1 00:00:01,760 --> 00:00:05,480 Well, if you're cold this morning, find somebody that's 2 00:00:05,480 --> 00:00:11,240 not set closer to. All right, that might help you 3 00:00:11,240 --> 00:00:13,040 out just a little bit. Amen. 4 00:00:13,040 --> 00:00:15,240 Here today. Amen. 5 00:00:15,560 --> 00:00:18,400 We're going to be turning to the book of Genesis Chapter 7. 6 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:26,120 Genesis Chapter 7. Yeah. 7 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:30,680 There's been things going on this week on social media about 8 00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:34,840 things that I say and things like that, and that's all right. 9 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:39,480 I've been praying about it all and so on and so forth. 10 00:00:39,480 --> 00:00:43,680 So, but Genesis chapter #7 you folks, here's the thing. 11 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:47,320 I started my Bible reading over. And so I've been through Genesis 12 00:00:47,320 --> 00:00:51,560 and just, it's just what it is, you know, so on and so forth. 13 00:00:51,560 --> 00:00:54,120 Matter of fact, I was here yesterday and I was doing some 14 00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:57,440 things and I came over and I'd forgot my reading glasses. 15 00:00:57,840 --> 00:01:01,440 And I can't almost operate like even write my name on the check 16 00:01:01,440 --> 00:01:04,640 without, you know, being able to see it clearly anymore without 17 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:07,400 having reading glasses. And so, you know, the bad 18 00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:10,200 traffic here in Mount Carmel, I didn't want to travel all the 19 00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:14,800 way across town to go get them. And so I just ran up here to 20 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:17,400 like the Dollar Tree and I'm going to get me another pair. 21 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:21,040 You know, they cost like a dollar, $25.50 up there at the 22 00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:23,240 Dollar Tree. So I go up there and I'm looking 23 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:26,960 at all their reading glasses and they have, I don't know why they 24 00:01:26,960 --> 00:01:28,320 do this. I don't know. 25 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:32,080 But they have different like fashions or types for the 26 00:01:32,080 --> 00:01:35,240 different magnifications that there are, like you can't find 27 00:01:35,240 --> 00:01:37,440 the same type and all the different magnifications. 28 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:40,720 And so I try to pair on and I felt like, but I needed my 29 00:01:40,720 --> 00:01:43,440 wife's, you know, endorsement that maybe it looked a little 30 00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:45,720 feminine, you know, kind of almost had the little cat eye 31 00:01:45,720 --> 00:01:48,560 thing there on the side. So I I had them on. 32 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:51,600 I took a picture and sent it to my wife. 33 00:01:51,600 --> 00:01:54,760 I said, do you think these are no, no, no, you don't need that. 34 00:01:54,760 --> 00:01:57,960 I said, OK, so I'm looking down through there again, you know 35 00:01:57,960 --> 00:02:01,880 the because there I needed, I only need a 1.25 magnification. 36 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:04,400 But I only had so many. I mean they had some like 37 00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:07,400 cheetah print ones. I knew those was a no go, hard, 38 00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:10,000 fast no go. And so then they had these like 39 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:11,880 kind of wire ones. I put them on center picture. 40 00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:13,480 She says no. She says those are the type that 41 00:02:13,480 --> 00:02:18,040 serial killers where and so I threw those. 42 00:02:18,280 --> 00:02:22,320 I'm grasping to say the least. I could have went home and got 43 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:24,840 my reading glasses, been back at the church a whole lot sooner 44 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:26,560 than standing there trying to pick out some. 45 00:02:26,920 --> 00:02:29,680 So I finally found some that folded all the way up till like 46 00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:33,120 1 lens on top of the other and at that point I thought it 47 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:35,640 really don't matter. So I'm not even going to show 48 00:02:35,640 --> 00:02:38,480 you all what they are because it probably has some association 49 00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:42,080 with something. So nonetheless, these are my 50 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:45,200 ones I usually wear. OK, Genesis Chapter 7. 51 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:46,720 Sorry to keep you standing here today. 52 00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:50,360 That's just a little glimpse into the life of all right, just 53 00:02:50,360 --> 00:02:52,080 one verse. And so you won't be standing 54 00:02:52,080 --> 00:02:54,800 long. The Bible says, and the Lord 55 00:02:54,800 --> 00:03:01,560 said unto Noah, come thou and all thy house into the ark, for 56 00:03:01,560 --> 00:03:06,840 thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation? 57 00:03:07,200 --> 00:03:10,280 There's one phrase out of this particular verse that the 58 00:03:10,280 --> 00:03:13,680 contemporary English version states like this. 59 00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:15,760 It says, where it says, come down all thy house. 60 00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:20,720 It says, take your whole family with you into the boat. 61 00:03:21,240 --> 00:03:23,680 Take your whole family with you into the boat. 62 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:25,920 And for a little while this morning, I just want to talk to 63 00:03:25,920 --> 00:03:29,360 you about the family church. All right, the family church. 64 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:31,280 I'm not necessarily meaning everybody that goes to church is 65 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:34,960 related, but the family church. All right, let's talk to the 66 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:37,560 Lord right now. Father, I need you today, God 67 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:40,000 that you're able to help our hearts and our minds today. 68 00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:43,200 God, give us the Lord Jesus. I pray, Lord, some direction 69 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:45,480 through your word. It's a living word, God. 70 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:47,840 It's applicable, Lord, for everyday lives. 71 00:03:47,840 --> 00:03:51,920 I pray God that we could, Lord, derive something today, God, 72 00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:54,360 that would help us, Lord, in our walk and our journey. 