WEBVTT 00:00:01.419 --> 00:00:08.199 Hallelujah. It's going to be a great and glorious 00:00:08.199 --> 00:00:11.160 day. Amen. You can be seated in the house of 00:00:11.160 --> 00:00:22.059 the Lord just a moment before we move on today. 00:00:27.120 --> 00:00:35.780 It is Father's Day. We commemorate the role of 00:00:35.780 --> 00:00:49.020 Father. Amen? We honor the role of Father. So 00:00:49.020 --> 00:00:56.259 we want to honor those who are unable to speak 00:00:56.259 --> 00:00:59.119 with their fathers today because they are no 00:00:59.119 --> 00:01:04.230 longer here in eternity. Absent from this world, 00:01:04.349 --> 00:01:10.489 my prayer, present with the Lord. Amen. So if 00:01:10.489 --> 00:01:14.489 you would today, if you don't mind, if you would 00:01:14.489 --> 00:01:17.549 stand and let us just honor you today. We're 00:01:17.549 --> 00:01:19.969 going to honor you with just a moment of silence. 00:01:20.209 --> 00:01:23.450 And then I want to ask the Lord to touch you 00:01:23.450 --> 00:01:25.209 especially today. If your father is no longer 00:01:25.209 --> 00:01:26.969 with you, would you please stand this morning? 00:01:34.000 --> 00:01:45.799 Let's bow our heads for just a moment. Heavenly 00:01:45.799 --> 00:01:48.459 Father, we honor those standing in our presence 00:01:48.459 --> 00:01:53.599 today. I ask, Lord, that you would comfort them 00:01:53.599 --> 00:01:57.140 with a peace that passes all understanding, where 00:01:57.140 --> 00:02:03.450 heavy hearts reside. I ask, Lord, that as this 00:02:03.450 --> 00:02:05.569 day goes forward and memories come, may they 00:02:05.569 --> 00:02:09.090 be the fond memories, the good times, the happy 00:02:09.090 --> 00:02:13.030 days, the happy moments. Whether few or many, 00:02:13.229 --> 00:02:18.150 I pray your blessings on your people today. On 00:02:18.150 --> 00:02:20.949 this day, as we celebrate our earthly fathers, 00:02:21.169 --> 00:02:31.240 we glorify you, our heavenly father. I'm going 00:02:31.240 --> 00:02:32.960 to read one, you can be seated, I'm just going 00:02:32.960 --> 00:02:36.439 to read one passage of scripture this morning 00:02:36.439 --> 00:02:40.979 as we move forward today. Again, happy Father's 00:02:40.979 --> 00:02:45.520 Day to you, those of you who are fathers and 00:02:45.520 --> 00:02:49.620 operating and functioning in the role of father. 00:02:51.680 --> 00:02:59.270 We probably all have at least one. who's not 00:02:59.270 --> 00:03:02.009 our biological father that we see as a father 00:03:02.009 --> 00:03:08.310 figure in our lives. I hope you've had that extra 00:03:08.310 --> 00:03:13.490 opportunity. I have those people and I'm grateful 00:03:13.490 --> 00:03:16.389 for them. Amen. Those are the people that will 00:03:16.389 --> 00:03:20.930 look at you and tell you the truth. Amen. And 00:03:20.930 --> 00:03:23.810 most of the time I take it better from them than 00:03:23.810 --> 00:03:28.280 I do actually my dad. Because after all, I still 00:03:28.280 --> 00:03:35.259 know more than he does. Y 'all know what I mean, 00:03:35.280 --> 00:03:41.199 right? I want to read to you this morning from 00:03:41.199 --> 00:03:43.759 1 Corinthians chapter 16, where I'm going to 00:03:43.759 --> 00:03:45.539 take my text. It is good to see you in the house 00:03:45.539 --> 00:03:49.639 of the Lord. Man, I tell you, we've been on a 00:03:49.639 --> 00:03:54.000 roller coaster this morning. Just since our time 00:03:54.000 --> 00:03:59.620 together. The spirit of the Lord is moving. Amen. 00:04:01.180 --> 00:04:04.520 And I already feel, I just feel drained. I feel 00:04:04.520 --> 00:04:09.319 pulled out of me. I do. I just feel the presence 00:04:09.319 --> 00:04:14.400 of the Lord today in a mighty way. It's good 00:04:14.400 --> 00:04:17.399 to have some folks visiting with us from one 00:04:17.399 --> 00:04:22.259 of our earlier CAMS classes. Folks in the ministries, 00:04:22.279 --> 00:04:25.800 so grateful for them. They actually said, we 00:04:25.800 --> 00:04:27.540 enjoyed you so much there, we just thought we'd 00:04:27.540 --> 00:04:29.180 come visit your church. And I thought, whoo. 00:04:32.100 --> 00:04:35.100 Amen. Don't get to hear that much. They're the 00:04:35.100 --> 00:04:38.199 only ones that showed up, though, over the years 00:04:38.199 --> 00:04:44.399 I've been doing that. So thank you. 1 Corinthians 00:04:44.399 --> 00:04:50.959 16. I want to look at verse 13 for just a moment. 00:04:53.199 --> 00:04:56.379 A lot of times it's a challenge to just pull 00:04:56.379 --> 00:05:01.139 a verse out of that theological term. Brother 00:05:01.139 --> 00:05:04.319 Randy uses it some on Wednesday. To pull one 00:05:04.319 --> 00:05:07.740 verse out of the pericope or the story, the storyline 00:05:07.740 --> 00:05:10.199 out of the midst of the chapter. But I want to 00:05:10.199 --> 00:05:12.120 do that this morning. I want to pull this verse 00:05:12.120 --> 00:05:15.139 out and I want us to look at it for just a little 00:05:15.139 --> 00:05:18.439 bit. Paul writing to the Corinthians in that 00:05:18.439 --> 00:05:22.120 first letter says, Watch ye, stand fast in the 00:05:22.120 --> 00:05:28.529 faith. Quit ye like men and be strong. Watch 00:05:28.529 --> 00:05:34.250 ye stand. Be brave. Be courageous is what he's 00:05:34.250 --> 00:05:37.490 telling the brethren at Corinth. I want to speak 00:05:37.490 --> 00:05:38.990 to you with the help of the Lord for a little 00:05:38.990 --> 00:05:41.949 while. Let's see where we're at. Oh, Lord, I've 00:05:41.949 --> 00:05:49.810 got 45 whole minutes. On this thought, be the 00:05:49.810 --> 00:05:56.129 better man. Be the better man. Now, today's going 00:05:56.129 --> 00:06:01.750 to be largely focused toward the male gender 00:06:01.750 --> 00:06:05.129 in this room, and you heard me say that, the 00:06:05.129 --> 00:06:09.569 male gender in this room. But it's also going 00:06:09.569 --> 00:06:13.430 to be applicable for all of us because we are 00:06:13.430 --> 00:06:18.980 all mankind. So I just don't think we can pull 00:06:18.980 --> 00:06:22.079 a scripture and just target one group and it 00:06:22.079 --> 00:06:27.379 totally missed the other group. Right? Because 00:06:27.379 --> 00:06:32.100 this right here, watch, I think that's for all 00:06:32.100 --> 00:06:36.899 of us. Right? Stand fast, that's for all of us. 00:06:36.899 --> 00:06:42.019 Correct? In the faith, that's for all of us. 00:06:42.300 --> 00:06:46.029 Be courageous, be brave. Right? That can be all 00:06:46.029 --> 00:06:51.949 of us. Be strong, but only a few of us get to 00:06:51.949 --> 00:06:57.189 be men. Where'd Scotty go? He normally gives 00:06:57.189 --> 00:07:00.230 me a, when I get a good little zinger, that one 00:07:00.230 --> 00:07:02.610 was pretty good. What I'm trying to do is get 00:07:02.610 --> 00:07:05.069 you around to where I can preach to you. We're 00:07:05.069 --> 00:07:09.370 getting there. Amen? We're getting there. You're 00:07:09.370 --> 00:07:12.230 coming around, and I'm going to preach to you 00:07:12.230 --> 00:07:18.220 here in just a minute. Be the better man. Father, 00:07:18.300 --> 00:07:20.040 I do love you. I thank you for your word. And, 00:07:20.040 --> 00:07:24.620 Lord, I need your