WEBVTT 00:00:17.129 --> 00:00:18.750 the word of the Lord and he would tell me stories. 00:00:19.640 --> 00:00:21.640 Danny was always in some of those stories. So 00:00:21.640 --> 00:00:24.000 it was a privilege to get to meet him years later. 00:00:24.219 --> 00:00:26.899 And we've had him out several times. Every time 00:00:26.899 --> 00:00:29.660 we do, I just feel like our relationship gets 00:00:29.660 --> 00:00:33.700 stronger. And I so appreciate his wife, Giselle, 00:00:33.719 --> 00:00:36.740 is a wonderful lady, has a prophetic song of 00:00:36.740 --> 00:00:40.000 the Lord gift. And Danny is a man that hears 00:00:40.000 --> 00:00:42.439 from the Lord and has many grace gifts. But I 00:00:42.439 --> 00:00:44.280 want you to give him a Life Bible welcome this 00:00:44.280 --> 00:00:46.780 morning as he opens the Word and brings the Word 00:00:46.780 --> 00:01:03.119 of the Lord this morning. Praise the Lord. Amen. 00:01:03.219 --> 00:01:05.959 You may be seated. Thank you for your love. I 00:01:05.959 --> 00:01:09.739 really feel at home. Every time I come, our relationship 00:01:09.739 --> 00:01:12.400 grows stronger. I feel I'm more connected to 00:01:12.400 --> 00:01:15.239 this church than ever. And to see the wonderful 00:01:15.239 --> 00:01:17.939 things that God has done. I visit churches around 00:01:17.939 --> 00:01:20.680 the world. And truly to tell you that this is 00:01:20.680 --> 00:01:22.780 probably one of the greatest places that I've 00:01:22.780 --> 00:01:25.680 been to. You are a great church. I don't know 00:01:25.680 --> 00:01:29.689 if you know how awesome this house is. But it's 00:01:29.689 --> 00:01:31.629 an incredible church, probably one of the greatest 00:01:31.629 --> 00:01:34.370 churches in America. And I don't say that lightly. 00:01:34.549 --> 00:01:37.290 I say that because you have everything that a 00:01:37.290 --> 00:01:40.909 church needs to please the Lord and to minister 00:01:40.909 --> 00:01:43.890 to the world that we live in. So can you give 00:01:43.890 --> 00:01:46.450 the Lord a big hand for the wonderful church 00:01:46.450 --> 00:01:53.519 that you are? Amen. Thank you, Lord. And with 00:01:53.519 --> 00:01:56.159 that, of course, would you honor the man and 00:01:56.159 --> 00:01:58.420 woman of God that God has chosen to raise this 00:01:58.420 --> 00:02:00.599 church together with the leadership team for 00:02:00.599 --> 00:02:02.920 the leaders of this house who lead this church 00:02:02.920 --> 00:02:05.019 into the future. Give them a big hand. Would 00:02:05.019 --> 00:02:14.900 you? Every one of the great men of God, I've 00:02:14.900 --> 00:02:16.759 watched them handle the word, handle themselves 00:02:16.759 --> 00:02:19.300 in the house of God. They do it with such honor. 00:02:19.900 --> 00:02:23.240 and integrity. And I just love what's happening 00:02:23.240 --> 00:02:25.560 in this place. It looked like worship was never 00:02:25.560 --> 00:02:28.900 going to stop today as we just went on and on. 00:02:29.000 --> 00:02:31.479 And I so appreciate that you're not in a rush 00:02:31.479 --> 00:02:34.419 to just sing a few songs. You know, I heard a 00:02:34.419 --> 00:02:36.419 pastor once say, we don't worship in our church, 00:02:36.479 --> 00:02:39.400 we just sing. And I think they're missing some 00:02:39.400 --> 00:02:41.960 of the greatest moments of God. It's not just 00:02:41.960 --> 00:02:44.560 about singing. You don't want to go sing, join 00:02:44.560 --> 00:02:47.259 some singing club. But when you come to church, 00:02:47.379 --> 00:02:50.460 you come to worship him. Can you say amen? We've 00:02:50.460 --> 00:02:52.300 come and we've had a great time. How many of 00:02:52.300 --> 00:02:54.340 you enjoyed worship? Give it up for the musicians, 00:02:55.460 --> 00:03:01.430 singers of the house of God. Amazing. Amazing. 00:03:01.430 --> 00:03:03.650 I couldn't help it to get videos of it and stuff. 00:03:03.729 --> 00:03:05.150 I want to take it back home, show everybody. 00:03:05.650 --> 00:03:08.789 It's an amazing time, an amazing church. Presence 00:03:08.789 --> 00:03:11.870 of God is in this place. And I know it hasn't 00:03:11.870 --> 00:03:14.330 happened by coincidence. It's taken a lot of 00:03:14.330 --> 00:03:17.490 labor, a lot of tears, a lot of people who have 00:03:17.490 --> 00:03:20.449 pioneered this work from years back, believing 00:03:20.449 --> 00:03:22.870 God with the pastors that God would raise... 00:03:23.310 --> 00:03:25.409 a significant church, a church that would make 00:03:25.409 --> 00:03:28.990 a difference in Harrisburg. And God decided to 00:03:28.990 --> 00:03:32.030 take a boy that grew up in a Mennonite family 00:03:32.030 --> 00:03:35.289 and raise him up generations deep into ministry 00:03:35.289 --> 00:03:39.849 in this land. And God has raised your pastor 00:03:39.849 --> 00:03:42.889 to lead this church together with some fine leaders, 00:03:43.050 --> 00:03:46.849 like I said before, to raise a church that's 00:03:46.849 --> 00:03:50.430 a flagship church. To see the beautiful building 00:03:50.430 --> 00:03:54.620 you're in that... It's a labor of your love, 00:03:54.659 --> 00:03:57.400 a sacrifice of your giving in the house of God. 00:03:57.539 --> 00:03:59.479 This is probably one of the most beautiful buildings 00:03:59.479 --> 00:04:02.620 I've ever been in. Not only is it beautiful in 00:04:02.620 --> 00:04:05.840 its structure, but it sits in a beautiful place 00:04:05.840 --> 00:04:08.900 right by the bend of a river. Not many churches 00:04:08.900 --> 00:04:12.219 have that kind of view outside. And outside of 00:04:12.219 --> 00:04:14.180 your prayer room, what a beautiful place to pray. 00:04:14.980 --> 00:04:17.560 But even in the prayer room, what a gorgeous 00:04:17.560 --> 00:04:20.399 presence of God. So I'm delighted to come. I 00:04:20.399 --> 00:04:23.180 can't wait for my wife to come back with me. 00:04:23.279 --> 00:04:25.459 She sends her love. And by the way, I was with 00:04:25.459 --> 00:04:29.560 Louie a week ago. And he also sends his love, 00:04:29.620 --> 00:04:31.540 Louie Hernandez, who's a good friend of your 00:04:31.540 --> 00:04:35.980 pastor's. And also a man of God who I have respected 00:04:35.980 --> 00:04:38.319 over the years. We've walked together for 43 00:04:38.319 --> 00:04:41.579 years. I've been saved for 43 years. I've walked 00:04:41.579 --> 00:04:46.100 with Frank DiMaggio for 42 years. So we are linked 00:04:46.100 --> 00:04:49.100 together. We're a family. And God has put us 00:04:49.100 --> 00:04:51.579 together. But I can't help but to think of all 00:04:51.579 --> 00:04:54.439 the labor that has gone in to building this wonderful 00:04:54.439 --> 00:04:57.500 church. the pioneers, the people who have been 00:04:57.500 --> 00:05:01.040 here for over a decade, laboring, some of them 00:05:01.040 --> 00:05:04.800 from the very inception of this church, that 00:05:04.800 --> 00:05:07.160 are here, that have labored, others that have 00:05:07.160 --> 00:05:09.639 gone on to be with the Lord, whose families are 00:05:09.639 --> 00:05:11.920 here. Would you give the Lord a big hand for 00:05:11.920 --> 00:05:14.379 those who have labored throughout the years to 00:05:14.379 --> 00:05:18.480 come to this place? Thank you, Lord, for faithful 00:05:18.480 --> 00:05:24.519 people. All week I've been talking about prophetic 00:05:24.519 --> 00:05:27.470 intercessory prayer. Prophetic intercessors. 00:05:27.850 --> 00:05:30.850 Last night I spoke about prophetic intercessors 00:05:30.850 --> 00:05:33.970 or warriors or valley warriors. And I talked 00:05:33.970 --> 00:05:37.350 about how prophetic intercessors have got to 00:05:37.350 --> 00:05:40.069 learn how to fight in a valley. Anybody can fight 00:05:40.069 --> 00:05:43.629 on the mountaintop when you've got the home advantage. 