WEBVTT 00:00:06.120 --> 00:00:09.140 First of all, we want to, I want to begin with 00:00:09.140 --> 00:00:13.500 Sister Sandra. Sister Sandra Jacobs, who leads 00:00:13.500 --> 00:00:22.359 our worship. She has a... She probably feels 00:00:22.359 --> 00:00:25.379 like a dunkin' yo -yo. Anybody know what I'm 00:00:25.379 --> 00:00:27.960 talking about? Anybody know what a dunkin' yo 00:00:27.960 --> 00:00:30.750 -yo is? Come on, I'm talking to a few people. 00:00:34.189 --> 00:00:41.509 She stepped up and has stepped down and stepped 00:00:41.509 --> 00:00:46.609 back up and stepped back down, stepped back up. 00:00:47.630 --> 00:00:52.210 Anything that I've asked of her, she's been not 00:00:52.210 --> 00:00:57.130 just willing. Stand still. Every time I back, 00:00:57.170 --> 00:00:59.579 she won't back up. Step up here in the light. 00:01:00.500 --> 00:01:02.780 See, Eric's trying to get your picture and can't 00:01:02.780 --> 00:01:04.400 do it for the pulpit. Come on over this way. 00:01:05.519 --> 00:01:14.459 She served with faithfulness. Amen? And the only 00:01:14.459 --> 00:01:18.700 thing I'm not worried about is worship on Sunday. 00:01:19.959 --> 00:01:22.980 Because I knew she had it took care of. Unless 00:01:22.980 --> 00:01:26.000 she was on a knee scooter and in a boot or something 00:01:26.000 --> 00:01:33.510 like that. Very rarely is she away. And so I 00:01:33.510 --> 00:01:37.629 appreciate that. Don't you? Let her know how 00:01:37.629 --> 00:01:41.530 much you appreciate her labor among you. Sister 00:01:41.530 --> 00:01:45.569 Becky, that's your cue right there. And Sister 00:01:45.569 --> 00:01:56.799 Donna, she's right here. Baskets of blessings. 00:01:58.560 --> 00:02:04.560 Amen. Here's some fresh cut to go with it. You 00:02:04.560 --> 00:02:09.419 got it? You good? Thank you. Let her know again 00:02:09.419 --> 00:02:11.219 how much you appreciate her. Oh, wait a minute. 00:02:11.300 --> 00:02:13.900 Here. That's the best part right there. You don't 00:02:13.900 --> 00:02:22.460 want me to keep that. I was making early morning 00:02:22.460 --> 00:02:26.180 text trying to cover my tracks. Of things that 00:02:26.180 --> 00:02:30.800 I'd forgotten and just remembered. I'm not normally 00:02:30.800 --> 00:02:35.780 the organizer. I just come up with what I want 00:02:35.780 --> 00:02:40.699 done. And they make it happen. Any other men 00:02:40.699 --> 00:02:42.539 in the house know what I'm talking about? Your 00:02:42.539 --> 00:02:45.780 idea, but they make it happen. I learned a long 00:02:45.780 --> 00:02:47.639 time ago, you staff towards your weaknesses. 00:02:47.639 --> 00:02:49.280 And you can tell I've got a lot of weakness. 00:02:50.919 --> 00:02:56.039 Amen. The next folks we want to honor. It's Sister 00:02:56.039 --> 00:03:00.000 Robin, Sister Robin Warren, who is our church 00:03:00.000 --> 00:03:03.520 administrator and a whole lot more. She also 00:03:03.520 --> 00:03:09.560 works as a subcontractor, or actually a general 00:03:09.560 --> 00:03:12.479 contractor. Anything I find torn up, she knows 00:03:12.479 --> 00:03:15.780 the people to call and gets it fixed, gets it 00:03:15.780 --> 00:03:21.080 taken care of. Amen? Come on up with that, Sister 00:03:21.080 --> 00:03:24.719 Carrie. I almost forgot Sister Donna had hers 00:03:24.719 --> 00:03:28.580 a while ago. And along with her is Brother Randy. 00:03:29.400 --> 00:03:39.020 Come on, Brother Randy. They minister together. 00:03:41.159 --> 00:03:43.500 Brother Randy teaches Sunday school. That's his 00:03:43.500 --> 00:03:47.939 volunteer role. But on Wednesday night, he spreaches. 00:03:49.580 --> 00:03:51.800 He may not call it that, but that's what I call 00:03:51.800 --> 00:03:58.449 it. He preaches and leads our adult discipleship 00:03:58.449 --> 00:04:04.710 on Wednesday night without compensation, I might 00:04:04.710 --> 00:04:07.949 add. When I think about it, close to his birthday, 00:04:08.030 --> 00:04:10.110 I have the Wednesday night class, and we'll take 00:04:10.110 --> 00:04:11.669 up an offering and we'll get him something. But 00:04:11.669 --> 00:04:15.270 for some odd reason, I don't think of that every 00:04:15.270 --> 00:04:18.310 year. And so their emotions go up and down. I 00:04:18.310 --> 00:04:24.360 say, well, Pastor forgot. He did. Because didn't 00:04:24.360 --> 00:04:30.399 nobody tell me. My hope well right hand. There's 00:04:30.399 --> 00:04:33.879 some things she won't tell me. But as they ministered 00:04:33.879 --> 00:04:39.240 for you, it's unto the Lord. It's unto the Lord. 00:04:43.360 --> 00:04:48.120 I've had various administrators throughout my 00:04:48.120 --> 00:04:58.720 pastoral ministry. None as efficient. None. I've 00:04:58.720 --> 00:05:03.920 had some good ones. But none as efficient as 00:05:03.920 --> 00:05:14.920 your service. Everything with excellence. From 00:05:14.920 --> 00:05:17.779 the first day that I rolled on this campus as 00:05:17.779 --> 00:05:21.600 pastor of the Hopewell Church. We met in her 00:05:21.600 --> 00:05:27.339 office, and then I got the news of just how bad 00:05:27.339 --> 00:05:34.579 it was. And it was bad. And every instruction, 00:05:35.259 --> 00:05:44.500 every direction was taken without question. She'd 00:05:44.500 --> 00:05:46.319 been doing this a long time before I got here. 00:05:47.899 --> 00:05:52.319 Without question. And just follow the directive. 00:05:53.800 --> 00:05:58.279 And we begin to see the tide turn. And look, 00:05:58.360 --> 00:06:00.160 when you see the tide, she tell you, I'm about 00:06:00.160 --> 00:06:04.500 pretty stingy. But you have to when you don't 00:06:04.500 --> 00:06:10.980 have anything. Right? But the tide has turned. 00:06:12.220 --> 00:06:17.199 And what was a way out is now a way in. Because 00:06:17.199 --> 00:06:20.769 of diligence. Not questioning. Never an argument. 00:06:21.509 --> 00:06:26.430 Not one resistance. Unless she's told him. But 00:06:26.430 --> 00:06:35.069 I have found out she doesn't tell him. She doesn't. 00:06:36.870 --> 00:06:40.389 What's in the office stays at the office. That 00:06:40.389 --> 00:06:48.269 is a trait that you can't hardly find. So, where's 00:06:48.269 --> 00:06:50.110 the bell? Sister Carrie's got your basket. There's 00:06:50.110 --> 00:06:55.370 your card. You can go ahead and give it to her 00:06:55.370 --> 00:06:56.990 if you want to. Let Randy hold it. He's big and 00:06:56.990 --> 00:07:03.209 strong. Mr. Medium over there. Thank you, Sister 00:07:03.209 --> 00:07:05.970 Becky. You followed up. See, I knew I chose you 00:07:05.970 --> 00:07:14.029 for a reason. Something that Sister Kathy and 00:07:14.029 --> 00:07:16.589 I have discovered over almost three decades in 00:07:16.589 --> 00:07:19.160 ministry. When you have a family, you do not 00:07:19.160 --> 00:07:23.600 do this alone. Everybody's involved. The children 00:07:23.600 --> 00:07:27.339 are involved. And so from the church, we just 00:07:27.339 --> 00:07:31.199 have a token, and that's what it is. It's a token, 00:07:31.220 --> 00:07:35.220 but to let them know, boys, where you at? Joseph's 00:07:35.220 --> 00:07:37.680 here. Samuel, where you at? Come here, buddy. 