WEBVTT 00:00:00.940 --> 00:00:02.940 If you have your Bibles with you, and I trust 00:00:02.940 --> 00:00:05.459 you do, be turning with me to the book of Joshua, 00:00:05.679 --> 00:00:12.160 chapter 1. Joshua, chapter 1. I just surrendered 00:00:12.160 --> 00:00:16.820 my phone with the rest of their phones, and you're 00:00:16.820 --> 00:00:21.000 in trouble. Because I can't check the time now. 00:00:24.460 --> 00:00:26.260 Periodically, I'd tap it and say, hmm, I got 00:00:26.260 --> 00:00:29.160 a five minute. Now, I can't tap it unless I go 00:00:29.160 --> 00:00:31.530 down there, and I may. If I feel like I'm going 00:00:31.530 --> 00:00:33.909 long. You know how I know when I'm getting too 00:00:33.909 --> 00:00:37.929 long? You get quiet. I say, well, they've had 00:00:37.929 --> 00:00:43.210 enough. It's not ever probably that I'm finished. 00:00:45.189 --> 00:00:48.829 But you're done. And so it ain't no sense in 00:00:48.829 --> 00:00:50.750 overloading you. Man, isn't it good to be in 00:00:50.750 --> 00:00:53.649 the house of the Lord today? Amen. It's good. 00:00:53.710 --> 00:00:55.689 It's a good feeling to be here. The presence 00:00:55.689 --> 00:01:00.030 of the Lord is here with us. Yeah, we got a lot 00:01:00.030 --> 00:01:05.090 going on today, but that's okay. We just, we 00:01:05.090 --> 00:01:14.909 don't do communion as often as a lot of places, 00:01:14.950 --> 00:01:19.930 but we're about to do that now. Let's go ahead. 00:01:19.989 --> 00:01:23.629 You put your Bible down. The folks that I asked 00:01:23.629 --> 00:01:26.650 to help me with communion, I want you to come 00:01:26.650 --> 00:01:31.120 and help me. We're going to distribute the elements. 00:01:31.180 --> 00:01:36.299 Come on, guys. Our retired ministers and their 00:01:36.299 --> 00:01:42.060 spouses. Brother Brian, you and Sister Erica, 00:01:42.099 --> 00:01:44.239 I want you all to go up top. Your knees are better. 00:01:48.659 --> 00:01:52.280 Just saying. Since you've got to go up step. 00:01:52.659 --> 00:01:54.840 We'll use the young knees, guys, and let them 00:01:54.840 --> 00:01:59.489 go up top. Amen. You've got a bread. Let me get 00:01:59.489 --> 00:02:02.230 this other bread for Sister Sandra. All right. 00:02:02.370 --> 00:02:04.450 This is not rocket science. We're going to work 00:02:04.450 --> 00:02:07.329 half of the room. Sister Sandra, here's yours. 00:02:08.610 --> 00:02:10.370 For the meals, you just get you one of those. 00:02:16.169 --> 00:02:17.969 Sister, I want you to help with these. We've 00:02:17.969 --> 00:02:20.330 only got three of the bread ones. Go ahead and 00:02:20.330 --> 00:02:23.530 get you one. Let me get Brother George one. All 00:02:23.530 --> 00:02:27.740 right. I actually hope we do not have enough. 00:02:28.759 --> 00:02:31.639 We've prepared for 200, but I don't know. It's 00:02:31.639 --> 00:02:37.460 going to be close. I'm going to go ahead and 00:02:37.460 --> 00:02:42.819 bless before they begin to distribute. The letters 00:02:42.819 --> 00:02:44.939 of the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul addresses 00:02:44.939 --> 00:02:47.879 the church at Corinth about their behavior in 00:02:47.879 --> 00:02:53.710 communion and how they were mistreating. The 00:02:53.710 --> 00:02:58.009 love feast is what they called it. How that some 00:02:58.009 --> 00:03:02.770 would just turn into plum debauchery. Some would 00:03:02.770 --> 00:03:05.370 have feasts spread out while others had nothing. 00:03:06.110 --> 00:03:10.389 And that's not what it's all about. Amen? And 00:03:10.389 --> 00:03:13.349 he would tell them to let every man examine themselves. 00:03:14.189 --> 00:03:17.689 Amen? We examine ourselves. For what we are about 00:03:17.689 --> 00:03:22.169 to partake in is symbolic of the body. and the 00:03:22.169 --> 00:03:25.569 blood of Jesus Christ and his sacrifice. And 00:03:25.569 --> 00:03:29.810 he told the Corinthians that, you know, some 00:03:29.810 --> 00:03:32.969 of them are already asleep. They've already passed 00:03:32.969 --> 00:03:37.509 because they ushered on a quick and untimely 00:03:37.509 --> 00:03:41.930 passing because of the way they treated the body 00:03:41.930 --> 00:03:44.069 of Christ. And when always growing up, when I'd 00:03:44.069 --> 00:03:48.689 hear pastor share, it would always cause an alarm 00:03:48.689 --> 00:03:53.000 to go off in me. And there were times that I 00:03:53.000 --> 00:03:57.979 would not take communion because I was scared. 00:03:59.740 --> 00:04:04.979 I was afraid. Maybe I've done something. Or I 00:04:04.979 --> 00:04:08.199 was convicted because I had and had not repented. 00:04:11.280 --> 00:04:14.400 Thus, we have the window for self -examination. 00:04:16.300 --> 00:04:19.100 So we'll take a few moments and we examine our 00:04:19.100 --> 00:04:24.000 hearts. And if you have messed up before you 00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:26.199 take this, you know what you do? You repent. 00:04:28.699 --> 00:04:31.540 Do you know what can actually happen before you 00:04:31.540 --> 00:04:36.079 take this cup? If you're lost, if you're lost, 00:04:36.339 --> 00:04:42.120 you can repent and accept Christ right where 00:04:42.120 --> 00:04:44.769 you are. I know over the years our tradition, 00:04:44.769 --> 00:04:47.370 we make a spectacle and get down to the mourner's 00:04:47.370 --> 00:04:50.110 bench and do all that, and that's good. It's 00:04:50.110 --> 00:04:51.750 an outward testimony. It's an outward surrender. 00:04:51.990 --> 00:04:54.870 I know all that, but that does not have to take 00:04:54.870 --> 00:04:58.769 place. It's right where you're standing from 00:04:58.769 --> 00:05:03.870 a submitted, repented heart. And you can repent 00:05:03.870 --> 00:05:08.230 right where you stand. And right where you stand. 