Bridge Church Virginia Beach

0.560000 1.960000 - Good morning.
1.960000 5.120000 Happy new year, 2026.
5.120000 6.040000 Can you believe it?
6.040000 9.760000 2026, man, when I was in the 1980s,
9.760000 12.880000 I'm talking about my age right now.
12.880000 15.840000 I didn't never thought we would get to 2026.
15.840000 19.480000 I grew up watching Book Rogers, 21st century.
19.480000 22.040000 It was crazy, but we're here and guess what?
22.040000 25.680000 God is with us today, amen?
25.680000 28.240000 God is with us today.
28.240000 29.800000 I want you to take out your smart phone,
29.800000 30.840000 just show me your smart phone.
30.840000 32.600000 Anybody got a dumb phone?
32.600000 34.600000 If you got a dumb phone, just tie it.
34.600000 37.320000 But if you got a smart phone, I want you to download.
37.320000 39.520000 If you haven't downloaded the bridge app,
39.520000 40.440000 I want you to do that.
40.440000 43.760000 Go to your app icon there and download it
43.760000 48.760000 because on that bridge app is our 21 day devotional.
48.760000 51.400000 We were supposed to have physical copies today,
51.400000 55.160000 but our printer got behind and they'll be here next week.
55.160000 56.800000 But we want you to download that app.
56.800000 61.520000 And on that app is a digital copy of that 21 day devotional
61.520000 63.720000 called Strong and Courageous.
63.720000 64.720000 And we want you to do that.
64.720000 66.560000 You can also hit the tap plate right in front of you.
66.560000 67.840000 It is on there.
67.840000 70.920000 It's also on all our social media pages and the bio.
70.920000 72.560000 You can download it there.
72.560000 73.400000 You'll get a text.
73.400000 74.440000 You're getting an email.
74.440000 76.800000 It's everywhere this morning.
76.800000 79.000000 And we want you to track with that because tomorrow
79.000000 82.160000 begins our 21 days of prayer and fasting here at Bridge
82.160000 84.400000 Church, whether you're online or in the building.
84.400000 89.040000 We want you to join us as we go through a time of just going
89.040000 91.680000 after God, totally 100% after God.
91.680000 93.080000 You say, what is a fast?
93.080000 98.800000 Well, a fast is doing away with your favorite television show,
98.800000 104.320000 not a fast, absolutely means not to eat.
104.320000 107.880000 And some of y'all went, what?
107.880000 110.680000 I'm not telling you to do 21 days without food.
110.680000 113.520000 But what I am saying, could you pick a meal a day and say,
113.520000 116.600000 I'm going to devote this time to God going after him,
116.600000 118.440000 praying over the vision of Bridge Church.
118.440000 120.920000 Some people will do a three day total fast
120.920000 124.160000 and then go into a Daniel fast, which is a partial fast.
124.160000 127.000000 That's in the Bible there, or 21 day fast,
127.000000 129.920000 or a three day fast, or a 24 hour day fast.
129.920000 133.000000 But we want you to track with us and that devotional guy there.
133.000000 133.760000 Read that.
133.760000 134.520000 I'm going to read it.
134.520000 136.240000 I've read it three or four times.
136.240000 137.360000 But I'm going to read it with you.
137.360000 139.760000 I wrote the thing and I'm going to read it just like,
139.760000 141.720000 hey, it's a fresh start for me.
141.720000 145.360000 And we're going to, for 21 days, man, just track with God.
145.360000 148.960000 At the end of that 21 days, we're going to have a night of worship,
148.960000 150.400000 which is very powerful.
150.400000 154.000000 It's a combined night of worship with all our campuses right here,
154.000000 156.120000 31, 68 Indian River Road.
156.120000 157.800000 I want you to take out your Bibles.
157.800000 160.600000 Turn to Joshua, chapter 1.
160.600000 163.200000 And we're going to today,
163.200000 166.120000 began a new series called Strong and Courageus.
166.120000 168.840000 That's our 2026 theme.
168.840000 172.840000 But before we do that, I just want to talk about the history
172.840000 173.760000 of bridge church.
173.760000 177.280000 The history of bridge church is a story that I want to tell.
177.280000 182.920000 1997, my wife and I were pastoring a church in Augusta, Georgia,
182.920000 185.960000 right near the Augusta National Golf Course.
185.960000 188.080000 And we were pastoring there.
188.080000 192.080000 And that summer during 1997, we received a prophetic word
192.080000 196.400000 that we would leave that church and go and begin a brand new church
196.400000 199.400000 and a new city where God wanted to start a work.
199.400000 201.080000 And we began to pray about that.
201.080000 206.120000 And by the end of '97, we felt like God was leading us to Virginia Beach.
206.120000 210.440000 So the first day of 1998, we packed up a U-Haul and brought
210.440000 212.080000 our tour to Camry.
212.080000 215.680000 It was a 1997 tour to Camry all the way to Virginia Beach
215.680000 218.560000 and said, this is where God wants to plant us
218.560000 220.680000 and wants to plant a new church.
220.680000 223.040000 And we began to work toward that.
223.040000 228.040000 And so our first meeting, we had 16 people at 1707, Biven Street.
228.040000 229.480000 And that was a small home.
229.480000 231.720000 And we started with 16 people.
231.720000 234.840000 And between that week and the next week, I had to go home
234.840000 238.800000 because I was preaching, raising funds to start this work here
238.800000 239.720000 in Virginia Beach.
239.720000 243.960000 And while I was home, my dad passed away while I was holding his hand.
243.960000 247.960000 And I preached his funeral and coordinated his funeral.
247.960000 251.440000 Got some of his affairs in order with my mom and my siblings.
251.440000 253.760000 But started our way back to Virginia Beach.
253.760000 257.680000 And on our way back about halfway, my mom called me on my cell phone.
257.680000 260.600000 That's when cell phones were really big and really heavy.
260.600000 262.840000 And she said, can you turn back around?
262.840000 265.040000 Your grandmother just passed away.
265.040000 267.920000 And that was crazy to me because I just talked to her.
