are the original holy rollers. And that's where we started. Hallelujah. And then brother Pierce put up his house mortgage that he had paid off for the debt that the church would take on. He was digging a well. He was just a businessman and he had just a love for God and he was digging a well for his family and digging a well for a church and he's been in heaven for decades. He was on the board when I came to Free Chapel and he was a crippled man and he would take me out to lunch. He had a big long Lincoln and he would take me out to lunch and he would encourage me and he would get tears in his eyes and every building program he said you're building it too small. You're building it too small. Hallelujah. Oh, we're here because somebody said, "I'll dig a well for you, Jesus. And I may can't preach and I may can't sing and I may can't do what the pastor can do, but I'll be a well digger in my generation and I'll lift Jesus high and give people living water." Give him a hand clap of praise if you believe it. I thought about JW Thomas. I thought about Omie Mealwood. She's still alive. That's about the only one on this list. I thought about Mother Young. I thought about Sister Smoke. And we had a Sister Cook at one time. Sister, I told him that that reminds me of Shares Cooking. Sister Smoke and Sister Cook. I thought about the old whale Katie Franklin. There she sits. Ancient of days. Amen. Raise your hand, Mom. That's the whale right there. That's my whale. Hallelujah. Oh, thank you, Jesus. She's still praying. She's still handed out water. Glory to God. I thought about so many more and I I can't I can't even go there. I'm done. Hallelujah.

But when you get up and you're getting up now and when you come and you get in this water, come on, guys. I'm ready. And when you get in this water, I want you to know that you are saying, "I am starting a well." Jesus said, "This will be a well of living water." And what this water represents is when they go down, Romans 6 said they're buried with Christ. And when they come up, they're resurrected quote to newness of life. How many of you appreciate the truth of water baptism? Praise the Lord. God bless you. You may be seated.

What's your name? Britney D. Britney. All right. Who are the people making the noise, sir? Those are my sisters at Made for More. And that's my babies. That's so great. So, Made for More Ministries, which you support, and thank you for that. and we're working on some dynamic things that's coming for that ministry. Moving there. Yeah. And uh what h how did you end up here today? I spent four years in prison and I got out and went to another program that closed and I had nowhere to go and uh and it was referred to me to try this program and I did and I had no expectations, none. It was a place to live but God said no ma'am. So you had no place to live? No. And when I got out of prison, I was praying for more prison time because I was comfortable there and I had I was my plan for my life was to live under a bridge in a tent and God said no. Absolutely not. Praise God. So you have hope. You have faith. I have beyond that. It's there's no words for what Jesus has done in my life. And he's done it through Brent and Marino Rutherford. There are not two more godly people on this planet that I know of. They the light of God shines through them and they have led me to the light. And by me, my children just signed up today for next steps to get water baptism. You're digging a whale. And and and are things going good? Are you still in the program? Are you in Okay. When will you graduate? September of this year. And in Jesus name, we're going to see the Lord provide everything you need in life, opportunities. He's a good God. He is the best God. This well is deep, girl. It is deep, but it is so deep. It is bottomless. There's not even a bottom to it. There's not a bottom to it. She's preaching the truth. Welcome to the deep end. And I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. What a miracle. What a miracle. What a miracle. What a miracle. That's it, ladies. God bless you. Oh, hallelujah.

Good morning. Good morning. What's your name? Jennifer. And Jennifer, how long you been coming to the church? Um, it's been a few months now, but I started watching back June of 2024. I was So, were you watching on YouTube or something? I was in the hospital. I had gotten sick and um so I started watching you cuz what else can you do in the hospital but watch TV? So and and so something what happened while you were watching? God saved my life. Um he brought me through a very I had been a Christian and I've been baptized when I was 15, but I had strayed so far from him and I was trying to fix all of my problems myself. Um, and so he sat me down basically and said, "Put your trust in me and I will get you through it." And he has worked so many miracles like he is just still performing mira miracles every day of my life and I just owe him all the glory. Yeah. And upon your profession of faith, I baptize you in the name of the father, the son, Jesus Christ, and the holy spirit. Hallelujah. Thank you, Lord.

