whatever that looks like. Many of you will know
me from youth ministry as being the youth pastor
for our youth for some time now. Others will
know me from the counseling room of premarital
and or mayor's counseling and that's a beautiful
space as well. Others will know me from protectors
of the way and ushers and our greeters or whatever
the case may be, but I do want you to know that
I am the husband of Avery Gammage. I am the father
to both London and Raleigh Gammage, and I am
a servant more than anything. So, big ups to
our pastors, Pastor Brian and Pastor Rashida.
Big ups to our overseer, Pastor Deborah, in their
absence, and y 'all. I'm excited today, boy.
I'm excited. So I ain't gonna hold you too much
longer. Father God, let's pray. Lord God, I give
you glory, I give you honor, I give you praise.
I thank you so much, Lord God, for this moment
in time. I thank you, Lord God, that you look
forward and you saw us all right here. And I
just give you praise, Lord God, that you are
the author and the finisher of our faith, Lord
God. So everything that we hear today, Lord God.
it will be from heaven lord god you will be confirming
and connecting things uh that you've already
spoke to us lord god and so we thank you for
this moment we thank you for this moment we give
you praise in advance it's in jesus name that
we pray amen ladies and gentlemen you may have
a seat and i am going to say this off rip because
i was instructed to do it uh First Service, we
did. If you were not here, matter of fact, if
you were here at First Service, make some noise.
If you were here at First Service, make some
noise. If you were not, I encourage you to go
back and listen to the message from First Service
because it did set an amazing stage for where
we will pick up and keep moving. We are in our
Truth Collection. I have a reason you have a
reason to praise. We are still in that truth
connection or truth collection. And this morning
family, I want you to know that praise should
not should not be reserved only for the victory.
As we get into what we're getting ready to get
into this morning, I'm giving you permission
ahead of time to understand that you have full
right to be out of control. You have all the
right to acknowledge what it is that God has
done for you at the time that you remember it.
Holy Spirit tells us that he will bring all things
back to our memory. So I'm saying to you, do
not wait for a perfect moment. Do not wait for
my breath to stop and then that be a gap and
then you slide in there with a hallelujah I'm
saying there it is as the word is coming forth
as the Spirit of God Reminds you of things that
he's already done to you be vocal about what
it is that you are reminded of Here's why? We
are created three parts. We are created spirit
soul and body Your spirit is perfect with God.
God created it before the foundations of the
world. Your spirit is divine. Your soul is your
emotions, your thinking, your choosing, your
feelings. Your body is just a responder to whichever
one. I'm saying to you, I know for a fact. Many
of us, I ain't gonna even say you, many of us
are tired right now. Watch your hands, just slip
your hand up if you're tired. It's too early
to be that tired, y 'all, but it's all right.
I'm slipping my hand up, too. If we are tired,
we ain't gonna wanna, hallelujah, we ain't gonna
wanna slide that in there. I'm saying, as King
David said, you must command your soul to praise
God. You don't even... You're not gonna feel
it if you waiting for that perfect moment to
feel like this is where I can just jump in here
and say Amen, you're not There's too much happening
You're not I'm saying command your soul to praise
God Immediately when the Spirit of God reminds
you of what he's already done command you tell
your emotions now God I got this one Thank you
God. Thank you Lord wherever you find yourself.
So now that that's out of the way I just wanted
to make sure we got that out of the way you got
permission To talk in class, huh? You got from
thank you. You got not for me, but forgot. Thank
you. Um Ladies and gentlemen before we get started.
I do want to define two things Because I think
it's fun if we work off the same working definition.
So the very first word I want to define is a
word called testimonial. How many of you guys
have heard the word testimonial before? You good?
All right, all right. A testimonial is a formal
statement or message that recommends a product,
service, or person by sharing a positive real
-life experience. It acts as proof or social
backing to show that something or someone is
good, trustworthy, and high quality. For any
of my business owners out here, you know how
much a testimonial does for your business. You
know how well a testimonial can do if someone
writes it, even more if someone records it. A
testimonial is endless. It works well and sells
so much good product. Why? Because it lets the
person know that this thing that you're recommending
is trustworthy. It's credible. Why? Because you
put your stamp on it. Now, here's another thing
I want to define so that we all on the same order.
