Hallelujah. I had a flashback of Highway 28 Church of God. I was about 12 years old
and the song leader kept doing this. You know what that means. Sing that chorus
again. I don't know eighth, ninth, tenth time through it finally got into somebody
that he abides. There's a shriek, a scream goes out and then the glory falls down
because we truly realize and take note that the comforter abides. Who is that
comforter? My Lord don't get me off track this morning.
Huh? He's that periclete. He's that one that comes alongside of. He's that power
that enables me to get up in the morning and face the devils of the day. The
comforter abides with me. There's no thirsting for the things of this world.
They've taken wings. Long ago I gave them up and it wasn't a process it was
instantly. Hallelujah. Well if you have your Bibles let's turn to the book of
Habakkuk. Habakkuk. Left of Zephaniah, right of Nahum. It's at the center of the
crossroad. Major message in the minor prophets. Habakkuk. Amen. The Lord is good.
Merciful and kind. Gracious is he. So thankful for you to be in the house of
the Lord with us this morning. I was somewhat disappointed at the end of last
week's service when I got reports that there was no Jericho march. I just think
Pastor Brian was scared. I'd encouraged him, march him. You know we get we get too
far beyond our past and raisin to do a little Jericho march every once in a
while. We need to find another altar somewhere and get it right. You remember
back today before we got all sophisticated. You know I'm talking about
before we got blue lights and lit up crosses. That stuff. When we were singing
he abides and we'd hit on that Jericho and the walls would come down and we'd
go to marching. Amen. Yeah I thought for sure he'd have you marching. He just got
the wall down. Heard it was good though. Amen. But I was disappointed. I thought
for sure he'd march. Habakkuk chapter 2 verse 1. I will stand up on my watch and
set me upon the tower and will watch to see what he will say unto me and what I
shall answer when I am reprieved. And the Lord answered me and said write the
vision and make it plain upon tables that he may run that reads it. For the
vision is yet for an appointed time but at the end it shall speak and not lie.
Though it tarry wait for it because it will surely come it will not tarry.
Behold his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him but the just shall live
by faith. Simple thought this morning when the time is right. When the time is
right. Father I love you. I thank you so much for your goodness. For the sweet
atmosphere that's in your house today. Wonderful presence. Sweet fellowship as
your anointing has been ushered in. Lord I thank you for your goodness and I thank
you for the mercy. Now Lord I ask that you would help us. Help me to preach that
which is pleasing to you and edifying to the body. And Lord we'll be quick to give
you all the glory the honor and the praise. In Jesus name. The church said amen
amen. When the time is right. This little book of Habakkuk these three chapters are
unique in themselves. It's not necessarily a letter to the people of
God. It's not written to the people of Judah. It is a conversation between the
prophet and his God. And in that conversation we hear the heart of God to
his prophet. It begins with a complaint in chapter 1. It's a burden which Habakkuk
the prophet did see. He says oh Lord how long shall I cry and you not hear. Even
cry out unto thee of violence. You will not save. Judah in her rebellion. Judah in
her backslidden state and condition. The prophet is talking to God and telling
God how long are you gonna let this go on? How long are you gonna permit your
people to continue in their sin against you and your righteousness
and your whole and how long can you tolerate this mess?
And then the remainder is this back and forth between the prophet and God. It
would appear today in our culture and in our society that there seems to be a
crisis of identity. People trying to determine who they are or what they are.
People trying to figure out in the confusion and the state of our world
exactly what their place is and who they are and what they are to be in this
world and in the midst of this society. Identity in crisis. And if we're not very
careful we can see that danger as it begins to seep into the church and the
church is struggling for its identity in this world in which we've been placed.