What's your name? Caleb. Caleb, how old are you? I'm 19. 19. Why would a 19year-old young man want to get baptized? You just got to proclaim your faith in public so that um that no one's no one else is ashamed. Everyone's here to celebrate with you. And that's what I was scared of for so long. Yeah. Yeah. That's it. and and what you're doing this well so deep that Peter James and John and all the disciples they were they were baptized and Jesus the model was baptized and all the Christians for me their blood was poured out so that this could be this moment for another Christian who's going public with their faith sir so I I'm just so proud of you. Anything else? Um, that's really all. I'm just excited to be doing it with my family. It's powerful. You're part of a family. Well, I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Church, rejoice. Rejoice that he doesn't have a testimony except Jesus. Come on and praise the Lord. Hallelujah.

What's your name? Chandler. And Chandler, uh, why are you doing this today? Uh, I grew up in church, but I started drifting away uh, smoking weed and um, drinking and um, vaping and I um, I came back and I want to publicly announce my faith to the Lord. What made you want to come back? Um, family praying for me and I just changed my life around. So great. And and how you doing now? Uh, good. I haven't vaped, smoked or drink in like three years. That's pretty good proof. Hallelujah. What what are you doing now? Uh just following the what God has brought to me. Yeah. You you're you're a disciple. Yes, sir. You're a disciple of Jesus Christ. I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Praise the Lord. Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful.

Good morning. What's your name? Bailey. You know, I love these baptism services. I love that. This is the day the Lord has made and we should rejoice. He knew you would be getting in this water in your darkest day. He knew before you were even thinking about him that this moment would come. Amen. What's your name? I'm so sorry. What's your name? Bailey. And and and why are you doing this? So, I got saved at a younger age and I also got diagnosed with anxiety at that age. So, I knew baptism was the next steps, but I was just so controlled by anxiety that I just never got to it. And last year, after years of praying, Jesus delivered me from my anxiety after 10 years of it. And So, this is a big day. You're doing great, too. Yes. And the first steps I wanted to take was getting baptized, being free from all my anxiety. Praise the Lord. Amen. That's a great freedom. I baptize you in the name of Jesus Christ, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Bless and keep in Jesus name. Praise the Lord.

You You getting in the whale, son. Come over here. I'm sorry. I mean, you lay down if you want to. Not here in a minute. Why are you crying? I'm just so thankful for the blood. Just thankful for the blood, Pastor Franklin. just think that was my girlfriend right there. So her she's been battling anxiety her whole life and she's here. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. That's awesome. That's awesome. So So how did you end up here? Oh Lord, I'll tell you what, her family brought me here two and a half years ago, pastor, and it changed my life. Lord, the Lord has blessed me coming here. her family brought me from floating on top of the well to diving deep under to the abyss. And I'm just so thankful, so thankful for God and so thankful for them and my family who's here. I was I was a Christian growing up and and I and I was baptized as a baby and I just want to reroclaim my my faith to Jesus uh publicly. Um now that I'm old enough to make that decision and I'm just so thankful for the blood. So thankful. So you're not ashamed at all. You You're not trying to keep it secret in the closet. No, sir. Maybe in the past I did, but now I want to proclaim Jesus to the whole world. Boy, the devil's in trouble. This is This is not normal Christianity. This is a new generation arising saying, "We'll charge the gates of hell. I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit." Praise the Lord. Hallelujah. Glory to God. You know, I think about all the prayers. I think about all the fast. I think about all the study and everything to reach these souls. This ought to be the noisiest service of our year. Hallelujah. To God be the glory. I said to God be the glory. Hallelujah.

What is your name? Maria. Maria. And what has Jesus done for you? I was baptized 20 years ago and uh but I you know things in life happened and I ran away from the Lord. But lately, I've been feeling that the Lord has been calling me back through the Holy Spirit. by the grace of God, I uh had the opportunity to come back here and get reunited with my family and my children. Praise the Lord. Well, we want you to know, we want to say first of all, welcome home. And we want you to know that we love you and God loves you and you have a family well. Have you ever been baptized in water like this before? 20 years ago. 20 years ago. Well, in the name of Jesus Christ, the father, son, holy spirit. I baptize you in Jesus name. Praise the Lord. Hallelujah. God bless you.

