← Jentezen Franklin at Free Chapel
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- [00:01]
Jensen Franklin
Hello, this is Jensen Franklin, and thank you so much for joining us for this week's podcast. Our goal is to provide you with biblically based teachings that will challenge, inspire, and equip you to live for Jesus. If you haven't already, I'd love for you to go ahead and subscribe today to this podcast so you can get the latest updates from us and you don't ever have to miss a new message. Let's go right into the service. Record it at Freechapel. I believe it's going to bless you today. Genesis, chapter 26. I want to tell you what we're doing while we're baptizing people. Real quick. Genesis chapter 26. And I'll begin reading with verse 18. And Isaac dug again the wells of water which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father, for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham. He called them by the names which his father had named them. I want you to notice that. And then I want you to notice verse 24. And the Lord appeared unto him the same night, the same night that he redug a well that his father had dug. The Lord appeared unto him and said, I am the Lord God of your father, of Abraham. Do not fear, I am with you. I will bless you, multiply your descendants. Why he redug a well. Notice that for my servant Abraham's sake. And I'll stop there. And then I want to go quickly over. So you have Abraham, whom God recognizes as the well digger. And then his son Isaac comes along and re digs the well. If you read the verses before it said he went off and tried to dig his own wells, and all he hit was ultimately dirt. So he came back to his father's well. What a sermon in that.
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
And.
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Jensen Franklin
And then John chapter 4, verse 6. So it started with Abraham. Isaac tried to dig new wells and find water that gives life. He couldn't find it out there anywhere. So he returned and redug his father Abraham's well. So that's two generations. Abraham has died. And Isaac tried new stuff, but he came back to that well. And then now we have the third generation, Abraham Isaac. And the same well is described 1900 years later when Jesus Christ showed up, God in skin, and went to the well in Samaria. Watch this. Now Jacob's whale was there, so there's a third generation. I'm preaching on generational whales. I'm preaching on in re digging a whale or digging a well for your family? A family well. It was a family well. Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus, therefore, being weary from his journey, sat by the well and a woman from Samaria came to draw water. And Jesus said to her, give me drink and I'll cut right down to this 11th verse. The woman said to him, sir, you have nothing to draw with. I love this. And the well is deep. Hallelujah. I get happy every time I say that. It is a deep well that we have in Jesus. The well is deep. And Jesus goes on to say in verse 10, and he answered and said, if you knew the gift of God and who it is that's talking to you, you'd say, give me drink. You would have asked him and he would have given you living water. The well is deep. So Bible. The Bible's full of whales. And whales were essential. Whales were necessary for survival. The livestock depended. The crops depended. If a person could not find a well in the Holy Land, that we call it today, they would not last long. It was not just something to have, it was an absolute necessity. And when Isaac split off from his father after his father died, he left a good well and let it get polluted. The Philistines came and poured pollution into that well. And he didn't guard it, he didn't maintain it. He didn't keep it clean and open. He varies off. And he started digging new wells and they did not satisfy. And he was forced, listen carefully, by circumstances to go back to his father's well and re dig them. Sometimes God will force you to go where you need to go and do what you need to do. If you don't go voluntarily, he'll let you go out and dig your little new wells and try new religion and try something that those old timey, silly old parents and grandpa and all them, they're crazy. They went to church and all. We don't need that. Dig your new wells. Dig them. And you know what? You're going to come up dry sooner or later. They'll satisfy for a moment, but you're going to come up dry. And when you want to get your life back together, come back to the original well. And he came back and he started re digging the well that was already there. We don't have a new gospel. We don't have a new message. We don't have. We package it a little different. This is kind of different, but we preach the same from the same well of the Book of Acts. We believe that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. He doesn't just save. He fills with the Holy Ghost. He doesn't just fill with the Holy Ghost, but it's a deep well. It's a well well so deep that you don't have to stop by just getting, walking down and getting saved. And I'm not putting that, that's not a minor thing. But when you really get saved, it's an unending in unending well, a boundless whale. It, it never stops. And it's up to you. If you hunger and thirst, you can go deeper and deeper. Some of you need to get your floaties off. You've been in the shallow pool playing around with you big old grown adult and you still hadn't grown three inches in Jesus. Come on, somebody. At some point Jesus says, launch out into the deep. You've been stuck over there in that religious rut and I want you to re dig the wells of revival and prayer and, and joy and the Holy Spirit and the baptism in the Holy Ghost. Re dig those wells of revival for your family. Because it's not just about you. If you go dry, the family goes dry. And so whales have a spiritual significance. In scripture, Jacob's well was very revered because of its heritage. They kept it clean, they kept it open. And now we see 1900 years later, Jesus shows up at a family well that had been kept from generation to generation to, to generation. And it was still flowing and it still had fresh enough water that people came from everywhere to get their water out of that old, old family well. And the well is deep. I tell you. The salvation and the Holy Spirit baptism is just the beginning, it's not the end. And in a minute these people going to get up here and some of them are first generation Christians and others have wells that grandma dug and Aunt Susie, Doug and somebody dug. But they're going to get up and they're going to get in the well and it's starting a family well that will bring living water should the Lord tarry for generations to come. And it's a deep well. The Holy Spirit's well is limitless and deep. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is a deep well. That's not ankle deep, knee deep, waist deep. It's water to swim in. It'll satisfy you. I tell you. Jesus said if you drink of this well, you'll never thirst again. What does that mean? That means nothing. The world has that. I gave up when I came out of the world. It does not have a hold on me anymore. I can truthfully say I'm not up here thinking, man, I can't wait to get out of this church so I can go get drunk and get high and so I can cheat on my wife. There is nothing in me that wants any of that because I am drinking from something that does not leave me thirsty. That's the problem. Some of you have you got that thirsty look. But when you drink of the living water, it satisfies your soul. Hallelujah. I'm saved and I'm satisfied. I don't need anything else but Jesus. I appreciate his blessings, but just the fact that I have eternal life and I'm drinking from the well, I'll be all right. I might go through some things, but I'll be all right. Hallelujah. Shout if you've got a river of living water. Hallelujah. You got to keep it clean, you got to keep it open. You have to keep re digging it. You can't let it become stale and stagnant. There's a river down there. But if you let the whale get clogged up, the river can't flow into that whale. So they had to take care of the generational whale. And when Jesus showed up, it had been maintained and it had been preserved. It was purposeful. It was a generational whale from generation to generation. 