00:07:43.079 --> 00:07:47.220 Haven't they grown? Let me tell you. Tell you 00:07:47.220 --> 00:07:49.899 how I know they've grown, especially this one. 00:07:51.399 --> 00:07:54.139 For about three or four years, I had to have 00:07:54.139 --> 00:07:59.420 them dumb, dumb suckers in my office. And he'd 00:07:59.420 --> 00:08:04.000 come by every morning, and we would trade. He'd 00:08:04.000 --> 00:08:07.300 rob fireballs off his mama's desk and bring me 00:08:07.300 --> 00:08:09.519 three or four fireballs, and we'd swap fireballs 00:08:09.519 --> 00:08:13.600 for dumb, dumb suckers. But he's in middle school 00:08:13.600 --> 00:08:18.370 now. He's quit stopping by high school next year. 00:08:19.589 --> 00:08:21.589 Yeah, so he don't even stop by anymore, just 00:08:21.589 --> 00:08:27.290 goes by. I thought, you still eat a sucker, even 00:08:27.290 --> 00:08:32.929 though I'm not eating a fireball. Joseph is the 00:08:32.929 --> 00:08:48.159 one that keeps dad on his toes. He's the one 00:08:48.159 --> 00:08:53.820 we hear the most about on Wednesday. I don't 00:08:53.820 --> 00:08:57.720 know if he knows that or not, but he is. And 00:08:57.720 --> 00:08:59.600 you don't forget the one that's gone just because 00:08:59.600 --> 00:09:04.299 he had to go to college. Right? The quieter one. 00:09:05.080 --> 00:09:09.000 Mama's favorite. Sorry, Samuel. I can already 00:09:09.000 --> 00:09:12.759 tell. See, you know too, don't you? I guess because 00:09:12.759 --> 00:09:19.960 he was the first son of promise. Yeah. Let this 00:09:19.960 --> 00:09:23.580 family know how much you appreciate what they 00:09:23.580 --> 00:09:29.440 do here. In service to the Lord and in serving 00:09:29.440 --> 00:09:44.139 you. Thank you. Thank you so much. I bless you. 00:09:47.080 --> 00:09:56.580 Our third. Pastoral couple. I know for a fact 00:09:56.580 --> 00:10:05.860 the Lord has sent them our way. Pastor Brian, 00:10:05.960 --> 00:10:13.480 you and Sister Erica, come on up. Lights a little 00:10:13.480 --> 00:10:15.139 brighter. Now somebody else is going to have 00:10:15.139 --> 00:10:17.419 to take your priest. You got it. Y 'all come 00:10:17.419 --> 00:10:19.809 over here where it's a little brighter. Light's 00:10:19.809 --> 00:10:25.330 a little better right here. We have been blessed 00:10:25.330 --> 00:10:34.789 since I've been here to have student ministries 00:10:34.789 --> 00:10:40.629 done with excellence. Pastor Brandon, Pastor 00:10:40.629 --> 00:10:50.019 Sarah. They're seasoned. Such a time as this. 00:10:54.360 --> 00:11:02.720 The Lord brought them back to Hopewell. The call 00:11:02.720 --> 00:11:09.299 into the ministry verified. Diligence in serving 00:11:09.299 --> 00:11:18.990 the Lord. An ordained minister now. Getting ready 00:11:18.990 --> 00:11:21.970 as soon as he's old enough and got enough time 00:11:21.970 --> 00:11:30.230 in to get his bishops and to serve at every capacity. 00:11:33.289 --> 00:11:36.629 The reason I'm grateful and thankful for the 00:11:36.629 --> 00:11:44.690 excellence that they bring is I worry not at 00:11:44.690 --> 00:11:52.759 all. If I'm not here. Because I know. The hands 00:11:52.759 --> 00:11:59.519 that you're in. When I leave him in charge. Just 00:11:59.519 --> 00:12:08.200 for knowing sake. True leaders. Are known by 00:12:08.200 --> 00:12:13.000 their servant heart. Not necessarily being out 00:12:13.000 --> 00:12:19.580 in the front. From my perspective, true leaders 00:12:19.580 --> 00:12:21.879 don't lead from the front. They lead in the middle 00:12:21.879 --> 00:12:27.200 of the pack. So they keep the ones in front of 00:12:27.200 --> 00:12:28.940 them that are running and they pull along those 00:12:28.940 --> 00:12:32.100 who are behind them who are lagging. Where you 00:12:32.100 --> 00:12:34.120 got hands on both. If you're just way out in 00:12:34.120 --> 00:12:37.360 front, you may not know who's lagging. But if 00:12:37.360 --> 00:12:42.419 you're in the middle of it, you know. They're 00:12:42.419 --> 00:12:50.460 in the middle of it. Right in the middle. Planning, 00:12:50.460 --> 00:12:53.279 organizing, spreadsheeting, anything you need 00:12:53.279 --> 00:12:55.700 to know that we've done, you want to chart it 00:12:55.700 --> 00:12:58.220 out, Sister Erica's got it. She can show you. 00:12:59.720 --> 00:13:02.080 Events from previous years, we did this, we did 00:13:02.080 --> 00:13:04.259 this, we did this, we did this. We had this much, 00:13:04.320 --> 00:13:07.360 we had this many. And do you know how refreshing 00:13:07.360 --> 00:13:09.399 that is? Because I can't remember all that stuff. 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:12.100 And I'm not going to sit in front of a computer 00:13:12.100 --> 00:13:18.340 and type it in. She loves it. I know now why 00:13:18.340 --> 00:13:25.279 he's as efficient as he is. Hey, he married up 00:13:25.279 --> 00:13:28.659 and he married to his weakness. Just like I did. 00:13:32.320 --> 00:13:36.700 Starting the first Sunday of October, Pastor 00:13:36.700 --> 00:13:48.190 Brian's coming on full time. Full time. So. Keep 00:13:48.190 --> 00:13:52.769 on giving. We want to take care of them. Amen. 00:13:54.190 --> 00:14:06.289 I appreciate you. The Lord knows. And when I 00:14:06.289 --> 00:14:08.269 don't think of it, they've already thought of 00:14:08.269 --> 00:14:12.789 it. And already stepped up and prepared it. And 00:14:12.789 --> 00:14:19.029 already stepped out and done it. And I just can't 00:14:19.029 --> 00:14:26.649 thank you enough. It's the work of the ministry. 00:14:26.870 --> 00:14:31.129 If you appreciate them, would you let them know 00:14:31.129 --> 00:14:53.240 it? She going to get it anyway. She going to 00:14:53.240 --> 00:14:54.840 get it anyway. All right, young 'uns, where you 00:14:54.840 --> 00:14:58.779 at? They're not in here? Two of them? Where you 00:14:58.779 --> 00:15:07.220 at? Carson, Nealon, come here. Lulu's not in 00:15:07.220 --> 00:15:10.480 here? She's in the nursery. There you go. Train 00:15:10.480 --> 00:15:12.620 them up right. Yeah, get it real quick if they 00:15:12.620 --> 00:15:17.179 got a spare hand. Come on, guys. Nealon, here 00:15:17.179 --> 00:15:21.490 you go, buddy. Carson. Spend it however you want 00:15:21.490 --> 00:15:27.669 to. Go get you some more earrings. Get whatever 00:15:27.669 --> 00:15:32.610 you want. New pocket knife or something. Come 00:15:32.610 --> 00:15:35.730 here, baby. Come here, Lulu. I call her Lulu. 00:15:35.889 --> 00:15:41.649 That's a Landon. And she indulges me. She's embarrassed. 00:15:41.809 --> 00:15:44.769 She indulges Pastor. She knows I love her. So 00:15:44.769 --> 00:15:47.629 she indulges me. Here you go, baby. Get you a 00:15:47.629 --> 00:15:52.600 new cowboy hat. Amen. Let them know how much 00:15:52.600 --> 00:15:57.240 you love them and appreciate them. We love you 00:15:57.240 --> 00:16:01.159 guys. Get their picture. I forgot to give you 00:16:01.159 --> 00:16:04.519 that. That's the most important. Amen. God is 00:16:04.519 --> 00:16:09.980 good. Oh, yeah, your basket. Those would knock 00:16:09.980 --> 00:16:17.879 me down. Oh. You see why they do most everything. 