73 00:03:54,640 --> 00:03:58,320 Encourage someone strengthen someone, Lord, it's profitable 74 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:01,800 or instruction and reproof and rebuke all those things at 75 00:04:01,800 --> 00:04:05,560 different times in our lives and we accepted as so in the name of 76 00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:09,320 Jesus Christ that I pray a man you may be seated this morning 77 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:13,720 in Jesus name. When we look through Scripture 78 00:04:13,720 --> 00:04:18,160 from Genesis to Revelations. There really isn't no direct 79 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:25,800 verse that explicitly equates the church with a boat or with a 80 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:28,120 ship. But as we read the biblical 81 00:04:28,120 --> 00:04:31,720 record, there are several biblical examples and they're 82 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:35,880 even examples in our our our real world of art and literature 83 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:41,560 and hymnals and lyrics of songs that uses boats or ships as 84 00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:44,720 metaphors for the church. As a matter of fact, when we 85 00:04:44,720 --> 00:04:49,560 read in the New Testament, the Gospels Jesus called at least we 86 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:52,880 know at least four of the disciples were were fishermen to 87 00:04:52,880 --> 00:04:57,240 be made fishers of men. And we see that Jesus OFT taught 88 00:04:57,240 --> 00:05:01,160 from boats or he had Peter one time push a little further out 89 00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:04,400 from the shore that he could stand in the boat and he could 90 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:08,000 instruct his followers. He instructed his disciples at 91 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:12,600 one time who were fishermen to pull their Nets into a boat. 92 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:16,040 And even some of the miracles that we see in the Gospels 93 00:05:16,280 --> 00:05:19,880 center around fishing or boats or things of that nature. 94 00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:25,480 Peter walking out on the water, he was big come out of a boat, 95 00:05:25,480 --> 00:05:29,080 the calming of the sea when Jesus was walking there and they 96 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:33,440 bid him into their boat. All all includes boats. 97 00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:38,920 As a matter of fact, in history, the the Roman catacombs over in 98 00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:41,600 Italy, there's a lot of depictions and paintings in 99 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:46,360 those catacombs and many of those are depicting boats as the 100 00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:49,680 church. Many even see that the mass of 101 00:05:49,680 --> 00:05:54,280 those boats in those days were in that cross like fashion, you 102 00:05:54,280 --> 00:05:58,280 know, reminding us of Calvary Saint Augustine, a person that 103 00:05:58,280 --> 00:06:00,880 you probably have heard of at least back in the 4th and 5th 104 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:03,200 centuries. There was a particular sermon, 105 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:05,600 it was called sermon #75. They numbered them. 106 00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:11,040 Then described the church as a ship carrying believers safely 107 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:15,360 to God's eternal Arbor. Anybody that may be familiar 108 00:06:15,360 --> 00:06:19,040 with CS Lewis and his writing. Another famed person of the 109 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:23,360 past, The Chronicles of Narnia. One of those are called in the 110 00:06:23,360 --> 00:06:27,960 Voyage of the Dawn Treader. He describes a ships journey as 111 00:06:28,040 --> 00:06:31,440 a Christians journey in life and experience. 112 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:35,800 Even some of the old hymnals I know that they don't get a song 113 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:40,000 as OFT as they used to, but some of the old hymnals portrayed the 114 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:43,520 church as a ship. One traditional hymn entitled 115 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:48,720 Jesus savior pilot me. It's lyrics are this and it was 116 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:53,120 Jesus savior pilot me over life's impetuous sea. 117 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:58,800 Another one was come all you people come aboard the the, the, 118 00:06:58,840 --> 00:07:02,720 the, the, the lyrics were come aboard the gospel ship. 119 00:07:03,080 --> 00:07:05,880 It's selling on. And there's many others that 120 00:07:05,880 --> 00:07:10,440 mentioned anchors and sailing and lifeboats and the sea of 121 00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:12,000 life. The old spiritual. 122 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:16,000 We can't forget the old ship of Zion. 123 00:07:16,440 --> 00:07:19,920 There was another writer and and author and theologian Tertullian 124 00:07:19,920 --> 00:07:23,000 in the second and third centuries explicitly used 125 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:27,680 imagery of Noah's ark to describe the church as a vessel 126 00:07:27,680 --> 00:07:30,520 of salvation. And so whenever we look at 127 00:07:30,520 --> 00:07:34,240 Noah's ark, and this is a story that's familiar to some if 128 00:07:34,240 --> 00:07:37,320 you've been reared in church and heard the Sunday school classes 129 00:07:37,320 --> 00:07:40,120 and the teaching of it, Noah's ark was a boat. 130 00:07:40,120 --> 00:07:45,400 It was it was a ship of source and it it had immense size. 131 00:07:45,440 --> 00:07:48,600 Anybody that's been over in Kentucky to go to the Arc 132 00:07:48,600 --> 00:07:52,320 experience to see that there upon the landscape, understand 133 00:07:52,320 --> 00:07:57,120 the immensity of the size of it. If a cubit, if a cubit was about 134 00:07:57,120 --> 00:08:02,280 18 inches, then it was 450 feet long that that's big. 135 00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:07,840 That's about 1 1/2 football fields long, 450 feet long, 75 136 00:08:07,840 --> 00:08:12,840 feet broad, 45 feet high, consisted of three stories. 137 00:08:12,840 --> 00:08:18,000 It had one door and one window ish type of window situation. 138 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:21,080 But the Arc's purpose wasn't for fishing. 139 00:08:21,560 --> 00:08:24,880 The Arc's purpose wasn't for imports and exports. 140 00:08:24,880 --> 00:08:28,800 It was not used for recreational activity. 141 00:08:29,160 --> 00:08:31,960 There was no rudder or wheel on the ark. 142 00:08:33,640 --> 00:08:36,799 Scholar Warren Wisby said the vessel was designed for 143 00:08:36,799 --> 00:08:40,679 flotation and not for navigation, meaning that it 144 00:08:40,679 --> 00:08:44,880 wasn't up to Noah, it wasn't up to his family members to direct 145 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:49,040 or drive the ark. They trusted what they climbed 146 00:08:49,080 --> 00:08:54,560 into and God steered the ark. God directed the ark. 147 00:08:54,760 --> 00:09:00,520 It was God's design and it was God's direction concerning the 148 00:09:00,520 --> 00:09:03,400 ark. God had Noah build the ark, the 149 00:09:03,400 --> 00:09:09,040 Bible tells us, according to his will, according to his design 150 00:09:09,040 --> 00:09:13,320 for the purpose to save all living things that would depend 151 00:09:13,320 --> 00:09:18,200 upon it, namely also them Noah and his family. 152 00:09:18,520 --> 00:09:23,120 But likewise today as a history and literature and even Bible 153 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:25,120 examples. This close connection between 154 00:09:25,120 --> 00:09:30,680 boats and ships and the church. The church also is God's design 155 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:35,240 and the the church also operates under God's direction. 156 00:09:35,600 --> 00:09:42,360 Jesus told Peter, he said Peter, upon this rock I will build my 157 00:09:42,480 --> 00:09:47,280 church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 158 00:09:47,560 --> 00:09:50,080 As a matter of fact, we know from Scripture that any minister 159 00:09:50,080 --> 00:09:53,960 trying to build a church Amen, must follow the original plan of 160 00:09:53,960 --> 00:09:56,560 God. The psalmist said except the 161 00:09:56,560 --> 00:10:03,120 Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it, Amen. 162 00:10:03,120 --> 00:10:08,560 The the labor he has laid out for us, it is in vain unless the 163 00:10:08,560 --> 00:10:12,280 Lord is in partnership and it's according to his design. 