267.920000 269.840000 And she did say, when I was talking to her,
269.840000 271.360000 she was cleaning her house.
271.360000 273.360000 She said, when I passed away, will you preach my funeral?
273.360000 275.440000 I said, yeah, grandma, preach your funeral.
275.440000 279.480000 But you got a long time to live.
279.480000 281.000000 Needless to say, she passed away.
281.000000 282.640000 And I went back and preached her funeral.
282.640000 284.320000 And came back to Virginia Beach.
284.320000 287.720000 And we had 16 the first time we met in that home.
287.720000 289.280000 And seven the next time.
289.280000 291.280000 How many, you know, that's a good place to stop.
291.280000 292.920000 That's a good place to quit.
292.920000 295.240000 How many, you know, that's a negative church growth.
295.240000 297.000000 That's not a positive thing.
297.000000 298.840000 You know, you just had two deaths in your family.
298.840000 301.040000 Your grandmother, your father passed away.
301.040000 305.200000 That's a good exit grant if you want to quit.
305.200000 309.280000 But how many, you know, quitters never win and winners never quit.
309.280000 310.680000 You got to keep going.
310.680000 312.360000 You got to keep pushing forward.
312.360000 314.680000 And so we began to grow in that little home.
314.680000 319.720000 And by Easter of that year, we were at 65 people in that home.
319.720000 323.320000 So we moved to Rosemont Elementary School in 1998.
323.320000 327.360000 On that Easter Sunday, we had 130 people in attendance
327.360000 328.440000 at bridge church.
328.440000 330.240000 And we were meeting in the cafeteria.
330.240000 334.400000 And my cafeteria is part cafeteria and part auditorium.
334.400000 335.400000 It was a small place.
335.400000 337.680000 But we met there for a year and a half outbrew it.
337.680000 340.280000 And then we moved to Green Run High School
340.280000 342.000000 that had a big auditorium.
342.000000 345.080000 And God blessed us without auditorium for several years,
345.080000 347.200000 about two and a half years we were there.
347.200000 350.680000 And when they were beginning to build Lands Town High School,
350.680000 352.760000 we put in for Lands Town High School.
352.760000 356.320000 But we had to move back to Rosemont Elementary School
356.320000 358.640000 before we went to Lands Town High School.
358.640000 360.680000 We didn't go into the cafeteria in that time
360.680000 361.640000 because we were too big.
361.640000 363.880000 We had to go into the gymnasium.
363.880000 366.120000 But the problem with going into the gymnasium
366.120000 368.520000 on that first Sunday is before we got there,
368.520000 371.480000 they stripped the floor, and they resealed it
371.480000 373.760000 with polyurethane.
373.760000 376.400000 Any contractors in here.
376.400000 380.840000 And so we went in, and the whole church got lit.
380.840000 383.000000 The fumes were killing us, man.
383.000000 385.480000 I'm like, whoa, I am high as a kite.
385.480000 386.840000 I've never preached high.
386.840000 388.480000 I've never been high in a day in my life
388.480000 390.440000 unless it was at the doctor's office.
390.440000 392.680000 And I was going under to have surgery or something.
392.680000 394.440000 But I was high preaching.
394.440000 396.840000 And people were rejoicing high as a kite.
396.840000 399.640000 And I had a tremendous headache preaching.
399.640000 401.880000 It was terrible.
401.880000 403.600000 I don't even know what I preached.
403.600000 404.760000 But people got saved.
404.760000 406.880000 And all I can contribute that is to the Lord
406.880000 407.880000 or the polyurethane.
407.880000 408.960000 I don't know.
408.960000 410.720000 But it was crazy.
410.720000 413.120000 Then for about three months, we ended on Lands Town High School.
413.120000 414.560000 We went into Lands Town High School
414.560000 417.040000 where we stayed three and a half years grew by 200 people.
417.040000 420.120000 We were about 400 people at that time or so.
420.120000 423.760000 And we bought this 18 acres here at 3168 Indian River Road.
423.760000 426.000000 Over the next 29 months, we paid it off.
426.000000 429.160000 It was right at $900,000 for a small church.
429.160000 433.920000 That was a big feat back in 2003, 2004.
433.920000 435.080000 And God bless.
435.080000 437.600000 But we had to move from Lands Town High School in 2006.
437.600000 439.720000 And we went to Salem Middle School.
439.720000 443.840000 Salem Middle School was not a good location for us.
443.840000 445.720000 We had to move because of Virginia Beach.
445.720000 447.920000 They make you move out of schools every so often.
447.920000 449.680000 They want you camping out very long.
449.680000 451.080000 But we went to Salem Middle School.
451.080000 453.600000 We decreased by about 20%.
453.600000 455.320000 We felt like we had to get out of there.
455.320000 457.120000 So we bought another 10 acres here.
457.120000 460.520000 Where there's 28 acres on this site that Bridge Church owns.
460.520000 464.160000 We wind out our road frontage from 600 feet.
464.160000 466.440000 I think it's 400 feet to 600 feet, I think,
466.440000 468.280000 or 800 feet somewhere around there.
468.280000 472.840000 But we wind out so we could put turning lanes in on this property.
472.840000 474.040000 And God bless.
474.040000 475.880000 And so we moved to AMC Theater.
475.880000 478.680000 AMC Theater was a radical move for us.
478.680000 480.400000 We rented about four or five theaters.
480.400000 482.560000 We had nursery, children, youth.
482.560000 484.520000 We rented out a couple of theaters for adults.
484.520000 486.200000 And man, it was crazy.
486.200000 487.800000 And on Easter we'd have one theater.
487.800000 489.120000 You could watch it from the screen.
489.120000 491.000000 And the other theater I was in person.
491.000000 492.360000 You would smell popcorn.
492.360000 493.960000 People thought they were coming to movies.
493.960000 496.720000 They ended up coming to a worship service, getting saved.
496.720000 497.600000 It was crazy.
497.600000 499.880000 It was like the Avengers on steroids.
499.880000 501.360000 And it was an awesome time.
501.360000 503.520000 We grew by about 20%.
503.520000 505.240000 We started building this property.
505.240000 508.680000 And we got on this property in 2012.
