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Hallelujah.

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The more I seek you, the more I find you.

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The more I find you, the more I love you.

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I want to sit at your feet, drink from the cup in your bed,

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lay back against you and breathe,

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feel your heart beat.

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This love is so deep, it's more than I can stand.

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I melt in your peace, it's overwhelming.

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Oh, we love you today, Lord.

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And we sense the presence of the Holy One in this place.

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Church, would you just lift up your hands right there where you are

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and begin to worship Him.

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The King of Glory is in this house.

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Open up the gates and the King of Glory will come in.

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I've come to tell you the King of Glory is in this house.

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Who is this King of Glory?

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The Lord, strong and mighty.

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The Lord, strong and mighty.

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The Lord, mighty in battle is in this place today.

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And whatever you're walking through, dealing with, battling or fighting,

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I have good news.

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The King of Glory is in this place today.

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Would you worship Him?

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Would you honor His presence right there where you are?

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We just bless you today.

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We bless you, O King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

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We recognize your presence.

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We recognize you're in this place.

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Oh, and how we love you today.

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How we love you today.

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Don't you love Him today?

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Let's give the Lord a hand clap of praise.

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Hallelujah.

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Hallelujah, hallelujah.

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Would you give these young people and the not so young people

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a great big hand today?

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Amen.

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Did they not do a great job in the house?

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Amen.

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You know what this means right here?

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This means when you went to meet Jesus,

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there's still going to be people making sure the church goes forward.

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Amen.

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So we're thankful we make room for them to do what they do

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so that they'll know that not only is He your King,

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but He's their King.

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Amen.

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And He's going to make sure that the gospel is still preached.

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They're going to make sure that the songs are still sung,

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the testimony still go forward,

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that people will hear that Jesus is Savior,

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Sanctifier, Holy Ghost, Baptizer, Healer,

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and a soon coming King when our time here is done.

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Amen.

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Let them know how much you appreciate them today.

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Hallelujah.

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Hallelujah.

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The Lord is good.

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Amen.

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You can be seated today in the house of the Lord.

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So good to be with you.

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My name's Scotty Hager.

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For those of you who don't know who I am,

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I'm the state youth director,

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and Pastor Cliff gave me an opportunity to be with you today.

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I'm just thankful to be here with what I consider

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one of the very finest pastoral families

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in all of the Church of God in Tennessee.

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Do you agree with that today?

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Let them know how much you appreciate them and love them.

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Amen.

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It's good to have my wife Melissa with me.

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She rarely gets to travel with me,

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so I'm glad she's here,

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and our daughter Brinkley, who thinks she's a Starkey.

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But we're thankful for that.

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We do love the Starkeys.

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I'm glad they're here as well.

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The Moody's are here.

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That's why he doesn't want South Cleveland

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to see the audience today.

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I think they come to hear good preaching.

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I'm just going to be honest with you.

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They're tired of that tired old preaching.

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No, I'm just kidding.

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I don't know why they're here,

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but that's going to be my story,

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and I'm sticking to it.

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Amen.

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You tell him I know you will.

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Amen.

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Don't you love the Lord?

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Aren't you thankful for his goodness?

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I know your pastor is ready to preach.

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He's not preaching sometimes, I understand.

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Snow and Christmas, and he was shaking down there.

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Go ahead and go.

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He's ready, and I'm like, I'm trying to get ready.

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He's ready.

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Ready to preach.

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You guys better be ready next week,

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is all I can tell you.

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Your ears will be pinned back

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like a double-barrel shotguns went off in this place.

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So it's a joy to be with you today.

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Is Kim here?

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Kim, are you here?

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The pianist, where are you at, Kim?

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Kim, can we do key of G somewhere around because he lives?

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Kim and I, we have not practiced this one,

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just to be honest with you.

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It's about the only way I can ever calm down

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and just preach is I need to sing just a little bit.

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But it's just a joy to be here at Hopewell.

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You all are growing.

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The Lord is doing great things, and I know for Brian,

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Brian, it has to be nice to be the third best-looking man

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in the room today behind me and Pastor Cliff.

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Amen.

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Man, you're doing a great job with these kids.

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You're almost as good-looking as me and the pastor.

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Don't you agree, Cliff?

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Amen.

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And you and Erica, you guys have a great pastoral team here

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with the stewards and the waters.

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We love them.

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We love them.

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Aren't you thankful Jesus is alive?

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Because he lives I can face tomorrow

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Because he lives all fear is gone

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Because I know he holds the future

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And life is worth the living just because he lives

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God sent his son

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They called him Jesus

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He came to love, heal and forgive

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I love this part.

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He lived and died to buy my pardon

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An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives

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Because he lives I can face tomorrow

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Because he lives all fear is gone

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Because I know he holds the future

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And life is worth the living just because he lives

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Listen to this verse.

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And then one day

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Is anybody ready for that day?

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I'll cross that river

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I'll fight life's final war with pain

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And then as death gives way to victory

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I'll see the lights of glory

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And I know he lives

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Because he lives I can face tomorrow

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Because he lives all fear is gone

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Because I know he holds the future

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And life is worth the living just because he lives

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I like this chorus.

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It says something very interesting.

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The third line says because I know he holds the future.

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Not because I know what the future holds.

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That's not what it says.

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Not because I'm preparing like I know what's going to happen in the future.

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But I can rejoice today because I know who holds the future.

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And if he has brought me this far, then I know he's going to lead me on.

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And if grace has gotten us to this point, then I know grace will get us on.

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And if mercy has followed me to this place, then I know mercy is going to follow me on.

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And so when I may not know the future, and I may not understand the happenings,

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And when it's not making sense, here's what I hold on to.

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I know who holds the future.

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And I know my Redeemer lives.

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And if he is living and my future is in his hands, then everything's going to be alright.

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Therefore I can sing, because he lives.

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Because he lives, I can face tomorrow.

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Whatever it may bring.

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Because he lives.

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All fear is gone.

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Because I know he holds my future.

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And life is worth a living just because he lives.

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Aren't you thankful he lives today?

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Tell your neighbor he lives.

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He lives.

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Did you let Miss Kim know how much you appreciate her today?

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Amen, amen, and amen.

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He lives.

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Hallelujah.

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That should be our story.

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He lives.

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That's enough, right?

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He lives.

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He lives.

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He lives today.

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God bless you today.

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If you have your Bibles, go with me.

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The book of Luke, chapter 24.

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The book of Luke, chapter 24.

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Go with me there if you will.

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I'm going to be reading verses 13 through 17, but I'm going to preach pretty much that

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entire chapter.

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But I'll do it quickly.

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Because Cracker Barrel is calling.

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Because everybody knows hardly anybody cooks Sunday dinner anymore.

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And so if Cracker Barrel is not calling, El Janete is calling.

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Amen.

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And so you've got tacos on the brain.

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Because your special K done became unspecial.

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Luke, chapter 24, beginning at verse 13.

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Luke 24, beginning at verse 13.

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Now behold, two men, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus,

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which was seven miles from Jerusalem.

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And they talked together of all of these things which had happened.

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So it was while they conversed and reasoned that Jesus himself drew near and went with

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them.

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But their eyes were restrained so that they did not know it was him.

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And he said to them, what kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as

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you walk and are sad?

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Father, I ask you to bring blessings to your word today.

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For your word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.

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Your word will stand and has stood the test of time.

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Your word is from everlasting to everlasting.

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Now let this word be hidden in our heart that we might not sin against you.

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Let this word be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path that we may walk in your

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ways.

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Speak to us today.

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Let us hear your word.

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Let us apply your word.

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And let our hearts and minds be prepared to receive the word of the Lord.

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We love you today.

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We honor you forever as the conquering king of kings and Lord of lords.

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In Christ's name we pray.

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And everyone said together.

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I want to talk to you for a few moments about lessons on the Emmaus road.

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Lessons on the Emmaus road.

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This is how our story begins.

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Christ has been crucified, wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities.

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The chastisement of our peace has been upon him and by his stripes we are now healed.

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It was after his last breath after the guards have pierced him with spears.

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And Jesus has said it is finished after they have given him the sour things there at the

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cross.

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He took his last breath and immediately they came to get his body from the cross knowing

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they had only until sundown to make this happen.

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As they take his body they wrap him up and they put him in a tomb.

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It is in the tomb that things begin to happen in the spirit world that you and I have never

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seen.

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But it is there in the tomb why his body is laying there that Christ goes and has his

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way with the enemy if you will.

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It is in this place that after three days Christ comes back from the dead and we sing

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he arose, he arose, Christ Jesus has arose.

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Here the ladies come to anoint his body and prepare him for his final burial.

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When they get to the tomb the stone has been rolled away.

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The angels meet them and say why seek ye the living among the dead?

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It is here that they go and tell the disciples he was not there but he is living just as

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he told us he would be.

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This is where our story begins with this Emmaus walk.

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This Emmaus walk that changes the lives of these disciples and really changes the world

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because when the ladies tell the disciples this Peter and John run to the tomb to see

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it for themselves and sure enough his body is not there.

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So the Emmaus story begins right here with now behold two of them speaking of the disciples

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were traveling that day to a village called Emmaus.