Praise. What does praise mean or working definition
for praise? It means to express approval, admiration,
or worship. It functions as both a noun, an expression
of respect or commendation, and a verb to commend
or glorify someone or something. So to praise
someone or to praise something, you are giving
it high esteem, you are being reminded of its
value, and now you are putting your weight on
it by saying, I like that. For some of us, we'll
even go so far to say, I love that. Mama Annie
makes banana pudding. All of her children say
they love that. I do love that. I ain't gonna
tell y 'all I don't love that. I do. I want to
make the note that other people make banana pudding
different than Mama Annie makes banana pudding.
And so other people will taste Mama Annie's banana
pudding and they'll be like, it's good. I like
that. Rumor has it, Jay. makes an amazing banana
pudding. I ain't never tasted it. I can't give
no credit. I can't give no testimonial about
that. I can't even put praise behind his because
I ain't had none. I do want to combine these
two words or these two. Phrases together testimonial
praise and that brings us to the title of our
message and I promise you ladies and gentlemen
We're gonna get into some scripture. So don't
you worry about that pitch a tent because we
are about to read a lot Pray a testimonial praise
last definition. We got to get this one a testimonial
praise It is a formal statement recommendation
or expression where one is sharing a positive
real life experience to display proof that the
character of God is good, trustworthy, and high
quality. A testimonial praise is a formal statement,
recommendation, or expression where one is sharing
a positive real -life experience. Does anyone
have a positive real -life experience of how
good God is? A testimonial praise is you giving
your recommendation or your expression of how
good that God's character is. Why is this so
important? Because when we start talking about
this series of you have a reason to praise, ladies
and gentlemen, before we go any further, and
if you would open up your Bibles to Psalms chapter
100. Psalms chapter 100. Here's what I want you
to know. You don't have to look ahead of you,
believer. You have all the evidence you need
already to put a testimonial praise on the character
of God. The question is, will you? Because it's
not that you don't know how good God is. It's
not that you don't know. It ain't that even right
now as I'm saying something that the spirit of
God ain't reminding you of something amazing
that he did for you. It's not that you don't
know. It comes down to whether or not we will
actually give a testimonial praise. What is a
testimonial praise? It is an expression. It is
me actually talking and making known how trustworthy
God is. And this is why we do it. In Psalms,
chapter 100, verses one through five. It says,
shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship
the Lord with gladness. Come before him singing
with joy. Acknowledge that the Lord is God. He
made us and we are his. We are his people, the
sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving.
Go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to
him and praise his name for the Lord is good.
His unfailing love continues forever and his
faithfulness continues to each generation. Ladies
and gentlemen, again, I say to you, we don't
need more. What we do need is a reminder that
God, you have done exploits in my life. Not just
that you've done them, not that you've done them,
but God, you've been loud about it. I am a testimony.
Pastor Brian said something a long time ago where
he said, we don't need to ask God for another
miracle because you're already the miracle. You,
I don't know you. You don't know me in detail,
but you know where God has delivered you from.
You know some of the thoughts that you used to
have. You know some of the thoughts that you
still have. And it's God that's a mind regulator.
It's God that's a keeper. Him and Him alone.
I'm saying, when will we be all right with, in
our working definition, be all right with giving
a testimonial praise? Yeah, it can happen during
praise and worship. Yeah, my worship unto God
during that time is corporate and I'm I'm doing
but ladies and gentlemen hit my heart when I
tell you this all through scripture we see where
Praise came before the victory many of us are
waiting for the victory many of us are waiting
You believe in God for something you thanking
God for something you waiting on something and
you also waiting until you get it to praise him
You do it, you know, you know you you do it has
ended You'll be like, nah, man, I'm telling you,
God is good, good. I promise you, you'll update
your status. You'll put up there the scripture
that you standing on, because that stuff is good.
That stuff feels good. And it actually is good.
I'm saying, though, at what point do you, if
we look back in Genesis, Moses or Abraham, Abraham
heard from God to sacrifice his son. He goes
to sacrifice his son and he tells the servants
when they get to the hill or the mountain, he
tells the servants, he said, hey y 'all, y 'all
stay here with the donkey. Me and the boy are
going up to worship. He already knew that he
was going to kill him. That was the sacrifice.
But instead he told the servants a yo y 'all
post up. We're going up here to worship He considered
what it was that he was doing an act of worship
Jehoshaphat you flip all the way through the
scripture Jehoshaphat was one knew that they
was getting ready to come kill him knew that
they were getting ready to come take over what
he had. Jehoshaphat was scared. He went to the
people and he said, hey, y 'all, listen, I don't
know what we're getting ready to do. Something
got to happen. They said something. This is so
good. Get familiar with your scripture, God.