What is your name? My name is Gloria. Gloria Reed. From Miami. From Florida. From Florida. How long you been here? Uh two and a half year. I start in uh online. Yes. I was inviting from my nephew who I hope he's here. Jamie is my nephew. So, he invite us after I was off. Where Where's he at? Is he here? Where you at, Jamie? He's back. See him? See his hand where that camera? There he is. He's standing up now. It's hard to see up here, but we see you. God sees you. Oh, thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. Um, I'm here because I'm so proud of a cat bring me to this church. Not only for myself, but I want to say thank you, Lord, that I'm here. I'm in this country for 50 years. I Yes. And I came to this country by myself with no friend, with no family. And look at what I am. I'm blessed. I say, "Thank you, Lord. My husband is here, too." Beautiful. Can you praise the Lord for that family story? That's a miracle, isn't it? That's a miracle. Thank you, Lord. God's blessed you, hasn't he? Yes. Thank you for this country. I got three kids. I got three 10 grandkids. What I say? Thank you, Lord. That's a deep well. Those grandkids are deep wells right there. Yes, they are. I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Bless this family, Lord. Bless this family. Hallelujah.

And you're the husband. Yes, I am. All right. What is your name? Garrett Reed. Garrett, God bless you. So, this is a big day for your family. Yeah, very I need it. My whole family needs it. Uh, I was baptized when I was young as a child and I strayed over the years. I met my wife 30 years ago. 31 years ago, excuse me. And uh I was aircraft mechanic. I had a I had a brain injury at work 9 years ago. I was in a chair for 4 years. Uh it disabled me. And uh we started watching this church two and a half years ago. And you're just amazing pastor. Jesus is my savior. I want to publicly declare and the fact you were able to navigate these steps. It could have been a watery grave, but you I was going to float because of you. I thought I was going to float. As long as you don't play saxophone, I'll be I won't be crying. That is so great. And we rejoice with you. This is beautiful. This whole story. And you these are uh jubilant people, happy people. Look at her. She's glowing in the dark. Praise God. I love that. She's good advertisement for Jesus. And you are too. And I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Bless him, Lord, exceedingly, abundantly, above all he could ask or think. Jesus name.

Good morning. Good morning. What's your name? My name is Landon. How old are you, Landon? I'm 18 years old. Come on. 18 and not ashamed. Why? Why would an 18year-old want to get baptized in water? Um, so about four months ago, I was living a terrible life of addiction, battling alcohol, drugs, you name it. And I was kicked out of my house the whole month of November. And come around Thanksgiving time, I prayed a prayer. I was like, "Lord, I'm tired of this life. Please save me, deliver me, remove all this evil from my life, Lord. And the next day, I get a call from my mom. She says, "We want you there for Thanksgiving." And then the next day, I got sent to Good Land in recovery, and now I'm over a 100 days sober and I'm walking with the Lord. Is your mother here today? They I live in South Carolina. They're about three-hour drive, but I know they're at home listening and watching. I know they're proud of you in this moment. And it took it it hurt them. You You heard this when you were a kid, but it hurt them more than it hurt you. Did they put you out? Kind of put you out. Yeah. They were dying. They wouldn't show it to you, but they were dying. I've been there. I've done that. And boy, you feel like But sometimes love has to be tough. Yes, it does. It does. And I want to give a big thanks to my good friend, Mr. Whit. He's here somewhere. And I also want to give another big thanks to all my guys in Good Land and Recovery over there in that Where's Good Landing? Stand up, Good Landing. We love you guys. Y'all do great work over there. We appreciate you. Well, I baptized you. You don't say anything else? Uh, praise God. And you know, anything's possible with God. You can't do it alone. You got you got to you got to give all the glory to God. And I want y'all to know that if y'all are in here struggling today, you know, just give it to God. Prayer, there's so much power in prayer. There really, really is. And if you just give it to him, your life will be so much better. So great. I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Let the church rejoice. Hallelujah.

Good morning. What's your name? Jesse. Jesse. Uh, how long you been coming to Free Chapel? Oh, who's who are you with? My family and friends. That's no way that's your family. That's a big f Where's that family at? And they're noisy. You didn't shout like that while I preached. What? What? What is the problem? I was really needing you this morning. But that is awesome. So, that's your family. Yes, that's my family. And so, tell us why you're doing this. 6 months ago, I went through one of the worst seasons of my life. And I thought that my life was completely ruined. But my dad came and he talked to me and he told me that if I just give everything to God that he can turn my impossible situation around. And so I started to build a relationship with God for the first time, something I never did before. And also during that time, I was talking to my friend about things I was dealing with each week. And then I would come to Sunday service and you would preach exactly what I was going through. And then um about a month or two later, I got a call unexpectedly that the situation I was going through had been dismissed and that I was I knew that wasn't luck, but that I knew that it was God answering my prayers. It wasn't luck. That was God. Amen. I love that. That's a great takeaway line. That would just turn to somebody next time something great happens and say that's not luck. That's God. Well, God's got his hand on you, young man. I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