00:05:44.149 --> 00:05:46.889 But in the valley where the plain, everything 00:05:46.889 --> 00:05:49.430 is right there. You're meeting the enemy face 00:05:49.430 --> 00:05:53.550 to face. You're not in a strategic place of advantage, 00:05:53.730 --> 00:05:56.610 but you're in the valley. is where God makes 00:05:56.610 --> 00:05:58.810 heroes in the valley is where God builds churches 00:05:58.810 --> 00:06:01.730 like this one in the valley is with people who 00:06:01.730 --> 00:06:04.629 know and have learned how to war in the valley 00:06:04.629 --> 00:06:07.529 is the place that God raises these prophetic 00:06:07.529 --> 00:06:11.290 intercessors who know that God is about to do 00:06:11.290 --> 00:06:14.430 something great and who understand that if they're 00:06:14.430 --> 00:06:16.889 in the valley it's just for a little time because 00:06:16.889 --> 00:06:20.529 every valley is a prophecy of another mountaintop 00:06:20.529 --> 00:06:24.629 every valley in your life announces that there's 00:06:24.629 --> 00:06:28.120 another mountain another mountain to be scaled 00:06:28.120 --> 00:06:31.459 get through the valley fight your way out of 00:06:31.459 --> 00:06:34.319 the valley but get to the place where God wants 00:06:34.319 --> 00:06:37.579 to take you to another high place in him where 00:06:37.579 --> 00:06:39.740 he's going to show you things you've never seen 00:06:39.740 --> 00:06:43.139 and where you're going to be able to enjoy everything 00:06:43.139 --> 00:06:46.199 that he has prepared for you I believe that God 00:06:46.199 --> 00:06:50.420 wants to reward warriors who learn how to fight 00:06:50.420 --> 00:06:52.860 in the valley This church is here because of 00:06:52.860 --> 00:06:54.959 people who didn't give up. They didn't throw 00:06:54.959 --> 00:06:57.740 the towel in when things got tough. When things 00:06:57.740 --> 00:07:00.579 were opposite to what they heard. When the prophecies 00:07:00.579 --> 00:07:03.220 weren't coming to pass quick enough. When they 00:07:03.220 --> 00:07:06.139 heard promises from God, but things didn't happen 00:07:06.139 --> 00:07:08.899 the way the prophet said. It took longer. It 00:07:08.899 --> 00:07:10.860 seemed like when the prophet spoke it, it was 00:07:10.860 --> 00:07:13.699 about to happen. But then it went into a time 00:07:13.699 --> 00:07:16.779 of delay. And they stood their ground. They fought 00:07:16.779 --> 00:07:19.800 through the valleys. They believed God. And here 00:07:19.800 --> 00:07:23.879 you are. in a tremendous moment in God, a tremendous 00:07:23.879 --> 00:07:26.660 time. I want to encourage you not to make light 00:07:26.660 --> 00:07:29.000 of this church, not to make light of what God 00:07:29.000 --> 00:07:31.579 has done in your midst, not to make light of 00:07:31.579 --> 00:07:34.439 all the beautiful things. We sang that awesome 00:07:34.439 --> 00:07:37.540 song about there's a man sitting on the throne 00:07:37.540 --> 00:07:40.459 and all eyes are on him. There's a man sitting 00:07:40.459 --> 00:07:43.360 on the throne and all the songs about him. It's 00:07:43.360 --> 00:07:46.779 amazing. This beautiful Jesus with the work that 00:07:46.779 --> 00:07:48.620 he has done. Can you give the Lord a big hand 00:07:48.620 --> 00:07:50.779 for what he's done in your life? What he's done 00:07:50.779 --> 00:07:54.680 with your life. Come on. Give him praise. He's 00:07:54.680 --> 00:08:00.000 done awesome things in your life. And I believe 00:08:00.000 --> 00:08:02.920 that God is a rewarder of people. He rewards 00:08:02.920 --> 00:08:06.079 those who seek him. And in successory ministry 00:08:06.079 --> 00:08:08.240 is all about seeking God. So this morning I'd 00:08:08.240 --> 00:08:11.459 like to carry on with that message. Because people 00:08:11.459 --> 00:08:15.759 who begin to seek God. Learn the heartbeat of 00:08:15.759 --> 00:08:18.220 God. They spend so much time with the Lord that 00:08:18.220 --> 00:08:20.360 they begin to think like him. They begin to see 00:08:20.360 --> 00:08:23.680 what he sees. They begin to speak like he speaks. 00:08:23.879 --> 00:08:27.120 Part of intercessory ministry is being able to 00:08:27.120 --> 00:08:30.360 capture the heartbeat of God. Being able to capture 00:08:30.360 --> 00:08:34.179 the very thoughts of God and know his way, his 00:08:34.179 --> 00:08:37.460 plan. Not just his miracles, but know the ways 00:08:37.460 --> 00:08:41.919 of the Lord. Well, in Hebrews chapter 11, verse 00:08:41.919 --> 00:08:45.179 6, there's a scripture. That says, and without 00:08:45.179 --> 00:08:48.559 faith it is impossible to please God. Because 00:08:48.559 --> 00:08:51.899 anyone who comes to him must believe. Somebody 00:08:51.899 --> 00:08:53.899 say, you've got to believe. Look at your neighbor 00:08:53.899 --> 00:08:56.799 and say, you must believe. Come on, you're in 00:08:56.799 --> 00:08:59.279 church this morning. You came here seeking God. 00:09:00.120 --> 00:09:04.860 You must believe that he exists. And that he 00:09:04.860 --> 00:09:10.159 rewards those who earnestly seek him. He rewards 00:09:10.159 --> 00:09:14.539 those who earnestly seek him. You must believe 00:09:14.539 --> 00:09:19.179 that he exists. He's alive. And not only is he 00:09:19.179 --> 00:09:22.159 alive, but he rewards. Somebody say, he rewards. 00:09:22.840 --> 00:09:24.899 Look at your neighbor and help me prophesy to 00:09:24.899 --> 00:09:27.559 them today. Say, he's coming with your reward. 00:09:29.179 --> 00:09:31.820 Your labor's not in vain. God's going to reward 00:09:31.820 --> 00:09:35.899 you. God's going to reward you for all your earnest 00:09:35.899 --> 00:09:40.039 seeking, for you spending time separating your 00:09:40.039 --> 00:09:42.809 weekend. To be with the Lord. Even this morning. 00:09:42.889 --> 00:09:45.309 You could be doing something else. A holiday 00:09:45.309 --> 00:09:47.309 weekend. You could have skipped all together. 00:09:47.610 --> 00:09:50.450 But you're here. And you're earnestly seeking 00:09:50.450 --> 00:09:53.289 God. It just showed in your worship. That you 00:09:53.289 --> 00:09:55.809 were lost in the presence of God. And you were 00:09:55.809 --> 00:09:59.529 enjoying his presence. This church is a God seeking 00:09:59.529 --> 00:10:02.210 church. A God loving church. Give the Lord another 00:10:02.210 --> 00:10:05.509 hand. For a loving church that loves him back. 00:10:09.929 --> 00:10:12.149 But you've got to believe and get this in your 00:10:12.149 --> 00:10:15.940 spirit that he exists and that he rewards. Those 00:10:15.940 --> 00:10:19.340 who earnestly seek him. If you become a God seeker. 00:10:19.399 --> 00:10:22.100 God will reward you. God will reward you for 00:10:22.100 --> 00:10:25.379 every sacrifice. Everything you do. To get close 00:10:25.379 --> 00:10:28.980 to him. And to look for him. And to draw near 00:10:28.980 --> 00:10:32.100 to him. God will reward you. Oh the enemy wants 00:10:32.100 --> 00:10:34.860 to make it impossible. For us to get close to 00:10:34.860 --> 00:10:37.840 God. He tries to block our way. In every way 00:10:37.840 --> 00:10:41.940 he can. But God is waiting for a people. Who 00:10:41.940 --> 00:10:45.679 will break through every barrier. Reach him and 00:10:45.679 --> 00:10:49.279 get close to him and will not let the enemy rob 00:10:49.279 --> 00:10:53.639 them of their reward. There is a reward for the 00:10:53.639 --> 00:10:57.019 God seeker. There is a reward for those who seek 00:10:57.019 --> 00:11:00.480 the Lord. All through the scriptures even the 00:11:00.480 --> 00:11:03.779 prophet Isaiah in chapter 40 verse 10. Isaiah 00:11:03.779 --> 00:11:06.940 40 verse 10 says see the sovereign Lord comes 00:11:06.940 --> 00:11:11.779 with power. And he rules with a mighty arm. See 00:11:11.779 --> 00:11:16.169 his reward is with him. And his recompense accompanies 00:11:16.169 --> 00:11:19.970 him. His reward is with him. And his recompense 00:11:19.970 --> 00:11:24.269 accompanies him. Isaiah. Again in Isaiah 62. 