1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:10,980 Hallelujah. I had a flashback of Highway 28 Church of God. I was about 12 years old 2 00:00:10,980 --> 00:00:20,580 and the song leader kept doing this. You know what that means. Sing that chorus 3 00:00:20,580 --> 00:00:26,580 again. I don't know eighth, ninth, tenth time through it finally got into somebody 4 00:00:26,580 --> 00:00:33,640 that he abides. There's a shriek, a scream goes out and then the glory falls down 5 00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:43,120 because we truly realize and take note that the comforter abides. Who is that 6 00:00:43,120 --> 00:00:47,520 comforter? My Lord don't get me off track this morning. 7 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:56,880 Huh? He's that periclete. He's that one that comes alongside of. He's that power 8 00:00:56,880 --> 00:01:02,640 that enables me to get up in the morning and face the devils of the day. The 9 00:01:02,640 --> 00:01:08,760 comforter abides with me. There's no thirsting for the things of this world. 10 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:15,480 They've taken wings. Long ago I gave them up and it wasn't a process it was 11 00:01:15,480 --> 00:01:22,720 instantly. Hallelujah. Well if you have your Bibles let's turn to the book of 12 00:01:22,720 --> 00:01:35,680 Habakkuk. Habakkuk. Left of Zephaniah, right of Nahum. It's at the center of the 13 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:49,640 crossroad. Major message in the minor prophets. Habakkuk. Amen. The Lord is good. 14 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:56,560 Merciful and kind. Gracious is he. So thankful for you to be in the house of 15 00:01:56,560 --> 00:02:01,920 the Lord with us this morning. I was somewhat disappointed at the end of last 16 00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:10,720 week's service when I got reports that there was no Jericho march. I just think 17 00:02:10,720 --> 00:02:20,960 Pastor Brian was scared. I'd encouraged him, march him. You know we get we get too 18 00:02:20,960 --> 00:02:25,940 far beyond our past and raisin to do a little Jericho march every once in a 19 00:02:25,940 --> 00:02:31,600 while. We need to find another altar somewhere and get it right. You remember 20 00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:36,160 back today before we got all sophisticated. You know I'm talking about 21 00:02:36,160 --> 00:02:45,440 before we got blue lights and lit up crosses. That stuff. When we were singing 22 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:50,760 he abides and we'd hit on that Jericho and the walls would come down and we'd 23 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:58,440 go to marching. Amen. Yeah I thought for sure he'd have you marching. He just got 24 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:05,440 the wall down. Heard it was good though. Amen. But I was disappointed. I thought 25 00:03:05,440 --> 00:03:16,680 for sure he'd march. Habakkuk chapter 2 verse 1. I will stand up on my watch and 26 00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:24,880 set me upon the tower and will watch to see what he will say unto me and what I 27 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:31,240 shall answer when I am reprieved. And the Lord answered me and said write the 28 00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:37,840 vision and make it plain upon tables that he may run that reads it. For the 29 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:46,680 vision is yet for an appointed time but at the end it shall speak and not lie. 30 00:03:46,680 --> 00:03:54,800 Though it tarry wait for it because it will surely come it will not tarry. 31 00:03:54,800 --> 00:04:03,160 Behold his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him but the just shall live 32 00:04:03,160 --> 00:04:10,280 by faith. Simple thought this morning when the time is right. When the time is 33 00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:14,520 right. Father I love you. I thank you so much for your goodness. For the sweet 34 00:04:14,520 --> 00:04:21,320 atmosphere that's in your house today. Wonderful presence. Sweet fellowship as 35 00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:26,440 your anointing has been ushered in. Lord I thank you for your goodness and I thank 36 00:04:26,440 --> 00:04:32,040 you for the mercy. Now Lord I ask that you would help us. Help me to preach that 37 00:04:32,040 --> 00:04:37,160 which is pleasing to you and edifying to the body. And Lord we'll be quick to give 38 00:04:37,160 --> 00:04:44,440 you all the glory the honor and the praise. In Jesus name. The church said amen 39 00:04:44,440 --> 00:04:52,600 amen. When the time is right. This little book of Habakkuk these three chapters are 40 00:04:52,600 --> 00:05:01,960 unique in themselves. It's not necessarily a letter to the people of 41 00:05:01,960 --> 00:05:08,400 God. It's not written to the people of Judah. It is a conversation between the 42 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:16,080 prophet and his God. And in that conversation we hear the heart of God to 43 00:05:16,080 --> 00:05:24,800 his prophet. It begins with a complaint in chapter 1. It's a burden which Habakkuk 44 00:05:24,800 --> 00:05:35,040 the prophet did see. He says oh Lord how long shall I cry and you not hear. Even 45 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:44,840 cry out unto thee of violence. You will not save. Judah in her rebellion. Judah in 46 00:05:44,840 --> 00:05:51,280 her backslidden state and condition. The prophet is talking to God and telling 47 00:05:51,280 --> 00:05:57,440 God how long are you gonna let this go on? How long are you gonna permit your 48 00:05:57,440 --> 00:06:02,880 people to continue in their sin against you and your righteousness 49 00:06:02,880 --> 00:06:07,360 and your whole and how long can you tolerate this mess? 50 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:16,280 And then the remainder is this back and forth between the prophet and God. It 51 00:06:16,280 --> 00:06:21,360 would appear today in our culture and in our society that there seems to be a 52 00:06:21,360 --> 00:06:28,560 crisis of identity. People trying to determine who they are or what they are. 53 00:06:28,560 --> 00:06:34,880 People trying to figure out in the confusion and the state of our world 54 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:39,720 exactly what their place is and who they are and what they are to be in this 55 00:06:39,720 --> 00:06:48,000 world and in the midst of this society. Identity in crisis. And if we're not very 56 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:52,980 careful we can see that danger as it begins to seep into the church and the 57 00:06:52,980 --> 00:06:58,320 church is struggling for its identity in this world in which we've been placed. 