1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,900 giving the best praise you brought with you this morning. 2 00:00:04,140 --> 00:00:05,340 Hallelujah. 3 00:00:05,340 --> 00:00:10,340 Thank you, Lord, for your blessings. 4 00:00:10,340 --> 00:00:11,840 Yes, yes, yes. 5 00:00:11,840 --> 00:00:16,840 Well, hallelujah. 6 00:00:17,820 --> 00:00:20,280 So good to see you in the house of the Lord this morning. 7 00:00:20,280 --> 00:00:21,420 If you have your Bibles with you, 8 00:00:21,420 --> 00:00:26,420 turn with me to Deuteronomy 28. 9 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:28,260 Deuteronomy 28. 10 00:00:28,260 --> 00:00:30,300 It is good to see you. 11 00:00:30,300 --> 00:00:32,100 If you're visiting with us, I hope and trust 12 00:00:32,100 --> 00:00:35,700 you've already experienced the presence of the Lord, 13 00:00:35,700 --> 00:00:39,280 for that's our main goal this morning, 14 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:43,120 is that we together enter into the presence of the Lord, 15 00:00:43,120 --> 00:00:46,280 and that we leave here touched by his grace, amen, 16 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:51,320 and empowered through his word that tomorrow, 17 00:00:51,320 --> 00:00:53,460 tomorrow's gonna be a good day, amen. 18 00:00:53,460 --> 00:00:58,460 As you're turning to Deuteronomy 28, 19 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:02,100 our covenant group, the group of ministers that I meet with, 20 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:06,300 we are actually going up, 21 00:01:06,300 --> 00:01:07,800 some of us leaving this afternoon, 22 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:09,640 others in the morning were going to, 23 00:01:09,640 --> 00:01:14,640 and we barbecues our thing. 24 00:01:15,820 --> 00:01:20,820 So we're pulling up a 250 gallon smoker, 25 00:01:20,820 --> 00:01:24,260 a barbecue trailer, 26 00:01:24,260 --> 00:01:28,840 and we're gonna feed lunch to the workers tomorrow, amen. 27 00:01:28,840 --> 00:01:31,300 So we ask that you would pray, amen. 28 00:01:31,300 --> 00:01:35,580 Pray for us. 29 00:01:35,580 --> 00:01:38,180 Half of our team will be going into one of the homes, 30 00:01:38,180 --> 00:01:42,220 and they'll be putting the sheetrock back up, 31 00:01:42,220 --> 00:01:45,220 insulation sheetrock, installing a shower. 32 00:01:45,220 --> 00:01:47,680 So we're just gonna go do a little ministry. 33 00:01:47,680 --> 00:01:49,720 I'll get some feet on the ground, 34 00:01:49,720 --> 00:01:51,320 and do a little observation, 35 00:01:51,320 --> 00:01:55,220 and see what we may be able to continue to do in the future. 36 00:01:55,220 --> 00:01:59,100 Amen, because this is a disaster, 37 00:01:59,100 --> 00:02:01,440 it's not going away this week. 38 00:02:01,440 --> 00:02:04,340 It's gonna be quite some time. 39 00:02:04,340 --> 00:02:08,600 And then with Milton devastating Florida again, 40 00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:12,340 we need to be in prayer that the hand of the Lord 41 00:02:12,340 --> 00:02:16,840 would just calm those disturbances, amen, calm the storm. 42 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:20,740 I was watching one of the reports, 43 00:02:20,740 --> 00:02:24,480 and they were talking about how lucky they were 44 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:27,020 that this storm surge that was coming in 45 00:02:27,020 --> 00:02:31,420 wasn't as devastating as they thought it was gonna be, 46 00:02:31,420 --> 00:02:32,760 it should have been. 47 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:35,160 I said, well, you can call it luck if you want. 48 00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:39,020 I'm just saying thank you, Lord, for your blessings, amen. 49 00:02:40,600 --> 00:02:43,300 He's in charge, isn't he, amen. 50 00:02:43,300 --> 00:02:47,060 Deuteronomy chapter 28, looking at verse one, 51 00:02:47,060 --> 00:02:51,100 we're gonna read down through about verse eight. 52 00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:53,600 And it shall come to pass, 53 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:56,540 thou shalt hearken diligently 54 00:02:56,540 --> 00:02:59,120 into the voice of the Lord thy God, 55 00:02:59,120 --> 00:03:02,440 to observe and to do all his commandments, 56 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:05,060 which I command thee this day, 57 00:03:05,060 --> 00:03:08,320 that the Lord thy God will set thee 58 00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:12,960 on high above all nations of the earth. 59 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:15,360 And all these blessings shall come on thee 60 00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:18,500 and overtake thee if thou shalt hearken 61 00:03:18,500 --> 00:03:21,360 unto the voice of the Lord thy God. 62 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:23,200 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, 63 00:03:23,200 --> 00:03:25,400 blessed shalt thou be in the field, 64 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:28,380 blessed shalt thou be in the fruit of thy body 65 00:03:28,380 --> 00:03:30,940 and the fruit of thy ground and the fruit of thy cattle 66 00:03:30,940 --> 00:03:34,880 and the increase of thine kind and the flocks of thy sheep. 67 00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:38,480 Blessed shalt be thy basket and thy store. 68 00:03:38,480 --> 00:03:41,360 Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in 69 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:43,920 and blessed shalt you be when you go out. 70 00:03:43,920 --> 00:03:46,800 The Lord shall cause your enemies 71 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:51,300 that rise up against you to be smitten before your face. 72 00:03:51,300 --> 00:03:53,800 They shall come out against thee one way, 73 00:03:53,800 --> 00:03:57,440 but they shall flee before these seven ways. 74 00:03:57,440 --> 00:04:00,880 The Lord shall command the blessing upon thee 75 00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:03,740 in thy storehouses and in all that thou 76 00:04:03,740 --> 00:04:06,280 set us thine hand unto. 77 00:04:06,280 --> 00:04:09,480 And he shall bless thee in the land 78 00:04:09,480 --> 00:04:12,680 which the Lord thy God giveth thee. 79 00:04:12,680 --> 00:04:14,720 With the help of the Lord for a little while this morning, 80 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:17,600 I wanna just preach a little bit about the favor of God 81 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:19,720 and living on the good side. 82 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:23,060 Living on the good side. 83 00:04:23,060 --> 00:04:25,440 Amen, I'll pray for you if you pray for me 84 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:26,360 and the Lord will help us 85 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:28,440 and we'll be out of here before 1.30. 86 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:30,300 Lord, we love you, we thank you for your goodness 87 00:04:30,300 --> 00:04:33,140 and your mercy and the abundance of your grace. 88 00:04:33,140 --> 00:04:34,540 Lord, I ask that you'd have your way 89 00:04:34,540 --> 00:04:37,120 in our hearts and lives today. 90 00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:40,740 Lord, truly we are blessed today as we sing of your goodness 91 00:04:40,740 --> 00:04:42,820 and of your glory and of your honor 92 00:04:42,820 --> 00:04:45,060 and of your greatness this morning. 