I know and I had to help myself this morning as I'm studying and going over
this word again. It's not difficult to grow very negative when we
begin to think about our world and we think about society and we think about
the condition of humanity. It's not hard to form a negative thought and a
negative idea. You can even begin to focus on more with what's wrong with
the church at large than what is right with the church at large because this
struggle for identity especially post-pandemic. The church is struggling to
re-identify itself as well and how to minister to a world that is quite
frankly still living in fear and we are still not past it. Pray for some of our
church family who are dealing with the virus. COVID is still moving and still
going and I meant to request prayer for my mother she's not doing well with it
either she's sick with this stuff so this is this is the culture in which we
are trying to cultivate a ministry in and it has changed to a large degree but
one thing that remains the same there's one constant that will never change and
that is God. Amen? If there's one thought that you can get through reading the
three chapters of Habakkuk is that you and I live by faith and that God is
faithful in spite of everything. I know we can look and wonder God how long are
you gonna let this mess go on? I don't know about you but I've wondered just
exactly how bad was Sodom and Gomorrah if God rained fire down on them and he's
letting our current culture continue to cultivate grow and go. It makes me
wonder how bad the condition was of Sodom and Gomorrah but also you could
think of it that way or you can say how merciful and how graceful and how
faithful is our God who is willing that none should perish but that all should
come under repentance and everlasting life. It's not easy to have this form of
looking at how God's goodness is toward the world today because of how easy it
becomes to see the negative that is all around us. You have to focus and in order
to focus there must be a clarity of vision and that's what God is beginning
to speak to the prophet. He wants him to know that he is large and still in charge
and he is still got it all under control. I know that I sometimes wonder God are
you losing your grip? This thing's about to get out of hand but can I tell you
God is not losing his grip and it's not getting out of hand. Even though we see
perilous times approaching, even though we see men's hearts turning away from
God and vile things happening and going on, rest assured that God is still on the
throne and everything is playing out according to his purpose and according
to his plan because if you read his word, his word tells us exactly the condition
that this world is going to be in when his son steps out in glory and it's
almost bad enough. Oh my, my, my. Oh is it not bad enough yet? Evidently not. He
hasn't returned. It will get worse but in the worst that it becomes, his grace
becomes more sufficient and he edifies the body at a greater level when we
begin to understand our identity and we begin to know that the world and the
condition even of the church today that God is still in charge. You stop and
think about our nation itself. It's become the second largest, most
missionary receiving nation in the world. Oh yeah, we sinned a lot but do you
realize that God is laying on the hearts of people in other nations, laying on
their hearts, burning their hearts to come to our shores, the good old US of
they which should be the belt buckle of nations through the goodness and the
grace of God but now we have gotten to the point where God is moving on the
hearts of other nations to send them forth and to come here on these shores
and begin to preach in our towns and in our communities and witness to
people who we should be witnessing to and people who we should be ministering
to. God is burning the hearts of other nations to get to good old America and
preach his word. Oh I think it's time that the church arises. I think it's time
we renew our relationship with him and we find ourselves with the prophet that
we positioned ourselves upon the wall that we get up on the watch and we begin
to be alert, rise to the ramparts and begin to be alert, watch and pray. He said
I will stand upon my watch and set me upon the tower and we'll watch to see
what he will say unto me and what I shall answer when I am reproved. So why
would our nation, why would this church, why would we particularly, we can narrow
it on down to the Hopewell community and those from where you come, why is it so
important for us? I'll tell you why and why are we the second largest
missionary receiving nation in the world because 20% of Americans attend
church every week. Only 20% of Americans attend church every week. Listen to this,
41% of Americans attend church monthly and call it faithful.
Once a month they're faithful.
I remember when once a month it gets you a visit from half the church.
57% of Americans seldom or never attend church. So now we begin to see a little
more clear. You can dig into the statistics even deeper and realize why
God is moving on the hearts of other nations and people that he's called in
other nations to make their way here because somehow or another we are
falling asleep on the job and there are those of us who are still calling like
a Habakkuk and we're saying God how long you gonna let this mess continue? How
long can it go on when we should be not just asking God how long is it going to
go on but we should be rephrasing the question saying God how much more time
do we have to proclaim your good news? How much time? Oh Lord hold on, give us
another week, give us another month, give us another year. Oh and the only way that
that'll happen is if we are as excited as Habakkuk was to get in our position,
get up on the wall and get ready to watch. Oh that answer would come this
vision. He said I want you to write it and I want you to make it plain.
Understand today that we must redevelop our foresight in knowing what the will
of God and the plan of God is not only for our life but for his church and for
this lost and dying world. Some things we must answer. First is the identity
question. Who are we? Who are we? When we begin to think values are defined by
Webster's dictionary as principles standards or qualities considered
inherently worthwhile or desirable. The root for value is valor which means
strength. The values are sources of strength because they give people the
power to take action. Values are deep, emotional and often difficult to change.
