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Experience the life-changing messages from the Church of God’s annual Winterfest youth gathering. These are the sermons, moments, and voices that have shaped generations of young believers — now available anytime, anywhere.
All right, are you ready for the Word?
I said, are you ready for the Word?
All right, if you have your Bibles, get those out.
If not, it'll be on the screen,
or you can get your smartphones out,
open the Bible app.
I want to get straight into the Word tonight.
I'm believing again that God is going to do
something supernatural in this place.
I want to preach the Word that I know He's given me,
and then I want to get out of the way,
and I want to let God move in the altars tonight.
And I truly believe that God's going to fill students with the Holy Spirit tonight.
So leaders, I'm asking you, over the next few moments, let's join our hearts together.
Let's pray.
And let's believe that what's going to take place in the altars tonight is going to change your youth group forever.
Can somebody say amen?
Acts chapter 2, verse number 14.
Acts chapter 2, verse number 14 is where I'll begin reading.
It says, But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice and said unto them,
Ye men of Judea and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you and hearken to my words.
For these are not drunk as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel.
Verse 17 says,
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God,
that I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy.
Your young men shall see visions.
Your old men shall dream dreams.
And on my servants and on my handmaidens,
I will pour out in those days of my spirit, and they shall prophesy.
Will you join me in prayer?
Heavenly Father, I thank you for the opportunity to preach your word tonight.
God, I pray over the next few moments, God, the Holy Spirit that I sense right now,
God, that you would do what only you can do in this house.
God, I pray that you would touch every heart.
God, you would let us open our minds, open our ears, God.
Let us hear your word in this house tonight.
God, I pray that you would anoint me to deliver it with clarity, with understanding, God,
but most importantly, with your power.
And God, I pray that every student, God, not just some of them, but every student,
every leader that is in this room would encounter your spirit tonight in this place.
And God, they would leave changed in the name of Jesus.
God, let your will be done.
Let your will be accomplished, God.
And we're going to give you all the praise and all of the honor.
It's in the name of Jesus we pray.
Amen.
I want to talk to you just for a few moments tonight on the subject of this is that generation.
This is that generation.
And I want to begin.
We're going to get into just a few moments of talking about who we are and who God says that we are as individuals.
and we're going to talk about what God has in store for us and how God wants to bless us
and how God wants to give us the gift of the Holy Spirit.
But I want to begin just for a moment of talking about who we are as a movement,
who we are as the church of God.
Because, see, I believe that it's important that we honor our roots.
I believe that it's important that we honor those that have gone before us.
I believe that it's important that we don't look down on what has happened
and we don't look at it as it's old and it's in the past,
but we look at it as a foundation that God laid for us to be where we are today.
And so a few things that I want to share with you about our roots.
I love history, and I love the history of the Church of God.
And our history reads that in 1884, you say, man, that was a long time ago.
Yes, in 1884, a man by the name of R.G. Sperling,
he was a missionary Baptist in the mountains of East Tennessee,
and our history reads that he wanted more of God,
that he was not happy, he was not satisfied with where he was at,
and he had a desire to seek more of God, to know more,
because he knew that there has to be something more to the story.
And so it says for two years he separated himself and he studied the Word of God in depth
just to see who God really was.
Now fast forward two years later, 1886.
It says on August the 19th that there was a small group of Christians, of believers,
that gathered together in Barney Creek Meeting House in Monroe County, Tennessee.
And it says these eight people became known what we know as the Church of God.
They were the first eight members of the Church of God.
Now go to 1896.
It says there were three men who began a meeting at the Shearer Schoolhouse.
And it was in Cherokee Creek, North Carolina.
And it says these men, listen, they urged people to pursue sanctification.
They urged them to live a holy life.
And it says that one man by the name of William Bryant, he led a Sunday school class.
Anybody still go to Sunday school?
Raise your hand high.
All right, we got some Sunday school students in the house.
It says he led a Sunday school class and regular prayer meetings at the close of this revival that was taking place.
And I want you to listen to what the history of the Church of God records.
And then I'm going to move on in the sermon.
But I believe it's important that we lay a foundation of where we came from.
The records read this.
It says the people earnestly sought God.
And the interest increased until suddenly, like a mighty avalanche, like a mighty rushing wind,
it says the Holy Ghost began to fall upon the humble, the sincere, and the sanctified believers.
It said one after another fell under the power of God.
God let it happen again.
It says, and soon quite a number came through speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gave the utterance.
It said the news spread like wildfire.
People came for miles to hear and to see the manifestation of the presence of God.