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It is here that we begin to see that Jesus comes, the Bible says Jesus himself came and

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began to walk with them and I have good news this same Jesus whom I preach of still comes

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to where we are in the person of the Holy Ghost and he still walks with us on the roads

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that we are living for he said though I go away I will pray to the Father and he will

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send to you another comforter who will abide with you forever and so I have come to make

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the argument that God is still Emmanuel God with us through the person of the Holy Spirit

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and wherever we may be walking in a good place or in a bad place on a mountain top or down

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in the valley through a struggle or through a victory I have good news there is one that

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walks with us that calls us by name and knows where we are he fights for us he stands beside

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us he guards us he knows in the middle of everything going on exactly what we need for

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him to be you see I want you to understand he is still Emmanuel God with us and he is

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right here in this place where we are today and he walks with them and begins this journey

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with them through the Emmaus walk.

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But as we get through this story we begin to see that there are some types of distractions

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that have happened in the lives of these men who were walking with Christ that they did

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not recognize who he was.

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So over the next few moments I want to talk to you about two major things one distractions

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on the journey and number two is staying focused on the journey.

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Lessons learned on the Emmaus journey number one distractions verse 13 says two of them

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were walking.

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Fourteen says they talked together of the things which had happened speaking of the

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crucifixion and all that we have already been through.

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Fifteen says they conversed and reasoned with one another and that Jesus himself drew near

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and went with them.

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Aren't you thankful Jesus catches them and finishes the journey with them.

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I've got good news for you today he will find you right where you are and he'll finish

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whatever has been started.

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Verse 16 tells us their eyes were restrained.

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Seventeen says that Jesus says to them what is this conversation you're having as you're

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walking I realize that you are sad.

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Eighteen tells us that one whose name was Cleopas said are you the only stranger in

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Jerusalem have you not known the things that have happened in these days and Jesus said

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what things and they said the things concerning Jesus of Nazareth who was a prophet mighty

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indeed in word before God and all of the people and how the chief priests and our rulers

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delivered him to be condemned to death and crucified him.

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The first thing I want you to see here is this these disciples were more focused on

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the circumstance than they were on the promise of God that had already been given.

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As they begin to talk to the Lord they say to him are you the only stranger or do you

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not know exactly what's going on in our little town.

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Have you not heard about the crucifixion.

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Have you not heard about what's happened here.

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How in the world are you so lost in what's going on.

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There's no kind of Nintendo for you to be playing on.

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There's no Instagram for you to be looking at.

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Tick-tock has been banned in the United States.

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There's no way you don't know what's going on in the world right now.

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How are you the only one in all of Israel that doesn't know what's going on.

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They are so focused on the circumstance they did not realize who was standing in front

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of them.

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Can I tell you something in the house today.

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So many times in our life we get so focused on the circumstance we forget that Jesus said

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I will be with you always even to the ends of the world.

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Sometimes we get so focused on the situation that we forget what the word of the Lord has

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declared to us and that is that we are the head and not the tail and that he is the first

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and he will be the last.

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Sometimes we get so focused on what's going on in our world we have forgotten what God

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has spoken to us.

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But I've come to remind someone in the house today that it is time to remember the word

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of the Lord in a barren land.

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It is time to jerk your harp off the willow tree and sing a new song to the Lord in the

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middle of your circumstance.

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It is time for you to stand up in a midnight hour and say I will rejoice in the Lord always

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and again I say rejoice.

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I might be bound up tore up messed up and pinned up but here's what I know he who the

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Son is set free is free indeed and so right here in the middle of this circumstance I'm

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going to shout I'm going to sing I'm going to read I'm going to pray I'm going to fast

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why?

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Because I don't do these things based on white circumstances.

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I do these things based on who he is and he's alive forevermore.

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He's the King of kings and Lord of lords.

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He is the one who's more than able.

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I've come to tell you circumstances will come and go.

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Problems will come and go.

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The rain is going to fall.

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The wind is going to blow.

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The hurricane is going to make its way onto shore.

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But here's what I know that he that begin a good work in me will be faithful to the end

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to complete it.

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Here's one thing I know Jesus said in this world you will have tribulation but be of

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great cheer for I have overcome the world hallelujah.

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They're so focused on the circumstance they're trying to make the circumstance make the other

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man depressed.

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Have you not heard how bad it is?

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I'm about to tear this coat off and preach right here.

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I'm tired of us trying to make everybody else feel bad about what we're feeling bad about

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and getting mad because they're not getting as mad as we are about what we're mad about

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saying honey I don't know how I got in this shape but I'm not going to stay here in the

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shape that I'm in because Jesus said I had life forevermore.

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So focus on the circumstance they were distracted.

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But not only do we deal with circumstances and Jesus dealt with circumstances.

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David dealt with circumstances for both of them even said my God my God why have you

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forsaken me?

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They've all been there.

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Circumstances come and go.

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Health comes and goes.

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Money comes and goes.

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Children they always show back up for money.

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Children I was going to say come and go but they don't ever go they just keep coming.

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Amen.

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Circumstances happen.

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Paul had a thorn in his flesh.

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He had sickness.

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Circumstances come and go.

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It's life.

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We allow ourselves to be so distracted we forget of why we're here.

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But not only circumstances distract us on the journey but discouragement distracts us

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on the journey.

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Verse 21 the disciples say but we were hoping that it was he who was going to redeem Israel

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indeed besides all this today is the third day since these things happened.

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Yes certain women of our company arrived at the tomb and they astonished us when they

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did not find his body.

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They came saying they had seen a vision of angels and certain of those who were with

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us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said.

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So all of a sudden it's not only circumstances but their discouraged.

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We had hoped he was going to be the one who redeemed Israel.

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And let me tell you how bad it is the one who redeemed Israel not only did he die but

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now we can't even find his body.

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That's a bad day right.

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Because we all know where dead people are right.

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They're in the grave.

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This is probably before we started putting people in urns.

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Amen.

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And whatever.

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I'm not being light hearted but it tickled me.

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This is uncle passed this week and I get to the funeral home and I didn't know and they

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had his urn and a bright orange Clemson tiger.

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They had his ashes in a bright orange Clemson tiger urn.

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I thought how fitting this man lived and died and loved Clemson tigers.

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I hope all of you have an orange UT urn somewhere that we can sing Rocky Top at your funerals.

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Amen.

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But here they're like so discouraged because we had hoped that he was going to be the one.

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He said he was the one.

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We hoped he was going to be the one and now the women have said his body is not even in

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the tomb where we put him.

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He's nowhere to be found.

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So discouraged.

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We had hoped and now our hope is gone.

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We had hoped he was the one who would redeem but he's gone.

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His body is gone.

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He didn't do what we thought he was going to do.

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Have you ever been there when he didn't do what you thought he was going to do?

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Have you ever been there when he didn't answer it the way you thought it was going to be answered?

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Have you ever been there when you just knew your faith was big enough and you just knew you had

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done everything right but it just didn't come to pass?

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This is where the disciples were.

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We just knew he was the one.

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He did miracles and the lame was walking and the blind was seeing him.

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People were coming back to life and we just knew he was the one.

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But now we can't even find him.

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Have you ever been there so discouraged that you feel just like they do?

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I can't even find him.

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It's like my prayers are hitting the roof and they're falling back down on the bed.

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It's like when I call out to him he doesn't hear me and I've not heard from him.

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I can't even find him.

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Have you ever been there when the prayer wasn't being answered and the fasting didn't seem to be

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working out and everything just seemed to be falling apart and everything I was dealing with

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was sort of, it just felt in vain.

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I've come to tell someone today who's dealing with discouragement that many times discouragement

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comes as a distraction to hold you back from being able to see what God is trying to do.

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And so I want to remind you that even David was discouraged.

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He tells us in Psalm 42 that he says, why are you discouraged oh my soul?

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Why are you so quiet within me?

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I'm prisoned.

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I have my teeth

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utilized all the neighbors.

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tomorrow and that my Redeemer lives. Therefore I will hope in God because

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here's what I know about him. He is still a strong tower. He is still a defense. He

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is still more than able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all we

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should ever think or ask. He is still the one that gives peace in the storm. He

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still gives a song in the night. He's still the one who's more than able. He's

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still the one who can. I've come to remind somebody in the house

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discouragement is coming but here's what the psalmist said. When my heart is

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overwhelmed lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Why? Because discouragement

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will come but the rock is still stable. Hallelujah. Tell your neighbor the rock

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is still stable.

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Discouragement comes but I want to remind the church that weeping endures for a

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night. Seasons of weeping will be here. Discouragement will come. Weeping endures

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for a night but but joy comes in the morning. Hallelujah. I've come to tell you

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joy is on its way. Don't you give up where you are for joy is on its way. Don't

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you stop where you are for joy is on its way. Don't you quit where you are for

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joy is on its way. Joy unspeakable and full of glory. I've come to remind

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somebody joy is not just you feeling good. Joy is knowing my Redeemer lives

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and joy is knowing that the tomb is empty and joy is knowing he's coming back

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just like he said and joy is knowing that he's still a healer and joy is

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knowing he's still a deliverer and joy is knowing he knows where my children

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are when I don't know where my children are and joy is knowing that depression

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walks out and oppression walks out when Jesus walks in I've come to tell you joy

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comes in the morning. Hallelujah. Circumstances and discouragement begin

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to be distractions in their life on this journey with Jesus. Notice they're on a

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journey with Jesus still dealing with circumstances and still dealing with

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discouragement. What? What? They're walking with him and they're still

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dealing with circumstances and discouragement. 50 years from now

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somebody's gonna say that church was filled with the Holy Ghost and they were

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still dealing with discouragement and they were still dealing with distractions.