I think it's time we renew our values and the purpose that we understand why
God has called us out of darkness into his marvelous light. Can I tell you he
hadn't just saved you and called you and delivered you from the debauchery of the
sin of your life so that you can sit safely within the walls and the
parameters of his sanctuary and just wait till he comes? No, he has saved you
that you get to the watch. He has saved you so that you make your way up the
rampart. He has saved that you understand what the vision for his people are and
the world that he holds so dearly and so precious in his sight that you would
understand it and he's written it and made it plain. Understand who we are. You
are the church of the living God. You are those who were once in darkness who have
been redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. You are those who are to
proclaim his goodness, his mercy and his grace. As I've stated I personally feel
it's high time that the church begin to walk in the light of the purpose that
God has called us to. It's time that we extend that purpose into the world by
proclaiming Christ as Lord. In our culture, in our society, if you really won't
trouble you start proclaiming it boldly, politely and you will see the condition
of the world which we are in. I'm not saying be irreverent in your
proclamation. That doesn't bring all that will bring is a reproach against the
name of Christ. Hello? But we are to be irreverent but yet not be bashful in our
proclamation of who Jesus Christ is. But you'll never proclaim who Christ is
until you know who you are in Christ. Hallelujah! There is an identity crisis
within the church and it's time that it be ratified and the only way it's going
to be ratified is get into his precious word and read what he has written and
read what he has proclaimed and begin to align our life to the declaration of his
word. It's time we know who we are and the test that has been given us. It's
important for the world around us to know that we understand who we are. In
order to understand who you are you have to understand what you were and not be
what you were in proclaiming who you are. Hello? Because if you're living as you
were then your proclamation is wrong. Hello? So we begin to understand. Matthew
5 13 says that you are the salt of the earth. Verse 14 says you are the light of
the world but he also talks about a dark light. Hello? What type of light are you
when you're out there? You're illuminating something so what is it
that you're illuminating in your life? It's time to realize that you are the
light of the world because why? The light of the world resides in you. Jesus
declared of himself I am the light. Hallelujah! And he resides in you and
because he resides in you then you ought to illuminate his character and not your
own. Come on somebody! Understanding who we are we are the salt that balances
this culture. How many know that a good dose of salt makes things go a long way?
Nothing any worse than a bowl of pinto beans without salt. Nast throw it out.
Hello? Nothing any worse than a so-called quote unquote Christian that has no
flavor to it. How many knows when salt set and it's got a little damp it loses
its savor? Jesus said salt that has lost its savor isn't fit for anything. Water's
parallel throw it out. It's no good but we cannot afford to lose our savor in a
world that needs a little flavor added. Come on somebody! You got to know who you
are as being the salt of the earth and the addition that you bring is Christ
who is in you is the eternal hope of glory. It's Christ in you that you offer
the world. That is the savor. It's not with ourselves and when I know who I am
when I begin to proclaim him it's he that goes forth and he that illuminates
and it's his flavor that I'm trying to add to the savor of the world. That's who
you are salt and light. Romans 8 17 says that you are heirs of God and join heirs
with Christ Jesus. Hallelujah for that one. The quicker you realize that Christ
is your brother but yet he is also your Redeemer. You understand that by Redeemer
he's therefore your Savior and therefore by being your Savior he is the Lord who
reigns upon the heart of your life and what you are doing is trying to manifest
the expressed image of Christ as God the Father enables you through the grace
that is so abundant and the enabling power of the abiding presence of the
Comforter who is the Holy Ghost and you realize that I am an heir, a joint heir
with Christ Jesus and by virtue of being an heir my Father's prepared a place for
me and my God as an heir I shall take possession.
That's who we are. You're struggling for identity, you're light, you're salt, you're
an heir. An heir to what? Don't have time to fulfill you in on all that. Well let's
just start with heaven.
Whoo! You're an heir to heaven. Paul said to the Thessalonians 1st chapter 5 and 5
first book says your children of light. 1st Peter 2 and 5 Peter writes in
church says your lively stones build up a spiritual house so therefore we need to
do some resuscitation because some of the lively stones have lost a breath. Hello?
And our spiritual house seems to be in some disarray so there must be some
repair to this old house. My Lord. Yankee Workshop. Come on.
Verse 9 of that second letter, 1st letter, 2nd chapter says you are chosen generation.