help today. I need your help 00:07:24.620 --> 00:07:28.379 in more ways than one, Lord. Lord, we're so grateful 00:07:28.379 --> 00:07:34.379 for it. I'm just thankful for the anointing that 00:07:34.379 --> 00:07:38.220 I feel in this room. Your presence, Lord, is 00:07:38.220 --> 00:07:45.250 so rich, so full in your house today. And I ask 00:07:45.250 --> 00:07:49.709 God that you'd help us now. Help me, Lord. Let 00:07:49.709 --> 00:07:51.850 me speak that which would edify the body and 00:07:51.850 --> 00:07:55.430 glorify you. And Lord, that when we all together 00:07:55.430 --> 00:07:58.189 leave this place, we'd be better for being here. 00:07:58.850 --> 00:08:02.350 We already are because of your presence. But 00:08:02.350 --> 00:08:09.110 now, Lord, let your word strike on the hallways 00:08:09.110 --> 00:08:12.689 of our heart and soul. Lord, we'll be quick to 00:08:12.689 --> 00:08:15.680 praise you for it. In Christ's name, church said, 00:08:15.819 --> 00:08:24.100 amen. The culture of our day has a lot to say 00:08:24.100 --> 00:08:30.819 regarding manhood. They call it toxic masculinity 00:08:30.819 --> 00:08:33.159 and just on and on and on. There's an attack. 00:08:34.799 --> 00:08:40.139 While many struggle to accurately define what 00:08:40.139 --> 00:08:45.700 a woman is, Greater struggle is to determine 00:08:45.700 --> 00:08:51.220 what a man is. And for some reason, our culture 00:08:51.220 --> 00:08:59.120 has just gone, I wanted to say dumb, but I don't 00:08:59.120 --> 00:09:05.820 know that that's strong enough. But anyway, our 00:09:05.820 --> 00:09:09.940 culture has gone so absent -minded as to where 00:09:09.940 --> 00:09:14.399 we've allowed, as alluded to early, the deception 00:09:14.399 --> 00:09:19.100 and the deceiver of humanity to really creep 00:09:19.100 --> 00:09:23.919 in and begin to attack our society from within 00:09:23.919 --> 00:09:30.299 to without. Knowing that if he can destroy God's 00:09:30.299 --> 00:09:35.120 divine design, then he can destroy God's design, 00:09:35.259 --> 00:09:40.940 the designed plan for humanity. If he could subvert, 00:09:40.960 --> 00:09:46.289 invert, and otherwise do away with the divine 00:09:46.289 --> 00:09:50.649 design, then he can do away with the divine destiny 00:09:50.649 --> 00:09:54.970 that each individual has and can have access 00:09:54.970 --> 00:10:00.289 to through Christ to the Heavenly Father. Know 00:10:00.289 --> 00:10:03.830 this, the devil knows that better than any of 00:10:03.830 --> 00:10:07.350 us ever could. He knows that if he can abort 00:10:07.350 --> 00:10:11.129 the divine design in the mind of the creation, 00:10:12.679 --> 00:10:16.779 that the Creator made a mistake, then He has 00:10:16.779 --> 00:10:21.299 us at His whim and will. We would just almost 00:10:21.299 --> 00:10:28.019 be like a ball of twine to a kitten. He would 00:10:28.019 --> 00:10:33.220 just play and play and play and play. And as 00:10:33.220 --> 00:10:35.759 we are making our way through this greater struggle, 00:10:35.960 --> 00:10:39.820 it's not just trying to identify what a man is, 00:10:39.940 --> 00:10:44.179 but what is a godly man. I think there is even 00:10:44.179 --> 00:10:47.440 another distinction that takes it a step further. 00:10:48.139 --> 00:10:51.059 And so when we think about how the enemy is coming 00:10:51.059 --> 00:10:55.620 against humanity, trying to destroy us, I fully 00:10:55.620 --> 00:10:58.559 believe that the enemy knows that his time is 00:10:58.559 --> 00:11:02.620 running out. I think the devil knows the urgency 00:11:02.620 --> 00:11:05.980 of the hour more than the church knows the urgency 00:11:05.980 --> 00:11:08.740 of the hour. I watched a little documentary last 00:11:08.740 --> 00:11:12.399 night about the Eastern Gate. of Jerusalem and 00:11:12.399 --> 00:11:15.299 how they are seeing some dust begin to come out 00:11:15.299 --> 00:11:18.460 and nobody's got a reason for it. There's others 00:11:18.460 --> 00:11:22.460 who have actually testified to hearing like groanings 00:11:22.460 --> 00:11:25.480 and moanings coming from behind the gate. And 00:11:25.480 --> 00:11:28.440 there's a shifting in the stonework. Mind you, 00:11:28.539 --> 00:11:30.659 the eastern gate has been blocked up for over 00:11:30.659 --> 00:11:35.059 500 years, almost half a millennia. But one day 00:11:35.059 --> 00:11:37.759 it's going to open up. Could it be that even 00:11:37.759 --> 00:11:41.169 the earth itself moans and groans? I know that 00:11:41.169 --> 00:11:43.610 the scripture declares that it moans and groans 00:11:43.610 --> 00:11:46.190 waiting for the day of its redemption. You do 00:11:46.190 --> 00:11:48.990 remember that the fall also affected the earth 00:11:48.990 --> 00:11:52.269 itself. Amen. But now we understand that the 00:11:52.269 --> 00:11:56.230 hour is drawing near. Just look at the events 00:11:56.230 --> 00:11:59.929 of this past week. Again, Israel has unleashed 00:11:59.929 --> 00:12:03.309 and war is raging in the Middle East. And all 00:12:03.309 --> 00:12:05.710 of these things could be coming into the alignment 00:12:05.710 --> 00:12:09.070 of the Lord's return. And we have to learn to 00:12:09.070 --> 00:12:12.200 be. the better man in the age in which we are 00:12:12.200 --> 00:12:16.039 living so that we can proclaim the glorious good 00:12:16.039 --> 00:12:19.840 news of Jesus Christ. I know there's a devil 00:12:19.840 --> 00:12:22.399 out there, but never forget there's a God who 00:12:22.399 --> 00:12:25.139 still sits on the throne of eternity. I know 00:12:25.139 --> 00:12:28.399 the enemy seeking whom he may steal, kill, devour, 00:12:28.399 --> 00:12:31.039 and that lion that he roars going to and fro, 00:12:31.120 --> 00:12:34.120 but I know that there is a God who sits on the 00:12:34.120 --> 00:12:37.120 throne, and I know that at his right hand is 00:12:37.120 --> 00:12:40.460 his loving son who is the... redeemer of lost 00:12:40.460 --> 00:12:43.299 humanity unto all those who would call upon his 00:12:43.299 --> 00:12:46.440 name he's sitting at the right hand waiting for 00:12:46.440 --> 00:12:50.779 the announcement son go get my children Do you 00:12:50.779 --> 00:12:53.519 know the joy that will be on the Savior's face 00:12:53.519 --> 00:12:56.340 when he hears and begins to turn to the trumpeter 00:12:56.340 --> 00:12:59.480 and say, sound it now. And he looked to the other 00:12:59.480 --> 00:13:02.059 and see the archangel and say, give the shout 00:13:02.059 --> 00:13:05.639 now. Dad says it's time to go and let us go. 00:13:05.759 --> 00:13:08.440 I'm looking forward to that day. No matter how 00:13:08.440 --> 00:13:11.080 messed up culture is, no matter how messed up 00:13:11.080 --> 00:13:13.940 society is, it lets me know that the urgency 00:13:13.940 --> 00:13:17.320 of the hour is growing greater day by day. Oh, 00:13:17.379 --> 00:13:20.580 my God. When people don't, when... Evil is spoken 00:13:20.580 --> 00:13:23.500 good of and good is spoken evil of. And people 00:13:23.500 --> 00:13:26.019 don't know right from left and up from down and 00:13:26.019 --> 00:13:28.480 in from out. I'm telling you, the Lord is on 00:13:28.480 --> 00:13:31.399 his way. And we must become the better man, the 00:13:31.399 --> 00:13:34.539 better woman of this world so that a lost and 00:13:34.539 --> 00:13:41.720 dying world may know before it's too late. We 00:13:41.720 --> 00:13:44.139 must become like the men of old and renowned. 