508.680000 513.240000 This first phase was about 18,500 square feet.
513.240000 517.480000 And we soon began to outgrow that and need it more expansion.
517.480000 520.840000 So we decided to do a new campus over in Greenbrough,
520.840000 522.840000 called Bridge Church Greenbrough.
522.840000 524.800000 That has three services today.
524.800000 526.080000 It's exploding.
526.080000 527.920000 We need buildings in Chesapeake.
527.920000 529.840000 Man, we're praying for a building.
529.840000 532.600000 I want you to pray during this 21 days of prayer.
532.600000 536.000000 In fact, I want you to pray that God specifically gives us a building.
536.000000 540.240000 Whether it's a corporate type building or a church building.
540.240000 542.880000 Your church recognizes that it's dying and it needs help.
542.880000 544.400000 And it wants to give us a church.
544.400000 546.080000 I like that better, amen.
546.080000 550.720000 I like giving and receiving better than buying most of this on.
550.720000 552.840000 But anyway, God will make provision.
552.840000 557.280000 And after we started Greenbrough in 2020,
557.280000 558.680000 we added on to this building.
558.680000 560.560000 In 2019, we added on to this building,
560.560000 564.680000 9,000 square feet of children's space right behind us.
564.680000 568.760000 And 2020, when we're getting ready to open it on that Easter,
568.760000 571.560000 a bug came along called COVID.
571.560000 572.440000 And messed us up.
572.440000 575.040000 We went online, did totally online.
575.040000 577.560000 And while we were online during COVID years,
577.560000 580.680000 we said, "Man, God's calling us the Currytook County,
580.680000 581.640000 Mollock area."
581.640000 586.240000 And so we launched a campus there three years ago.
586.240000 589.040000 And their average in about 425 people
589.040000 592.160000 on Sunday mornings in Currytook County right now.
592.160000 594.320000 Come on, give God a hand there in two services.
594.320000 597.680000 [APPLAUSE]
597.680000 600.320000 Well, 16 acres of land debt free down there
600.320000 602.560000 near the YMCA on 158.
602.560000 603.840000 And God's just blessing.
603.840000 607.360000 This year, we're going to break ground on a building down
607.360000 608.200000 in North Carolina.
608.200000 611.400000 It's going to cost us about $5 million.
611.400000 613.960000 So I mean, I said, wow, $5 million.
613.960000 616.760000 Prices have doubled since COVID.
616.760000 617.960000 $5 million.
617.960000 621.240000 How many of you know the gospel and salvation
621.240000 625.080000 is free, getting it out costs money.
625.080000 626.160000 Amen.
626.160000 627.960000 You can get saved in this free charge,
627.960000 629.840000 but getting that stuff out costs money.
629.840000 632.560000 And we're believing that we're going to enter that building debt free.
632.560000 633.560000 We're just believing that.
633.560000 634.640000 We're just believing God.
634.640000 635.600000 God has means.
635.600000 636.600000 God has people.
636.600000 639.520000 I mean, you know, money is in the fish's mouth.
639.520000 640.680000 Catch the fish?
640.680000 641.320000 You got money.
641.320000 642.120000 Amen.
642.120000 643.680000 And that's the principle of Jesus.
643.680000 646.000000 If you want to pay your taxes, go catch your fish.
646.000000 648.360000 And I just said the Bible.
648.360000 650.240000 I'm just quote the Bible.
650.240000 652.360000 But we moved to North Carolina.
652.360000 658.560000 And God has blessed us every step of the way.
658.560000 661.480000 And we're excited about what God's going to do in the future.
661.480000 664.560000 But before we look into the future, before we peer into the future,
664.560000 667.760000 and we see the vision, the goals that God has for us this year,
667.760000 668.760000 we want to look back.
668.760000 673.320000 I want you to turn your attention toward the screen.
673.320000 674.160000 Wow.
674.160000 679.200000 Over 1,100 people coming and making decisions at one of our campuses.
679.200000 680.480000 I just blows my mind.
680.480000 683.320000 469 people getting baptized.
683.320000 687.320000 I remember a good friend of mine gave me a prophetic word about 10 years ago.
687.320000 690.840000 Or so he said, it'll come a day of bridge church over 1,000 people a year.
690.840000 691.760000 We'll get saved.
691.760000 693.320000 We just did that last year.
693.320000 695.200000 Come on, give God a hand.
695.200000 696.200000 Come on.
696.200000 698.560000 God is good.
698.560000 701.160000 The power and the grace of God.
701.160000 704.040000 And we're going to look at Joshua chapter 1 today.
704.040000 705.200000 So I want you to take out your Bibles.
705.200000 707.200000 Turn to Joshua chapter 1.
707.200000 711.240000 Our theme for 2026 is strong and courageous.
711.240000 715.320000 And that's going to come from the verse in chapter 1, verse 5.
715.320000 719.080000 It says, no one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life.
719.080000 722.640000 As I was with Moses, so I will be with you.
722.640000 726.880000 I will never leave you nor will I forsake you.
726.880000 729.840000 We value the presence of God here at bridge church.
729.840000 732.520000 If God's presence is not here, I don't need to be here.
732.520000 735.720000 If God's presence is not here, you don't need to be here.
735.720000 739.840000 Because God's presence is of high value to us.
739.840000 742.160000 If we don't have his presence, we don't have anything.
742.160000 743.200000 We don't have his presence.
743.200000 744.920000 This is just a social click.
744.920000 746.440000 It's just a social club.
746.440000 748.760000 But the church is not a social club.
748.760000 754.880000 It is a living, breathing organism that God has breathed life into.
754.880000 758.680000 The church is God's plan A for the world.
758.680000 761.040000 And we want to be a part of God's plan.
761.040000 762.120000 So we have looked back.
762.120000 763.520000 Now we want to move forward.
763.520000 766.240000 Today I want to talk to you about moving forward.
766.240000 768.120000 Comes from this verse in verse 6.
768.120000 772.040000 It says, "Be strong and courageous.
772.040000 774.560000 Because you will lead these people to inherit the land.
774.560000 779.840000 I swore to their ancestors to give them, to give them."