00:05:08.879 --> 00:05:11.579 The advocate, the in -between, the one that goes 00:05:11.579 --> 00:05:15.000 on our behalf, right where you stand, will visit 00:05:15.000 --> 00:05:21.220 and cleanse and forgive. And then you take the 00:05:21.220 --> 00:05:24.879 cup and you rejoice because of his blood that 00:05:24.879 --> 00:05:28.319 was shed for the remission of your sin. His body 00:05:28.319 --> 00:05:31.839 that was broken for the healing of your body. 00:05:32.939 --> 00:05:37.480 My Lord. Let's pray. Bow your head. Father, as 00:05:37.480 --> 00:05:41.350 we come today, We thank you for the gift of your 00:05:41.350 --> 00:05:45.649 son. Jesus, we thank you for the submission of 00:05:45.649 --> 00:05:50.589 your life. Your body for ours. Your blood for 00:05:50.589 --> 00:05:54.810 our cleansing. As we distribute these elements, 00:05:54.889 --> 00:05:57.810 I pray your blessing upon the cup and upon the 00:05:57.810 --> 00:06:03.129 loaf. For we do so in remembrance of you. Now, 00:06:03.149 --> 00:06:07.889 Father, if any are here, join me. Father, I repent 00:06:07.889 --> 00:06:12.649 today. Of any sin that may be in my heart, my 00:06:12.649 --> 00:06:17.850 life. I repent before you this day. Cleanse me 00:06:17.850 --> 00:06:23.389 of my sin. Purge me of my unrighteousness. Take 00:06:23.389 --> 00:06:27.170 the throne of my heart and life. And be Lord. 00:06:28.449 --> 00:06:33.649 I love you and thank you. In Christ's name. Distribute 00:06:33.649 --> 00:06:42.060 the elements, please. Take this section right 00:06:42.060 --> 00:06:44.399 here. Yeah, just start up through there. Yeah. 00:06:45.699 --> 00:06:52.879 As snow. Got you one. Hold on to it. Felt time. 00:06:56.300 --> 00:07:10.399 The blood of Jesus can wash away my sins. Nothing 00:07:10.399 --> 00:07:20.720 but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole 00:07:20.720 --> 00:07:29.360 again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Let's 00:07:29.360 --> 00:07:39.110 sing it. Oh, precious is the flow that That makes 00:07:39.110 --> 00:07:51.230 me white as snow. No other fount I know. Nothing 00:07:51.230 --> 00:07:55.550 but the blood of Jesus. If you need to be seated, 00:07:55.649 --> 00:08:04.730 it's okay. You can. Wash away my sins. Nothing 00:08:04.730 --> 00:08:14.819 but the blood. Of Jesus. What can make me whole 00:08:14.819 --> 00:08:28.100 again? Nothing. Of Jesus. Now all precious is 00:08:28.100 --> 00:08:40.100 the flow that makes me white. Has no, no other 00:08:40.100 --> 00:08:51.720 fount I know. Let's do at the cross. At the cross, 00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:57.379 at the cross where I first saw the light and 00:08:57.379 --> 00:09:04.940 the burdens of my heart rolled away. It was there. 00:09:06.279 --> 00:09:14.340 I received my sight and now I am happy all the 00:09:14.340 --> 00:09:21.080 day. Oh, at the cross, at the cross where I first 00:09:21.080 --> 00:09:26.159 saw the light and the burdens of my heart, they 00:09:26.159 --> 00:09:34.039 rolled away. It was there by faith I received 00:09:34.039 --> 00:09:41.190 my sight. My sight. And now I am happy. The day. 00:09:47.769 --> 00:10:11.580 Have done. Lord, we love you today. At the cross, 00:10:11.659 --> 00:10:17.840 at the cross, where I first saw the light and 00:10:17.840 --> 00:10:24.860 the burdens of my heart, they rolled away. It 00:10:24.860 --> 00:10:33.539 was there by faith I received my sight, and now 00:10:33.539 --> 00:10:38.360 I am happy all the day. Let me get one for me. 00:10:41.580 --> 00:10:47.779 At the cross, I first saw the light, and the 00:10:47.779 --> 00:10:57.000 burdens of mine rolled away. It was there, by 00:10:57.000 --> 00:11:05.399 faith, I received my sight, and now I am happy 00:11:05.399 --> 00:11:11.570 all the days. Been served? Anybody need to be 00:11:11.570 --> 00:11:13.389 served? I got one in my hand right there. Thank 00:11:13.389 --> 00:11:21.470 you. I love it that it takes time. There are 00:11:21.470 --> 00:11:25.889 occasions where we need to use the little peel 00:11:25.889 --> 00:11:30.970 the top cups. There are those occasions when 00:11:30.970 --> 00:11:41.879 that's okay. But to take this added time. To 00:11:41.879 --> 00:11:52.480 participate. It's special isn't it? One of my. 00:11:52.639 --> 00:11:55.679 Among my favorite. I love to dedicate babies. 00:11:56.480 --> 00:12:08.620 Amen. That's just. But the. The act. Of preparing 00:12:08.620 --> 00:12:12.120 the communion. Is something that. I just like 00:12:12.120 --> 00:12:19.100 to do. You can hand it off. I've had teams that 00:12:19.100 --> 00:12:21.940 did that, but I was always sad in my heart because 00:12:21.940 --> 00:12:24.059 I wasn't over there. You know what I'm saying? 00:12:25.039 --> 00:12:28.679 It's special. This morning was special. Pastor 00:12:28.679 --> 00:12:32.539 Brian and I, Lulu was here with us this morning 00:12:32.539 --> 00:12:38.019 early. And to start training another generation. 00:12:41.710 --> 00:12:43.950 They probably don't know how special and what 00:12:43.950 --> 00:12:49.009 it meant to me, but that was special this morning. 00:12:50.309 --> 00:12:52.450 And to teach and just talk a little bit about 00:12:52.450 --> 00:12:57.629 it while we're doing it. Amen. So today we have 00:12:57.629 --> 00:13:00.710 the cup. You got the grape juice. It's not fermented. 00:13:03.049 --> 00:13:10.000 We're teetotalers around here. Hello. So you 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:13.240 have the cup. We bless the cup. Aren't you grateful 00:13:13.240 --> 00:13:16.360 for the work that he's done for you in your life? 00:13:17.120 --> 00:13:20.139 How many of you are saved and you know it? Will 00:13:20.139 --> 00:13:21.419 you sing it with us? If you're saved and you 00:13:21.419 --> 00:13:25.759 know it, say amen. Amen. His body was broken 00:13:25.759 --> 00:13:30.179 for you. Snap it if you can. If not, just crunch 00:13:30.179 --> 00:13:41.460 it. Take and eat of the bread. Hallelujah. He 00:13:41.460 --> 00:13:43.779 bore in his body the stripes of your healing. 00:13:46.679 --> 00:13:55.379 Amen. It's been said, it's the meal that heals. 00:13:55.500 --> 00:14:00.960 Wouldn't this be a wonderful day? Lord, we thank 00:14:00.960 --> 00:14:04.799 you for your body. Lord, I thank you for your 00:14:04.799 --> 00:14:10.200 blood that was shed. Every last drop was for 00:14:10.200 --> 00:14:20.360 my sin. Take of the cup and drink. Hallelujah. 00:14:24.139 --> 00:14:27.460 Lord, we thank you for your blood. Just hold 00:14:27.460 --> 00:14:29.639 on to your cup and on your way out this morning, 00:14:29.639 --> 00:14:31.559 there's a garbage can at each door. Just drop 00:14:31.559 --> 00:14:35.019 it in there on your way out. We thank you for 00:14:35.019 --> 00:14:38.659 your blood, Lord. I thank you for the cleansing 00:14:38.659 --> 00:14:47.320 of my sin. I thank you, Lord, for you placing 00:14:47.320 --> 00:14:52.720 your righteousness upon men within me. For without 00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:57.379 it, we'd be undone. Amen, amen. I tell you what, 00:14:57.419 --> 00:15:00.580 you can just be seated and I'll... You've been 00:15:00.580 --> 00:15:03.350 standing long enough, I'll... I'll just read 00:15:03.350 --> 00:15:06.210 my text and you reverence in your heart today. 