A Region for Revival Part 2 | Pastor Ethan Boggs | Vibrant Church

0:15 before I get into the message, I want to tell you a couple of things. Number one, [music] why we exist. I want to remind you, I did a series on this, why we exist. Number one, [music] why Vibrant Church exists. To help people number one, believe in Jesus Christ. Number two, belong within the church. Number three, become more like Jesus. [music] Come on, somebody. And number four, build the kingdom. That's why we exist. You'll see that language on websites. You'll see it on different parts of our church because we're trying to get that in your spirit. That's why we exist. [music] It's why we do what we do. I want to give a huge shout out. I want to say thank you to the Convoy of Hope who came down to Mississippi and went to Corinth Luca Oxford Mayor'sville [music] gave out 10,000 sandwiches and helping take care. [music] And we were part of

1:00 that, we gave an additional $20,000 to them uh last week to help them on the Southeast [music] uh chapter of trying to reach and help people. And not only that, we had our first Saturday serve yesterday where over 15 people [music] went to the Delta and and went to 10 different spots, right, Pastor Eric? different spots and just helped in these places that were impacted by the ice storm. You know, here in Columbus, you can almost think it never happened. You know, we we were blessed to [music] not experience that. But there are still people, as you can see, our team went out and helped and picked [music] up branches. And I just want to say thank you to all of them that went out and helped us. And I [music] also want to know I want you to know this. I got some time yesterday. I took my kids out to what we do here [music] called Love the Block where we go in few a few places here in

1:47 the area and we just love on kids in the region and those little [music] community centers that Columbus has. And I just want to tell you how incredibly thankful I [music] was to see these kids being just loved on by our church people. They're eating. They're playing games. They're memorizing verses. And my wife or my [music] children and I, my wife was somewhere. I don't She was at one of them and I went to the other with the kids. I'm just going to tell you something. I want to say thank you. Thank you. Thank you for being a blessing [music] to the community without your love and and honor for people. Come on. I believe we're making a difference. I just want to say thank you for your support. We did that this weekend. So, [music] thank you. We do that every first Saturday. And I would encourage you if you've never been a part of it to check it out. See what that's all about. All right. You guys ready for the word? Now, I was going to

2:32 preach this on first Wednesday and I didn't end up preaching it. I'm going to share some thoughts with you this morning on a region for revival part two. Is everybody good? A region for revival part two. I cracked open this word during our revival services where I talked through Mark chapter number five and we spoke about how Jesus showed up in a region but the region didn't want Jesus and Jesus will not stay where he is not wanted. How many of you know that to be true? And so what we're going to talk about today is some additional thoughts that I couldn't get to that night because you guys wanted to shout and dance and jump around and I couldn't get Just kidding. Uh some preacher was running around and slipped his disc when

3:18 he did it. I don't know. But I want you to know that I believe there's more to this concept and I want to talk about it. How many of you know that? How many of you believe in your heart that God wants to touch our region? Come on. And so I want to dig in this uh these passages for a few moments and I won't keep you long today. Acts chapter number 8. If you have your Bibles, Acts chapter number 8. I'm going to read just a few verses to you. Acts chapter number 8 verse 4. Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. Philillip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being

4:03 said by Philillip. When they heard him and saw the signs that he did, for unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice came out of many who had them. And many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was much joy in that city. Isn't that good? There was joy in that region. Look at verse n. But there was a man named Simon who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria saying that he himself was somebody great. They all paid attention to him from the least to the greatest saying this man is the power of God that is called great. And they paid attention to him for a long time. He had

4:51 amazed them with his magic. Verse 12, final verse. But when they believed Philillip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized both men and women. Somebody say amen. >> I want you to catch a pattern in these passages. In fact, I would encourage you that when you read the Bible, look for patterns. And when I was reading these passages in my study time, I came across a a phrase that kept coming out. Maybe you caught it. Look at this in verse six. It says, "The crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philillip." Look at verse number 10.