93 00:04:45,060 --> 00:04:48,920 Now, I ask God today that you'd strengthen each of us 94 00:04:48,920 --> 00:04:50,160 through the power of your word. 95 00:04:50,160 --> 00:04:51,860 It's your word that gives us life 96 00:04:51,860 --> 00:04:54,200 and strengthens our daily going. 97 00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:56,060 And Lord, let your anointing rest upon us 98 00:04:56,060 --> 00:04:57,900 and we that have ears to hear, 99 00:04:57,900 --> 00:05:01,440 may we hear what the Spirit would say into the church 100 00:05:01,440 --> 00:05:03,080 and the church say it. 101 00:05:03,080 --> 00:05:03,900 Amen, amen. 102 00:05:03,900 --> 00:05:07,380 Let me sit for a little bit. 103 00:05:07,380 --> 00:05:09,320 The thing about this, the book of Deuteronomy, 104 00:05:09,320 --> 00:05:11,140 it's the giving again. 105 00:05:11,140 --> 00:05:12,780 It means second law. 106 00:05:12,780 --> 00:05:16,160 It means a rehearsal of all of God's goodness. 107 00:05:17,220 --> 00:05:20,760 Moses is recounting to the children of Israel 108 00:05:20,760 --> 00:05:21,920 before his departure, 109 00:05:21,920 --> 00:05:23,920 before God's about to take him out. 110 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:29,340 He's rehearsing in the ear of Israel again 111 00:05:29,340 --> 00:05:31,960 of all the goodness of God and the promise of God, 112 00:05:31,960 --> 00:05:35,700 the blessings of God, but also the consequences 113 00:05:35,700 --> 00:05:37,580 of disobeying God. 114 00:05:37,580 --> 00:05:41,220 As we've read in 28, the blessings and how we'll be blessed 115 00:05:41,220 --> 00:05:45,440 if you back up into 27, you'll see that the Lord says, 116 00:05:45,440 --> 00:05:47,040 if you don't do these things, 117 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:50,380 then you're gonna bring some cursing onto your life. 118 00:05:50,380 --> 00:05:53,260 And he begins to list all of those things 119 00:05:53,260 --> 00:05:56,660 that will cause disadvantage to be in our lives 120 00:05:56,660 --> 00:06:00,900 or the favor of God to be lifted off of our lives. 121 00:06:00,900 --> 00:06:03,140 When we think about living on the good side, 122 00:06:03,140 --> 00:06:05,860 I think about living not just in the grace of God, 123 00:06:05,860 --> 00:06:07,540 but in the favor of God. 124 00:06:07,540 --> 00:06:10,440 Now, the favor of God can be described 125 00:06:10,440 --> 00:06:15,440 as a divine kindness or act of God himself. 126 00:06:17,440 --> 00:06:22,440 True compassion on the part of God toward needy 127 00:06:22,860 --> 00:06:25,180 and undeserving humanity. 128 00:06:25,180 --> 00:06:27,280 It's the blessings of God that enter into our life. 129 00:06:27,280 --> 00:06:28,620 One man put it this way, 130 00:06:28,620 --> 00:06:31,620 the favor of God will bring unexpected blessings 131 00:06:31,620 --> 00:06:36,020 from unexpected places and unexpected people. 132 00:06:36,020 --> 00:06:38,100 That's the favor of God. 133 00:06:38,100 --> 00:06:42,660 When things come into our life that we're not expecting, 134 00:06:42,660 --> 00:06:44,380 we're not looking for, 135 00:06:44,380 --> 00:06:46,820 I think we can just say, thank you, Lord. 136 00:06:46,820 --> 00:06:49,580 It's not just his grace, but it's his favor 137 00:06:49,580 --> 00:06:52,260 that is added into and upon our lives. 138 00:06:52,260 --> 00:06:55,940 It's a divine gift from God, amen? 139 00:06:55,940 --> 00:06:59,340 When he begins to pour out of his blessings into our life. 140 00:06:59,340 --> 00:07:02,220 As we've been looking at this year, breaking limitations 141 00:07:02,220 --> 00:07:04,860 and going beyond boundaries and barriers 142 00:07:04,860 --> 00:07:06,660 that we set upon ourselves 143 00:07:06,660 --> 00:07:08,780 because of fear and lack of faith, 144 00:07:08,780 --> 00:07:11,980 we set boundaries and we don't proceed after God 145 00:07:11,980 --> 00:07:14,740 in a way that we could or that we even should 146 00:07:14,740 --> 00:07:17,460 or that he's even asking for us to come for him. 147 00:07:17,460 --> 00:07:19,160 There are limitations and boundaries 148 00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:21,460 that the enemy places before us 149 00:07:21,460 --> 00:07:23,180 and we come up to those 150 00:07:23,180 --> 00:07:26,500 and we don't exercise the authority and the power of God, 151 00:07:26,500 --> 00:07:28,580 the word of God over those limits 152 00:07:28,580 --> 00:07:31,060 that the enemy's trying to bring into our lives. 153 00:07:31,060 --> 00:07:34,060 And so therefore we forfeit some of the blessing 154 00:07:34,060 --> 00:07:35,780 and some of the favor of God in our life. 155 00:07:35,780 --> 00:07:39,580 But I think we are able by God's grace, amen, 156 00:07:39,580 --> 00:07:43,900 to encounter and to experience his favor on our lives. 157 00:07:43,900 --> 00:07:47,460 Those unexpected blessings from unexpected places 158 00:07:47,460 --> 00:07:50,420 like I received yesterday at H&R Block, 159 00:07:50,420 --> 00:07:52,940 that was unexpected and I'm thanking the Lord 160 00:07:52,940 --> 00:07:57,460 for that unexpected blessing from unexpected places, amen. 161 00:07:57,460 --> 00:07:59,940 And you've had similar things in different ways. 162 00:07:59,940 --> 00:08:03,260 God has extended his hand over your life. 163 00:08:03,260 --> 00:08:06,980 And sometimes we need a rehearsing of God's goodness. 164 00:08:06,980 --> 00:08:10,100 We need to hear again of God's faithfulness. 165 00:08:10,100 --> 00:08:12,980 And that's what Moses is giving to the people of Israel. 166 00:08:12,980 --> 00:08:15,260 He rehearsed their history. 167 00:08:15,260 --> 00:08:17,660 He rehearsed to them God's good hand 168 00:08:17,660 --> 00:08:19,460 and God's favor on their life 169 00:08:19,460 --> 00:08:21,820 as he brought them out of Egypt, amen. 170 00:08:21,820 --> 00:08:23,700 And his goodness and his faithfulness 171 00:08:23,700 --> 00:08:26,220 of taking care of the enemy Pharaoh 172 00:08:26,220 --> 00:08:29,260 and every other enemy that had stood against them, 173 00:08:29,260 --> 00:08:31,020 God had been faithful 174 00:08:31,020 --> 00:08:33,660 and his favor had been upon their life. 175 00:08:33,660 --> 00:08:34,860 And I want us to look, 176 00:08:34,860 --> 00:08:37,300 I want you to take a look in your own mind. 177 00:08:37,300 --> 00:08:39,980 It won't take you just a minute to close your eyes 178 00:08:39,980 --> 00:08:42,500 and let your mind go back through the archives 179 00:08:42,500 --> 00:08:44,740 of your memory and see how God's faithfulness 180 00:08:44,740 --> 00:08:47,700 and God's favor has been extended on your life. 181 00:08:47,700 --> 00:08:50,620 Unexpected places, unexpected blessings 182 00:08:50,620 --> 00:08:52,060 from unexpected people. 183 00:08:52,060 --> 00:08:54,620 And God has had his hand over our life. 184 00:08:54,620 --> 00:08:56,420 But there's a way to live, 185 00:08:56,420 --> 00:08:58,460 there's a way that you and I can live, 186 00:08:58,460 --> 00:09:00,620 live out our lives, amen, 187 00:09:00,620 --> 00:09:03,100 to ensure that that favor of God 188 00:09:03,100 --> 00:09:05,020 is extended on and over our life. 189 00:09:05,020 --> 00:09:07,340 We hear that blessed are those who do these things. 190 00:09:07,340 --> 00:09:10,980 There's a whole listing there, amen, following after God. 191 00:09:10,980 --> 00:09:15,420 And we can apply in our own hearts and our own lives daily 192 00:09:15,420 --> 00:09:19,180 to ensure that that unexpected thing will arise in our lives. 193 00:09:19,180 --> 00:09:21,620 Not only that God's daily grace is added 194 00:09:21,620 --> 00:09:24,460 and daily grace is gifted, but his favor. 195 00:09:24,460 --> 00:09:26,900 Aren't you glad you're the favorite child? 