You're a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a very peculiar people. With that I
can't agree because we are very peculiar people. Huh? Back in the day when old
timers would be having conversations and individuals names had come up they'd say
boy they're a bit choir, they're a little bit peculiar. Some of you have no clue
what that means. Look it up. Do a little Google research what choir and peculiar
means in Appalachian vernacular. It means they oddball, they odd duck, they're a
little strange, they not normal, they peculiar. Can I tell you we've been
declared as a royal priesthood and a peculiar people. Why? Because as a world
sees you because of the transformation and the regeneration of the work of
Christ in your life you're not normal.
Neither should we be. When you leave some sinners presence talking about the
goodness of God and the work of Christ in your life when they turn to the next
sinner after you're gone they should say boy he's peculiar. Boy she's odd. Huh? Yeah.
Because we understand who we are. You can't smell like the world, you can't
talk like the world, you can't act like the world, you can't go to the world's
places, you can't sip with the world, smoke with the world, and ask somebody to
consider you different than the world. Oh no, your fruit. Are we okay? I am in a
holding a shirt right? Our fruit gives us away. Huh? When I leave from their
presence I want them scratching their head not thinking. I don't know what he
thinks he is but he ain't what he's saying. Hello? I want them scratching their
head saying man I'd like to know more about what he's talking about. I'd like
for there to be power in my witness. I'd like for there to be conviction in my
life. Hello? Wouldn't it be wonderful that when you come into people's presence
your life, your living, your conduct, everything brings conviction to them
because you are not normal as the world sees you normal but you're a royal
priesthood and a very peculiar person. That's who we are. Another question we
must ask ourselves and as I look is what time is it? We must have a good
understanding of the time parameters in which we're living. When we look around
us we I measure time and how I feel is concerning the return of the Lord. Amen? I
know we measure time in seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years, decades
on and on. That's how we measure time but I think we should measure time more by
the grace of God and as it's being poured out in this world as to the time of the
Lord's return because I think that's the major important factor. If we are seeing
in our age and in our time what considers to be the last day out pouring
then I think it's about five minutes to the return of Jesus Christ. Hello? When we
begin to understand that we see on the time clock of life if God is pouring out
his spirit in accordance to Acts chapter 2 and he's pouring it out upon all flesh
and if he's pouring it out globally not just on America we tend to think God's
blessing is totally determined by what he does here in America. Can I tell you
there is a global outpouring of the Holy Ghost going on in this world beyond the
borders of this nation who seems to be deafening our ears and hardening our
hearts. Indonesia seeing people saved and filled with the Holy Ghost by the
thousands and Africa seeing them by the thousands and South America seeing them
by the hundreds and the thousands. There is an outpouring going on and if my
timesheet tells me correctly in the last day saith God I'll pour out of my
spirit upon all flesh. Old men dreaming young men seeing vision handmaidens
prophesying young men prophesying under the unction and the power of the Holy Ghost.
What time is it? It's time to get up and do something. What can I do? What can you
do? Just tell somebody about Jesus. It's all that's required of you. You don't have to
baptize them. You don't have to go into a theological debate of the Trinity with
them. Just tell them about Jesus and what he's done for you. I assure you those who
knew me before Christ can tell you that I'm peculiar now and I am not the
individual I was before Christ. Hallelujah and that is your gospel
message. You don't have to try to get in quoting book chapter and verse just
simply tell them about the redeeming power of Jesus Christ in your own life.
It's all you got to do and try to get them to the place where the glory in the
fountain and the grace of God is pouring out. Amen. Where the word of God is going
forth and they can hear you don't have to be what you were or any longer. You
could be different but you got to let Christ do the changing for you. How many
of us tried ever self-help that you could? Well some of you I don't know. I
guess you didn't realize you needed help. Well I'm telling you you needed help.
We need help. Part of our problem is we think we don't need help. That's our
biggest problem. We think we don't need God until we find
ourselves lower than the low. Huh? The bedrock of the bottom and there's no
other way to turn our gaze but upward and when we lift our eyes as the
psalmist said to the hills from whence cometh my help your help comes from the
Lord. Amen. Just tell people that. Tell them where your help come from. Let them
realize that we are living in a time and they're living a time when they need God.