Amazing. Good morning. How you doing? Good. How are you? Good. What's your name? Matthew. And um that's your family too? Friends? Yeah, that's my friend that just got baptized. So doing this together. What in the world is going on with all these young, you know, it's the same way in the 9:00. There's so many young men that are getting saved. And I'm not talking about they they want they're kind of playing with it. They want they want to take up their cross daily and follow Jesus. Are you one of those? Yes, sir. I am. What's what's the Lord done for you? So he's done a lot. I've been going to the church ever since I was two for my whole life. Been to all the events and like the Ford conference, the camps. Every time I went, I had a fire for the Lord, but every time it would like the fire would burn down slowly. So I want to dedicate my life today to keep the fire lit. I love it. I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Bless him, Lord. Use him, Lord. Keep him, Lord. Hallelujah. That is powerful. First of all, I admire you for your determination to be baptized this morning. God bless you. What is your name? Uh Barry Muffy. And why are you doing this? Have you ever been baptized? I guess her about 20 years ago, but I'm I'm doing this because for a long time I I was uh doing drugs and and um I lost a lot of my friends doing drugs and my my baby brother, he committed suicide about 3 years ago and I lost my best friend. U I've been through a lot and I just want to praise the Lord and wash all my sense away. Yeah. And that what a beautiful testimony and and everything you've been through has led you to this moment. There's a verse that says um that morning by morning he he his mercy is renewed. It waits on you every morning God has new mercy for us. He does it daily. He gives us daily mercy and grace. And that's the only reason you're still alive is his mercy kept you alive. And anything you want to say to people that are listening right now? I just want to give a special thanks to u my family wants to help me. Uh my best friend and uh I love them. That's awesome. And upon your profession of faith, hold your nose. Upon your profession of faith, I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. That is precious. And Lord, continue to help and heal that body. Yeah. No, no, no. Just walk around. There you go. Praise God. Thank you, Jesus. Amazing.

How are you? I'm good. How are you? Good. What's your name? Christie. Christy, how long you've been coming to Free Chapel? For two years. Good. Did somebody invite you? Actually, it's an interesting story. Um me and my husband, we haven't been in church the whole time we've been married. Um I have a nine-year-old little girl and her sister actually invited her to the Brazleton campus um for the parents night out which was a win for us. So once we dropped her So so you c you first deal was to get away from your kid to get a break and every parent totally understands. But that is wonderful news. I mean that is amazing. Isn't that something God can you God uses things we can't even imagine. And after we did that um couple days later we got a phone call from you which was left on our voicemail and my husband's like did you get the same message? And I said, "I did." And we were like, "It's a recording." It is. I knew we wasn't that special. Um, I'm I'm going to find you and your husband's number and call you this week. Amen. In Jesus name. We may need that phone call. Um, but actually after we heard that, my husband's like, "We need to go to church." So, we started at the Brazleton campus and we went for about a year and then, wait a minute. So, you get a recorded call and you hadn't been in church for years and years. And the Lord uses that recorded call to make you want to come to church. And we come here actually Easter Sunday um because we wanted to see everything live. And ever since then, it just it felt different to us. And of course, I was saved when I was 14 at a small Pentecostal church in Lula. And somebody that's here today is she's the well digger. And that's my grandmother. Where's your grandmother? Where's she at? Raise her hand. Grandmother bless. 83 years old. 83 years old. And look, look at look in the whale. There's your granddaughter. Uh, anything else? We're just blessed in this church. And you know, our rel our relationship with God has gotten closer. and I felt like since I was saved when I was 14, I'm almost 40 and this is something that I need to do. It's truly a beautiful testimony. I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Lord, for that wonderful testimony.

