WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.359 The utterance of our lips, the pouring out of 00:00:02.359 --> 00:00:12.000 our hearts to him. Thank you for entering into 00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:18.160 an atmosphere of worship today. There is a sweet 00:00:18.160 --> 00:00:20.699 anointing in this house. I know I've said it, 00:00:20.760 --> 00:00:26.800 but I hope you're experiencing what I am. My 00:00:26.800 --> 00:00:32.899 heart's racing, it's fluttering. It's quivering 00:00:32.899 --> 00:00:38.560 all inside. I just feel all gooey like. How many 00:00:38.560 --> 00:00:44.020 know what true love feels like? Huh? How many 00:00:44.020 --> 00:00:46.119 remember that when she looked at you and you 00:00:46.119 --> 00:00:49.060 knew it? You just, fellas, come on. You just 00:00:49.060 --> 00:00:51.560 kind of got all buttery on you. Your legs kind 00:00:51.560 --> 00:00:54.119 of went limber. That's what I feel when I know 00:00:54.119 --> 00:00:57.600 the Lord's looking at me. And that's the way 00:00:57.600 --> 00:01:06.959 I feel this morning. I'm just, man. It's worth 00:01:06.959 --> 00:01:08.700 it just to come and to be in his house and to 00:01:08.700 --> 00:01:13.519 be in his presence. Amen. If you have your Bibles, 00:01:13.560 --> 00:01:17.780 be turning with me to the book of Romans. Very 00:01:17.780 --> 00:01:19.780 familiar text. We're going to look into chapter 00:01:19.780 --> 00:01:24.700 12 for just a moment, 1 and 2. Got a lot to be 00:01:24.700 --> 00:01:30.780 praying about this week. Keep Brother Gary Caldwell's 00:01:30.780 --> 00:01:33.920 family in prayer. We'll be informing you of the... 00:01:35.199 --> 00:01:37.760 and the date of that and the time for that when 00:01:37.760 --> 00:01:41.819 the time comes. So remember them and their loss 00:01:41.819 --> 00:01:44.500 and grief that the Lord would comfort them. Amen. 00:01:45.939 --> 00:01:51.760 Keep Sister Aminalee in your prayers. She's going 00:01:51.760 --> 00:01:59.099 to be seeing the Lord too soon probably, but 00:01:59.099 --> 00:02:04.180 she's about to meet the Lord. And she's as excited 00:02:04.180 --> 00:02:07.859 about seeing the Lord as anybody I've spoken 00:02:07.859 --> 00:02:11.659 to. But I tell you one that's running a real 00:02:11.659 --> 00:02:15.060 close second, and that's Brother Merle. She's 00:02:15.060 --> 00:02:19.759 as excited to see him again and be reunited with 00:02:19.759 --> 00:02:22.139 him. I was visiting with her the other day. She 00:02:22.139 --> 00:02:26.060 said, I can't wait. I'm ready to go to heaven. 00:02:26.139 --> 00:02:29.580 I'm ready to see Jesus. Merle's waiting on me. 00:02:32.110 --> 00:02:36.250 What a hope we have. What a hope we have. What 00:02:36.250 --> 00:02:40.930 hope we possess. Amen? Amen. Sister Corky has 00:02:40.930 --> 00:02:42.770 a procedure this week. Let's remember her for 00:02:42.770 --> 00:02:45.569 that. Remember Sister Kathy this morning. She's 00:02:45.569 --> 00:02:48.930 having a little rough day today. So just keep 00:02:48.930 --> 00:02:50.889 her in your prayers. Keep us in your prayers. 00:02:50.969 --> 00:02:54.569 Amen? God is faithful. The Lord is mighty and 00:02:54.569 --> 00:02:58.949 strong, isn't he? Amen. And I know there's many 00:02:58.949 --> 00:03:00.569 other requests, and we're going to have an opportunity 00:03:00.569 --> 00:03:04.030 to pray for them. shortly as well. Those were 00:03:04.030 --> 00:03:06.409 just right at the forefront of my mind, and I 00:03:06.409 --> 00:03:09.830 wanted to call that to your attention. The book 00:03:09.830 --> 00:03:14.330 of Romans, Paul as he writes to the Christians 00:03:14.330 --> 00:03:19.250 at Rome, in verse 1 of chapter 12, he says, I 00:03:19.250 --> 00:03:25.830 beseech thee, I beseech you, I implore you, I 00:03:25.830 --> 00:03:31.719 beg of you, I urge you, therefore, Brethren, 00:03:31.719 --> 00:03:34.780 by the mercies of God. Notice we don't do anything 00:03:34.780 --> 00:03:38.560 on our own. What we do, we do by the mercies 00:03:38.560 --> 00:03:42.599 of God. I like that it's plural there, not just 00:03:42.599 --> 00:03:47.120 singular. Mercies. I need more than just mercy. 00:03:47.199 --> 00:03:51.979 I need multiple. I need multiplied amounts and 00:03:51.979 --> 00:03:55.599 distributions of mercy in my life. By the mercies 00:03:55.599 --> 00:03:58.060 of God that you present your bodies a living 00:03:58.060 --> 00:04:02.069 sacrifice. Holy, acceptable unto God, which is 00:04:02.069 --> 00:04:09.169 your reasonable service. Not beyond reason, not 00:04:09.169 --> 00:04:13.509 out of stretch, not expecting too much. It's 00:04:13.509 --> 00:04:18.790 just reasonable. And be not conformed to this 00:04:18.790 --> 00:04:25.529 world, but be ye transformed by the renewing 00:04:25.529 --> 00:04:32.930 of your mind. That you may prove what is that 00:04:32.930 --> 00:04:37.949 good and acceptable and perfect will of God. 00:04:38.649 --> 00:04:41.449 I want to preach to us this morning with the 00:04:41.449 --> 00:04:45.410 help of the Lord on a thought. Maintaining our 00:04:45.410 --> 00:04:52.589 identity. Maintaining our identity. I'll pray 00:04:52.589 --> 00:04:55.930 for you if you pray for me. And we'll just say, 00:04:56.009 --> 00:04:59.100 Lord. The pastor has already asked you to help 00:04:59.100 --> 00:05:04.139 him stay on the straight and narrow today. And 00:05:04.139 --> 00:05:06.680 I join with him in the power of agreement and 00:05:06.680 --> 00:05:11.860 prayer. Answer his prayer. That he stays focused 00:05:11.860 --> 00:05:17.360 and in line. Let's pray. Father, we love you. 00:05:18.100 --> 00:05:20.060 Thank you for your grace and the abundance of 00:05:20.060 --> 00:05:24.379 your love. What a sweet, sweet... anointing in 00:05:24.379 --> 00:05:28.160 this house today, your presence so near. Lord, 00:05:28.259 --> 00:05:31.500 as my heart is quickened this morning, it's racing 00:05:31.500 --> 00:05:36.000 today for I know you have to speak to us this 00:05:36.000 --> 00:05:39.779 morning. So, Lord, let me be expedient. Lord, 00:05:39.879 --> 00:05:43.060 let me be edifying to the body and glorifying 00:05:43.060 --> 00:05:46.000 to your name. Lord, that's my chief aim, my chief 00:05:46.000 --> 00:05:49.000 goal, that we together, we together, make it 00:05:49.000 --> 00:05:52.019 to see you in eternity. So, Lord, help us this 00:05:52.019 --> 00:05:54.839 morning. In Christ's lovely name. And the church 00:05:54.839 --> 00:05:59.319 said, Amen, Amen. Maintaining your identity. 