00:15:07.549 --> 00:15:13.210 Amen. God is good. His mercy endures forever. 00:15:14.669 --> 00:15:16.830 And we'll baptize here in just a little while. 00:15:17.570 --> 00:15:22.230 Amen. What time is it? What time is it? Maybe 00:15:22.230 --> 00:15:29.470 I got time. Oh. Okay. I'm going to do my best 00:15:29.470 --> 00:15:31.529 to be expedient in what I've got to share with 00:15:31.529 --> 00:15:50.169 you. Joshua chapter 1. Beginning at verse 1. 00:15:50.269 --> 00:15:52.590 Now after the death of Moses, the servant of 00:15:52.590 --> 00:15:55.789 the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spake 00:15:55.789 --> 00:15:58.809 unto Joshua, the son of Nun, Moses' minister, 00:15:59.129 --> 00:16:04.690 saying, Moses, my servant is dead. Now, therefore, 00:16:05.679 --> 00:16:10.440 Arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this 00:16:10.440 --> 00:16:14.000 people, unto the land which I do give to them, 00:16:14.279 --> 00:16:17.779 even to the children of Israel. Every place that 00:16:17.779 --> 00:16:20.480 the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that 00:16:20.480 --> 00:16:24.320 have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. 00:16:25.320 --> 00:16:28.080 From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even to 00:16:28.080 --> 00:16:31.659 the great river, the river Euphrates. And all 00:16:31.659 --> 00:16:33.799 the land of the Hittites and unto the great sea 00:16:33.799 --> 00:16:37.539 toward the going down of the sun shall be your 00:16:37.539 --> 00:16:41.639 coast. There shall not any man be able to stand 00:16:41.639 --> 00:16:46.320 before thee all the days of thy life. As I was 00:16:46.320 --> 00:16:51.360 with Moses, so I will be with thee. I will not 00:16:51.360 --> 00:16:56.720 fail thee nor forsake thee. Be strong and of 00:16:56.720 --> 00:16:59.980 good courage. For unto this people shalt thou 00:16:59.980 --> 00:17:03.700 divide for an inheritance the land which I swear 00:17:03.700 --> 00:17:08.140 unto their fathers to give them. Only be thou 00:17:08.140 --> 00:17:11.500 strong and very courageous, that thou mayest 00:17:11.500 --> 00:17:14.200 observe to do according to all the law, which 00:17:14.200 --> 00:17:17.859 Moses my servant commanded thee. Turn not from 00:17:17.859 --> 00:17:21.599 it to the right hand or to the left, that thou 00:17:21.599 --> 00:17:25.690 mayest prosper. Whether so ever thou goest, this 00:17:25.690 --> 00:17:29.089 book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, 00:17:29.289 --> 00:17:32.789 but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, 00:17:32.970 --> 00:17:36.490 that thou mayest observe to do according to all 00:17:36.490 --> 00:17:40.890 that is written therein. For then thou shalt 00:17:40.890 --> 00:17:44.890 make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt 00:17:44.890 --> 00:17:49.710 have good success. Have not I commanded thee? 00:17:50.269 --> 00:18:06.220 Be strong. For a little bit this morning, I want 00:18:06.220 --> 00:18:09.579 to speak to you on this thought. What happens 00:18:09.579 --> 00:18:16.019 after the bell rings? What happens after the 00:18:16.019 --> 00:18:19.180 bell rings? Father, I love you today. I thank 00:18:19.180 --> 00:18:21.920 you for your goodness, for your mercy. It endures 00:18:21.920 --> 00:18:25.980 forever. Now, Lord, help me this morning. Help 00:18:25.980 --> 00:18:29.160 me, help me, Lord, to be expedient. Let me stay 00:18:29.160 --> 00:18:32.339 focused on you, your word, and the edifying of 00:18:32.339 --> 00:18:35.160 your people. And may we that have ears to hear, 00:18:35.220 --> 00:18:37.940 hear what it is the Spirit has to say to us today. 00:18:38.460 --> 00:18:42.099 And then may we be obedient and responsive to 00:18:42.099 --> 00:18:45.920 that drawing of your presence. To you be praise 00:18:45.920 --> 00:18:48.660 forever in Christ's name. The church says amen 00:18:48.660 --> 00:18:54.750 and amen. What happens when the bell rings? You 00:18:54.750 --> 00:19:00.369 stop to think about the existence that we call 00:19:00.369 --> 00:19:08.490 life, and life at its best has its moments of 00:19:08.490 --> 00:19:14.630 interruption, right? Those interruptions we call 00:19:14.630 --> 00:19:20.799 and sometimes identify as crisis. These times 00:19:20.799 --> 00:19:27.160 when everything seems to fall apart. The word 00:19:27.160 --> 00:19:31.180 crisis means a point that determines a good or 00:19:31.180 --> 00:19:36.200 bad outcome. The Greek rendering for the word 00:19:36.200 --> 00:19:41.539 crisis means to separate. The Latin means to 00:19:41.539 --> 00:19:47.119 cut away the options. The thing about crisis 00:19:47.119 --> 00:19:51.130 is... Once we have been touched by it, we are 00:19:51.130 --> 00:19:57.970 never the same. Crisis has an effect on our life, 00:19:58.069 --> 00:20:03.450 each one. Every time something arises out of 00:20:03.450 --> 00:20:06.650 the ordinary, the extraordinary, and interruptions 00:20:06.650 --> 00:20:10.069 happen, whether they be good or bad, it can be 00:20:10.069 --> 00:20:14.430 either. You know, we handle the positive crises 00:20:14.430 --> 00:20:19.500 better than the negative sometimes. But they 00:20:19.500 --> 00:20:24.819 all affect our life. And from the moment the 00:20:24.819 --> 00:20:27.720 interruption takes place, from that point forward, 00:20:27.839 --> 00:20:33.079 we're never the same. We are impacted. And as 00:20:33.079 --> 00:20:36.259 it moves, crisis as it, in different ways, shapes, 00:20:36.359 --> 00:20:39.319 forms, and fashions. There are different types. 00:20:39.440 --> 00:20:43.039 There's personal crisis, right? We have personal. 00:20:43.099 --> 00:20:46.619 These events and things that happen in our life 00:20:46.619 --> 00:20:50.180 that we have. some control over, and then we 00:20:50.180 --> 00:20:55.400 can sometimes affect the outcome of it. I don't 00:20:55.400 --> 00:20:57.240 know about you, but most of the time when I get 00:20:57.240 --> 00:21:01.000 my hands on it, I make a bigger mess than just 00:21:01.000 --> 00:21:04.140 go ahead and let God do it. But there are those 00:21:04.140 --> 00:21:06.220 personal crises, and there are some of those 00:21:06.220 --> 00:21:10.380 that we can handle. Amen? The Lord has already 00:21:10.380 --> 00:21:13.660 gifted us enough grace that we can manage some 00:21:13.660 --> 00:21:17.259 of them. Anybody? Yeah, we don't always have 00:21:17.259 --> 00:21:18.940 to hit the prayer closet for everything. Some 00:21:18.940 --> 00:21:23.519 things are common sense, right? But I'm learning 00:21:23.519 --> 00:21:26.539 more every day that common sense is not so common. 