for just a moment and isn't it a privilege to
be in the presence of the Lord here this afternoon.
Thank you for being here. Thank you for worshiping
the Lord with such passion and sincerity and
of course these singers and musicians, they have
blessed us, amen. So thankful for their ministry.
I don't wanna take it for granted, a lot of extra
work and practice. Every service, we are so blessed.
and we thank God for that, and we thank God for
you, and of course to our guests. Don't you love
when guests come to Heaven View? We are blessed.
We are blessed today. If you happen to be here
in the service and you have never just said to
the Lord, Jesus, forgive me for my sins. I don't
know a lot about the Word, the Bible, but if
I'm not lined up, just forgive me. If you haven't
done that, he's ready to forgive you today. And
if you've done it before, but you're one of those
that tries to every day get closer to the Lord,
this is a great service for that. Anybody know
that he still washes sins away when people are
baptized in Jesus' name? If you are a guest here
today, we do not baptize for church membership.
We just encourage people that when they have
made Jesus their savior, they need to be baptized
in Jesus' name. You may say, well, I just came
for a good Sunday. I didn't bring any clothes
to change into. We have robes. We have water
that's warm and ready. We'd love to baptize you
today in Jesus' name, and we don't do that to
make you a member of our church. That's the custom
of some, but we just feel like we ought to do
what the Bible says. We ought to just do what
the Bible says, and we're gonna help you do that.
by getting you baptized in Jesus' name today.
Don't put it off, let it happen today. And you
know, you've enjoyed the service so far, I'm
sure, but if you listen closely, occasionally
you'll hear people speaking in a language that's
not English or maybe even Spanish. It's literally
people speaking with other tongues. Anybody ever
read about that in the Bible? It happens here
at Heaven View all the time. So if you have never
been filled with the Spirit and never spoken
with other tongues, would you meet me at the
altar today and let's pray together with an attitude
that is Jesus, whatever you have for me, if it's
in the Bible, I want it in my life. Anybody ever
been filled with the Holy Ghost speaking with
other tongues? Look at all of these that have
raised their hands. I just don't think that God
is prejudiced. If he would do it for the person
near you, he'll do it for you, and he'll do it
today, in Jesus' name. Praise God. Also wanna
say how much I appreciate everybody in this sanctuary
that serves beyond just this service, but you
are one of our volunteers, well over 100. volunteers
that serve in a number of capacities. Obviously,
if you come a few services in a row, you see
some familiar faces on the platform. But really,
there's a lot that happens that's nowhere near
the platform that makes this a great church.
And we wanna say thank you to every single one
of you that volunteers in any capacity to be
a blessing to the work of God through this church.
We are not naive. We acknowledge that the kingdom
of God is bigger than a church. and so there
are ways to serve outside of your local church,
but it really is the will of God that everybody
serve in a local church. Get involved in your
local church and serve, and there's an accountability
connected with that, and if you have not made
yourself accountable to serve, I urge you, this
is a new year, even though we're in the month
of March, ending the month of March, the first
quarter, there's a work for anybody and everybody
to do, amen, and we want to encourage. But we
do want to say thank you. And because in January
we had some weather issues, we missed two Sundays.
Then in February I had a few travel issues. Sometimes
I minister in other places. I wanted to be here
for this service when we acknowledge, as we have
done every year for several years, someone that
we call the volunteer of the year. This would
be for 2025. And there are so many here that
would qualify for that award. And it's just a
way to thank all. of you by recognizing one of
you, and we did that in the morning service,
and we're gonna do it again here in this service.
And I just wanna say, as you clap and cheer,
and I hope that you will for this person, this
person represents all of us. Thank you for being
a volunteer. The Volunteer of the Year, in this
case, has been involved, I would say, since even
before I was a part of Heaven View, and that
goes back over 25 years, constantly serving in
the hospitality ministry in between services,
serving for men's prayer and fellowship in terms
of hospitality, always helping with marriage
matters. When we have our Faith Promise International
Fellowship, this individual is constantly involved
in working and serving, a big part of our church
picnic involved with serving. Also, every Christmas
concert involves a tremendous amount of effort
in serving others. This involves ministry that
we provide when it comes to weddings, funerals,
district events, even our recent blood drive
and kingdom connections. Man, this person must
be exhausted. I want you to help me honor Sister
Dana Haynes. Would you come up here? Our volunteer
of the year for 2026. I'll meet you halfway.
Come on up here. Would you give her one big hand?
