living
hallelujah
being
fighting the
end
Jesus
said I'm
much cumbered about
Mary's sitting in there
listening to you
and Jesus said she had
chosen the best thing
I want to sit here
to speak
one more time
the Lord has displayed
I think it's a monitor up here
his love
for me and my family this week
Sister Kathy had a
Sister Kathy had an accident on Thursday
told her car and
clipped two telephone poles
and was standing in the yard
when I got over there to where she was at
and the Lord's good
when I think about his love for us
and his mercy
and his love for me
and his mercy
how many of the rest of us this week just missed that
same accident
tire go off the road and then it's chaos
until it stops
Lord's been good
we've had a little frustration this morning
just trying to get started
and
over 30 years of ministry
and 57 years almost in church
I've discovered one thing
the enemy knows when God's about to do something good
so he tries to frustrate us
don't get me wrong I'm frustrated
but when I look at
what God has done
just this week
anytime you fool with stuff
you're going to get stuff going
so I finally learned over the years
just to let it flow
sing to the glory of the Lord
and encounter what we just encountered
because of our worship
because of your worship
the sweet nearness
to the presence of the Lord
he is here
amen
give him a hand clap of praise would you
and you can be seated
just a few moments
we'll be receiving the offering
the tithe and offering in just a few minutes
but Brother Mills if you would make your way
you remember just a few weeks ago
over the Easter weekend
we helped Brother Mills go to Africa
and I've asked him to just give us a quick update
on everything the Lord did there
I think you're going to be amazed
if we send folk and don't hear back from them
we need to see what the Lord's doing
amen
I guess without his introduction
you could look at me and tell where I've been
this was a gift that was given to me
in the country of Cote d'Ivoire
those of us that's a little older
we remember it as Ivory Coast
and the Lord had
opened the door for me to go back
to this country, my fourth time to be there
and to preach their
national convention
I have been working in Africa
since 1998
and the Lord gave me
the greatest gift
of being able to work in Africa
never had a burden for the country
if you'd ask me where I had a burden for
it was in the Far East
having suffered for Jesus
in Hawaii
and got used to that culture
and so forth
but he suddenly called me to go to Africa
several years ago
I served as overseer in four different countries
and then as the projects coordinator
and missions rep
and then also as the superintendent of West Africa
and over 17 countries in West Africa
God blessed in a wonderful way
the door opened for me to go preach their
national convention
Ivory Coast National Convention
just a couple of weeks ago
you helped me to go
I appreciate the gift that was given
the offering that was given
it was a tremendous blessing
I have many opportunities to go back to Africa
but it cost to go
if you've not flown lately
you won't understand how much it has
gone up in just the last little while
God opened that door
Pastor you talk about
fighting this morning
the Lord fought that convention all the way through
just getting across
the city of Abidjan
took us over two hours
coming back on Sunday it was just about
20 minute drive
but it took us over two hours
and then the first night
supposed to start
they couldn't get the lights to work
they were having problems with
electronics and so forth
the lights would not work
and so finally I just told
the overseer I said let them
rest tonight I'll preach the next three
services
and so on Saturday morning I began to preach
God came
down in a glorious way
you can go ahead and show
what few pictures
they were not able to download the ones
that I had up there
you can see
the worship
you talk about exuberant worship
you haven't seen any until you've been in Africa
they dance everywhere
anywhere however
they get involved in their worship
in a physical way
so you can see actually here
they were just giving an offering there
and they started running
to be able to give their offering
God moved in a beautiful way
on Saturday morning
50 saved on Saturday morning
can you give God the praise?
50 saved
we had about a 650
attendance in a very poor
country but God moved
in a wonderful way
in the evening service people came
the theme of the convention
was
loosely translated in confusion
ending confusion through
Jesus Christ
I didn't know what the theme was
for a long time but the Lord began to deal
with me about the messages
and every one of the messages he gave me
was to deal with that kind of thing
and on Saturday
night God moved in a way
that people came running
and were delivered of confusions
in their lives and some even
that were demon possessed were
delivered from that demon
possession on Sunday morning
of course it was Easter
on Easter Sunday morning
God gave us a wonderful time of
celebration of the resurrection
of Jesus Christ
and they came down
almost everyone came down to the front
and began to stand
and worship the living risen
Savior Jesus
Christ
this is a poor country
there I am, hold it there for just
a minute
everybody thought that was an African shirt
but I actually ordered that online here
but it went well
with the theme there
one of the things
that surprises everybody
over there, I'm not going to tell you
my age but I'm
older than I look I hope
but they
they said he's still too strong
he's still too strong
God gives the energy that we need
on Sunday morning
and this is the Sunday morning service
there's a
piece of land in the town
or the city of San Pedro
Cote d'Ivoire
God's blessed them
with a
company
I don't want to call it a company, a ministry
I guess you would call it here in the US
that is building some church buildings
in Africa
and in this particular
instance they have already
approved and started
building, I don't know if you can
go ahead and kind of roll what's left
they couldn't get them all down, oh there it is
right there, this is where they're building
the new building on their plot
they were able to talk the people into
letting them go ahead and build
on three plots
three lots you would
call them here, I'm so used to Africa I call them
plots, but three plots
without having paid for them yet
and so they're
making their own blocks by the way
and what you see you can go on to the next one if it's there
you can see the foundations
already going in
they were able to purchase these three
lots for $12,000
the picture you saw
just a few minutes ago was them
running to give an offering
towards these plots
they gave
in a poor country and when I'm talking
poor I'm talking
we in the United States don't know
the poverty that is there
but they were able to raise over
$4,000 that morning
I praise the Lord for that
I mean they
came running to give that money
because they already saw the
need and saw what God had blessed
them with and so
the pastor, I'm going to let him
finish this up but just to let me say
that the pastor
has said that this church
would help in purchasing the lots
because they only have a limited
number of days and a
couple of months more to be
able to pay for these plots
because the people
have been so generous to let them go ahead
and even start building because this
ministry was able to
get everybody together and start the
build. I want to thank you
pastor come on up
here or I'm liable to keep on going
I want to
thank you for helping me first of
all to go
I still have a burden for Africa
I worked there 21 years
and I still have a burden for
it and folks like
you are helping me
enabling me to carry on this burden
as well and even in the pastor
saying that he would
like for the church to help in those plots
that is helping my
burden. It's really
carrying me on so thank you so much
thank you pastor for the opportunity
to present. God bless you.