00:13:44.899 --> 00:13:48.179 Somewhere along the way, Ezekiel... Begin to 00:13:48.179 --> 00:13:52.620 say in 22 and 30, God said, I sought for a man. 00:13:54.259 --> 00:14:00.399 Right? I sought for a man among them. That should 00:14:00.399 --> 00:14:03.279 make up the hedge and stand in the gap before 00:14:03.279 --> 00:14:06.720 me. For the land that I should not destroy it. 00:14:06.740 --> 00:14:10.720 But the saddest words in scripture. But I found 00:14:10.720 --> 00:14:15.419 none. I still think God is looking for some humanity. 00:14:15.500 --> 00:14:18.679 Who will stand up so that he does not destroy 00:14:18.679 --> 00:14:21.779 the land. But I'm telling you today. That as 00:14:21.779 --> 00:14:24.620 the world grows worse and darker. And humanity 00:14:24.620 --> 00:14:29.480 gets more away and misaligned with God. Getting 00:14:29.480 --> 00:14:33.419 ready to ratify and just begin to take care of 00:14:33.419 --> 00:14:36.000 everything that is out of order. He's about to 00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:38.419 get ready to put things back in order again. 00:14:38.679 --> 00:14:41.820 I sought for a man. And I'm telling you, there 00:14:41.820 --> 00:14:43.820 was none that could be found in Ezekiel's day. 00:14:43.919 --> 00:14:46.159 The prophets of the day. The priests of the day. 00:14:46.299 --> 00:14:48.539 They were just saying whatever made people feel 00:14:48.539 --> 00:14:51.100 good. Does that not sound familiar? Whatever 00:14:51.100 --> 00:14:54.080 encouraged them in their wrongdoing. They just 00:14:54.080 --> 00:14:56.179 said you could buy them off. You could pay them. 00:14:56.259 --> 00:14:58.100 They would tell you whatever you wanted to hear. 00:14:58.570 --> 00:15:00.269 God said, I've had enough of that. I'm looking 00:15:00.269 --> 00:15:02.429 for a man. I'm looking for somebody. He will 00:15:02.429 --> 00:15:05.309 come up out from among them and be separated. 00:15:05.610 --> 00:15:08.129 I'm looking for someone who I can impart my word 00:15:08.129 --> 00:15:10.710 to. I'm looking for someone that I can give my 00:15:10.710 --> 00:15:13.730 voice to, who would speak for me in a day, in 00:15:13.730 --> 00:15:16.649 an hour, so that they may know that I still love 00:15:16.649 --> 00:15:18.909 them. You do understand that's what it's all 00:15:18.909 --> 00:15:21.710 about, that God would begin to proclaim again. 00:15:22.149 --> 00:15:24.870 Someone would be the voice for him to say, I 00:15:24.870 --> 00:15:30.840 still love you. I know we get this in our mind, 00:15:30.860 --> 00:15:33.019 this picture of God just wanting to destroy humanity. 00:15:33.159 --> 00:15:37.840 No, no, no, no, no. He's trying to redeem humanity. 00:15:39.860 --> 00:15:42.639 He couldn't find a man, so he sent one. Well, 00:15:44.240 --> 00:15:52.159 whoo, about to get ahead of myself. Somehow in 00:15:52.159 --> 00:15:55.279 our earthliness and in our humanity, we must 00:15:55.279 --> 00:15:59.139 become like men of old and renowned. Those who 00:15:59.139 --> 00:16:01.399 through faith conquered kingdoms according to 00:16:01.399 --> 00:16:04.559 Hebrews 11. Enforce justice. Obtain promises. 00:16:04.720 --> 00:16:07.860 Stop the mouths of lions. Quench the power of 00:16:07.860 --> 00:16:10.500 fire. Escape the edge of the sword. We're made 00:16:10.500 --> 00:16:13.740 strong out of weakness and become mighty in war 00:16:13.740 --> 00:16:17.000 and put foreign armies to fly. Somehow or another, 00:16:17.100 --> 00:16:20.080 you and I must find the resolve, young men, as 00:16:20.080 --> 00:16:22.419 you're growing up now. Hear your preacher today. 00:16:22.620 --> 00:16:26.519 You need to be a man of faith. You need to start 00:16:26.519 --> 00:16:29.639 seeking God now early while he still may be found. 00:16:29.840 --> 00:16:32.159 I don't know today the trumpet could sound. Tomorrow 00:16:32.159 --> 00:16:34.360 the trumpet could sound. The Lord could come 00:16:34.360 --> 00:16:38.220 any day. But we cannot just wait and sit back 00:16:38.220 --> 00:16:40.919 on our leaves and just be in leisure saying, 00:16:40.980 --> 00:16:42.240 well, the Lord's going to come and take care 00:16:42.240 --> 00:16:45.840 of it. No, we have a mandate. We have been mandated 00:16:45.840 --> 00:16:49.100 that we have a heart after God and that we seek 00:16:49.100 --> 00:16:51.779 God, that we long for God. For do you remember 00:16:51.779 --> 00:16:54.279 John declared, the Father seeketh not to worship 00:16:54.279 --> 00:16:57.899 him who would worship him in spirit and in truth. 00:16:58.000 --> 00:17:06.720 Why? Because God is a spirit. Oh, that we become 00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:10.640 men and women of renowned and old. That we be 00:17:10.640 --> 00:17:13.019 as the prophets of old and those who sought after 00:17:13.019 --> 00:17:17.079 God of old. Characteristics of a godly man or 00:17:17.079 --> 00:17:19.960 a godly woman, either one. They go hand in hand. 00:17:21.319 --> 00:17:26.059 One righteousness, faith, love, steadfastness, 00:17:26.099 --> 00:17:29.680 gentleness, courage, honesty, integrity, servanthood. 00:17:30.200 --> 00:17:32.700 That we would be authentic worshipers. That we 00:17:32.700 --> 00:17:35.119 would have a state and a heart of forgiveness. 00:17:35.849 --> 00:17:37.849 And that we would be generous and that we would 00:17:37.849 --> 00:17:42.269 be totally obedient to God. That's what God's 00:17:42.269 --> 00:17:44.109 looking for today. That's what God has always 00:17:44.109 --> 00:17:48.869 looked for. The criteria hasn't changed. The 00:17:48.869 --> 00:17:51.470 demands haven't changed. The characteristics 00:17:51.470 --> 00:17:55.250 haven't changed. Humanity's heart has changed. 00:17:55.549 --> 00:17:58.190 I even take that back. Our hearts haven't changed. 00:17:58.289 --> 00:18:00.210 They've always been hardened since the fall. 00:18:01.210 --> 00:18:05.329 Man's heart is the most deceitful thing. Read 00:18:05.329 --> 00:18:11.170 the Bible. Man's heart hasn't changed. Sin isn't 00:18:11.170 --> 00:18:14.190 any different than it ever has been. You look 00:18:14.190 --> 00:18:18.309 back through humanity's historical documentaries 00:18:18.309 --> 00:18:21.730 and you'll just see how wicked humanity is. At 00:18:21.730 --> 00:18:24.009 least we're not burning people at the stake anymore. 00:18:26.910 --> 00:18:29.470 We're progressing some instead of digressing. 00:18:30.910 --> 00:18:33.670 Humanity has always sold its fellow man into 00:18:33.670 --> 00:18:37.960 slavery. You do know that, right? And it still 00:18:37.960 --> 00:18:40.839 continues to this day. It doesn't matter the 00:18:40.839 --> 00:18:46.000 color, the race, the creed. No, humanity has 00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:52.319 always sold itself into slavery to others. Perversion. 