EP 93: Faith Under Fire: When Trust Becomes a Test

Summary

In Totality with Megan Ashley

Episode 93: Faith Under Fire: When Trust Becomes a Test
Date: October 21, 2025
Guests: Megan Ashley (Host), Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell

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Main Theme

This episode is a deeply honest conversation about suffering, faith, and spiritual maturity. Megan Ashley and her pastor, Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell, dig into what it truly means to trust God when life doesn’t make sense—when “faith is under fire.” Through personal stories, biblical examples, and vulnerable reflections, they discuss how God uses suffering and delayed answers not only for His glory but for the shaping of mature, Christlike character. Listeners are challenged to view hardship as fertile ground for growth, obedience, and deeper intimacy with God.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Challenge of God’s Timing in Suffering

• Megan’s Struggle with Unanswered Prayer

  • Megan shares her ongoing battle over her kids’ school situation and the emotional toll of not sensing God’s intervention on her timeline.
  • She references the biblical story of Jairus and the woman with the issue of blood to illustrate the tension between urgent needs and God's seemingly slow response.
  • Quote (Megan, 07:11): “Because what was urgent to Jairus wasn’t urgent to Jesus.”

• Pastor Mitchell on Divine Delays

  • He connects this to the story of Lazarus, pointing out how Jesus intentionally waits so God’s glory can be maximized.
  • Quote (Mitchell, 08:30): “All this timing sets up an opportunity for God to be glorified...God’s timing sets up an opportunity for the Lord to get glory. And in our suffering, we can’t see that.”

2. Mature Faith is Forged Through Endurance—Not Comfort

• Pain and Maturity

  • Both Megan and Pastor Mitchell reflect on how enduring struggles over years has shaped their spiritual strength, not just their public “mountaintops.”
  • Mitchell emphasizes the New Testament’s focus on maturity and formation over personal happiness.
  • Quote (Mitchell, 14:03): “At the basement of the New Testament ... God is more concerned about us looking like His Son than us being happy. It is a journey in character development.”

• The Price of Platforms

  • Public ministry often comes with unseen private suffering. Envy of others’ influence ignores the costly path behind the scenes.
  • Quote (Mitchell, 19:14): “There is no anointing without a price paid. Men and women are not made on mountaintops. They are made in the secret place.”

3. Suffering Linked to Character-shaping and Intimacy with God

• Examples from Real Ministry
  • Megan and Pastor Mitchell recall the enormous spiritual warfare and personal cost involved in organizing significant Christian gatherings, such as the Acts 2:42 conference.
  • Suffering is not wasted—God forges intimacy, character, and deeper trust through it.
  • Quote (Mitchell, 29:01): “What you paid to get in the room cannot even compare to what they paid in private for you to be in that room.”

4. The Call to Serious, Sacrificial Christianity (Romans 12)

• Defining a Serious Christian Life

  • Megan asks for Pauline clarity on what it means to live “in totality”—to offer one’s whole self as a ‘living sacrifice.’
  • Quote (Mitchell, 38:44): “A serious Christianity for me is a Christianity that’s lived on an altar as a complete sacrifice as unto the Lord ... a yes without compromise and a yes without a back door.”

• Reverence and Surrender

  • The discussion pivots to the lack of reverence for God in Western Christianity and how a full grasp of God’s holiness and the weight of the cross compels total surrender.
  • Quote (Mitchell, 45:49): “In light of what Christ has done for you on the cross ... the only right response to Romans 1–11 ... is a life of complete surrender.”

5. Navigating Growing Ministry and Fame

• The Burden and Stewardship of Influence

  • As both Megan and 2819 (Mitchell’s church) experience exponential growth, they share about the responsibilities and temptations that come with a growing platform.
  • Mitchell’s Exhortation (62:10): “As God continues to elevate you, stay humble, fight for purity, remember who gave you this platform ... the higher he takes your platform, go lower in humility and purity.”

• Crowds and Motives

  • Pastor Mitchell addresses both those who come to the church hungry for God and those attracted by hype. His response is to steward revival and trust God to change hearts, regardless of people’s reasons for coming.
  • Quote (Mitchell, 58:33): “Let them come for hype ... if they stay long enough, their hearts will be transformed.”

6. Journal Prompt for Deeper Reflection

• Practical Application (65:36):
  • “Reflect on something you’ve gone through that has been very difficult and traumatic ... write what did you learn going through that? How did God shape your character? ... Or for those currently suffering, write about what you sense God may be doing in you in this moment, and how you can better embrace suffering for the glory of Christ.” (Mitchell, 65:36)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Suffering and Maturity

  • “There is no maturation without suffering, pain, hardship, trials—it does not exist. And if we would embrace that in our country, we will get to the place of maturity where we look over our shoulder and be like, ‘Lord, thank you for what you allowed me to go through ... you have formed something in me that would not have been formed had I not gone through that.’” (Mitchell, 17:12)

• On Pain’s Role in Ministry

  • “My ministry is a mountaintop, any metric that can be measured ... that has not brought me complete satisfaction in my soul. Intimacy with Christ in my prayer closet ... and the character it takes to sustain a ministry at this level—that character came from 12 years of pain when nobody knew my name.” (Mitchell, 18:04)

• On Surrender in Romans 12

  • “Your real worship is submitting and sacrificing and presenting your body as a living sacrifice. That’s what’s been the difference.” (Megan, 45:27)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• God’s Timing in Suffering & Biblical Stories: 03:41–09:51
• Pain & Maturity and the Role of Suffering: 12:49–19:40
• The Hidden Cost of Platforms & Ministry: 19:40–24:35
• Acts 2:42 Conference: Behind the Scenes Suffering: 26:48–34:09
• Romans 12 & Serious Christianity: 36:14–46:41
• Handling Growth, Hype & Stewardship at 2819: 49:41–61:35
• Personal Discipleship & Stewarding Your Platform: 62:01–64:54
• Journal Prompt for Healing & Growth: 65:36–66:43

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The Tone

• Authentic, candid, sometimes tearful, but ultimately hopeful and grounded in a love for God and a hunger for spiritual depth.
• Both Pastor Mitchell and Megan Ashley keep it real about their struggles, doubts, and the hidden battles behind their public faith and leadership.

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Takeaways for Listeners

• Embrace Suffering as Transformation: Trials are not the exception but the context in which God forges faith, maturity, and deeper dependence on Him.
• Do Not Covet Others’ Platforms: Visible influence is built on unseen pain and perseverance.
• Serious Faith Requires Total Surrender: God desires the entirety of your life—no compromise, no ‘back door’—rooted in awe of His holiness and the reality of the cross.
• Stewardship Over Ownership: Whatever ministry, audience, or platform you have, remember: you’re a steward, not an owner—stay humble and pure.
• Reflection Is Crucial: Slow down and process your pain; see how God is shaping you through it and give Him glory on the other side.

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Closing Journal Prompt

Reflect on a difficult season you’ve walked through:

• What did God develop in you through it?
• How did your view of Him change?
• For current hardships, ask: What might God be forming in you right now?

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A rich, honest, and practical episode for every believer wrestling with suffering, success, and the true cost of faith.

Transcript

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Morning, Zoe. Got donuts.

[Megan Ashley]

Jeff Bridges, why are you still living above our garage?

