Blessed Part 1 \\ Introduction \\ Pastor Mike Jr.

Grab your Bible. Go to Genesis chapter 12. Genesis 12. If you can't find Genesis, we in trouble. Just open the Bible. Genesis 12. And let's start with verses 1 through 3.

I want to start a new series today entitled Blessed. It's just certain words you can't say around people who got a relationship with God. Blessed. Blessed. Blessed. Blessed.

Genesis chapter 12. I want to read verses 1-3. And today I want to read from the NASB 95 edition. Look at what it says. Now the Lord said to Abram, "Go forth from your country and from your relatives and from your father's house. Leave everybody to the land which I will show you."

Here's enough to tear the whole church up. And I will make you a great nation. Here's another one. And I will bless you and I'm going to make your name great and so you shall be a blessing. Verse three is the one that make me run. I will bless those who bless you and the ones who curse you I'll curse and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.

You're not too mean. Look at somebody and say, "Stick close to me." Stick close to me. Cuz God's about to bless me in such a way that everything attached to me going to be blessed. Slap five people a high five and tell them I'm blessed. I'm blessed. You may be seated.

I want to talk today from the topic. Man, it feels good to be home. I want to talk today from the topic blessed. And everybody who blessed said it. So, I want you to take really, really good notes. Take really, really good notes. Okay?

Why do I want you to take really, really good notes? Uh, because I really believe that what I'm about to say is tantamount to what God is about to do in your life. Hear me when I say this. So, let's start by defining blessed biblically. You ready? Let's define blessed biblically.

Biblically, the definition for blessed is a Hebrew word barak. It's on the screen. Barack. Barack. In the Hebrew, blessed is Barack, which means what, Pastor Mike? To kneel, to empower, to prosper, to speak well of. So, biblically, when we say bless, you're using a Hebrew word which is barack. It means to kneel. In your notes, you'll write kneel, which means humility. It means to come before God in humility. You you've seen this in movies growing up that when a knight got ready to be promoted, he would kneel and he would so much bless them for promotion. It means to come into humility.

It also means here's something for seven of y'all to empower to prosper. So when somebody says I bless you, what they're saying is no, I am empowering you to do more than you thought you could do. But then number three, it means to speak well of. This is why at funerals, one of the things I'm starting to implement at Rock City is that a preacher from our church will preach to the living, but I can't give a eulogy to the dead. See, eulogy comes from the word uglio, which means to bless, which means to speak well of. And so, what happens is at your funeral, somebody should speak the blessing. They should ugly you. That means to speak well of you. So the biblical definition cuz we got this game twisted. The biblical definition of bless means to kneel, to empower, to prosper, to speak well of.

PMJ, what's our definition for this series? All right, I'm going to give you my definition. Bless, before you get it, isn't about what you have. It's about who I am when I'm aligned with God. Oh, that's good. Blessed isn't about what I have. It's about who I am when I am aligned with God.

To be blessed means this a heavy definition. Please take a picture of the screen. Put it in your notes. To be divinely positioned, internally strengthened, and externally favored to accomplish God's purpose in your life. Oh, that's good right there. I'm going to say it again. It means to be divinely positioned, internally strengthened, and externally favored. I'mma say it again. It means to be divinely positioned, internally strengthened and externally favored to accomplish God's purpose in my life.

Let's try this again. It means to be divinely what? Okay, put this in your notes. Under divinely positioned. Okay, to be blessed means to be divinely positioned. What does that mean, Pastor Mike? That mean God puts me where he wants me, not where I plan to be. Michael, it means God puts me where he wants me, not where I plan to be. Why is that important, PMJ? Because the blessing starts with placement. Put that in your phone. The blessing starts with placement. Why? Because if I'm in position, provision will find me. I'm in the wrong church already. So what does it mean? So when I say divinely positioned, that mean God puts me where he wants me, not where I plan to be.

Can I speak to three people who may be frustrated right now cuz your plans ain't working. Here it is now. You had plans of where you would be by now and you wrote in your little journal, by now I'm going to be XYZ. By the end of the year, I'm going to be doing so and so, so and so. By 38 I'm going to be so and so, so and so. By 44, I'm going to be six. So, so and God is like, those plans are cool. But to be blessed means you not where you plan to be. It's where you are where I want you to be. And I'm going to say this, and three of y'all going to catch it. In my 20s, it was all about my plans. In my 30s, it was all about my plans. But now that I'm 40, shorty, God, wherever you want to put me. I'm preaching to three of y'all already cuz I've discovered even if your plan worked the way you wanted your plan to work, it pales in comparison to what God really wants to do in your life. You don't believe me, do you? Ask the children of Israel. Their plan would have been to get out of bondage. Their plan would have been to get out of bondage. God says, "Nah, I'mma leave you in bondage a little bit longer." Their plan would have been to get out of bondage. God says, "No, I'm going to leave you in bondage a little bit longer." Their plan, Michael, would have been to get out of bondage. God gets them out of bondage. Their plan work, but then they didn't plan on their enemies chasing them. They didn't plan to have a mountain on the right and a mountain on the left. They didn't plan to have a red sea in front of them. So they sitting there like, "This ain't what I planned." But God is like, "You right where I want you to be cuz all you wanted to do was get out." But I knew your plan had a flaw in it. See, your plan was to get some money. God's plan is for you to keep your money. I don't know who I'm preaching to, but I dare to just shout, "God, it's your plan."