00:05:59.420 --> 00:06:04.600 We've been moving forward from Resurrection Sunday 00:06:04.600 --> 00:06:08.339 morning, from Easter Sunday. We've been moving 00:06:08.339 --> 00:06:12.779 in a direction. We talked about those Emmaus 00:06:12.779 --> 00:06:17.180 Road disciples who were unable to recognize the 00:06:17.180 --> 00:06:19.920 Lord, but yet as they talked with Him on their 00:06:19.920 --> 00:06:23.660 journey, When he prayed and broke bread with 00:06:23.660 --> 00:06:26.779 them, recognition fell on them. And then they 00:06:26.779 --> 00:06:29.839 realized that as they were going in the way, 00:06:29.879 --> 00:06:32.699 their hearts just began to warm and burn within 00:06:32.699 --> 00:06:36.319 them. Last week we talked about how to live right 00:06:36.319 --> 00:06:40.779 side up in an upside down world. And they go 00:06:40.779 --> 00:06:43.959 together. And I think this morning kindly just 00:06:43.959 --> 00:06:46.699 ties in with what we're discussing and what we 00:06:46.699 --> 00:06:48.199 have been in as the Spirit of the Lord has been 00:06:48.199 --> 00:06:51.670 dealing with us the past few weeks. maintaining 00:06:51.670 --> 00:06:56.629 our identity. We are living in very critical 00:06:56.629 --> 00:07:00.810 times. Amen? Prophetically, who knows exactly 00:07:00.810 --> 00:07:03.029 where we are? I know there's a lot of speculations 00:07:03.029 --> 00:07:07.509 and a lot of our quote -unquote prophecy experts 00:07:07.509 --> 00:07:10.029 are trying to align us and let us know where 00:07:10.029 --> 00:07:12.870 we are. I do know one thing that we are living 00:07:12.870 --> 00:07:15.819 in the last days. I know that. And I know the 00:07:15.819 --> 00:07:18.579 signs of the times are upon us and the Lord's 00:07:18.579 --> 00:07:21.899 return could be any day. Amen. We are living 00:07:21.899 --> 00:07:25.819 in the warning of Paul and what he wrote to the 00:07:25.819 --> 00:07:28.800 church in that second letter to Timothy in chapter 00:07:28.800 --> 00:07:32.579 3 in verse 14. He says, But continue thou in 00:07:32.579 --> 00:07:35.540 the things which thou hast learned and hast been 00:07:35.540 --> 00:07:38.540 assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned 00:07:38.540 --> 00:07:41.720 them. and that from a child thou hast known the 00:07:41.720 --> 00:07:44.540 holy scriptures, which are able to make thee 00:07:44.540 --> 00:07:47.879 wise unto salvation through faith, which is in 00:07:47.879 --> 00:07:51.660 Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration 00:07:51.660 --> 00:07:55.300 of God, and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, 00:07:55.300 --> 00:07:58.540 and correction, for instruction in righteousness, 00:07:58.620 --> 00:08:02.920 that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly 00:08:02.920 --> 00:08:06.360 furnished unto all good works. I charge thee, 00:08:06.439 --> 00:08:09.199 therefore, before God and the Lord Jesus. Christ, 00:08:09.279 --> 00:08:11.740 whom shall judge the quick and the dead at his 00:08:11.740 --> 00:08:15.379 appearing and his kingdom. Preach the word. Hello? 00:08:15.660 --> 00:08:19.000 Preach the word. Be instant in season, out of 00:08:19.000 --> 00:08:22.699 season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering 00:08:22.699 --> 00:08:26.100 and doctrine for the time will come. Here, catch 00:08:26.100 --> 00:08:29.120 on to this. For the time will come when they 00:08:29.120 --> 00:08:32.720 will not endure sound doctrine but after their 00:08:32.720 --> 00:08:36.000 own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers 00:08:36.000 --> 00:08:38.539 having itching ears and they shall shall turn 00:08:38.539 --> 00:08:42.179 away their ears from the truth and shall be turned 00:08:42.179 --> 00:08:45.600 unto fables. He's talking to the church. He's 00:08:45.600 --> 00:08:47.840 talking about people who were the body of Christ. 00:08:48.059 --> 00:08:50.320 He's not talking about the world. They're already 00:08:50.320 --> 00:08:53.440 lost. They're already deceived and confused. 00:08:53.700 --> 00:08:56.220 He's talking to the church. He's telling, preacher, 00:08:56.379 --> 00:08:58.620 you've got to preach the word, whether they like 00:08:58.620 --> 00:09:00.620 it, whether they don't. You've got to preach 00:09:00.620 --> 00:09:03.299 it. We think that instant end season means when 00:09:03.299 --> 00:09:04.759 you're prepared or when you're not prepared. 00:09:04.940 --> 00:09:07.000 No, that's not what the instruction there is. 00:09:07.440 --> 00:09:09.720 means when it's popular and when it's not very 00:09:09.720 --> 00:09:12.600 popular, you preach the Word. It's the Word of 00:09:12.600 --> 00:09:15.320 God that's going to sustain the life of every 00:09:15.320 --> 00:09:18.240 child of God. And then he began to tell him why 00:09:18.240 --> 00:09:20.980 he had to preach the Word. You've been taught 00:09:20.980 --> 00:09:23.080 the Word. You've understood the Word since you 00:09:23.080 --> 00:09:25.580 were a child. The Holy Scriptures are given. 00:09:25.740 --> 00:09:28.000 I want you to know that they're not given and 00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:30.740 written just simply by man's will and whim, but 00:09:30.740 --> 00:09:34.419 they are inspired divinely by the Holy Ghost 00:09:34.419 --> 00:09:37.509 who moved upon men of old. and they penned the 00:09:37.509 --> 00:09:41.330 word in the heart of God. Forty -some -odd authors 00:09:41.330 --> 00:09:45.289 over 1 ,500 years span one central theme, one 00:09:45.289 --> 00:09:48.669 central message. God is God, and Jesus is his 00:09:48.669 --> 00:09:51.889 son, and the Spirit is his power. Follow him, 00:09:52.070 --> 00:09:54.870 love him, obey him, and everything's going to 00:09:54.870 --> 00:09:57.690 work out good for you. But there's a day coming 00:09:57.690 --> 00:10:00.830 when they're going to turn away from the truth. 00:10:01.029 --> 00:10:03.950 There's a day coming when they're going to heap 00:10:03.950 --> 00:10:06.029 to themselves. They're going to bring folk. in 00:10:06.029 --> 00:10:08.789 because their ears are tingling, they're itching. 00:10:09.210 --> 00:10:12.029 Don't you know that mankind has always wanted 00:10:12.029 --> 00:10:14.909 to do it his way? Don't you know that we've always 00:10:14.909 --> 00:10:17.009 wanted to live it out that way? Why do you think 00:10:17.009 --> 00:10:20.070 people make so many excuses for poor and bad 00:10:20.070 --> 00:10:23.289 behavior? Because we want to do it our way. But 00:10:23.289 --> 00:10:25.570 Paul said, you instruct them and you let them 00:10:25.570 --> 00:10:28.350 know, I know the day's coming. God knows the 00:10:28.350 --> 00:10:30.809 day's coming. But when that day arrives, make 00:10:30.809 --> 00:10:34.490 sure you're preaching the truth. Make sure you're 00:10:34.490 --> 00:10:37.500 delivering. the gospel of the truth of the word 00:10:37.500 --> 00:10:40.519 of the living God. Those words so that young 00:10:40.519 --> 00:10:43.360 preachers send warning concerning his not own 00:10:43.360 --> 00:10:46.039 too far distant future, but the future in which 00:10:46.039 --> 00:10:48.720 you and I are living. The present day where we 00:10:48.720 --> 00:10:52.039 are. What about our day? We're living right smack 00:10:52.039 --> 00:10:54.559 dab in the middle of it. I saw an article the 00:10:54.559 --> 00:10:57.220 other day that made me sick to the pit of my 00:10:57.220 --> 00:11:00.279 stomach. There was this so -called, I won't even 00:11:00.279 --> 00:11:03.259 call it a, but quote unquote, a bishop in the 00:11:03.259 --> 00:11:06.279 UCC church. that come out and said the Bible 00:11:06.279 --> 00:11:10.480 is becoming problematic and we need a third testament. 