WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.480 Hallelujah. Thank you, Lord. Amen. Good to see 00:00:06.480 --> 00:00:07.780 you in the house of the Lord. If you have your 00:00:07.780 --> 00:00:10.119 Bibles, go ahead and be turning with me back 00:00:10.119 --> 00:00:14.279 to Isaiah, Isaiah 43. And as you're doing that, 00:00:14.359 --> 00:00:20.420 I want to welcome today Brother Kenneth and Sister 00:00:20.420 --> 00:00:26.679 Bobbie Walker. They are MIP students. They're 00:00:26.679 --> 00:00:29.219 in the MIP program, which is the Ministerial 00:00:29.219 --> 00:00:35.259 Internship Program. They're doing their internship 00:00:35.259 --> 00:00:39.859 at the Ocoee Church of God with Pastor Mike and 00:00:39.859 --> 00:00:44.000 Sister Sandy Whitmire. The way the program works, 00:00:44.079 --> 00:00:47.259 it's a nine -month program. They'll be assigned 00:00:47.259 --> 00:00:51.740 two visits, and we were one of those, and so 00:00:51.740 --> 00:00:55.060 I feel very... Fortunate and blessed that Dr. 00:00:55.219 --> 00:01:00.439 Lombard would trust us, amen, with their visit. 00:01:00.619 --> 00:01:03.539 And so it's good to have you, Brother Ken. This 00:01:03.539 --> 00:01:05.400 is Bobby. Good to have you all with us this morning. 00:01:05.540 --> 00:01:14.219 Amen. Make them welcome today. Hallelujah. Had 00:01:14.219 --> 00:01:17.019 a flashback of about 30 years, and I remembered 00:01:17.019 --> 00:01:24.540 our MIP visits. One. happened to be with Sister 00:01:24.540 --> 00:01:28.400 Frankie at their church when they was over at 00:01:28.400 --> 00:01:30.359 East Soddy, I think, right there at the foot 00:01:30.359 --> 00:01:32.439 of the mountain. Sister Kathy and I came, and 00:01:32.439 --> 00:01:35.939 I was talking to them that we spent that day 00:01:35.939 --> 00:01:40.159 with Brother Lee and Sister Frankie, and he asked 00:01:40.159 --> 00:01:42.420 me to preach that night, which was a great honor 00:01:42.420 --> 00:01:45.780 for me until I remembered, or actually years 00:01:45.780 --> 00:01:49.159 later, Sister Frankie, I figured it out. It was 00:01:49.159 --> 00:01:53.049 also Super Bowl Sunday. And Brother Lee just 00:01:53.049 --> 00:01:55.790 didn't want to preach that night. And so he had 00:01:55.790 --> 00:02:01.530 me do it. Which I was grateful. That was probably 00:02:01.530 --> 00:02:04.170 about the sixth or seventh time that I'd actually 00:02:04.170 --> 00:02:07.989 even preached. So I was excited. Amen. Super 00:02:07.989 --> 00:02:11.009 Bowl Sunday night or not. And we had a great 00:02:11.009 --> 00:02:13.729 visit. I always remember that. I'll always remember 00:02:13.729 --> 00:02:18.819 that. And we had our first visit. Didn't go as 00:02:18.819 --> 00:02:22.080 well as it did with Brother Lee and Sister Frankie. 00:02:23.060 --> 00:02:26.639 Pastor didn't have time for us that day. And 00:02:26.639 --> 00:02:32.979 that's a wasted day. Look, y 'all know me by 00:02:32.979 --> 00:02:38.199 now. Right? But what I was sharing with them 00:02:38.199 --> 00:02:41.039 was Sister Kathy and I made a commitment. If 00:02:41.039 --> 00:02:43.919 we were ever in that position, Brother Milton, 00:02:44.039 --> 00:02:49.039 that if people ever came. The Lord saw fit for 00:02:49.039 --> 00:02:52.199 them to sit under that we would always honor 00:02:52.199 --> 00:02:56.080 them. Amen? And make it the best day whenever 00:02:56.080 --> 00:02:58.860 they leave and they gather with their MIP students 00:02:58.860 --> 00:03:01.759 and they do this. They talk about their visits. 00:03:01.919 --> 00:03:04.539 Hopefully, Brother Kenneth, y 'all have a good 00:03:04.539 --> 00:03:07.919 report at the Hopewell Church. They're getting 00:03:07.919 --> 00:03:13.639 barbecued today on us. That'll be worth a trip 00:03:13.639 --> 00:03:18.629 anyway. All right, let's take a deep breath together 00:03:18.629 --> 00:03:22.509 and get ready to dive in. So, you clock watchers, 00:03:22.509 --> 00:03:25.389 it is 11 .23. You can officially start my time 00:03:25.389 --> 00:03:37.909 now. Isaiah 43. We'll just read 18 and 19. Isaiah 00:03:37.909 --> 00:03:41.169 43, 18, 19. But you'll need to read the entirety 00:03:41.169 --> 00:03:42.830 of this chapter. How many of you have read it 00:03:42.830 --> 00:03:47.889 since we've been out? Good. Verse 18 reads, Remember 00:03:47.889 --> 00:03:50.389 not the former things, neither consider the things 00:03:50.389 --> 00:03:57.050 of old. Behold, I will do a new thing. Now it 00:03:57.050 --> 00:04:00.150 shall spring forth, shall you not know it. I 00:04:00.150 --> 00:04:02.469 will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers 00:04:02.469 --> 00:04:07.590 in the desert. I want to refresh our mindset 00:04:07.590 --> 00:04:13.610 toward this new year. Today is exactly one month. 00:04:14.379 --> 00:04:18.779 since the last time I preached. So prepare yourselves. 00:04:20.920 --> 00:04:24.399 If you just get where you can't endure no more, 00:04:24.660 --> 00:04:27.439 if you've pre -ordered barbecue, they'll be waiting 00:04:27.439 --> 00:04:30.980 and you can get it and go on to the house. But 00:04:30.980 --> 00:04:35.560 I am going to take my time this morning and just 00:04:35.560 --> 00:04:40.009 preach. I think we need a refresher. Of what 00:04:40.009 --> 00:04:42.290 the Lord's emphasis is and what the Spirit wants 00:04:42.290 --> 00:04:44.670 to emphasize in our hearts and lives for the 00:04:44.670 --> 00:04:49.730 new year. Amen. So we're going back. How many 00:04:49.730 --> 00:04:52.910 was here the second Sunday of January? Was that 00:04:52.910 --> 00:04:57.610 your shift? Okay. So we're going to be, if the 00:04:57.610 --> 00:05:02.649 second Sunday is your Sunday, behold new things. 00:05:03.370 --> 00:05:07.730 That's what I have felt in my heart. It's probably 00:05:07.730 --> 00:05:10.889 October or November when we were here looking 00:05:10.889 --> 00:05:14.110 at getting all this stuff in mind and focusing 00:05:14.110 --> 00:05:16.689 and doing some things. And just walking through, 00:05:16.829 --> 00:05:19.110 the Lord just laid this on my heart. This is 00:05:19.110 --> 00:05:23.110 what I want you to emphasize for 2026. is behold 00:05:23.110 --> 00:05:25.970 new things. And it's not what we can bring about 00:05:25.970 --> 00:05:28.610 new in our own lives, but what it is that God 00:05:28.610 --> 00:05:32.269 desires new for you. I'll pray for you if you 00:05:32.269 --> 00:05:34.410 pray for me, and we'll make this as expedient 00:05:34.410 --> 00:05:40.129 as possible. Just so you know, I have tried to 00:05:40.129 --> 00:05:43.389 get a hold of myself with some of the ramblings 00:05:43.389 --> 00:05:47.329 that take place during my preaching. I'm trying 00:05:47.329 --> 00:05:49.910 to get a hold of that. And trying to check it 00:05:49.910 --> 00:05:52.490 in. It is not my intention to go for an hour 00:05:52.490 --> 00:05:55.069 every time. I promise you. So I'm going to try 00:05:55.069 --> 00:06:00.790 to stop what I'm doing now. And focus more on 00:06:00.790 --> 00:06:04.170 the preaching from here on. Okay? Let's pray. 00:06:04.269 --> 00:06:05.730 Father, we love you. We thank you for your goodness 00:06:05.730 --> 00:06:07.350 and your mercy. And the abundance of your grace 00:06:07.350 --> 00:06:10.149 and love toward us. God, you know I need your 00:06:10.149 --> 00:06:12.089 help. If I'm going to cut that stuff out, it's 00:06:12.089 --> 00:06:15.069 got to be you. So you help me today. Lord, that 00:06:15.069 --> 00:06:17.810 we be expedient with the timing of your people, 00:06:17.889 --> 00:06:20.250 Lord. I take it not for granted, but neither 00:06:20.250 --> 00:06:23.670 do I take for granted the atmosphere that we're 00:06:23.670 --> 00:06:26.889 in now. I have longed for and I have missed it 00:06:26.889 --> 00:06:29.649 so desperately. Lord, to stand in the pulpit, 00:06:29.730 --> 00:06:32.810 I'm feeling my heart's leaping. My breath is 00:06:32.810 --> 00:06:36.209 short because it's been a while and I don't want 00:06:36.209 --> 00:06:39.509 to mess up, Lord. So you use me today as we surrender 00:06:39.509 --> 00:06:43.589 our ears, our hearts to your word and your spirit. 00:06:44.329 --> 00:06:46.589 In Jesus' mighty name, tell your neighbor it's 00:06:46.589 --> 00:06:54.970 time for something new. Often we quote a phrase, 00:06:55.069 --> 00:06:57.430 it's what great things he has done. And truly, 00:06:57.649 --> 00:07:00.990 the Lord has done great things in our lives. 00:07:01.050 --> 00:07:03.910 Amen. Each of us, if we'll stop and examine, 00:07:04.189 --> 00:07:07.230 no matter how young or old, we have a testimony 00:07:07.230 --> 00:07:10.790 of the goodness and the greatness of God in our 00:07:10.790 --> 00:07:14.259 lives. If you're still here, amen. Just the other 00:07:14.259 --> 00:07:15.879 Wednesday, a few Wednesday nights, one of the 00:07:15.879 --> 00:07:18.399 last ones we had, the hand of the Lord was on 00:07:18.399 --> 00:07:20.240 some of our young 'uns as they were leaving and 00:07:20.240 --> 00:07:23.000 had an accident right up here to Red Light. The 00:07:23.000 --> 00:07:25.819 hand of God, just those things sometimes we take 00:07:25.819 --> 00:07:29.629 for granted, but what great things. God has done, 00:07:29.910 --> 00:07:32.470 amen, what the Lord does. He does those things 00:07:32.470 --> 00:07:36.230 daily for us and in our life every single day. 00:07:36.410 --> 00:07:40.269 A wonderful statement, which in itself causes 00:07:40.269 --> 00:07:43.730 us to stir up a ready praise. When you think 00:07:43.730 --> 00:07:46.509 of that one thing that comes to your mind, that, 00:07:46.509 --> 00:07:48.670 man, that was a great thing the Lord does, doesn't 00:07:48.670 --> 00:07:51.129 it cause something to well up inside of you and 00:07:51.129 --> 00:07:53.670 just, whoo, hallelujah, amen? The Lord was good. 00:07:53.730 --> 00:07:56.170 He's great, and he's wonderful toward us, and 00:07:56.170 --> 00:08:00.199 it calls up. and overflowing from our heart out 00:08:00.199 --> 00:08:03.120 of the believer that flows through their mouth 00:08:03.120 --> 00:08:06.379 and giving him great honor and great glory. So 00:08:06.379 --> 00:08:09.519 we find ourselves, if we're not careful, we have 00:08:09.519 --> 00:08:14.019 to take great care. in focusing on who God is, 00:08:14.079 --> 00:08:17.779 not only what God has done for us, but who God 00:08:17.779 --> 00:08:21.560 is and what God has in store and what God desires 00:08:21.560 --> 00:08:26.839 to do in our lives. And as we remind ourselves, 00:08:26.920 --> 00:08:29.240 and it could serve as a reminder for us, that 00:08:29.240 --> 00:08:33.759 God is fully aware of everything that is concerning 00:08:33.759 --> 00:08:36.419 us. If we go back to the first Sunday of the 00:08:36.419 --> 00:08:38.500 year, remember we preached that message. What's 00:08:38.500 --> 00:08:41.389 concerning you? What is it? that God is mindful 00:08:41.389 --> 00:08:44.110 of that's going on in your life that he's going 00:08:44.110 --> 00:08:47.490 to release his great glory, his great grace into 00:08:47.490 --> 00:08:50.389 the faith that you release into him. What is 00:08:50.389 --> 00:08:53.289 it that is going on? What is concerning us? Because 00:08:53.289 --> 00:08:55.990 if we really stop and focus, there are some things 00:08:55.990 --> 00:08:59.190 that they may be in the back of our mind, but 00:08:59.190 --> 00:09:01.769 they're there. There's this subconscious gnawing 00:09:01.769 --> 00:09:05.070 that goes on, and you just can't quite put a 00:09:05.070 --> 00:09:07.269 finger on it sometimes. And then when you're 00:09:07.269 --> 00:09:10.009 sitting quietly and in a moment, come to the 00:09:10.009 --> 00:09:12.610 forefront of your mind. This is what's concerning 00:09:12.610 --> 00:09:15.149 me. This is really at the root. Have you ever 00:09:15.149 --> 00:09:17.509 heard that hurt people hurt people? Have you 00:09:17.509 --> 00:09:19.850 ever heard that statement when people are lashing 00:09:19.850 --> 00:09:23.169 out and they're being obstinate sometimes and 00:09:23.169 --> 00:09:26.230 you can't hardly be around them? Sometimes it's 00:09:26.230 --> 00:09:28.330 good to stop and say, Lord, what's really going 00:09:28.330 --> 00:09:31.250 on within them? What is happening to them? Because 00:09:31.250 --> 00:09:34.230 hurt people lash out and hurt because many times 00:09:34.230 --> 00:09:37.070 we don't know how to respond in any other way. 00:09:37.250 --> 00:09:40.159 So what is it that causes you possibly to lash 00:09:40.159 --> 00:09:42.799 out. What is concerning you? But know if there's 00:09:42.799 --> 00:09:45.639 something concerning you, it also concerns the 00:09:45.639 --> 00:09:48.919 God of glory. Amen. And that he is ever mindful 00:09:48.919 --> 00:09:53.039 of what is going on in our lives. As we have 00:09:53.039 --> 00:09:55.539 begun this year, now we're six weeks in. This 00:09:55.539 --> 00:09:59.000 is the sixth Sunday of the new year. And as we 00:09:59.000 --> 00:10:01.080 begin it, we do so with an emphasis of behold 00:10:01.080 --> 00:10:05.059 new things. And so as we stop and begin to process 00:10:05.059 --> 00:10:08.120 and step forward, the first steps towards those 00:10:08.120 --> 00:10:11.879 new things is that we have to break the unbeneficial 00:10:11.879 --> 00:10:16.139 cycles of 2025. That thing that causes just to 00:10:16.139 --> 00:10:18.879 go around and put you back in the same mode of 00:10:18.879 --> 00:10:21.960 operation. We would call it status quo. Amen. 00:10:22.139 --> 00:10:25.139 It is what it is. It's just what is, what is 00:10:25.139 --> 00:10:27.679 going on. It's the moment and the action of the 00:10:27.679 --> 00:10:31.059 moment for this alpha generation, gen alpha, 00:10:31.159 --> 00:10:38.320 it would be six, seven. There you go. That's 00:10:38.320 --> 00:10:48.700 status quo, eh? Six, seven. For you boomers, 00:10:48.700 --> 00:10:52.399 that's six of one, half a dozen of another. Just 00:10:52.399 --> 00:11:00.279 so you know I can bridge the chasm. It's what's 00:11:00.279 --> 00:11:03.500 transpiring at the very moment. But we have to 00:11:03.500 --> 00:11:06.139 know that in order to step forward, the goodness 00:11:06.139 --> 00:11:08.360 of God and the new things that God has in store 00:11:08.360 --> 00:11:12.080 for us, we have to break unbeneficial cycles. 