1900 years and it was still flowing. Today that well is almost 4,000 years old and it's still in the Holy Land. And they take you to it when you go on a tour, if you want to go. And it is absolutely historically no question it is the well of Abraham from Isaac to Jacob. But now they built a Greek Orthodox synagogue church over it. And, and I can't help but see the symbolism in that. We've replaced living water with ritual worship. And I'm not putting down somebody's religion. I. There's a return to Orthodoxy. People are wanting to return. Well, that's why I started doing communion a long time ago. The Lord said, why do you just do that once a month? And I said, well, that's kind of the tradition. He said, forget the tradition and get the, get the meal that heals out and let me work. And that's why we pray the Lord's Prayer. That's why we still, we go all the way back to the book of Acts. We still pray in tongues and sing and worship and shout and glorify. We have old fashioned prayer meetings. And as long as I'm alive, we're never going to stop them because that's what the church did. The Bible said they broke bread daily that wasn't eating chicken fingers and biscuits. They didn't go out and just sit around and eat meals with other Christians. They would do. They would do communion, and then they would eat and they would hang out. And they had all things common, meaning that, you know, it was just a lifestyle. They did life with other Christians. If. If you don't have any life with other Christians, it's probably because you're more like the world than you are the Christian. And the word Christian didn't show up in the book until the. I don't have time to preach this. This whale's deep. Hallelujah. When I'm trying to tell you, when we take communion, that thing that well goes all the way back to the upper room. When he said, this is in my blood and it's powerful. It'll run every devil out of your house. You ought to get that meal out and take it as off as you do this. You do it in remembrance of me until I come.
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
Whoo.
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Jensen Franklin
That's the next thing. This well so deep, it's going to lift us up out of the grave, and it's going to lift us up who are alive and remain and be caught up in the clouds together.
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
Deep.
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Jensen Franklin
Turn to somebody say, this river's deep and getting deeper. For some of you, you'll be left behind. Wow. And there'll be a mark of the beast waiting on you. And you can't buy and sell without it. It's deep, but God's in control. Hallelujah. David got so weary from battling the Philistines, and they had taken over his hometown, called Bethlehem, where another great person would be born besides King David, and that would be King Jesus. But he cried out one day, oh. In 2nd Samuel 23:15, he said, oh, that somebody would give me a drink from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate. He knew exactly where it was, and he sent three of his mightiest men and they rushed through the troops of the Philistines for a cup of water and got a cup of water and brought it back. And this is what I want you to see. And then I'm going to move on, but I want you to hear this. David held that cup up, and he was so moved and emotional about it that he said, I can't drink this because when I think of what this whale has cost to preserve it from generation to generation so that I could drink from it, he said these words, is this not. Is it not this the blood of men that gave up their lives? He said, the only reason there's a well, there is. There were men who fought and defended that well. And they gave up their lives, they gave up their resources, they gave up everything they had. And when I thought about that, I couldn't help but think about the fact that Free Chapel is a well that wasn't just dug a day ago. If Jacob had to re dig those wells for the next generation, if he didn't, the next generation would pay the price. And he understood that. And when I think about the fact that every church has spiritual whales that go back to its original source and foundation, some pastor, somebody, some evangelist, some prayer warrior in their kitchen or somewhere started digging a well in the city. And that's exactly the story of Free Chapel. We're not a fly by night ministry. It's not popular. We never started out to be a mega church. We don't see ourselves as a megachurch. We see ourselves as a well. And it's deep. And it's deep enough that the more people come, the more we can serve. Hallelujah. We don't run out. We got plenty of communion and plenty of wine and plenty of bread and plenty of Jesus. And Jesus is the answer. Hallelujah. Every church has generational wells as the result of prayers and prophecies and revivals and fasting and tears and sacrifices and sacrificial giving. I jotted down some names of people who were. Who were well diggers. HR Pierce put up his house many generations ago and decades ago. He put up his house when the church Free Chapel couldn't afford to get a bank loan to build. You know, it started in a skating rink. We are the original Holy Rollers. And that's where we started. Hallelujah. And then Brother Pierce put up his house mortgage that he had paid off for the debt that the church would take on. He was digging a well. He was just a businessman and he had just a love for God. And he was digging a well for his family and digging a well for a church. And he's been in heaven for decades. He was on the board when I came to Free Chapel and he was a crippled man. And he would take me out to lunch. He had a big long Lincoln. And he would take me out to lunch and he would encourage me. And he would get tears in his eyes in every building program. He said, you're building it too small. You're building, building it too small. Hallelujah. Oh, we're here because somebody said, I'll dig a well for you, Jesus. And I may can't preach and I may can't sing, and I may can't do what the pastor can do. But I'll be a well digger in my generation, and I'll lift Jesus high and give people living water. Give him a hand. Clap of praise if you believe it. I thought about J.W. thomas. I thought about Omi. Me. She's still alive. That's about the only one on this list. I thought about Mother Young. I thought about sister smoke. And we had a sister cook at one time. I told them, that reminds me of Cherise's cooking. Sister Smoking. Sister Cook. I thought about the old whale, Katie Franklin. There she sits. Ancient of days. Amen. Raise your hand. Mom. That's the whale right there. That's my whale. Hallelujah. Oh, thank you, Jesus. She's still praying. She still handed out water. Glory to God. I thought about so many more, and I can't even go there. I'm done. Hallelujah. But when you get up, and you're getting up now, and when you come and you get in this water. Come on, guys. I'm ready. And when you get in this water, I want you to know that you are saying, I am starting a well. Jesus said, this will be a well of living water. And what this water represents is when they go down. Romans 6 said they're buried with Christ, and when they come up, they are resurrected. Quote to newness of life. How many of you appreciate the truth of water baptism? Praise the Lord. God bless you. You may be seated. What's your name?
