WEBVTT 00:00:02.000 --> 00:00:03.839 If you want to hear it, you'll come show up for 00:00:03.839 --> 00:00:12.000 it. That's just the way I am. Amen. We'll try 00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:14.740 to accommodate. I just kind of have to watch 00:00:14.740 --> 00:00:19.559 what I say. Amen. Good to see you in the house 00:00:19.559 --> 00:00:22.600 of the Lord today. Had a good week. Happy you 00:00:22.600 --> 00:00:24.519 know it. Give the Lord a good praise. Say amen. 00:00:27.839 --> 00:00:31.690 Hallelujah. If you have your Bibles, turn with 00:00:31.690 --> 00:00:36.490 me to 2 Timothy. 2 Timothy. Don't forget, there's 00:00:36.490 --> 00:00:42.170 a lot going on. We want to start taking up and 00:00:42.170 --> 00:00:46.530 collecting some toys for our local children. 00:00:46.850 --> 00:00:51.350 We're partnering with one of the car clubs that 00:00:51.350 --> 00:00:56.729 will be here Saturday. Last year, Ken, how many 00:00:56.729 --> 00:00:58.609 toys did y 'all give out? Over 100 children? 00:00:58.789 --> 00:01:02.320 Something like that? Something like that. Yeah, 00:01:02.399 --> 00:01:07.780 truckloads. And again, our mission emphasis is 00:01:07.780 --> 00:01:10.019 not to recreate the wheel. It's just to be a 00:01:10.019 --> 00:01:13.299 spoke in a wheel that's already turning. So if 00:01:13.299 --> 00:01:19.000 you would, November, like the second week, the 00:01:19.000 --> 00:01:22.219 first? November 1st. Is that when they're giving 00:01:22.219 --> 00:01:25.859 them out? No, the car show. The cruise end's 00:01:25.859 --> 00:01:29.260 the first. So you start bringing some toys or 00:01:29.260 --> 00:01:32.219 give an extra $10, and we're going to get it 00:01:32.219 --> 00:01:34.879 in the hands of these folks and see if they can't 00:01:34.879 --> 00:01:37.980 bless 150 kids this year. I think, if I remember 00:01:37.980 --> 00:01:41.299 hearing correctly, they presented each child 00:01:41.299 --> 00:01:44.980 with at least five gifts that would not have 00:01:44.980 --> 00:01:47.579 Christmas any other way. Isn't that something 00:01:47.579 --> 00:01:52.640 worth being a part of? Amen. You know, the angel 00:01:52.640 --> 00:01:54.659 tree and all that stuff's been around for a while, 00:01:54.700 --> 00:01:57.099 but I know these folks, and they will hand them 00:01:57.099 --> 00:01:59.859 personally to children who are in need. And what 00:01:59.859 --> 00:02:04.879 better way? Amen? So bring a gift, $10 gift for 00:02:04.879 --> 00:02:06.780 whatever age the Lord lays on your heart, and 00:02:06.780 --> 00:02:08.900 they're going to take it. You don't even have 00:02:08.900 --> 00:02:12.099 to just bring it. If you come by the cruise in 00:02:12.099 --> 00:02:14.840 Saturday to get some barbecue, bring that gift, 00:02:14.919 --> 00:02:19.009 that toy with you, whatever it is. Bring it with 00:02:19.009 --> 00:02:21.530 you. Drop it off. Amen. And we're going to be 00:02:21.530 --> 00:02:23.770 a part of that. Don't forget the mission service 00:02:23.770 --> 00:02:28.409 next week. Something we've been trying to get 00:02:28.409 --> 00:02:30.729 really going. Want to get it good and up and 00:02:30.729 --> 00:02:35.110 moving forward. We'll have a report for you on 00:02:35.110 --> 00:02:38.789 what we've done thus far in 2025 for missions. 00:02:38.889 --> 00:02:42.310 I think you'll be pleased. We're not done yet. 00:02:42.389 --> 00:02:45.270 We're not finished. Amen. Got more to do for 00:02:45.270 --> 00:02:49.599 the kingdom. And the Lord is good. Alright, we're 00:02:49.599 --> 00:03:00.080 doing an experiment this week. Hallelujah. Thanks 00:03:00.080 --> 00:03:05.360 to an anonymous donor. Got tired of seeing me 00:03:05.360 --> 00:03:08.340 hike them up, I guess. We'll see how it works. 00:03:08.360 --> 00:03:10.699 There you go, bro. We'll see how it works. It's 00:03:10.699 --> 00:03:12.479 a habit, so I'll probably be pulling on them 00:03:12.479 --> 00:03:19.439 anyway. The grace of the Lord is wonderful, isn't 00:03:19.439 --> 00:03:23.340 it? How many of you have found 2 Timothy? All 00:03:23.340 --> 00:03:25.340 right, look at chapter 1 with me. Let's begin 00:03:25.340 --> 00:03:30.560 reading in verse 1. Paul, an apostle of Jesus 00:03:30.560 --> 00:03:34.560 Christ, by the will of God, according to the 00:03:34.560 --> 00:03:38.139 promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, to 00:03:38.139 --> 00:03:42.800 Timothy, my dearly beloved son, grace, mercy, 00:03:43.020 --> 00:03:46.560 and peace from God the Father. In Christ Jesus 00:03:46.560 --> 00:03:53.419 our Lord. I thank God whom I serve from my forefathers 00:03:53.419 --> 00:03:56.639 with pure conscience. That without ceasing I 00:03:56.639 --> 00:03:58.960 have remembrance of thee in my prayers night 00:03:58.960 --> 00:04:04.020 and day. Greatly desiring to see thee. Being 00:04:04.020 --> 00:04:08.560 mindful of your tears. That I may be filled with 00:04:08.560 --> 00:04:12.699 joy. When I call to remembrance the unfeigned 00:04:12.699 --> 00:04:16.889 faith. that is in thee, which dwelt first in 00:04:16.889 --> 00:04:19.110 your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, 00:04:19.250 --> 00:04:24.649 and I am persuaded that in thee also. Wherefore, 00:04:24.649 --> 00:04:29.769 I put you in remembrance that you stir up the 00:04:29.769 --> 00:04:34.089 gift of God, which is in you by the putting on 00:04:34.089 --> 00:04:38.550 of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit 00:04:38.550 --> 00:04:44.579 of fear, but of power and of love. and of a sound 00:04:44.579 --> 00:04:50.720 mind. Be thou not therefore ashamed of the testimony 00:04:50.720 --> 00:04:55.079 of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but be thou 00:04:55.079 --> 00:04:58.000 partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according 00:04:58.000 --> 00:05:01.939 to the power of God, who has saved us and called 00:05:01.939 --> 00:05:04.879 us with an holy calling, not according to our 00:05:04.879 --> 00:05:07.779 works, but according to his own purpose and grace, 00:05:08.100 --> 00:05:11.160 which was given us in Christ Jesus before the 00:05:11.160 --> 00:05:15.250 world began. but is now made manifest by the 00:05:15.250 --> 00:05:18.670 appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, whom hath 00:05:18.670 --> 00:05:23.290 abolished death and hath brought life and immortality 00:05:23.290 --> 00:05:28.730 to light through the gospel. Whereunto I am appointed 00:05:28.730 --> 00:05:33.050 a preacher and an apostle and a teacher of the 00:05:33.050 --> 00:05:36.870 Gentiles, for the which cause I also suffer these 00:05:36.870 --> 00:05:41.589 things. Nevertheless, I am not ashamed. For I 00:05:41.589 --> 00:05:45.910 know whom I have believed and am persuaded that 00:05:45.910 --> 00:05:50.050 he is able to keep that which I have committed 00:05:50.050 --> 00:05:54.629 unto him against that day. Hold fast the form 00:05:54.629 --> 00:05:57.329 of sound words which thou hast heard of me in 00:05:57.329 --> 00:06:01.490 faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That 00:06:01.490 --> 00:06:04.829 good thing which was committed unto thee keep 00:06:04.829 --> 00:06:09.810 by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us. This 00:06:09.810 --> 00:06:13.189 thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia 00:06:13.189 --> 00:06:18.350 be turned away from me, of whom are Phygelius 00:06:18.350 --> 00:06:22.790 and Hermogenes. The Lord give mercy unto the 00:06:22.790 --> 00:06:26.370 house of Onesiphorus, for he oft refreshed me, 00:06:26.529 --> 00:06:30.850 and was not ashamed of my chain. But when he 00:06:30.850 --> 00:06:33.350 was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently 00:06:33.350 --> 00:06:36.990 and found me. The Lord grant unto him that he 00:06:36.990 --> 00:06:41.050 may find mercy. Of the Lord in that day and in 00:06:41.050 --> 00:06:44.569 how many things he ministered unto me. At Ephesus 00:06:44.569 --> 00:06:48.470 thou knowest very well. For a little bit this 00:06:48.470 --> 00:06:50.110 morning I want to speak on this thought. A boost 00:06:50.110 --> 00:06:53.089 up. We're back in. We're still in. We've not 00:06:53.089 --> 00:06:55.850 left for quite a while. This journey that we're 00:06:55.850 --> 00:06:58.730 taking. A visit to the archives. And I want to 00:06:58.730 --> 00:07:01.709 just look at this simple thought. A boost up. 00:07:01.829 --> 00:07:03.990 How many of you ever need just a boost? You just 00:07:03.990 --> 00:07:06.769 need a boost up. That's what Paul is giving to 00:07:06.769 --> 00:07:08.889 young Timothy. Father, we love you. We thank 00:07:08.889 --> 00:07:11.829 you for your goodness and your mercy. Lord, such 00:07:11.829 --> 00:07:14.470 a sweet, sweet anointing in the house today. 