Getting over why I am too, but that's all right because God is
good. Yes, definitely.
I just want to thank you for your prayers as I prepared for
this. I know a lot of y'all was out
there praying for me and I appreciate that.
I really, really do. And I just thank God for you.
I thank God for this church and I just, I just thank God that
you are just soldiers in this army that we have here.
And I appreciate that. And this morning, I know I, I
was asked to give a message this morning and I've heard other
people give messages up here. You know, I heard Jerry when he
gave his testimony, what a powerful testimony gave John
Morris when he goes up here, gave his testimony and powerful
testimony, You know, and God has given me this message this
morning. And I don't know if I'm going to
sprinkle in my testimony or whatever, you know, maybe here
and there, but God has given me this word here this morning too.
And I just think it's, it's irrelevant to what is going on
now in, in our lives, in this church, in this, in this world
that that God is just speaking to us right now.
And I just want to 1st I'm going to just open up in prayer.
OK, Lord God, I just thank you. I thank you for who you are and
and our life. Lord God, I pray, Lord God, that
you would just just your word would go forth this morning.
You were Lord, Lord, we just thank you for your word, Lord
God and Lord, this morning, I ask you just to remove me out of
this equation. And oh Lord God and just your
word come through Lord, and that you would that this church would
hear and just walk in your word this morning.
And we just thank you for what you're doing and in Jesus name,
Amen, Amen. So this morning I want to start
in the OK, normally, you know, you have you do that Calvary
Chapel way, you know, or you go verse by verse, line by line.
But we're not going to do that this morning, OK, because
because you know, it's we're going to go through the word.
We're definitely going to be word, OK, But I'm not saying
it's going to be because we're going to be using our Bible this
morning, OK, We're going to go through the word this morning.
All right. But I just, you know, I just, I
just pray. But God gives you the same
insight that he gave me when I'm preparing this, You know, when
you don't sleep at night because he's like in you, you know,
you're in and whatever, just, and just thoughts are coming to
you, you know, and you, I know there's many.
Amy was saying, Amy was saying you're still in front of that
table. You're still sitting there.
She gets up, you know, early in the morning, you're at that
table again. I said I am, I am I just have to
be so that's how God deals was dealing with me through this
through this whole thing. OK, but let's start let's go in
in Isaiah, OK, Isaiah 43. We're going to start there this
morning, OK? And and you know, the word is
given for, you know, it's for inspiration, OK, for it's to be
profitable, OK, for doctrine, reproof, for correction, for
instruction, all in righteousness, Amen.
And that's what God is dealing with me now.
It's going to be like I call it when I was thinking about this,
I said, it's going to be a me, we us thing this morning, OK, a
me because God is dealing with me right now, you know, and when
you do this, it's him speaking to me directly, like through his
word, through his word, OK, because this word is alive.
This is Christ itself and this word speaking to you, OK,
speaking to us. All right.
And that's him speaking to me. So this is what I'm going
through. So OK, that's there's a
testimony right there. This is what this is what I'm
going through. OK, so and in Isaiah 43, let's
start. It says, but now thus says the
Lord who created you, O Jacob, and he who formed you, O Israel,
fear not. I want you to just put
yourselves in this. OK, We know this is Isaiah and
he's given prophecy. He's already given prophecy of,
you know, what's going to happen to Israel, you know, and, and
he's speaking to Judah, the southern, southern kingdoms and,
and, but anyway, he's already because of their, because of
their sin and all the things that they've gone through and
serving idols and, and disobeying God and going their
own ways. OK, he's already, he's gave him
that prophecy and he's given this, he says, but all not only,
OK, because of that, not only that, but it says I'm bringing
you back. He's going to bring them back.
OK, And that's this is that prophecy here.
It says he and he who formed Joe Israel.
Fear not though, you're going to be out there though, you're done
messed up. Fear not, it says, for I have
redeemed you. OK, now I want you to put
yourself in this place because I had to do this, put ourselves
here. And I know he's talking to
Israel and talking to them and and he's prophesying.
But when I read this and I I just, it just.
But now thus says the Lord, who created you, created us, O
Jacob, and we who formed you, O Israel, fear not you, it says,
for I have redeemed you, I have called you by your name, OK,
just when you passed through the waters, I will be with you, and
through the rivers you shall not, they shall not overflow
you. When you walk through the fire,
you shall not be burned, nor shall the flames scorch you.
