The Power Of A Little Further I Jentezen Franklin

Summary

Podcast Summary: "The Power Of A Little Further"

Host: Jentezen Franklin (Lead Pastor, Free Chapel)
Date: August 18, 2025

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Jentezen Franklin explores the spiritual principle of "going a little further" through the story of Jesus in Gethsemane and other biblical accounts. The message challenges listeners to step out of their comfort zones, deepen their spiritual hunger, and experience a closer walk with God by pursuing Him with renewed passion and commitment. Franklin uses vivid biblical narratives to illustrate how breakthroughs and miracles often happen just beyond the point of comfort.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Garden of Gethsemane: Going Beyond Comfort

• Franklin begins by reading Mark 14:32–35 and Luke 22:41, where Jesus withdraws from His disciples to pray.
  • "He went a little further, and he fell on the ground and prayed..." (03:24)
• The disciples had a familiar, comfortable place in the garden. Jesus, however, leaves this comfort zone to seek God's will—modeling spiritual persistence.
• Insight: Spiritual growth begins when we step beyond our routines and comfort into deeper pursuit.

2. The Principle of "A Stone’s Throw"

• “One translation said it would be like the pitch, having a stone and pitching like you would pitch a softball... He went beyond the comfortable, the normal.” (03:24)
• Franklin notes that "a stone’s throw" isn't far, but it represents intentional effort—going just beyond where we typically stop.

3. Jesus Waits for Our Response

• Franklin draws parallels from other stories:
  • Disciples in the Storm (Mark 6:48–51):
    • "He would have passed them by. But they compelled him. They began to cry out..." (04:59–05:15)
    • Insight: Jesus tests our hunger and urgency—miracles often come when we cry out, not merely when He passes by.
  • Blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10):
    • "You can be in his presence, but it wasn't until you go a little further that miracles begin to happen..." (06:22)
    • Bartimaeus cries out louder, persisting until Jesus responds.
    • Insight: Passionate, persistent faith attracts Jesus’ attention.
  • The Road to Emmaus (Luke 24):
    • Jesus made as though He would go further until the disciples insisted He stay.
    • "He was testing them... if they would go a little bit further in their desire for him." (09:48–10:01)

4. Complacency vs. Spiritual Hunger

• Even in places of prayer or worship, it's easy to grow complacent.
  • “Just because you’re in the place of prayer doesn’t mean you’re praying.” (07:15)
  • “There’s a comfortable place we get as men. As people come into church as Christians, we get...this is where we’ve always gone. It's not a bad place. But I do believe he tests us sometimes.” (13:45–14:04)
• The call: Follow Jesus beyond spiritual habits. Revival and breakthroughs await past our comfort zones.

5. Stories of "A Little Further"

• Zacchaeus (Luke 19): Zacchaeus climbs above the crowd to see Jesus, and this extra effort earns a personal encounter:
  • "He did a little bit more than anybody else because he wanted to see Jesus. And Jesus...said, 'I’m coming to that man’s house today.'" (12:18)
• The Ten Lepers (Luke 17): Only one returns to thank Jesus after being healed.
  • "He was shocked that they didn’t understand the power of going a little bit further...Outwardly healed, but the one who went further was made whole inwardly as well." (18:12)
• Ruth and Naomi (Ruth 1–2): Ruth refuses to leave Naomi, choosing loyalty and faith over comfort, eventually stepping into abundance through her persistence and faithfulness.
  • "There’s a difference between kissing and cleaving...Entreat me not to leave you; where you go, I will go." (21:13)
  • Ruth goes from gathering leftovers to marrying Boaz and owning the field because she ‘went a little further’. (28:03)
• Esther (Esther 4–5): Risks her life to approach the king, seeking communion and relationship rather than riches.
  • "When the king saw her, he said, 'What do you want, Esther?' She answered: 'I want to prepare you a meal, and I want communion with you.'" (33:00–33:48)
  • The power was not in acquiring half the kingdom but being with the king—prioritizing presence over possessions.

6. A Call to Action: Responding to God's Invitation

• The message culminates with a call to self-examination:
  • "Will you go a little bit further this morning? Will you go beyond being in a good church and God’s here...? Will you enter a meal of communion with Him this morning?" (36:15)
  • Listeners are challenged to embrace the Lord not for what He gives, but for who He is.