58 00:06:58,320 --> 00:07:04,560 I know and I had to help myself this morning as I'm studying and going over 59 00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:09,560 this word again. It's not difficult to grow very negative when we 60 00:07:09,560 --> 00:07:13,320 begin to think about our world and we think about society and we think about 61 00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:18,480 the condition of humanity. It's not hard to form a negative thought and a 62 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:23,120 negative idea. You can even begin to focus on more with what's wrong with 63 00:07:23,120 --> 00:07:28,360 the church at large than what is right with the church at large because this 64 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:33,920 struggle for identity especially post-pandemic. The church is struggling to 65 00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:39,620 re-identify itself as well and how to minister to a world that is quite 66 00:07:39,620 --> 00:07:44,680 frankly still living in fear and we are still not past it. Pray for some of our 67 00:07:44,680 --> 00:07:49,080 church family who are dealing with the virus. COVID is still moving and still 68 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:53,640 going and I meant to request prayer for my mother she's not doing well with it 69 00:07:53,640 --> 00:07:58,020 either she's sick with this stuff so this is this is the culture in which we 70 00:07:58,020 --> 00:08:04,880 are trying to cultivate a ministry in and it has changed to a large degree but 71 00:08:04,880 --> 00:08:09,320 one thing that remains the same there's one constant that will never change and 72 00:08:09,320 --> 00:08:14,860 that is God. Amen? If there's one thought that you can get through reading the 73 00:08:14,860 --> 00:08:19,960 three chapters of Habakkuk is that you and I live by faith and that God is 74 00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:24,840 faithful in spite of everything. I know we can look and wonder God how long are 75 00:08:24,840 --> 00:08:28,360 you gonna let this mess go on? I don't know about you but I've wondered just 76 00:08:28,360 --> 00:08:34,400 exactly how bad was Sodom and Gomorrah if God rained fire down on them and he's 77 00:08:34,400 --> 00:08:39,640 letting our current culture continue to cultivate grow and go. It makes me 78 00:08:39,640 --> 00:08:45,040 wonder how bad the condition was of Sodom and Gomorrah but also you could 79 00:08:45,040 --> 00:08:50,520 think of it that way or you can say how merciful and how graceful and how 80 00:08:50,520 --> 00:08:55,120 faithful is our God who is willing that none should perish but that all should 81 00:08:55,120 --> 00:09:01,120 come under repentance and everlasting life. It's not easy to have this form of 82 00:09:01,120 --> 00:09:07,640 looking at how God's goodness is toward the world today because of how easy it 83 00:09:07,640 --> 00:09:12,680 becomes to see the negative that is all around us. You have to focus and in order 84 00:09:12,680 --> 00:09:17,400 to focus there must be a clarity of vision and that's what God is beginning 85 00:09:17,400 --> 00:09:22,800 to speak to the prophet. He wants him to know that he is large and still in charge 86 00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:28,560 and he is still got it all under control. I know that I sometimes wonder God are 87 00:09:28,560 --> 00:09:32,960 you losing your grip? This thing's about to get out of hand but can I tell you 88 00:09:32,960 --> 00:09:39,080 God is not losing his grip and it's not getting out of hand. Even though we see 89 00:09:39,080 --> 00:09:43,000 perilous times approaching, even though we see men's hearts turning away from 90 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:48,760 God and vile things happening and going on, rest assured that God is still on the 91 00:09:48,760 --> 00:09:53,040 throne and everything is playing out according to his purpose and according 92 00:09:53,040 --> 00:09:58,760 to his plan because if you read his word, his word tells us exactly the condition 93 00:09:58,760 --> 00:10:03,320 that this world is going to be in when his son steps out in glory and it's 94 00:10:03,320 --> 00:10:09,040 almost bad enough. Oh my, my, my. Oh is it not bad enough yet? Evidently not. He 95 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:14,240 hasn't returned. It will get worse but in the worst that it becomes, his grace 96 00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:19,240 becomes more sufficient and he edifies the body at a greater level when we 97 00:10:19,240 --> 00:10:23,800 begin to understand our identity and we begin to know that the world and the 98 00:10:23,800 --> 00:10:31,240 condition even of the church today that God is still in charge. You stop and 99 00:10:31,240 --> 00:10:35,800 think about our nation itself. It's become the second largest, most 100 00:10:35,800 --> 00:10:41,520 missionary receiving nation in the world. Oh yeah, we sinned a lot but do you 101 00:10:41,520 --> 00:10:46,240 realize that God is laying on the hearts of people in other nations, laying on 102 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:51,280 their hearts, burning their hearts to come to our shores, the good old US of 103 00:10:51,280 --> 00:10:55,840 they which should be the belt buckle of nations through the goodness and the 104 00:10:55,840 --> 00:11:00,800 grace of God but now we have gotten to the point where God is moving on the 105 00:11:00,800 --> 00:11:05,400 hearts of other nations to send them forth and to come here on these shores 106 00:11:05,400 --> 00:11:10,400 and begin to preach in our towns and in our communities and witness to 107 00:11:10,400 --> 00:11:14,680 people who we should be witnessing to and people who we should be ministering 108 00:11:14,680 --> 00:11:20,200 to. God is burning the hearts of other nations to get to good old America and 109 00:11:20,200 --> 00:11:24,960 preach his word. Oh I think it's time that the church arises. I think it's time 110 00:11:24,960 --> 00:11:30,200 we renew our relationship with him and we find ourselves with the prophet that 111 00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:35,320 we positioned ourselves upon the wall that we get up on the watch and we begin 112 00:11:35,320 --> 00:11:41,600 to be alert, rise to the ramparts and begin to be alert, watch and pray. He said 113 00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:46,840 I will stand upon my watch and set me upon the tower and we'll watch to see 114 00:11:46,840 --> 00:11:53,280 what he will say unto me and what I shall answer when I am reproved. So why 115 00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:57,760 would our nation, why would this church, why would we particularly, we can narrow 116 00:11:57,760 --> 00:12:02,760 it on down to the Hopewell community and those from where you come, why is it so 117 00:12:02,760 --> 00:12:06,680 important for us? I'll tell you why and why are we the second largest 118 00:12:06,680 --> 00:12:12,080 missionary receiving nation in the world because 20% of Americans attend 119 00:12:12,080 --> 00:12:19,280 church every week. Only 20% of Americans attend church every week. Listen to this, 120 00:12:19,280 --> 00:12:26,640 41% of Americans attend church monthly and call it faithful. 