00:21:28.319 --> 00:21:31.759 There are developmental crises, things that evolve. 00:21:31.799 --> 00:21:35.559 They just develop and then boom, it's on you, 00:21:35.599 --> 00:21:41.460 right? These come with an ongoing process. And 00:21:41.460 --> 00:21:43.160 by the time you get to the end of it, it's full 00:21:43.160 --> 00:21:47.190 blown. And these developmental crises, they happen, 00:21:47.289 --> 00:21:49.710 they're going along, and we don't even realize 00:21:49.710 --> 00:21:52.849 it's happening until it gets to the climax and 00:21:52.849 --> 00:21:57.069 boom. The fuse had been lit a long time. It had 00:21:57.069 --> 00:21:59.390 been fizzling and smoke had been rising. You've 00:21:59.390 --> 00:22:03.450 seen the old black powder trail that they used 00:22:03.450 --> 00:22:07.069 to light to set off an explosion. And it's going 00:22:07.069 --> 00:22:09.950 and smoke's rising. It's been smoking for a while 00:22:09.950 --> 00:22:13.960 in your life. It's been lit for quite some time, 00:22:14.019 --> 00:22:18.200 and you're just waiting on the boom. Those are 00:22:18.200 --> 00:22:20.339 developmental. They happen that way. They just 00:22:20.339 --> 00:22:23.220 develop out of some crisis we enter into are 00:22:23.220 --> 00:22:25.960 spiritual. And remember, not every crisis is 00:22:25.960 --> 00:22:29.119 negative. There are spiritual crises that enter 00:22:29.119 --> 00:22:32.000 into our life, things that come to a point that 00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:35.380 determine a good or bad outcome. Salvation is 00:22:35.380 --> 00:22:40.019 a crisis moment, and it determines a great outcome, 00:22:40.099 --> 00:22:43.769 not just a good one. Right? Sanctification in 00:22:43.769 --> 00:22:46.609 our life works a positive outcome. And it's a 00:22:46.609 --> 00:22:50.369 crisis moment. Spirit baptism, when the Holy 00:22:50.369 --> 00:22:53.670 Ghost fills you and overflows, that is a crisis 00:22:53.670 --> 00:22:58.029 moment because it's a good thing. Right? These 00:22:58.029 --> 00:23:02.609 are things that happen when you get healed instantaneously. 00:23:02.930 --> 00:23:06.309 The Lord's hand touches you. That's a good crisis 00:23:06.309 --> 00:23:09.170 moment. But then there are those negative moments 00:23:09.170 --> 00:23:13.589 as well. Spiritually, when the enemy has unleashed 00:23:13.589 --> 00:23:17.170 all that he can against you, he's coming in full 00:23:17.170 --> 00:23:22.890 force. Amen? So what causes crisis? The one thing, 00:23:23.049 --> 00:23:25.829 I call them these stances. You know what a stance 00:23:25.829 --> 00:23:29.210 is. It's a position, right? Stance. So you got 00:23:29.210 --> 00:23:32.390 the first stance we're looking at this morning 00:23:32.390 --> 00:23:34.670 is hell stance. I know I made that word up, but 00:23:34.670 --> 00:23:39.230 I made it up in 1998. We're still in the archives. 00:23:40.970 --> 00:23:42.890 I hadn't been doing this very long. You say, 00:23:42.910 --> 00:23:44.390 well, why didn't you change it? Because it still 00:23:44.390 --> 00:23:48.089 sounds good. If it's not a word, it needs to 00:23:48.089 --> 00:23:53.150 be. Because hell has a position against you and 00:23:53.150 --> 00:23:58.490 I. Hell has a position against you and I. It 00:23:58.490 --> 00:24:01.410 has a stance that it takes against you and I. 00:24:02.910 --> 00:24:05.549 Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, 00:24:05.890 --> 00:24:10.279 the devil, Goeth about like a roaring lion, seeking 00:24:10.279 --> 00:24:18.480 whom he may devour. Do you not get it? We don't 00:24:18.480 --> 00:24:21.539 get it. The devil has nothing good for you. Wake 00:24:21.539 --> 00:24:27.380 up! Hell has a position against us all. Hell 00:24:27.380 --> 00:24:31.619 wants you to reside there. The devil has a position 00:24:31.619 --> 00:24:34.920 against you. Jesus tells you what that is in 00:24:34.920 --> 00:24:38.019 John's gospel. The thief cometh not but to steal, 00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:43.559 to kill, and to destroy. But Jesus said, I have 00:24:43.559 --> 00:24:46.440 come that you might have life. There's a crisis 00:24:46.440 --> 00:24:49.420 for you. I have come that you might have life 00:24:49.420 --> 00:24:52.619 and that you might have it more abundantly. So 00:24:52.619 --> 00:24:56.920 hell stands against everything. We are in opposition 00:24:56.920 --> 00:24:59.680 against every force of darkness. Ephesians 6 00:24:59.680 --> 00:25:02.039 and 12 says, For we wrestle not against flesh 00:25:02.039 --> 00:25:04.140 and blood, but against principalities, against 00:25:04.140 --> 00:25:06.279 powers, against the rulers of the darkness of 00:25:06.279 --> 00:25:08.519 this world, against spiritual wickedness and 00:25:08.519 --> 00:25:13.079 high places. Do you think you're just going down 00:25:13.079 --> 00:25:15.119 the road you're going because you want to? No. 00:25:17.660 --> 00:25:24.119 is a conscious decision that we make to accept 00:25:24.119 --> 00:25:30.619 or deny God. When you put it like that, well, 00:25:30.740 --> 00:25:33.400 yeah, that's the way I'm putting it because that's 00:25:33.400 --> 00:25:36.900 the way it is. There's a crisis moment when we 00:25:36.900 --> 00:25:39.859 are approached with the gospel. Hell already 00:25:39.859 --> 00:25:42.720 has a position against the good news of Jesus 00:25:42.720 --> 00:25:46.019 Christ. If you don't have your head in the sand, 00:25:47.319 --> 00:25:51.200 Every and most every preacher, unless they're 00:25:51.200 --> 00:25:53.920 going by the lectrum and it's not in the alignment 00:25:53.920 --> 00:25:58.960 of the day's message, will mention the very fact 00:25:58.960 --> 00:26:03.640 of the death of Charlie Kirk. and what that means 00:26:03.640 --> 00:26:07.880 as a crisis in the spiritual realm in the United 00:26:07.880 --> 00:26:10.839 States of America. As soon as I heard that, my 00:26:10.839 --> 00:26:14.619 heart began to weep. I began to mourn. My mind 00:26:14.619 --> 00:26:17.599 has been torn over and over and over about this 00:26:17.599 --> 00:26:20.920 morning. It's not necessarily as much about Charlie 00:26:20.920 --> 00:26:24.940 Kirk as the message of the man who was slain. 