She works like crazy around here. you may be
seated, have been involved in so many ways for
so many years. In fact, her husband, Randy, is
not always able to be in church with us, but
he is constantly working behind the scenes helping
Sister Dana. I see Phillip here, of course, he
lives in the United Kingdom, but when he's home,
he's always been a help to us as well. This family
is one serving family, and we honor them and
thank them for the work that they do. We give
God praise. And again, every single one of you
that volunteer in any capacity, you are worthy
of recognition and reward. And I just have to
believe the day is coming soon when we're gonna
see him say, well done, thou good and faithful
servant, enter into the joy of the Lord. And
I do wanna challenge you, if you might look around,
I know if you combine the crowd from both services,
you might say, well, there's plenty of people
doing plenty of stuff, they don't need me, we
need you. There is a work for anyone that wants
to do anything that involves serving and if you'll
contact the church office and say I want to be
involved a little bit more It would be a great
blessing to the church and certainly it would
be a great blessing to you Church is so much
better When you're involved you just show up
on a Sunday and kind of look around sometimes
critique You're not gonna get a lot out of church
You're not gonna enjoy it. And you'll find ways
to be critical of it. But if you're involved,
full speed ahead, whatever I can do, what does
the Bible say? Whatever your hands find to do,
you'll be much more blessed being involved in
serving. And I'm thankful for each one of you
that served with such passion. Would you stand?
I wanna turn your attention to the New Testament,
the book of 2 Corinthians chapter number four.
I am. concluding a series that we started on
the kingdom of God at the beginning of the year.
And I am of course aware that we are racing towards
Easter Sunday, focusing on the cross. And so
I am going to speak on the subject, the kingdom
and the cross, the kingdom and the cross. I did
preach about this at 9 .30 and if you are able
to go back. and enjoy that message online. That
would mean a lot to me for all of us to continue
to grow together. Second Corinthians chapter
four and verse 16. Therefore, we do not lose
heart, even though our outward man is perishing.
Sister Dana, you must feel that way sometimes.
All the stuff you're doing around here. But the
Bible says, even though our outward man is perishing.
Yet the inward man is being renewed day by day
Every day look at verse 17 for our light affliction
Which is but for a moment is working for us a
far more exceeding an eternal weight of glory
While we do not look at the things which are
seen But at the things which are not seen for
the things which are seen are temporary but the
things which are seen, I'm sorry, the things
which are not seen are eternal. I would like
to just focus your attention on the kingdom and
the cross. Let's ask the Lord to speak to us
right now. Everybody that can pray with passion,
would you cry out to the Lord for an anointing?
Pray for me, pray for your family, pray for your
brothers and sisters, our guests, that every
one of us would receive from the Lord today.
We love you Jesus. In the name of Jesus one more
time. Could you thank the Lord for his presence
or his word? We love you, Jesus. We love you,
Jesus. Hallelujah. The Lord bless you. You may
be seated. I want to remind you today that the
kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy
in the Holy Ghost. and we are on our way to experiencing
more and more of the kingdom of God until when
we see the kingdom of God in all of its fullness,
we will celebrate a place where there is no sin,
there is no sickness, there'll be no dying over
there. In fact, I believe when we live in the
kingdom of God in all of its fullness, we are
all gonna be able to shout, it's gonna be. One
taste, one glimpse of the glory of the kingdom
of God in all of its fullness. One writer sang,
wrote the song, what a day that will be. When
my Jesus I shall see, when I look upon his face,
the one who saved me by his grace, when he takes
me by the hand and leads me through the promised
land, what a day, what a glorious day that will
be. We certainly live in the tension of what
we would call now and not yet that the kingdom
of God is working in us and through us and we
see little glimpses of God's glory as we yield
to his spirit He is the king reigning over our
lives. Maybe we're not always yielding to his
reign but when we do we see his blessing and
favor upon our lives and yet we know there is
a that not yet aspect when we get to that particular
place in God's kingdom plan where everybody that's
sick is completely healed, where everybody that's
lonely is completely satisfied in the presence
of the Lord. There is a place called heaven that
is an aspect of the kingdom of God. And I just
dare say that when we get to that city, there'll
be no more complaining or murmuring or frustration.
about the challenges of this life, but we will
rejoice and say our light affliction was but
for a moment, but oh my goodness, it was working
for us, in us, and through us, a far more exceeding
and eternal weight of glory. Praise God. We see
the Bible says through a glass Darkly, but soon
face to face When you cannot see all that God
is doing you can get a little bit weary in well
-doing But when we see him as he is oh What's
singing? Oh? What's shouting on that happy morning
when we all shall rise? Can I give you permission
at heaven view if you ever? want to dance and
shout, it's just a little picture of heaven.