So, it's divinely positioned. Oo, that's good. To be blessed means to be divinely positioned. It means second one, internally strengthened. Bro, this cold. It It's eternally strengthened because it's on the screen. Before God gives me things, he gives me strength. We didn't make it out of this part at 8:00 a.m. this morning. Cuz often before God gives me things, he gives me strength. Why, Pastor Mike? Because the true sign of blessings isn't that life gets easier. It's that you get stronger. I think I'm going to have church by myself today. I'mma say that again. The true sign that you are blessed is not that life got easier. It's the fact that you got stronger.

Why PMJ? Because when we trace blessings throughout the scripture, we see that God's favor often adds strength before he adds stuff. You might want to write that. When we look at blessings throughout the Bible, we see a pattern that God's favor often adds strength before he adds stuff. And some of y'all losing your mind cuz you keep chasing stuff, but you ain't got no strength. So the reason God gives you strength before he gives you stuff is because if he gave you stuff before he gave you strength, you wouldn't be able to keep it when the devil tried to take it. So in this season of your life, you may not have the stuff, but if God mess around and give me some strength, I don't know who I'm preaching to right there, but I think you sat next to a undercover hater. So, just reach over that hater and shout, "He's making me stronger." That's the wrong Somebody tell somebody else, "He's making me stronger."

How do I know I'm stronger? Cuz the old me would have lost it based off of what I was going through, but the new me walking around like, "God going to fix this thing." The old me would have called my ex six weeks ago, but the new me like, "Let me go take a shower and go to eat. I'mma be all right." And I don't know who I'm preaching to. Everybody wants stuff, but who can jump up and shout, "God, give me strength. I'm in the wrong church already. I'm in the wrong church already." You don't believe me? God gives you strength, Michael, before he gives you stuff. See, the younger you wanted the stuff. The new you going to want the strength. Cuz I discovered even when I had the stuff, I was weaker than I ever was. Could take myself out to eat whenever I wanted to, but was lonely. Could buy whatever I want, but was depressed. Was driving nice, but didn't have nobody to come with me. And God said, "In this season of your life, I am not making you richer. I am making you stronger." Y'all, I should have came up there and preached with y'all today. Hear me when I say this. You don't believe me. Cuz when we look at the Bible, we see a pattern of God giving people strength before he gives them stuff. Y'all still don't believe me. Joseph was blessed, but he was betrayed and imprisoned. So the blessing gave him strength to remain faithful. Mary was blessed and highly favored, yet she had to carry the weight of a scandal. The blessing gave her strength to endure.

So biblically, are you taking notes? Barack, which means to be blessed, doesn't mean more comfort. I'mma preach to y'all. Forget them. Blessings don't mean comfort. I'm going to run. It means more capacity. Okay, they didn't shout like I thought they were going to shout. I'm going to talk to y'all. Blessings don't mean more comfort. It means more capacity. So when I look at you and say you bless, I am not saying God give them enough money so they can be comfortable. I'm not saying give them a job so they can be comfortable. I'm saying, Lord, if you don't do nothing else, increase their capacity. Y'all miss what I just said. Increase their capacity. And I speak over your life. See, you just made that mistake. I've been telling you for 5 years, if you going to be blessed, there's a front side and a backside to blessings. The front side is he going to increase your capacity, but that means there's a backside to it. So you over here shouting like, "He going to give me more money. He also going to give you more haters. He going to give me more peace, but he also may give you more trauma." And see, I discovered there are only two types of people. Some of y'all can only shout for the front side. But six of us don't live long enough to give God a backside praise. That yes, I've had some good days, but I've also had some bad days. Yes, God has given me promotion, but I've also lost a lot. I wonder if I got anybody who can shout that God's given me full capacity. That's good. It's called capacity.