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Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On spiritual comfort:
  • "Just because you’re in the place of prayer doesn’t mean you’re praying. Just because you’re in the place of worship doesn’t mean you’re worshiping." (07:15)
• On passion for God:
  • "Sometimes we need to throw a stone out of our comfort zone and say, I’m going to do what I normally don’t do...God wants people...to want it." (10:16–11:12)
• On missed opportunities:
  • "I wonder how many near misses we’ve had...because we just didn’t go a little bit further." (15:53)
• On Ruth’s example:
  • "There’s a difference between kissing and cleaving. Entreat me not to leave you; where you go, I will go...I’m not letting you go." (21:13)
• On Esther’s priorities:
  • "What she needed—half the kingdom was not enough. Sometimes money and material things are not enough. She needed the King’s authority, the King’s favor, the King’s power active against her enemy." (34:04, 34:28)

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Important Timestamps by Segment

• Start of the sermon / Gethsemane reading: 00:33–03:24
• Theme introduction (“The Power of Going a Little Further”): 03:24–04:39
• Disciples in the Storm: 04:39–05:43
• Blind Bartimaeus: 06:07–07:35
• Emmaus Road: 08:47–11:45
• Discussion on Comfort Zones in Worship: 13:45–14:19
• Application to Revival/Church: 14:35–15:53
• Ten Lepers: 17:01–19:18
• Ruth and Naomi: 19:18–28:03
• Esther’s Story: 29:02–36:06
• Invitation to Communion and Prayer: 36:15–41:56

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Conclusion and Practical Application

Franklin ends by inviting listeners to physically take communion as an act of going “a little further” in their faith, turning intention into engagement. The final exhortation is for believers to avoid spiritual complacency, intentionally reach past religious habit, and enter into a deeper relationship and communion with Jesus.

Call to Action:

• "Will you go a little bit further this morning...and go beyond just being in the right place, and step into a true encounter with the King?" (36:15–36:24)

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This episode offers a motivating call to pursue a breakthrough by pressing beyond spiritual routine—reminding us that the miracle, the relationship, and the favor of God are often just a "little further" ahead.

Transcript

[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.

[Lead Pastor]

Praise the Lord. How many of you helped me preach a little bit this morning? That means you got to say at least one amen, one hallelujah, and one thank you, Jesus. Don't waste it. I hadn't started preaching yet. Mark, chapter 14. I'll begin reading with verse 32. Then they came in a place which was called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, sit here while I pray. And he took Peter, James, and John with him. And he began to be troubled, deeply distressed. Then he said to them, my soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death. Stay here and watch. This is what I want to preach about. And he went a little further, and he fell on the ground and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass him. And he said, abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, not what I will, but your will. I Love that. Verse 35, the first part. He went a little further. And then to give a little more detail in the book of Luke 22:41, it gives a little more description when he came to the place, which means it was a comfortable place and a. And a normal place and a place in the Garden of Gethsemane. The Garden of Gethsemane, I've been there many times, is on the Mount of Olive. And that's a big, big place. Acres and acres. And so there was a specific place that they were used to getting to and stopping. How many of you understand that? You know, like this was. They liked this area. It must have had shade. And it's just perfect for what they wanted to do, camp and to stay. And often you read that they came there and it's called the place, so it's a specific place. And he said to them, pray that you not enter into temptation. And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw. And he knelt down and prayed, saying, father, take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done. He, He. He withdrew. He Went a little further. The. The account of Mark says this, says he went a stone's throw away. And I looked that up and one translation said it would be like the pitch. Having a stone and pitching like you would pitch a softball and one of those softball leagues. A pitch it. It.

[Associate Pastor]

He went beyond the comfortable, the normal.

[Lead Pastor]

Where they had been so many times. And even knew that when we get here we can kind of kick back because this is our place. The place. When he went a little further a stone throws away. Then he was met by God at a powerful and perhaps the most powerful moment that could happen in that garden. I want to preach for just a few moments on the subject of going a little further. The power of going a little further. The power of going a little further. He went a little further. He went a stone's throw away. Jesus often waits for his disciples response before he performed miracles in the Bible. The Bible tells us that when he.

[Associate Pastor]

Came walking on the water in Mark.

[Lead Pastor]

The sixth chapter, when he came walking on the water, the scripture said that the storm was raging and the disciples were perishing. And suddenly Jesus comes walking on the water. And then there's this little phase and he phrase that says and he would have passed them by.

[Associate Pastor]

I marvel at that, that he would.

[Lead Pastor]

Have passed them by. But.

[Associate Pastor]

But they compelled him. They began to cry out.

[Lead Pastor]

They began to say, lord, please come. He would have passed them by. And.

[Associate Pastor]

And they began to cry out to him. And when they began to cry out.