If you ever want to clap your hands and shout
for joy, it's just a little taste of heaven.
Maybe there's struggle, maybe there's turmoil,
but there's heaven. There is the kingdom of God.
And we celebrate it today. The question is, because
we cannot see everything that is unfolding as
it relates to the kingdom of God. Can we maintain
our focus on his promise? Can we endure until
the end? Can we live for what is eternal? Because
everything that comes with the kingdom of God
comes with the tragedy and the triumph of the
cross. The kingdom is beautiful. The cross. is
horrible. The kingdom is glory revealed. The
cross is agony endured. The kingdom is a crown
to be worn. The cross is a burden to be carried.
The kingdom is a prize to be gained. The cross
is a price to be paid. The kingdom of God is
where Christ reigns. The cross is where Christ
was rejected. And so I preach to the this beautiful
congregation today. There is no celebration of
the kingdom of God without the sacrifice of the
cross. I wanna remind you that we were not redeemed
with corruptible things like silver and gold,
but we were redeemed with the precious blood
of Christ as a lamb without blemish and without
spot. Can I tell you that Calvary was a high.
by price for Christ to pay for my sins, for your
sins, but he had the kingdom in view. He could
see a place where there was no more sorrow and
no more sickness and no more sadness and no more
death. And so he kept his eye on the prize, if
you will. In fact, the scripture says he has
delivered us from the power of darkness. and
conveyed us or transferred us into the kingdom
of his dear son in whom we have redemption through
his blood, even the forgiveness of sins. Now
this may sound a little bit like a fairy tale,
but I believe that God was in Christ reaching
for lost people because he recognized the kingdom
of darkness is a kingdom of death. The kingdom
of darkness is everything the devil spews out
at humanity to lure us away from the peace, the
love and the joy that's in the Holy Ghost. And
the only way that he could rescue us and redeem
us from a reservation if you will with the kingdom
of darkness was to robe himself in flesh and
come to this earth as a man and face the penalty
of death for every one of my sins every one of
your sins and why did he do it it's because he
could see you in the kingdom of God he could
see me in the oh my lord have mercy let's not
wait till Easter to say thank you, Jesus, for
the cross. Thank you, Jesus, for the blood applied.
Thank you, Jesus, for saving my soul. I wonder
if you stand for just a moment and clap your
hands and shout with your voice like you're just
so glad that you're not on your way to hell,
that you're just so glad that you're on your
way to heaven. Oh my goodness, he died for me.
I think I'll praise him. He died for me. I think
I'll worship him. He died for me. Praise the
name of the Lord. You may be seated. We are two
weeks away from Easter Sunday, and we will celebrate
the death, the burial, the resurrection of Jesus.
We encourage you, as you've already heard, invite
as many people as you can. That's a great way
to express your gratitude for Calvary, inviting
somebody to church. You know, there's a lot of
people don't go to any kind of church. Those
are the people I'd like for you to target as
we get ready for Easter Sunday. We're not trying
to pull anybody out of any church, but why don't
you just go find someone, don't even go to church
and say, let me tell you, there is a savior whose
name is Jesus. He died for our sins. So we want
you to come and celebrate with us that you don't
have to be bound by the kingdom of darkness.
There's a kingdom of light. There's a kingdom
of power and victory. There's a kingdom where
Jesus reigns over everyone. We want to celebrate
that kingdom. Praise the name of the Lord. It
is so important that we as believers, we as men
and women of God on our way to heaven, that we
never take for granted the reality of the kingdom
of darkness, the works of the flesh, if you will,
the satanic forces of hell that are allied against
the kingdom of God. It sounds like some sort
of science fiction, if you're not careful, or
just what old Christians and old preachers used
to talk about. But I'm telling you, Calvary was
so gruesome because hell is so real. Calvary
was such a penalty and a painful experience for
Jesus Christ because that's where each one of
us would be headed if it wasn't for his grace
and his mercy. And so we need to live for God
in his kingdom with a special appreciation for
the righteousness and the peace and the joy that
we enjoy in the Holy Ghost wherever you see evidence
that Jesus is reigning in your life. that you're
not just doing your own thing and living your
own way and just sucked into your own opinion
about how life ought to work, how church ought
to work. When you get delivered from that, that's
a good reason to rejoice. That's a good reason
to come to church with a sense of anticipation.