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

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[Megan Ashley]

Oh no, I'm not really prepared. I couldn't possibly at t mobile get the new iPhone 17 Pro on them. It's designed to be the most powerful iPhone yet and has the ultimate pro camera system.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

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[Megan Ashley]

Nice. Jeffrey, you heard them.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

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[Megan Ashley]

Dude, my work here is done.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

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[Megan Ashley]

Listen. If you've been blessed by In Totality the podcast, then I want to personally invite you to go deeper by joining our Patreon community called the Village. Every Tuesday morning, the Village members get early access to the full episode of the podcast two days before it drops publicly on YouTube. So while everyone else is waiting, you're already soaking it in. But that's just the beginning of As a Village member, you get exclusive access to the In Totality docu series. It's a behind the scenes look at how I walk on my faith in real life. No filters, no fluff, just real moments of me trusting the Lord, processing life and growing in truth. We also do live book club zoom calls where we read and grow together in the Word. I'm not just talking at you, we're walking through it together. Asking questions from wrestling through scriptures, learning to follow Christ more fully. You know, like that Romans 12. You'll also get bonus content, extra conversations with podcast guests that go even deeper, plus moments that didn't make it to the episode but were just too good not to share. And one more thing, when you join the Village, you get first access to merch before it drops public. So if you love the message and you want to rep the movement, you. You'll get first dibs every time. But more than the content, the Village is about community. It's a safe place for believers to connect and grow and be reminded that you're not doing this walk alone. You're a part of something real. We're building something special and we would love for you to be a part. So hit pause. Go to www.patreon.com meganashley and join today and I'll meet you there. What's up you guys? Welcome back to part two of my episode with my pastor, my big brother, Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell. Here's what you can expect for this week's episode.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

I feel heat right now. Just let me, let me just speak freely. And I don't like this one in totality. Right. Because we in America. One of the biggest mistakes of my ministry career. You're asking me this on the podcast?

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Really? Dang, I'm about to cry. People going to think we depressed. Like let's keep it real. What? Camera's mine right here. A family. I'm going to say what you would not say. Okay.

[Megan Ashley]

Foreign. So another part of suffering that I feel and that I'm even experiencing right now. And you know this because you have been walking with this with me with a specific thing regarding my kids school location. I have been battling this since the end of last year. And one thing that I think is it that makes it hard to suffer is timing and, and knowing that God's timing isn't our timing. And I, and I thought about this morning, I thought about in the scriptures where we're taken to the woman with the issue of blood. And Jesus is, is on his way to Gyrus's house because Gyrus's daughter is getting ready to die. And Gyrus is, is, you know, he's a leader in the synagogue and he's, and he's like, hey, like my daughter is really like she's not, it's not a possibility that she might die. She's not going to make it.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Not going to make.

[Megan Ashley]

She's just not. And so this is an urgent matter to Jairus. This is very urgent. And so Jesus is like okay, cool, let's go like let's go. Like we're going to, I'm going to go with you to heal your daughter. And on the way a woman with an issue of blood touches the hem of his garment.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Yeah.

[Megan Ashley]

And he stops everything power leaves him. And he says who touches me? And you know, just side note, this is just my little ADHD moment but side note, I was like, you know, does disciples was really talking to Jesus crazy sometimes cuz they like, all these people touching you and you ask, like, it's like you. Y' all talk to him a little crazy, but anyway, and he stops and he has this whole moment with this woman with the issue of blood. Now, mind you, this woman that issued blood has been going on for 12 years. Her matter is not that urgent. Yeah, in, In. In everyone else's mind, I can imagine Gyrus is probably like, hey, man, like.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

We gotta get going.

[Megan Ashley]

She been bleeding for 12 years. 10 more minutes ain't about to hurt her.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

It's not going to change.

[Megan Ashley]

Like, another day ain't about to hurt her. My daughter's about to die. So I can imagine what Gyrus is experiencing right now. I can only imagine the anxiety and the. And the angst that he must have to like, hurry up.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Even.

[Megan Ashley]

Even offense. An opportunity to be offended. Like, my daughter is. My child is dying, and you're talking to this lady. And Jesus stops and he talks to this, to this woman. And it's so powerful to me that this whole story is so powerful to me, but it's powerful to me that not only does tell her it's not your superstition that healed you, because she's thinking, if I just touch his garment, which is a form of superstition, she had a superstitious type of faith or, or idea of what would heal her. But he, he corrects her superstition and say, actually it's your faith that heals that healed you. Which I think ministered to so many people and probably was an example and a lesson for so many people, even to us. But. But he also calls her daughter. So he restores her name and her value in. In community. So he's doing all of this Stu. Jairus is probably biting his nails, like, pacing, like, hurry up.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

That's good.

[Megan Ashley]

Then what happens is, is that people come from Jairus's home to say, hey man, it's too late. Your daughter, Your daughter's dead. And Jesus says, she's just asleep. Like, take me there and all the things. But I thought about. I thought about the, The. The levels of. Of suffering and how we place urgency on certain things. Like in. In when we look at it, we think Jairus, his. His situation was urge. She's going to die.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Yeah.

[Megan Ashley]

So we think that situation is done. It's going to die. If you don't hurry up and fix this, it's going to be over. But then this lady, we have another situation, another form of suffering where hers is not that urgent. It's been progressive. It's been long. She's been dealing with persistent.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

She's.

[Megan Ashley]

But it's not urgent. And so it just made me think of, like, how to think about God's timing and how to. How to have a actual. How to have a godly perspective or. Because what was urgent to Jairus wasn't urgent to Jesus.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Yes.

[Megan Ashley]

Do you know what I'm saying?

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

I think what's powerful about this is how you broach God's timing. Right. And we could take this historical account. We could also take the historical count when Lazarus dies. And the Lord waits four days, four days to get to him, which is very important because the Jews believe that when a person died, the spirit hung around the body for three days. So the Lord waits till the fourth day where we know that this man is completely dead. So in his resurrection, there will be no. No excuses to say, well, now, anybody.

[Megan Ashley]

Could have done this.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Right. So the timing of Lazarus's death and Jesus waiting four days, him taking his time to get to Jairus's house and this girl dying, all this timing sets up an opportunity for God to be glorified.

[Megan Ashley]

Yes.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Right. And it's the same thing in our suffering. It's like, lord, I've been dealing with this for six months. I've been dealing with this for a number of years. I've been dealing this for a decade. But God's timing sets up an opportunity for the. For the. For the Lord to get glory. And. And. And in our suffering, we can't see that. Yeah, we may not even like that.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah, right.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

We may not even understand what he's doing. But sometimes we get revelation in hindsight, in which we look back over something we went through and said, lord, you let me go through that all that time. This was the reason why. And then. And then when God moves according to his timing, he gets more glory out of the circumstance. So I think. I think when we see these historical accounts in Scripture, when the Lord is not in a hurry to do something, that to us would be urgent. He's setting it up for God to get glory.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah, I thought about that today because as I. As you know, I've been begging the Lord for.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

I thought about this today, too. Did you? Both in my situation and yours, you know, with the whole school thing, like, why is this not working?

[Megan Ashley]

And I feel like it's urgent. And so I just was comforted by that, like, whether the Lord, you know, does what I. What I think he should do in the timing that I think he should do it. Keeping a godly Perspective that it's always his glory that he's after. Not so much your comfort, not so much what you think is the right way, but he's always after his glory.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

But it's your mature perspective that allows you to think that way.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Right. Because you have anchored yourself in these scriptures. You have that perspective.

[Megan Ashley]

Right.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

And I think that's important because you and I walking through this challenge right now together, I'm even trying to.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Trying to help to the best of my ability. Even when we did, you know, what we did last week and went to go look at the school and like, lord, what's going on here? But even in that, I have this assurance that you're his daughter.

[Megan Ashley]

That part.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

He loves you. Watch. He loves those boys more than you love those boys. He has their best interests at heart. And you and I, Megan, sometime from now are gonna have a conversation and look back on this season. I'm like, lord, this is what you was trying to do. This is what you was trying to accomplish here, was the glory you got out of this circumstance and. But we may not understand that until some moment in the future.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah. I think what you said is key. It's the maturity, because I don't think I would have thought that way. Jordan knows. Just yesterday, we walked through a hard day yesterday. I mean, I was. It was like she cried. And Jordan's not openly emotional, but, like, we were sitting in my bed in tears. Like, we were. We. It was a hard day yesterday because I've been doing all that I can to do what I think is right for these kids schooling situation and all the things. And we just keep coming to a. Like, I mean, every time. And. And I know how I would have felt a year ago.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

That's good.