It says not only did the Holy Ghost baptism descend upon Cherokee seekers,
but many people were miraculously healed of many different kinds of diseases.
And this is how it ends.
It says, they prayed, they shouted, and they exhorted until hundreds of hard-hearted sinners were broken down in conviction and fell at the altar and gave their hearts to God.
And I know you're here and you're students and you're young and you're saying, yeah, but what does that have to do with us?
I believe just like our roots, God is calling us back to that moment.
To where we come together in unity for one reason and one reason only.
And that's to seek the power of the Holy Spirit where we say, God, I'm going to move my agenda aside.
God, I'm not going to worry about who's seated beside me or what they've got to say or what's going on on Instagram or TikTok or social media.
I'm going to put the phone up.
And God, I'm going to pray and I'm going to seek your face until something happens.
God, my prayer is this, that this generation would be just like that generation.
that they would say, you know what, we're going to sacrifice,
and we're going to give some things up.
And we may not have a lot when it comes to this world,
but when it comes to our Heavenly Father, we have everything that we need.
And what I'm believing is this.
When you hear people talk about the last days,
I truly believe that we are in the last days.
I believe that the Lord could come at any moment,
and He could rapture His church, but this is what I know.
I know the prayers that have been prayed by generation after generation after generation
for a last day move of the Spirit.
And I truly believe that the prayers that my mom's generation prayed
and that my granddad's generation prayed
and the generation before them prayed about needing and wanting to see a revival,
I believe that revival is you.
I believe the prayers that they prayed,
God has orchestrated and God has set it up,
and you are that revival.
But what we have to understand is this,
When we talk about wanting revival, we have to understand that there are things that come with that prayer and that desire and that want,
and it causes us to have to sacrifice.
It causes us to have to be a generation that's different, that's set apart, that's holy, if we really want to see true revival.
Now, I want you to understand this.
Our theme for Winterfest is this is us, and we are the church of God.
We have a declaration of faith.
I'm not going to read through it tonight for the sake of time.
But it's simply 14 points.
You should look it up.
It'll be on the screen real quick.
But you should look it up and read it if you're not familiar with it.
It's simply who we are as a movement.
And I want you to know this.
Who we are has not changed.
We are unashamedly a Pentecostal movement.
We believe in the power of the Holy Spirit and speaking in other tongues.
Let us never forget our roots.
Let us never abandon our roots.
Let us never forget where we came from.
Let's give honor to those who've gone before us by walking in that same power today.
And I believe that God is wanting to pour His Spirit out in this place tonight.
And I'm going to ask you over the next few moments, students,
that as I preach the Word that you examine your heart.
That you say, God, what do I need to lay aside?
God, what do I need to give up so that I can have all of you
and nothing that this world has to offer?
See, we know who we are as a movement.
We just talked about a few of those things.
But as an individual, I want to ask you the question tonight,
who are you?
Who are you?
Because, see, I believe the enemy wants to keep this room from knowing who you are
so that he can keep you from being the generation that the prophet Joel spoke about.
Because, see, the enemy understands that this room is a threat to his plan.
Look at your neighbor, say, you're a threat.
Now look at your other neighbor and say, you're a threat.
Now look at somebody behind you and say, you're a threat.
Now you might as well do somebody in front too and say, hey, you're a threat.
See, what you have to realize is this, that if you are a blood-bought Christian,
that if you've accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior,
you have just became a threat to the enemy's plan.
Because, see, the enemy had a plan, and the enemy, he has a purpose, and he has a desire.
But what you have to realize is this, is that God the Father has a plan for your life.
And that God the Father has a purpose for your life.
And that God wants to use you far beyond what you could ever imagine.
But you have to understand that Satan loves to try and stop you.
Satan loves to operate in a spirit of confusion.
He loves to operate through your generation in a spirit of compromise,
in a spirit of complacency, in a spirit of condemnation.
Maybe you've heard words like you're not good enough,
you'll never amount to anything, you'll never be good enough,
you're not able, you're not capable.
Look where you came from, look who your mom is, look who your dad is.
Nobody will listen to you.
Look at all the things you did in your past.
And what the enemy will do is he'll try to use condemnation to stop you.
He'll try to get you to compromise and to settle somewhere between birth and God's full destiny for your life.
He'll try to get you to stop somewhere in between and give up and settle.
See, I believe that he's tried to attack your generation with confusion.
He's tried to confuse girls into thinking that they're boys.
He's tried to confuse boys into thinking that they're girls.
We could take it a step further and say he's tried to confuse a generation into believing they're not even human and they're an animal.