196 00:09:29,140 --> 00:09:32,620 I've told you that God loves me more than he loves you all. 197 00:09:32,620 --> 00:09:33,540 How so, pastor? 198 00:09:33,540 --> 00:09:34,900 Yesterday, come on. 199 00:09:37,300 --> 00:09:38,540 I told you he loves me. 200 00:09:39,380 --> 00:09:42,700 I believe that, I'm his favorite son, amen. 201 00:09:42,700 --> 00:09:44,620 You've got to believe you're his favorite son 202 00:09:44,620 --> 00:09:45,860 or his favorite daughter. 203 00:09:45,860 --> 00:09:46,700 Why? 204 00:09:46,700 --> 00:09:48,140 Because he extends his grace 205 00:09:48,140 --> 00:09:50,380 and by virtue of that grace extended in your life, 206 00:09:50,380 --> 00:09:53,460 his favor is offered under your life. 207 00:09:53,460 --> 00:09:55,740 We know that God is no respecter of person. 208 00:09:55,740 --> 00:09:58,180 It's not about being respected above others. 209 00:09:58,180 --> 00:09:59,700 It's about being faithful 210 00:09:59,700 --> 00:10:03,940 because God will let his favor shine upon all those 211 00:10:03,940 --> 00:10:07,580 who walk in faithfulness in accordance to his word 212 00:10:07,580 --> 00:10:08,940 and the abundance of his will. 213 00:10:08,940 --> 00:10:12,220 He won't only just bless me, he'll bless you too, amen. 214 00:10:12,220 --> 00:10:13,900 He'll allow his favor. 215 00:10:13,900 --> 00:10:17,620 So when we begin to proclaim the expectations of God's grace 216 00:10:17,620 --> 00:10:19,740 and we begin to walk out and live out, 217 00:10:19,740 --> 00:10:23,140 I have an expectation of God's favor in my life. 218 00:10:23,140 --> 00:10:25,780 I think it goes this way, amen. 219 00:10:25,780 --> 00:10:28,980 It leans this way when it comes to me and God 220 00:10:28,980 --> 00:10:30,700 and other issues of life. 221 00:10:30,700 --> 00:10:32,980 I'm telling you, it comes this way. 222 00:10:32,980 --> 00:10:34,180 And I tell people that. 223 00:10:34,180 --> 00:10:37,700 I told a man, I told the fellow that sandblasted 224 00:10:37,700 --> 00:10:38,740 and done my truck. 225 00:10:38,740 --> 00:10:39,900 I was over talking with him 226 00:10:39,900 --> 00:10:42,580 and he was telling me since that truck had gotten there 227 00:10:42,580 --> 00:10:44,580 how all this work had come upon him. 228 00:10:44,580 --> 00:10:45,780 I said, well, I'm sorry, 229 00:10:45,780 --> 00:10:48,380 but anywhere I show up, God's blessings follow. 230 00:10:49,380 --> 00:10:51,380 He just kindly looked at me funny. 231 00:10:51,380 --> 00:10:53,620 He just kind of looked at me like, really? 232 00:10:53,620 --> 00:10:56,300 And he just didn't have time to do something. 233 00:10:56,300 --> 00:10:58,780 He said, it's just been, since you've got here, 234 00:10:58,780 --> 00:11:00,980 since you dropped it all, things have been that way. 235 00:11:00,980 --> 00:11:03,180 I said, well, it kindly works that way with me. 236 00:11:03,180 --> 00:11:05,460 Since the Catholic night, I can pull into a parking lot 237 00:11:05,460 --> 00:11:07,780 of a gas station with not a car to pump. 238 00:11:07,780 --> 00:11:10,460 And before we get gas pumped and a Sprite bought, 239 00:11:10,460 --> 00:11:11,700 there's people everywhere. 240 00:11:11,700 --> 00:11:15,460 I'm telling you, God's favor and blessing follows me around. 241 00:11:15,460 --> 00:11:16,740 Can I get a witness? 242 00:11:16,740 --> 00:11:19,940 Do you, does God's blessing and favor follow you around? 243 00:11:19,940 --> 00:11:23,860 And it's because we have expectations of the favor 244 00:11:23,860 --> 00:11:25,380 of God in our lives. 245 00:11:25,380 --> 00:11:28,180 And we can access the favor of God, number one, 246 00:11:28,180 --> 00:11:30,340 through total surrender. 247 00:11:30,340 --> 00:11:31,380 Do you hear me? 248 00:11:31,380 --> 00:11:33,140 It's not popular. 249 00:11:33,140 --> 00:11:34,580 It's not a pleasant thing. 250 00:11:34,580 --> 00:11:38,220 It's something that you have to relegate yourself to do 251 00:11:38,220 --> 00:11:43,180 that you totally surrender every part of your life to him. 252 00:11:43,180 --> 00:11:46,980 It's not easy, but I'm telling you, when you get it down, 253 00:11:46,980 --> 00:11:51,020 the favor of God begins to shower upon your life. 254 00:11:51,020 --> 00:11:53,340 You will be like a John who declared, 255 00:11:53,340 --> 00:11:56,580 I must decrease so that he may increase. 256 00:11:56,580 --> 00:11:57,420 Amen. 257 00:11:57,420 --> 00:11:59,060 It's about decreasing. 258 00:11:59,060 --> 00:12:01,700 It's about getting ourselves in right position 259 00:12:01,700 --> 00:12:05,100 so that the favor of God can be extended on 260 00:12:05,100 --> 00:12:06,060 and over our lives. 261 00:12:06,060 --> 00:12:09,300 Secondly, there has to be a death to ourself. 262 00:12:09,300 --> 00:12:13,700 We have to learn that we lose our identities 263 00:12:13,700 --> 00:12:17,940 and magnify God through his son, Jesus Christ, 264 00:12:17,940 --> 00:12:20,340 and allow the work of the Holy Spirit 265 00:12:20,340 --> 00:12:23,780 to be the foremost thing of our life. 266 00:12:23,780 --> 00:12:25,900 And here to, let me tell you this morning, 267 00:12:25,900 --> 00:12:27,220 hear this very well. 268 00:12:27,220 --> 00:12:29,820 That is gonna be one of the greatest struggles 269 00:12:29,820 --> 00:12:32,940 that you have, that you have self-denial. 270 00:12:32,940 --> 00:12:34,580 But know what Jesus said. 271 00:12:34,580 --> 00:12:38,460 If any man come after me, he must deny himself, 272 00:12:38,460 --> 00:12:41,460 take up his cross, and follow me. 273 00:12:41,460 --> 00:12:43,860 You've gotta get yourself out of your way. 274 00:12:43,860 --> 00:12:45,540 I'm about to preach right now. 275 00:12:45,540 --> 00:12:49,140 If you don't surrender to the goodness of the grace of God 276 00:12:49,140 --> 00:12:51,700 and repentance through Jesus Christ, 277 00:12:51,700 --> 00:12:53,340 shed blood over your life, 278 00:12:53,340 --> 00:12:56,060 you'll never encounter the favor of God. 279 00:12:56,060 --> 00:12:58,900 And until you look yourself in the mirror and say, 280 00:12:58,900 --> 00:13:02,900 look, you are not in charge, but God is in charge. 281 00:13:02,900 --> 00:13:05,260 Christ sits upon the throne of your heart. 282 00:13:05,260 --> 00:13:09,540 You are led and directed by the power of the Holy Ghost. 283 00:13:09,540 --> 00:13:11,180 And the sooner you do that, 284 00:13:11,180 --> 00:13:12,980 the sooner you too will declare, 285 00:13:12,980 --> 00:13:16,580 I must decrease so that he may increase. 286 00:13:16,580 --> 00:13:19,900 And we will say with the Apostle Paul in Galatians 2.20, 287 00:13:19,900 --> 00:13:22,380 I am crucified with Christ. 288 00:13:22,380 --> 00:13:24,420 Nevertheless, I live. 289 00:13:24,420 --> 00:13:25,940 Aren't you so glad? 290 00:13:25,940 --> 00:13:27,740 Nevertheless, you live. 291 00:13:27,740 --> 00:13:28,900 I'm crucified. 292 00:13:28,900 --> 00:13:30,980 I've got my cross upon my back. 293 00:13:30,980 --> 00:13:32,940 I'm following, I'm denying. 294 00:13:32,940 --> 00:13:37,940 But nevertheless, he lets you live in spite of yourself. 295 00:13:39,740 --> 00:13:41,740 Nevertheless, I live. 296 00:13:41,740 --> 00:13:45,820 Yet not I, but it's Christ that live within me. 297 00:13:45,820 --> 00:13:48,100 If you want the favor of God in your life, 298 00:13:48,100 --> 00:13:52,180 you must allow Christ to live out through your life. 299 00:13:52,180 --> 00:13:53,180 Hallelujah. 300 00:13:53,180 --> 00:13:56,940 It comes from surrender and it comes from self denial. 301 00:13:56,940 --> 00:13:58,980 You must deny yourself. 302 00:13:58,980 --> 00:14:02,620 I live by the faith of the Son of God. 303 00:14:02,620 --> 00:14:04,860 That's how I make it every day. 304 00:14:04,860 --> 00:14:06,300 I don't go in my own grace. 