00:11:24.690 --> 00:11:29.809 Verse 11. The Lord has made proclamation. To 00:11:29.809 --> 00:11:32.090 the ends of the earth. This has gone all over 00:11:32.090 --> 00:11:35.970 the earth. Say to the daughter of Zion. See your 00:11:35.970 --> 00:11:39.570 savior comes. Your savior comes. Look at somebody 00:11:39.570 --> 00:11:44.210 and say he's coming. He's coming to see his reward 00:11:44.210 --> 00:11:48.090 is with him and his recompense accompanies him. 00:11:48.750 --> 00:11:51.330 He's coming with your reward. He's coming with 00:11:51.330 --> 00:11:54.909 your recompense. You're going to reward it up 00:11:54.909 --> 00:11:58.169 for your good works. You're going to reward it 00:11:58.169 --> 00:12:02.070 for seeking God, for laboring. God is looking 00:12:02.070 --> 00:12:05.230 at your labor. He's watched you labor over the 00:12:05.230 --> 00:12:07.929 years. He's watched you shed the tears. He's 00:12:07.929 --> 00:12:12.470 watched you get through those valleys. And God 00:12:12.470 --> 00:12:15.269 will not leave you without a reward. He's a faithful 00:12:15.269 --> 00:12:18.529 God. He keeps his word. He's coming. And I'm 00:12:18.529 --> 00:12:21.250 not just talking about the second coming. He's 00:12:21.250 --> 00:12:24.330 coming again. He's coming for a church without 00:12:24.330 --> 00:12:26.769 spot and wrinkle. But I'm talking about a God 00:12:26.769 --> 00:12:29.190 who's coming now. I believe that he's coming 00:12:29.190 --> 00:12:32.750 with rewards now. Before he comes, he's coming. 00:12:32.840 --> 00:12:35.539 to you. He's coming to your house. He's coming 00:12:35.539 --> 00:12:37.840 to your family. Look at somebody and say, He's 00:12:37.840 --> 00:12:42.100 coming to you. He wants to reward you for your 00:12:42.100 --> 00:12:44.879 faith. He wants to reward you for your tenacity. 00:12:45.080 --> 00:12:47.740 He wants to reward you for not giving up. He 00:12:47.740 --> 00:12:50.200 wants to reward you for not quitting. He wants 00:12:50.200 --> 00:12:52.639 to reward you for not letting discouragement 00:12:52.639 --> 00:12:57.679 talk you out of your destiny. Come on. Somebody 00:12:57.679 --> 00:13:05.500 say, He's coming with my reward. Hallelujah. 00:13:05.500 --> 00:13:09.019 I believe God for his recompense. I've been serving 00:13:09.019 --> 00:13:12.320 and walking with the Lord for 43 years. I can't 00:13:12.320 --> 00:13:14.460 help every time I think about the reward of the 00:13:14.460 --> 00:13:17.639 Lord. He's bountifully filled me with rewards. 00:13:17.940 --> 00:13:20.659 I look at my family when we sit across a table 00:13:20.659 --> 00:13:22.860 and have dinner with all my grandkids, eight 00:13:22.860 --> 00:13:25.019 grandkids, two daughters, two wonderful son -in 00:13:25.019 --> 00:13:28.000 -laws. I can't help but to weep every time we 00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:31.059 pray. Thinking about his recompense and his reward. 00:13:31.379 --> 00:13:34.100 Where would my life be without his love? Where 00:13:34.100 --> 00:13:36.740 would my life be if I would have quit in the 00:13:36.740 --> 00:13:39.980 hard times? Where would it be? I would have missed 00:13:39.980 --> 00:13:42.500 out on everything that God had for me. Had I 00:13:42.500 --> 00:13:45.519 not believed that he exists and that he is a 00:13:45.519 --> 00:13:50.860 rewarder of them that seek him. Sometimes we 00:13:50.860 --> 00:13:53.940 take what's around us for granted. Sometimes 00:13:53.940 --> 00:13:59.340 we look at what we have. The enemy tries to depreciate 00:13:59.340 --> 00:14:03.320 the value of what we have. But what you have 00:14:03.320 --> 00:14:05.799 today is more than what you had in the past. 00:14:06.639 --> 00:14:09.779 And you've got to give him thanks and praise. 00:14:10.500 --> 00:14:13.200 Go ahead, give him another praise because he's 00:14:13.200 --> 00:14:22.840 worthy of it. Hallelujah. God rewards the faithful. 00:14:22.960 --> 00:14:30.740 God rewards people who... Learn how to stay in 00:14:30.740 --> 00:14:35.620 his will. How to be able to discern his time. 00:14:36.019 --> 00:14:40.179 And be able how to seek his face. And I believe 00:14:40.179 --> 00:14:43.379 that I'm standing before church that's come through 00:14:43.379 --> 00:14:47.019 a long journey. And the journey that lies ahead 00:14:47.019 --> 00:14:48.740 is even greater than what you've experienced 00:14:48.740 --> 00:14:51.559 in the past. Thank God for all that has happened. 00:14:51.600 --> 00:14:53.899 But there's more. Look at somebody and say there's 00:14:53.899 --> 00:14:58.679 more. And there's more rewards. Look at them 00:14:58.679 --> 00:15:02.600 again and say, he's coming to reward you. Come 00:15:02.600 --> 00:15:04.559 on, make it personal. He's coming to reward you. 00:15:04.759 --> 00:15:06.539 Point your little finger at somebody and say, 00:15:06.580 --> 00:15:09.500 he's coming to reward you. He's coming to reward 00:15:09.500 --> 00:15:16.799 you. Amen. Listen, I believe God wants to do 00:15:16.799 --> 00:15:18.840 something great. I believe he wants to reward 00:15:18.840 --> 00:15:21.919 his church. And I want to talk to you about... 00:15:23.789 --> 00:15:26.789 that are mentioned in the Old Testament. It's 00:15:26.789 --> 00:15:30.690 one of the tribes of Israel named after one of 00:15:30.690 --> 00:15:33.710 the sons of Jacob. Jacob had 12 sons. One of 00:15:33.710 --> 00:15:36.909 his sons was Issachar. He was the ninth son born 00:15:36.909 --> 00:15:39.830 to him. He was the fifth son of Leah, the ninth 00:15:39.830 --> 00:15:45.730 son of Jacob, Issachar. Issachar, his name is 00:15:45.730 --> 00:15:49.590 pronounced Yissachar. He's the ninth of the 12 00:15:49.590 --> 00:15:54.669 sons of Jacob. And one of the 12 tribes of Israel. 00:15:55.269 --> 00:15:58.090 He's the progenitor of the tribe of Israel. It's 00:15:58.090 --> 00:16:02.090 called after him. The tribe of Issachar. And 00:16:02.090 --> 00:16:04.990 it says that the Bible teaches that they were 00:16:04.990 --> 00:16:09.809 a prophetic tribe. They were great leaders. They 00:16:09.809 --> 00:16:12.230 were great warriors. And they knew how to fight 00:16:12.230 --> 00:16:15.190 in the valley. Whenever there was a fight in 00:16:15.190 --> 00:16:18.909 the valley. It was Issachar who ran to take the 00:16:18.909 --> 00:16:23.399 front lines. Because they knew. Valley warfare. 00:16:23.700 --> 00:16:27.360 They knew how to fight in the valley. They led 00:16:27.360 --> 00:16:30.279 their families. The Bible speaks this about them. 00:16:30.340 --> 00:16:32.799 They led their families well and they valued 00:16:32.799 --> 00:16:37.059 their promise. In Judges chapter 5 verse 8 listen 00:16:37.059 --> 00:16:39.139 to some of the things that are said about Issachar 00:16:39.139 --> 00:16:41.620 in the scriptures and we'll try to bring this 00:16:41.620 --> 00:16:45.600 home. In Judges chapter 5 verse 8 God chose new 00:16:45.600 --> 00:16:49.000 leaders in a time and this verse refers to the 00:16:49.000 --> 00:16:51.570 time of Deborah. Deborah's a judge in Israel. 00:16:51.710 --> 00:16:55.070 She's the first woman to be ruling Israel. Before 00:16:55.070 --> 00:16:56.950 there were ever kings, there were judges. And 00:16:56.950 --> 00:16:59.169 now for the first time, there's a woman judge. 00:16:59.289 --> 00:17:01.590 Her name is Deborah. She's a prophetess. And 00:17:01.590 --> 00:17:04.250 the Bible says in Judges chapter 5, verse 8, 00:17:04.269 --> 00:17:07.470 God chose new leaders when war came to the city 00:17:07.470 --> 00:17:11.730 gates. But not a shield or spear was seen among 00:17:11.730 --> 00:17:16.589 40 ,000 in Israel. 