WEBVTT 00:00:12.310 --> 00:00:18.890 Hallelujah. The Lord is good. Dancing on the 00:00:18.890 --> 00:00:29.289 grave that I once lived in. He'll do it again 00:00:29.289 --> 00:00:35.329 and again and again. He'll visit the mess that 00:00:35.329 --> 00:00:40.170 we're living in. Cause us to come out of it. 00:00:43.369 --> 00:00:48.270 Simon said he put me upon a rock. From where? 00:00:48.329 --> 00:00:52.770 Up out of the miry clay. And he put me upon a 00:00:52.770 --> 00:01:01.509 rock. And he established my goings. Amen? That 00:01:01.509 --> 00:01:03.310 may feel like you've been wallowing in the clay. 00:01:04.250 --> 00:01:06.069 You ever feel that way? You ever feel like you're 00:01:06.069 --> 00:01:10.609 just kind of trudging through life and you're 00:01:10.609 --> 00:01:13.670 just in that miry clay? There's a difference 00:01:13.670 --> 00:01:22.890 between mud and miry clay. There is a sucking 00:01:22.890 --> 00:01:29.069 phenomenon that accompanies miring clay. Mud, 00:01:29.230 --> 00:01:30.909 you can walk through and trudge through the mud. 00:01:31.049 --> 00:01:38.390 Miry clay, it just clings. It holds you. You're 00:01:38.390 --> 00:01:47.629 stuck. That's miry clay. You can't... I can remember 00:01:47.629 --> 00:01:52.069 a few occasions in Arkansas rice fields. That's 00:01:52.069 --> 00:01:59.580 a different kind of stuff. It's black mud. you 00:01:59.580 --> 00:02:02.319 go to stay up and your foot don't come and you're 00:02:02.319 --> 00:02:06.260 on your face in waist -deep water because it's 00:02:06.260 --> 00:02:08.439 wrapped around you. That's what the psalmist 00:02:08.439 --> 00:02:12.840 is saying. He took me up out of the miry clay, 00:02:13.060 --> 00:02:18.979 out of the mess I was in, and he put me on a 00:02:18.979 --> 00:02:22.560 rock. I like it. I'm not preaching that today. 00:02:22.639 --> 00:02:26.919 That one's free. Turn with me to the book of 00:02:26.919 --> 00:02:32.250 Isaiah. Although it could preach, we might mention 00:02:32.250 --> 00:02:36.409 it again. You never know. Thank you for being 00:02:36.409 --> 00:02:42.169 in the house of the Lord today. I told them Wednesday 00:02:42.169 --> 00:02:46.509 night, that big crowd that showed up. With all 00:02:46.509 --> 00:02:49.490 this work and stuff that was going on, the original 00:02:49.490 --> 00:02:53.270 plan was we were just going to give you the midweek 00:02:53.270 --> 00:02:56.289 off, even though we'd already had one or so off, 00:02:56.310 --> 00:02:58.710 but we had all this scheduled. not been in here 00:02:58.710 --> 00:03:00.550 with the dust and the mess and all that stuff's 00:03:00.550 --> 00:03:04.870 going on. I was just going to kindly go around 00:03:04.870 --> 00:03:08.370 the midweek service. And then got to thinking, 00:03:08.430 --> 00:03:11.830 well, it is the first of the year, and we done 00:03:11.830 --> 00:03:14.689 been out one, so let's not lose any more momentum. 00:03:15.050 --> 00:03:18.909 And then I said to them, I said, well, it's winter. 00:03:24.050 --> 00:03:25.810 A good bunch of them are going to stay at the 00:03:25.810 --> 00:03:30.759 house anyway. So we can just go ahead and have 00:03:30.759 --> 00:03:38.120 it in the fellowship hall. Well, yeah, just about 00:03:38.120 --> 00:03:40.939 there. If everybody would have showed up, eight 00:03:40.939 --> 00:03:43.500 or ten regulars had things to do in places we 00:03:43.500 --> 00:03:45.159 couldn't be here for the first one thing. It 00:03:45.159 --> 00:03:48.699 would have really been full. We still had a 51 00:03:48.699 --> 00:03:52.500 or 52, 51, 2, something like that in the fellowship 00:03:52.500 --> 00:03:54.719 hall for Brother Randy's class Wednesday night. 00:03:55.310 --> 00:03:57.469 And then I told them, I said, I think I'll preach 00:03:57.469 --> 00:03:59.770 that last week message again. That six to eight 00:03:59.770 --> 00:04:05.449 week rotation, I got some attention. So thank 00:04:05.449 --> 00:04:06.830 you for being in the house of the Lord this morning. 00:04:08.090 --> 00:04:16.050 Isaiah 43. It's just 1130. So we're in plenty 00:04:16.050 --> 00:04:19.949 good time. Amen. Still got a good hour, hour 00:04:19.949 --> 00:04:25.310 and a half. We're good. I've got. One little 00:04:25.310 --> 00:04:29.829 page. There's not five or six. There's one little 00:04:29.829 --> 00:04:35.910 page. And the revelation when it came on the 00:04:35.910 --> 00:04:39.870 back of the cook's bill envelope, pest control 00:04:39.870 --> 00:04:47.449 bill. That sits beside my chair. And just to 00:04:47.449 --> 00:04:52.430 let you know, that's not chat GBT or whatever 00:04:52.430 --> 00:04:58.100 that is. That's how it comes to me from time 00:04:58.100 --> 00:05:00.819 to time. And so we might reference the envelope. 00:05:02.939 --> 00:05:12.480 Isaiah 43 is a very important chapter in what 00:05:12.480 --> 00:05:16.439 some would say of the 66 chapters of Isaiah, 00:05:16.519 --> 00:05:19.720 which is in itself sort of like a small Bible. 00:05:20.660 --> 00:05:24.720 It kind of gets you the scope and the span. But 00:05:24.720 --> 00:05:28.480 it's like a turning point. It's a very positive 00:05:28.480 --> 00:05:33.259 chapter to a people who are in captivity and 00:05:33.259 --> 00:05:38.019 the Lord's speaking to them. Look at verse 11. 00:05:39.920 --> 00:05:48.259 I, even I, am the Lord, and beside me there is 00:05:48.259 --> 00:05:54.120 no Savior. I have declared and have saved. and 00:05:54.120 --> 00:05:57.939 I have showed when there was no strange God among 00:05:57.939 --> 00:06:02.759 you. Therefore you are my witnesses, saith the 00:06:02.759 --> 00:06:08.779 Lord, that I am God. Yea, before the day was, 00:06:08.980 --> 00:06:13.019 I am he, and there is none that can deliver out 00:06:13.019 --> 00:06:18.629 of my hand. I will work and who shall let it 00:06:18.629 --> 00:06:22.389 or who shall stop me or who can hinder me? Can 00:06:22.389 --> 00:06:27.389 anybody do anything about it? Thus saith the 00:06:27.389 --> 00:06:30.029 Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, 00:06:30.110 --> 00:06:33.829 for your sake I have sent to Babylon and have 00:06:33.829 --> 00:06:37.149 brought down all their nobles and the Chaldeans 00:06:37.149 --> 00:06:42.910 whose cry is in the ships. I am the Lord. Your 00:06:42.910 --> 00:06:46.329 holy one, the creator of Israel, your king. Thus 00:06:46.329 --> 00:06:49.589 saith the Lord, which maketh a way in the sea 00:06:49.589 --> 00:06:53.389 and a path in the mighty waters, which bringeth 00:06:53.389 --> 00:06:57.089 forth the chariot and horse, the army and the 00:06:57.089 --> 00:07:00.829 power, they shall lie down together and they 00:07:00.829 --> 00:07:06.170 shall not rise. They are extinct. They are quenched 00:07:06.170 --> 00:07:12.579 as towel. Focus now. Next two. Remember ye not 00:07:12.579 --> 00:07:15.000 the former things, neither consider the things 00:07:15.000 --> 00:07:22.319 of old. Behold, I will do a new thing. Now it 00:07:22.319 --> 00:07:27.420 shall spring forth. Shall you not know it? I 00:07:27.420 --> 00:07:31.660 will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers 00:07:31.660 --> 00:07:47.050 in the desert. Behold the new things. That's 00:07:47.050 --> 00:07:55.050 our focus for 26. Behold new things. I want you 00:07:55.050 --> 00:07:56.529 to look at that background because that's going 00:07:56.529 --> 00:07:58.829 to make more sense to you here in just a little 00:07:58.829 --> 00:08:02.709 while. I know it looks a little cute, right? 