164 00:10:12,560 --> 00:10:15,920 And after his way, Jesus addressed his followers, the 165 00:10:15,920 --> 00:10:20,200 church, if you will, and he informed them that the Spirit of 166 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:23,240 truth, Speaking of the Holy Ghost, that the Spirit of truth 167 00:10:23,240 --> 00:10:28,960 would come and that he would guide them into all truth, Amen. 168 00:10:28,960 --> 00:10:32,200 That the Spirit would do the guiding, the Spirit would do the 169 00:10:32,320 --> 00:10:34,960 directing. And so there were explicit 170 00:10:34,960 --> 00:10:38,360 instructions and there were explicit corrections, if you 171 00:10:38,360 --> 00:10:41,440 will, that the Spirit would give to the church to direct and 172 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:43,440 guide the church. As a matter of fact, when we 173 00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:46,880 read in the Book of Revelation, chapters 2 and three, all the 174 00:10:46,880 --> 00:10:50,280 seven letters that were written to the seven churches of Asia, 175 00:10:50,600 --> 00:10:53,000 Amen. It is the Spirit in such that's 176 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:55,960 given instruction. It's the Spirit that's given 177 00:10:55,960 --> 00:11:00,080 correction, that serves nothing more but clear evidence once 178 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:03,360 again, that God, God directs his church. 179 00:11:03,600 --> 00:11:07,160 God directs it. God has designed it. 180 00:11:07,320 --> 00:11:11,120 And being a part of the church and attending services for that 181 00:11:11,120 --> 00:11:13,480 matter. If we talk about church on 22 182 00:11:13,480 --> 00:11:16,640 levels today, the church, yes, it's a place that we come to an 183 00:11:16,640 --> 00:11:19,560 edifice in a structure, Amen, where we come to worship. 184 00:11:19,720 --> 00:11:21,800 But the church also is without walls. 185 00:11:21,800 --> 00:11:25,720 The church is the body of Christ, The church is the bride 186 00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:28,520 of Christ. And so on 2 levels, I guess this 187 00:11:28,520 --> 00:11:31,760 morning when we come to the church, the actual building, and 188 00:11:32,080 --> 00:11:34,760 we attend in services, we have this hope. 189 00:11:34,760 --> 00:11:38,960 The Bible tells us in Hebrews 10 that when we come together that 190 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:45,120 we are to provoke one another to love and to good works. 191 00:11:45,520 --> 00:11:49,160 It's after he says that then he says fill not the assembling of 192 00:11:49,160 --> 00:11:53,640 yourself together as the manner of some is Even so much the more 193 00:11:53,880 --> 00:11:56,760 as you see the day approaching because there is guidance. 194 00:11:56,760 --> 00:11:59,760 There's a provoking even from the collective body for one 195 00:11:59,760 --> 00:12:02,240 another. I challenge you, you challenge 196 00:12:02,240 --> 00:12:06,560 me you we call each other up to a higher place, if you will, 197 00:12:06,720 --> 00:12:11,320 according as the body of God and so God's spirit is in his people 198 00:12:11,320 --> 00:12:14,280 and it's guiding us collectively as a body. 199 00:12:14,520 --> 00:12:18,800 And so your journey inspires me what God is doing for your life. 200 00:12:18,800 --> 00:12:22,640 That inspires me because I think if God can do that for you, then 201 00:12:22,640 --> 00:12:26,160 God can do that for me, right? And so there's an inspiration in 202 00:12:26,160 --> 00:12:27,520 that. There's a little bit of hope, 203 00:12:27,840 --> 00:12:29,160 Amen. That's instilled within the 204 00:12:29,160 --> 00:12:33,120 minds and hearts of individuals. It motivates us as a people. 205 00:12:33,360 --> 00:12:36,120 But when we looked at Scripture, this arc, this arc that's 206 00:12:36,120 --> 00:12:40,400 mentioned in chapter 6 and 7-8 and nine of Genesis and 207 00:12:40,400 --> 00:12:44,840 everything that's going on in the world, God said in Genesis 208 00:12:44,840 --> 00:12:49,320 6/13, he said, the end of all flesh is come before me. 209 00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:52,480 He says, behold, he says a little later there he says, 210 00:12:52,480 --> 00:12:55,480 behold, I will destroy them with the earth. 211 00:12:55,720 --> 00:12:59,080 The Bible says the heart of man was wicked and continually 212 00:12:59,080 --> 00:13:02,240 wicked in this day. It just was getting worse and 213 00:13:02,240 --> 00:13:05,560 worse and God was going to just kind of scratch things off and 214 00:13:05,560 --> 00:13:08,880 start anew, if you will, with Noah and his family. 215 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:12,080 But notice what he said. He said all flesh has come and 216 00:13:12,080 --> 00:13:15,360 I'm going to destroy the the earth with them. 217 00:13:15,520 --> 00:13:20,880 Look at verse 17 now and behold, I, this is God, even I, I do 218 00:13:20,880 --> 00:13:25,560 bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh, 219 00:13:25,720 --> 00:13:28,720 wherein is the breath of life. So he says, everything that 220 00:13:28,720 --> 00:13:32,240 breathes, I'm going to destroy from under heaven, and 221 00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:34,800 everything that is in the earth shall die. 222 00:13:34,800 --> 00:13:37,400 This is God speaking. This is his intention. 223 00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:41,160 This is what he's going to do. But when we come to verse #18 224 00:13:41,160 --> 00:13:44,600 and everything that God has laid out, there's this great word of 225 00:13:44,600 --> 00:13:50,720 contrast, He says, but we could destroy everything that has has 226 00:13:50,720 --> 00:13:53,520 breath in it, everything that breathes, because there's 227 00:13:53,520 --> 00:13:55,360 wickedness and there's evil over the earth. 228 00:13:55,680 --> 00:14:02,120 But with thee speaking to Noah, with thee will I establish my 229 00:14:02,120 --> 00:14:06,560 covenant. And thou shalt come into the 230 00:14:06,560 --> 00:14:11,680 ark, and thy sons and thy wife and thy sons wives with thee. 231 00:14:11,680 --> 00:14:14,360 In other words, he says, this is what's going to happen. 232 00:14:14,600 --> 00:14:19,640 There is pending destruction. There is pending punishment, if 233 00:14:19,640 --> 00:14:22,040 you will, for the evil that's in the land. 234 00:14:22,040 --> 00:14:25,720 I'm going to destroy and annihilate everything, he said. 235 00:14:25,720 --> 00:14:29,280 But Noah, I want to make a covenant with you. 236 00:14:29,720 --> 00:14:33,960 And part and parcel, a part of that covenant is you getting on 237 00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:36,600 the ark. Not just you, Noah, but your 238 00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:41,280 wife, your son's wives, your son's all getting on the ark. 239 00:14:41,280 --> 00:14:43,920 God says I'm going to establish a covenant with you. 240 00:14:44,240 --> 00:14:47,600 And part of that is my instruction for you getting on 241 00:14:47,640 --> 00:14:50,440 the ark. He says destruction is coming, 242 00:14:50,440 --> 00:14:52,880 folks. It is a mirror of where we are 243 00:14:52,880 --> 00:14:56,560 standing today. There is already been prophesied 244 00:14:56,560 --> 00:14:59,320 in Scripture. There is a end of the age and I 245 00:14:59,320 --> 00:15:02,200 believe we're living in the age of the end. 246 00:15:02,560 --> 00:15:05,640 And with that being said, there is destruction that is going to 247 00:15:05,640 --> 00:15:09,400 come to this earth again. God promised I will not do it by 248 00:15:09,400 --> 00:15:11,160 water. I will not take the whole world 249 00:15:11,160 --> 00:15:13,240 by water again. Nope, I'm not going to do it. 250 00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:17,120 It won't be by water this time. Scripture seems to indicate to 251 00:15:17,120 --> 00:15:19,920 us that it will be by fire. Amen. 252 00:15:19,920 --> 00:15:21,680 But there is going to be destruction. 253 00:15:22,680 --> 00:15:25,240 Every living thing, everything else that exists, there's going 254 00:15:25,240 --> 00:15:28,720 to be something taking place. But he has made a call. 255 00:15:28,720 --> 00:15:32,560 There is still a conjunction of a but in the sentence, so to 256 00:15:32,560 --> 00:15:34,880 speak, he says. But I want to make a covenant 257 00:15:34,880 --> 00:15:37,360 with some people. And I want them and their 258 00:15:37,360 --> 00:15:39,920 families and their loved ones and people that they have 259 00:15:39,920 --> 00:15:42,840 acquaintances with and friends and neighbors and whoever they 260 00:15:42,880 --> 00:15:46,080 are, I want them to get on the ark, so to speak. 