40 ,000 men turned away from 00:17:16.589 --> 00:17:19.200 the battle because there was a woman. That God 00:17:19.200 --> 00:17:21.740 had chose to lead them. Because of a new leadership. 00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:23.900 Because of someone who was thinking different. 00:17:24.079 --> 00:17:26.700 Of someone who was prophetic. She was a prophetic 00:17:26.700 --> 00:17:29.740 counselor. Intercessor. She was a woman who understood 00:17:29.740 --> 00:17:35.079 the heart of God. Deborah. And as she stood up 00:17:35.079 --> 00:17:39.819 to take her place. When their enemies had eroded 00:17:39.819 --> 00:17:43.500 their city. When the streets were no longer populated, 00:17:43.759 --> 00:17:46.539 people were taking sidewinder roads to get to 00:17:46.539 --> 00:17:48.400 where they were going because the main roads 00:17:48.400 --> 00:17:51.619 were dangerous. And they were living in dangerous 00:17:51.619 --> 00:17:55.680 times. It was a time of great change. God raised 00:17:55.680 --> 00:17:59.039 Deborah as a mother in Israel. God raised Deborah 00:17:59.039 --> 00:18:03.019 as a woman who understood the heart of God. God 00:18:03.019 --> 00:18:05.880 raised Deborah as a woman who knew how to seek 00:18:05.880 --> 00:18:09.160 God and get the answers she needed. And in a 00:18:09.160 --> 00:18:12.980 time of great trouble God raised her. And behind 00:18:12.980 --> 00:18:18.480 her stood a tribe. This tribe of Issachar. Tribe 00:18:18.480 --> 00:18:21.539 of Issachar weren't those who ran home and said 00:18:21.539 --> 00:18:24.420 we're not going to respect this leader. We're 00:18:24.420 --> 00:18:27.200 not going to stand behind her. We're going home. 00:18:27.319 --> 00:18:29.420 We're not going to fight. We'd rather have somebody 00:18:29.420 --> 00:18:31.519 else lead than her. And that's what happened. 00:18:31.559 --> 00:18:35.019 That's why the scripture records that among Israel 00:18:35.019 --> 00:18:39.500 there were 40 ,000. Shields missing. People went 00:18:39.500 --> 00:18:41.779 home. They didn't want to fight. 40 ,000 is a 00:18:41.779 --> 00:18:44.140 big number of warriors when you're in trouble. 00:18:44.539 --> 00:18:49.640 But listen, God has people. God has people even 00:18:49.640 --> 00:18:52.900 when others quit. People who won't quit. People 00:18:52.900 --> 00:18:55.519 who will discern the time. People who will know 00:18:55.519 --> 00:18:59.099 that God's up to something great. It was a moment 00:18:59.099 --> 00:19:01.079 that God would change the course of history and 00:19:01.079 --> 00:19:03.680 bring a great deliverance to Israel. But people 00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:06.599 who were so caught up in their legalistic point 00:19:06.599 --> 00:19:10.680 of view could not see Deborah. They could not 00:19:10.680 --> 00:19:13.660 understand that it was a time for change. A time 00:19:13.660 --> 00:19:16.259 for a new strategy. A time for new leaders to 00:19:16.259 --> 00:19:19.440 arise with a passion. And Deborah had that passion. 00:19:19.900 --> 00:19:23.500 And behind her was this tribe Issachar. They 00:19:23.500 --> 00:19:27.259 were with Deborah. They were in the Old Testament. 00:19:27.400 --> 00:19:29.940 They were through. They were the people who also 00:19:29.940 --> 00:19:35.519 helped David decades later. Helped David to arrive 00:19:35.519 --> 00:19:38.400 at the throne when it was time to bring David 00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:42.660 to his throne. Issachar. In 1 Chronicles 12, 00:19:43.160 --> 00:19:45.559 verse 32, listen to what it says again about 00:19:45.559 --> 00:19:49.079 Issachar. From Issachar, men who understood the 00:19:49.079 --> 00:19:53.900 times and knew what Israel should do. 200 chiefs 00:19:53.900 --> 00:19:57.779 with all their relatives under their command. 00:19:58.200 --> 00:20:02.559 200 chiefs with all their relatives under their 00:20:02.559 --> 00:20:06.460 command. Let me read that one more time. From 00:20:06.460 --> 00:20:10.289 Issachar, men who understood the times. They 00:20:10.289 --> 00:20:13.750 had an understanding of the times and knew what 00:20:13.750 --> 00:20:16.789 Israel should do. They had an understanding of 00:20:16.789 --> 00:20:19.950 what they needed to do as a people. And there 00:20:19.950 --> 00:20:23.150 were 200 chiefs of them in that time with all 00:20:23.150 --> 00:20:26.390 their relatives under their command. These were 00:20:26.390 --> 00:20:28.890 guys, and of all the tribes of Israel, these 00:20:28.890 --> 00:20:31.329 were men that stood out because their families 00:20:31.329 --> 00:20:33.650 followed them. Their families, they had their 00:20:33.650 --> 00:20:36.240 relatives under their command. Everybody lined 00:20:36.240 --> 00:20:39.299 up in the family. It's an awesome thing to be 00:20:39.299 --> 00:20:40.980 able to take a stand. But when you can take a 00:20:40.980 --> 00:20:44.140 stand with your whole family. And your children 00:20:44.140 --> 00:20:46.279 are standing with you. And I so thank God for 00:20:46.279 --> 00:20:48.500 the families that I've seen worshiping in this 00:20:48.500 --> 00:20:51.039 place. They're together. How many can thank God 00:20:51.039 --> 00:20:53.380 that your family's together? How many can thank 00:20:53.380 --> 00:20:57.779 God that God preserves families? And that we 00:20:57.779 --> 00:21:01.160 have a legacy to pass on. I'm so proud of my 00:21:01.160 --> 00:21:04.000 son -in -laws. I have two wonderful son -in -laws. 00:21:04.099 --> 00:21:06.240 One is an architect. The other one is a technician 00:21:06.240 --> 00:21:11.599 for audiovisual in a big way. And both of them 00:21:11.599 --> 00:21:14.839 have served by my side. I'm the only father they 00:21:14.839 --> 00:21:18.240 have known. One of them came to the Lord when 00:21:18.240 --> 00:21:20.720 he was 14 in a funeral service. I was preaching 00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:23.859 a funeral service in my church. It was the mother 00:21:23.859 --> 00:21:26.299 of his friend. And when he came to the funeral, 00:21:26.359 --> 00:21:30.140 he gave his life to Christ. came down the altar, 00:21:30.259 --> 00:21:33.740 took out his 9mm, put it on the altar, and gave 00:21:33.740 --> 00:21:36.799 his life to Christ. That was in Harlem, New York. 00:21:36.880 --> 00:21:39.599 He had a drug point that he used to run at the 00:21:39.599 --> 00:21:42.400 age of 14. His father had been put in jail many 00:21:42.400 --> 00:21:44.819 years before for murder. He never met his father. 00:21:45.380 --> 00:21:49.299 But God had a hand on him. And God had a purpose 00:21:49.299 --> 00:21:52.420 for his life. He's a great son -in -law, a great 00:21:52.420 --> 00:21:55.680 father, and a great son to me. The other one... 00:21:56.009 --> 00:21:58.569 Was in England studying. And he came. Was picked 00:21:58.569 --> 00:22:00.430 up by his brother who had just gotten saved. 00:22:00.829 --> 00:22:03.049 And our church at the airport brought him straight 00:22:03.049 --> 00:22:05.750 to a street service. Our first street service 00:22:05.750 --> 00:22:08.089 in Harlem, New York. As we started our church. 