[Megan Ashley]

And even Jordan was like, I have. Like, this has to be the Lord, because you wouldn't be acting like this if this. And I was still crying. I was so hurt. All the things. But I said to her because she was frustrated. We were, you know, sitting in bed, and we were both frustrated. And I said to her just exact verbatim what you said. I said, what I do know is, is that the Lord loves me and he loves those boys more than I do.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

That was last night.

[Megan Ashley]

I literally just said this yesterday. Am I lying? I said that verbatim yesterday. I said, I know. I know his character. I know his nature. And my circumstance does not change or define who. Like, it doesn't change who he is. He's consistent from the beginning and the. To the end. And what I do know is, is that he is not going to create a situation for me to not come out on the other end where he gets all the glory.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Right.

[Megan Ashley]

And so I have to just. I told her, I was like, we're gonna have to white knuckle that truth. We're gonna have to hold on to that truth whether we get what we think we want right now or if it's later. But what I do know is, is that we have done all that we can do. We've done our part, and we are going to entrust ourselves to God, Jesus and who he is. Yesterday, this was just, literally just yesterday. I was in my bed all day, like, just brokenhearted. But I still. Because I know God's true. But I know that that's the maturity that he's done in my heart. Because I wouldn't have been able to do that a year ago. I would still be in the bed. I would have canceled this podcast day.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Yes. But you know what's helped you mature? Pain.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah. Endurance.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Right. Let's. Let's be honest, right? One of the things that I've watched your life since we were in Bible college, since she was a teenager in Bible college. Right. We go back 15 years. But let's be honest. So let's make sure the audience knows. Right. It's not just mountaintops got you here.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Because people see, they see your national and global platform. They see what God has done with in totality. They see you speaking at conferences and sitting on these stages, and they see that and they think that's what it is. That's what got Megan to wish they. That's what they. And that's all they see. But let's, let's, let's keep it. Let's keep it a hundred. Right? No. Some of your strength is because of what you've endured. It is. God has refined you through pain and through some of the things you have suffered. You have been through so much in the 15 years or plus I've known you. Some of that has shaped your maturity. Does that make sense? There is a type of suffering that you have endured that has helped to shape your maturity. And what that has also does help to develop your character and your intimacy with God. I'm going to say this. They're not going to like this. In totality. Right. Because we in America, my ninjas. Listen, brothers and sisters, please hear me. The driving impetus, the driving force of the New Testament is not your happiness. I'm sorry. I know you got your vision boards. I know you Got all of your resolutions every year. I know. And I know you expect God to come through all of them. And I know you think God is a genie that you can rub. He's going to give you what you want. I know. But, my brothers and sisters, you cannot read the New Testament. They cannot. Megan, Read the New Testament objectively and come away with any other conclusion. That at the basement of the New Testament. I mean, one of the driving, driving, driving goals of the New Testament Scriptures is to reveal to us that at the end, God is more concerned about us looking like His Son than us being happy. It is a journey in character development, and it is a journey in spiritual formation towards maturation. This is why Paul said in Colossians 1:28. Watch. Paul said in Colossians 1:28, One of my anchor passages for proclamation for preaching. Yeah, I love this. He says him we proclaim, talking about Christ. So we're not proclaiming nonsense. Him we proclaim. Watch the text warning everyone. So I do that. Teaching everyone. So I do that with all wisdom. Watch the rest of the text that we may present. Everyone watch this word mature before God. The driving end is maturity. That when I die, I will look more like the person who saved me than when he first saved me. It is a journey of character development. It's not a journey towards fame.

[Megan Ashley]

That's good.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

I feel heat right now. Let me just speak freely. It's not a journey towards fame. A journey for a big Instagram following. It's not a journey for a silver plaque or gold plaque. We about to get our gold plaque. Two side notes. Yo. 900,000 new followers in one year.

[Megan Ashley]

That's crazy.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

That's insane. Right? So. But that's not the journey, right? And it's not a journey towards being known. All these. That's. That's not the goal. The. Read the New Testament carefully. The driving goal is that we, we. We come out of this life with our robes washed in the blood of the Lamb, with our character looking more like the person who saved us. This is why Paul said him. We proclaim warning, teaching with all wisdom that in the end we may present everyone mature before Christ. The end goal is that when our preaching is over and when our labors are over, those who have been under our ministry will look like their Savior. And then we can lay them at his feet and present them. Look, Lord, they look more like you mature before Christ. Now watch. There is no maturation without suffering. Pause. We in the west, right? There is no maturation without suffering, does not exist. There Is no maturation without pain, without hardship, without trials. It does not exist. And if we would embrace that in our country. Watch. We will not only thank God for the things that we consider blessings.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah, that part.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Car, house, job, money, wife, husband. We will get to the place of maturity where we look over our shoulder and be like, Lord. Thank you.

[Megan Ashley]

Yes. Yes.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

This is. No, this is serious. Thank you for what you allowed me to go through in that season or what you're doing in me right now. Because you have formed something in me that would not have been formed had I not gone through that. Listen to me carefully, man. Listen to me. The majority of us who are strong and have grown in character, we cannot separate our suffering from what has happened in our character. Probably more than anything, most of our trials, our pain and our hardship have probably done more to perfect our character than our mountaintops.

[Megan Ashley]

Yes.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

You understand what I'm saying to you? Listen to me carefully right now. My ministry is a mountaintop. Any metric that can be measured. I already said, is exploding at 2019. Right. That has not brought me. Right. Complete satisfaction in my soul. None of it. You know what brings me the most satisfaction in my soul? Intimacy with Christ at my prayer closet. Right. And watch. And the character it takes to sustain a ministry at this level and the influence at this level. You know, it takes a certain kind of character to sustain this and not be corrupted by it.

[Megan Ashley]

Correct.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Where do you think that character came from? It came from the 12 years of pain when nobody knew my name.

[Megan Ashley]

Yep.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

12 years of hardship, 12 years of betrayals, 12 years of loss, 12 years of difficulty, 12 years of relational difficulty, 12 years of poverty, 12 years of grinding. 12 years of. 12 years of trials, 12 years of immense pain and suffering for Lena and I in obscurity. So before somebody try to come for me for where I am or come for my wife, who I am, let me walk you through the resume of the 12 years of scars. You want my platform, but you don't want my suffering. They want in totality, but they don't want the suffering of Meghan Ashley. Man, let's stop all this foolishness. Right? So this is why people should not be jealous of people's platforms. You don't know what they had to pay the. You don't know the price they paid to sit on that couch or stand on that. We don't know that price. Like you, we. I feel heat right now. I'm sorry.

[Megan Ashley]

No, by all means.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

We need people to get delivered from covetousness, which the Bible says is as of idolatry, we be coveting people's platform. But you don't want what they had. You don't want what they had to go through to get there. Some people would not survive what people had to survive.

[Megan Ashley]

Hello.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

To be where they are right now. All you do is throw stones at people on mountaintops. All you do is critique, throw stones, trash and make endless YouTube videos about people on mountaintops which you have not seen what God walked them through to put them there. You understand what I'm saying? Like, there is no anointing without a price paid. Let's get this real right and strong. Men and women are not made on mountaintops. They are made in the secret place. Right? And there is no one that God. I'm not talking about people who have manufactured mountains. I'm not talking about. That's different. I'm talking about people who God has placed there. You better believe they have paid a price for that in private. There is no overnight success in the kingdom does not exist. You just did not know them. You understand what I'm saying? You did not know that. We know Christ from 30 to 33 when he's famous. What was he doing in the dark?

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Right. Let's talk about that. When he's being submitted to earthly parents, although he was God in the flesh. Let's talk about that. Right? Let's talk about that. Right? We see David going into the palace. We love talking about his palace. Right? We don't want to talk about the 13 years he's running from Saul and in caves. Right. And dodging arrows for. We don't want to talk about all of that. So before we come forward.