00:11:12.399 --> 00:11:14.399 And if you remember, we talked about prayerlessness. 00:11:14.600 --> 00:11:17.179 If you want God to do something new in your life, 00:11:17.259 --> 00:11:18.539 you're going to have to start doing something 00:11:18.539 --> 00:11:23.370 new in your life. If you're absent prayer, don't 00:11:23.370 --> 00:11:26.070 expect God to move where there is no seed being 00:11:26.070 --> 00:11:28.950 sown. You've got to pray. If you want God to 00:11:28.950 --> 00:11:31.669 break up new things into your life, then you've 00:11:31.669 --> 00:11:33.929 got to learn to get into the Word of the living 00:11:33.929 --> 00:11:36.870 God and let the Word of God sprout new hope, 00:11:36.909 --> 00:11:40.029 new faith, new life inside of you. If you're 00:11:40.029 --> 00:11:41.830 not doing those things, you've got to break some 00:11:41.830 --> 00:11:44.669 unbeneficial cycles and allow the grace and the 00:11:44.669 --> 00:11:47.309 glory of God. You must remember this one thing, 00:11:47.429 --> 00:11:52.070 that cycles thrive on memory. Revelation. Cycles. 00:11:52.750 --> 00:11:55.509 Oh, Lord, it's memory without revelation. We 00:11:55.509 --> 00:11:58.190 can remember, but there's no insight as to how 00:11:58.190 --> 00:12:00.590 to move and past and beyond. But know this, God 00:12:00.590 --> 00:12:05.029 does not desire that you stay in a state of status 00:12:05.029 --> 00:12:08.330 quo. God wants us moving forward continually. 00:12:08.549 --> 00:12:11.269 The only time he wants you in the same position 00:12:11.269 --> 00:12:14.309 is when he stops and you stop with him. Don't 00:12:14.309 --> 00:12:16.370 you remember we sung about the cloud this morning? 00:12:16.450 --> 00:12:19.840 When the cloud moves, you move. Amen. When the 00:12:19.840 --> 00:12:22.460 cloud stops, you pitch a tent. That's all I'm 00:12:22.460 --> 00:12:25.039 looking for is which way is the cloud moving. 00:12:25.299 --> 00:12:28.460 If the cloud's moving, I do not desire to be 00:12:28.460 --> 00:12:31.100 left behind because I know this one thing. If 00:12:31.100 --> 00:12:34.139 God is leading me forward and I stay in the status 00:12:34.139 --> 00:12:37.440 quo, then the cycles of unbeneficial acts in 00:12:37.440 --> 00:12:40.039 my life will never be broken. But when the Spirit 00:12:40.039 --> 00:12:43.389 of God... begins to move and begins to lead me 00:12:43.389 --> 00:12:46.289 forward. Then it tells me that God has something 00:12:46.289 --> 00:12:48.529 new for me. What did the psalmist say in 23? 00:12:48.830 --> 00:12:51.429 He's going to lead us beside still waters. He's 00:12:51.429 --> 00:12:53.629 going to lead us into greener pastures. You've 00:12:53.629 --> 00:12:56.549 fed where you are quite long enough, and he's 00:12:56.549 --> 00:12:59.350 ready to take you in to some greener pastures. 00:12:59.409 --> 00:13:02.129 If you've been in turmoil and torment, he's ready 00:13:02.129 --> 00:13:04.870 to take you beside the still water and cause 00:13:04.870 --> 00:13:11.600 you to rest. Hallelujah. Always remember Hebrews 00:13:11.600 --> 00:13:14.240 11 and 1, now faith is a substance of things. 00:13:14.379 --> 00:13:17.580 Now, this behold new things, we have to understand 00:13:17.580 --> 00:13:22.580 what are things. What is a thing? By definition, 00:13:22.639 --> 00:13:29.840 a thing is an object that one need not, cannot, 00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:38.120 or does not wish to give a specific name. I begin 00:13:38.120 --> 00:13:40.840 to mull that over in my head. Y 'all know what 00:13:40.840 --> 00:13:43.059 mull it over is, right? Okay, I just want to 00:13:43.059 --> 00:13:45.960 make sure. I begin to mull that definition over. 00:13:46.620 --> 00:13:49.220 It's one thing, and I really didn't dive into 00:13:49.220 --> 00:13:52.879 that four weeks ago. So this is fresh for me 00:13:52.879 --> 00:13:55.159 as well as I begin to look into the thought behind 00:13:55.159 --> 00:13:59.240 the definition itself. Behold new things. Behold 00:13:59.240 --> 00:14:08.159 something that I cannot or that I wish not. Put 00:14:08.159 --> 00:14:11.460 a specific name or title to. There are some things 00:14:11.460 --> 00:14:16.509 I don't want around long enough to name it. Oh, 00:14:16.529 --> 00:14:19.210 come on, somebody. There's some things and some 00:14:19.210 --> 00:14:22.409 cycles in my life that I don't want to stay around 00:14:22.409 --> 00:14:25.110 long enough to name it. That's the reason most 00:14:25.110 --> 00:14:28.049 goldfish have one name. And when they float up 00:14:28.049 --> 00:14:30.029 the next one, you just call it the same thing 00:14:30.029 --> 00:14:31.990 because it don't want to last much longer either. 00:14:32.190 --> 00:14:34.710 Amen. There's some things in my life that have 00:14:34.710 --> 00:14:36.570 transpired. There's some things that the enemy 00:14:36.570 --> 00:14:39.870 brings around to and against me that I don't 00:14:39.870 --> 00:14:41.629 want hanging around long enough to give it a 00:14:41.629 --> 00:14:44.490 name. Because once you give it a name, it becomes 00:14:44.490 --> 00:14:47.639 a pet. I love. what the author of Hebrews says. 00:14:47.779 --> 00:14:50.940 Now let us lay aside the weight and every sin 00:14:50.940 --> 00:14:54.360 that does set ourself against us. I'm ready to 00:14:54.360 --> 00:14:56.659 put some things off, aren't you? I'm ready to 00:14:56.659 --> 00:14:58.879 lay aside some stuff. Because when you begin 00:14:58.879 --> 00:15:01.460 to name it, it becomes attached to you. And there's 00:15:01.460 --> 00:15:04.080 some things that are going on that I definitely 00:15:04.080 --> 00:15:06.919 do not wish to be attached to me. But there's 00:15:06.919 --> 00:15:09.600 some things that I also cannot label. There's 00:15:09.600 --> 00:15:11.639 some things that I cannot name. And that's the 00:15:11.639 --> 00:15:14.639 goodness of the Lord. I cannot begin to describe 00:15:14.639 --> 00:15:18.529 to you. What it is that he's doing. Such great 00:15:18.529 --> 00:15:21.370 grace and the marvel of his trust that is being 00:15:21.370 --> 00:15:24.950 released into our lives every day. He never ceases 00:15:24.950 --> 00:15:28.190 to amaze. And I don't want to put a name on it. 00:15:29.129 --> 00:15:33.850 Simply because I cannot. What's God doing with 00:15:33.850 --> 00:15:35.710 you? Well, I just really can't describe it to 00:15:35.710 --> 00:15:42.350 you. People say, well, I just don't know how. 00:15:42.529 --> 00:15:48.250 I say, well, I can't tell you how either. Oh, 00:15:48.289 --> 00:15:50.450 you'd be amazed. People call and text, well, 00:15:50.570 --> 00:15:52.289 we're praying for you. Well, thank you, we need 00:15:52.289 --> 00:15:54.350 it. I was telling Sister Barbara this morning, 00:15:54.409 --> 00:15:56.850 she stopped by the office and sharing some things 00:15:56.850 --> 00:15:58.350 and she's getting relieved. I want you to know 00:15:58.350 --> 00:16:00.409 that I pray every day for you and Sister Kathy. 