I'm on my way to heaven and I'm so glad. I'm
on my way to glory and I'm so glad. Do I have
affliction? Yes. Do I have struggle? Yes. Do
I have bad days? Yes. Yeah, but I have a savior.
His name is Jesus. He reigns. He reigns. He reigns
over my life. Praise the name of the Lord. Writer
of Hebrews says, how much more shall the blood
of Christ who through the eternal spirit offered
himself without spot to God cleanse your conscience
from dead works to serve the living God. We don't
know a lot about the book of Hebrews. We're not
quite sure who wrote it. Sometimes we're not
even sure of the audience, but we know because
it has been preserved in the word of God for
us that it applies to us today. Can I tell you
that one thing is for sure, that the writer of
Hebrews was trying to awaken the church to the
danger of being just a people that are sucked
into dead works, into a form of godliness, but
no religion. to proclaim two weeks before Easter
that Jesus didn't die for our sins so we could
sit on a pew maybe once or twice a week. I think
it's bigger than that. I believe he wanted to
pull us out of the kingdom of darkness, out of
the kingdom of gossip, out of the kingdom of
lust, out of the kingdom of pornography, out
of the kingdom of backbiting, out of the kingdom
of being critical, out of the kingdom of being
disobedient. He could see everything about that
kingdom as pulling people into death and into
Satan's lair. But bless God, he went to the cross
and at the cross he paid the price so I can enjoy
and celebrate the kingdom of life. Praise the
name of the Lord. When Jesus Christ was talking
about his own march to the cross. In Luke chapter
9, he says in verse 22 about himself, the son
of man must suffer many things and be rejected
by the elders and chief priests and scribes and
be killed and be raised the third day. I don't
believe there was any other way for Jesus to
save our sins. than the cross. I think that our
sins were that bad. I think that our human nature
without God is that dangerous. That the only
way that he could rescue us was to die in our
place. It's gonna sound crazy, but I believe
every sinner in here ought to die, starting with
me. But the only reason why I don't have to die
is because Jesus died for me. That's the only
way that he can pull me out of the kingdom of
darkness and into the kingdom of his dear son.
So he basically says, I had to be killed and
I had to rise up the third day. But then he says
in the next verse, If anyone desires to come
after me, let him deny himself and take up his
cross daily and follow me. For whoever desires
to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses
his life for my sake will save it. For what profit
is it to a man if he gains the whole world and
is himself destroyed or lost? I wanna preach
to you today as critical. as it was for Jesus
Christ to have a cross. Anybody that's gonna
follow him in these last days, there's a cross
for you and there's a cross for me. The old timers
used to say it all the time, but we've kind of
made Christianity a little bit prettier in our
day. But I wanna preach the truth to you today.
There is a cross for every person that wants
to follow Jesus from this world to that wonderful
kingdom. And I wanna encourage you from the words
of Jesus Christ. if you ever start following
Jesus to the degree that you lose your life and
you lose your preferences and you lose your opinion
and you lose a bunch of likes on social media
and you lose even the affection of those that
have a form of godliness. I want to encourage
you to stand strong and recognize if I lose my
life, I will gain my life. As long as I'm taking
up my cross and I'm following, I'd like to shake
somebody out of that Christianity. that says,
let's make it easier. Let's find a softer road.
Let's find a pathway that's wide. Can I tell
you, Jesus went to the cross for a narrow way.
Jesus went to the cross for people that would
say, though none go with me, still I will follow.
And he still makes the appeal today. Is there
anyone anywhere that will say, I will follow
Jesus. So let me take up my cross. Praise God.
Jesus promises kingdom, benefits. I mean, we
are loaded down with benefits. Everybody gets
sick, but when I get sick, I can call on Jesus.
Everybody goes through seasons where they feel
like, Nobody loves me, nobody cares about me,
nobody knows the trouble I've seen. But when
I go through that, when you go through that,
I can call on Jesus. It doesn't mean that I don't
have troubles. I got affliction, but compared
to the kingdom of God, it's a light affliction.