[Megan Ashley]

Megan, Ashley, what's up, you guys? This episode is sponsored by Better Help. World Mental health day is October 10th, and this year, better Help is saying thank you to the therapist. When I think about my own mental health journey, there were times I didn't even realize how much I was carrying until I had someone ask the right questions or just hold space for me to process. That moment of being seen and heard in the midst of our distress can change everything. That's why I love that. Better Help is honoring the therapists who have helped over 5 million people worldwide take steps towards healing and growth. Better Help has been helping people find the right Therapist for over 12 years with more than 30, 000 licensed professionals who work according to a strict code of conduct. I love that they take the guesswork out of it too. Their short questionnaire helps helps match you to someone who fits your needs. And preferences and with their experience. And the best part is they usually get it right the first time. But if the first therapist isn't the right one for you, you can easily switch because finding the right person to help you is just as important. With over 5 million people served and on an average of 4.9 rating from more than 1.7 million reviews, better help has truly made an impact on so many lives. This World Mental Health Day, we're celebrating the therapists who have helped millions of people take a step forward. If you're ready to find the right therapist for you, BetterHelp can help you start that journey. Our listeners get 10 off their first month at betterhelp.com totality. That's BetterHelp. H-E-L-P.com totality. All right, guys, back to the conversation.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Before we want to keep throwing stones at Megan Ashley, before we want to keep attacking her for her platform. Right. They didn't see what you've come from. Right. They don't see what you've suffered as a single mom. Can I put a little bit of your business insurance? They don't see the divorce you went through.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

The public split from a close friend.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

They don't see the dark nights of the soul, the tears you shed. They don't see what you've come through from the time you and I met at Valor Christian College. They don't see what you've walked through to right now. They only see your platform. And they want your couch. And they want your platform.

[Megan Ashley]

Not you want my couch.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

They want your couch, Megan, and they want your Instagram following. They don't want the warfare you've been through. Right. They don't want the pain you've suffered. They want the palace without the process. Right. And this is why we should stop being jealous of other people's platform covet, which is identity. It's like you want that, but my question is, can you pay the price they paid for that?

[Megan Ashley]

That part, it reminds me of Acts 2, 42 people.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

I'm sorry to go off on a tangent right here, but this is.

[Megan Ashley]

No, it's needed.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

No, this is important. No, it's needed because this is rampant in the culture for sure. I'm talking about the idolatry of people's platforms and envy and throwing stones at people you think are on a mountaintop is rampant in the culture. But you have not seen what God Watch put them through.

[Megan Ashley]

Correct.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

To shape their character.

[Megan Ashley]

Correct.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

For the platform that they're stewarded. Correct. You haven't seen all of that.

[Megan Ashley]

Correct.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

You only see lights.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

But you have not seen what they've endured in the dark.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Does that make sense?

[Megan Ashley]

No. It does. Like I was saying, with Acts 2, 42 people saw the 7,000. They had no idea what we went. Okay, real quick, guys, question. Have you ever needed money faster than your next paycheck? Maybe it's a car repair, groceries for the week, or a surprise bill that just cannot wait. Those moments are so real and they don't care whether your payday is two weeks away. You shouldn't have to wait for a calendar date to use what you've already earned. Earnin lets you tap into your pay the moment real life asks for it. Earnnnnn is an app that lets you access your pay as you earn it up to $150 a day with a max of $750 between paydays. Just download the Earn app and add your info. Then start accessing your pay as you work and leave an optional tip to help keep the app running for everyone. Any money you access plus tips are automatically repaid from your next paycheck. It's your money. This is not a payday loan. You're simply getting access to it sooner. There's no interest, no credit checks, and no mandatory fees. Tips are voluntary and there's always a no cost option. If you prefer standard processing times. If you need funds faster, Earn in offers expedited transfers for a fee. Make Earnin a part of your financial routine and join earn in's over 4 million customers making any day payday. Download Earn in today, spelled E A R N I N to the Google Play or Apple App Store. Then download the earnin app. Type in In Totality under the podcast when you sign up. It really helps helps the show. That's in totality under podcast. Earning is a financial technology company, not a bank. Access limited are based on your earnings and risk factors. Standard cash outs take one to two business days with no mandatory fees. Expedited transfers are available for a fee. Tips are voluntary and don't affect your service. Available in selected states. Terms and restrictions apply. Visit Earnin.com for full details. Download Earn in today and take control of your pay. All right, guys, back to the conversation. Went through.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Oh my God.

[Megan Ashley]

They have no idea.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Almost gave up during that process. Let's keep it 100, y'. All. Almost walked away from the whole thing. Like, let me say this to the intel talented audience, right? Like, like, let's keep it real. What camera's mine right here? A family. I'm gonna say what you would not say. Family. Listen to me, man. He has 7,000 men and women gathered in a room for the proclamation of the gospel for Acts 2:42 conference. It was one of the most powerful spirit filled conferences I've ever been in my entire life. But what Megan and Jackie had to suffer. Dang, I'm about to cry.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

What they had to endure in private leading up to that conference was so immense and so weighty. Those of us who loved them and had to rally around them, we wept, we pleaded with God, we asked questions. We had uncertainties. What they had to suffer was so painful and so catastrophic in the dark, they almost walked away from the conference altogether. I would even say to those of you who attended the conference, they paid a price for you to be there. Forget the ticket price. Forget what you paid to get in the room. What you paid to get in the room cannot even compare to what they paid in private for you to be in that room. Hear me, please. What you paid to be in that room does not even compare, not even a fraction, to what they had to pay by way of suffering on the backside for you to be in that room. And I watch two women I love deeply suffer greatly their families, their children, their homes. When I talk about the warfare and the demonic attack that happened in the months leading up to acts, it almost did not happen.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah, right.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Yeah. Y' all was almost on some. I remember there was a day we said, well, should we even. Should we even do this conference? You remember that? When we said. Y' all were saying, well, should we even do this? And. And what. What they had to. What they had to pay to just put that conference on. I'm not. Obviously, we're not going to talk about any details here on the podcast. I just want you to trust me that this is not. This is not empty talk. I mean, it was almost life and death, which I had to pay. I mean, car accidents and everything. It was almost life and death. What they had to pay to be so My tears is because I watch y' all walk through that and survive. And I felt bad for y'. All.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

And I grieved and I mourned and y' all suffered. Well. Right. And put on one of. In my. Since I've been here in 2010, I think one of Atlanta's most important conferences at the time, and people see the 7,000 and they want to calculate how much, what kind of bag y' all walked away with and. And who was on the platform. All of that. I promise you they would not want to endure what y' all endured in private to put on a conference.

[Megan Ashley]

No. Do you remember that day we had a team meeting?

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

I remember.

[Megan Ashley]

And we. Everyone else got off the phone and it was me, you and Jackie.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

I remember.