I I had somebody I had somebody say to me the other day. They said, "PJ, you like the only person I know who could do what you're doing." I like, "What you mean?" They say ain't trying to be funny, but when I look at your teams, when I look at your staffs, you got too many egos, too many bosses, too many alpha males, too many alpha females. They said, "Everybody around you are bosses in their own right." They said, "I don't know how you deal with the egos, with the attitudes, with the so- and so, so and so." I said, "Well, well, I'm kind of graced for it." They was like, "What you mean?" I said, "I made God a promise a long time ago. I told God what I wanted. And I quickly realized that if you really want, what you say you want, you got to ask God for the right thing. So you got to say, "Lord, increase my capacity for what you sending me." Who I can't wait to somebody wife. Do you got the capacity to clean up after a negro who don't clean up? Do you got the capacity to not be able to do everything your single friends used to do? I just want me a good woman. Do you got the capacity to be checked and read about the stuff you do wrong? Do you got the capac I just want some more money? Do you got the capacity to get 40% of your taxes taken out cuz the elephant see all y'all want stuff but who in here can say God give me capacity [Applause] yeah I'm so sick and tired of people telling me I can't wait to do what you're doing. Yes, you can. Ain't you tired of folk wanting to be you and don't know what it takes to be you? If I'm preaching to you, just jump up. I'm sorry I made this look easy. I'm sorry I made this look fun. This ain't fun. It take another level of prayer, another level of dedication, another level of favor, another level of obedience. Somebody shout capacity.

So bless. So bless means. Are you taking notes? Are you taking notes? You taking notes? Where your notes at? Right there. Show me your notes. All right. There. So here it is. So here we go. So when I say blessed, that means I'm divinely. There's just too many notes. You can't find them that quick. Okay? Okay. I got you. I got you. I got you. I'm divinely what? Position. I'm divinely positioned. I'm where God wants me. I am what? I am internally strengthened, which means God is developing me. Not from the outside in, but rather from the inside out. Hear me. Yes, you're gifted, but your character weak. Yes, you're anointed, but you're not disciplined. So God is saying, "Before I give you stuff, I got to strengthen you. I may have to take you through something you don't want to go through so you can be ready to what you about to go to." Michael, did you hear what I just said? What did I just say? I don't even know what I just said. I may have to take you through something you don't want to go through cuz I'm getting you ready for something you about to go to. And you so busy crying about what you going through that you blind to what you about to go. Oh my god.

So watch this. When I say this, I am divinely what? Position. I am internally. Okay. Okay. All right. All right. All right. All right. I'm scared to say this third one cuz Have you ever been texting somebody and you was reading them and you got to a part that you you kind of snapped on and it was so good to you had to call somebody else and say, "Guess what I told him?" Who never did that before? Anybody? Like you got off so bad that it was like, "Hey." And then I told them, "This is the good part right here. This the part right here where mid sermon I'm in the office like, oh, it's crazy." I said, "Cuz in my head, this where you're going to shout." I was going to say, "No, no, no, no. Number one, you are divinely positioned." I mean, God has you where he wants you, not where you plan to be. But then number two, you are internally strengthened because God's preparing you. Sometimes he takes you what you going through to get what you're going to. But then number three, this is my one right here. I am externally favored. [Applause] That didn't go like I planned it. It didn't go like I planned it. Oh, you don't know what that mean. Oh, you don't know what externally favor mean. It means God put you where he wants you. Develops you to handle it. Now you start looking like what you feeling like. That's only for five of y'all who folk don't like you and you ain't did nothing to them, but when they look at you, you just got something different on you. Don't hate me cuz the blessing that's on the inside is starting to show up on the outside. I don't know who you sitting next to, but you don't know what they going through. Just look down on tell them you look blessed. No, that's the wrong somebody. Tell them you look blessed. That's the wrong somebody. You look blessed. That's the wrong somebody. Tell them you look blessed. And I ain't talking about you got on designer clothes. Look at you. I ain't even got none on. It ain't what's on you, it's what's on you. I wish I had a thousand folk who would just shove up and bust a 360 and got the blessing is on me. W's in the chat. [Applause]

Hey, hey, hey. So, watch this. So, so I I've been being a super daddy. I've been having so much fun. Y'all hear me? So much fun. So, we at all the football games, everything, right? So, so Denzel, he's new on staff, right? He's like a cinematographer. He does creative stuff, all that type of stuff. Boom. So, he's been going with me to all the games, all the practice. I'm I'm doing all my son highlights stuff. So, boom. You see his highlights? That's me. I'm in there. Ga boom. the same energy. I'm giving this, I'm giving them. So, so boom. So, I'm killing it. Boom. So, Denzel gets put off the sidelines last week cuz he didn't have credentials. I'm like, dang, Denz tried, but they put me on the sideline. Like, that's cool. So, we get there this week. I said, Denzel, you got credentials? Nope. I I said, "What are we going to do?" He said, "I got a hoodie." So, in my head, I think he's slow. I'm I'm like I'm like, "So, your hoodie going to keep you on the sideline?" He said, "Yeah, it's a hoodie I got." It said XXSX Productions. He said it's the hoodie. He said, "So when they see the hoodie, some of them gonna kind of be like, "Okay, he belong here." So So he on the sidelines and I see the people walking and I'm in the stands just mapping it out. All of a sudden, he walks by with his camera. They look at him like, "Hey, how you doing?" Boom. I'm like, "Oh my god." He hit me back. He said, "Yeah." He said, "Yeah." He said, "Because of what I'm wearing." [Applause] I had to take a laugh on that one. Because of what I'm wearing, they assumed I belong. And you think because you ain't got on dolce, Gucci, and Gabana, you ain't blessed. Baby, I got favor on me. And because there's something on me, I can walk in rooms that everybody else can't walk in. Somebody shout, "I'm blessed."