00:16:00.850 --> 00:16:02.809 And I said, thank you, we need it. And I said, 00:16:02.830 --> 00:16:06.409 I used to say this, we need to pray and you need 00:16:06.409 --> 00:16:14.299 to practice. Come on, somebody. I need the prayer 00:16:14.299 --> 00:16:16.899 and you need the practice. So if you'll practice 00:16:16.899 --> 00:16:19.000 praying for me when the time comes for you need 00:16:19.000 --> 00:16:23.100 to intercede for yourself, you'll be well orientated 00:16:23.100 --> 00:16:25.620 with the manner of prayer. And when you come 00:16:25.620 --> 00:16:28.399 boldly to the throne of grace, God won't have 00:16:28.399 --> 00:16:31.340 a problem recognizing your need because you've 00:16:31.340 --> 00:16:33.879 brought somebody else's need before you. And 00:16:33.879 --> 00:16:36.059 he'll have no problem answering you. And he's 00:16:36.059 --> 00:16:38.100 going to do some new things in your life that 00:16:38.100 --> 00:16:41.779 you cannot, will not, wish not, and no way fathomable 00:16:41.779 --> 00:16:44.700 possible. Put a label on it. That's what I'm 00:16:44.700 --> 00:16:47.659 talking about. Behold a new thing. I want God 00:16:47.659 --> 00:16:50.480 to do some things in your life that you simply 00:16:50.480 --> 00:16:53.620 cannot label, that you are at a loss of words 00:16:53.620 --> 00:16:57.559 for. Now faith is a substance of things. Hope 00:16:57.559 --> 00:17:00.600 for something that I can't label, something that 00:17:00.600 --> 00:17:06.859 I cannot mark. It's the evidence of things that 00:17:06.859 --> 00:17:19.839 I cannot see. I don't want this junk that I can 00:17:19.839 --> 00:17:21.960 see because I definitely don't want this stuff 00:17:21.960 --> 00:17:27.539 sticking to me. So I refuse to name it and label 00:17:27.539 --> 00:17:32.380 it. You know how it is. How many of you folks 00:17:32.380 --> 00:17:34.259 ever had stray dogs or cats come around your 00:17:34.259 --> 00:17:42.240 place? Dad's words. Do not feed that animal. 00:17:46.690 --> 00:17:49.549 Don't give it any scraps. Run that thing out 00:17:49.549 --> 00:17:54.150 of the yard. Why? Because the moment you feed 00:17:54.150 --> 00:18:01.910 it, it begins to take up residence. Oh, come 00:18:01.910 --> 00:18:06.930 on now. I'm about to preach right here. And the 00:18:06.930 --> 00:18:13.410 moment it takes up residence, well, I guess we 00:18:13.410 --> 00:18:23.369 got to name it. So when the old devil starts 00:18:23.369 --> 00:18:29.849 showing up on your doorstep, don't feed it. When 00:18:29.849 --> 00:18:32.490 he starts creeping into your mind with the evil 00:18:32.490 --> 00:18:36.170 of the age and the evil of the day, and he begins 00:18:36.170 --> 00:18:38.869 to sow seeds of doubt, honey, don't you dare 00:18:38.869 --> 00:18:43.009 feed it. Because once you feed it, you've got 00:18:43.009 --> 00:18:45.670 to name it, and when you name it, you own it. 00:18:55.470 --> 00:18:58.190 The very moment you begin to confess things over 00:18:58.190 --> 00:19:00.170 your own life, honey, you've named it and you're 00:19:00.170 --> 00:19:04.930 starting to own it. Well, I'm depressed, are 00:19:04.930 --> 00:19:11.410 you? Well, you've named it. Since you've named 00:19:11.410 --> 00:19:21.349 it, you might as well pet it. Because you own 00:19:21.349 --> 00:19:31.890 it now. What have you been petting? What have 00:19:31.890 --> 00:19:39.890 you been feeding? Let's try some things according 00:19:39.890 --> 00:19:42.730 to the word of God. Speak to things that are 00:19:42.730 --> 00:19:47.029 not as though they were and the things that are 00:19:47.029 --> 00:19:50.609 as though they won't be. That's the water's parallel 00:19:50.609 --> 00:19:54.950 at the end. That's like Brother Swaggart's old, 00:19:55.029 --> 00:19:59.839 his version of his Bible, his own little. Commentary 00:19:59.839 --> 00:20:08.119 on it. That's my commentary on that. I have no 00:20:08.119 --> 00:20:11.460 desire to feed some of the things the enemy tries 00:20:11.460 --> 00:20:15.880 to bring to my doorstep. Reality is enough. I've 00:20:15.880 --> 00:20:18.440 told you before. I'm not an optimist. I'm not 00:20:18.440 --> 00:20:23.579 a pessimist. I am a realist. One of the statements 00:20:23.579 --> 00:20:27.059 that kindly, it's like that 6 -7 thing. It can 00:20:27.059 --> 00:20:29.599 make your skin kindly crawl every time you hear, 00:20:29.680 --> 00:20:36.440 well, it is what it is. Well, it is as long as 00:20:36.440 --> 00:20:42.059 you let it be what it is. Well, there's some 00:20:42.059 --> 00:20:47.539 things I cannot change. Agreed. Agreed. But nothing 00:20:47.539 --> 00:20:51.180 is impossible with him. Nothing is impossible 00:20:51.180 --> 00:20:54.160 with God, and nothing is impossible with those 00:20:54.160 --> 00:20:56.579 who believe. When you begin to declare by faith, 00:20:56.640 --> 00:20:58.440 yeah, you may have to walk through some of it, 00:20:58.460 --> 00:21:00.779 but I'm here to tell you, a stray dog of the 00:21:00.779 --> 00:21:02.799 enemy gets close enough to me, it's going to 00:21:02.799 --> 00:21:06.220 get rocked and sent down the road. Now, he may 00:21:06.220 --> 00:21:08.720 show back up, but he won't show back up because 00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:12.160 I put out a pile of feed. I'm resisting him with 00:21:12.160 --> 00:21:15.539 every ounce and fiber of faith and grace that 00:21:15.539 --> 00:21:17.900 exists within me. I'm putting him to flight. 00:21:18.039 --> 00:21:21.279 Why? Because I draw not. Because when I draw 00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:24.380 nigh unto God, he draws nigh unto me. And when 00:21:24.380 --> 00:21:28.200 I resist the devil, he must flee from me. Why? 00:21:28.460 --> 00:21:31.519 Because I invoke the authority that's in the 00:21:31.519 --> 00:21:42.319 name of Jesus Christ. See, this is brand new. 00:21:44.380 --> 00:21:55.089 Behold, a new sermon from the old. New things 00:21:55.089 --> 00:22:01.289 never come from maintaining the status quo. Status 00:22:01.289 --> 00:22:07.430 quo is simply what it is at the moment. That 00:22:07.430 --> 00:22:12.150 is not God's desire for my and your life to remain 00:22:12.150 --> 00:22:17.670 in status quo. Well, how can you say that? Because 00:22:17.670 --> 00:22:25.809 He is not a status quo God. If his mercies, according 00:22:25.809 --> 00:22:30.950 to lamentation, are new every morning, that's 00:22:30.950 --> 00:22:36.509 not status quo. It's different. I cannot put 00:22:36.509 --> 00:22:39.829 a defining statement on his mercy for today. 