That they're a cat, they're a fox, they're a dog.
They identify as whatever they want to identify as.
And so he's tried to use a spirit of confusion.
And you say, well listen, should we really spiritualize this?
Yes, it is a spirit from the pits of hell.
And what he's tried to do is he's tried to confuse you.
Not only through sexual identity, but he's tried to confuse you in wondering really who you are in the kingdom.
And really if you're even able.
And really even if you're capable of doing it.
And he's used a spirit of confusion and a spirit of compromise and a spirit of complacency.
And all of these things to come against your generation.
And now I could stand here tonight and I could tell you that that's the best it'll be.
And that the enemy is going to win and the enemy is going to overtake.
But listen, that's not who we are as believers.
Because as believers, we understand greater is He that is in me than he that's in the world.
And we understand that though He may operate in a spirit, we've been afforded the spirit.
And the spirit is far greater than any spirit that He can operate in.
See, if He can confuse you, He can control you.
If He can get you to compromise, He can control your generation.
If He can get you to be complacent, He's got you.
And if he can get you to accept condemnation that this world has to offer, he can control you.
But we have to realize this, students, listen to me closely.
There is a spiritual battle and it's real.
The Bible speaks of it, Ephesians chapter 6 verse 12 says,
For we are not fighting against flesh and blood, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world,
against mighty powers in this dark world,
and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
We have to again understand that we have been given the privilege and the opportunity.
God has afforded us a gift, and it's the Holy Spirit.
And you say, well, how can I fight this spiritual battle?
How can I do this?
How can I stay the course?
How can I stay committed?
How can I stay dedicated?
It's by accepting Jesus Christ and saying, I'll never look back where I came from.
but it's also by knowing that I cannot do this by myself.
And Lord, I need something else to help me.
I need the Holy Spirit to come along beside me
and guide me and lead me and direct me
because I can't face this world alone.
And see, tonight I want to remind you
of who you really are.
I'm not here to speak condemnation.
I'm not here to offer what the world says,
but I'm here to offer to you tonight
over the next few moments what the Bible says
and what the Bible tells us about who we are as believers.
And maybe for some of us that come from the old church like me,
maybe I just believe that some of us need to begin again
to plead the blood of Jesus over a generation.
That we say, you know what, not in my house.
That we say, you know what, not in my youth group, not in my town.
But I plead the blood of Jesus over every student that's contemplating suicide.
I plead the blood of Jesus over every student that wants to give up.
I plead the blood of Jesus over every student that's thinking about ending it all.
I plead the blood of Jesus over a confused student.
I plead the blood of Jesus over a student that's been hurt and that's been upset and that's been defeated.
I plead the blood of Jesus over someone that's faced loss and difficulty.
See, what we need to do is begin to use the Word of God once again.
What we need to do is understand that there's power in the blood of Jesus.
And that nothing can cross the bloodline.
That nothing can defeat that.
That nothing can come against the blood of Jesus.
Tonight, students, I want you to understand this.
You are redeemed.
Say, I'm redeemed.
Say it louder.
Say, I'm redeemed.
Ephesians 1 and 7 says this.
In Him we have redemption.
through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses
according to the riches of His grace.
Now we have to understand that sin entered this world through man and woman.
Adam and Eve made a decision to sin against God
and what He told them not to do.
And they made the decision and it opened a door for sin to enter the world.
And it's at that moment that you and I were separated from God.
It's at that moment that all of mankind was separated from the Father.
But see, I'm thankful tonight that we serve a Father that loves us and that cares about us.
And although we were separated, he said, I've got to make a way.
I've got to offer a sacrifice so that they could return to me.
And that's where Jesus Christ comes in.
That's where we understand that we are redeemed through the blood of Jesus.
1 John 4 and 10 says this about Jesus.
This is love.
Not that we loved God, but that He loved us.
And that He sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice.
Jesus came and lived a perfect life.
Jesus came and sacrificed for you and for me.
He laid everything down.
He gave up His throne and He humbled Himself.
He was born in a manger.
He lived a perfect life
But there came a moment
Where it seemed like maybe just for a minute
That hell was going to win
Because they took Jesus
And they began to whip him
And they began to beat him
And students I want you to understand this
It wasn't something that was pretty
It wasn't something that sometimes TV makes look glorious
But it was something that was nasty
His flesh was ripped from his body
Blood began to flow.
Blood was poured out for you.
They took our Savior who was beat and they mocked Him.
They took Him and they spit on Him.
They made fun of Him.