00:16:17.980 --> 00:16:21.580 I forget it all. I get wound up. Flowers and 00:16:21.580 --> 00:16:26.419 baskets and buckets and... Hallelujah. God is 00:16:26.419 --> 00:16:36.080 good. And His mercy endures forever. And thankful 00:16:36.080 --> 00:16:41.700 and grateful is just a... I don't know how else. 00:16:41.720 --> 00:16:46.299 I don't know what else. Other than I know we 00:16:46.299 --> 00:16:50.159 would not be the church that we are. Without 00:16:50.159 --> 00:16:54.000 those in whom the Lord is assigned here. Amen. 00:16:54.799 --> 00:16:57.720 And in January for all of our volunteers. We 00:16:57.720 --> 00:17:02.179 have a volunteer banquet. Where we just serve 00:17:02.179 --> 00:17:05.440 you. And it's a good evening. Amen. To let you 00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:11.299 know how much we appreciate what you do. We've 00:17:11.299 --> 00:17:18.779 got ten minutes. The Holy Ghost has spoken. The 00:17:18.779 --> 00:17:23.779 spirit has moved. Amen? Lives have been touched. 00:17:25.019 --> 00:17:30.579 People have been honored. But we must have some 00:17:30.579 --> 00:17:38.960 word. Amen? Woo! Now, how much word really depends 00:17:38.960 --> 00:17:46.519 on you. But I do have something the Lord's laid 00:17:46.519 --> 00:17:49.099 on my heart. How about I just give you the Pastor 00:17:49.099 --> 00:17:54.480 Cliff notes? See how I did that? Forgive it. 00:17:58.400 --> 00:18:01.359 I'll just give you the Pastor Cliff notes, not 00:18:01.359 --> 00:18:06.799 the whole thing. We do have a meal prepared to 00:18:06.799 --> 00:18:10.200 share together in the fellowship hall. Here in 00:18:10.200 --> 00:18:11.740 a moment, when I get ready to release everybody, 00:18:11.859 --> 00:18:19.059 we want our seasoned saints. To go first. Amen. 00:18:19.619 --> 00:18:24.180 So that means hold the chair in back. John's 00:18:24.180 --> 00:18:25.740 gospel. You can remain seated. You've been up 00:18:25.740 --> 00:18:29.839 and down. Speaking of yo -yo. John's gospel. 00:18:30.880 --> 00:18:35.900 In the fourth chapter. It's a very familiar. 00:18:38.559 --> 00:18:46.339 Place. Very familiar text. And can be. Applied 00:18:46.339 --> 00:18:52.160 in. Many, many, many ways. The application of 00:18:52.160 --> 00:18:56.119 the word of God is always according to the need 00:18:56.119 --> 00:18:59.019 in which you're in. And the word will apply. 00:19:00.140 --> 00:19:04.359 Amen. Isn't that good? The word will apply. And 00:19:04.359 --> 00:19:07.240 the word will always get to you when you need 00:19:07.240 --> 00:19:10.079 it. The spirit may stir your memory and bring 00:19:10.079 --> 00:19:14.180 it to your mind. Or he may run it by you somehow, 00:19:14.299 --> 00:19:18.349 some way, but you'll get what you need. In John's 00:19:18.349 --> 00:19:23.970 Gospel in the fourth chapter, verse 35 says, 00:19:24.109 --> 00:19:27.369 Say ye not, say not ye, there are yet four months, 00:19:27.529 --> 00:19:31.089 and then cometh harvest. Behold, I say unto you, 00:19:31.130 --> 00:19:34.269 lift up your eyes and look on the fields, for 00:19:34.269 --> 00:19:38.269 they are white already to harvest. And he that 00:19:38.269 --> 00:19:40.549 reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit 00:19:40.549 --> 00:19:44.009 unto life eternal, that both he that soweth and 00:19:44.009 --> 00:19:48.059 he that reapeth may rejoice together. And herein 00:19:48.059 --> 00:19:52.799 is that saying true. One soweth, another reapeth. 00:19:53.019 --> 00:19:58.160 I sent you to reap that whereon you bestowed 00:19:58.160 --> 00:20:02.880 no labor. Other men labored, and you are entered 00:20:02.880 --> 00:20:07.359 into their labors. Lord, we love you. We thank 00:20:07.359 --> 00:20:10.099 you for the power of your word. We thank you 00:20:10.099 --> 00:20:11.940 for the power of your presence with us this morning. 00:20:11.980 --> 00:20:14.880 Help me now for the next few minutes, Lord, just 00:20:14.880 --> 00:20:18.349 to encourage us in your word. We go in grace 00:20:18.349 --> 00:20:24.049 and peace. That passage we know is relating to 00:20:24.049 --> 00:20:28.930 the lost. We know it's in reference to the vast 00:20:28.930 --> 00:20:36.049 harvest that is around us. Millions, even billions 00:20:36.049 --> 00:20:42.069 lost. Lost without Christ. Without knowing Him. 00:20:42.190 --> 00:20:46.589 And the importance... That Jesus is trying to 00:20:46.589 --> 00:20:52.809 emphasize is that the harvest is now. You're 00:20:52.809 --> 00:20:56.309 not waiting for anything. You don't have to wait. 00:20:56.369 --> 00:20:59.250 You don't have to sit back. The harvest is now. 00:21:01.109 --> 00:21:03.670 And how it's maybe not even referencing to a 00:21:03.670 --> 00:21:06.369 barley field or a corn field or a wheat field. 00:21:07.990 --> 00:21:10.869 But his intention is that we see lost humanity. 00:21:14.529 --> 00:21:16.470 Another place he says, pray ye therefore the 00:21:16.470 --> 00:21:18.430 Lord of the harvest that he'd send laborers in 00:21:18.430 --> 00:21:25.190 the harvest. Why? Because laborers are few. And 00:21:25.190 --> 00:21:28.869 as we are nearing the, we're nearing the end 00:21:28.869 --> 00:21:31.329 of my time and some of us' time even closer, 00:21:31.390 --> 00:21:35.009 but I think we're entering into truly the last 00:21:35.009 --> 00:21:38.369 days. Truly we're living in the last day. How 00:21:38.369 --> 00:21:41.589 long those days will last, I don't know. The 00:21:41.589 --> 00:21:43.779 trumpet. that we just heard sung about a little 00:21:43.779 --> 00:21:47.940 bit ago, will sound. We don't know the day. We 00:21:47.940 --> 00:21:50.259 do not know the hour because how many of you 00:21:50.259 --> 00:21:53.779 know if you knew, you wouldn't do anything for 00:21:53.779 --> 00:22:00.220 Christ until just before time? Oh, yeah. If we 00:22:00.220 --> 00:22:02.680 procrastinate in life, what do you think we would 00:22:02.680 --> 00:22:06.859 do with eternity? If we knew the day we were 00:22:06.859 --> 00:22:09.700 going to die or the moment the Lord was going 00:22:09.700 --> 00:22:12.980 to return, we would put it off. and put it off 00:22:12.980 --> 00:22:17.140 right up to the last moment. That's the reason 00:22:17.140 --> 00:22:19.240 the Lord didn't give us anything that we can 00:22:19.240 --> 00:22:24.180 really confirm and date his return. No man knoweth 00:22:24.180 --> 00:22:26.160 the day nor the hour when the Son of Man cometh, 00:22:26.160 --> 00:22:30.440 not the angels in heaven. It's reserved for the 00:22:30.440 --> 00:22:38.940 right of the Father. But if we knew, and as we 00:22:38.940 --> 00:22:42.420 think about... All that is transpiring around 00:22:42.420 --> 00:22:46.440 us this morning, I truly feel as though that 00:22:46.440 --> 00:22:50.380 the Bible is just like a picture book, if you 00:22:50.380 --> 00:22:53.400 would. You know those, they open up and then 00:22:53.400 --> 00:22:56.180 the structures stand up. That's what's happening 00:22:56.180 --> 00:22:59.799 before our very eyes. As you look at the world 00:22:59.799 --> 00:23:02.859 today, it's just coming alive. The Bible is being 00:23:02.859 --> 00:23:05.980 unfolded every day. Prophecies are being fulfilled 00:23:05.980 --> 00:23:11.400 every day. The Lord's return could be... Very 00:23:11.400 --> 00:23:16.779 near, even today. Jesus said in Matthew 24, 6 00:23:16.779 --> 00:23:19.099 and 8, you shall hear of wars and rumors of wars, 00:23:19.200 --> 00:23:22.380 nations rise against nations, and all these are 00:23:22.380 --> 00:23:24.640 the beginning of sorrows. The end is not yet, 00:23:24.720 --> 00:23:27.720 but all of these are the beginning of sorrows. 