00:22:39.890 --> 00:22:42.630 Already I've encountered, and this very moment, 00:22:42.750 --> 00:22:46.730 I am experiencing his marvelous mercy. New, it's 00:22:46.730 --> 00:22:49.789 fresh, it's for today. It's like the manna that 00:22:49.789 --> 00:22:52.750 falls from heaven. Why do you think the Lord 00:22:52.750 --> 00:22:55.670 said, you can't eat that stuff, but one time 00:22:55.670 --> 00:22:58.470 it'll only last for one extra day, and that's 00:22:58.470 --> 00:23:01.670 when you gather for the Sabbath? Every other 00:23:01.670 --> 00:23:03.710 day, it's going to have worms in it when you 00:23:03.710 --> 00:23:06.789 get up in the morning. I want you to have new. 00:23:07.809 --> 00:23:11.130 I want you to have fresh every day. So we have 00:23:11.130 --> 00:23:13.750 faith to faith. We have grace to grace. We have 00:23:13.750 --> 00:23:16.990 glory to glory. Glory. Faith on top of faith. 00:23:17.150 --> 00:23:20.430 Grace up on top of grace. Glory on behalf of 00:23:20.430 --> 00:23:23.789 glory. The infinite waves of his glory. They 00:23:23.789 --> 00:23:27.990 are new every day. His faith in us is bound by 00:23:27.990 --> 00:23:30.970 his grace to you. My Lord, and as long as you 00:23:30.970 --> 00:23:33.890 trust his grace, it's to you. His faith for you 00:23:33.890 --> 00:23:36.029 will lift you up and carry you beyond because 00:23:36.029 --> 00:23:39.589 your faith truly is in him and his abundance 00:23:39.589 --> 00:23:44.930 of grace. New things. Woo! Hey, neighbor, let's 00:23:44.930 --> 00:23:48.950 have something new. Well, three of us are going 00:23:48.950 --> 00:23:50.609 to have it. The rest of you, got to help get 00:23:50.609 --> 00:23:55.329 your mind made up. Now, see, right here is one 00:23:55.329 --> 00:23:56.750 of those moments I was talking about earlier. 00:23:59.750 --> 00:24:02.630 I mean, we could go down a little road right 00:24:02.630 --> 00:24:08.009 there, but I'm not going to do that. We get through 00:24:08.009 --> 00:24:09.609 this introduction, we'll preach this message. 00:24:11.789 --> 00:24:13.329 Matter of fact, let's go ahead with point number 00:24:13.329 --> 00:24:17.170 one. refuse to step in the trap of what used 00:24:17.170 --> 00:24:23.750 to be. Refuse to step in the trap of what used 00:24:23.750 --> 00:24:27.529 to be. Verse 18, remember not the former things. 00:24:29.289 --> 00:24:31.410 Israel's problem wasn't that they forgot God, 00:24:31.509 --> 00:24:33.069 it's that they just couldn't forget what God 00:24:33.069 --> 00:24:37.309 had done. They couldn't trust him enough to do 00:24:37.309 --> 00:24:39.029 new things. And the whole time he's trying to 00:24:39.029 --> 00:24:41.569 do something new, they're still hung up at a 00:24:41.569 --> 00:24:44.420 Red Sea crossing, which, by the way, That's a 00:24:44.420 --> 00:24:47.640 place to get hung up. Man, I can't get over that. 00:24:47.720 --> 00:24:51.980 Did you see that? Man, the ground was dry. Boy, 00:24:51.980 --> 00:24:56.160 it was, wasn't it? He's trying to get you into 00:24:56.160 --> 00:24:59.079 a promised land, and you're still amazed at the 00:24:59.079 --> 00:25:06.759 dry ground. He's trying to get you to feast on 00:25:06.759 --> 00:25:09.900 milk and honey, and you're looking up, where 00:25:09.900 --> 00:25:14.799 are the manna for today? I sure would have looked 00:25:14.799 --> 00:25:19.099 out for some quail eggs. Smoke us some quail 00:25:19.099 --> 00:25:23.619 wings. Boy, I miss the quail. What about those 00:25:23.619 --> 00:25:31.180 grapes? What about the cluster of promise? And 00:25:31.180 --> 00:25:33.259 the two that were left were thinking, if y 'all 00:25:33.259 --> 00:25:38.059 would come on. Joshua and Caleb, if y 'all would 00:25:38.059 --> 00:25:44.170 come on, I'll show you something. We've seen 00:25:44.170 --> 00:25:48.410 it. We've seen what God wants to do. Oh, come 00:25:48.410 --> 00:25:52.029 on now. We have lived and encountered and experienced 00:25:52.029 --> 00:25:55.410 what God has done. Pharaoh dying in the Red Sea 00:25:55.410 --> 00:25:59.009 was marvelous. But there's giants over there 00:25:59.009 --> 00:26:05.609 that he wants to have to fall at your feet. I 00:26:05.609 --> 00:26:10.900 don't know about that. Giants, you say? Them 00:26:10.900 --> 00:26:12.839 other ten cowards, oh, we were like grasshoppers 00:26:12.839 --> 00:26:17.720 in our own eyes. Well, there you go. Keep speaking 00:26:17.720 --> 00:26:24.220 it over yourself. Huh? There it is. They named 00:26:24.220 --> 00:26:28.160 it. Fear showed up and they gave it a name. They 00:26:28.160 --> 00:26:31.339 labeled it and began to feed it and fed it to 00:26:31.339 --> 00:26:36.420 everyone around them. Joshua and Caleb jumps 00:26:36.420 --> 00:26:41.980 up and says, no. We are more than able. Why? 00:26:42.099 --> 00:26:44.400 Because you missed the concept of getting out 00:26:44.400 --> 00:26:47.259 of Egypt. You missed the concept of the Red Sea. 00:26:47.519 --> 00:26:49.839 You missed the concept of the manna. You missed 00:26:49.839 --> 00:26:52.259 the concept of the quail. You missed the concept 00:26:52.259 --> 00:26:55.019 of water flowing out of the rock. God was demonstrating 00:26:55.019 --> 00:26:57.680 to you that when he got us over here, he's more 00:26:57.680 --> 00:27:00.400 than enough and more than able if we'll allow 00:27:00.400 --> 00:27:12.180 him by faith. Remember not the former things. 00:27:13.660 --> 00:27:17.279 Why? Because in our personal lives, we're new 00:27:17.279 --> 00:27:21.140 creatures. I hope you are. I hope you're a new 00:27:21.140 --> 00:27:25.759 creature. If you're not, you need to have a new 00:27:25.759 --> 00:27:30.500 encounter. Behold, old things pass away. Behold, 00:27:30.519 --> 00:27:32.740 all things become new. We become new creatures. 