Hallelujah.
Praise the Lord.
We already have seed
in that community with 50 souls
just by what we invested in helping him
for the meals go and preach the gospel.
When he was sharing
their need
out of
we know what need is
we've been there
hallelujah we're not there
anymore
so we're going to help these folks
and getting that debt off of them
amen
and then we'll truly
truly be invested in every
soul every life that is touched and
changed in that church when
it's built amen
You say well pastor I'm not prepared to give today
for that good because I wouldn't ask you today I want you to pray about it
here in the next couple weeks
I'll explain to you just a little bit more but in a couple weeks we're going to be preaching on our mission
the mission of Hopewell
where we're at and where we're going and what I'd like to see for us to do
what I feel like the Lord's laying on our heart
to do
home and abroad
amen so just just be
preparing get your hearts ready
ask how many do you actually pray
when we have these
special offerings coming up in the future
do you actually ask the Lord
yeah good thank you and for those of you that don't please start
I know what it's like to pray
and be half afraid of what the Lord might ask you to do
huh
yeah you're afraid he's going to ask you to really give
and let me just tell you something when you pray
normally what I've discovered in my own life
the first number he pops in my mind
is the one that he wants me to give
and because it's after that I start trying to figure what I want to do
because that's not the number I would normally come up with
hello
am I the only one that does that?
I don't think so
because that first number is from his heart
and you think oh oh really
whoo
okay Lord
after you've wrestled with it and prayed through for a week
but be in prayer
ask the Lord what he would have you to do
and we're going to bless this church
we're going to help see it built
amen
and do something for the king of God
has the Lord been good to you?
has he blessed you this week?
he blessed us
amen
still getting reports, checks are still coming in the mail
blessings are still flowing
so we're going to keep on asking
amen
let's pray
the name, the name above every
the name of Jesus
we approach you today
your throne
so grateful, 50 souls added to the kingdom
others delivered
and lives changed
we're grateful for that report this morning
Father I pray over the household of faith today
jobs and better jobs
increases
checks in the mail
refunds, rebates
inheritance
in in everything that belongs under your people
get it to them
as we believe what your word declares
that you'll supply all of our need
according to your riches and glory
by Christ Jesus
bless the household of faith today
amen
let's stand together
just come and worship in your giving this morning
and bless the Lord
the name of Jesus
giving the best praise you brought with you this morning
hallelujah
if you have your bibles be turning with me to Mark's gospel
gospel of Mark chapter 13
Mark 13
such a wonderful atmosphere
in the house of the Lord today
it's almost one that
probably just let us worship our way out
I'm a man of the word
I'd rather preach the word as to sing
but there are times that our song
puts us in a place within his grace
that we just need to be comforted
just need to be embraced by his grace
and open hearts of worship
and he's been a blessing in us for that
I really believe
there are those times
this one's close but not hardly
I'm going to preach to us today
if I get started
and feel like I've missed it
Pastor Donnie's going to get right back up real quick
and we're going to worship our way out
and I'll pick back up on this later
next week
some would think it's simple to moderate a church service
it is if it's all choreographed
there's not a problem
but you see we being Pentecostal
there's an end breaking of the spirit
and sometimes the best and most well laid plans
get just blown apart
if you want to follow him
now if you're not worried about him
then it doesn't matter
but you see
as soon as I get here I'm concerned about him
and what he desires from us
and what the spirit wills to do in us
amen
so that when we leave we can say wow
wow
not that we boy wasn't the singing great
man didn't the pastor preach a great word
no
that we leave here saying were we not in the presence of God
man did you feel what I felt today
did you encounter his grace and his glory like I did today
that's my chief aim and goal
that we encounter him
at the depth that he desires
so I'm going to give this a try
Mark 13
beginning at verse 31
the word of the Lord declares
heaven and earth shall pass away
but my word shall not pass away
but of that day and that hour knoweth no man
no not the angels which are in heaven
neither the son but the father
take ye heed watch and pray
for you know not when the time is
for the son of man is as a man taking a far journey
listen
who left his house
gave authority to his servants
and to every man his work
and commanded the porter to watch
watch ye therefore
for you know not when the master of the house cometh
at even or at midnight or at the cock crowing
or in the morning
lest coming suddenly
he finds you sleeping
and what I say unto you
I say unto all
watch
for the next couple two three weeks
ever how long the Lord lays on the heart
I'm going to preach to you a series on living in the
meantime
living in the meantime
and we're going to look at
out of these texts things that Christ left
the church things he left them to do
from our text this morning
we're just going to cover one today
heavenly father I truly love you
wow
I can leave just now and declare it's been good
to have been in the house of the Lord
but I need your help Lord
you put this word in my heart
you stirred it in my spirit
so Lord help me preach today
with that anointing
that where the spirit of the Lord is
there's great liberty
and Lord let us not be mindful of the time