Now, when you think of that, you might, you know, you think of
maybe, you know, Israel coming outgoing through the Red Sea,
all right, or, and see the rivers and and when Joshua came
over to Jordan and how God pushed those rivers back 16
miles up, 15 miles up, so all those people can get through,
all right, you think of those things.
And when you walk through a fire, you might think of
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego when that fiery furnished and
and the Son of man was right there and nothing happened to
him when they came through that fire.
OK, But these floods, you know, that could be us, you know, the
troubles and the trials and problems we go through when
we're in a fire, OK, those troubles, those fires that that
things that seem like they consume you.
OK, But then he goes on to say in three here he says, for I am
the Lord your God, the Holy one of Israel, your Savior.
He goes, I gave Egypt for your ransom and Ethiopia and see
before your in your place. OK So you know, he he's going
back after these people and and he's saying that Babylon will be
you know, we overtaken, OK, but he's given people for them, OK,
for their ransom, it says. And for it says since you were
precious in my sight, you have been honored and I have loved
you. Therefore I will give men for
you and people for your life. I have loved you see, that's I
got to take that stuff personally, but you know, I have
loved you. And if you look and and
Deuteronomy 7, Deuteronomy 7, Deuteronomy 7 and starting with
verse probably 6, it says for you are a holy people to the
Lord your God, the Lord and he's talking to Israel and he's
talking to you know of why? But listen to this.
It says For you are a holy people to the Lord your God.
The Lord your God has chosen you.
It says you to be a people for himself, a special treasure
above all the peoples on the face of the earth.
The Lord did not set his love on you, nor choose you, because you
were more in number than any other people.
All right. It says for you were the least
of all the people. But because the Lord loves you
and because he would not keep the oath which he swore to your
father, because he would let me read it again, Lord loves you.
And because he wouldn't keep, he wouldn't keep the oath which he
swore to your father's. The Lord has brought you out of
a mighty hand and redeemed you from the House of bondage, from
the hand of Pharaoh. OK, king of Egypt.
OK, So he's brought the knot. He said he didn't choose you
because you were all that, because you were large in number
or anything like that. He chose them, but they were the
least. They were nobodies, you know,
But he was somebody. They were somebody to him.
He says, because I loved. I loved you.
All right, let's go on here. And five it says, fear not, for
I am with you. I will bring your descendants
from the east and gather you from the West.
I will say to the north, give them up, and to the South do not
keep them back. Bring my sons from afar and my
daughters from the ends of the earth.
Everyone who was called by my name, whom I have created for my
glory, I have formed you. Yes, I have made you.
And see, I got take this literally.
And it's saying bring those people.
Now these people are scattered because of their their sins and
everything. They were scattered all over.
OK, But he's saying bring them back.
But and I think of us as a people, all right, and our
families that we have and all the loved ones we have and all
those friends that we have. OK.
And you want them to just come into the presence and the glory
of Christ and who he is and what he means and how he is with with
us. You know, and that now that we
have we have, you know, he's in our hearts and we have accepted
him as our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
And we have that that eternal promise.
That's what we want for those that are out there.
OK. And when it says our sons and
daughters, we want our children so badly just to receive him and
to just to know the glory, love that he has for him.
Amen. That's touchy.
That's touchy, right, dear? But let's go on.
It says, bring out the blind people who have eyes and the
deaf who have ears. OK, Those people that, you know,
really didn't really believe, first of all, they sing, but
they, they're blind. They don't, they don't know.
They they just don't trust what's going on, OK.
And the deaf who have ears hear, you know, go in one ear and out
the other, you know, but that's those people that are hearing,
but they're, it's falling on deaf ear, you know.
Then he says, let all the nations be gathered together and
let the people be assembled. Who among them can declare this
and show us former things? And it's a question who among
them can declare this and show us former things?
Let them bring out their witnesses that they may be
justified. All those, you know, they, they
didn't know, you know, they didn't believe it.
They're seeing it and it's now and, and he's prophesying that,
you know, they're coming back and this is what's going to
happen when they come back. And when they come back, you're,
you know, they're not going to believe what they, what they're
seeing because they, they it fell on diff here before and now
they're going to see it. And let's go on here.
I don't want to like go far ahead of myself and show us
former it says who can declare this and show us former things?
Let them bring out their witnesses that they may be
justified or says let them hear and say it is true because
they're they're saying it. OK, they were dispersed out all
over the place. And now he's prophesying that
they're they're coming back. They're going to see that what
God prophesized through Isaiah is true.