And then they took Him and nailed Him to a cross.
Nail after nail, driving through His hands and through His feet.
They lifted Him and they hung Him there to die.
And it looked like in that moment
That maybe the plan of the enemy
Was succeeding
Jesus died and Jesus was placed in a tomb
And if the story stopped there
There would be no reason for us to be here tonight
But I'm thankful that the story didn't end there
But there is a redeeming story
Because it tells us that on the third day
He rose again
And not only did he rise again
But he rose again victorious
over death, hell, and the grave.
And he made a way for you and me.
He made a way for us to return to the Father
that although I'm a mess,
and although I've messed up,
and although I've sinned,
and although I fell short,
he redeemed us.
And I want you to know tonight
that you are loved by the Father.
Maybe it's one of you in the room.
Maybe it's multiple of you in the room
that you say,
I really don't know what it's like to be loved.
I really don't even know if someone loves me.
I'm going to tell you that
no matter what it looks like around you, there is a God in heaven that loves you and that
cares about you.
And you are not too far gone.
You are not too far separated from Him.
You haven't done enough to be separated.
Nothing can separate you from His love.
And tonight, His Spirit is drawing you and His Spirit is wanting you to know that you
are a redeemed generation.
that when you walk out of this place and when you go back home this weekend,
you don't go home sad and you don't go home upset
and you don't go home with your head held low,
but you go home with your head held high saying,
I am a redeemed child of God.
I've been bought.
There's blood that was shed for me and I belong to Jesus Christ.
I no longer am the person that I used to be.
When you go back to school and people say,
I don't know what happened to you last weekend, but something's different.
you can open up your mouth and begin to tell them about Jesus
and talk about how He redeemed you and how He saved you
and how He set you free because you are redeemed.
Not only are you redeemed, but you are victorious.
Romans 8, 37 says this.
It says,
In all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities,
nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth,
nor any other created thing will ever be able to separate us from the love of the Father.
And I want to challenge you tonight, students,
that you become a generation that no longer accepts defeat.
That you'll say, you know what, I'll never accept defeat again.
But as for me, as for me, I'll understand who I am and who I belong to.
Because you are a victorious generation.
You have to realize that the Bible already tells us that we've already won.
We've just got to walk in this thing.
We've just got to live this life that he's called us to live and do it in a holy manner.
Because you are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ.
You are the head and not the tail.
The Bible says that you are above and not beneath.
that you are blessed going into the city and you are blessed coming out,
that you are a victorious generation.
It also goes on to tell us in Isaiah,
he reminds us that no weapon formed against us shall prosper.
No matter what the enemy tries to do, it will not prosper.
1 Corinthians says this, that we are victorious through Jesus Christ.
In Isaiah, God says, fear not, for I am with you.
Has anybody ever felt alone?
Has anybody felt like you were walking all by yourself and it seemed like you were on an island all by yourself?
Can I encourage you with this?
That no matter what you go through, no matter what you face, you'll never be alone.
Because God said, I am with you.
When it seems like no one else is there, understand this, that God is there.
When it seems like there's no way out, understand that he's a way maker and he's already made a way for you.
James goes on and he says this, submit yourself to God.
Resist the devil.
and he will flee. In John, Jesus said, the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but I have come
to give you life and give you life more abundantly. Galatians challenges you to walk by the Spirit
to be victorious. You say, how do I live a victorious life? Walk by the Spirit. How do I
make it through tomorrow? Walk by the Spirit. Yeah, but how am I going to make it through next week?
You're going to walk by the Spirit.
Yeah, but what about next month?
You're going to walk by the Spirit.
You say, yeah, but Pastor Daniel, you don't understand.
When I go back home, I'm going into a home that's filled with sin.
You know what you've got to do?
You've got to walk by the Spirit.
No matter what comes your way, you've got to walk by the Spirit.
The Bible is filled with many other examples of being victorious.
But maybe you're in the room tonight and you say, yeah, but you don't really know what it's like and I don't really feel victorious.
Maybe you're here and you're the one that says, you know what?
Anxiety has stolen my joy.
Maybe depression tried to steal your joy.
Maybe it was anger that has stolen your victory.
Maybe you're here and you're the student in the room that you face loss.
You lost a mom, a dad, a loved one.
and has stolen your joy and has stolen your victory,
maybe failure has tried to steal your joy.
Maybe failure has tried to take your victory.
Because see, when we fail and when we mess up and we sin,
that's when the enemy steps in and says,
look at what you did.
You don't really love God.
You can't really do this.
There's no way that you can be victorious.