It's but for a moment. and it's an opportunity
for me to put my eyes on what I cannot see, the
eternal, to get my focus off of the temporary
and just make up my mind. I'm in it for the kingdom
of God. I'm in it for the favor of God. I'm in
it because Jesus died for me. Praise God. And
every kingdom benefit that you and I might list
comes with a cross. Not everybody's healed. Not
everybody gets the promotion. Not everybody comes
to church and feels like everybody pats you on
the popo, makes you feel like you're the most
important person alive. Sometimes, sometimes
it's affliction. It's affliction. Because there
is no kingdom of God without a cross. There is
no kingdom of God. without a cross. When you
sit across the table from somebody and they tell
you, it don't take all that, that's a lie from
the pit of hell. And there's a spirit behind
that lie. So I'm not saying the person that told
you that is a liar, I'm just saying they believed
a lie. Are you hearing what I'm saying? I'm saying
you cannot have the kingdom of God without the
cross. And there is a spirit in this world that
wants to try to convince this last group of people
that are gonna serve God before the trumpet sound,
hey, it don't take all that. You don't have to
be that faithful. You don't have to be that committed.
You don't have to be that passionate. Can I tell
you, Jesus went to the cross. A crown of thorns
was shoved upon his head. A spear ripped through
his side. There were nails in his hands and his
feet. Don't tell me that I don't have to tell.
and follow him when the King of Kings, the Lord
of this religion, challenged us to take up our
cross. And follow him. And so, God, he doesn't
issue a disclaimer. The closest we get to it
is the verse that we're looking at today when
he says, Don't lose heart Even though it feels
like you're dying on the outside By the way,
that's what crucifixion does Even though you
have days where you feel like I can't do it anymore
I'm talking about real practical stuff. Don't
raise your hand. Do you ever go to work and say
this job is killing me? The outward man is perishing.
Where's your savior in the kingdom of God and
all those miracles? Well, he's allowing you to
take up your cross. I don't get to choose my
cross. I don't get to choose your cross. You
don't get to choose your cross. But you get to
choose to cause the inward man to continue to
be renewed day by day. How? I'm gonna keep my
eyes on the kingdom of God. I'm gonna stay in
the word and in prayer. And the greatest goal
of my life is not to just live happily ever down
here. We are eat up with that. We are eat up
with how can Jesus make my life better down here?
That's not Christianity. Christianity is, though
none go with me, still I will follow. Take this
whole world, but give me Jesus. There is a kingdom.
There is a kingdom. And I tell you, there's probably
somebody in this sanctuary right now. You have
suffered more than I could ever imagine, and
you have suffered more than anybody else in the
building. And I want to ask you today, don't
waste your life feeling miserable about what
you suffered. Instead, grab a hold of the word
of God and say, I know I've been afflicted. But
in comparison to the kingdom of God, it's just
a light affliction. It's just a temporary struggle
because I'm on my way to glory. I'm on my way
to glory. I want to keep my eyes not on the things
which I can see, but on the things which I cannot
see. Praise God. We are not the first ones to
walk this way. We are not the first ones to take
up our cross. follow Jesus yet we are surrounded
by a cloud of witnesses some leap out of the
pages of the Bible And some are those great heroes
of the faith that are responsible for you and
I sitting on church pews today, but all of them
have the same testimony because we are surrounded
by so great a cloud of witnesses. Let us lay
aside every weight and the sin which does so
easily ensnare us and let us run with endurance
the race that is set before us, looking unto
Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith.
who for the joy that was set before him endured
the cross, despising the shame and is set down
at the right hand of the throne of God. If you
and I are gonna stand and then kneel and cast
our crowns before the throne of God, we're gonna
have to make the damn journey that Jesus Christ
made as God robed up in the flesh. We're gonna
have to make up our minds. I'm keeping my eyes
on the prize. I'm staying. focused on the kingdom
of God. Praise God. As I transition from serving
this church as pastor for 25 years and getting
ready with anticipation for the next 25 years.
Woo -hoo! I'm fired up. Now I think Jesus is
coming soon. But can I tell you what makes me
nervous? Is if we convince the next generation,
those that are 30 and under, that it don't take
all that. And we had a spirit run through this
church not too long ago where people were saying
that kind of stuff to people. It don't take all
that. I'm telling you the devil is a liar. I'm
telling you that this is about the kingdom of
God. It's not about what you want. It's not about
what I want. This is about that Bible. And you
better be careful lest you send a message to
our young people that it don't take all that.
Because before you know it, they'll come to church
and they won't worship unless they feel like
it. They'll look in their Bible and they'll only
obey the parts that seem to appeal to their flesh.
My God, have mercy. Nobody is going to heaven
without a cross. Lord and Savior. He took that
cross. He took that beating. He took that suffering.
And then he said, come on, you want to follow
me? Take up your cross. And I want to say to
our students, I beg you, the kingdom of God is
so glorious that the cross is just a small thing.
The kingdom of God is so glorious. You may be
seated. I don't want anybody to misunderstand.