00:23:28.380 --> 00:23:35.519 I think sorrow is upon us. Paul would tell Timothy 00:23:35.519 --> 00:23:37.539 in that second letter, third chapter, first verse, 00:23:37.660 --> 00:23:40.950 this know also that in the last days, perilous 00:23:40.950 --> 00:23:46.130 times shall come. I don't know how it could become 00:23:46.130 --> 00:23:49.569 much more perilous in the world than it is now 00:23:49.569 --> 00:23:54.029 with just speaking your faith will cost you your 00:23:54.029 --> 00:24:03.769 life. Just by being up front and outspoken the 00:24:03.769 --> 00:24:07.009 devil becomes so enraged that he deceives others 00:24:07.009 --> 00:24:13.140 into taking One's life. Because of their stance 00:24:13.140 --> 00:24:18.259 for morality, truth, and righteousness. And that 00:24:18.259 --> 00:24:24.700 salvation is in Christ and Christ alone. How 00:24:24.700 --> 00:24:27.579 much more perilous does this world have to become? 00:24:29.200 --> 00:24:33.299 Our thought today is it's time for my harvest. 00:24:34.619 --> 00:24:38.339 It's time. For my harvest. In the midst of these 00:24:38.339 --> 00:24:41.200 perilous times, without doubt, these things are 00:24:41.200 --> 00:24:42.920 coming to pass. They're coming to full circle 00:24:42.920 --> 00:24:45.700 right before our very eyes. And Paul's letter 00:24:45.700 --> 00:24:48.640 to Rome in 3 and 11, he says, And that knowing 00:24:48.640 --> 00:24:51.519 the time that now it is high time to awake out 00:24:51.519 --> 00:24:55.339 of sleep, for now is our salvation nearer than 00:24:55.339 --> 00:25:01.259 when we believed. For many people out in the 00:25:01.259 --> 00:25:03.359 world, for many believers, they are in a condition 00:25:03.359 --> 00:25:08.250 of... Being unsure of the will of God. What is 00:25:08.250 --> 00:25:12.190 God's will? John 3, 17 tells us, we know 16, 00:25:12.529 --> 00:25:14.509 he loved the world and gave his only begotten 00:25:14.509 --> 00:25:17.289 son. But 17 declares, for God sent not his son 00:25:17.289 --> 00:25:19.509 into the world to condemn the world, but that 00:25:19.509 --> 00:25:23.829 the world through him might be saved. Bottom 00:25:23.829 --> 00:25:29.269 line, first order of principle is mankind's salvation. 00:25:30.259 --> 00:25:32.799 That is the will of God. Why? Because he's not 00:25:32.799 --> 00:25:34.900 willing that any should perish, but that all 00:25:34.900 --> 00:25:38.220 should come unto repentance. I saw something 00:25:38.220 --> 00:25:40.079 the other day that really stirred me well. Somebody 00:25:40.079 --> 00:25:42.420 said, well, why would such a loving God send 00:25:42.420 --> 00:25:45.500 people to hell? And the answer was from the preacher. 00:25:45.539 --> 00:25:47.339 He said, God doesn't send you to hell. You choose 00:25:47.339 --> 00:25:50.940 to go there. He sent every way, every means possible 00:25:50.940 --> 00:25:53.940 for you not to end up in hell. So if you go, 00:25:54.000 --> 00:25:56.940 you choose to go. You choose to be there. He 00:25:56.940 --> 00:25:59.680 sent his son into the world, not that it would 00:25:59.680 --> 00:26:03.160 be condemned, but that it might find restoration, 00:26:03.359 --> 00:26:07.119 that it might find and have redemption. Peter 00:26:07.119 --> 00:26:09.500 writes in his second letter, 3 and 9, the Lord 00:26:09.500 --> 00:26:12.259 is not slack concerning his promise, as some 00:26:12.259 --> 00:26:15.500 men count slackness, but is longsuffering to 00:26:15.500 --> 00:26:18.140 usward, not willing that any should perish, that 00:26:18.140 --> 00:26:20.940 all should come to repentance. When we get down 00:26:20.940 --> 00:26:23.759 to getting the harvest and receiving the harvest 00:26:23.759 --> 00:26:26.059 for our life, the first thing you have to do 00:26:26.059 --> 00:26:29.839 is change your perspective. There must be a perspective 00:26:29.839 --> 00:26:32.859 change in our life. You've got to change the 00:26:32.859 --> 00:26:35.279 way. Simply put, from the Latin root, perspective 00:26:35.279 --> 00:26:39.420 means to look through or to perceive. And it's 00:26:39.420 --> 00:26:43.460 simplest, a point of view. You've got to change 00:26:43.460 --> 00:26:46.000 the way you see the world. This is what Jesus 00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:48.839 is saying to those. who are around him. Say ye 00:26:48.839 --> 00:26:51.099 not ye that it's four months and then the harvest, 00:26:51.240 --> 00:26:54.259 but his declaration is this, lift up your eyes. 00:26:54.460 --> 00:26:56.839 You've got to change your perspective. We have 00:26:56.839 --> 00:26:59.140 a harvest in many different ways. He's talking 00:26:59.140 --> 00:27:01.180 about a global harvest. We think about church 00:27:01.180 --> 00:27:04.079 harvest. We think about a physical harvest. It's 00:27:04.079 --> 00:27:06.319 almost time to start getting in the beans and 00:27:06.319 --> 00:27:08.259 they're going to start combining beans. There's 00:27:08.259 --> 00:27:11.059 some cornfields already been gone through. Others 00:27:11.059 --> 00:27:14.299 will be coming, but there is a harvest also spiritually. 00:27:14.660 --> 00:27:16.930 Folks, you need to understand. that you've not 00:27:16.930 --> 00:27:19.750 been left out on an island and it is time for 00:27:19.750 --> 00:27:23.490 a harvest in your life. There is time for replenishing. 00:27:23.529 --> 00:27:26.170 There's time for renewal. There's time for restoration. 