00:07:14.569 --> 00:07:17.649 I feel your divine presence ever so near. And 00:07:17.649 --> 00:07:20.670 I ask God this morning for that greater touch. 00:07:20.990 --> 00:07:24.350 Let that anointing, let the spirit abide that 00:07:24.350 --> 00:07:27.129 makes it easy to preach. And Lord, we'll leave 00:07:27.129 --> 00:07:30.930 this house edified in your grace, enriched by 00:07:30.930 --> 00:07:34.250 the power of your word through that anointed 00:07:34.250 --> 00:07:36.750 touch of your spirit. Till you be praised forever. 00:07:37.439 --> 00:07:40.620 Christ's lovely name and the church said, amen. 00:07:41.079 --> 00:07:47.519 Tell your neighbor it's our boost up. When you 00:07:47.519 --> 00:07:52.620 look at this letter to Timothy, this second letter, 00:07:52.759 --> 00:07:55.199 it is Paul's last will and testament. It's the 00:07:55.199 --> 00:07:58.620 last epistle that he would pen. He's in a Roman 00:07:58.620 --> 00:08:03.480 prison. Many of the epistles of Paul came from 00:08:03.480 --> 00:08:07.620 a jail cell. Philippians is one of my favorites. 00:08:07.800 --> 00:08:10.639 He speaks of more joy there, and he's chained 00:08:10.639 --> 00:08:13.000 up and bound up, and the whole letter is just 00:08:13.000 --> 00:08:16.939 oozing with joy and how that we are to be joy 00:08:16.939 --> 00:08:21.399 -filled people of God. And in this epistle, this 00:08:21.399 --> 00:08:25.420 last will and testament, as Paul is instructing 00:08:25.420 --> 00:08:28.379 young Timothy, he's giving him a boost. He's 00:08:28.379 --> 00:08:30.779 wanting his faith to be charged. He's wanted 00:08:30.779 --> 00:08:34.740 him to be lifted up. And when we think about 00:08:34.740 --> 00:08:38.279 where we were at last week and the enemies being 00:08:38.279 --> 00:08:40.460 unleashed on the face of the earth, he's just 00:08:40.460 --> 00:08:43.419 no holds barred now. Any and everything goes. 00:08:43.600 --> 00:08:46.080 The devil's out to steal, kill, and to destroy. 00:08:46.639 --> 00:08:49.159 And, you know, we talk about shutting him up. 00:08:49.240 --> 00:08:51.860 And I hope you've shut him up this past week. 00:08:52.480 --> 00:08:54.559 So that today you'll be able to hear and receive 00:08:54.559 --> 00:08:57.299 this boost in your spirit and an encouragement 00:08:57.299 --> 00:09:01.039 in your faith today because God is ever mindful 00:09:01.039 --> 00:09:03.820 of us. And knowing that the devil is working 00:09:03.820 --> 00:09:07.159 overtime, knowing that he's out to destroy the 00:09:07.159 --> 00:09:10.960 souls and the sanctity of mankind, what is it 00:09:10.960 --> 00:09:13.519 that we as believers, what can the Christian 00:09:13.519 --> 00:09:17.419 do to solidify our position in Christ and in 00:09:17.419 --> 00:09:21.389 our faith? If this letter of Paul's to Timothy 00:09:21.389 --> 00:09:25.169 gives instructions to him about the last days, 00:09:25.289 --> 00:09:28.610 you go over in 3 and 4, you'll see those wonderful 00:09:28.610 --> 00:09:31.830 mindful passages that we read. Perilous times 00:09:31.830 --> 00:09:34.370 are coming, right? Men departing from the faith 00:09:34.370 --> 00:09:37.070 and heaping to themselves, itching ears, teachers 00:09:37.070 --> 00:09:38.870 who will just tickle them and let them know, 00:09:38.909 --> 00:09:41.629 oh, everything's okay. He said those things are 00:09:41.629 --> 00:09:44.309 coming. That is the warning. Paul's telling Timothy 00:09:44.309 --> 00:09:47.669 to be a good soldier, and any good soldier does 00:09:47.669 --> 00:09:49.700 it. doesn't entangle himself, doesn't get all 00:09:49.700 --> 00:09:52.200 wound up and wrapped up within the things of 00:09:52.200 --> 00:09:54.779 this world, amen, but he keeps himself separated. 00:09:55.019 --> 00:09:58.059 He gives him his last testimony. He said, I fought 00:09:58.059 --> 00:10:00.879 a good fight, and I've kept the faith, and I've 00:10:00.879 --> 00:10:03.220 finished the course, hallelujah, and there's 00:10:03.220 --> 00:10:05.980 a crown that is laid up for me, not for me only, 00:10:06.059 --> 00:10:08.320 but for everyone, because he makes his declaration, 00:10:08.539 --> 00:10:11.580 I am now ready to be offered up. I've come, I'm 00:10:11.580 --> 00:10:14.539 down to the end of the road. I am in Rome, and 00:10:14.539 --> 00:10:17.679 I will stand, and Caesar will hear, amen. And 00:10:17.679 --> 00:10:20.100 so now he's talking to young Timothy, letting 00:10:20.100 --> 00:10:22.240 him know that you're going to be left behind, 00:10:22.399 --> 00:10:25.159 son. And it's a son in the faith, a man that 00:10:25.159 --> 00:10:27.659 he had sought. I have several of them, amen. 00:10:27.779 --> 00:10:30.059 I've got many sons in the faith. I've got another 00:10:30.059 --> 00:10:33.480 one here that I'm watching the Lord put his hand 00:10:33.480 --> 00:10:37.679 on. And I can feel, as Paul is writing to Timothy, 00:10:37.759 --> 00:10:40.500 wanting him to encourage him. I was in contact 00:10:40.500 --> 00:10:42.399 with about seven or eight of them this morning, 00:10:42.480 --> 00:10:44.779 telling them I'm praying for them to step into 00:10:44.779 --> 00:10:47.460 the pulpit anointed of God. grace and let the 00:10:47.460 --> 00:10:49.500 Holy Ghost touch them and let God use them, be 00:10:49.500 --> 00:10:51.779 an encouragement to the people. And in this last 00:10:51.779 --> 00:10:54.919 letter, Paul would tell Timothy, reprove, rebuke 00:10:54.919 --> 00:10:57.600 with all longsuffering. Preach the gospel. He 00:10:57.600 --> 00:11:00.659 would tell him to preach the word. And that's 00:11:00.659 --> 00:11:02.580 what I remind him every Sunday morning. Preach 00:11:02.580 --> 00:11:05.960 the word, gentlemen. Go in boldly. Now, I told 00:11:05.960 --> 00:11:07.980 him this morning, one of them wasn't responding, 00:11:08.159 --> 00:11:10.860 and I sent out a little jab at him. I said, well, 00:11:10.899 --> 00:11:13.860 he must be on his face or he'd be on here jabbing 00:11:13.860 --> 00:11:17.190 back at the rest of us. About 15 minutes later, 00:11:17.309 --> 00:11:19.529 he'd come on. You're exactly right. I've been 00:11:19.529 --> 00:11:22.009 begging God. He said, isn't it funny how you 00:11:22.009 --> 00:11:24.070 get your mind set and you think you've got the 00:11:24.070 --> 00:11:26.929 mind of the Spirit all week long, and then Sunday 00:11:26.929 --> 00:11:30.110 morning he decides to change your mind. I sent 00:11:30.110 --> 00:11:32.309 him back this little quib. I said, well, for 00:11:32.309 --> 00:11:36.529 Pontiac, the Pontiac brand, the car, their motto 00:11:36.529 --> 00:11:39.850 is wider is better. I said, I have come to learn 00:11:39.850 --> 00:11:44.610 over time that less is more. Amen. If God is 00:11:44.610 --> 00:11:47.350 