And and he's saying, you know, they're going to be the witness.
They're going to be that witness of this.
It says you are my witnesses, says the Lord and my servant
whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and
understand that I am he before me.
There was no God form, nor shall there be after me.
You're the you're the witness, the witness.
Have you gone through something and you know, you just just
never thought it would would happen or whatever.
You know somebody, you just never thought it would happen,
but you've seen it. You witnessed.
Have you prayed for somebody and and they've gotten through
situations OK, You've seen it. You're that witness of, of God
and the power that he has. He says before me there was no
God form, nor shall there be after me.
I even I am the Lord and besides me there is no Savior.
I have declared and saved there. I have declared and saved.
I have proclaimed it says, and there was no foreign God among
you. I told you it says I would.
Now it says that you see it and you, you see it and see what he
what he has done. And that witness, the foreign
gods, they, they're, that's that's what they went out there
for because they're idols and they're foreign gods that they
serve. But let's go on here and and it
says, therefore you are my witness, says the Lord that I am
God indeed, before the days was I am He all right?
Before the day was I am he. And there is no one who can
deliver out of my hand. I work and who will reverse it.
And he's prophesied this. He's telling them what's going
to happen. And OK, here it is.
You've seen it, you witness it, all right, and here it is, says
I'm God, who? Who can reverse this?
Who can doubt what God is doing? And fortunately he goes thus
says the Lord your Redeemer, your Redeemer, and the Holy One
of Israel. For your sake I will send the
Babylon and bring them all down as fugitives, the Chaldeans who
rejoice in their ships. And I am the Lord, your Holy
One, the Creator of Israel, your king.
But he's going to bring even Babylonians down and, and
they're, they're going to be, you know, overtaken by other
countries. And, and it says about their
ships. And that's their, their pride.
They use their ships for war and trade and commerce and you know,
all those things all right. But their pride, it says about
their ships, it says who rejoice in their ships.
That's what was talking about. I am the Lord your God, the Holy
One, the Creator of Israel, your King, He says.
Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea and a path
through the mighty waters, and he's coming back to this.
It says a path through the mighty waters, who brings forth
the chariot and the horse, the army and the power.
They shall lie down together, they shall not rise.
They are extinguished. They are quenched like a Wick
and in you know, I said about floods and going through stuff
and fire and all those things and it overtakes.
But in here in in the mighty waters, you know that coming
through the Red Sea and and they were saying, who brings who?
It says who brings forth that chariot in the horse.
And you can just imagine. I know back in for the kids
classes. You know, when you see those
pictures, you know, they have the parting of the Red Sea and,
you know, the the Israelites coming through on dry land and
the, and the Chariots are, you know, racing after them, but
overtaking the Chariots. And I can just imagine, you
know, stuff floating, you know, like Chariots and people and
swords and chills and all that stuff.
And the Israel and the Israelites were on the other
side. OK, you know, but he's bringing
us through those problems, OK, And then, OK, it when you're in
something, right? You when you walk, when you're
in something, when you're in problems, you have no idea what
to do or whatever. We still have to go through
that. And that's what you know, he's
bringing us through those situations, those problems,
those those fires in our life, OK.
And if you're in it and you turn back from it, you're just
looking at it again, you look at it face to face.
You got to go through it again. And but if you're in it, it
seems like it's consuming you, you know, But if you walk, I
always say it's going to end one day.
It's going to end whether you know, when we go or we know
whatever, but you know, we got to go through that fire.
And God is he's that. Then he goes on here, do not
remember, this is the good part here.
He says do not remember the former things nor consider.
The things of old now he's brought these people here.
He's telling them that, you know, you're going to go through
all this, you know, because of your sin, you're going to be
scattered. You're going to you know, you're
and then he but he says, I'm bringing you back.
All right. And then when he brings them
back, he's going to be their Redeemer, their savior.
All right, And then he says don't remember it.
I don't remember those former things.
And he says he says do not remember former things nor
consider the things of old. All right, can can we do that in
our life? I know some I just you, you
think of things that happened in the past, you go through
experience that happens in the past, right.
Some of them things still sends chills down my back, you know,
but I remember, I'll tell you one story.
One time I went in in in college, this guy came back in
to school, he had graduated, came back in this brand new car
and he, you know, was showing his car and he gave me good, you
know, look in the car, whatever you just said, just sit and look
at it. So I started his help and took
off with it. And then when I came back, he
was mad. But he goes, you know what, you
could have somebody could have hit you.