00:08:03.970 --> 00:08:10.639 But there's emphasis here. An emphasis that I 00:08:10.639 --> 00:08:15.019 did not share, nor did I tell, for the creating 00:08:15.019 --> 00:08:17.439 of that background. I didn't do that. I ain't 00:08:17.439 --> 00:08:22.199 got enough sense to do that. But I got folks 00:08:22.199 --> 00:08:26.240 that can and do. And they sent that for my approval, 00:08:26.240 --> 00:08:31.360 and I said, yeah, yeah, that'll work. And you'll 00:08:31.360 --> 00:08:35.779 know why shortly. Behold new things. I'll pray 00:08:35.779 --> 00:08:37.639 for you if you pray for me. Let's see what the 00:08:37.639 --> 00:08:39.440 Spirit says to the church today. Father, I do 00:08:39.440 --> 00:08:43.960 love you. So grateful. I am churning on the inside. 00:08:44.279 --> 00:08:46.960 Lord, I feel your holy anointing in this house 00:08:46.960 --> 00:08:50.840 today. Now, I ask God that you continue to touch 00:08:50.840 --> 00:08:54.779 in hearts and minds. Those that are here, we're 00:08:54.779 --> 00:08:57.059 not here by accident. We are actually in this 00:08:57.059 --> 00:09:00.679 house because of choice. We chose to get up and 00:09:00.679 --> 00:09:03.970 to be in your house today. And so here we are. 00:09:05.950 --> 00:09:09.169 I pray every heart be open, every ear be tuned 00:09:09.169 --> 00:09:14.929 to the voice of the Lord. As your word is already 00:09:14.929 --> 00:09:17.769 anointed and been broken for the nourishment 00:09:17.769 --> 00:09:22.190 of our bodies and soul and spirit, fill us this 00:09:22.190 --> 00:09:27.289 day. Help us this day. In Jesus' name. That's 00:09:27.289 --> 00:09:30.870 your sin. Amen. Tell your neighbor it's something 00:09:30.870 --> 00:09:44.279 new. Something new. Thus the reason for the transformation 00:09:44.279 --> 00:09:50.100 before your eyes. All of this has purpose. It 00:09:50.100 --> 00:09:56.519 has meaning. It has emphasis. It challenges us 00:09:56.519 --> 00:10:02.679 not to remain in the status quo. It moves us 00:10:02.679 --> 00:10:04.720 forward. And for those of you, and I already 00:10:04.720 --> 00:10:07.559 heard one testimony, until it was pointed out, 00:10:07.580 --> 00:10:12.919 didn't even see it. Need to be a little bit more 00:10:12.919 --> 00:10:18.879 aware of our surroundings. Oh, boy, that'll segue 00:10:18.879 --> 00:10:21.200 right in. If I wanted to jump like 30 minutes 00:10:21.200 --> 00:10:25.659 in, where the Lord said in our text, I do this 00:10:25.659 --> 00:10:31.919 new thing, shall you not know it? There's emphasis, 00:10:32.039 --> 00:10:38.500 there's motive behind. Some of you have already 00:10:38.500 --> 00:10:40.360 known, some of you will be figuring it out, but 00:10:40.360 --> 00:10:43.840 I don't even have a pot moved or something shifted 00:10:43.840 --> 00:10:48.820 without there's a purpose behind it. There's 00:10:48.820 --> 00:10:55.360 purpose, there's reasoning. Amen? It's not all 00:10:55.360 --> 00:10:57.419 about that it just looks better, but I think 00:10:57.419 --> 00:11:02.100 it does. For me... It just looks like that's 00:11:02.100 --> 00:11:04.600 the way it's always supposed to have been. Like 00:11:04.600 --> 00:11:07.139 that's part of the puzzle that's been missing. 00:11:10.299 --> 00:11:13.279 But when we stop to think about what great things 00:11:13.279 --> 00:11:22.340 the Lord has done, that statement in itself is 00:11:22.340 --> 00:11:25.740 wonderful, it's powerful, and for those who truly 00:11:25.740 --> 00:11:29.340 know God's been good to them, There's a ready 00:11:29.340 --> 00:11:31.639 praise that comes up just when you hear that. 00:11:31.779 --> 00:11:34.460 What great things he has done. And my mind just 00:11:34.460 --> 00:11:37.820 begins to whoo, whoo, whoo. Hallelujah. He has 00:11:37.820 --> 00:11:40.679 done great things. Amen? But it's more than a 00:11:40.679 --> 00:11:44.899 cliche. That statement for those who understand 00:11:44.899 --> 00:11:48.279 that God is on their side, it stirs a very deep 00:11:48.279 --> 00:11:54.080 resonance to glorify him. Because he's not just 00:11:54.080 --> 00:12:01.000 done great things, he is a great God. We find 00:12:01.000 --> 00:12:03.600 ourselves, if we're not very careful, focusing 00:12:03.600 --> 00:12:07.960 on what God has done more so than what God is 00:12:07.960 --> 00:12:13.360 trying to do in our personal lives, in our familial 00:12:13.360 --> 00:12:17.720 lives, on our jobs, in our church. And if we're 00:12:17.720 --> 00:12:22.070 so focused on what God has done, There is a danger 00:12:22.070 --> 00:12:27.470 of forfeiting all that God is desiring to do 00:12:27.470 --> 00:12:31.429 in our life. It is a reminder that God is fully 00:12:31.429 --> 00:12:37.490 aware of what's concerning you. See, there's 00:12:37.490 --> 00:12:40.490 segue, there's tie to what the Lord shared with 00:12:40.490 --> 00:12:42.490 us, had us preach last week. What's concerning 00:12:42.490 --> 00:12:47.809 you? He is fully aware, and we, us, you and I, 00:12:48.409 --> 00:12:52.730 We must refuse to die in the memory of what was 00:12:52.730 --> 00:12:58.450 and focus on what is and what God desires to 00:12:58.450 --> 00:13:05.059 be in and through and for our lives. Amen? Say, 00:13:05.139 --> 00:13:07.899 well, that's what my testimony is. Yes, but you 00:13:07.899 --> 00:13:10.759 don't go back and relive the testimony. You proclaim 00:13:10.759 --> 00:13:13.779 the testimony from where you were to where you 00:13:13.779 --> 00:13:16.659 are. Because God didn't stop touching you when 00:13:16.659 --> 00:13:19.299 he pulled you out of the miry clay. He hasn't 00:13:19.299 --> 00:13:22.399 stopped blessing us since he transformed and 00:13:22.399 --> 00:13:24.659 turned our lives around. Matter of fact, it's 00:13:24.659 --> 00:13:27.460 just got gooder and gooder and gooder and gooder. 00:13:27.860 --> 00:13:32.269 Salvation is the basic. Come on now. God doesn't 00:13:32.269 --> 00:13:36.250 complete in salvation. He begins. What did the 00:13:36.250 --> 00:13:39.669 apostle Paul write? He that hath begun a good 00:13:39.669 --> 00:13:42.629 work in you is also able to complete it and to 00:13:42.629 --> 00:13:45.190 keep you against the end and all the way to that 00:13:45.190 --> 00:13:47.950 day. It was the beginning. It's not the ending. 00:13:48.129 --> 00:13:51.149 So many folks are focused on what God has done. 00:13:51.330 --> 00:13:53.750 They have failed to remember that that was only 00:13:53.750 --> 00:13:56.370 the beginning. It gets better from the moment 00:13:56.370 --> 00:13:59.690 of that wonderful transformation. It gets gooder. 