I know what time it is
but help us not be in a hurry
help me not rush today
but we that have ears to hear
would hear what the spirit has to say to the church
in the name above every name
the name of Jesus
the church said
amen and amen
I want you as you're being seated
would you would you give brother Jordan a hand this morning
for me
that is the least
that I'm telling you that is the least honorable job
in the church
anytime somebody sit behind that board before
yeah you have to help control sound
it's it's not easy
so thank you brother and all those who rotate in and out of there
thank you so much
for all that you do
help it not be too loud and help it not be too soft
and that we all hear what we need to hear to get the job done
amen
limitations 326 declares it is
good that one should hope and wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord
just this past week
I think I've been with
brother Scotty preaching on
Thomas
after the resurrection
the struggle that he had after the resurrection
when I think about where we are living in the meantime now
I think about the disciples
and how hard it must have been for them
we we give them
a hard time
on occasion
but
unless we were living with them it would be hard for us to
understand how and why they did what they did
but living in the meantime is a
is a place where we're now
the promised coming of Christ that we've read in our text
today
it's been the great hope of believers down through the centuries
the ancient Nicing creed affirms
the scripture declare he shall come again with glory
Charles Wesley is said wrote some seven thousand hymns
five thousand of those hymns mentioned the coming of Christ
as the Archbishop of Canterbury crowned Queen Elizabeth II at her coronation
he stated and I quote
I give thee O sovereign lady
this crown to wear
until he who reserves the right to wear it
shall return
now isn't that good to remind the monarch
that your crown is simply borrowed
that your crown is simply on loan
just hold it because one day he who deserves to wear it
will return for it
so until then
the world in which you and I live in remains in the grip of violence
in the grip of despair
as one columnist noted and he summed it up this way in his article
for us all the world is disorderly
and dangerous ungoverned
and apparently ungovernable
someday however the king will return
amen
someday the heavens will shout
as John the revelator recorded in 1115
the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ
and he shall reign forever and ever
while we're living in the meantime we live in despair we live in danger we live in sickness we live around disease
we live where accidents are prone day in and day out we must be on our guard continually
and when we think about the coming of the Lord when we think about the kingdoms of this world
we have to understand that Christ alone is the answer to the burdens of our hearts and the hopelessness of our world
there is no other help there is no other remedy the only remedy for humanity is that of Jesus Christ
it's the balm of his precious blood applied to our sin
it's his broken body that was given that we may be healed
and it was that crown of thorns piercing his brow that brings about the peace of our mind
he received in his body all that we need in the redemption of ours
and I'm so grateful today that we are living in that time and there is no other answer
there is no other hope I know the disparity of our world and our world is being turned upside down and inside out
but in the world in which we are living that is turned upside down
when you try and hard I feel my help coming or I'm just getting mad one
and sometimes you just got to get mad before the anointing comes and then it'll fade in and nobody will know the difference
but when I look at our world and you and I are living in the meantime
we're living in between the crucifixion and resurrection and the return of the king of glory
and in the midst of living in the meantime there is a dilemma that we are faced with
and it's the upside down culture and it's only going to get worse child of God
so therefore we have to be determined in ourself how we are going to live and what we are going to do
in the meantime and I am so grateful that what we are going to do and have to do
and being commanded to do hasn't been left up to our interpretation
but we have been directed by the Lord and through His word on what it is we must be about doing
understand this Jesus Christ came into the world on a mission
He didn't just come happenstance the Father just didn't say well it's as good a time as any
though He was sent on a divine appointment at a divine moment in time
when the fullness of time had come He was sent into the world
what does that mean? I believe when God had about all He could stand
and knew that it was time it was marked man had gone as far as He would will that He would go on His own
in trying to adhere to the law but He knew that grace was going to have to enter into man's life
if man was going to make a turn and the only way His grace was going to be imparted into man
is if He dispatched His righteousness which come through His only begotten Son
and so when the fullness of time came Christ was born in a manger in Bethlehem
and when the fullness of time came He was crucified on Galgotha's old hill
and when the fullness of time come on the third day He arose
and when the fullness of time comes the Archangel is going to step out in the clouds of heaven
and He's going to lick His lips and He's going to sound upon the trumpet
and the angel beside Him is going to give a great shout
and here's what's going to happen when the time comes when the fullness of time is come about
then we which are alive and remain shall be changed and the dead in Christ shall rise first
and together we're going to meet the Lord in the air
but in the meantime what we going to do?