261 00:15:46,080 --> 00:15:48,560 I want them to become a part of the church. 262 00:15:48,680 --> 00:15:51,480 I want them to become a part of the pride of Christ. 263 00:15:51,480 --> 00:15:55,680 This is a family church. This is a relative church. 264 00:15:55,680 --> 00:15:57,760 This is a an acquaintance church. 265 00:15:57,760 --> 00:16:00,680 This is a your friend and neighbor and loved one church. 266 00:16:00,680 --> 00:16:04,520 This is a cashier, a man at Walmart church. 267 00:16:04,520 --> 00:16:11,560 This is a psalmist understood. He understood he wrote in Psalms 268 00:16:11,560 --> 00:16:14,760 20 and verse two. He he understood the help of the 269 00:16:14,760 --> 00:16:16,760 strength that the church provided. 270 00:16:17,080 --> 00:16:21,880 He specifically called for some help from the sanctuary or some 271 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:27,160 strength from Zion. And although that early humanity 272 00:16:27,160 --> 00:16:30,320 would face a catastrophic flood. Amen. 273 00:16:30,320 --> 00:16:34,880 The experience listen to me. The experience inside the ark 274 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:39,040 was vastly different from the experience outside the ark. 275 00:16:39,320 --> 00:16:41,880 What they experienced inside was different than what they 276 00:16:41,880 --> 00:16:46,280 experienced outside and wherever they place themselves. 277 00:16:46,280 --> 00:16:49,240 It didn't matter in or out if you were a body that was 278 00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:52,560 floating, the water that was rising, or a body that was 279 00:16:52,560 --> 00:16:55,240 inside the ark. You are going to experience, if 280 00:16:55,240 --> 00:16:59,760 you will, the ups and the downs of the billows of the ever 281 00:16:59,760 --> 00:17:03,640 increasing waves. But those inside the ark was 282 00:17:03,640 --> 00:17:07,720 going to survive the UPS and the downs, whereas those outside the 283 00:17:07,720 --> 00:17:11,119 ark would not survive the UPS and the downs do. 284 00:17:11,920 --> 00:17:16,040 Hey man, due to the destruction on the outside of the ark, all 285 00:17:16,040 --> 00:17:20,560 of the trees, Amen, that were permitted to them for food prior 286 00:17:20,560 --> 00:17:24,200 to the flood, from our estimation of scripture, were 287 00:17:24,200 --> 00:17:28,520 destroyed, or at least underwater, inaccessible if you 288 00:17:28,520 --> 00:17:30,600 will. That was outside the ark. 289 00:17:30,800 --> 00:17:33,320 But inside the ark there was provision. 290 00:17:33,520 --> 00:17:37,960 Inside the ark there was food. There was life inside the ark. 291 00:17:38,160 --> 00:17:40,360 There was starvation outside the ark. 292 00:17:40,520 --> 00:17:44,520 There was hope inside the ark. There was hopelessness outside 293 00:17:44,520 --> 00:17:46,760 the ark. There was death outside the ark. 294 00:17:46,960 --> 00:17:50,960 God's words then to Noah are more sensible today than they 295 00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:54,040 ever was. Hallelujah, Noah, I'm telling 296 00:17:54,040 --> 00:17:57,240 you, you need to take your whole family and get on the boat. 297 00:17:57,440 --> 00:18:04,320 Take your whole family and get all of them. 298 00:18:06,560 --> 00:18:09,880 Parents are switched today. This I'm noticed this morning. 299 00:18:09,960 --> 00:18:12,640 There's nothing wrong with it. Christmas time, birthdays and 300 00:18:12,640 --> 00:18:14,960 things like that. Parents are switched today of 301 00:18:14,960 --> 00:18:17,160 how they give gifts to their children. 302 00:18:18,600 --> 00:18:22,320 Special occasions that their kids may have now may not 303 00:18:22,320 --> 00:18:27,720 involved a tangible gift, but a lot of Times Now, today they 304 00:18:27,720 --> 00:18:31,560 want to give them the gift of an experience. 305 00:18:34,600 --> 00:18:38,200 Yeah, they arranged for their families, and I've seen it even 306 00:18:38,200 --> 00:18:41,200 just this past Christmas, arranged for their families to 307 00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:46,520 go on a cruise to the Bahamas. Yeah, or perhaps they'll give 308 00:18:46,520 --> 00:18:52,160 their teenage daughter a trip to New York City or maybe out of 309 00:18:52,160 --> 00:18:55,640 country to Paris. You know, they have a little 310 00:18:55,640 --> 00:18:59,080 more means. They're gifting their family an 311 00:18:59,080 --> 00:19:05,160 experience. I can hear Noah though gathering 312 00:19:05,160 --> 00:19:10,000 the family together. Guys, I want us to experience 313 00:19:10,000 --> 00:19:14,800 something together. We got some time here to do this 314 00:19:14,800 --> 00:19:18,040 and and to build this according to God's design. 315 00:19:18,040 --> 00:19:21,600 And honey, I really thought about getting you a new goat 316 00:19:21,600 --> 00:19:24,640 skin garment. You know, I was really 317 00:19:24,640 --> 00:19:28,040 considering getting you that. And, and, and, and she and I, I 318 00:19:28,040 --> 00:19:30,840 really was going to whittle the wood and make you a new wooden 319 00:19:30,840 --> 00:19:33,840 bow with some straighter arrows than what you have right now is 320 00:19:34,160 --> 00:19:35,720 It's really going to do that for you. 321 00:19:35,720 --> 00:19:38,840 But instead, why don't we build a boat together? 322 00:19:39,800 --> 00:19:43,000 And how about whenever it's finished and at the appropriate 323 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:47,720 time, let's all go on a cruise. Let let let's just all get on 324 00:19:47,720 --> 00:19:50,800 the boat. Because I realize I know guys, 325 00:19:50,800 --> 00:19:53,280 there's no water right now, but there will be. 326 00:19:53,360 --> 00:19:56,920 But I want to give you an experience this year. 327 00:19:57,520 --> 00:20:00,000 Can I tell you, ladies and gentlemen, I wish we could 328 00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:02,600 somehow adopt that modern day mindset. 329 00:20:02,920 --> 00:20:04,600 Amen. Because there is no better 330 00:20:04,600 --> 00:20:08,840 experience to introduce your family, or anybody else to for 331 00:20:08,840 --> 00:20:13,360 that matter, than the experience of being a part of the church 332 00:20:13,640 --> 00:20:18,320 being up. It's so precious that Jesus shed 333 00:20:18,320 --> 00:20:23,120 his blood to purchase it. And if Jesus shed his blood for 334 00:20:23,120 --> 00:20:25,600 it, I guarantee you that's something you'll want to be a 335 00:20:25,600 --> 00:20:27,960 part of. If that's the only thing he ever 336 00:20:27,960 --> 00:20:32,040 spent anything on, I guarantee you it's worth being part of. 337 00:20:32,440 --> 00:20:34,800 Amen. I know that he purchased it, and 338 00:20:34,800 --> 00:20:38,440 I know in Scripture I see he didn't purchase Everland. 339 00:20:38,600 --> 00:20:40,560 He never purchased any possessions. 340 00:20:40,720 --> 00:20:42,680 He never purchased according to the record. 341 00:20:42,680 --> 00:20:46,000 Anything else concerning tangible goods, But he did 342 00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:48,880 purchase the church. That's what I want to be a part 343 00:20:48,880 --> 00:20:50,920 of. That's what I want to invest in. 344 00:20:51,160 --> 00:20:55,720 That's that's where you need to take your whole family. 