00:26:25.119 --> 00:26:28.779 He was murdered, amen, right before his family 00:26:28.779 --> 00:26:32.640 and thousands of people. Why? his stance for 00:26:32.640 --> 00:26:37.160 the gospel of Jesus Christ the Lord. And hell 00:26:37.160 --> 00:26:40.839 has taken a position. And it ought to be a crisis 00:26:40.839 --> 00:26:44.279 interrupted moment for every born again child 00:26:44.279 --> 00:26:47.640 of God that is alive and breathing and well. 00:26:47.819 --> 00:26:51.500 That now darkness has been emboldened. It has 00:26:51.500 --> 00:26:54.980 been enraged. And it's coming out. What are you 00:26:54.980 --> 00:26:57.319 saying, preacher? I'm saying you better make 00:26:57.319 --> 00:27:00.779 up your mind. You've got to get your mind established. 00:27:00.880 --> 00:27:04.059 Because there is a crisis. And what happens after 00:27:04.059 --> 00:27:08.000 the bell has rung? It rang at Calvary, but there's 00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:11.359 been a tolling of the bell again as a reminder 00:27:11.359 --> 00:27:14.779 for the church of the living God. One man slain, 00:27:14.779 --> 00:27:17.599 not because of an action, but because of belief 00:27:17.599 --> 00:27:21.099 and words and the proclamation that Jesus is 00:27:21.099 --> 00:27:24.420 Lord and there's no other. And hell has taken 00:27:24.420 --> 00:27:27.559 a position. And hell is unleashed. It's ravaging 00:27:27.559 --> 00:27:30.119 force. But I'm here to tell you what happens. 00:27:30.089 --> 00:27:32.869 I'm beginning to see take place is the bell is 00:27:32.869 --> 00:27:35.170 rung. You know what happens when the bell rings 00:27:35.170 --> 00:27:38.710 at a boxing match? It means it's on like Donkey 00:27:38.710 --> 00:27:43.130 Kong. WWE has nothing. It begins when the bell 00:27:43.130 --> 00:27:47.730 rings and it's not over until the bell. It's 00:27:47.730 --> 00:28:04.809 time we begin to wake up. For we wrestle not 00:28:04.809 --> 00:28:09.710 against flesh and blood. For though we walk in 00:28:09.710 --> 00:28:11.650 the flesh, to the Corinthians Paul said, for 00:28:11.650 --> 00:28:16.109 though you walk in the flesh, we do not war. 00:28:16.369 --> 00:28:24.289 It is a war. Get your head out of the sand. My 00:28:24.289 --> 00:28:27.089 Lord, I'm feeling this this morning. A little 00:28:27.089 --> 00:28:30.190 more intently than I thought I would. But there's 00:28:30.190 --> 00:28:33.490 something stirring in the... depths of my soul 00:28:33.490 --> 00:28:37.589 that has been rolling over since Wednesday and 00:28:37.589 --> 00:28:41.329 the crisis that entered into the spirit world. 00:28:41.630 --> 00:28:44.289 But you know, the devil is smart, but he's dumb 00:28:44.289 --> 00:28:48.099 all at the same time. My Lord, if he'd had more 00:28:48.099 --> 00:28:51.619 sense in what he'd done, he has stirred up the 00:28:51.619 --> 00:28:55.480 body. He has stirred up a sleeping giant. Somewhere 00:28:55.480 --> 00:28:58.119 around a million people, they said yesterday, 00:28:58.400 --> 00:29:02.160 in London begin to march. He's not just woke 00:29:02.160 --> 00:29:05.559 up the church in the United States, but there's 00:29:05.559 --> 00:29:09.220 been a clarion call to the global body. My God 00:29:09.220 --> 00:29:13.190 in heaven. There is a crisis that's been unleashed 00:29:13.190 --> 00:29:16.609 upon the world. But now, now our eyes are being, 00:29:16.690 --> 00:29:20.150 what? What? What happened? The devil did what? 00:29:20.369 --> 00:29:23.759 He did what? He did where? To who? And now. Oh, 00:29:23.819 --> 00:29:26.660 Lord, we're getting stirred up. Hallelujah. The 00:29:26.660 --> 00:29:29.440 body of Christ is being awakened. Somebody needs 00:29:29.440 --> 00:29:32.880 to wake up and get your head on straight. Hell 00:29:32.880 --> 00:29:36.059 is awaiting if you don't. There is a dark destruction 00:29:36.059 --> 00:29:39.059 waiting for your life. There's a devil with a 00:29:39.059 --> 00:29:41.839 smirk and a grin on his face. He may have smiled 00:29:41.839 --> 00:29:44.859 and laughed when he took his last breath on Wednesday, 00:29:45.000 --> 00:29:47.900 but what he didn't realize is there are others 00:29:47.900 --> 00:29:51.319 who have taken a very deep breath. I am intent 00:29:51.319 --> 00:29:54.839 upon salvation. and the clarion call. Jesus is 00:29:54.839 --> 00:29:57.720 coming. Jesus is coming. There's no other way 00:29:57.720 --> 00:30:01.259 to the Father but by Jesus Christ. There is no 00:30:01.259 --> 00:30:08.920 other way. He is the truth and the life. Hell 00:30:08.920 --> 00:30:12.079 has taken its stance against you for though we 00:30:12.079 --> 00:30:14.880 walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh 00:30:14.880 --> 00:30:18.460 for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal. 00:30:18.480 --> 00:30:27.740 They are not fleshly. but they are mighty through 00:30:27.740 --> 00:30:33.180 God. What are our weapons? According to Ephesians, 00:30:33.220 --> 00:30:38.740 when you've having done all to stand, stand therefore, 00:30:39.099 --> 00:30:46.000 putting on the whole armor of God. Since Wednesday, 00:30:46.119 --> 00:30:50.279 I believe in the spirit realm. There's some Christians 00:30:50.279 --> 00:30:54.779 looking for their armor. My Lord, it'd be like 00:30:54.779 --> 00:30:56.519 me and Sister Kathy getting ready to go play 00:30:56.519 --> 00:30:58.500 a softball game. I wouldn't even know where to 00:30:58.500 --> 00:31:01.579 start to find the ball glove. I wouldn't even 00:31:01.579 --> 00:31:04.779 know where to look. I'd have to go find it. I'd 00:31:04.779 --> 00:31:06.519 have to roust it out, and then it'd have to be 00:31:06.519 --> 00:31:10.019 oiled up. It's just stiff now. It wouldn't be 00:31:10.019 --> 00:31:13.900 pliable. It'd get myself hurt probably. But there's 00:31:13.900 --> 00:31:17.309 a lot of Christians this same way. They are now 00:31:17.309 --> 00:31:19.529 being awakened. They're saying, where's my armor? 00:31:20.089 --> 00:31:23.329 Where's my armor? We got some lukewarm getting 00:31:23.329 --> 00:31:26.470 stirred up. Hello, we got some folks that's been 00:31:26.470 --> 00:31:29.269 half in and half out about to have to make up 00:31:29.269 --> 00:31:31.990 their mind. You've got to make up your mind today. 