There's people in this sanctuary right now that
if you knew the cross that they're carrying,
if you knew the burden they're bearing, but some
of them are the most dedicated, worshipful, committed,
faithful people of God. Because they don't live.
Like their cross is just so heavy that I don't
think I can make it another Sunday No, they've
discovered. It's just a light affliction Because
the kingdom of God is so glorious if there is
affliction in your life take up your cross You're
on your way to the kingdom of God. If there is
loss in your life, take up your cross. You're
on your way to the kingdom of God. If there is
heartbreak in your life, take up your cross.
You are on your way to the kingdom of God. I'm
reaching for somebody today. It's never gonna
be easy. There's not an easier pathway. What
is the pathway for the people of God in these
last days? Take up your cross and follow him,
but keep your eyes on the prize. Just believe
one step here on earth, next step in heaven.
One step here in Winston -Salem, next step in
heaven. So I'm not gonna waste my life being
critical about the pathway that God has chosen
for me. I see the kingdom of God and I know it's
gonna be glorious and I'm gonna keep on keeping
on. to raise your hand. But how many of you feel
like if God wanted to, he could have made it
an easier pathway? After all, he loves everybody.
And if some people get a little bit of a news
flash that serving Jesus takes 100 % commitment,
they're gonna check out. You think the Lord would
say, well, I gotta... I gotta mix this up a little
bit. I mean, I love the world. I died for the
world. I gotta make this as easy as possible.
Wouldn't that be cool? But he didn't do that.
I don't understand why he's done it the way he's
done it. But I can tell you, he done it. It's
his kingdom. It's his cross. I don't know any
human being That would have set up Christianity
the way God set it up. I don't know. I don't
know. But it's his kingdom. It's his cross. And
the cross he asks you to bear. There'll be people
that you sit on the same pew with them for decades
and they don't know the cross you've had to bear.
But I'm begging you, don't look on the things
that are seen. Look on the things that are not
seen. And I just want to give you a little bit
of a news flash. Even Lucifer himself has no
idea why Jesus chose the cross as the pathway
to establishing his kingdom in the hearts of
his people. Satan never understood the cross.
He wanted the kingdom, but he didn't want the
cross. We get a little snapshot of Satan In Isaiah
14, how are you fallen from heaven, O Lucifer,
son of the morning? How are you cut down to the
ground, you who weaken the nations? For you have
said in your heart, I will ascend into heaven.
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God.
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
on the father's sides of the north. I will ascend
above the heights of the clouds. I will be like.
the most high. Did you hear what Satan said?
I want the kingdom of God on my terms. I want
the kingdom of God, but I want to be exalted
into a position of prominence just because of
who I am. That's like people who live for God
so many years and expect that they should have
a little bit more influence in the church because
of how long they've been in church or how much
money they give. That comes from Lucifer. That
comes from Lucifer. That was his problem. I want
to be like God. I want to be large and in charge
in the congregation. That was Lucifer. I want
to be like the Most High. I'm just saying, be
careful what you ingest in your spirit. From
people that think you can have the kingdom of
God on your own terms. You know where that comes
from it comes from Lucifer Lucifer said I want
the kingdom of God and I want to be in the congregation,
but I wanted my way Sounds like a little bit
of a spoiled bread old Lucifer does them You
know what the next verse says Yet you shall be
brought down to Sheol to hell to the lowest depths
of the pit. Young people, do not be deceived
by those that promise you the kingdom of God
without a cross. That is a demonic delusion.
Saints of God that have lived for God for years,
but now certain levels of commitment you no longer
think are necessary, that is a demonic delusion.
You can sit on a church pew until the trumpet
sounds, but you need to be delivered from that
demonic Delusion the devil don't understand the
cross He thinks we ought to be able to have prominence
and glory and position in the congregation without
the cross But it is a dynamic demonic Delusion
the end of Christianity without the cross is
the kingdom of darkness You might say well, I've
been a believer for 50 years the end of the kingdom
of darkness without a cross Is a demonic delusion.