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Yes! They're in the same place we are and we're sitting back going what? Jesus

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was right there and they were doing he's right here too. Hallelujah. He's still

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right here too. Hallelujah. You are more than gonna conquer her through Jesus

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Christ your Lord. And the third distraction on the journey I only have

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three so we're halfway through right here. The third distraction on your

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journey we find it in in verse 25 but I want to read I've already read that verse

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25 after they said that they went to the tomb and found it just as the women

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said at verse 25 then Jesus said to them, oh foolish ones and slow of heart to

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believe in all that the prophets have spoken. Ought not the Christ have

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suffered these things and enter into his glory? The third distraction is this

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ignorance or unbelief? Verse 25 Jesus said foolish ones slow of heart to

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believe. The third distraction on the journey is unbelief or ignorance. Either

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one you want to call it because Jesus said slow of heart to believe. Unbelief

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ignorance why are you calling them ignorant? Because Jesus said over and

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over and over before his death. Over and over and over and over before his death.

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How many of you like to repeat yourself? Oh you do? Like he's just ready to

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worship. I mean he's a worshipper, he's a worshiping man. Amen. Parents how many of

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you like to repeat yourself to your children? Wives how many of you like to

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repeat yourself to your husbands? I don't even have to ask husbands because we

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don't even talk. Amen we just sit there. But over and over and over Jesus says

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these words in Matthew 12 and Mark 8 as Jonah was in the belly of the well

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so the Son of Man will be buried in the earth and in three days he will rise.

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Mark 8 he tells them very plainly, he tells the disciples Mark 8 he began to

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teach them that the Son of Man would suffer and be rejected and killed and

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after three days he would rise again. In Matthew 17 he says I'm gonna go to

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Jerusalem and I will be turned over into the high priest's hands and they will

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reject me and they will beat me and I will be crucified and then I will rise

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again. But for some reason unbelief even though Jesus said it over and over and

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over unbelief had settled in the disciples heart on their journey. Can I

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tell you something? So many times in our life even though the promises of God are

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yes and amen and we read the promises and we stand on the promises and we

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sing the promises and we hear the promises and we declare the promises of

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God we still have moments of unbelief on the journey. Maybe not y'all because

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Cliff Waters is your pastor amen. But every other church of God in this town

485
00:30:11,240 --> 00:30:13,720
from North Cleveland to Westmore to South Cleveland to 14th Street and

486
00:30:13,720 --> 00:30:17,320
Michigan Avenue I can go on and on and on. The rest of the church of God deals

487
00:30:17,320 --> 00:30:20,560
with unbelief at times but none of y'all amen pastor Cliff none of these people

488
00:30:20,560 --> 00:30:23,000
ever unbelief.

489
00:30:24,880 --> 00:30:32,720
Why are you so slow to believe? Why are you struggling with belief? I told you

490
00:30:32,720 --> 00:30:36,480
I'd be crucified I told you I was gonna be buried I told you I'd rise again why

491
00:30:36,480 --> 00:30:42,040
are you struggling to believe when that's what the word of the Lord says? I'm

492
00:30:42,040 --> 00:30:45,800
about to preach this so you better get ready take off your I'm about to get my

493
00:30:45,800 --> 00:30:52,360
feelings hurt hat and just let me do it. It is time that the church be the church

494
00:30:52,360 --> 00:30:58,440
and quit walking in unbelief. If Jesus said it'll happen then we stand on the

495
00:30:58,440 --> 00:31:03,040
promises of God. If Jesus said it was gonna take place then we stand on the

496
00:31:03,040 --> 00:31:07,200
promises of God. If it makes sense or if it doesn't make sense here's what I know

497
00:31:07,200 --> 00:31:11,200
that these present and light afflictions they are but for a moment but they're

498
00:31:11,200 --> 00:31:15,400
working out for me an eternal weight of glory. Here's what I know I know that

499
00:31:15,400 --> 00:31:18,640
even though you don't like it and that my grandma can't understand it I know

500
00:31:18,640 --> 00:31:22,600
what the word of the Lord was to me and so I'm gonna stand on the word of the

501
00:31:22,600 --> 00:31:27,480
Lord because even in children's church they taught me the BIBLE yes that's the

502
00:31:27,480 --> 00:31:33,520
book for me I stand up on the word of God the BIBLE it doesn't matter if you

503
00:31:33,520 --> 00:31:37,200
don't believe it I believe it it doesn't matter if you don't believe it he said

504
00:31:37,200 --> 00:31:42,240
it and it will come to pass therefore I will believe the report of the Lord it

505
00:31:42,240 --> 00:31:46,200
looks like a drought's coming but Jesus said it's gonna rain so honey get ready

506
00:31:46,200 --> 00:31:50,280
for a cloud the size of a man's hand to come where you are and break this drought

507
00:31:50,280 --> 00:31:54,200
it looks like you're going under but there's a sea walker that's walking out

508
00:31:54,200 --> 00:31:58,440
to your situation who's gonna pull you up out of what's trying to overwhelm you

509
00:31:58,440 --> 00:32:02,080
I don't know what you're dealing with in this valley but the lily of the valley

510
00:32:02,080 --> 00:32:05,880
is standing right there to give you a fresh breath I don't know what's going on

511
00:32:05,880 --> 00:32:09,280
in your world but I've come to tell you he will open up rivers and desolate

512
00:32:09,280 --> 00:32:13,520
places and fountains in the middle of your valley that you will find refreshing

513
00:32:13,520 --> 00:32:17,480
for the book of Acts says that times of refreshing will come I've come to tell

514
00:32:17,480 --> 00:32:21,960
somebody don't you no longer worry about what's coming your way don't you be

515
00:32:21,960 --> 00:32:25,440
ignorant in your belief don't you stand back there in unbelief but I've come to

516
00:32:25,440 --> 00:32:32,720
tell you believe the report of the Lord hallelujah believe the report of the

517
00:32:32,720 --> 00:32:38,560
Lord somebody tell your neighbor is time to believe your children are coming home

518
00:32:38,560 --> 00:32:43,160
not because I said it but because the prodigal son came home and if he did it

519
00:32:43,160 --> 00:32:47,340
for him he'll do it again shake that out of us some that have a hey satan I've

520
00:32:47,340 --> 00:32:51,320
come to tell somebody depressions walking out not because I said it but

521
00:32:51,320 --> 00:32:54,920
because the Bible says that God's not giving us a spirit of fear but of love

522
00:32:54,920 --> 00:32:58,960
and empowering a sound mind not because I said it but because the word says it

523
00:32:58,960 --> 00:33:04,120
it is time that we believe hallelujah for we're a people of faith and not a

524
00:33:04,120 --> 00:33:11,360
people of fear quit being distracted by unbelief you never gonna have me back I

525
00:33:11,360 --> 00:33:16,280
apologize for I got ugly it's time for the church to be the church it's time to

526
00:33:16,280 --> 00:33:20,600
be a people of faith and not a people of fear it's time to throw your shoulders

527
00:33:20,600 --> 00:33:25,020
back and square your jaw and you act like Isaiah where Isaiah said I set my

528
00:33:25,020 --> 00:33:29,200
face like a flint it is time for you to throw your shoulders back and pick up

529
00:33:29,200 --> 00:33:32,640
the sword of the spirit and declare warfare over whatever's going in your

530
00:33:32,640 --> 00:33:36,240
life because the kingdom of God suffers violence and the violent take it by

531
00:33:36,240 --> 00:33:40,120
storm I've come to tell you we are the children of the Most High God and the

532
00:33:40,120 --> 00:33:44,040
gates of hell will not prevail against you things are going to work out for

533
00:33:44,040 --> 00:33:52,080
your good and for his glory even on the journey that you're on right now lessons

534
00:33:52,080 --> 00:33:55,880
on the Emmaus Road distraction circumstances discouragement ignorance

535
00:33:55,880 --> 00:34:07,160
and unbelief the Bible says my people perish for a lack of knowledge my people

536
00:34:07,160 --> 00:34:12,040
pairs because they don't know and that what we had said in the 21st century

537
00:34:12,040 --> 00:34:17,560
tweet that my people pairs because they don't know it's what he said you know

538
00:34:17,560 --> 00:34:21,640
why we don't know because we've been tick tocking and Instagramming and

539
00:34:21,640 --> 00:34:26,880
watching Jeopardy see everybody was like I feel tick tock amen cuz that's what my

540
00:34:26,880 --> 00:34:30,920
kids do you watching Jeopardy 2 amen had to throw in days of our lives one time

541
00:34:30,920 --> 00:34:36,200
amen are you saying all that things sin no but if it ever takes place you picking

542
00:34:36,200 --> 00:34:42,680
up the book then yes if you know more of the people that sing on Broadway than

543
00:34:42,680 --> 00:34:45,640
you do that the 12 disciples name then we might have a problem but I ain't

544
00:34:45,640 --> 00:34:50,440
calling any names I mean that was the weakest come on I've ever had my life

545
00:34:50,440 --> 00:34:55,320
but thank you back there in the back but you know it's the truth my people are

546
00:34:55,320 --> 00:35:01,400
they they're dying because they don't know they don't know come to tell you

547
00:35:01,400 --> 00:35:07,560
it's all right here it's all right here it's all right here not only that he

548
00:35:07,560 --> 00:35:13,040
still speaks by his spirit and just like this Emmaus Road he still walks with us

549
00:35:13,040 --> 00:35:17,320
on our journey I'm gonna get off that cuz y'all ain't preaching with me on

550
00:35:17,320 --> 00:35:23,240
that one I don't hurt somebody's feeling but that's distractions on the journey

551
00:35:23,240 --> 00:35:27,600
circumstances discouragement ignorance and unbelief so for the next few

552
00:35:27,600 --> 00:35:33,040
moments I want to talk to you about staying focused on the journey I want

