Saying a Word from God by Pastor Ed Young
One of the most difficult things I do, in fact the most difficult thing I do in my job, is public speaking. If you read a stress level survey, number one is experiencing the death of a loved one; number two is speaking in public. That’s what I do. And I wish I could tell you I never get nervous. I wish I could tell you that I just walk up here and just start talking. I have to bust my rear to come up here each and every weekend. I can’t put the appointment off before 17,000 – 21,000 people—depending upon the Cowboy schedule. I can’t say, “I don’t feel like going to church, Lisa.” I can’t call in sick. I’ve got to be here with my A game. I’m saying a word from God. That brings me a lot of stress and anxiety. Man, when Wednesday rolls around I feel this pressure on my shoulders. I’m saying, “Whoa, I’ve got to say a word from God. It’s got to be biblical. Hopefully, it will be compelling and applicable to a seminary professor or someone who’s clueless about Christianity. That’s a pretty stressful thing.
So within this stress, what do I do? I’ve got friends and many times I’ll call my close friends just to laugh. Many times I’ll call them at 6:30 – 7:00 a.m. if I’m facing a really hairy day—just to laugh.
I was thinking about my life. It funny, because people say, “Hey man, have a good weekend.” I haven’t had a good weekend in a long, long time. I have good weeks, but not good weekends. My father and I talk about that a lot. But usually on Saturdays, there’s a friend that I call who lives in another state. And the main thing we do on Saturday morning when we talk is, you guessed it, laugh.
We should Look for Worship by Pastor Ed Young
And then I’m saying, “Okay, now all I’ve got to do is just read the Lord’s Prayer. I mean, how easy is that? I can read!” I had it down in my Bible. It was right there.
I said, “Our Father…” And I paused and the entire church said, “Our Father…”
I said, “Who art in heaven…”
Everybody said, “Who art in heaven…”
And then, friends, I don’t know what happened. I couldn’t read any more. I couldn’t talk anymore. I totally choked. I forgot everything. The crowd started laughing and murmuring. Then I said quickly, “For thine is the kingdom forever. Amen.”
And I closed my Bible and people began to die laughing, “You’ll never be a pastor!”
So I walk down the steps from this platform feeling about that big, saw an opening on this front pew, sat down, and people were still laughing. And I happened to sit down by my mom of all people. And she turned to me and she said, “Ed, your voice sounded real good.” Only a mother would say something like that. My voice sounded real good.
I told you that story because it makes me feel good, now, to tell it. And hopefully, it makes you feel good to hear it. Why do I laugh? Because it makes me feel good. I’ve got to laugh.
It Tells Me Who My Friends Are
Here’s the second reason why I laugh. It tells me who my friends are. Who are your friends? Do you laugh a lot with your friends? We should all laugh a lot with people we connect with. We should look for lordship, number one. Is Jesus Lord? Is he number one? Does he have the car keys of their life? That’s the most important question. And behind that comes sense of humor. The laughter thing.
God has a Wonderful Will for all of our Lives by Pastor Ed Young
Beep, beep, beep, beep, wake up! It’s 5:14 a.m. Wake up! It’s time that we make a personal relationship with Jesus a priority. It’s time that we make prayer, moms, a priority. It’s time that we get our praise on. It’s time that we see God’s purpose and his opportunity and jump on the train, because the train ain’t always going to be available. So it’s time to do the stuff. The time is short. We have a whole generation, this next generation, that needs the Lord. And it’s happening at younger and younger ages.
Notice Samuel, was around four or five and he is ministering before the Lord. And then check this out, don’t miss this verse. This verse is awesome. 1 Samuel 2:11, I love this and it’s so easy to skip right over. I have skipped over it for many, many years until several days ago. It says, “The boy ministered,” isn’t that crazy? He’s a little kid. “The boy ministered before the Lord under Eli the priest.” He was under authority, under structure. He learned this from whom? His momma who took it to a ‘hole mutha level. He learned authority.
One of the things that our culture struggles with so much these days is honor and authority. Have you noticed that? We have authority issues. God loves us so much. Again, God has a wonderful will for all of our lives, amazing stuff for all of us. And I really believe if God right now could just show you his will for every person’s life we would fall flat on our face in disbelief. That’s how amazing God’s will is for our lives.
And one of the things that God always uses when we’re walking in his will is this little concept known as authority.
Spiritual Compatibility by Pastor Ed Young
Now we’re going to get practical; very, very practical.
Singles and students alike-, only date like-minded believers. That’s what the Bible says. Again, all this stuff is in my book, Rating Your Dating. I don’t have time to go there, but let me give you the brief Cliff’s Notes.
