WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.080 Thank you Jesus for being a covenant keeper. 00:00:06.879 --> 00:00:12.740 Thank you Jesus for helping us to receive everything 00:00:12.740 --> 00:00:17.440 that you have for us. You are an awesome God. 00:00:17.760 --> 00:00:34.200 You are. You may be seated for just a moment. 00:00:34.280 --> 00:00:37.640 And I want to say how much I am so grateful to 00:00:37.640 --> 00:00:40.539 greet each one of you in the name of Jesus. So 00:00:40.539 --> 00:00:42.859 many of you that are part of this church family, 00:00:42.920 --> 00:00:45.820 some that are visiting family, and we're glad 00:00:45.820 --> 00:00:48.640 that you've included being in church today as 00:00:48.640 --> 00:00:51.520 part of your family time. And then to our guests 00:00:51.520 --> 00:00:54.659 from this community, if you don't have a church 00:00:54.659 --> 00:00:56.679 home and you're visiting today, I just want to 00:00:56.679 --> 00:00:59.560 say welcome home. We are thrilled. Aren't we 00:00:59.560 --> 00:01:05.359 grateful for every guest. We're so glad. I met 00:01:05.359 --> 00:01:07.920 Daniel here. He lives here all the way from New 00:01:07.920 --> 00:01:10.280 York. He's with his family. He's been delivered. 00:01:11.219 --> 00:01:13.879 I remember being in New York and I got delivered 00:01:13.879 --> 00:01:18.739 25 years ago. I've never looked back. Sometimes 00:01:18.739 --> 00:01:21.599 when the Lord sets you free, you can't look back. 00:01:22.420 --> 00:01:24.680 You just got to keep moving forward. I hope that's 00:01:24.680 --> 00:01:27.780 a word for somebody today. No, no. We're just 00:01:27.780 --> 00:01:30.620 having a good time. So I want to say as already 00:01:30.620 --> 00:01:32.939 has been mentioned for this church family that 00:01:32.939 --> 00:01:35.680 has worked so hard during this season. Thank 00:01:35.680 --> 00:01:38.560 you so much for the way you love people in our 00:01:38.560 --> 00:01:41.359 community, reach people and serve. It's hard 00:01:41.359 --> 00:01:44.640 to list everything and every person, but you 00:01:44.640 --> 00:01:48.359 have excelled and we say to God be the glory. 00:01:48.579 --> 00:01:51.780 Amen. Praise God. What a great Christmas day 00:01:51.780 --> 00:01:54.280 service. Thank you sister Rochelle for blessing 00:01:54.280 --> 00:02:00.719 us. Everyone that came out. It's very challenging 00:02:00.719 --> 00:02:03.799 to have a service on a holiday like Christmas, 00:02:03.900 --> 00:02:06.879 but there are some people that to be with their 00:02:06.879 --> 00:02:09.659 church family is that one opportunity really 00:02:09.659 --> 00:02:11.919 to be with family. They're just not as blessed 00:02:11.919 --> 00:02:15.159 as others that have a house full of family. And 00:02:15.159 --> 00:02:19.520 so they said it was 138 that was here on Christmas 00:02:19.520 --> 00:02:23.120 day for just... to be in God's house on his day. 00:02:23.240 --> 00:02:25.360 Thank you for doing that. And I say that to say 00:02:25.360 --> 00:02:28.080 this, if you don't have plans for New Year's 00:02:28.080 --> 00:02:31.199 Eve, I know it sounds like a cliche cause it 00:02:31.199 --> 00:02:33.900 is, but there ain't no party like a Holy Ghost 00:02:33.900 --> 00:02:39.659 party. You gotta come. You gotta come. And how 00:02:39.659 --> 00:02:41.659 many times do you come to church and they don't 00:02:41.659 --> 00:02:44.800 serve food? We got food. This New Year's Eve, 00:02:44.860 --> 00:02:46.879 I think it's New Year's Eve Wednesday, I keep 00:02:46.879 --> 00:02:49.800 forgetting. I know time is just so turned upside 00:02:49.800 --> 00:02:52.680 down with the holidays. If you are wondering, 00:02:52.819 --> 00:02:55.520 if you are concerned, or if you're just old like 00:02:55.520 --> 00:02:58.740 me, we don't have church from seven till midnight. 00:02:59.219 --> 00:03:02.099 We just have church. When we're done, we eat, 00:03:02.400 --> 00:03:05.020 and then you can head on. If you got an after 00:03:05.020 --> 00:03:07.199 party, or if you just want to be in your pajamas 00:03:07.199 --> 00:03:10.960 by 9 .30 or so, you can be there. If that's how 00:03:10.960 --> 00:03:15.439 you celebrate. the new year, so don't misunderstand. 00:03:15.960 --> 00:03:18.379 Some of us are old enough to remember. We used 00:03:18.379 --> 00:03:21.219 to have church till midnight, and we pray the 00:03:21.219 --> 00:03:24.199 old year out and the new year in, and we do that, 00:03:24.460 --> 00:03:28.740 but we do it at seven, and we're able to do that 00:03:28.740 --> 00:03:31.120 because at seven, it's already the new year in 00:03:31.120 --> 00:03:33.979 the UK, so we've got a little bit of grace there. 00:03:34.099 --> 00:03:37.400 God works with us. He's such a good God, so we 00:03:37.400 --> 00:03:39.520 want you to be here, and then thank you as well. 00:03:39.710 --> 00:03:42.909 I don't know how you feel, and I wouldn't want 00:03:42.909 --> 00:03:46.689 you to respond, but I love seeing everybody together. 00:03:46.770 --> 00:03:50.069 This is awesome. And next Sunday, we're gonna 00:03:50.069 --> 00:03:52.889 miss it. We're gonna miss it. I don't know one 00:03:52.889 --> 00:03:55.169 preacher that doesn't prefer to preach to a building 00:03:55.169 --> 00:03:57.909 that's full. I don't know one preacher, but I'll 00:03:57.909 --> 00:04:00.889 tell you right now, this community deserves room 00:04:00.889 --> 00:04:04.569 in our parking lot and in our sanctuary to come 00:04:04.569 --> 00:04:09.449 be a part of what God is doing. And that is. 00:04:09.639 --> 00:04:13.500 The only reason why we have two services next 00:04:13.500 --> 00:04:15.960 Sunday and the Sunday's following, because if 00:04:15.960 --> 00:04:18.379 you look around, for us, it's comfortable, we're 00:04:18.379 --> 00:04:21.220 all family, but if you're brand new, your first 00:04:21.220 --> 00:04:23.279 time here, you're trying to find a place to sit 00:04:23.279 --> 00:04:26.060 with your family, there's only a few spots left. 00:04:26.379 --> 00:04:28.379 Well, I don't think that's fair to our neighbors. 00:04:28.519 --> 00:04:30.660 I don't think that's fair to our, I mean, we're 00:04:30.660 --> 00:04:32.600 handing out door hangers, inviting people to 00:04:32.600 --> 00:04:34.980 church. We got a family here today because of 00:04:34.980 --> 00:04:37.459 a door hanger. I'd hate for them to come and 00:04:37.459 --> 00:04:40.189 say, you invited me to your house. But you ain't 00:04:40.189 --> 00:04:45.250 got no room. How many of you felt that way with 00:04:45.250 --> 00:04:47.029 your relatives this week? No, no, we're just, 00:04:47.470 --> 00:04:50.610 I better get back to the word of God today. But 00:04:50.610 --> 00:04:53.490 that is the only reason why we have a service 00:04:53.490 --> 00:04:56.410 at 9 .30 and at noon. Tell your friends, your 00:04:56.410 --> 00:04:58.970 neighbors, your family members, we're only doing 00:04:58.970 --> 00:05:02.129 that so there's room for you and your family. 00:05:02.430 --> 00:05:04.949 And I'm thankful for a church that has that kind 00:05:04.949 --> 00:05:08.170 of vision and that kind of willingness. to reach 00:05:08.170 --> 00:05:10.970 beyond yourself. Would you give yourself a hand 00:05:10.970 --> 00:05:13.509 if that's how you feel about it? That doesn't 00:05:13.509 --> 00:05:16.990 mean you have to like it. You just have to love 00:05:16.990 --> 00:05:20.750 reaching others. Praise God. Turn your neighbor 00:05:20.750 --> 00:05:22.449 and say, you know, pastor don't even like two 00:05:22.449 --> 00:05:26.350 services. I don't, and I go to three on Sunday. 