You could have wrecked. I didn't even think of that kind
of stuff. But when I think about it, I
said, oh, my, if that would have happened, like that was crazy.
But things like that. But forget the past, those
former things. And this is what he's telling
you. He says, Behold, I will do a new
thing now it shall spring forth. Shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in the wilderness there.
Here it is, the road in the wilderness and rivers in the
desert. The beast of the fields will
honor me, the jackals and the ostriches.
Because I give, because I give waters in the wilderness and
rivers. People I have formed for myself,
they shall declare my praise. They shall declare my praise.
Look, you're going to go through some stuff in life.
We all, we all go through some stuff in life.
We do. But you know, God is there even
when it feels like it's never going to happen.
It's dry. God's going to give waters in
those dry places. You know, you just have to keep
moving, OK? And, and here this is the really
the title of I would, if I could get this title.
It's moving forward, OK, we're moving forward.
God has given us a new is doing a new thing in our life and this
when I was preparing for this this morning, even I was at home
and I was playing that song at home this morning and I the
first song that I hear is that song that I was singing this
morning. That's that is so I don't know.
So filling that it brought tears in my eyes that God knows what's
going on in our life. OK, and and in the men's study
this morning, the things that they're talking about, you know,
it's, it's right there, the things that we have to do, you
know, and just all that the songs in worship, you know, this
morning, it's just some of those songs had that the text that,
you know, that I was studying all week.
And it's just confirmation of, you know, that I just love just
being on the, you know, the right page.
I'll say put it that way, you know, but but it's all God and
how he forms and fashions us and puts us together and, and that's
the whole thing. And and, and it's just moving
forward. And I just think this is a new
time that's doing a new thing. And he wants us to move forward.
I I know he's speaking to me anyway when he says, you know,
and the whole reason, let me say this, OK, The whole reason that
I'm standing here today, we were at a men's a men's retreat out
in, in, in Ligonier, OK. And the guy was talking about
your Christian comfort zone, OK. And I told pastor.
I said, Pastor, I thank you for bringing me out of my Christian
comfort zone. You know, I was talking about,
you know, the men's, the men's down to men's.
I'm sorry, but the, the, the, our prayer group, the second
Tuesday prayer group. And when we start, it was for
retired individuals, OK. And pastor was the head of it,
right? And then I think he went back to
work, right? So he's not retired anymore.
But he asked me, he asked me to, you know, to, you know, to, I
always say facilitate, ask me to, you know, facilitate because
the group is, it ain't about me. That's what I just love who, who
God is in that group, you know, and in a group of individuals
that come together and we get to know each other and we get into
the word and, and we, you know, just, it's how that word is just
guiding and directing our life and how it applies to our life
right now. That's what it's about.
We pray for each other, We pray for people that we know.
That's what it's about. It's all about God in that
group. I'm going to tell you, I'm just
there, it's ours, it's ours and I'm saying ours.
I'm saying the churches, you know, ours and the group, the
people that come, I just, when I come in here and I just love to
see that. I just love to see them coming
and sharing God's word. And oh, there's some.
And like I always say, they're a lot smarter than I will ever be.
And I just, I just love it though.
But he's doing it, doing a new thing.
And I think he just wants us to come out of our our Christian
comfort zone, OK, in this Christian comfort zone.
I told pastor, I said, thank you for bringing me out of that
Christian comfort zone. And he goes, oh, John, I want
you to to speak on one one Sunday in November.
And I said so much for comfort zone said I could just, And it
was that like that, you know what I mean?
He said you're not out in your comfort zone yet, John.
He didn't say that, but that's what I'm hearing.
You know, you're not your comfort zone yet, but did not
even tell Amy and she got but but God is good though.
But every comfort zone that we have and, and God wants to do a
new thing in our life and he wants us to move all right, and
he wants us to share. He wants to share this joy that
we have for Christ. He wants us to this, these word,
these, these words in here. This is Christ speaking to us
directly. And he wants us to share his
self OK with others, you know, and that's what I want that I
want that boldness, OK to no matter whom, no matter where I
want to. And that's what John was talking
about this morning, too, to show who we are in there in Christ,
no matter where we're at, no matter what situation that you
know, we want that boldness to speak, all right, to come out of
our Christian comfort zone sometimes.