00:14:00.009 --> 00:14:02.990 and gooder, and gooder, and gooder. Every day 00:14:02.990 --> 00:14:05.509 that comes and every day that goes by, the blessings 00:14:05.509 --> 00:14:10.210 of the Lord, the redeeming of my lost soul, and 00:14:10.210 --> 00:14:13.389 the cleansing and purging of my wretched sin 00:14:13.389 --> 00:14:17.009 is the start to everything. We think that's the 00:14:17.009 --> 00:14:19.649 fullness of it. No, that's just the beginning 00:14:19.649 --> 00:14:23.429 of it. God has so many other new things that 00:14:23.429 --> 00:14:25.889 he wants to bring into our life, but you and 00:14:25.889 --> 00:14:32.600 I must refuse. To focus on that what was. As 00:14:32.600 --> 00:14:35.259 we begin this new year, we do so with this emphasis, 00:14:35.460 --> 00:14:41.019 behold new things. And like last week, the first 00:14:41.019 --> 00:14:45.039 step toward those new things is that we must 00:14:45.039 --> 00:14:49.960 break unbeneficial cycles which hinder our progress 00:14:49.960 --> 00:14:53.620 in our faith and the blessings of God upon our 00:14:53.620 --> 00:14:57.080 life. And those cycles are broken when faith 00:14:57.080 --> 00:15:01.000 stops rehearsing what has been, what God has 00:15:01.000 --> 00:15:04.600 done, and begins recognizing what God is doing 00:15:04.600 --> 00:15:07.639 in the now, in the moment that he's preparing 00:15:07.639 --> 00:15:09.759 for you. your blessed hope, and your blessed 00:15:09.759 --> 00:15:13.740 future, understanding that cycles thrive on memory 00:15:13.740 --> 00:15:19.519 without revelation. Cycles thrive on memory without 00:15:19.519 --> 00:15:22.899 revelation. But I'm here to declare to you today 00:15:22.899 --> 00:15:27.779 that God still reveals his will, his way, and 00:15:27.779 --> 00:15:30.779 his word to his people. There is a reason that 00:15:30.779 --> 00:15:33.519 the Bible says blessed are those who do hunger 00:15:33.519 --> 00:15:37.639 and thirst after righteousness for they shall 00:15:37.679 --> 00:15:41.820 shall be filled. You must move beyond the memories 00:15:41.820 --> 00:15:45.659 of broken cycles and allow the grace of God to 00:15:45.659 --> 00:15:48.820 get you to propel forward in your faith and trust 00:15:48.820 --> 00:16:00.860 God because God has something new for you. It's 00:16:00.860 --> 00:16:07.419 not a rearward faith. It's a forward faith. We 00:16:07.419 --> 00:16:10.580 must concentrate on what God is endeavoring to 00:16:10.580 --> 00:16:18.440 do in our lives now. Grateful for what he has 00:16:18.440 --> 00:16:25.500 done, but what he is desiring to do now. Now 00:16:25.500 --> 00:16:32.539 faith, now faith is the substance of things hoped 00:16:32.539 --> 00:16:38.440 for, not already come through. Now faith, my 00:16:38.440 --> 00:16:41.559 forward faith, begins to break the cycles of 00:16:41.559 --> 00:16:45.120 unbeneficial things in my life. When I begin 00:16:45.120 --> 00:16:49.240 to see God before me, not just God behind me. 00:16:49.379 --> 00:16:51.200 What did the psalmist say? There's nowhere that 00:16:51.200 --> 00:16:53.639 I can go. I can descend into the lowest parts 00:16:53.639 --> 00:16:55.620 and thou art there. I can ascend to the highest 00:16:55.620 --> 00:16:57.580 of the heavens and thou art there. I can look 00:16:57.580 --> 00:16:59.460 to the right and thou art there. I can look to 00:16:59.460 --> 00:17:01.480 the left and thou art there. I can look forward 00:17:01.480 --> 00:17:04.079 and thou art there. I can look in the rear and 00:17:04.079 --> 00:17:06.420 thou art there. There's no place that I can. 00:17:06.440 --> 00:17:09.980 go and you won't be but glory to God his desire 00:17:09.980 --> 00:17:13.740 is to take you from point A to point heaven and 00:17:13.740 --> 00:17:16.619 everywhere in between is the goodness and the 00:17:16.619 --> 00:17:19.700 manifest grace of God upon your everyday life 00:17:19.700 --> 00:17:22.720 and the very moment that we refuse to focus on 00:17:22.720 --> 00:17:25.000 the cycles of the past and begin to break them 00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:28.200 with forward faith we usher ourselves and position 00:17:28.200 --> 00:17:31.819 ourselves to a place where God can open up the 00:17:31.819 --> 00:17:34.059 windows of heaven like I talked to you last week 00:17:34.059 --> 00:17:36.700 about your giving if you I want God to keep blessing 00:17:36.700 --> 00:17:39.779 you. Just keep on giving. Give more. Trust God. 00:17:39.940 --> 00:17:42.640 Try God. He said, put me to the test and see 00:17:42.640 --> 00:17:45.059 if I won't open up windows in heaven and pour 00:17:45.059 --> 00:17:47.940 you out blessings that you cannot contain. And 00:17:47.940 --> 00:17:50.839 this is another word. I didn't get on it. I should 00:17:50.839 --> 00:17:53.720 have. And he declared that I will rebuke the 00:17:53.720 --> 00:17:57.440 devourer for your sake. My God, for some of us, 00:17:57.460 --> 00:18:00.140 it's not about getting more. It's about getting 00:18:00.140 --> 00:18:03.420 the devourer, that which consumes my resource. 00:18:04.059 --> 00:18:13.079 Rebuke. Just think about how much better we would 00:18:13.079 --> 00:18:15.519 do with what God's given us if the devil wasn't 00:18:15.519 --> 00:18:23.299 eating half of it. Devouring. Well, hallelujah. 00:18:23.299 --> 00:18:28.920 I just preached myself happy right there. Forward 00:18:28.920 --> 00:18:33.839 faith. God is reminding his people that he understands 00:18:33.839 --> 00:18:38.700 he has history with them. And they can testify 00:18:38.700 --> 00:18:43.799 about what he has done for them. However, God 00:18:43.799 --> 00:18:49.420 instructs them, remember not the former things. 00:18:50.960 --> 00:18:55.819 Refuse to allow yesterday to become the ceiling 00:18:55.819 --> 00:19:00.549 of your today or your tomorrow. God said, remember 00:19:00.549 --> 00:19:03.890 not the former thing. And if you go back from 00:19:03.890 --> 00:19:07.589 verse 1 of this 43rd chapter, it's God declaring 00:19:07.589 --> 00:19:11.309 himself. I am, I am, I am. I did this for you. 00:19:11.369 --> 00:19:13.970 I've done that for you. But he's telling them, 00:19:14.069 --> 00:19:18.849 I do not want you to reside in the former. Don't 00:19:18.849 --> 00:19:22.049 stay in what I have done for you. I know you're 00:19:22.049 --> 00:19:24.450 in captivity, but there's something that's about 00:19:24.450 --> 00:19:28.069 to transpire in your captivity, and things are 00:19:28.069 --> 00:19:30.920 about to change. And I want you to know I'm the 00:19:30.920 --> 00:19:33.819 change agent. I want you to know that I still 00:19:33.819 --> 00:19:36.720 understand where you are. I want you to know 00:19:36.720 --> 00:19:41.240 that I understand because I have sent to Babylon. 00:19:41.940 --> 00:19:52.400 Oh, come on now. He said, I've already sent dispatches. 00:19:54.700 --> 00:20:01.480 They have fallen and don't even know it. Hallelujah. 00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:07.119 Remember not the former things. Point number 00:20:07.119 --> 00:20:12.420 one. Do not step in the trap of what used to 00:20:12.420 --> 00:20:16.799 be. Do not step in the trap of what used to be. 00:20:17.339 --> 00:20:20.000 Remember not the former things. The problem with 00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:24.480 Israel and Judah, it wasn't a bad memory. It 00:20:24.480 --> 00:20:26.460 wasn't that they had forgotten God. It's that 00:20:26.460 --> 00:20:29.559 they remembered too well. And they wanted to 00:20:29.559 --> 00:20:33.180 restrain God to what he had done. They remembered 00:20:33.180 --> 00:20:35.180 the Red Sea. God's reminded them of all this. 00:20:35.279 --> 00:20:38.119 They remember the Red Sea. That's where they 00:20:38.119 --> 00:20:44.819 want to stay. Amen. They remember the manna falling 00:20:44.819 --> 00:20:48.519 from heaven. They remember the quail fluttering 00:20:48.519 --> 00:20:51.920 around their feet. They remembered a rock following 00:20:51.920 --> 00:20:54.160 them through the wilderness and water coming 00:20:54.160 --> 00:20:56.940 up out of the rock. It wasn't that they didn't 00:20:56.940 --> 00:20:58.920 remember that. It's that that's all they wanted 00:20:58.920 --> 00:21:01.039 to know and all that they understood God to be. 00:21:01.240 --> 00:21:03.500 And if it wasn't coming out of a rock, it wasn't 00:21:03.500 --> 00:21:06.180 God. God wasn't here and manna wasn't falling. 