779.840000 785.920000 As we move forward in 2026, we have the promise of God's presence with us.
785.920000 786.960000 And he's going to be with us.
786.960000 789.160000 Jesus said, "I will never leave you or forsake you.
789.160000 792.160000 I'll be with you to the end of the age."
792.160000 796.880000 Joshua chapter 1, the context of that because context truly matters.
796.880000 804.280000 You got to go back to chapter 34 of Deuteronomy and you see in chapter 34, God leads Moses, the great
804.280000 809.480000 prophet of Israel, the great leader of Israel to Mount Nebo.
809.480000 812.960000 And when he gets him there, he shows him the promised land.
812.960000 820.080000 And God says to him, "You can see how vast this land is, how beautiful it is, how luscious
820.080000 822.680000 and prosperous it is.
822.680000 827.840000 You can see it with your eyes, Moses, but you will not enter into the promised land."
827.840000 834.040000 The reason Moses couldn't enter into the promised land was a time in his life where he disobeyed
834.040000 835.040000 God.
835.040000 841.440000 God told him to speak to a rock and when he would speak to the rock, water would flow so that
841.440000 846.720000 the people, the children of Israel could drink and quench their thirst.
846.720000 853.000000 But he hit the rock like he did in previous times and he disobeyed God, but water did flow
853.000000 855.480000 from the rock in his disobedience.
855.480000 856.480000 Why?
856.480000 862.720000 Because God will bless the people even if you're disobedient.
862.720000 868.960000 There have been times in pastoral ministry where God has blessed the people even when the
868.960000 873.520000 pastor has walked in disobedience because God loves people.
873.520000 874.680000 Amen?
874.680000 876.000000 That's a principle.
876.000000 879.800000 And so he cannot enter the promised land.
879.800000 887.500000 The Bible says that Moses died and God buried him in the region of Moab.
887.500000 892.480000 And to that day, nobody knew where Moses was buried.
892.480000 893.480000 Let me tell you something.
893.480000 898.080000 When God buries you, nobody can find you.
898.080000 904.480000 God buried Moses and to this day, nobody knows where God buried Moses because God did not
904.480000 912.040000 want the people of Israel to set up a shrine and worship at the altar of their great leader,
912.040000 913.040000 Moses.
913.040000 915.960000 I mean, oh, God is trying to get us to move forward.
915.960000 920.440000 As great as 2025 was and it was a great year for bridge church.
920.440000 927.080000 We broke every, every goal that we had, everything we did exceeding, abundantly above all that
927.080000 932.920000 we could ask or think God did that through us, but as great as that was, God doesn't want
932.920000 935.240000 us to camp out in 2025.
935.240000 943.520000 He doesn't want us to get lost in the glamour of 2025 because God is mobile and Jesus says,
943.520000 944.520000 come follow me.
944.520000 951.480000 Jesus is constantly walking and God is mobile, so we have to follow Him into 2026.
951.480000 955.080000 We have to move forward into 2026.
955.080000 959.200000 Now God gave the Israelites time to mourn the death of Moses.
959.200000 961.240000 He gave them 30 days.
961.240000 966.240000 He says, boys, it's time to turn your face toward the promised land.
966.240000 973.240000 The Bible says in chapter 34 of Deuteronomy that Joshua was filled with the spirit of wisdom
973.240000 975.760000 because Moses had laid his hands on him.
975.760000 980.880000 There was an impartation of grace, there was an impartation of wisdom and anointing that
980.880000 982.920000 came on Joshua.
982.920000 984.880000 Joshua was not a better man.
984.880000 987.560000 He was just the next man.
987.560000 988.560000 That's a good, right?
988.560000 990.720000 That's a good amen point right there.
990.720000 992.440000 Joshua was not better than Moses.
992.440000 995.280000 He was just the next man in line.
995.280000 999.120000 God didn't camp out in chapter 34 of Deuteronomy.
999.120000 1000.440000 God flipped the script.
1000.440000 1008.240000 He flipped the page and in chapter 1 of Joshua, he says this, the Joshua, my servant Moses
1008.240000 1010.240000 is dead.
1010.240000 1018.520000 God used five words to transition a nation for mourning to possessing the promises that
1018.520000 1020.400000 he had for him.
1020.400000 1027.120000 And he told Joshua to arise, you're going to lead these people into the promised land.
1027.120000 1029.680000 You got to get up, Joshua.
1029.680000 1031.360000 No longer a mourn.
1031.360000 1032.560000 That was a season.
1032.560000 1037.600000 I did great things with Moses through his hands, through his life, but I want to do something
1037.600000 1039.120000 through you.
1039.120000 1042.560000 Some of you need to close the page on 2025.
1042.560000 1046.080000 You're in 2026 and you're still thinking about 2025.
1046.080000 1051.680000 You need to allow God to close that page because he has a destiny and a purpose for your life
1051.680000 1059.480000 and your windshield is a whole lot larger than your rearview mirror or your backup camera.
1059.480000 1061.480000 God has a destiny for you.
1061.480000 1066.480000 And if you live in the past, you will never possess the promises God has for you.
1066.480000 1070.480000 You cannot move forward while looking back.
1070.480000 1076.640000 God wants to move bridge church forward into his promises, but moving forward will require
1076.640000 1077.640000 two things.
1077.640000 1079.120000 Number one, we've got to be strong.
1079.120000 1081.400000 Say, be strong.
1081.400000 1089.080000 Ephesians 6, 10 says, finally, be strong in the Lord and the power of his might.
1089.080000 1094.880000 Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.
1094.880000 1100.880000 In the Greek, it actually means allow God to strengthen you in your inner man.
1100.880000 1108.120000 I mean, a lot of us are physically and outwardly strong, but some of us are anemic in our spirits.
1108.120000 1110.760000 We're not strong in our spiritual man.
1110.760000 1113.160000 We're not strong in the things of God.