well eventually we're going to get in the next few weeks to the upper room
if I don't get ahead of myself and get us there today
I'm trying to wait till we get to Pentecost Sunday to bring that about
in the meantime He was sent on a mission
according to Luke 19 and 10 that mission is to seek and to save that which was lost
according to the scripture He went about doing good, healing the sick, cleansing lepers
casting out devils and even raising the dead
when you read through scripture multitudes followed Him
and were thrilled at His every word
according to John 746 never a man spake like this man, hallelujah
never a man spake like this man, why?
because when Jesus spoke things happened, that's why
when He would speak to the deaf their ears would be open, hallelujah
and they'd never seen anything or heard anything quite like that
many were sitting there the day in the synagogue when He opened up and rolled the scroll of Isaiah before Him
and began to declare the Spirit of the Lord is upon me
and many others had read that the leaders of the synagogue no doubt had read through Isaiah's scroll
but there was something that tingled in their ears this day
when the word of the living God, when God in the flesh unrolled the scroll
and began to declare of Himself the Spirit of the Lord is upon me
and I have been anointed, hallelujah
the Spirit of the Lord is upon me
and I'm bringing good news to the broken hearted
I'm coming to help the bruised out
I'm coming to open the eyes of the blind
that is why I'm here
that's why the Spirit of the Lord is on me
and I'm coming to declare the acceptable year of the Lord
they'd never heard it, never heard it on that wise
they'd never heard Him speak, no one had ever spoken with that type of authority
when they began to declare the word of God
so they stood in awe of the power of His authority
they stood in amazement at all that He'd done
the disciples were with Him, they'd seen every miracle that He performed
and they were still amazed the day He spoke to the fig tree
when He cursed the fig tree and the next morning they walked by
and it's already withered up
they were still amazed and stood in awe at the authority of His word
oh wouldn't it be great today if we were in awe of the authority of His word one more time
oh wouldn't it be great if we would read His word
and learn and fear and tremble, humble ourselves under the authority of that word
and live in accordance to that hope
and live in accordance to the commands and the dictates of His word
concerning our hearts to be in awe of His word
are you in awe of His word?
I am, I stand in awe, I stand in amazement
and when He declares things have come to pass
so they stand in awe of the power and authority with which He spoke
they wanted to make Him their King
but He declared His kingdom was not of this world
yet, that's the part I like, yet
but there's a day coming
His kingdom's not of this world
so when He was nearing the end of that earthly ministry
a few weeks ago we declared when He knew that He was going to proclaim
it is finished and we talked about it and what it was
and when He knew that He was going to declare and speak that
and all that He had spoken would be coming to pass
and His work below would be complete
He placed full responsibility of continuing the church
in the hands of His faithful followers
are you hearing me?
when He looked down from the cross and He saw His mother
and He saw His dear friend John
He said, Behold your mother, mother behold your son
in other words, John take care of mama for me
I'm going to be going here shortly
and so John take care of mama
I'm telling you, what son doesn't love his mama?
Hello? What son don't love his mama?
Take care of my mama!
before He declares it is over
the earthly work completed
the mission that He had been sent for
was about to be fulfilled
His blood was about to be presented in the holiest of holies
not in Jerusalem but in glory
it's about to be completed
but in that completion He left His work
in the hands of faithful followers
there are some things in our text today that He left
for them to do
and those things that are mentioned in this text
are still our assignment
and so while we are in waiting
while we are in the meantime
while we are waiting for the Lord's return
we have to understand that we have just not been given
a just set and wait pass
you've not just been given an idol until I get there
no, that is not what we have been mandated to do
we have the mandate of going into all the world
hallelujah
we all don't have a call
we don't have a call
all of us like Brother Mills is sharing
that African continent just woos and calls his soul
because God has put Africa in his heart and in his soul
and he's given 20 something years of his life
to see the gospel furthered there
and souls to be saved and the good news to be proclaimed
but I'm telling you we've all been mandated to go
and the heart of the text is as you are going
so that doesn't, so we don't, any of us have a free pass does it
because we're all going
what does that mean pastor?
it means as you are going through your life daily
what are you supposed to do?
you're going to make disciples into the all the world
as you're going about the world and everywhere you go
as you go through Walmart
as you make your way through Ace Hardware
if you go through the gas station as you go
as you're going to soccer practice, play practice
basketball, baseball, football, volleyball
all of the music practice wherever you're going
as you are going you are to be making disciples
well how do I do that?
