[music] Amen, amen, give the Lord a
hand. Rock Church, who's the man? Jesus. What is happening, you
excited to be in church today? Let's say hello to all our
sites, San Ysidro, City Heights, San Marcos, East County, Donovan
State Prison, Juvenile Hall, and all the microsites, Tijuana and San
Diego, God bless y'all. Before we start, I want to
reiterate two things, I'm sure all campuses heard. One our prayer meeting. We have a prayer meeting every
Saturday and yesterday while I was praying here, 40 minutes
into our prayer meeting God punched me in the heart and he
said, I want you to encourage the church to come to prayer to
fight. I want you to make time out on
Saturday morning and come to pray to fight. Fight for what? Your relationships. Your health. Your relationship with God, with
your family, with yourself. Vision for your life, addiction,
that you fight in prayer for something supernatural to happen
in your life. We are not praying because we
don't have anything else to do but want to see God move in a
supernatural way. I want to encourage all of y'all
to come every Saturday, whatever Saturday you can make it, all
campuses and come and pray. And as a matter of fact Jordin
Sparks, our guest today was here at our prayer meeting yesterday. She came to our prayer meeting
yesterday. So I want to encourage you and
challenge you to pray. And next two things, this week
and next week we are having ministry fairs because we are
recruiting team members. Today is save ministries, even
though all ministries have a same component. It's in your bulletin. And as a matter of fact I will
give you the numbers. City Heights is looking for 110
people to sign up today, East County 130 and San Marcos 120. 100 people in San Ysidro and 300
people in Point Loma. These are the people that we
need to serve so we can properly serve the people who come to
church. We can't do our job if we don't
have people that partner with us. I want to encourage you in that
today, amen. Let's get on our knees real
quick and pray. Turn to the person next to you
and say, I think you need to serve. Lord, thank you so much for
today, thank you for your faithfulness. Thank you for your goodness. Thank you for how you transform
our lives. Lord, I pray today that many
people in all the campuses right now, that you start to speak to
them. And affirm in their heart that
you are calling them to you. That it's time for them to walk
away from their current life. And surrender their all to Jesus
Christ. We welcome all the people
watching online, thank you for your faithfulness in Jesus'
name, amen. Turn to the person next to you
and say, this service is for you. If you can turn to Mark 5, I
want to read something before we bring Jordin out. Whenever we have guests, and we
have had many times over the years. We don't bring these people here
as preachers or pastors. We bring them here as people who
are in a journey with God. We actually had a person up here
who is not even saved in an interview. When people come here you are
witnessing a conversation I'm having with them. So you can learn about the
journey they are in with God, they're all in different stages. And not pastors and evangelists,
and like I said one was not even saved. You say why would I do that, I
talk to not saved people all the time and sometimes you need to
see what that is like. Jordin is exactly that, she's
not a pastor, she's not a preacher. She's a young lady that has had
great success in the world and has had and up-and-down
relationship with Jesus Christ and she's in the process. Everyone way process. So we are here to hear about
that process. Pray for her. And I know her story is going to
encourage you. But it's no more and no less
than that, and that's all that is implied. And I want to be clear to you. Because I love talking to
people, and I especially love talking to people unsaved. And a lot of times Christians
need to hear those conversations. And so again this is a
conversation with someone who is in process and somebody who has
been at the top in the world and God has been there all the time
and she sometimes forgot that. And read this verse, Mark 5:19
and in this story Jesus cast out demons of a man, and it says the
man asked Jesus after the demons were cast out could he follow
Jesus, and this is what Jesus said to the man... He said, go home and tell your
friends, tell them what great things the Lord has done for you
and how He has had compassion on you. What you are going to hear is a
story about the great things the Lord has done in Jordin's life
and how he has had compassion and is having compassion on her. She won "American Idol" 10 years
and won't tell you anymore than that, you will hear it in the
story but to give Jordin Sparks, the "American Idol" award winner
a great Rock welcome, stand to your feet. [Applause] Hi. Say hello to the people. Hello, hi. So before you sit down. Yes. Last service we were talking
about how tall she is. Amazing how tall women wear
heels to be even taller. How tall are you? I'm 5'10" without heels. What are you now? Probably 6'2" maybe. Is she taller than me? Yeah, we can roll with that. How are you doing? I'm good, I feel good. You feel good? Yeah happy, joyous and lots
of energy. I was shaking last service and
think I got my jitters out. So you have been in front of
millions and millions of people and this makes you nervous? Yes. Explain what makes that true? I think the difference, you
put me in front of a crowd like this and I sing my songs and do
concert and singing songs that I know, and familiar with it. And this is a lot a bit
different actually, because what I am sharing is not about a
movie or album, but this is the journey I am on, and it's the
most important one, it's a lot and to share the personal parts