305 00:14:06,300 --> 00:14:07,980 I don't go in my own strength. 306 00:14:07,980 --> 00:14:09,580 I don't go in my own power. 307 00:14:09,580 --> 00:14:12,300 But I have learned through surrender 308 00:14:12,300 --> 00:14:15,900 and through self denial and through self sacrifice, 309 00:14:15,900 --> 00:14:20,340 putting myself on the cross and denying myself daily 310 00:14:20,340 --> 00:14:21,780 that I can live. 311 00:14:21,780 --> 00:14:24,420 And by living in his grace 312 00:14:24,420 --> 00:14:26,340 and allowing Christ to live through me, 313 00:14:26,340 --> 00:14:28,580 his favor is extended to me. 314 00:14:28,580 --> 00:14:29,420 Why? 315 00:14:29,420 --> 00:14:32,860 For God so loved the world that he gave. 316 00:14:32,860 --> 00:14:34,260 He's only begotten Son. 317 00:14:34,260 --> 00:14:37,220 And if that Son is living through and out of me, 318 00:14:37,220 --> 00:14:39,780 God's favor follows well. 319 00:14:40,820 --> 00:14:44,140 God's favor follows his Son. 320 00:14:46,660 --> 00:14:49,380 I live, Paul said, but not I, 321 00:14:49,380 --> 00:14:51,100 but it's Christ that lives in me. 322 00:14:52,020 --> 00:14:55,140 The life that I now live in the flesh, 323 00:14:56,060 --> 00:14:58,060 it's not just a spiritual blessing. 324 00:14:58,060 --> 00:15:00,140 It's not just a spiritual favor, 325 00:15:01,300 --> 00:15:04,100 but this favor will be manifested 326 00:15:04,100 --> 00:15:06,220 in and through your flesh. 327 00:15:07,500 --> 00:15:09,460 Well, hallelujah. 328 00:15:09,460 --> 00:15:11,540 Because if you stop and think about it, 329 00:15:11,540 --> 00:15:14,580 it's not about a, if you will so much, 330 00:15:14,580 --> 00:15:17,340 a spiritual self getting on a cross. 331 00:15:17,340 --> 00:15:19,460 It's your flesh that gives you trouble. 332 00:15:21,460 --> 00:15:24,780 It's my flesh that gives me trouble. 333 00:15:24,780 --> 00:15:28,420 It's my flesh that has to crawl back up on that cross. 334 00:15:28,420 --> 00:15:32,100 It's my flesh, those old earthly desires 335 00:15:32,100 --> 00:15:35,060 have to remain in self denial. 336 00:15:35,060 --> 00:15:39,100 Come on somebody, I have to surrender daily. 337 00:15:39,100 --> 00:15:40,700 That's the reason the apostle Paul said, 338 00:15:40,700 --> 00:15:43,340 I don't fight against shadows. 339 00:15:43,340 --> 00:15:45,020 I'm not shadow boxing, 340 00:15:45,020 --> 00:15:50,020 but I fight myself daily to bring myself under subjection. 341 00:15:50,380 --> 00:15:51,780 Subjection to what? 342 00:15:51,780 --> 00:15:53,340 To the law of Christ. 343 00:15:53,340 --> 00:15:54,980 Hallelujah. 344 00:15:54,980 --> 00:15:56,980 If I want to live in his favor, 345 00:15:56,980 --> 00:15:59,940 I've got to bring myself under the subjection 346 00:15:59,940 --> 00:16:02,180 of the law of Christ. 347 00:16:03,180 --> 00:16:04,860 Well, hallelujah. 348 00:16:05,940 --> 00:16:08,500 We've got the number two, there's only 10 of these. 349 00:16:11,540 --> 00:16:13,020 Moving on to number three. 350 00:16:15,420 --> 00:16:17,700 To access the favor of God. 351 00:16:17,700 --> 00:16:19,300 Total surrender, self denial. 352 00:16:19,300 --> 00:16:23,300 Thirdly, a respect and a revere 353 00:16:23,300 --> 00:16:25,980 for that which is sacred and holy. 354 00:16:25,980 --> 00:16:29,540 Well, somebody say don't stay there long pastor. 355 00:16:29,540 --> 00:16:32,340 Don't preach too long right there. 356 00:16:32,340 --> 00:16:36,540 Because there's some good preaching in that right there. 357 00:16:36,540 --> 00:16:39,300 To access the favor of God, 358 00:16:39,300 --> 00:16:43,020 you have to remember what is holy, 359 00:16:43,020 --> 00:16:45,620 revere what is reverent, 360 00:16:45,620 --> 00:16:49,460 and respect the righteousness of God. 361 00:16:49,460 --> 00:16:52,460 Oh, let me just keep my head down. 362 00:16:54,180 --> 00:16:56,220 When we come to worship, 363 00:16:57,100 --> 00:17:00,660 it's not like going out to Walmart. 364 00:17:02,340 --> 00:17:04,900 Hey, can I get a witness? 365 00:17:04,900 --> 00:17:06,940 You wasn't making your way to Walmart, 366 00:17:06,940 --> 00:17:09,100 you wasn't coming to Denny's this morning, 367 00:17:09,100 --> 00:17:12,620 and I hope you didn't bring your hearties in with you. 368 00:17:12,620 --> 00:17:15,140 Because that's not what we've done today. 369 00:17:15,140 --> 00:17:17,100 That's not what you decided to get up 370 00:17:17,100 --> 00:17:18,460 and come to this morning. 371 00:17:18,460 --> 00:17:22,780 You decided through surrender, through self denial, 372 00:17:22,780 --> 00:17:25,980 I'm going to the house of a holy God, 373 00:17:25,980 --> 00:17:30,420 and I'm gonna enter into the presence of a sacred room. 374 00:17:30,420 --> 00:17:34,940 This is a sacred place, this is the sanctuary of God. 375 00:17:34,940 --> 00:17:37,420 This is the place that houses his glory. 376 00:17:37,420 --> 00:17:39,100 Oh, I know he lives in us, 377 00:17:39,100 --> 00:17:41,220 but there is also a physical house 378 00:17:41,220 --> 00:17:43,060 and a physical place of worship. 379 00:17:43,060 --> 00:17:45,460 And we gotta respect him, hallelujah. 380 00:17:45,460 --> 00:17:46,940 We gotta revere it, why? 381 00:17:46,940 --> 00:17:50,940 Because this is where we come to come in his presence. 382 00:17:52,300 --> 00:17:55,140 And if we want the favor of God, we'll respect him. 383 00:17:57,420 --> 00:18:01,420 If you want another invite to someone's home for supper, 384 00:18:02,420 --> 00:18:05,740 you'll respect their home, right? 385 00:18:05,740 --> 00:18:11,740 You'll offer to take your plate to the sink. 386 00:18:11,740 --> 00:18:12,580 Hello? 387 00:18:13,500 --> 00:18:15,860 You'll offer to, why? 388 00:18:15,860 --> 00:18:18,460 Because you have respect for your host. 389 00:18:18,460 --> 00:18:23,460 When, oh, when did we forget to respect our host? 390 00:18:25,460 --> 00:18:30,460 Where have we lost the respect of the host of God's house? 391 00:18:30,740 --> 00:18:33,460 His spirit is here, hallelujah. 392 00:18:33,460 --> 00:18:36,460 But here we'll wanna come, can I just get a little personal 393 00:18:36,460 --> 00:18:37,900 with you this morning? 394 00:18:37,900 --> 00:18:40,300 Here we'll wanna come and drag in everything 395 00:18:40,300 --> 00:18:42,380 that we had dragged to the ball field. 396 00:18:42,380 --> 00:18:44,700 We look like we're going to the ball field. 397 00:18:44,700 --> 00:18:47,380 We'll take our coffee, we'll bring our everything. 398 00:18:47,380 --> 00:18:49,260 You know that's a pet peeve of mine. 399 00:18:49,260 --> 00:18:51,780 You know how I feel about the house of the Lord 400 00:18:51,780 --> 00:18:53,580 and the sanctuary of God. 401 00:18:53,580 --> 00:18:57,620 We have to return to reverence one more time. 402 00:18:57,620 --> 00:18:59,860 Mama, we didn't have much when we was growing up, 403 00:18:59,860 --> 00:19:02,380 but when you went to church, you had to come 404 00:19:02,380 --> 00:19:04,740 and you went to church, you had on the best of nothing 405 00:19:04,740 --> 00:19:06,620 that you had. 406 00:19:06,620 --> 00:19:07,460 Hello? 407 00:19:08,500 --> 00:19:10,660 The blue jeans that didn't have the hole. 408 00:19:13,060 --> 00:19:15,380 Them shoes that you were made to take off 409 00:19:15,380 --> 00:19:16,500 when you got home. 410 00:19:17,380 --> 00:19:19,300 You're not playing in those. 411 00:19:20,500 --> 00:19:22,460 Those are your school shoes. 412 00:19:26,140 --> 00:19:29,020 Back in my day, anybody got a converse on today? 