00:18:52.420 --> 00:18:55.079 Perversion is no worse now than it's ever been. 00:18:55.240 --> 00:18:57.759 Oh, I know it seems to be. It's because it's 00:18:57.759 --> 00:19:03.319 at your fingertips. Perversion everywhere and 00:19:03.319 --> 00:19:06.200 stuff that you used to not know, now you know. 00:19:07.279 --> 00:19:10.660 Things that we used to in rural America, back 00:19:10.660 --> 00:19:12.319 where I was at over in Holler, you didn't hear 00:19:12.319 --> 00:19:15.019 all that junk. So you didn't know what was going 00:19:15.019 --> 00:19:22.119 on. When you did, you was like, oh, really? True. 00:19:23.740 --> 00:19:25.619 Couldn't believe people do stuff like that. But 00:19:25.619 --> 00:19:27.680 now that I'm older and I've studied and see what 00:19:27.680 --> 00:19:29.640 history has to say, well, it's just the same 00:19:29.640 --> 00:19:34.009 old stuff. No more perverse now than they've 00:19:34.009 --> 00:19:36.329 ever been. No more wicked than it's ever been. 00:19:36.490 --> 00:19:39.750 How bad was it when God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah? 00:19:39.910 --> 00:19:46.170 How bad was that sin? This world stands in a 00:19:46.170 --> 00:19:49.549 state of apology to those who have been stricken 00:19:49.549 --> 00:19:53.230 by fire. If it was not worse than it is now. 00:19:55.190 --> 00:19:57.829 The characteristics of the godly must rise up. 00:19:57.869 --> 00:20:01.019 We must watch. I think that's a failure of the 00:20:01.019 --> 00:20:03.099 church today. We are no longer watching. Watching 00:20:03.099 --> 00:20:05.920 for what? Watching for the return of the Savior. 00:20:06.119 --> 00:20:08.519 When I was growing up, it was prevalent. We heard 00:20:08.519 --> 00:20:11.160 about hell and we heard about heaven. Amen. There's 00:20:11.160 --> 00:20:12.980 a few other topics that you got, but it always 00:20:12.980 --> 00:20:15.640 got right back around to you wanted to stay out 00:20:15.640 --> 00:20:17.720 of hell and you wanted to go to heaven. My pastors 00:20:17.720 --> 00:20:20.259 could preach hell so hot it felt like my feet 00:20:20.259 --> 00:20:22.220 were burning. And then they could turn right 00:20:22.220 --> 00:20:24.400 around and preach heaven so sweet that you felt 00:20:24.400 --> 00:20:28.390 like you wanted to go now. Amen. And why? We 00:20:28.390 --> 00:20:30.329 were always watching. We were always singing 00:20:30.329 --> 00:20:34.029 reminder songs. Amen? Oh, there's going to be 00:20:34.029 --> 00:20:36.170 a meeting in the air. Oh, page 10, the old red 00:20:36.170 --> 00:20:38.329 back, right? We would sing those songs and we'd 00:20:38.329 --> 00:20:40.430 think about heaven. I was thinking about after 00:20:40.430 --> 00:20:42.269 I watched that documentary on the Eastern Gate, 00:20:42.369 --> 00:20:44.789 my mind automatically went to that song just 00:20:44.789 --> 00:20:47.450 inside the Eastern Gate over there. You know, 00:20:47.450 --> 00:20:49.269 I thought, well, where'd that come from? It come 00:20:49.269 --> 00:20:51.529 from a past. It came from my learning. It come 00:20:51.529 --> 00:20:54.430 from my upbringing just inside the Eastern Gate 00:20:54.430 --> 00:20:57.009 over there. And then I begin to notice I'm alone. 00:20:57.130 --> 00:20:59.009 I'm longing for the Lord to put his foot down 00:20:59.009 --> 00:21:01.529 on top of the Mount of Olives. I'm longing that 00:21:01.529 --> 00:21:04.150 I want to try to be the better man today, that 00:21:04.150 --> 00:21:06.329 I choose to be the better man that I was yesterday, 00:21:06.569 --> 00:21:08.950 that the godly characteristics begin to flow, 00:21:09.089 --> 00:21:11.690 that I'm always watching, that I'm always standing 00:21:11.690 --> 00:21:15.109 firm in the faith, unmoved, unshaken. I'm telling 00:21:15.109 --> 00:21:17.589 you today, and you know very well, many of you, 00:21:17.730 --> 00:21:20.630 that the world can set against you, that life 00:21:20.630 --> 00:21:23.230 can turn against you, that chaos can erupt at 00:21:23.230 --> 00:21:26.470 any moment, but you have to be steadfast. and 00:21:26.470 --> 00:21:29.730 grounded in the faith that you're watching, amen, 00:21:29.930 --> 00:21:32.109 and that you're longing. I am longing for the 00:21:32.109 --> 00:21:34.589 return of the Lord. And when I see things about 00:21:34.589 --> 00:21:37.710 maybe the eastern gate starting to shift a little 00:21:37.710 --> 00:21:40.210 and shake a little and maybe some dust coming 00:21:40.210 --> 00:21:42.769 off the wall, who knows why and who cares why 00:21:42.769 --> 00:21:46.170 if it causes man to lift his eyes toward the 00:21:46.170 --> 00:21:48.750 heavens and begin to watch toward the eastern 00:21:48.750 --> 00:21:51.450 sky knowing that the promise of the word of God, 00:21:51.589 --> 00:21:53.970 that God's word will be fulfilled, that God's 00:21:53.970 --> 00:21:57.000 word will come to pass. will set his foot again 00:21:57.000 --> 00:22:09.920 upon the Mount of Olives. To watch. To watch. 00:22:11.240 --> 00:22:13.519 We've stopped watching men of old and renowned 00:22:13.519 --> 00:22:17.500 continue to watch. We can never allow ourselves 00:22:17.500 --> 00:22:23.420 just to be nice for being nice sake. You hear 00:22:23.420 --> 00:22:27.079 me? You know the old adage, nice guys finish 00:22:27.079 --> 00:22:32.700 last. This isn't about being nice. It's about 00:22:32.700 --> 00:22:41.200 being tenacious. It's about being zealous. It's 00:22:41.200 --> 00:22:45.500 about being full of desire to know God, to be 00:22:45.500 --> 00:22:48.339 His emissary here while we are on this earth. 00:22:48.839 --> 00:22:52.079 Amen. And to see Him when He returns in the clouds 00:22:52.079 --> 00:22:55.650 of glory. If you're not zealous, you're not going 00:22:55.650 --> 00:22:58.910 to have that longing and that desire. I saw a 00:22:58.910 --> 00:23:00.630 little meme the other day. It said something 00:23:00.630 --> 00:23:05.480 about things that keep... Don't let things keep 00:23:05.480 --> 00:23:07.240 you out of church. These are the things that 00:23:07.240 --> 00:23:10.460 used to we didn't miss church for. Now these 00:23:10.460 --> 00:23:12.279 are the things that cause us to miss church or 00:23:12.279 --> 00:23:15.259 something like that because our passions are 00:23:15.259 --> 00:23:18.640 being diverted. Our passions are being watered 00:23:18.640 --> 00:23:20.980 down. We cannot afford to become lukewarm in 00:23:20.980 --> 00:23:24.039 this hour. You cannot hear me church today. I 00:23:24.039 --> 00:23:25.799 know it's Father's Day. And men, we've got to 00:23:25.799 --> 00:23:28.180 stir ourselves like never before. This culture 00:23:28.180 --> 00:23:31.680 needs to see men of God, men of faith, men of 00:23:31.680 --> 00:23:34.359 power to stand up and not be a... ashamed to 00:23:34.359 --> 00:23:37.000 lift a hand and shed a tear for the glory of 00:23:37.000 --> 00:23:39.839 God and the cause of Jesus Christ. We need men 00:23:39.839 --> 00:23:42.000 to do that but we need some women to stand beside 00:23:42.000 --> 00:23:44.720 them with hands lifted up as well and when we 00:23:44.720 --> 00:23:46.880 fall in our weakness that they are on their face 00:23:46.880 --> 00:23:50.759 interceding on our behalf. My God today we must 00:23:50.759 --> 00:24:07.240 be the better man. Blaise was zealed for the 00:24:07.240 --> 00:24:10.240 glory of God like never before. For the health 00:24:10.240 --> 00:24:13.420 of the church. For the souls of lost people. 