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
Brittany D.
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Jensen Franklin
All right, who are the people making the noise?
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
Those are my sisters and Made for more. And that's my babies.
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Jensen Franklin
That's so great. So made for more ministries which you support, and thank you for that. And we're working on some dynamic things that's coming for that ministry. And how did you end up here today?
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
I spent four years in prison, and I got out and went to another program that closed, and I had nowhere to go.
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And
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it was referred to me to try this program, and I did. And I had no expectations.
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Jensen Franklin
None.
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
It was a place to live, but God said, no, ma'.
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Jensen Franklin
Am. So you had no place to live?
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
No.
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And when I got out of prison, I was praying for more prison time because I was comfortable there and I hadn't.
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I was.
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My plan for my life was to live under a bridge. And in 10, God said, no, absolutely not.
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Jensen Franklin
Praise God. So you have hope, you have faith?
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
I have.
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Beyond that, there's. There's no words for what Jesus has done in my life. And he's done it through Brent and Marina Rutherford. There are not Two more godly people on this planet that I know of. The light of God shines through them and they have led me to the light and by me. My children just signed up today for next steps to get water baptism.
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Jensen Franklin
You're digging a well and their things go. Going good. Are you still in the program? Are you out? Okay. When will you graduate?
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
September of this year.
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Jensen Franklin
And in Jesus name we're going to see the Lord provide everything you need in life opportunities. He's a good God.
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
He is the best God.
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Jensen Franklin
This well is deep, girl.
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
It is deep. It is so deep. It is bottomless. There's not even a bottom to it. There's not a bottom to it.
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Jensen Franklin
She's preaching the truth. Welcome to the deep end. And I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. What a miracle. What a miracle. What a miracle. What a miracle. That's it, ladies. God bless you. Oh, hallelujah. Good morning. What's your name?
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
Jennifer.
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Jensen Franklin
And Jennifer, how long you been coming to the church?
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
It's been a few months now, but I started watching back June of 2024.
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Jensen Franklin
Were you watching on YouTube or something?
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
I was in the hospital. I had gotten sick and so I started watching you because what else can you do in the hospital but watch
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Jensen Franklin
the so and so something. What happened while you were watching?
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
God saved my life. He brought me through a very. I had been a Christian, I've been baptized when I was 15, but I had strayed so far from him and I was trying to fix all of my problems myself. And so he sat me down basically and said, put your trust in me and I will get you through it. And he has worked so many miracles, like he is just still performing miracles every day of my life. And I just owe him all the glory.
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Jensen Franklin
And upon your profession of faith, I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Hallelujah. Thank you, Lord. What's your name? Caleb. Caleb, how old are you? I'm 19. 19? Why would a 19 year old young man want to get baptized?
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
You just got to proclaim your faith in public so that no one else is ashamed.
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Jensen Franklin
Everyone's here to celebrate with you.
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
And that's what I was scared of for so long.
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Jensen Franklin
Yeah, that's it. And what you're doing this well so deep that Peter, James and John and all the disciples, they were baptized and Jesus the model was baptized and all the Christians for their blood was poured out so that this could be this moment. For another Christian who's going public with their faith. So I. I'm just so proud of you. Anything else? That's really all.
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
I'm just excited to be doing it with my family.
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Jensen Franklin
It's powerful. You part of a family? Well, I baptize you in the name of the the Father, the son, Jesus Christ, and the holy Spirit church. Rejoice. Rejoice that he doesn't have a testimony except Jesus. Come on and praise the Lord. Hallelujah. What's your name?
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
Chandler.
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Jensen Franklin
And, Chandler, why are you doing this today? I grew up in church, but I
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
started drifting away, smoking weed and drinking and vaping. And I came back, and I wanted to publicly announce my faith to the Lord.
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Jensen Franklin
What made you want to come back?
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
Family praying for me, and I just changed my life around so.
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Jensen Franklin
Great. And how you doing now? Good. I haven't vaped, smoked, or drinked in, like, three years. That's pretty good proof. Hallelujah. What are you doing now?
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
Just following what God has brought to me.
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Jensen Franklin
Yeah, You're a disciple. You're a disciple of Jesus Christ. I baptize you in the name of the father, the son, Jesus Christ, and the holy Spirit. Praise the Lord. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. Good morning. What's your name?