with the dictates of your heart
and the passion that you have with the grace of God
that wells up inside you
we've all been mandated
it is a live and living mission
and until that mission is complete
we are all to be about his business
so while we're living in the meantime
we got to keep our self upright before him
and humble down before him
we got to keep our self awash with the purification
and the water of his word
that we remain regenerated
so that all who see us may know
there is a king of glory
and he's on his way
but in the meantime
so verse 34
the first thing that he leaves them
is a special trust
he left them a special trust
verse 34 he leaves him
with them the responsibility
of taking care of his house
you see he gives this parable
of a man taking a far journey
and this parable is in reference to himself
he's knowing where he's going
they've still not figured it out at this point
but he knows what his life's about to be
he knows that his earthly work is about to be over
so someone has to pick up where he's left off
and where he's leaving off
man my head's spinning
I could jump way ahead
but I'm going to try to remain focused this morning
so he's left them his house
it's a very special trust
everything that Christ came to earth for
everything that he owned
everything that he had passion about
was in that house
and all that meant anything to him in this world
and all this world was in that house
but note just for a moment
and when you begin to think about it
it was not just for them to look at
according to Luke 19 33
they received a mandate there
and the teaching of the Lord
occupy until I come
now occupy doesn't mean just find something to do
occupy has a military word
and a conundation behind it
it has impetus that
you got to go claim more territory
occupy, amen
occupy, in other words
you've been mandated to get on the enemy's territory
and stake some claim
to go occupy until I come
it's his house
when we think about the house of the Lord
it's a place of dwelling
it's a place of safety
it's a place of security
and he left them his house
my Lord
when we think about his house
how wonderful and beautiful the house of the Lord truly is
he said I come
occupy
carry home with business as normal
don't let up fellas
when you see those who are filled with demons
cast them out
when you see those who are sick
lay hands on them and raise them up
and preach the gospel
preach the gospel
I am so afraid
that the modern day church has gotten away
from the simplicity of preaching the gospel
we do so many other things
we want to have so many other activities
but the activities and other things are not our mandate
our mandate is to preach the gospel
it's to tell the good news
that Christ came to earth for the wretchedness of their soul
and the misery of their life
not only for that
but that they may have joy unspeakable
and it be full of glory
living in the meantime doesn't mean living through misery
it means living in the joy and the glory of the Lord
while we are living here now
we are in his house
and in his house is his presence
heaven's work
placed and left in the hands of humanity
left in the hands of those disciples
John 20, 21 says
as my father has sent me even so send I you
Luke 10, 3 I send you forth as lambs among wolves
and harmless and be harmless as doves
amen
because we have to be wise as serpents
be therefore wise as serpents with the harmless as doves
it should not surprise you that the world is going to bite on you
it shouldn't surprise you that the world is going to stand up against you
but that's alright greater is he that's in you
than he that is in this world
it's time for the church to come out of the darkness again
it's time for us to come out declaring the precious light
of the lamb of God
look sinner up man if you want out of a cradle
then you need to turn your life over to Jesus Christ
and stand up and walk like a man and act like a man
and be the man that God's called you to be
but he'll never get out of that cradle without the gospel
you tell I'm disturbed by that
now I don't think it's disturbed I think it's more pre-terved
I'm pre-terved
it makes you want to grab somebody to slap the daylights at them
good thing we don't work in the ways of the Old Testament prophets
I'd call some leprosy down on some people
hello they need a good dose of wake up
oh my lord
it's hard for me to be tolerant with the ignorance
oh Jesus help me see these are those days y'all are harping
livestreaming
oh lord
such a sweet spirit we had this morning
I probably should have let you sing us out
it just went on
oh
I started saying you're wrecking the Lord do it it's going to get this bad I'm sure he did
as it were in the days of Noah so shall the coming of the Son of Man be
a man or a pervert look perversion's not new are you hearing me
stupidity's not news ignorance is not new man's been doing it since creation
that's the reason the preacher declared there's nothing new under the heavens
the depravity of man's life and the depths of the darkness of his soul
there is no limit
that's the reason the Lord came down and brought down the tower of Babel
the hearts of men that's really had no a builder arc
Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord why because only evil was in men's heart
and it was there continually
so if it was that same condition in the day of Noah
what kind of condition is this world in
and the mandate for you and I to take care of the house
to take care of his house he left them his house
we've been left his house to be caretakers of
when we think about all of that in Luke 14 23 says
go out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in
how many of you are compelling
we can't hardly compel because we're not truly committed to coming in ourselves
so when you do try to compel others they look and say
well did you go last week?
well no but I'm going this week
come go with me
no I'm going fishing
go fishing they go
when they see the evidence change in our life
and when we leave on a day like today my spirit is going to be full when I leave here today
simply already by the presence of the Lord that I've encountered
and the worship that I've already offered up to him
my soul is full and running over
and I can't wait to get someone before me to say hey
where do you attend?