00:24:15.319 --> 00:24:23.079 Amen. Zeal for his glory. Not cultural civility. 00:24:27.579 --> 00:24:30.119 Not that we just don't want to rub against the 00:24:30.119 --> 00:24:33.549 culture. Look, you and I walk against a different 00:24:33.549 --> 00:24:37.450 grain anyway if you're following Christ. You're 00:24:37.450 --> 00:24:39.490 already at odds with the world, or you should 00:24:39.490 --> 00:24:41.890 be. Maybe that's part of our problem. If we're 00:24:41.890 --> 00:24:43.490 walking alone with the world and we don't have 00:24:43.490 --> 00:24:48.170 enough of God in us to stir the dander up of 00:24:48.170 --> 00:24:50.529 people that are around us so that they don't 00:24:50.529 --> 00:24:53.210 want to be around us, amen, I think there must 00:24:53.210 --> 00:24:57.950 be a problem somewhere. And we must align our 00:24:57.950 --> 00:25:00.549 hearts with God. I'm telling you, if you're not 00:25:00.549 --> 00:25:02.930 an offense to the sinners that are around you, 00:25:03.089 --> 00:25:10.730 then you need to pray up some more. I'm not saying 00:25:10.730 --> 00:25:13.950 don't be friendly, not display love. That's not 00:25:13.950 --> 00:25:15.970 what your pastor is saying to you this morning. 00:25:16.130 --> 00:25:19.130 But what I'm saying is this. If you can walk 00:25:19.130 --> 00:25:22.029 in the same grain as the world in your life, 00:25:22.089 --> 00:25:24.589 not convict them of anything going on in their 00:25:24.589 --> 00:25:27.250 life, then honey, we got something backwards 00:25:27.250 --> 00:25:30.190 and something wrong. Something isn't right because 00:25:30.190 --> 00:25:34.250 everywhere Jesus went, amen, it kind of stirred 00:25:34.250 --> 00:25:38.569 up a little bit of stink. Why? Because his presence 00:25:38.569 --> 00:25:44.079 alone. His presence alone convicted men of their 00:25:44.079 --> 00:25:46.740 actions. And that's what it means to be a true 00:25:46.740 --> 00:25:49.619 believer. born -again, blood -bought, sanctified, 00:25:49.779 --> 00:25:53.859 Holy Ghost -filled believer that where you are, 00:25:53.920 --> 00:25:55.940 yes, folks will tolerate you for a little while, 00:25:56.099 --> 00:25:58.559 but when that glory starts oozing off of you, 00:25:58.579 --> 00:26:00.900 they don't want anything to do with you. Why? 00:26:01.000 --> 00:26:04.539 Because you crimp their style. Amen? You disrupt 00:26:04.539 --> 00:26:08.420 the flow of what's about to go on. And the most 00:26:08.420 --> 00:26:10.799 important thing you can do for them is leave. 00:26:14.980 --> 00:26:20.240 In their eyes. But the most important thing we 00:26:20.240 --> 00:26:22.599 can do is be Christ. You don't have to point 00:26:22.599 --> 00:26:28.140 a self -righteous finger at anyone. But our lifestyle, 00:26:28.319 --> 00:26:36.420 be the better man. Be the better of mankind wherever 00:26:36.420 --> 00:26:41.000 you are. So that there is a resolve in people 00:26:41.000 --> 00:26:44.140 when they see you and they understand that you 00:26:44.140 --> 00:26:48.980 are different. That when the wheels fall off 00:26:48.980 --> 00:26:51.180 of your wagon, you don't fall off the track. 00:26:51.960 --> 00:26:55.099 Come on, somebody. That when all hell is standing 00:26:55.099 --> 00:26:58.589 at your door, you don't run and hide. You stand 00:26:58.589 --> 00:27:01.710 boldly and firmly knowing that the Word of God 00:27:01.710 --> 00:27:03.890 is your aid and your comfort and that when the 00:27:03.890 --> 00:27:06.690 enemy comes in like a flood, that God is going 00:27:06.690 --> 00:27:09.049 to raise up a standard against the flood that 00:27:09.049 --> 00:27:11.289 has come against you because His Word promises 00:27:11.289 --> 00:27:14.130 He'll not allow the water to overflow you. He'll 00:27:14.130 --> 00:27:16.769 not allow the fire to kindle up against you and 00:27:16.769 --> 00:27:19.150 overcome you because His promise is for you. 00:27:19.210 --> 00:27:28.299 Why? Because you belong to Him. How do we improve 00:27:28.299 --> 00:27:33.359 our character? How do we improve our character? 00:27:33.440 --> 00:27:36.180 How do we improve godly character in our life? 00:27:37.180 --> 00:27:39.279 Well, we follow the examples that have been left 00:27:39.279 --> 00:27:46.559 out before us to see. We consider those who have 00:27:46.559 --> 00:27:50.279 gone before us. We consider their life. We consider 00:27:50.279 --> 00:27:53.779 their faith. We consider the hardships that they 00:27:53.779 --> 00:27:57.500 encountered. We consider their successes. We 00:27:57.500 --> 00:28:02.019 consider their failures. Sometimes we can learn 00:28:02.019 --> 00:28:03.700 more from failure than we ever thought about 00:28:03.700 --> 00:28:08.119 learning from success. We learn from men like 00:28:08.119 --> 00:28:11.779 Moses. As we consider him who would be the meekest 00:28:11.779 --> 00:28:16.700 man on all the earth. Numbers 12 and 3. But yet 00:28:16.700 --> 00:28:19.599 as he's spending 40 days in the presence of God 00:28:19.599 --> 00:28:23.920 on the mountain. And God with his own finger. 00:28:25.000 --> 00:28:29.359 with his own finger in his presence, is writing 00:28:29.359 --> 00:28:32.359 out the commandments for the people to live by. 00:28:33.359 --> 00:28:36.599 God, you getting this? And the people are at 00:28:36.599 --> 00:28:38.660 the bottom looking at the smoke and the fire 00:28:38.660 --> 00:28:41.420 and the shaking and the thundering and the quaking 00:28:41.420 --> 00:28:43.680 of the mountain and thinking, Moses is still 00:28:43.680 --> 00:28:47.019 in there. But halfway up the mountain, Moses 00:28:47.019 --> 00:28:50.160 is not by himself. Come on, somebody. Don't you 00:28:50.160 --> 00:28:53.279 need a Joshua to go a little bit with you? Joshua's 00:28:53.279 --> 00:28:55.579 halfway up. He's as far as he could get, but 00:28:55.579 --> 00:28:58.279 he's on the mount. And the mountain, he's hearing 00:28:58.279 --> 00:29:01.960 the voice of God and no doubt smelling the fume 00:29:01.960 --> 00:29:05.140 and the smell of the finger of God as it carves 00:29:05.140 --> 00:29:07.819 into stone the commandments whereby we are to 00:29:07.819 --> 00:29:11.059 live so that we may please him because of our 00:29:11.059 --> 00:29:13.759 fall and because of our sin. God is making a 00:29:13.759 --> 00:29:16.339 way. He's made a substitute, which is the law 00:29:16.339 --> 00:29:19.299 that we might be able to live pleasing to him. 00:29:21.280 --> 00:29:23.220 Moses turns to make his way back down to the 00:29:23.220 --> 00:29:26.519 people. He's excited. You know how like pastors 00:29:26.519 --> 00:29:28.079 are sometimes. We've been in the prayer closet. 00:29:28.099 --> 00:29:30.880 We come out. And we get in front of you. It's 00:29:30.880 --> 00:29:37.019 like, who dropped the stones? We take the revelation 00:29:37.019 --> 00:29:39.720 we just got. And because we're so flabbergasted 00:29:39.720 --> 00:29:44.519 with the lack of interest. Lack of engagement. 00:29:45.480 --> 00:29:48.200 Lack of involvement. Lack of commitment. I could 00:29:48.200 --> 00:29:51.859 go on, but you get the point. So Moses is coming 00:29:51.859 --> 00:29:54.039 down the mountain. He picks Joshua up, and they're 00:29:54.039 --> 00:29:55.900 on their way to the people. He's so excited. 