345 00:20:59,120 --> 00:21:05,360 Gospel of Luke 17 and verse 26 says, and as it was in the days 346 00:21:05,360 --> 00:21:10,320 of Noah, which is Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the 347 00:21:10,320 --> 00:21:17,160 Son of Man. They did eat, they drank, they 348 00:21:17,160 --> 00:21:20,160 married wives, they were given in marriage until the day that 349 00:21:20,160 --> 00:21:27,240 no entered into the ark, the flood came and destroyed them 350 00:21:28,240 --> 00:21:36,920 all. The plea in the New Testament is 351 00:21:36,920 --> 00:21:42,360 for us to beware that we would not become lovers of pleasure 352 00:21:44,040 --> 00:21:48,640 more than lovers of God, or that we would become lovers of 353 00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:52,480 ourselves more than lovers of God. 354 00:21:53,200 --> 00:21:58,440 Because if you will allow it, the, the, the theme and the 355 00:21:58,440 --> 00:22:03,760 palpitation of the world will cause you to want to involve 356 00:22:03,760 --> 00:22:08,040 your families to be intoxicated just with the simple pleasures 357 00:22:08,480 --> 00:22:12,800 of this life that we're living here below that, may I remind 358 00:22:12,800 --> 00:22:17,040 you, is 100% temporal. And I'm not suggesting this 359 00:22:17,040 --> 00:22:19,040 morning someone say you're going to be a stick in the mud today, 360 00:22:19,040 --> 00:22:20,640 Pastor. No, no, no, I'm not. 361 00:22:20,640 --> 00:22:24,200 I'm not suggesting this morning that we bypass all of the 362 00:22:24,200 --> 00:22:27,640 earthly enjoyment that we have on this planet. 363 00:22:27,880 --> 00:22:32,680 But what I am urging us is this not to become so enamored with 364 00:22:32,680 --> 00:22:36,160 this world that we ignore the voice of God that's calling that 365 00:22:36,160 --> 00:22:42,000 says get on the boat, get your family on the boat, get yes, 366 00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:44,680 yes, yes, yes, Amen. Someone say Amen. 367 00:22:45,160 --> 00:22:48,800 The first world was again destroyed by water, but God 368 00:22:48,800 --> 00:22:50,240 assured again he wouldn't do that again. 369 00:22:50,240 --> 00:22:54,240 It would be fire the next time. He said in second Peter 3 and 370 00:22:54,240 --> 00:22:57,120 10, there's a phrase there he said the elements shall melt 371 00:22:57,120 --> 00:23:00,920 with fervent heat and the earth also and the works that are 372 00:23:00,920 --> 00:23:04,240 there in shall be burned up. Amen. 373 00:23:04,240 --> 00:23:08,840 Noah had an ark for the flood and we have the church for the 374 00:23:08,840 --> 00:23:12,160 fire. Amen. 375 00:23:12,800 --> 00:23:16,320 In Acts 27, this this boat embolism if you will, or 376 00:23:16,320 --> 00:23:19,680 symbolism even Paul was situated. 377 00:23:19,680 --> 00:23:22,560 He was a prisoner. He had appealed to go to Caesar 378 00:23:22,560 --> 00:23:26,000 to go to Rome. He was situated on a boat or a 379 00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:29,440 ship if you will. There were 275 other. 380 00:23:29,440 --> 00:23:32,160 The Bible calls them souls, not just individuals. 381 00:23:32,600 --> 00:23:36,160 There were 276. Paul was one of them, but 275 382 00:23:36,160 --> 00:23:41,320 other souls that was on this boat that was amid a very 383 00:23:41,320 --> 00:23:45,160 tumultuous sea that was rising and falling and the conditions 384 00:23:45,800 --> 00:23:48,960 were not really good for selling, but there they were. 385 00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:53,080 And these people that Paul was with, I think it's important to 386 00:23:53,080 --> 00:23:56,480 know we're not his family. The Bible says some of them were 387 00:23:56,480 --> 00:23:59,120 other prisoners, right? There's other prisoners, there 388 00:23:59,120 --> 00:24:02,160 are other people, Amen, that are here and yet the godly 389 00:24:02,160 --> 00:24:05,840 instruction for Paul, Amen. And for all those who are this, 390 00:24:06,040 --> 00:24:11,200 he said except these abide in the ship, he cannot be saved. 391 00:24:11,680 --> 00:24:14,120 Now they knew he heard the voice of the Lord. 392 00:24:14,400 --> 00:24:18,640 The Angel had said that that ship is going to face shipwreck. 393 00:24:18,640 --> 00:24:20,960 It's going to come into contact with something. 394 00:24:20,960 --> 00:24:23,520 It's going to be broke asunder. Amen. 395 00:24:23,800 --> 00:24:28,840 But the words to Paul was abide in the ship meaning for them. 396 00:24:28,840 --> 00:24:32,000 And this, it was this, that it was better for them to be in a 397 00:24:32,000 --> 00:24:36,480 vessel that was prone, that was going to get damaged than it was 398 00:24:36,480 --> 00:24:42,360 to escape to an uncertain sea. I wish I could tell you that the 399 00:24:42,440 --> 00:24:47,040 church never has its problems. I wish I could tell you that the 400 00:24:47,080 --> 00:24:49,920 church is the most perfect committee or organization of 401 00:24:49,920 --> 00:24:51,520 people that you're ever going to find. 402 00:24:52,000 --> 00:24:54,680 But I'm here to tell you that as long as the church is made-up of 403 00:24:54,680 --> 00:24:56,680 people, we're going to have issues. 404 00:24:56,880 --> 00:24:59,440 As long as the church is made-up people, we're still going to 405 00:24:59,440 --> 00:25:01,240 have to come back. Gossip, We're still going to 406 00:25:01,240 --> 00:25:04,320 have to come back, if you will, offenses and people getting 407 00:25:04,320 --> 00:25:07,080 hurt, so and so forth. But you know that I'll still 408 00:25:07,080 --> 00:25:10,200 tell you this. I'd still rather be a part of 409 00:25:10,200 --> 00:25:14,040 something that has some of its imperfections and flaws and it's 410 00:25:14,040 --> 00:25:18,400 damages sometimes to give myself to the uncertainty of the water, 411 00:25:18,600 --> 00:25:21,920 to give myself to the uncertainty of what's on the 412 00:25:22,000 --> 00:25:23,240 out. Why? 413 00:25:23,360 --> 00:25:27,400 Because this is what God has designed and this is what God 414 00:25:27,400 --> 00:25:31,000 has directed. And so this is what God has 415 00:25:31,000 --> 00:25:38,440 purchased with his. Yes, I designed Noah's vote, and 416 00:25:38,440 --> 00:25:42,320 regardless of what transpired, Noah understood this. 417 00:25:42,920 --> 00:25:47,240 I'm connected with and surrendering my family then to 418 00:25:47,240 --> 00:25:53,760 something divine, constructed, yes, by the hands of men 419 00:25:54,320 --> 00:25:59,120 following the divine plan. No, no better definition of the 420 00:25:59,120 --> 00:26:02,480 church. We got a divine plan, but it's 421 00:26:02,480 --> 00:26:05,560 still, it's played out through, if you will, the efforts of men 422 00:26:06,040 --> 00:26:09,600 and women and people, human involvement you have. 423 00:26:09,600 --> 00:26:13,600 It introduces error, it introduces imperfection, and yet 424 00:26:13,600 --> 00:26:15,840 the plan of the design is still gods. 425 00:26:16,200 --> 00:26:18,840 Amen. This type of construction, yes, 426 00:26:18,840 --> 00:26:22,440 it is flawed. It's flawed by my involvement, 427 00:26:22,640 --> 00:26:24,960 but it's serving a perfect purpose. 428 00:26:25,560 --> 00:26:27,640 Hear me. It's flawed by my involvement, 429 00:26:27,640 --> 00:26:29,880 but it's serving a perfect purpose. 430 00:26:30,120 --> 00:26:33,800 And so I urge you, Sir or ma'am, you need to bring your whole 431 00:26:33,800 --> 00:26:37,200 family there. I urge you to bring your friends 432 00:26:37,480 --> 00:26:41,040 to the church, bring your acquaintances, bring strangers, 433 00:26:42,120 --> 00:26:46,160 bring strangers to the church as Paul was had fellow prisoners, 434 00:26:46,160 --> 00:26:49,120 if we could say it like that, bring the fellow prisoners. 435 00:26:49,520 --> 00:26:53,840 Amen to the church because it's going to be more useful to them 436 00:26:54,040 --> 00:26:57,200 than being in waters of uncertainty. 437 00:26:57,400 --> 00:27:01,080 The Bible says that whenever it had struck asunder and it was 438 00:27:01,080 --> 00:27:04,600 damaged to where there were just pieces of the that were upon the 439 00:27:04,600 --> 00:27:07,840 water. The scripture says some swam to 440 00:27:07,840 --> 00:27:11,200 the shore of the island of Malita, but there are others 441 00:27:11,200 --> 00:27:17,600 that grab the just to broken pieces of that ship and made it 442 00:27:17,680 --> 00:27:21,560 to the shore of safety where they needed to be. 443 00:27:21,760 --> 00:27:25,800 Can I tell you today that the mere pieces and parts of the 444 00:27:25,800 --> 00:27:30,760 church, all of them are vital and all of them are significant 445 00:27:30,960 --> 00:27:34,760 And sometimes you don't grasp everything there is to grasp or 446 00:27:34,760 --> 00:27:37,400 understand everything there is to understand. 