sure, shifting and God is changing. And when 00:11:47.350 --> 00:11:50.570 he wants to do whatever he will, it is the most 00:11:50.570 --> 00:11:53.289 difficult thing for a preacher to do, to step 00:11:53.289 --> 00:11:56.029 into a pulpit unprepared because you want to 00:11:56.029 --> 00:11:58.789 stand before God. You want to stand before God's 00:11:58.789 --> 00:12:01.889 people prepared with your heart ready. And one 00:12:01.889 --> 00:12:03.809 of the most difficult things there is for you 00:12:03.809 --> 00:12:07.129 to do is for God to change all that and not give 00:12:07.129 --> 00:12:09.950 you anything until you get up there because we 00:12:09.950 --> 00:12:13.110 want to know what we're about to say. I want 00:12:13.110 --> 00:12:15.840 to know what I'm about to deliver, but it took 00:12:15.840 --> 00:12:19.019 about three decades to get to say, okay, God, 00:12:19.179 --> 00:12:21.639 whatever you will this morning, if you'll give 00:12:21.639 --> 00:12:24.720 me an opening context statement, I'll just yield 00:12:24.720 --> 00:12:27.700 myself, and we will go from there, and let the 00:12:27.700 --> 00:12:31.080 Spirit do the work. Amen? It's not wrong to want 00:12:31.080 --> 00:12:34.080 to be prepared. It's not out of order to be prepared, 00:12:34.299 --> 00:12:36.820 because especially if you've had your mind on 00:12:36.820 --> 00:12:39.399 the Lord all week long, and that's the way we 00:12:39.399 --> 00:12:41.960 do. When Sunday's over, come Monday morning, 00:12:42.059 --> 00:12:44.159 you know what my thought turns out. What am I 00:12:44.159 --> 00:12:46.100 going to preach next week? What does the Lord 00:12:46.100 --> 00:12:48.480 want to say to his people next Sunday? What are 00:12:48.480 --> 00:12:50.440 we going to declare next Sunday morning? What 00:12:50.440 --> 00:12:52.659 is it, oh God? And you start conversing with 00:12:52.659 --> 00:12:55.460 the Spirit. You're in prayer. Maybe not just 00:12:55.460 --> 00:12:57.740 always in your closet with the door closed, but 00:12:57.740 --> 00:12:59.480 when you're walking around, you're in prayer. 00:12:59.659 --> 00:13:02.360 And I can see the Apostle Paul making this contact 00:13:02.360 --> 00:13:05.279 with this young preacher, knowing his life's 00:13:05.279 --> 00:13:08.000 about over and Timothy's is just about to take 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:10.340 off. And knowing that the devil is unleashed 00:13:10.340 --> 00:13:12.779 and doing everything he can to still kill. and 00:13:12.779 --> 00:13:16.179 destroy, he begins to encourage and give the 00:13:16.179 --> 00:13:19.419 young preacher a boost. Amen. He begins to talk 00:13:19.419 --> 00:13:22.000 to him with his testimony. He begins to remind 00:13:22.000 --> 00:13:25.980 him of his spiritual heritage. Oh, I am in remembrance, 00:13:26.019 --> 00:13:28.899 and it does me great joy. I know you're in tears 00:13:28.899 --> 00:13:31.539 knowing that my life's about over, but I am in 00:13:31.539 --> 00:13:34.440 joy -filled mode right now, Timothy, because 00:13:34.440 --> 00:13:37.620 I know that you're about to carry forth the good 00:13:37.620 --> 00:13:41.039 news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. And in doing 00:13:41.039 --> 00:13:43.230 so, let's... Let me just give you some reminders. 00:13:43.450 --> 00:13:46.289 The first thing I want to remind you of is your 00:13:46.289 --> 00:13:49.590 unwavering faith and the mission that is before 00:13:49.590 --> 00:13:52.809 you. And you've got to remain true to it. And 00:13:52.809 --> 00:13:54.950 in order to remain true to the mission of the 00:13:54.950 --> 00:13:57.190 furtherance of the gospel, I'm going to remind 00:13:57.190 --> 00:14:00.509 you of the faith that you have. Somebody needs 00:14:00.509 --> 00:14:03.370 a reminder this morning that your unwavering 00:14:03.370 --> 00:14:07.190 faith is the stabilizing agent of your life and 00:14:07.190 --> 00:14:10.350 the remainder of your days. It's an unwavering 00:14:10.350 --> 00:14:12.929 faith. an unmovable faith, knowing, as Paul would 00:14:12.929 --> 00:14:16.529 say, I know in whom I have believed, and I am 00:14:16.529 --> 00:14:19.490 persuaded that he is able to keep that which 00:14:19.490 --> 00:14:22.210 I have committed unto him against that day. Part 00:14:22.210 --> 00:14:25.570 of our problem is we fail to commit. We want 00:14:25.570 --> 00:14:28.350 to hold on to it. We want to labor of our own 00:14:28.350 --> 00:14:31.169 and labor in our own strength, but it's time. 00:14:31.629 --> 00:14:34.269 Somebody in this house this morning says, Lord, 00:14:34.450 --> 00:14:37.470 I'm going to commit it all to you. I'm not going 00:14:37.470 --> 00:14:39.909 to carry any of it. I don't want a hold of none. 00:14:40.039 --> 00:14:42.240 of it. I want to commit it unto you. Paul said, 00:14:42.320 --> 00:14:46.419 I am fully convinced that he is able. And when 00:14:46.419 --> 00:14:48.980 you stir the remembrance of your mind to the 00:14:48.980 --> 00:14:51.679 ability of God and God's sovereign power and 00:14:51.679 --> 00:14:53.960 God's sovereign grace and the encouragement of 00:14:53.960 --> 00:14:56.659 the Holy Ghost, then you begin to let your faith 00:14:56.659 --> 00:14:59.379 be built. Your faith gets, he said, I call you 00:14:59.379 --> 00:15:06.940 to stir up. We think about our faith. Unwavering 00:15:06.940 --> 00:15:10.259 faith. If you're going to maintain a victorious 00:15:10.259 --> 00:15:13.139 life, you have to maintain a victorious faith. 00:15:14.620 --> 00:15:18.620 Amen? We just sung that song. Because the battle 00:15:18.620 --> 00:15:22.399 is the Lord's. We're going to receive the victory. 00:15:23.159 --> 00:15:27.080 Why? Because he is victorious. He is the victor. 00:15:27.320 --> 00:15:29.480 And greater is he, do we have to do this all 00:15:29.480 --> 00:15:32.039 over? Greater is he that's in you than he that 00:15:32.039 --> 00:15:35.529 is in this world. If God be for you, then who 00:15:35.529 --> 00:15:39.610 can be against you? Let's let God arise and his 00:15:39.610 --> 00:15:42.389 enemies be scattered. Amen? When we begin to 00:15:42.389 --> 00:15:45.730 think about the opportunistic life of the faith 00:15:45.730 --> 00:15:48.529 of the child of God, the opportunity is yours 00:15:48.529 --> 00:15:52.129 to exercise an unwavering faith in a God who 00:15:52.129 --> 00:15:54.610 is more than able. Isn't that what he wrote to 00:15:54.610 --> 00:15:57.309 the church at Ephesus? God, who is able to do 00:15:57.309 --> 00:16:00.230 exceeding, abundantly, above all that you may 00:16:00.230 --> 00:16:02.370 ask or think. And it's according to the power 00:16:02.370 --> 00:16:04.019 of God. power that works in you. It's time you 00:16:04.019 --> 00:16:07.059 recognize what is in you and who resides on the 00:16:07.059 --> 00:16:12.320 inside of you and your unwavering faith. What 00:16:12.320 --> 00:16:15.100 is this faith? You know it. First Corinthians 00:16:15.100 --> 00:16:18.340 16, Paul encourages the church at Corinth. He 00:16:18.340 --> 00:16:22.620 said, stand fast in the faith. You stand firm 00:16:22.620 --> 00:16:25.340 in the faith. What is the faith? It's Christ 00:16:25.340 --> 00:16:29.679 and Christ alone. It's Jesus, the son of the 00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:34.980 living God. Born of a virgin, crucified at Calvary. 