Good morning. Good morning, sir. What's your name? Sebastian. Sebastian, uh, how'd you come to Free Chapel? I've been off and on for about three years now, me and my fiance. And um I was I'm in a program called we are living proof. Um so I was there over 3 years ago and I kind of strayed away and I had a situation in life with a child and you know I led and relapsed. So anyway um I found my way back here and uh really just dug in. You know what I mean? And um it's been great since I started coming here this last time. And what in what way did you dig in? Cuz that's a great that goes with my sermon. So dig in. Yeah. So, um I I feel like I've been I've been called my whole life by God. I didn't grow up in the church. I've I've grew up in addiction. Uh 10 15 years of just hard addiction, crime, and just trouble, you know. Um but I've always felt a fire burning in me for God. I couldn't explain. Um you know, he's led me. He raised me up. He brought me through some hard times in my life and I know it was him and only him. Um, you know, I was fighting surrender for so long. I was fighting it and um, I came here a broken man a few months ago over 3 months. I got four months clean and sober this time and um, thank you. Um, but I came here a broken man and I just completely I completely surrendered it all to him. Every sin, everything I was holding on to, I just let it all go. And since then, he's done an amazing work in my life. I I've joined a school of disciplehip. Um, I'm going to Free Chapel College in fall. Um, man, he's just working wonders. I got a son on the way here in about a month. Man, I'm just so grateful for him, man. And you're digging a whale. And you got Ephesians 3:20. Yeah. On your tattoo. What is Ephesians 3:20? I think I know. But I'll tell you what it says. It says, "Now all glory to God, who is able through his mighty power at work within us to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think." Come on, somebody. I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Bless him, Lord. Hallelujah. You know, everything the devil tried to destroy you with, it didn't work. Hallelujah. That grace, that grace of God. You can sit down. There you go.

What's your name? Alyssa. You're doing good. Now, now, who are those screamers? That is my family. That's your family? And they've been praying for you? Yes, sir. Good. How How long you been in the church? Um, I've been going to Free Chapel since I was like two. Great. And why are you doing this today? I just want to help show the you like the younger people that you shouldn't be ashamed to show your love for God. You're doing that. How old are you? 18. 18. And anything else you want to say? Just follow God because he's the only answer. You're doing amazing. You're doing amazing. I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Bless her, Lord. Jesus mighty name. Amen. Praise the Lord.

What is your name? Tony. And Tony. And how old are you? 17. 17. Why are you doing this? You didn't have to get up here and do this, did you? I want to proclaim my commitment to Jesus in public. That's so great. And how long have you been in the church a long time? Um, I've been for about eight or nine years since I was in third grade in Kid and then I volunteered then went to youth and now I'm here. We're so proud of you. What's the future hold? Do you know yet? Um, I have a lot of things in mind, but you know, I'm still thinking about that. Well, your future is bright when you keep Jesus Lord of your life. I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Bless him, Lord.

Good morning. How are you? I'm good. How are you? Good. What's your name? Tori. Tori. And is that your family? Yes. and my husband's family. God bless you. Wonderful. And uh so what's the Lord done for you? Um so much more than I could ever sit up here and tell in a short amount of time, but most recently we are expecting our first little boy. Um so we are doing this today to dig the well for him and make sure that we are saturated and not ankle deep. It it's it's

Kind of special that while I'm baptizing you, the although he need, he'll get baptized himself. But we're just, it's a family. Well, today, and that's pretty, that's pretty amazing. To God be the glory. He's going to bless you. And I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Bless him. Congratulations.

And what's the Lord done for you?

Like she said, she's blessed us our whole lives, whether it was a house, a baby, whatever. Um, he's just blessed us and we can't thank him enough.

So great. And uh, so have you, have you ever been baptized before?

I have not. Um, just never did it. And she motivated me to do it. Um, after Charlie Kirk passed away, you brought all the young adults up here to the altar, and that was the day we decided to get baptized.

That is amazing. I know that would thrill him to know that something is going on with this generation. I'm telling you, I'm telling you, it's special. For all of us who wondered, would we ever see what we saw, you know, spiritually, the well is deep, is still flowing to a brand new generation and the next generation.

I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. What a joy. A whole family. A whole family. God bless you.

How are you?

Hi, I'm good. How are you?

What's your name?

Bridget.

Bridget, why are you getting baptized?

Well, first of all, I want to say I'm so happy to be here. I drove about six hours to be here, but um.

Where did you come from?