But I want to encourage you tonight
that there is a comforter that is in the room.
And although, yes, you may have faced anxiety, and yes, you may be facing depression,
and you may have some anger issues, and you may be going through loss,
and you may be dealing with failure, or you may be dealing with something else,
the Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit is the comforter.
And I know without a doubt that He's in the room tonight, and He's wanting to restore your joy.
He's in the room tonight, and He's wanting to give you victory in this place.
Not only are you victorious, but you are set apart.
You are different
And that's who we're called to be
We are called to be sanctified
And I know that's not a popular word sometimes
But listen to me students
In a world that celebrates compromise
God is looking for a remnant that will refuse to settle
God is looking for a remnant that will say
I don't care what the world says
I'm running with Jesus
I don't care what the world has to offer
I'm not going to compromise
because He gave it all for me.
Students, listen, God never called you to be a generation
that collaborates with the world.
But He called you to be a generation that separates from the world.
And I know that there's a gospel that says we can mix and mingle
and we can hang out and we can do whatever we want.
But listen, that's not the Word of God.
Yes, the Word of God challenges us to go to the center
and reach them and show them the love of Christ.
But listen, there has to be a clear, distinct separation in who you are as a believer.
If your friends at school cannot tell you're a Christian without having to ask you,
that might be a moment to stop and check yourself.
I'm not just talking to you students.
If I go through the drive-thru, if I go through the drive-thru as an adult,
and the lady at McDonald's can't tell I'm saved because of how I act and how I treat her,
I need to check myself
because I'm probably not sanctified
and I'm probably not living a holy life
there should be a clear distinction
between who we are and who the world is
they should see the love of God so strong on us
that it literally melts everything they're dealing with
they should know that we're a Christian by how we talk
by the things we say and the things that we don't say
by the places we go and the places that we don't go
They should know that we are different
That something separates us
From the world
2 Corinthians 6
17 it calls for us to do this
It says come out from among them
And be ye a separate
People
Simply put you cannot live
Like you want and get what you
Want
We cannot walk in the Holy Spirit while we entertain
Evil spirits
We've got to be different
See what I've come to understand is sometimes we want the Holy Ghost
But we really don't want to be holy
We want the Holy Ghost and what it has to offer for us
But we don't want to be different
Maybe let's put it this way
You can't slide into someone's DMs being unholy
And act holy at the same time
Some of y'all saying hey chat
Literally, my children comes in and they do not say, hey, dad or hey, mom.
They say, hey, chat.
What are you talking about?
Yo, chat.
I'm your dad, not your chat.
But some of y'all are saying, hey, chat, but really your chat needs to read.
So-and-so has left the conversation.
What if the conversations we were in that were unholy?
You know when you leave a group thread in the text message and it says Daniel has left the conversation.
My prayer is this, that this room is filled with young men and young women that says,
you know what, I'm going to leave every conversation that's unholy.
I'm not going to be a part of that anymore.
I'm going to separate myself from that because I am different.
I am called and I am chosen.
And I've been set apart.
You are a holy generation.
So separate yourself from unholy things.
And I'm almost done.
next I want you to understand this that you are
anointed I love
the story of David
for the sake of time I'm not going to tell the whole
story but I love in 1 Samuel 16
where Samuel comes God sends him
and tells him to go anoint the next king
he comes to Jesse's house Jesse
has all the boys ready all
seven of them should have been it
Samuel looks
he goes through the list and it's none
of them and he says Jesse
is there anybody else do you have another
son somewhere
He says, well, I do have David, but he's in the field
He's in the pasture
And he's tending sheep
He says, send for him immediately
God speaks, God shows that David is the one to be anointed
You know that the story goes on
If you grew up in church
It says in 1 Samuel 17 that David ends up on the battlefield
He goes from the pasture to a battlefield
And he sees Goliath and he says, you know what, I can slay this giant
and although he has the courage and the confidence
not everybody around him has the same confidence for him.
I want you to understand this.
When God fills you with the Holy Spirit
and God sets you on fire with his power
not everybody around you is going to believe in you like he does.
Because see David's dad apparently didn't believe in him.
David's brothers didn't believe in him
because when he went to the battlefield
they said what are you doing here?
Just go back to the pasture where you belong.
Now, David ends up killing Goliath.
But what I love in part of this story is Saul, King Saul, comes to a point where he allows David to go and fight Goliath.
But Saul wants him to wear his armor.
How many of you heard that story?
He wants him to wear his armor and fight with his stuff that God had given him.
But David realizes that, you know what, I'm not trained and I've not been prepared.