00:29:56.240 --> 00:29:58.339 He's been in the presence of God so much that 00:29:58.339 --> 00:30:02.220 his face is shining from the glory of God. It's 00:30:02.220 --> 00:30:05.079 illuminated like laser beams coming off of his 00:30:05.079 --> 00:30:07.900 face. And when he gets down to them, he gets 00:30:07.900 --> 00:30:10.240 a little closer, yet not to see. He said, whoo, 00:30:10.259 --> 00:30:12.539 man, they're worshiping down there. Joshua said, 00:30:12.680 --> 00:30:18.660 that's not worship, Mo. That's a party. He gets 00:30:18.660 --> 00:30:22.609 down to see them. bowed down before a golden 00:30:22.609 --> 00:30:25.490 image in idolatry, worshiping and just carrying 00:30:25.490 --> 00:30:27.529 on, would never worship God in that fashion, 00:30:27.650 --> 00:30:29.829 would never praise God in that form, would never 00:30:29.829 --> 00:30:32.210 give. They would never take the jewels off their 00:30:32.210 --> 00:30:34.450 head and throw in the offering bucket for God. 00:30:34.529 --> 00:30:37.849 But oh, let's give it all for the idolatry and 00:30:37.849 --> 00:30:40.450 the appeasement of our flesh. And now they're 00:30:40.450 --> 00:30:42.549 bowing and worshiping this golden image. And 00:30:42.549 --> 00:30:45.289 Moses, this meek man, gets a little saw bone 00:30:45.289 --> 00:30:48.089 up his backbone. And he stands up and casts those 00:30:48.089 --> 00:30:50.680 stones down. And what does he do? He says, you 00:30:50.680 --> 00:30:53.859 take that calf, you grind it up, melt it down, 00:30:53.940 --> 00:30:56.420 grind it up in a powder, you put it in a Kool 00:30:56.420 --> 00:30:58.160 -Aid. And I think this is where they coined the 00:30:58.160 --> 00:31:00.599 phrase, and they drunk the Kool -Aid. They drunk 00:31:00.599 --> 00:31:04.099 the Kool -Aid. He made them ingest their idolatry, 00:31:04.119 --> 00:31:07.940 my Lord, and went back up. And this time he had 00:31:07.940 --> 00:31:13.740 to whittle out his own stones. The people saying, 00:31:13.880 --> 00:31:16.240 hide your face, Moses. That's the way they do. 00:31:17.380 --> 00:31:21.529 When you in the glory and they ain't. Moses, 00:31:21.650 --> 00:31:27.930 we can't even look at you. We better move on 00:31:27.930 --> 00:31:32.829 past Moses. Consider David. You remember David. 00:31:34.190 --> 00:31:37.670 Moses was a meek man, but he was also a man after 00:31:37.670 --> 00:31:41.509 righteousness. In the presence of God, David, 00:31:41.630 --> 00:31:44.789 that harp playing, poetry writing, song singing, 00:31:44.890 --> 00:31:53.960 you know, shepherd boy. Makes his way to his 00:31:53.960 --> 00:31:57.759 brothers who are in war. Brings them food sent 00:31:57.759 --> 00:32:01.119 by their father. And as he's approaching, he 00:32:01.119 --> 00:32:03.579 hears something echoing in the background that 00:32:03.579 --> 00:32:09.160 doesn't ring well in his ears. There's something 00:32:09.160 --> 00:32:11.619 that just begins to cause the hair on the back 00:32:11.619 --> 00:32:15.299 of his neck to stand up. And he begins to get 00:32:15.299 --> 00:32:19.319 very irritated. And he finally gets to his brothers 00:32:19.319 --> 00:32:26.289 and here's lunch. Who's that? Dad says, here's 00:32:26.289 --> 00:32:30.029 lunch. Who is that? And what are you doing still 00:32:30.029 --> 00:32:33.990 standing here? Why are you not down there? For 00:32:33.990 --> 00:32:36.569 David, it's not a matter of life and death. It's 00:32:36.569 --> 00:32:39.849 a matter of God's glory and God's honor. It wasn't 00:32:39.849 --> 00:32:42.029 a matter whether Goliath killed you or not. Has 00:32:42.029 --> 00:32:44.730 somebody not been down there? Has someone not 00:32:44.730 --> 00:32:53.670 made their way there to deal with this? David, 00:32:53.670 --> 00:32:57.250 who would have his failures of his own? Psalm 00:32:57.250 --> 00:33:01.029 51 is a recording of one of his failures. But 00:33:01.029 --> 00:33:04.390 yet that repentant heart of that shepherd, as 00:33:04.390 --> 00:33:07.150 he could be so rough, they sung songs about him. 00:33:07.150 --> 00:33:10.170 David has slain his tens of thousands, Saul his 00:33:10.170 --> 00:33:15.009 thousand. He was a man of war. But yet so tender 00:33:15.009 --> 00:33:18.750 he could pen those words, the Lord is my shepherd. 00:33:19.930 --> 00:33:27.819 I shall not want. He could pin those words under 00:33:27.819 --> 00:33:31.380 the hand of the great Almighty. And God used 00:33:31.380 --> 00:33:35.059 him. God can use you and I in spite of our failures 00:33:35.059 --> 00:33:38.240 if we make ourselves available. Consider the 00:33:38.240 --> 00:33:42.920 characteristics of the man of God, Elijah. 1 00:33:42.920 --> 00:33:47.319 Kings 18 and 20, tormented by the unbelief of 00:33:47.319 --> 00:33:49.440 God's people, he called a public showdown. He 00:33:49.440 --> 00:33:51.200 said, if God's going to be God, then we're going 00:33:51.200 --> 00:33:54.200 to serve him. But if Baal's going to be God, 00:33:54.380 --> 00:33:56.460 then we'll all bow and serve him. But here's 00:33:56.460 --> 00:33:59.359 what we're going to do. The God that answers 00:33:59.359 --> 00:34:04.180 by fire, let him be God. And this is going to 00:34:04.180 --> 00:34:07.440 settle it. You know, the same prophet who prayed 00:34:07.440 --> 00:34:09.559 and it hadn't rained for three and a half years. 00:34:10.280 --> 00:34:12.900 The same prophet who called down she -bears out 00:34:12.900 --> 00:34:16.019 of the mountainside. Hello? I'm talking about 00:34:16.019 --> 00:34:20.199 a man of God, but yet... In his frailty, after 00:34:20.199 --> 00:34:23.300 the fire falls and the rain makes its way, when 00:34:23.300 --> 00:34:25.860 the threat from Jezebel comes against his life, 00:34:26.019 --> 00:34:30.980 in fear and tribbling, he runs. But God finds 00:34:30.980 --> 00:34:34.539 him in that cave, doesn't he? He finds him there 00:34:34.539 --> 00:34:36.659 lonely. He found him under the juniper tree way 00:34:36.659 --> 00:34:39.099 before we ever made it to the cave, 40 days before. 00:34:39.800 --> 00:34:42.219 He's there wishing that he had not even been 00:34:42.219 --> 00:34:45.380 born and that he could die right there. But no, 00:34:45.579 --> 00:34:48.059 God sent the ravens and they fed him and he went 00:34:48.059 --> 00:34:50.880 40 days. And he makes his way to that cleft in 00:34:50.880 --> 00:34:53.400 the rock. And he's in there. The mountain begins 00:34:53.400 --> 00:34:56.739 to shake. Fire goes and the wind rages. But God 00:34:56.739 --> 00:34:59.260 wasn't in it. But now the heart of the prophet 00:34:59.260 --> 00:35:03.519 hears the still, small, gentle voice of God. 00:35:03.639 --> 00:35:07.440 And he's melted like butter. If you ever read 00:35:07.440 --> 00:35:09.440 that story, read it again and look and see that 00:35:09.440 --> 00:35:13.280 God never chastised Elijah for being in the cave. 00:35:14.719 --> 00:35:18.300 He didn't. He did not chastise him. What are 00:35:18.300 --> 00:35:20.079 you doing here, Elijah? And then he says, here's 00:35:20.079 --> 00:35:24.519 what I want you to do when you get out. You're 00:35:24.519 --> 00:35:26.039 going to find an old boy over there in the plow 00:35:26.039 --> 00:35:37.260 field. Go anoint him. The next king's in line. 00:35:37.360 --> 00:35:42.139 Go anoint him. Now let's go. Isn't that good? 00:35:42.219 --> 00:35:44.739 That's the characteristics of God toward the 00:35:44.739 --> 00:35:49.139 godly. Amen. He knows our mistake and he don't 00:35:49.139 --> 00:35:52.739 rub our face in our mistakes. He gives us our 00:35:52.739 --> 00:35:56.500 next assignment. What are you doing here? You 00:35:56.500 --> 00:35:58.619 don't have to be here. You shouldn't be here. 00:35:58.760 --> 00:36:01.099 But here you are and here's your next assignment. 