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
Bailey.
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Jensen Franklin
You know, I love these baptism services. I love that this is the day the Lord has made and we should rejoice. He knew you would be getting in this water in your darkest day. He knew before you were even thinking about him that this moment would come. What's your name? What's your name?
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
Bailey.
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Jensen Franklin
Bailey. And why are you doing this? So I got saved at a younger
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
age, and I also got diagnosed with anxiety at that age, so I knew baptism was the next steps, but I was just so controlled by anxiety that I just never got to it. And last year, after years of praying, Jesus delivered me from my anxiety after 10 years of it.
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Jensen Franklin
This is a big day. You're doing great, too. Yes. And the first steps I wanted to
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
take was getting baptized, being free from all my anxiety.
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Jensen Franklin
Praise the Lord.
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
Amen.
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Jensen Franklin
That's a great freedom. I baptize you in the name of Jesus Christ, the Father, Son and Jesus. Holy Spirit, bless and keep in Jesus name. Praise the Lord. You. You getting in the well, son? Come over here. I mean, you lay down if you want to.
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
Not here. In a minute.
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Jensen Franklin
Why are you crying?
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
I'm just so thankful for the blood. Just thankful for the blood. Pastor Franklin, just thank. That was my girlfriend right there. She's been battling anxiety her whole life, and she's here.
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Jensen Franklin
Hallelujah.
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
Hallelujah.
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Jensen Franklin
That's awesome. That's awesome. So. So how did you end up here?
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
Oh, Lord, I'll tell you what. Her family brought me here two and a half years ago, Pastor. And it changed my life, Lord. The Lord has blessed me coming here. Her family brought me from floating on top of the well to diving deep under to the abyss. And I'm just so thankful, so thankful for God and so thankful for them and my family who's here. I was. I was a Christian growing up, and, and I. And I was baptized as a baby. And I just want to re proclaim my. My faith to Jesus publicly now that I'm old enough to make that decision. And I'm just so thankful for the blood. So thankful.
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Jensen Franklin
So you're not ashamed at all? You're not trying to keep his secret in the closet?
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
No, sir. Maybe in the past I did, but now I want to proclaim Jesus to the whole world.
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Jensen Franklin
Boy, the devil's in trouble. This is. This is not normal Christianity. This is a new generation arising, saying, we'll charge the gates of hell. I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Praise the Lord. Hallelujah. Glory to God. You know, I think about all the prayers, I think about all the fast, I think about all the study and everything to reach these souls. This ought to be the noisiest service of our year. Hallelujah. To God be the glory. I said to God be the glory. Hallelujah. What is your name?
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
Maria Concepcion.
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Jensen Franklin
Maria. Maria. And what has Jesus done for you? 20 years ago. But, you know, things in life happened and I ran away from the Lord. But lately I've been feeling that the Lord has been calling me back through the Holy Spirit. By the grace of God, I had the opportunity to come back here and get reunited with my family and my children. Praise the Lord. Well, we want you to know, we want to say first of all, welcome home. And we want you to know that we love you and God loves you and you have a family. Well, have you ever been baptized in water like this before?
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
Come on.
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Jensen Franklin
20 years ago. 20 years ago. Well, in the name of Jesus Christ the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, I baptize you in Jesus name. Praise the Lord. Hallelujah. God bless you. What is your name? My name is Gloria. Gloria Reed. Gloria.
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
From Florida.
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Jensen Franklin
From Florida. How long you been here? Two and a half years.
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
I start online. Online, Yes. I was inviting from my nephew, who I hope he's here. Jamie is my Nephew. So he invite us.
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Jensen Franklin
I said I was. Where's he at? Is he here? Where you at, Jamie? He's back. See him? See his hand?
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
Where?
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Jensen Franklin
That camera. There he is. He's standing up now. It's hard to see up here, but we see you. God sees you. Oh, thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord.
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
I'm here because I'm so proud of a cat.
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Jensen Franklin
Bring me to this church, not only
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
for myself, but I want say thank you, Lord, that I'm here.
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Jensen Franklin
I'm in this country for 50 years.
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
I. Yes. And I came to this country by
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Jensen Franklin
myself, with no friends, with no family. And look at where I am.
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
I'm blessed. I say, thank you, Lord. My husband is here, too.
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Jensen Franklin
Beautiful. Can you praise the Lord for that family story? That's a miracle, isn't it? That's a miracle. God's blessed. You haven't. Yes. Thank you for this country. I got three kids. I got three, ten grandkids.
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
What?
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Jensen Franklin
I say thank you, Lord. That's a deep well. Those grandkids are deep wells right there. Yes, they are. I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Bless this family, Lord. Bless this family. Hallelujah. And you're the husband. All right. What is your name? Garrett Reed. Garrett, God bless you. So this is a big day for your family, Barry. I need it. My whole family needs it. I was baptized when I was young
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
as a child, and I strayed over the years. I met my wife 30 years ago.
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Jensen Franklin
31 years ago. Excuse me.
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
And I was the aircraft mechanic. I had a brain injury at work nine years ago.
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Jensen Franklin
I was in a chair for four years.
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
It disabled me. And we started watching this church two
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Jensen Franklin
and a half years ago.
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
And you're just amazing pastors.
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Jensen Franklin
Jesus is my savior.
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
I want to publicly declare it.
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Jensen Franklin
And the fact you were able to navigate these steps, it could have been a watery grave. But you. I thought I was going to float because of you.
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
I thought I was going to float.