00:21:06.400 --> 00:21:09.660 It wasn't remember not the former things is what 00:21:09.660 --> 00:21:12.579 God said. God said, yes, I did that, but you 00:21:12.579 --> 00:21:15.759 need to put that beside and don't just corner 00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:19.720 me in the box of provision because I'm a. A whole 00:21:19.720 --> 00:21:22.900 lot more than simply provision. Somebody needs 00:21:22.900 --> 00:21:26.200 to understand today I know what God has done. 00:21:26.480 --> 00:21:29.000 And it's not that we don't have a memory, but 00:21:29.000 --> 00:21:31.559 that we step in the trap. Can I tell you the 00:21:31.559 --> 00:21:34.859 devil wants you to be caught in the trap of yesterday's 00:21:34.859 --> 00:21:37.500 blessings. He don't want you to understand to 00:21:37.500 --> 00:21:39.880 the fullness of the capacity of God's promise 00:21:39.880 --> 00:21:42.960 that everything he's declared is for you today. 00:21:43.299 --> 00:21:45.759 It's not just he saved you and he's done with 00:21:45.759 --> 00:21:48.720 you. No, he saved you and he walks with you. 00:21:48.779 --> 00:21:51.339 and he leads you and he guides you. And if he 00:21:51.339 --> 00:21:54.220 provided at a Red Sea crossing, if he provided 00:21:54.220 --> 00:21:56.599 manna from heaven in the midst of a wilderness, 00:21:56.779 --> 00:21:59.720 he wants you to know that he can do even better 00:21:59.720 --> 00:22:04.799 than manna. So don't constrain him to the box 00:22:04.799 --> 00:22:08.819 of yesteryear. See, let vision, let revelation, 00:22:08.819 --> 00:22:12.720 the revealing actions of God be turned loose 00:22:12.720 --> 00:22:22.880 into your faith. This is going to be a challenge 00:22:22.880 --> 00:22:28.740 to your faith. Because when you get caught in 00:22:28.740 --> 00:22:32.960 the trap of yesterday, it's comfortable. Once 00:22:32.960 --> 00:22:37.099 you start or stop squiggling trying to get out 00:22:37.099 --> 00:22:40.759 of it, the chafe heals and you're comfortable. 00:22:41.980 --> 00:22:44.380 But I'm here to tell you the comfort zone is 00:22:44.380 --> 00:22:50.019 a dangerous place. You cannot grow comfortable. 00:22:53.359 --> 00:22:55.900 Do you realize in some churches, doing what I 00:22:55.900 --> 00:22:58.740 did without telling you or asking you, there 00:22:58.740 --> 00:23:04.700 would have been mutiny on the bounty? But what 00:23:04.700 --> 00:23:06.619 a lot of them don't know is I'm catting blood. 00:23:09.019 --> 00:23:13.359 I'll take the bounty. Raise up another flag. 00:23:14.839 --> 00:23:18.619 For it's for the goodness and the glory of God. 00:23:19.230 --> 00:23:21.890 It's to the edification of the kingdom and the 00:23:21.890 --> 00:23:24.390 edification of the body of Christ. I've never 00:23:24.390 --> 00:23:27.970 took anything that wasn't desired for me or to 00:23:27.970 --> 00:23:32.109 me from a church ever. And I'm not starting now. 00:23:32.289 --> 00:23:35.839 Amen. Everything that I do, my modus operandi 00:23:35.839 --> 00:23:39.539 is for the glory of God and the edification of 00:23:39.539 --> 00:23:42.359 the people in whom he's given me charge over 00:23:42.359 --> 00:23:44.980 to serve. I want you to have beautiful things. 00:23:45.059 --> 00:23:48.200 Why? Because you are giving and your faithfulness 00:23:48.200 --> 00:23:51.039 is before you. And I want you to see it. I want 00:23:51.039 --> 00:23:53.880 you to know. I want you to understand. And when 00:23:53.880 --> 00:23:56.180 you tell people you need to come to see our church, 00:23:56.319 --> 00:23:59.220 look what the Lord is doing at Hopewell. I want 00:23:59.220 --> 00:24:01.400 you to see the blessings of God both tangibly 00:24:01.400 --> 00:24:04.650 and the unseen. as he pours out from heaven when 00:24:04.650 --> 00:24:07.430 the windows open in your life and upon this church. 00:24:07.569 --> 00:24:10.589 And it is our challenge to even do more for the 00:24:10.589 --> 00:24:15.250 kingdom of God in 26 than we did in 25. We're 00:24:15.250 --> 00:24:17.430 going to build more churches. We're going to 00:24:17.430 --> 00:24:21.369 allow the ministry of the gospel. It's not for 00:24:21.369 --> 00:24:24.589 us to allow. What we are going to do is to help 00:24:24.589 --> 00:24:27.630 facilitate the gospel to go around this world. 00:24:27.769 --> 00:24:30.490 We're going to give to those who are going and 00:24:30.490 --> 00:24:33.029 building. Build where other structures need to 00:24:33.029 --> 00:24:52.109 be built. I know there are charlatans in the 00:24:52.109 --> 00:24:57.730 church. I know that. I know there's thieves in 00:24:57.730 --> 00:25:02.779 shepherd's robes. better sense than to know that 00:25:02.779 --> 00:25:06.839 I know that's true but what you need to know 00:25:06.839 --> 00:25:12.839 is I'm not one of them hello rest assured of 00:25:12.839 --> 00:25:16.859 that I'm not saying and I tell young ministers 00:25:16.859 --> 00:25:22.680 that I have to instruct from time to time I say 00:25:22.680 --> 00:25:28.380 I do not recognize or recommend for you to apply 00:25:28.380 --> 00:25:35.859 my style of leadership A hit may not work for 00:25:35.859 --> 00:25:44.920 you. You know. You actually have to have the 00:25:44.920 --> 00:25:52.200 backbone to go with it. Which the Lord has happened 00:25:52.200 --> 00:25:59.000 to instill me with. Ain't nobody hates the devil 00:25:59.000 --> 00:26:07.599 more than your shepherd. I better move on. I 00:26:07.599 --> 00:26:09.440 felt that mad thing come up I was talking about 00:26:09.440 --> 00:26:14.079 last week. Let's get on point number. We have 00:26:14.079 --> 00:26:15.940 to take great care and not only shout about how 00:26:15.940 --> 00:26:19.619 he has healed and how he has delivered and how 00:26:19.619 --> 00:26:22.119 he has done this or he's done that. God says, 00:26:22.299 --> 00:26:26.839 if you can celebrate in what I was, and if that 00:26:26.839 --> 00:26:30.059 is all you can celebrate in is what I was, then 00:26:30.059 --> 00:26:33.230 you're going to miss what I am. The danger of 00:26:33.230 --> 00:26:37.049 nostalgia is that it forfeits the blessings of 00:26:37.049 --> 00:26:41.390 today. Nobody loves nostalgia more than I do. 00:26:41.529 --> 00:26:45.660 I love the nostalgia feel. I love it. I thrive 00:26:45.660 --> 00:26:48.599 on it in my own personal devotions, amen, and 00:26:48.599 --> 00:26:51.559 in my own personal worship. But there is a balance 00:26:51.559 --> 00:26:54.940 and a blend that must go forward because God 00:26:54.940 --> 00:26:59.720 is always. God says this, I am not going to change 00:26:59.720 --> 00:27:03.420 my nature, but I am going to change my strategy 00:27:03.420 --> 00:27:06.460 for you. I'll always be faithful. I'll always 00:27:06.460 --> 00:27:09.700 be loving. I'll always be all that I am. That 00:27:09.700 --> 00:27:12.539 will never change. But the strategy that I have 00:27:12.539 --> 00:27:15.480 for your life within my. nature and character. 