553
00:35:33,040 --> 00:35:36,400
to talk to you about staying focused on the journey because look what Jesus says

554
00:35:36,400 --> 00:35:42,320
to them in verse 26 after he says oh you slow of heart to believe verse 26 ought

555
00:35:42,320 --> 00:35:45,920
not the Christ to have suffered these things and enter into his glory I love

556
00:35:45,920 --> 00:35:56,120
this verse 27 and beginning at Moses the giver of the law beginning at Moses and

557
00:35:56,120 --> 00:36:00,440
all of the prophets he expounded to them in all the scriptures the things

558
00:36:00,440 --> 00:36:09,160
concerning himself so I think if I read that right it went something like this

559
00:36:09,160 --> 00:36:16,320
you see the Messiah was there gentlemen when Moses came out of Egypt and he took

560
00:36:16,320 --> 00:36:21,800
his finger and he carved a sidewalk in the middle of the Red Sea and the Messiah

561
00:36:21,800 --> 00:36:26,400
was there on top of the mountain that began to thunder and have theophanic

562
00:36:26,400 --> 00:36:31,240
elements of fire and when when all of a sudden that same finger that that carved

563
00:36:31,240 --> 00:36:35,560
a sidewalk began to ride on a tablet and gave him the Ten Commandments you see

564
00:36:35,560 --> 00:36:40,320
the Messiah was there when God said let there be light in the middle of creation

565
00:36:40,320 --> 00:36:45,200
and God said let us create man in our image the Messiah was there you see the

566
00:36:45,200 --> 00:36:50,480
Messiah was there with Moses when he smites the rock and water water water

567
00:36:50,480 --> 00:36:54,680
living water comes flowing out you see that was a picture of the Messiah

568
00:36:54,680 --> 00:36:59,360
getting there but not only with Moses but but the Messiah was the one Isaiah

569
00:36:59,360 --> 00:37:02,840
references when he said he will be wounded for their transgressions and

570
00:37:02,840 --> 00:37:05,920
bruised for their iniquities and the chastisement of their peace would be

571
00:37:05,920 --> 00:37:09,640
upon him and by his stripes there would be healed and it was Isaiah that tells

572
00:37:09,640 --> 00:37:13,760
us that the Lord God opened up my ear and I was not rebellious nor did I turn

573
00:37:13,760 --> 00:37:18,400
away it was Isaiah that said that he set his face like a flint he was talking

574
00:37:18,400 --> 00:37:22,040
about when I was talking he was listening to me you see it was Daniel

575
00:37:22,040 --> 00:37:26,040
that tells us that the Messiah should not be cut off but not for himself it

576
00:37:26,040 --> 00:37:29,840
was Zechariah that said they will look upon me whom they pierced yes they will

577
00:37:29,840 --> 00:37:33,560
mourn for him as one who mourns for his only son and grieve for him as one that

578
00:37:33,560 --> 00:37:37,880
grieves for his firstborn it was Jeremiah when he began to talk about fire shut up

579
00:37:37,880 --> 00:37:42,160
in his bones oh he was just talking about the coming one you see I want you

580
00:37:42,160 --> 00:37:46,160
to understand that it was the Messiah of whom they said that would have his heel

581
00:37:46,160 --> 00:37:50,480
bruised by this demon but it was that the Messiah the seed of a woman that

582
00:37:50,480 --> 00:37:54,800
would crush that demons head you see it was the Messiah that was there that gave

583
00:37:54,800 --> 00:37:58,360
the blessing to Abraham it was the Messiah of the high priest of

584
00:37:58,360 --> 00:38:02,320
Mickey Elzedek that was standing there it was the Messiah that wrestled with

585
00:38:02,320 --> 00:38:07,120
Jacob over in Genesis it was Messiah who is the lion of the tribe of Judah it was

586
00:38:07,120 --> 00:38:10,920
the Messiah who is the voice in the burning bush it was the Messiah who was

587
00:38:10,920 --> 00:38:14,680
the picture of the lamb that was there at the Passover it's the Messiah who's

588
00:38:14,680 --> 00:38:19,000
the greater prophet than Moses it's the Messiah who is the captain of the Lord's

589
00:38:19,000 --> 00:38:23,320
army it's the Messiah who was the ultimate kinsman redeemer in Ruth it's

590
00:38:23,320 --> 00:38:27,480
the Messiah who is the offspring of David and the king of kings and the Lord

591
00:38:27,480 --> 00:38:32,000
of lords it's the Messiah who is the suffering Savior in Psalm it's the

592
00:38:32,000 --> 00:38:36,680
Messiah who is the good shepherd in Psalm 23 it's the Messiah who is the

593
00:38:36,680 --> 00:38:40,960
wisdom of Proverbs it's the Messiah that's the lover in song of Solomon it's

594
00:38:40,960 --> 00:38:45,000
the Messiah who stood with every suffering prophet it's the Messiah who

595
00:38:45,000 --> 00:38:49,400
established the priestly order it's the Messiah who is the conquering king of

596
00:38:49,400 --> 00:38:53,960
kings and Lord of lords it's the Messiah who was wounded for our transgressant

597
00:38:53,960 --> 00:38:57,920
it's the Messiah who hung on a cross it's the Messiah who was in an empty

598
00:38:57,920 --> 00:39:01,480
tomb it's the Messiah

599
00:39:10,440 --> 00:39:17,160
and he started with Moses and he walked him to where he was standing so Messiah

600
00:39:17,160 --> 00:39:22,520
says and he preached all through those scriptures concerning himself verse 28

601
00:39:22,520 --> 00:39:26,040
they drew near the village where they were going and he indicated that he

602
00:39:26,040 --> 00:39:30,280
would have gone further but they constrained him saying abide with us

603
00:39:30,280 --> 00:39:34,720
abide with us what is all that Messiah stuff just teach us trying to stay

604
00:39:34,720 --> 00:39:38,640
focused on the journey one thing right here the one thing this this Messiah

605
00:39:38,640 --> 00:39:42,240
stuff I just preach to you about what does that teach us it teaches us to

606
00:39:42,240 --> 00:39:49,240
learn God's Word you better know God's Word on your journey because there's

607
00:39:49,240 --> 00:39:52,520
gonna be moments you're gonna need to be able to say it was the Messiah that

608
00:39:52,520 --> 00:39:55,880
brought me this far and the Messiah is gonna lead me on it was the Messiah who

609
00:39:55,880 --> 00:39:59,040
was the good shepherd who anointed their head with oil and I need him to anoint

610
00:39:59,040 --> 00:40:02,560
my head is like he did in Psalm 23 I've come to tell you it's time that the

611
00:40:02,560 --> 00:40:06,800
people of God learn the Word of God why because faith comes by hearing and

612
00:40:06,800 --> 00:40:09,880
hearing by the Word of the Lord why do we need to learn the Word because he

613
00:40:09,880 --> 00:40:13,480
said my word will not return void why do we need to learn the Word because the

614
00:40:13,480 --> 00:40:17,020
Word is the foundation of our faith for Jesus said that man should not live by

615
00:40:17,020 --> 00:40:20,280
bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God why do

616
00:40:20,280 --> 00:40:23,680
we need to learn the Word because the Word of God is living and powerful and

617
00:40:23,680 --> 00:40:27,280
sharper than any two-edged sword why do we need to learn the Word of God because

618
00:40:27,280 --> 00:40:30,760
the Word of God is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path I've come to

619
00:40:30,760 --> 00:40:34,240
tell somebody in the house it's time to remember the Word for the Psalmist

620
00:40:34,240 --> 00:40:39,280
writes in the book of Psalm chapter 119 verse 49 remember the Word to your

621
00:40:39,280 --> 00:40:44,760
servant upon which you have caused me to hope this is my comfort in my affliction

622
00:40:44,760 --> 00:40:50,480
for your word has given me life do you hear what I'd let me read that to you

623
00:40:50,480 --> 00:40:56,460
again slowly remember the word upon which you have caused me to hope the

624
00:40:56,460 --> 00:41:03,080
word gives us hope this is my comfort in my affliction your word has given me

625
00:41:03,080 --> 00:41:07,320
life what's my comfort my affliction that the word of the Lord stands

626
00:41:07,320 --> 00:41:12,840
hallelujah no matter what comes my way the word of the Lord stands for the

627
00:41:12,840 --> 00:41:17,480
grass withers and the flowers fade but the word of the Lord stands forever know

628
00:41:17,480 --> 00:41:24,680
his word and you won't be distracted Jesus preaches the word to them in 25

629
00:41:24,680 --> 00:41:28,880
through 27 but not only do we need to know the word but we have to be open and

630
00:41:28,880 --> 00:41:35,400
alert to Christ's working the Bible tells us that they drew near the village

631
00:41:35,400 --> 00:41:41,640
that they constrained him abide with us and he went in to stay with them the

632
00:41:41,640 --> 00:41:45,120
Bible says and we get down to 30 now it came to pass as he sat at the table with

633
00:41:45,120 --> 00:41:50,800
him that he took bread and he blessed it and he broke it and he gave it to them

634
00:41:50,800 --> 00:41:54,680
what are you telling me I'm telling you it's time to be alert that God is

635
00:41:54,680 --> 00:42:03,640
working because when they watched him work the next verse says this when they

636
00:42:03,640 --> 00:42:12,880
watched him work verse 31 then their eyes were open and they knew him signs

637
00:42:12,880 --> 00:42:23,000
and wonders will follow those who believe but if we are not alert and if

638
00:42:23,000 --> 00:42:27,520
we are not watching for the Messiah to work we might miss what the Messiah is