This is so goddamn good. In second Chronicles,
when Jehoshaphat was getting ready to be overthrown,
he goes to the family and he says, y 'all, I
don't know what's going to happen to us. So the
Spirit of God came over someone in the audience
and they began to give a testimonial praise They
said to Jehoshaphat We need to praise God because
of how good he has always been His character
is good and he will deliver us from this. That's
what they told him Jehoshaphat then said Hey,
you know what? You are right. Remind me of how
good God is. Matter of fact, we're going to go
out here to fight. But when we go out here to
fight, you know what I need? I don't need the
guys who got the fastest draw time. I don't need
the guys with the biggest guns. I don't need
the guys with ... I want the praise and worship
leaders to come in front. Jehoshaphat said, when
we go out here, I want y 'all to just sing. Sing.
What did they do? They began to do it as they
went out and immediately the Spirit of God caused
confusion amongst them and they turned on each
other and killed each other. Guys, your praise
has so much power locked up in it. We could fast
forward to the New Testament. We could fast forward
into the book of Acts where it talks about how
Paul and Silas were locked up. We can talk about
that and how in there, I mean, the boys gonna
been wrongfully accused. They bleeding, bloody,
hurting. I can guarantee they, I mean, if you
got in a fight, how many of y 'all gonna got
in a fight before? That's some of the challenges.
Some of the challenges, some of us ain't never
been in no fight and don't know what it feel
like to get hit in the mouth. You know what it
feel like to get a light turned off, but you
don't know what it feel like to get hit in the
mouth. Them two different pains. Two different
pains. You know what it feel like to have your
water turned off? Anybody? Anybody know what
it feel like to turn that faucet on and it just
spit at you? Because the last little bit is in
that little little tunnel and that's it. How
many of you know what it feel like to go home
with your lip bleeding? How many of you know
what it feel like to go home because you called
somebody else lip to bleed? Let's talk about
that too. You see what I'm saying? This is what
I want you to know. God is so good. Paul and
Silas are locked up. In their being locked up,
they begin to praise. They don't praise when
the door is open. They didn't praise when they
got released from prison. They started praising
in prison. As a result of them praising, the
door is open. They now get free. Family, here's
what I want you to know. It would be phenomenal
if that was the only part of that account that
was beautiful. But here's the other beautiful
thing about that which shows us how powerful
our praise is. As Paul and Silas prayed and the
doors opened and they got released out of prison,
the Bible also records that the guard got saved.
The guard got saved as a result of their praise.
I'm saying to us, why? Why? Are we in spaces
where God is doing miraculous things in your
life and you ain't up loud talking about it?
You so reserved with the blessing Pastor Greg
read a scripture earlier when he was talking
about in Matthew where Jesus told us as believers
when you're fasting Don't hold your head low
and act like you sad and all of that because
you hungry, because we do be hungry while we're
fasting. He said, don't do that. Jesus said,
you know what I'm saying? Girt yourself up. Like
act like you are there. You know what I'm saying?
Like you fool. And you ain't, that's where your
reward comes from. I'm saying to us, ladies and
gentlemen, so many times we're asking God for
something. We're believing God for something.
And the moment he do it, we get silent. with
the receiving as if it ain't a big deal. I'm
telling you, it was a big deal when God delivered
me from pornography. It was a big deal when God
delivered me from cursing. It's a big deal when
God delivered me from anything that ain't God.
It's a big deal. And I ain't holding that quiet.
I'm not trying to be polished. I'm not trying
to be one that now that I'm holy and I'm good,
I got it. No. No. God, you've been too good for
that. You've been too good for that. For me to
act as if you ain't still good. But this is what
I'm saying. So many of us are focused in first
service. That's what I'm saying. Go back and
hear first service because it stitches it together.
So many of us are projecting our minds and our
thoughts forward. still God what else am I believing
you for what else am I do I know that you're
gonna give me Lord because your word your promises
of yes and Amen God I know you're gonna give
me and the whole time we're neglecting that testimony
of praise of saying but God look how far look
how much you've already done look how much you've
looked where you brought me from look what I
don't even do no more If you would, if you would,
this is so good. Turn to Habakkuk, Habakkuk chapter
three. This is why this is so good, family. Because
I remember, I remember when I used to go to the
mall looking for a fight. I remember, some of
you heard this story before. For any of the teens,
I know they've heard it. And this is, again.