413 00:19:29,020 --> 00:19:31,820 Them high tops, the white or black, stick that foot up. 414 00:19:31,820 --> 00:19:34,700 Don't put it on my chair, just stick it up where I can see it. 415 00:19:34,700 --> 00:19:35,540 There you go. 416 00:19:36,740 --> 00:19:40,340 When I was their age, that was the worst thing 417 00:19:40,340 --> 00:19:41,700 you could go to school in. 418 00:19:43,620 --> 00:19:44,820 Why? 419 00:19:44,820 --> 00:19:46,860 Because the dollar store sold them. 420 00:19:49,420 --> 00:19:50,260 Come on. 421 00:19:52,620 --> 00:19:56,220 Yeah, so when you showed up in a pair of converse, 422 00:19:56,220 --> 00:19:58,620 that means you couldn't afford a pair of Nike's. 423 00:19:58,620 --> 00:20:03,620 Oh, yeah. 424 00:20:03,620 --> 00:20:06,700 Now, see how the role reverses? 425 00:20:06,700 --> 00:20:09,220 Back in the day, those champion sweatshirts, 426 00:20:10,420 --> 00:20:11,500 that wasn't popper. 427 00:20:12,940 --> 00:20:16,020 It was under armor, it was Nike, Reebok. 428 00:20:16,020 --> 00:20:19,380 If you rolled in there in that sweatshirt, 429 00:20:19,380 --> 00:20:21,660 they knew your folks was broke. 430 00:20:24,420 --> 00:20:26,620 You would double broke if you come in with a champion 431 00:20:26,620 --> 00:20:29,540 t-shirt and a converse tennis shoe on. 432 00:20:34,980 --> 00:20:38,620 Oh, I'm preaching better than you're shouting right now. 433 00:20:38,620 --> 00:20:40,940 Because that's the honest truth. 434 00:20:40,940 --> 00:20:41,980 That's the way we had to come. 435 00:20:41,980 --> 00:20:45,020 So we have to, how I got on the converse tennis shoe 436 00:20:45,020 --> 00:20:46,660 out of the reverence of God, 437 00:20:46,660 --> 00:20:48,460 I need to work on some things myself. 438 00:20:50,460 --> 00:20:53,940 We are entering into a place of worship, 439 00:20:53,940 --> 00:20:58,180 and we must conduct ourselves with the utmost humility 440 00:20:58,180 --> 00:21:00,100 and respect for the divine. 441 00:21:00,100 --> 00:21:01,140 Are you hearing me? 442 00:21:01,140 --> 00:21:05,940 I'm calling us back to a respect and a revere for the divine. 443 00:21:05,940 --> 00:21:06,940 What has happened? 444 00:21:06,940 --> 00:21:10,180 We are in a culture that has lost its fear 445 00:21:10,180 --> 00:21:13,340 of a holy righteous God. 446 00:21:13,340 --> 00:21:15,460 Oh, I didn't think we're supposed to be in fear. 447 00:21:15,460 --> 00:21:17,140 Yes, honey, we are. 448 00:21:17,140 --> 00:21:19,780 We are to be in awe and revere, 449 00:21:19,780 --> 00:21:23,180 because he is a God who can either let us live 450 00:21:23,180 --> 00:21:24,900 or he can take us out. 451 00:21:24,900 --> 00:21:26,740 Isn't that what the Bible says? 452 00:21:26,740 --> 00:21:30,420 Don't be afraid of man who can only harm your body 453 00:21:30,420 --> 00:21:31,660 and take your life, 454 00:21:31,660 --> 00:21:34,620 but yet we should be in awe and revere 455 00:21:34,620 --> 00:21:37,820 of he who can take both the body and the life, 456 00:21:37,820 --> 00:21:39,820 because it's his good pleasure. 457 00:21:39,820 --> 00:21:41,380 I'm reminding us today, 458 00:21:41,380 --> 00:21:44,260 we've come into the house of a holy God 459 00:21:44,260 --> 00:21:46,780 to worship him and to respect him 460 00:21:46,780 --> 00:21:49,660 and to revere him and to honor him. 461 00:21:49,660 --> 00:21:52,380 And if we want his favor on our lives, 462 00:21:52,380 --> 00:21:54,340 if you do those things... 463 00:21:57,180 --> 00:21:59,660 I mean, the next time you invite those people over 464 00:21:59,660 --> 00:22:01,580 that offer to do the dishes and stuff, 465 00:22:01,580 --> 00:22:06,260 you might grill them a steak instead of spaghetti. 466 00:22:08,260 --> 00:22:09,260 Oh, they were nice. 467 00:22:09,260 --> 00:22:10,660 Wasn't that a nice video? 468 00:22:10,660 --> 00:22:12,260 Well, next time, let's grill some pork chops 469 00:22:12,260 --> 00:22:14,660 and work our way to a steak. 470 00:22:14,660 --> 00:22:17,660 See if they still offer to do the dishes. 471 00:22:17,660 --> 00:22:19,860 Second Chronicles 7, 1 says, 472 00:22:19,860 --> 00:22:22,460 Now when Solomon had made an end to praying, 473 00:22:22,460 --> 00:22:24,660 the fire came down from heaven 474 00:22:24,660 --> 00:22:27,860 and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, 475 00:22:27,860 --> 00:22:32,260 and the glory of the Lord filled the house. 476 00:22:32,260 --> 00:22:33,860 I don't know about you, 477 00:22:33,860 --> 00:22:36,460 but that's my desire every time 478 00:22:36,460 --> 00:22:38,460 we come through the front doors, 479 00:22:38,460 --> 00:22:42,460 is that the glory of the Lord will fill the house. 480 00:22:42,460 --> 00:22:44,060 And the more we revere, 481 00:22:44,060 --> 00:22:45,660 the more we seek the Lord, 482 00:22:45,660 --> 00:22:48,460 and the more we revere, the more we stand in awe, 483 00:22:48,460 --> 00:22:50,060 and the more we respect him, 484 00:22:50,060 --> 00:22:52,260 and the more we come into his presence, 485 00:22:52,260 --> 00:22:54,860 knowing that he is God and God alone, 486 00:22:54,860 --> 00:22:56,460 we come in and we lift our hands, 487 00:22:56,460 --> 00:22:59,260 we lift our voices, and we sing and do his good. 488 00:22:59,260 --> 00:23:02,060 It doesn't matter if you can carry a tune in a bucket or not. 489 00:23:02,060 --> 00:23:04,860 What matters is that your heart is opened up 490 00:23:04,860 --> 00:23:06,460 and you're worshiping him. 491 00:23:06,460 --> 00:23:10,060 Why? Because you are aware of where you are. 492 00:23:10,060 --> 00:23:11,060 Hallelujah. 493 00:23:11,060 --> 00:23:12,860 Because we come in knowing 494 00:23:12,860 --> 00:23:16,660 that we're going to encounter God. 495 00:23:16,660 --> 00:23:19,860 Now, we can go back and look at some Old Testament worship. 496 00:23:19,860 --> 00:23:22,860 The priest, when it come time for sacrifice, 497 00:23:22,860 --> 00:23:26,060 couldn't even walk up steps. 498 00:23:26,060 --> 00:23:32,060 Why? Because God didn't want to see the calves. 499 00:23:32,060 --> 00:23:34,460 They had to walk up a ramp 500 00:23:34,460 --> 00:23:41,060 so that none of themselves would be exposed before him. 501 00:23:41,060 --> 00:23:46,660 Moving right along to number four. 502 00:23:46,660 --> 00:23:50,660 Understanding that God is not common. 503 00:23:50,660 --> 00:23:55,060 He is divine. 504 00:23:55,060 --> 00:23:56,660 Purity. 505 00:23:56,660 --> 00:23:59,660 We want to encounter the favor of God. 506 00:23:59,660 --> 00:24:05,660 We try and endeavor to live as pure a life before God as we can. 507 00:24:05,660 --> 00:24:06,660 Well, how do we do that? 508 00:24:06,660 --> 00:24:15,860 By surrender, by self denial, by respecting his divinity 509 00:24:15,860 --> 00:24:24,260 and who he is and doing our utmost to live a pure life before him. 510 00:24:24,260 --> 00:24:26,860 Holiness still matters. 511 00:24:26,860 --> 00:24:32,660 Holiness is not as simple as it was preached when I was young. 512 00:24:32,660 --> 00:24:34,860 When I was young, holiness was preached 513 00:24:34,860 --> 00:24:40,460 at the end of a clothesline clip. 514 00:24:40,460 --> 00:24:45,860 That's all we got of it. 515 00:24:45,860 --> 00:24:47,460 Them that passed the clothesline test 516 00:24:47,460 --> 00:24:53,460 wouldn't realize that they were failing the tongue test. 517 00:24:53,460 --> 00:24:56,260 Hello. 518 00:24:56,260 --> 00:25:00,860 I've seen hair and hemlines drag the ground, 519 00:25:00,860 --> 00:25:06,460 but the tongue was so long it wrapped it all up coming down the road. 520 00:25:06,460 --> 00:25:09,060 Hello. 521 00:25:09,060 --> 00:25:11,660 We have to endeavor to live pure lives. 522 00:25:11,660 --> 00:25:15,660 You and I have control of our speech. 523 00:25:15,660 --> 00:25:18,660 Take a hold of the wheel. 