[Megan Ashley]

And I just started crying. I remember you brought to tits Cause you were like are you okay? And I was. What's up? In totality fam. It's me, Megan. Ashley. You know, lately I've been thinking I. I really should see a doctor more often. Between battling sleep trouble and those random aches and pains. Okay. Cuz I'm in my 30s. It feels like something is always popping up. But scheduling an appointment has always been such a hassle. Finding someone in network, checking their ratings, syncing their availability with mine and I'm never available. It's just too much. I've discovered though, Zoc Doc and it has changed the game. Zocdoc is a free app and website where you can search and compare high quality in network doctors and click to instantly book an appointment. With ZocDoc you have access to over a hundred thousand in network providers across every specialty. Everything from primary care to urgent care, dental health, mental health. You can filter by insurance, location, patient ratings and even specific medical needs needs. Once you find someone you like, you'll see their actual openings. Pick a time that works best for you and click to instantly book. And here's the best part. Appointments through Zocdoc usually happen between 24 and 72 hours and you can often score a same day slot. If for any reason I need to change doctors in the future or find a new medical specialist for myself or for my kiddos, Zocdoc is what I need use. So stop putting off doctor appointments and go to Zocdoc.com totality to find an instantly book a top rated doctor today. That's Zocdoc.com totality All right guys, back to the conversation. I was like, yeah. And then I just. I mean it was so. I've never experienced a weight and a suffering like that ever in my life.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

And I'm going to tell you this honesty, you and I didn't even talk about what I'm about to tell you right now. Okay, so you know how we're getting ready to do access at State Farm arena, right? We were getting ready to call all of the digital disciples and disciples of 2018 to One Night of Prayer at State Farm arena in October. Right? Do you know once we established we're going to. Because we was going to scrap it until next year. Professionals would tell us we don't have enough time to put it on. And God was like, just do it by faith. So we're just going to do it by faith. I don't know how it's going to turn out. What we gonna do about faith? I'm gonna be honest with you. I didn't even tell you this. I'm telling you this right here. In totality, as soon as we made a decision. I remember where I was in the office late at night. It was like 11:30. It was myself and a group of staffers said, we're gonna obey God. We're gonna do this. You know, what's the next thought that came to my mind? Lord, I better prepare and get myself ready. I saw what happened to Megan and Jackie, Right. And immediately I had a flashback of what y' all suffered. And I thought to myself, if we're gonna call a nation to prayer, like, we're not just gonna walk to October and think that we're not gonna deal with no warfare. And the first thing I thought about is what y' all went through.

[Megan Ashley]

Acts 2, 42.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

And I'm like, lord, I don't want no parts of that.

[Megan Ashley]

For sure. For sure. You say, you know what?

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

I don't. Lord, I don't want no parts of that. You know, and, and. But I'm, I'm. I'm making it light hearted. But. But we already know that. Yeah, we already gearing up for warfare.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

You know, and I think I'm dealing with warfare right now.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah, for sure, for sure.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

But we don't want to lose. The point is that I think in. In all of it, God is perfecting something in us.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

He's shaping character in us, faith in us. He's forming the image of Christ in us. And when we are mature, because we want to go back to maturity.

[Megan Ashley]

Yep.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

We learn to not only thank God for the things that we perceive as blessings, but also thank him for the things he allowed us to go through.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Does that make sense?

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah. And I. And I think that we always lose. Like we always preach the scripture.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Yo. Shout out Megan, Ashley for surviving.

[Megan Ashley]

And Jackie o' Barry and everybody, everyone went through their. Their fair share. Preston went through it.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

You went through it. We all did.

[Megan Ashley]

Dr. Mace went through it. Dr. Sarita went through everything. We all, our team, our of the prayer team at 28, 19, shout out to Ms. Rhonda who helped us and led that. We all went through it.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

But y' all suffered well.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

And y' all Came out on the other side.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah. Yeah. I think about the scripture, just to wrap up this point is. I think about is, you know, we all. We always preach like God worked all things for the. For the. Yeah, we think about that. But we. But the back half of it, for those he for knew he also predestined to be conformed into the image of his son.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Say that word again. What's the word?

[Megan Ashley]

Conform.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

What's the word? Conformed.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

He's trying to mold us into the image.

[Megan Ashley]

And that's the good.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

And that is the.

[Megan Ashley]

That's the good.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

But he does that through hardship, trials, and suffering, not only through things that make us feel good.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

But through things we would otherwise try to avoid.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. While I have you. Do you got to go? You good?

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

No, I'm good.

[Megan Ashley]

Okay. So that this is. I'm wrap up a few more points, but I want to. I want to get your take, man.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

This has been a clinic on suffering.

[Megan Ashley]

Oh, for sure.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

We do the right thing. Just talking about suffering for all this time, people going to think we depressed. Megan. They sending dms like, y' all good. We got joy.

[Megan Ashley]

Y' all got joy. There is joy.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

There is joy. And that's the first thing I started with said right now, this season. You asked me what I'm learning. I'm learning to steward. I said the first thing is steward. Joy and sorrow.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

At the same time. Oh, yeah.

[Megan Ashley]

There's joy in it. Okay, so I haven't. I haven't told you.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

They're gonna be praying for us.

[Megan Ashley]

Good.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

They're gonna be praying for us.

[Megan Ashley]

Good. I have been immersing myself into Romans 12, and it has been.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

That's your chapter.

[Megan Ashley]

That's my chapter. You know that. I've been immersing myself into Romans 12.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

So when is your book coming out? On Romans 12. Everybody in totality and all of the patreon. Y' all let Megan know y' all need her book. Y' all need her exegetical book from Romans 12.

[Megan Ashley]

Well, this is like, I'm using this as study material right now. This is my study. This is my study time. And you. You actually are writing a book. You just got signed not too long ago, which. Congratulations. I'm excited for your book to come out soon. But when it comes to Romans 12, I'm very. When it comes to me and my platform, just. I'm very big on having a serious Christian life.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Yes.

[Megan Ashley]

And me and you have very aggressive, straightforward personalities and tones, and it can be like, dang Is it that serious? Like, and we take heat for that all the time. It's like, okay, like, why y' all so. Why y' all so aggressive? But that's my personality, the Lord. That's my temperament. That's how the Lord created me. But when I. When I think about a serious living. When I think about a serious Christianity, I'm always drawn to Romans 12. And so I. I would love to get your insight and perspective on what it means to be a serious Christian in light of Romans 12. What. What is what? Like, when. When Paul says. And I'm always big on this point, but when Paul says, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice. I love that he said bodies and not mind, not heart, not affections, not gifts. But he talks about presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice. And I think that that that embodies. No pun intended, but it embodies what a serious walk looks like, because your body is your body, and it encapsulates everything that's a part of you. So when you think about a serious Christianity in light of Romans 12, what does that mean to you?

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

So you just had a moment of confirmation when we talked about, you know, what you said to Jay about. For me, I just had a moment of confirmation because yesterday when Lena and I was in Mexico, we were sitting up on the bed on our last day, and we had this conversation about serious Christianity.

[Megan Ashley]

Wow.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

And I was weeping talking to her because I felt like I said to Lena, it really breaks my heart that in the West I see a Christianity that is drifting from being serious. And we're just talking about this. And so for me, and this is not exhaustive, this is just what's first coming to my heart when I talk about a serious Christianity. A serious Christianity for me, against the backdrop of Romans 12, is a Christianity where first I recognize what Christ has done for me on the cross, that I have been purchased and I do not belong to myself. My body does not belong to me, my members does not belong to me. There is nothing I own that belongs to me. I'm only a steward of it all. And that a serious Christianity for me is a Christianity that's lived on an altar as a complete sacrifice as unto the Lord. That is, he can touch anything, anytime he wants, he can make a demand of anything he wants. And that my life is being lived out as a living, breathing sacrifice unto him, totally holy and acceptable. So I see all of my life. I see my marriage, I see my children, I see my platform, the ministry. He's Entrusted to me, all of it, as sitting on the altar before God. He can do what he wants with it. He can touch it, he can remove it. I'm on that altar, all of it. A serious Christianity to me is a yes without compromise and a yes without a back door. You heard what I just said. It is a yes without compromise and a yes without a back door. It is a total giving of myself to him in which the Scriptures is my final authority for all life and practice. If the Scriptures. If it says it in the word of God, I have to conform myself to what the Scripture says. And then I live in such a way where I'm allowing God to shape me into the image of Christ. Through mountaintops and valleys. Everything that I own belongs to Him. I am only a steward. If he speaks, I may not agree, but I must listen. It is me seeing my whole life watch as not being lived out for my glory, but seeing my whole life as being lived out for his glory. In whatever state I find myself in, no matter the demands he places upon me, I will stumble along the way. I will make mistakes along the way. I will have unanswered questions along the way. But this is me rising every single morning, knowing that God, I exist for you. I was nothing when you found me. I'm full of your spirit. I've been sealed by your blood. My name is recording Lamb's Book of life. You will bring me home one day to see you. And while I am here, I belong to you. This is is me saying, watch, Megan, your cross made my name known in heaven. My cross now is to make your name known in the earth.

