Rewind Part 1
“Discipline”
July 15, 2018
Pastor Ed Young
When we hear the word “discipline,” our minds rush to overbearing principals,
domineering coaches, and demanding parents. For many, it has a negative connotation. But discipline is much more positive and can be the one thing that helps us discover the amazing path God has for us. In the first message of this series, we go way back with Pastor Ed Young for a powerful look at three areas of self-discipline that will help launch us into a life-changing future!
Transcript
This week we're beginning a brand-new series called: Rewind. Now when you think about “Rewind” you think about the past, you know, going back, and I decided to go back. I'm talking about way back into my past because I started preaching about 30 years ago. And we've come across some old tape of me delivering certain sermons. So, I want you to see these sermons because basically the same thing that I talked about 30 years ago is the same thing I'm talking about right now at Fellowship Church. The time was somewhere in the '80s and the place was Houston, Texas. At the time, Second Baptist Church, that's the name of Dad's church, was probably the most attended church in North America. Lisa and I helped start Fellowship Church in 1990, so this was two years before our church actually kicked off. I wasn't speaking at the main service on Sunday morning, this was Sunday night. So, if you hear me say "night," we had Sunday night church. So, this is the message I did – Philippians chapter 4, verse 13 – as we go back to 1988, way, way back there. Let's check it out.
- As we begin together tonight, turn around and introduce yourself to someone you don't know and give them a smile and a fellowship of excitement welcome.
- This guy here was our, back in the day we called him our Minister of Music. Boy that sure is a nice sport coat he has on! This sanctuary seats around 6,000 people legit, and that's a massive, massive place. I'm just thankful that God gave me an opportunity to speak in a place like that and to grow up in a great Christian home like I did. Oh, there's old Eva Walters. Eva is a great, great girl. Lisa and I have known Eva for probably, I bet we've known Eva for 35 years. She still is singing solos at Second Baptist, Eva Walters. And that was like, that song there, that for us was like rocking, I mean, that was on the cutting edge. ♪ He never failed me, he never failed me yet. ♪ ♪ He never failed, he never failed me. ♪ It's a great song, it's a great song. We had her sing that one day at our church. I want you to check this out: trombone, trombonist out, look at this guy. It was so choreographed; the services were so well planned you couldn't be a second or two late. When the choir stopped, boom, you had to get out of your seat and make your way to the pulpit and we sat in these throne chairs, you'll see these throne chairs, it was kind of uncomfortable. You're sitting up there and everyone's looking at you, and like, what do you do, and all of a sudden, man, when it's your time, they give you that holy nod, boom, you better be there. Man, my heart's beating right now. Look at me, I'm nervous as a cat.
- Father we thank you for the opportunity of worship. I ask that you would clear out everything from our hearts and minds except what you're going to say to us. Father, you know I have nothing to say, but you have everything. Speak to my heart and every life here, for we ask all these things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. If everyone would turn in your Bibles to the Book of Philippians...
- Now you know what's so interesting about that is, I assumed – I wouldn't do that now – that everyone had a Bible, which is interesting.
- Philippians chapter 4, verse 13. And as you're turning, I want everyone to stand. Everyone on the platform, the choir, everyone stand.
- I want everybody to stand right now, we're going old school back to 1988. Everybody stand at all of our campuses and do these hand signals.
- Because before this sermon is finished, we will all memorize this verse, we will never forget this verse. In fact, we're going to even know and learn some hand signals that go along with Philippians 4:13. Now hold your Bible in your left hand, hand signals with your right hand. The verse says…
- "Says, says," I sound Joel Osteen. "It says, it says." Do I sound like Joel, am I just joking?
- This is my Bible. I am what it says I am, I have what it says I have. Amen.