00:16:35.639 --> 00:16:38.679 placed in a borrowed tomb, but on the third day 00:16:38.679 --> 00:16:42.220 he arose again. And now he sits at the right 00:16:42.220 --> 00:16:44.500 hand of the Father, and sitting at the right 00:16:44.500 --> 00:16:47.659 hand of the Father, he's there ever, making intercession 00:16:47.659 --> 00:16:50.419 on your behalf. That is the good news of the 00:16:50.419 --> 00:16:52.940 gospel, that God so loved the world that he gave 00:16:52.940 --> 00:16:55.220 his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth 00:16:55.220 --> 00:16:57.600 in him should not perish, but have everlasting 00:16:57.600 --> 00:17:00.659 life. And knowing this, that God is not willing 00:17:00.659 --> 00:17:03.120 that any should perish, but that all should come 00:17:03.120 --> 00:17:05.450 unto repentance, and that all may know. him. 00:17:05.450 --> 00:17:08.009 That is the good news of the God. Timothy, stir 00:17:08.009 --> 00:17:10.769 up the gift that's in you. That unwavering faith 00:17:10.769 --> 00:17:13.210 I saw in your granny. That unwavering faith I 00:17:13.210 --> 00:17:15.630 saw in your mama. And that I know when I laid 00:17:15.630 --> 00:17:18.890 hands on you. And the Holy Ghost touched you, 00:17:18.930 --> 00:17:22.349 son. I saw the impartation of a great faith. 00:17:22.730 --> 00:17:25.950 Stir up the gift that somebody's got to do a 00:17:25.950 --> 00:17:35.279 little stirring. His second letter to the Corinthians 00:17:35.279 --> 00:17:38.839 in verse chapter 1, 24, he said, by faith you 00:17:38.839 --> 00:17:43.839 stand. The first letter he told them, stand fast, 00:17:44.019 --> 00:17:48.619 firm, sure in the faith. Second letter he said, 00:17:48.680 --> 00:17:50.779 that's the only way you're going to keep your 00:17:50.779 --> 00:17:55.920 faith is you stand. That's how you stand. It's 00:17:55.920 --> 00:17:58.740 by your faith. To the church at Ephesus, chapter 00:17:58.740 --> 00:18:01.859 2, verse 8, he said, by grace are you saved. 00:18:02.380 --> 00:18:05.000 Through faith, that not of yourselves. Somebody 00:18:05.000 --> 00:18:07.920 needs to get a good grip on this. It really has 00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:11.690 nothing to do with you. Your salvation is not 00:18:11.690 --> 00:18:14.869 empowered by you in any other way than your faith 00:18:14.869 --> 00:18:18.470 and the acceptation and you accepting that Christ 00:18:18.470 --> 00:18:22.750 is the sacrifice for your sin. That is all that 00:18:22.750 --> 00:18:25.650 it's got to do with you. No, it's not by works 00:18:25.650 --> 00:18:28.450 that we do of our own, but it is by grace through 00:18:28.450 --> 00:18:31.329 faith. Abraham, it was accounted unto him for 00:18:31.329 --> 00:18:34.410 faith. Why? He believed God. And when God said, 00:18:34.509 --> 00:18:37.069 get up, get out, he didn't bellyache, he didn't 00:18:37.069 --> 00:18:39.940 grunt, he didn't fuss, he didn't barter. He packed 00:18:39.940 --> 00:18:42.500 up and headed out. Why? He was looking for a 00:18:42.500 --> 00:18:45.779 city whose builder and maker was God. And he 00:18:45.779 --> 00:18:49.140 had a promise from that builder, amen, that he 00:18:49.140 --> 00:18:53.339 would receive and accept. So it's by faith. In 00:18:53.339 --> 00:18:55.279 that sixth chapter, he tells them how to do war 00:18:55.279 --> 00:18:58.859 by their faith. Your unwavering faith helps you 00:18:58.859 --> 00:19:05.259 stand in the face of opposition. Amen? He said, 00:19:05.319 --> 00:19:12.769 taking the shield of faith. Whereby and wherewith 00:19:12.769 --> 00:19:17.470 you shall be able to quench all of the fiery 00:19:17.470 --> 00:19:24.349 darts of the enemy. It's by your faith. Your 00:19:24.349 --> 00:19:29.990 faith can absorb everything the enemy fires at 00:19:29.990 --> 00:19:35.119 you if you're standing fast and firm. If you 00:19:35.119 --> 00:19:38.420 know and realize that your salvation is not dependent 00:19:38.420 --> 00:19:42.019 upon you other than you believing God for the 00:19:42.019 --> 00:19:45.420 assurance of it. That's the only role you play 00:19:45.420 --> 00:19:50.250 in this. Is believing God. and the assurance 00:19:50.250 --> 00:19:52.950 of the promise of his word and the sacrifice 00:19:52.950 --> 00:19:56.230 of his son and that precious blood that was a 00:19:56.230 --> 00:19:59.690 pearl without price was poured out for you and 00:19:59.690 --> 00:20:03.569 for me. And all I have to do, you say you make 00:20:03.569 --> 00:20:06.329 it sound so simple. Well, quit making it so difficult. 00:20:07.930 --> 00:20:10.750 I think it resides somewhere in the middle of 00:20:10.750 --> 00:20:14.930 the two. Amen? We overcomplicate living the life 00:20:14.930 --> 00:20:17.990 of faith. Here's how simple it is to stand firm 00:20:17.990 --> 00:20:20.529 and fast in the faith. If God said it, believe 00:20:20.529 --> 00:20:25.269 it. If the devil twist it, dismiss it. Do you 00:20:25.269 --> 00:20:27.430 know how victorious your life would be if you'd 00:20:27.430 --> 00:20:30.670 quit playing mind games with the devil? Do you 00:20:30.670 --> 00:20:33.470 know what grace you could walk in? Do you know 00:20:33.470 --> 00:20:36.769 the power of faith that would lift you up and 00:20:36.769 --> 00:20:39.710 cause you to get a boost above all boosts? Why? 00:20:39.730 --> 00:20:42.869 Because faith comes by hearing, and hearing comes 00:20:42.869 --> 00:20:46.650 by the word of the living God. How can they hear? 00:20:46.960 --> 00:20:48.920 without a preacher. Well, I'm here to tell you. 00:20:48.960 --> 00:20:51.539 We've turned it up so it's good and clear. And 00:20:51.539 --> 00:20:54.920 you got no excuses this morning. I want to hear 00:20:54.920 --> 00:20:57.480 what the Spirit of the Lord. You've got to keep 00:20:57.480 --> 00:21:01.500 on believing God and stand in your faith in obedience 00:21:01.500 --> 00:21:04.660 to the Word of God. Do what the Word says. Don't 00:21:04.660 --> 00:21:08.779 do what it says not to do. See how simple that 00:21:08.779 --> 00:21:13.180 is? The argument comes in when you let your flesh 00:21:13.180 --> 00:21:17.879 begin to dictate how you want to live. Well, 00:21:17.879 --> 00:21:19.819 this is supposed to be a boost. If I go down 00:21:19.819 --> 00:21:21.759 that road, I'm about to tear some houses down. 00:21:23.579 --> 00:21:27.660 I'm about to take a D9 and run right through 00:21:27.660 --> 00:21:31.680 your little house of cards. So let me just stay 00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:35.380 on the good side of this, and it'll remain to 00:21:35.380 --> 00:21:38.859 be a boost instead of a tear down. But sometimes 00:21:38.859 --> 00:21:43.819 we need our little world disrupted. Paul's last 00:21:43.819 --> 00:21:46.220 testament, this last letter, he told Timothy, 00:21:46.400 --> 00:21:50.400 reprove and rebuke. What does that mean? Line 00:21:50.400 --> 00:21:55.339 them up with the word in accordance to the word. 00:21:57.559 --> 00:21:59.420 With all longsuffering. What's it saying? Be 00:21:59.420 --> 00:22:02.500 patient because they're not going to get it the 00:22:02.500 --> 00:22:07.759 first time through. So let's go it again. Jude 00:22:07.759 --> 00:22:14.440 20 says this. Here's where it's going to get 00:22:14.440 --> 00:22:20.339 right to it. Building up yourselves on your most 00:22:20.339 --> 00:22:24.779 holy faith. Praying in the Holy Ghost. We've 00:22:24.779 --> 00:22:26.769 got some people that need the Holy Ghost. You 00:22:26.769 --> 00:22:28.730 need the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Well, I'm 00:22:28.730 --> 00:22:30.809 scared. Don't be scared. I saw a little meme 00:22:30.809 --> 00:22:32.410 the other day. He said, you'll run yourself right 00:22:32.410 --> 00:22:34.450 through a haunted house, but you get scared when 00:22:34.450 --> 00:22:36.670 you come to the Pentecostal church. Don't get 00:22:36.670 --> 00:22:39.869 scared. Well, you run in there and see your little 00:22:39.869 --> 00:22:42.869 Freddy clones and little Jason mask and all that 00:22:42.869 --> 00:22:45.650 junk, and then you want to come in here and tell 00:22:45.650 --> 00:22:48.230 me my eyes are wild