00:22:08.700 --> 00:22:10.480 And that day he bowed his knees and gave his 00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:12.839 life to Christ. From that moment on, he's been 00:22:12.839 --> 00:22:15.079 one of the great worshipers of our church. Sitting 00:22:15.079 --> 00:22:17.779 at the front aisle, always in the front of our 00:22:17.779 --> 00:22:20.039 church from that day on, after he gave his life 00:22:20.039 --> 00:22:22.440 to Christ, dancing before the Lord and worshiping 00:22:22.440 --> 00:22:25.480 before the Lord as a young man. And now over 00:22:25.480 --> 00:22:29.019 the years, he's walked with me for over 30 years, 00:22:29.079 --> 00:22:30.740 been one of my disciples. The only thing that 00:22:30.740 --> 00:22:32.799 has changed is that he's not alone in the front 00:22:32.799 --> 00:22:35.180 aisle. Now he's got all his kids with him. All 00:22:35.180 --> 00:22:37.859 five kids and his wife, they're all dancing before 00:22:37.859 --> 00:22:40.799 him. the Lord. And so I thank God for the example 00:22:40.799 --> 00:22:43.819 of great man. Come on, give it up for fathers 00:22:43.819 --> 00:22:49.079 who will pass on their faith. Well, the tribe 00:22:49.079 --> 00:22:51.299 of Issachar was that kind of a tribe. They cared 00:22:51.299 --> 00:22:54.420 about family. They cared about those that God 00:22:54.420 --> 00:22:57.500 had brought into their lineage. They were under 00:22:57.500 --> 00:23:00.460 their command. They not only were good fighters, 00:23:00.559 --> 00:23:03.119 but they were good rulers. They ruled well their 00:23:03.119 --> 00:23:08.259 families. In Judges chapter 5, Verses 15, listen 00:23:08.259 --> 00:23:10.880 to what it says in the time of Deborah. Judges 00:23:10.880 --> 00:23:13.720 5, 15 says, the princes of Issachar were with 00:23:13.720 --> 00:23:17.440 Deborah. They were with Deborah. Yes, Issachar 00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:21.720 was with Barak. Set under his command into what? 00:23:22.319 --> 00:23:25.619 The valley. They were with Deborah, they were 00:23:25.619 --> 00:23:28.480 with Barak, who was a commanding officer, sent 00:23:28.480 --> 00:23:31.299 under his command into the valley. So these were 00:23:31.299 --> 00:23:33.500 great chiefs, but they knew how to respect authority. 00:23:33.900 --> 00:23:36.160 These were men under authority, under the authority 00:23:36.160 --> 00:23:39.180 of Barak. Barak said, go into the valley. Matter 00:23:39.180 --> 00:23:41.759 of fact, another translation, and one of the 00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:44.460 Spanish translations says they were on the heels 00:23:44.460 --> 00:23:47.099 of Deborah. They were right behind her. Deborah 00:23:47.099 --> 00:23:49.920 was leading, and they were the front line protection. 00:23:50.240 --> 00:23:53.599 They were those that were ready volunteers. the 00:23:53.599 --> 00:23:55.759 front line. We'll be right there. We know how 00:23:55.759 --> 00:23:58.519 to do this. We fight. We've been trained in the 00:23:58.519 --> 00:24:01.200 valley. Last night I talked about being trained 00:24:01.200 --> 00:24:03.599 in the valley and how God trains all of us through 00:24:03.599 --> 00:24:06.299 the valley. The valley is to God work on our 00:24:06.299 --> 00:24:08.940 character. The mountaintops he works on our vision. 00:24:09.079 --> 00:24:11.759 He works on showing us our destiny and the things 00:24:11.759 --> 00:24:14.319 that he wants to do. But in the valley God works 00:24:14.319 --> 00:24:16.839 on our characters and reveals our weakness so 00:24:16.839 --> 00:24:19.299 we can correct them. How many can give the Lord 00:24:19.299 --> 00:24:22.420 a hand for the valley that's made you who you 00:24:22.420 --> 00:24:28.559 are today? Well, it says the princes of Issachar 00:24:28.559 --> 00:24:30.779 were with Deborah. Yes, Issachar was with Barak, 00:24:30.900 --> 00:24:34.359 sent under his command into the valley. In the 00:24:34.359 --> 00:24:36.279 district of Reuben, there was much searching 00:24:36.279 --> 00:24:39.059 of heart. Scripture goes on to talk a little 00:24:39.059 --> 00:24:41.539 bit more about the other tribes. But this part, 00:24:41.720 --> 00:24:45.240 in the district of Reuben, there was much searching 00:24:45.240 --> 00:24:48.240 of heart. There's a lot of talk. but no action. 00:24:49.839 --> 00:24:51.660 And in the house of God, sometimes there's a 00:24:51.660 --> 00:24:54.579 lot of people who talk a lot, but they put no 00:24:54.579 --> 00:24:57.420 action to their talk. There are good critics. 00:24:58.279 --> 00:25:00.359 Some people become experts. They have a gift 00:25:00.359 --> 00:25:06.319 of criticism. Nothing makes them happy. You can't 00:25:06.319 --> 00:25:08.839 please them. They'll criticize the gold dust 00:25:08.839 --> 00:25:10.640 of the streets of heaven when they get there. 00:25:12.619 --> 00:25:15.019 They want to pick on everything that's wrong. 00:25:15.609 --> 00:25:19.829 But never value what's right. Never value what 00:25:19.829 --> 00:25:22.910 God's done for them. And the reality is that 00:25:22.910 --> 00:25:25.430 the root of that problem is an ungrateful spirit. 00:25:27.329 --> 00:25:31.009 So every time you think about criticizing, check 00:25:31.009 --> 00:25:38.769 your heart before you open your mouth to criticize. 00:25:39.690 --> 00:25:41.609 It happens in every church and I'm not picking 00:25:41.609 --> 00:25:43.970 on you. I've had a great time. And I want to 00:25:43.970 --> 00:25:45.950 believe I'm talking for somebody you need to 00:25:45.950 --> 00:25:55.950 give this CD to. God's a good God. He loves this 00:25:55.950 --> 00:25:58.630 church. And he's done great things for this church. 00:25:59.369 --> 00:26:01.710 But the pessimist is always looking at what's 00:26:01.710 --> 00:26:06.089 missing. While the people who look at life the 00:26:06.089 --> 00:26:08.690 way God looks at it always look at it with a 00:26:08.690 --> 00:26:11.509 grateful heart. God, you've done so much. I was 00:26:11.509 --> 00:26:15.470 so lost. And now I'm found. I was blind. I could 00:26:15.470 --> 00:26:17.609 not see, but now I can see. What amazing grace. 00:26:19.089 --> 00:26:23.230 What mercy you've had with me. Because you know 00:26:23.230 --> 00:26:26.309 that you and I don't deserve anything. Somehow 00:26:26.309 --> 00:26:28.589 the mercy and the grace of God went to work in 00:26:28.589 --> 00:26:33.670 our lives. He forgave us and he blessed us. Oh, 00:26:33.690 --> 00:26:35.670 thank God for his mercy and his grace. Can you 00:26:35.670 --> 00:26:39.029 say amen? It's been so wonderful. They work together 00:26:39.029 --> 00:26:42.009 to bring us to the place that God wants. Well, 00:26:42.029 --> 00:26:43.970 the tribe of Issachar, in the midst of people 00:26:43.970 --> 00:26:46.009 who were talking and searching their hearts, 00:26:46.150 --> 00:26:49.809 listen, they don't have time to talk. There's 00:26:49.809 --> 00:26:52.809 work to be done. The Bible says they went out 00:26:52.809 --> 00:26:55.289 to war. While everybody else was talking about 00:26:55.289 --> 00:26:59.349 what was going on, they were engaged in action. 00:27:00.150 --> 00:27:04.809 In 1 Chronicles 7, verse 5, it says this, the 00:27:04.809 --> 00:27:07.490 relatives who were fighting men. Somebody say 00:27:07.490 --> 00:27:13.319 fighting men. Not wimps. But fighting men. Not 00:27:13.319 --> 00:27:16.859 cowards. But fighting men. Not people who had 00:27:16.859 --> 00:27:19.960 character defects. These were men who had built 00:27:19.960 --> 00:27:23.680 character. Trained to fight. To take the pain. 00:27:23.880 --> 00:27:27.900 To fight in the wilderness. To fight in the plains. 00:27:28.099 --> 00:27:30.900 The relatives who were fighting men. Belonging 00:27:30.900 --> 00:27:34.859 to all the clans of Issachar. As listed in their 00:27:34.859 --> 00:27:40.289 genealogy. Were 87 ,000 in all. This was not 00:27:40.289 --> 00:27:42.490 a little tribe. They multiplied and every single 00:27:42.490 --> 00:27:44.990 one of them, the fighting men. Think about it. 00:27:45.549 --> 00:27:48.829 This was the clan of fighting men. Everybody 00:27:48.829 --> 00:27:51.210 who grew up, grew up as a fighter, was trained 00:27:51.210 --> 00:27:53.250 in the desert, was trained in the wilderness. 