This is not the giftings that God has given to me.
God gave me a sling and a stone.
And see, sometimes we're wanting a sword and a shield,
but God's already given us a sling and a stone expecting us to do something with it.
Because see, David had a sling and a stone in a pasture, and he killed animals.
He defended the father's sheep.
And so David comes to a point where he realizes that, you know what, I can't be like Saul.
And students, can I encourage you with this tonight from the story of David,
that you were not created to be the best version of your mom.
That you were not created to be your dad, to be your brother, to be your sister, to be your pastor.
to be your student pastor, although they are amazing, you are not created to be them.
And you weren't created to be anyone else but who God destined you to be.
And so I'm challenging you this weekend to leave this conference knowing that you have been called
and that you have been chosen by God to be you, to be different, to be set apart,
and to be who God created you to be.
But this is what I wonder sometimes.
I wonder sometimes have we become more concerned with the palace and less concerned with the pasture.
Because see, the seven brothers, apparently they were spending a lot of time in the palace.
They were spending a lot of time in the good places.
But David was in the pasture.
And David was being faithful.
Listen, let me challenge your generation that you're a generation that says,
God, just send me to the pasture.
God, I know that it stinks there.
And I know that there are people that are lost.
But God, I want to go to the pasture.
God, I want to go to the place where there's people that are bound by drugs and that are addicted.
God, send me to that pastor so that I can go to them and I can speak hope into their life.
And I can tell them that there is one that can set them free.
God, send us to the pastor.
God, send us to the mission field where there's people that haven't heard about a man named Jesus.
Where you as a generation can stand up and use your voice and declare that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world.
God, give us more pastors.
and less palaces.
I want you to understand this,
that David had an oil that didn't come from man.
David didn't get his anointing from man,
but David got his anointing from God the Father.
And we must be careful to protect the anointing,
and we must be careful to protect the power.
And my last point tonight, as I prepare to close,
I want you to understand this simply.
you are that generation.
Look at your friend and say, you are that generation.
Come on, say it louder.
Say, you are that generation.
Now do me a favor, lift your voice and say, we are that generation.
Come on, say it again.
Say, we are that generation.
You say, well, that sounds silly.
No, say it again.
Say, we are that generation.
You say、 well, what does that mean?
I just have to believe that the enemy hears you right now.
and he thought that you were defeated, and he thought you were destroyed,
but now you're lifting your voice saying, we are that generation.
No longer will we settle.
No longer will we compromise.
No longer will we believe the lies of the world, but we are that generation.
Acts chapter 2.
It says, they're gathered all together in unity,
and suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a mighty rushing wind,
and it filled the house.
They were gathered together in unity.
They were gathered together for one purpose,
for one reason,
and that's because Jesus said,
go and the Spirit will come.
Jesus said, go and tarry until you receive power.
And so they were gathered in an upper room
because Jesus said, go.
And it says, suddenly there came a sound from heaven
as of a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the house, and fire fell from heaven.
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they began to speak in other tongues
as the Spirit gave them the utterance.
What I want you to understand tonight is this,
is that by yourself you may not be able to defeat a lot of giants.
But when we come together in unity, we become a force to be reckoned with.
When you come together and you lift your voice in unity, something changes.
Because see, I love the story of Acts chapter 2.
It doesn't tell us what they were praying, but in my mind,
they were just there lifting up the name of Jesus.
They said, we don't know what else to pray.
All we know is Jesus said, go here, so we're just going to declare the name of Jesus.
And somebody began to say Jesus.
And somebody else began to say Jesus.
And somebody else began to say Jesus.
And before you knew it, there was an upper room where everybody had gathered together for one purpose,
and that was declaring the name of Jesus.
They weren't saying Daniel.
They weren't saying Jordan.
They weren't saying Alexia.
They weren't saying Sam.
They weren't saying John.
They were saying Jesus.
And it says suddenly something began to change, and something began to happen, and they were filled.
But listen to me.
Instead of being a confused generation, put that lie under your feet and become an infused generation.
That you are infused with the power of the Holy Spirit.
That you go and reach the world for Jesus and you never look back.
You are an upper room generation.
Stand all across this room.
I've got just a few more moments, a few more minutes, a few more things I want to share with you.
But you are an upper room generation.
Everybody look at me.
You say, well, what do I have to do to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
You've got to be different.
You've got to be set apart.
You've got to be willing to sacrifice.
They're gathered in this upper room because Jesus said go.
But Pentecost didn't end there.
Pentecost started there.