of it and open that way, it's nerve-racking. We are excited about what God
is doing in your life. And before we start, I want to
put on the screen something you can take a picture of. We recorded her testimony and
you can text to get this sent to you and send to friends about
three minutes. And then a gospel invitation on
the screen -- I look good, thank you. Text SPARKS to 52525. And if you are watching online,
post to Instagram, people can hear a short version, three
minutes and amazing yesterday. Thank you, I am glad that we
got in one take because I couldn't do a second time. You were crying half the
time. Go back to the beginning and let
them hear your story. Sure, I was singling before
"American Idol", my dad played football, New York giants for
eight years and Dallas for one. I was pursuing music, I did PAO,
and you were a speaker. Pro-athlete outreach. Yes, and I was to sing before
you went up and the track didn't work when I got up there. And didn't turn on. And I was like, well, they
called me here to sing so I am going to sing. I did it a cappella, and you
came up afterwards and first said, you need to meet my son. I was like -- UH. You know what I am saying
fellas. I was 15, I was 15. She was 15 and my son is
married now and has a kid. He did not know his current wife
at the time. Hey, you know what I am saying,
we can get tickets to the games. Your father played --
So you said that. There was 60 NFL players and
it's a hard crowd and not a lot of energy in the room not that
many. And there was silence, and I
said dear God I pray for that girl. And she knocked it out of the
park, and I got up and said, you need to know my son, know what I
am trying to say -- And then he said, you need to
be on the "American Idol" he said it first and one year and a
half later that's where I was. [Applause] Tell about "American Idol." Because I didn't know the
process that you went through, the ups and downs to get on it. I had been a huge fan of the
show, anybody watch? Anybody a fan of the show? Yay, good, I am glad, thank you
for voting for me. Thank you. So I was a huge fan, so
auditioning was something that I wanted do. I didn't care to get a driver's
license but at 16 I could audition. And I went to the Rose Bowl and
went down, sang and told no. You were told no, go home. Yes, no, go home, get out of
here, cut off the wrist band, the whole thing. And I remember asking the lady,
anything you can tell me for next time. She said, we are not allowed to
say anything. All right. And I walked out and remember
seeing people not necessarily tantrums but crying so hard on
the ground in a ball, they couldn't audition again because
they were at the peak of the age you could at the time. And I will never forget seeing
that. And I didn't let that stop me. I am going to keep singing and
went home and did a localized version, Arizona Idol and I won
that and I was sent to Seattle and where I made it. [Applause] This is so important because
our lives, God is involved in all of your life. A lot of people believe there is
a God in heaven that is disconnected from your life. That's not the case, he's
involved in every part of your life. And not that he's making it
happen, but he's right there. He can turn your mistakes into
his plan. How he does that, don't worry
about it, I don't think anybody knows but he does. She goes to "American Idol" and
told no, and God says, I have a detour from your plan. God's detour from your plan is
not a detour. It's part of the plan, it's a
process. We are all in process, are you
following me. God says go over here and she
wins, and the same season of American idol is still going and
now you are reasserted on the back end, that's amazing. It was definitely cool I feel
that perseverance has followed me throughout life, just keep
going. And the other lesson I learned
from that, I have advice for someone that wants to audition. Look, when a door is closed, you
can see which is open. Which one you are supposed to go
through, doors, windows, basement doors and all shut. And sometimes when you say,
please open a door for me, sometimes you won't have clarity
because so many things are open to you so you have to be
specific; right. So when the door closes it's
good, all right, that one was not for me and what other way. I thought that was something
that He really showed me and it's happened a lot. And there are a lot of y'all
in process and you feel like you are lost. You are not in God's will, your
life has confusion or stress or burden. God says it's never too late,
where you are at I can open a door. I don't need to do these million
things, it can happen today. Today you will have an
opportunity, no matter where you are in life, you may be getting
ready to be sentenced to 20 years in prison tomorrow. God can still do a thing in your
life, they have prison ministry. God can get you out, He does
amazing things. But have to give Him that
opportunity. So you go to "American Idol" and
tell us about the process, up to winning. Sure, it was really crazy. Being a fan, getting on the show
and being able to see behind the scenes was absolutely
incredible, a fan's dream. And then all of a sudden, oh, I
have to do this now. I was excited to be there, my
mom was with me. But the process is crazy, for
people watching you saw us on stage doing two minutes of a
song and how they edited our week and what our week was like. But it was different, for me I
was a minor, and by California State Law required to do school
three hours a day. And I was the only one that had
to do school, and I had to wake up three hours than everybody or
fit in a break or nap, and how to figure out how to edit the
song and what I wanted to sing. And my personal life was in