5:37 They all paid attention to him. Look at verse 11. Speaking now of Simon the sorcerer, they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed him them with his magic. You know, growing up I always heard people say things like, "Ethan, you need to pay. He doesn't. He's trying to get attention. We can't keep his attention." Did you know the average adult attention span is between 8 to 10 seconds? Did you know that 8 to 10 seconds what

6:24 we're doing in those 8 to 10 seconds is diverse is is trying to see if this interests us. And we can hang a little longer if it is interesting. On average, a lecture is going to last about 10 to 18 minutes. So, I'm already halfway done with most of you. If it's an engaging task, if something that we enjoy, whether we're working on a car or up something on a computer or something, engaging task can last 30 to 40 minutes with our attention. We are now living in what they call the attention economy. And it is this idea that in a world overflowing with information, human attention becomes the most

7:09 valuable and scarce resource. The truth is what marketers have found is that money follows attention. Influence follows attention. Power flows to whoever can capture and hold attention. Many advertising industry sources estimate that the average American is exposed to somewhere between 4,000 and 10,000 advertisements every single day. >> 10,000. You know what it was in the year 1970? 500. In 1970, you would see 500 advertisements a day.

7:57 Today 10,000 because they know that if they're going to get your money, they got to get your attention. >> Are you with me? >> Today, the Super Bowl plays and I don't know who watches the Super Bowl in the South, but the Seahawks and the Patriots. Yeah. >> Okay. Who cares? >> For a 30 second For a 30 second ad today during the Super Bowl, it will cost8 to10 million. 8 to10 million for 30 seconds of

8:44 attempting to get your attention. This passage that we just read lets us know that the spiritual condition of the people in Samaria was linked to where they had their attention. Because the truth is your attention doesn't just occupy your mind. It ultimately directs your life. Attention becomes affection. And affection will eventually determine your behavior. That's why the Bible says looking unto Jesus who is the author and the finisher of our faith because God knew what our advertisement companies have just found out that if you have your attention right, it would change your life.

9:32 >> He said things like, "Set your mind on things above." What what is he saying ultimately trying to encourage the people of God that if you're going to follow Christ, you got to get your attention right. Wherever you set your gaze will shape your heart. And as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. And just how God knows the power of attention, watch me today. So does the devil. If the devil can keep you locked in on your fear, your fear will turn into crippling anxiety where you live in a place of of anxiety and worry and fear is your counselor. If you focus so much on your anger and who wronged you, it will turn into

10:19 bitterness and unforgiveness. Because the longer you look at it, the more you give attention to it, it will shape your insides and your heart becomes the direction of your life. And if your heart becomes bitter, your words become bitter, >> your attitude becomes bitter, your behavior becomes bitter. But the truth of the matter is, not just does negative attention affect your life, but so does positive. If you focus on faith, guess what? You're going to be more encouraged. If you focus on joy, you're going to be more happy. If you focus on the love of God, you're going to be more confident. But if all you do is focus on your failures and your past and your sins before the blood, even your struggles after the blood, you're going to have some struggle with condemnation.

11:05 >> But if you can look unto Jesus, am I helping anybody today? I'm trying to get some people out of the spirit of Samaria. If you can change the way you look at it, see it, could it be that God's trying to get your attention today? >> Have you ever seen a bug zapper light thing? I don't know what those are called. What are those called? >> Bug zapper. Oh, simple. Okay. A bug zapper is this blue light that's hanging up on Granny's porch. And at night, the bugs see that light and they go to that light. It gets their attention. In fact, I read one research

11:51 that said they believed it's soothing to the bugs. It's comfortable to go toward that thing. And then we all know what happens when they get near it. Trying to sit there talk to Granny with a cup of coffee. What's happening? fatal attraction. They had their attention on something that could ultimately destroy them. That's what's happening in the city of Samaria. This Bible lets us know that what's happening is that the city is under a deep spiritual sickness and they're bound. They're tied up and they're oppressed because of a man named Simon who is a demonic sorcerer, a man who's played with witchcraft.