00:27:53.450 --> 00:27:55.890 We're going to fight our way through this. We're 00:27:55.890 --> 00:28:00.430 the fighting tribe. We're the tribe that knows 00:28:00.430 --> 00:28:03.430 the heart of God. We can discern the time and 00:28:03.430 --> 00:28:05.730 know what... Israel should do. We got a prophetic 00:28:05.730 --> 00:28:08.190 sense about us. But we're not just prophetic 00:28:08.190 --> 00:28:11.029 people who won't engage in action. We're prophetic 00:28:11.029 --> 00:28:15.490 but we'll also make war to protect the destiny 00:28:15.490 --> 00:28:19.210 that we see ahead. To protect the legacy of our 00:28:19.210 --> 00:28:22.329 family. They multiplied in their list and in 00:28:22.329 --> 00:28:28.549 their genealogy 87 ,000 fighting men stood at 00:28:28.549 --> 00:28:31.109 one time or another through the course of the 00:28:31.109 --> 00:28:34.680 history of Israel. Fighting men. Men who are 00:28:34.680 --> 00:28:37.880 ready to pay a price. Men who have been trained 00:28:37.880 --> 00:28:41.559 in the valley. Like I said before, anybody can 00:28:41.559 --> 00:28:43.799 fight at the mountaintop. But when you can fight 00:28:43.799 --> 00:28:46.380 in the valley, you prove you're a fighter. When 00:28:46.380 --> 00:28:48.180 you can fight when the chips are down. When you 00:28:48.180 --> 00:28:49.700 can fight when you're discouraged. When you can 00:28:49.700 --> 00:28:52.220 fight when everything is opposite to you. When 00:28:52.220 --> 00:28:54.960 things are not going the way you were. When you 00:28:54.960 --> 00:28:58.759 can still worship God through the tears of suffering 00:28:58.759 --> 00:29:01.759 and pain in your life. When your hands can still 00:29:01.759 --> 00:29:04.240 go up even though you're heavy burdened. And 00:29:04.240 --> 00:29:07.299 your hands can go up before God. Oh, I know it 00:29:07.299 --> 00:29:10.259 costs you. But that's why it's called the sacrifice 00:29:10.259 --> 00:29:15.380 of praise. It's when you press in. You don't 00:29:15.380 --> 00:29:17.259 feel like worshiping everything and you say, 00:29:17.420 --> 00:29:20.279 don't do it. Why should you worship? But you 00:29:20.279 --> 00:29:22.599 break through that feeling. You break through 00:29:22.599 --> 00:29:25.259 that sense and say, no, he's still worthy. If 00:29:25.259 --> 00:29:30.160 he slays me, he's worthy of worship. Come on, 00:29:30.160 --> 00:29:35.079 somebody give it up for God. He's worthy. He's 00:29:35.079 --> 00:29:41.250 worthy. I don't care what you're going through. 00:29:41.309 --> 00:29:43.309 You might be going through the most difficult 00:29:43.309 --> 00:29:46.049 time in your life. God is still worthy of your 00:29:46.049 --> 00:29:49.250 praise. God is still worthy of your worship. 00:29:49.410 --> 00:29:52.390 He still should receive honor and praise from 00:29:52.390 --> 00:29:55.369 you. Give somebody a high five and say, He's 00:29:55.369 --> 00:29:59.450 still worthy. I don't care what it is that is 00:29:59.450 --> 00:30:01.849 happening in your life. God is worthy. You can 00:30:01.849 --> 00:30:04.730 lose your house, lose your job, lose your health, 00:30:04.809 --> 00:30:07.630 but with your last breath, you've got to be able 00:30:07.630 --> 00:30:15.970 to thank him and praise him. Had a number of 00:30:15.970 --> 00:30:18.450 people while I pastored that taught me a whole 00:30:18.450 --> 00:30:20.849 lot. As I taught them the ways of the Lord, they 00:30:20.849 --> 00:30:23.890 taught me that they were obedient to the gospel, 00:30:23.930 --> 00:30:26.089 even to the point of death. They came into my 00:30:26.089 --> 00:30:28.430 church sick because of sin. They had engaged 00:30:28.430 --> 00:30:30.910 in... They had contracted AIDS. One lady had 00:30:30.910 --> 00:30:34.029 contracted AIDS. And she was a godly worshiper, 00:30:34.089 --> 00:30:37.109 part of our worship team. And got so sick at 00:30:37.109 --> 00:30:40.509 the end of her life, she was in a hospital. We 00:30:40.509 --> 00:30:43.750 sent teams to minister to her. And the very day 00:30:43.750 --> 00:30:48.069 that she passed, I talked to her. I was away 00:30:48.069 --> 00:30:50.990 to travel. I got to talk to her. She said, Pastor, 00:30:51.089 --> 00:30:56.029 don't worry about me. I'm good. A few hours later, 00:30:56.109 --> 00:30:58.539 she would pass. But the ladies that were with 00:30:58.539 --> 00:31:01.059 her in the room from our church said that she 00:31:01.059 --> 00:31:04.440 said, get me out of bed. And with a frail little 00:31:04.440 --> 00:31:10.099 body being consumed by AIDS, she raised her hands 00:31:10.099 --> 00:31:13.680 and began to worship God. The ladies held her 00:31:13.680 --> 00:31:17.140 hands up and she began to sing to the Lord. And 00:31:17.140 --> 00:31:19.900 then when she could no more, she sat in a bed. 00:31:20.799 --> 00:31:22.700 And as she sat in a bed, she started raising 00:31:22.700 --> 00:31:26.140 her hands again to worship the Lord. And there 00:31:26.140 --> 00:31:32.480 she went. In the midst of worship. Had an elder 00:31:32.480 --> 00:31:35.779 who fought cancer. For 10 years by my side. He 00:31:35.779 --> 00:31:38.980 was my administrative elder. So faithful. A mighty 00:31:38.980 --> 00:31:46.480 man of God. We prayed for his cancer. We believed 00:31:46.480 --> 00:31:48.400 God. We did everything we could do. The cancer 00:31:48.400 --> 00:31:51.380 ate away at him. We've seen many people heal 00:31:51.380 --> 00:31:55.180 from cancer. But he didn't get healed. And I 00:31:55.180 --> 00:31:59.089 watched. Him at his deathbed. And the doctors 00:31:59.089 --> 00:32:02.109 told him, after being rushed to the emergency 00:32:02.109 --> 00:32:05.069 room for one last time, the doctor said, you 00:32:05.069 --> 00:32:09.170 have about two hours to live. We called all of 00:32:09.170 --> 00:32:11.710 our staff and many people in our church who loved 00:32:11.710 --> 00:32:14.009 him showed up at the hospital. And they made 00:32:14.009 --> 00:32:17.569 lines to hug him for one last time. Love on him 00:32:17.569 --> 00:32:20.990 and minister to him. Kids who loved him because 00:32:20.990 --> 00:32:24.710 he just loved everybody in the church. And we 00:32:24.710 --> 00:32:27.680 stood there, all of our team. Of elders. Twelve 00:32:27.680 --> 00:32:32.140 couples. Were all there. With him. The doctors 00:32:32.140 --> 00:32:34.599 finally lied him down. When the time was almost 00:32:34.599 --> 00:32:39.359 up. And he looked at me and said. Pastor. Don't 00:32:39.359 --> 00:32:44.160 let me die. Lying down. Take me out of this bed. 00:32:44.220 --> 00:32:48.660 And help me stand. You've taught me. That after 00:32:48.660 --> 00:32:53.339 doing all. Stand. So we took him out of the bed. 00:32:53.400 --> 00:32:56.140 His wife. a few of my elders, and we held him 00:32:56.140 --> 00:33:00.259 in our arms and we worshiped together. And while 00:33:00.259 --> 00:33:03.259 we were worshiping, he went to be with the Lord. 00:33:05.099 --> 00:33:14.420 What? That was a man that would have been considered 00:33:14.420 --> 00:33:21.259 part of the Issachar tribe. Issachar. Issachar 00:33:21.259 --> 00:33:27.390 means he brings a reward. He brings a recompense. 00:33:28.369 --> 00:33:32.910 That man was a reward for my life. I taught him 00:33:32.910 --> 00:33:36.089 how to live. He taught me how to die. He taught 00:33:36.089 --> 00:33:40.670 me how to die standing up before God after doing 00:33:40.670 --> 00:33:43.490 all. In front of his kids, in front of his family, 00:33:43.549 --> 00:33:45.990 he stood up and said, I'm not going out lying 00:33:45.990 --> 00:33:52.309 down. That's an Issachar man. I'm going to fight 00:33:52.309 --> 00:33:54.950 in the valley. I'm going through a dark valley, 00:33:55.029 --> 00:33:57.569 the valley of shadow and death, but I'm going 00:33:57.569 --> 00:34:00.430 to fight my way out of this valley. And he did. 00:34:01.410 --> 00:34:03.309 Would you give the Lord a hand for those who 00:34:03.309 --> 00:34:15.849 are rewarding the house of God? In closing, let 00:34:15.849 --> 00:34:18.670 me give you one of the first mentions of the 00:34:18.670 --> 00:34:22.650 tribe of Issachar is when his father, Jacob, 00:34:23.190 --> 00:34:25.349 Gathers all his 12 children. And prophetically 00:34:25.349 --> 00:34:28.369 begins to speak about their destiny. And he makes 00:34:28.369 --> 00:34:30.409 mention to each one of his children. About their 00:34:30.409 --> 00:34:35.349 destiny. And Genesis chapter 49. Verses 14 and 00:34:35.349 --> 00:34:39.010 15. Genesis 49. Listen to what it says. This 00:34:39.010 --> 00:34:42.030 is the prophecy his father gave him. Issachar. 