00:27:15.619 --> 00:27:18.400 I'm going to reveal myself to you in different 00:27:18.400 --> 00:27:21.579 ways. Hallelujah. And my strategy for your faith 00:27:21.579 --> 00:27:23.500 is going to be different than it's ever been 00:27:23.500 --> 00:27:26.660 before because I've got some new things for you. 00:27:26.839 --> 00:27:29.119 Remember not the former things. Don't get stuck 00:27:29.119 --> 00:27:31.579 back there. I want to do something great for 00:27:31.579 --> 00:27:33.700 you today. I want to do something great for you 00:27:33.700 --> 00:27:36.099 tomorrow. I want to usher you into my goodness 00:27:36.099 --> 00:27:39.980 and grace every day of your life. Do not pigeonhole 00:27:39.980 --> 00:27:53.719 me in the box of yesterday and nostalgia. God 00:27:53.719 --> 00:28:00.700 proclaims blessing in your future. Behold. Stop. 00:28:01.480 --> 00:28:09.380 Pay attention. Look. Don't just see. I want you 00:28:09.380 --> 00:28:21.619 to look. Behold. I will. Not maybe. Not potentially. 00:28:21.640 --> 00:28:29.220 Potentially, not possibly. I will do a new thing. 00:28:29.299 --> 00:28:35.259 Not a refurbishing. Not a recycling. Not a sequel. 00:28:37.240 --> 00:28:46.480 A new thing. Red Sea faith won't get you far 00:28:46.480 --> 00:28:50.660 in a wilderness wandering. You've got to have 00:28:50.660 --> 00:28:59.740 a faith for the wilderness. A man of faith won't 00:28:59.740 --> 00:29:04.440 supply in Canaan. Because when they went in, 00:29:04.559 --> 00:29:12.319 the manna stopped. Did it not? They ate the last 00:29:12.319 --> 00:29:19.559 of the parched corn. And the manna stopped. And 00:29:19.559 --> 00:29:24.119 the quail stopped. And they were flat -footed 00:29:24.119 --> 00:29:27.559 in the promise of a land that's flowing with 00:29:27.559 --> 00:29:32.579 milk and honey. A new thing. It's a new thing. 00:29:33.220 --> 00:29:36.920 God desires to bring it about. And we must allow 00:29:36.920 --> 00:29:40.359 our faith. And you've got to know this. The Lord, 00:29:40.539 --> 00:29:44.339 Jeremiah 29, 11. For I know the thoughts concerning 00:29:44.339 --> 00:29:50.019 you toward you. you, saith the Lord, thoughts 00:29:50.019 --> 00:29:54.700 of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected 00:29:54.700 --> 00:29:59.500 end. that, God knows already what he's got in 00:29:59.500 --> 00:30:02.359 store for you. And he just wants you to get to 00:30:02.359 --> 00:30:05.059 a place where you can believe him, follow him, 00:30:05.220 --> 00:30:09.039 obey him, and trust him so that he can dispatch 00:30:09.039 --> 00:30:12.099 it into your life. He won't do it without your 00:30:12.099 --> 00:30:14.680 forward faith. He won't do it without your total 00:30:14.680 --> 00:30:18.859 100 % obedience and trust in him. This thing 00:30:18.859 --> 00:30:20.940 isn't half -hearted and that's what the problem 00:30:20.940 --> 00:30:23.839 with much of the religious world today. There 00:30:23.839 --> 00:30:27.119 are very few who are totally sold out and committed 00:30:27.119 --> 00:30:31.400 to God and loved God above and beyond any and 00:30:31.400 --> 00:30:35.180 every other thing in this world. You must understand 00:30:35.180 --> 00:30:38.240 the depth of your being when Jesus answered the 00:30:38.240 --> 00:30:41.920 accusatory question of the Pharisees, which is 00:30:41.920 --> 00:30:44.740 the greatest of the law? They were trying to 00:30:44.740 --> 00:30:47.359 really get him where they could crucify him and 00:30:47.359 --> 00:30:49.859 put him to death, but he really turned it on 00:30:49.859 --> 00:30:53.220 them. He said, this is the crux of the law, that 00:30:53.220 --> 00:30:55.680 you should love the Lord your God. God with all 00:30:55.680 --> 00:30:58.579 your heart, with all your soul, with all your 00:30:58.579 --> 00:31:00.539 mind. You've got to love him with everything 00:31:00.539 --> 00:31:03.319 that's in you. And second unto this is you've 00:31:03.319 --> 00:31:06.240 got to love your neighbor as you love yourself. 00:31:06.400 --> 00:31:08.900 I'm telling you, we don't love ourselves enough 00:31:08.900 --> 00:31:12.079 because if we did, we would truly understand 00:31:12.079 --> 00:31:14.759 that we must love God. You've got to love him 00:31:14.759 --> 00:31:17.380 more than you love your spouse. You've got to 00:31:17.380 --> 00:31:19.779 love him more than you love your children. You've 00:31:19.779 --> 00:31:23.039 got to love him more than you love your grandchildren. 00:31:23.849 --> 00:31:26.269 You've got to love him more than you love a little 00:31:26.269 --> 00:31:28.849 ship that's at your feet or in your lap. You've 00:31:28.849 --> 00:31:31.890 got to love him more than Fluffy the feline. 00:31:32.210 --> 00:31:34.950 You've got to love him more than the hobby that 00:31:34.950 --> 00:31:37.509 brings you the greatest stress relief and pleasure 00:31:37.509 --> 00:31:40.849 of your life. You've got to love him more. You've 00:31:40.849 --> 00:31:44.009 got to love him more than you love you. And the 00:31:44.009 --> 00:31:46.569 only way to do that is to fully understand the 00:31:46.569 --> 00:31:49.309 God of the yesterday is declaring in your now 00:31:49.309 --> 00:31:58.390 and present that he desires you. You read that 00:31:58.390 --> 00:32:02.730 whole 43rd chapter, you'll see that's what God's 00:32:02.730 --> 00:32:06.890 telling them about their sin, their iniquity, 00:32:06.890 --> 00:32:11.230 and everything that he's done for them. And you 00:32:11.230 --> 00:32:17.670 didn't really love me like I loved you. If you 00:32:17.670 --> 00:32:24.710 want the new things in your life for 26, you've 00:32:24.710 --> 00:32:26.430 got to stop loving some of the stuff you love. 00:32:30.199 --> 00:32:34.940 More than you loving him. I'll digress from the 00:32:34.940 --> 00:32:38.279 Bed Springs Church of God. I could preach on 00:32:38.279 --> 00:32:42.119 Bed Springs Church of God. Or Lazy Boy Bible 00:32:42.119 --> 00:32:46.660 Study on Sundays. I could talk about those things, 00:32:46.759 --> 00:32:53.460 but... I really want to, but the Lord ain't gonna 00:32:53.460 --> 00:33:03.859 let me. Any given Sunday. We should be over 200 00:33:03.859 --> 00:33:12.079 people. Over. Over. And that's subtracting those 00:33:12.079 --> 00:33:20.059 who are sick and unable or out of town or visiting 00:33:20.059 --> 00:33:22.900 to watch a grandchild be baptized. See, I'm good 00:33:22.900 --> 00:33:30.579 with that. We should be there. That's not what 00:33:30.579 --> 00:33:34.299 I'm talking about. I'm talking about them unexcused 00:33:34.299 --> 00:33:47.220 absences. And I only, look, it's not the number. 00:33:48.500 --> 00:33:54.039 Are you hearing me? I always want to know the 00:33:54.039 --> 00:34:02.180 number. Numbers represent. If God wasn't concerned 00:34:02.180 --> 00:34:05.660 about it, there wouldn't be a whole book called 00:34:05.660 --> 00:34:11.420 Numbers. He knew how many was in every tribe. 00:34:16.440 --> 00:34:20.460 The number represents how many heard and sat 00:34:20.460 --> 00:34:25.260 under where the Holy Ghost could move upon their 00:34:25.260 --> 00:34:33.659 lives. I am somewhat fully convinced that a lot 00:34:33.659 --> 00:34:36.760 of what happens in our lives, we wouldn't be 00:34:36.760 --> 00:34:39.239 so dramatic about it if we were in getting filled 00:34:39.239 --> 00:34:45.940 up consistently. We would know that it is an 00:34:45.940 --> 00:34:50.840 attack from hell and that the devil is a lie 00:34:50.840 --> 00:35:00.210 and greater is he that's actually in us. prophesy 00:35:00.210 --> 00:35:02.989 in your future. I'm going to do a new thing. 