Hello, my name is Will, and I have the honor of serving as one of the leaders at Transformation Church. Thank you for tuning in from wherever you’re watching. If you haven’t already, be sure to like and subscribe. We believe that God has an incredible word for you today, so let’s dive into this powerful message.

This is Week 1 of a series I’m about to share, simply titled Start Sharp. Everyone, say it with me: “Start Sharp.” Say it fast—Start Sharp! Now, say it loud! We are about to begin 2024 sharper than any year before as a church, and I truly believe it will be our sharpest year yet.

God gave me this vision, and this year’s plan is different from what we’ve done in the past. Typically, on the first Sunday of the year, someone else preaches, but this year, I’m leading the charge. I’ve been seeking confirmation on the word for this year, and just three days into my sabbatical in July, God confirmed it. The word of the year is going to change everyone’s life. But there’s more—God gave me new instructions: I couldn’t share the word of the year until I built value into what He was going to say. Many times, we miss out on what God gives us because we don’t recognize its value when it arrives, especially when it comes in an ordinary package.

Some of the best advice I’ve ever received came from the woman I sleep next to every night. She said something to me last night while I was drifting off to sleep, and it resonated deeply. She said, “Stop fooling with those people.” At first, I didn’t think much of it, but when someone else said the same thing, I realized the importance. God’s word can often be overlooked if we get too familiar with the way it comes. This year’s word may seem simple, but if you don’t see its value, you could miss out.

Over the next four weeks, I’ll be building the value of Start Sharp, and then I’ll release the word God gave me. It’s going to propel us into a season of acceleration. It’s like the warp speed in Star Trek or Star Wars—where everything starts moving faster. I believe that’s what God is about to do this year.

Let’s start with an analogy that really impacted my life. I was reading The Fasting Edge by Jensen Franklin, and there’s a story in it that stood out to me. Picture this: a forest, no chainsaws, no modern technology. Two lumberjacks—one young, strong, and eager, the other an experienced, older man with calloused hands.

The young lumberjack, wanting to prove himself, challenges the older man to a tree-chopping contest. The older man, not interested in a competition, agrees. The goal is simple: chop down as many trees as possible in a day. The young man, fit and full of energy, believes he has the advantage.

As the contest begins, the young lumberjack chops trees rapidly, confident he’ll win. The older man, however, takes frequent breaks. At the end of the day, the young man stands tall, sweating and proud, certain he’s won. The official count is revealed: the young man chopped 20 trees, while the older man chopped 40. Shocked, the young man confronts the older man, asking, “How did you do it? I saw you resting the whole time.”

The older man smiles and replies, “Every time you saw me resting, I was sharpening my axe.”