South Carolina, around Conway, Myrtle Beach area. But um, thank you. Uh, I struggled my whole. Well, I grew up in the church, but then I strayed and I was on drugs for a very long time. Me and my significant other, we were together for 10 and a half years. Um, and he went to the hospital um, around February or March last year. And that month or two while he was there, I still just kept wanting to do drugs all day, every day, while I slowly lost the feeling in my legs. I had to go to the hospital. I broke my back from an infection from drugs. And he died two days before my surgery. And um, while I was in the hospital, when they had sent me, they had to send me back from Charleston and Conway, two hours away, but I was too malnourished for surgery. So while they sent me back to get healthy, I was um, watching a local channel and after that program went off, a church came on. And it was like, cuz I had prayed for a long time. God, please just take away the desire. Like I felt trapped. I, I wasn't happy. I was depressed. I hated myself. And I, I prayed every night. I said, "Please just take away the desire, Lord. I don't want to live like this anymore." And I thought I would never ever get clean.

So, you just couldn't break the addiction of of drugs?

Never get clean. And um, that message was meant for me. He, he talked about how um, when everybody and everything else will give up on you, God will not. And it just reconfirmed that I, because I would pray, I said, "God, I know you have a plan for me and this is not it." And that just reconfirmed. I knew that he wasn't done with me. And uh, usually grief, the way I would deal with it, it would send me deeper into drugs. But when Jonathan died, I, I didn't go back to drugs. I didn't want to. And that just showed me there's no other, it, it was a miracle. There's no other explanation that other than that God finally delivered me and answered that prayer.

And so you, so you traveled six, six hours?

I did because my, my grandmother told me about you while I was in the hospital. I was in the hospital for two months. And um, so I started watching you in the hospital. Me and my grandmother, we watch you now, uh, on TN every day at 11:30. But um, you were a great comfort to me while I was in there. And I love how you preach about the Bible. And uh, I, I hadn't found another church yet. So I watch you online. This is where I get my tithes and everything. So, when they sent me the email.

You probably don't need another church, you're good. No, I'm kidding. I'm kidding. I am kidding. If you find one, go there and support them. They.

They had said though, without that surgery, I would never walk again, too. So, um, I, I prayed before the surgery. I already claimed it that God healed me. And here I am, almost a year later. I'm, I'm walking. I'm clean.

That is miracle after miracle.

Yes.

Truly remarkable. God has been good to you.

Yes, he has.

And I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, in obedience to the scriptures. Amen. And amen. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. This is the last one. So, you are the benediction almost. I'm going to really speak one. But what is your name?

Alisia McKinnon.

Alicia, is that your family? Wonderful. And, and how long have you been coming to the church?

Since before I was born because you prayed for my mom because she had so many miscarriages. And then doctors said I was impossible. And then through prayer, I'm here. And um, and, and why are you doing this this morning?

You know, there's been so many times where he, you know, he, he had to save me. He had to save me so many times. Like I was a lost cause at some, couple of points in my life, you know. Um, but he is so good. He is so good. And I just, you know, I'm about to move. I'm at Georgia Tech right now getting my masters. And.

What are you getting your masters in?

Oh gosh. Business analytics. It's a lot. It's a lot. But I mean.

You're going to do, you're going to do amazing.

I believe so. I believe so.

And so today is meaningful to you. I can tell with the tears in your eyes, today matters. This, there's a story of God's grace and, and where even where you are. You, you, you've got to be very smart at Georgia Tech. So there's something great that you're being trained for that God will open every door and you'll be a blessing. You'll be blessed and you'll be a blessing. You'll be a blessing. That's a little bit. I feel that I will bless you. The Lord would say, "And you shall be a blessing." So, it won't just be about you, but he's going to put in your hands the power to be a blessing, and you will be a great blessing to many. So, let that purpose sink in while you're in this water.

Thank you.

Yeah, it is. It is. It is. He is so good. And as long as your heart is still beating, he is not done with you.

He's not done with you. It may feel like it. It may feel like you're all alone, but he will never, he will never leave you. Okay? He will never leave you. It may feel like you're by yourself the whole time, but he is watching out for you. He has his hands on you. And I don't know who needs to hear that, but he has his hand on you and he is watching for you.

Yes. I want you to do something with every head bowed and every eye closed. I didn't know who, I didn't look. I don't, I don't glance at a thing and and move on. But God had you last for a reason. And I want you to tell some young lady, some young man, some person sitting out there who the enemy has really done a number on and lied to, how they can receive Jesus as their savior.