[Megan Ashley]

Wow.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Through my proclamation, through my witness, through my life, through my giving, through my serving, my cross I carry is to make the name of Christ known. And as such, I am a steward of everything. I am an owner of nothing. Even my own body belongs to him. So if he says to Megan Ashley, be celibate until I send your next husband or reunite you with your last husband or give you no husband, that is giving God a complete yes. You understand what I'm saying? This is you having the freedom to do whatever you want to do, but not using that freedom as a license for licentiousness and sin. That is giving God a complete yes, according to Romans 12. And that is not American. It is not Western. It is not a part of the culture. It's not sexy. It's not. Not pervasive. We don't want to hear that. But watch. I think for lack of. That is why the unbelieving world takes us for a joke. And I think we would even have more credibility with the unbelieving world if we live the Romans 12 Christianity. We would have more power. If we live the Romans 12 Christianity, we would have a greater witness if we live the Romans 12 Christianity. We would leave this life with a greater testimony if we live the Romans 12 Christianity.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

The thing is, our Romans 12 Christianity is going to come with a sacrifice.

[Megan Ashley]

Yep.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Is. Are we willing to make that sacrifice?

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

And lastly, I would say about that, for those of us. Let me not implicate nobody. There is a lot of us who shy away From a Romans 12 Christianity because we don't have reverence for the God. Right. And that's probably a whole another podcast.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

But we don't have. Let's be honest, Megan.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

We don't have reverence for God.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

He's not holy. There's no fear. There's no awe. There's no wonder.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

There is no sense of restraint upon myself, even my thoughts. Because he's holy.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

And so when we don't see him as holy. Holy. When we don't revere him, where there's no homage and respect, it's almost impossible to live a Romans 12 life where we don't understand the holiness of God and that. The fact that we owe him that.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

You understand what I'm saying?

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah, absolutely.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

And so I think because we preach so much of his love and grace, we forget that he's holy. And I don't know how we live a Romans 12 life without understanding the holiness of God.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah. I think what's really important to me in. In Romans 12, because, you know. You know my story. I grew up in church. I have a mother that loves the Lord and has great reverence for him and has raised Him.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

He's a ferocious woman of God.

[Megan Ashley]

She's. She's my favorite person. And. And when people. There was still a time in my life where my heart was still far from the Lord. And it wasn't until I was on that porch where I gave the Lord a serious. Yes. And people often ask me, what was the difference. What was the difference between before when you grew up in church and you knew about all the things of the Lord? And I thought I was pretty serious. You knew me in Bible college. I thought I was pretty serious about the things of the Lord.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

But.

[Megan Ashley]

But there was a difference between that Megan and the Megan that serves and loves the Lord now. And I feel like if I had to embody two scriptures, that would Be. The difference would be in Isaiah 6 and a Romans 12, like, I saw the Lord for who he is, and in his holiness I saw how ratchet I was in my sin, how I was an enem me to Christ, how far my heart was from him. And I. And. And what Paul says in Romans 12, where he says to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, for this is your true worship. Your. This is your reasonable service.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Yes.

[Megan Ashley]

Your true worship. Your. Your. Your real worship is submitting and sacrificing and presenting your body as a living sacrifice. That's what's been the difference.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

And can we tease that out just a little bit for a quick second? Second. When Paul says, this is your reasonable service, I'm going to give you the Philip Anthony Mitchell paraphrase in light of what Christ has done for you on the cross.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

And the work it took to save you.

[Megan Ashley]

All of Romans 1:11.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

All of Romans 1:11. Right. The only right response to Romans 1:11. The only right response to the cross is a life of complete surrender. There is no other response. You understand?

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

And this is the same thing when he talked about Isaiah 6.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

When Isaiah gets a revelation of the holiness of God, he sees his sinful nature. He sees the sinful nature of his nation. The only right response is here I am, Send me. When he hears the counsel of heaven, he who can we send?

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

The only right response is here I am, Send me. And if we. We who are our preachers, Bible teachers, podcasters, authors, would help the Christian community to better understand the weight of the cross.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

And the immense holiness of God. We can. We can grow a remnant of disciples that will get to the point where they feel like, you know what, the only right response to what Christ has done for me in light of his immense holiness.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Is a life of complete surrender. Anything other than that is not enough.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

And that's what we need the community to understand.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah. I would love. I would love. You know, I know we're in Matthew. I don't know. Do you know what we're doing after Matthew? Because we're coming towards the end.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Yeah. We're coming to the end of Matthew.

[Megan Ashley]

You don't have to say, but has the Lord downloaded to you what we're going through next? I feel like. I know. I feel like I might know what it is, but I'm not going to say it. I'm gonna ask you off. Off mic, but I would love to hear Philip Anthony Mitchell sermon on Romans 12 Some point in. In our time, but I want to talk to you before we leave. It is just. I'm so fascinated with what. And encouraged and all the things about what God has done for you. And for 2819. I started coming when we were at a school and. And, you know, I just want to put this out there, and you can testify and be a witness for our character. We stood in line. Like, we didn't. We didn't have. Just like. Like, you know, there were seasons where we were. We were rejected a few times. Like, I didn't get. I wasn't able to get in service a few times. So it was like, I paid my dues, y'. All, all right?

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

And Jackie and Preston, when they first came. Y. Everybody stood in line.

[Megan Ashley]

All stood in line in the back of the line.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

I stood in line.

[Megan Ashley]

Okay. We had to wait just like we paid our dues. Now if you don't see me in the line don't feel some kind of way Feel no type of way. Paid my dues. Hey, I paid my dues. I stayed in line. But anyway.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

And they don't know that you want. We're family. We've known each other for so long. Before There was a 2819, before there was a. In totality. People don't know that part of our story, though.

[Megan Ashley]

And we. And. And like I said, I stood in line.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Yeah, she stood in line, and I paid my dues. She paid her dues.

[Megan Ashley]

All right. Now get up off my back. Anyway. Well, I'm so encouraged because we started off going when it was in the school. I mean, we was in there with no air.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Yeah. No AC.

[Megan Ashley]

These new 2819 members. Listen, y', all, they don't know how.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Good they got it.

[Megan Ashley]

Y', all, listen. We was in this joint in tank tops and shorts, coming out of sh. I mean, coming out of shirts sweating our ma. There was a point in time where I didn't come to. I didn't come to the gathering with makeup because it was.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

It was coming off.

[Megan Ashley]

I'm either gonna cry it off or I'm gonna sweat it off.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

But the saints were showing up, though.

[Megan Ashley]

We was in line.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

They were hungry for the word.

[Megan Ashley]

We didn't care. Yeah, we didn't care. Even when y' all got the blower. Our air conditioner was one source. It was this blower, and it blew right on our row every time. And we remember that.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

The portable ac.

[Megan Ashley]

Yes. Yeah, we, like. We went through all types of stuff, but we. We. We were committed and we were there, Right? So now the church has grown now. Now, in 2019, the members have grown. Y' all complaining about the line, but I bet you gonna get some ac. You gonna get a seat. We was sitting on steps.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Yeah.

[Megan Ashley]

We was getting. Pulling out chairs. Like, y' all have no idea how.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Good some of y' all got it online for concerts.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah, we stand alive for everything. But I love how you guys have made say the line is a vibe. It's a vibe now. It's like a whole block party in the line. I told Jordan, I was like, next week I'm going outside. I just want to see it and be a part of it because it's so cool. But I. I'm curious on what your vantage point is on, because we. We know that there are a few different type of group of people that are coming to 2819.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Yeah.

[Megan Ashley]

We have those who are sincerely seeking the Lord.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Yes.

[Megan Ashley]

Right. They're. They're sincerely being draw. The Lord is drawing them through your. Through your message, through your preaching.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Yes.