And being in that comfort zone, we, we come to church, you know,
and then we, we go home. But we, we know, I'm not saying
that's a bad thing. That's not a bad thing at all.
But I'm saying, you know, sometimes we hesitate to speak
for it, but, you know, on his behalf or on Christ's behalf or
whatever, you know, but I just want, I want to be, I want to be
bold. I do, I want to be bold.
I want to come out of my Christian comfort zone.
I want to profess Jesus Christ. I want my family members, my, my
children or my friends to know who Christ is.
It's not about me. It's not even about, you know,
me being bored. It's about who he is in our
life. Amen.
And that's what we, that's what we want to do.
OK, Part 2. Oh my, this is where we're going
to, we're going to get into the subscription.
Let's go to Psalms 100. You can turn there if you want
to or or not want to listen or whatever.
But Psalms 101 to 5, I just want to show and improve through
through the word what God is doing and why he's doing OK.
And Psalms 105, it says make a joyful noise.
It says, no, make a joyful shout, OK, Make a joyful shout
to the Lord. Oh, you land.
Serve the Lord with gladness. Come before his presence with
singing. Know that the Lord, he is God.
Now that that is bold. And when we have that, that's
going, that's going to equip us to do the things that we need to
do, OK? It says it is he who has made us
and not we ourselves. We are his people and the sheep
of his pasture. Enter into his gates with
Thanksgiving. OK, Now enter in his gates with
whatever the gates. Enter his gates.
That's those steps we take. That's those moving forward
speaking to people. Those gates, When you see
somebody hurting, you're going to enter that gate and talk to
him or help him. Try to help him.
Are we going to enter the gate? See, enter that gate it says
with Thanksgiving and into his courts with praise.
Be thankful to him and bless his name, for the Lord is good, His
mercy is everlasting and his truth endures to all
generations. See, that's the, we want to get
that message to people who he is in our life and who he can be in
others lives. OK, Those that we know that are
hurting, all right? And when they're hurting that we
can just say, well, let's pray. Do you know, do you know Christ,
do you have a relationship? You know, I, I just, I just want
to have that boldness. All right, let's go because
we'll never get done if I don't. Let's go.
Matthew 25. Matthew 25.
I hope that's the right one. Matthew 25.
Wait a minute. Let's go to Matthew 20.
I'm sorry. Let's go to Matthew.
Wait a minute. Yeah.
Matthew 2514. I'm sorry.
Matthew 2514, it says this, OK? It says, OK, this is the parable
talents, OK, but let's get it. This is for the Kingdom of
heaven is like a man traveling to a Now just listen to this,
OK? Because it's about talent, OK?
It's about whatever, but listen to this.
This is for the Kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling
to a far country. It says who called his own
servants and delivered his goods to them to 1 he gave 5 talents
to another 1-2 another story to the other one one and it's to
each according to his own abilities.
See God's going here. He's not going to give you more
than you can handle. So we don't want to be nervous
or scared or scared when we go out, all right, because he's
he's not going to give you more than you.
Are you able to handle according to their abilities?
And immediately he went out on a journey.
Then he he who had received it OK, the five talents he got five
more than and the one they got two, he got two more.
And the and the one that received 1, he dug it hole and
and put the and put it in there, OK.
And and they were talking about monies, you know, silver await
whatever. And he dug a hole and put it in
there. OK.
So he who had received the five talents came and brought his
five talents to the Lord. But he says, and he says, OK,
let me read 19 He says, after a long time the Lord of those
servants came and settled accounts with them.
OK, he went away, He ascended into heaven.
All right. He distributed talents to the
people, OK, according to their abilities.
What are you going to do? You're saying, look, I'm giving
you these, what are you going to do with it?
And so two of them did something and one dug a hole, OK?
But he said to the, you know, to really the first two, he says,
he says his Lord said to him, well done, good and faithful
servant. You were faithful over a few
things. I will make you rulers over many
things. OK, servant, then we know the
two. And he said to say, well done,
thy faithful servant. And that's that that ability
that he gives us that first of first of all, yeah, when we come
in, you know, they go through worship and that really like
builds you up whatever and and this, you know, to receive the
word. But and and remember that verse
we said that, you know that come in with a shout of praise, a
shout to build you up. He's going he's going to build
you up. And but he equips you with his
word. All right.
And he's given us his word and some of us are in different
situations, different work atmospheres, different whatever.
It made different people that we associate with different family
members that are going through different stuff.