00:11:10.700 --> 00:11:13.960 Come on, somebody. No, no, no. The reason the 00:11:13.960 --> 00:11:17.179 Bible is problematic is because it's contrary 00:11:17.179 --> 00:11:20.460 to your lifestyle. And I'll not go into the lifestyle 00:11:20.460 --> 00:11:23.000 of the one on whom that quote came from. You 00:11:23.000 --> 00:11:25.639 can look it up yourself and see what was said 00:11:25.639 --> 00:11:28.360 and see who said it and see why they said it. 00:11:28.419 --> 00:11:31.980 We don't need a third testament. We need a bowing 00:11:31.980 --> 00:11:35.200 to the ones that we have. the instruction of 00:11:35.200 --> 00:11:38.659 the old and the direction of the new. Amen. The 00:11:38.659 --> 00:11:41.399 blood of Christ was shed. There is no other foundation. 00:11:41.700 --> 00:11:45.100 There is no other standard. There is any man 00:11:45.100 --> 00:11:47.580 who builds on any other foundation is the same 00:11:47.580 --> 00:11:49.679 as a thief and a liar and a robber, for there 00:11:49.679 --> 00:11:52.919 is no other foundation other than that of Jesus 00:11:52.919 --> 00:11:55.279 Christ. So whatever you're watching on TikTok 00:11:55.279 --> 00:11:58.559 and all this other garbage, be careful of what 00:11:58.559 --> 00:12:02.299 doctrine and theology you allow in your mind. 00:12:04.169 --> 00:12:08.250 Woo! Why? Because your ear may be itching and 00:12:08.250 --> 00:12:11.029 you're looking for someone to tickle so that 00:12:11.029 --> 00:12:18.110 you can live the way you want to live. My Lord, 00:12:18.250 --> 00:12:27.389 that was worth the $2 you put in. Hey! Is the 00:12:27.389 --> 00:12:31.409 society we live in. Worthy of such a warning? 00:12:31.509 --> 00:12:37.950 I'd say so. I think society is worthy. Why? Because 00:12:37.950 --> 00:12:40.570 whether they understand it, whether they like 00:12:40.570 --> 00:12:44.389 it or not, all of us are created in the image 00:12:44.389 --> 00:12:48.830 and the likeness of God. So therefore, I believe 00:12:48.830 --> 00:12:56.669 that humanity is worthy of the warning. Why? 00:12:56.730 --> 00:13:00.330 Because what's that central theme? You see it 00:13:00.330 --> 00:13:03.809 under athletes' eyes, John 3, 16. You see it 00:13:03.809 --> 00:13:06.509 in their black stuff -only face. You see it, 00:13:06.509 --> 00:13:09.409 for God so loved the world that he gave his only 00:13:09.409 --> 00:13:12.490 begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him 00:13:12.490 --> 00:13:14.690 should not perish but have everlasting life. 00:13:14.809 --> 00:13:17.370 It's not about you. It's not about me. It's all 00:13:17.370 --> 00:13:21.049 about him. Hallelujah. And don't think for a 00:13:21.049 --> 00:13:23.789 moment that he's not a jealous God, for he is 00:13:23.789 --> 00:13:26.190 a jealous God. That's the reason he has it. Thou 00:13:26.190 --> 00:13:30.389 shalt have no... other God before me. No graven 00:13:30.389 --> 00:13:34.850 image. I am God and God alone. And look, the 00:13:34.850 --> 00:13:37.429 sooner we learn that and understand that in his 00:13:37.429 --> 00:13:41.450 creative power and work he created mankind with 00:13:41.450 --> 00:13:44.330 a body, with a soul, and with a spirit in his 00:13:44.330 --> 00:13:46.610 likeness and in his image so that that image 00:13:46.610 --> 00:13:49.309 may be transformed into the image of his only 00:13:49.309 --> 00:14:02.289 begotten son. Well, hallelujah. Yeah, they're 00:14:02.289 --> 00:14:08.690 worthy. Times are critical and crucial. To know 00:14:08.690 --> 00:14:12.809 that God is with us. That his promise is to never 00:14:12.809 --> 00:14:16.789 leave and to never forsake. Humanity is worthy 00:14:16.789 --> 00:14:20.610 of that warning. The world and all its trouble 00:14:20.610 --> 00:14:25.970 needs revival. The world and all of its chaos, 00:14:26.250 --> 00:14:28.850 and you've heard this quoted before, a world 00:14:28.850 --> 00:14:33.730 in crisis needs a church in revival. A world 00:14:33.730 --> 00:14:36.289 in crisis needs a church that is in revival. 00:14:36.549 --> 00:14:39.809 This letter was penned to the church at Rome. 00:14:40.110 --> 00:14:42.850 The letter that Paul wrote to Timothy was for 00:14:42.850 --> 00:14:45.649 him to share with his congregation and to share 00:14:45.649 --> 00:14:48.669 it to every church in town and around town and 00:14:48.669 --> 00:14:51.409 around Asia Minor. Let the letter go out. Let 00:14:51.409 --> 00:14:54.269 it be read in their hearing. Amen. That the time 00:14:54.269 --> 00:14:56.389 is coming when they're going to have itching 00:14:56.389 --> 00:14:58.169 ears and they're going to want somebody to come 00:14:58.169 --> 00:15:01.190 and appease their flesh because that's how we're 00:15:01.190 --> 00:15:04.809 thrown away. It feels good. I'm telling you today 00:15:04.809 --> 00:15:07.090 that there's some things about serving the Lord 00:15:07.090 --> 00:15:10.149 that is as what he wrote to the Romans. It is 00:15:10.149 --> 00:15:13.629 a sacrifice that you have to make. I beseech 00:15:13.629 --> 00:15:17.009 you, therefore, brethren. I beg you, I implore 00:15:17.009 --> 00:15:21.129 you that you present yourselves as a living sacrifice. 00:15:21.570 --> 00:15:24.389 Come on, my Lord. You can't keep living the way 00:15:24.389 --> 00:15:26.169 you want to live, doing what you want to do, 00:15:26.289 --> 00:15:28.190 going where you want to go, watching what you 00:15:28.190 --> 00:15:30.450 want to watch, listening to the music that makes 00:15:30.450 --> 00:15:32.580 you want to hop, skip, and jump. What it should 00:15:32.580 --> 00:15:35.419 do is if you're listening and edifying your body, 00:15:35.539 --> 00:15:37.580 it should do as the music you've heard in your 00:15:37.580 --> 00:15:40.320 ears today. When I hear it, it drives me low. 00:15:40.580 --> 00:15:43.240 It don't pick me up because when I think about 00:15:43.240 --> 00:15:47.379 the holiness of God and I understand how I am 00:15:47.379 --> 00:15:50.600 and the condition that I am in, I am too. With 00:15:50.600 --> 00:16:01.879 Isaiah, woe is me. It drives me low. The world 00:16:01.879 --> 00:16:07.019 needs a church in revival. And that can happen 00:16:07.019 --> 00:16:08.919 every day. It doesn't just have to happen on 00:16:08.919 --> 00:16:14.179 a calendar. Thank God for revival meetings. Amen? 00:16:14.759 --> 00:16:17.399 We need them. Let me know what revival means. 