It is the kingdom of darkness. I beg every saint
of God to make up in their hearts and minds a
fresh appreciation. Oh Lord, I wanna take up
my cross every single day and follow you. I wanna
die daily and follow you because I see the kingdom
of God. It is such a stark, stark contrast when
you see Lucifer, expecting the kingdom of God
in all of his pride. And then you see Jesus,
so different, so bizarre, because the Bible says,
let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ
Jesus, who being in the form of God. did not
consider it robbery to be equal with God, but
made himself of no reputation, taking on the
form of a bondservant, a slave, and coming in
the likeness of men, and being found in appearance
as a man. He humbled himself and became obedient
to the point of death, even the death. Satan
don't know what to do with that It doesn't it's
like a foreign language to him Jesus was God
in flesh He had every right to be God to be large
to be in charge And he humbled himself He didn't
care about his reputation That's what gets people
been out of shape about living for God. Well
bless God. I've done this I've done that nobody's
patting me on the back That's not Jesus. That's
Lucifer. That's Lucifer. That's not Jesus There
has to be something that gets ahold of us That
says wait a minute. I'm not in this to be like
Satan. I'm in this to be like Jesus So I'm I'm
gonna be a bond servant. I'm gonna just get myself
to obedience Whoa, that's crazy. It's my life.
I should do what I want to do That's Lucifer.
That's not Jesus. And we've got to get our eyes
on a kingdom. The kingdom where Jesus reigns.
And he starts that reign not in heaven, but in
here. And we just say, Jesus, though nobody in
my family understands it. Though nobody in my
neighborhood understands it. I am going to humble
myself and become obedient to the cross that
you've caused me to bear and I'm gonna follow
you with all of my heart. In fact, the scripture
goes on to say when Jesus humbled himself that
way, therefore God also has highly exalted him
and given him a name which is above every name
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow
of those things in heaven and those on earth
and of those under the earth and that every tongue.
should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the
glory of God the Father. I want you to know something
today. We have honored our volunteers, but I'm
telling you, if we ever get a revelation of the
cross, we'd have many more volunteers. If we
ever get a revelation of Jesus, we'd have all
kinds of people saying, hey, is there someplace
where I can clean? Is there someplace where I
can help? Is there a Bible study I can teach?
You know what keeps people from serving in the
church in these last days? It is the attitude.
of Lucifer that says, I want an easier pathway,
but I want to preach Jesus to you today. If you
will humble yourself and become obedient, you
would be amazed at the way the Lord would open
doors for you and cause you to be blessed. You
say, well, I tried that. It didn't work. That's
not how you live for God. You get up every day
and you take up your cross and you say, I'm on
my way to heaven. I'm on my way to glory. And
if nobody pats me on the back, it's okay. I've
got a savior. He rules. He reigns in my life.
Praise God. And so when I close, I think sometimes
preaching like this, it sounds so crazy. I get
that. I get that. It sounds so crazy. You want
a big church pastor? You better not preach like
that. I don't want a big church. Now I believe
God's promised us a much bigger building with
many more people that are hungry for Him. But
that's the key, they're gonna be hungry for Him.
That's the key. They're gonna be hungry for Him.
And I don't want to see anybody leave the church,
but if the Lord needs to empty the church out
of people that are not hungry for Him, I want
everybody to feel welcome. But we cannot preach
an easier way. And we cannot transmit to our
students that there is a way to live for God
in these last days where Jesus just blesses you.
He just takes care of you. And if you ever get
a little thumbnail or you ever get a little mosquito
bite, then you just quit everything. Bless God.
What kind of God is that? I got a mosquito bite.
That's how people are living for God in these
last days. That's not the Savior. that let that
crown be crushed on his head and that spear be
ripped through his side. Where have we lost the
revelation of the cross? I think I know the answer.
It's right here in my pocket. What happened to
my phone? Oh, this message is over. Everybody's
dismissed. Anybody got a phone? This is where
we lost it, right here. This is where we lost
it, right here. Forgive me. Not every message
should be about the phone, but this is just too
good to pass up. Do you know the way this phone
works? Everything you believe will be reaffirmed
by the algorithm. Everything you believe about
God, about life, about marriage, about raising
kids, about money, it'll be reaffirmed until
everybody in this building will be their own
God. And you'll come to church. And your pastor
will have about 35, 40 minutes to clean up your
head from seven hours a day of you seeing and
scrolling about everything that reaffirms what
you believe. That's why we don't have a passion
for the cross anymore. I wonder what would happen
if you took your phone and just used it as a
phone for two weeks. You'd get a revelation.
That it's not really about what you think It's
not really about what you think. It's not really
about it. Nobody knows the trouble I've seen
you be delivered You just take two weeks and
don't look at your phone for scrolling look at
your phone to call your husband your wife your
kids Wow, there is a Savior there is a cross
there is a kingdom and I haven't filled my head
with four to seven hours a day with all the junk
that just affirms what I think is true. Oh, would
you raise your hand? Maybe you're not ready for
that kind of commitment. Why not just try it
for 24 hours? Between now and dinner tomorrow.