639
00:42:27,520 --> 00:42:32,160
wanting to do and so right here they just come stay with us there was a and

640
00:42:32,160 --> 00:42:36,120
he takes the bread and he breaks it what are you telling me I'm telling you it's

641
00:42:36,120 --> 00:42:40,960
time to be open and alert that God is working even when you don't see it God's

642
00:42:40,960 --> 00:42:44,840
working even when you don't feel it God is working even when you can't

643
00:42:44,840 --> 00:42:48,560
comprehend it God is working for the Bible is very beautifully beautifully

644
00:42:48,560 --> 00:42:52,520
written and it tells us and reminds us that he that began a good work in you

645
00:42:52,520 --> 00:42:56,440
according to the book of Philippians chapter 6 he that began a good work in

646
00:42:56,440 --> 00:43:02,000
you will be faithful to the end to completed and so whatever's been started

647
00:43:02,000 --> 00:43:05,920
if it was the start of your joy or the start of your healing or the start of a

648
00:43:05,920 --> 00:43:09,360
deliverance or the start of a new relationship here's what you can stand

649
00:43:09,360 --> 00:43:14,200
on he that began a good work is going to be faithful to the end to complete it

650
00:43:14,200 --> 00:43:18,140
the day is coming where you will dance on the head of the enemy why because

651
00:43:18,140 --> 00:43:22,160
God has finished the work that he started I've come to tell you press on

652
00:43:22,160 --> 00:43:28,360
press on press on fight on sing on dance on worship on read on don't you give up

653
00:43:28,360 --> 00:43:35,040
for he will complete what he started for God is working Jesus tells us in John

654
00:43:35,040 --> 00:43:41,880
5 Jesus said my father is working and so am I come to remind you that the Bible

655
00:43:41,880 --> 00:43:47,800
says that all things work to the good for those that love the Lord and are the

656
00:43:47,800 --> 00:43:55,880
called Bible reminds us in 2nd Corinthians chapter 4 therefore we do not

657
00:43:55,880 --> 00:44:00,520
lose heart even though the outward man is perishing yet the inward man is being

658
00:44:00,520 --> 00:44:04,280
renewed for our light affliction which is but for a moment is working for us

659
00:44:04,280 --> 00:44:08,000
and more exceedingly great and eternal weight of glory while we do not look at

660
00:44:08,000 --> 00:44:10,720
the things which are seen but the things which are not seen for the things which

661
00:44:10,720 --> 00:44:15,520
are seen are temporary but the things that are not seen are eternal God is

662
00:44:15,520 --> 00:44:21,000
working and we as the church must be alert to the fact that God is working

663
00:44:21,000 --> 00:44:24,140
because the enemy wants to begin to plant seeds when you don't see him

664
00:44:24,140 --> 00:44:27,200
working and hear him working and feel him working that will cause you to say

665
00:44:27,200 --> 00:44:30,000
where is God is God moving is God able to see me does God

666
00:44:30,000 --> 00:44:33,260
see what's going on in my life does God see what's going on with my children as

667
00:44:33,260 --> 00:44:35,940
God see what's going on with my job does God see what's going on with my wife

668
00:44:35,940 --> 00:44:39,440
does God see what's going on in my mind God see what's going on in my church

669
00:44:39,440 --> 00:44:42,760
does God see what's going on with my body and all of a sudden doubt begins to

670
00:44:42,760 --> 00:44:46,400
slip in because we're not alert to what God is doing but when we become alert

671
00:44:46,400 --> 00:44:49,640
to what God is doing and the enemy tries to come in and say does God know what

672
00:44:49,640 --> 00:44:52,600
you're walking through it's in that moment you're able to save I for let me

673
00:44:52,600 --> 00:44:53,840
I tell you something, devil.

674
00:44:53,840 --> 00:44:56,400
I know that my God knows exactly what's going on with me.

675
00:44:56,400 --> 00:44:59,120
For the Bible says that God is working all things out

676
00:44:59,120 --> 00:45:00,340
for my good and for his glory.

677
00:45:00,340 --> 00:45:02,720
For the Bible says the mountains melt like wax

678
00:45:02,720 --> 00:45:03,920
at the presence of the Lord.

679
00:45:03,920 --> 00:45:05,920
For the Bible says that I can look at you, devil,

680
00:45:05,920 --> 00:45:07,460
that's trying to talk to me and say,

681
00:45:07,460 --> 00:45:10,000
get thee behind me, Satan, and you've got to flee.

682
00:45:10,000 --> 00:45:11,960
I've come to tell somebody you've gotta get it

683
00:45:11,960 --> 00:45:13,280
in your crawl this morning,

684
00:45:13,280 --> 00:45:15,160
that you've got authority over the enemy,

685
00:45:15,160 --> 00:45:16,760
you've got authority over hell,

686
00:45:16,760 --> 00:45:19,040
you've got authority over the voices that's coming against

687
00:45:19,040 --> 00:45:20,960
you, you've got authority over the powers

688
00:45:20,960 --> 00:45:22,400
that's trying to overwhelm you.

689
00:45:22,400 --> 00:45:24,920
I've come to remind somebody that God is your refuge

690
00:45:24,920 --> 00:45:28,600
and strength and a very present help in your time of trouble.

691
00:45:28,600 --> 00:45:31,080
God is at work, hallelujah.

692
00:45:31,080 --> 00:45:34,280
Stay focused that God is at work, hallelujah.

693
00:45:37,440 --> 00:45:39,840
When they saw him work, they realized who he was.

694
00:45:39,840 --> 00:45:41,040
Can I tell you something?

695
00:45:41,040 --> 00:45:43,480
When you see him work, you're gonna be able to say,

696
00:45:43,480 --> 00:45:46,800
I know my Redeemer lives, hallelujah.

697
00:45:46,800 --> 00:45:51,800
The old church we would sing, it's worth it all

698
00:45:52,700 --> 00:45:54,240
to be his child.

699
00:45:55,180 --> 00:45:56,940
Come to tell you the test you're dealing with

700
00:45:56,940 --> 00:45:59,340
at the end of this thing, you're gonna say,

701
00:45:59,340 --> 00:46:03,060
it's worth it all to be his child.

702
00:46:03,060 --> 00:46:04,820
Because your test is gonna be flipped around

703
00:46:04,820 --> 00:46:06,700
to a testimony where you're gonna declare,

704
00:46:06,700 --> 00:46:08,500
when it looked like we were going under,

705
00:46:08,500 --> 00:46:11,100
he reached way down for me.

706
00:46:11,100 --> 00:46:14,820
I've come to tell someone in the house, God is working.

707
00:46:14,820 --> 00:46:17,780
Stay focused on the journey, learn his word

708
00:46:17,780 --> 00:46:19,820
and be open and alert that God is working.

709
00:46:19,820 --> 00:46:24,820
Lastly, lastly, we must recognize

710
00:46:26,300 --> 00:46:27,780
if we're going to stay focused,

711
00:46:27,780 --> 00:46:30,760
we must recognize the Spirit's prompting.

712
00:46:32,380 --> 00:46:35,420
Verse 31 says, their eyes were opened, they knew him,

713
00:46:35,420 --> 00:46:39,100
he vanished from their sight, but I love verse 32.

714
00:46:40,220 --> 00:46:43,540
Because this is what Jesus promised would happen, verse 32.

715
00:46:43,540 --> 00:46:46,540
And they said to one another, did our heart not burn

716
00:46:46,540 --> 00:46:49,340
within us while he talked with us on the road

717
00:46:49,340 --> 00:46:53,140
and while he opened the scriptures to us?

718
00:46:54,380 --> 00:46:55,700
You know what that is, right?

719
00:46:56,700 --> 00:46:58,500
That's the Spirit's prompting.

720
00:46:59,860 --> 00:47:02,380
Our hearts were burning within us.

721
00:47:02,380 --> 00:47:04,860
Our God is an all-consuming fire.

722
00:47:04,860 --> 00:47:08,020
Jeremiah said, it was like fire shut up in my bones,

723
00:47:08,020 --> 00:47:09,100
my Lord and my God.

724
00:47:09,100 --> 00:47:11,140
When the Holy Ghost showed up on the day of Pentecost,

725
00:47:11,140 --> 00:47:13,140
the Bible says, and there appeared under them tongues

726
00:47:13,140 --> 00:47:15,660
as of fire that sat upon each of them.

727
00:47:15,660 --> 00:47:18,780
I wanna remind somebody something, these men said,

728
00:47:18,780 --> 00:47:21,820
were our hearts not burning within us

729
00:47:21,820 --> 00:47:23,140
when Jesus was talking?

730
00:47:23,140 --> 00:47:25,460
I want you to understand something in the house today.

731
00:47:25,460 --> 00:47:28,820
It is time that the 21st century Pentecostal church

732
00:47:28,820 --> 00:47:31,620
recognize that the Spirit is still prompting us,

733
00:47:31,620 --> 00:47:33,620
that we do not have to walk by fear,

734
00:47:33,620 --> 00:47:35,700
that we can stand in the power of the Spirit

735
00:47:35,700 --> 00:47:38,100
and we can declare, wall, you've gotta come down,

736
00:47:38,100 --> 00:47:40,140
mountain, you've got to melt, sickness,

737
00:47:40,140 --> 00:47:41,700
you've gotta walk out, depression,

738
00:47:41,700 --> 00:47:44,180
you've got to leave oppression, leave me alone.