121 00:12:29,080 --> 00:12:33,720 Once a month they're faithful. 122 00:12:33,720 --> 00:12:41,720 I remember when once a month it gets you a visit from half the church. 123 00:12:44,720 --> 00:12:54,760 57% of Americans seldom or never attend church. So now we begin to see a little 124 00:12:54,760 --> 00:12:58,920 more clear. You can dig into the statistics even deeper and realize why 125 00:12:58,920 --> 00:13:02,640 God is moving on the hearts of other nations and people that he's called in 126 00:13:02,640 --> 00:13:06,440 other nations to make their way here because somehow or another we are 127 00:13:06,440 --> 00:13:11,680 falling asleep on the job and there are those of us who are still calling like 128 00:13:11,680 --> 00:13:15,560 a Habakkuk and we're saying God how long you gonna let this mess continue? How 129 00:13:15,560 --> 00:13:19,760 long can it go on when we should be not just asking God how long is it going to 130 00:13:19,760 --> 00:13:23,800 go on but we should be rephrasing the question saying God how much more time 131 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:27,680 do we have to proclaim your good news? How much time? Oh Lord hold on, give us 132 00:13:27,680 --> 00:13:31,720 another week, give us another month, give us another year. Oh and the only way that 133 00:13:31,720 --> 00:13:36,960 that'll happen is if we are as excited as Habakkuk was to get in our position, 134 00:13:36,960 --> 00:13:41,040 get up on the wall and get ready to watch. Oh that answer would come this 135 00:13:41,040 --> 00:13:44,640 vision. He said I want you to write it and I want you to make it plain. 136 00:13:44,640 --> 00:13:49,640 Understand today that we must redevelop our foresight in knowing what the will 137 00:13:49,640 --> 00:13:54,200 of God and the plan of God is not only for our life but for his church and for 138 00:13:54,200 --> 00:14:02,040 this lost and dying world. Some things we must answer. First is the identity 139 00:14:02,040 --> 00:14:08,160 question. Who are we? Who are we? When we begin to think values are defined by 140 00:14:08,160 --> 00:14:11,840 Webster's dictionary as principles standards or qualities considered 141 00:14:11,840 --> 00:14:16,440 inherently worthwhile or desirable. The root for value is valor which means 142 00:14:16,440 --> 00:14:20,800 strength. The values are sources of strength because they give people the 143 00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:27,000 power to take action. Values are deep, emotional and often difficult to change. 144 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:32,360 I think it's time we renew our values and the purpose that we understand why 145 00:14:32,360 --> 00:14:37,960 God has called us out of darkness into his marvelous light. Can I tell you he 146 00:14:37,960 --> 00:14:42,000 hadn't just saved you and called you and delivered you from the debauchery of the 147 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:45,280 sin of your life so that you can sit safely within the walls and the 148 00:14:45,280 --> 00:14:50,680 parameters of his sanctuary and just wait till he comes? No, he has saved you 149 00:14:50,680 --> 00:14:54,640 that you get to the watch. He has saved you so that you make your way up the 150 00:14:54,640 --> 00:14:59,400 rampart. He has saved that you understand what the vision for his people are and 151 00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:03,840 the world that he holds so dearly and so precious in his sight that you would 152 00:15:03,840 --> 00:15:08,640 understand it and he's written it and made it plain. Understand who we are. You 153 00:15:08,640 --> 00:15:13,920 are the church of the living God. You are those who were once in darkness who have 154 00:15:13,920 --> 00:15:18,460 been redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. You are those who are to 155 00:15:18,460 --> 00:15:28,920 proclaim his goodness, his mercy and his grace. As I've stated I personally feel 156 00:15:28,920 --> 00:15:34,040 it's high time that the church begin to walk in the light of the purpose that 157 00:15:34,040 --> 00:15:39,760 God has called us to. It's time that we extend that purpose into the world by 158 00:15:39,760 --> 00:15:46,360 proclaiming Christ as Lord. In our culture, in our society, if you really won't 159 00:15:46,360 --> 00:15:53,800 trouble you start proclaiming it boldly, politely and you will see the condition 160 00:15:53,800 --> 00:15:58,240 of the world which we are in. I'm not saying be irreverent in your 161 00:15:58,240 --> 00:16:03,600 proclamation. That doesn't bring all that will bring is a reproach against the 162 00:16:03,600 --> 00:16:11,040 name of Christ. Hello? But we are to be irreverent but yet not be bashful in our 163 00:16:11,040 --> 00:16:15,640 proclamation of who Jesus Christ is. But you'll never proclaim who Christ is 164 00:16:15,640 --> 00:16:21,520 until you know who you are in Christ. Hallelujah! There is an identity crisis 165 00:16:21,520 --> 00:16:25,960 within the church and it's time that it be ratified and the only way it's going 166 00:16:25,960 --> 00:16:30,400 to be ratified is get into his precious word and read what he has written and 167 00:16:30,400 --> 00:16:36,520 read what he has proclaimed and begin to align our life to the declaration of his 168 00:16:36,520 --> 00:16:46,000 word. It's time we know who we are and the test that has been given us. It's 169 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:51,880 important for the world around us to know that we understand who we are. In 170 00:16:51,880 --> 00:16:57,720 order to understand who you are you have to understand what you were and not be 171 00:16:57,720 --> 00:17:05,720 what you were in proclaiming who you are. Hello? Because if you're living as you 172 00:17:05,720 --> 00:17:16,480 were then your proclamation is wrong. Hello? So we begin to understand. Matthew 173 00:17:16,480 --> 00:17:24,280 5 13 says that you are the salt of the earth. Verse 14 says you are the light of 174 00:17:24,280 --> 00:17:32,720 the world but he also talks about a dark light. Hello? What type of light are you 175 00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:37,040 when you're out there? You're illuminating something so what is it 176 00:17:37,040 --> 00:17:41,140 that you're illuminating in your life? It's time to realize that you are the 177 00:17:41,140 --> 00:17:47,160 light of the world because