524 00:25:18,660 --> 00:25:19,660 Hello. 525 00:25:19,660 --> 00:25:22,860 Hebrews 12, 14 tells us that without holiness, 526 00:25:22,860 --> 00:25:25,660 no man will see the Lord. 527 00:25:25,660 --> 00:25:27,660 It's not absent of the clothesline, 528 00:25:27,660 --> 00:25:31,060 but it will be reflected of the heart. 529 00:25:31,060 --> 00:25:32,060 What are you saying pastor? 530 00:25:32,060 --> 00:25:37,860 I say we will dress and look like the intent of our heart. 531 00:25:37,860 --> 00:25:39,860 We were never told that. 532 00:25:39,860 --> 00:25:41,460 We were always told you get that part right, 533 00:25:41,460 --> 00:25:42,660 then the heart will come in check. 534 00:25:42,660 --> 00:25:47,260 No, it doesn't work that way. 535 00:25:47,260 --> 00:25:50,260 Right? 536 00:25:50,260 --> 00:25:51,660 Some of you are not going to believe this, 537 00:25:51,660 --> 00:25:59,260 but I was 41 years old before I wore shorts outside the house. 538 00:25:59,260 --> 00:26:03,260 We weren't even allowed to play in the yard with them on. 539 00:26:03,260 --> 00:26:08,260 And you know, I've told you, we lived at the end of snuff hollering. 540 00:26:08,260 --> 00:26:09,660 Who's coming down there? 541 00:26:09,660 --> 00:26:12,460 If they came and turned around in front of our house, 542 00:26:12,460 --> 00:26:14,460 they were there by accident. 543 00:26:14,460 --> 00:26:16,860 And we weren't allowed much to play out front anyway. 544 00:26:16,860 --> 00:26:19,860 So who was going to see my knobby knees? 545 00:26:19,860 --> 00:26:23,460 It did not matter. 546 00:26:23,460 --> 00:26:25,460 Didn't matter. 547 00:26:25,460 --> 00:26:32,860 They were covered so anybody could have come. 548 00:26:32,860 --> 00:26:37,660 Y'all laughing, but I'm telling you it is the truth. 549 00:26:37,660 --> 00:26:42,260 41 and still felt like somebody was watching me. 550 00:26:42,260 --> 00:26:46,260 Looked for mama anyway. 551 00:26:46,260 --> 00:26:48,660 Still afraid she'd take a limb. 552 00:26:48,660 --> 00:26:55,460 I have never worn them around her for fear of that very thing. 553 00:26:55,460 --> 00:26:56,660 You're 58 years old. 554 00:26:56,660 --> 00:27:00,660 Yes, and she's 80 and still quite capable. 555 00:27:00,660 --> 00:27:02,860 I'm not going to risk it. 556 00:27:02,860 --> 00:27:05,060 So why would we risk it with God? 557 00:27:05,060 --> 00:27:09,060 Well, all right, moving on past purity. 558 00:27:09,060 --> 00:27:11,460 Somebody say amen. 559 00:27:11,460 --> 00:27:14,060 Here's another one that really if we want to live in God's favor 560 00:27:14,060 --> 00:27:16,660 and have his favor upon our lives, 561 00:27:16,660 --> 00:27:21,460 then we will live lives of consistent prayer with fasting. 562 00:27:21,460 --> 00:27:25,260 You can tell I've not been on that second part much 563 00:27:25,260 --> 00:27:31,860 but have been convicted of a late. 564 00:27:31,860 --> 00:27:37,260 Get back to some principle times of fasting. 565 00:27:37,260 --> 00:27:40,860 Why? Because if you remember the father that brought his son 566 00:27:40,860 --> 00:27:45,460 to the disciples who were unable to deliver him. 567 00:27:45,460 --> 00:27:50,060 Remember when that evil spirit would take a hold of that young boy 568 00:27:50,060 --> 00:27:52,060 and would toss him and tear him and try to drown him 569 00:27:52,060 --> 00:27:55,460 or try to burn him in the fire and the father was beyond himself 570 00:27:55,460 --> 00:27:59,260 and he brings the two disciples, his son Jesus, 571 00:27:59,260 --> 00:28:01,660 and they couldn't do anything for him. 572 00:28:01,660 --> 00:28:06,260 But Jesus come to town and they said, 573 00:28:06,260 --> 00:28:07,860 Master, why can we not do this? 574 00:28:07,860 --> 00:28:09,060 How come we couldn't do it? 575 00:28:09,060 --> 00:28:16,660 He said, look, some things go with not but by prayer and fasting. 576 00:28:16,660 --> 00:28:19,060 Some of the issues you're going to have to get down and pray over 577 00:28:19,060 --> 00:28:21,660 and push a plate back. 578 00:28:21,660 --> 00:28:24,260 They're not going away until we have self-denial. 579 00:28:24,260 --> 00:28:25,860 Oh, come on. 580 00:28:25,860 --> 00:28:27,860 Now, how many will live in God's favor? 581 00:28:27,860 --> 00:28:30,460 How many will live in those unexpected moments, 582 00:28:30,460 --> 00:28:34,860 unexpected places from unexpected people in unexpected times? 583 00:28:34,860 --> 00:28:38,460 If we want to live in that favor and allow to ensure that 584 00:28:38,460 --> 00:28:41,460 that is coming in our lives, then we will have committed lives 585 00:28:41,460 --> 00:28:48,060 of prayer and fasting. 586 00:28:48,060 --> 00:28:49,860 I'll have to give an altar call if I keep preaching there. 587 00:28:49,860 --> 00:28:56,660 So let's go to number six to which I'd be the first to go down 588 00:28:56,660 --> 00:28:59,660 and convicted. 589 00:28:59,660 --> 00:29:01,860 We want to see this glory come in. 590 00:29:01,860 --> 00:29:05,660 There's some things that we can do to assure that his presence is 591 00:29:05,660 --> 00:29:07,860 ever so near. 592 00:29:07,860 --> 00:29:13,260 Corporately, we pray and corporately we fast. 593 00:29:13,260 --> 00:29:16,460 That means all of us together. 594 00:29:16,460 --> 00:29:17,260 You pray for me. 595 00:29:17,260 --> 00:29:20,660 I'm asking the Lord to help me for 2025, which is just a few 596 00:29:20,660 --> 00:29:22,660 weeks away. 597 00:29:22,660 --> 00:29:29,660 Matter of factly, Christmas is 10 weeks away. 598 00:29:29,660 --> 00:29:32,660 And then we're looking at January. 599 00:29:32,660 --> 00:29:33,660 We need clarity. 600 00:29:33,660 --> 00:29:38,860 I need clarity for direction for us in 2025 as we've been seeking 601 00:29:38,860 --> 00:29:42,660 to break the limits and the limiter off of our lives so that 602 00:29:42,660 --> 00:29:45,060 we may live in this favor of God's blessings. 603 00:29:45,060 --> 00:29:48,660 I want to know God, what's the next step for Hopewell Church 604 00:29:48,660 --> 00:29:48,860 of God? 605 00:29:48,860 --> 00:29:50,460 What is our next step? 606 00:29:50,460 --> 00:29:52,260 What do we need to endeavor? 607 00:29:52,260 --> 00:29:56,960 How do we need to discipline and disciple ourselves as we follow 608 00:29:56,960 --> 00:29:57,360 after you? 609 00:29:57,360 --> 00:30:02,260 What do we need to do to ensure your favor and your blessing on 610 00:30:02,260 --> 00:30:05,460 our church and families and those who are connected to this 611 00:30:05,460 --> 00:30:05,860 place? 612 00:30:05,860 --> 00:30:08,060 How do we ensure your favor? 613 00:30:08,060 --> 00:30:15,260 2025 its expectations of breaking the limits, but it's also 614 00:30:15,260 --> 00:30:21,260 living the way that God asked us to number six is a tough one as 615 00:30:21,260 --> 00:30:25,260 well to ensure God's favor. 616 00:30:25,260 --> 00:30:27,660 Then we must live a life of obedience. 617 00:30:27,660 --> 00:30:35,860 Do you realize I could go through the list of things that of our 618 00:30:35,860 --> 00:30:40,860 spiritual armament to say and ask you what do you think is the 619 00:30:40,860 --> 00:30:47,060 is the very one thing that the devil is the most afraid of in 620 00:30:47,060 --> 00:30:47,660 our lives. 621 00:30:47,660 --> 00:30:52,860 Some of us would say prayer right off the bat, but the devil 622 00:30:52,860 --> 00:30:54,460 is not so afraid of your prayer life. 623 00:30:54,460 --> 00:30:58,860 Because like I said before he knows that we're going to pray 624 00:30:58,860 --> 00:31:01,260 and get done before we pray and get through. 625 00:31:01,260 --> 00:31:08,260 He's not terrified by your praise and worship. 