12:38 He's has their attention. And the Bible says he has their attention for a long time. Listen to me. The devil can defeat you if he can first distract you. If we're talking about a revival in a region, you're not going to change the region if everybody's focused on who's fighting on Facebook. Y'all getting quiet this morning. This should have saved my Trump statement for the end. Is this helping everybody? >> What we find in the text is that they are spiritually bound because the enemy has their attention.

13:24 What happens in a region is that if they continue to insist on looking at things that are the blue light, that bug zapper spiritually, we can move toward it and it could make sense and it could feel good. But how many of you know the scripture says as a uh there's a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof is destruction. We can it can look good. There's some ideas that feel good. There's some thought processes that seem right, but the Bible lets us know it may seem right to you, but it could still be wrong ultimately. I shared this definition with you at revival. This is the big idea. The enemy can gain influence over a region when the people of a particular area adopt

14:09 ideas, values, morals, practices, and social norms that are rooted in demonic lies and are integrated and eventually institutionalized in the culture. What does that mean? They've looked at something for so long that they've now adopted the ideas that can be rooted in darkness and ultimately are pulling them toward that bug zapper and it can control the region. And I can't now you've already know what I've talked about spirit of religion and racism and things like that that we could be facing in our particular area. But I believe spirit of hate and looks like a lot of different things. It's not

14:55 just white and black everybody. But there is a, if we're not careful, a comfort level with some things that violate God's word. And it ain't just in our part of the country. You go to different parts of the world and countries and and nations and states. There's just different things over different areas that people have adopted. So I want you to get this idea out of your head when you start talking about uh Simon the sorcerer and demonic powers. I believe in demonic powers, but I believe their main work is deception. Not necessarily if we have a big large demon floating over the city of Columbus. Now, we could. I don't I've never seen it. But I believe the lies of the enemy can penetrate a community >> in a region that could be generationally

15:42 deep in some ideologies that are not in God's word. >> Are you here? And so this is where they're at. They're wrapped up spiritually sick. And what does God do to help the city of Samaria? Verse I can't remember what verse it was. I think it was one of the first verses I read. The Bible says Philillip goes down to the city of Samaria. Now I won't go into all of this, but generally speaking of that time, the Jews didn't really affiliate with the Samaritans. They viewed them as half breeds who corrupted the worship of God. And it was a deep-seated hatred among those people. In fact, James and John, two other preachers, uh other disciples said uh

16:28 one time that they thought the Samaritans were only good for being burned by God's judgment. So, these are his fellow preachers, you see, saying things like that. Jesus's experience with the Samaritan woman at the well and his story with kindness about the Samaritan in Luke chapter 10 illustrates the natural tension in that time in that culture. Yet, Philillip preached Christ to them. The Bible says he comes down and preaches Christ to them. Let me say this, you're never going to have regional revival if you don't like people. >> He came down and didn't matter what their race was. Didn't matter what people said about them. Didn't matter about cultural tension. Didn't matter about any of that. He just came down and preached Christ to them.

17:14 Just preach Jesus. He sent a preacher. I'm not going to sit here forever, but I'm so glad. I'm so thankful for the preachers in our nation. >> Not everybody gets it right. But what I find in scripture is that when God wants to disturb a community, he sends a preacher. >> Go look it up. He wants to send somebody, he sends an Isaiah. He sends a Jeremiah. He sends this preacher. He sends that. What's he trying to do? Disturb the community to not keep working a certain way. >> That's why it's dangerous as preachers to try to get the popular vote. >> Because I can't pastor you effectively if all you want me to do is say things that you agree with. >> I got to preach the word in season and

17:59 out of season. [applause] That's what I got to do. And so he comes down preaching. And if we're going to have a regional experience with God, this is the first thing we need to know. Number one, we need an emphasis on the word. Are you hearing me? >> I know you know this, but let me just tell you again. We need an emphasis on the word. Look at verse four. He went about preaching the word. Verse five, Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. Verse six, crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philillip. Watch this. Verse 9, the