[Lead Pastor]

To him, he turned and came back to them, got on their boat and delivered them. And the scripture said because they decided.

[Associate Pastor]

That they couldn't let him pass by.

[Lead Pastor]

Without having an urgency and a passion to cry out for him that Jesus came to them. And he went to them in the ship. The wind ceased and they were amazed and wondered.

[Associate Pastor]

I want you to get the point that it wasn't until they went. He tested them.

[Lead Pastor]

He was.

[Associate Pastor]

He would have passed them by. And they were in a storm and he knew how bad they needed his help.

[Lead Pastor]

But he was testing them.

[Associate Pastor]

Will they go a little further and cry out to me?

[Lead Pastor]

And then I. I think it's important.

[Associate Pastor]

To remember the story of blind Bartimaeus. The Bible says in Mark, chapter 10 is to.

[Lead Pastor]

It says that Jesus entered in to Jericho. But nobody cried out, nobody reached out.

[Associate Pastor]

Nobody went further than just being in his presence.

[Lead Pastor]

You can be in his presence, but.

[Associate Pastor]

It wasn't until you go a little.

[Lead Pastor]

Further that miracles begin to happen for people's lives. They were in his presence.

[Associate Pastor]

He came into Jericho. He walked through Jericho and we have no account of one person being healed, helped or ministered to by Jesus, even though his presence was there. No one cried out, no one reached.

[Lead Pastor]

No one threw a stone a little bit further. It was.

[Associate Pastor]

It's not far. But sometimes Jesus tests us to see, do you have desire? Do you have the hunger? Are you willing to reach out beyond.

[Lead Pastor]

Just where you normally go and get.

[Associate Pastor]

Because please understand, they were in the garden to pray. But just because you're in the place.

[Lead Pastor]

Of prayer doesn't mean you're praying.

[Associate Pastor]

Just because you're in the place of worship doesn't mean you're worshiping. They were there in the place, very comfortable. But he went a little further. And we ought to follow Jesus wherever.

[Lead Pastor]

He goes, beyond our comfort zone. And then the scripture said, after he went into Jericho, no one cried out.

[Associate Pastor]

After he walked through Jericho, no one reaching, no one asking, pray for my son, Pray for my daughter.

[Lead Pastor]

Set me free. Heal me. No one.

[Associate Pastor]

He gets on the other side, outside.

[Lead Pastor]

Of the city of Jericho, and there's a blind man named blind Bartimaeus. And he starts crying out with a loud voice, jesus, son of David, have mercy on me. And the disciples said, don't bother the Master. And he cried the louder. Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me.

[Associate Pastor]

Now what did he do? He went a little further than anybody did. He, the miracle worker just walked, walked.

[Lead Pastor]

Through the whole city and not one person healed.

[Associate Pastor]

And here's a blind man.

[Lead Pastor]

And he went a little further than anyone else. And Jesus healed his blinded eyes. Two men were walking on the road to Emmaus after Jesus rose from the dead. And Jesus joined himself to them. This is found in the book of Luke, chapter 24.

[Associate Pastor]

He joined himself to them and he.

[Lead Pastor]

Disguised himself so that they did not recognize it was Jesus.

[Associate Pastor]

And he began to teach them all the scriptures and all the law. He taught them every type, every symbol, how that Moses and all that he did, and how he was the type. Christ was the type.

[Lead Pastor]

And they marveled and they said, did not our heart burn within us as he spoke?

[Associate Pastor]

They were so moved. And when they walked miles and miles.

[Lead Pastor]

And miles together, not knowing it was Jesus, they get to their homes and.

[Associate Pastor]

They turn and they say, lord, come.

[Lead Pastor]

In and dwell with us. The late. The evening is late and you need some food and come in with us. And there's this little phrase that is pretty amazing. It says in the scripture that. That. And. And when Jesus made as though he would have gone southerly, he was. He was testing them. He. He.

[Associate Pastor]

When they said, come with us he said, oh, no, I've got to keep going.

[Lead Pastor]

I've got appointments now. Basically, this is what he was.

[Associate Pastor]

He made as though he had to.

[Lead Pastor]

Go somewhere else, testing them to see.

[Associate Pastor]

If they would go a little bit further in their desire for him. He doesn't need us to. I'm not preaching today on the power of trying harder. Not preaching today. On, on, on.

[Lead Pastor]

In your own strength.