because the Lord is here
meeting us and visiting with us
compel them to come in go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature
there's not seven ways to a better you
hello
not 12 steps to financial success in the church
that's not what you're preaching
the African people that Brother Mills was talking about were so poor but yet gave so liberally
they don't need 12 steps they need the gospel
that's why 50 people give their heart to the Lord
because the gospel confronts us with our condition
and when we are confronted with conviction of our condition
then the Holy Spirit draws us
but if the gospel isn't proclaimed to every creature
tell them about Jesus
Acts 1 and 8 be witnesses unto me and to the other most popular world
what was their reaction? how did they take this direction?
they accepted this trust and went out to share
to shake and to shock the world of their day
it has been said Jesus went up the Holy Ghost come down
and the disciples went out
according to Acts 17 and 6 they said that they that turned the world upside down
have come here also
and it was at Ephesus where they were first called Christians
and his house is our mandated gift
he gave them his house
I got to thinking about that simple word house
and my mind went all the way back to Genesis
and where I find old Jacob running from his brother Esau
and he has some stones that he makes a pillow from
and he lays down to sleep as his escape is underway
and as he's laying asleep he has a dream and he sees the vision of a ladder
and the angels of heaven going up and down up and down
and when he awakened the next morning he shook himself and he declared
surely the Lord was here and I never knew it
and there from that moment he took the pillow and began to stack it up as an altar
and from that moment that place which was called Luz
is now called Beth-El which means house of God
which means God dwelt here
it's a place of his residence
this is where I met God and it was there
oh a few chapters later Jacob is still running
but God's about to reconcile him with his brother Esau
and he begins to make his way back
he wrestles with an angel of the Lord
and then he hears God one more time
reaffirm a covenant promise that he made
look when you come to the house of the Lord be rest assured
that if God has ever spoke a promise over your life
from time to time and occasion to occasion
he will always remind you of his faithful promise that he has made
it's a place of promise
the house of the Lord is a place of covenant
that 15th verse in that 28th chapter
says, what else Jacob?
behold I am
I am with thee and will keep thee in all places
verse 16 he says surely the Lord is in this place
and I knew it not
in verse 19 he builds that altar from his pillow
and names that place the house of God
yet as he moved away from Beth-El
from time to time to return he's called back
the Lord said go back to Beth-El
go back to where I spoke to you my God
if you know people who are out of church
you need to look them in the eye and say go back
make your way back to the house of God
where he promised you and where he made covenant with you
go back because he that made the promise
is going to be faithful to keep it
make your way back to his house
to Mr. Welling, the place of his presence
make your way back
Jacob makes his way back but on the journey
he looks at his family and everybody says
put every God you got packed up behind us
leave it here, discard everything that isn't a
holy and isn't of the Lord
leave it here, in other words he said get sanctified
we're going back to the house of God
hallelujah
well
so he gets back
has another covenant affirmation
he says this is El
Beth-El
remember that's where he wrestles
with that epiphany
he's wrestling
through the night
here's that angel to them say let me go
I gotta get
he says no sir
you're not going anywhere
until you bless me
would to the heavens that we had enough grip on God to say that
huh
I'm not letting go
no sir I am not letting go
I'm not letting go and the thing about the house of God
when you get a hold of God and you say I'm not going to let you go until you touch me and you bless me
I'm telling you what the touch will do
the touch in Jacob's life
it's smitten him in that hip and he left out of there with a different walk
he left from El Beth-El with a different walk
my God, my God in heaven
if we would get a hold of an altar somewhere
until glory touched us
when we left here we'd be walking a little bit different too
that's what the house of God will do for you
when you get in there and meet the God of the house of God
you'll get up after he touches you
and you'll leave walking a different way
hallelujah
house of God is a place of promise
it's a place for his glory to reside
2 Chronicles 7
Jesus said I leave you my house
you remember what his declaration was
Matthew 16 I'll build my church
upon this rock I'll build my church
and the gates of hell shall not
prevail against it
you're going to read 1 Timothy 3.15
you'll see that the house of God which is the church
Timothy's telling them how to behave in the house of God which is the church
I will build my church
and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it
no longer does his presence dwell within the tabernacles of earth and clay
and wood and mortar and brick
but now in earthen vessels we hold and contain the treasure of his presence
but in 2 Chronicles 7 when we read how Solomon is now ready to dedicate the house of God
that his father David's hands was too bloody to build
but Solomon builds it and when it's complete he's on a platform
and he's praying and the scripture says that when Solomon had made an end of prayer
that the fire fell from heaven and the glory of God
set in his house so that they were unable to stand before him
and in the power of his presence
I'm telling you let the glory and the fire fall in the church again
and look you and I according to 1 Peter 2
we are lively stones which are built up
and we make about a spiritual house
he left his house
no wonder the author of Hebrews chapter 10 verse 25 was so adamant
about not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together
in the manner that some is
they already were currently
forsaking the assembly
as the house of worship
but he said even so much more as you see the day approaching
encourage one another
exhort one another
why? because we're living in the meantime
we're living in the meantime
the house of the Lord according to Matthew 21
13 Jesus said it is written
my house shall be called the house of prayer
it is written where was it written?