[Megan Ashley]

The Lord is drawing people there. But then we have another group of people that I. That I truly believe that are there because 2819 is exploding. It's all over TikTok. People are doing reviews. I've never seen. I've. I'm a church kid. I have never in my life seen people do church reviews. Like real life.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

I don't see it. I'm not on there and good. I post and I get off.

[Megan Ashley]

But people are doing real life review. They're just coming just to do reviews. Right. What do you have to say to the two types of group of people that are coming to 2819? What is your encouragement? Maybe even, you know, can I tell you what I felt like the Lord shared with me?

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Go ahead, tell me. I pray about this a lot.

[Megan Ashley]

So God. So when we were at. When we did our fast in January, our church fast, which you encouraged us to fast for seven days. And I told you last year I did three, but you did. I said, I ain't doing.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Listen, I'm doing three.

[Megan Ashley]

And I did it. Well, okay.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

For your three.

[Megan Ashley]

But this year, I had every intentions on doing three.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Yeah.

[Megan Ashley]

Because that's what I did last year.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Yeah.

[Megan Ashley]

You know, I asked.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

I remember.

[Megan Ashley]

But the Lord said. I remember I talked to you about this. We were at Passion.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Yeah, Go the whole thing.

[Megan Ashley]

He said, do the whole thing. And I wasn't excited about that.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

But you did it, though.

[Megan Ashley]

I did did. And I. And we all did it. We did it.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Well, Jay did, too.

[Megan Ashley]

Jay did it. Jordan did it. Yep.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Really? You did your.

[Megan Ashley]

We all did seven days.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

You did your seven.

[Megan Ashley]

Yep, yep. Nothing but water for seven days. And not even. Just nothing but water. But we didn't watch tv, no secular music, nothing. We did. We did the real.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

I did the real thing.

[Megan Ashley]

We did the real thing. Right. That's what you say. We decided with it.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Proud of you.

[Megan Ashley]

We did the seven days. And I remember praying, and I felt, because this is when again, 2019 is growing, it's exploding. We, you know, people were coming. This is when. Now we have three services at the school. All the things. And I remember, I remember praying for the people coming to 2819, and I was praying that they wouldn't make an idol out of the revival. And that was a big thing, like, don't make an idol out of the revival. And I feel like there are so many people that love to just be a part of something that is big and exploding and, and popular and all the things. And so what is your encouragement, maybe even as a, as a shepherd, correction to, to those who are in that category? And then what is your encouragement to those who are just who, who are sincerely seeking the Lord and maybe even be discouraged by how, how big the gatherings are and that they have to stand in line and, you know, all of that.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

So this is, this is, this is a, this is a loaded question and something I think is very important. And I'm going to tell you this is another confirmation, because I was thinking about that on the way here, on your way to the studio. I was thinking about this. So I want to speak to both groups. Let me first speak to the groups of people who are coming with the right motives. Right. They have a hunger for God's word, a hunger for worship, a hunger for prayer. That's why we say we're a house of presence, a house of proclamation and a house of prayer. And who may have to stand online. I want to say to them first, I'm deeply humbled. And I think my staff and I, my wife, were always blown away by what Jesus is doing. We say that in our staff. We say that the Lord is building and we are stewarding. And so I think what we're witnessing is a revival. It is something that Christ is doing, and we're just doing our best to steward it. And I think it is beautiful in the day and age that we live in when we see so many people across a broad spectrum of people, white, black, and brown now. Right. We have other brothers and sisters in there, not just black brothers and sisters. And it was mostly millennials and Gen Zs but we're seeing more seasoned saints come who are also standing online. I think it is a beautiful thing that we're showing the culture. This is what hunger for the gospel looks like.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah, for sure.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

This is what hunger for preaching looks like. And we even seen this. I mean, when four men carried a friend to where Christ was preaching, they could not get in. They was on a line on the outside, and they went up on the roof and tore a hole in that roof and dropped their friend in there. This is not new, y'. All.

[Megan Ashley]

I know y' all be taking everything that Pastor Phil says literal. Please do not climb on our roof.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Please do not climb on the roof.

[Megan Ashley]

Of the building trying to get no hole. Please, y'. All. Cause y' all be doing everything this man say.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Please don't do that. Right. But this is not new. It's just new to people who don't read. Right. But we've seen this type of hunger before. So I want to say to those who are in the lines, who are coming for the right reason, man, glory in what God is doing. While we're out there in the line. Stand in the line and be in awe of the fact that there is something happening that Jesus is doing, that people will stand online to get into a gathering. Instead of complaining about being on the line, let's marvel at what God is doing. Like, I don't understand some people in cultures, like, you persecute what is false and you persecute what is real. It's like you're not satisfied with nothing.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

You know, and so we. We're mad when people are not showing up for church. But then when people are showing up in droves, y' all are still mad. And I'm serious about this. Like, we have people who complain in culture that churches are empty and people are not coming. And then when. When people are coming, then y' all saying everything is idolization. And sometimes some people do idolize.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

But there's some. There are some people out there who critique. Not say critique. They slander 2019. Saying everything is idolatry. Some things are just admiration.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

And it's not idolatry. And it. Would you rather the church be empty? Would you rather people be showing up? I think we should. We should glory in what God is doing and celebrate that. So that's one group. Let's be thankful that there is a revival happening. There is a hunger for God's word, because we're not in there selling chicken dinners and playing around. We're in there preaching the Scriptures, line by line, verse by verse, and we're singing songs unto God for the glory of God. We're in there praying.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Right. We're in there doing warfare. So we're in there doing the things for real.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

And if people are coming for that, they're not coming for hype and entertainment. I think we should glory in that. That's number one.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

But watch. There are people who are coming to peak, and there are people are coming because it's popular on social media, and there are people who are coming for. Watch this word hype. That's what they're coming for. Watch. I pray for them and I'm thankful for them. Let them come for hype and my prayer for them. Lord, I pray people will keep coming for hype. But those who come for hype, they would come in and sit down in these gatherings. They would hear Christ exalted in worship and in prayer.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

They would hear the proclamation of your word line by line, verse by verse. And they will realize that you are amongst us. And then their hearts will be burned and radically changed. So even if people come in for the wrong reasons, I'm thankful for that. Because they may come for the wrong reason, but I believe that if they stay long enough, their hearts will be transformed.

[Megan Ashley]

Good.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Does that make sense? Because we have to know, in the first century, there are people who are rallying around Christ during his ministry for the right reasons, and people who are coming for the wrong reasons, but their hearts are being transformed anyway. You understand what I'm saying? So I invite the Nicodemuses. How about that? I invite the Zacchaeuses. How about that? I invite all of the people who are coming for the wrong reasons, keep coming for the wrong reasons, but they're going to be transformed while they're there. What is the alternative, if they don't come, that they never hear the proclamation of God's word? Am I mad that they're standing at the club on Saturday night and Then standing at 2019 on Sunday morning? Am I mad at that? No, I'm not mad at that. Mad. But here's what I do. Pray in my prayer time. Not only will God transform them as they come, even if they come for the wrong reasons, but I have prayed that the word hype, hype, around 2019 will disappear and it'll be replaced by what Jesus is really doing.