shambles. My parents were separating. My brother was going down a
darker path. My best friend died the day I
got there. My great-grandmother passed and
aunt passed and then my other great-grandmother passed. And all of these things
happening and my best dream happening. And it was confusing, I had
nothing, I was so sick I could barely get myself out of a
chair. They told me, Jordin, if you
don't go out there, people can't vote for you and you are
disqualified. And I was like, that is not
going to happen. And I went out and best
performance I had done. And got off the stage and broke
down and couldn't stand, it was the craziest thing. I remember wanting, I saw the
goal I wanted in my dreams. You win the show and then get my
dreams. And wasn't going to let anything
stand in the way at the time. And you got saved at four
years old and baptized at 13 years old. But throughout this time God was
-- He was not the center. Like he should have been. I was in the middle of my faith
like God is this deity and he created all things. And as a Christian I go to
church and I read my Bible and I tell people about my faith. But that's kind as far as it
went. So you believe in Jesus? Yeah, I believe in Jesus, I
wouldn't have survived all this without Him. Which is true. But when the conversation
stopped and I only leaned on Him when times got tough, and there
were a lot of tough times. And my personality, I like to
control things and relying on my own strength. There was a lot of pain and
confusion in the past 10 years and a lot of decisions. Who was I? What was I doing? And since He wasn't the focus
and this haze over everything I saw and what meant more than Him
at the time. If you are watching this
online, I encourage you to share this with your friends and we
will be here at 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock tonight as well. I went to a Super Bowl party two
years ago in Phoenix. Some Christian football players
were putting a party on. And Lecrae and Justin Forsett
and Acho Brothers that play NFL, Godly dudes and a great party. And some of our family went and
Jordin happened to get there. And they all knew her and asked
over the years what is up with Jordin. And well -- how is she doing
with the Lord, well. And she walked in, and oh, I am
going to find out first hand. I said whoa. She gave me the Heisman --
I am sorry. Tell the people how you were
treating me. I'm not the same -- sorry,
I'm not the same person I was. It was that haze that I had;
right. And when -- detour, right, from
our path and life happens and the decisions you make. You avoid conversations with
people who are going to tell you the truth. I knew you were going to ask me
how my relationship with God was. And I didn't want to deal with
it. I didn't want to hear it. I wasn't ready. I wasn't open. My heart was not as soft as it
is now. And I just knew what you were
going to say. I avoided conversations with my
best friend. I avoided conversations with you
and my parents and knew what you were going to say and didn't
want to deal with it. She was in the corner like --
I wasn't like that. Jordin, what is up --
I did not do that -- although it's crazy and because of that
haze, I don't remember, I don't remember seeing him. It wasn't the haze, it wasn't
the haze. Well, no -- the mind-set I
was in, and I just -- I don't remember. That's okay. And it's crazy because I had
-- I know it is or else you wouldn't have invited me here. We are good now. We are in the party and all
walk together and my mom and wife and walked to the car and
had a conversation. You don't remember -- fast
forward, that's fine. That's fine. I don't remember you either,
someone told me. Fast forward last Easter. Yes. So through excuses and you know
traveling and work and all of those things I attend Angelus
Temple in L.A. and you were a guest speaker. But my aunt and uncle have been
inviting me at this church. I was going through a tough time
and living under a microscope and everyone watching everything
unfold. And I was not myself, not who I
am now definitely. And I had gone out to party. I never go out, that's never
anything that I do. My mom was even like what is
going on. And I go out and stay out all
night and wouldn't get home until 6 a.m. in the morning and
sleep a little bit and do it the next night. I did it for three days and I
rolled in at 6 a.m. on Easter Sunday and fell asleep and slept
through my alarm. And got a text from my cousin,
his name is Levi-- hey, and he said, meet you at church. And I didn't want to let my
cousin down. And I got ready and service
started at 9:30 and I walked in and I remember seeing the screen
and it said, we're glad you made it. And I just felt like I feel
right now. I remember going -- okay, I feel
something here that I haven't felt before. And I was going through the
whole service and I was trying so hard to keep myself from
crying like I am doing now. And the pastor got up there and
obviously talks about the resurrection story and says it's
never too late to come back home. And it just --
I was just so overcome because I was so broken and I was so lost. And I just was like, I can't do
this anymore. On my own strength. I can't do this anymore trying
to do it my way. Because it's not working. I need you to take this from me
-- thank you. Full service pastor. Thank you sir, thank you. I won't forget that. And he --
You will remember this time. I am remembering this, yes. But I remember sitting there and
holding it together and he, the pastor gives the altar call and
says, if you want to give your life to Christ, please come to
the front. Or maybe you have wandered a
little bit and you are feeling convicted and called. And that was me. And I rushed to the front of the
stage and I just wept. I wept at the front of the stage