00:27:33.720 --> 00:27:42.619 New creations in Christ. Pastor Brown and I have 00:27:42.619 --> 00:27:44.220 been discussing a lot, and I've been discussing 00:27:44.220 --> 00:27:50.000 with others the influence of social media on 00:27:50.000 --> 00:27:55.480 the church and the effects in the church and 00:27:55.480 --> 00:28:00.220 how it affects it. I don't know how it affects 00:28:00.220 --> 00:28:03.920 you, but I've allowed it to kind of suck me in. 00:28:04.079 --> 00:28:09.519 It's a vortex. It'll suck you in. But at the 00:28:09.519 --> 00:28:11.819 same time, I try to... Wanted to try to keep 00:28:11.819 --> 00:28:15.799 my thumb on the pulse, or at least that's an 00:28:15.799 --> 00:28:21.779 excuse, I guess. I guess you could get down to 00:28:21.779 --> 00:28:23.539 the concept, the world's evil, it's always going 00:28:23.539 --> 00:28:25.220 to be evil, and the evil's always going to try 00:28:25.220 --> 00:28:28.019 to creep itself into the church. But I guess 00:28:28.019 --> 00:28:33.579 it helps to kind of know how it's slipping in. 00:28:36.019 --> 00:28:42.000 There seems to be a dilution of faith. There 00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:45.440 appears to me to be a desire to dilute the purity 00:28:45.440 --> 00:28:48.960 of the blood of Jesus Christ and the requirement 00:28:48.960 --> 00:28:51.519 of those who claim its application to their life 00:28:51.519 --> 00:29:00.559 because of platform. Let me tell you something. 00:29:03.119 --> 00:29:04.859 Bitter and sweet water, according to the word 00:29:04.859 --> 00:29:11.380 of God, cannot come from the same fountain. We 00:29:11.380 --> 00:29:15.420 are in this world, but we've been called out 00:29:15.420 --> 00:29:18.980 of darkness into his marvelous light so that 00:29:18.980 --> 00:29:24.019 we no longer are of this world. The actions and 00:29:24.019 --> 00:29:26.920 behaviors of our life should be in alignment 00:29:26.920 --> 00:29:32.740 in accordance to the word of God. And the celebrity 00:29:32.740 --> 00:29:35.079 Christendom, the devil would like nothing more 00:29:35.079 --> 00:29:38.640 than that to sweep across from border to border 00:29:38.640 --> 00:29:42.160 of every nation around this world. Why? Because 00:29:42.160 --> 00:29:48.400 there's no separation required. There's no holiness 00:29:48.400 --> 00:29:59.099 demanded. Then it gets applauded. Nope, not by 00:29:59.099 --> 00:30:05.609 me. Makes my skin crawl, matter of fact. That 00:30:05.609 --> 00:30:08.869 the sacrifice of the Son of God is tread upon 00:30:08.869 --> 00:30:20.190 that lightly. That's the way I see it. Used to 00:30:20.190 --> 00:30:22.069 be the old adage, I don't smoke, I don't drink, 00:30:22.130 --> 00:30:23.890 I don't dip, and don't go with girls that do. 00:30:32.810 --> 00:30:36.309 That's what I'm talking about. When you live 00:30:36.309 --> 00:30:44.589 in a place called Snuff Holler, come on. Now 00:30:44.589 --> 00:30:46.289 y 'all are about to pull me in. I'm not going 00:30:46.289 --> 00:30:55.390 to do it. You try. Lord, touch somebody. Be with 00:30:55.390 --> 00:30:58.700 someone this very moment. If it's an accident 00:30:58.700 --> 00:31:00.460 or a sickness, touch and heal. Let your divine 00:31:00.460 --> 00:31:03.720 glory be present where they are now. Watch over 00:31:03.720 --> 00:31:05.420 those who are in response, those who are going 00:31:05.420 --> 00:31:14.200 to the situation. Touch and proclaim peace. I 00:31:14.200 --> 00:31:16.119 pray that every time I hear one, no matter where 00:31:16.119 --> 00:31:17.920 it's going or what direction it's headed. Prayed 00:31:17.920 --> 00:31:19.259 it the other Wednesday night when we heard it 00:31:19.259 --> 00:31:22.940 in this sanctuary, not knowing that it was two 00:31:22.940 --> 00:31:26.420 of our very own. Prayed the hand of God quickly. 00:31:30.279 --> 00:31:35.440 We must retain the purity and the holiness of 00:31:35.440 --> 00:31:40.259 God. One thing I will not be charged with when 00:31:40.259 --> 00:31:43.079 we stand together and I give an account for your 00:31:43.079 --> 00:31:49.740 soul. They'll never read from the record of the 00:31:49.740 --> 00:31:53.940 angel that is written. You never warn them against 00:31:53.940 --> 00:31:58.579 sin and living a holy life. That's one charge. 00:31:59.630 --> 00:32:07.990 That will not be mine. You must live a separated 00:32:07.990 --> 00:32:14.470 life. Don't fall into the ploy of celebrity quote 00:32:14.470 --> 00:32:19.950 -unquote Christianity. The true heart of conversion, 00:32:20.190 --> 00:32:23.150 you will see it removed from the situations. 00:32:26.809 --> 00:32:31.950 Well, they're doing good, are they? Well, they're 00:32:31.950 --> 00:32:38.690 lifting up Jesus. Are they? Well, y 'all go watch 00:32:38.690 --> 00:32:41.210 it. I've seen enough of it. I heard what they 00:32:41.210 --> 00:32:47.410 said. Where's the fruit of the life? Are you 00:32:47.410 --> 00:32:50.230 and I not going to be judged by our fruit? Not 00:32:50.230 --> 00:32:52.829 solely along by our confession or what we say? 00:32:55.150 --> 00:32:57.769 Are our fruit not going to be what is judged 00:32:57.769 --> 00:33:02.480 by the eyes of God? In accordance to the commandments 00:33:02.480 --> 00:33:05.240 of his word, he said, if you don't follow my 00:33:05.240 --> 00:33:11.480 commandments, you have no part with me. No matter 00:33:11.480 --> 00:33:15.640 what you say. That's the reason James said, look, 00:33:15.700 --> 00:33:19.200 I will demonstrate to you my faith by my works. 00:33:19.559 --> 00:33:29.079 But my works will prove to you my faith. I pray 00:33:29.079 --> 00:33:30.779 for every one of those testimonies that I hear. 00:33:30.819 --> 00:33:33.079 I think, oh, Lord, truly convert. And then you 00:33:33.079 --> 00:33:36.640 see this other thing. You see what they say here, 00:33:36.779 --> 00:33:40.480 how they act. I think, Lord, help them. Put somebody 00:33:40.480 --> 00:33:47.759 in their path. It's just as bad to watch some 00:33:47.759 --> 00:33:52.559 Christian celebrities on TV. I got to get on. 00:34:00.880 --> 00:34:03.440 We are to remind ourselves that God is good in 00:34:03.440 --> 00:34:05.000 his faithfulness, and that's what he was telling 00:34:05.000 --> 00:34:08.340 Israel here in this 43rd chapter. I think it's 00:34:08.340 --> 00:34:11.519 20 -some -odd times in 19 verses the personal 00:34:11.519 --> 00:34:16.119 pronoun I is used. I, I, I, the Lord declaring 00:34:16.119 --> 00:34:19.190 himself. Over and over and over and over and 00:34:19.190 --> 00:34:22.130 over. And as you read it, God, I know that I've 00:34:22.130 --> 00:34:23.610 done this for you. And you know that I've done 00:34:23.610 --> 00:34:25.809 this for you. But that is not all that I wish 00:34:25.809 --> 00:34:28.829 to do for you. I have sent into Babylon. And 00:34:28.829 --> 00:34:31.369 the princes are coming down. It's already done. 00:34:31.550 --> 00:34:33.969 I've already set it into motion. It's already 00:34:33.969 --> 00:34:35.750 going to happen. I'm already going to deliver 00:34:35.750 --> 00:34:38.369 you. I told you. Did I not tell you 70 years 00:34:38.369 --> 00:34:40.630 that I'm coming after you? Time is drawing to 00:34:40.630 --> 00:34:43.329 an end. I'm coming for you. Hear this today. 00:34:43.440 --> 00:34:46.340 Today he has declared that he will come again. 