[Associate Pastor]

All we need is Jesus. So the, this thing has to be about my passion for him, my going a little bit further. Sometimes we need to throw a stone out of our comfort zone and throw it and say, I'm going to. I'm going to do what I normally don't do. That's why we, this is a church that is here because we kept going a little bit further. We, we, we, we just count. We want to. We want revival. We want a move of God. We want miracles. We want to see the goodness of the Lord and the land. We want to see our city saved. Let's keep throwing a stone. Let's never get to the place and say, look at us. We have arrived. God wants people. I think he's testing this church. Have you got any stones to throw that, that. Can you get out of it? You think where you are is great, but I've got so much more out there. I just want you to want it.

[Lead Pastor]

And the Bible said that when they constrained him, these two men, no, then he came and that's when he revealed himself. He broke the bread. And when he broke the bread, he revealed himself.

[Associate Pastor]

And they realized, oh, it is Jesus.

[Lead Pastor]

He, the Risen One. He is with us. And he just. He just vanishes away. And their hearts burn within them. They would have missed that moment had they not constrained him.

[Associate Pastor]

Had they not gone a little bit.

[Lead Pastor]

Further, they constrained him.

[Associate Pastor]

I need you to get in my boat, Jesus. I need you to heal my blind eyes, Jesus. I need you to come into my house. Zacchaeus, when he got outside of Jericho, there's another guy who went a little bit further. He climbed up above the crowd that had assembled. Again, you can be in a crowd and be in Jesus presence, but it's when you go a little bit further.

[Lead Pastor]

That you can touch him.

[Associate Pastor]

And they were in his presence, but he climbed up that tree. He did a little bit more than anybody else because he walked, wanted to see Jesus. And Jesus saw all these thousands of people and he said, I'm coming to that man's house today.

[Lead Pastor]

And everything changed in his life. Go further than you've ever gone before. I believe even today The Lord is saying, I want a church that has that spiritual attitude. What would happen if his disciples would have said when they went to the Garden of Gethsemane and Jesus went a little further, a stone's throw away, what would have happened if every one of them who were in their comfortable place. See, I believe everybody has a comfortable place in worship. Meaning, okay, when I first came to Free Chapel, I thought y' all were crazy. And. But now, you might have been a Baptist, you might have been a Methodist, you might have been this, you might have been that. Who, who cares? We're here worshiping Jesus. And some of you had never raised your hand and you got to the half mask. You are there right now, which is a miracle, and praise God for that. And some of you are actually tapping your toes, whereas before you were just standing.

[Associate Pastor]

But, but, but, but there's a comfortable place.

[Lead Pastor]

We get as men. There's a comfortable place. Place. There's.

[Associate Pastor]

As people come into church as Christians, we get. We. This is where we've always gone. It's not a bad place. And it's not even that the Lord is disappointed, but I do believe he tests us sometimes. What if those disciples had said, oh.

[Lead Pastor]

You'Re going further, we're going further.

[Associate Pastor]

Oh, you, you're going to give a little more. I'm going to give of myself a little more. If you're going beyond the comfortable place, and that's where you're going to be, that's where we're going to be. We don't want to settle and just.

[Lead Pastor]

Get used to being in this place and looking at our phone when we should be in the house of worship. Just like to throw that in.

[Associate Pastor]

If you're not staying in the comfortable place, if you're going beyond where you always go, I want to go with you. This is an hour and a time.

[Lead Pastor]

When we need to go further than.

[Associate Pastor]

We'Ve ever gone before. It's time to take a stone's throw and say, lord, I want to break out of the, of the limitations that I put you in the box that.

[Lead Pastor]

I put you in.

[Associate Pastor]

I want to go a little bit further. That's why we pray. That's why we fast around here. That's why we, that's why we, we. We're going a little bit further. And God, God blesses people and gives breakthroughs and miracles. When people give it a little bit just. It's not a long. You know, if you, if you throw a rock like a, like a pitch in it, I might could make it because I have an exceptional arm. I might could make it all the way back to that camera, but it's not that far, I think. I wonder how many near misses we've had in services. I wonder how many near misses of storms being calmed and families forever being changed and bondages being broken and addictions. We were right at the gate, right at the door. Wonder how close. How many near misses have we had.

[Lead Pastor]

Because we just didn't go a little bit further?

[Associate Pastor]

I'm not talking about trying harder. I love the fact that when he.

[Lead Pastor]

Told the worship leaders in the Old.

[Associate Pastor]

Testament, one of the laws was that.

[Lead Pastor]

The priest who would lead in worship.

[Associate Pastor]

Could not wear wool because wool makes you sweat. God doesn't want us trying hard and hyping and. But all he wants is a heart that whatever you're singing, man, your heart is whether it's fast, whether it's slow, whether it's. Whatever it is, it's in your heart. Because again, the bottom line is his presence.