00:35:05.650 --> 00:35:13.170 Third, we got one more after this. Don't dismiss 00:35:13.170 --> 00:35:27.869 small beginnings. Behold, I will do a new thing. 00:35:33.860 --> 00:35:36.239 Now, we've talked about now a little bit already. 00:35:36.340 --> 00:35:45.840 It shall spring forth. Now, you and I, when you 00:35:45.840 --> 00:35:55.079 think of spring, you think of boing. The word 00:35:55.079 --> 00:36:00.719 is chodesh in Hebrew. It doesn't mean boing. 00:36:03.340 --> 00:36:11.480 Does it mean explosive action? It means a sprouting. 00:36:13.119 --> 00:36:22.659 You see it? It means a sprouting. It means an 00:36:22.659 --> 00:36:42.199 emerging. It means a breaking forth. The Lord 00:36:42.199 --> 00:36:46.239 said, I'm going to do something new. It's not 00:36:46.239 --> 00:36:50.239 going to be a Red Sea. It's not going to be a 00:36:50.239 --> 00:36:52.480 rock following you around with millions of gallons 00:36:52.480 --> 00:37:01.159 of water. This thing's going to ease up. But 00:37:01.159 --> 00:37:06.869 it's working. John's Gospel, I think chapter 00:37:06.869 --> 00:37:09.969 12, Jesus began to give them a parable about 00:37:09.969 --> 00:37:14.250 it. Unless a corn, a kernel corn of wheat falls 00:37:14.250 --> 00:37:22.449 into the ground and dies. I want to read it. 00:37:22.469 --> 00:37:25.289 I don't want to miss it. I can't remember it 00:37:25.289 --> 00:37:30.869 all. Verily, verily. That's like a behold. That's 00:37:30.869 --> 00:37:43.250 like a Isaiah. Behold! the corn of wheat fall 00:37:43.250 --> 00:37:52.570 into the ground and die and abideth alone but 00:37:52.570 --> 00:38:03.690 first die it bringeth forth much fruit I don't 00:38:03.690 --> 00:38:09.150 know what's about to spring up inside of you 00:38:09.150 --> 00:38:15.550 because I know there's some stuff dying. There's 00:38:15.550 --> 00:38:19.389 some stuff dying. That's the struggle you feel. 00:38:20.489 --> 00:38:23.110 That's the wrestling that you've been going through. 00:38:23.829 --> 00:38:26.809 God's getting ready to do some new stuff in you 00:38:26.809 --> 00:38:29.590 and you're uncomfortable about some stuff that 00:38:29.590 --> 00:38:32.659 you feel like dying out. There's some old interests 00:38:32.659 --> 00:38:35.639 that don't appear to interest you as much as 00:38:35.639 --> 00:38:38.199 they used to. Why? Because you see, when the 00:38:38.199 --> 00:38:41.440 kernel goes in the ground, the light, sun, shine, 00:38:41.440 --> 00:38:45.400 rays warm up the soil. And while it's warming 00:38:45.400 --> 00:38:48.099 up, that old kernel begins to get moistened up. 00:38:48.179 --> 00:38:51.619 My God, when the light of glory begins to shine 00:38:51.619 --> 00:38:54.199 and illuminate, and you're dark, covered up places 00:38:54.199 --> 00:38:57.900 of life, and you're in the miry mess, and yet 00:38:57.900 --> 00:39:00.750 you're dying. out to what's going on around you. 00:39:00.809 --> 00:39:04.630 God is stirring. The Holy Ghost is drawing. He's 00:39:04.630 --> 00:39:07.469 convicting you away from sinful pleasures and 00:39:07.469 --> 00:39:10.190 things that are not beneficial, and you're dying. 00:39:10.429 --> 00:39:14.070 My God, 26 is the year that it's going to spring 00:39:14.070 --> 00:39:18.630 forth. The Lord desires. It is His will to cause 00:39:18.630 --> 00:39:21.329 it to break forth. It's got to be groundbreaking. 00:39:31.769 --> 00:39:35.150 Where are my gardeners in the room? Where are 00:39:35.150 --> 00:39:37.030 you at? Raise your hand. Proud of it. Doesn't 00:39:37.030 --> 00:39:39.170 matter if it really works good or not, but you 00:39:39.170 --> 00:39:47.590 grow it. Try to. Were you like me? I'd go. I 00:39:47.590 --> 00:39:48.769 knew it was going to take longer than it did, 00:39:48.849 --> 00:39:50.769 but I'd go out there every morning after I put 00:39:50.769 --> 00:39:55.269 that in the ground. Every morning, early. I'm 00:39:55.269 --> 00:39:58.550 looking for it. You know what I'm saying? That 00:39:58.550 --> 00:40:02.170 one right there? No, it's just a weed. That's 00:40:02.170 --> 00:40:04.429 got three little leaves, not two. Two's corn. 00:40:04.550 --> 00:40:08.150 I know that much. So I go out there every morning 00:40:08.150 --> 00:40:11.150 looking. Because I know something's going on 00:40:11.150 --> 00:40:15.110 under the dirt. Something's going on down there. 00:40:16.030 --> 00:40:18.550 There's a transformation going on. You know you 00:40:18.550 --> 00:40:26.650 ain't nothing but a clump of dirt. Shall we go 00:40:26.650 --> 00:40:32.110 back to Genesis 1? He took the dust of the earth 00:40:32.110 --> 00:40:37.369 and he made him a good mud ball. But he didn't 00:40:37.369 --> 00:40:43.750 just leave it dirt. He breathed into that creature's 00:40:43.750 --> 00:40:47.230 nostrils. And according to the word of God, it 00:40:47.230 --> 00:40:53.949 became a living soul. He ruach. He instilled 00:40:53.949 --> 00:40:58.130 life inside it. And that dirt come up from there. 00:40:58.619 --> 00:41:00.840 I love that illustration. The scientists are 00:41:00.840 --> 00:41:03.679 saying they can now create life. And they approach 00:41:03.679 --> 00:41:06.980 God and say, God, we now have the knowledge and 00:41:06.980 --> 00:41:09.579 the understanding of how to create life. And 00:41:09.579 --> 00:41:12.820 God says, okay, make me one. And they begin to 00:41:12.820 --> 00:41:15.280 gather up their own dirt. God says, time out. 00:41:15.480 --> 00:41:22.539 Get your own dirt. When you make dirt, talk to 00:41:22.539 --> 00:41:33.650 me about making a man. Light begins to shine. 00:41:33.710 --> 00:41:36.349 The sun rays begin to warm the moistened soil, 00:41:36.550 --> 00:41:39.329 and that which has been put in must die even 00:41:39.329 --> 00:41:42.130 further. The parchment's breaking out because 00:41:42.130 --> 00:41:46.309 of the seed. Inside the seed kernel begins to 00:41:46.309 --> 00:41:49.809 sprout forth because life is coming forth. And 00:41:49.809 --> 00:41:53.570 when it comes forth, it'll bring much more fruit. 00:42:03.019 --> 00:42:04.480 That breaking up, you feeling on the inside? 00:42:04.599 --> 00:42:08.119 I hope and I'm praying that you're so uncomfortable 00:42:08.119 --> 00:42:14.539 with yesteryear's celebrations and blessings 00:42:14.539 --> 00:42:18.559 that there is an anguish starting inside your 00:42:18.559 --> 00:42:21.900 soul. Your inconsistency in your worship and 00:42:21.900 --> 00:42:25.219 with your worship and your prayer. Those inconsistencies, 00:42:25.219 --> 00:42:29.679 I'm praying, Lord, let it die in them. Let it 00:42:29.679 --> 00:42:37.230 die in them. because if it doesn't die alone, 00:42:37.630 --> 00:42:45.289 it can't come forth. So some of that stuff that 00:42:45.289 --> 00:42:47.230 you feel like is being cut away out of your life, 00:42:47.369 --> 00:42:53.449 God's trying to kill some of that stuff so that 00:42:53.449 --> 00:42:57.469 new things he can do for you in your heart and 00:42:57.469 --> 00:43:03.369 in your life. What's dying in you? God says, 00:43:03.429 --> 00:43:09.420 shall you not know it? Is this going to catch 00:43:09.420 --> 00:43:14.019 you so by surprise that you don't even realize 00:43:14.019 --> 00:43:19.059 what I'm trying to do in your life? I need to 00:43:19.059 --> 00:43:25.460 clarify some things this morning. God is good. 00:43:28.280 --> 00:43:38.139 Diablo is bad. How deep was that? I think I have 00:43:38.139 --> 00:43:42.139 to really simplify. For those of you, that's 00:43:42.139 --> 00:43:49.300 the devil. Diablo. Well, that was awful sarcastic, 00:43:49.320 --> 00:43:52.940 Pastor. I meant for it to be. Because I wanted 00:43:52.940 --> 00:43:56.000 the statement to land with the shock of a sledgehammer. 