739
00:47:44,180 --> 00:47:46,100
I've come to tell somebody in the house,

740
00:47:46,100 --> 00:47:47,860
there is still an all-consuming fire

741
00:47:47,860 --> 00:47:49,620
that burns on the altar of God,

742
00:47:49,620 --> 00:47:52,500
for God said his fire would not go out on the altar.

743
00:47:52,500 --> 00:47:54,100
I've come to remind somebody

744
00:47:54,100 --> 00:47:56,060
that the Spirit is still calling the church

745
00:47:56,060 --> 00:47:58,020
to be spotless, pure and holy.

746
00:47:58,020 --> 00:47:59,460
I've come to remind somebody

747
00:47:59,460 --> 00:48:01,460
that the Spirit is still ready to burn

748
00:48:01,460 --> 00:48:03,460
when you get the word hidden in your heart,

749
00:48:03,460 --> 00:48:05,220
that you can press on through this thing,

750
00:48:05,220 --> 00:48:06,900
for here was what Jesus promised,

751
00:48:06,900 --> 00:48:09,220
it is expedient for you that I go away,

752
00:48:09,220 --> 00:48:11,780
but when I go away, I will pray to the Father

753
00:48:11,780 --> 00:48:13,380
and he will send another comforter,

754
00:48:13,380 --> 00:48:14,820
one who is just like me,

755
00:48:14,820 --> 00:48:16,580
who will abide with you forever.

756
00:48:16,580 --> 00:48:17,700
I've come to tell you,

757
00:48:17,700 --> 00:48:20,180
how do we know Jesus made it to the throne?

758
00:48:20,180 --> 00:48:22,100
Because the Spirit abides with us.

759
00:48:22,100 --> 00:48:24,580
How do we know that Jesus is with the Father?

760
00:48:24,580 --> 00:48:26,500
Because of tongues that fell upon them

761
00:48:26,500 --> 00:48:27,540
in the book of Acts,

762
00:48:27,540 --> 00:48:30,100
that still speak to us in the 21st century.

763
00:48:30,100 --> 00:48:33,380
I've got good news, the Spirit is still alive and well,

764
00:48:33,380 --> 00:48:35,060
and it's time that the 21st century

765
00:48:35,060 --> 00:48:36,820
Pentecostal Church in America

766
00:48:36,820 --> 00:48:40,180
recognizes the Spirit's moving, hallelujah.

767
00:48:40,180 --> 00:48:40,980
Amen.

768
00:48:46,420 --> 00:48:48,420
I go into churches all the time,

769
00:48:52,580 --> 00:48:54,580
and I've been floored

770
00:48:54,580 --> 00:48:58,100
at how many dead churches I walk into.

771
00:48:59,300 --> 00:49:05,300
No life, no anointing, no song in the night,

772
00:49:05,300 --> 00:49:07,860
no prayer, no prayer, no prayer.

773
00:49:07,860 --> 00:49:11,860
A program, a country club feel good,

774
00:49:11,860 --> 00:49:13,620
and out the door we go.

775
00:49:14,500 --> 00:49:15,540
Honey, I wasn't built for that.

776
00:49:15,540 --> 00:49:17,380
I'm sorry I just said honey, Melissa.

777
00:49:17,380 --> 00:49:18,260
Melissa's been fussing at me

778
00:49:18,260 --> 00:49:20,180
about saying honey while I'm preaching.

779
00:49:20,180 --> 00:49:21,700
I am from the mountains of South Carolina,

780
00:49:21,700 --> 00:49:23,220
everybody's honey, and if you don't like it,

781
00:49:23,220 --> 00:49:24,820
we'll work it out after church, amen.

782
00:49:30,900 --> 00:49:33,220
It is time if we're gonna win this thing

783
00:49:33,220 --> 00:49:35,060
because it is time to win this thing.

784
00:49:35,060 --> 00:49:36,660
We are the ones who believe in the Spirit,

785
00:49:36,660 --> 00:49:38,420
who believe in the full gospel,

786
00:49:38,420 --> 00:49:41,060
who believe that the Spirit is still moving,

787
00:49:41,060 --> 00:49:43,060
that the Spirit still abides,

788
00:49:43,060 --> 00:49:44,660
that the Comforter has come,

789
00:49:44,660 --> 00:49:46,740
that the Comforter is walking with me,

790
00:49:46,740 --> 00:49:47,860
that the Holy Ghost is here

791
00:49:47,860 --> 00:49:49,060
until we're taking a wave,

792
00:49:49,060 --> 00:49:50,420
therefore the revelator says

793
00:49:50,420 --> 00:49:52,260
that is why the Spirit and the bride

794
00:49:52,260 --> 00:49:53,380
cry out come quickly

795
00:49:53,380 --> 00:49:55,220
because the Spirit's still here as well

796
00:49:55,220 --> 00:49:56,660
and he's ready to go, too.

797
00:49:56,660 --> 00:49:58,180
That's why the Spirit and the bride

798
00:49:58,180 --> 00:49:59,620
both cry out come quickly,

799
00:49:59,620 --> 00:50:01,620
but it is time that we as the people of God

800
00:50:01,620 --> 00:50:03,620
believe in the Spirit, act in the Spirit.

801
00:50:03,620 --> 00:50:05,460
It is time that we the people of God

802
00:50:05,460 --> 00:50:06,820
shake off the heavy bands

803
00:50:06,820 --> 00:50:08,340
of what's going on in this place

804
00:50:08,340 --> 00:50:10,340
and say unto him who's more than able,

805
00:50:10,340 --> 00:50:12,500
it is time to be a people of the Spirit

806
00:50:12,500 --> 00:50:13,940
and not a people of the flesh.

807
00:50:13,940 --> 00:50:15,940
Therefore, if we're gonna be a people of the Spirit,

808
00:50:15,940 --> 00:50:18,180
it is time to rise up, almighty army,

809
00:50:18,180 --> 00:50:21,300
and say move on us one more time, hallelujah.

810
00:50:25,380 --> 00:50:27,460
We get so distracted from circumstances

811
00:50:27,460 --> 00:50:30,500
and discouragement and ignorance or unbelief

812
00:50:30,500 --> 00:50:32,100
that we've not learned his word

813
00:50:32,740 --> 00:50:34,740
and we've not been alert that God is working

814
00:50:35,460 --> 00:50:37,220
and we have forgotten how to move

815
00:50:38,420 --> 00:50:40,340
under the unction of the Holy Spirit.

816
00:50:42,340 --> 00:50:43,380
Maybe not in this church,

817
00:50:43,380 --> 00:50:44,740
but in churches all over America.

818
00:50:46,420 --> 00:50:47,220
Calls now.

819
00:50:47,940 --> 00:50:49,060
I'm gonna give me five more minutes.

820
00:50:49,060 --> 00:50:50,020
I'm gonna shut this down.

821
00:50:50,820 --> 00:50:52,180
But back in the old church,

822
00:50:53,060 --> 00:50:54,900
we didn't do everything right in the old church,

823
00:50:54,900 --> 00:50:56,580
but we did a whole lot right in the old church.

824
00:50:56,580 --> 00:50:58,580
Back in the old church that I grew up in,

825
00:50:59,220 --> 00:51:00,980
I remember him walking down the aisle,

826
00:51:01,700 --> 00:51:02,980
sought drunk alcoholic.

827
00:51:06,500 --> 00:51:07,620
Because he was my daddy.

828
00:51:10,820 --> 00:51:14,180
He gave his heart to Jesus right there on that side

829
00:51:15,220 --> 00:51:17,620
while the baptism service was going on in the back

830
00:51:17,620 --> 00:51:19,220
right here on the stage.

831
00:51:19,780 --> 00:51:20,980
And he got up from there, said,

832
00:51:20,980 --> 00:51:23,140
I'm gonna go to the church and I'm gonna pray.

833
00:51:23,140 --> 00:51:24,740
And he said, I'm gonna pray.

834
00:51:24,740 --> 00:51:27,380
And he got up from there, saved, sanctified,

835
00:51:27,380 --> 00:51:30,580
filled with the Holy Ghost and clean and not drunk anymore

836
00:51:30,580 --> 00:51:33,460
and walked up into the baptistry with no change of clothes

837
00:51:33,460 --> 00:51:35,540
and got baptized that same night.

838
00:51:35,540 --> 00:51:37,220
And he walked out of that baptistry.

839
00:51:37,220 --> 00:51:39,460
And I can tell you this, my trajectory was changed

840
00:51:39,460 --> 00:51:41,220
and my kid's trajectory was changed

841
00:51:41,220 --> 00:51:43,700
because there was a spirit that prompted him

842
00:51:43,700 --> 00:51:45,860
and men and women that came and prayed with him

843
00:51:45,860 --> 00:51:48,260
that ushered him to the to the baptistry and said,

844
00:51:48,260 --> 00:51:50,180
it don't matter if you've got towel or change of clothes

845
00:51:50,180 --> 00:51:52,260
or not what matters is you found Jesus

846
00:51:52,260 --> 00:51:53,700
and it's time for you to find him

847
00:51:53,700 --> 00:51:54,660
right here in this water.

848
00:51:54,660 --> 00:51:56,740
And he comes out and he preaches the gospel today.

849
00:51:56,740 --> 00:52:00,100
I remember, I remember when she came down here with cancer

850
00:52:00,100 --> 00:52:02,500
just a few months ago, but we laid hands on her

851
00:52:02,500 --> 00:52:04,580
and her children told me back in October,

852
00:52:04,580 --> 00:52:06,820
mama's been in remission for some time now.

853
00:52:06,820 --> 00:52:09,140
I remember blinded eyes being open.