So, so, so that means, watch this. It means I'm divinely positioned internally strengthened, externally favored. Look at the the last clause to accomplish God's purpose on my life. You ain't got all that just to have it. God ain't blessing you so you can stunt. That ain't why he blessing you. He's blessing you so you can accomplish God's purpose on your life. It's on the screen. Look at this. The blessing has an assignment attached. It's not a random reward. Blessings ain't random. It's divine reinforcement. Oh, that's good. That's good. It is divine reinforcement to help me finish what he started in me.

So today, when people say they're blessed, this what frustrates me. They usually mean they're bragging about what they receive. Oh, I just got a house. I'm blessed. Oh, I just got a car. I'm blessed. Girl, I just got a promotion. I'm blessed. Man, you ain't going to believe what God I'm blessed. Now, let let me free you real quickly. Blessed biblically isn't about possessions. It's about possessions. Michael, it is not about possessions. It's about position. That's why this world frustrate me. Oh, I'm so blessed. Look at what Oh, you do it, too. Think about it. We do it. You seen what they dry. They blessed. So what? Being blessed ain't about possessions. It's about position.

And and when you get so caught up on possessions and you don't think about possessions, you fall victim to what I would like to call the deception of possession. Please put that in your notes. It's something the Lord gave me that I want to give you called the deception of possession. Cuz being blessed isn't just about having something. It's about being positioned. So what is the deception of possession? The deception of possession occurs when you have possessions without possession. Because sometimes we assume that because we have stuff, we're blessed. But in the kingdom, readiness isn't about what's in your hand. It's about what's in your heart. So you are deceived. If you think because you got possessions, you bless possessions. Michael, without position, it's deception. This is why you can have the greatest opportunity of your life and still miss destiny. This is why you can have a bag and don't know where it went. [Applause] This is why you can be engaged, married, and miserable. [Music] Cuz you got the possession. The question is, are you in the right position? Oh, y'all don't want to have no church with me. No.

Oh, and what I'm trying to get you to realize is too many people think they're not blessed cuz they don't have possessions and don't realize they're actually blessed cuz they're in position. Why do you think your boss got the position? Why do you think your boss has possessions but jealous of you when they make more than you but they can tell it's something different about you? Because possessions without position equals deception. Why they engaged but checking for you? cuz they thought if I got the ring I would be blessed. But if I got the possession without the position, what does it amount to? Y'all don't like me today. No.

And see what happens is many of you keep getting out of position. Chasing possessions. Pastor Mike, they blessed cuz they possess a Mercedes. So you convince yourself they're more blessed than you cuz they got a car and you Uber. You ain't got a note. [Applause] Y'all ain't got to like me. So they more blessed than you cuz they can go on Instagram and post relationship goals. You ain't up at night wondering who they DMing. Yeah. Yeah. Don't nobody want to say amen to me today. No. You ain't more blessed than me cuz you got stuff I ain't got. I am blessed because I'm in position. Okay. Okay. Okay. I'm going to have church by myself. Okay.

Here. Listen to me. David before he possessed the crown, he was positioned in the field. Joseph, before he possessed the palace, was positioned in prison. Esther, before she possessed her crown, was positioned in a king's court. Moses, before he parted the Red Sea, was positioned in a desert. Ruth, before she possessed Boaz, was positioned in a dirty field. Daniel, before he possessed influence and favor, he was positioned in a lion's den. Paul, before he possessed ministry, he was positioned in blindness. Jesus, before he possessed the resurrection, he was positioned on a cross. And you sitting in here miserable thinking you catching hell. You ain't catching hell. You just in position. I I don't know who I'm preaching to. Your neighbor can't shout for you right here cuz they may not have the obedience you got. You ought to just throw your head back and shout, "I'm just in position. God set me up for something that's bigger than me. God's getting ready to turn something in my favor." And here's a word for three of y'all. Any day now, something's about to shift on my behalf. I wish I had 500 praise prayers who are just shout I'm in position. I'm in position. I'm in the wrong church. I'm in I'm in position. I'm in position. And you better not let nobody convince you to get out of position. You better not let nobody convince you cuz you don't have what the world deems as possessions. I may not drive what you drive, but the level of peace that I got, you couldn't pay for it if you wanted it. The level of joy I got, the level of of of of of wisdom and spiritual insight that I have, I can't go to the store and purchase this. It comes, Michael, cuz you're in position. And that's why you got to be careful cuz cuz when you in position, possessions look good. Yeah. See, when you in position, possessions look good. And people who don't understand your position. Will try to push you to possessions. You don't come around no more. I can't. Why? Cuz every time I come around, y'all pull me out of position. You acting brand new. Cuz I am. I I I I I got to go. I'm in the wrong church. I need a better church. You acting brand new. Cuz I am. Things I used to do, I don't do no more. Places I used to go, I don't go no more. You don't call nobody no more. Y'all wasn't talking about nothing. [Applause] Why we Why we can't kick it like we used to? Cuz I realized the whole while I was kicking it, I was kicking the stuff I needed out of my life. So now I'm just staying in position. You used to serve in church. They was mean. Don't let no mean person keep you out of position. God said there are a few of you who are about to experience a divine reversal because you've been in position when it wasn't popular, when it wasn't comfortable.