626 00:31:08,260 --> 00:31:08,460 Why? 627 00:31:08,460 --> 00:31:11,260 Because he knows you have limits as to where you'll go. 628 00:31:11,260 --> 00:31:15,460 We sing that song sometimes. 629 00:31:15,460 --> 00:31:17,860 My praise is my weapon, right? 630 00:31:17,860 --> 00:31:21,860 Some of our praise in him sharp enough to cut butter. 631 00:31:21,860 --> 00:31:28,860 You think I just but I don't. 632 00:31:28,860 --> 00:31:34,260 So you think he's afraid of your dull praise? 633 00:31:34,260 --> 00:31:40,460 You know the thing that you can do that the devil fears and 634 00:31:40,460 --> 00:31:41,460 trembles you. 635 00:31:41,460 --> 00:31:42,260 I say what's faith? 636 00:31:42,260 --> 00:31:43,460 No, he's got faith. 637 00:31:43,460 --> 00:31:46,060 The demons have faith. 638 00:31:46,060 --> 00:31:48,060 You need to get in your book. 639 00:31:48,060 --> 00:31:54,260 Read it, but what the devil fears and trembles at is when 640 00:31:54,260 --> 00:31:56,660 you and I are obedient. 641 00:31:56,660 --> 00:32:04,860 When you become obedient to the word and the will of God, the 642 00:32:04,860 --> 00:32:08,660 devil starts to shake in his boots because when you become 643 00:32:08,660 --> 00:32:11,660 obedient your praise gets a honed edge to it. 644 00:32:11,660 --> 00:32:19,060 When you become obedient to God's will and God's word, your 645 00:32:19,060 --> 00:32:23,060 prayer takes on another level because you're in obedience and 646 00:32:23,060 --> 00:32:26,260 the word now has authority when you speak it. 647 00:32:26,260 --> 00:32:28,860 And the devil begins to fear and tremble. 648 00:32:28,860 --> 00:32:33,460 But only when we are living in lives of obedience, he will not 649 00:32:33,460 --> 00:32:38,660 honor disobedience and favor never accompanies disobedience. 650 00:32:38,660 --> 00:32:44,060 For those of you that may have multiple children, the one that 651 00:32:44,060 --> 00:32:47,460 obeyed got the ice cream, the other two the belt. 652 00:32:47,460 --> 00:32:53,260 Speaking out of our own experience, I'm sorry. 653 00:32:53,260 --> 00:33:01,860 God has never blessed disobedience. 654 00:33:01,860 --> 00:33:05,260 I'll just give you the text and you can go read it. 655 00:33:05,260 --> 00:33:09,860 It's first Samuel 15 about about King Saul and what happened to 656 00:33:09,860 --> 00:33:16,460 him in his arrogance and disobedience to which the 657 00:33:16,460 --> 00:33:21,560 prophet Samuel would say to him, do you think God reveres burnt 658 00:33:21,560 --> 00:33:25,260 offerings and sacrifice more than he does obedience? 659 00:33:25,260 --> 00:33:34,460 No, to obey is better than sacrifice to obey. 660 00:33:34,460 --> 00:33:38,260 You see now you can come in and we can do all this stuff in the 661 00:33:38,260 --> 00:33:41,460 place you can't obey in the flesh. 662 00:33:41,460 --> 00:33:43,260 You've got to have self-denial. 663 00:33:43,260 --> 00:33:44,660 You've got to have surrender. 664 00:33:44,660 --> 00:33:47,460 You've got to have a revere and respect and all of God. 665 00:33:47,460 --> 00:33:50,860 You got to be living a life that is dedicated to purity and 666 00:33:50,860 --> 00:33:55,860 trying to live the utmost your best to be holy before God so 667 00:33:55,860 --> 00:33:56,860 that you'll obey him. 668 00:33:56,860 --> 00:33:57,860 Why? 669 00:33:57,860 --> 00:33:58,860 Because you obey. 670 00:33:58,860 --> 00:34:06,460 You obey your mama because of the fear of a limb in her right hand. 671 00:34:06,460 --> 00:34:10,460 My mother wasn't that big of a lady. 672 00:34:10,460 --> 00:34:14,860 At about 14, I could have had my way with my mother, but behind 673 00:34:14,860 --> 00:34:23,460 mother was dad. 674 00:34:23,460 --> 00:34:27,860 So I obey. 675 00:34:27,860 --> 00:34:31,460 And if he was a devil, he could care less how much you sing and 676 00:34:31,460 --> 00:34:33,860 clap. 677 00:34:33,860 --> 00:34:37,860 But when you're in obedience singing and clapping, he shakes 678 00:34:37,860 --> 00:34:40,060 in his shoes. 679 00:34:40,060 --> 00:34:42,860 He don't care how much you pray because you're not living a life 680 00:34:42,860 --> 00:34:48,260 in alignment that will usher in favor over you. 681 00:34:48,260 --> 00:34:53,460 But if you're in obedience and you pray, he's looking for a 682 00:34:53,460 --> 00:34:57,660 place to go. 683 00:34:57,660 --> 00:34:59,660 7 684 00:34:59,780 --> 00:35:01,180 Humility 685 00:35:01,180 --> 00:35:03,180 acts 2019 686 00:35:03,220 --> 00:35:05,660 Serving the Lord with all humility of mine 687 00:35:06,420 --> 00:35:12,580 First Peter 5 & 6 humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God that he may 688 00:35:13,300 --> 00:35:15,940 Exalt you in due time 689 00:35:17,180 --> 00:35:20,380 That he may display favor on you 690 00:35:21,220 --> 00:35:25,540 When the time is right and for you and I that's an unexpected moment 691 00:35:25,540 --> 00:35:28,140 When God so to pay they they've been obeying 692 00:35:28,780 --> 00:35:32,140 They've been under attack. It doesn't mean you won't be under attack. Hello 693 00:35:32,660 --> 00:35:34,660 But it means you're equipped for the attack 694 00:35:36,460 --> 00:35:38,460 He said you know what? 695 00:35:38,940 --> 00:35:41,780 I'm just gonna bless them today from nowhere 696 00:35:42,820 --> 00:35:44,820 You're gonna live by faith anyway 697 00:35:46,500 --> 00:35:49,260 Because as I'm going to give them just a little bit extra 698 00:35:50,460 --> 00:35:54,220 When he goes to the H&R block I'm gonna give him a surprise tomorrow 699 00:35:54,220 --> 00:35:56,820 You're saying you just can't get over that candy now 700 00:35:57,940 --> 00:35:59,940 That don't normally happen to us 701 00:36:03,860 --> 00:36:09,540 I'm just gonna bless him. Whoo. I can't wait to give some time on that. Hallelujah 702 00:36:14,940 --> 00:36:16,940 So we humble ourselves 703 00:36:18,780 --> 00:36:20,780 What's that mean you you 704 00:36:20,780 --> 00:36:23,380 That means you get off your own high horse 705 00:36:24,060 --> 00:36:28,180 You don't wait till you're till you're like a saw 706 00:36:29,140 --> 00:36:31,140 and you get knocked off 707 00:36:32,740 --> 00:36:34,740 And eventually become a paw 708 00:36:36,420 --> 00:36:42,940 You climb on down now that cannot can I help somebody in here you're not what you think you are 709 00:36:44,260 --> 00:36:46,660 You're not doing as well as you think you're doing 710 00:36:46,660 --> 00:36:51,060 And if you think you're in control of it all that means number one you haven't surrendered number two 711 00:36:51,060 --> 00:36:56,940 You're not in self-denial. So no no favors coming your way, but he will knock you off your horse 712 00:36:57,740 --> 00:36:59,740 The high one, you know, I'm done 713 00:37:01,140 --> 00:37:03,140 Your high horse 714 00:37:03,340 --> 00:37:07,140 You don't think you need him who do you think you are? I 715 00:37:08,420 --> 00:37:11,860 Mean how many of us have lived that and finally figured out we need him 716 00:37:11,860 --> 00:37:17,700 Are you go ask these folks? Well, how come because they got knocked off 717 00:37:18,540 --> 00:37:20,540 They'll tell you how 718 00:37:20,540 --> 00:37:23,900 He humbled them instead of them humbling themselves 719 00:37:24,700 --> 00:37:26,700 Anybody ever been humbled? 