00:16:17.539 --> 00:16:20.299 Let me give you that definition. Because there's 00:16:20.299 --> 00:16:22.039 some preaching that can happen right here. I'm 00:16:22.039 --> 00:16:25.700 going to try not to get hung up on it, but it'll 00:16:25.700 --> 00:16:30.629 preach. Revival, according to Webster. It's a 00:16:30.629 --> 00:16:34.970 restoration to vigor or activity. Listen to this. 00:16:35.090 --> 00:16:41.029 A stirring up of religious faith among those 00:16:41.029 --> 00:16:47.509 who have been indifferent. Now, before you can 00:16:47.509 --> 00:16:52.129 go much further with your definition of revival, 00:16:52.370 --> 00:16:55.289 you need to know what indifferent means to see 00:16:55.289 --> 00:16:59.559 if you're one of them. Indifferent. By definition. 00:17:00.490 --> 00:17:05.029 Having or showing no partiality, bias, neutral. 00:17:05.250 --> 00:17:09.569 Having or showing no interest, no concern or 00:17:09.569 --> 00:17:14.569 feeling or unmoved. Oh, then we go back. Now 00:17:14.569 --> 00:17:18.069 we know who needs revival. The indifferent usually 00:17:18.069 --> 00:17:23.150 happens by fervent evangelistic preaching. My, 00:17:23.150 --> 00:17:27.549 my, my. I wonder what our modern day 2026 definition 00:17:27.549 --> 00:17:30.869 of revival would be. I guarantee. that the woke 00:17:30.869 --> 00:17:33.509 culture would avoid the indifferent because they 00:17:33.509 --> 00:17:35.849 don't see themselves as indifferent. They see 00:17:35.849 --> 00:17:39.289 themselves ignited, connected once every five 00:17:39.289 --> 00:17:42.609 or six weeks. Oh, yes. Oh, yes. Oh, yes. No, 00:17:42.710 --> 00:17:47.690 no. Oh, no. Oh, well. Now, see, some of y 'all 00:17:47.690 --> 00:17:50.230 did not pray and take me serious a while ago. 00:17:50.890 --> 00:17:55.670 When I ask you to pray, Lord, help pastor, stay 00:17:55.670 --> 00:18:01.980 on track. As he has asked you to help him, thinking 00:18:01.980 --> 00:18:05.059 that in the power of agreement, I wouldn't go 00:18:05.059 --> 00:18:14.579 on a tangent. Are you indifferent? Well, I'm 00:18:14.579 --> 00:18:23.380 here, ain't I? Are you? I tell you, I wish you 00:18:23.380 --> 00:18:27.660 could feel what I'm feeling. I better get off 00:18:27.660 --> 00:18:34.480 the definition. That's who needs revival. Now, 00:18:34.480 --> 00:18:38.099 so all of a sudden, we've gone from the world 00:18:38.099 --> 00:18:41.319 in crisis needing revival to a church having 00:18:41.319 --> 00:18:44.680 lost its identity, a group of people who need 00:18:44.680 --> 00:18:47.599 it. It's the religious who have grown indifferent. 00:18:48.809 --> 00:18:51.809 And they need a stirring, and usually that stirring 00:18:51.809 --> 00:18:56.690 comes by an evangelistic style of preaching. 00:18:56.750 --> 00:19:00.309 My God, that's right in my wheelhouse. I want 00:19:00.309 --> 00:19:03.369 us to know we've got to stir ourselves to the 00:19:03.369 --> 00:19:08.849 passion and the love of God. The church, you 00:19:08.849 --> 00:19:12.210 can only revive something that has been alive. 00:19:28.589 --> 00:19:30.210 ever get through this introduction, we're going 00:19:30.210 --> 00:19:40.049 to have ourselves a time. The world's in crisis 00:19:40.049 --> 00:19:42.690 shape, but even worse than that, the hope of 00:19:42.690 --> 00:19:45.769 the world, the church is in a crisis condition. 00:19:46.809 --> 00:19:54.470 We are losing our identity. That's the character 00:19:54.470 --> 00:20:01.509 and physical makeup. For description. That's 00:20:01.509 --> 00:20:06.150 identity. Now, there's all kinds of churches. 00:20:07.390 --> 00:20:09.650 And I'm not saying we're the only one that's 00:20:09.650 --> 00:20:16.490 right. Who am I to say that? Huh? That's not 00:20:16.490 --> 00:20:20.710 my place. I don't care what the name is on the 00:20:20.710 --> 00:20:24.549 sign. If the man behind the stadium and in the 00:20:24.549 --> 00:20:28.789 podium. is proclaiming Jesus Christ crucified. 00:20:29.990 --> 00:20:33.170 And it's going to take his blood and your repentance 00:20:33.170 --> 00:20:36.349 to get you to heaven. Honey, I'm all for him. 00:20:39.170 --> 00:20:45.289 Or her. Whoever's doing the preaching. If it's 00:20:45.289 --> 00:20:47.789 Christ -centered, it really doesn't matter about 00:20:47.789 --> 00:20:53.130 the name. But we're losing the identity of being 00:20:53.130 --> 00:20:59.799 a Christ -centered We are in danger of you losing 00:20:59.799 --> 00:21:02.779 our characteristics and our makeup. And don't 00:21:02.779 --> 00:21:09.019 get me on the Pentecostal bunch where if I'm 00:21:09.019 --> 00:21:11.519 going to put both feet down and grind my heels, 00:21:11.680 --> 00:21:16.920 it's on us for losing our identity and distinctives 00:21:16.920 --> 00:21:25.769 as a spirit -filled people. Maintaining our identity. 00:21:29.150 --> 00:21:33.349 There's some things that we must clarify. There 00:21:33.349 --> 00:21:36.569 are things that will clarify our identity. Number 00:21:36.569 --> 00:21:44.309 one, first knowing who and what we are. You ever 00:21:44.309 --> 00:21:45.789 seen people confused, well, I just don't know 00:21:45.789 --> 00:21:47.970 who I am. Well, what's your name? Let's start 00:21:47.970 --> 00:21:57.039 there. I don't know whether you realize it or 00:21:57.039 --> 00:21:59.579 not, but your name is the beginning of the shaping 00:21:59.579 --> 00:22:10.839 of your identity. Hello? Case in point. A pastor 00:22:10.839 --> 00:22:12.500 friend of mine, they even visit here sometimes, 00:22:12.700 --> 00:22:17.059 his daughter, Bailey and Logan. Logan used to 00:22:17.059 --> 00:22:21.380 work for Pastor Brian when he was at FedEx. They've 00:22:21.380 --> 00:22:25.109 got a little boy. Just like one of my young. 00:22:25.269 --> 00:22:28.690 So we go down to the hospital. They bring him 00:22:28.690 --> 00:22:32.210 in. We get to hold him. What's his name? Well, 00:22:32.230 --> 00:22:35.990 we don't know yet. Well, it says here Bob on 00:22:35.990 --> 00:22:39.390 the little tag on the thing they roll them in, 00:22:39.490 --> 00:22:42.849 you know. But didn't have my glasses on. I didn't 00:22:42.849 --> 00:22:45.470 see the little periods before and after the O, 00:22:45.710 --> 00:22:49.710 B -O -B. It stood for baby of boy of Bailey. 