00:05:28.170 --> 00:05:30.230 I'm only going to two today. It feels like a 00:05:30.230 --> 00:05:33.750 vacation. In fact, I do want to say those of 00:05:33.750 --> 00:05:36.350 you serving in King today, thank you so much. 00:05:36.620 --> 00:05:39.560 Those of you serving in Taylorsville today, thank 00:05:39.560 --> 00:05:42.500 you so much. We've got a ministry family in Rayford, 00:05:42.680 --> 00:05:45.279 North Carolina today. I think Brother Hippolyte 00:05:45.279 --> 00:05:48.279 is in Statesville, North Carolina today. Brother 00:05:48.279 --> 00:05:51.180 Marcus and Sister Talia is in Wilkesboro today 00:05:51.180 --> 00:05:54.199 serving in church. I think that's awesome that 00:05:54.199 --> 00:05:58.120 we can reach beyond ourselves. We're blessed 00:05:58.120 --> 00:06:01.699 and we might as well be a blessing, amen. Why 00:06:01.699 --> 00:06:03.459 don't you stand? I'm gonna look to the word of 00:06:03.459 --> 00:06:05.879 the Lord for a little bit. I encourage you to 00:06:05.879 --> 00:06:08.079 bring your Bibles as we get into the new year. 00:06:08.120 --> 00:06:10.860 So many of us are grateful for what we have with 00:06:10.860 --> 00:06:13.339 the technology, but it's kind of cool to have 00:06:13.339 --> 00:06:16.699 your Bible and write in it, underline it, just 00:06:16.699 --> 00:06:18.959 kind of make it more personal. And I encourage 00:06:18.959 --> 00:06:21.839 you to do that as we look towards the new year 00:06:21.839 --> 00:06:26.079 that begins next week. I say next Sunday, it 00:06:26.079 --> 00:06:29.420 begins Thursday, right? Wednesday. So when's 00:06:29.420 --> 00:06:33.459 New Year's Eve? So it actually begins Thursday. 00:06:34.410 --> 00:06:36.829 Wednesday after midnight. You know what? You're 00:06:36.829 --> 00:06:38.569 dismissed. I don't think I'm ready to pull this 00:06:38.569 --> 00:06:41.810 off today. Is there any more food anywhere we 00:06:41.810 --> 00:06:44.889 could eat? That's what happens when your brain 00:06:44.889 --> 00:06:47.529 is overcome by what you've done to your stomach 00:06:47.529 --> 00:06:54.970 for 10 days. So someone, I hope you get something 00:06:54.970 --> 00:06:57.129 out of this. If you don't, I want to apologize. 00:06:57.269 --> 00:06:59.089 Nobody else's fault but my own. And it's certainly 00:06:59.089 --> 00:07:01.790 not his fault. I do want to say while you're 00:07:01.790 --> 00:07:05.110 standing that we will end this time in church 00:07:05.110 --> 00:07:07.769 around this altar. And if you need something 00:07:07.769 --> 00:07:09.790 from the Lord, why not put your faith in him 00:07:09.790 --> 00:07:11.949 today? You might say, well, I'm not even a part 00:07:11.949 --> 00:07:13.529 of this church. Yeah, but you've got the same 00:07:13.529 --> 00:07:17.149 God and you've got faith in him. And if you call 00:07:17.149 --> 00:07:20.069 on his name, if you'll just say, Jesus, I need 00:07:20.069 --> 00:07:24.430 you today. What a great way to get ready for 00:07:24.430 --> 00:07:28.430 a new year. Amen. Psalm one. Do you want to give 00:07:28.430 --> 00:07:31.519 a shout out? I've got five nephews, and this 00:07:31.519 --> 00:07:34.920 is one of my favorite five. He made the top five. 00:07:35.100 --> 00:07:37.639 His name is Aaron Caretchi. He turned 20 this 00:07:37.639 --> 00:07:44.579 week. Happy birthday. He's the only one of the 00:07:44.579 --> 00:07:48.579 five that turned 20 this week. And the only one 00:07:48.579 --> 00:07:50.220 of the five that said, hey, give me a shout -out 00:07:50.220 --> 00:07:54.560 on Sunday. And I did. I'm pretty easy that way. 00:07:54.579 --> 00:07:56.459 You ought to give it a try. I do what I can. 00:07:56.920 --> 00:07:59.699 I was talking to him about his plans. for the 00:07:59.699 --> 00:08:01.560 new year, you know, we all make reservations. 00:08:01.639 --> 00:08:05.300 He said, you know, my goal for 2026 is to accomplish 00:08:05.300 --> 00:08:09.519 all my goals for 2025. He said, because I was 00:08:09.519 --> 00:08:11.699 supposed to do them in 2024, because I promised 00:08:11.699 --> 00:08:14.779 myself I'd do them in 2023, but this is the year. 00:08:15.360 --> 00:08:19.579 So I commend you for that. Happy birthday. Psalm 00:08:19.579 --> 00:08:22.740 one, let's read this out loud together. It's 00:08:22.740 --> 00:08:24.600 from the new King James version, but whatever 00:08:24.600 --> 00:08:27.819 version you have, let's read it together. Blessed 00:08:27.819 --> 00:08:31.639 is the man. who walks not in the counsel of the 00:08:31.639 --> 00:08:35.700 ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor 00:08:35.700 --> 00:08:39.200 sits in the seat of the scornful. But his delight 00:08:39.200 --> 00:08:42.299 is in the law of the Lord, and in his law does 00:08:42.299 --> 00:08:46.460 he meditate day and night. He shall be like a 00:08:46.460 --> 00:08:50.340 tree planted by the rivers of water that bring 00:08:50.340 --> 00:08:53.919 forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also 00:08:53.919 --> 00:08:57.200 shall not wither, and whatsoever he does shall 00:08:57.200 --> 00:09:00.299 prosper last. Last Sunday, I talked about being 00:09:00.299 --> 00:09:03.539 a ministry. One of my relatives said, I'd rather 00:09:03.539 --> 00:09:08.440 be a pace tree. That's in time for Christmas, 00:09:08.460 --> 00:09:12.879 so sweet. But we all need to be like a tree planted 00:09:12.879 --> 00:09:18.179 by the rivers of water that bring forth his fruit 00:09:18.179 --> 00:09:20.059 in his season. We already read that verse. Okay, 00:09:20.100 --> 00:09:23.480 verse four, the ungodly are not so, but are like 00:09:23.480 --> 00:09:26.620 the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore 00:09:26.620 --> 00:09:29.159 the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, 00:09:29.740 --> 00:09:32.360 nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 00:09:32.860 --> 00:09:35.460 For the Lord knows the ways of the righteous, 00:09:36.139 --> 00:09:39.840 but the way of the ungodly shall perish. There's 00:09:39.840 --> 00:09:42.740 nothing like the word of the Lord, amen? Today 00:09:42.740 --> 00:09:45.399 and then next Sunday in both services, I'll preach 00:09:45.399 --> 00:09:48.039 two different messages, but they will have the 00:09:48.039 --> 00:09:51.379 same theme, same title. They'll be different 00:09:51.379 --> 00:09:54.340 in theme than today, but it's still a word that 00:09:54.340 --> 00:09:56.720 I feel like the Lord has given us as a church 00:09:56.720 --> 00:09:58.960 and any individual that wants to latch a hold 00:09:58.960 --> 00:10:02.539 of it. I am preaching over these next three services, 00:10:02.779 --> 00:10:05.179 not New Year's Eve, we have a guest, but I'll 00:10:05.179 --> 00:10:10.919 be preaching Happy Now Year. I'm glad it's a 00:10:10.919 --> 00:10:13.059 new year, but there's some things God has for 00:10:13.059 --> 00:10:16.460 you now. And you need to grab ahold of those 00:10:16.460 --> 00:10:22.870 things, man. Praise God. So many of you that 00:10:22.870 --> 00:10:24.769 resonates with you because you don't just wait 00:10:24.769 --> 00:10:27.230 for church to read your Bible and pray and you 00:10:27.230 --> 00:10:30.169 know That God is already positioning you for 00:10:30.169 --> 00:10:32.730 something now Would you close your eyes raise 00:10:32.730 --> 00:10:35.090 your hands and say Jesus speak to me by your 00:10:35.090 --> 00:10:38.269 word? Help that preacher Lord. He's just a human 00:10:38.269 --> 00:10:41.230 being He can't do anything if you don't annoy 00:10:41.230 --> 00:10:44.549 him. He can't be a blessing to anybody Unless 00:10:44.549 --> 00:10:49.129 you help him. So Jesus I'm asking you to help 00:10:49.129 --> 00:10:52.389 right now in Jesus' name. I wanna be a blessing, 00:10:52.629 --> 00:10:55.450 God, to my brothers and sisters, our neighbors 00:10:55.450 --> 00:10:58.590 and friends, loved ones and family that have 00:10:58.590 --> 00:11:01.669 traveled from out of town, have had a great holiday, 00:11:01.789 --> 00:11:04.990 but Lord, we're all gearing up for a new year, 00:11:05.289 --> 00:11:08.029 and we're asking you, Lord, to help us grab ahold 00:11:08.029 --> 00:11:11.990 of a faith that is for now. In the name of the 00:11:11.990 --> 00:11:14.629 Lord Jesus, let's one more time thank the Lord, 00:11:15.070 --> 00:11:19.639 believe him for answering prayer. helping us. 00:11:20.179 --> 00:11:27.340 Hallelujah. Praise the name of the Lord. You 00:11:27.340 --> 00:11:31.000 may be seated. When that Psalm begins, and of 00:11:31.000 --> 00:11:34.299 course it sets the tone for the entire book of 00:11:34.299 --> 00:11:38.120 Psalms, it begins with those words, blessed is 00:11:38.120 --> 00:11:41.360 the man. Obviously, I think you would understand 00:11:41.360 --> 00:11:45.480 really blessed are the people or blessed is the 00:11:45.480 --> 00:11:48.779 individual. It's not gender exclusive as though 00:11:48.779 --> 00:11:51.480 men and women are somehow in different classes 00:11:51.480 --> 00:11:54.100 in the kingdom of God. There's neither male nor 00:11:54.100 --> 00:11:56.659 female. There's neither bond nor free. We're 00:11:56.659 --> 00:12:00.159 all the children of God by faith in Jesus Christ. 00:12:00.559 --> 00:12:03.240 But it is significant to me that many times, 00:12:03.450 --> 00:12:06.330 in the Psalms, and I'll refer to several today, 00:12:06.750 --> 00:12:09.629 that when you read the word blessed, it literally 00:12:09.629 --> 00:12:13.870 can mean that happiness comes when you have a 00:12:13.870 --> 00:12:18.289 right relationship with God. So we say happy 00:12:18.289 --> 00:12:22.370 new year, or I'm saying happy now year, and yet 00:12:22.370 --> 00:12:26.149 the scriptures give us a pathway to happiness 00:12:26.149 --> 00:12:31.250 or blessing, and that is having a right relationship 00:12:31.250 --> 00:12:34.370 with God. I think some of you have lived long 00:12:34.370 --> 00:12:36.789 enough for the Lord or just been on the planet 00:12:36.789 --> 00:12:40.090 living life long enough to know that as you age, 00:12:40.570 --> 00:12:44.129 you start to discover hopefully that really happiness 00:12:44.129 --> 00:12:49.460 is your choice. You can literally choose, I will 00:12:49.460 --> 00:12:54.899 be blessed. I will be happy, not based on things 00:12:54.899 --> 00:12:58.659 around me or even people around me. But even 00:12:58.659 --> 00:13:01.700 in Psalm, we get the first indicator in verse 00:13:01.700 --> 00:13:07.019 one of chapter one. Oh, the joys of those who 00:13:07.019 --> 00:13:10.899 do not follow the advice of the wicked or stand 00:13:10.899 --> 00:13:15.000 around with sinners or join in with the mockers. 00:13:15.440 --> 00:13:20.379 a delight in the law of the Lord meditating on 00:13:20.379 --> 00:13:26.799 it day and night. A new year is upon us, 2026, 00:13:26.799 --> 00:13:31.960 and we can decide today and every day of that 00:13:31.960 --> 00:13:37.399 new year, I will be happy now. And I will be 00:13:37.399 --> 00:13:41.250 happy now. by making a decision, I'm not gonna 00:13:41.250 --> 00:13:44.509 take advice from people that don't trust the 00:13:44.509 --> 00:13:47.789 Lord. I'm not just gonna spend my life doing 00:13:47.789 --> 00:13:51.309 the things that are promoted by sinners, watching 00:13:51.309 --> 00:13:54.990 the things that are promoted by sinners, engaging 00:13:54.990 --> 00:13:58.470 in the things that are promoted by sinners. And 00:13:58.470 --> 00:14:01.610 I'm not gonna waste time with the mockers, with 00:14:01.610 --> 00:14:04.389 those that are cynical, with those that are negative. 00:14:04.610 --> 00:14:08.679 I wanna be happy now. And I'm just gonna be happy 00:14:08.679 --> 00:14:15.919 by meditating on the word of the Lord. My happiness 00:14:15.919 --> 00:14:21.620 in 2026 will not be delayed until my circumstances 00:14:21.620 --> 00:14:26.240 improve. Sometimes we waste a whole year thinking, 00:14:26.460 --> 00:14:29.360 well, if this happens on the job, if this happens 00:14:29.360 --> 00:14:32.019 in the family, if that happens in the church, 00:14:32.139 --> 00:14:34.539 well, I might get happy. You know what? You can 00:14:34.539 --> 00:14:37.919 make a decision today and you can carry it through 00:14:37.919 --> 00:14:43.059 the new year. I will be happy now. My choice 00:14:43.059 --> 00:14:47.159 to be happy is based on a decision I've made 00:14:47.159 --> 00:14:51.519 to meditate on the word of the Lord. Verse two, 00:14:51.740 --> 00:14:56.059 my delight. is in the law of the Lord, and in 00:14:56.059 --> 00:15:02.320 his law will I meditate day and night. Can I 00:15:02.320 --> 00:15:08.399 say that your relationship with God and his word 00:15:08.399 --> 00:15:14.500 is the key to being happy now? That don't sound 00:15:14.500 --> 00:15:17.519 like a great revelation, but it's still true 00:15:17.519 --> 00:15:21.519 if you will give yourself to God and his word. 00:15:21.799 --> 00:15:25.480 I say that because some people feel like they 00:15:25.480 --> 00:15:28.360 have a pretty good relationship with God, but 00:15:28.360 --> 00:15:31.980 they ignore his word. Jesus said, if you love 00:15:31.980 --> 00:15:35.879 me, keep my commandments. You can't keep his 00:15:35.879 --> 00:15:38.940 commandments if you don't get in your Bible and 00:15:38.940 --> 00:15:42.559 study it and love it and live it. But if you'll 00:15:42.559 --> 00:15:46.559 just give yourself to meditating on the word 00:15:46.559 --> 00:15:51.559 of God, it will be a key for a happy life now. 00:15:51.789 --> 00:15:56.289 for a happy now year, but really for a happy 00:15:56.289 --> 00:16:01.409 now life. Every day, Lord, I wanna know what 00:16:01.409 --> 00:16:04.350 you're doing, what you're saying, how you're 00:16:04.350 --> 00:16:08.889 leading me. Can you say amen? I understand in 00:16:08.889 --> 00:16:13.409 2026, your happiness can be impacted by your 00:16:13.409 --> 00:16:15.809 job, your job matters, a lack of job matters, 00:16:16.190 --> 00:16:20.320 a bad job matters. improvement or progress on 00:16:20.320 --> 00:16:23.320 the job matters. So I'm not trying to be naive 00:16:23.320 --> 00:16:26.000 about other things. Your relationships matter. 