00:34:42.369 --> 00:34:44.929 As he spoke about the character of Issachar. 00:34:45.329 --> 00:34:51.449 Issachar is a raw bone donkey. Lying down among 00:34:51.449 --> 00:34:55.840 the sheep pens. When he sees how good is his 00:34:55.840 --> 00:35:00.039 resting place and how pleasant is his land, he 00:35:00.039 --> 00:35:02.960 will bend his shoulder to the burden and submit 00:35:02.960 --> 00:35:07.539 to forced labor. Some, I don't know how they've 00:35:07.539 --> 00:35:09.739 got to the conclusion, but have interpreted this 00:35:09.739 --> 00:35:15.460 to be a problem with Issachar's ambition. And 00:35:15.460 --> 00:35:18.300 that he couldn't decide to serve God. Well, I 00:35:18.300 --> 00:35:21.179 don't see that anywhere in the scripture. And 00:35:21.179 --> 00:35:23.159 I think it's not correct. I think we need to 00:35:23.159 --> 00:35:26.519 look at it again. Sometimes reading a few different 00:35:26.519 --> 00:35:31.599 translations can help us. Here's another translation. 00:35:32.320 --> 00:35:35.619 Another translation that speaks about Issachar. 00:35:36.219 --> 00:35:40.179 Issachar is a strong... Well, here's the King 00:35:40.179 --> 00:35:44.300 James. Issachar is a strong ass couching down 00:35:44.300 --> 00:35:52.070 between two burdens. And he saw that rest was 00:35:52.070 --> 00:35:57.750 good and that the land, it was pleasant and bowed 00:35:57.750 --> 00:36:02.670 his shoulder to bear and became a servant unto 00:36:02.670 --> 00:36:07.849 tribute. He became a servant unto tribute, unto 00:36:07.849 --> 00:36:10.750 honor. It wasn't a dishonorable thing that he 00:36:10.750 --> 00:36:16.230 did. Listen, let's examine this again. Another 00:36:16.230 --> 00:36:18.449 translation says that he was a strong donkey. 00:36:19.590 --> 00:36:22.469 Not a weak donkey. Issachar is a strong bone 00:36:22.469 --> 00:36:26.809 donkey, actually. And it says that he was lying 00:36:26.809 --> 00:36:29.610 between two burdens. He had two burdens. His 00:36:29.610 --> 00:36:33.030 sacks were two. Two burdens were put on him. 00:36:33.429 --> 00:36:37.429 And these two burdens were on him. But then he 00:36:37.429 --> 00:36:40.769 looks around and he saw that his resting place 00:36:40.769 --> 00:36:43.730 was good. That rest was good and that the land. 00:36:44.199 --> 00:36:47.900 Was pleasant. So he bowed his shoulder. To bear 00:36:47.900 --> 00:36:52.500 the burden. And became a band of slaves. Or a 00:36:52.500 --> 00:36:57.860 servant unto tribute. Can I share with you. That 00:36:57.860 --> 00:37:02.139 I believe this is the character. Of these. Prophetic 00:37:02.139 --> 00:37:06.079 intercessors. That are warriors. That have been 00:37:06.079 --> 00:37:10.579 trained in the desert. Comes the time. Because. 00:37:11.059 --> 00:37:13.849 They understand that they have a. They carry 00:37:13.849 --> 00:37:15.869 two burdens. And I think this is the challenge 00:37:15.869 --> 00:37:19.110 of every Christian man, every leader in the kingdom 00:37:19.110 --> 00:37:23.409 of God. You will have two burdens. I've done 00:37:23.409 --> 00:37:25.889 it all of my life. I've carried two burdens. 00:37:27.130 --> 00:37:30.010 If I were to have one alone, I would be unbalanced. 00:37:30.050 --> 00:37:32.750 And I've watched many ministers be unbalanced 00:37:32.750 --> 00:37:35.989 in their lifetime. Not being able to carry the 00:37:35.989 --> 00:37:38.389 full burden. But when God builds strength into 00:37:38.389 --> 00:37:40.050 you. And I'm talking about character in your 00:37:40.050 --> 00:37:42.550 structure of your life. It's structure. That 00:37:42.550 --> 00:37:46.010 bone structure in your life. God structures your 00:37:46.010 --> 00:37:47.650 life and he brings character into your life. 00:37:47.730 --> 00:37:51.369 You're able to carry the burden. You'll lie down 00:37:51.369 --> 00:37:54.070 between two burdens. And when you get up, you're 00:37:54.070 --> 00:37:56.369 going to carry those two burdens. And I believe 00:37:56.369 --> 00:37:58.829 the two burdens that we carry are both the kingdom 00:37:58.829 --> 00:38:02.170 of God and the family. Just like the tribe of 00:38:02.170 --> 00:38:05.070 Issachar. You've got to be able to know that 00:38:05.070 --> 00:38:07.530 you've been chosen to expand the kingdom and 00:38:07.530 --> 00:38:09.809 to grow the kingdom of God, but you can't go 00:38:09.809 --> 00:38:12.449 there alone. You've got to arrive at the future 00:38:12.449 --> 00:38:14.530 with your relatives. You've got to arrive there 00:38:14.530 --> 00:38:16.789 with those that God has given you. What good 00:38:16.789 --> 00:38:19.530 would it be for me to arrive at my future without 00:38:19.530 --> 00:38:23.179 my grandkids? If I can't take my grandkids, something's 00:38:23.179 --> 00:38:26.320 wrong. If I choose my ministry above my family, 00:38:26.500 --> 00:38:29.340 I've disqualified myself. If I can't rule my 00:38:29.340 --> 00:38:32.019 family, then I disqualify myself for the call 00:38:32.019 --> 00:38:34.820 of God. But we've got a bunch of people who are 00:38:34.820 --> 00:38:37.380 not concerned. I'm telling you that there's a 00:38:37.380 --> 00:38:39.480 double burden that each one of us has to carry. 00:38:39.599 --> 00:38:42.159 It's the burden of the kingdom of God and the 00:38:42.159 --> 00:38:44.900 family of God. And we've got to carry the weight. 00:38:45.039 --> 00:38:48.289 We've got to be a band. balanced, strong donkey 00:38:48.289 --> 00:38:51.050 that says, I can carry this load. I'm ready to 00:38:51.050 --> 00:38:53.469 take it. My kids are going to make it. My wife's 00:38:53.469 --> 00:38:55.289 going to make it. We're going to make it to the 00:38:55.289 --> 00:39:02.550 future. Can you say amen? And I like how this 00:39:02.550 --> 00:39:07.489 closes. I like this prophecy. It says that when 00:39:07.489 --> 00:39:11.050 he saw that his resting place or his rest was 00:39:11.050 --> 00:39:14.050 good, that resting place, I want to interpret 00:39:14.050 --> 00:39:17.030 that to be the house of the Lord. is where all 00:39:17.030 --> 00:39:19.550 of us have found rest. How many have found rest 00:39:19.550 --> 00:39:22.650 in the house of God? When you find out, when 00:39:22.650 --> 00:39:24.829 you look around and say, wait a minute, this 00:39:24.829 --> 00:39:27.710 is an awesome church. My kids have found the 00:39:27.710 --> 00:39:29.429 Lord here. I found the Lord. My marriage got 00:39:29.429 --> 00:39:33.130 better. My marriage is getting better. For some 00:39:33.130 --> 00:39:35.449 of you who are still working on it. And we could 00:39:35.449 --> 00:39:37.530 all work on a better marriage. Can you say amen? 00:39:38.449 --> 00:39:42.690 And God's, when you find out, it's a good resting 00:39:42.690 --> 00:39:46.429 place. Man, God has blessed me. When he saw how 00:39:46.429 --> 00:39:49.230 good his resting place was and that the land 00:39:49.230 --> 00:39:52.690 around him was pleasant. I don't know, but you 00:39:52.690 --> 00:39:55.289 need to take another look at Harrisburg. You 00:39:55.289 --> 00:39:57.170 need to take a look at Harrisburg as God looks 00:39:57.170 --> 00:40:00.869 at it and say, this is a pleasant land. This 00:40:00.869 --> 00:40:03.210 is a land that God brought me to. I don't know 00:40:03.210 --> 00:40:04.909 where you came from. Some of you maybe grew up 00:40:04.909 --> 00:40:07.849 here, but