854
00:52:09,140 --> 00:52:12,500
I remember a man who was my uncle throw his crutch down

855
00:52:12,500 --> 00:52:15,460
where he had been bent over for years and years and years

856
00:52:15,460 --> 00:52:17,940
and he runs laps around the little assembly of God

857
00:52:17,940 --> 00:52:20,420
and picking South Carolina, takes his crutch,

858
00:52:20,420 --> 00:52:22,340
nails three nails on the wall

859
00:52:22,340 --> 00:52:24,100
and hangs his crutch over the altar

860
00:52:24,100 --> 00:52:26,020
of that little assembly of God to declare

861
00:52:26,020 --> 00:52:27,620
there's a healer in this house.

862
00:52:27,620 --> 00:52:30,820
I've come to tell somebody the spirit is still moving

863
00:52:30,820 --> 00:52:32,580
in the 21st century church,

864
00:52:32,580 --> 00:52:34,820
but we've got to recognize his unction.

865
00:52:39,700 --> 00:52:41,940
We're more embarrassed of the spirit moving

866
00:52:41,940 --> 00:52:42,820
than the world is.

867
00:52:46,180 --> 00:52:46,980
We can't act like that

868
00:52:46,980 --> 00:52:48,340
because my neighbor showed up today.

869
00:52:49,700 --> 00:52:51,540
Your neighbor knows more about the spirit world

870
00:52:51,540 --> 00:52:52,420
than probably you do.

871
00:52:53,780 --> 00:52:56,740
We've been set up in the 21st century Pentecostal world

872
00:52:57,460 --> 00:52:59,460
to take a spirit field world

873
00:53:00,260 --> 00:53:02,660
because the spirit field world is filled with witches

874
00:53:03,380 --> 00:53:04,740
and it's filled with Wicca

875
00:53:04,740 --> 00:53:06,420
and it's filled with the new age movement

876
00:53:06,420 --> 00:53:07,940
and it's filled with demonic forces

877
00:53:07,940 --> 00:53:10,420
from Instagram and TikTok and from TV.

878
00:53:10,420 --> 00:53:12,500
It's filled with hate, spirit of hate.

879
00:53:12,500 --> 00:53:14,260
It's filled with all kinds of spirits

880
00:53:14,260 --> 00:53:16,500
and people today are open to tarot cards

881
00:53:16,500 --> 00:53:18,740
and people today are open to palms being read.

882
00:53:18,740 --> 00:53:20,820
The whole world's open to the spirit world,

883
00:53:20,820 --> 00:53:22,660
but the church is sat here quiet afraid.

884
00:53:22,660 --> 00:53:24,260
We're going to offend somebody

885
00:53:24,260 --> 00:53:26,020
when what we need to be able to say

886
00:53:26,020 --> 00:53:27,780
is let me tell you about a spirit

887
00:53:27,780 --> 00:53:29,380
that will abide with you forever

888
00:53:29,380 --> 00:53:31,780
that knows not only what your palm is saying,

889
00:53:31,780 --> 00:53:33,700
but your name is written on his thigh

890
00:53:33,700 --> 00:53:36,180
as the conquering king of kings and Lord of lords

891
00:53:36,180 --> 00:53:38,500
and your name can be written down in glory.

892
00:53:38,500 --> 00:53:40,020
I've come to tell somebody

893
00:53:40,020 --> 00:53:42,020
we've been set up with the Holy Ghost

894
00:53:42,020 --> 00:53:43,540
in the 21st century

895
00:53:43,540 --> 00:53:46,260
to win a world that's interested in spiritual things.

896
00:53:46,260 --> 00:53:48,900
Therefore, it is time that we rise up, O church,

897
00:53:48,900 --> 00:53:51,460
and say I'll not be distracted anymore,

898
00:53:51,460 --> 00:53:54,340
but I will declare that Jesus was born of a virgin,

899
00:53:54,340 --> 00:53:56,660
that he lived, that he died, that he rose again,

900
00:53:56,660 --> 00:53:58,580
and that he's coming in clouds of glory.

901
00:53:58,580 --> 00:54:00,500
I will declare that he is still Savior,

902
00:54:00,500 --> 00:54:02,740
sanctifier, Holy Ghost, baptizer, healer,

903
00:54:02,740 --> 00:54:04,180
and a soon coming king.

904
00:54:04,180 --> 00:54:06,580
I will declare that the spirit abides forever,

905
00:54:06,580 --> 00:54:08,100
that the spirit talks to me,

906
00:54:08,100 --> 00:54:09,620
that the spirit walks with me,

907
00:54:09,620 --> 00:54:11,220
that the spirit comforts me,

908
00:54:11,220 --> 00:54:13,140
that the spirit wraps his arms around me

909
00:54:13,140 --> 00:54:16,020
in midnight hours and shows up when the bills are due.

910
00:54:16,020 --> 00:54:18,420
I've got good news for you in the house today.

911
00:54:18,420 --> 00:54:21,700
He abides, he abides, he abides, hallelujah.

912
00:54:24,500 --> 00:54:25,860
Did we not burn within us?

913
00:54:26,820 --> 00:54:28,260
Did it not burn within us?

914
00:54:29,140 --> 00:54:32,980
Did it not burn within us when we heard that word?

915
00:54:35,540 --> 00:54:36,340
That's what they said.

916
00:54:37,220 --> 00:54:38,660
I can tell you when it burned within me.

917
00:54:40,340 --> 00:54:43,380
33, so they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem,

918
00:54:43,380 --> 00:54:45,780
found the 11 and those who were with them gathered together.

919
00:54:46,340 --> 00:54:47,300
And here's what they said.

920
00:54:47,300 --> 00:54:48,900
The Lord is risen indeed.

921
00:54:52,500 --> 00:54:53,700
I remember just a few verses ago.

922
00:54:53,700 --> 00:54:55,860
We were just hoping it was him.

923
00:54:57,140 --> 00:54:58,580
We were just hoping he was gonna be,

924
00:54:58,580 --> 00:55:00,100
we can't even find him now,

925
00:55:00,900 --> 00:55:02,900
but with one good dose of the Holy Ghost.

926
00:55:03,620 --> 00:55:06,100
The Lord is risen indeed.

927
00:55:08,420 --> 00:55:11,060
Come to tell you, he'll turn your talk around

928
00:55:11,060 --> 00:55:12,420
if he gets inside of you.

929
00:55:12,900 --> 00:55:13,940
He'll turn it all around.

930
00:55:13,940 --> 00:55:17,380
The Lord is risen indeed.

931
00:55:17,380 --> 00:55:20,180
And they told about the things that had happened on the road

932
00:55:20,180 --> 00:55:23,380
and how he was known to them in the breaking of bread.

933
00:55:24,340 --> 00:55:26,260
Stand all over this place while I finish this chapter up

934
00:55:26,260 --> 00:55:27,460
and I'm gonna read it fast.

935
00:55:27,460 --> 00:55:30,100
Now as they said these things, Jesus himself,

936
00:55:30,100 --> 00:55:31,860
I love that it says it twice in this chapter,

937
00:55:31,860 --> 00:55:33,220
stood in the midst of them and said,

938
00:55:33,220 --> 00:55:35,460
peace, but they were terrified and frightened

939
00:55:35,460 --> 00:55:37,060
and supposed they had seen a spirit.

940
00:55:37,060 --> 00:55:38,020
Why are you troubled?

941
00:55:38,020 --> 00:55:40,100
He said, why do you doubt arise in your hearts?

942
00:55:40,100 --> 00:55:43,300
Behold my hands, my feet, this is me, handle me.

943
00:55:43,300 --> 00:55:45,940
For a spirit does not have flesh and bone as I have.

944
00:55:45,940 --> 00:55:48,580
And when he said this and showed them his hands and feet,

945
00:55:48,580 --> 00:55:50,660
they did not, they were still in disbelief,

946
00:55:50,660 --> 00:55:52,340
but they had joy and marveled.

947
00:55:52,340 --> 00:55:54,020
And he said, do you have any food here?

948
00:55:54,020 --> 00:55:55,700
And he broke fish and honeycomb

949
00:55:55,700 --> 00:55:57,940
and he took it and he ate it in their presence.

950
00:56:00,260 --> 00:56:03,700
As we end the chapter, it tells us these things.

951
00:56:04,420 --> 00:56:06,020
You are witnesses of these things.

952
00:56:07,540 --> 00:56:09,540
Behold, I send the promise of the father,

953
00:56:09,540 --> 00:56:14,500
Terry in Jerusalem, you will be endued with power from on high.

954
00:56:17,620 --> 00:56:18,900
Lessons from the journey.

955
00:56:18,900 --> 00:56:21,460
Number one, distractions are coming.

956
00:56:21,460 --> 00:56:23,700
They will come in the form of circumstances,

957
00:56:23,700 --> 00:56:26,340
discouragement and ignorance or unbelief.

958
00:56:27,860 --> 00:56:29,620
And here's how you can stay focused.

959
00:56:29,620 --> 00:56:30,500
Learn the word.

960
00:56:32,420 --> 00:56:33,220
Learn the word.

961
00:56:33,220 --> 00:56:37,380
Learn the word. Learn the word.

962
00:56:39,780 --> 00:56:41,300
I quoted it once, I'm gonna quote it again.

963
00:56:42,980 --> 00:56:45,540
The grass withers, the flowers fade.

964
00:56:46,340 --> 00:56:48,340
You know what that means? Life happens.

965
00:56:52,420 --> 00:56:54,500
It's not necessarily a devil behind every bush.