[Lead Pastor]

If something is driving you, Lord, I want to go further in our consecration, in our love and our desire for Him. Every one of us have a favorite place, and then we like to stop. But I want you to hear me when I tell you that the Bible.

[Associate Pastor]

Is full of examples.

[Lead Pastor]

I think of the ten lepers in Luke, chapter 17, and the scripture said that ten of them were told by Jesus, go show yourself to the priest, and you'll be healed.

[Associate Pastor]

And I love the fact that if you haven't been healed instantly, you don't quit and you don't give up. He why didn't he heal them instantly?

[Lead Pastor]

None of them were healed instantly.

[Associate Pastor]

Sometimes he did in Scripture, sometimes he didn't. In this case, he said, you go.

[Lead Pastor]

Show yourself to the priest.

[Associate Pastor]

It was a good little distance they had to walk. And as they went on what he.

[Lead Pastor]

Said, they were somewhere in that journey.

[Associate Pastor]

Ooh, I felt.

[Lead Pastor]

I felt something.

[Associate Pastor]

I've got my toes back, I've got my fingers back. I've got. Healing was a progressive thing. And the Bible said that only one of them, 10 of them got a miraculous miracle. Their life handed back on a silver.

[Lead Pastor]

Platter, their families restored. But only one of them turned back.

[Associate Pastor]

And with a loud voice, the Greek word there, mega voice, he said, thank you, thank you, thank you. I, I, I. Jesus didn't command them to come back. But notice Jesus question, He said, where are the nine? Were there not ten of you? Where are the rest? He was shocked. He didn't tell them to come back, but he was shocked that they didn't understand the power of going a little bit further. They got healed, but then he turned to that man and he said, be thou made whole. What they got was seen on the outside. What he got. The man who came back and went a little further was inner healing of emotions and trauma and all kinds of issues that that disease had triggered in his life. He looked good outwardly and inwardly he was made whole. All because he went a little bit further.

[Lead Pastor]

Two more and I'll be done. It's a beautiful story of a woman named Naomi in the book of Esther. And the scripture said that I should say in the book of Ruth, chapter two. And Naomi's husband died in a famine. They were in Moab. And her husband died. And then her son died, son number one, son number two died. And it so she's a widow and her husband's wife is named Orpah. And then there is another wife that is a widow named Ruth. And this woman says to her daughter in laws, Naomi says to her daughter in laws, I'm going home to Israel. I'm going back to my hometown of Bethlehem, which means house of bread, Judea, which is from the word Judah, which means in Hebrew, praise. I'm going back to the point place of bread. I'm going back to the place of praise. And Ruth, who was a Moabite.

[Associate Pastor]

She.

[Lead Pastor]

Had worshiped nothing but idols her whole life. She saw God in her mother in law. And the other woman was a Moabite also. And she kissed her mother in law on the cheek and said, bye, I'm not going with you. But there's a difference between kissing and cleaving. And the scripture said that the daughter.

[Associate Pastor]

Grabbed daughter in law, grabbed her mother in law.

[Lead Pastor]

And she said to her, entreat me not to leave you.

[Associate Pastor]

Where you go, I will go.

[Lead Pastor]

This is Ruth.

[Associate Pastor]

And your people will be my people and your God will be my God. I'm not letting you go. If you're going a little bit further, I'm going with you. I'm not just going to kiss you and let you go in the hard times. I'm going to cleave to you more in the famine than I've ever cleaved to you before. And so they cross the border, they leave Moab and they go instantly to the place of bread, Bethlehem, Judea, the place of praise.

[Lead Pastor]

And when they get there, the Bible said she happened, she happened to go into a field to glean. Glean was the leftovers of the crop that were left on purpose for the poor people to have something to eat. And this single woman who had lost her husband. And I love the fact that Naomi said to her, you don't need to follow me. I can't promise you a husband. I can't promise you a life. I can't promise you a house and clothes and provision. I. I'm.

[Associate Pastor]

I'm just going back potentially to die.

[Lead Pastor]

In the place that I was born and raised. I can't promise you anything. And that didn't deter Ruth. She held on even tighter.

[Associate Pastor]

See, when you get to that place.

[Lead Pastor]

With God where you're not serving him for what he can give you and.

[Associate Pastor]

What he can get you out of and what he can do for you, but you're serving him because you love.

[Lead Pastor]

Him and you're willing to go as.