Okay. See? See? Cuz position position is uncomfortable. Why is position uncomfortable? Position is uncomfortable because it's when God, moves you. Positioning is when God moves you. T can Can you come here real quick? I I don't think they realize what divine positioning meant. Positioning is when God moves you. Positioning is when God moves you. See, you keep moving for your comfort cuz something in your mind is saying, "I am too close to the edge to be here." But you don't realize God says, "Sometimes I put you out far enough to scare you, but close enough for me to have my hand on you. Come here." Because now, Corey, if your enemies wanted you, they have to think twice because your enemies hate you, but they don't have your faith. So sometime God puts you on the verge of a breakdown because it's protection that you don't see. And God is like, "It may feel bad and it may feel wrong, but believe I got my hand on you." And some of y'all been feeling like you about to lose your mind lately. And God sent me back a week early to tell you God got his hand on you. And just when you think you going to fall, God positions you somewhere else. Then he positions you somewhere else. So now the people in your life can't keep up. Cory, can you come here for a second? I'm going to show you why you shouldn't be worried about nobody who don't like you. Okay? Look at them plotting. Look at them jealous. Look at them wanting what you got. And just when they get to your level, God positions you. So now they jealous again, looking again. Now they going to try to get you, but then God positions you. Why you worried about somebody who trying to play keep up? I I'm good. I wish I had a thousand people who can say, "I ain't crying about nothing else in 2025. I ain't going through hell. God got me in position. I need seven of y'all to jump up and shout I'm in position. I'm in position. High five. Five people. Tell them I'm in position. It may be uncomfortable. It may be stressful. I'm in position. I'm in position. I'm I am right where God want me. Yeah.

I got pastor friends calling me, "Boy, you better go back to church. You ain't going to have a church when you get back. You've been gone so long. Don't nobody do that." No, but I got boys who need me. And ain't nothing wrong with them. The Holy Spirit said to me, "For the next 6 weeks, do something so radical that before they leave to go to college, they'll realize this man really put us before everything. Over 200 concert engagements, over 40 speaking engagements. No, cancel all that. Cancel this right here. Do XYZ. I'm at every practice at defense. Miles is at that age where his personality is developing. And if and if a man ain't present, he'll start running over his mama. So no, get up in the morning. It take an hour to get Miles up in the morning. Miles, get up, baby. Miles, put your creams on. You know you got eczema. Come on, Miles. Get ready. All it took for me was say, "Hey, he jumped out the bed cuz I'm in position." Then the day I want to make sure I'm in position. Mason get more a claim than he ever got in his life. I want to make sure he not getting arrogant and start losing his faith. I'm in position. McKinley at the age where she going to go to middle school and before any brother tell her what she is, she going to hear from me first. So every morning she wake up, hey beautiful. No, I'm in position. You think I care and they can't figure out, boy, you better get back to church. I love my church, but I will walk away from all of this cuz what does it profit a man to gain the whole world? You better get in position. But mama got to have a life too, Jod, at the expense of your babies. God said, "I am looking for some men and some women who will shout, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust him. I am staying in position. [Applause] Be more focused than you ever been. Get locked in reading your word more than you ever have. I had somebody tell me at a gas station, "I ain't perfect, Pastor Mike, and I still got a lot of growing to do, but this the most I ever at least wanted to come to church." That's I like get in position. Don't let your mind convince you you behind schedule.

I'm going to ask you a question, okay? How you behind a schedule that you didn't create? I I If he's the alpha and the and the omega, the beginning and the end, it means he was at your beginning, walked to your middle, went to your end. He's just waiting on you to get. So what is position, PMJ? Theologically positioned is the place, posture, or alignment where God's power, purpose, and promise can flow through you. That's a heavy definition. It is the It is the place, posture, and alignment where God's power, purpose, and promise can flow through you. It is not just about where you stand physically, Michael. It's where you are spiritually. Are y'all hearing me today? In scripture, position always precedes power. Before God moves through someone, he positions them.