00:16:26.700 --> 00:16:29.580 They absolutely do with your family, with your 00:16:29.580 --> 00:16:32.200 friends, with your neighbors. You can speak in 00:16:32.200 --> 00:16:34.159 tongues every day, but if you don't have a healthy 00:16:34.159 --> 00:16:36.799 relationship with your spouse, you're not gonna 00:16:36.799 --> 00:16:39.980 be real happy. It's not in the Bible, but a happy 00:16:39.980 --> 00:16:42.799 wife is a happy life. Can I get amen from a man 00:16:42.799 --> 00:16:45.860 in here? Oh yeah, I got somebody standing. He 00:16:45.860 --> 00:16:49.299 gonna have a happy new year. and a happy now 00:16:49.299 --> 00:16:51.779 year, I might throw that one out again to see 00:16:51.779 --> 00:16:55.750 if anybody else wants to get happy. So I understand 00:16:55.750 --> 00:16:59.090 there are other factors that impact our happiness 00:16:59.090 --> 00:17:02.389 like for instance our finances You know if you're 00:17:02.389 --> 00:17:05.170 not doing the right thing as it relates to ordering 00:17:05.170 --> 00:17:08.269 your Finances you might face a lot of things 00:17:08.269 --> 00:17:11.730 in this life that can rob you of even peace of 00:17:11.730 --> 00:17:15.589 mind It matters all of these factors matter in 00:17:15.589 --> 00:17:18.150 fact I would throw this out that we don't always 00:17:18.150 --> 00:17:22.759 think about your purpose in life matters If you 00:17:22.759 --> 00:17:25.019 want a little Bible study, pick up the message 00:17:25.019 --> 00:17:28.200 from last Sunday. You can watch it online for 00:17:28.200 --> 00:17:31.299 free. But the reality is this, if your purpose 00:17:31.299 --> 00:17:34.000 is yourself, you're not gonna be very happy. 00:17:34.279 --> 00:17:38.140 If your purpose is just what satisfies you, you're 00:17:38.140 --> 00:17:39.700 not gonna be very happy. In fact, you're gonna 00:17:39.700 --> 00:17:42.359 make a lot of people around you unhappy because 00:17:42.359 --> 00:17:46.059 your world just revolves around what you think 00:17:46.059 --> 00:17:48.799 and what you want. And if you ain't happy, ain't 00:17:48.799 --> 00:17:51.700 nobody happy. My God, that's no way to live. 00:17:51.920 --> 00:17:55.480 You can be happy now by saying I have a purpose 00:17:55.480 --> 00:17:59.240 that's bigger than me. I have a purpose that's 00:17:59.240 --> 00:18:02.380 bigger than my own happiness. I have a purpose 00:18:02.380 --> 00:18:06.650 and that is to want. Talk with God. Praise the 00:18:06.650 --> 00:18:10.829 name of the Lord. And so I understand, all of 00:18:10.829 --> 00:18:15.170 these factors matter. We reap what we sow. If 00:18:15.170 --> 00:18:18.470 we sow into all of these areas, we'll reap and 00:18:18.470 --> 00:18:21.069 we'll be blessed. But the reality is this, and 00:18:21.069 --> 00:18:23.230 when I put this in my notes, I knew it would 00:18:23.230 --> 00:18:25.650 be controversial, but I really don't mean to 00:18:25.650 --> 00:18:28.170 be controversial. I just mean to be helpful. 00:18:28.490 --> 00:18:32.559 Your decision to delight. in the word of God 00:18:32.559 --> 00:18:35.319 matters more than any other decision you can 00:18:35.319 --> 00:18:40.319 make in 2026. If you wanna be happy now, your 00:18:40.319 --> 00:18:44.579 choice to meditate on the word of God matters 00:18:44.579 --> 00:18:48.700 most. I know that's controversial because you 00:18:48.700 --> 00:18:50.819 might say, I read the Bible all the time. I don't 00:18:50.819 --> 00:18:52.720 get anything out of it. Or I've read the Bible 00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:55.319 before, I don't even understand it. I was just 00:18:55.319 --> 00:18:57.799 a youngster when my mother started putting it 00:18:57.799 --> 00:18:59.740 in me and even the Sunday School teachers at 00:18:59.740 --> 00:19:03.359 church, you need to read through your Bible every 00:19:03.359 --> 00:19:06.279 year, just a little bit every day and every year. 00:19:06.440 --> 00:19:08.920 And then I was just a youngster when they started 00:19:08.920 --> 00:19:12.180 telling me, you need to memorize that Bible. 00:19:12.240 --> 00:19:15.039 Take some of those verses and you start quoting 00:19:15.039 --> 00:19:18.119 those verses. over and over again till you could 00:19:18.119 --> 00:19:21.359 speak them without even reading them. I can tell 00:19:21.359 --> 00:19:25.319 you, as I look back over the last 48, 58 years, 00:19:25.420 --> 00:19:27.720 I didn't start when I was zero, but somewhere 00:19:27.720 --> 00:19:31.059 about nine or 10 or 11 or 12, somewhere in there, 00:19:31.259 --> 00:19:34.819 the word of God started to matter. I gotta tell 00:19:34.819 --> 00:19:37.759 you, there's been many times from the time I 00:19:37.759 --> 00:19:41.380 was 12 to even this past week that I read something 00:19:41.380 --> 00:19:44.180 and I wonder what does that mean? But let me 00:19:44.180 --> 00:19:47.640 tell you, it's still. has blessed me and enriched 00:19:47.640 --> 00:19:51.539 me and strengthened me and encouraged me. Is 00:19:51.539 --> 00:19:54.400 there anybody that would be a testimony that 00:19:54.400 --> 00:19:58.119 heaven and earth may pass away, but thy word, 00:19:58.259 --> 00:20:01.579 thy word is forever. Anybody want to say with 00:20:01.579 --> 00:20:05.140 me today, hey, the grass withers, the flower 00:20:05.140 --> 00:20:14.200 flades, but the word of God stands forever. Praise 00:20:14.200 --> 00:20:17.359 the name of the Lord. I'm gonna just tell you 00:20:17.359 --> 00:20:19.359 right now, because there's young people here, 00:20:19.920 --> 00:20:22.180 and I'd like to throw this out as a public service 00:20:22.180 --> 00:20:25.200 announcement. And some of you already do this, 00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:27.700 but if you'll read a little bit of the Word of 00:20:27.700 --> 00:20:30.720 God every day, and if you miss a day, if you'll 00:20:30.720 --> 00:20:32.940 pick up the next day, if you're sitting here 00:20:32.940 --> 00:20:36.700 and you haven't even read the Bible at all, if 00:20:36.700 --> 00:20:39.500 you'll start with this new year, you will have 00:20:39.500 --> 00:20:42.930 a better life than you've ever had before. It's 00:20:42.930 --> 00:20:45.069 really true. You say that's crazy. I'm telling 00:20:45.069 --> 00:20:49.750 you this word of God is alive and powerful It's 00:20:49.750 --> 00:20:52.589 so sharp. It's like a sword that when you read 00:20:52.589 --> 00:20:55.230 it It cuts right into your heart and where there's 00:20:55.230 --> 00:20:58.210 fear the word of God gives you faith and where 00:20:58.210 --> 00:21:00.869 there's confusion the word of God I'm telling 00:21:00.869 --> 00:21:03.069 you you don't even have to be a card carrying 00:21:03.069 --> 00:21:06.490 member of this church But get yourself in the 00:21:06.490 --> 00:21:09.210 word of God a little bit every day if you miss 00:21:09.210 --> 00:21:11.650 a day ask the Lord to help you the next day, 00:21:11.670 --> 00:21:15.670 but I promise you the word of God will give you 00:21:15.670 --> 00:21:19.430 a happy now year. It don't matter. I know job 00:21:19.430 --> 00:21:23.309 situations and family situations, but oh, the 00:21:23.309 --> 00:21:28.329 word of God will make a difference. Praise God. 00:21:28.470 --> 00:21:32.609 Galatians 6, one translation says, don't be misled. 00:21:33.450 --> 00:21:36.309 You cannot mock the justice of God or the plan 00:21:36.309 --> 00:21:39.990 of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 00:21:40.799 --> 00:21:44.299 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful 00:21:44.299 --> 00:21:49.259 nature will harvest decay and death from that 00:21:49.259 --> 00:21:52.480 sinful nature. I do wanna pause and just throw 00:21:52.480 --> 00:21:55.619 this out here. Everything, we heard it this morning 00:21:55.619 --> 00:21:57.619 as we were starting church for this afternoon. 