But if we have that faithfulness, he says it says
good and faithful servant, you were faithful over a few things,
just a few things, you know, a few things.
But he's given that us that faith, that ability to go
forward, but we have to have that determination to do so.
OK, all right, it says. And then but that's that's the
what I wanted you to see there. But the last one, he buried that
talent, didn't do nothing with it, didn't reap the reward of
it, OK? Didn't use that talent that God
gave him, all right, that he didn't have increase in what
he's given them. OK, just bear it away.
That's when we don't, when we don't talk, when we don't say
anything, he's burying. We're burying that.
We're we want to be like Jeremiah, you know, that fire
shut up in our bones and we can't we can't retain it.
We got to get it out. OK, All right, let's go.
OK. And all right, Matthew 24 and
three. Here's the 24.
Matthew 24. Three.
All right, it says. Now, as he sat on the Mount of
Olives, the disciples came to him privately saying, Tell us,
when will these things be? And what will the sign of your
coming in the end of the age? Listen?
And Jesus answered and said to them, Take heed that no one
deceives you. For many will come in my name,
saying, I am the Christ, and will deceive many.
And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars.
See that you are not troubled, for all these things must come
to pass, but the end is not yet, it says, For nations will rise
against nations, and Kingdom against Kingdom, and there will
be famines, pestilence, earthquakes in various places,
and all these are the beginning of sorrows.
I don't know about you, that sounds familiar, it says.
Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and
you will be hated by all nations by mind that for my name's sake,
and will hate one another. Offended will betray one another
and will hate one another. Says.
Then many false prophets will rise up and and deceive many,
and because of lawlessness will abound.
The love of many will grow cold, but but Pastor Lewis, he likes
that it's something good. But he who endures to the end
shall be saved. That's you know, you're going to
when you go out, when you go forward, when you go through the
gates, when you give that message, some people are going
to receive it. Some people aren't.
Some people are going to say you're crazy.
I don't believe it. All right.
All right, and there's there's already all that lawlessness in
this nation, you know, and and all of those things seems like
it's going on right now. But he says, but he who endures,
see, we got to stay in fast to the end will be saved.
And this gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in all the
world as a witness to all the nations.
And then the end will come, OK, all the world, all the nations,
this gospel will be preached. Let's just be part of that
around here or, you know, and your own, you know, environment,
all the world. See back there when they were
talking about, you know, the Israelites and what they're
doing and all the Babylon's all with it.
But you know, but it's all see and you put yourself, it's us
because there's there's no more Greek and Gentile or whatever.
We're all one in Jesus Christ, all right?
Let's go to, let's go to Ephesians.
All right, now, Ephesians, Ephesians 219.
Now this is OK. Now listen 19 it says.
Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners,
but fellow citizens, with the Saints and members of the
household of God having been built on the foundation of the
apostles and the prophets. Jesus Christ Himself being the
chief cornerstone in whom the whole building being fitted
together grows into a holy temple in the Lord in whom you
also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in
the spirit. I always think of this when,
when I'm reading this of with Christ being that chief
cornerstone and, and the builder is, you know, has other stones
around because they're all part of his Kingdom.
But we're all, you know, have different ministries and, and
different responsibilities or whatever.
But he's going around and he's picking up those stones and he's
form and fasten them, fitting them into the form of building
to build a building. OK, but as he's we are part of
his, his Kingdom, all right, and he's fitting us together for a
purpose is to, you know, to go out and and just to speak to
whatever whatever that is that he wants you to do, to step
forward out of our comfort zones into his, his gloriness.
And you know, those things that he's given us to do.
All right, it's a but we are in 21 in whom the whole building
being fitted together, grows into a holy temple.
We, us, all of us in that part of that building we are.
OK, let's go to Romans. Romans 8.
This is one of my favorite chapters.
Romans 8 Start with verse 31. It says what then?
OK, after reading all that right, it says, OK then what
then shall we say to these things?
If God is for us, who can be against us?
It says, He who did not spare his own Son, but delivered him
up for us all, how shall not with Him also freely give us all
things? It says we shall bring.
It says we who? Who shall bring a charge against
God's elect? It is God who justifies.
Who is he who condemns? Who is he who condemns?
It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who
is even at the right hand of God, who also makes
intercessions for us, Who shall separate us from the love of
Christ? So tribulation, you're going to
have troubles, you're going to have tribulations in our life.