1113.160000 1119.200000 So if you're going to move forward, I'm all about exercising and lifting weights and doing
1119.200000 1126.000000 all kind of aerobics, if you need that, and Paul even said, you know, bodily exercise
1126.000000 1132.520000 profits, literally, it has some profit to it, but a greater profit is getting your spiritual
1132.520000 1139.360000 man in order and strong so you can handle and do what God wants you to do in 2026.
1139.360000 1145.120000 He says, be strong in the Lord and in the power of what?
1145.120000 1146.120000 His might.
1146.120000 1152.160000 Not my strength, it's his strength, I'm just aligning my life up with his will.
1152.160000 1157.880000 When we look at 2026, some of us get real ambitious and we go out on our own and we say, we're
1157.880000 1161.960000 going to do this, but the kingdom is not about your ambition.
1161.960000 1167.280000 It's about your alignment with God and my aligning myself up with the things and the purpose
1167.280000 1173.200000 of God for my life, I can become very ambitious because I'm a high-depersonality.
1173.200000 1176.000000 I've run over you if you get in the way.
1176.000000 1179.760000 If you're too slow, you got to get out of the way, that's just my personality.
1179.760000 1182.600000 I've been like that since I was two.
1182.600000 1186.720000 I was probably like that in the womb, I was probably kicking my mama and she probably
1186.720000 1193.880000 kicked me when I came out, but I can get into my own ambition by learned over the course
1193.880000 1194.880000 of my life.
1194.880000 1201.640000 It's not about my ambition, it's about my alignment with the will of God from my life.
1201.640000 1207.320000 So Paul, who is a spiritual man in the New Testament, he was a apostle.
1207.320000 1208.320000 He was called by God.
1208.320000 1210.920000 He has a spiritual son called Timothy.
1210.920000 1219.400000 And in 2 Timothy 2.1, he tells Timothy to be strong in the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
1219.400000 1220.840000 Be strong.
1220.840000 1224.360000 That wasn't the only time Paul told Timothy to be strong.
1224.360000 1234.560000 And if you read the writings of Paul, he tells Timothy to be strong or courageous 25 times.
1234.560000 1237.640000 I don't know what was up with Timothy.
1237.640000 1242.640000 If somebody has to tell you 25 times to be strong, maybe you're a little insecure and he
1242.640000 1247.280000 probably was because we never see his dad in the picture, but we know he had a grandmother
1247.280000 1251.520000 and he had a mother because what was on him came from them.
1251.520000 1255.880000 So maybe he was a little bit insecure because he didn't have a physical father in the home
1255.880000 1261.160000 and his spiritual father, Paul, had to constantly tell him to be strong and the Lord in the grace
1261.160000 1262.840000 of the Lord Jesus Christ.
1262.840000 1268.080000 Notice he didn't tell Timothy to be strong in his power, his might, his ability, his talent,
1268.080000 1272.760000 his intellect, his money, he said, "No, you've got to be strong in the grace of the Lord Jesus
1272.760000 1273.760000 Christ."
1273.760000 1281.480000 25 times, he says that so being strong is something that has to come upon us.
1281.480000 1285.720000 If we're going to move forward in 2026, we've got to be strong.
1285.720000 1290.160000 Not only do we need to be strong, but we've got to be courageous.
1290.160000 1292.000000 Be courageous.
1292.000000 1295.800000 Be people and men and women of courage.
1295.800000 1304.520000 First Corinthians 16 13 says, "Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith.
1304.520000 1307.840000 Be courageous."
1307.840000 1310.920000 Be courageous.
1310.920000 1318.960000 Be courageous in the Greek actually is translated more literally in most translations.
1318.960000 1324.160000 It says, "Act like men."
1324.160000 1327.160000 Paul wasn't just talking to biological men.
1327.160000 1329.080000 He was talking to women also.
1329.080000 1331.520000 He was saying, "Be strong.
1331.520000 1339.200000 Be courageous, be resolute, be firm, be growing in the faith, be strengthened in your
1339.200000 1340.200000 inner man."
1340.200000 1346.120000 He is telling them to act like men to be strong, because the day in which we live in, we need
1346.120000 1352.320000 people who are strong in spirit, strong in vision, strong in their calling and strong in
1352.320000 1354.200000 their alignment with God.
1354.200000 1358.640000 How many, you know, you can come to church and still be out of alignment.
1358.640000 1361.960000 You can come to church and still live your own life.
1361.960000 1364.800000 You can come to church and still have your own agenda.
1364.800000 1366.520000 You can have your own aspirations.
1366.520000 1367.840000 You can have your own vision.
1367.840000 1372.140000 You can have your own mission separated from the vision, the mission, the purpose of God
1372.140000 1373.140000 for your life.
1373.140000 1378.640000 And you begin to live out of your own flesh and not out of the spirit of God.
1378.640000 1380.880000 So he says, "I want you to align your life.
1380.880000 1382.640000 I want you to act like men.
1382.640000 1384.120000 I want you to be strong.
1384.120000 1385.760000 I want you to be courageous.
1385.760000 1388.000000 I want you to walk with me."
1388.000000 1393.920000 So what God is saying, saying church, bridge church, I want you to be strong.
1393.920000 1395.480000 I want you to be courageous.
1395.480000 1400.120000 Why? because God has something in store for us.
1400.120000 1401.880000 It's greatest 2025 was.
1401.880000 1405.560000 I believe 2026 is going to be even greater.
1405.560000 1407.960000 I don't know what to what dimension.
1407.960000 1412.600000 I don't try to pin God and push him in a corner and make him do something.
1412.600000 1417.640000 God is not a genie in a bottle that you manipulate.
1417.640000 1423.600000 God is a spirit mean that you align yourself with.
1423.600000 1425.680000 Some of us use God as a genie.
1425.680000 1427.480000 Get me out of this problem, God.
1427.480000 1430.560000 My wife's coming home.
1430.560000 1432.760000 Get me out.
1432.760000 1434.400000 My children are not in crazy.
1434.400000 1435.720000 Come on, genie, God.
1435.720000 1436.720000 Come.
1436.720000 1437.720000 Discipline them.
1437.720000 1439.600000 No, no, no, no, no, no.
1439.600000 1444.520000 God's not going to do something that he's empowered you to do.