18:46 Bible says that that Simon have been saying things too. Can I tell you I'm not the only preacher that's preaching. There's demonic spirits preaching. There's some lies out there preaching. And it's a battle, hear me today, for attention. Who's going to listen to who? And what began to shift in the region spiritually. What began to happen was when they stopped hearing what Simon was saying and started hearing what God was saying. When they stopped listening to the lies of the enemy and let the word rewire them on the inside, it began to open up an opportunity for God to move in a supernatural

19:32 way. Hear me today. You need the word of God to rewire your mind. Because what we've picked up in school, what we picked up from mama, what we picked up from daddy, what we picked up in our region, what we've picked up over time may not align with what the word of God teaches. we picked up at the university may not align. What we've heard on social media may not align. And if you're trying to have an encounter with God in your life based on how you think things work, the Bible says his ways ain't your ways. His thoughts ain't my thoughts. He wants us to reprogram our thinking. Is this is this too heavy today? >> Notice he didn't come singing. He didn't come pleading. He came preaching.

20:19 >> One of my favorite passages in the Bible is out of the book of Jeremiah when God speaks to him and says, "I'm going to make you a voice. I'm going have you speak to these cities. I'm going to have you speak to this region. I'm going to have you begin to be my mouthpiece." And this is what he tells him in chapter 1 verse 10. Look at this. I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms to do what? To root out and to pull down and to destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant. He said, when you preach, when the word goes forth, let that word do a rooting up, tearing out old ideas. Begin to break down imaginations that have encap that

21:06 have that have trapped the people. be a man that will stand up there and don't be afraid to tear it down, to build it up, to plant new ideas, to preach the word of God in season, out of season. [applause] Cuz here's the thing, we're picking churches almost like we pick politicians. And we're looking at, well, does this preacher preach this or does the preacher lean this way? Is he affirming? Is he got this idea? Does he lean towards social justice? I think, how about this? Why don't I preach this? >> [applause] >> Are you here today? >> How about I preach what the Bible says and let the consequences lay with him. >> He says you better go in there. Don't be afraid to pull it down. Don't be afraid

21:52 to knock it down. Don't be afraid to throw it down. And then you need to build up and you need to plant and teach people the kingdom of God. >> [applause] >> I'll help myself this morning because here's the idea. When you came to Christ, you are now a new citizen. >> Bible says we're citizens of heaven. >> This is important. Hear me today. When you when I went to Canada one time, they have a whole different financial situation. They call their money different things. Their money even feels different. It's like plastic. They got a different situ. They don't run like we run. They have a different uh like a different political system. And I remember when I went there, I had to ask a lot of questions because I didn't understand what was going on in this city or in this country. And someone had

22:39 to teach me where I'm at right now and how things work here. Here's the thing. We all give our lives to Christ. We come into the kingdom of God and we're still running as if we're in our old country. >> And God has brought us into a new country. He's translated us from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of his dear son. The Bible says, "I'm now a citizen of heaven." And so now I have a new constitution. >> And what the Bible's trying to teach me is to think through who I am now that I'm in Christ. And let me tell you something, it's going to take a lifetime to figure that out. But as you're searching out God, I want you to know the word of God will will disturb you, will challenge you, will

23:24 begin to change you. But here's the big thing. If you let it get your attention, it could change a region. If people can let the word of God get it their attention. Some of you, I believe today, you know what Simon's already saying. You need to know what God says. We have all these lies circling in our world. And my question is, what does God actually say about sexuality? This is a heavy sermon today. This is the last one. I'll be so nice next week. I promise to God I'll be so nice. But what does God say? What does God say about marriage? What does God say? What

24:12 does God say about life? What does God say? What does God say about people? What does God say about love? What does God say about truth? And if we're not careful, we're going to miss a move in the city and in the region if we insist on trying to bring God into our word and not us going into his word. [applause] Does this make sense everybody? One of the things we do here, and they mentioned it a moment ago, we do this thing called school of disciplehip where we really want you to grow in who Christ made you to be. You're going to see this QR code on the screen. And I want to challenge you as your pastor to make this decision to intentionally devote yourself to know who Christ is so that