447 00:27:37,600 --> 00:27:41,000 But I'm under the conviction today that if you can even get 448 00:27:41,000 --> 00:27:45,240 your hand on a porch, Amen of what the church is doing or what 449 00:27:45,240 --> 00:27:49,240 God has done through the divine construction of the church, 450 00:27:49,560 --> 00:27:53,200 it'll help you survive until you reach a shore till you can get 451 00:27:53,200 --> 00:28:00,920 your footing again it. There's there's been certain 452 00:28:00,920 --> 00:28:04,160 aspects of the church, even this church, there's times that we go 453 00:28:04,160 --> 00:28:06,520 through and we have connect groups on Wednesday rather than 454 00:28:06,520 --> 00:28:09,000 Wednesday night. Bible study and connect groups 455 00:28:09,000 --> 00:28:13,800 sometimes have been what has kept some afloat, so to speak. 456 00:28:14,080 --> 00:28:17,000 There have been other annual chili suppers that we have had 457 00:28:17,000 --> 00:28:20,680 for years now that that one little thing there has been the 458 00:28:20,680 --> 00:28:24,280 very thing that's helped someone to keep their nose above water 459 00:28:24,280 --> 00:28:25,880 level. It's just a piece. 460 00:28:26,160 --> 00:28:29,200 It's just a portion, but it's a part of the conglomerate called 461 00:28:29,200 --> 00:28:32,440 the church, a prayer revival like we are having coming up in 462 00:28:32,440 --> 00:28:34,880 February. Sometimes it's been the very 463 00:28:34,880 --> 00:28:37,400 thing, Amen. That's called someone just to go 464 00:28:37,400 --> 00:28:40,120 a little further, dig their roots a little deeper. 465 00:28:40,320 --> 00:28:43,200 A cleaning night, Brother Reese, when you all get together and 466 00:28:43,200 --> 00:28:46,480 you talk and you have fun and and you have times of prayer, 467 00:28:46,720 --> 00:28:48,520 Amen. There could be the very thing 468 00:28:48,520 --> 00:28:52,920 that keeps somebody tethered on the ship, on the boat in the 469 00:28:52,920 --> 00:28:55,120 church. It might not be the whole thing, 470 00:28:55,120 --> 00:28:58,000 but just even a piece. If they can just grab a hold of 471 00:28:58,000 --> 00:29:00,720 it, if they can, my God, I'm the Holy Ghost right now. 472 00:29:00,920 --> 00:29:07,400 If they someone say, man, was it not the woman with the issue of 473 00:29:07,400 --> 00:29:09,000 blood? As she's going through the 474 00:29:09,000 --> 00:29:12,520 crowd, she's saying within herself, the gospel said if I 475 00:29:12,520 --> 00:29:16,400 can just touch the hymn, If I can just touch the hymn, It was 476 00:29:16,400 --> 00:29:18,640 just a portion. It was just a part. 477 00:29:18,840 --> 00:29:21,160 It was just something that was touching him. 478 00:29:21,400 --> 00:29:25,040 If I can just touch the hymn, I shall be made whole. 479 00:29:25,320 --> 00:29:28,200 I'm telling you, there's nothing like the church. 480 00:29:28,400 --> 00:29:31,200 There's nothing like what is touching him. 481 00:29:38,320 --> 00:29:40,600 It's not coincidental that that happened for her. 482 00:29:41,600 --> 00:29:44,280 If anything, I think it reflects then what David spoke of in the 483 00:29:44,280 --> 00:29:48,760 Psalms, that sanctuary be in a place, a promising help and 484 00:29:48,760 --> 00:29:56,520 strength. And so understanding the 485 00:29:56,520 --> 00:30:01,000 importance and the vitality of this ark or this church, 486 00:30:03,640 --> 00:30:06,920 Understand this, that you're not the only one then that 487 00:30:06,920 --> 00:30:11,480 understands that. What do you mean? 488 00:30:12,560 --> 00:30:19,680 The enemy of your soul understands that entity that's 489 00:30:19,680 --> 00:30:22,160 been designed by God and directed by God. 490 00:30:24,920 --> 00:30:30,760 Hezekiah, King Hezekiah, the Old Testament, he rose to his throne 491 00:30:32,080 --> 00:30:38,960 and he is in a mode of inviting Judah and the nation of Israel, 492 00:30:39,920 --> 00:30:43,160 who at that moment, Sister Cox, was an estranged people. 493 00:30:43,160 --> 00:30:46,960 They kind of separated from God, kind of separated from the 494 00:30:46,960 --> 00:30:49,320 things of God. And so Hezekiah came with a 495 00:30:49,320 --> 00:30:53,440 voice of calling those people back into relationship with God. 496 00:30:53,680 --> 00:30:55,800 And the Scripture tells us not even just that, but back into 497 00:30:55,800 --> 00:30:58,400 the sanctuary, back being tethered, if you will, to the 498 00:30:58,400 --> 00:31:01,480 church. They had neglected him. 499 00:31:01,800 --> 00:31:04,440 Israel had. They neglected his house for 500 00:31:04,440 --> 00:31:08,280 some long time. And as a result, the unity of 501 00:31:08,280 --> 00:31:12,440 the nation had suffered. The unity of the nation had 502 00:31:12,440 --> 00:31:16,240 suffered. And so He's calling them back to 503 00:31:16,240 --> 00:31:22,080 all of the benefits that they had missed of having been a part 504 00:31:22,760 --> 00:31:26,800 of the temple and the worship and the festivals and the 505 00:31:26,800 --> 00:31:30,280 fellowship and thus and so. And he encouraged them. 506 00:31:31,080 --> 00:31:34,120 Second Chronicles 30 and verse #8 that regardless of their past 507 00:31:34,120 --> 00:31:36,760 actions, or maybe it was in actions, He said some 508 00:31:36,760 --> 00:31:37,880 interesting things in this verse. 509 00:31:38,080 --> 00:31:43,360 He says yield yourselves into the Lord and enter into a 510 00:31:43,360 --> 00:31:45,840 sanctuary. That's important, I believe, 511 00:31:46,720 --> 00:31:50,520 huh, because it wasn't just yield yourself, but also come to 512 00:31:51,120 --> 00:31:58,440 the sanctuary and I love I I'm I'm thankful for live stream and 513 00:31:58,440 --> 00:32:00,040 I'm thankful for all those things. 514 00:32:01,000 --> 00:32:06,960 But just like anything they have their vices to and the vice in a 515 00:32:07,200 --> 00:32:11,360 post COVID age is what we were able to attend and be at church 516 00:32:11,360 --> 00:32:14,200 during COVID with just being at home. 517 00:32:15,960 --> 00:32:19,120 So why can't I just carry that same pattern? 518 00:32:19,120 --> 00:32:24,720 Although we are allowed now to be back in the church because 519 00:32:24,720 --> 00:32:29,440 it's not just about yielding into the Lord, it's also about 520 00:32:29,680 --> 00:32:33,800 entering His sanctuary. I told you earlier, and I say 521 00:32:33,800 --> 00:32:37,440 this often, I know today we have cell phones, we have all these 522 00:32:37,440 --> 00:32:40,840 other ways that we can connect. But when Scripture was written, 523 00:32:40,840 --> 00:32:44,400 that was not the case. So when he told them in, in 524 00:32:44,400 --> 00:32:48,600 Hebrews 10/24 that when they come together, they're provoking 525 00:32:48,600 --> 00:32:51,640 one another to good works in those things, they didn't do 526 00:32:51,640 --> 00:32:55,960 that by a phone call. They, they, they didn't do, they 527 00:32:55,960 --> 00:32:58,800 didn't do that by doing it through a, a direct message, 528 00:32:58,800 --> 00:33:00,520 through some type of social media aspect. 529 00:33:00,520 --> 00:33:08,400 No, it required coming together. For that matter, there were 530 00:33:08,400 --> 00:33:12,960 certain laws of Israel that could not be fulfilled unless 531 00:33:12,960 --> 00:33:15,160 you were at the temple in Jerusalem. 532 00:33:15,760 --> 00:33:19,680 Certain thing you could not do, you could not obey some of those 533 00:33:19,680 --> 00:33:22,840 things unless you were right there at the temple. 534 00:33:23,200 --> 00:33:25,160 Amen. And so in all that what I'm 535 00:33:25,160 --> 00:33:28,360 saying is this that that that we've had some of these things 536 00:33:28,360 --> 00:33:34,040 and sometimes the enemy of our soul wants to keep you not just 537 00:33:34,040 --> 00:33:37,320 out of the body of Christ, but even out of the the structure of 538 00:33:37,320 --> 00:33:39,440 the edifice of the gathering of the people. 539 00:33:41,320 --> 00:33:44,200 He wants us to God wants us to yield ourselves and enter into 540 00:33:44,200 --> 00:33:46,680 the sanctuary. And he even says further in that 541 00:33:46,680 --> 00:33:52,240 verse there and serve the Lord your God by doing so. 542 00:33:52,520 --> 00:33:55,960 If you continue reading the chapter by doing so, God said, 543 00:33:55,960 --> 00:33:59,840 this is amazing to me. He says your children will 544 00:33:59,840 --> 00:34:03,600 experience compassion. Look at that. 545 00:34:03,600 --> 00:34:06,600 You know what he's saying. This isn't just about what you 546 00:34:06,600 --> 00:34:09,719 experience, but this will impact your family. 