00:43:58.980 --> 00:44:02.280 Because it seems as though in Christendom we've 00:44:02.280 --> 00:44:08.309 forgotten that. That. The devil's just simply 00:44:08.309 --> 00:44:14.869 out to kill, steal, and destroy. So if that is 00:44:14.869 --> 00:44:16.789 trying to be done in your life, you hear me, 00:44:16.809 --> 00:44:22.150 child of God, that ain't God. Pardon the grammar, 00:44:22.369 --> 00:44:29.010 but it's still true. I know the thought. Was 00:44:29.010 --> 00:44:30.889 that Jeremiah 29, 11 we just read a while ago? 00:44:31.789 --> 00:44:34.889 For I know the thoughts that I have towards you, 00:44:34.909 --> 00:44:41.829 saith God. What was that next part? Good and 00:44:41.829 --> 00:44:50.010 not evil? Look here. Look right here. If it's 00:44:50.010 --> 00:44:53.510 evil, it ain't God. So quit blaming it on God. 00:44:54.170 --> 00:44:57.610 Get your head up. Take the authority that has 00:44:57.610 --> 00:45:03.130 been given unto you. Me? Yes, you. He has given 00:45:03.130 --> 00:45:06.789 it unto you. Let me quote it one more time. Greater 00:45:06.789 --> 00:45:13.889 is he that is in you than he that is in this 00:45:13.889 --> 00:45:24.849 world. Start releasing some of that that's in 00:45:24.849 --> 00:45:31.469 you and quit complaining. I saw a little meme. 00:45:31.570 --> 00:45:33.489 I started to copy and see where we could put 00:45:33.489 --> 00:45:38.780 it up here. It's in front of the desert, dry, 00:45:38.960 --> 00:45:40.880 and the little sign said, there's no whining 00:45:40.880 --> 00:45:46.059 in the wilderness. I thought, that's good right 00:45:46.059 --> 00:45:51.820 there. You need to know that God hadn't left 00:45:51.820 --> 00:45:55.320 you. He didn't stop at the border of the wilderness 00:45:55.320 --> 00:45:57.579 and say, I'll pick you up on the other side. 00:45:58.889 --> 00:46:02.309 That's not what he said. That's not what he does. 00:46:02.550 --> 00:46:05.989 The very moment your foot hits solely in the 00:46:05.989 --> 00:46:08.489 wilderness and the desert, he's standing right 00:46:08.489 --> 00:46:11.050 beside you. Matter of fact, he's going before 00:46:11.050 --> 00:46:14.909 you. He'll never, ever leave you or forsake you. 00:46:15.010 --> 00:46:22.949 So would you please? Let's let 26 be the year 00:46:22.949 --> 00:46:33.239 of I'm a believer. Yes, I am. That just popped 00:46:33.239 --> 00:46:38.739 in my head. And now that rhythm of that's in 00:46:38.739 --> 00:46:47.039 my head. I mean, wouldn't it be, wouldn't it 00:46:47.039 --> 00:46:51.039 be a sight to see people truly know when the 00:46:51.039 --> 00:46:54.099 devil's trying to destroy them and God's trying 00:46:54.099 --> 00:46:59.039 to bless them and stand in the authority that's 00:46:59.039 --> 00:47:03.820 been given to each of us. By Christ who is in 00:47:03.820 --> 00:47:07.739 you. It's not you. It's not me. It's Christ in 00:47:07.739 --> 00:47:13.460 us. Paul says which is the hope of glory. That's 00:47:13.460 --> 00:47:17.909 the reason he would declare further. He's going 00:47:17.909 --> 00:47:21.650 to do, I have not seen, ear have not heard, neither 00:47:21.650 --> 00:47:24.010 has it entered into the heart of man what God 00:47:24.010 --> 00:47:26.730 has in store and what he has laid up for those 00:47:26.730 --> 00:47:29.789 who love him. Do you see the importance of you've 00:47:29.789 --> 00:47:32.409 got to love him before you love yourself, before 00:47:32.409 --> 00:47:34.690 you love your spouse, before you love your children? 00:47:34.909 --> 00:47:37.329 And trust me, I've got five of them others. I 00:47:37.329 --> 00:47:40.170 know what it means to love grandchildren. But 00:47:40.170 --> 00:47:43.170 granny, grandpa, what greater love than you can 00:47:43.170 --> 00:47:45.670 drag their hide into church, make them sit down, 00:47:45.750 --> 00:47:51.230 behave the best you can, You can't. And demonstrate 00:47:51.230 --> 00:47:53.949 for them, first of all, honey, you've got to 00:47:53.949 --> 00:47:59.409 love God first. Shall you not know it? Is this 00:47:59.409 --> 00:48:02.269 going to happen to you and you not even realize 00:48:02.269 --> 00:48:04.190 it? It won't happen to me because I'm up every 00:48:04.190 --> 00:48:07.429 morning. I'm going out looking. And I stood down 00:48:07.429 --> 00:48:09.550 that row, and the morning when they all started 00:48:09.550 --> 00:48:12.010 coming up, I said, there it is. Why? Because 00:48:12.010 --> 00:48:15.889 it's weeds going like this. That was my row. 00:48:18.699 --> 00:48:20.940 I said, there ain't no weeds can grow like that. 00:48:21.000 --> 00:48:26.219 That's my row. Hello? It's kind of indistinguishable. 00:48:26.260 --> 00:48:28.780 Sometimes those plants, green beans, stuff like 00:48:28.780 --> 00:48:30.860 that, a little bit indistinguishable until they 00:48:30.860 --> 00:48:32.579 grow up. Unless you're Brother George and you 00:48:32.579 --> 00:48:38.460 know it on sight at 50 yards. That's okra. At 00:48:38.460 --> 00:48:43.480 this tall. I had to go look. Was that green beans 00:48:43.480 --> 00:48:46.480 or that grass? What is this coming up here? Then 00:48:46.480 --> 00:48:49.139 when I could see. Brother Ron wouldn't come lay 00:48:49.139 --> 00:48:52.480 my rose. I'd say, yeah, that's my stuff right 00:48:52.480 --> 00:48:56.420 there. It didn't come on me by surprise. I was 00:48:56.420 --> 00:49:00.760 out there every day looking for it. So that little 00:49:00.760 --> 00:49:04.139 bitty plant right there means a lot to you or 00:49:04.139 --> 00:49:06.960 should. I'd take that bulletin and put it on 00:49:06.960 --> 00:49:10.500 my refrigerator. And every morning I'd look at 00:49:10.500 --> 00:49:13.059 that when I opened that door and say, what's 00:49:13.059 --> 00:49:18.530 new today, Lord? What's breaking up today? I'm 00:49:18.530 --> 00:49:27.409 dying daily. Shall you not know it? Number four, 00:49:27.449 --> 00:49:33.449 if all seems lost, don't give up now. Don't quit 00:49:33.449 --> 00:49:38.010 now. God says, I will. Not maybe, not possibly, 00:49:38.130 --> 00:49:40.550 not a suggestion, not potentially. He said, I 00:49:40.550 --> 00:49:46.750 will. I'll make a way in the wilderness. Rivers 00:49:46.750 --> 00:49:51.730 in the desert. You've got to know that all things 00:49:51.730 --> 00:49:55.889 are possible to those who believe. How can you 00:49:55.889 --> 00:50:00.309 say that, Pastor? Because with God, nothing shall 00:50:00.309 --> 00:50:09.789 be impossible. Nothing. What's that mean? That's 00:50:09.789 --> 00:50:13.610 like all. What does all mean? Well, all. What 00:50:13.610 --> 00:50:16.650 does nothing mean? Well, that. Nothing. There's 00:50:16.650 --> 00:50:22.969 no exception. No exception. What are you dying 00:50:22.969 --> 00:50:24.929 out to today? What's going on? What wilderness 00:50:24.929 --> 00:50:28.530 do you feel like you're wandering through? He 00:50:28.530 --> 00:50:30.369 said, I'm going to make a highway right there. 