24:58 you can grow in your relationship with him. And I think it's important, one of our things is that we don't just come to church, but the Bible says if anyone be in Christ, he needs to be like Jesus. Come on, somebody. Become more like Jesus. What the the wall says. Look, it's on the wall. everybody become more like Jesus. How do we become more like Jesus? You spend time with Jesus >> and you let his word do a work on the inside of you. So this is available and I want to encourage you men that maybe you've never made that step. Come on, you can do this. Jump into this thing. If you're here today and you went through one class and there's other classes that you can make yourself available to that I'm tell I don't know if we call them classes. I don't know what what do we call them Chad?

25:44 experiences, >> group experiences. Thank you, Chad. There's the new modern way to say it. Okay. So, but but I'm telling you, it's not like it's not like lessons and and it's it's different. How many of you have been through school discipleship? Do me a favor. Yeah. How many of you enjoy school of disciplehip? I want you to help other people jump and come be a part of this because I think it'll be an area of our church that we need to know what Jesus is doing and what he can do in our lives and so that we can see God do something in the region. Can I get a big amen? >> Let [snorts] me keep moving. Number two, not only do we need to have an emphasis on the word, number two, we need an encounter with the Holy Spirit. Look at this verse six. And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philillip. Notice the spiritual

26:30 condition is now shifting because they're not looking at Simon any longer. They're now looking at Philillip. And when they heard him and saw the signs that he did, for unclean spirits crying out with a loud voice came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. In other words, the Holy Spirit showed up and started touching the lives of people. Miracles began to happen. Demons began to flee. And when you see in this church, if you want to see men and women and teenagers in a region touched by God, you need to let the Holy Spirit touch their lives. I can't do what the Holy Spirit can do. You can't do what the Holy Spirit can do. But everybody in this church needs to understand. We're not building this church on my ability

27:17 or our performance. But when we come in this place, we know that where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. [applause] Let me show you this verse. Romans chapter 8 vers 11. Paul says this to the church in Rome and and this is brilliant. He says this and I want to explain it to you. And if the spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give to your mortal bodies, give life to your mortal bodies because of his spirit who lives in you. Kind of a complicated sentence, but here's the big idea. Paul wants everybody to know who raised Christ from the dead. >> And it was the Holy Spirit.

28:05 The Holy Spirit raised Christ up from the dead. Now, think about this for a moment. If there was anything the devil didn't want to happen was the resurrection of the son of God, if there's anything that the demons of hell surrounded that tomb in Jerusalem that day to keep out life that was stepping out, they sealed that stone. They had guards around that stone. They put a they put a rock in front of that uh tomb. And here's the big idea. We're not letting this secret out. If he raises from the dead, we're going to let him starve to death in there. But when the Holy Spirit stepped into a dark cave, >> y'all don't hear me today. When the Holy Spirit stepped into a dark cave, a body that had been dead for three days, a

28:52 heart began to beat, eyes begin to see, lungs begin to breathe, a brain began to think. Why? Because where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. If we want to have a revival in our region, we need to let the Holy Spirit do what the Holy Spirit does. [applause] Listen, it may SEEM DEAD RIGHT NOW, BUT IF the Holy Spirit EVER TOUCHED THAT MARRIAGE, IF THE HOLY SPIRIT EVER TOUCHED THAT TEENAGER, IF THE HOLY SPIRIT EVER touched that friend of yours, if the Holy Spirit ever touched a dead, dry church, I've come to tell you today, something's going to start coming back to life. Marriages can come back to life. TEENAGERS CAN PRAISE GOD. GOD CAN DO A MIRACLE IF WE LET THE HOLY SPIRIT

29:37 DO WHAT the Holy Spirit does. Can I get a big amen, somebody? It is not by might nor by power but by his spirit says the Lord. >> In other words, we can't do it. >> His spirit does it. >> I want you to think about this. I got to wrap it up. I want you to think about this. Peter and all the boys when Jesus was crucified. The Bible lets us know that they were all scared and worried and ran and hid. But the Bible lets us know that the Holy Spirit falls in Acts chapter 2. And these boys that were probably teenagers, early 20s were shaking in their boots until the Holy Spirit came.