[Associate Pastor]

Far as he wants you to go. She's out there in her raggedy clothes, starving and getting leftovers and putting them in a basket. And the owner of the field, whose name was Boaz, sees her.

[Lead Pastor]

He's super wealthy, he's super blessed.

[Associate Pastor]

He's got in a way that we can't even imagine. And he doesn't know that she's watching. She's being watched by him.

[Lead Pastor]

And he rides up and he says.

[Associate Pastor]

First after he saw her, he called.

[Lead Pastor]

His team in and he said, now when she's going to be working around to the other corner of the field.

[Associate Pastor]

And I want you guys to go back over there and I want you.

[Lead Pastor]

To leave handfuls on purpose because I like her, she's amazing.

[Associate Pastor]

And I want you to leave it.

[Lead Pastor]

And then I want you all to get out of here. And. And he rode over, she's picking up those leftovers.

[Associate Pastor]

And she.

[Lead Pastor]

And he began to say, who are you? And nice to meet you, and can I get you email or something?

[Associate Pastor]

You know, I don't know. And. And some of y' all need to learn how to do this. Let me preach to all the boys out here. Get off. Get out of the basement, get off the Internet and get. Go out into the field and ask somebody out for a date. Not with you. Want to follow each other? No, I don't want to follow you. I want to go out with you, learn how to be a man. Lord have mercy.

[Lead Pastor]

I don't understand these men today, these.

[Associate Pastor]

Boys, and you ask, you pursue.

[Lead Pastor]

And.

[Associate Pastor]

If you get rejected, get over it.

[Lead Pastor]

Okay, back to the sermon.

[Associate Pastor]

The older I get, the more I.

[Lead Pastor]

Want to pry in those areas. There's a shortage of real men, godly men.

[Associate Pastor]

There's a shortage, shortage of men who are looking for one wife for Life, to have a bunch of babies and build a house. And that's what we're here for.

[Lead Pastor]

I don't know where this is coming.

[Associate Pastor]

From.

[Lead Pastor]

But it's the truth. All right, before I get in trouble. So watch this. So I like him because he let her know, I like you. I want to know you. I want to get to know you. I really care about you. She goes home and she tells Naomi, home was probably a homeless tent for real. And she says to her mother in law, I met this guy and he's Prince Charming. He had a white horse and everything. And I'm adding a little bit, but his name is Boaz. He sounds like a cowboy or something, doesn't he? I preached on that one time and.

[Associate Pastor]

Got in a lot of trouble, and I'm not touching that.

[Lead Pastor]

So just relax. Went viral on that one. So I'm leaving millions.

[Associate Pastor]

And now you go on your phone.

[Lead Pastor]

And your tire's going to be flat. In Jesus name I'm preaching right now. But, but listen to this. Listen to this. I love what his mother in law, her mother in law said to her. She said, girl, you can read it. I'm, I'm, I'm. I'm summing it up. But say you got to fix up a little bit. You got to dress for where you're.

[Associate Pastor]

Going, not where you are. So let's go down to Target. Let's find the. You know, don't. You don't have to have a lot of money to look sharp. You, you, you don't have to have it. Don't take being rich. Just make sure you're good and clean kept and everything's looking good and put a little paint on the barn and, and, and whatever you need, you know, fix up a little bit. Girl, you this man. This, this is your moment.

[Lead Pastor]

And boy, she, she went sa.

[Associate Pastor]

Next time he saw her, she was picking up that fruit, just scooping down.

[Lead Pastor]

You know what?

[Associate Pastor]

I. Y' all know how y' all do it. Don't take all that to get to your seat. It doesn't take all of that, but that's okay. We like that. But she was, she was putting it on.

[Lead Pastor]

I mean, she was putting it on out there.

[Associate Pastor]

I don't know what she was doing.

[Lead Pastor]

But I guarantee you she's getting his attention.

[Associate Pastor]

And if he's a man, he's a man.

[Lead Pastor]

What is going on? All right, let me finish this sermon. And sure enough, he fell in love with her. Listen to this statement. And she married him because he asked her to marry him. And she Went from leftovers in the field to owning the field. Listen, because she went a little further, she married him. You got to understand, if you're just dating Jesus, if you're seeing him once.

[Associate Pastor]

A week, pretty much at church, and.

[Lead Pastor]

That'S it, you'll never enter into the field of grace that God has for you.

[Associate Pastor]

You'll never know. But when you stop dating him and you marry him, I conclude with this.

[Lead Pastor]

One more story of the power of a little father. Just a stone's throw. You're so close, and that's when the.

[Associate Pastor]

Enemy comes to discourage you and say, just settle for where you are.