00:22:53.339 --> 00:22:55.559 That's Bailey's boy. They hadn't named him yet. 00:22:57.240 --> 00:23:02.220 So, the boy's Bob. I don't care what they named 00:23:02.220 --> 00:23:12.980 him. It's Bob. I think his name's Bennett. And 00:23:12.980 --> 00:23:15.420 they called him Benny. I said, no, that boy's 00:23:15.420 --> 00:23:17.519 Bob. You should have wrote it on the paper, honey. 00:23:18.250 --> 00:23:22.250 He'll always be Bob the pastor. If I live to 00:23:22.250 --> 00:23:31.410 the boy's 20, Bob, come here. That's the identity 00:23:31.410 --> 00:23:34.730 that was put on the boy. I told her, I said, 00:23:34.809 --> 00:23:37.970 if I can remember it, I'll call him Benny Bob, 00:23:38.349 --> 00:23:43.509 but it's Bob. He hollers at me sometimes when 00:23:43.509 --> 00:23:47.210 he's up talking. You hear one, hey, that's Bob. 00:23:48.619 --> 00:23:52.660 Or Ray Ray if he's here. I get an amen section 00:23:52.660 --> 00:23:58.359 up top. It's part of your identity. Your name 00:23:58.359 --> 00:24:00.680 begins your identity. That's how it's all started. 00:24:01.420 --> 00:24:05.019 From the moment you leave the hospital, that's 00:24:05.019 --> 00:24:08.380 what everybody identifies you by. It's the beginning 00:24:08.380 --> 00:24:10.119 of your character. So you've got to know who 00:24:10.119 --> 00:24:13.420 you are. And mainly you must know what you are. 00:24:13.480 --> 00:24:18.730 If left alone, unchallenged. The world will redefine 00:24:18.730 --> 00:24:23.470 the identity of the church. There's so much pressure 00:24:23.470 --> 00:24:26.250 being put on the church. There's so much weight 00:24:26.250 --> 00:24:29.250 being placed upon the church. You're so intolerant. 00:24:29.269 --> 00:24:31.690 No, it's not about being intolerant. It's about 00:24:31.690 --> 00:24:34.670 being righteous and holy and upright before a 00:24:34.670 --> 00:24:37.809 holy, righteous God. It has nothing to do with 00:24:37.809 --> 00:24:41.369 intolerance. Amen? I have compassion on all people. 00:24:41.369 --> 00:24:46.009 Why? Because Christ died for everyone. Does that 00:24:46.009 --> 00:24:48.910 mean I go along with their sin? Absolutely not. 00:24:49.190 --> 00:24:53.789 Don't be offended if I don't affirm your sin. 00:24:55.529 --> 00:24:59.130 I will affirm you, but not your sin. I will affirm 00:24:59.130 --> 00:25:02.029 that God loves you, Christ died for you, and 00:25:02.029 --> 00:25:05.930 desires for you to be in heaven with him if you 00:25:05.930 --> 00:25:10.900 follow the plan. Don't call me a hate monger 00:25:10.900 --> 00:25:13.519 when I tell you you're dying and going to a devil's 00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:15.779 hell if you do not change. It has nothing to 00:25:15.779 --> 00:25:17.720 do with hate. I'm telling you that because I 00:25:17.720 --> 00:25:21.079 love you and desire that you not go there. But 00:25:21.079 --> 00:25:24.119 if you don't turn and your mind be transformed 00:25:24.119 --> 00:25:28.220 with this renewing of the mind of Christ, that's 00:25:28.220 --> 00:25:33.779 where you will end up. And I tried. I said, don't 00:25:33.779 --> 00:25:35.480 tell them they're going to hell again this week. 00:25:37.869 --> 00:25:39.750 I've had to tell you that three straight weeks 00:25:39.750 --> 00:25:43.410 in a row. And I was going to try my best to avoid 00:25:43.410 --> 00:25:47.609 that. And there I have told you, if you don't 00:25:47.609 --> 00:25:50.329 repent and turn from your wicked ways, you are 00:25:50.329 --> 00:26:05.920 going to a devil's hell. I tried. There'll be 00:26:05.920 --> 00:26:08.119 a re -identification of the church if we allow 00:26:08.119 --> 00:26:14.759 it. Love speech is being transformed into what 00:26:14.759 --> 00:26:18.880 they identify as hate speech. Oh, I hate you 00:26:18.880 --> 00:26:21.519 because I'm trying to tell you truth with a broken 00:26:21.519 --> 00:26:24.579 heart, with a humble spirit, trying to look you 00:26:24.579 --> 00:26:26.500 in the eye and say, if your life doesn't align 00:26:26.500 --> 00:26:29.519 with the word of the living God, you are not 00:26:29.519 --> 00:26:32.460 going to heaven. All roads, all rivers don't 00:26:32.460 --> 00:26:36.180 merge and go to heaven. There's one. You swim 00:26:36.180 --> 00:26:39.140 upstream of the crimson flow that flows from 00:26:39.140 --> 00:26:42.579 Emmanuel's veins. That is the only way there. 00:26:43.980 --> 00:26:46.559 Hebrews 11, 24. Listen to this. Talking about 00:26:46.559 --> 00:26:49.460 identity. By faith, Moses, when he was come to 00:26:49.460 --> 00:26:52.539 years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's 00:26:52.539 --> 00:26:55.539 daughters. When Moses had enough sense to realize 00:26:55.539 --> 00:27:02.779 and figure out who and what he was. He said, 00:27:02.799 --> 00:27:10.779 no. Nope. The princess is not my mother. Yoshabed's 00:27:10.779 --> 00:27:19.019 my mama. Huh? I'm a Hebrew. And he would find 00:27:19.019 --> 00:27:23.599 out even more than who he is. The deliverer of 00:27:23.599 --> 00:27:27.599 God's people. And the whole long, the enemy thought 00:27:27.599 --> 00:27:30.910 I can get him and then we'll stamp. A new identity 00:27:30.910 --> 00:27:32.930 on him. We'll give him a different name and nobody 00:27:32.930 --> 00:27:40.369 will know. But mama knew. You can give him eye 00:27:40.369 --> 00:27:42.549 shadow and shave his head and call him whatever. 00:27:45.150 --> 00:27:51.910 But that's my boy. And his name is Moses. God's 00:27:51.910 --> 00:27:57.170 deliverer. And God aligned me with you so that 00:27:57.170 --> 00:28:01.539 I could raise him and put it in him. When he 00:28:01.539 --> 00:28:04.259 got old enough to understand, he refused. Somebody 00:28:04.259 --> 00:28:07.079 in here needs to get a backbone and refuse the 00:28:07.079 --> 00:28:09.880 identity of what's being tried to be placed on 00:28:09.880 --> 00:28:14.859 you. John 1 and 12 says, But as many as received 00:28:14.859 --> 00:28:17.400 him, to them gave he power to become the sons 00:28:17.400 --> 00:28:20.680 of God, even to them that believe on his name. 00:28:20.839 --> 00:28:27.059 That's who you are. Romans 8 and 14, For as many 00:28:27.059 --> 00:28:28.980 as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the 00:28:28.980 --> 00:28:32.869 sons of God. 1 John 3 and 1, Behold, what manner 00:28:32.869 --> 00:28:35.009 of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that 00:28:35.009 --> 00:28:36.769 we should be called the sons of God. Therefore 00:28:36.769 --> 00:28:39.250 the world knoweth us not. That's why they have 00:28:39.250 --> 00:28:42.430 such a problem with you. Because it knew him 00:28:42.430 --> 00:28:45.809 not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God. And 00:28:45.809 --> 00:28:48.009 it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but 00:28:48.009 --> 00:28:53.930 we know that. When he shall appear, we shall 00:28:53.930 --> 00:29:00.299 be like him. For we shall see him as he is. 1 00:29:00.299 --> 00:29:02.680 Peter 1 and 18, for as much as you know that 00:29:02.680 --> 00:29:05.000 you were not redeemed with corruptible things. 