It's time that each of us individuals and local churches begin to be what God
has called us to be. That light, that salt. Let our identity be lived out in their
life. It's time that we live that way. When we think about the church in
America we have to rediscover the sense of urgency. When we used to sing the old
songs of the old red-back days. When we used to sing them there was always this
pushing toward the urgency of the day in which we're living. You don't think about
Jesus coming if you're not singing about Jesus coming and when you start singing
about Jesus coming you start thinking about am I ready if he comes today?
Hello? That was always a reminder. It pushed us theologically to always
evaluate our condition and our position in light of the Lord's return and we are
living today the church is living today going through the formalities of life
and church business and church perfunctory stuff without the urgency
that this could be the day this could be the hour tonight before the cocks
crowing it could be the day that the Lord returns and the main thing is are
we ready to meet him or will we be the five foolish virgin with no oil in us
and no lamp to burn when we hear the bridegroom call go you out to meet him
and we can't go because there's nothing in us. Without a reminder of the urgency
of the hour the church grows increasingly complacent. Because when you
are constantly reminded that the Lord could come today I think it causes one
to live with a sense of urgency and when you I am sure the Lord puts people
across our paths that we intercept daily that he wants us to have the courage to
just tell them something about himself. How many times have we walked away from
opportunities and we get in a car we start down the road and the Holy Spirit
reminds us and then we begin to think well I should I wish I had it you know
and the opportunity is gone. I'll tell you what time it is it's time that we
seize every opportunity that the Lord makes available for us because that's
where we're living we are living in a time when we must realize the urgency of
the hour and that we are living in a day that is growing increasingly as Matthew
24 describes it. The coming of the Lord. Nations against nations. People against people.
Pestilence. All these things unleashed upon the earth. Unleashed so that the earth
would turn toward God. So that our attention be drawn to the urgency of the
promise that is made. Habakkuk. Right division. Make it plain. Put it on tablets
so who that comes and reads it can run with the declaration. That's what we have
to have is a clear understanding of what's written on the tablets so that
when we read it we can run with the declaration. He said oh it's not coming
just yet it's not ready just now but though it tarry wait for it. Hallelujah
because it's not going to continue to tarry. Oh that's the way we are with a
declaration of the Lord's return. Oh he's going to come. He may not come in my
lifetime. He may not come in your lifetime but that does not negate the
fact that he is going to return. And so the vision is plain. The Lord is coming.
The Lord is coming. He's coming and we must be ready and must be urgent in
delivering the help and the hope of the good news.
What time did you let him out last week? I got eight minutes. What time is it?
It's time we understand the revelation that we've received and leased it through
the anointing. Release it through the anointing that's been given to us. Those
who are hopeless and in despair and if you don't think people are hopeless next
time you have a conversation with a stranger look in their eyes. The eyes are
the gateway to the soul. Begin to talk to them just a little bit. Engage for two to
five minutes and try to question them as to their condition and how their life's
going and watch a gateway in their eyes open and the depth of their soul be
revealed. People are desperate for hope. Second Corinthians 6 and 2. Paul said I've
heard I heard the end of time accepted and in the day of salvation have I
secured thee. Behold now is the accepted time. Behold now is the day of salvation.
We don't have the luxury to continue to put it off. Hello? Because the only
assurance of time in life that you have is what you've already spent. The next
30 seconds are not yours until you live them out. The hope that you have to the
end of them. Did a funeral yesterday for a precious saint lady at my first church
young pastor I told him yesterday I'll never forget the day that sister Kathy
and I and our three toe heads we drove them into the front door. The little
four-year that little mountain church it was frosty. You can see the fog on the
window and they're looking out the church doors and here we come. Green I'm
telling you green is a whippoorwill. Oh Lord had no clue about nothing. That was
back before the days of MIP so nobody had told me anything they said there you
go. My Lord. I remember sister Gladys as she welcomed us. She had this gift of
agitation. Sister Gladys did. She had a gift of agitation. She loved to just poke.
Just poke. Irritate. But she'd do it with a smile and you couldn't get mad at her
so I just got to where I just poked back at her. So we'd come in fussing and leave
a fussing. Knowing we was fussing in love.
Because when it come time to pray she'd hit those knees and ring heaven's bells.