why? The light of the world resides in you. Jesus 178 00:17:47,160 --> 00:17:52,760 declared of himself I am the light. Hallelujah! And he resides in you and 179 00:17:52,760 --> 00:17:57,680 because he resides in you then you ought to illuminate his character and not your 180 00:17:57,680 --> 00:18:03,040 own. Come on somebody! Understanding who we are we are the salt that balances 181 00:18:03,040 --> 00:18:09,640 this culture. How many know that a good dose of salt makes things go a long way? 182 00:18:10,560 --> 00:18:19,600 Nothing any worse than a bowl of pinto beans without salt. Nast throw it out. 183 00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:33,680 Hello? Nothing any worse than a so-called quote unquote Christian that has no 184 00:18:33,680 --> 00:18:39,040 flavor to it. How many knows when salt set and it's got a little damp it loses 185 00:18:39,040 --> 00:18:44,520 its savor? Jesus said salt that has lost its savor isn't fit for anything. Water's 186 00:18:44,520 --> 00:18:51,400 parallel throw it out. It's no good but we cannot afford to lose our savor in a 187 00:18:51,400 --> 00:18:55,960 world that needs a little flavor added. Come on somebody! You got to know who you 188 00:18:55,960 --> 00:18:59,960 are as being the salt of the earth and the addition that you bring is Christ 189 00:18:59,960 --> 00:19:04,560 who is in you is the eternal hope of glory. It's Christ in you that you offer 190 00:19:04,560 --> 00:19:09,080 the world. That is the savor. It's not with ourselves and when I know who I am 191 00:19:09,080 --> 00:19:13,440 when I begin to proclaim him it's he that goes forth and he that illuminates 192 00:19:13,440 --> 00:19:20,160 and it's his flavor that I'm trying to add to the savor of the world. That's who 193 00:19:20,160 --> 00:19:27,840 you are salt and light. Romans 8 17 says that you are heirs of God and join heirs 194 00:19:27,840 --> 00:19:34,160 with Christ Jesus. Hallelujah for that one. The quicker you realize that Christ 195 00:19:34,160 --> 00:19:41,320 is your brother but yet he is also your Redeemer. You understand that by Redeemer 196 00:19:41,320 --> 00:19:46,360 he's therefore your Savior and therefore by being your Savior he is the Lord who 197 00:19:46,360 --> 00:19:51,480 reigns upon the heart of your life and what you are doing is trying to manifest 198 00:19:51,480 --> 00:19:56,320 the expressed image of Christ as God the Father enables you through the grace 199 00:19:56,320 --> 00:20:00,680 that is so abundant and the enabling power of the abiding presence of the 200 00:20:00,680 --> 00:20:06,440 Comforter who is the Holy Ghost and you realize that I am an heir, a joint heir 201 00:20:06,440 --> 00:20:12,440 with Christ Jesus and by virtue of being an heir my Father's prepared a place for 202 00:20:12,440 --> 00:20:19,720 me and my God as an heir I shall take possession. 203 00:20:23,600 --> 00:20:29,400 That's who we are. You're struggling for identity, you're light, you're salt, you're 204 00:20:29,400 --> 00:20:38,440 an heir. An heir to what? Don't have time to fulfill you in on all that. Well let's 205 00:20:38,440 --> 00:20:41,360 just start with heaven. 206 00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:51,880 Whoo! You're an heir to heaven. Paul said to the Thessalonians 1st chapter 5 and 5 207 00:20:51,880 --> 00:20:59,600 first book says your children of light. 1st Peter 2 and 5 Peter writes in 208 00:20:59,600 --> 00:21:05,960 church says your lively stones build up a spiritual house so therefore we need to 209 00:21:05,960 --> 00:21:16,120 do some resuscitation because some of the lively stones have lost a breath. Hello? 210 00:21:16,120 --> 00:21:24,000 And our spiritual house seems to be in some disarray so there must be some 211 00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:31,560 repair to this old house. My Lord. Yankee Workshop. Come on. 212 00:21:36,640 --> 00:21:41,800 Verse 9 of that second letter, 1st letter, 2nd chapter says you are chosen generation. 213 00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:48,080 You're a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a very peculiar people. With that I 214 00:21:48,080 --> 00:21:56,360 can't agree because we are very peculiar people. Huh? Back in the day when old 215 00:21:56,360 --> 00:22:01,040 timers would be having conversations and individuals names had come up they'd say 216 00:22:01,040 --> 00:22:05,960 boy they're a bit choir, they're a little bit peculiar. Some of you have no clue 217 00:22:05,960 --> 00:22:14,120 what that means. Look it up. Do a little Google research what choir and peculiar 218 00:22:14,120 --> 00:22:23,040 means in Appalachian vernacular. It means they oddball, they odd duck, they're a 219 00:22:23,040 --> 00:22:29,160 little strange, they not normal, they peculiar. Can I tell you we've been 220 00:22:29,160 --> 00:22:35,920 declared as a royal priesthood and a peculiar people. Why? Because as a world 221 00:22:35,920 --> 00:22:41,440 sees you because of the transformation and the regeneration of the work of 222 00:22:41,440 --> 00:22:46,320 Christ in your life you're not normal. 223 00:22:48,360 --> 00:22:56,480 Neither should we be. When you leave some sinners presence talking about the 224 00:22:56,480 --> 00:23:00,680 goodness of God and the work of Christ in your life when they turn to the next 225 00:23:00,680 --> 00:23:10,040 sinner after you're gone they should say boy he's peculiar. Boy she's odd. Huh? Yeah. 226 00:23:10,040 --> 00:23:15,640 Because we understand who we are. You can't smell like the world, you can't 227 00:23:15,640 --> 00:23:19,920 talk like the world, you can't act like the world, you can't go to the world's 228 00:23:19,920 --> 00:23:24,800 places, you can't sip with the world, smoke with the world, and ask somebody to 229 00:23:24,800 --> 00:23:33,400 consider you different than the world. Oh no, your fruit. Are we okay? I am in a 230 00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:48,800 holding a shirt right? Our fruit gives us away. Huh? When I leave from their 231 00:23:48,800 --> 00:23:52,120 presence I want them scratching their head not thinking. I don't know what he 232 00:23:52,120 --> 00:23:57,760 thinks he is but he ain't what he's saying. Hello? I want them scratching their 233 00:23:57,760 --> 00:24:03,280 head saying man I'd like to know more about what he's talking about. I'd like 234 00:24:03,280 --> 00:24:10,680 for there to be power in my witness. I'd like for there to be conviction in my 235 00:24:10,680 --> 00:24:15,520 life. Hello? Wouldn't it be wonderful that when you come into people's presence 236 00:24:15,520 --> 00:24:20,600 your life, your living, your conduct, everything brings conviction to them 237 00:24:20,600 --> 00:24:25,320 because you are not normal as the world sees you normal but you're a royal 238 00:24:25,320 --> 00:24:35,720 priesthood and a very peculiar person. That's who we