and you get scared. Well, 00:22:48.369 --> 00:22:50.430 there's something else behind that. There is 00:22:50.430 --> 00:22:52.930 a conviction that will drive you now. You don't 00:22:52.930 --> 00:22:54.130 have no business. It would have been in another 00:22:54.130 --> 00:22:57.390 place anyway. But here you are in the house of 00:22:57.390 --> 00:23:00.029 God, and you need to build up yourself. Now, 00:23:00.089 --> 00:23:03.390 see, you've done done it. Here we go. It's on 00:23:03.390 --> 00:23:07.069 you. It's not on me. My role is to stand here 00:23:07.069 --> 00:23:09.869 and declare, Thus saith the Lord. Try my best 00:23:09.869 --> 00:23:11.750 to read it out of the book where you can hear 00:23:11.750 --> 00:23:14.269 the instructions of the faith. And I'm giving 00:23:14.269 --> 00:23:17.460 you the instructions. Build up. yourself. It's 00:23:17.460 --> 00:23:20.299 not my responsibility to keep you saved. It's 00:23:20.299 --> 00:23:23.940 your responsibility to flee from sin and all 00:23:23.940 --> 00:23:27.839 unrighteousness. It's on you, baby. And if you 00:23:27.839 --> 00:23:29.960 don't have enough grace and you don't have victory, 00:23:30.119 --> 00:23:34.180 honey, it's on you. Building up yourselves, praying 00:23:34.180 --> 00:23:39.779 in the Holy Ghost. The only spook you need to 00:23:39.779 --> 00:23:44.019 see is the Holy Ghost. That's the only ghost 00:23:44.019 --> 00:23:53.519 I'm concerned with. I'm about to, I'm treading 00:23:53.519 --> 00:23:55.440 on light ground because I'm about to be like 00:23:55.440 --> 00:23:59.799 the Apostle Paul when he would say, it is I that 00:23:59.799 --> 00:24:04.759 speak and not the Lord. You know what I'm saying? 00:24:05.619 --> 00:24:07.900 He'd let them know when he was interjecting his 00:24:07.900 --> 00:24:10.339 personal conviction. So I'm going to stay with 00:24:10.339 --> 00:24:15.099 the book. Because I almost said some things. 00:24:18.079 --> 00:24:22.769 I almost did, but I didn't. Keep yourselves. 00:24:22.990 --> 00:24:25.769 Who's responsible? If you know who's responsible 00:24:25.769 --> 00:24:28.930 for your victory, raise your hand. If you're 00:24:28.930 --> 00:24:30.509 still confused, I'm going to read it one more 00:24:30.509 --> 00:24:36.710 time. But you, beloved. I love the way Jude starts 00:24:36.710 --> 00:24:40.410 it out. But you, beloved, building up yourselves. 00:24:42.650 --> 00:24:47.210 It's no one else's responsibility to keep you 00:24:47.210 --> 00:24:54.289 joy -filled. It's you. It's me. If I'm tripping 00:24:54.289 --> 00:24:56.730 and stepping on my lip all week, it's not the 00:24:56.730 --> 00:24:59.589 pastor. It's not the praise team. It's not the 00:24:59.589 --> 00:25:02.970 musicians. It's not the radio. It's not the TV. 00:25:03.029 --> 00:25:06.230 It's me. It's a choice that I'm making to leave 00:25:06.230 --> 00:25:09.250 my lip run out and chirp over it. It's time you 00:25:09.250 --> 00:25:12.589 roll your lip up and lift your eyes, as a psalmist 00:25:12.589 --> 00:25:14.849 would say. Let's get back in the book. Get your 00:25:14.849 --> 00:25:17.289 lip rolled back up and lift up your eyes into 00:25:17.289 --> 00:25:19.990 the hills from which your help comes from and 00:25:19.990 --> 00:25:24.089 encourage yourself in the Lord, dictating Scripture 00:25:24.089 --> 00:25:26.990 and allowing the Scripture to be repetitive in 00:25:26.990 --> 00:25:29.650 your life. And let the power of the Word that 00:25:29.650 --> 00:25:33.329 builds hope and help and offers joy pick you 00:25:33.329 --> 00:25:40.940 up. Problem is, too many people enjoy. How many 00:25:40.940 --> 00:25:43.160 of you like, you go maybe to a little smoothie 00:25:43.160 --> 00:25:45.400 place, you get a smoothie. How many run through 00:25:45.400 --> 00:25:48.220 the coffee place and get your favorite iced coffee, 00:25:48.299 --> 00:25:55.460 which is nasty? God did not create the coffee 00:25:55.460 --> 00:26:01.880 bean to go in ice. He created it on the day that 00:26:01.880 --> 00:26:04.960 he created all the herbs of the earth. to be 00:26:04.960 --> 00:26:13.279 mixed with boiling water and drank it. That is 00:26:13.279 --> 00:26:17.460 an oxymoron. I want an iced coffee. No, you don't. 00:26:20.299 --> 00:26:26.500 You want sweet cream. Cold. That's what you want. 00:26:28.200 --> 00:26:32.359 Now you're afraid to own up to it. Sister Kathy 00:26:32.359 --> 00:26:36.680 and I, from time to time, We'll drive plum to 00:26:36.680 --> 00:26:39.180 Dayton, Tennessee at a little coffee shop called 00:26:39.180 --> 00:26:46.539 The Drip. And I think they might have learned 00:26:46.539 --> 00:26:51.500 my voice now when we do get to go. We need two 00:26:51.500 --> 00:26:56.680 caramel macchiatos. Do you want that iced? Absolutely 00:26:56.680 --> 00:27:03.299 not. No. No, I don't want that iced. I want it 00:27:03.299 --> 00:27:07.730 hot. Oh, you want it hot? Yes, ma 'am. Please 00:27:07.730 --> 00:27:13.869 drive around. I think they charge me more. But 00:27:13.869 --> 00:27:15.670 if you get there before 430, they're half price. 00:27:15.809 --> 00:27:20.930 Come on. Get two for the price of one. We'll 00:27:20.930 --> 00:27:26.450 drive from over there to get it. We have to build 00:27:26.450 --> 00:27:30.769 ourselves up. We take, we add. Building up yourselves, 00:27:31.549 --> 00:27:36.069 praying in the Holy Ghost, keep your Whose responsibility? 00:27:37.670 --> 00:27:43.549 Whose responsibility? Keep yourselves in the 00:27:43.549 --> 00:27:48.509 love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord 00:27:48.509 --> 00:27:56.089 Jesus Christ unto eternal life. The onus for 00:27:56.089 --> 00:28:04.369 your victory is you. It is you. You. The responsibility 00:28:04.369 --> 00:28:06.950 is on you. If you want to let the devil wreak 00:28:06.950 --> 00:28:08.869 havoc in your mind, all you got to do is open 00:28:08.869 --> 00:28:12.130 it up and let him go. And he will take his liberty. 00:28:12.410 --> 00:28:15.220 If you want to shut it down. That is up to you 00:28:15.220 --> 00:28:18.240 also. You rise in the power that's in you. You 00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:21.579 stir up a gift of God, the gift of salvation, 00:28:21.839 --> 00:28:24.519 the gift of the work of sanctification in your 00:28:24.519 --> 00:28:26.740 life. We could spend a little time there. I think 00:28:26.740 --> 00:28:28.579 that's part of the reason we lack the power and 00:28:28.579 --> 00:28:30.720 lack the power of the Holy Ghost is we need a 00:28:30.720 --> 00:28:33.839 little more sanctification, separation, consecration 00:28:33.839 --> 00:28:36.680 unto the holy things of God. Separate. Don't 00:28:36.680 --> 00:28:39.220 go to those places. Don't watch that stuff. Don't 00:28:39.220 --> 00:28:41.559 listen to these other things. Consecrate and 00:28:41.559 --> 00:28:44.829 get our minds set on him. And then we will understand 00:28:44.829 --> 00:28:47.690 that it's not as hard or as difficult as it used 00:28:47.690 --> 00:28:54.609 to be to keep ourself in the love of God. Secondly, 00:28:54.769 --> 00:29:00.769 a little boosting. There must be a hunger for 00:29:00.769 --> 00:29:05.250 the things of God. This will give you a boost 00:29:05.250 --> 00:29:08.609 up. There's got to be a hunger for the fire of 00:29:08.609 --> 00:29:13.900 God. You must cultivate a hunger. for the word 00:29:13.900 --> 00:29:17.920 of God in your life. To maintain a spiritual 00:29:17.920 --> 00:29:21.440 prowess, you have to maintain a prayer life. 00:29:24.059 --> 00:29:26.200 Well, I just tore down a lot of little houses. 