Don't judge me, y 'all. I'm delivered now, okay?
None of this don't apply to me no more, you know
what I'm saying? Gargon took the taste out of
my mouth. However, I remember. I remember. My
brother and I, Andrew, we went to the mall. We
had just fought some dudes at the fair a couple
weeks in. I'm gonna keep their name out of it,
because you know what I'm saying? They all grown
now. Some of them, who's still alive. They grown.
Andrew and I went to the mall, and the boys that
we had fought a couple of weeks ago, one of them
mama was at the jewelry store, at the jewelry
counter. Ladies and gentlemen, I wish I could
make this stuff up, but this is where God has
delivered me from, and I remember it, so I'm
thankful. Andrew says, hey man, there goes such
and such mama. I said, that's what's up. That's
his mama like this, that is what it is. Andrew
said, I'm gonna go hit her. Andrew walks about
20 steps. He gets over to my man mama. He taps
her and she turns around. Now I'm right there
with Andrew, why? Not that she gonna hit him
back, I don't know that, but this is what we
do, we together. Andrew, she turns around, Andrew
fires on her. We book it running. A couple weeks
later, them same boys, we at the club, little
hood club in Avon Park, you know what I'm saying?
It was really a house, but we called it a club.
I'm lying, it was really an apartment, it wasn't
even a real house. Look at me being lofty with
my words. No, no, no, it was an apartment, and
it was made into a little club. Here we are at
the club, and guys, if I could make this up,
hit me when I tell you, the same dude that Andrew
slapped his mama. Buddy catches us while we in
the dance floor. Like, we getting it. Like, I
was a dancer, too, y 'all. Like, I had... I can
still... I can still move a little bit. Buddy
pulls out a gun and has it to Andrew's face like
this, and I see his hand doing like this. I've...
One of the few moments in my life that I've been
just froze. Like, I know what fear feels like.
I'm locked in fear. And my man is just pulling
the gun like this right here. And you think,
you think, oh, we'll just run. No, like you're
locked. Eventually, I don't know how long it
was happening, but eventually we both realize
it ain't going off. Andrew pipe out, I pipe out.
As soon as we get out of the door, guys, you
hear the gun go off, pow. Hear me tell you. I
remember these things. God has been too good
for me to be quiet about how good He is in my
life. That's one of the many. I ain't special.
I know all of us have things that God has delivered
us from, predicaments that we've been in that
it wasn't nobody but the Spirit of God that set
camp, that released warring angels to protect
you even in your wrong. For some of us that was
this weekend And God is just as faithful this
weekend as he was to me and all the rest of us
weekends ago and I'm saying to us when When will
we begin to get loud about the things that God
is doing? Not waiting for somebody to call a
testimony service. Not waiting for somebody to
say, hey, anybody got something to talk about?
No. Baby, let me talk to you about something
that God delivered me from right now. When? When?
Because the longer you hold off, you're hurting
somebody else's witness. Habakkuk, chapter three,
verse 17. And I apologize, because I normally
ask Zamar to hit the timer for me. They got one
right in front of me and I'm already late. You
know what I'm saying? I gotta get it. Habakkuk
chapter three, verse 17 through 19. It says,
verse 17, even though the fig trees have no blossoms
and there are no grapes on the vine, Even though
the olive crop fails and the fields lie empty
and barren, even though the flocks die in the
field and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will
rejoice in the Lord. I will be joyful in the
God of my salvation. The sovereign Lord is my
strength. He makes me as sure -footed as a deer
able to tread upon the heights." Ladies and gentlemen,
oh my God. Faith in your praise says that even
though God hadn't did it yet, I know he's able.
When you praise, you're not just waiting for
something to happen. When you praise, you're
saying, I'm putting weight on the fact that I
know God is capable. I know God is capable of
doing this. Whatever it is, be it healing, be
it financial, be it breakthrough, be it deliverance,
be it new job, whatever it is, my praise is saying,
God, I know that you're able, and my praise ain't
gonna be reserved. I refuse to hold back my praise
until you do it, God. I'm gonna praise right
here in the midst of it while the fields are
barren, while my bank account... is in overdraft,
whatever it looked like. God, I will give you
praise right here. Why? Because it's my testimonial
praise. I'm making sure to live out this witness
before the world because he's been too good.