are. Another question we 239 00:24:35,720 --> 00:24:46,920 must ask ourselves and as I look is what time is it? We must have a good 240 00:24:46,920 --> 00:24:52,800 understanding of the time parameters in which we're living. When we look around 241 00:24:52,800 --> 00:24:59,040 us we I measure time and how I feel is concerning the return of the Lord. Amen? I 242 00:24:59,040 --> 00:25:05,080 know we measure time in seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years, decades 243 00:25:05,080 --> 00:25:11,120 on and on. That's how we measure time but I think we should measure time more by 244 00:25:11,120 --> 00:25:16,560 the grace of God and as it's being poured out in this world as to the time of the 245 00:25:16,560 --> 00:25:21,920 Lord's return because I think that's the major important factor. If we are seeing 246 00:25:21,920 --> 00:25:27,560 in our age and in our time what considers to be the last day out pouring 247 00:25:27,560 --> 00:25:33,400 then I think it's about five minutes to the return of Jesus Christ. Hello? When we 248 00:25:33,400 --> 00:25:38,600 begin to understand that we see on the time clock of life if God is pouring out 249 00:25:38,600 --> 00:25:43,480 his spirit in accordance to Acts chapter 2 and he's pouring it out upon all flesh 250 00:25:43,480 --> 00:25:48,600 and if he's pouring it out globally not just on America we tend to think God's 251 00:25:48,600 --> 00:25:52,640 blessing is totally determined by what he does here in America. Can I tell you 252 00:25:52,640 --> 00:25:59,000 there is a global outpouring of the Holy Ghost going on in this world beyond the 253 00:25:59,000 --> 00:26:03,920 borders of this nation who seems to be deafening our ears and hardening our 254 00:26:03,920 --> 00:26:08,440 hearts. Indonesia seeing people saved and filled with the Holy Ghost by the 255 00:26:08,440 --> 00:26:13,840 thousands and Africa seeing them by the thousands and South America seeing them 256 00:26:13,840 --> 00:26:19,120 by the hundreds and the thousands. There is an outpouring going on and if my 257 00:26:19,120 --> 00:26:24,080 timesheet tells me correctly in the last day saith God I'll pour out of my 258 00:26:24,080 --> 00:26:33,120 spirit upon all flesh. Old men dreaming young men seeing vision handmaidens 259 00:26:33,120 --> 00:26:38,600 prophesying young men prophesying under the unction and the power of the Holy Ghost. 260 00:26:38,600 --> 00:26:52,680 What time is it? It's time to get up and do something. What can I do? What can you 261 00:26:52,680 --> 00:27:00,960 do? Just tell somebody about Jesus. It's all that's required of you. You don't have to 262 00:27:00,960 --> 00:27:06,840 baptize them. You don't have to go into a theological debate of the Trinity with 263 00:27:06,840 --> 00:27:15,080 them. Just tell them about Jesus and what he's done for you. I assure you those who 264 00:27:15,080 --> 00:27:20,680 knew me before Christ can tell you that I'm peculiar now and I am not the 265 00:27:20,680 --> 00:27:26,480 individual I was before Christ. Hallelujah and that is your gospel 266 00:27:26,480 --> 00:27:31,000 message. You don't have to try to get in quoting book chapter and verse just 267 00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:37,040 simply tell them about the redeeming power of Jesus Christ in your own life. 268 00:27:37,040 --> 00:27:44,200 It's all you got to do and try to get them to the place where the glory in the 269 00:27:44,200 --> 00:27:50,360 fountain and the grace of God is pouring out. Amen. Where the word of God is going 270 00:27:50,360 --> 00:27:59,920 forth and they can hear you don't have to be what you were or any longer. You 271 00:27:59,920 --> 00:28:05,840 could be different but you got to let Christ do the changing for you. How many 272 00:28:05,840 --> 00:28:13,320 of us tried ever self-help that you could? Well some of you I don't know. I 273 00:28:13,320 --> 00:28:20,080 guess you didn't realize you needed help. Well I'm telling you you needed help. 274 00:28:20,080 --> 00:28:30,840 We need help. Part of our problem is we think we don't need help. That's our 275 00:28:30,840 --> 00:28:36,280 biggest problem. We think we don't need God until we find 276 00:28:36,280 --> 00:28:44,240 ourselves lower than the low. Huh? The bedrock of the bottom and there's no 277 00:28:44,240 --> 00:28:49,320 other way to turn our gaze but upward and when we lift our eyes as the 278 00:28:49,320 --> 00:28:54,800 psalmist said to the hills from whence cometh my help your help comes from the 279 00:28:54,800 --> 00:29:00,640 Lord. Amen. Just tell people that. Tell them where your help come from. Let them 280 00:29:00,640 --> 00:29:03,840 realize that we are living in a time and they're living a time when they need God. 281 00:29:03,840 --> 00:29:09,760 It's time that each of us individuals and local churches begin to be what God 282 00:29:09,760 --> 00:29:15,440 has called us to be. That light, that salt. Let our identity be lived out in their 283 00:29:15,440 --> 00:29:20,360 life. It's time that we live that way. When we think about the church in 284 00:29:20,360 --> 00:29:25,320 America we have to rediscover the sense of urgency. When we used to sing the old 285 00:29:25,320 --> 00:29:30,080 songs of the old red-back days. When we used to sing them there was always this 286 00:29:30,080 --> 00:29:35,120 pushing toward the urgency of the day in which we're living. You don't think about 287 00:29:35,120 --> 00:29:40,200 Jesus coming if you're not singing about Jesus coming and when you start singing 288 00:29:40,200 --> 00:29:44,320 about Jesus coming you start thinking about am I ready if he comes today? 289 00:29:44,320 --> 00:29:52,880 Hello? That was always a reminder. It pushed us theologically to always 290 00:29:52,880 --> 00:29:58,960 evaluate our condition and our position in light of the Lord's return and we are 291 00:29:58,960 --> 00:30:03,440 living today the church is living today going through the formalities of life 292 00:30:03,440 --> 00:30:08,280 and church business and church perfunctory stuff without the urgency 293 00:30:08,280 --> 00:30:12,160 that this could be the day this could be the hour tonight before the cocks 294 00:30:12,160 --> 00:30:17,400 crowing it could be the day that the Lord returns and the main thing is are 295 00:30:17,400 --> 00:30:23,520 we ready to meet him or will we be the five foolish virgin with no oil in us 296 00:30:23,520 --> 00:30:28,440 and no lamp to burn when we hear the bridegroom call go you out to meet him 297 00:30:28,440 --> 00:30:37,440 and we can't go because there's nothing in us. Without a reminder of the urgency 298 00:30:37,440 --> 00:30:47,760 of the hour the church grows increasingly complacent. Because when you 299 00:30:47,760 --> 00:30:53,960 are constantly reminded that the Lord could come today I think it causes one 300 00:30:53,960 --> 00:31:03,400 to live with a sense of urgency and when you I am sure the Lord puts people 301 00:31:03,400 --> 00:31:11,520 across our paths that we intercept daily that he wants us to have the courage to 302 00:31:11,520 --> 00:31:18,080 just tell them something about himself. How many times have we walked away from 303 00:31:18,080 --> 00:31:23,120 opportunities and we get in a car we start down the road and the Holy Spirit 304 00:31:23,120 --> 00:31:28,320 reminds us and then we begin to think well I should I wish I had it you know 305 00:31:28,320 --> 00:31:34,000 and the opportunity is gone. I'll tell you what time it is it's time that we 306 00:31:34,000 --> 00:31:38,680 seize every opportunity that the Lord makes available for us because that's 307 00:31:38,680 --> 00:31:44,240 where we're living we are living in a time when we must realize the urgency of 308 00:31:44,240 --> 00:31:49,680 the hour and that we are living in a day that is growing increasingly as Matthew 309 00:31:49,680 --> 00:31:59,640 24 describes it. The coming of the Lord. Nations against nations. People against people. 