00:21:58.240 --> 00:22:02.240 Everything about your life is corruptible. I 00:22:02.240 --> 00:22:04.480 know that doesn't sound like a happy now or happy 00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:07.599 new or happy anything. Everything about your 00:22:07.599 --> 00:22:12.420 life is mortal. So when it says you will reap 00:22:12.420 --> 00:22:16.299 decay because of your sinful nature, don't just 00:22:16.299 --> 00:22:18.359 think, well, that just means if I sin real bad, 00:22:18.440 --> 00:22:20.519 it ain't gonna work out. No, no, no, no, you've 00:22:20.519 --> 00:22:22.779 got a sinful nature even when you're trying to 00:22:22.779 --> 00:22:25.480 be a good person. You've got a sinful nature 00:22:25.480 --> 00:22:28.099 even when you're being nice to your spouse. You've 00:22:28.099 --> 00:22:30.539 got a sinful nature even when you obey your parents. 00:22:30.799 --> 00:22:34.720 We were born in sin, and the minute we live, 00:22:34.720 --> 00:22:38.339 we start to die. The only way to escape that 00:22:38.339 --> 00:22:41.779 process is to get ready for another life by being 00:22:41.779 --> 00:22:44.579 born again. I'm trying to tell you, every single 00:22:44.579 --> 00:22:47.799 one of us has a sinful nature, and listen very 00:22:47.799 --> 00:22:50.759 closely to what I say now. Every time you sow 00:22:50.759 --> 00:22:54.240 into this flesh, it don't have to be sin, it'll 00:22:54.240 --> 00:22:57.500 still decay. But if you sow into the Spirit, 00:22:57.740 --> 00:23:00.700 it will last forever. I'm trying to tell you, 00:23:00.799 --> 00:23:03.759 the Word of God will not be mocked. Those who 00:23:03.759 --> 00:23:07.720 live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting 00:23:07.720 --> 00:23:11.460 life from that Spirit. So let's not get tired 00:23:11.460 --> 00:23:15.539 of doing what is good. At just the right time, 00:23:15.640 --> 00:23:21.220 we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't 00:23:21.220 --> 00:23:29.240 give up. Work as hard as you can to get every 00:23:29.240 --> 00:23:32.400 promotion that you can and manage your finances 00:23:32.400 --> 00:23:35.240 as well as you can and get all the education 00:23:35.240 --> 00:23:38.440 you can. But my brothers and sisters, while you're 00:23:38.440 --> 00:23:42.019 sowing to the flesh, get in the Word of God and 00:23:42.019 --> 00:23:45.880 sow to the Spirit. That is the only key to an 00:23:45.880 --> 00:23:50.460 everlasting life. Oh, would you thank the Lord 00:23:50.460 --> 00:23:55.339 for His Word. Heaven and earth will pass away. 00:23:55.470 --> 00:24:00.970 Jobs will pass away, houses will pass away, but 00:24:00.970 --> 00:24:12.490 the word of our God. Praise God. I'm a little 00:24:12.490 --> 00:24:17.569 bit fired up. God help me not to scare nobody. 00:24:22.670 --> 00:24:24.970 The Bible says, Psalm one, I won't read it again, 00:24:24.990 --> 00:24:28.369 but you'll remember, in his law, in his word, 00:24:29.509 --> 00:24:36.289 does he meditate? That guy's gonna be happy. 00:24:37.569 --> 00:24:41.289 That gal's gonna be happy. That young person's 00:24:41.289 --> 00:24:45.190 gonna be happy. That old person's gonna be happy. 00:24:46.509 --> 00:24:49.450 Oh my Lord, have mercy. So that meditates a big 00:24:49.450 --> 00:24:52.890 deal. And I don't want to get all out there somewhere. 00:24:54.369 --> 00:24:56.450 I just want to make it as simple as possible. 00:24:56.509 --> 00:24:59.329 And we've just come through a week that ought 00:24:59.329 --> 00:25:05.029 to make it so simple. Anybody, let's throw this, 00:25:05.150 --> 00:25:11.410 anybody have anything for Christmas dinner that 00:25:11.410 --> 00:25:15.869 tasted real good? Only seven hands. Look at that. 00:25:16.410 --> 00:25:18.789 I'm raising my hands twice because my Christmas 00:25:18.789 --> 00:25:25.250 dinner was unbelievable It was unbelievable So 00:25:25.250 --> 00:25:26.910 when I took the first bite and I don't want to 00:25:26.910 --> 00:25:28.410 say what it is because I'm not trying to throw 00:25:28.410 --> 00:25:31.869 shade on what you had But when I took the first 00:25:31.869 --> 00:25:35.450 bite I was tempted to even swallow it before 00:25:35.450 --> 00:25:40.710 I tasted it But there was something about that 00:25:40.710 --> 00:25:47.200 first bite that when I stuck it in my mouth Ooh, 00:25:47.619 --> 00:25:50.819 I just savor the flavor for a little bit. Anybody 00:25:50.819 --> 00:25:52.420 have a Christmas dinner like that, then you're 00:25:52.420 --> 00:25:54.779 not ashamed. You're not ashamed. Some of y 'all 00:25:54.779 --> 00:25:56.640 need to eat somewhere else next year for Christmas 00:25:56.640 --> 00:25:59.480 dinner, because you, I think it must have been 00:25:59.480 --> 00:26:01.700 a happy meal from McDonald's ain't even open. 00:26:01.759 --> 00:26:06.279 What is wrong with these people? But when I say 00:26:06.279 --> 00:26:11.849 I savored the flavor, I actually chewed it. A 00:26:11.849 --> 00:26:13.769 lot of time, I don't chew my food. I just eat 00:26:13.769 --> 00:26:15.630 to be full, and I move on to the next thing on 00:26:15.630 --> 00:26:20.930 the list, but on Christmas dinner. And the first 00:26:20.930 --> 00:26:25.190 bite, and the 50th bite, because I went back 00:26:25.190 --> 00:26:29.890 three times. We had a lot of people over, and 00:26:29.890 --> 00:26:33.349 I had to be stealth. It's hard for a big guy 00:26:33.349 --> 00:26:37.089 to be stealth, but man, for that food, if I mentioned 00:26:37.089 --> 00:26:40.170 it, the service would be over what I ate. Thank 00:26:40.170 --> 00:26:45.289 you grandma you changed my life But I took let's 00:26:45.289 --> 00:26:47.230 forget about dinner because they're not there 00:26:47.230 --> 00:26:52.069 what about dessert All right, we're doing better 00:26:52.069 --> 00:26:55.269 with dessert How many took a piece of the pie 00:26:55.269 --> 00:26:58.690 or the cake? And you just let it set there on 00:26:58.690 --> 00:27:01.609 your palate for a little bit. Oh God is good 00:27:01.609 --> 00:27:04.569 He didn't have to do it, but he did. Oh, what 00:27:04.569 --> 00:27:07.509 a good guy All right. Are you hear what I'm saying? 00:27:08.660 --> 00:27:13.619 That's meditation right there. You're like, really? 00:27:13.920 --> 00:27:16.559 Is that easy? Yeah, don't overcomplicate it. 00:27:17.519 --> 00:27:20.339 You know what I'm saying? Chew on it a little 00:27:20.339 --> 00:27:26.319 while. Take the Word of God every day in 2026 00:27:26.319 --> 00:27:29.359 and don't just read it to get on to the next 00:27:29.359 --> 00:27:33.240 thing. Chew on it a little while. Just savor 00:27:33.240 --> 00:27:37.210 the flavor. Blessed is the man. that walketh 00:27:37.210 --> 00:27:40.190 not in the counsel of the... Let me just think 00:27:40.190 --> 00:27:43.309 about that for a... Let me just chew on that 00:27:43.309 --> 00:27:45.789 for a little... I just want to meditate on that. 00:27:45.970 --> 00:27:50.069 Oh, my goodness. Oh, but his delight is in the 00:27:50.069 --> 00:27:53.349 law of the... Oh, let me just... Oh, I got to... 00:27:53.349 --> 00:27:55.250 Is there any more of that anywhere in there? 00:27:55.390 --> 00:27:58.509 Oh, I got... Why? Come on, you know why? Because 00:27:58.509 --> 00:28:01.809 if you will meditate on the Word of the Lord, 00:28:02.029 --> 00:28:08.180 you will be happy now. it will be a happy now 00:28:08.180 --> 00:28:13.380 year because the word of the Lord is so delicious. 