Just say, you know what, I'm gonna just use my
phone like a phone. And if you don't do it, hey,
guess what, nobody will know. But if you don't
do it, you oughta think about why you don't wanna
do it. You ought to think about that. Oh, hallelujah.
I love you, Jesus. I believe you're getting us
ready for the kingdom of God. You're getting
us ready for the kingdom of God. You're getting
us ready for the kingdom of God. So here's my
final scripture and I got distracted and I apologize
for that. I'm old. but we speak the wisdom of
God in a minute, even for you to say, but we
speak the wisdom of God in a mystery. The hidden
wisdom which God ordained before the ages for
our glory, which none of the rulers of this age
knew, for had they known it, they would not have
crucified the Lord of glory. If the devil would
have known what the cross would produce, he would
have said, whatever we do, we can't let that
guy go to the cross. He had no idea that the
cross was the doorway to the kingdom of God.
Do you think the cross that you carry is of no
consequence? Do you think that the burden that
you bear is just, well? If I do it great, if
not, who cares? Are you kidding me? The princes
of this world, Lucifer himself, the spirits of
darkness had no idea the power that's in the
cross. But it's a little bit different now. A
little bit different now. Because now the devil
knows that cross. I gotta keep people off their
cross. If I keep people off their cross, then
they're not gonna see the kingdom of God. I already
thought, man, if I put affliction on people,
if I put sacrifice on people, if I make that
man go to that cross and suffer that agony, I
win! And he lost. So now he's gotta keep you
from your cross. Because... If you'll take up
your cross every day, you're headed to the kingdom
of God. And you're not gonna be in heaven saying,
oh, I wish I wouldn't have carried that cross.
I wish I wouldn't have prayed and read my Bible
and maybe even paid my tithes. How cool would
that be? We're just having fun. I mean, it's
in the Bible, that's all right. My brothers and
sisters, I see the kingdom of God today. And
I have not seen it with these eyes. in terms
of a vision or a dream, but I've seen it in this
book that has never led me the wrong way, has
never failed me yet. And the very next verse
says, I has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has
it entered into the heart of man the things which
God has prepared for those who love him. I believe
I'll take up my cross now. I believe I'll take
up my cross now because I know the kingdom of
God is coming and even though I may go through
some light affliction Even though I may face
some struggles, and even though there may be
things about the Bible that get on my nerves,
even though I may wonder, Jesus, why haven't
you taken care of this problem and that problem?
All I know is if I'll carry this cross. Eye has
not seen, ear has not heard. It hasn't even entered
into my heart or my mind what God has prepared
for them that love Him. There are some senior
saints in this sanctuary. You've carried your
cross too long to give up now. trusted in the
Lord too long to find an easier path right now.
There are some wonderful new converts in this
sanctuary. He's delivered you from so much evil
and so much darkness. Don't turn back now. And
some of you precious, precious saints of God.
That grew up in a church This church or another
church like this church You just been serving
God because It was kind of handed down to you
You have no idea what darkness is like you have
no idea what the devil is like And you want to
leave your cross on the side of the road because
it's not convenient because everybody Are you
kidding me? Are you kidding me? Just because
you haven't faced darkness is not a good reason
to lay down your cross now. Oh, I wish somebody
would hear me today. Just because he doesn't
always do everything you want him to do the way
he wants you to do it, oh, don't lay down that
cross now. Oh, catch a vision of the kingdom
of God. Would you stand and all across this sanctuary,
would you just raise your hands and just give
the Lord praise from your voice and with your
hands. Thank him for the cross. Thank him for
the cross. Thank him for his cross. Thank him
for your cross. Thank him for this narrow way.
Thank him for this narrow way. Come on, broad
is the way that leads to destruction, and many
there be that are gonna find it, but there's
a narrow way. There's a narrow way, and sometimes
it involves crying out to God when it seems like
the heavens are brass. Sometimes it involves
obeying the scripture. What everybody else tells
you, it doesn't matter. I just beg you today.
Thank you for the cross, Lord. If you'd like
to come and join others in prayer, I would love
for you to come. I would love for you to come
and thank the Lord for the cross right now. And
I'd love for somebody to come and say, Jesus,
forgive me for even being tempted to choose an
easier path. Jesus, forgive me. I ask you to
ask the Lord to forgive you if you have been
spreading misinformation about the pathway that
involves holiness and separation from the world.
Worship doesn't matter, and service doesn't matter.