00:34:46.579 --> 00:34:49.360 The Son of Man shall appear in the clouds of 00:34:49.360 --> 00:34:52.500 glory. He will return. And he said it and he 00:34:52.500 --> 00:34:55.579 will do it. And even so now my heart longs for 00:34:55.579 --> 00:35:02.800 his coming. Five minutes. I'll try to wind this 00:35:02.800 --> 00:35:07.780 down. God proclaims your future. Behold, I will 00:35:07.780 --> 00:35:10.679 do a new thing. God wants to do some things in 00:35:10.679 --> 00:35:13.780 your life that you cannot label. He wants to 00:35:13.780 --> 00:35:16.820 bless you in ways that you cannot fathom. And 00:35:16.820 --> 00:35:19.820 it's not always financially. Sometimes it is. 00:35:20.000 --> 00:35:24.500 Hallelujah. But there's more going on in life 00:35:24.500 --> 00:35:29.280 than finances. Behold, I'll do a new thing. It's 00:35:29.280 --> 00:35:32.760 a declaration. It's a promise. It's not a refurbished 00:35:32.760 --> 00:35:34.980 thing, a recycled thing. It's not a sequel. It's 00:35:34.980 --> 00:35:40.840 a new one. God says, I will never change my character 00:35:40.840 --> 00:35:46.079 and my nature. I am who I am. But my methods 00:35:46.079 --> 00:35:51.280 in your life, I wish to renew daily so that you 00:35:51.280 --> 00:35:53.659 know that I am ever mindful. I don't want the 00:35:53.659 --> 00:36:01.340 same thing every day. Sister Kathy's about to 00:36:01.340 --> 00:36:03.360 probably get tired of bacon and eggs for breakfast. 00:36:05.320 --> 00:36:07.579 I change it up every now and then I do smoked 00:36:07.579 --> 00:36:13.039 sausage and eggs. Surprised her the other day 00:36:13.039 --> 00:36:17.719 with some waffles. I could eat the bacon and 00:36:17.719 --> 00:36:21.619 eggs every day and it never bothered me. But 00:36:21.619 --> 00:36:25.500 I'm not just cooking for me. Now the shoe's on 00:36:25.500 --> 00:36:28.599 the other foot and I wondered how for 30 some 00:36:28.599 --> 00:36:35.619 odd years she was able to please me. Then I begin 00:36:35.619 --> 00:36:40.300 to think, huh. I guess I need to fix something 00:36:40.300 --> 00:36:49.639 besides. Something new. God wants to do something 00:36:49.639 --> 00:36:52.840 new for you. If there's a willingness in your 00:36:52.840 --> 00:36:56.639 life to break these unprofitable cycles of your 00:36:56.639 --> 00:36:59.599 life, things that are not bringing, he proclaims 00:36:59.599 --> 00:37:05.079 your future. Thirdly, do not. Dismiss the small 00:37:05.079 --> 00:37:09.820 things. Because God can manifest through small 00:37:09.820 --> 00:37:12.260 things in your life and they become monumental. 00:37:12.820 --> 00:37:18.960 Right? Don't miss it. So many times the Lord 00:37:18.960 --> 00:37:20.719 says, shall it not spring forth? And you remember 00:37:20.719 --> 00:37:24.219 we discussed that little word spring. We think 00:37:24.219 --> 00:37:26.860 of a spring, boing, you know, tigger, boing. 00:37:27.159 --> 00:37:31.820 That's not the implication. It's to break forth. 00:37:33.079 --> 00:37:36.000 It's to push through. It will spring like the 00:37:36.000 --> 00:37:40.099 young tender plant. Shall you not know it? It 00:37:40.099 --> 00:37:43.420 shall spring forth. Look, you've got to be watching 00:37:43.420 --> 00:37:45.480 for the simple things and the small things that 00:37:45.480 --> 00:37:48.710 God's doing in your life. so that you don't overlook. 00:37:48.869 --> 00:37:51.110 And when you begin to focus on that, how many 00:37:51.110 --> 00:37:52.409 of you have ever sat down and tried to write 00:37:52.409 --> 00:37:54.889 out the good things of God, the blessings of 00:37:54.889 --> 00:37:56.769 God in your life? And when you begin to consider 00:37:56.769 --> 00:37:57.989 one, well, you've got to think about another, 00:37:58.130 --> 00:37:59.349 and it leads to another, and it leads to another. 00:37:59.590 --> 00:38:01.550 And then when it gets down to it, it's some of 00:38:01.550 --> 00:38:04.550 the smallest, minute things, but then you begin 00:38:04.550 --> 00:38:07.630 to realize that, yes, that's God springing these 00:38:07.630 --> 00:38:09.929 things up. It's breaking forth. It's coming through. 00:38:10.030 --> 00:38:12.550 He is El Parazim, which actually is the Hebrew 00:38:12.550 --> 00:38:19.949 for the God of the breakthrough. Breakthrough. 00:38:19.949 --> 00:38:22.030 Breaking through that which is over you, trying 00:38:22.030 --> 00:38:24.650 to hold you. That's the reason Jesus said, unless 00:38:24.650 --> 00:38:27.170 a corn of wheat fall into the ground, it dieth 00:38:27.170 --> 00:38:29.489 alone. But if it falls in the ground and it is 00:38:29.489 --> 00:38:31.610 covered, then when it comes forth, it brings 00:38:31.610 --> 00:38:35.710 forth much more fruit. If you remember, I posed 00:38:35.710 --> 00:38:42.130 that question to you. What is dying in you? What 00:38:42.130 --> 00:38:44.750 is that? That uncomfortable thing that God's 00:38:44.750 --> 00:38:47.389 trying to root out so that he can cause something 00:38:47.389 --> 00:38:57.989 to spring up. Shall you not know it? Number four 00:38:57.989 --> 00:39:02.989 was if all seems lost, don't give up. I'll make 00:39:02.989 --> 00:39:06.230 a way in the wilderness, the Lord said. I'll 00:39:06.230 --> 00:39:08.590 make a way in your wilderness, rivers in your 00:39:08.590 --> 00:39:11.539 desert. You go back to the first of the chapter. 00:39:11.659 --> 00:39:14.599 This is a re -emphasis of what he told them in 00:39:14.599 --> 00:39:17.300 the first few verses. He said, you're going to 00:39:17.300 --> 00:39:19.539 walk through the fire and it's not going to burn 00:39:19.539 --> 00:39:23.159 you. You're going to go through the flood and 00:39:23.159 --> 00:39:26.820 it's not going to rush over you. One of my favorite 00:39:26.820 --> 00:39:30.059 stand it in spite of it scriptures is when the 00:39:30.059 --> 00:39:33.539 enemy comes in like a flood, he'll raise up a 00:39:33.539 --> 00:39:37.199 standard against it. That's always been one of 00:39:37.199 --> 00:39:40.739 my, my Lord, I need a standard today. I always 00:39:40.739 --> 00:39:43.760 go back to helping pops roll logs on the bed 00:39:43.760 --> 00:39:46.579 of an old two -ton truck when we was in the pulp 00:39:46.579 --> 00:39:48.940 woods. And I'd have to get out there with an 00:39:48.940 --> 00:39:51.639 old can hook and help pop roll them 12, 14, 16, 00:39:51.719 --> 00:39:54.019 18 -inch logs. We'd roll them things up, and 00:39:54.019 --> 00:39:56.260 it'd always be the hottest day when it comes 00:39:56.260 --> 00:39:58.920 loading time. And you'd have to roll them old 00:39:58.920 --> 00:40:02.559 logs up one hook at a time. And it hit that trailer 00:40:02.559 --> 00:40:04.539 because Pops always parked the truck down a little 00:40:04.539 --> 00:40:06.500 bit lower so we could roll it off and it hit 00:40:06.500 --> 00:40:08.800 and it'd roll on over. But they wouldn't roll 00:40:08.800 --> 00:40:11.079 off on the ground because Pops had a standard 00:40:11.079 --> 00:40:13.360 or two on the other side of the old truck bed. 00:40:13.559 --> 00:40:15.619 