[Lead Pastor]

It's how it is. Accept it. No. The power of a little father. The story is told in the book of Esther, of Esther.

[Associate Pastor]

Of how that Mordecai was going to kill all the.

[Lead Pastor]

Jews, and she was a Jew, and the king didn't know she was a Jew, but she had won a beauty contest and she was the queen. And Mordecai went to the queen, who was. He was her uncle. And he said to her, listen to these words. If you think because you're in the king's palace, you will escape the annihilation of your people, just because you're in.

[Associate Pastor]

The king's house doesn't mean you're exempt.

[Lead Pastor]

From trouble, serious trouble. I just want to confirm to some.

[Associate Pastor]

People who are walking through the trial of a lifetime. It's not because you're not in the king's house. The devil puts a target on everyone who's in the king's house that is a child of God and tribulation. It's through much tribulation, much, you shall.

[Lead Pastor]

Enter the kingdom of heaven. Lord, I hope they didn't hurt themselves in Jesus name. But listen to me now. Esther says, I tell you what, you're right. I got to go further. I'm going to go into the king and I'm going to talk to him on behalf of my people. But there was a law. It was not just. It was a law, it was commanded that if you entered into the presence of the king, he was so powerful that if he did not extend the sepulcher, you would be put to death for violating that throne zone. And the scripture said. She said, fast for me three days, and I'll fast and have all of Israel fast. Call a fast for three days. Going a little bit further, stone throat. We're going to fast for three days for deliverance. And the scripture said that after they fasted three days, that she. You talk about fixing up. I don't have I preached a whole sermon on it. One time she went through preparation like you wouldn't believe.

[Associate Pastor]

She bathed in oil, she did olive oil. She did everything you can.

[Lead Pastor]

You ought to read the. The story of Esther and how she.

[Associate Pastor]

Fixed up and what the attire she.

[Lead Pastor]

Wore and how many attendants she had.

[Associate Pastor]

Just for one moment, she actually prepared for six. For six months. They had to go in. There's a story of Esther. I'm talking about when she.

[Lead Pastor]

During the beauty contest, after she won it to.

[Associate Pastor]

Before she could go in, she had to prepare six months.

[Lead Pastor]

And so here she goes, and she looks stunning. And she starts approaching the throne. And when the king saw her, he held out the sear and he said, come in.

[Associate Pastor]

I don't know, she must have been.

[Lead Pastor]

A knockout, because when he saw her, your Bible said. He said, this is crazy. I mean, guys are crazy. And he looked at her, and just looking at her, he said, what do you want, Esther? I'll give anything to you. You ask me up to half the kingdom.

[Associate Pastor]

Diamonds, rubies, golden chariots, homes. What do you need?

[Lead Pastor]

You know what she said? I want to prepare you a meal, and I want to have communion with you. King. Oh, my God.

[Associate Pastor]

She could have had 10,000 acres. She could have had anything she wanted.

[Lead Pastor]

And all she wants is a dinner date. I want you. I want to say something strong right here. What she needed half the kingdom was not enough.

[Associate Pastor]

For sometimes money and material things are not enough. She needed the king's authority, the king's favor, the king's power active against her enemy. He goes. The next night, she prepared a feast. She prepared a table, and they had a meal together. And it was so enjoyable to the king.

[Lead Pastor]

Think about this.

[Associate Pastor]

That at the end of that night, he looked at her and he said, I said it before, but I really mean it this time. What do you want? Name it and you can have it up to half the kingdom. And she said, a second time tomorrow night. Could we just have communion together?

[Lead Pastor]

Could I prepare another meal and would you come? I want to be with you more than half the kingdom, I want to be with you.

[Associate Pastor]

All these other things shall be added unto you.

[Lead Pastor]

Seek first the king.

[Associate Pastor]

And when she went a little bit further.

[Lead Pastor]

And a second time turned down half the kingdom, wealth and riches we can't even imagine. For the presence of the king and a communion meal together, it so won the king's heart that when he heard about Haman and his decree to kill the Jews, he hung him and destroyed him and elevated Esther like never before.

[Associate Pastor]

All because she went after the King.

[Lead Pastor]

And didn't settle for half the kingdom.

[Associate Pastor]

Will you go a little bit further this morning? Will you go beyond being in a good church and God's here and I.

[Lead Pastor]

Feel his presence and he's doing a.

[Associate Pastor]

Work, but will you enter a meal of communion with him this morning? Will you take that communion set that you were given to and get it in your hand? And I'm going to ask you.