310 00:31:59,640 --> 00:32:07,880 Pestilence. All these things unleashed upon the earth. Unleashed so that the earth 311 00:32:07,880 --> 00:32:14,120 would turn toward God. So that our attention be drawn to the urgency of the 312 00:32:14,120 --> 00:32:20,320 promise that is made. Habakkuk. Right division. Make it plain. Put it on tablets 313 00:32:20,320 --> 00:32:25,560 so who that comes and reads it can run with the declaration. That's what we have 314 00:32:25,560 --> 00:32:30,480 to have is a clear understanding of what's written on the tablets so that 315 00:32:30,480 --> 00:32:34,640 when we read it we can run with the declaration. He said oh it's not coming 316 00:32:34,640 --> 00:32:40,440 just yet it's not ready just now but though it tarry wait for it. Hallelujah 317 00:32:40,440 --> 00:32:44,040 because it's not going to continue to tarry. Oh that's the way we are with a 318 00:32:44,040 --> 00:32:48,600 declaration of the Lord's return. Oh he's going to come. He may not come in my 319 00:32:48,600 --> 00:32:52,960 lifetime. He may not come in your lifetime but that does not negate the 320 00:32:52,960 --> 00:32:58,400 fact that he is going to return. And so the vision is plain. The Lord is coming. 321 00:32:58,400 --> 00:33:03,240 The Lord is coming. He's coming and we must be ready and must be urgent in 322 00:33:03,240 --> 00:33:07,640 delivering the help and the hope of the good news. 323 00:33:07,640 --> 00:33:20,840 What time did you let him out last week? I got eight minutes. What time is it? 324 00:33:20,840 --> 00:33:24,080 It's time we understand the revelation that we've received and leased it through 325 00:33:24,080 --> 00:33:28,200 the anointing. Release it through the anointing that's been given to us. Those 326 00:33:28,200 --> 00:33:34,000 who are hopeless and in despair and if you don't think people are hopeless next 327 00:33:34,000 --> 00:33:41,400 time you have a conversation with a stranger look in their eyes. The eyes are 328 00:33:41,400 --> 00:33:46,360 the gateway to the soul. Begin to talk to them just a little bit. Engage for two to 329 00:33:46,360 --> 00:33:51,240 five minutes and try to question them as to their condition and how their life's 330 00:33:51,240 --> 00:33:55,800 going and watch a gateway in their eyes open and the depth of their soul be 331 00:33:55,800 --> 00:34:11,360 revealed. People are desperate for hope. Second Corinthians 6 and 2. Paul said I've 332 00:34:11,360 --> 00:34:17,600 heard I heard the end of time accepted and in the day of salvation have I 333 00:34:17,600 --> 00:34:27,320 secured thee. Behold now is the accepted time. Behold now is the day of salvation. 334 00:34:27,320 --> 00:34:34,160 We don't have the luxury to continue to put it off. Hello? Because the only 335 00:34:34,160 --> 00:34:42,080 assurance of time in life that you have is what you've already spent. The next 336 00:34:42,080 --> 00:34:48,880 30 seconds are not yours until you live them out. The hope that you have to the 337 00:34:48,880 --> 00:34:54,400 end of them. Did a funeral yesterday for a precious saint lady at my first church 338 00:34:54,400 --> 00:34:58,760 young pastor I told him yesterday I'll never forget the day that sister Kathy 339 00:34:58,760 --> 00:35:03,100 and I and our three toe heads we drove them into the front door. The little 340 00:35:03,100 --> 00:35:08,800 four-year that little mountain church it was frosty. You can see the fog on the 341 00:35:08,800 --> 00:35:14,480 window and they're looking out the church doors and here we come. Green I'm 342 00:35:14,480 --> 00:35:20,240 telling you green is a whippoorwill. Oh Lord had no clue about nothing. That was 343 00:35:20,240 --> 00:35:25,440 back before the days of MIP so nobody had told me anything they said there you 344 00:35:25,440 --> 00:35:37,000 go. My Lord. I remember sister Gladys as she welcomed us. She had this gift of 345 00:35:37,000 --> 00:35:46,160 agitation. Sister Gladys did. She had a gift of agitation. She loved to just poke. 346 00:35:46,160 --> 00:35:53,440 Just poke. Irritate. But she'd do it with a smile and you couldn't get mad at her 347 00:35:53,440 --> 00:35:58,680 so I just got to where I just poked back at her. So we'd come in fussing and leave 348 00:35:58,680 --> 00:36:03,800 a fussing. Knowing we was fussing in love. 349 00:36:03,800 --> 00:36:15,080 Because when it come time to pray she'd hit those knees and ring heaven's bells. 350 00:36:15,080 --> 00:36:24,240 That's what time is. The other day woke up went to the couch took a breath fell 351 00:36:24,240 --> 00:36:31,120 over dead with a massive heart attack. We don't have a promise. The only time 352 00:36:31,120 --> 00:36:35,400 that you're assured of is a time that you've already spent and the breath that 353 00:36:35,400 --> 00:36:41,720 you've just exhaled because the next one could be held from you an eternity you 354 00:36:41,720 --> 00:36:46,000 would find yourself and can I tell you the people that you come in contact with 355 00:36:46,000 --> 00:36:51,960 need to know the very same thing. Oh it's because of the grace of God that 356 00:36:51,960 --> 00:36:55,680 you're here today and when you look into the depths of their souls and you see 357 00:36:55,680 --> 00:37:00,760 how hopeless and lost they are. Yeah should be screaming from your eyes as 358 00:37:00,760 --> 00:37:05,320 the light of the hope of the glorious gospel which is the good news that Jesus 359 00:37:05,320 --> 00:37:11,440 redeems and that Jesus saves and that Jesus helps and that Jesus delivers and 360 00:37:11,440 --> 00:37:15,480 that Jesus loves them. 361 00:37:18,680 --> 00:37:25,000 Romans 13 and 12 says the night is far spent the day is at hand. Let us therefore 362 00:37:25,000 --> 00:37:28,980 cast off the works of darkness. You don't have time to play patty cake with 363 00:37:28,980 --> 00:37:33,400 God people. You don't have time to have one