00:29:05.059 --> 00:29:07.759 Somebody needs to know that today. You've not 00:29:07.759 --> 00:29:10.400 been saved by your own power. You've not been 00:29:10.400 --> 00:29:13.079 saved by your own strength. You've not been saved 00:29:13.079 --> 00:29:16.059 by your own humility or anything else. You have 00:29:16.059 --> 00:29:21.039 been saved by His grace. As silver and gold are 00:29:21.039 --> 00:29:23.039 from your vain conversation received by tradition 00:29:23.039 --> 00:29:26.059 from your fathers, but with the precious blood 00:29:26.059 --> 00:29:30.420 of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without 00:29:30.420 --> 00:29:36.759 spot. We've got to know our identity. You've 00:29:36.759 --> 00:29:39.519 got to know who you are. Thank God we're not 00:29:39.519 --> 00:29:43.519 what we used to be or who we used to be. We used 00:29:43.519 --> 00:29:45.859 to sing that old song, there's a new name written 00:29:45.859 --> 00:29:49.849 down in glory. And it's mine. Oh, yes, it's mine. 00:29:50.150 --> 00:29:53.609 Right? My sin's all forgiven. You know how it 00:29:53.609 --> 00:30:01.569 goes. A new name. You are who you are by his 00:30:01.569 --> 00:30:04.950 grace, by his abundant love and his mercy. Secondly, 00:30:05.089 --> 00:30:08.930 you have to face identity crisis. Know who you 00:30:08.930 --> 00:30:12.960 are in it all. A crisis, a period of anxiety 00:30:12.960 --> 00:30:15.440 or confusion about the nature, aims, or role 00:30:15.440 --> 00:30:20.299 of a group, organization, or business. Seems 00:30:20.299 --> 00:30:24.720 to be we're on shaky ground. Especially if you'll 00:30:24.720 --> 00:30:28.940 pay attention to the media. You do know that 00:30:28.940 --> 00:30:34.079 social media thrives on about 98 .7 % of all 00:30:34.079 --> 00:30:39.690 things negative. Huh? Why? Because you're not 00:30:39.690 --> 00:30:45.150 going to scroll through the truth. You want him 00:30:45.150 --> 00:30:55.930 to hardly check up for a Bible verse. Some of 00:30:55.930 --> 00:31:02.390 them. Get both thumbs. Get it on out of there. 00:31:03.390 --> 00:31:13.099 Get it on up. Roll that thing through. Preach, 00:31:13.099 --> 00:31:16.660 preacher. Don't go where you're going. It's myself 00:31:16.660 --> 00:31:19.059 talking to myself in these moments of pause and 00:31:19.059 --> 00:31:22.380 silence. Thought I'd let you know. Just get back 00:31:22.380 --> 00:31:25.259 to your notes. Preach what the Lord gave you. 00:31:25.940 --> 00:31:28.559 Stay out of your own head and out of their lives. 00:31:40.940 --> 00:31:51.299 But I think that's why I've been put here. Many 00:31:51.299 --> 00:31:56.319 are confused concerning God's Word. They're confused 00:31:56.319 --> 00:31:59.200 concerning the harvest. They're confused concerning 00:31:59.200 --> 00:32:04.700 the coming of the Lord. There's an all -out attack 00:32:04.700 --> 00:32:10.579 on the Word of God. Let me just tell you, every 00:32:10.579 --> 00:32:18.660 translation that comes down the pike that makes 00:32:18.660 --> 00:32:25.400 it easier for you to read isn't always the best 00:32:25.400 --> 00:32:33.539 thing for you. Do a little research on the book 00:32:33.539 --> 00:32:35.240 that you hold in your hand and see what's getting 00:32:35.240 --> 00:32:41.579 left out. A lot of the important stuff gets left 00:32:41.579 --> 00:32:45.359 out in those easy -to -read versions. It might 00:32:45.359 --> 00:32:48.000 do you good to have to chew on the bone a little 00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:51.960 while. Well, I just can't understand it. Well, 00:32:51.980 --> 00:32:56.720 dig into it and get the understanding. I got 00:32:56.720 --> 00:33:06.680 the one I use when I read from. when I was raised 00:33:06.680 --> 00:33:16.799 on, I know it's not perfect. It's not. But it's 00:33:16.799 --> 00:33:18.400 closer than a lot of this stuff they're spitting 00:33:18.400 --> 00:33:23.799 out these days. And yes, I have to read it and 00:33:23.799 --> 00:33:29.119 stop and get some insight on it too. But it causes 00:33:29.119 --> 00:33:38.700 me to pause, to dig a little deeper. To get the 00:33:38.700 --> 00:33:43.140 understanding of, to pray over it. There's a 00:33:43.140 --> 00:33:46.440 novel idea to actually pray when you read the 00:33:46.440 --> 00:33:51.599 Bible. Holy Ghost, help me have understanding 00:33:51.599 --> 00:33:58.859 today. You know how I've learned to read the 00:33:58.859 --> 00:34:01.660 scripture over the years? I'll read it and if 00:34:01.660 --> 00:34:03.660 I don't just get a hold of it and I don't get 00:34:03.660 --> 00:34:06.099 this pull to get in there to find out all that 00:34:06.099 --> 00:34:10.389 it has to say. I stop at the part that does. 00:34:14.210 --> 00:34:16.369 How many of you have read a particular verse 00:34:16.369 --> 00:34:19.750 20 times and then one day the light come on? 00:34:23.710 --> 00:34:25.889 That's what I do. I pray that the light comes 00:34:25.889 --> 00:34:28.750 on. I get me some tools. I get me a concordance. 00:34:28.869 --> 00:34:36.510 I get me a Bible dictionary, which is now under 00:34:36.510 --> 00:34:43.409 your thumb. They're there. And then when you 00:34:43.409 --> 00:34:45.349 read some of the defining statements, you say, 00:34:45.429 --> 00:34:50.150 oh, that's what that means. Well, I'm glad I 00:34:50.150 --> 00:34:55.550 stayed here a little while. Attack on the word. 00:34:55.590 --> 00:34:57.889 Society proclaims there is no absolute truth. 00:34:59.449 --> 00:35:02.409 The culture in which you and I live in proclaim 00:35:02.409 --> 00:35:06.219 this subjective truth. Truth is subjective to 00:35:06.219 --> 00:35:08.920 the one who desires, and whatever they desire, 00:35:09.079 --> 00:35:11.380 that becomes truth. Honey, that ain't the way 00:35:11.380 --> 00:35:16.300 it goes. Well, how so? You can subjectively in 00:35:16.300 --> 00:35:18.519 your mind say fire will not blister your finger. 00:35:21.800 --> 00:35:24.239 Well, that's my truth. Well, let me have your 00:35:24.239 --> 00:35:30.000 arm for just a minute. Matter of fact, if you'll 00:35:30.000 --> 00:35:32.659 give me 15 seconds of your undivided attention, 00:35:32.820 --> 00:35:35.400 I'll show you absolute truth that fire burns. 