00:27:26.450 --> 00:27:29.450 And your time is now. But you have to lift up 00:27:29.450 --> 00:27:32.349 your eyes. I believe God is ushering us into 00:27:32.349 --> 00:27:35.369 a season of a move of his spirit that we've not 00:27:35.369 --> 00:27:38.910 encountered in several years. And I feel God 00:27:38.910 --> 00:27:41.630 stirring in my heart and in my soul that our 00:27:41.630 --> 00:27:44.990 harvest time is now. But our perspective has 00:27:44.990 --> 00:27:47.450 to change. You can't look at church the way you've 00:27:47.450 --> 00:27:49.329 always looked at church. You've got to get a 00:27:49.329 --> 00:27:50.970 different view. You've got to take a different 00:27:50.970 --> 00:27:53.490 viewpoint. You've got a different way of seeing 00:27:53.490 --> 00:27:55.470 things. You've got to look around you and see 00:27:55.470 --> 00:27:57.710 what it is that the Spirit wants you to see. 00:27:57.789 --> 00:28:00.130 See what your eyes are being opened to and then 00:28:00.130 --> 00:28:03.009 understand the power of the dynamics of God's 00:28:03.009 --> 00:28:05.589 grace and the inner workings of the Holy Ghost 00:28:05.589 --> 00:28:08.470 to move that people come in and there's just 00:28:08.470 --> 00:28:10.670 a drawing and a pulling. They don't know why 00:28:10.670 --> 00:28:13.190 they end up down here. They just end up down 00:28:13.190 --> 00:28:15.599 here and pouring their hearts out. because they 00:28:15.599 --> 00:28:18.619 need God to help them. They need help in a mighty 00:28:18.619 --> 00:28:21.400 way. The time is now, and your perspective and 00:28:21.400 --> 00:28:24.000 my perspective must change as we go about the 00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:26.380 world. We've got to lift up our eyes and look. 00:28:26.519 --> 00:28:28.720 What did the psalmist say? Lift up mine eyes, 00:28:28.819 --> 00:28:30.940 I will look into the Lord. Where does my help 00:28:30.940 --> 00:28:33.539 come from? I'll lift up mine eyes into the hills. 00:28:33.740 --> 00:28:36.240 From which cometh my help? My help comes from 00:28:36.240 --> 00:28:38.319 the Lord. Somebody needs to hear it this morning. 00:28:38.440 --> 00:28:41.359 Your help comes from the Lord. You've got to 00:28:41.359 --> 00:28:43.420 change your perspective. Stop looking horizontally. 00:28:44.140 --> 00:28:45.559 Stop looking at what's around you. Stop looking 00:28:45.559 --> 00:28:47.940 at the dilemma and the problem and all the hell 00:28:47.940 --> 00:28:50.059 that's unleashed against you and lift up your 00:28:50.059 --> 00:28:53.180 eyes. Jesus said lift up and look. The psalmist 00:28:53.180 --> 00:28:55.559 said lift up and look. It's time that we lift 00:28:55.559 --> 00:28:58.940 our eyes toward the heavens. Your help will come 00:28:58.940 --> 00:29:01.759 from the Lord. You've got to change your perspective. 00:29:02.079 --> 00:29:04.220 You've got to change your point of view and know 00:29:04.220 --> 00:29:08.039 that with God all things are possible to those 00:29:08.039 --> 00:29:15.789 who believe. It's perspective. It's how you see 00:29:15.789 --> 00:29:22.470 it, how you determine. Philippians 4, 8 says, 00:29:22.609 --> 00:29:29.069 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, 00:29:29.230 --> 00:29:39.490 honest, just, pure, lovely, whatsoever things 00:29:39.490 --> 00:29:44.859 are, they good report. Right? If there be any 00:29:44.859 --> 00:29:51.220 virtue and if there be any praise, think on these 00:29:51.220 --> 00:29:55.859 things. You and I both know that we are inundated 00:29:55.859 --> 00:29:59.519 through social media and every other media output 00:29:59.519 --> 00:30:03.390 with negativity. That's all you get. That's all 00:30:03.390 --> 00:30:05.950 you hear. You're flooded with it. Can I tell 00:30:05.950 --> 00:30:07.890 you, some of you need to turn that junk off. 00:30:08.069 --> 00:30:10.470 I think you need to get away from Fox News or 00:30:10.470 --> 00:30:12.630 any other news. I've done away with that mess. 00:30:13.390 --> 00:30:15.730 No, no, no, no, no, no. I'm just looking to the 00:30:15.730 --> 00:30:17.990 Lord. Like I said before, I don't even really 00:30:17.990 --> 00:30:19.970 trust the weather. It wasn't supposed to rain 00:30:19.970 --> 00:30:23.089 today. I come out to go to the church this morning, 00:30:23.150 --> 00:30:24.730 and it was raining at the house. I said, where 00:30:24.730 --> 00:30:27.849 did this come from? Not complaining we need it, 00:30:27.890 --> 00:30:32.150 but wasn't expecting it. I like to expect it. 00:30:32.819 --> 00:30:35.809 Don't you? That's the reason you don't have to 00:30:35.809 --> 00:30:39.109 be caught off guard when Jesus comes. If you're 00:30:39.109 --> 00:30:41.450 expecting him, your perspective will be changed. 00:30:41.670 --> 00:30:43.789 If you're looking to know that I've got to live 00:30:43.789 --> 00:30:46.430 right today, I can't act like that today. I can't 00:30:46.430 --> 00:30:48.750 talk like that today. I can't watch that today. 00:30:48.809 --> 00:30:51.269 The Lord may just come today. I don't know when 00:30:51.269 --> 00:30:53.670 he's coming. Today could be the hour. Oh, Lord, 00:30:53.730 --> 00:30:56.109 and we begin to tune. I tune my ear for the trumpet. 00:30:56.289 --> 00:30:59.190 Hallelujah. I'm listening for the alarm. Amen. 00:30:59.210 --> 00:31:01.670 That there is a quickening coming my way. As 00:31:01.670 --> 00:31:03.170 soon as I hear the trumpet, I'm going to hold 00:31:03.170 --> 00:31:06.190 on and say, Change me, Lord, real quick in the 00:31:06.190 --> 00:31:08.450 moment in that twinkling of that eye. Change 00:31:08.450 --> 00:31:11.549 me, Lord, so that I'm ready to go. Let's go. 00:31:11.970 --> 00:31:14.089 Your perspective must change. When you look at 00:31:14.089 --> 00:31:17.089 the evil that is in this world, don't be inundated 00:31:17.089 --> 00:31:19.809 by the evil. Amen. You're in this world. You're 00:31:19.809 --> 00:31:22.569 not of this world. What's in you is greater than 00:31:22.569 --> 00:31:25.089 he that is in this world. It's the love of God. 00:31:25.450 --> 00:31:30.549 It's the love of God that's in you. I'm getting 00:31:30.549 --> 00:31:32.009 a little deeper than the cliff notes. Let me 00:31:32.009 --> 00:31:40.240 move on. Number two, you have to have a new perspective 00:31:40.240 --> 00:31:43.839 of faith. You have to see things all differently. 00:31:44.559 --> 00:31:47.140 Then your viewpoint and your faith has to change. 00:31:48.519 --> 00:31:55.940 You, me, we, we're going to have to release our 00:31:55.940 --> 00:31:58.720 faith to another level to begin to believe God 00:31:58.720 --> 00:32:03.339 for bigger things. Because he's a great big God. 00:32:05.549 --> 00:32:08.109 And I think some of us are living beneath our 00:32:08.109 --> 00:32:15.349 true privilege as children of God. And it's our 00:32:15.349 --> 00:32:17.430 faith that must be released in him and our trust 00:32:17.430 --> 00:32:20.069 and our confidence in him that will enable us. 00:32:20.109 --> 00:32:24.710 You can live this life through him, not without 00:32:24.710 --> 00:32:30.690 him. You can live it. Your faith must go to the 00:32:30.690 --> 00:32:34.019 next level. When we understand that we're not 00:32:34.019 --> 00:32:36.420 looking for something that is lost, God's will 00:32:36.420 --> 00:32:39.700 is not lost. We don't try to find God's will. 00:32:39.779 --> 00:32:45.200 We simply live God's will. We let the mind of 00:32:45.200 --> 00:32:47.700 Christ be in us. We let holiness be a part of 00:32:47.700 --> 00:32:50.779 our life, for that is the will of God. The will 00:32:50.779 --> 00:32:52.980 of God is that we be the expressed image of his 00:32:52.980 --> 00:32:56.259 son to a lost and dying world. That the light 00:32:56.259 --> 00:32:58.960 that is in you becomes the hope of humanity. 