God insists on spiritual compatibility, only hanging out with people who have a like-mindedness, who have the same vision and values about sexual intercourse as you, and ultimately God, do. We’re to date those people. Now, if you make that decision, you’re not going to have as many dates. I’m just going to tell you like it is. You’re not going to have as many dates. But the dates you have will be great. They’ll be great, because they can become your mate in marriage.
I’ll tell you something else, students. Don’t even think about dating someone who drinks. In fact, don’t even go to a party where alcohol is served. It’s really stupid to do that. You don’t want to do that. You don’t want to do that. I would say the same thing to singles, too, but it’s your choice. You can drink alcohol. What’s going to happen? You know what’s going to happen. Come on.
What else would I say? I’ll tell you what I would say. Premarital sex will confuse you. I said that earlier, remember that? It’s just going to confuse you. If you do it God’s way and date like-minded believers, and you don’t mess around with people who are messing around, and you involve yourself in church, you can hit the big sex. But if you don’t, you’re going to abuse what God wants to do in your life. Also, you’re going to be confused.
If you know me, you know I have a terrible sense of direction. I cannot find my way anywhere. I hate to tell you this, but the other day I got lost going to the airport. I bet that’s hard for you to believe, but, really, I’m spatially challenged. I have a problem. My name’s Ed, I have a problem. I’m spatially challenged. I admit that.
Let God be our Lawyer by Pastor Ed Young
God’s gonna take care of the person who stole your parking spot right in front of your favorite store. God’s gonna take care of the person who stole your client base or the person who wrote you the Dear John email. God’s gonna settle the accounts and God always settles the accounts better than we could ever, ever, ever, ever could. So we’ve gotta let God be our lawyer. God will take care of the business. He’ll do it.
I talked about Joseph several weeks ago. Joseph! Unbelievable guy. The apple of his father’s eye. Suddenly his brother’s became all jealous and envious because his father showed favoritism. They threw Joseph in a pit; sold him into Egyptian slavery; told his father wild animals had killed him. Joseph a man forgotten but a man remembered by God himself. Joseph went down to Egypt; worked as a slave and threw a miraculous turn of events; went to prison and from prison was promoted to the second highest position in the land of Egypt.
A famine struck, Joseph brother’s who had sold him into Egyptian slavery who had forgotten about him. Had to go all the way to Egypt and come before Joseph to see if he could get them the food. When they saw Joseph, they didn’t recognize him. He had immersed himself into Egyptian culture; he had a different look; he was much older. The Bible said though, Joseph knew his brothers.
You talking about the tortilla of death, whoa, man! Joseph could have done anything to his brother’s. I mean these brother’s who threw him in the pit; these brother’s who lied about him; these brother’s who totally messed him around, I mean he could just smell the warm tortilla in that organic (ummmhummmn Ed gestures) peanut butter. You know it! What did he do? Did he gnaw on it? No he didn’t.
A Path through the Woods by Pastor Ed Young
I grew up in Columbia, South Carolina and my family and I lived on the outskirts of this city and we lived in an area that was an absolute blast to grow up in. Out in the middle of the woods, on a dirt road, across the street from the dirt road, from our house, was a 25-acre lake. My brothers and I explored the woods, played in the lake; we had a wonderful time growing up. One Friday evening, I will never forget this, my father looked across the dinner table at my brother and me and said, “Ed, Ben, it’s a full moon tonight. How would you like to do a little fishing?”
We looked at each other. We said, “You’re talking about night fishing right now, dad?” He said, “Right now”. We said, “That would be great!” So we run and get our cane poles, our flashlights, and we head down to the lake. We find a path through the woods and we are on the bank, the crickets are chirping, the frogs are croaking. We’re doing some serious night angling with our cane poles.
That beautiful Carolina moon reflecting off the water. Out of nowhere, I said, “Ben, look at that huge stick in the water. I didn’t know there was a big stick there!” And my father said, “Ed, Ben, that’s not a stick. That’s a giant water moccasin”. Sure enough, a six foot water moccasin about as big around as my forearm, was cruising, and my father said confidently, “Guys, that snake there is poisonous. I’m glad he’s in the water and we’re on the bank. Aren’t you?” We said, “Yes, we are, dad”. Me and my little brother, six years old, Ben goes, “There’s another snake”, and I look and sure enough. Then I said, “Dad, another snake and another snake”.
A Church that Preaches the Gospel by Pastor Ed Young
And if I make a faith decision, the righteousness of Christ is transferred into my life. And because of his power, not mine; because of His grace, not mine; because of His octane, not mine, I can live the life. It’s from the inside out.