00:35:38.159 --> 00:35:43.139 Any takers in the room? 15 seconds. You'll probably 00:35:43.139 --> 00:35:45.960 be done in about three. You'll say, oh, it is. 00:35:49.219 --> 00:35:51.320 Nothing subjective. Well, that ain't what it 00:35:51.320 --> 00:35:55.420 means. Well, if it don't cover it all, then what's 00:35:55.420 --> 00:36:00.429 it for? Well, it's what I want to believe. Well, 00:36:00.590 --> 00:36:06.590 there's an absolute in this world. Jeremiah 23, 00:36:06.829 --> 00:36:11.329 29 declares it like this. It's not my word like 00:36:11.329 --> 00:36:16.110 as a fire. There you go. Saith the Lord, and 00:36:16.110 --> 00:36:18.530 like a hammer that breaketh the rock into pieces. 00:36:20.610 --> 00:36:23.409 Amos 8 and 11 says, Behold, the days come, saith 00:36:23.409 --> 00:36:26.309 the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the 00:36:26.309 --> 00:36:31.139 land. Not a famine of bread nor a thirst for 00:36:31.139 --> 00:36:35.940 water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. 00:36:40.699 --> 00:36:43.460 Matthew 24, 35 declares heaven and earth will 00:36:43.460 --> 00:36:46.019 pass away, but my words will never pass away. 00:36:46.199 --> 00:36:48.960 Isaiah 48, the grass withers, the flower fades, 00:36:49.119 --> 00:36:51.719 but the word of our God shall stand forever. 00:36:52.260 --> 00:36:56.989 Our identity must be in what the word... Declares 00:36:56.989 --> 00:37:01.590 over us, about us, and to us. That's your identity. 00:37:01.949 --> 00:37:07.349 That is the absolute of truth. Jesus, the way, 00:37:07.349 --> 00:37:15.530 the and the. There you go. He is truth. So there 00:37:15.530 --> 00:37:18.989 is that absolute. Paul walked into Athens and 00:37:18.989 --> 00:37:22.610 beheld all the great. Structures of the Acropolis. 00:37:22.630 --> 00:37:25.849 He walked up the Appian Way to Rome. He saw the 00:37:25.849 --> 00:37:31.090 Forum. Today those buildings are all gone. All 00:37:31.090 --> 00:37:34.090 that may remain are just a few columns of ruin. 00:37:35.650 --> 00:37:39.150 But the word that he proclaimed on Mars Hill, 00:37:39.469 --> 00:37:46.210 still alive and well. Right? Still alive and 00:37:46.210 --> 00:37:49.519 well. Skeptics, critics, liberal interpreters, 00:37:49.619 --> 00:37:52.900 atheists, they've all come, they'll all go, but 00:37:52.900 --> 00:37:57.780 the Word of God still remains influencing and 00:37:57.780 --> 00:38:02.860 even changing lives. It's a two -edged sword, 00:38:03.039 --> 00:38:06.300 according to Hebrews 4 and 12, divides us under, 00:38:06.360 --> 00:38:08.119 even to the marrow of the bone. You know, that's 00:38:08.119 --> 00:38:11.199 the center mass of your being, the marrow of 00:38:11.199 --> 00:38:13.300 the bone. It goes beyond the density of the bone. 00:38:13.320 --> 00:38:18.119 It lives inside. The bone and it's life. Why 00:38:18.119 --> 00:38:20.260 do you think there are such great searches during 00:38:20.260 --> 00:38:24.659 cancer treatments for a compatible bone marrow? 00:38:27.340 --> 00:38:31.679 It's life. The word of God is life. A hammer, 00:38:31.739 --> 00:38:35.219 Jeremiah 23 and 29, breaks the resistance of 00:38:35.219 --> 00:38:39.119 a flint heart. It's a mirror in James 1, 23 and 00:38:39.119 --> 00:38:44.510 25. Reflects the true picture of a man. You can't 00:38:44.510 --> 00:38:48.250 read that Word of God and not see what your reflection 00:38:48.250 --> 00:38:53.230 is in it, whether it be marred or perfect. It 00:38:53.230 --> 00:38:57.030 becomes a reflector. The fire of Jeremiah, the 00:38:57.030 --> 00:39:00.489 Word of God burning pure and refining. A lamp 00:39:00.489 --> 00:39:03.550 to the psalmist to illuminate his steps day in 00:39:03.550 --> 00:39:07.429 and day out. It's filled with wonder. It's filled 00:39:07.429 --> 00:39:10.900 with power. The book of God has the power to 00:39:10.900 --> 00:39:15.860 change and transform our lives. That's the reason 00:39:15.860 --> 00:39:19.300 Paul mentioned the Scripture. It's as the Scripture 00:39:19.300 --> 00:39:23.519 has said. It has the power to pick drunkards 00:39:23.519 --> 00:39:25.960 up out of gutters, amen, turn them into preachers. 00:39:27.440 --> 00:39:30.139 Aren't those wonderful, powerful testimonies? 00:39:31.320 --> 00:39:34.280 It has the power to make saints out of infidels. 00:39:37.420 --> 00:39:40.699 It has power to restore the brokenness of life. 00:39:41.920 --> 00:39:46.059 Broken homes, broken relationships, broken marriages 00:39:46.059 --> 00:39:50.539 can all be put back together by the word of God 00:39:50.539 --> 00:39:52.679 and having faith in God. Well, I won't never. 00:39:52.840 --> 00:39:59.239 Well, move on. It has the power to give hope 00:39:59.239 --> 00:40:07.530 to humanity. Hope is a powerful. Powerful force. 00:40:08.250 --> 00:40:14.210 Hope, I'm going to skip. Hope is a powerful force. 00:40:15.449 --> 00:40:17.670 The Word of God provides for you the promise 00:40:17.670 --> 00:40:21.809 of the forgiveness of sin, promise of salvation, 00:40:22.170 --> 00:40:25.750 promise of eternal life, the promise of heaven 00:40:25.750 --> 00:40:29.889 as a sweet home, the promise of the return of 00:40:29.889 --> 00:40:32.050 the Son of the living God who is the Redeemer 00:40:32.050 --> 00:40:36.900 of our soul, and the promise of hope. Isaiah 00:40:36.900 --> 00:40:39.579 55 and 11 says, So shall my word be that goeth 00:40:39.579 --> 00:40:41.440 forth out of my mouth. It shall not return unto 00:40:41.440 --> 00:40:44.059 me void, but it shall accomplish that which I 00:40:44.059 --> 00:40:46.599 please. It's not what you and I please. It's 00:40:46.599 --> 00:40:49.840 what he pleases. And it shall prosper in the 00:40:49.840 --> 00:40:55.280 thing whereunto I sent it. Stand with me. I'm 00:40:55.280 --> 00:40:57.440 going to quit. I'm not finished, but I am done. 00:41:12.460 --> 00:41:18.480 We must maintain our identity. It doesn't matter 00:41:18.480 --> 00:41:20.679 to me what the church sign says as long as it's 00:41:20.679 --> 00:41:26.159 in alignment with the word of God. I figure there's 00:41:26.159 --> 00:41:28.280 greater battles to fight than with the church 00:41:28.280 --> 00:41:35.159 down the road. Fair enough? Now, if they're not 00:41:35.159 --> 00:41:37.179 preaching Christ crucified, then we've got a 00:41:37.179 --> 00:41:42.070 problem. I'm not just saying anything goes. You 00:41:42.070 --> 00:41:45.110 heard me clarify. If they're preaching Christ 00:41:45.110 --> 00:41:51.969 crucified from the word of God. Jesus, when the 00:41:51.969 --> 00:41:53.590 disciples, you remember that story, they say, 00:41:53.630 --> 00:41:56.289 Lord, they're over preaching in your name. They're 00:41:56.289 --> 00:41:59.090 not one of us. As long as they ain't against 00:41:59.090 --> 00:42:12.440 us, they're for us. They're preaching me. Someone 00:42:12.440 --> 00:42:16.619 once asked Charles Spurgeon if he was prepared 00:42:16.619 --> 00:42:18.980 to defend the Word of God, and this was his reply. 