because I was so broken and I was just ready. And what I learned that Jesus
does his best work when you are broken. Because he puts the pieces back
together; right. So -- [Applause] If any of you guys are sitting
here, because he's going to do his altar call. You probably heard it a million
times. Don't be scared to come up here,
you are safe here. If any place you are safe is
here, at the front of the altar. I encourage you if you are
scared to stand, it's okay, just stand, you can do it. One thing we skipped over --
Sorry. No, it's my fault. When you were on "American Idol"
how many millions of people were voting for or against you. Can you imagine millions people
voting against you saying you are not good enough. We trip out if one person is
talking behind our back, you are like, I don't like that person,
voting against them, that was you. The devil votes against you
every day, but God votes for you every day. No matter how you sound when you
sing, he votes for you. And today he is saying to you
right now, I want you. Even though you have done this,
this, this, this, this, this, it's not is your second chance,
it's just another chance. But he wants you. But you have to surrender
yourself to him. In a couple of minutes she's
going to sing a song. It's going to be awesome. Called, spirit move. During that song my prayer is
that the Holy Spirit would speak to you. What does that sound like? It sounds like your conscious, a
small peaceful voice in your heart and affirming your
conscious, and you know it and the Holy Spirit will say, I know
everything, I know what happened last night and this morning and
that cloud that came out of your windows in the parking lot. I know it may be legal but it
still makes you high. It's still going to kill brain
cells and jack up your lungs, okay. But I know that and I want to do
something amazing in your life. So you have to give me a chance. Some of you will have an
opportunity to ask Christ to be your Savior for the first time. You realized you are a sinner. The Bible says that all have
sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. You realized that the penalty of
sin is death. But Jesus died and rose from the
dead for your sin. We are going to give that
chance, in a minute she's going to sing. But before she sings, I want to
do two quick things. I want us to pray for you, and I
want you to pray for them. Okay. Here's the thing, I will do
my prayer shorter, because your prayer is a little more
important. Let me do my prayer, Lord, I
pray that you bless Jordin -- lift hands to her, Lord pray
that you bless this woman and she uses the platform you gave
her for your glory, protect her from the evil one, in Jesus
name, amen. There are a lot of people out
there but I narrow it down to a young lady that is looking at
you with this in her eyes and needs Jesus in her heart and has
had horrible things happen to her, I want you to pray for her. Okay. Dear heavenly father, Lord, I
thank you so much for waking me up this morning, waking all of
us this morning. I want to pray specifically for
anybody who is feeling that adrenaline rush right now. Your heart is pounding. They feel like you are talking
directly to them. I just want to pray that they
have the strength just to stand today. That they have the heart just to
say yes, and I surrender to you. And I also want to pray for the
women out here that have gone through something that they feel
like they can never recover from. Maybe they have triggers or
post-traumatic stress or closed the walls and feel they can't
get back. Lord I want to tell them, they
are not their past, they are not defined by a relationship by
someone saying it was their fault. Lord I pray for these women and
girls that they know they are worthy. They are your bride, Lord. I pray they get the realization
that I had, that You love me and I am enough for You. Lord I pray if there is anybody
in here experiencing guilt or shame or anxiety or fear or
sadness, we know that is not from You. You are joy, peace, kindness and
gentleness and self-control and there is no law against those
things, Lord. I pray that You bless everybody
here, who is watching online, wherever you are watching from,
if you hear this, He loves you, and we love you and you are safe
here. This is your haven. I pray that You bless everyone
here and I pray for the band as we sing this song, please give
me a voice when we do this. And thank You so much for You
and who You are. I will talk to you later, amen. [Applause] If God spoke to you during that sermon and you feel like you want to ask Christ to be your savior, it's as simple as A-B-C. Admit and accept that you are a sinner. The Bible says all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, that He died for your sin and rose from the dead. Confess yourself a sinner and say, "Jesus, please forgive me of my sin." If you would like to ask Jesus Christ to be your savior, Just look at me right now and pray this prayer with me in the privacy of your heart knowing that God knows you and loves you very much. Say, "Dear God, I believe that I am a sinner. I know the penalty of my sin is death. I don't want to die and go to Hell. I believe that Jesus Christ is Lord that He died and rose from the dead for my sin. I confess myself a sinner and ask Him to forgive me of my sin. Jesus, please forgive me of my sin. and fill me with the spirit of God. In Jesus name, amen. If you prayed that prayer, if you just asked Christ to be your savior, we want to know. We want to email you some resources. If you just prayed that prayer with me, to accept Jesus as your savior Click on the link that just appeared. We want to send you some free resources. God bless you and we will see you in Heaven.