966
00:56:55,140 --> 00:56:58,580
It was that there was a devil in a bush in the Garden of Eden.

967
00:56:58,580 --> 00:57:02,660
Period. Sin came in, now life happens.

968
00:57:05,220 --> 00:57:13,460
Grass withers, flowers fade, but the word of the Lord stands forever.

969
00:57:21,060 --> 00:57:22,660
You know why I'm passionate about this this morning?

970
00:57:22,660 --> 00:57:26,660
It's the last several months I've been distracted.

971
00:57:29,300 --> 00:57:30,580
I've dealt with circumstances.

972
00:57:35,140 --> 00:57:36,100
I've been discouraged.

973
00:57:39,620 --> 00:57:42,820
Couldn't figure some things out. I got distracted.

974
00:57:46,260 --> 00:57:47,780
See, this sermon wasn't for you today.

975
00:57:49,060 --> 00:57:51,380
This was one that was birthed in me at about 3 30 this morning.

976
00:57:51,380 --> 00:57:53,220
Because I was preaching something else.

977
00:57:53,940 --> 00:57:56,820
And I had to get down to my office and I had to write this one out.

978
00:57:58,820 --> 00:58:01,540
This is all I got. The rest of it came out of my heart.

979
00:58:02,500 --> 00:58:03,620
Because I've been discouraged.

980
00:58:04,980 --> 00:58:05,940
But you know what I remembered?

981
00:58:05,940 --> 00:58:08,100
Weeping and doers for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

982
00:58:10,980 --> 00:58:14,180
You know what? I've been ignorant and unbelieving.

983
00:58:14,180 --> 00:58:18,580
This is about me today as much as it was about you.

984
00:58:18,580 --> 00:58:23,220
This morning I looked up and I said, help my unbelief.

985
00:58:23,220 --> 00:58:27,220
That's what the disciples said. Because they were there too.

986
00:58:30,180 --> 00:58:33,220
Help my unbelief. I know what your word says.

987
00:58:33,220 --> 00:58:37,220
I've read it. I've sung it. I've cried over it. Help my unbelief.

988
00:58:37,220 --> 00:58:39,220
Oh, I felt fire hit me right between the eyes.

989
00:58:39,220 --> 00:58:45,380
I felt it when it hit me this morning. My unbelief is fine right now.

990
00:58:45,380 --> 00:58:47,380
And you know what I began to realize?

991
00:58:48,420 --> 00:58:52,100
I've got to learn lean and know his word because that's the only thing going to pull me through.

992
00:58:52,900 --> 00:58:54,900
That's why I stand here and tell you this.

993
00:58:55,540 --> 00:58:58,500
Though you walk through the fire, the flames will not harm you.

994
00:58:58,500 --> 00:59:04,180
And though you walk through the waters, the rivers, the rivers will not harm you.

995
00:59:04,180 --> 00:59:11,860
They will not overflow you. Not that you're going to come out of the fire or I'm going to get you out of the fire.

996
00:59:11,860 --> 00:59:14,820
But when you walk through it, you're going to have to walk through it.

997
00:59:14,820 --> 00:59:18,820
But you're not going to smell like smoke. You're not going to deal with the flames burning you.

998
00:59:18,820 --> 00:59:21,220
You're going to have to walk through some flooded places.

999
00:59:21,220 --> 00:59:23,620
But don't you worry about it. You're not going to drown.

1000
00:59:23,620 --> 00:59:26,660
For the Lord is with you. For the Lord is on our side.

1001
00:59:26,660 --> 00:59:28,660
I know his word. I'm leaning on his word.

1002
00:59:28,660 --> 00:59:30,660
I know what he's saying. I know what he's saying.

1003
00:59:30,660 --> 00:59:34,660
For the Lord is on our side. I know his word. I'm leaning on his word.

1004
00:59:34,660 --> 00:59:36,660
Be open to God working in your life.

1005
00:59:36,660 --> 00:59:42,660
And you rely on the Spirit for the Spirit abides with us. Hallelujah.

1006
00:59:46,660 --> 00:59:48,660
So all over this house.

1007
00:59:52,660 --> 00:59:54,660
This has been an expensive trip for me today.

1008
00:59:54,660 --> 01:00:00,660
My watch flew off and hit the floor. It's in about 30 pieces up here.

1009
01:00:00,660 --> 01:00:04,660
The grass withers, the flowers fade and watches break.

1010
01:00:04,660 --> 01:00:08,660
But the word of the Lord stands forever.

1011
01:00:12,660 --> 01:00:16,660
We can learn all that on Emmaus Road with disciples who were walking with him.

1012
01:00:16,660 --> 01:00:20,660
They weren't walking away from him. They were walking with him.

1013
01:00:20,660 --> 01:00:24,660
Still discouraged, still dealing with circumstances, still dealing with drought.

1014
01:00:24,660 --> 01:00:28,660
Don't you let the enemy convince you that you're not where you're supposed to be.

1015
01:00:30,660 --> 01:00:32,660
Because he's here.

1016
01:00:32,660 --> 01:00:36,660
He is here.

1017
01:00:36,660 --> 01:00:40,660
He is here.

1018
01:00:40,660 --> 01:00:42,660
He's right where you are.

1019
01:00:42,660 --> 01:00:46,660
For he said, I'll never leave you, don't forsake you, but will be with you always, even in the end of this age.

1020
01:00:46,660 --> 01:00:48,660
He is here.

1021
01:00:48,660 --> 01:00:52,660
So your heads bowed and your eyes closed.

1022
01:00:52,660 --> 01:00:58,660
Just say, preacher, I have been distracted.

1023
01:00:58,660 --> 01:01:02,660
Distraction came in the form of circumstances.

1024
01:01:02,660 --> 01:01:06,660
It came in as unbelief and it came in as discouragement.

1025
01:01:06,660 --> 01:01:10,660
I've been distracted physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, financially, whatever it is.

1026
01:01:10,660 --> 01:01:14,660
Distractions have come my way. Circumstances, discouragement, unbelief.

1027
01:01:14,660 --> 01:01:16,660
I want you to lift your hand up right there where you are.

1028
01:01:16,660 --> 01:01:18,660
Lift it up, lift it up. Hold it up.

1029
01:01:18,660 --> 01:01:20,660
Don't you be shy because breakthrough is coming.

1030
01:01:20,660 --> 01:01:22,660
You ain't going to be shy when breakthrough hits.

1031
01:01:22,660 --> 01:01:26,660
So honey, you just go ahead and lift your hand and say, I've been dealing with this.

1032
01:01:26,660 --> 01:01:28,660
We've been distracted.

1033
01:01:28,660 --> 01:01:30,660
We've been discouraged.

1034
01:01:30,660 --> 01:01:32,660
We have had circumstances.

1035
01:01:32,660 --> 01:01:36,660
There's been moments I didn't even know if God existed.

1036
01:01:36,660 --> 01:01:46,660
Unbelief has come in.

1037
01:01:46,660 --> 01:01:50,660
I've got a word for you.

1038
01:01:50,660 --> 01:01:58,660
But my God shall supply all of my needs according to his riches and glory.

1039
01:01:58,660 --> 01:02:00,660
I've got a word for you.

1040
01:02:00,660 --> 01:02:05,660
For he sent his word and healed all of their diseases.

1041
01:02:05,660 --> 01:02:07,660
I've got a word for you.

1042
01:02:07,660 --> 01:02:11,660
Mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord.

1043
01:02:11,660 --> 01:02:13,660
I've got a word for you.

1044
01:02:13,660 --> 01:02:17,660
He will open up rivers in desolate places and fountains in the middle of your valleys.

1045
01:02:17,660 --> 01:02:19,660
I've got a word for you.

1046
01:02:19,660 --> 01:02:22,660
He will plant cedar trees in the middle of the desert.

1047
01:02:22,660 --> 01:02:23,660
I've got a word for you.

1048
01:02:23,660 --> 01:02:27,660
Now unto him who is more than able to do exceedingly and abundantly.

1049
01:02:27,660 --> 01:02:29,660
I've got a word for you.

1050
01:02:29,660 --> 01:02:31,660
My God is more than able.

1051
01:02:31,660 --> 01:02:32,660
I've got a word for you.

1052
01:02:32,660 --> 01:02:36,660
He is near to the brokenhearted and he saves such with a broken spirit.

1053
01:02:36,660 --> 01:02:38,660
I've got a word for you.

1054
01:02:38,660 --> 01:02:41,660
For God so loved the world that he gave.

1055
01:02:41,660 --> 01:02:42,660
I've got a word for you.

1056
01:02:42,660 --> 01:02:44,660
The Lord is your shepherd.

1057
01:02:44,660 --> 01:02:45,660
You shall not want.

1058
01:02:45,660 --> 01:02:51,660
I've got a word for you.

1059
01:02:51,660 --> 01:02:56,660
These present and light afflictions are but for a moment.

1060
01:02:56,660 --> 01:03:05,660
But they will not compare to the eternal weight of glory that you're going to receive.

1061
01:03:05,660 --> 01:03:08,660
So learn his word.

1062
01:03:08,660 --> 01:03:15,660
Be open to what Christ is doing and walk in the spirit.

1063
01:03:15,660 --> 01:03:22,660
If you need God to move in your life, if you need a breakthrough, or if you just want to come pray,

1064
01:03:22,660 --> 01:03:27,660
if you need somebody to pray with you because we're two or more gathered in his name there he said he would be,

1065
01:03:27,660 --> 01:03:56,660
if you need somebody to agree with you as touching any one thing, this altar is open.