Is it going to separate us from the love of Christ or distress
or persecution or famine, All those things that we mentioned
before. It says those things are like
going on. You know, it's, it's, it's
happening. It says so.
Or nakedness or peril or sword as is written for your sake.
We are killed all day long. We are counted as sheep for the
slaughter, yet in all these things we are more than
conquerors. Through him who loved us and
says, For I am persuaded all right, I am persuaded that
neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor
power, nor things present, nor things that come, nor height nor
depth, nor any other created things shall be able to separate
us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
OK, nothing. When those things, when you're
out, when you're speaking, when God-given us that boldness to
move forward, don't let nothing separate us.
He's with us and he's saying that nothing, all right, nothing
will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in
Christ Jesus. All right, a few more here.
Philippians 3, Philippians 3 and and 15.
We'll start with 12. We'll start with 12.
It says not that I have already obtained nothing.
I've already taken when when Isaiah when he accepted that
call. I got to go back to that one now
and Isaiah 6. I just want to read this real
quick. When he accepted that, he says,
woe is me, for I am undone because I am a man of unclean
lips and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips.
For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.
He didn't think he was, you know, he's what was me.
He's he got unclean lips. He dwells with people with
unclean lips. But he's seen, OK, He's seen the
Lord of hosts, the King, the Lord of hosts.
All right, not that I have already obtained.
He didn't have it yet, but he was purged by by the Lord, OK,
and he was able to do the things he says here am I send me.
All right, it says or am already perfect, but I press on, press
on that I might lay hold of that which Christ Jesus has also laid
hold of me, brother, and I do not count myself to have
apprehended but one thing I do forget those things which are
behind and reaching forward, moving forward to those things
which are ahead. I press toward the goal of the
prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
That prize, you know, that's that the prom, eternal life for
all those that we know and love, don't we?
That's that the promise of eternal life.
And they brought him through the Red Sea, all those Israelites
and they were looking for they were coming into the promised
land, right? They came into that land.
They're sinning, doing whatever and judges it's all about sin
and turn away from God and going back and forth.
All right, then they're looking for the coming of Christ and
Christ is, you know, is coming. Now we're looking for the return
of Christ. But all through that we've got
in and out. You got, you know, sin and we're
crying out and sin and trying out in times of trouble.
And it's still going on, crying out in times of trouble and
turning. But, you know, if be steadfast
in him planted by that river of water, right, and not turning
aside, nothing will separate us, as the other Scripture said,
from us. But we're going to, we have to
press on a head for that prize, all right?
All right, let's go to a couple more.
Hebrew 11. Hebrews 11/30.
No. Hebrew 11:30.
It's L Star that says by faith. That's that.
That's faith. OK, it says by faith, the walls
of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days.
Now we talk about going in that, being in that fire and all that.
Well, Joshua, all right, Joshua had to bring them over the
Jordan. And here he's standing before
the commander of the Lord's army.
Remember that? And he said, he said, are you
for us or against us? He's talking to the commander of
the Lord's army, Christ itself. Are you for us or you against
us? And he said I am the commander
of the Lord's army. He didn't say it was for you or
against them. He didn't say that.
He said I am the commander of the Lord's army.
And that was Jesus Christ itself.
And I think of that and I think of, you know, as they brought
them through and the things that that we do in life and the
things that even looking back at the Israelites and in Judges and
and crying out to God and doing their own thing and crying out
to God and whatever, you know, and Joshua had to put up with
with those things. But but and he was with Moses
too. So he's seen it.
OK, He's remember they held up Moses arms.
You know, he was in a battle. So he knows.
Oh, OK, but he was in the OK, but he listened to the the
commandment of the commander of the Lord's army.
He listened to what he said to do to capture Jericho.
All right, OK, let's go on. It says by Faith, the harlot
Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe when she had
received the spies with peace Rahab the harlot, OK, Now, yes,
she received and said by Faith, OK, she did these things.
Now, if you listen to that story, the harlot Rahab, the
spies came, she hid them, OK, And those soldiers came in,
Where are they? She hid them right, but when
they came down, the soldiers left and she told him to lie and
whatever he knows well, but she told him she's I've heard how
God has brought you through the Red Sea.
I've heard how he took care of you all right, did all those
things all right for them all right.
He heard that she says I know that you're God is God.
She had that faith. That's why she's mentioned here.
She had that that faith because she knew she accepted all right
and she she knew and she was saved because of her faith and
who she knew God was all right, let's go on.