Oh man, John. Oh, this is so good. John chapter
four. John chapter four. And ladies and gentlemen,
As we read this particular scripture, I need
you, as we do all other scripture, but I need
you, when you're listening to, or when you, when
you're in your private time, whenever you're
reading, your study time, as you read scripture,
pay attention to sentence structure. You see
what I'm saying? I pay attention all the way
down to punctuations. I take it literal. Every
period, every exclamation point. These things
matter to the author. So I'm saying as we get
ready to read this, check this out. John chapter
four, starting at verse three, and we're gonna
go all the way to verse 15 for anybody who taking
notes, you wanna write down that whole thing.
John chapter four, verse three through 15, starting
at verse three, it says, so he left Judea and
returned to Galilee. He had to go through Samaria
on the way. Eventually, he came to the Samaritan
village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob
gave to his son, Joseph. Jacob's well was there,
and Jesus, tired from a long walk, sat wearily
beside the well about noontime. Soon, a Samaritan
woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her,
please, give me a drink. Period. I mean he low
-talked it. You know I'm saying he just said
a man already said he was tired scripture already
said he's tired So he low -talked it. Hey, please
can I have a drink? Verse 8 He was alone at the
time because his disciples had gone into the
village to buy some food The woman was surprised
for Jews refused to have anything to do with
Samaritans She said to Jesus you are a Jew and
I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me
for a drink? Question mark because she asked
a question verse 10 Jesus replied if you only
knew The gift God has for you and who you are
speaking to You would ask me and I would give
you living water Jesus said, okay. Hold on now.
I'm tired, but you gonna put some respect on
my name. I May look like I'm weary right now
cuz I'm posted about as well But if you knew
what God had for you, you would ask for some
living water. Oh my God. Verse 11, but sir, you
don't have a rope or a bucket and this well is
very deep. Where would you get this living water?
I want to pause. Because it would be such like
a Christian to read this straight through and
not consider self. How many times has God said
to me, you're going to do X, you're going to
do this. And I then responded back to him by
saying, but how? Like, how am I supposed to get
this done? When am I going to be able to get
this done if I ain't got that yet? Like, okay,
but okay, bet. probably like another two weeks
I can make that happen. Jesus says, give me a
drink. She says, well, where am I gonna get a
drink from? Jesus said, well, you can ask me
and I'll give you living water. She's still looking
at the well and she thinking, bro, how you gonna
get me something to drink? You sitting here asking
me, you ain't got no rope. You ain't got nothing.
How you gonna ask me for something? But sir.
You don't have a rope or a bucket, she said.
And this well is very deep. Some of us already
know that. Our problems are very bad. Verse 12,
and besides, this is her, now this is just a
little slick talking, and besides, do you think
you're greater than our ancestor, Jacob, who
gave us this well? How can you offer better water
than he and his sons and his animals enjoy God?
No, she said she said not only do you look bummy
right now? You want me to give you something
you ain't got nothing to ask for like how you
gonna do this? Wait, wait, wait Besides you think
you better than the man who created as well that
his animals even drink from That right there
now Scripture is so good. Verse 13, Jesus replied,
anyone who drinks this water will soon become
thirsty again. But those who drink the water
I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes
a fresh bubbling spring within them, giving them
eternal life. Ladies and gentlemen, I've never
seen water bubble standing still. I'm saying
to us, for those of us who have received the
living water, why isn't it bubbling? Why isn't
it bubbling invisible? Why isn't it bubbling?
No. For some of us, that living water is sitting
still. And we're treating it just like the water
that the animals drink from. We're treating it
just like those who've had it before. We're looking
at other people's giftings and thinking, oh,
well, that's just how they do it. I'll wait until
somebody calls my name to do something. It should
be bubbling. Please, sir. Let me finish that
verse 14, but those who drink from the water
I will give will never be thirsty again It becomes
a fresh bubbling spring within them giving them
eternal life verse 15 says please sir The woman
said give me this water Then I'll never be thirsty
again, and I won't have to come here to get water
family. Here's what I'm saying Jesus presented
something to all of us We all have received I'm
talking to the believers in the room We've already
received that water once we received it became
living water It is bubbling on the inside of
you, which means as it bubbles every single day
There's motion every single day. There should
be motion. No signal Not no. Yeah, I know God
is good. Hear me. I understand poise I understand
control. I understand contentment. I understand
those things. But don't confuse your dormant.
Don't confuse your inactivity. Don't confuse
that with the perfect will of God. That's you.