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Jensen Franklin
As long as you don't play saxophone, I'll be.
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Baptism Candidate or Testifier
I won't be crying.
- [33:13]
Jensen Franklin
That is so great. And we rejoice with you. This is beautiful, this whole story. And these are jubilant people, happy people. Look at her. She's glowing in the dark. Praise God. I love that. She's good advertisement for Jesus, and you are, too. And I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Bless him, Lord, exceedingly, abundantly. Above all you could ask or think, Jesus Name? Good morning. What's your name?
- [33:48]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
My name is Landon.
- [33:49]
Jensen Franklin
How old are you, Landon?
- [33:51]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
I'm 18 years old.
- [33:52]
Jensen Franklin
Come on. 18 and not ashamed. Why? Why would an 18 year old want to get baptized in water?
- [33:59]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
So about four months ago, I was living a terrible life of addiction. Battling alcohol, drugs, you name it. And I was kicked out of my house the whole month of November. And come around Thanksgiving time, I prayed a prayer. I was like, lord, I'm tired of this life. Please save me, deliver me. Remove all this evil from my life, Lord. And the next day I get a call from my mom. She says, we want you there for Thanksgiving. And then the next day I got sent to good land and recovery. And Now I'm over 100 days sober and I'm walking with the Lord.
- [34:42]
Jensen Franklin
Is your mother here today?
- [34:44]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
I live in South Carolina. They're about three hour drive. But I know they're at home listening and watching.
- [34:50]
Jensen Franklin
I know they're proud of you in this moment. And it took. It, it hurt them. You, you heard this when you were a kid, but it hurt them more than it hurt you. Did they put you out? Kind of put you out? Yeah, they were dying. They wouldn't show it to you, but they were dying. I've been there, I've done that. And boy, you feel like. But sometimes love has to be tough.
- [35:12]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
Yes, it does. It does. And I want to give a big thanks to my good friend Mr. Witt. He's here somewhere. And I also want to give another big thanks to all my guys in good land and recovery over there. In that.
- [35:22]
Jensen Franklin
Where's good landing? Stand up. Good land. And we love you guys. Y' all do great work over there. We appreciate you. Well, I baptize you, you don't say anything else.
- [35:32]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
Praise God. And you know, anything's possible with God. You can't do it alone. You gotta. You got to give all the glory to God. And I want y' all to know that if y' all are in here struggling today, you know, just give it to God.
- [35:44]
Jensen Franklin
Prayer.
- [35:44]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
There's so much power in prayer. There's really, really is. And if you just give it to him, your life will be so much better.
- [35:51]
Jensen Franklin
So great. I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Let the church rejoice. Hallelujah. Good morning. What's your name?
- [36:05]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
Jesse.
- [36:05]
Jensen Franklin
Jesse, how long you been coming to Free Chapel? Oh, who are you with?
- [36:11]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
My family and friends.
- [36:12]
Jensen Franklin
That's no way that's your family. That's a big family. Where's that family at? And they're noisy. You didn't shout like that while I preached. What is the problem? I was really needing you this morning. But that is awesome. So that's your family?
- [36:32]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
Yes, that's my family.
- [36:33]
Jensen Franklin
And so tell us why you're doing this.
- [36:36]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
Six months ago, I went through one of the worst seasons of my life. And I thought that my life was completely ruined. But my dad came and he talked to me and he told me that if I just give everything to God that he can turn my impossible situation around. And so I started to build a relationship with God for the first time, something I never did before. And also during that time, I was talking to my friend about things I was dealing with each week. And then I would come to Sunday service and you would preach exactly what I was going through. And then about a month or two later, I got a call unexpectedly that the situation I was going through had been dismissed and that I was. I knew that wasn't luck, but that. I knew that was. That was God answering my prayers.
- [37:23]
Jensen Franklin
It wasn't luck. That was God. Amen. I love that. That's a great takeaway line. Just turn to somebody next time something great happens and say, that's not luck, that's God. Well, God's got his hand on you, young man. I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Amazing. Good morning.
- [37:49]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
Morning. How are you doing?
- [37:50]
Jensen Franklin
Good, how are you? What's your name?
- [37:52]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
Matthew.
- [37:54]
Jensen Franklin
And that's your family, too, friends?
- [37:58]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
Yeah, that's my friend that just got baptized.
- [37:59]
Jensen Franklin
So doing this together. What in the world is going on with all these young. You know, it's the same way in the 9 o', clock. There's so many young men that are getting saved. And I'm not talking about. They. They want. They're kind of playing with it. They want. They want to take up their cross daily and follow Jesus. Are you one of those?
- [38:19]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
Yes, sir, I am.
- [38:22]
Jensen Franklin
What's the Lord done for you?
- [38:23]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
So he's done a lot. I've been going to the church ever since I was 2, for my whole life. Been to all the events and like the Ford Conference, the camps. Every time I went, I had a fire for the Lord, but every time it would, like the fire would burn down slowly.
- [38:37]
Jensen Franklin
So I want to dedicate my life
- [38:38]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
today to keep the fire lit.