And my mind goes to that. When I feel like I'm 00:40:15.619 --> 00:40:18.500 about to roll off, I can't roll off because there's 00:40:18.500 --> 00:40:21.280 a standard waiting to catch me. When I feel like 00:40:21.280 --> 00:40:23.260 I'm getting washed away by the flood of life, 00:40:23.480 --> 00:40:25.719 I'm not getting washed away because I take hold 00:40:25.719 --> 00:40:29.179 of a standard. And the standard I take to is 00:40:29.179 --> 00:40:31.599 his faithfulness and his holiness. and his love 00:40:31.599 --> 00:40:34.239 and his joy and his grace that he bestows upon 00:40:34.239 --> 00:40:37.099 my life. I take hold of the standard of the power 00:40:37.099 --> 00:40:39.940 and the ever -presence of the Holy Ghost that 00:40:39.940 --> 00:40:43.800 resides in me. And I cannot, like a tree that's 00:40:43.800 --> 00:40:47.039 planted by the rivers of living water, I shall 00:40:47.039 --> 00:40:59.119 not be moved. Been a few times I'm holding on 00:40:59.119 --> 00:41:01.159 to that standard and my feet's flopping behind 00:41:01.159 --> 00:41:05.260 me. Then that's when I realize I don't have hold 00:41:05.260 --> 00:41:08.840 of the standard. The standard has a hold on me. 00:41:14.260 --> 00:41:17.380 He's got a hold on me. He has a hold of you, 00:41:17.480 --> 00:41:22.699 child of God. When the enemy tries to come in, 00:41:22.880 --> 00:41:32.690 he'll raise up a standard. Stand with me. 1201. 00:41:33.289 --> 00:41:36.929 Somebody say praise the Lord. Because I got two 00:41:36.929 --> 00:41:40.650 other pages I was going to, but we won't. I guess 00:41:40.650 --> 00:41:42.750 I'll save that for next week. The Lord's willing. 00:41:42.789 --> 00:41:45.710 We're going to talk about how to engage the new 00:41:45.710 --> 00:41:54.409 thing. How to engage the new thing. It almost 00:41:54.409 --> 00:41:56.170 feels like since we've not been together for 00:41:56.170 --> 00:42:00.960 so long and how that... Everything's transpired. 00:42:01.039 --> 00:42:03.260 To me, it just feels like this is almost like 00:42:03.260 --> 00:42:07.539 the first Sunday of the new year. Because January, 00:42:07.679 --> 00:42:09.440 you know how it hits us anyway. It's just like, 00:42:09.500 --> 00:42:15.099 oh, I don't know how to deal with that. But here 00:42:15.099 --> 00:42:21.599 we are firmly six weeks in. I wonder, has any 00:42:21.599 --> 00:42:27.159 of those old cycles tried to kick back up? Those 00:42:27.159 --> 00:42:32.690 unprofitable. practices, try to re -engage themselves, 00:42:32.929 --> 00:42:38.670 interject back into your life. I've called it 00:42:38.670 --> 00:42:40.849 stinking thinking before. Has the enemy ever 00:42:40.849 --> 00:42:42.769 tried to get into your mind and cause you to 00:42:42.769 --> 00:42:44.730 start labeling things that's going on in you 00:42:44.730 --> 00:42:47.570 and around you? Let me tell you, resist that 00:42:47.570 --> 00:42:50.710 with everything that's within you. Just because 00:42:50.710 --> 00:43:01.739 it shows up don't mean you have to feed it. You 00:43:01.739 --> 00:43:08.320 don't have to feed it. Do not feed doubt. Don't 00:43:08.320 --> 00:43:13.139 feed unbelief. Don't pet and play with fear. 00:43:16.260 --> 00:43:19.619 You don't have to. You can put it on down the 00:43:19.619 --> 00:43:23.119 road. Pick your pocket of rocks and send it running. 00:43:25.460 --> 00:43:33.280 Huh? Put it on its way. Unbelief, you don't have 00:43:33.280 --> 00:43:40.059 to let that stay around. Condemnation. What's 00:43:40.059 --> 00:43:41.300 that, Pastor? Well, that's when the devil tells 00:43:41.300 --> 00:43:46.980 you how sorry you are. Huh? Anybody hear that 00:43:46.980 --> 00:43:54.019 besides me? He still tries that junk on me. Well, 00:43:54.099 --> 00:43:56.260 Lord, you're not doing this. You're not doing 00:43:56.260 --> 00:43:59.050 that. What are you going to do? You can't do 00:43:59.050 --> 00:44:00.329 this. You can't do that. What are you going to 00:44:00.329 --> 00:44:02.030 do? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. You know, you know, 00:44:02.050 --> 00:44:08.190 you know. Several years ago, I learned the difference 00:44:08.190 --> 00:44:15.250 between condemnation and conviction. So when 00:44:15.250 --> 00:44:18.510 I start hearing that voice echo in my mind and 00:44:18.510 --> 00:44:21.610 trying to drive my emotions, I just put a stop 00:44:21.610 --> 00:44:27.039 to that. I don't feed it. I don't feed it. I 00:44:27.039 --> 00:44:30.420 don't begin to dwell and think on it. What I 00:44:30.420 --> 00:44:32.599 have learned and discovered is the Holy Ghost 00:44:32.599 --> 00:44:38.199 works from my heart up, not my head down. He 00:44:38.199 --> 00:44:40.340 always begins with something, Brother George, 00:44:40.460 --> 00:44:44.940 down in here. And before I can get it up to here, 00:44:45.059 --> 00:44:49.139 he brings it up. It stirs in here. It's an offense 00:44:49.139 --> 00:44:54.739 thing. I feel like I've offended God. Can't catch 00:44:54.739 --> 00:44:58.199 my breath. I thought, whew. So then I have to 00:44:58.199 --> 00:45:02.360 go ask, what is this, Lord? And then he tells 00:45:02.360 --> 00:45:07.199 me, and I sure don't pet that. Don't let the 00:45:07.199 --> 00:45:11.480 enemy condemn you, shame you. Jesus loves you. 00:45:12.880 --> 00:45:15.760 God desires new things, things that you cannot 00:45:15.760 --> 00:45:21.920 have no clue on how to say what they are. I can't 00:45:21.920 --> 00:45:24.019 tell you what God's doing, man. I wish I could. 00:45:24.119 --> 00:45:29.699 It's just great. Lord, I love you today. Thank 00:45:29.699 --> 00:45:35.139 you for your goodness and your mercy. Shall harm 00:45:35.139 --> 00:45:49.099 me. Altered in the arms of God. Just keep your 00:45:49.099 --> 00:45:52.239 eyes closed and hear this little chorus. Let 00:45:52.239 --> 00:46:04.300 the storm rage high. They don't worry me. For 00:46:04.300 --> 00:46:17.039 I'm sheltered within the arms of God. He walks 00:46:17.039 --> 00:46:25.320 with me. Listen. And naught of earth shall harm 00:46:25.320 --> 00:46:40.550 me. For I'm shattered in the arms. If you need 00:46:40.550 --> 00:46:42.030 a touch from the Lord this morning, I want to 00:46:42.030 --> 00:46:45.070 give you that opportunity to come. I'm all in 00:46:45.070 --> 00:46:47.650 between. I want us all to be down here. But I 00:46:47.650 --> 00:46:51.369 think also we need to take a step of recognition. 00:46:51.429 --> 00:46:55.230 I need the Lord this morning. And we need to 00:46:55.230 --> 00:47:02.050 step out and make our way. God's got you. God 00:47:02.050 --> 00:47:05.289 has got you. That standard remains. There's no 00:47:05.289 --> 00:47:07.610 wilderness. There's no flooding. There's no high 00:47:07.610 --> 00:47:11.170 water. There's no flame of life that can remove 00:47:11.170 --> 00:47:16.030 the standard. It is there. He is there for you.