You have become the refined individual. You have
chosen. to be the stoic individual. You have
chosen to be the individual that comes into service
in a praise and worship moment and not lift your
hands. You have chosen to be the person that
will hear worship music going, feel like it's
connecting with you, and just post up like it's
some, like God old talking to you. Like you deserve
to have the Spirit of God living on the inside
of you. How filthy, how filthy is the temple
and you deserve to have the living God living
on the inside of you? Get out of here man. The
living water is bubbling and because it's bubbling
it now becomes my testimonial praise. I refuse
to sit and not talk about the goodness of God.
I may talk about it in a low voice. I ain't saying
they gotta be all loud and out of control. What
I am saying is the lack, the lack of you saying
anything is dangerous. Why is it dangerous? Because
if we go to John chapter four, if we skip a little
further to verse 39, this is why it's dangerous
for you to hold back your testimonial praise.
Verse 39 says, many Samaritans from the village
believed in Jesus because the woman had said,
he told me everything I ever did. When they came
out to see him, they begged him to stay in their
village, so he stayed for two days, long enough
for many more to hear his message and believe.
Verse 42, then they said to the woman, now we
believe not just because of what you told us,
but because we have heard him ourselves. Now
we know that he is indeed the savior of the world.
Ladies and gentlemen. This woman went and received
the bubbling water. She then went and told every
single body. Now here's the part that I omit
it because it ain't even valid right now. It's
valid for scripture context and when we read
it for us to identify ourselves. But the woman,
the woman that did this, the woman that went
and ministered to all of these, Jesus caught
her. We can say it. as a whole right now. Like,
when he confronted her, he confronted her by
all of her adulterous behaviors. Immediately,
gave her the living water. She went. This is
what some of us have to find ourselves. It would
have been great for me to tell you all of the
many things that the Lord God has delivered me
from, but for why? For why? For me to then make
make it appeasing to somebody's flesh to be like,
oh, yeah, cuz I'm gonna have that one, too Bro,
it don't matter Whatever it is that God is delivered
you from it's a big deal You know how long it
took me to stop cussing. I Started over so many
times and I'm talking about as a Christian. I
Started over so many times why? Because I enjoyed
it to be honest with you like The curse words
were fine, coming out of my tongue. You see what
I'm saying? I had a way of putting them together
to make somebody feel very insignificant. Plus,
by the time I started doing it, danger was already
present. You see what I'm saying? I'm close enough
to you. If you can hear me, game over. Here's
what I want to point out, though. Here's what's
important about all of that. Here's what's important.
For some of us, cussing ain't never been an issue.
For some of us pornography ain't never been an
issue Sexual Premiscuity whatever that word is
and ain't never been an issue for you drinking
ain't never been an issue for you drugs ain't
never been an issue for you Selling drugs ain't
never been an issue for you I'm kind of just
going down my list. You know I'm saying natural
I'm trying to blanket it for all of y 'all, but
I'm just talking about me I'm saying some of
these things ain't never been an issue for most
of you But the thing that is your issue It's
just as big to God. It's just as big. Those things
that were big to me, they were only big to me
because of how much I put myself into them. God
is faithful. God is just. I got to get through
this. Mark chapter 10, and this is where we will
close. Mark chapter 10, verse 46 through 52.
Ladies and gentlemen, hear me remind you, your
testimonial praise, first and foremost, is yours,
but it belongs to God. It ain't even, and that's
the challenge. Many of us hold on to it because
we think it's ours. Many of us reserve to talk
about it and to discuss it. because it's gonna
make me look some kind of way. God's saying,
bro, again I say, you believe as filthy as you
have been in private that the reason God still
chooses to speak to you, God still chooses to
speak to you. He loves you so much that even
as filthy as you are in private. He still speaks
to you. And you think that that deliverance is
yours? That belongs to Him. And your testimonial
praise should cause you to allow that bubbling
water to actually speak. For some of us, we thinking,
well, I'll speak when I'm fully delivered from
it. Lies you tell. Lies you tell. If you ain't
talking about it now, could it be you ain't really
got no hopes to be delivered from it? I submit
to you, whatever it is that you desire God release
you from, get it on your lips now. Talk about
it in front of other people. Make that testimonial
praise a thing that you say, hey, you know God
delivered me from this? And your homeboy passing
you the blunt and saying, no, bro, but. We literally
just rolled it. We bought this weed together.