00:36:03.119 --> 00:36:04.880 Thank you, Lord. Stand with me. I'm going to 00:36:04.880 --> 00:36:09.380 try to quit. I promise. Consider Jeremiah, the 00:36:09.380 --> 00:36:11.400 weeping prophet, who exclaimed, Oh, that my head 00:36:11.400 --> 00:36:13.880 were waters and my eyes a fountain of tears, 00:36:14.000 --> 00:36:16.119 that I might weep day and night for the slain 00:36:16.119 --> 00:36:18.760 of the daughter of my people. But yet, continuing 00:36:18.760 --> 00:36:21.300 in verse chapter 9, he would say it around verse 00:36:21.300 --> 00:36:24.219 15. He'll make this declaration. Therefore, thus 00:36:24.219 --> 00:36:26.639 saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Behold, 00:36:26.699 --> 00:36:31.480 I will feed this people with bitter food. Give 00:36:31.480 --> 00:36:33.400 them poisonous water to drink. I will scatter 00:36:33.400 --> 00:36:36.440 them among the nations whom neither they nor 00:36:36.440 --> 00:36:39.500 their fathers have known. And I will send a sword 00:36:39.500 --> 00:36:45.559 after them until I have consumed them. And he 00:36:45.559 --> 00:36:49.380 would find them. In that chapter, I think around 00:36:49.380 --> 00:36:51.659 64, he begins to declare. He looks up to the 00:36:51.659 --> 00:36:54.760 heavens and said, Oh Lord, I would that thou 00:36:54.760 --> 00:37:00.269 would rend the heavens and come down. It's not 00:37:00.269 --> 00:37:05.349 about being without mistakes, folks. To be the 00:37:05.349 --> 00:37:08.429 better man, we just have to repent them and move 00:37:08.429 --> 00:37:13.429 on. And allow the godly characteristics of faith 00:37:13.429 --> 00:37:15.690 and hope and love and honesty and integrity, 00:37:15.909 --> 00:37:24.190 righteousness, generosity, forgiveness. We're 00:37:24.190 --> 00:37:28.949 in a world that needs a better man. We're in 00:37:28.949 --> 00:37:34.630 a world that needs a better woman. I considered 00:37:34.630 --> 00:37:38.730 the prophet Isaiah, the old eagle -eyed prophet 00:37:38.730 --> 00:37:44.909 who could see through time. But in that ninth 00:37:44.909 --> 00:37:52.630 chapter, he had his own meeting with God. And 00:37:52.630 --> 00:37:55.889 one of the most difficult lifetime events that 00:37:55.889 --> 00:37:59.639 he could remember. It had to be. It must have 00:37:59.639 --> 00:38:03.960 been. Because the Bible says in the year that 00:38:03.960 --> 00:38:10.800 King Uzziah died, I also saw the Lord high and 00:38:10.800 --> 00:38:14.719 lifted up. And his train did fill the temple. 00:38:16.139 --> 00:38:19.380 And one of the most devastating moments and times 00:38:19.380 --> 00:38:25.239 of the prophet's life, he said, I also saw the 00:38:25.239 --> 00:38:29.289 Lord. Let me tell you something. Life gets rough, 00:38:29.530 --> 00:38:34.889 doesn't it? Life gets difficult. Brother Randy 00:38:34.889 --> 00:38:37.110 talked Wednesday night about chaos and how that 00:38:37.110 --> 00:38:43.050 chaos can erupt at any moment. But I'm so glad 00:38:43.050 --> 00:38:47.630 that out of the chaos, God speaks. In the year 00:38:47.630 --> 00:38:51.289 the king Uzziah died, I saw also the Lord high 00:38:51.289 --> 00:38:53.929 and lifted up. In other words, the calamity of 00:38:53.929 --> 00:38:56.880 my moment and my time. God is still elevated 00:38:56.880 --> 00:39:01.460 above my calamity. Are you hearing me? His throne 00:39:01.460 --> 00:39:05.500 still sits above your calamity. I saw him there. 00:39:06.440 --> 00:39:10.739 His train, his victories are sewn together. Too 00:39:10.739 --> 00:39:18.059 numerous to tell. And the temple is filled. And 00:39:18.059 --> 00:39:24.849 his voice, his voice. Isaiah said, at his voice, 00:39:24.949 --> 00:39:29.949 the pillars shook. My God, I need some pillars 00:39:29.949 --> 00:39:37.929 to shake. How many of you need some pillars to 00:39:37.929 --> 00:39:46.010 shake at the utterance of his voice? The prophet 00:39:46.010 --> 00:39:51.070 said, and I was hearing this thunderous roar. 00:39:52.780 --> 00:39:54.980 And I began to distinguish what it was. There 00:39:54.980 --> 00:39:59.679 were some seraphim flying, six -winged creatures. 00:40:00.940 --> 00:40:02.559 They're covering their face, they're covering 00:40:02.559 --> 00:40:05.360 their feet, and two of them are flying. And their 00:40:05.360 --> 00:40:11.960 voices, together in unison, are declaring, Holy, 00:40:12.280 --> 00:40:22.389 holy, holy is the Lord God. Here he is in his 00:40:22.389 --> 00:40:26.289 chaos and calamity, and he's standing, seeing 00:40:26.289 --> 00:40:29.969 pillars shake in God's glory, filling the temple 00:40:29.969 --> 00:40:32.670 and the whole earth full of his glory as well. 00:40:33.409 --> 00:40:37.389 And he's standing there, hearing these angelic 00:40:37.389 --> 00:40:42.210 creatures declaring the holiness of God. And 00:40:42.210 --> 00:40:48.510 then he hears, who's going to go for us? Who's 00:40:48.510 --> 00:40:52.019 going to go? I'm looking for a man. Remember, 00:40:52.300 --> 00:40:55.019 that's Ezekiel's day. Here's Isaiah. I need someone 00:40:55.019 --> 00:41:00.260 who will go. Who will go? Now, we're in the sixth 00:41:00.260 --> 00:41:04.980 chapter. Isaiah started at one. He'd been doing 00:41:04.980 --> 00:41:10.000 this a little while. That's three in front of 00:41:10.000 --> 00:41:19.340 nine. Who's going to go? Then Isaiah makes the 00:41:19.340 --> 00:41:25.039 declaration, Woe is me, for I am undone. I am 00:41:25.039 --> 00:41:35.159 a man of unclean lips. And then one of the seraphim 00:41:35.159 --> 00:41:37.659 flew and took the tongs from off the altar and 00:41:37.659 --> 00:41:49.710 plucked a live coal. And he said, I'll go. Send 00:41:49.710 --> 00:41:56.369 me. I'll go. I'll go. Who wants to be the better 00:41:56.369 --> 00:42:00.269 man or woman today? Who wants to be the better? 00:42:01.050 --> 00:42:03.730 I want to be the better. In the midst of the 00:42:03.730 --> 00:42:07.750 chaos and the calamities of life, the devil breathing 00:42:07.750 --> 00:42:13.570 down your collar. I don't know about you, but 00:42:13.570 --> 00:42:15.949 I'd hope for a little bit of stability in our 00:42:15.949 --> 00:42:20.969 country. I thought for a minute few moments that 00:42:20.969 --> 00:42:23.610 maybe for a few years we'd have a little bit 00:42:23.610 --> 00:42:27.130 of reprieve. Devil's not going to let this nation 00:42:27.130 --> 00:42:33.429 have a reprieve. Simply because of our declaration 00:42:33.429 --> 00:42:48.849 of in God we trust. In this chaos. You have to 00:42:48.849 --> 00:42:50.590 take a lot of care when you're talking about 00:42:50.590 --> 00:42:54.090 peace in Israel. You have to know what all that 00:42:54.090 --> 00:42:56.429 entails when you're talking about when there's 00:42:56.429 --> 00:43:05.989 peace declared. Until the Lord returns, saints 00:43:05.989 --> 00:43:09.070 of God, this world's not going to be in peace. 