[Lead Pastor]

And for some of you, going a.

[Associate Pastor]

Little bit further would be to stay through an altar call. I wonder how many things we've missed.

[Lead Pastor]

Because we've rushed out of God's presence and didn't go just a little bit further in our worship and adoration and passion for Jesus. I want you to stand to your feet, please, on everyone who has communion.

[Associate Pastor]

Before we take it, I want us.

[Lead Pastor]

To pray and repent, confess.

[Associate Pastor]

Jesus is lord over our lives. If you're lost, if you're a backslider, if you know you're far from God's.

[Lead Pastor]

Presence, I want you to get one of these communion sets.

[Associate Pastor]

Raise your hand if you'd say, pastor, I need one of those.

[Lead Pastor]

And you don't have one, raise it up.

[Associate Pastor]

I want you to get it because he's inviting you to that meal right here, right now. I know all of you were given.

[Lead Pastor]

One when you came in, but there.

[Associate Pastor]

May be a few, but look at me now. I feel this. If you don't know, you're right with God, God brought you here. But this service has been good and all of that. But the most important part of this service is your response to God.

[Lead Pastor]

He's testing you.

[Associate Pastor]

He can calm your sea. He can do miracles. He can provide. He can meet every need. But it's not, not about that. You've got to have a pure love for the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords and have communion with Him.

[Lead Pastor]

It's not about religion, it's about Him. Do you know him? Do you love him?

[Associate Pastor]

Is he first in your life? Pray this prayer. Everybody listen. There's a reason why we do these.

[Lead Pastor]

Things, and it's sometimes we need to take a moment and explain it.

[Associate Pastor]

Whosoever shall call upon the name of.

[Lead Pastor]

The Lord shall be saved.

[Associate Pastor]

So we're going to use the name of Jesus so that people can be.

[Lead Pastor]

Saved from their sins.

[Associate Pastor]

Secondly, the Book of Romans says that if you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart. So why are we saying what we're about to pray? I. I'm confessing Christ with my mouth. I believe it in my heart that he died and rose from the dead. I believe that and I confess it. And by faith, I receive him as my Savior. And if I call on his name.

[Lead Pastor]

In faith, he forgives me.

[Associate Pastor]

His blood cleanses me, his body heals me, and I receive it today. So pray this prayer. Say, jesus, I believe you are the one who bled and died on the cross for me. And I believe that you rose from the dead for me. And today I go a little bit further. I believe what I preached, and I'm constraining you, I'm calling on you, I'm crying out to you. I'm asking you, save me, heal me, help me, deliver me. You are my Savior, and I put all of my faith in you. I want the king. I choose you, Jesus, to be my king. Jesus said it. And I like how Matthew or Mark.

[Lead Pastor]

Chapter 14, says it in the scripture. And I want to read it right out of the text, right before the text that I used to preach from. It says this in verse 22. And as they were eating, Jesus took the bread and blessed it and he broke it and he gave it to them. And he said, take, eat. This is my body now. I want you to see it. I'm taking his body symbolically into my body.

[Associate Pastor]

I'm taking the stripes that he bore.

[Lead Pastor]

From my healing in. In his body into my body. And by his stripes I am healed emotionally, spiritually, mentally, physically, relationally, financially.

[Associate Pastor]

He is Jehovah Rapha, the Lord that heals thee.

[Lead Pastor]

So let's not just take communion, let's.

[Associate Pastor]

Go a little bit further and put significance to it this very moment. As often as you do this, you do this in remembrance of what I did, did on the cross for you. And if you take this meal, it's the meal that heals. It's the meal that feels, it's the meal that thrills. It's the meal that gives you life and life more abundantly.

[Lead Pastor]

So take, eat this, dude, in remembrance of me. And then in verse 24:23, he took.

[Associate Pastor]

The cup, take the cup.

[Lead Pastor]

And when he had given thanks, he gave it to them and they drank from it. And he said to them, this is.

[Associate Pastor]

My blood of the new covenant which.

[Lead Pastor]

Is shed for many.

[Associate Pastor]

Assuredly, I say unto you of this cup, I will not drink of the fruit of the wine until the day that I drink it in the new kingdom of God. And I love the next part of the verse it says, and when they had sung a hymn, they went out. So we're going to sing this song one more time after we take this seal of him. His blood is getting into my blood and my bloodline and my family and my children's. My children's children is blessed because his blood's coming in contact, cleansing my blood.

[Jensen Franklin]

Take drink this do in remembrance of me. 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. This to reach the world with the message of Jesus. God bless you and we'll see you next time.