And the same spirit that they were afforded is the same spirit that you were afforded.
But let us make sure that every church that we go back home to,
that that church becomes an upper room.
That we say no longer do we just go to church to check off a box.
No longer do we just go to church because we have to go to church,
or we go to church because our friends go into church,
but we go there to make that place an upper room.
That we say, as for my generation, we're going to be an upper room generation.
You can be what you want to be, but we're going to be an upper room generation.
You can chase whatever you want to chase, but we're going to chase Jesus.
Do not let your generation be found guilty of spending more time in a back room.
Listen to me.
Do not let your generation be found guilty of spending more time in a back room
seeking the approval of man than in an upper room seeking the presence and power of God.
do not be that generation
but be the generation that says we're going to build an altar
we're going to build an altar and we're going to be different
we're going to build an altar and we're going to have an upper room experience
that doesn't stay in the church but it spills out into the streets
Acts chapter 2 said they spilled out into the streets
they left the upper room and people begin to say they're drunk
and it was Peter as we read in our opening scripture he stood up and he said this he said
listen these people aren't drunk as you suppose he said but this is that which was prophesied by
Joel that he said in the last days I'll pour out my spirit be the generation that says you know what
God we want everything that you have for us and nothing more God we're going to be set apart we're
going to be different. Let your generation be known as a tongue-talking generation. That you
are unashamed of Pentecost. That you are devoted and you are committed and you are proud that the
Spirit lives in you. Be unashamed of who you are. Be a devil casting out generation.
You say, well, do I really need to be that? Yes, because sometimes maybe my generation has ignored
some things. And there were some
things that we should have cast out that we just put
up with. And now maybe
your generation is having to deal with them.
But I'm asking you, I'm
challenging you to let your generation
be the generation that says no longer will we
accept that. We're going to cast that out.
That has no place in the kingdom.
We're going to see freedom
and we're going to see liberty
in our world. Be a generation
that says we want to see miracles,
signs, and wonders.
every student in here you know what I want to see I want to see you lay hands on somebody that's got
cancer and I want them to go back to the doctor and the doctor say I know I told you he's gonna
die but something happened and now you lived and not only are you alive but there's no cancer in
your body I want your generation to lay hands on somebody in a wheelchair and I want you to see
them in that moment get up and walk out of the place you say well how does that happen it happens
when we create space for an upper room experience.
I want to see your generation be the generation
that lays hands on a friend at school that has diabetes
and they go home and they say,
Mom, I don't know what happened, but something's different.
And they go to the doctor and the doctor checks them
and the doctor says, I know you were born this way
and I know that you've been dealing with this all your life,
but you're changed and you no longer have diabetes.
Let your generation be the generation that sees an alcoholic
and an addict walk in time and time again
and walk out sober under the power of the Holy Ghost.
See, I simply came here to encourage you
that you are a set-apart generation,
that you are a redeemed generation,
that you're a victorious generation,
and God has set you up for something special.
God has set you up for a last day outpouring
on your generation.
Be a generation that says we will go and change the world.
Be a generation that says we will be different.
We will be set apart.
We will be anointed.
And we'll walk in the power of the Holy Spirit.
John 14 says Jesus promises the gift of the Holy Spirit to those who believe.
It's in John 16 that Jesus promises that it's necessary that He goes.
And if He goes, He'll send the Comforter.
And you'll receive the Holy Spirit.
It's in Acts chapter 1 that Jesus promises, verse 8, that you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you will be my witnesses.
It's Acts chapter 2, verse 16.
It says, but this is that which was spoken of by the prophet Joel.
See, some of you came this weekend looking for something that might get you through next week.
Some of you came this weekend looking for something that might get you through next month.
Maybe you came and you're looking for something that'll get you through the next semester.
But what I want to let you know tonight is that there is a spirit in the room.
That not only will it get you through next week, not only will it get you through next month,
and not only will it get you through next year, but every day of your life the spirit will be with you.
And the spirit will be comforting you.
And the spirit will be helping you.
And the Spirit will be leading you.
And the Spirit will be guiding you.
And the things of this world will no longer have control of you.
Because it's the anointing that destroys the yoke.
Every head bowed, every eye closed.
Nobody looking around.
Father, I thank you for every student, every leader that's in this room.
God, I thank you without a doubt that this is that generation.
God, and I'm asking you over the next few moments,
God, as we surrender our hearts to you,
God, that you would move in this place and that you would do only what you can do.
God, we aren't capable, God, but you are.
God, so we submit ourselves to you.
We surrender our lives to you.
And God, we say have your way in this place.