00:28:13.720 --> 00:28:18.660 The word of the Lord is so eternal that if you 00:28:18.660 --> 00:28:27.359 just chew on it every day. Woo! My, oh my, oh 00:28:27.359 --> 00:28:34.420 my. Read it. Repeat it. Listen to it. Obey it. 00:28:34.589 --> 00:28:39.750 act upon it, digest it. internalize it. Don't 00:28:39.750 --> 00:28:43.609 read it just for information. Read it for transformation. 00:28:43.910 --> 00:28:47.150 If it's just a few verses today and maybe a whole 00:28:47.150 --> 00:28:50.809 chapter tomorrow, oh, please realize that you 00:28:50.809 --> 00:28:54.630 cannot live by food alone, but by every word 00:28:54.630 --> 00:28:58.009 that proceeds out of the mouth of God. And if 00:28:58.009 --> 00:29:01.349 you want a happy now year, if you want to be 00:29:01.349 --> 00:29:05.349 happy 365 days of the year, then you're not going 00:29:05.349 --> 00:29:08.599 to rely on just your job. or other relationships, 00:29:08.880 --> 00:29:11.019 or you're fighting, all of that has its place. 00:29:11.339 --> 00:29:15.079 But oh, feed me with the word of God. I'm here 00:29:15.079 --> 00:29:20.500 to tell you, it will satisfy your soul. Oh, would 00:29:20.500 --> 00:29:24.440 you take a moment and thank the Lord for his 00:29:24.440 --> 00:29:34.559 word. Thank the Lord. Praise God. I feel like 00:29:34.559 --> 00:29:38.660 the Lord has just promised us as a people, 2026 00:29:38.660 --> 00:29:44.559 is not just a new year, it's a now year. There 00:29:44.559 --> 00:29:48.660 are principles in the Word of God that maybe 00:29:48.660 --> 00:29:52.980 you've put off, but it's now. It's now or never. 00:29:53.599 --> 00:29:57.640 There are promises in the Word of God. And you've 00:29:57.640 --> 00:29:59.279 kind of thought, is that really gonna happen 00:29:59.279 --> 00:30:03.900 for me? It's a now year. It's not just a happy 00:30:03.900 --> 00:30:07.319 new year for somebody. It's a happy now year. 00:30:07.400 --> 00:30:09.640 You're gonna get in the Word of God every day. 00:30:09.640 --> 00:30:11.960 I know the new year's coming and it's gonna be 00:30:11.960 --> 00:30:14.700 some tragedies and it's gonna be some triumphs, 00:30:14.700 --> 00:30:17.220 but above all of that, it's gonna be meditating 00:30:17.220 --> 00:30:20.339 on the Word of God, listening for His voice, 00:30:20.779 --> 00:30:24.460 delighting in the Word and recognizing that God 00:30:24.460 --> 00:30:29.640 has a now word for His church and a now word 00:30:29.640 --> 00:30:32.619 for individuals. in particular, he's about to 00:30:32.619 --> 00:30:35.960 unfold the blessings and the goodness. And even 00:30:35.960 --> 00:30:38.619 if he allows you or your family to go through 00:30:38.619 --> 00:30:41.819 some dark shadows and even the valley of the 00:30:41.819 --> 00:30:44.680 shadow of death, if you will cling to the word 00:30:44.680 --> 00:30:48.220 of God in this new year, you can't have happiness 00:30:48.220 --> 00:30:52.759 now in the darkness, in the valley. Just stay 00:30:52.759 --> 00:30:56.799 connected to the word. If that's worked for you 00:30:56.799 --> 00:31:18.049 in the past, would you say yes, Lord? Praise 00:31:18.049 --> 00:31:22.230 God. I'm saying to everybody in the sanctuary 00:31:22.230 --> 00:31:26.710 and those worshiping online today, your happiness 00:31:26.710 --> 00:31:34.269 is tethered to your relationship with Jesus and 00:31:34.269 --> 00:31:41.269 your involvement in his kingdom. And the only 00:31:41.269 --> 00:31:45.990 way for you to know what he has for you now. 00:31:46.269 --> 00:31:51.650 is to make sure your word is my daily bread. 00:31:52.170 --> 00:31:58.450 Your word is my daily food. Your word is my daily 00:31:58.450 --> 00:32:00.930 guide. Can I just throw it out to you this way? 00:32:01.150 --> 00:32:06.349 He is not just our savior. He is our Lord. He 00:32:06.349 --> 00:32:11.410 is the King that reigns over our lives. We serve 00:32:11.410 --> 00:32:14.380 at his pleasure. And what a - It's a privilege 00:32:14.380 --> 00:32:17.579 to serve the Lord, but the only way you're gonna 00:32:17.579 --> 00:32:21.980 know what to do next or what to do now is to 00:32:21.980 --> 00:32:30.380 get in the Word of God. And say, leave me Lord, 00:32:31.079 --> 00:32:37.220 I will follow. Oh, let your Word be a lamp to 00:32:37.220 --> 00:32:41.500 my feet and a light to my path. Can I say something 00:32:41.500 --> 00:32:45.960 crazy? in 2026, I may not know ever where I'm 00:32:45.960 --> 00:32:49.119 going, but oh, I'm happy to know that Jesus is 00:32:49.119 --> 00:32:53.819 gonna be leading me by his word. The psalmist 00:32:53.819 --> 00:32:57.259 said this is my comfort in my affliction for 00:32:57.259 --> 00:33:01.539 your word has given me life I'm not pretending 00:33:01.539 --> 00:33:04.279 that a happy new year doesn't bring sadness or 00:33:04.279 --> 00:33:07.660 even sorrow welcome to the real world But I can 00:33:07.660 --> 00:33:10.259 tell you if we will hang on to the word of god 00:33:10.259 --> 00:33:13.480 and be led by the word of god The psalmist said 00:33:13.480 --> 00:33:16.880 it this way unless your law had been my delight. 00:33:16.900 --> 00:33:20.799 I would have in my affliction. Oh, I went through 00:33:20.799 --> 00:33:23.460 some sad days. I went through some hard days, 00:33:23.799 --> 00:33:27.400 but I just got a hold of the Word of God. I loved 00:33:27.400 --> 00:33:31.259 it. In fact, he said, oh, how I love your law. 00:33:31.559 --> 00:33:35.500 It is my meditation all the day. I lost my job, 00:33:35.640 --> 00:33:38.900 but I still can chew on the Word of God. I lost 00:33:38.900 --> 00:33:41.960 my friends, but I can still chew on the Word 00:33:41.960 --> 00:33:45.910 of God. I lost a loved one. But I can still chew, 00:33:46.210 --> 00:33:49.750 although I lost some dreams and some hopes, but 00:33:49.750 --> 00:33:55.170 I still got Jesus. Oh, would you clap your hands 00:33:55.170 --> 00:34:20.090 and shout with your boys? I want to issue a charge 00:34:20.090 --> 00:34:24.809 for this church family today you can carry into 00:34:24.809 --> 00:34:31.369 the new year. And here it is. Be strong and very 00:34:31.369 --> 00:34:36.110 courageous that you may observe to do according 00:34:36.110 --> 00:34:40.610 to all the law which Moses, my servant, has commanded 00:34:40.610 --> 00:34:44.510 you. The word of God. Do not turn from it to 00:34:44.510 --> 00:34:49.269 the right hand or to the left. that you may prosper 00:34:49.269 --> 00:34:53.789 wherever you go. This book of a law shall not 00:34:53.789 --> 00:34:57.389 depart from your mouth, but you're gonna meditate 00:34:57.389 --> 00:35:01.309 in it day and night. That's why you're gonna 00:35:01.309 --> 00:35:05.010 observe to do according to all that is written 00:35:05.010 --> 00:35:09.349 in it. For then you will make your way prosperous 00:35:09.349 --> 00:35:13.650 and then you will have good success. Have I not 00:35:13.650 --> 00:35:17.269 commanded you be strong? and of good courage. 