00:29:27.440 --> 00:29:31.599 I went to D9 right through. If we were to do 00:29:31.599 --> 00:29:34.339 an honest survey on how much we prayed, I guarantee 00:29:34.339 --> 00:29:37.940 you this week, we would all, myself included, 00:29:38.259 --> 00:29:42.640 come up short of the goal. There might be three 00:29:42.640 --> 00:29:44.779 or four of you that's holding this thing together, 00:29:44.839 --> 00:29:50.940 praying at home. So please don't stop. Please 00:29:50.940 --> 00:29:56.299 don't let up. Keep going. Amen? Hang in there. 00:29:56.339 --> 00:29:58.900 That's how we maintain is with a spiritual hunger. 00:29:59.079 --> 00:30:02.269 Look at verse 6. He says, Wherefore I put thee 00:30:02.269 --> 00:30:03.990 in remembrance that you stir up that gift of 00:30:03.990 --> 00:30:06.250 God which is in thee by the putting on of my 00:30:06.250 --> 00:30:08.769 hands. Look at verse 13. He goes on to say, Hold 00:30:08.769 --> 00:30:11.910 fast the form of sound words which thou hast 00:30:11.910 --> 00:30:15.269 heard of me in faith and love which is in Christ 00:30:15.269 --> 00:30:18.329 Jesus. You have to get your grip on the right 00:30:18.329 --> 00:30:22.309 things to maintain. Those who hunger and thirst 00:30:22.309 --> 00:30:24.150 after righteousness according to the word of 00:30:24.150 --> 00:30:26.789 God, they are those who will be filled. If you 00:30:26.789 --> 00:30:28.990 don't have a hunger, if you don't have a thirst, 00:30:29.109 --> 00:30:31.500 and it's more than just hunger. Well, you know, 00:30:31.539 --> 00:30:33.460 I'm a little late for breakfast. I'm not talking 00:30:33.460 --> 00:30:35.420 about that. I'm talking about a man that's been 00:30:35.420 --> 00:30:38.039 about half starved to death. And anything that 00:30:38.039 --> 00:30:40.220 comes along looks good to eat. Can you imagine 00:30:40.220 --> 00:30:43.759 how hungry the first man was that boiled and 00:30:43.759 --> 00:30:52.259 ate a shrimp? You seen them things with the heads 00:30:52.259 --> 00:30:55.059 on them? Doesn't that look very enticing? No. 00:30:56.180 --> 00:30:58.160 But you pull his head off and his tail off and 00:30:58.160 --> 00:30:59.700 put him in a little bile and water and about. 00:31:00.109 --> 00:31:05.410 Two minutes. Mmm. It works that same way with 00:31:05.410 --> 00:31:07.769 your, you have to be hungry to boil that critter. 00:31:07.769 --> 00:31:10.369 Say, man, that's all we can find. That's all 00:31:10.369 --> 00:31:13.710 we can get a hold of. Then you think, wow. Whew. 00:31:14.309 --> 00:31:18.109 Where's that dipping sauce? Where that at? Let's 00:31:18.109 --> 00:31:22.710 try that. Butter with a little garlic in it. 00:31:23.150 --> 00:31:31.599 Let's dip him. Bring me another dozen or two. 00:31:33.079 --> 00:31:36.859 See, I can eat all them I want. They're on my 00:31:36.859 --> 00:31:46.140 diet plan. The butter too. Say what you want 00:31:46.140 --> 00:31:52.660 to, it's working. You've got to cultivate a hunger. 00:31:54.859 --> 00:31:58.329 Stir it up, Timothy. Stir up your hunger for 00:31:58.329 --> 00:32:01.170 the righteousness of God. That gift that's in 00:32:01.170 --> 00:32:04.130 you, that power that's in you, stir it up, young 00:32:04.130 --> 00:32:06.529 Timothy. Remember that the effectual fervent 00:32:06.529 --> 00:32:09.210 prayer of the righteous man, James wrote it and 00:32:09.210 --> 00:32:11.650 spoke it very clear. Under the inspiration of 00:32:11.650 --> 00:32:14.069 the Spirit, the effectual fervent prayer of the 00:32:14.069 --> 00:32:17.390 righteous man availeth much. What does that mean? 00:32:17.529 --> 00:32:20.690 The more righteous you are, the more hungry you 00:32:20.690 --> 00:32:23.470 are, the more fervent you are in prayer, the 00:32:23.470 --> 00:32:26.490 more answers you get coming your way. When God 00:32:26.490 --> 00:32:29.250 sees the consecration of your heart and the faithful, 00:32:29.319 --> 00:32:31.700 of your walk when you call on the name of the 00:32:31.700 --> 00:32:34.299 Lord because now you are not asking from your 00:32:34.299 --> 00:32:36.900 will and the center of your purpose, but that 00:32:36.900 --> 00:32:40.380 hunger drives you to seek him for his will and 00:32:40.380 --> 00:32:42.599 his divine purpose. And he said, when you ask 00:32:42.599 --> 00:32:46.380 anything according to my will in my name, where 00:32:46.380 --> 00:32:56.259 you at, Bible reader, then? But your prayers 00:32:56.259 --> 00:32:58.960 will be no more spiritual or fervent than your 00:32:58.960 --> 00:33:03.220 walk is. If I didn't have more to say, we'd do. 00:33:04.759 --> 00:33:10.920 We'd just let her drop. Matthew 21 and 2, all 00:33:10.920 --> 00:33:13.259 things whatsoever you shall ask in prayer, believing, 00:33:13.519 --> 00:33:20.460 you shall receive. We're approaching the hour. 00:33:20.519 --> 00:33:21.799 Let's move on to the third one. There's only 00:33:21.799 --> 00:33:29.589 three little points in this. As you live from 00:33:29.589 --> 00:33:31.650 your unwavering faith, you know, I just thought 00:33:31.650 --> 00:33:33.569 of something. I didn't hack my britches one time. 00:33:39.569 --> 00:33:45.650 Thank you. You say, how could that be going through 00:33:45.650 --> 00:33:50.109 your mind? Don't ask me. There's more going through 00:33:50.109 --> 00:33:52.809 my mind while the Lord's coming out my mouth 00:33:52.809 --> 00:34:00.579 than it just. Preachers in the house, there you 00:34:00.579 --> 00:34:09.699 go. Your unwavering faith to be stirred. A hunger 00:34:09.699 --> 00:34:13.119 and a righteousness for the fire of God. That 00:34:13.119 --> 00:34:15.500 means you won't be satisfied with nothing less. 00:34:18.480 --> 00:34:25.889 It's a daily walk you are responsible for. I 00:34:25.889 --> 00:34:27.690 told you almost seven years ago, going on nearly 00:34:27.690 --> 00:34:29.730 eight years ago, I would do what the Lord called 00:34:29.730 --> 00:34:32.710 me to do. I'll give you 110 % of what I'm supposed 00:34:32.710 --> 00:34:35.750 to do so long as you make me the same commitment. 00:34:37.110 --> 00:34:40.590 You do what you're supposed to do. Amen? Build 00:34:40.590 --> 00:34:43.489 up yourselves. You're the one that got yourself 00:34:43.489 --> 00:34:47.710 in that mess. Holy Ghost didn't lead you there. 00:34:48.909 --> 00:34:51.329 Hello? I sure enough didn't tell you to go there 00:34:51.329 --> 00:34:54.050 and do whatever. Amen? I've been trying to do 00:34:54.050 --> 00:34:56.250 everything in my power to keep you from doing 00:34:56.250 --> 00:35:02.409 these things. You did it. You can blame the devil 00:35:02.409 --> 00:35:05.730 if you want to. All he did was suggest to you 00:35:05.730 --> 00:35:11.309 the opportunity. He forced you in no direction. 00:35:12.070 --> 00:35:24.599 No act. Hello? You. Boy, what a boost. You have 00:35:24.599 --> 00:35:28.619 to cultivate the same righteousness. I've had 00:35:28.619 --> 00:35:30.880 people stand in front of me and say, pray for 00:35:30.880 --> 00:35:33.960 deliverance over certain fleshly addictions. 00:35:35.599 --> 00:35:37.639 After about the fourth time, I said, no, I ain't 00:35:37.639 --> 00:35:40.980 praying for you. And their eyes get big. Well, 00:35:41.000 --> 00:35:42.519 I'm down here now. I said, well, get down and 00:35:42.519 --> 00:35:46.599 pray. Pray for yourself. I said, I've done laid 00:35:46.599 --> 00:35:49.019 hands on you several times and felt the Lord 00:35:49.019 --> 00:35:57.099 touch you, but you go home. You go home. I went 00:35:57.099 --> 00:35:59.980 to visit them one day. There they laid, right 00:35:59.980 --> 00:36:01.800 in the middle of the table, big pack of Winston's. 00:36:02.880 --> 00:36:08.000 I said, brother, I thought we prayed for deliverance. 00:36:08.000 --> 00:36:10.440 Oh, we did. I ain't had one since that Sunday. 