[Megan Ashley]

Amen.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Revival.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

That people who persecute us to death will come to a place where they realize, no, this is not hype. There is a revival happening There, we may not like him, we may not like it, but there is something happening there that God is doing. This was almost like that Pharisee that said to other Pharisees, look, brothers and sisters, y' all seen all these other little things, pop culture before, and they disappeared, cuz God wasn't in it. But if this thing y' all persecuting God has done, then y' all are wasting your time. And that's what I'm praying. I'm praying that some people realize all of their persecution. Y' all are really wasting your time. Like, we not in there spilling blood and worshiping idols.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Like, I mean, this may sound kind of. I don't know how people are going to take this. I even think if some of my enemies hung out with me for a week and came into my prayer closet with me and saw some of my tears and how I pray for them, and they might think differently, you know, if they see how we grind in the office, how we pray and shed tears in the office, how a meeting, a staff meeting for us can morph into a prayer meeting in a moment.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

If they knew the sacrifices that Lena and I was making in private, if they knew the kind of integrity and character we tried to model in private, I think if they had a camera on us in the dark, and if they was on the backside, I think some people will realize, no, this is not hype.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

This is actually something Jesus is doing, doing, and we're just trying to steward it.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

And they can throw stones, but man, if God is the one doing it, they're really wasting their time.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

You know, so even if people are coming for the wrong reason, I pray that they'll be transformed while they're there. And I would rather them come for the wrong reason and be transformed than not come at all.

[Megan Ashley]

That's good.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

But I believe 2019 is something that Jesus is doing for sure. Not Philip Anthony Mitchell.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

I didn't even create the name. I think this is something that Jesus is doing and we all are just doing our best to steward it for however long it'll last. Because watch. I'm gonna say this too. You know how we say, when we talk about suffering, we say, this too will not last forever. Like, you know, this too shall come to an end. We say that about our suffering, but we gotta say that about our good times too.

[Megan Ashley]

Megan. That's good.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

This too. Yeah, it will come to an end.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

A day will come. We will not be like this. You know, I'll be gone.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

20, 19 will belong to some other men. We don't know how long this is gonna last right now. There is something happening that's supernatural. We don't know how long that's gonna last. Yeah, we're in a river right now. We don't know how long that's gonna flow.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

It may come to an end. It will at some point in time. But while it is there, I can say this. Yeah, it is Christ who's doing it. It's not Philippante Metro. It's Christ. Our church doubled in size last year while I was gone for two months.

[Megan Ashley]

Yep, I was there.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

You was there?

[Megan Ashley]

Yep.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

It doubled. Massage. I was gone. That's evidence.

[Megan Ashley]

I've never seen that before.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Right. It's evidence that it's not built on a man.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

It's something that Jesus is doing, and we're just trying to steward it. So that's what I would say to the. To both camps.

[Megan Ashley]

I love that. Okay, so while we come to an end, because I said I was using this as a discipleship moment, is there anything because you. You know me, I want to grow. I want to learn. Is there anything that you would want, like, if we were using this as a discipleship moment, what do you want to see me grow in? And what ways can I steward what I have better?

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

You're asking me this on the podcast?

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Really?

[Megan Ashley]

I think it's a good discipleship moment. I'm not afraid of correction.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

You know that what I want to see you do better in. And how do you better steward your platform? If there's one area I would say I want you to see you not do better, but keep growing in, is the stewardship of your emotions. Right. Because I know, because we're wired the same, that it's easy for you and I to go so low in our emotions that it's hard to pull us out of those places. And so one of the things that I would want you to see, not do better, but keep growing, it's just the stewardship of your emotions. And. And I applaud you for being so humble to ask on your podcast. Yeah. I think you're doing a good job.

[Megan Ashley]

Thanks.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Because we know how you used to struggle a lot with suicidal thoughts, and I think you are trending in the right direction. So my exhortation is not do better. My exhortation is keep growing. The direction growing. And then in terms of your platform, what would I want to see you in terms of the stewardship of your platform? Here it is. It says, God continues to elevate you, to stay humble, to fight for purity, to remember who gave you this platform, to remember he could take it away if he wanted to. And to remember that you're not an owner of In Totality. You are a steward of In Totality. And all of these powerful, wonderful people in the studio right now, you are stewards of all of them. Right. And I think, think to the degree God can trust you on the way up as you keep going down on the inside. That's my exhortation for you with your platform, that the higher he takes your platform, I want to encourage you to go lower in humility and purity and honoring the people around you and seeing everything, all of it, all of it as a stewardship. It'd be so easy to say because you created In Totality, to say it's mine. Mine. Hear me, Megan. Right? That's how I led victory for 10 years before 2019. Mine. One of the biggest mistakes of my ministry. Career. Ministry is not mine. Ammonia Stewart. And then I will walk off the platform permanently. And. And God will raise up somebody else. So you created a great platform. Platform In Totality is one of our country's most recognized podcasts. That's why everybody want to sit on this couch. The higher up he takes you, I want you to promise me you will go lower in humility and purity and in honoring the people that's serving with you. Right. For there's no Megan Ashley without them.

[Megan Ashley]

Correct.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

There is no In Totality without all of them. And that this couch belongs to God.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

And it does not belong to you.

[Megan Ashley]

Yes, sir.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

2019 belongs to God.

[Megan Ashley]

God.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

And it doesn't belong to me. You and I are only stewards. That's it.

[Megan Ashley]

Yes, sir.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

That's my exhortation.

[Megan Ashley]

Okay, thank you. I will do so. We always do a journal prompt at the end of every episode, and we've talked about some heavy stuff, mainly suffering. What would you give. What would be a good journal prompt? I believe that we consume so much content quickly that we just. People will listen to a podcast and they'll go right to the next thing or they go right to the. The next source of information. And so I always want to give people the opportunity to have kind of a say that moment, to process and to ponder on what we talked about. So what would be a good journal prompt to give people an opportunity just to process?

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Yes. In Totality Family. I think a good journal prompt would be one of two things. Reflect on something you've gone through that has been very difficult and traumatic. That God brought you through. And write, what did you learn going through that? How did God shape your character? How did God develop you as a result of that? Recall that and see how can you give God glory in it? And for those of you and those who may be suffering right now, sit down and write about what God is doing in you through your suffering. What are you learning? What is he saying to you? How is he shaping you? How is he making you behave better? How will you be informed? What is your prayer life like? Write about what you're going through and what you sense God may be doing in you, in it, in this moment, and how you can better embrace suffering for the glory of Christ.

[Megan Ashley]

That's good.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Yeah. Let that be your journal prompt.

[Megan Ashley]

Love that.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

And pour out your heart on the page. Shed tears on the page, snot on the page. Get it all out of your system. And then when you hit period, thank God for his faithfulness in it all.

[Megan Ashley]

That's good. That's good.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

That's dope.

[Megan Ashley]

Thank you so much for being here. I love you. You are my brother, my sister. You are a man of integrity. And there is. I do this with Jackie, too, because there is often so much noise in the negative way, and I always want to add to the truth of who you are. But thank you for loving your family. Thank you for loving God. Thank you for loving Lena and your kids and doing it well and being a fierce protector of God's character, His word, your family, your. Your. Your gathering of 2819, how you have fiercely protected that. Thank you for being a man of integrity. I've seen you walk through some stuff, I know, even privately, some of the things that you've had to walk through and how you've done it with honor, how you've done it with integrity, how you've even. And the even certain criticism that. That you've had to work through, that you've done it with the Lord and you haven't been above, you know, the Lord's correction. Thank you for loving me and my children, for going to school visits and discipleship moments, times where I've been at my lowest of lows. And you stayed on the phone with me, you've talked me through, and you've walked me off of a ledge when you didn't have to, for not being, you know, your name hasn't been so big that you have forgotten to be a discipler. And, and just. I just appreciate your. Your integrity and the man that you are. I love you. You are not just my pastor, but you truly are my brother. And I would be. You know me, I'm 10 toes down, ready to go at any time. But I appreciate you and I love you for that. And thank you.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

I love you.

[Megan Ashley]

Thank you for what you're doing.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Yeah. I appreciate it.

[Megan Ashley]

For the kingdom. I really appreciate.

[Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell]

Thank you for this time.

[Megan Ashley]

Yeah. All right, guys, we'll see you next week right here on into. What's up, you guys? I hope you enjoyed this episode. Thank you so much for listening, and I hope you felt encouraged in some way. Be sure to like and follow into Tality Podcast everywhere you listen to your favorite shows. Follow into Tality on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and be sure to turn on your post notifications so that you can be the first to listen. Whenever there's a new episode.