00:35:17.670 --> 00:35:21.690 Do not be afraid nor be dismayed for the Lord 00:35:21.690 --> 00:35:29.829 your God is with you wherever you go. God is 00:35:29.829 --> 00:35:38.349 promising you a prosperous now here. Prosperous 00:35:38.349 --> 00:35:47.739 now. God is promising you a successful now. you 00:35:47.739 --> 00:35:54.360 can be successful in God. Now, God is promising 00:35:54.360 --> 00:36:00.780 you a happy now. Not when the situation gets 00:36:00.780 --> 00:36:03.800 better, not when the family starts getting along, 00:36:04.860 --> 00:36:11.380 but happy now because I'm gonna stay fed up by 00:36:11.380 --> 00:36:14.039 the Word of the Lord. I'm not gonna go to the 00:36:14.039 --> 00:36:16.690 left or to the right. I'm gonna chew on it every 00:36:16.690 --> 00:36:19.610 day. I'm gonna chew on it every day. I'm gonna 00:36:19.610 --> 00:36:22.590 meditate on the word of God every day. And he's 00:36:22.590 --> 00:36:25.610 gonna bring me joy. He's gonna bring me joy. 00:36:25.989 --> 00:36:29.920 The psalmist said, happy is he. Blessed is the 00:36:29.920 --> 00:36:34.340 man. Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience 00:36:34.340 --> 00:36:38.800 is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight. Yes, 00:36:39.219 --> 00:36:42.559 what joy for those whose record the Lord has 00:36:42.559 --> 00:36:45.940 cleared of guilt, whose lives are completely 00:36:45.940 --> 00:36:50.179 honest. That sounds like a happy now year. Oh, 00:36:50.380 --> 00:36:53.960 taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed. 00:36:54.590 --> 00:36:59.590 Happy is the person who trusts in Him. Blessed 00:36:59.590 --> 00:37:04.510 or happy are those who dwell in your house. They 00:37:04.510 --> 00:37:09.329 will still be praising you. Say la, blessed or 00:37:09.329 --> 00:37:14.949 happy is the man whose strength is in you, whose 00:37:14.949 --> 00:37:21.550 heart is set on pilgrimage. Think about that 00:37:21.550 --> 00:37:25.389 for a minute. If they read that psalm, I didn't 00:37:25.389 --> 00:37:26.929 know they were gonna read it at the start of 00:37:26.929 --> 00:37:31.210 the service. And it just proclaimed, if you're 00:37:31.210 --> 00:37:35.190 gonna find me anywhere in 2026, they're gonna 00:37:35.190 --> 00:37:37.949 be in the house of God. That's where you're gonna 00:37:37.949 --> 00:37:42.869 find me, in the house of God. I know the more 00:37:42.869 --> 00:37:44.550 we're blessed, the more we miss church, I get 00:37:44.550 --> 00:37:47.369 that, that's the generation we're part of. Come 00:37:47.369 --> 00:37:50.090 on, Sister Sharon, used to be, we were in church 00:37:50.090 --> 00:37:52.369 three times a week and we thought we was faithful. 00:37:52.619 --> 00:37:54.940 Now, two or three times a month, we feel like 00:37:54.940 --> 00:37:57.639 we deserve a gold star. I know that's the world 00:37:57.639 --> 00:38:00.579 we live in, because we become so blessed that 00:38:00.579 --> 00:38:03.079 now those blessings are a curse. And some of 00:38:03.079 --> 00:38:05.340 the most blessed people miss church the most. 00:38:06.980 --> 00:38:09.119 But you know what the psalmist said? You want 00:38:09.119 --> 00:38:13.159 to find me? You're going to find me in his house. 00:38:14.739 --> 00:38:17.300 That's where I'm going to be stuck. I'm stuck 00:38:17.300 --> 00:38:21.360 here. But it's interesting in that same passage. 00:38:21.659 --> 00:38:26.960 He says, these people that are just stuck in 00:38:26.960 --> 00:38:29.539 the house of God, Psalm 84 and four again, blessed 00:38:29.539 --> 00:38:33.159 or happy are those who dwell. They live in God's 00:38:33.159 --> 00:38:35.500 house. That's how you feel when we go back to 00:38:35.500 --> 00:38:37.820 two services and then we go to King. I'm just 00:38:37.820 --> 00:38:40.260 living in church. That's what your relatives 00:38:40.260 --> 00:38:44.920 say. That's all you do is church. As if it's 00:38:44.920 --> 00:38:50.059 a sin. As if there's something wrong. I mean, 00:38:50.159 --> 00:38:54.019 you're cutting out on your TV time. Oh, that'll 00:38:54.019 --> 00:38:55.760 preach a little bit, but I ain't preaching it 00:38:55.760 --> 00:39:01.500 today. It's a happy now year. But these people 00:39:01.500 --> 00:39:05.300 that are living in the house of God, it goes 00:39:05.300 --> 00:39:08.579 on to say, verse five, happy is the man whose 00:39:08.579 --> 00:39:14.659 strength is in you, whose heart is set on pilgrimage. 00:39:15.860 --> 00:39:18.849 So I'm living in the house of God. But I'm not 00:39:18.849 --> 00:39:23.250 living in this world. I am focused and fixed 00:39:23.250 --> 00:39:26.329 on the house of God. But as far as everything 00:39:26.329 --> 00:39:31.030 else, I'm on a pilgrimage. In the Old Testament, 00:39:31.510 --> 00:39:34.829 they was headed to Jerusalem. In the New Testament, 00:39:35.150 --> 00:39:41.110 we're headed to New Jerusalem. Yeah. That's why 00:39:41.110 --> 00:39:44.969 we're living in the house of God, because this 00:39:44.969 --> 00:39:49.010 world is not our home. And if we can fill the 00:39:49.010 --> 00:39:52.570 house of God and get a bunch more people on this 00:39:52.570 --> 00:39:55.570 journey that are coming with us and saying, this 00:39:55.570 --> 00:39:59.289 world is not our home. The only way you're gonna 00:39:59.289 --> 00:40:05.489 be able to do that is to get in the word of God. 00:40:06.710 --> 00:40:10.710 Happy is he who has the God of Jacob or Israel 00:40:10.710 --> 00:40:16.570 for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God. 00:40:17.279 --> 00:40:21.119 In a crowd this size, there's bound to be a handful 00:40:21.119 --> 00:40:24.019 of people who say, preacher, that was nice. A 00:40:24.019 --> 00:40:27.119 little bit long, but that was nice. But you have 00:40:27.119 --> 00:40:30.519 no idea what I'm about to face in 2026. And you 00:40:30.519 --> 00:40:32.019 just want to get up there and scream about the 00:40:32.019 --> 00:40:36.079 Word of God. I get that. I get that. But if you 00:40:36.079 --> 00:40:40.320 want to have a hope in the Lord, no matter what 00:40:40.320 --> 00:40:43.519 you're facing in 2026, you're going to have to 00:40:43.519 --> 00:40:44.980 chew on this a little bit more than you've been 00:40:44.980 --> 00:40:48.219 chewing on it so far. It's just no way for you 00:40:48.219 --> 00:40:53.480 to have a hope in that world if you are not eating 00:40:53.480 --> 00:40:58.539 up this word and saying, oh God, I don't know 00:40:58.539 --> 00:41:00.480 how I'm gonna make it through this circumstance. 00:41:01.019 --> 00:41:03.380 Everybody's excited about a new year and I'm 00:41:03.380 --> 00:41:07.039 not sure I even wanna wake up on Thursday. But 00:41:07.039 --> 00:41:09.820 oh God, help me to stay in your Word. Help me 00:41:09.820 --> 00:41:12.199 to stay in your Word. Help me to get in your 00:41:12.199 --> 00:41:14.579 Word. I want you to come to church, but more 00:41:14.579 --> 00:41:17.019 important than church really is the Word of God. 00:41:17.179 --> 00:41:19.019 Now don't say, I'm saying don't come to church. 00:41:19.079 --> 00:41:21.559 I'm just saying, if you don't stay in this book, 00:41:21.719 --> 00:41:23.860 it don't matter how many times you come to church. 00:41:24.059 --> 00:41:27.380 If you don't feed this Word of God in your soul, 00:41:27.940 --> 00:41:32.139 it's all just religion. But if you can meditate 00:41:32.139 --> 00:41:35.039 on the Word of God, it'll be your hope in 2026. 00:41:35.320 --> 00:41:40.019 I'm happy now. Why? Did you get a raise? No. 00:41:40.320 --> 00:41:45.460 I got the Word. I'm happy now. Why? All your 00:41:45.460 --> 00:41:47.599 relatives getting along? Well, pretty much so. 00:41:47.820 --> 00:41:51.860 But it's more than that. It's the Word. It's 00:41:51.860 --> 00:41:56.679 my meditation. Would you stand? Thank you so 00:41:56.679 --> 00:41:59.619 much for being here today. Thank you so much 00:41:59.619 --> 00:42:02.340 for responding to the Word of God. Because we 00:42:02.340 --> 00:42:05.059 have so many guests here today. It's important 00:42:05.059 --> 00:42:08.380 for you to know that unlike many churches, and 00:42:08.380 --> 00:42:11.760 some of them are good churches, the service doesn't 00:42:11.760 --> 00:42:14.639 end when the preacher says, you're dismissed. 