00:36:10.539 --> 00:36:12.599 I said, well, what's that doing there? To show 00:36:12.599 --> 00:36:15.179 the devil. I said, well, you just messed up. 00:36:15.860 --> 00:36:19.420 You showed him all right. When you get done with 00:36:19.420 --> 00:36:22.579 supper. And you got to eat a cup of coffee. When 00:36:22.579 --> 00:36:24.619 you used to suck about three of those down into 00:36:24.619 --> 00:36:26.539 your lungs, the devil's going to say, boy, that 00:36:26.539 --> 00:36:30.440 sure would be good. You got something laying 00:36:30.440 --> 00:36:34.000 in there on the table. Two weeks later, guess 00:36:34.000 --> 00:36:35.619 where he was? Right back down there. I said, 00:36:35.619 --> 00:36:41.960 no, sir. I walked right on by. You did it. You 00:36:41.960 --> 00:36:45.559 undo it. Well, I thought God would give him grace. 00:36:45.699 --> 00:36:51.119 Well, he did, but you tempted the grace. You 00:36:51.119 --> 00:36:56.199 undo it. We expect God to bail us out of more 00:36:56.199 --> 00:36:59.119 stuff than we do ourselves. And wonderfully, 00:36:59.420 --> 00:37:03.739 he grants mercy and many times miraculously delivers 00:37:03.739 --> 00:37:07.300 us, doesn't he? Oh, I've seen that too. I've 00:37:07.300 --> 00:37:10.460 seen it stick. You know, we used to pray this, 00:37:10.519 --> 00:37:14.260 God, I hope the Holy Ghost makes them gag the 00:37:14.260 --> 00:37:17.699 next time they take a drink. Puke their living 00:37:17.699 --> 00:37:21.900 guts out. from the inside out, Holy Ghost. That's 00:37:21.900 --> 00:37:23.519 when we used to really get down to business. 00:37:26.179 --> 00:37:28.760 Where we didn't worry so much about their uncomfort 00:37:28.760 --> 00:37:32.019 as much as we did the regeneration of their lost 00:37:32.019 --> 00:37:36.940 soul. That may be the reason I'm as hard as I 00:37:36.940 --> 00:37:39.199 am as a pastor. I'm not worried about your comfort. 00:37:40.460 --> 00:37:42.639 Not concerned with whether you like everything 00:37:42.639 --> 00:37:46.639 I say or not. I'm concerned. about the eternal 00:37:46.639 --> 00:37:50.219 condition of your soul. And if I can convince 00:37:50.219 --> 00:37:53.679 you that those things are against you, but God 00:37:53.679 --> 00:37:56.900 is for you, then I've done my job. When we stand 00:37:56.900 --> 00:37:59.420 before God, I don't know how it's going to work. 00:37:59.579 --> 00:38:01.800 I picture in my mind before that great white 00:38:01.800 --> 00:38:05.260 throne, brethren, the congregations, those sheep, 00:38:05.320 --> 00:38:07.199 those flock might be gathered. I don't know how 00:38:07.199 --> 00:38:09.420 it's going to go. And then shepherd by shepherd, 00:38:09.500 --> 00:38:12.079 we're going to be called up and given a count. 00:38:13.679 --> 00:38:16.239 For how we led. I don't know how that judgment 00:38:16.239 --> 00:38:18.460 is going to work, but I do know this. For those 00:38:18.460 --> 00:38:20.900 of us who are called and anointed to proclaim 00:38:20.900 --> 00:38:24.239 the gospel, there is a more strict judgment. 00:38:24.699 --> 00:38:28.440 So why do you think I give it the way I give 00:38:28.440 --> 00:38:32.679 it? Because I want out as easy as I can. I do 00:38:32.679 --> 00:38:40.019 enough myself. I made a pledge to God when he 00:38:40.019 --> 00:38:41.860 called me. I'll never have their blood on my 00:38:41.860 --> 00:38:46.440 hands. What does that mean? I'll stand boldly, 00:38:46.440 --> 00:38:51.460 proclaim to you the truth of God's word. I'd 00:38:51.460 --> 00:38:55.940 love to be able to, I'd love to be able to repose 00:38:55.940 --> 00:39:01.119 onto you the same standards that I hold for myself. 00:39:03.199 --> 00:39:04.880 Somebody said, don't do that to me, preacher. 00:39:07.739 --> 00:39:11.360 Because I know I'm responsible. And here's why. 00:39:12.880 --> 00:39:19.320 That third point. We must cultivate a revere 00:39:19.320 --> 00:39:25.800 and fear of the Lord. Oh, I don't think God wants 00:39:25.800 --> 00:39:27.579 to be scared of him. That's not what I'm talking 00:39:27.579 --> 00:39:31.000 about. That's not the implication of the word. 00:39:33.179 --> 00:39:37.059 There's at least three different Greek definitions, 00:39:37.239 --> 00:39:39.539 different words for fear that you read in the 00:39:39.539 --> 00:39:42.119 New Testament, and about nearly as many. In Hebrew 00:39:42.119 --> 00:39:46.679 and Aramaic for the Old Testament. There are 00:39:46.679 --> 00:39:49.980 those times that we should be in shuddering fear 00:39:49.980 --> 00:39:54.599 of the Lord. It's a fearful thing to fall into 00:39:54.599 --> 00:39:59.360 the hands of a just God. That's the book. That's 00:39:59.360 --> 00:40:02.920 the book. And so what has happened in our culture 00:40:02.920 --> 00:40:07.519 and society today, the fear of God is being removed 00:40:07.519 --> 00:40:11.030 from our culture. And now all of a sudden he's 00:40:11.030 --> 00:40:13.610 just this peaceful God and everybody's going 00:40:13.610 --> 00:40:16.849 to heaven. No, no, no, no, no. There is a standard 00:40:16.849 --> 00:40:20.150 whereby one has to live and measure up. And that 00:40:20.150 --> 00:40:23.090 standard is Jesus Christ. And the directions 00:40:23.090 --> 00:40:25.909 to live to that standard are in this book. And 00:40:25.909 --> 00:40:27.989 if they are applied to one's life, you will stand 00:40:27.989 --> 00:40:30.630 before God and you will hear him say, well done, 00:40:30.769 --> 00:40:33.110 my good and faithful servant. I made you a ruler 00:40:33.110 --> 00:40:35.550 over a few things. Now come on in. I got a lot 00:40:35.550 --> 00:40:40.670 of stuff in store for you. But the fear of God 00:40:40.670 --> 00:40:45.110 is gone. And it must be cultivated. In the church, 00:40:45.190 --> 00:40:48.570 the revere and the awe of God, the respect of 00:40:48.570 --> 00:40:52.510 God, must again be reclaimed. And it won't be 00:40:52.510 --> 00:40:55.190 reclaimed in our pews until it's reclaimed in 00:40:55.190 --> 00:41:01.050 our pulpits. Exodus 20 and 20 reads, Fear not, 00:41:01.190 --> 00:41:06.210 for God is come to prove you, and that his fear 00:41:06.210 --> 00:41:14.860 may be before your faces. that you sin not. To 00:41:14.860 --> 00:41:18.719 the Israelites, God is coming before you to prove, 00:41:18.719 --> 00:41:22.820 to test, to challenge your faith that you remain 00:41:22.820 --> 00:41:27.659 sinless. Why? Because in their day, the earth 00:41:27.659 --> 00:41:33.280 would open up and swallow people. Hello? Now 00:41:33.280 --> 00:41:36.820 that would cause one to shudder. But for those 00:41:36.820 --> 00:41:39.820 who are watching on, it causes a revere and awe. 00:41:41.619 --> 00:41:47.639 Oh, God. So that is how we are to live and go 00:41:47.639 --> 00:41:51.019 about our day. Proverbs 7 says, The fear of Jehovah 00:41:51.019 --> 00:41:54.920 is the beginning of knowledge. Job 28 and 28 00:41:54.920 --> 00:41:57.960 says, And unto man he said, Behold, the fear 00:41:57.960 --> 00:42:01.219 of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from 00:42:01.219 --> 00:42:08.119 evil is understanding. Now, who fulfills that? 00:42:09.960 --> 00:42:18.980 We do. You do. I do. As I am boosted by my unwavering 00:42:18.980 --> 00:42:23.619 faith, and I'm encouraged by the fire that has 00:42:23.619 --> 00:42:28.019 been placed in my life, I am motivated by the 00:42:28.019 --> 00:42:33.440 awe and the revere of a holy God. That's what 00:42:33.440 --> 00:42:37.539 Paul is telling Timothy. Remember whose gospel 00:42:37.539 --> 00:42:41.239 it is you're preaching. Remember whose testimony 00:42:41.239 --> 00:42:44.360 it is that you're actually proclaiming. You're 00:42:44.360 --> 00:42:48.659 declaring Christ in you, which is the hope of 00:42:48.659 --> 00:42:53.300 glory, which declares, I have not seen, ear has 00:42:53.300 --> 00:42:56.159 not heard, and neither has it entered into the 00:42:56.159 --> 00:42:59.579 hearts of man what God has in store for those 00:42:59.579 --> 00:43:05.849 that love him. But then the fear and trembling 00:43:05.849 --> 00:43:08.429 comes into play when we know that in that last 00:43:08.429 --> 00:43:13.750 day and at that second resurrection, when all 00:43:13.750 --> 00:43:18.429 the dead are raised, and we all stand before 00:43:18.429 --> 00:43:25.369 God and give an account for ourselves. It never 00:43:25.369 --> 00:43:29.050 ceases to amaze me, most church hurt comes from 00:43:29.050 --> 00:43:33.510 misunderstandings. And stuff that doesn't make 00:43:33.510 --> 00:43:41.030 a hill of beans, no way. Fostered from worrying 00:43:41.030 --> 00:43:43.530 too much about what others think to begin with. 00:43:46.630 --> 00:43:48.889 I quit getting church hurt by folks a long time 00:43:48.889 --> 00:43:51.489 ago. Because I quit worrying about what they 00:43:51.489 --> 00:43:57.010 thought of me. And the sooner you get to there, 00:43:57.150 --> 00:44:02.199 why do you come? For them or for him? I am here 00:44:02.199 --> 00:44:06.679 to fellowship together. And it's just like family. 