foot in the church door and the other in 364 00:37:33,400 --> 00:37:41,640 the bar room. We don't have time for that. The day is far spent. The day is at hand. 365 00:37:41,640 --> 00:37:50,680 Cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armor of light. The time. The 366 00:37:50,680 --> 00:37:54,640 latter part, 1st Peter 2 and 5 says and offer up spiritual sacrifices 367 00:37:54,640 --> 00:37:59,880 acceptable to God by Christ Jesus. The second part of verse 9 says after 368 00:37:59,880 --> 00:38:03,160 peculiar people he said you should show forth the praises of him who have called 369 00:38:03,160 --> 00:38:10,040 you out of darkness into his marvelous light. It's time for us to arise. That's 370 00:38:10,040 --> 00:38:16,080 what time it is. It's time you stop holding your peace and let your lips show 371 00:38:16,080 --> 00:38:21,080 forth the praises of him who has delivered you, who has saved you and it's 372 00:38:21,080 --> 00:38:26,160 time that we begin to glorify him. We who are the peculiar should magnify and 373 00:38:26,160 --> 00:38:32,000 glorify his name. We don't have time to waste around. We don't have time to 374 00:38:32,000 --> 00:38:36,760 piddledilly around. It's time that we get to the mission at hand. Glorify and 375 00:38:36,760 --> 00:38:42,280 praise him and offer sacrifices on him. The fruit of our lips and the praise and 376 00:38:42,280 --> 00:38:53,600 our lives be witnesses for him. It's what time it is. It's time that we say of God 377 00:38:53,600 --> 00:39:03,200 be God then we serve him. It's time that we declare as Joshua my house is gonna 378 00:39:03,200 --> 00:39:09,040 serve him. That's what time it is. It's time for a sleeping giant to rise and an 379 00:39:09,040 --> 00:39:17,120 army to march. It's a time that pulpits return to and preach the whole truth. 380 00:39:17,120 --> 00:39:22,680 It's time that we preach that the church returned to the power to which he has 381 00:39:22,680 --> 00:39:28,640 been endeared. That's what time it is. 382 00:39:29,560 --> 00:39:33,800 But I wonder if we understand the urgency of the time in which we're 383 00:39:33,800 --> 00:39:40,920 living. I wonder if we truly understand that every moment counts. I wonder if we 384 00:39:40,920 --> 00:39:48,040 truly fully grasp that there will be those who cry Lord Lord and he still 385 00:39:48,040 --> 00:39:57,920 says depart from me you workers of iniquity for I never knew you. I think 386 00:39:57,920 --> 00:40:03,960 folks think just because they go to church they're going into heaven. Wrong. 387 00:40:06,360 --> 00:40:12,720 Oh don't I wish it were true. But it isn't. 388 00:40:13,080 --> 00:40:24,200 Church attendance is not the requirement. It's a benefit. Huh? It's a privilege. The 389 00:40:24,200 --> 00:40:32,000 requirement is repent and believe. 390 00:40:33,000 --> 00:40:36,760 That's good right there. 391 00:40:37,520 --> 00:40:42,920 So that would lead one to the fact that this last statement 392 00:40:44,720 --> 00:40:50,080 when the time is right it's going to come to pass. When the time is right the 393 00:40:50,080 --> 00:40:57,040 vision will be fulfilled. And that first complaint offered by the prophet how 394 00:40:57,040 --> 00:41:00,120 long is this going to last? God answers him and says well I'll tell you what I'm 395 00:41:00,120 --> 00:41:03,960 doing I'm sending the Babylonians and that just made the prophet even more 396 00:41:03,960 --> 00:41:11,840 aggravated. Well that's worse than the mess we're in. Hello? It's only three 397 00:41:11,840 --> 00:41:23,400 chapters I encourage you to read it. It's loaded. Sometimes I wonder the mess that's 398 00:41:23,400 --> 00:41:27,160 coming is worse than the mess we're in. 399 00:41:27,840 --> 00:41:35,840 So that leads one to determine whose church is this anyway? Too many churches 400 00:41:35,840 --> 00:41:43,280 are plagued today with the grandma syndrome. Are you ready? Hold on. Some 401 00:41:43,280 --> 00:41:49,400 churches are controlled by just a few and they have no idea what God expects 402 00:41:49,400 --> 00:41:58,160 from them. The church is the Lord's and we'll all stand before him and give an 403 00:41:58,160 --> 00:42:11,440 account for what is done. I never have liked power plays in church. Hello? Never 404 00:42:11,440 --> 00:42:18,720 have cared for that. Never have tolerated it. I figure they gave me the pastor card 405 00:42:18,720 --> 00:42:29,200 so it was up to me to see this straightened out. People dying going to hell. 406 00:42:29,320 --> 00:42:36,080 Hello? People fussing because they can't make the decision. They want to be the 407 00:42:36,080 --> 00:42:50,760 one to do the telling. Anything with two heads is a freak. A freak is a freak. Two 408 00:42:50,760 --> 00:43:01,800 heads. It's a freak and it belongs in the circus and the church is not circus. Now 409 00:43:01,800 --> 00:43:07,040 I know sometimes I may act like it is up here when the Holy Ghost gets on me but 410 00:43:07,040 --> 00:43:16,720 it's not. Christ is the head of the church and that's who this is. I had a 411 00:43:16,720 --> 00:43:21,000 friend of mine help me understand that one time. I mean I was in bad shape. 412 00:43:21,000 --> 00:43:26,440 Bad shape. Church was doing great. Man it was just rolling right along but I was in 413 00:43:26,440 --> 00:43:32,680 bad shape. So much so that I had quit youth camp long before Sister 414 00:43:32,680 --> 00:43:39,880 Kathy did and I signed up for work two weeks of camp just so I didn't have to 415 00:43:39,880 --> 00:43:48,800 be at the church. So I served lunch one day was in the room about taking a nap 416 00:43:48,800 --> 00:43:52,720 before getting ready for supper and my pastor friend asked me, said well how's it 417 00:43:52,720 --> 00:43:57,760 going and I just spilled. I said yeah not worth two cents just be honest with you. I'm in bad shape. 418 00:43:57,760 --> 00:44:01,720 He said well I'm gonna tell you something the Lord told me here a while 419 00:44:01,720 --> 00:44:06,160 back when I was in the shape that you're in right now. He said it helped me and it 420 00:44:06,160 --> 00:44:14,680 might help you. I said okay I'm open. I'm all ears right? He said get ready. He said 421 00:44:14,680 --> 00:44:22,760 the Lord told me he said the church is his. He died for it and I didn't have to. 422 00:44:25,600 --> 00:44:33,560 It was a mic drop revelation for me because you'd be amazed at how much we 423 00:44:33,560 --> 00:44:37,960 put on our shoulders that we think we have to perform for you like we're the 424 00:44:37,960 --> 00:44:46,960 circus clown. Oh yeah and when he told me that I had a good talk with the Lord and 425 00:44:46,960 --> 00:44:56,000 when I got back I was free free free. That's when I begin to declare and my 426 00:44:56,000 --> 00:45:01,400 ministry's changed and it's followed me here. I'm free free free. My 427 00:45:01,400 --> 00:45:05,480 responsibilities declare to you the urgency of the hour and the hope that is 428 00:45:05,480 --> 00:45:10,720 in Christ and your and my responsibility to live according to the 429 00:45:10,720 --> 00:45:17,000 mandates of the scripture no more and no less and if we when the trumpet sounds 430 00:45:17,000 --> 00:45:20,720 are not living in accordance to the mandates of the scripture your feet will 431 00:45:20,720 --> 00:45:28,320 not even begin to rise. Now if you think you can go to heaven without living by 432 00:45:28,320 --> 00:45:37,400 the book please enlighten me. I've read it and I hadn't found that part yet. The 433 00:45:37,400 --> 00:45:49,960 part that I see is God is holy and without holiness no man shall see him. 434 00:45:50,720 --> 00:45:56,840 Now you won't show me how you can get around that and make it? By all means try 435 00:45:56,840 --> 00:46:03,600 but I don't think you can. Stand with me and I'm quitting. I've killed it anyway. 