00:31:32.089 --> 00:31:35.109 Are you going to heaven or are you going to hell 00:31:35.109 --> 00:31:39.250 with everybody else in a handbag? I am not. going 00:31:39.250 --> 00:31:42.569 to hell. I know where my armor's at. I may not 00:31:42.569 --> 00:31:44.789 be able to find my ball glove, but I know where 00:31:44.789 --> 00:31:47.109 the heaven of my salvation is. I know where the 00:31:47.109 --> 00:31:50.109 shield of my faith is. I know where the sword 00:31:50.109 --> 00:31:53.569 of the spirit is. I know I got a belt of truth 00:31:53.569 --> 00:31:57.029 on and righteousness strapped to my chest and 00:31:57.029 --> 00:32:00.230 my shins are protected with the truth of his 00:32:00.230 --> 00:32:12.930 word. Yeah, but we got some of them half in, 00:32:12.930 --> 00:32:18.890 half out folks saying, uh -oh. This is a crisis. 00:32:23.369 --> 00:32:25.750 Well, I might as well just plow on. I'm feeling 00:32:25.750 --> 00:32:32.049 pretty good this morning. We got some so -called, 00:32:32.089 --> 00:32:34.930 quote, unquote, Christians who are going to hell 00:32:34.930 --> 00:32:41.700 with the world. And you say that, I just did. 00:32:46.680 --> 00:32:50.500 Let's just go by the book if you want to. Jesus 00:32:50.500 --> 00:32:57.200 said they'll come and stand and say, Lord, didn't 00:32:57.200 --> 00:33:00.799 we cast out devils in your name? My name's all 00:33:00.799 --> 00:33:05.319 powerful. I don't know what you're thinking. 00:33:06.460 --> 00:33:09.609 It's my name that did that. Yes, sir. I know 00:33:09.609 --> 00:33:12.289 you did that. But let me tell you something. 00:33:14.109 --> 00:33:20.109 Depart. Get out from here. You're not welcomed 00:33:20.109 --> 00:33:22.650 here. And they're going to be scratching their 00:33:22.650 --> 00:33:24.950 heads and say, what do you mean, Lord? I never 00:33:24.950 --> 00:33:29.130 knew you. You never cared enough to know me. 00:33:30.029 --> 00:33:35.970 You don't pray. You've not been in my word. You're 00:33:35.970 --> 00:33:40.400 ashamed of me. You won't even speak up when you 00:33:40.400 --> 00:33:43.700 know someone's hurting and dying. You won't even 00:33:43.700 --> 00:33:45.799 tell them that I can help them. I don't need 00:33:45.799 --> 00:33:47.480 you to help them. You can't help them anyway. 00:33:47.700 --> 00:33:49.700 But what I need you to do is tell them about 00:33:49.700 --> 00:33:51.880 me. And you wouldn't even tell them about me. 00:33:52.039 --> 00:33:54.339 So if you've been ashamed of me in front of them, 00:33:54.460 --> 00:33:57.000 there's no way I'm letting you in front of daddy. 00:33:58.700 --> 00:34:02.299 There's no way. I'm not presenting you to him. 00:34:02.859 --> 00:34:06.039 There's no way. Depart from me. And guess where 00:34:06.039 --> 00:34:09.840 they are cast? Into the outer darkness. Gone. 00:34:10.039 --> 00:34:12.420 And there are some Christians today thinking, 00:34:12.579 --> 00:34:15.579 oh no, will I have to give my life? Honey, you 00:34:15.579 --> 00:34:18.300 already should have surrendered your life. It's 00:34:18.300 --> 00:34:21.519 not about will I. It's not about if I. It's all 00:34:21.519 --> 00:34:24.360 about have you. Because you have to deny your, 00:34:24.420 --> 00:34:28.159 hell has a position against you. Now look, look. 00:34:28.699 --> 00:34:32.719 The hardest thing to accept. It's this fact. 00:34:32.760 --> 00:34:34.980 I'm about to share it with you. The hardest thing 00:34:34.980 --> 00:34:40.960 that I have had to accept is that people are 00:34:40.960 --> 00:34:50.719 going to hell. Kind of getting a little quiet 00:34:50.719 --> 00:34:53.320 there. A few yells and that's right. It's kind 00:34:53.320 --> 00:34:56.559 of like, huh? Yeah, people are going. They're 00:34:56.559 --> 00:35:05.679 going to hell. But another hard fact that I've 00:35:05.679 --> 00:35:09.300 had to accept is that even though I tell people 00:35:09.300 --> 00:35:11.679 passionately, you're going to hell without Christ, 00:35:12.199 --> 00:35:19.699 they still have the right to go. Now, I know 00:35:19.699 --> 00:35:22.679 that doesn't make sense to a lot of us. Who wants 00:35:22.679 --> 00:35:26.019 to go and burn forever? The person that don't 00:35:26.019 --> 00:35:31.710 want to surrender now. But here's the thing, 00:35:31.789 --> 00:35:37.170 you will. You will surrender. Because see, not 00:35:37.170 --> 00:35:39.429 only does hell have a position and a stance, 00:35:39.510 --> 00:35:44.610 but heaven has one. Yeah, the Lord's got a standard. 00:35:46.809 --> 00:35:50.510 And we have to live by it. You've got to live 00:35:50.510 --> 00:35:52.329 by it if you want to go. But look, you don't 00:35:52.329 --> 00:35:57.070 have to go to heaven. You don't have to go. You 00:35:57.070 --> 00:35:58.550 really don't. I mean, you don't have to walk 00:35:58.550 --> 00:36:01.190 on streets of gold if you don't want to. I mean, 00:36:01.210 --> 00:36:04.730 you can go on to hell. You say, I never heard 00:36:04.730 --> 00:36:06.829 a preacher talk like this. You may not. But I'm 00:36:06.829 --> 00:36:09.710 telling you, you can. You can go burn with the 00:36:09.710 --> 00:36:11.889 devil and his angels and everybody else who won't. 00:36:12.590 --> 00:36:18.050 You can. It's your choice. Isn't that hard? But 00:36:18.050 --> 00:36:21.949 for those who know the gift of God through Christ 00:36:21.949 --> 00:36:27.670 Jesus truly. It just makes no sense to us. You 00:36:27.670 --> 00:36:31.210 mean you want to do your fleshly deed just so 00:36:31.210 --> 00:36:33.750 you can burn? Does it really mean that much to 00:36:33.750 --> 00:36:43.929 you to puke your guts out? Really? Seriously, 00:36:44.289 --> 00:36:48.429 you want to shack and do all that stuff? Peas 00:36:48.429 --> 00:36:53.010 your flesh? I just read to you, we don't live 00:36:53.010 --> 00:36:56.269 by the flesh. We don't war after the flesh. We 00:36:56.269 --> 00:37:04.130 live in the flesh. There is a difference. You 00:37:04.130 --> 00:37:07.909 can either let your flesh guide you or you can 00:37:07.909 --> 00:37:13.030 guide your flesh. Hell has a position. And it 00:37:13.030 --> 00:37:15.829 just never ceases to amaze me that people actually 00:37:15.829 --> 00:37:20.329 choose to go there. And do you know how difficult 00:37:20.329 --> 00:37:23.869 it is to go on to hell? Do you know what you 00:37:23.869 --> 00:37:28.869 have to do just to get into hell? You have to 00:37:28.869 --> 00:37:30.889 walk over every prayer that's prayed for you. 00:37:31.690 --> 00:37:36.690 You have to tread down, tread on, and deny the 00:37:36.690 --> 00:37:40.289 blood of Jesus Christ that was poured out for 00:37:40.289 --> 00:37:44.210 you. And you have to spurn, reject, turn aside 00:37:44.210 --> 00:37:48.030 every ounce of love that he directs towards you 00:37:48.030 --> 00:37:52.070 just so you can go there. Well, you can have 00:37:52.070 --> 00:37:56.789 it. You can have the part that was reserved for 00:37:56.789 --> 00:38:01.670 me. Because I'm not keeping that reservation. 