00:32:59.000 --> 00:33:03.259 That the glorious love of Christ is leashed unto 00:33:03.259 --> 00:33:07.450 others. And they find it, experience it. because 00:33:07.450 --> 00:33:09.970 of the hope that is in you, that we show every 00:33:09.970 --> 00:33:13.329 man the hope that resides in us. Romans 12 and 00:33:13.329 --> 00:33:15.769 2, and be not conformed to this world, but be 00:33:15.769 --> 00:33:17.950 transformed by the renewing of your mind, that 00:33:17.950 --> 00:33:20.730 you may prove what is that good and acceptable 00:33:20.730 --> 00:33:28.170 and perfect, say it with me, will of God. That's 00:33:28.170 --> 00:33:31.009 the will of God, that you separate yourself from 00:33:31.009 --> 00:33:34.930 the actions, deeds, works, character of the world. 00:33:36.940 --> 00:33:39.839 For it is a reasonable service on our part to 00:33:39.839 --> 00:33:45.339 present ourselves as living sacrifices. Totally 00:33:45.339 --> 00:33:49.440 surrendered to his great help. So we lift our 00:33:49.440 --> 00:33:52.640 eyes. We get new perspectives. It's far past 00:33:52.640 --> 00:33:55.259 time that some of you have a new refreshed vision 00:33:55.259 --> 00:33:59.039 of what life is. And it is a life through faith. 00:33:59.819 --> 00:34:05.519 And trusting faith without works is dead. The 00:34:05.519 --> 00:34:11.530 substance. A faith is, it's the evidence of things 00:34:11.530 --> 00:34:18.750 not seen. Verse 6, Hebrews 11 chapter, for without 00:34:18.750 --> 00:34:24.730 faith it's impossible to please him, but he is 00:34:24.730 --> 00:34:29.530 a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. 00:34:30.010 --> 00:34:33.530 Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word 00:34:33.530 --> 00:34:37.920 of God. It's the Word of God that delivers. It's 00:34:37.920 --> 00:34:39.619 the preaching and the proclamation of the Word 00:34:39.619 --> 00:34:42.239 of God that sets men's hearts free. But how will 00:34:42.239 --> 00:34:44.059 they hear without a preacher? And how will they 00:34:44.059 --> 00:34:48.579 preach without being sent? Faith cometh by hearing 00:34:48.579 --> 00:34:51.400 and hearing by the Word of God. And we now move 00:34:51.400 --> 00:34:54.519 from faith to faith as we move from glory to 00:34:54.519 --> 00:35:00.039 glory because there's grace to grace to empower 00:35:00.039 --> 00:35:04.079 us daily. So after we have a new perspective 00:35:04.079 --> 00:35:07.340 of faith, we have to have a new perspective of 00:35:07.340 --> 00:35:09.139 the future. And I'm going to close with this. 00:35:11.400 --> 00:35:21.800 I believe I've done that in 16 minutes. You have 00:35:21.800 --> 00:35:26.440 to have a new perspective of the future. When 00:35:26.440 --> 00:35:28.280 you have a new perspective of faith, your new 00:35:28.280 --> 00:35:30.260 faith will say greater is he that's in you than 00:35:30.260 --> 00:35:35.449 he that is in this world. A fresher and a refreshed 00:35:35.449 --> 00:35:38.769 viewpoint of faith declares as Isaiah 54, 17, 00:35:38.929 --> 00:35:40.969 no weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper. 00:35:42.570 --> 00:35:47.789 You'll hear Romans 8, 28 in your sleep. All things 00:35:47.789 --> 00:35:49.630 work together for good to them that love God 00:35:49.630 --> 00:35:53.309 and to them who are the called according to his 00:35:53.309 --> 00:35:58.090 purpose. That becomes an indictment against every 00:35:58.090 --> 00:36:03.219 bad thing that's happening in your life. When 00:36:03.219 --> 00:36:07.420 through faith, you allow the word of God to encourage 00:36:07.420 --> 00:36:12.699 your situation. Because you're not facing anything 00:36:12.699 --> 00:36:16.780 that someone else hadn't faced. It's just new 00:36:16.780 --> 00:36:22.559 to you. It's new to me. I've not been in this 00:36:22.559 --> 00:36:26.179 crisis before. Right? This is something new. 00:36:27.500 --> 00:36:32.780 This is different. But they're all categorized 00:36:32.780 --> 00:36:40.920 under all things. Right? All things work together. 00:36:40.940 --> 00:36:44.139 It doesn't say all things are good. It says it 00:36:44.139 --> 00:36:50.900 works to the good. All things work together for 00:36:50.900 --> 00:36:53.320 good to them that love God, to them who are the 00:36:53.320 --> 00:36:56.940 called according to his purposes. There are some 00:36:56.940 --> 00:36:59.159 things in our lives that are coming against us 00:36:59.159 --> 00:37:03.760 that are not. innately good. Sickness is not 00:37:03.760 --> 00:37:09.780 good. Disease isn't good. Poverty isn't good. 00:37:11.119 --> 00:37:15.860 Right? Mental anguish is not good. Emotional 00:37:15.860 --> 00:37:18.260 distress is not good. Depression's not good. 00:37:18.599 --> 00:37:21.840 An oppressed, sad feeling all the time is not 00:37:21.840 --> 00:37:31.099 good. That's not good. But faith in Christ And 00:37:31.099 --> 00:37:36.840 the power of God's Word brings good from those 00:37:36.840 --> 00:37:41.119 things. Doesn't mean that they're going to be 00:37:41.119 --> 00:37:44.079 good. Doesn't mean that stuff's good. It's hard. 00:37:46.019 --> 00:37:50.980 Right? Those knees rubbing bone to bone, you 00:37:50.980 --> 00:37:52.960 trying to get up and do what you got to do, there's 00:37:52.960 --> 00:37:57.280 no good in that. But somewhere along the way 00:37:57.280 --> 00:37:59.880 through the dilemma that we find ourselves in, 00:38:00.519 --> 00:38:04.219 by having trusting faith in God's grace and power, 00:38:04.460 --> 00:38:08.039 somewhere there's some good going to come from 00:38:08.039 --> 00:38:11.480 it. And may I add to you that the good may not 00:38:11.480 --> 00:38:16.820 be to you. The good may actually come out through 00:38:16.820 --> 00:38:22.579 you. Perspective, are you hearing me? Perspective, 00:38:22.579 --> 00:38:26.980 the good may come through you, not to you. And 00:38:26.980 --> 00:38:28.980 then by virtue of it coming through you, it becomes 00:38:28.980 --> 00:38:36.420 good for you. My, my, my. I hope our stenographer 00:38:36.420 --> 00:38:48.880 got that. All things. Faith increases. So much 00:38:48.880 --> 00:38:50.900 so that you know if God be for you, then who 00:38:50.900 --> 00:38:54.690 can be against you? So much so to the Thessalonians, 00:38:54.690 --> 00:38:56.829 the first letter Paul wrote, 518, in everything 00:38:56.829 --> 00:39:01.650 give thanks. In everything. One of those all 00:39:01.650 --> 00:39:06.969 things. In everything give thanks. For this is 00:39:06.969 --> 00:39:12.110 the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 00:39:12.309 --> 00:39:15.630 See, we don't, we don't, there's this thing in 00:39:15.630 --> 00:39:17.550 our human nature that says I'm not accepting 00:39:17.550 --> 00:39:23.699 that. That