That's what time is. The other day woke up went to the couch took a breath fell
over dead with a massive heart attack. We don't have a promise. The only time
that you're assured of is a time that you've already spent and the breath that
you've just exhaled because the next one could be held from you an eternity you
would find yourself and can I tell you the people that you come in contact with
need to know the very same thing. Oh it's because of the grace of God that
you're here today and when you look into the depths of their souls and you see
how hopeless and lost they are. Yeah should be screaming from your eyes as
the light of the hope of the glorious gospel which is the good news that Jesus
redeems and that Jesus saves and that Jesus helps and that Jesus delivers and
that Jesus loves them.
Romans 13 and 12 says the night is far spent the day is at hand. Let us therefore
cast off the works of darkness. You don't have time to play patty cake with
God people. You don't have time to have one foot in the church door and the other in
the bar room. We don't have time for that. The day is far spent. The day is at hand.
Cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armor of light. The time. The
latter part, 1st Peter 2 and 5 says and offer up spiritual sacrifices
acceptable to God by Christ Jesus. The second part of verse 9 says after
peculiar people he said you should show forth the praises of him who have called
you out of darkness into his marvelous light. It's time for us to arise. That's
what time it is. It's time you stop holding your peace and let your lips show
forth the praises of him who has delivered you, who has saved you and it's
time that we begin to glorify him. We who are the peculiar should magnify and
glorify his name. We don't have time to waste around. We don't have time to
piddledilly around. It's time that we get to the mission at hand. Glorify and
praise him and offer sacrifices on him. The fruit of our lips and the praise and
our lives be witnesses for him. It's what time it is. It's time that we say of God
be God then we serve him. It's time that we declare as Joshua my house is gonna
serve him. That's what time it is. It's time for a sleeping giant to rise and an
army to march. It's a time that pulpits return to and preach the whole truth.
It's time that we preach that the church returned to the power to which he has
been endeared. That's what time it is.
But I wonder if we understand the urgency of the time in which we're
living. I wonder if we truly understand that every moment counts. I wonder if we
truly fully grasp that there will be those who cry Lord Lord and he still
says depart from me you workers of iniquity for I never knew you. I think
folks think just because they go to church they're going into heaven. Wrong.
Oh don't I wish it were true. But it isn't.
Church attendance is not the requirement. It's a benefit. Huh? It's a privilege. The
requirement is repent and believe.
That's good right there.
So that would lead one to the fact that this last statement
when the time is right it's going to come to pass. When the time is right the
vision will be fulfilled. And that first complaint offered by the prophet how
long is this going to last? God answers him and says well I'll tell you what I'm
doing I'm sending the Babylonians and that just made the prophet even more
aggravated. Well that's worse than the mess we're in. Hello? It's only three
chapters I encourage you to read it. It's loaded. Sometimes I wonder the mess that's
coming is worse than the mess we're in.
So that leads one to determine whose church is this anyway? Too many churches
are plagued today with the grandma syndrome. Are you ready? Hold on. Some
churches are controlled by just a few and they have no idea what God expects
from them. The church is the Lord's and we'll all stand before him and give an
account for what is done. I never have liked power plays in church. Hello? Never
have cared for that. Never have tolerated it. I figure they gave me the pastor card
so it was up to me to see this straightened out. People dying going to hell.
Hello? People fussing because they can't make the decision. They want to be the
one to do the telling. Anything with two heads is a freak. A freak is a freak. Two
heads. It's a freak and it belongs in the circus and the church is not circus. Now
I know sometimes I may act like it is up here when the Holy Ghost gets on me but
it's not. Christ is the head of the church and that's who this is. I had a
friend of mine help me understand that one time. I mean I was in bad shape.
Bad shape. Church was doing great. Man it was just rolling right along but I was in
bad shape. So much so that I had quit youth camp long before Sister
Kathy did and I signed up for work two weeks of camp just so I didn't have to
be at the church. So I served lunch one day was in the room about taking a nap
before getting ready for supper and my pastor friend asked me, said well how's it
going and I just spilled. I said yeah not worth two cents just be honest with you. I'm in bad shape.
He said well I'm gonna tell you something the Lord told me here a while
back when I was in the shape that you're in right now. He said it helped me and it
might help you. I said okay I'm open. I'm all ears right? He said get ready. He said
the Lord told me he said the church is his. He died for it and I didn't have to.