others were transported here, but God 00:40:07.849 --> 00:40:10.110 put limitations on you. You're here by the will 00:40:10.110 --> 00:40:13.010 of God. I need you to look at this land with 00:40:13.010 --> 00:40:15.030 a whole other outlook, with a different perspective 00:40:15.030 --> 00:40:17.469 and say, this is the place God has planted me 00:40:17.469 --> 00:40:19.429 and my family. We're going to serve the Lord. 00:40:19.550 --> 00:40:21.630 We're going to take this city. We're going to 00:40:21.630 --> 00:40:24.190 believe that we can touch this city, heal this 00:40:24.190 --> 00:40:26.230 city, restore this city. We're going to believe 00:40:26.230 --> 00:40:29.309 that God will use us to touch the families of 00:40:29.309 --> 00:40:32.690 this city. Are you ready to take another look? 00:40:33.429 --> 00:40:34.969 Come on, look at your neighbor and say, take 00:40:34.969 --> 00:40:39.269 another look at your resting place. Take another 00:40:39.269 --> 00:40:43.400 look at your church. Take another look at the 00:40:43.400 --> 00:40:47.400 land that God brought you to. And then, if you 00:40:47.400 --> 00:40:50.579 understand how beautiful and how lovely God has 00:40:50.579 --> 00:40:53.960 been with you and how amazing He is, you won't 00:40:53.960 --> 00:40:57.800 have problems. You won't have a problem in doing 00:40:57.800 --> 00:41:00.420 the same thing that Issachar did. He said after 00:41:00.420 --> 00:41:04.219 he saw how good his resting place was and how 00:41:04.219 --> 00:41:08.199 pleasant his land was, he bowed his shoulder 00:41:08.199 --> 00:41:13.590 to labor. He said, put on the weight because 00:41:13.590 --> 00:41:17.690 this is worth. This is worth the work that I've 00:41:17.690 --> 00:41:22.250 got to do. This land, this church, this place 00:41:22.250 --> 00:41:25.809 that God has brought me to is worth all the labor. 00:41:26.349 --> 00:41:29.469 God has rewarded you and he's going to reward 00:41:29.469 --> 00:41:32.969 you even more. And I believe that God is looking 00:41:32.969 --> 00:41:36.409 for people who will roll their sleeves and say 00:41:36.409 --> 00:41:39.880 there is much work yet to be done. I'm not just 00:41:39.880 --> 00:41:42.300 going to be satisfied with what I see. I know 00:41:42.300 --> 00:41:45.000 this land is pleasant. I'm ready to pay the price. 00:41:45.139 --> 00:41:48.440 I'm ready to work. I'm ready. I'm not going to 00:41:48.440 --> 00:41:50.480 do this alone. I'm going to do it for my family's 00:41:50.480 --> 00:41:51.880 sake. I'm going to do it for the sake of the 00:41:51.880 --> 00:41:55.420 families of this city. But Lord, count me in. 00:41:55.480 --> 00:41:59.219 I want in on the tribe of Issachar. Is there 00:41:59.219 --> 00:42:01.840 anybody here that would respond to the call of 00:42:01.840 --> 00:42:04.340 God? I believe the Holy Spirit is awakening a 00:42:04.340 --> 00:42:08.840 new charge in this church to bow your shoulder 00:42:08.840 --> 00:42:12.199 and say, I'll take arm to load. I'll go to work. 00:42:12.340 --> 00:42:15.139 I'll labor in the kingdom of God. I want to labor 00:42:15.139 --> 00:42:17.320 for the house of the Lord. I want to labor. I 00:42:17.320 --> 00:42:24.159 know that my labor will not be in vain. For some 00:42:24.159 --> 00:42:27.239 of you who have labored long, the word of the 00:42:27.239 --> 00:42:31.320 Lord to you. Don't stop laboring now. There's 00:42:31.320 --> 00:42:34.280 a scripture in 1 Corinthians 15. Let me close 00:42:34.280 --> 00:42:38.699 with this. 1 Corinthians 15 verse 58. Therefore, 00:42:38.780 --> 00:42:43.199 my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Somebody 00:42:43.199 --> 00:42:47.440 say stand. Stand firm. Let nothing move you. 00:42:48.719 --> 00:42:50.659 Look at your neighbor and say, let nothing move 00:42:50.659 --> 00:42:54.360 you. Don't let gossip move you out of the church. 00:42:55.340 --> 00:42:58.579 Don't let your critics move you. You got to outlive 00:42:58.579 --> 00:43:04.539 your critics. Don't let anything move you. Always 00:43:04.539 --> 00:43:07.460 give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord 00:43:07.460 --> 00:43:11.440 because you know that your labor in the Lord 00:43:11.440 --> 00:43:16.579 is not in vain. All the pain, all the tears, 00:43:16.800 --> 00:43:20.260 all the sorrow, all the energy you put in, all 00:43:20.260 --> 00:43:23.099 the finances that you've given have not been 00:43:23.099 --> 00:43:28.800 in vain. He's coming with your reward. If you 00:43:28.800 --> 00:43:31.659 received this word today, would you just give 00:43:31.659 --> 00:43:33.539 God a praise right where you're at and just say 00:43:33.539 --> 00:43:48.059 thank you, Lord. Thank you, Jesus. Some of you 00:43:48.059 --> 00:43:51.139 need to just even make it, take it a little step 00:43:51.139 --> 00:43:53.840 further. Maybe it's your first time and you've 00:43:53.840 --> 00:43:57.090 not. been active in the church you haven't been 00:43:57.090 --> 00:43:59.929 labored you haven't been part of the workforce 00:43:59.929 --> 00:44:01.630 of this house you're not part of the praying 00:44:01.630 --> 00:44:03.530 team you're not part of the worship team but 00:44:03.530 --> 00:44:05.530 you've got talents and you've got gifts and you've 00:44:05.530 --> 00:44:07.670 got things that God has blessed you with there's 00:44:07.670 --> 00:44:10.650 so much to be grateful for maybe God's calling 00:44:10.650 --> 00:44:13.030 you to become part of something that's going 00:44:13.030 --> 00:44:17.230 to bring change to a city change to your family 00:44:17.230 --> 00:44:22.389 if you know that you can do more would you get 00:44:22.389 --> 00:44:24.090 out of your seat and meet me here at the altar 00:44:24.650 --> 00:44:26.809 And say, I want to be of the tribe of Issachar. 00:44:26.829 --> 00:44:29.150 I want to sign up. Where do I sign up for the 00:44:29.150 --> 00:44:31.610 tribe of Issachar? Count me in. I want my family 00:44:31.610 --> 00:44:34.789 changed. I want to see the glory of God. I'm 00:44:34.789 --> 00:44:36.829 believing God. And all my work went down in vain. 00:44:37.130 --> 00:44:39.610 I don't care how many tears you've cried. Listen, 00:44:39.670 --> 00:44:42.530 I'm here to tell you. I know you've been hurt. 00:44:42.610 --> 00:44:45.409 You've been disappointed. But God will reward 00:44:45.409 --> 00:44:47.989 you. It's worth every pain you've gone through. 00:44:48.070 --> 00:44:51.130 Every let down you have been through. Step out 00:44:51.130 --> 00:44:54.539 in God. Step out. Step. into what God has for 00:44:54.539 --> 00:44:58.519 you. Let the Lord know, God, I thank you for 00:44:58.519 --> 00:45:01.059 every valley experience. I thank you for the 00:45:01.059 --> 00:45:03.440 valley where you trained me. I'm not the same 00:45:03.440 --> 00:45:06.940 person. There's something. Make the valley count 00:45:06.940 --> 00:45:12.079 for your life. Come. Come out of your seat. Come. 00:45:12.219 --> 00:45:14.980 There's room in this place. And I know you young 00:45:14.980 --> 00:45:17.340 people and old people and people who have been 00:45:17.340 --> 00:45:20.739 through much. Get out and say, count me in. I 00:45:20.739 --> 00:45:24.659 want to be of that tribe. want to bring a reward. 00:45:26.480 --> 00:45:28.860 There's a reward in your house that God wants 00:45:28.860 --> 00:45:31.659 to bring. There's a reward in your life. There 00:45:31.659 --> 00:45:34.219 are gifts and talents that God wants to bless 00:45:34.219 --> 00:45:37.380 this church with. Do not put them to work. Step 00:45:37.380 --> 00:45:39.780 out and say, God, today I make a commitment. 00:45:40.000 --> 00:45:42.760 Today I want to get involved. Today I want to 00:45:42.760 --> 00:45:44.920 draw close to you. Today I want to seek you more 00:45:44.920 --> 00:46:04.239 than ever. Or call us at 541 -995 -8282