30:22 >> When the Holy Spirit came, they were completely different people. Why? Because where the spirit of the Lord is, where the spirit of the Lord, in fact, if you study that, it doesn't just say where the spirit of the Lord is. It actually means where the spirit of the Lord is emphasized. Where the spirit is Lord, where the spirit is prioritized, there is freedom. >> And those boys who are running and scared, Bible lets us know that on the day of Pentecost, Peter who denied Christ, Peter who ran away afraid, Peter who is this and that, and you could judge him and all that, but on the day of Pentecost, something different got on the inside of that man of God and he stood up. The Bible says among the 11. And he said, "These are not drunk as ye suppose, but this is the power. This is that which was spoken by the prophet

31:09 Joel." He says, "Your sons and your daughters, they're going to prophesy. OLD MEN, THEY'RE going to see dreams, have dreams. Young men's GOING TO HAVE VISION." WHAT'S HAPPENING? IN OTHER WORDS, HE'S SAYING WHEN THE HOLY Ghost comes, IT'S GOING TO CHANGE EVERYTHING. If a region can ever be open to the moving of the spirit of God, who knows what can happen? I want to encourage you when you go home today, when you walk in your door, say, "Holy Spirit, you are welcome in this place." We always welcome Holy Spirit to church. We've let Netflix in our home. We've let Disney Plus in our home. I ain't getting on to you about it. We got all that. But how about we let the Holy Spirit in our home as well? Why don't we pray over our

31:54 sons, daughters, beds and just say, "Holy Spirit, GO AFTER THEM in the name of Jesus." I pray that if they ever try to run from you, that you remind them that goodness and mercy SHALL FOLLOW THEM ALL THE DAYS OF THEIR LIFE. YOU JUST LET THEM KNOW THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT'S going to be a part of this house. [applause] >> Are you here, everybody? >> Let's continue. Let me wrap this thing up. Look what happens in verse 10. And they all paid attention to him for from the least to the greatest. Now we're talking about Simon. Now this man is the power of God. It's called great. And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. But woo, that's a good word in this passage. But it's time to get

32:40 our butt back. Come on, somebody. Some of us have some of us have counted this part of the country down to 10 and 11 and we don't believe what God can do in verse 12. >> But when they believed Philillip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized both men and women. Look at me. I'm almost done. Here it is. They had been bound by the spirit of a sorcerer named Simon. And when their attention shifted from what God or from what the enemy was doing to what God was doing, it moved them so much that they believed and they were baptized.

33:25 The battle for attention had been lost and everything changed. I want you to hear me today. their attention, then their affection, and even their behavior. And they all got baptized because their attention shifted because they got their eyes off of the enemy's work >> and got their eyes on what God was doing. Let me read you this one verse. I'm almost done before I say it. I said it a moment ago. Me and my wife this morning, and the band can come, please. Me and my wife were talking this morning about this is that how damning social media is. >> Say amen, somebody. >> It's a bad It's junk food for the brain

34:11 and it keeps us playing with the chickens. >> Keeps us flinging mud at each other. And you fling mud at somebody long enough, guess what you're doing? Losing ground. You get down there and wallow with the pigs, honey, you're just like one of them. I say the people of God need to come higher, >> change their perspective from all this stuff that's going on. And because listen, we got you our news cycle. I mean, there's something to be mad about every 30, 40 minutes. Some injustice. Starbucks got a red cup. Somebody's There's always SOMETHING TO BE MAD ABOUT. AND GUESS WHAT? Those guys make money with us being mad. When are we going to learn that culture? Fox News, CNN, MSNBC,