436 00:46:09,640 --> 00:46:18,240 To know whose church it is we move beyond barriers. I have to struggle and it is a 437 00:46:18,240 --> 00:46:23,000 challenge for me to tear down the barriers of negativities. I can get 438 00:46:23,000 --> 00:46:28,720 negative. I'm a realist. I'm not an optimist. I'm not a pessimist. I'm a 439 00:46:28,720 --> 00:46:36,640 realist. Anybody know the difference? No the optimist is the half half glass is 440 00:46:36,640 --> 00:46:45,600 full. The pessimist if it's half full it's half empty. The realist says I'll drink it 441 00:46:45,600 --> 00:46:52,280 anyway. I'm thirsty. Doesn't matter if it's half full or half empty. The realist just 442 00:46:52,280 --> 00:46:59,600 is thirsty. We have to get beyond the barrier and the world in which we're 443 00:46:59,600 --> 00:47:13,480 living. The media and what we put before us what we take in fosters the barrier 444 00:47:13,480 --> 00:47:23,600 of negatives. It's easier to be negative than to be positive. It is because there 445 00:47:23,600 --> 00:47:27,920 seems to be so much negative surrounding us. We're full circle. We're right back where we 446 00:47:27,920 --> 00:47:37,640 started. But I'm here to tell you that the reality of it all is this. It rains on 447 00:47:37,640 --> 00:47:45,320 the just and the unjust. Well what's that mean? Everybody's gonna get wet. 448 00:47:45,320 --> 00:47:50,040 Everybody's gonna have their share of trouble. Everyone's gonna have their 449 00:47:50,040 --> 00:47:55,240 share of good times and quality life. 450 00:47:57,200 --> 00:48:05,100 But it's up to you and I who know the hope for eternity to be real about the 451 00:48:05,100 --> 00:48:16,520 fact that without Christ there is no optimism. But because of Christ we can be 452 00:48:16,520 --> 00:48:25,740 eternal optimists as we live out the reality of life here below. Father I love 453 00:48:25,740 --> 00:48:36,960 you. This is your church and I'm not talking about the building. 454 00:48:37,600 --> 00:48:48,180 I'm talking about these lively stones built up into a spiritual house. I'm 455 00:48:48,180 --> 00:48:55,960 talking about the people that are in this room. And Lord sometimes the situations 456 00:48:55,960 --> 00:49:00,760 and circumstances of life kind of leave us feeling a little hollow and a little 457 00:49:00,760 --> 00:49:10,960 empty. But we have hope in you. We have hope in you. I wonder all across the 458 00:49:10,960 --> 00:49:15,120 house if you just need a little added hope in your life would you slip your 459 00:49:15,120 --> 00:49:26,660 hand up? I just need a little hope. Yeah. Yes. Wow. Your hope comes from knowing who 460 00:49:26,660 --> 00:49:31,480 you are. This morning I encourage you to know Christ as your Lord and Savior and 461 00:49:31,480 --> 00:49:38,000 know that you are that joint heir, light and assault. And if you don't right where 462 00:49:38,000 --> 00:49:42,880 you are I'm gonna pray a sinner's prayer. Right where you are no one's looking 463 00:49:42,880 --> 00:49:46,720 around ever heads bowed and saints be praying that the conviction of the Holy 464 00:49:46,720 --> 00:49:51,000 Spirit deal with hearts and lives and hearts come to know Christ. Right now 465 00:49:51,000 --> 00:49:55,440 it's important. This is the most important part of all that we do today. 466 00:49:55,440 --> 00:50:02,600 If you're here today and do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior 467 00:50:02,600 --> 00:50:16,720 pray with me. Jesus I'm a sinner. I come to you today and I repent. I repent. 468 00:50:16,720 --> 00:50:25,600 Forgive me and cleanse me of my sin and take your rightful place on the throne 469 00:50:25,600 --> 00:50:35,840 room of my heart and be Lord of my life. For I believe that you were born that 470 00:50:35,840 --> 00:50:46,480 you died and you rose again for my salvation. Thank you for answering this 471 00:50:46,480 --> 00:50:58,200 prayer. My my my. Thank you Lord. Thank you Lord. What I need you to do before you leave this 472 00:50:58,200 --> 00:51:02,280 place today is come see me. I don't care how many people's around me I don't care 473 00:51:02,280 --> 00:51:06,800 what I'm doing. Grab my coat tail grab me by the arms. Hey I give my heart to 474 00:51:06,800 --> 00:51:12,200 Jesus today. I need to know that and you need to confess that. You need to confess 475 00:51:12,200 --> 00:51:16,360 it. It's that mouth your hearts believing to it but now you got to confess it. 476 00:51:16,360 --> 00:51:22,000 I accepted Christ today. Whoo. Tell me tell somebody but I'd love it if you 477 00:51:22,000 --> 00:51:25,760 tell me it'd make me feel like this last 45 minutes been worth it all. 478 00:51:25,760 --> 00:51:32,920 Worth it all. Now father over the household of faith I pray Lord that you 479 00:51:32,920 --> 00:51:39,280 renew hope in every heart and in every life. It's not hard to be negative when 480 00:51:39,280 --> 00:51:46,880 we look around us but I choose today I make a conscious choice Lord that in the 481 00:51:46,880 --> 00:51:53,400 reality of it all you are still Lord. That is the reality. You are Lord. You are 482 00:51:53,400 --> 00:51:58,160 in charge and like Habakkuk asked how long you'll let this mess go on. You said 483 00:51:58,160 --> 00:52:03,100 to him to get on his perch and write it down. One of these days I'm gonna take 484 00:52:03,100 --> 00:52:10,320 care of it all. It may look like I'm not doing it but I will do it. The just shall 485 00:52:10,320 --> 00:52:16,080 live by faith. Enrich renew and encourage the faith of those in this 486 00:52:16,080 --> 00:52:21,960 room this morning father. If they be sick heal their body. Lord if they be depressed 487 00:52:21,960 --> 00:52:29,920 let the light of your glory illuminate their living to your glory and they're 488 00:52:29,920 --> 00:52:36,320 uplifting. I thank you and I praise you in Jesus name. Give the Lord a good hand 489 00:52:36,320 --> 00:53:03,560 clap for praise would you. Come on praise him like he's good to you.