Isaiah read it that's where
in 56 7 listen to this
even them he's talking about foreigners he's talking about strangers he's talking about proselytes
he said even them will I bring to my holy mount
and make them joyful in my house of prayer
in other words everybody is welcome
everyone is welcome
I'll bring them the foreigner the outcast
I'll bring them to my holy mountain
and I'm going to put joy in them I'm going to fill them with joy
in my house of prayer
hallelujah
prayers are being answered aren't they?
God is hearing and answering prayer
God is delivering God is saving
my Lord he's moving mountains
he's providing he's hearing and answering prayer
and there's joy that comes in the house of prayer
I wonder Jesus was so upset
he would turn the table of the money changers over and he said
my house shall be called a house of prayer
but you have turned it into a den of things
so he cleansed his people
he cleansed his house
he left them his house
how special is the house of the Lord?
well it's very special to me
I cherish the house of the Lord
it's obvious
should be obvious
the shepherd don't cherish the house
who will?
if the shepherd shows disregard for the house
who will show regard?
I think the house of the Lord should be the neatest prettiest place around
amen?
it kind of causes me to do this when I go by
and see church properties that are just
the changers
how special is the house of the Lord?
look what the psalmist said in 84 and 10
for a day in thy courts
is better than a thousand
I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than to dwell in the pits of wickedness
does coming here mean that much to you?
it does to me
I can't explain to you a burden shift that the Lord gives shepherds that are called
I can't tell you how that works in your heart
how it works in your soul
there are men in here that know and understand that
they've experienced it
I can't tell you how much it means to me
to be caretaker of this house
if I couldn't do anything but open the door
I'd be glad to do it
then to where the Lord found me, what he brought me from
and what he saved me out of
hallelujah! I don't have to
I told him years ago I don't have to do this
don't want to do this
I tried doing everything else
clerk, head usher, song leader, Sunday school teacher
cleaned the church on our turn to clean
done all of that stuff for over a year
trying not to have to do this stuff
some of these guys tell me, oh I just
I just want to be in the ministry
I said you're crazy
what do you mean you want to be in the ministry?
oh I want a full support church
as you know not what you ask of
I've tried everything I can do to get out of it
let alone be giddy about getting in
well why? look around you
just take a good scan around
look up if you can if you raise your head
look around
I feel the weight of every soul
in this room
every day
now if you can do it without feeling that
I'm not going to say it on you
if you can't read the word of God
and be convicted by the spirit to preach a word
that's going to align my sin
to tell me if I don't line up I'm not going
I don't need your pat on the back
help me feel good about the misery that I'm living through
I need the preaching and the declaration of the gospel
which confronts my condition
because you and I are the house
see you and I now are the temple
what did Paul say?
no you're not but you are the temple of the Holy Ghost
defile not the temple
now what the word says?
what do we have hanging of the world's desires
on the hallways and the inner chambers of our soul and spirit
that doesn't belong there?
what are we dividing the house with?
he left them his house
responsibility
the day we build the church
while we live in the meantime
over-your responsibility
no, the commands to all of us
go ye, that means ye
you're ye, I'm ye, we're all ye
that's us, that's you, that's me
we
I'd rather be a doorknob
the king said it
King David
I'd rather be a doorkeeper
in the house of my God
can you imagine the songs of the cent
as the people are coming towards Jerusalem on Holy Day
many of them singing that Psalm 121
I will lift up mine eyes into the hill
for whence cometh my help?
my help comes from the Lord
the maker of the heavens and the earth
someone may be singing Psalm 91
oh, he that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty
knowing they're making their way toward the temple of God
knowing that they're making their way for sacrifice and worship
knowing they're making their way to where God's presence dwells
are you that happy? I'm that happy every Sunday morning
it's better than a house in Jerusalem
one day here
one day in his house, one day in his courts
it's better than a house
yes
it's better
I want to be in his house
these next few weeks are going to be fairly pastoral
because we need reminded
of the times in which we're needed
we must stand reminded
of our responsibility and the things that Christ has left the church
you and I have been given a special trust
that's to take care of the house of the Lord
whose house you are
so how are you doing with his house?
we hold this treasure now
in earthen vessels
that's us
tabernacles of clay if you will
that's us
the spirit of the Lord dwells in you
thus the Lord declares where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I
in the midst of them
so we gather
and so is it any wonder when any number of us come
that he shows up
that he visits in our worship like he has this morning
but truly he's here
so how are you doing with his house?