00:38:04.050 --> 00:38:10.809 I've done called ahead and canceled mine. Matter 00:38:10.809 --> 00:38:15.610 of fact, I wonder. I just wonder if that recording 00:38:15.610 --> 00:38:20.730 angel has one of them red phones in heaven to 00:38:20.730 --> 00:38:25.760 hail. You know there's only one line. Well. Take 00:38:25.760 --> 00:38:28.099 Cliff Waters' name off your roll. We've just 00:38:28.099 --> 00:38:35.440 added him to ours. Click. Hang up. What about 00:38:35.440 --> 00:38:40.360 your name? Mine's not there anymore. I got to 00:38:40.360 --> 00:38:46.980 hurry. I know. But you really got to want to 00:38:46.980 --> 00:38:54.840 go to go. has a stance. Then there's happenstance. 00:38:54.900 --> 00:38:58.079 Do you realize that sometimes things just happen? 00:38:59.760 --> 00:39:04.900 You know, I will say this for him. The devil 00:39:04.900 --> 00:39:08.099 doesn't cause everything that happens in our 00:39:08.099 --> 00:39:14.599 life. I will give him that much. Amen? You've 00:39:14.599 --> 00:39:17.760 heard me say it before. Sometimes the roofing 00:39:17.760 --> 00:39:20.679 crew just didn't get the tailgate shut and some 00:39:20.679 --> 00:39:25.199 tacks got out. And you're going down the interstate 00:39:25.199 --> 00:39:27.500 and you pick one up and your tire goes flat. 00:39:28.300 --> 00:39:36.739 That's not the devil. That's the roofer. Right? 00:39:37.719 --> 00:39:39.960 That's the roofer. If you're a roofer, pick up 00:39:39.960 --> 00:39:49.480 your tax. Don't put them in my driveway. There's 00:39:49.480 --> 00:39:54.010 things that happen. There's happenstance. Ecclesiastes 00:39:54.010 --> 00:39:56.469 9 -11. The race is not to the swift, nor the 00:39:56.469 --> 00:39:59.630 battle to the strong, neither bread to the wise, 00:39:59.690 --> 00:40:03.170 nor riches to men of understanding, but time 00:40:03.170 --> 00:40:09.690 and chance happeneth to them all. Happenstance. 00:40:09.969 --> 00:40:17.250 Things happen. Then there's circumstance. We 00:40:17.250 --> 00:40:20.489 all know about circumstance. It takes a position 00:40:20.489 --> 00:40:24.539 and is rooted pretty firmly. Job 5, 6, and 8 00:40:24.539 --> 00:40:27.539 says, Although affliction cometh not forth of 00:40:27.539 --> 00:40:30.900 the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of 00:40:30.900 --> 00:40:35.500 the ground. Yet man is born unto trouble. Isn't 00:40:35.500 --> 00:40:38.739 that sort of what Jesus reiterated? In this world 00:40:38.739 --> 00:40:44.119 you shall have tribulation. But, where you at 00:40:44.119 --> 00:40:48.739 Bible readers, what did he say? Be of good cheer, 00:40:48.920 --> 00:40:55.329 for I will get happy. Yet man is born unto trouble 00:40:55.329 --> 00:41:00.630 as the sparks fly upward. I would seek unto God 00:41:00.630 --> 00:41:08.110 and unto God would I commit my cause. Circumstances 00:41:08.110 --> 00:41:10.809 dictate a lot of the actions and crisis that 00:41:10.809 --> 00:41:14.829 enter our life. Circumstances have helped cause 00:41:14.829 --> 00:41:19.829 and create what has happened in this week. I 00:41:19.829 --> 00:41:23.250 feel like that... The taking of that man's life 00:41:23.250 --> 00:41:28.110 is going to be a demarking point in culture. 00:41:30.650 --> 00:41:33.769 I think it has made more of a statement than 00:41:33.769 --> 00:41:40.530 any of us actually fully understand. The cat's 00:41:40.530 --> 00:41:44.630 out of the bag. The devil is now becoming more 00:41:44.630 --> 00:41:49.570 emboldened. And he's going to rear his ugly head. 00:41:50.760 --> 00:41:53.800 And you and I must have a faith that is established 00:41:53.800 --> 00:42:00.539 firm to be able to withstand the onslaught of 00:42:00.539 --> 00:42:04.860 the enemy. Instead of retreating into the shadows 00:42:04.860 --> 00:42:07.260 with the message of the glorious gospel of Christ, 00:42:07.460 --> 00:42:12.380 you must stand up even taller. You must reaffirm 00:42:12.380 --> 00:42:15.480 even at a greater level that no matter what the 00:42:15.480 --> 00:42:20.119 enemy says, my faith is secure in Christ. And 00:42:20.119 --> 00:42:23.480 in Christ alone. And I will witness to the fact 00:42:23.480 --> 00:42:30.179 that he has redeemed me. And is able to redeem 00:42:30.179 --> 00:42:34.539 others. There's coming a point where the church 00:42:34.539 --> 00:42:40.099 will have to be the church. I think this is even 00:42:40.099 --> 00:42:42.400 turning the tide even more than back in the day 00:42:42.400 --> 00:42:49.119 when Columbine in Colorado began. And look where 00:42:49.119 --> 00:42:54.960 we're at. Look where we're at today. The bell 00:42:54.960 --> 00:43:03.719 has rung. It rang 2 ,000 years ago. There was 00:43:03.719 --> 00:43:08.460 a ringing at his birth and a great clinging at 00:43:08.460 --> 00:43:15.400 his resurrection. It's on. The battle lines were 00:43:15.400 --> 00:43:19.059 set. As Christ was led into the wilderness by 00:43:19.059 --> 00:43:24.440 the Spirit, and he confronted the enemy there. 00:43:28.340 --> 00:43:35.820 The bell is rung. What is our response? What 00:43:35.820 --> 00:43:42.639 is your response? How do we respond? Hell stance, 00:43:42.900 --> 00:43:45.300 circumstance, happenstance, and then there's 00:43:45.300 --> 00:43:53.190 providence. A looking to or preparation for the 00:43:53.190 --> 00:44:00.110 future and care and beyond. Guidance from God. 00:44:04.789 --> 00:44:11.090 The sovereign God who reigns over it all. We 00:44:11.090 --> 00:44:15.110 must be reminded of the declaration over the 00:44:15.110 --> 00:44:23.920 church. What is our response? The gates of hell 00:44:23.920 --> 00:44:30.380 shall not prevail against the church. Tragic, 00:44:30.380 --> 00:44:44.559 senseless, yes. But surprisingly, no. The closer 00:44:44.559 --> 00:44:48.690 we get to the return of the Lord, the bolder 00:44:48.690 --> 00:44:53.809 the enemy will become. And it may be you and 00:44:53.809 --> 00:45:01.429 I to make a stand in the declaration. Jesus is 00:45:01.429 --> 00:45:06.889 Lord. There is no other way. Stand with me, I'm 00:45:06.889 --> 00:45:14.449 closing. We handle crisis in different ways. 00:45:15.380 --> 00:45:21.280 Sometimes we complicate it by overreacting. Sometimes 00:45:21.280 --> 00:45:24.019 we formulate new crisis out of the one that has 00:45:24.019 --> 00:45:30.280 just arisen and we cause it to grow. Other times 00:45:30.280 --> 00:45:37.159 we simply cope with it. But the way we should 00:45:37.159 --> 00:45:43.460 respond is with the character of Christ. No matter 00:45:43.460 --> 00:45:48.059 what the cause may be. We have to have courage 00:45:48.059 --> 00:45:54.619 for crisis living. Joshua is standing firmly 00:45:54.619 --> 00:46:03.619 in a crisis moment. The Lord appears to him and 00:46:03.619 --> 00:46:10.059 says, Joshua, my servant Moses is dead. Now that's 00:46:10.059 --> 00:46:15.039 a crisis for the nation. Their leader who led 00:46:15.039 --> 00:46:19.130 them out. Who spoke with God in the cloud and 00:46:19.130 --> 00:46:27.869 the tabernacle face to face. He's gone. Now what? 00:46:27.929 --> 00:46:34.030 That's a crisis. But notice that God doesn't 00:46:34.030 --> 00:46:38.889 forsake us in our crisis moments. He shows up. 00:46:41.269 --> 00:46:45.050 Joshua, my servant Moses is dead and I'm the 00:46:45.050 --> 00:46:49.699 only one. Who knows where he's at? I've taken 00:46:49.699 --> 00:46:55.039 him. I've buried him. Here's what I need you 00:46:55.039 --> 00:47:02.199 to do. I need you to be courageous. I need you, 00:47:02.320 --> 00:47:08.900 Joshua, to be strong. And here's my commitment 00:47:08.900 --> 00:47:15.280 to you, Joshua. Now get this one. As I was with 00:47:15.280 --> 00:47:24.719 Moses. So shall I be with you. Now, there's a 00:47:24.719 --> 00:47:27.300 lot to unpack there that I don't have time for. 00:47:29.320 --> 00:47:32.519 You must remember the position of Joshua when 00:47:32.519 --> 00:47:35.199 Moses is on top of the mountain in the thunder 00:47:35.199 --> 00:47:38.519 and in the cloud and the finger of God is writing 00:47:38.519 --> 00:47:41.019 those commandments. You've got to know where 00:47:41.019 --> 00:47:44.239 he was at. He wasn't down with the rest of them. 00:47:44.840 --> 00:47:47.559 He went as far up the side of the mountain as 00:47:47.559 --> 00:47:50.400 he could go and was permitted to be. He was right 00:47:50.400 --> 00:48:05.619 there. That was his position. What's yours? What's 00:48:05.619 --> 00:48:10.139 your position? Did this disturb you this week 00:48:10.139 --> 00:48:13.519 as it did me? It disturbed me. It really did. 00:48:14.159 --> 00:48:22.780 I didn't know the man. I'd watched some of interviews 00:48:22.780 --> 00:48:25.519 and things that he did on college campuses and 00:48:25.519 --> 00:48:28.420 as he would confront darkness with light, with 00:48:28.420 --> 00:48:36.599 love. But direct and firm, you can be direct 00:48:36.599 --> 00:48:39.960 and firm and love. I'd do that for you every 00:48:39.960 --> 00:48:46.670 week. Direct. Very firm. But I'm doing it in 00:48:46.670 --> 00:48:56.369 love. I love you. People have the choice to go 00:48:56.369 --> 00:49:00.369 to hell. But to do so, you have to go against 00:49:00.369 --> 00:49:06.050 the wishes of your creator. He is not willing 00:49:06.050 --> 00:49:14.590 that any should perish. But that all. A -L -L. 00:49:16.690 --> 00:49:18.849 You should come to him through repentance. All. 00:49:19.710 --> 00:49:22.130 That's his desire. That's the reason he sent 00:49:22.130 --> 00:49:24.909 his son. That's the reason he dispatches voices 00:49:24.909 --> 00:49:35.250 to proclaim. Father, I love you. As we take our 00:49:35.250 --> 00:49:43.869 position today, what will we choose? What will 00:49:43.869 --> 00:49:52.230 we choose? What is our choice this morning? Do 00:49:52.230 --> 00:49:54.469 I accept the wonderful invitation to come to 00:49:54.469 --> 00:49:56.369 know you and free pardon of sin and to allow 00:49:56.369 --> 00:50:05.110 you to cleanse me and to forgive me? Or do I 00:50:05.110 --> 00:50:11.710 again harden my heart to the good news of the 00:50:11.710 --> 00:50:18.739 gospel? What do I do today? What are you going 00:50:18.739 --> 00:50:30.880 to do today? If you choose Christ, if you don't 00:50:30.880 --> 00:50:32.940 know him this morning, I invite you now. Come 00:50:32.940 --> 00:50:37.840 on. Come on. Come on down. Let me pray with you. 00:50:41.239 --> 00:50:47.130 Don't refuse him. Don't deny him. I never have 00:50:47.130 --> 00:50:50.469 been one of those preachers that can just talk 00:50:50.469 --> 00:50:52.269 people into the altar because I'm too matter 00:50:52.269 --> 00:51:00.630 of fact. You're just going to have to come. You're 00:51:00.630 --> 00:51:01.769 just going to have to make your way. You're going 00:51:01.769 --> 00:51:03.070 to have to do like I did. You're going to have 00:51:03.070 --> 00:51:08.210 to make a choice. I choose heaven. I choose Christ. 00:51:09.570 --> 00:51:18.739 I choose the love of God. Over the world and 00:51:18.739 --> 00:51:20.940 over the influence of the world and over the 00:51:20.940 --> 00:51:24.059 influence of darkness. Over the influence of 00:51:24.059 --> 00:51:33.059 Satan's desire against me. Probably every one 00:51:33.059 --> 00:51:35.039 of us in here would confess to this thought. 00:51:35.880 --> 00:51:42.139 Because the word says it. The pleasures of sin 00:51:42.139 --> 00:51:52.969 are for a short season. Oh, it's fun for a little 00:51:52.969 --> 00:51:57.269 while until you have to start paying the price 00:51:57.269 --> 00:52:02.170 for sin. And it begins to show up and collect. 00:52:03.849 --> 00:52:10.409 You can't defer payment. Sin has its reckoning. 00:52:16.469 --> 00:52:20.590 Father, I love you. I thank you so much for your 00:52:20.590 --> 00:52:23.869 mercy and your grace. Father, I pray for each 00:52:23.869 --> 00:52:26.590 of us in here today. I pray if any don't know 00:52:26.590 --> 00:52:29.550 you, that before this day is over, they surrender 00:52:29.550 --> 00:52:31.829 their heart and life, confess their sin, and 00:52:31.829 --> 00:52:39.630 accept you as Lord and Savior. Touch us now, 00:52:39.710 --> 00:52:41.730 Lord, as we follow in the footsteps, and some 00:52:41.730 --> 00:52:44.349 and many will come forward to be baptized today. 00:52:46.369 --> 00:52:50.400 Watch over and keep the household of faith. Amen. 00:52:50.440 --> 00:52:52.320 If you're getting baptized this morning, go ahead 00:52:52.320 --> 00:52:55.639 and make preparations and just come on back and 00:52:55.639 --> 00:52:57.440 get right here in the front toward the line. 00:52:58.260 --> 00:53:01.599 And y 'all just bear with us for a few minutes. 00:53:01.699 --> 00:53:02.079 Amen.