Mark, Mark chapter 10. I can't just keep talking
to y 'all about my business. I'm gonna tell y
'all this. I think I told some of y 'all this
before. I used to literally have Bible study
at my apartment, right? Once I got saved, God
was doing a thing with me. And other people saw
it. I didn't necessarily see it, see it, but
other people saw it. And the light has a way
of drawing individuals to it. The fellas that
I was with, we would come to my apartment. I
had a one -bedroom apartment in a project, Section
8. I was paying probably about $63 a month for
rent, lights, water, everything. I was living
the life, baby. I was balling. In this, right?
The fellows would come over to my house. We would
have Bible study because I'm saved. You know
what I'm saying? I'm saved. I'm probably like
19. Right at 19. I'm saved, man. I'm gonna fight
for God in the public eye. The fellows, we would
have Bible study. They would leave. As soon as
they would leave, I kept a little stash underneath
my couch. I would pull out the weed, roll it
up, smoke by myself. Reason I would smoke by
myself because I'm changed in front of them.
You see what I'm saying? I'm out here menacing
to these guys, they can't smoke with me no more,
bro. Like what the what? You gotta smoke by yourself.
Closet Christian, that's me. All right, all right,
all right, all right. Mark chapter 10, Mark chapter
10, I thank God for deliverance. Mark chapter
10, verse 46. Then they reach Jericho. And as
Jesus and his disciples left town, a large crowd
followed him. A blind beggar named Bartima, son
of Tim, I think his name, was sitting beside
the road. When Bartima heard that Jesus of Nazareth
was nearby, he began to shout, Jesus, son of
David, have mercy on me. Be quiet. Many other
people yelled at him. But he only shouted louder,
son of David, have mercy on me. When Jesus heard
him, he stopped and said, tell him to come here.
So they called the blind man. Hey, bro, cheer
up, they said. Come on, he's calling you. Verse
50, Bartima threw aside his coat, jumped up and
came to Jesus. Oh, I wish I can spend time right
there. My man heard Jesus was coming through.
I just want y 'all to see this. I just want y
'all to see this. God, dawg, I want y 'all to
see this. If that bubbling water was such a rumble
in you and they heard that you were going to
be at this location, my man started yelling to
get Jesus' attention. Son of David, have mercy
on me. Everybody who's familiar with him said,
bro, chill out, be quiet. He says, nah, I need
his attention. I don't even want to be where
I'm at no more. God, help me. Verse 50. Bartima
threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to
Jesus. What do you want me to do for you? Jesus
asked. My rabbi, the blind man said, I want to
see. Ladies and gentlemen, as soon as he jumped
up, as soon as Jesus called him, as soon as it
happened, after his yelling, after him trying
to get God's attention, as soon as it happened,
he got there. Jesus says, bro, what do you want
from me? You making all that noise, what's up?
My man said, I don't want to be blind no more.
Verse 52, and Jesus said to him, go, for your
faith has healed you. Instantly, the man could
see and he followed Jesus down the road. Ladies
and gentlemen, hear me tell you this. If God...
never answers another promise. If he never answers
another promise that you request, understand
that Calvary was enough. If he never opens another
door for you, if he never allows you to move
forward into another door, The empty tomb was
enough Can we look behind us to see what he's
already done and put a praise right there If
he don't never give you anything else your salvation
is enough I get it, I too have desires, but I
refuse to allow those things in front of me.
And matter of fact, I would say this, that I
already even know God gonna do. But I go back
to say, praise. Praise is me saying, God, I believe
you have the authority to do it. Not that you've
already done it. I'm not gonna wait until I see
it done. God, I believe my praise will show forth
that I believe that you can do it. That's where
I want my praise to be. I don't want to be shackled
to this thought of, God, you gon' come through.
You gon' come through. And when you do come through,
ooh, God, watch what I do when you come through.
Watch how big I be by what you did, God. Watch
how bad. I'm going to have the best status update.
They ain't going to know. I'm going to put about
five scriptures in this thing. Nope, because
it's only like 140 characters. So you got to
go back. I'm saying to all of us, family, let
that living water bubble. Stop being quiet. Stop
holding back your praise because you're refined
now. No, no, no, no. Talk that talk if you gonna
be if God gonna deliver you from it talk about
it Be Serious this time and watch what God do
Stand to your feet father God You are faithful
You are faithful God. Oh You are faithful Lord
God, we give you glory. We give you honor. We
give you praise We thank you so much, Father
God, for meeting us here in this moment. We thank
you so much, Father God, again for confirming
and connecting us to all the promises you've
already said. But Lord God, in this moment, we
are very mindful. Holy Spirit, we thank you for
bringing back to our remembrance all things that
you've already done. And Father God, we thank
you for that. Thank you, Lord God. that our minds
aren't what they ain't the way they used to be.