- [38:41]
Jensen Franklin
I love it. I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Bless him, Lord. Use him, Lord. Keep him Lord, Hallelujah. That is powerful. First of all, I admire you for your determination to be baptized this morning. God bless you. What is your name? Barryman Duffy. And why are you doing this? Have you ever been baptized? I guess, sir, about 20 years ago. But I'm doing this because for a long time I was doing drugs and I lost a lot of my friends doing drugs. My baby brother, he committed suicide about three years ago and I lost my best friend. I've been through a lot. I just want to praise the Lord and wash all way the his way. Yeah. And that, what a beautiful testimony and. And everything you've been through has led you to this moment. There's a verse that says that morning, by morning, He. He. His mercy is renewed. It waits on you every morning. God has new mercy for us. He does it daily. Daily. He gives us daily mercy and grace. And that's the only reason you're still alive, is his mercy kept you alive. And anything you want to say to people that are listening right now? I just want to give a special thanks to my family, the ones that's
- [40:18]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
helped me, my best friend, and I love them.
- [40:24]
Jensen Franklin
And upon your profession of faith. Hold your nose. Upon your profession of faith, I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. That is precious and Lord, continue to help and heal that body. Yeah, no, no, no, just walk around. There you go. Praise God. Thank you, Jesus. Amazing. How are you?
- [40:57]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
I'm good, how are you?
- [40:58]
Jensen Franklin
What's your name?
- [40:59]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
Christy.
- [40:59]
Jensen Franklin
Christy, how long you been coming to
- [41:01]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
Free Chapel for two years.
- [41:02]
Jensen Franklin
Good. Did somebody invite you?
- [41:04]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
Actually, it's an interesting story. Me and my husband, we haven't been in church the whole time we've been married. I have a nine year old little girl and her sister actually invited her to the Braselton campus for the parents night out, which was a win for us. So once we dropped her.
- [41:24]
Jensen Franklin
So you, your first deal was to get away from your kid, to get a break. And every parent totally understands. But that is wonderful news. I mean that is amazing. Isn't that something God can use? God uses things we can't even imagine.
- [41:42]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
And after we did that, a couple days later we got a phone call from you, which was left on our voicemail. And my husband's like, did you get the same message? And I said, I did.
- [41:54]
Jensen Franklin
And we were like, it's a recording.
- [41:56]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
It is. I knew we wasn't that special.
- [42:03]
Jensen Franklin
I'm going to find you and your husband's number and call you this week. Amen. In Jesus name.
- [42:08]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
We may need that phone call, but actually, after we heard that, my husband. Like, we need to go to church. So we started at the Braselton campus and we went for about a year. And then.
- [42:20]
Jensen Franklin
Wait a minute. So you get a recorded call, and you hadn't been in church for years and years. And the Lord uses that recorded call to make you want to come to church.
- [42:35]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
And we come here actually Easter Sunday because we wanted to see everything live. And ever since then, it just. It felt different to us. And of course, I was saved when I was 14 at a small Pentecostal church in Lula. And somebody that's here today is. She's the well digger, and that's my grandmother.
- [42:56]
Jensen Franklin
Where's your grandmother? Where's she at? Raise your hand. Grandmother. Bless you.
- [43:01]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
She's 83 years old.
- [43:03]
Jensen Franklin
83 years old. Old. And look. Look at. Look in the well, there's your granddaughter. Anything else?
- [43:10]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
We're just blessed in this church. And, you know, our. Our relationship with God has gotten closer. And I felt like since I was saved when I was 14, I'm almost 40, and this is something that I need to do.
- [43:22]
Jensen Franklin
It's truly a beautiful testimony. I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Lord, for that wonderful testimony. Good morning.
- [43:36]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
Good morning, sir.
- [43:37]
Jensen Franklin
What's your name?
- [43:37]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
Sebastian.
- [43:38]
Jensen Franklin
Sebastian, how'd you come to Free Chapel?
- [43:41]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
I've been off and on for about three years now, me and my fiance, and I was. I'm in a program called We Are Living Proof. So I was there over three years ago, and I kind of strayed away, and I had a situation in life with child. And, you know, I led and relapsed. So anyway, I found my way back here and really just dug in, you know what I mean? And it's been great since I started coming here this last time.
- [44:10]
Jensen Franklin
In what way did you dig in? Because that's a great. That goes with my sermon. So dig in.
- [44:16]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
Yeah, so I feel like I've been. I've been called my whole life by God. I didn't grow up in the church. I've. I grew up in addiction. 10, 15 years of just hard addiction, crime, and just trouble, you know, But I've always felt a fire burning in me for God. I couldn't explain. You know, he's led me. He raised me up. He brought me through some hard times in my life, and I know it was him and only Him. You know, I was fighting, surrender, for so long, I was fighting it. And I came here a broken man. A few months ago, over three months, I got four months, clean and sober this time, and thank you. I came here a broken man, and I just completely. I completely surrendered it all to him. Every sin, everything I was holding on to. I just let it all go. And since then, he's done an amazing work in my life. I've joined School of Discipleship. I'm going to Free Chapel College in fall. Man, he's just working wonders. I got a son on the way here in about a month. Man, I'm just so grateful for him, man.
- [45:33]
Jensen Franklin
And you're digging a well. And you got Ephesians 3:20 on your tattoo. What is Ephesians 3:20? I think I know.
- [45:41]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
But I'll tell you what it says. It says now, all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
- [45:56]
Jensen Franklin
Come on, somebody. I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Bless him, Lord. Hallelujah. You know, everything the devil tried to destroy you with. It didn't work. Hallelujah. That grace, that grace of God. You can sit down. There you go. What's your name?
- [46:17]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
Alyssa.
- [46:18]
Jensen Franklin
You're doing good now. Now, who are those screamers?
- [46:22]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
That is my family.
- [46:24]
Jensen Franklin
It's your family? And they've been praying for you?
- [46:26]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
Yes, sir.