720 00:37:27,420 --> 00:37:29,420 It's a bitter pie 721 00:37:31,540 --> 00:37:33,540 Somebody say hurry up pastor. Okay 722 00:37:36,460 --> 00:37:38,460 So 723 00:37:38,460 --> 00:37:40,940 Okay, you 724 00:37:42,900 --> 00:37:44,500 Tell somebody 725 00:37:44,500 --> 00:37:51,180 The next time I come in groups around any of you and they go to talking about how long-winded your pastor is you tell 726 00:37:51,180 --> 00:37:56,100 Him say you won't believe it. He preached a ten-point sermon and got us out before 12. I 727 00:38:00,460 --> 00:38:02,460 Got ten minutes 728 00:38:02,460 --> 00:38:09,940 You're through shouting anyway, so now it's just I'm going through the semantics. I'm just giving you the good stuff now 729 00:38:14,300 --> 00:38:16,300 Testimonial praise 730 00:38:19,420 --> 00:38:25,540 We're made overcomers according to the revelator by the blood of the lamb and 731 00:38:25,540 --> 00:38:31,540 the words of our testimony that 732 00:38:34,460 --> 00:38:36,460 Means you've been tested 733 00:38:38,220 --> 00:38:40,220 That means you've been tried 734 00:38:41,020 --> 00:38:47,940 That means you've walked through the fire somewhere. You've been in and out of the wilderness on multiple occasions and 735 00:38:48,740 --> 00:38:52,500 You can still stand up because of the blood of the lamb and say 736 00:38:52,500 --> 00:38:55,020 Let me tell you how good the Lord's been to me 737 00:38:56,660 --> 00:39:04,220 You can say that when you're even face something worse than you've even been through because you're surrendered 738 00:39:06,220 --> 00:39:08,780 Because you're humbled and you're in self-denial 739 00:39:09,020 --> 00:39:15,500 right because you're doing your utmost to live before God in accordance to his commands and his word and you're trying your 740 00:39:15,500 --> 00:39:18,820 best to live the blessed life over on the good side and 741 00:39:18,820 --> 00:39:24,300 In spite of it all you can look at anybody who would try to question your condition and circumstance 742 00:39:24,540 --> 00:39:29,340 And you can say let me tell you how good God has been to me 743 00:39:29,660 --> 00:39:35,860 His favor has been on my life and they're gonna say well this is going on and that's going on and this is happening 744 00:39:35,860 --> 00:39:39,220 But you can still say I've not finished the test yet 745 00:39:40,740 --> 00:39:43,740 When I finish the test it'll be my 746 00:39:43,740 --> 00:39:50,580 Testimony when I make my way through it. Hallelujah. I'm gonna tell you it was by the blood of the lamb 747 00:39:51,100 --> 00:39:55,700 Because I stand before you and I will praise him 748 00:39:58,100 --> 00:40:03,220 I'm not gonna read it. You write it down go home and read it at Psalm 145 that goes with this particular point 749 00:40:05,700 --> 00:40:09,500 You go read that Psalm this afternoon when you get a little bit of quiet time 750 00:40:09,500 --> 00:40:12,300 See the testimony of the psalmist 751 00:40:13,660 --> 00:40:16,660 And equate your experience with him 752 00:40:20,660 --> 00:40:22,660 And favor comes your way 753 00:40:25,140 --> 00:40:27,140 Number nine say we're almost there 754 00:40:31,740 --> 00:40:33,740 There's an atmosphere of expectancy 755 00:40:33,740 --> 00:40:37,780 When you know God's favor is upon your life 756 00:40:41,340 --> 00:40:42,340 I 757 00:40:42,340 --> 00:40:48,180 Expect those unexpected things. I know that that doesn't hardly make sense when you say it, but 758 00:40:51,580 --> 00:40:57,220 What I'm saying is I wasn't really surprised yesterday I was amused 759 00:40:57,220 --> 00:41:02,300 It's like really I asked her three times really. Yes right there on your screen 760 00:41:02,940 --> 00:41:04,940 Huh? 761 00:41:04,940 --> 00:41:06,940 You know 762 00:41:06,940 --> 00:41:08,940 Well, the Lord is good 763 00:41:09,380 --> 00:41:10,780 Amen 764 00:41:10,780 --> 00:41:14,540 If I if I had to pay the amount that's coming I would have shouted 765 00:41:16,340 --> 00:41:18,860 Thinking well, hallelujah, that's all it is 766 00:41:20,140 --> 00:41:24,060 Come on, I'm gonna say it's good. I'm gonna say it's good 767 00:41:24,060 --> 00:41:26,060 Hallelujah, that's all it is 768 00:41:26,820 --> 00:41:28,820 Come on 769 00:41:31,660 --> 00:41:37,540 So it's sort of like Stan Wyman I'm gonna do number 10 and we'll let you go 770 00:41:39,660 --> 00:41:41,660 It's like 771 00:41:41,980 --> 00:41:43,980 It's like these coaches 772 00:41:43,980 --> 00:41:53,100 Who coach players who are not accustomed to being on winning teams? 773 00:41:57,020 --> 00:42:01,740 They score touchdown they look like there is a soul train or so 774 00:42:04,020 --> 00:42:06,740 Coach gives him by the face my son act like you've been there before 775 00:42:10,580 --> 00:42:12,580 When you've been blessed 776 00:42:12,580 --> 00:42:16,860 It's not that you take them nonchalantly. It's like oh well I don't surprise me 777 00:42:18,300 --> 00:42:20,300 When you live in favor 778 00:42:20,820 --> 00:42:22,820 It doesn't surprise you 779 00:42:23,220 --> 00:42:25,220 Doesn't mean you doesn't appreciate it 780 00:42:25,900 --> 00:42:30,460 It means that now you're living in a line of expectation. I 781 00:42:31,500 --> 00:42:36,220 Expect God's blessings on my life in unexpected times 782 00:42:37,500 --> 00:42:39,500 unexpected seasons 783 00:42:40,020 --> 00:42:42,020 from unexpected places 784 00:42:42,020 --> 00:42:44,740 from definitely unexpected people 785 00:42:46,340 --> 00:42:48,340 And so when it 786 00:42:49,140 --> 00:42:53,020 When it happens people look say well you're a little more excited than that and I'm just grinning 787 00:42:53,980 --> 00:42:56,460 Well, you don't know I'm accustomed to this sort of thing 788 00:42:57,660 --> 00:42:59,660 Wow, because I'm God's favorite 789 00:43:03,620 --> 00:43:07,860 He loves us I don't know about y'all he loves us 790 00:43:07,860 --> 00:43:09,860 He loves us 791 00:43:11,980 --> 00:43:13,980 And so I testify of it 792 00:43:17,940 --> 00:43:21,740 We got a test we're going through now that we're gonna test 793 00:43:25,820 --> 00:43:30,860 Somehow some way all things 794 00:43:30,860 --> 00:43:37,540 Work together for good to those who are called according to his purpose 795 00:43:41,180 --> 00:43:43,180 That's our purpose 796 00:43:44,060 --> 00:43:46,060 Surrender not an issue 797 00:43:46,660 --> 00:43:51,860 Self-denial I know who and what I am and what he called me from and I'm still that same person 798 00:43:52,380 --> 00:43:55,380 But only redeemed by grace and cleansed by his blood 799 00:43:55,380 --> 00:44:00,380 Still that boy from snuff holler 800 00:44:03,740 --> 00:44:05,740 Knowing that I wouldn't be anything 801 00:44:07,300 --> 00:44:09,300 Without him 802 00:44:10,220 --> 00:44:12,940 But because of him we're everything 803 00:44:17,740 --> 00:44:19,740 It's what I'm saying 804 00:44:19,740 --> 00:44:27,580 We're everything it's what I'm trying to get across to you this morning 805 00:44:30,380 --> 00:44:32,380 He knows you 806 00:44:35,460 --> 00:44:41,820 And I want you living under the umbrella of his favor, but I can't I can't make you do this stuff 807 00:44:43,900 --> 00:44:46,500 But until we get an alignment as 808 00:44:46,500 --> 00:44:52,980 Moses is giving again and rehearsing in the hearing of the people of Israel again 809 00:44:53,420 --> 00:44:58,300 You can either have cursing or blessings. Here's what you do to be blessed 810 00:45:00,620 --> 00:45:02,620 You say is it that simple yes 811 00:45:03,740 --> 00:45:08,740 If it was much more difficult, I wouldn't be able to accomplish it. It has to be simple 812 00:45:08,740 --> 00:45:10,740 You 813 00:45:16,220 --> 00:45:20,260 Say is a byproduct of God's favor 814 00:45:24,820 --> 00:45:27,660 The more of his favor that is extended into your life 815 00:45:30,460 --> 00:45:32,460 The more you believe from him 816 00:45:32,460 --> 00:45:39,700 The more you believe of him the more you trust in him 817 00:45:41,300 --> 00:45:45,860 Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God 818 00:45:45,860 --> 00:46:00,460 And hearing by the Word of God, how many of you want to live on the good side?