You got to be patient with yourself. You know, that's one of the things that, you know, God will tell you. You got to be patient for yourself. It's his timing only. It will only be his timing. You may want to rush something. You may think something's not where it needs to be. You may say, "Why me? Why this? What's going on?" But he has a plan for you. Before he even knew who you were, before you even your parents even knew who you were, he knew where you would be this morning.

Yes. Yes. I believe it.

And he has his hand on you. Don't forget it. It's hard not to forget it. It's so hard not to forget it. But he will never leave you. No matter what nobody tells you, he will never leave you. Never. The doctors may say one thing, the people may say one thing, but he will never leave you. And I'm telling you this right now. Jesus will never leave you. He will never leave you.

And he'll never forsake you. Somebody needs to hear those words today. He'll never leave you. Every head bowed, every eye closed. Pastor Jensen, I need to get right with God today. I'm lost. I'm running. I'm bound. I need a change. I need a savior. I need a well of living water. I'm so thirsty for something that the world can't give me. I tried and they're empty, they hold no water. I want living water today. Pray for me right where you're sitting at any and all of our campuses. If the Lord is speaking to you, slip your hand up right where you're sitting. Right where you are. Bless you. Bless you. Bless your hands all over this building. I'm looking through the congregation. Raise it high and unashamed. I see that hand there. There. I see those hands. Yes. Yes. Yes. Up in the balcony. I'm looking in the balcony. Just raise that hand. He said, "Acknowledge me and I'll direct your path." Every one of you that prayed, say the. Everyone of you raise your hand. And everybody in this room say this prayer. Lord Jesus, I receive you as my savior. I humbly acknowledge my sin and I'm sorry. Wash me and cleanse me by your blood that you shed on Calvary for me. You will never leave me from this day forward. You will never forsake me. You will be there through it all. And I will give you the praise and I will give you the glory in Jesus name. If you prayed that prayer, clap your hands. You're are now a part of the family of God. And upon your profession of faith, you just won a bunch of souls with your testimony. I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Praise the Lord. To God be the glory.

I want you to stand and I'm going to speak the benediction over you. There's never a greater time of the year to invite and leverage your influence with friends and family than this coming Sunday and next Sunday. Palm Sunday and Easter are upon us. Let's lift high. One of the great teachings of the scripture is spreading the good news. Christians, real Christians tell others. They evangelize. They reach others. So reach others for Jesus. If you'll get them here, I believe the Holy Spirit will fill that deep well up again and again and again. Now, receive this blessing. Thank you for worshiping with us. Isn't the Lord good? Isn't this refreshing to see what he's done in so many lives? Thank you for making it happen. Those of you who dig wells with your finances, we couldn't be digging wells in these cities and doing all over the world what we do. If people, good people just like you said, "I may can't preach or sing. I don't have to, but boy, I can give and I can be a part." So, as as God speaks to you and give online, they're giving stations out there. Thank you for making it happen. As you do, God sees and God rewards. Now receive this blessing. Lord, I thank you and I speak this blessing over this congregation. The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you. The Lord be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and may he give you peace. And I will put my name on them and I will bless them. That's what the rest of that text says. God bless you. You're blessed. Have a wonderful week, everybody. We'll see you next Sunday. Thank you for worshiping with us.

You just prayed with Pastor Jensen and gave your life to Jesus. Welcome to the family of God. This is the most important decision you'll ever make. And we want to walk with you. Call the number on your screen right now. Our prayer team is here for you. Or visit us online at jensenfranklin.tv to share your story and download a free salvation devotional to help you take your first steps with Jesus. Throughout the Bible, brief, heartfelt prayers brought breakthrough and divine intervention.

Every miracle in the Bible was the product of a short prayer, not hours and hours of somebody praying. What if your most powerful prayers were not your longest ones? The power of short prayers reminds us that it's not about the length of the prayer. It's about praying from the heart. This powerful new book from Jensen Franklin will help you pray with confidence in every circumstance and experience breakthrough in your everyday life. If you'll ever pray short prayers, you will become a person of prayer. If you'll do it consistently and daily, take moments to recognize, I need your help, God, and I'm going to pray short prayers. Discover the power of simple faith-filled prayers. The power of short prayers is available now. Purchase on Amazon or anywhere books are sold. Heat. Heat. N. Heat. Heat. N.