- [46:27]
Jensen Franklin
How long you been in the church?
- [46:29]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
I've been going to Free Chapel since I was, like, two.
- [46:32]
Great.
- [46:32]
Jensen Franklin
And why are you doing this today?
- [46:34]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
I just want to help show the, like, the younger people, people that you shouldn't be ashamed to show your love for God.
- [46:40]
Jensen Franklin
You're doing that. How old are you?
- [46:42]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
18.
- [46:43]
Jensen Franklin
18. And. Anything else you want to say, just
- [46:47]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
follow God, because he's the only answer.
- [46:49]
Jensen Franklin
You're doing amazing. You're doing amazing. I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Bless her, Lord Jesus. Mighty name. Amen. Praise the Lord. What is your name? Tony. And Tony. And how old are you? 17. 17. Why are you doing this? You didn't have to get up here and do this, did you? I want to proclaim my commitment to Jesus in public. That's so great. And how long you've been in the church? A long time. I've been for about eight or nine years. Since I was in third grade in Kid Pack. And then I volunteered, then went to
- [47:27]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
youth, and now I'm here.
- [47:29]
Jensen Franklin
We're so proud of you. What's the future hold? Do you know yet? I have a lot of things in mind, but you know, I'm still thinking about that. Well, your future is bright when you keep Jesus. Lord of your life, I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Bless him, Lord. Good morning. How are you?
- [47:53]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
I'm good. How are you?
- [47:53]
Jensen Franklin
Good. What's your name?
- [47:55]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
Tori.
- [47:56]
Jensen Franklin
Tori. And is that your family?
- [47:59]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
Yes, and my husband's family.
- [48:01]
Jensen Franklin
God bless you. Wonderful. And so what's the Lord done for you?
- [48:06]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
So much more than I could ever sit up here and tell in a short amount of time. But most recently, we are expecting our first little boy. So we are doing this today to dig the well for him and make sure that we are still saturated and not ankle deep.
- [48:23]
Jensen Franklin
It's. It's kind of special that while I'm baptizing you, although he need. He'll get baptized himself, but we're just. It's a family well today and that's pretty. That's pretty amazing. To God be the glory, he's going to bless you. And I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Congratulations. And what's the Lord done for you?
- [48:56]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
Like she said, she's blessed us our whole lives, whether it was a house, a baby, whatever. He's just blessed us and we can't thank him enough.
- [49:08]
Jensen Franklin
So great. And so have you, have you ever been baptized with?
- [49:12]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
I have not. Just never did it and she motivated me to do it. After Charlie Kirk passed away, you brought all the young adults up here to the altar and that was the day we decided to get baptized.
- [49:27]
Jensen Franklin
That is amazing. I know that would thrill him to know that something is going on with this generation. I'm telling you, I'm telling you, it's special for all of us who wondered would we ever see what we saw? You know, spiritually, the well is deep, is still flowing. To a brand new generation and the next generation. I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. What a joy. A whole family. A whole family. God bless you. How are you? What's your name?
- [50:10]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
Bridget.
- [50:10]
Jensen Franklin
Bridget. Why are you getting baptized?
- [50:12]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
Well, first of all, I want to say I'm so happy to be here. I drove about six hours to be here, but.
- [50:19]
Jensen Franklin
Where did you come from?
- [50:20]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
South Carolina, around Conway, Myrtle beach area. But thank you. I struggled my whole life. Well, I grew up in the church, but then I strayed and I was on drugs. For a very long time, me and my significant other, we were together for ten and a half years. And he went to the hospital around February or March last year. And that month or two, while he was there, I still just kept wanting to do drugs all day, every day while I slowly lost the feeling in my legs. I had to go to the hospital. I broke my back from an infection from drugs, and he died two days before my surgery. And while I was in the hospital, when they had sent me, they had to send me back from Charleston and Conway two hours away, but I was too malnourished for surgery. So while they sent me back to get healthy, I was watching a local channel. And after that program went off, a church came on. And it was like. Because I had prayed for a long time, God, please just take away the desire. Like, I felt trapped. I wasn't happy. I was depressed. I hated myself. And I prayed every night. I said, please just take away the desire, Lord. I don't want to live like this anymore. And I thought I would never, ever get clean.
- [51:43]
Jensen Franklin
So you just couldn't break the addiction of drugs.
- [51:46]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
I would never get clean. And that message was meant for me. He talked about how when everybody and everything else will give up on you, God will not. And it just reconfirmed that I. Because I would pray, I said, God know you have a plan for me, and this is not it. And that just reconfirmed. I knew that he wasn't done with me. And usually grief, the way I would deal with it, it would send me deeper into drugs. But when Jonathan died, I didn't go back to drugs I didn't want. And that just showed me there's no other. It was a miracle. There's no other explanation other than that God finally delivered me and answered that prayer.
- [52:30]
Jensen Franklin
And so you. So you traveled six. Six hours?
- [52:35]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
I did, because my grandmother told me about you while I was in the hospital. I was in the hospital for two months. And so I started watching you in the hospital. Me and my grandmother, we watched you now on TVN every day at 11:30. But you were a great comfort to me while I was in there. And I love how you preach about the Bible. And I hadn't found another church yet, so I watch you online. This is where I get my tithes and everything. So when they sent me the email,
- [53:04]
Jensen Franklin
you probably don't need another church. You're good. No, I'm kidding. I'm kidding. I am kidding. If you find, go there and support them.