can't be God's will. Well, he's led 00:39:23.699 --> 00:39:28.019 you to wherever you are. And his sovereignty 00:39:28.019 --> 00:39:30.420 in some way or another has permitted and allowed 00:39:30.420 --> 00:39:33.500 the situations that are occurring in our life. 00:39:34.059 --> 00:39:39.360 Was he not faithful to Job? Can we say God was 00:39:39.360 --> 00:39:41.239 unfaithful to Job when he lost everything he 00:39:41.239 --> 00:39:43.920 had and all the devastation that happened in 00:39:43.920 --> 00:39:46.940 his life? Is it fair to say that God let him 00:39:46.940 --> 00:39:54.099 down? No good came, didn't it? Good came. Everything 00:39:54.099 --> 00:39:59.360 that he had, he got double back, except for children, 00:39:59.420 --> 00:40:02.699 and Sister Job was probably happy. That would 00:40:02.699 --> 00:40:10.679 have put her at about 30. She had 10. Job was 00:40:10.679 --> 00:40:15.219 blessed. Joseph, did everything that happened 00:40:15.219 --> 00:40:18.409 to Joseph, was all that stuff good? Was his brothers 00:40:18.409 --> 00:40:21.030 wanting to kill him good, throw him in the pit, 00:40:21.269 --> 00:40:24.530 drug him out, sold him to the Ishmaelites, in 00:40:24.530 --> 00:40:28.590 slavery, in Egypt of all places? Was all that 00:40:28.590 --> 00:40:32.570 good? No, but the outcome was. Are you beginning 00:40:32.570 --> 00:40:35.829 to follow me? Change your perspective about where 00:40:35.829 --> 00:40:39.510 you are and what you're going through. Again, 00:40:39.590 --> 00:40:42.710 it may not be good for you until it comes all 00:40:42.710 --> 00:40:51.099 the way through you. All things. 2 Corinthians 00:40:51.099 --> 00:40:54.719 12, 9. Faith increases and receives. My grace 00:40:54.719 --> 00:40:56.719 is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made 00:40:56.719 --> 00:40:59.260 perfect in weakness. I'm about as weak in one 00:40:59.260 --> 00:41:04.679 way as I've ever been in my life. In one sense 00:41:04.679 --> 00:41:08.099 of this word, I'm about as weak as I've ever 00:41:08.099 --> 00:41:13.219 been in that certain area. But you know what 00:41:13.219 --> 00:41:17.440 I'm finding every day? The all -sufficiency of 00:41:17.440 --> 00:41:22.579 his grace. It's not easy for me to admit that 00:41:22.579 --> 00:41:28.340 I'm not doing as well in certain areas as I would 00:41:28.340 --> 00:41:31.519 like to. How many of you, you like to? No, we 00:41:31.519 --> 00:41:33.960 don't like to admit that stuff. We like to think 00:41:33.960 --> 00:41:39.440 we're the woo -hoo. You know? The bag of chips 00:41:39.440 --> 00:41:44.570 and the bologna sandwich. And you find out you're 00:41:44.570 --> 00:41:46.809 not even the chip in the bag, let alone the whole 00:41:46.809 --> 00:41:52.630 bag. You have to trust him for his grace. They're 00:41:52.630 --> 00:41:54.309 getting the food ready, so they'll be ready when 00:41:54.309 --> 00:41:59.789 we get there. I got time. Faith increased will 00:41:59.789 --> 00:42:07.230 give you a new perspective for the future. That 00:42:07.230 --> 00:42:10.369 future looks a lot like John's on the Isle of 00:42:10.369 --> 00:42:14.239 Patmos. They'd done everything they could to 00:42:14.239 --> 00:42:16.619 try to kill the old prophet, the old apostle, 00:42:16.699 --> 00:42:19.639 and take him out, but they couldn't. So they 00:42:19.639 --> 00:42:23.480 thought, we'll just get him away from town. We'll 00:42:23.480 --> 00:42:29.980 put him over on Patmos. But it's there in the 00:42:29.980 --> 00:42:33.739 first chapter that John finds himself in the 00:42:33.739 --> 00:42:38.780 Spirit on the Lord's day. Oh, you're not going 00:42:38.780 --> 00:42:45.440 to make me preach that, are you? ostracized, 00:42:45.440 --> 00:42:50.480 attacked, hot pot of oil, and he's still going. 00:42:52.480 --> 00:42:55.239 Now he's separated and he's put on an island. 00:42:57.360 --> 00:43:00.340 Not a paradise either. It's Patmos. Look it up. 00:43:00.480 --> 00:43:07.519 Google it. But it was there in everything that 00:43:07.519 --> 00:43:09.920 had come against John that John found himself 00:43:09.920 --> 00:43:12.920 in the Spirit. Can I tell you, you've got to 00:43:12.920 --> 00:43:15.219 get in the Spirit. Your perspective has got to 00:43:15.219 --> 00:43:17.980 change. Get out of the flesh and move into the 00:43:17.980 --> 00:43:20.559 Spirit. How do I do that? You get in your Word. 00:43:21.179 --> 00:43:24.940 You get on your knees and you pray. You worship 00:43:24.940 --> 00:43:27.980 privately. Whether you can carry a tune to bucket 00:43:27.980 --> 00:43:31.380 or not, it doesn't matter. You lift your voice. 00:43:31.929 --> 00:43:34.269 and you empty your heart with praises unto him, 00:43:34.349 --> 00:43:37.070 and you will find that the Spirit finds you, 00:43:37.090 --> 00:43:40.269 and you're in the Spirit. Well, hallelujah. And 00:43:40.269 --> 00:43:42.510 it doesn't have to be the Lord's day, which is 00:43:42.510 --> 00:43:47.909 saying it could be any day. You have to change 00:43:47.909 --> 00:43:51.329 your perspective of the future. Remember what 00:43:51.329 --> 00:43:54.170 Jeremiah, the Spirit moved on the prophet, and 00:43:54.170 --> 00:43:58.010 he said, I know the thoughts that I have concerning 00:43:58.010 --> 00:44:00.980 you. They are good and not evil and therefore 00:44:00.980 --> 00:44:06.400 an expected end. There's an expected end for 00:44:06.400 --> 00:44:12.599 you. It's not this old world. You have to change 00:44:12.599 --> 00:44:18.179 your perspective toward the future. And you have 00:44:18.179 --> 00:44:23.500 to know that Christ who was crucified is not 00:44:23.500 --> 00:44:35.550 on a cross. He's not in a tomb. But he is in 00:44:35.550 --> 00:44:40.690 the heavenly throne room with the Father at the 00:44:40.690 --> 00:44:45.710 throne to his right hand. It's where he is. You 00:44:45.710 --> 00:44:48.309 have to get this perspective. And when you hear 00:44:48.309 --> 00:44:50.730 the word declared over your life, greater is 00:44:50.730 --> 00:44:52.989 he that's in me than he that is in this world, 00:44:53.190 --> 00:44:56.590 then that picture immediately comes to your mind. 00:44:57.130 --> 00:44:59.690 The picture that John sees, the portrait of the 00:44:59.690 --> 00:45:02.269 Christ when he's in the Spirit on the Lord's 00:45:02.269 --> 00:45:05.750 day. He said, I heard a loud voice behind me. 00:45:07.050 --> 00:45:10.030 Sounded like trumpets and rushing water. I heard 00:45:10.030 --> 00:45:14.289 this behind me. And he said, and I turned to 00:45:14.289 --> 00:45:19.409 see the voice. How impressive was the voice. 00:45:20.889 --> 00:45:25.389 He said, and I turned to see the voice. And when 00:45:25.389 --> 00:45:31.980 I did. Here's what I saw. The declaration before 00:45:31.980 --> 00:45:34.460 he turned, the voice is declaring, I am Alpha 00:45:34.460 --> 00:45:38.940 and Omega. Woo! The beginning and the end. He 00:45:38.940 --> 00:45:42.940 who was and is and is to come. And John says, 00:45:43.000 --> 00:45:49.840 I turned to see. And then I beheld him. Said 00:45:49.840 --> 00:45:53.860 he had eyes like fire. This white, radiant garment. 