So, what does that mean, Pastor Mike? Let's make it practical. Position. Please put this in your phone. Is your mindset, relationships, and obedience. Oo, I got to get out of here. It is your mindset, relationships, and obedience. Pastor Mike, what you been on the last 6 months? My position. My position. My mindset. Go back. My relationships. My obedience. What you need to be on going into 2026. Your position. Your mindset. Your relationships. Your obedience. What you need to be on, Pastor Mike. Your mindset, your relationships, your obedience. Pastor Mike, what you your mindset. Why you saying this 75 times? I want you in your sleep. My mindset, my relationships, my obedience. Why? PMJ, put this in your notes. Your mindset. Let's define it. Are you thinking like the person you're becoming? How you saying you going to be all this stuff out your mouth and your mind ain't there? Are you thinking like as a man thinkketh in his heart, so is he? You ain't going to get there physically till you get there mentally. It's your mindset. Are you still a victim in your mind? Is it still wo it's me in my mind? Think about it. Man, I ain't going to give my hoes up. Ain't nobody don't nobody ever help me. You're blocking it. It's your mindset. It's certain places I go, I know I'm not received. Hear me. It's certain places I go, I know I'm not received. I know I'm not welcome. I'm too uncontrollable. Ain't nobody pulling my string. And if it's something I don't like, I'mma say something. So they have mastered putting me in a corner. Hey, how you doing? You sitting over there 369D over there in that corner over there. I already know. You know what? But even when I walk in, hey, how y'all doing? God bless you. I'm not going to let how you treat me change my mindset. I believe I'm the greatest. I'm in the only profession in the world where I can't say it publicly. If LeBron say he a dog, if a chef say they the best chef in the world, you going to say, "I got to taste their food." But if I say I'm the greatest pastor ever live, that's blasphemous. I'm the best gospel artist on the face of the planet. Literally. That ain't even up for discussion right now either. That's just Come on now. Come on now. The devil made a mess. I had to grab the broom on them. I ain't seen y'all in 8 weeks. I'm sorry. No, I'm the best dad in the world. I here when I tell you I take so much pride in being a daddy. Hear me. I will perform in DC, have done it, and drive through the night just to be at a practice. So, what's your mindset? H what is your mindset? What is your mindset concerning your life, concerning your marriage, concerning your personal ministry, concerning your business? Concerning what God's going to do with you? Am I thinking, listen to this phrase, like the person I'm becoming, or am I thinking like the person I am? Single thinking going to keep you single. That ain't going to hit you till Friday. That that that ain't going to hit you till Friday. Broke thinking going to keep you broke. Depressed thinking going to keep you depressed. What am I telling you? I'm telling you, I hope 70 of y'all catch this. Even when a baby's born, he comes out head first. You won't make it into your next season. Feet first. Meaning your mind got to come out before your body come out. I decree and declare that whatever weight been on your mind is being lifted right now. That whatever you will think on these things, whatsoever is lovely, whatsoever's pure, whatsoever's kind, whatsoever is of good report, I speak that the the the oppression of your mind is being destroyed. And I can tell you that boldly cuz it had to happen to me. Don't nobody overthink more than me. Never thought I was good enough. Walked in room even as recently as two months ago still feeling like I didn't belong because my mind was trapped. You can get all the money you want, all the accolades you want, all the praise you want if you don't believe. You are who God called you. There's nothing in this world you can receive that will repair a broken mind.

Number two, are your relationships ready? Are you around people that pull you forward or pull you backwards? I told you we're talking about position now, right? We're talking about position now, right? So, what's position, Pastor Mike? My mindset. Number two, my relationships. What are they doing? Everybody 30ome, you ain't going to catch this. You too young. 20ome, you definitely not going to catch it. Them 40s and up, what I'm about to say going to hit you different. I don't think I got no friends. Who been tripping on that lady? Am I the only person who lately you've been sitting there like and then even deep I was watching the wood. Who who you seen the wood before? And I'm it this how you know you're getting old. I'm watching the wood. I ain't got nobody to spin the pizza with. It ain't that you ain't got people in your life. It's just that sometimes life takes you to a place. Watch this. What the people you relate to don't relate to who you're becoming. And so the only time y'all have fun is when you get out of position. And so you be sitting back like And that ain't a bad thing. Some of you are fa aren't favored for friendships. You're favored for assignments. So now I'm at a place in my life where when assignments end, no hard feelings. I'm going to say there's only 10 of y'all going to catch it. But I can't miss this exit. Trying to be cool. Woo. Are your relationships set up?