00:42:19.079 --> 00:42:21.559 I love it. I've told you this before. He said, 00:42:21.579 --> 00:42:24.900 defend it. I would have soon tried to defend 00:42:24.900 --> 00:42:30.079 a lion. God's Word doesn't need defending. Just 00:42:30.079 --> 00:42:33.900 preach it. Let it out of its cage, and it will 00:42:33.900 --> 00:42:40.900 defend itself. I just love that. There's a story 00:42:40.900 --> 00:42:43.420 told of a... A soldier during World War II on 00:42:43.420 --> 00:42:54.320 the South Sea Islands. He had received a Bible 00:42:54.320 --> 00:43:01.860 as a present. This native from a missionary gave 00:43:01.860 --> 00:43:06.880 him a Bible. He showed it to the soldier there 00:43:06.880 --> 00:43:11.380 on the island. He said, oh, oh. We've outgrown 00:43:11.380 --> 00:43:15.880 that sort of thing. The native looks at him and 00:43:15.880 --> 00:43:18.039 smiles and says, well, you better be glad we 00:43:18.039 --> 00:43:20.800 haven't because you'd be suffered this evening. 00:43:25.760 --> 00:43:29.440 I'd change your perspective about the power of 00:43:29.440 --> 00:43:32.179 the word of God. You better be glad we haven't 00:43:32.179 --> 00:43:36.320 outgrown it. You look pretty good with salt and 00:43:36.320 --> 00:43:43.650 pepper. John Wesley wrote, I'm a creature of 00:43:43.650 --> 00:43:45.849 the day, passing life as an arrow through the 00:43:45.849 --> 00:43:48.369 air. I am a spirit coming from God, returning 00:43:48.369 --> 00:43:52.429 to God, just hovering over the great gulf. A 00:43:52.429 --> 00:43:56.510 few months hence, I am no more seen. I drop into 00:43:56.510 --> 00:43:59.829 an unchangeable eternity. I want to know one 00:43:59.829 --> 00:44:06.190 thing, the way to heaven. God himself has condescended 00:44:06.190 --> 00:44:11.070 to teach the way, talking about Jesus. He has 00:44:11.070 --> 00:44:15.530 written it down in a book. Oh, give me that book 00:44:15.530 --> 00:44:23.550 at any price. Give me the book of God. That's 00:44:23.550 --> 00:44:32.489 our identity, folks. And we cannot be confused 00:44:32.489 --> 00:44:38.070 about the nature of the harvest. Our identity 00:44:38.070 --> 00:44:44.969 is in our passion toward the lost. We can't be 00:44:44.969 --> 00:44:47.170 confused about the promise of the Lord's return. 00:44:47.989 --> 00:44:55.309 He's coming. That is the circumference of my 00:44:55.309 --> 00:44:59.510 hope, my all in all, is the return of the Lord. 00:45:03.389 --> 00:45:08.500 And He's returning for me. Say, isn't he coming 00:45:08.500 --> 00:45:10.059 for all of us? Well, I don't know, but I know 00:45:10.059 --> 00:45:14.500 he's coming for me. That's how personal this 00:45:14.500 --> 00:45:20.079 is with me. That's how determined I am to see 00:45:20.079 --> 00:45:24.760 him. Well, how determined, Pastor? Determined 00:45:24.760 --> 00:45:27.340 enough to preach it to you so that you can see 00:45:27.340 --> 00:45:32.239 him as well. But if you don't, it's on you. It 00:45:32.239 --> 00:45:36.719 won't be on me. Well, I've never heard of him. 00:45:36.940 --> 00:45:38.940 pastor like that. Well, maybe you should have. 00:45:41.719 --> 00:45:44.000 Maybe there's been a little bit too much compromise 00:45:44.000 --> 00:45:52.000 from back here. Maybe we think folks get the 00:45:52.000 --> 00:45:58.980 point. Maybe we preach it so that we go all the 00:45:58.980 --> 00:46:00.579 way around it hoping you're going to get there 00:46:00.579 --> 00:46:02.699 but it'd be better just to go straight to it. 00:46:03.019 --> 00:46:06.760 If you're lost or backslid on God. You're going 00:46:06.760 --> 00:46:19.780 to hell. You don't know the struggle that I have. 00:46:20.159 --> 00:46:22.079 I've talked to Pastor Brown about it this week. 00:46:23.539 --> 00:46:32.900 Of being that frank and blunt. But I just feel 00:46:32.900 --> 00:46:42.820 like time's short. God's time or my time or our 00:46:42.820 --> 00:46:46.940 time or your time, I just of a late have just 00:46:46.940 --> 00:46:51.000 been so compelled to be just blunt and frank. 00:46:53.119 --> 00:46:55.880 Not mincing any words, not trying to beat around 00:46:55.880 --> 00:46:58.280 the bush to get you to understand it, but to 00:46:58.280 --> 00:47:01.440 just let you know you cannot live any way you 00:47:01.440 --> 00:47:04.300 want to. That is not the identity of a child 00:47:04.300 --> 00:47:08.199 of God. Holiness and righteousness. It doesn't 00:47:08.199 --> 00:47:10.139 mean... Had this little conversation at the office 00:47:10.139 --> 00:47:12.980 this morning. It doesn't mean perfection without 00:47:12.980 --> 00:47:18.920 mistake. It means mistake with confession. As 00:47:18.920 --> 00:47:20.559 long as we're in His flesh, we're going to mess 00:47:20.559 --> 00:47:27.940 up. But the book makes provision for your and 00:47:27.940 --> 00:47:32.219 my mistake. If a man sin, he has an advocate 00:47:32.219 --> 00:47:34.860 with the Father, Christ Jesus the righteous. 00:47:35.389 --> 00:47:38.010 And if we confess our sins, he is faithful and 00:47:38.010 --> 00:47:41.829 just to forgive us and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness. 00:47:46.550 --> 00:47:50.690 It's about being repentant and turning quickly. 00:47:52.110 --> 00:47:56.869 Father, I love you today. I thank you for your 00:47:56.869 --> 00:48:00.949 goodness and your mercy. Lord, I thank you for 00:48:00.949 --> 00:48:05.239 your help today. Because it could have been a 00:48:05.239 --> 00:48:12.159 whole lot more intense. We'll touch and move 00:48:12.159 --> 00:48:21.500 this morning. Speak to hearts and minds. Attitudes 00:48:21.500 --> 00:48:29.579 matter. Behavior matters. Your behavior is part 00:48:29.579 --> 00:48:31.800 of your identity. Folks know whether you realize 00:48:31.800 --> 00:48:40.739 it or not. They know. Father, touch hearts today. 00:48:43.000 --> 00:48:44.539 Tell you what we're going to do. I'm just giving 00:48:44.539 --> 00:48:48.599 us a general call to the altar today for whatever 00:48:48.599 --> 00:48:51.300 you may need. If you want to stand in for someone 00:48:51.300 --> 00:48:53.400 that's sick, just come on down and let's lift 00:48:53.400 --> 00:48:56.940 them up in prayer. If you come within this group 00:48:56.940 --> 00:48:59.260 of folks coming and you need to repent from sin, 00:48:59.380 --> 00:49:03.820 just repent. Ask the Lord to cleanse you and 00:49:03.820 --> 00:49:07.239 forgive you. Let's join together. We're going 00:49:07.239 --> 00:49:08.820 to close with a season of prayer in the altar. 00:49:08.920 --> 00:49:12.440 Come on. Come on, join me down here.