It was a mic drop revelation for me because you'd be amazed at how much we
put on our shoulders that we think we have to perform for you like we're the
circus clown. Oh yeah and when he told me that I had a good talk with the Lord and
when I got back I was free free free. That's when I begin to declare and my
ministry's changed and it's followed me here. I'm free free free. My
responsibilities declare to you the urgency of the hour and the hope that is
in Christ and your and my responsibility to live according to the
mandates of the scripture no more and no less and if we when the trumpet sounds
are not living in accordance to the mandates of the scripture your feet will
not even begin to rise. Now if you think you can go to heaven without living by
the book please enlighten me. I've read it and I hadn't found that part yet. The
part that I see is God is holy and without holiness no man shall see him.
Now you won't show me how you can get around that and make it? By all means try
but I don't think you can. Stand with me and I'm quitting. I've killed it anyway.
To know whose church it is we move beyond barriers. I have to struggle and it is a
challenge for me to tear down the barriers of negativities. I can get
negative. I'm a realist. I'm not an optimist. I'm not a pessimist. I'm a
realist. Anybody know the difference? No the optimist is the half half glass is
full. The pessimist if it's half full it's half empty. The realist says I'll drink it
anyway. I'm thirsty. Doesn't matter if it's half full or half empty. The realist just
is thirsty. We have to get beyond the barrier and the world in which we're
living. The media and what we put before us what we take in fosters the barrier
of negatives. It's easier to be negative than to be positive. It is because there
seems to be so much negative surrounding us. We're full circle. We're right back where we
started. But I'm here to tell you that the reality of it all is this. It rains on
the just and the unjust. Well what's that mean? Everybody's gonna get wet.
Everybody's gonna have their share of trouble. Everyone's gonna have their
share of good times and quality life.
But it's up to you and I who know the hope for eternity to be real about the
fact that without Christ there is no optimism. But because of Christ we can be
eternal optimists as we live out the reality of life here below. Father I love
you. This is your church and I'm not talking about the building.
I'm talking about these lively stones built up into a spiritual house. I'm
talking about the people that are in this room. And Lord sometimes the situations
and circumstances of life kind of leave us feeling a little hollow and a little
empty. But we have hope in you. We have hope in you. I wonder all across the
house if you just need a little added hope in your life would you slip your
hand up? I just need a little hope. Yeah. Yes. Wow. Your hope comes from knowing who
you are. This morning I encourage you to know Christ as your Lord and Savior and
know that you are that joint heir, light and assault. And if you don't right where
you are I'm gonna pray a sinner's prayer. Right where you are no one's looking
around ever heads bowed and saints be praying that the conviction of the Holy
Spirit deal with hearts and lives and hearts come to know Christ. Right now
it's important. This is the most important part of all that we do today.
If you're here today and do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior
pray with me. Jesus I'm a sinner. I come to you today and I repent. I repent.
Forgive me and cleanse me of my sin and take your rightful place on the throne
room of my heart and be Lord of my life. For I believe that you were born that
you died and you rose again for my salvation. Thank you for answering this
prayer. My my my. Thank you Lord. Thank you Lord. What I need you to do before you leave this
place today is come see me. I don't care how many people's around me I don't care
what I'm doing. Grab my coat tail grab me by the arms. Hey I give my heart to
Jesus today. I need to know that and you need to confess that. You need to confess
it. It's that mouth your hearts believing to it but now you got to confess it.
I accepted Christ today. Whoo. Tell me tell somebody but I'd love it if you
tell me it'd make me feel like this last 45 minutes been worth it all.
Worth it all. Now father over the household of faith I pray Lord that you
renew hope in every heart and in every life. It's not hard to be negative when
we look around us but I choose today I make a conscious choice Lord that in the
reality of it all you are still Lord. That is the reality. You are Lord. You are
in charge and like Habakkuk asked how long you'll let this mess go on. You said
to him to get on his perch and write it down. One of these days I'm gonna take
care of it all. It may look like I'm not doing it but I will do it. The just shall
live by faith. Enrich renew and encourage the faith of those in this
room this morning father. If they be sick heal their body. Lord if they be depressed
let the light of your glory illuminate their living to your glory and they're
uplifting. I thank you and I praise you in Jesus name. Give the Lord a good hand
clap for praise would you. Come on praise him like he's good to you.