It says it says and what more shall I say for the time would
fill me to tell of Gideon. Gideon.
He was in that time of judges. OK, and, and when the Angel of
the Lord, OK, when the OK, when the Angel of the Lord, when the
Angel of the Lord came to him, all right, the Angel of the Lord
came to him all right. And he says he what he say he
said the Lord is with you, my mighty man of valor.
And he says, what are you talking about, mighty man of
valor? He says, you know, if the Lord
is with us, why is all these things happening to us?
Didn't he? Why is all these things
happening to us? But he believed he had faith and
he went forward to do what he had to do with faith.
He said he was the least of his house.
He was the this tribe was the least in his father, was the
least in his tribe. I mean, he, he was the least in
his father's tribe. OK?
But he went forward. All right, I got to get going
here. Samson, we know about Samson.
You know he loved his women whatever Jetha, he took the vow
and he said when he comes back in peace that when the first
thing that walks out of the house, you know that he was
going to have a burnt, burnt sacrifice.
But all of these are mentioned here because of their faith.
David we know David and what he did and all that Samuel and the
prophet prophets and it says who then faith and subdued kingdoms
walk worked righteousness obtained promise, but they all
through faith. All right, that's OK.
One more, one more I got to quit one more.
OK, I'm going to go to the book of Esther.
All right, Esther chapter 4. And we know this story about
Esther and Mordecai and Hammond conspired to kill the Jews, all
right? And and he convinced the king
that the Jews must die. And he did his signet on and all
that. OK.
But now Esther and Mordecai passing notes back and forth.
Mordecai was saying, look, you got to go in and tell the king.
You got to speak on our behalf, all right?
And then. OK.
And then listen to this. It says all and 11 all the
King's servants and the people of the King's provinces knew
that any man or woman who goes into the inner courts of the
king who has not been called, it says they're going to perish,
you're going to die, don't matter.
It's the law, they're going to go.
They haven't been called. All right, but this is what, OK,
Mordecai told them. This is what I want to, it says.
And Mordecai told them to answer Esther.
It says, do not think in your heart that you will escape in
the King's palace any more than all the other Jews.
For if you remain completely silent at this time, listen to
that. Don't think that you're going to
be safe because you're up in there and you're Queen Esther,
right? It says for if you remain
completely silent at this time moving forward, speaking on
behalf of God, if you remain completely sad this time, relief
and deliverance will arise for the Jews from some other place.
OK, they're, you know, they're going to get saved from other
sources. But he said, but suppose whether
you have come to the Kingdom for such a time as this, Did you,
did you, did you hear that? When I heard this, I'm saying,
but you and your father's house will Paris and says yet who
knows? So when we're speaking and you
can, you can come up now when you're speaking, you don't know
what's going to happen, right? You don't know what, what's
going to come out of your mouth that's going to help somebody
who's going to save somebody who you can minister to, who you can
strengthen. And it and I just think that
this he's, he's calling us to get out of our Christian comfort
zone, Amen, our Christian comfort zone.
And in this church, we have all kind of ministries, all right,
we have a prayer group that meets every Thursday night.
You know, all this, our children's ministry, all we can
help in those ministries and and just doing that even, but it
builds up, builds us up so we can go out and minister to
others. It builds our own personal
ministries up that we can go out our talents, our abilities.
I love it when I see Francis up here playing the organ that me
that's like my goodness, like use what God has given us is
what I'm saying, Use what God has given us to step forward
into what he wants us to do Amen.
Let us take communion.
Hallelujah. No, we just, we just thank you,
Lord, for just how you speak, how you want us to move, how
you, yes, one has to not, not keep still, Lord God, but to
keep moving forward and professing who you are in our
life, Lord God. And it says, For I receive from
the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord
Jesus on the same night in which he was portrayed, he took bread.
And when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, take, eat.
This is my body which is broken, for you do this in remembrance
of me. In the same manner He also took
the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in
my blood. This do as often as you drink it
in remembrance of me. For as ousting as you eat this
bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until
he comes. And that's we got to proclaim
the Lord's death until he comes. We have to let's be bold.
Let's us we be bold for what God is doing at this time, in such a
time as this. We don't know when he's coming
back. I know when I was a young boy in
church, it's like and I heard them say, oh, this is troubled
times and it's got to be the end times.
We don't know when the end times are, but this is what we do know
that we love the Lord and we want all those that we know to
come to him and receive them to enjoy this life that we have.
Amen.