00:43:15.469 --> 00:43:18.329 Not in peace in the sense that this world is 00:43:18.329 --> 00:43:22.210 wanting, just like the Pharisees and the high 00:43:22.210 --> 00:43:24.449 priests of the day when Christ came to begin 00:43:24.449 --> 00:43:27.610 with. That was not the Savior they were looking 00:43:27.610 --> 00:43:31.849 for. That was not the role they were looking 00:43:31.849 --> 00:43:35.530 for, the promise to fulfill the Messiah. They 00:43:35.530 --> 00:43:42.170 didn't want saved. They wanted to rule. They 00:43:42.170 --> 00:43:45.019 didn't want a Redeemer. They wanted their own 00:43:45.019 --> 00:44:00.400 king on their own throne. Father, I love you 00:44:00.400 --> 00:44:08.380 today. I don't know how to go about this altar 00:44:08.380 --> 00:44:10.300 call this morning. I don't know what to do with 00:44:10.300 --> 00:44:14.139 it. You'd think as long as I've been doing it, 00:44:14.159 --> 00:44:22.260 you'd have something for every occasion. I don't 00:44:22.260 --> 00:44:24.380 know what you need from God or want from God, 00:44:24.480 --> 00:44:29.079 but I was just about to close us out with a nice 00:44:29.079 --> 00:44:36.500 pretty prayer and I got checked. So here, if 00:44:36.500 --> 00:44:38.960 you want to be the better person, the better 00:44:38.960 --> 00:44:43.820 of mankind, You want to have those godly characteristics 00:44:43.820 --> 00:44:45.940 flowing out of your life. You want to have zeal. 00:44:48.079 --> 00:44:50.159 Just make your way to the altar this morning 00:44:50.159 --> 00:45:02.940 and just stand here with me. This world can have 00:45:02.940 --> 00:45:08.619 peace, but not peace as we know it. Not the absence 00:45:08.619 --> 00:45:15.869 of conflict. Not the absence of war. But we can 00:45:15.869 --> 00:45:22.909 have peace as Christ is. Remember? Remember Bethlehem's 00:45:22.909 --> 00:45:25.550 birth and the angelic proclamation on earth. 00:45:26.789 --> 00:45:30.750 Where you at Bible readers? On earth. Peace. 00:45:32.650 --> 00:45:39.659 And good will toward men. Christ. Christ and 00:45:39.659 --> 00:45:43.800 Christ alone is our goodwill. He's the goodwill 00:45:43.800 --> 00:45:47.079 toward humanity. And the only peace that humanity 00:45:47.079 --> 00:45:52.219 is going to know is through Him. There may be 00:45:52.219 --> 00:45:56.079 seasons that individual nations may not be at 00:45:56.079 --> 00:46:07.599 war. But until, until the final reign is made, 00:46:09.739 --> 00:46:16.340 Christ sits on the throne forever. Peace like 00:46:16.340 --> 00:46:22.460 you and I want are going to come. But Brother 00:46:22.460 --> 00:46:26.619 James, the peace that I need meets me every day. 00:46:28.500 --> 00:46:30.920 I'm telling you right now, it's tough this morning. 00:46:33.440 --> 00:46:41.030 It's tough this morning. It's hard not to preaching. 00:46:42.849 --> 00:46:51.809 The being here this morning. Just me being here. 00:46:59.909 --> 00:47:11.650 Standing there alone. See what I'm saying? But 00:47:11.650 --> 00:47:25.630 peace. Peace. Oh, my God. I'm telling you, you 00:47:25.630 --> 00:47:33.090 can stand. You can make it. We gonna make it. 00:47:34.389 --> 00:47:37.050 We just have to be the better man and the better 00:47:37.050 --> 00:47:43.559 woman. In the face of chaos and calamity, we 00:47:43.559 --> 00:47:47.679 build our character and our resolve by seeing 00:47:47.679 --> 00:47:50.719 those who've walked through the faith and the 00:47:50.719 --> 00:47:58.920 fire never alone. Because He's faithful. What 00:47:58.920 --> 00:48:03.659 a Father's Day. What a word for Father's Day. 00:48:04.659 --> 00:48:12.619 Be the better. Father. Over all of us today. 00:48:14.780 --> 00:48:20.840 As we stand here in your presence. We stand in 00:48:20.840 --> 00:48:23.619 your peace. For your declaration is you provide 00:48:23.619 --> 00:48:28.380 peace. That passes all understanding. Since we're 00:48:28.380 --> 00:48:31.039 talking about Isaiah. His declaration is this. 00:48:31.260 --> 00:48:34.400 Thou will keep him in perfect peace. Whose mind 00:48:34.400 --> 00:48:39.420 is stayed on thee. Help us keep our minds focused 00:48:39.420 --> 00:48:42.519 on you Lord. In spite of the calamity and the 00:48:42.519 --> 00:48:46.059 chaos. In spite of everything, Lord, just to 00:48:46.059 --> 00:48:51.500 be the better human being in a dark, dismal world. 00:48:53.400 --> 00:48:57.920 The signs of the times are all around us. And 00:48:57.920 --> 00:48:59.880 there's a glorious day coming and it's going 00:48:59.880 --> 00:49:03.659 to be a great and grand one. But until then, 00:49:03.860 --> 00:49:11.820 equip your people with your grace. Equip your 00:49:11.820 --> 00:49:15.940 people with your grace that we be the better. 00:49:17.179 --> 00:49:19.139 While heads are bowed, if you don't know Jesus 00:49:19.139 --> 00:49:26.079 Christ in this house today, you can. All you 00:49:26.079 --> 00:49:28.239 have to do is repent of your sin and accept Him 00:49:28.239 --> 00:49:31.659 into your heart and life is Lord. Is it that 00:49:31.659 --> 00:49:33.900 simple? Yes, it is. As the Spirit is drawing 00:49:33.900 --> 00:49:41.320 you, yes, it is. Yes, it is. You need Him. You 00:49:41.320 --> 00:49:45.039 need him for the grand effect of life. Father, 00:49:45.099 --> 00:49:50.679 I pray today. I repent of any sin that I've committed. 00:49:52.460 --> 00:49:55.159 I ask your forgiveness and your cleanness. Wash 00:49:55.159 --> 00:49:59.079 me with your precious blood. Cleanse me. Purify 00:49:59.079 --> 00:50:05.719 me. Forgive me. Redeem me. Remain Lord of my 00:50:05.719 --> 00:50:11.670 life. And lead me by every step. As I go throughout 00:50:11.670 --> 00:50:15.789 the way in the days, if you pray that prayer, 00:50:16.030 --> 00:50:18.289 the Word of God says if you're faithful just 00:50:18.289 --> 00:50:21.010 to confess your sins, He's faithful and just 00:50:21.010 --> 00:50:24.869 to forgive you of your sins and to cleanse you 00:50:24.869 --> 00:50:27.929 of all unrighteousness. Now, do what Jesus said. 00:50:28.070 --> 00:50:36.869 Go and sin no more. Go and sin no more. Amen. 00:50:38.159 --> 00:50:40.440 Father, I love you today. Touch every heart and 00:50:40.440 --> 00:50:45.039 every mind. Add the richness of your grace and 00:50:45.039 --> 00:50:58.400 your peace. Forever I pray in fathomless billows. 00:50:58.559 --> 00:51:00.699 Let's sing this chorus and then I'll dismiss 00:51:00.699 --> 00:51:14.590 you. It's peace. Peace. Oh, wonderful peace. 00:51:16.329 --> 00:51:24.329 Coming down from the Father above. I like this 00:51:24.329 --> 00:51:31.889 part. I like it. I like it. Sweep over my spirit 00:51:31.889 --> 00:51:46.269 forever. pray and find them less billows of love. 00:51:46.409 --> 00:51:48.349 Give the Lord good praise. Sister Erica, you 00:51:48.349 --> 00:51:48.909 got those handy?