547 00:34:11,360 --> 00:34:13,560 Yeah, he says. When you yield and you enter the 548 00:34:13,560 --> 00:34:15,960 sanctuary, it'll impact your family. 549 00:34:16,120 --> 00:34:20,480 Your children will experience compassion because God is a 550 00:34:20,480 --> 00:34:23,800 gracious God and God is a merciful God. 551 00:34:24,000 --> 00:34:26,880 Folks, if you want to give your family, your neighbor, your 552 00:34:26,880 --> 00:34:30,760 community, that type of gift, it's valuable to be a part of 553 00:34:30,760 --> 00:34:35,280 the church. It's that huh? 554 00:34:37,080 --> 00:34:39,360 The enemy of our cell will try to prevent it from happening. 555 00:34:40,800 --> 00:34:42,920 Amen. Look, if you will, and I'm I'm 556 00:34:42,920 --> 00:34:45,679 getting there not I'll let you go here real soon, but in first 557 00:34:45,679 --> 00:34:53,800 SIM, OK, my definition of soon and your definition soon may be 558 00:34:53,800 --> 00:34:56,360 different, right? Jesus said, behold, I come 559 00:34:56,360 --> 00:34:57,840 quickly and people fuss over that. 560 00:34:57,840 --> 00:35:07,920 So first Samuel 1 and verse 6 I'll say give me 10 minutes then 561 00:35:09,160 --> 00:35:16,760 and her Speaking of Hannah adversary also provoked her sore 562 00:35:17,600 --> 00:35:21,800 for to make her feet frant rather because the Lord had shut 563 00:35:21,800 --> 00:35:25,960 up her womb. Verse 7 and as he Elkanah, her 564 00:35:25,960 --> 00:35:31,040 husband did so year by year when she went up to the House of the 565 00:35:31,040 --> 00:35:35,360 Lord, so she Penena, which was his other wife provoked her, 566 00:35:35,360 --> 00:35:38,440 Speaking of Hannah. Therefore she wept and did not 567 00:35:38,440 --> 00:35:40,440 eat Hannah. Hannah is barren. 568 00:35:40,640 --> 00:35:43,400 Hannah's unable to have children, She's unfruitful, but 569 00:35:43,400 --> 00:35:46,880 year by year, as the time was dedicated, they would go to the 570 00:35:46,880 --> 00:35:49,560 House of the Lord. Elkanah her husband would have 571 00:35:49,680 --> 00:35:52,720 sacrifice and meat and he would give all times even extra 572 00:35:52,720 --> 00:35:56,040 portions to Hannah because of the dilemma of her barrenness. 573 00:35:56,200 --> 00:35:58,560 But the Bible says here's what I want you to wrap your mind 574 00:35:58,560 --> 00:36:02,400 around that every time watch this now every time they would 575 00:36:02,400 --> 00:36:06,000 make their trip to God's house, her adversary, which she was 576 00:36:06,000 --> 00:36:09,920 pictured as Penina in this, her adversary would provoke her. 577 00:36:09,920 --> 00:36:19,080 So it specifically states here, Sister Grace, it's not talking 578 00:36:19,080 --> 00:36:21,320 about all the other days, but it's specifically saying the 579 00:36:21,320 --> 00:36:26,840 days she would make her trip to God's house, that's when her 580 00:36:26,840 --> 00:36:33,440 adversary would provoke her. Hey, man, Hannah's grappling 581 00:36:33,440 --> 00:36:35,280 with, she's struggling with bareness. 582 00:36:35,560 --> 00:36:37,920 No doubt she's feeling a little embarrassed about it, a little 583 00:36:37,920 --> 00:36:41,800 concerned about it as well. And we know in Scripture that 584 00:36:41,800 --> 00:36:44,480 that's not the way that she wanted to live her life. 585 00:36:44,680 --> 00:36:47,680 That wasn't it. But each year her husband each 586 00:36:47,680 --> 00:36:52,960 year her husband made sure the family what's going to the House 587 00:36:52,960 --> 00:36:54,440 of the Lord and he's taking them. 588 00:36:54,720 --> 00:36:57,280 But every year as Hannah's making the trip. 589 00:36:57,480 --> 00:37:03,240 Her adversary is provoking her reason with me. 590 00:37:04,280 --> 00:37:09,920 How appealing is it to want to go to God's house each year when 591 00:37:09,920 --> 00:37:18,440 you know each year you're going to be provoked her. 592 00:37:19,040 --> 00:37:24,240 I'm just, I'm just content to believe that her adversary, I 593 00:37:24,240 --> 00:37:27,160 want to provoke her enough that maybe she won't go next year. 594 00:37:31,160 --> 00:37:34,640 I make it stressful enough for her and and bother her enough 595 00:37:34,640 --> 00:37:37,320 and provoke her enough. Maybe she'll just check out and 596 00:37:37,320 --> 00:37:43,880 next time she'll stay home. She'll just folks just doing 597 00:37:43,920 --> 00:37:46,680 this just for a little bit and been around church all of my 598 00:37:46,680 --> 00:37:49,080 life. Amen to understand that there 599 00:37:49,080 --> 00:37:53,040 are just sometimes that the only time that your adversary wants 600 00:37:53,040 --> 00:38:01,400 to provoke as whenever it's time to get on the ark, it'll happen. 601 00:38:01,720 --> 00:38:04,720 You'll be headache free all week until it's time to go to church. 602 00:38:05,200 --> 00:38:07,640 Your tummy won't hurt at all until it's time to go to church. 603 00:38:07,920 --> 00:38:11,160 The faucet, the faucet, you know, won't start leaking until 604 00:38:11,160 --> 00:38:13,400 it's time to go to church. It, it, it happens. 605 00:38:13,440 --> 00:38:16,760 It hands down, hands down. And and I think it's in his book 606 00:38:16,760 --> 00:38:19,280 Atomic Habits. He said, if you do things once, 607 00:38:19,280 --> 00:38:21,080 that's one thing. But if you do it a second time, 608 00:38:21,080 --> 00:38:26,680 that starts to have it. I'm not going to go because XYZ. 609 00:38:26,680 --> 00:38:29,280 And it's like, Oh, I found the vice for the provoking. 610 00:38:29,920 --> 00:38:32,880 I'll use the same element that I did last time because it worked 611 00:38:32,880 --> 00:38:35,000 last time. And so I'll use it again this 612 00:38:35,000 --> 00:38:38,080 time. Why, though, is the adversary 613 00:38:38,080 --> 00:38:42,240 provoking you on that particular day or that particular time? 614 00:38:42,440 --> 00:38:45,160 Because evidently he has some knowledge that David had. 615 00:38:45,320 --> 00:38:47,400 There's help that comes from the sanctuary. 616 00:38:47,600 --> 00:38:49,320 There's strength that comes from Zion. 617 00:38:49,520 --> 00:38:51,920 That's that's associating yourself and connecting 618 00:38:51,920 --> 00:38:54,400 yourself. Something that God designed and 619 00:38:54,400 --> 00:38:57,960 something that God is direct. I don't want them to get some in 620 00:38:57,960 --> 00:39:01,040 something that God is correct and I don't want them to be a 621 00:39:01,040 --> 00:39:03,560 part of something that God has designed. 622 00:39:07,960 --> 00:39:11,680 Provoke, provoke, provoke, provoke was her adversary would 623 00:39:11,680 --> 00:39:19,240 trouble her on her way. My understanding is this that if 624 00:39:19,240 --> 00:39:24,080 being part or in the church or on the boat, if it weren't so 625 00:39:24,080 --> 00:39:27,080 important, then I believe our adversary wouldn't be so 626 00:39:27,080 --> 00:39:32,440 persistent about agitating us when we attempted to join or be 627 00:39:32,440 --> 00:39:38,160 a part of it. We strive to a certain degree to 628 00:39:38,600 --> 00:39:41,080 admonish people that first come to know the Lord. 629 00:39:41,760 --> 00:39:44,240 Just kind of like, you know, put on your armor when you leave the 630 00:39:44,240 --> 00:39:48,240 doors because after you've made this choice in this decision, 631 00:39:49,720 --> 00:39:52,920 the crosshairs get laid on your life. 632 00:39:54,400 --> 00:39:58,160 It doesn't want you say he doesn't want you baptized in 633 00:39:58,240 --> 00:40:00,960 Jesus name. He doesn't want your sins to be 634 00:40:00,960 --> 00:40:03,160 remitted. He don't want you to make heaven 635 00:40:03,160 --> 00:40:05,520 your home someday. He don't want you to be a 636 00:40:05,520 --> 00:40:09,440 worshipper. He for sure doesn't want it 637 00:40:09,440 --> 00:40:12,000 because he was the anointed cherub of back cover if he don't 638 00:40:12,000 --> 00:40:13,720 want you doing what he used to do. 639 00:40:18,680 --> 00:40:21,360 But it paid off and his determination paid off. 640 00:40:21,880 --> 00:40:25,840 She went regardless. She made the trip regardless. 641 00:40:26,720 --> 00:40:30,680 And it was there where she would make her prayers and it was 642 00:40:30,680 --> 00:40:33,040 there that she would be broken in her spirit. 