1444.520000 1450.200000 Oh, I just, that was a backhand, just if you call it.
1450.200000 1451.680000 God come, get me out of debt.
1451.680000 1456.440000 No, he's empowered you to get wealth and to manage the wealth that he's given you.
1456.440000 1459.920000 Get on a budget, 2026, amen.
1459.920000 1466.720000 See, we're always praying for things for God to do when he's empowered us to do that.
1466.720000 1472.520000 Even in the old covenant, he told the children of Israel, he says, I empower you to get wealth.
1472.520000 1476.440000 God's empowered you to go out and do what he's called you to do.
1476.440000 1481.080000 So quit, stop praying about things that he's already empowered you to do.
1481.080000 1485.720000 Just move with God, cover it in prayer, but step out in faith and keep walking.
1485.720000 1490.880000 So Joshua had to move from where he was at to where God wanted him to go and God tells
1490.880000 1494.600000 him to be strong and courageous, not just one time.
1494.600000 1501.360000 I don't know Joshua's lineage at this moment, but God four times in chapter one tells him
1501.360000 1503.400000 be strong and courageous.
1503.400000 1505.920000 Joshua, be strong and courageous.
1505.920000 1509.000000 Joshua, be strong and courageous.
1509.000000 1510.560000 The last verse in chapter one.
1510.560000 1519.480000 Now only, the only thing I want you to do, Joshua, be strong and courageous because I'm going
1519.480000 1523.200000 to allow you to lead these people into the promised land.
1523.200000 1527.200000 Yeah, there's going to be enemies, there's going to be bad guys, there's going to be obstacles
1527.200000 1530.880000 that are going to be adversity, but if you'll keep following me and if you'll keep being
1530.880000 1535.000000 strong and courageous, I will lead you into the promised land.
1535.000000 1539.680000 So as we look into 2026, here's some goals that we have for 2026.
1539.680000 1546.120000 Number one, we want to see 1500 people make decisions for Christ, 1500 salvation.
1546.120000 1547.280000 We believe we can do that.
1547.280000 1548.280000 How does that happen?
1548.280000 1553.680000 It happens when all of us understand that we're all called to ministry.
1553.680000 1555.800000 Ministry is not for professionals.
1555.800000 1559.520000 Come on, amateurs built the ark.
1559.520000 1561.480000 Professionals built the Titanic.
1561.480000 1563.800000 Which one would you get on?
1563.800000 1567.240000 Hey man, that's a good preacher right there.
1567.240000 1569.360000 I'm not going there.
1569.360000 1573.400000 You say, I've got to be trained for 14 years before I can lead somebody to Christ.
1573.400000 1575.400000 No, no, you have a testimony.
1575.400000 1576.400000 You've been tested.
1576.400000 1577.400000 You've been tried.
1577.400000 1578.720000 Tell somebody you're tested.
1578.720000 1581.280000 Invite them to bridge church, a life giving church.
1581.280000 1586.160000 You'd be a part of the process that God is walking them through.
1586.160000 1587.680000 500 water baptisms.
1587.680000 1590.200000 We want to see people take that next step.
1590.200000 1594.000000 If you haven't been baptized, you need to sign up and get baptized.
1594.000000 1596.960000 300,000 first time guests coming through.
1596.960000 1598.960000 How does that happen?
1598.960000 1602.640000 It happens when we become a witness.
1602.640000 1609.760000 Ladies, when you get your nails done, invite your nails to a long person day.
1609.760000 1615.800000 When you shop in Walmart or Hairs teeter, you know, wherever you shop, invite people.
1615.800000 1621.440000 Your neighbors, your friends, your enemies, the people you like, the people you don't like,
1621.440000 1626.360000 the people you don't like, you might like them after they get sick.
1626.360000 1628.160000 Because God transforms their heart.
1628.160000 1629.160000 We become a part of that.
1629.160000 1632.520000 We want to see 450 people get into starting point.
1632.520000 1636.960000 Take that next step and get connected to bridge church, because you can't live out there
1636.960000 1641.080000 just in Lala land without connections.
1641.080000 1645.000000 God is ordained for you to be a part of a local body, He's ordained for me.
1645.000000 1646.720000 How many of you know?
1646.720000 1649.240000 I'm just playing my part up here.
1649.240000 1654.440000 There are some weeks I don't want to preach, but I know it's my part.
1654.440000 1656.680000 So I preach.
1656.680000 1662.440000 My part is no more important than your part, if you're playing your part.
1662.440000 1664.520000 That's good right there.
1664.520000 1666.240000 Are you playing a part?
1666.240000 1668.000000 Are you connected?
1668.000000 1669.000000 Are you leading?
1669.000000 1673.040000 There are so many places you get connected at bridge church and you play your part.
1673.040000 1679.080000 The body grows as each individual part plays its part as it gets connected, Paul says.
1679.080000 1682.280000 It gives life to the body and we grow up into maturity.
1682.280000 1688.160000 We want 40% of adults and small groups.
1688.160000 1691.520000 Small groups coming up February, first week in February, you can start signing up.
1691.520000 1694.840000 I think we can start signing up today.
1694.840000 1696.360000 Not today, next week.
1696.360000 1699.560000 Scott said no.
1699.560000 1702.280000 Next week you can sign up.
1702.280000 1707.040000 You can sign up and get in a small group and say, "I don't know if I don't know about
1707.040000 1710.440000 these people, be strong and courageous.
1710.440000 1711.440000 People are people.
1711.440000 1715.960000 It doesn't matter if you meet them in Wal-Mart or in church, people are people.
1715.960000 1718.200000 Sheep bite.
1718.200000 1720.600000 People have problems.
1720.600000 1722.720000 People are cray cray.
1722.720000 1726.480000 But you'll get connected and you'll find out, "Hey man, we've got a lot in common.
1726.480000 1728.080000 We're all growing in grace.
1728.080000 1729.240000 We all have situations.
1729.240000 1730.560000 We all have problems.
1730.560000 1731.560000 Get connected.
1731.560000 1732.840000 Here's our vision.
1732.840000 1734.600000 Free prong vision approach this year.