00:50:32.010 --> 00:50:39.010 That's not a Gavin Newsom high -speed rail. I 00:50:39.010 --> 00:50:42.250 could not resist that. That was just too easy. 00:50:42.909 --> 00:50:46.900 That just popped right in there. Yeah, we're 00:50:46.900 --> 00:50:49.280 not spending billions and not even have the station 00:50:49.280 --> 00:50:57.159 built. God said, I will. Like a highway there. 00:50:58.179 --> 00:51:03.619 How many lanes you need? Atlanta needs at least 00:51:03.619 --> 00:51:10.940 two more and 20 more years of construction. I 00:51:10.940 --> 00:51:16.679 need a way. Don't you? I love what the Lord said. 00:51:16.780 --> 00:51:20.780 He didn't say, I'm going to cut you a path. He 00:51:20.780 --> 00:51:22.519 said, I'm going to make a highway down there. 00:51:25.280 --> 00:51:28.260 Where there are no obstructions for you as you 00:51:28.260 --> 00:51:32.099 journey through. And when that highway's going 00:51:32.099 --> 00:51:34.579 through the desert, don't worry about being thirsty. 00:51:35.500 --> 00:51:43.429 I'm going to put you a river over there. You 00:51:43.429 --> 00:51:44.929 know what the psalmist said about that tree, 00:51:45.010 --> 00:51:48.650 don't you, that's planted by the river? We sing 00:51:48.650 --> 00:51:52.750 it. I shall not be, oh, I shall not be moved. 00:51:53.409 --> 00:51:56.329 Oh, I shall not be, oh, I shall not be moved. 00:51:56.369 --> 00:52:02.309 Like a tree planted by the waters. No, I shall 00:52:02.309 --> 00:52:10.670 not be moved. Instead of singing this verse. 00:52:11.199 --> 00:52:14.199 Well, that preacher wore that striped shirt he 00:52:14.199 --> 00:52:18.139 knew I did not like. I wish I had stayed at home 00:52:18.139 --> 00:52:26.280 for gun smoke zone tonight. I'll sit right here 00:52:26.280 --> 00:52:31.440 and tend to those around me. Oh, I shall not 00:52:31.440 --> 00:52:37.099 be moved. Oh, I shall not be, oh, I shall not 00:52:37.099 --> 00:52:42.210 be moved. Oh, I shall not be moved. Though the 00:52:42.210 --> 00:52:48.570 spirit moves again. Oh, I shall not be moved. 00:53:05.110 --> 00:53:09.139 I don't want to be that. There's a couple more 00:53:09.139 --> 00:53:13.079 verses and I'll digress. One talks about, and 00:53:13.079 --> 00:53:15.400 when they pass the offering plate, I'll act like 00:53:15.400 --> 00:53:21.800 I don't see. So you say, I'm going to go on. 00:53:21.880 --> 00:53:30.699 I won't even do that. What's dying in you so 00:53:30.699 --> 00:53:34.579 that new things can break forth? It's going to 00:53:34.579 --> 00:53:39.360 have to break. You hear me? got a break for it. 00:53:40.780 --> 00:53:42.780 I looked at some of those plants as they were 00:53:42.780 --> 00:53:44.239 trying to get some of them were still kind of 00:53:44.239 --> 00:53:46.579 like bent over and the little leaf hadn't got 00:53:46.579 --> 00:53:49.739 up yet and the little stem was trying to grow 00:53:49.739 --> 00:53:53.519 up high enough to pull it free. Are you getting 00:53:53.519 --> 00:53:59.219 this? And the little green leaves were still 00:53:59.219 --> 00:54:07.769 kind of under and you have to resist. So you 00:54:07.769 --> 00:54:11.409 can see your leaves. You have to resist it. You've 00:54:11.409 --> 00:54:14.150 got to let it break forth. That's like when you 00:54:14.150 --> 00:54:18.030 see the little moth or butterfly trying to come 00:54:18.030 --> 00:54:20.929 out of the cocoon. Resist everything that's in 00:54:20.929 --> 00:54:24.630 you to help tear it. Because that tearing, that 00:54:24.630 --> 00:54:28.530 pushing away. Because it's strength. My God. 00:54:28.630 --> 00:54:31.690 See, what's dying in you and God is trying to 00:54:31.690 --> 00:54:34.969 spring forth new. It's pushing away the hindrance. 00:54:35.010 --> 00:54:37.610 And you get strong because you've got a forward 00:54:37.610 --> 00:54:40.869 faith now. I can see ahead. I can see forward. 00:54:41.010 --> 00:54:43.429 And what I thought was trying to kill me, I was 00:54:43.429 --> 00:54:46.170 just simply dying out to. Because I am refusing 00:54:46.170 --> 00:54:49.869 to be held by the nostalgia of the past blessings. 00:54:49.989 --> 00:54:53.170 Remember not the former things. Behold. Stop. 00:54:53.289 --> 00:54:56.239 Look. Take notice. I want to do something different 00:54:56.239 --> 00:55:02.539 in you. What's that mean, Pastor? It means the 00:55:02.539 --> 00:55:04.440 way you've been doing it needs to be done different. 00:55:07.940 --> 00:55:11.139 Needs to be done different. God wants to do something 00:55:11.139 --> 00:55:14.079 else in you. Stand with me. I'm going to shut 00:55:14.079 --> 00:55:26.599 her down right here. Faith. Overcomes the status 00:55:26.599 --> 00:55:29.760 quo. Remember, status quo is the same old same 00:55:29.760 --> 00:55:41.159 old. It just is. Some of you have to make a decision 00:55:41.159 --> 00:55:45.420 to die to some of those things. Whatever it is 00:55:45.420 --> 00:55:47.099 that's trying to hold you, you've got to let 00:55:47.099 --> 00:55:54.809 it go. You've got to spring up past. And you'll 00:55:54.809 --> 00:56:01.769 do that with strength in his grace. What does 00:56:01.769 --> 00:56:05.309 the Bible say? Let the weak say, I am strong. 00:56:09.489 --> 00:56:17.070 Let the weak say, I am strong. We used to sing, 00:56:17.090 --> 00:56:23.150 of course, it's a new season. It's a new day. 00:56:25.320 --> 00:56:26.699 You better play it, whatever they're going to 00:56:26.699 --> 00:56:34.820 sing. Don't drive. Coming my way. It's a season 00:56:34.820 --> 00:56:46.420 of power and prosperity. It's a new season coming 00:56:46.420 --> 00:56:51.480 for me. Let's sing it. I want you to just close 00:56:51.480 --> 00:56:52.960 your eyes and think about the Lord and what he's 00:56:52.960 --> 00:56:56.000 trying to speak into your heart today. It's a 00:56:56.000 --> 00:57:06.659 new day. Fresh anointing is flowing my way. Season 00:57:06.659 --> 00:57:12.300 of power. It's a season of power and prosperity. 00:57:12.820 --> 00:57:20.119 That one too. It's a new season coming to me. 00:57:20.119 --> 00:57:25.429 What's dying in you? What's dying in you? If 00:57:25.429 --> 00:57:27.309 there's an internal wrestling match that's been 00:57:27.309 --> 00:57:29.769 going on with you and you've not understood, 00:57:29.889 --> 00:57:32.809 we're going to get to the envelope probably next 00:57:32.809 --> 00:57:39.530 week. The theme of new things is all in the Scripture, 00:57:39.670 --> 00:57:41.989 and we're going to look at some of those. But 00:57:41.989 --> 00:57:45.889 today it's important what's dying out, that old 00:57:45.889 --> 00:57:51.010 self, some of that old nature, some unbelief. 00:57:52.939 --> 00:57:55.139 some inconsistency in whatever way, shape, form, 00:57:55.199 --> 00:57:58.199 or fashion. How many of you feel some of that 00:57:58.199 --> 00:58:00.659 stuff going on inside you? Come on down here 00:58:00.659 --> 00:58:03.760 with me. The rest of you, how many want a new 00:58:03.760 --> 00:58:05.820 day? You want something fresh from the Lord. 00:58:05.900 --> 00:58:07.599 You don't want to leave anything. You don't want 00:58:07.599 --> 00:58:10.699 to forfeit any goodness that God has for you 00:58:10.699 --> 00:58:12.260 in your life. If that's you, why don't you just 00:58:12.260 --> 00:58:14.579 come and let's just stand in these altars today. 00:58:14.639 --> 00:58:17.780 I don't want to lose out on anything that God 00:58:17.780 --> 00:58:18.159 has.