00:42:15.760 --> 00:42:18.539 There's something that happens before that. After 00:42:18.539 --> 00:42:21.460 he shared the word of God, he gives everybody 00:42:21.460 --> 00:42:25.559 an opportunity to pray. And I beg you to take 00:42:25.559 --> 00:42:28.340 a few moments and pray before you leave. It'll 00:42:28.340 --> 00:42:30.789 be easier to pray here for some of you. than 00:42:30.789 --> 00:42:32.550 anywhere else in the world. There are some of 00:42:32.550 --> 00:42:34.809 you, you have a prayer place at home and you 00:42:34.809 --> 00:42:37.650 have deep moves of God, but even with that, there's 00:42:37.650 --> 00:42:40.250 something about being surrounded by other people 00:42:40.250 --> 00:42:43.150 of like precious faith. I can tell you, when 00:42:43.150 --> 00:42:45.329 you come down to this altar in a minute, we don't 00:42:45.329 --> 00:42:47.289 look for the people that are the members of the 00:42:47.289 --> 00:42:49.570 church. We just feel like if somebody's coming 00:42:49.570 --> 00:42:51.369 down here, they must have a little bit of faith 00:42:51.369 --> 00:42:54.550 in Jesus and you don't need a whole lot. Just 00:42:54.550 --> 00:42:57.860 use whatever faith you've got to say Jesus. I 00:42:57.860 --> 00:43:01.480 want to give my life to a happy now year. I want 00:43:01.480 --> 00:43:03.300 to take what that preacher preached as though 00:43:03.300 --> 00:43:05.760 you were speaking to me. And I want to grab ahold 00:43:05.760 --> 00:43:08.179 of a fresh commitment to your word. And even 00:43:08.179 --> 00:43:10.960 before I walk out this door, I want to give myself 00:43:10.960 --> 00:43:13.340 to believe in you for something supernatural. 00:43:14.000 --> 00:43:16.139 And you may not say it in all those words. You 00:43:16.139 --> 00:43:17.699 might just come to the altar like they did in 00:43:17.699 --> 00:43:21.639 the Bible. They said, Jesus, have mercy on me. 00:43:22.179 --> 00:43:24.039 Whatever you want to do to get closer to the 00:43:24.039 --> 00:43:26.059 Lord, you're going to get closer to him right 00:43:26.059 --> 00:43:28.750 here than you are in your car. And I'm begging 00:43:28.750 --> 00:43:31.679 you, I'm begging you to take a few moments. and 00:43:31.679 --> 00:43:34.820 take this word that's like a seed that's been 00:43:34.820 --> 00:43:37.679 planted in the soil of your soul and water it 00:43:37.679 --> 00:43:40.380 with the presence of the Lord and with your faith 00:43:40.380 --> 00:43:43.519 in Jesus. Please, for just these next few moments, 00:43:43.559 --> 00:43:46.260 even to our church family, do not be distracted 00:43:46.260 --> 00:43:48.659 by someone you haven't seen in a few days or 00:43:48.659 --> 00:43:50.119 someone maybe you haven't even seen them in a 00:43:50.119 --> 00:43:53.119 couple, that's so valuable to love each other 00:43:53.119 --> 00:43:54.920 enough to check in on each other, oh wow, we 00:43:54.920 --> 00:43:56.880 got a guest from somewhere, oh my, oh that's 00:43:56.880 --> 00:44:00.059 wonderful, but right now it's critical. That 00:44:00.059 --> 00:44:05.619 we focus on our response to the Word of God So 00:44:05.619 --> 00:44:07.039 I want everybody to close their eyes for just 00:44:07.039 --> 00:44:09.380 a moment so that nobody's looking around And 00:44:09.380 --> 00:44:12.079 I want to tell you if you want to get on This 00:44:12.079 --> 00:44:14.820 train that's bound for glory if you want the 00:44:14.820 --> 00:44:17.079 Word of God to have its full effect in your life 00:44:17.289 --> 00:44:19.289 If you are here today and you put your faith 00:44:19.289 --> 00:44:21.889 in Jesus, but you have never repented of your 00:44:21.889 --> 00:44:24.210 sins. And even now, as I mentioned, repentance, 00:44:24.389 --> 00:44:26.250 you can think of something that kind of strikes 00:44:26.250 --> 00:44:28.550 your soul. Oh my goodness. I'm sure there's areas 00:44:28.550 --> 00:44:31.230 of my life where I'm not right with God. I'm 00:44:31.230 --> 00:44:33.110 begging you today when we all come to the altar 00:44:33.110 --> 00:44:35.829 for you to come and just say, Jesus, I believe 00:44:35.829 --> 00:44:38.250 for the cross and for your blood that was shed. 00:44:38.429 --> 00:44:41.389 I can be right with you right now just by asking 00:44:41.389 --> 00:44:44.250 you to forgive me. And I guarantee you, he loves 00:44:44.250 --> 00:44:47.920 you enough to forgive you in a moment. in a moment. 00:44:48.960 --> 00:44:50.820 And with your eyes closed and your heads bowed, 00:44:50.820 --> 00:44:53.360 I'm here to tell you, if you've lived for God 00:44:53.360 --> 00:44:56.480 for five minutes or 50 years, that you have never 00:44:56.480 --> 00:45:01.179 been baptized by immersion in Jesus' name. You 00:45:01.179 --> 00:45:02.860 don't even know if you were baptized. You don't 00:45:02.860 --> 00:45:05.780 even remember being baptized. I want you to know 00:45:05.780 --> 00:45:08.519 we got the water ready. We got the robes ready. 00:45:08.880 --> 00:45:11.199 You don't have to join this church to be baptized 00:45:11.199 --> 00:45:13.480 in Jesus' name, but if you want the Word of God 00:45:13.480 --> 00:45:16.420 to have its full effect in your life, you must 00:45:16.420 --> 00:45:20.119 be born again of the water and of the Spirit. 00:45:20.380 --> 00:45:24.159 You need to be baptized, calling upon the name 00:45:24.159 --> 00:45:27.260 of Jesus. And I urge you, as we come forward, 00:45:27.380 --> 00:45:29.699 make your way to this altar and say, preacher, 00:45:29.860 --> 00:45:32.699 I gotta get baptized today. Would you have somebody 00:45:32.699 --> 00:45:35.670 baptize me? If you're here today and you have 00:45:35.670 --> 00:45:38.170 never been filled with the Spirit of God, you 00:45:38.170 --> 00:45:40.849 love Jesus, you believe in Jesus, but you have 00:45:40.849 --> 00:45:43.949 never let His Spirit fill you like a well of 00:45:43.949 --> 00:45:46.670 living water flowing through your soul and the 00:45:46.670 --> 00:45:49.010 power of the Spirit takes over your prayer and 00:45:49.010 --> 00:45:51.929 you literally speak in other tongues, I beg you 00:45:51.929 --> 00:45:58.550 today, I beg you today, Jesus, Jesus, fill me. 00:45:58.949 --> 00:46:02.289 And to our church family and guests. And everything 00:46:02.289 --> 00:46:04.469 I've just said, you've checked the box. One, 00:46:04.469 --> 00:46:07.389 two, three. I'm there. I'm there, pastor. I'm 00:46:07.389 --> 00:46:10.909 there, preacher. Would you start the new year 00:46:10.909 --> 00:46:14.369 even before the new year starts with a commitment 00:46:14.369 --> 00:46:16.829 at this altar that says, I'm gonna be happy now. 00:46:17.389 --> 00:46:20.130 I'm gonna be in the word now. I'm gonna be living 00:46:20.130 --> 00:46:23.630 for Jesus now. Everybody come. Everybody come. 00:46:23.650 --> 00:46:26.309 We got a few minutes here. Everybody come. Guests 00:46:26.309 --> 00:46:29.690 come. Come on, family members come. Church members 00:46:29.690 --> 00:46:32.739 come. Everybody. Come on everybody!