you left him
lively stones
to fill up a spiritual house
that we may offer sacrifices
and praise and worship unto him
Father I love you today
I thank you for your visitation
I thank you for your help this morning for I have truly
truly felt your anointing
may we all consider
our caretaking responsibility
of the house
not just this physical structure
but the spiritual house
which is our lives
some may say pastor I'm not doing so well
with the maintenance
of my house
the spiritual maintenance
of my house
I've somewhat defiled
the house I brought in unclean things
unholy things
sinful things I allow to live in me
I want to put an end to that
I tell you what I feel in my spirit this morning
all those who want to have your house in order
just come and make your way to this front
wasn't that the word of the prophet brought
to the king
get your house in order
or you're surely going to die
as the kai turns his face to the wall
begin to remind the lord
of his deeds and the acts that he has done for him
before Isaiah can get from the court of the kings pass
he received another word from the lord go back and tell it
go tell the king
you get fifteen more years
don't blow it
I want to be the house of the lord
while we're living in the meantime
I want others
that see us
to recognize us as a house
of the lord
I'm not talking about a church building
I'm talking about you
I want others to see you
and know there's a difference
to know that you've been to the house of the lord and you've come back walking a little different
like old jake
he left with a limp the bible says
but he left right
and he remained right
I want us to remain right
see I care enough about you
I'm going to tell you if there's sin in your life
it's not going to work
I don't know how you think and process times but as I've grown
I've tried to process some of that
like to myself how much sin you think you can get in heaven with
well you think that'll keep you out
well if I have to ask myself that yes
but I'm just going to tell you I try to err
to the side of righteousness
some of you in here know the phrase
raised in the old school
and they know that
that's where I was raised
so for myself the scriptures says let every man work out his own salvation
takes a little more work to keep past
I want to keep you
I don't know how the judgements going to be one day but I pictured in my mind
because those of us who are called to preach and teach
prophets and pastors and advances
we're going to be held at a higher rate of accountability
we are
that's true I don't know how it's going to be but I pictured in my mind
after I have been judged for old clear
hear me
when I've stood before God
hopefully with the blood remain in the blood
hear that well done but stand there a minute
and he begins to call
church
at church
then I'm judged for that
I'm judged
for how I preached taught and led and ministered
to the new martin church of God
for a little over five years
then I will stand for the Lafayette church of God
for a little over six years
and accountability that I will have
for what I shared to with and for them
and then
for 13 and a half years
the Woodward Avenue church of God
and for the hundreds
and thousands that come through there
I'll have to give an account
to what went across this podium and I know my lord I'm going to get in trouble
for some goofy stuff like I say this morning
as long as I get reprimanded for goofy and not sin
or neglect
neglect
what neglect to tell you the truth
that you can't get into heaven full of sin
and then
I'll give an account for this day
ever previous Sunday before
and every Sunday following
I'll give an account
and so
I want to be able to give a just account
April 23rd, 2023
with inspiration of the spirit and the anointing of the Holy Ghost
I told you the truth
I declared to you
you are his house
he loves his house
he cares about his house
he died for he left them his house
he died for his house
you and I are in
we're in
so
let's all start with a clean slate
right here
I'm going to repent
we do not make that a spiritual practice and discipline in our life
and you should
continually
repent
what for? sins of omission and commission
things you fail to do
how many of us have left convicted
and we've been urged by the spirit to talk to someone about the Lord
and we just didn't
and then you leave and you get your legs strapped when you're like six years old
the Holy Ghost
I had to work for them
that's omission
sin of disobedience
in those sins we commit
lies we tell
I'm not going to go through the litany of sins if you're
see what I'm saying?
because what we do in secret
is lit up like an LED sign
in the heavens
the Lord sees your heart
so
you just have to take it up to the Lord you've got such a goofy pastor
pray for him
our hearts heavy
and the spiritual condition
of his house
I want it to be the house that he left
the one he comes for
Father
in the name of your son Jesus Christ the supreme sacrifice for all our sins
I stand before you today Lord and I do repent
for both sins
from that which I disobey
to that which I may commit
as I endeavor within the depths of my soul not to sin against you
but as the psalm said I've hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you
your word is in me
but I'm grateful today
that we have an advocate with the Father
Christ Jesus the righteous
and if we confess our sin
you are faithful and just
to forgive us of our sin
and to cleanse us
of all unrighteousness
I repent
come on saints repent just tell the Lord
I repent
for doubt and disbelief
actions that are not pleasing words that are not pleasing
attitude that is not pleasing to you Lord
purify me cleanse me I repent today
that your joy
bring me into your house
into the holy mountain
and fill us full of joy
in your house of prayer
as we pray forgive us
forgive us
forgive me Lord
cleanse me
purify me purge me
so grateful today
I want to be your house
the house of the Lord
thank you Lord
from all points of this church stretch your way
your hands toward this way toward this altar
heavenly Father
mighty God
in the name of Jesus
ha se la mojo sonda la mojo sia
hallelujah Lord so grateful today
we're so thankful today
your hand of mercy and grace was over us
Lord we're going to need a touch
we're going to need a healing touch
strengthening touch in body Lord
Father God in the name of Jesus
touch these ladies as they stand before you in your presence
heal their bodies
heal their minds
strengthen them by your grace
Lord we're so thankful and grateful today
so thankful so grateful this morning
for your hand of mercy and grace
touch your house
this is your house standing before you
you died for your house
touch your house
Lord may we all leave this place
walking differently
than we came in
different
cleansed
different
cleansed
blessed
with favor
following us
thank you today Jesus
thank you Lord
just worship in a minute
hallelujah