- [53:12]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
They had said, though, without that surgery, I Would never walk again, too. So I prayed before the surgery, I already claimed it, that God healed me. And here I am, almost a year later. I'm walking, I'm clean.
- [53:28]
Jensen Franklin
That is miracle after miracle. Truly remarkable. God has been good to you. And I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit in obedience to the scriptures. Amen and amen. Wonderful. Wonderful, wonderful. This is the last one. So you are the benediction. Almost. I'm going to really speak one, but. What is your name?
- [53:57]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
Alicia McKinnon.
- [53:59]
Jensen Franklin
Alicia, is that your family? Wonderful. And. And how long have you been coming to the church?
- [54:07]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
Since before I was born. Because you prayed for my mom. Because she had so many miscarriages and doctors said I was impossible. And then through prayer, I'm here.
- [54:21]
Jensen Franklin
And. And, and why are you doing this this morning?
- [54:28]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
You know, there's been so many times where he, you know, he had to save me. He had to save me so many times. Like I was a lost cause at some couple of points in my life, you know? But he is so good. He is so good. And I just, you know, I'm about to move. I'm at Georgia Tech right now getting my master's.
- [54:51]
Jensen Franklin
And what are you getting your master's in?
- [54:53]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
Oh, gosh. Business, analytics. It's a lot. It's a lot. But I'm.
- [54:58]
Jensen Franklin
You're going to do. You're going to do amazing.
- [55:00]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
I believe so. I believe so.
- [55:02]
So.
- [55:02]
Jensen Franklin
And so today is meaningful to you. I can tell with the tears in your eyes. Today matters. This. There's a story of God's grace and. And where. Even where you are. You.
- [55:16]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
You.
- [55:16]
Jensen Franklin
You got to be very smart at Jo. Georgia Tech. So there's something great that you're being trained for that God will open every door, and you'll be a blessing. You'll be blessed. And you'll be a blessing. You'll be a blessing. That's a little bit. I feel that I will bless you. The Lord would say, and you shall be a blessing. So it won't just be a about you, but he's going to put in your hands the power to be a blessing. And you will be a great blessing to many. So let that purpose sink in while you're in this water. Thank you.
- [56:01]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
Yeah, it is.
- [56:01]
Jensen Franklin
It is. It is.
- [56:02]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
He is so good. And as long as your heart is still beating, he is not done with you. He's not done with.
- [56:10]
Jensen Franklin
With you.
- [56:10]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
It may feel like. It may feel like you're all alone, but he will never he will never leave you. Okay? He will never leave you. It may feel like you're by yourself the whole time, but he is watching out for you. He has his hands on you. And I don't know who needs to hear that, but he has his hand on you and he is watching for you.
- [56:33]
Jensen Franklin
I want you to do something. With every head bowed and every eye closed. I didn't know who. I didn't look. I don't. I don't. I glance at a thing and. And move on. But God had you last for a reason. And I want you to tell some young lady, some young man, some person sitting out there who the enemy has really done a number on and lied to, how they can receive Jesus as their savior.
- [57:06]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
You gotta be patient with yourself. You know, that's one of the things that, you know God will tell you. You gotta be patient for yourself. It's his timing only. It will only be his timing. You may want to rush something. You may think something's not where it needs to be. You may say, why me? Why this? What's going on? But he has a plan for you. Before he even knew who you were, before you even your parents even knew who you were, he knew where you would be this morning.
- [57:38]
Jensen Franklin
Yes. Yes, I believe that.
- [57:41]
Baptism Candidate or Testifier
And he has his hand on you. Don't forget it. It's hard not to forgive it. It's so hard not to forgive it. But he will never leave you. No matter what. Nobody tells you. He will never leave you. Never. The doctors may say one thing, the people may say one thing. But he will never leave you. And I'm telling you this right now. Jesus will never leave you. He will never leave you.
- [58:07]
Jensen Franklin
And he'll never forsake you. Somebody needs to hear those words today. He'll never leave you. Every head bowed, every eye fold closed. Pastor Jensen. I need to get right with God today. I'm lost. I'm running, I'm bound. I need a change. I need a savior. I need a well of living water. I'm so thirsty for something that the world can't give me. I tried. And they're empty cisterns that hold no water. I won't live in water today. Pray for me right where you're sitting at any and all of our campuses. If the Lord is speaking to you, slip your hand up right where you're sitting. Right where you are. Bless you. Bless you. Bless your hands all over this building. I'm looking through the congregation. Raise it high and unashamed. I see that hand there. There. I See those hands? Yes, yes, yes. Up in the balcony. I'm looking in the balcony. Just raise that hand. He said, acknowledge me and I'll direct your path. Every one of you that prayed, say the every one of you raise your hand and everybody in this room say this prayer. Lord Jesus, I receive you as my Savior. I humbly acknowledge my sin and I'm sorry. Wash me and cleanse me by your blood that you shed on Calvary for me. You will never leave me from this day forward, you will never forsake me. You will be there through it all and I will give you the praise and I will will give you the glory in Jesus name. If you prayed that prayer, clap your hands. You are now a part of the family of God and upon your profession of faith, you just want a bunch of souls with your testimony. I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Praise the Lord. To God be the glory. I really want to say thank you for joining us this week. If you haven't already, make sure you click on the subscription button and leave us a review. It helps this podcast reach even more people when you comment when you give us your feedback. For more messages and inspirational materials, download the Jensen Franklin app or you can head over to jensenfranklin. Org. I want to thank all of you who give generously to help us produce weekly content like this to reach the world with the message of Jesus. God bless you and we'll see you next time.