Number three, is your obedience set up right? Are you doing what God said even when it's uncomfortable? That's what position is. That's what position is. Everything in me wants to stop, but the Lord ain't told me yet. I'm in position. Oh, I would have been cut them off, but the Holy Spirit told me they're my assignment, so I'm in position. I probably been pastoring more since I've been gone since than I was here. It's like out of nowhere my inbox inbox just start getting flooded with people many of y'all follow just pass somebody I need talk for a quick second like whoa boom what's up hey man I just need no number one you wrong trust me I said cuz where you are you so so and so this what we going to do for next seven days every morning I'm not going to call you you got to call me at 6:30 all we going to do is pray give me 3 minutes every morning boom boom boom hey I just called my other friend they told me Jesus Christ all right come on you 6:30 you 6:30 33. Come on, let's pray. Come on. Now it's from 6:30 about 7:13. It's like they just keep passing it. They're not getting 3 minutes, 3 minutes, 3 minutes. And the Holy Spirit said, "Mike, in this season, it's going to mess you up. If somebody don't cover influencers, they just going to become infections." So God's been opening this door where I've been speaking into life for people I never would have thought of. And the Holy Spirit is saying, "Mike, it's your obedience. It's your obedience. It's your obedience. It's your obedience." You don't think I was scared I wasn't going to have a church when I got back? You know how y'all are. Y'all, oh, he ain't going to come to work. You don't think I was scared? And nothing was wrong. Nothing. I ain't sick. My family ain't in trouble. I'm at the Stella Awards. I come home and Mason tells me something and then Mike says something and clear as day, I I feel like I've only heard the audible voice of God three times. The first time I feel like I heard God's actual voice in a nightclub in college, the Oak Tree Lounge, I was on the microphone for Cap Alphasai, and I was literally saying, "Throw it up. Throw it up. Throw it up. I'm delivered. Just pray for me. I'm delivered." I literally heard the Lord to me in the club. I heard a voice say, "Right crowd, wrong place." I literally said in the microphone, "Huh? This true story." I heard it again. This a Thursday night at the Oak Tree Lounge. The second time I heard it that same night I heard it twice. I leave the club, go to my apartment, sit on the edge of my bed till daybreak. Call Andre who does our video stuff. That's my best friend since seventh grade. Call him. He's at Auburn. I said, "Hey, God told me to go home and get in Purpose. I'm not going to tell my parents. Can you get a U-Haul and just come get me?" He said, "All right." He gets in the truck, drives to West Alabama from Auburn. I pack my apartment up, stop by this place, drop out of school, come home. I show up on my parents doorstep in a U-Haul. I said, "What you doing?" I said, "God told me to quit school. My dad almost killed me." Thursday night, I heard that. Friday, I dropped out of school. Saturday, he wakes me up. He had a leadership meeting. He says, "Get up. You ride with me." The whole car ride, he just punches. Boom. And I'm tired of you, Mike. You out? Boom. And Mike, I told you, I'm so tired of Boom. Your brother doing good. Your sister on the road. hear you. Boom. Just giving it to Boom. We get to the leadership meeting and his number one assistant splits his church. That Saturday, half the leaders leave. He ain't got a worship leader. He ain't got deacons. He ain't got nothing. My dad just sitting there and I walked up to him bold as day. Dad, I think that's why God told me to come home. He said, "Not today." True story. Thursday, I hear the Lord in the club. Friday, I withdraw from school. Saturday, my dad's whole leadership leaves. Sunday morning, they waiting on church to start. There's nobody to sing. My dad in the office just trying to figure out what he gonna do. I go to Jimmy, who's our keyboard player, say, "Go to Lord, you're good." He's like, "Cool." I grab the mic, "Y'all ready to have a good time today? Lord, you are good." And he runs out there and looks. Mother Lucy, may God rest her soul, start screaming. She grabs my dad and says, "This is why God told him to come home." That's the first time I heard God. Second time I heard God, I clear as day, I heard the Lord through the voice of my pastor. My church is exploding. Everybody in the world calling. I'm this 26-y old preacher. They're like, "We want you on the word network. Come preach here." He says, "Mike, God told me to tell you for the next 10 years, love God, love your family, love your city, and the world will come looking for you." He said, "Don't go nowhere. Don't do nothing. Don't try nothing." That hit hard cuz now I'm watching all my friends on TV. I'm like, "No." And I actually got a good church, but I was obedient. Two thou That was 2009. In his basement. In his basement. I never forget it. In his basement. Woke me up 4 in the morning praying. He's like, "Yep. for the next 10 years don't do nothing. I'm like what? 2019 we in church and I randomly say it's going to be big. It goes viral. That's 10 years from 2009 to 2019. The rest is history. Third time I felt like I heard the audible voice of the Lord was right after the Stellas. He said, "Give your babies everything. Everything. Everything." And what I didn't realize was God was redefining my position. See, see this is deep. And I need you to catch this. Being a pastor is more than the word. Say that better, Michael. Being a pastor is more than the sermon I preach. [Music] It's also the sermon I live. position is when your faith, focus, and function line up. You got what I mean? It's my faith, focus, and function. It's when my faith is lined up, my focus is lined up. Don't let function scare you. Sometimes as preachers, we just need alliteration, like f like stuff like that. So outside of function, you can put my actions. my actions line up. You know, that's what I want. And it ain't been roses. Me and Xander almost got to fighting twice. He 18 now. It almost got ugly. I'm talking about I said something to him and he hit me with that's the first time he ever hit him, man. Bro, he he hit me with a brush. Man, bro, whatever. And it's like I'm sitting there and lady looked at me and I looked at lady like you going to punk me

In front of my wife. [Laughter] All the fellas know what I'm talking about. I stood up. Hey. Hey. What you said? He just kept walking. Boy, my big old self. I think he turned that corner and now I'm dog. And he just kind of he had this smirk like I ain't going to even do it to you. Like I believe though, you know what I'm talking about? Like like if I wanted to do it to you, bro, I could do it to you right now. And ladies, son, get to your room, son. Son, I'm taking car keys. I'm taking everything. I took the car keys and I realized they practice at 600. I ain't getting up at 600. Hey, man. Here go your keys, man. Go and drive.