The Gospel is from the exterior and we move it to the interior by a faith choice. But to sit here and say, “Well, let’s just think positive thoughts and let’s just follow what we like. Let’s just talk about how God wants us to be happy.” That is not the full counsel of God. We’re to be a church that preaches the Gospel.
The greatest compliment you can give me is this – Ed, teaches the Gospel. There are a lot of people who can teach the Gospel better than I can. But they can’t teach a better Gospel, if you hear me screaming.
Second Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is God breathed…” The word in Greek is “theopneustos.” I love this, because God never has bad breath. What does God breathed mean? It means in the original autograph the Bible is inerrant, unable to err.
[Ed continues the verse] “All Scripture is God breathed and useful for teaching…” That’s what we’re doing right now. “…rebuking…” Uh-oh. Rebuking? Well, that means the Bible tells me what’s wrong with me. “…correcting…” Well, I like that. That tells me how to get right. “…and training In righteousness.” That tells me how to stay right in righteousness.
Proverbs 6:23. “For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is the light, and the corrections of discipline are a way to life.”
Are you under the authority of God? Have you gotten under the stuff that God’s over so he can put you over the stuff He’s under? Have you made that decision?
Stepping Back and Letting God Act by Pastor Ed Young
I looked and saw a gaping hole in the bottom of my brand new, K Mart, 12-foot aluminum john boat. I had ruined it. I had to buy some stuff to fill in the hole and it never worked. We had to sell the boat. It was horrible. What happened? I went before my father. I went before him. I didn’t listen to him. I waited for awhile and then I couldn’t stand it any more and I put it in my own hands, took care of it my own way, and it resulted in a gaping hole in my craft.
We all do the same thing when we go before God, instead of stepping back and letting God act.
Briefly just thumb through the photo albums of your mind. Look at those snapshots of people that you want to seek revenge on, those people you want to pay back. Do you have a good picture? Who is it? Who is it? Because God is going to deliver that person to you, He is going to give you a chance either to pay back or pull back.
It is going to be a test, and if we pass the test, if we pull back, if we pray, if we love our enemy, it will build great character into our lives. If we don’t, we will end up dragging a trap around for the rest of our lives. Pay back or pull back. Revenge or reconciliation. The choice is up to you.
The Old Long Driveway by Pastor Ed Young
I decided that I was going to paint my boat up like I was a professional fisherman. That way I knew my fishing would be improved, that I would catch bigger bass. So I told my father and he though the idea was great, he encouraged me and told me it was a creative thing to do. He promised that he would come home from work and help me carry the boat from the lake up to the house.
He said he would arrive about 6 PM. I promised that I would wait. I had the paint out, the brushes ready to do. I started waiting for him early. When he didn’t arrive and didn’t arrive I decided to get the boat myself. I go down to the lake and pick the boat up by the handle on the front and drag it through the woods and across the street.
Now when I am dragging this boat across the street I look back and I see sparks flying up. I think, no big deal. I drag it up our driveway, and we had a big, old, long driveway. Finally, my little arms are about to die, I take the boat and put it in the grass. I had the stencil and was painting and look up to see my Dad driving in. “Hi, Dad, how are you doing?” “Great.
How did you get the boat up here by yourself?” “Dad, I pulled it.” He began to look at the artwork that I was creating, then walked to the back of the boat. He looked down and said, “Son, what is this hole doing back here in the boat? Come back here and look.”
The Table is Always At a Constant State of Expansion by Pastor Ed Young
“Well,” she said, “I thought that was you. I sit up in the balcony. Fellowship Church has changed my life and my family’s life.” She goes, “I have a whole row that comes to Fellowship Church every single weekend!” She goes, “Hey, my husband hates church. I could never get him to church. Now, he is the first one in the pick up truck, literally revving up the engine on Sunday morning to get to Fellowship Church.”
Isn’t that cool? And then she told me that her sister had cancer and we put her sister on the prayer list. It was just a great thing to hear about the life change that’s taking place. It’s just a great thing to see the chairs and how people are serving and being served, how people are eating and also sharing the food with others.
The Table Is Always At A Constant State Of Expansion
There’s one more statement that I want to talk to you about. If the church is doing all this stuff, the church, the table, should be in a constant state of expansion. We have expanded. I mean, from McArthur Commons office complex to the Irving Arts Center. From the Irving Arts Center to McArthur High School. From McArthur High School to this facility. We have bought the Apex and turned that into an office/youth area. We’ve built our Creative Communications Complex. We have built a beautiful lake and prayer garden and walking and running track.
We’ve added parking lots. It’s been cool. We’ve put a leaf in the table. You know what I saying to you? We’ve added all these services and stuff like that. Now, though, now we are leveraging technology to reach out in an even more strategic way—out into the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
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