Shoulders Not Carts by Pastor Josh Payne

[upbeat music] I sense something stirring beneath the surface.

Something deeper than routine, something stronger than emotion, because God is calling for depth, not performance.

In Matthew 15, Jesus showed us the difference.

It's possible to get caught up in the motions and rituals of religious activity, yet still lack connection with Him.

You know what He said? He said, "They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.

They worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines human commands." This wasn't just directed at the Pharisees.

It speaks to us today.

It's a warning that we can say all the right things, we can lift our hands in worship, and we can even appear to be spiritual while our hearts are still distant from God.

We can be present in the room, but still be absent in spirit.

So God's not after our schedule today.

He's not after routine.

He's not after what we normally give Him.

No, ma'am.

No, sir.

God is calling us past our comfort, our habits, and calling us past what is familiar.

You know what He's calling us into? Deeper faith, deeper surrender, deeper hunger.

It's deep calling unto deep.

It's a place beyond the noise, a place beyond distraction, a place where truth confronts us and transformation begins.

Why, Pastor Josh? Why, why is God calling us deeper? I can tell you why.

Because the shallow cannot sustain what God is about to do in your life.

[applause]