1734.600000 1740.720000 We're going to continue to build out Breeze School of Ministry, BSM.
1740.720000 1743.600000 Last year we had our first year of BSM.
1743.600000 1748.000000 It's going to help people, you know, in business, help people in ministry.
1748.000000 1749.720000 Maybe you just want to know the Bible better.
1749.720000 1752.040000 We have some great Bible teachers.
1752.040000 1756.080000 These guys have M.D.S., I have a doctorate in theology.
1756.080000 1757.200000 We teach this stuff.
1757.200000 1761.680000 This is not easy stuff, you know, but we want you to go deep.
1761.680000 1766.320000 Come, you know, our church can't go broad if it doesn't go deep, can't go up if it doesn't
1766.320000 1767.840000 go deep.
1767.840000 1773.360000 See the most important part to any structure, any organization is its foundation.
1773.360000 1778.360000 The part you can't see in this building is more important than the part that you can see.
1778.360000 1780.760000 The foundation of this building, I watched it.
1780.760000 1786.080000 It went way down at the corners and multiple places and there's a lot of concrete, a lot
1786.080000 1789.040000 of rebar in the foundation of this building.
1789.040000 1790.800000 And that's the way the church has to be.
1790.800000 1793.040000 It has to be strong foundationally.
1793.040000 1796.580000 How do we get there by growing in grace?
1796.580000 1800.600000 So if you want to sign up for BSM, you can do that on the tap plate today.
1800.600000 1801.600000 Sign up.
1801.600000 1804.240000 We're going to have an informational meeting in about three weeks.
1804.240000 1808.920000 And we're going to see you grow in grace, whether it's in worship, whether it's in business,
1808.920000 1813.880000 whether it's just studying the Word of God and theology, whatever it is, God wants you
1813.880000 1814.880000 to grow.
1814.880000 1815.880000 Number two, bridge podcasts.
1815.880000 1817.280000 We've got two podcasts.
1817.280000 1819.800000 One for men and one for women.
1819.800000 1823.720000 The first one is, is a podcast called reset.
1823.720000 1824.720000 I'm going to be doing that.
1824.720000 1825.720000 I'm going to be leading that.
1825.720000 1828.040000 We're going to be talking all things men.
1828.040000 1831.600000 How many, you know, men, we need men to act like men.
1831.600000 1833.440000 We need to talk about men issues.
1833.440000 1836.800000 We need to talk about their frustrations, their likes, their dislikes.
1836.800000 1838.760000 And we're going to do that on podcast form.
1838.760000 1842.560000 We'll have people come in, we'll have guests and it's going to be awesome.
1842.560000 1846.600000 We want you to just plug into that and grow as we grow.
1846.600000 1847.600000 And there's another one.
1847.600000 1852.760000 Why it's going to be leading all things women and health and spiritual health and physical
1852.760000 1854.440000 health, call for my father.
1854.440000 1856.360000 You want to be a part of that.
1856.360000 1858.800000 And then number three, this is the big one.
1858.800000 1863.640000 This one might not totally be accomplished this year, but we're headed that way, our bridge
1863.640000 1864.640000 Norfolk campus.
1864.640000 1866.960000 We're going to launch a new campus in Norfolk.
1866.960000 1872.160000 And let me tell you something about this, yeah.
1872.160000 1873.360000 Let me tell you about this.
1873.360000 1878.560000 Because I was praying and thinking about campuses and where's God taking us next.
1878.560000 1880.320000 I skipped over Norfolk.
1880.320000 1885.120000 I skipped over P-town, if you don't know what that is, that's porcelain.
1885.120000 1886.280000 And I went all the way to Suffolk.
1886.280000 1888.600000 I said, "Lord, I want to go to Suffolk.
1888.600000 1890.000000 I want to go to Suffolk."
1890.000000 1892.920000 Well, because I just felt like that was a lot easier.
1892.920000 1895.480000 And I was praying and God said Norfolk.
1895.480000 1896.480000 I just heard him.
1896.480000 1901.320000 I just sensed the presence of God, saying Norfolk, Norfolk.
1901.320000 1903.320000 I said, "God, you don't know what you're talking about."
1903.320000 1908.160000 I don't want to go to Norfolk.
1908.160000 1909.160000 It's like the pernium.
1909.160000 1911.880000 Can any good thing come from there?
1911.880000 1912.880000 Yeah.
1912.880000 1920.760000 And I was like, "God, Norfolk, that seems impossible, finding a building, finding an area
1920.760000 1921.760000 to meet."
1921.760000 1924.560000 But since that's so deep in my heart, he said Norfolk.
1924.560000 1929.960000 And so we're going to start building that through recruiting a campus pastor and a team
1929.960000 1932.520000 and a worship team to eventually go to Norfolk.
1932.520000 1935.560000 They might not be by the end of this year, but they'd probably be by the middle of next
1935.560000 1936.560000 year.
1936.560000 1937.560000 But we're building that team.
1937.560000 1943.760000 And I want you to pray over these next 21 days, over these three things, BSM or podcasts
1943.760000 1945.160000 and our new campus.
1945.160000 1948.760000 Let me tell you something about our campuses, the three campuses that we have now.
1948.760000 1951.960000 Every one of them have run out of space.
1951.960000 1953.680000 Every one of them.
1953.680000 1955.480000 And we need buildings.
1955.480000 1957.120000 And we need God to come through big time.
1957.120000 1959.680000 If God doesn't come through, it won't happen.
1959.680000 1965.280000 I mean, if you're a vision, if you can accomplish your vision in your own power, you don't have
1965.280000 1968.680000 God's vision.
1968.680000 1972.720000 What we do, it takes faith in God.
1972.720000 1974.840000 It takes the supernatural.
1974.840000 1981.080000 Even when we bought this land for $900,000 and we bought another 10 acres for $500,000 out
1981.080000 1986.840000 here, that was probably 1.4 million with just a few people.
1986.840000 1989.440000 Our church wasn't big back then.
1989.440000 1992.960000 And there were people from the city, this one guy came and he talked to me and said, "Man,
1992.960000 1995.000000 they're never going to let you build a building out there."