Lord God we are further than what we used to
be. Thank you Lord God for healing us. Thank
you Father for allowing us to forgive others
because there was a time that we couldn't even
see forgiveness in our future but Father you
have softened our heart for even that. Lord God
thank you for loving us in such a way that You
would carve out an entire Sunday with whoever
is in this space to talk directly to me. I thank
you for that, God. I thank you for that. Your
word is sharper than any two -edged sword. Lord
God, all the while while I heard a natural man
speak, I thank you for your spirit cutting away
things on the inside of me. Lord God, I thank
you. I thank you. Because you love me that much.
You love me that much. Hallelujah, Father. Hallelujah,
Lord. If you're here today and you said, I hear...
I've heard and I am aware of all of the things
that we've talked about. But man, while sitting
here, or if I'm online, while listening, God,
I hear you and I am going to make that change
today. If you're here and you've never accepted
Jesus as your Lord and personal savior, some
people call it getting saved. some people call
it born again i'm saying to you if you're present
if you're viewing and you've never made jesus
lord of your life by your own personal relationship
with him then today is your day today god heaven
will record your name if you're here And that's
you. If you're online, put it in the chat. If
you're in the building, just raise your hand
and say, that's me. I am here today to stand
bold about the things that I desire from God
and that he's already done. I'm acknowledging
his hand all over my life. Likewise, if you're
here today and you say, or if you're online and
you say, man, I want prayer. I need prayer, someone
just to let me share with you some things that
I got going on and to come alongside me spiritually
and walk with me through this. If that's you
and you're in the building, slip up your hand.
If you're online, put that in the chat. We have
ministers online that will be happy to pray and
walk with you. Likewise, in the room, same exact
thing. If you raise your hand to any of those
two, when you exit the room, the first glass
room on your left, meet us in that space, please.
Do not walk up that for you. Alone. Because you
don't have to. Here at revealing truth church
we have community and we want to do life with
you Be it on person or online. We want to do
life with you Ladies and gentlemen, I love you.
I pray that as we exit today That we are reminded
again of how good God has been. If he never does
anything else, he's already done enough. You
being present is evidence that he's already done
enough. Because again, I go back to your soul
could have easily said, no, don't go to church
today. Your soul could have easily said, we don't
feel like it. But your spirit answered and responded.
And I thank you for that. Heaven thanks you for
that. So again, I leave you with this last parting
phrase. Do not wait for a miracle. You are the
miracle. That's you. In every communication that
we have with one another, each of us is talking
to another miracle. Because what God has done
with you, man couldn't change that. The things
that God has corrected, man couldn't do that.
That's God. And that was a miracle. I love you
all. I love you, I love you, I love you. Well,
that was fun. God is faithful. As we close, as
Pastor Greg said, first service, ladies and gentlemen,
come back next week because our pastors will
be back and yeah, but. I thank you all for your
faithfulness. I thank you for your commitment
to the house of God. I do want to say as we close,
boy, because it is a dying thing. It is a dying
thing. Many aren't committed to the things of
God anymore. I'm not just talking about in our
personal lives. I'm talking about the things
that matter to God, the church. It matters to
God. And many people aren't committed to the
church like they used to be. And by committed,
I ain't saying, oh, well, I come every Sunday
or I come every other Sunday. We got people who
come every Sunday that ain't committed. I ain't
talking about your presence. I'm talking about
your heart posture. That is what I'm praising
on each of you this day. Thank you. for your
heart posture toward the things of God. Thank
you for being sensitive to the things that God
tells you there's a need for that and you responded.
Thank you for whatever it is that God places
on your heart because you're a part of this vision.
And because you're a part of it, God has already
graced you with something that we didn't have.
If we had it, what would be the purpose of God
bringing you alongside? No, you add something
to this vision that we didn't have before. And
so I'm saying thank you for your obedience. Thank
you for your sensitivity to keep showing up and
keep doing the things that only God instructs
you to do. Thank you. All right, family, I love
you. I got to get out of here. I believe there
is a benediction that we are supposed to do,
and so if you know it already, repeat it after
me, or let's just say it together. Ready, begin.
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling
and to present you faultless before the presence
of his glory with exceeding joy to the only wise
God, our savior, be glory and majesty, dominion
and power. both now and ever. Amen. Ladies and
gentlemen, have an amazing day.