643 00:40:33,520 --> 00:40:38,920 And her bareness was broken. On one of the trips that she 644 00:40:38,920 --> 00:40:44,000 made to the House of God, new life was promised unto her. 645 00:40:44,240 --> 00:40:49,880 Hey man, it was was it was a promise to her in her mid 646 00:40:49,880 --> 00:40:51,400 eastern home. I'm not saying it can't happen 647 00:40:51,400 --> 00:40:52,880 there. I'm just saying for this story, 648 00:40:52,880 --> 00:40:55,200 it happened when she went to the house. 649 00:40:56,080 --> 00:40:59,360 You'll stay with me today. That's what you're saying then, 650 00:40:59,360 --> 00:41:03,960 Brother McGee, I'm saying this. Bring yourself, bring your 651 00:41:03,960 --> 00:41:08,160 family, bring anybody you can get your hands on into the ark, 652 00:41:08,440 --> 00:41:14,160 the church, the boat. Not perfect, involves us. 653 00:41:14,160 --> 00:41:18,640 So it's not perfect. But if you can be a part of any 654 00:41:18,640 --> 00:41:21,800 other committee or club in this world, then by all means take a 655 00:41:21,800 --> 00:41:23,080 chance to be a part of the church. 656 00:41:28,480 --> 00:41:31,760 But the difference is, is this. It is operating under a divine 657 00:41:31,760 --> 00:41:36,040 plan. It is a station of hope and of 658 00:41:36,040 --> 00:41:38,000 salvation for those who enter it. 659 00:41:38,920 --> 00:41:41,640 And for Noah, he says, this is the place that I'm going to make 660 00:41:41,640 --> 00:41:44,200 a covenant with you, and I'm going to fulfill it, and I'm 661 00:41:44,200 --> 00:41:46,120 going to mend your lives. And this is a place where 662 00:41:46,120 --> 00:41:50,640 families can be strengthened and futures can be secured at the 663 00:41:50,640 --> 00:41:56,280 boat, the ark, the church. The thing of the matter is this, 664 00:41:56,280 --> 00:42:01,480 that sometimes you can't allow the distractions of the world 665 00:42:01,480 --> 00:42:03,760 deter you from the essential of this haven. 666 00:42:05,440 --> 00:42:08,520 And sometimes, like Hannah, you got to just move past some 667 00:42:09,440 --> 00:42:14,640 irritants and you got to move past some adversities that 668 00:42:14,640 --> 00:42:18,640 attempt to keep you back. Or voices of the provoker, the 669 00:42:18,640 --> 00:42:23,760 adversary that would somehow snuff out your zeal for being 670 00:42:23,760 --> 00:42:26,880 there. Because again and again, through 671 00:42:26,880 --> 00:42:31,480 Scripture and still yet today, the church is where burn 672 00:42:31,680 --> 00:42:36,000 barrenness turns into fruitfulness, where brokenness 673 00:42:36,000 --> 00:42:40,200 meets restoration, and where there's the promise of new life. 674 00:42:41,280 --> 00:42:44,480 The church. So I'm going to get on that old 675 00:42:44,480 --> 00:42:49,600 ship of Zion. I'm going to tether to the old 676 00:42:49,600 --> 00:42:53,760 gospel ship and if she's damaged, I'm going to, I'm just 677 00:42:53,760 --> 00:42:57,680 going to, even if I just grasp a piece of it, we're part of it. 678 00:43:00,560 --> 00:43:05,560 This is a family church. So ma'am, this is a family 679 00:43:05,560 --> 00:43:07,760 church. If we bow our heads today and 680 00:43:07,760 --> 00:43:10,640 close our eyes, this is a this is a family church. 681 00:43:10,640 --> 00:43:17,000 Take your whole family. There's people you know, there's 682 00:43:17,000 --> 00:43:18,960 people that you interact with. There's people that you have 683 00:43:18,960 --> 00:43:20,960 conversation with, you were up shoulders with. 684 00:43:23,480 --> 00:43:26,280 They need the difference that the church can make in their 685 00:43:26,280 --> 00:43:31,800 life that God, by virtue of his plan and of his direction can 686 00:43:31,800 --> 00:43:34,280 make in their life. Because folks, again, there's a 687 00:43:34,280 --> 00:43:39,080 vast difference about the consequence of the outcome of 688 00:43:39,080 --> 00:43:42,040 being inside it or on it and outside it. 689 00:43:42,760 --> 00:43:45,840 We're going to space the same storm, the same floods, the same 690 00:43:45,840 --> 00:43:49,240 rains, but the end result is different. 691 00:43:49,960 --> 00:43:55,280 Someone needs to call another on board, invite another into the 692 00:43:55,360 --> 00:43:59,880 ark into the church. These altars are open today. 693 00:44:00,480 --> 00:44:03,560 If you're a part of the church, if you've you've made your your, 694 00:44:03,560 --> 00:44:06,560 your, your dedication, determination for the church, 695 00:44:06,560 --> 00:44:10,880 That's well, but I'm asking you to pray, Lord, open my heart and 696 00:44:10,880 --> 00:44:13,480 life God for other members of my family. 697 00:44:13,480 --> 00:44:16,320 But God, people that I rub shoulders with, people that I 698 00:44:16,320 --> 00:44:21,280 see, they know me regularly, God that may not have that hope that 699 00:44:21,280 --> 00:44:24,680 I have, that may not be a part of that thing that is God 700 00:44:24,680 --> 00:44:28,760 designed and God directed. God help me, Lord, to be the 701 00:44:28,760 --> 00:44:33,480 voice in my generation that says, come on board, come on 702 00:44:33,480 --> 00:44:35,360 board. I know you're still going to 703 00:44:35,360 --> 00:44:37,680 face some of the same things you're facing right now, but 704 00:44:37,680 --> 00:44:41,400 it's going to be different if you just get on the ark, if you 705 00:44:41,400 --> 00:44:43,840 get in the church, if you get on the ship. 706 00:44:44,280 --> 00:44:47,000 Somebody, somebody today needs to hear it. 707 00:44:47,360 --> 00:44:50,760 Somebody today needs to be shown the direction to pass somebody 708 00:44:50,760 --> 00:44:53,240 today. Somebody that you know, somebody 709 00:44:53,240 --> 00:44:56,440 that you have conversation with, you laugh with, you joke with, 710 00:44:56,440 --> 00:45:00,080 you know, about their family. You need to tell them about 711 00:45:00,080 --> 00:45:02,600 getting their family on the boat. 712 00:45:03,760 --> 00:45:07,560 It's a place. Help comes from the sanctuary. 713 00:45:07,920 --> 00:45:12,520 Strength comes from Zion. Hallelujah, Adversary bar. 714 00:45:12,520 --> 00:45:15,480 So he doesn't want you on it and he doesn't want anybody else on 715 00:45:15,480 --> 00:45:17,480 it. We got to break the pattern 716 00:45:17,480 --> 00:45:19,760 today. We got to break the pattern 717 00:45:19,760 --> 00:45:22,160 today. We don't want whenever the Lord 718 00:45:22,160 --> 00:45:26,200 shows, closes that one door on that ark, that there be others 719 00:45:26,200 --> 00:45:30,240 outside of there floating the abyss of the sea that is wishing 720 00:45:30,280 --> 00:45:35,840 that they had or listen, folks, this is a family church. 721 00:45:36,680 --> 00:45:40,960 Get them on the boat. Whosoever will, whosoever will, 722 00:45:41,520 --> 00:45:45,560 whatever, whatever their plight is in life so ever will 723 00:45:46,120 --> 00:45:50,720 Hallelujah, Jesus. Oh, let's talk to him right now. 724 00:45:51,960 --> 00:45:55,120 Let's petition heaven. Let's ask God to help us, to be 725 00:45:55,120 --> 00:45:57,720 a voice in our generation, to ask God to help us. 726 00:45:58,240 --> 00:46:04,040 Hallelujah, God. We want to be a part of it and 727 00:46:04,040 --> 00:46:08,120 we want to help as many as we'll also be a part of. 728 00:46:15,200 --> 00:46:19,680 It every season. Of Lord God is. 729 00:46:20,560 --> 00:46:29,240 As for me, in my house, we're gonna be free, so I will stand 730 00:46:29,320 --> 00:46:29,880 up. Yes. 731 00:46:30,080 --> 00:46:35,800 Sir, and fight for my freedom. Some of you have moms and dads, 732 00:46:35,800 --> 00:46:37,000 some of you. Have and. 733 00:46:37,200 --> 00:46:38,960 Some of you have children. Quickly. 734 00:46:39,400 --> 00:46:43,280 Uncles, aunts, cousins. Come on, some of you have 735 00:46:43,280 --> 00:46:51,400 neighbors. Worship in my situation, I will 736 00:46:51,440 --> 00:47:01,880 lift my hands, lift my voice, declare I am free As for me in 737 00:47:01,920 --> 00:47:11,440 my house As for me in my house As for me in my house, we're 738 00:47:11,560 --> 00:47:29,040 going to be free as. Coworkers free I coworkers. 739 00:47:29,880 --> 00:47:33,880 They have for me in my eyes, let. 740 00:47:34,520 --> 00:47:37,040 God resign God directed entity they need. 741 00:47:37,720 --> 00:47:45,240 Up for me in my house, going to be free, yeah. 742 00:47:45,280 --> 00:47:48,280 So I will stand up and fight for my.