35:00 Newsmax. Let me find somebody's in here. I got to find you. We get wrapped up in this stuff, guys. And I believe the kingdom of God, we had to set our affection somewhere else. Turn our eyes off of this world, looking unto Jesus. If we keep our attention on all this stuff that gets us angry and mad inside, can I tell you that's going to create a bitterness and anger, and it does bother me when I I just look around and I think, my God, everybody knows who we're voting for, but ain't nobody know we're saved, >> all wrapped up. >> Let me show you this verse. I'm talking about revival in the region. And I'm sorry. I I hope I was gentle today. Am I

35:46 about right? I'm trying to be a loving shepherd and God's helping me. I'm growing. I'm growing. Let me show you this verse. I think it's back here. 2 Coronicles. Wow, you guys are right beside. Turn. Look at that scripture right behind you, man of God. If my people who are called by my name, humble themselves, and pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and heal their land. Ain't nobody can heal our land but him. >> I don't care who you put in the White House can't heal it. But watch this. [applause] Let me show you each step real quick. Show me each step real quick, guys. Humble themselves. Watch this. Attention shifts from self to God. Next one. Pray.

36:33 Attention moves from control to dependence. Seek my face. Attention fixes on God's presence. Turn from wicked ways. Attention turns from sin to obedience. When attention changes, heaven responds. God heals. God hears, forgives, and heals. >> Hallelujah. If we're willing and gutsy enough to shift our attention, I would rather be identified by a by being a kingdom person than a party. I would rather be identified as a kingdom thinker than my collar. I would

37:21 rather build my life around what scriptures teach in the kingdom the best I can. than be known for anything else. So here's my prayer for you today. Are you willing to shift your attention? And final thought, let me give you this point number three. I don't know it. So you can put it up. Thank you. I wrote it, but I don't know it. Here we go. We can we can experience much joy. You know why? Because of verse eight. The Bible says there was much joy in the city. They had the same problems we have, same issues we have, same stuff we have. It's relative. History repeats itself. But

38:08 watch what happens because somebody was willing to have the guts to preach the truth in love. The people put an emphasis on what was being said, turned their attention, had an encounter with the spirit of God. They turned from their wicked ways. They believed and were baptized. All because somebody was willing to turn their attention off the Simon spirit onto thus sayaeth the Lord. And I believe that God can do that in this region. LA. Listen to me today church. I believe God can bring great joy to your family, great joy to your marriage. Some of you can be thinking today, I'm only talking GTR. I'm talking

38:53 you too. If you open yourself up to the word of God, open yourself to the spirit of God. Can I tell you today, it is hard to tell what God can do in your life. I'm tell just you just don't know. [music] How many of you today, and we're going to stand in a moment now, let's pray. Some of you are like, "Come on, preacher. Let's stand. Let's go." But how many of you today honestly just being honest say, "Pastor Ethan, today I'm going to walk out of this building and I'm going to work on my attention." My hands up first. Going to work on my attention this week. I'm going to get wrapped up with the post and the comments. And maybe some of you, it is just time to delete that stuff. It's just [music] time. The devil

39:38 ain't stupid, guys. He is not stupid. He knows how to get us wound up. But if we want to experience a move of God's supernatural in our region, I believe it's time for the people of God to show the devil turning my eyes. [music] Bible says, turn my eyes from beholding worthless things. That old song, turn my eyes upon Jesus, look full at his wonderful face, and the things of this world grow strangely dim >> in the light of his glory and [applause] with eyes closed all over the room. If

40:24 you're here today and it's time for you to turn your eyes to Jesus and you know in your heart you're not where you need to be with God and you feel far from him today. I believe God drew you to this moment. And if this is you right now, I want us to all pray this prayer together. You know today Pastor Ethan is talking to you and you know that the spirit of the Lord is touching your heart. And so Father, touch those individuals today. Help them today to call on your name. If you're here today and we want to all pray that prayer together, I want you just in a spirit of faith, let's repeat this prayer. In fact, let's all pray it together. Say, "Dear Jesus, forgive me of my sin. I need you. I'm lost without you. I can't live without you. Strengthen me.

41:11 Help me. I want my eyes on you for the rest of my life in Jesus name." Come on, if you believe it today, put your hands together. Give God a praise.