00:44:06.719 --> 00:44:08.699 Y 'all got family coming in for Thanksgiving 00:44:08.699 --> 00:44:10.460 that you want them going to the same room with 00:44:10.460 --> 00:44:13.719 them. You won't sit near them at the table, but 00:44:13.719 --> 00:44:15.800 everybody comes together. Same thing with this 00:44:15.800 --> 00:44:18.460 big family. Sit on the right and let the goat 00:44:18.460 --> 00:44:22.360 sit on the left. And hopefully the shepherd can 00:44:22.360 --> 00:44:28.099 get it all back together. Amen. I've been in 00:44:28.099 --> 00:44:30.219 some strange places. Stand with me. I'm going 00:44:30.219 --> 00:44:35.239 to shut up. I've been in some strange church 00:44:35.239 --> 00:44:42.099 situations. I have seen where there have been 00:44:42.099 --> 00:44:48.280 such bitter divorces. I mean, knocked down stuff, 00:44:48.599 --> 00:44:57.440 hateful, me. But a year or so later, they got 00:44:57.440 --> 00:45:01.079 their significant others, which is another. And 00:45:01.079 --> 00:45:07.480 they're all sitting on the same pew. Praising 00:45:07.480 --> 00:45:13.059 God. Saved, sanctified, filled with the Holy 00:45:13.059 --> 00:45:20.199 Ghost. I've seen God do some stuff in people's 00:45:20.199 --> 00:45:23.380 lives that will surrender their lives and allow 00:45:23.380 --> 00:45:27.460 Him to do so. Families, fellas, they'd go to 00:45:27.460 --> 00:45:28.800 eat together when they couldn't eat together 00:45:28.800 --> 00:45:34.659 when they was together. Now, just somehow, don't 00:45:34.659 --> 00:45:37.539 ask me to explain it. I don't know. Somehow, 00:45:37.659 --> 00:45:42.960 the love of God. Amen? I have seen no fences 00:45:42.960 --> 00:45:45.539 mended with people when you can finally get them 00:45:45.539 --> 00:45:47.360 to talk to each other, which, by the way, by 00:45:47.360 --> 00:45:48.980 the time you come to me, you should be three 00:45:48.980 --> 00:45:52.699 steps down the road. Because if you come to me 00:45:52.699 --> 00:45:54.159 with a problem with one another, you know what 00:45:54.159 --> 00:45:55.579 I'm going to send you to? Right back to step 00:45:55.579 --> 00:45:57.880 number one. Well, have you talked to them? Well, 00:45:57.900 --> 00:45:59.300 no, I don't want to talk to them. Well, you got 00:45:59.300 --> 00:46:02.389 to before you talk to me. Get on over there. 00:46:03.889 --> 00:46:06.969 Then we actually sat down. Most of the time I'm 00:46:06.969 --> 00:46:08.789 telling you it's a misunderstanding. Well, I 00:46:08.789 --> 00:46:13.929 didn't say that. No, here's what I said. Oh, 00:46:13.969 --> 00:46:19.250 well, I misunderstood you. Well, let's pray about 00:46:19.250 --> 00:46:25.949 it and move on. Put it under the blood and let's 00:46:25.949 --> 00:46:35.059 serve God. So many people. Need a boost up. You 00:46:35.059 --> 00:46:37.280 know people who've been church hurt and aren't 00:46:37.280 --> 00:46:40.440 going anywhere. Sitting at home soaking and souring 00:46:40.440 --> 00:46:44.500 away. With an offense in their life that becomes 00:46:44.500 --> 00:46:47.860 an anchor. A chain that weighs them down. Because 00:46:47.860 --> 00:46:51.920 let me tell you what happens with offense. Offense 00:46:51.920 --> 00:46:57.219 turns to hatred. Hatred turns to spiritual murder. 00:46:58.579 --> 00:47:00.579 And you can't go to heaven with that in your 00:47:00.579 --> 00:47:08.670 heart. Really, really. You remember when Jesus 00:47:08.670 --> 00:47:11.869 said man brought his gift to the altar and was 00:47:11.869 --> 00:47:15.070 praying and he had an alt in his life against 00:47:15.070 --> 00:47:17.469 a brother. What did he tell him to do? Leave 00:47:17.469 --> 00:47:20.690 your gift there and go make it right and then 00:47:20.690 --> 00:47:23.449 come back because your gift is no good. It's 00:47:23.449 --> 00:47:29.170 unacceptable. So if somebody just popped in your 00:47:29.170 --> 00:47:33.309 mind, go make it right. The chain of offense 00:47:33.309 --> 00:47:38.630 is only drowning you. I found that one out the 00:47:38.630 --> 00:47:43.510 hard way. I got offended by a preacher of all 00:47:43.510 --> 00:47:48.190 things. Carried that offense way longer than 00:47:48.190 --> 00:47:53.369 I should have. And it was dragging me down spiritually. 00:47:57.590 --> 00:48:00.699 Come to find out when I fell on his neck. and 00:48:00.699 --> 00:48:03.619 ask for forgiveness. He said, I don't know what 00:48:03.619 --> 00:48:09.440 you're talking about. But if you need it, I grant 00:48:09.440 --> 00:48:11.400 it. I forgive you, brother. I said, well, I need 00:48:11.400 --> 00:48:17.840 it back. That's the way it works. It was torturing 00:48:17.840 --> 00:48:22.300 me. He was eating soup, beans, and gravy. Living 00:48:22.300 --> 00:48:26.960 life. But I was tortured and tormented by the 00:48:26.960 --> 00:48:31.289 sin of offense. Father, I love you today. Thank 00:48:31.289 --> 00:48:32.670 you for your goodness and your mercy. I thank 00:48:32.670 --> 00:48:36.030 you for your help this morning, Lord. For I have 00:48:36.030 --> 00:48:41.230 truly, truly experienced your touch. And I pray, 00:48:41.289 --> 00:48:43.650 Lord, that we become boosted in our faith, that 00:48:43.650 --> 00:48:47.210 we remember that faith and stir that faith and 00:48:47.210 --> 00:48:52.650 stand firmly in our faith. Because it is the 00:48:52.650 --> 00:48:55.210 substance of things hoped for. It is the evidence 00:48:55.210 --> 00:48:58.389 of things not seen. And without it, God, I can't 00:48:58.389 --> 00:49:02.579 please you. But with it, you reward those who 00:49:02.579 --> 00:49:07.019 diligently seek. Lord, I'm seeking for righteousness. 00:49:09.179 --> 00:49:13.619 I'm cultivating a hunger. I'm going to take responsibility 00:49:13.619 --> 00:49:17.159 for my own faith level. Because I'm supposed 00:49:17.159 --> 00:49:21.440 to stir up myself. I'm supposed to keep myself 00:49:21.440 --> 00:49:30.019 in your love and in your grace. Stirring my hunger. 00:49:30.079 --> 00:49:35.980 And Lord, I am reminded today of who you are 00:49:35.980 --> 00:49:43.780 and the awe of who you are. You are a great God. 00:49:43.940 --> 00:49:46.940 You are a holy God. You are, according to the 00:49:46.940 --> 00:49:53.460 word, you go forth as a consuming fire. And you 00:49:53.460 --> 00:50:01.469 devour all of our enemies. I tell you what, I'm 00:50:01.469 --> 00:50:03.769 going to close this way. I want you to just come 00:50:03.769 --> 00:50:05.409 forward. I want to pray over us before we dismiss. 00:50:06.010 --> 00:50:09.429 I just want to pray over us all. I want to just 00:50:09.429 --> 00:50:11.030 ask the Lord to do some work in our life.