1995.000000 1997.200000 I said, "That's okay, bro.
1997.200000 1998.200000 That's all right.
1998.200000 2002.600000 Two years after we build a building, that dude's sitting on the second row with his wife and
2002.600000 2004.000000 his kid.
2004.000000 2007.800000 He's worshipping in a building that he said the city would never let us build.
2007.800000 2008.800000 Why?
2008.800000 2012.120000 Because faith in God can do anything.
2012.120000 2013.120000 Faith in God.
2013.120000 2014.120000 We have faith in God.
2014.120000 2015.720000 That's all we have.
2015.720000 2016.720000 That's all we can do.
2016.720000 2018.440000 That's all we can trust in.
2018.440000 2020.840000 We can put our trust in God.
2020.840000 2023.680000 We can fix our eyes on Jesus in 26.
2023.680000 2026.000000 My wife came up with that.
2026.000000 2027.000000 I didn't.
2027.000000 2028.000000 2026.
2028.000000 2029.000000 Fix.
2029.000000 2031.120000 Fix your eyes on Jesus.
2031.120000 2032.200000 Trust in Jesus.
2032.200000 2033.520000 Believe Jesus.
2033.520000 2041.000000 We'll attain the promises of God because God's presence is with us.
2041.000000 2042.920000 This is not ambition for me.
2042.920000 2045.320000 This is divine alignment.
2045.320000 2047.880000 I see every year, Lord, I just want to align my soul with you.
2047.880000 2049.880000 I want to align my spirit with you.
2049.880000 2052.600000 Whatever you want, Lord, you can speak it.
2052.600000 2054.080000 You can do it.
2054.080000 2055.120000 I'm just playing a role here.
2055.120000 2056.120000 I'm just playing a part.
2056.120000 2057.720000 But I want to do my part.
2057.720000 2058.720000 Let me ask you this.
2058.720000 2060.560000 Will you do your part?
2060.560000 2064.000000 Some of you have to discover your part.
2064.000000 2065.320000 Where do I connect here?
2065.320000 2072.840000 I want you to stand with me.
2072.840000 2078.960000 There's a verse in Psalm 90, verse 17, and Moses wrote this Psalm, Psalm 90.
2078.960000 2084.520000 And it says this, "May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us.
2084.520000 2086.840000 Establish the work of our hands for us.
2086.840000 2091.080000 Yes, establish the work of our hands."
2091.080000 2094.600000 And that's my prayer this year for Bridge Church.
2094.600000 2101.640000 That God's favor would be upon us, and that God would establish the work of our hands.
2101.640000 2105.480000 If God establishes the work of your hands, guess what?
2105.480000 2106.400000 Things happen.
2106.400000 2115.040000 I like what Proverbs 16 says, "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed."
2115.040000 2119.800000 The only way this is going to happen, the vision, the goals of Bridge Church, the future, is
2119.800000 2126.320000 if we commit our plan to the Lord, and God will make it succeed.
2126.320000 2134.200000 So I want you to take your hands, unsaved, saved like you're just a seeker in this place.
2134.200000 2136.680000 I want you to take your hands and do just like this.
2136.680000 2138.320000 Guys, you can do it.
2138.320000 2142.340000 I know that doesn't feel manly sometimes, but I want you to take it because I'm going to
2142.340000 2144.920000 pray over your hands.
2144.920000 2149.720000 Some of you got dreams, some of you got goals, some of you got visions.
2149.720000 2158.680000 God wants to establish the work of your hands, and the hands that push Bridge Church forward.
2158.680000 2162.920000 Lord right now, I pray for every hand in this place.
2162.920000 2170.080000 I pray right now that favor would come upon people, that a supernatural grace would come
2170.080000 2182.520000 upon men, women, marriages, business men, business women, educators, lawyers, doctors, contractors.
2182.520000 2188.880000 I pray that you would establish the work of their hands.
2188.880000 2194.840000 A supernatural establishment, God that they would walk through doors that open, that they
2194.840000 2200.800000 couldn't open themselves because favor has opened those doors.
2200.800000 2205.400000 God I just pray for supernatural increase on Bridge Church, on every level.
2205.400000 2208.320000 God we thank you for what you did in 2025.
2208.320000 2212.280000 God we give you all the honor, we give you all the praise, we give you all the glory, it
2212.280000 2215.240000 was not done by human hands, it was done by you Lord.
2215.240000 2221.560000 We partner with you and show power that accomplishes all this stuff through us.
2221.560000 2224.520000 So establish the work of our hands Lord.
2224.520000 2232.320000 Make our hands strong, make our hearts courageous, make our lives count for your glory.
2232.320000 2237.520000 Bless your people this year in a supernatural way whether they're in the building or outside
2237.520000 2239.320000 of the building today.
2239.320000 2244.920000 I pray for a divine, a divine favor to rest on Bridge Church.
2244.920000 2247.000000 I thank you for your presence Lord.
2247.000000 2250.800000 We want your presence more than anything in this world.
2250.800000 2256.320000 But you can take our houses, our land, our cars, but don't take your presence from us.
2256.320000 2259.400000 We need your presence.
2259.400000 2262.960000 God we're totally lying on you today.
2262.960000 2264.760000 Bless your people.
2264.760000 2267.320000 God bless Bridge Church.
2267.320000 2271.800000 God as we move forward we just believe supernatural things are going to happen.
2271.800000 2274.240000 So this year we're going to be strong and courageous.
2274.240000 2277.200000 Bless the next 21 days of prayer and fasting.
2277.200000 2280.080000 God as we walk through this devotional guide.
2280.080000 2288.000000 I just pray God that you would just supernaturally show yourself strong in families, in marriages,
2288.000000 2291.720000 in finances, physical bodies.
2291.720000 2299.600000 God mental illness, depression, stress.
2299.600000 2303.360000 God going to be broken over this fast in Jesus' name.
2303.360000 2305.880000 God as we trust in you.
2305.880000 2311.280000 And everyone say, Amen, come on, give the Lord a hand clap of praise.
2311.280000 2312.880000 That is good.
2312.880000 2314.548688 (audience applauds)