It wasn't that we bumping head cuz he becoming a man. And she like, "No, you going to have to check him." I like, "No, no, no, no." I kind of like that he stood up for himself a little bit. I said, "It's all right. He gonna be in the real world in six months." >> I says I said, "So, no. If if I kill it, he'll think it's okay for people to walk over him. Even I said, I'm his daddy. I I get it. I was 18. I said, "Listen, I'm sorry, dog." I said, "It's cool. It's cool." I said, "You're just standing on what you believe." I said, "But you got to watch yourself." I said, "Son." I said, "Cuz I don't want to have to do it to you." I really think he can take me. But I just had to reinforce in his mind. I start saying stuff like, "You don't know what I used to be before I was a pastor?" Nothing. Nothing at all. Nothing. You know, but I I had to be here.

He dating, you know. He got a girlfriend. His girlfriend in college. You know what I'm saying? So Zander got Xander, he I said, "Hey, do your thing." You know, but I'm proud. I'm so proud of like it's But it was needed. See, cuz I never want to preach you like, "Oh, if I do this, everything going to be perfect." No, it's not like that. Mason getting more acclaimed than he ever got in his life. No. Stay. Keep God first. Come here. Come here. God. No. No. No. No. Come on. Let's go to these visit. I'm at every campus with him. Michael, they never even thought he would be functional. My son was autistic. For people who has been at my church a while, Mike used to come to church, have to cover his ears. He would just sit in the corner. They didn't think he would like just function. And now, oh, it's so great. Like I'm getting to stand there and see him open mail to say scholarship off of the Jacksonville State and so and so to Alabama and I'm like boy. So now it's just like hey show me show me what your wallet look like. Hold your wallet out. Okay. Keep that in your pocket. All right. Let's practice real quick. Okay. You having a good time? Yeah. Put your cup down. Boom. No. You can't just sit your cup down like like somebody put See those real conversations. >> Hey daddy's loved you. Your church has loved you. You can't be gullible. You can't like people take advantage of us. So always keep keep this up. I'm just trying to be in position. >> Do you get what I'm saying? I want my faith, my focus, and my function to line up. >> What do I want more than anything for you? And I'm going to stop right here. I got two minutes. I want you in position. Hear me when I say this, bro. God going to get you some money. >> Hear me. I prayed this over y'all two days ago. I said, "God, please get them some money so they can see that there's so much more to heaven. >> I know we need it, man. Come, but let me free you. Life's so much bigger than money. >> I have never had the money I needed ever, Carl. You know, you counted it." Exactly. We ain't never had no money, but we've been in position. And that's what I speak over your life >> that you will know my only gripe with my church is and here you pastor you don't really know how blessed you are >> pastor Mike but I got all these problems but listen to me you blessed >> pastor Mike I'm an entrepreneur my business ain't going well you got clients yeah you blessed >> it may not be thriving like you want >> watch this but you are now crying about what you used to pray for. >> Who heard what I just said. So, in my last 60 seconds, what do I want you to leave here with today? God, keep me in position. We're going to talk about what it means to be blessed next week. I'm preaching next. I'm here. So, I'm we're going to kill it. I promise when I get to the part where he said, "Leave your family and leave what's familiar." He says, "And I will make you a blessing." Next week I'm preaching built to be a blessing. >> Cuz that word make is like construction. >> Cuz watch this. Cuz the blessing ain't random. It's structural. [Music] >> Y'all don't get blessings ain't random. They're built. >> And so, but before you get to that, you got to be in position. That's what I want for your life. Father, in the name of Jesus, I pray we don't get out of position. God, if they're anything like me, I try to be everybody's hero. And sometimes, God, I end up out of position, not because I'm in sin, but because I'm trying to be a savior. I'm up all night with people and not praying and and trying my best to do what I got to do. So God, in this season, give us clarity on where to go and where not to go, what to do and what not to do, who to be, what to in what seasons. But God, more than anything, I repent publicly, not just on my behalf, but on their behalf. For the seasons of our life where we complained when we should have been telling you thank you for the seasons that were hard, but they were also still a blessing. I pray right now, God, that you continue to keep your hand on our life so we can see the goodness of God. All of you and none of us. And in the end, we will tell the world, "Yes, we are blessed." It's in Jesus name. Can you jump on your feet and give God a hand right