00:45:54.420 --> 00:46:00.599 Feet shining. Like brass. Hair. As woven wool. 00:46:01.659 --> 00:46:06.900 And I saw him. The image that John would paint 00:46:06.900 --> 00:46:08.940 later would be one that's standing as a lamb 00:46:08.940 --> 00:46:11.960 that was slain. That vesture covered in blood. 00:46:14.059 --> 00:46:19.059 John would record that I saw him on a white horse. 00:46:19.139 --> 00:46:23.699 He had a sword in his hand. He had this name 00:46:23.699 --> 00:46:30.579 on his thigh. And out of his mouth, I'm talking 00:46:30.579 --> 00:46:33.059 about changing your perspective. I know all the 00:46:33.059 --> 00:46:34.760 evil that's going on in this world. I'm trying 00:46:34.760 --> 00:46:36.619 to get you to lift your eyes up above this world. 00:46:36.760 --> 00:46:38.960 Just for a moment this morning. Get your eyes 00:46:38.960 --> 00:46:42.000 lifted up above this world. Your harvest is on 00:46:42.000 --> 00:46:45.300 its way. It's time for your harvest. Because 00:46:45.300 --> 00:46:54.099 he is on his way. Before John finishes Revelation. 00:46:56.239 --> 00:46:59.059 Chapter 19, he says, you can stand, I'm going 00:46:59.059 --> 00:47:03.679 to quit with this. John said, and I saw heaven 00:47:03.679 --> 00:47:09.820 open. Behold a white horse and he that upon him 00:47:09.820 --> 00:47:13.639 was called faithful and true. And in righteousness 00:47:13.639 --> 00:47:19.300 he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as 00:47:19.300 --> 00:47:22.239 a flame of fire and on his head were many crowns. 00:47:22.750 --> 00:47:25.130 And he had a name written that no man knew but 00:47:25.130 --> 00:47:28.329 he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture 00:47:28.329 --> 00:47:32.530 dipped in the blood. And his name is called the 00:47:32.530 --> 00:47:40.050 Word of God. Get this image. And the armies which 00:47:40.050 --> 00:47:42.409 were in heaven followed him upon white horses, 00:47:42.409 --> 00:47:47.210 clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out 00:47:47.210 --> 00:47:50.670 of his mouth goeth a sharp sword. that with it 00:47:50.670 --> 00:47:53.269 he should smite the nations, and he shall rule 00:47:53.269 --> 00:47:57.989 them with a rod of iron. And he treadeth the 00:47:57.989 --> 00:48:01.630 winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty 00:48:01.630 --> 00:48:06.369 God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh 00:48:06.369 --> 00:48:10.730 a name written, King of kings, Lord of lords. 00:48:14.610 --> 00:48:18.539 And I saw an angel standing in the sun. He cried 00:48:18.539 --> 00:48:22.639 with a loud voice saying to all the fowls that 00:48:22.639 --> 00:48:26.019 fly in the midst of heaven, come and gather yourselves 00:48:26.019 --> 00:48:31.900 together into the supper of the great God. John 00:48:31.900 --> 00:48:33.900 goes on to see the beast and he begins to see 00:48:33.900 --> 00:48:38.460 elders that are worshiping. John's perspective 00:48:38.460 --> 00:48:43.500 changes. And he's commanded to write so that 00:48:43.500 --> 00:48:49.480 all can read and be encouraged. I know this old 00:48:49.480 --> 00:48:54.360 world's in bad shape. I know our nation is trembling. 00:48:57.699 --> 00:49:06.159 I know that spiritually it's in as bad a shape 00:49:06.159 --> 00:49:13.099 as it's ever been. And the divisive rhetoric 00:49:13.099 --> 00:49:18.880 that is spewed every day. It's sinking the wedge 00:49:18.880 --> 00:49:24.280 in this nation. Whether you see it or not, it 00:49:24.280 --> 00:49:32.440 is. Lines are being drawn. Sides are being separated. 00:49:33.340 --> 00:49:39.579 And you know what happens next. Without a move 00:49:39.579 --> 00:49:46.760 of God. That's when nations begin to... shake 00:49:46.760 --> 00:49:48.920 and shudder when they begin to think that they 00:49:48.920 --> 00:49:55.980 are unmovable. Even mighty Rome crumbled. And 00:49:55.980 --> 00:50:00.659 every empire throughout the ages has fallen. 00:50:02.559 --> 00:50:05.219 That's the reason for a nation to be great. It 00:50:05.219 --> 00:50:08.820 must be an humble nation. Blessed is the nation 00:50:08.820 --> 00:50:19.369 whose God is the Lord. And so if the senseless 00:50:19.369 --> 00:50:26.090 murder of one can be the alarm that wakens the 00:50:26.090 --> 00:50:35.690 many, let us awaken. Let us stir ourselves up. 00:50:35.789 --> 00:50:42.650 Let's wake up. Let's make up our minds. Are you 00:50:42.650 --> 00:50:47.699 in or are you out? There's no middle ground. 00:50:47.860 --> 00:50:50.260 What did John say as he records the words of 00:50:50.260 --> 00:50:52.840 the Lord? I'd rather you be hot or cold for the 00:50:52.840 --> 00:50:57.920 lukewarm. But spew now. There's a decision -making 00:50:57.920 --> 00:51:01.760 coming time, and the church is embroaching it 00:51:01.760 --> 00:51:08.639 now. Are we in or are we out? Father, I love 00:51:08.639 --> 00:51:20.800 you today. I'm in. Hopewell Church of God, Lord, 00:51:20.900 --> 00:51:27.480 we're in. We're in. Thy will be done in our life. 00:51:29.699 --> 00:51:33.280 Have your way, have your will. Use us, Lord, 00:51:33.320 --> 00:51:37.559 to be a beacon of light to a lost and dying world. 00:51:37.980 --> 00:51:41.260 I thank you for your grace. I thank you for your 00:51:41.260 --> 00:51:46.079 help this morning, Lord. Be with your people 00:51:46.079 --> 00:51:49.489 today. Lord, bless our fellowship together. As 00:51:49.489 --> 00:51:51.829 the church, the body of Christ, we fellowship, 00:51:52.110 --> 00:51:54.730 we break bread, we eat a meal, we eat it together. 00:51:55.110 --> 00:51:57.510 Thank you for everyone that prepared a meal, 00:51:57.670 --> 00:52:01.010 brought a dish. Let your blessings be upon them 00:52:01.010 --> 00:52:05.369 as the dish is blessed. As we go in grace, Lord, 00:52:05.449 --> 00:52:10.210 we go in peace. We go in the name of Jesus Christ. 00:52:11.510 --> 00:52:14.809 Amen. God bless you. Thank you so much for being 00:52:14.809 --> 00:52:18.389 here today. What a wonderful day. What a wonderful, 00:52:18.530 --> 00:52:20.849 wonderful day. Amen. If you're visiting with 00:52:20.849 --> 00:52:23.409 us, stop by this booth to my left on your way 00:52:23.409 --> 00:52:25.070 out. We have something special for you. If you're 00:52:25.070 --> 00:52:27.530 first time here with us today, we want to bless 00:52:27.530 --> 00:52:29.030 you and let you know how much we appreciate you. 00:52:29.110 --> 00:52:32.010 We want our super seniors to start heading toward 00:52:32.010 --> 00:52:36.329 the fellowship hall. And directions will be given 00:52:36.329 --> 00:52:38.289 to you down there. We want you to stay and eat. 00:52:38.409 --> 00:52:40.789 We've got some good meatloaf, chicken casserole, 00:52:40.789 --> 00:52:43.530 and all the good stuff to go with it. God bless 00:52:43.530 --> 00:52:44.750 you. Thank you.