With every head bowed, every eye closed.
In just a moment, I want to give an altar call for the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
But first of all, if you're in this room and you say, you know what, I don't know Jesus.
Maybe you're in the room and you say, you know what, I had a relationship with Jesus, but I've drifted away.
And I want to recommit my life to him.
And with every head bowed, every eye closed, if that's you, will you slip your hand up and hold it up high?
Don't be ashamed.
Keep it up.
I see those hands.
You're not alone.
Keep it up.
Keep it up.
Now I'm going to ask everyone in the room that will join us in prayer with those that raise their hand and repeat after me.
Say, Jesus.
Come on, say it louder.
Say, Jesus, I'm a sinner.
And I need a Savior.
So tonight, I confess with my mouth.
And I believe in my heart that you died for me.
That you rose again.
and that you were victorious.
And so tonight,
I declare
that I am saved.
Come on, can you make some noise
for those that raised their hand in this place?
Come on, let's lift up the name of Jesus.
Come on, you can do better than that.
You can do better than that.
Come on, lift up your voices.
Thank you, Jesus.
Thank you, Jesus.
Now listen to this.
I'm going to need you to cooperate with this.
It's going to take a little bit of time, a little bit of patience, but listen to me.
I'm going to ask you first, leaders, if you'll help me.
Students, stay in your seats.
Make sure you're at your seat.
The altar call is going to be a little bit different, but make sure you're at your seat so that people have space to get around.
But leaders, listen to me.
If you're in this place, you're a student pastor, you're a pastor, you're a leader,
You're filled with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues.
I'm going to ask you to get out into the aisles and stand.
Some of you right around where your groups are, stay close to your groups,
but get out into the aisles.
Get over in the corners over here where there's a lot of room,
over here on the sides.
Fill the aisles up with leaders that are filled with the Holy Spirit.
Now, students, listen to me.
These leaders have just stepped out.
they've made the declaration that they are tongue-talking Pentecostals.
And it's not just, listen, that's not just something we say to brag,
and that's not just something we do to do in here and to say,
woo-hoo, I did it, but that's something to go and change the world.
It's a power.
But listen to me and listen to me closely.
It's a gift.
You don't have to beg for it.
You don't have to plead for it.
But you have a Father that freely wants to give you the gift,
And the only requirement is to know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.
If you know Jesus, the gift is yours.
And so in just a moment, I'm going to give you the opportunity, students, to respond.
And when I do, I'm going to ask you to get out in the aisles, go to leaders,
and let them lay hands on you and pray for you.
But listen, the Bible says we're made overcomers by the blood of the Lamb
and the word of our testimony.
I'm a pastor's kid.
I grew up in a pastor's home.
I received the baptism of the Holy Ghost
when I was grown
I was 20 years old
nothing my parents did
I have amazing parents
but I would go to the altar
and I would seek God's spirit
and I'd say God I want you to give it to me
and I would wait for him to make me speak
and then I began to realize this
that he was speaking to my heart
he was speaking to my mind
I was hearing something
that was not my broken South Mississippi English.
It was something that was different.
But I wouldn't open my mouth by faith in speaking.
But can I encourage you tonight that in just a few moments,
God's going to begin to speak to you.
There's nobody around you that's going to teach you how to speak in tongues,
to tell you how to speak in tongues, because we don't believe in that mess.
We believe it comes from the Father.
But when the Father begins to speak to you,
I want to challenge you by faith to open your mouth.
And it's going to be like Acts chapter 2 described,
that there is going to be a suddenly moment,
and there is going to be a mighty rushing wind begin to flow through this place.
And you are going to be filled with the Holy Spirit,
with the evidence of speaking in other tongues,
so that you can go and change the world.
So on the count of three, if you're in this place,
and you say, I want the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
I want everything that God has for me.
If that's you, and you say, I want the gift of the Holy Spirit,
on the count of three, I want you to get out of your seat.
Make a faith movement.
Get out of your seat and go find a leader and let them pray for you.
And God's going to fill you with the Holy Spirit in this place.
Are you ready?
One, two, three.
Come on, start moving.
Get out of the aisles.
If you want to be filled with the Holy Spirit, come on, step out.
Step out.
Step out.
Come on, you're moving.
Step out and let leaders begin to pray.
Push your way into the aisle and make room.
Father, I thank you.
Father, I praise you.
Father, I worship you.
God, I ask you to fill students with your spirit.
God, baptize them in the Holy Ghost
with the evidence of speaking in other tongues
in the name of Jesus.
Just do it again.